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Your Passport to the Caribbean American Community
Jan/Feb 2020
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Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
As we approach Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it is a blessing and honor to reflect on his memory and legacy. We are inspired by this devoted Christ-follower and servant leader who poured out his life for others in order to point us all toward God’s design for humanity. As we consider his legacy, let’s be encouraged to dream big dreams, to be lights in a dark world, and celebrate our oneness in Christ (I Corinthians 12). Let me share five highlights/observations from his remarkable life. 1. Dr. King was the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize In 1964, at the age of 35, Martin Luther King Jr. became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. As parents, this resource can be used to encourage our children to be courageous and understand that their faithful and prayerful dedication to a cause will be rewarded. Cont'd on pg 5
Guyana Oil Production Begins
December 20th marked a historic milestone for Guyana, the small South American country that is soon to become the fastest growing economy in the Caribbean. ExxonMobil and its partners announced that it had produced the first commercial crude from the Liza field, located in Guyana’s offshore Stabroek Block. The output from the first phase is expected to reach capacity of 120,000 gross barrels of oil per day (bdp), utilizing the Liza Destiny floating production storage and offloading (FPSO), and the first cargo is set to be sold within several weeks. Stabroek Block is expected to produce 750,000 bpd by 2025. Guyana President David Granger declared December 20 as “National Petroleum Day” and said that the revenues from oil would be “transformative” for the Guyanese economy. The international
community agrees – the International Monetary Fund has predicted the country’s GDP could grow 86 percent next year. “That’s 14 times the projected pace of China,” according to Bloomberg. The IMF further projects that the country’s current $4 billion annual gross domestic product will grow to $15 billion by 2024. Granger took the occasion to announce the government’s “National Decade of Development” plan, which will prioritize reforming the public education system and providing free schooling for all Guyanese. The “Petroleum production has brought the prospects of a higher quality of life closer to our households and neighbourhoods. It is a momentous event,” Granger said. “Every Guyanese will benefit from petroleum production. No one will be left behind.” Recent months have seen a flurry of activity as the government takes steps to...... cont'd on pg 9
