–US Ambassador lauds President Irfaan Ali-led administration –credits gov’t for turning oil wealth into national
has ‘hard,
PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan Ali has expressed profound sadness at the passing of former President of Suriname, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, describing him as a “fine statesman” and a trusted friend of Guyana.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana, President Ali extended heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Suriname, as well as to Santokhi’s family, noting that “a voice of wisdom has fallen silent” while also adding that “a friend has left us.”
Reflecting on their relationship, President Ali said the late Surinamese leader was “a brother forged not by blood but by conviction.”
The Head of State highlighted the strong personal and professional bond they shared during their time in office.
He noted that both leaders worked closely together in advancing regional integration and cooperation, particularly within CARICOM.
“We were brothers in regionalism, standing shoulder to shoulder in the councils of CARICOM, labouring in the vineyards of unity when the harvest seemed distant, and the work was hard,” Dr Ali said. President Ali also credited Santokhi with strengthening bilateral relations between Guyana and Suriname, noting that under his leadership, ties between the two neighbouring countries blossomed.
He underscored the shared history and interconnected future of both nations, stating that the river which divides the two countries also connects them and
that the prosperity of one country cannot be separated from the other.
Describing Santokhi as a leader of “quiet strength,” the President said he served his country with dedication and humility, leaving behind a legacy that will endure.
On a personal note, he added that Santokhi’s friendship made “the burdens of leadership lighter and the triumphs sweeter.”
“The region has lost a fine statesman… Guyana has lost a friend, one who gave of himself freely and without pretence,” he said.
President Ali further offered comfort to Santokhi’s family, expressing hope that they find solace in his legacy, and honouring his life as one well lived, noting: “The sun sets now on a life well lived… but the light of his example will not fade.”
MANY Guyanese have benefitted from specialised eye procedures delivered under the Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) mission, an initiative which President Dr Irfaan Ali has described as life-changing. This was disclosed by the Head of State during the closing reception for the
Southcom-supported medical outreach.
The President said that the restoration of vision for more than 29 persons stands as one of the most powerful outcomes of the mission.
“That is extraordinary,”
President Ali said, while reflecting on the impact of the interventions.
He noted that the significance of restoring sight goes beyond physical healing, touching on deeper emotional and even spiritual dimensions of a person’s life.
“Many times, from a biblical perspective… when
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UNITED States Ambas sador to Guyana Nicole Theriot has praised the Guyanese Government’s use of oil revenues to drive wide‑ranging in frastructure develop ment, describing the current leadership as acting in the “best inter ests” of the people.
Speaking on “Sourc es”, a programme host ed by journalist Svetlana Marshall, Ambassador Theriot said she has ob served significant progress across the country, not only in the capital.
“I honestly believe that the current leadership of this country has the Guyanese people’s best interests at heart,” she said, adding, “I just look
around at all of the infra structure projects that are going on, and it’s really important to note they’re not just in Georgetown. I travel all around the country, and I see it every where that I go.”
Theriot noted that oil revenues are being channelled into critical infrastructure, arguing that the benefits extend to all Guyanese, including farmers, business owners, and ordinary citizens.
“They are using the oil revenues that they’re re ceiving now, and the bud get is being allocated to create critical infrastruc ture that will benefit all Guyanese,” she explained.
“That is going to al low the Guyanese farmer,
Guyanese business peo ple, the average Guyanese citizen to be able to move more freely and quickly around the country. And that is going to improve the personal circumstanc es of the Guyanese peo ple,” she said.
Referencing a familiar remark often made by crit ics and sections of the par liamentary opposition that “you can’t eat a road”, the Ambassador maintained that such investments are essential foundations for long‑term development.
She stressed that be yond indirect gains from improved mobility and access, there are also “di rect benefits to the people of Guyana” flowing from the current development agenda.
“I see everything mov ing in the right direction,” she added.
Theriot further laud ed Guyana’s decision to partner with United States companies on major proj ects, arguing that this choice brings guarantees of high standards.
“When you work with a US company, you’re going to have quality, you’re going to have sustainability, and you’re going to have very high business eth ics standards and inter national quality,” she said. “So, working with the US was a wonderful decision that was made by your government,” she said.
––– stands ready to assist Guyana in defending its sovereignty
THE United States has reaffirmed its unwaver ing support for Guyana amidst the ongoing bor der controversy with Venezuela.
The US declared that Washington stands ready to assist Georgetown in defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
During an appear ance on the programme, “Sources”, US Ambassa dor Nicole Theriot said that Guyana could contin ue to count on the United States.
“We stand by your side
against any threats from Venezuela. Luckily, those have calmed a bit since our January 3 operation there, but we continue to be vigilant. And should you need our help, we are here,” she affirmed.
She indicated, too, that the United States is pre paring for a more struc tured diplomatic role once the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivers its long awaited judgment on the border controversy.
“I think what’s really important is that we wait for the ICJ decision, be
cause then that puts to bed the issue of the land borders,” she said, add ing: “We all know how that is going to turn out; I mean, it’s obvious, 100% in Guyana’s favour. So, as soon as that happens, that will trigger our ability to assist on maritime border.
Your EEZ is what it is, and we will continue to help you to defend that… But I think having it set tled will be comforting to everyone, especially Guyana.”
The ICJ will begin hearings on the merits in
the case between Guyana and Venezuela on Mon day, May 4, 2026.
Back in August 2025, Venezuela filed its re joinder in the ongoing case concerning the Ar bitral Award of October 3, 1899.
The filing, made on Monday, August 11, 2025, comes within the deadline set by the court’s order of June 14, 2024. The rejoin der responds to Guyana’s reply, which was submit ted in December 2024, and marks the end of the written phase of the pro
ceedings.
These hearings will be followed by the court’s deliberations, and the de livery of its final judg ment. The decision, once issued, will be binding on both Guyana and Vene zuela under international law.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali recently reaffirmed Guyana’s steadfast com mitment to defending its territorial integrity, in sisting that history and international law clearly support the country’s po sition in the long running border controversy with Venezuela.
The President had not
ed that his administra tion has assembled “an able and capable team” to present Guyana’s case on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“When it comes to the defence of our territory, we’ve assembled an able and capable team to argue the validity of the 1899 arbitral award before the International Court of Justice,” he said, adding: “Let no one be mistaken. History and international law are on our side.
Our borders are sa cred, and we will defend them.”
PRESIDENT Dr Irfaan
Ali highlighted the World Bank as an extraordinary partner in Guyana’s development, as discussions on Monday surrounded education priorities, climate resilience and drainage.
The discussions took place during a meeting at State House with outgoing World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean, Lilia Burunciuc, who is on her final country visit.
According to a statement from the President’s office, the engagement focused on advancing key sectors central to Guyana’s development agenda, including ongoing efforts to
strengthen the education system, enhance climate resilience, and improve drainage and irrigation systems.
Among the major projects highlighted was the successful installation of the Liliendaal “bullet” drainage pump, which was a significant intervention aimed at reducing flooding along the coast.
It was stated that the US$6 million pump station forms part of a decade-long partnership between Guyana and the World Bank, geared towards building resilience in both urban and rural communities vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather patterns. Against this backdrop,
Dr Ali expressed appreciation for the World Bank’s longstanding support, describing the institution as “an extraordinary partner” in the country’s development journey.
Meanwhile, also present at the meeting were Senior Minister within the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, and Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally.
That engagement signalled the government’s continued focus on leveraging strategic partnerships as part of Guyana’s transformative development agenda.
you restore sight, it is not only about the physical healing,” he said.
The President went on to add that it also represents renewal and transformation.
Over the past days, the LAMAT team worked alongside local healthcare
professionals to deliver a range of specialised services, reaching patients across the country. However, the President emphasised that the true value of the mission lies in the human impact behind each procedure.
“Each patient you have
treated represents more than a clinical success. It represents an act of healing and care,” he said.
For the beneficiaries, access to these types of advanced care would have otherwise been limited in these remote communities. As such, the mission addressed immediate medical needs but also brought renewed hope to families and communities.
President Ali further underscored that the outreach extended beyond hospitals
and clinics, noting that the work of the team “has moved into the lives of our people,” improving quality of life and restoring confidence among patients.
Against this backdrop, he highlighted that the collaboration facilitated knowledge transfer and capacity building within Guyana’s healthcare system, ensuring that the benefits of the mission will continue long after the team’s departure.
MINISTER within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy, on Sunday reaffirmed the Government of Guyana’s commitment to working closely with churches, mosques, temples, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to drive social development and strengthen the moral fabric of the nation.
Speaking at the opening of the One With Me Ministry Care Centre in Diamond, East Bank Demerara, McCoy highlighted the role of faith-based organisations in protecting children, supporting women, and fostering community growth.
Emphasising the government’s focus on extending care and opportunity to all citizens, McCoy pointed to initiatives such as free education, the Because We Care cash grant, and training programmes as examples of deliberate efforts to ensure families and communities thrive. He assured that the government will continue to back faith-based organisations, describing them as essential partners in maintaining values rooted in love, service, and social responsibility.
Speaking at the opening on Sunday, Minster McCoy shared that Guyana’s churches, mosques, masjids, and NGOs are steeply involved in work that truly represents the government’s interest in humanity and its interest in people.
Citing the newly established faith-based venture, Minister McCoy added that the government sets out to work with universal rules of taking care of people, adding, “Because the government sets out to share and to manifest the universal values of taking care of people, of taking care of our children and our women, to make sure that they have the means of succeeding, that their families can flourish.”
This mission, he added, is what has shaped many of the government’s work and policies. Highlighting a few of these policies and their impact, he said adding, “When we design
policies and initiatives and programmes, they are all aimed to achieve good for the benefit of people: to ensure that families have more money in their pocket, that families can help their children stay in school and remain in school.”
