Fire
Fire destroys Christ Church Secondary: A fire of unknown origin gutted the Christ Church Secondary School on Camp and Middle streets last Thursday afternoon, just days after combustion in a lab had to be quelled. The blaze which started at about 5:15pm has left 502 students, 39 teachers and 9 ancillary staff displaced and will raise growing concerns about protection of schools and other government buildings in the aftermath of a spate of suspicious fires. Amid claims of the school being set on fire deliberately, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn said that “There is information which the police are working on as we speak.” Stabroek News arrived at the scene at the same time as the Guyana Fire Service, at approximately 5:25pm. A few minutes later, Guyana Power and Light technicians arrived and disconnected the power from the school. At this time only smoke could be seen emanating from the section of the building situated on Camp Street. The fire-fighters then entered the building in an effort to identify the exact location of the fire. Thick smoke billowed for approximately 25 minutes while the fire service was trying to locate an adequate supply of water. Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand, arrived on the scene at about 5:35pm, and set about consoling teachers who were visibly distressed. At 5:40 pm the smoke engulfed the area and it was difficult to see the building. By this time, fire-fighters had managed to locate a water source and proceeded to drench the part of the building that appeared to be mostly affected at the time. Since it was a two-storey wooden and concrete building, the fire then spread to various parts of the building, racing through the section of the school that is situated on Middle Street. At this point, loud explosions could be heard, causing onlookers to run for cover. The police who were present, cordoned off the area in the interest of safety since the area was filled with children from different schools making their way home, while the fire was raging and explosions could still be heard. The fire ravaged the buildings within minutes and at this point, four fire tenders from the GFS were on the scene, along with one from the Guyana Prison Service. At 5:50pm the flames were in full force while firefighters battled to put out the fire though the supply of water was clearly limited. The upper flat of the building was completely destroyed while the ground floor was gutted.
Judiciary
Chancellor in urgent plea for JSC, more judges: Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Yonette Cummings-Edwards last week made an urgent appeal for the constituting of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and the appointment of more judges as she lamented the burdens now facing those sitting on the bench. Speaking at the opening of the Law Year 2023, Justice Cummings-Edwards said: “You have heard the call for more resources, human resources in particular. We need more judges! We need the Judicial Service Commission to be established ASAP – as soon as possible. We are facing increased case loads. Judges are now overburdened, they are exhausted, they are nearly worn out and they are, in some cases, burned out”. She added: “We have had psychologists come in to do …psycho-social therapy, especially during the COVID-19 years but that in itself cannot help. We need to have more persons on board to assist us in carrying out our mandate of providing justice”. She said that the judiciary wants to see action and not just keep hearing promises that the establishment of the JSC would be “soon.” “We do not need the rhetoric. We need more labourers. We need the judges. We’ve been hearing time and again about the JSC is soon to be established. We would like to see the implementation and the establishment of the Judicial Service Commission,” she said. The Chancellor reasoned that although the country’s parliament could enact new legislation for development, without an ample judiciary to interpret those laws, their act would be futile. “We need the judges to interpret those legislation, we need the judges to implement those legislation so that we can have an orderly society,” she reasoned. What is even more unusual about the Chancellor’s stirring appeal is that it came after Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC promised that the JSC would be in place long before the end of the first quarter of this year.
Infrastructure
Edghill terminates El Dorado road contract: Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill on January 13th terminated the contract for the El Dorado road located after Moleson Creek, Corentyne after the contractor, N&S General Engineering Contracting Services failed to start the project after receiving funds for mobilisation some eight months ago. The contract which was for 1 km into El Dorado is a continuation of the Moleson Creek to El Dorado Road project which is vital for the construction of the planned Corentyne Bridge. Edghill visited the location yesterday as part of his two-day visit to Region Six checking on ongoing works. However, at the location, there was no sign of any work. He pointed out that the contract for the continuation of the road “getting into El Dorado which was supposed to be opening up farm lands and make life easier for the people” has not started. According to him the contractor received a mobilisation advance of $22m some eight months ago for the 1 km road and has failed to start any sort of work at the location. He said that he had asked to meet the contractor at the location at 8 am. However, at 8.30 am Edghill engaged the media present as neither the contractor nor his workmen showed up at the location. “There is no visible sign of any work executing this contract and I have said to the PS that this will not be tolerated; his contract must be terminated forthwith.” Edghill stressed, that the money is available and steps will be taken to select another contractor so that the project is “delivered to the people.” He added, “We are not going to be in a mode of any contractor doing work … when he feels to do it. When you finish something somewhere else then you gonna come and do this, when you get time when you get money, that is not the way we do it.” He also pointed out, that when contractors bid for a project they must show that they have the equipment, finance, and personnel to execute the project awarded to them although they might have other ongoing projects at the time.
