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Pile driving activities underway for delayed Gas-to-Energy project Sep 18, 2024 News Pile driving activities underway at the Wales Development Zone, West Bank Demerara (Photo credit: Lindsayca-CH4) Kaieteur News – The joint venture contracted by the Government of Guyana, Linsayca-CH4, to construct two gas plants at Wales, West Bank Demerara is currently conducting pile driving works for the delayed project. The US$2B Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project, which was initially scheduled to come on stream by the end of this year faced delays after ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) was accused of failing to complete site preparation works before handing over to the contractors. Despite the government and the joint venture now in a dispute over cost overruns for the delay, works for the two plants are still steaming ahead. The government in its Mid-Year report released late last month indicated that Exxon has already completed connecting the offshore pipeline to the Liza Destiny and Liza Unity Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessels. In the meantime, it said, “The pipeline is on schedule to be completed by the end of 2024, with the hook-up to the station expected in the first half of 2025.” The government also reported that the Material Offloading Facility (MOF) built by Exxon is being utilized with pile driving ongoing for the commencement of the foundation activities for the two plants. In December, the joint venture signed a US$759 million contract with the government for the design, procurement and construction of the plants. The firm will be tasked with building a Natural Gas Liquid plant and a 300-megawatt natural gas fire plant for electricity at Wales. Lindsayca-CH4 was among five companies that had placed bids for the projects in September 2023. The American joint venture had placed the highest of five international bids to the tune of US$898M to build the plants.  However, Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo announced at a press conference that the project cost has been reduced to US$759M. It was revealed that the government had applied to the United States Export Import Bank (US-EXIM) Bank since April last year for a US$646M loan to support the gas projects but to date, the loan has not been approved. While politicians here still remain optimistic about its approval, the project is being funded through the National Treasury in the meantime. The Ministry of Natural Resources informed this publication that some US$520M has been spent by the government on the GTE project to date. According to the ministry, the government spent $24.813B in 2022 followed by $43.3B in 2023. This year, the government in the National Budget has set aside another $40B of local funding for the project. This means a total of $108,113,000,000 or US$520M (using Bank of Guyana’s exchange rate of 208) from the National Treasury has been budgeted to date for the project. In addition to the pipeline and two gas plants, the GTE project also includes upgrading the transmission and distribution lines, supervisory contracts, and construction of a new substation. The government had said the project would reduce the cost of electricity by half, but as key details of the project remain hidden, as the government refuses to publish the agreements for the deal, citizens question the logic of the project. Related Similar Articles

Less than a year newly built Leonora dorm to be renovated, extended for estimated $139M Sep 18, 2024 News Section of the students’ dormitory at Leonora, West Coast Demerara. Kaieteur News – Less than a year after it was commissioned, the $75 million students’ dormitory at Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD) is set to undergo renovation and extension works for approximately $139 million. This is according to the tender information provided by the Ministry of Education. The project was opened on Tuesday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board and it was revealed that five contractors submitted bids for the project with the majority bidding above the ministry’s engineer’s $139,635,408 estimate. The contractors are Momin & Sons Construction; Wazeer Khan & Sons Construction – $274,349,400; AP Building Construction – $146,893,274; ECS Construction & General Supplies- $305,166,583; and Sheriff Construction Inc – $153,365,220. It was reported that in October 2023, Minister of Education Priya Manickchand commissioned the brand new $75 million Leonora students’ dormitory. In a statement at the time the ministry said, “With the establishment of the $75 million facility, students in riverine communities will no longer have to travel far distances daily to receive a secondary education. Beneficiaries of the dorms at Leonora include students from Saxacalli, Aliki, Caria Caria, Lanaballi, Upper and Lower Bonasika, Santa Mission, Sand Hills and Hogg Island.” The commissioned dormitory which is located in the compound of the Leonora Secondary School, at the time was said to be housing 23 students, and consist of living quarters for boys and girls, a kitchen, a dining area, a sick bay, washroom facilities and sleeping quarters. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Education Minister stated that the aim is to ensure that every child is comfortably accommodated while being able to learn. It was said that the building was constructed in keeping with recommendations made in a report conducted on dormitories across the country to ensure they are up to standard. Related Similar Articles