Highlighting partnerships and opportunities through ventures such as free tertiary education and training programmes by the Board of Industrial Training and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, Minister McCoy said that the church can be a partner in this holistic shift.
As he added, “The church for us can be that true partner in the maintenance and sustenance of our moral values and our value system. All of us have cause to be very worried at the many things we see around us today in our society, the social ills that affect us in our society.”
Highlighting one of the social challenges the government is working to combat, Minister McCoy said that dangerous driving is causing harm not only to road users, but to their families and Guyana at large.
“When it has to do with the culture of those who drive on our roadways, which affects practically all of us, and our attitude on the road, that attitude should concern us seriously, because it affects our children,” he said.
Shifting his focus to the gender equality gaps and strides Guyana has made in
recent years, he added that while the country is doing well in the realm of women’s empowerment, improved inclusion and support of men would make a significant impact.
“While we have been doing well as a society in terms of the work we have done to elevate women and to bring about equality and to promote the interests of women and to make sure that they are celebrated and elevated,” he further shared, “On the flip side, men become a serious concern in our society because too many men are falling by the wayside. And trust me, what the church is doing here today and the achievements that they are able to celebrate here, we
could achieve, we could be celebrating this 100 times, and perhaps 1,000 times more if men take up their responsibility and do what they ought to do.”
Appealing to the audience, Minister McCoy highlighted the importance of well-maintained public spaces, emphasising the role that all Guyanese play in preserving these spaces.
He further explained the significant role that these spaces play in collective development, noting that they are places that facilitate and help all members of society. Moreover, Minister McCoy shared that the push for a
relationship with the state is not a new one, but one previously outlined by the government.
Reinforcing the government’s commitment to continue this push, Minister McCoy stated, “You have my full commitment, our full commitment as a government. We will never let you down. We will have your back—the backs of all our people, our churches.”
He further shared that,
“Because in our manifesto, we actually said that we want to create a strong, formidable, unbreakable partnership with the church so that we can work together to take care of the social ills among us, so that we can help our women climb out of their tragedies and travails in their experiences of domestic violence, that we can truly help our children to make the best decisions.”
RECENT remarks by United States Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot praising the government’s use of oil revenues have added an important international voice to the national conversation on development.
Her assessment, that the current administration is acting in the best interests of the Guyanese people, will undoubtedly resonate with supporters of the ongoing infrastructure drive.
Guyana stands at a defining moment in its history, and such endorsements are weighed alongside equity, sustainability and long-term national benefit.
There is little doubt that the scale of infrastructure development under the administration of President Dr. Irfaan Ali is unprecedented.
Roads, bridges, and public works projects are transforming not only Georgetown but hinterland and rural communities long neglected, and the argument advanced by Ambassador Theriot underscores the sound principle that these investments will improve mobility, reduce costs, and ultimately enhance livelihoods.
Infrastructure, after all, is the backbone of economic expansion.
But the oft-repeated criticism that “you can’t eat a road” persists for a reason. It reflects a deeper anxiety among citizens: That
the tangible benefits of Guyana’s oil wealth are not always immediately felt at the household level, which is understandable, but, being an integral part of the job market and the much-needed workforce will have an impact on how this is felt and absorbed.
While better roads may enable farmers and businesses to move goods more efficiently, many Guyanese continue to grapple with rising living costs, uneven wage growth, and concerns about access to opportunities in a rapidly changing economy. But this is where the government has also absorbed all expenses with tertiary and industrial training institutions opening opportunities for all. We cannot just sit back and expect our lives to get better; we must put in the work needed for it to evolve.
The challenge, therefore, is not whether infrastructure development is necessary, it clearly is, but whether it is being pursued in balance.
Further, Guyana’s social investments are largely focused on improving quality of life now while preparing the country for the future, using oil revenues as the main driver.
The goal is to ensure that oil wealth doesn’t just grow the economy on paper, but translates into real, everyday benefits for citizens, something which is being done in policy and practicality.
Oil money, though considerable, isn’t
everlasting, and can fluctuate wildly. How we spend it needs to be carefully managed, so that the growth we see now doesn’t jeopardise the future’s well-being.
Ambassador Theriot’s endorsement of partnerships with U.S. companies also presents significant factors to consider.
Her focus on quality, sustainability, and robust ethical practices highlights the benefits of these partnerships.
The expanding trade relationship, currently surpassing US$4.7 billion, demonstrates considerable faith in Guyana’s economic path.
The involvement of major companies, including ExxonMobil, has undeniably fueled growth, and established Guyana as a significant force in the global energy sector.
However, it’s important to manage foreign investment carefully. Real development isn’t just about attracting international companies; it also depends on how much local businesses grow, how local skills improve, and how much wealth stays within the country.
The Ambassador herself acknowledged the need for legislative and regulatory reforms, an implicit recognition that Guyana’s investment climate still requires refinement, something which the government is behind, full throttle.
Equally significant is the pace of oil pro-
duction, now exceeding one million barrels per day in the Stabroek Block.
Such rapid expansion brings both opportunity and risk. Without robust governance, transparency, and environmental safeguards, the very resource driving Guyana’s transformation could also expose it to economic shocks and ecological vulnerability.
None of this is to dismiss the progress that has been made. Guyana is, by most measures, moving forward at an extraordinary rate. As such, the government is moving to towards inclusive, resilient, and sustainable investments that will benefit all Guyanese.
International praise, while welcome, should not substitute for domestic accountability since the true measure of success will not be found in kilometres of asphalt or barrels of oil produced, but in the lived reality of the Guyanese people.
As such, this can be seen with the administration’s investments and expansion to quality healthcare, education, employment, and a fair share of the nation’s wealth. As Guyana continues its rapid ascent, the path ahead must be guided not only by ambition, but by balance.
Development must be felt as well as seen. Only then can the promise of oil wealth be fully realised, not just for today, but for generations to come.
Dear Editor,
OUR Union has taken note of an article titled “Ali Tells GAWU Sugar Is Vital— But Data Show Industry in Deep Trouble” published by the Village Voice on March 28, 2026.
A cursory review of the article reveals that it seeks to embrace the same worn-out, tired explanations about the sugar industry that have been advanced time and again.
Those rationales, we must add, have been debunked, yet the editorship and those who may guide and influence the ‘news’ entity, journalism, continue to publish distorted facts, undoubtedly aimed to justify what clearly was a sordid attempt to punish thousands of Guyanese sugar workers, their families, their communities and an entire industry.
The article highlights the industry’s cost of production. The challenges in this regard have been known for some time and stem from several factors arising from the industry’s suffocation during the 2015-2020 period of APNU+AFC governance.
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, addressing the GAWU’s celebration of 50 years as a recognised union in the sugar industry, highlighted the situation when his government took office in August 2020. He drew attention to the dilapidation of machinery and equipment, the forested overgrowth that had taken over cane fields, and the withering away of commitment arising from the paperisation of the workforce.
Of course, through to form and shaped by its distorted narrative and maybe nature, the Village Voice vainly attempts to deceive the Guyanese people, calling the era of the David Granger-led Administration in sugar “major restructuring”. That tale, of course, is clearly an obfuscation. During the rule of now former President Granger, the sugar industry saw:
The closure of four (4) estates – Skeldon, Rose Hall, East Demerara and Wales Estates
Some 7,000 workers who were made jobless
A shameless and shameful wage freeze imposed on workers Reduction and abandonment of
long-standing benefits and conditions
Disregard for workers’ role and organisations, some contrary to the law
As much as a 42 per cent reduction in real earnings
Clear, patent, and unbridled discrimination as workers in other state sectors and agencies benefited from pay rises and improvements, and sugar workers got none
That was hardly a restructuring; it was, in our view, a clear attempt to crush the industry and trample on the workers. It was, as we see it, a pellucid policy to harm the sugar workers. Workers, we should add, who were courted and promised all sorts of ‘goodies’ for their support to the Coalition prior to the 2015 National and Regional elections. It turned out to be all lies, deceptions and glaring untruths.
Village Voice tells its readership, minimal as it may be, that the Coalition “…introduced measures to cushion the impact on displaced workers, including severance payments—at one stage committing to pay at least 50 per cent upfront…”. If it were not so serious, this would
be laughable. We are aware that one of the regular and prominent contributors to the online news outlet is Lincoln Lewis, a longtime General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC). Lewis has never failed to burnish the fact that he always stands with the workers.
The GTUC official must, therefore, hang his head in shame to see an outfit he has been associated with for a considerable period actually advancing, and more so, glorifying a shameful attempt to breach our laws and the rights of workers.
The Village Voice well knows that the High Court, following the filing of an action by GAWU, condignly dealt with this matter and imposed massive interest charges and costs for the 50 per cent severance decision. The Court clearly stated that the workers were wronged and that their rights were betrayed.
Of course, betrayal was a regular
IN my column yesterday (Monday, March 29, 2026), I referred to the discussion I had with the son of Ohene Koama, one of the WPA leaders that was murdered by a police squad near his home in South Ruimveldt in 1979.
His son was very small at the time. I continue from where I left off, including here material I did not use in yesterday’s column. The contents of this article are my input in the conversation and not the reaction of Ohene Koama Jnr., since I do not have his permission to highlight all his adumbrations.
I disagreed with Ohene’s take on why there wasn’t an inquiry into his father’s murder. His position is that maybe the WPA’s stay in government was too short. I stated in yesterday’s piece that Ohene wanted to know if the WPA requested a public explanation and/or apology from the PNC on the Rodney assassination during negotiations on the merger of the PNC and WPA. I will discuss that in another column.
Now for Ohene’s position that the WPA’s time in power was too short for an inquiry into his father’s killing. If the WPA has spent 10 years in government with Rupert Roopnaraine as the WPA representative, there still would not have been an inquiry.
