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While there are great policies currently in effect in Guyana to include and empower women in development, SLB’s Managing Director, Sharlene Seegoolam, believes that an excellent policy can only be borne from diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“Giving equity in the same space is not a checkbox, it is not a nice social initiative, it is not just the right thing to say to your employees—it is, in fact, an effective and therefore necessary business strategy or, in the case of a country, a nation-building strategy,” Seegoolam said during a panel discussion on Women’s Leadership at the 2025 Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown.

Seegoolam further explained that Guyana’s Local Content Policy also ensures that women and medium-sized businesses are given a “fair shot” in procurement processes. Over the last few years, these groups have seen remarkable growth in the sector.

“We are seeing more of them graduate and wanting to stay and work here. What that means for me personally, in my organisation, is that since we started recruiting five years ago, the face of my organisation in Guyana now, compared to five years ago, is completely different,” she explained, noting that SLB employs 76 local staff, 40 per cent of whom are women.

Now, SLB is working to employ persons with disabilities.

“Understanding that everyone contributes something means you start having better opportunities to build governments, businesses, and communities,” Seegoolam stated.

Also on the panel was Minister of Local Government and Regional Development, Sonia Parag, who commended the enthusiasm with which the local private sector has been working alongside the government in the development of women.

Regarding government initiatives, Parag spoke about the various farmers’ groups formed by women and noted:

“The government has set up agro-processing facilities in various communities to empower women, as well as shade houses where women’s groups plant, contribute, and earn an income.

“Obviously, we can do more. I don’t think we ever stop at one point and say, ‘this is enough,’” Minister Parag stated.

Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, also joined the conversation to discuss the empowerment of women through land ownership across the country.

“If you look at the allocations we have done in the last four years, 18,000 single women now own land in Guyana.

“So, these are 18,000 women that we have empowered by making them homeowners very early in their lives,” Rodrigues highlighted.

Meanwhile, Supply Chain Manager for ExxonMobil Guyana, Hayley Gilbert, said the oil giant is dedicated and committed to the development of each of its employees.

“Our compensation and assessment processes are all designed to drive unbiased outcomes, but it is not enough to stop there. So, we have several different employee resource groups designed to support the development of employees across the board—one of which is our Women’s Resource Network, along with structured and unstructured mentoring,” Gilbert explained.

Mentorship, Gilbert said, is equally important in ensuring women have equal opportunities.

“I have been fortunate enough to be part of these mentoring programmes, and when you think about a career as a marathon and not a sprint, being able to build up that network and have teams, peers, and colleagues you look up to and rely on has been foundational to my personal success.”

To the women in the audience attending the Energy Conference, Gilbert urged them to believe in themselves, encourage other women, and have the courage to seize opportunities.

“As women, we need to make sure we are encouraging ourselves and our peers to have just enough courage for 10 minutes—to raise our hands and volunteer for the opportunity or to say yes when the opportunity presents itself.

“I encourage all our women here, and others, to make sure you have enough courage in the moment to say yes. Remember that you also possess infinite intelligence, and when things get tough, call on those around you.”

The post Equity is a necessary business strategy – Energy Conference Women’s Panel appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Significant gas reserves were found offshore Guyana and President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge, has said the company is exploring the opportunities for the use of these resources.

Mr. Routledge told delegates at the 2025 Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo that possible gas ventures include refining bauxite to make alumina, power data centres, and supplying energy to fertiliser plants.

ExxonMobil and the Government of Guyana will explore these options and develop the gas market, Routledge added.

He gave an update on the company’s oil and gas operations in the prolific Stabroek Block on Wednesday. Though several new oil projects are unfolding, Mr. Routldge said recent appraisal work has shown that there are substantial gas resources for use.

Exxon seeking authorisation for eighth project offshore Guyana, optimistic about gas reserves

Already, about 50 million cubic feet per day (mcf/d) of gas will be supplied to the mega energy project at Wales, West Bank Demerara. The gas will be transported via a pipeline from the Liza project in the Stabroek Block.

A 300-megawatt (MW) power plant is being constructed in Wales; it will use natural gas from the Stabroek Block to generate cleaner, cheaper electricity. Additionally, a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) processing plant will treat the gas, removing liquids such as propane and butane for commercialisation.

At what ExxonMobil believes will be its eighth development, Longtail in the south-eat portion of the Stabroek Block, about 1 to 1.2 billion cubic feet per day can be produced. And with that, Routledge said, comes the opportunity to pursue several ventures be it alumina production or powering the data centres.

