Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 30-03-2026

President Ali credits Central Government with curbing Georgetown flooding

- slams ‘incompetent’ City Hall for failing to keep drains clear, execute other basic responsibilities

DECLARING that the stark reduction in flooding that has long plagued the capital was a “clear result” of Central Government’s interventions, President Ali blasted the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) for its chronic incompetence and repeated failure to execute the most basic municipal tasks.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, the Head of State shared photographs of dry streets in Georgetown that are usually prone to flooding.

Streets that are prone to flooding as a result of heavy rainfall were dry on Sunday, a direct result of Central Government’s interventions (Photos: President Ali/Facebook

“This is what the city looks like today af- ter prolonged, intense rainfall yesterday led to flooding across Georgetown — a clear result of the Central Government’s interventions to improve drainage in the city. Through the clearing of internal drains, the installation of pumps, and the desilting of outfall channels, floodwaters receded quickly,” he said.

Turning his attention to the City Council, President Ali emphasised it continuous failure to implement effective anti-flooding measures.

“What remains a major problem, however, is an incompetent City Council that has failed at the most basic responsibilities, including keeping drains clear, and ensuring proper garbage collection; failures that were once again exposed by the flooding,” he said.

Within the past week, the country has experienced intensive rainfall resulting in flooding mainly in Georgetown and its surroundings, including the East Coast of Demerara.

The government on Saturday activated a fullscale, nation-wide flood response as persistent heavy rainfall disrupted livelihoods and flooded homes. Ministers were deployed across multiple regions to assess conditions, engage residents, and ensure that critical drainage and emergency

systems are fully operational.

The mobilisation came as the Hydrometeorological Service warned of the increased risk of flooding due to heavy rainfall.

On Sunday, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) informed the public that the Hydrometeorological Service advises that rainfall with the potential for significant flooding is expected to continue over Guyana until Tuesday.

The CDC used the opportunity to urge all members of the public to take the necessary precautions during periods of rainfall and flooding; precautions which include avoiding floodprone areas whenever possible, exercising extreme caution when driving or walking during rainfall, especially in areas affected by pooling water, keeping drains, trenches, and waterways clear to reduce the risk of flooding, and securing important documents, household items, and other valuables.

It was noted that recent rainfall has already saturated soils, and forecast conditions are expected to increase the risk of flooding, particularly in low-lying and poorly drained areas. Hilly regions may also face the risk of mudslides during

periods of heavy rainfall, and thunderstorms may bring strong winds and lightning, adding to hazardous conditions. According to the weather forecast, until Tuesday, the public should expect cloudy conditions with periods of showers, and that rainfall will be light to moderate with the heaviest on Monday, especially inland and southern areas (up to 60 mm), and then reduce to lighter showers by Tuesday and Wednesday (10–20 mm). Further, the Commission said forecasts indicate that Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) to 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) will continue to experience very unstable conditions for the remainder of the week, while coastal areas will also experience mild to moderate convection during the morning period, and inland areas will continue to experience unstable conditions.

The expected impact of severe weather include coastal flooding, drainage overflow and road inundation, agricultural flooding (crops and livestock at risk), riverine flooding, and possible community isolation, mining and hinterland access disruptions and transportation delays (airstrips, trails).

Guyana emerging as key humanitarian, disaster responder in Caribbean

– President Ali says

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali has underscored Guyana’s growing role as a regional leader in disaster response and humanitarian support, highlighting the country’s recent contributions to crisis-hit Caribbean neighbours.

Speaking at a closing reception for the Southcom-supported Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) mission last week, President Ali situated Guyana firmly within the wider Caribbean community, noting that the region shares both opportunities and challenges.

He stressed that these challenges do not recognise national borders, and that as a result, responses cannot be confined within them.

“Guyana is part of a wider Caribbean community together, Guyana and the Caribbean share both opportunities and challenges, from public-health

threats to natural disasters. The issues we face do not recognise national borders and [as] such, our responses cannot be confined within them. In this context, your mission takes an even greater significance by contributing to the strengthening of Guyana's healthcare capacity; you are also contributing to improving the resilience of our region,” he said.

President Ali explained that by helping to build systems better equipped to respond to crisis, to adapt to changing circumstances and to support the well-being of people across national boundaries, the LAMAT has gone beyond short-term medical interventions, contributing meaningfully to the strengthening of Guyana’s healthcare system and its long-term development trajectory.

“Because of your investment in us and your partnership and support in us, we are

now positioned as a leading response team in this region.”

“And over the last couple of years, we have led from the front, most times as a first responder in natural disasters across this region, and a lot of that is because of the capacity building and strengthening as a result of this partnership,” he said, adding that these achievements were rooted in the deepening of operational capabilities and co-operative frameworks.

The President also praised the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), commending the men

and women in uniform for their “enormous work” and their willingness to deploy beyond Guyana’s borders in support of regional partners.

He highlighted the presence of 70 service members involved in the LAMAT mission in Guyana and pointed to 52 Guyanese in uniform currently in Jamaica, where they are assisting with post-hurricane Melissa reconstruction.

“We have 52 of our men and women in Jamaica in uniform, building more than 200 roofs and homes back for the people of Jamai-

ca,” he said.

President Ali noted that Guyana’s support has extended to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Jamaica and Haiti.

President Ali linked Guyana’s expanding disaster-response role to international and regional partnerships, noting that such co-operation has been central to enhancing both national capacity and Caribbean resilience.

“Beyond the medical interventions, there is a legacy of knowledge, collaboration and strength and capacity that will continue to benefit Guyana long after your departure, through your engagement with our local professionals to facilitate the exchange of skills and ideas that will enhance the quality of care within our system.

You have introduced new perspectives, reinforced best practices and inspired confidence among those who will carry this work forward,” he said.

The mission began on March 17 and con-

cluded on the 27th. With 80 U.S. medical personnel, this year’s mission was said to be the largest contingent with visiting medical teams working alongside local healthcare providers at several institutions, including the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, the Cheddi Jagan Dental School, the Diamond Regional Hospital, the West Demerara Regional Hospital and the De Kinderen Regional Hospital.

President Ali emphasised that investments in training, equipment, and institutional strengthening have derived from collaboration with partners such as the United States that have enabled Guyana to transition from a recipient of support to a frontline contributor in regional emergencies.

The mission utilised more than US$300,000 in medical supplies while facilitating the exchange of knowledge and experience among medical professionals.

Planning advances for Guyana’s 60th Independence Anniversary celebrations

THE Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues is advancing preparations for Guyana’s 60th Independence Anniversary, following a meeting held on Saturday at the Railway Courtyard with the Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs.

The landmark celebrations, themed “The Homecoming – Guyana’s Diamond Jubilee”, are set to be launched in May, and will feature a vibrant calendar of activities,

including cultural and heritage showcases, religious observances, Guyana Carnival, and the annual flag-raising ceremony.

The initiative is expected to have significant cultural and economic impact, as it aims to reconnect Guyanese at home and in the Diaspora, fostering national pride and unity.

By positioning the anniversary as a “homecoming”, the event is also anticipated to drive increased tourism, boost local businesses, and create opportunities for ar -

tistes, performers, and cultural practitioners to showcase Guyana’s rich identity on a larger stage.

Additionally, the expanded programme of activities will support

the preservation and promotion of Guyana’s diverse heritage, while encouraging youth engagement and participation in national development through cultural expression.

The government continues to encour-

age all Guyanese to take part in the historic observance, as Guyana prepares to celebrate six decades of independence with renewed patriotism, and a shared vision for the future. (DPI)

Mohameds’ indictment not politically motivated

- US Ambassador says

UNITED States (US) Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot has emphasised that the extradition request for businessmen Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed is not politically motivated, and was done within the parameters of the law and without the input of the Guyana Government.

that there is nothing political about it from the US.”