Ohene Jnr. maybe did not want to discredit Roopnaraine, but, as I told him, the issue was the murder of his father, so that had to take priority.
I am now putting in writing what I did not mention to Ohene Jnr. as to why there was no inquest into his father’s death. I do not think Roopnaraine wanted it just as he did not want a Commission of Inquiry into Walter Rodney’s assassination.
The facts of Roopnaraine’s attitude to the Rodney Commission of Inquiry are glaring. Let’s look at them.
1- According to Ravi Dev, who was an opposition parliamentarian at the time, there was an agreement between both government and opposition parties in 2005 to have a
Commission of Inquiry into Rodney’s death. Roopnaraine told the opposition parties and President Jagdeo that Rodney’s wife did not want the Commission because the PPP would use it for publicity purposes. But here is what Rodney’s wife said: “I was in Guyana (in 2005) attending an international conference on Walter; it was agreed that, yes, we would have a Commission of Inquiry. By the time I got back to Atlanta, I don’t know what happened, but it was quashed.” Roopnaraine lied. And the man was so arrogant that despite being accused of sabotaging the inquiry, he never responded to the controversy.
2- He chose not to testify at the Commission, and he gave an immoral and ugly reason why he didn’t. I quote what he told Dr. Dhanpaul Narine in “The West Indian” of August 19, 2017 of “Well, partly because I felt too close to the events. I think that the work of the Rodney Commission got done; there were other ways that I contributed to it rather than testifying.”
You can call Roopnaraine a stupid man for that answer, and, of course it was an idiotic answer, but for all his intellectual brilliance he couldn’t invent a plausible answer.
3 – When the APNU+AFC came to power, it scrapped the ongoing Rodney Commission, and Roopnaraine, as part of the government, agreed. He even voted against the Opposition Motion by the PPP condemning the dissolution of the Commission.
How do you explain this mentality of Roopnaraine? By the late 1990s, Roopnaraine was no longer the man the world knew him to be from the glorious revolutionary era of the 1970s. Roopnaraine, for two reasons, had changed for the worse.
One could be that there was always some secret relationship he had with the PNC dating back to the era of the Cheddi Jagan premiership. Roopnaraine’s hero is Martin Carter.
Carter wrote a poem praising the rioters who were burning down Georgetown in 1962,
feature of the Coalition Government. It is disdainful that the Village Voice wants to say that the then Government attempted to “…cushion the impact on displaced workers…”. See what we said about wornout explanations.
But the deception did not end there; the Village Voice claimed there were “…initiatives aimed at retraining and facilitating alternative employment.”
This again is another attempt to rewrite history. The so-called training programmes, if they can be called that, had no meaningful impact. Rather, just a handful of selected workers were given some training for a few weeks and left to fend for themselves.
Certainly, had such objectives been met, the ILO socio-economic study in the post-closure period would not have concluded that most workers remained unemployed. And, even where a few secured employment, they were really worse off.
The Village Voice editors tell us that sugar’s miniaturisation “…was occasioned by economic strain on rural communities that relied heavily on the estates.” But that economic strain is what resulted in the aftermath of closure. But it was not merely economic; it
was social, it was familial, it was alcoholism, it was petty theft, it was domestic violence, it was family disintegration, and so many other factors.
This is the real and true cost of closure. This is the legacy that the APNU+AFC left in the industry. That was the indelible mark and the costly consequences of leaders and a government that chose discrimination over collaboration. A government which placed its apparent partisan political interests above the well-being of the nation and its people.
The Village Voice, we urge, should end the charade. It should be honest and not deceptive. It should stop misleading and obscuring. The facts are the facts, and no attempt to rewrite the narrative will succeed. Those who lived through it, experienced the hardship, confronted the sorrows, and were pushed into poverty know the pains.
We urge the Village Voice to live up to its axiom and really be “the Voice of the People”.
Yours sincerely,
Seepaul Narine President GAWU
and Carter was supposedly an MI6 informant when he was in the PPP leadership in the early 1950s. Secondly, as Ravi Dev suggested, the CIA may have recruited Roopnaraine when he was a bohemian student at Cornell University in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
People reading this would obviously ask what my opinion is. Here it is. I believe he had an ongoing secret relation with the PNC, and that relationship included the time Burnham was in power.
There is no doubt in my mind about that,
and this hidden relation has emasculated any political integrity he possessed. Secondly, I strongly believe that he had a CIA connection. Roopnaraine’s politics was sordid and immoral. Sorry if I offend those who mistakenly admire his politics. Facts do not lie!
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.
UNITED States Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, has made it clear that the case against US-indicted businessmen Nazar Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed is grounded in what she described as strong, prosecutable evidence, not politics.
Speaking during an interview on Sources, hosted by Svetlana Marshall, Ambassador Theriot pushed back against any suggestion that the charges were politically motivated, asserting that the United States only pursues cases it is confident it can prove in court.
“So, the United States does not pursue criminal charges for political reasons. We do it because we have hard, unequivocal evidence against a person… Why would we take on a case we don’t think we’re going to win? That’s just a waste of US taxpayers’ money,” Theriot said. She added, “So we
firmly believe that they’re guilty of the crimes that they’re being indicted for.”
The ambassador stressed that the matter is now firmly within the jurisdiction of the Guyanese judicial system, noting that the US has already completed its part in bringing forward the indictment.
“It’s in the Guyanese Judiciary’s hands at this point… It is our indictment, right? It’s the US government’s indictment.
The Government of Guyana did not indict the Mohameds, and I can assure you that there’s nothing political about it from the USA,” she stated.
At the same time, Theriot cautioned against any fallout that could threaten national stability, expressing hope that the legal process proceeds without disruption.
“I hope that destabilisation doesn’t occur… that would be really tragic, because we’re simply holding people that we believe are guilty of a crime accountable for that crime,” she said.
The ambassador’s comments come as extradition proceedings involving the father-andson duo remain paused, following intervention by the Caribbean Court of Justice.
The CCJ recently
granted a stay of the committal proceedings before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, pending the outcome of an appeal filed by the Mohameds.
The move followed an unsuccessful attempt by the businessmen to halt the process at the Court of Appeal, which dismissed their challenge to the Authority to Proceed and refused to grant a stay.
Nazar Mohamed, 72, and Azruddin Mohamed, 39, are the subjects of an 11-count indictment filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
They face charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and customs-related offences.
Prosecutors allege the offences stem from a large-scale gold export and tax evasion scheme valued at approximately US$50 million.
According to court filings, the pair allegedly exported more than 10,000 kilogrammes of gold between 2017 and 2024 using falsified customs declarations and reused export seals, enabling them to avoid taxes and duties owed to the Guyanese state.
Investigators further claim that a shipment of gold valued at US$5.3 million was intercepted at Miami International Airport during the probe.
The case has also drawn scrutiny from US financial regulators. In June 2024, the Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the Mohameds and their associated companies over allegations tied to gold smuggling and corruption.
US authorities are believed to have been investigating the businessmen since the mid-2010s, with agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of Homeland Security involved.
Following the indictment by a grand jury in October 2025, the United States formally requested the extradition of the two men, leading to their arrest in Georgetown on October 31, 2025.
With the matter now before the CCJ, the outcome of the appeal will determine whether extradition proceedings resume locally.
But as Ambassador Theriot made clear, from Washington’s standpoint, the case is already built.
“We’re ready to move forward,” she said, maintaining that the charges are rooted strictly in law and evidence not politics.
THE University of Guyana is set to launch a nationwide pre-medical programme across all ten administrative regions in early April, marking a major step toward expanding access to medical education, and strengthening Guyana’s future healthcare workforce.
The initiative, led by the university’s College of Medical Sciences, is designed to support the country’s growing demand for trained medical professionals, particularly as government advances plans to construct 14 new hospitals.
According to the university, the programme will initially accommodate approximately 200 students, and was developed in record time to meet urgent national needs. It forms part of UG’s long-term “One Graduate per House -
hold” vision under its Blueprint 2040 strategy, which aims to broaden access to tertiary education nationwide.
Vice-Chancellor Paloma Mohamed Martin said the rollout represents a decisive move toward making medical training more accessible, while aligning with national healthcare priorities.
“The University’s goal is to ensure that the expansion of our medical faculty keeps pace with the national health vision,” she stated, noting that the regional programme is a critical step in widening opportunities for students outside Georgetown. The rollout comes alongside other academic expansions, including engineering and infrastructure programmes already being delivered in several regions
through the Faculty of Engineering and Technology. New construction-related courses are also expected to begin shortly at UG’s Tain Campus.
In parallel, the university is exploring options to support Guyanese medical students currently studying in Cuba. A team led by Dean Ranjini Kurup is working on a framework that could allow those students to continue their studies locally if necessary. UG said the process is being treated as a priority, and involves coordination with key government agencies, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Public Service and Government Efficiency. Any transition pathway, the university noted, will depend on academic assessments and regulatory
THE Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force has reported a sharp surge in road traffic violations, with 3,401 cases recorded between March 22 and March 28, 2026, underscoring ongoing concerns about driver compliance and road safety nationwide.
According to the latest enforcement figures, speeding accounted for the overwhelming majority of offences, with 1,257 cases recorded during the one-week period. Other significant violations included leaving a motor vehicle in a dangerous position (133), failure to wear seatbelts (118), and failure to wear safety helmets (96).Police also reported 45 cases of unlighted motor vehicles at the rear and 35 at the front, while 43 motorists were charged for carrying pillion riders without helmets. Additional offences included 38 breaches of prescribed fitness conditions, 32 cases each of driving under the influence, and unlicensed driving, 26 instances of faulty packing, and 25 breaches of traffic light signals. Notably, no cases involving tinted motor vehicles were recorded for the period.
