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Oct 06, 2024 Dem Boys Seh, Features / Columnists Dem Boys Seh… Kaieteur News – Dem boys seh cricket use to bring the Caribbean together. Now, CPL got the Caribbean more insular than ever. Guyanese does always back the local team in dem regional competitions. But dis CPL? Man, it turn into a battlefield, and we enemy? Trinbago Knight Riders! Dem boys seh is not even about we wanting Guyana Amazon Warriors fuh win—nah, we just wanted Trinidad to lose! We watch de Trinbago game against Barbados like is a war. We all of a sudden turn Bajans and start cheering, clapping, and hollering every time dem Knight Riders get lash. As soon as dem get knock out, deh stadium was like when dem announce the payment of backpay and bonus—bare celebrations! But hear dis nah. One man seh, “Is only a game.” Well, yuh coulda fool me! We act like if Trinidad win, is the end of we oil and gas! Like if Trinbago beat we again, all we rice gon spoil, and we gold gon turn brass. When Barbados win, dem boys seh it was like Christmas come early—people jumping, hugging up strangers, and some even drinking pun Barbados tab! Now, dem boys seh, we gotta pull back lil bit. CPL turnin’ into Caribbean Politics League! We use to be one region—back in de day, if Clive Lloyd win, everybody happy. Now? If Guyana lose, we vex like we house get foreclose. We forget is the same Caribbean we all belong to. So hear nah, next year, whether Trinbago win, lose,  leh we remember one ting: cricket suppose to unite we, not turn we into fans of “anybody-but-Trinidad.” Deh seh, “it’s only a game”—but dem boys know is how you play it dat does matter. Talk half. Leff half Related Similar Articles

The private sector were cheerleaders for foreign investment Oct 06, 2024 Peeping Tom Peepisng Tom… Kaieteur News – The cries from sections of Guyana’s private sector about Chinese nationals “circumventing regulatory permits” in the retail commercial sector reek of desperation, or worse, is disingenuous. The issue is not so much about breaches of bureaucratic rules, but about the undeniable fact that Chinese businesses, particularly supermarkets and hardware stores, are out-competing and overshadowing local businesses.  Yet instead of addressing their own failings, the private sector cloaks its grievances in the language of legality, conveniently avoiding the real issue at hand: Chinese retail dominance. Let’s not mince words. The notion that Chinese businesses are somehow skirting regulatory frameworks and thus creating an uneven playing field is nothing short of laughable. The local private sector might feign concern about rule-breaking, but no one really believes that the success of Chinese supermarkets stems from a lack of permits. If a business doesn’t have a specific license, does that suddenly give them the power to sell goods at prices that crush local competition? Of course not. The reality is much more uncomfortable for these local business owners to admit. The Chinese, through sheer ingenuity, efficiency, and yes, capital, have managed to penetrate and dominate the market, where local businesses have failed. But let’s entertain, for a moment, the claim that the problem is regulatory in nature. Suppose these Chinese businesses, as accused, have failed to file the appropriate paperwork or circumvented some obscure local bylaw. If that were true, it might warrant the issuance of a few fines. However, what it would not explain is why these Chinese supermarkets are thriving, while many local businesses continue to stagnate or even shutter their doors. Something else is at play, and it’s clearly not a question of whether or not a specific form has been filed at the local agency. What the private sector is really upset about, but too timid to say outright, is that the Chinese are doing better and selling cheaper than the private sector were doing.  They offer more competitive prices, they stock a wide range of items and they run their operations that are far more efficient despite having to pay hefty rents. The real grievance here is not legal at all; it’s economic. Local retailers simply cannot match the Chinese model of supply chain efficiency, bulk purchasing power, or customer service. But of course, it’s easier to cry foul over supposed regulatory breaches than to acknowledge that your business model is outdated and uncompetitive. Jagdeo reminds the disgruntled business community that discrimination based on nationality would run afoul of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and violate Guyana’s own Constitution, which prevents discrimination on the grounds of place of origin. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OCHR) interprets this discrimination clause to include nationality, making it legally impossible for the government to proscribe Chinese involvement in the retail sector without risking serious international legal consequences. Jagdeo’s message is clear: if you’re upset about competition, fight it fairly in the marketplace. But here’s where Jagdeo’s defense falls short. Guyana’s own local content laws — the same ones designed to ensure that Guyanese businesses benefit from the country’s burgeoning oil and gas sector — are, on their face, discriminatory. These laws privilege local businesses over foreign ones, in direct violation of WTO rules and the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which governs the economic relations of CARICOM member states. So, while the Constitution may protect