Ny edition 03 31 2017

WEEK ENDING MARCH 31, 2017

ISSUE NO. 43

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More oil

ExxonMobil discovers 82 feet of oil reservoirs at Snoek Well

Page 15

GDF gets new patrol boats

Page 9

– President says gov’t will provide assets to suppress illegal activities Two vessels test the waters (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Guyana, President David Granger ceremonially commissions the vessels at the Coast Guard Headquarters by pouring coconut water on one of them

Oil prices could peak from 20209 P

No sleaze Blame Nandlall – PM says petroleum resources must not transform into buying votes P 14

– AG says “Nandlall’s iniquity” frustrated Justice Holder P 16

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 31, 2017

East Bank man dies in horrific accident AN accident on the Land of Canaan Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) has resulted in the death of 27-year-old Nizamudeen Muhammed known

as ‘Dwayne’ of Lot 616 Section ‘A’, Golden Grove, EBD. The accident occurred at approximately 00:10hrs on Tuesday and according to a

police report, Muhammed was proceeding north along the western side of the road in motor car PRR 4768 when he reportedly collided with the metal rail of a culvert. He lost

control of the car, causing the vehicle to topple several times before he crashed into a lamp pole, on the same side of the road. As a result, he was flung out of the vehicle.

Dead: Nizamudeen Muhammed

He was the lone occupant of the car at the time of the accident.

This newspaper understands that Muhammed was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His vehicle received extensive damage.

The body is at the Lyken’s

Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Muhammed was employed at New Timehri Handling Services Inc. at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Neighbours described him as an easy going person who does not have many friends.

His parents reside in the United States of America.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 31, 2017

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Removal and relocation process commences – for squatters along East and West Front Roads, Ruimveldt

MOVES are afoot to remove and relocate squatters along the East and West Ruimveldt, Front Roads, Georgetown, said Minister within the Ministry of Communities with responsibility for Housing, Valarie Adams-Patterson.

According to the minister, the Ministry cannot regularise an area where three or four buildings are on one house lot.

The Community Development Department of the Ministry is conducting a survey to determine how

many buildings are in the mentioned area and to mark them off to prevent persons from erecting structures there.

Once this is done, the removal and relocation will commence.

Minister Adams-Patterson told reporters on Wednesday that residents,

Housing Minister Valarie Adams-Patterson

Biker dies in Springlands crash THE life of a 20-year-old man was snuffed out by an alleged drunk driver at around 20:30hrs on Sunday evening when a car collided with his motor cycle in Springlands,Corentyne.

Dead is Irshad Mahmood, a welder. He had just rode off from his recently-engaged fiancée,who was in the vicinity of Sukhpaul’s Gas Station,to meet up a friend and was returning to her when a gold coloured Toyota Fielder Wagon bearing licence plate PNN 7736 attempted to turn into the Gas Station and collided with Mahmood.

The impact sent him flying several feet in the air and he landed on the pavement,resulting in internal and head injuries.He was picked up and rushed to the Skeldon Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The driver of the car fled the scene but was arrested Monday morning by ranks who recognised him as a passenger in another car.

Mahmood’s fiancée, Reshma Ramdatt, 18, who witnessed the accident said,“We were sitting by the gas station and he see a friend who call he so he leff he helmet and ride off because was not far. When he come back he almost reach me and a car look like it did coming in the gas station turn and hit he and pitch he in the air. He fall down and start fuh bleed through he nose and ears. We hustle pick he up and put he in a car fuh carry he to the hospital and when we reach them tell we he dead” The young lady recalled

Dead: Irshad Mahmood

amidst sobs that as soon as the accident occurred the driver of the car fled the scene without looking back in the direction of Mahmood.

She further related that they were only engaged a few weeks ago and were planning to tie the knot on 30th April 2017.

Meanwhile, Mahmood’s mother, Violet Khanai is calling on the police to ensure justice is served for her son, whom she described as caring and always willing. “I want the police to make sure we get justice fuh me son, the driver knock he down and getaway, he nah even stop and see if he okay or try fuh take he to the hospital;he knock he down like a dog and getaway.”

Guyana Chronicle understands that the driver told investigators when he was arrested that he was on his way to turn himself in at the Springlands police station. He is currently in custody assisting with investigations.

particularly leaders in West Front Road, have been engaged and were asked to be vigilant against construction of new buildings in the marked off area.

Any new building, she said will be torn down, pointing out that the Ministry wants a clean environment and squatting along

canals and the embankments will not be tolerated.

On Tuesday in addressing participants at the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), National Planning Forum, the minister said the situation at East and West Front Roads is unacceptable.

“Right now the Minis-

try of Public Infrastructure cannot go in there (East and West Front Roads) to do any cleaning of those canals. There is no space, not even for the equipment. Should we [not] regularise, then we are culpable … I do not want to be a part of that,” the minister said.

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Some Enmore workers objecting to work – says Hanoman; union claims GuySuCo intends to close the estate

The sugar workers meeting with officials at the GAWU head office in Kingston, Georgetown

By Svetlana Marshall

The seriousness of driving

OFTEN said in jest is “If you can drive in Guyana, you can drive anywhere in the world”, and though this theory is yet to be proven, the connotations hold a serious undertone that remind us that this is not something that Guyanese should be proud of. It stems from the assumption that the risks involved in driving in Guyana are so extreme that they prepare the driver for any dangerous roadway elsewhere in the world.

Guyana has been known for its high road fatality rate.

Last year, the country recorded a 10 percent increase in fatal accidents with 127 deaths, while this year has seen a significant number so far, with 13 deaths recorded as of mid-February. Just recently, a four-year-old was killed while walking with a relative on the main road of the Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo. The incident spurred protest by residents and family members of the deceased after the driver was released on bail.

While fatal accidents are the worst outcomes of the misuse of roadways, it is the actual misuse that remains the burning issue for drivers in Guyana. Statistics show that there is no shortage of charges by police of persons committing traffic offenses-- 42,349 persons were charged for various traffic violations for the year 2016--yet drivers continue to be callous on the road.

Though the task may seem simple, driving is in fact a complex action that requires significant use of several parts of the brain. While operating a vehicle, it often takes a load of brain power to analyse, plan, make decisions and quick judgments at all points during the journey. One’s brain is also constantly at work in the area of visio-spatial perception (average) and other analytical tasks. For this reason, stern warnings are continually made against indulging in distractions such as using the phone to talk or text or other types of multi-tasking while driving. It is these seemingly harmless distractions, however, and the perceived ease of movement of the vehicle that drivers often take for granted just how technical driving is. It is also the late reaction of our brain, often brought about by these distractions that lead to dangerous outcomes.

Danger also rears its ugly head every time drivers take

EVEN though there is a significant amount of cane to be harvested at the Enmore Estate, East Coast Demerara, some sugar workers there are objecting to work, GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Errol Hanoman said.

“The rain had set us back but we are trying to harvest as much cane as possible… and there is a lot of cane to be harvested,” he told Guyana Chronicle when contacted on Wednesday.

He added: “The more cane we harvest, the more sugar we produce, the more revenue we generate.”

Hanoman emphasised

that the main focus of the Corporation right now is to harvest as much canes as possible. He said both male and female workers were encouraged to assist in the harvesting of cane but some objected.

The women were also asked to weed but they objected to that too.

Asked whether GuySuCo’s decision to stop fertilising canes at the East Demerara Estate is an indication that the estate will be closed, Hanoman said the future of the industry is in the hands of the Government.

“We are awaiting Government’s decision on the future of the industry.”

He spoke to this newspa-

per an hour after the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU) contended that the decision to stop the fertilising of canes is paving the way for the closure of the estate.

In a statement, the union said it met with workers who are engaged in the applying of fertilisers to the canes at the East Demerara Estate (Enmore Estate and LBI Estate).

