admin

Nassau, N.P., 20th Oct. 2024 – The Bahamas Department of Meteorology issued Alert #9 at noon as Hurricane Oscar continues to impact The Bahamas....

WARNING: The following contains offensive language JOIN THE ABN WHATSAPP GROUP FOLLOW THE ABN WHATSAPP CHANNEL CLICK HERE TO GET ON THE ABN WHATSAPP Аre you a business...

Oct 21, 2024 News Kaieteur News– The government of Guyana has distanced itself from comments made by former President, Prime Minister and Guyana’s current Ambassador to the United States of America, Sam Hinds on the ExxonMobil oil contract. In two separate letters to the media earlier this month, the Ambassador encouraged Guyanese to rejoice over the paltry proceeds being received from Exxon and even ventured to insinuate that the country benefits from the lack of ring-fencing. In his second letter, Hinds also suggested that the royalties being paid by Exxon makes up for the taxes that the oil companies do not pay. On Thursday, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo made it clear that the Ambassador’s views do not align with that of the party’s. Jagdeo argued that the media, in particular Kaieteur News has lost focus on the fact that Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) is being paid by Exxon, a glaring conflict of interest. He however highlighted that the newspaper has jumped on the former President for sharing his thoughts on the issue. “They just brushed off this whole question of lack of integrity from this conflict of interest. They just brushed it off. It’s gone. Kaieteur News forget about that. The man is working for Exxon now and heading a political party that’s in parliament. He collecting money every day from Exxon (but) they cuss the PPP and poor Sam Hinds because he muses and shares his thoughts publicly what he thinks,” the VP said. ExxonMobil, He however noted, “But it’s not an official position of the party…Sam has earned the right to say what he wants. He has contributed enough to this country to allow him to have a free intellectual thought, wherever he believes in…but they are hounding Sam Hinds.” Kaieteur News reported that following the first letter from Ambassador Hinds, the two major political opposition parties raised concerns over the views shared by the former Head of State. Chairman of the AFC, David Patterson in an invited comment said that it was unfortunate that a former President of Guyana could express such simplistic utterances. In fact, he said, “Hinds is now the country’s Ambassador, so we have to be very worried about the level of representation on behalf of the country, if he is satisfied with seeing his country short-changed.” Meanwhile, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) spokesman on oil and gas, Elson Low said that Ambassador Hinds has once again proven to be a window into the PPP’s true thinking and attitude. “He previously praised the Stabroek block Production Sharing Agreement as “fair” and now his recent comments have made it clear that the PPP is intimidated by the challenges of the oil industry. Virtually, no political leader or party worldwide would say that it prefers not to have more revenue,” Low stated. Instead, the PNC/R insisted that the country should be pushing to earn more revenue to meet the urgent development needs of the country. Related Similar Articles

