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Friday April 23, 2021

SOCU charges three senior police officers for fraud

OPPOSITION, EXXONMOBIL MEET TO DISCUSS OIL PRODUCTION PROBLEMS

CHARLESTOWN MAN SHOT DEAD FOLLOWING DISPUTE

Guyana Post Friday April 23, 2021

SOCU charges three senior police officers for fraud

L-R: Woman Senior Superintendent (ag) Marcelene Washington; Deputy Superintendent, Frank Jackman- Wilburg and Woman Superintendent, Lorraine Sau

As the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) continues to investigate several allegations of fraud, three senior police officers were charged with fraud, yesterday.

Those charged are Police Finance Officer, Woman

Senior Superintendent Marcelene Washington; former Deputy Finance Officer, Deputy Superintendent, Frank Jackman Wilburg; and former Deputy Commander of Division 4 ‘B’, Woman Superintendent, Lorraine Saul. They appeared

before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court They were all charged jointly with two counts of fraud; which relate to the conspiracy to commit and felony and the Falsification of the Account by the Officer.

According to the prosecutor’s case, the three on Monday, November 2, and December 3, at the Guyana Police Force Headquarters, the three with the intent to defraud, conspired with each other and some other persons in the force

to falsify accounts being a feeding account, in the sum of $2.2 M, in relation to meals provided by the Felix Austin College Nest for ranks on duty between October 16 and October 31, 2020.

It was further alleged that all of the three, on the same date, and at the same place conspired with themselves and others to falsify meal accounts in the total of $1.4 Mill, at the very Mess that was at the time catering for ranks on duty at a fixed point and at the Suicide Helpline Department between October 16, and October 31, 2020.

It is alleged that Washington and Wilburg colluded with Saul to defraud by authorizing the payment when no such

duty existed and meals were not distributed to ranks as stated in an account.

Even as all three of them were charged, only one was present.

The others were not in the jurisdiction to answer their charges.

As such, this officer was not required to enter a plea to the charge and was released on $150,000 bail on each charge and ordered to return to court on May 14.

These charges are said to be added to her first charges in which she was charged also for fraud, in relation to same meal distribution along with Head of the Finance Department, Assistant Superintendent Kurt Smith.

OPPOSITION, EXXONMOBIL MEET TO DISCUSS OIL PRODUCTION PROBLEMS

(From L) President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, Guyana Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon and ExxonMobil Guyana Production Manager, Mike Ryan

As oil giant ExxonMobil Guyana continues to have an issue with its Gas Compressor, the President of the Company’s operation in Guyana, Mr. Alistair Routledge, has assured the APNU-AFC Opposition that those issues will not affect Guyana economically.

He said that it will also not have an environmental impact.

Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, who this morning held a meeting with party members and the Exxon team that comprised Mr.

Routledge, Mr. Mike Ryan, Production Manager; and Ms Janelle Persaud, Public and Government Affairs Advisor, said that the forum provided a means of getting the opposition up to speed.

The issues Exxon faces can impact the country in many ways, he said.

Mr. Routledge said that he is very pleased to speak with the Opposition so that he could understand their concerns.

He said that he was able to address his concerns. “We also noted that the company is

working to fix the issues.

“We are working for the people of Guyana, to make sure we get things fixed as quickly as possible,” Mr. Routledge said.

Describing the meeting as one that had a good tone, and one that was an opening for more such meetings, Mr. Harmon said that it is now for Exxon to hold up its words.

He maintained that the question that was asked by his supporters were answered directly.

One of which, Mr. Harmon said, was the issue of payment for

the works done to fix compression issues, an issue in which Guyana will bore no cost attached but their two contracted companies.

“Exxon made it very clear that these will be expenses borne by SGM Offshore and MAN Energy Solution, the companies that are responsible for the equipment. The cost relating to that, and related cost will not be borne by the people of Guyana.

“We ask Exxon what they considered to be related cost and that is cost outside what SGM and MAN will have to be responsible for.

Therefore we ask them to provide that and they give us a commitment, that they will do so,” Mr. Harmon noted.

Mr. Harmon said that on the economic side of things, Exxon has also assured that it will not affect revenue nor the environmental standings through the act of balancing production and flaring.

“What they basically said was that there were two major issues that dealt with equipment.

One was vibration and pulsation and that this issue is what they are dealing with at a technical level.

