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This Is Wildness! Oct 12, 2024 Peeping Tom Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News – The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPPC) is many things. But as time has shown, it is also adept at getting its priorities in exactly the wrong order. Its most recent foray into economic largesse is proof enough: the announcement of a $200,000 cash grant to every household, without first clarifying what, precisely, constitutes a “household.” In a twist of characteristic irony, this declaration came not from some hushed backroom discussion or a prudent policy analysis, but from the floor of the National Assembly itself. The scene was reminiscent of a magician revealing a rabbit before pulling it out of the hat—only to realize that the hat is still in another room. As always, the devil resides in the details—details the PPPC has habitually overlooked. It is one thing to announce a grand plan; it is quite another to ensure the practical mechanics are in place. We are now left wondering how exactly the PPPC plans to distribute these grants. Does a household mean a family under one roof? Does it extend to those with the same last name, or perhaps those sharing a post office box or light bill and water bill? These elementary questions appear to have eluded the drafters of the plan. But this government’s propensity for clumsiness makes even these lapses seem like small fries. This is the same government, after all, that had allocated, in this year’s Budget, a princely sum of $7 billion for cost-of-living relief nearly nine months ago, only to leave it languishing on the shelf while citizens bore the brunt of spiraling prices. One would think that a government with any semblance of foresight would move swiftly to distribute the relief when it is most needed, not when the storm is passing. Instead, the PPPC waited until the fire had nearly burned itself out before announcing that it had water in reserve. And now, as if trying to make up for its previous inaction, it has tripled down, allocating an additional $60 billion to be unleashed upon an already strained economy within mere weeks. One can only assume that the PPPC, in its haste, has forgotten that money is not immune to the laws of economics. A sudden influx of cash into a relatively small economy can lead to distortions that reverberate well beyond the intended beneficiaries. As any basic economist will tell you, the dangers of inflation grow in direct proportion to the speed at which money is injected into a market without corresponding production. The PPPC’s approach, however, seems to be founded less on the lessons of economics and more on the principle that if a little is good, a lot must be better. The timing of these payouts is itself cause for concern. The $60 billion must be distributed quickly—far too quickly to ensure that the funds do not become fodder for corruption or cronyism. Worse yet, the government is likely to throw in another $8 billion for back-pay and salary increases for public servants, summing up to nearly $70 billion that must find its way into the economy within a matter of weeks. The fact that no serious thought appears to have been given to whether the economy can digest this sum without choking is, to put it kindly, troubling. The likelihood of a surge in demand with no immediate increase in supply is high. And when demand outstrips supply, the result is plain: prices rise, and the cost of living, the very thing this plan purports to ease, could grow more burdensome. Yet, this possibility seems lost on the PPPC. Perhaps it has come to believe that its mere presence can bend the laws of supply and demand. Its confidence in its own rhetoric is commendable, even if it remains divorced from the realities that most Guyanese face. But the public deserves better than economic wizardry performed with a blindfold on. There are many reasons why people are asking whether this grand economic gesture might be more sleight-of-hand than genuine relief. It is one thing to blame external factors like global commodity prices, a favored excuse of the PPPC. But to ignore the role of domestic policy in exacerbating economic hardship is the height of irresponsibility. In the absence of proper planning, the PPPC’s supposed relief efforts might become little more than the cause of greater hardship. As with any trick that dazzles, there is a moment of revelation when the illusion falters and the audience sees what lies behind the smoke and mirrors. The question that arises is whether the PPPC has the capacity, or even the willingness, to undertake the level of monitoring necessary to prevent these cash injections from causing further harm. Monitoring inflationary pressures requires a willingness to adjust policies on the fly, to throttle back if the signs of overheating appear. But such flexibility has never been the PPPC’s strong suit. Its record speaks instead of a rigid adherence to its own grandiose schemes, however ill-considered they might prove to be. Perhaps the most glaring failure here is one of empathy—an inability, or perhaps an unwillingness, to understand what life is like for ordinary citizens who have endured nine months of surging prices without a hint of government relief. The PPPC’s delayed and now oversized response seems more geared towards