In a statement accompanying the figures, the Traffic Department stressed that compliance with traffic laws is “not optional”, warning that ranks found aiding offenders, whether publicly or privately, will face investigation and prosecution following due process. Beyond enforcement, the Department intensified its
Beyond enforcement, the Department intensified its public education campaign through a series of lectures and outreach activities conducted across the country
public education campaign through a series of lectures and outreach activities conducted across the country. These engagements targeted drivers, commuters, bar operators, and community members in areas including Georgetown, the East Bank and East Coast Demerara corridors, Linden Highway communities, and several hinterland regions such as the Rupununi. Outreach sessions were also held at police stations, businesses, and popular social venues, as well as through radio programmes, reflecting a multi-pronged approach to improving road
University of Guyana medical students engaged in hands-on learning in one of the laboratories within the new College of Medical Sciences Building at the University’s Turkeyen Campus
approvals. Oversight of the programme’s implementation has been assigned to Deputy Vice-Chancellor Emanuel Cummings, a former dean of the medical sciences faculty, to ensure that all initiatives meet international accreditation standards.
The expansion is support-
ed by significant upgrades to the university’s infrastructure, including a new medical sciences building at Turkeyen, enhanced clinical training facilities at the Georgetown Public Hospital, and modern laboratory resources funded through partnerships with international and local stakeholders.
UG officials say these developments collectively position the institution to play a central role in delivering a modern, regionally accessible medical education system capable of meeting Guyana’s evolving healthcare demands.
safety awareness. Additionally, traffic ranks conducted school-based lectures throughout the week, reaching students at institutions across multiple regions, including primary and secondary schools. These sessions aimed to instill road safety awareness from an early age.
The Traffic Department has maintained that a combination of strict enforcement and sustained public education is critical to reducing accidents and promoting safer road use, as authorities continue to monitor driver behaviour closely.
THE High Court trial into the 2021 murder of 25-year-old Keon McPherson has concluded with one conviction, while three co-accused were acquitted.
Devon Harry was found guilty of the murder following the trial before Justice Gino Persaud at the Demerara Criminal Assizes. His sentencing has been set for May 19. Meanwhile, his co-accused — Nicholas Her-
cules, Brenna Nurse, and Peter Lam — were all found not guilty after the jury returned unanimous verdicts in their favour at approximately 20:30 hrs on Wednesday last.
The four had been on trial for the fatal shooting of McPherson, a resident of Lot 687 ‘D’ Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown.
McPherson’s body was discovered in a yard at ‘C’ Field, Sophia, in the early hours of August 15,
2021, with multiple gunshot wounds. According to reports presented during the trial, the incident followed an altercation between McPherson and his inlaws on August 14, 2021, where it was alleged that he had been beaten by Nurse and the three male accused during that confrontation.
McPherson reportedly managed to escape and returned home. However, later that night, he received a phone call from a woman and subsequently left his residence.
Hours later, around 04:00 hrs, police were alerted after a woman contacted the command centre upon seeing a man lying motionless with blood about his body in a yard at ‘C’ Field, Sophia.
Investigations later confirmed that McPherson had sustained a gunshot wound to the left side of his chest and another to his right hand.
Following the police
probe, Harry, Hercules, Nurse, and Lam were arrested and jointly charged with the murder. They initially appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts, where the indictable charge was read and they were remanded to prison.
The matter was subsequently committed to the High Court and heard as part of the Demerara Criminal Assizes.
During the trial, Nurse was represented by Attorney at Law Bernard DaSilva in association with Attorney Shemar Parkinson.
The prosecution was led by attorney Delon Fraser, supported by attorneys Padma Dubraj and Mtumika Lumumba.
With the jury’s verdict now delivered, Harry remains the sole person convicted in connection with McPherson’s killing, while the other three accused have been freed.
AS the government of Guyana continues its powerful push to turn opportunity into ownership, 54 women have received $300,000 business grants, marking another step in a national effort to transform lives through entrepreneurship and inclusion.
The grants, distributed through a partnership between the Government of Guyana, Canada, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), target women from vulnerable backgrounds, including survivors of violence and trafficking, equipping them to launch or expand small businesses with the aim of achieving financial independence.
The initiative forms part of a wider framework aimed at strengthening social protection systems while empowering women as active contributors to economic growth.
Complementing this effort, 20 additional women who successfully completed training in graphic design and social media marketing under the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) programme were awarded starter kits, including laptops, tablets, ring lights, and gimbals to support their entry into the digital economy. These interventions, which were celebrated in a ceremony on Monday at the Umana Yana, are backed by a 120 million Canadian dollar sovereign loan, which aims to support policy reforms, institutional strengthening, and expanded access to opportunities for vulnerable groups.
At the core of these initiatives, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud said
that both projects reflect the broader vision of inclusive and sustainable development by the government.
Highlighting the importance of partnerships in this collaborative push, she stated that the collaborative venture between the ministry, the Canadian High Commission and the IDB, seeks to create life-changing empowerment for women, particularly the most vulnerable, including survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence.
“At this point, we celebrate authentic partnership, partnership that exists between the government of Guyana and the government of Canada, and partnership that exists among the Inter-American Development Bank, Canada and Guyana, to execute and implement a project that is transforming lives,” she said adding, “It has been a long-standing journey that would have seen much work happen behind the scenes, work to ensure that what we would have set for ourselves as goals would have led to this point where 54 women will benefit in continuation of what was started last year from business grants towards their own goals, their own businesses, and their own entrepreneurship ventures.”
Sharing insight into the women who have benefitted from the project, Minister Persaud explained that the women are from across Guyana. The grants will be used to either start new ventures or develop existing businesses for the fifty-four women who benefitted. However, Minister Vindhya noted that the support does not stop at the grants. As she explained, the ministry will continue to support those awarded, through
Minister
technical help and advice, and will work to ensure the success of their businesses.
“The grant will be used as business startups, as well as for the growth of micro to small enterprises. And it is not something that will cease at this point. We will follow these women through tracer studies because we believe in accountability, and the monitoring and evaluation unit of the ministry through the PU will be in charge of ensuring that everything moves in accordance to our plan,” she said.
Speaking on the 20 women who received business starter kits, Minister Persaud shared that the women, who were trained in the areas of graphic design and social media marketing were the top percentile of a class of 120.
Under the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) programme, the women were awarded starter kits, including laptops for the graduands of graphic design, while tablets, ring lights, and
gimbals were given to women of social media marketing. Speaking directly to the women, Minister Persaud highlighted the opportunities. “You have completed diverse programmes with us, programmes in graphic design, social media marketing, programmes that could lead you into the care economy, which is a huge project by this ministry where we are placing women in a good position to start their own home-based and communi-
ty-based centres. She added, “Today we are going to present the business kits to 20 of you from 120 women across the country, but it is done with an expectation that you will utilise whatever you are presented with today and not walk to your destination or to your goal and dream but run.”
Meanwhile, Political Counsellor of the High Commission of Canada, Daniel Bood, highlighted the importance of the venture, which he says is just the beginning of continued efforts and collaboration, sharing that this marks the beginning of a larger partnership.
“This initiative is part of a larger partnership between Canada, the Inter-American Development
SOME $6.2 billion has been disbursed to 62,026 citizens directly into their bank accounts, in what Senior Minister in the office of the President with Responsibil-
ity for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh has described as an early but significant step towards a fully digital Guyana. In an update on the na
tional cash grant initiative on Monday, Dr Singh recalled that the rollout began with central government employ ees, including public ser vants, teachers and members
of the disciplined services.
In this first phase, 48,858 such employees had their grants credited directly to their bank accounts.
Meanwhile, in the subse quent phase which focused on wider public access via a dedicated online portal at cashgrant.gov.gy, saw some 26,639 people successfully completing self‑registration.
Of these, payments have already been processed for 13,168 people, who have begun receiving their grants and are expected to have all funds credited within 24 hours.
Meanwhile, a further 22,611 individuals have started the process and are at various stages of completion.
Dr Singh urged those who have not yet completed registration to log in again, particularly at times of lower traffic, acknowledging that heavy demand has caused delays for some users.
He stressed that the on line cash grant system marks “an early step” in building a culture in which Guyanese routinely apply for and re ceive government services online.
“We’re trying to build up a culture where people become accustomed to ap plying for things online and receiving the delivery of their services online, and we recognise that this is going to be a learning process for everybody,” the finance min ister said.
Linking the initiative to President Dr Irfaan Ali’s wider “Digital Guyana” vision, Dr Singh said the
Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh
long‑term goal is for citizens to be able to access a broad range of services remotely, including birth and marriage certificates, passports, driv er’s licences, tax returns, and national insurance scheme (NIS) services.
“It’s going to be a learn ing process for us as we de velop these platforms and as we refine them, and it’s going to be a learning process for our citizens too as they be come comfortable submitting applications digitally and re ceiving services digitally,” he said, adding: “We’re going to continue to work to refine the ease with which and the smoothness with which the platform is working.”
He reassured the public that no eligible person would be left out, even if they face persistent difficulties with the portal or do not have a bank account.
While citizens are en couraged to open accounts to benefit from direct transfers, Dr Singh said a subsequent phase would cater specifi cally for those without bank accounts, ensuring they still receive their grants.
“We encourage you to open a bank account, and if you choose not to open a bank account or not to use your bank account to receive this cash grant, you’re still going to get your cash grant, because a subsequent phase is going to be rolled out to address those people who don’t have bank accounts,” he affirmed.
He stressed that the government remains at the service to the people and is committed to improving the quality at which services are delivered.
54 women receive $300,000 business grants ...
From page 11
Bank, and the government of Guyana to strengthen social protection and promote gender equality. Now, Guyana is a country of abundant resources and remarkable progress,” he said, further sharing that while Guyana has seen rapid economic growth, socioeconomic disparities and gender inequality gaps still remain.
