# WATCH | Press conference by President Dr. Irfaan Ali

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzH_2PRH6PU
Translation: zh-CN

[00:00] Venezuela's case, both on the facts and on the law.
  委内瑞拉的案件，无论是在事实上还是在法律上。

[00:06] We are grateful to our representatives in these proceedings, headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and if national cooperation, the Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General and former Minister of Foreign Affairs as agent.
  我们感谢我们在此程序中的代表，由外交部长和国家合作部长、法律事务部长兼总检察长以及前外交部长担任代理人率领。

[00:22] The court's judgement will bring to an end the controversy that arose in 1962 when Venezuela for the first time challenged the lawfulness of the 1899 arbitral award and the international boundary that established.
  法院的判决将结束始于1962年的争议，当时委内瑞拉首次挑战了1899年仲裁裁决的合法性以及所确定的国际边界。

[00:39] After accepting, respecting and complying with the award and the boundary without protest for 63 years, the oral hearings established that Venezuela made this very belated protest precisely at the time Guyana was nearing its
  在接受、尊重并遵守该裁决和边界长达63年而无异议后，口头审理确立了委内瑞拉提出这项迟来的抗议，恰逢圭亚那即将迎来其

[01:00] Independence.
  独立。

[01:02] British troops would be departing
  英军将要撤离

[01:05] and Venezuela would have a significant
  委内瑞拉将拥有重要的

[01:07] military advantage
  军事优势

[01:09] with which to press its unfounded claim
  以此来推进其毫无根据的主张

[01:11] to nearly three quarters of Guyana's
  几乎占圭亚那四分之三的

[01:13] territory.
  领土。

[01:15] The very claim
  正是这一主张

[01:16] that the tribunal of five preeminent
  由五名杰出仲裁员组成的仲裁庭

[01:19] arbitrators unanimously rejected in
  一致拒绝了

[01:22] 1899.
  1899年。

[01:24] Before departing Guyana in 1966,
  在1966年离开圭亚那之前，

[01:28] the British negotiated an agreement with
  英国与委内瑞拉达成了一项协议

[01:30] Venezuela
  委内瑞拉

[01:32] to ensure that its challenge to the
  以确保其对

[01:33] validity of the 1899 arbitral award
  1899年仲裁裁决有效性的质疑

[01:37] would be resolved peacefully.
  能够得到和平解决。

[01:39] The Geneva Agreement of 1966,
  1966年的《日内瓦协定》，

[01:42] for which Guyana became a party upon its
  圭亚那在该协定签署当年独立后即成为其缔约方，

[01:44] independence that year,
  独立当年，

[01:46] provided
  规定

[01:48] for us
  为我们

[01:49] for a four-year period of bilateral
  提供为期四年的双边

[01:51] These negotiations were unsuc-
  这些谈判没有成功-

[01:53] to resolve this dispute.
  以解决这一争端。

[01:57] unsuccessful.
  不成功。

[01:59] In the circumstances, the Geneva
  在这种情况下，《日内瓦

[02:01] agreement further provided that the Secretary General of the United Nations would choose the proper means of final settlement of the controversy with the power to choose such means if the prior means that he selected failed to achieve such a settlement.
  协议还规定，联合国秘书长将选择解决争端的适当方法，并有权选择这些方法，如果他选择的先前方法未能达成此类解决方案。

[02:22] In January 2020 18 after more than 50 years passed without a settlement Secretary General Antonio Guterres decided that the controversy should be settled by the International Court of Justice.
  2020年1月18日，在经过50多年未达成和解后，秘书长安东尼奥·古特雷斯决定通过国际法院解决争端。

[02:41] His decision was binding on the two parties.
  他的决定对双方都有约束力。

[02:44] Guyana had initiated the proceedings in the ICJ in March 2018.
  圭亚那于2018年3月在国际法院提起了诉讼。

[02:50] Venezuela responded by challenging the court's jurisdiction to resolve the controversy.
  委内瑞拉通过质疑法院解决争端的管辖权来回应。

[02:56] After receiving the arguments of the two parties the court issued a judgment in
  在收到双方的论点后，法院发布了一项判决，

[03:02] December 2020 in which it ruled that it had jurisdiction to determine the legal validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award as well as the international boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.
  2020年12月，其裁定有权确定1899年仲裁裁决的法律有效性以及圭亚那和委内瑞拉之间的国际边界。

[03:18] We will await the court's final judgment on the merits with patience, dignity and optimism.
  我们将耐心、尊严和乐观地等待法院对案情的最终判决。

[03:26] We'll continue to address Venezuela in a spirit of peace, cooperation and friendship and as sovereign equals.
  我们将本着和平、合作和友谊的精神，并作为主权平等的伙伴，继续与委内瑞拉打交道。

[03:36] We respect Venezuela's sovereignty as we have always done and insist that Venezuela refrain from trespassing on or threatening Guyana's sovereignty.
  我们尊重委内瑞拉的主权，一如既往，并坚持委内瑞拉不得侵犯或威胁圭亚那的主权。

[03:50] We have heard the statements of Venezuela's officials that they do not accept the ICJ's jurisdiction and will not abide by its rulings.
  我们听到了委内瑞拉官员的声明，他们不接受国际法院的管辖权，也不会遵守其裁决。

[03:59] This will be a breach of its most of its
  这将违反其大部分规定

[04:02] most solemn obligations under United Nations Charter, the Charter of the Organization of American States, and the general international law.
  联合国宪章、美洲国家组织宪章和一般国际法所规定的最庄严的义务。

[04:13] It will not be tolerated by the international community, which demands a world order based on law.
  国际社会不会容忍这种情况，国际社会要求建立一个法治的世界秩序。

[04:22] It is our fervent hope that Venezuela's expression of disrespect for the court and for international law reflects the emotions that often accompany litigation of this kind.
  我们热切希望委内瑞拉对法院和国际法表示不敬，能反映出此类诉讼常伴随的情绪。

[04:36] We hope that after passions recede and responsible government officials reflect, they will conclude, as we have done, that both states are best served by an end to this long-standing conflict and that the only way to secure a just and lasting peace and enduring friendship is by respect for and compliance with the court's final judgment, whatever it may
  我们希望，在激情消退，负责任的政府官员进行反思之后，他们将得出与我们相同的结论，即两国都能通过结束这场长期冲突而得到最好的服务，并且获得公正持久的和平和持久友谊的唯一途径是尊重并遵守法院的最终判决，无论其如何。

[05:05] be, as required by the United Nations Charter.
  按照《联合国宪章》的要求。

[05:10] Now, I wish to turn to the matter I want to address.
  现在，我想谈谈我要解决的问题。

[05:16] That is our national security infrastructure and what we're investing in to ensure the safety and sustainability of our country.
  那就是我们的国家安全基础设施以及我们为确保我国的安全和可持续性所进行的投资。

[05:28] The objective of our national security infrastructure of Guyana is to develop one of the most modern, technologically integrated systems in the world.
  我们圭亚那国家安全基础设施的目标是发展世界上最现代化、技术集成度最高的系统之一。

[05:41] In this system, we are seeking to create a common national security interface with all security agencies and and apparatus integrated to enhance interoperability, enhance efficiency, and deliver results.
  在这个系统中，我们正寻求与所有安全机构和部门建立一个共同的国家安全接口，以提高互操作性、提高效率并取得成果。

[05:59] Such system must be in compliance with global standards and integrated
  这样的系统必须符合全球标准并得到整合

[06:05] in supporting the security not only of Guyana, but our region and with our allies.
  在支持圭亚那及其我们地区和盟友的安全方面。

[06:13] The system is built on partnership with key allies and institutions, technology, intelligence, governance, resilience, community, civil society are all critically and will be critically integrated into the system.
  该系统建立在与主要盟友和机构、技术、情报、治理、韧性、社区、公民社会的伙伴关系之上，所有这些都至关重要，并将被整合到系统中。

[06:31] The system is aimed at creating a people-centric model for national security.
  该系统旨在为国家安全创建一个以人为本的模型。

[06:40] Now, I want to elaborate on some of the pillars that we are investing in and we will continue to invest in and for you and our country to have an appreciation of what this architecture would look like by the end of 2030.
  现在，我想详细介绍一下我们正在投资的一些支柱，以及我们将继续投资的支柱，以便您和我们的国家了解这个架构在2030年底会是什么样子。

[06:59] As you know, the most modern security system
  如您所知，最现代化的安全系统

[07:06] A technologic technology and technologically integrated into the global system.
  一种技术技术，并技术性地融入全球体系。

[07:13] So, that's the first thing.
  所以，这是第一件事。

[07:14] Our security must be able to integrate in the global system.
  我们的安全必须能够融入全球体系。

[07:20] The advanced position information system in the coming years would be a critical tool for every single country.
  未来几年，先进的定位信息系统将成为每个国家的重要工具。

[07:34] Digitization digital passports, digital ID card all of these are investment that countries will have to make to be part of an international security system and architecture.
  数字化数字护照、数字身份证，所有这些都是各国必须进行的投资，才能成为国际安全体系和架构的一部分。

[07:49] That system and architecture is designed to enhance information sharing, to enhance predictability, and to have greater integration in tracking and monitoring.
  该体系和架构旨在加强信息共享、提高可预测性，并在跟踪和监控方面实现更大的整合。

[08:06] So that the global system will be based on shared investment, shared responsibility, and a shared approach to national and international security.
  这样，全球体系将基于共同的投资、共同的责任以及共同处理国家和国际安全问题的方法。

[08:19] Our international Our internal security architecture is built around seven core modern pillars.
  我们的国际，我们的内部安全架构围绕七个核心的现代支柱构建。

[08:28] That is technology, intelligence, governance, resilience, and citizen services.
  那就是技术、情报、治理、韧性和公民服务。

[08:36] The security architecture, as I said, must be people-centric.
  正如我所说，安全架构必须以人为本。

[08:41] So citizen services, citizen trust in the system is a critical indicator of the success of the system.
  因此，公民服务、公民对系统的信任是系统成功的关键指标。

[08:53] So everything that we're doing in building out this system is geared towards enhancing citizen's trust in the security architecture and infrastructure.
  所以，我们正在构建这个系统的一切都是为了增强公民对安全架构和基础设施的信任。

[09:08] Now, key components of this system will include smart police stations, and I'll enhance that a bit later so you will understand what our thinking is around what is a smart police station.
  现在，该系统的关键组成部分将包括智能警察局，我稍后会对此进行详细说明，以便您了解我们对智能警察局的设想。

[09:28] A smart police station operating 24/7 without human staff, AI-powered policing systems, online crime reporting and digital service delivery, integrated national database, e-services and mobile policing apps, and real-time command and control centers.
  一个24/7运行、无需人工值守的智能警察局、人工智能驱动的警务系统、在线犯罪报告和数字服务交付、国家综合数据库、电子政务和移动警务应用程序，以及实时指挥和控制中心。

[09:52] Now, as you know, we have already started the investment in the command centers in a number of regions.
  现在，如您所知，我们已经在一些地区的指挥中心开始了投资。

[10:00] These command centers are while as regionally decentralized, are also centralized at
  这些指挥中心虽然在区域上是分散的，但在中央也是集中的

[10:10] the national level.
  国家层面。

[10:12] It is a common shared platform with different tiers of information set depending on needs and depending on the agencies.
  它是一个通用的共享平台，根据需求和机构的不同，设有不同的信息层级。

[10:23] The second and the objective of this is to ensure that we have a faster, citizen-friendly, data-driven policing architecture.
  第二个目标是确保我们拥有一个更快、更方便公民、数据驱动的警务架构。

[10:36] You've seen also that we are placing security and policing outposts within the communities themselves, outfitting those outposts with the technology and the equipment that would allow them to respond faster to crime.
  您也看到，我们在社区内部设立了安全和警务前哨站，为这些前哨站配备了技术和设备，使它们能够更快地应对犯罪。

[10:58] The fact is that there are communities that are becoming deeper, are more stratified.
  事实是，有些社区变得更加深入，更加分层。

[11:03] So, the structure, the infrastructure and structure of our security architecture must reflect this.
  因此，我们安全架构的结构、基础设施和结构必须反映这一点。

[11:11] Changing dynamic.
  动态正在改变。

[11:15] The second aspect is artificial intelligence and predictive security.
  第二个方面是人工智能和预测性安全。

[11:21] As you know, one of the key features of modern security systems is the use of AI to help in predictability, so that you can actually stop crime before it even occurs.
  如您所知，现代安全系统的关键特征之一是使用人工智能来帮助预测，这样您就可以在犯罪发生之前将其阻止。

[11:37] To help in traceability, to help in crime solving, and to remove human biases and human interference.
  以帮助追踪，帮助破案，并消除人为偏见和人为干扰。

[11:46] That does not say that humans are not there.
  这并不是说没有人参与。

[11:52] Humans are there in the back room, but AI helps in doing analytics at a faster pace, scouring the data set, scouring the footages, and coming up with scenarios, helping police and the system.
  人类在后台工作，但人工智能可以帮助以更快的速度进行分析，梳理数据集，梳理录像，并提出各种场景，协助警方和系统。

[12:12] to respond more effectively and efficiently.
  以更有效和高效的方式做出回应。

[12:16] So, AI is going to be an important part of our national security operations.
  因此，人工智能将成为我们国家安全行动的重要组成部分。

[12:22] And the key capabilities that AI would allow us are the following.
  人工智能将使我们能够实现以下关键能力。

[12:27] Predictive crime analytics, facial recognition system, behavioral analytics, automated threat detection, smart surveillance system, AI supported traffic management, drone and robotics integration.
  预测性犯罪分析、面部识别系统、行为分析、自动化威胁检测、智能监控系统、人工智能支持的交通管理、无人机和机器人集成。

[12:48] This would allow us in real time to predict patterns, networks.
  这将使我们能够实时预测模式和网络。