political optics than to any genuine consideration of how best to help those struggling with the costs of basic necessities. One cannot help but wonder whether these disbursements would have been announced at all had it not been for the ever-present drumbeat of elections. But timing is not the only failure. The PPPC’s unbridled faith in cash grants as the solution to complex economic woes reveals a shallow understanding of what ails the country. Throwing money at a problem does not fix systemic issues; it merely covers them up until the next round of price hikes exposes the rift anew. Real economic resilience requires investment in production, infrastructure, and long-term stability—none of which can be achieved by cash grants alone, no matter how substantial. Yet, this government, like many before it, prefers to deliver sugar-coated promises, even when the candy is likely to melt before it reaches the hands of those who need it most. In the end, the PPPC’s latest ‘brainwave’ is less an act of governance and more a performance—a display meant to conjure applause, not results. But governing is not a stage play, and sooner or later, the curtain will come down. When it does, one can only hope that the audience—namely, the people of Guyana—will recognize the act for what it is: a spectacle that dazzles for a moment, but ultimately leaves them with little more than an emptier wallet and a deeper sense of disillusionment. 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Leadership acrobatics Oct 12, 2024 Editorial Editorial… Kaieteur News – One thing that could be said about Guyana’s chief policymaker, Bharrat Jagdeo, is that he is a man who slickly adapts to the demands of new developments.  He can be a bellower when grasping at straws to camouflage the weaknesses and the related stress under which he labors.  Other times, he is like a ballet dancer who tries to deliver under the pressure of the moment, only to rip his tights and expose himself.  At his best, the vice president glides like someone who has polished the bottom of his shoes, thinking that he performs smoothly.  What he has refused to admit is that many times he finds himself on a downward slanting carpet of banana peels, which upends him rather unceremoniously.  His management of this vital oil and gas sector has left him shopworn, which shows in the raggedness of his responses, the tightness around his eyes and mouth.  Often, he is locked in a hostile grimace that fails to conceal the pathetic nature of his leadership. Guyana’s offshore oil partner, ExxonMobil, has been upping and upping its daily production rate dizzyingly.  The Liza One and Liza Two projects are scheduled to run dry in as low as seven years, and not the initial 20-year field life estimated for both.  When questioned about this, Jagdeo exhibited his first dance step: “do you think that what’s in a well is the final figure?”  It is now a standard of Guyana’s leading oil authority to answer a question with one of his own.  It is how he gives himself room to think, presents him with the opportunity to circle around the issue, and come up with an answer that could travel from the strange to the disturbing.  The hole that he digs for himself, that he chooses to pretend doesn’t exist, is what gives away his hand.  He knows that we know that an estimate is just what it says that it is, an estimate, which means that it is subject to revision.  An estimate may be close to the original number announced, or with more space.  But to take that estimate and multiply it and extend it as the chief policymaker did is stretching things past the limit.  “We believe that the life of these projects will be around the original timeframe, and some may even extend further out.”  As answers go, that latest one from Jagdeo is as slick and hazy as he can conjure. Considering the current accelerated rate of ExxonMobil’s daily production, and Jagdeo’s pinning his answer (and projections) right back to the 20-year life cycle of the fields, if not beyond, the Liza One and Liza Two projects could turn out to house more oil than originally estimated.  Five years of production at increasing daily rates has led to 44% and 35% of the Liza 1 & 2 being extracted respectively, but Jagdeo insists that new discoveries will maintain the life of projects to 20 years and, if things work out well, possibly longer.  This indicates that the Liza 1 & 2 potential could be staggeringly more than ExxonMobil has informed Guyana.  Given where Guyana’s top oilman is, the question could be raised about how ExxonMobil is carrying out its exploration: by the centimeter or the kilometer?  Considering Jagdeo’s fresh position of the 20-year duration still holding, both Liza One and Liza Two could probably hold twice as much as oil as the 452M and 570M barrels respectively that was the original estimate, by the time that this supposed present day exploration by ExxonMobil is completed.  How could a company so expertly informed in oil science and oil math be so far off?  What does ExxonMobil really know about Liza 1 & 2 estimates, and how much of that has been accurately shared with Guyana?  We have seen the games that ExxonMobil has played with the last eight new discoveries and how much oil has been found.  Given Jagdeo’s answer about estimates and sticking to the original 20-year lifespan for Liza 1 & 2, Guyanese are now living with more wool over their eyes.  The more Jagdeo shifts like this, unveils his tricks, the more he shows his weakness, unfitness for the oil role he holds. Related Similar Articles

