AGP Executive Report

Festival & Music: Dutch DJ Quintino is set for SounDown 2026 on Nov 28 at Kingston Beachfront, with the event expanding into Guyana Dance Music Week featuring music education, DJ development and more local/Caribbean creative programming. Public Health: GPHC reports 107 breast cancer cases in the first eight months of 2026, as its Oncology Clinic held a pinning ceremony for patients and survivors during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Urban Life: The Healthy Streets Initiative is moving ahead on Thomas Street Avenue (Lamaha to Church), with officials inspecting works aimed at greener, safer, more functional public space in Georgetown. Community & Faith: East Coast Demerara centenarian Miss Blanche Duke marked her 102nd birthday with a thanksgiving celebration at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, honouring her long teaching legacy. Safety & Transport: Traffic Chief says drivers of fallen shipping container trailers are being charged over faulty loading/unsecured containers, after another incident at Sussex and Lombard. Sports & Youth: Guyana’s chess team earned three new conditional titles at the 2026 FIDE Olympiad, while PSA’s U15 Paradise Showdown runs Oct 3–7 in Sint Maarten. Regional Spotlight: Suriname plans October half-day school closures due to extreme heat, closing at noon for the month. Youth & Inclusion: GCOPD’s Inclusive Innovators will train 320 children with disabilities in STEM and life skills, supported by ExxonMobil. Culture & Writing: A Hindu priestess’s book explores making rituals more queer-friendly, adding to Guyana-relevant conversations on faith and identity.

STEM for children with disabilities: GCOPD’s Inclusive Innovators Phase 7, backed by ExxonMobil Guyana, will train 320 children through robotics and STEM clubs across Regions 2–6, plus targeted sessions in Regions 1 and 10, with counselling for children and sensitisation for parents. Aviation safety push: President Irfaan Ali warns Guyana can’t be complacent as air travel surges, citing rapid growth in passengers, flights and airline seats—and calling for stronger oversight and modern regulation. Oil milestone, local content: ExxonMobil says Guyana is set to cross one million barrels per day by year-end, with local spending topping US$3.6B and thousands of local vendors involved. Tourism sustainability check: Guyana now meets 60% of Green Destinations’ criteria, with 10 businesses certified under the Good Travel Seal as the GTA moves to improve visitor experience. Culture & sport links: The Culture Ministry signs an MoU with Lahore Qalandars to boost cricket pathways, while Guyana’s school golf sees 302 students take the CSEC elective with a 98% Grade One pass rate. Community & heritage: St Cuthbert’s Mission highlights Indigenous contributions as development plans expand around the East Bank corridor. Public safety: Police advise motorists to avoid Vigilance as burning debris blocks the ECD corridor amid renewed unrest. Legal milestone: ASP Travis Ansel Cush is admitted to the Bar of Guyana.

Agriculture & Youth: Agriculture Month 2026 kicked off under “Innovate, Nourish, Grow,” with Minister Zulfikar Mustapha spotlighting women and youth driving agro-processing and innovation, including drones and precision irrigation. Aviation Safety: President Irfaan Ali urged stronger aviation safety as air travel expands, warning that one lapse can undo years of progress. UN Diplomacy & Culture: Antigua broke CARICOM ranks by backing Ecuador’s María Fernanda Espinosa for UN Secretary-General, even as Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett continues to draw support. Law & Community: Assistant Superintendent Travis Ansel Cush was admitted to the Bar, marking a major legal milestone for a serving police officer. Tourism & Lifestyle: Guyana’s Good Travel Seal assessment found 60% compliance, with 10 businesses certified and a push to improve visitor experience. Sports & Youth: Lahore Qalandars signed an MoU with Guyana’s Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry to boost cricket pathways, while 302 students earned a 98% Grade One pass rate in CSEC PE Golf. Community & Environment: Recover Guyana and ExxonMobil launched the Skeldon Line Path Secondary EcoHub project, turning SHOUT 2026 ideas into a solar-powered, upcycled school space. Ongoing Justice: MV Barima families continued weekly protests, rejecting “jokey money” and demanding clear timelines for salvage and accountability.

