Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly
agrees ‘ceasefire’ extension at
Guyana Festival was launched on Friday evening under the theme, “Sound, Soul and Taste” at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence. The three day celebration will showcase Guyana’s Diamond Jubilee through music, cuisine, and cultural performances. It will also highlight the nation’s diversity and creative spirit. (Office of the President)
Guyana and Suriname Presidents advance
18 years for Corentyne talks on Corentyne River Bridge, trade and energy
‘Deportee’ jailed rum shop murder Frontline Customs to wear body cameras
Officers now mandated
- T&T Energy
DefectorswerenotcoreAPNUmembers-Mahipaul
...says exits will not hamper coalition’s work
Defectors who have left the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalitiontojointhePeople’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) were not core members of the coalition, MemberofParliament(MP) Ganesh Mahipaul said on Friday Mahipaul told reporters that the absence of the defectorswillnothamperthe work of his party, the People’s National Congress (PNC) and by extension APNU.
K a i e t e u r N e w s questioned how the defection would affect the partyandwhatitplanstodo differently to retain its
members? In response, the MP said no political party wants defections while noting that APNU would prefer to have all 850,000 Guyanese under its umbrella. Notwithstanding, he made it clear that people have a right to choose their political party and it is not a new phenomenon for persons to move from party toparty
“Defectionhashappened before in the past and I can make reference for those who are students of history thatwhentherewasthesplit of the PPP and you had the PPP Cheddi and the PPP Burnham-Hoyte.Therewere people who chose… some
went with Cheddi, some went with Forbes Burnham and in 1964 several persons defected from the PPPandcameoverwithour founder leader Linden ForbesBurnham.”
Mahipaul reminded that in 1992 there were several people from the PNC who defectedandwenttothePPP Referencing the 2015 defection, he said, “I remember vividly Robert Persaud expressed an interestinbeingapartofthe APNU/AFC in 2015. [In] 2020 after that election also we had some defects. 2025 um now we have some defects So, defection is nothing new in the political arena. Defection is not new to Guyana. It is not new to anycountryandanypolitical partyaroundtheworld.”
The MP said defection affects all parties. “If I’m to tell you that the party is not affected, then I’ll be wrong because I do believe that no party wants any defection. But in terms of hampering our work, no, it is not hampering our work I always tell people that in
see something different. Maybe the issue is with them,notus,”headded.
On May 13, Kaieteur News reported that a group of former APNU MP, and c u r r e n t R e g i o n a l Councillors have aligned themselves with the governingPPP/C.Themove was solidified during a meeting on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, between the defectors and PPP General SecretaryBharratJagdeo.
Member of Parliament (MP) for the APartnership for National Unity (APNU) Coalition, Ganesh Mahipaul
political parties and perhaps the PPP will agree with me onthisone.”
Henotedthatinpolitical parties there are the members who have been tried and tested and are well intunewiththewaytheparty approaches and handles politicalsituations.
“None of the defects there were really tried and tested APNU members. So, they are not exposed to any of our internal decisions… They’re not exposed to any of our how we’re moving
forward, our strategy and those kinds of things. So, they don’t affect us in terms of continuing to move forward positively for the development of APNU,” Mahipaultoldreporters.
He explained that persons may argue that the defectors were indeed exposed. “Yes, they were exposed on the political platform They took the stage They spoke They endorsed. They spoke so glowinglywellaboutusand acoupleofmonthsafterthey
According to a press statement released by the PPP/C,themeetingwasheld at the request of the oppositionmembers.
The group includes former MPs Ricky Ramsaroop, Shurwayne Holder, and Dinesh Jaiprashad,aswellascurrent Regional Councillors Ravoldo Birbal, Sheik Yaseen, Prince Holder, and GangadaiLloyd.
Thecrossovercomesless than a year after several members of the group launched blistering attacks against the PPP/C administration during the 2025electioncampaign.
Changing Guyana’s oil contract calls for political will
Guyana’s lopsided oil contract with ExxonMobil can be renegotiated, but changing the deal requires strong political will, as countries around the world withsimilararrangementsto Guyana have previously alteredtheiragreements.
Energy strategist, Anthony Paul of Trinidad and Tobago who advised several governments and independent organisations on oil and gas policy, including Guyana, on Thursday evening discussed the progress taking place in the country’s hydrocarbon sector, with particular focus ongasdevelopment.During his appearance on ‘OilTalk’ an Oil and Gas Governance
N e t w o r k ( O G G N ) production,hostedthisweek by chartered accountant and attorney, Christopher Ram, the senior energy and
pond in Trinidad and Tobago. When facing big multinational companies, actually its three things- its backbone, backbone and more backbone That is lacking.So,it’snotknowing what’s right, not knowing
“Every contract presumes some level of justice and the question is, in the contract, if things have changed materially when the contract was drawn up and changes have made it more unjust or grossly unjust then there may be a basis for renegotiating ” - Anthony Paul
strategy advisor delved into the possibility of renegotiation with oil giant, ExxonMobil.
Ram particularly asked the specialist to share his view on government’s position on sanctity of contract in dealing with a companythatcontrols40per cent of the national economy
Laying the foundation for his response, Paul said that the coalition governmentin2016hadtwo choices- to renew the contract or to draft a new agreement.Ithoweveropted to renew the deal, changing little to the original 1999 agreement.
Hehowevernotedthatif the contract provides for renegotiation,whichitdoes, then the government today can seek changes to the terms.
“ThereisonethingthatI have seen lacking in politiciansonmypartofthe
howtodoit,it’snotgettingit done,it’shavingthewilland the confidence to stand up anddoit.”
He said while this is his experience in Trinidad, Guyanese would know whether it is the same situationintheircountry
Paul was clear, “If there is provision in the contract for renegotiation and if events have shown the contract not to be just then everycontract-asyouknow as a lawyer better than I doevery contract presumes somelevelofjusticeandthe questionis,inthecontract,if things have changed materiallywhenthecontract was drawn up and changes have made it more unjust or grossly unjust then there may be a basis for renegotiating.”
COMPANIESSEEK RENEGOTIATION
Moreover, the energy strategist pointed out that companies often seek
T&T Energy Strategist, Anthony Paul and Guyanese Attorney, Christopher Ram during the recent edition of ‘Oil Talk’aired on Kaieteur Radio.
renegotiation, simply because they have the backbonetodoso.
H
renegotiate, always ask for changes. Now we know for instance that there were
points in time when there s h o u
d h a v e b e e n relinquishments.Were those
used or were those extended?Thefactthatthey were extended means there was a renegotiation Everytime there is a
renegotiation...thefactofthe matter is, for it to become valid it means somebody agreed. So therefore, and as youandIknow,onceyou’re renegotiating, then the other partyhastheoptiontoaskfor aquidproquo.So,ingiving
this,whatdoIgetinreturn?”
,
e specialist shared that he is aware of countries that have renegotiated their oil contracts, although they had similarstabilityclausesto
The development taking place here today has broughtopportunitiesfewcouldhaveimagineda decade ago Massive infrastructure works, expanding housing schemes, mining, oil and gas development,andincreasedforeigninvestmenthavecreated unprecedented demand for transportation, logistics and constructionservices.
But with those opportunities come a reality that many countries in a globalized economy have had to confront: competitiveness is no longer guaranteed simply because a sectoristraditionallylocal.
The recent dispute between local truckers and Chinese companies operating in Guyana highlights a difficult but necessarynationalconversation.
Local truckers are justified in demanding fairness, transparency and protection from any arrangement that creates an uneven playing field. Transportation of sand, stoneandotherconstructionmaterialsisasectorthatshould remain firmly within the reach of Guyanese enterprise. Local ownership and participation in these industries are important for employment, wealth, creation and long-term nationaldevelopment.
At the same time, however, patriotism alone cannot sustain an industry if service standards fail to meet the demandsofmoderncommerceandlarge-scaledevelopment projects.
The statement issued by the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Guyana may have angered many local operators, but portions of its criticism cannot be casually dismissed. The association pointed specifically to delays caused when some local transport providers suspend operations on weekends and public holidays, disrupting construction schedules and forcing companies to seek alternatives.
Whiletheremarksmayhavesoundedharsh,theyreflect afrustrationthatmanyordinaryGuyanesehaveexperienced for years when dealing with certain local contractors and serviceproviders.
Acrossthecountry,countlesscitizensbuildinghomesor undertaking private projects have stories of contractors missingdeadlines,abandoningworksitesfordays,failingto communicate properly, or operating with a relaxed attitude toward punctuality and delivery commitments. Too often, thecustomerislefttoabsorbthecostofdelayswhileprojects dragonindefinitely
Thisisnotacriticismofalllocaltruckersorcontractors. Many Guyanese businesses operate professionally, work long hours and deliver quality service under difficult conditions. But it would be dishonest to pretend that poor work culture does not exist within sections of the local privatesector.
