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☆ This tiny country is giving $2,000 to every household as an Exxon oil boom supercharges its economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Guyana, the tiny South American nation, is giving $2,000 to every household in the country. AdvertisementThe world's fastest-growing economy is handing the equivalent of $2,000 to every household as it works to share its newfound oil wealth and soften the sting of higher living costs. Its oil fund held over $1.7 trillion of assets at the end of June, or more than $300,000 per Norwegian citizen. Sharing the wealthGuyana's $2,000 payment to households "sounds like great news," Karl Widerquist, a philosophy professor at Georgetown University-Qatar and the author of several books about universal basic income (UBI) told BI. Guyana's one-off, unconditional cash grant is a "positive step," Cleo Goodman, the basic income lead at the Autonomy Institute think tank, told BI.

Persons: —, Mohamed Irfaan Ali of, Ali, They've, Nicolas Suarez, Suarez, Karl Widerquist, Cleo Goodman Organizations: Service, Department, Public, Guyanese, P Global Market Intelligence, Resource Fund, Bank, Exxon, Guyana ramped, Monetary Fund, Georgetown University, Qatar, Autonomy Institute Locations: Guyana, Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana, America, Riding, Britain, Venezuela, Brazil, Suriname, Netherlands

☆ Who Is David Lammy, Britain’s New Foreign Secretary?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Jenny Gross | More About Jenny Gross | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

David Lammy, the son of Guyanese immigrants who grew up poor in working-class London, on Friday became Britain’s chief diplomat, taking the lead on British foreign policy at a time of significant challenges. Mr. Lammy, 51, has deep ties to the United States, having spent summers with relatives in Brooklyn and Queens and earning a master’s degree at Harvard Law School. He met Barack Obama 20 years ago at a gathering of Black Harvard alumni, and this year he had dinner with the former U.S. president when Mr. Obama visited London. Mr. Lammy canvassed in Chicago for Mr. Obama during his first presidential campaign, and he has developed a deep network of contacts within the Democratic Party. In an essay in Foreign Affairs magazine published in April, Mr. Lammy wrote that he would focus on rebuilding ties with the European Union, which have been strained by Britain’s decision to leave the bloc, and that his priority was backing Ukraine.

Persons: David Lammy, Lammy, Barack Obama, Obama Organizations: Queens, Harvard Law School, Black Harvard, Mr, Democratic Party, Foreign Affairs, European Union Locations: United States, Brooklyn, London, Chicago, Ukraine

☆ Opinion: How this very English sport found a home in America
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Opinion Ashish Ravinran | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

India and Pakistan will take on each other in the Men’s T20 World Cup. But I soon realized that one of the unexpected pleasures of cricket in America was seeing the sport bloom between the cracks. Through their eyes, the New York cricket world continued to bloom in front of me. I discovered weekend leagues, a high school league and peculiarly, the NYPD Youth Cricket League — the subject of my upcoming feature documentary. This year there’s a second competition, the National Cricket League, headquartered in Dallas, home to a large South Asian community.

Persons: Ashish Ravinran, ”, Read, Ashish Ravinran Richa Dayal, who’d, ” Tanvir Ahmed, who’ve, Alex Davidson, We’re, we’ve, I’ve, Ramchandra, Fawwaz Baksh, They’ve, Bolt, Sean Paul, America ’, they’d Organizations: NYPD, CNN, South, Oxford, Cricket, New, NYPD Youth Cricket League —, Citi Field, American, Major League Cricket, National Cricket League, American College Cricket, West Indies, ICC, Bangladesh, Nassau County International Cricket, ” Sports, Local, World Trade Center, Times, Twitter, Facebook, America, Angeles Locations: Singaporean, New York City, Long, , New York, India, Pakistan, America, Caribbean, New York, Singapore, Bangladeshi, Brooklyn, Corona Park, Queens, Prairie, Texas, Morrisville, North Carolina, Dallas, Lauderhill, Florida, Jamaican, West, Canada, Eisenhower, Manhattan, Fort Lauderdale, Bangladesh, Texas , Florida