Edghill says 132 new roads to be done in Region Six: Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill last Thursday disclosed that 132 new roads are to be done in Region Six and 1,000 more metres for the Mara thoroughfare. He noted that 1053 roads were covered in the last wave of contracts awarded across the country to the tune of $22B, as he told Berbicians to look out for the 2023 budget as more roads are expected to be done. Edghill said that the current programme is being undertaken through a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Housing and Water and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. “We are doing just over 1050 roads in this programme… Could you imagine the gravity and depth of what is taking place across the country with the building out of roads…” In September last year, contracts valued at a total of $8.6 billion were signed for work on 268 roads throughout Region Six. Edghill who met with residents from Mara, East Bank Berbice – East Canje Berbice, and Crabwood Creek, Upper Corentyne yesterday, said that in addition to the road works which were awarded last year, an additional 132 new roads have since been finalized to be done within the region. The 132 new roads will cost some $4.4 B. According to him, the funding will come from the supplementary budget last year which saw the ministry receiving an additional $18B for the building of community roads “because everywhere we go across the country, three complaints we does get; the road, streetlights, and drainage.” Meanwhile, at the Mara location, the Minister confirmed that some 1000 metres were completed along the main access road costing around $100M based on a commitment from President Irfaan Ali. Residents had agreed that the road works in that area should begin from the end of the village heading out. In addition to the first 1000 metres, the ministry also did sectional repairs, and maintenance works on the entire main road significantly improving the access to the area.
Banking
Banking to be easier for low-risk customers – Ganga: Opening an account for low-risk persons who will be depositing less than $500,000 monthly will be made easier soon as the Central Bank is set to issue a directive to commercial banks to this end, Governor Gobind Ganga says. “It is to ease the hassle for especially lower risk customers going in there…when you go to open a bank account, you understand the hassle with them and that process; proof of address and all of that. So now you sign an attestation form, for example…,” Ganga told Stabroek News recently. “We will soon issue a circular…it has to be gazetted first but we are making the banks make it easier for low-risk persons doing banking, where they don’t have to go through all of that with the banks…,” he added. The Central Bank Governor’s announcement came following a meeting held with the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders and President Irfaan Ali, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh. At that meeting, Jagdeo bemoaned the process that persons have to follow in opening an account here as compared to the developed world. It’s causing disintermediation here. People are scared of going in the banks. I am scared of filling up these forms. I can’t navigate through them. It is so complex. ” he said. “Scotiabank in Canada, [they] don’t ask if you are taking out $40 [what you are doing with it]…here, I gather you have to do a number of things. It [seems] you have to take off your shirt to show…” he added. President Ali compared the time-consuming process here to the ease of transactions overseas. “…You can go to some of these sophisticated markets and open an account in 20 minutes and the same person will come here and have to pass though some hurdles that is imposed that will take you two weeks or two months to open the account,” the President said. Managing Director of Citizens Bank, Eton Chester posited that “the commercial banks are only following the directive of the Central Bank”.
