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Wild goose chase continues for Gas-to-Energy agreements Jul 10, 2024 News Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira …Minister Teixeira “unaware documents are ready” and Minister Bharrat says “send question” Kaieteur News – The wild goose chase, initiated by Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo for Guyana to access key agreements inked between the government of Guyana and ExxonMobil for the US$2B Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project continued on Monday, as two senior members of the government failed to say when these documents would be laid in the National Assembly. Since 2022, the government signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) with the Stabroek Co-ventures, ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC, that outlines the principles and conditions for the commercial and technical arrangements of the deal. The GTE project includes a pipeline, to be built and financed by the Stabroek Block operator, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), while the other two components, a 300 megawatt power plant and a natural gas liquid (NGL) facility is being constructed by the government of Guyana. Three months ago, the VP during his weekly press conference was asked by this newspaper when the agreements would be made public when he said “maybe soon”. In fact, the Chief Policymaker for the oil and gas sector noted that the details of the agreement are already public knowledge. According to him, “Everything that you see in the agreement you know…we told you the price- US$750 million; we told you the timeline for implementation; you know how many turbines and what’s the size of the turbines…you know what the liquidating damages are.” Jagdeo therefore said, “Maybe soon, I don’t know. I don’t know. That’s for Gail Teixeira and the others” when asked when the agreements would be laid in Parliament. During Monday’s Sitting of the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, Kaieteur News caught up with Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira who explained, “I am not aware that the documents are ready.” The Minister pointed out that there are “different channels” through which documents must pass before she presents them to the House, insisting “they have a time that they go before the House, it doesn’t happen automatically.” Notably, with the project expected to be completed next year, Kaieteur News asked the Member of Parliament (MP) whether she believes there is a need for the public to access the documents. While Teixeira pointed out that the Access to Information Act was designed to allow access to public documents, with particular emphasis on commercial undertakings, she argued that the Law makes it clear when these documents can be released. According to her, “So, the law that we adopted under the Access to Information Act makes it clear that when things are being negotiated and commercial undertakings, until a certain point, they’re not made public; because obviously you’re negotiating or you’re in positions where you’re adjusting cost price and those types of things.” Consequently, the Minister explained, “You cannot expect information sometimes to be made available where the negotiations haven’t finished and you may be aware too that in any project sometimes there is review or redesign or re-scoping, based on a variety of factors.” She said that this concept may be applied to the oil and gas sector as it has in the past with a number of construction projects undertaken by the government. Meanwhile, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat when approached to provide a comment on the release of the agreements at the ACCC on Monday said he was busy and would take the question later. After this newspaper insisted that he provided a comment, the Minister requested that the question be sent to him. Kaieteur News forwarded the question to the Minister, however it appears he blocked the reporter, as the message remained undelivered, as well as those previously sent to him since June 13, 2024. Several attempts made by the Opposition in the National Assembly to access the agreements and key documents relative to the country’s single largest infrastructure project have been unsuccessful. MP Catherine Hughes had complained last year that questions submitted by her were not allowed by Speaker of the House, Manzoor Nadir since these issues were addressed by Head of the GTE Taskforce, Winston Brassington when Guyana hosted its Energy Conference in 2023. This was the fourth attempt by the Opposition seeking details surrounding the controversial GTE project. Related Similar Articles

No conflict of interest between ExxonM and Nigel Hughes – Routledge Jul 10, 2024 News Country Manager of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Alistair Routledge Kaieteur News – Country Manager of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Alistair Routledge on Tuesday added his voice to the debate on whether there is a conflict of interest with Nigel Hughes, the company’s attorney being the new leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC). On the sideline of an event on Tuesday Routledge was asked, “Do you believe that given the fact that Mr. Hughes is now the leader of a political party that it in any way poses any sort of conflict and his law firm’s relationship with Exxon?” EMGL’s Country Manager responded, “That’s not the right question for today but what I will say is that we comply with all laws and regulations here and internationally so we don’t believe we have any conflict of interest [or] any issues.” Last Thursday, Hughes said that he welcomes any investigation into his relationship with oil giant ExxonMobil. His comments followed statements by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo who suggested that an investigation will be launched into Hughes’ relationship with his client, Exxon. Days before Hughes was elected to lead the AFC, he made it clear that Exxon is a client of his law firm, Hughes, Fields and Stoby and opted not to answer questions related to the company during an interview with a media entity. Over the past two weeks days, the issue of Hughes leading the AFC while maintaining EMGL as a client at his law firm – Hughes, Fields & Stoby –possess a conflict of interest. Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes Notably, Hughes has already acknowledged the critics saying that while he is a Politically Exposed Person (PEP), there is no law that prevents him from having the oil company as a client. However, he noted that should he become President he will cut ties with the company. However, the Vice President shares a different view, calling Hughes position “obscene” and “unethical.” “…it’s even more obscene…I can’t convey the feeling of revulsion that I felt. This is someone aspiring to the highest office in the country, who has just been elected the leader of a party…” Jagdeo stated. Added to that, he said that when running for office it can sometime cost you financially, choosing between personal gain and the country. “Sometimes you have to forego the private benefits, money basically when national interest calls you and in this case he was asked directly and he says no, only if [he] become president [he] will do that, in the meantime [he] will work for Exxon…,” Jagdeo said. Moreover, Jagdeo stated that given that Hughes has come under scrutiny for conflict of interest, the Government will be watching what Exxon and its first-tier contractors do. “This may necessitate a formal investigation into all these matters. I am making it clear today. There is a lot of politically exposed people, he [Hughes] is politically exposed as he pointed out, his wife is a Member of Parliament, but it was not an issue because we didn’t want to discriminate but what change is that now he has gone to the AFC,” Jagdeo added. The Vice President underscored, “Now that we are looking at this…let me make it clear, that Exxon has a lot to answer because Nigel Hughes, knowing him he will not want to resign, knowing him he would want to collect the money and still be leader of the AFC and conflict of interest would not bother him at all…” Related Similar Articles