The modern economy is unforgiving. Infrastructure projects backed by billions of dollars operate on strict timelines. Delays carry financial penalties, contractual consequences and reputational damage. Investors and contractors,whetherlocalorforeign,willnaturallygravitate toward service providers who can guarantee reliability, consistencyanduninterruptedoperations.
That reality should not be interpreted as an attack on Guyaneseworkers.Rather,itshouldserveasawake-upcall.
Guyanatodayisnolongerfunctioninginisolation.The country is competing in a global environment where efficiency, responsiveness and professionalism are increasingly decisive. If local businesses wish to dominate sectors such as trucking, logistics and construction support services, then standards must rise to match international expectations.
This does not mean Guyanese operators should surrendertheirmarketsharetoforeigncompanies.Farfrom it.Thegovernmenthasaresponsibilitytoensurethatforeign firms do not unfairly dominate local industries or use financial muscle to destroy local competition through predatory pricing. Authorities must continue monitoring concessions, procurement practices and import
Govt. must find a way to push more money to citizens
DEAREDITOR,
Economies thrive when people spendtheirmoneywhichsupportsjobs inGuyana.
This is why it is imperative for the PPP/CGovernmentofGuyanatofinda mechanismtopushmoremoneytopoor people as a poor person will tend to spendmoreoftheirincomecomparedto a rich person hoarding their money in foreignbankaccounts.
Thisiswhythecashgrantsaresuch a good idea as it distributes Guyana’s wealthtoeveryone.
I also like the idea of pushing up minimum wages. But this comes with theinherentriskofpushinguppricesas well which will lead to hardship for manyGuyanese.
Job creation is a must so that more people are working. Which means the needforhigherpayingjobsinGuyana. While there are numerous jobs being createdbyforeigncompaniesinGuyana there needs to be more balance in what Guyanese are giving away (concessions) to get job creation. It is
okay to give concessions as long as Guyana can clawback. I suppose the PPP/C Government views this clawback as “investors’confidence” in Guyana leading to more FDI’s hence, morejobs.
As a side track, on the issue of borrowingtofinancedevelopment:you only leverage (borrow) when you can gain an advantage, not just because Guyana’s Debt: GDPratio is relatively lowmeaningthattheloanissustainable butwhereistheADVANTAGE?
Sincerely,
SeanOri
This CEO has read the ‘riot act’ and made it pellucid that gone are the days for excuses
DEAREDITOR,
I have read a letter captioned, ‘CEO of GuySuCohasbeenafailure’ in the Kaieteur News supposedlybyoneE.Joseph in which he or she claimed that, ‘This isn’t about personalattack;thisisabout accountabilityandtruth’. Let’s set the records straight It is not about ‘personal attack’ yet he did just that in his letter He claimed that the CEO is ‘incompetent and failed spectacularlybothonandoff the field and should be removed’.
The writer claimed to be writing from a ‘position of knowledge’ yet he gave not even an iota of this ‘knowledge’hesopossessed so that the readers can make an educated and informed decision about his credibility Is the removal of the CEO the panacea for all GUYSUCO’s problems? Is this the solution which his ‘knowledge’ permits him? The real problem is about accountability versus excuses.
He further claimed that
the CEO did not manage his ownbusinesswellbutfailed toprovideforthereadersany evidences, yet this is not ‘personal’. Then despite the vast experience in business andcanefarming,inaddition to his professional academic achievements, the writer is concluding that his appointment is ‘reward for theboys’andalloneneedsis to ‘align with the party line, weartheredshirt,andyou’re rewarded at the country and corporation’sexpense’.
Only recently the Coalition manifested this propensity yet no one complained.Yetagainthisis not personal, but according to the writer the CEO’s only qualification is ‘wearing a red shirt’. This means that any qualified person within the Party should not be appointed to any position sincethatwillbe‘rewarding’ theboys.
The writer contradicted himself later down in his letter when he concluded that, ‘Maybe I would give and take if the person was suitablyqualifiedforthepost in this scenario’referring to
arrangements to ensure Guyanese businesses are not sidelinedintheirowncountry
Alevelplayingfieldremainsessential.
Yetfairnessmustalsobeaccompaniedbyaccountability Local operators cannot demand exclusive access to opportunities while simultaneously resisting the operational discipline required to meet growing demand. The answer cannot simply be protests every time foreign competition emerges.
The Chinese Association indicated that hundreds of Guyanese drivers are employed within their transport operations.Thatpointalonedemonstratesthattheissueisnot about Guyanese workers lacking ability or skill. The challenge lies more in organization, reliability and business culture.
In many successful economies, companies understand thatserviceindustriesoperatearoundtheclockwhendemand
anotherappointment.
Inmyintroductiontothis letter,Istatedthat,thewriter claimed that his letter is about accountability and truth’. Therefore, he must andshouldbeawarethatthe mantra of the CEO is accountabilityandtruthandI dothinkthatinenforcingthis he rubbed some people the ‘wrong’.
Theysimplydonotwant to be held accountable but persistinmakingexcusesfor everything under the sun (or rain).Letmethusexplainthe difference between accountabilityandexcuse. Accountability is about giving a reason or reasons which acknowledges what happened and accepts the outcome while and excuse tries to minimize or remove personal responsibility A reason explains and accepts whichoftenleadtoactionor solution while an excuse justifiesortriesto‘getout’of a consequence that could have been avoided. For too long there has been a litany of excuses from all levels of management which only serve to mask or hide
incompetence.ThisCEOhas readthe‘riotact’andmadeit pellucid that gone are the days for excuses Accountability must be acceptedforpooryield,poor BGI, poor planting and crop husbandry, poor harvesting and the myriad of factors which affect cost and production. Some are upset about this and felt that excuses should suffice. The timehascomeforallstrataof management must be held accountable if targets are to be achieved within the budgetary allocations and costs are controlled effectively and mines spent economically
In conclusion, for too longmanagementisallowed to develop a culture of complacency and the time has come to change this debilitating culture. I invite this letter writer to visit the estates and make an informed decision rather than depending of his ‘trusted contacts inside the companyforhisenlightened ‘insights’.
Yourssincerely, Haseef
Yusuf
requiresit.Weekends,holidaysandextendedhoursareoften treatedasopportunitiesforincreasedproductivityratherthan interruptions. Guyana’s development boom demands that same mindset if local enterprises are to remain competitive andretaincontrolofkeysectors.
National development should not become a battle between patriotism and performance. Guyanese businesses deserve protection from unfair competition, but they must also embrace the standards necessary to thrive in a rapidly changingeconomy
Thetruckingcontroversythereforepresentsanimportant lesson. Guyana must protect local participation while simultaneously demanding excellence from local providers. Sentiment alone cannot secure economic survival in a globalizedworld.
Competence, professionalism and reliability will increasinglydeterminewhosucceeds.
The country’s future prosperity depends not only on accesstoopportunity,butalsoonthewillingnesstomeetthe standardsthatopportunityrequires.
The safety and future of our students depend on unified, accountable, and sustained action
DEAREDITOR,
A s a p u b l i c communications analyst, I have received a report from concerned guardians and parents regarding alleged drug-related activities at the School of the Nations in
Georgetown, which reportedly took place on May15,2026.
This matter has raised significant concern among stakeholderswhoaredeeply troubled by the potential risks posed to students
within the school environment
Incidents of this nature, which directly impact the safety and development of ourchildren,mustbetreated
w i t h u rg e n c y a n d seriousness There is a growing perception that
factorssuchaspeerpressure, coupled with periods of inadequatesupervision,may be contributing to behaviors that threaten the well-being of students. These concerns warrant immediate attention andstructuredintervention.
It is essential that the relevant gov
nment ministries responsible for education and child protection take decisive action to investigate these claims.
Both private and public institutions must be held to consistent standards of accountability, ensuring that established policies and safetyprotocolsarenotonly in place but actively enforcedatalltimes. Furthermore, strict complianceproceduresmust
monitored to guarantee the safety of staff, teachers, and students alike Schools should be environments that foster growth, discipline, and security, rather than spaces where harmful a
v
occur unchecked Institutional responsibilitymustremaina priority in safeguarding our educationsystem.
I
acknowledged that many children are exposed to negative influences such as drugs, sexual misconduct, crime, and violence within
communities.Theseexternal factorsoftenmanifestwithin school settings, making it even more critical for
proactivestrategiestodetect and address such behaviors early.
In light of these concerns, I call upon all parties involved—including school administrators, teachers, parents, ParentTeacher Associations, community organizations, andtherelevantgovernment a
collaboratively Immediate investigations, increased supervision, strengthened policies, and ongoing
engagem
st be prioritized to protect our children The safety and futureofourstudentsdepend on unified, accountable, and sustainedaction.
Sincerely,
BlaneBunbury
What is the new strategy for Guyana?