“The work that is being done, they are trying their best to get back to that point. We get a sense that they are saying that they can get to the level they anticipated in the permits within three months.

“They are working to see if they can bring it to that level and with a minimum amount of flaring. It is now up to Exxon to make that balancing act,” Harmon expressed Mr, Harmon however noted that they can only do so much in asking for answers from the company but it is the relevant authorities such as the Environmental Protection Agency, to ensure that that company sticks to words.

Just last night, the company reported that it has ramped up

production to between 100,000 and 110,000 barrels of oil per day even as it continues to address the problem with a damaged compressor on the Liza Destiny oil production vessel.

Exxon maintained that current production levels were defined after careful consideration of safety, environmental, technical, and economic factors as well as discussions with the relevant government agencies on the best path forward while repairs and upgrades are ongoing.

Just a few weeks ago, the company announced that it was forced to reduce oil production to just 30,000 barrels of oil per day after more problems were noticed with a reinstalled compressor system that was recently repaired.

With the ongoing problem, Exxon is continuing its flaring of gas but has indicated that it is moving to have additional repairs done to the damaged piece of equipment.

Guyana Post Friday April 23, 2021

CHARLESTOWN MAN SHOT DEAD FOLLOWING DISPUTE

A Charlestown resident was last night shot dead, by a person whom he confronted in his yard about a robbery he had committed on his friend.

The dead youth is identified as 25-yearold Odinga Anthony Yearwood of Lot 2 Drysdale Street, Charlestown.

Reports thus far

suggest that Yearwood was shot after arguing with a known suspect over an alleged robbery the suspect committed.

More than three shots were heard in the area. Then a man who is known by the community was seen escaping on foot.

Yearwood later ran out on the road for help but collapsed. He took his last breath just a few meters from where he was shot.

He was later taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced

dead on arrival.

The Guyana Police Force has issued a wanted bulletin for a Lenroy Michael Ford The Force has asked that anyone knowing the whereabouts of Forde is asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 227-2603, 226-6978, 226-6221, 219-3252, 227-1149, 225-8196, 268-2328, 268-2298/2222, 2267065, 911 or the nearest police station.

All information will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Seven juveniles break out of Sophia Detention Centre

The police are investigating what may cause the escape of seven Juveniles, from the Sophia detention center in the wee hours of this morning.

According to a statement from the force, just around 2:30 hours and 2:40 hrs, seven juveniles escaped from the center.

The force added that

an alarm was raised and quick police response led to the recapture of three of the escaped juveniles.

Shortly after 7:00hrs a fourth was taken back to the facility in the company of his mother.

Three escapees however remain at large, as the force continues the search

immunised Discharge silencer removed Over 100,000 persons -vaccines available to against Covid non-nationals, shut-ins, from FPSO as oil production says Min. Anthony steadily ramps up

ExxonMobil Guyana on Wednesday reported the removal of the discharge silencer from the Liza Destiny FPSO vessel. Despite encountering issues with the silencer, ExxonMobil has steadily ramped up oil production.

Teams on the Liza Destiny FPSO have removed the discharge silencer component of the gas compressor system for further assessment of the damage and to

determine the necessary scope of repairs and/or modifications.

ExxonMobil Guyana estimates that repairs or replacement will take approximately three months.

Additionally, plans initiated in 2020 are progressing to install a redesigned third-stage flash gas compression system at the end of this year.

ExxonMobil has slowly ramped up oil production to between 100,000

and 110,000 barrels per day at a flare level of no more than 15 Thousand Standard Cubic Feet per Day(Mscfd).

The operating parameters were defined after careful consideration of safety, environmental, technical, and economic factors as well as discussions with the relevant government agencies on the best path forward while repairs and upgrades are ongoing

Guyana is one step closer to achieving herd immunity having reached a landmark with over 100,000 persons inoculated against COVID-19 as of Tuesday.

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony made this statement during Wednesday’s COVID-19 update. “We have met a milestone, as of yesterday because we have exceeded 100,000 doses, 100,000 persons receiving their first dose, and this is across Guyana.

We have had people coming out, our teams going into villages, so I think the health workers who have been on this vaccination campaign have done a remarkable job for us to achieve this milestone,” he said.

The Minister had said approximately 6000 persons are being vaccinated daily, and provisions are in place to serve those who may be shut-in due to medical conditions or other reasons.

