Tag Archives: Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

GUYANA: Shocking bribery disclosures regarding Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo +video

07/10/2022 – 11:00 am

EDITORIAL – By Stabroek News – July 10, 2022

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, and President Irfaan Ali

The most disquieting report we have carried in a very long time appeared in our edition of July 8. It was an account of the extended version of VICE News’s video documentary titled ‘Guyana For Sale’, the initial portion of which had been carried on June 18. This part had consisted largely of an interview with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and his tenant, Mr Su Zhirong, along with a VICE reporter posing as a Chinese businessman interested in a deal here. The meeting had been arranged, according to the documentary, in order to demonstrate to the supposed entrepreneur that Mr Su, a middleman, had “access at the highest level.”

In the clips of the interview which were shown Mr Jagdeo did not implicate himself directly in the ‘business deal’, and he later strenuously denied any implication that he was associated with corrupt practices. As for Mr Su’s specific allegations about him accepting bribes, he responded that his tenant had abused their friendship for his own gain and had lied about him, and if VICE News had been discerning, then they would have realised they were “being duped”.  Subsequently he announced he was bringing a defamation suit against Mr Su, who not surprisingly is no longer his tenant.        Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Chinese investment in Guyana, Commentary, finance and trade, foreign investment, Government, graft and corruption, Guyana, History, International News | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (66)

Guyana’s local content law is likely to achieve the opposite of what was intended – Letter by Andre Brandli

06/30/2022 – 12:06 am

Jun 25, 2022  Letters – Kaieteur News

Dear Editor, — Letter by Andre Brandli

National news outlets, including this distinguished newspaper, have been documenting problems that are emerging as a consequence of the Local Content Act, which was passed by Parliament in late December 2021. Companies, such as Ramps Logistics Guyana, the largest logistics company servicing the oil and gas sector has apparently been denied access to the local content register.

Timothy Tucker, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has been quoted saying that “rent-a-citizen” tactics run counter to the local content law. Finally, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has recently voiced that the government is having difficulties with companies trying to circumvent the Local Content Act.        Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Associations, Business, Caribbean news, Commentary, Economics/Finance, Guyana, legal, Oil Exploration, Technology | Also tagged , , , | Comments (32)

GUYANA: Commission of Inquiry into 2020 elections to open next week – President Ali

06/17/2022 – 1:06 am

– President to empanel commissioners Tuesday

Jun 17, 2022 —Kaieteur News

In what can be seen as an about-face decision, President Irfaan Ali announced on Thursday that next week Tuesday, he will be naming the persons to sit on an international panel to inquire into the chaotic 2020 General and Regional elections.

Ali made the announcement while wrapping up his speech at the Enmore Martyrs’ Commemoration Service. “In honour of these martyrs and all Guyanese who fought relentlessly to ensure that our country did not go down as an undemocratic state…we will have an international CoI into the last elections.

Not a review…we promise, particularly your President promise a CoI and I say to all of you before dawn on Tuesday, your President will name the members of that CoI and those who sought to subvert democracy… the COI will set the truth from the untruth…” Ali declared.              Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in crime and Investigations, Economics/Finance, Government, Guyana, Guyana elections, Guyana Parliament, Personalities | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

GUYANA: Cash Grants to Guyanese: “Give a man a fish” – Guest Editorial

06/10/2022 – 12:06 am

Stabroek News

Stabroek News – Guest Editorial – June 9, 2022

Starting last year, the government has made various announcements of one-time cash grants to diverse groups for a variety of reasons; these were in addition to the contentious and inadequate one-off $25,000 distributed to each household that was meant to supplement lost earnings as a response to the economic deprivation wrought by the COVID-19 restrictions. They are also apart from the now on-again educational grant given to households with school-aged children.

The largest, to date, was that made in October last year by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo of $250,000 to workers who had been severed when the sugar estates where they were employed were closed under the previous administration; he had estimated their number to be around 7,000.  Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Commentary, Government, Guyana, Politics, poverty | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (6)

GUYANA: Failed Government Projects – Accountability and Controls Required — Opinion

04/23/2022 – 12:06 am

Stabroek News Editorial

By April 22, 2022

In a recent column in this newspaper former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran drew attention to three major projects which had been financed by China’s Exim Bank and which he described as having failed. As a result the nation was left with significant debt. A fourth failed project to which he adverted had been funded by the Exim Bank of India. All of these ventures intended to develop the country had been embarked on when the PPP/C was previously in office.

The one which is often cited by critics as the classic case of a white elephant is the Skeldon sugar factory, the inspiration of Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo when he was head of state. It was intended as part of the Skeldon Sugar Modernisation Project which encompassed enlarged areas under cane, a refinery and co-generation of electricity for the national grid, estimated at a total cost of US$165 million.

Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Business, Economics/Finance, Government, Guyana, Guyana infrastructure, History, Personalities, Philosophy, Politics | Also tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (3)

GUYANA: Govt. to now secure oil spill insurance from ExxonMobil – VP Jagdeo

03/26/2022 – 2:00 pm

— Govt. finally buckles under pressure of two year protest  …to now secure insurance from ExxonMobil for any Stabroek Block oil spill

March 26 – Kaieteur News – After two years of protest from citizens for full liability insurance coverage from oil giant ExxonMobil, in the unfortunate event of an oil spill in the country’s waters, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has finally come on record to assure that his administration is now working with the parent company to secure such guarantee. Jagdeo made the revelation on Thursday March 24, during an interview with one of the government’s communications specialist, Eddie Layne.

Since the startup of its oil operations in December 2019, ExxonMobil has evaded demands to provide insurance coverage, and instead tied its subsidiary, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) to providing this guarantee. It has been argued however that EEPGL, being a fairly new company, with assets worth only around US$5 billion, would not be able to effectively cover all costs associated with an oil spill in Guyana, should such an adverse event occur.        Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Business, Disasters, Economics/Finance, Environment, Government, Guyana, legal, Oil Exploration, Personalities | Also tagged , , , | Comments (1)

GUYANA: OIL: Proper insurance coverage for oil spills – By GHK Lall

03/02/2022 – 12:06 am

GHK Lall

Encouraging Events, Disturbing Developments… By GHK Lall

Feb 27, 2022 – Kaieteur News – It has to be disturbing to all Guyanese that both Exxon and Guyanese leaders continue to play footsie with prioritising full coverage insurance in the event of a disastrous oil spill. This was what one of the newer civic groups, well named as “A Fair Deal for Guyana; a Fair Deal for the Planet” made the centerpiece of their fight to get more protection and a better deal for Guyana.

I agree with the group and support its members in what I see as a necessary struggle to give the peace of mind of much-needed protections. I salute them for their courage and public outspokenness before a stubborn and vindictive PPP/C Government. They understand the risks, I know them firsthand.        Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Business, Commentary, Disasters, Economics/Finance, Environment, Government, Guyana, Oil Exploration, Personalities, Politics | Also tagged , , | Comments (4)

GUYANA: Think of That: Let’s talk about it – By Mosa Telford

03/01/2022 – 7:29 am
By February 12, 2022

The hashtag #guyanaisnotarealplace is a coping mechanism. Humour often replaces the disappointment and hopelessness we feel when certain shocking events occur. Instead of being publicly critical, some would rather hide behind fake social media profiles or engage in gossip with their family and friends. ‘Talk name’ or ‘su-suing’ is a part of our culture. But recently we learned that ‘Su’ can not only be hyphenated to mean a Ponzi scheme called ‘su-su’, but ‘Su’ could also be a Chinese whistleblower.

A journalist from Vice News interviewed Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and questions were raised about corruption involving bribery. It was alleged that the Vice President has accepted bribes from Chinese businesses so they can secure contracts in Guyana. Of course, these allegations were denied. It is expected that accusations of corruption will always be denied until there is evidence to prove otherwise.             Continue reading →
By guyaneseonline | Posted in Business, Chinese investment in Guyana, Commentary, Government, graft and corruption, Guyana, legal | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

GUYANA: PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton promises to scrap income tax

02/25/2022 – 12:09 am

By: Denis Chabrol in Demerara Waves –  23 February 2022.

Aubrey Norton

Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Aubrey Norton on Wednesday promised that the opposition coalition would remove income tax if elected to government because Guyana is now an oil producer-exporter, in his message to mark Guyana’s 52nd Republic Anniversary.

“The PNCR wishes to make it clear that as your government-in-waiting, as part of the coalition, we will remove the burden of personal income tax from our people,” he said. Mr. Norton said the scrapping of the income tax was an “enduring obligation” to Guyanese “given the current favourable economic circumstances from oil and gas.”

In the 2022 National Budget, the government increased the income tax threshold to GY$75,000. (app $375US/month).      Continue reading →

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GUYANA: VP Bharrat Jagdeo denies taking bribes from Chinese companies

02/09/2022 – 12:09 am

Also read: PNC Leader Norton to Jagdeo: ‘Match your earnings with your assets’

By: Denis Chabrol in Demerara Waves – Tuesday, 8 February 2022.

V.P Bharrat Jagdeo

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has rejected claims of kickbacks to facilitate Chinese investors doing business in Guyana.

In an interview with the United States-headquartered Vice News that was posted on his Facebook page, he admits that he helps people but he denies that he takes bribes. “I help people out but doesn’t mean for consideration. It does not  mean for bribe because I believe that we have a mission to help as many as possible move forward in Guyana,” he said.

He admits that he knows a gentleman whose name is Mr. Su who is his friend and his tenant but said that he is lying on him if he told the reporter those allegations.      Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Business, Chinese investment in Guyana, crime and Investigations, foreign investment, graft and corruption, Guyana, Personalities, Politics | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (6)