“That is why Canada has partnered with Guyana through a $120 million Ca nadian dollar sovereign loan, complemented by technical assistance to strengthen the Ministry of Human Ser vices and Social Security’s
capacity to deliver social programmes. This loan is not just about financing, it’s about reform,” he said.
The loan supports some 13 policy reforms finalised in 2023, ranging from strength ening pensions and public assistance programmes to improving digital delivery of services, and expand ing support for victims of gender based violence and human trafficking.
The collaboration will also foster technical assis tance, with focus on build ing institutional capacity, improving information sys tems, and expanding access to training and employment opportunities for vulnerable
groups.
Reflecting on the broader significance of these initia tives, IDB Country Repre sentative Lorena Solorzano Salazar emphasised that sup porting women is an invest ment in the community and the nation’s future. “When you invest in a woman, you invest in the community,” she said.
As the government and its partners continue this work, the focus remains on building an ecosystem that empowers women beyond grants and training, ensuring that they can grow their enterprises, access new markets, and inspire future generations.
By Indrawattie Natram
REGION Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is set to experience a major boost in development and public service delivery with the new Government of Guyana’s modern GoG Service Centre at Cotton Field, which will be opened soon.
previously spent accessing services in different locations, making daily transactions more convenient and efficient.
“This means real savings for the people of Region Two; less travel, less expense, and more time to focus on their livelihoods,” he added.
the government’s ongoing commitment to bringing services closer to citizens, and enhancing the overall quality of life across Guyana.
The centre will be commissioned by President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. It is housed within the Cotton Field Call Centre Building.
The Chairman highlighted the wider economic and social impact of the facility. The centre has already created employment opportunities for young people in the region, while also providing a spacious, modern envi -
Once operational, the centre will offer a wide range of essential services, including Digital Identity Card Registration, Guyana Register Office, Small Business Bureau, Guyana National Bureau of Standards, Envi-
Chairman of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Two, Devin Mohan has hailed the initiative a transformative step for the region, emphasising that residents will now enjoy easier and faster access to essential services without the burden of long-distance travel.
“Persons no longer have to travel far to access key services. Everything will now be under one roof,” Chairman Mohan said in an invited comment.
He said that the new centre will significantly reduce the time and money residents
ronment for individuals and businesses to conduct their affairs comfortably.
“This is something the region has long wanted. It will be beneficial not just for today, but for the continued growth and development of Region Two,” Mohan said.
The GoG Service Centre, he related, stands as part of
ronmental Protection Agency, Central Immigration and Passport Office, and the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic.
With everything conveniently located in one place, the new centre is expected to mark a new era of accessibility, efficiency, and progress for the people of Region Two.
THE Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI) has indicated its intention to appeal aspects of a High Court ruling, which ruled that the bank breached an implied contractual duty of good faith when it terminated several accounts linked to candidates of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIIN) party last year.
The decision was handed down recently by Justice Nicole Pierre, who ruled on a series of matters involving Heerawattie Mangaldeen, Abdul Ally, Vanessa Bagot, and Natalia Angela.
In its response, GBTI acknowledged the court’s findings, but emphasised that the majority of claims brought against the bank were dismissed.
These included allegations of unlawfulness, discrimination, breach of statutory obligations under anti-money laundering legislation, and claims for substantial damages.
The bank said these findings affirm its adherence to regulatory responsibilities and its commitment to operating within Guyana’s financial laws and international compliance standards.
However, the court determined that GBTI breached an implied contractual duty of good faith in its handling of the termination of certain banking relationships.
As a result, nominal damages and costs were awarded in each of the matters.
While noting the ruling, GBTI said it has taken a decision to appeal certain findings, maintaining that it remains steadfast in upholding the highest standards of regulatory compliance and risk management, acting responsibly in protecting the financial system, and continuously strengthening its policies, procedures, and decision-making frameworks.
The bank also expressed appreciation for the continued trust of its customers, stakeholders, and the wider public, reiterating its commitment to
delivering secure, transparent, and responsible banking services.
Last month, the same judge dismissed a separate case in which a WIN candidate alleged political bias in the closure of his Scotiabank account, finding that there was insufficient evidence to support claims of discrimination.
the avoidance of more than US$50 million in duty taxes on gold exports.
The rulings come amid heightened scrutiny within the local banking sector following the sanctions.
The father, 73, and son, 39, are the subject of an 11-count indictment filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. They are jointly charged on 10 of those counts, while Azruddin, the current Leader of the Opposition, faces an additional charge relating to the importation of a 2020 Lamborghini Roadster SVJ into Guyana. Court filings alleged that the two conspired to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and customs-related offences, including conspiracy, aiding and abetting.
The allegations are linked
The court ruled that the bank’s actions were consistent with its legal and regulatory obligations.
The account closures took place against the backdrop of the WIN party’s political activity. Its leader, Azruddin Mohamed, along with several of his businesses, had been sanctioned by the United States government more than a year prior to the party’s formation and its participation in the 2025 elections.
The U.S.-sanctioned Azruddin and his father, Nazar Mohamed, in June 2024, citing acts of public corruption and
to what investigators describe as a US$50 million gold export and tax evasion scheme. The indictment was handed down by a grand jury in October 2025.
The United States is seeking the extradition of the father and son so they can face the charges brought against them in that jurisdiction.
Following the sanctions, several local banks, including Demerara Bank, GBTI, and Citizens Bank, closed the accounts of WIN candidates after conducting internal risk assessments tied to compliance exposure.
By Bebi Shafeah Oosman
ALL drainage and irrigation systems across Region Six are currently fully operational and functioning effectively as a result of sustained and dedicated efforts of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA)
Through ongoing maintenance, regular monitoring, and timely interventions, the Authority has been able to ensure that canals, pumps, kokers, and other critical infrastructure remain in proper condition.
Member of Parliament Zamal Hussain told the Guyana Chronicle in an invited comment, “Let me say that the Regional Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the rangers and so on in various
tremendous job, and the Government of Guyana for investing in the drainage system; it has brought tremendous relief to farmers throughout the region and the country.”
Rice farmers who gathered at the Number 52 Sluice on Saturday expressed their appreciation for the presence and engagement of Hussain and the regional authorities.
They noted that having officials on the ground provided a valuable opportunity to voice their concerns directly, and receive immediate feedback on pressing issues affecting their cultivation.
The farmers emphasised that such visits demonstrate a commitment to understanding real-time challenges, particularly those related
levels they are working in the various communities to ensure that the systems are working.”
According to Hussain, the team is working throughout the region, checking on all the various sluices
“All the sluices are active ,” he said, adding: “ I noticed that at #52 here, some of the operators are not opening some of the doors. This is one of the concerns we are having, so we decided to ensure that we are checking every single sluice to ensure both of the sluice doors are open to the level that is satisfactory to get the draft.”
Further, he said that there were no reports of any major flooding within the region, stressing that “we are working to ensure all the systems remain to work”.
He noted, “The NDIA system is in perfect conditio n. I must compliment the NDIA and the Minister of Agriculture for doing a
continuously working, as of now we have an amphibious machine working clearing out the outfalls in Adventure and Number 43 area, we are also have a machine working in Alness moving into the Liverpool area, helping to desilt,”
According to Basant, precautionary measures are being taking so as to ensure that “nothing is hampering the free flow of water from the land into the Atlantic so that persons can have a resolution to excess water as soon as possible.”
He said that there were hiccups in some areas as according to him, there were issues with sluice operators and “some adjustments that had to be made.”
Based on information gathered, the sluice attendants at Number 52 outfall
did not open the koker in a timely manner; however, after Member of Parliament Zamal Hussain ventured directly to the Koker on Sunday with farmers with the door was opened and the excess water was flushed out.
to water management and infrastructure.
“The MP come and go with us till to the back t o 52 sluice and make sure the door open, and we glad for that because sometimes them man na open the door and so, and Zamal come and go with us. So tonight we can sleep lil better because you see the water already running down here,” one farmer known as Devendra noted.
Additionally, the Corentyne farmers also complimented the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture for the ongoing drainage works that they continue to carry out.
Meanwhile the Regional Chairman of Region Six, Junior Basant, on Monday noted that “we are continuously monitoring the situation with the excess rainfall, I am pleased to say the systems we have in place have been working and they are
MINGS Optical on Monday announced a significant milestone in pediatric eye care with the successful dispensing of the first Essilor Stellest lenses in Guyana.
This introduction, according to a press release, marks a major step forward in providing clinicians and families with innovative tools to help manage the growing challenge of childhood myopia.
Across Latin America and the Caribbean, myopia is an emerging public health concern. Recent studies estimate that approximately 1 in 11 children in the region
are affected by myopia, with prevalence expected to rise due to increased screen time, urbanisation, and reduced outdoor activity. In some Caribbean populations, studies report myopia rates of over 20 per cent among schoolaged children, increasing significantly with age.
Earlier onset of myopia is associated with faster progression and a higher likelihood of developing high myopia, which can increase the risk of serious eye conditions later in life.
According to Mings Optical owner Dr. Michele Ming, “Stellest lenses are the first to earn FDA authorisation in the USA to slow myopia progression in children. The statistics are impressive – reducing progression by an average of 71 per cent, supporting clearer vision well into the future. Early intervention helps protect children’s eyesight and reduces the long-term risks associated with myopia.”
Dr. Ming continued, “Introducing Stellest lenses in Guyana is an exciting and historic milestone for us at Mings Optical. This launch reflects our commitment to bringing world-class vision care to our community.”
As part of the launch, Mings Optical is offering complimentary eye examinations and frames for children receiving Stellest lenses, so as to ensure families have access to a complete, high-quality myopia care solution. Mings Optical has been providing comprehensive eye care services for over 30 years.
