She will lead Team “Sweet Secrets” in the competition at the Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

Sampson is known for her work in custom cakes, pastries, and confections through Triple S Creations. Her business has received nominations for Best Wedding Cake and Best Buttercream Cake in Guyana at the Caribbean Baking Awards.

The Caribbean Baking Awards will feature over 60 nominees from across the region, focusing on technique, creativity, and the use of authentic Caribbean ingredients. Competitors will present their skills in various categories judged by a panel of culinary professionals.

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The British Virgin Islands (BVI) recently announced that its citizens do not require visas to travel to Guyana. This decision, made by the Cabinet on September 24, 2024, aligns with the BVI’s commitment to fostering closer ties and promoting easier travel for business and tourism.

Officials further stated that the Ministry’s website will be updated in due course to reflect this clarification.

This development comes amid broader efforts to facilitate regional cooperation and economic partnerships. The decision to lift visa restrictions is expected to enhance business opportunities and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.

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This change will enable travellers from the resource-rich South American nation to visit the British overseas territory without the need for a visa.

Discussions regarding this new development took place during a 2023 trade mission to Guyana led by Deputy Premier and Minister for Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, Lorna Smith.

“I’ve had discussions with the Premier. In fact, I’ve asked him very directly about the visa situation because Guyanese do require a visa to visit the BVI. He has authorised me to say that we are considering lifting that requirement, and I expect that to happen very soon,” Smith remarked last year, while noting the BVI’s commitment to establishing stronger economic ties with Guyana.

The decision follows a two-year period since the United Kingdom lifted visa entry requirements for Guyanese nationals.

Guyana’s burgeoning economy, largely driven by its substantial oil reserves, has attracted global interest from countries eager to engage with the only English-speaking country in South America.

Notably, on September 27, it was announced that Guyana and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a mutual visa-free travel agreement during the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in the United States.

With a population of just over 700,000, Guyana has emerged as the world’s fastest-growing economy following a major oil discovery in 2015 by ExxonMobil.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported a staggering GDP growth rate of 62.3% in 2022, marking the highest real GDP growth globally for that year.

By early 2024, the country had ramped up its crude oil production to 645,000 barrels per day.

The former British colony’s recoverable oil and natural gas resources are estimated at over eleven billion oil-equivalent barrels, with further explorations ongoing in its offshore waters.

Since then, ExxonMobil, alongside partners Hess and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), has identified more than thirty additional offshore discoveries in the Stabroek block.

As of September 2024, the BVI has a population of 39,534, according to United Nations estimates. Among this diverse population, Guyanese nationals make up approximately 7.2%.

Guyanese individuals have a long history of migrating to the BVI, contributing to various sectors such as education, tourism, media, and healthcare.

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These actions come amidst escalating threats from President Nicolás Maduro regarding the potential annexation of the oil-rich neighbor.

Despite Maduro’s assurances during mediation talks in December that military action against Guyana would be avoided, recent images shared by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington indicate a notable buildup of Venezuelan forces.

Christopher Hernandez-Roy, deputy director of CSIS’s Americas program, remarked on the contradictory nature of the situation, highlighting that while Venezuelan diplomats engaged with Guyanese counterparts in discussions, the military conducted tank drills in close proximity to Guyana. This juxtaposition underscores what Hernandez-Roy describes as Maduro’s “duplicitous policy.”

Venezuela has long asserted its claim to the resource-rich Essequibo region, constituting two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. However, Maduro has intensified Venezuela’s claim to this disputed area in recent months, even garnering supposed popular support through a vote in December.

Despite diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between the two nations, the aerial imagery reveals a stark reality of escalating militarization along the border. CSIS warns that such provocative actions by Venezuela increase the risk of miscalculation and loss of control over the situation.

The international dispute is currently under arbitration at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. Nevertheless, Maduro seeks to circumvent this process and negotiate directly with Guyana, a move that complicates the resolution of the conflict.

Analysts speculate on Maduro’s motives, initially interpreting his saber-rattling as a domestic strategy to bolster support ahead of anticipated elections. However, there are indications that this aggressive posture may also serve to pressure Guyana into sharing revenue from recent oil discoveries.

Venezuela’s economic woes, despite its substantial oil reserves, add further complexity to the situation. Hernandez-Roy suggests that while Maduro’s actions may have originated from domestic concerns, the current strategy appears aimed at coercing concessions from Guyana.

Amidst growing regional tensions, Brazil has deployed additional troops to its borders with both Guyana and Venezuela. Furthermore, the United States has pledged to enhance Guyana’s defense capabilities with new aircraft, helicopters, military drones, and radar technology.

In response to the escalating situation, Guyanese officials plan to engage with leaders of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) to discuss a coordinated regional response to the crisis.

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