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Thursday July 29, 2021
EXXONMOBIL ANNOUNCES OIL DISCOVERY AT WHIPTAIL, OFFSHORE GUYANA
EDGHILL SAYS GUYANA HAS NOT SINGLED OUT TRINIDAD NATIONALS
HEALTH MINISTRY APPEALS TO RELIGIOUS BODIES TO HELP WITH VACCINATION
Thursday July 29, 2021
EDGHILL SAYS GUYANA HAS NOT EXXONMOBIL ANNOUNCES SINGLED OUT TRINIDAD NATIONALS OIL DISCOVERY AT WHIPTAIL, With the Government OFFSHORE GUYANA making the decision to at the Whiptail-2 well,
Significant new oil discovery located southeast of Uaru and west of Yellowtail Could form the basis for future development in the Stabroek Block Adds to the previous recoverable resource estimate of approximately 9 billion oil-equivalent barrels More than 2,600 Guyanese supporting
oil and gas activities incountry ExxonMobil today announced another discovery at Whiptail in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. The Whiptail-1 well encountered 246 feet (75 meters) of net pay from high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. Drilling is also ongoing
which has encountered 167 feet (51 meters) of net pay in high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs. Drilling continues at both wells to test deeper targets, and results will be evaluated for future development. The Whiptail discovery is located approximately four miles southeast of the Uaru1 discovery that was announced in January 2020 and approximately three miles west of the Yellowtail field. Whiptail-1 is being drilled in 5,889 feet (1,795 meters) of water by the Stena DrillMAX. Whiptail-2, which is located 3 miles northeast of Whiptail-1, is currently being drilled in 6,217 feet (1,895 meters) of water by the Noble Don Taylor.
HEALTH MINISTRY APPEALS TO RELIGIOUS BODIES TO HELP WITH VACCINATIONleaders to help in the
With Guyana being filled with persons belonging to various religious faiths, the Ministry of Health has recognized that there has been some level of resistance from the religious community as it relates to the acceptance of the COVID-19 Vaccines. As such the Ministry is asking faith-based leaders to encourage their members to take the vaccines.
fight by encouraging their members to take the vaccines and by helping to dispel the rumors of the vaccines. “We are still confronted with a problem in some communities, where people have influence in those communities. Some of the faith-based leaders have been telling their church members not to take the vaccines. We want to urge these leaders and the churches that they are affiliated with, and national leaders to talk to them about the importance of vaccination. The meetings that we have had nationally with all the religious faiths have supported the vaccination program and we need this message to get to these pastors in the various communities, so that message can be consistent” Minister Anthony said.
This is according to the Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony, who said in his daily COVID-19 Update, that his Ministry has recognized that it has been confronted with one problem and that is persons in the faith-based institutions have been rejecting claims of the vaccine and have shown their disapproval by not taking the vaccines. Minister Anthony is calling on all faith-based Continued on pg3
have Trinidad and Tobago residents who are fully vaccinated have access to Guyana, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, had insisted that the country was not singled out when the decision was made. The Government just last week made this travel restriction mandatory through its COVID-19 travel protocols in the Civil Aviation Act. The order, which was gazetted on July 23, was signed by Edghill. Since the decision was made there has been some level of condemnation from the public on the move. Some have called the move a direct singling out of T&T by imposing the said restriction. Ministry Edghill however said that T&T remains a beloved nation in CARICOM and the move was not based on singling out one particular nation. “There is absolutely no singling out. We are a proud part of the Caribbean Family. We were receiving people from Barbados,” Edghill insisted.
Minister Edghill said how the move stands as part of many traveling protocols that will be set in the time going ahead as the country continues to follow the COVID-19 guidelines of the Caricom. He said T&T being first on the list to have such restriction falls on the fact the country has made a motion to reopen. “The only reason we have put out an order for Trinidadians is that Trinidad has just opened their borders. Theirs is a wider discussion that is taking place, as it related to CARICOM Travel that is coming out of the Caricom Heads of Government meeting. “We want to ensure that there is inter-Caribbean
travel and people don’t have to be unnecessarily quarantined when they arrived in another jurisdiction because you know someplace when you the negative PCR; you still have to go into quarantine, But if you are fully vaccinated; there is no requirement.” Minister Edghill also added that as time goes by more countries will have the same travel restriction for their citizens. As of today, there is no other restriction for any other national traveling to Guyana but Trinidad and Tobago, which at the moment has the highest number of vaccinated persons with over 500,000 vaccinated.