Oct 21, 2024 News …Bank of Guyana says bill increased significantly to US$144.9M at mid-year Kaieteur News-  With Guyana leading discussions on the regional push to reduce the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM’s) food import bill by 25% by 2025, the nation has itself struggled to reduce its own food importation bill. This is according to statistics in the Bank of Guyana (BoG) Half Year Report. Central Bank figures indicate that Guyana’s food import bill has continuously climbed at the half-year mark over the past three years. Between January to June 2022, Guyana’s food import bill totaled US$101.7M. This did not include beverage and tobacco which accounted for another US$30.3M. President of Guyana and CARICOM Chair, Dr. Irfaan Ali During the same period in 2023, the country’s total food importation bill rose to US$122.2M while beverage and tobacco imports reached US$30.9M. This year, the Bank of Guyana report stated that the food import bill climbed significantly to US$144.9M. The bill for tobacco and beverages also increased to US$42.3M during the period. The Bank explained, “In the consumption goods sub-category, imports amounted to US$492.7 million, 28.6 percent or US$109.6 million more than the 2023 corresponding level. This was due to increases in the sub-categories of other durables, food for final consumption, motor cars, beverages & tobacco, other non-durable goods, other semi-durable goods and clothing and footwear by US$38.8 million, US$22.7 million, US$19.1 million, US$11.4 million, US$9.6 million, US$6.6 million and US$1.4 million, respectively.” Since Guyana began producing oil, the economy has grown consecutively over the past four years by double digits. Although efforts have been made to increase food production locally, it is clear that the growing demand in the country, as a result of increased foreigners, cannot be met by local farmers. On October 16, Guyana joined in observing World Food Day, as the Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha emphasized the vital role of food security in international development. The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported him saying, “access to nutritious food and sustainable food, is a cornerstone of the development of human dignity.” In a press release issued back in February this year, CARICOM said “food and nutrition security is a critical goal of the initiative which aims to reduce the Region’s high food import bill, in the vicinity of $6B, by 25 percent by the year 2025. Specific objectives include the removal of barriers to intra-regional trade; improving logistics and transportation; greater cross-border investments in the agriculture sector; and the provision of alternate financing and insurance.” Former Chairman of CARICOM, Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit reported at the time that the region remains on course to achieve the goals identified under the 25 by 2025 Initiative. He was addressing the opening ceremony of the 46th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, on February 25 at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, Guyana. Skerrit said that the Community took specific steps last year towards self-sufficiency through the continued implementation of the Community Agricultural Policy (CAP), fostering innovation and collaboration among farmers. The progress included increased budgetary allocations to the agricultural sector in Member States; the introduction of new crops; improved cross-border investments and collaborations; development and implementation of new agriculture trade policies and guidelines; and the identification and agreement on possible insurance products to benefit farmers in the Region. “It means that we remain on course to meet our 25 by 2025 Food Security Initiative targets, with the most critical one being to reduce our food import bill and advance food and nutrition security for the Community,” he said. Related Similar Articles

Man killed in hit-and-run accident Oct 21, 2024 News Kaieteur News – A man of Amerindian descent who is yet to be identified was killed, during the wee hours of Sunday, in a hit-and-run accident at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE). Police in a statement said they are looking for the car, PSS 8190 that was involved in the accident. Another car was reportedly involved in the accident and the driver, a 33-year-old man of Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara (WCD), gave police some information. When the accident occurred, his car was reportedly parked on the southern parapet along the EBE Public Road at Tuschen.  Police learnt that the victim was standing with a group people when he decided to cross the road around 02:45 hrs. While walking over from south to north he reportedly ended-up in the path of the “speeding” car’s (PSS 8190) and was struck. “As a result of the collision, the pedestrian was flung in the air and landed on the left side back of motorcar PRR 7218”, police said. The car reportedly stopped a short distance away returned to scene but suddenly sped off after a group of people rushed towards the vehicle. The victim was subsequently picked-up by police in an unconscious state and taken to the Leonora Cottage Hospital. Doctors pronounced him dead on arrival. Police said checks were made for the car but efforts have been unsuccessful thus far. Related Similar Articles

Govt. racked up 11 loans in 2023 totaling $222 billion – AG Report Oct 21, 2024 News Kaieteur News – The Auditor General’s Report for 2023 reveals that the Government of Guyana (GoG) borrowed a total of $222.484 billion through 11 loan agreements. The loans were sourced from various international financial institutions, with funding focusing on health care, road infrastructure, housing, and climate resilience. Among the major contributors were the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Bank of China, Global Affairs Canada, and the Saudi Fund for Development. Highlighted loans include a $41.7 billion loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for the reconstruction of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, a $40.7 billion loan from the Bank of China to support the East Coast Demerara Road Project Phase 2, a $33.36 billion loan from the IDB for strengthening health care in Senior Minister within the Office of the President with the Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh. frastructure under the Conditional Credit Line for Investment Projects (CCLIP). The report also details smaller loans aimed at enhancing human capital development and policy reforms, with donors such as the International Development Association (IDA) and Global Affairs Canada playing key roles. In addition to the new loans, three agreements contracted before 2023 were amended this year. It was stated that in response to growing financial needs, the Government of Guyana raised the external debt ceiling in February 2021 to $650 billion. A subsequent increase in July 2023 brought the ceiling to $900 billion, followed by another adjustment in February 2024, pushing the limit to $1.5 trillion. Kaieteur News has reported that Guyana’s total debt has risen sharply, exceeding US$5 billion by mid-2024, according to the Ministry of Finance’s Mid-Year Report. As of June 2024, the country’s debt stood at US$5,063.3 million, up from US$4,508.8 million at the end of December 2023. As of the end of June 2024, external Public and publicly guaranteed debt totaled US$1,924.2 million. The ministry stated that this increase is attributed to positive net flows from multilateral creditors such as the World Bank’s International Development Association and the Caribbean Development Bank, as well as from bilateral creditors including China, Canada, India, and UK Export Finance. These funds support various social and infrastructural projects. Notably, the report states that the external PPG debt stock is projected to grow to US$2,832.3 million by the end of 2024, driven by expected continued inflows from both bilateral and multilateral sources. Related Similar Articles