During a meeting with GAWU General Secretary, Seepaul Narine, at the union’s head office, the workers said the estate management informed them that they are no longer required to apply fertilisers.

“Every day we see the signs of closure becoming

clearer. The workers are opposed to closure and have pointed out that they would be unable to find jobs should the decision be fully pursued,” GAWU contended.

“They want to close the industry but I am saying no to the closing of Enmore because if they close the industry, we will suffer and we children and will suffer,” one woman told reporters.

According to her, any move to close the East Demerara Estate will give rise to crime and prostitution.

Another woman, a single parent mother, said she “can’t mek the weeding wuk”.

The sugar workers are asking Government to intervene.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in articles in this newspaper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies and views of the management of the New York Edition of the Guyana Chronicle. other unnecessary risks such as fail to utilise the required patience and/or breaking traffic rules. On an average journey, drivers can be seen taking countless risks and breaking numerous rules trying to get to their destination, all in the name of shaving off a few minutes- or sometimes mere seconds, from the trip.

And indeed, this is something that is not unique to Guyana, but somehow the frequency with which you encounter ‘reckless drivers’ is so high here, that one must wonder what is it that allows this behaviour to thrive?

Perhaps it is that while there are penalties, these are not efficiently enforced, or when they are, they are not stringent enough. If the fine for breaking a minor traffic law were an exorbitant amount, this could serve as a deterrent for drivers.

In larger countries, an offense as minor as driving without a tail light could incur hundreds of US dollars. Systems are also in place for the revocation of licences through a strict points system. Drivers are therefore made to keep in line due to little or no room for error on the roadways. In Guyana, there are countless vehicles with one or no tail lights working, and little or no penalty is incurred for such offences. Though seemingly not connected to the larger problem of road fatalities and other misdemeanors, it is such minor oversights that create a gateway

for larger offences to occur.

Somehow, the gravity of driving does not connect with the average driver. Every time you step into a vehicle, you put your life and the life of others at serious risk. It is for this reason that rules are in place. But if these rules are not adequately enforced due to a lax system, and if you fail to place enough attention to the task itself, the consequences can be dire. Moreover, if drivers are allowed to skip pertinent steps before becoming a driver--such as acquiring false documents or bypassing parts of the licensing process as is rumoured to be a regular occurrence in Guyana – these events could put many unqualified persons behind the wheel as well. Such persons would therefore not learn important techniques needed to operate vehicles and therefore fail to build the respect required for the rules of the road.

Not all accidents can be avoided, but there are too many that occur that could have been. Driving can become routine, but what persons fail to realise is that while many routes we take may be the same, the situation never is. As such, vigilance must be taken on the part of both authorities and drivers; the 5 Cs must become a mantra,and the value for human life must be a top priority when getting behind the wheel.

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Way cleared for appointment of Court of Appeal Judges – Acting Chancellor, Chief Justice sworn in

By Svetlana Marshall

PRESIDENT David Granger has noted that as soon as the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) makes its recommendation on the appointment of Judges to the Court of Appeal, he will move ahead with the process.

The President made this disclosure on the sideline of the swearing in ceremony at State House for Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Acting Chief Justice, Roxanne George-Wiltshire.

He said once the JSC meets and a recommendation is made, he will respond appropriately with the aim of filling the vacancies as quickly as possible. Currently, the Court

of Appeal is short of at least two Judges.

“I am confident that the new Chancellor is aware of the shortages and…as quickly as the JSC can meet and the names are submitted to me, I intend to move ahead,” the President told reporters.

President Granger made it clear that he has “no interest in perpetuating a situation in which there are insufficient Judges,” noting that the swearing in of the acting Chancellor and Chief Justice is a step in the right direction.

“The crisis will resolve itself in a few days or weeks.

It’s up to the JSC now,” he said.

However, the President acknowledged that he had withheld his approval from

prior recommendations made by the JSC for the appointment of Judges to the High Court.

The Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had said that the shortage of Judges was affecting the Administration of Justice to the detriment of citizens. Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo had also contended that the President had refused to act on the recommendations of the JSC. “We are aware that there are dire shortages of Judges in the judicial system. We are also aware, that the Judicial Service Commission has made recommendations to the President for the appointment of several judges to the High Court and the Court of Appeal several months ago. But to date no such appointment

From left: Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Basil Williams, S.C.; Acting Chief Justice, Ms. Roxanne George-Wiltshire; President David Granger; Acting Chancellor, Ms. Yonette Cummings-Edwards; Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo and Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon, following swearing-in ceremony

has been made. A reasonable inference that one can draw is that the nominees of the JSC do not meet the approval of the Executive. This is quite unfortunate because the approval of the Executive of the nominees for the JSC is not a Constitutional requirement,” the PPP had stated.

However, President Granger said he had withheld his approval based on information received and as such sought further advice from the present Chancellor.

“I withheld approval because I sent the recommendations to the present Chancellor who has agreed to look at them and resubmit the list to me,” he explained. President Granger said he is awaiting Justice Cummings-Edwards’

response.

HIT THE GROUND RUNNING Commenting on the appointment of Judges to the Court of Appeal, Justice Cummings-Edwards said she will hit the ground running.

“A meeting of the members of the JSC will be convened shortly and we will address that matter,” she posited.

The Acting Chancellor noted that the complement of Judges required at the Court of Appeal is five, however currently there are three Judges but one is on pre-retirement leave.

“Right now with the swearing in today with Justice George we have two…Justice Roy is the third Judge but he

is on pre-retirement leave so in effect there are only two Judges,” she explained.

The Acting Chancellor noted that it takes three or more Judges to hear an appeal while an application could be heard by a single Judge in Chambers.

Meanwhile, during the swearing-in ceremony, President Granger congratulated Justice Cummings-Edwards and Justice George-Wiltshire and noted that they have satisfied the requirements of the Constitution.

Pointing out that the offices are the most senior in Guyana’s Judiciary, President Granger called on the Judicial Officers to uphold the high traditions and standards of the Offices.

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GDF gets new patrol boats – President says gov’t will provide assets to suppress illegal activities

By Zena Henry THE Guyana Defence Force (GDF), on Wednesday accepted two brand new patrol boats from the Government of Guyana to be used in the security of the country’s maritime space and assets.

President David Granger, Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces, handed over the keys for the vessels to the GDF’s Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Patrick West, at a simple commissioning ceremony held before Officers and ranks of the GDF and its Coast Guard, foreign dignitaries and representatives of maritime and safety related agencies, at the Coast Guard base.

On the sidelines of the event, the Guyana Chronicle was told that the vessels are worth “approximately G$140million” each. The boats will compliment an existing fleet of five smaller Metal Shark patrol boats,

President David Granger hands over the keys of the two boats to Chief-of-Staff of the GDF, Brigadier Patrick West (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

increasing the Force’s vessels to seven. The new boats were said to be built to the specification of the GDF and is larger with longer endurance than the other vessels. The new boats are 38feet long while the other boats are 28 feet. They are outfitted with three 300 horse power engines and are said to be “necessary for our (Guyana’s) level of threat”.

The carrying capacity of the

vessel is 18.

President Granger, in remarks told the GDF that the government will provide the assets that will allow the force to stay ahead in suppressing illegal activities on the country’s waterways.

Acknowledging this country’s vast maritime space, the President said that the GDF will continue to receive the government’s support against illegal activities such

as poaching, fuel smuggling, and piracy. “You will receive support to suppress and prevent narcotic trafficking and all other forms of maritime illegalities,” the President vowed.

He said that the Coast Guard must be able to respond to criminal activities, but they must also be able to respond to emergencies such as search and rescue missions, and to enforce laws relating to navigational safety. The President highlighted that Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone, is the next new frontier of the country’s development. “Petroleum exploration is now taking pace in Guyana’s offshore waters.

