Guyana

FALL 2021

Governance and the Rule of Law

As COVID is still a pressing issue in Guyana, the government has been focusing on improving border relations as well as policies regarding the increase in natural resources (oil mainly). Additionally, COVID policies in Guyana have allowed for more vaccination.

1.  The government is currently dealing with the Venezuelan migrant crisis as more illegal immigrants come to the border. This has also resulted in a health crisis and many problems with coming up with effective policy to solve this. 
2. Venezuela and Guyana continue to dispute over the Essequibo region, important for its benefit to the economy, as the area is rich in oil and other natural resources.
3. The United Nations has also unsuccessfully mediated negotiations between the two countries, bringing this oil rich area to a global stage especially provoking United States interests through Exxon Mobil. 
4. As of October 1, 2021, all employees of CARICOM will have to present a vaccination status or receive a weekly test in order to ensure a safe workplace. 
5. As Guyana is 1 of 4 countries that still deal with lymphatic filariasis, a disease exacerbated by COVID, the country has been working the past four years to distribute resources to 100% of the affected areas. Despite the pandemic they have been successful. 
6. The President of Guyana and Suriname will meet in Brazil to discuss relations particularly in food security, border disputes, and economic diversification. 
7. People traveling out of Guyana to the United States will have to show proof of vaccination status in order to get onto the flight, an update from the United States Embassy in Georgetown. 
8. The Guyana government has approved many possible vaccination options for people including: AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, SputnikV, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson. 
9. The government currently has some movement barriers in place, with restricted travel to Suriname as well as no travel to Brazil. However, intercity traffic is not. 
10.  Updated at the end of November (Nov 30, 2021) according to the Guyanese Ministry of Health, there have been 37, 874 cases since it appeared in Guyana on March 12, 2020 with 49 new cases recently recorded.

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Growth and Innovation

Guyana has experienced a large oil boom, resulting in a lot of foreign investments and economic growth. As the country experiences this it must deal with the infrastructure and environmental issues that come with an increase in a focus on fossil fuels. This growth persists even while still being in the pandemic.

• As of March 2021, President Irfaan Ali says the offshore oil field is now operating at full capacity. 

1. Ghana will support Guyana in the oil and energy sector as the country’s economy begins to rebound. 
2. Additionally, the Ghana private investors are looking into private sector investments in many of Guyana’s industries- an important piece for economic growth in Guyana. 
3. The growth of PIB hit 43.48% recorded by the World Bank, a steep growth in comparison to prior years. 
4. The Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, said that the government will be auctioning off oil blocks to an international oil market scale with hopes to create contracts with other investors. 
5. As more oil is discovered in Guyana, despite the pandemic, the country is experiencing unprecedented growth for the country. However, experts question the infrastructure of Guyana to support this heightened level of international investment. 
6. Energy month took place in CARICOM this past month (November) with an emphasis on sustainable energy as much of the energy created in Guyana (~80%) comes from fossil fuels. 
7. Guyana has constructed new infrastructure to provide medical supplies and services to Venezuelans living on the border between the two countries. 
8. In addition to oil investors coming in, outside companies are submitting bids to run environmental impact studies of the new growth from the oil industry. 
   1. This will help with the infrastructure problem of supporting this development. 
9. An economic study of 160 countries, including the Caribbean, looking at the idea of the institutions and infrastructure, has shown that Guyana ranks considerably lower at around 45, in comparison to neighboring countries. However, with new economic growth, this could change. 
10.  As of Nov. 29, the vaccine rate for Guyana was around 87.5 for 100 people, which has only been going up.

