Keeping you updated on current events... ONLINE DAILY NEWSPAPER
Saturday Sept. 25, 2021
FOR EXXONMOBIL, LOCAL PRES. IRFAAN ALI CONTENT JUST MAKES REJECTS CLAIMS OF GOOD BUSINESS SENSE EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS – ROUTLEDGE
FORMER PRESIDENT GRANGER URGES GOVERNMENT TO CONTRACT INKED FOR CITY CORRECT ITS ‘DIPLOMATIC HALL RESTORATION MISTAKE’ WITH BRAZIL
Saturday Sept. 25, 2021
FOR EXXONMOBIL, LOCAL CONTENT JUST MAKES GOOD BUSINESS SENSE – ROUTLEDGE
President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, says the company and its prime contractors have been making significant efforts to bolster local content. This included planning, implementation, and monitoring progress years prior to a policy or legislation. He thinks it is paramount that Guyanese continue to benefit from the development of the country’s oil and gas resources. “For ExxonMobil, local content just makes good business sense,” he said during a recent visit to Saipem’s Offshore Construction Facility where the first subsea jumpers were fabricated in-country by a majority Guyanese workforce. The work was subcontracted to a Guyanese joint venture, Guyana Oil & Gas Support Services Incorporated (GOGSSI). Routledge recognizes this as a significant milestone in local content development.
“This is a symbol of the progress that is being made in developing the supply chain in Guyana to support the offshore development of Guyana’s natural resources,” he said. Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Saipem Guyana Inc., Thuranthiran Nadarajah, says the company has developed and is implementing a local content plan as part of its existing contracts with ExxonMobil Guyana. “Saipem’s goal is to have proper sustainable growth in Guyana. We have completed Liza One; we are in the process of completing Liza 2. We are working on Payara. In this process, we have also developed our own fabrication facility to be able to bring in the high-end technology for jumper fabrications into Guyana,” he outlined All of the major international companies contracted by ExxonMobil Guyana have a presence incountry. They have been steadily moving
activities from Trinidad and Tobago and other locations around the globe to Guyana. For instance, the three prime drilling service companies— Schlumberger, H a l l i b u r t o n , BakerHughes— have also built major support facilities in Guyana. “We truly believe it’s the right sustainable approach, the most efficient for the business, and of course, ultimately, it’s the right answer for the country. The people of the country feel that they’re part of that development and
to ultimately benefit from the development of the resource,” said Routledge, who also recently visited the local service base of another contractor, TechnipFMC Guyana. TechnipFMC Guyana is the provider for drilling and subsea production systems for the three sanctioned development projects offshore Guyana. The company also provides services associated with the installation, mobilization/ demobilization, storage, and maintenance of assets provided for the
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projects. “This service base will allow us to really expand our footprint within Guyana and bring some services to Guyana that were traditionally performed outside of the country, said Johnny Hewett, Country Manager of Technip FMC.” Already the company has over 50 direct Guyanese employees in different disciplines but the majority of whom are technical services personnel. Most of these employees have received extensive training abroad with 13 currently being trained in Houston, Texas. Hewett also indicated that the company has long collaborated with the Centre for Local Business Development to expand and develop its local supplier base. “In the early days, when we started exploration, there was no infrastructure, no expertise, no history to leverage so we had to utilize the existing capability, the existing facilities in Trinidad. Over time, now that we have that line of sight to more development, we can continue this investment journey and move more of that work, the facilities, the capability to Guyana,” Routledge outlined. “I’m really excited to say that by 2022,
virtually all of that supply chain, all of that work will have been moved to Guyana from Trinidad. That will be a major milestone for Guyana, for local content, for the people of Guyana. Steady Phased Development With three sanctioned projects; Liza Phase 1, Liza Phase 2, and Payara, ExxonMobil sees the potential of up to 10 projects to develop the current resource estimate of approximately 9 billion barrels of oil equivalent in the Stabroek Block. A steady phased approach to these developments will enable sustained growth in local content, Routledge asserted. “The ability to look out at a number of projects enables companies and enables investors to invest, to build infrastructure, to hire and train people so that the work can be done here. It’s not just one project, it’s that sequence and so they know that they’re going to get the payback from the investment and the real benefit to the country is that infrastructure and that additional capacity in the workforce will be there for other purposes when we finish building the projects offshore,” he added
Saturday Sept. 25, 2021
