diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a2f24d87..f535a192 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -163,8 +163,7 @@ git pull
 Several environment variables are available for configuration:
 
 * Docker credentials; `DOCKER_USERNAME` and `DOCKER_PASSWORD` to prevent rate-
-  limits when pulling images, but also for testing against older Kong Enterprise
-  images that are not publicly available.
+  limits when pulling images.
 * Kong license; set `KONG_LICENSE_DATA` with the Enterprise license to enable
   Enterprise features.
 * Specify a custom image; set the image name/tag in `KONG_IMAGE` and make sure
@@ -733,10 +732,7 @@ need to set it)
 
 ### CI with Kong Enterprise development
 
-**Note: this is NOT publicly available, only Kong internal**
-
-This build will also require a CRON job to build on a daily basis, but also
-requires additional credentials to access the Kong Enterprise master image.
+This build will also require a CRON job to build on a daily basis.
 To build against the Enterprise master, the version can be specified as
 `dev-ee`, as given in this example:
 
@@ -747,10 +743,6 @@ jobs:
     env: KONG_VERSION=dev-ee
 ```
 
-For this to work the following variables must be present:
-- `DOCKER_USERNAME=<your_docker_username>`
-- `DOCKER_PASSWORD<your_docker_password>`
-
 At least the api-key must be encrypted as a secret. Follow the instructions above
 to encrypt and add them to the `.travis.yml` file.
 
diff --git a/pongo.sh b/pongo.sh
index 4949ea0d..27625326 100755
--- a/pongo.sh
+++ b/pongo.sh
@@ -98,9 +98,10 @@ function globals {
   KONG_EE_TAG_PREFIX="kong/kong-gateway:"
   KONG_EE_TAG_POSTFIX="-ubuntu"
 
-  # all Kong Enterprise images repo (tag is build as $PREFIX$VERSION$POSTFIX).
-  KONG_EE_PRIVATE_TAG_PREFIX="kong/kong-gateway-private:"
-  KONG_EE_PRIVATE_TAG_POSTFIX="-ubuntu"
+  # # all Kong Enterprise images repo (tag is build as $PREFIX$VERSION$POSTFIX).
+  # # these are private, credentials are needed
+  # KONG_EE_PRIVATE_TAG_PREFIX="kong/kong-gateway-private:"
+  # KONG_EE_PRIVATE_TAG_POSTFIX="-ubuntu"
 
   # regular Kong CE images repo (tag is build as $PREFIX$VERSION$POSTFIX)
   KONG_OSS_TAG_PREFIX="kong:"
@@ -110,8 +111,7 @@ function globals {
   KONG_OSS_UNOFFICIAL_TAG_PREFIX="kong/kong:"
   KONG_OSS_UNOFFICIAL_TAG_POSTFIX="-ubuntu"
 
-  # development EE images repo, these require to additionally set the credentials
-  # in $DOCKER_USERNAME and $DOCKER_PASSWORD
+  # development EE images repo, these are public, no credentials needed
   DEVELOPMENT_EE_TAG="kong/kong-gateway-dev:master-ubuntu"
 
   # development CE images, these are public, no credentials needed
@@ -475,17 +475,19 @@ function get_image {
       if [[ ! $? -eq 0 ]]; then
         warn "failed to pull image $image."
 
-        if is_enterprise "$KONG_VERSION"; then
-            # failed to pull EE image, so try the fallback to the private repo
-            image=$KONG_EE_PRIVATE_TAG_PREFIX$KONG_VERSION$KONG_EE_PRIVATE_TAG_POSTFIX
-            docker_login_ee
-            docker pull "$image"
-            if [[ ! $? -eq 0 ]]; then
-              docker logout
-              err "failed to pull: $image"
-            fi
-            docker logout
-        else
+        # TODO: if this is no longer required, we can remove the whole, but let's
+        #       give it a couple of months, to see if it is still needed. (dd 28-nov-2023)
+        # if is_enterprise "$KONG_VERSION"; then
+        #     # failed to pull EE image, so try the fallback to the private repo
+        #     image=$KONG_EE_PRIVATE_TAG_PREFIX$KONG_VERSION$KONG_EE_PRIVATE_TAG_POSTFIX
+        #     docker_login_ee
+        #     docker pull "$image"
+        #     if [[ ! $? -eq 0 ]]; then
+        #       docker logout
+        #       err "failed to pull: $image"
+        #     fi
+        #     docker logout
+        # else
           # failed to pull CE image, so try the fallback
           # NOTE: new releases take a while (days) to become available in the
           # official docker hub repo. Hence we fall back on the unofficial Kong
@@ -498,7 +500,7 @@ function get_image {
             err "failed to pull: $image"
           fi
           msg "pulling unofficial image succeeded"
-        fi
+        # fi
       fi
     fi
   fi