AGP Executive Report

Climate Finance: Guyana has earned US$353M from carbon credit sales since 2022 under the LCDS 2030, with officials pointing to jurisdictional-scale forest credits and a major market deal as key drivers. Water & Health Infrastructure: Guyana Water Inc. plans $251M in new well drilling at Garden of Eden and Houston, aiming to expand potable supply under the 2026 water budget. Public Health Watch: A chikungunya situation is worsening for travellers, with active outbreaks flagged across Suriname, French Guiana, and Mayotte—a reminder that mosquito-bite prevention matters now. Education Milestone: St. George’s School of Sciences becomes the first public institution to sit CCSLC exams, rolling out subjects from English and Mathematics through Digital Literacy. Governance & Equity: A feminist budget analysis says Guyana’s 2026 national budget is not translating higher spending into health and environmental justice, arguing allocations remain largely gender-neutral and miss structural inequality. UN Diplomacy: President Ali says Guyana will nominate Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for UN Secretary-General, citing Guyana’s growing role on climate, biodiversity, and small-state priorities. Oil Accountability: Reports claim ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC left US$2.4B in taxes unpaid in 2025, raising questions as the state moves through new borrowing for 2026.

Public Health Watch: CDC travel notices show chikungunya is now active in Suriname, Mayotte, and French Guiana at the same time—an avoidable mosquito-borne risk for summer travellers. Oil & Taxes: New reporting on Stabroek Block partners claims ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC left Guyana about US$2.4B short in 2025 taxes, raising fresh questions about how petroleum wealth is shared. Water Security: Guyana Water Inc. plans about GYD$251M in new wells at Garden of Eden and Houston, part of a wider push to expand potable supply. Budget & Equity: A feminist budget analysis says the 2026 national budget’s rapid growth is not translating into gender and environmental justice, with spending still too “gender-neutral” in design and implementation. Clean Energy for Fisheries: CRFM’s STAR-Fish project will scale clean energy and low-carbon upgrades for fisheries and aquaculture across the region, including Guyana. Governance & Accountability: The Public Accounts Committee meets Monday to elect its chair and move through outstanding Auditor General reports. Development Bank Debate: Opposition critics call the Guyana Development Bank Bill a “recipe for disaster,” warning about control and oversight.

Oil & Taxes: New reporting on the Stabroek Block says ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC left Guyana with about US$2.4B in unpaid income taxes in 2025, with the loss nearly matching that year’s oil earnings—raising fresh questions about how petroleum wealth is shared. Water Security: Guyana Water Inc. will spend about $251M to drill new wells at Garden of Eden and Houston, part of the 2026 water-sector push to expand potable supply. Budget & Equity: A feminist budget analysis argues the 2026 national budget is growing fast but stays largely gender-neutral, with spending prioritising infrastructure over systematic risk reduction for women, Indigenous and rural communities. Illegal Dumping Tech: The Local Government Ministry met Huawei to explore tech tools for surveillance and enforcement to curb illegal dumping and strengthen waste management. UN Diplomacy: President Ali announced Guyana will nominate Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for UN Secretary-General, with regional and political backing already moving in. Youth & Sports: GBTI is sponsoring the Beharry Group U-19 schools cricket tournament, while the Commonwealth Youth Forum planning taskforce has also been named.

Youth & Sports Sponsorship: The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) injects G$3.5M into the Beharry Group Under-19 Schools Cricket Tournament, backing 80 teams across Regions 1–7 from zonal qualifiers to a national round-robin and playoffs. Youth Leadership: 23 young people are selected for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum International Taskforce in Antigua (1–4 Nov), shaping the programme and policy recommendations on youth agency and shared prosperity. UN Diplomacy & Climate Credibility: President Ali announces Guyana will nominate Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for UN Secretary-General, citing Guyana’s growing role on climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable development. Illegal Dumping Tech Push: The Local Government Ministry meets Huawei Guyana on surveillance and data-driven tools to deter illegal dumping and strengthen waste management. Mining & Environment Watch: A report says the Oko West Gold project moved from environmental approval to mining licence and construction within about a year, raising questions for monitoring and safeguards.

