Bartica vendor caught with ganja, meth in havesack

The Methamphetamine (left) and Marijuana (right) found in the vendor's possession.

ABartica vendor was on Friday arrested after police found marijuanaandmethamphetamineinhispossession.

Police identified him as Linden Benjamin, 35, of Second Avenue, Bartica, Region Seven. Benjamin was busted after Bartica police conducted random searches between 20:00 and 21:30hrsaroundtheRegionSeventown.

Benjamin was reportedly spotted carrying a haversack across his shoulder and when cops searched it they found the illegaldrugsparceledoffinzip-lockbags.

The vendor was immediately arrested and taken to the BarticaPoliceStationwherethedrugswereweighed.

According to police, Benjamin had 26 grams of marijuana andeightgramsofmethamphetamineinhispossession. Heremainsincustodyaspolicecontinueinvestigations.

Sunday – March 26 before re-entering the car and Monday – March 27 escaping.

According to the police report, Exxon to buy own fleet of oil companies’interest the man received two gunshot SUVs with Guyana’s oil on loans without Govt.’s injuriestohisupperback,whilehis …as Jagdeo boasts of Local approval – contract wife received gunshot injuries to Content Law at Babu Jaan her right side face, two to her right …local transportation

Guyana blindly paying

The 2016 Production Sharing armandonetoherleftelbow providers on their way out Agreement (PSA) that the Guyana The couple is receiving government inked with oil major, treatmentintheIntensiveCareUnit To support its local operations ExxonMobil allows the company (ICU) of GPHC, where their inGuyana,ExxonMobilthroughits topaybackaccumulatedintereston conditionsarelistedasstable. subsidiary Esso Exploration and loans it took to develop the

The execution attempt on the Production Guyana Limited resources in the Stabroek Block, couple took place almost two years (EEPGL) is looking to acquire its without the prior approval of the afteramurdersuspectthreatenedto own fleet of vehicles to be used to Ministerincharge. killthebusinesswoman. transportitsstaffcompliment.

This newspaper highlighted in

The murder suspect told the KaieteurNewsunderstandsthat an article published two weeks ago womanthatshewasgoingtobethe the company is interested in thatthelopsidedcontractallowsfor last person he killed. The purchasingbrandnewSportUtility US billions to be recovered with businesswoman had reportedly Vehicles (SUVs) that were Guyana’s oil, without sanction witnessed the suspect killing 21- manufactured between 2022 and from the Minister of Natural year-old mechanic Jaleel Leow of 2023. The expense to purchase Resources, Vickram Bharrat DennisStreetSophia. these vehicles will be borne by Included on the list is interest on

Leow was gunned down at the Guyana, as the 2016 Production loansthatExxonaccrues. woman’s business place onAugust Sharing Agreement (PSA) allows

According to the contract in 3, 2021. He too was a witness in for such costs to support the local Annex‘C’Section3.1(L)“Interest, another murder case (Kevin petroleum production activities to expenses and related fees incurred Campbell in March 2020) that his berecovered. on loans raised by the Parties some PSAs they do allow interest all of its expenses to one project. alleged killer is said to be involved In a Request For Information comprising the Contractor for as part of cost recovery, but that is This means that costs to develop a in. (RFI) issued by EEPGL on March Petroleum Operations and other nolongeracommonpractice.Ifitis projectthatisyettostartproducing Kaieteur News had reported on 14, 2023 ExxonMobil explained financing costs provided that such allowed, it is vital to establish strict oil will be billed to the producing August 4, 2021 that Leow, that it is seeking detailed technical expenses, fees and costs are rulesthatpreventpotentialabuse.” field, thereby shortening profits for Campbell’s brother, Brandon information from suppliers for consistent with market rates” shall Another common practice the the country received on that front. S m i t h a n d t h e S o p h i a meeting EEPGL’s bid selection be recovered without the further officialpointedoutistocaptherate This however bodes well for the businesswoman were hanging out requirements for “provision of approvaloftheMinister of interest. In this way, Mitro said contractoras75percentoftheoilis infrontofhershopontheafternoon Light Motor Vehicles in