against discrimination based on nationality in the retail sector, the oil sector happily operates under a different set of discriminatory rules. It’s a contradiction that the private sector would do well to point out, but of course, their objections would not serve them here, since local content laws favor them in the largest local industry: the oil sector. The hypocrisy of the private sector doesn’t stop at their selective outrage. Where are the protests against illegal vending and without having to carry overheads, national insurance,  and possibly not paying  collectively their fair share of taxes,  presents a far more existential threat to local businesses than the handful of regulatory violations they accuse Chinese businesses of? Unregulated vendors have turned the heart of Georgetown into a chaotic free-for-all, and yet the local business community remains largely silent. Why? Because the illegal vendors are not Chinese. It seems easier to rail against the foreign other than to confront the complexities of the local market, particularly when doing so might alienate a sizable portion of your customer base. Let’s also not forget the deep irony embedded in this entire argument. The same private sector that now cries foul over Chinese dominance once celebrated the government’s push to open up Guyana to foreign investment. They cheered for policies that lowered tariffs, streamlined foreign business operations, and attracted international capital. But now, faced with the consequences of these policies, they’re retreating into the protectionist rhetoric they once scorned. The very forces they helped unleash are now drowning them, and they don’t know how to swim. At its core, the issue isn’t regulatory, nor is it even about nationality. It’s about competition, plain and simple. The Chinese have entered Guyana’s retail market and succeeded. Local businesses, many of which have long relied on government protection and favorable policies, are simply unable to keep up. Rather than evolving, they’ve chosen to scapegoat. Rather than improving their efficiency, lowering prices, or improving customer service, they’ve turned to the government to bail them out, under the pretense of fairness and regulatory adherence. If Guyana’s private sector is serious about its future, it needs to abandon this charade. The answer to their problems is not more regulations, nor is it protectionism. They need to learn from the Chinese rather than condemn them. Until they recognize that, the cries of regulatory breaches will remain as hollow as their fast-dwindling market share. Related Similar Articles

Honor, respect, sanctity Oct 06, 2024 Editorial Editorial… Kaieteur News – Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali is that rarest of combinations.  He is a wily politician who is also a slick salesman.  One who says what he knows his foreign audiences want to hear, even when his own people have to pay prices that they cannot afford. In a recent interview with the widely read New York Times (NYT), the president used some words that have a pleasing echo to them, but which many Guyanese can attest have been serious challenges for his PPPC Government.  In the NYT interview, President Ali was generousness itself when he gave the context of the 2016 ExxonMobil oil contract with Guyana.  Not content with that, he then launched into words that represent his standard sales pitch.  Words like honor, respect, and sanctity relative to the ExxonMobil oil contract that enslaves a whole country for generations to come.  Indeed, those are surprising words coming from the Guyanese president, who has not been known to have much familiarity with them, or even too much use for them.  Like many salesmen of a certain standing, the issue that would not let go is whether the seller truly believes in what he is selling, if he even has the required depth to know that of which he speaks so richly. President Ali did the right thing, restated some truths that cannot and should not be contradicted.  “I have said this a number of times.  They [Exxon, Hess, and CNOOC] had the better hand.  Though the president took a subdued line (“better hand”) it is accurate, though it would be more in line with the realities of the lopsided ExxonMobil contract that it has the whole hand, and just an insulting courtesy finger joint left for Guyana. President Ali is not known to be circumspect, but in the NYT interview, he was the politest of schoolboys in the way he described the ExxonMobil contract.  From our vantage point, this is a head of state, who is more concerned about preserving his political head than speaking the unsparing truth about how obscene and totally diseased the ExxonMobil document is.  To assign credit as due, “the better hand” held by ExxonMobil et al is a small breath of truth.  So, too, is his claim that his government inherited the deal, what is nothing but a yoke on Guyana. Then the pitchman in Guyana’s president could not be contained any longer, he just bubbled over: “there’s something called sanctity of contract.  Can I just walk in there and say, okay…we are not going to honor this contract.”  And that, “right on this stage, that there is a tyrant and dictator in Guyana who does not respect contract, who does not respect sanctity of contract…”  Guyana’s president may be excused his characteristic exaggerated exuberance on the world stage, but his PPPC Government is not the best entity to pretend at gleaming with honor, or respect, or what has to do with sanctity on most things in Guyana.  