UN Diplomacy: President Irfaan Ali says Guyana will nominate Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for the UN Secretary-General post, citing the country’s growing global role on climate, biodiversity, food and energy security. Youth & Development: Twenty-three young people have been selected for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum taskforce, supporting planning and policy recommendations ahead of CHOGM in Antigua under a theme focused on youth agency and shared prosperity. Local Welfare: Government is moving ahead with plans for a daycare centre for prison officers’ children, aiming to ease childcare pressures while parents work. Environment & Enforcement: Guyana and Huawei discussed technology-driven solutions to tackle illegal dumping, including surveillance and data-led enforcement. Mining & Risk: A report says the Oko West Gold project moved from environmental approval to mining licence and construction within about a year, raising questions for environmental safeguards. Governance & Oversight: APNU calls the Guyana Development Bank Bill “a recipe for disaster,” arguing the structure risks turning it into a welfare agency and wants opposition representation on the board. Regional Security: Venezuela has launched a major operation in its gold-mining region, targeting areas long controlled by illegal mining groups.

Energy Security & Climate Pressure: At the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum, experts linked war-driven energy shocks to market strain and warned that resilience may not last as Strait of Hormuz disruptions continue. CARICOM Trade Risks: CARICOM’s COTED meeting opened in Georgetown amid warnings from UNCTAD about higher fuel, food and fertilizer costs, inflation, and food-security threats for small economies. Illegal Dumping Tech: Guyana’s Local Government ministry met Huawei to explore surveillance and data-driven tools to strengthen enforcement and waste management. Fisheries Clean Energy: CRFM is scaling clean-energy support under the STAR-Fish project, targeting low-carbon cold storage and resilience for fisheries and aquaculture across Guyana and the region. Flooding Reality Check: A letter highlights worsening rainy-season flooding tied to clogged canals, weak drainage, and cascading health and livelihood impacts. Green Agri Innovation: Guyana and Brazil move to establish a Caribbean agri-innovation hub to speed up climate-smart technologies and biodiversity-focused agricultural science. Development Bank Debate: Former ambassador Dr. C. Kenrick Hunte warns the Guyana Development Bank Act could enable costly “welfare” lending if interest/collateral rules are too flexible. Oko West Gold Progress: A report says Oko West Gold advanced from environmental permit approval to mining licence and construction within about a year.

CARICOM Trade Talks: The 62nd COTED meeting opened in Georgetown as CARICOM warned that global shocks are pushing up costs and threatening food security across the region. Illegal Dumping Crackdown: Guyana’s Local Government ministry is exploring Huawei-backed tech to monitor and enforce against illegal dumping, linking surveillance and data to waste management. Child Safety Online: Attorney General Anil Nandlall says Guyana has hired a UK law firm to draft practical, enforceable social media rules to protect children. Development Bank Launch: President Ali is pushing back on misconceptions about the Guyana Development Bank, stressing mentorship and long-term prosperity—not quick, risk-free lending. Infrastructure in Motion: Public Works Minister Edghill met Chinese contractors in Macau, citing bridge and hospital delivery progress. Flooding Pressure: Letters highlight worsening rainy-season flooding tied to clogged canals and weak drainage, with health and school disruptions. Green Agri-Science: Guyana and Brazil, via IICA and EMBRAPA, launched a Caribbean agri-innovation hub focused on climate-smart agriculture and tropical crop research. Extractives Transparency: GYEITI validation begins with a closed-door civil society meeting amid transparency fears in the extractive sector.

Illegal Dumping Crackdown: The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development met Huawei Guyana to explore tech-based surveillance and monitoring tools to deter illegal dumping and strengthen waste management enforcement nationwide. Child Safety Online: Attorney General Mohabir Nandlall says Guyana has retained a UK law firm to draft practical, enforceable social media rules focused on protecting children, tailored to local realities. Flooding Pressure on Communities: Letters to the editor highlight worsening rainy-season flooding tied to clogged canals and weak drainage, with impacts on homes, schools, livestock, food supply, and health risks. Agriculture Innovation Push: Guyana signed on to establish a Caribbean Sustainable Agriculture Science, Technology and Innovation hub with Brazil’s agriculture ministry, EMBRAPA, and IICA—aimed at scaling climate-smart, tropical agri-tech and boosting regional food security. Mining Reclamation Concern: GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison warns that fluctuating gold prices can keep mining sites active indefinitely, making reclamation and restoration harder to complete. Uranium Mining Warning: Dr. Vincent Adams cautions Guyana is not ready for uranium mining, citing gaps in training and regulatory safeguards for radioactive waste and long-term environmental harm.