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Social and Cultural Inclusion

1. With reference to point 5) in the Governance Brief, with the elimination program of lymphatic filariasis, people have begun to receive the medication that they need, helping to solve what had been a massive public health crisis amidst COVID-19. 
2. 25 Guayanese women were honored in New York City for their leadership and achievements in a variance of fields in Guyana. 
3. Even with the pandemic, an educational organization, We are Gutsy Inc, in Guyana in September was able to raise $10,000 for youth education. 
4. The government of Guyana affirms its commitment to Venezulean migrants as the problems of health access and food security at the border continue to rise. 
5. The increase in access to hospitals for the Venezuelans living in Guyana has allowed for more of this access with the Minister of Health in Guyana, Frank Anthony, stating, “if they have a medical problem they will be able to solve it very quickly.” 
6. Approximately 25 families are reported to be living in Guyana from Venezuela as of now making this an increasing humanitarian crisis.
7. With the restricted access to resources at the Northeastern border, malaria also is spreading due to the unclean conditions. 
8. Sex trafficking in Guyana of Venezuelans has been an increasingly large problem for the country through 2021.
9. Indigenos peoples’ leaders call for better protection of Guyanese heritage sites, as foot traffic to the area increases. 
10. As part of the digital effort currently underway in Latin America, educational programs in Guyana have begun to shift to support this level of international development.

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SPRING 2021

Governance and the Rule of Law

COVID-19 struck Guyana during a time of political turmoil. The country’s March 2 presidential election was riddled with allegations of fraud. After five months of political challenges and international pressure, the outgoing president has acknowledged the results of the elections, bringing an end to a period of political instability. Guyana’s new president Mohamed Irfaan Ali took office in August of 2020. As of March 2021, the country now grapples with a new wave of cases amidst plans for national unification after a tricky transition of power. 

1. The month of March 2021 saw the highest number of new infections being recorded since the pandemic was first confirmed in Guyana a year ago. The country is preparing restrictions to counter this development.
2. After a period of political turmoil and economic uncertainty due to COVID-19, Guyana’s new president Mohamed Irfaan Ali took office in August. He has since announced the establishment of a “One Guyana Commission” to increase unity throughout the country.
3. In February of 2021, Guyana started to roll out COVID-19 vaccinations, starting with frontline healthcare workers. As of April 2021, only 0.1% of the population has been fully vaccinated.
4. Guyana’s Minister of Health announced in January 2021 that Guyana would be getting a new field hospital from Qatar, showcasing promising bilateral relations between both countries’ leaders. 
5. Chinese President Xi Jinping said in March 2021 that China and Guyana should take the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties next year as an opportunity to push for more cooperation and lift bilateral relations to higher levels. Frank Anthony, Guyana’s health minister, announced China’s Sinopharm vaccine is approved for emergency use.
6. As the infection rates keep rising in Guyana, many are demanding more structure and organization from the central government to enhance the health services. 
7. In March of 2021, Guyana received 80,000 doses of India’s Covidshield vaccine as a testament of friendship between the two countries.
8. The Japanese government has announced they will contribute $4.8 million (USD) towards a project managed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) for Enhancing the Healthcare System through the Provision of Medical Equipment in Belize, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago.
9. Guyana’s borders pose a challenge to national security and the control of the infection. Guyana has established bilateral cooperation with Brazil, combining efforts for information sharing through the Guyana/Brazil Frontier Committee.
10. In recent years, the discovery of oil off the coast has revived the border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela. The Guyana Government seeks to enforce the demarcation of the border with Venezuela before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
11. COVID-19 presents a challenge to border control  with Venezuela due to the mobilization of transnational criminal organizations, gold trafficking, and illegal migration.

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Growth and Innovation

The discovery of eight billion barrels of oil off the coast has been the focus of a lot of attention, As of March 2021, President Irfaan Ali says the offshore oil field is now operating at full capacity. The Caribbean Development Bank has released a statement that indicates Guyana was the only Caribbean country to record growth during the COVID-19 period. 

• As of March 2021, President Irfaan Ali says the offshore oil field is now operating at full capacity. 
• The Caribbean Development Bank has released a statement that indicates Guyana was the only Caribbean country to record growth during the COVID-19 period.
• The Guyana Tourism Authority has launched a new plan to make Guyana “Safe for Travel.” As of February 2021, the plan is currently in phase 3. 
• Guyana’s school system is constrained by challenges such as lack of access to high-speed internet and e-learning materials in vulnerable and rural households. Bilateral and multilateral cooperation will present an opportunity to overcome those constraints.
• Food security is one of the top priorities of the government, presenting an opportunity to promote national product consumption and limit the imports of food. 
• The government created a six-phase plan to reopen the economy, which has been severely affected by the economic shutdown.
• The Kitchen Relief Garden is an initiative that aims to provide nutritious and healthy choices to families.
• The food crisis caused by COVID-19 has disrupted the export and supply chain of products like rice in the world, presenting an opportunity for small producers of rice in Guyana to increase production to meet the growing demand. 

