April 7, 2026 • 4 min readDaily Brief
Your 5-minute guide to what’s happening in Guyana — plain talk, no spin.
LINDSAYCA: FLYING PRIVATE ON YOUR MONEY WHILE YOUR LIGHTS ARE OUT
New reporting from Kaieteur News reveals that executives of Lindsayca — the Gas-to-Energy contractor currently failing to deliver electricity to Guyana — have been flying weekly from Houston to Georgetown on a private jet at an estimated cost of US$70,000 per week to the project. Since October 2022. The Hawker jet, registered as N17TV, refuels in Puerto Rico before touching down at Ogle. A flight manifest from February 21, 2026 — just after the Guyana Energy Expo — shows the plane carrying a collection of energy sector figures including the CEO of Fulcrum LNG, who until recently was a Commercial Vice President at ExxonMobil Guyana.
Read More → April 6, 2026 • 4 min readCaribbean Brief
Your weekly look at what’s moving across the Caribbean — beyond Guyana’s borders.
CARICOM RALLIES BEHIND CUBA AS US BLOCKADE BITES
CARICOM governments are stepping up support for Cuba as the US economic blockade continues to squeeze the island. CARICOM Chairman Dr. Terrance Drew confirmed at the bloc’s 50th Regular Meeting that humanitarian aid — including solar panels, baby food, rice, flour, basic medical supplies, and water tanks — is being coordinated through the regional secretariat in Guyana. St. Kitts and Nevis has pledged $500,000, with the first $100,000 already deposited. Drew framed it simply: “Cuba has never turned its back on the Caribbean. We will not turn our backs on Cuba.” The first shipment dates are expected to be confirmed this week.
Read More → April 6, 2026 • 3 min readYard Brief
Cousin Leroy writes from the Bronx, New York, where he has lived since 1994 and watches Jamaican politics like it is a sport, which it largely is.
Wah gwaan, people! Cousin Leroy checking in from the Bronx on this fine Monday morning to give all of you the real version of what happening back home.
First thing: the crime numbers. Thirty-three murders in January 2026. Thirty-three! Do you know what that means? That is the LOWEST January murder figure since they started keeping records in 2001. Twenty-five years of data and THIS government, under THIS Prime Minister, put up a number like that. Plan Secure Jamaica is working. The results are there in black and white. Cousin Leroy has been saying this for years — when you plan and you execute, you get results. Respect due to the security forces.
Read More → April 6, 2026 • 3 min readCaribbean Daily Brief
Regional news for the Caribbean diaspora — without the spin, with the context.
THE CARIBBEAN IS STILL PAYING TO SELL TO AMERICA
As of April 2026, most Caribbean goods still face a 10 per cent baseline import duty under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. That number sounds modest until you remember that Caribbean producers of rum, processed foods, specialty goods and building products operate on margins where 10 percent is not a rounding error, it is the difference between competitive and not. Sir Ronald Sanders, writing in Kaieteur News this week, makes the point plainly: the Caribbean has not chosen to diversify away from the US market — it is being driven to do so. CARICOM states are now intensifying intra-regional sourcing and widening relationships with other international partners. This is what “diversification” looks like when it is not a strategy but a survival response.
Read More → April 6, 2026 • 3 min readYard Brief
The Yard Report — straight talk from Kingston to Clarendon. No sugarcoating. No party line. Just yard.
JACDEN: THE SCANDAL THAT REFUSES TO SIT DOWN
The UHWI tax probe keeps producing headlines and the opposition keeps producing statements. JACDEN CEO Dennis Gordon, who is also an opposition shadow cabinet member, was told by Opposition Leader Mark Golding to step aside from the PAC and shadow cabinet pending the probe. Gordon’s response was essentially: no crime, no resign. Which is a position that has been taken before in Jamaican politics, usually by people who later regret taking it. The investigation concerns alleged tax irregularities at the University Hospital. The public is watching. The process is slow. Both of these things are very Jamaican.
Read More → April 6, 2026 • 2 min readTrini Brief
Auntie Cheryl writes from Chaguanas, Trinidad, where she has lived her entire life, voted in every election since 1986, and has very strong opinions about doubles, governance, and people who do not vote.
Oh gosh. OH GOSH. People, Auntie Cheryl so happy she could buss.
Kamla win. KAMLA WIN. After all the years of suffering under PNM — the crime, the cost of living, the gas price, the empty talk — the people of this blessed twin-island republic have risen up and said: ENOUGH.
