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Kartel freed! Aug 01, 2024 News – Dancehall star, co-accused set free by Court of Appeal KINGSTON, Jamaica— Entertainer Vybz Kartel and his co-accused were set free Wednesday after the Court of Appeal ruled against retrying them for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. Dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel The judgment was handed down a short while ago. The decision was made by a three-judge panel, including Justices Marva McDonald-Bishop, Paulette Williams and David Fraser. Before the ruling, an abbreviated summary was provided for the sole purpose of assisting members of the public with understanding the matter. The full judgement will be made available at www.courtofappeal.gov.jm Vybz Kartel, real name Adidja Palmer; Shawn ‘Shawn Storm’ Campbell; Kahira Jones; and Andre St John were convicted of the September 2011 murder of Williams. Lawyers representing the quartet made an appeal to the local Court of Appeal in 2020, but their convictions were upheld. The accused’s appeal was then taken to the United Kingdom-based Privy Council, and on March 14, 2024, their murder convictions were overturned on the grounds of juror misconduct. The Privy Council also remitted the case back to the Jamaica Court of Appeal to decide whether there should be a retrial. Related Similar Articles

Six firms bid to design and supervise construction of elderly home at Enmore Aug 01, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Six consultancy firms have submitted bids to provide design and supervision services for the construction of the New Care Centre for the Elderly to be located at Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The bidders according to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) are: Engineering & Agricultural Consultants, Phoenix Industries, Kalitech Inc., GY Procurement & Engineering Services Inc., Sizwe Jackson Consultancy Service, and   Origin Investments. The construction of the elderly home is a project being undertaken by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security During the presentation of the 2024 National Budget by Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh it was disclosed that the government is investing in a number of services for the elderly. This year, he said that a number of specific interventions are targeted at improving the quality of life of the elderly. As a result, $172M has been set aside to build the New Care Centre home for the elderly. Below are the companies and their bids: Ministry of Human Services and Social Security Consultancy services for the design and supervision of New Care Centre for the Elderly at Enmore, East Coast Demerara. Office of the President Expansion of Main Office at Camp and Church Street. Guyana Energy Agency Operations and maintenance of four solar PV Mini Grids in Region Nine. Office of the Prime Minister Procurement of server for Public Affairs Department. Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Rehabilitation of Stabroek Market sanitary block. Supply and installation of new compactor bins. Supply and delivery of new testing equipment. Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Supply and delivery of one new 250 KVA Diesel generator for Moraikobai, Region Five. Supply and delivery of one reconditioned canter truck. Supply and delivery of 27 all-terrain vehicles (ATV). Ministry of Natural Resources Procurement of Data Management Services for Guyana’s Exploration and Production Data. Related Similar Articles

Govt.’s hiding of oil companies’ interest rate a major blow to citizens – AFC Aug 01, 2024 News Kaieteur News – Former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dr. Vincent Adams has once again called out the government for hiding the interest rates being recovered by ExxonMobil saying it is a major flaw in managing the sector. Former EPA Head and AFC member Dr. Vincent Adams. He made the comments last Friday at the Alliance For Change news conference. Adams was asked to state their position on the government’s refusal to join the rest of the oil- producing world on capping the interest rates. Adams said: “Well all of that comes in part of the negotiations and the other thing is we do not even know what the interest rates are. So that is one of the major flaws in how this government is managing this oil sector. There is no transparency whatsoever you would think… the question has been asked by the newspapers, all the major newspapers in the country, what’s the interest rate that we are paying Exxon or wherever the money is coming from…That has never been revealed so we do not know what the interest rate is.” He added, “It should have been made public, everybody should have known, rather than speculating and trying to back calculate stuff. So I do not know, what the interest rate is, I do not know if it’s better than some capped. Let’s say if we cap it at 10%, I do not know if our interest rate would never go above 10% or whatever that number is.” The AFC member is of the belief that what needs to be done is “of course to approach Exxon to renegotiate this contract to make sure the interest rate will be one of the consideration that we