☆ Venezuela expands military buildup at Guyana border in ‘dangerous game,’ says report
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Venezuela continues to build up military infrastructure and hardware close to the border with Guyana as President Nicolas Maduro and his supporters scale up their threats to annex an oil-rich piece of Guyanese land. Guyana had called the move a step towards annexation and an “existential” threat as the specter of armed conflict loomed over the region. Using satellite imagery and social media, CSIS found that the expansion of Anacoco Island’s military base has continued. Maduro could ‘fall victim to own rhetoric’The threats to Guyana have concerned its partners. “Thus, one of the most concerning possibilities is that Maduro will fall victim to his own rhetoric.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, “, ” Ryan Berg Organizations: CNN, Strategic, International Studies, Venezuelan, US Navy, Americas, CSIS Locations: Venezuela, Guyana, Washington, Venezuelan, Essequibo, Punta Barima, arm’s, Essequibo ”, Guyanese, Georgetown, Idaho

☆ Guyana: Nigel Dharamlall accused of sexual assault by another woman
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Tara John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The accuser, economist Sarah Aneesah Hakh, told an online press conference held in the capital Georgetown that former Minister Nigel Dharamlall sexually assaulted her in 2020 and 2021. Hakh said the first alleged incident occurred during a business meeting when Dharamlall was Guyana’s senior minister of regional development. He has been photographed recently with Guyanese President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo. In a March statement, Guyanese women’s rights group Red Thread criticized officials for failing the accuser. During their meeting, Hakh alleges Dharamlall tried to remove her clothes.

Persons: Sarah Aneesah Hakh, Nigel Dharamlall, Hakh, Dharamlall, ” Hakh, Irfaan Ali, Bharrat Jagdeo, “, ”, Ali, ‘, they’re Organizations: CNN, People’s Progressive Party, ” CNN, Anna Regina State House, Dharamlall, Guyanese Locations: Guyana, Georgetown, Guyanese, Cummings

☆ Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry tenders resignation after Jamaica talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, leaves the auditorium after speaking to students during a public lecture on bilateral engagement between Kenya and Haiti, at the United States International University (USIU) Africa, in Nairobi on March 1, 2024. Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has resigned as head of the Caribbean nation, the leader of a regional body said on Monday, an unelected role the 74-year-old neurosurgeon has held since the 2021 assassination of the country's last president. "We acknowledge his resignation upon the establishment of transitional presidential council and naming an interim prime minister," said Caribbean Community (CARICOM) chair and Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, thanking Henry for his service to Haiti. Ali said the presidential council would have two observers and seven voting members, including representatives from several coalitions, the private sector, civil society and one religious leader. The council has been mandated to "swiftly" appoint an interim prime minister, he added, and anyone who intends to run in Haiti's next elections will not be able participate.

Persons: Ariel Henry, Irfaan Ali, Henry, Ali, Antony Blinken Organizations: Haitian, United States International University, Community, United, Regional Locations: Kenya, Haiti, Africa, Nairobi, Caribbean, United Nations, Port, U.S, Puerto Rico, Haiti's, Jamaica, Haitian

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The government of Venezuela accused neighboring Guayana Sunday of granting illegal oil exploration concessions in territory the two nations are disputing. The comments Sunday came after Guyana said Saturday that it has satellite imagery showing Venezuelan military movements near the South American country’s eastern border with Guyana. Venezuela has been laying claim to the mineral-rich Essequibo region, which covers about two thirds of Guyana’s surface area. But for more than 60 years Venezuela has accused the commission of cheating it out of the Essequibo region. Several top American administration and military officials have visited Guyana in recent weeks as a show of support.

Persons: Guayana, Vincent, Robert Persaud, Irfaan Ali, Nicolás Maduro Organizations: ”, ExxonMobil, Argyle, US Center for Strategic, International Studies, Venezuelan Locations: CARACAS, Venezuela, Guyana, Essequibo, Caribbean, St, Brazil, Punta Barima, Netherlands, U.S

☆ Venezuela builds forces near Guyana border despite agreement to de-escalate
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Vasco Cotovio | Allegra Goodwin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Satellite images show Venezuela has bolstered its military presence near the border with Guyana, despite Caracas saying it would pursue a diplomatic avenue to try and resolve the long-standing territorial dispute over an oil-rich piece of Guyanese land. Anacoco Island military base on July 28, 2021. Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies Anacoco Island military base on January 13, 2024. Satellite image ©2024 Maxar Technologies Aerial views of Anacoco Island military base on July 28, 2021 and January 13, 2024. Venezuela later reached an agreement with Guyana on December 15 to avoid escalation and try to settle the dispute between the two countries without force.

