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For the fifth consecutive year, the renowned Live2Lead Leadership Conference, will be held in Guyana in efforts to improve person’s personal and professional lives.

Shanti Persaud, a local coach attached to the global leadership initiative -John Maxwell Team – in an interview with the News Room said the transformational two-day event is designed to empower individuals, strengthen teams, and inspire community growth.

“This isn’t about empowering people to go question others, it’s about you improving your life. If the leader gets better, the organisation gets better,” Persaud said.

The conference, set for November 20 and 21 at the Ramada Princess Hotel, Providence, promises to bring together leaders from across the public and private sectors, faith-based organisations, and community groups.

Attendees at the event in 2024.

For the past five years, over 5,000 participants across different regions have undergone exposure to the initiative, which according to Persaud provides a trickle-down effect for community wide improvements.

This year’s conference will cater to approximately 200 attendees each day, allowing flexibility for organisations to send teams on separate days. Participants will engage with leadership content from influential speakers, take part in discussions, and gain practical tools to implement in their workplaces and personal lives.

“Many organisations think professional development is just for junior staff.  But when leaders stop growing, they become bottlenecks in their organisations. Leadership growth should start at the top,” Persaud said.

She encouraged organisations to invest in programmes like this for the benefit of all involved. Importantly, she said this is well suited for professionals hoping to better develop their soft skills.

“A rising tide lifts all boats. If you are improving there’s no way people around you will not improve, you will want to see things change,” Persaud said.

Tickets are priced at $28,000 per person (inclusive of VAT), with special group rates of $25,000 per person for teams of five or more. Companies also have the option to sponsor young leaders or nonprofit representatives who may not otherwise be able to attend, as a form of community support.

 

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Programme Manager at the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD), Ganesh Singh, believes greater consistency and inclusion at local commercial banks are badly needed.

In an interview with the News Room, Singh cited ongoing cases of discrimination and a lack of standardised accessibility measures for persons with disabilities.

“There is no uniformed policy.

“One branch of a bank may be accessible and accommodating, while another branch of the same bank may not even have a ramp,” Singh said.

Programme Manager of the GCOPD, Ganesh Singh during his interview with the News Room. (Photo: News Room)

While some commercial banks have made significant strides toward inclusion such as installing ramps, providing lower counters, and allowing blind persons to independently open accounts, others continue to lag.

He outlined troubling examples where persons who are blind were told they could not open personal accounts without a sighted co-signer, or were denied access to debit cards.

Meanwhile, many bank locations still lack wheelchair access, making it impossible for some individuals to conduct business independently.

“These practices are discriminatory.

“People with disabilities are living productive lives. They are working, earning, and have the right to access all financial services,” he said.

Singh acknowledged that some banks have made progress by introducing speech-enabled ATMs and touch-based interfaces, but emphasised that such services must be standardised across all institutions.

“It’s time for all banks to operate on the same level to facilitate everyone,” he said.

 

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Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, on Tuesday declared that Guyana now stands among the best-managed new oil-producing nations in the world, as he underscored the government’s determination to ensure that wealth from the petroleum sector directly improves the lives of every Guyanese.

Speaking at the signing ceremony for the new Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) for Shallow-Water Block S4, Bharrat said Guyana’s approach to resource management is built on transparency, accountability, and a clear vision for sustainable development.

“We strongly believe that Guyana has one of the better managed oil and gas sectors in the world among new producers,” the minister stated. “And that is something that we are proud of and can go on the rooftops and shout about, because there is evidence to demonstrate it.”

Bharrat pointed to the country’s remarkable growth — from producing 80,000 barrels of oil per day in 2020 to approximately 920,000 barrels today — while maintaining full transparency of oil revenues through the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) and ensuring strict oversight of operations by both local and international regulators.

The minister said Guyana’s success is not measured by production figures alone, but by its commitment to sustainable and responsible development. He reaffirmed that the government will continue to pursue oil and gas exploration and production even as it expands its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS 2030) and strengthens climate commitments.

“We are proud to say that Guyana has managed its oil and gas sector responsibly — maintaining high environmental standards while expanding opportunities for our people,” Bharrat said.

“We will continue to explore and produce our natural resources, but we will do so sustainably. Our policy is clear: our trees will not stand while our people fall.”

The remark drew applause from the gathering, as Bharrat explained that the government’s mission is to strike a careful balance between preserving the country’s world-renowned forests and ensuring that Guyanese enjoy the benefits of their natural wealth.

Minister Bharrat said Guyana’s progress is rooted in legislative and institutional reforms, including the Petroleum Activities Act, Local Content Act, and strengthened fiscal regime now governing all new petroleum agreements.

He noted that these reforms have introduced a 10% corporate tax, clearer penalties for non-compliance, and mandatory provisions for decommissioning and liability management — all designed to ensure that Guyana’s resources are developed responsibly and that investors are held to the highest standards.