With three locations in Georgetown, Parika and Rose Hall, Berbice, the company said it continues to play a leading role in advancing eye care in Guyana by introducing innovative technologies, promoting early detection, and supporting families with effective treatment options tailored to children’s visual needs.
THE Guyana Civil Aviation Authority on Monday opened its inaugural Women in Aviation Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, with government and industry leaders calling for stronger female representation in the country’s rapidly expanding aviation sector.
Delivering the feature address, Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar underscored the need to increase women’s participation across all levels of the industry, pointing to the achievements of women already occupying leadership roles as evidence of what can be attained.
“The Government of Guyana is committed to building an aviation sector that is inclusive, modern, and worldclass, with women playing a pivotal role in its development,” the minister said.
He also highlighted major investments aimed at transforming the aviation landscape, including the construction of a second terminal at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, the establishment of a Civil Aviation School of Excellence, and plans for two new municipal airports. According to Indar, these projects signal a new phase of growth and modernisation for the sector.
Director-General of the GCAA Egbert Field, in his remarks, reiterated that safety remains the cornerstone of aviation development, while stressing that greater inclusion of women will strengthen the industry.
He encouraged participants to pursue leadership opportunities and contribute to shaping the sector’s future.
The conference brings together aviation professionals, stakeholders, and aspiring entrants for panel discussions and networking sessions aimed at empowering women, and fostering career development within the field.
The two-day event is scheduled to conclude today.
THE Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made it clear to IPL teams that there will be no automatic double checks during DRS referrals. Specifically, a review will be limited to the original point of appeal, and any additional checks will be carried out only if the second side had
reviewed it within the stipulated time.
For instance, if the bowling side reviews for a caught-behind, the umpires will not subsequently check for a wide. That will be checked only if the batting side opts for a review.
As reported by Cricbuzz, on March 27, the BCCI experts illustrated certain catches through visual presentation, making a case for each instance under the playing conditions. And they have also done so for wide checks.
In the particular video, the bowler delivers a short ball and appeals for a caught-behind. The appeal is turned down, and the bowling side opts for a review. Replays clearly show the ball passing well above the bat, ruling out any chance of contact. At this point, the BCCI experts state that there
will be no automatic check for a height wide.
Henceforth, it will be reviewed only if the batting side opts for a review within the stipulated 15 seconds. Another 15 seconds will not be granted to the batter. The contention is that the batting side would already have knowledge of the action. As mentioned previously, BCCI head of match referee Javagal Srinath and umpires head Nitin Menon were addressing the teams during recent captains meet in the BCCI office. They have also made the following additions to the playing conditions to the IPL season that commenced in Bengaluru on Saturday (March 28).
Innings Timer & 60-seconds clock: Innings timer will be shown on the linear scoreboard on the third ball and after the end of each over.
If
a
bowling side reviews for caught behind, the umpires will not check for a wide
The 60-seconds clock will be shown on the big screen after the end of each over. Teams will be warned by on field umpires twice if the bowler
is not ready with the run up.
On the third instance, five Penalty runs to be awarded to the batting side.
Concussion replacement:
Harris (100m, 200m), Angel Jeffrey (100m, 200m), Olivia Solomon (400m, 800m)
Boys U-17: Omari Welch (100m, 200m, Long Jump),
ENGLISH RACING TIPS
NEWCASTLE
09:30 hrs Chemoulin
10:00 hrs I Cu In My Dreams
10:30 hrs Cahier's Den
11:00 hrs Fingal's Hill
11:30 hrs Play By The Tules
12:00 hrs Fairly Fulling
12:45 hrs Travis Wheatley
WOLVERHAMPTON
12:30 hrs Skip To Victory
13:00 hrs Ticket Tape
13:30 hrs Pearly Squirrel
14:00 hrs The Pug
14:30 hrs Simplify
15:00 hrs Billy Bathgate
15:30 hrs Jane Of The Jungle
IRISH RACING TIPS
LIMERICK
11:10 hrs Shirzan
Malique Kendall (100m), Jumeel Cornette (200m), Jarel Campbell (400m, Long Jump), Jermaine Shepherd (800m, 1500m), Bryson
11:40 hrs Beauvallon
12:10 hrs Thissin'tthat 12:42 hrs Shellrunforbriggs
13:12 hrs Way Down South
13:42 hrs Cone On The Lads
14:12 hrs Even Tho
AMERICAN RACING TIPS
MAHONING VALLEY
Race 1 Enzito
Race 2 Honey Bella
Race 3 Princesd Halime
Race 4 Collator
Race 5 Ernie's Martini
Race 6 Mali Bali
Race 7 Cat's Cradle
Race 8 Fourdatesforhoco
SOUTH AFRICA RACING TIPS
VAAL
08:25 hrs Royale Jacket
09:00 hrs Six Of All
09:36 hrs Dark Silver 10:10 hrs Palace Prince
10:45 hrs El Zani
Anderson (800m), Keimal Gishard (Triple Jump, High Jump), Nathaniel Samaroo (Shot Put, Discus)
Girls U-20: Athaleyha Hinckson (100m, 200m), Akeela Dover (100m, 200m), Tianna Springer (400m)
Boys U-20: Onesi Dunn
A like for like replacement may be taken from the nominated substitutes. In case of wicketkeeper getting concussion, replacement will be permissible from the available squad. In case of an overseas player getting a concussion, the team can get replacement from the nominated Indian substitute players, if a team has already started with four overseas players.
Team Sheets: Team sheets to be distributed after the toss. Captains carry one sheet each of the batting & bowling playing side. After the outcome of the toss, captains handover the team sheet to the match referee. Both the team managers will exchange with each other and hand over the remaining 10 copies to the assistant venue manager. (Cricbuzz)
(From back page)
(100m), Gordon Thompson (100m), Tishawn Easton (200m, 400m), Daquan Farrell (200m), Malachi Austin (400m), Javon Roberts (800m, 1500m), Kaidon Persaud (800m, Javelin), Ebo McNeil (1500m, 5000m), Walton Alleyne (Long Jump) Technical & Management Team: Led by Manager Niall Stanton and Safeguarding Officer Cheryl Sam, the coaching staff includes Quincy Clarke, Kesia Burnett, Anson Ambrose, and Robin Phillips.
ward Islands Volcanoes across venues in Antigua.
At the conclusion of the preliminary phase, the top three teams will advance to the playoffs, with the first-
place team progressing directly to the final, while the second and thirdplaced teams contest a semi-final.
Having secured three
(Tuesday, March 31, 2026)
COMPLIMENTS OF CUMMINGS ELECTRICAL COMPANY LTD
83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158)
Answers to yesterday’s quiz:
(1) Gary Sobers-365* (vs PAK, Kingston, 1958) (2) Brian Lara-400* (vs ENG, ARG, 2004)
Today’s Quiz:
(1) What are the best Test innings bowling figures by a WI bowler?
(2) Which WI bowler has the best match figures in a Test to date?
Answers in tomorrow’s issue
(From page 23)
consecutive titles, the Guyana Harpy Eagles will be aiming to extend their dominance and capture a fourth successive championship. The Board wishes Coach Ryan Hercules and the selected team every success.
For the first time in the state's history, South Australia have gone back-to-back in the
SOUTH Australia have completed one of the alltime Sheffield Shield final turn-ups, seizing the silverware for a second consecutive summer after the season's standout side, Victoria, imploded on the fifth morning at the Junction Oval.
The Vics, who surged into a home decider on the back of one of the most prolific regular seasons ever, were rolled for just 139 chasing 196 to see the defending champions SA take back-toback crowns for the first time in their 133-year history.
In contrasting scenes to last year's final when scores of punters invaded Karen Rolton Oval, a lone redclad SA fan draped in the state flag ran onto the field after Henry Thornton clean bowled Fergus O'Neill to seal
the 56-run victory.
As the South Aussies celebrated their win inside the first hour of play on Monday, the Victorians were left distraught after losing 7-37 either side of stumps on day four, sparked by the exits of senior bats Peter Handscomb and Marcus Harris. It marked the first time a visiting team has won a Shield final in a decade, with Alex Carey's third-innings 103 on a St Kilda pitch that was pace-friendly all game proving a clear difference between the two sides.
Nathan McAndrew, who defied late-season soreness to take 6-121 for the match and score 60 in a match-turning stand with Carey, was named player of the final.
The Carey-McAndrew partnership proved a remarkable turnaround given SA
were seven wickets down and only 59 ahead of Victoria when they came together on Sunday.
"Very nervous, thinking maybe the game had just slipped through our hands," captain Nathan McSweeney told reporters.
"But the boys, 'Kez' (Carey) and 'Macca' (McAndrew), to be able to spend so much time in the middle and chip away at a total –(they were) saying 130-140 is enough.
"Then to get 195 ahead just gave us so much momentum and something to really bowl at.
"Our quicks have been great all year, and probably (have been) the last three or four years. To give them the ball and go to work was fantastic to see."(Cricket. com.au)
Head Coach, Darren Lehmann, has said England players do not play enough county cricket and selectors have overlooked talent in the domestic game.
Lehmann, now in his second year at Wantage Road, is hopeful the ECB will have a better link with the first-class counties this season following the humiliating Ashes series defeat this winter.
Lehmann has spoken with England Managing Director Rob Key and Test Captain Ben Stokes after claiming he had not seen an English selector during his first year in charge.
Northamptonshire's 27-year-old left-hander Saif Zaib was the leading run-scorer in the country last season with 1,425 at an average of just under 65, including six centuries, but
was overlooked for a place on the England Lions' winter tour.
"I think you will see a really marked improvement in that regard from the ECB," former Australia batter Lehmann told BBC Look East.
