Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 12-05-2026

Gov’t responds to thousands of issues on the spot

--after citizens brave weather to engage officials during VP-led outreach

DESPITE inclement weather conditions on Monday, there was a massive turnout at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC),

where Vice-President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo led a major public day event to continue the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)’s pat-

tern of directly engaging citizens and addressing their issues and concerns.

Many received on-thespot responses after engaging

directly with Dr. Jagdeo, and other Cabinet Ministers and officials.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the public engagement, the Vice-President affirmed that the PPP/C government is focused on implementing the promises made during its campaign at the September 2025 polls.

“We’ve done the campaign, and now we have to deliver on what we promised our people on the campaign [trail],” Jagdeo said.

The Vice-President said many of the concerns raised by citizens were related to basic community infrastructure and services, including drainage, garbage collection and street lighting.

“We heard a lot about issues surrounding drainage and community garbage collection, lights in the community, the things that we identified in the campaign, and

we are now addressing it. We have not been able to address this fully as yet,” he said.

He disclosed that nearly 90,000 streetlights are now available for installation in villages and city wards, and that the government is moving to accelerate drainage works across the country.

As part of wider security measures, Dr. Jagdeo said the administration would be rolling out around 2,000 security cameras this year in villages and communities nationwide.

“We are putting in security cameras, which is what we promised, where this year maybe about 2,000 of those would go into communities across the country and the villages, to enhance security,” he underscored.

Dr. Jagdeo pointed out that the outreach also brought together desks for several social programmes and public

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Guyana ‘more confident than ever’ of ICJ victory ––

as hearings in border case conclude

–– AG Nandlall says clear ruling will finally settle controversy, warns Venezuela cannot defy international law

GUYANA has emerged from the final oral hearings in its historic border controversy case against Venezuela at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) “more confident than ever” that the world court will uphold the 1899 Arbitral Award and definitively affirm the country’s lawful boundary.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC, made the declaration on Monday following the conclusion of proceedings in The Hague, Netherlands.

As oral hearings concluded at the ICJ at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, Nandlall described the completion of proceedings as a triumph for international law and the rules-based global order, while warning that any refusal by Venezuela to comply with the court’s eventual ruling would place Caracas in breach of fundamental international obligations.

“The very fact that this case reached the ICJ, and that the written and oral phases of the proceedings were carried out to their completions, represents a triumph for the rule of law and the rules-based international order,” Nandlall said in a statement issued shortly after hearings ended.

“Disputes between States must be resolved peacefully, finally and in conformity with international law. They must not be allowed to fester indefinitely. They must never be resolved by threat or use of military force.”

The oral hearings, held between May 4 and May 11, saw Guyana and Venezuela present arguments in two rounds of pleadings before the ICJ — the

United Nations’ highest judicial body.

The court will now deliberate before issuing its final judgment on the merits of the case, a ruling Nandlall stressed will be legally binding on both countries.

At the centre of the controversy is Guyana’s request for the court to affirm the legal validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the international boundary between then British Guiana and Venezuela.

Guyana argued the award conclusively settled the border more than a century ago, while Venezuela maintains its claim of invalidity.

Importantly, the ICJ has already ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter on its merits. In a December 2020 judgment, the court rejected Venezuela’s challenge to its authority and ruled it has the power to determine the validity of the 1899 award and the land boundary between the

two neighbouring states.

According to Nandlall, Guyana entered the hearings confident in its legal position but emerged even more optimistic after presenting its case.

He said: “Guyana is confident – in fact, after these oral hearings, Guyana is more confident than ever — that the court will uphold the legal validity of the unanimous Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899.”

Nandlal added that the court would confirm it as “the final, definitive and permanent lawful boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.”

The Attorney General praised Guyana’s presentations before the court, stating the country advanced “compelling and convincing” arguments that exposed “the lack of merit in Venezuela’s arguments both on the facts and on the law.”

He commended Guyana’s delegation, including Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd and

Guyana’s Agent in the proceedings, Carl Greenidge, while extending gratitude to the country’s international legal team led by renowned attorneys Paul Reichler, Philippe Sands and Alain Pellet.

Nandlall also revisited the history of the controversy, arguing that Venezuela accepted, respected and complied with the 1899 boundary for 63 years before suddenly challenging it in 1962 as Guyana neared independence.

He stated: “The court’s final judgment will bring to an end, the controversy that arose in 1962, when Venezuela, for the first time, challenged the lawfulness of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the international boundary it established, after accepting, respecting and complying with the Award and the boundary, without protest for 63 years.”

Nandlall further argued that Venezuela revived the claim at a strategically advantageous moment, when British troops were preparing to leave Guyana and

Caracas held “a significant military advantage” to pursue what he described as an “antiquated claim” to nearly three-quarters of Guyana’s territory.

Nandlall also provided a detailed explanation of the 1966 Geneva Agreement, which was negotiated by Britain before Guyana’s independence to ensure Venezuela’s challenge to the boundary would be resolved peacefully.

The agreement first provided for four years of bilateral negotiations, but when those talks failed, authority shifted to the UN Secretary-General to determine the appropriate means of settlement.

After more than five decades without resolution, UN Secretary-General António Guterres decided in January 2018 that the controversy should be settled by the ICJ — a decision Nandlall stressed was binding on both states. Guyana subsequently initiated proceedings before the Court in March of that year.

The Attorney General drew a sharp contrast between Guyana’s pledge to respect the court’s decision and statements from Venezuelan officials suggesting Caracas may refuse to comply.

“Guyana has pledged repeatedly, including at these oral hearings, that it will abide by the court’s judgment, whatever it may be,” he said.

By contrast, he noted: “We have heard the statements of Venezuela’s representatives at these hearings, including today, that they do not accept the ICJ’s jurisdiction and will not abide by its rulings.”

According to Nandlall, any refusal to comply with the court would constitute “a breach of its most solemn obligations under the United Nations Charter, the Charter of the Organization of American States, and general international law.”

He added that the international community would not permit fundamental principles of the rules-based order to be undermined.

Even so, he stressed that Guyana remains committed to peace and cooperation.

“We will continue to address Venezuela in a spirit of peace, cooperation and friendship, and as sovereign equals,” Nandlall said, while insisting that Venezuela refrain from “trespassing on, or threatening, Guyana’s sovereignty.”

He expressed hope that Venezuela’s rejection of the court reflects the emotions of litigation and that, ultimately, both nations will accept the judgment as the basis for “a just and lasting peace, and an enduring friendship.”

Trump to sign orders to boost beef imports, grow herds in bid to reduce record prices

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to sign executive orders on Monday to allow increased beef imports into the U.S. and to support renewal of the U.S. cattle herd in an effort to address high beef prices, a White House official said.

The official did not provide details on the two executive orders, which come at a time when the U.S. cattle herd has shrunk to its lowest level in 75 years and beef prices continue to climb.

Earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump would temporarily suspend tariff-rate quotas on beef, which would allow more of the meat to enter the U.S. at lower tariff rates.

The newspaper said Trump would direct the Small Business Administration to increase lending ⁠to ranchers and to reduce protections under the Endangered Species Act for gray and Mexican wolves that

prey on herds.

Expectations for increased beef imports from Brazil weighed on U.S. cattle futures after Trump met Brazilian President Inacio Lula da Silva last week. On Monday, Chicago Mercantile Exchange June live cattle futures shook off early losses to end slightly higher, while August feeder cattle dropped 0.5%.

Although prices for eggs, milk, and other grocery staples have fallen since Trump took office in January 2025, beef prices continue to climb, a symbol of persistent inflation for American consumers as the summer backyard grilling season gets underway.

Last October, Trump ordered a quadrupling of beef imports from Argentina, and a month later removed his 40% punitive tariff on Brazilian beef and coffee.

The moves did little to reverse beef prices, which

were up 12.1% year-overyear in April, according to the Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index. Beef is more than 16% more expensive than Trump ⁠returned to office in January 2025.

HAMBURGER HELPER

The U.S. cattle herd has dwindled to a 75-year low after ranchers slashed their herds because of a persistent drought that burned up grazing lands and raised feeding costs. High cattle prices have also encouraged ranchers to sell livestock to be slaughtered, instead of keeping them for breeding.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has projected that the country will import a record 5.8 billion pounds of beef this year, up about 6% from 2025 and 25% from 2024.

Most imports are ⁠lean

beef trimmings that are mixed with U.S. supplies to make ground beef, said David Anderson, agricultural economist at Texas A&M University. He said more

imports could help hamburger restaurants reduce their ingredient costs, but he did not expect prices to fall significantly for consumers.

“We were already im -

porting a record amount. How much more does this get ⁠on top of what we were already importing?” Anderson said. “I’m hard-pressed to see this is going to be a huge effect on prices. It would be tough to have this be a huge influx of supply.”

Bill Bullard, CEO of cattle producers’ group R-CALF USA, said increased imports also could discourage American ⁠ranchers from expanding their herds. Smaller cattle feeders could even exit the industry if prices drop far enough, he said.

Consumers may not see benefits as ranchers come under pressure, Bullard said.

“We’ve had record imports for the past three years and at the same time consumers continue to pay record prices for beef,” he added. (Reuters)

Over 200 RDC employees trained in ICT

MORE than 200 employees from Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) nationwide have undergone training under the government’s national ICT initiative to strengthen digital service delivery and improve data

processing and governance at the local level.

The programme, spearheaded by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), forms part of a wider effort to build digital capacity in the 10 regions through the es-

tablishment of ICT hubs and structured training in both communities and government agencies.

OPM’s Project Manager, Ronald Harsawack, explained that it is important to equip frontline public servants with the necessary skills to manage digital services and citizen data effectively.

“We recognise that the RDC people are the frontline people in these communities, and it is only fitting that if we train the community members, we have to train the service providers as well to learn how to deal with data that comes in and the backend processing,” Harsawack stated.

He noted that the training provided to RDC and public service personnel is more advanced than community-level sessions, focusing on data handling, service delivery systems, and efficient digital reporting back to central government ministries.

According to Harsawack, some 204 public servants have been trained to date, ensuring that regional offices are better equipped to receive, process, and respond to citizen requests more efficiently and transparently.

The initiative aligns with the government’s broader

push to modernise public administration and reduce bureaucratic delays through digital transformation.

During his press conference after being re-elected for a second term, President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali outlined an ambitious national digitisation agenda to deliver an integrated digital government system.

The president noted that his administration is working to ensure most government services are fully digitised before the end of the second quarter of 2026, enabling citizens to access key services such as passports, birth certificates, driver’s licences, and national identification through unified online platforms.

He also emphasised that the transformation is intended to improve service delivery, enhance efficiency, and bring government services closer to citizens, particularly in remote and hinterland communities.

