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‘No evidence of work on $2B GDF wharf project’ – AG Report Oct 24, 2024 News Kaieteur News – The $2 billion wharf project being constructed by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) at its Coast Guard Headquarters, Ruimveldt is behind schedule, Auditor General (AG) said in his 2023 report. Photograph of the site for the wharf at Coast Guard Headquarters where no works has commenced- (Source: AG report 12 July, 2024) According to the report the contract awarded by the National Procurement Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) was for the construction of a reinforced concrete wharf at Coast Guard Headquarters, Ruimveldt in the sum of $2.040 billion against an Engineer’s Estimate of $2.624 billion. The Contract was signed on December, 28 2023, with construction period of thirty months for completion, with a commencement date of 26 February 2024 and completion date of 26 February 2027. The contract stipulates a defect’s liability period of twelve months after practical completion.  As at 31 December 2023, an Advance Payment totalling $191.659M was paid to the Contractor, Kares Engineering Inc; the sum represents 9.39% of the total Contract sum. However, a physical verification of the completed works by the audit office revealed that the contractor was not mobilised to site and no work had commenced, while four months had already elapsed since the start date of 26 February 2024. The Audit Office has therefore recommended that the GDF urge the contractor to pursue the works, closely monitor the work progress and provide a copy of the Performance Bond for audit examination. The wharf project is geared specifically towards properly accommodating the GDF’s new patrol vessels. The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) has since come under scrutiny for the award of a $2.1 billion to Kares Engineering Inc given that the company missed the benchmark for being a responsive bidder. Correia and Correia Ltd, feeling wronged by the decision, had lodged a complaint with the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). The complaint included allegations that Kares Engineering’s bid was “non-responsive based on the Financial Assessment within the Evaluation Criteria” and therefore should not have been awarded the contract. The PPC’s findings indicated that Kares Engineering’s bid was 77.8 percent of the Engineer’s Estimate, below the 80 percent benchmark set in the evaluation criteria. In contrast, Correia and Correia’s bid was at 82 percent. The PPC noted that S. Jagmohan Construction and General Supplies Inc. would have been the lowest evaluated bidder but did not lodge a complaint. Early December 2023, eight contractors submitted their bids to NPTAB for the project. The firms are: R. Basso & Sons Construction Company – $5,688,972,220, S. Jagmohan Construction & General Supply Inc. – $2,146,098,430, Correia & Correia Limited – $2,176,084,034, Arjune Construction Inc. – $2,063,024,470, Memorex Enterprise – $2,950,673,991, Kares Engineering Inc. – $1,839,524,630, Ivor Allen – $5,942,806,223, and Gordon Winter Co. Limited – $5,191,750,016. By December 27, 2023 the project was awarded to Kares Engineering. To this, the PPC underscored the importance of transparency, stating, “The publication of contracts is of utmost importance not only for information and related transparency purposes but also for the lodging of a ‘Bid Protest’.” The PPC’s investigation revealed inconsistencies in the NPTAB’s contract publication process, adding to concerns about transparency and accountability. While the NPTAB claimed the contract award was published on its website, the PPC’s checks indicated otherwise, undermining confidence in the procurement process. Related Similar Articles

UNICEF hosts ‘Access to Justice’ national consultations with children Oct 24, 2024 News …16-yr-old Lindener to represent Guyana in Panama Kaieteur News – As UNICEF prepares to observe the 35th Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on November 20, it has collaborated with the Committee on the Rights of the Child to host national and regional consultations with children/adolescents and stakeholders in various countries to develop a General Comment on children’s rights to access to justice and effective remedies. UNICEF Guyana conducts Access to Justice National Consultation with children with a disability at the UN Conference Room UNICEF Guyana conducts Access to Justice National Consultation with students at the Rights of the Child Commission conference room Dr. Loria-Mae Heywood- Dr. Loria-Mae Heywood speaking to juveniles at the Juvenile Holding Centre on Access to Justice, as part of the National Consultations held by UNICEF Guyana A General Comment is a document that provides an interpretation of the provisions of respective international human rights treaties. Through General Comments, the Committee on the Rights of the Child (the treaty body for the CRC) provides guidance to States on children’s rights and issues that require more attention by States. Such guidance can help States Parties to better ensure the implementation of the CRC and its Optional Protocols. In a press release UNICEF Guyana said that over the past week in collaboration with partners it has conducted