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President Ali’s “break back” pledge Sep 09, 2024 Editorial Kaieteur News – Following the US$188M cocaine bust at Matthews Ridge, Region One, President, Irfaan Ali went on record committing to breaking up the networks of the drug traffickers operating here. This newspaper reported that in commending the joint services operations led by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) in the bust President Ali made it clear that Guyana will continue to work with its partners to destabilise and break the back of all criminal networks operating in the country. He said: “The bust is not the end of the matter, we have every intention in working with our partners to destabilise and break the back of all criminal networks especially in drug trafficking operating within our territorial space and airspace. We have already asked and we are ready to work with our partners once we are given the assets, and once we can secure the assets to deal with all the over flights that are passing over our airspace, we are ready to work with you in dismantling the global empire that drug trade has created but we need that support.” The President noted that the partnership is not only for Guyana but for every nation, stakeholders due to the fact that how the trade is changing because of prices and demand, noting that Europe is being severely impacted “so all of us have a joint responsibility and as small as we are with the limited resources, we have you can be assured that we are taking our responsibility seriously and any information, any information sent that is available to us we will go after it to the best of our ability, every single operation has to be dismantled.” Further, he said that the recent drug bust, demonstrates Guyana’s resolve to combating narcotics trafficking and protecting the nation from being used as a transshipment point for the movement of illicit substances. By now most Guyanese have realised that President Ali is all bluster and slogans, but his government has actually done nothing to address some of the growing problems in this country. Just like his vision and public position via his ‘One Guyana’ initiative- all with appealing ring, but really empty promises and platitudes. Only if he is sincere to make his words match with his deeds can there be the traction towards what this country most needs. For years, the PPP/C in government has been known for being soft on seriously tackling the narcotics problem. We have seen here the rise of very powerful narco- bosses under the PPP/C administration and nothing will convince Guyanese what the President said last week was really any serious intent to tackle the drugs trafficking problem in Guyana. We have seen reports of how compromised our law enforcement agencies are and how deep corruption runs in government. If President Ali is serious about “breaking the back of the drug trafficking networks” as he said last week he would champion real reforms in the Guyana Police Force, CANU and even the Guyana Defence Force. Only recently we witnessed soldiers dressed in their uniforms trafficking marijuana and outside of them being charged and placed before the courts, what noticeable change or action was taken. In tackling or breaking the back of drugs trafficking there needs to be root and branch changes not just in the law enforcement agencies but also in central government. Anybody, any Leader, any Pastor, can make a pleasing speech, proclaim that they are about what is dedicated (‘pledged’) to “break the back of drugs trafficking,” the most commendable of objectives. It is what they do after as individual, as Leader, as religious shepherd that matters. If we come across as slightly on the skeptical side, it is because President Ali has made so many public speeches and pledges on important things, and look where we are. Try transparency, corruption, oil deal, and straight talking followed by clean dealings.  They stand as the best evidence of his truths. Related Similar Articles

Two girls die while swimming in highway creek Sep 09, 2024 News Kaieteur News –  On Sunday a family outing to a creek on the Linden /Soesdyke Highway turned somber after two of the young family members who were playing in the water had their lifeless bodies retrieved sometime later. Relatives and friends of the two girls were inconsolable at the scene on Sunday Dead are 10-year-old Akira La Rose and 11-year-old Joylyn Jack. According to the police the girls were at the Enchanter Creek on the Linden Soesdyke Highway with members of their family including their grandmother Allison Klass and Jack’s father to celebrate La Rose’s 10th birthday. Allegedly the two girls were playing in the water and subsequently it was discovered that they were missing. An alarm was raised, a search party was formed and the frantic search for the youngsters began. They were found in the water unresponsive and escorted to the Diamond Diagnostics Center by the police as well as civilians where they were examined by a doctor and pronounced dead on arrival. Their bodies were also examined by the police, but no marks of violence were found. The bodies were transported to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home for post-mortem examinations and an investigation is ongoing. Kaieteur News understands after the girls went missing and the search commenced some time later one of them was retrieved from the water and appeared to have been alive. Persons present conducted Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the emergency service hotline was contacted but they were told that no ambulances were available that far out. The second child was retrieved a few minutes later. A video circulating on social media shows persons in a small boat on the creek with a number of others diving and resurfacing repeatedly. One of the divers felt the child’s body and called out to the other for assistance to retrieve it. The man was observed walking to the shallow end of the creek with the child’s lifeless body in his arms as onlookers wailed loudly and a few were heard questioning if she was alive. Related Similar Articles

