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Guyanese Valerie Amos is first Black woman to get top royal honour – News Room Guyana

Guyanese Valerie Amos is first Black woman to get top royal honour

President pledges ‘big wins’ for Guyanese in 2022 – News Room Guyana

President pledges ‘big wins’ for Guyanese in 2022

Speaker declares NRF Bill was lawfully passed; Sanctions expected against Mace grabbers: News Source

Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir called a press conference this morning to declare that the controversial Natural Resource Fund Bill was “legally and lawfully” passed in the National Assembly last evening during its chaotic sitting. “I want to make it pellucid that the Bill was passed lawfully, legally last evening in the National Assembly”, he said. Mr. Nadir explained that although the Speaker’s mace was displaced, a replica of it was in place when the question of the passage of the Bill was put to the Assembly. He explained that the National Assembly has always been in possession of two Maces.

Gov’t still unable to say who will select NRF board directors: Stabroek News  

A day after the controversial Natural Resource Fund Bill was passed in Parliament, the PPP/C government is still unable to say who will select the directors of the all-powerful board and what procedures will be followed. Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh was unable to answer this question yesterday when asked by Stabroek News. Section 5 (1) of the Natural Resource Fund bill states “there shall be a Board of Directors of the Fund which shall comprise of not less than three and not more than five members who shall be appointed by the President, one of whom shall be appointed Chairperson by the President.”

Finance Minister Ashni Singh’s successful piloting of NRF legislation sets Guyana well on the path to economic prosperity: News Room

Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh successfully piloted the amendments to the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Act in the National Assembly on Wednesday, paving the way for further economic gains and national development. Minister Singh was able to push through the historic NRF amendments, remaining undaunted by the ruckus and mayhem caused by some opposition Members of Parliament (MPs), who sought to derail the proceedings by chanting and an attempted heist of the Speaker’s Mace. He also contributed to the passage of the new Local Content Bill on the same day, which was also successfully passed in the National Assembly.

No Confidence Motion against Opposition Leader to be thrown out: Kaieteur News

Earlier this year, a Motion of No-Confidence was tabled by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration against the Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon. However, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir said that it will be thrown out. During a press conference hosted by the Speaker on Thursday morning in the Public Buildings, Brickdam, Georgetown, he told members of the media in an invited comment that the same process that allowed for the Opposition Leader to be appointed would have to be followed for him to be removed.

APNU/AFC Opposition’s “terrorist tactic” cannot be taken lightly – Teixeira: Guyana Times  

…says there must be consequences

The government is calling for consequences against some members of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition over their “terrorist” actions in the National Assembly during Wednesday’s debate of the Natural Resource Fund Bill. At a press conference on Thursday, Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Gail Teixeira expressed concerns over the ‘no-boundary’ posture of the Coalition Opposition – something which she said should be of concern to all stakeholders.

House Speaker says opposition parliamentarians involved in removal of mace will be punished; Harmon says action will be taken against passage of Bill: Demerara Waves

House Speaker Manzoor Nadir says the opposition parliamentarians, who removed the mace during Wednesday’s debate on the Natural Resource Fund legislation, will be punished. Noting that in any Parliament, an attack on the mace is an attack on the authority of the Parliament, he sent a clear message that sanctions would be imposed on those culpable in snatching and removing the mace from the National Assembly’s Chamber. “That attack on the mace cannot go unpunished. I cannot find an easier word than punish,” he said.

Civil society group continues call for consultations on NRF legislation: Kaieteur News

The PPP indefensibly forcing the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Bill through Parliament was done without a consultative process, despite its far-reaching consequences, despite civic opposition and despite having a one-seat majority in Parliament, and the failure to consult on the new Act is the most egregious violation of the expectation for consultation implied in Article 13 of the National Constitution. This is the view of a civil society group, Policy Forum Guyana (PFG), which yesterday scolded the government for not only failing to consult the nation on the approved NRF legislation, but also ignoring a petition it made for a pause in the consideration of the Natural Resources Act.