The ICT training of RDC officials is therefore seen as a critical pillar in supporting this national vision, ensuring digital systems introduced at the community level are effectively managed and sustained by trained public officers across all regions. (DPI)

‘Guyanese from all 10 regions will benefit from contracts’

–– Jagdeo says; points to technical scrutiny underway to address irregularities before contracts are awarded

VICE-PRESIDENT,

Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has reaffirmed that small contractors from all 10 administrative regions will benefit from government contracts, as the administration pushes ahead with the aim of widening opportunities and enhancing transparency in public procurement.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a major public day, which he led at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Monday, Dr. Jagdeo said many persons had turned up specifically to inquire about contracts.

He noted that the government had launched a pre-qualification exercise for small contractors to formalise and broaden access to contracts while ensuring compliance with the Procurement Act.

In the past, he noted, contracts valued below $15 million were awarded without a tender process, though still in keeping with the law, and this had helped “thousands of Guyanese.”

Some people, however, complained they were unaware of how to benefit, prompting the shift to a more structured system.

“We went through a pre-qualification exercise because we wanted to enhance transparency surrounding the award of contracts. We wanted to help more small people get contracts,” he said, adding, “We wanted to help more small people get contracts. So, in the past, contracts were awarded to people

below $15 million without a tender process consistent with the law, the Procurement Act, and thousands of Guyanese were helped.”

According to Dr. Jagdeo, nearly 12,000 small contractors submitted documents during the exercise. He said the list is being vetted by technical staff to address several irregularities which were uncovered.

He pointed to cases where family members registered multiple companies, despite this being prohibited in the prequalification guidelines, and instances where large contractors attempted to enter the system through smaller operators.

“We’ve been vetting the list with a lot of difficulties. You have some people who… four family members might have four different companies, and we prohibited that in the pre-qualification document. Some others… big contractors who are trying to get in with a small contractor. So, it’s been a difficult exercise to clean the list or cleanse the list,” he said.

Jagdeo stressed that once the list is cleansed, the government’s intention is to ensure that every legitimately pre-qualified contractor receives work over time.

“I want everyone to know, once you’re prequalified legitimately… let’s say of the 12,000, 11,000 contractors are legitimately pre-qualified, [then] over the course of the year, we’ll try to get at

least one contract each,” he said.

“But everyone wants to go in the first round… if they see now that some contracts are being awarded because we have to start at the beginning, they complain they are left out. But we can’t award 10,000 contracts at the same time,” Dr. Jagdeo reasoned.

He emphasised that the programme’s core objective is to help small businesses grow.

“The idea was to help small people to grow. We campaigned on this, and we are doing it now. We never said it would be an easy task, because you have a lot of people who are trying to cheat the system, and we are sometimes caught in the middle, and we have to take tough decisions, but we will do so,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

He contrasted the current policy with the previous approach to public contracts under the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), accusing the former administration of favouring a narrow group of large contractors.

“Guyanese across Guyana, in all 10 regions, are going to benefit from additional procurement opportunities, particularly small people. We could have easily done like APNU and the others, and give the contracts to a few big people, which is what they did. That’s not our track record.

We want to grow a lot of small people,” he affirmed.

Contract Opportunities

VICE-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo’s recent assurance that small contractors across all 10 administrative regions will benefit from government contracts is a step in the right direction.

It is telling that some 12,000 small contractors reportedly submitted documents under the government’s pre-qualification exercise.

It is a sign not only of confidence in the process, but of the scale of demand among ordinary Guyanese for a chance to participate in the country’s economic expansion.

Access to State contracts is one of the clearest tests of whether growth is reaching communities across the country as oil revenues reshape the national economy.

Contracts under $15 million could be awarded without a tender process for years under the law.

The Vice-President himself said that system helped thousands.

But it also led to a persistent complaint: Many eligible citizens

simply didn’t know how to get to those opportunities.

Therefore, a structured pre-qualification system is a necessary step. Transparency in public procurement is not a luxury; it’s critical to public confidence. For citizens to have faith in the fair distribution of State resources, the process must be open, clear and guided by rules that apply to everyone equally.

The challenge, however, is in implementation. Jagdeo’s acknowledgement that the vetting process had thrown up several anomalies, including companies associated with families making multiple attempts to enter, and larger contractors trying to gain entry through smaller operators, underscores the vulnerability of public programmes when money is involved.

That fact should not surprise anyone. Whenever government opens a door intended to level the playing field, more entrenched interests will inevitably try to capture

the benefit.

The administration, thus, is right to clean up the list, and to apply the pre-qualification rules with a heavy hand. We must not let a system built for small contractors turn into a back door for the powerful.

At the same time, the government has to be honest about expectations. The vice- president is right; you can’t hand out thousands of contracts all at once. But that practical limitation also has a political danger.

Frustration is inevitable when some get contracts early and some have to wait. That’s why transparency is even more important in such cases. To retain confidence in the process, there must be clear timelines, public criteria, and periodic updates.

The broader principle is right: A country in the midst of rapid economic transformation cannot afford to build prosperity on narrow foundations. Small contractors create jobs, keep money circulating

locally, and help to grow entrepreneurship beyond the traditional business class.

Strategic use of public procurement can be one of the most powerful tools to broaden participation in Guyana’s development. And that’s why the scenes at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Monday also held significance.

Hundreds of citizens braved the bad weather to seek help, raise concerns, and pursue opportunities. Directly engaging the officials were old persons, women with children, differently-abled citizens, and youth seeking contracts, business support, and tertiary education assistance.

That turnout sent a very clear message: Guyanese are not interested in hearing about development. They want to touch it.

So, too, is Jagdeo’s further statement that the government has moved from electioneering to delivery. Campaign pledges; governments must deliver!

His explanation that he has been busy in recent months planning, implementing, developing housing, and managing the economy rather than making public appearances is reasonable enough.

Citizens judge governments not only by plans made behind closed doors, but by roads built, homes delivered, contracts shared fairly, and livelihoods improved.

So, the administration has set itself an ambitious benchmark. It has promised inclusive growth; not just growth. Not just spending, but a fair chance.

When successfully implemented, thousands of small contractors all over Guyana could gain a foothold in the economy and help spread the benefits of national development well beyond Georgetown and the established business elite.

The government has made its choice known. It wants to give all Guyanese the opportunity to participate in building the country.

Gov’t responds to thousands...

assistance measures, allowing people to deal with issues on the spot.

“People have come about NIS, cash grant, all of those things… you have desks here. Minister Ashni is here with his staff.

If people had any difficulty qualifying for the cash grant or an NIS problem, they’re going to address that. Old Age Pension, public assistance… They’re here to address those issues too,” the Vice-President said.

Housing emerged as one of the most pressing concerns at the engagement, with Dr. Jagdeo acknowledging both the high demand and the re-

gional backlog, particularly in Region Four.

“Housing is a big issue. A lot of people need house lots, and they need them now, and they need houses,” he said.

Dr. Jagdeo outlined the government’s target to clear the backlog in all nine regions except Region Four by the end of next year, ensuring that applicants receive their house lots within that period.

Region Four, he explained, would take “a little bit longer” due to the volume of applications.

He also reiterated the administration’s commitment to construct 40,000 homes, including low-income and

young professional units, at an estimated cost of about $600 billion.

Elderly, persons with disabilities, and women with children were prioritised as meetings continued well into the evening.

Young persons also engaged officials; many seeking support to further tertiary studies and pursue opportunities for small contracts and business ventures.

“I come here today to look for employment…the process today so far is very good and it’s helping the small class of people to get contracts…help them to build themselves to a stan-

dard and I respect that,”

Andrew Williams told the Guyana Chronicle.

Meanwhile, Treon Sancho, who also joined citizens to have their concerns heard, praised the government for the initiative.

He highlighted for him, that the process was smooth and simple, with many persons like himself learning of opportunities to partake in the country’s growing economy.

“I find the process was very smooth, like the fact that they make it simple for people that are interested and who have the talent to execute what they want do,

whether its infrastructural works, whatever the government might provide for them, I find that it is a good step that they take because some people have the talent but they don’t know where to go,” Sancho shared.

Engagements with officials continued well into the evening, with Dr. Jagdeo bringing down the curtains with a call for government ministries and the relevant agencies to continue engagements and follow-up with citizens who would have raised concerns.

Monday’s initiative is part of the PPP/C administration’s ongoing effort to

engage with citizens faceto-face and address issues related to housing, social services, and employment, among other things.

Previous public days have drawn thousands of Guyanese. They take advantage of the open format to seek help or advice on various issues from multiple ministries in one location.

Monday’s event continued a trend of direct outreach by the PPP/C government. They have also been conducting Cabinet-led regional engagements, where residents raise personal and community concerns with senior officials.

Banks DIH, Leonard Craig and class society in Guyana

THERE is a law of human behaviour that is older than earth itself. This norm in civilisation is permanent and will only cease to exist when the world dies. It goes like this. If you get the law to remove your neighbour’s derelict vehicle from your parapet, you cannot put your abandoned car on another neighbour’s parapet.

The essence of conscience, the role of moral obligation, and the core of civilised behaviour are at stakes here and society collapses if you can get a pig farm in Alberttown removed but you have a pig farm in Queenstown.

I wanted to pull over on the parapet at Meadow Bank public road outside Thirst Park. There were cones along the parapet stretching for over half a mile taking up that space outside Thirst Park.

The Banks DIH personnel refused to move the cones so I could park in a public spot to which I was entitled. I complained to the police. Then Traffic Chief, Superintendent Stephens with three ranks went down to Thirst Park. With surveillance cameras, they saw the Traffic Chief but no one came out. After 15 minutes, we left.

Years after that incident, Banks DIH took the City Council to court to stop ven-

dors from encumbering the pavement where DEMICO is situated at Stabroek Square.

The company won, the vendors were removed. In his Chronicle column yesterday, my friend Leonard Craig made reference to my complaint against Banks DIH and stated that he cannot support the cones being removed from Banks DIH and no other places.

I agree but the other places Craig refers to did not go on the high horse and asked the courts to intervene.

Banks DIH did, therefore, it has no moral foundation to put cones on the public parapet. That is the point Craig missed, the point of privileged sections of Guyana being “wrong and strong.”

There is another point Craig missed. No Guyanese in the past or at the moment or in the future, maybe in the next 200 years that has a 20-million-dollar car, wealthy economic status and lives on an acre of land, will set up a tiny wooden structure on the public parapet and sell mauby, egg-balls and black-pudding.

Craig complains that vending has become a lawless state of affairs but vending is more complex than what we think.

These are poor folks trying to exist in a world where they face disadvantages. Should Guyana allow reckless vending that poses

health and traffic risk? The answer is no. There isn’t any Guyanese that would accept ubiquitous vending that has become overbearing. There cannot be an iron policy of forceful removal of vending in Guyana without a thoughtfully and carefully worked out policy.

There is a third point Craig missed and that is the class content in the connection between removal of wrong things in Guyana, and who the removed things belong to.

