Online passport applications coming within a month - Pres. Ali ...fleewithover$5M incash,valuables
President IrfaanAli decorating ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) with medals for their exceptional service in humanitarian and disaster relief efforts in Jamaica following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
Chairman of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, John Jovanovic
U.S. Exim Bank boss flies in
…as gas-to-energy
Amidmountingscrutiny overthetroubledWalesGasto-Energyproject,Chairman of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, John Jovanovic, arrived in Guyana on Wednesday for high-level engagements, even as questions intensify over the project's cost, contractor, andprocurementprocess.
The visit comes against the backdrop of growing concerns about delays and a Kaieteur News series of
revelations exposing questionable decisions surrounding the multibillion-dollar initiative, for which EXIM has approved US$527 million in financing.
In a press release on Wednesday, the US Embassy in Guyana said during his visit today, Chairman Jovanovic will meet with President Irfaan Ali, the American Chamber ofCommerce,andstafffrom LindsaycaInc.,theHoustonbased contractor executing the gas-to-energy project that has received a loan of US$527 million in EXIM financing.
According to the
embassy, the visit demonstrates the U S government's “continued commitmenttonotonlythis landmark infrastructure initiative but also in financing additional Guyanese development projects.” It said: “The gasto-energy project represents the largest infrastructure investment in Guyana's history Once completed, it will double the country's installedelectricitycapacity, reduce electricity costs by 50% for all Guyanese households and businesses, and cut carbon dioxide emissions by more than 460,000 tons annually,” the embassystated. The project includes constructionofanaturalgas separation plant, a 300megawatt combined cycle gasturbinepowerplant,and a gas supply pipeline Lindsayca Inc. continues to advance construction and has made significant progress on all project
components The company's expertise in energy infrastructure development positions the project to deliver transformative results for Guyana'senergysector
Chairman Jovanovic's visit underscores the depth
of the U S -Guyana
project controversy deepens
partnership and the United S t a t e s ' l o n g - t e r m commitment to supporting Guyana's economic development and energy security through reliable, competitive and transparent financing EXIM is the official export credit agency oftheUnitedStates. EXIM loans are backed by the full faith and credit of the United.
KaieteurNewssincelast weekhavehasbeenrunning a series of articles on the project. One of the articles highlighted the fact that government rejected three cheaperbidsforthecontract and handed it to Lindsayca/ CH4 for US$759M. This newspaper reported that Lindsayca'sbid,atthetimeit was submitted, was the highest among five international companies who had placed bids for the project in September 2022. Thejointventurehadplaced itsbidtothetuneofUS$898 million,butlaterreducedthe sum to US$759 million in negotiations with the GoG.Flora&Fauna
Sources close to the processhoweverleakedbids thatwerefiledbynotone,or two, but three reputable Chinese firms that were not only interested in constructing the project at a lower sum, but were willing to provide financing to the government PowerChina InternationalGroupLimited (PCIGL) in its financial proposalofferedtoconstruct the integrated facility for U S $ 7 0 4 M ($703,652,256.29)- a whopping US$194 million cheaper than the initial bid submitted by Lindsayca/ CH4 PowerChina was alreadyhiredinGuyanaand was experienced in delivering power projects
similartoGuyana'sintended structures Additionally, PCIGLofferedtofinanceup to 85% of the contract cost, with a 12-year repayment period, through Swiss Export Risk Insurance (SERV).
China Machinery Engineering Inc. made a financial proposal to construct the integrated facility at just US$696 million. The company was also willing to finance the development, through JP MorganandSERV
Another experienced Chinese entity, China Energy Int'l Group Co Limited submitted an even lower bid- US$467 million and offered to finance the project through Siemens
Energy A proposal addressed to the Ministry of NaturalResourcesanddated August 31, 2022 indicated that the company was willingtoprovideupto85% ofthefinancingrequiredfor the project Since its inception, government has been extremely selective with the information it shareswiththepubliconthis project.
Additionally, another issue this newspaper reported on is thew fact that when Lindsayca landed the almost one-billion-dollar contract in Guyana to construct a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility and 300-megawatt(MW)power plant, the entity was bankrupt,facedwithseveral lawsuits, over allegations of money laundering and other questionable business dealings. Research also showsthatLindsaycalacked a basic requirement to qualify for the project –experience in constructing a projectofsuchmagnitude.
Acarefulexaminationof
submissions in September 2022wasrequiredtosubmit three years of financial statements to the Government of Guyana (GoG) to ensure the company was in good standing.
Commentator and
same parties, with relatedparty liabilities exceeding $35million.Ontopofthat,a material portion of revenue comes from related-party transactions,” the Chartered Accountantsaid.
Luxuryflights
the company's financials by this newspaper between 2016and2019revealedthat Lindsayca was drowning in debttothetuneofmillionsof US-dollars. Lindsayca, as perthepre-qualificationand bidding process that started with the Request For Prop
Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram reviewed the financials seen by this newspaper and concluded that the company was under “significant financial strain, withissuesthatgodirectlyto liquidity, sustainability, and the reliability of what is being reported.” Ram raised concernsoverthecompany's persistentnegativeoperating cash flows in both 2017 and 2018, which he says indicates that the business was not generating enough cash to support itself. “I am alsotroubledbytheextentto whichtheCompanydepends on related parties The balance sheet shows large receivables from related entities, but even more significantpayablestothose
Kaieteur News also unearthed documents showing that executives of Lindsayca travel in luxury, flying weekly out of Georgetownonaprivatejet, costing Guyana US$70,000. The contractor is not only misusingprojectfundstofly its top executives, but also source materials for the project at much higher freight costs, a source close to the project disclosed Sources confirmed, “Since October 2022, top executives have utilised privatejetstoflyonaweekly basis from Houston, Texas, refueling in Puerto Rico, before touching down in Georgetown.Aconservative calculation of this weekly commute exposes a (Continuedonpage9)
President Irfaan Ali and Chairman of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, John Jovanovic during a September 2025 meeting on the sidelines of the 80th UNGAin New York
As the world observes World Health Day 2026, the message from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is both timelyandurgent:recommittoscienceasthefoundationfor better health outcomes. Under the theme “Together for Science,” the call is a reminder that progress in human healthhasneverbeenaccidental,buttheresultofdeliberate investment in research, cooperation, and evidence-based decision-making.
Over the past century, science has transformed the human condition in ways once unimaginable Life expectancy has increased, diseases that once wiped out populations are now preventable or manageable and medicaltechnologiescontinuetoextendboththelengthand quality of life. The numbers are compelling: maternal mortalityhasdroppedsignificantlysince2000,anddeaths amongchildrenunderfivehavebeencutbymorethanhalf. Vaccines alone have saved millions of lives, while innovations such as imaging technologies and modern pharmaceuticalshavereshapedtreatmentpossibilities.
Yet, even as the world celebrates these achievements, new and persistent threats loom Climate change, environmental degradation, geopolitical instability, and shifting population dynamics are placing unprecedented pressure on health systems Emerging infectious diseases alongside long-standing burdens like hypertension,cancer,anddiabetesaretestingtheresilience ofcountriesateveryincomelevel.Inthiscontext,theWHO andPAHOarerighttoemphasisethatsciencemustremain atthecentreofpolicy,notonitsperiphery
The lesson from history is clear: when science leads, livesaresaved.Whenitissidelined,theconsequencescan be catastrophic. The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic underscored both truths: demonstrating the power of rapid vaccine development and international collaboration, but also exposing the dangers of misinformationandinequitableaccesstocare.
Across the Americas, PAHO has demonstrated what sustained commitment to science can achieve. The eliminationofdiseases,suchaspolioandrubella,standsas a testament to coordinated vaccination campaigns and regional solidarity. Initiatives to combat malaria, tuberculosis,andcervicalcancerfurtherillustratethepower of collective action guided by evidence. Importantly, mechanismssuchaspooledprocurementofvaccineshave shownthatevenresource-constrainedcountriescanaccess high-qualitycarewhensystemsaredesignedwithequityin mind.
But the global message carries particular significance for countries like Guyana, which now finds itself at a historic crossroads. With unprecedented revenues flowing from its oil sector, the country has a rare opportunity to fundamentallytransformitshealthsystem.Thequestionis whether that transformation will be guided by science or undermined by short-term thinking and fragmented policymaking.
Guyana’s health challenges are not unique. Like many developing nations, it faces a dual burden of disease: persistent infectious illnesses alongside a growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases. Rural and hinterlandcommunitiescontinuetostrugglewithaccessto care,whileshortagesoftrainedpersonnelandinfrastructure gapslimitservicedelivery Thesearenotproblemsthatcan be solved by funding alone. They require data-driven strategies,investmentinresearch,andthestrengtheningof institutions that can translate scientific knowledge into practicaloutcomes.
The WHO/PAHO call for renewed commitment to science therefore speaks directly to Guyana’s reality It underscores the need to invest not only in hospitals and equipment, but also in surveillance systems, laboratory capacity, and human capital. It calls for policies rooted in evidence whether in tackling chronic diseases, addressing
One year later: The Ronaldo Peters’Killing
DEAREDITOR, April 7, 2026, marked one year since the killing of Ronaldo Peters in Linden, a painful and unresolved chapter that continues to weigh heavily on the hearts of his family, the people of thiscommunity,andallwho believe in justice and accountability
One year later, the grief remains, but so too does the anger,thefrustration,andthe deep sense that justice has beenfartooslowincoming. Ronaldo Peters was a son, a friend, a member of our community, his life had value, and his death must never be reduced to just another file in a system that toooftenappearsindifferent
to the suffering of ordinary citizens.
Whatmakesthistragedy even more troubling is that his life was taken by a Sergeant of the Guyana Police Force, an institution entrusted with the sacred duty to protect and serve. When the very force meant to uphold the law becomes the subject of such grave concern, it strikes at the foundation of public trust. That trust, once broken, cannot be repaired with silence, delay, or halfmeasures.
Let us be clear: calling for accountability is not an attack on policing, it is a demandforbetterpolicing.It is a callfor a Guyana Police
Force that operates with integrity, transparency, and respectforhumanlife.
It is about ensuring that those who wear the uniform understand that their authority comes with responsibility, and that no badge should ever place anyoneabovethelaw
ThepeopleofLindenare not asking for special treatment, we are asking for fairness. We are asking for answers.
We are asking for a process that is transparent and free from influence
Most importantly, we are asking that the life of Ronaldo Peters be treated with the dignity and seriousnessitdeserves.
TothefamilyofRonaldo Peters,yourpainissharedby many, and your call for justiceisnotforgotten.
To the Guyana Police Force,thismomentdemands reflection, accountability, andaction.
When the United States Treasury quietly lifted s a n c t i o n s a g
i n s t Ven
D
ue
lcy Rodríguez on April/1, few noticed the deeper geopolitical ledger being rebalanced. The move didn’t just restore Rodríguez’s “legitimacy”; it reset the moral arithmetic of sanctions themselves. In the eyes of Washington, Rodríguez ceased being a violatorofdemocraticnorms the moment she became a useful instrument in reopening Venezuela’s oil markettoU.S.interests.
mentalhealth,orpreparingforfuturepandemics.
Equallyimportantistheissueoftrust.Sciencecanonly be effective if the public has confidence in it. This means combating misinformation, promoting transparency, and ensuringthathealthcommunicationisclear,consistent,and credible. In an era where false narratives can spread as quicklyasviruses,buildingtrustinscienceisitselfapublic healthpriority
Globally, the path forward is unmistakable Collaboration must deepen, not weaken Scientific institutionsmustbesupported,notundermined.Andhealth systemsmustbedesignedtoserveallpeople,notjustthose with access or influence. For Guyana, the conclusions are equallyclear First,oilwealthmustbestrategicallyinvested in building a modern, resilient health system grounded in science. Second, policymakers must prioritize long-term health outcomes over short-term gains. Third, the country must actively engage with regional and global partners, leveraginginstitutionslikePAHOtostrengthenitscapacity andshareincollectiveprogress.
