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Govt. looking for firms to operate and maintain portions of Gas-to-Energy project Sep 29, 2024 News Kaieteur News – The Government of Guyana (GoG), through the Office of the Prime Minister on Saturday issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) for firms to Operate and Maintain (O&M) portions of Phase One of the Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project. An artist’s impression of the Gas-to-Energy project The O&M contract relates specifically to the 300 megawatt (MW) power plant and related auxillary facilities which are expected to be commissioned in the second half of 2025. It was explained that the contract will not extend to O&M of the Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) fractionation plant to extract liquids (C3, C4, CS+), as this will be addressed separately. Likewise, the pipeline being constructed by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) to transport the gas to the Wales Development Zone is not included. It was explained, “Operations and Maintenance of the Power Plant and Balance of Plant (BOP) is based on: (i) a combined-cycle power plant consisting of four (4) Siemens Energy gas turbines and two (2) waste Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSGs) together generating 300 MW of power which will be sold to Guyana Power and Light (GPL), the national electricity company via a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA); (ii) Balance of Plant (BOP) including deaerators, cooling water system, boiler feed water pumps and entire BOP related to the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) plant and Power Plant.” The power plant and balance of plant are located on a 100-acre integrated plant site located within the Wales Industrial Zone approximately 25 kilometers (km) inland on the West bank of the Demerara River. Notably, the O&M contractor will be subject to a rigorous screening process, though government has reserved the right to “select any Party for any specific element of the RFP and to annul the process at any time without further direction, without thereby incurring any liabilities to the affected interested parties.” Bidders will be required to show O&M experience of at least five combined cycle power plants, comparable to that being constructed in Guyana. Firms must also have a strong Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) culture and demonstrate capabilities in workforce training, particularly focusing on local content, use of advanced technology for efficient operations and safety monitoring and the financial capacity to manage large-scale operations. Only firms and consortia with experience in operation and maintenance of comparable facilities will be ranked. These will be required to list the relevant experience and reference projects, past and current, with similar operations over the last 15 years. In proving their financial strength, audited financial statements or other forms of evidence must be submitted, along with a template of contract from an ongoing or similar O&M project. Meanwhile, government has also required that fee structures for comparable projects, costs for the power plant and BOP and template of projected O&M costs in dollar-value and on a unit cost per kilowatt hour (kWh). The RFP will close on October 15, 2024. Additional details on the RFP can be obtained from the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Prime Minister. Related Similar Articles

Parking is a national problem! Sep 29, 2024 Dem Boys Seh, Features / Columnists Dem Boys Seh… Kaieteur News – Dem boys seh parking in de city gone to de dogs. People ain’t finding space fuh dem car, not even space fuh a bicycle. Everywhere full. Dem business places popping up like popcorn in a microwave. Is like every day somebody else opening shop. But nobody thinking ’bout parking. De city ain’t build fuh all dem car. Every street corner got a car blockin’ up traffic, and de police pretending they blind. You see dem lil’ one-lane roads? Dem can’t hold even half de vehicle we got now. But everybody still buying car. Is bare madness. Dem boys seh soon we gon be just like Trinidad. You hear ’bout dat? It tek one man three hours to move from Port of Spain to de cricket stadium. Imagine dat! Cricket might done by de time you reach. If we keep going dis way, we gon have people sleeping in dem car, waiting fuh traffic to clear. Dem gon carry a lil mattress in de back seat and just relax till next day. And don’t talk ’bout de frustration! Road rage gon turn into road war! De smart man dem seh build parking lot. But where? De smart woman seh create parking laws. But who gon enforce it? Even de dogs struggling fuh space to cross de road these days. Dem boys seh is high time we face reality. De city too small fuh dis big traffic. If we don’t fix dis parking and traffic problem soon, we gon all end up like Trinidad. Late fuh de cricket, late fuh de funeral, late fuh de wedding. Late fuh everything. Fix it before is too late. Or prepare fuh a three-hour wait just to move from Lamaha Street to Regent Road. Talk half. Leff half. Related Similar Articles

