AGP Executive Report

Regional Excellence: Georgetown hosted the Anthony N. Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence, with PM Mark Phillips hailing Caribbean “heroes” across universities, labs, clinics and communities. Public Safety: A major fire at Lot 10 North Sophia destroyed three buildings and left at least seven people homeless; police say preliminary findings point to suspected arson. Mining Tragedy: Bodies of two miners trapped in a Mahdia pit cave-in were recovered; investigations continue into what caused the collapse and whether safety protocols were followed. Immigration Modernisation: Guyana launches an online passport application and appointment system on June 15, aiming to cut waiting times and let applicants choose a processing office and visit date. Climate Finance: Guyana has earned US$353M from carbon credit sales since 2022, funding climate and development under the LCDS 2030. Diplomacy: President Irfaan Ali announced Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett as Guyana’s candidate for UN Secretary-General. Sports: West Indies beat New Zealand in the Women’s T20 World Cup opener, powered by Guyanese Shemaine Campbelle’s 90*; locally, Marian Academy and New Central High advanced to the U15 girls national final.

Immigration Modernisation: Guyana will launch an online passport application and appointment system on June 15, letting citizens apply from home and book a processing visit time, with processing cut to three working days (or 24 hours for expedited cases). Climate Finance: Guyana has earned US$353M from carbon credit sales since 2022 under its Low Carbon Development Strategy, with funds supporting climate adaptation and environmental protection. Regional Trade Talks: CARICOM trade ministers opened the 62nd COTED meeting in Georgetown, with CARICOM SG Dr Carla Barnett warning that energy and supply-chain shocks are raising prices and threatening food security. Housing Scam Hunt: The Housing Ministry says it has enlisted INTERPOL and the FBI to locate contractor Omar Malik of DreamVu Homes after young professionals were scammed out of millions and projects were left incomplete. Public Safety Incidents: Two men are reported trapped after a mining pit collapse in Region 8, while Mahdia police found 175g of suspected cannabis during a patrol. Sports: West Indies’ Shemaine Campbelle made 90* as they stunned defending champions New Zealand in the Women’s T20 World Cup; locally, St. Therese Primary won the Berbice zone Tapeball title.

UN Diplomacy & Essequibo: Venezuela’s deputy Pompeyo Torrealba says there can be “absolutely no possible solution” outside the Geneva Agreement, rejecting any ICJ ruling. Oil & Public Finance: A new report claims ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC left Guyana owing about US$2.4B in 2025 taxes, while the 2026 budget now seeks borrowing of US$2.6B. Courts & Defamation: The High Court ordered VP Bharrat Jagdeo to pay Charles Ceres about $17M in damages and costs after a defamation suit. Security & Housing Contracts: Housing authorities say they’ve engaged INTERPOL and the FBI to locate contractor Omar Malik over unfinished Young Professional Homes. Infrastructure & Services: 41 contractors bid for Region 3’s new Police HQ; GWI will drill new wells at Houston and Garden of Eden for about $251M. Agriculture & Trade: Brazil shows interest in Guyana’s fertiliser push, while the Regional Food Hub at Yarrowkabra is about halfway complete. Sports: West Indies stunned New Zealand in the Women’s T20 World Cup opener, powered by Shemaine Campbelle’s unbeaten 90. Regional Development: CARICOM moves to harmonise EV charging standards across member states.

