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ExxonMobil yet to respond to final report in first audit – Oil Minister Aug 24, 2024 News Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat. Kaieteur News – The Government of Guyana has written ExxonMobil for its response to the final audit report for the first audit which shows charges amounting to some US$214M that were not used for activities directly related to exploration and production in the Stabroek Block offshore. However, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat at his mid-year press conference revealed that the oil company has not responded as yet to the enquiries, but there is a timeframe attached for them to do so which he did not specify. The first audit examined expenses incurred by the oil company from 1999-2014.Addressing the media Minister Bharrat said that “In terms of the audits the first audit as you know that has been well…very much ventilated in the media and elsewhere, we have closed that at the $214 figure, I would have…based on advice we would have written Exxon saying that this is the final report.” He explained that while the government is awaiting the oil company’s response to know the next step there is a timeframe attached for them to provide the answers. “We are awaiting the response. I think there is a time period for that response and then we will take it forward from there, but from the government’s perspective and our position is that the final report is being closed off at the $214 I think $214.6M,” he said. He further stated that, “Now let me stress too that not only for the media because I know you know but for the viewers because we are live as well, let me stress too that there was this perception and allegation, against myself, the Vice President staff members that there is some kind of sinister behind the whole issue of that first audit.” The minister explained that in an audit there is no liquid cash involved, it is basically looking through receipts and invoices to ensure that the expenses and the monies spent are accounted for. “So when we say it is $214M it don’t mean in anyway $214M will be transferred from Exxon to the Ministry or Natural Resources. It don’t work like that, that’s not how audits work. It simply means that $214M once we agree $214M will be removed from the cost bank. It means that the country don’t have to pay back that $214M,” the minister further explained. Clearing up the misconception the minister said, “I wanted to say that because there is this misconception that its $214M US in cash. There is no such thing like that. It’s just writing off the amount from the cost bank. That is the only transaction involved there. Where once the government say this is the final amount Exxon agrees and we don’t go to arbitration, then the $214M comes out of the cost bank. So we don’t have to pay that back the cost bank is reduced in other words. That is the process.” Meanwhile, Vice President Jagdeo had previously said that, “They still are in a back and forth; they still have been writing Exxon and awaiting response on a lot of the issues that you have serialized in the Kaieteur News.” The first audit into ExxonMobil’s expenses incurred during the period 1999-2017 which amounted to US $1.6B was conducted by the international firm IHS Markit and revised in the year 2021.  In this audit the auditors highlighted in the introduction that there was some “$214.4 million plus overhead adjustments of the costs currently included by EEPGL in the Cost Bank” that the Government of Guyana “has reasonable grounds to dispute.” Related Similar Articles

Youths in Natural Resources Apprenticeship Program visit Gas to Energy power plant construction Aug 24, 2024 News Youth in Natural Resources Apprentices with the LNDCH4 Guyana Team. Kaieteur News – Lindsayca and CH4, the joint venture that was awarded the contract to construct the onshore facilities for the Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources recently facilitated a two day tour of the construction site for the 40 participants of the Youths in Natural Resources Apprenticeship Program. In a statement on Friday, the joint venture (LNDCH4 Guyana) said the visit and tour of the construction site on August 20th and 22nd included a comprehensive presentation on the Gas to Energy power plant project, detailing its significance to the nation’s energy future and its role in reducing Guyana’s carbon footprint. Country Manager of LNDCH4 Guyana, Humberto Lopez, delivering his presentation Notably, the local media was not invited to provide coverage of the visit. Country Manager of LNDCH4 Guyana, Humberto Lopez during a presentation told the youths in the Apprenticeship Program that the GTE project is a cornerstone of Guyana’s energy transition. To this end, he noted, “It is crucial that our young people are engaged and informed about the opportunities and challenges in this sector. We believe that initiatives like this will inspire the next generation to take an active role in the country’s energy future.” Head of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Kesh Nandlall who was also on-site for a separate meeting, shared his insights on the energy sector’s potential and the importance of youth involvement in shaping Guyana’s future. In December 2022, government signed a US$759M contract with CH4-Lindsayca to build two Natural Gas Plants at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD). The Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract, stipulates that CH4-Lindsayca is solely responsible 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 power plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara. The GTE project also entails a 220-kilometers pipeline being constructed by ExxonMobil. Related Similar Articles

