(Kaieteur News) – The Chinese Embassy in Guyana has sharply rejected comments made by a United States State Department official who criticised projects undertaken by Chinese companies in Guyana and other countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, describing the remarks as “false,” politically motivated and an attack on normal China-Guyana economic cooperation.
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The Embassy’s response came after Juan Pablo Segura, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs used his personal account on X to highlight what he described as failures associated with Chinese state-owned companies operating in the region. “We have noted that a certain U.S. State Department official recently used his personal social media account to smear and attack projects undertaken by Chinese companies in Guyana,” a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy said.
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“Such remarks disregard the facts and constitute political manipulation and malicious smears against normal China-Guyana economic and trade cooperation. The Chinese Embassy in Guyana firmly opposes them.”
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“Our region is riddled with projects led by Chinese State-owned companies such as the Sinohydro Corporation and China Railway Group Limited where corners were cut, contracts were broken, governments saddled with debt, and the local environment suffered,” Segura stated. He separately repeated his criticism of the Guyana airport project, writing: “An airport in Guyana that was plagued by more than a decade of construction delays and cost overruns.” The embassy said that the US official should pay attention to the problems afflicting Guyana’s costly Gas-to-Energy project which is being built by American firm, Lindsayca Guyana Inc. The company was initially awarded a US$759M contract by the Government of Guyana (GoG) to deliver 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity by the end of 2024, but has failed consistently to meet promised deadlines with the project now expected to deliver a fraction of power by the end of 2026. The delays have resulted in multimillion US-dollars losses for Guyana as the country’s rapid expansion continues to demand increased electricity supply.
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Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy, defended the record of Chinese companies in Guyana, arguing that their contribution to the country’s development extends well beyond individual projects. According to the Embassy, Chinese companies have been involved in Guyana’s development for many years, investing in the country and contributing to its modernisation. It pointed specifically to the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, the China-Guyana Friendship Joe Vieira Park and six regional hospitals as examples of projects it said have improved infrastructure, created employment and supported Guyana’s economic and social development. “Those projects have helped to improve infrastructure, create jobs and support economic and social development, earning broad recognition across Guyanese society,” the spokesperson said.
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China also rejected attempts to frame normal economic and trade relations through an ideological lens. “We oppose any attempt to politicise normal trade and economic cooperation or cast them in ideological terms,” the Embassy said. The sharp exchange comes against the backdrop of rapidly expanding economic ties between Guyana and China.
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As the diplomatic war of words over Chinese development projects unfolds, the Chinese Embassy insists that the record of cooperation speaks for itself. “Facts have shown, and will continue to show, that China is a trustworthy friend and partner of Guyana, and that Chinese companies are important participants in and contributors to Guyana’s development,” the spokesperson said. The Embassy concluded that it remains ready to deepen practical cooperation with Guyana across various fields and to deliver what it described as “more tangible and accessible benefits” to both countries and their peoples.
Ashni Singh, Winston Brassington grilled on 27 allegations of misconduct in public office; released on station bail – Demerara Waves Online News- Guyana
# Ashni Singh, Winston Brassington grilled on 27 allegations of misconduct in public office; released on station bail
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, Dr. Ashni Singh (waving) and former NICIL CEO, Winston Brassington (blue shirt-jac) leaving SOCO headquarters to be finger-printed at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department. Behind them is their Attorney-at-Law, Sase Gunraj.
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Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh and former Chief Executive Officer of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington were Wednesday released from police custody on a total of GY$600,000 bail.
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They were questioned for more than four hours by investigators of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) of the Guyana Police Force in the presence of their lawyers- Anil Nandlall, Sase Gunraj and Mark Waldron.
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After the interrogation, Singh and Brassington were taken in a car to the Criminal Investigations Department of the Guyana Police Force where they were finger-printed and subsequently released on GY$300,000 station bail each.
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Singh and Brassington are already on GY$6 million bail each by the Magistrates’ Court – GY$2 million on each of three charges of misconduct in public office-in connection with the alleged sale of three tracts of land valued more than GY$900 million without regard to the valuation process.
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Acknowledging that he is a United States (US) resident, Brassington said he never received a summons but returned home to appear in court to answer the three charges. Later he said on acceding to SOCU’s request, he arrived at that law enforcement unit’s Camp Street office and was told that “I am under arrest” for alleged misconduct in public office. “They were going through files. We said it would be unreasonable for us to be able comment on matters and, indeed, they went through twenty-something files and they are taking every instance where the valuation is above the selling price and calling it misconduct in public office… and in the majority of these cases even if we had a public tender,” Brassington said.
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Among the 27 instances, Brassington said, were the sale of lands to SOL fuel company in Linden, in Kingston to Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, Guyana Stockfeeds, Bel Air Gardens transactions to Ian and Mary Mc Donald, Roraima Group of Companies, Sanata at Industrial Site, Clairan’s, and the sale from one government to another government entity; Twin’s Manufacturing, Hand-in-Hand, National Hardware, Pritipaul Singh Investments.
