Kaieteur News

misleading profit claims Profit Lies? OGGN calls out

“They sent me home with pain tablets”

- 26-year-old says Diamond Hospital missed lung infection that nearly killed her

…forcedtoseekprivatecarebefore beingdiagnosedwithpneumonia

A26-year-old woman of Grove,EastBankDemerara, says she is lucky to be alive after doctors at the $6.6 billion Diamond Regional Hospital allegedly sent her home with painkillers, despite her showing clear symptoms of a serious lung infection.

The young woman, whose name is being withheld, told Kaieteur News that she visited the hospital on October 12 complaining of sharp chest painnearherleftribcageand difficultybreathing.Shesaid a nurse took her complaints and sent her for a heart test.

“When I go into the doctor, she say that your heart is healthy and she checked my breathing with the thing around her neck. After that she said everything sound okay and it could be kidney stone. She just give me a paper and tell me go to the pharmacy and collect some medication and that was it,” theresidentexplained.

Even though the doctor informed her that she may have kidney stones, the young woman said no furthertestswereconducted. Still in pain, the woman left the hospital with the two recommended pain

The young lady finally receiving appropriate treatment at the public health facility

relievers. A day later, the young lady's symptoms felt worse, forcing her to visit a privateclinic.“WhenIwent hedidsomebloodworkand an X-ray and he see that my lungs was cloudy and he gavemeareferraltogoback to Diamond. He couldn't do more tests because he only had a limited amount of thingshecoulddo.Hedidn't give me a diagnosis. He just said my lungs look kind of cloudyandthatIshouldgoto the hospital immediately with it because it could be fluid,”shesaid. In even greater pain and

shortness of breath, the womantookthereferralslip to the Diamond Regional Hospital where a number of additional tests were finally administered to determine the cause of her condition.

“Thesameday(October13) they admit me and diagnose me They say it was community acquired pneumonia and some pneumonia effusion The day when I was there, I overheard one of the nurses saying that they are short of staff,”sherecalled.

The young lady said she spoke with a friend at the

The recently commissioned $6.6B Diamond Regional Hospital

The pain killers that were prescribed for the young lady

hospital who complained of a shortage of staff. “Them always short of staff so they hurry up to treat the next patient,” she detailed P n e u m o n i a i s a n inflammatory condition that affects the lungs.According to research, it can be deadly

if left untreated The infection can spread, and in severe cases, lead to breathing difficulties, organ damage, or other serious healthproblems.

This newspaper understands that the young woman was later treated

with antibiotics and other suitable drugs after she was admitted at the Diamond Hospital. She fears that her health could have taken a turnfortheworsehadshenot paidforprivatehealthcare. “If I didn't go to see that (Continuedonpage9)

Cow on road causes fatal smash-up

...Dartmouth woman dies, boyfriend hospitalised

Police in Regional Division #2 are investigating a tragic accident that claimed the life of 34-year-old Yolanda John of Dartmouth,EssequiboCoast,onWednesday night.

Thefatalcrashoccurredaround19:30hrs along the Elisa Public Road, Essequibo Coast, and involved a motorcycle (registrationnumberunknown)drivenby23year-old Leroy Prince, also of Dartmouth, andacow,policesaidinapressrelease.

According to investigators, Prince had pickeduphisgirlfriend,Yolanda,fromwork andwasheadingnorthalongthepublicroad when a cow suddenly appeared on the westernside.Princetoldpoliceheswervedto avoidhittingtheanimalbutstillcollidedwith it,losingcontrolofthemotorcycle.

The impact threw both riders onto the roadway, where Yolanda sustained severe injuries.ShewasrushedtotheLimaRegional Hospitalbutdiedwhilereceivingtreatment.

A breathalyser test conducted on Prince returnednegativeforalcohol.Heremainsin police custody assisting with the investigation,whilethemotorcyclehasbeen lodgedattheAnnaReginaPoliceStationfor inspection A post-mortem examination conducted on Thursday by Government

The ill-fated motorcycle

Pres. Ali sets Nov. 3rd for opening of 13th Parliament

President Dr Irfaan Ali has officially issued the Proclamation for the opening of the 13th Parliament of Guyana, scheduled for Monday, November 3, 2025, at 14:00 hrs.

In a live broadcast on Thursday, President Ali announced that the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) will serve as the venue for both the opening

ceremony and the subsequent sittings of the NationalAssembly

The President's proclamation marks a key step in Guyana's postelection transition following

the dissolution of the 12th Parliament on July 3, 2025, whichpavedthewayforthe General and Regional ElectionsheldonSeptember 1, 2025 The People's Progressive Party Civic, PPP/Csecuredvictoryatthe pollsandAliwaselectedfor asecondterm.

He was sworn in on September 7, followed by the appointment of his cabinetinthedaysafter The ceremonial opening of Parliament is expected to feature

onal proceedings, including an address by President Ali outlining his government's legislative and development

Biker killed in horrific multi-vehicle crash on Rupert Craig Highway

A 45-year-old man was killed on Thursday after colliding with two cars along the Rupert Craig Highway, East Coast Demerara.

Police said they are investigating the accident which occurred in the vicinity of Pump Road, and which resulted in the death

of Jomo Peters of Haslington New Scheme, EastCoastDemerara.

Accordingtoreports,the accident involved motorcar PYY 4296 driven by a 21year-old female; motorcar PAE 9879 driven by a 28year-old female; and motorcycle CR 2701 which wasdrivenbyPeters.

According to reports, Peters was proceeding east

along the highway, allegedly at a fast rate, and without the use of a safety helmet. Police said he was overtaking the eastern line of traffic (while the ‘third

lane’wasinprogress),when theleftsidehandlebarofhis motorcyclecollidedintothe frontleftsideandrear-view mirror of motorcar PYY 4296whichwasproceeding west along the same road, causing him to lose control.

Peters further crashed into the left side front portion of motor car PAE 9879 which wasalsoproceedingwest.

Peterswasflungontothe median after his collision withthelastcar

He sustained multiple injuries about his head and body

EMT’s were summoned to the scene, where he was pronounced dead. His body was taken to the Memorial Gardens Mortuary awaiting apost-mortemexamination.

Breathalyser tests conducted on both drivers, showed no trace of alcohol. Both drivers are in custody assisting with further investigations.

...critics say government

“ran

on constitutional deadline

w parliamentaryterm.

Under Article 69 (1) of the Constitution of Guyana, Parliament must meet no later than four months after dissolution.

The provision states: “Each session of Parliament shall be held at such place within Guyana and shall beginatsuchtime(notbeing later than six months from the end of the preceding session if Parliament has been prorogued or four months from the end of that session if Parliament has been dissolved) as the President shall appoint by proclamation.”

Theoppositionandother s t a k e h o l d e r s h a d complained about the delay in in the summoning of Parliament The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) last Thursday demanded the immediate summoning of the 13th Parliament In a press release, the union said that Guyana's “urgent business

cannotwaitanylonger.”“As Guyana faces mounting c h a l l e n g e s t h e management of our crucial oil and gas resources, a soaring cost of living, deepening poverty, and escalating tensions between the United States (U.S.) and Venezuela placing our country at risk swift parliamentary action is imperative,”theGTUCsaid. Additionally, the GTUC reiterated its call for inclusive democracy as m a n d a t e d b y t h e Constitution of Guyana “Effective governance requiresthefullparticipation of all Guyanese, united underthemotto:OnePeople, One Nation, One Destiny This shared responsibility must be embraced without delay

T h e i m m e d i a t e convening of the 13th Parliament is not only necessary—it is essential to safeguard our nation's future.”

The opposition in

criticising the delay had argued that urgent national matters remain unattended.

Businessman Terrence Campbell,whoissettolead A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) in the 13th Parliament, had expressed frustration, saying his parliamentary team is already prepared “My parliamentary team is ready for parliament to be convened. We at this point have no idea why the President seems to be delaying by using up the entire timeframe of four monthsfortheconveningof Parliament,butweareready for parliament to be convenedtomorrow,“hehad saidbackthen.

Campbell emphasised thatseveralpressingnational issues must be urgently addressed,particularlythose relating to the electoral system.

As the newly elected leader,heexpressedcautious optimism about taking up his role in Parliament,

the clock”

while emphasising the need for immediate action on these matters “I am cautiously optimistic about takingupmyleadershiprole in Parliament There are many matters of national interest that must be addressed. For example, I believe Parliament ought to addresstheissueofelections inGuyana,includingmaking budgetary provisions for biometricsgoingforward,as well as addressing the state ofthevoters'list,”hestated. Hefurtherstressedthat nofutureelections,whether (Continued on page 6)

KaieteurNews

PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Contemptuous and degrading Progress Demands Inclusion and Fairness

We call upon President Irfaan Ali to come out and register his disapproval. Guyana is not a playground, a place to be made into a football to be kicked around. Guyanaisnotaplayground,someone'sideaofagoodtime andadelugeoffastdollars. Guyanaisnotaplayground,but aplacethatisopenforbusinessonitsterms,sothatitsown peoplecanliveatastandard,knowwhatitistobeownersof agreatpatrimony Guyanaisaplacewhereforeignerscan come and delight at more than the network of new roads. Theycancomeandcheckouttheinvestmentpossibilities,be assured of higher-than-normal returns on their invested capital. ButGuyanaisnot,andshouldneverbeseenas,a playground.

The wealth is of little use to Guyana when it stays untappedundertheground,orunpumpedfromthedepthsof thesea. InvestorshaveaplaceinGuyana,andtheredcarpet of welcome has been rolled out for investors from all over theworld. Wearenotsatisfiedthatthereturnsthataredueto Guyanesefortheirricheshavebeenforthcoming. Ifso,and governmentfailuresaside,thenwhydoesGuyanahavetobe withdrawingsomuchfromitsNaturalResourceFund,and goaroundtobanksintheMiddleEastandChinatoborrow millions upon millions of US Dollars? Guyanese are not gettingafairshareontheiroil,aterribledealitis,andnow they are getting insult added to injury with their home describedasaplayground. Aplaygroundisaplacewhere menandwomentrampallover,fromendtoend,andleaveit inadreadfulstate. ButthatishowGuyanaisnowseeninthe eyesofthosewhohavedonenicelyforthemselves. Those now extending the favor by ringing a bell of invitation to summonotherstotherichpossibilitieshere. Which Guyanese living in the city or in any country villagefeelsgoodwhensomeonecanbesocondescending astocalltheirhomeaplayground? Aplaygrounddoeshave its positives, especially when thought of along the lines of theRoman'svisionofwhatitistobehealthy-menssanain corporesano,whichistranslatedasasoundmindinasound body Such a meaning calls to mind exciting and hardfoughtduelsonplaygroundsfromthetenderyearsandup. But there is an uglier meaning to playground, which is whereanythinggoes,beginningwithorgiesofonekindand continuing to debaucheries of all kinds. Foreign investors have millions to spend, and with that kind of money in a countryassociallypoorasGuyana,thenthosemillionscan buymorethanasliceofGuyana'spatrimony,eitherasdirect investors, or as part of the growing cohort of supply chain vendors.