focus groups interviews with a total of 56 children and adolescents from regions three, four, five, six, eight, nine and ten. Some of the groups comprised children with disabilities, students from the Hinterland Student Dormitory and the Juvenile Holding Centre. According to UNICEF, national consultations have been initiated via the distribution of online questionnaires to key stakeholders to solicit experiences, concerns, and recommendations on access to justice and effective remedies. These consultations are ongoing. The consultations in support of General Comment 27 are aimed at soliciting views from children/adolescents and stakeholders on how to better ensure that every child can access justice and obtain an effective remedy if their rights have been violated. Dr. Loria-Mae Heywood, Child Protection Specialist at UNICEF Guyana and Suriname deemed the focus group interviews successful, while noting that many of the children and adolescents interviewed were generally aware of their rights as per the CRC. “While many of the children knew about their basic rights (such as the right to education), some were not aware of the local institutions/mediums through which they could access justice. Through the consultation exercise, children and adolescents were provided with more comprehensive information on their rights and responsibilities, and the different avenues through which they could get support, if needed,” Dr. Heywood said. Additionally, she noted that out of the 56 children and adolescents interviewed, 16- year-old, Akwain Bowen of Linden was selected to participate in and represent Guyana at a regional event on child rights hosted by UNICEF’s Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office in Panama. The 16-year-old, Bowen described the national consultation as child-friendly and educational. “It gave me extra and more detailed information on topics that I had researched beforehand. Overall, the consultation was very informative and helpful in understanding children’s rights,” he said. He added, “Being chosen to represent Guyana is a great honour. It makes me proud to share our unique viewpoints with the rest of the globe and I have a strong sense of obligation to represent my country to the best of my abilities. It is an opportunity to have a significant impact on individuals and contribute to a better change.” The Regional event will be held from November 18-20, 2024, and will see participation from various stakeholders such as judges, ombudspersons, and young advocates from various countries that participated in the national consultations. Every day, millions of children across the world have their rights violated. Yet, among these children, only a fraction comes forward and seeks redress, and even fewer obtain an effective remedy. Most children do not know that they have rights, what having rights means, or who/where to turn to when their rights are violated. Even if they knew, many are afraid to speak up for fear of punishment or exclusion, especially if they do not see any prospect of justice. Related Similar Articles

Chinese national changes plea to not guilty in tax evasion case Oct 24, 2024 News …after ordered to pay over $10M to GRA Kaieteur News – Jin Ming Wu, a Chinese national and owner of Prosperous Hardware Incorporated, has changed his plea to not guilty after initially admitting to charges of tax evasion. The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has ordered him to pay over $10 million in tax returns; a figure Wu claims is inaccurate. Wu, who resides at Lot 110 Regent Street, Georgetown, is accused of failing to submit individual income tax returns to the Commissioner General for the years 2022 to 2024. He faced one charge on behalf of his company and three individual charges related to his tax obligations for those years. During his first court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty, Wu pleaded guilty to all the charges. However, during proceedings on Wednesday he changed his plea to not guilty for the charge pertaining to his company. This change followed a revelation by the prosecutor representing the GRA, who stated that the penalty for the offence is 10% of the tax assessment, totalling over $10 million in tax returns for the company. Wu’s lawyer, Sasha King, told the court that the figures are inaccurate and urged the prosecutor to reassess the amount. Regarding the three individual charges, Wu is set to pay $859,154 to GRA, which he and his lawyer agreed to and maintained his guilty plea for those specific charges. He is required to make this payment within 21 days. The case has been adjourned to October 30, 2024, for further proceedings. Related Similar Articles