“It’s enormous,” he said, describing the non-associated gas reserves at Longtail.

He, however, noted that producing and marketing gas resources are a bit more complex than oil resources.

“Transporting and storing gas is much more expensive than it is to transport and store oil,” he said.

As such, the company is diligently studying the appraisal work done on the gas resources and exploring how the gas will be used.

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A Patentia, West Bank Demerara man who is accused of brutally beating his 26-year-old wife and her mother is currently on remand after he was charged for the act.

However, his mother-in-law, Shameeza Mohamed, has since succumbed to her injuries.

Police Headquarters said following an autopsy on Wednesday, legal advice will be sought on the way forward.

The accused, Parsuram Arjune is likely to face a more serious charge.

The incident occurred on February 12, 2025.

Police said Arjune was charged for unlawful wounding and abusive language committed on his wife, Selena Samaroo.

Arjune was arraigned at the Wales Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Rhondel Weever  where he denied the charges.

As such, he was remanded to prison until February 26.

However, Police said due to the unavailability of a medical from Mohamed at the time, Arjune was only charged for the injuries inflicted on Samaroo.

On Monday, Mohamed succumbed at the West Demerara Regional Hospital while receiving medical attention for injuries she sustained and other medical complications.

As police await the autopsy report, Arjune remains on remand.

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Police headquarters Wednesday said a 12-year-old girl who was reported missing was raped and the suspect is scheduled to be charged on Wednesday.

The suspect has been identified as Andrew Bhola. He will be arraigned at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.

The charge is being laid based on legal advice obtained by the Police.

According to the Police, the victim was reported missing by her mother.

Last Friday, Police said the victim was escorted to hospital in the presence of her mother where a medical examination as conducted. It confirmed that the victim was raped.

Subsequently, Police said arrangements were made for a forensic interview to be conducted.

The victim has since been handed over to her mother.

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By Vishani Ragobeer 

vishani@newsroom.gy 

Describing Guyana as a “green superpower,” former Colombian President Ivan Duque outlined plans the tiny South American country will be pursuing to get payments to conserve its biodiversity.

These plans are expected to unfold in July when the country hosts a summit for a new global biodiversity alliance it is leading, Duque said at the 2025 Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo in Georgetown.

A key component of Guyana’s efforts is the creation of biodiversity credits which are a type of payment that can be earned in exchange for continued protection of the abundant plant and animal species in the country.

Duque believes Guyana has enough biodiversity, many endemic, to make this venture worthwhile for the country and any potential investors. His statement is backed by the findings of an expedition in the Acarai-Corentyne Corridor, located in southern Guyana; it is also believed that there are many known and unknown species in Guyana’s rainforest.

New species of plants, animals found in Guyana after largest- ever local expedition 

The Colombian leader also noted that Guyana is protecting the forests that cover about 90% of its landmass. Already, the country is involved in a carbon credits scheme where it is getting payments to continue protecting the forests.

“I consider Guyana a green superpower,” the former Colombian President said.

In July, at the summit, stakeholders will determine how to develop biodiversity finance be it bonds, guarantees, debt swaps, impact investments, or credits.

(more…)

Pele Football Club, current First-Division champions of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), will hold a Special General Members meeting this Saturday to elect a new executive committee.

According to a press release on Tuesday, the meeting will occur at 18:00h at the Demerara Cricket Club Pavilion and be overseen by a GFA representative. The agenda includes a roll call, elections, and any other business.

This move follows a period where several executive members became non-functional, prompting the club to seek more efficient and professional management.

Club President Dirk Exeter, the remaining active executive members, and the general membership agreed that this special meeting was necessary to drive the club forward.

The Georgetown Football Association has fully sanctioned the elections.

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The Ministry of Labour received some 750 complaints last year from workers on issues ranging from termination and severance pay to payment of overtime and annual leave.

Chief Labour Officer, Dhaneshwar Deonarine Tuesday said 90 percent of the complains were resolved.

The figure, Deonarine said, reflects a “significant” reduction in complains when compared to the previous year.

“We have seen a significant reduction in the number of complains coming to the Ministry of Labour.

“We had just around 750 complaints…that’s the number of complaints we have received for 2024. We have managed to resolve at the end of 2024 approximately 90 percent,” Deonarine told the News Room on Tuesday.

The outstanding complaints, he said, were made late last year and would obviously take some time before they are investigated and concluded.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Labour held its second annual Labour Laws seminar at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

This year, Deonarine said 220 businesses, who employ some 30,000 workers altogether are participating.