Read More → April 6, 2026 • 3 min readBajan Brief
Miss Violet writes from St Philip, Barbados, where she taught primary school for 34 years, knows everybody’s business, and has voted BLP since she was old enough to hold a pencil.
Good morning, Barbados. Miss Violet speaking.
Well. Three terms. Thirty seats. Three times. If you did not feel something when those results came in, then you were not paying attention. Mia Mottley has done what no Caribbean leader has done before her — three consecutive clean sweeps — and she is now the longest-serving female head of state or government in the world. Let that settle. Let it settle properly.
Read More → April 6, 2026 • 3 min readUncle Ramesh
Uncle Ramesh writes from Queens, New York, where he has lived since 1987 and has strong opinions about a country he visits every three years.
Hello everybody, good morning and God bless.
Well I calling from Queens this morning to tell all you naysayers that this government doing things, and if you can’t see it you need to clean your glasses.
First thing: the airstrip at Karasabai. One point five BILLION dollars, people. That is not small thing. That is Region Nine getting real infrastructure, real access, real development. When last any government build airstrip in the hinterland? Uncle Ramesh remembers the old days when you had to pray to reach them places. Now the President commissioning modern facilities and also setting up border patrol to protect the frontier. This is leadership. This is vision. Some people want to complain about everything but when your President commissioning airstrips in Region Nine, that is progress, full stop.
Read More → April 6, 2026 • 3 min readBajan Brief
The Bajan Bugle — Little England, big opinions, and zero patience for spin.
THE THIRD 30-0: HISTORIC, AND SLIGHTLY CONCERNING
Mia Mottley’s BLP has won a third consecutive 30-0 clean sweep of Barbados’s 30 parliamentary seats, making her the first Caribbean leader to achieve three successive clean sweeps and, as of 2026, the longest-serving sitting female head of state or government in the world. These are real achievements and the Bajan Bugle acknowledges them without reservation.
Read More → April 6, 2026 • 3 min readDaily Brief
Your 5-minute guide to what’s happening in Guyana — plain talk, no spin.
SURINAME CHARGES BY THE RIVERFULL
The Suriname river fee saga continues to produce strong language and diplomatic protest letters that Paramaribo appears to be filing directly in the bin. Guyanese vessel operators in the Upper Corentyne are now facing “pilot licence” fees of up to US$2,500 per trip, plus broker charges of US$1,000 to US$1,500, which is an impressive number for a river that Guyana has legal navigation rights on under customary international law. The Berbice Chamber and the GCCI have both called for the government to freeze the Corentyne Bridge project until Suriname gets its act together, which is roughly equivalent to refusing to build a fence with your neighbour until they stop letting their cow into your yard. President Ali lodged a formal protest. Suriname has not responded. The word “reciprocity” has now been invoked by every arm of Guyanese government except the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, and give them time.
Read More → April 6, 2026 • 3 min readTrini Brief
The Trini Dispatch — oil, Carnival, commess, and whatever else falls out of Port of Spain this week.
KAMLA IS BACK. LET THE COMMESS BEGIN.
Kamla Persad-Bissessar is the next Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, with her United National Congress winning the parliamentary election in a result that represents a remarkable comeback for the 73-year-old, who previously served as Prime Minister from 2010 to 2015. The snap election was triggered after former PM Keith Rowley resigned amid a surge in the cost of living, Trump’s trade wars, and soaring crime rates. Stuart Young held the seat briefly after Rowley left, called the election, and lost it. Young had described himself as prepared to negotiate with anyone on trade. He will now have plenty of time to negotiate with himself.
Read More → April 6, 2026 • 5 min readSpeedeet & Wilar
Speedeet and Wilar — two boys from Pike Street, Kitty, Georgetown. Every Sunday.
De argument start before dey even reach de seawall.
“A kite need a tail,” Wilar say. He was carrying de bamboo frame, holding it careful like it was something important. Which it was. Dey had spend two hours building it.
“A kite don’t need a tail,” Speedeet say. He was carrying de string and de extra plastic bag material. “A tail is just showing off.”
Read More → April 6, 2026 • 4 min readSpeedeet & Wilar
Speedeet & Wilar: two boys, one friendship, Pike Street, Georgetown. Every Sunday.
De kite string cut at exactly de wrong moment.
Speedeet had been holding it for forty-five minutes. His hand was cramping. De kite — a big diamond-shape one he and Wilar had built from bamboo and plastic bag material de night before — was flying good. Real good. Better than either of dem had expected.