WIFE REMAINS IN CUSTODY EVEN AS FAMILY MEMBERS HIGHLIGHT THE EXTENT OF HER ABUSE
With a father of three now dead, and the mother now in the hands of the Guyana Police Force due to a stabbing incident, family members of the
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young man have insisted that this situation came as a result of years of abuse. The now dead, Anthony Pakanram, called Max, died Sunday after he
was fatally stabbed to his neck in a scuffle with his wife whom he had been threatening with a knife. Continued on pg3
Fear stalks the land
Over the past five years, I have never seen so much fear. People are afraid to criticize the government; they are afraid to correct situations within their control. An example of the latter involves poorly constructed roads. The government issues a tender and some contractor wins the contract. These days, just about everybody would swear that the person who wins the contract is handpicked by the government. So this person undertakes the job. Within weeks the road deteriorates— even before the period of liability kicks in. But no one would say anything because as far as they are concerned the government is vindictive. People have been known to write letters complaining about a situation and not even signing a name or putting an address on the letter.
The local newspapers would tell anyone that most if not all of those letters end up in the wastebasket. When I was an active reporter, people would call to say that they had sent in a letter and that it wasn’t published. On enquiring, I would learn that the letter had neither name nor address. The caller would then admit to writing the letter but would still decline to give a name or an address. Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo recently visited Leguan Stelling where some works are being conducted. Among his first words when he confronted the contractor was, “I hear you are APNU.” What has a man’s political affiliation got to do with anything? That is a rhetorical question. Everyone knows. If you belong to the political opposition you will eat the bread that the devil needs. But that is only a
Thursday July 29, 2021
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small reason for the fear. There are people who believe that they could be killed for being too critical of the government. Grey Boy, who was recently freed of the murder of Courtney Crum-Ewing, actually said in open court that someone sought to recruit him to kill Mark Benschop. Why? Because Benschop was a staunch critic of the government. He spent five years of his life in jail on a treason charge that couldn’t hold water. The preliminary inquiry was stacked against him. The state hired Anil Nandlall and Sanjeev Datadin as special prosecutors. They were highly paid and as a measure of protection, they lived at Pegasus. At the trial in the High Court, one juror, despite the arguments of the other jurors, refused to vote ‘not guilty’, It was back to jail for Benschop. Attempts to
get the requisite retrial was like pulling teeth. Priya Manickchand and Anil Nandlall challenged the decision on the ground that cases should be heard in chronological order—that is—heard in the order they are disposed of in the magistrates’ court. The Court of Appeal struck that argument down. In the end, it took a discussion between Robert Corbin and Bharrat Jagdeo to allow Benschop his freedom. This is one of the reasons that people are afraid. They fear that they could end up in jail at the behest of the government, and remain there until the government decides that the detention is enough. The other day Glenn Lall, Publisher of Kaieteur News, did a programme entitled a 27-year journey to fearlessness. He claimed that since his advocacy against the oil contract
Guyana signed with Exxon Mobil people have been reaching him and urging him to be careful and to watch his back. The threat was not veiled. He spoke of the bombing of his printer in Eccles, the killing of his workers, and the visit by gunmen to his office, all during the tenure of the PPP administration. He spoke of his fear and the financial attacks. He said that many people fear for his safety. Why should that be? It is not nice for any society to see its government as an instrument of death against its critics. And the government is not doing anything to quell the people’s apprehension. But then again it may be in the interest of the government to have that aura. But why was this not the case during the tenure of the coalition? For the first time, I have seen criminal charges against such a
HEALTH MINISTRY APPEALS TO RELIGIOUS BODIES......... “These church leaders have a very dominant position when people listen to them and if they tell them not to take the vaccines and then unfortunately that we are
finding that a lot of people in those communities are not taking the vaccine. “So, we have to change that because, as we know, these vaccines are protective, they are going
to save lives. “If people are not vaccinated and they get COVID they will have challenges of being hospitalized or even dying from COVID and that is
what we want to prevent,” Dr. Anthony maintained. Some 64% percent of the population is Christian, 25% percent Hindu, 7% percent Muslim (mainly Sunni), and less than 1%
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percent belongs to other religious groups. The Ministry feels that with most of their members being vaccinated Guyana can move closer to herd immunity.