UN Secretary-General Bid: President Irfaan Ali has nominated Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett to succeed António Guterres, citing Guyana’s growing global role and her UN Security Council leadership. Housing & Accountability: The Housing Ministry says it has engaged INTERPOL, the FBI and CARICOM IMPACS to pursue contractor Omar Malik and DreamVu Homes over unfinished Young Professional Homes. Regional Development: Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha says the Regional Food Hub at Yarrowkabra is about 50% complete and is on track for completion by year-end, with cold storage and systems to follow. Region 5 Housing Backlog: VP Bharrat Jagdeo told residents the government aims to clear Region 5’s housing backlog by end of next year, including buying private land to allocate lots. CARICOM EV Standards: CARICOM moves to harmonise EV charging standards, focusing on safety, charger requirements and inspection procedures. Crime & Justice: SOCU secured convictions in a multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme, sentencing Yuri Garcia Dominguez and Ateeka Ishmael to jail and fines. Security Seizure: Police seized 23 AK-47 rifles and 500+ rounds in West Bank Demerara, arresting a Venezuelan national. Sports: Mackenzie High School won the J.O.F Haynes Memorial debating title; GCC Elite Women opened the Diamond Jubilee Hockey Cup with a 10-0 win.

UN Diplomacy: President Ali has nominated Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for the UN Secretary-General post, citing Guyana’s growing global role. Housing & Justice: The Housing Ministry says it has engaged INTERPOL, the FBI and CARICOM IMPACS in efforts to hold contractor Omar Malik and DreamVu Homes accountable for unfinished Young Professional Homes. Crime & Security: Police and CANU seized 23 AK-47 rifles and over 500 rounds of ammunition in West Bank Demerara; one suspect was arrested and the weapons are being examined. Oil & Accountability: ExxonMobil admitted Guyana’s oil is being used to repay the dormant Wales gas pipeline cost. Health Policy: Minister Frank Anthony says Guyana is nearing elimination milestones for diseases like filaria and leprosy. Governance Watch: The Public Accounts Committee meets Monday to elect its Chairman and continue work on Auditor General reports. Sports Youth: YBG launched its 19th National Schools Basketball Festival, with Essequibo and Berbice joining for the first time. Sex Offences Bill: Minister Gail Teixeira defends the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, saying it followed extensive consultation.

Sex Offences Bill U-turn: After public backlash, President Irfaan Ali has ordered the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026 sent to a Parliamentary Special Select Committee, with a shift toward a fully public sex offender database. Anti-Bullying Push: The Ministry of Education has gathered 1,000+ recommendations from across all regions to shape a new Anti-Bullying and Anti-Violence Policy, including school clubs, peer advocates, counselling, and clearer disciplinary measures. Small Contractors Jobs: VP Bharrat Jagdeo told pre-qualified small contractors that each will get at least one contract before year-end, including 530 in Region Five, using a $15M-and-under model that avoids open tendering. Crime and Courts: A fisherman was remanded to prison for ammunition possession after 12-gauge cartridges were found; another miner was arrested in Iwokrama with four live 12-gauge rounds. Regional and International: CARICOM trade ministers opened COTED in Georgetown, warning that energy, food and fertiliser shocks could hit trade and food security across the bloc. Cricket Business: ExxonMobil GSL secured a major promotional partnership with Cricket West Indies to boost tournament visibility in Guyana from July 23 to August 1. Health and Inclusion: First Lady Arya Ali says Guyana will open its first specialised autism school later this year, building on the 2025 hearing-impaired school.

Robotic Surgery Milestone: GPHC says it completed a week of firsts after launching robotic telesurgery for Guyana’s 60th anniversary, including the country’s first robotic inguinal hernia repair and a locally led cardiac case. Oil & Energy Watch: Goldman Sachs cut its 2027 Brent forecast to $80/bbl, citing supply growth and demand weakness, while a separate report says Exxon and partners have already deducted close to US$1B for decommissioning/clean-up funds that remain controlled by the companies. Wales Gas Project Delays: Government again pushed the Wales Gas-to-Energy timeline, saying one turbine will be completed by end-2026, with full commissioning later. Justice System Push: A PACE Justice workshop is training police investigators and prosecutors to reduce delays and backlogs. Domestic Violence Allegation: WIN MP Deon LaCruz was arrested over an alleged assault on his wife and a 4-year-old child. Sex Offences Registry Row: Consultation records reportedly clash with the Human Services Minister’s claims about support for a closed sex offenders register. Crime & Courts: SOCU secured convictions and sentencing for Ponzi scheme operators Yuri Garcia Dominguez and Ateeka Ishmael; meanwhile, Devin Sears was freed of a drug trafficking charge after a no-case submission. Trade Diplomacy: CARICOM’s COTED opened in Georgetown as ministers discussed global economic uncertainty and trade pressures.

