AGP Executive Report

UN Diplomacy: The UN Security Council held its 4th straw poll to narrow the race for the next UN secretary-general, with Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan strengthening her lead and Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett again finishing second, though veto powers still loom over any outcome. Energy & Industry: ExxonMobil marked a major milestone—one billion barrels of oil produced from Guyana—while Zijin’s AGM reported US$334M in first-half 2026 revenue from the Aurora gold mine. Aviation & Skills: Guyana is hosting the Global Aviation Safety Forum with ICAO and EASA, and President Ali also sought an international partner to build a global aviation training hub and expand airport terminal use. Power & Delivery: GPL pressed contractors again on electricity project deadlines amid repeated outages. Mining Enforcement: GGMC detained three miners over illegal work along the Siparuni riverbank and shut an unlicensed gold shop at Tamakay Landing, seizing gold, equipment and cash. Transport Disaster Watch: The MV Barima Commission of Inquiry is set to begin public work in early October, with procedural rules published and defence seeking a stay in the murder case against crew. Education & Construction Tech: New AutoCAD labs were commissioned in New Amsterdam to expand technical training for engineering and construction-linked careers. Fuel Prices: GuyOil raised fuel prices again, with gasoline up to $258/litre and diesel to $318/litre.

Aviation & Safety: Guyana hosts nearly 60 countries for the ICAO/EASA RSOO and RAIO forum on aviation safety oversight, with President Ali set to open talks at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. Mining Crackdown: GGMC enforcement shut down an unlicensed gold shop at Tamakay Landing, seizing gold, equipment and cash and detaining two people. Oil & Fuel Costs: GuyOil raised fuel prices again—gasoline up to $258/litre and diesel to $318/litre—citing global supply pressures. Education for Industry: New AutoCAD labs are being commissioned in New Amsterdam and Hope Secondary, expanding technical training for engineering, construction and manufacturing skills. Tourism Sustainability: Ten tourism businesses received Guyana’s “Good Travel Seal,” as the GTA expands sustainable tourism certification beyond lodges into more community-linked operators. Sugar Accountability: APNU MP Vinceroy Jordan demands an investigation into alleged GuySuCo leakage and wastage after factory failure concerns. UN Spotlight: The UN Security Council held its fourth straw poll on secretary-general candidates, with Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett still in the running. Housing Deal: US firms plan to build 10,000 affordable homes in Guyana with EXIM financing.

Mining Enforcement: GGMC shut down an unlicensed gold trading shop at Tamakay Landing (Region Seven), seizing about two ounces of gold and roughly GY$6 million, with equipment seized and two people arrested as investigations continue. Education & Skills: The Ministry of Education commissioned AutoCAD labs at Hope Secondary and North Ruimveldt Multilateral, part of an $85M push to expand TVET and build digital design skills for engineering, construction and manufacturing careers. Water Supply: GWI plans to drill 14 new wells for new housing communities along the East Coast corridor, aiming to ease growing demand as CH&PA developments expand. Aviation Safety & Growth: Regulators and accident investigators from nearly 60 countries will meet in Georgetown for an ICAO/EASA forum on aviation safety oversight and incident investigation. Transport & Infrastructure: Traffic restrictions are in effect at Thomas Street/New Market Street for pipeline and concrete drain works. Oil & Energy Policy: Government is reviewing proposals for a national fuel storage network to hold larger reserves and reduce exposure to rising imported fuel costs.

Education & Skills: The Ministry of Education commissioned two new AutoCAD labs at Hope Secondary and North Ruimveldt, part of an $85M push to expand TVET and build digital design skills for engineering, construction and manufacturing. Water & Housing: GWI says it will drill 14 new wells for CH&PA housing schemes (Meten-Meer-Zorg, De Kinderen, Leonora, Stewartville and more), with drilling expected from Oct/Nov as demand outpaces the current system. Aviation Safety & Training: Nearly 60 countries’ aviation regulators and investigators will meet in Georgetown for an ICAO/EASA forum on safety oversight and accident investigation, with President Ali set to keynote. Energy Security: Government is reviewing proposals for a national fuel storage network to hold larger reserves, using a hub-and-spoke model with a main fuel farm and smaller sites like Lethem. Oil & Jobs Tech: Ksolves India secured a ~$0.5M agentic AI IT services order from Demerara Bank for a 7-month rollout. Local Infrastructure: NDIA completed a $60M drainage sluice at Buses Lust to reduce flooding risk and protect farmland. Governance & Courts: A magistrate said extradition cross-examination questions won’t be suppressed even if they affect timelines, as the case involving Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed continues. Maritime Safety: Two men charged over the MV Barima tragedy asked the court to halt proceedings, arguing mandatory marine-casualty steps were bypassed. Business & Industry: GRSE is expanding shipbuilding capacity to build 32 vessels concurrently and eye global markets. Sports & Community: Trident BMC-LLC won AmCham Guyana’s third annual Lusignan golf tournament.