If the City Council and the Ministry of Public Works decide on a non-discriminatory, open policy of national removal of public encumbrances, is Craig telling me there won’t be sacred cows and untouchable? There will be. And that privileged school will do their thing in a barefaced manner.

I was with the Traffic Chief when Banks DIH officials snubbed him. If it was a vendor, all Guyanese know she would have said, “Ah right sir, ah gun move it.” I was there when the Traffic Chief waited for 15 minutes for someone from Banks DIH to come out and talk to him.

I did two columns and two programmes on the Freddie Kissoon Show on the Banks DIH incident. The cones are still there.

Let me tell my good friend Craig of my expe -

rience. I was going to the General Post Office to see our mutual friend, Michael Carrington.

Hand-in-Hand Insurance Company occupies the four parapets, yes (believe it or leave it) four streets. So, I moved two of the cones on North Road affirming my right to park on a public space. The security came out and I stood my ground.

I went to Eve Leary and

the police came. The manager came out and ushered the officer into the building and not me. I told the officer not to go, that the discussion must be transparent.

The officer instructed Hand-In-Hand not to put cones on the public parapet. That was eight years ago. The cones are still there. If it was an ordinary man that had put two cones on the parapet, once police had ar-

rived, he would have moved it. Do you know who Handin-Hand and Banks DIH are? I hope all Guyanese do.

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.

Republic Bank rolls out ‘Mortgage Move’ offering new competitive rates

REPUBLIC Bank (Guyana) Limited has unveiled another major upgrade to its residential mortgage portfolio with the introduction of the Republic Mortgage Move, a new facility designed to allow homeowners with existing mortgages at other banks to transfer their loans to Republic Bank at a more competitive interest rate while accessing additional financing for home improvements and expansion.

The initiative, according to a press release, builds on the bank’s February 2026 announcement, when it removed its lending ceiling on residential mortgages and rolled out a five per cent rate on loans of up to $60 million, a move it said was made in direct response to the government’s housing agenda under the 2026 National Budget.

Under the newly announced Mortgage Move, customers from other commercial banks holding res-

idential mortgages valued between $20 million and $40 million can now migrate their loans to Republic Bank and benefit from an interest rate of 4.70 per cent, while simultaneously qualifying for top-up financing for renovations, expansion or other personal needs.

Republic Bank’s expanded tiered structure now offers 3.50 per cent on amounts up to $9 million, 4.25 per cent on amounts above $9 million and up to $20 million, 4.70 per cent on amounts above $20 million and up to $40 million, and five per cent on amounts above $40 million and up to $60 million.

The bank reiterated that it maintains no lending ceiling for residential mortgages, meaning there is no cap on the amount Guyanese can borrow, subject to individual qualification and need.

Customers also continue to benefit from up to 100 per cent financing, zero negotiation and attorney fees, extended repayment

terms, monthly amortised payments, and online application and document submission. The bank’s latest offering arrives at a moment when housing finance and home ownership is at the centre of Guyana’s national development agenda.

Budget 2026 allocated $159.1 billion to housing, with the government targeting the construction of

40,000 new homes over the next five years in what has been described as one of the most ambitious housing drives in the country’s history.

The budget also raised the low-income mortgage ceiling from $20 million to $30 million and extended the facility to insurance companies, deepening competition and broadening access for ordinary wage earners.

A complementary $7.5 billion home-improvement

subsidy programme was also unveiled to directly support low- and middle-income families.

These policy shifts have been accompanied by record-breaking activity in the housing sector. The Ministry of Housing surpassed its five-year target of 50,000 house-lot allocations in 2025, with the government continuing to expand eligibility criteria, reduce application waiting times, and open access for young

people aged 21 and over. In keeping with the path of development, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) recently rolled out a new mortgage structure with rates starting at three per cent, effective May 1, 2026, while Demerara Bank Limited previously raised its housing loan ceiling from $30 million to $40 million at five per cent. Republic Bank’s Mortgage Move, by directly targeting customers already servicing mortgages at rival institutions, sets the stage for a fresh round of competition in a market increasingly defined by lower rates, larger ceilings and more flexible terms.

Republic Bank said it remains committed to providing strategic, affordable and customer-focused solutions that help more Guyanese invest in their homes with greater ease and flexibility, positioning the Mortgage Move as the latest step in its effort to meet the evolving needs of customers across the low-, middle- and high-income segments.

CDC warns of heightened flood risk --as heavy

rainfall

expected across Guyana

THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC), on Monday, warned of a heightened risk of flooding across Guyana as periods of above-normal rainfall are expected to continue over the coming days.

In a public advisory issued, the CDC said information from the Hydrometeorological Service indicates that rainfall capable of causing flooding is expected to persist nationwide from May 11 to 13, with a more significant increase in rainfall forecast for May 14 and 15.

As such, all regions are likely to be impacted during the five-day period, with low-lying and poorly drained areas particularly vulnerable to flooding.

However, the commission identified Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six as among the areas that are most at risk.

Authorities further warned that the prolonged rainfall could result in coastal flooding, drainage overflow, road inundation, agricultural flooding affecting crops and livestock, riverine flooding and possible community isolation.

Further, the advisory noted that transportation delays, including disruptions to airstrips and trails, are also possible.

Against this backdrop, residents were urged to avoid flood-prone areas whenever possible and to exercise caution while driving or walking during periods of rainfall,

especially in areas affected by pooling water.

The CDC further advised members of the public to clear drains, trenches and waterways to reduce the risk of flooding, secure important documents and valuables, prepare sandbags, and elevate furniture if living on the lower flat of a building.

The advisory, as such, encouraged citizens to continue monitoring official forecasts and advisories and to report any flooding, rising water levels or related impacts to the National Emergency Monitoring System.

Court of Appeal affirms SOCU’s authority to pursue asset detention

–– under AML Law

THE Court of Appeal of Guyana has dismissed an attempt by Brazilian businessman Sebastiao De Oliveira and mining company Moura Gago Gold Incorporated to challenge the legal authority of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) to institute court proceedings under Guyana’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act.

The court ruled that the proposed appeal had no realistic chance of succeeding.

SOCU alleges constitute tainted property connected to suspected money laundering activities.

The assets were initially detained following a February 2024 joint operation involving SOCU, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Guyana Gold Board and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

The High Court later issued detention orders preserving the assets until May 2025. However, former acting Chief Justice Roxane George — who now serves

In a judgment delivered on Monday, a three-judge appellate panel comprising Justices of Appeal Dawn Gregory, Jo-Ann Barlow and Rafiq Khan dismissed the Notice of Motion seeking leave to appeal a previous Full Court ruling which found that SOCU has the legal capacity to bring proceedings under the AML/ CFT Act.

At the heart of the appeal was whether SOCU possesses the legal personality required to institute proceedings in court for the detention, restraint and forfeiture of property under anti-money laundering laws.

De Oliveira and Moura Gago Gold Inc. had argued that amendments to the AML/CFT Act in 2022 and 2023 did not confer legal personality on SOCU and that, unless an entity is formally established as a body corporate or otherwise clothed with legal standing, it cannot sue or be sued.

The appeal arises from an ongoing legal battle over millions of dollars in gold and cash linked to De Oliveira Moura and Moura Gago Gold Incorporated. At the centre of the matter are 4,018.15 pennyweights of gold valued at approximately $80.9 million, and $81.1 million in cash, which

as Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary — subsequently ordered the release of the gold and cash.

Soon after, SOCU instituted five money laundering charges against De Oliveira under the AML/CFT Act. He was subsequently granted bail totalling $1.7 million in connection with the allegations.

Although the assets were returned in November 2025, the agency later re-seized the gold and cash, arguing they were at risk of dissipation and required as evidence in the ongoing criminal proceedings.

More recently, acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh granted SOCU fresh detention orders under Section 37A of the AML/CFT Act, finding the agency had set out “cogent evidence” and demonstrated “reasonable grounds” to justify continued seizure of the property as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation.

In opposing the latest appeal, SOCU argued there was “no real prospect of success,” contending that amendments to the legislation — particularly Sections 39 and 109A of the AML/CFT Act — expressly identify SOCU as a “relevant Competent Authority” and provide the statutory basis for it to engage the

courts in matters prescribed under the law. SOCU further argued the issue had become largely academic because the original detention proceedings were no longer before the court. The appellate court agreed.

“Having considered the material placed before the court, the applicants have not satisfied us that they have met the threshold for the grant of leave to appeal,” the judges ruled.

Under Section 6(4) of the Court of Appeal Act, leave must first be obtained before appealing a decision of the Full Court arising out of summary proceedings, and such leave is only granted where an intended appeal has a “realistic prospect of success.” The court noted that a “fanciful appeal” does not meet that legal threshold.

The judges endorsed the earlier reasoning of the Full Court, which overturned a High Court finding that SOCU lacked legal personality to institute proceedings.

The Full Court had ruled that the AML/CFT Act expressly assigns SOCU functions involving the “restraining, seizing, detaining and forfeiting of tainted property” and that it would be “illogical” to conclude Parliament intended for the agency to carry out those re-

sponsibilities while denying it the procedural means to approach the courts.

The Court of Appeal held: “In light of the express statutory designation of SOCU as a Relevant Competent Authority, combined with the statutory power to apply for restraining orders and its mandate to restrain and seize tainted property, this court finds that SOCU

does possess significant legal capacity under the AML/CFT Act to institute proceedings for the restraint and detention of property. Formal incorporation is not required. Parliament has, by necessary implication arising from its statutory function, conferred the requisite legal standing.”

The appellate panel also agreed with the Full Court’s reliance on the Jamaican

case of Andrew Hamilton v Assets Recovery Agency, which found that statutory agencies do not need formal corporate status to initiate proceedings where legislation expressly authorises them to act.

Ultimately, the Court of Appeal dismissed the application for leave to appeal and made no order as to costs.

MoH introduces quality audit system to improve patient care

- random checks, protocol monitoring, staff training to be done to strengthen standards

AS Guyana’s healthcare system continues to develop, adherence to standards remains a major focus of the Ministry of Health.

Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony recently disclosed that the ministry will be rolling out a new quality audit system.

This initiative will see doctors and nurses being monitored to ensure established treatment protocols are followed, while internal audit teams will conduct random checks of patient records to assess the standard and consistency of care being delivered.

These steps will be taken to identify gaps, which will be highlighted to healthcare workers who will then be tasked with correcting the issues and, in some cases, be offered training if issues persist. These steps, the minister

noted, will ensure that issues within the sector are identified and addressed before any patients are harmed.

Speaking on the importance of guidelines, Minister Anthony noted that the system will be rolled out across all areas of the medical landscape.

He explained that the system will work to find and highlight small but impactful gaps that may exist within Guyana’s health institutions.