WorldHealthDay2026is,atitscore,acalltoaction.It remindsusthatscienceisnotanabstractconcept—itisthe difference between life and death, between vulnerability and resilience, between stagnation and progress. For nations across the globe, and for Guyana in particular, the choiceissimple:standwithscience,orriskfallingbehind. Thefutureofhealthdependsonthatchoice.
Across the Atlantic, Guyana offers a mirror image under a different logic—the“Containmentfor Contract Preservation” model. The recent sanctions against the Mohamed’s family might appear at first glance as an act of moral correction, the sort of U.S. signalingmeantto“cleanse” political ecosystems of corruption.Butwhenplaced beside theVenezuela case, a darkerpatternemerges.
This is the revolving door of legitimacy at work—what we might call “ReconciliationforAccess”. Once the Venezuelan transition in January/2026 signaled a thaw, sanctions that had stood as moral judgments on “democratic erosion” dissolved into thin air The legal mechanism wasn’t abandoned; it was repurposed With a few clerical pen strokes, the T r e a s u r y c l e a r e d Rodríguez—and with her, thepathfor oilmajorsto reenter arbitration rooms and signnewcontracts.Thelaw, it seems, is not a wall but a gate, opened or closed by strategicconvenience.
In Guyana, sanctions aren’t tools of punishment but instruments of preservation.Theyserveasa warningflaretothedomestic political class: change nothing fundamental. The logicofU.S.interestshereis simple.As long as the 2016 ExxonMobil Production Sharing Agreement remains intact and the PPP g o v e r n m e n t s t a y s predictable,Guyana’s“lane” stays open, shielded from internal turbulence. The soc a l l e d c o r r u p t i o n designations, critics argue, arelessaboutaccountability and more about pruning the local landscape—silencing orsidelininganyfigurewho might interrupt the flow of oil revenue toward establishedpipelines.
The pattern across both countries reveals a cynical masteryofthesanctionsdial. Washington no longer wields sanctions as moral verdicts; it operates them as
dimmer switches turning up intensity to compel regime shifts or turning down heat to lubricate commercial re-entry. In that elasticity, legality itself becomes negotiable A “sanctioned criminal” today may be a “business intermediary” tomorrow, provided the paperwork aligns with U S energy calculus. At its core, this transactional weaponization erodes the very principle of legal moralism The Treasury Department, far from embodying a moral authority, increasingly functions as a regulatory board for global energy markets—determining who can trade, invest, or even exist politically in resourcerich spaces Whether in Caracas or Georgetown, the message is the same: sovereignty is conditional, and the conditions are contractual. So, when the next SDN list is updated, don’t ask who offended American values Ask insteadwhosesignaturenow aligns with American interests.Sanctions,afterall, are not about the law—they are about the lane In Venezuela, that lane was closed and needed prying open. In Guyana, it remains open and guarded with precision to ensure no one changesdriversorslowsthe flow Sanctions as Geopolitical Currency RecentU.S.realignmentsin (Continuedonpage06)
Can the author of TheArt of the Deal learn from the author of TheArt of Persuasion?
DEAREDITOR
Re: “Trump pledges to stop bombing Iran for two weeks,”KN,April8,2026, permit me to say this welcomed respite should give everyone time reflect on what has happened since February 28 and projectforabetterwayout of both the war and the impact the Strait of Hormuz is having on the globaleconomy
Before the U S-Israel versus Iran war entered its sixth week last Saturday, Iran’s early seizure of the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by the Egypt Independent on March 4, 2026, turned out to be a hugely strategic military movethatappearedtohave caughttheUnitedStatesso flat-footed thatReuters, on March 31, 2026, reported PresidentDonaldTrumpas urging countries that dependonoiltankersusing the strait to mount a military defense of the straitand‘justtakeit’(oil) Not surprisingly, as happened after Trump’s call for Iranians to rise up and take back their government after the
a s s a s s i n a t i o n s o f Khamenei and some of his top political and military lieutenantsonFebruary28, those countries Trump called on to militarily defend the strait did not respond accordingly They probably felt it was not theirwar
In fact, some oil producing countries in the region that usually get their oil out to buyers via the strait started agitating forAmericadosomething about keeping the strait open and stopping the symmetrical military attacks from Iran One of those affected oil producing countries was Bahrain, which took over the rotating presidency of the 15-member U N Security Council for the monthofApril
Bahrain presented a resolution to the Security Council to consider ‘all means necessary’ to protect commercial shipping in and aroundtheStraitofHormuz. China (the Dragon) and Russia (the Bear), in particular, made their objectionknown.
After a fourth attempt, with revised versions of the resolution, China and Russia again used their
veto power and blocked it, “Security Council: Russia and China veto resolution on Strait of Hormuz,” news un org, April 7, 2026 What China and Russia effectively did was to stand up to the United States and resisted its call for nations to militarily defend the Strait of Hormuz, thus leaving the Strait of Hormuz status quoinplace
W i t h T r u m p ’ s weekend profanityinjected Easter Sunday threat to unleash Hell on Iran being withdrawn two hours before the deadline on Tuesday, thanks to an agreement brokered by Pakistan for the next two weeks, one has a right to now ask if America (the E a g l e ) i s i n a n involuntary free-drop modeasChinaandRussia areusingtheirvetopower at the UNSC in this critical hour, while a third, Pakistan, had to step up and try to fix a problem or cleanupamess not of other countries’ making.
If there’s anyone who can stand up today and say they knew that the February 28, attacks on Iran would have led to a grinding war six weeks on, that person should tell us when and how this madness will end because this was really supposed to be a one-and-done attack and not an ongoing bombing spree with no exit strategy. Matter of fact, a carefully planned w a r w o u l d h a v e definitely taken the vital Strait of Hormuz into account on Day One to avoidIrantakingcontrol.
W i t h I r a n ‘controlling’ the Strait of H o r m u z , R u s s i a supplying it with intelligence information, and China shipping military supplies to Tehran, this two-week
respite could well be seized on by these ‘three amigos’ to recalibrate, reconfigure and resume coordinated action if or whennecessary
But it should be clear to the world by now that while Iran is waging a s y m m e t r i c o r unconventional warfareproxy militias, drones, missile systems and cyber-attacks - it may be safe to conclude that Russia and China are siding with Iran against A m e r i c a , w h i c h
shockingly has
traditional allies, who h
alienated the last 15 months
Whether China and Russia will ever seize the moment and try to use the United Nations to build a coalition of nations to counter the United States’ r
uence remains to be seen, but if that ever happens it could seriouslyshiftthealready titling global balance of power away from the UnitedStates
If America loses its global influence, the democratic system as we have come to know it, could be in trouble, and this is why I am left wondering if the White House could understand and appreciate America’s c
through the support of allies and not exclusively on military might. Is it too late for the author of ‘The Art of the Deal’ to read and learn tips from Robert Burg’s ‘TheArt of Persuasion’? Get back to basics,Mr Trump!
Regards EmileMervin
Green was first to torpedo power sharing
DEAREDITOR
Iwriteinresponsetothe letter by Mr Hamilton Green titled “Some leadership will stop at nothing in their quest to control capitals and major towns”intheKaieteurNews ofApril3,2026.
Mr. Green left out a significant fact in his letter when he gave a synopsis of how he became Mayor of Georgetown in 1994 after the municipal elections. He lamented the governing PPPCattempttotakecontrol of the city But isn’t that whatpoliticsisallabout?
Mr Greenwhoprobably was the world’s longest serving Mayor, from 1994 until 2016 totaling 22 years ruled whilst Georgetown deteriorated to thefilthiestandmostlawless capital city in this hemisphere converting Georgetown from the Garden City of the Caribbean to the Garbage CityoftheCaribbean.
I n d e e d , w h e n Georgetown Municipal electionsweredue,andheld in1994Mr Greenwrote“it was a keenly fought threecorner contest. GGG-Good and Green Georgetown emergedwith12seats,PNC-
Peoples National Congress gained10seatsandthePPPPeoples Progressive Party 8 seats.ForbrevityIwillavoid intervening drama, save to state that this allowed me to b e c o m e m a y o r o f Georgetown.”.
What Mr. Green
neglectedtomentionwasthe ideaofarotatingMayorship was suggested with Mr Green Good and Green for Georgetown (GGG) going first,thePNCsecondandthe PPPCgoingthird.
Whenitbecametimefor Mr Green to relinquish the Mayorship, he refused and therotatingideadiedwithit.
History will record the idea of power sharing in Guyana’s politics was thus effectively scuttled by Mr Green.
OneyearBEFORE he was persuaded to step down...in2015the APNUAFC coalition led by President David Granger awarded Mr Green Guyana’s second highest medal the Order of Roraima.
One year later, AFTER hesteppeddownin2016,the National Assembly of Guyana approved the controversial Prime Minister Hamilton Green
Pension Bill on March 9, 2017. “The bill granted the former PNC Prime Minister H a m i l t o n G r e e n (1985–1992) a pension packageequivalentto7/8of the salary of the sitting Prime Minister, along with additional benefits, totalling nearly $1.5 million per month. The AFC voted for thepension.
“While passed in March 2017, the legislation made thepensionretroactive,with paymentscommencingfrom December 1, 2016 Controversy: The bill was heavily criticised by the opposition and civic groups as “cronyism” as it allowed him the benefits of a former president, despite never holding that office, and was a personalised act ” (DemeraraWaves) Mr Green had been expelled from the People’s NationalCongress(PNC)in 1993 The expulsion followed the party’s 1992 election loss and came after Green publicly challenged Hoyte’s leadership, including calling him a “schoolboy” in politics, and expressed opposition to partyreforms.
Yoursfaithfully SultanMohamed
If the U.S can, we can as well!
DEAREDITOR
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt put it best during the most recent press briefing on negotiations with Iran. She stated that President Trump willnegotiateadealthatputs America and American interestsfirst.
This is an admirable position being taken by the U.S President on behalf of his country, and we the Guyanese people must also expect and demand this of ourleadersaswell.
Our President must also negotiate a deal with Exxon that puts all Guyanese citizens and Guyana first. Thismeansthatindependent oftheperspectivessharedby those that support Exxon, which is an American company, we must remember and hold fast to
the importance of our independence and the importance of having a perspective that any deal with a foreign company mustputGuyanafirst.
The U S rightly shares this perspective in their negotiations on behalf of their country and their companies, and we too must take such a negotiating posture and renegotiate the deal with Exxon as soon as possible during this uncertain period intheoilandgassector
The time to act is now and it is unacceptable for further delays to occur N
should be accepted bythe electorate.
Bestregards, Mr.JamilChanglee
The transactional
weaponization...
Frompage04
Venezuela and enforcement actions in Guyana reveal a strategic evolution in how Wa s h i n g t o n u s e s sanctions less as instruments of moral censureandmoreastoolsof conditionalaccess.
T
April/1,/2026, following that country’s political transition,illustratesanewly
symbolized a defense of democratic norms were swiftly removed once their retentionbecameanobstacle toreentryforU.S.oilmajors andarbitrationmechanisms.
Legitimacy, in this context, appears as a movable boundary determined by market needs rather than ethicalabsolutes.
In Guyana, the calculusrunsintheopposite direction.
T h e c o n t i n u i n g Global/Magnitsky sanctions against the Mohamed’s family serve as a warning signal, not a reformist i n t e r v e n t i o n B y maintaininglimitedpressure on select domestic actors,
theU.S.indirectlyreinforces political continuity around the 2016 ExxonMobil Production/Sharing/Agreem entandthestableinvestment climate it guarantees. The sanctions function less as punishment and more as preservation mechanisms to secure predictability in a rapidly expanding energy frontier
Theparallelbetweenthe two countries highlights a broader policy reality: sanctions now operate as a dial,notadeclaration.
