Author: Kayleigh Carter

Any state initiative in the bottled water sector should be structured to strengthen, not compete with or undermine, existing private investment, the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) said on Tuesday as it raised concerns over the government’s planned state-owned bottled water facility.

The statement follows the National Assembly’s approval of $496.3 million for a bottled water plant to be operated by Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

The GMSA said it supports the government’s goal of achieving 100 per cent locally produced bottled water and remains committed to that objective.

However, it argued that several local manufacturers have already invested heavily in production, distribution networks and job creation, and any government intervention should complement rather than compete with those businesses.

The association recalled that President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali had earlier called for close collaboration between the government and the private sector, including shared production infrastructure such as bottle manufacturing, to reduce costs across the industry.

It urged GWI and the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation to heed the president’s call and develop the project as a partnership that expands industry capacity and lowers production costs, rather than creating what it described as a taxpayer-funded competitor to existing manufacturers.

The GMSA warned that direct state participation in a market already served by private companies could discourage future investment, create uncertainty for businesses and undermine the government’s wider objective of private sector-led growth.

The association also said GWI’s primary responsibility should remain the delivery of safe and reliable potable water to households, adding that any commercial venture should not detract from that mandate.

The GMSA called on the government to review the proposed investment and hold further consultations with local bottled water manufacturers and other stakeholders before moving ahead, saying it was prepared to work with GWI and the ministry to develop an approach that benefits both consumers and the private sector.

The government is working to eliminate Region Ten’s housing backlog by the end of next year, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo said.

Speaking during a public day outreach at the Watooka Complex in Linden on Tuesday, Jagdeo said the backlog of pending house lot allocations in Region Ten stands at just over 3,000 applicants.

“We are working on enough house lots to clear all of this by the end of next year,” he said, noting that the government is also moving to regularise land tenure for nearly 1,000 residents who have been living on lands owned by NICIL or occupying areas without legal title.

Jagdeo told residents that developing a single house lot costs the government about $5 million, while beneficiaries purchase the lots at a heavily subsidised price of approximately $500,000.

He also outlined a new national housing assistance programme targeting different income groups. Under the initiative, the government will construct small one-bedroom homes for the most vulnerable citizens, including abandoned elderly persons, persons living with disabilities who cannot afford to build, and families facing extreme hardship.

For low- and middle-income households, certified contractors will be paired with financial institutions to help beneficiaries who already own government-issued land secure financing to construct homes.

About 20,000 people currently own house lots but have been unable to begin construction because of financial or technical constraints, Jagdeo said.

The Vice President also announced plans to introduce housing improvement grants for middle-income earners and expand access to homes for young professionals through financing arrangements backed by Government.

Protesters got past a barricade and entered the Watooka Complex compound in Linden on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill and Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar over the MV Barima tragedy.

Scores of demonstrators, including opposition party members, held placards and chanted outside the venue as Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and a number of government ministers conducted a public day outreach inside.

The demonstrators demanded accountability following the July 18 maritime disaster, which claimed 73 lives and remains one of Guyana’s deadliest maritime tragedies. They said political accountability should accompany the ongoing investigations into senior officials responsible for the country’s transport sector.

The demonstration in Linden is the latest in a series of protests held across the country since the tragedy. In the days following the sinking, opposition parties, civil society groups and concerned citizens have organised vigils, public demonstrations and parliamentary protests, all calling for the ministers to step down.

Protesters have also raised concerns about maritime safety, regulatory oversight and the condition of vessels operating the Georgetown–North West route. President Dr Irfaan Ali has ordered a safety audit on all maritime vessels following the incident.

The government has also maintained that an independent international Commission of Inquiry will examine all aspects of the disaster to determine its causes and recommend reforms to prevent a recurrence.

Despite the demonstration, Jagdeo’s public outreach proceeded as scheduled, with ministers and officials meeting residents to address concerns relating to housing, infrastructure, agriculture and other public services.

Three Cuban nationals have been jointly charged with murder in connection with the July 22 killing of Yudivian Cardenas Amador Almagro at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

Alejandro Igalza Rios, called “Papote,” 26, a barber; Juan Pablo Ferrer Perez, 29, a construction worker; and Mairely Felicita Medinas Alvarez, 24, a labourer, all of Timehri, East Bank Demerara, were arrested on July 29 and July 30.

The trio appeared today, at the Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate D. Bess, where the indictable charge was read to them.

They were not required to plead and were remanded to prison. The matter was adjourned to September 21.

Cultural performances, Afro-inspired fashion and business dialogue converged on Friday as the World Trade Centre Georgetown marked Emancipation with a mixer linking the legacy of freedom to modern entrepreneurship.

Held under the theme “Breaking Barriers, Building Businesses: The Journey from Emancipation to Economic Empowerment,” the event paired cultural showcases with discussions on business development, access to financing and emerging economic opportunities.

The Yoruba Singers performed traditional musical selections celebrating the resilience and cultural identity of African descendants, while spoken word artist Dion Douglas delivered a reflective, informative performance.

Kosmic Vibes presented a fashion showcase featuring Afro-inspired designs that blended contemporary style with traditional influences, highlighting the creativity of local designers and the role of fashion in preserving cultural heritage.