[12:56] It will help us to monitor public spaces and spaces of interest, improve emergency response, and enhance our border security.
  它将帮助我们监控公共场所和感兴趣的区域，改善应急响应，并加强我们的边境安全。

[13:07] Take for example, when we have huge event at a stadium and
  以体育场举办大型活动为例，当我们

[13:12] Other places, this technology would allow us, with the use of one vehicle, to be stationed there, to have full coverage of that entire area in a predictable manner.
  在其他地方，这项技术将允许我们使用一辆车驻扎在那里，从而能够以可预测的方式全面覆盖整个区域。

[13:33] Assessing threats, address assessing behavior and giving advanced information to officers as to what and where these threats and behavior can lead to security challenge.
  评估威胁，处理评估行为，并向官员提供有关这些威胁和行为可能导致安全挑战的地点和方式的先进信息。

[13:51] This is where the world is heading and this is where we are heading.
  这就是世界发展的方向，也是我们前进的方向。

[13:57] The third pillar is national surveillance and safe country infrastructure.
  第三个支柱是国家监视和安全国家基础设施。

[14:03] As you know, we have already invested and we're investing in the CCTV coverage in our safe country program.
  如您所知，我们已经投资并正在我们安全国家计划中投资于闭路电视覆盖。

[14:13] by 2030 to have all of our country fully covered.
  到2030年，使我国全面覆盖。

[14:18] We intend also to build the intelligent traffic system into this network.
  我们还打算将智能交通系统构建到这个网络中。

[14:27] Now, I'll give you an example of what we've already done.
  现在，我将举一个我们已经完成的例子。

[14:30] As you know we have launched the smart cameras, traffic cameras and we have seen massive reduction in accidents and speeding in the areas that we have launched the cameras.
  如您所知，我们已经推出了智能摄像头、交通摄像头，并且在我们部署了摄像头的区域，事故和超速现象大幅减少。

[14:45] Now, we went a step further.
  现在，我们更进一步了。

[14:48] We can now AI can now generate for us who are the repeat offenders in traffic offenses.
  现在，人工智能可以为我们生成交通违规的惯犯是谁。

[14:54] So, you don't need to go through days of documents.
  所以，您不需要查阅数天的文件。

[14:58] In milliseconds, we can generate a report about repeat offenders so that that can be integrated in the judicial system and the judicial system can take the appropriate action based on the repeat offenders.
  在几毫秒内，我们可以生成一份关于惯犯的报告，以便将其整合到司法系统中，司法系统可以根据惯犯采取适当的行动。

[15:16] We also have now advanced this into a mobile unit.
  我们现在还将其开发成了一个移动单元。

[15:22] And the first pilot the first few pilots are now completed where the mobile unit will drive along the road and automatically pick up all the vehicles with outstanding traffic offenses.
  并且第一个试点，前几个试点现已完成，移动单元将沿着道路行驶，并自动查获所有有未处理交通违规的车辆。

[15:37] And those vehicles are pulled in.
  然后这些车辆会被拖走。

[15:40] So the test uh a few nights ago on the east coast alone found 250 plus vehicles with outstanding tickets.
  所以前几天晚上在东海岸进行的测试，仅凭此就发现了250多辆有未处理罚单的车辆。

[15:50] Just driving through.
  只是开车经过。

[15:54] And no human [clears throat] can interfere with the system.
  而且没有人（清嗓子）可以干预该系统。

[15:58] Because the system would pick them up, document it on a screen, put it in the database, and then turn on even the traffic the sirens to stop the vehicle.
  因为系统会查获它们，在屏幕上记录，将其存入数据库，然后甚至会打开交通警报器来拦截车辆。

[16:12] This mobile unit can also be parked in any location.
  这个移动单元也可以停放在任何地方。

[16:18] and it'll have 6360° coverage of the traffic in that location to look at offenses.
  它将覆盖该地点 6360° 的交通流量，以查看违规行为。

[16:29] This is some of the latest technology that we are applying.
  这是我们正在应用的一些最新技术。

[16:34] We are now going to move this at scale to national levels.
  我们现在将把这项技术推广到国家层面。

[16:40] So as I said, the CCTV will be integrated in our intelligent traffic system.
  正如我所说，闭路电视将集成到我们的智能交通系统中。

[16:47] Sensor-enabled infrastructure.
  传感器基础设施。

[16:50] What do I mean by this?
  这是什么意思？

[16:51] You will see soon the traffic lights that we're we will install in the city would be sensor-oriented.
  您很快就会看到我们将在城市安装的交通信号灯将是面向传感器的。

[17:00] Based on what the traffic is looking how they how the sensors are reading the traffic, the timing of the lights will change to allow efficiency in the system.
  根据交通流量的观察方式，传感器如何读取交通流量，信号灯的时序将发生变化，以提高系统效率。

[17:11] So that it is not one time that is fixed.
  这样它就不会是固定的时间。

[17:14] You know, sometimes the traffic is going out of the city, sometimes in the city.
  你知道，有时交通是流出城市，有时是流入城市。

[17:15] So, the sensors will pick this
  所以，传感器会检测到这一点

[17:20] up in a predictable way and then uh make the decisions and adjustment within the system itself.
  以可预测的方式进行，然后在系统内部做出决策和调整。

[17:30] The sensor-enabled infrastructure would also go a step further.
  支持传感器的基础设施也将更进一步。

[17:36] Our intention is that in critical areas critical and sensitive areas uh we will have sensor-enabled patterning.
  我们的意图是在关键区域、关键和敏感区域，我们将拥有支持传感器的模式识别。

[17:46] So, we can launch the eyes in the sky with a vehicle that committed a crime.
  因此，我们可以启动天眼，追踪犯罪车辆。

[17:54] And the drones will go to the path that the vehicle is going and be able to identify that vehicle, trace that vehicle.
  无人机将沿着车辆行驶的路径飞行，并能够识别该车辆，追踪该车辆。

[18:02] The cameras will be integrated.
  摄像头将集成在一起。

[18:05] The CCTV CCTV cameras will be integrated to share information and pattern.
  闭路电视、闭路电视摄像头将集成在一起，以共享信息和模式。

[18:11] But more importantly the system can then network all the places that vehicle went in the last 72 hours.
  但更重要的是，该系统可以联网追踪该车辆在过去72小时内去过的所有地方。

[18:21] So, you're able to track networks and break into networks.
  所以，您能够跟踪网络并入侵网络。

[18:25] You're able to see integration and association.
  您能够看到集成和关联。

[18:29] And there's a normal saying with smart city program and smart country program.
  智慧城市计划和智慧国家计划有一个普遍的说法。

[18:36] If you see the camera, the camera is seeing you.
  如果您看到摄像头，摄像头就会看到您。

[18:37] And if you're hiding from the camera, you're hiding something.
  如果您躲避摄像头，您就是在隐藏某些东西。

[18:42] So, this infrastructure is going to be the backbone upon which we are building our country.
  所以，这个基础设施将成为我们建设国家的支柱。

[18:53] We'll have the smart street monitoring.
  我们将拥有智能街道监控。

[18:55] We started that in Stabroek area, as you know.
  正如您所知，我们在 Stabroek 地区开始了这项工作。

[18:59] And we saw the crime crime rate in that Stabroek area plummeted.
  我们看到 Stabroek 地区的犯罪率骤降。

[19:02] Plunged.
  骤降。

[19:08] From uh 90 plus reports to less than six.
  从 90 多份报告减少到不到 6 份。

[19:14] And that is because everyone is integrated in the security system.
  这是因为每个人都融入了安全系统。

[19:17] There is smart sensors, smart cameras
  有智能传感器、智能摄像头

[19:22] attached to a public screen.
  附着在公共屏幕上。

[19:25] Uh so these are the things that will drive the security architecture and infrastructure.
  呃，所以这些将驱动安全架构和基础设施。

[19:32] We also have the automated emergency detection system.
  我们还有自动紧急检测系统。

[19:36] That is where AI in the background and this is what we're building in will be able in a predictable manner to assess movements, assess threats and to generate reports that are interlinked with the eyes in the sky, interlinked with the safe city camera system and of course uh the ability to pull up persons of interest uh that will allow us to in a predictable way and in a proactive way address situations.
  这就是后台的人工智能，也是我们正在构建的，能够以可预测的方式评估移动、评估威胁并生成与天空之眼、智慧城市摄像头系统相连接的报告，当然还有能力调出感兴趣的人员，这将使我们能够以可预测和主动的方式处理情况。

[20:11] The fourth pillar is of course No,
  第四个支柱当然是，不，

[20:14] on [clears throat] the CCTV ca- cameras we need I more than 25,000 cameras to cover the
  在[清嗓子]闭路电视摄像机上，我们需要超过25,000个摄像头来覆盖

[20:22] entire country

[20:24] which would be about 6,700 sites.

[20:29] To date, I think we are closing in on

[20:30] 1,300 sites

[20:32] and about 6,000 uh

[20:35] and about 6,000 cameras.

[20:38] We will be investing to have those

[20:41] 20,000 cameras installed

[20:45] by uh 2030 or long before. That 20,000

[20:49] plus additional cameras.

[20:51] And those [clears throat] are just the

[20:52] static cameras.

[20:53] We also have the roving cameras. We will

[20:56] also have eyes in the sky.

[20:58] And as you know

[21:00] we've also given

[21:01] a range of incentive for persons to

[21:04] invest in commercial security system and

[21:07] home security system that we also

[21:11] encourage.

[21:15] >> [clears throat]

[21:15] >> Now,

[21:17] the

[21:20] AI and predictive security measures

[21:24] will allow us, of course,

[21:26] to

[21:28] not only enhance our security system,

[21:32] but integrated into regional systems

[21:34] in the RSS,

[21:36] uh

[21:37] our partners in the southern sphere,

[21:40] and wider [clears throat] field.

[21:42] Because more and more traveling and ease

[21:46] of traveling will depend on the

[21:49] soundness of your traveling document

[21:52] and the soundness of your security

[21:55] infrastructure.

[21:58] The fourth area is cybersecurity and

[22:01] digital resilience.

[22:03] And this is a very important area for

[22:05] us.

[22:07] As we continue to

[22:09] build out our digitized digitization

[22:13] program

[22:14] and move towards a technologically

[22:16] driven

[22:17] uh

[22:18] backbone,

[22:19] the safety and security of our data

[22:22] For the end of this year, for example,

[22:24] we will have the national payment system

[22:27] fully implemented. So, you can go and

[22:30] just scan a QR code and pay for

[22:32] anything.

[22:33] You'll have your entire You can do all

[22:35] your You can do all your transaction on

[22:36] your phone.

[22:37] Some banks are already ready.

[22:39] You can do transfer. You can pay

[22:41] anything globally, anywhere in the

[22:43] world, from your phone.

[22:45] Uh

[22:46] so,

[22:47] that tells you that major investment

[22:50] will be made

[22:51] in cybersecurity and digital resilience.

[22:54] Cybersecurity is treated as a core

[22:56] national pillar.

[22:58] Now, the key feature will include a

[23:00] national cybersecurity strategy.

[23:03] We already [clears throat] have that

[23:04] strategy being refined.

[23:07] We have to also look at a cyber

[23:09] emergency response team. So, we have to

[23:12] build

[23:13] a team with global standards, the best

[23:17] as a cyber emergency response team. A

[23:21] team that is available 24/7

[23:25] to respond efficiently and effectively

[23:28] to cyber threats

[23:29] and challenges.

[23:32] Now, [snorts]

[23:33] this is the

[23:35] Another important aspect is our critical

[23:37] infrastructure.

[23:39] You can have cyber security that attack

[23:41] critical infrastructure. Where is your

[23:43] energy infrastructure?

[23:44] We will now have infrastructure in the

[23:47] uh petrochemical field

[23:49] fertilizer plant, for example, the

[23:52] building out of the wheels development

[23:53] zone

[23:54] our oil assets

[23:57] our gas assets. So,

[24:00] it is important

[24:02] that the protection of critical

[24:04] infrastructure

[24:05] is an important component of the cyber

[24:08] security and digital resilience

[24:09] strategy.

[24:11] So, that is also being worked out to be

[24:13] implemented.

[24:15] The energy sector

[24:17] uh defense strategy

[24:20] a particular strategy powered uh under

[24:23] the digital arm of resilience and cyber

[24:27] security will be worked out and that is

[24:29] to protect our energy infrastructure.

[24:31] It's called energy defense.

[24:33] Energy sector cyber defense. You know,

[24:35] the data in an energy sector is critical

[24:37] data.

[24:38] As we move towards owning more of our

[24:41] data and having data sovereignty, we

[24:44] have to ensure that the backbone is

[24:46] there to protect that data so that it's

[24:48] not stolen.

[24:50] And then, of course, data sovereignty

[24:52] protection.

[24:54] Of course, all of of laws

[24:56] we have already had amendments of the

[24:58] laws, new laws, but we will have to

[25:00] further

[25:02] amend some of these laws to fit into the

[25:04] new international standards,

[25:06] international norms that we are now

[25:10] pursuing in this national security

[25:12] architecture.

[25:17] The objective here is to protect our

[25:19] digital infrastructure and our national

[25:21] systems.

[25:23] The fifth pillar, of course, is the

[25:24] border security and immigration control.

[25:28] And we are going to deploy, we have

[25:30] started already to deploy technology.

[25:32] You have seen the ease through which you

[25:34] can pass through the e-gates. We are now

[25:36] working on the custom component of that,

[25:39] so that you don't have to wait for your

[25:41] bags,

[25:42] moving towards the removal of that long

[25:45] immigration form and that custom form,

[25:47] looking more at

[25:49] uh uh

[25:50] uh you know, more self-declaration,

[25:54] uh more creating more trust in the

[25:56] system, stronger penalties

[25:59] to support that.

