Good morning, Guyana. It is Friday. The money is flowing, the roads are still chaotic, and the government has a new plan involving a database. Sit down.

Q1 OIL REVENUES HIT $159 BILLION

The Natural Resource Fund collected more than G$159 billion in oil revenues during the first quarter of 2026, according to receipts published in the Official Gazette. The figures cover the period December 30, 2025 through March 31, 2026 and include profit oil payments from ExxonMobil’s Stabroek operations. Offshore crude production averaged approximately 918,000 barrels per day in February, with the Uaru development expected to push output past one million barrels by year end. President Ali described this as evidence that Guyana is becoming “a global model” for responsible resource management, which is exactly the kind of thing you say when $159 billion has just landed in your account.

ALI WANTS GULF STATES TO BUILD STORAGE FACILITIES HERE

President Irfaan Ali said this week that Gulf state investors should be looking at large-scale storage facilities in Guyana as a priority investment opportunity. Speaking at what has become a near-daily engagement with international energy executives, Ali argued that Guyana’s position as a fast-growing producer makes it a natural hub for regional energy infrastructure. He also reiterated that a second Gas-to-Energy project in Berbice is being pursued, with a pipeline to bring natural gas onshore that could cost significantly more than anyone originally budgeted. The Wales Gas-to-Energy project, for context, already cost the government approximately US$82 million after losing an arbitration. We are told the Berbice project will go differently.

US EXIM BANK CHAIR ARRIVES FOR MEETINGS

John Jovanovic, Chairman of the US Export-Import Bank, arrived in Guyana for high-level meetings focused on strengthening economic cooperation. His visit coincides with ongoing scrutiny of the Wales Gas-to-Energy project, which EXIM Bank has been connected to amid questions about the arbitration loss and cost overruns. The government says the discussions are about the future. Critics say the past has not been fully explained. Both things are true simultaneously, which is a Guyanese specialty.

GOVERNMENT BUILDING DIGITAL TRAFFIC OFFENDER REGISTRY

The Attorney General’s Chambers announced that the government is establishing a comprehensive digital registry of road users, tracking licensing details, prior charges, and traffic convictions. The system will be accessible to the Judiciary, the DPP, the police, the Prison Service, the Probation Department, and what the announcement calls “a wide cross-section of state agencies.” President Ali directed the initiative, which is part of the Safe Country framework. Citizens who drive badly will be tracked across agencies. Citizens who drive well will also presumably be in the database, for completeness. The registry will go live on a timeline the government described as “soon.”

101 NEW POLICE RECRUITS GRADUATE

The Guyana Police Force graduated 101 new recruits on April 8 at the Police Officers’ Mess Annex, Eve Leary. The recruits came from training campuses in Georgetown, Berbice, and Essequibo. Constable Rajkumar won Best Student and Valedictorian. Apprentice Harry Samuels won both Best Drill and Runner-up Student, which suggests he had a very good week. Deputy Commissioner of Administration Ravindradat Budhram told graduates that “the strength of the Force lies not in any single hand, but in cohesive, diverse, and principled teamwork.” The new officers will be dispatched to regions across the country. The Ronaldo Peters family, marking one year since his killing by a GPF sergeant, could not be reached for comment on whether principled teamwork was currently being demonstrated in Linden.

GUYANA-ST. KITTS AGREEMENTS SIGNED

Guyana and St. Kitts and Nevis signed new agreements covering food security, agriculture, and digital governance this week. Both countries also expressed interest in hosting the CARIFTA Games in 2027 following a successful Grenada staging. Guyana’s contingent returned from the 53rd CARIFTA Games with six medals. President Ali has agreed to serve as patron of the Cricket West Indies Masters Association, which is not the same as governance but is also not nothing.

SURINAME RIVER FEES: STILL A PROBLEM

The Shipping Association of Guyana has updated the business community on ongoing concerns about fees Suriname has imposed for use of the Corentyne River. President Ali said Guyana will intensify its advocacy to resolve the matter, noting that the fees could disrupt bilateral trade. Suriname has not yet responded with the enthusiasm Guyana is hoping for. The Corentyne situation has now been described as requiring “intensive advocacy” for long enough that one wonders what non-intensive advocacy looked like.

CARIFTA MEDAL HAUL: SIX AND COUNTING

Guyana’s contingent at the 53rd CARIFTA Games in St. George’s, Grenada came home with six medals, including a silver for Shepherd and bronze for Roberts on the opening day. The table tennis team and two-time Olympian Chelsea Edghill also secured spots for the 2026 CAC Games following a qualifying campaign in the Dominican Republic. Sachin Pitamber is the 2026 National Chess Champion, which means Guyana is having a good sporting week across disciplines that do not always share a sentence.

The Guyana Daily Brief is satire. All stories are based on real reported news. We do not make up the part about the $159 billion.