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Chinese businessman critical after shot several times on D’Urban Street Oct 09, 2024 News First Choice Super Market Kaieteur News – A Chinese man was shot several times at D’Urban Street, Georgetown early Tuesday morning. The injured man, who is listed as critical, has been identified as 50-year-old Jianqing Chen, owner of First Choice Supermarket located on D’Urban Street. Police in a statement said the shooting took place around 00:07hrs in front of Chen’s supermarket. An on-duty security guard, who witnessed the incident, described the shooter to police as a lone gunman on a black motorcycle. Investigators were told that loud gunshots rang out shortly after Chen was overheard by the guard arguing in his car with someone over the phone. The gunman made good his escape after shooting the businessman. The guard recalled seeing Chen’s limp hand hanging from his car door and his bloodied body slumped in the car seat. The security guard said he contacted his boss immediately and informed him of the shooting. Chen was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for treatment. Investigations are ongoing. Related Similar Articles

Oct 09, 2024 News – MP. Mahipaul says blocking of $28M contract calculated to distract public   Kaieteur News – Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul has poured cold water on the government’s recent decision to block the award of a $28M contract to a firm owned by the Regional Engineer in Region Eight, Latchman Singh. Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul. Mahipaul said the move was calculated to distract attention away from the bigger picture. According to Mahipaul, Singh is no stranger to the Ministry of Public Works and Amerindian Affairs. “Our intelligence is clear: whenever PPP/C ministers grace Region 8, they are wined and dined at Lene’s Restaurant and Bar, owned by the same individual behind Lene’s Contracting Enterprise,” Mahipaul said. He explained that there was an instance where Singh stood before the Public Accounts Committee and accused a Regional Executive Officer (REO) of directing him to undertake illegal activities under the APNU/AFC administration. “But one must ask, who directed him to open a contracting company and who is instructing him to do wrong things now? Could it be a PPP/C Minister pulling the strings behind the scenes?” he questioned. He advised that the citizens must not be deceived by surface level optics and the government wants them to believe that they are addressing the issues, however “this is just a calculated distraction.” Mahipaul is of the opinion that the government “knows fully well who this engineer is, and they continue to enable his actions in Region 8. Now, with elections on the horizon, they are attempting to sell us on a false narrative of reform.” Furthermore, Mahipaul disclosed that there is a PPP/C Regional Councillor in Region 8, reportedly very close to Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Pauline Sukhai. Mahipaul said the said contractor receives a lot of contracts in Region One. “The time will come when their names, faces, and company will be exposed. But make no mistake—this is the most corrupt government Guyana has ever seen and we cannot allow ourselves to be blindsided by their games,” he said. On Monday, this publication reported that Singh was told to decide whether he wants to be an employee of the State or work as a private contractor after he had won the $28M contract through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). While responding to a Stabroek News editorial last week at his newspaper, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo exposed the issue. He said there are complaints that persons may be influenced or they may be violating procurement laws because of instructions they receive or they may even lack awareness of the law and what it has provisions in place for. However, he said the current administration has embarked on a campaign to fix all of this and they have made it clear that non-adherence to the law will not be tolerated at a political level. “So people know now that they are responsible for compliance with the procurement laws and that they will bear the consequences should we find breach. We have already seen that from the time we spoke on one visit to Region Eight last week, we got a number of things,” he said. Giving an example of one such situation where the laws were breached, he told reporters of the case with Singh. “One engineer there in the region…so he is based in Mahdia and then put in a bid through the public process, an open bidding process but through NPTAB and got a contract for $28M because they just looked at whoever had the best bid, but this guy is also the regional engineer.” The engineer however did not submit his bid through the regional system, instead he submitted via an open public tender, and received the bid to do work in Mahdia. “Now if you’re an engineer and you’re based in Mahdia working for the RDC and you’re the contractor for a project in Mahdia, people wouldn’t care if it’s NPTAB that gave that and you participated in an open bid, this is the kind of conflict I spoke of,” Jagdeo stressed. The VP is of the opinion that as an employee of the government, you cannot also be a contractor for government project as well, hence the engineer will have to make a choice which path to follow as he cannot assume both roles. Additionally, a number of other issues were exposed to the officials during the outreach and the government is working to address them, Jagdeo said.  “People are now bringing this to our attention, we didn’t know the NPTAB didn’t know I asked them, they said we don’t know this guy is the regional engineer, he bid through an open process. They did not know. Once this comes to our attention, people have to make a determination,” the VP said. Related Similar Articles