"The [England] players don't play enough county cricket. They should play more but that's not my call.
"I think the ECB wants
to get close to the counties, they don't want to be that matriarch, you feel like they want to make sure all the counties are listened to and that they're getting around to watch as much as they can.
"There's a lot of good county players that could have been on the tour if they'd probably seen and took notice of them a little bit more." (BBC sport)
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, (CMC) – Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) recently released financial report has come under heavy criticism from renowned chartered accountant and economist, Mariano Browne, who has described it as a “PR document”.
In a review of its financial performance made public last week, CWI disclosed that revenue was down from just over US$88 million in 2024 to close to US$41 million for the year 2025. It further revealed that in 2025 it recorded a net income loss of US$28.5 million, compared to a net surplus of US$22.6 million in 2024.
CWI also said its cash resources had fallen from US$17.5 million in 2024 to US$1.7 million in 2025.
However, speaking during an interview on isports on i95.5 FM on Saturday, Browne, the Chief Executive Officer at UWI’s Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, said the report failed to provide necessary details on how the money was being utilised.
“…On the basis of the evidence which has been released in its financial statements, the financial state -
Chartered Accountant and Economist Mariano Browne
ments are highly aggregated; in other words, it gives a top line that says $88 million but how is it broken down? How did it go between the various tours? What did the various tours contribute?
Those numbers are not in the document, and it has to be intentionally, because they said they were going to be transparent but if you’re going to be transparent then you need to know what the numbers are and those numbers are not visible.
“So from that basis, all you’re doing is making an objective assessment on the very large numbers, not on the actual details that happened. What tour contributed what? Did they make more money on this tour? Did they lose money on that tour? You
can’t tell that and you can’t come to any conclusions on that. You just know that this is the total amount of cash that they generated and that’s it,” Browne said.
“…It doesn’t speak with any degree of confidence in terms of what is going to happen next year and how much cash they’re going to generate. They did say that they don’t owe any bank any money and they are negotiating new contracts and sponsorship deals, but no details are given with regard to what the sponsorship deal means in the form of cash or what it would pay for.”
Browne maintained that while the report was “nice and glossy and looks good”, it did not give a clear understanding of the operations of West Indies cricket.
When asked to rate it, he said based on what was presented he had no choice but to give it a failing grade.
“As a comprehensive report on the state of West Indies cricket it would get zero. On the basis of a financial statement to give me an insight, it would get a minus. In terms of a PR document, it will give a give plus, because it’s PR,” Browne said.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CMC) – The CWI Rising Stars U-15 bilateral series got off to a thrilling start on Sunday, as Trinidad & Tobago snatched a dramatic two-wicket victory over hosts Jamaica via the DLS method, while the Windward Islands secured a commanding 51-run win over the Leeward Islands.
At the Melbourne Cricket Club in Kingston, a rainsoaked contest came down to the wire.
After overnight showers and further interruptions reduced the match to 34 overs per side, Jamaica captain Zachary Buchanan won the toss and opted to bat.
However, the home side never found its rhythm against a disciplined T&T bowling attack, limping to 96 for 9.
Buchanan top-scored with a gritty 20, while Jermari Bryce (17), Jayden Shaw (14), and Rajae McGeachy (14) offered brief resistance.
But seamer K’Hill Thomas ran through the lineup with impressive figures of 4 for 14, backed by Arnaldo Premchand’s 3 for 25.
A disastrous middle-order collapse saw Jamaica
lose three wickets for no runs, slumping to 60 for 6 before Buchanan’s late cameo provided a semblance of respectability.
Chasing a modest 97, Trinidad & Tobago’s reply
VAIBHAV Suryavanshi whacked the joint-third fastest half-century in Indian Premier League history as he helped Rajasthan Royals to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings.
Set a modest 128 for victory by CSK in the opening game for both sides in this year's tournament, the 15-year-old Royals opening batter hammered 50 off just 15 balls in Guwahati.
It was just two balls more than the record set by his Rajasthan opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2023.
The teenager was dismissed by seamer Anshul Kamboj - caught at extra cover - on 52 off 17 balls with a strike-rate of 305.88 having hammered four fours and five sixes.
After watching Suryavanshi break the back of the
chase, Jaiswal made an unbeaten 38 off 36 balls as the Royals cruised over the line with 47 balls remaining.
"The plan was to go big in the powerplay. The wicket was sticky early on but then it eased up," Suryavanshi said.
"The coaches have told me that they back me and they're behind me. They told me to read the situation and back my game.
"After every ball, Jaiswal didn't tell me to take a single.
He told me that the ball's going off the bat nicely and to keep going."
Earlier, England fast bowler Jofra Archer took 2-19 to finish the pick of the Rajasthan bowlers as the Super Kings lost wickets at regular intervals.
Jamie Overton, one of three CSK players into double figures, added some respectability as he topscored with 43 off 36 balls.
(BBC Sport)
was equally nerve-jangling. The visitors stumbled to 8 for 2, then 14 for 3, as Jamaica’s Najai Wright (2-18) and Ranjay Thomas (2-23) applied relentless pressure. Two self-inflicted run outs only deepened T&T’s woes.
K’Hill Thomas continued his all-round heroics, top-scoring with 21 to steady the innings, while Samir Boodoo (16) and Keshav Mongru (14) inched the side closer.
But when T&T slipped to 79 for 8, the match hung in the balance. With tension at its peak, wicketkeeper Christaino Beharry stepped up and smashed a decisive six to carry his side to 102 for 8, sealing a remarkable victory.
At Coolidge, Antigua: The Windward Islands pro-
duced a well-rounded performance to defeat the Leeward Islands by 51 runs.
Batting first, the Windwards posted 128 all out in 31 overs, led by Dylan John’s unbeaten 37 and Alex Armstrong’s 32. Ryan Marchan was the pick of the Leewards bowlers with outstanding figures of 5 for 46.
In reply, the Leewards crumbled to 77 all out in 32.2 overs, with Jershuan Joseph claiming 3 for 35 to seal the win.
At Lusignan, Guyana: The opening match of the bilateral series between Guyana and Barbados was abandoned without a ball being bowled, as persistent rainfall along the coastline continued to saturate the outfield at the Lusignan Sports Club Ground.
THE Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, M.S has produced seventy-six national players since 1995, when Neil Williams played at the Under-19 level.
Leon Reddy and Jayden Ganpat are currently with the national Under-16 team that would play in the Cricket West Indies regional tournament. Reddy and Ganpat, who have both represented Guyana at the under-13 level are members of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club Farfan and Mendes Under-16, Bakewell Under-17 and Pepsi Under-19 teams.
On Wednesday last, Honorary Patron of the Club, Minister of Housing Collin Croal handed over a collection of cricket gear to Ganpat
and Reddy. The presentation was done at the Ministry of Housing, in the presence of Club Secretary Hilbert Foster and RHTYSC Cricket Manager, Robby Kissoondyal. Each player received a cricket bat, a pair of batting gloves, a pair of batting pads, a helmet and a gears bag. The gears will assist the two youths to participate in the regional tournament.
Cricket Manager Robby Kissoondyal stated that over the years, the RHTYSC has produced 132 players for Berbice with 76 going on at the national level.
Ten RHTYSC members - Assad Fudadin, Royston Crandon, Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Shakiba Gajnabi, Sheneta
and
Kissoondyal stated that the club’s formula for success is based on sheer hard work,
and faith in God and dedication.
Club Secretary, Hilbert Foster, expressed gratitude to the Patron for his donation of the cricket gears to the two players. Foster recalled that the Patron at his swearing-in ceremony on the 21st of February had pledged to work along with the club to assist every youth to reach their full potential on and off the cricket field. The former Berbice Cricket Board President called on Reddy and Ganpat to focus on the game and to always strive for excellence.
Minister Croal in brief remarks wished the two RHTYSC youth players well in the CWI tournament and urged them to always be disciplined. He pledged his
full support to them for their future development and also called on them to avoid the social ills affecting youths in Guyana. Representing your nation is a huge honour and reminded the two regional youths that solid performances at the regional level would result in selection to the international stage. Last year, the RHTYSC produced a total of thirteen players for Guyana at all levels while so far in 2026, the club has seven with five at the senior female level and two at the under-16 level. The five females were Shemaine Campbelle, Shakibi Gajnabi, Plaffina Millington, Sheneta Grimmond and Danielle Manns.
BASSETERRE, St Kitts, (CMC) – Georgia Wareham produced a second straight Player-of-the-Match performance to help Australia Women continue their dominance over West Indies Women via a 90-run victory in the second ODI on Sunday.
Firstly, Wareham scored a critical knock of 39 off 37 balls to rescue her side from a shaky position of 140 for five and ensured they posted a competitive 269 for seven in their 50 overs after winning the toss and choosing to bat at Warner Park for the second time in the series.
She then returned with her leg-breaks to strike two crucial blows on her way to a three-wicket haul that saw the visitors bowl out the Windies for 179 in 46 overs.
With the result, the Aussies kept the home side winless in their white-ball series. It carried them to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the threematch ODI series having already swept the preceding T20I series 3-0.
Unlike the opening ODI that saw Australia’s top order dominate proceedings, West Indies grabbed four early wickets to seize the momentum and put their opponents under pressure.
Openers Georgia Voll and Phoebe Litchfield gave the Aussies a good start during a 64-run partnership in under 11 overs.
Ashmini Munisar broke the stand by having Voll caught at long on for 23, and with her next delivery she held on to a brilliant one-handed return catch to dismiss Ellyse Perry for a first-ball duck.
Windies’ skipper Hayley
Georgia Wareham starred with both bat and ball in Australia Women’s 90-run win over West Indies Women in the second ODI
Matthews then had Litchfield caught for 46 and bowled Ashleigh Gardner for five to reduce the Aussies to 82 for four in the 16th over.
