News Americas, WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao, Sept. 18, 2024: Technology group Wärtsilä has again been contracted by Aqualectra, Curaҫao’s government owned utilities company, to provide Engineering, Procurement and Construction in support of the country’s decarbonisation program. This latest order is for a new 38.4 MW power plant that will be capable of providing efficient grid balancing as the level of renewable energy in the system continues to increase. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q3 2024.

Agreement signing – Front: Mathias West, CFO Neysa Isenia, Tganni Louisy. Back: Minister Charles Cooper, Chairman of the Board Renny Oehlers, Joseph Everon, and Rudolf Garmes.

The new Salu Power Plant is being supplied on a full engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis. Initially, the plant will provide baseload power but will be later utilised in a grid balancing role as part of the utility’s decarbonisation focus. It will operate with four Wärtsilä 20V32 engines and will immediately become one of Aqualectra’s most fuel-efficient power plants.

Earlier this year, Aqualectra placed an order with Wärtsilä for a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), as well as Wärtsilä’s GEMS Digital Energy Platform. The combined system will enable the expansion of renewable energy capacity, representing an important step towards a sustainable energy future for the island.

“Aqualectra immensely values the continued partnership with Wärtsilä and their availability to hold discussions, exchange and build bridges so that, on this occasion, we could again sign a significant agreement for the island and people of Curaçao,” says Mrs. Neysa Isenia, CFO at Aqualectra.

The combination of Wärtsilä’s BESS and GEMS solutions, supported by the new power plant, will provide grid stability and reliability, reduce unserved energy, and help mitigate the risk of brownouts and blackouts. In addition, the Wärtsilä solutions will allow Aqualectra to expand their decarbonisation vision while smoothing the intermittency of renewables.

“We have worked closely with Aqualectra in developing their long-term roadmap,” explains Risto Paldanius, Vice President, Americas at Wärtsilä Energy. “This involved a detailed analysis and modelling of their system, as well as verifying their own modelling. Aqualectra’s strategic objective is to provide the community with affordable, sustainable, and reliable electricity. Wärtsilä’s solutions will support all of these objectives through reducing the cost of generation, enabling the integration of renewables, while providing high reliability.”

Delivery of the Wärtsilä equipment and construction of the power plant is being carried out on a fast-track basis, and the plant is expected to be fully operational by Q4 2025.

Aqualectra produces and distributes water and electricity to over 80,000 households and companies on Curaҫao Island. The company is an existing and valued Wärtsilä customer with three Wärtsilä engine power plants operating with a combined total of 16 Wärtsilä engines.

All Wärtsilä releases are available at www.wartsila.com/media/news-releases and at news.cision.com/wartsila-corporation where also the images can be downloaded. Use of the image(s) is allowed only in connection with the contents of this press release. Wärtsilä images are available at www.wartsila.com/media/image-bank.

Wärtsilä Energy in brief
Wärtsilä Energy is at the forefront of the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers and the power sector to accelerate their decarbonisation journeys through our market-leading technologies and power system expertise. Our solutions include flexible engine power plants, energy storage and optimisation technology, and services for the whole lifecycle of our installations. Our engines are future-proof and can run on sustainable fuels. Our track record comprises 79 GW of power plant capacity, of which 18 GW are under service agreements, and over 125 energy storage systems, in 180 countries around the world.
www.wartsila.com/energy

Wärtsilä in brief
Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasise innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,800 professionals in more than 280 locations in 79 countries shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2023, Wärtsilä’s net sales totalled EUR 6.0 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.
www.wartsila.com

Aqualectra
Aqualectra is Curacao’s government-owned utility company. It produces and distributes water and electricity to over 80,000 households and companies. Aqualectra employs 615 dedicated women and men who provide the framework for delivering quality products and services to our customers.
www.aqualectra.com

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Monday. Sept. 16, 2024: Following Bloomberg Pursuits exclusive reveal earlier today, global hospitality leader Sam Nazarian, best-selling author and life-coach Tony Robbins, global music icon Marc Anthony, and international strategist Richard Attias, have announced The Estate – a revolutionary investment in St Kitts & Nevis marking the first luxury hospitality and residential ecosystem in the Caribbean.