Development Finance Scrutiny: Former ambassador Dr. C. Kenrick Hunte warns the proposed Guyana Development Bank Act 2026 could turn the lender into a “welfare agency,” pointing to provisions allowing loans “with or without collateral” and “with or without charging interest,” raising sustainability concerns. Extractives Transparency Under Review: Guyana’s EITI validation process begins today with a closed-door civil society meeting after evaluators flagged fears over transparency and civic freedoms in the extractive sector. Mining Reclamation Risk: GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison says fluctuating gold prices let operators keep sites “technically active,” delaying reclamation as miners return to rework tailings. Agriculture Innovation Push: Guyana and Brazil, with EMBRAPA and IICA, launch a Caribbean Sustainable Agriculture STI Hub to scale tropical agri-tech, strengthen research capacity, and boost climate-smart food security. Oil Production Decision Looms: Government is reviewing ExxonMobil’s request to raise Stabroek output by 30,000 bpd, with safety for people and the environment central to the approval process. Marine Resilience Call: World Oceans Day brings renewed calls for a national ocean and coastal resilience strategy, not shelf-only plans, as sea-level rise and coastal flooding intensify.

Climate Heat Record: NOAA reports May 2026 as the world’s second-warmest May on record, with a high chance 2026 lands among the four warmest years—another warning for a climate-vulnerable Guyana. Extractives Transparency Under Scrutiny: Guyana’s EITI validation begins with a closed-door civil society meeting after concerns about transparency and freedom of expression in the extractive sector. Mining Reclamation Stalled by Gold Prices: GGMC says fluctuating gold markets let operators keep properties active, making reclamation sluggish and leaving environmental restoration perpetually delayed. Uranium Mining Warning: Dr. Vincent Adams says Guyana is unprepared for uranium mining, warning of long-lived radioactive risks without stronger safeguards. Agriculture Innovation Boost: Guyana launches a Caribbean Sustainable Agriculture STI hub with Brazil and IICA to scale climate-smart, tropical agri-tech and strengthen regional food security. Flood Relief Blocked: A house on reserve halts canal building in Berbice, delaying flood relief for vulnerable residents. Local Governance & Public Finance Tension: Former Finance Minister Winston Jordan slams a new $3B GuySuCo bailout as another cycle with “no realistic path to recovery.”

Agri-tech for food security: Guyana signed an agreement to set up a Caribbean Sustainable Agriculture Science, Technology and Innovation hub, partnering with Brazil’s agriculture ministry, EMBRAPA and IICA to scale tropical, climate-smart farming solutions across the region. Extractives transparency under review: A GYEITI validation team from EITI’s international secretariat begins closed-door meetings with civil society today, amid concerns about transparency, freedom of information and freedom of expression in the extractive sector. Mining and reclamation delays: GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison says fluctuating gold prices let operators keep sites “active” and re-mine tailings, making environmental restoration slower and harder to complete. Flood relief stalled by land conflict: The NDC says a house on reserve land has halted construction of a canal meant to ease flooding in Lancaster Village, delaying relief for vulnerable residents. Clean energy push: Guyana is set to expand public EV charging to 24 stations by year-end, supporting the Low Carbon Development Strategy. Uranium mining warning: Dr. Vincent Adams cautions Guyana is unprepared for uranium mining, warning of long-lasting radioactive waste risks without stronger safeguards.

Oil & Gas Oversight: Government is reviewing ExxonMobil’s request to ramp up production at the Yellowtail development, potentially lifting Guyana’s Stabroek output to about 945,000 bpd, with safety checks and an FPSO visit planned. Child Protection: The CPA says 584 girls under 16 were referred after becoming pregnant between 2020 and 2025, highlighting a major youth protection and prevention challenge. Labour & Living Costs: GPSU marks its 103rd anniversary by renewing calls for a living wage and better labour fairness, arguing growth hasn’t translated into improved conditions for many public servants. Clean Transport: Guyana is set to expand public EV charging to 24 stations by year-end (13 more planned), supported by the LCDS 2030 and EV incentives. Renewable Skills: 22 people graduate from training in Electric Vehicle Systems and Solar PV Charging Infrastructure, building local capacity for the energy transition. Local Infrastructure: The US$161M Soesdyke–Linden Highway project is about 90% complete, with drainage and electrical works advancing. Media Freedom: A new independent online newsroom, Kiskadee Watch, is set to launch June 14 to restore trusted, fact-based reporting. Governance & Local Democracy: PNCR again criticises the prolonged absence of a functioning Local Government Commission, saying it’s paralysing local councils. Regional Trade: TTMA leads a Guyana–Suriname trade mission (June 8–14) with 38 companies seeking new market links. Health System Upgrade: A EU-funded initiative begins to build a sustainable, internationally aligned organ donation and transplant system in Guyana.