Court & Justice: A High Court jury has found Anil Sancharra and Vinod Gopaul guilty of the 2020 murders of Joel and Isaiah Henry, with the defence challenging the credibility of a key state witness. Child Protection & Crime: A 23-year-old man charged over the Zeelugt killing of seven-year-old Adriel Mohamed is expected to face additional charges as the mother demands answers. Sex Offences Law: President Irfaan Ali has ordered the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill sent to a Select Committee after public backlash, with the Cabinet backing that any sex offender register should be public. Public Health & Safety: CARPHA, with IATA support, trained 18 people from 15 CARICOM states to safely transport infectious specimens, strengthening regional lab and outbreak readiness. Regional Policy: CARICOM trade ministers opened the 62nd COTED meeting in Guyana, flagging global uncertainty, higher fuel/food/fertiliser prices, and risks to growth and food security. Environment & Tech: Guyana’s Local Government Ministry met Huawei to explore technology solutions to curb illegal dumping. EV Standards: CARICOM is pushing to harmonise EV charging standards, with speakers warning countries can’t simply copy-paste rules from elsewhere. Aviation & Logistics: Cargojet Airways is set to begin weekly non-scheduled cargo flights to Guyana for DHL Express, boosting air freight links. Energy & Business: Shearwater won an ExxonMobil Guyana contract for a two-month offshore DAS seismic survey supporting reservoir surveillance at Yellowtail.

Sex Offences Bill U-turn: After public backlash, President Irfaan Ali ordered the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill sent to a Select Committee, with Cabinet backing a fully public sex offenders register instead of a “closed” one. Armed violence in Georgetown: Police say a robbery-under-arms attempt at a Mandela Avenue supermarket ended with a gunman shot dead after firing at a patrol officer; investigations continue. Domestic violence arrest: WIN MP Deon La Cruz was arrested in Moruca for allegedly abusing his wife and four-year-old child, including threats with a chopper. Justice for Henry boys: A Berbice High Court jury found Anil Sanchara and Vinod Gopaul guilty of murdering Isaiah and Joel Henry. Labour unrest at Wales gas project: Bus drivers protested “three months, no pay” at the Gas-to-Energy project, leaving workers stranded. Public safety and services: NPTAB awarded $329M for new fire stations in Regions 5 and 6; police also urged heavy truck drivers through Linden to improve road safety. Trade and connectivity: Cargojet Airways will start weekly non-scheduled cargo flights for DHL Express USA from June 12. Oil & business: Govt and ExxonMobil are in advanced talks to appoint a sole expert to resolve a US$214M cost recovery dispute.

Closed Sex Offenders Registry U-turn: After public pushback, President Ali ordered the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill sent to a Special Select Committee, with the Cabinet now favouring a public register—reversing earlier support for a “closed” model. Child protection data questioned: Forward Guyana MP Amanza Walton-Desir is demanding to know what happened to 584 girls under 16 referred to the Childcare and Protection Agency after becoming pregnant between 2020 and 2025, saying Parliament was not given enough follow-through data. High-profile murder cases: A Berbice jury convicted Anil Sanchara and Vinod Gopaul of murdering Isaiah and Joel Henry in 2020, while separately a 23-year-old “Max” Shaeed Mohammed was charged and remanded for the Zeelugt killing of 7-year-old Adriel Mohamed. Health system crackdown: President Ali warned health officials they will be dismissed if they bypass the new centralized medical supply system. Cancer care link: Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony says Martinique is ready to supply radioactive drugs for certain cancers, alongside survivor-focused events by Lotus Cancer Initiative. Oil and finance: ExxonMobil says it’s seeking approval to raise Stabroek production above 900,000 bpd, while Citibank opened a Georgetown Representative Office to support Guyana’s development goals. Trade finance boost: IDB Invest and CDB signed a US$25m guarantee facility to expand trade financing across Caribbean markets. Regional agri-tech push: Guyana and Brazil signed on to create a Caribbean agricultural science, technology and innovation hub.