Persons: “, ” Organizations: CNN, 11th Armoured Brigade, 6th Venezuelan Army Corps Engineers, Venezuelan Army, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: Venezuela, Guyana, Caracas, Guayana, Republic, Washington, Venezuelan

☆ Plush, Perfumed Pepperpot
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Sam Sifton | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two or three clicks on the laptop and the mail carrier soon brought me a few pounds of the Provel cheese necessary to make it. Today’s shopping: cassareep, a Guyanese syrup of boiled cassava root, savory-sweet, like a cross between molasses and Worcestershire sauce. It’s a crucial ingredient in one of Guyana’s most beloved dishes, pepperpot (above), which Millie Peartree brought to New York Times Cooking this week. Of course you can buy cassareep online, but if there’s a Caribbean market where you are, it’s most likely stocked there as well. Browned into beef chuck, it makes for a lovely stew: spicy, fragrant, slightly sweet and sticky.

Persons: Louis, Millie Peartree, there’s Organizations: The New York Times, Lambert, New York Times Locations: Guyanese, Worcestershire, Caribbean

☆ Guyana Will Stay Alert After Venezuela Vote on Territorial Dispute -VP
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

CARACAS (Reuters) - Guyana will remain vigilant after a Venezuelan referendum rejected an international court's jurisdiction over a territorial dispute between the neighboring countries, Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Monday. Bilateral tensions over the potentially oil-rich Esequibo region rose in recent weeks ahead of the five-question referendum, which Guyana unsuccessfully asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to bar. Venezuelans on Sunday backed the rejection of ICJ jurisdiction over the dispute and the creation of a new state in Esequibo. Maduro has assured Caribbean countries that he will not invade the region, Jagdeo said, but Guyana will not let its guard down. "A new era in the fight for our Guayana Esequiba has begun," he added, using the proposed name for the new Venezuelan state.

Persons: Bharrat Jagdeo, Nicolas Maduro, Maduro, Jagdeo, Esequiba, Mayela Armas, Deisy, Julia Symmes Cobb, Richard Chang Organizations: International Court of Justice, U.S . State Department, Sunday, ICJ, Conference of, Guyanese Locations: CARACAS, Guyana, Esequibo, Venezuela, Dubai, Venezuelan, Caracas, Bogota

☆ Venezuelans approve takeover of oil-rich region of Guyana in referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( David Shortell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Venezuelans voted by a wide margin Sunday to approve the takeover of an oil-rich region in neighboring Guyana – the latest escalation in a long-running territorial dispute between the two countries, fueled by the recent discovery of vast offshore energy resources. The area in question, the densely forested Essequibo region, amounts to about two-thirds of Guyana’s national territory and is roughly the size of Florida. Venezuela has long claimed the land, which it argues was within its borders during the Spanish colonial period. It dismisses an 1899 ruling by international arbitrators that set the current boundaries when Guyana was still a British colony, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has cast the referendum in anti-imperialist sentiment on social media. Still, the escalating rhetoric has prompted troop movements in the region and saber-rattling in both countries, drawing comparisons from Guyanese leaders to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Irfaan Ali, Robert Persaud, Maria Corina Machado, Maduro, ”, Phil Gunson Organizations: CNN, Guyana –, Venezuelan, Electoral Council, Guyanese, Court of Justice, International Crisis Locations: Guyana, Essequibo, Florida, Venezuelan, Venezuela, British, The Hague, Ukraine, Guyanese, Caracas

☆ Guyana will stay alert after Venezuela vote on territorial dispute -VP
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The U.S. State Department said on Monday it supports a peaceful resolution of the dispute and that the issue could not be solved by a referendum. Venezuelans on Sunday backed the rejection of ICJ jurisdiction over the dispute and the creation of a new state in Esequibo. Analysts have said the vote was an attempt by President Nicolas Maduro to gauge his government's support ahead of a 2024 presidential election. Maduro has assured Caribbean countries that he will not invade the region, Jagdeo said, but Guyana will not let its guard down. "A new era in the fight for our Guayana Esequiba has begun," he added, using the proposed name for the new Venezuelan state.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Jorge Rodriguez, Elvis Hidrobo Amoroso, Bharrat Jagdeo, Maduro, Jagdeo, Esequiba, Mayela Armas, Deisy, Julia Symmes Cobb, Richard Chang Organizations: Venezuelan National, Electoral Council, National Electoral Council, Justice's, International Court of Justice, U.S . State Department, Sunday, ICJ, Conference of, Guyanese, Thomson Locations: Venezuelan, CARACAS, Guyana, Esequibo, Venezuela, Dubai, Caracas, Bogota