A number of foreign companies are engaged in that sector. Guyana’s maritime resources include our fisheries. The Coast Guard must be strengthened to provide greater security to investors in petroleum, fishing and other maritime activities.”

The President said Guy-

ana must continue to ensure the safety of its waters so that ships can enjoy safe passage since international trade and activities like petroleum explorations lead to economic development.

Guyana is an export-oriented country and the shipping industry is being threatened by the abuse of nation’s waters, the President urged.

He insisted that the transshipment of narcotics and the smuggling of contrabands help to deprive the country of revenue, while ruining the country’s reputation of being a safe destination for foreign investments.

“They will stall the economy and spawn violence and other forms of criminality,” the President charged. The President said that Guyana’s territorial waters are extensive. He said the Coast Guard needs a stronger and larger fleet of vessels. He said surveillance equipment along with faster vessels are needed and the government

through the Defence Board will provide as much as financially possible.

After receiving the keys for the brand new boats, COS Brigadier West, handed it over to the Coast Guard’s Commanding Officer, Orin Porter.

West said the boats are accompanied with accessories and spares. Given the performance of the other boats, the COS said the GDF’s interest remained with the specific brand, leading the government to purchase same. The boats which were said to be donations from international partners have performed well and were involved in law enforcement missions that yield tangible and intangible results, West said. He reported however that, “…the overall length, breadth, graph, carrying capacity, endurance and propulsion system, all make these vessels an ideal platform which the Force can engage in pursuits, interdiction and surveillance activities…”

Studies show…

Oil prices could peak from 2020 – even as cheaper ‘green energy’ threatens fossil fuel demand

By Ravin Singh EVEN as cheaper renewable energy threatens the demand for oil, studies indicate that prices for the latter could peak from 2020 – the year Guyana is expected to start oil production.

Two reports with these findings are the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) 2016 World Energy Outlook (WEO) and a report titled ‘Expect the unexpected: The disruptive power of low carbon technology’. The latter was done by researchers at the Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment at Imperial College London, and independent think-tank of the Carbon Tracker Initiative.

Two of the scenarios discussed in the IEA report were the Current Policies Scenario (CPS), which depicts a path for the global energy system based on policies or measures in places

as of mid-2016; and the New Policies Scenario (NPS), which assumes that government pledges, such as those made in response to the Paris Agreement on climate change, will be reflected in legislation.

Under the CPS in the report, even without an oil price shock, the global price of crude oil is projected to rise to US$82 per barrel (bbl) by 2020, US$127/bbl by 2030, and US$146/bbl by 2040.

However, the NPS assumes that policies will cause global oil demand to be lower than in the CPS. Under this scenario, oil prices are projected to rise to US$79/bbl by 2020, US$111/bbl by 2030, and US$124/bbl by 2040. The NPS also forecasts that oil prices could rise as high as 75 per cent from current levels over the next three years.

According to live world market charts in the United Kingdom (UK), oil is cur-

rently being traded at US$47 per barrel. ExxonMobil – the company currently drilling for oil in Guyana – has announced the discovery of reserves which could contain between 0.8 to 1.4 billion barrels of oil. The company has so far drilled five wells and is currently completing work on a sixth. Only one has come up dry. A total of 17 wells are expected to be drilled.

The oil firm’s country manager, Jeff Simon has disclosed that the company will be investing US$5B in preparation for production.

To date US$800M has been invested by ExxonMobil in exploring the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana – the area currently being drilled.

Since the discovery of these oil reserves, the USBased company has assured that Guyana could start producing 100,000 barrels of “good quality” oil per day, from as early as 2020. Under the Production Sharing

Environmental Economist, Thomas Singh

Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman

Agreement (PSA) signed between the government and ExxonMobil, Guyana will be entitled to 50 per cent of the proceeds from whatever resources are extracted.

With these developments, Minister of Natural Resource, Raphael Trotman had said that calculating 800 million barrels of oil

at a then cost of US$50 per barrel should give Guyanese an idea of how much money the country stands to make.

Assuming a minimum of 800 million barrels of oil are produced at a rate of US$50 as the Minister indicated, it means that US$40 billion will be generated from this production. Should

ExxonMobil benefit from a cost recovery of US$5B (the amount the company intends to invest by 2020) and the remainder divided 50/50 (between Guyana and the company), it means that Guyana could receive US$17.5B (GYD$3.5 trillion) in oil revenues. Using the current policies scenario’s projected market price of US$82/bbl, it means that Guyana could receive US$30.3B (GYD$6 trillion) in oil revenues from 800 million barrels of oil; or US$21.1B (GYD$5.8 trillion) if the new policies scenario estimates are used.

Exchange rates for USD to GYD were calculated at 1-200, though it is likely to fluctuate based on market forces.

According to the World Bank, Guyana has a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$3.1B, which is a smaller amount than what could be generated from oil, even if prices collapse. Last year, the country had its status elevated from a lower midTurn to page 10 ►

Fuel boat explodes 10

By Alva Solomon

A BOAT laden with fuel exploded on Saturday afternoon at Santa Rosa, Moruca.

No injuries were reported.

Reports are that sometime after 15:00hrs, fuel was being unloaded from the vessel downriver from the port of Kumaka when the fire started. The incident occurred in the vicinity of “Green Island “located a mile away from Kumaka.

Residents reported that gasoline was seen along the water prior to the explosion and persons noted that a leak may have started the fire. At least two persons were on board at the time and they reportedly ran for cover as the flames ignited.

According to reports, the owners of the vessel who are from the Pomeroon River, sought permission from the Santa Rosa Village

Council last year to sell fuel at wholesale quantities in the area.

The boat would travel into the area and moor along the sides of the river bank as sales were arranged with locals.

Moruca resident Graham Atkinson told the Guyana Chronicle that he was in church at the time when he was told thick smoke was observed in the distance. He said when he saw the smoke he immediately suspected it was a fuel boat which had caught afire.

He said the village council had appealed to the operators of such boats to exercise extreme caution while conducting their trade in the area.

He said this was emphasized since the village was informed that the operators would usually cook on board the fuel vessels.

Meanwhile, following Saturday’s incident, resi-

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 31, 2017

The vessel on fire near “Green Island “on Saturday afternoon

dents expressed concern over the practice of fuel boats loading and offloading

near the Kumaka Bridge.

Persons called on the village council to urge the

boat operators to moor their vessels upriver, since a conflagration could re-

duce the entire waterfront business area to ashes, the residents contended.

Police probe missing drugs at Suddie Hospital

By Svetlana Marshall AS investigation continues into the missing drugs and medical supplies at the Suddie Public Hospital, several medical officers attached to the hospital were asked to give statements on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, three persons, including an ambulance driver and an assistant

pharmacist were taken into custody and placed on $20, 000 bails each.

The police was called in to investigate a case of fraud at the Suddie Public Hospital, after drugs and medical supplies went missing one week after arriving there.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Public Health Ministry explained that when a Ministerial Task Force visited

the Suddie Public Hospital on Monday, authorities at the hospital could not account for several items sent only last week Tuesday by the Materials Management Unit (MMU).

But this was just the tip of the iceberg. The Task Force also unearthed several other irregularities at the district hospital in the Pomeroon/ Supenaam region.

“In one instance the pharmacist at the hospital could not have given account for several ampules of pethidine, codine and morphine,” the Health Ministry pointed out.

Additionally, the Dangerous Drugs Register had not been updated since 2015.

“The team also found instances where the stock of narcotic drugs either could not be accounted for and the

pharmacist had extra drugs that were still not recorded as prescribed under the law,” the Ministry further disclosed.