Citing the example of healthcare professionals keeping up-to-date with patient medication, he said, “Let us say it is somebody who is diabetic and they go to a health centre. They are getting care, but maybe their blood sugar is not controlled. And you need to move from maybe first level medication to another level of medication, but that has not

been happening for several months.

Now, we have developed guidelines of how to care for patients,” he said. This system will seek to highlight the gaps between how patients are being treated and what should be the established protocol.

Moreover, the ministry will conduct random quality checks at healthcare facilities.

The minister explained that these random assessments will examine patient charts and compare the level of care being delivered to the standard set out by the ministry.

He noted, “Our internal audit or quality audit, clinical audit, they would go out, pull random charts, check the charts, see whether or not the patient has been receiving the care that they should be

Speaking recently on the ‘Starting Point’ podcast, Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony said the ministry will be rolling out a quality audit system (Starting Point Podcast photo)

receiving. If there is a gap, then they would point that out to the physician and the nurses and so forth and they will give them a couple of months to get these things corrected.”

The minister added, “In some cases, if the committee believes that these persons need additional training, then they’ll recommend additional training.”

Emphasising confidence in the system and the impact it will have on the sector, Minister Anthony noted that it will ensure that doctors and nurses keep up to date with protocols, particularly as new protocols are consistently introduced.

“Once you have people checking, I think doctors and

nurses would have to make sure that they are compliant with what these protocols are,” he said, adding, “Sometimes people trained maybe 20 years ago, and they are not reading the new protocols… You can have that gap in terms of treatment, and that is what we want to prevent,” he said. This move is aimed at creating what the minister called “qualitative change” in how patients are being managed.

This move also extends to recently commissioned hospitals, with the minister noting that these new facilities will partner with the Joint Accreditation Commission (JCI), an international body that, once invited, works with

health institutions across the world to ensure that they meet accreditation standards. To acquire these standards, however, several protocols must be put in place.

“Our six hospitals, we have put them on a JCI pathway programme, which means that people can come in, do random checks to see if we have these standards, if we are practicing what we have on paper and things like that. So, you have these random checks. Everybody must at all times be doing the right things,” he said adding, “The whole thrust here is to make sure that patients would get the best care and that’s the bottom line here.”

The minister noted that while medical errors are a hurdle across the world, here in Guyana these errors should not be the result of failures within the healthcare system.

He noted, “Medical errors across the world have been a problem and therefore we want to ensure that we eliminate that or reduce that significantly,” he said adding, “It must not be because our systems have erred. It must be that we have done everything for the patient and nothing more could have been done.”

With the rollout of this initiative, the minister said a change in mindset and philosophy is needed, reinforcing that with a culture of accountability, systems are better run and more lives are saved.

Guyana records decline in maternal deaths

THE Ministry of Health is continuing its robust, hands-on approach to addressing maternal deaths within Guyana’s healthcare system.

Speaking on the most recent episode of the ‘Starting Point’ podcast, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony noted that the last decade has seen a decline in maternal death rates, with only an estimated 12 deaths reported last year.

Speaking on this change and the steps guiding it, the minister cited targeted healthcare interventions and specialised training as major drivers behind this shift.

Giving insight into the healthcare hurdle of maternal deaths, Minister Anthony noted that Guyana has seen a steady decline over the last decade. Moreover, he noted that there are a number of causes and factors that contribute to maternal deaths, highlighting complications such as postpartum haemorrhaging, which has been a familiar challenge for the sector.

In response, the ministry has equipped more of Guyana’s health landscape to better tackle this challenge.

“The reports over the last, I would say, 10 years, we have seen a decline in maternal deaths, and that is because of the interventions that we have put in place.”

He added that in the last three to four years, there have not been any cases of postpartum haemorrhage-related deaths. This, the minister credits to the development of training within the

sector, noting, “I attribute that largely to the kinds of training that we have given to our healthcare workers.

One of those major causes has been removed, basically.”

While development in training and the introduction of more specialised personnel have been major drivers in this area, Minister Anthony also credited the implementation of waiting homes. As he explained, waiting homes, apart from the standard waiting areas in hospitals, are separate buildings situated within hospital compounds to facilitate mothers who live far distances away from the hospital in the time leading up to labour.

The minister explained this ensures pregnant mothers are not travelling to the hospital during labour, an occurrence which was a common issue in interior and riverain areas.

To date, the ministry has established six of these waiting homes.

Speaking on their impact, he noted, “Prior to the wait-

ing homes, a lot of people on their way to the hospital would deliver the baby. And sometimes that’s very unsafe and it can lead to a lot of complications.”

He further shared that the goal is to ensure that every interior hospital has a waiting home.

He added that the impact is already being felt. Highlighting this impact, he noted, “We have already seen the impact. Take Region One, for example. Last year, they did not have any maternal deaths, which is great.”

Strict adherence to protocols is also an area that the ministry has worked to strengthen. As Minister Anthony shared, the ministry has implemented a standard procedure following a maternal death, with the patient’s information being sent to the Chief Medical Officer and a full internal review being conducted.

“When a maternal death occurs, what we do immediately, within 24 hours, the entire chart for that patient is basically seized. And that has to be sent to the chief

- Health Minister credits specialised training, waiting homes, stricter accountability measures

medical officer,” he said adding, “They will set up an internal team at that institution who will review the case. And then you have an external team that would go in and also do a review.”

Accountability is also a major pillar of the ministry’s push against maternal deaths. As the minister noted, when negligence is found, that person is brought before the Medical Council.

“If there is any negligence on anybody’s behalf, that person is then taken in front of the medical coun -

cil. And medical council would decide what actions to take. So, that has been our approach to it. And for the nurses, if there’s any negligence on their part, then they go before the nursing council,” he shared.

The minister noted that in extreme cases, healthcare professionals can have their licences revoked, effectively ensuring that they are unable to practise in Guyana.

Minister Anthony noted that while these cases have not been common, the processes and steps implement-

ed by the ministry ensure that not only is maternal healthcare in Guyana improved, but an ecosystem is also created to ensure patient safety and that healthcare professionals are held accountable.

“In extreme cases, you can have your licence pulled and you’re prevented from practising in Guyana. That goes both for nurses and doctors,” he said adding, “They do take actions. There is disciplinary action that is taken. It is not just on paper.”

Extraordinary rates of real economic growth recorded in Guyana – Finance Minister

SENIOR Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, on Friday last, underscored the extraordinary rates of real economic growth taking place in Guyana.

The minister was at the time speaking at the Guyana Energy Agency’s National Seminar on Energy Efficiency and Conservation, where he emphasised that energy efficiency and conservation is a conversation that is “absolutely essential,” even from an economic standpoint.

He told attendees that Guyana is growing at extraordinary rates of real economic growth, and, as a result, we are seeing an unprecedented build-out of building infrastructure (industrial, commercial, and residential), particularly more factories, office buildings, and homes than at any point in Guyana’s history. This is an era of the build-out of a modern Guyana, he pointed out.

Dr Singh stated that, in

addition to this, this is also an era where more jobs are being created than at any other time in our history.

Over the last five years, the Government of Guyana would have created more than 104,000 jobs. This, he said, is in a population that has grown tremendously.

He emphasised that this is a staggering number.

Dr Singh said, “More people are working, more people are earning, more Guyanese persons are earning, and people are living different from how they were living fifteen, ten, or even five years ago.”

The finance minister reminded his audience that we often cite another very significant statistic, and that is that every three months, an additional 10,000 cars are registered, and are brought into use in Guyana. While acknowledging that to others 10,000 may not sound like a big number, he firmly said that in Guyana’s environment, in a population

like ours, an additional ten thousand vehicles placed on our roadways every three months is a very staggering number.

Dr Singh remarked, “More persons are owning homes, [and] more persons are owning motorcars and driving motorcars on the road. And a lot of the things that we might historically have considered to be a luxury are in fact now considered to be very basic.”

One such example provided by the minister is the era where owning an electric fan in your home was a luxury. Today, almost every Guyanese home has this item, or an Air Conditioning Unit, and other electrical appliances.

This is evidence that more Guyanese are earning, and have more disposable income to live differently, he said, adding that families should be able to own their own car/ own their own means of transportation. They should also be able to live in their homes in comfort.

Additionally, Dr Singh said Guyana needs better sensitisation, and a better-informed population so that people can make better choices in terms of the cars that they buy or the design of house, the windows and doors that are installed and the temperature control systems and cooling systems that are installed in homes.

The minister emphasised that Guyanese are enjoying this massive transformation, which has unsurprisingly resulted in a closely correlated astronomical growth in the

demand for electricity.

On that note, Dr Singh said, “We have built our first gas pipeline. Landed it at a place called Wales in Guyana. And we are building a new power plant under the Prime Minister’s leadership, stewardship, and of course in keeping with our President’s vision for Guyana’s transformation, we are building a new power plant that will generate 300 megawatts of power using our gas resources. And based on our projected energy use, the Low Carbon Development Strat-

egy has a very nice chart, a stacked bar chart, that shows growth in energy demand and how the alternative, the different sources from which this demand will be met, and the transition from fossil fuels to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy mix.”

The 300-megawatt power plant is projected to double Guyana’s energy generating capacity. All of this electricity will be utilised and more will be needed because of the industrial development taking place.

Regional co-operation in metrology, consumer safety to take centre stage

GUYANA, through the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, is hosting the Mid-Term SIM Week 2026, which will end on May 15, 2026.

This significant regional event is expected to bring together metrology experts, technical specialists, scientists, and representatives from across the Americas under the umbrella of the Inter-American Metrology System (SIM).

Mid-Term SIM Week, according to the GNBS, serves as a platform for scientific and technical collaboration, strengthening measurement standards and quality systems, knowledge sharing and innovation, advancing regional co-operation in metrology and calibration.

Speaking more about the event was Head of Legal Metrology Department at the GNBS, Shailendra Rai.

Rai explained that the Inter-American Metrology

System promotes, supports and integrates measurement infrastructure across the Americas by ensuring global traceability to international systems of units of measurement.

Further, it strengthens National Metrology Institute (the GNBS), facilitates trade, and encourages innovation,

The QSTF is the Quality System Task Force that deals with the quality management systems for laboratories,” Rai explained.

In addition, the council members will discuss and coordinate activities relating to the quality systems for laboratories in terms of helping these laboratories to obtain

while also ensuring consumer safety through collaboration among member nations.

“So, the meeting that we are having in Guyana is the council meeting, where they are going to be deliberating on matters relating to the operation and function of SIM. And in addition to that, they also have what we call the QSTF meetings as well.

accreditation to international standards.

There are already a number of activities planned for the week ahead. Among them are the QSTF meeting which will continue today at the GNBS and a symposium on Thursday to celebrate World Metrology Day, which is observed annually on May 20.