Govt. paid over $197 billion in taxes for Exxon in past two years Sep 09, 2024 News – Annual Report shows company did not have to pay $138B in 2023, $59B in 2022  By Renay Sambach Kaieteur News – ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) did not have to pay over $197 Billion in taxes to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for the past two years, as the taxes were paid by the Government of Guyana (GoG) in keeping with the lopsided Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) the Coalition Government signed with the US oil major back in 2016. President Irfaan Ali Exxon is the operator of the Stabroek Block, with a 45% interest, while Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30% interest and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25% interest. All of the block-partners enjoy a tax-free ride in Guyana. According to Exxon’s Annual Report, in 2023, the Government paid G$138.182 billion in taxes on its behalf to GRA. This figure represents a significant increase compared to the G$59.381 billion Government had to pay for Exxon in 2022.  The company explained in its report, that while it is subject to Guyana’s income tax laws, the taxes assessed on the company’s operation are paid by the government, rather than the company itself. “Under Article 15.2 of the Petroleum Agreement, the Branch is subject to the Income Tax Laws of Guyana with respect to filing returns, assessment of tax, and keeping of records. President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Alistair Routledge Under Article 15.4 of the Petroleum Agreement, the sum equivalent to the tax assessed on the Branch will be paid by the Minister responsible for Petroleum to the Commissioner General, Guyana Revenue Authority and is reported as non-customer revenue,” Exxon stated. While American oil giant ExxonMobil Corporation (XOM) operation is subject to taxation in other parts of the world, its subsidiary EMGL will continue to enjoy a tax free earnings in Guyana as a result of the Stabroek Block PSA. EMGL disclosed back in June that it earned approximately US$2.9 billion (GYD$614 billion) in profits last year—entirely tax-free. The Irfaan Ali-led administration has explicitly stated that due to the sanctity of contract, the 2016 PSA will remain in place, despite the deal being labelled as ‘lopsided’. In fact, last year, President Ali, during an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Senior Journalist Gideon Long, reiterated his administration’s position to not renegotiate the ‘lopsided’ Exxon deal. President Ali said, “Well, I would say definitely, we did not have the best of deals, Exxon have a good deal signed by the last government.” Ali then highlighted that sanctity of contract is “very important” to his government, adding, “and we can’t go back on that.” It should be noted that a legal suit brought against these abusive tax giveaways by the Publisher of this newspaper, Mr. Glenn Lall was unsuccessful as the Court dismissed the case in February 2023. Moreover, the provision of the Stabroek Block contract which gives Exxon and its affiliates a tax-free ride in Guyana has attracted criticisms locally and internationally. The contract states at Article 15.1 that the Contractor (ExxonMobil Guyana Limited) as well as its affiliates shall not be subjected to tax, value-added tax, excise tax, duty, fee, charge or impost in respect of income derived from petroleum operations, property held or transactions except as specified under the agreement. It goes on to state at Article 15.4 that the sum equivalent to the taxes owed by the company will be paid by the Minister responsible for Petroleum to the Commissioner General of the GRA.  It should be noted that the contract also allows for the issuing of a receipt to ExxonMobil, indicating that it has met the local tax requirements to avoid the burden of double taxation. Article 15.5 of the contract states, “Within one hundred and eighty (180) days following the end of each year of assessment, the Minister shall furnish to Contractor proper tax certificates in Contractor’s name from the Commissioner General, Guyana Revenue Authority evidencing the payment of the Contractor’s income tax under the Income Tax Act and corporation tax under the Corporation Tax Act. Such certificates shall state the amount of tax paid individually on behalf of Contractor or parties comprising the Contractor and other particulars customary for such certificates.” Related Similar Articles

Jilted man kills wife, wounds self Sep 09, 2024 News Kaieteur News – A woman was on Sunday stabbed to death by her reputed husband who also wounded his nephew and attempted to kill himself during a fit of rage at Free and Easy, West Bank Demerara, Region Three. Dead is 29-year-old Alexis Roxanne Harris called ‘Cullie’ a farmer of Hill Foot, Linden Soesdyke Highway.  The woman was allegedly murdered by her reputed husband, James Lord at about 12:20hrs. In a press release police stated that the now deceased was living with the suspect and their children at Hill Foot, Linden Soesdyke Highway. According to the police about two months ago the couple had a misunderstanding and she was allegedly assaulted by the suspect who threatened to kill her.  As a result she moved out of the home with her children, to her sister’s residence in Free and Easy, West Bank Demerara. It is alleged that at about 12:00hrs on Sunday, the suspect visited the sister’s residence to see his children.  It is claimed that Harris was on her cell phone, and this angered the suspect, who took away the cell phone and broke it. It is further reported that the deceased then went and sat on the stairway outside, but the suspect followed her, took out a knife from his haversack, and attempted to stab her. His nephew, Junior Lord, who was there at the time, heard the commotion and intervened. He attempted to take away the knife, but the suspect dealt him a stab wound to his abdomen and he fell. The suspect then rushed towards the deceased and stabbed her in her left breast and on her right hand. She ran and collapsed into a nearby drain, while the suspect made good his escape on foot to the sea dam area. Junior Lord was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital by public-spirited citizens where he was treated and admitted as a patient in a stable but serious condition. The scene was processed, and the body of Harris was escorted to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival by the doctor on duty. The body was then taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem examination. Meanwhile, with the assistance of public-spirited citizens, police arrested the suspect. Upon his arrest, two wounds were observed to his abdomen, which he claimed were self-inflicted. The EMT was summoned, and he was escorted to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where he remains under guard by police. Investigations are ongoing. Related Similar Articles