A MMU staffer confirmed Tuesday that 10 items on the list of drugs destined for the Suddie Hospital “either never arrived” or significantly less was received than was sent.

“For example, all 100 boxes of the drugs simvastatin disappeared before arriv-

ing at the hospital. Each box contained 100 of the drugs,” the Public Health Ministry explained.

Additionally, all of the 108 bottles of the paracetamol suspension have reportedly vanished, in addition to 20 of the 1,000 ampicillin 500Mg. Twenty thousand disposable gloves sent for the hospital were also stolen.

Oil prices could peak from 2020 From page 9

dle-income to an upper middle-income country.

The agriculture sector has largely been responsible for propelling economic growth in Guyana. At a time when difficulties are being experienced in this sector, record figures are being recorded for gold production.

And with a new revenue stream expected by 2020, President David Granger has said though that some of the proceeds generated from oil will go into a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) with the surpluses being used to develop the country’s education system.

A SWF consists of pools

of money derived from a country’s reserves, set aside for investment purposes to benefit the country’s economy and citizens.

A National Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill has been drafted and according to Minister Trotman, that law will ensure that the fund is transparent, independent and inviolable in managing oil revenues for long-term national development.

But Guyana must be cautious and wise in how it handles this natural resource.

It is for this reason, the government appointed Dr. Jan Mangal, an expert in offshore and civil engineering, as the country’s petroleum advisor in the Ministry of

the Presidency.

Meanwhile, the Grantham Institute-lead study warns that the power and road transport sectors account for approximately half of fossil fuel consumption in the world, therefore growth in these two sectors could have a major impact on the global demand for oil.

Highlighted in the study is that the growth in electric vehicles (EVs) alone could lead to two million barrels of oil per day (mbd) being displaced by 2025 - the same volume that caused a major oil price collapse in 201415. Further, it finds 16mbd of oil demand displaced by 2040 and 25mbd by 2050.

The study also suggests

that fossil fuels may lose 10 per cent of market share to solar panels and EVs within a single decade. In the past, a similar 10 per cent loss of power market share caused the collapse of the United States (US) coal mining industry.

However, the emergence and growth of solar technology does not pose an immediate threat to the oil and gas sector, says Environmental Economist, Dr. Thomas Singh.

“It doesn’t pose a threat in the near future. It is relatively new technology” he shared with this newspaper.

Dr. Singh, who is also a lecturer at the University of Guyana (UG), explained

that it is difficult to make a pronouncement on the impacts of such technology on the global demand for oil since market forces are sometimes extremely difficult to predict.

He was keen to note though that: “We entered into an agreement [with ExxonMobil] at a time when market fundamentals and prices are weak,” adding that if prices rise, Guyana will enjoy higher royalties.

On the other hand, the 2016 World Energy Outlook explains that proponents, who argue that solar technology will put an end to the demand for crude oil, ignore data from countries that have rapidly increased EV

penetration. According to statistics from Forbes Magazine, the growth of EVs has not reduced the demand for oil in many countries, including Norway which has the largest fleet of plug-in EVs per capita in the world.

Statistics indicate that Norway’s growth rate for EVs has been averaging 110 per cent for the last seven years. In 2008, that country recorded 567 new EV sales. Oil demand that year was 228,000 barrels per day (bpd). In 2015, Norway reported 39,632 new EV sales, while oil demand for that year was 234,000 bpd – 6,000 more bpd when compared to 2008.

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No sleaze 14

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– PM says petroleum resources must not transform into buying votes

By Alva Solomon CITING the “resource curse” that many petroleum producing countries have experienced, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo says that the government is committed to ensure transparency and accountability as Guyana‘s petroleum sector evolves.

The Prime Minister was at the time speaking at the opening of the Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA) conference and exhibition at the Georgetown Marriot Hotel in Kingston on Monday morning. The conference is being held under the theme “The initiation of a transformative industry.“ The Prime Minister noted that in his responsibility for governance, he wishes to see a governance structure in which officials are accountable. He pointed to the administration’s “early move”, since it assumed office in pursuing constitutional reform which he noted is to ensure that there is no political “one-manship”.

He said the constitution needs to guarantee that there would not be practices of authoritarianism. “We

accountability.

The Prime Minister, during his address, also commended subject Minister, Raphael Trotman, whom he noted has reassured that a sovereign wealth fund will be established.

He said the government considers that a proportion of the proceeds of the industry should not only be expended on the future of the country but must also be invested in the development of resources, as well as in the infrastructure, education and health sectors. To

this end, he pointed to an integration of other sectors of the economy with that of the petroleum industry.

He noted too that the government wants to see resources “spread into the future and not just gobbled up by any administration that would feel the proceeds should be for short term gains.” He added that “it must not transform into votes,” but a viable future.

The conference was officially opened on Sunday afternoon and a number of entities with direct and indirect connection to the

sector are participating in the exhibition.

During Monday’s agenda of the conference, presentations are expected to be made on the Guyana Basin, technologies in the sector, as well as on environmental, regulatory and safety standards.

According to GOGA, the two-day event is set to promote long-lasting business relationships and unlock possibilities that will deliver the ultimate business setting to succeed in today’s competitive hydrocarbons marketplace.

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, addresses the audience at the opening of the conference and exhibition on Monday morning

are very uncompromising as regards the avoidance of sleaze and maleficence in public office,” he said, noting that there are many stories of the resource curse where the governance structure could not support the viability of the petroleum sector in some countries.

According to Nagamootoo, the government will work towards ensuring that there is public accountability in which the

government sets the example. While addressing the packed room, the Prime Minister also noted that when the portfolio of governance was provided to him, one of the first initiatives pursued was Guyana’s preparation to become a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). He said that the move was to ensure that the petroleum industry be one which is characterised by transparency and

A section of the gathering at the conference

Guyanese fully involved – Pres Granger stresses transparency in meeting with Exxon officials PRESIDENT David Granger has informed ExxonMobil’s Executives of Government’s commitment to the development of Guyana’s oil and gas sector in an atmosphere of transparency and trust so that the Parliamentary Opposition and the people of Guyana are fully involved in the process and views the development of a petroleum industry as one of natural interest and involvement.

The President made these comments Wednesday morning during a meeting

with a visiting delegation of ExxonMobil Executives at State House to discuss matters related to the status of exploratory and appraisal work in the Stabroek Block, the Ministry of the Presidency said in a release. The Head of State said that it is important that there are regular and accurate announcements on matters pertaining to the development of the sector.

“We are committed to the norm of transparency… so that we can move forward at a domestic level, not only in an atmosphere of trans-

parency but trust so that all Guyana would see this not as a short term bonanza; so that Guyanese will see this as a national industry….In this regard we are walking step by step as the developments take place offshore and the developments in terms of our legislations within our regulatory framework in terms of the passage of information to various stakeholders in Guyana and the diaspora,so that we can create an environment which is stable and secure,” the President said.

Minister of Natural Re-

sources, Mr. Raphael Trotman, who also attended the meeting, echoed the President’s sentiments in an invited comment, stating that the engagement this morning is part of an ongoing dialogue that aims to strengthen the relationship between Guyana and ExxonMobil. “As we progress together we have to do so in an open and transparent way being mindful that we are in a parliamentary democracy.

We have to ensure that the Opposition is made aware of what is happening and other stakeholders,” the minister

said.

President of the ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Mr. Stephen Greenlee,said that the discussions with President Granger were very fruitful and that they look forward to a strengthened,productive and transparent relationship. “It was a very positive meeting. We are all very happy that we have such a cordial relationship with the Government; a very productive and transparent relationship,” he said.