DEAREDITOR,
With the country being off the guest list at a major environmental forum, and a shift in the strategy being communicated by the President to one that is noncommittal on going towards fully renewable energy sourcestopreventdisastrous climatechange,wecanonly ask what is the new strategy forourlow-lyingcountryon the Atlantic Ocean’s coast? The champion of the planet has apparently traded his championship title for oil and gas revenue, leaving citizens on the coastal plain at the mercy of rising sea levels and increasing exposure to excess rainfall. Funds gained are not being usedtoimproveseadefenses as fast as needed. Instead, projects are being undertaken that enable climatechangetoaccelerate.
The world has now begun to turn its back on whatourleadershavetosay and our people are left with an ecotourism strategy that willbecomeanonstarterthe more the Ali administration shifts away from its commitment of 100% renewable energy in favour
of “energy balance”
Although energy balance will not solve the climate change problem faced by lowlyingstatessuchasours, our leadership has allowed themselves to go down the disastrous path of money oversafetyandhealth.Ifthe eventsinUkraine,Venezuela andIranarenotindicativeof the additional problems that await those in the industry thenwhatis?Isthebloodof thoseintheMiddleEast,the blood of the Muslims, the blood of those in underdeveloped countries and the blood of those in countries which cannot defend themselves worth less than the revenue gained from oil and gas and other nonrenewable resources?
Increasing dependence on these nonrenewable resources will also lead to morebloodshed.Theenergy from the sun is available to allofthepeopleoftheearth. This is a safer and healthier path to take towards energy securitywhilealsoobtaining worldpeace.
T h e c u r r e n t
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ’ s recklessness and lust for revenue have exposed our nation to environmentally damaging chemicals, and
radioactive waste, while poor monitoring by the EPA persists, they continue to give the nod of approval as our people remain impoverished.Wealthforthe few over the health and prosperity of the masses is thepathbeingchosenbythe Aliadministration.
If the government’s strategy for our nation has shifted to oil and gas and other nonrenewable climate detrimental energy sources thelowcarbondevelopment strategyforGuyanamustbe adjustedaccordingly.Butbe assured, this will defeat the purposeoftheGuianaShield and render it penetrable, defeatingtheimportanceand effectiveness of earth’s major hydrocarbon sink. As partoftheAmazon,wemust remember that we are an important member of the team of the last responsible gatekeepers who ensure the continual health of our planet. Guyana and other low-lying states cannot
afford to allow the shortsightedness of a few individuals with an intense selfish desire for extreme wealthtodestroythatwhich we have been entrusted to guard.Suchdesireshaveled to Guyana being a drug transit hub, it has also led to extensive corruption and it has diminished the safety and law and order in our Nation We must guard against such destructive desires and pursue a path where wealth can be achieved without sacrificing that which is more important.Disregardforour responsibilities will lead to climate migration occurring and more global war These are serious concerns previously raised by the UN SecurityCouncil.
It is urgent that our Nation reconsider the new pathbeingsetbythecurrent administrationandmakeita must to vote them out of officeiftheydonotreturnto Continued on page 6
Cerebral fortitude at the level of the REO, but what about sitting ministers
DEAREDITOR,
I write to laud the President of Guyana for demonstrating cerebralfortitudeinhisrecentdecisiontoreplaceandreshuffle Regional Executive Officers (REOs). For too long, “square peg in round hole” inefficiency and, alleged, fiscal improprieties have plagued regional administration, despite repeatedpubliccomplaints.ThePresident’sreportedwarning that any breaches in financial and procurement procedures –including dealings with multiple companies – will attract severeconsequences,uptoandincludingremovalfromoffice, isawelcometonic.
Furthermore, the announcement that incoming REOs, Permanent Secretaries, National Procurement officers, and public officers will operate under strengthened oversight systems to eliminate waste and enforce accountability, efficiency, and transparency is precisely the governance reformthisnationrequires.
Will the same standard be applied to sitting Ministers of Governmentiftheyarefoundwanting?
Editor,itisrepleteinthepublicdomainthatseveralsitting ministers possess personal financial portfolios far exceeding their cumulative government salaries. Such discrepanciesabsentcredibleexplanations(not“wordofmouth”assurances) of inheritance, business income, or gifts- raise legitimate concerns under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the proceedsofcrimelegislation.
Will the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), with the assistance of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and/or other competent authorities be mandated to investigate these allegedfinancialshenaniganswithoutfearorfavour?Orwill there be one rule for technocrats and another for political appointees?
Finally,genuineoversightcannotrestonexecutiveaction alone.WilltheGovernmentinterfacewiththeSpeakerofthe House,HonorableManzoorNadir-withdispatch-toschedule to schedule Meetings of the National Assembly to fill the longstandingsubstantiveconstitutionalappointments.Willthe government effectuate the board of the Police Complaints Authority,andanyvacantparliamentaryoversightcommittee chairs – to strengthen the watchdogs guarding the public purse?
Editor, without these independent checks, even the most robustreshufflerisksbeingperformative.
Accountability should be universal, not selective. The President has taken a brave and resolute first step. His imprimaturisthecompletionofthisadministrativejourney.
Yoursfaithfully,
JonathanSubrianEsq.
Israel kills seven in Lebanon, agrees ‘ceasefire’ extension at talks in U.S.
(AL-JAZEERA) Israel and Lebanon have agreed to extend a ceasefire that was due to expire on Sunday by 45 days, the U.S. said, after direct talks in Washington DC concluded, despite ongoing Israeli attacks and ceasefire violations in Lebanon.
“The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress,” said U.S. State Department spokespersonTommy Pigott on Friday, after the second dayoftalksconcluded.
Pigott,whodescribedthe talksas“highly-productive”, said that political negotiations would continue onJune2andJune3,whilea “securitytrack”wouldbegin on May 29 at the Pentagon, involving Lebanese and Israelimilitarydelegations.
“We hope these discussions will advance lasting peace between the
two countries, full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their sharedborder,”Pigottsaid.
The latest talks were the third round of direct negotiations between the two sides this year, but few details have emerged of the specificsthatwerediscussed inthelatestround.
It came as Israel launched new attacks on LebanononFriday,killingat least seven people in the south, according to the Lebanese state news agency
NNA The Lebanese Ministry of Health said 2,951 people have been killedinIsraeliattackssince March 2, when fighting between Israel and Hezbollahreignited. Sincethen,Israelhaslost 20 troops including another soldierkilledinfightingwith HezbollahonFriday
Directtalks
Lebanese and Israeli officials are yet to comment onthelatestroundoftalks.
B o t h s i d e s a r e approaching the talks from different positions, with LebanoninsistingthatIsrael fully end its attacks and occupation of its territory Israel is focused on the disarmament of Iran-backed Hezbollah – and a potential normalisation agreement betweenthetwocountries.
D e s p i t e t h e s e differences, the talks were significant, being face-toface and the third round this year Lebanon sent
Presidential Special Envoy SimonKaram,whileIsrael’s Deputy National Security Adviser Yossi Draznin also attended.
Despite encouragement from U.S. President Donald Trump, Lebanon has so far refused a meeting between President Joseph Aoun and
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Aoun has insisted that full normalisation is not on the table, and that Lebanon is pushing for the ceasefire to be enforced before negotiationscontinue.
The Lebanese president istreadingcarefully,seeking tobalanceU.S.pressureand a desire to stop Israel’s attacks without appearing to be conceding too much to Israel.WhilesomeLebanese would tolerate the meetings between Lebanese and Israeli officials if they end the war, Hezbollah and its allies are adamant that the talks should have been indirect.
Israeliattacks
Many in Lebanon view Israel’s continued attacks as evidencethatitisnotserious about ending the war, which
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern city of Tyre on May 15, 2026 [AFP]
it has conducted to varying levels of intensity since October2023.
Themostrecenteruption came on March 2, after Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel following the USIsraeliassassinationofIran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israel had previouslyattackedLebanon morethan10,000timessince
approximately400people.
Israel has launched devastating attacks in Lebanon since March, but eventually agreed to a USbrokered ceasefire on April 16, which is set to expire on S
on Lebanonhavenotstopped.
Friday’sattacksincluded thekillingoftwopeopleina drone strike on a car in the
southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh, Mohammed AhmedAbu Zaid and Jamal Noureddine were collecting humanitarian aid Three ambulances were damaged intheattack,Lebanon’sstate newsagencyreported.
Another drone attack in Harouf killed three people and two others died in Tabeen.
Israeli attacks in Tyre district injured 37 people on Friday, according to the MinistryofHealth.
Israel issued forced evacuation orders for five villages in southern Lebanon, claiming it was striking Hezbollah targets in the area. Hezbollah said it carried out several drone attacks on Israel and Israeli troops in Lebanon, with several “explosive drones” fallinginnorthernIsrael.
What is the new strategy for...
Frompage5 the pursuit of a 100% renewable energy agenda.