will have to look at in terms of our financial well-being.” The AFC has been saying over the years that they support making the interest rates public so that citizens can have an idea of what is being recovered by the oil companies. Last November, this publication reported Dr. Adams flying the government for the lack of transparency in the interest rates which ExxonMobil is charging Guyana for its multibillion-dollar investment in the country’s oil sector. It must be noted that several countries including neighbouring country, Suriname do not allow oil companies to charge interest on their investments. Previously, VP Jagdeo said Guyana was paying a rate to Exxon as this is a standard practice for a return to be generated on a company’s equity. “Regardless of whether you make the financing in the form of a loan or equity, you have to get a rate return. There is a cost of capital and that is how it is,” Jagdeo asserted. Despite multiple attempts by this newspaper to clear the air on this issue however, the government has refused to tell the nation how much interest was being charged on the companies’ investments. ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess and CNOOC each make annual equity contributions to support the Stabroek Block operations. Consequently, the companies each receive an interest on the financial investments. This rate of return, though justified by Jagdeo remains a mystery, although this country’s resources are being used to pay those companies. ExxonMobil is free to recover the interest, expenses and fees incurred on loans for the development of the resources in the Stabroek Block, without consent from the Minister responsible for Petroleum.  This is outlined in the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) Guyana signed with ExxonMobil and Co-Venturers, Hess and CNOOC.  Annex ‘C’ of the Agreement, specifically in Section 3.1, which governs costs that can be approved without the Minister’s approval states: “…interest, expenses, related fees incurred on loans raised by the Parties comprising the Contractor for Petroleum Operations and other financing costs provided that such expenses, fees and costs are consistent with market rates.” The government, despite repeated requests, has been reluctant to disclose the interest rates being charged by the developer. Related Similar Articles

$3B dairy farm facility to reduce country’s dependency on imported dairy products Aug 01, 2024 News Chief Investment Officer and Agency Head of Guyana Office for Investments, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop, (left) along with Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) Komal Samaroo Kaieteur News – In its efforts to boost local production, create jobs, and reduce the country’s dependency on imported dairy products, the Government of Guyana on Tuesday handed over an investment agreement to the Demerara Dairy Inc. (DDI) for the establishment of a $3 billion state-of-the-art dairy farm and milk processing facility. The agreement was signed by the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh and handed over by Guyana’s Chief Investment Officer and Agency Head of the Guyana Office for Investment, Dr. Peter Ramsaroop to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) Komal Samaroo, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported. According to a press statement released by Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), the investment is in collaboration between Tropical Orchard Products Company Limited, a subsidiary of Demerara Distiller Limited (DDL), and LG Group, an Israeli company. This partnership which underscores the potential for international cooperation to drive local industry development and economic growth aligns with President Irfaan Ali visions to cut Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM’s) food import bill by 25 percent by 2025. The Go-Invest facilitated this investment, and has ensured that the project aligns with national development goals and maximizes benefits for the local economy. The farm which will be located at Moblissa, Region 10, will be home to 925 animals, including 500 milking cows and 415 heifers. Each milking cow is expected to produce 10,000 liters of milk annually, ensuring a robust supply of raw milk processing. The scope of the project is comprehensive, including the cultivation of 250 hectares of field crops, the construction of a 22-tonne per day animal feed centre, and a 13.7 tonnes per day raw milk dairy farm.  Additionally, the processing plant located at Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), will have the capacity to produce 19.2 tonnes or 18,600 liters of premium milk products daily. The release further stated that the facility which is expected to create significant employment opportunities is projected to generate 70 direct jobs and an additional 150 indirect jobs, thereby contributing to the local economy and improving livelihoods. The DDI project will complement existing local investments in the dairy sector, such as the Amaya Milk Company. “Since its inception in 2023, the Amaya Milk Company has been producing high-quality bottled milk and delicious paneer, which have quickly become popular in local shops and supermarkets,” Go-Invest said in its press statement. To this end, by boosting local dairy production, the initiative supports national goals of   self-sufficiency and sustainability in food production. The dairy farm and processing facility is poised to become a cornerstone of Guyana’s dairy industry, producing high-quality milk products for local consumption. Related Similar Articles