“This is not about collecting penalties,” Bharrat explained. “It’s about ensuring that work programmes are completed, that there’s real production, and that Guyana benefits from every single barrel produced.”

The minister also commended the small but highly capable technical team at the Ministry of Natural Resources for their round-the-clock efforts to negotiate world-class agreements with oil majors such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, TotalEnergies, PETRONAS, and QatarEnergy.

“Many of the countries producing oil today have thousands of staff in their ministries,” he said. “We have a small, young, bright team that works tirelessly — sometimes overnight — to ensure every agreement we sign protects the rights of Guyanese.”

Bharrat said the success of Guyana’s oil and gas sector has defied global expectations and critics who once predicted that the country’s local content legislation would drive away major investors.

“They said the local content law would close down the oil and gas sector,” he recalled. “But today, we are attracting some of the biggest players in the world — QatarEnergy, TotalEnergies, PETRONAS — while delivering opportunities and benefits for Guyanese businesses.”

He announced that consultations have already begun to expand Schedule One of the Local Content Act to include more services and higher targets, ensuring that Guyanese workers and companies remain at the centre of the industry’s growth.

Bharrat said Guyana has learned from the mistakes of other petroleum-producing countries, choosing instead to build a model that combines economic progress with environmental protection.

“We looked at best practices and the mistakes made by others and crafted a model that works for Guyana,” he said.

“Not many countries have been able to align rapid economic development with environmental sustainability. But Guyana has done it — and we will continue to do so.”

He added that the proceeds of the oil and gas sector are already transforming the country through massive infrastructure investments, new hospitals and schools, free tertiary education, and an aggressive housing programme.

“Our people deserve world-class facilities, a higher standard of living, and the same opportunities enjoyed in developed countries,” Bharrat said. “That is the purpose of this sector — to ensure our people rise while we protect what makes Guyana unique.”

Tuesday’s signing of the PSA for the S4 Block — with TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy, and PETRONAS — marked the first agreement under Guyana’s new fiscal regime, featuring a US$15 million signing bonus and improved terms that will ensure the nation continues to reap lasting benefits from its oil wealth.

The post ‘Trees will not stand while people fall’ – Guyana among the best-managed oil sectors globally — Bharrat appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Guyana has officially signed its first Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) under the country’s new Petroleum Activities Act and updated fiscal regime, securing a US$15 million signing bonus from a consortium led by TotalEnergies (40%), QatarEnergy (35%), and PETRONAS (25%) for Shallow-Water Block S4.

The signing, a key outcome of Guyana’s inaugural licensing round launched in 2022,  marks the dawn of a new era in the nation’s oil and gas sector, introducing stricter fiscal terms, a 10% corporate tax, stronger environmental safeguards and enforceable penalties for non-compliance with work programmes.

Speaking at the ceremony on Tuesday at the PEgasus Corporate Suites, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat hailed the event as a testament to the Government’s success in building a world-class petroleum governance framework while maintaining investor confidence.

“This is the first agreement we are signing under the new fiscal regime. The negotiations have produced a US$15 million signing bonus that will be paid directly into the Natural Resource Fund within 50 days,” Minister Bharrat stated.

“We have ensured strict transparency and accountability. Every inflow is publicly declared and submitted to the National Assembly quarterly. This is the kind of responsible management that sets Guyana apart among new oil-producing nations.”

The S4 Block covers approximately 1,788 square kilometres in shallow waters between 50 and 100 kilometres off Guyana’s coast. TotalEnergies will operate the block on behalf of the consortium, which was adjudged the most responsive bidder during the competitive licensing process.

Director of the Local Content Secretariat, Michael Munroe, described the agreement as a milestone achievement and the culmination of months of rigorous negotiations under the strengthened legislative regime.

“The S4 consortium was deemed the most responsive bidder, and throughout the process, they demonstrated professionalism and a willingness to find common ground,” Munroe said.

“What we are witnessing today is the manifestation of hard work — a new fiscal package that introduces corporate taxation, clear decommissioning and liability provisions, and a range of new fees and social obligations. It sets the tone for how future relationships in the sector will be built.”

Munroe emphasised that the new PSA framework imposes penalties for failure to complete work programmes, ensures decommissioning liabilities are fully accounted for, and requires companies to make rental and social payments that are non-negotiable.

Minister Bharrat noted that the arrival of QatarEnergy and PETRONAS, alongside TotalEnergies, reinforces Guyana’s growing reputation as one of the world’s most attractive frontier basins.

“Already, we have Exxon, Chevron, and CNOOC in the Stabroek Block, and now we are welcoming QatarEnergy, TotalEnergies, and PETRONAS in S4,” he said.

“These are not small or medium players — they are giants in their own right. Their presence underscores global confidence in Guyana’s regulatory systems, our transparent processes, and our local content legislation.”