Private Sector bodies condemn Opposition’s “vulgarity”, “hooliganism” in National Assembly: Guyana Times  

Several Private Sector bodies have condemned the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Opposition for their vulgar behaviour and hooliganism during the debate on the Natural Resource Fund Bill in the National Assembly on Wednesday evening. In objection to the passage of the Bill, the Opposition started protesting in the House and this escalated into a confrontation between coalition Members of Parliament (MP) and Parliament staff after one of the APNU/AFC members snatched the Parliament Mace from in front of the House Speaker as he was seated at his desk

Law approved to fast-track budget for constitutional agencies: Kaieteur News

The Fiscal Management and Accountability Amendment (FMAA) Bill presented by Senior Minister within the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, was approved in the National Assembly, late Wednesday night during a sitting of the Twelfth Parliament. The Bill was approved by a majority vote of the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and thus was void of input from the members of A Partnership for National Unity +Alliance For Change (APNU + AFC) Coalition who walked out of the House following a ruckus over the Natural Resource Fund Bill.

New Bill corrects deficiencies of APNU+AFC’s NRF Act: Guyana Chronicle  

–adds extra layers of security, Dr Singh says

THE Natural Resources Fund (NRF) Bill which was presented in the National Assembly by the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and passed on Wednesday evening, corrected the deficiencies of the NRF Act promulgated by the A Partnership For National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) administration. Not only did the Bill correct those deficiencies, but it also added extra layers of security to ensure proper spending of money from the fund and added mechanisms of oversight to ensure transparency and accountability, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, said during a press conference on Thursday.

Dr. Ashni Singh justifies two-week review period for flawed oil fund law: Kaieteur News

– says penalties for abuse covered under other legislation

Since tabling the Natural Resource Fund Bill 2021 in the National Assembly two weeks ago, Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, has faced two major criticisms. Industry stakeholders have sharply criticised the short timeframe for consideration of the Bill thereby inhibiting input from the citizenry; and they have also flagged the absence of explicit penalties for misuse of the revenues. During a press conference yesterday at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC), Dr. Singh addressed both concerns.

Bar Association was one of the “most consulted” organisations on Local Content Bill – AG:iNews

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC on Wednesday pointed out that there were enough consultations on the Local Content Bill ahead of their passage in the National Assembly. He was at the time responding to a statement issued by the Guyana Bar Association earlier in the day, which contended that they were not given sufficient time nor were they adequately consulted on the Local Content Bill.

Groundbreaking Legislations: Guyana Chronicle (Editorial)

AMIDST the noise and chaos generated by opposition parliamentarians, two groundbreaking pieces of legislation were passed by the National Assembly on December 29, 2021. Coming just a mere three days away from the commencement of the New Year of 2022, this day will be remembered with shame as a result off the conduct of the APNU+AFC parliamentarians who descended to the lowest levels of parliamentary conduct as they sought in vain to prevent the passage of the Natural Resources Fund (NRF) Bill.

Limited vision: Stabroek News (Editorial)

In February of this year President Irfaan Ali addressed Parliament telling the assembled MPs that his government’s vision was one of “inclusion”, and that he wanted “regular high-level consultations” with representative bodies to address key issues. All that can be said is that the citizenry has seen precious little of that in the past twelve months.  As it is he ended this year not in the spirit of the “oneness” and “unity” that he is so fond of proclaiming, but in one of division and disunity.

Desecration of Parliament: Guyana Times (Editorial)

Guyanese have again witnessed a complete descent into lawlessness in Parliament as the Opposition disrupted Wednesday night’s proceedings in its bid to have the Natural Resource Fund Bill sent to a parliamentary select committee, not heard and not passed. But instead of having their objections heard in an eloquent manner befitting a Member of Parliament (MP) and having their objections put on the record, the Opposition showed this nation that they have no respect for the sanctity of any institution and more so the highest decision-making body of the nation.

Both NRF Acts raise questions about the absence of prudent macroeconomic policies: Stabroek News (Letter to the Editor) by V. Singh

Yet again I feel compelled to pen a letter to you, given recent developments, particularly with respect to our natural resource wealth management, in this instance. For anyone who has been following the developments with regard to the Natural Resources Fund Act, from its first iteration by the previous government, to this one laid and passed by the current government, there are a few changes that could be concerning and that raise questions, which could affect our development as a nation. My hope is that these could be addressed by the authorities in meaningful ways.

Indications are that Guyana’s entangled socio-political situation could deteriorate: Stabroek News (Letter to the Editor) by Clement J. Rohee

The recent ruckus and objectionable behaviour by APNU Members of Parliament in the National Assembly, during the second reading of the Natural Resource Fund Bill, as well as the heated exchanges that took place between protesters and a of group hecklers, during a picketing exercise while the House was in session, was to be expected. These two incidents, while not new to Guyanese politics, should be placed in a national context. With a new leadership ensconced at the PNC, indications are that the politically entangled situation in Guyana could deteriorate.