Oil & Safety Oversight: The Guyana government is reviewing ExxonMobil’s request to ramp up production at its Yellowtail project, which could lift total Stabroek output to about 945,000 barrels per day, with GGMC technical checks and an officer visit focused on safety. Clean Transport Push: Guyana is on track to expand public EV charging to 24 stations by year-end, adding 13 more (plus four more via UNDP), as part of the LCDS 2030 push for cleaner, more resilient transport. Low-Carbon Agro-Industry: LCDS support is helping St Cuthbert’s Mission (Pakuri) near completion of a $10M cassava mill, aimed at turning local cassava into value-added products and creating jobs. Local Democracy Pressure: PNCR says the prolonged absence of a functioning Local Government Commission is leaving councils unable to discipline staff and handle misconduct, calling it “administrative paralysis.” Health Systems Upgrade: A EU-funded initiative is underway to build a sustainable, internationally aligned organ donation and transplant system, improving access and reducing the need for costly overseas treatment. Media Freedom: Kiskadee Watch is set to launch June 14 as a free online news outlet, pledging independent, fact-based reporting and editorial freedom.

Clean Transport Rollout: Guyana is set to expand its public EV charging network to 24 stations by year-end, adding 13 more sites (plus four from UNDP) to the current seven at key locations like Amazonia Mall, Providence, Ogle Airport and Cheddi Jagan International. Renewable Skills Boost: Twenty-two people graduated from Electric Vehicle Systems and Solar PV Charging Infrastructure training, building local capacity for the energy transition. Low Carbon Livelihoods: LCDS support is helping St Cuthbert’s Mission (Pakuri) near completion of a $10M cassava mill, expected to create jobs and give farmers a reliable market for value-added products. Roads for Daily Life: The US$161M Soesdyke–Linden Highway is about 90% complete, with drainage around 70% done and electrical works underway. Local Sports Infrastructure: Anna Regina National Stadium is slated to open July 3, with modern facilities and drainage improvements. Governance Pressure: PNCR says the prolonged absence of a functioning Local Government Commission is leaving councils unable to discipline staff and handle misconduct. Aviation Green Goals Under Strain: IATA warns sustainable aviation fuel remains under 1% of demand, threatening airlines’ 2030 climate targets and compliance costs. Trade Mission: TTMA launches a major trade mission to Guyana and Suriname to connect local manufacturers with new partners. Health System Upgrade: Guyana begins a EU-funded initiative to build an internationally aligned organ donation and transplant system.

Local Democracy Under Strain: PNCR says the prolonged absence of a functioning Local Government Commission is leaving municipalities and NDCs in “administrative paralysis,” unable to properly discipline staff and address alleged misconduct. Clean Transport Push: Guyana is set to expand its public EV charging network to 24 stations by year-end, adding 13 more (plus four via UNDP), with current sites already at malls, airports and key parking locations. Skills for the Energy Transition: Twenty-two graduates complete training in Electric Vehicle Systems and Solar PV Charging Infrastructure, building a local pool of renewable-energy technicians. Roads and Resilience: The US$161M Soesdyke–Linden Highway is about 90% complete, with drainage works around 70% done and electrical street-light installations underway. Health System Upgrade: A 31-month, EU-funded initiative will help Guyana build an internationally aligned organ donation and transplant system, moving from ad hoc procedures to an integrated, ethically governed national framework. Wildlife & Public Health Warning: Mass sloth deaths in Florida have renewed concerns about the wildlife trade as a pathway for disease spread.

Clean Energy Rollout: Guyana is set to expand public EV charging to 24 stations by year-end, with 13 more planned plus four from UNDP, as the country pushes its Low Carbon Development Strategy. Skills for the Transition: Twenty-two graduates completed Electric Vehicle Systems and Solar PV Charging Infrastructure training through BIT, GEA, IOM and UN partners, building local capacity for cleaner transport. Roads & Daily Life: The US$161M Soesdyke–Linden Highway project is about 90% complete, with drainage around 70% done and electrical works underway. Environment & Standards: On World Environment Day, GNBS urged businesses to cut pollution and methane, manage waste better, and adopt environmental management systems aligned with ISO 14001:2026. Governance & Trust: Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index ranks Haiti lowest in the Caribbean; Guyana is among the lowest-ranked in the region. Health Access: Guyana launched a 31-month, EU-funded programme to build an internationally aligned organ donation and transplantation system, aiming to improve access and reduce deaths from end-stage organ failure. Wildlife Trade Risk: Mass sloth deaths in Florida spotlight how wildlife trading can spread pathogens, raising public-health concerns. Energy Accountability: APNU renewed calls for transparency over reliance on powerships while Gas-to-Energy remains stalled.