Pres. Ali urges responsible integration of AI into Caribbean education Oct 24, 2024 News Kaieteur News – While embracing the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technological innovations into the education system across the Caribbean region, President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday said that such a move should be done responsibly and ethically while ensuring learners remain critical thinkers capable of navigating a future full of complexity and change. President Irfaan Ali The Guyanese Head-of-State made the announcement as he delivered the keynote address at Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC®) 4th Ministerial Summit that was held in Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday. This year the summit is being held under the theme ‘Artificial Intelligence and Technological Innovations in Shaping Caribbean Education’. Appearing virtually, the President said AI, like every other technological advancement before it, presents both challenges and opportunities. He noted that as a Caribbean region, “Our task is to harness the potential of AI while addressing its risk.” The President said when not only the Caribbean but the wider world was facing the COVID-19 pandemic it provided a crash course in the potential and pitfalls of online learning, noting that it forced everyone to adapt quickly. “For many, this was an uncomfortable transition. We shifted from traditional classroom settings to online platforms attempting to ensure no child was left without opportunity to learn during those challenging months and years,” he said. He noted that in Guyana for instance, this experience was mixed which saw many teachers struggling to adapt to the digital modes of instruction as students faced hurdles in adapting to new methods of content delivery. “And then it became evident that much more needs to be done to prepare our education systems for a future where digital platform play a central role in the pedagogical methods,” the President shared. According to the President, the pace of this transformation is accelerating and that the time between each of these technological ages is contracting and moving rapidly. “This means that progress is not waiting on anyone, and it is certainly not waiting on the Caribbean. We must adapt and prepare our education system to embrace this future.” he stated. With that being said, President Ali mentioned that the ministerial summit is not just an opportunity for dialogue but also a call to action. “We need to explore how AI and other technological innovations can help us address the issues we face, such as declining mathematics, result the pressure to reduce learning loss and a need for deeper engagement with the CXC syllabuses, we must ensure that the Caribbean’s education system does not lag but instead embraces a future where technology is a tool for learning and not a hindrance,” he declared. While embracing the use of his technology, he said too that they must also confront the specific challenges that AI presents for the education in the Caribbean. According to the President, one pressing issue is the integrity of assessments and another being how students complete their task ahead. “As AI becomes more sophisticated, students might be tempted to rely on it to generate answers rather than engaging with the material themselves and developing their analytical skills. This raises a broader concern about the role of critical thinking and creativity in our education system,” he pointed out. While looking at these concerns and the benefits of AI, the President urged the various ministers and country representatives to use the summit as a platform for proposing solutions.  He urged also that they focus on how countries can accelerate digital learning, reduce the digital divide and make AI a tool of progress, rather than a source of fear. “Our goal should be to prepare our students to thrive in a world where technology is evolving, while ensuring that they remain critical thinkers capable of navigating a future full of complexity and change,” he said. Incorporating AI responsibly, he suggested that there should be setting up standards for AI use in classrooms, developing guidelines for academic integrity in the digital age, and ensuring that our teachers are equipped and that AI should not replace the role of educators. “The future of education in the Caribbean depends on the choices we make. It is in our hands to ensure that the promise of AI and technology becomes a reality that benefits every student in our region, let us embrace this opportunity to transform education, to close the digital gap and to create a brighter, more equitable future for our children,” President told those gathered. The event yesterday featured presentations and round table discussion from regional ministers, two plenary sessions, one with a panel of university academics collectively interrogating the impact of technological innovations on Caribbean Education and how regional policymakers and educators can work smarter using AI. Related Similar Articles

Panama finally pays $1.5B to 19 local rice millers Oct 24, 2024 News Some of the rice millers at the handing-over ceremony on Wednesday Kaieteur News – After a six-year wait, 19 local rice millers have received a total of $1.5 billion owed to them by the Panamanian Government. The cheques were presented by Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha at the Ministry’s Regent Road office on Wednesday. The debt stemmed from a 2018 shipment of 9,000 tonnes of rice to Panama, which went unpaid, leaving the millers in financial limbo. Upon assuming office, the PPP/C administration immediately initiated efforts to recover the outstanding funds. Many of the millers expressed relief, noting that the funds will enable them to revitalise their rice mills. Wazeer Hossein of Wazeer Hossein Rice Milling Complex shared his