FORMER PRESIDENT GRANGER URGES GOVERNMENT TO CORRECT ITS ‘DIPLOMATIC MISTAKE’ WITH BRAZIL
Former President David Granger on Friday urged the Guyana Government to correct its ‘diplomatic mistake’ of removing, but not replacing, its ambassador in Brasilia. Speaking on the theme of Brazil’s defence diplomacy during his Public Interest Programme, Mr. Granger said that Brazil had been a reliable strategic partner which supported Guyana’s sovereignty consistently in the face of Venezuela’s relentless
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territorial claim. He pointed out that Brazil is the largest and most powerful country on the continent. Mr. Granger recalled his own visits to Brasilia when, on separate occasions, he met two Brazilian Presidents – first, Dilma Rousseff and, later, Michel Temer. He said relations between the two countries were solidified by the visits of three Brazilian Defence Ministers – Nelson Jobim, Celso Amorim, and Raul Jugmann – to Guyana. Defence cooperation continued in 2018 when the Brazilian Army’s Construction Engineer Battalion installed eight wells which, for the first time, provided year-long potable water to villagers in the South Rupununi during the long dry season. The Brazilian Army has also assisted the Guyana Defence Force by training
scores of officers and providing instructors to the Officer Cadet and Jungle Warfare Schools over the years. The Former President expressed dismay that over the past year, Guyana failed to replace its ambassador in Brasilia and relations between the two countries have cooled. He urged the Guyana Government not to lose sight of Brazil’s strategic significance to this country and the continent. Mr. Granger said that cordial relations persisted between the two countries for more than five decades and it would be a diplomatic blunder to falter through neglect at this time. He said the first step on the way forward would be to appoint a new ambassador to Brazil. He said not having a resident ambassador sends a negative messag
CONTRACT INKED FOR CITY HALL RESTORATION
The long-awaited upgrade to the historical City Hall, which has been in a deplorable state for some time is set to commence. This is a possibility as the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development along with the Fides Guyana Inc today inked a $780 million contract in the compound of the city hall. According to the Ministry, the contract is expected to last for 18 months and is expected to remove the public eyesore. Present at the signing of the project was the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Nigel D. Dharamlall. He noted that the building has been on the agenda of the PPP/C Government for a long time. The signing is one step closer to returning the Georgetown building to a beautiful state again rather than the eyesore it is. Minister Dharamlall said that despite the challenges of the City Council and its Management, the project signals the Government’s intention to step in and have the work done. “The capital city is described as the center of business, and we believe as Government
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it is our duty, despite the challenges of the city council and all of the attendant issues associated with the management of the city, we have decided to take the bull by the horns and ensure that investment is made in the city of Georgetown so that Guyana becomes a number one destination again,” Minister Dharamlall noted. Minister Dharamlall further insisted that this project stands as part of the Government’s drive to fix the city. The Minister maintained that the works on the building be done on time and that his ministry will ensure that the contract is fulfilled in a timely manner. “We are going to hold the contractors to that 18-month period as well. I’m not in the habit of extending contracts at the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. “We are not in the habit of extending contracts beyond their due dates because we have made these plans, we are spending on this contract $779.6 million over the next 18 months.” Minister Dharamlall has also noted that there is hope that when it’s done it is hoped that it will bring benefit to the people of
this country. Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, said that the council wants to develop the city. The Government along with the City Council and others needs to work together. This stands as an example of that move. Narine said that it should not be a one-off thing that the Government does. The Government must ensure that the council is funded enough to carry out more projects in the city. “I’m happy to see that the Minister has taken this venture to a different level where we can be able to work for the benefit of our people of the city. And, not only to restore City Hall. “There are other projects and other developments that I would like to work with the Government so that we can be able to get on with the business of the city.” Mayor Narine noted that when the building is completed it will be something for the people of Guyana. Narine insisted that the city needs to see more of these projects coming from the Government since “our city reflects who we are as a Government”. When completed city hall is expected to not only house staff but also historic records of the city and act as a tourist site.
