By News Americas Business Editor

News Americas, GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Fri. March 20, 2026: ExxonMobil is accelerating its dominance in Guyana’s booming oil sector, with a new floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel set to add an estimated 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) in output capacity – a move that could further cement the country’s position as one of the fastest-growing oil producers in the world.

The facility, built by MODEC in Singapore, is nearing completion and is expected to depart soon for Guyana’s offshore Stabroek Block, according to company officials. Once operational, it will push Guyana’s total production capacity beyond 900,000 bpd, a staggering increase for a country that began oil production just in 2019.

Guyana’s Rapid Rise in Global Oil

In less than a decade, Guyana has transformed from an emerging player into a major oil force in South America. ExxonMobil and its partners have fast-tracked development across multiple offshore projects, making Guyana a critical pillar in the company’s global growth strategy.

The upcoming FPSO is part of a broader expansion plan that includes:

The Whiptail project, expected to begin production next year

The Hammerhead project, now forecast to start in 2028

A proposed ninth project, with a strong focus on natural gas development

Exxon’s Guyana President, Alistair Routledge, confirmed that future gas infrastructure – including a potential second offshore pipeline — will depend on market demand and the viability of large-scale industrial projects.

“We have to ensure there is a market for the gas at a price that can sustain that level of investment,” Routledge said.

Gas Ambitions and Regional Strategy

Beyond oil, Exxon is increasingly positioning Guyana as a regional gas hub. Plans are underway to expand gas supply to power plants, industrial facilities, and emerging sectors such as data centers.

The government has already received interest in several “anchor projects,” including:

A new power generation facility

Data center infrastructure

A bauxite-to-alumina processing plant

There have also been early discussions with neighboring Suriname on a shared gas pipeline, potentially lowering costs through regional collaboration.

Meanwhile, the Wales development project – a key part of Guyana’s gas-to-energy strategy – is advancing, with a power plant expected to be partially completed by the end of this year. The project also includes a natural gas liquids facility to produce cooking gas, with total costs approaching $3 billion.

Exxon Eyes $5 Billion Cost Recovery

As production expands, ExxonMobil is also expected to recover up to $5 billion in costs this year, underscoring the scale of its investment in Guyana’s offshore developments.

However, the company’s financial dealings remain under intense scrutiny.

$214 Million Audit Dispute Heads to Arbitration

Nearly three years after auditors flagged $214 million in questionable expenses, the dispute between ExxonMobil and the Guyana government remains unresolved.

At the center of the standoff is the selection of a “sole expert” to determine whether Exxon must repay the disputed funds. The government has raised concerns about Exxon’s preferred candidate, citing potential conflicts of interest due to past work with the company.

Sources familiar with the process say the delay has dragged on for over a year, with both sides unable to agree on an independent expert.

As a result, the matter is now moving toward arbitration, as outlined in the Production Sharing Agreement, (PSA).

Government officials have also pushed for real-time financial audits, arguing that increased transparency is critical as Guyana’s oil revenues continue to grow.

High Stakes for a Growing Oil Power

The outcome of the audit dispute could have significant implications for Guyana’s oil governance framework, investor confidence, and future negotiations with multinational energy companies.

At the same time, Exxon’s continued expansion signals that production growth will remain aggressive – with Guyana poised to become one of the top per capita oil producers globally.

For the Caribbean and Latin America, the stakes are equally high. Guyana’s transformation is reshaping regional energy dynamics, creating new opportunities – but also raising urgent questions about transparency, accountability, and long-term economic sustainability.

As production surges and disputes deepen, one thing is clear: Guyana’s oil story is only just beginning.

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Oil, Food And Geopolitics: How Guyana Could Decide CARICOM’s Future

By Felicia J. Persaud

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Mar. 11, 2026: As Washington rolled out its new hemispheric security doctrine on March 7th, a quiet but consequential question is emerging across the Caribbean: where is the economic offer?