Oil companies, sub-contractors now mandated to ensure transfer of skills, knowledge and technology to Guyanese: Kaieteur News

Local Content Bill 2021 Series Pt. 10…

With the Local Content Bill 2021 poised to receive the assent of President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, oil companies and sub-contractors will soon be mandated to work with the government’s Local Content Secretariat on the development and implementation of strategies that transfer knowledge, skills and technology to Guyanese. The Bill specifically states that the Secretariat shall develop and implement strategies to promote local capacity development to bridge any knowledge and skills gap in the petroleum sector.

Guyana passes landmark local content bill | OilNow

Guyana passes landmark local content bill

Local Content Bill ensures Guyanese win – President Ali – Department of Public Information

Local Content Bill ensures Guyanese win – President Ali

GMSA welcomes passage of Local Content, NRF legislation: Guyana Times  

The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) has commended the concerted efforts of the Government to finalise and pass the Local Content Policy (LCP) and the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Bill. The Bills were passed in the National Assembly on Wednesday evening.In a release issued by the GMSA, it stated that legislation was critical to having sound and effective management of the extractive sectors for Guyana’s economic growth and stability.

NY Democracy Group supports Guyana’s Local Content & NRF legislation: iNews

See full statement from the New York-based Guyana Democracy Project (NY GDP): The New York based Guyana Democracy Project (NY GDP) group releases a statement extolling the passage of legislation requiring local content in the emerging oil and gas energy sector and strengthening national resource fund (NRF). Noting that the preceding administration did not prepare a local content bill for the nascent energy industry, the NYGDP says such legislation to include Guyanese as the primary beneficiaries of the oil and gas sector is long overdue and applauds the government for taking bold, decisive steps to mandate inclusion of Guyanese in the industry.

Local content mandating was brought to absurd heights yesterday: Stabroek News (Letter to the Editor) by Lynn Nicholas

The madness of mandating unrealistic targets for local content was brought to absurd heights yesterday, when it was passed into law that local accountants must get 90% of the oil industry’s business. Was it not just a few weeks ago, Jagdeo was lamenting he could not find local firms to do the audit of Exxon accounts?

Guyana is not merely open for business, but open for sustainable business: Kaieteur News (Letter to the Editor) by Audreyanna Thomas, Rule of Law Advisor/Advocate

On December 9, 2021, the Guyana Chronicle published an article titled ‘Guyana Energy Chamber inks agreement with Ghana Petroleum Commission’. The article further stated that ‘THE Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), on Tuesday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Petroleum Commission of Ghana to initiate co-operation in the area of oil and gas.’ Additionally, the article indicated that, “The objective of this MoU is to provide a framework for co-operation, between the agency and the association, to facilitate a collaboration that will lead to an exchange of information and sharing of resources between the agency and association within the oil and gas sector.”

Arbitrary withdrawal, willy-nilly spending of oil money punishable under the law – Dr. Singh: OilNOW

Guyana’s Natural Resources Fund (NRF) legislation passed this week in Parliament is part of the country’s broader legal architecture, subject to rules and procedures already in place that govern the handling of public funds. And according to Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance in the Office of the President, Dr. Ashni Singh, multiple layers of checks and balances exist both under the NRF legislation and within the existing legal framework for the allocation and use of revenues. “Any use of the fund, whether for natural disasters or for national development…has to be subject to prior Parliamentary approval,” he said.

Georgetown port now sees an average of 52 ships per week, up from 7 – Edghill: OilNOW

The rapidly expanding oil and gas operations in Guyana continue to fuel significant commercial activities and authorities say the local content legislation passed this week will help to ensure Guyanese cash in big on these growing opportunities. “This bill guarantees employment for Guyanese,” pointed out Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill. He said it is intended to prioritise Guyanese nationals and Guyanese companies in the procurement of goods and services in the enhancement of the value chain in the petroleum sector.

Billion-dollar Panama debt to millers remains in limbo – Stabroek News

Billion-dollar Panama debt to millers remains in limbo

Guyana rakes in close to $40 billion from rice exports – News Room Guyana

Guyana rakes in close to $40 billion from rice exports

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