The stakes are greater than what they currentlyhavetooffer Healthofthelandwill deteriorate and so will the health of the population. The preemptive move by the administration to establish many specialized medical care facilities in the country is testament to their shift from prevention to correctionwhenitcomestothehealthofour citizens. Health comes before wealth! They have once again taken the more lucrative approach, but it is also a less humane
approachtotakingcareofourpeople.Don’t forgetthehighnumberofourcitizensthatare above 100 years old. They grew up in a healthy environment and some of the most difficult economic periods of our nation’s development.Moneymustnotbethenumber one priority in our leaders’decision making. Guyana and other likeminded nations must return to the commitments made during the Paris Agreement. It is not only in our best interest to do so, but it is also in the best interestofourplanet.
The 21-year-old perpetrator behind the death of Oswain Lawson was remanded to prison on Friday after making his appearance at the Albion Magistrate’s Court in Corentyne.
Frank McCallister, a contractor of Heatburn Village, East Bank Berbice, stood before Magistrate Michelle Matthias, and was chargedwithmanslaughter
Thechargestatedthaton Tuesday, May 12, 2026, while at Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice, he unlawfully killed Lawson, a taxi driver of Lot 46 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam,Berbice.
McCallister is Lawson’s brother-in-law It is unclear what prompted the incident, which took place early Tuesday morning. Reports haveconfirmedthatLawson, a father of two, was on Monday evening partying with some friends at a hangout spot at Edinburgh Village. Moments after, just about 01:30am, he was reportedly stabbed while seated in his car According
Frank McCallister, remanded for manslaughter
toreports,thewoundedman sought to drive away from the location, but his car crashed into a roadside stall and ended up in a nearby trenchnottoofarfromwhere hewasreportedlyattacked.
Police in Region Six, after ruling the death a vehicular accident, updated it to murder following further investigation
McCallister was later arrestedonWednesday He is represented by attorneyChandraSohan.
Theprosecutionobjected to bail, considering the
seriousnessandnatureofthe offense.
Magistrate Matthias upheld the position of the prosecution and denied bail for the accused. The matter continuesonJune4,2026,at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’sCourt.
A p o s t - m o r t e m examination performed on Wednesday by government pathologist Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan It was determinedthatLawsondied as a result of multiple incise stab wounds, hemorrhaging andlungfailure.
‘Deportee’jailed18yearsfor Corentynerumshopmurder
AndrewSeegobin,aconstructionworker of John’s Village, Port Mourant, Corentyne, wasonFridaysentencedto18yearsinjailfor the2023killingofhisfriendatarumshopin thevillage.
The trial commenced on March 9, 2026. OnMarch16last,a12-memberjuryreturned a unanimous guilty verdict at the Berbice High Court after a two-hour long deliberation.
Seegobin, also known as ‘Deportee’, 32, was accused of the murder of 29-year-old Ramanand Mingo at John’s, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice on November 19, 2023 whiletheywereatabar
Onthatevening,aphysicalconfrontation ensued between Mingo, his brother and Seegobin. Mingo reportedly suffered a stab woundinflictedbySeegobinandwasrushed tothePortMourantHospitalwherehedied.
He pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial.DefenseAttorneySurihyaSabsookhad told the court during the trial that Seegobin actedinself-defenseashewastargetedbythe brothers.Inhisaccount,Seegobinstatedthat the now deceased Mingo had attacked him with a knife, which was deflected and accidentally caused Mingo to be fatally wounded.
The prosecution was led by prosecutor Marisa Edwards, who led testimonies from 15 witnesses, including the mother of the deceasedandapathologist.
Following the sentencing, Mingo’s mother Lilowtie Ramsammy, who sobbed throughout portions of the hearing, said her family was relieved for what she said was longawaitedjustice,butalsoemphasisedthat nothingcanreturnhersontoher
The prosecutor had relied on the testimony of government pathologist, Dr.
Vivekanand Bridgemohan to dispel claims thatthewoundwasaccidentallyinflicted.
During the sentencing hearing, Justice Kumar cited several mitigating factors. She highlighted that Seegobin had no prior conviction, and the fact that he expressed remorse and apologized to the family She also noted that he is a suitable candidate for rehabilitation, with the capacity to be reintegrated into society through lawful and acceptablemeans.
Weighing in on the aggravating factors, shepointedoutthenatureandcircumstances of the crime. The fact that the deceased was unarmedatthetimeoftheincidentinwhich he was stabbed to the chest was emphasised too. Justice Kumar also noted the weapon used to commit the crime. Seegobin was sentencedto18years,fromwhichdeductions willbemadefortimespentinremand;hewas remandedtoprisonin2023.
Outside the court following the sentencing, Seegobin’s relatives maintained his innocence, insisting that he did not kill Mingo,andsignaledtheirintentiontoappeal theruling.
Jailed for murder, Andrew Seegobin
Clappingwhilesufferingasmallstroke
Therewasatimein Guyanesepolitics whencrossingthe floor required a degree of shame, or at least the decency to look nervous whiledoingit.Amanwould lower his head, avoid eye contact in Parliament, mumble something about “national interest,” and quietly migrate to the other side.
Today, however, defections are treated like football transfers. There are negotiations, strategic leaks, t r i u m p h a n t p h o t o opportunities, and enough smiling handshakes to make you think someone just signedforManchesterCity
In modern Guyanese politics, a crossover is no longerapoliticaldecision.It isatelevisedbaptism.
And nowhere has this been elevated into a high political art form more than by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic.SincetheJagans died, the party has perfected
the crossover into a psychological instrument. It is no longer merely about gaining one additional
prominent opposition supporter Itisaboutmaking the opposing camp wake up in cold sweats wondering who is next to disappear fromwithinitsranks.
Of course, this tradition did not begin yesterday Guyanahasalwayshadfloor crossers and crossovers
Under Forbes Burnham,
figures drifted from The United Force toward the People’s National Congress, and later prominent PPP figures crossed dramatically intoBurnham’sorbit.
After the 1964 elections, Forbes Burnham initially governed in coalition with The United Force led by Peter D’Aguiar As the coalition weakened, a number of UF figures either supported Burnham more directlyormovedpolitically closer to the PNC, helping h i m c o n s o l i d a t e parliamentary control
Among the more notable names associated with this shiftwereRandolphCheeks.
The more famous defections, however, came later from the People’s Progressive Party to Burnham’s People’s National Congress during the 1970s The most significant was Ranji Chandisingh, widely regarded as Cheddi Jagan’s deputy or chief ideologue in the PPP before defecting to the PNC in 1975–76. Other prominent PPP figures who defectedtothePNCincluded Vincent Teekah, Harry Lall, Halim Majeed and Vic Puran.
But there is a small practical difficulty with political crossovers that nobody discusses openly because it ruins the celebration There is a perception that these new arrivalsmustbetreatedwell.
The PPPC knows the crossover must be rewarded extravagantly so others
observing from the opposition benches begin entertaining dangerous thoughts Every public appointment now carries a hidden message: “See? Thereislifeafterdefection.”
And this is where the cruelgeometryofdefections enters politics Because every political system has onlysomanychairs.Whena new man is invited to sit at the table, somebody else must suddenly discover the virtuesofstanding.
For every smiling newcomer welcomed at Freedom House or State House, there is an old party loyalistquietlybeingshifted sideways Somewhere, at this very moment, a faithful party worker who spent thirty years distributing pamphlets in the rain is watching a former political enemy receive an appointment and wondering whetherloyaltywasperhaps anadministrativeerror
One man complained that for more than 30 years, he was in the political trenches. He was beaten. He madesacrifices.Hestoodup fortheparty Andyetinthose thirtyyearshefailedatevery Congresstobeelectedtothe PPPC’s Central Committee.
De changing times
Demboyssehlongago,whendemboys see squash in de market, dem boys used to watchleftandwatchrightbeforebuyingone. Becauseindemdayssquashusedtobepoor man food. Squash used to rank lower than cook-upriceleftovers.
Dem boys seh years ago, if yuh pass throughBourdaMarketwithasquashinyuh hand, people used to look at yuh with sympathy Vendors practically used to beg people to buy squash. In fact, one time a vendortelldemboys,“Buydeboulangerand tek de squash free before it spoil pun me stall.”
And de prices used to shameful cheap too. Yuh coulda buy one whole respectable squash for $100 and still get change back enoughtobuyachannaball.Butlawdman, lookhowlifeturnupsidedown.
Today squash done get promoted in society Squash is now His Royal Highness Sir Squashalot de Third. Dem boys seh squash now walking round de market with more status than some government ministers.
Now when yuh approach a squash stall, yuh does feel like yuh entering a jewellery store.Onetinylilsquashsittingdownonde stall with a price tag that look like a phone
Imaginehowhefeltwhenhe saw newcomers achieve what he so desperately craved.
Imagine spending decades defending your party at rum shops, family quarrels, minibus arguments and Facebook comment sections only to watch someone who yesterday called your leaders incompetent suddenly emerge to take the place the place of you The poor loyalist must clap while internally suffering a small stroke.
