Good morning. Ramesh here. A lot of negativity out there this Wednesday. Let us set the record straight.

US$761 MILLION. YOU ARE WELCOME.

Guyana collected three-quarters of a billion US dollars in oil revenue in the first quarter of 2026. Let that land for a moment. Three. Quarters. Of. A. Billion. US. Dollars. In one quarter.

This government built that. This government negotiated those contracts, developed that infrastructure, maintained the institutional relationships with Exxon, Hess, and CNOOC that made this production possible, and created the conditions for that revenue to flow into the national treasury at this scale and at this speed. Other countries have oil. Not all of them have the leadership to monetise it responsibly, sustainably, and at pace. Guyana does. Let the number sit with you before you move on to whatever Kaieteur News has decided to be alarmed about today.

ON THE WALES GAS PROJECT

There is no secret payout. The government has said so clearly, and Ramesh will say it again: what occurred was a routine commercial arbitration — a normal feature of large infrastructure projects at this scale, in this industry, anywhere in the world. Construction disputes happen. They are resolved through established legal processes. The government negotiated the outcome, protected the public interest, and the project continues.

Kaieteur News has chosen to frame a resolved commercial matter as a scandal. This is their prerogative. It is also, Ramesh submits, a disservice to readers who deserve to understand that arbitration is not corruption. Having a dispute with a contractor is not evidence of wrongdoing. Resolving that dispute for less than the initial claim is, if anything, evidence of competent negotiation.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips has staked his credibility on GTE producing power by December 2026. This government does not make promises it does not intend to keep. The plant is under construction. Workers are on site. Progress is being made. Ramesh will be here in December.

Regarding the travel arrangements of Lindsayca executives: large international energy projects require senior management to move between headquarters and project sites. This is standard practice across the global energy industry. The alternative — having executives who do not understand the project manage it from Houston by video call — is not a better outcome for Guyana. Ramesh notes that no one complaining about the flights has offered a practical alternative to getting qualified people to the Wales site.

Regarding the Project Director’s background: Kaieteur News has published allegations. These allegations deserve to be investigated through proper channels. Ramesh is not dismissing them. Ramesh is noting that trial by newspaper, based on unnamed sources, without the subject having an opportunity to respond fully, is not the same as due diligence. The government should look into this. That is different from accepting the framing that the entire GTE project is compromised.

GUYANA AND ST KITTS: WHAT REGIONAL LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE

President Ali welcomed Prime Minister Terrance Drew to the Office of the President on Wednesday. Three MoUs were signed: agriculture and food security, government modernisation and digital governance, and security cooperation. The security MoU was signed at the military level — Commander Kayode Sutton of the St Kitts Defence Force and Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan. These are binding frameworks for bilateral cooperation, not a photo opportunity.

Additionally, St Kitts and Nevis was welcomed into the Global Biodiversity Alliance — a platform Guyana has been building as part of its commitment to sustainable development alongside oil production. President Ali described it as collective action to protect natural resources. This is the correct framing: Guyana is not choosing between development and conservation. It is doing both, and inviting partners to join.

This is what strategic regional leadership looks like. While others talk about CARICOM integration, this government executes it — one signed agreement at a time, at the head-of-state level, in Georgetown.

SURINAME AND THE CORENTYNE RIVER FEES

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh has described Suriname’s decision to impose fees for vessels using the Corentyne River as “most regrettable.” Ramesh agrees. This is a matter that affects riverain communities, trade flows, and the bilateral relationship between two neighbours who share considerably more than a river.

The government is right to raise this diplomatically and firmly. The imposition of transit fees on a shared waterway without prior agreement is not consistent with the spirit of regional cooperation. Guyana should pursue resolution through CARICOM channels and through direct bilateral dialogue. The Finance Minister’s public statement is the correct first step.

AFREXIMBANK: REGIONAL ECONOMIC RESILIENCE

Afreximbank has approved US$10 billion to shield CARICOM and Africa from the Gulf energy crisis. This is a significant commitment to regional economic stability at a moment of genuine global uncertainty. Middle East tensions are affecting fuel prices worldwide. The fact that CARICOM has institutional access to this kind of liquidity backstop is important, and it did not happen by accident. It happened because regional leaders have been building these relationships over years.

Guyana, as the region’s leading energy producer, has a particular role to play in regional energy security at this moment. The government understands this. President Ali’s positioning of Guyana as a strategic hub for Qatar amid the Middle East conflict is part of the same strategic vision. This is not opportunism. It is leadership.

ON THE POLICE INCIDENT

An off-duty Assistant Superintendent was caught on video issuing threats to a civilian. The matter has been referred to the Office of Professional Responsibility. The Commissioner of Police has directed a thorough investigation. The GPF has stated that professional conduct is expected of all ranks, on or off duty.

Ramesh notes this because Ramesh is not in the business of ignoring inconvenient stories. The institutional response was swift and appropriate. Ranks who behave this way should face consequences. Ramesh will await the OPR outcome before drawing further conclusions, and expects the press to do the same rather than treat an allegation as a verdict.

ON THE SEVEN-YEAR-OLD AND THE GOALPOST

Michael Hyderkhan died at a community football ground when a goalpost fell on him. He was seven years old. He had come to watch his father play. This is a tragedy, and Ramesh will not make it political. Communities across this country hold events on grounds maintained by local authorities and community organisations. Equipment standards matter. Inspection matters. This is a conversation that needs to happen, and it should happen without the usual politicisation.

Rest easy, Michael.

A WORD ON TONE

The press in this country has developed a posture. Every government action is suspicious. Every contractor relationship is corrupt. Every infrastructure project is a scandal. US$761 million in oil revenue arrives and the headline is about arbitration. The President signs three bilateral agreements and the coverage is one paragraph. A decade of energy sector development produces a power plant under construction and the story is about the Project Director’s past employment history.

Ramesh is not asking for uncritical coverage. Ramesh is asking for proportionate coverage. There is a difference between accountability journalism and reflexive negativity. One serves the public. The other serves the traffic. Readers deserve to know which one they are getting on any given morning.

Guyana is building something real. You are welcome to help, or welcome to watch. Both remain available to you this Wednesday.

Ramesh. Pro-government. Thorough. Unapologetic.