Den de string cut.
Read More → April 3, 2026 • 4 min readCaribbean Brief
The Guyana Daily Brief looks across the Caribbean on this Good Friday. The region has a lot to reflect on.
TRUMP TARIFFS LAND ON THE CARIBBEAN — 10% BASELINE, 38% FOR GUYANA
The most significant economic story across the entire Caribbean this week: President Trump announced sweeping global tariffs effective April 5, with a 10% baseline imposed on most Caribbean nations and a punishing 38% on Guyana. The tariffs are framed as “reciprocal” under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, targeting countries with trade imbalances with the United States.
Read More → April 3, 2026 • 3 min readPatriots Portfolio
The Patriots Portfolio — for Guyanese who care where the money goes and where it comes from. Every Friday.
THE WEEK IN GUYANA’S ECONOMIC PICTURE
The 38% Tariff: What It Actually Means
Let’s be precise. The Trump administration’s “reciprocal” tariff imposes 38% on Guyanese exports to the United States. The baseline for most Caribbean nations is 10%. Guyana’s higher rate is almost certainly driven by the US trade deficit with Guyana — which exists because the US buys significant volumes of Guyanese oil.
Read More → April 3, 2026 • 2 min readDJ Roadblock
DJ Roadblock on the ones and twos. Good Friday edition. The vibes are complicated but the music still sweet.
EHHH! Good Friday morning Guyana! DJ Roadblock here, and listen — we have a LOT to process this weekend. So Roadblock going give you the playlist to process it with.
🎵 TRACK 1: “Pressure Drop” — Toots and the Maytals
Because 38% tariff just drop on we head. Pressure drop indeed, bai. Pressure. Drop.
Read More → April 3, 2026 • 2 min readUncle Ramesh
By Uncle Ramesh, steadfast PPP/C supporter, proud Guyanese, and man who is having a complicated Good Friday.
People, Uncle Ramesh going to be honest with you today. It is Good Friday. A day for reflection. And I have some reflecting to do.
First — the tariff. Thirty-eight percent. On Guyana. From the United States. That is a lot. Uncle Ramesh was not expecting that. The Ambassador was just here telling us the oil deal is fine and Exxon is great and everything is win-win. Now her boss put a 38% tariff on we exports. Uncle Ramesh notes the contradiction without further comment at this time.
Read More → April 3, 2026 • 5 min readDaily Brief
Friday, April 3, 2026 — Good Friday. Things are getting crucified out there.
TRUMP HITS GUYANA WITH 38% TARIFF — HIGHEST IN THE CARIBBEAN
In what is arguably the biggest economic news of the year so far, President Donald Trump announced sweeping global tariffs effective April 5, imposing a baseline 10% on most Caribbean nations — but a punishing 38% on Guyana. The tariff is framed as a “reciprocal” trade measure, though analysts note Guyana’s trade deficit with the US is driven almost entirely by oil imports, not an imbalance that typically invites retaliation. CARICOM’s private sector body CPSO says credible analysis is needed before a full response can be given. Guyana’s private sector is reportedly closely tracking developments. The US Ambassador spent last week telling Guyana not to renegotiate its Exxon contract. This week, her government slapped Guyana’s exports with a 38% tariff. You really cannot make this up.
Read More → April 2, 2026 • 4 min readCaribbean Brief
The Guyana Daily Brief surveys the wider Caribbean. The region never sleeps.
JAMAICA: ENTERING WORLD CUP PLAYOFF AS FAVOURITES
Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz enter the inter-confederation World Cup playoff as favourites following the appointment of a new head coach. The Boyz will face New Caledonia for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup — their first appearance since 1998. With Haiti already qualified outright, the Caribbean Football Union is having an historic qualification cycle. Jamaica’s football public is cautiously optimistic, which for Jamaican football fans is essentially unbridled euphoria.
Read More → April 2, 2026 • 2 min readUncle Ramesh
By Uncle Ramesh, loyal PPP/C supporter, road-safety enthusiast, and man who has never once owned a tinted vehicle.
People, today I feel vindicated. You know why? Because this government is SERIOUS.
The tint crackdown start. And I, Uncle Ramesh, have been saying for years that these dark-glass criminals hiding behind tinted windows needed to be dealt with. Now Minister Walrond say “don’t call me” and Traffic Chief Singh deploy the tint meters. EXCELLENT. This is what law and order looks like. If your car legal, you have nothing to fear. Simple as that.
Read More → 