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Guyana’s oil not being used for Stabroek Block operations – ExxonMobil Sep 14, 2024 News Kaieteur News – ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) on Friday said Guyana’s crude oil was not being used for its offshore operations in the Stabroek Block. President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge The company in a statement explained, “EMGL’s offshore operations use none of the crude produced in the Stabroek block. All of the crude oil recovered is lifted for sale in one-million-barrel cargos by the Government of Guyana and the co-venturers.” ExxonMobil affiliate, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45% interest in the Stabroek block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30% interest, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25% interest. A number of government agencies, onshore and offshore, monitor all crude cargo lifts, including those assigned to the co-venturers, Exxon added. The oil company therefore noted, “The idea of secret crude cargos has no basis in reality.” The company did not indicate where its fuel for the operations was being sourced or the cost. Up to press time, Exxon did not respond to queries in that regard. Exxon’s statement was issued to the media in response to Kaieteur News’ Friday, September 13, 2024 Editorial. The column questioned the secrecy surrounding the use of Guyana’s crude oil for the company’s activities and its importance in determining whether this was yet another avenue for the country to be shortchanged of its resources. “When that number is disclosed, whatever it is, assessments can be made that, given the scope of ExxonMobil’s Guyana operations, as to the reasonableness of it, how it compares to similar situations elsewhere.  On the other hand, when that number is shaded in secrecy, the door is flung open for playing with what could involve thousands of barrels of oil daily,” a section of the editorial stated. It should be noted that the Petroleum Agreement between the Government of Guyana (GoG) and United States oil major, ExxonMobil provides for the operator of the Stabroek Block to use as much oil as it needs during the offshore operations. Article 11.9 of the Agreement states: “The Contractor shall have the right to use in any Petroleum Operations as much of the production as may reasonably be required by it therefor and the quantities so used or lost shall be excluded from any calculations of Cost Oil and/or Cost Gas and Profit Oil and/or Profit Gas entitlement.” During a webinar earlier this month, International Award-winning Lawyer, Melinda Janki pointed out that the country was in the dark on how much of its oil was being used by Exxon. She told participants of the online event that in 2021 she wrote to President Irfaan Ali requesting this; however, she never received a response. Related Similar Articles