Guyana sold to a listening and interested world as a playground,whenconsideredfromapatrioticpointofview, canonlybeinterpretedinalessthanwholesomelight. What isaplayground,ifnottoincludethosecornerswherefleshis peddled? What is a playground, especially when those coming in to sample the local wares have millions at their fingertips for business, and then some leftover for other business, personal business? There is the business of gambling, which has already unleashed a series of unintended consequences. There is the business of alcoholicconsumption,whichisalreadysuchaculturaland nationalscourge. Thereisthebusinessthatisgrowingout of sight and unmentioned alongside alcohol. It is one that needs no introduction, viz-a-viz, the lucrative business of hard drugs, such as the sale and consumption of cocaine, designer drugs, and opioids, which have already inflicted some damage on young and old Guyanese, only the full extentofwhichisstillnotknown.

Guyana as a playground sounds closer to Robert Guccione's Penthouse lifestyle, and which is the last thing thatthiscountryneeds. Therecanneverbeanyappreciation in genuine Guyanese, when their country tumbles from crownjeweltoaplaygroundtobeoverrun. PresidentAli's prideshouldleadhimtoobject.

DearEditor, The Government of Guyana'sdecisiontodigitise i t s a d v e r t i s i n g framework announced recently by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo is a commendable move toward m o d e r n i s a t i o n Transitioning to a dedicated onlineprocurementplatform and leveraging digital news outlets demonstrates foresight.

It aligns government communication with global trends, reduces costs, and enhances efficiency As morecitizensconsumenews and information online, this approach will undoubtedly improve reach and audience targeting. Yet, in embracing digital transformation, inclusivity must remain a

guidingprinciple.

The Vice President's comments suggesting that established print media houses such as Kaieteur News and Stabroek News couldbe“leftbehind”ifthey fail to adapt have sparked publicconcern.

These newspapers have historically carried the majority of government advertisements, supported national messaging efforts, and commanded significant readership across diverse demographics.

T h e i r p o t e n t i a l exclusion intentional or circumstantial—raises valid questions about fairness and equitable access within the evolving media landscape. Moreover,thechangingrole of the state media—such as

the Guyana Chronicle and the Department of Public Information (DPI)—merits

clarification As the advertising paradigm shifts, it is critical to define how these publicly funded entitieswillserveinthenew digital ecosystem without diminishingthepluralityand independence that a healthy democracyrequires.

To ensure transparency andfairness,thegovernment c o u l d c o n s i d e r implementing a structured bidding or accreditation system.Thiswouldallowall p

print—to compete equitably foradvertisingopportunities basedonmeasurablecriteria such as audience reach, platform engagement, and

demonstratedimpact.

Such a mechanism would foster competition, encourage modernisation acrosstheindustry,andhelp traditional media evolve for digital relevance By guaranteeing access, rather than exclusion, the government will signal its commitment not only to efficiency but also to impartiality and democratic diversity

Digital transformation should unite, not divide Openness in process and inclusivity in participation will ultimately strengthen public trust, reinforce good governance, and enrich Guyana's media landscape foryearstocome.

Sincerely, HemduttKumar.

The honeymoon is over at Home Affairs

DearEditor,

Since assuming office, Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond has spent her first weeks meeting the heads of law-enforcement agencies, touring facilities, a n d p r o m i s i n g modernisation, from digital immigration services to improved police discipline and a more citizen-focused approach. Those initiatives deserve acknowledgement; yet, beyond ribbon-cuttings and system launches, the Minister now faces a sobering reality The honeymoon is over, and the Ministry's greatest test lies not in technology or new uniforms but in confronting the constitutional, moral, and professional decay eating away at the Guyana PoliceForce.

At the heart of this crisis stands the Police Service Commission (PSC), an institution whose very legality is in question. The Commission continues to operate with only four members following the deathofone,eventhoughthe

Chief Justice has ruled that five are required for it to function Promotions and other decisions issued under this defective quorum are therefore illegal To compound matters, the term ofonecommissionerisbeing extended beyond the lawful limitwithoutpublicproofof appointment. This disregard for the Constitution is not merely administrative sloppiness; it is a flagrant violation that undermines the rule of law itself. A governmentsworntouphold the Constitution cannot ignore such breaches without eroding its own legitimacy

Meanwhile, misconduct within the Force festers unchecked Reports of sexual abuse, coercion, and exploitation at training institutions and in remote regions reveal a culture of impunity

Allegations range from male trainees being assaulted by instructors to female recruits facing “sexfor-grade” pressures and retaliatory transfers when

they speak out. In Region One, a senior officer's involvement with a junior Indigenous recruit ended with the victim exiled to an ill-equipped outpost. Even statutory-rape allegations have emerged. Yet officers accused of such acts are more often transferred than disciplined. That permissive attitude, combined with selective enforcement and corruption “side hustles,” corrodes public confidence inpolicing.

The breakdown extends to investigative and legal procedure Routine “stop and search” operations frequentlyviolateSection17 of the Police Act, which

intervention Citizens are detained for sweating, drivers' documents are seized without cause, and evidence gathered through such unlawful stops would be thrown out under the “forbidden fruit” doctrine anywhere a functioning justice system prevailed Poor forensic work and

sloppyinvestigationsleadto countless dismissed cases, an expensive charade masqueradingasjustice.The Ministermustrecognisethat digital dashboards and new patrol cars cannot redeem a Force that fails at the basics ofconstitutionalpolicing. Real reform therefore demands courage, not cosmetics The Minister must ensure that the PSC is lawfully reconstituted, that everyallegationofsexualor professional misconduct is investigated independently, and that officers understand both their powers and their limits. The Police Force's crisis is systemic, bred by weak leadership, deficient mentorship, and political interference Unless the Ministry confronts these issueshead-on,thepromised modernisation will ring hollow Guyanese deserve a Police Force that serves the law,notonethatexistsabove it,andthatisthemeasureby whichthisnewMinisterwill ultimatelybejudged.

Regards

SherodDuncan

GECOM Chair should demit office

Dear Editor, I write with reference to articles and letters in the press which suggest that Justice Claudette Singh (retired), Chair of GECOM, has refused to convene meetingsofthatorganisation until a new Leader of the Opposition (LOO) is appointed and his nominees swornin.

Consequent to the Chair's refusal, a debate has ensued concerning the correct interpretation of Article 161 of the Guyana Constitution. I will avoid the temptation of entering that debate Instead, I will, withouthesitation,condemn the Chair's decision since Article 184 is clear that,

notwi

h

the dissolution of parliament, the LOO remains in office until a new LOO is appointed.

I t i s t h e r e f o r e premature for the Chair, an experienced jurist, to act on her own interpretation of Article161. The Chair's decision continues a long line of biaseddecisions. I am once again forced to call for her immediate resignation.

In addition to biased decisions,shehasrefusedto implement (or push for) much needed reforms. The time has long passed for her todemitoffice.

Sincerely, Terrence Campbell

The intersection of ethics and culture in teaching

DearEditor,

Increasingly, teachers globally are being asked to enter domains outside of their scope and professional training and this raises ethical questions. While many educators willingly execute these additional duties the truth is a significant number of such dutiesraiseethicalandlegal questions The term educational ethics denotes the sub-field of applied ethics which incorporates debate about the scope, purposes and theories of professional ethics in teachingandthemoralwork ofteachers.

Educational ethics is a fieldwhichconsidersethical problems and dilemma specific to the complexities of education, with a view to assisting educators, educational policy-makers and school communities to clarify these contextspecific problems and make ethicalrecommendationsfor theirresolution.Thefactthat ethics has many nuances is notareasonfortheteacherto throw ethics through the door

Theethicaldimensionof teaching is ever-present and as part of teachers' professional ethics, it often

remains unspoken and thus elusive (Britzman, 2010; Puroila & Haho, 2017)

Another area of concern where the silence is deafeningisthatofteaching out-of-field. Teaching outof-field' is a phenomenon where teachers are assigned to teach subjects for which they have inadequate training and qualifications (Ingersoll 1999; Hobbs 2013). Teaching out- offield refers to teaching subjects, grade levels or school types without the necessary qualifications, c e r t i f i c a t i o n o r specialisation. The out-offield phenomenon arises because of systemic teacher shortages, unequal and biased distribution of teachers, timetabling issues in schools, and the type of teacher education system whereteachersaretrainedas specialists and not as generalists Among the challenges of teaching outof-field is the need for teachers to learn new content, which requires not only time and effort during their teaching requirements

but also a profound knowledge of learning strategies In this sociopolitical space of schools, the teacher is

rendered powerless This culture of powerlessness translates also to students which then morph into a wider societal issue

Unfortunately, not enough attention and training is given to this very important area of the teaching and learning journey, that of educational ethics. This is problematic and must be addressed especially since the Jamaica Teaching CouncilBillisonceagainin thenews.

The Jamaica Teaching Council Bill is expected to professionalise,regulateand elevate the profession. Its objectives are to establish the JTC as a statutory body; regulate the entry, conduct a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l development of teachers; maintain registers of teachers, role of instructors and enforce standards of teacher competence and ethics;andpromoteteaching asarespectedprofessionand accountable discipline, aligned with Jamaica's education transformation agenda. Education is a l i f e l o n g p r o c e s s encompassing the holistic development of learners in intellectual, emotional, social, and moral dimensions Teaching is

more than transferring knowledge; it is about shaping human beings

Every decision an educator makes whether from curriculum choices to classroom management reflects his or her values. Educators act as moral compasses The teacherstudent relationship is dynamic and value-laden, involving questioning, listening, evaluating, and modellingethicalbehaviour

This makes teaching inherentlymoral.

Ethics and Culture

When you think of your favourite teacher, it is not often that you consider whether he or she was ethical Yet professional ethics as well as the legal responsibilities of teachers are central in defining how studentsviewtheirfavourite teacher Ethics provides a foundationforwhatteachers should do in their roles and responsibilities as an educator Given that teaching involves diverse perspectives,itisimperative that we examine the association between ethics andculture.Culture,broadly speaking encompasses the shared values, beliefs and practicesthatdefineagroup.

Ontheotherhand,ethics

deals with moral principles that guide us in determining what is right and wrong. Ethics therefore is our internal moral compass that assists us to make decisions aligned with our values

What one culture views as acceptable, another might out rightly reject It is important to acknowledge that cultural norms are not static They evolve over time, influenced by numerous factors such as globalization,technological, re

movements. This dynamism can result in shifts in ethical values which can be viewed as progress or challenges. It iscriticaltoalsoexaminethe culture of the school in any discussion on ethics and culture.Theschoolcultureis an evolutionary process School culture generally refers to the beliefs, perceptions, relationships, and attitudes, both written and unwritten rules that shape and influence every aspect of how a school functions The term also encompasses more concrete issues such as the physical and emotional safety of students and teachers,or the degree to which a school embraces and celebrates racial, ethnic, linguistic, or

Third Appeal: Drainage Obstruction and Illegal Structures Threaten Region 4 Communities

DearEditor, Iwritewithdeepconcern and growing frustration, over the continued obstruction of a vital drainage canal near the

Regional Democratic Council (RDC) office in Region 4. This canal serves Mon Repos, Triumph, Beterverwagting, and surrounding communities

For several years, a purportedlyillegalandever-

cultural diversity A school culture results from both conscious and unconscious perspectives, values, interactions, and practices, anditisheavilyshapedbya school's particular institutionalhistory

Students, parents, teachers,administrators,and other staff members all contribute to their school's culture, as do other influences such as the community in which the schoolislocated,thepolicies that govern how it operates, ortheprinciplesuponwhich theschoolwasfounded. Itis through the type of school leadershipthatthecultureof the school will emerge Leadership is critical to the culture of a school. The culture of the school should be led by transformational, spiritual and instructional leadership.

expanding structure (industrial site), has occupied this critical space, blocking access for machinery and preventing routine maintenance The result: increased flooding risk, environmental degradation, and mounting distressamongresidents. This structure is more than an eyesore. It pollutes the environment, disrupts community life, and undermines public safety Worse still, a second structure is now being e r e c t e d n e a r b y , compounding the problem and signaling a troubling pattern of unchecked development in a space meant for public utility and protection.