In order to fund their that governments avoid companies first deducted towards covering of August 3, 2021 when two Georgetown,Guyana.” exploration and development pushingalotoftheircorporatedebt expenses. The remainder is then suspects approached them on TheRFIwillbeusedtoshortlist projects around the world, oil and at inflated rates into the local split evenly between the two bicycles. candidates that will be invited to gas companies use a mixture of project merely in order to obtain parties, with Guyana raking in an The suspects dismounted their submitproposalstothecompany It loans and liquid cash. But if the costrecoverybenefitattheexpense extra two percent royalty on its bikesandoneofthemarmedwitha “abusive”conditionsareinplace,a of the government. Mitro said that sweetlightcrude. cutlass asked the businesswoman, company may have the right there have been notable cases of Despite the inclusion of these “Is problem you want?” She had incentive to plug more loans with abuse such as Chevron inAustralia provisions and the lack of adequate reportedly responded in the unreasonable interest rates into where the authorities accused them measures to guard against unfair negative together with Leow and their project which could later be of charging interest to their local fiscal practices, the government is Smithbeforewalkingintoheryard. recovered. affiliate at a rate that was well unwilling to change the agreement Leowontheotherhandwasnot Guyana has not only allowed above their actual borrowing rate with ExxonMobil. It has however afraid to stand up to the alleged loans taken by Exxon to be merely to obtain tax recovery proposed to correct some of the attackers as he retorted, “Y’all recovered without the approval of benefitsinAustralia. fatal provisions in the new draft couldgetproblemsify’allwant.” the Minister but considers the costs “So I guess my thoughts with PSAs currently open for The other suspect, according eligible regardless of the interest regard to Guyana or any country consultation. The contracts will be police,thenwhippedoutahandgun rates. would be that permitting interest as applied to the 14 oil blocks while approaching Leow from Kaieteur News had reported part of cost recovery should ONLY presentlyonauction. behind and fired several rounds, that in the eyes of University of beconsideredifthereareprotective Several stakeholders have two of which impacted his back. HoustonInstructor,TomMitro,this caps built in as noted above. called on the administration to However,notsatisfiedwiththetwo arrangement leaves Guyana open Otherwise, the risks become too subject the Stabroek Block to the discharged rounds, the gunman to the abusive use of debt by the newoilcontract. stood over him and shot him two operators, since Guyana is moretimestothechest. was explained, “Esso Exploration essentiallystandingallthecosts. Couple battling for life Investigators were told that and Production Guyana Limited

During an exclusive interview, after execution attempt, wife Leow somehow managed to get up (EEPGL) plans to put in place a Mitro said, “The treatment of loan is key witness to murder and escape but had collapsed in the material / equipment acquisition interest varies by country and back of the businesswoman’s yard agreement for provision of light situation. Countries like the USA The Sophia businesswoman anddied. motor vehicles within the that have only an income tax on oil who is battling for her life at the The gunman then turned his Georgetown area ” It said it andnoproduction-sharingdoallow Georgetown Public Hospital attentiontoSmithandfiredashotat therefore wishes to identify tax deductions for interest on debt Corporation (GPHC) after gunmen himtoobutthebulletonlymanaged manufacturerauthorizedsuppliers. of oil companies However, opened fire on her and her husband to graze his right arm before he had As part of the background countriesliketheU.K.,Angolaand on Thursday is a key witness in a anopportunitytoescape. information that was uploaded to Nigeria that have royalty and murder that took place in August Leow’s killers then rode away the Ministry of Natural Resources special petroleum tax regimes, do 2021. on their bicycles, but not before Local Content Register online, the not allow tax deductions for Gunmen had reportedly turning to Felicia and saying, “We oil giant outlined the specific interestcostsofoilcompanies.” stopped in front of the woman’s gun kill all ya’ll one by one. You details of the vehicles it wishes to