[26:00] So, the technology that we are adopting

[26:02] here to manage the entry-exit migration,

[26:07] of course, we have the digital ID card.

[26:09] By the end of this year,

[26:11] your your ID national ID card will be

[26:13] for voting, but the digital ID card will

[26:16] be the card that is necessary

[26:19] for all your transaction, whether it's

[26:22] the banking transaction and all of these

[26:23] things. So, I'm encouraging everyone to

[26:26] push forward in getting your your your

[26:29] cards. We are now also

[26:31] going to expand the sites, not only the

[26:34] 10 regional sites, but we'll have

[26:37] additional 60 sites across our country

[26:40] to continue the aggressive rollout of

[26:43] the digital ID card.

[26:46] Now, to to add to this, we'll have the

[26:48] biometric immigration system.

[26:50] As I said, the advanced passenger

[26:53] information system is critical for

[26:55] international travel, for your rating,

[26:57] uh for the way in which people will

[26:58] trust

[26:59] your your uh

[27:02] your system

[27:03] and uh trust your documents. All of this

[27:07] have bearing on your the rating of your

[27:09] passport and your systems and your

[27:12] documents.

[27:13] We'll have the e-gates

[27:15] already there.

[27:17] Facial recognition at the airport.

[27:19] E-visas, smart visas.

[27:22] AI-supported traveler risk assessment.

[27:25] So, the new system in the world is not

[27:27] even when you book your ticket.

[27:29] Once you express an interest

[27:32] to book a ticket,

[27:34] that is where the security system kicks

[27:36] in.

[27:37] And with AI, once you have this system,

[27:39] it gives you an alert

[27:41] that

[27:43] person X

[27:45] is a person of interest and they're

[27:47] trying to book your ticket.

[27:48] So, it gives you an alert then.

[27:50] If the person then proceed to pay for

[27:52] the ticket, then gives you a higher

[27:53] alert. Person X is now a bonafide

[27:57] uh traveler to your country.

[27:59] So, you can stop.

[28:01] Countries are even stopping now

[28:03] that person if it is

[28:05] someone in the blacklist,

[28:08] they're stopping that person from even

[28:09] booking the ticket.

[28:11] So, you are preventing the threat even

[28:13] before the ticket is booked to come to

[28:15] your country.

[28:16] That is how advanced and integrated the

[28:19] global system is now, and that is where

[28:21] we are heading with this security

[28:23] infrastructure and architecture.

[28:27] All of this, the integrated customs and

[28:29] immigration database,

[28:31] is geared towards fast and secure

[28:33] movement of people and goods.

[28:35] We're going to have

[28:37] enhanced port security,

[28:39] more scanners, more digital tools, AI

[28:42] tools, less human interface.

[28:45] We'll have storage of information so

[28:47] that people will be held accountable.

[28:50] Everything must pass through the scanner

[28:51] in and out.

[28:53] So, uh these scanners, of course, will

[28:56] be integrated into regional system.

[28:59] So that persons you can actually track a

[29:02] container from

[29:04] uh uh uh

[29:06] the the origins right through the

[29:08] system. So, if the container is packed

[29:11] in a particular way when it left when it

[29:14] when leaves Guyana and when if it's

[29:16] found in another port and you see it's

[29:18] not packed in the same way, you know

[29:20] something would have occurred throughout

[29:22] the journey. So, that is what these

[29:24] systems allow us to do. Not only

[29:26] predictive, but also the traceability

[29:29] down the road.

[29:32] The sixth uh

[29:34] uh

[29:35] pillar

[29:36] is that of an integrated intelligence

[29:38] and inter-agency coordination system.

[29:41] It's very important that all our systems

[29:45] are interoperable

[29:46] and they can talk to each other and

[29:49] they're not silos.

[29:50] This is important for efficiency

[29:53] and to ensure a whole-of-government

[29:56] security coordination.

[29:57] >> [snorts]

[29:58] >> For this, of course

[30:00] we have uh police, the intelligence

[30:02] agency, civil defense, our cyber agency,

[30:06] FIU,

[30:07] uh SOCU, border security, the Guyana

[30:10] Defense Force, the emergency uh

[30:13] agencies, all of them will be part of

[30:16] this

[30:16] uh security architecture infrastructure,

[30:18] CANU, the uh

[30:21] the uh border unit. All of them. This

[30:24] includes the ability This will allow us

[30:27] the ability for real-time information

[30:30] sharing.

[30:31] The National Command Center

[30:34] accessibility based on clearance. So,

[30:37] you'll have different clearance level,

[30:39] of course.

[30:40] Joint crisis management system. We'll

[30:42] implement a joint crisis management

[30:44] system and a unified emergency response

[30:48] platform. All of these things are being

[30:50] built out as I'm speaking to you now.

[30:53] Now, important for our national security

[30:57] is also our thinking behind critical

[31:00] infrastructure of our country.

[31:03] Whether the bridges,

[31:05] new ports, oil and gas facilities,

[31:08] airports, financial centers,

[31:11] data centers, data hubs,

[31:14] telecommunications infrastructure, water

[31:17] and electricity system, and the maritime

[31:19] system.

[31:20] So, all of these things we classify as

[31:23] critical infrastructure.

[31:25] And a security architecture plan

[31:27] is being developed to be implemented

[31:30] using technology to help in the security

[31:33] of this. And the technology used that

[31:35] we're looking at include drones,

[31:38] AI monitoring, radar systems, maritime

[31:41] surveillance, and smart infrastructure

[31:43] protection.

[31:45] This would ensure us having a secure

[31:47] economic stability

[31:50] and of course, securing our strategic

[31:52] assets.

[31:53] >> [snorts]

[31:54] >> Important for us in all of this, as I

[31:56] said, is people-centric.

[31:58] Community security and social stability

[32:00] is important.

[32:02] So, key elements of the strategy is

[32:03] community policing,

[32:05] enhancing community involvement,

[32:08] building community trust,

[32:10] anti-radicalization

[32:12] program. So, we want to have where we

[32:15] see communities are at risk uh with

[32:18] maybe criminal networks and

[32:19] radicalization taking place in a very

[32:22] proactive way using the tools, going to

[32:24] those communities, have programs, build

[32:27] out strategies to counter those anti-

[32:31] radicalization programs.

[32:33] Public awareness campaigns, tolerance

[32:36] and coexistence initiative,

[32:38] building trust, building confidence,

[32:41] mentoring and coaching,

[32:43] youth programs, youth engagement

[32:44] programs, building out our recreational

[32:47] facilities, channeling energy in

[32:49] positive direction,

[32:51] building stronger families, stronger

[32:53] communities, social protection system,

[32:56] involving the churches, involving civil

[32:59] society, involving the clubs

[33:01] in building stronger communities, uh

[33:04] more uh secure friendly uh communities.

[33:09] Then of course we have the resilience in

[33:10] emergency management

[33:12] that deals with disaster preparedness,

[33:15] pandemic response framework,

[33:17] climate resilience planning that is

[33:19] important for us,

[33:20] national emergency exercise, civil

[33:22] defense,

[33:24] and smart uh

[33:25] emergency coordination, so utilizing

[33:28] the tools to help us with with all of

[33:31] this.

[33:32] So,

[33:33] now if I

[33:35] may go to

[33:36] some aspects

[33:38] uh

[33:39] that may be of interest.

[33:42] The first one is the smart police

[33:44] stations.

[33:45] What do we mean by this?

[33:48] It means the no the normal traditional

[33:50] front desk officers

[33:52] are not required.

[33:54] But confidence must be there.

[33:56] As we build out these digital platforms,

[33:59] a

[34:02] citizen

[34:03] must be confident to report a crime on

[34:05] their app

[34:07] or

[34:08] electronically.

[34:10] That goes

[34:11] into the system.

[34:13] AI helps us to track it.

[34:16] The deployment is made made,

[34:19] and the electronic nature of it allow us

[34:22] to track how that report is being dealt

[34:25] with.

[34:26] The files

[34:28] are even

[34:29] automatically generated.

[34:34] So that

[34:36] there is less tamper.

[34:39] Citizens will access services digitally

[34:43] through kiosks and smart systems. And

[34:45] this is how new policing is.

[34:47] You go to the mall,

[34:49] smart kiosks will be there.

[34:51] Citizens can go and access the kiosks

[34:53] for any

[34:55] support, whether it's immigration,

[34:57] whether it's security, whether it's

[34:59] making a report, whether it's reporting

[35:01] uh some lost and found,

[35:03] anything, whether you need counseling,

[35:06] whether you need uh support in child

[35:09] care, because the entire system will be

[35:11] integrated by 2030 to allow allow this.

[35:17] And of course, the way we are growing,

[35:20] the system will have to be built with

[35:21] multiple languages

[35:24] uh to allow uh seamless uh reporting

[35:28] with a AI backbone to convert all of the

[35:30] language into English

[35:32] uh so that you can have. Now,

[35:35] as simple as it seems,

[35:37] you have sometimes waiting time of 2 to

[35:40] 3 hours to get an interpreter to come to

[35:42] take a statement from someone who's

[35:43] going into the station

[35:46] because of language barriers. So this

[35:47] would help us

[35:49] to deal with some of these challenges.

[35:52] The services that that this will include

[35:55] will be reporting crime, paying fines,

[35:58] traffic services, police clearances,

[36:01] lost and found report, tourist

[36:02] assistance. So you don't have to go and

[36:04] join a long line for police clearance

[36:05] anymore.

[36:06] You're shopping in a mall,

[36:08] you make a stop at a kiosk,

[36:10] put in your information for the police

[36:12] clearance.

[36:14] It comes back to you on a QR code or

[36:16] something, digitally available.

[36:19] That is where we are going.

[36:21] Faster service delivery

[36:23] and reduce uh

[36:25] time wasting.

[36:27] It improves citizen accessibility

[36:30] and of course reduce administrative

[36:33] burden.

[36:34] And of course the burden on our

[36:35] officers, they can concentrate more on

[36:38] fighting crime.

[36:39] And uh and and doing a lot of that. A

[36:42] lot of

[36:43] the time of police officers is now taken

[36:45] up doing administrative work.

[36:49] You need your

[36:50] men and women in uniform to be out there

[36:55] to be in the zone

[36:57] to react based on what is coming in in a

[37:00] predictable way.

[37:02] Not spending 50 or 60% of their time

[37:05] behind administrative duties.

[37:09] Our of course our as I said

[37:12] our AI-powered surveillance system

[37:14] with with do a lot of things for us and

[37:16] we already have the eyes in the sky

[37:19] uh that allows for facial recognition,

[37:21] behavioral analysis

[37:23] crowd monitoring, suspicious movement

[37:25] detection automated alert system,

[37:28] vehicle recognition system.

[37:32] I spoke to you about the integrated

[37:34] command uh system.

[37:38] The digital policing services include

[37:41] mobile apps, smart kiosks, online

[37:43] portals, the digital ID.

[37:46] All of this

[37:47] will be integrated into a common system.

[37:52] Now, the smart traffic and road safety

[37:55] system

[37:56] that we're trying to within the next 12

[37:59] months to have that

[38:00] fully operable across our country

[38:02] because we have such a big traffic

[38:04] problem.

[38:05] One of the like today I can tell you

[38:08] uh I know

[38:09] the the uh

[38:12] the traffic chief

[38:14] would have sent out 1,600 letters.

[38:18] Just about 1,600 letters

[38:20] on

[38:22] persons who

[38:23] they're interested in

[38:25] to find out how they acquired their

[38:27] driver's license.

[38:29] 16 plus 100 letters would have gone out.

[38:33] And this will be interesting.

[38:35] Uh

[38:36] so, the system is already delivering

[38:38] these results for us.

[38:40] The system allows for automated post

[38:43] audits.

[38:44] We are now moving the

[38:45] the

[38:47] uh

[38:48] the test, the driver's license test, to

[38:50] the Guyana digital school platform.

[38:52] Where the questions are automatically

[38:54] generated. Nobody would have any

[38:55] question paper

[38:57] 2 days before.

[38:59] If you go now to write it, 10 minutes

[39:02] after, the questions are completely

[39:03] different. It's random sampling. The

[39:05] system throws up the questions

[39:07] and mark it immediately.

[39:09] So, you can uh know know your results

[39:13] there.

[39:14] So, the AI traffic cameras, the radar

[39:16] system,

[39:18] uh smart traffic signals, all of these

[39:20] things I spoke about earlier.

[39:23] Uh now

[39:26] an important aspect of

[39:30] what we are doing

[39:32] also deals with

[39:37] combating financial and transnational

[39:39] crime.

[39:41] The system that we are building

[39:43] allows critical integration of systems

[39:46] with our allies and partners.

[39:50] Our intelligence system will be

[39:52] centralized

[39:54] and coordinated, not only with Guyana,

[39:56] with the region, and with other

[39:58] partners.

[39:59] Real-time information sharing, this is

[40:01] already started, by the way. I will not

[40:03] elaborate on this.

[40:05] Integrated national database,

[40:07] multi-agency task force,

[40:10] AI-supported threat monitoring,

[40:13] predictive risk analysis.

[40:16] All of these things

[40:17] are part of that

[40:21] global integrated system

[40:23] that will do a lot of tracking in terms

[40:26] of

[40:27] human uh trafficking uh financial

[40:31] crimes uh gold smuggling everything.

[40:35] One of the

[40:36] important [clears throat] modules that

[40:38] will be allowed also

[40:40] is the traceability of the gold.

[40:43] A system that will improve

[40:45] enormously

[40:47] the

[40:50] traceability

[40:52] and the security

[40:54] of our gold and mining sector generally.

[41:00] Now

[41:05] important to all of this is also the

[41:07] strengthening of our counter-terrorism

[41:09] and counter-extremism.

[41:11] Important.