March 10, 2025. Yet, no visibleactionhasbeentaken. The proximity of these structures to the RDC office raisesseriousquestions:

- How were these drainagereservesallocated?

- Were corrupt practices involved at the level of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council(NDC)?

-Whymustcommunities bear the consequences of decisions that compromise infrastructure, safety, peace anddignity?

This is my third followup letter in over a year, with previous appeals published on October 13, 2024 and

With the rainy season upon us, the urgency cannot be overstated. Flooding is not a distant threat; it is a presentdanger Wenowhave

a newly appointed Minister ofLocalGovernment,anew Minister of Housing, and fresh leadership within the RDC, including a new Chairman and Vice Chairman.

Thismomentpresentsan opportunity for renewal and accountability I urge these officials to investigate the origins of this obstruction, clarify its legal status, and takedecisivestepstoremove it.

The people of Region 4 deserve answers More importantly, they deserve leadershipthatprotectstheir well-being and respects the integrity of public infrastructure. Cc:

H o n P r i y a

Manickchand, Minister of LocalGovernment Hon Vanessa Benn, MinisterwithintheMinistry ofHousing Hon Mohabir Anil

Nandalall,AttorneyGeneral

Mr ClemsfordBelgrave, ChairmanRegion4

Mr Deoraj Nauth, Vice ChairmanRegion4 Beterverwagting (BV) / TriumphNDC

GUYSUCO

NICIL

Sincerely, A.Persad Frustratedresident

Masum Murtaza, in his article, “Ethics in Teaching: Philosophical Foundations a n d P e d a g o g i c a l Imperatives”, states that teachersmaybeaskedtoact as counselors, social workers, or even healthcare monitors without proper training. Without proper expertise, teachers might unintentionally give misguided advice or fail to recognise serious issues (e.g., mental health crises, abuse). Teachers may face legal consequences if they act outside their certified role and something goes wrong. As educators many of us can relate to Murtaza's article.

Locally, we have been rather fortunate, perhaps evenluckythatsomeparents

(Continuedonpage6)

This sends a terrible message

DearEditor,

Iamdeeplydisappointed andfrustratedabouthowthe situation with Jennifer Ally is being handled. She has madeseveralracialremarks, yet all that was done was to make her apologise and evenafterthat,shecontinues to make similar offensive comments. Nothing serious has come out of the matter, and it feels like those in authority are turning a blind eye.

What makes this even more upsetting is the clear doublestandard.

They went as far as locking up a young man by the name of Baby Skello for simply singing about an Indigenous god. Yet when Jennifer Ally spreads racial hate and disrespect, all she getsisaslaponthewristand anapology Howisthatfair?

Why is one punished so harshly while the other continues without real

consequence?

This sends a terrible message—that some people can get away with racism while others face the full force of the law for far less. Racism is a serious issue, and it should be treated as such. If we truly want to build a fair and united country, then everyone must beheldtothesamestandard.

Yourstruly, WintressWhite RedThread

The intersection of ethics and culture...

Frompage5

have not challenged teachers acting outside of their certified and professional role in a court of law. More research is required to examinetheimplicationsofteachingout-offield in areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and how this practice can and does influence students'careerchoices.

Are we doing the students a disservice by continuing the practice of teaching out- offield?

We are tired, we are frustrated, and we need real solutions now

DearEditor, Iamwritingthisletterasasinglemother whoisdeeplyfrustratedandconcernedabout the ongoing issue of dirty water in our community.

Everyday,Ihavetostruggletofindclean water for my children to drink, bathe, and cookwith.Itisheartbreakingandunfairthat inthisdayandage,wearestillforcedtouse waterthatisbrown,hasabadsmell,andoften causesskinirritationandsickness.

As a mother, my greatest worry is the healthofmychildren.Icannotaffordtobuy bottled water all the time, and boiling the dirty water still doesn't make it completely

safe. It is stressful, time-consuming, and expensive, especially when I am already tryingmybesttomakeendsmeet.

I am calling on the authorities and those responsible for our water system to take urgentaction.Cleanwaterisnotaluxury—it isabasichumanneedandright.Wedeserve better living conditions and should not have to beg for something as essential as safe water

Please, let the voices of struggling motherslikemebeheard.Wearetired,weare frustrated,andweneedrealsolutionsnow

Yourstruly, RoshawnaPilgrim

How is this practice beneficial to both the studentsandteachers?

What about the other stakeholders in global educationsystems?

Rest assured, one day the luck will run out andtherewillbesomelitigation. Who then will stand with the teacher?

Ethics in teaching should never be compromised.InthewordsofAldoLeopold, ethicalbehaviorisdoingtherightthingwhen nooneelseiswatching,evenwhendoingthe wrongthingislegal.

Regards WayneCampbell

Crop Diversification and Climate-Smart Technology: A progressive step for Guyana's Agriculture

DearEditor, Guyana's agriculture sector is on the brink of a transformation one that blends tradition with innovation. The Ministry of Agriculture's push toward crop diversification throughtheintroductionof climate-smarttechnologies is a progressive and timely move that deserves national recognition and support Fortoolong,ouragricultural outputhasreliedheavilyona narrow range of crops, such as rice and sugar While these industries have served us well, climate change has e x p o s e d t h e i r vulnerabilities Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and increased f l o o d i n g t h r e a t e n productivity and farmers' livelihoods. The Ministry's stra

gic focus on diversification introducing crops like corn, soya, coconuts, spices, and highvalue vegetables represents not just an economic adjustment but a climate adaptationimperative.

Frompage3 national or local, should be held without first cleaning up the voters' list and implementing biometric systems.

“Iamlookingforwardto the president calling parliament in short order, I don't believe that there is a needtodelayparliamentany further,” Campbell stated.

Meanwhile, Azruddin Mohamed,LeaderoftheWe InvestinNationhood(WIN) party and a soon-to-be member of Parliament had affirmed his party's readinesstotakeupitsrolein the National Assembly “WINstandsreadyandfully prepared to take our seats in the 13th Parliament wheneveritisconvened.Our

forward-thinking is its integration of climatesmart technologies Across Guyana, we are seeing the establishment of shade houses, drip irrigation systems, and other controlled-environment farmingmethods.

These technologies allow farmers to better manage water use, protect cropsfromextremeweather, and increase yields yearround They are also fosteringanewgenerationof young Agri-entrepreneurs who view farming not as backbreakinglabour,butasa viable,tech-drivenbusiness.

Underprogramssuchas the Agriculture and

n n o v a t i o n

hundreds of shade houses have been established, giving small and mediumscale farmers access to moderntoolsthatwereonce outofreach.Theadoptionof theseinnovationsisnotonly improving productivity but alsoenhancingfoodsecurity

focus is to represent the peopleandbeavoiceforall Guyanese in the highest office,”Mohamedstated. He further emphasised that the party will abide by the law and respect the decisions made regarding the timing of Parliament's convening.

In earlier comments, President Ali had assured that his government is committed to operating within the Constitution “You can always count on thePPP/Cgovernmenttodo everything within the constitution, and I would never ever do anything outsideofit.

Article 69 (1) speaks on this matter The president will reconvene parliament,

and creating new valueaddedopportunitiesinArgoprocessingandexports.

Guyana's leadership in thisregardispositioningthe country as a model for sustainable agricultural development in the Caribbean. The Ministry's progressiveapproachsignals a clear understanding, resilience in agriculture comes from flexibility and foresight By supporting farmers to diversify crops a n d a d o p t s m a r t technologies, Guyana is building a sector capable of withstanding climate shocks while sustaining livelihoods and boosting rural economies.

As a nation, we must continue to back these initiatives through public awareness, investment, and community participation The future of agriculture in Guyana lies not in doing more of the same, but in embracing innovation to grow differently and more sustainably

Yoursfaithfully, JaishreeTilaknauth

we have until four months after the parliament was dissolved,”hesaid.

The President added at thetimethathesawnoneed torushtheprocess.

“I still have a lot of time under the constitution to reconvene parliament. It will take me sometime in November that is within the constitution So, I think Guyana can trust the PPP/C government and we will operate within the constitution.

The constitution gives me a time frame and I was elected President and what I can assure you that it will be convened within the constitutional timeframe,” the President hadsaid

‘Confusion in the Courts’

– Chief Justice shut out of chambers after Chancellor's return

The return of Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag),

Yonette CummingsEdwards from her annual leave has erupted some amount of confusion in the local judiciary, as Chief

Justice (ag), Roxane George-Wiltshire remains outofheroffice.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that Justice George has not been able to access her chambers, which is currently occupied by Justice of Appeal, Navindra Singh, who substituted for Justice George-Wiltshire, while she acted in the

capacity of acting Chancellor Justices George-Wiltshire and Singh were sworn in by President th Irfaan Ali on August 4 , when Justice CummingsEdwards commenced her vacation leave Justice

Chief

Georgewasappointedacting chancellor, while Justice Singh was elevated to act as chiefjustice.

Sourcesatthehighcourt told Kaieteur News that Justice Cummings-Edwards was able to return to her chamberswhensheresumed dutythisweek.However,the chief justice has still not been able to access her office.

E

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC for an understanding of the situation were futile KaieteurNewsalsosoughta comment from Justice Singh, but that request went unanswered.

D

ng appointments in August, PresidentAli had stated that the decisions were made in the interest of maintaining continuity and ensuring the efficient functioning of the judiciary in the offices of chancellor and chief justice. The president also said the temporary filling of the chancellor's post in the

“reflectstheadministration's commitment to justice, fairness and the rule of law, which are essential to the c

Justice of Appeal, Navindra Singh

framework.”

Despitethismovethetop two spots in Guyana's

judiciary have substantively remained vacant, due to the requirement in the constitution that both the leader of the opposition and the president must agree on the persons before they can beappointed.Althoughthere havebeennumerouscallsby a number of political parties and organisations to substantively appoint the acting persons to the posts, the spots have remained substantivelyvacantforover 20 years, with attempts to breakthe'deadlock'goingto noavail.InMayofthisyear PresidentAlisaidthathewas

Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards

still examining the issue of appointing the substantive holders to the office of chancellor and chief justice (CJ).

New nano fertiliser launched, promises

higher rice yields

The Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Guyana Rice

Development Board (GRDB) on Wednesday launched the country's first nano urea fertiliser at the GRDB'sfacilityatBurmain Mahaicony,RegionFive.