The Mohameds were sanctioned in 2024 by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) over allegations tied to an illegal gold export and money

ister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond.

The High Court proceedings here were initiated in late December 2025, and challenged the constitutionality of the 2009 amendments to the Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Act, as well as alleging bias on the part of the Min-

She recently addressed the issue with a section of the media, in the wake of public comments giving the false narrative that the government has a hand in the indictment which is tantamount to political interference.

“I hope people would understand that things are being done by the book, based on the law, and it’s certainly not politically motivated from our side; it’s our indictment,” Theriot said, adding: It’s the US government’s indictment. The Government of Guyana did not indict the Mohameds, and I can assure you

laundering scheme involving under-declared shipments, which is at the centre of the US’ extradition request.

They are facing serious allegations in a federal criminal case filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The indictment alleges that the Mohameds conspired to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering.

Their extradition proceedings formally commenced before Magistrate Judy Latchman on January 6, 2026, following their arrest on October 31, 2025, after an Authority to Proceed (ATP) was issued by the Min-

Act is administrative and executive, not judicial, thereby nullifying claims of bias as raised by the appellants.

“On the facts of this case, bias does not arise,” Justice George had stated.

The court found no evidence that the statutory procedures governing the issuance of the Authority to Proceed (ATP) were breached, nor that the minister had failed to

consider the legally required factors before granting approval for the extradition process to proceed.

The Mohameds subsequently moved to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) seeking special leave to appeal that decision.

Last week, the court granted an interim stay of the ongoing extradition proceedings against the duo, effectively pausing the com-

mittal hearing before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court (GMC).

The regional court also set April 21, 2026, at 09:00 hrs for the hearing of the substantive appeal.

Proceedings before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the GMC are now formally suspended pending the outcome of the appeal at the apex court.

ister in issuing the Authority to Proceed.

A final ruling was delivered on February 4, 2026, by Chief Justice (ag) Navindra Singh. An appeal against Justice Singh’s ruling was subsequently filed in the Court of Appeal in early February 2026, with a final unanimous decision delivered on March 17, 2026, by a panel of three judges, including Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary Roxane George-Wiltshire, SC.

While delivering the CoA’s reasoning, Justice George underscored that Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond’s role in issuing an ATP under the Fugitive Offenders

Culture Shines Brightly

PRESIDENT, Dr Ir-

faan Ali’s affirmation of culture as a key part of Guyana’s development strategy is essential for the nation’s ongoing change. His remarks at Friday’s state reception for regional and local artistes who performed at the Clash of the Titans show, highlighted an important truth: Guyana’s future prosperity will not depend only on oil wells and infrastructure, but also on

the rhythms, creativity, and unity driven by its people.

For too long, culture was seen as a nice addition—important for ceremonies but separate from economics. Today, that view is changing rapidly. Under President Ali’s leadership, culture is being seen as both a reflection of our identity and a vital source of growth. By prioritising the creative industries in the national agenda, the

government is showing that investing in the arts is not a luxury—it is essential for nation-building.

The symbolic and practical value of hosting world-class artistes and cultural exchanges is immense. These events, as the President rightly noted, require careful planning, investment, and respect for artistic work.

Beyond logistics, they represent Guyana’s growing con -

fidence and place in the global community. Each performance and collaboration among Caribbean artistes reinforce a story of unity that goes beyond borders, genres, and even competition.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., was right to call culture a “non-replicable national asset.” Guyana’s vibrancy, with its mix of languages, rhythms, and cuisines, is unlike

any other place in the world.

As the government continues to diversify the economy, the developing Orange Economy, driven by art, music, fashion, and innovation, stands ready to create new income sources, jobs, and international recognition.

This revival in cultural policy fits perfectly with the broader vision of “One Guyana.” It represents inclusion, pride, and creativity,

showing that development is not just about GDP numbers or infrastructure, but also about the shared experiences that connect people. By celebrating the heartbeat of our culture, President Ali’s administration is demonstrating that economic progress and cultural pride must go hand in hand. Guyana’s moment on the world stage has arrived; its culture shines as its brightest light.

Service at NIS Brickdam was excellent

Dear Editor, I WISH to publicly commend the exemplary service recently experienced at the Brickdam Branch of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) in Georgetown.

While accompanying my uncle who had to

conduct business at the office, I had the distinct pleasure of witnessing a level of professionalism that deserves recognition. We were attended to by Supervising Officer Ms Sharmaine Nelson and officer Ms Aruna Khedaru and team, all of whom demonstrated

an exceptional degree of competence, knowledge and courtesy throughout the engagement.

In a time when Guyana is undergoing rapid development and the demands on public institutions continue to increase, such standards of service are not only

commendable, but essential.

Notably, these officers went above and beyond by working through their lunch hour to ensure that the matter at hand was efficiently resolved—an act that reflects both dedication and a strong sense of duty.

I would also like to extend special recognition to Ms Natasha Harper, whose interaction with us similarly reflected a high level of professionalism and attentiveness.

Too often, positive experiences go unmentioned. It is therefore

important to acknowledge and celebrate individuals who uphold the highest standards in public service. These officers are a credit to the NIS and to Guyana as a whole.

Yours faithfully, Eva Etwaroo-Orderson

Discussing Rupert Roopnaraine with Ohene Koama Jnr.

LAST Friday evening, three of us sat around a table discussing Rupert Ropnaraine. It was me, Donald Rodney, the brother of Walter Rodney, and Leyland DeCambra, one of the founders and funders of the UK branch of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA). The occasion was the wake at the Ahmadiyya mosque on Brickdam for Ronald Gordon, former deputy Imam of the mosque and a friend I have known for 58 years.

Naturally, the subject would be WPA. Donald said the thing that bothers him up to this day about the merger of the WPA and PNC is that when they achieved State power, what did the WPA ask for. He opined that the WPA should have demanded an inquest into the assassination of Ohene Koama in 1979.

The entire Saturday morning my thoughts were about what Donald said about the non-existent Koama inquiry. So, Saturday afternoon, while walking my dog, I called Ohene Koama Jnr. to have his thinking on how Donald Rodney feels about the lack of an enquiry for his assassinated father.

We had a long conversation, but he has not given me permission to put in my columns many of his thoughts. I was limited to four. One was that he agrees with Donald that when the WPA got into power, it should have held an investigation into his father’s death. Two – he thinks that

I infused the discussion with my critical comments on Roopnaraine, but I am not at liberty to air Donald’s views on the man, but Leyland does not have any qualms about criticising Roopnaraine. Leyland told Donald and I that the London group was never an admirer of Roopnaraine, particularly Diane Matthews (deceased), former wife of the famous Guyanese theatre personality, Mark Matthews.

when the monument in honour of Walter Rodney was erected on Hadfield Street, a block away from the assassination site, it should have been a monument in tribute to his father, too, and Edward Dublin. Three – he thinks that the WPA’s time in government was too short, so that could have explained why no inquest into his father’s death was done. Four – he wanted to know from me if I had any knowledge that when the PNC and WPA were talking about merger, if the WPA had requested a public statement from the PNC about its regrets about the killing of Rodney.

I am under no restraint not to publish my part of the discussion with the son of Ohene Koama. I had a mouthful to say about my analysis on Rupert Roopnaraine. My assessment of him can now be found on the Internet in five parts published in the Guyana Chronicle. So, there

is no need to repeat the contents; suffice it to say my take on Roopnaraine is based on what I know from my decades of praxis.