gratitude, stating that the mill will now reopen. “…because I waited so long for it. It was overdue. It even affected us in the industry. We were closed for a while because of the payments,” he added. Mohindra Persaud of Nand Persaud & Company described the legal process as ‘very long and stressful’ but welcomed its resolution. He noted, “I guess now all of us are happy that this financial issue has been settled. This brings the Panama sales to a closure. I want to say thanks to the government and Minister Zulfikar Mustapha for getting this matter concluded.” Praemwatie Baliram of D Suklall Rice Industry echoed similar relief, stating, “We feel a great relief because we were worried about the equipment that we have in the mill. So, now, that we get the money, we will reopen.” Fyuse Hoosain of Fyuse Hoosain Rice Milling Complex also confirmed that his mill would resume operations with the newly received funds. The long legal battle, which disrupted livelihoods and forced several mills to close, was finally resolved after the government took the matter to the International Chamber of Arbitration in France, securing the funds owed to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB). Minister Mustapha explained that Panama had given an undertaking to pay the principal amount, allowing for the arbitration to be withdrawn once the millers were compensated. “We gave them [Panama] an undertaking that as long as the principle is paid and the rice millers are paid…Then, we will ensure that we withdraw that arbitration…The money has been paid into the GRDB’s account. It was very unfortunate that some of you had to come out of business,” he explained. Minister Mustapha urged the millers to settle any outstanding payments to the GRDB and small-scale farmers, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting the rice industry. “We are hoping that the rice industry will continue to excel because we have made a lot of input over the last four years. Over $3.6 billion we have invested in the rice industry to bring relief to the farmers,” Minister Mustapha noted. (DPI) Related Similar Articles

14 contractors bid to build new Campbellville Health Centre Oct 24, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Fourteen contractors have submitted bids for the construction of a new Campbellville Health Centre building. The current Campbellville Health Centre in Georgetown. The project is being undertaken by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). The project which attracted bids from both local and overseas firms opened on Tuesday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office. According to information provided by NPTAB, the bidders interested are as follows: PP Building Contracting – $637,600,200; Construct It Inc. – $1,058,949,890; Pivot Engineering Inc; Avinash Contracting & Scrap Metal Inc. – $988,273,640; Qingjian Group Company Guyana Inc. – $1,167,793,956; S&K Construction, Consultancy Services & General Supplies Inc. – $857,756,052; Cloud Construction – $727,234,000; AM Concepts Inc. – $610,388,640; Blue Print Builders Inc. – $733,830,000; Kares Engineering Inc. – $776,270,400; Sheriff Construction – $712,662,500; Urban Edge Builders Inc. – $798,015,000; Onyx Engineering Inc. – $751,358,800; and BM Property Investments Inc. – $829,811,890. During the opening also it was revealed that two engineer’s estimates were provided which is for a 4- Storey Single Lot estimated at $865,313,013, and a 2- Storey Double Lot estimated at  $766,197,840. Kaieteur News reported that the decision to have a new building constructed is to properly improve the infrastructure of the health centre so as to introduce more services for patients, thus taking off some of the load from the GPHC. Speaking with this newspaper previously, GPHC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Robbie Rambarran said that the current Campbellville Health Centre bulding is very old and has several defects. “It is a very old building and what has happened over the years, is that pieces were added on and so it’s very old, it’s leaking, when it rains, it floods, there is no proper logical flow for patient care because there were pieces of things that were built all around so there is no proper logical flow for patient care and the processing of patients,” he explained. He said too that the current facility is very small and cannot meet the current demand of the number of patients who go there. The Campbellville Health Centre on a monthly basis sees patients from Campbellville, Prashad Nagar, Sophia and even persons from Kitty. Rambarran disclosed that GPHC intends to introduce additional services at the Health Centre including but not limited to x-rays. He said the new building will be equipped with an asthmatic bay. “This health centre will have something that the majority of health centres don’t have, and that is an asthmatic bay, a lot of people with asthma rather than they come to the Georgetown Public Hospital and have to wait for some time to get treated, people with asthma will go there,” the CEO related. Questioned on the location for the new facility, Mr. Rambarran stated that it will be at the same location and also cover the area where the post office is situated. “So next door, there is a post office so the plan is to build one big