This fertiliser is more efficient in nutrient uptake, reduces wastages, and minimises environmental impact, potentially leading to higher yields and greater sustainability in agriculture. ItwasintroducedtoGuyana in mid-2022 through a nondisclosureagreement(NDA)

Frompage7 complete transformation of the Guyana Elections

Commission into a professional, independent, and politically neutral body

She emphasised that “The administration of elections must not depend on the whims of politicians or the arithmetic of parliamentary seats. It should be entrusted toacommissionofqualified professionals chosen for integrity, competence, and

Wednesday

between GRDB and The Energy and Resources Institute(TERI). Rice farmer Tekram

commitment to public service and to Guyana, not loyalty to any leader or party.”

“We have seen this model succeed elsewhere in the Caribbean Jamaica's electoral Commission of Jamaica for instance, is consideredtheregionalgold standard.

It is a system that has earned the trust of citizens and the respect of the international community

Sankar of Region Two has started using the nano fertiliseroverthepastyear (Continuedonpage17)

Guyana deserves the same, wecanhavenicethingstoo, but we the Guyanese people must insist,” the lawyer said

She stressed therefore that “The next parliament mustprioritiseconstitutional reform to establish a genuinely independent GECOM,oneinsulatedfrom party politics, operating transparently, and accountable only to the peopleofGuyana,”shesaid.

The great political poaching season

There’s hunting season There’s fishing season

And then, in Guyanese politics, there’s poaching season, a year-round affair broughttoyoubythePPPC, whose leaders seem to have made a national sport of enticing, recruiting, and

attracting senior or promisingAPNUfigures.

Onecouldcallitstrategy

Others might call it scavenging. But whatever you call it, it’s deliberate. Calculated. A mission with GPScoordinatesfixedonthe heartoftheOpposition.

Thelogicissimple: why defeat your enemies in open combat when you can just buytheirgeneralslunch?

The PPPC leader knows the psychological warfare game. Each crossover from the APNU is not just one gained, but one lost to the otherside.

It’s the political version of taking away your rival’s strikerandmakinghimyour mascot.

And so, the calls go out.

The whispers begin. A soft offer here. A position there. A diplomatic post. A board chairmanship. A comfy seat on some commission that meets twice a year but pays monthly It’s all part of the grand strategy: weaken the Opposition by seducing its wounded.

Of course, there’s no shortage of willing participants.TheOpposition

has its share of the disgruntled — those who f e e l o v e r l o o k e d , underappreciated, or simply tired of sitting on the losing bench.Theywantrelevance, they want recognition, and there are some who most of all want a paycheck with governmentletterhead.

Then there are the opportunists The professional defectors. The oneswhocheckthepolitical weather report every morning before declaring their loyalty Their motto? Principles are fine, but pensionsarefiner

But let us be fair, there are also those who see the PPPC as better and wellmeaning These are the genuineoneswhocrossover because they want to do right.

For the PPPC, it doesn’t matter Dissident, discard, opportunist all are welcome The policy is clear: the enemy of my enemyismynewcomrade.

It’s an open-door policy withrevolvinghinges.Come in, sit down, sign up. The leadership smiles for the cameras, declares a new era of“inclusivity,”andissuesa statement about “national unity.”

But beneath the surface, there’s tension Real, palpable, fist-on-table tension.

Because for every crossover given a post, a contract, or a title, there’s a faithful PPPC stalwart left gritting his teeth in silence. That’s one less chair at the table for the comrades who have been sweating it out

‘They sent me home with pain tablets’...

Frompage2 doctor at his clinic I don’t know what could have happened to me because they failed to dotherighttestswhenIvisitedfirst. They sent me home with pain tablets and when I come back home I feel so disappointed because the pain aint going away and the breathing was getting more hard.IstartcrybecauseofhowIwasfeeling andtheydidn’thavenotimewithme.

They just treat me like if what I said didn’t matter.Theyjustsendmeawaywithouteven doingasimpleX-rayoranything,”shesaid. Moreover, she said noted, “I could only

imaginewhatcouldhavehappenedifIdidn’t havemoneytogoseeaprivatedoctor What aboutpeoplewhocan’taffordtoseeaprivate doctor?

Whatbecomesoftheminthiscountry?If yougotoapublichospital,theysupposedto treatyoubetterandmakesuretheydoallthe necessary tests because in my case, even if shesaiditwaskidneystone,atleastshecould have like run some more tests or something insteadofjustsendingmeaway.

It’s like they didn’t have any time with what I was complaining about and that shouldn’tbe!”

DEM BOYS SEH

De Guyanese doctor outfox de lawyer

One time a G u y a n e s e doctor couldn’t get wuk at no hospital in America. Dem people tell he all kinda story” o v e r q u a l i f i e d , ” “underqualified,”and“yuh accent too thick.” So he decide to open he own lil clinic.

He put up a big sign o u t s i d e : ”GET TREATMENT FOR $20. IF NOT CURED, GETBACK$100.”

A fancy American lawyer pass and seh, “Ha! Easy money.” He walk in bold, smiling like he alreadywinacase.

Lawyerseh,“Doc,Ilost mesenseoftaste.”

Doctor seh, “Nurse,

bring de bottle from Box 14. Put three drops in he mouth.”

Lawyer taste it and holler, “Wait, this is kerosene!”

Doctorseh,“Good!Yuh sense of taste come back. Handoverde$20.”

Lawyer vex bad. He stormout,buthecomeback two days later to get revenge. Heseh,“Doc,Ilostme memory. I cyan remember nuttin.”

Doctor seh, “Nurse, bring de same bottle from Box 14 Three drops again.”

Lawyer bawl out, “Eheh! That’s kerosene! Yuh givemethatlasttime!”

Doctor smile sweet-

since1992.

The ones who endured the wilderness years. The ones who painted walls, carriedflags,anddistributed manifestosundertherain.

Andnow,theywatchasa former APNU critic, who once called their party corrupt and dictatorial, is embraced like a long-lost brother and rewarded with a shiny new office and a chauffeur-drivenSUV

The irony is pungent. The hypocrisy, bold-faced. But in politics, memory is a convenience, except for thosewhostillremember

The rank and file remember They remember who called them names in public Who tried to embarrass their leaders Who cheered when the PPPClost.Andnowtheysee those same faces being toasted at State House functions.

It stings. It festers. It breedsresentment.

The leadership knows it. Buttheleadershipistrapped. Because once you start the poaching game, you can’t stop Every crossover becomes a trophy, a headline, a psychological blow to the Opposition. It’s addictive.

The PPPC has become like a fisherman who can’t stop casting the net even

whentheboatisfullandthe crewiscomplaining.

And so, the internal dilemma deepens.You can’t turnawaydefectors,because that would signal weakness.

But you can’t keep rewarding them, because that signals betrayal to your own. It’s a classic political catch-22:hugtheenemyand riskalienatingthefaithful.

Meanwhile, in the Opposition camp, the hemorrhaging continues Each defection is another crack in the foundation Moraledips.

The whispers grow louder:“Who’snext?”

ThePPPCleaderssmile. He knows the optics A steady drip of defections weakens the other side’s credibility It makes them look divided, disorganised, and desperate Even if the defectors are nobodies, the perceptionmatters.

Politics, after all, is not about substance. It’s about spectacle.

And so, the poaching continues relentless, methodical,strategic.

But it comes at a cost. Because the PPPC’s longserving cadres are not fools.

They know the difference

between loyalty and convenience Between c o m r a d e s h i p a n d

opportunism Between building a movement and collectingtrophies.

They talk quietly in corners now They mutter at meetings. They are growing restless.

Theyknowthatwhilethe leadership celebrates its “broadening base,” the base itself is beginning to crack. Because the politics of crossover is a politics of contradiction.

You can’t build loyalty on borrowed loyalty You can’t sustain unity on recycled rivalry And you can’t keep your base happy by feeding them leftovers fromtheotherside’stable.

But for now, the PPPC leader seems content. The defectionscontinue.

Theheadlinesrollin.The optics look good. Poaching seasonisinfullswing.Andif some comrades feel left out in the cold, well ...there’s alwaysnextseason.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

Yuh memory come back. Pay mede$20.”

Nowthelawyerblazing mad. He gone home, plan a next move, and come back next week determined to windistime.

Heseh,“Doc,Icyansee good.Meeyesightgone.”

Doctor seh, “Oh lawd, me nah get medicine fuh that.Here,tekdis$100.”

Lawyer grab de note andsquint:“Butthisa$20, not$100!”

Doctor grin wide, “Congratulations, bossman Yuh eyesight restore! Hand me back me $20.”

Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

H@RD TRUTHS

Strong moral renewal, building character

Often,IbelievethatPres. Ali says whatever he feels sounds good, or grows overly fond of repeating whatever is stuffed into his hands. The venue was the commissioning of the Cummings Lodge Water TreatmentPlantonSaturday last. Now grab onto hats, hold onto seats, and absorb the president's noble sounding words served on a gold-plated platter. “Guyana's transformation is not just about roads and bridges. It's about building citizensofcharacter-people w i t h s t r o n g m o r a l grounding, discipline, and purpose.” Ithoughtthatthe PPP Govt and leadership

used to have a good laff whenIsharedsuchthoughts. But there was the president taking my gospel and claimingownership. WhenI insisted that there must be the trying of such teaching, his own people mocked and rocked: he preechin'. But therewas Dr.Alilecturinga flock of the devoted about “character” and “moral grounding.” There must have been an eclipse happeninglastSaturday For those sitting back in anticipation of a trashing of Pres. Ali; they will have a long interval of sitting and waiting. ThepeopleinPres. Ali's PPP Govt. can bash unjustifiably However, I

refusetoretaliatewithalash, evenwhenrightisthecorner owned; when there is a monopoly over truths and facts. But what I do say is that this is an upside-down country, everything in reverseorder

Gently, it is said. I refrain from asserting publicly that Guyana's president is not the best

preaches. What is simply said is that he should leave that kind of talk to others, those who can represent it. Thosestandingonsteel. An example or two should help Guyaneseseeclearly It would have been the

powerful example of the character and moral groundingofwhichPres.Ali now speaks with such breathtaking ease, if he had steppedforwardwithaword ortwowhensomeGuyanese were unceremoniously dispatched(kickedout)from avehiclewhenonthewayto attending a political competitor's campaign rally. Oneword:apologies.

Then two – I'm sorry Thenthree:thisisn'tme. My character doesn't allow it, condoneit. Icondemnitand itwouldneverhappenagain. Guyanese are still waiting forsuchadevelopment.

The second example is personal. Pres. Ali and his people-senior and junior, fanatical and fair-mindedknowthattheyhavenothing onme. Yettheykeeptrying. What does that say of a governmentthatissobenton getting even with one man, and getting him out of the way? Ishouldgetintheface ofPres.Aliandsay:howso, sir? Why does this have to beso,chief? Toprovewhat, milord? That the PPPGovt hasthepower,andthatitwill use that power however it musttoachievetheworstof ends? And even when the immoral and unethical and

characterless all have to take centerstage? To His Excellency, Mohamed IrfaanAli,kindlyandgently I say: leave that territory where morality and character reign to the few who know what they mean, embrace their demands. Enough with the examples, for the point is registered. There are other words of unasked for advice that I givefreely,andwiththebest ofintentionstothepresident, mypresident.