Other executives present at the meeting were Mr. Mike Cousins, Ex-

ecutive Vice President ExxonMobil Exploration Company;ExxonMobil Development Company President, Mr. Liam Mallon;Vice President,Ms. Lisa Waters;Guyana Country Manager, Mr. Jeff Simons;Ms. Kimberly Brasington, ExxonMobil’s Guyana Public and Government Affairs Manager and incoming Country Manager effective May 1, Project Executive, Mr. Rod Henson. Also Present at the meeting was Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Dr. Jan Mangal.

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ExxonMobil discovers 82ft oil reservoirs at Snoek Well

US oil giant ExxonMobil Corporation has announced another major discovery of oil here at its Snoek well offshore Guyana, confirming some 82 feet of high-quality oil bearing sandstones reservoirs.

The news comes amid intense preparations by the Guyana Government who recently appointed a Petroleum Advisor and a meeting with President David Granger and officials of the oil company.

ExxonMobil in a statement said drilling targeted similar aged reservoirs as encountered in previous discoveries at Liza and Payara.

“The latest discovery at Snoek demonstrates the continued success we have achieved in this technically complex play, which is just part of the significant exploration province offshore Guyana,” said Steve Greenlee, president of ExxonMobil Exploration Company, in a statement.

According to the statement, ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd. commenced drilling of the Snoek well on February 22, 2017 and encountered 82 feet (25 meters) of high-quality, oil-bearing

sandstone reservoirs. The well was safely drilled to 16,978 feet (5,175 meters) in 5,128 feet (1,563 meters) of water on March 18. The Snoek well is located in the southern portion of the Stabroek Block, approximately 5 miles (9 km) to the southeast of the 2015 Liza-1 discovery.

Following completion of the Snoek well, the Stena Carron drillship has moved back to the Liza area to drill the Liza-4 well.

“As we continue to evaluate the full potential of the broader Stabroek Block, we are also taking the necessary steps to ensure the safe, cost-efficient and responsible development of this worldclass resource, which can provide long-term, sustainable benefits to the people of Guyana,” said Greenlee.

The Stabroek Block is 6.6 million acres (26,800 square kilometers). Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited is operator and holds 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block. Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd. holds 30 percent interest and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited holds 25 percent interest.

Meanwhile, in a statement

Government said it welcomes the announcement made by ExxonMobil about the recent discovery of oil bearing sands in the offshore Stabroek Block at the Snoek well. “The government is satisfied with the steady and safe progress being made in the execution of the exploratory work programme and congratulates the Captain and crew of the Stena Carron for the continued good results of their endeavours.

The news of another find offshore Guyana is a source of great pride and pleasure for all Guyanese,” the statement read. “The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, will continue to work with ExxonMobil and its partners in the exploration and development of resources in the Stabroek Block of the Guyana Basin even as it continues to engage and update the citizens and important stakeholders about the preparations for petroleum production and other related activities.”

VISIT TO SNOEK WELL Only last week Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo boarded the giant oil rig, Stena Carron, which was con-

President Granger sits with Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman, Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Dr. Jan Mangal and another Government Official during the meeting

ducting the exploratory drilling operations on the Snoek well. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Vice-President, Sydney Allicock; Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, and Joanna Homer, Legal Officer.

According to a release from the Prime Minister’s Office, the 11-compartment Norwegian-owned drill ship has done advanced feasibility drills at the billion-barrel Liza wells, which is some 10 miles from the Snoek well, the latest in the string of oil finds in

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Sydney Allicock and Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes along with officials of ExxonMobil on the oil rig

Guyana.

THE GUYANESE DELEGATION MET RIG MANAGER KENNY WARD, OPERATIONS MANAGER ALLAN Mathieson and Drilling Superintendent Billy Jack Lawson. They explained various aspects of the new oil find and revealed that pipes have already been laid to connect with the oil well at the site.

Various specimen and quality tests are also underway.

They also displayed the rig’s computerised system to monitor oil extraction and safety issues.

Also on the tour were Doug McGehee and Kimberly Brassington, Operations Manager and Director of Government Affairs of Esso Exploration & Production Guyana Limited, the local incorporated company of ExxonMobil.

ExxonMobil has announced massive finds of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstones in Liza 1, 2 and 3 and the nearby Payara reservoirs that made Guyana the latest petroleum frontier. ExxonMobil has given a preliminary schedule of oil production in 2020.

TRANSPARENCY President Granger during a meeting with ExxonMobil’s Executives on Wednesday assured of Government’s commitment to the development of Guyana’s oil and gas sector in an atmosphere of transparency and trust so that the Parliamentary Opposition and the people of Guyana are fully involved in the process and views the development

of a petroleum industry as one of natural interest and involvement.

The President said that it is important that there are regular and accurate announcements on matters pertaining to the development of the sector. “We are committed to the norm of transparency… so that we can move forward at a domestic level, not only in an atmosphere of transparency but trust so that all Guyana would see this not as a short term bonanza; so that Guyanese will see this as a national industry….In this regard we are walking step by step as the developments take place offshore and the developments in terms of our legislations within our regulatory framework in terms of the passage of information to various stakeholders in Guyana and the diaspora,so that we can create an environment which is stable and secure,” the President said.

President of the ExxonMobil Stephen Greenlee,said that the discussions with President Granger were very fruitful and that they look forward to a strengthened,productive and transparent relationship. “It was a very positive meeting. We are all very happy that we have such a cordial relationship with the Government; a very productive and transparent relationship,” he said.

Other executives present at the meeting were Mr. Mike Cousins, Executive Affairs Manager and Mr. Rod Henson, Project Executive (Guyana Country Manager effective May 1).

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 31, 2017

– AG says “Nandlall’s iniquity” frustrated Justice Holder ATTORNEY General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, has committed to resolving the issue with High Court Judge, Justice Franklin Holder, but blamed the entire episode on what he termed the “iniquity of Anil Nandlall.”

“The Judge and I will resolve the issue,” the Attorney General told reporters at his Carmichael Street Office on Wednesday, while speaking briefly on the matter. In a letter to the Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards on March 24, 2017, Justice Holder called for a genuine and meaningful apology to be made by Williams in open court. The issue had come to the fore when Nandlall claimed that Williams had threatened to kill Justice Holder, causing the judge to walk off the bench–an allegation which has since been de-

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, responding to reporters on Wednesday

nied by the Attorney General.

In the letter to Justice Cummings-Edwards, Justice Holder said he left the bench last week Thursday because of an alleged statement made by Williams, which is: “I could say what I want to say and however I want to say it, I have always been like that.”

The judge said he found the

statement to be egregious.

“Immediately after hearing these words, I rose from the bench and went into my chambers. I did not adjourn the matter, nor did I give any instructions to the parties,” Justice Holder mentioned in his letter of complaint.

Justice Holder said he felt disrespected.

In a statement issued Wednesday morning by the Attorney General’s Chambers, Minister Williams thanked Justice Holder for exposing what he described as the iniquity of Nandlall, even as he empathised with the High Court Judge “for the unrelenting torture he was subjected to that morning by Nandlall.”

The Attorney General is contending that he may have been a victim of “transferred frustration.” “The Attorney General believes that, after nearly three hours of ‘barracking’ by Nandlall any reasonable person could fall prey to ‘transferred frustration.’ Perhaps his detaining the Learned Judge again as he was preparing to leave the Bench, seeking clarity on whether the witness’ answer of ‘no’ was recorded, induced certain misapprehensions in the Judge’s mind in all the circumstances and the Attorney General became the victim of ‘transferred frustration,’” the statement said.

However, it said that the Attorney General “is not unprepared to work with the Learned Judge to resolve what was a fleeting engagement after the business of the day was completed.”

Minister Williams posited that the case ought to have been conducted in a Court

Room with a ‘Voice Verbatim Digital Recording System’ given that it involved a challenge to the decisions of the top two leaders of the country –the President and Prime Minister.

