The Week in Review

In the court Judge rules in favour of GTU: In a comprehensive win for the GTU, Justice Sandil Kissoon on Saturday ruled that the strike launched by the union for collective bargaining was legal and justified and therefore deductions cannot be made by the state from the salaries of striking teachers.

Oil & Gas Gas to energy contractor in US$50m dispute with gov’t: Gas-to-energy contractor, CH4-Lindsayca, has moved to a Dispute Adjudication Board as it is locked in a stalemate with the Government of Guyana over the sum of US$50 million the company feels it is owed because the Wales, West Bank Demerara project site was delivered to it three months late, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday, April 11th  said.

Border controversy Gov’t, opposition slam Venezuela over further escalation of illegal claim: The government and the opposition last Thursday condemned Venezuela’s latest activation of legislation to annex Guyana’s Essequibo region, noting that it violates the Argyle Agreement signed in December last year.

Accountability UN committee wants more steps against corruption: Concerned that the institutional framework to combat corruption is not yet sufficiently strong and effective, the UN Human Rights Committee (CCPR) yesterday called on Guyana to take  a raft of measures including protection of whistleblowers.

Border controversy Gov’t `gravely concerned’ over Venezuelan law on Essequibo: The Government of Guyana has expressed “grave concern” over the announcement that the Venezuelan National Assembly has declared Essequibo, which constitutes two-thirds of Guyana’s sovereign territory, to be a constituent part of Venezuela.

Politics ‘Come right’ Jagdeo tells challengers: Vice President and General Secretary of the PPP/C Bharrat Jagdeo last week told challengers of the governing party that they need to “come right” as Guyana approaches the next general and regional elections in 2025.

Gov’t, GTU differ over period for salary talks: After a four-week-long teachers’ strike that ended through court mediation, the government and the GTU met lats Thursday for talks and differences have emerged over the period that salary increases should pertain to.

Teachers’ strike Court orders mediation between GTU, Ministry: In a major development in the teachers’ strike which has dragged on for 18 school days, Justice Sandil Kissoon last week ordered that mediation begin today with two senior counsel and both the GTU and the government will attend though the latter last night said that judicial intervention was unnecessary given established industrial relations practices.

Industrial Judge orders teachers salaries, dues deduction preserved pending outcome of strike case: Justice Sandil Kissoon last Thursday ruled that the Government is barred from deducting monies from striking teachers’ salaries until the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU)’s legal challenge against this move is determined.

Industrial Ali calls on striking teachers to be patient: In his first public comment on the five-day-old teachers strike, President Irfaan Ali last Friday called for patience as he says he has promised incremental benefits but he was silent on why his government has not entered collective bargaining with the GTU over the last three and a half years.

Industrial Teachers to strike February 5th – McDonald: The GTU last week announced that teachers will be taking industrial action come February 5 until a favourable response is obtained from the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the other relevant authorities, regarding salary increases and non-salary benefits, among other pending issues.

Parliamentary Gov’t tables bill for huge hike in withdrawal of oil money: The PPP/C government last week tabled a bill in the National Assembly for a huge increase in the annual extraction of oil revenues from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF).

Finance Singh unveils trillion-dollar budget: Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh last Monday announced that the budget for this year amounts to a historic, whopping $1.146 trillion when compared to $781.

International help US open to helping Guyana modernise defence capacity: Guyana’s economic transformation will see its bilateral defence partnership with the United States intensifying this year as the two nations strategise on plans for a futuristic modern defence system here.

Elections General elections to be held in November 2025 – Jagdeo: Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo last week  disclosed that the next general elections will likely be held in November 2025, while Budget 2024 is expected to be presented to the National Assembly by the end of this month.

Border controversy Venezuela has nothing to fear from activities in Guyana’s waters -President: Venezuela has nothing to fear from activities within Guyana’s waters, President Irfaan Ali said last week in an apparent response to Caracas’ concerns about a UK warship that is due to anchor off this country’s coast in the coming hours.

Oil & Gas AG should be concerned Guyana has ceded legislative sovereignty to Exxon – Ram: Attorney at law and commentator Christopher Ram has said that Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC should be concerned that Guyana has ceded legislative sovereignty to ExxonMobil.

Border Controversy Work underway on Argyle Declaration: The persons who will form the joint commission to be established under the Declaration of Argyle for Dialogue and Peace between Guyana and Venezuela are in the process of being selected, as Takuba Lodge hailed Thursday’s meeting in St Vincent and the Grenadines as “mutually beneficial.”

Tragedy Five GDF servicemen died in copter crash: Tributes and condolences poured in yesterday for the five members of the Guyana Defence Force who perished in a helicopter crash on last Wednesday.

Border controversy ICJ rules in favour of Guyana: Recognizing the referendum which Venezuela had planned for tomorrow (December 3rd) as a seriously “urgent,” “real” and “imminent” threat to the rights which Guyana currently has to the Essequibo, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued a warning of refrain to Venezuela.