“I have asked cabinet to work on a program to engage our churches, mosquesandtempleson…a plan for civic and moral education…to build quality citizensinGuyana.” Thisis how the best laid plans of mice and men go to mush. Sad to say, but it is the hardestofhardtruths.

The churches, mosques andtemplesareoftenledby some of the more grasping, hypocritical, and spiritual ostriches whose heads are buried deeply into the sand. Not all, but too many The lure of oil money and the prestigeofbeingonthegood side of those who reward themwithgenerosityishow spiritualshepherdshavesold their souls, and misled their

flocks. The people in the pews look for faithful leaders and they get farces hustling for themselves, positioning themselves for theirfatsliceoflocalwealth. Start over, Dr President, is myheartfeltcounsel.

Iagreewiththepresident that “religious leaders have long served as moral anchors.” Aye,aye,sir! But those days are long gone. The few moral religious leaders, men and women of character, left represents an endangered species, a group that is marked, if they were to speak out of turn, not get withtheprogram. Theresult is that, mostly, what Guyanesebelievershaveisa group of quacks and cons thattakethemforaride,and charge them for the experience. Please begin again, sir Start with the nearest figure that should stand as the first model, example.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

No bail for Devin Sears

Thirty-nine-year-old

Devin Sears, a former APNU+AFC member of parliament, was on Thursday remanded to prison, after he pleaded not guilty to the charge of marijuana trafficking

Sears, along with his coaccused, 69-year-old Albert Sandy,appearedattheLinden Magistrate's Court, where he entered the not guilty plea Sandy, meanwhile, pleaded guiltyandwashandedafouryearsentence

Sears, who was representedbyattorneyNigel Hughes, requested bail His lawyerarguedthattheformer legislatorwasnotaflightrisk

The prosecution, however, objected to bail, pointing out that the charge is a serious one Sears and Sandy were nabbed Monday morning with a quantity of ganja during a police stop and search operation at Bamia, Region 10 In a statement police said that at about 20:41hrs on Monday a team wasonmobilepatroldutiesin thevicinityoftheOldBamia PoliceCheckpointinLinden,

whentheyarrestedSearsand Sandy, a farmer of Tacama, Upper Berbice River The men were found to be in possession of 310 71 kilogramsofCannabis

According to the police, while on patrol duties, the ranks were conducting random 'stop and search', whentheystoppedadarkblue Toyota Hiace minibus, bearing registration number BAJ4486,propertyofRegion #10 Tourism Committee Inc The vehicle was driven by Sears,ofMackenzie,Linden, accompanied by Sandy who was seated in the front passengerseat.

Policesaiduponstopping the vehicle, the driver began actinginasuspiciousmanner (sweating profusely) One of the ranks asked the driver what he was transporting, to which he replied, “I am transporting tourism plants” The rank then instructed the drivertopulltothesideofthe roadandinformedhimthata searchwouldbeconductedon the vehicle The driver acknowledged.

Policediscoveredtwenty-

two bulky black plastic bags and four large brown canvas bags inside the vehicle containing leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis Bothmenweretold of the offence, arrested, and cautioned Sears, police said, remained silent, while Sandy admitted ownership, stating thatthenarcoticsbelongedto himandthathehadpaidSears to transport him to Parika Both men were arrested and escorted to the Mackenzie Police Station along with the suspected cannabis, which wasweighedintheirpresence and amounted to 310.71 kilograms.

Entertainment Kaieteur Entertainment Kaieteur

MegaBounceMadness:Giantinflatablethemeparkset totakeoverGeorgetownthisHalloweenweekend

In a country where family entertainment options often revolve around malls, movies and traditional outings, Guyanese, especially parents, have long expressed the desire for more diverse, active entertainment experiences that bring families together This Halloweenweekend,thatgapis beingaddressedinabigway

Caribbean MegaBounce, a large-scale inflatable entertainment event, will transform the YMCA Grounds in Thomas Lands into what organizers describe as the region'slargestinflatabletheme park from October 31 through November 3 The timing couldn't be better for families seeking fresh, engaging activities that get both children and adults moving, laughing, and connecting away from screens.

"This event isn't just about entertainment, it's about creating shared spaces where families and communities connect,"saidJonathanBeepat, founder of Wildfire Entertainment, the local production company partnering to bring the event to Guyana.

"Additionally, Guyana's vibrant and evolving entertainment landscape makes it the perfect destination for an event of this scale."

The concept addresses what manylocalparentsdescribeasa common challenge: finding activities where adults can participate alongside their children rather than simply supervisingfromthesidelines.

Caribbean MegaBounce promises exactly that kind of multi-generational experience, with attractions designed for everyone from toddlers to grandparents.

The event launches on Halloween evening, Friday, October 31, with operations from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

Recognizing that families need flexibility, organizers have scheduled notably extended hours over the weekend, with bothSaturday,November1and Sunday, November 2 running 11-hour sessions from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. The event concludes Monday, November 3, returning to the 3:00 PM to 10:00PMschedule.

The extended weekend hours appear designed to give families maximum flexibility, whether they prefer morning sessions to beat the afternoon heatoreveningvisitsthatallow forotherdaytimeactivities.

Admission is priced at $4,000forchildrenages2to11 and$5,000foradults. Afamily packagecoveringtwoadultsand two children is available for

$16,000. Children under age 2 will be admitted at no charge. Organizers emphasize that ticketsprovideunlimitedaccess toallattractions,withsame-day re-entry privileges allowing attendees to leave and return to thevenuemultipletimes.

Beepat characterized the unlimited access and re-entry feature as a key value proposition for local families. "Attendees can arrive Saturday morning at 11:00 AM and stay through 10:00 PM, with the flexibility to leave for meals or breaks and return without additionalcost,"heexplained.

He disclosed that the event will feature multiple inflatable structures, including a 15,000square-foot main bounce house and a four-lane obstacle course extending over 600 feet Additional attractions include what organizers describe as a "towering mega slide" and various themed inflatable i

entertainment will be provided by a DJ throughout operating hours.

Beepat emphasized that the event is designed for all age groups, challenging the notion that inflatable attractions are exclusivelyforchildren."While childrenwillbeintheirelement, adults are actively encouraged to jump, race, slide, and play alongside them," he said. "This is a rare opportunity for parents to be participants, not just spectators."

That multi-generational approach may resonate with families looking for activities where everyone can participate rather than watching from the sidelineswiththeirphones.

Patrons are encouraged to take note of the mandatory footwear policy requiring all participantstowearsocksonthe inflatablestructures."Nosocks, no bouncing," Beepat stated. "This mandatory safety requirement ensures everyone's protection on the inflatables. Makesureeveryfamilymember packs socks before heading to theYMCAGrounds."

The policy applies to all attendeesregardlessofage,and

event staff will enforce the requirement at the attraction entrances. Families are advised to bring extra pairs as a precaution.

TitlesponsorBeepats,along with Sterling Products, will maintain an on-site presence during the event. According to organizers, the sponsors will distribute promotional items including Santal juices, Goya cookies,andicecreamproducts, with distribution activities primarily targeting younger attendees.

Advance tickets are currently available at multiple retail locations throughout Georgetown. Purchase points include Beepats on Regent Street, Giftland OfficeMax Department Store at Giftland Mall in Turkeyen, Mattai's The Food Mart on Water and Hope Streets, the YMCA Grounds in Thomas Lands, and all Bad Monkey Merch Store locations, which include outlets at Amazonia Mall, Giftland Mall, Movietown Mall, and Leonora Mall.

Businessman guns down cop

…claims self-defence after being attacked with heater gun

A policeman was on Thursday shot and killed during an alleged confrontation with a businessman at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.

Dead is Lance Corporal Richard Marvin Hayes, 35, of Lot 13 School Street, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara. He was allegedly shot and killed by a businessmanattheVreed-en-Hoop Stelling Road around 09:00 hrs on Thursday, police said in a press release.

The 37-year-old businessman of Crane Housing Scheme, who operatesacellularphonestallatthe Stelling, has since been arrested. Heisalicensedfirearmholderofa .32 Taurus pistol. According to police reports, Hayes who was attached to the Impact Base at Brickdam Police Station, had visited the suspect's shop on Wednesday to enquire about purchasing cellphones and left shortlyafter

However, around 09:00hrs on Thursday, Hayes reportedly returned to the stall, indicating he had come to buy a phone. The suspect told police that while he was packing boxes, Hayes became “hostile”,promptinghimtoaskthe officertoleave.

The businessman alleged that Hayes instead picked up a cellphone heater gun from the displaycounterandthrewitathim, striking him in the chest In response, the suspect reportedly drew his firearm and discharged oneround,hittingHayesinhisright

‘Keep

Ron Hayes, who operates a nearby barbershop, said he rushed over after hearing the gunshot and found his brother bleeding, police reported.

He immediately transported himtotheWestDemeraraRegional Hospital, where the officer succumbed to his injuries while receivingtreatment.

“I went and get me car and spectatorsaroundhelpputheinme carandwhenIreachtothehospital, the hospital emergency come out and they come with the stretcher…whenI park thecarand go back in, the same one that de rollingthestretchercomeoutback

Brother of Richard Hayes, Ron Hayes

Dead: Lance Corporal Richard Marvin Hayes

the emergency room and say you brother gone, he dead,” Haynes said during an interview with reporters.

Doctors confirmed that Hayes sustained a single gunshot wound to the chest. Police have since seized the suspect's firearm and license, and he has been processed for gunshot residue testing Investigators from Regional Division Three and the Major Crimes Unit are continuing their probe. Authorities have classified thematterasmurder,pendinglegal advice.

Hayes also told reporters that when he arrived at the scene, the businessman was opening his

establishment right in front of his brother,whowasinapoolofblood.

“WhenIgothereandsaywhoshoot me brother, who shoot me brother, nobody ain't saying anything,” Hayesrecounted.

He further disclosed that his brother had been a member of the GPFforabout14years.Outsideof his police duties, his brother supported his family which includedhiswife,son,andstepson and also ran a chicken and chips businessafterwork.

Hayes said he cannot understand why the businessman wouldshoothisbrother,especially over a confrontation that stemmed from a customer having an issue withanitemtheypurchased.

“I feel that these bannaz with their money, they getting too twisted. They tell themselves they got their money and they feel like they running this world,” the man said.

Haynes continued, “Me ain't seenoreasonwhyalicensefirearm holdersupposedtotakeouthegun knowingthatthisispolice.Evenif he was a normal person, he ain't supposedtopullhestrap,becauseit nah nothing serious like nobody come for rob you It's a confrontation whereby you spend your money and if something wrongwithyouritem,Igottabring itbacksoyoucanknowsomething wrong.”

The grieving brother said his family is hoping that justice will prevail for the policeman whose lifewassnuffedoutoveracellular phone.

the Caribbean a zone of peace’

...10 former CARICOM heads warn against U.S. military buildup, nuclear presence in regional waters

Ten former Heads of

Government from across the Caribbean haveissuedagravewarningagainst what they describe as a dangerous militarybuildupandtheincreasing presence of nuclear vessels and aircraftwithintheregion'swaters. They have urged immediate restraint to preserve the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace where the Rule ofLawprevails.

In a joint statement titled “CaribbeanSpace:AZoneofPeace on Land, Sea andAirspace Where the Rule of Law Prevails,” the former leaders declared that the Caribbean must not be lured into global conflicts “not of our making.”

