The Guyana Business Journal (GBJ) and the Caribbean Policy Consortium (CPC), on June 08, 2022, at 10:30 EST, has launched a series of Monthly Webinars entitled “Transforming Guyana.”
GBJ & CPC will:
(i) Bring together experts and prominent voices from Guyana, the diaspora, and around the world to discuss the impacts of Guyana’s oil and gas development;
(ii) Offer a nuanced look at the opportunities and potential pitfalls ahead for Guyana;
(iii) Explore strategies to maximize the positive impacts of the oil revenues on Guyana’s people and her future while mitigating the risks that other countries have faced; and
(iv) Identify the most promising roles the Diaspora can play in this transformation.
Episode 1 discusses promoting and encouraging a more profound and mutually beneficial relationship between Guyana and the Diaspora in its energy and economic diversification and economic development journey.
Panelists
Mr. Arthur Deakin, Arthur’s expertise spans a wide range of energy segments, including solar, wind, oil, biofuels, biomass, LPG, LNG, energy storage/batteries, hydrogen, hydropower, and more.
Dr. Vibert Cambridge, Professor at Ohio University, School of Media Arts and Studies
Dr. Lear Matthews, Professor, Department of Community and Human Services, State University of New York, Empire State College, and former lecturer at the University of Guyana, Faculty of Social Science
Ms. Rosalinda Rasul, Head of the Diaspora and Remigration Unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
In a global economy struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, contending with climate change, and being haunted by the return of rough and tumble geopolitical risk, U.S.-Caribbean relations are in the process of re-alignment. In many regards, the old business order has been turned on its head and new opportunities and risks are emerging for U.S. and Caribbean companies. Indeed, there is a greater sense that the business landscape is changing and from the creative side there is a sense of energy about opportunities. Nearshoring has returned as a powerful force in this, touching upon everything from Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and captive insurance to the development of creative and orange economy and blue economy business activities.
Full paper by Dr. Scott B MacDonald can be accessed here
This webinar is part of the LACC/CPC Caribbean Policy Series.
Summary
Climate change and global warming are challenges that place the future resources, development, and prosperity of the Caribbean region in jeopardy. Specific hazards such as rising sea levels, warming temperatures, deforestation, ecological degradation, and more frequent and extreme weather events, among others, place the Caribbean at higher risk, to the point of coastal communities and entire islands potentially disappearing if the dangers of global warming are not addressed collectively and urgently today.
Caribbean nations (islands and coastal territories) share similar infrastructure, economic and human mobility risks to climate change, while also facing other challenges such as low availability of resources, high debt rates, threats to and relocation of coastal populations, weak conservation and environmental protection policies and institutions, and dependence on imports, fossil fuels, tourism and global markets. All these highlight the need and urgency to adopt collective measures to combat, adapt to and prevent further damage by climate change at a faster pace.
Full paper by Dr. Legena Henry can be accessed here
Legena Henry, PhD Lecturer, Renewable Energy, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados
Panelist
Ligia Collado-Vides, PhD Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University
Andrea Lewis, MSc Senior Project Officer, Office of Institutional Planning and Infrastructural Services, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados
Moderator
Lorraine Sobers, PhD Lecturer, Department of Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Studies Unit, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
This webinar is part of the LACC/CPC Caribbean Policy Series. Co-sponsored by the Caribbean Policy Consortium.
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has spawned 2 years of unparalleled economic strain, stress and decline like never before for the economies of the Caribbean. Unprecedented shocks to key sectors such as tourism and resource exports have resulted in some of the largest declines in growth ever recorded for the region.
This webinar brings together leading regional and international economic, business and health experts to discuss the current economic outlook and adjustments facing the region in 2022 and the prospects for economic stabilization and growth.
Organized by the ABA Criminal Justice Section’s International Committee in cooperation with the Caribbean Policy Consortium (CPC)
Summary
This webinar will discuss efforts to combat illicit trafficking of firearms in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacture of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials (CIFTA), the Protocol against the IllicitManufacturing and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition (Firearms Protocol), and other treaties with respect to the trafficking of firearms.
It will also discuss the lawsuit pending in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts (Mexico v. Smith & Wesson) brought by the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs against firearm manufacturers and distributors.
Panelists
Alejandro Celorio Alcántara, Legal Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Pier Angelli De Luca, Specialist of the Department of Public Security, Organization of American States
Simonetta Grassi, UNTOC’s Firearms Protocol Secretariat, UN Office on Drugs and Crime -Sheridon Hill, Public Information Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and formerly with OAS Inter-American Committee against Terrorism
Moderator
Bruce Zagaris, Berliner Corcoran & Rowe LLP; Fellow, Caribbean Policy Consortium
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.
Due to Guyana’s poor electrical infrastructure and vulnerable energy supply, Guyanese experience an average of 31 days of power outages per year. there is little to no access to the electricity grid in the hinterland regions. To further compound the problem future required generation capacity is estimated to double by 2035, without accounting for the power needs of oil production. We discuss the implications for Guyana’s economic development of the proposed gas to shore project which aims to increase peak generation capacity to 400 megawatts as compared to last year’s peak of 135 megawatts.
Justin Ram Advisory, CEO & Former Director of Economics at the Caribbean Development Bank
Panelists
Dr. Lorraine Sobers, University of the West Indies
Roger A. Kranenburg, Eversource Energy, CFA
Dr. David E. Lewis, Caribbean Policy Consortium & Manchester Trade Ltd. Inc. (Moderator)
Dr. Terrence Blackman, Medgar Evers College at the City University of New York, Guyana Business Journal (Moderator)
Key Quotes
“The benefits far outweigh the downsides. The benefits of having a stable, reliable electric grid can really transform Guyana.” – Dr. Terrence Blackman
“There is no reason, why in the next 5-10 years, Guyana does not develop the most modern, technologically advanced utility in, not only the Caribbean, but globally speaking.” – Dr. David E. Lewis
“Natural gas can support and complement the process of changing the energy mix to renewable and sustainable sources. It is important to see natural gas as the bridge to renewables and Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy.” – Dr. Justin Ram
“The use of natural gas for power generation, we really have the opportunity to have broad based benefits being enjoyed throughout the economy.”Dr. Justin Ram
“I see huge benefits to this, Guyana should get going on the project. The biggest pitfall that I can see is inaction. The near term benefits are so immense.” – Roger Kranenburg
“The technological risk is very low, these things are already very well understood and are being done all over the world.” –Roger Kranenburg
“Guyana is an incredible carbon sink. There is great value in being able to say that Guyana’s products are net zero or carbon neutral.” – Dr. Lorraine Sobers
“Bringing gas to shore is definitely exciting. It’s a part of the energy mix and it’s a fair energy mix for Guyana in addition to hydro and solar. It’s much cleaner than what we have in place right now.” – Dr. Lorraine Sobers
In this webinar, women leaders will discuss the opportunities associated with female empowerment in the Caribbean, sharing their experiences, perspectives, and concerns for the future.
What are the conditions necessary for the inclusion of more women in the Caribbean economies? Are the Caribbean States, banks and educational institutions promoting female enterprises and broadening opportunities for women’s professional development? How can women improve their labor standing and achieve benefits equal to those of their male counterparts, for the same work rendered? The webinar aims to respond to these questions at a time when the Caribbean is facing some of the most significant challenges in its recent history.
Panelists
Ms. Mariame McIntosh Robinson
President and CEO, First Global Bank, Jamaica
Dr. Susanne Zwingel
Associate Professor,
Politics and International Relations and LACC Affiliated Faculty,
FIU Moderator
Ms. Kimberly Green President, Green Family Foundation