Aviation & Travel: President Irfaan Ali says Guyana’s aviation sector is in “take-off mode,” ordering a review of aviation laws for consistent, fair airport standards and pushing for a partner to run Terminal 2 as a regional hub at CJIA. Education & Skills: The Ministry of Education commissioned new AutoCAD labs at New Amsterdam Secondary (and more labs across the country), expanding TVET with modern digital design training. Youth & Culture: A Capoey student, Kaysheena Bindiya Singh, celebrates 12 CSEC Grade Ones and aims to become a Guyana ambassador. Sports: End Game 2026 beach volleyball crowned Guyana champions in the men’s division and Suriname winners in the women’s. Community Care: After a fire at Plum Park’s Children and Family Home, all 26 children were evacuated and accounted for, with counselling and treatment for smoke inhalation. Tourism Sustainability: Guyana’s tourism authority rolls out “Good Travel Seal” certification to boost eco-friendly, community-led travel. Cricket Development: Guyana signs an MoU with Pakistan Super League side Lahore Qalandars to strengthen high-performance cricket, coaching, and youth programmes.

Education & Law: Amrita Persaud and Assistant Superintendent Travis Cush were both admitted to the Guyana Bar, marking major career milestones after years of training and persistence. Court & Rights: The Supreme Court in the US allowed Trump’s administration to keep deporting people to “third countries” for now, while it reviews whether migrants must get a meaningful chance to object. School Leadership Clash: St. John’s College headteacher Beverley Agard is challenging a TSC demotion/transfer, alleging her disciplinary process ignored key documents and turned hostile. Children’s Safety: A fire at Sophia Children’s Home in Plum Park sent nine minors to hospital for smoke inhalation; all children were accounted for and counselling is underway. Culture & Tourism: Guyana is expanding sustainable tourism certification, and a new AutoCAD lab is set to boost technical training for New Amsterdam students. Gender & Work: Human Services says immigrant workers are among those facing sexual harassment and exploitation. Arts & Heritage: Guyanese novelist Jan Lowe Shinebourne has died, and Caribbean leaders paid tribute to Mighty Sparrow after his death at 91.

Children’s Safety: Nine minors were hospitalised after a fire at the Children and Family Home in Plum Park, Sophia, with the Guyana Fire Service saying the blaze was extinguished and all children accounted for; the Human Services Ministry confirmed evacuations, treatment for smoke inhalation, and urged privacy as investigations begin. Football Development: Aspire Zone Foundation and the Guyana Football Federation signed an MoU to boost youth and grassroots football, including technical support for Under-14 and Under-17 teams and possible training camps in Doha. Skills for Youth: NATI welcomed 251 new TVET students for 2026–2027, while the Education Ministry commissioned new AutoCAD labs at Hope Secondary and North Ruimveldt to expand industrial technology training. Culture & Community: Music Box Village hosts the free “Feel the Rhythm of the Drums” festival on Oct 3, celebrating African and diaspora rhythms through performances, workshops, and food. Sports: Republican Gym won the Andrew Lewis National Novices boxing team title, ending decades of Defence Force dominance.

STEM & Inclusion: Visually impaired student Mekyla Belgrave credits an ExxonMobil-backed Inclusive Innovators robotics programme for teaching her coding, storytelling, and even helping her compete and win alongside sighted peers. Education Tech: Hope Secondary commissioned a new AutoCAD lab as part of an $85M push to modernise Industrial Technology training across six secondary schools. Football Development: Aspire Zone Foundation and the Guyana Football Federation signed an MoU to boost Under-14 and Under-17 coaching, player development, and possible training camps. Amerindian Culture: Amerindian Heritage celebrations at Kuru Kururu highlighted Indigenous achievements and ongoing efforts to connect communities with electricity and high-speed internet via WiFiGY. Sports: Lusignan hosts Super Saturday T10 Tapeball quarter-finals on Oct 3 after eight teams sealed spots from the Round of 16. Culture Loss: Guyana joined the region in mourning calypso icon Mighty Sparrow, with tributes praising his wit, social commentary, and lasting Caribbean legacy. Safety & Accountability: President Ali renewed calls for a new culture of safety after the MV Barima tragedy, while critics point to procurement and maintenance questions.