Oil & Gas
Hess makes US$75M first payment for Guyana-issued carbon credits: The Government of Guyana has announced that it is in receipt of its first payment for carbon credits valued at US$75 million under the agreement made with Hess Corporation. And according to a statement released last Tuesday, it is the first payment in an agreement that will be worth a minimum of US$750 million up to 2030. It added that two further payments of US$37.5 million each will be made during 2023 – one in January and one in July – bringing the total amount available for appropriation in this year’s National Budget to US$150 million. The release said that the payment is a result of the Government of Guyana’s continued recognition of the important role that Guyana’s forests play in not only the development of the country, but in combatting climate change globally. “Guided by the ground-breaking Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, Guyana has set out a vision for monetising the climate and ecosystem services provided by our standing forests, while accelerating the country’s economic development along a low-carbon trajectory.” It recalled that on December 1, 2022, the Architecture for REDD+Transactions announced the issuance of 33.47 million TREES credit to Guyana for the five-year period from 2016 to 2020. The Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) is a global initiative that seeks to incentivise the reducing of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), as well as restore forests and protect intact forests. Further, on December 2, last year, the Government of Guyana entered into an agreement with Hess Corporation for the sale of carbon credits for a minimum of US$750 million between 2022 and 2032. The total deposit of US$75 million as first payment represents: US$37.5 million for 2.5 million ART-TREES credits from 2016 at a price of US$15/tonne of CO2e; and US$37.5 million for 2.5 million ART-TREES credits from 2017 at a price of US$15/tonne of CO2e. These payments, it was explained, have been deposited in a US dollar-denominated account held by the Bank of Guyana overseas, for onward transmission to the Consolidated Fund, which will be credited with the Guyana dollar equivalent.
RemoteMD debt underlines law gaps, need for due diligence: In the wake of a Sunday Stabroek report that United States medical services provider, RemoteMD, had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy while amassing a debt of over $100M to companies here, the city chamber has warned businesses of the need for due diligence checks before granting credit and says that the lodging of security should be looked at. “I would advise other companies doing business with companies to limit their credit risk exposure with those companies, especially without any bank guarantee or any kind of security or things like that to hold,” Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Timothy Tucker told the Sunday Stabroek in an exclusive interview. “We see many companies coming that are doing business with local companies that requires us even when we are doing work for government agencies, we have to provide bid securities and these kind of things. I believe it is something we should start looking for at our end when giving somebody credit. We must have some kind of compliance in terms of a bank guarantee or a letter similar to what is required in the tendering process. It is important that we look at doing business broadly. Not because it is a foreign company we run and readily give them credit without any history,” Tucker added. With more foreign companies expected as the oil sector grows, the GCCI President said that the incorporating of limited liability entities should be thoroughly assessed and the Local Content Secretariat should be vigilant in ensuring that locals are not used as third-person fronts for jobs they themselves can undertake. “In business, there is risk and challenges but there is also the nightmare of companies you are doing work for becoming insolvent or bankrupt. As a business we have to be able to analyze and do our due diligence, and of course our research of companies we are providing services for. This, we have to look at internally when we have companies that are coming and creating limited liability companies, for the purpose of doing business in Guyana”, Tucker stated. “Of course it goes back to the initial statements the chamber has been making, in terms of foreign companies using Guyanese businesses and Guyanese money to fund their local operations without bringing any of their own monies or funding it. This is a troubling fact for the Chamber and we continue to say that companies needing to come in the country- again, this is the reason we have the Local Content Secretariat- we have to ensure that those companies are moving and not just creating trust companies coming into the Guyana market. We have to ensure that they are creating real markets and real partnerships. There must be some kind of stipulation,” he added.
Housing
Squatters on East Bank sea defence reserve to be relocated within six months – CHPA: Squatters at various points along the East Bank Demerara sea defence reserve are to be relocated within six months, according to the CHPA. A release from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) last week said that 317 structures including 57 owned by Venezuelan immigrants are on the reserves at Little Diamond (15 structures), Great Diamond (49 structures), Grove (96 structures), Herstelling Sea Dam (86 structures), Farm Sea Dam (45 structures) and Covent Garden (7 structures). Of the 317 structures, close to thirty are unoccupied. Monitoring will be done at the area and no new structures will be allowed, the CHPA said. In keeping with a commitment by President Irfaan Ali, the informal settlers were engaged on the relocation by the Ministry of Housing and Water’s CHPA and the Ministry of Public Works’ – Sea and River Defence Board at the Little Diamond/Herstelling Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC). Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; Chief Executive Officer of CHPA, Sherwyn Greaves; Chairman of the Sea and River Defence Board, Gary Beaton; and Chairman of the Little Diamond/Herstelling NDC, Puneet Jaigopaul were present. The reserves, which fall under the purview of the Ministry of Public Works are regarded as ‘zero-tolerance’ areas and are therefore unsuitable for housing development, the release said.