“We know there’re a number of persons who are at home; they are bedridden and if the persons who are caring for them can contact the regional health officers in the various regions, then we will certainly be able to work out a way of taking the vaccines to them.

“We have been able to do those that have been identified to us, but I’m sure there are many more, other persons, and from the side of the Ministry, we are always willing to help,” he added.

Meanwhile, Minister Anthony underscored that the national vaccination campaign against Covid is for all persons residing or working in Guyana, and not only Guyanese.

“Our policy now with vaccination right now, is to ensure that whoever is in Guyana and once you are an adult that you get the vaccine. So, that is what we are working on because herd immunity cannot be achieved by excluding people.

“So, we know that with the adult population, they’re mobile. They’re young, they’re mobile; they’re going to go to different parts and so forth and that is why we want to make sure that everyone is immunised.

“Migrants who are here would certainly get vaccines, other nationals who are here working in different establishments, once they’re here for a protracted period, we would also be able to give them vaccines.”

Dr. Anthony also said Guyana still has a long way to go to ensure every adult is immunised.

Accordingly, the Government continues to take steps to secure Covid vaccines for the nation.

To date, it has obtained 265,000 vaccines, which have been made available countrywide in the national vaccination campaign.

Minister Anthony is encouraging all persons ages 18 and older to visit one of the vaccination sites established countrywide to get immunised against Covid. He said the vaccines prevent people from contracting a severe form of the disease which leads to death.

Guyana Post Friday April 23, 2021

SOCU charges cops for deleting electronic data linked to fraud case

answer a charge of illegal data interference, brought by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

The duo appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann Mc Lennan, and entered not guilty pleas to the charge. The duo was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into the $19M fraud committed on the GPF Finance Department. The two officers were attached as clerks to the Felix Special Corporal Carmichael and Constable Smith (Photos released by SOCU) Austin Police College.

Two officers of the Jenneka Carmichael on Wednesday hauled It is alleged by SOCU Guyana Police Force, and Constable 25598 before the Georgetown that the two women Special Corporal 14750 Tatayana Smith, were Magistrates’ Court to intentionally and

Guyana records three more COVID-19 deaths

Three more people have succumbed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported that as of April 21, 2021, three more persons who tested positive for the novel

coronavirus (COVID-19) have died. This takes the total number of deaths from the pandemic to 277.

The latest fatalities are a 76-year-old male from Region Four (Demerara-

Mahaica) who died while receiving care at our medical facility; a 42-year-old from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and a 70year- old from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

without lawful excuse or justification, deleted electronic data from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) computer that was in the Administrative Office of the Felix Austin Police College.

A probe was launched by SOCU after information was received that falsified feeding accounts were stored on the computer but before SOCU could have accessed the computer, all feeding account files were deleted with the two accused being the only ranks that operated the

computer.

Both women were granted $150,000 bail and the matter was adjourned to May 6, 2021. They were represented by attorneysat-Law E. Stephen and Bernard Da Silva

PNCR extends condolences

Senior Superintendent of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Charmaine Stuart.

The People’s National Congress expresses sincere condolences at the sudden death of Senior Superintendent Charmaine Stuart.

Leader of the People’s National Congress, Mr. David Granger, is deeply saddened by the sudden death of Senior Superintendent of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Charmaine Stuart.

She died on Wednesday, April 21.

Snr. Supt.

Stuart dedicated her entire adult life to the service of her country — in several capacities as a gazetted officer in the Guyana Police Force. She became the first female gazetted

officer, the first woman deputy as well as the first woman to head the Police Force Band.

Snr. Supt. Stuart has been a member of the force for more than thirty years.

She received the overall Best Cop award for her outstanding performance in the Force, making her the first woman to be given the award, in 2017.

The People’s National Congress notes that apart from her stellar performance as Director of Music and Culture, Snr. Supt. Stuart will be remembered for her work as the Chairman of the GPF’s Joint Services Sub-Committee, Vice-President of the

Guyana Association of Women Police, and the Coordinator of the Force’s Literary and Debating Society.

The People’s National Congress recalls that Party Leader David Granger (at that time President) hosted a special luncheon for the Band under Snr. Supt Stuart’s command to celebrate its 160th anniversary in August 2018.

The PNC extends sincere condolences to the widower, sons – Kevin and Murphy – and members of the Guyana Police Force Band, MS, on Snr. Supt Stuart’s untimely death.