“We are impelled to urge a pullback from military buildup to avoid any diminution of peace, stability, and development within our regional space,” the statement

reads. “Our region must never become a pawn in the rivalries of others.”

Thestatementisendorsedby:

Ÿ BaldwinSpencer,former PrimeMinisterofAntigua& Barbuda

Ÿ SaidMusaandDean Barrow,formerPrimeMinistersof Belize

Ÿ FreundelStuart,former PrimeMinisterofBarbados

Ÿ EdisonJames,former PrimeMinisterofDominica

Ÿ TillmanThomas,former PrimeMinisterofGrenada

Ÿ DonaldRamotar,former PresidentofGuyana

Ÿ BruceGoldingandP.J. Patterson,formerPrime

Ÿ MinistersofJamaica

Ÿ KennyAnthony,former PrimeMinisterofSt.Lucia

Together, these ten regional statesmen — representing decades

of combined leadership within the C

(CARICOM)hascalledforaunited stand to preserve regional sovereignty,peace,andstability Caribbean'sPeaceful LegacyatRisk

Theformerleadersrecalledthat when Caribbean heads gathered at Chaguaramas in 1972, under the chairmanshipofDr EricWilliams, peacewasenshrinedastheguiding prin

C

n development.

From that historic meeting emerged the enduring concept of theCaribbeanasaZoneofPeace— a diplomatic and moral foundation that has since guided the region's foreign policy and relations with thewiderworld.

“From this platform,” they wrote, “our Region has always maintained that international law and conventions not war and

military might must prevail in finding solutions to global challenges.”

ThreePillarsofRegional Integrity

The joint statement reaffirmed the fundamental tenets recently echoed by current CARICOM leaders:

1.ReaffirmingtheCaribbeanas aZoneofPeace; 2. Supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations;and

3. Upholding international law and diplomacy as the only legitimate means of resolving (Continuedonpage17)

Govt. shuts down pigeon-plagued BV school

The Ministry of

Education announced

Thursday that the doors to the Beterverwagting

Primary School and Special Needs Centre have been closed due to the high infestationofpigeons.

In a release Thursday, theministrysoughttoassure parents and students that

m e a s u r e s w i l l b e implemented to recover the instructionaltimelost.

“This temporary closure is to facilitate additional c l e a n i n g , o n g o i n g rehabilitativeworks,andthe implementation of a permanent solution to address the pigeon infestation,” the ministry notedinitsstatement.

The ministry further reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring students and teachers are provided with a safe and supportive environment conducive to effective teaching and learning.

Earlier on Thursday, furious parents lined the outskirts of the school, expressing frustration over the worsening pigeon infestation affecting the institution.

After the issue of the infestation surfaced on social media last week, classesweresuspendedfrom October 16 for the regional

PPP/C Regional Councilor, Neville Cumberbatch at the BV Primary School.

administrationtoaddressthe issue.

However, when school resumed this week, parents againexpressedconcernand disappointment over the condition of classrooms, noting that the remedial works done at the school wereinsufficient.

Membersofthemediaon Thursday morning visited the school, where they met some pupils and parents outside of a locked school compound.

E x p r e s s i n g h i s disappointmenttothemedia, president of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Alvin McCurdy said he lockedthegatesoftheschool inprotest.

“I'mpresidentofthePTA board of Beterverwagting

Primary School This morning we have taken a decisiontoclosethegatesof the school because of the condition of the school. As

...84 graduates poised to drive Guyana's food revolution

much as work is being done at the school, it's not

n

t conducive for learning or

teaching,”heexplained.

ThePTApresidentstated that teachers are frustrated and children are becoming sick every day Because of

this, parents are afraid to sendtheirchildrentoschool.

“So, this morning, we decided that enough is

(Continuedonpage16)

Ministers of Government and other officials from the GSA with students who graduated with a Diploma in Agriculture

The Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) on Wednesday celebrated a historic milestone- its 60th Graduation Ceremony at the National Cultural Centre, marking six decades of excellence in agricultural education and training.

Atotal of 84 students, 40 males and 44femalesgraduatedwithdiplomasand certificates across multiple disciplines, reaffirming GSA's role as a cornerstone in advancing food security, innovation, andagriculturaldevelopmentinGuyana andacrosstheCaribbean,theMinistryof Agriculturesaidinapressrelease.

Delivering the feature address,

Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, congratulated the graduates and underscored their pivotal role in G

transformation.

“Since its founding in 1963,theGuyanaSchoolofAgriculture has been dedicated to providing highquality agricultural education and practical training through its diploma

Agriculture, Forestry, Animal Health, Veterinary Public Health, Fisheries, and Agro-Processing,” Minister Mustapha said.

“Through collaboration with agencies like NAREI, the Ministry of

Agriculture, and CARICOM partners, GSAishelpingtodrivetheregion'sgoal ofreducingthefoodimportbillby25% by2025.”

The Minister commended the graduates for their resilience and adaptability, urging them to embrace moderntoolsandtechnologiesreshaping the global agricultural landscape. “You

transformation,” he said. “Technologies likehydroponics,dronemapping,tunnel houses, digital extension services, and bio-based fertilisers such as nano-urea are no longer futuristic they're (Continuedonpage16)

Full construction of 5.4 M Oko West gold mine commences

Canadian company G Mining Ventures Corp (GMIN) has announced that its Board of Directors has approved the start of full construction of its 100 percent-owned Oko West GoldProjectinGuyana. This announcement, made on Thursday, follows the completion of the permitting and financing milestones.

President and Chief Executive Officer, LouisPierre Gignac said, “The

official launch of construction at Oko West marks a major milestone in GMIN's evolution into an intermediategoldproducer.”

He added, “With financing secured, we are advancing this fully permitted, world-class project using the same disciplined, self-perform approach that delivered Tocantinzinho safely, on time and on budget. Oko West will build on that succ

… gold production expected by 2027

next cornerstone of our growth strategy, with first gold targeted for the second half of2027.”

The project, located in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), carries an initial capital cost of US$973 million.AsofSeptember30, 2025, detailed engineering was 36 per cent complete. TheOkoWestgoldprojectis targeting an average annual production of 350,000 ounces of gold over a 12.3year mine life. The mine is estimatedtohold5.4million ouncesofgold.

Earlier this month, GMIN announced that it

US$387.5 million financing

development. The financing package is anchored by an agreement with a syndicate

project recorded 596,551

recordableincident,givinga Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIFR) of 0 33

completed a technical training programme in

benefiting 200 residents fromRegionSeven.

The Oko West project is fully permitted as ofAugust 29, 2025. GMIN received the environmental permit f

workers, including 520

contractors, with more than 80 percent being Guyanese nationals To date, the

offinancialinstitutionsfora revolving credit facility that allows the company to borrow up to US$350 million, with an accordion feature for an additional US$150 million available post-closing, which is subject to customary conditions Notably, the

Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)onthatdate. The five-year permit is valid through July 2030. It authorises the construction and operation of Oko West, which is expected to create an average of 1,270 direct permanent jobs during its lifetime.Thefeasibility (Continuedonpage17)

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Govt. shuts down pigeon-plagued BV school

From page 14 enough. We're going to close the school, and we're asking the minister (Sonia Parag) to comein.Wedon'twantherto send anybody, we want her to come herself so that she can see the situation, make a better assessment of the situation,” he related.

McCurdy noted that as much as work is being done, the workers painted the school before sanitising. “We'd also like them to close the school so that the work could be done faster and in a better manner Those are the twothingswe'reaskingquestions,” he mentioned.

The president added that even though remedial works weredoneovertheweekend, thepigeonsrelocatedtoother sections of the building.

Speaking on the issue also, was the former PTA president Marlin Rodney, whosharedthataftershewas informed about the situation attheschool,shedidherown checks and observed that the

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buildingwasina“deplorable” state.

In addition to the pigeon filth, she explained that “Whenyougointothewashroom there is no water on the left-hand side of the school. At the back of the school the drain clogged, you go to the backofschoolwheretheyput vents for these pigeons, its pigeon eggs and pigeons that are soon to come out. When youcomedowntowhereyou have the special children, it's the same thing. The roof, the dust is so much the teachers can't open their bowls to eat even students.”

Noting that teachers and learners cannot function in this deplorable state, she noted that this has been going on for over three years.

Asked what solution she thinkscouldremedytheproblem, Rodney stated that “My solution to the problem, I think they should close the school for a week, give the

students a chance to stay at home. Spray the school, powerwashthewholeschool, then let teachers, parents and children come back to the school, because every day and every week we are going to get hospital running.”

She added that with propersprayingoftheschool it would keep the pigeons away

Whileparentsgatheredat the school gate, some ranks of the Guyana Police Force cametoobservethesituation.

Shortly after, PPP/C Regional Councilor, Neville Cumberbatch arrived where he confronted and inquired fromthePTApresidentabout the decision to close the gates. He said no one, other than senior education officials,hasthedirectivetoclose the gates.

SpeakingtothePTApresident and other parents there, Cumberbatch disclosed that since the school was closed

last week, everything was done to remedy the problem.

He further told the media that“TheRDChavetakenthe actions that were recommended by the schools' administration. Those recommendations were that the pigeons were going into some classrooms.

There were some works thatweredone.Onthedayof the incident, I came myself andtheChairmanoftheNDC came along. Based on the information received, we went intotheschoolandassessthe situation, the HM was asked to prepare the immediate needs of the school, that was done, and that was submitted.”

Heexplainedthattheyhad blocked off all the areas that were identified to them as to where the pigeons would gain entry in some of the classrooms.

When informed that the parents stated that the works

were not sufficient, Cumberbatch reiterated that workswerebasedonthe“immediate needs assessment” which was submitted by the headmaster.

Addressing the other issues affecting the school, the allegationsofnorunningwater, the regional councilor stated, “When we came, we saw water there. The only problemwegetiswhatallthe schoolsandwhatsomeofour own homes have, it maybe some iron in the water and there is nothing we can do about that.”

While at the school, Cumberbatch accompanied the media to have a look insidetheschoolbuildingtosee the works that were done. In doing so, he demonstrated that a tap outside the schoolhadrunningwaterbut when checked to see if water wascomingatthewashroom sinks, there was none at the time.

GSA marks 60 years of agricultural excellence

From poage 14 realities being implemented righthereinGuyana.”

He noted that the government continues to invest heavilyinresearchanddevelopment, irrigation upgrades, agro-processing hubs, and value-added production. Mustapha also highlighted GSA'sgrowingregionalfootprint, with students from GrenadaandSt.Luciaamong this year's cohort, and reaffirmedthegovernment'scommitment to providing scholarships and training opportunitiestootherCARICOMna-

tionals. Under the leadership of President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the Minister said, GSA has expanded its academic offerings, introducing the Certificate in Livestock ProductionandManagement, a new, hands-on programme targeting students from hinterlandandruralcommunities.

Delivering the charge to the graduates, Minister of Education, Sonia Parag, praisedtheircommitmentand urged them to apply their skills in service of national development. “Agriculture has carried this country long

before the discovery of oil,” Minister Parag declared. “Your training must now serve the nation, whether in animal health, forestry, or agro-processing.Itisthrough your work that Guyana will continue to grow as a foodsecure and self-sufficient country.”