☆ A Venezuelan vote on an oil-rich region of Guyana raises concerns of a South American military conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( David Shortell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The area in question, the densely forested Essequibo region, amounts to about two-thirds of Guyana’s national territory and is roughly the size of Florida. The recent discovery of vast offshore oil fields in the region has heightened the stakes of the dispute. Venezuelans in Caracas take part in a rally during the closing of the campaign for the Essequibo referendum, on December 1. It owns the congress of Guyana,” Maduro told supporters last week. Matias Delacroix/APOn Wednesday, Brazil announced that it was increasing its military presence with “defensive actions” along its northern border with Venezuela and Guyana.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Miguel Gutierrez, Shutterstock, Robert Persaud, Venezuela doesn’t, Matias Delacroix, ” Maduro, Maria Corina Machado, Maduro, ”, Phil Gunson, Irfaan Ali, Paul J, Angelo, Wazim Mowla, Adrienne Arsht, Vladmir Putin’s, Bharrat Jagdeo, “, ” Jagdeo, ” Gunson Organizations: CNN, Quarterly, Court of Justice, UN, International Court of Justice, ExxonMobil, AP, International Crisis, Venezuelan, Foreign Relations, Caribbean Initiative, Atlantic, America, Crisis Locations: Guyana, Essequibo, Florida, Venezuela, British, Venezuelan, Caracas, Ukraine, Guyanese, The Hague, Guyana's, Paris, Guiana, Georgetown, AP Venezuela, ”, Demerara, Brazil, Crimea, that’s

☆ World Court orders Venezuela to refrain from action in border dispute with Guyana
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The court did not expressly forbid Venezuela to hold a planned Dec. 3 referendum over its rights to the region around the Esequibo river, the subject of the long-running border dispute, as Guyana has requested. However, judges at the International Court of Justice - as the World Court is formally known - made clear that any concrete action to alter the status quo should be stopped. "The court observes that the situation that currently prevails in the territory in dispute is that Guyana administers and exercises control over that area," presiding judge Joan Donoghue said. "Venezuela must refrain from taking any action which would modify that situation," she added. Venezuela reactivated its claim over the area in recent years after the discovery of offshore oil and gas.

Persons: Joan Donoghue, Nicolas Maduro, Irfaan Ali, Stephanie van den Berg, Bart Meijer, Kiana Wilburg, Alex Richardson Organizations: HAGUE, International Court of Justice, Thomson Locations: Essequibo, Esequiba, Guyana, Caracas, Venezuela, Georgetown

☆ The Best Black Cake, a West Indian Delight, Starts at Home
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Ramin Ganeshram | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Alternatively called rum cake, fruit cake or great cake, this dessert most likely came to the Caribbean in the 18th century with English and Irish colonizers, who substituted local rum for whiskey in their traditional Christmas fruitcake. At some point, burnt sugar syrup was added, turning the cake almost black. It has been a West Indian holiday staple, as well as the go-to wedding cake, for centuries. The recipe for black cake is so storied it has even inspired a best-selling novel that has been adapted into a series on Hulu. Black cake baking is a cottage industry in the West Indies that continues among Caribbean immigrants worldwide.

Persons: —, citron, prunes, ”, Deborah Charles, “ Organizations: Hulu Locations: Caribbean, West Indian, West Indies

☆ Guyana contractor in US probe leaves $300 million Exxon shore base project
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Sabrina Valle | Thomson Reuters | U.S. Energy Correspondent Focused In Covering Global Operations Of Oil Majors Out Of Houston. | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Mohamed's decision to leave the consortium could reduce complications for the Texas-based company should U.S. authorities decide to levy sanctions on the pair or file an indictment. The construction of the shore base is part of Exxon’s efforts to expand oil production off Guyana’s coast, an important part of the company's growth plans. Following the Reuters report in July, Exxon had made an internal decision to remain neutral on the Mohameds, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter. Nazar was quoted in local media on Tuesday saying his decision to leave the consortium was based on religious beliefs. Reporting by Sabrina Valle; Editing by Richard Valdmanis, Richard Chang and Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nazar Mohamed, Azruddin, Mohamed's, Alistair Routledge, Mohamed, Exxon, Andron Alphonso, Nicholas Deygoo, Boyer, Jan De Nul, Nazar, Washington, “, ”, George McEachern, Sabrina Valle, Richard Valdmanis, Richard Chang, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Exxon, Exxon Mobil Corp, Reuters, Mohamed’s, NRG Holdings, Company, U.S, FBI, International Corruption, Thomson Locations: Guyana HOUSTON, American, Texas, U.S, United States, Venezuela, Guyana, Vreed, European