UN & Diplomacy: Guyana urged UN members to back Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett for secretary-general as the race heats up, with reports of possible US opposition and intense Security Council straw polling. Amerindian Heritage & Inclusion: Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations at Kuru Kururu highlighted culture and tradition, while PM Mark Phillips pointed to electricity and WiFiGY internet access expanding opportunities in hinterland communities. Water & Housing: GWI says it will drill 14 new wells for housing schemes in Region Three, aiming to ease water shortages as residents move into CH&PA developments. Culture & Arts: Calypso legend Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) has died at 91, remembered for shaping Caribbean music and social commentary. Disaster Recovery: HEART Initiative reports over GYD $75M and 750-plus persons assisted for MV Barima victims, including funeral support and relocation planning. Education & Skills: Guyana is moving toward a specialised STEM school with Exxon, and youth skills training is set to support job-ready pathways. Road Safety: A gender-responsive road safety campaign launches in Linden with a nationwide speeding push. Sports & Lifestyle: SOTIC 2026 is set for Oct 5–9 in Guyana with Melissa Noel hosting, while table tennis coaching and local tournaments keep the sporting calendar buzzing.

Women in Skilled Trades: Women are increasingly entering technical, “men’s work” roles in Guyana—from electrical installation to heavy equipment—raising the big question of whether labour-law reforms will deliver equal access to jobs, wages, and advancement. Labour Law Equality Push: Women’s Chamber representatives are in consultations for a major labour-law overhaul, aiming to strengthen protections against discrimination and ensure equality keeps pace with oil-driven growth. Road Safety, Gender-Responsive: A new socially inclusive, gender-responsive road safety campaign launches in Linden, tied to the Linden–Mabura Hill upgrade, with a nationwide speeding push and community outreach. MV Barima Aftermath: President Ali calls the MV Barima tragedy a turning point for a stronger safety culture, while the state wins a hospital site battle against VAMED, clearing the way to reclaim properties amid an arbitration fight. Skills for Youth: A $6.5M Youth Skills Empowerment Initiative will train 40 young people in practical trades and business skills, with mentoring and possible job placement. Tourism Goes Digital: World Tourism Day messaging urges Guyana to use AI and digital tools to modernise tourism—without losing the human warmth of local communities. Culture & Sports: Melissa Noel will host SOTIC 2026 in Guyana; and local sport keeps rolling with table tennis coaching, softball cricket cup support, and GMR&SC racing action.

Climate & Youth Tech: PURE Global’s Climate Week NYC session spotlighted AI-supported climate education, with Guyana’s High Commissioner Dharamkumar Seeraj urging stronger teacher readiness and real youth leadership. Health Systems: Future Health (Abu Dhabi) brought ministers and global leaders to UNGA81 to push health care from reactive treatment toward prediction, prevention, and earlier intervention. Judicial Independence: A legal panel and commentary renewed scrutiny of Justice Gino Persaud’s U.S. visa review and acting-appointment pressures on Guyana’s courts. Workplace Safety: Government launched a Gender Equality in the Workplace initiative and PSEAH training, targeting intimidation and toxic relationships as harmful workplace violence. Maritime Tragedy Response: After the MV Barima sinking, retired Coast Guard captain John Flores is training ferry crews on emergency drills, while China Railway First Group helped clean up Hope Children’s Home after a fire. Sports & Culture: Guyana’s powerlifting medal haul jumped to 14 in Chile; motorsport begins with Tommi Gore on pole for GMR&SC Group Four; and UG’s Graduate Research Symposium runs Sept 30–Oct 2 on resilience and multidisciplinary solutions.