Saturday Sept. 25, 2021
SHUNNING PROFESSIONALISM FOR POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY
Adam’s
note book
Guyana is probably the country with an abundance of talented people. The reality is that the man in the street does not see these talented people. In fact, older people are now wondering whether it would not be long before mediocrity becomes the new norm. The government must have determined that there was more than enough talent to keep the wheels of the country turning because it quickly removed some of the talented people who were in the system. It then set about replacing them with people it feels comfortable with. Of course, some of these new employees are the beneficiaries of elections promises. I listened to the former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Vincent Adams, talking about his removal from office. Undoubtedly, he has been the most qualified head of the EPA. He resurrected a dead agency at a time when Guyana is preparing to become an oil-producing nation. He spoke of the EPA is a revolving door
for staff members who simply wanted a stepping stone. The result is that precious little got done. In fact, the EPA was largely ignored by all and sundry. It was merely required to rubber-stamp certain government pronouncements. Vincent Adams changed that to the point where the EPA began to make an impact on national life. It challenged Exxon Mobil to do the right thing by paying for its indiscretions in the industry. It flared gas to the extent that the environment was threatened. The Vincent Adams-led EPA made the company pay. It even threatened to take the company to court for some other indiscretion. That has changed. I am left to wonder whether Dr. Adams’s removal was due to pressure on the government. Of course, the government claimed that Dr. Vincent Adams was a political appointee. It did not stop to consider that Dr. Adams had responded to an advertisement for the job, that he was interviewed by a panel,
and that he was the most qualified applicant. There is a new Director of the Environmental Protection Agency but the EPA is once more a toothless poodle. In fact, it has lapsed into obscurity and the government seems content. At least it does not have to pacify Exxon Mobil. It is the same in numerous other areas. In the field of communication, English has all but disappeared. There is no relationship between subject and verb, no question of tense, and of course, pronunciation is no more a sign of knowledge. There are new heads in radio, television, newspaper, and public information, all chosen by the government. The COVID-19 situation is horrible. I am not sure whether it is due to the absence of a national plan or simply a case of Guyanese bad luck. Not so long ago I complained that people were no longer dying by the twos but by the fours. I should have shut my mouth. People are dying in droves. More than 100 people will die this month. The irony is that the government is linking the deaths to the vaccination. You die if you are unvaccinated. But people also die if they are vaccinated. That is when the government talks about underlying conditions. The records will show that about 60 percent of the population is either diabetic, hypertensive, or both. Most of us have underlying conditions. So vaccination or not we are likely to die if infected. At least the Minister of Health said as much when two fully vaccinated people died from COVID-related illness.
Yet, there is the drive for everyone to be vaccinated. I am vaccinated. There is talk about herd immunity. There will be no herd immunity because the variants are different from the original virus. But we can only hope that there will be some protection against COVID. The authorities are saying that wearing a mask, washing hands, and social distancing is not enough. There is another issue that I find worrying. There was the COVID relief distribution. Some people got and many did not. Both President Irfaan Ali and the Opposition Leader called for an audit. The AuditorGeneral has come back to say that COVID has impacted his ability to audit the distribution. So as long as there is COVID-19 there can be no successful audit. Many dishonest people would be able to escape. However, this should not be the end of the audit. My belief is that even if the auditors take two years, they must complete this audit. A lot of money was voted for the relief. It is now the same thing with the flood relief. A lot of money has been set aside. Some people are complaining that they have been badly assessed. If indeed COVID is a limiting factor, how could anyone be successfully assessed? But the Agriculture Minister says that he would correct the situation. Would he go into the fields to visit every affected farmer despite COVID? He may wish to take the Auditor General with him.
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Pres. Irfaan Ali rejects claims of extrajudicial killings
The People Progressive Party/ Civic(PPP/C) while in Government in the past was accused of being responsible for extrajudicial killings during its time in office. President Irfaan Ali today debunked that notion. He said that the killings never existed and that the narrative is only used by the opposition to score political points. This question was raised today at a press conference in the wake of the death of Essequibo businessman, Orin Boston. Boston was shot to his chest over a week ago in his home by a rank Guyana Police Force’s SWAT team during a raid at his home. He died at the scene. The SWAT unit claimed that it was conducting a search for illegal items. The police found no illegal items. Since then the force has come under several criticisms for the conduct of the ranks. Some members of society called the killing a return to a past when there were the alleged extra-judicial killings carried out by the forces. President Ali, today, in a press conference insisted that the narrative that is being peddled by the Opposition isn’t true and it is only being used to derail the image of the PPP/C Government. “You can’t return to something that never existed. You can’t if you are starting from a foundation of lies;
you can’t return to the foundation of lies. So, I am not going to go beyond that in responding to this because there is no basis to respond to it. It had been dismantled and is a foundation lie,” Ali said. President Ali explained that it’s a lie created by the Opposition to tarnish the image of the party and that facts over time would have shown the party to be innocent. “I’m not going to go back to a position with a false basis. This has been proven that the narrative that was created about extrajudicial killing was a disgusting narrative aimed at discrediting the PPP/C Government. “It has no basis; it is not factual and we have dismantled this and for a very long time.” President Ali said that it is just being used as a political tool to score political points. “This was just used as a political tool to discredit the PPP. Our vision in Government is to bring this country together. Our vision on Government is to develop Guyana in a peaceful environment; in an environment in which every Guyanese enjoys prosperity,” Ali noted. Ali said that a Stabroek News article on the killings has proven that extrajudicial killings never existed since the majority of the murders that happened under the Government were explained and did not show any signs of such killings.