☆ Dominican Republic signs preliminary pact to explore building refinery in Guyana
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Kiana Wilburg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Guyana President Irfaan Ali meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the State Department in Washington, U.S., July 25, 2022. Any project would be at least 51% owned by the Dominican Republic government, according to the terms of the preliminary agreement, which was seen by Reuters. The pact was signed by Guyana President Irfaan Ali and Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader during Ali's trip to Santo Domingo. "(The) Dominican Republic is also interested in exploring for oil, food production and petrochemicals," in Guyana, Ali added without providing details. The potential alliance with the Dominican Republic is for a second refinery project in Guyana.

Persons: Irfaan Ali, Antony Blinken, Sarah Silbiger, Luis Abinader, Ali, Kiana Wilburg, Matthew Lewis, Grant McCool Organizations: U.S, State Department, REUTERS, Companies Exxon Mobil Corp, GEORGETOWN, Dominican Republic, Reuters, Guyana, Guyanese, Authorities, Exxon Mobil, Thomson Locations: Guyana, Washington , U.S, Dominican Republic, Dominican, Santo Domingo, Guyanese, Georgetown

☆ U.S. probing Exxon contractor in Guyana for smuggling drugs, gold
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Now, U.S. officials are considering imposing sanctions on the Mohameds, according to four of the sources and two additional people familiar with the matter. The construction of the shore base is part of Exxon’s efforts to expand oil production off Guyana’s coast. The companies plan to expand output to 1.2 million bpd by 2027, a massive haul that would make Guyana’s production higher than what many OPEC nations, including neighboring Venezuela, produce today. Guyana is Exxon’s top bet for global oil production growth outside of the United States. Neither Hess nor CNOOC responded to requests for comment on the investigations into the Mohameds or the government’s meetings with Exxon.

Persons: Nazar Mohamed, Washington, Mohamed, Irfaan Ali, ”, ” Nazar Mohamed, Azruddin Mohamed, “, Alistair Routledge, Hess, CNOOC Organizations: Guyana U.S, Exxon Mobil, Reuters, Exxon, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, Russian, FBI, DEA, Homeland Security, U.S, Routledge, The U.S, China National Offshore Oil Corporation Locations: GEORGETOWN, Guyana, U.S, The Texas, Venezuela, United States, Europe, Georgetown, China

☆ On Her Debut Album, Olivia Dean Is Already Pushing Ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Jon Pareles | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Olivia Dean could easily have stayed in one lane for her debut album, “Messy.” She has been on a glide path to a career in smooth English pop-soul. Dean, 24, has been releasing songs since 2018 — long enough to make her first album feel like a turning point instead of an introduction. She was born in London — to a Guyanese-Jamaican mother and an English father — and soaked up music from her father’s album collection. And like Amy Winehouse, Adele, Leona Lewis, Raye, Jessie J and Imogen Heap, Dean showed enough youthful talent to attend the star-making BRIT School of performing arts. Like other newcomers, Dean gained attention for a featured vocal with an electronic act, performing “Adrenaline” with Rudimental in 2019.

Persons: Olivia Dean, Dean, she’s, —, Lauryn Hill, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Leona Lewis, Raye, Jessie J, Imogen Heap, Elton John — Organizations: Guyanese, BRIT School Locations: London, Rudimental, Glastonbury

☆ Guyana not interested in joining OPEC, VP says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Kiana Wilburg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Guyana's Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo poses for a photo during an interview with Reuters in Georgetown, Guyana, February 16, 2022. REUTERS/Sabrina ValleGEORGETOWN, June 26 (Reuters) - Nascent oil producer Guyana is not interested in joining the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Guyanese Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo said on Monday, as the South American country looks to rapidly boost production and attract new operators. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Saudi Arabia's energy minister, Abdulaziz bin Salman, and Haitham al-Ghais, OPEC's secretary-general, have invited Guyana to join the cartel. Guyana is planning an oil auction within a couple of months in hopes it can bring in other oil and gas companies. "We are committed to responsibly developing the resources offshore Guyana to maximize value for all stakeholders, including the government and people of Guyana," said Exxon spokesperson Meghan Macdonald in response to questions about the country and OPEC.