Naturally this creates resentment and political
indigestion Because the crossover phenomenon exposesapainfultruthabout politics: parties often value converts more than believers Converts are trophies. They are proof of conquest Nobody erects monuments to the loyal Loyaltyisexpected.
number Five hundred dollars for a squash thatlooklikeitstillinnurseryschool.
Demboyssehpeoplenowboastingabout buyingsquash.
“Watch me nah bai!Ah cook squash las night.”
And people around yuh gasping with admirationlikeyuhjustbuyaLexus.
At de rate things going, dem boys seh banks gon soon start offering Squash Mortgages.
“Sir, unfortunately yuh salary only qualifyyuh for quarter-squash ownership at distime.”
Demboyssehsquashnowsoexpensive, people cutting it in scientific portions. Everybodyindehousegettingonelilsquare piece like communion wafer Nobody can ask for seconds because de family accountantgottoapprovedatfirst.
Dem boys seh in Guyana, once a food item become expensive, it automatically becomenutritious. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
Frompage3
And that, unfortunately, is the law of political physics. If new bodies enter the orbit, something else mustbedisplaced. Even in politics, gravity isundefeated.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
The irony, however, is delicious A party can become so busy recruiting converts that it risks demoralising the loyalists in its midst Because every crossover inevitably sends a message not only to the opposition but also to loyal supporters: move aside, somebody more politically usefulhasarrived.
Changing Guyana’s oil contract...
Guyana’s. “There was a strong case in Tanzania where they termed the contract a really bad contract and they renegotiated,” Paul shared. Previously, the former head of theEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA), Dr VincentAdamsarguedthatmajorchanges to Guyana’s oil reserves justify calls for renegotiationoftheExxoncontract.
In 2016, when the Coalition government renegotiatedandsignedthePSAwithExxon, thecountryhadonlyfoundapproximately1.1 billionbarrelsofoilintheStabroekBlock.To date over 10 billion more barrels have been discovered in the country’s Exclusive EconomicZone,amajorincreasethatAdams believes,validatescallsforarenegotiationof thelopsideddeal.
Although the GoG continues to use the ‘sanctity of contract’ as its reason for not renegotiating the contract, both parties have deviated from the terms and adjusted provisionsinthepast.
For instance, the contract specifically states that audits of the company’s expenses must be conducted within two years but this timelinehasbeenextended.
Additionally,stakeholdersarguedthatthe contract required a feasibility study to be conducted for the use of gas resources in Stabroek, however no such study was conducted.
An addendum to the contract was also signed to explicitly state that the 2% royalty paid by Exxon will not be recovered by the contractor
Welcomeback,brotherJagdeo
They say that it’s Bharrat Jagdeo. Thereisonlyone. Looks like him. Words read like him. Sounds like his speech pattern, though unheard, personally Limitedtoemergenciesforthesake of well-being. Welcome back, Bharrat Jagdeo: brother, VP, GS, FP.
Should any Guyanese think there is flattery involved, paving
thewayforacrossover,theydon’t knowme;don’tknowhe. Mustbe said again. Will take Bharrat Jagdeo once a quarter than ExcellencyAlidaily
The warning to Dr Jagdeo that he was creating a nightmare for Guyana in Dr. Ali was scoffed at, ignored. NowlookwhereGuyana at, with what it got for a leader: a stageperformer,atheateroperator,
a man good at reading lines, but pitifulatfollowingthem.
“No, the gas to the power plant is free. You can quote me on that. Gas to the power plant is free. We negotiated that a long time. We’ve beeninthepublicdomainassaying that the gas to come in – the 50 millioncubicfeetperdaycomingin tothepowerplant–isfree.Nothing has changed since.” Freeisfair,is right,isthebest. Freeisthewayit mustbe,withnootherway
Why pay for what belongs, is owned? No question that the vice president is quotable. It is why he wasmissed. Noendofdifferences, disputes, and down home getting down in one wrestling match after another
In that little extract, he used “free” three times. Wouldn’t have believed(evenifIsawhim)thatthe PPP GS was a Bible-reading man. Inthatgoodbook,threeisusedfor emphasis. There he was: “the gas…isfree. All“50millioncubic feetcomingintothepowerplant.”
A word of advice for the FP, please lineup IHS-Markit to count thosecubitfeet,onefootatatime. With the partners that Guyana landed, one never knows what thesefinefellowslearnedovertheir
decadesintheoilandgasbusiness, and now try such out on blindfolded, handcuffed, tonguetiedGuyana.
Jagdeo get the dirty jobs these days. Hehastobethebadguyand giveExxonthebadnews:thegasis free. Nohijinks(sixfornine). Pres Ali gets the smooching jobs, the ceremonialsatwhichhegetsbetter all the time. Like shaking hands andmakingspeechesandpromises that he cannot fulfill. Recall, my fellow Guyanese the one about transparency
Well, there’s Dr Jagdeo now back in the saddle who can make good on his own promise given during the elections’ecstasies that ‘accesstoinformationwillhaveto belookedat’andshouldn’tbehow itisandwhereitis. Iwanttoseeif itisthesameoleBharratJagdeo,or anewandimprovedone.
Though the ole Jagdeo has its uses, Guyana needs a new and betterJagdeo. Lookwhatithashad in his near half-year absence, cameos notwithstanding A cowboy, a doughboy, a saga boy, and what Guyana call a ‘pitee poh bhai.’ Dr Jagdeoisbackinaction, and with a few short days, a posse of PNC and AFC runover to his
side. Now, that’s One Guyana, that’s the promised unity No matterhowfaked,orforced.
There is Exxon marching across Guyana (and on Guyanese) as if the company owned it Nobody in the PPP Govt. saying, hey cut the foolishness, this is a partnershipofequals,soceasewith that old colonial-imperial arrogance Guyana is not America’s 51st State; that’s for others, and their eye-catching US$40trillionasset.
Last, the world is in the era of the strongman. There’s Modi, there’s Xi, and Putin and Trump. Insteadofastrongman,Guyanahas thewrongmanwhoispretendingto be a strongman. Agenuine Xmas blow-blow, all aglow but utterly hollow
Welcome back, brother Jagdeo (I mean it). Now let the games begin. Restartthefun.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthis newspaper.
Govt. now admits to US$97M settlement with Wales contractor
...afterdenying‘secretpayment’onemonthago
Onemonthafterdenying “secret payments” to the WalesGas-to-Energy(GTE) contractor, the government hasnowadmittedtomaking a US$97 million payment, increasingtheinitialcontract price of US$759 million by some12.8percent.
In a statement issued on Thursday evening, the OfficeofthePrimeMinister
explained, “ the Government and Lindsayca Guyana Inc. have reached a resolution on two matters decided by the Dispute Avoidance/ Adjudication Board(DAAB)inJanuaryof 2025 relating to soil stabilisation works required at the Wales site and to d e l a y - r e l a t e d provisions the settlement represents a 12.8 per cent increase over the original contractsumofUS$759M.”
On April 7, the prime minister’s office responded to a Kaieteur News article indicating that a US$80M paymentwassecretlypaidto theWalesGTEcontractorto settlethedispute.ThePMat the time however indicated, “There are no secret payments made to the contractor All payments are
made via the consolidated fund and reported to parliament. For the record, the parties have not advanced the arbitration process and as such there is no arbitration ruling Arbitration continues to be an option available to the parties It is therefore incorrect to suggest that the G o G h a s l o s t t h e arbitration.”
Followingthatstatement however, Kaieteur News published a subsequent article exposing the financials of Lindsayca which confirmed a payment to the tune of US$102 million.
In its recent missive, the governmentrevealedthatthis amicable resolution removes the need for further procee
s arbitration, and ensures that construction continues under a fully aligned, forwardlooking framework. Moreover, it was explained that both parties have agreed toforego“respectiverightsto historical liquidated damages, capped at 10 percentofthecontractprice” Governmentassuredthat while the settlement to
Lindsayca represents a 12.8 per cent increase over the original contract sum of US$759 million, the government’s total expenditure for the wider project, comprising the 300 megawatt (MW) power plant, the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility, transmission works, substations, 230 kV and 69 kV lines, and the new national control centre, remains within 10 per cent contingency of its budget of
US$1billion.
“As such, the GtE plant, theTransmission/Substation projectundertakenbyKPIL, the new National Control
C e n t e r ( N C C ) a t Goedverwagting, and all other project related costs funded by GoG, were all budgeted at $1 billion based on the published contract price.Theoverallcostisnot expected to exceed US$1.1 billion, including the 10 per centcontingency,”theprime minister’sofficestated.
To this end, it was explained that the commitment to deliver power to the national grid and reduce tariffs by 50 per centremainsontrack.
A c c o r d i n g t o government, substantial progress has been recorded in works at the site thus far, withstringentmilestonesset moving forward, following an agreement with Lindsayca Guyana Inc. to bring the first power turbine onlinebytheendof2026.It saidthiswillbefollowedby all gas turbines which are expected to be fully commissioned by the first quarter of 2027 and the combinedcycleoperationto becompletedbyJune2027.
