Statements on gas-to-shore project raise even more questions
Both SN and KN had lengthy coverage of the Vice President’s public statements re the gas to shore project. In providing answers, he opened the floodgates to a cascade of still more questions, which simply rolls Guyanese up the hill (like Sisyphus), only for them to come rolling right back down. We heard of studies before, but which were state secrets given the stubborn resistance to any information sharing. Now we hear of four more impressive sounding studies, which are sure to soothe gullible Guyanese. Which outfits are doing them? What was the process to finalize them? Who is going to be involved in that shortlisting process? Who should have been? The questions continue. What is (here is the key) their known and unknown relationship with Exxon? And why only now is the nation being told this?
This is not confidence-boosting governance, not when oil is involved; not with its history; and not with the histories of this country’s political parties with national matters far less tempting, less rewarding. And most certainly, it is not about the transparency that President Irfan Ali himself swore to, but of which he now makes a mockery with regards to most things. Editor, it is said better late than never. In this instance, never might have been better. I say this because, it is the PPP and its Vice President, that have repeatedly pushed and insisted that it is Wales, and that Wales it will be, and only Wales will do for the onshore facilities. Since that is (not seems) a foregone conclusion, only one thing can be said. Whichever agency has been selected and entrusted (two deep and dangerous words) to study and report on the feasibility of Wales, has only one option: custom tailor a study and report that leads nowhere but only to Wales.
Those of us who operate in real life have a wide appreciation of the way the world truly works, when political machinations are at work. Get some likeminded men and similar groups, ensure that the role is fully understood and nonnegotiable expectations as to outcomes appreciated, give them their marching orders, and then sit back and count the days and the chickens involved. Those who deliver are sure to live another day; that is, positioning themselves to get more of the same kinds of favorable consideration and lucrative business. All they are responsible for is to fill in the blanks, as given to them by the PPP government. The Vice President may think that he has been open and enlightening. But what he has done is added vagueness to prior vagueness. Why this took so long? Why the prior secrecy? Why Wales? Why not more on the other studies and sites, one or two of which have much going for it? The descent to hell is easy; I remind Guyana that the return journey can be a hell of a ride.
I remind my fellow Guyanese of something else: he who sups with the devil should do so with a long spoon. Oil customarily calls for the longest of spoons. Editor, I leave with this closing note, instead of hiding on this oil for an eternity, the Vice President could have seized the opportunity early and earned himself some rare credibility. Like I said: for every answer, there comes several more troubling questions.
Former Guyana Defence Force Chief of Staff, Gary Best was yesterday freed of the Driving under the Influence (DUI) charge brought against him in relation to the death of cyclist Jude Bentley.
Best appeared at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Clive Nurse, who upheld the no-case submission made by his attorneys and consequently dismissed the matter.
Last month, Best’s attorneys were seeking to have the drivingunder-the-influence charge brought against him dismissed and had submitted a no-case submission to the court, where they contended that the prosecution lacked substantial evidence to prove the charge instituted against their client.
Yesterday, Magistrate Nurse stated that there was no evidence that the instrument used to determine Best’s alcohol level was approved to carry out a Breathalyzer test, hence his decision to uphold the no-case submission made by Best’s attorneys and he subsequently dismissed the matter for lack of sufficient evidence.
Sophia Findlay, one of the three attorneys representing Best, in a brief comment to Stabroek News stated that the court agreed that the prosecution failed to establish the elements of the offence and as such the matter was dismissed.
On December 3rd last year, Best was freed of the charge of causing the death of Bentley by dangerous driving. His attorney, Nigel Hughes, had referred to Magistrate Rondell Weaver’s ruling that the prosecution failed to establish enough evidence to support the charge and thus upheld the no-case submission that had been made by the defence.
On December 7th last year, the Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali-Hack served a notice of appeal to challenge the decision to free Best of the charge of causing the death of Bentley by dangerous driving.
In March last year, Best was formally charged with the offence. It was alleged that at approximately 4:31am on February 8, at Clive Lloyd Drive, Greater Georgetown, he drove a car, PRR 812, in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Bentley.
At the time, the police prosecutor in objecting to Best being granted bail, had noted that the results of a breathalyser test showed his breath alcohol content had been over the legal limit at the time of the accident. Best was also charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.
Best, who had served as a member of the Guyana Defence Force for over 34 years, had been functioning as a presidential adviser at the time of the accident.
According to investigations, Bentley was riding his cycle, heading east on Clive Lloyd Drive, in order to meet a group of cyclists at Sheriff Street. Best, who was proceeding in his vehicle in the same direction, alleged that the cyclist suddenly appeared in front of him and although he applied his brakes the right side of the front of his vehicle collided with the cyclist, who fell onto the roadway and sustained injuries. A lamp pole on the southern side of the road was dislodged by the vehicle as it came to a stop. An autopsy revealed that Bentley died as a result of the multiple injuries he suffered.