The U S executive wields them to manage access, regulate risk, and calibrate influence in key energymarkets.
In doing so, the Treasury’s role increasingly converges with that of a g l o b a l m a r k e t regulator—selecting which actorsmayparticipateinthe resourceeconomyunderthe ofgovernanceenforcement.
“Sanctions, once legal i n s t r u m e n t s o f accountability, are becoming transactional currencies traded along the corridors of geopolitics and energydiplomacy.”
Sincerely, Hemdutt
Kumar
Govt., civil society clash deepens over GYEITI control
Guyana's natural resources watchdog has erupted into a full-blown confrontation, with government and civil societynowlockedinabitter dispute over the legitimacy ofthecountry'stransparency framework.
Minister of Natural Resources,VickramBharrat, announced that the Multi-
(MSG) the decisionmaking body of the Guyana
Transparency Initiative has received the “green light”
Industries Transparency Initiative International Secretariat to resume its work. But that declaration has been met with fierce resistance from Policy Forum Guyana (PFG), which is accusing both the government and the international body of undermining the very principles of transparency theinitiativewasdesignedto uphold.
Policy Forum Guyana (PFG), Convener, Mike McCormack, branded the International Secretariat's decision as "unprincipled" and a betrayal of the global
transparency standard's core values According to Minister Bharrat, Policy Forum Guyana has "still refused to submit their two members," even after allegedly being urged to do so by the International Secretariatitself.Thepushto activate the MSG comes as Guyana faces a June 2026 Board meeting where its compliance with global transparency standards will berevisited.
In an invited comment, McCormack did not mince words, accusing the
International Secretariat of ignoring government "shenanigans" simply becauseGuyanahasbecome a"mainplayer"intheglobal oil and gas arena "The International Secretariat is prepared to overlook all this... because they don't wantGuyanatobeoutofEITI," McCormack stated "They're more concerned with the politics of it. They want to be in contact with Guyana because Guyana's suddenly become a main player in the oil and gas world. But their position is quiteunprincipled."
McCormack revealed that the Secretariat had
personally reached out to PFGleadership,askingthem to "take up two places" to bridgethegap.PFGrefused, arguing that doing so would implicitly endorse a selection process they believe was hijacked by the government.
TheBattlefor Independence
The dispute centers on EITI Requirement 1.4, which mandates that civil societymustbeabletoselect its own representatives independently PFG alleges the Ministry of Natural Resources effectively "knocked
eir independent selection process, replacing it with a
appointmentsystem.
McCormackwarnedthat t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Secretariat's current path risks reducing the GYE-ITI toamere"departmentofthe Ministry." He cited the Ministry'smovetoadvertise for an independent administrator, a task legally reserved for the MSG, as evidence that the Permanent Secretary is now "calling all theshots."
ADivided InternationalBoard
While the Secretariat in Oslo appears eager to move forward, McCormack claimed the International Boardremainsfractured.He noted that the "civic component" of the global board is "100% behind" the Guyanese civil society holdouts. "As it is now, Policy Forum does not and will not form part of the MSG," McCormack stated, reiterating that Guyana shouldbesuspendeduntilan "independent and impartial" selectionprocessisrestored.
With the MSG currently operatingwiththefollowing groups as part of the civil society complementGuyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (alternate), National
MinisterofNatural Resources, Vickram Bharrat
Toshaos Council (primary andalternate)GuyanaYouth Environment Network (alternate) and Guyana Agricultural and General Workers(Primary),thelegal and ethical standing of its future decisions, including the approval of critical extractive sector reports, remains under a cloud of controversy
TheExtractiveIndustries Transparency Initiative (EITI)isaglobalstandardto promote open and accountable management of naturalresources.Itseeksto strengthen government and company systems, include civil society participation,
inform public debates, and enhance trust. Part of GYEITI's role is the publishing of detailed reports that provide a comprehensive view of
extractive sector This
disclosure of all significant
companies involved in the oil,gas,mining,forestry,and fisheries sectors. PFG in
reconstitution of the MSG, required every three years, was due since November 2024 but was delayed because the 2024 GYEITI Report was not finalised until mid-December 2024. Further, on January 21, 2025, PFG p
blicly advertised the application p
i c representatives to the MSG in the press and later, on socialmedia.Applications,it said, were reviewed and finalised, and the list of nominees was submitted to Permanent Secretary Joslyn McKenzie on March 14, 2025,andtotheMinisteron April9,2025.
President Irfaan Ali said Guyana will intensify its advocacy efforts to resolve ongoing issues with Suriname over controversial charges imposed for the use of theCorentyneRiver
The move comes amid growing concern from river operators, who, according to the UpperCorentyneChamberofCommerceand Industry, are now facing fees of up to US$2,500 per trip. Brokers are also being charged between US$1,000 and US$1,500 under what are being classified as “pilot
licences ”These combined costs, stakeholders warn, are placing a severe financial burden on river users and threateningtodisruptcross-bordertrade.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, President Ali said the matter remains a top priority.“Thisisamatterthatwehaveplaced tremendousemphasison.
It's a priority matter for the Ministry of ForeignAffairs,soeverydayyou'reengaged on it,” he said.While noting that his recent visit to Suriname was primarily to pay respects at the funeral service of President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, the Guyanese leader confirmed that the issue was raised withSurinameseofficials.
“…in another few days, we will step up our advocacy in getting this matter sorted,” heassured.
The president has also warned that the newcharges,particularlyaffectingthetimber and quarry sectors, risk undermining longstanding bilateral arrangements and eroding business confidence between the two neighbouringstates.
Last week, the UCCI said communities such as Orealla and Siparuta, which rely heavily on the river to transport essential commoditieslikesand,loam,andtimber,will beparticularlyhard-hit.
“The additional cost of doing business will be passed on to purchasers, making operations less competitive in the open market,” the statement warned, predicting “catastrophic repercussions” for the local economy The issue has already triggered a diplomaticresponse.PresidentAliconfirmed that Guyana has formally protested the charges, noting that Surinamese businesses havehistoricallyoperatedinGuyanawithout similarrestrictions.
The Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce has also called for direct engagementbetweenthetwogovernmentsto safeguardtheinvestmentclimateandsupport major initiatives such as the proposed CorentyneRiverBridge.
President Irfaan Ali
Thecashgrantappisfastbecominga‘crashgyant’app
The rollout of the cash grantinitiativewassupposed
to signal efficiency, modernisation, and a government in step with the digital age. Instead, what many Guyanese are experiencing is frustration, delay, and a growing sense thatthesystemsimplyisnot workingasitshould.
The introduction of an app to facilitate registration wasagoodideaonpaper In practice, however, it has
proven to be slow, u n r e l i a b l e , a n d incapable at least so far—ofhandlingthescaleof thetask.
More than two weeks
after the app was launched, the numbers tell a worrying story Of those who registered using the app, onlyabout90,000applicants have actually received their cheques in their bank accounts Add to that roughly 46,000 public servants who were paid directly into their bank accounts, and the total still falls far short of what one would expect from a digital system designed to speed things up. This is not an impressive record. In fact, it raises serious questions about whether the system was properly tested or preparedbeforebeingrolled
outtothepublic. Even more troubling are thecomplaintscomingfrom ordinary citizens trying to use the app. Many report being unable to complete their registration. They are placed on hold for long pe
eventually giving up out of sheer frustration. Others say there have been problems in recognising their photo identifications or that the system simply refuses to proceed to the next step. In short, the app is not effectively facilitating registrations. It is, instead, becomingabottleneck.
U.S. Exim Bank boss flies in...
Frompage3 staggeringdrainonprojectresources.”
By breaking down the flight routes, the true scale of this extravagance becomes clear Seetableforflightcostformula.
Meanwhile,inrefutingclaimsthatithad secretly paid over US$80M after losing an arbitration against Lindsayca-CH4 Guyana Inc, the Guyana Government on Tuesday saidfromlate2025,Lindsaycahasadvanced construction and successfully delivered much of the major equipment to the site, accessing the site successfully via the Material Offloading Facility (MOF) and Heavy Haul Road (HHR).According to the government at the current time, over 8,000
piles have been installed and over 18,000 cubic meters of foundations poured. 800 persons are currently engaged at the Wales job site. “Work on many aspects of the construction is proceeding on a 24-hour basis The Contractor has successfully commissioned on-site accommodations for over400workers.Thejobsiteisquiteactive.
All 4 gas turbines have been placed on foundation All transformers for the substation have been placed on foundation.
Pipe racks to move the gas to the NGL facilityandpowerplantarebeingplacedon foundation. NGL bullet tanks have started arriving at the site,” the administration added.
DEM BOYS SEH
Stopwaitin’ponring,tekcharge!
Dem boys seh it got a quietcrisisinGuyana—not oil,nottraffic,noteventhe price of garlic but proposal shortage. Whole setta women out here raising pickney, cooking Sunday lunch, washing man clothes, and still waiting pon a ring like it stuckintraffic.
Now leh we talk plain. Plentyofthesewomenain’t single-single, you know Some of dem in long, seriousrelationship—years long Mortgage long
Children long But proposal?Shortlikeatwoday pay Dem boys been watching this thing carefully and come to a bold conclusion: ladies, allyuh waiting on the wrong bus. The “proposal bus” ain’t coming. Or if it coming, it detour, break down,andstopbyrumshop beforeitreach.
So here is the solution: flip the script Yes, yes dem boys seh it plain woman must propose. Whyyoumustsitdown
there, hinting, coughing, postingweddingmemeson Facebook, and hoping he “get the message”? Some of these fellas can’t even getWi-Fisignal,muchless subtle hints. You got to comedirect.
Buy the ring, fix up yourself nice, and call he aside. “Look, is years now Wegotchild,dog,andhalf asofa.Youinoryouout?”
Simple. Leh de women now start to propose. Let demtekouttheringandask he,“Willyoumarryme?”
Because leh we be honest—someofthesemen too comfortable They getting husband treatment on boyfriend salary No promotion,noperformance review, no deadline. Is like contract work with permanentbenefits.
One bold proposal will shakethingsupproper
If he say yes—well, good.Bookthehall,callthe aunty dem, and leh we eat weddingcake.
If he stutter, scratch he head, and start talking about “timing” and “not
This defeats the very purposeofgoingdigital.The idea behind an app-based system is to reduce congestion, eliminate long lines, and speed up processing. But if people cannot even complete their applications,thenthesystem is not just inefficient; it is counterproductive It will pushthegovernmenttohave to resort to manual processes,whichareslower, more cumbersome, and more prone to errors and abuse.
Thegovernmenthasalso indicated that more than 140,000 persons have received their cash grants directly into their bank accounts. While that may sound encouraging at first glance,itraisesanimportant question: was there any serious assessment done beforehand to determine how many local Guyanese actually have active bank accounts? Without that information, it is difficult to design a system that works forthemajority
Based on the figures available, it appears that those who have so far received payments through their bank accounts representonlyabout20%of the total number of persons whoregisteredforlastyear’s cash grant Even if we assume that there is another 20% of the population with bankaccountswhohavenot yetbeenpaid,thatstillleaves a staggering 60% of
ready” then sister, you justsaveyourselffivemore yearsofwaiting.Thatisnot heartbreak—thatisclarity.
Demboyssehthisisnot about begging man, eh. Is about setting terms and conditions. You applying forclarity,notcharity
And leh we add—if a man frighten because a woman propose, then he wasn’t ready for marriage anyway Because marriage isteamwork,notaone-man show with a confused referee.
So all dem women waiting quietly stop it. This ain’t Victorian England. This is Guyana 2026. We got oil, we got apps (even if they slow), and now we need bold proposals.