VP Jagdeo to resume weekly press conference

--with specific focus on gov’t matters; says not concerned about speculations, only interested in ensuring Guyana moves forward, people get assistance

VICE-PRESIDENT Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has affirmed that the government’s focus has now firmly shifted from campaigning to delivering on its promises, as he led a major public engagement exercise bringing government officials face-to-face with citizens seeking solutions to a wide range of issues.

“We’ve done the campaign, and now we have to deliver on what we promised our people,” Dr. Jagdeo told reporters on Monday on the sidelines of the public engagement held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

He said that the exercise was designed to give people direct access to ministers and technical staff in order to resolve long-standing problems.

Dr. Jagdeo noted that the objective is to resolve as many issues as possible on-the-spot, and where that is not immediately possible, to put in place a clear follow-up process involving technical officers and subsequent meetings.

He announced, too, that his weekly press conferences will resume, but will focus mainly on government issues rather than politics, as the administration concentrates on delivering on its com-

mitments to the Guyanese people.

Prior to the September 2025 polls, the PPP/C administration had held a nation-wide consultation, where President Irfaan Ali, Vice-President Dr. Jagdeo and other executives listened to Guyanese from all walks of life for several hours.

The government had received over 5,000 submissions from 2,000 persons after inviting public recommendations via WhatsApp, mail drops at Freedom House, and party offices across regions.

The broad-based participation included women, youth, religious leaders, the creative industry, and

the diaspora.

The government, he stressed, has now moved into a phase of planning and implementation.

“We won a big majority; seven seats, majority in the parliament. My role changed from General Secretary of the party and shifted from campaign to planning.

We have to build 40,000 homes, to get a lot of issues addressed, to keep the economy going, and not to suffer from the Dutch Disease…[This] requires a lot of planning, and people don’t understand that sometimes, when you’re not in the public domain, you’re working, but working on

things of a different nature,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

On a more personal note, the Vice-President directly responded to public speculation about his reduced presence in recent months.

“Now, I feel we have a lot of things in train, and I’m back in the public domain, addressing the implementation of these issues… I allow them to speculate about my absence; I don’t care too much what they think about me personally, the opposition, etc… Once the country moves forward and our people get assistance, that is what matters,” Dr. Jagdeo said.

Accommodation critical to ‘Destination

Guyana’ becoming globally recognised

- Minister Rodrigues says

AS government continues to focus on strengthening the tourism and hospitality framework, recent investments by nine major hotel brands signal confidence in Guyana’s growing economy.

This is according to Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, who highlighted the work being done in this area during an appearance on The Guyana Dialogue last Friday.

In the last five years, the hotels that have opened their doors include the Pegasus Suites, Aiden by Best Western, the Royal International Hotel, Kings Plaza Hotel, Courtyard by Marriot, the AC Marriott, and Four Points by Sheraton.

According to Minister Rodrigues, when these brands decide to enter Guyana’s market, it is guaranteed that they would have studied it and know that Guyana has the potential to

truly grow and sustain their investments. That is a clear demonstration of confidence in our local economy and economic policies, she emphasised.

At the same time, the minister said that there are two major hotels under construction: Pasha Global with 350 rooms, and the Hyatt Place Hotel. Apart from these two hotels, there is an additional 13 hotels that are under construction across Guyana.

She stated that expanding accommodation is a huge part of ensuring that our destination becomes globally recognised.

“When people are looking for some place to go to visit that they’ve never been before, it always helps to lift the standard of the country when you have international branded hotels in that destination. And that’s why those hotels are very important to Guyana’s tourism sector,”

She remarked.

With this, she mentioned the expansion of hotel accommodations by Guyanese who are investing in building hotels outside of Region Four. This includes places in Region Six and Region Three.

“So, the hotel accommodation is expanding in every region in the country. And also, we have Guyanese who are investing in Airbnbs… the bed and breakfast accommodation.

Some of them are transforming their homes into bed and breakfast, or maybe they have other properties that they are investing in to open bed and breakfast accommodations; and that is hovering very well in the industry,” Minister Rodrigues remarked.

In Region Nine, where the recent Rupununi Rodeo was held is one example of this. The minister said they (the government) supported

the Rodeo Committee tremendously to ensure that the rodeo experience was elevated, bringing visibility and improvement in terms of infrastructure and accommodation at the venue for persons who would have wanted to experience Guyanese ranching culture.

“Accommodation remains a conjugate in Region Nine for people who want to visit rodeo, and that’s why we published the expression

of interest for investments in eco lodges and resorts, because there are parts of the country where we still have to do work on expanding accommodation.

So, this is an opportunity for Guyanese.

It’s not only for international investors, it’s for Guyanese who want to invest in an eco-lodge or invest in some type of accommodation in these different regions, in Region Eight,

Region Nine, Region Seven, for example, where there is a market for expanded accommodation,” she disclosed.

The minister posited that the entire expansion in the tourism and hospitality sector is geared towards ensuring that communities in the hinterland communities and small and medium-sized enterprises all across Guyana can benefit from investments being made in Guyana.

Keeping gov’t close

VICE-PRESIDENT, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, on Monday, led a major public day event at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, during which he, along with several officials, engaged thousands of citizens (Delano Williams, Sachin Persaud and Government Ministries’ photos)

close to the people

Acting President Rodríguez says Venezuela will not respect an ICJ ruling in favour of Guyana

DECLARING that Venezuela will “never surrender” its claim to Guyana’s Essequibo region, Venezuela’s Acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, delivered a contradictory and at times combative address before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) during the country’s final round of submissions in the ongoing border controversy case.

While professing respect for the ICJ as the United Nations’ highest judicial organ, Rodríguez simultaneously rejected the court’s authority to determine the controversy.

Appearing on Monday before the ICJ— the principal judicial organ of the United Nations — Rodríguez repeatedly challenged the court’s authority to determine the decades-old territorial controversy, insisting Caracas has never accepted its jurisdiction, even as she stressed Venezuela’s respect for the institution.

“Venezuela is a fervent promoter and defender of international law,” Rodríguez said, adding: “For this rea-

Venezuela’s Acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, delivers her country’s submissions before the International Court of Justice in The Hague during Venezuela’s second round of arguments in the ongoing border controversy case with Guyana over the Essequibo region

son, it respects the International Court of Justice as the main judicial body of the United Nations,” she claimed.

Yet moments later, Rodríguez rejected the court’s involvement in the matter, stating: “Venezuela has never consented to submitting the territorial controversy over Guayana-Esequiba to the ju-

risdiction of this court.”

Guayana Esequiba is the name Venezuela gives to Guyana’s Essequibo region.

Importantly, the ICJ has already ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear and determine the case on its merits, clearing the way for substantive arguments on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the land boundary contro -

versy between Guyana and Venezuela to proceed.

The acting president argued that her country has long opposed submitting matters involving sovereignty and territorial integrity to international judicial mechanisms.

Rodríguez insisted the 1966 Geneva Agreement remains “the only valid legal

instrument” for resolving the dispute and argued that the controversy should be addressed through direct negotiations rather than judicial determination.

The 1966 Geneva Agreement is a treaty signed by Guyana (then British Guiana), Venezuela, and the United Kingdom to establish a framework for resolving

Venezuela’s claim that the 1899 Arbitral Award defining the Guyana-Venezuela border was null and void.

Venezuela continues to challenge the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, the internationally recognised ruling that legally established the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela more than a century ago.

Guyana has consistently rejected those claims, maintaining that its case before the ICJ is grounded in international law, and seeks a final ruling affirming the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which established the border between the two countries. Georgetown has also pointed to the court’s earlier decision affirming its jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Following the hearing, President of the ICJ, Judge Iwasawa Yuji, announced that the court would now commence its deliberations. He said a decision will be delivered at a public sitting, with the date to be announced in due course.

35,000 acres of land to be available with construction of Hope-like canals

--Minister Mustapha says

By Bebi Shafeah Oosman

AS a result of the ongoing construction of the Hopelike Canal, approximately 35,000 acres of land will be opened up for agricultural and economic development.

This major infrastructural project is expected to improve drainage and irrigation systems, reduce flooding, and create new opportunities for farming, investment, and employment within the region.

The expansion of accessible and productive land will significantly contribute to increased agricultural output and support the long-term growth and sustainability of communities in Black Bush Polder.

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, “While I am speaking here, in a few months, we will have approximately 35,000 acres of land that will become available with the construction of the

high-level canals in this part from Number 68 to Manchester, and the Canje area so the entire Corentyne Coast, you have a new set of land 35,000 acre of new land.”

Minister Mustapha advised the Black Bush Polder farmers to start their application process to apply for the land, noting: “I am now advising you to start your application process… those persons who don’t have land because a time will come when people will apply for those same lands… when we will develop the same land and when those lands will come into cultivation for either cash crop, livestock or rice farming.”

Mustapha also spoke of the need to change the way in which agriculture is done and look at diversification.

“We can go into high valued crops,” he said, noting that such will put more money in their pockets.

He noted that, in 2022, President Irfaan Ali had informed him that the country had imported $2.6 billion in high valued crops. “Things like brocolli, cauliflower, carrots, lettuce, bell peppers, those are the things we have imported in country for the hospitality issues,” he said.

The Head of State re -

lated that in order to start producing such crops, the government came up with the Agriculture Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme.

“[With the programme] young people who would have passed through the Guyana School of Agriculture, we harnessed their potential and today we got hundreds

of shade houses across the country, and the same crop that we used to import now we are producing,” he said.

The multimillion-dollar irrigation canal is slated to be constructed from Canje Creek to Crabwood Creek to provide proper irrigation at a cost of $300 million.

According to Mustapha,

this was a request from farmers and he had pledged to have it placed in the budget and this was done.

“Next week, you will see the advertisement in newspaper for the commencement of the canal,” he told farmers in the Upper Corentyne area during a meeting on Saturday.

Bartica families to get new homes in coming weeks

BARTICA residents are set to begin moving into their new homes in just about two weeks as the government pushes ahead with a massive $900 million housing and infrastructural investment in Region Seven.

Minister of Housing, Collin Croal, announced, during

a site visit, that agreements for several housing units are already being finalised, with successful applicants now entering the final stages of the process.

The minister explained that approximately 41 of the 55 homes under construction at the Block CH&PA

Housing Development have already been completed. He said the remaining units were forced to retender following the termination of a previous contract.

The development forms part of the government’s expanding national housing programme aimed at im -

proving home ownership opportunities, stimulating local economies, and creating jobs across Guyana.

He added that the project is also creating economic opportunities for residents, noting that local contractors were heavily involved in the construction works.

“We have all local contractors involved in building these houses. We’re happy about that. We will continue to implement this type of model where we are building houses in the various regions,” he said.

The housing development includes access to essential utilities such as water and electricity, along with completed road infrastructure, making the area a prime residential location just outside Bartica.

Two types of three-bedroom homes are being constructed under the programme, bungalow and V-roof designs.