‘Unimaginable’ destruction after strike on Gaza camp Jul 10, 2024 News Casualties from the strike have been brought to Nasser hospital in Khan Younis BBC – At least 29 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded in an Israeli air strike on a camp for displaced people outside a school in southern Gaza, hospital officials say. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said the strike had hit next to the gate of al-Awda school in the town of Abasan al-Kabira, east of the city of Khan Younis. The Israeli military said it had used “precise munition” to target a “terrorist from Hamas’ military wing” who, it said, had taken part in the 7 October attack on Israel. It said it was “looking into the reports that civilians were harmed” “adjacent” to al-Awda school, which houses displaced people from the eastern villages of Khan Younis. The incident comes a week after the Israeli military ordered civilians to evacuate Abasan al-Kabira and other areas of eastern Khan Younis, prompting tens of thousands to flee. The BBC has spoken to witnesses who said the area was teeming with displaced people at the time, and who recounted the bloody aftermath in graphic detail. The attack resulted in widespread destruction and the deaths of women and children. Body parts were scattered across the site and many people staying in tents outside the school were also injured. Ayman Al-Dahma, 21, told the BBC there had been as many as 3,000 people packed into the area at the time, which he said housed a market and residential buildings. Describing the number of casualties as “unimaginable”, he said he had seen people whose limbs had been severed by the blast. He continued: “They said it was a safe place – that there were water and food, there were schools and everything… Suddenly a rocket comes down on you and all the people around you.” Mohamed Awadeh Anzeh told the BBC the area had been busy with people and market traders “going about their normal lives” when the strike hit. He continued: “Suddenly, while we were sitting, there was a sound. It went dark… I was feeding my little child. “I don’t know what happened. Suddenly, I took him and started running… and while I was running, I saw blood coming down from my leg.” He described a “terrifying” scene and said he had witnessed body parts strewn across the street. Iqram Sallout said there had been no prior warning a strike could be imminent in the area, which he told the BBC had been filled with people forced from their homes by the conflict. “There are many displaced people – you couldn’t even walk in the streets, there were many tents and people, including young people”. He added: “The injuries we saw were severe, even among young children.” One video showed more than a dozen dead and seriously wounded people, including several children, on the floor of a local hospital. One source at the Nasser hospital, where the injured from Abasan al-Kabira were taken, said they expected the number of dead to increase. This is the fourth attack on or near to schools sheltering displaced people in the past four days. The Israeli military said it had carried out the first three strikes because Hamas politicians, police officers and fighters were using them as bases: On Saturday, 16 people were killed in a strike on a UN-run school in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp, in central Gaza, which was home to about 2,000 displaced people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. On Sunday a strike on a church-run school in Gaza City killed a senior Hamas government official and three other people, local sources said. On Monday night, several people were reportedly wounded in a strike on another UN-run school in Nuseirat. The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza to destroy the Hamas group in response to an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on 7 October, during which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. More than 38,240 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry. Related Similar Articles

Alleged Chinese gold smugglers busted, millions in cash, gun  Jul 10, 2024 News The cash and gun police confiscated on Tuesday Kaieteur News – Police on Tuesday said that it has dismantled a transnational criminal group operating in Guyana after busting three Chinese nationals with millions of dollars in cash and an illegal gun. The trio – two men and a woman – were arrested around 12:40h on Tuesday at a city hotel following an inter-agency intelligence operation. The suspects are allegedly involved in gold smuggling and other illegal activities. During the operation police were able to confiscate GY$39M in cash and one unlicensed 9MM pistol loaded with 15 matching rounds. Investigators did not divulge much details. Investigations are ongoing. Related Similar Articles

Indian EXIM Bank approves US$2.5M loan for solar project at CJIA Jul 10, 2024 News – project to supply 80% of airport’s energy needs Kaieteur News – A  US$2.5M line of credit has been made available to the Government of Guyana (GoG) by the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) to facilitate the construction of a solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA). The agreement was signed on February 29 of this year, but took effect on June 24. The line of credit will be supported by the Government of India, and will allow the Government of Guyana to access funds, as well as goods and services from the South Asian superpower. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the terms of the agreement state that “goods, works and services of the value of at least 75 per cent of the contract price shall be supplied by the seller from India, and the remaining 25 per cent of goods and services may be procured by the seller for the purpose of the eligible contract from outside India.” The proposed solar plant project, which is yet to be tendered, will provide support for the energy requirements of the CJIA and aid sustainability efforts. “The 3 megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) project, when it starts operation, can supply about 4.5 million units of electricity annually, which is about 80 per cent of the annual electricity consumption of CJIA. The proposed solar PV power project has the potential of mitigating around 72,000 Metric tonnes of CO2eq over its lifetime operation,” said Guyana Energy Agency CEO, Mahender Sharma. The RBI statement said that the last date for funds to be withdrawn from the line of credit is 48 months after the scheduled completion date of the project. According to Sharma, the project is expected to be completed in 24 months. Related Similar Articles