The previous column discussed several important international functions the dollar performs. The dollar serves as an international store of value enabling countries that earn foreign exchange to save in an easily convertible currency. It serves as a medium of exchange allowing payments beyond the American border. It also serves as a unit of account permitting…
Introduction Having established in the previous parts the considerable assistance that Guyana can draw from the Churchill Falls case in pursuing renegotiation of the 2016 Agreement, this part examines the specific mechanisms available under the 2016 Agreement that allow Guyana to achieve that end. Additionally, I argue that ExxonMobil’s recent categorical refusal to consider any…
Has anyone asked the fish or fishermen? MARAD notice number 30 (2023) published on February 24 is for 8 months of geotechnical and geophysical surveying in the vicinity of the Demerara Main Ship Channel near Plantation Best and covering 70 square nautical miles. MARAD notice number 31 (2023) published on February 22 is for 5…
Many Guyanese are now aware of some version of the natural resource curse (NRC). One taxi driver explained the idea to me last week and he also gave the Dutch disease a good shot. Economists have been pondering these ideas for at least three decades. They, however, tend not outline the transmission mechanisms of the…
President of Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI), Troy Thomas says he believes that it was pressure from the people that saw “the unprecedented” release of oil contracts by the government. “It is therefore important that we recognize the significance of this development and push for this to become the standard for dealing with contracts…
Reference is made to the ExxonMobil Guyana Limited Annual Report 2023 (https://corporate.exxonmobil.com/locations/guyana/annual-report). In that report (Page 36), it is recorded that royalty paid is G$21,922,725,604.00, representing 2 percent of total revenue of G$1,108,897, 727, 566.00 (Table1). However, the royalty paid is not 2 percent of total revenue; instead, it is only 1.977%. The correct royalty…
A letter entitled “Notions that the level of borrowing is reckless are far-fetched” penned by Mr. Bhagwandin was published earlier this week in Stabroek News (August 8, 2023). The backdrop to this letter is as follows. The National Assembly approved, last week, a new debt ceiling to facilitate greater borrowing. Guyana’s domestic public debt ceiling…
Recent discussions surrounding the cost recovery provision in the oil contract and the possible renegotiation served as motivation for this column. I intend to clarify and reemphasise several points I made on these topics in previous columns. Over the years, I have examined various topics which are still relevant to present deliberations. These include the…