“Millions of dollars were supposed to have been spent by the last Government (donor money) to acquire one,” he pointed out.

It was noted that such a system would give a Court, a verbatim record of its proceedings and an immediate print out if required. “Nandlall would have been unable to have all the Judges gathered on his allegations, where a verbatim record existed,” he posited, contending that as a result, both he and Justice Holder were left exposed to the “Crassness” of Nandlall. The Attorney General is expected to respond based on the Letter of Complaint issued to the Chancellor (ag) from Justice Holder.

Poor turnout threatens sugar production

By Navendra Seoraj THE Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is battling to successfully achieve its

– workers ‘catching their hand’ elsewhere – GAWU President first crop target of 74,172 tonnes of sugar as the industry is faced with only a

59 percent turnout of cane harvesters.

Despite having ideal

weather for harvesting, poor turnout of workers is diminishing GuySuCo’s chance of

meeting its overall 2017 target of 198,000 tonnes.

The Corporation’s Pub-

lic Relations Officer (PRO), Audreyanna Thomas told the Guyana Chronicle recently that thus far only 21,484 tonnes of sugar has been produced but the pace of production could be augmented if they have a better turnout. This newspaper understands that some five of the six estates are functioning but the breakdown of workers showed that Albion Estate had a turnout of 68 percent, Rosehall 67 percent, East Demerara 58 percent, Blairmont 54 percent and Uitvlugt recorded the lowest of 48 percent.

Low turnout coupled with Skeldon not having a first crop, has left the Corporation with no choice but to call on cane harvesters to return to work so that the target can be achieved.

With the second crop target set at 124,286 tonnes, GuySuCo will be looking to mobilize workers in order to improve its pace of production and boosting its chances of having a successful year.

However, President of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Komal Chand believes that turnout will always be low because wages have been “frozen.”

“Workers are trying to catch their hand somewhere else so without increased wages, harvesters might never turn back to cane harvesting,” said Chand.

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Johnny Rockets opens doors AS GUYANA fast food industry continues to grow, Johnny Rockets has been added to the competition, and will be officially open to the public on Thursday following a launch on Monday night at its Hadfield Street location.

Johnny Rockets is an international restaurant franchise that offers high quality, innovative menu items including fresh, never frozen 100 per cent beef, cooked-to-order hamburgers, Veggie Boca® burger, chicken sandwiches, crispy fries and rich, delicious hand-spun shakes and malts.

The restaurant has over 340 franchises in 30 countries across the globe.

The local franchise of the all-American restaurant is co-owned by Preeta Mangar and her husband Ameir Ahmad, who on Thursday night hosted a gathering

of their close family and friends to try out the restaurants wide array of options.

And the invitees just could not get enough of the delicious treats.

“The menu goes from the very basic to a lot of additives; these days’ persons like to add stuff to their burger depending on their preference, so the menu has a lot of that. We also carry a veggie burger. There’s the grilled chicken too for persons who are watching their weight, and with the shakes you can add in M&M’s, peanut butter, or Reese’s. So the menu is very diverse; it has something for everybody,” Mangar shared as she told the media a little bit about what the restaurant will be bringing to the Guyana fast food market.

Mangar said that despite being categorised as fast food the franchise is more

than that.

“They don’t see themselves as fast food, because the burgers are made to order. With Johnny Rockets their theme is a 1950s diner.

It gives you that retro feel; it has a lot of character to it, it’s cheerful. They stand for a very clean and sparkling restaurant,” she said.

The decision was made to bring a Johnny Rockets to Guyana because of the franchise’s hamburger and milkshake menu, which caters to an area that has been somewhat lacking in Guyana.

“So far in Guyana there’s a lot of chicken, a lot of pizza, and we know a lot

of people like burgers, so we figured why not. Burgers are great Guyanese love them; it was perfect. We asked a lot of people what they thought and we had a lot of good review,” Mangar explained.

The franchise starts off with the one location, which will be opened from 8am – 11pm daily from

Monday – Saturday. Mangar said the hours may change as the business continues its market research and decides on the best hours for the business.

The business has already begun giving back to the Guyanese community by already providing over 50 jobs.

Soldiers register for duplex housing programme SCORES of soldiers enrolled for the Ministry of Communities duplex housing unit programme when Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Valarie Adams-Patterson, and team visited Base Camp Stephenson Wednesday.

Speaking at the Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Lecture Hall at the Timehri, East Bank Demerara base, Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) Chief Executive Officer, Leon Saul, said the authority is working to provide housing for the working class citizens, including soldiers.

He said the CH&PA has about 20,000 applications in its system and the drive is not to distribute house lots but to provide housing units.

Duplexes, town houses and condominiums, will be built for the soldiers to promote family-oriented life.

Minister Adams-Patterson said state employees, low and middle income earners and youths will be captured in the Government’s housing programme.

And soldiers will get an opportunity to own their own home, she said.

Some 28,000 house lots

across the country are unoccupied and the Government has made it clear that it would not be allocating lots to persons without putting down proper infrastructures such as water, light and roads.

The lack of these, Minister Adams-Patterson said, is one of the primary causes for persons not building on the lots allocated to them.

This, she said has caused the Government to revise the housing programme so that beneficiaries will gain in a more practical way, and on that note, urged the soldiers to “come on board” to get

their “portion of the pie”.

Once the application form is filled, the soldiers will have to visit the Min-

istry’s Brickdam, Georgetown head office with relevant documents. There, they will be interviewed,

issued a letter and placed on the priority list to benefit from the housing unit programme.

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 31, 2017

Berbicians see oil as way out from rice, sugar woes

By Nafeeza Yahya

Rameshwar Singh, 23, sits in the cool breeze brought in from the Atlantic Coast. In his yard at Black Bush Polder, in the Berbice region, are giant machines called ‘Combines’ used for cutting rice. But these days he is left to wonder if the ‘Combines,’ together with the tractors and motorbikes used in the family business, will eventually rot into the earth that has been their bread and butter for decades.

His grandfather, now 87, started cutting rice as a lad, and urged him to “carry on” the family business, and in fact, that’s how Rameshwar was groomed since he was five-years-old.

The erratic price on the world market, together with the loss of the major Venezuelan rice market, has been the source of a major headache for the rice industry.

Latest data shows that as of last month, rice was trading at US$368 per metric tonne compared to US$547.48 in February of 2012. The price hit a low of US$354.35 in December 2015, but bounced back to as high as US$456.24 in July of 2016 and somewhat levelled off within the US$360-US2$370 range since.

To compound matters, farmers say the cost of production is high. And what is more, they have to contend with poor drainage and irrigation. The latter problem means farmers have to use mechanical pumps to drain and irrigate lands. To make ends meet, many farmers have now opted to do three crops instead of the traditional two that coincides with the rainy seasons.

Usually, farmers prepare their lands and await the start of the rainy seasons to irrigate their lands. This natural form of irrigation not only cuts out the burdensome cost of fuel, but “the blessing from above“ makes the crop bloom better than the trench water they have to pump in.

However, with the reduction in the price per bag of paddy, many farmers are now pushing for three crops a year and planting a 100 day genetically modified seed paddy to increase their yields and start the preparation for the next crop.

The result is catastrophic since some farmers are hoarding water to flood their fields while others are releasing water in preparation for harvest.

This not only affect the yield of lands as they are hurriedly prepared, but increases the cost of production since the land are less fertile and would require more fertilizers as well as fuel cost for irrigation and drainage of water from

Guyana. In fact, Berbice is prized as the sugar belt in Guyana and the former PPP government moved to set up a world-class plant at Skeldon.

Built at a cost of US$180 million and opened in 2009, the Skeldon Modernization Plant was hailed as the boon to the survival of the sugar industry – in the face of falling prices and the loss of the lucrative European market.