UN Head slams Security Council for failure to end Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine wars Sep 14, 2024 News Palestinians at UNRWA’s Gaza headquarters in Gaza City. The agency runs schools and provides healthcare and social services to Palestinian refugees [File: Khalil Hamra/AP Photo]Antonio Guterres tells Al Jazeera the Security Council is outdated, unfair, and ineffective. Aljazeera – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the Security Council is an “outdated,” “unfair” and “ineffective system” whose failure to put an end to Israel’s war on Gaza has damaged the credibility of the organisation as a whole. Speaking to Al Jazeera Arabic in an exclusive interview, the UN chief decried the failures of the council, which was established in the aftermath of World War II to ensure international peace and security but whose permanent members’ veto power has consistently proven to be an obstacle to that goal. The council, Guterres said, “doesn’t correspond to the world of today”. “The truth is that the Security Council has systematically failed in relation to the capacity to put an end to the most dramatic conflicts that we face today: Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine.” ‘A severe handicap’ Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal who has helmed the UN since 2017, stressed that the organisation’s other bodies and particularly its humanitarian agencies have continued to deliver essential services to Palestinians throughout Israel’s more than 11-month assault on Gaza. However, he noted that the council’s political failure to bring an end to the conflict has hurt the UN’s other bodies. “The UN is not the Security Council,” Guterres said. But he acknowledged that UN staff in the field — and particularly those from the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza — “suffer from the fact that the people look at them and think, ‘Well, but the Security Council has failed us.’” “For us, this failure of the Security Council is a severe handicap for our work in the field,” he added.  ‘UNRWA remains the backbone’ Guterres nodded to the 200 UNRWA staff killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since the beginning of the war and pointed to a recent survey showing recognition for the agency’s efforts among the Palestinians it is reaching. He also expressed relief that after the agency came under attack early this year when Israel accused members of its staff of links to “terrorism“, leading several countries to withhold funding, the agency’s credibility appeared to have been restored. “Many countries that in the beginning hesitated and suspended the support to UNRWA have come back, helping UNRWA deliver,” he said. “UNRWA remains the backbone of humanitarian support to the people of Gaza.” Still, he condemned the constant challenges Israel continues to pose to that work. “When conditions are made for them to work, like in relation to polio, they immediately are very effective,” Guterres said. “If the same conditions would be given to our support in relation to all other aspects of humanitarian action, if we hadn’t had the obstacles, the harassment, the problems, the difficulties that Israel has been systematically creating to the acts of UN humanitarian agencies, in particular to UNRWA, we’ll be able to do much more. And the people do need much more.” ‘No accountability’ In the interview, Guterres also blamed the world’s “major powers” for fostering the culture of impunity on display in Gaza. Even as he expressed confidence in the work of the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, Guterres said, “We live in an environment of total impunity.” “Everybody does what everybody wants,” he added. “The geopolitical divide that exists among the major powers has created a situation in which any country or any movement anywhere in the world feels that they can do whatever they want because there will be no punishment, there will be no accountability.” He also said the United States should put more pressure on Israel to end its assault on Gaza. “It’s important to put pressure on the United States in order to make sure that the United States puts pressure on Israel — as they are supporting Israel — put pressure on Israel to stop the war and at the same time to recognise that the two-state solution must not be undermined.” “We have been asking the United States to be much more strong in relation to Israel,” he added. ‘The occupation is not legal’ Guterres also discussed the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements and outposts in the occupied West Bank, which are illegal under international law. “We must absolutely reject any prospective annexation of the West Bank,” he said. “The West Bank, together with Gaza and East Jerusalem, which is part of the West Bank, must be the state of Palestine in the future.” “One of the most concerning things we have at the present moment is to see the systematic policy of many in the Israeli government that tries to undermine the two-state solution, exactly by evictions, settlements, grabbing land and other actions in the West Bank, which are, of course, totally against international law,” he added. “There is an opinion of the International Court of Justice. The opinion is clear: This is an occupation, and the occupation is not legal.” Related Similar Articles

Two men wanted for West Bank murder Sep 14, 2024 News Kaieteur News – The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Friday issued a wanted bulletin for two men connected to the murder of Akeem Hamer, also known as ‘Max’, from Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara (WBD). Hamer was killed on September 12, 2024. The individuals sought by the police are 24-year-old Jamal Bourne, called ‘Skinny’, whose last known address is Lot 14, 5th Avenue, Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and 20-year-old Roman Roberts, known as ‘Arsonal’, whose last known address is Lot 38, Samaroo Dam, Pouderoyen, WBD. The police are requesting the public’s assistance in locating Bourne and Roberts. Anyone with information about their whereabouts is urged to contact the police at 227-1149, 225-8196, 227-1611, 268-2328, 268-2329, 226-3405, 225-6978, or 333-3876 or the nearest police station. Related Similar Articles

Woman crushed by Lorry at Lusignan Sep 14, 2024 Sports A screen grab showing the lorry heading west along the Lusignan Railway Embankment Road while the woman on the cycle was heading north. Kaieteur News – An unidentified woman was tragically crushed to death by a motor lorry on Friday morning at the Lusignan Railway Embankment Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The incident occurred around 07:45 hrs near the Lusignan Prison Road. The lorry involved, registered GAE 3066, was being driven by 29-year-old Brian Aaron Lee from Burma, Mahaicony, ECD. At the time of the accident, the woman was riding a bicycle along the road. According to the police, Lee was traveling west on the Lusignan Railway Embankment Road when someone shouted to alert him that a cyclist was trapped under the lorry. Lee immediately pulled over, stopped the vehicle, and exited to find the woman lying motionless on the road. A video circulating on social media shows that while the lorry was proceeding west along the road, it made an abrupt stop before proceeding. It was then the vehicle crushed the woman. Emergency Medical Technicians were called to the scene where they pronounced the woman dead upon arrival. The body has been taken to the Memorial Gardens Mortuary, where it will await a post-mortem examination. The driver remains in custody, assisting with the ongoing investigation. Related Similar Articles

