AGP Executive Report

Diaspora Celebrations: Over 10,000 people turned out for Guyana’s 60th Independence Diamond Jubilee in Brooklyn, New York, with a major street parade and Unity Concert drawing lawmakers and MPs across political lines. Public Finance Firestorm: Former Finance Minister Winston Jordan blasted the government’s $54.8B supplementary budget as “out of control,” saying Parliament has become a rubber stamp. Oil & Gas Update: ExxonMobil Guyana reported $982.4B in after-tax profit for 2025 and the government is reviewing Exxon’s request to ramp output at the One Guyana FPSO toward about 945,000 bpd. Procurement Watch: Auditor General findings flagged nearly $210M in contracts tied to procurement irregularities, including contract splitting by the Guyana Police Force and missing evaluation committee steps in Region Five. Child Protection Data Gap: A parliamentary response says 584 girls under 16 were referred to the CPA from 2020-2025, but the ministry can’t say how many gave birth. Health System Enforcement: President Ali warned health officials they’ll be dismissed for bypassing the medical procurement system. Crime: A breakthrough in the Zeelugt 7-year-old murder case saw a 23-year-old farmer arrested after an alleged confession. Sport: Jamaica Empress was confirmed as the fourth team in the expanded 2026 Women’s Caribbean Premier League in Barbados (Sept 5-17).

Women’s Cricket: Jamaica Empress has been named the fourth team in the expanded 2026 Women’s Caribbean Premier League, joining Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders. The tournament runs Sept. 5–17 in Barbados, with all matches at Kensington Oval, and a new format where the top team goes straight to the final while second and third meet in a playoff. Oil & Gas: Government is reviewing ExxonMobil’s request to ramp up Stabroek Block output by about 30,000 bpd, targeting roughly 945,000 bpd, with safety checks planned for the One Guyana FPSO. Health Governance: President Irfaan Ali warned health officials they’ll be dismissed if they bypass the new centralised medical supply system starting July 1, including tighter sign-offs for emergency purchases. Press Freedom: Former Stabroek News EIC Anand Persaud will lead the launch of Kiskadee Watch, a new free online daily newspaper on June 14, with a weekly print edition expected later this year. Crime/Courts: Two more men were remanded over an AK-47 rifles probe, as police continue investigations.

Local Crime: A 23-year-old farmer has confessed to the murder of 7-year-old Adriel Mohamed and the attempted murder of 72-year-old Halima Itwari in Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo, after police confronted him with CCTV and recovered the knife he identified. Infrastructure & Transport: The US$161M Soesdyke–Linden Highway project is about 90% complete, with drainage and electrical works progressing despite rain. Energy Transition: Guyana is set to expand public EV charging to 24 stations by year-end, adding 13 more. Sports & Youth: Anna Regina National Stadium is scheduled to be commissioned July 3, while President’s College defended its U15 Blue Water Girls title in Region Four. Business & Aviation: Xen Aviation has taken delivery of a Britten-Norman BN2T-4S Islander to boost domestic connectivity. Regional & Policy: TTMA launches a trade mission to Guyana and Suriname (June 8–14) to open new partnerships. Health: Martinique says it can supply Guyana with radioactive drugs for certain cancers. Mining & Economy: Critics question low mining land rental rates, with foreign large-scale licences reportedly paying as little as US$5 per acre annually.

Mining Costs: Guyana’s gold sector rental rates for foreign firms are as low as US$5 per acre annually, while locals pay US$3, with critics calling the terms “ridiculously low” for land tied to major mineral potential. Local Democracy: PNCR says the long delay in restoring the Local Government Commission is leaving municipalities and NDCs in “administrative paralysis,” unable to properly discipline staff and address misconduct. Infrastructure & Transport: The US$161M Soesdyke–Linden Highway is about 90% complete, with drainage and electrical works progressing; separately, Guyana is set to expand public EV charging to 24 stations by year-end. Health & Social Services: Education Minister Sonia Parag says a full report on alleged mistreatment of a special needs student has been submitted to the Teaching Service Commission, with disciplinary hearings expected within 10 days. Crime: Police say a suspect has confessed to the murder of a 7-year-old boy and injuring his great-grandmother in Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo. ICJ Tensions: Venezuela rejects Guyana’s comments on a possible ICJ ruling on Essequibo and says it will not recognize any decision.