The Minister lauded the technical teams at the Ministry of Natural Resources for their relentless work in crafting and negotiating the new agreement. He noted that Guyana’s petroleum production has surged from 80,000 barrels per day in 2020 to 920,000 barrels currently, a feat unmatched by any new oil producer globally.

Bharrat reaffirmed the Government’s policy of ensuring that petroleum revenues directly benefit all Guyanese through investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, housing, and job creation.

While acknowledging rising global concerns over fossil fuels, the Minister asserted that Guyana remains committed to responsible resource development alongside its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS 2030).

“We are proud to say that we are managing our oil and gas sector responsibly, maintaining our high environmental standards while expanding opportunities for our people,” he said.

“Guyana has proven that economic development and environmental sustainability can coexist. We will continue to explore and produce, but we will do so in a sustainable and transparent way.”

The S4 agreement stems from the 2022 Guyana Licensing Round, which invited global energy companies to bid for available offshore blocks under the newly modernised Petroleum Activities Act and the strengthened Local Content framework.

The S4 Block will be operated by TotalEnergies, with QatarEnergy and PETRONAS as partners. The consortium’s exploration activities will adhere to international best practices for environmental protection and community engagement.

The Government has reaffirmed that all proceeds, including the US$15 million signing bonus, will be transparently managed through the Natural Resource Fund, in keeping with Guyana’s commitment to prudent fiscal management and long-term national development.

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The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce has launched a year-long national campaign aimed at improving customer service, public behaviour and the overall visitor experience across the country.

The campaign titled: “Tourism is everybody’s business – Dat is it!” forms part of Tourism Month activities.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, said the initiative seeks to encourage Guyanese to be more courteous, professional and respectful in their daily interactions both within and beyond the tourism and hospitality sectors.

“There are many areas in which we can improve the way we treat people and the way we speak to each other. We want to encourage more kindness and professionalism among the public service and all tourism and hospitality stakeholders,” Rodrigues told reporters on the sidelines of an event.

The campaign, she explained, forms part of the ministry’s broader effort to raise public awareness about how behaviour and attitude influence the country’s image and the quality of service offered to visitors.

“Good service is good business, and we can all improve our customer service. It’s not about taxi drivers or littering alone. These are all challenges we face in the tourism and hospitality sector,” Rodrigues said.

She added that the campaign is not directed at any specific group but instead targets all citizens, with emphasis on improving simple courtesies such as stopping at pedestrian crossings and showing respect in public spaces.

“Tourism doesn’t exist in a vacuum; all of us have to be part of raising the level of the tourism experience that our visitors have in Guyana,” she emphasised.

According to Rodrigues, the campaign represents a long-term push to promote a culture of kindness, empathy and national pride.

“This initiative has nothing but good intentions. It is part of our journey to treat each other with kindness and improve the quality of our customer service and human interaction,” Rodrigues said.

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Traffic Chief, Assistant Commissioner Mahendra Singh is urging motorists to “educate themselves” on the proper use of roundabouts as confusion and poor driving practices continue to cause unnecessary congestion and accidents.

During an interview with the News Room on Tuesday, Singh expressed concern that many drivers are still unaware of how roundabouts function, despite repeated public awareness efforts.

“There are many persons who have not been able to acquaint themselves with what a roundabout stands for… Who is given the priority when a roundabout is being used? They still don’t understand what it means to yield,” Singh told the News Room.

He reminded drivers that a roundabout is not a straight stretch of road but a shared space designed to ease traffic flow. Drivers must yield to those already in the roundabout, he stressed, and be mindful of road signs and markings.

Traffic Chief, Mahendra Singh

“As you get to the roundabout, you yield and you give those to the right the priority to move. All of us can’t enter the roundabout at the same time,” Singh explained.

The Traffic Chief noted that educational videos and campaigns on the correct use of roundabouts have been rolled out over the past two years, yet the lack of compliance persists.

He encouraged drivers to adopt a defensive driving mindset and practice the “Cs” of careful driving mainly- caution, courtesy, and consideration.

“If we all navigate it as we should, everyone will get by safely and we wouldn’t have any accidents,” Singh said.

Roundabouts, he reminded, are meant to make traffic smoother and safer but only if drivers understand and respect the rules of the road.

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Police have launched an investigation into the fatal stabbing of Kevin Alexander, a 30-year-old carpenter of Block 22, Wismar, Linden, who died during a domestic altercation at his home on Monday night.

According to a police report, the incident occurred around 21:45 hrs, following an argument between Alexander and his 28-year-old girlfriend, a housewife who resides at the same address. During the confrontation, the woman allegedly stabbed Alexander once to the left side of his abdomen.

Relatives and public-spirited residents rushed the injured man to the Linden Hospital Complex, but he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty.