Guyanese know that the incumbent PPPC Government failed to honor its firm commitment to review and renegotiate the monstrous ExxonMobil contract.  Guyanese know also that both the president and Vice President Jagdeo made powerful promises about the disaster that the ExxonMobil contract represented.  Guyanese know further how much they both said that they were going to do to reverse its crippling provisions to the benefit of this nation.  And what Guyanese know and now live with to their ongoing regret, is how both Ali and Jagdeo have turned their backs on the sanctity of the feverish oaths they made to locals. We seek neither to insult nor scorn President Ali’s enchanting commercial about honor and respect for sanctity.  We do our duty and enlighten the overenthusiastic national leader that he is the embodiment of what is shallow before Guyanese.  He has not shown the level of honor and respect for them by upholding, by fighting for, by being totally about what came out of his mouth before relative to the ExxonMobil contract that is the product of deformity at its worst.  Honor and respect, President Ali, begins at home, and of that there can be no greater sanctity.  It is the sacred leadership compact made with citizens. Related Similar Articles

Oct 06, 2024 News An artist’s impression of the New Demerara River Bridge. Kaieteur News – The new four-lane approach road that is scheduled to be constructed to connect to the new Demerara River Bridge on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) will cost government over $7.3 billion. The new four-lane road which is a project being undertaken by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) is expected to be done in six lots. The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) announced on its website recently that contracts for four of the six lots have been awarded and amounts to over $7.3 billion. The lots awarded are as follows: (Lot1) – BK International Inc. for $1,696,149,857; (Lot2) – Asoka Buildcon Limited for $1,747,255,575; (Lot4) – L’Heureuse Construction & Services Inc. for $2,309,238,068; and (Lot5) – China Railway First Group Guyana Inc. for $1,564,994,697. According to NPTAB these contracts were awarded on September 27. It was stated in CHPA tender document that the construction period for each lot is seven months and the new four-lane road would be on the eastern side of the new bridge. This publication had reported previously that the compulsory acquisition of several plots of land along the East Bank of Demerara for the purpose of the construction of the new Demerara River Crossing has been gazetted. According to information contained in an Extraordinary Gazette published on April 6, 2024, the lands are being acquired for public purpose to build connecting roads for the New Demerara River Crossing on the East Bank of Demerara between Plantations Peter’s Hall and Providence (EBD), passing through the lands described in the schedule to the order was declared to be public work under section three of the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purpose Act. The Government of Guyana had announced the acquisition of 40 pieces of property from private land owners as it moves ahead with efforts to construct a new Demerara River Bridge (DHB) crossing. It was reported in May, that some 15 Peter’s Hall, residents rejected the Government’s proposal for the acquisition of their properties in order to facilitate the construction of the new bridge, citing their need for fair compensation. In 2022, a US$260 million contract was awarded to the joint venture of China Railway Construction Corporation (International) Limited, China Railway Construction (Caribbean) Co., Ltd and China Railway Construction Bridge Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd for the project. The new crossing will replace the current bridge, which has already outlived its lifespan by some 40 plus years. Related Similar Articles

Oct 06, 2024 News Relatives of Joshua David called ‘Bricks,’ standing together with candlelight along with his photo during the vigil held at the location he was abducted. Kaieteur News – Relatives of Joshua David called ‘Bricks’ who was abducted a week ago are calling on persons with information about his whereabouts to make it known. David was abducted on Main Street, Georgetown outside of the New Thriving Restaurant by several men on September 26, 2024. Police subsequently issued a wanted bulletin for six persons in connection with the kidnapping. The accused have been identified as 34-year-old Wayne Barker called ‘onnie’, 26-year-old Aaron Alleyne called ‘Cats’, 21-year-old Davantai Mars called ‘Sharkie’, 32-year-old Damion Barlow called ‘Dangles’,  28-year-old Osafo Peters and  35-year-old Alpha Poole. All of the men have since surrendered and are assisting police with their investigations. On Thursday, during a vigil held on Main Street, in front of the New Thriving Restaurant, David’s girlfriend, Amanda Connell said “The police are doing a great job, the news reporters are doing a great job but I think the Government, the President needs to do something better, something better needs to be done.” Notwithstanding Police efforts, Connell expressed concern and fear for her boyfriend. “At this moment I am feeling very shaky because today (Thursday) is one week since our love one has gone and we haven’t heard anything back positive about Joshua David, and it hurts that we have to come back the same spot that he got