Man stabbed to death while urging cousin to go home Oct 09, 2024 News Kaieteur News – A 23-year-old mason was stabbed to death on September 30, 2024 while trying to convince his cousin to leave a location at Sand Road, Kuru Kururu Village, Soesdyke-Linden Highway. Dead: Eton Callistro Dead is Eton Callistro of Swan/ Kuru Kururu Squatting area, Soesdyke-Linden Highway.  Police reported that the alleged murder occurred at 02:30h. Investigations revealed that Callistro and his family attended the Kuru Kururu Heritage celebrations held at the Kuru Kururu Community Centre Ground on September 29, 2024. It is reported that during the Heritage celebrations, the family consumed alcoholic beverages and participated in several activities. At about 02:20h, Callistro reportedly ventured off to call his cousin Charline (only name given), who was at the time partying with a group of men. “He told her it was time to go home, and she refused,” police reported. In light of her refusal, suspects (unknown number) from the group confronted him and this led to a scuffle. During the scuffle, one of the males reportedly stabbed Callistro to his left side chest. In an effort to escape the group, Callistro ran but collapsed some fifty feet away from where he was stabbed. The injured man was then picked up by his 37-year-old brother, Kempton Callistro and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead by a doctor. Police reported that the area was checked, but no Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage was seen. The area where the alleged murder occurred is on a sand track leading to the Highway, with bushes on both sides of the track. “There is no light in the area,” police reported. The area was processed, and what appears to be blood was seen on the track, where the incident occurred, and samples were taken. Police reported that statements are currently being taken as part of its investigation.   Related Similar Articles

Guyanese first, thank you Barry and Timmy Oct 09, 2024 Peeping Tom Kaieteur News – There is always the hope that Guyanese would help Guyana turn the corner.  The challenge is that some corners are longer than others, and slippery, and steep as well.  Take this one involving the Chinese, and both brothers Barry Jay and Timmy Tucker are on the same page.  The playing field must be level.  The standards must be applied uniformly.  Guyanese must not be made to suffer.  If the latter sounds like LFS Burnham in his prime, it is. It is good to read that two former presidents are of the same mind where the interests of Guyanese are concerned.  The belated wish is that that other former president posted to Washington, DC could have been of a similar benevolent disposition. The thought surfaces rather temptingly: was Uncle Sammy sent to Washington to protect Guyana’s interests, or was he dispatched to protect Guyanese from his tender, loving care? Three former presidents and all are for what is good for Guyanese.  It is a little too much to absorb within a matter of a few short days but hope kindles anew.  Way to go Barry, Timmy and, of course, Sammy. The vendors-small and relatively powerless, somewhat moneyless-in Agricola are crying.  The Chinese Invasion has spilled into their neighbourhood.  Theirs is not the only one.  Suddenly, ordinary Guyanese have an idea what it is to be Taiwanese.  The overpowering might of the Chinese is not something to take lightly.  For it crushes all who stand in its path.  Perhaps that is why President Ali was wise enough to take the safe way out and hail the Chinese for their massive contributions to Guyana’s development.  There would be limited agreement on that score but only when the contributions of the capitalist-oriented Chinese from Hong Kong are considered. The Communist Chinese are about dominance and total control, which the hapless small folks in Agricola got their first taste. In Latin, agricola means farmer, but how can they farm when the Chinese conglomerates, usually Red Chinese government financed and managed, encroach on their space and in their face? Dr. Barry J had his dander up and was literally rolling thunder: the rules must be uniformly implemented.  None of this shabby business about different strokes for local folks.When the world needed a savior, God gave it Jesus.  When Guyanese need a rescuer, somebody gave them Jagdeo.  But Barry Jagdeo is not Jagdeo for nothing.  He walked with his posse: one man is all that he needed.  Enter former local commerce president, Mr. Timmy Tucker. It is inspiring that he has abandoned the low ground of lowlife (Guyanese fighting against that national revulsion, the 2016 Exxon contract) to the high ground of saying a strong word for the high priority that should be given to Guyanese business endeavours.  That is more than local content; it is local leadership of a trailblazing kind.  For a long while, it was rather lonely when the marauding, expanding, overwhelming Chinese (and Americans and others) went on their commercial rampages across the length and breadth of Guyana.  Now somewhat strangely, there is all this company, where the rich and famous are up in arms over the inroads that the Chinese are making and running Guyanese out of business.  