Over $3B in expired drugs disposed of between Jan.2023 and June 2024 – AG Report Oct 12, 2024 News – Health Ministry clarifies drugs date back to before 2022 File: Expired drugs being disposed of in 2020. (DPI photo) Kaieteur News – Over $3B in drugs were expired and disposed of by the Ministry of Health, the Auditor General’s (AG) 2023 Report revealed. Tables showing the expired drugs disposed and those on hand to be disposed of by the Ministry of Health. According to the report, the drugs valued $3.228 billion expired between January 2023 and June 2024, but according to a release from the Ministry of Health on Friday, the drugs expired before 2022. The report noted that a quantity of the drugs valued $2.332 billion was still on hand to be disposed of as of July 2024. The AG’s Office stated that a register of expired drugs was not presented for audit examination. However, the ministry provided lists containing expired drugs disposed and those on hand to be disposed of at its Diamond and Ruimveldt Materials Management Unit (MMU) locations. In response to the AG’s observation, the Health Ministry acknowledged the findings. The Audit Office recommended that the ministry “undertake a survey to determine the realistic needs of pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies at these Institutions and ensure the proper storage of Drugs and Medical Supplies in order to reduce losses through expiration or improper storage.” Further, the office recommended that the ministry ensures the disposal of all expired drugs is executed in accordance with the Food and Drug Regulations. It is important to note that when the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration assumed office in 2020, $742 million worth of expired drugs that were procured under the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government were destroyed and disposed of. Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony assured at that time that moving forward efforts would have been made to ensure that the procurement process is better managed. He said once properly managed, the ministry would be in a better position to minimize wastage. The Auditor General’s Office has over the years been flagging the millions of dollars’ worth of expired drugs that were disposed of. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health on Friday clarified that the expired medications, medical supplies, and laboratory supplies in question date back to before 2022 and, in some instances, were from 2019 and beyond. These, however, are now being responsibly disposed of by national and international safety protocols. “For the medications bought in 2023, $12,546,000 expired or 0.1%; similarly, for 2024, $13,471,899 expired or 0.06%,” The Ministry stated. Clarifying what was reported, the Ministry said the drugs referenced were procured and stocked primarily before 2019 and during the COVID-19 pandemic and noted that they have since expired due to various factors, including changes in medical needs, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and new treatment protocols. “The Ministry has been engaged in an ongoing process of identifying and safely disposing of these outdated medications to ensure that only viable, effective drugs are available for use.  Regular audits are conducted to monitor pharmaceutical stocks, and efforts are underway to strengthen the supply chain management system,” the agency expressed. Related Similar Articles

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No distribution of $200,000 cash grant before Christmas – Jagdeo Oct 12, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo announced on Friday that the $200,000 one-off cash grant will not be distributed before Christmas. In an interview published on his social media page, the Vice President said, “In five months’ time, we will be ready to distribute.”During a Facebook Live session, Jagdeo elaborated on the process for accessing the cash grant, emphasizing the need for fairness and transparency in the distribution. He noted that this task is challenging and that the government requires time to ensure proper execution.“We want to get the systems in place, so I would anticipate that within the next five months we would complete the process,” he said. Jagdeo indicated that there are approximately 300,000 households in the country and mentioned that the bulk of the payments will be issued via cheques, although the government is also exploring the option of direct payments into bank accounts. Jagdeo’s statement follows President Irfaan Ali’s announcement on Thursday at the Special Sitting of the 12th Parliament that each legitimate Guyanese household on Thursday at the 12th Parliament Special Sitting, will receive a one-off cash grant of $200,000. Verification for eligibility will be conducted using utility bills and other methods. Related Similar Articles

