标签： Guyana

In a dramatic parliamentary session examining Guyana’s $1.558 trillion budget, opposition leader Odessa Primus delivered a scathing critique of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s fundamental policy deficiencies. The We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) General Secretary condemned the ministry’s absence of coherent policies across all three sectors under its purview during Thursday’s National Assembly proceedings.

Primus, herself an accomplished stage performer, highlighted the critical lack of modern copyright legislation protecting artists’ intellectual property. “How could you have a ministry and have not one single policy?” she questioned, emphasizing that this void prevents proper evaluation of ministerial accountability. She cited the tragic cases of late cultural icons Henry Rodney and Habeeb Khan who died in poverty despite their significant contributions to Guyanese culture.

The criticism extended to sports development, where Primus noted that coaches remain inadequately compensated and high-performing athletes receive insufficient incentives. She particularly lamented the government’s failure to utilize the National Museum to honor cultural legends, mentioning numerous living treasures including Desiree Edghill, Vivienne Daniels, and Eddy Grant who deserve formal recognition.

Culture Minister Charles Ramson defended his administration’s record, highlighting several accomplishments including the completion of a draft sports policy awaiting Cabinet approval, passage of the Horse Racing Act, and planned National Trust Act legislation before 2030. He detailed infrastructure developments including 145 illuminated sports grounds, a national sports academy, and modernization of the National Sports Hall.

Ramson pointed to cultural achievements including nine acclaimed plays funded through the revived Guyana Prize for Literature program, accreditation of the Institute of Creative Arts, and successful international participations in CARIFESTA and World Expos. “Persons involved in our programs are doing better now than they have ever done before,” he asserted, noting participants are purchasing homes and vehicles through improved earnings.

The debate revealed bipartisan agreement on copyright reform, with APNU parliamentarian Nima Flue-Bess having already tabled a motion for a bipartisan committee to review existing legislation. Both major parties had campaigned on replacing the outdated 1956 British Copyright Act during last year’s elections.

Primus offered constructive recommendations including integrating cultural development with tourism initiatives, specialized swimming training for Indigenous communities, establishing youth rehabilitation centers instead of expanding prisons, and implementing educational programs on Guyanese history and folklore. She also proposed grants for creative projects and tax incentives for artists to foster sustainable cultural development.

President Irfaan Ali of Guyana has declared that the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by United States forces has not diminished the territorial threat posed to Guyana’s mineral-rich Essequibo Region. Addressing the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) annual officers conference at Base Camp Ayanganna, Commander-in-Chief Ali emphasized that despite significant political changes in Venezuela, Guyana must remain prepared, vigilant, and ready to defend its sovereignty.

The American military operation that captured Maduro and extradited him to face trial in the U.S. over drug and weapons charges has led to unexpected diplomatic developments. Interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez, previously known for aggressive rhetoric against Guyana and strong anti-American sentiment, has surprisingly established warm relations with U.S. President Donald Trump. This shift has resulted in freed political prisoners, amended laws to attract American oil investments, and the release of $500 million from seized Venezuelan oil assets.

President Ali cautioned against interpreting Venezuela’s internal changes as reduced external threats. ‘The present situation in Venezuela does not remove or diminish the threat to Guyana’s territory,’ he stated, highlighting that preparedness should not be mistaken for provocation. The Guyanese leader reinforced that maintaining military readiness across land, sea, and air domains is essential national policy, not aggression.

The address referenced recent tensions, including a March 2025 incident when the Venezuelan Navy entered Guyana’s Stabroek Block, informing exploration vessels they were in ‘undemarcated Venezuelan waters’ before withdrawing after several hours. Ali emphasized that Guyana’s expansive military cooperation agreements with the United States, Britain, and France would not come at the expense of political independence or territorial sovereignty.

‘We cannot outsource sovereignty,’ President Ali asserted. ‘We cannot subcontract our defense and we cannot assume that any fairy godmother or godfather will always appear at a decisive moment.’ The president committed to maintaining friendly relations with all nations while insisting that cooperation must be grounded in respect for Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods recently indicated that reduced naval patrols could create a ‘more friendly environment’ for potential hydrocarbon exploration in the northwestern Stabroek Block nearer to Venezuela, highlighting the continuing economic implications of the territorial dispute.