kidnapped,” she said. The woman described David as a loving and helpful person who takes care of his family. “…He will make a lot of noise but he is (a) very loving and helpful person,” Connell said noting that since David’s disappearance his family has been in contact with the police. Connell recalled her last conversation with her boyfriend. She said David was determined to help her with a business venture. “He would sit with me and he will say ‘Manda, everything is going to be okay and just now I putting a caravan out here because you know to cook and we gah make money ’ …We had plans we had great plans,” the distraught woman said. The woman disclosed that David was threatened in the past but the threat was not taken seriously. “…We never really follow it up or listen to it,” Cornell said without disclosing who threatened her partner. She pleaded for any leads that may result in David being found, “I will like anybody to come forward and let us know about the whereabouts of Joshua and let us get over with this because it’s hard for his family. It’s really, really, hard.” Connell said the situation has affected David’s mother significantly resulting in her being hospitalized. Meanwhile, on Friday two of the wanted men who surrendered were remanded to prison when they appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer an abduction charge. The charges allege that on September 26, 2024, at Main Street, Georgetown, Poole and Peters, in the company of others, abducted David with the intent to secretly and wrongfully confine him. The men were not required to plead to the charge and were remanded to prison, with the case adjourned to October 11, 2024. On Friday Barker, Alleyne, Mars and Barlow turned themselves into police. Efforts by the Police to locate David have proven futile. On Tuesday, ranks combed the Annandale Backlands, East Coast Demerara (ECD) with the assistance of drones but were unsuccessful. Despite the outcome, police have maintained that they will continue to follow all leads as they do their best to find David. Related Similar Articles

The third best option Oct 06, 2024 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column Hard Truths… By GHK Lall Kaieteur News – Chairman of the board of directors and CEO of Chevron Corporation, Mr. Michael Wirth, had four choices for adviser on relations with the PPP Government of Guyana.  He decided on the third best choice, which came in the illuminating presence of the CEO of Hess Corp, Mr. John Hess.  He came out behind two of Guyana’s best, and ahead of Guyana’s fourth wheel in the PPP Government’s two-wheeled donkey cart. The first and best choice for adviser on PPP Government relations would have been Vice President, former president, and chief oil mandarin Dr, Bharat Jagdeo.  But he was already occupying that position in an unrecognized advisory capacity for Exxon, Hess, and the Red Chinese.  Mr. Alistair Routledge of Exxon Guyana fame has declared himself well pleased.  It should be noticed that given his commanding power in Guyana, Mr. Routledge fancies himself to be God among these natives.  He has the aura of Almighty God (“well pleased”), like when John baptized his beloved Jesus in a pool of water in what is now called the Holy Land.  The same place now wrenched by airborne massacres, genocidal armaments compliments of Americans, and holocausts that do not have a German or Rwandan or Yugoslavian name among them.  What Dr. Jagdeo gets in return for his yeoman service to Guyana’s three-headed consortium master is not of the stuff that makes it into official papers, such as income statements (or tax returns).  Just being in their company is joyful return enough for Jagdeo. The next best man for the job of adviser to Chevron on how the PPP Government thinks, how it works (and how demanding the self-serving expectations of some of its members) would have been Guyana’s head of state, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali.  The concern for the Chevron chair and CEO is that he is too prone to a rush of blood to the head.  On occasion, Guyana’s top big man has been known to lose control of his head and his tongue.  The record is there, and for an adviser, the sturdiest key is self-control, slowness to anger, even if provoked.  From Mr. Wirth’s perspective, Dr. Ali simply would not do.  It is just too risky; there is too much concern that the Guyana’s president could lose his mind and let loose with a double-barreled blast, which could yield untold damage to the Exxon, Chevron and American baby party.  So, it is out with Excellency Ali, and in with the more reliable guy.  Excellency Ali has his uses, and those are worth (no play on Mr. Michael Wirth) their weight in the sum of all those fully loaded oil boat plying back and forth out there in Guyana’s waters. Before addressing the choice of John Hess as the best man in the four-man contest for adviser on sensitive Government of Guyana relations, a word of condolence is necessary to account for the fourth man, who lost out.  He is none than the forlorn figure of the honorable Minister of Natural Resources, Dr. Vickram Bharrat.  This guy has a lot going for him, but he just can’t seem to get going, thanks to the overpowering shadow of one Bharat Jagdeo.  As the subject/responsible minister, Mr. Bharrat is the man closest to the nuts and bolts of the vast and impressive natural resources portfolio.  At least, he should be.  But unfortunately, given the way that governance in Guyana operates since oil showed its face from beyond the horizon his duties are on paper only.  