Tek charge. Ask the question. Because at the endoftheday,betterahard “no” now than a soft, dragging maybe for the nexttenyears.
Dem boys seh: ring or no ring know your standing! Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
potential beneficiaries without access to this supposedly convenient methodofpayment.
That is a serious problem. Opening a bank account in Guyana is not a simple process. It requires documentation that many people do not readily have suchasproofofaddress,and in some cases, some banks demand minimum balances.
For tens of thousands of citizens,particularlythosein r
requirements are significant barriers.Theycannotsimply walkintoabankandopenan accountovernight.
Whatthismeansisthata large portion of the population will have to be processed manually. And that is where the real challenges begin. Manual systems are slower, more labour-intensive and far morevulnerableto mistakes and manipulation Worse still,suchasystemcanopen thefloodgatestoabuse.
There is already concern t
d Guyanesemayseektoreturn in large numbers to access the cash grant. Without a robust and efficient verification system in place, distinguishing between legitimate beneficiaries and opportunistic claimants could become a major headache. The strain on an already struggling system wouldonlyintensify
If the government is serious about ensuring that every eligible Guyanese receivestheircashgrantina timely and efficient manner, then urgent improvements areneeded.Theappmustbe fixed or upgraded to handle high volumes. Alternative registrationmethodsmustbe strengthened. And there must be a clear, transparent plan for reaching those without bank accounts Otherwise, what was meant to be a straightforward exercise risks becoming a drawn-out ordeal, one that tests the patience of citizens and undermines confidence inthesystem.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
All of this points to a deeperissueofcapacity Can this app—and the broader system supporting it—handle the anticipated 600,000 registrants? Based onwhatwehaveseensofar, there is reason to doubt it. The early performance suggests a system that is o v e r w h e l m e d , underprepared, or both Execution matters. Planning matters. And right now, the executionleavesmuchtobe desired.
H@RD TRUTHS
$20Bpaid,notoneword
The headline fairly screamed: “Guyana secretly paid US$80M to Wales gas plant contractor after losing arbitration (KN April, 3, 2026). I wanted to scream. The arbitrator within counseled: go ahead, write. Excellency Ali insists that his government has been about transparency more than any. When US$80 million is secretly paid to settle a lost petition, will he still persist with that fable now? An insulting, degrading farce; where the insult is inflicted on the Guyanese people; and the degradation what he afflicts himselfwith,rotsfurtherhis government. Thereitis:theequivalent ofmorethanGY$20billion; simply chickenfeed to the PPP Government A
development buried in a stable,withthedoorsecured, the key tossed overboard. Meanwhile, the animals urinate and defecate on that secretGY$20billionpaid,as if some under-the-table, some sly, sideways dealing between sinister, shadowy partners in crime. The government isn't; or at least itshouldn'tbe,noreverthink of operating in this sleazy manner, if its leaders are trulyaboutaccountability,as they say they are. Hiding US$80 million, or GY$20 billionfromcitizensisnotof clean governance, it is of leadership that disrespects Guyanese enough to spit on them first, then defecate on them.
How long would that payout have been held underground? How long
will the leaders in the PPP G
underhandedway? Thereis precedent Recall the US$214 million IHS Markit a
t findings that diminishedtoUS$3million, viathesamesecretoperating mechanism. When the governmentwascorneredto get a scapegoat, a senior clerk, to admit to the deed. With respect to the PPP Master of the Stables (Dr. Come Clean and Cleanup) Gopinath Gossai, the world knows that his confession wasacoverforhigherupsin the PPP Government's food chain. Hecouldn'thave,and most probably wouldn't have, decided on his own to loan or sell to Exxon that US$211 million in findings (its half share of that
reduction). Thus,evenwhen the PPP Government discloses an instance of secretdealingthatwascostly to this country, that new concealments were happening through secretive arrangements.
If that backdoor, overnight US$211 million subtraction had remained undetected and unexposed, Guyana's hit would have been US$105.5 million, or GY$21 billion. Looking at the secret Wales gas contractor payout of US$80 million, it could be said that the PPP Government, with Irfaan Ali in the leadership seat, has shown some fractional improvement. It went from the negotiation secretsembeddedinUS$214 millionplummetingtoUS$3 million to the Wales payout of only US$80 million. Put differently, from a secret deal involving GY$21 billion(IHSMarkitfindings) to GY$16 billion paid to Lindsayca-CH4. Perhaps the plan is to take the GY$5 billion in savings and allocateitto Live in Guyana tofinanceitsmisinformation a
PPP
c
Government
What say thou, thepropagandists enjoying easy taxpayers' millions in the Office of the President? Whatplans President Ali to live that second inaugural address
disinformation?
I think a spin job would betimelytoneatenthisdirty matternolongershroudedin secrecy Recall that Lindsayca-CH4's original claim was for US$106 million. In paying a mere US$80 million, the sterling representations of Guyana's topflight luminaries saved almost US$25 million from the Wales gas contractor, Lindsayca-CH4's, groping, grasping hands. Lesson
One: when billion-dollar projects are rushed, because of the plums that could be picked,
n costly discoveries surface: the ground can't hold. Lesson
Two: when hacks and quacks, political and technical, are in charge of these projects, and no crediblestudies,thenUS$80 millionistheprice.
Finally, President Ali is always on the rush, a leader of boisterous disposition Oil has such multivitamins. His government operates secretively, with every intentionofkeepingGuyana in that dense darkness. The PPPsettledforsecrecyfrom the inception. Bow, there is no choice but to continue to governandfunctionasifthe PPP Government is some secret society. Clearly, it is. Guyaneseshouldpetitionthe Office of the Access to Information for details on the Wales settlement. I recommend that they get a stamp of approval from Office of the President first. Thisinformationapplication has received official sanction Billions here, billions there. Nobody is counting. There is more to squander (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
List of persons linked to driver's licence scam to be published soon – Pres. Ali
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has announcedasweepingclean-upofGuyana's driver licensing system alongside a fresh round of tougher traffic laws, as the government moves to curb road deaths and restoreconfidenceinkeyinstitutions.
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday on the sidelines of an engagement at the GuyanaDefenceForce(GDF),thePresident revealed that a list of persons implicated in widespread irregularities in the issuance of driver'slicenceswillsoonbepublished.
“The reconciliation is ongoing, and very soon a list will be published of persons who will be asked to come in and explain the issues,”PresidentAlistated.
This follows a technology-driven audit that uncovered serious discrepancies, includingcaseswheremorepracticaldriving certificateswereissuedthancandidateswho passedthetheoreticalexam,andinstancesof personsbeingcertifiedwithoutmeetingbasic prerequisites In December 2025, the president warned those who bypassed the properprocedurestoobtaindriver'slicences and gave them a six-week window to come forward or face consequences, including prosecution, suspension of licences, and publicdisclosure.
AlsoattheGDFengagement,theheadof state confirmed that Attorney General and
MinisterofLegalAffairs,AnilNandlall,SC, has been instructed to prepare additional amendmentstotheMotorVehiclesandRoad Traffic Act for tabling in Parliament within weeks.
“We had increased the fines and have someoftheharshestfinesfordifferenttraffic offences,drinkinganddrivingandallofthese things. The enforcement is a problem, but we're improving enforcement with the cameras,” President Ali said, noting that enhanced surveillance and technology will becentraltotighteningcompliance.
He explained that the Attorney General hasbeenaskedtoreviewthelawtodetermine what further measures are needed and to ensure all necessary amendments are ready for Parliament. These reforms, he said, are expected to close loopholes, strengthen penalties for dangerous driving, and reinforce mandatory sanctions for serious offences.
President Ali stressed that road safety cannotbetreatedasaperipheralconcernina developing society, especially in light of the deadly consequences of indiscipline on the roadways. “We cannot develop a society without care and without attention to these, whatsomemaybelievearesmalldetails,but veryimportantdetails,ifoursocietyistobe disciplined,”hestated.(DPI)
Two months on, probe into four deaths on wharf still ongoing
Minister of
Labour and Manpower Planning Keoma Griffith says there is still no update
o n t h e m i n i s t r y ' s investigation into the deaths of four men aboard a cargo vesselearlierthisyear
Theincidentoccurredon th4 February at the Courtney Benn Wharf, where the vesselwasdocked.
Those who lost their lives were 18-year-old seaman Brandon Deonarine of Supply, East Bank Demerara; boat captain Nerwaine Persaud, 57, of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara; seaman Dominic Alexis, 33, of De Kinderen, West Coast Demerara; and engineer Getindra Sanchara, 25, also of Cummings Lodge Persaud and Sanchara were uncleandnephew
“Iamnotabletogiveyou an update at this moment,” Griffith told Kaieteur News whencontacted.
The minister noted that investigations, which were ongoing more than two months ago, have still not beenconcluded.
When asked about another workplace fatality-
thedeathoffiremanVoshaun Manbodh during a fire at Mae's Schools last yearGriffith said he would first need to review the status of thatprobe.
“I would need to request the report and see what's happeningwithit…whether an investigation was done, whether it's complete, and whatthecircumstancesare,” he explained, noting that he wasnotattheministryatthe timeofthatincident.
Inamessagemarkingthe start of Occupational Safety and Health Month 2026, Griffith stressed the importance of workplace
safety and the need to remember those affected bysuchincidents.
“Every worker… has a fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment,” he said, adding that this standard must be upheld across all sectors.
He also emphasised shared responsibility, noting that employers must ensure proper systems, equipment, and training are in place, while employees must
protocols. Trade unions, he added, should continue advocating for safe working conditions.
AccordingtotheGuyana Police Force, initial investigations into the February incident suggest the men were exposed to toxicfumeswhileexamining a confined compartment in thevessel'sengineroom.
Police reported that two ofthemenenteredthespace and collapsed, while the
attempted to assist and also lostconsciousness.
Emergency responders, including the Guyana Fire Service, removed the men
d transported them to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were p r o n o u n c e d d e a d Authorities have indicated that there were no signs of violenceandfoulplayisnot suspected Investigations remainongoing.
Getindra Sanichara
Nerwaine Persaud
Dominic Alexis
Brandon Deonarine
Fireman Voshaun Manbodh
Linden Family loses over $25M after Easter Monday fire destroys home
A family of five has been left devastated after losing their home of more than 20 years in an early morning fire on Easter Monday at Lot 43 West Watooka, Wismar, Linden.
Theblazecompletelydestroyed the three-bedroom concrete and wooden structure, leaving millions ofdollarsinlosses.
The fire reportedly occurred around 02:00hrs when neighbours observed smoke emanating from the building. At the time, the occupants - Natasha Allicock, her husband, and their three children, ages 22, 20, and 5, were not at home. The family had travelled to Belladrum, Berbice, to spend the Easterholiday
Theirtripwasabruptlycutshort after they received a distressing phone call informing them that theirhousewasonfire.Bythetime they were alerted and emergency responders were contacted, the blaze had already engulfed the building, leaving little to nothing salvageable.
NatashaAllicock,whoissaidto be deeply shaken by the tragedy, estimates that the family has suffered losses exceeding $25 million. The loss is particularly painful as the home had recently undergoneextensiverenovations.
Accordingtoherbrother,Tavon Allicock, who spoke on her behalf, the family had invested heavily in
The recently refurbished home once occupying a family of five completely destroyed.
upgrading the property just last year The renovations included a complete transformation of the interior, installation of air conditioning, and expansion of the structure.He explained that prior to leaving for the Easter weekend, Natasha took extra precautions to secure the home.“Before leaving, she ensured that everything was in order She locked the doors, unplugged all appliances, and even turned back several times to double-check that everything was okay,”hesaid.