Distribution of $200K cash grant will go beyond Christmas-Jagdeo Oct 12, 2024 News ..VP Jagdeo estimates five months to put systems in place, distribute funds (Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo announced on Friday that distribution of $200K cash grant will go beyond Christmas) Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo Kaieteur News – Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo announced on Friday that the $200,000 one-off cash grant will go beyond christmas. In an interview published on his social media page, the Vice President said, “So I anticipate that within the next five months we will complete the process”. During a Facebook Live session, Jagdeo elaborated on the process for accessing the cash grant, emphasizing the need for fairness and transparency in the distribution. He noted that this task is challenging and that the government requires time to ensure proper execution.“We want to get the systems in place, so I would anticipate that within the next five months we would complete the process,” he said. Jagdeo indicated that there are approximately 300,000 households in the country and mentioned that the bulk of the payments will be issued via cheques, although the government is also exploring the option of direct payments into bank accounts. Jagdeo’s statement follows President Irfaan Ali’s announcement on Thursday at the Special Sitting of the 12th Parliament that each legitimate Guyanese household on Thursday at the 12th Parliament Special Sitting, will receive a one-off cash grant of $200,000. Verification for eligibility will be conducted using utility bills and other methods. (Distribution of $200K cash grant will go beyond Christmas-Jagdeo) Related Similar Articles

693 cancer cases recorded in first six months of 2024 Oct 12, 2024 News …breast cancer most prevalent Kaieteur News – Six hundred and ninety-three cancer cases have been recorded by the Ministry of Health’s cancer registry for the first half of 2024, the registry reported. Among the cancers identified, breast cancer was the most prevalent with 149 cases. There were 91 cases of prostate cancer, 62 cases of cervix cancer and 57 cases of colorectal cancer. Additionally, 10 cases of ovarian cancer were reported while there were 51 cases of endometrial cancer. Fourteen cases of thyroid cancer, 12 cases of stomach cancer, 10 cases of lung and bronchus cancer as well as uterus cancer and nine cases each of liver and kidney cancers were recorded. The cancer registry also reported that there were eight cases of lymphoma, seven cases each of bladder and tongue cancers, six pancreas cases and five esophageal cancers. Four cases of brain cancer were recorded while there was one case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML+ALL). The registry also noted that there were no cases of bile duct cancer, while 161 cases were classified as “other.” Cancer mortality in 2023 compared to 2022 The cancer registry also reported a 38 percent increase in cancer cases in 2023, when compared to the previous year. The cancer registry revealed a troubling trend in cancer mortality rates, with deaths rising from 443 in 2022 to 612 in 2023, marking a significant increase. Between 2019 and 2020, a total of 565 cancer deaths were recorded. Prostate cancer statistics show fluctuations over the years: 88 deaths in 2020, 81 in 2021, 71 in 2022, and 76 in 2023, the registry disclosed. For lung cancer, there were 16 deaths in 2020, rising to 20 in 2022, and then increasing to 29 in 2023. Colorectal cancer deaths also saw a rise, with 16 deaths in 2020, 20 in 2021, 18 in 2022, and 29 in 2023. It is important to note that these figures primarily reflect male patients. Turning to female cancer statistics, breast cancer accounted for 50 deaths in 2020, 64 in 2021, 53 in 2022, and 56 in 2023. Lung cancer fatalities among women were reported at eight in both 2020 and 2021, dropping to six in 2022 before rising sharply to 17 in 2023. Colorectal cancer resulted in eight deaths in 2020, 25 in 2021, 23 in 2022, and a decrease to 13 in 2023. For cervical cancer, deaths rose from 26 in 2020 to 35 in 2021, and then to 43 in 2022 and increasing to 45 in 2023. Lastly, ovarian cancer deaths were recorded at 22 in 2020, 16 in 2021, eight in 2022, and 14 in 2023. Meanwhile, on January 1, 2024, Kaieteur News reported that Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony said that his ministry is doing everything possible to fight and win the battle against cancer in Guyana starting with a myriad of strategies to assist the process. He announced that there has also been significant improvement in turnaround time from biopsy to diagnosis. Previously, the results of a biopsy took approximately three months. This time has been reduced to less than seven days at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). “We are going to introduce in the first quarter of next year (2024) telepathology, this is another project that we have been working with Mount Sinai on. We have already bought the equipment to do telepathology, we have started the renovation of a section of the Georgetown Hospital to accommodate this new lab and once that is completed, we will install the equipment, we have already trained the staff of the hospital to be able to do telepathology and they would be directly linked to the Mount Sinai lab,” Dr. Anthony stated. High-resolution images will be taken of biopsy samples which will then be forwarded to a pathologist at Mount Sinai Hospital, and a diagnosis made, this will also help improve the waiting time for results. (Adapted from DPI) Related Similar Articles