UN Leadership Race: UN chief António Guterres is winding down his decade-long run, with the hunt for his successor now in focus as leaders debate the UN’s future role amid wars, divisions, and funding strain. Maths & Youth Skills: The Blackman-Waddell Summer Math Institute marks 10 years of turning curiosity into serious problem-solving for Guyanese students. Mental Health Check-Ins: Psychologist Joses Solomon urges communities to look out for each other even when there are “no signs,” warning that support and belonging can prevent crises. Deportation Deal Pressure: Opposition MP Sherod Duncan demands the government table the full, unredacted third-country deportation agreement with the US after fresh ambassador disclosures. EV Workforce Growth: The Guyana Energy Agency graduates 25 technicians, bringing EV/hybrid maintenance training to 102 as electric mobility expands. Hinterland Heavy Machinery: 28 hinterland residents are certified in skid steer and compactor operation, boosting community-led infrastructure capacity. Sports & Culture: Guyana’s powerlifters surge to 14 medals in Chile; beach volleyball’s “The End Game 2026” kicks off in Georgetown; and robotics clubs expand to reach children with disabilities in mainstream schools. Climate & Disaster Prep: CDC warns El Niño conditions may persist into next year, pushing communities to conserve and store water. UN Data Warning: Leaders warn AI could become “colonisation by data,” calling for fair regulation and protection of local cultures and languages. Diaspora & Investment: President Ali draws big crowds in New York, pitching a special investment vehicle for overseas Guyanese and new development plans.

Diaspora & investment push: President Irfaan Ali drew a huge New York crowd, inviting Guyanese overseas to reconnect and invest, including a promised government-backed “special investment vehicle” for fertiliser and gas projects with guaranteed returns, plus plans for a single government services app and a national payment system. UN reform & accountability: Ali used the UN General Assembly to call for a more transparent, accountable UN and urged P5 support for Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett as next UN chief; Guyana’s WIN staged protests outside the UN and in Queens, demanding the same principles apply at home. Citizenship and land rules tightening: Attorney General Anil Nandlall says immigration and citizenship laws are under review to add stricter checks for citizenship grants and regulate non-citizen land/property ownership. Food security warning: Finance Minister Ashni Singh cautioned that hunger gains could reverse from El Niño, higher input costs, and trade disruptions. Indigenous rights pressure: Opposition MP Sharma Solomon alleges Indigenous land rights are not protected enough as mining machinery threatens ancestral territories. Health & youth wins: BROCODE urges men 40+ to get PSA screening; Diamond Secondary students received small business awards; and Sufia Mohamed topped CSEC with outstanding results. Culture & sport: Amerindian Heritage Games opened with hundreds of athletes; GuyExpo 2026 launched; and GMR&SC motorsport kicks off with Tommi Gore joining the J’s Supermarket team.

UN Reform & Reparations: St. Vincent’s PM Godwin Friday used his UN debut to push Security Council reform, climate finance justice, and reparatory justice for slavery and indigenous genocide. Citizenship & Land Tightening: Attorney General Anil Nandlall says Guyana is reviewing immigration and citizenship laws to add checks on citizenship grants and regulate non-citizens’ land/property ownership. Shield of the Americas Debate: Experts warn the US-led cartel-fighting “Shield of the Americas” is being used to block China’s influence, with 24 groups flagged as “terrorist” by coalition states. Judicial Independence Under Pressure: Legal scholar Justice Courtney Abel says visa reviews and travel restrictions can “arrange the atmosphere” for judges, as concerns grow around Judge Gino Persaud’s US visa situation. Diaspora Investment Push: President Ali urged Guyanese abroad to invest via a new government-backed vehicle with guaranteed returns, while also rolling out a single app for government services. Culture & Community: Amerindian Heritage Games opened with hundreds of athletes competing; GuyExpo 2026 launched to spotlight local business ingenuity; and THAG says AI can’t replace Guyanese welcome, Indigenous guides, and artisan stories. Health & Safety: CDC held El Niño preparedness talks in Region Five; Project FLOW expanded purified water to Region Six schools; and BROCODE urges men 40+ to get PSA screening as prostate cancer tops diagnoses.