In a definitive stance announced Thursday evening, the Guyana government has officially declined to publicize the investigative report concerning the December 2023 helicopter crash that resulted in the deaths of five military personnel. Aviation Minister Deodat Indar addressed the National Assembly, clarifying that the Bell 412Epi helicopter was engaged in an active military mission when it catastrophically crashed in a remote, densely forested region of the country’s interior. Minister Indar emphasized the operation’s classified nature, stating, ‘The flight operation at the time when it happened was a military operation. I repeat. It was a military operation. It was not a civilian flight.’ This declaration came directly in response to calls from opposition leader Amanza Walton-Desir of the Forward Guyana Movement, who accused the government of violating Article 13 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Minister Indar countered this allegation by invoking the Chicago Convention, which categorizes aircraft utilized in military, customs, and police services as ‘State aircraft.’ He challenged critics to identify any nation that routinely discloses sensitive information pertaining to military operational incidents, framing the decision as a standard matter of national security protocol. This announcement marks the first explicit government position on the long-debated report, which had previously been under review by the Cabinet. The crash claimed the lives of highly decorated servicemen, including Lt. Col. Michael Charles, Retired Brigadier Gary Beaton, Colonel Michael Shahoud, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome, and Staff Sergeant Jason Khan. Two personnel, Lieutenant Andio Crawford and Corporal Wayne Jackson, survived the incident. Despite international aviation conventions urging transparency, the government maintains that its obligation to protect state and military secrets supersedes public disclosure demands in this specific context.

In a significant parliamentary address, Dr. David Hinds, Co-leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) and APNU parliamentarian, has called for a major reallocation of Guyana’s educational budget. Speaking before the National Assembly on Wednesday, Dr. Hinds proposed diverting substantial portions of the GY$5.8 billion allocated to the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) program to instead bolster funding for the University of Guyana (UG).

The veteran politician and former Political Science Professor at Arizona State University expressed grave concerns about UG’s financial stability, noting that the institution’s GY$14.5 billion allocation falls significantly short of its requested GY$21 billion budget. This underfunding occurs despite a dramatic enrollment increase following the government’s reintroduction of free education policies last year.

Dr. Hinds drew historical parallels, recalling that UG was initially established in 1963 by PPP founder Dr. Cheddi Jagan with modest beginnings at Queen’s College. “Is Jagan’s party not running the risk of turning the University of Guyana into another night school?” he questioned, highlighting the irony that current policies might undermine the very institution his political opponents’ founder created.

The criticism of GOAL’s management follows similar concerns raised days earlier by WIN’s Shadow Education Minister Dr. Gordon Barker, who characterized the program as suffering from “poor planning, weak oversight, and unacceptable uncertainty.” Dr. Barker noted the absence of clear reporting on completion rates, accreditation standards, and employment outcomes for GOAL participants.

Education Minister Sonia Parag responded to earlier criticisms by highlighting what she characterized as hypocrisy, noting that Dr. Barker himself had pursued studies through the GOAL program he now criticizes.

The budgetary debate also extended to public sector compensation. APNU parliamentarian Ganesh Mahipaul highlighted the disparity between government ministers’ substantial salary increases and the modest wages of ordinary public servants. With minimum public sector wages at GY$102,000 and private sector minimums at GY$60,000, Mahipaul questioned whether the GY$1.558 trillion budget adequately addressed workforce dignity.

Public Service Minister Zulfikar Ally defended the administration’s record, noting a 46% increase in public servants’ minimum wage since the PPP returned to office in 2020. He emphasized that the public sector wage bill had nearly doubled from GY$127 billion in 2020 to GY$252 billion by the end of 2025, reflecting consistent annual increases.

Guyana’s compliance with international aviation standards has been called into question following allegations that the government has violated the Convention on International Civil Aviation by withholding the official investigation report of a deadly military helicopter crash that occurred over two years ago.

Amanza Walton-Desir, Leader of the Forward Guyana Movement and former General Counsel to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, raised the serious allegation during parliamentary debates on the 2026 national budget. She emphasized that Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Convention mandates states to publicly release accident investigation reports within twelve months, or provide annual interim statements if the full report cannot be completed within that timeframe.

The tragic incident involved a Bell 412 Epi helicopter belonging to the Guyana Defence Force that crashed on December 6, 2023, while transporting five servicemen to an interior location. The accident occurred during a period of heightened tensions between Guyana and Venezuela concerning Venezuela’s longstanding territorial claim to Guyana’s Essequibo Region.

While acknowledging potential national security considerations that might justify redacting certain sections, Walton-Desir insisted that the families of the deceased servicemen deserve closure and that the aviation industry needs access to the report’s safety findings to prevent future accidents. She made an impassioned plea from the parliamentary floor for the immediate release of the long-overdue document.