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Social and Cultural Inclusion

With a population of 750,000 and deep ethnic divisions, Guyana has the challenge of providing its citizens access to health services, protective equipment, and education, especially the indigenous populations that are concentrated in the borders with Venezuela and Brazil. 

• Guyana’s Easter tradition of kite flying by the beach was disrupted by COVID-19 restrictions which led to many celebrating from their backyards.
• The World Bank approved $13.5 million in additional financing to Guyana to support efforts to improve education in the country, as the COVD-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the sector.
• In a country deeply divided by race—in which, according to the last census, 40% are Indian-descendant, and 30% Afro-descendant—the government has the challenge of providing assistance to minority indigenous communities that do not have access to medical resources.
• The killing of two Black teenagers in an agricultural area populated predominantly by Indo-Guyanese has reignited racial tensions still simmering from the election and the economic pitfalls brought on by the pandemic.
• The childcare sector has received educational support through a government and academic partnership which distributes flashcards containing presentations and activities to engage the children in the residential care facilities.
• The Ministry of Education has taken measures to support distanced and virtual learning, increasing access to educational programs through public television and interactive radio.
• The program Single Parent Household aims to prioritize families in which one member of the household has lost his job. 
• The minister of Human Services and Social Security will center his efforts to alleviate poverty and inequality in the midst of the pandemic.
• The growing demand of rice due to the effects of COVID-19 in the food export in the world is presenting an opportunity for women that have had gender disadvantages in the agricultural sector. 

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SPRING/FALL 2020

Governance and the Rule of Law

COVID-19 struck Guyana during a time of  political turmoil. The country was launched into   political paralysis when allegations of fraud against the President David Granger’s ruling party coalition threw the results of the March 2nd presidential elections into question. However, after five months of extended political challenges and international pressure, the out-going president has acknowledged the results of the elections, bringing an end to a period of political instability. 

• The government of President Granger, who has been in power for 15 years, acknowledged after four months the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) vote recount, resulting in the end of political uncertainty in the middle of the COVID- 19 crisis. 
• The elected government faces challenges in accessing economic resources to cope with the effects of the pandemic due to the dissolution of the parliament in December 2019.
• Even though the former president Granger has acknowledged Guyana’s Election Commission (GECOM) results, there is still political tensions between the former president and the elected one during the transition period.
• The newly-appointed Minister of Public Health faces the challenge to immediately implement a new and synchronized structure more responsive to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• As the infection rates keep rising in Guyana, many are demanding more structure and organization from the central government to enhance the health services. 
• Guyana’s borders pose a challenge to national security and the control of the infection. Guyana has established bilateral cooperation with Brazil, combining efforts for information sharing through the Guyana/Brazil Frontier Committee.
• In recent years, the discovery of oil off the coast has revived the border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela. The Guyana Government seeks to enforce the demarcation of the border with Venezuela before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
• COVID-19 presents a challenge to border control  with Venezuela due to the mobilization of transnational criminal organizations, gold trafficking, and illegal migration.

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Growth and Innovation

The discovery of eight billion barrels of oil off the coast will increase the growth of the economy by 86%, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, drops in oil prices and the spread of COVID-19 will decrease the government’s original budget. This may lead the government to be cautious in its spending, focusing on investment in essential services such as the health system.