I think his role in Guyanese politics is one of revolutionary betrayal. On meeting Roopnarine in 1976, and seeing him in politics decades after, my analysis of him is that he was one of the most insidious, scheming political personalities that Guyana’s politics has produced.

Now for my part of the interaction with Ohene. I was unambiguous with pellucid forcefulness that the WPA and the PNC did not merge. Rupert Roopnaraine and the PNC merged. By the time Robert Corbin came under the spell of Roopnarine, there was hardly any part of the WPA left, and Roopnaraine had long gone from the WPA.

His long absence from the WPA explains three things,

and all three are public statements. One is David Hinds’s explanation that the selection of Roopnaraine as a Cabinet Minister was not a decision the WPA made, and the WPA was not consulted. This was the same Roopnaraine who, in 1993 at a WPA meeting with incredible calmness argued that it was atrocious for the PPP to appoint Clive Thomas as Minister of the Economy without asking theWPA for its choice.

Secondly, Tacuma Ogunseye published a letter in the Stabroek News in which he told the world that at a meeting of the WPA in 2016, Roopnaraine told those in attendance that when he is present at WPA meetings, he cannot disclose government business to a political party. That position of Roopnaraine revealed the depth of that man’s depravity.

Shortly after publication

of that Ogunseye letter, a delegation from the WPA Overseas group, including David Hinds and Alissa Trotz, met with Roopnaraine, who was the then education minister. He made it clear to them; he cannot discuss government business with party executives.

Thirdly, Roopnaraine, in an interview with Dr. Dhanpaul Narine from the newspaper “The West Indian” (August 19, 2017) said that President David Granger is more attendant to his needs than the WPA. He told Narine that he and David Granger go back a long way. To be continued.

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.

Social asset, an excerpt from my life

TODAY, I want to step away from the political commentary and offer some self-deprecating notes from my childhood. I first attended the New Amsterdam Multilateral School (NAMS) up to third form. I was then transferred to the Skeldon Line Path Secondary School (SLPSS). This was occasioned by the days of petrol shortages, frequent breakdowns of the Guyana Transportation Services Ltd. (GTSL) buses which was dominating the public- transportation scene. At that time, the minibus culture was not pervasive and taxis and hire cars were few and expensive.

I lived in No. 51 Village, so getting into New Amsterdam every day was

extremely erratic and getting there on time was also onerous. It was much easier getting to Skeldon as the Lions Club offered several 30-seater school buses at half price and it covered the area from 49 village to Corriverton. The natural thing for my parents to do was to seek a transfer.

At SLPSS, I became well-known in school pretty quickly. I was way more popular than I could ever dream of being at NAMS. After all, I was the town boy from a large urban school who was now at a small countryside school. I quickly developed a crew that I rolled with and as it turned out, I organically carved my own crew of students that were the usual outsiders. I became the de facto group leader with-

out deliberately setting out to do so. In so doing, I disrupted an established group dynamic, which some students did not take kindly. So, I became the target of bullying.

I was taunted about my physical appearance. You see these heavy-set, big, succulent, juicy lips that I have? Hmmmm, I saw what you just did. You paused reading and inspected my column picture above, so I guess you saw them, and yes, big lips. Anyway, they called me “lebba lip,” not without visual justification. The lips I have now were the same size in my childhood. I simply grew into my lips and now they appear more proportional in relation to the other facial appendages. So yes, imagine those lips on a little child. It’s

not hard to imagine why “lebba lip” would be a natural temptational utterance. In my own defence, I was never deflated by the taunts because I had developed some formidable verbal counter attacks that caused many students to regret the day they uttered those words. For similarly strong-willed students, it was a good sport trading verbal jabs.

One day while walking from school to the bus station, I was being taunted by some students from Skeldon High School, a nearby school where students trekking to the bus station would often comingle. My sister attended that school, and she witnessed the taunting. Her normal disposition would be to jump to my defence; she has an overwhelmingly strong belief that family must stand up for each other no matter what. Though I was holding my own a bit, I needed the help, but she opted not to chime in. She ignored what was happening and went about her business.

When we got home, she chose to retell the events to our mom. She

said, “Mom, today I saw a couple of children calling Junior (I got my father’s name) “lebba lip” and I was just about to defend him but then I turned around and gave him a good look, and mammy, I swear I couldn’t in good conscience defend him. When I looked at him all I saw were two big lips walking down the road. I saw two big lips, a hand and a foot and I couldn’t work up the stomach to defend that. Gosh mammy, the boy’s whole face is a lip.”

My mother broke out into a ground-rolling laughter, the type of deep, bellyful, satisfying laughter that brings tears. My sister’s tone, intonation and pause at just the right place for effect, tremendously hit the spot. I was standing right there; it was a comedy show. I felt a sense of instant forgiveness for my mom. She was not supposed to be laughing, she should be consoling her son, but I don’t think any human could have resisted the evocative jocularity of the moment.

I was laughing too.

My mom didn’t care, she knew I was not touchy or sensitive, she knew I was built of strong comedic suasion, and my social filters were sturdy, formidable even.

After composing herself, m y mom said, “Come son, let me explain something to you.” In between bouts of giggles, she was able to utter some noble words. “Your mom is proud of your lips. You may not know it now, but when you grow up those lips will be an asset, especially, it will be a girl’s magnet, the girls will love it. You are a bright boy but that is not your only asset. Your lips will feature highly in your social interactions.” Needless to say, I lived long enough to see that my mother’s predictive pep talk tur ned out to be true. Who’s laughing now? Eh!

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.

Young Guyanese driving historic rise in home ownership - President Ali

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali has highlighted a surge in home ownership across Guyana, particularly among younger citizens, which according to him points to a sharp increase in mortgage lending as a key driver of wealth creation and national development.

The Head of State pointed this out while delivering remarks at a recent event during which he noted that the country is witnessing a transformation in how citizens invest in their future, with more Guyanese entering the housing market than ever before.

He noted that this trend is reflected in the significant expansion of mortgage lending over the past five years.

“Mortgage lending increased from $90.6 billion in 2020 to $185.4 billion in 2025,” President Ali stated, underscoring the scale of growth within the financial sector.

According to the President, this increase is closely tied to broader national development efforts.

“That is linked to the home-ownership story, that is linked

to the housing story, that is linked to the expansion and creation of individual and family wealth across our country,” he said.

Added to this, the President pointed out that younger Guyanese are now accessing home ownership at unprecedented levels, a development he described as historic.

“The average age of home ownership in Guyana is at its lowest ever in the history, and among the lowest in the Caribbean and Latin America region, if not the lowest,” he said.

To this end, he highlighted that this shift signals growing confidence in the economy and a stronger foundation for long-term financial stability among citizens.

“What does that mean? It means more Guyanese families are building [and] investing. It means more people are investing in their future,” he added.

Beyond the numbers, President Ali emphasised that the impact of increased home ownership is being felt across communities nationwide.

“It means that development is not just happening in statis -

tics, it is happening in towns, villages, communities and households across the country,” he said.

The expansion in mortgage lending forms part of a wider trend in private-sector credit growth, which the President said has increased significantly in recent years. However, he noted that the housing sector has been a major contributor to this upward movement.

“These are not just numbers. These are signs of an economy that is alive, expanding and creating opportunities,” he remarked.

Dr Ali further highlighted that the country’s banking system remains well positioned to support continued growth, while adding that there is still room for further expansion in lending.

“Our banking system remains very liquid. In simple terms, there is still a lot of money sitting in the system that is not yet fully used for productive lending,” he said.

This, he added, presents an opportunity for more citizens and businesses to access financing, further strengthening economic activity and

development across the country.