ICJ Essequibo Row: Venezuela has rejected Guyana’s comments about a possible ICJ ruling, saying it never consented to the court’s jurisdiction and will not recognize any decision, insisting the dispute should be handled under the 1966 Geneva Agreement. Crime: Police arrested a suspect in the killing of 7-year-old Adriel Aftab Mohamed and the attempted murder of his 72-year-old great-grandmother in Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo; the child was found with a throat slash and a knife was recovered. Energy & Power Costs: Government says it is still negotiating with the Turkish powership operator after a demanded rate increase, warning the dispute could cost taxpayers millions annually while the Wales gas-to-energy project remains delayed. Local Democracy: APNU alleges the government is undermining elected local authorities by creating parallel structures, including handpicked Community Development Councils. Sex Offences Law: A Sexual Offences Amendment Bill proposes a national sex offender database and penalties for insiders who leak registry information. Transport & Skills: The Soesdyke-Linden Highway project is about 90% complete, and Guyana graduated 22 renewable-energy technicians plus 11 GDF Grade Three Medical Assistants. Clean Transport: Plans are on track for 24 public EV charging stations by year-end.

Karpowership Power Deal: The government has finally addressed Karpowership contract renewal talks, saying negotiations are ongoing to secure the “best possible rate” as grid-stability fears linger ahead of the June 1 deadline. Anti-Corruption Debate: In Parliament, Minister Gail Teixeira pushed back on using Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, arguing it’s perception-based and not proof of corruption. Pensioners’ Relief: GPL will start crediting the $30,000 monthly electricity subsidy for eligible pensioners from the June 2026 billing cycle, with support delivered via post-paid credits or pre-paid wallet deposits. Brutal Crime in Zeelugt: Police arrested a suspected perpetrator after a home invasion in East Bank Essequibo left 7-year-old Adriel Aftab Mohamed dead and his 72-year-old great-aunt seriously injured. Justice Demand in Sophia: A candlelight vigil for Jukeem Scipio turned into a public push for answers over the police operation that left him shot. Sports & Events: Concacaf confirmed Guyana will play in League B of the 2026/27 Nations League; rain postponed the New Amsterdam inter-secondary girls’ cricket T10 to September; and the National Seniors/Youth/Junior track meet is set for June 26–28. Health Innovation: Guyana-linked robotic cardiac telesurgery between Georgetown and India was reported as a world record for distance.

Oil & Economy: Guyana received about US$761M in oil revenue in Q1 2026, with the government also tabling a $54.889B supplementary request in Parliament—highlighting extra funding including $19B more for the Gas-to-Energy project. Energy & Governance: InterEnergy says it has a roadmap to modernise the GPL grid through 2030, while APNU renewed calls for powership contract transparency and a real long-term energy plan. Border & Sovereignty: PM Mark Phillips told the National Assembly Guyana will respect Venezuela’s sovereignty but demand full compliance once the ICJ border ruling is delivered (expected Nov 2026–Jan 2027). Parliament Watch: After a long hiatus, the Committee of Selection finally constituted 13 parliamentary committees. Education: The Education Ministry sent an investigation file to the TSC after a video of alleged mistreatment of a student at the David Rose Special Education Needs School. Crime: A 7-year-old boy was found dead with his throat slashed in Zeelugt during a home invasion that also left his great-grandmother injured. Sports & Media: ENet secured exclusive FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast rights in Guyana; GFF confirmed Bryan Joseph as Technical Director; Slingerz FC drew SWA Sharks in the CFU Club Shield opener.

Former Presidents Benefits Bill: Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh reintroduced the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill, aiming to restore the 2009 benefits framework and repeal the 2015 caps, including perks like utilities, security, medical coverage and staff. Energy Funding & Grid Plan: Government tabled a $54.889B supplementary request, with about $19B more for the Gas-to-Energy project, while InterEnergy outlined a plan to modernise GPL’s grid through 2030. Parliament Resumes Oversight: After an 8-month hiatus, the Committee of Selection constituted 13 parliamentary committees, though opposition questioned how effectively they’ll function. Sovereignty at ICJ: PM Mark Phillips told the National Assembly Guyana will respect Venezuela’s sovereignty but demand full compliance after the ICJ ruling in the border case. Education Probe: The Education Ministry sent an investigation file to the Teaching Service Commission over mistreatment of a student at David Rose Special Education Needs School, with disciplinary hearings expected within 10 days. Crime: A 7-year-old boy was found dead with his throat slit during a home invasion in Zeelugt; his great-grandmother was badly wounded. Sports & Youth: GFF confirmed Bryan Joseph as Technical Director; Slingerz FC drew SWA Sharks in the CFU Club Shield opener; Guyana U19 cricket squad named for Antigua (July 7–23). International: Guyana picked up a symbolic vote in the UN Security Council election for 2027–2028, and ENet secured exclusive broadcast rights for FIFA World Cup 2026.