Thefamilyhadattendedchurch in Linden on Friday morning, before continuing on to Berbice for theremainderoftheholiday
However, their time away quickly turned tragic.“We received acallearlyMondaymorningfroma neighbour informing us that the house was on fire. By the time the fire service was contacted, there was not much that could be saved. Everything was already destroyed,”Tavonrelated.
He described the loss as heartbreaking, noting the emotional toll
it has taken on his sister and her family
“My sister recently refurbished her home She completely transformed it, added air conditioning, and extended the house.They'vebeenlivingtherefor over 20 years, and only last year theycompletedthoserenovations,” he said.Despite the immense loss, the family is grateful that no one was at home at the time of the fire, sparing them from potential injury or loss of life The family is currently staying temporarily at
Allicock's mother's home nearby as they begin the difficult processofrebuilding.
They are now appealing to the public for assistance to help them recoverfromthedisaster
“We would be grateful for any support. Donations of furniture, clothing, or any other household items would be very helpful. She losteverything,”Tavonsaid.
Persons willing to assist can contact the family on 680 -5658 or contribute via their GoFundMe page:https://gofund.me/7b9e0f08f
Natasha
Israel kills 254 in attacks across Lebanon
Rescuers stand amid rubble at the site of an Israeli strike in Tyre, Lebanon, on April 8 [Adnan Abidi/Reuters]
…Trump says country not included in truce with Iran
Israeli strikes have hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut without warning,killinghundredsof people and wounding more than1,000others,hoursafter aceasefirewasannouncedin theUnitedStates-Israeliwar onIran.
Lebanon'sCivilDefence saidatleast254peoplewere killedand1,165otherswere wounded in the attacks on Wednesday Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine said Lebanon was facing a “dangerous escalation” after Israel launched“morethan100air strikes”acrossthecountry “Ambulances are still transporting victims to h
7-year-old died from lacerated kidneys, back trauma in goalpost accident - PME
Seven-year-old Michael Hyderkhan, who was fatally injured after a goalpost collapsed on him, died as a result of lacerated kidneys andblunttraumatotheback, a post-mortem examination hasconfirmed.
Hyderkhan,aGradeTwo pupil of Swan Primary School and a resident of SwanVillage,losthislifeon Friday when a goalpost toppledontohimattheSwan ball field along the Soesdyke-LindenHighway
The incident occurred around 20:00 hrs during a football tournament under floodlightsatthecommunity ground Michael had accompanied his family to the event to support his father, who was among the players participating in the competition.
According to reports, at the conclusion of the match, several children entered the fieldandbeganplayingnear one of the goalposts Michael was among them when the structure suddenly collapsed, striking him and pinninghimtotheground.
Persons at the venue immediatelyraisedanalarm and rushed to assist the injured child He was quickly transported to the Diamond Regional Hospital for emergency medical treatment. However, despite effortsbymedicalpersonnel, hesuccumbedtohisinjuries approximately 30 minutes afterarrivingatthefacility
A p o s t - m o r t e m examination conducted on Wednesday at the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home in Georgetown confirmed that the child died as a result of
international organisations toassisttheLebanesehealth sector,” Nassereddine told AlJazeera.
Israel's army said that it had carried out its largest coordinated strike across Lebanon since it started a newmilitaryoperationinthe country on March 2. The attacks targeted areas in Beirut,theBekaaValleyand southernLebanon.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the attacks t
infrastructure.
lacerations to both kidneys andtraumatotheback.
Michael's mother, Shenella Hyderkhan, said that at the time of the incident, the goalpost fell onto his stomach, leaving him trapped beneath it in pain. “I'm really trying to cope with the loss of my son,” the grieving mother said.
In a previous interview, she suggested that the conditionofthegroundmay have contributed to the collapseofthegoalpost.She believes the sand-filled surface of the field, combined with wet conditions,mayhavecaused the base of the structure to becomeunstable.
The child's body has sincebeenhandedovertohis family, and funeral services are scheduled to be held on Sunday
uninvolved individuals as muchaspossible.”
The Israeli military “carriedoutasurprisestrike on hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists at command centresacrossLebanon.This is the largest concentrated blowHezbollahhassuffered since Operation Beepers,” Katz said in a video statement, referring to a major 2024 operation against Hezbollah involving pagerbombs.
The Israeli military said “most of the infrastructure that was struck was located within the heart of the civilian population, ” claiming that “steps were taken to mitigate harm to
Autopsy:
Plumes of smoke could be seen rising over Beirut and the suburbs as panicked people rushed out onto the streets.
TheLebaneseRedCross said 100 of its ambulances were responding to the attacks and its teams were working to transport the injuredtohospitals.
“We could hear a series ofenormous,deep,booming explosions coming not just from the southern suburbs but many other parts of the city,” Al Jazeera's Malcolm Webb said, reporting from Beirut.
“Many of the locations wereinplaceswherenobody expected strikes to hit. It causedpanicandchaosinthe streets Children were
shouting
many people injured, running through the streets trying to get to hospitals. Others abandoned theircarsinthetraffic.”
Hezbollah condemned the attacks and said they targeted“civilianareasinthe southern suburbs of Beirut, the capital, Sidon, southern Lebanon, and the Bekaa Valley.”
LebaneseHouseSpeaker Nabih Berri called the attacks a “full-fledged war crime.”
The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis, also said in a post on X that Israeli attacks “cannot go on”.
“Neither side can shoot orstriketheirwaytovictory Now is the time for a halt to
allhostilities,directtalksand a clear roadmap based on resolution 1701,” Hennis said, referencing the 2006 UN resolution which outlines a call to end hostilities between HezbollahandIsrael.
The air strikes came hours after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week truce aftermorethanfiveweeksof war, with mediator Pakistan saying that Lebanon was included in the truce agreement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the truce excluded Lebanon, while Israel's military renewed a forced displacement order for an area more than 40km (25 miles) from its border with Lebanon, saying “the battle (Continuedonpage16)
Childdiedbystrangulation inCorentynetragedy
A post-mortem examination has confirmed that seven-year-old Isabella Dabadial died as a result of manual strangulation The autopsy was conducted on Tuesday by Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan at Bailey'sFuneralHome,inthepresence of a relative. The child's body was subsequently handed over to family membersforburial.
The Cropper Primary School pupil lost her life on Sunday at her home in Fyrish Village. Authorities allege that her mother, Sarah Elizabeth Shivpersaud,26,wasresponsible.
Shivp
y hospitalised at the Port Mourant Hospital under police guard after reportedly attempting to take her own life following the incident. She also allegedly attempted to harm her oneyear-oldchild,whosurvivedandissaid tobeinstablecondition.
andher
Shivpersaud suggested distress Relatives later forced entry into the home, where the child and her mother were found. Both were rushed to hospital,butthechildsuccumbed.
Family members indicated that the suspecthadbeenexperiencingdomestic difficultiesinthelead-uptotheincident.
According to reports, concern was raisedafterasocialmediapostmadeby
Speakingafterthepost-mortem,the child's father, Trevor Dabadial, expresseddeepgriefoverthelossofhis daughter, describing her as bright and well-mannered.“I made sure she didn't miss a birthday… she was very smart and grew up with strong values,” he said,reflectingontheirrelationship.
Thesurvivingtoddlerhassincebeen releasedintothecareoffamily,withthe Childcare and Protection Agency grantingcustodytothefather Investigationsareongoing.
Dead: Michael Hyderkhan
Isabella Dabadial, who was allegedly killed by her mother
The Governments of Guyana and Saint Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday deepened bilateral relationships with the signing of three significant M e m o r a n d a o f Understanding (MoU) at the Office of the President on Shiv Chanderpaul Drive in Georgetown.
The agreements were signedbyHisExcellencyDr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Terrance Drew, who formally signed the MoU on agriculture and food security and government modernisation, marking a pivotal step in strengthening cooperation betweenthetwonations.
Additionally, the MoU on security cooperation was signed by Commander
ActingMajorKayodeSutton
of the St. Kitts and Nevis DefenceForceandGuyana's Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan, underscoringtheimportance of defence collaboration in safeguarding national and regionalinterests.
During the engagement,
PresidentAli St. Kitts and Global B Alliance, h urgency of action to resources.
“We welcome member of the Global expressed appreciation for the partnership and emphasised the importance
BanditsstormCorentynebar
AFridayeveninghangamongfriendsata PortMourant,Corentynebarlatelastmonth, was violently disrupted by masked gunmen whostormedinsuddenlyanddemandedcash andvaluables.
TheincidenthasleftDeodatBissoon,50, proprietor of Singh's Grocery Store and Bar, counting his losses estimated to be over $5 million.
In an interview with this publication, Bissoon,ofLot433TrainLine,PortMourant, th Corentynerelatedthaton27 March,2026,he was entertaining about 15 regular customers at the bar, which also features a Super bet gaming outlet, when four males entered, brandishinggunsandknives.
th "WasFridaynight,the27 March,atnine o'clock,Isawsomearmedbanditsruninthe shopandtheysaid,'everybodygetdown,get down!' Everyone did get down. Them come and scramble my bangle and my finger ring, andthewallet."
They also dealt him several slaps in the process, he disclosed. The men reportedly arrivedinasilverToyotaFielderWagon.
Heexplainedthatthemendidnotstopat him, but also aggressively searched each person at the shop, from whom they seized cash,severalwalletswithdocuments,cellular phones,carkeys,bicyclesandotherpersonal items. Several customers were also slapped andkicked.
After completing their raid on the
customers, Bissoon said the bandits made their way into the shop where his wife was behindthecounter Shewasheldatgunpoint, while the men retrieved her jewellery and cash. Not satisfied, the men forced her into the family's house, which is also adjoined to theshop.Hestatedthattheykickeddownthe door and ransacked the home in search of valuables.
According to Bissoon, he has never experienced any such incident since his businesswasestablishedsome13yearsago. Asthemenentered,heevenfeltinitiallythat it was a joke being played. Concerned, he is seekingtohavetheprocessforobtaininghis fireman licence expedited for security (Continuedonpage16)
Minister of Human Services and Social Security,VindhyaPersaud,hasissuedastern warningtofrontlineofficersinRegionFive, calling for urgent improvements in how sexual assault and domestic violence cases are handled, particularly the preparation of medicalsandcasereports.
During a high-level meeting onTuesday with police ranks, regional health officials, andchildcareofficers,theministerzeroedin onwhatshedescribedas“criticalgaps”that continue to undermine justice for victims. Themeetingfocusedheavilyonthedelaysin conducting medical examinations for victims, both adults and children, as well as the need for detailed and properly documentedcasereports.
The ministry in a statement noted that Minister Persaud firmly stressed that any delay or rescheduling of medical examinations places victims at further risk, potentially leading to the loss of crucial evidence and, in some cases, discouraging survivors from continuing with the process altogether
system cannot continue to fail those it is meant to protect. “We do know when there are cases of child abuse or there are adult casesofviolence,medicalreportsneedtobe done within a certain timeframe. If they are not done within a certain timeframe, they havenovalue,”shestated.
The minister said that what has been happening is that there is a “push around” whenchildrenorcomplainantcomeforward, to get a medical especially in sexual assault cases.
“So we need to do better with this. The intention is to make the case report strong. Report has to go to a court, if a report has gaps, if a report is not sound, the case goes downhill before anything happens…Too many cases go downhill because of poorly writtenreportsandmedicalsdonelongafter thefact.
So,Ithinkthisneedstobefixednow,we can'twait,thishastobefixednow,”shetold officers on Tuesday Persaud also called on both police and medical professionals to ensurethatallreportsarethorough,accurate, andreflectiveofeverycriticaldetail,sothat casesbroughtbeforethecourtsarestrongand capableofsecuringjusticeforvictims.
MinisterDrewsaid. The signing ceremony wasattended
Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Vindhya Persaud engaging police officers, regional health officials, and childcare officers in Region Five.