• Guyana’s school system is constrained by challenges such as lack of access to high-speed internet and e-learning materials in vulnerable and rural households. Bilateral and multilateral cooperation will present an opportunity to overcome those constraints.
• Food security is one of the top priorities of the government, presenting an opportunity to promote national product consumption and limit the imports of food. 
• The government created a six-phase plan to reopen the economy, which has been severely affected by the economic shutdown.
• The Kitchen Relief Garden is an initiative that aims to provide nutritious and healthy choices to families.
• The food crisis caused by COVID-19 has disrupted the export and supply chain of products like rice in the world, presenting an opportunity for small producers of rice in Guyana to increase production to meet the growing demand. 

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Social and Cultural Inclusion

With a population of 750,000 and deep ethnic divisions, Guyana has the challenge of providing its citizens access to health services, protective equipment, and education, especially the indigenous populations that are concentrated in the borders with Venezuela and Brazil. 

• In a country deeply divided by race—in which, according to the last census, 40% are Indian-descendant, and 30% Afro-descendant—the government has the challenge of providing assistance to minority indigenous communities that do not have access to medical resources.
• The childcare sector has received educational support through a government and academic partnership which distributes flashcards containing presentations and activities to engage the children in the residential care facilities.
• The Ministry of Education has taken measures to support distanced and virtual learning, increasing access to educational programs through public television and interactive radio.
• The program Single Parent Household aims to prioritize families in which one member of the household has lost his job. 
• The newly-appointed minister of Human Services and Social Security will center his efforts to alleviate poverty and inequality in the midst of the pandemic.
• The growing demand of rice due to the effects of COVID-19 in the food export in the world is presenting an opportunity for women that have had gender disadvantages  in the agricultural sector.

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Select resources for Guyana:

Governance and the Rule of Law:

Berg, R. & Sanchez, W.A. (2020, April 15). The western hemisphere’s latest slow-motion catastrophe isn’t the pandemic. The National Interest. https://nationalinterest.org/feature/western-hemisphere%E2%80%99s-latest-slow-motion-catastrophe-isnt-pandemic-140692.

Bureau of Statistics Guyana. (n.d). Population and Housing Census. Retrieved July 16, 2020, from https://statisticsguyana.gov.gy/publications/#elementor-tab-content-1465%20%3E%20ul:nth-child(3)%20%3E%20li:nth-child(1)%20%3E%20span.

The Caribbean Community. (2020, August 2). Guyana gets new president. CARICOM News and Media. https://caricom.org/guyana-gets-new-president/.

Caribbean National Weekly. (2021, January 18). Guyana to Get Field Hospital from Qatar to Help in COVID-19 Fight. https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/caribbean-breaking-news-featured/guyana-to-get-field-hospital-from-qatar-to-help-in-covid-19-fight/.

————. (2021, April 5). Guyana Residents Warned Against Surge in New COVID-19 Cases. https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/caribbean-breaking-news-featured/guyana-residents-warned-against-surge-in-new-covid-19-cases/.

Caribbean News. (2020, September 25). September proves to be one of the deadliest COVID-19 months for Guyana. https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/caribbean-breaking-news-featured/september-proves-to-be-one-of-the-deadliest-covid-19-months-for-guyana/.

CGTN. (2021, February 26). Guyana approves China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-02-26/Guyana-approves-China-s-Sinopharm-COVID-19-vaccine-for-emergency-use-YbCXSlzYFG/index.html.

Chabrol, D. (2021, February 11). Guyana begins vaccination journey to beat back coronavirus – Health Minister. DemeraWaves. https://demerarawaves.com/2021/02/11/guyana-begins-vaccination-journey-to-beat-back-coronavirus-health-minister/.

Department of Public Information. (2020, March 25). Ministries and agencies implementing preventative measures. https://dpi.gov.gy/updated-covid-19-advisories-3/.

Ebus, B. (2018, October 28). Troubled Waters along the Guyana-Venezuela Border. International Crisis Group. https://www.crisisgroup.org/latin-america-caribbean/guyana/troubled-waters-along-guyana-venezuela-border.

Hindustan Times. (2021, March 7). Guyana receives 80,000 doses of Covishield Covid-19 vaccine from India. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/guyana-receives-80-000-doses-of-covishield-covid-19-vaccine-from-india-101615127742975.html.