Most land owners in pipeline path have accepted deal – AG: As negotiations continue with some land owners in the pathway of the Wales Gas to Shore project, the majority have accepted proposals put to them with some choosing relocation instead of monies, Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC says. “The owners were duly consulted, and negotiated consensual arrangements were arrived at with most of them, and the agreements are now being (drawn up) and discharged in accordance with the terms and conditions agreed upon. Some persons have accepted monetary compensation, while others have opted to accept land at alternative locations of comparative value,” Nandlall told Stabroek News when contacted for an update. This newspaper reported on January 7th that government on Wednesday gazetted a series of orders for the acquisition of lands for the gas pipeline which will run along the West Demerara, with most falling in the Canal Number 1 area. The orders describe the parcels of lands that are to be acquired and the areas include Java, Vreed-en-Hoop, North Half Klien Pouderoyen, Alliance, Resource and Bordeaux, Canal Number 1. The Attorney General said that the process of acquiring the privately owned lands, “is proceeding smoothly and (largely), in the manner contemplated.” But he noted that there are still some persons with whom agreements have not yet been reached and accelerated efforts will be activated to ensure there is an amicable resolution. “There are, however, a few persons with whom agreements have not yet been finalized. Efforts will continue to be made, to bring these transactions to the consensual end,” he stressed. But if those residents are still adamant that they will not accept the proposals made, the Attorney General said that government will be left with no other choice but to utilize its legal powers in activating the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act. “However, if all efforts are futile, then the state will have to activate its powers under the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Act. This obviously is a measure of last resort and it is hoped that it can be avoided. Some of the lands for which agreements have been reached, are already the subject of vesting orders which are vesting those lands in the name of the government and the process will continue until all of the required lands are acquired,” he said.
Elections COI
Maxine Graham recounts events leading to sacking of police commander during election `ruckus’: Describing the events following the March 2, 2020 elections as a “ruckus”, former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Maxine Graham last week recounted the events leading to the sacking of the Region Four Commander. Graham, who was the liasion officer with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) said she was not operating under any “specific instructions” during the execution of her duties. As such, she said she was not part of any effort to clear the Region Four Command Centre which was housed at the Ashmins building on High and Hadfield streets on March 5, 2020 before District Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo had made an illegal declaration of the results using doctored figures. Graham testified under oath when she appeared before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) after being summoned. Graham told the Commission which is being chaired by retired Justice, Stanley John that on March 5, 2020 she was in contact with the then Police Commander of Region Four, Edgar Thomas and had spoken to him on about three occasions throughout the day. On the first occasion, she said Thomas contacted her to inform her that there was a bomb scare at the Ashmins building. “….Between 8 and 9 o’clock the morning was when he called me and at that time he said he was heading to GECOM building at Ashmins because he received information that there was a bomb scare,” she said. Asked what action she took, if any, Graham told Justice John “I did not do anything at that time because he said he was heading there with the bomb team and that he would feed me back”. According to Graham, Thomas did subseqently contact her and said “there is a number of persons in the building and that the bomb team cannot get to do its work and they left”. While she was not present on the ground, Graham explained to the Commission that she was monitoring what was happening at Ashmins building through a radio set which was given to the police. The system, she said includes a built-in camera. “So we could have seen from our office what was happening at Ashmins building and around Georgetown because (of) the system that was initiated by the Government of Guyana…After that was installed they gave us (police) sets. So we had the sets, so I could have seen from my office, Ashmins building,” Graham explained. At about 10 am on March 5, Graham recalled that she had another conversation with Thomas. “I indicated to him that I am seeing a lot of traffic in and around the building and he should head down there, if he is not there,” she said. It was at this point, she said she realised Thomas was not present at the location when he indicated to her that he has “systems in place” and sufficent ranks were on the ground.