“It means there is still space for more businesses and citizens to access credit. It means there is still room for more investment, more entrepreneurship and more innovation,” the President said.

NDMA takes digital skills to remote Region Nine communities

RESIDENTS of nine hinterland communities across the Rupununi in Region Nine are now better equipped to navigate the digital world, following a series of e-services and cybersecurity-awareness sessions conducted by the National Data Management Authority (NDMA).

The outreach, which occured in communities Taushida, Tiger Pond, Pain Pang, Kakshibai, Yorung

Paru, Tipuru, and Bina Hill, reached a total of 185 residents.

This achievement marks yet another step in the government’s drive to ensure that geography is no barrier to digital inclusion.

According to the Office of the Prime Minister, participants were taken through practical skills, including how to protect themselves online, create strong passwords, and access government e-services

with confidence. These are tools that are increasingly essential as Guyana accelerates its national digitalisation agenda.

The sessions form part of a broader push to extend digital literacy beyond urban centres and into the country’s most remote communities.

Region Nine, characterised by vast savannahs and mountain ranges in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, has histori -

cally faced challenges in accessing services that are often taken for granted in coastal Guyana.

The NDMA’s community visit represents a deliberate effort to close that gap, in keeping with the People’s Progressive

Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration’s commitment to digital inclusion as outlined in its 2025-2030 Manifesto.

Already, the government has commenced the rollout of the electronic identification card (e-

ID), which will enable easier access to key government and financial services. This is among a number of initiatives implemented by the administration as part of its digitalisation agenda. (DPI)

Guyana preparing for first-ever soya exports

- other massive food-production projects in the pipeline - President Ali says

AS Guyana prepares to export soyabean from its shores for the first time, President, Dr Irfaan Ali announced a sweeping package of agricultural and agro‑industrial initiatives aimed at diversifying the economy and deepening the country’s role in regional food security.

investment in the project.

At the end of 2025, it was reported that locally harvested soybeans were transported by vessel for the first time from the Tacama drying and storage facility, located approximately 90 miles up the

the livestock industry, with Guyana expecting to almost double its livestock numbers within months through “very bold initiatives.”

“These are the initiatives that will set the stage for the larger, more aggressive

Berbice River, to a processing mill where it was then converted into poultry feed.

Speaking at an event last week, President Ali said that within a month, Guyana will begin exporting soya, describing it as an early signal of a much broader transformation in the agricultural sector.

“You have to be innovative and bold. You have to be ever present. You have to be looking for opportunity. You have to be engaging with opportunity. That is the only way we can build a country that is really positioning itself to be a world-class leader, a world champion in everything we do, and we're going to do it, you're going to see how we're going to achieve it in a couple of weeks, or maybe a month from now, we'll be exporting for the first time soya from our shores,” the President said.

Cultivation of soyabean and corn began in 2021 and over the past few years there has been a US$10 million

The President framed the soyabean milestone as part of a deliberate strategy to reposition Guyana as a diversified, world-class producer, rather than a narrow, oil-dependent economy.

Outside of this, the President outlined a pipeline of other projects already under way. These include a US$30 million dairy facility by Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), as part of the company’s drive to diversify its operations, a government - backed programme to cultivate 5,000 acres of cocoa and coffee, alongside large-scale mango cultivation and the completion of an onion pilot in Region Nine, with plans now to move into large-scale onion production.

The President disclosed too that there are joint works with Brazil and ongoing talks with Saudi Arabia to build out

opportunities that are ahead of us,” he said, stressing that Guyana must pursue an “ever - present” search for opportunity.

The President’s comments come as Caribbean leaders continue to discuss ways to cut the region’s massive food-import bill.

While he did not provide precise export targets, Dr Ali positioned soya, dairy, livestock and high-value crops as key pillars in Guyana’s ambition to become a regional agricultural powerhouse.

He suggested that the country’s geographical position, access to the Atlantic and links to large markets such as Brazil, combined with natural assets including crude oil, natural gas and gold, gives Guyana a unique opportunity to build a “strategic geo - positioning” for entire industries, including agribusiness and agro - processing.

“If we don’t embrace in a bold manner the challeng

es that confront us globally and the naysayers that exist locally, we will not be able to position this country in the lead position,” he said, adding: “I’m not going to sit around and play second best as the President of this country.”

New campaign to enhance, promote workplace safety to be rolled out

- Labour Minister announces, urges local, int’l firms to embrace initiative

GUYANA’S Minister of Labour and Man power Planning Ke oma Griffith has an nounced the launch of an inaugural Health and Safety Village on Main Street as part of a renewed national drive to put workers’ safety at the centre of the country’s rapid economic transfor mation.

Speaking at a recent event, the minister said the initiative will form a key pillar of the Min

istry of Labour’s new campaign, which will be rolled out in April on the heels of Health and Safety Month, and continue throughout the year.

The minister said the Health and Safety Vil lage will bring togeth er major companies, industry stakeholders and partners to show case the safety systems and practices they use in high‑risk work en vironments. Exhibitors will be invited to mount

interactive displays on Main Street, giving members of the public a first‑hand view of the standards and technol ogies being applied in various environments.

“For the rest of this year, my ministry will commence a campaign titled ‘Putting ‘Safety First’. For the month of April, we will see a lot of activities geared to wards health and safe ty,” Minister Griffith said.

He explained that

the concept is designed to make safety visible and tangible.

Minister Griffith’s announcement came against the backdrop of continuing concerns over workplace acci dents. He referred to recent fatality reports received from his tech nical officers, noting that such incidents con tinue to cause disquiet, and standards must be strengthened and en forced.

“Guyana has come a very far way trying to uphold certain stan dards of public safety, and, of course, there is so much more for us to do.”

He stressed that the

onus is on both the gov ernment and employers to act, and he urged international operators and local firms to deep en their collaboration with the ministry.

“I call on you to continue to partner with us to see how we can ensure in these high risk work environments that we can always put the lives of our people, those who work for us, first.”

He invited busi nesses and other stakeholders to par ticipate as exhibitors and partners in the village, describing their involvement as critical to building a culture where every worker returns home safely, and where modern, world‑class safety standards be come the norm in Guyana.

Minister Manickchand returns to Albouystown

- commits to continued engagement, infrastructural improvements

MINISTER of Local Government and Regional Development, Priya Manickchand, on Sunday returned to Albouystown to reassess the flooding situation and engage directly with residents, following her visit to the community the previous day.

True to her word, the minister fulfilled her com-

bouystown, observing firsthand the current state of flooding and the challenges being faced by residents. She engaged with householders, listened to their concerns, and gathered feedback on the impact of the persistent water accumulation on their daily lives, livelihoods, and overall well-being.

Residents highlighted a

mitment to return, demonstrating the government’s ongoing dedication to addressing the concerns of citizens at the community level, a press release from the minister said.

It added that during the visit, Minister Manickchand walked through several sections of Al -

number of issues, including inadequate drainage, blocked canals, and the need for more consistent maintenance of existing systems. The minister assured those present that their concerns are being taken seriously and will inform the Ministry’s ongoing and future interventions

in the area.

Importantly, Minister Manickchand announced that the ministry will be returning to Albouystown after the Easter holiday to host a community meeting focused on the comprehensive overhaul and improvement of the area’s drainage and related infrastructure, the press release said adding that this engagement will allow for more structured dialogue with residents, community leaders, and technical teams to collaboratively identify practical and sustainable solutions.

The planned meeting forms part of a broader effort by the ministry to ensure that interventions are not only responsive but also inclusive, giving residents a voice in the development and implementation of works that directly affect their communities.

According to the press release, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development remains committed to improving drainage systems and reducing the impact of flooding across vulnerable communities, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.