The Petroleum Consultant grocery shop at ‘B’Field Sophia in gunbedelas’onewekill.” purchase The suitable client added,“Thisisduepartlytothefact great of Guyana ending up a tinted car while she and her Following Leow’s death police “should be a manufacturer that these governments offer inadvertently subsidizing the husband were sitting outside had identified three possible authorized dealer and provide certain investment tax incentives corporate borrowing of mega chattingwithafriend. suspects by their aliases, ‘Big manufacturers regular guarantees already such as tax credits or companies,”Mitroconcluded. Her husband recalled that three John,’‘DoubleClip’and‘Brainer’. (to deliver) brand new vehicles special allowances, and they view Notably, in the absence of a masked men armed with handguns KaieteurNewsunderstandsthat model 2022 / 2023 that meet interest tax deductions as ring-fencing provision, came out of the car and walked up thesuspectsinLeowkillingarestill internationalcodeandequipped unnecessary or duplicative In ExxonMobil is allowed to charge to his wife and began shooting atlarge.

(Continued on page 15)

From page 14 week said the contracts should be with advanced safety features.” It laid in the National Assembly and also noted that the vehicles should be put before a special select have an engine capacity range committee that allows for the between 1500 to 3000cc In involvement of the Guyanese addition to medium to large SUVs citizenry in the national that can seat between five and conversation Similarly, seven individuals, Exxon is also environment and democracy looking to acquire small or large advocate,SimoneMangal-Jolyina bussesthatcanseat14to32people. letter to Natural Resources

AccordingtotheRFI,“Vehicles Minister, Vickram Bharrat should be equipped with low underlined the need for an anchor/top tethers support the use extension to the consultation of child seat(s); Suppliers should period. have established supply chain; She said, “Unlike government vehicles should be in country or on officials, citizens are not paid order; Suppliers should offer after employeesoftheStateandcanonly sale services for both routine and read such documents during their non-routinerepairs;Suppliersmust after-work hours. Fourteen days is

US$700 million worth of revenue transportation in the oil industry last Friday, Ram mocked the new have Certified Technicians and also prohibitive when it comes to from the Local Content Act, These new vehicles are being agreementwhichhesaidretainsthe Supplier should be able to conduct procuring qualified specialists to insertingthegovernment’sposition boughttofetchtheirchildrentoand old foreign exchange framework. routine and non-routine repairs provide advice so that citizens and that “that this industry must work from school and to do their errands “So much for a progressive, within 30 days of initial request by civil society organisations can for our people too, not the here, there and everywhere. They nationalistic model promised by EEPGL.” make informed representation to foreignersalone.” willbeusingfreegas,andusingour the Government. While I intend to

Though this move has already government.” Jagdeo went on to explain, “We money to maintain their vehicles,” address the Model over the coming been criticized as an avenue to Mangal-Joly had also havetravelledaroundtheworld,we hecontended. weeks, I urge the Government not phase out the local transportation suggested among other things that have seen in these countries how The businessman who has been only to extend the 14-day providers, the oil company in the mechanisms be put in place for all theforeigners,peopleofonecolour a strong advocate for a better oil consultation period but to engage said document highlights, comments on the new draft live in ethnic enclaves, we said not deal believes this is yet another the public in a public forum for “EEPGL’s local content strategy is agreements be made public and for in Guyana. The law now says that move to starve Guyanese of their broad, general consultations. The important to our business Its government to produce a plan to these foreign companies can only ownwealth.HenotedthatExxonis draft does have some positive elements are integrated into our report on how public feedback was rent dwelling places from intheprocessofconstructinganew features but repeats some of the daily processes and procedures and addressed in the development of Guyanese so that Guyanese now local Headquarter at Ogle, East major weaknesses of the existing guide the way we work today and the final model agreement. Alfred haveanopportunitytosupplythem CoastDemerarawhichwillremove regime,”Ramsaid. plan for tomorrow.” This as the Bhulai had also made a similar withthistoo.” the need to rent local office space. Meanwhile, only last week this company to supply the vehicles request to the administration. The Notably, he also pointed out, Lall also pointed out that Exxon is newspaper reported that the willhavetosubmititslocalcontent agreements that will govern the 14 “ T h e y c a n o n l y r e n t even seeking to build their own Government of Guyana (GoG) has strategyamongotherrequirements. oil blocks presently on auction, has transportation ” The former housing schemes to further disturb so far ignored the calls from both Jagdeo boasts of significantly improved terms for President said while in Opposition Guyanese from benefitting from civil society and the Opposition for Local Content benefits thecountry In thenew oilcontract, the party visited the Marriott Hotel any low hanging fruit in the oil the review period on the new draft