two-storey building; we will incorporate the post office in the building as well and therefore, we will get additional space,” he mentioned noting that the post office and health centre will operate separately. Notably, the CEO revealed that the operation of the Kitty Health Centre will merge with the Campbellville centre in that big building. He mentioned that they have done surveys and observations for this transition over a two-year period and they found that the Kitty Health Centre can be accommodated at the Campbellville Health Centre since it is in the same catchment area. According to the CEO, when the construction begins, the current operations at Campbellville Health Centre will relocate to a temporary building. The hospital has since gone out to tender for that location; a contract is yet to be awarded. It was reported that health centres across the country are being upgraded by the Ministry of Health so as to comfortably serve patients and have enhanced healthcare services. Related Similar Articles

Contractor says Bamia School project 95% completed Oct 24, 2024 News After missing four deadlines… Kaieteur News – Almost three years after signing the contract and missing four deadlines, St8ment Investment Inc. on Wednesday announced that the Bamia Primary School project they have undertaken in Region 10 is nearing completion as it is at 95 percent completed. The Bamia Primary School project which is 95 percent completed. (Photos, St8ment Investment Inc) Just last week during his press conference, Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo had briefly mentioned that the school project was “finished now”. However, following reports that the school project maybe further delayed, St8tment in a release yesterday said, “Despite political mischief and various challenges during construction—such as material shortages, rising costs, and labor shortages—the Bamia School in Linden, Region 10, is now 95% complete.” According to the company, given the challenges encountered, the company was granted an extension to complete the school “by late 2024” and that they remain on track to meet this revised deadline. The company said that currently they have minimum work remaining in the areas of electrical and plumbing. Quoted in the release, the Project’s Chief Foreman, Akannie Blair, stated “This will be one of the region’s most modern and advanced schools and is set to be a great environment for learning.” It was shared that primary school is designed to be a state-of-the-art facility and will include a gymnasium, a main building housing 44 spacious classrooms, an auditorium with a performance stage, a sick bay equipped with showers, two smart classrooms, modern restroom facilities, a library, music room, science lab, and a staff room among other amenities. Kaieteur News had reported in July that after failing to complete the project on four occasions, the contractor was given an additional eight weeks to complete the construction of the $346M school. This was according to information provided by Deron Adams, Regional Chairman of Region 10 at the time. Adams had noted that should the contractor fail to complete the school, no more extensions will be granted. “If it’s not finish in that time, liquidation will start from the last due date, which was the end of June 2024,” he added. This publication had reported that the school project was expected to be completed in April this year, but at the time, works were only 75 percent completed. St8ment Investment Inc. was formed some six months prior to being handed the contract. Expressing his dissatisfaction with the slothfulness of the project, Adams had said it is hoped that the school could be completed soonest so as to eliminate the challenges students from the Bamia community are facing. “The issue is that because of the distance, children have to walk from the Bamia area all the way to Amelia’s Ward Primary; it is a challenge for them. The delay of this school is bringing more hardship on them,” he expressed. Earlier this year, $127 million was approved by the National Assembly to go towards completing the school. This publication had reported that the contract for the school was signed in November 2021. St8ment Investment Inc. was incorporated in March of 2021 and its principals are Rawle Ferguson and Kerwin Bollers of Hits and Jams Entertainment along with Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major and Kashif Muhammed of the Kashif and Shanghai football tournament. At the time of the signing, the project was expected to be completed within 20 months, that being completed by July 2023. However, the contractor was unable to finish the project, and was given a new deadline of November 2023 to complete the works. That deadline also passed and the works appeared to have been stalled. During the Consideration of the 2024 Budget, the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag was asked by the members of the Opposition to provide a status update on the school, to which she announced that the school will be completed for April 1, 2024. That deadline too was missed and the contractor was given a fourth deadline to the end of June to completed the works. This newspaper was later informed that as of June, works were at 88 percent completed. Related Similar Articles