At the March 7th “Shield of the Americas” summit in Doral, Florida, U.S. President Donald Trump gathered just three from the Caribbean – two from the 15 member CARICOM community – and a few other hand-picked leaders from Latin America – to launch what the White House described as the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, part of a broader geo-political framework for the Americas that some officials have begun referring to as the Donroe Doctrine.

U.S. President Donald Trump waits to greet dignitaries as he hosts “The Shield of the Americas Summit ,“ a gathering with heads of state and government officials from 12 countries in the Americas at the Trump National Doral Golf Club on March 7, 2026 in Doral, Florida. The White House describes the gathering as a landmark summit aimed at reshaping regional alliances and reinforcing U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere. (Photo by Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)

The initiative places heavy emphasis on security cooperation, intelligence sharing, and military coordination to combat drug cartels and transnational criminal networks operating across the hemisphere. The summit’s declaration focused on disrupting these networks and strengthening regional security partnerships.

Few Caribbean governments dispute the seriousness of organized crime or the need for coordinated responses to trafficking and violence. The region has long faced the spillover effects of narcotics routes, human trafficking networks, and arms flows that destabilize communities. But security alone rarely defines stability for small states.

For Caribbean economies, long-term stability depends not only on policing borders or confronting criminal organizations but also on functioning healthcare systems, reliable infrastructure, investment flows, and economic opportunity. And it is here that a gap in the emerging doctrine becomes visible.

For decades, the Caribbean has navigated relationships with multiple international partners that support different aspects of development. The United States remains the region’s largest tourism market and a vital source of remittances and foreign investment. China has emerged as a significant financier of infrastructure projects. Cuba has long provided medical cooperation that supports public health systems in several Caribbean states.

Recent geo-political pressure has encouraged some governments to distance themselves from both Beijing and Havana. Yet, replacing those relationships is not a simple exercise.

Chinese financing has played an increasingly visible role in Caribbean development. Between 2005 and 2024, Chinese investment supported major infrastructure projects across the region, including more than $6 billion in Jamaica, roughly $3 billion in Guyana, $2.28 billion in Trinidad and Tobago, and about $1 billion in Antigua and Barbuda. These investments, often tied to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, have funded highways, ports, energy infrastructure, stadiums, and telecommunications networks.

Such projects have helped address infrastructure gaps that Western lenders have often approached with extreme caution, with many viewing the Caribbean as a “wild west” and not a great place to invest.

Meanwhile, Cuban medical missions have for decades provided thousands of doctors and nurses across the Caribbean. In several smaller states, Cuban professionals staff hospitals, operate rural clinics, and deliver specialized services that local healthcare systems struggle to maintain on their own. Now the region is also being asked to terminate these missions or face Washington’s wrath as the administration tightens the economic noose on Cuba.

If regional governments are asked to reduce cooperation with these partners, the practical question becomes unavoidable: what replaces those contributions? Security partnerships can disrupt criminal networks. They cannot build and staff hospitals, finance highways, or train doctors.

If Washington seeks to counter China’s economic influence and reshape hemispheric alliances, where is the announcement of a large-scale development initiative for the Caribbean?

A dedicated U.S.-backed investment facility for infrastructure, energy transition, and climate resilience could provide a compelling economic alternative while strengthening long-term stability in the region. Small island states face mounting pressures from climate vulnerability, rising debt burdens, and limited domestic markets. Addressing these challenges requires sustained access to capital.

Without a credible development strategy, security initiatives alone may struggle to reshape the region’s economic partnerships. Ironically, the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. posted a video mocking the security alliance ‘Shield of the Americas’ on social media on the 10th. 

The Caribbean’s diplomatic history has long been defined by pragmatic balance. Governments across the region have cultivated relationships with multiple global partners while seeking to preserve their sovereignty and development options.

That balancing act continues today.

Caribbean leaders understand the importance of working with Washington on security matters. The United States remains the hemisphere’s largest economic power and an indispensable partner in trade, tourism, and finance. But for the region’s small states, alliances cannot be built solely around military coordination or cartel suppression.

True stability in the Caribbean rests on broader foundations: resilient economies, functioning public institutions, and opportunities for the region’s young populations.