Discussions on entrepreneurship, access to financing and opportunities within Guyana’s evolving economy ran throughout the cultural programme.]

More than 35,000 speeding tickets have been issued to motorists during the first half of this year, while fines collected through the Smart Intelligence Traffic System have surpassed $200 million since the system was rolled out.

The figures come as authorities continue to expand the use of speed cameras across the country, with Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh saying the technology has strengthened the Traffic Department’s ability to detect speeding offences remotely.

Speaking to Ignite News, Singh explained that motorists are given multiple opportunities to become aware of tickets issued in their name.

He said beyond the initial text message and electronic notification, authorities also use registered post and an online system where motorists can check unpaid tickets.

The Traffic Chief, however, said some motorists continue to make excuses even after being presented with evidence of their violations.

Singh stressed that the Traffic Department is not targeting anyone unfairly, but carrying out its responsibility to enforce the law.
“They still make excuses.

We’re not here for the excuses part, and we’re not here to prejudice the public either. We are from the same public. You have a couple of choices, you either pay your tickets or we proceed by way of action through the courts,” Singh said.

He said while some persons accept responsibility, others attempt to use their influence or connections to avoid facing the consequences of their actions.

Singh said during his interactions with members of the public, including persons working in professional fields, he has encountered motorists who indicated they would seek outside intervention to have prosecution dropped.

“I can’t believe that they have absolutely no remorse for the actions they took. They were willing to say they are not going to pay the tickets and they are going to approach person or persons to cause us to forego prosecution. I wish them well; I’d rather be removed than not do my work,” Singh said.

The Traffic Chief said speeding offences are not limited to one group, noting that businesspersons, young professionals, commercial drivers and members of the joint services have all contributed to speeding violations.

He maintained that when road crashes occur, a person’s status or position does not matter.

Singh added that the Smart Intelligence Traffic System has helped reduce accidents in areas where it has been implemented, as authorities continue to expand the technology nationwide.

An ExxonMobil-led joint venture has recovered the billions of dollars it invested to develop a large oilfield in Guyana, its chief financial officer told Reuters, and the South American country will now receive more oil money.

Guyana’s Stabroek Block, estimated to hold at least 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent, has become one of the top assets of the U.S. oil producer’s portfolio since its discovery in 2015. Revenue from the field has made Guyana one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, with the country now producing more than 900,000 barrels per day.

The joint venture’s production sharing contract (PSC) with Guyana allowed Exxon and its partners to take up to 75 per cent of the oil to cover their exploration and development costs.

The accumulated $55 billion invested since 2014 has been recouped about two years faster than expected because of the rapid development of the block, Exxon Chief Financial Officer Neil Hansen said in an interview.

“We brought these investments on at an unprecedented pace and cost advantage,” Hansen said.

Under the PSC, the consortium splits profit oil evenly with Guyana after recovering costs. Exxon will now book about 100,000 fewer bpd from the country as it enters the third quarter, but free cash flow will increase by 2030 to twice the level seen in 2025, he said.

Exxon CEO Darren Woods said on Friday there is room for more exploration in Guyana and the company has used AI to evaluate drilling and subsurface data. A portion of the block remains under force majeure due to a maritime border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, which awaits a ruling by a United Nations court.

“We’re not done yet in Guyana and we continue to see a really bright future there,” he said during the second-quarter earnings call.

Exxon operates the Stabroek Block with a 45 per cent interest. Chevron (CVX.N) holds a 30 per cent stake in the block after acquiring Hess Corp, the original partner in the consortium, and Chinese oil firm CNOOC (600938.SS) holds 25 per cent.

The consortium’s fifth and sixth projects in the Stabroek Block — Uaru and Whiptail — are expected to begin oil production this year and next year, respectively. (Reuters)

Guyana is expected to experience a sharp increase in hot spell days this year as strengthening El Niño conditions bring hotter-than-normal temperatures and drier conditions from August through at least October 2026, the Hydrometeorological Service said.

The service reported that its latest seasonal outlook indicates that up to 80 hot spell days could occur this year, compared with a historical average of about 30 days annually. Regions Four, Five, Six, Eight and Ten are expected to record the highest frequency of extreme heat events.

El Niño is associated with the unusual warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, along with weaker trade winds. The weather pattern generally results in warmer and drier conditions, although significant rainfall events remain possible.

The Hydrometeorological Service said the country is also expected to experience fewer wet days and above-normal daytime and night-time temperatures during the forecast period.

The anticipated conditions could affect agriculture, water resources, energy supply, education, transportation, forestry and public health, with reduced rainfall likely to increase water demands for crops and livestock and lower river levels potentially disrupting hinterland transportation.

The service warned that dry vegetation and prolonged heat could increase the risk of bush and forest fires, while extreme temperatures could contribute to dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, particularly among vulnerable groups and outdoor workers.

The public has been advised to stay hydrated, conserve water, avoid strenuous outdoor activities during peak heat hours, wear light clothing, ensure schools have adequate drinking water and avoid activities that could trigger fires.

The Hydrometeorological Service said it will continue monitoring conditions and provide updates as El Niño develops.