[41:13] Not only counter-terrorism, we've seen

[41:15] in our region

[41:16] in neighbors, we've seen a displacement

[41:18] of cells

[41:19] all across the world. So, we have to

[41:22] look at not only terrorism in its hard

[41:25] form

[41:27] but extremism.

[41:28] Advanced counter-terrorism intelligence,

[41:31] digital monitoring of extremist type of

[41:33] behavior and activity.

[41:36] You have to look at terror financing and

[41:37] tracking

[41:39] resources that's linked to financial

[41:41] system.

[41:42] Uh

[41:43] the border watch list program

[41:46] cyber monitoring as I said very key to

[41:49] all of this.

[41:51] The system would cover all our ports,

[41:53] airports, maritime

[41:55] space, logistics hubs

[41:58] and of course the

[42:00] emerging threats of cryptocurrency

[42:04] and all of these new forms of payment

[42:06] settlement uh mechanism.

[42:09] All of that will be

[42:11] under this model

[42:13] that we're building out for our national

[42:16] security.

[42:18] Now,

[42:19] I want to

[42:21] say also that we're not doing this

[42:23] alone.

[42:25] We're working with Interpol, the RSS,

[42:28] the US,

[42:30] and other technology providers

[42:32] uh

[42:33] in helping us to

[42:35] build out the system in a aggressive

[42:38] way. Achieve all of this

[42:41] by uh

[42:43] 2030 is an enormous task, but we are

[42:46] working diligently to do this.

[42:49] The Guyana Fire Service

[42:52] is a major area that needs

[42:54] massive uh

[42:56] reorganization.

[42:58] So uh we have we've started a program to

[43:01] fix

[43:02] all of the hydrants.

[43:04] We have, I think, more than 25,000

[43:06] hydrants

[43:08] to install.

[43:10] That is the first phase. It will be more

[43:12] as the communities are getting deeper.

[43:15] We have installed a couple thousand so

[43:17] far.

[43:18] So we want to ramp up that in the next

[43:20] 18 months

[43:22] to have uh

[43:23] these hydrants installed in a in a much

[43:26] more aggressive way.

[43:29] We're looking at a smart dispatch center

[43:31] and system.

[43:33] We have more

[43:34] uh assets now.

[43:37] In all of the NDC's, we have given

[43:38] assets.

[43:40] Uh we have to look at GIS-enabled

[43:42] command rooms,

[43:44] integrated CCTV monitoring,

[43:47] digital incident tracking system,

[43:49] >> [snorts]

[43:49] >> real-time GPS fleet management,

[43:52] drone coordination unit. All of these

[43:54] things are going to be key part

[43:56] of helping us to

[43:58] bring up the efficiency. I know that we

[44:01] have a lot of questions on the current

[44:03] efficiency and response time, but it has

[44:05] improved, I must say, looking at the

[44:07] numbers.

[44:08] Uh tremendously, but we are not

[44:10] satisfied at all

[44:12] uh with where we are.

[44:14] Yeah, so the type of assets that we are

[44:16] investing in, of course, is to give

[44:19] rapid intervention vehicles, the smaller

[44:21] assets, as you know, because they have

[44:23] to go into communities that are deeper.

[44:25] The larger trucks have a harder time

[44:26] going in there.

[44:28] Higher capacity pumps,

[44:30] uh the ladder trucks, higher ladder

[44:32] trucks, because the buildings are

[44:33] getting higher. Hydraulic platforms,

[44:35] now, you can't

[44:37] We are not in the days where you use a

[44:38] two-story house, you put up a ladder,

[44:40] and you climb up anymore.

[44:41] You have to have these hydraulic

[44:43] platforms, so these are the

[44:46] things we're investing in.

[44:50] And of course, we have to look at the

[44:51] new threats, industrial and oil and gas

[44:54] units. We have to look at foam tenders

[44:56] now, cuz there's different type of

[44:58] fires.

[44:59] We have to look at uh the industrial

[45:02] rescue trucks,

[45:03] uh

[45:04] investment for chemical containment

[45:06] units, because we'll have a

[45:08] petrochemical industry.

[45:10] Uh

[45:11] LNG and LPG fire suppression systems.

[45:14] So, a lot of training

[45:16] uh also will have to take place. And of

[45:18] course, technology allows you to detect

[45:20] leak long before a fire can occur.

[45:23] So, with the technology application, it

[45:26] allows us with limited human

[45:29] uh resources to respond in a more timely

[45:31] way.

[45:32] With the expansion in our airports, we

[45:35] also have to enhance our air- airport

[45:38] fire fighting capacity.

[45:39] Not only to meet the international

[45:41] standard and requirement, but also to

[45:43] ensure that we have everything there

[45:45] ready. Uh because the more sophisticated

[45:49] air- uh airlines and so are demanding

[45:52] higher standards, so we have to invest

[45:54] in this. The expansion of our port

[45:56] facilities require massive investment in

[45:59] fire boats,

[46:01] uh port emergency vehicles, offshore

[46:03] platform.

[46:04] Uh so, all of these things are

[46:07] ongoing as I as I speak to you.

[46:11] Uh I can go on at length with what we're

[46:13] doing in fire. I can tell you right now

[46:16] that uh all that we have done, we have

[46:18] spent uh close to maybe 30 billion

[46:21] dollars already in assets and

[46:23] infrastructure.

[46:25] We have trained uh hundreds of new

[46:28] uh personnel

[46:29] to work in the sector.

[46:31] Um

[46:33] uh a an important aspect of the national

[46:35] security also, of course, is a modern

[46:37] prison service.

[46:39] And and this uh deals with reform, a lot

[46:42] of reform, launching a prison prevention

[46:45] program.

[46:46] Um we are having great results in terms

[46:49] of repeat offenders. We have the lowest

[46:52] rate in the region.

[46:53] Uh we have uh the highest rate of

[46:56] integration back into the society.

[46:58] So, smart detection facility, digital

[47:01] monitoring

[47:02] uh cell blocks, uh

[47:04] centralized command center, secure

[47:06] integrated surveillance system for the

[47:09] perimeter.

[47:10] Uh

[47:11] segregated housing units, you know, in

[47:12] the past we had intermingling and the

[47:15] mixing with the administrative arm, the

[47:18] prison officers and prisons themselves.

[47:21] So, we're going to invest in that.

[47:23] Modern juvenile rehabilitation

[47:25] facilities, women correctional

[47:27] facilities that are modern,

[47:29] uh and and to their uh specific needs,

[47:33] high security and special risk units.

[47:35] That is important for us as we uh build

[47:39] out this this new system.

[47:42] Uh I think I will stop here uh

[47:45] just to maybe add one one one more

[47:47] aspect of what is critical,

[47:49] and that is a smart court and judicial

[47:51] integration.

[47:53] Uh I've already asked the AG to sit with

[47:56] all of our plans and work with the court

[47:58] because you might be developing your

[48:00] security infrastructure architecture the

[48:02] rapid pace, but the court system also

[48:05] have to move at that pace, more virtual

[48:07] court hearings,

[48:09] more the

[48:10] uh accessibility and and not even

[48:12] accessibility, the acceptance of the

[48:15] electronic warrants,

[48:17] digital inmate transfers, real-time

[48:19] judicial records, secure legal

[48:21] communication, electronic evidence

[48:23] system, all of these uh

[48:26] must be allowed to meet uh

[48:29] the requirement of this new modern

[48:32] security infrastructure that we're

[48:35] building. As I said earlier, on

[48:37] immigration,

[48:38] the e-visas, uh online visa application,

[48:42] electronic approvals, QR code, we don't

[48:45] want to have 10 person processing visas

[48:47] anymore.

[48:49] Everything must be done the QR code uh

[48:51] for visas, mobile accessible visa

[48:54] records,

[48:55] um an automated system, digital document

[48:58] uploads, integrated payment gateways,

[49:01] multi-language interface, major

[49:04] uh

[49:05] for our country now because on the

[49:07] arrivals alone sometimes you have five,

[49:09] six different nationality coming in,

[49:11] real-time application tracking,

[49:13] those are the type of

[49:16] uh issues that

[49:18] they

[49:19] uh

[49:20] that we'll be able to address hopefully

[49:22] before uh

[49:24] independence, we'll have an exciting

[49:26] announcement already as to how our

[49:29] digital ID card will be interfacing with

[49:32] another country digital ID card in our

[49:35] region for seamless movement of our

[49:37] people.

[49:38] So, uh

[49:40] that is what I want to say at this time.

[49:43] If there are any questions that you may

[49:45] want to ask, let me just borrow this

[49:47] file.

[49:49] I have a

[49:54] Please. questions.

[49:57] Dennis Chabrol.

[50:05] Mr. President, with respect to the

[50:07] technological

[50:09] advancements you've referred to with

[50:11] respect to the security sector, could

[50:13] you say what will be the level of

[50:15] investment over the given period? And

[50:19] where where are some of these

[50:21] technologies going to be coming from?

[50:23] And secondly, sir, as I have the mic,

[50:27] can you say what is the status of of a

[50:31] planned Silicon Green Ink Smart City

[50:34] project that has been

[50:37] proposed to the government for what,

[50:39] more than 10 years?

[50:42] I I I'm You have me lost on the last one

[50:44] there. I don't know. Silicon Green Ink

[50:47] by Mr. Farley. Are you aware of that

[50:49] project?

[50:49] >> I'm not not aware of that. I I can only

[50:52] speak about what I know of and what

[50:55] we're investing in in. Now, let me say

[50:58] that we are investing

[51:01] uh

[51:02] in the national security architecture

[51:05] and infrastructure of our country.

[51:07] Uh many of the technology that we are

[51:09] adopting are technology our key partners

[51:11] and allies

[51:13] are already using. I will not go into

[51:15] details with that. Of course, the

[51:17] financing, as you will see, will come

[51:19] from a joint initiative and of course

[51:22] uh in the national budget.

[51:35] Renee Sambach with Kaieteur News. Um Mr.

[51:37] President, are you confident the GT

[51:39] project will be completed by year end?

[51:41] Is half-price electricity still likely?

[51:43] And can you say what will be the final

[51:44] cost? Also, do you believe Lin Sik is

[51:46] the right partner for this project?

[51:49] You're asking me very simple questions.

[51:51] We don't Linseed Cake came through a

[51:53] public process, first of all.

[51:56] It was a public tender. The president of

[51:58] Guyana or nobody didn't go and select

[52:00] Linseed Cake. Came through a public

[52:02] process.

[52:04] Our intention is to work

[52:06] with all the stakeholders to have this

[52:08] project completed and to ensure that our

[52:11] people have the benefit of a cut in

[52:13] electricity rate by 50%.

[52:16] We have as as you know, there was a

[52:18] press release by the Prime Minister's

[52:20] office

[52:21] outlining very clearly

[52:24] what are the new commitments in terms of

[52:26] the timeline, what will come on stream

[52:28] before the end of the year, the power

[52:30] that will come on stream in the first

[52:31] quarter of next year.

[52:33] And of course,

[52:35] much more than that, we have already

[52:37] we're in the process of GTE 2.

[52:40] Because, you know, we are already

[52:43] projecting that the power that will be

[52:45] needed

[52:46] from what is happening in the economy

[52:48] will will definitely

[52:50] consume all of GTE 1 in in

[52:54] in its initial phase.

[52:56] So, [snorts] we are already on that, the

[52:59] GTE

[53:00] 2 project. The natural gas liquids is

[53:03] important for the building out of the

[53:04] Wales development zone. The Of course,

[53:08] the the Wales Wales development zone and

[53:12] the type of industries that will go

[53:15] there. Already we know we're looking at

[53:17] an ammonia and urea plant, a gas

[53:20] bottling and logistics facility,

[53:22] the glass factory, a data center, NGL

[53:25] storage, and LNG facilities. So,

[53:29] that of course will be linked to a lot

[53:32] of development in terms of port

[53:35] facilities and then the opportunities

[53:38] that will come from uh, energy in

[53:41] agro-processing,

[53:43] light

[53:44] uh, development.

[53:45] Uh, to allow this, of course, you know,

[53:48] the the enabling infrastructure was the

[53:51] pipeline coming on stream. We know the

[53:53] pipeline is there. We are now, uh,

[53:56] working aggressively to have this

[53:57] project completed. We I'll I I can say

[54:00] we are I can't say that we are happy

[54:03] that the project has gone beyond, uh,

[54:05] timeline. Uh, we wanted this project to

[54:08] be completed as quickly as possible, uh,

[54:11] but that is the reality that is before

[54:12] us. They had uh, various challenges. Um,

[54:16] we we are not happy, and we we said that

[54:19] before. Uh, but we have to now take this

[54:21] project to the end.

[54:23] That is a priority. The priority is

[54:25] finishing this project in the interest

[54:27] of Guyana and the Guyanese people.

[54:30] Thank you, sir. My second question, is

[54:31] your administration concerned that

[54:33] Guyana's mineral assets and mining

[54:34] properties are increasingly being

[54:36] flipped between foreign companies for

[54:38] billions of US dollars while Guyana

[54:40] itself is not benefiting benefiting from

[54:42] those transactions? I don't know how you

[54:45] Can you, uh, tell me how

[54:48] How How Guyana is not benefiting? Give

[54:49] me one example.

[54:50] >> recently, um, G Mining Ventures, they

[54:53] announced that they're acquiring, um,

[54:55] its fellow Canadian firm, G2, for about

[54:57] US 2.2 billion. Uh, they are going to

[55:00] join the So, tell me Tell me everything.

[55:03] Tell me what was the cost of the

[55:04] exploration,

[55:06] how much the company spent on

[55:07] exploration so that they could have

[55:09] gotten the market value of what asset

[55:12] they have,

[55:13] and, uh, and who carried that cost? Um,

[55:17] tell me how companies operate in

[55:18] international market. So, tell me all

[55:20] about this because, you know, we are not

[55:22] an island upon ourselves. We are We

[55:25] operate in an international environment.

