In this webinar, panelists examined US policy towards the Caribbean during the first year of the Biden Administration, with a focus on notable issues in need of attention and the opportunity to discuss these issues when the US hosts the Summit of the Americas in June 2022
Presenter
Sir Ronald Sanders
Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the Organization of American States
Download the Working Paper presented by Sir Ronald Sanders here.
The Institute of International Relations (IIR) and the Caribbean Policy Consortium (CPC) hosted an engaging webinar on December 5, 2024, titled “U.S.-Caribbean Dynamics and the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections: Old Path or New Directions.”
This insightful discussion explored the growing similarities in foreign policy approaches between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, shedding light on the implications for the Caribbean and the global landscape beyond traditional party lines.
The recording is now available for those who missed it or wish to revisit the thought-provoking analysis.
Please see the flyer. attached and below. for more information.
Join us to discuss Guyana’s transformative journey over the past decade. This webinar will explore the country’s socio-economic evolution and its implications for the future.
View the Recording:
Key Themes:
The evolution of Guyana’s oil economy and its impact on GDP and national development. Shifts in societal structures, economic inequality, and governance. Opportunities for sustainable growth and diversification amidst rapid transformation. Lessons learned from the past decade and strategies for the next.
Featured Speakers
Robert Persaud, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Guyana.
Greg Quinn, OBE Former British High Commissioner to Guyana and Non-Resident Ambassador to Suriname (2015–2020).
Professor Paloma Mohammed Martin, Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana (UG).
Register Now!
Secure your spot today and join this insightful conversation. Space is limited, so don’t wait!
The Guyana Business Journal and Caribbean Policy Consortium recently hosted a thought-provoking webinar titled “Powering the Future: Guyana’s Energy Landscape and the Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project.” The event gathered experts: Anthony Bryan, Milton Chaves, David Goldwyn, and Ulric Trotz– from academia, industry, and policy circles to discuss Guyana’s emerging role as a regional leader in energy and sustainable development.
“Guyana is at a pivotal moment as it seeks to harness its newfound oil and gas wealth to drive sustainable economic growth,” said Dr. Terrence Blackman, co-host of the webinar. “The country faces both significant opportunities and challenges in managing this transition responsibly.”
Panelists
Anthony Bryan
Ulric Trotz
David Goldwyn
Milton Chaves
Moderators
Dr Terrence Blackman
Dr David Lewis
Powering the Future: Guyana’s Energy Landscape and the Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project
Key takeaways
Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability
Guyana is committed to a holistic approach to developing its energy resources, aligning them with its low-carbon development strategy. Experts emphasized the importance of conducting thorough environmental and social impact assessments to mitigate risks associated with oil and gas operations, pipeline construction, and power generation infrastructure.
Diversifying the Energy Mix
While fossil fuels remain a key component, Guyana is advancing renewable energy projects, including solar, hydropower, and biomass. The country aims to generate 70% of its electricity from renewables by 2030, reducing its reliance on imported fuels and lowering carbon emissions.
Investing in Human Capital
Developing a skilled local workforce is essential for Guyana’s energy transformation. The webinar highlighted ongoing partnerships between Guyanese institutions and international organizations to expand training and education programs tailored to the energy sector’s evolving needs.
Gas-to-Energy Project: Enabling Development
Guyana’s Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project, which will utilize associated gas from offshore oil production, is expected to double the country’s power generation capacity. This project promises a reliable, lower-cost electricity supply, making it a critical enabler for Guyana’s broader development goals.
“Guyana is well-positioned to become a regional energy and transition leader, leveraging its oil and gas resources to finance sustainable development while diversifying its energy mix,” said Dr. Blackman. “However, the country must navigate complex challenges to ensure that the benefits of its newfound wealth are equitably distributed and that environmental impacts are carefully managed.”
The Guyana Business Journal and Caribbean Policy Consortium are committed to continuing this essential dialogue through future webinars exploring innovation, technology, and other critical aspects of Guyana’s economic transformation.
The Guyana Business Journal (GBJ) and Caribbean Policy Consortium proudly launched Season III, Episode I of their Transforming Guyana Series focusing on “Vision 2040: Guyana’s National Development Plan.”
The webinar brought together a distinguished panel of experts to discuss Guyana’s future and the comprehensive integration of economic, environmental, and social strategies under the National Development Plan.
Participants explored the practical implications and benefits of implementing this plan across various sectors, emphasizing fostering active participation and collaboration among stakeholders.
Key Highlights: Vision 2040: A discussion on the future vision for Guyana, integrating diverse strategies for sustainable national development. Economic, Environmental, and Social Strategies: An in-depth look at how these strategies promote growth and resilience. Practical Implications and Benefits: Exploration of the tangible impacts of the National Development Plan on various sectors. Stakeholder Collaboration: Encouragement of active participation from policymakers, business leaders, environmental advocates, academics, and other stakeholders.
Interactive Q&A Session: Participants engaged directly with panelists through an interactive Q&A session, making it a highly engaging and informative experience.
Panelists: Dr. Vibert Cambridge Dr. Ivelaw Griffith Dr. Ulric Trotz Dr. Lear Matthews
Moderators: Dr. Terrence Blackman Dr. David Lewis
The conversation emphasized the critical importance of a national development plan for Guyana’s growth and development. It focused on environmental challenges, leveraging the skills and resources of the Guyanese diaspora, and prioritizing climate resilience. Key points included addressing demographic changes, cultural landscape, and territorial security while tackling issues like poverty, crime, race, and cultural awareness. The potential contributions of the diaspora in community development, healthcare, education, and business were highlighted, along with the challenges they face, including resentment and discrimination.