The bungalow units are valued at approximately $13 million, while the V-roof

homes cost around $11 million. The homes are fully completed and move-in ready.

Project Engineer attached to the Ministry of Housing, Jamaal Brotherson, explained that the three-bedroom bungalow units measure approximately 24 by 36 feet and are outfitted with modern amenities.

“The unit comes equipped with kitchen cupboards, three bedrooms, toilet and bath, ceiling, electrical, plumbing, as well as tiled floors and a spacious outdoor area,” Brotherson explained.

He added that each home sits on approximately 50 by 100 feet of land. (DPI)

Traffic offences surge past 3,200 last week as police widen enforcement, outreach

MORE than 3,200 traffic-related cases were recorded across Guyana in a single week, with speeding accounting for nearly onethird of all offences, as the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department intensified enforcement and public education efforts aimed at curbing dangerous road use.

According to the depart-

ment, a total of 3,287 cases were made between May 3 and May 9, 2026, reflecting continued concerns over road safety as authorities maintain a nationwide crackdown on violations that contribute to crashes, injuries and fatalities.

Speeding remained the most prevalent offence, with 1,075 cases recorded during the reporting period.

Other offences included 188 cases of failure to wear safety helmets, 133 cases of leaving a motor vehicle in a dangerous position, 113 seatbelt violations, 86 breaches of prescribed fitness conditions, and 68 cases involving tinted motor vehicles.

Police also recorded 68 unlighted motor vehicles (front), 46 unlighted motor vehicles (rear), 64 unlicensed

Alongside enforcement, the Traffic Department continued its public education campaign, targeting schools, motorists, commuters and communities across several regions

drivers, 44 cases of carrying pillion riders without safety helmets, 33 cases of driving under the influence, 16 breaches of traffic light signals, and eight cases of faulty parking.

Traffic enforcement has remained a major focus of the Guyana Police Force amid longstanding public concern over reckless driving, speeding and impaired driving on the nation’s roadways. Authorities have repeatedly warned that speeding and alcohol-related driving continue to be among the leading contributors to serious collisions.

Alongside enforcement, the Traffic Department continued its public education campaign, targeting schools, motorists, commuters and communities across several regions.

Between May 4 and May 8, traffic ranks conducted school lectures at Tuschen Nursery in Region Three, St. Ignatius Nursery in Region Nine, Mahdia Primary in Region Eight, Port Kaituma Secondary in Region One, Rose Hall Primary in Region Six, and School of the Nations Nursery in Georgetown.

The outreach formed part of the department’s ongoing effort to instill road safety

awareness from an early age, with sessions focusing on pedestrian safety, road crossing practices and general traffic discipline.

During the wider period from May 3 to May 9, officers also carried out lectures and community outreach activities targeting drivers, bar patrons, taxi operators and residents in communities across the country.

The programmes were held at locations including Vreed-en-Hoop, Meer Zorgen, Parika, Cornelia Ida, Meten-Meer-Zorg, Bagotsville, Diamond, Karasabai, Kumaka, and several police stations, bars, public roads and transport hubs.

Public awareness efforts also extended to the airwaves, with traffic officials participating in a programme on NCN 102.5 FM as part of broader efforts to reinforce safe driving practices.

The Guyana Police Force has repeatedly stressed that enforcement and education remain twin pillars of its road safety strategy, as authorities continue to urge motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians to comply with traffic laws in order to reduce preventable deaths and injuries on the nation’s roads.

Vector control takes centre stage at Region 7 health sector review

- Health Ministry urges strict fogging protocols to curb dengue and malaria

THE Ministry of Health has renewed its call for strict adherence to national vector control protocols in Region 7, warning that consistent surveillance and properly timed mosquito-control measures remain critical to limiting the spread of dengue, malaria and other vector-borne diseases.

The message came during the recently concluded Health Sector Review Meeting in Region Seven, where senior health officials and technical teams assessed disease surveillance systems and coordinated response mechanisms across the region.

During the review, emphasis was placed on the importance of integrated surveillance systems operating across clinics, laboratories, and vector control units nationwide. Region 7 remains part of a national disease monitoring network where early detection of fever-related illnesses, laboratory confirmation, and environmental vector control interventions work together to reduce transmission risks.

Director General (DG) of the Ministry of Health, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, used the engagement to reinforce operational standards among healthcare and vector control personnel, particularly in relation to mosquito control activities.

“I need to reemphasise that fogging should be done once every 28 days and let’s focus on the internal and external residual spraying and the larviciding. When you

spraying in the house, the building, that is good enough for 90 days, once somebody don’t wash off that chemical.

Any mosquito, even cockroaches and other insects, if they go on that wall, they will drop down and die,” the Director General said.

Dr Mahadeo also reminded regional health and vector control teams that fogging and residual spraying operations must be guided by strict adherence to established protocols to ensure effectiveness and proper coverage.

“So we need to emphasise this to the public and they also need to know that these chemicals are not harmful to humans or pets, once they are used in the right way,” Dr Mahadeo told health officials.

The Director General reiterated that vector control is most effective when combined with strong surveillance data from health facilities, timely reporting of suspected cases, and coordinated response mechanisms between surveillance officers, environmental health teams, and clinical services at the regional level.

Across the country, surveillance units continue to monitor communicable and non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health indicators, and priority eventbased alerts such as fever and rash, acute flaccid paralysis, and vaccine-related reactions.

The Ministry of Health continues to strengthen its integrated approach to vector-borne disease control, with regional health

systems, including Region 7, playing a key role in surveillance reporting, outbreak investigation, and environmental health interventions aimed at reducing disease transmission risks across Guyana.

GPF, U.S. Embassy launch specialised command-and-control training

- five-day specialised training to modernise operational capabilities

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF), in collaboration with the United States Embassy, on Monday, launched a five-day specialised training programme aimed at strengthening the Force’s capacity to manage critical incidents through improved command-and-control operations.

The training, which is being held at the Officers’ Training Centre at Camp Road, Georgetown, is being facilitated by experts from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and targets key personnel within the Force.

According to the GPF, the programme is designed to equip ranks with advanced skills in command-and-control management, critical incident planning, and operational coordination as part of ongoing efforts to modernise law enforcement capabilities in Guyana.

Facilitators are expected to provide participants with systematic and structured instruction through a combination of instructor-led lectures, practical exercises, and participant-driven group discussions. Officers will also be exposed to realistic scenarios intended to sharpen decision-making and leadership skills under pressure.

Deputy Commissioner ‘Admin-

istration’ Ravindradat Budhram, who delivered brief remarks at the opening session, welcomed the facilitators and praised the continued partnership between the Guyana Police Force and United States law enforcement agencies.

“This ‘Command and Control’ training represents a vital chapter in the ongoing bilateral co-operation between our agencies,”

Budhram said. “It is a testament to the fact that while our jurisdictions differ, the challenges of modern law enforcement and the tactical leadership required to meet them are universal.” He encouraged participating officers to fully immerse themselves in the training and use the opportunity to enhance their leadership capabilities.

“Absorb the information like

Gov’t to establish new

Bartica housing scheme to meet demand

THE government is moving to establish another housing development in Bartica as demand for house lots continues to outpace supply, despite more than 500 allocations already being made across four major housing areas in the mining town.

Minister of Housing, Collin Croal, said the government is already engaging the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) to secure additional lands as authorities work to address the growing backlog of housing applicants in Region Seven.

“These new developments will not satisfy all the backlog…the work contin-

ues,” he stated during a visit to ongoing housing works in the community of Tract BAR.

The minister explained that while there are currently over 500 applicants in the housing system for Bartica, the government has already allocated more than 500 lots over the last few years through developments at Block CH&PA Development, Block CH&PA Extension, Bartica South and the newly developing Tract BAR.

According to the minister, the combined investment across the four housing developments now exceeds $2.1 billion.

At Tract BAR alone, the government is investing more than $1.1 billion in infrastructural works, including road access, drainage systems, land clearing and utilities to prepare hundreds of house lots for occupancy.

The area is currently about 38 per cent complete, with works advancing after several setbacks, including redesigns to accommodate nearby airstrip access and issues related to squatting.

Minister Croal noted that by the end of July or August, persons allocated lots at Tract BAR should be able to access their lands.

Meanwhile, beneficiaries within the Block CH&PA

sponges,” the Deputy Commissioner urged. “Challenge yourselves to think critically under pressure so that your level of leadership can be expanded.” Budhram further told participants that the completion of the programme would come with heightened expectations for their performance and leadership within the Force. “When you leave this training, the expectations for your

leadership will be higher,” he said. The initiative forms part of broader co-operation between Guyana and the United States in areas of security, law enforcement training, and institutional capacity-building, as the Guyana Police Force continues to strengthen its operational readiness and response capabilities amid evolving public safety challenges.

Extension are already preparing to move into newly completed homes, while lands at Bartica South are expected to be pegged and made accessible before month-end.

The minister also highlighted major supporting

investments in water and electricity infrastructure, including the installation of a treatment plant to serve residents in the expanding Four Miles and Five Miles communities.

He underscored that the government’s housing pro-

gramme is transforming lives by allowing families to own homes instead of remaining renters.

“We are a government of action…We are a government that gets things done,” Minister Croal stated. (DPI)

Miller, Axar and Ashutosh keep DC's IPL alive

(ESPNCRICINFO) - In a topsy-turvy contest, Delhi Capitals (DC) pulled off the highest successful T20 chase by any team in Dharamsala to hand Punjab Kings (PBKS) their fourth successive loss. Most importantly, the win kept DC's slim hopes of making the IPL playoffs alive.

The pitch assisted seamers so much that no over of spin was bowled in the whole game - the only time that happened in an IPL match of considerable length was back in 2008. After being sent in, PBKS rode on Priyansh Arya and Shreyas Iyer's half-centuries to post 210 for 5. Iyer lat-

er said he felt it was 30 more than the par score. It seemed that way when DC lost three wickets in the powerplay but Axar Patel and David Miller kept them going. Both scored fifties and took DC close. PBKS' wayward bowling - they conceded 17 widesdidn't help them either. Miller's dismissal gave them a chance to come back into the match. But, with 36 needed from three overs, Ashutosh Sharma, Madhav Tiwari and Auqib Nabi wrapped up the game with an over to spare.

ARYA GIVES PBKS FLYING START

In the last few days, all

Bangladesh government...

"I have asked the BCB to explain the entire matter to the ICC," Nazrul wrote on his official Facebook page on January 4. "The board should inform that where a Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India despite being contracted, the entire Bangladeshi cricket team cannot feel safe going to play in the World Cup. I have also instructed the Board to request that Bangladesh's World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka."

the chatter about Arya had been around his dismissals against the short ball. But Mitchell Starc started with a full delivery outside off stump, perhaps looking for early movement. Arya lofted it over cover-point for a six. In the reverse fixture, too, he had opened his account with a first-ball six, that time off Nabi.