Saturday Sept. 25, 2021
25 Influential Women Leaders for 2021 announced
Twenty-five of Guyana’s influential women leaders have been selected and will be honored this year after a thorough nomination and evaluation process. The unique award turns the spotlight on women – with 25 awardees being honored for their passion and commitment to uplifting
the business sector, their communities, and society. The 25 Influential Women Leaders Awards were inaugurated in 2019 by the dynamic team of female leaders and entrepreneurs in their own right, Michelle A. Nicholas of The NICO Consulting, Inc. and Lyndell Danzie-
Black of CERULEAN Incorporated. Those awarded are Abeena Gomes, Anju Vivekanandaraj, Candace Forde, Deepa Sukha, Elizabeth Cox, Elsie A. Harry, Gabriella Xavier, Hazel Vanessa Munroe, Jamicia McCalman, Joyce Whyte-Chin, Karen Williams,
Kimberly Manbodh, Marilyn Greene, Marva Langevine, Omattie Madray, Pamela Vaughn, Patricee Douglas, Renatha Exeter, Sancha Halley, Sonya Forrester, Stephanie Simon, Theresa Jn-Jules-Wilson, Valini Leitch, Vanessa Glasgow, and Waneka Arrindell. This year’s event
will take the form of a smaller, vaccinatedonly in-person gala on Saturday, October 23 at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre and an expansive presentation on live television and on social media platforms. Sponsorship support from companies recognizing the contributions of these
outstanding women leaders was received from Exxon Mobil Guyana, SBM Offshore, Symmetry Brokerage and Logistics, and the Small Business Bureau. 25 Influential Women Leaders is the only award of its kind in Guyana to focus on women from a variety of sectors, rather than from a single industry.
New Study Finds Connection Between Emerging Petroleum Sector and Increased Travel to Guyana from the Caribbean attributes these travel
Between 2013 and 2018 travellers from the Caribbean were recorded as having the highest increase in migration to Guyana when compared to those from Venezuela, Europe and the United States of America (USA). This is according to
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a recent report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), titled Planning for Prosperity: Labour Migration and Guyana’s Emerging Economy. This study was implemented by IOM in consultation with
Project Development Consultancy, under the Western Hemisphere Program (WHP) funded by the U.S Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. The study was a first of its kind that investigated
how labour management and labour migration factors impact Guyana’s future considering the recent economic growth due to its new petroleum sector. The report also reveals a steady increase of travel to Guyana from the Caribbean with Trinidad and Tobago, followed by Haiti and Suriname, having the highest inflows to the country between 2018 and 2020. Moreover, in 2018 persons arriving and departing Guyana from the Caribbean numbered 137,433, while persons from the United States, the next largest travel group for that period, amounted to 89,456. The labour study
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trends to Guyana’s emerging oil and gas industry, and subsequent sectors, where it is estimated that up to 160,000 jobs will be in demand in the coming years, far beyond the supply available in Guyana. Such findings, according to IOM Guyana Chief of Mission and Coordination Officer for the Caribbean, Robert Natiello, indicate that the dynamics of migration in Guyana are changing as the country is positioned to be one of the largest oil-producing countries in the Western Hemisphere. The IOM official explained that while
Guyana’s main assets have been its natural and agricultural resources, which traditionally contributes to the country’s economy, Guyana’s labour force will eventually be transformed to help supply the demand in the oil and gas and other sectors. The facilitated discussion engaged the private sector, government agencies and other stakeholders on the recent findings of the new labour migration study, the transformation of labour in Guyana as a result of the growth in the oil and gas sector, and the important role labour migration will play in Guyana’s economy.
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