Great powers often compete through strategy. Small states respond through investment.

If the Donroe Doctrine is to shape a new era of hemispheric relations, Caribbean governments need to ask a simple question that extends beyond security partnerships: Where is the economic vision that accompanies the doctrine?

Because in the Caribbean, stability will ultimately be built not by missiles or patrol boats alone, but by hospitals that remain open, infrastructure that supports growth, and economies that offer people a future worth investing in and staying for.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Felicia J. Persaud is CEO of Invest Caribbean and AI Capital Exchange and founder of NewsAmericasNow.com.

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Mar. 5, 2026: Strong compliance laws are the glue to building trust in business, whether in the Caribbean, Latin America or globally. They don’t only protect investors; they also shield local communities from corruption, fraud, and reckless corporate conduct. In simple terms, compliance laws ensure that everyone plays by the same rules.

When a company plays by the rules and acts responsibly, everybody wins. Investors are confident, employees feel safe, and communities thrive. Michael Hershman is one of the names that pops up when transparency and governance are discussed. His contributions remind us, yet again, why doing the right thing in business always pays off.

Why Compliance Laws Matter

Compliance laws are rules about how companies should behave. They help ensure that businesses do not take shortcuts or conceal the truth from the public. One can only hope that we never have a world without these laws, as that would cause chaos.

Here’s what these laws accomplish for us:

Protect investors: Compliant businesses maintain honest financial records. Investors can use actual data, rather than false claims, to make decisions.

Protect employees and communities: Vendors who follow compliance laws must care for people, pay fair wages, ensure safe work conditions, and avoid illegal shortcuts.

Prevent corruption: Rules about transparency and anti-bribery help stop powerful people from using money for unfair advantage.

Encourage long-term growth: Ethical companies stay stable. They attract more customers and investors who trust their reputation.

It’s simple: when companies do the right thing, their success lasts longer.

Transparency Builds Investor Confidence

Transparency is one of the strongest pillars of compliance. It’s the open sharing of information so that everyone knows what’s really happening behind closed doors. A transparent company doesn’t merely demonstrate the profits it made, but how it made them.

Investors love that. People tend to invest when reports are accurate and honest. They know that their money isn’t going toward shady deals. This kind of openness also keeps the marketplace fair; it helps prevent sudden crashes or unknown debts that harm people and economies.

Protecting Local Communities

Now let’s talk about the ones closest to local business communities. These are the neighbourhoods and towns where companies operate. Compliance laws act as guardrails to ensure business growth doesn’t harm people living nearby.

For example, environmental compliance laws stop factories from dumping waste into rivers or polluting the air. Labour compliance laws make sure workers are not overworked or unpaid. These laws create balanced profit for the business and safety for the people.

And when companies respect these rules, communities often give back with loyalty and long-term support.

Ethical Business And Corporate Governance

The heart of compliance is ethical business practice. It’s not just about avoiding punishment; it’s about doing what’s morally right. Strong corporate governance systems support this by ensuring that leaders are accountable for their decisions.

In a well-run company, there are checks and balances. It responds to employees, addresses grievances, and speaks honestly to regulators. When leaders know they will be called to account, they hesitate before taking shortcuts. That’s how the roots of corruption are cut off. For years, experts like Michael Hershman have emphasized the necessity of integrity in leadership.

How Companies Can Stay Compliant

Compliance is not just paperwork; it protects your company, your people, and your reputation. When you take it seriously, you avoid trouble and build trust at the same time.

It starts with regular audits; it is a routine checkup. You review your records, systems, and processes to catch small mistakes early. When you fix problems fast, they don’t grow into costly crises. Audits keep you prepared and confident.

Training is just as important. Your team needs to understand company policies and legal rules. When you explain expectations clearly and use real examples, people make better decisions. Over time, good habits form. Everyone moves in the same direction.

You also need safe channels for employees to reveal what’s going on. Strong legal protection for whistleblowers means you may not know sensitive business secrets, but they are crucial because people who have them report problems without prejudice. If employees trust the system, they will blow the whistle early. This avoids loss and preserves good habits and integrity.