The Estate is coming to St. Kitts & Nevis first!

This groundbreaking luxury hotel platform, titled simply, The Estate, is the vision of Nazarian, the founder and CEO of sbe, and Tony Robbins, an entrepreneur, a #1 New York Times bestselling author, philanthropist, and the US’s #1 life & business strategist. They are joined by partner and global music icon and ambassador of Latin music and culture, Marc Anthony, and international strategist and visionary architect of global influence, Richard Attias.

The first of four Estate Luxury Hotels & Residences will launch in St Kitts and Nevis, home to less than 50,000 people, in 2026.  Never in the wider Caribbean have such influential and powerful business and cultural icons as Robbins, Anthony, Nazarian and Attias, with up to 150-million followers across all social media, put their names to such a development.

The Prime Minister of St Kitts & Nevis, a medical doctor, was instrumental in securing this global innovation in medical wellness ahead of the United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, and the GCC, (Gulf Cooperation Council).

Always ahead of the curve, Sam and Tony began developing the luxury hotel brand of the future concept pre-pandemic. They resolved to create a new omnichannel approach to longevity, meeting the customer wherever they are rather than solely a destination offering.

The Estate will lead the luxury hotel industry through its resorts and collection of urban preventative and longevity centers in core markets through partnership with industry leader Fountain Life, the leader in disease detection, prevention and reversal, providing the knowledge, coaching, and therapeutics that can increase vitality and health span, and turn back the clock on aging.

The Luxury Hotels & Residences is set to quickly become the largest ecosystem of preventative medicine and longevity in the world featuring 15 global hotels & residences and 10 urban preventative medicine and longevity centers by 2030, totaling 25 world-class centers in partnership with Fountain Life.

The Estate will partner in select urban locations with globally renowned Clinique La Prairie, the leader in longevity for more than 90 years, under the leadership of CEO Simone Gibertoni, offering premier holistic treatments through the ‘Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie’ and their iconic line of Longevity Supplements® ‘CLP Holistic Health®.’

“In 2006 I created SLS Hotels, a brand both relevant and disruptive for the emerging lifestyle industry. Then, lifestyle was ‘access’, now luxury is ‘longevity’,” commented Nazarian. “The Estate will lead with luxury. In 2024, we are disrupting again, by bringing together global market leaders, providing a platform for the best ideas to surface, and giving them scale. We are not building medical hotels – we are building luxury hotels, residences and urban clinics that are differentiated by a commitment to changing people’s lives. I have the honor of working with titans I have always admired, who share the same vision. Tony, Marc and Richard have led globally celebrated careers of excellence and inspiration, rooted in philanthropy and love and I couldn’t be more proud to start this journey with them.”

“High-quality preventative medicine has significantly enhanced my own life and I’m thrilled to collaborate with Sam on launching The Estate,” said Robbins. “By meeting people where they are, we blend a five-star experience with some of the world’s leading experts and offerings in preventative diagnostics and longevity on a global scale.”

“The Estate is a truly unique and transformative project, and I’m excited to partner with Sam and Tony to bring it to the world,” added Anthony. “Working alongside visionaries like Sam and Tony – individuals I’ve long admired for their dedication to excellence, philanthropy, and love – is an incredible honor. I couldn’t be prouder to embark on this journey with them. Together, we’re merging five-star luxury with the expertise of the world’s top specialists in preventative diagnostics and longevity. The Estate will re-define what luxury means, setting a new standard for the future.”

“The Estate represents a bold convergence of luxury, innovation, and purpose—an approach that aligns deeply with my work in creating transformative global platforms,” stated Attias. “This project is more than just another development; it is a revolutionary ecosystem where world-class hospitality meets the cutting edge of preventative medicine, AI, and longevity. We are setting a new standard for how we live and thrive.”