Test it out, people: travel a few miles and there is a supermarket, or a hardware powerhouse (with breathtaking Home Depot bulkiness), or another exotic restaurant dotting the landscape.  Often, they are a small handful within the confines of a city block, and it is the same story in the far villages too. To give credit where it is due, Dr. Barry J waxed profusely about how care must be taken so that jingoistic does not colour local thinking.  There is much that must be said in support of such a posture.  No business should be discriminated against based on nationality. Or the thickness of their bankroll. Or, if the allowance is kindly permitted, squeezed out because of political leanings, history.  In Guyana, that means more than the colour of the political or tribal flag followed.  There is another kind of colour.  With all that said, there are, however, some questions that refuse to stay still.  How do these megastores get approved in areas once believed to be off-limits for such structures?  The point is not about renting from pro-Chinese landlords, but about erecting mini skyscrapers within a furlong.  How does that happen when ordinary Guyanese homeowners experience severe difficulty getting any movement to put up a dog pen on their premises, or a small extension to their building?  Hardware stores, and all-purpose haberdasheries have their utilities.  But liquor?  What could be next: roti and curry, black pudding, taxis, barbershops, butcheries, and all at gargantuan square footage? Like the two big men (both former presidents) said, this matter must be dealt with right, i.e., the proper form.  Welcome is the word.  These are the conditions, limits.  Now abide with them.  Thanks, Excellencies. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.) Related Similar Articles

Happy for Suriname Oct 09, 2024 Editorial Editorial… Kaieteur News – “I am happy for Suriname, very happy for them that they have worked very hard to get this deal,” said Guyana’s Bharat Jagdeo when asked about the oil contract signed by neighbours to the East.  We at this paper would have been happy also if Guyana’s oil chief had manifested the same hard work to get a better deal from ExxonMobil for the rich Stabroek oil basin. Not only the government has not “worked very hard” (to reuse his words), or shown much boldness to get more for Guyana, the leading opposition parties are also so scared of upsetting ExxonMobil that the word ‘renegotiate’ causes fits.  Guyanese politicians aspire to power, fight tooth and nail for power, and when they get power, they become impotent. Guyana’s oil chief embarrasses himself whenever he speaks.  He did not think that Suriname was boasting about its better oil deal.  This was notwithstanding the comparison made to the one that Guyana signed under the APNU+AFC coalition, and which Jagdeo’s PPPC Government has kept in the same state that robs Guyanese with every barrel of oil produced.  The 6.25% royalty figure and 36% tax rate that Suriname “worked very hard” for may not qualify as a boast for Guyana’s chief oil policymaker, but it was certainly a putdown of this country. Why even mention Guyana, make the comparison, then?  It is Jagdeo at his clever best, because he sees a possible challenge to his so-called “better contract management” mantra, which is about talking plenty and doing little of merit for a better oil deal from ExxonMobil.  Instead, he makes a big production out of the new Production Sharing agreement (PSA) which has its positives, but tellingly does not apply to the Stabroek Block over which ExxonMobil enjoys an unchallenged monopoly.  Guyanese know little of what ExxonMobil is doing out there, and as for the billions in expenses spent by the company that is a tightly guarded secret, with the PPP/C Government a party to the concealment. In his normal manner, Guyana’s oilman preferred to distract citizens by talking up the Local Content Law and the Wales Gas-to-Energy project.  The former finds Guyanese businesses scrambling to keep pace with the rapid approval of new oil projects, and not quite ready to maximize their participation in the ballooning oil and gas sector.  Hence, some of the activities and profits that should come to Guyanese, go to foreign entities that have the skills, track record, and other specifications to capitalize on this country’s oil patrimony.  Also, while the Local Content Law does open the door to jobs, the reality is that they are mainly lower level, and often menial jobs that Guyanese fill. Guyana doesn’t have the capacity for its citizens to take the fullest advantage of standing Local Content Law, but Jagdeo and his government still rush the approval of new oil projects, as if their pants are on fire.  Or the people at ExxonMobil are holding a gun to their heads.  Relative to the gas-to-energy project, the current cost stands at US$2B, and no Guyanese outside of the PPPC Government’s and Jagdeo’s trusted inner circle know any details about the feasibility of this project.  Despite being asked on numerous occasions, and in different ways, the man who is selling this project to Guyana, Vice President Jagdeo, has been about sealed lips and, on any of his many bad days, torrents of abuse. The Surinamese have come out into the open and leveled with their people.  Here is the deal that has been signed, here is what to expect under different scenarios.  Responsible governments and leaders make that their consistent standard.  Ask Jagdeo to be forthcoming and it is either viciousness or his usual sidestepping or stonewalling.  He has become very comfortable kissing up to ExxonMobil by doing nothing that tampers with the 2016 oil deal. In Jagdeo’s mind, it is about survival, and Guyanese can starve for all that such matters to him.  He is happy for Suriname, and he is happiest doing his best to keep ExxonMobil happy. The question that Guyanese must decide for themselves is whether Jagdeo is a leader or a dodger, a fighter for Guyana or a silent partner of ExxonMobil. Related Similar Articles