[55:27] And if you have global investors, global

[55:29] investors operate in different markets,

[55:32] and they can can sell their shares. Of

[55:34] course, we want maximum benefit to come

[55:36] to Guyana.

[55:38] Uh so, tell me about it. So, my

[55:40] question, sir, uh does the government

[55:41] believe that there should be stronger

[55:43] policies No, let's go back to the

[55:45] premise of your question.

[55:46] The premise of your question is we are

[55:49] not getting uh

[55:51] the benefits. Now, let let me go back to

[55:54] sometime ago and Sharol, maybe you have

[55:56] some experience on this.

[55:59] And I always call Sharol because he's

[56:00] long in the in the media. That's all.

[56:02] That's the only reason, Sharol, not any

[56:04] other reason.

[56:05] The the

[56:07] we had, for example, at one time

[56:10] the forestry sector.

[56:13] And one of the biggest hindrance to the

[56:15] local

[56:17] claim holders

[56:19] they are in the community forestry group

[56:20] was they did not have the resources to

[56:22] build the infrastructure that is needed

[56:24] to go into their claims. Never had it.

[56:27] Kids, you notice.

[56:28] They don't have it. This is the same for

[56:30] tourism.

[56:31] They never had that critical capital to

[56:35] build out the infrastructure. Government

[56:38] try, we build as far as we can build.

[56:40] The large investors come, they build out

[56:43] to their uh investment that allows the

[56:46] local operators. And we what we saw in

[56:49] in in in different period of our history

[56:53] was that the local sector benefited from

[56:57] a lot of this investment. They were able

[56:58] to go to their lands, work. The The

[57:00] community forest organizations were

[57:03] growing at enormous pace. And then what

[57:05] happened?

[57:06] We lost the big

[57:08] players and almost lost the industry.

[57:11] In 2015 to 2020, you know what happened

[57:14] to the forestry sector?

[57:17] My dear.

[57:19] Yeah. Yeah. You're You're not paying

[57:21] attention. You know what happened to the

[57:22] forestry sector between 2015 and 2020?

[57:25] My question, sir.

[57:27] >> No, no. It's It's all uh related because

[57:29] these are all global companies. So, I'm

[57:31] asking you

[57:32] uh as a dear friend,

[57:35] uh you are you aware of what took place

[57:36] in the forestry sector between 2015 and

[57:39] 2020? And in the mining sector, just

[57:41] imagine in the mining sector, you had

[57:43] 60% of all the assets, local miners

[57:46] asset, their equipment, all their

[57:48] dredges was parked.

[57:50] Parked.

[57:52] They couldn't operate.

[57:54] The forestry sector couldn't even pay

[57:55] their salaries anymore.

[57:58] When we came back, we had to pay a

[57:59] months of outstanding salaries to the

[58:01] Guyana Forestry Commission.

[58:05] We had a meeting with all the

[58:06] small-scale foresters. And you know what

[58:08] the forest small-scale foresters and

[58:10] medium-scale foresters told us?

[58:12] Let us get back.

[58:14] The large players.

[58:19] Similarly,

[58:20] in gold mining, there were these days

[58:22] when we had Omai.

[58:25] You remember those days?

[58:28] Right? Then you have large-scale

[58:30] operation that requires different level

[58:33] of exploration.

[58:35] The companies come legitimately.

[58:38] They get And this is not the Guyana is

[58:40] not special in this way.

[58:42] You go to Canada

[58:44] in the mining sector,

[58:45] some of these very companies are

[58:47] operating there. They do the

[58:48] exploration. They go on the global

[58:51] market. They raise financing. Their

[58:53] asset value increase. They sell the

[58:55] shares at higher price. They sell the

[58:58] the company. Now, we in the future

[59:02] can say

[59:03] that we want all our company. This is

[59:05] why the junior stock exchange is so it

[59:07] help us.

[59:08] That we want our medium-size miners to

[59:10] come together in a consortium and

[59:13] benefit from the large-scale

[59:14] opportunity. And say, "Let us see how we

[59:17] can do our own mineral mapping from a

[59:19] national level. So, we know where our

[59:22] assets are, and we can direct more of

[59:25] those opportunities to these consortiums

[59:28] and uh larger larger operators in

[59:32] Guyana. And then your question, my dear,

[59:34] would change to me. It would say, "Mr.

[59:37] President, are you satisfied that these

[59:41] mining

[59:42] claims that are going out locally are

[59:44] not going to friends and and and so on?"

[59:47] So, it is always a chicken and egg, but

[59:50] I want to say it to you,

[59:52] I love your question, but understand the

[59:54] reality and understand where I'm taking

[59:56] you. Your question must take us to

[59:58] destination.

[01:00:00] If it is we're saying that in the future

[01:00:03] with more revenue coming in now, we have

[01:00:05] more money to do our own mapping,

[01:00:08] and we do that mapping, and we're able

[01:00:09] now to secure the data and information

[01:00:12] for ourselves and create opportunities

[01:00:15] for the medium-size and the consortiums

[01:00:17] and build out our own capacity, then

[01:00:19] that is something that

[01:00:21] that we are definitely considering and

[01:00:24] looking at in the future.

[01:00:25] I would just [snorts] like to um

[01:00:26] clarify, sir. Does your government

[01:00:28] believe that there should be stronger

[01:00:29] policies to ensure that the country

[01:00:31] >> Don't stick to the text on on your on

[01:00:33] your phone.

[01:00:34] >> more value when these large-scale mining

[01:00:36] properties are flipped? My my dear

[01:00:38] friend,

[01:00:39] don't don't come with preconceived

[01:00:42] notion

[01:00:43] and stick to the text on your phone.

[01:00:45] Let's have a nice conversation. You see,

[01:00:47] one of the beautiful things about

[01:00:49] journalism is it allows you to interact

[01:00:52] and and prosecute in real time. So, I

[01:00:56] present to you a set of arguments that

[01:00:58] you may disagree with, but let's

[01:01:00] prosecute the argument. I said to you

[01:01:03] that you operate in a global

[01:01:04] environment.

[01:01:05] There are global rules in that

[01:01:07] environment. There are global standards

[01:01:10] in that environment.

[01:01:12] As a country, we have to

[01:01:15] We don't have a choice. When you when

[01:01:16] you when you accept an international

[01:01:19] investor in in country, you may not be

[01:01:20] happy.

[01:01:22] It's not You know You see in government

[01:01:24] you may not be happy.

[01:01:26] But it's not a happiness index.

[01:01:29] Policy making is not necessarily happy

[01:01:31] index you're measuring on every issue.

[01:01:33] It's a reality. The reality is that you

[01:01:36] have an international investor

[01:01:37] that did work, traded on international

[01:01:40] market,

[01:01:41] and

[01:01:42] sells or buy their company creating

[01:01:45] value.

[01:01:46] We may not be happy with that.

[01:01:49] But the reality is that you are an

[01:01:51] international market.

[01:01:53] So it's not a happiness

[01:01:56] index measuring.

[01:01:58] It's a reality of the global system

[01:02:01] we're operating in, right, my dear?

[01:02:03] Thank you, my dear.

[01:02:06] Let's go around Sharwattie then come

[01:02:08] back to you, sure.

[01:02:10] Oh.

[01:02:11] Good afternoon, Mr. President. Vandana

[01:02:12] Manickchand, Guyana Times. Um can you

[01:02:14] give an update on the contract

[01:02:16] negotiation for the new Berbice River

[01:02:19] Bridge, as well as the acquisition of

[01:02:21] the current bridge? The what?

[01:02:22] Acquisition?

[01:02:23] >> Acquisition of the current Berbice

[01:02:25] Bridge.

[01:02:26] What do you mean acquisition? Oh, oh,

[01:02:27] oh, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[01:02:28] The ownership of the current bridge.

[01:02:29] >> So much bridges being built, waste

[01:02:30] money, so on. You've got Oh, yeah.

[01:02:33] All right. Okay. Are you

[01:02:34] >> You have a second question? Yes, I have

[01:02:36] two more. Um is there any developments

[01:02:40] in the tripartite agreement between

[01:02:42] government, um ExxonMobil, and Fulcrum?

[01:02:47] I know you've mentioned a bunch of um

[01:02:50] potential gas projects that we're hoping

[01:02:53] to develop, but is

[01:02:54] >> The ones I spoke about just now? Yes.

[01:02:56] >> No, those are not potential Those are

[01:02:58] the ones for wheels, yeah.

[01:03:00] >> But like others and Berbice and so on.

[01:03:02] But is there any

[01:03:04] >> your question. concrete Okay. And

[01:03:07] lastly, take I'm taking you back to your

[01:03:10] statement on national security.

[01:03:13] Um

[01:03:14] there've been several attacks recently,

[01:03:17] um

[01:03:18] especially in the Cuyuni River, we saw

[01:03:20] some of our, um, soldiers being

[01:03:22] attacked, um,

[01:03:24] and and injured. Um, what assurances can

[01:03:27] you give as the commander-in-chief

[01:03:30] for the protection of not just our

[01:03:32] troops, our citizens, and what role the

[01:03:36] border patrol,

[01:03:38] um, program you launched recently in

[01:03:40] Region 9, I believe, plays in this whole

[01:03:43] scheme? Okay.

[01:03:46] You ask a lot of questions, so we'll

[01:03:47] come back to you, right? I'll give you a

[01:03:48] full chance. Okay.

[01:03:50] All right, so let's start.

[01:03:52] Uh, the uh, Berbice Bridge,

[01:03:56] the new Berbice Bridge,

[01:03:58] uh,

[01:03:59] from my latest, uh, update,

[01:04:02] they're on the verge of finalizing the

[01:04:05] the finances,

[01:04:07] uh, and also, uh, the the final price,

[01:04:11] they're more or less there.

[01:04:13] Uh, so we're hoping to have that bridge

[01:04:15] started,

[01:04:16] uh, long before the end of this year.

[01:04:19] >> [snorts]

[01:04:20] >> Uh, on the acquisition of the old bridge

[01:04:21] by the government, I think the final set

[01:04:24] of meetings are ongoing now.

[01:04:27] Uh, again, um,

[01:04:29] they they I think they are almost at

[01:04:32] agreement,

[01:04:33] right? And within the next couple of

[01:04:36] weeks, that will be finalized.

[01:04:38] Um, [snorts]

[01:04:39] so those are the two first two

[01:04:40] questions. The second one is on the

[01:04:42] Berbice gas development. Yes.

[01:04:45] And uh, the arrangement with Fulcrum?

[01:04:48] No, that's what I'm calling, the Berbice

[01:04:49] gas development.

[01:04:51] So remember Fulcrum, uh,

[01:04:53] was the company

[01:04:55] that that we were that we are talking

[01:04:57] to. So you have Fulcrum, you have Exxon,

[01:04:59] and so on.

[01:05:01] Now,

[01:05:02] what

[01:05:04] what we are doing now is to try to find

[01:05:07] the best formula,

[01:05:09] looking at all the

[01:05:12] proposals on the table

[01:05:14] from Exxon, from the partners,

[01:05:17] what Fulcrum idea was, what Fulcrum idea

[01:05:20] is,

[01:05:21] and also what uh

[01:05:25] the reality of the global system looks

[01:05:28] like.

[01:05:29] We have two two things that we want to

[01:05:31] do.

[01:05:33] We want to ensure we can monetize as

[01:05:35] quickly as possible.

[01:05:38] But at the same time,

[01:05:39] we want also to build out the onshore

[01:05:41] facilities as quickly as possible,

[01:05:44] so that we can leverage that gas to

[01:05:47] create the greatest multiply effect

[01:05:50] for Guyana's development, for our

[01:05:52] regional positioning.

[01:05:55] And importantly, the conversation with

[01:05:58] Suriname is important to see how they

[01:06:01] will treat their gas. Of course,

[01:06:04] we will we're working towards having our

[01:06:07] pipeline

[01:06:08] to see whether they will feed into our

[01:06:09] pipeline.

[01:06:11] If that happens, of course, the project

[01:06:13] goes up to a higher scale

[01:06:15] with massive uh additional

[01:06:17] opportunities.

[01:06:18] What I can say to you, though,

[01:06:20] >> [snorts]

[01:06:20] >> is the interest, especially from the US,

[01:06:24] has been incredible

[01:06:26] in terms of some of the onshore build

[01:06:29] out

[01:06:30] that can come uh based on that gas.

[01:06:33] Remember, we had the Barbies Gas Summit.

[01:06:36] And in that summit, we saw interest from

[01:06:39] hyperscale data centers,

[01:06:41] uh massive urea plants, uh energy

[01:06:44] facility, and name it. The

[01:06:47] uh the whole uh petrochemical industry.

[01:06:50] So, definitely in Barbies, we'll have

[01:06:52] the development

[01:06:54] of that zone, uh that exclusive

[01:06:57] development zone.

[01:06:59] Important to that is a deep water port,

[01:07:01] because all of these onshore development

[01:07:04] is connected to a deep water port.

[01:07:06] And we have, of course the

[01:07:08] uh work that is ongoing with Bechtel

[01:07:11] to come up with the right plan.

[01:07:15] Uh we know we have some interest. I'm

[01:07:16] not going to explore that here

[01:07:18] from different partners in the deep

[01:07:20] water port. Uh different funding agency.

[01:07:23] Uh so we're not going to explore that

[01:07:25] here.

[01:07:26] But uh definitely

[01:07:29] in in the months ahead, you will

[01:07:31] definitely have uh full

[01:07:34] uh a full understanding of what this

[01:07:36] development would look like. But now

[01:07:39] two two things, monetizing as quickly as

[01:07:41] possible

[01:07:43] and also uh

[01:07:45] the building out the onshore

[01:07:47] opportunities and facility. If I can

[01:07:49] follow up with the No, no. Let me finish

[01:07:51] your questions.