The fact that the Estate will, through the sbe Foundation, ensure that underprivileged communities are able to access preventative diagnostics and treatments by working with partner charities, would surely benefit the wider community of St Kitts & Nevis. Construction in St. Kitts & Nevis is expected to start in the first half of 2025 to support the first planned pre-sales of residential sales units, anticipated to begin later that summer.

News Americas, New York, NY, August 29, 2024: Hilton, the global luxury hotel brand, has announced plans to construct its first two hotels in Guyana, marking a significant expansion into the oil rich South American CARICOM nation. The new developments, Hilton Georgetown and DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Georgetown, will both be located in the country’s capital, Georgetown.

Hilton will soon have two hotels in Guyana.

According to the company, these two hotels will be part of a larger oceanfront, mixed-use business and entertainment complex, offering a combined total of over 400 rooms. The project will be owned by an affiliate of the Assets Group and managed by Hilton.

This announcement comes nearly four years after a private company initially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Guyanese government to build two Hilton-branded hotels. However, that project never advanced, and now Hilton has decided to take the reins directly.

“We believe in investing in Guyana, a country poised for significant growth and a promising future in tourism and hospitality,” said Moutaz Al Khayyat, Chairman of Assets Group. He highlighted the company’s commitment to entering emerging markets with high potential and expressed confidence in Guyana’s economic trajectory.

The 11-story Hilton Georgetown will feature 253 guest rooms and suites, providing an elevated stay experience, while the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Georgetown will offer 158 contemporary suites.

“We are proud to bring the flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand, which continues to set the standard for travel, and the renowned DoubleTree by Hilton tradition of warm welcomes and upscale comfort to Guyana,” said Gary Steffen, Global Category Head for Full-Service Brands at Hilton. He added that the company is eager to introduce its iconic hospitality to the Guyanese market through these two award-winning brands.

Hilton emphasized that these new properties will underscore its commitment to delivering premium, luxurious experiences that cater to the discerning needs of its guests.

News Americas, New York, NY, August 8, 2024: “Preventive healthcare is my passion,” says Jamaican-born Adult Health Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Karlene Lawrence, who has over two decades of experience in Preventive Medicine across various health centers in New York City and Long Island.

Dr. Karlene Lawrence is a nurse practitioner based in NYC but born in Jamaica. (Photo courtesy of Ian Buddington)

Born in St. Thomas, Jamaica, Dr. Lawrence attended Holy Childhood Preparatory and High Schools in Kingston, Jamaica, before immigrating to the USA at 17. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Molloy College in Rockville Centre with the goal of becoming a Nurse-Midwife. After obtaining a Midwifery and Women’s Health Graduate degree from New York University, she began practicing in outpatient settings in Queens and Brooklyn. It was at this juncture that her focus changed. “I realized that the care of my female patients was incomplete because I was unable to care for their male partners. That prompted me to pursue an Adult Nurse Practitioner Post Graduate Certificate. Over time, it became apparent that my true passion was educating patients about illness prevention and achieving wellness, rather than ‘problem-focused’ appointments and treating an illness after it was already diagnosed.”

Dr. Lawrence returned to school in 2017 and received a Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree from SUNY Stony Brook University in 2019. During this time, she married educator, musician, and cultural historian LeRoy Graham Jr., who “stepped up in a major way” to assist with raising their three children while she pursued her academic and professional goals.

Dr Karlene Lawrence and husband LeRoy Graham. (Photo courtesy of Ian Buddington)

Among her many honors are The Louis and Rachel Rudin Foundation Scholarship, the New York State Advanced Nursing Education Traineeship Scholarship, and the New York State Primary Care Service Corps Scholarship. She is also a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Currently, Dr. Lawrence serves as the Doctor of Nursing Practice / Nurse Practitioner on a multimillion-dollar Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The program aims to transform the healthcare workforce and community in Brooklyn by establishing a new wellness clinic for adults aged 65 years and older. The clinic will also serve as a training facility for students from all schools and colleges at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.