Deodat Bissoon, who reportedly surrendered $5M to gunmen who invaded his business
Bissoon's business entity
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WHO, PAHO push science as key to global health gains
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) call on people everywhere to renew their commitment to science as the foundation for better health, under the World Health Day 2026 theme: “Together for Science.” The campaign marks the anniversary of WHO’s founding on 7th April, launching a year-long public health campaign.
In a press release, PAHO said human health has been profoundly transformed over the past century, largely due to scientific progress and international collaboration. Global maternal mortality rate has fallen by more than 40% since 2000, and deaths among children under five have been reduced by over 50%. Advances in technology, scientific knowledge and skills continue to turn once-life-threatening health challenges— such as elevated blood pressure, cancer diagnoses or HIV infection—into manageable health issues, extending and improving lives worldwide.
Yet, health threats continue to grow, fuelled by climate impacts, environmental degradation, geopolitical tensions and shifting demographics. These challenges include persistent diseases and strained health systems as well as emerging diseases with epidemic or pandemic
potential. Across the globe, thousands of scientists—together with organizations such as WHO and PAHO— are accelerating research and developing policies, tools and innovations needed to protect communities today and safeguard the health of future generations.
“Science is one of humanity’s most powerful tools for protecting and improving health,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. “People in every country live longer and healthier lives on average today than their ancestors did, thanks to the power of science. Vaccines, penicillin, germ theory, MRI machines and the mapping of the human genome are just some of the achievements that science has delivered that have saved lives and transformed health for billions of people.”
Science behind health progress
Scientific innovations are most powerful when they are widely adopted and used. Every success in improving human health reflects the collective work and collaboration of scientific organizations and communities. For example:
Before modern anesthesia, surgery meant unimaginable pain. Today, safer drugs, simpler technologies and
highly trained specialists allow life-saving operations to be performed while patients sleep comfortably. Scientific progress has helped democratize these advances, making safe surgical care accessible across the world, including in many resource-limited communities.
Over the past 50 years, global immunization efforts have saved over 154 million children from infectious diseases. Vaccines have contributed to a 40% reduction in infant mortality, with just one vaccine—the measles vaccine—saving nearly 59 million children.
Progress in early screening technologies is transforming health outcomes. From electronic blood pressure monitors to breast cancer screening through mammography, these tools have become life-saving interventions for millions.
Progress in the Americas In the Americas, the release said PAHO has stood at the forefront of health and scientific transformation for more than a century.
For example:
*The Americas was the first region in the world to eliminate wild poliovirus in 1994. PAHO has also driven the elimination of other vaccine-preventable diseases such as smallpox and rubella, expanding national sched-
ules from 6 to over 16 vaccines.
*Through its Disease Elimination Initiative, PAHO continues to play a central role in efforts to eliminate more than 30 diseases and related conditions by 2030, including malaria, tuberculosis and cervical cancer
*Through its Regional Revolving Funds, PAHO has also transformed access to affordable vaccines and medicines, enabling countries of the region, regardless of income level, to secure highquality immunizations and treatments. This mechanism has become a model for pooled procurement globally and has strengthened routine immunization systems across Latin America and the Caribbean.
*From outbreaks of Zika to the COVID-19 pandemic, PAHO has coordinated surveillance, laboratory networks, and information-sharing across countries. During COVID-19, it provided technical guidance, supported vaccine rollout, and strengthened health system resilience.
On 9 April, PAHO will also present its Clinical Trial Accelerator Initiative, which seeks to enhance the efficiency of clinical trials in the Region. Projects will range from conceptual development to the design of artificial (Continued on page 17)
Bandits storm Corentyne bar...
From page 14 purposes.”I wish to see if I can get a licensed firearm and (if) I can get the Home Affairs minister to help me with the licensed firearm, ‘cuz I full the form already and send it in. I’d like if the home affairs minister can give the business people firearm to protect our-
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selves and our family,” he pleaded.
The businessman and his wife live with their three children.
His wife, Amrita Singh, 38, told this publication that the incident has rendered them fearful and traumatised, adding that they live peacefully with everyone in the community, and extend great cordiality to their customers. With two guns pointed to her head, she noted that she chose to comply that evening.
“This is the first time we
ever faced something like this, and it was very, very scary. I was scared that if he (her husband) fight back, they could’ve shot him or me, and things could’ve escalated worst, so we just try our best not to do anything, just stand up at the side and cooperate with them,” Singh explained.
The family hold suspicions that the invasion, which they said lasted for more than half an hour, might have been carried out by persons familiar with them. The woman expressed that it is tough to digest that one’s hard work to
maintain a business is undermined by the callousness of others who seem bent on frustrating the honest livelihood of others.
A report was lodged at the Whim Police Station in Corentyne shortly after the men exited the location, and a follow up was made the next day. Subsequently, the family was updated that two men were in police custody. This publication was able to confirm this from police in Region Six, and that the two men were released on $100,000 bail each.
Israel kills 254 in attacksacross...
From page 13 in Lebanon is ongoing” before reiterating its call for residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs to flee their homes or face attacks.
It also issued a warning for a building in the coastal city of Tyre after striking another one near it.
“But the warnings didn’t include the many other sites, including several sites across the capital, Beirut, that haven’t been hit previously in this round of conflict and where nobody was expecting
it,” Webb said. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has claimed that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, contradicting the assertion of Pakistan, which mediated the truce.
“Because of Hezbollah, they were not included in the deal,” Trump told the public broadcaster PBS. “That’ll get taken care of, too. It’s all right.”
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt echoed the US president’s com-
ment later on Wednesday.
“Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire that has been relayed to all parties involved in the ceasefire,” she told reporters. Leavitt also dismissed speculations that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be looking to undermine the truce by attacking Lebanon, saying that Israel remains a “key ally and partner” to the US.
Neither Leavitt nor Trump addressed Pakistan’s announcement that Lebanon was part of the ceasefire.
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The Ministry of H e a l t h i s preparing to spend approximately $108 million for the construction of a National Vocational Centrewhichwillbelocated at Thomas Lands, Georgetown.
At the recent reading of bids at the National Procurement and Tender
Administration Board, it was revealed that a total of 27 contractors have bid for theproject.
Th
vocational centre is part of the government’s efforts to equippersonswiththeskills training and knowledge needed, preparing them for theworkenvironment.
(Reuters) - Oil tumbled below $100 a barrel on Wednesday after U S President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, subject to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Brentcrudefutureswere down $13.57, or 12.42%, at $95.70abarrelby1:28p.m. ET (1728 GMT) WTI futures slid $16 95, or 15.01%, to $96. Oil prices fell in anticipation of the strait reopening and energy supplies that have built up being able to pass through the shipping route, said Andrew Lipow, founder of Lipow Oil Associates “Overall, the market is hopeful more oil is going to reach the market but it is still concerned that it is a very fragile ceasefire and it maynotlast,”Lipowsaid.
Trump’s turnaround came shortly before ‘his deadlineforIrantoopenthe strait or face widespread attacks on its civilian infrastructure.About20%of the world’s daily oil supply passes through the narrow waterway
“This will be a doublesidedCEASEFIRE!”Trump wrote on social media after posting earlier on Tuesday that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if his demandswerenotmet.
STRAITREMAINS SHUT
Shipping sources said the Iranian navy threatened ships attempting to pass
Frompage16 intelligence-basedsolutions. “Science saves lives,” PAHO Director, Dr Jarbas Ba
wellbeing and strengthens economies.”
On World Health Day, “the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reaffirms its commitment to working together, collaboratively, to advance science, strengthen trust, and ensure that its benefits reach all people in our Region ” Stand with science for
A pump jack operates near a crude oil reserve in the Permian Basin oil field near Midland, Texas, U.S. February 18, 2025. REUTERS/Eli Hartman
through the strait without Tehran’s permission with destruction on Wednesday and that transit remained shut. Iran had said it would halt its attacks if strikes against it stopped and that safetransitthroughthestrait would be possible for two weeks in coordination with Iranianarmedforces.
Irancouldopenthestrait in a limited and controlled way on Thursday or Friday ahead of a meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials in Pakistan, a senior Iranian official involved in the talks told‘ReutersonWednesday “Safe passage for ships in the Strait of Hormuz will beakeypointinthetalks Oil is set to remain meaningfullyabovepre-war levels until there is clear
healthierfuture
In line with the World Health Day 2026 theme, WHOandtheG7Presidency of France are convening a OneHealthSummitinLyon, France, from 5–7 April, bringing together Heads of State, scientists and community leaders to strengthen coordinated action
WHO will host the G l o b a l F o r u m o f
Collaborating Centres from 7 – 9 A p r i l w i t h representatives from over 800 organizations and more than 80 countries that
evidence of shipping
Raymond James analyst Pavel Molchanov Shippers were seeking clarity on the logistics, while refiners inquired about new crude loadings on Wednesday, in response to the ceasefire deal.
Iran attacked Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline justhoursaftertheceasefire was agreed, an industry source told Reuters, ‘hitting its only crude oil export routesincehostilitiesbegan.
SeveralGulfstatessaidearly on Wednesday they identified missile launches and drone attacks or issued warningstocivilianstotake shelter
Trump said the U.S. had receiveda10-pointproposal
support WHO’s research, technical assistance and c a p a c i t y b u i l d i n g worldwide.
These include over 180 PAHO/WHO collaborating centers located in countries of the Region of the Americas.
ThePAHODirectorwill participate in this Forum, includingaskeynotespeaker for an event on reducing infectious risks through the OneHealthapproach.
Science must continue to guide health decisionmaking at all levels PAHO/WHO and their
fromIran,whichhecalleda workable basis to negotiate, and that the parties were a long ‘way towards reaching a definitive agreement for long-termpeace. He said on Wednesday the U.S. will work closely withIranandwillbetalking about tariff and sanctions relief with Tehran Oil futures pared losses after U S government data showed a larger-thanexpected build in crude stockpiles.
U.S.crudestocksroseby 3.1 ‘million barrels to 464.7 million barrels during the week ended April 3, the Energy Information Administration said. That washigherthanthe701,000barrel build forecast in a Reuterspoll
partners generate and translate evidence across a wide range of health priorities,frominfectious diseases and chronic conditions to mental health, nutrition and environmental risks, supporting countries to deliver effective, e q u i t a b l e c a r e Achievements in global health show that when countries unite behind science, they not only respond to crises more effectively but also build stronger, more equitable healthsystemsforthefuture.
Pres. Ali hails GDF as 'heroes' for Jamaica relief mission
President Irfaan Ali on
Wednesday honoured members of the Guyana Defence Force for their courage and humanitarian service, describing them as “heroes” following their disaster relief mission in Jamaica.
Speaking at a medal decorationceremonyatBase Camp Ayanganna, the president paid tribute to ranks deployed in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which caused widespreaddevastation.
One officer and 41 other ranks were awarded the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response Medal,recognisingwhatthe head-of-state described as “extraordinary courage, compassionanddedication.”
“This ceremony recognises that the strength of a nation is revealed not only in how it defends its territory, but in how it extends its hand to others in their hour of need, ”
PresidentAlisaid.
Heframedthemissionas a defining example of Caribbean solidarity, stressing that Guyana's response was driven by principle rather than obligation.
“Werespondednotoutof obligation, but out of conviction, not out of convenience, but out of commitment,”hestated.
Highlighting the growing threat of climate change to small island developing states, Ali warnedthatnaturaldisasters
continuetoposesevererisks toregionaldevelopment.
“A single hurricane can undo years, sometimes decades, of progress, devastating economies and costinglives,”hesaid.
T h e p r e s i d e n t underscored that the GDF's role now extends beyond traditional defence, with humanitarian assistance and disaster response forming a centralpillarofitsmandate.
“This is not a secondary function; it is a core responsibility,”hedeclared.
