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monetise natural gas resources.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali disclosed the company’s selection at a press conference on Thursday.

He, however, clarified that financial talks are not yet ongoing as the talks among the company, the consortium producing oil in the lucrative Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, and the government are still ongoing.

“This company’s proposal was evaluated as the best proposal in monetising the gas and adding to that, adding the value that would bring new opportunities and more opportunities for us.

“The three groups need to refine (the opportunities) and the company has to present a proposal and to see how all the pieces fit together,” President Ali told reporters gathered at his official residence in Georgetown, State House.

Fulcrum LNG was chosen after the government sought proposals for a 100 per cent privately-owned facility.

According to the Request for Proposals published in January, the Ministry of Natural Resources sought an investor to design, finance, construct and operate the “required gas infrastructure to support upstream developments” in Guyana. The open-access facility the government is eyeing should include the necessary pipelines to connect, as needed, to other infrastructure to monetise upstream gas resources.

As stated on its website, the company is a US-based energy firm “founded by experienced and industry- recognised professionals with more than two centuries of combined experience.”

The government has openly declared its interest in monetising whatever natural gas resources are offshore as quickly as possible. This is being done as the need to transition away from fossil fuels like diesel, oil and gas is continuously impressed upon governments globally.

Already, a 300 megawatt (MW) power plant is being built at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara. That power plant will be fuelled by natural gas brought onshore through a pipeline connecting the Wales area and the Stabroek Block.

There will also be a Natural Gas Liquids plant enabling the government to produce other products like cooking gas.

Production at two oil vessels offshore Guyana will grind to a halt for two weeks each in the coming months so that a natural gas pipeline meant to bring gas onshore can be connected, ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge said in April.

once threatened to sexually assault and shoot her. Norton, who is also the Leader of the Opposition, denied the accusation and says it is part of efforts by one of his competitors to thwart his leadership campaign.

Norton is looking to retain the leadership of the PNCR when its congress is held next week.

Walton- Desir is one of Norton’s competitors for the top leadership spot. And she issued a statement on her Facebook page on the matter.

“It is with heavy heart that I have read the consecutive statements of Leader Aubrey Norton and Sister Vanessa Kissoon. While the statements speak for themselves it is necessary for me to speak out as a woman and as a leader in the party.

“The nature of the allegations cannot be ignored and we must address this matter with the seriousness it deserves,” Walton- Desir said.

While advocating for a “fair process” and “necessary course of action” to unfold for both parties, the Parliamentarian castigated persons bashing Ms. Kissoon on social media. She emphasised that victim- blaming and victim- shaming must not prevail.

Walton- Desir wasn’t the only PNCR member who addressed the situation publicly.

Another PNCR member who was nominated for Norton’s position as party leader, Simona Broomes said “it cannot be business as usual.”

Broomes, in video broadcast live on her Facebook page, said an investigation is needed to unearth the truth. She, too, emphasised that Ms. Kissoon must not be pilloried because she chose to speak out on the threats she faced.

And until the investigation is completed, the well-known advocate for women’s rights said Mr. Norton should step aside.

“In the meantime, this is out there and it is not business as usual in the PNC,” Broomes said.

lengthy teachers’ strike, President Dr Irfaan Ali said on Thursday.

“There has been a lot of ongoing work, discussions in relation to the resumption of work and also the issues raised by teachers.

“I don’t want to go in any extended way in response to this. From the most recent feedback I have received, there seems to be some movement and in relation to getting to an initial agreement on terms that will see this situation resumed to some amount of normalcy,” President Ali said on Thursday at a press conference at State House, in Georgetown.

An initial five-week strike began on February 5, with teachers demanding higher salary increases and duty-free concessions, among other benefits.

After a court-mediated process in March, talks between the Education Ministry and GTU resumed. Discussions were halted when the Education Ministry indicated that there was no fiscal space to cater for increases for the period 2019 -2023. Increases for 2024 and future years were put for consideration instead.

Talks between the two parties continue with both sides hoping to come to a compromise at soonest.

Outside of these negotiations, President Ali reiterated the government’s commitment to improving the welfare and livelihoods of teachers and other workers.

He also said the government is keen on improving the education sector, including through the infusion of technology to help rapidly upskill learners.