Oct 21, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Former head of Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams has criticised the government for their handling of the suspected oil seepage in Crane, West Coast Demerara, (WCD), and toxic contamination at Noitgedacht, Linden. Describing the response by the State as “careless” and “compassionless,” during an Alliance For Change (AFC) press conference on Friday, Dr. Adams called f or immediate independent investigations into the two incidents. Last week, residents of Crane, West Coast Demerara complained of oily substance seeping through their floors. The EPA confirmed receiving reports from residents on the West Coast of Demerara, noting that it immediately began to send investigative teams for site inspections and to collect samples for testing where necessary. Petroleum Engineer and former Head of the EPA, Dr. Vincent Adams The EPA also said the Agency is currently collaborating with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), GUYSUCO, and the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) to identify the cause and nature of the seepage.” In the meantime, the agency has urged residents in the immediate vicinity to “remain calm and exercise patience” as the investigation proceeds. Further, affected residents are advised to avoid the impacted areas within their homes for their safety. “The Agency is still actively continuing investigations and, when completed, will notify all relevant parties. The Agency will take any action necessary based on the findings from these investigations.” The EPA pointed out that it has engaged Exxon and that the company will be investigating as part of its grievance mechanism. Speaking at the press conference Dr. Adams said, “These suffering people can’t even breathe in their own homes…The EPA shows up and tells the people that it was coming from cooking…We are asking them to relocate the folks at Crane to proper living quarters and to bring in independent technical teams to investigate both incidents.” Dr. Adams also questioned the EPA’s technical capacity to handle such incidents. He noted that during his tenure as head of the agency, he had implemented plans to equip the EPA with the necessary tools, which were later abandoned by the current government. “The EPA itself admits they didn’t have the equipment to test which doesn’t surprise me,” Adams said, referring to the agency’s claim that ExxonMobil had been called in to assist with testing. “Is Exxon now doing the EPA’s job?” “Do we need any more evidence to show that Exxon is basically running the EPA? This is grossly inappropriate? Totally inappropriate?” he asked. Meanwhile, Dr. Adams, an executive of the AFC also addressed reports of the toxic road contamination in Linden. “The Mayor and Town Council did their own sampling and analysis, and it shows very, very high concentrations of toxic metals…We call upon Mr. [Juan] Edghill to publish the results and show us the evidence,” Adams stated. The Mayor and Town Council at Linden had expressed concern that the material used to maintain the Noitgedacht Access Road was contaminated with toxic chemicals from a mined-out bauxite site and poses a serious health threat to residents of the town. Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, recently visited Linden and committed to having a dust suppression system in place to reduce the presence of dust from the road in the atmosphere, even as he ordered more testing be done. Edghill disputed the claims made in an October 15, 2024, Stabroek News article. According to the ministry, the report highlighting unsafe levels of toxic metals was based on an “unsigned document” and did not reflect the actual samples collected from the road.  Edghill promised a thorough investigation into the matter. However, while both the EPA and the Ministry of Public Works have committed to transparency, promising to release the results of their testing once available, Dr. Adams, the government’s actions thus far leave much to be desired. “This is grossly inappropriate… the people of Guyana deserve better,” he said. Related Similar Articles