WIFE REMAINS IN CUSTODY EVEN AS FAMILY MEMBERS HIGHLIGHT................ In a statement, the police explained that that the suspect and Pakanram had a misunderstanding which caused him to physically assault the suspect who moved out of their home to her parents’ abode at Old Road Providence. The police added that Pakanram at the time became angry, armed himself with a knife and despite the suspect trying to flee, (Pakanram) cornered her and a scuffle ensued. It was at that moment he was stabbed to the neck by the victim. With the relationship ending tragically and as police are now probing the incident, family members insisted that the end came
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as a result of years of abuse according to the suspect’s Aunt, Sursattie Bimaul. “She was in a commonlaw relationship for the past 12 years. The union brought forth three children. “In the midst of the 12 years, she was abused. She was living in a domestic violence relationship with no happiness. Drinking, he assaulted her, he accusing her of things, he not supporting the children the way he should as a father. “So, this incident on and off, where my sister at once, I couldn’t remember the exact year, where my sister gives me
several complaints to the authorities,” Ms. Bimaul explained The abuse occurred even at a time when she endured the loss of her mother and after she would have left the man’s home trying to escape the abuse, even with counseling. “During the midst of the counseling, he begged, he asked for forgiveness, he apologised and the wife due to the children give him chances and changes. “It got out of hand and they had an incident in March …She moves out, he beat her up and put her out and she went over to her parents’ place in March.
“So, my sister came and died in April. She didn’t go back home, she stayed with my brother-in-law to assist. In the process of the wake while we were there he drank and he misbehaves. “We tame him down; he keeps going and coming every time became he keep cursing,” Ms. Bimaul added. “This has been going on for years due to the fact that it was on several occasions. It reached the authorities. One time even he was called in by the police for trying to set the house and her on fire by throwing a flammable liquid on her but in the end, even with
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large number of public officials. It seems as though they are being charged for just about anything. For the first time, I have seen a confrontation between the government and a service commission. Some members of the commission have also been charged, criminally. And so we come to the case of the public official who shot a woman in her abdomen. He has not been charged although there is evidence of abuse. The man and the woman were said to have shared a relationship. It would seem that this public official has a political cover. The woman remains in critical condition in hospital but the shooter has not been placed before the court. Wonder what would have been the case if the shoe was on the other foot.
the family’s disapproval, the man returns with an apology. “He later continues the abuse when things calm down.” At the time the family believed that the wife was defending herself since she was at time-fighting for her life. Head of the United Bridge Builders Mission, Bonita Montaque, has said that more and more “we have seen that women are not safe, as the old methods aren’t working since most time things end in a tragic manner.” “I’m concerned; if it’s not a man shooting a woman in her abdomen, it’s a shallow grave
That herd immunity will, according to the Ministry, be successful if some 85% of the Adult population is fully vaccinated.
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murder that we seem not to be able to find the culprit. When will it stop? There is no change from abuse. “If you are not someone willing to stop, no counseling will penetrate you, no work will penetrate you because you have your mindset and so some families believe culturally that we can’t control that. I am really concerned,” Ms. Montague insisted. Ms Montague advised those women in abusive relationships to not return to the relationship of abuse since it can turn out bad not only for them but for the children.
Victim pursues, catches teen bandit after robbery
A teenager who made arrangements on allegedly lured an Facebook to purchase a individual into a phone has been arrested robbery after two had after being caught by
has been identified as a 19-year-old from the Prashad Nagar, Georgetown area. According to the statement on the matter, the Guyana Police Force indicated that the victim, who has been identified as a 27-year-old man from Bella Dam, Pouderoyen, WBD went to the teen to purchase a cellular phone from the Suspect who he met on Facebook. Upon arrival at the the victim and others La Grange Old Road, moments after the West Bank Demerara the incident. victim enquired about The alleged bandit the individual and was
directed to the suspect who was playing pools in a Chinese restaurant. The suspect left the pools table and approached the victim, whipping out a handgun and holding the victim at gunpoint while ordering him to hand over all his money. The suspect then pushed his hand in the victim’s pocket and relieved him of $10,000. The victim held on to the suspect and a scuffle ensued during which the suspect discharged a round from the firearm.