When Starc went short, it was too short and sailed over for five wides. Arya launched another six in the over before Prabhsimran Singh capped it off with a four. Starc went for 22, the most he has conceded in the opening over of a T20. He did not bowl another over

(From page 25)

After the BCB informed the ICC that Bangladesh would not play in India, the ICC said that was not acceptable because it felt there were no valid security concerns. The impasse continued even after an ICC delegation visited Bangladesh to discuss the issue.

On January 24, after the ICC board had met and dismissed Bangladesh's demand to play their matches in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh were removed from the tournament and replaced by Scotland.

The day before the nation-

ENGLISH RACING TIPS

HEREFORD

09:38 hrs Queensbury Boy

10:08 hrs Delpotro

10:38 hrs Hidden Fortune

11:10 hrs Catwalk Girl

11:45 hrs Ikigai

12:20 hrs Lost In A Dream

BEVERLEY

09:30 hrs Lovers Leap

10:00 hrs Navy Light

10:30 hrs Artista

11:00 hrs Sherlock

11:35 hrs Donna Nook

12:10 hrs What Fools Believe

LINGFIELD

12:15 hrs Arc Zoosve

12:50 hrs Always Happy

13:20 hrs Bright Summer

13:50 hrs Grey Force

until the tenth of the innings. Arya showed no respect to Lungi Ngidi either, welcoming him into the attack with back-to-back sixes. By the end of three overs, PBKS had raced to 51 for no loss.

NABI, MUKESH PULL THINGS BACK

The ball was still seaming around, and Nabi and Mukesh Kumar used it to put the brakes on the scoring rate. While Arya brought up his fifty off 24 balls, PBKS managed only 21 in the next three overs, with Nabi finishing the powerplay with a two-run over. Prabhsimran struggled for fluency

al elections in Bangladesh, Nazrul made a U-turn, saying he had not made any of the decisions to withdraw Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup, and laid the responsibility on the players.

When the new government was formed, the sports minister Aminul Haque said he wanted to repair Bangladesh's sporting relationship with India. He also said in parliament that he wanted a proper investigation into the manner in which the T20 World Cup issue had been handled by the BCB and the previous government.

14:20 hrs Studious

14:50 hrs Brisk Symphony

15:20 hrs Twilight Moon

IRISH RACING TIPS

KILLARNEY

12:05 hrs Alphonsus

Liguori

12:40 hrs Glyfada

13:10 hrs Treasure Rose

13:40 hrs Tero D'rosa

14:10 hrs Honouramongthieves

14:40 hrs Harry's Legacy

15:10 hrs Farren Glory

AMERICAN RACING TIPS

FINGER LAKES

Race 1 Zi End

Race 2 Spicey

Race 3 Solo's Fury

Race 4 Rubys Mission

Race 5 G Munning

Race 6 Saratoga

Sunset

Race 7 Good Mission

Race 8 Scarlett Queen

for most of his innings and eventually fell to Mukesh for 18 off 15. Arya fell soon after, caught at deep cover off Tiwari, leaving PBKS at 97 for 2 after nine.

IYER,

SHEDGE TAKE

PBKS PAST 200

Iyer, batting at No. 3, started positively but Cooper Connolly was slow to get going. As a result, PBKS scored only 33 runs from overs 11 to 14. Connolly finally got his timing right and hit Starc over long-off for a 96-metre six in the 15th over. In the next, he took Ngidi for a four and a six off successive deliveries.

Iyer, anyway, was picking up regular boundaries. After a six-run 17th over by Mukesh, he hit Tiwari for two sixes, the first one taking him to his fifty off 32 balls. However, Tiwari removed Connolly in that over, and when Starc started the 19th by dismissing Marcus Stoinis and Shashank Singh off successive balls, it looked like the innings might peter out. But Suryansh Shedge hit the hat-trick ball over the bowler's head for a six. He smashed another six and a four off Starc's remaining three balls to take PBKS past 200.

Fast bowling trio put Red...

with six runs added to the total.

T&T were unable to wrap up the tail, however, with Bishop finishing unbeaten on 80 off 89 balls, with nine fours and four sixes, while last man Jomel Warrican is not out on two.

Phillip was T&T’s leading bowler with 4-51, while Hinds has so far taken 3-48

and Seales 2-58.

Earlier, after resuming the day on 298 for seven, the Red Force added 35 valuable runs for their last three wickets.

With the score on 303, they lost the wickets of Phillip for a duck, while captain Joshua DaSilva added just five runs to his overnight total of 65 before being dis-

MVP Domini Garnett leads...

thews’ seventh-minute effort as Kuru Kururu could not counter in any effective way, the Grove backline.

Kudos to Kuru Kururu though, as they represented their village with determination and was rewarded with a prize of $500,000 for their efforts.

Garnett was rewarded for his MVP accolade with $100,000 compliments of Fitness Express whilst also receiving $80,000 as the tournaments highest goal scorer and a voucher worth $25,000 pledged by A & B Variety Shop aka Green Shop of Lot 526 EE Eccles.

The third-place match between Herstelling and Agricola saw the former, on account of a Malcolm Hendricks goal in the 44th minute, seal victory and claim the Bounty Farm Ltd. $250,000 cash prize,

Agricola was rewarded with $150,000 also sponsored by Bounty Farm Ltd.

Copping the best goalkeeper prize of $80,000 was Grove’s Ronel McLean who only concede twice in the five matches his village contested, including four clean sheets.

Grove also copped another individual accolade as the most promising player prize went to 19 year-old Shaquan Joseph.

He was presented with $25,000 compliments of Quincy ‘Presser’ Ashley, First Vice-President of the West Demerara Football Association.

Organiser of the tournament, Sports Extra expressed gratitude to all for their combined efforts which resulted in a successful tournament that attracted twelve villag -

(From page 25)

missed by Springer. Their total was boosted by a last-wicket partnership of 30 between Bryan Charles and Jayden Seales. Springer was the Pride’s best bowler with figures of 3-40, while Kyle Mayers (2-39), Johann Layne (2-58) and Roston Chase (2-66) claimed two wickets apiece.

(From page 26)

es from the East Bank and the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, namely Circuitville, Swan, Kuru Kururu, Timehri, Soesdyke, Friendship, Grove, Kaneville, Mocha, Herstelling and Agricola.

Gratitude was also extended to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Housing, Bounty Farm Ltd., Fitness Express, Star Rentals, Trophy Stall, NAMILCO and Republic Bank for their support.

Assisting with the presentation of prizes which followed the final were Mrs. Michelle Harinarine (Chairperson Lamaha/Yarrowkabra NDC), Mr. Kevin Ally of Bounty Farm Ltd., and Mr. Balgraj Budwa of the Grove/Diamond NDC.

Nandu’s century leads strong...

nul Ramsammy saw them through to the close of play.

Nandu has so far faced 186 balls and struck 13 boundaries, while Ramsammy is 12 not out. Earlier, resuming on 423

(From page 27)

for six, pacers Nial Smith and Thaddeus Lovell captured the last four Academy wickets for the addition of 62 runs.

Smith snared the prized wickets of Rivaldo Clarke after he made 180 off 228 balls and Amari Goodridge, who made 123 off 185 balls, while Lovell dismissed Motara and Raneico Smith for three and 25 respectively.

Tottenham held by Leeds

(BBC) - Tottenham Hotspur squandered the opportunity to take a significant step towards Premier League safety as they were held to a draw at home by Leeds United.

Mathys Tel put Spurs in position to extend their lead over West Ham to four points with a spectacular 20-yard strike five minutes after the break.

Spurs' goal hero then turned villain 16 minutes from time with a reckless bicycle kick inside the area that caught Ethan Ampadu in the head.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised from the resulting penalty after a video assistant referee (VAR) review as Spurs failed to make it three league wins in succession after victories at Wolves and Aston Villa.

Richarlison had blazed a glorious chance over the top moments before Leeds were awarded a penalty, a miss

that proved costly. Leeds gained confidence as Spurs' anxiety grew, Roberto de Zerbi's side unable to make the breakthrough even with 13 minutes added time.

Indeed, it was Leeds who came closest to a winner deep into stoppage time when Spurs keeper Antonin Kinsky brilliantly diverted Sean Longstaff's shot on to the bar.

The draw result leaves Spurs two points ahead of 18th-placed West Ham with each side having two games left.

Spurs analysis: De Zerbi's side miss big chance Dominic Calvert-Lewin celebrates after equalising from the penalty spot for Leeds United at Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham were presented with a chance to apply huge pressure to West Ham United in the race to avoid relegation from the

Premier League after the Hammers' controversial loss at home to Arsenal on Sunday.

And when Tel put them ahead with a spectacular finish, Spurs looked on course to open up a fourpoint gap that would have put them close to safety. Instead, Tel's reckless attempt at an overhead kick in his own penalty area gave away a needless penalty, which Calvert-Lewin put away emphatically.

Bangladesh government asks committee to look into 2026 T20 World Cup fiasco

adviser Asif Nazrul was a central figure in the issue (BCB)

(ESPNCRICINFO) - The Bangladesh government has formed a committee to look into the previous government's decision to not allow the team to play its 2026 T20 World Cup matches in India, a move that led to Bangladesh being removed from the tournament in February and March.

The sports ministry made an announcement on Monday that additional secretary Dr AKM Wali Ullah will head the committee that includes chief selector Habibul Bashar, the

former Bangladesh captain, and Faisal Dastagir. The trio has been asked to look into all matters related to Bangladesh not sending a team to the T20 World Cup. They will be expected to submit a report within 15 working days.

The sequence of events that culminated in Bangladesh missing the tournament began on January 3, when the BCCI directed Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad for an unspecified reason, at a time when relations

between the Indian and Bangladeshi governments were strained.

In the next 24 hours, Asif Nazrul, Bangladesh's sports adviser (minister) at the time, posted on his official Facebook account that he wanted the ICC to move Bangladesh's T20 World Cup matches out of India and to Sri Lanka. Nazrul was an adviser in Bangladesh's interim government that was formed in August 2024 after a student-led uprising toppled the Awami League regime.

(Turn to page 24)

Spurs pressed in a frantic finale, but they were grateful to keeper Kinsky, who had saved superbly from Joe Rodon in the first half, for a stunning reaction stop to turn a shot from a disbelieving Longstaff on

to the bar.

It reflected great credit on the character of the young keeper, who suffered the ignominy of being taken off after only 17 minutes after two early mistakes in the Champions League last16 game away to Atletico Madrid in March.

In the final reckoning, the keeper whose Spurs career looked in jeopardy when he was hauled of by then-head coach Igor Tudor, may have made a significant contribution to keep his side in the Premier League.

One huge positive was the return of James Maddison for his first action since a serious knee injury suffered in pre-season. He looked sharp and thought he had won a late penalty when he went down under challenge from Lukas Nmecha.