Meanwhile, Vice President governmenthas preserved the right in Georgetown and observed that sector As such, the businessman Production Sharing Agreements Bharrat Jagdeo during remarks at a to review and approve the budgets an American company was in the said,“AllthatJagdeoisboastingof (PSA) to be extended. Two drafts, ceremony held to pay tribute to the for the exploration and country to provide transportation isfroth.” for the deep and shallow water lives of Former Presidents Dr developmentprogrammesoftheoil services. As such he said, “So we areas, were released two Tuesdays Cheddi Jagan and his wife, Janet companies. Such powers are not changed the Law and now you can ‘New oil PSArepeats agomarkingthecommencementof Jagan, at Babu John, Berbice on enshrined in the Stabroek Block only rent from Guyanese people major weaknesses in old a 14-day consultation Several S u n d a y b o a s t e d o f t h e PSAoranyotherexistingPSA. becauseitcomesoutofthesenseof contract’- Chris Ram members of the public had accomplishments made by the Equally important is the where we have come from. We – urges public forum for recommended that the consultation People’s Progressive Party in the insertion of a new provision that need foreign capital to develop broad-based consultations period be extended to cater for a petroleum sector, especially as it ensuresthecountryisnotleftonthe these industries We can’t put thoroughreviewoftheagreements. regardsLocalContent. hook for any of the oil companies’ together $13 billion to build these AmidcallsfromtheOpposition This newspaper had reached

The Law was passed by the bills A new arrangement or FPSOs we don’t have that money and other stakeholders for an out to Minister of Natural administration in December 2019 demand rather, is that oil but we have to make sure that the extensioninthetimeforscrutinyof Resources, Vickram Bharrat on to ensure Guyanese benefits from companies must also ensure their people in this industry leave a fair the burgeoning industry The VP subcontractors have adequate shareoftheproceedstoGuyanese.” seemed unaware of the moves insurance coverage too

No benefits for Guyanese being made by the oil company,

In the meantime, Businessman underhisremit,ashetoldhundreds state that oil companies will not be and Publisher of the Kaieteur gatheredattheeventthattheformer allowed to acquire the blocks and News, Mr Glenn Lall upon Head of State was concerned about sit on their hands for decades. learning of the situation said this state of affairs. He said, “We