[01:07:52] I told you.

[01:07:54] The the the Cuyuni River

[01:07:57] incident.

[01:07:59] The Cuyuni uh River incident, as you

[01:08:01] know,

[01:08:02] we have addressed this with our allies.

[01:08:06] We have addressed this diplomatically

[01:08:08] with Vene- Venezuela.

[01:08:11] Uh

[01:08:12] we have addressed this

[01:08:14] from a national security standpoint.

[01:08:17] We have placed uh

[01:08:20] greater assets.

[01:08:22] Uh

[01:08:23] I will not go into details about that.

[01:08:26] Um we have had

[01:08:29] reports of other shooting, but we have

[01:08:32] also have reports

[01:08:33] of minimizing. We are trying using our

[01:08:39] intelligence and information from allies

[01:08:41] to see whether there is a pattern and

[01:08:43] whether it was linked

[01:08:45] to particular circumstances.

[01:08:47] Uh

[01:08:48] you know, we had a case at the ICJ

[01:08:50] anyhow.

[01:08:51] Uh so

[01:08:52] we are

[01:08:56] very watchful.

[01:08:58] This is intelligence led. This is

[01:09:01] working with our allies.

[01:09:02] This is working with diplomacy. That's

[01:09:05] we have always done. But ensuring our

[01:09:07] men and women in uniform have the

[01:09:09] necessary tools

[01:09:11] that will keep them safe.

[01:09:13] We have two new assets that

[01:09:16] uh

[01:09:18] and other assets that we are deploying

[01:09:21] uh to further enhance the security

[01:09:23] there.

[01:09:24] But we are confident about protecting

[01:09:26] our

[01:09:27] sovereignty and our borders. There's

[01:09:29] nothing more I'll add to that issue.

[01:09:31] And what role does the The border the or

[01:09:33] the border patrol unit, of course, is a

[01:09:35] unit that is working with the community

[01:09:37] policing group transferring them into

[01:09:38] border patrol unit to help us in this

[01:09:41] very thing in very things. Intelligence

[01:09:43] sharing, more monitoring,

[01:09:45] uh real-time information,

[01:09:47] uh and and having

[01:09:50] capacity and infrastructure to support

[01:09:52] uh what we are doing. I know you

[01:09:54] launched it in region nine a few months

[01:09:56] ago. Um have are you able to say where

[01:10:00] they are? Have they done recruitment?

[01:10:02] What's going on?

[01:10:02] >> A lot of work is ongoing.

[01:10:04] Uh they're looking now at This phase is

[01:10:08] about

[01:10:09] uh assessment of all our

[01:10:11] uh different locations. That we have

[01:10:13] different challenges.

[01:10:15] We have different challenges at

[01:10:16] different locations as you will you will

[01:10:18] know.

[01:10:19] And then the strategy will be deploying

[01:10:23] an efficient system based on those

[01:10:25] challenges.

[01:10:26] Okay. If I can follow up on the gas

[01:10:28] question, you mentioned two things. Um

[01:10:31] sir, not possibly feeding into our

[01:10:33] pipeline. Did you raise the switch? I

[01:10:35] know you have a meeting

[01:10:35] >> discussion.

[01:10:37] I I had a meeting

[01:10:39] uh

[01:10:41] uh

[01:10:43] virtual meeting with the president. We

[01:10:45] discussed this, of course. We discussed

[01:10:47] the bridge.

[01:10:48] And I will not go far into that. The

[01:10:50] president has

[01:10:52] asked me to give them uh some more time.

[01:10:55] In know, in couple of weeks, we will

[01:10:57] have another meeting

[01:10:58] and more clarity will be given on that.

[01:11:00] Okay. And the other clarification is um

[01:11:03] you mentioned I think you are abusing

[01:11:07] uh you're abusing

[01:11:08] >> it for me. You're abusing my love for

[01:11:10] the media. Exxon and Folkan, you

[01:11:12] mentioned they have ideas that they're

[01:11:13] pitching to the table. Are you able to

[01:11:15] say what are some of those ideas? I

[01:11:17] mentioned some of them to you from the

[01:11:19] summit. And you were at the summit.

[01:11:22] I did. I know you were at the summit.

[01:11:26] Thank you. You are welcome.

[01:11:28] All right, we take uh newsroom.

[01:11:32] >> [clears throat]

[01:11:32] >> Uh good afternoon, Mr. President.

[01:11:34] Vishani from the newsroom. I have three

[01:11:36] questions to start with.

[01:11:40] In the first instance, Mr. President,

[01:11:41] you spoke a lot about beefing up

[01:11:43] security in the country's partnerships.

[01:11:45] Um recently, you joined the Shield of

[01:11:48] Americas. Could you perhaps tell us more

[01:11:49] about that and how do you see that

[01:11:51] helping in that regard? Secondly, you

[01:11:55] talk about critical infrastructure and

[01:11:57] you've been talking about critical

[01:11:58] infrastructure throughout. But given the

[01:12:00] global developments, has there been any

[01:12:02] movement forward on the creation of

[01:12:04] large storage facilities for fuel? I

[01:12:06] think you said there were some uh Middle

[01:12:08] Eastern conversations happening.

[01:12:10] And um on the Guyana Development Bank,

[01:12:13] I'm interested to know specifically for

[01:12:15] citizens in hinterland areas, we saw the

[01:12:19] challenges that came about with the

[01:12:20] distribution of the cash grant. So, how

[01:12:22] would this bank work and help those

[01:12:24] citizens? So, that we're building one

[01:12:27] system for Guyana.

[01:12:29] Uh

[01:12:30] that's why the digital system must go to

[01:12:32] every region.

[01:12:34] Uh we have been able almost to complete

[01:12:35] the cash grant in some of the hinterland

[01:12:37] region, region 9 and so on.

[01:12:40] So, we're going to an aggressive uh

[01:12:42] build-out of the digital ID card in

[01:12:44] those regions.

[01:12:45] But uh the Guyana Development Bank is

[01:12:48] going to operate in every single region.

[01:12:50] Uh

[01:12:52] in our parliamentary sitting coming up I

[01:12:54] think the the legislation uh will be

[01:12:57] tabled.

[01:12:59] Um and we are hoping to

[01:13:01] have this bank fully operational.

[01:13:03] We have done all of the

[01:13:05] uh the technical work.

[01:13:08] We have the systems ready to be

[01:13:10] triggered uh in place

[01:13:12] uh so that we can move ahead. A major

[01:13:14] part of that is of course financial

[01:13:16] literacy,

[01:13:17] coaching and mentorship,

[01:13:19] uh building uh groups and and uh what's

[01:13:23] you call them?

[01:13:24] Cells, five, six persons coming together

[01:13:27] to unlock greater opportunities and

[01:13:29] benefit from the commercial banks.

[01:13:32] So,

[01:13:33] the digital uh the not the digital bank,

[01:13:36] that's somewhere we're going down in the

[01:13:37] future anyhow. The development bank

[01:13:40] is uh on track.

[01:13:42] Uh we are hoping to have

[01:13:44] uh the first set of this first

[01:13:47] disbursement uh soon.

[01:13:49] Uh soon as we get past the legislative

[01:13:52] aspect, but operationally and

[01:13:54] technically

[01:13:56] we are more or less uh in a position to

[01:13:58] trigger

[01:14:00] the employment and and and the system.

[01:14:04] The uh

[01:14:07] storage facility that has become a big

[01:14:09] global issue.

[01:14:11] Uh we see storage uh

[01:14:13] being uh

[01:14:14] an important conversation in in the

[01:14:17] challenge the world is faced with now.

[01:14:19] Um we

[01:14:22] My take on this is twofold.

[01:14:26] One is storage is an important issue,

[01:14:30] but also

[01:14:32] supply

[01:14:33] security is important.

[01:14:36] And that is why I believe there is

[01:14:39] an opportunity for the refinery.

[01:14:43] But we are looking at this as an

[01:14:46] investor's opportunity

[01:14:48] that would allow not only Guyana

[01:14:49] security but other partners in the

[01:14:52] region security of supply. We know we

[01:14:54] have security of crude,

[01:14:57] uh security of supply,

[01:14:59] and to build out the infrastructure

[01:15:00] around that, of course, that will

[01:15:02] necessitate a large uh storage facility.

[01:15:06] Uh we have had uh many interests in

[01:15:09] terms of this uh storage facility. There

[01:15:11] are ongoing conversations, so I will not

[01:15:13] get in in into some of these.

[01:15:16] Uh

[01:15:16] but definitely

[01:15:18] definitely we will have to uh invest

[01:15:21] in uh the energy security

[01:15:24] and of course uh of Guyana and work with

[01:15:29] our regional partners in terms of what

[01:15:31] is needed for the region itself.

[01:15:34] The Shield of Americas,

[01:15:36] of course, we are proud member of the

[01:15:38] Shield of Americas, a founding member of

[01:15:40] the Shield of Americas.

[01:15:41] This is uh

[01:15:43] a coming together of like-minded

[01:15:45] countries

[01:15:46] to ensure the rule of law, democracy

[01:15:49] uh is upheld in the region,

[01:15:52] the protection of our sovereignty,

[01:15:54] the rooting out of criminal elements

[01:15:56] including smuggling, drug trafficking,

[01:15:59] and so forth within the region,

[01:16:01] and the building out of a common

[01:16:02] security platform, an integrated

[01:16:04] security platform

[01:16:05] on which we work together

[01:16:07] uh to to ensure the safety, security,

[01:16:11] and prosperity of our region.

[01:16:13] So, uh you will see more uh

[01:16:17] integration with members uh uh

[01:16:21] in the Shield.

[01:16:22] You will see more joint exercises. You

[01:16:24] will see

[01:16:25] um uh greater information-sharing

[01:16:28] platform and higher participation level

[01:16:31] within members of the Shield.

[01:16:36] Naimah Paris with the Guyana Chronicle.

[01:16:38] Uh Mr. President, I'd like to shift your

[01:16:40] attention to agriculture, Guysuco

[01:16:43] specifically. You would have warned in

[01:16:45] the past of changes to management in the

[01:16:47] event of underperformance in production.

[01:16:50] Are there any new updates on Guysuco as

[01:16:53] it remains an important industry to the

[01:16:55] state? Oh, definitely. You will see the

[01:16:57] action.

[01:16:59] I can say it to you very clearly

[01:17:02] that we are investing in Guysuco.

[01:17:06] I believe that uh we'll move

[01:17:09] the phase of

[01:17:11] having uh discussions, of course, with

[01:17:13] the union and so on and aspects of

[01:17:16] ownership. But, you'll definitely see

[01:17:18] action

[01:17:20] on some of these estates that have not

[01:17:22] performed.

[01:17:23] They must be uh especially at the

[01:17:27] uh

[01:17:28] senior management level and the head

[01:17:31] office in these places, the estates.

[01:17:34] There needs to be some rationalization.

[01:17:36] If there is need for greater technical

[01:17:38] input,

[01:17:39] we have a team of technician that we're

[01:17:42] talking to,

[01:17:43] uh

[01:17:44] managers who will come in to

[01:17:46] uh assist in this so that there is no

[01:17:49] gap. There is smooth uh transition where

[01:17:52] it is necessary.

[01:17:54] In relation to your recent meeting with

[01:17:56] um Suriname, is Guyana supporting the

[01:17:59] challenges faced by Suriname on

[01:18:01] flooding? And also, are there any

[01:18:04] updates on the current in river charges?

[01:18:07] I I

[01:18:08] I would not get into uh those matters uh

[01:18:12] in terms of

[01:18:13] the current in river. We are

[01:18:15] we are working and I mean, you can talk

[01:18:17] to players, but we're working. There are

[01:18:19] two things. One is that

[01:18:21] in Guyana, like Suriname, we have

[01:18:24] experienced unprecedented increase of

[01:18:26] rainfall

[01:18:27] for the first

[01:18:29] uh for this more than a quarter uh

[01:18:32] uh close to a half now of this year.

[01:18:35] We have had increases

[01:18:37] consistently of more than 20% of our

[01:18:39] historical trend

[01:18:41] in terms of rainfall. 20% above our

[01:18:44] historical trend. Suriname has similar

[01:18:46] challenges

[01:18:47] and as neighbors, I think we have to

[01:18:49] work together.

[01:18:50] Uh they needed some critical

[01:18:52] uh assets to help and we were

[01:18:55] we were very humbled and pleased that we

[01:18:57] were able to be of assistance to our

[01:18:58] neighbors.

[01:19:02] Good afternoon, Mr. President. Luann

[01:19:04] Williams, EPA.

[01:19:06] Um

[01:19:07] we have seen an increase in violence in

[01:19:09] schools recently. Can you say what the

[01:19:12] government is doing to address this?

[01:19:15] Um secondly,

[01:19:16] >> Actually, we had something to speak

[01:19:17] about it. Yeah. Okay.

[01:19:19] Secondly, um in 2025, um Apple purchased

[01:19:23] 100,000 of Guyana's carbon credits. Um

[01:19:27] has Guyana Guyana received that payment

[01:19:29] as yet?

[01:19:30] And thirdly, um when will government

[01:19:33] >> the media's abusing me today.

[01:19:35] Y'all think so?

[01:19:37] Shabraw? We're taking the opportunity.

[01:19:39] >> All right. You always have opportunity

[01:19:40] to meet Shabraw. You have to be honest.

[01:19:42] That's Isn't that true? No, we're at a

[01:19:43] press conference environment. Oh, okay.

[01:19:45] All right. All right, brother. Enjoy

[01:19:46] that Enjoy your day.

[01:19:48] Yeah.

[01:19:49] Yes. Um when will the government engage

[01:19:52] indigenous communities on their share

[01:19:55] for this sale? I think that I think that

[01:19:57] we are definitely you're disconnected

[01:19:59] from the reality.