“Today’s visit underscores the importance of continuous monitoring,

direct engagement, and decisive action in addressing longstanding infrastructural challenges.

“Minister Manickchand reaffirmed that the government will continue to work alongside residents to bring meaningful and lasting improvements to Albouystown, ensuring safer and more resilient living conditions for all,” the press release added.

Demerara Bank powering Guyana’s economic development

- CEO highlights bank’s credit expansion, overall lending growth

DEMERARA Bank now accounts for around 50 per cent of all lending growth in Guyana’s banking system over the past year, a perfor-

mance its leadership says is helping to power the country’s wider economic expansion.

The Chief Executive Officer, Dowlat Parbhu

noted that without Demerara Bank’s credit expansion, overall lending growth in the economy would have been about 7 per cent instead of 14 per

cent, with serious knockon effects for housing, business investment, and economic momentum.

“The Demerara Bank contributed approximately 50 per cent of all lending growth in the banking system in the past year,” he said last week, while addressing stakeholders at the official launch of the bank’s Beterverwagting branch.

“This is not just growth; this is market leader. The issue of the system, it tells a very clear story; we are not following economic expansion. We are driving it. We are not accepting or reacting to demand, we are enabling it,” he added.

He noted that the bank’s lending is strategically deployed across productive sectors, including housing, agriculture, and manufacturing, services and telecommunications, oil and gas, and hospitality.

This diversification, he notes, shows that its growth is “balanced, inclusive and aligned with Guyana’s national developmental agenda”, supporting home ownership, community expansion , and private sector growth.

Demerara Bank’s strong capital base has enabled a sharp rise in its financing limits, with a single borrower limit of US $41 million (about G$8 billion), and a group exposure limit of around US$60 million (approximately G$13 billion).

This gives the bank the capacity to participate “meaningfully” in some

of the largest energy, infrastructure and commercial projects in Guyana. Once seen as a small player, it has now positioned itself as a key financier of national development.

Looking ahead, Demerara Bank plans to introduce dedicated digital banking spaces, launch an enhanced Internet banking platform, and roll out next-generation digital solutions this year to “fundamentally change the status quo of banking”.

The bank has already pioneered digital onboarding in Guyana, invested in automated lending, mobile and Online banking, and achieved direct integration with correspondent banks combined with AI-driven services.

Its vision is that customers “should not need to visit a branch to have a relationship with the bank”, with Demerara Bank effectively coming to them through digital channels.

A recent mortgage switch programme forced competing banks to cut their interest rates, as customers used Demerara Bank’s offer to renegotiate their loans. The CEO described this as part of a broader philosophy.

As Demerara Bank deepens its role in financing major projects, expands lending, and accelerates its digital agenda, it is positioning itself not m erely as a participant in Guyana’s economic transformation, but as one of its main drivers.

Civil Defence Commission distributes cleaning hampers to flood-affected communities

THE Civil Defence Commission (CDC) along with the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Minister Manickchand on Sunday distributed cleaning hampers to residents in La Penitence and Albouystown.

This initiative aims to assist affected households with essential supplies needed to begin cleaning and sanitising their homes after the floodwaters have receded.

The hampers included items such as disinfectants, cleaning agents, and other basic sanitation materials to reduce health risks and support safe recovery.

The CDC emphasises its continued

The Civil Defence Commission also distributed 300 hampers to the Regional Democratic Council of Region Three in its ongoing relief and recovery efforts following recent torrential rainfall, resulting in widespread flooding in several regions of Guyana.

commitment to providing timely assistance to communities impacted by natural disasters and encourages residents to take necessary precautions during the clean-up process.

The CDC continues to assess the situation in affected areas and will provide additional support where necessary as recovery efforts progress.

The Civil Defence Commission can be contacted on 600 7500 and 226 1117/2261114. (CDC)

Increasing HIV cases among youth population sparks concern

GUYANA’S fight against HIV and AIDS is showing measurable progress, with new infections declining significantly over the years. However, emerging trends among young people are raising fresh concerns.

This is according to

Dr Shanti Singh, who has been at the forefront of Guyana’s HIV response for over two decades. She spoke about the work being done on the ‘Starting Point’ podcast recently.

She pointed out that more HIV positive persons are living longer lives, which she

attributed to improved treatment.

“About 10,000 to 11,000 is the community of people living with HIV,” Dr Singh explained while noting that this figure is cumulative.

She added that the number will grow because people living with HIV are not necessarily dying as has happened in the past.

She emphasised, however, that greater attention should be placed on new infections, which have steadily declined over time.

According to Dr Singh, fewer than 500 new cases were recorded in 2024, a marked improvement from the early 2000s when infections were significantly higher.

“When we started out… we used to have about 1,100 new infections… over time that came down… so we’re now seeing less than 500,” she said, adding that while the trajectory is encouraging, it may not be sufficient.

“Is it a fast enough decline? Is another question that we have to ask,” she said, pointing to the need for continued evaluation of national targets and strategies.

Dr Singh also highlighted a notable demographic shift within the HIV population. With

advancements in treatment, more people are living longer, resulting in an ageing population of people living with the virus.

“Roughly 33 per cent of them would be over the age of 50… It means, therefore, you have to manage an older person with HIV, which brings its own nuances in terms of clinical management,” she said.

At the same time, she warned of persistent vulnerabilities among younger populations.

“One in every four new infections is occurring among young people between the ages of 15 to 24,” she disclosed.

This trend, she said, calls into question whether sufficient emphasis is being placed on awareness efforts targeting young people.

“It raises the question about all of the things that we have done at the very beginning of this epidemic, the need for education, the need for mass media communication… the need to engage young people,” she said.

Dr Singh further noted that, unlike some parts of the Caribbean where more men are being infected, Guyana continues to record a near equal ratio of infections between men and women.

Planting eschalot, sweet peppers proves profitable for Errol Deally

AS a man and father of three, the sole responsibility of providing for his family falls on Errol Deally of Experiment Village, West Coast Berbice, who has 140 banks of eschalot and sweet peppers on his farm.

The 56-year-old told the Guyana Chronicle that he is a cash-crop farmer, who depends heavily on farming to

small profit selling his produce to wholesale buyers, who would then re-sell at much higher prices to market vendors.

Deally reported that every four months, he has crops to sell, but if it has any signs of blight, he will suffer losses and lose income. To ensure he can cushion himself and adequately support his family during hard

support his family which comprises his wife and their three school-aged children.

He has a plot of land that is state-owned aback Experiment Village where he and other farmers grow crops, especially eschalot and celery. These are the main crops planted in the community.

Deally explained that when he was younger, he used to work with GuySuCo as a cane harvester, but these days he prefers to work with himself as a farmer.

He said he makes a

farmer for the past 15 years.

Experiment Village is the largest producer of eschalot, celery, sweet pepper and other traditional crops.

This community is located between Bath

and Woodley Park and it is populated by Indo-Guyanese and a few Afro-Guyanese, most of whom are farmers. They sell their produce to wholesale buyers in bulk rather than market vendors.

Deally like most small-scale farmers in this village would welcome agricultural equipment, training programmes and other government-backed initiatives.

“It is difficult to get

good workers for any sort of day jobs on the farm, so I have to do the intensive labour of ploughing by hand myself and it is time consuming and consist of hard work,” he said.

times, he would work as a labourer on a part-time basis with other farmers.

“As a small-scale farmer, it is no easy task to plough the land to cultivate crops manually, so if I get a tiller to utilise it would be easier for me, so that is my goal of attaining one; not sure how it will happen,” he said.