Importantly, the draft agreements

UnlikewhatobtainsintheStabroek Jagdeo must explain how Local have made changes to the Local Block PSA, the new draft Contentwillindeedbeofbenefitto Content Legislation; the same agreements stipulate that the citizens when the oil company is legislation- something that “contractor, affiliated companies, now attempting to shut out comrade Cheddi was always sub-contractors and individuals transportationproviders. Lallsaid, concerned about- that we needed whoareexpatriatesshallbesubject “thesamedayJagdeotalkingabout foreign capital to expand this to the income tax laws of Guyana, Local Content and its benefits to country but are Guyanese going to including, the Income Tax Act of Guyana, including the rental of getafairshareoftheproceeds.” Guyana (Cap 81:01) and the homes and transportation services, Jagdeo pointed out that the Corporation Tax Act of Guyana ExxonMobil has put out an ad to government has already drafted a (Cap. 81:03) and shall separately purchase its own vehicles. Is that new Production Sharing comply with the requirements of LocalContent?TellusVP.” Agreement (PSA) that would those laws, in particular with The newspaper Publisher ensure greater fiscal arrangements the new model Production Sharing Friday for his position on the calls respecttofilingreturns,assessment explained that ExxonMobil is for the country, improved A g r e e m e n t r e l e a s e d b y being made, but received no of tax, and keeping and showing of phasingoutlocalstoowntheirown compared to the contract signed by government recently, Chartered response. However, Stakeholder books and records.” The new PSA vehicleswhichwillbepaidforwith the former Coalition government; Accountant, Christopher Ram said Coordinator for the Ministry, Ms. has proposed that cost recovery be the nation’s oil. “What Exxon is but more importantly he said, is the there should be a public forum for Mikaila Prince had explained, “no cappedat65percentandintroduces doing is phasing out the local passage of the new legislation. The broadandgeneralconsultations. change to the timeline has been an increased royalty of 10 percent. people, many of whom took loans Vice President shared that Guyana Writing in his weekly Oil and communicated.”The Opposition at Inannouncingthereleaseofthe fromthebankstopurchasevehicles has since benefitted from nearly Gas column in the Stabroek News its weekly press conference last (Continued on page 16)

From page 15 its decision to waive an application made on water, ground water, sea, new model contracts, the Environmental Impact November 14, 2022 seeking seabed, marine and coastal Natural Resources Ministry Assessment (EIA) for the t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l areas, and natural resources explained that to ensure new gas-fired power plant at authorisation for the Gas or any combination or part investments are governed by Wales, West Bank Demerara Plant Project states that the thereof.” a comprehensive framework is unlawful. On January 6, Applicant is, “Guyana Janki contended that the of international best 2023, the EPA published a Power and Gas Inc.” Even Project Summary does not practices, there will be an Notice to the Public stating though this makes it clear state the possible effects on overhaul of the 1986 that the construction and that this organization is the ‘climate’ or ‘atmosphere’ P e t r o l e u m A c t a n d operation of the project will project developer, the and fails to even mention Regulations. not significantly affect the Guyana Power and Light them Additionally, the environment and is exempt (GPL) submitted the Project document does not state the Tuesday – March 28 from the requirement to Summary to the EPA. To ‘possible’ effect on the conductanEIA. this end, the International Demerara River of dumping Citizens threaten The attorney explained, Lawyer posited, “The treatedsewageintoitswater court action over “the agency’s decision to Agencyhasactedunlawfully Importantly, she also Wales gas project exempttheGasPlantProject and in breach of its duties noted that the Project …call for thorough from an environmental undersection11oftheActin Summary for the power EIA for power plant, impact assessment is relying on a project plant states “The production say pipeline permit to unlawful being inter alia summary submitted by a process can result in a Exxon was illegal unauthorised/contrary to person other than the decreased [sic] in ambient l a w ; a n e x c e s s o f developer The Agency’s air quality which can pose The Environmental jurisdiction; a failure to decision to exempt the potential health risk to P e r m i t i s s u e d t o satisfy conditions required projectisthereforeillegal.” humans and wildlife in close ExxonMobil, for the by law; an unreasonable Shewaskeentonotethat proximitytotheconstruction pipeline and Natural Gas irregular and improper the Guyana Power and Gas site Combustion from Liquids (NGL) facility is exercise of discretion; an Inc cannot now simply hydrocarbons can contribute likely to be challenged in the abuseofpower;conflictwith resubmit the GPL Project t o g r e e n h o u s e g a s local courts as the t h e p o l i c y o f t h e Summary under its own emissions.” As such, Janki Environmental Protection Environmental Protection name, as this would be a said “It is wholly irrational Agency (EPA) has been Act Cap: 20.05; irrational violation of the developer’s and unreasonable for the served a pre-action letter by and arbitrary.” She therefore obligation to consider the Agency to conclude that the International Lawyer, implored the EPA to revoke requirements of the Act and project will not have a Melinda Janki on behalf of its decision regarding the take the appropriate steps to significant impact on the twoGuyanesecitizens. waiver of the study, citing comply In addition, Janki environment when the