[01:20:01] Our engagement with the indigenous

[01:20:02] community is continuous.

[01:20:05] For a matter of fact, the indigenous

[01:20:06] community determine their priorities and

[01:20:09] determine what their projects are. So,

[01:20:12] they they indigenous community

[01:20:15] are integrally

[01:20:18] a part of what is happening and they're

[01:20:20] totally involved because they decide for

[01:20:22] themselves

[01:20:24] what their priority where their

[01:20:26] priorities are and they will develop for

[01:20:28] themselves the development plan and

[01:20:30] programs for the different areas.

[01:20:32] So, I think that you are uh

[01:20:35] you're a bit dated uh or disconnected

[01:20:37] from the reality

[01:20:39] uh that they

[01:20:41] >> [clears throat]

[01:20:41] >> they

[01:20:42] indigenous communities are very much a

[01:20:45] part and they're leading the process.

[01:20:48] They are actually leading the process in

[01:20:50] terms of their financing.

[01:20:53] They They are the question that uh the

[01:20:55] anti the the bullying in school. This is

[01:20:57] a big problem.

[01:20:59] I was looking at the numbers uh

[01:21:02] and we had uh

[01:21:05] reported incidents of misbehavior

[01:21:08] in 353 schools nationwide.

[01:21:12] >> [cough]

[01:21:14] >> And if you look at

[01:21:16] the recorded instances

[01:21:19] over the years

[01:21:21] uh spanning all of our regions is

[01:21:24] alarming.

[01:21:26] The highest 41% of the reported cases

[01:21:28] are in region 4.

[01:21:32] In region 6, we have

[01:21:35] the second highest.

[01:21:37] Region 3

[01:21:39] the third highest.

[01:21:42] Region 5 the fourth highest and region

[01:21:45] 10 the fifth highest.

[01:21:47] And of course a lot of this is because

[01:21:48] of population.

[01:21:51] The schools

[01:21:53] that we have had

[01:21:56] higher levels of challenge with Diamond

[01:21:59] Secondary

[01:22:01] Soesdyke Secondary

[01:22:03] East Ruimveldt Secondary

[01:22:06] Linden Foundation Secondary

[01:22:08] Canje Secondary and Bartica Secondary

[01:22:11] in terms of

[01:22:12] the most

[01:22:14] and the [clears throat]

[01:22:16] reports on the consistency.

[01:22:19] Now

[01:22:20] this of course has become a very complex

[01:22:22] issue.

[01:22:24] We see rising uh

[01:22:26] gang activity

[01:22:28] increased substance use and vaping.

[01:22:32] Cyberbullying on social media, and this

[01:22:34] is a major escalation

[01:22:37] in the entire school system.

[01:22:39] And we are launching the public

[01:22:41] consultation. Remember, we promised this

[01:22:43] in the manifesto.

[01:22:45] A public consultation

[01:22:47] on cyberbullying.

[01:22:49] And, uh,

[01:22:50] and social media. So, we are launching

[01:22:53] this.

[01:22:54] Teachers,

[01:22:56] parents reporting

[01:22:58] the increasing and alarming nature

[01:23:01] of cyberbullying on social media that

[01:23:02] lead

[01:23:04] to consequential effects in the school

[01:23:06] system.

[01:23:09] And we are seeing that these even extend

[01:23:12] beyond the, uh,

[01:23:14] the compounds of the schools.

[01:23:17] So,

[01:23:18] >> [cough]

[01:23:19] [clears throat]

[01:23:20] >> what we've also seen,

[01:23:22] and based on the reports and analysis,

[01:23:25] you have a lot of copycat behavior.

[01:23:29] You have amplifying and humiliation and

[01:23:32] trauma.

[01:23:33] Sometimes, what you see on social media

[01:23:35] have ripple effect when you speak to

[01:23:39] the children in consequential,

[01:23:42] uh,

[01:23:42] or other,

[01:23:44] uh,

[01:23:45] events,

[01:23:47] they

[01:23:50] increasing, uh,

[01:23:52] use,

[01:23:53] uh, of vaping that is

[01:23:55] reported.

[01:23:58] So, we have launched a series of

[01:24:00] initiative

[01:24:03] that would allow greater coordination

[01:24:05] among agencies,

[01:24:08] more counseling services,

[01:24:11] have a standardized referral system.

[01:24:16] And that is why the AI is important in

[01:24:18] helping us to address predictable

[01:24:19] behavior.

[01:24:21] Uh,

[01:24:22] and behavioral patterns so we can be

[01:24:25] more proactive.

[01:24:28] Have

[01:24:29] greater parental guidance and community

[01:24:31] involvement in children's life.

[01:24:34] Greater involvement of the church, the

[01:24:35] mosque, the temples.

[01:24:38] And reforming our policies dealing with

[01:24:41] and addressing

[01:24:43] cyber bullying especially.

[01:24:45] A lot of these things start with cyber

[01:24:47] bullying. Phone, somebody texting

[01:24:49] somebody.

[01:24:50] Somebody showing someone a text message.

[01:24:53] And then social media.

[01:24:55] So,

[01:24:57] addressing these issues

[01:24:59] are critical.

[01:25:01] One of the

[01:25:02] other challenge we have

[01:25:04] is the majority of teachers in the

[01:25:06] school system are women.

[01:25:09] So, the male are falling back out of

[01:25:11] teaching.

[01:25:12] So, we have to find a mechanism to give

[01:25:14] our female teachers that support

[01:25:17] uh, in the system.

[01:25:20] More school monitoring.

[01:25:22] Investment in security cameras.

[01:25:26] Implementing

[01:25:27] uh, in high-risk area, maybe a scanner

[01:25:30] system, small scanners for bags and so

[01:25:32] on.

[01:25:34] The

[01:25:35] heavy investment in counseling,

[01:25:37] coaching.

[01:25:39] And the building out of uh,

[01:25:42] scouts program.

[01:25:45] Uh,

[01:25:46] in different schools, especially some

[01:25:48] targeted schools.

[01:25:50] Where we can have

[01:25:52] uh,

[01:25:53] father figures and mentors.

[01:25:58] As scout guides.

[01:26:00] And to target

[01:26:03] at-risk behavior.

[01:26:05] Bring them into the scout and use that

[01:26:09] as an opportunity to change behavior and

[01:26:13] create a more positive uh,

[01:26:15] mindset.

[01:26:16] Also creating a

[01:26:19] reporting system and monitoring system

[01:26:21] that allows for confi- confidentiality.

[01:26:24] Allows real-time interaction.

[01:26:27] More training for a teacher in dealing

[01:26:29] with this.

[01:26:31] And also having

[01:26:33] a support system of intervention.

[01:26:37] Career guidance

[01:26:39] substance abuse

[01:26:41] seminars are critical.

[01:26:44] So, these are the things that we have

[01:26:47] started, but there will be a

[01:26:48] consultation, as I said,

[01:26:50] on dealing with a a number of issues

[01:26:53] that are related to this.

[01:26:55] All right, next person.

[01:26:58] We'll take two more questions.

[01:27:01] Good afternoon, Mr. President.

[01:27:02] >> Hello, Kisha Abrahams.

[01:27:03] All right, we'll take three more.

[01:27:05] Go ahead.

[01:27:06] U Jama Bell, Ignite News. The

[01:27:09] International Energy Agency is

[01:27:10] suggesting that the world's energy

[01:27:12] supply might enter a red zone by

[01:27:15] uh August. What efforts are being put in

[01:27:18] place to ensure against energy security

[01:27:20] in the short term? And you would have

[01:27:22] mentioned long-term, which is the uh oil

[01:27:25] refinery. But, what is being put in

[01:27:28] place for 2026?

[01:27:30] Also, when do you plan to officially

[01:27:32] meet with the leader of the opposition?

[01:27:41] I don't um

[01:27:43] >> [clears throat]

[01:27:44] >> understand the second part of the

[01:27:45] question and uh

[01:27:47] uh uh

[01:27:49] The

[01:27:50] first part of the question, very

[01:27:51] relevant to our world.

[01:27:54] Uh and

[01:27:56] I'll deal with the relevant question.

[01:27:59] Uh we are

[01:28:02] very concerned, like the rest of the

[01:28:04] world,

[01:28:05] with what is happening.

[01:28:06] The closure of the street

[01:28:09] and also the consequential effect

[01:28:12] of the attack on different facilities

[01:28:15] within the Gulf states

[01:28:16] because a lot of this attack has taken

[01:28:18] out

[01:28:20] storage and production facilities

[01:28:23] and that would have

[01:28:26] tremendous effect on future supply.

[01:28:29] I don't think anyone

[01:28:32] planned for this prolonged period

[01:28:35] of

[01:28:37] what is occurring in the street.

[01:28:41] So a lot of countries are also

[01:28:44] going into their strategic reserves.

[01:28:47] So we'll have a a difficulty

[01:28:50] even if

[01:28:51] everything goes back to normal tomorrow.

[01:28:55] Many people still have to fill back

[01:28:56] their strategic reserve.

[01:28:58] And then many countries who are

[01:29:00] exporting their storage facility

[01:29:03] is filled.

[01:29:06] So they have to get rid of that and then

[01:29:08] refill.

[01:29:09] And then of course you have

[01:29:12] the cost

[01:29:13] of the transportation. Traffic held up

[01:29:16] for months.

[01:29:18] And then

[01:29:21] you have the We don't know

[01:29:23] what will be the challenges from the

[01:29:25] supply side.

[01:29:27] That is why in the long term you have to

[01:29:29] think about what will constitute our

[01:29:30] security.

[01:29:32] But in the

[01:29:34] short term

[01:29:36] we have been speaking with all our

[01:29:37] suppliers.

[01:29:39] I had a meeting with all our suppliers

[01:29:41] and they have assured me

[01:29:43] uh

[01:29:45] Of course

[01:29:46] these things can change rapidly.

[01:29:49] But they have assured me

[01:29:50] uh of supplies in relation to Guyana.

[01:29:54] But as I said

[01:29:57] things are changing rapidly in the

[01:29:59] energy world.

[01:30:00] So

[01:30:02] we are consistently talking to them

[01:30:05] to ensure

[01:30:07] that we have the supply.

[01:30:10] Uh

[01:30:12] and then working out on some

[01:30:14] interventions in the medium and long

[01:30:16] term.

[01:30:18] Good afternoon, Shinelle Prasad from

[01:30:20] DPI.

[01:30:21] As quickly as we're seeing roadside

[01:30:23] vendors being removed, they're also

[01:30:24] being constructed in some of the busiest

[01:30:26] parts across the country. What is being

[01:30:29] done to address this in the long term

[01:30:31] without completely removing their source

[01:30:33] of income?

[01:30:35] Very [clears throat]

[01:30:35] >> [sighs and gasps]

[01:30:36] >> very interesting question and it's good

[01:30:38] question.

[01:30:39] Because this is one of the things that

[01:30:41] we are receiving complaints on every

[01:30:43] single day.

[01:30:44] If you ask the normal man, and I can

[01:30:46] tell you what are some of the things

[01:30:48] that people talk to me every day about.

[01:30:51] So, roadside vending,

[01:30:53] sanitation,

[01:30:56] cleanliness,

[01:30:58] those two issues,

[01:31:00] and

[01:31:01] the abuse on the roadways, those three

[01:31:03] issues,

[01:31:04] occupy buying a lot of

[01:31:06] uh

[01:31:08] people's time.

[01:31:10] So, we have asked

[01:31:12] the Public Works Ministry of Local

[01:31:13] Government

[01:31:15] to come up with a plan on identifying in

[01:31:19] some of the

[01:31:21] important urban areas, areas that we can

[01:31:24] transform

[01:31:25] into courtyards, where there food

[01:31:28] courtyards, entertainment because

[01:31:30] entertainment is also

[01:31:32] in in this category.

[01:31:34] Every night

[01:31:35] I receive

[01:31:37] text message

[01:31:39] about noise

[01:31:40] from some area.

[01:31:44] And we have to find a balance to how we

[01:31:46] ensure entertainment continues,

[01:31:49] but we limit the impact and effect on

[01:31:52] communities.

[01:31:53] That is why on the seawall,

[01:31:56] the noise

[01:31:58] modulator

[01:31:59] is not there to shut anything down.

[01:32:02] It's there to set the right levels

[01:32:05] beyond which people are not affected.

[01:32:07] So, you contain

[01:32:09] the songs of the music within that zone,

[01:32:12] but it don't go into

[01:32:15] the kitty area, the hospitals,

[01:32:18] uh and and these residential areas.

[01:32:22] And then set it and let everyone

[01:32:24] understand that this once it sees it's

[01:32:25] going past this number, you need to

[01:32:27] start self-policing.

[01:32:29] Otherwise, everybody gets shut down.

[01:32:33] So, it's creating a sense of

[01:32:34] responsibility,

[01:32:36] a sense of love, a sense of respect for

[01:32:39] each other.

[01:32:41] For everyone to understand the

[01:32:42] entertainment industry is an important

[01:32:44] industry,

[01:32:45] but for the entertainment industry also

[01:32:47] to respect

[01:32:48] the homes and the families and so on.

[01:32:51] Coming back to

[01:32:52] the movement of the roadside vendors,

[01:32:55] we have uh

[01:32:57] launched a program identifying areas

[01:32:59] where we want to build out these food

[01:33:01] courts,

[01:33:02] market tarmacs, create beautiful

[01:33:04] infrastructure,

[01:33:06] and move persons to those location.

[01:33:09] For trucks along the roadway, we are now

[01:33:11] developing almost 300 acres

[01:33:14] of parking facility for those truck to

[01:33:16] come off of the roadways.

