ExxonMobil Guyana has announced plans to increase oil production from its Stabroek block by 18,000 barrels per day (bpd). The capacity of the Unity floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel will increase from 252,000 bpd to 270,000 bpd, pending approval from local authorities. ExxonMobil Guyana currently produces 665,000 bpd, and future developments include the Hammerhead project, which aims to produce 120,000-180,000 bpd. The company’s investment is set to further strengthen Guyana’s economy as it grows into a major oil producer.

In political developments, President Irfaan Ali has announced several benefits ahead of Guyana’s upcoming elections. The new incentives include free college tuition and a one-time cash handout of nearly $1,000 per household, benefiting 264,000 families. The minimum wage will also increase from $350 to $500 starting next year, aimed at reducing the cost of living for Guyanese citizens.

Guyana’s economy, bolstered by its growing oil sector, saw a remarkable 60% GDP growth in 2022, the highest in the world, according to the IMF. To further utilize oil revenues, the government is launching various infrastructure projects, including hospitals, schools, and a $1.9 billion gas-to-energy initiative.

At the same time, the 115th COTED meeting on agriculture in CARICOM is tackling challenges like climate change and underdeveloped agricultural value chains, working towards the 25 by 2025 Food Security Initiative.

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Berhane Abrehe, a former Eritrean finance minister and vocal critic of President Isaias Afwerki, has died in prison, his family confirmed. The 79-yearold was Eritrea’s longest-serving finance minister before his removal in 2012 due to clashes with the president. He was later jailed in 2018 for publishing a book that described President Afwerki as a “dictator” who needed to resign.

Abrehe’s family has not been informed of the circumstances surrounding his death, and his body has not been released. The government rarely confirms the deaths of senior officials in custody or shares information on their burial sites.

Abrehe’s fall-out with President Afwerki began during his 12-year tenure as finance minister, where he advocated for transparency in the country’s budget. After his removal, he wrote a book challenging the president’s rule and calling for his resignation.

Eritrea has been criticized for its human rights record, including torture, forced disappearance, and imprisonment of tens of thousands of people in inhumane conditions. The UN and human rights groups have accused the government of gross human rights violations.

Abrehe’s death highlights the country’s poor human rights record and the risks faced by those who dare to criticize the government.

Born in Eritrea in 1945, Abrehe earned an MA degree in economics from a US university before joining the struggle for independence from Ethiopia. He is the father of four children.

His family, including his wife and son, have also faced persecution. His wife was imprisoned for a year, and his son, Efrem, fled the country and now lives in the US.

Efrem previously described his family’s ordeal to the BBC, saying, “I am living with a dim glimmer of hope that my father, who has health issues, [will be out of prison one day]. How can people be kidnapped by a government and disappear for years? Why do people show such cruelty on a fellow human like this?”

Abrehe’s death is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who speak out against the Eritrean government.