Reform must start at the top Sep 29, 2024 Peeping Tom Kaieteur News – We have been here many times: another scandal, another breach of procurement regulations, another contract awarded without transparency or accountability. And what is the solution? The Riot Act is read. Procurement laws are waved in the faces of public officials like some kind of magical scroll, as if the mere act of reminding them that these laws exist will somehow purge the system of the rot within. We are told that the problem lies in these middlemen, the department heads and other bureaucrats. But this is theater, a distraction from the real issue. The problem is not at the bottom; the problem is at the top. Let us look to Singapore, a nation that understood that corruption, like all cancers, must be treated at its source. In the early days of Singapore’s independence, corruption was rife. The bureaucracy was bloated with inefficiency, and the political class was not immune from temptation. But Singapore’s leaders did not waste time calling department heads into conference rooms to read them the laws. They did not pretend that the problem could be solved by cracking down on the minor offenders while leaving the big fish swimming free. Instead, they went after the top. Politicians, senior officials—anyone who was caught in the act of corruption faced severe consequences, and not just a slap on the wrist or a stern warning. People went to jail. Ministers were prosecuted. No one, no matter their rank, was above the law. The lesson from Singapore is simple: reform must start at the top. It is only when the political elite are held accountable that the message will filter down to the lower ranks. Corruption, after all, is not simply a violation of procurement laws or the misuse of public funds; it is a culture, an insidious belief that one can break the rules without consequence. And that culture is cultivated at the top. If the ministers and the political leaders believe they are untouchable, why should a procurement officer believe otherwise? Why should a department head think they should follow the law when they see those above them flouting it with impunity? The notion that corruption can be stamped out by simply insisting that heads of government agencies comply with the law, regulations and processes is naïve at best, and disingenuous at worst. It is a way for governments to appear as if they are doing something about corruption without actually doing anything meaningful. It is window-dressing, a cosmetic fix designed to placate the public while the real offenders—the ones with power, influence, and access—continue business as usual. The hypocrisy of it all is staggering. Take, for example, a recent instance where the government claimed that a procuring agency had followed the old regulations. The question is, what action did the government take then? Were the officials involved held accountable? Was anyone prosecuted? The answer, as is so often the case, is no. The government made a lot of noise about the issue but ultimately did nothing. And therein lies the problem: all talk, no action. If the government were serious about fighting corruption, it would start by cleaning up its own house. It would pass legislation that ensures transparency at the highest levels of government, and it would enforce that legislation rigorously. But instead, what we get is theater: grand speeches about reform, carefully staged meetings with department heads, and a flurry of press releases designed to convince the public that something is being done. But beneath the surface, nothing changes. The people are not fooled by this charade. They know that corruption in government is not just a problem of a few bad apples in the lower ranks. They know that the real issue is the culture of impunity that exists at the top, a culture that allows politicians and senior officials to have no fear of punishment. And they know that until this culture is dismantled, no amount of meetings or laws or proclamations will make a difference. What we need is a government that is willing to take real action, not just against the low-level bureaucrats, but against the big fish. We need to see politicians in handcuffs, ministers in court, and senior officials facing real consequences for their actions. Until that happens, all the talk of reform is just that—talk. It is time to confront the real problem head-on. We cannot continue to pretend that corruption is something that can be solved by reading the Riot Act to department heads. It is not enough to simply remind people that the law exists. We must show them that the law has teeth, and that it will be enforced, no matter who is caught in its grasp. If we are serious about ending corruption, we must start at the top. We must go after the political elite, the ministers, the senior officials, the people who hold the real power. Only then will the message filter down. Only then will the culture of corruption be dismantled. And only then will the people believe that their government is truly committed to reform. Until that happens, all the meetings, all the speeches, and all the proclamations are just theater, designed to distract. The people deserve better! (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)  Related Similar Articles