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Cracks in newly built Schoonord to Crane highway not a problem – Pres. Ali  Sep 09, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Several defects have been highlighted at sections of the newly commissioned Schoonord to Crane highway. The $15.1 billion four lane highway was commissioned by President Ifraan Ali just over a week ago to help alleviate traffic congestion in Region Three. The cement walkway for the $15 billion road has already started to crumble However, Kaieteur News visited the Highway just a few days after it opened and found sections of the walkway to the newly built road already crumbling. The issue was first highlighted by social media commentator Francis Michael Bailey. Bailey shared a video in which he pointed out a number of issues with the road.  Bailey pointed out that though new, the road was already patched at some parts. In addition, the area that was left as a walkway for commuters had a number of defects including cracks, and the exposed rebars made from steel which is a tripping hazard for pedestrians. Foreign objects such as plastic and pieces of wood appeared to be mixed into the blocks that made the walkway giving it a rough finish. Additionally, Bailey pointed out that the cement work applied to the structure appeared to be shoddy. ”This is very, very poor casting work…The covers [of the walkway]are supposed to be individual units over the drains that can be moved  but they have come along here applied at a very cheap casting over the top of it so apparently now it’s not supposed to move…” the social media user pointed out in the video. Plastic and wood are among the foreign object seen protruding from concrete structure used to create a walkway Bailey noted too that where the cracks appear in the cement walkway is due to foreign objects such plywood being left in the structure. “Under where you see the cracks are because you still have plywood in the structure that going to make it deteriorate,” he said.  Added to this, the social media user noted the contractor who was hired to complete sections of the road already had to do remedial work to it. “If you look closely you see that they would have already had to patch the road at some parts…” Bailey pointed out. He questioned how the recently built road can be already in need of rehabilitation and how was it possible for local engineers to certify the clearly “substandard work” as complete. In a subsequent video shared on social media, President Ali brushed aside the concerns about the road labeling it as “empty noise” “There is absolutely no concern about the Schoonord road project…there are some drain covers and these are covers that the form still be removed this is ongoing and there is a long defects liability period so this is just empty noise,” the Head of State said in response to questions from the press on the state of the road. There are visible signs that the newly commissioned road has been repaired $15.1 billion contract for the road was signed back in September 2022 by the Ministry of Housing and Water, Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) after it was awarded through the national tendering process. The new four-lane project was built by eight contractors and done in eight lots. The contractors include: R Construction Inc, Avinash Contracting & Scrap Metal Inc, L-Heureuse Construction and Services Inc, Guyamerica Construction Inc, AJM Enterprise, Vals Construction, Puran Bros Disposal Inc, and JS Guyana Inc. The road measures some 4.1km of dual carriageway reinforced concrete road and some of the features of the highway includes an emergency lane, medians, the rehabilitation of 2.4km of roadways, two roundabouts, 11 reinforced concrete box culverts, 36 pre-stressed bridges, road signage and markings. In his address at the commissioning ceremony, the Head of State said that this highway is just the first phase of the highway that would lead to Parika. “This is not just about the Schoonord to Crane highway this is about the realisation of a grand vision, that vision that seeks to transform every single region of our country.” “The infrastructure interlink that we are talking about is to position Guyana as a major transport and logistics hub, it is to open up the opportunities in tourism and it is to expand the opportunities in agriculture,” he explained during his remarks. Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal said that the road project forms part of government’s infrastructure vision which is “to lift our people out of poverty and to create the condition for economic growth and development in every region.” The minister went onto state that this highway will immediately bring further development, reduce travel times, reduce traffic congestion and “open new opportunities for entrepreneurship which bodes well for the long-term viability of West Demerara and its prospect for further development.” Related Similar Articles

Excavator operator dies in freak accident Sep 09, 2024 News Kaieteur News – An excavator operator hailing from Turkeyen Greater Georgetown died on Saturday in a freak accident when the excavator the machine he was offloading from a truck fell on him. Dead is 49 year old Joseph Hollingsworth. According to police the incident occurred around 09:30 hrs. at Coglan Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara. Reports revealed that Hollingsworth was with businessman Travis Pierpont who hired him to transport the heavy-duty machine from Coglan Dam, Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara. This was to be done using a truck owned by the man, registration number GAE 4266. Upon loading the excavator onto the truck, when he was about to drive off Hollingsworth realised that it was too heavy as the truck was not moving, since it couldn’t take off the weight of the excavator. He decided to offload the machine and while in the process of doing so the excavator fell off of the truck and into a drain pinning him there. He was rescued by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the West Demerara Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty.  The body of the deceased was then transported to the Ezekiel Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination. Related Similar Articles