The more than GY$2.7 billion invested by ExxonMobil in contributions and sponsorships of various organisations and activities across Guyana will not be recovered by the company, a top official said on Tuesday.
More than GY$280 million was invested in contributions and sponsorships of various organisations and activities in 2020 while almost $140 million of this amount has gone to help students, other vulnerable groups and the government adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company said.
Other contributions have helped women start businesses, people train for jobs and wildlife organizations study and conserve Guyana’s unique natural heritage, among other causes.
“This is one of the tangible gestures of our commitment to important social programmes here in Guyana,” ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge said.
He reiterated that the donations are funded directly by ExxonMobil and “will not be part of the cost recovery mechanism under the Stabroek PSA.”
Below is a summary of several programmes supported by ExxonMobil Guyana in 2020:
- Iwokrama International Center for rainforest conservation towards the Center’s Science Programme including community relations, biodiversity, climate change and hydrology projects, fundraising, publications and capital equipment.
- National Center for Education Resource Development (NCERD) to support creation and airing of educational-based programmes on television and radio for students preparing for national and regional examinations
- Volunteer Youth Corpstowards continuous STEM education afterschool programmes.
- Specialists in Sustained Youth Development and Research (SSYDR) towards the Employment Attack 102 – Job Readiness Summer Camp which will benefit 150 disadvantaged youth from Regions 2, 3, 4, 6 & 10 during the COVID-19 pandemic through training and linkages to livelihood opportunities.
- STEM Guyana to support the Virtual Academy programme for underprivileged students in 12 villages across 8 regions.
- Rotary Club of Stabroek in partnership with BrainStreet towards supporting the continuing education of students during COVID-19. The focus is on Grades 4, 5 and 6 to help students to prepare for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) and on Grades 9, 10 & 11 to help students to prepare for the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and other academic examinations.
- WeLead Caribbean towards women empowerment – human resources, business development, branding and packaging in Regions 2 and 3.
- Blue Flame Women’s Group towards the upgrade of the existing factory which produces cocoa sticks, coffee and cassava bread in Region 1.