The continued withholding of the crash investigation report represents both a regulatory violation and a significant transparency issue, raising questions about governmental accountability in matters of national security and aviation safety.

In a significant parliamentary address, Opposition APNU legislator Sharma Solomon has called for a radical restructuring of revenue distribution from Guyana’s extractive industries. The former Mayor of Linden advocated for mining districts to receive direct financial benefits from sector earnings to drive local human development initiatives.

Speaking during debates on the national GY$1.558 trillion budget, Solomon emphasized the urgent need for a new social contract between mining regions and the central government. His proposal specifically targets Regions 1 (Barima-Waini), 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), 8 (Potaro-Siparuni), 9 (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) – areas rich in mineral resources but historically characterized by inadequate reinvestment and limited autonomy.

The parliamentarian pointed to successful Indigenous Amerindian communities already benefiting directly from gold mining revenues as evidence that such models can work effectively. He further cited international precedents from Canada and Australia where mining districts receive direct financial benefits from extraction activities.

Solomon’s comprehensive framework includes legal recognition of community engagement tied to mining permits, establishment of local employment quotas, specialized training programs, procurement targets, and dedicated community funds. “We must ensure that mining wealth returns to these communities in tangible, transformative ways,” he asserted, highlighting the principle of reciprocity between resource extraction and local investment.

In a surprising political reversal, Mahdia Mayor Eslyn Romascindo-Hussain and Deputy Mayor Akita John have formally withdrawn their resignations just days after submitting them, citing personal reasons. The unexpected turnaround occurred without public explanation, though sources indicate significant political considerations influenced the decisions.

According to informed sources, the ruling People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) faced potential complications if the resignations proceeded. Mayor Romascindo-Hussain, as a constituency-elected councilor, would have triggered a mandatory by-election, while Deputy Mayor John’s departure would have reduced the party’s council representation to three seats.

In her February 2 recission letter, Mayor Romascindo-Hussain stated she had made her decision ‘after careful consideration,’ pledging to ‘continue to serve the citizens of Mahdia to the best of my abilities.’ Her original resignation cited three years of council work that had caused her ‘physical and mental health to be unstable.’

Deputy Mayor John similarly revoked her resignation, which had been scheduled to take effect February 7. Her original resignation to Local Government Minister Priya Manickchand explained that the position’s demands had ‘become increasingly challenging’ and were significantly impacting her personal life.

The mayor has since addressed speculation about political motivations behind the reversal, issuing a statement denying any interference from Junior Minister Pauline Sukhai and reaffirming her commitment to the PPPC. She appealed to unknown persons to cease spreading false information regarding her decision-making process.

In a significant development for press freedom in Guyana, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) has publicly refuted claims by House Speaker Manzoor Nadir regarding an existing agreement on media access to parliamentary proceedings. The controversy emerged during the February 3-4, 2026 parliamentary sessions when Speaker Nadir asserted that current media arrangements were established in consultation with the GPA.

The GPA issued a comprehensive statement clarifying that any previous agreement with the Parliament Office was specifically limited to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in 2020 and has been obsolete since national restrictions ended in March 2022. The association emphasized that Speaker Nadir’s continued reference to this expired agreement represents a fundamental misrepresentation of the current media landscape.

The dispute centers on the Speaker’s decision to limit parliamentary access to only seven journalists while banning all private television news cameras from the chamber, permitting only the state-affiliated Department of Public Information (DPI) to provide video coverage. The GPA maintains that these restrictions are unjustified, noting that the parliamentary chamber has historically accommodated up to twelve journalists and multiple camera operators simultaneously.

Speaker Nadir challenged opposition parliamentarian Sherod Duncan to formally propose changes to parliamentary rules through a motion while simultaneously expunging Duncan’s concerns from the official record. The Speaker maintained that no journalists are restricted from covering proceedings, despite implementing the seven-reporter cap.

The GPA has identified multiple concerns with the current arrangement, including the unreliable nature of the DPI-provided video feed, which frequently experiences audio breaks and interruptions. The association also rejected the Speaker’s suggestion that smartphone recordings could substitute for professional broadcast equipment.

This conflict represents the latest chapter in an ongoing struggle between Guyana’s media community and parliamentary authorities. The GPA characterizes these restrictions as an attack on media freedom that compromises transparent coverage of the nation’s legislative processes, particularly during critical events like budget presentations.