Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname have offered to refine Guyana’s oil, although ExxonMobil reserves the right to take its portion elsewhere for processing, authorities said Thursday. Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman said Trinidad and Tobago’s oil refinery, which has a capacity to process 175,000 barrels per day, has been operating “below optimum” even with the importation of oil from ...
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Full disclosure of oil production sharing agreements not advisable- Natural Resources Minister
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman on Thursday cautioned against releasing details of oil exploration and production contracts because of the likely implications this may have for addressing border claims by Suriname and Venezuela. “Government, at this point in time, is of the view that full disclosure would not be to the national benefit or the national interest,” he told ...
Read More »GRA targets businesses wrongly charging VAT
–as Finance Minister urges ‘Buyer Beware’ of shady vendors by Gary Eleazar The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has begun moving against businesses targeting unsuspecting consumers, by applying the 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on items which are zero-rated or exempt. This was confirmed by Tax Chief, Godfrey Statia, who on Thursday (March 2, 2017), met with ...
Read More »Permanent Secretary of Public Health Ministry fired following drug procurement probe
Trevor Thomas has been fired from the post of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, in keeping with a recommendation by a Commission of Inquiry into procurement practices at that public service entity. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said Thomas was relieved of his duties with effect from March 1, 2017. “His service as Permanent Secretary was terminated…He ...
Read More »Cash-strapped Guyana govt embarks on cost-cutting measures; hopes public sector investment prog will kick-start economy
The Guyana government is strapped for cash and would be introducing a number of austerity measures including recycling envelopes, while at the same time hoping that the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) and housing projects will kick-start the economy. “It means that you have to be a little more careful in how you spend your money so that it lasts. ...
Read More »VAT to remain on private school fees ; parents, schools must find creative ways around tax- Finance Minister
by Gary Eleazar The Guyana Government has decided it will not be removing the application of the 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private school fees, saying the anticipated revenue is critical to meet the funding for the $38B shortfall it has for its 2017 expenditure programme (2017 $250B Budget). This was disclosed by Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, ...
Read More »Jagdeo weighs in on Granger’s failure to appoint JSC-recommended judges
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo said President David Granger’s apparent failure to heed the advice of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) and appoint several judges to the Court of Appeal and High Court is feeding perception that the Guyanese leader prefers to await the advice of a new commission when it is appointed. “The Leader of the Opposition adverted to a ...
Read More »Acting Chancellor, Chief Justice appointed following Granger-Jagdeo consultations
President David Granger, Wednesday evening, met with Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, as is Constitutionally required, to consult on the appointment of an Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary and Acting Chief Justice, the Guyanese leader’s office announced. Following that meeting, Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon announced that effective today, March 1, 2017, that Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, who has ...
Read More »PNCR General Secretary denies parking meter fees funding his political party
General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Oscar Clarke has rubbished claims by Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo that earnings from parking meters are helping to finance that political party. “The PNC is not benefiting in any way financially or otherwise from this project,” he told Demerara Waves Online News. The PNCR General Secretary is an elected Councillor of ...
Read More »Govt not about to get rid of CANU Head
The government is not about to get rid of Head of Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), James Singh who has been asked to proceed on leave, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said Wednesday. “No, not as far as I know. He is on leave. Everybody is entitled to his leave,” Ramjattan told Demerara Waves Online News when asked whether Singh’s engagement with ...
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