Water & Housing: GWI says it will drill 14 new wells for housing developments in Regions Three and beyond, with work possibly starting in October/November as residents in some schemes continue to face unreliable supply. Roads & Drainage: VP Bharrat Jagdeo reports widening, paving, drainage upgrades and new bridges advancing in Annandale and Coldingen on the East Coast Demerara to improve access and water management. Aviation & Jobs: Air Services Limited (ASL) plans Guyana’s first Fixed-Base Operator facility for business jets, alongside fleet expansion that it says has boosted schedules and could create about 150 jobs. Energy & Cost Pressure: GUYOIL raised fuel prices up to 13% amid Middle East-driven supply strain, adding to the pressure on households and businesses. Oil Skills Push: President Ali says Guyana is moving toward a specialised STEM school with Exxon partnership to build long-term technical capacity. Tourism & Local Business: Melissa Noel will host SOTIC 2026 (Oct 5–9) and Aagman Restaurant opens a second location in Vreed-en-Hoop, highlighting growth in the tourism value chain. Road Safety Tech: More traffic enforcement cameras are expected to be operationalised before year-end, expanding SRIS coverage to deter speeding and improve enforcement. Governance & Oversight: Auditor General Deodat Sharma says contractors have recovered or cleared all overpayments from previous audit cycles, as the Audit Office moves toward faster, real-time checks. UN & Regional Security: OAS member states call for renewal and full deployment of Haiti’s Gang Suppression Force mandate, linking security and elections as urgent priorities.

Aviation & Business Growth: Air Services Limited (ASL) says it will build Guyana’s first Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) facility to boost executive aviation services, including VIP handling, ground support, refuelling and aircraft maintenance. Road Safety Tech: Police plan to operationalise more traffic enforcement cameras before year-end, adding 48 lanes to the Safe Road Intelligence System already running across 112 lanes in Regions Three and Four. Oil & Cost of Living: GUYOIL has increased fuel prices nationwide, pushing gasoline to $258/litre and diesel to $318/litre, with ULSD at $370/litre. Labour & Equality: Women are pushing into skilled trades as Guyana rewrites labour laws; consultations include wage, termination, discrimination and workplace safety concerns. Power Crisis Pressure: Government says relief from electricity instability will take another six months, with planned generating and transmission overhauls. Oil Governance Debate: ExxonMobil rejects calls for ring-fencing new projects as Guyana weighs how future developments could affect profit shares. Tourism & Conservation: Plans to designate about 3.7 million acres of forest in the Acarai-Rupununi corridor as permanent conservation aim to strengthen sustainable tourism and birding. Legal/Health Sector: Full Court clears the Health Ministry to take over VAMED hospital sites, even as a €45.3m dispute heads to arbitration. Skills for the Future: ILO warns that fast tech change can leave workers behind unless skills systems keep pace. Local Industry Support: GNBS highlights accredited pressure gauge calibration services for safety-critical oil, manufacturing and aviation operations.

Oil & Trade: US crude imports from Iraq resumed at about 51,000 bpd, while Guyana averaged 171,000 bpd to the US in the latest week, keeping Guyana in the top supplier list. Health Systems: Abu Dhabi’s “Future Health” brought ministers and global health leaders to UNGA 81 to push prevention-first health systems, with Guyana among participants. Maritime Safety & Accountability: A retired Coast Guard captain is training government ferry crews on emergency drills after the MV Barima tragedy, as protests in Linden demand ministerial resignations and stronger maritime oversight. Local Industry & Jobs: Two industrial safety/services firms—HHSL Safety Systems and Barrier Industrial Services—were placed into voluntary liquidation. Water Infrastructure: GWI says more details on its state-owned bottled-water plant will be released by November, after $496.3M approval and renewed debate over competing with private bottlers. EV Skills: The Guyana Energy Agency graduated 25 EV/hybrid maintenance technicians, bringing the total trained to 102 as charging demand rises. Tourism & Skills: 19 bird guides were accredited, strengthening specialised birding tourism capacity. Governance & Oversight: The Audit Office says it’s working to build an oil-and-gas scrutiny unit after funding efforts were blocked in the last parliament.