“We think by having these engagements, meeting with employers, clarifying certain areas of laws, certain issues, is helping with general industrial relation and keeping peace and stability,” Deonarine said.

The focus of the seminar is to educate and inform employees and workers of their rights and obligations provided under the various pieces of legislation.

Participants are also given the opportunity to raise issues affecting them whether it is related to probationary period, termination, annual leave or wages.

This, Deonarine said will give the Ministry an indication of the areas which require more interest.

Over the past three years, the Ministry of Labour has hosted 20 seminars across the country.

This, Deonarine said is vital to ensure investors remains in the country in light of the rapid development.

The post Termination, overtime payment among 750 complaints received by Labour Ministry last year appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Farm Supplies Limited (FSL) is standing out amongst a multitude of other local companies at the 2025 Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo.

With over three decades of experience in the industry, the company is not only displaying its robust product offerings but also emphasising the importance of excellent aftersales support and continuous training for its workforce.

Sales Manager, Dale Vansluytman, spoke passionately about the company’s evolving role in Guyana’s booming industrial sectors. He noted that while selling equipment is important, it’s the aftersales support, parts, and service that truly set FSL apart.

“It’s about offering solutions, not just selling a product,” Vansluytman explained.

“We have the right training and years of experience, making us proactive in identifying and meeting our customers’ needs.”

Farm Supplies Limited offers an extensive range of products, spanning across various sectors.

From agricultural machinery such as tractors and implements to the marine industry, including Doosan and Hyundai engines, the company’s offerings cater to diverse industries. FSL also serves the mining and construction sectors with equipment like articulated trucks, loaders, and power generators for both residential and industrial use.

The recent surge in the oil and gas sector has led to a significant shift in FSL’s business. Once reliant on the mining industry, which accounted for 90% of their revenue, the company is now seeing a more balanced demand between mining and infrastructure development, a trend Vansluytman describes as “phenomenal.”

FSL has always been committed to supporting local talent. At the Guyana Technical Institute (GTI), the company selects the top five students each year for hands-on training. Vansluytman elaborated, “We send them overseas for further development, helping them elevate their skills, and they in turn, make a meaningful contribution to our growth.”

This commitment to local employment is evident, with 90-95% of FSL’s workforce being Guyanese. While the company may consider bringing in foreign expertise in the future, Vansluytman proudly stated that the team is predominantly local.

Further expanding its reach, FSL also offers in-house financing with flexible packages to meet various customer needs. As the company’s success continues to grow, Vansluytman anticipates significant expansion, both in terms of workforce and product offerings.

“Our goal is to double our staff to around 300 and expand into power generation and marine lines,” he shared. “The sky’s the limit.”

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Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation on the attack of Guyanese soldiers:

Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation this morning urgently summoned His Excellency Carlos Perez, Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to Guyana to condemn and demand redress for yesterday’s armed attack on a Guyana Defense Force (GDF) supply vessel navigating in Guyanese waters between Eteringbang and Makapa.

The attack, by a group of heavily armed men firing on the GDF vessel from Venezuelan territory, injured six GDF troops, all with gunshot wounds. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but some of the wounded had to be evacuated for medical treatment.

While an investigation is in progress, preliminary indications are that the perpetrators are members of Venezuelan criminal gangs who operate with impunity on Venezuela’s side of the international border.

The Minister told Venezuela’s Ambassador that Guyana is outraged by yesterday’s attack, and that it holds Venezuela responsible. He reminded the Ambassador that, under international law, Venezuela is responsible for any harm caused to Guyana or its nationals by persons acting from Venezuelan territory, including private individuals unaffiliated with the Venezuelan Government or Armed Forces.

The Minister insisted that Venezuela comply with its international obligation not to allow its territory to be used to harm a neighbouring State and its duty to eliminate the presence of Venezuelan criminal gangs in the border region, and to prevent any future attacks on Guyana. Noting that Venezuela maintains a significant military presence in the region, despite the absence of a security threat from Guyana, the Minister insisted that Venezuela deploy these assets against the criminal gangs within its territory that constitute a threat to both States.

Minister Todd further expressed his concern about the Ambassador’s failure to denounce yesterday’s incident, and Venezuela’s failure, thus far, to take any action to pursue, apprehend or bring to justice the perpetrators. “Inaction” he warned “is complicity, and Guyana will not hesitate to fully exercise its rights under international law to hold Venezuela accountable.”

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