Kurmanaev, A. (2020, March 5). Oil Bonanza Plunges Guyana Into Political Crisis. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/world/americas/guyana-elections-oil.html?searchResultPosition=3.

Loop News. (2020, August 2). Ali declared President of Guyana. https://www.loopjamaica.com/content/ali-declared-president-guyana-2.

————. (2020, August 2). Ali sworn in as President of Guyana. https://www.loopjamaica.com/content/ali-sworn-president-guyana-2.

Matera, M.A. (2020, February 27). Guyana Faces Crucial National Elections on March 2. Center for Strategic & International Studies. https://www.csis.org/analysis/guyana-faces-crucial-national-elections-march-2.

McLeod, S.-K. (2020, November 9). Guyana Government Says Returning Students will be Under Strict Guidelines. Caribbean News. https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/caribbean-breaking-news-featured/guyana-government-says-returning-students-will-be-under-strict-guidelines/.

MercoPress. (2020, October 5). Guyana’s big profits dreams are crushed by the pandemic and the “resource curse”. https://en.mercopress.com/2020/10/05/guyana-s-big-profits-dreams-crushed-by-the-pandemic-and-the-resource-curse.

Ministry of Health of Guyana. (2021, April 19). Covid-19 Vaccination Information. https://www.health.gov.gy/index.php/world-news-7.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Co-operative Republic of Guyana. (2020, June 29). Statement by Hon. Carl Greenidge, agent of Guyana in case before ICJ – arbitral award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela). https://www.minfor.gov.gy/featured/statement-by-hon-carl-greenidge-agent-of-guyana-in-case-before-icj-arbitral-award-of-3-october-1899-guyana-v-venezuela/.

————. (2020, July 3). Guyana/Brazil frontier committee discusses critical action on cross border movement. https://www.minfor.gov.gy/press-releases/guyana-brazil-frontier-committee-discusses-critical-action-on-cross-border-movement/.

Ministry of the Presidency Guyana. (2019, December, 27). Parliament to be dissolved on December 30, 2019. https://motp.gov.gy/index.php/2015-07-20-18-49-38/2015-07-20-18-50-14/3928-parliament-to-be-dissolved-on-december-30-2019.

News Room. (2020, August 5). New Health Minister knocks disjointed COVID-19 response, says COVID hospital is an ‘absolute disaster. https://newsroom.gy/2020/08/05/new-health-minister-knocks-disjointed-covid-19-response-says-covid-hospital-is-an-absolute-disaster/.

Stabroek News. (2021, February 12). President announces ‘One Guyana Commission’ in address to Parliament. https://www.stabroeknews.com/2021/02/12/news/guyana/president-announces-one-guyana-commission/.

————. (2021, March 9). Japan to assist Guyana, others with treatment for COVID patients. https://www.stabroeknews.com/2021/03/09/news/guyana/japan-to-assist-guyana-others-with-treatment-for-covid-patients/.

————. (2021, March 16). Chinese President says prepared to boost COVID vaccination co-operation with Guyana. https://www.stabroeknews.com/2021/03/16/news/guyana/chinese-president-says-prepared-to-boost-covid-vaccination-co-operation-with-guyana/.

Statement from David Granger. (2020, August 7). PNCR’s David Granger issues threat to Gov. over similar actions back in 2015. Daily Guyana News. https://www.dailynewsguyana.com/pncrs-david-granger-issues-threat-to-gov-over-similar-actions-back-in-2015/.

Tharoor, I. (2020, July 7). Why Guyana’s political stalemate matters. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2020/07/07/why-guyanas-political-stalemate-matters/.

U.S. Embassy in Guyana. (2020, October 1). COVID-19 information. https://gy.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/.

Growth and Innovation:

The Caribbean Community. (n.d). CARICOM Today: Guyana. https://today.caricom.org/covid19/guyana/.

Department of Public Information. (2020, July 1). National COVID-19 Task Force Media release. https://dpi.gov.gy/national-covid-19-task-force-media-release/#gsc.tab=0

————. (2020, July 4). Food security a top priority. https://dpi.gov.gy/food-security-a-top-priority-nctf/#gsc.tab=0.