Electricity Stability Push: President Irfaan Ali says Guyana will stabilise power supply within six months via generating-set overhauls, added grid capacity, and completion of the Berbice–Demerara interconnection. Local Content & Oversight: Finance Minister Ashni Singh warns contractors of liquidated damages for delays, while the Audit Office moves to build stronger oil-and-gas scrutiny capacity. Oil & Gas Value Debate: Exxon Guyana chief Alistair Routledge rejects calls for the company to “build the nation,” sparking fresh questions about how oil wealth is shared. EV Skills Drive: The Guyana Energy Agency graduates 25 EV/hybrid technicians (102 total), as charging demand rises. Workplace Safety Reform: Government launches a Gender Equality in the Workplace and PSEAH training push to tackle toxic and intimidating workplace behaviour. Maritime Accountability: Linden protesters breach into the Watooka Complex, demanding resignations over the MV Barima tragedy and calling for stronger safety oversight. Tourism Skills: 19 birding professionals accredited under Guyana’s Bird Guide Programme to boost niche, conservation-linked tourism. Global UN Race: Guyana’s UN Secretary-General bid gets another diplomatic boost as Foreign Minister Hugh Todd meets Russia’s Lavrov. Disaster Readiness: CDC warns El Niño conditions may persist into late 2027, urging early water conservation and planning. Industry Pipeline: Lindsayca bids for NGL storage/offloading for the Wales Gas-to-Energy project, as procurement scrutiny grows.

Oil & Gas Policy: President Irfaan Ali says Guyana is reviewing how it will handle the next phase of oil projects as its Stabroek share rises to 39.8%, weighing whether Guyana should invest directly and whether terms should change. Bauxite Expansion: Talks with First Bauxite and US partners focus on a US$150M package to expand mining and processing, including calcination and a brown-fused alumina facility. Security & Crime: At the INTERPOL Americas conference, Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond says about $467B has gone to public safety and security since 2020, while INTERPOL warns criminal syndicates are increasingly laundering cocaine profits through illegal gold mining. Diaspora & Investment: President Ali drew a huge New York crowd, calling for a special diaspora investment vehicle with government-guaranteed returns for fertiliser and gas bottling, plus a single app for services and a national payment system. Food Security: Ashni Singh warns hunger gains are vulnerable to El Niño, higher input costs and trade disruptions. Local Business Push: GuyExpo 2026 is officially launched (Nov 12–15) to help MSMEs find customers, partners and investors. Health Infrastructure: VAMED challenges a court decision allowing government access to hospital sites while arbitration continues.

GuyExpo 2026: The four-day trade show is officially launched for Nov. 12–15 at the National Exhibition Centre, Sophia, with registration now open for businesses and sponsors under the theme “Creating Tomorrow’s Opportunities Through Today’s Investments.” Diaspora Investment Push: President Irfaan Ali told Guyanese in Queens, New York that a special diaspora investment vehicle is coming soon, offering government-guaranteed returns for projects like fertiliser and gas bottling, alongside plans for a single government services app and a national payment system. UNGA Reform & UN Chief Race: At the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister Philip Davis called for restoring trust through UN reform, while Ali directly urged the P5 to back Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for Secretary-General. Energy & Local Content: The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged tighter monitoring of foreign oil contractors and clearer information for Guyanese suppliers as gas development ramps up. Health & Infrastructure: Guyana’s Full Court cleared the way for the Health Ministry to take over VAMED hospital sites, moving major projects forward. Agriculture & Food Security: Inland fisheries expansion will add 13 more fish cages by year-end, and UG says it spent $7B in the first half of 2026 to expand medicine and engineering access. Mining Enforcement: GGMC detained six non-nationals for unauthorised underground mining. Disaster Preparedness: CDC held El Niño consultations in Region Five, warning of dry conditions through early 2027 and fire risks.