In the document seen by and Danuta Radzik, t h e E n v i r o n m e n t a l half a dozen of reasons. In stated that the GPL Project Project Summary states this newspaper, it is explained “Along the Protection Act and the her 45-point submission, the summary does not meet the quite clearly that there is a understoodthattheattorney- proposed pipeline route, regulations. LawyersaidSection11(1)of requirementsoftheAct. potential health risk and at-law has so far requested individuals hold tracts of Janki told the EPA boss the Act requires the The Lawyer explained therefore the Agency’s that the EPA revoke the land under transports and in her letter that as a general “developer” of a project that Section 11(1)(ii) of the decisionisunlawful.” Permit granted to the oil leases. Further evidence that matter of law, ministers may which may significantly EP Act requires a Project company as the agency did the land is held by Guyanese not use their statutory affect the environment to Summary to provide Miners, residents under not have the legal power to citizensandnotbyEEPGLis powers to facilitate apply for an environmental information on the “possible siege at Eteringbang by authorise Esso Exploration provided by the orders illegality She explained that permit Notably, the Act effectsontheenvironment.” Venezuelan National and Production Guyana published in the Official the Acquisition of Lands for defines the developer as the Section 2 of theAct goes Guard, Sindicatos L i m i t e d ( E E P G L ) - Gazettefortheacquisitionof Public Purposes Act a p p l i c a n t f o r a n ontodefinetheenvironment ExxonMobil’s subsidiary lands for the pipeline route. empowers the subject e n v i r o n m e n t a l as “all land, area beneath Miners and residents of and the operator of the These orders list transports minister to acquire lands for authorisation. land surface, atmosphere, EteringbangCommunity Stabroek Block- to construct and leases to be acquired for public purposes. “It is not Janki said item 1 of the climate, all water, surface (Continued on page 66) a pipeline in the absence of the pipeline route It is (and cannot be) a public the proof, the developer therefore incontrovertible purpose to acquire private owns the project lands, as that the route for the land in order to facilitate a required by regulation 17, proposed pipeline will run breach of law or circumvent under the Environmental on land that is not owned by legal requirements such as Protection(EP)Act. EEPGL, not held by EEPGL the regulations,” she argued.

Regulation 17(2) of the under any lease, and not As such, the Lawyer insisted Environmental Protection subject to an agreement that the orders made by the (Authorisation) Regulations which would allow EEPGL Minister under the m a d e u n d e r t h e to construct the onshore AcquisitionLandsforPublic Environmental Protection pipeline along the route Purposes Act to acquire Act requires that an p r o p o s e d i n t h e private land for the pipeline a p p l i c a t i o n f o r a n Environmental Impact route are “ultra vires and environmental authorisation Statement.” unlawful”.According to her, “(c ) shall contain the In this regard, the lawyer the orders (including Orders following information: (ii) concluded that the Permit 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of 4th proof that the applicant issued was in breach of the January2023aspublishedin either owns the facility or EPAct.“TheAgencydidnot the Official Gazette on 6th has a lease or other have the legal power to January 2023) do not have agreement with the authorise EEPGL to legal effect and cannot landowner or occupier to construct a pipeline in the deprive the landowners and enable the applicant to absenceoftheproofrequired leaseholders of their conduct the activity on the by regulation 17 it has propertyrights. facility or has the legal right acted unlawfully and The letter was also of way to conduct the irrationally, and has misused copied to Minister of Public activity without the consent its powers. The permit is Works,JuanEdghill. of the landowner or thereforeinvalid,”shesaid. EIAwaiver occupier.” In her letter to the Jankithereforerequested

In a separate letter to the Executive Director, Kemraj the agency to revoke the EPA, dated February 13, Parsram dated January 31, permit and direct Exxon to 2023,Jankionbehalfofcivil 2023, Janki on behalf of restart the application society member, Ramon Elizabeth Deane-Hughes process in compliance with Gaskin alerted the EPA that