OPM pointed out that “failure to meet these milestones will allow the government to re-instate liquidated damages against thecontractor.”
Meanwhile, it was explainedthattheworkforce isexpectedtoriseto1,100in the second quarter of 2026 andpeakbetween1,400and 1 , 6 0 0 w o r k e r s a s constructionreachesitsmost intensivestage.
P
Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips said, “The Wales Gas to Energy project represents a defining moment for Guyana and for the energy future of every citizenofthisnation.Weare satisfied with the progress beingmadeandremainfully committed to ensuring that Guyanese households and businesses benefit This project will cut electricity costs in half, and we are firmlyontracktodeliveron thatpromise.”
CONFIDENTIALITY?
Just over a year ago, the GoG claimed that it could not reveal the ruling of the Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Board (DAAB) regarding complaints filed by the contractor InFebruary2025,Office of the president stated, “In relation to this ruling, the parties to the dispute resolutionprocessarebound by certain rules of confidentiality.”
Sources close to the controversial Wales Gas-toEnergy (GTE) project first disclosed the dispute settlement as was published byKaieteurNews.
Prime Minister, Mark Phillips
Guyana, Suriname Presidents advance talks on Corentyne River Bridge, trade and energy
President Irfaan Ali and President of Suriname, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons held discussions Friday on several bilateral issues, including the Corentyne River Bridge, and the fisheries and energy sectors, amongothermatters
According to a brief post ontheofficeofthepresident’s Facebook page, the two leaders discussed current challenges posed by heavy rainfall and its consequential effects They also addressed ongoing bilateral issues, including the Corentyne River Bridge, the fisheries sector, ease of trade, energy, andagriculture.
PresidentAli said he was pleased with the countries’ “shared commitment in deepening our partnership and friendship to ensure f u r t h e r e c o n o m i c cooperation, expansion of trade and integration of our economies”
The statement said both presidents committed to workingwithinathree-month framework to finalise many ofthematters,withtheaimof deepening economic cooperation,expandingtrade, and further integrating the twocountries’economies.
M e a n w h i l e , t h e Surinamese President via a
post on her Facebook page stated “Today I had a constructive and friendly online discussion with President Irfaan Ali of Guyana During the conversation,wetalkedabout theeffectsofclimatechange and the increasing flooding thatourcountriesarefacing. We emphasised the importance of intensive cooperation to tackle these challengestogether.”
TheSurinamesepresident disclosed that it was agreed that the Ministers of Public Works of both countries will cooperate on the water problem and infrastructural measures at the technical level
Sheaddedthatdiscussions were held on further strengthening the socioeconomic cooperation between Suriname and Guyana, including cooperation in the field of oil andgas,thefisheriesissueand the passage on the Corantijn River(CorentyneRiver)
“We have agreed to meet again within the SurinameGuyana Strategic Dialogue andCooperationPlatformon short notice In addition, we will actively involve the private sector in the further cooperation journeys,” she said
Frontline Customs Officers now mandated to wear body cameras
The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Friday announced that it is now mandatory for Customs Officers in the frontline areas of the International Airports, wharves, transitshedsandonlawenforcementexercisestowearbody cameras.
In a statement released on its Facebook page, GRAsaid, “This is in keeping with the GRA’s efforts in promoting transparency,accountability,integrity,andfacilitateevidence collection,andisgearedtoinstillpublicconfidenceandtrust in the system, while facilitating smooth processing of passengersandexamination/releaseofgoods.”
Further, the revenue authority said that the move aligns with Customs modernization efforts over the last few years “and is expected to improve Customs efficiency and ensure compliance with the trade, tax, and border laws while simultaneously improving professionalism, and providing audio-visual evidence of incidents that may be needed for furtherinvestigations.”
TheGRAsaidthatStandardOperatingProcedures(SOPs) have been implemented for the management, retention, and storageofrecordedfootage.Shouldtherebeanabuseofthe system or need for clarification persons are asked to contact the office of the Comptroller on 227-6060 extensions 2301, 3201-10.
President Irfaan Ali and President of Suriname, Jennifer Geerlings-Simons meeting virtually on Friday.
Education in collaboration with the Greater Guyana Initiative and Recover Guyana on Friday advanced Project FLOW the National Water Purification Sustainability Initiative, with the commissioning of 15 water purification systems at secondary schoolsinRegionThree.
Accordingtoareleaseby RecoverGuyana,over9,000 beneficiaries, including students and teachers, will now be able to access safe and reliable purified drinking water across schools in the region. The commissioning of the water systems was held at the TuschenSecondarySchool.
Recover Guyana explained that FLOW, the signature project of the Greater Guyana Initiative, represents a major national investment in education and environmental sustainability, focusedonexpandingaccess to clean drinking water, promoting reusable bottle
use, and reducing environmental impact across schoolcommunities
“Launchedasafour-year national programme, the initiative aims to improve
access to purified drinking water for more than 58,000 students across 141 public secondaryschools,10TVET institutions,andfourspecial needs schools by 2030,
Scenes from the launch of Project FLOW, the National Water Purification Sustainability Initiative in Region Three on Friday
contributing directly to global sustainability priorities,”thereleasestated.
Delivering the featured address, Minister of Education, Sonia Parag
laudedtheprojectandnoted, “Thispartnershipisnotonly about development and shared benefits, but also about innovation and sustainability, all of which
improve the quality of education. It aligns directly withthegovernment’svision to strengthen education and infrastructurewhilecreating cleaner, safer environments andcommunities.”
Speaking also was projectleadandpresidentof Recover Guyana, Dr Dave Lalltoo.Henotedthat
Continuedonpage18
Mayor of New Amsterdam, Wainwright McIntosh
New Amsterdam M&TC grappling with waste disposal crisis
The Mayor and Town Council (M&TC) of New Amsterdam is facing mountingchallengesthatare severely affecting its waste management operations, with the municipality currently operating without alandfillsiteofitsown.
With the situation stymieing the efforts of the council, Mayor of New Amsterdam, Wainwright McIntosh took to social mediaonFridaytoweighin on what he said is a distress tothemunicipality “I would’ve received complaintsfromresidentsin relation to their bins not being serviced in over a month these are all challenges.”
“Socurrently,thereisno landfill site in the town of New Amsterdam. We were advisedtoutilisethelandfill site at Rose Hall town, Corentyne,” the mayor explained.
While that was a welcomed alternative, it is not without hassles For instance, the distance from New Amsterdam to Rose Hall, and the traffic encumbrances along the routecausemanydelays,the mayorstressed.
There is also the consideration of fuel consumption, which will depend on the municipal coffers. These factors are solely responsible for inconsistencies with the council’s garbage collection schedule.
“Citizens would have noticed that the garbage collection schedule is a bit off....and the reason for that shift in schedule - we’re unable to stick with the proposed schedule for garbage collection throughoutthetown-isasa result of the distance and time to deposit both commercial and residential waste all the way to the Corentyne corridor,” McIntosh explained in his
socialmediaaddress. Hecalledonresidentsto exercise patience as solutionsarebeingcraftedin conjunction with the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development. Citizens are also cautioned against indiscriminately disposing theirwaste.
The Esplanade Park site was in operation for several decades, providing largescale garbage disposal convenience for residents in a n d a r o u n d N e w Amsterdam.
Subsequent to its closure, the council made arrangements for the use of theBelleVuesite,locatedon the East Bank Berbice. This was met with pushback by residents of that area, and blockages were set up to preventaccess.Shortlyafter, thesiteoperationwashalted.
The municipality is now left scampering for timely solutions as some citizens are faced with overflowing bins.Theworryingsituation runs counterproductive to the municipality’s recent acquisitionofanewgarbage truck. Currently, the M&TC retainsfourgarbagetrucksin itsfleet.
Back in February, McIntosh had disclosed that the municipal body was in formal talks with the local governmentministrytohave a new location for a landfill site. So far, no area was identified This was confirmedtothispublication byMcIntoshonFriday Meanwhile, the mayor disclosed that the annual government subvention provided through the Local Government Ministry is yet to reach the council’s treasury, even though the national budget was already approved in the national assembly nearly three monthsago.
Thecouncilreliesonthat financial allocation for its capitalwork.
The project which is estimated to cost $180,928,829 was opened recently at the National Procurement and Tender AdministrationBoard(NPTAB)office,wheretwobidswere received.
According to an invitation for bids, the government of Guyana has received financing from the CARICOM DevelopmentFund(CDF),towardthecostoftheAgricultural Infrastructure Development Programme (AIDP) The documentstatedthatpartofthefundswillbeusedtofinance thehoneylaboratoryproject.
Region Three accounts for 16 completed FLOW sites, includingtheWestDemerara Secondary School pilot project, which demonstrated extensivemeasurableimpact by saving more than 65,000 plastic bottles within just nine months-ultimately helping to pave the way for the national expansion of FLOWacrossGuyana.