Gas & Local Industry: ExxonMobil Guyana’s Alistair Routledge says Guyana must lay the groundwork for gas expansion by building an enabling environment for private and local contractors, pointing to the US$1B Liza-to-GtE pipeline and the need for careful planning before a second, bigger pipeline. Fuel Costs: Diesel prices jumped again at multiple Georgetown stations, adding pressure to already strained household budgets. Telecom Disruption: One Communications restored mobile data and fibre after a contractor damaged its Carifesta Avenue cable, with a temporary repair still in place. Roads & Accountability: Commentator Christopher Ram blasts ministers over chaotic East Bank road works at Friendship, calling for proper traffic management and enforcement. Fire Safety: The Fire Service urges smoke detectors and automatic sprinklers in new multi-storey buildings, with installation and maintenance by qualified professionals. Oil, Crime & Money Flows: INTERPOL says cocaine profits are increasingly being moved through illegal gold mining, citing Operation Guyana Shield as a model of cross-border follow-the-money work. Tourism & Business: GuyExpo 2026 was launched, and GMSA calls for stronger consumer support for locally made goods. Labour & Regulation: Government moves to overhaul labour laws as new industries expand, with immigration and citizenship rules also under review. Energy Security & SDGs: President Ali links Guyana’s growth to SDG-aligned development, warning against chasing short-term gains. Sports Infrastructure: GFF opens public tender for Phase 1 of the Blue Water Shipping Stadium. Public Health Projects: Full Court clears the state to take over Ogle and New Amsterdam hospital sites and continue works. Legal Warning: AG Nandlall warns tasers sold to civilians could carry up to 15 years under the Firearms Act. Tourism Leadership: Melissa Noel to host SOTIC 2026 in Guyana.

Stadium & Shipping Infrastructure: The Guyana Football Federation opened the public tender for Phase 1 of the Blue Water Shipping Stadium, with FIFA and Concacaf confirming the design meets international requirements, and construction expected after procurement. Energy & Industry Localisation: GCCI is urging clearer government guidance so local oil and gas contractors aren’t sidelined as regional and international firms expand, while President Ali says Guyana’s growth should follow UN SDGs for long-term prosperity. Labour & Citizenship Rules: Attorney General Anil Nandlall says Guyana’s labour laws are being overhauled to close regulatory gaps for new industries, and immigration/citizenship rules are under review to tighten access and non-citizen land ownership. Public Safety & Consumer Standards: Nandlall warns tasers sold to the public could carry up to 15 years in prison under the Firearms Act, and GNBS approved new compulsory LPG cylinder and regulator standards to prevent leaks and explosions. Food Security & Climate Risk: Guyana called for coordinated agrifood action at a UN hunger forum, as Hydromet warns of flash-flood risk despite drier-than-normal conditions. Security & Crime Fighting: INTERPOL conference focus is faster intelligence-sharing to stop cross-border organised crime, with Guyana joining a hemispheric sanctions push against major criminal networks. Health & Construction Legal Update: The Full Court allowed the AG’s appeal in the VAMED Engineering dispute over preservation orders at the Georgetown Paediatric and Maternal Hospital and New Amsterdam Hospital sites. Oil Boom Debate: A new analysis questions whether Guyana’s oil wealth is translating into better daily living, highlighting wage and cost-of-living pressures.

LPG Safety Push: GNBS has approved two new compulsory national standards for LPG cylinders and low-pressure regulators to curb leaks and explosions, tightening requirements on stamping, markings, safety relief devices, and regulator materials/testing. EV Charging Boom: Guyana’s EV market is accelerating, with nearly 900 vehicles imported since 2020 and public charging sessions nearly tripling; 8 stations are operating and 16 more are due by year-end. Oil Revenue Debate: President Ali’s 39.8% Stabroek oil share claim is being challenged in a letter pointing to the 2026 Half-Year Report’s cost-recovery language and possible profit-oil range. Digital Government: Ali says a single “My Guyana” app for government services is planned for next year, alongside a national payment platform by year-end. Energy for Industry: GPL says it is investing in a National Control Centre and expanding technical training to better manage the grid as Gas-to-Energy ramps up. Regional Business: Demerara Distillers is expanding in St Kitts to use the island as a hub for wider Caribbean distribution, adding bottling capacity. Diplomacy & Security: India and CARICOM foreign ministers met in New York to deepen cooperation on trade, agriculture, digital governance, climate resilience and energy; meanwhile INTERPOL convened Americas leaders in Guyana to push faster intelligence-sharing, especially linking drug trafficking and illegal gold mining. Fire Safety: GFS is urging sprinklers and smoke detectors in homes and buildings as construction grows nationwide. Legal Clarity on Tasers: AG Anil Nandlall says civilian sale/possession of tasers without ministerial authority would breach the Firearms Act.