$100M soil chemical services laboratory commissioned Oct 09, 2024 News Kaieteur News – A state-of-the-art soil chemical services laboratory was commissioned on Monday at the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara. Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha and a representative from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) at the commissioning ceremony Minister Mustapha being briefed on the operation of the equipment in the laboratory The $100 million rehabilitated facility consists of cutting-edge technological equipment to revitalise soil management and improve crop yield within the country. The initiative was funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) through the Sustainable Agricultural Development Programme (SADP). Farmers will be the key beneficiaries of the lab. It will help them to determine what type of crop to plant and accurately recommend the type of soil that would yield optimum growth. Importantly, the laboratory provides the opportunity for Guyanese to adapt to modern and sustainable farming methods. During the commissioning ceremony, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, stressed that the facility will contribute to a further reduction of the food import bill by 25 per cent by 2025 for Guyana and the Caribbean. “The rehabilitation of the soil laboratory today is a prime example of how innovation and technology are at the heart of our agricultural transformation…We have allocated over $57 million to completely modernise this facility,” the minister stated. To further support the laboratory, an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) was purchased earlier in the year for $26.2 million along with other technological equipment. An AAS detects elements in either liquid or solid samples through the application of characteristic wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation from a light source. Director General at the Ministry of Agriculture, Madanlall Ramraj noted that “The rehabilitative centre will provide accurate soil testing services, enabling farmers to make informed decisions about fertiliser application, crop selection, and soil management practices.” He said Guyana is committed to finding innovative ways to transform agriculture while taking advantage of emerging technology to reduce the amount of manual work that  farmers and agriculture officers are required to perform. Meanwhile, the General Manager of the Country Department of the Caribbean of IDB, Anton Edmunds, said that these initiatives are key investment priorities for the organisation.  “A primary focus of our investments is to enhance Guyana’s agricultural research and extension system. This is crucial for supporting farmers and achieving the national and regional food security goal,”Edmunds said. (DPI) Related Similar Articles

AFC Executive meets U.S. State Dept. officials in Washington DC Oct 09, 2024 News …discusses need for new registration process ahead of 2025 elections The AFC delegation with Barbara A. Feinstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State and Katherine Beamer, Director, Office of Caribbean Affairs. (AFC photo) Kaieteur News – Leader of the Alliance For Change (AFC) C.A. Nigel Hughes and his delegation of AFC Executives on Monday met with Barbara A. Feinstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State and Katherine Beamer, Director, Office of Caribbean Affairs.  The meeting was held at the Department of State office in Washington DC. At the meeting, the AFC Leader highlighted several issues relating to Guyana’s development and the rule of law. High on the agenda was the need for a new registration process ahead of Guyana’s next Regional and General Elections and the production of a new list of electors. This is in keeping with recommendations from several of the Observer Missions of the 2020 Polls. The AFC team expressed concerns regarding the lack of feasibility studies regarding large infrastructure projects currently underway in Guyana and contract bidding processes. The two sides discussed increased cooperation between Guyana and the USA especially on the areas of institutional strengthening in the energy sector, capacity building in the public sector and state institutions, increased trade, fiscal management and accountability and natural resource management. The recent actions of the US government to sanction some Guyanese, and the likelihood of further similar actions were raised by the AFC Leader. The AFC team expressed gratitude to the US government for their support of Guyana’s position on the border controversy with Venezuela. Hughes was accompanied by Chairman of the Party David Patterson MP, Executive members Professor Shamir Ally, Catherine Hughes MP, advisor Laura George and Collin Haynes. The AFC team is in the USA for a number of meetings and public engagements. The Party held successful “Listening & Grounding” sessions with the Guyanese Diaspora in New York and Washington DC and will be meeting with the Guyanese Diaspora in Florida later this week. Related Similar Articles