Two minors involved in case of 11-year-old girl who gave birth – DPP Sep 14, 2024 News GPHC Maternity Unit Kaieteur News – The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in a statement on Friday said that it has observed reports of the 11-year-old girl who gave birth, and noted that the matter involves two children. It was reported that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) have launched an investigation after the girl gave birth via C-section at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on Wednesday. “This matter concerns two children and as such and based on the Juvenile Justice Act, the DPP’s Office will make NO comments in relation to the FACTS and Legal Advice given in this case,” the DPP officer said. Notably, the DPPs Office also reminded the press and members of the public of Section 100 of the Juvenile Justice Act 2018, which stipulates that a person shall NOT PUBLISH THE NAME OR ANY INFORMATION relating to a child or Juvenile if it, will identify the child or juvenile as having been dealt with under this Act. In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Protection though the CPA became involved in the matter after information about the child giving birth made its rounds on social media.  The Ministry said that as a result the CPA immediately carried out a thorough investigation and informed the police and the alleged perpetrator has been arrested.  The Ministry said that the case is currently before the DPP for advice.  In the interim, the Ministry said that the child will continue to receive psychosocial and medical support. Related Similar Articles

Arbitration panel set for foreign contractors suing government for US-millions in cost overruns in relation to Wales GTE Project Sep 14, 2024 Court Stories, Features / Columnists, News Vice President (VP), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo …Team to visit next month Kaieteur News – The arbitration panel for US-million cost overruns claimed by United States-based Lindsayca and CH4 joint venture against the Government of Guyana (GoG) is set to visit next month, Vice President (VP) Bharrat Jagdeo announced on Thursday at his weekly press conference. Jagdeo told reporters that he was under the impression that the arbitration panel was visiting last week. However, he added, “But I was told it’s in October…I know the panel is fully composed now and they are visiting.” Notably, the Vice President stated that he does not know who the third member of the arbitration board is. That person was agreed upon by the government and the companies. Back in April, the joint-venture made a claim against the Government for some US$90M in cost overruns for construction delays for the Wales Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project. In December 2022, CH4-Lindsayca was awarded a US$759M contract for the construction of two components of the GTE project, the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Facility and the 300 megawatts (MW) power plant. It should be noted that at a previous press conference, the VP said that while it was reported that there is a dispute over US$90M, this was inaccurate. He said the amount stood at around US$50M but the figure needed to be verified. The GTE project will see the utilization of Guyana natural gas resources being piped from ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) Stabroek Block operations to the location in Wales. Exxon is responsible for the construction of the 140-mile (225-km) gas pipeline with a price tag of US$1 billion. The oil company has promised to deliver the pipeline by the end of this year. This gas pipeline will be connected to the combined onshore facilities, which falls under the purview of the government. Exxon will have to supply gas from the Stabroek Block to the 300 megawatts power plant and the NGL facility. Related Similar Articles

GPO cautions against purchase and use of illegal postage stamps Sep 14, 2024 News Some of the illegal postage stamps that are in circulation Fake stamps Kaieteur News – The Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) on Thursday cautioned the public about the circulation of illegal postage stamps worldwide. In a statement, the post office said that the stamps in circulation were not issued by Guyana while adding that the illegal stamps have been produced and distributed without the knowledge or permission of the country’s authorities. “As the legal issuer of postage stamps in Guyana, the GPOC emphasizes that any stamp not officially released by the Corporation is unauthorized and should not be advertised or marketed for sale or otherwise by or on behalf of GPOC, Guyana or the Government of Guyana,” GPOC said in the statement. Further, the GPO urged collectors, and the public to be vigilant and ensure the authenticity of stamps by verifying their origin. Related Similar Articles