Power Crisis Watch: Karpowership is warning it may suspend electricity supply unless new commercial terms are agreed, while the government says negotiations are ongoing and outages are not linked to generation. Crime & Justice: Police are hunting a lone suspect after a 7-year-old’s throat was slit and his 72-year-old great-grandmother was stabbed during a home invasion at Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo; separately, a Linden man has been charged with murder after a confrontation involving a man reportedly defecating in his yard. Public Service: Immigration passport offices will open on Saturdays in June to clear overdue collections, with selected regional hubs operating 09:00–15:00 for applicants with overdue slips. Local Politics: WIN leader Azruddin Mohamed and PNCR leader Aubrey Norton trade accusations over extradition-linked claims, while analyst Gerald Perreira says both major parties are stuck in “ego-driven” politics. Economy & Policy: The National Assembly is set to reconvene with a legislative push including a Guyana Development Bank Bill and updates to victim protection laws. Energy & Local Content: Officials and MPs continue pushing for better enforcement of safety in mining camps and for local content to translate into real benefits for Guyanese.

Former Presidents Benefits Clash: APNU MP Ganesh Mahipaul calls the government’s plan to repeal the 2015 Former Presidents’ Benefits Act “unconscionable,” as Attorney General Anil Nandlall says unlimited benefits will be restored and a bill is set for first reading. Power Supply & Contract Pressure: Government says it’s negotiating with Turkish-associated Karpowership to renew expired power-ship contracts, rejecting claims blackouts are from the ships and pointing instead to grid maintenance and contractor interruptions. Child Online Safety Push: A national consultation begins to draft rules aimed at shielding children from harmful social media content, with the AG saying the focus is protection, not censorship. Cash Grant Delivery: After complaints about the $100,000 cash grant, Finance Minister Ashni Singh says targeted field teams are helping nearly 400,000 people, especially in hinterland regions. Crime & Courts: Only 25 of 138 matters were disposed of in the April Demerara Criminal Assizes, while police report a murder charge against a man accused of killing his mother. Energy & Oil Updates: ExxonMobil’s request to increase production on the One Guyana FPSO is under review, and Guyana is set to join the LAC4 cybersecurity centre to boost cyber resilience. Social Services: GPL says pensioners’ $30,000 electricity subsidy will appear on June bills.

Unity Beach Tragedy: Police recovered the bodies of Lyodisa “Loyda” Waldron, 20, and her fiancé, special constable Andri Francis, 33, after the couple—reportedly swept away by strong currents while swimming—went missing on Sunday; investigations continue. Telesurgery Milestone: SS Innovations says its CEO remotely performed a heart procedure between Georgetown, Guyana and Indore, India—about 12,500 miles—claiming the world’s longest-distance robotic telesurgery. Local Politics: WIN leader Azruddin Mohamed denies PNCR leader Aubrey Norton’s claim that he entered politics to avoid extradition, while Norton says opposition cooperation should not become a personal legal fight. Former Presidents Benefits: APNU MP Ganesh Mahipaul objects to a move to repeal the 2015 caps and restore unlimited former presidents’ benefits, warning of taxpayer abuse. CARICOM/Immigration Debate: A lawyer warns full CARICOM membership could affect Bermuda’s immigration rules via treaty commitments on free movement. Oil & Trade: Reuters reports Guyana is helping drive South America’s growing role as a crude supply swing region as Middle East disruptions tighten markets. Agriculture Cooperation: Guyana expands agricultural cooperation with the Dominican Republic, focusing on technical support, technology transfer and productivity. Sports & Youth: GBA hands boxing equipment to a prison boxing programme ahead of national novices; and cricket continues with youth initiatives and regional tours.

Forced Labour Tariffs: The US Trade Representative has proposed Section 301 duties on imports from 60 economies, listing Guyana among countries failing to enforce forced-labour import bans—raising fresh trade pressure as the US moves to end a court fight over tariff tools. Local Content Push: At Guyana’s Local Content Summit, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said the country is on track to exceed one million barrels of oil per day by year-end, while leaders stressed local opportunities must be measured by lives transformed, not just contracts. Former President Benefits Bill: Attorney General Anil Nandlall says the Former President’s Benefits Bill will be read in the National Assembly to restore unlimited benefits by repealing earlier APNU+AFC caps. Unity Beach Tragedy: Search efforts ended with the recovery of a pregnant woman and her fiancé after they were swept away by strong currents. Police Station Rebuild: Government plans to rebuild the Grove Police Station with a contract estimated at about $215M. Court Case: A 24-year-old mason, Greedesh Ramkissoon, was charged and remanded for the murder of his mother, with the matter adjourned to August 7. Sports & Community: GBA handed boxing equipment to the Republican Boxing Gym in prison ahead of the National Novices Championships; karting’s “Need for Speed” meet-and-greet is set for West Central Mall.