“Many chronic health conditions are preventable with proper nutrition, adherence to periodic screenings, and taking medication as advised, leading to longer, healthier lives free of common illnesses,” states Dr. Lawrence.

She emphasized that regular screenings for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and cancers such as breast, prostate, and colon can lead to early diagnosis, less complicated treatments, lower healthcare costs, and more successful outcomes. “This is why preventive healthcare and wellness are my passions. Early in my career, I realized that ‘prevention is better than cure’ is very accurate and applicable. Preventive healthcare became the focus of my practice many years ago and remains so until today.”

Dr. Lawrence also addresses challenges in the healthcare system, such as lack of access to affordable healthcare, payment constraints from insurance companies, stigmas towards various health conditions, and biases against older patients and those with mental health issues. “The sad reality is that a majority of the world’s population have challenges understanding healthcare discussions or instructions due to low or no literacy. This hinders the achievement of desired preventive healthcare goals. Unfortunately, the current United States health system can be complicated and difficult to navigate, a longstanding and complex issue that requires an immediate solution to ensure that ‘best treatment’ is always the goal for ALL patients.”

“My goal as a health and wellness educator-presenter is to increase awareness, comprehension, and adherence to recommended preventive health screening guidelines, improve health literacy, and eliminate occurrences of health disparities. I am also passionate about empowering individuals through education to prevent diseases, promote health, and maintain wellness as they age in their own residences,” she explained.

However, Dr. Lawrence acknowledges that she cannot achieve these goals alone. “At the end of the day, we still have to resolve the challenges in our healthcare system, and that will not be done overnight. It is vital that we foster the necessary cooperation between all healthcare stakeholders to arrive at more effective healthcare solutions. The lives of our fellow citizens literally depend on it.”

News Americas, New York, NY, July 23, 2024: ExxonMobil Guyana is moving forward with plans to develop its seventh oil project in the country, targeting the Hammerhead field in the Stabroek Block. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun reviewing ExxonMobil’s application for this new venture.

The ExxonMobil Guyana offices at 86 Duke Street in Georgetown, Guyana. Photographer: Jose A. Alvarado Jr./Bloomberg via Getty Images

Officials estimate that the Hammerhead project could push Guyana’s oil output beyond 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2029. According to the project summary on the EPA’s website, the new development is expected to add between 120,000 and 180,000 bpd once operational in 2029.

ExxonMobil also projects gas production of 60 to 120 million standard cubic feet per day. The company emphasized in its project summary that it aims to “safely optimize that capacity” following initial startup.

When the Hammerhead project comes online, it will join six other sanctioned projects in the Stabroek Block, collectively boosting Guyana’s oil production to approximately 1.5 million bpd.

The EPA’s public notice, published earlier this week, stated that the proposed project will largely occur in the marine offshore environment. The notice highlighted potential environmental impacts, including effects on marine water quality, air quality, marine fauna, and socio-economic resources. Consequently, the EPA has instructed ExxonMobil Guyana to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Hammerhead project.

The environmental regulator also invited the public to submit written questions and concerns within 28 days of the July 14 notice for consideration in the EIA.

Documents filed with the EPA reveal that the Hammerhead project is located in the south-central portion of the Stabroek Block, approximately 160 km from Georgetown, amidst previous Stabroek projects. The current plans involve drilling via drill ships to produce oil using approximately 14 to 30 production and injection wells.

The project will include the installation of subsea equipment on the seafloor and processing equipment on a floating, production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel. The FPSO vessel will have the capacity to store approximately 1.4 to 2 million barrels of oil. Third-party oil tankers will offload the oil from the FPSO, making it available for export to the international market.

The FPSO will also process, dehydrate, and compress associated gas produced from the reservoir. Several options for managing the associated gas are currently being evaluated.

The Hammerhead project is expected to significantly contribute to Guyana’s economic growth by increasing national revenues, procuring local goods and services, and creating direct and indirect employment opportunities. These benefits are anticipated to drive positive “multiplier” impacts throughout the local economy.