He disclosed that the condition of the farmlands isn’t suitable for a tractor, so the next best thing is a tiller to prepare the land for farming.

Deally has been a

Significant decrease in floodwaters in Georgetown, East Coast communities recorded

- Agriculture Minister asserts, says flood-reduction measures successfully implemented in farming areas

FOLLOWING consistent, heavy rainfall over the last few days across Guyana, flooding was recorded in vulnerable and low-lying areas in the city, the East Coast and other outlying communities.

On Sunday, the rainfall had eased considerably and the water in flooded

areas was receding at a commendable pace.

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha told the Guyana Chronicle when contacted on Sunday that teams dispatched to various flood-affected communities across the country, have reported that floodwaters have receded significantly in many areas including Georgetown and other parts of the country’s coast. He stated that he was also on the ground in the rice-cultivation villages of Mahaica and Mahaicony to ensure that ad -

Flooding in the wards of the city including Albouystown, Wortmanville, Lodge, and Alexander Village

Significant decrease...

ditional measures were implemented to reduce flooding and minimise crop loss.

The minister said that additional pumps were being installed and he was very pleased that the rain has subsided as that paved the way for the full operationalisation of the kokers to drain water from areas that were heavily inundated on Saturday.

He reported that there are active measures in place in many areas and teams from the Ministry of Agriculture and National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) have been in several communities monitoring the situation since Saturday.

Minister Zulfikar told the Guyana Chronicle that Alexander Village, which is one of Georgetown’s low-level areas, still had some floodwater remaining.

He related that all 13 drainage pumps in the city are fully operational and are being monitored regularly to ensure efficiency.

Additionally, Minister Zulfikar disclosed that drainage pumps are being installed at Belmont, Mahaica, and in Mahaicony to reduce flooding in the farming communities as promised.

He pointed out that several drainage pumps were put in place in several areas in Mahaica and Mahaicony since Saturday.

According to the Guyana Hydrometrical Service’s latest weather update, rainfall is still affecting parts of the country.

As of 09:00hrs on Sunday, March 29, 2026, the latest radar and satellite image revealed that there is weak to moderate rainfall still affecting parts of Regions Five and Six. Inland areas in Regions One to Four are also experiencing similar conditions, the weather agency said.

The minister noted that all 13 drainage pumps in the city and the immediate environs were in operation.

Further, he said that all kokers and sluices are working as they should and the engineer was checking all interlocking areas to ensure there are no issues at the outfalls.

Minister Mustapha stated that if the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) fails to fulfil its responsibilities as it relates to implementing measures to reduce flooding, his ministry will step in and assist with the monitoring of pumps among other things.

Caf General Secretary resigns amid AFCON debacle

(BBC) - The general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has resigned amid a chaotic time for football on the continent.

Veron Mosengo-Omba said in a statement he was retiring, but his departure comes during the fallout

over decisions to strip Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) title and postpone the women's tournament at the last minute.

These incidents have left Caf, the governing body for African football, battling a crisis of confidence.

Mosengo-Omba alluded to controversies faced during his tenure in his statement on Sunday.

"Now that I have been able to dispel the suspicions that some people have gone to great lengths to cast on me, I can retire with peace of mind and

without constraint, leaving the CAF more prosperous than ever," Mosengo-Omba, deputy to Caf president Patrice Motsepe, wrote.

The 66-year-old has been criticised for staying on as general secretary past the organisation's mandatory retirement age of 63.

He has also been accused by some employees of creating a toxic atmosphere in the workplace, although an investigation after staff complaints cleared him of any wrongdoing.

Mosengo-Omba, who hails from the Democratic Republic of Congo but also holds Swiss nationality, was appointed general secretary in March 2021.

According to news agency Reuters, Caf's competitions director, Samson Adamu, will take over as acting general secretary.

The governing body

is awaiting a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) on Senegal's appeal against being stripped of the Afcon title.

Senegal is challenging Caf's appeals body for overturning their 1-0 win over hosts Morocco in January's Afcon final.

During the game, Senegal's players left the field in protest when, with the score at 0-0, hosts Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.

When they returned after a delay of about 17 minutes, Morocco subsequently failed to score the spot-kick and Senegal netted an extra-time winner.

Following an appeal by the Moroccan FA (FRMF), Caf later ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match and Morocco were awarded a 3-0 victory.

Rickelton, Rohit, Shardul break Mumbai's first-game jinx

(ESPNCRICINFO) - Before Sunday, Mumbai Indians (MI) had never chased down a 220-plus target in their previous seven attempts. MI had never won their opening game of the IPL since 2012. On day two of IPL 2026, MI broke two jinxes as they chased down 221 in 19.1 overs to begin their season with a comfortable six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders. Rohit Sharma wound back the clock, smashing 78 off 38 balls, while Ryan Rickelton thumped 81 off 43, the duo adding 148 runs for the opening wicket off 71 balls. That KKR were coming into this opening game severely depleted on the bowling front was known. The extent of it was visible on Sunday night with Vaibhav Arora and Blessing Muzarabani toothless, Varun Chakravarthy ineffective and Sunil Narine a shadow of his

former self. At the halfway mark, KKR might have been happy reaching 220 for 4, their second-highest score against MI in the IPL. Ajinkya Rahane, who at the toss said that he had "never seen so much of grass at Wankhede," scored 67 off 40 balls while Angkrish Raghuvanshi, another Mumbai lad, made 51 off 29 as KKR breached the 220 mark. But against a KKR unit missing several of their frontline seamers, MI barely had any hiccups, completing the highest-successful IPL chase at the Wankhede with five balls to spare. Hitman turns back the clock

It was a typical Rohit innings that Wankhede has witnessed so many times, laced with some of the most pristine shots. He was on 12 off eight at one stage, but once in, he lit up Mumbai like only he can. Coming

into the game, he had a strike rate of less than 100 against Varun in T20s. So, what did he do? He lofted the spinner inside-out over the covers first ball and then lifted him for six the next ball. By the time the powerplay was done, Rohit had raced to a 23-ball 50, his fastest in the IPL and MI's chase was on course.

They raced to 80 in the first six, past 100 in 8.1 overs and by the time Rohit fell, thanks to a lovely catch by Anukul Roy running back from mid-off, MI’s required rate had gone below nine, which at the start of the innings was above 11 an over.

Rickelton justifies selection

There were a few raised eyebrows when Rickelton was picked over the more experienced Quinton de Kock, but the former justified his selection. Rickelton needed just the first couple of overs to get a hang of the surface

and once he did, there was no stopping him. He deposited Arora for back-to-back sixes, one over extra cover and then over deep midwicket, and that kickstarted a brutal takedown of the KKR bowlers.

While he saw Rohit do his thing in the powerplay, Rickelton took on Narine after the six-over mark. He slog swept him over deep midwicket in his first over and then launched him over the ropes twice in three balls in the next to raise a 24-ball 50.

He didn't stop there and only fell courtesy of a stunning direct hit from the deep by Anukul. Suryakumar Yadav, the Impact Sub, came and went, but Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma took MI closer. Hardik finished on an unbeaten 18 off 11 balls, while Naman Dhir hit the winning runs off Anukul as MI started their IPL 2026 in style.

Kings edge Qalandars in low-scoring thriller

(ESPNCRICINFO) -

Karachi Kings edged past Lahore Qalandars in a thrilling low-scoring contest as Abbas Afridi smashed Haris Rauf for a four and a six on consecutive balls to chase nine runs in the last over. There was drama at the start of the over when the equation of 14 off six was reduced to nine off six after the on-field umpires penalised Qalandars for changing the condition of the ball and allowed Kings batters to pick the replacement ball.