[01:33:18] So,

[01:33:20] we are hoping that

[01:33:23] by the end of this year,

[01:33:25] we'll have a number of those facilities.

[01:33:28] We try to have one maybe in every and

[01:33:30] the CRR large communities one,

[01:33:32] and move all of these facilities. So,

[01:33:34] you can have better sanitation services.

[01:33:37] You can have better hygiene. You can

[01:33:39] have uh all of the other related things.

[01:33:42] And then you create a hub

[01:33:44] around those activity that will benefit

[01:33:46] their businesses. So, that is the

[01:33:47] approach we are taking.

[01:33:51] Good afternoon. I've been working for a

[01:33:52] while now.

[01:33:53] Mr. President, we've seen um persons

[01:33:56] 2022

[01:33:58] when there was

[01:34:01] Go ahead. Sorry. Yes, Kemal King, um,

[01:34:03] Oil Now.

[01:34:04] So, we saw in 2022 when the

[01:34:07] Russia-Ukraine war started, there was a

[01:34:09] reorganization of markets in the oil and

[01:34:12] gas sector

[01:34:13] where Guyana's crude supplies became

[01:34:16] more important to places like Europe.

[01:34:18] And so, we're seeing again this time

[01:34:21] when there is conflict there are

[01:34:23] organizations pointing to Guyana as a

[01:34:25] more relatively stable supplier of

[01:34:27] crude.

[01:34:28] There as Guyana is becoming a more

[01:34:31] strategically significant supplier of

[01:34:34] crude supplies. So, has anyone come to

[01:34:37] the government of Guyana to perhaps ask

[01:34:39] for, in light of the current

[01:34:41] circumstances,

[01:34:42] um, deals to purchase Guyana's crude?

[01:34:44] And how does Guy- the government see

[01:34:46] itself leveraging this greater

[01:34:48] importance as a crude supplier for its

[01:34:51] own benefit? Yeah.

[01:34:52] >> [snorts]

[01:34:52] >> I think you

[01:34:54] you're thematically asking me about uh,

[01:34:58] positioning of the country.

[01:35:00] Uh, which is, you know, many countries

[01:35:03] oil, crude oil, and energy

[01:35:07] helps to position countries politically.

[01:35:10] Whether and you see this in the conflict

[01:35:13] the realignment and alignment of

[01:35:15] different markets

[01:35:16] the redirection of pipelines now.

[01:35:19] So, a lot of new infrastructure

[01:35:22] is being placed. Look at the

[01:35:24] deal between the UAE and India

[01:35:27] in terms of strategic storage and moving

[01:35:29] around the pipeline.

[01:35:31] So,

[01:35:33] uh,

[01:35:33] they this is, uh,

[01:35:36] normal occurrence.

[01:35:38] Anywhere you go, there is extreme

[01:35:41] interest

[01:35:42] in, uh,

[01:35:43] Guyana's crude.

[01:35:45] Uh, but we, of course

[01:35:48] you know, our long-term interests and

[01:35:50] long-term market stability and pricing

[01:35:53] is important.

[01:35:54] Because you know, I think all now even

[01:35:57] did an article sometime ago on this

[01:35:59] on the difference between spotting

[01:36:02] and long-term markets.

[01:36:04] Now, in times of crisis, everybody

[01:36:06] interested in

[01:36:07] this spot market.

[01:36:10] Uh, but we have to balance that against

[01:36:13] uh, long-term sustainability, having

[01:36:16] long-term uh, pricing.

[01:36:19] And we have been having technical, of

[01:36:20] course,

[01:36:22] uh,

[01:36:22] evaluation and guidance

[01:36:25] that help us to make the best decision

[01:36:26] in the interests of Guyana.

[01:36:29] But yes,

[01:36:30] uh, from a geopolitical perspective,

[01:36:32] Guyana crude is becoming more important

[01:36:34] to different markets.

[01:36:36] Uh, from a geopolitical perspective, we

[01:36:38] are being

[01:36:39] pursued by different markets uh,

[01:36:43] that can uh, strengthen

[01:36:45] uh, relationship or uh, position Guyana

[01:36:49] in

[01:36:50] in deeper relationship. And if you look

[01:36:52] at the question from Newsroom

[01:36:55] on the

[01:36:58] the

[01:37:00] Southern Hemisphere, if you put it that

[01:37:02] way.

[01:37:03] Uh,

[01:37:04] this is a big part of it.

[01:37:06] How do we ensure

[01:37:08] uh, energy security for this region?

[01:37:11] And how do we leverage

[01:37:13] the energy assets,

[01:37:15] the mineral asset. I I I don't know if

[01:37:17] you had a chance to listen to me at OTC.

[01:37:20] Because that's another big challenge.

[01:37:22] The leveraging of the mineral assets.

[01:37:25] Uh, because you see, more and more

[01:37:27] countries are becoming

[01:37:28] interested in the mineral assets because

[01:37:31] that is linked to renewables

[01:37:33] and uh, a big part of energy security.

[01:37:36] So, managing all of this is uh,

[01:37:40] important, an important part of our

[01:37:42] national energy strategy.

[01:37:47] Yes, Shapiro. Mr. President, I have a

[01:37:49] question. Celestin for NCN. Um,

[01:37:51] previously you've mentioned the

[01:37:53] possibility of exploring

[01:37:56] um, high-speed railway systems. In light

[01:37:58] of the recent bus strike that we've seen

[01:38:00] in the past couple of days, would you

[01:38:02] would you be able to provide an update

[01:38:03] on this initiative? Uh, yeah. We we are

[01:38:05] continuing to study this uh, challenge.

[01:38:08] Um,

[01:38:09] it's not only the bus strike, it's also

[01:38:13] uh, Georgetown uh, and the

[01:38:17] stress that we bring into the city.

[01:38:20] Uh, when I say stress, I mean the

[01:38:22] pressures into the city.

[01:38:25] We are perhaps looking at a

[01:38:28] the possibility

[01:38:30] of a ring circuit

[01:38:32] where we ease the

[01:38:35] physical number of vehicles

[01:38:38] coming into the city. So, imagine if

[01:38:41] at Diamond or Providence, you have

[01:38:44] uh,

[01:38:45] light rail or transit system

[01:38:48] that allows persons to come into the

[01:38:49] city.

[01:38:51] Then, it

[01:38:53] creates new hubs, but reduces that

[01:38:57] pressure into the city.

[01:38:59] When all of these vehicles coming in

[01:39:01] from a security perspective, sanitation

[01:39:03] perspective, water perspective, and all.

[01:39:06] The people are still coming in. So,

[01:39:07] commerce is not affected, but in a

[01:39:10] different uh, public transport format.

[01:39:14] So, yes, the we we are examining that

[01:39:16] uh, greatly.

[01:39:19] Um,

[01:39:20] Kristen Joshua from NCN. Just a

[01:39:22] follow-up to um, a question that she

[01:39:24] asked. Um, do you think with the um,

[01:39:27] recent strike is for short term, is

[01:39:29] there a need for more oversight

[01:39:31] mechanisms for the current public

[01:39:33] transportation system?

[01:39:35] Good question.

[01:39:36] Uh,

[01:39:38] but I would I would say that this

[01:39:39] requires some consultation also.

[01:39:42] Uh, you see, I believe in an open

[01:39:44] economy.

[01:39:46] But an open economy that's responsible

[01:39:49] where

[01:39:50] uh businesses, commerce, and everyone

[01:39:54] who participate in open economy must be

[01:39:56] responsible and fair to the market.

[01:39:59] When we remove the

[01:40:01] the taxes on the fuel import,

[01:40:05] there was a time when a long period

[01:40:08] when we had the lowest uh cost at the

[01:40:11] pump.

[01:40:13] But there was no translated benefit to

[01:40:15] the consumer.

[01:40:16] The fares never change.

[01:40:20] So, there must be

[01:40:22] you can't want a win-all system.

[01:40:25] There must be a system that

[01:40:27] strikes the balance.

[01:40:29] And we intend to have some public

[01:40:31] conversation on this matter also.

[01:40:35] But it's a very good very very good

[01:40:36] question.

[01:40:38] Mr. President, could you say what

[01:40:40] assurances can you give to international

[01:40:44] oil companies that intend to explore for

[01:40:47] oil closer to the Guyana-Venezuela

[01:40:49] border in terms of any security

[01:40:51] cooperation with the United States? And

[01:40:54] sir, what is the status of your planned

[01:40:56] anti-corruption mechanism? And thirdly,

[01:40:59] what plans do you have for enacting

[01:41:03] intellectual property and corporate

[01:41:04] legislation and amendments to the

[01:41:06] anti-discrimination act? The

[01:41:08] discrimination act, sorry.

[01:41:13] >> [clears throat]

[01:41:14] >> Uh

[01:41:14] what was the second question? The um

[01:41:18] the uh

[01:41:19] anti-corruption mechanism. Well, then

[01:41:22] what was the first question?

[01:41:23] >> The first question is what assurances

[01:41:25] can you give to international oil

[01:41:27] companies?

[01:41:28] >> And the last one was? And the last one

[01:41:30] has to do with intellectual property and

[01:41:32] copyright legislation and amendments to

[01:41:34] the discrimination act.

[01:41:36] So, uh let me start with a

[01:41:40] anti-corruption uh

[01:41:42] development.

[01:41:44] We are We have a lot of systems in

[01:41:46] place.

[01:41:48] I think what we need to do is strengthen

[01:41:49] those systems. We need to build upon

[01:41:51] those systems. They lay out

[01:41:53] but on the additional layer.

[01:41:55] Here's where technology will help us.

[01:41:58] And yeah, yeah, yeah.

[01:42:00] Allow me. Allow me.

[01:42:02] So, first is to ensure

[01:42:05] that all of the systems that we have,

[01:42:09] you will agree with me,

[01:42:11] that some of the systems are not

[01:42:12] performing at an optimal.

[01:42:16] So, we have to first

[01:42:17] integrate all of the systems that are

[01:42:19] there

[01:42:21] into a central mechanism.

[01:42:24] And that is the mechanism I'm talking

[01:42:25] about.

[01:42:26] There must be an interface

[01:42:29] between everything [clears throat] that

[01:42:30] is happening.

[01:42:32] And that central interface must be

[01:42:35] backed by tools, analytical tools,

[01:42:38] that help us.

[01:42:40] And that is where we're going. Take for

[01:42:41] example, Shabrar.

[01:42:43] Last year end, you remember when we were

[01:42:46] addressing the the declaration of gold.

[01:42:49] Remember that?

[01:42:50] And I made some

[01:42:52] public comments as to how you can track

[01:42:55] You can look at a man buying 10

[01:42:58] excavator and declaring no gold.

[01:43:01] Or

[01:43:02] they look at their

[01:43:04] improvement in their personal

[01:43:06] wealth and their uh

[01:43:10] assets versus what declaration was made.

[01:43:13] So, it's bringing all of these different

[01:43:16] agencies into a common central unit

[01:43:19] that allows and then you build on the

[01:43:22] layer of the analytics that allows you

[01:43:25] to generate the reports.

[01:43:27] Linking in GRA and everybody into that.

[01:43:29] And that is what we're working on.

[01:43:32] In this integrated system.

[01:43:34] The second one is on uh assurances.

[01:43:38] I can assure you

[01:43:40] that

[01:43:41] we're going to defend every investment

[01:43:43] that is made in our

[01:43:45] sovereign space.

[01:43:47] And

[01:43:49] when we go out for investment within our

[01:43:50] sovereign space and our territorial

[01:43:52] space,

[01:43:54] it is because we are saying to investors

[01:43:56] we are confident

[01:43:57] that we have the right incentives,

[01:44:01] the right fiscal regime,

[01:44:03] and the right infrastructure

[01:44:05] to defend any investment and protect any

[01:44:07] investment that is made within that

[01:44:08] space. That is what I'll say.

[01:44:11] Has the US offered I'll say I'll leave

[01:44:14] it there.

[01:44:15] And We work closely with our allies.

[01:44:17] That's why we are part of this new

[01:44:18] sphere.

[01:44:20] Uh the the next one is in the property

[01:44:22] rights.

[01:44:23] >> Intellectual property you're talking,

[01:44:24] right? Yeah.

[01:44:28] So, these are three issues

[01:44:31] that we are going to have some

[01:44:33] consultation on. Well, the last one,

[01:44:36] whatever amendment is is needed on

[01:44:38] anti-discrimination legislation, that

[01:44:41] will be made. On the issue of copyright,

[01:44:44] we have to have some consultation

[01:44:47] >> [clears throat]

[01:44:47] >> as to

[01:44:50] what form it will take.

[01:44:52] And uh I'm saying

[01:44:55] that maybe it's time we start those

[01:44:57] consultation because I want to hear

[01:44:59] Guyana

[01:45:00] uh ITs and everyone on this issue. I

[01:45:02] feel strongly about it.

[01:45:04] Uh

[01:45:05] so, maybe we should move this up on the

[01:45:08] agenda and start the consultation on

[01:45:10] that.

[01:45:13] So, I I I So, maybe we can do the social

[01:45:15] media consultation and this this one

[01:45:17] together.

[01:45:20] Thank you very much, everybody. It was

[01:45:21] great having all of you here.

[01:45:24] Remember, I'm just a phone call away.

[01:45:26] Sharwain can tell you or any journalist

[01:45:29] you can get me uh for any comment.

[01:45:31] Any season. Huh?

[01:45:34] You love the setting. You love to be

[01:45:36] among your friends.

[01:45:39] All right. Thank you very much, guys.

[01:45:41] Have a Have a happy Independence in

[01:45:44] advance. Happy

[01:45:45] uh Eid.

[01:45:47] You know, we'll be celebrating Eid in

[01:45:49] advance and uh please participate fully

[01:45:53] in the celebration of our

[01:45:56] diamond jubilee. God bless you, guys.

[01:45:58] Thank you.