Changes to the NRF Act Sep 29, 2024 Editorial Editorial… Kaieteur News – The PPP/C Government withdraws money from the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) and deposits those funds in the Consolidated Fund.  The total moved for the period 2022 to 2024 is approximately US$2.6B.  Guyanese know that much.  After that, there is a blanket of darkness, under which citizens live regarding how those billions have been used.  By no stretch of reasoning could such ever be about what is transparent.  Or provides anywhere close to the accountability that Guyanese need to know about how their precious oil money was/is spent. The government has said and insists that the oil billions withdrawn are for “national development priorities.”  As spending licenses go, that could range far and wide and cover almost anything.  Among those, there could be the funding of any pipedream that comes out of the heads of any of the policymakers in the government.  Any statement, or posture, that emphasizes “national development priorities”, it must be acknowledged has the right kind of ring to it.  By the same standard, there also can be no denying, however, that “national development priorities” may conceal a considerable amount of corruption with the people’s oil money, gloss over a culture that reeks of political shenanigans and skullduggeries.  Guyanese have been stuck in the role of bystanders before when there was no oil money, and shenanigans and skullduggeries stood at runaway levels in one government after another.  None can be overlooked nor spared, with the old PPP and new PPP/C, and the PNC of before and the APNU+AFC Coalition all well represented when the tricks were being developed with the people’s money.  Now that there are billions of American dollars from oil coming into the Consolidated Fund, and then comingled with funds already sitting there or coming in later, it’s political maneuvering at its best. Unsurprisingly, oil billions disappear under the vast shroud of “national developments priorities”.  This must be slammed for what it is.  Nothing but a manipulation, the game that political con artists and tricksters love to design and then dump on a naïve, often indifferent, population.  This needs to change, this all-purpose key that is nothing but a sleight of hand of exceptional cunning.  A key in the hands of the PPP/C Government that empowers it to enrich itself and its cronies on Guyana’s oil money. Opposition MP, Jermiane Figueira has called for the NRF law to be amended, so that there are specifics on how the billions of US dollars of Guyana’s oil money are spent.  We have already editorialized more than once that: “national development priorities” stand as a passport for misusing the nation’s oil money, perpetuating the corruption culture of the PPP/C Government, and allowing government operators to laugh at Guyanese, while getting away with what they do.  If the PPP/C Government is seriously committed to transparency and accountability, beyond words, then there should be no resistance.  To resist, block, or dissemble relative to changes to the NRF law would signify that the present broad and vague label (national development priorities) serves some underhanded purpose.  It could only be about what shafts Guyanese in some perverse manner.  Transparency demands that the clever political concoction of “national development priorities” be on its way out.  Accountability mandates that there is a level of specificity that informs Guyanese about what, where, when, and how much of their oil money is spent.  Any political leadership team that is about clean governance would welcome changes to the NRF Act that are now long overdue.  It would confirm their commitment to clean governance, even if such is limited to the disposition of Guyanese oil billions. We do not think that it could be such an insurmountable task to separate any oil money withdrawn into some form of sub-account that receives and disburses oil money and oil money alone.  We are certain that there are ministers, even if only one, and senior public servants who are skilled and innovative enough to deliver on such a simple arrangement.  There would be two immediate benefits.  First, Guyanese have the specifics (a bridge, a well, a building) for oil money expenditures.  And the PPP/C Government can comfort itself that it puts to bed all doubts about how Guyana’s oil money is spent. Related Similar Articles

Fire guts house at No. 22 Village, WCB Sep 29, 2024 News Kaieteur News – A family of seven from No. 22 Village, West Coast Berbice is now homeless after a fire of unknown origin gutted their two-storey concrete house. What remains of the building that was destroyed by fire. A bar and salon were also housed in the same yard with the house. Kaieteur News understands that the properties were owned by three sisters. Reports are that the fire started at around 17:05hrs. One of the sisters reportedly heard a noise and went to see where it was coming from and saw flames in the upper flat of the house. An alarm was raised and the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) was contacted. In a video that was circulating on social media, a fireman was seen on the roof of the salon trying to control the fire. Notwithstanding efforts, the building was gutted with its roof caved in and windows shattered. Nothing in the house was saved. Fortunately, the bar and the salon were unscathed. Kaieteur News understands that at the time the fire started, six of the seven persons who reside at the house were at home. No injuries were reported. Related Similar Articles