Praising the ranks for their impact on the ground, Ali added: “You carried supplies, yes — but more importantly, you carried hope.YouwenttoJamaicaas soldiers; you returned as heroes.”
Manjailedfor38months,fined $14Mforganjapossession
A US-based security officer, Bradley Hibbert who was nabbed with foreign cannabis at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport back in January was sentenced, on Tuesday, to 38 months in jail and fined $14,182,300fortheoffence.
According to a statement from the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU), HibbertappearedbeforeMagistrateTomika Clarke at the Friendship Magistrate's Court for the offence of possession of 15.798 kilograms of cannabis for the purpose of traffickingtowhichhepleadedguilty Hibbertwasthensentencedandfined. CANU is its statement noted that the case originated from a January 2026 operation in which Hibbert was intercepted by officers at the CJIA's arrival terminal.A
Jailed: Bradley Hibbert
subsequent search of his three suitcases revealed 28 compressed black plastic parcels containing a quantity of cannabis, which weighed 15.758 kilograms. CANU reported.He was arrested and taken into custodyatthetime.
Online passport applications coming within a month - Pres. Ali
President Irfaan Ali said Guyana's passport services are expected to go online withinthenextmonth,asgovernmentmoves tomoderniseandstreamlineaccess.
SpeakingtothemediaonWednesdayon thesidelinesofaneventatCampAyanganna, the head-of-state explained that several componentsarestillbeingfinalisedtoensure asmoothtransition.
“WehaveGuyaneseallovertheworld… they are now completing that relationship, and within a month, we should be closer to that,” he said, referring to arrangements involvingbiometricprocessingsystemsused internationally
Themoveformspartofabroaderdigital transformation push by the government. According to the Department of Public Information, the initiative is aimed at improvingefficiency,strengtheningsecurity, andenhancingservicedelivery
PresidentAli noted that key systems are
He reaffirmed Guyana's commitment to supporting Caribbean neighbours in times of crisis while emphasising the importance ofnationalpreparedness.
Also present at the ceremony were Chief of Defence Staff Omar Khan
and Private Sector Commission Chairman Gerry Gouveia Jr., among other officials (Modified fromDPI)
The new e-passports, equipped with advanced security features, are designed to improve international travel while aligning Guyanawithglobalaviationstandards.
“We have to ensure that our system is strong enough to identify threats and proactively respond to them,” the president said, highlighting the role of digital systems innationalsecurity
The upcoming online passport application platform is expected to reduce long lines at passport offices by allowing users to book appointments and access servicesthroughdecentralisedcentres.
Beyondpassports,thegovernmentisalso advancing digitisation in other areas, including electronic birth and death certificates, as part of efforts to improve transparencyandspeeduppublicservices.
President Ali honouring a member of the GDF on Wednesday (DPI story)
The 2026 West Indies Championship is set to deliver another season of exciting, high-quality cricket when it bowls off on Sunday,April12withanew format featuring the first of three rounds of bilateral matches among the six franchises.
Serving as a prelude to a packed summer of cricket across the region, the tournament will see players competing fiercely for
international selection while upholding the intensity and standards expected of the Caribbean’s premier firstclasscompetition.
Reigning champions Guyana Harpy Eagles, who have dominated the championship over the past decade with eight titles, including three consecutive wins, will open their campaign against the Windward Islands Volcanoes in Antigua. They have a favoured matchup against the Windwards, going unbeaten in the last five meetings inclusive of threewinsandadraw
that is enjoyable,” said Imlach.
Thursday April 09, 2026
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
You'll find that things are slipping nicely into place for you today, Aries Your persuasivemannerandgentle nudges are just enough to get peoplewhereyouwantthem.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
When faced with ten entrees onthemenu,itmightbehard for you to choose just one. Feelfreetoordertwoormore, Ta u r u s D o n ' t l e t indecisiveness slow you down.Atthesametime.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Your dreams won't come true unless you believe in and act onthem,Gemini.Nooneelse is going to do it for you. Unless you have a fairy godmother, you need to take mattersintoyourownhands.
CANCER(June21–July22)
If people hassle you or give you a hard time about your appearance today, pay them nomind,Cancer Youhavethe righttoliveyourlifeanyway youwantto.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Reachforthepotofgoldatthe end of the rainbow, Leo. It's closerthanyouthink.Indeed, your dreams are completely within your reach, and there are huge forces at work helping you achieve your goals.
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
Today is your day to dream and dream big, Virgo. Think aboutwhatitisthatyouwant most out of life. Aim your arrow to the stars and pull back your bow as far as possible. There's no limit to howfaryoucango.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Expand your mind to its furthest reaches today, Libra.
e opportunity opening up for you in which you can make great strides in a creative realm.Followthemusic.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
Your mind may seem rather cloudy today, Scorpio, but don't let this hinder you. In fact, you'll find that you can use this feeling of fantasy to your advantage. Try to bring moremagicintoyourlife.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
Today is an excellent day for you,oneinwhichyou'llfinda great deal of strength in your emotions, Sagittarius Trust that your instincts are serving youwell.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Things might get a bit confusing for you today, Capricorn. Don't feel like you needtomakesenseofitall.In fact, this task may be impossible. Just be yourself. Let your creative nature shine through.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)Mixyourrealitywithabit of fantasy today, Aquarius. Allowyourfeettocomeoffthe ground for a little while. Give yourselfarest.Takesometime to meditate and clear your mindofyourdailyworries.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Let yourself go into high creative mode and drift into a whole other world, Pisces. Escape your present reality and explore your fantasies through any sort of artistic endeavor Dreamasbigasyour mindallows.
The last two matches haveseenthumpingwinsfor theGuyanesefranchise,with captainTevinImlachplaying astarringrolewithcenturies inbothmatchestoenablehis team’stitlepursuit.
Thereisnosecretthatthe Harpy Eagles are keen to continue their trend of reigning supreme in the region’s premiere first-class tournament and captain Imlach is ready to lead with purpose.
“The Windward Islands Vo l c a n o e s h a v e a competitive bunch of players, with some young talent who are eager to showcase their skills, but I believe we have the team capableofcomingoutontop against them when the tournamentgetsgoing.”
On the other side, the Windward Islands Volcanoesareonthehuntfor improved performances after finishing at the foot of thestandingsintheprevious season. Along with West Indies representatives Alick Athanaze and Kavem Hodge, they have drawn on the services of Academy graduates Ackeem Auguste, who made his international debut in 2025, as well as Teddy Bishop, who captained the West Indies Academyteam.
These inclusions will bolster the batting line-up which features former West Indies under-19 captain Stephan Pascal and the experienced Sunil Ambris, who has represented the region in 22 matches across formats.
Itisagainstthisbackdrop that the title holders will not take their opponents for granted.
“Itisimportanttoremind the players that what happened before in the past years is gone, it is time to focus on what is now while creatingourownlegacyand playing a brand of cricket
Athanaze,whowillonce againcaptaintheVolcanoes, foresees a more positive outlook for this year’s Championship and is eager toleadwhathedescribesasa hungry and exciting bunch ofcricketers.
“I’ve been captaining thisunitforawhileandthere is a level of familiarity with thegroup.Ibelievewehave a team not just to challenge the reigning champions but to compete and win against them. We are not going into this viewing the opposition as impossible to defeat, because we are confident that we will be able to give themachallengethroughout thecourseoftheseries.”
Athanaze was pleased with the performance of several players in the final trial match before the squad was selected, particularly those younger players in the setup.
“PlayerssuchasAckeem Auguste and Teddy Bishop provide a good cushion to our batting line-up. Coming overfromtheAcademythey have shown good maturity which I think will enable us to be a stronger team in this year’stournament.”
When the first ball is bowled at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on April 12, it will be an exciting clash of
nt champions against hungry challengers, each chasing a verydifferentdestiny
Guyana Harpy Eagles will play a strong Volcanoes team in the opening round. (CWI)
Guyana Police Force supports U16 cricketers with gear
BYSAMUELWHYTE
TheGuyanaPoliceForce continues to show support for youth and community development in various ways.
Recently a number of U16cricketersfromboththe Guyana and Barbados U16 cricketteamsbenefitted.
The players are participating in the CWI Rising Stars Under-16 bilateral 50-over series betweenthetwoteams.
The players were presented with cricket gear compliments of the Guyana PoliceForceOfficers’Team.
The players benefitting were Guyanese Asgaralli Nabbie and Nathan Bishop,
along with Barbadians Micaiah Brathwaite and LiamSealey
The gear was handed o v e r b y D e p u t y Commissioner Mr
Ravindradat Budhram, who is also the Captain of the GPFOfficersCricketTeam.
The presentation was made during the innings break of Game 2 of the competition which was played at the Police Sports ClubGround,EveLeary Also in attendance was Superintendent Ronald Ali, Vice-Captain of the Guyana Police Force Officers CricketTeam.
According to a releaseThe inclusion of the young
Barbadian players, one of whom is the son of a policeman in Barbados, added a special regional touchtothepresentationand highlighted the spirit of camaraderie and connection between members of the policingfraternityacrossthe Caribbean.
Budhram, emphasized on the importance of investing in young players, notingthatcricketcontinues to be a powerful tool for discipline.
He encouraged the youngsters to remain focused, humble and committed to the hard work required to advance in the sport He also reminded themthatopportunitiessuch as these should inspire them to continue striving for excellence both on and off thefield. The young players expressed appreciation for the support, noting that the
gear would assist greatly in their preparation and continued development in thegame.
More results of the UCCA organised Manoj Rajram “Luxury” Memorial 100 ball cricket competition
Results of some more matches of UCCAorganised Manoj Rajram “Luxury” Memorial 100 ball cricket competition for teams on the Upper Corentyne show several teams marching to winnersrow
Among them - No. 68 Turn Team defeated No. 72 HongKongby13runs.
No. 68 Turn Team 130Totaram Persaud 28, DanhwanGhanie24.
Bowling for No 72 Hong Gong -Ravin Sukhwa and PradeepGobintook33and2 wicketsrespectively No. 72 Hong Kong- 117 withN.Narinemaking32.
Bowling for No 68 Turn Team Anthony Dourjodhan and Joshua Francis took 2 wicketseach.
No. 69 Vikings beat No. 48Challengersby86runs.
Batting First No. 69 Vikings made 143 with AntonioFebruary61.
Bowling for No 48 Challengers-BalramPersaud pickedup2wickets.
No 48 Challengers replied with 53. Balram Persaudmade18.
Bowling for No 69 Vikings -Victo Pedro and JamesBissoontook2wickets each.
Line Path Raptors
defeatedScotsburgUnitedby 1wicket.
Scotsburg United made 126 with Alameen Khan 27.
Bowling for Line Path Raptors – There were 2 wickets each for Raul Jamar, Karran Ornahundre and HarrychandSahdeo.
Line Path Raptors 127-9 withHarrychandSahadeo53 and Rasheed Khan making 27.
Alameen Khan took 2 wickets bowling for
ScotsburghUnited.
No. 70 MYO overcame No. 71 Sports Club by 45 runs.
No. 70 MYO- 135 with Niazi Khan 52 and Alim Khan18. BowlingforNo71 Sports Club - Rishi Persaud and Somdat Singh took 3 wicketseach.
No. 71 Sports Club- 90 with Keeran Kattow 25 and SomdatSingh21.
BowlingforNo70MYOAhmad Khan and Anand Mahadeo snared 3 wickets a piece.
Crabwood Creek Bomb Squad defeated Crabwood Creek Sports Club by 1 Wicket.
CWC Sports Club 128D.Chandradat42andLionel Seegobin 18. Bowling for CWCBombSquad-Parsram
Poorantook2wickets.
In reply CWC Bomb Squad made 129 for 9 with ParsramPooranscoring71. BowlingforCWCSports Club -Indiaz Adams took 3 wickets while Calvin Cort pickedup2.
