标签： Guyana

President Irfaan Ali delivered a strong message to gold miners during his address at the opening of GUYEXPO 2025, held at the Sophia Exhibition Centre. He emphasized that the government would take severe action against those involved in gold smuggling, including shutting down their operations. Ali specifically targeted miners who benefit from government incentives but fail to comply with legal production declarations. ‘Those who are not compliant with the declaration, we are going to come after you hard and strong. We will find you, and you will lose your business,’ he stated. The President also commended the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) for supporting recent crackdowns on illegal mining activities in the Sand Hills and Toroparu areas. These operations, led by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Guyana Police Force, resulted in the detention of illegal miners and the dismantling of unauthorized shops. The GGDMA highlighted the need to curb activities like illegal mining, human trafficking, and drug sales, which have historically funded Venezuelan gangs, including the notorious Sindicato. Ali revealed that one smuggler alone caused a staggering GY$190 billion loss to Guyana’s economy, stressing the importance of tightening the system to prevent such leakages.

In a landmark initiative, seven Amazonian countries—Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Suriname—have joined forces to establish the Amazonia Forever Facility for Cities and Resilient Infrastructure. This regional alliance, formalized through a joint declaration on November 11, 2025, aims to mobilize over $1 billion to bolster investments in water security, clean energy, and resilient urban infrastructure. The initiative is spearheaded by the Amazonia Network of Ministers of Finance and Planning, with robust support from the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) and backing from multilateral climate funds, bilateral donors, and local leaders. The facility will employ innovative financial mechanisms, including blended financing, performance-based concessionality schemes, and credit-substitution guarantees, while providing technical assistance for infrastructure projects in urban and peri-urban areas. Brazil’s Planning and Budget Minister, Simone Tebet, emphasized the dual focus on forest preservation and urban development, highlighting that over 70% of the Amazonian population resides in cities facing critical gaps in water, sanitation, energy, and mobility. IDB Group President Ilan Goldfajn underscored the initiative’s role in fostering livelihoods and protecting the 60 million people who call the Amazon home. The facility has already garnered significant international support, with Denmark, Norway, and Sweden committing $800 million for clean-energy projects, and the Green Climate Fund and Climate Investment Funds contributing $162 million and $215 million, respectively, for resilient infrastructure and clean energy access. Additionally, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation has pledged 6 million euros to enhance water and sanitation efforts in the region.

TotalEnergies, in collaboration with a consortium including Qatar Energy and Petronas, has announced a significant investment of at least $20 million to conduct a 3D seismic survey in the S4 shallow water block offshore Guyana. The project, set to commence in late 2026, will span approximately 1,800 square kilometers and is expected to last at least six months. This initiative follows the signing of a five-year petroleum exploration agreement with the Guyanese government, marking a pivotal step in the region’s oil and gas exploration efforts.

Daniel Larranaga, TotalEnergies’ Vice President of Exploration in the Americas, emphasized the potential impact of the survey, stating that it could lead to significant discoveries and further exploration activities. The S4 block, located off the coast of Demerara, has been a focal point for TotalEnergies since its initial exploration efforts 35 years ago. Larranaga expressed optimism about the block’s geological prospects, noting that while it differs from deep-water plays, it holds considerable potential.

The consortium is awaiting final contractual arrangements and permits, which Larranaga anticipates will be expedited compared to industry standards. The selection of the company to conduct the seismic study remains undecided. Additionally, the project will be integrated with TotalEnergies’ ongoing offshore operations in Suriname’s GranMorgu production facility, currently under construction.

In line with local content provisions, the consortium has committed to engaging in social projects and hiring local contractors and personnel. The agreement also includes a $15 million signature bonus, exceeding the stipulated $10 million, which will be directly deposited into Guyana’s Natural Resources Fund. Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat highlighted the transparency of the agreement, which will be publicly accessible on the ministry’s website.

Guyana, currently producing over 900,000 barrels of oil per day, continues to attract significant investment in its burgeoning oil and gas sector, positioning itself as a key player in the global energy market.

Policy Forum Guyana (PFG) has raised significant concerns over the appointment of Dr. Ivor English as the civil society convenor for the Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative’s Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG), citing a potential conflict of interest due to his extensive ties to the mining sector. Despite assurances from Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat that Dr. English is not in a conflict of interest, PFG maintains that his involvement in mining concessions undermines the impartiality and governance of the role. Dr. English was granted gold-mining concessions totaling 19,586 acres in 2014, later subdivided into 17 permits, 13 of which were medium-scale mining permits. While Minister Bharrat stated that Dr. English is no longer active in gold or sand mining, Dr. English himself hinted at potential future mining activities. PFG criticized the Minister’s justification for the appointment, which emphasized Dr. English’s religious affiliation rather than addressing his mining interests. The organization also highlighted that this appointment marks the second attempt by Minister Bharrat to allegedly control civic appointments within GYEITI through opaque procedures. Earlier this year, the Minister appointed the Chair of the Private Sector Commission, a decision later reversed following intervention from the EITI International Secretariat. PFG emphasized the importance of transparent and impartial selection processes, particularly in a fragile democracy, and called for full civic engagement in the upcoming MSG meeting at the Marriott Hotel to uphold transparency and accountability in Guyana’s extractive industries.

In a significant move to modernize its public sector, Guyana has announced that promotions for public servants will now be contingent upon the successful completion of free courses offered through the newly launched Public Service Upskilling Platform. This initiative is part of a broader government effort to digitize operations, including the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) records and the entire public service system. Minister of Public Service and Government Efficiency, Zulfikar Ally, emphasized that these certifications will serve as crucial markers for professional development and career advancement. ‘These certifications can and will be tied to your professional development, your advancement, and your promotions within the public service,’ Ally stated during the platform’s launch. The courses, provided via the U.S.-based global online learning platform Coursera, will offer certificates that act as proof of new skills and ‘tickets’ for career progression. President Irfaan Ali has set ambitious deadlines for the digitization of NIS records within eight months and the public service’s human resource information system within five months. Ali highlighted that these digital transformations aim to enhance efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness by reducing transaction times and costs. Furthermore, the President envisions a ‘palm-driven service delivery’ system, enabling government officials to work remotely and deliver services directly to citizens via mobile devices. Ali also mandated that farmers gain access to a digital tool within four months, providing them with real-time field information, weather updates, and agricultural extension services. The Centre of Excellence in Agriculture is expected to be fully integrated into this digital framework. These initiatives collectively aim to propel Guyana ahead of its competitors by leveraging technology to streamline government operations and empower its workforce.