Chasing 129 was never going to be a smooth sailing on this pitch, which had become two-paced and offered inconsistent bounce as it was staging its fourth consecutive contest. Shaheen Afridi, the pick of the bowlers across both sides for his incredible analysis of 4-0-18-4, made brilliant use of the conditions by firing slower ones into the surface and had his opposite number David Warner and Salman Agha out in the space of three balls in the third over.

He bowled three splendid overs in the powerplay - his second and third sandwiched between Ubaid Shah's maiden - as Kings mustered 18 for 2 in the first five overs.

Saad Baig smashed Rauf, who leaked 45 runs in 3.3 overs, for two boundaries in the last powerplay over that gave his side some respite. The wicketkeeper-batter

started off the seventh by dispatching Sikandar Raza's half-tracker, which turned out to be a no-ball, to the mid-wicket for a boundary. His dismissal off Mustafizur Rahman in the next over put the chokehold back on Kings as only 19 runs were scored from the next four overs.

Kings' UAE import Muhammad Waseem, who had

opened the innings with Warner, delivered a crucial blow in the 13th over by hitting Rauf down the ground for a four at the start and over deep third for a maximum on the last ball in what turned out to be the most expensive over of the match. The six took Waseem's strike rate past 100.

Moeen Ali, whose allround brilliance had delivered Kings a come-from-behind win over Quetta Gladiators on Friday, had pierced the off-side gap on the third ball as that over added 18 to the Kings total and brought the required run rate down to seven-and-a-half from nine an over.

Their crucial 43-run partnership ended as Afridi removed Waseem and then Ali in the 15th over which added another twist in the run chase. But Khushdil Shah and Azam Khan held their nerves to take Kings through to the last over with their 32-run partnership before Abbas sealed the contest. Despite the dismissals

of Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Naeem in the first and fourth overs, Qalandars ended the powerplay on a decent 42 for 2 as Abdullah Shafique (33 off 24) held his end. His repair work with Parvez Hossain Emon was undone when he holed out to long-on and Emon got trapped in front in the space of three balls.

But Qalandars seemed

on course to a competitive total as Raza and Haseebullah Khan built a solid partnership worth 43. Haseebullah welcomed Abbas with a four and a six in a 15-run over (12th of the innings). The wickets of Raza and Shaheen in the 15th and 16th overs sparked a collapse as Qalandars lost their last five wickets for 20 runs.

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER

March 30, 2026)

Antonelli seals victory at Japanese GP

(Formula 1) Kimi Antonelli has sealed victory at the Japanese Grand Prix, the Italian becoming the youngest-ever championship leader after putting in a commanding drive to claim his second consecutive win from Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc following an earlier Safety Car.

When the lights went out at the Suzuka Circuit, Piastri made a stunning start to seize the lead into Turn 1 while the Mercedes cars slipped backwards. The Silver Arrows pair soon embarked on a recovery drive, however, with George Russell going on to challenge the McLaren racer for the lead – though was unable to make a move stick.

As some drivers started to make their pit stops, including leaders Piastri and Russell, a heavy crash for Haas’ Ollie Bearman brought out the Safety Car on Lap 22, allowing Antonelli – who was yet to pit and had provisionally been in the lead – to visit the pits and reemerge in P1.

From there the youngster executed a smooth restart to

hold onto P1 and build a significant gap up ahead, crossing the line with a margin of 13.722s over Piastri – with the win also moving him up into the lead of the Drivers’ Championship, making him the youngest driver in history to head the standings.

Piastri recorded his first race finish of the season in style, the Australian taking McLaren’s debut podium of the campaign with his P2 result, while Leclerc fended off a chasing Russell to seal the final spot on the rostrum in third.

This left Russell to settle for fourth – the Briton having earlier voiced his frustration at the timing of the Safety Car – while McLaren’s Lando Norris claimed fifth following a close scrap with Lewis Hamilton in the latter stages, the Ferrari man ending the event in sixth.

Pierre Gasly was a solid seventh for Alpine, the Frenchman having had to defend hard against a chasing Max Verstappen for much of the second half of the race.

The Red Bull man finished

just 0.337s behind in eighth, while Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Haas’ Esteban Ocon rounded out the top 10. Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg just missed out on points in 11th, ahead of Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar in 12th and the other Audi of Gabriel Bortoleto in 13th. Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad claimed 14th, ahead of the Williams of Carlos Sainz and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto in 15th and 16th respectively.

Sergio Perez was the lead Cadillac in P17, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, the sister Cadillac of Valtteri Bottas and Williams’ Alex Albon – who recorded a total of six pit stops in the race –completing the classification.

Two drivers retired from the event, with Lance Stroll forced to bring his Aston Martin back to the garage owing to a suspected water pressure issue. Bearman’s crash put him out of the running, though the Haas team fortunately later reported that the Briton had not suffered any fractures in the 50G incident.

RHTYSC; Bakewell Renew Alliance for 26th consecutive year – Company

Hailed as Club’s Foundation of Success

"BAKEWELL is the second longest of our sponsors after Farfan and Mendes Ltd and is, without doubt, one of the main reasons why the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC), MS, is the success it is today. The club and Bakewell are the products of sheer hard work, discipline, and visionary leadership."

Those were the words of RHTYSC Cricket Manager, Robby Kissoonlall, on Wednesday last when long-serving sponsor, Bakewell, renewed their cricket sponsorship of the club for the 26th consecutive year.

Kissoonlall stated that the popular bakery has been sponsoring the club’s Under-17 and second-division teams since 2000. Bakewell became the second official sponsor of the RHTYSC, joining Farfan and Mendes Ltd, after a visit to the club by its founder Naeem Nasir, and General Manager Rajendra Ganga.

The sponsorship started with the second-division team and later expanded to the Under-17 team. The two teams have won a combined 26 titles and reached close to 20 semifinals over the years. Kissoonlall spoke on the importance of the Bakewell sponsorship as it allows the players to play the game of cricket without worrying about the expenses associated with it. Club Secretary, Hilbert Foster, noted that membership of the club is totally free and the club stands all expenses of playing the

game.

The former President of the Berbice Cricket Board and Director of Cricket West Indies stated that the teams have over the years produced three Test cricketers, 10 international players and 130 Berbice players. The only Berbice players produced by the RHTYSC that have no connection to the Bakewell sponsorship are Ingram Dey and Neil Williams.

Some of the players who played with the Bakewell teams are Kevin Sinclair, Esaun Crandon, Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Kevlon Anderson, Shemaine Campbelle, Eon Hooper, Clinton Pestano, Jonathan Rampersaud, Dominique Rikhi, Akshay Homraj, Delbert Hicks, Jeremy Sandia, Matthew Pottaya, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Slyus Tyndall, Sheneta Grimmond, Erva Giddings, and Shabiki Gajnabi.

Foster spoke highly of the role that the Bakewell sponsorship has played in the careers of Test players Kevlon Anderson, Assad Fudadin, and Kevin Sinclair. He recalled also that Dominique Rikhi and Akshay Homraj, former players of the Under-17 and second-division teams, have gone on to play international cricket for the United States of America.

The 2026 Under-17 team would be led by national player Leon Reddi with fellow national player Jayden Ganpat as his deputy. The second-division team would be led by veteran left-handed batsman Ryan Kissoonlall and he would be assisted by

vice-captain Jonathan Rampersaud. The management team for both teams would be Robby Kissoonlall, Keith Hicks, and Tyrone Pottaya. The two teams under the sponsorship would undertake about 50 community-related programmes and projects during the year. These programmes would be held under a variety of sub-headings including sports, culture, education, charity, environment, community development, and youth development. Among the main activities to be hosted by the Bakewell teams in 2026 are Tribute to Teachers, Tribute to Students, Cricket Academy, Republic Bank Grade Six Summer Camp, Basil Butcher Trust Fund, Annual Youth Magazine, Naeem Nasir Memorial Tournament, feeding programmes, and the annual Christmas Village.