Ewing-Chow, D. (2020, July 24). Rice, Climate Change And A Post-COVID Opportunity For Women In Guyana. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/daphneewingchow/2020/07/24/rice-climate-change-and-a-post-covid-opportunity-for-women-in-guyana/#7efce7f84d80.

Exxon Mobil. (2019, December 20). ExxonMobil begins oil production in Guyana. https://corporate.exxonmobil.com/News/Newsroom/News-releases/2019/1220_ExxonMobil-begins-oil-production-in-Guyana.

International Monetary Fund. (n.d). Guyana at glance. https://www.imf.org/en/Countries/GUY.

Jamaica Observer. (2021, February 26). Caribbean Development Bank projects regional economic growth of 3.8% in 2021 Guyana the only Caribbean country to record growth during the COVID-19 period. https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business-report/caribbean-development-bank-projects-regional-economic-growth-of-3-8-in-2021-guyana-the-only-caribbean-country-to-record-growth-during-the-covid-19-period_215767?profile=1442.

Johnson, H. (2021, February 9). Guyana Tourism Authority Rolls Out ‘Safe for Travel’ Plan. EturboNews. https://eturbonews.com/2867608/guyana-tourism-authority-rolls-out-safe-for-travel-plan/.

Kurmanaev, A. (2020, April 7) ‘It Changed So Fast’: Oil Is Making Guyana Wealthy but Intensifying Tension. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/world/americas/guyana-oil.html?searchResultPosition=2.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Co-operative Republic of Guyana. (2020, July 1). Statement by Foreign Minister at ministerial conference on the digital response to COVID-19. https://www.minfor.gov.gy/featured/statement-by-foreign-minister-at-ministerial-conference-on-the-digital-response-to-covid-19/.

Ministry of the Presidency, Guyana. (2020, April 25). Govt to implement multi-faceted approach to bring relief to citizens – category of vulnerable persons, farmers, business owners targeted. https://motp.gov.gy/index.php/2015-07-20-18-49-38/2015-07-20-18-50-14/4034-govt-to-implement-multi-faceted-approach-to-bring-relief-to-citizens-category-of-vulnerable-persons-farmers-business-owners-targeted.

Reuters. (2021, March 17). UPDATE 1-Guyana president says first oil project has reached full capacity. https://www.reuters.com/article/guyana-oil-idUSL1N2LF1GC.

Social and Cultural Inclusion:

Clarke, T. (2021, April 7). COVID-19 restrictions hamper kite flying tradition in Guyana. Caribbean Life. https://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/covid-19-restrictions-hamper-kite-flying-tradition-in-guyana/.

Department of Public Information. (n.d). News. Retrieved July 16, 2020, from https://dpi.gov.gy/tag/child-care-and-protection-agency/#gsc.tab=0.

————. (n.d). News. https://dpi.gov.gy/tag/child-care-and-protection-agency/#gsc.tab=0.

Guyana Standard. (2020, July 16) UG offers educational support to Childcare and Protection Agency. https://www.guyanastandard.com/2020/07/16/ug-offers-educational-support-to-childcare-and-protection-agency/.

NationNews. (2021, January 26). World Bank US$13.5m for education in Guyana. https://www.nationnews.com/2021/01/26/world-bank-us13-5m-education-guyana/.

StabroekNews. (2020, April 19) Indigenous communities could be decimated by coronavirus, activists say. https://www.stabroeknews.com/2020/04/19/news/guyana/indigenous-communities-could-be-decimated-by-coronavirus-activists-say/.

————. (2020, July 4). Frontier Committee discusses critical action on Guyana/Brazil border movement. https://www.stabroeknews.com/2020/07/04/news/guyana/frontier-committee-discusses-critical-action-on-guyana-brazil-border-movement/.

Yahya-Sakur, N. & Kurmanaev, A. (2020, September 10). Killings reignite racial tensions in Guyana. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/10/world/americas/killings-guyana-racial-tension.html.