Police investigating circulation of fake old age pension books, disability books Sep 18, 2024 News Kaieteur News – The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, through the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has launched an investigation into the unauthorized copies of old age pension and permanent disability books, which have been submitted for encashment at Post Offices and other payment venues. The Ministry in a statement highlighted, “These books do not bear the security features and colours of the official books.” As such, the Ministry stated that they have provided all of the information in their possession to the GPF. “…Anyone involved in this will face the full force of law,” the Human Service Minister underscored. Notably, any person who presents the fake books will be held accountable. In addition, the Guyana Post Office and Alternate Payment Venues are requested by the Ministry to heighten their vigilance as it relates to these books and this issue. Related Similar Articles

Man gets five years for robbing businesswoman Sep 18, 2024 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News Kaieteur News – A 30-year-old man was sentenced to five years imprisonment on Tuesday, after he pleaded guilty, when he appeared at the Lenora Magistrate’s Court to answer to a charge of robbery under arms. Jailed: Martin Calvin Martin Calvin, a resident of Lot 10 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, made his first court appearance before Magistrate Alisha George, who read the charge to him to which he pleaded guilty. Police reported that Calvin along with three other suspects on September 13, 2024 entered the home of a businesswoman in Middle Street, Ruimzigt, where the group of four, three of whom were armed, targeted the woman and her workers. The businesswoman and her family reside in a two-story concrete structure, with a goldsmith workshop located on the lower flat of the house. The businesswoman was in her kitchen area while two of her workers (the 48-year-old and 23-year-old goldsmiths) were working in the shop. The businesswoman was relieved of several gold items, while her two workers, both goldsmiths, were robbed of their cell phones. She related to the police that while in her kitchen she saw three suspects at her backdoor, which was open and they pointed their firearms at her and told her to stay quiet. “They took her into the goldsmith workshop where they met with her two workers. The suspects relieved each of them of the articles mentioned above. The suspects then started to make demands for more gold and money, and, in the process, one of the suspects fired a shot in the direction of the businesswoman,” the police reported. Nearby residents, alerted by the gunshot, ran towards the businesswoman’s house.  The residents blocked the road and the motorcar (HC921), which the suspects entered, was not allowed to pass. The gunmen and the driver exited the vehicle and escaped on foot into the direction of the Ruimzigt backlands. When the police arrived, they discovered a man with his hands and feet tied, in the backseat of the car, with a head injury. “He was questioned about the injury, and he claimed that several residents in the area hit him in the head,” the police said. The man gave his name to the police as Garfield Benjamin called “Carry”, a 50-year-old fireman attached to La-Grange Fire Station and a resident/taxi driver from Stewartville, West Coast Demerara. Moreover, Benjamin told investigators that on Friday, at about 11:30 hours, he was at the Vreed-en-Hoop junction, working a taxi, when the four men approached him and asked if he was working.  He said yes and the men requested that he take them to Crane. It was reported, “Whilst in the car, he said two of the suspects pulled out firearms from their waist and ordered him to pull over to the side of the road. They then tied his hands and feet with plastic straps and put him in the back seat of the car. One of the suspects drove the car to the scene, where the other three suspects exited the vehicle and entered the yard.” A manhunt was launched for the four suspects and residents of Hague assisted the police in capturing Calvin. Notably, he confessed to the robbery and provided the names and details of his accomplices to the police. Calvin also corroborated Benjamin’s story. Related Similar Articles

Election Fraud case further delayed Sep 18, 2024 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News …court may be forced to change Magistrate Kaieteur News – The trial concerning the 2020 Election Fraud case which was set to reopen on Tuesday, has been postponed yet again to October 31, 2024, as Senior Magistrate Leroy Daly remains ill. The hearing, which took place at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, was overseen by Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty who further adjourned the trial. She informed both the prosecution and the defence that if Magistrate Daly remains unwell, the court may need to assign the case to a different magistrate or court. “If her illness continues, we (the court) as well as the prosecution and defence may be forced to take another route, in which case certain submissions may have to be made regarding the viability of the matter proceeding before another court or magistrate,” Magistrate McGusty stated. The trial initially began on July 29, 2024, but was briefly adjourned three days later and was scheduled to resume on September 17 due to Magistrate Daly’s illness. To date, only two prosecution witnesses have testified, with one testimony still incomplete. Prior to the adjournment, during the last session on July 31, 2024, Attorney-at-Law Darshan Ramdhani KC, the lead prosecutor, requested that the two witnesses retake the stand. This request was contested by defence attorneys Darren Wayne, Eusi Anderson, and Ronald Daniels. After the back-and-forth arguments between both sides, Magistrate Daly indicated that she needed time to consider the arguments and decided to adjourn the matter until August 5, 2024. However, over the weekend, it was announced that Magistrate Daly had taken a 30-day sick leave, leading to another delay until September 17. The trial involves nine defendants who are facing 19 conspiracy charges. The accused include former GECOM Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield; former Returning Officer for District Four Clairmont Mingo; former Deputy Chief Election Officer Roxanne Myers; former Minister Volda Lawrence; APNU+AFC’s Chief Scrutineer Carol Smith Joseph; and former GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Liven, Michelle Miller, and Denise Babb-Cummings. Most of the defendants appeared at the hearing, but Miller, February, and Babb-Cummings were absent. Former Minister Lawrence participated virtually. The charges allege that between March 2 and August 2, 2020, at Ashmins’ Building in Georgetown, Lowenfield, Mingo, and Myers conspired with Lawrence, Joseph, February, Liven, Cummings, Miller, and others to defraud the electors of Guyana by presenting false votes from the March 2, 2020, general and regional elections. Related Similar Articles