No.72CutandLoadbeat No 64 Fighting Marine under the Duckworth Lewis method.
No. 72 Cut and Load made 218 - with Samuel Serroa62,ClavernBeresford 43 while Davanand Chatterpaul and Ramesh Omapersaudmade33each. Bowling for No 64 Fighting Marine- Leonard Sandypickedup2wickets. They in reply were 17-3 off26deliveries.
Jermaine Reid and ClavernBeresfordhad1each bowling for No 72 Cut and Load.
No. 72 All Star lost to CWC all Family by default. Even after winning the game by 97 The match was awarded to CWCAll Family after they protested that All Starhadplayedaplayerwho was not registered with the club.
Scores- were No. 72 All Star 133. CWC All Family were bundled out for 37. (SamuelWhyte)
The Guyana and Barbados U16 players being presented with their cricket gear by Deputy Commissioner Budhram.
32 athletes to represent Guyana at South American Youth Games in Panama
ByRawleToney
Guyanawillberepresentedbya 32-member athlete delegation at this year’s South American Youth Games, scheduled forApril 12–25 in Panama, as the country looks to rebound from a disappointing outing at the previous edition in Argentina in 2022, where it failed tosecureamedal.
The local contingent will be supported by 12 coaches and six officials, bringing Guyana’s total representation to 50 for the multisport showcase, which is in its fourth edition. The Games, first held in 2013, are designed for athletes aged 14–18 and serve as a criticaldevelopmentalplatformfor
emerging talent across the South Americancontinent.
Apressconferencehostedbythe GuyanaOlympicAssociation(GOA) yesterday, saw athletes and officials expressingconfidenceandreadiness to don the Golden Arrowhead with pride The atmosphere was one of determination, with the young delegation eager to make a strong impression on the South American stage Leadingthechargewillbethe trackandfieldteam,whichmakesup the largest portion of the delegation with14athletes
That group includes Ezekiel Millington, Dequan Farrell, Gordon Thompson, David Williams,Ade Sealy, Ebo McNeil,
Angel Jeffrey,AdanyaGlen,Joanna Anthon, Akeela Dover, Jaral Campbell, Keimal Gishard, Nathaniel Samaroo, and Courtney Haynes Theathleticsprogrammehas historically been Guyana’s strongest suit, and the athletes were keen to highlighttheirreadinesstoshowcase the country’s prowess against their regionalcounterparts
Many of them are fresh off participationattheCARIFTAGames in Grenada, providing valuable competition exposure heading into Panama Supportingthetrackandfield unitarecoachesGlentonPantlitz,Johny Gravesande, and Dillian LeitchCrandon Beyondathletics,Guyanawill compete in seven additional
disciplines Chess will feature Italy Ton-Chung and Sachin Pitamber, coachedbyAnthonyDrayton,while badminton will see Christopher JordanandMishkaBeharryinaction under the guidance of Priyanna RamdhaniandAyanaWatson
Table tennis athletes Jasmine Billingy, Samara Sukhai, Malachi Moore, and Kayden Meusa will be coached by Linden Johnson, while archers Brandon Cummings and Ravish Singh will be led by Ryan McKinnon The3x3basketballteam – Daniel Chisolm, Stephan Duke, JadenSimon,andKadeemBeckles–will be headed by Sileena Arjune, while tennis players Nathan DeNobrega and Paul Kalekyezi will
workunderKalycaFraser Inboxing, KenHarveyandJofesJacksonwillbe guided by coaches Lennox Daniels andFranscisoRoldan Guyana’sonly gold medal at the South American Youth Games remains the historic achievement of Deshanna Skeete, who topped the podium in 2017 in Peru The six-member official delegation includes Carolyn Garraway(Chef-de-Mission),Aretha Legall(Physiotherapist/Safeguarding Officer), GOA President, Munroe himself, Cristy Campbell (GOA Vice-President), Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon (GOA General Secretary), and Chelsea Edghill (GOA’s Athletes’ Commission Representative).
Barbados Pride battle Jamaica Scorpions as part of exciting opening round
Along-standing regional rivalry will be reignited
when powerhouses Barbados and Jamaica lock hornsinthefirstroundofthe West Indies Championship, takingplaceinJamaicafrom April12toMay2.
BarbadosPridenarrowly missed out on the 2025 title by just 5.4 points, despite a thrilling final-day victory over the Leeward Islands at WarnerPark.Thatagonizing near miss has only intensified their hunger, fuellingadeterminedpushto return to the summit of regional cricket when the Championship concludes on May 20. The Barbadians
haveenjoyedastrongrunof form against Jamaica in the first-class competition over the past decade. During that period, they have remained unbeaten against their archrivals, recording eight victories, including a commanding nine-wicket triumph at Kensington Oval in2025.
Despite that dominant record, captain Kraigg Brathwaite insists his side willnottaketheiropponents lightly.Reflectingonhislast regional outing at Sabina Park, where he scored a superb 142, Brathwaite emphasized the importance offocusandexecution.
“Jamaica is always a
competitive team at home, the way how they play cricket, you always enjoy playing against them However, as I always say, youcannottakeanyteamfor grantedandwethinktheyare a very good team, but we mustcomegoodasaunitand the guys are excited to do that against Jamaica”, said Brathwaite.
The trial matches gave a good indication of the form and temperament of the multiple time regional champions, with Shian Brathwaite and Kevin Wickham hitting centuries while several other batters crossedthefifty-runmarkon severaloccasions.
Evenwiththishighlevel of output in preparation, skipperBrathwaite,whohas 228firstclassmatchesunder hisbelt,isurginghisplayers tostayinthepresent.
“Ourcoacheshavereally done the groundwork with the squad to make things a little easier for us in our preparation, with our programme and trial matches providing us with a great opportunity to look at all of the players who could have an impact at different stagesoftheseason.”
For the Jamaica Scorpions, having the chancetotoppleBarbadosat home is an opportunity that captain John Campbell is relishing for the bilateral series. The visitors are seen as a daunting proposition, giventherecenttrackrecord but once there is a chance, thereishopeforCampbell.
“The guys have put in a high volume of work ahead of the season, not just training but training with intent since the Super 50 tournament. Everybody is trying to improve on their own game, especially the technical aspects, and together as a group that will serveuswell,”heshared.
Campbell who finished 2025 as the team’s leading run scorer with over 500 runs, announced his readiness for the campaign withadoublecenturyinone of the trial matches and watchedontoseeothergreat performances during the build-up to the regional competition with centuries from Peat Salmon, Abhijai Mansingh and Carlos Brown.
“We’ve had a rivalry over the years, we are in a really good place right now as a group, with several
practice matches under our belts and players putting up their hands and showing maturity with solid contributions.”
In the most previous meetingsbetweentheteams, the Jamaican franchise lost 23oftheir40wicketstospin and this is a problem the captain wants to see combattedacrosstheseries.
“Overtheyears,wehave lost plenty of wickets to spinners, so if we can eliminate those types of dismissals to the Barbadian spinnersthenwewillbeina good space to compete and do well in the bilateral series.”
Jamaica Scorpions and the Barbados Pride understand that history will mean nothing when the battlebegins,withbothsides readytoleaveeverythingon the field in pursuit of regionalsupremacy (CWI)
JamaicaScorpions
SquadJohnCampbell (Captain)BradBarnes
CarlosBrown
JavelleGlenn
BrandonKing
AbhijaiMansingh
KirkMckenzie
MarquinoMindley
RomaineMorris
JeavorRoyal
PeatSalmon
OjayShields
OdeanSmith
BarbadosPrideSquad
KraiggBrathwaite (Captain)
JoshuaBishop
JediahBlades
LenikoBoucher
ShianBrathwaite
JonathanDrakes
JohannLayne
KyleMayers
JairMcAllister
ShayneMoseley
ShamarSpringer
JomelWarrican
KevinWickham
John Campbell (CWI)
Barbados will battle the John Campbell led Jamaica. (CWI)
Part of the action between St John’s and Good Hope Secondary …Exciting round two action kick off yesterday at the
College ground.
Welcome’shat-trickenoughtosinkHopeSec’
…Santa Rosa, St John’s, East R/veldt among winners as Massy U18 School Football continues
Robinho Abrams, Josiah Nedd and Akeem Stephens guided them to victory, reinforcing their status as strong contenders in this year’schampionship.
Round two of the 12th Annual M a s s y Distribution Schools Under18 Football Tournament got underway yesterday, with severalteamscapitalisingon the opportunity to secure maximum points and maintainearlymomentumin thecompetition.
Played under cool conditions following brief showers, the day’s fixtures produced a series of commanding performances, highlightedbyEastRuimveldt Secondary’s emphatic 6-0 victory over Anna Regina Secondary. The win marked East Ruimveldt’s first of the tournamentandsetthetonefor an action-packed day at the Queen’sCollegeground
West Ruimveldt Secondary, Charlestown Secondary and Santa Rosa Secondaryalladvancedtothe third round with perfect records, each recording convincing wins to remain unbeaten East Ruimveldt’s triumph was built on a dominant attackingdisplayledbyJosiah Norton, who produced a clinical hat-trick Norton, alongside Jahiem Harte, spearheaded the early assault, givingtheirsidea2-0leadwith goals in the 21st and 30th minutes Omari Chase
extendedtheadvantageto3-0 withawell-takenstrike,before JadenAbramsquicklyaddeda fourth Nortonthencompleted his hat-trick with goals in the 63rdand70thminutestoseala comprehensive win and hand AnnaReginatheirfirstlossof thetournament
I n m a t c h # 1 9 , Yarrowkabra Secondary secured a 5-1 victory over Zeeburg Secondary, thanks inparttoabracefromLeroy Evans. Evans opened the scoring in the 17th minute, but Zeeburg responded almost immediately through Isaiah Allicock. Adrian Welcome restored Yarrowkabra’s lead in the 22nd minute, before Kevin Degoea made it 3-1 just two minutes later Evans added hissecondlaterinthematch, while Christian Medina completed the scoring to roundoffanimpressiveteam performance West Ruimveldt Secondary maintainedtheirflawlessrun with a 3-0 win over Hope Secondary in match #24.
Captain Donovan Welcome led from the front with a superb hat-trick, finding the netinthe18th,54thand59th minutes to secure all three points.
St John’s College also deliveredastrongstatement, defeating Hope Secondary
4-1 in their second-round encounter Goals from
Later in the day, CharlestownSecondaryedged NewAmsterdamSecondary10inatightlycontestedmatch, while Santa Rosa Secondary recorded the most dominant result of the day, thrashing BrickdamSecondary 12-0 in aone-sidedaffair
The tournament is sponsored by Massy Distribution, with support fromtheMinistryofEducation andDemeraraMutualGroup Action continues today at the same venue, with kickoff scheduledfor09:45h
Today’sFixtures Round2continues CharitySecondary vs LodgeSecondary
9:45amPatentia
Secondary vs President’sCollege
10:30amMackenzie High vs Three MileSecondary
11:30amNewCentral HighvsVryman’sErven Secondary 12:15hrs St JosephHigh vThe B i s h o p s H i g h
13:15hrsDolphinSecondary vs Belladrum Secondary
14:00hrs Carmel Secondary v Annadale Secondary
15:00hrs ChaseAcademic F vs West Minster Secondary 15:45hrs
Here’s a look at Santa Rosa dangermen. In photo is: (back row) Ashlon Henry, Dane Phillips, Enrique Williams and Ken Richards while in front is Marcus Atkinson and Darren Williams.
Queen’s
32 athletes to represent Guyana at South American Youth Games in Panama American in Sports
West Ruimveldt stay in contention as captain Donavan Welcome nets all three goals in 3-0 victory over Hope Secondary.
Some of the athletes and officials selected to represent Guyana at this year’s SouthAmericanYouth Games in Panama. (Rawle Toney photo)