GWI to spend $99M to drill another well at Onderneeming after spending over $100M to drill two wells Aug 01, 2024 News The Onderneeming Water Treatment Plant being constructed in Region Two. Kaieteur News – After spending over $100 million to drill two wells at Onderneeming in Region Two, the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) is set to spend approximately $99,522,179 to drill a third potable water well there. The National Procurement and Tender Administration Board’s (NPTAB) website disclosed that the contract was awarded to Zeco Group of Services Inc. In October 2023, NPTAB announced that an $85,791,376 contract was awarded to Morris Jeffrey Enterprise to drill and construct a well in Onderneeming, and in April this year, another $194,344,860 contract was awarded to C&H Engineering and Construction Company Inc. to drill yet another well at Onderneeming and at Parika in Region Three. Both projects are being executed by the GWI, an agency which falls under the Ministry of Housing and Water. The drilling of wells, and setting up of water supply systems across the country is aimed at increasing treated water coverage to 90 percent on the coast by 2025. It was reported that the drilling of wells at Onderneeming is to complement the Water Treatment Plant that is being constructed there. In June, the Ministry of Housing and Water said that works on the Onderneeming Water Treatment Plant are advancing steadily, marking a significant step towards improving water accessibility and quality for residents along the Essequibo Coast. Once completed, the treatment plant is expected to benefit over 4,000 households, serving approximately 20,000 individuals from Taymouth Manor to Supenaam. Subject Minister, Collin Croal during his visit at the project site noted the importance of the ongoing project stating, the Essequibo Coast currently lacks access to treated water. It was noted that the Onderneeming Treatment Plant is the first of two major investments planned to enhance water infrastructure in the region. The treatment plant will focus on removing iron content from the water, ensuring cleaner and safer drinking water for residents, while the wells are set to boost the water supply in the region. The $1.2 billion Onderneeming Water Treatment Plant is being constructed by Toshiba Water Solutions. Minister Croal had also expressed satisfaction with the project’s progress, highlighting its anticipated completion by the last quarter of the year. Related Similar Articles

Govt. to terminate contracts of companies that fail to remit workers’ NIS contributions – VP Jagdeo Aug 01, 2024 News Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo Kaieteur News – Companies that have not been remitting their employees’ National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions face the risk of having their government contracts terminated and being investigated, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo announced on Thursday. Jagdeo was speaking at his weekly press conference held at the Freedom House, Robb Street, Georgetown. The Vice President disclosed that two security companies that failed to remit the contributions for approximately 1700 employees over a three-year period have since paid up. While a specific figure was not disclosed, the VP said that the payout amounts to over $130 million for the workers who work in Regions Two and Three. “…I made it clear that if they (the Companies) don’t pay all of the outstanding NIS, they are going to lose the government contracts and also they are going to be handed over to police,” Jagdeo said. He continued, “So we are not skimping on this effort to tackle all of these things. People can do well in this country, they can do extremely well, (and) they don’t have to act in that illegal manner or greedy manner.” The Vice President said too that many of the business people “drive fancy vehicles but would not pay the NIS for the poor guy, who is working and can’t get medical care when they need it.” The government official said that his government is making every effort to ensure that the system works and citizens are treated fairly. Meanwhile, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh on Wednesday spoke of government’s zero tolerance for employers failing to remit contributions to the NIS. He charged the NIS to immediately ramp up efforts to ensure all employers remit employees’ contributions. Dr. Singh was at the time speaking at the NIS graduation ceremony for Trainee Inspectors which was held at the ACCC. During his address, Dr. Singh said that as a result of targeted and dedicated effort by Government and the NIS over the last three weeks to a month, several private security companies that were defaulting have paid over contributions for more than 2,100 security guards for which they were