The Week in Review

Finance Singh unveils trillion-dollar budget: Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh last Monday announced that the budget for this year amounts to a historic, whopping $1.146 trillion when compared to $781.

International help US open to helping Guyana modernise defence capacity: Guyana’s economic transformation will see its bilateral defence partnership with the United States intensifying this year as the two nations strategise on plans for a futuristic modern defence system here.

Elections General elections to be held in November 2025 – Jagdeo: Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo last week  disclosed that the next general elections will likely be held in November 2025, while Budget 2024 is expected to be presented to the National Assembly by the end of this month.

Border controversy Venezuela has nothing to fear from activities in Guyana’s waters -President: Venezuela has nothing to fear from activities within Guyana’s waters, President Irfaan Ali said last week in an apparent response to Caracas’ concerns about a UK warship that is due to anchor off this country’s coast in the coming hours.

Oil & Gas AG should be concerned Guyana has ceded legislative sovereignty to Exxon – Ram: Attorney at law and commentator Christopher Ram has said that Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC should be concerned that Guyana has ceded legislative sovereignty to ExxonMobil.

Border Controversy Work underway on Argyle Declaration: The persons who will form the joint commission to be established under the Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace between Guyana and Venezuela are in the process of being selected, as Takuba Lodge hailed Thursday’s meeting in St Vincent and the Grenadines as “mutually beneficial.”

Tragedy Five GDF servicemen died in copter crash: Tributes and condolences poured in yesterday for the five members of the Guyana Defence Force who perished in a helicopter crash on last Wednesday.

Border controversy ICJ rules in favour of Guyana: Recognizing the referendum which Venezuela had planned for tomorrow (December 3rd) as a seriously “urgent,” “real” and “imminent” threat to the rights which Guyana currently has to the Essequibo, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued a warning of refrain to Venezuela.

Education Guyanese students capture top awards at CSEC, CAPE: Guyanese students have once again secured outstanding results at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC).

Housing Several persons arrested in housing probe – minister: Several persons have been arrested by the police in relation to a housing fraud probe, according to Minister in the Ministry of Housing, Susan Rodrigues who also strongly defended one of her employees who had been implicated on social media.

Border controversy Venezuela rejects UN SG statement over border controversy tension: Venezuela last week rejected a statement by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday expressing concern at the recent escalation of tension between Georgetown and Caracas over the border controversy between the two countries. 

Border controversy World Court to hear Guyana’s bid for provisional measures against Venezuelan referendum: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) last week said that it will hold public hearings on November 14 on Guyana’s request for provisional measures related to a referendum planned by Venezuela on December 3rd on Essequibo which is the substance of a case currently being heard by the Holland-based tribunal.

Oil & Gas Audit of US$7.3b claims found Exxon’s subsidiary assigned costs using complex system: The RHVE Consortium that undertook the audit of the US$7.3 billion claims by ExxonMobil’s subsidiary for the period 2017 to 2020 said that the company assigns costs using a complex system and while only a small figure, some expenses were above what they should be and included a transfer pricing percentage.

Border controversy Gov’t, Opposition `completely’ united against Venezuela threat: The Government and the Opposition last Tuesday held discussions on the growing tensions and threat by Venezuela to this country and denounced Caracas’ planned December 3rd referendum as a violation of treaties, saying they stand “completely” united on Guyana’s sovereignty and no effort would be spared to ensure this.

Oil & Gas Opposition adamant that Exxon made audit disclosure: Opposition members present during the September meeting with ExxonMobil insist that the company did say government agreed to the cost reduction from US$214 million to US$3 million and are of the view that the United States oil major should make its position public.

Oil & Gas ‘Shell’ pulls out of Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase: For their share in a US$300 million investment made with two other local businesses in the NRG consortium for the Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase Inc (VEHSI), the Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed-owned Hadi’s World Incorporated has pulled out and is selling its shares to the other partners, a decision, Mohammed says, is based on personal religious beliefs.

Mining  Gov’t to temporarily halt mining at Chinese Landing: As part of its response to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) resolution issued on July 21 concerning the Chinese Landing Village, the Government of Guyana has announced its decision to temporarily end all mining there as it engages the Toshao and council on the way forward.

Mining IACHR grants protective measures to Chinese Landing residents: The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on July 21st issued Resolution 41/2023, through which it granted precautionary measures in favour of members of the Indigenous Carib Community of Chinese Landing, who it said are “currently at serious, urgent risk of suffering irreparable harm to their human rights”.

Parliamentary Over $31b in extra spending approved by Parliament: The government on July 20th granted approval for $26,532,000,000 in supplementary provisions by the National Assembly to cover projects such as the replication of the Hope drainage canal in regions five and six and other sea defence projects.

Investigation ‘Shell’ Mohamed, son deny smuggling claims: Gold trader, Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed and his son, Azruddin Mohamed last Friday denied the explosive claim in a Reuters special report that they were engaged in gold and drug smuggling.