But Beth Mooney, who top scored with 65 from 104 balls, shared two match-changing partnerships with captain Tahlia McGrath and then Wareham to put them back in control.
Together with McGrath they added 58 runs for the fifth wicket and then 70 with Wareham, as Australia recovered to 210 for five in the 43rd over.
And when Wareham and Mooney were dismissed in the space of four runs, Alicia Carey, who scored an unbeaten 30 off 25 balls and Alana King, who made 26 not out off 17 balls, shared an unbroken stand of 55 runs to carry their side past the 250 mark.
Matthews was the Windies’ best bowler with 3-40, while Fletcher (2-44) and Munisar (2-45) provided support.
Needing to score at just over five runs an over, the home side got off to a good start thanks to Qiana Joseph
and Matthews, who shared a 57-run opening stand.
A slower delivery from Gardner proved to be Joseph’s undoing, with her shot through the onside ballooning into the air to give the bowler an easy catch.
Stafanie Joseph, who scored a century in Friday’s opener, then added 37 runs with her captain to put the Windies in a comfortable position of 94 for one after 24 overs.
However, the home side then lost three wickets for the addition of a solitary run to tilt the balance in Australia’s favour.
Matthews failed to take advantage after being dropped on 44, adding just one more run before slicing a delivery from McGrath straight into the hands of deep point.
Wareham then struck with the first ball of the next over by bowling Taylor for 18, and without a run added had Deandra Dottin caught at slip without scoring off the last delivery to leave the score 95 for four.
West Indies never recovered from those setbacks, with Chinelle Henry, Shemaine Campbelle, Jannillea Glasgow and Ashmini Munisar all losing their wickets cheaply to see them collapse to 130 for nine.
It took a 49-run partnership for the last wicket between Fletcher, who scored an unbeaten 32 and Ramharack, who made 14 to get them up to their eventual total.
Wareham ended with figures of 3-29, Gardner took 3-34 and McGrath 2-15.
The third and final match is scheduled to be played on Thursday.
By Frederick Halley
ESSEQUIBIAN Patrick Roopall stole the spotlight for the second consecutive year, earning back- toback Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards in the Masters Over-40 category but his superlative effort was in vain as USA Masters prevailed over Everglades Warriors when the 2026 edition of the South Florida Softball Cricket League (SFSCL) climaxed at Oswald Park in the Sunshine State on Sunday.
After blasting a belligerent 132 versus the host team in Saturday’s semi-final at the same venue, an innings which was sparked by six fours and 15 sixes, the robust Rooplall seemed well set to carry his team to victory in the final after they needed 166, limiting their opponents to 165 for eight in their allotted 20 overs.
On a surface made somewhat slushy by consistent by mid-morning rain, Rooplall lost his opening partner Lennox “Assassin” Mark (two) in the second over but found a useful ally in Anil Ramoutar who stroke three fours and two sixes in his 33 before spooning a catch to Ravin Gopal at extra-cover off Dyal Lakhan in the 12th over, the two adding 107 for the second wicket.
Disaster however struck in the same over when Rooplall, well set on 59, which included one four and seven towering sixes, was needlessly run out, attempting a quick single.
It was all downhill after following Rooplall’s departure. The middle- and lower-order batters failed to absorb the pressure as wickets fell at regular intervals.
Apart from Rooplall and Ramoutar, only two other players, Rohit Latchman (13) and Ganesh Mangal (11) reached double figure as panic stepped in.
Needing 12 off the last over, the pair of Shablall Mohabir (eight) and Sanko Sharman (two) only succeeded in scoring five as Everglades Warriors ended on 157 for five, nine runs
THE Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) is pleased to announce the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad for the opening round of the 2026 Cricket West Indies FourDay Championship.
Guyana, the defending champions, will begin their title defence against the Windward Islands Volcanoes from April 12–15 at the Sir
Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
The team will be led by Tevin Imlach, with Matthew Nandu serving as vice-captain, under the watchful eyes of Head Coach Ryan Hercules.
The squad reads: Tevin Imlach (Captain), Matthew Nandu (Vice-Captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Ray-
mond Perez, Kevlon Anderson, Kemol Savory, Keemo Paul, Gudakesh Motie, Veerasammy Permaul, Richie Looknauth, Nial Smith, Isai Thorne and Zeynul Ramsammy.
Reserves: Shamar Joseph, Junior Sinclair, Sylus Tyndall, Jonathan Van Lange, Thaddeus Lovell, Antony Adams, Mavendra Dindyal.
Shamar Joseph will join the squad from round two following his approved rest by CWI.
The 2026 tournament will be contested under a revamped format, with teams engaged in a series of bilateral encounters.
Guyana will play three matches against the Wind -
short of ensuring a win. Lakhan finished with the impressive figures of four for 19 from his four overs while Mark Ramkissoon took two for 28.
Earlier, opener Lennox Marques top scored with an even half-century off 36 balls for USA Masters, striking seven fours and a six in the process while fellow opener Bud Rahim and Nizam Latiff supported with 22 each. Apart from copping the overall MVP award, Rooplall also collected prizes for his 132 and for registering the most runs in the category (272). The MVP of the final was Lakhan while Rohit Latchman also received a prize for taking the most wickets (10).
THE roar of engines returned to the go-kart track on Sunday for the MPS Kart Revival, delivering a masterclass in precision driving, a touch of drama in the stewards' room, and standout performances.
While the action on the tarmac was blistering, the final classification for the Briggs and Stratton Senior Light re-
mains shrouded in uncertainty. It was a stellar weekend for Calvin Ming, who proved why he remains the man to beat in high-performance machinery. Ming claimed a commanding victory in the IAME X30 Senior class, fending off Nicholas Sawh and Benjamin Phang in a display of pure pace.
He doubled his trophy
count in the Open Class Time Attack, setting the fastest lap of the event to edge out Samuel Seukiree.
However, Ming’s weekend wasn't without its setbacks; a technical infringement saw him disqualified from the Briggs and Stratton Senior Light race, where he had originally crossed the line first.
THE Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) has sounded a note of high confidence ahead of the 2026 CARIFTA Games, concluding a strategic high-performance camp for the 24-member squad set to storm St. George’s, Grenada.
The national contingent, described as the country’s "elite junior talent," is scheduled to depart for the 'Spice Isle' on April 2, with the Games running from April 4–6.
Following a massive
42-member squad in 2025 that returned five medals from Trinidad and Tobago, the AAG has opted for a leaner, "streamlined" selection this year.
The association is drawing inspiration from the 2024 edition—also held in Grenada—where a similarly sized squad of 23 athletes punched above their weight to secure an impressive eight-medal haul.
"Everyone here has met the qualifying standards; they have prepared well and all logistical support is cov-
ered from the government," said AAG President Sheryl Hermonstine. "We have returning medallists, including some who have won gold on this very soil previously."
This year’s build-up marked a departure from previous cycles, with the AAG initiating programmes earlier in the season to prioritise technical fine-tuning and athlete recovery.
TEAM GUYANA FOR CARIFTA GAMES 2026
Girls U-17: Tesianna
(Turn to page 20)
The Briggs and Stratton Senior Light results remain pending appeal following the disqualification of preliminary winner Calvin Ming.
Jeremy Ten Pow enjoyed a golden outing, securing the top step of the podium in two different disciplines.
Ten Pow outpaced Mikhail Persaud to take the Briggs and Stratton Senior Heavy
crown before switching to two wheels to conquer the SuperMoto Final. In a hardfought bike battle, he led Elan Rahaman and Matthew Phang to the flag.
The event also showcased the stars of tomorrow and local enthusiasts in the 555 Speedway Rental Kart series.
U-18 Mixed: Zariah Insanally took a brilliant
victory, holding off Javier Mendonca and Miquel McLeod; Over-18 Male: Viraj Sharma stood tallest on the podium, followed by Aditya Seetaram and Akeem Semple; and Over-18 Female: Malicia Lawrence claimed the win in a competitive field, with Mickelly Rahaman and Alana Chung completing the top three.
GMR&SC to ‘formally discipline’ Matthew Vieira after altercation at ‘revival karting’
THE Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) has launched a formal disciplinary process following a controversial collision and subsequent altercation during Sunday’s ‘Kart Revival’ event at 555 Speedway on Thomas Road and Albert Street.
What was meant to be a celebration of the sport's return to the track was instead overshadowed by a heated incident in the Supermoto final involving Matthew Vieira and Ravi Singh.
The flashpoint occurred as Vieira, rider of the #48 machine, was carving through the field. After starting from the back of the grid, Vieira had fought his way into the lead and was in the process of lapping Singh when the two tangled.
In a candid statement released this morning, Vieira admitted that "heightened emotion" took over in the cockpit.
"During the race, I advanced from last position to first and was in the process of lapping Ravi," Vieira explained.
"Under normal race conditions, a blue flag from the marshals would have indicated this; however, that signal was not issued. With adrenaline high, I allowed my frustration to get the better of me."
While Vieira was quick to point out the lack of signalling from track officials, he was equally firm in taking accountability for his subsequent actions, of -
fering a "sincere apology" to Singh, his sponsors, and the fans.
Chief Steward Phillip Paruag confirmed on Monday that both riders have been cleared medically following the physical nature of the incident.
Paruag has already conducted face-to-face interviews with both parties to establish a timeline of events.
"The incident involving rider #48 has been addressed, and an appropriate decision has been made," Paruag stated.
"Due to the nature and traction it has received both in-house and publicly, we need to do it in line with a process."
The GMR&SC has not minced words regarding the fallout. In an official briefing, the club stated it "condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the actions of the offender involved."
The expected fallout for Vieira includes likely disqualification from the event results, and the club has promised bans in line with its code of conduct to serve as a deterrent.