We like change we mind! Aug 24, 2024 Dem Boys Seh, Features / Columnists, News Kaieteur News – Dem boys seh we got a new national sport in Guyana: flip-flopping. And trust me, it make cricket look like a weekend lime. We marry we childhood sweetheart with big fanfare and nuff nuff people eat and drink. But next morning, some ah we wake up and seh, “Wait, I like being single better.” Divorce lawyers smiling all de way to de bank, while de farmers crying for rain. And den, y’all ever hear about de house sale drama? You find a buyer who ain’t mind de leaking roof and de shaky back veranda. De paperwork almost done when suddenly you realize, “Nah man, this place got sentimental value!” So, you pull back faster than a minibus man dodging a traffic cop. De buyer lef’ standing like he been dreaming all de time. But de real fun start when we start nominating people. We big up some bright-eyed fella, seh he de next savior. But before de ink dry on he appointment letter, we start murmuring, “Who tell we to pick this one? Ain’t had nobody better?” Poor chap don’t even get time to warm he seat before we calling fuh he head. And elections? Buddy, that’s where we really show off. We vote with more passion than a preacher man on Sunday morning. We campaign like we life depend on it. But as soon as dem win, we turn ‘gainst dem so fast, you could get whiplash. “Who vote for this clown?” we ask, pretending we didn’t celebrate when dem win. And de oil contract? Oh man, we march, we protest, we holler ‘bout fairness and renegotiation. But just like dat, we mek a U-turn so sharp, we head spin. Now, all we hearin’ is, “We gon review it… eventually.” And dat oversight body we did promise? Now we hearin’, “No magic fix,” like we didn’t know better. It’s like we allergic to sticking to anything. In Guyana, we commit to anything—marriage, house sale, leaders, oil contracts—until we don’t. We got buyers’ remorse on steroids. But hey, that’s how we roll: forever undecided, forever changing we mind. Talk half. Leff half Related Similar Articles

Bartica Zone kicks off tonight Aug 24, 2024 Sports The Bartica Community Centre is looking set and ready for the two-day showdown in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition. Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Championship… – Nationals set for Sept. 6 Kaieteur Sports – Following four years of inactivity due to the COVID pandemic, the increasingly popular Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ returned with a bang this year, with massive support seen in all the communities that hosted the competition. Played in Georgetown, Berbice, Linden, Essequibo, and East Bank/West Demerara so far, attention is now focused on the Bartica community, the final stop in the Zone segment, before the staging of the highly anticipated National Championship set for Pouderoyen Tarmac on September 6. Unrivalled in its popularity, the event has developed into the most sought-after accolade among street teams, with bragging rights being the main motivator for teams within the communities where the tournament is played. This motivation is then carried over to the national finals, where the winning team can boast of being the best in the country, an achievement that lasts for one year. Tonight, fans in the Bartica area will witness the start of two days of fierce competition set to culminate tomorrow with the final, where the winning team will be crowned zone champion and have the right to represent that community at the national tournament. Sixteen teams have earned the right to participate in the competition for prize monies totalling in excess of $600,000. The winning team will receive $300,000, while second, third, and fourth-place finishers take home $200,000, $100,000, and $80,000 along with trophies, respectively. According to a member of the organising committee, all systems are in place for two nights of intense rivalry as teams battle for the right to represent the community on the biggest stage, the national final. Meanwhile, the buzz surrounding this year’s national finals has been reverberating throughout the entire country, and according to feedback, the organisers are pulling out all the stops to make the one-night wonder a memorable one. Firstly, they’ve increased prize monies for the winners substantially, with a total of over $2 million in cash and trophies up for grabs, while fans will also be rewarded with special giveaways throughout the night. Guinness Brand Executive Lee Baptiste, in an invited comment, said he was pleased with the support received from the teams and fans this year and has been encouraged to make it even better next year. “The support this year’s has been extremely encouraging, especially since we were returning after a four-year absence. This just shows how popular the tournament is, and we will continue to take this feature into our deliberations when we meet at our internal meetings,” Baptiste said. He added that the introduction of Essequibo as one of the new areas in the annual event and the support enjoyed from the community have enhanced the company’s resolve to continue the competition. Meanwhile, the national champion will collect $1 million and the winning trophy, while second, third, and fourth-place finishers will receive $500,000, $350,000, and $200,000, respectively. The fans also came in for high praise for their support throughout the tournament’s history, which, according to Baptiste, continues to grow. He disclosed that while availability of suitable venues remains an obstacle in some communities, they are hoping that the initial concept of playing the game in various communities will return. Meanwhile, as the organisers await the winner of the Bartica Zone, the following teams will contest the national competition: Georgetown-Laing Avenue and North Ruimveldt; West/East Bank Demerara: Ballerz Empire and Showstoppers; East Coast: Demerara-Liliendaal Hustlers; Berbice: East Bank Gunners; Essequibo: All Stars and Linden-Silver Bullets. Related Similar Articles