The suspect managed to escape out to the public road but was then caught up by the victim who chased after him and took away the firearm and held on to him. The suspect was apprehended by the victim and persons who had gathered at the scene. The Police were subsequently summoned. They visited the scene and took the suspect along with a .32 revolver and two live .32 ammunition into custody.
US Deputy Chief of Mission Visits Region Nine During a recent visit to Lethem and St. Ignatius, Region Nine, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission, Mark Cullinane, met with the Regional Chairman, Guyana Police Force leadership, the Regional Health Officer, the Lethem Town Clerk, the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce, and village leaders.
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The Deputy Chief of Mission received a tour of St. Ignatius Secondary School and donated 200 school kits, including backpacks and school supplies, on behalf of the U.S. Embassy. “It was a great pleasure to visit Region Nine and understand the priorities and concerns of local officials and business leaders, as well
as experience the beauty of the region and the warmth of Rupununi hospitality,” said the Deputy Chief of Mission. The visit underscores the U.S. Embassy’s commitment to helping build capacity in remote areas, strengthen border security, and support youth education across the country.
Guyana Revenue Authority Initiates Customs Administration Modernization Consulting Project
to share its experience and know-how. The two countries expect that the consulting project which is expected to be for a duration of eight months will bring shifts in Guyana Customs administration in various fields, including risk management, cargo management and item classification, and contribute to the automation of Guyana’s Customs administration.
On June 4, 2021, in keeping with an aid agreement between Korea Customs Service and the GRA, a delegation of six consultants from KCS visited the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) located in Georgetown and
commenced consultations for the Modernization of the Guyana Customs Administration. The 50-day visit to Guyana is part of an effort to strengthen cooperation between GRA and KCS, and to conclude with the delivery of a final report
which will recommend a future model for Guyana Customs. During the visit, the project team will introduce UNI-PASS, Korea’s e-customs clearance system and hold seminars on Korea’s Customs Administration
Two charged with taxi driver murder, one reportedly confesses
Seyon James
Kenty Bacchus
Two men who were reportedly fingered in the brutal killing of a taxi driver during a robbery and later dumping his body in the Ogle area have been charged and remanded to jail for murder. The two Kenty Bacchus, called ‘Trini’, and Seyon James, called
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‘Lil Alfey’ appeared before Magistrate Rushelle Liverpool at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court and were both not required to enter a plea to the indictable charge. It is alleged that the two on June 30, 2021, at Block 1 Ogle, East Coast Demerara, murdered
53-year-old taxi driver, Kenrick Trim, during the course and furtherance of a robbery The two were later remanded to prison until August 6, 2021. Reports are that the body Trim, of Belfield Housing Scheme; East Coast Demerara, was found just after 9:00 am
the said morning. It was believed that he may have been dumped there with stab wounds and a battered body. An examination of the body found that Trim had multiple stab wounds about his body. There were bloodstains on the mouth and around the nostrils. His car was also reportedly found a short distance away from the body with the key still in
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the ignition and the radio on. It was during the investigation that police then nabbed one suspect who revealed that he had linked up with the other suspect while serving prison time for simple larceny of a cell phone. The confessor then noted that on the day of the incident he was picked up from the bus park and two went to a snackette located at Carmichael Street to purchase something to eat. The confessor reportedly told police that he told the other man that he was in need of a place to stay since he was homeless at the time. Subsequently, after spending some time at the snackette the two then stopped a car that Trim was driving and they both entered.
It was further explained by the confessor that he was seated behind the driver and the other man was seated behind the front passenger seat. He reportedly said that as they got to Ogle one of them grabbed the taxi driver by his neck and choked him “until he passed out.” They then pulled the deceased over to the back seat but he was still moving so one of them dealt the taxi driver several stabs about his body. Shortly after, the two removed the valuables from the man, threw out the body, and later parked the car in another spot. The murder weapon was discharged in some bushes nearby while the two subsequently escaped on foot to a minibus close to the area.
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