Police ranks swiftly responded to the scene, and the suspect was arrested and taken into custody as investigators continue to gather evidence and statements.

Alexander’s body is currently at the Gjetsco Funeral Parlour, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Investigations into the tragic incident are ongoing.

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Guyana is covering the legal fees in the ongoing extradition proceedings of United States-indicted businessmen Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed, in keeping with standard practice and treaty obligations governing extradition cases between the countries.

The government has approved a payment of US$62,558 to Jamaican King’s Counsel Terrence F. Williams, who, along with attorneys Herbert McKenzie and Celine Deidrick, was retained to represent the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in the matter of The Commissioner of Police vs. Nazar Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed. The payment will be facilitated through the Bank of Guyana, according to an official document seen by the News Room.

The attorneys, renowned across the Caribbean for their expertise in extradition cases, were engaged following advice from Attorney General Anil Nandlall, who confirmed that the arrangement aligns with international standards.

The U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Affairs Manual (7 FAM 1618) clearly sets out that fiscal responsibility in extradition matters generally falls to the requested country—in this case, Guyana. The section titled “Fiscal Responsibility” states:

“Most extradition treaties require the costs of extradition proceedings (other than translation of documents and costs associated with the transfer of the fugitive) to be borne by the requested country.”

In this instance, while the United States has brought the indictments and initiated the extradition request, the financial obligations associated with the local proceedings fall under Guyana’s remit as the requested state.

The United Kingdom–United States Extradition Treaty, which Guyana inherited at independence in 1966, has its own explanation for this framework.

Article 13 of that treaty notes that “all expenses connected with the extradition shall be borne by the High Contracting Party making the application.” In practice, the U.S. State Department clarifies that countries receiving an extradition request typically bear the costs related to local court proceedings, including legal representation.

The extradition case stems from a request by the Government of the United States of America for the surrender of Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed, who were indicted by a U.S. Grand Jury in the Southern District of Florida on multiple counts, including wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering linked to a gold export operation valued at approximately US$50 million.

Attorney General Nandlall has also indicated that the decision to select lawyers from outside Guyana—approved by the U.S. government—was intended to maintain transparency and prevent any perception of bias.

The extradition hearings are ongoing in local Magistrates’ Courts as Guyana seeks to meet its treaty-based responsibilities in the matter.

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Kevin Browne, a 48-year-old security officer, died on Sunday after he reportedly fell from the roof of a building at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara. 

Police Headquarters reported that Browne, the Chief Security Officer of Sheriff Security, transported workers to the INFAB building situated on the southern side of the Good Hope Public Road.

According to his 52-year-old friend, workers noticed that sections of the ceiling of the building (INFAB) sustained water damage from the roof.  Browne reportedly went onto the roof to inspect the area, during which he stepped onto a section of the roof that broke, causing him to fall several feet onto the concrete surface below.

The workers rendered immediate assistance and transported Browne to the Enmore Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.  Police also stated that Browne’s 52-year-old friend later visited the police station and made a report. 

The body was taken to Sandy’s Funeral Parlour, awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Investigations are ongoing.

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The Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities (GCOPD) is currently exploring ways to improve the national approach to the early identification and diagnosis of disabilities in children at schools.

Programme Manager of the GCOPD, Ganesh Singh during an interview with the News Room on Monday said this is part of efforts to strengthen education opportunities and promote inclusivity.

Education Minister Sonia Parag and Singh recently met one of the key areas they discussed is the special needs programme.

“Right now, we don’t have a uniformed approach to assessment and diagnosis in Guyana.

“The Minister and her team are very interested in sorting this out so that children with disabilities entering the education system can have a proper diagnosis and an individualised education plan to guide their learning,” Singh said.

Children living with disabilities attend schools and receive support from the Special Education Needs (SEN) Unit of the Ministry of Education. Teachers are able to train to respond to the needs of these students and with scholarships from the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), Singh said more teachers are becoming certified.

Minister of Education Sonia Parag was accompanied by Chief Education Officer, Mr. Saddam Hussain and Dr. Keon Cheung, Assistant Chief Education Officer with responsibility for Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) for the meeting with the GCOPD. 

Singh also outlined progress under several programmes, including the virtual Remedial Education Programme, supported by the Ministry of Education. The initiative targets persons with disabilities aged 17 and older who are out of school, offering lessons in English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.

“After a year of continuous assessments, many students go on to sit the CSEC exams.

“Those who don’t yet meet the criteria continue in the remedial programme so they can keep learning,” he said.

He added that through the STEM Robotics Programme, funded by ExxonMobil, more than 200 children with disabilities in 17 special education spaces are learning robotics, technology, and life skills.

Singh said these initiatives are part of wider progress in inclusive education.

“We are seeing significant progress. While there are still gaps, we’re working closely with the Ministry of Education to ensure every child with a disability has the opportunity to learn and thrive,” Singh said.

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