previously not paying. “This Government’s position is that we have zero tolerance for employers failing to pay over NIS contributions to the Scheme, Dr. Singh said as he charged the NIS to immediately ramp up efforts to ensure that employers are paying over NIS deductions to the Scheme for all of their (the employers’) employees, the Department of Public Information quoted Dr. Singh as saying. “This is not a discretionary matter; the law requires you to deduct the employees’ NIS contributions and for yourself (the Employers contribution) and to pay it over to the NIS in a timely manner… and I am saying to employers out there today that Government will not tolerate the failure to pay over or remit in a timely manner NIS contributions on behalf of employees, not only current employees but if you have any backlog please make sure that you come in promptly to the Scheme and pay off that backlog,“ the Minister urged. Meanwhile, Dr. Singh urged citizens to check on their records and contributions in good time and not wait until they attain the age of 60. Related Similar Articles

Centre for International Border Studies hosts seminar on territorial integrity Aug 01, 2024 News …points to need for rigid analysis of hemispheric issues Kaieteur News – The Centre for International Border Studies, on Tuesday, hosted a seminar on ‘Borders, Sovereignty, and Territorial Integrity in the Caribbean’ which featured speakers from several nations, including a delegation from Nigeria. CIBS Director, Dr. Mark Kirton, gives his opening remarks at Tuesday’s seminar. The event marked the organisation’s first public event since it was christened just over two months ago. The matters focused on by CIBS and discussed at the seminar are of marked importance to Guyana and its welfare due to the nation’s current geopolitical affairs. As such, the Guyana-Venezuela border dispute was at the core of most discussions, and almost all of the presenters referenced it directly and comparatively to their respective nations/subjects. Speaking to the purpose of the organisation and the event, CIBS Director, Dr. Mark Kirton pointed out a need for serious analysis of both national and regional issues, particularly in recent times. “We committed ourselves to engaging in evidence-based, data-driven research and providing recommendations and options to policy makers, stakeholders in Guyana and the international community. We’ve seen that this is a changing geopolitical environment, and I think there needs to be more rigid and rigorous analysis of some of the issues that confront our hemisphere,” he said. He continued, “This is our first public event and we thought we should start [with the Guyana-Venezuela border issue] because that’s a significant issue for us as a people and for the Caribbean. We thought we should have presentations on the experiences of other states through their border disputes.” One of the featured presentations was given by Admiral Olumuyiwa Morakinyo Olotu, who visited Guyana with a delegation from the National Defence College of Nigeria. Admiral Olotu lectured on ‘Leveraging Nigeria’s Conflict Management Experiences for Resolution of Territorial Disputes in the Caribbean and Beyond’, and his presentation gave a thorough overview of Nigeria’s border disputes and outlined ways in which Guyana and the Caribbean could learn from them. The presentation shed light on some of the similarities between Africa, particularly Nigeria and its neighbours, and Guyana, with respect to colonialism, resources, and conflict resolution. Olotu, and the other presenters that discussed Guyana’s border controversy in some capacity, stressed the importance of not resolving the dispute via military or other violent means. Mr. Carl Greenidge, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and current Government of Guyana Advisor on Borders opened the presentations with a brief explanation and overview of the Guyana-Venezuela controversy and its proceedings in the International Court of Justice. Other presenters included CIBS Fellows Dr. Kai-Ann Skeete of Barbados, Professor Paulo Gustavo Correa of Brazil, and Dr. Clement Henry of Guyana. Additionally, Dr. Jorge Santibanez Romellon, Director General of Liaison at El Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Mexico where he spoke to the issue of borders and territory through the lens of the Mexico-United States border. Responding to a question about the role of youth in the organisation’s vision, Dr. Kai-Ann Skeete, who is an educator at the University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill campus in Barbados, underscored the importance of the younger generation’s involvement in international relations, particularly in the Caribbean. “When the Centre was conceptualized, one thing that we all agreed on was that we need to mentor other students and other persons. It’s one thing to publish and get the word out there but you still want to bring more people into the field of international relations and spread the passion and the love for it, because [the youth] are the future and what they say and do will define the future. They now get to redefine their narrative and the conversation for the future,” she said. Related Similar Articles