The fact it was not given only added to Spurs frustration as their relegation fears continue.

Fast bowling trio put Red Force on top against Pride

CMC – Trinidad and Tobago’s fast-bowling trio of Anderson Phillip, Terrance Hinds and Jayden Seales wrecked Barbados Pride’s normally dependable batting lineup to put their side in the ascendancy in their West Indies Championship playoff match after the second day.

Despite a stellar lower order fightback that featured half centuries by Leniko Boucher, Shamar Springer and Joshua Bishop, the Pride ended the day on 262 for nine, still 71 runs adrift of T&T’s first innings score of 333.

Their performances with the bat rescued the Pride, who at one stage looked as though they might be skittled out after slumping to 47 for six at one stage.

They suffered a nightmare start when Seales bowled Pride captain Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck with the third ball of the innings without a run on the board.

Phillip added to their misery by prising out Jonathan Drakes for 11, before Seales had the in-form Kevin Wickham caught for three, to leave the Pride struggling at 19 for three.

Phillip wasn’t done yet, as he added the scalps of Roston Chase for eight and Shayne Moseley for 15, while Hinds trapped Kyle Mayers lbw for one to make the score 47 for six.

Boucher and Springer halted the slide of wickets during a partnership of 88 that featured attacking play from both batsmen.

But just as they looked to be carrying their side out of trouble, Springer gifted a return catch to Phillip to be out for a well-played 51 off 55 balls, consisting of eight boundaries.

At 135 for seven, the Pride were still in dire straits. However, Boucher found another reliable partner in

Bishop with the two featuring in another crucial partnership of 108.

Similar to the previous partnership, the two scored quickly, with Bishop especially not afraid to go over the top.

They carried the score to 243 for seven and gave the Pride hope that they might somehow gain a first innings lead.

Hinds brought an end to that dream, though, when he had Boucher lbw for an impressive 80 off 121 balls that featured 10 boundaries. Hinds then wasted little time in disrupting the stumps of tailender Johann Layne after he had scored just four

(Turn to page 24)

Eline Security Logistics 50 overs U-17 Tournament

Apple’s 250, Nanan’s 97 star in truncated matches

By Sean Devers

ON a cold and rainy day in Georgetown, West Indies U-19 World Cup lefthander Shamar Apple was red hot as he blasted 22 fours and 20 sixes in a pugnacious 250 from just 115 balls to power Transport Sports Club to 412-7 from 50 overs.

That came in one of only two matches played on Sunday in the Eline Security Logistics 50 overs Under-17 tournament.

At Transport Sports Club ground, the 16-year-old Apple flayed the Malteenoes Sports Club bowlers to all parts of the ground to power his team to the highest total so far in the competition.

Apple, who became the

second youngest Guyanese to make his Regional Super50 debut last year at 15 (after Ramnaresh Sarwan), before being selected for the West Indies Under-19 team, demonstrated a level of play way above his peers as he galloped to his score.

Mickel Johnson (37), Riaz Latif (35), Emmanuel Lewis (23) and Afraz Khan (20) contributed to the massacre at the Transport ground as the few spectators salivated in the run-feast.

Apple’s double century was the third by a Transport player following the feats of Chien Gittins against GCC and more recently, Emmanuel Lewis, who made 204 for Georgetown against the Select XI in the 2024 Inter Association Under-15 Tournament.

Nathaniel Ramkellawan had 2-62 and Deshawn Ramnauth took 2-41.

Shane Kissoondeo (20) and Shane Shivbarran (22) got Malteenoes to 49-1 in eight overs when the rain ended the contest in an anticlimactic no-result.

At Bourda, GCC were dismissed for 234 in 48.3 overs as Trilok Nanan played some glorious shots in his 97 which was decorated with 11 imperious boundaries.

He shared in a 145-run second wicket partnership with Naveer Persaud who fell two short of what would have been a well-deserved fifty.

GT XI were 23-2 in 14.2 overs with Ravaldo Pereira taking both wickets when rain stopped play.

By Sean Devers

ON a rain-soaked day that resulted in several abandoned matches in the GCA’s Sherwin Williams T20 second-division cricket tournament on Sunday, some players used the available time to produce useful performances as the Guyana Defence Force and the Guyana Police Force notched up victories.

The matches at the Demerara Cricket Club in Queenstown, were washed out without a ball being bowled.

With thunderstorms forecast until Saturday and flood warnings issued for those residing in low-lying areas, GCA’s cricket is unlikely this weekend.

In the morning game, Police beat Sophia by five wickets.

Sophia were restricted to 143-6 off 20 overs with Dwayne Peters making 60 with four fours and three sixes. Terrence Decuna (28)

and Malcolm Morris (19) also contributed with the bat.

Titus Webster had 2-14 for Police, who reached 1445 in 14.2 overs.

Pernell London hit six fours and four sixes in 63 and got support from Dwayne Dick, who scored 24. Vikash Parsram took 2-38.

The afternoon game at the Police ground was washed out with the Police All Star Academy on 114-3 in 16.4 overs.

After Ariel Tilku sent back Kelvin Leitch (1) at 7-1, Ravindradat Budram, who made a classy unbeaten 51 with three fours and three sixes, added 59 for the second with Troy Benn, who hit four fours in 27 before Benn fell to left-arm spinner Javed Rasheed at 66-2.

Budram then shared in an unfinished 43-run fourth wicket stand with Dequan Campbell (17) after Darwin Larose (1) was lbw to Travis Mohammed at 69-3.

With two balls remaining

in the 17th over, rain sent the players off the field and subsequently condemned the contest against Everest to a no-result.

At Everest, in the morning game, GDF, led by 49 from Nigel Deodat, 22 from Leon Andrews and 20 from Shamar Angel, reached 1677 in 20 overs.

Anand Bharat (2-17) and Owen Andrews (2-32) were the most successful bowlers for Eldorado, who were bowled out for 85 in 13 overs despite 25 from Quazim Yusuf, 22 from Bharat and 18 from Owen Andrews. Deodat captured 5-14 to go with his 49 while Leon Andrews had 4-20.

In the afternoon game at Everest, Bel Air Rubis were 100-3 in 14 overs against MYO/MMC when rain stopped play.

When Alex Marshall (20) fell at 43-3, Ramnarine Chatura, unbeaten on 35 and Clint Jones on 17 not out added 57 in an unfinished fourth-wicket stand.

indeed

Domini

former East Bank Football Association champions. Garnett netted a double to end the tournament with a total of eight goals, he was also named Most Valuable Player of the tournament. He netted in the 13th and 40th minute to compliment Lloyd Mat -

(Turn to page 24)

YBG Schools Basketball Regionals GT leg

The Bishops' High thrash School of the Nations

THE Bishops’ High School produced a dominant performance to defeat School of the Nations on Sunday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in the Georgetown leg of the Youth Basketball Guyana regional conference series.

The Bishops’ High ‘A’ played their best game yet, winning by 60 points, 7414. The school had several standout performances with the likes of Kemol Pickering, Eli Archer and Malique Williams coming together for a phenomenal outing.

Pickering led the offensive and defensive charge with 24 points and 18 rebounds.

Also showing his allround ability was Eli Archer,

who had 21 points, 10 rebounds and three steals.

Malique Williams also chipped in with 13 points and five rebounds.

School of the Nation's best scorer was Hong Yang, who recorded five points and five rebounds.

Also emerging with a victory was the Tutorial High School, who got the better of St Stanislaus College 36-23.

Tutorial High’s Julian Charles had an MVP showing with his 20 points and three steals.

The other standout was Keion Lynch, who dropped 12 points, four rebounds and four steals.

St. Stanislaus College’s top player was Josiah Lee,

who led his side with eight points and four rebounds.

Next Queen’s College outlasted Marian Academy 41-20.

QC’s Lemuel Wilson was the top shot maker with 12 points and six rebounds.

He had the support of Antoine Liverpool (10 points), Anfernee Cummings (eight points) and Dimitri Singh (six points and eight rebounds).

Again, Lucas Pinol led his team in scoring, albeit in another loss, as he snapped 10 points and eight rebounds.

The regionals are sponsored by Edward B. Beharry Ltd, G-Boats Inc., National Sports Commission, Ministry of Education and Banks DIH Ltd.

Nandu’s century leads strong Harpy Eagles reply

CMC – Matthew Nandu scored an unbeaten century as the Guyana Harpy Eagles made a spirited reply against the West Indies Academy at the end of day two in their warmup match at the Antigua Recreation Ground here on Monday.

Nandu finished the day on 110 not out to lead the Harpy Eagles to 248 for three in 68 overs in response to the Academy’s first-in -

nings total of 485. Nandu, along with fellow opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul gave the Harpy Eagles a solid start in an opening stand of 127. Chanderpaul eventually perished when he was dismissed by spinner Zishan Motara for 59 off 106 balls.

New batter Kevlon Anderson maintained the momentum during a partnership of 73 with Nandu, that car-

Powerlifting federation receives laptop from Pele FC Alumni Corp

THE Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) has received a timely boost of one laptop compliments of the Pele FC Alumni Corp. The donation will further boost the administrative capacity of the federation during the hosting of competitions.

Making the presentation to GAPLF President, Franklin Wilson was representative of the Pele FC Alumni, Adrian Murray, who reminded that the Pele group has always been supportive of powerlifting over the years.

“We been very supportive of your sport over the years so when you approached us to assist in this regard, we had no hesitation. The sport has been doing very well for the nation and administrative soundness is one of the pillars that leads to success, thus our desire to assist.”

Wilson in response, thanked Murray for their continued confidence in the sport whilst promising that the desire to even do better is there.

“This new executive which was given the mandate a few months ago to lead the sport again, will ensure that we do so in a very progressive way. When I was told that we need to upscale our equipment to ensure efficiency, I had no hesitation in approaching Pele FC Alumni for assistance, and you have once again delivered. We say

thank you.”

Following the hosting of a successful novice championship in March, the federation is now planning for their next, intermediate and masters which is set for June 28th at a venue to be confirmed. A fundraising activity is also being planned for this date.

The federation is also pursuing plans in keeping with the mandate of the International Powerlifting Federation to have accredited coaches travel with national teams; which is now compulsory, and to also have

a trained female coach assigned to female athletes when travelling. The federation is also working on a more robust plan to re-energise the sport, engagements with athletes and gyms in various regions to reinvigorate the sport.

Amongst the regional and international competitions on the radar this year are the South American Bench Press and Powerlifting Championships in Chile in September, and the Commonwealth Championships set for Canada also in September.

ried the Harpy Eagles to a comfortable position of 200 for one.

Left-arm spinner Giovonte DePeiza accounted for the wicket of Anderson for 33 and Motara bowled skipper Tevin Imlach for eight to leave the score 230 for three.

There would be no further success for the Academy, as Nandu and Zey -

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