He expressed “Through the partnership of Recover Guyana,theGreaterGuyana Initiative, the Ministry of Education, communities, schools, technical experts, and countless hardworking individuals, Region Three now stands as a national example of sustainable development done correctly.”
RepresentingtheGreater Guyana Initiative which is a 10-year, US$100M commitmentbyExxonMobil Guyana,Hess,andCNOOC, President of ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge said at the ceremony that through this initiative, they are working to support projects that improve lives, strengthencommunities,and create long-term value for Guyana. “The FLOW Water Purification Sustainability Initiative is a perfect example of what that commitment looks like in action,”headded.
Lauding the project also, was headteacher of Leguan SecondarySchool,Elizabeth Petriewhostatedthatpriorto FLOW, the school was purchasing water for students. “Students are now able to stay hydrated throughout the school day, which contributes positively to their concentration, attendance,andoverallwellbeing,”shenoted.
Noting the impact of the project was Principal of Leonora Technical and Vocational Training Center, Mr. Mark Adams who highlighted the broader learning value of the
intervention. He said “The introduction of a solarpowered system has created v a l u a b l e l e a r n i n g opportunities for our electrical students, giving them hands-on experience with modern, renewable technologies. Our trainees will be actively involved in operating and maintaining the system, helping to build boththeirtechnicalskillsand senseofresponsibility.”
According to Recover Guyana, in addition to improved access to clean water, the initiative is expected to deliver significant socio-economic and environmental value at both the school and community level, including projected savings of $87M within the region over a three-yearperiod.
“ P r o j e c t F L O W advances a
rong environmental sustainability agenda through integrated smart monitoring systems installed at each site. These systems track the number of plastic bottles saved daily, with data automatically uploaded to Recover Guyana’s digital platform, e
s u r e m e n t o f environmentalimpactacross schools.
T h r o u g h t h i s mechanism, the initiative is projectedtoreducetheuseof approximately 25 million plastic bottles by the end of the project, significantly reducing plastic pollution w h i l e p r o m o t i n g environmental stewardship a n d r e s p o n s i b l e consumption among students and communities,” theorganisationexplained. Further,RecoverGuyana mentioned that FLOW will continue to expand across other regions nationwide, withatargetofreaching155 educational institutions by 2029. It was announced that the project be launching in RegionSixshortly.
YMCA Ground returns to top condition despite heavy rains
TheteamatNexgenGolf AcademyandWestsideGolf
Course continues to demonstrate its commitment to sports development through affordable and e f f e c t i v e g r o u n d maintenance services across Guyana.
GFFkicksoffgear distribution ahead of YouthEnsembleprogram
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) recently distributed equipment to associations from across the 9 regions ahead of the upcoming U13, U15 and U17 Boys’ Championships.
Following Saturday’s official launch of the Youth Ensemble Programme the GFF presented gear which featured footballs, bibs and refereeing equipment such as jerseys,flags,cardsandwhistles.
Saturday May 16, 2026
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
Be careful not to lose your temper today, Aries. You're chompingatthebitthesedays, although your daring nature hasbeenreinedinbyfinancial andprofessionalconstraints.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
Today time will stop and might even seem to go backward. Thecluesfromthe Zodiac seem to suggest that you're currently settling questionsthatconcernthefate ofanotherperson.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Overall,theclimateistenseat work and at home, Gemini. You'll sense a feeling of restlessness and a longing for change, but you'll also feel a reluctance to make any real movesinthatdirection.
CANCER(June21–July22)
You can interpret the day ahead as an open-ended question about you, Cancer Youmayhavenoticedcertain physical or psychological aspects of yourself that make youuncomfortable.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Sometimes people might reproach you for being less than tactful in relationships. Today'splanetaryenergiesare going to help you be more sensitive.You'llfeelasthough you suddenly have a much greatercapacityforlistening.
VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)
You have an unusual gift for making a situation seem less dramatic Today,you'llwitness crisesofallkinds Youwillbe the one who reassures people, andtheonewhocansumupthe situation objectively without panickingorexaggerating
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Dare to express your ideas withoutfearofridicule.Thisis what the planetary configurationhastosaytoyou today,Libra.Andthisisexactly whatyouneedtohear,because fear of ridicule is generally yourAchillesheel.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
Ifyou'vealwaysfeltthedesire towrite,nowisthetimetotake the plunge, Scorpio You certainly don't lack the imagination! Your problem maybethatyouhavedifficulty takingyourproseseriously
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
You might have some strong hesitationsduringtheday You mayhavetocoverupthetruth or, on the contrary, say it out loud. If this is the case, say what'sonyourmind.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Therearemomentswhenyour powersofclearthinkingreveal the tremendous amount of maturity that you have, Capricorn.Youaren'tusuallya dreamer, so it's rather difficult to lead you into ambiguous situations.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
You may have felt somewhat frustrated in your initiatives over the past few days. Either outside obstacles, such as events that caused delays, or inner restraints, such as your ownapathy
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
It will be a stimulating day for you, Pisces! You'll feel great andhavenotroublechanneling all your energy into your activities But don't be surprised if you encounter someresistance.
The YMCAGround was recently refurbished by the maintenance team and, despitefiveconsecutivedays ofheavyrainfall,thefacility remainsintopconditionand fully usable for sporting activities.
Another success story is the Gandhi Youth Organization Ground, home of Regal All Stars Cricket Club led by Anil Hardyal. Throughitspartnershipwith Nexgen Golf Academy and Westside Golf Course, the venue has continued to provide reliable weekly accessforcricketers.
“Ever since we started the relationship to maintain ourground,theyhavekeptit in excellent condition week after week, even at a moment’snotice,”saidAnil.
Several other prominent facilities, including Demerara Cricket Club, Malteenoes Sports Club, GNIC,andQueen’sCollege, havealsobenefitedinrecent months from the extensive groun
nten
expertiseandthelargestfleet of commercial mowers operated by Nexgen Golf AcademyandWestsideGolf Course.
According to Aleem Hussain, “We see a strong connectionbetweengolfand cricket, and as a result, we will continue to provide affordable maintenance servicestoanysportsground upon request Interested organizations can call 6450944andwewilldoourbest torespondpromptly.”
The initiative continues to play an important role in ensuring that sporting facilities remain accessible and functional year-round, especially during Guyana’s challengingrainyseason.
TheGFFisalsoexpectedtogivefinancialcontributions toassistwithgroundrentals,paymentofmedicalpersonnel and coordinators, refreshments, and other match-day operationalandlogisticalrequirements.
“Iwanttothanktheregionalassociationsfortheirhard work,commitmentandunwaveringsupportaswecontinue to build stronger foundations for youth football across Guyana. Your efforts are critical to the successful implementation of theYouth Ensemble Programme and to creating meaningful opportunities for our young players,” SaidGFFpresidentWayneForde.
The Youth Ensemble Programme is geared towards providing significant future opportunities as a means of an overall investment scheme which targets football developmentacrossGuyana.
Action will kick off on weekends primarily with all matchesaimedatfurtherpreparingGuyana’sfuturecropof playersfortheirtimeontheinternationalfixtures.
Gandhi Ground has also been restored to optimum shape
Harpy Eagles and Red Force set for 2026 West Indies C’ship Title Showdown
ST.JOHN’S,Antigua
The 2026 West Indies Championship final is set. The teams have earned their spots but only one will lift thetrophy.
The Guyana Harpy Eagles, who secured their placeinthefinalbyfinishing top of the standings, used their four-day clash against the West IndiesAcademy to send a message to their prospective opponents with an innings-and-21-runs victory
Meanwhile, Trinidad & TobagoRedForcedidthings the hard way with a hardfought 140-run playoff victory over Barbados Pride to claim the second spot in the final, which gets underwayfromSunday,May 17attheSirVivianRichards StadiuminNorthSound.The Guyana Harpy Eagles arrived at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) for their warm-up fixture with Academy, which was grantedfirst-classstatus,and
madeanemphaticstatement to put their potential final rivals on notice as they did battleafewkilometresaway at the Coolidge Cricket Ground.
The match at the ARG was defined by individual brilliance from the outset.
On Day 1, West Indies Academy captain Rivaldo ClarkeandallrounderAmari Goodridge combined for an unbroken 280-run seventhwicket partnership to rescue theirsidefrom169-6,toend on423-6.
Clarke went on to make 180 off 228 balls and Goodridgecompiled123off 185, as theAcademy posted 485 all out. Despite their healthy first innings score, the Harpy Eagles used the ground’s famous featherbed to bat Academy out of the game.
Matthew Nandu was the cornerstone of Guyana’s reply with a career-best 237 in an innings that ended 13 minutes before the ten-hour
mark. He shared a colossal 255-run
-wicket partnershipwith19-year-old debutant Jonathan Van Lange, who announced himselfontheregionalfirstclass stage with a fluent 133 inclusive of 20 fours and a singlesix.