Shaping Tomorrow With Ethical Values

Integrity grows from the leadership. When leaders are full of integrity, others will follow suit. Compliance is not an extra burden; it becomes part of regular work. Employees feel good about being part of an organization that emphasizes doing things right.

People like Michael Hershman, who advocate an ethical management spirit, tell us that abstention is also a moral act. However, there is an artistic interest. You invest most effectively in your future by spending it on integrity. Integrity gives your company safety, confidence, and a solid foundation for continued success.

News Americas, NY, NY, Sun. Feb. 22, 2026: Last week, the European Union updated its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, adding the Turks and Caicos Islands back to on the EU blacklist while removing Trinidad and Tobago. Anguilla and the U.S. Virgin Islands also remain on the EU’s list of jurisdictions that have not fully met agreed international tax standards.

“The Turks and Caicos Islands were included in Annex I of the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes following concerns raised by the OECD forum on harmful tax practices regarding the enforcement of economic substance requirements in the jurisdiction,” the EU said.

“The list is part of the EU’s efforts to promote tax good governance worldwide. It is composed of countries which fail to comply with agreed international tax standards or did not fulfil their commitments on tax good governance within a specific timeframe,” an EU statement said. The other countries on the list are American Samoa, Guam, Palau, Panama, Russia, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.

The changes follow the OECD’s Forum on Harmful Tax Practices (FHTP), assessment, which flagged shortcomings in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ enforcement of its economic substance rules. For regional stakeholders, this update is more than a technical compliance adjustment – it carries real implications for investment risk, capital flow, and cross-border financial activity.

Being on the EU tax blacklist can invite enhanced scrutiny from international banks and investors, who are increasingly cautious about jurisdictional reputational risk and regulatory alignment. Blacklisted territories may face higher due-diligence costs, slower transaction reviews, and, in some cases, restrictions on access to international funds or incentives tied to EU markets. For Caribbean governments, businesses, and investment hubs, the message is clear: global capital allocators are placing greater emphasis on transparency, enforcement, and measurable regulatory compliance as conditions for engagement.

The Turks and Caicos government has acknowledged the listing and stressed that the FHTP findings are centered on technical improvements rather than deliberate non-cooperation. Authorities have already commenced revisions to economic substance reporting tools, expanded enforcement powers for regulators, and strengthened compliance monitoring capacity. These steps signal a proactive intent to align with international standards and protect the jurisdiction’s standing as a credible financial center.

“The Government remains fully committed to meeting and exceeding global regulatory expectations. The identified enhancements form part of a continuous improvement process that demonstrates the jurisdiction’s proactive and cooperative approach to compliance,” a statement said. “The Turks and Caicos Islands values its reputation as a responsible international financial centre and will continue to work constructively with international partners to ensure full alignment with Economic Substance requirements and best regulatory practices.”

For investors and project sponsors active in or entering the Caribbean, this development is a timely reminder to factor regulatory risk into capital planning and due diligence. Jurisdictional assessments – particularly those affecting tax and financial reporting standards – can materially influence financing terms, partner selection, and risk pricing. Entities operating in the region should update compliance frameworks, engage with local regulators on evolving requirements, and consider how policy shifts may affect capital access over the next 12–24 months.

Ultimately, the EU tax update underscores a broader global trend: capital flows are increasingly tied to regulatory certainty and international cooperation. Caribbean markets that adapt swiftly and transparently to these expectations are better positioned to attract long-term institutional investment and reduce the friction that can stall growth capital.

BACKGROUND

The EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes was established in December 2017. It is part of the EU’s external strategy on taxation and aims to contribute to ongoing efforts to promote tax good governance worldwide.

Jurisdictions are assessed based on a set of criteria laid down by the Council. These criteria cover tax transparency, fair taxation and implementation of international standards designed to prevent tax base erosion and profit shifting. The Council updates the list twice a year. The next revision of the list is scheduled for October 2026.