She reminded graduates that the agriculture sector remainsakeypillarofGuyana's diversificationstrategy,driving sustainable growth and opportunity beyond oil and gas.Theeventcelebratednot only academic success but

also GSA's enduring legacy of producing industry-ready professionals who are leadingeffortstomoderniseagriculture and strengthen Guyana's position as the region's food-production powerhouse.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old ShannonWilsonofIthacaVillage on the West Bank of Berbice is ready to put his knowledgeandskillstowork in advancing Guyana's agriculture sector Wilson is among the 84 graduates. The DepartmentofPublicInformation(DPI)interviewedWilson about the challenges he faced during his journey. He explainedthatearlymornings andlatenightscreatedachallengingcyclethatcouldhave only been conquered with a disciplined mindset. “The government's investments are just encouraging…and it feelsgreatthatI'mnowmoving on to greater things in life…Agriculture provides a foundation, so even if you want to branch off into other areas of study, agriculture would be a very good point to start.”

Wilson plans to improve his diploma and continue his studies at university while helping his community and country grow the food sector Alyah McDonald is a graduate excited to take on challenges in agriculture and says she values the government's support.

“It's a great support and initiativethatishappeningso that young people can also own businesses, explore and bring (revenues) into their environment and communities,” McDonald said. The graduatesearneddiplomasin animalhealth,veterinarypublic health, and agriculture, alongwithcertificatesinforestry and agro-processing.

Human Services Ministry hosts training to tackle youth and family violence

T h e F a m i l y Enhancement Services Section (FESS) of the MinistryofHumanServices and Social Security on Wednesday launched a twoday Youth and Family

Violence Training Conference at the Regency Hotel, bringing together 35 professionals from key nationalagenciestoconfront the growing challenge of youthandfamilyviolence.

According to a press release by the ministry,

participants include representatives from the

Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit (SO&DVPU), and officers fromtheMinistriesofHome Affairs and Education. The training seeks to strengthen partnerships, deepen understanding, and promote coordinated strategies to prevent violence in homes, schools, and communities acrossGuyana.

Delivering opening remarks,MinisterofHuman ServicesandSocialSecurity, Dr Vindhya Persaud,

-MinisterPersaudurgesstrongerpartnerships,earlyinterventions

stressed that addressing youthandfamilyviolenceis central to the nation's social and developmental goals “This will be a very productive and fruitful session where you, as professionals, can pool your ideas, share creative and innovative suggestions, and collectively move in a strategic direction to eradicate violence among youths,” Minister Persaud said “Together, we can develop coordinated strategies that drive us towardthesamegoal.”

She emphasised the importance of tackling the rootcausesofyouthviolence from early childhood and urged greater collaboration between communities and institutions “Violence amongyouthcontinuestobe a pervasive issue both globallyandhereinGuyana. Totrulygainanin-depthand balanced understanding, we mustaddresstherootcauses comprehensively — family by family, community by community,andcollectively as a nation,” the Minister stated Dr Persaud also reiterated the Ministry's commitmenttoempowering young people through initiatives that foster positivity, inclusion, and resilience Through its partnershipwithUSAID,the Ministry has introduced the Youth Services Eligibility Tool (YSET) under the YRIE programme, which focuses on empowering atrisk youth Six youthfriendlyspaceshavealready beenestablishednationwide, with a goal of expanding to tenbyyear'send.

The Ministry has also

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindyha

launched a national antibullying and body-shaming campaign in schools to promote self-esteem and positive behaviour among students.

Facilitator Lauristan

Choy of the University of Guyana noted that the training aims to improve understanding of family dynamics and strengthen inter-agency coordination “Youth and family violence present complex challenges that intersect the justice and child protection systems Thisinitiativeseekstoclose

Persaud

systemic gaps and create more effective, unified interventions, ” Choy explained During the openingsession,participants engaged directly with Minister Persaud, sharing experiences, insights, and recommendationstoguidea unified approach to tackling youth and family violence. The two-day training continues today, with sessions focused on policy coord

nation, early intervention strategies, and building community resilience.

Some of the of the participants

Fullconstructionof5.4MOkoWest...

Frompage15 study for Oko West outlines a long-life, low cost, and high-marginoperation. Notably, the company has also applied for its Mining License from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), which is expected to be issued by the fourth quarter ofthisyear GMINsaidithas established a Community Development Committee to guide its social investment initiatives in education,

h e a l t h c a r e , a n d infrastructure within the projectarea.

The company further statedthatengineeringwork is progressing, and confirmed procurement of major equipment, including the power plant from Wärtsilä, open-pit mining equipment from Komatsu, with the first shovel e x p e c t e d t o b e commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2025 and processing equipment from

MetsoandFLSmidth.

F u r t h e r , e a r l y construction works are also advancing, with the expansionoftheexploration camp to 425 beds, completion of the barge landing satellite camp, and 15 percent of site clearing done. GMIN disclosed that 2,815 cubic metres of concrete have been poured so far, while the coffer dam for the tailings facility has been completed and dam constructionisongoing.

Newnanofertiliserlaunched,promises...

Frompage8

He shared that before the fertiliserwasintroduced,his production was 44 bags per acre, and now it has increasedto48bagsperacre. While addressing the gathering at the launching ceremony, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said, “This investment in this type of fertiliserwilldoanumberof things for the rice industry, and we have to change our culture and change the way wedothings.”

‘Keep the Caribbean a zone of...

Frompage12 conflicts. The former Heads warned that the Caribbean must avoid permitting the hosting or deployment of foreign military assets that could entangle the region in external conflicts or expose ittocollateralharm.

“We must not endanger ourcitizensinanycrossfire,” they stated, “nor risk economic and human loss fromwarsthatarenotours.”

CaribbeanSea

trafficking,gunrunning,and human smuggling, but stressed that such cooperation must always respect sovereignty and due process.

“Our cooperation with international partners must neveroverrideourcollective sovereigntyortheprinciples of international law,” the leadersaffirmed.

The former Heads including Jamaica's Bruce G o l d i n g a n d P J Patterson, and Guyana's Donald Ramotar reaffirmedtheCaribbean's long-standing rejection of foreign intervention or externallyimposedregime change

Concluding their statement,theformerleaders called for CARICOM's current leadership to use all available diplomatic channels to defuse tensions and uphold the Caribbean's legacy as a peaceful, principledregion.

Although the acreage underricecultivationhasnot significantly increased, production continues to grow The agriculture minister said this is due to the exceptional work of the GRDB's research division, which has developed and

He also highlighted the government's continued commitment to innovation in the agriculture sector and its drive to increase yields while reducing costs for farmers. Minister Mustapha highlighted the many interventions by the PPP/C administration to boost farmers' production, noting that the government expended over $4 billion in fertilisers to farmers nationwidesince2024andto date.

introduced three new rice varieties over the past five years:GRDB16,GRDB18, and the bio-fortified rice. Theresearchdivisionisalso tasked with implementing varieties that can withstand difficult conditions during the drought season. GRDB will be hosting workshops for farmers countrywide on the correct usage of the new product. GRDB's General Manager, Badrie Persaud; Director of TERI, Dr G R Narsimha Rao, and Second Secretary at the Indian High Commissioner's Office, Suman Singh, were also present at the ceremony (DPI)

D e s c r i b i n g t h e Caribbean Sea as “vital to our survival,” the leaders underscored its central role in trade, cruise tourism, fishing, and inter-island movement — the pillars of regional economies. They w a r n e d t h a t a n y destabilisation of the region's maritime domain couldthreatennotonlypeace butlivelihoods.

They acknowledged o n g o i n g s e c u r i t y partnerships such as the Shiprider Agreement with theUnitedStatesasessential for countering drug

“We have remained steadfast in our repudiation of external intervention to effect regime change,” they wrote. “Military action in our maritime waters must always be governed by international law not might.”

“The gravity of the presentsignalsdemandsthat we use all existing channels for dialogue to perpetuate a Zone of Peace,” the leaders said. “We fully support our c u r r e n t H e a d s o f Government in assisting the peaceful resolution of all conflictsanddisputes.”

They insisted that preserving the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace is not optional it is an existential duty

“Our shared history and ourcommondestinydemand nothing less,” the statement concluded.

They cautioned that any move undermining regional sovereignty, or eroding the established norms of international law, directly threatens the safety, livelihood, and dignity of Caribbeanpeople. DiplomacyandDialogue

Hunger crisis in Gaza is ‘catastrophic’ despite ceasefire, WHO chief says

(AL-JAZEERA)-The hunger crisis in Gaza remains “catastrophic” two weeks after the ceasefire took effect, the UN’s health agency has warned, as international aid groups demanded Israel stop blocking humanitarian deliveries.

Supplies entering the besieged enclave are not meetingthenutritionalneeds ofthepeoplelivingthere,aid groupsannouncedThursday, while the UN’s World Food

Programme said that suppliesintoGazawerestill farshortofitsdailytargetof 2,000 tonnes because only two crossings into the Palestinian territory are open.

“The situation still remains catastrophic because what’s entering is not enough, ” Tedros

Adhanom Ghebreyesus, chief of the World Health Organisation said, adding that “there is no dent in hunger because there is not

enoughfood.”

At least a quarter of Gaza’spopulation,including 11,500 pregnant women, is starving, the UN warned on Wednesday, saying the effects of malnutrition will have “generational” impacts inGaza.

Seventy percent of newborns are premature or underweight,comparedwith 20 percent before October 2023, Andrew Saberton, deputy executive director of the United Nations

Population Fund (UNFPA), saidWednesday “Malnutrition will have generational effects, not on the mother, but on the newborn, likely to result in ever longer lasting care and problemsthroughoutthelife ofthebaby,”headded.

Afaminewasdeclaredin Gaza City and its surrounding area in August, with the Integrated Food S e c u r i t y P h a s e Classification (IPC) saying at the time that more than 500,000 people in the Gaza Strip faced “catastrophic conditions.”

AUS-brokered ceasefire tookeffectonOctober10.As part of the ceasefire agreement,humanitarianaid deliveriesweretoberamped up, with the UN aiming for approximately 2,000 tonnes of aid entering on a daily b a s i s B u t o n l y approximately 750 metric tonnes of food are entering the Gaza Strip daily, the WFP announced Tuesday, because only two of the

Palestinian woman Nisreen holds the hand of her son Majd Salem, a six-month-old malnourished Palestinian baby who weighed 3.5kg when he was born and gained just 300 grams in six months, at Kamal Adwan hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, May 9, 2024

Israeli-controlled crossings into Gaza are operational –Karem Abu Salem in the south and al-Karara in the centre (called Kerem Shalom and Kissufim in Israel,respectively).

“The situation in the Gaza Strip remains catastrophic, even two weeks after the ceasefire began,” Bahaa Zaqout, directorofexternalrelations at the Palestinian NGO PARC,said.

Zaqoutcitedexamplesof biscuits, chocolate and soda being allowed in on commercial trucks, while items, such as seeds and olives remained restricted fromentering.

“Unfortunately, these do notrespondtotheminimum nutritional values required for children, women and the most vulnerable groups,” he added, saying that while some fruits and vegetables are entering Gaza, they are exorbitantlyexpensive.