General Marine on board for Prime Minister’s Softball Cup Sep 29, 2024 Sports Kaieteur Sports – General Marine is on board for this year’s Prime Minister’s Softball Cup which is slated for October 11-13. Ian John (left) receives the cheque from Anthony Rahaman Khan in the presence of Buddy Rahaman On Wednesday at the business location in Georgetown, Chief Operating Officer of General Marine Company Anthony Rahaman Khan expressed delight to be associated with the mega softball event. The three-day extravaganza is hosted by the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc. in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. There will be the three men’s categories: Legends (Over-50), Masters (Over-40) and Open (All-Stars). Along with the ladies. Over Guy $3M at stakes with the men’s champion team in each category carting off $600, 000 while the women’s winner will pocket $200,000. More attractive prizes are also up for grabs. The men will be T20 format while the girls competing in 15-overs. At the simple presentation ceremony, President of the League Ian John was elated with the contribution and promised that the 8th edition is anticipating to be thrilling from ball-one. He thanked Rahaman Khan during his remarks. John mentioned that General Marine has been supporting softball cricket for years and the Managing Director Buddy Rahaman is no stranger to softball cricket. Meanwhile, all four finals will be played at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary in Georgetown as well. Related Similar Articles

RHTYSC invests heavily in youth cricket development program Sep 29, 2024 Sports Youth cricketers display some of the newly acquired equipment. Kaieteur Sports – Founded in September 1990 by the award-winning St Francis Committee Developers the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club has over the years developed into one of Guyana’s leading Cricket Club. The club has won a total of 125 cricket tournaments at all levels and has also produced 124 players for Berbice and Guyana while a total of 16 has gone on to play for either the West Indies or the United States of America. The club has stated that its success over the last 34 years has been based on a formula of sheer hard work, dedication, visionary leadership and proper planning. As the RHTYSC enters its 35th year, management has decided to invest heavily in the development of the new cricketing talent at the junior level between the ages of 11 to 15. The cricket development management committee led by veteran administrator Robby Kissoonlal and including Keith Hicks and Tyrone Pottaya is responsible for the special project with the assistance of coach Ryan Kissoonlall. The committee intends to attract at least 60 new cricketing talents into the RHTYSC membership, to arrange several development programs and to obtain the necessary equipment needed for the coaching staff. The club on Wednesday last received a 6×4 feet batting mat that would be used by the youth cricketers in the batting cage on the concrete pitch. RHTYSC secretary Hilbert Foster stated that the expensive batting mat would allow the youth cricketers to practice all year around despite the weather conditions and allow the coaches to conduct one-on-one sessions. The batting mat would also reduce the damage to the balls on the bare concrete pitch. The club also received a 120ft practice net compliments of former RHTYSE under 19 player Sharma Sukhdeo. Sukhdeo who now resides in the United States of America is a strong supporter of the club and readily agreed to donate the practice net which would be used around the batting cage. The RHTYSC now has a total of four practice Nets at its disposal. The club now has four additional kitties practice sets for the under-13 players. The plastic kits are mainly used by players who are playing the game for the first time and are being taught how to play the game properly by coaches. Foster disclosed that the RHTYSC now has a total of 20 sets and plans to obtain more in the future. Dozens of cricket balls were also shipped to the United States of America with sponsorship from overseas-based Guyanese Rendrick Batson a former  RHTYSC first division captain Feroze Islam and Ravi Etwaroo who is the owner of the popular cricket zone cricket store in the United States. The balls would be used for coaching sessions, junior elite training sessions and practice matches among the youths. The club has also invested in feeling equipment, a bowling machine, catching cribs and exercise equipment among others to produce all-round players. Additionally Foster stated that the club invested heavily in its membership by assisting with personal cricket gear, uniforms, educational materials, bicycles and electronic tablets, among others. Membership in the club is free. The club has also invested heavily in the upkeep of the Area H ground for the restart of the 2024 season by repainting the two side screens, constructing over 300 feet of boundary boards and planting grass at selected spots in the ground. The RHTYSC has also sought and received assistance from the Region 6 RDC to undergo urgent repairs to the main pavilion. A $800,000 mobile glass cutter was also recently purchased with the assistance of Dr Frank Dembow and Panthera Solution Inc. The Area H ground is the home venue for players like Kevin Sinclair,  Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Shemaine Campbell, Sabika  Gajnabi and Sheneta Grimmond, who are 2024 CPL Players. (RHTYSC Press Release) Related Similar Articles