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Brassington said NICIL’s privatisation programme was “distinctly different and better than that under the previous administration under the PNC (People’s National Congress) administration. He denied any wrongdoing in the sale of the many government assets. “We have produced records showing what we did and there is nothing wrong in what we did but these charges which have never been used in Guyana before, they couldn’t find a single statute to say ‘you broke the law’ and misconduct in public office- we are not public officers based on legal cases and the constitution. We didn’t carry out instructions in an improper manner. Everything we did we have a justification and an approval from Boards and Cabinet so it is a travesty in justice,” he said.
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The former Finance Minister said the charges of misconduct in public office for the sale of the East Coast Demerara lands that were laid against him and Brassington “are completely baseless and every rational observer and commentator has said this repeatedly”. He vowed that he would not bullied, cowed or intimidated by the governing administration, while at the same time adding that “I exited active politics” after the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) was defeated at the May, 2015 general elections.
Statement to the National Assembly by the Honourable Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on the chronological account of the Government’s response following the MV Barima tragedy – Department of Public Information, Guyana
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# Statement to the National Assembly by the Honourable Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on the chronological account of the Government’s response following the MV Barima tragedy
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I rise to place before the National Assembly an account concerning the tragedy involving the MV Barima, the search, rescue and recovery operations that followed, and the support provided to the affected families.
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Search and rescue/recovery operations continued over the period Sunday 20th July 2026 to present.
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On 20th July 2026, The MV Barima was found resting on the seabed approximately 31 nautical miles northwest of the point of uninitial distress communicated by the Air Traffic Control tower. This was based on the report made by Mr. Haresh Singh and the assistance provided by local fisherfolk, ExxonMobil Guyana, VESHI and Sealand Survey’s Gilligan Island in confirming the vessel’s exact position.
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The Ministry of Health and the Guyana Police Force subsequently established joint protocols for the processing, transportation and storage of the deceased. Identification procedures were to take place at the Suddie Hospital. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre remained operational, and the search and recovery effort continued.
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was being pursued
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Government of France had provided
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, who joined
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It was also announced that recovered
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Charity for processing
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police authorities, and that
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to identify their loved ones
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the Suddie Hospital
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At 13:00 hrs on 21 July, 16 vessels were deployed within the wreckage area. The designated search area had been expanded by an additional 400 square miles, extending to Waini Point. French and local divers continued underwater operations, while relatives undertook the identification of recovered bodies at the Suddie Hospital.
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State and private sector vessels continued operating throughout the expanded search area, supported by aerial surveillance. Aircraft also transported relatives to the Suddie Hospital to
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with identification. The Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, and his team remained at the hospital and began facilitating the release of identified bodies to their relatives.
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the Charity River Dam
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At 13:00
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on 22 July, the Government reported that support assets from the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and the Brazilian Navy had arrived in Guyana’s waters and were proceeding to the operational area. At that time, 19 vessels and two aircraft were involved.
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Technical teams began assessing the capsized vessel to determine the safest and most effective method of righting it and improving access for the diving teams. Smaller vessels deployed by the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration Department were conducting searches further inland.
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Mr Speaker, in the final operational update issued on 24 July, the Government advised that the coordinated search and recovery operation remained active throughout the day. The designated search area had been expanded by an additional 32 square miles, westwards to Waini Point and eastwards to Adventure, while aerial surveillance flights continued.
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Five dives, each lasting between 45 and 60 minutes, were completed on 24 July. During one of those dives, one body was recovered from within the MV Barima. This brought the cumulative number of bodies recovered to 73, of whom 69 had been positively identified.
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The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre remained fully operational throughout the period from Saturday 2026/07/19 to now, and the search, rescue and recovery effort continued with the commitment that every reasonable effort would be exhausted.
Gas-to-Energy project on track for year-end completion – Department of Public Information, Guyana
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# Gas-to-Energy project on track for year-end completion
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Prime Minister Phillips receives updates during
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Work on Guyana’s landmark Gas-to-Energy (GTE) Project in Wales is steadily progressing, and it remains firmly on track for completion by the end of 2026.
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During a site visit today, Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips received a detailed briefing on the project’s progress.
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The Gas-to-Energy Project falls under the purview of the Office of the Prime Minister and continues to benefit from sustained Government oversight as it advances through critical implementation phases.
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During his visit, the Prime Minister underscored the Government’s commitment to successfully complete the project. He noted that the initiative is a cornerstone of Guyana’s energy transformation agenda and a critical investment in reliable, affordable, and sustainable power generation.
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The Prime Minister was informed that approximately 90 percent of the project’s equipment has already been manufactured and is currently in storage. Most are in Georgetown, with several components onsite at Wales, awaiting installation following the completion of key substation civil works.
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Prime Minister Phillips was also updated on ongoing civil, underground, and electrical works, as well as the phased installation of major equipment, all of which remain aligned with the project’s delivery schedule. Completion of the foundation, equipment installation, and strategic workforce expansion remain the immediate priorities as the project transitions into its most critical execution phase.
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The Prime Minister was informed that with steady progress across construction and logistics, the Gas-to-Energy Project remains firmly on track.
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Head of the Gas-to-Energy Task Force and Project Lead, Mr Winston Brassington, and Senior Petroleum Coordinator with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Mr Bobby Gossai Jr, accompanied the Prime Minister to Wales.