Crime
Wife held after Breda St labourer stabbed to death: Police are probing the murder of 26-year-old Leroy Dey, a labourer of Breda Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown. The murder occurred sometime around 23:20 hrs on 2023/01/10 and was allegedly committed by his 30-year-old reputed wife Shaneiza Clarke. Enquiries disclosed that the victim and suspect were living together at the said address for about three years now and they had always had misunderstandings which led to fights. On 2023/01/10 at 23:00 hrs, the victim went home after he left four days ago and they had an argument as to paying the landlord’s rent. A scuffle ensued between them. The victim dealt the suspect a slap and picked up a piece of wood and further dealt her several lashes about her body causing her to suffer injuries to her neck, right hand and jaw. In retaliation, the suspect picked up a kitchen knife that was on the ground at the time and stabbed the victim in his chest. The victim collapsed whilst walking on Cross Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown between Hadfield and Leopold streets. An ambulance was summoned and he was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital to seek medical attention. He was taken to the Critical Bay in the Accident and Emergency Department and subsequently rushed to Theatre to undergo emergency surgery. He succumbed to his injury. The suspect later went to Brickdam Police Station to make a report where she was arrested and later escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital. She was examined and treated by a doctor and is presently in custody pending investigation.
`Skiddle’ killed execution-style on D’Urban St: Anthony Charles, aka ‘Skiddle’, of Leopold Street, Georgetown was last Monday gunned down and police are currently searching for a silver-grey Allion motor vehicle which was used in the getaway. ‘Skiddle’ a 33-year-old labourer, was killed execution-style on D’Urban Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown. His body was riddled with 12 bullets including to his neck and forehead. The motive for the killing is unclear but the police have since launched an investigation. The police, in statement said preliminary investigations revealed that Charles was in company of another labourer, 43-year-old Dexter Lawrence, at the time of the shooting. They were walking towards a shop at the corner of D’Urban and Smyth streets to purchase alcohol. While walking to the shop, police said a silver grey old-model Allion motorcar, bearing registration number, PVV 5906, approached the duo from behind and opened fire. Lawrence ran in a westerly direction and escaped but Charles fell to the ground. Police have since ascertained that the registration number of the car is fake. Lawrence told investigators that at the time he and Charles were walking towards the shop and he turned to look back and saw a car and a male in a dark-coloured hoodie exit and walk up to Charles. The shooter then discharged several rounds at Charles. The gunman then quickly re-entered the car which drove and turned north into Smyth Street and disappeared. Lawrence suffered a bruise to his hand which he said was caused by a bullet. Charles was later found lying on his back in a pool of blood. The police said several 9mm spent shells, five warheads and a metal fragment were found at the scene.
In the courts
Three charged with theft of firearms, ammo from Radar Security: Three men on January 11th appeared before Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan where they were charged with the theft of several firearms and a quantity of ammunition from Radar Security Services. They were not required to enter a plea and were all remanded to prison until January 25. The three were identified as Carlton Damion Singh aka ‘Fatboy’, Sheldon King aka ‘Noel’, and Linton Trotman aka ‘Dundie’. They are accused of simple larceny of two 12-gauge shotguns, five .32 pistols, four 9mm pistols, twenty-five 12-gauge rounds, eighteen live 9mm rounds, and thirty-eight live .32 rounds, all property of Radar Security Services. Apart from Singh being charged with the possession of ammunition without a licence (two .32 live rounds), he was also charged with the possession of 722 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. Reported stolen were two single-barrel shotguns valued at $950,000; four 9mm Taurus pistols valued at $1,400,000; five Taurus .32 pistols valued at $1,425,000; twenty-five 12-gauge cartridges, 558 .32 rounds of ammunition, and eighteen 9mm rounds of ammunition, all property of the abovementioned security firm. A statement from the police informed that the company is owned by a 49-year-old businessman of Diamond, East Bank Demerara. The theft occurred between 10:00 hrs on Christmas Day and 18:30 hrs on Dec 26, at Radar Security and Supplies’ office at Lot 79 Carmichael Street, Georgetown. The weapons training officer who initially discovered the theft, found that the padlocks on the strongbox had been cut off. The chain that secured the firearms was also cut and the aforementioned firearms mentioned were missing. The weapons training officer and a guard were placed in custody.