Energy & Industry Strategy: President Irfaan Ali says Qatar’s model shows how gas wealth can be turned into long-term, downstream industries for decades—citing plans like powering an alumina plant and building large-scale urea and agriculture-linked value chains. Power Grid Modernisation: GPL is rolling out a $20m National Control Centre under the Gas-to-Energy push, with upgraded fibre communications and expanded technical training to better monitor the grid and reduce customer interruptions. Climate Resilience & Agriculture: Mangrove coverage rose by 324 hectares in the first half of 2026, while Hydromet warns extreme El Niño conditions could persist—prompting water storage and supply measures for farmers. Food Supply Stabilisation: Government will import 330,000 pounds of chicken weekly as a temporary fix for supply gaps, alongside longer-term cold-storage and storage expansion plans. Health Gains: Guyana is nearing elimination of lymphatic filariasis, as the health ministry highlights progress across multiple infectious diseases and cheaper hepatitis C treatment. Security & Justice: INTERPOL conference in Guyana calls for faster intelligence-sharing, targeting links between drug trafficking and illegal gold mining; meanwhile, the MV Barima Commission of Inquiry invites public witnesses as the 2020 election trial hears new vote-variation figures. Business & Trade: US EXIM Bank signals up to US$550m financing for GTE Phase Two; GTNova expands into brokerage via a Caribconex partnership, and bottled water makers and the PSC move toward cost-cutting collaboration. Creative Economy: The state is accelerating an “Orange Economy” framework to turn Guyana’s creative sector into bankable, revenue-generating careers.

LGBT Rights & Workplace Protections: A Guyana Together poll says 72% of Guyanese back workplace protections for LGBT people, while 53.9% support repealing the colonial-era law criminalising same-sex intimacy. Honey Industry Push: GLDA is offering free beekeeping training in Region Nine to expand local honey production, with monitoring and follow-up support planned. Tourism & Value-Added Diversification: Minister Susan Rodrigues urged firms to invest in tourism, agro-processing and cross-border trade to keep value in Guyana beyond extractives. Bottled Water Cost Plan: The PSC met GWI and industry to explore ways to cut bottled water prices, including standardising PET preforms and possible local consortium investment. El Niño Water Warnings: Hydromet says extreme El Niño could drive below-normal rainfall into early 2027; officials warn water rationing may be needed if conservancies don’t refill. Chicken Supply Stabiliser: Government will import 330,000 pounds of chicken weekly to plug supply gaps while local production recovers. Power Outage Troubles: GPL reported faults and tripping causing outages, while it ramps up about US$800M in grid upgrades to ease blackouts. GTE & Deepwater Port Financing: US EXIM is expected to support GTE Phase 2 and the Berbice deepwater port, with possible spillover into housing and other priorities. Corruption Claims Rebuttal: GWI rejected allegations over water project awards, saying tenders were competitive and contracts followed process. Mining Enforcement Spotlight: Natural Resources Minister Bharrat says Guyana can’t operate “like the Wild West” as illegal mining and gold smuggling crackdowns continue.

Cost of Living & Food Security: President Irfaan Ali says inflation is contained at 4% (end-June), but food prices rose 6.7% in the first half, pushing a push for farmers markets and more local production (onions, potatoes, beans, hatching eggs, poultry) plus storage to stabilise supply. Climate & Water Risk: Hydromet warns El Niño will keep temperatures above normal and rainfall below normal into early 2027, raising the risk of water rationing and heat impacts across agriculture, health and energy. Energy & Infrastructure Finance: US EXIM Bank is set to back GTE Phase Two and the Deepwater Port, while expanding support for housing, security and other projects including Amaila Falls and Lethem Airport. Oil Money vs Daily Life: Opposition figures argue petroleum revenue projections (about US$6.5B) aren’t translating into relief for ordinary people, as debate continues over cash grants and cost pressures. Oil Sector Performance: Exxon says it recouped $55B investment two years early, setting up higher free cash flow and bigger profits. Mining Crackdown: Natural Resources Minister Bharrat says illegal mining and gold smuggling enforcement is intensifying, with stronger traceability and compliance demands. Business & Trade: Pas Cargo wins IDB Lab financing as the first Guyanese private firm to secure an IDB Lab loan; Region Ten entrepreneurs flag land access as a major barrier to expansion. Green Growth: Guyana Energy Agency launches Energy Champions Awards for renewable energy, efficiency, water, waste and green building. Agriculture Supply Pressure: Temporary chicken imports are being considered as local poultry production declines.