But sugar workers have bemoaned Skeldon’s “dead duck” status. The factory has failed to live up to expectations. It should have been producing 450, 000 tonnes annually, but is now producing below 50% of that capacity.

Things took a turn for the

resulting in reduced sugar production and less power for the national grid, GuySuCo stated.

Apart from Skeldon, the three other sugar estateswhich provide employment for hundreds- has been the flame of the Berbice economy for years. With troubles in rice and sugar, Berbicians are seeing tough times.

“There is no money. People don’t have spending power. Whatever little they have them spending on food only; business bad.” That’s the comment you get from most businesses in the Upper and Central Corentyne areas.

The hire car and mini bus drivers have similar cries.

drilling because I know a lot of people from Suriname will come over to start business here; that means more passengers on the road for me,” one taxi driver said.

“I know there will be plenty of money and people will build more and I will get work. But I will continue cutting cane for now,” said Joel Harper a mason/carpenter who is also a cane harvester.

David Chan of Warren Village, #19 Highway, has been a hire car driver for over fifteen years and he has heard conversations about the prospects for oil. He said his focus currently is educating his three children, ages 13 to 18, to pursue careers in the oil and

Workers drying seed paddy to replant the next crop at Black Bush Polder

the fields.

With the litany of problems facing the sector, Berbice rice farmers, like Rameshwar, are hoping that the oil find by ExxonMobil, 200 miles offshore, will give them something to look forward to.

“Things tough and I hope that with oil we can get fuel cheaper so we can save. Rice is in my blood; I will not give it up,” he says.

Rice farmers are not the only ones looking to developments in the oil and gas sector. Rice has served as the twin to sugar when it comes to the agricultural sector in

worse early last month when the Skeldon Energy Inc. (SEI) informed the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc. (GuySuCo) that the co-generation plant was unsafe to operate and advised that the First Crop 2017 should no longer take place as up to seven months were required to address the problem.

Over the years, the co-generation plant has suffered serious deterioration.

This was confirmed by a recent audit. The plant became progressively unreliable adversely affecting the operations of the sugar factory and

“People are not travelling. We are not even getting school children, because the Granger (School buses) cleaning up the road,” said one driver.

With many investing heavily in rice, sugar and the businesses that have thrived off of them for years, Berbicians are hoping to keep their doors open for the time when the oil begins to flow.

ExxonMobil estimates that the oil wells it has discovered has as much as 1.4 billion barrels of oil, and has begun a US$5 billion investment to begin oil extraction in 2020.

“I can’t wait for oil to start

gas sectors since he believes there would be immense job opportunities that will be available for them.

“I want to make sure that they get that chance because oil will pay good and they would be able to take care of me and their mother when we get old,” said Chan.

With the announcement that consideration is being given to the setting up of a world class refinery at Crab Island in the Berbice River, many are looking at the potential business opportunities.

Regional Chairman, David Armogan, who oversees

the East Corentyne/Berbice region, has disclosed in an interview with this publication that there has been a recent spike in applications for development of significant portions of land at Crab Island.

The chairman confirmed that the Lands and Survey department is currently processing the applications. He noted that many are for inland capacity to aid in the offshore drilling operations.

But while most are eagerly awaiting the commencement of the operations to get a piece of the pie, there are worried about the negative effects, and some have even theorized this to the bizarre.

“I don’t like this oil thing.

When they start, all kinds of bad things will happen. When they start disturbing the sea bed we might soon get earthquakes and so,” said Satesh.

Others fear mismanagement of the funds that will come from oil. “If you look at Venezuela – they are producing oil but yet their people are starving.”

But the current government is seeking to assure Berbicians, and the entire country, that the oil revenues would be well managed.

“To avoid the pitfall of other countries who were surprised with the oil wealth and didn’t know what to do with it, we are being prepared to receive this wealth,” Basil Williams, the country’s Attorney General said last week at a meeting held with Berbicians at the village of Limlair.

“All our international partners are assisting; the ABC countries, our neighbours and all around the world. We are getting assistance and we don’t want when we receive this wealth, we don’t want the Dutch Disease that has inflicted Trinidad and most other oil countries; that all our resources move into the oil industry and abandon agriculture and abandon other sectors and when the prices fall we are caught without our own food,” Williams.

Will oil really prove to be the black gold for Berbice, and for Guyana?

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29,000 to benefit from US$15M agri programme

By Navendra Seoraj THE Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday launched a US$15 Million Sustainable Agricultural Development Programme (SADP), geared at increasing the productivity of the agricultural sector and maintaining sustainable climate-resilient use of natural resources in Guyana.

SADP, which has been on the ministry’s agenda for quite some time was awaiting the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)’s approval of the funding. And on February 20, 2017, the government and the IDB entered into an agreement for the loan which will be used to boost the sector.

Speaking at the launch of SADP, Project Coordinator of the Agriculture Sector Development Unit (ASDU), Khemlall Alvin said that the implementation of the project will be done over a six-year period. During the life of the programme, the Ministry is anticipating that there will be higher private sector investments in the agricultural sector; an agricultural census

implemented; higher productivity at the farm level; higher value of products processed by pilot facilities and increase in the use of practices that reduce pressure on ecosystems.

But, looking away from the macro benefits, Alvin said that the main beneficiaries of the programme will be farmers of Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice). “29,000 households from those three regions will benefit extensively from the programme…There will be finance incentives aimed at facilitating technology adoption and enhancing the profitability of selected farmers.

Each farmer will receive up to US$500- a one-time incentive that will cover up 70 percent of the cost of the technology package financed by the programme,” said the project coordinator.

This, however, is only a fraction of what the programme has in store for the beneficiaries. The programme is divided into three components.

Alvin explained that Component One of the project will

be based on generating information for evidence-based policy making and natural resource management. Through this component the ASDU and other stakeholders will review and design an Appropriate Agricultural Information System (AIS); train Ministry and Bureau of Statistics (BoS) staff members; and prepare and implement an agricultural census. With the gathering of information boosted, Component Two will see to the strengthening of the agricultural, innovation and extension system.

AGRICULTURAL CENTRES “In Component two there will be the construction and rehabilitation of agricultural centres in Regions Nine and 10…The centres will house research programmes to be implemented by NAREI, GLDA and the Hydro Meteorological Service. The agriculture centres will also have facilities for the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA),” said Alvin.

It was further outlined that

ASDU will also design and construct a water reservoir to harvest rainfall that will facilitate irrigation and livestock research in the agriculture centres. Five research programmes will be implemented at each agricultural centre.

The final component (Component three) will be used to calibrate the sector.

It will deal with the support for compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary standards.

ASDU Project Coordinator said, “We will review and update the standards and codes related to products destined for export markets as well as local markets both current and potential.”

With these on stream, the Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder, highlighted that the agricultural sector is expected to make a major contribution to our development of a green state by contributing to food and nutrition security, poverty eradication, adaptation to climate change, building resilience in the sector and increase in employment.

Holder stressed that they are expected to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 agenda, through

inputs in the areas of livestock, fisheries, crops, irrigation and drainage, pesticide management and control and marketing. “The vision of the government for the agricultural sector is the provision of technical support for a robust, evidence-based and effective planning platform that will facilitate the development of a modernized, productive, efficient and competitive agriculture sector that contributes to sustainable economic growth,” said the Minister.

FIRST CENSUS IN 65 YEARS It starts with the ability to produce “high-quality” data for the agricultural sector. Holder pointed out that through Component One of SADP the sector will see the first agricultural census in 65 years, “an event which is supposed to happen every 10 years.”

The census will give planners and policymakers an understanding of the progress and future prospects of all agricultural industries and their products and of our farm practices. It will also help farmer, policymakers and

others involved in the industry to determine strategies to ensure sustainable farming.