Unity Beach Tragedy: The bodies of a pregnant Victoria Village woman and her fiancé, Special Constable Andri “Bobby” Francis, were recovered from the Atlantic Ocean after a multi-day search following a Sunday undertow at Unity Foreshore; families say state search efforts stalled until Opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed funded and deployed private fishermen. Water Street Fire: Investigators now say the Water Street blaze was deliberately set, after forensic teams reportedly used CCTV footage to trace an arson attack on a cargo truck inside the Demerara Shipping compound. Police Force Critique: Retired Deputy Commissioner Dr. Paul Williams warns the GPF’s problems are rooted in leadership and competency failures, not just new laws. Former President Benefits: Attorney General Anil Nandlall says government will move to restore full benefits for former presidents under the 2010 legislation. Social Media & Children: Government launched national consultations on regulating harmful social media impacts on children, with Nandlall urging safeguards. Cricket West Indies: CWI released the 2026 home schedule, with matches across the region including Guyana, running June 3 to August 6. US Trade Pressure: The US proposes additional tariffs tied to forced-labour enforcement gaps, with hearings set for July 7.

Power Crisis: Government officials went silent on Karpowership’s demand for an extra US$3.4M per day to keep supplying electricity, as blackouts reportedly rise. Oil & Gas Deals: Sispro, a women-led Guyanese consortium, says it has partnered with Nigeria’s Bono Energy and is ready to sign a PSA with Guyana within days; meanwhile Ghana-based Cybele Energy risks losing its offshore block after failing to pay a US$17M signing bonus. Child Online Safety: A national consultation has been launched to draft stronger protections for children from harmful social media impacts, including cyberbullying and exploitation. Unity Beach Tragedy: Bodies of a pregnant woman and her fiancé, a special constable, swept away by strong currents at Unity Beach, were recovered Tuesday. Aviation & Infrastructure: Three firms bid to build CJIA’s air traffic control tower; Domestic Airways CEO denied flying the Cessna that crashed near Aricheng, as GCAA investigates. Illegal Mining Crackdown: Six illegal mining operations were shut down in Region Seven; 38 people arrested and equipment seized. Banking: Citi received approval to open a representative office in Guyana.

Coast Guard Search: A joint GPF/GDF Coast Guard operation is underway after a pregnant woman and her fiancé, a Special Constable, were swept out to sea at Unity Beach, East Coast Demerara, during a rescue attempt. Floods & Value for Money: Opposition and civil voices are pushing for an audit of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority after years of major drainage spending, as Region 4 continues to flood. Region 7 “Photo Ops” Row: The Opposition Leader says the Cabinet’s outreach to Cuyuni-Mazaruni must deliver structural relief, not taxpayer-funded optics, while the Health Minister is accused of handing over a refurbished boat as a “water ambulance” without proper equipment. Oil & Gas Update: ExxonMobil has filed for environmental approval to develop the Haimara gas discovery offshore Guyana using a super-sized FPSO, its ninth major Stabroek project. Aviation Safety: The GCAA is investigating a crash of a US-registered Cessna 182P at Aricheng Airstrip; no fatalities were reported. Sports & Culture: GTTA crowned Shemar Britton and Samara Sukhai national singles champions; and Guyana’s Diamond Jubilee parade in Brooklyn names Yvette Clarke and top CSEC student Jayden Adrian as grand marshals.

Aviation Safety: Guyana’s Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation after a US-registered CESSNA 182P crashed at the Aricheng Airstrip in the interior on Sunday; preliminary reports say there were no fatalities and the pilot was slightly injured. Tragedy at Unity Beach: Search and recovery continues for a pregnant woman and her fiancé, both swept away by strong currents while swimming at Unity Beach, East Coast Demerara. Power Supply & Accountability: GPL says electricity was disrupted after an excavator damaged its L4 transmission line along the East Bank Demerara corridor, and it will pursue legal action to recover repair costs. Sports Development: Avinash Contracting recommitted support for the One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast (Aug 8 start in Berbice), while the inaugural Champion of Champions Female Softball Cup is set for July 5 in Region Three. Education Access: GOAL reports strong demand for its 2026 intake, with 14,000+ scholarships already granted and more applications coming in. Environment: PM Mark Phillips urged shared responsibility for environmental stewardship during the EPA’s Green Walk ahead of World Environment Day. Regional Connectivity: LIAT and Air Caraïbes signed an interline agreement to let passengers book combined itineraries on one ticket.