Richie Looknauth crafted an assured 77 while Gudakesh Motie stroked an even48,astheHarpyEagles were eventually bowled out for 663 with a commanding lead of 178 runs. Zishan Motara was the pick of Academy’sbowlerswithsix wickets at the cost of 202 runs. With the Academy needing to bat well to stay outoftroubleintheirsecond innings, Looknauth’s offspin proved unplayable despite ARG’s historic reputation for being favourableforbatters. He ripped through Academy’s batting lineup to finish with 6-36 from 12 overs, supported by
Gudakesh Motie (2-27) and Thaddeus Lovell (2-56), as Academy folded for 157 in 42overs.
Across town at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, thecontestwasatenseaffair fromtheopeningday RedForce’sfastbowlers Anderson Phillip, Terrance Hinds and Jayden Seales dismantled the Pride’s top order,reducingthemto47-6 in their reply to T&T’s first innings total of 333, before lower-order resistance from Leniko Boucher (80), Shamar Springer (51) and Joshua Bishop (99*) dragged Barbados to 296 all out.Bishopwasleftstranded one run short of his third first-class century after adding47forthelastwicket withJomelWarrican.
Bishopthenturnedtothe ball, snaring 6-87 alongside Roston Chase’s 3-67 as Red Force were 280 all out in theirsecondinnings.Cephas Cooper batted through for a century after being dismissed in the 90s in the first innings while Khary Pierre struck a crucial 64 to help set the Pride a target of 318towin.
Guyana Harpy Eagles’captain Tevin Imlach and T&T Red Force’s captain, Joshua DaSilva. (CWI)
Chanderpaul looks formidable, while their spin attack, led by Motie and Permaulhasbeenreinforced by Looknauth’s recent displays.
The West Indies
Championship final promises to be a fascinating contest between two sides who have peaked at exactly the right moment. Guyana’s batting order, anchored by the in-form Nandu and the reliable Tagenarine
PierreandBryanCharles then combined to demolish the Pride’s second innings with a masterclass in spin bowling.Pierrewasthechief destroyer, finishing with 554,whileCharleschippedin with 4-62. The Pride were dismissed for 177 all out, handingtheRedForcea140runvictory
However, Trinidad & Tobagohavetheirownsetof match-winners. Pierre is a proven force with both bat and ball while their pace attack gives them an aggressive edge in the first innings of a final that could well go deep into Day 4. With four days of cricket ahead, all signs point to a fitting finale to a thrilling regionalseason.
LocalPlayersconfirmedfollowingCPLDraft
The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) draft has taken place, with the seven teams confirming the West Indian playerswhowillformpartof their squads for the 2026 tournament,whichrunsfrom 7 August to 20 September Overseas players will be announced over the coming weeks.
The Barbados Tridents have selected Gudakesh Motie, who leaves the Guyana Amazon Warriors after five years with his home franchise The Tridents also re-drafted fellow Guyanese player Sherfane Rutherford, who was part of the Barbados squad in 2025. Barbados used their Right to Match Options (RMOs) to re-sign Brandon King, Kadeem Alleyne, Rivaldo Clarke, Johann Layne and Kofi James. Zishan Motara also returns to the Tridents for 2026.
The Trinbago Knight Riders have used their RMOs to re-sign Sunil
Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Akeal Hosein and Terrance Hinds. That hugely experienced core will be vital as the KnightRiderslooktodefend thetitletheysecuredin2025. There are also some new faces in the squad, with Barbadians Justin Greaves andDominicDrakesjoining the Trinidad & Tobago franchise for the first time.
havingplayedfortheStKitts &NevisPatriotsin2025.He willbejoinedbynewcomers Dexter Sween and Abdul Raheem-Toppin.
The St Kitts & Nevis Patriots have drafted Johnson Charles, the CPL’s all-time leading run-scorer He is joined by Andre Fletcher, who sits second on the CPL run-scoring charts. ThePatriotsusedanRMOto re-sign Fletcher, while also right to matching Kyle
Tridents, they have replaced him with fellow left-arm spinner Khary Pierre, who was part of the Kings squad in 2025. The remainder of the Amazon Warriors squad is made up of Guyanese players, with Ronaldo Alimohamed, Veersammy Permaul,MavendraDindyal and Jonathan van Lange all joining the 2026 squad. Of the 12 local players selected bytheWarriors,10arefrom Guyana.
Mayers,AlickAthanaze and Mikyle Louis. They have drafted Jason Holder back into the squad and secured the services of Kevin WickhamandObedMcCoy, who both join the team for thefirsttimein2026.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors have used their RMOs to retain Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Shai Hope and Shamar Joseph. While they lost Gudakesh Motie to the
The Jamaica Kingsmen h a v e d r a f t e d t w o experienced local players with outstanding T20 records in Rovman Powell and Andre Russell. They have also selected fellow Jamaicans Odean Smith, Vitel Lawes, Jeavor Royal and Kirk McKenzie. The Kingsmen have additionally picked Keemo Paul, Keacy Carty and Shaqkere Parris, all of whom have previous CPLexperience.
The Antigua & Barbuda Falcons welcome local star Alzarri Joseph to the squad after his five-season stint
with the Saint Lucia Kings. TheFalconshavealsosigned thehugelyexperiencedEvin Lewis, who leaves the Patriots after more than a decade with the St Kitts & Nevisfranchise.TheFalcons usedRMOstore-signFabian Allen, Jayden Seales and AmirJangoo.Theyhavealso brought back Shamar Springer, Rahkeem Cornwall and Karima Gore, who were all part of the Falconssquadin2025.New faces include Anderson Mahase and Anderson Phillip.
The Saint Lucia Kings used their RMOs to retain Roston Chase, Matthew Forde and Keon Gaston They have brought in exciting Antiguan batter Jewel Andrew, while also welcoming back Saint Lucian McKenny Clarke, who was with the Knight Riders in 2025. The Kings have also selected Trinidadian top-order batter Kamil Pooran, along with Damion Joachim, Joshua BishopandDarronNedd.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors have used their RMOs to retain Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Shai Hope and Shamar Joseph. (Getty Images)
Team Guyana commence Inter-Chess Intercontinental Tourney
The Guyana Prison Service’s chess team commenced their Intercontinental InterPrisonsChesstournamentwhichcommenced Thursday.
The competition is being held using a round-robin Swiss system, which means therearenoknockoutrounds.
The tournament concluded with Guyana ranking13thoutof21teams.
It is important to note that this event is sanctioned by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) and features teams from around the world,underthetitle-ChessforFreedom.
Guyana has won games against USA Kansas (4-0), GuyanaYouthTeam (4-0) and St.Lucia(3-1).However,Guyanalostgames to El Salvador (1-3), Mexico (0-4) and USA Chicago(1-3).
Guyana Prison Service Chess team started their journey in intercontinental Inter-Prisons tournament this week.
West Indies Women begin final prep in Wales ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
STJOHN’S,Antigua–CricketWestIndies(CWI)hasannounced the arrival of a 16-member contingent of West Indies Women in Newport, Wales for a high-intensity preparatory camp from May 14–23 in the build-up to the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England.
The camp forms a critical phase of the “Maroon Warriors” preparationprogrammeaheadofanimportanttri-nationT20seriesin Ireland featuring the hosts Ireland and Pakistan, which will provide valuablematchexposureinconditionssimilartothoseexpectedatthe upcomingglobaltournament.
The squad will utilise the 10-day camp to sharpen all aspects of their game through technical sessions, tactical planning, match simulations,fitnessconditioning,andteam-buildingexercisesasthey continue preparations for their long-awaited return to the ICC Women’sT20WorldCupstage.
TheWestIndiesWomenenterthisperiodofpreparationdetermined to make a strong statement and having reached the semi-finals of the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the team believes it has grown significantly in experience, depth, and confidence over the past two years.
CWI’sDirectorofCricket,MilesBascombe,spoketothevalueof thelocationofboththecampandthetri-series,astheregionalsideseek to the repeat the historic triumph of ten years ago when they won the 2016tournament.
“TheopportunitytotrainintheUnitedKingdonandthenalsoget the experience of playing competitive matches in Ireland in similar conditionsimmediatelypriortothestartoftheJune5thtournamentis invaluable”,saidBascombe.
“This period will be utilized to help the squad gel, cement gameplans and remain connected. We are looking forward to a great showingbyseveralkeyveteransandtheemergenceofourfuturestars, onthebackofthisextendedpreparation.”
The camp in Wales follows a deliberate preparation pathway designed by CWI and the team management unit, which has already includedwhite-ballcontestsagainstSriLankaandAustraliaearlierthis year
The upcoming tri-series in Ireland is expected to provide another valuable opportunity for the squad to fine-tune combinations and strengthen execution under pressure before the World Cup officially begins.
The West Indies Women begin the tri-nation series on May 28th againstIreland,withtheirfinalfixturebeingagainstPakistanonJune 3rd, before returning to England for the World Cup and their first encounteragainstNewZealandonJune13th.