West Indies take the lead in T20I series Aug 24, 2024 Sports South Africa Tour of the West Indies 2024… Kaieteur Sports – West Indies secured a confidence-boosting 7-wicket win against South Africa, yesterday, to go 1 – 0 in the three match series, which will entirely unfold at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago. Shamar Joseph took a wicket with the first ball of his first two overs. (AFP/Getty Images) Shai Hope made 51 off 36 balls After a threatening brush with inclement weather, Rovman Powell won the toss and gave the visitors first strike. They got to 174-7 in their 20 overs thanks to an excellent innings of 76 from Tristan Stubbs. He struck eight fours and three maximums in his 42-ball innings and found support in Patrick Kruger, who belted a 32-ball 44 down the order following the loss of wickets at key moments. The South African captain, Aiden Markram, was the next top scorer with 14. Matthew Forde continues to be impressive as he recorded figures of 3 – 27 in his fours overs while being supported by the other speedster, Shamar Joseph, who claimed 2 – 40 from 4 overs. Akeal Hosein and Romario Shepherd shared the other wickets. Later in the evening, openers Shai Hope (51) and Alick Athanaze (40) got the home side off to a flying start but lost the latter on the brink of the eighth over with the score on 84. Both openers laced their innings with three maximums and two fours but Hope faced 36 deliveries while Athanaze played 30. Pooran then entered and exhibited a man-of-the-match performance to power West Indies to a comfortable victory. His shot-filled, unbeaten scored of 65 earned him the MoM award and was crafted off just 26 deliveries, in which he smacked 7 sixes and two fours. Ottneil Baartman led the South African attack with 2 – 30 from 4 overs while Kwena Maphaka claimed the other wicket. The second match is scheduled for Sunday, August 25, from 15:00 hrs. Related Similar Articles

UK Golf Club Members Donate Equipment to Nexgen Golf Academy Aug 24, 2024 Sports General Manager Philip Haynes and Nexgen Golf Coach Shmari Joseph receiving equipment from Krish Nath Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Golf Association (GGA)/ Nexgen Academy were recent beneficiaries of gear from the United Kingdom (UK) Golf Club as part of the local club’s ongoing development. Members of the Oaks Golf Club and the Pro Shop located in Surrey, UK represented by overseas based Guyanese Krish Nath contributed golf equipment to the rapidly growing golf program in Guyana on Thursday. Mr. Nath, a psychologist by profession, is a Guyanese who migrated to London and explained that he was impressed by the rapid growth of the sport. “The program developed by Mr. Hussain is astounding given the short time frame and the fact that Golf was not a sport accessible to many Guyanese prior to his intervention”. Even in the UK which has hundreds of golf courses, nothing of this magnitude has ever been attempted. General Manager Philip Haynes and Shmari Joseph were on hand to receive the equipment which will greatly aid the development of the sport to beginners around the country. Related Similar Articles

GCB declares Sean Devers’ article as misleading and mischievous Aug 24, 2024 Sports …Dr. Sukhai reaffirms commitment to Bissondyal Singh-led Administration Kaieteur Sports – In response to the article published in the August 23, 2024 edition of The Guyana Chronicle, the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) finds it is necessary to address and rectify several inaccuracies that have emerged in the public sphere. The GCB aims to clarify the situation regarding its Treasurer, Dr. Brian Sukhai, as well as a long-standing employee who has devoted over three decades of exceptional service to the board. Dr. Brian Sukhai The article, authored by journalist Sean Devers, incorrectly states that Dr. Sukhai had resigned from the GCB with his final working day set for August 31, 2024. The GCB formally denies this assertion, and has labeled it completely unfounded and mischievous. In a disclaimer statement Dr. Sukhai noted “I wish to express my surprise at this fallacious report and hereby confirm my steadfast and ongoing commitment to the Bissondyal Singh-led Board. Since assuming the role of Treasurer in 2021, I have worked tirelessly to enhance the Board’s financial management achieving significant improvements ably supported by a committed team of professional full-time staff at the board office.” Additionally, the article suggested that a long-serving GCB employee had resigned. In reality, this individual who has been with the Board for over 30 years is voluntarily retiring and not resigning as was inaccurately reported. While it is accurate that Vice-President Azad Ibrahim has stepped down from his position, he did so of his own volition. The GCB is concerned about the sensationalist nature of Devers’ reporting which misrepresents facts and creates unnecessary confusion within the cricket community and the general public. The GCB is particularly disheartened by Mr. Devers’ lack of attention to detail as his reporting has not only disseminated misinformation but has also fallen short of the principles of responsible journalism. The GCB reaffirms its dedication to transparency and accountability and urges Mr. Sean Devers to verify his information prior to publication to prevent misleading the public and the stakeholders within Guyana’s cricketing fraternity. This is not the first time that Devers has deliberately set out to besmirch the GCB and on a previous occasion the legal department of the GCB had cause to strongly caution Devers on his journalistic misconduct. The GCB will refer this present disturbing issue to our legal team for any action they may deem necessary. Related Similar Articles