RELATED: Is The Caribbean Emerging As A Global Wealth And Investment Platform?

By News Americas Business Editor

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. Feb. 168, 2026: Jamaica’s push toward year-round avocado production is more than an agricultural milestone. It represents a potential turning point in the Caribbean’s economic evolution – one that could position agriculture as a scalable investment sector capable of generating sustained export revenue, attracting private capital, and strengthening long-term food security.

Mary and Mike McLaughlin, co-founders of Trees That Feed Foundation, visiting some of the first breadfruit trees they planted in Jamaica. (Contributed image)

For the first time in its history, Jamaica is preparing to produce avocados continuously throughout the year, thanks to the introduction of three new varieties – Carla, Hass, and Semil31 – through a partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining and the Trees That Feed Foundation. The initiative is designed to eliminate traditional seasonal production gaps, allowing farmers to harvest and supply markets consistently rather than intermittently.

This shift fundamentally changes the economics of avocado production in Jamaica.

Historically, Caribbean agriculture has faced a critical limitation: unpredictability. Seasonal harvest cycles restricted farmers’ ability to meet export demand consistently, making it difficult to secure long-term contracts or attract investment in processing, logistics, and infrastructure. Year-round production, however, provides the stability required to scale output and integrate into global supply chains.

Chief Technical Director in Jamaica’s Ministry of Agriculture, Orville Palmer, emphasized the economic significance of the initiative, noting that the move aligns with the government’s strategy to expand agricultural exports while providing farmers with steady income streams. Reliable production, he said, could elevate avocado to become as economically significant to Jamaica as its iconic ackee industry.

Globally, avocado demand has surged over the past decade, driven by consumer demand in North America, Europe, and emerging markets where health-conscious diets and plant-based foods are gaining popularity. The Hass avocado alone represents a multi-billion-dollar global export market, dominated by producers such as Mexico, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Jamaica’s entry into year-round production opens the door to capturing a share of that rapidly growing sector.

Beyond exports, the development has broader implications for agricultural investment across the Caribbean.

Year-round production transforms agriculture from a seasonal activity into a predictable revenue-generating sector—one capable of supporting financing structures, infrastructure investment, and long-term business planning. Consistent output allows investors to evaluate risk more accurately, while farmers benefit from stable income rather than volatile seasonal earnings.

“Year-round production transforms crops like avocado from seasonal income sources into scalable investment assets,” said Felicia J. Persaud, CEO of Invest Caribbean and founder of AI Capital Exchange. “This creates opportunities for farmers, investors, and diaspora capital to participate in building sustainable wealth while strengthening the Caribbean’s food production and export capacity that is still heavily dependent on imports.”

The initiative also highlights the growing importance of agricultural diversification in the Caribbean’s economic future. While tourism has historically dominated the region’s economy, governments are increasingly seeking to strengthen domestic production and reduce reliance on imports. The Caribbean currently imports billions of dollars in food annually, creating both vulnerability and opportunity. Expanding local agricultural production allows countries to retain more economic value domestically while improving food resilience.

In Jamaica’s case, the new avocado varieties are being cultivated at the Bodles Research Station, where budwood sourced from the Dominican Republic is undergoing quarantine and field trials before distribution to farmers across the island. The effort reflects years of research and collaboration aimed at creating a sustainable production model suited to Jamaica’s climate and agricultural landscape.

The economic impact extends beyond farmers. Increased production supports growth across the agricultural value chain, including transportation, packaging, export logistics, and food processing. These downstream sectors generate employment, stimulate rural economies, and contribute to national GDP growth.

For the Caribbean more broadly, Jamaica’s breakthrough represents a blueprint for transforming agriculture into a modern economic engine. It demonstrates how innovation, strategic partnerships, and long-term planning can reposition traditional industries for global competitiveness.

As global demand for food continues to rise and supply chains diversify, Jamaica’s move toward year-round avocado production signals that Caribbean agriculture may be entering a new era – one defined not by subsistence or seasonality, but by scalability, investment, and economic opportunity.

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