Guyana’s agriculture sector must become “smarter, leaner and cleaner,” said Holder while noting that the country has fallen behind in its targets, and they (the ministry) have allowed agricultural research to have a lower priority.

IDB Country Representative, Sophie Makonnen alluded to the same point as the Minister. She said that Guyana has the potential to begin the diversification of its economy. However, diversification has already begun. NAREI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Oudho Homenauth, in a report last year stated that with the hinterland agriculture diversification programme, growth in the new and other crops sub sector is projected at 2.5 percent in 2017. In 2016, farms were established at Hosororo, Ebini and Cato to facilitate trials of new crops. The soil types in these areas have been identified as an excellent source of required nutrients for planting such crops as Soursop.

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Tension between GTT and Digicel – GTT wants investigation into Digicel alleged illegal trans-border link

Digicel CEO Kevin Kelly (left) makes a point, while his GTT counterpart Justin Nedd counters at the Public Utilities Commission hearing last Tuesday

THE Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) is calling for an investigation into Digicel’s alleged “illegal, unlicensed

trans-border link between Guyana and Suriname.”

Additionally, the telephone giant is demanding that Digicel make public its

records detailing tax payments on the revenue generated by this perceived illegal bypass operation in the interest of transparency.

In a statement on Saturday, GTT said it is time to get down to the bottom of the situation. GTT is contending that the illegal bypass operation has been active for more than five years, costing the country approximately US$30M. This burning issue was brought to the fore on numerous occasions over the last two years, GTT posited, noting that it is time for transparency “to ensure openness and forthright conduct and to establish confidence that all interested parties are being treated fairly and equitably.”

The Guyanese people must know the complete details of the unauthorised cross-border link, the telephone giant said.

It said instead of clearing the air on the issue, Digicel has opted to make excuses and has launched new and unfounded claims that are meant to distract the public and media.

“To finally provide complete transparency about the illegal bypass operation, we call for the Government to initiate a comprehensive audit, conducted by a respected and experienced third party.

Since assuming office, the Government has pursued a number of audits to bring clarity to various aspects of our economy. Given the financial significance of an illegal bypass operation, it would certainly seem appropriate for a similar audit to take place here,” GTT said.

RELEASE FINANCIAL RECORD Additionally, GTT wants Digicel to release its financial records to determine

whether it paid taxes from the revenues generated by the alleged “illegal bypass operation.”

“Given Digicel’s acknowledgement of its bypass activity, the public deserves to know – with conclusive evidence – if the company has paid its fair share of taxes on the tremendous revenues it has reaped from this activity,” GTT argued.

GTT is maintaining that based on its investigation, Digicel should have paid US$30M or GUY$7B to Guyana’s treasury over the last five years.

“Think about the loss to Guyana if these taxes have not been paid. It is 30 million U.S. dollars that could have gone to new roads, bridges and other infrastructure improvements. It is 30 million U.S. dollars that could have been put to work to fight disease and improve healthcare.

No matter how you look at it, this would mean a tremendous loss to our country and our people if the taxes have not been paid,” GTT further argued.

It said that Guyanese would agree that Digicel should not be allowed to flout the laws of Guyana by conducting an unauthorised international telephony business.

“The fact of the matter is, Guyanese citizens are arrested for significantly smaller transgressions than what Digicel has been doing for at least the last five years.

So now, we must insist on action. Action that produces transparency and finally sheds a bright light on this dark activity that Digicel has been conducting,” the com-

pany insisted.

With liberalisation on the horizon, the practice of equity and transparent conduct of all players is of paramount importance, GTT reiterated.

SMOKESCREEN However, Digicel has long rubbished the claims made by GTT. During a meeting with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Digicel Chief Executive Officer Kevin Kelly denied the allegations, stating that the remarks were being used as a “smokescreen” to cover up GTT’s “anti-competitive” act.

The matter surrounding Digicel’s alleged illegal bypass resurfaced last Wednesday after it took GTT to the PUC over what it considers to be an “anti-competitive” act. In a complaint to the PUC, Digicel contended that GTT’s promotion “Get More Pay Less” is “anti-competitive.”

It argued that GTT, which still holds a monopoly in the market for international services in Guyana, is providing Digicel with a wholesale rate, which is considerably in excess of the “highest possible retail rates its customers would pay.”

Digicel is requesting that the Commission make an order forthwith that all present and future promotions concerning international rates, be extended by GTT to Digicel to be offered as part of their bundled minutes to their customers.

Last Tuesday, when the companies met with PUC Chairman Prem Persaud, Digicel’s CEO explained that if the assumption were to be made that customers only use the GTT bundle for overseas calls to Canada and USA, then their call rate will be between $26.26 and $30.40.

“This is significantly below the PUC set retail rates of $100 ($90 off peak) and US$134.50 ($94.15 off peak) for the USA and Canada respectively,” Kelly pointed out.

At present, GTT gives Digicel a discount on these PUC set retail rates, which on average is 35 per cent.

Therefore, Digicel’s cost per minute would be in the region of $65 and $87.42.

As such, Kelly contended that GTT’s bundles are ‘unfair’ and should be adjusted, or the PUC should lower the price so that Digicel can benefit as well.

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 31, 2017

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Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 31, 2017

Guyana Chronicle New York Edition Week-ending March 31, 2017

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Pakistan move 2-0 up in four match Twenty20 series SHADAB Khan's stunning start to his international career continued as Pakistan moved 2-0 up in the fourmatch Twenty20 series with West Indies in a thrilling contest at the Queens Park Pval in Port of Spain.

Shadab took 3-7 in his four overs in the first game of the series as Pakistan cruised to a six-wicket win, and followed that up in style with 4-14, enabling the tourists to restrict the Windies to 129-8.

Pakistan clung on to a three-run win in a dramatic last over, Hasan Ali responding after being hit for consecutive boundaries with a show of excellent death bowling to preserve victory.

Having bowled Pakistan

out for 132, the Windies' innings started in dramatic fashion with three collisions between opponents in the first four overs.

Shadab became the villain in the eyes of the home crowd after his coming together with Evin Lewis (3) resulted in the Windies opener being run out, before Chadwick Walton collided with Sohail Tanvir and Ahmed Shehzad, the latter being taken off in an ambulance in a neck brace only to eventually return.

Marlon Samuels' 44 appeared to have the Windies on course for triumph and, despite Shadab's heroics, Jason Holder (26 not out) and Sunil Narine (9) looked set to guide them home, only for

Shadab Khan and wkpr Sarfraz Ahmed celebrate another wicket during the 2nd T20 INTERNATIONAL BETWEEN WEST Indies and Pakistn at Queen’s Park Oval Thursday.

(Photo by WICB Media/Randy Brooks of Brooks Latouche Photography)

Hasan to frustrate the hosts.

Kamran Akmal was removed by Samuel Badree in the first over for nought and, though Shoaib Malik hit 28

off 20 balls, Pakistan were reeling on 95-8 after seeing Windies captain Carlos Brathwaite (3-37) and Narine (3-22) rip through their bat-

ting line-up.

But Wahab Riaz's 24 off 10 gave Pakistan something to defend, and they had an early breakthrough in contro-

versial fashion after Shadab appeared to block Lewis' path to the crease.

Shehzad's injury will have caused plenty of concern, but Shadab helped calm Pakistan's fears surrounding the state of the game, the teenager's spin removing Walton (21), Kieron Pollard (3), Rovman Powell (0) and the key man in Samuels.

Things looked bleak for the Windies when Brathwaite went for 15, but – needing 14 off the last – Narine clubbed Hasan for consecutive boundaries.

There was one last twist, though, as Hasan brilliantly recovered his composure to ensure Pakistan cannot lose the four-match series.