Govt. in move to revive Skeldon sugar estate Sep 18, 2024 News – seeking contractors to prepare, plant fields Kaieteur News – A total of nine bidders have signaled their interest in undertaking the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) project which is to do land preparation and planting at the Skeldon Sugar Estate in Region Six. Submitting their bids to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office were Ally Metals & Lumber – $108,073,500; Satnarine Cane Planting Business; CNR Investment; Jaiand Commodities Inc.; KNS Peetum Construction – $141,000,000; Rajesh Sahadeo Contracting; AJM Enterprise- $2,110,905,000; Ryker Ryan Investment – $2,238,400,500; Jason Gravesande General Contracting Service; Jalil & Daughters Business Establishment – $46,831,850; and Mahadeo Ramnarine. As reported in the media, President Irfaan Ali in May this year had reaffirmed to the residents of Crabwood Creek, Region Six during a visit that his government is moving to reopen the Skeldon Sugar Estate, which was closed down by the previous administration. “We are working on the Skeldon Estate…I agree that there are challenges but we are working on that,” he was quoted in a Department of Public Information article. Kaieteur News understands that the government was in the process of making another 5000 hectares of land available at the Skeldon Sugar Estate, At a different occasion, the Head-of-State had mentioned that production process at this location will be mechanized, thereby enhancing productivity and competitiveness. “We have already sourced new varieties of canes that will be planted on those lands, so that not only will we achieve, or we’re working on achieving the target this year, but we are also working on achieving higher levels of target next year,” the President said. Related Similar Articles

Doing business in Guyana gat added costs Sep 18, 2024 Dem Boys Seh, Features / Columnists, News Kaieteur News – Owning a business in Guyana is like running a marathon with a sack of bricks strapped to your back. Except, in this race, the bricks have names—Shoplifting Sherry, Burglar Bob, and Bandit Barry—and they’re all taking turns to lighten your load by… well, lightening your inventory. First, you’ve got to cater for the shoplifters. Oh yes, Sherry has mastered the art of disappearing small items as if she’s the Houdini of handbags. Businesses are now forced to install cameras so fancy they can probably zoom in on Sherry’s exact eyebrow twitch before she strikes. Then there’s Bob, the nighttime burglar. By day, your shop is open for business, but by night, it’s open for Bob’s business. Businesses invest in steel grills, iron doors, and alarms so loud, they might wake the dead. But hey, if Bob’s determined, he’s coming through the roof. Now that’s an added cost for business—sky-high burglary insurance! Bandit Barry, of course, doesn’t care if it’s night or day. He prefers the “shock and awe” method—busting through doors with a gun, a machete, or just an angry glare. So, now you have to invest in security guards. And since you can’t predict Barry’s schedule, you have to pay them to stand there all day—just in case. But the real kicker is your own employees. One minute they’re organizing stock, and the next, they’re organizing a heist. The only thing more consistent than the “team spirit” is their spirit to team up and relieve you of your goods. And let’s not forget the lovely skylarking, late-coming, and time-off requests. The workers, bless their hearts, act like they’re on a perpetual vacation, showing up late and taking half the day to finish their coffee. It’s no wonder businesses have to mark up prices so high. Every loaf of bread has to cover a surveillance camera, a night guard, and a secret escape route for your skylarking staff. At this rate, we’ll need a “Shop owners’ Survival Kit” just to stay afloat! Talk half. Leff half! Related Similar Articles