Minister Bharrat is not a paper tiger; he is a paperweight.  Courtesy and compassionate respect prevented from sharing the thought that he has been leveled to a rank lower than paperweight: he functions as a paperclip.  His is not stainless steel, but Teflon coated.  Anything and everything roll right off him.  So, Dr. Vickram is out as adviser on PPP Government relations with Chevron.  He should count himself lucky, for constitutional and possibly ethical conflicts have been avoided. By process of circumstances and elimination, Mr. Hess floated to the top and is back in the center of the great Guyana oil game.  It may not be in the vicinity of the Afghan’s Kyber Pass, but it is what passes for the purity of oil governance in Guyana.  Oil advisory relations also, lest we forget.  Mr. Hess is the man and even if he comes up short on his Hess to Chevron sale, he would have earned the distinction of being a special friend of Guyana.  Think the PPP Government, for in the mind of the likes of its glorious sons, Dr. Ali and Dr. Jagdeo, the PPP is Guyana and Guyana is the PPP.  Only what they say goes.  Perhaps, this helps to shed some light on that calculating construction encircled by President Ali’s ‘One Guyana’ verbal sleight of hand.  Last, John Hess didn’t come from a footballing family for nothing.  His pedigree goes back to parental ownership of 1967 Superbowl winner, the New York Jets.  For sure, it is American football (NFL), but that comes in handy considering the corporate football that both Guyana and Guyana governments have become, with a bow to the PNC, AFC, and PPP.  Now, Mr. Hess sits in the driver’s seat, with a foot in two boats: one for Chevron (or Exxon) and the other straight into Freedom House’s boat, the Irfaan Ali showboat, and the Bharat Jagdeo love boat (“investors spook easily,” but investors are adorable).  All Hess must do is zip his lips and collect his cash.  Or share Chevron’s cash handouts.  Please don’t ask for names. 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Pan, Brass and Soca: An enthralling night of pan music Oct 06, 2024 News By Shania Williams Kaieteur News – The Kingston Beach was on Thursday night filled with the sweet sound of steel pan music as hundreds who attended the Pan, Brass and Soca event organised by 592 Events & Entertainment in collaboration with The Kunjaz Group gyrated to the rhythmic sounds of pan and Soca. The event, which was held as part of Cricket Carnival 2024, celebrated the vibrant Caribbean culture. The electrifying show started at 20:30 hrs and was graced by the NGC La Brea Nightingales, a renowned steel pan group hailing from Trinidad and Tobago that opened the evening with a captivating performance. The event was hosted by Daniel Loveless, a 25-year-old comedic personality from Trinidad, alongside Gabriella Chapman, an emerging local host from Guyana, ensuring the audience was engaged and entertained throughout the night. As the night progressed, DJ Akelo took the reins, mixing an array of Soca hits that had the crowd dancing and feeling the vibrant vibes of the Caribbean. Local artist Timothy Roberts captivated the audience with his lively performance, getting everyone on their feet during a dazzling steel pan display by the Kunjaz Steel Ensemble. Not to be outdone, Omaiah Hall, another local artist with a passion for Soca, kept the energy high, igniting the crowd’s enthusiasm. The line-up also featured Guyana’s own chutney artist, Aw Lyrical, who added a unique flavour to the evening. Among the standout performances, the Guyana Police Force Steel Orchestra did not disappoint, showcasing their exceptional talent and resonating with the audience through nostalgic tunes. The atmosphere reached new heights with the appearance of cultural ambassador Rodney Small, who brought over 27 years of experience from St. Vincent & the Grenadines. He mesmerized the crowd with his skilful steel pan rendition of popular tracks, including “Message to You” by Bob Marley, infused with romantic classics like Usher’s “You Got It Bad,” “All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo, and Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud.” Attendees of the event expressed their excitement and joy in witnessing such a spectacular showcase of talent. Francwa shared, “The show was excellent and indeed a must-see. This was my first time attending a Pan, Brass and Soca concert, and it was really nice; the energy was there, and the musicians and artists delivered beyond my expectations.” Keiara echoed this sentiment, stating, “Pan, Brass and Soca is an event everyone should go to. It was an amazing cultural Caribbean event—truly fantastic!” Shadacia added her enthusiasm, saying, “It was an unforgettable event all the way. If we could get this twice a year, that would be nice. The fact that we got to witness our own talent was special.” The event was made possible through the generous support of sponsors, including Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport, Hess, Caribbean Airlines, One Communications, and Slim Extra. As the night drew to a close, it was clear that Pan, Brass and Soca had not only entertained but also brought the community together, celebrating the rich cultural tapestry of the Caribbean. With an energy that resonated long after the final performance, attendees left with smiles, memories, and a shared appreciation for the power of music to unite and inspire. Related Similar Articles