Action Items Emerging: 1. Coastal Population Security: Implement comprehensive risk mapping and contingency planning for community relocation to secure Guyana’s coastal population. 2. National Development Plan: Develop a broad stakeholder consensus around a shared vision for Guyana’s future. 3. Support Iwokrama: Increase funding for Iwokrama as a leading institution for forest management, carbon credits, and indigenous relations. 4. Diaspora Engagement Strategy: Design a holistic engagement strategy and establish structured mechanisms for diaspora contributions.
This webinar is an essential resource for anyone interested in Guyana’s economic future. It serves as a valuable case study for similar economies looking to learn from Guyana’s approach to national development
The transitional governance structure agreed to in mid-April through the mediation efforts of Caricom and direct support from the United States faces profound challenges, but at minimum provides a baseline framework that Haitian political and civil society actors can build from — and that the international community, notably the US, can provide targeted support for. What are the mid to longer term prospects for the Presidential Council governance agreement to meet its goal of transitioning to an elected government by February 2026?
The Guyana Business Journal (GBJ) & Caribbean Policy Consortium welcome you to Season II, Episode X of their Transforming Guyana Series, on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 10:30 AM EST.
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Guyana Business Journal Webinar Highlights the Role of Education and Community Engagement in the Oil & Gas Era
April 11, 2024—The Caribbean Policy Consortium and Guyana Business Journal’s latest webinar, “Transforming Guyana: Season II, Episode XI, Community Engagement in the Era of Oil & Gas,” aired on April 10. It brought together influential voices to discuss the pivotal role of education and community engagement in Guyana’s burgeoning oil and gas sector.
Riyad Insanally, the former Ambassador of Guyana to the U.S., emphasized the foundational importance of literacy for STEM development. “The future of Guyana is in the hands of our young people,” Insanally stated, underscoring the need for basic skills as a prerequisite for higher-level skill development and the economic participation of the youth in Guyana’s future.
Karen Abrams, founder of STEMGuyana, highlighted the critical need for early exposure to STEM concepts to build a robust educational pipeline. “We are a developing nation with massive infrastructure imperatives,” Abrams remarked, pointing out the necessity for young talent in driving innovation and diversifying the economy beyond the oil sector.
Terrence Blackman, founder of the Guyana Business Journal, addressed the human capital requirements for engaging with the oil and gas discoveries. “Technology skills must be at the cutting edge,” Blackman noted, advocating for community engagement to strengthen societal relationships, build trust, and promote resilience.
The webinar underscored the transformative power of education and the need for a diverse, skilled workforce to navigate the challenges and opportunities the oil and gas industry presents. The speakers collectively called for a focus on the basics of education, the involvement of youth in STEM, and the broadening of economic benefits to all sectors of society.
Riyad Insanally, Former Ambassador of Guyana to the U.S.
Terrence Blackman, Founder, Guyana Business Journal
Quotations:
Riyad Insanally, Former Ambassador of Guyana to the U.S.
“If you can’t read and write, there can be no STEM development. We’re looking at the imperative of training and upscaling our young people, even while we look at older generations. The future of Guyana, and this is not a cliché, is in the hands of our young people.”
“As Guyanese we are all aware of the transformative power of education, but there are challenges. There’s no point in talking about developing skills at the high level if those basic skills are lacking.”
“If we’re going to talk about the transformative period in the development of our country, then we’ve got to go back to the transformative power of education and go back to basics.”
“Without STEM, there will be no innovation, no entrepreneurship, no equitable participation in the economic development of Guyana.”
Karen Abrams, Founder, STEMGuyana
“Learning sticks to learning. The earlier you get children exposed to concepts – whether it’s in literacy or numeracy – the easier it is for them to pick up additional context as they move through the educational pipeline.”
“We are a developing nation. Not only are we trying to develop the oil economy, we have infrastructure imperatives – road, water, sewage, internet…We need talent in order to conduct this massive infrastructure development that has to happen here in Guyana.”
“It is important for us to have young people in these roles so we can strengthen our economy and diversify it. You don’t do innovation without young people who are involved in STEM.”
“We have to find a way to ensure that those who are not directly in the oil and gas sector can also benefit from decent wages. It’s an issue that needs really key attention, and it shouldn’t be politicized. It’s almost like a human dignity issue.”
Terrence Blackman, Host and Founder, Guyana Business Journal
“For us to be engaged in oil and gas discovery, there are people skills that have to be in place. Technology skills have to be in place at the cutting edge to be able to responsibly, safely deliver these oil and gas resources to Guyana.”
“This discovery of hydrocarbons has really opened up opportunity for the possibility of Guyana being a major oil and gas producer globally. It has boosted our economic development from that of one of the poorest countries in the Americas.”
“The question of the resource curse is one which is real, and we have to think about how we deal with the broad diversification of our economy in a way that allows us to manage the shocks that come from this increasing outside pull that oil has.”
“When we think about community engagement, we’re thinking about a collaborative process of working through groups of people for mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources. The key objective here is strengthening relationships across the society, building trust across the society, promoting really sincere collaboration, increasing collective self-efficacy and resilience, and addressing the wellbeing of our people.”
“It’s key for us to understand that the vast majority of Guyanese are not small businesses that can participate in the value chain, so people sitting in the service sector and public sector have to be thinking about how we can broaden the benefits of this resource.”
