Marcelle Thomas

Aubrey Norton won Saturday’s contest for the PNCR Leadership by a landslide and several members of his slate snapped up key positions over more seasoned competitors in what will be interpreted as a rejection of the policies of outgoing leader David Granger whose close confidante, Joseph Harmon was also in the race but trailed far behind.

After more than sixteen months in office, the PPP/C government yesterday tabled its first oil and gas legislation which will permit, if passed, the withdrawal of the entire amount attributable to the Natural Resource Fund in the first fiscal year and be governed by a Board of Directors (BoD) which it appears will be handpicked by the administration.

With demand expected to increase during the upcoming holiday season, the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL) yesterday sought to assure its customers that blackouts will only occur if there are emergency shutdowns as the company has the required generating capacity.

Having already found ten billion barrels of oil equivalent in the Stabroek Block, ExxonMobil is seeking an extra year before having to relinquish parts of the concession as it says that the COVID pandemic has severely hampered its work.

As she yesterday launched her campaign for Chair-person of the PNCR, attorney at law and APNU+AFC Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir said that she will not endorse any candidate for leader as the position she seeks needs an impartial chair and ear to listen to all and sundry. 

With long-awaited party polls set for next month, the three leading candidates to be the new PNCR Leader were yesterday nominated by various party groups and former General Secretary Aubrey Norton appeared to have the most public support.

As he enters the contest for Leader of the People’s National Congress, former Guyana Water Inc Chief Executive Officer Richard Van West Charles wants to be judged on his character and experience and not that of his deceased father-in-law and party founder, President Linden Forbes Sampson (LFS) Burnham.

Former leader of the PNCR’s  youth arm, Christopher Jones has defended the electoral systems and processes to be used for the upcoming leadership election saying that while there may be criticisms, it is one of the most transparent systems seen.

Current APNU+AFC Shadow Minister of Legal Affairs Roysdale Forde has announced his interest in contesting for the Chairmanship of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) at the party’s upcoming Biennial Delegates Congress.

As the race for the leadership of the PNCR heats up ahead of the party’s December  congress,  current leader and former President, David Granger and current Chairman, Volda Lawrence are mum on contesting, although party insiders say neither will be contesting.

Trinidad and Tobago-headquartered UNIPET is partnering with a local company and plans to invest US$4.9 million here in a first-of-its-kind 24-hour gas station which will be equipped with charging docks for electric cars.

Even as it expands its services and has applied for permission from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set up a medical lab in Kingston, Georgetown, United States-headquartered remote medical services provider, RemoteMD, has come under fire for the disparity in pay for locals.

It is now one year since the country has been without a Public Procurement Com-mission (PPC) but that hasn’t stopped the handing out of billions of dollars in contracts and the former Chairman of the body is deeply worried that crucial reform work done could be at risk.

Four companies – three Chinese and one Brazilian – have responded to government’s Request For Proposals (RFPs) for the resuscitation of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), which is expected to begin construction by the middle of next year.

Following breaches of a tailings pond and reservoir at two large-scale mining companies, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat has announced that a joint-agency monitoring unit will be established.

Already coming out with the best responsive bid during evaluation for the one-year contract to market Guyana’s oil, Saudi Arabian company, Aramco Trading Limited, was also awarded the single-lift slated for this month to avoid this country having to forfeit its one million barrels of crude, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat says.

The miners association has announced its withdrawal from participation in the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI), citing the process as being too intrusive by an organisation that does nothing to help them overcome hurdles faced in mining.

With expected oil and gas revenues positioning Guyana to finance infrastructural development, the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE) and the Ministry of Public Works are expected to meet soon to discuss the proposed creation of a National Infrastructure Plan (NIP).

Guyana and Suriname yesterday agreed to pursue proposals to craft a joint strategy to develop natural gas reserves which also potentially aims at tapping into the lucrative Brazil market.

There will be no Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) conducted before the construction of the New Demerara Harbour Bridge as the EPA yesterday announced that it “will not significantly affect the environment,” even as it listed potential impacts.