UN Diplomacy: President Irfaan Ali urged UN Security Council members to back Guyana’s UN Secretary-General bid, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, arguing the next leader must defend the UN Charter and bridge North-South divides as reports swirl about a possible US veto. Education & Health: Project FLOW expanded purified water access to 17 Region Six schools and TVET centres, benefiting 8,400 students and teachers, with more schools targeted by 2029. Peace & Youth: Twenty-eight Peace Corps volunteers were sworn in to support education, literacy and community development, while the ERC’s Harmony Tour brought young people in Berbice into faith and heritage spaces across communities. Culture & Sports: Amerindian Heritage Games opened in Georgetown with Indigenous athletes across all regions, and Heritage Games 2026 continues to spotlight Indigenous talent. Tech & Daily Life: One Communications restored mobile data and fibre after construction damage to a fibre cable on Carifesta Avenue, with a permanent fix still being assessed. Justice & Governance: Questions continue over a US visa “review” affecting High Court Justice Gino Persaud, with concerns raised about judicial independence. Public Safety & Crime Response: PM Mark Phillips told INTERPOL that delayed cross-border intelligence gives criminals an edge, stressing faster sharing and action. Culinary & Livelihoods: Roots and Flavours Culinary Arts Centre opened to turn Guyanese food heritage into training, entrepreneurship and jobs.

Labour & immigration shake-up: Attorney General Anil Nandlall says Guyana’s labour laws are being overhauled as new industries expand, with local and ILO-linked experts mapping gaps in areas like occupational health and safety; the AG says immigration and citizenship rules are also under review to tighten checks on citizenship and non-citizen land/property ownership. Roots and Flavours opens: The new culinary arts centre at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute is set to turn Guyanese food heritage into skills, entrepreneurship, and livelihoods, with partners including the Chinese Embassy, the UN and WUSC. Pizza on the world stage: Lisa Hamilton is set to become the first Guyanese at the Scuola Pizza Championship in Buenos Aires, stepping in after Alex Tenorio’s withdrawal. UN spotlight: President Ali used UNGA to push Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett’s bid for UN Secretary-General and to stress SDG mainstreaming in national budgets. Judicial independence under pressure: A visa “under review” for High Court Justice Gino Persaud has sparked fresh debate after the US embassy said it was unaware of the review before travel disruption. Crime response: PM Mark Phillips and Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond urged faster intelligence sharing and stronger cross-border coordination as criminals exploit gaps. Culture & sport: Indigenous junior calypso star Simeon Raywaram is crowned 2026 Junior Calypso Monarch; and 35 runners gear up for Guyana’s first SOCA Heart Half Marathon. MV Barima justice demands: Families and Indigenous rights advocates continue protests, calling for independent international salvage to raise the wreck and preserve evidence.

Judicial Independence Under Fire: Retired Justice Courtney Abel warned that a US visa restriction on Guyana’s Judge Gino Persaud—plus stalled top appointments—could undermine judicial independence, while the US Ambassador says “under review” can mean new information and the embassy may not be informed first. Government Services Go Digital: President Ali says a single My Guyana app for government services is planned for next year, alongside a national payment platform by year-end. Tourism & Culture Spotlight: Melissa Noel will host SOTIC 2026 in Guyana (Oct 5–9), aiming to link “smart, sustainable and inclusive” tourism with cultural storytelling. Creative Sector Push: A new Orange Economy strategy is set to turn Guyana’s music, film, fashion, sports and more into bankable careers and revenue streams. Community & Care: The Little Diamond Day/Night Care Centre opened to support working parents, with day and night childcare plus parenting education. Health Appeal: Family of 2-year-old Larissa, battling up to 100 seizures daily, is seeking public help for treatment in India. Sports & Youth: GMR&SC’s 2026 championship season starts Sept 26 at South Dakota Circuit, while Harpy Eagles Boxing Gym targets honours at the GBA National Novices (Sept 25–27). Language & Heritage: The Oxford English Dictionary added Caribbean English terms, including Trinidad-linked “peanut punch” and “vex money.”