Persons: Bharrat Jagdeo, Sabrina Valle GEORGETOWN, Jagdeo, Abdulaziz bin Salman, Haitham, Meghan Macdonald, Kiana Wilburg, Sabrina Valle, Julia Symmes Cobb, Sandra Maler Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Organization of, Petroleum, OPEC, The, Natural Resources, Street, Exxon Mobil Corp, Exxon, Thomson Locations: Georgetown, Guyana, American, Vienna, Saudi

CNN —At least 20 people have been killed and several others injured in a “horrific” school dormitory fire in the South American country of Guyana, officials said on Monday. “It is with great sadness that we bring to you a heart-wrenching update on the fire at the dormitory at the Mahdia Secondary school” in central Guyana, a Department of Public Information statement said. The Guyanese government earlier mobilized a “full-scale medical evacuation-supported response” after the fire broke out. The Mahdia Secondary School Dormitory, where the fire happened, is at the center of the Guyanese government’s push to improve the education level in the less developed part of the country. In previous government statements, they describe the construction of the school dormitory as an effort to “bridge the gaps between the hinterland and coastal areas.”This is a developing story.

☆ Exxon says Guyana insurance dispute could cut revenue $350 million per month
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Kiana Wilburg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GEORGETOWN, May 19 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) on Friday said an ongoing dispute with the government of Guyana over oil-spill insurance could halt production at its first offshore platform, cutting revenue by about $350 million per month. A Guyanese court this month found Exxon in breach of insurance obligations for Liza One, its first offshore oil project, and called for additional insurance adequate to protect against a catastrophic oil spill. Exxon and partners in an offshore consortium that has produced all the country's oil to date have $600 million in insurance and up to $19 billion in assets in the country, Exxon officials said at media briefing. Exxon said that if the sides are unable to agree, it could halt output from Lisa One platform and cost about $350 million in lost revenue. Guyana would incur a hit of $80 million to $88 million to earnings from its share of production, according to the country's National Resource Fund's latest quarterly report.

☆ Exxon rebuts proxy advisor, says net zero emissions scenario 'unlikely'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Sabrina Valle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Glass Lewis backed the initiative, concluding Exxon could face material financial risks from the net-zero scenario. Exxon has said the world is not on a path to achieve net-zero emissions in 2050. The 2050 net-zero emissions (NZE) scenario of the International Energy Agency (IEA) envisions a path to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. "It is highly unlikely that society would accept the degradation in global standard of living required to permanently achieve a scenario like the IEA NZE," Exxon said in dismissing the proposal. Exxon rebutted the proxy firm's recommendation that it evaluate the impacts of a worst-case oil spill at its offshore Guyanese oil platforms.

☆ Exxon says it spent more than $900 million locally in Guyana since 2015
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Sabrina Valle | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HOUSTON, May 16 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM.N) and its contractors spent more than $400 million locally in Guyana in 2022, and more than $900 million since the company's first oil discovery in the South American country in 2015, it said on a statement on Tuesday. The government has approved on Monday Exxon's 2023 local content plan, in which the company describes its strategies to promote local industry. Exxon and contractors had employed over 5,000 Guyanese workers by the end of 2022, the company said, representing more than 65% of the overall workforce in the local oil and gas industry. Among the 2,700 personnel supporting Exxon's operations in Guyana, over 1,300 were Guyanese, it said. Reporting by Sabrina ValleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ BlocPower: 2023 CNBC Disruptor 50
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Cnbc.Com Staff | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Brooklyn-based cleantech company BlocPower is squarely positioned with a mission to fight climate change while solving social injustices, focusing on renewable energy, reduction of carbon pollution, and urban redevelopment in lower-income areas. BlocPower was founded in 2014 by Donnel Baird, the child of Guyanese immigrants, who drew on his experience growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn in an apartment without well-functioning heating and cooling systems. This retrofitting of older buildings can lead to major energy savings, 30% to 50%, and a reduction of at least 40% in greenhouse gas emissions, BlocPower says. In Buffalo, BlocPower inked a contract with utility National Fuel Gas Company to upgrade hybrid heating and cooling systems in 34 low-to-middle income residential and commercial buildings. It also sealed a deal with Fujitsu General America to bring a better-functioning automatic heating and cooling unit to the U.S.

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