Oil & Gas Accountability: ExxonMobil says talks with the Guyana government on a decommissioning fund are “very productive,” with US$489.5M already set aside as asset retirement obligations, while the company is still fighting Guyana over US$214M in disputed expenses and hints the matter could go to the ICC if a sole expert can’t be agreed. Energy Infrastructure: A US$9M Guyana National Control Centre for the Wales Gas-to-Energy project is on track for August 2026 operations, with SCADA equipment undergoing acceptance testing to strengthen real-time power management. Crime & Justice: Henry Boys’ killers Anil Sanchara and Vinod Gopaul were convicted by a Berbice jury for the 2020 murders of cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry. Human Services & Law: The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill is defended as the basis for Guyana’s first sex offenders registry, with the Human Services Minister saying it stems from public consultation. Health: Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony says mammography access is expanding beyond Georgetown and urges early screening, alongside HPV and other cancer prevention efforts. Agriculture & Innovation: Guyana and Brazil launched a Caribbean Sustainable Agriculture STI Hub to scale tropical agri-tech and boost regional food security. Governance & Transparency: GYEITI validation begins with a closed-door civil society meeting as concerns linger over transparency and freedom of information in the extractive sector.

Sex Offences Reform: Guyana’s Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2026 introduces the country’s first sex offenders registry, backed by wide public consultations and designed to strengthen victim protection and remove time limits for charging. Court Verdict: Berbice cousins Isaiah and Joel Henry’s 2020 murder case ended with Berbice duo Anil Sancharra and Vinod Gopaul found guilty, with the prosecution relying heavily on a key witness’s account. Child Murder Case: A 23-year-old farmer accused of killing 7-year-old Adriel Mohamed and stabbing the child’s great-aunt was arraigned after a confession and is remanded to prison pending further court dates. Public Finance Clash: Former Finance Minister Winston Jordan blasted the government’s $54.8B supplementary budget request as “out of control” and warned Parliament has become a rubber stamp. 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. Regional Security: CARICOM Secretariat welcomed a Guyana Defence Force senior command delegation for crime and security knowledge-sharing. Diaspora & Culture: Over 10,000 Guyanese in Brooklyn turned out for the 60th Independence Diamond Jubilee parade and unity concert. Agriculture Innovation: Guyana launched a Caribbean Sustainable Agriculture STI Hub with Brazil’s EMBRAPA and IICA to boost tropical agrifood research and technology. Sports: Women’s Caribbean Premier League expands to four teams in 2026 with Jamaica Empress joining Guyana Amazon Warriors, Barbados Tridents and Trinbago Knight Riders.

Healthcare Accountability: President Irfaan Ali warned regional health officials they will be dismissed if they bypass Guyana’s new centralised medical supply system, which becomes the sole platform from July 1 and requires sign-off for emergency purchases. Underage Pregnancy Data: The Childcare and Protection Agency recorded 584 cases of girls under 16 becoming pregnant between 2020 and 2025, with the CPA unable to say how many gave birth because its systems don’t disaggregate outcomes. Oil Production Review: Government is reviewing ExxonMobil’s request to ramp up output at the Yellowtail FPSO, which could lift total Stabroek production to about 945,000 bpd. Development Bank Scrutiny: Critics say the proposed Guyana Development Bank bill lacks independent oversight and could put billions at risk, with concerns over governance and accountability. Crime Update: Two more men were remanded over an AK-47 rifles probe, including a wash bay attendant charged with firearms offences. Media Freedom: Former Stabroek News editor Anand Persaud will lead the launch of Kiskadee Watch, a free online daily set for June 14. Sports & Culture: WCPL expands to four teams with Jamaica Empress joining Guyana Amazon Warriors, Barbados Tridents and Trinbago Knight Riders in Barbados from Sept 5–17.