General Manager of Bakewell, Rajendra Ganga, was loud in praise for the remarkable work of the Bakewell teams over the last 25 years. He noted that the company was pleased to be associated with such a dynamic organisation and was very pleased with the club's ability to produce outstanding players. He urged the management of the club to uphold the high standards they have set themselves in the past. Apart from the sponsorship of the two cricket teams, Bakewell co-sponsors the RHTYSC annual magazine, Cricket Academy, and the annual Christmas Village.

Pitamber is the new National Open Chess Champion

CANDIDATE

Master Sachin Pitamber is the 2026 National Chess Champion, while Woman Candidate Master Aditi Joshi has successfully retained her title as Women’s Chess Champion for 2026.

The ninth and final round was played last Saturday by 20 qualifying participants. After nine rounds of gruelling, high-stakes competition, CM Pitamber emerged as the definitive winner of the JUMBO JET Auto Sales-sponsored 2026 National Open Chess Championship.

Meanwhile, WCM Aditi Joshi showcased remarkable poise, successfully defending her title to remain the National Women’s Champion in the Diamond Fire Insurance-sponsored 2026 National Women’s Championship.

The nine-round robin tournament started on Saturday, March 14, at the David Rose Special School and concluded on March 28 at the National Racquet Centre.

In the Open Category, 15-year-old Pitamber dominated the field, steamrolling through his opponents to secure a flawless, unbeaten finish with an impressive 7.5 points, while three hardfought draws denied him a perfect score; his performance was nothing short of commanding.

Currently, the U16 Open Champion, Pitamber has cemented his status as one of Guyana’s elite chess players, consistently demonstrating remarkable resilience and tactical prowess across both local and

‒ Joshi retains women’s championship title

international stages.

Securing second place with a hard-earned seven points is the reigning Junior Champion, Kyle Couchman. No stranger to the highstakes environment of elite championships, Couchman dismantled his competition with a series of clinical wins and strategic draws.

His championship run was highlighted by crucial draws against Keron Sandiford and FM Anthony Drayton, alongside a massive victory over CM Taffin Khan.

FM Drayton secured third place overall, finishing with seven points after tie-breaker rules determined the final standings.

FM Drayton’s run was nearly flawless, marred only by a lone defeat from CM Pitamber and two hardearned draws.

His deep wealth of experience provided the necessary edge to secure his topthree finish. As one of the most seasoned veterans in the Guyanese Chess Community, Drayton remains a profound inspiration to his younger colleagues, setting a high standard for tactical gameplay and competitive consistency.

Taking fourth place with 6.5 points is CM Khan.

Despite setbacks against Couchman and hard-fought draws with FM Drayton, CM Pitamber, and Sandiford, Khan’s performance reinforced his reputation as an elite player. Having represented Guyana in countless arenas, he remains a mainstay of excellence and a powerhouse in the national chess community.

Keron Sandiford

claimed fifth place with a total of 5.5 points after a taxing series of games.

Rounding out the Open Category standings were Roxel Alexander and Jaden Taylor, who both concluded with 3.5 points.

They were followed by CM Ronuel Greenidge with three points and Alexander Zhang, who finished with 1.5 points.

Despite a spirited effort in his debut at the national championship, Leslie Campbell remained at the bottom of the standings, unable to break through and put points on the board this time around.

In the Women’s Championship, WCM Aditi Joshi successfully retained her title with a commanding, unbeaten performance,

finishing with 7.5 points and drawing matches with WCM Jessica Callender, WCM Sasha Shariff and Kataleya Sam.

While a perfect score narrowly eluded her following three strategic draws in the final rounds, her dominance remained absolute.

Leveraging a wealth of experience from both local and international stages, Joshi outmanoeuvred the field with precision and poise.

Securing second place is the experienced WCM Sasha Shariff, a former national women’s champion who concluded the tournament with an impressive seven points.

Like the champion, Shariff remained unbeaten throughout the tournament,

showcasing her trademark resilience. She navigated the field with precision, securing victories at crucial moments and holding her teammates to hard-fought draws. Shariff continues to prove herself as a formidable force on the national circuit.

Claiming the third-place spots is WCM Jessica Callender, a former national champion who finished the tournament with a solid 6.5 points.

Proving her mettle against a younger field, the veteran standout brought her A-game and tactical strategies to secure several pivotal wins and hard-fought draws.

While she conceded her only loss to young Kataleya Sam, Callender’s overall

performance was a masterclass in resilience.

As a seasoned player who has represented Guyana in the international arena numerous times, she continues to serve as an example and mentor for the next generation of chess players.

Securing fourth place with a strong six points is Ciel Clement. No stranger to the high-stakes intensity of championship chess, Clement, known for her composure under pressure, successfully navigated the nine-round tournament with skill and precision, with five victories and two draws.

Despite setbacks in the second and sixth rounds, Clement’s veteran experience shone through, allowing her to overcome her opponents when it mattered the most.

She remains a formidable presence in national competitions.

Securing fifth place with 5.5 points is the young Kataleya Sam, the reigning U14 and U16 Girls Champion.

As one of Guyana’s most decorated juniors, Sam remains a formidable force to be reckoned with as she continues her climb through the national rankings.

Rounding out the field was deaf player Anaya Lall, who marked a successful return to competition by securing a solid four points.

She was followed by Treskolé Archibald with 3.5 points and Sana Sreebalakumar, who finished with 2.5 points. Italy TonChung and Parnita Kishun completed the standings with 1.5 points and one point, respectively.

Guyana record best day at Masters Indoor Hockey World Cup

GUYANA’S Over-50 men and Over-40 women recorded comfortable wins on Sunday at the ongoing Masters Indoor Hockey World Cup in Nottingham, England. The over-50 men skippered by Alan Fernandes defeated Wales 6-5, with Alan scoring a double.

Phillip Fernandes also scored a pair of goals, with Devin Hooper and David

Asregado scoring the other field goals. The contest went down to the wire as the teams were all tied up after a seesaw exchange, when regulation time ended.

Phillip Fernandes, however, converted a penalty corner after a foul to give the over-50 men their first win of the competition, 6-5. The over-50 men had lost to Scotland in their

scheduled match-up 4-3 on Saturday.

It was another dingdong battle between the two sides: Graham Dunlop scored for Germany in the third minute before Devin Munroe found the equaliser a minute later.

Dunlop scored again to make it 2-1 for Germany before Craig Lamp made it 3-1. Dunlop was not done, scoring a third for the hat-

trick as they made it 4-1.

Phillip and Alan Fernandes scored fourth-quarter goals in the 38th and 39th minutes, but were unable to overcome the deficit for the victory, as they lost 4-3.

The Over-40 women defeated Ghana in their first win 3-nil, with Marisha Fernandes leading the way with two goals.

Women's captain Maria

Munroe scored the other in their best showing in the women's category.

The Over-55 men had tough outings on Saturday and Sunday.

On Sunday they went down to Scotland in their encounter 4-2, with the goals coming from Ian Nicholson and Jeremy Roberts, while on Saturday they were beaten 8-3 by Wales.

Meanwhile, the nation’s Over-40 men’s masters’ squad, which was not in action on Sunday, recorded their first loss on Saturday against powerhouses Germany, losing 5-1 in their toughest clash of the competition. They will however, advance to the semifinal after taking wins earlier in the competition against France and Wales.

Pitamber is the new National Open Chess Champion