Cancer Care Links: Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony says Martinique is willing to send radioactive drugs/isotopes to Guyana for treatment of certain cancers, with survivors sharing experiences at a World Cancer Survivors Day 2026 event. Survivorship Spotlight: Lotus Cancer Initiative Inc. honoured 18 cancer survivors at “Stories of Strength,” pushing early detection and better access to care. Press Freedom & Media: Former Stabroek News staff will launch “Kiskadee Watch” on June 14, led by Anand Persaud, aiming to restore trusted, independent, fact-based reporting. Health System Enforcement: President Irfaan Ali warned regional health officials they will be sent home if they bypass Guyana’s new centralised medical supply system from July 1, with emergency purchases requiring sign-off. Parliament & Spending Scrutiny: Former Finance Minister Winston Jordan criticised the government’s fresh $54.8B supplementary spending request as evidence of weak planning and inadequate parliamentary oversight. Crime Update: A 23-year-old farmer accused in the murder of 7-year-old Adriel Mohamed and the attack on 72-year-old Halima Itwari has confessed after police confronted him with CCTV. Regional Security: CARICOM hosted Guyana Defence Force senior officers for a crime and security engagement session. Sports & Community: WCPL fixtures confirmed with Jamaica Empress joining Guyana Amazon Warriors, Barbados Tridents and Trinbago Knight Riders in a September festival in Barbados; West Indies’ Shamar Joseph will miss the final ODI vs Sri Lanka due to personal reasons.

Healthcare Breakthrough: An Indian surgeon set a world record by performing a robot-assisted cardiac procedure on a patient in Indore while operating remotely from Georgetown, Guyana—nearly 20,000 km away—using the SSI Mantra system. Mining Costs: The Guyana government says foreign gold miners pay as little as US$5 per acre annually for mining lands, while locals pay US$3, drawing fresh criticism over the low rental rates. Local Democracy Pressure: PNCR is demanding the immediate restoration of the Local Government Commission, saying its absence is leaving councils unable to discipline staff and handle misconduct. Transport & Energy Upgrades: The US$161M Soesdyke–Linden Highway project is about 90% complete, and Guyana is set to expand its public EV charging network to 24 stations by year-end. Education & Justice: The Teaching Service Commission is reviewing a case involving alleged mistreatment of an autistic child, with disciplinary hearings expected to be completed within 10 days. Crime Update: A teacher accused of ganja found in his car says the marijuana is not his, claiming he sat in the spot where police found it. Regional Sports: Shamar Joseph will miss the final ODI vs Sri Lanka due to personal reasons, with expectations to return for the T20 series.

ICJ Dispute: Venezuela has rejected Prime Minister Mark Phillips’ comments on a possible International Court of Justice ruling over the Essequibo, saying it never consented to the court’s jurisdiction and will not recognise any decision, insisting the Geneva Agreement should guide a negotiated solution. Parliament Watch: Parliamentary committees were finally reconstituted after months of delay, but opposition attempts to place Amanza Walton-Desir on several committees were blocked. Healthcare Push: The Health Ministry has launched a 31-month, EU-funded initiative to build a sustainable organ donation and transplant system, aiming to improve access and reduce overseas treatment. Crime: Police say they’ve arrested a suspect in the murder of seven-year-old Adriel Aftab Mohamed and the attempted murder of his great-grandmother in Zeelugt. Energy & Roads: The Soesdyke-Linden Highway project is about 90% complete, and Guyana is set to add more public EV charging stations by year-end. Sports: Shamar Joseph will miss the final ODI against Sri Lanka due to personal reasons.