One kilogram (2 2 pounds) of tomatoes, which

usedtocostoneshekel,now costs about 15 shekels ($4.50),hesaid.

F o r t y - o n e a i d organisations, including Oxfam and the Norwegian Refugee Council, released an open letter Thursday accusing Israel of “arbitrarily” rejecting aid shipments into Gaza, saying the Israeli government has routinely blocked their requests to begin humanitarian efforts in earnest.

“Between 10 and 21 October, 99 requests by international NGOs to deliver aid into Gaza were rejected, while six requests submitted by the UN agencies were denied,” the letter stated. “Aid denied by Israeli authorities includes tents and tarpaulins, blankets, mattresses, food and nutrition supplies, hygiene kits, sanitation materials, assistive devices, andchildren’sclothing,allof whichshouldbeunrestricted duringtheceasefire.”

Profit Lies? OGGN calls out Exxon Country Manager for misleading profit claims

Country Manager of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL),AlistairRoutledge has misinformed the nation regarding profits made by the company and must therefore apologise and correcthisstatements.

This is according to Dr Kenrick Hunte, a Guyanese scholar and member of the Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN) Dr Hunte has been writing

letters in the daily newspapers for years, highlightingtheinjusticesof the2016ProductionSharing Agreement (PSA), urging government to halt the giveaway of the country's r e s o u r c e s t o t h e multinationalcorporation.

In a recent letter to this newspaper, Dr. Hunte and otherOGGNrepresentatives highlighted what appears to beaglaringblundermadeby Routledge.

D u r i n g a p r e s s conference last week, Routledgetoldreportersthat priorto2023EMGLdidnot register a profit in Guyana. Contrarily, the company's financials show a different picture.

OGGN pointed out, “FinancialfilingsinGuyana by ESSO Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (now EMGL) show income of GY$132 billion (US$681

million)andGY$578billion (US$2.98 billion) for fiscal years 2021 and 2022, respectively.”

Moreworryinghowever, is that Guyana's profits for this period was pale in comparison, although the countryisentitledto50%of profit, in keeping with the PSA. The contract allows Exxon to deduct 75% of monthly production for cost andsharetheremaining25% e q u a l l y w i t h t h e government.

Bethatasitmay,OGGN flagged, “Acritical question arises: if EMGL reported profitsofUS$2.98billionin 2022, why did Guyana's Natural Resource Fund (NRF) receive only about US$1.1 billion in profit oil that year? Given that ExxonMobil holds only a 45% share in the Stabroek

Block consortium, the implied total profits for all partners would be about US$6.6billion.”

The non-governmental organization (NGO) added that the oil companies' combined profits appear to besixtimesGuyana'sshare, as they called for an explanation.

Given that Exxon's own financials have exposed the misleading statements made by the Exxon Country Manager, OGGN called for Routledge to correct his comments and clarify these discrepancies in the profit reporting and sharing. “The Guyanese people must not be misled,” the Network argued.

Meanwhile,inaninvited comment on Thursday, Dr Hunte told Kaieteur News that Routledge should also

ESSOEXPLORATIONANDPRODUCTIONGUYANALIMITED (GUYANABRANCH)

STATEMENTOFPROFITORLOSSANDOTHERCOMPREHENSIVEINCOME

FORTHEYEARENDED31DECEMBER2022

Exxon's 2022 financial statements showing the company's profits

apologize to the Guyanese public for the misleading statementshemade.

Dr. Hunte and Mike Persaud of OGGN met with SenatorsintheUnitedStates earlier this year to highlight the questionable tax practices the company is engagedinlocally

The PSA states that Exxon and its Co-Venturers

shall not pay taxes to the country.Guyananonetheless issues a tax receipt, indicating that those obligationsweremetlocally

The US was therefore alarmed over the possibility of Exxon seeking huge tax credits, resulting in Americans subsidizing the company'soperations.Three U S Senators therefore

requestedclarityonExxon's Stabroek Block tax arrangementswiththeGoG. ExxonMobil was given an October 23, 2025 deadline to respond to severalquestions. On Thursday Dr Hunte said he did not receive any information regarding the informationthatshouldhave beenprovidedbyExxon.

WIN prepared to head to court to secure opposition seats on GECOM - says already identified candidates

Leader of the We

I n v e s t i n Nationhood (WIN) party Azruddin Mohamed, said his party is preparedtotakelegalaction to secure the opposition seats on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

Mohamed's comments come amidst rising tension between Chairperson of GECOM, Justice (ret'd)

Claudette Singh and opposition commissioners over which opposition party holdstherighttosecureseats onthecommission.

JusticeSinghhadtakena decision to pause all election-related meetings until the new parliament is convenedandtheopposition benches are formally constituted.

TheGECOMChairtook thedecisiononthebasisthat she anticipates changes in

t h e o p p o s i t i o n ' s representatives on the commission, given that the Azruddin Mohamed-led We InvestinNationhood(WIN)

has replaced the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) as the new mainopposition. Shesaidtheconstitution provides for this transition. However, the position has sparked pushback from APNU Commissioner VincentAlexander, who has questioned Singh's interpretation.

I n w a k e o f a n announcement by President Irfaan Ali on Thursday that th the 13 Parliament will convene on November 3, 2025, Mohamed told KaieteurNewsthathisparty will closely examine what course of action it will take todealwiththesituation.

“We have three persons already to replace those

[APNU representatives]

[But] we know that legally this will likely be a court matter because I don't think these guys would want to remove based on the statementstheyaremaking.

The WIN leader said he willdecidehowtodealwith thematterafterparliamentis convened.

He said: “I don't want to speak further on this matter until after we attend parliament and decide the wayforward.”

Weighing in during his weekly programme, 'Issues in the News,' Attorney GeneralAnilNandlallSCon Tuesday night said that the opposition can choose to trashoutthematterorletthe courtdecide.

“ Those who are aggrieved obviously must know that they have recoursetothecourtbecause it'salegalissueandtheycan

have the matter ventilated there.”

Nandlall refrained from expressing his views on the matter noting that as attorney general he will be required to be a party to the case, once it reaches the court. “My views will be expressed at that forum…. I don't think it's necessary for me to be dragged in an

opposition dispute or commentontheindependent exercise of GECOM's prerogative on a matter that concernsGECOM.”

Nandlall continued “I have my views obviously but GECOM is an autonomous body and the chairperson has taken a position…

This obviously is a legal issue involving the opposition and they have to resolve it…It is obviously a constitutional controversy and if it reaches the court in anyevent,Iwillhavetobea party because all constitutional matters require the attorney general tobenamedasarespondent so I would not be speaking onthismatter.”

Leader of the new opposition party, Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), Amanza Walton-Desir also addedhervoicetotheissue.

In a statement to the press Walton-Desir pointed out that the current impasse at GECOM is not primarily about personalities She asserted that “The real problem is that the Commission is politicised, and structured in a way that entrenches the two-party system.” “It was never designed to function as an impartial, professional institution serving all Guyanese. Guyana is no longer a two-party society, as the presence of three opposition parties in Parliamentshows.

Yet GECOM's current designlocksthesysteminto olddivides,underminingthe fairness, credibility, and independence that every election demand,” WaltonDesircontinued.

As such, the politician notedthattheremustbea (Continuedonpage8)

Warriors’StephenCurrysetsnewNBA recordasLeBronJameswatchedhelplessly

ClutchPoints -

Opening night of the2025-26NBA season was supposed to pit twoofthegreatestsuperstars the league has ever seen in Stephen Curry and LeBron Jamesagainsteachotherfor, one would assume, one of the final times. Alas, James could not be present on the court for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night as the Golden State Warriors tookcareofbusinessagainst

Luka Doncic and company, 119-109.

WhiletheWarriorsaren’t exactly fully healthy themselves, the absences of Moses Moody and

De’Anthony Melton can’t exactly compare to the loss of James for the Lakers.

Nevertheless, the Dubs can only play the team that’s in front of them, and they managed to weather a storm from Doncic, who, despite puttingup43points,wason

Stephen Curry set a new NBA record.

(William LiangImagn Images)

thelosingend.Currydidnot have the best of games, but

GBI Fulfils MoU commitment...

Frompage26 meaningful way for GBI to honour our MoU with ArcheryGuyanaandtohelp our athletes present themselveswithprideonthe regionalstage.”

Friday October 24, 2025

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.

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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. There's an incredible 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.

he didn’t really need to; he put up 23 points on 6-14 shooting from the field and 3-9 from beyond the arc on what is a quiet night by his standards. In so doing, he became the oldest guard in NBA history to score 20 points in a season-opening game, as pointed out by Polymarket Hoops on X (formerlyTwitter).

The Warriors star took a backseat to the likes of Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga, and Buddy Hield, allofwhomhadtheirmoments on Tuesday night Butler led the team in scoring with 31 points after he got to the foul line over and over again, Kumingaimpressedfanswith his better all-around game, and Hield turned the game upside-down in the second halfbynailingfourtriples.

Nonetheless, Curry showed that he remains the star of this show; with the Lakers mounting a late comebackattempt,Curryshut themdownwithatriplefrom near the hash line to seal the dealfortheWarriorsandearn themtheirfirstwinofthenew campaign

Warriors are back to havingStrengthinNumbers

The original Warriors championship DNA was built on depth and defense, andtheyhavegottenbackto thatinthetwilightofCurry’s career KlayThompsonmay nolongerbeontheteam,but Butler gives the team the toughness, interior scoring, rebounding, and fouldrawing prowess that the team sorely needs to compete.

BrandinPodziemskiwas making the right reads, Draymond Green was a monster defensively, and even Will Richard, the rookie, is establishing himself as a major rotation playerfortheWarriors.

If the Warriors’ supporting cast can lessen the load on Curry in the regular season, that should keep him fresh for the playoffs to avoid a repeat of whathappenedlastseason.

Anita Lall, Marketing Manager of Guyana Beverages Inc, added: “Our partnership with Archery Guyana embodies GBI’s broader mission to invest in youth,health,andcommunity development Wecongratulate Team Guyana and wish them every success at the Championships.”

Frompage26

Hunters, with three wins, appear to have locked in their spot, though they aim to secure the third position withastrongperformancein theirfinalmatch.

The most anticipated match this weekend will feature Everest Masters taking on West Bank Warriors at Canal on

Guyana Beverages Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of quality beverages, committed to communityengagementand the promotion of sport and youth development throughout Guyana The company’s brands are household names across the country, and its corporate philosophy emphasises partnership, health, and nationalpride.

Saturday Both teams have faced two defeats, but Evereststillhastwomatches left to play North Soesdyke and Vintage Strikers have already clinched their spots in the next round, making their upcoming clash significant for final positioning, as both teams boast impressive net run rates.

NBA’s Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier among dozens arrested in illegal gambling probe

Reuters-NEWYORK, -ChaunceyBillups,anNBA HallofFameplayerandhead coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and Terry Rozier, a guard with the Miami Heat, were among more than 30 peoplecharged onThursday in connection with two separate but related federal gamblinginvestigationsthat involved the league and the Mafia.

The schemes - one of them focused on insider sports betting and another that rigged poker games nationwide - spanned years andinvolvedtensofmillions ofdollarsinillicitgainsfrom wire fraud, money laundering, extortion and gambling, FBI Director Kash Patel said at a press conference in Brooklyn on Thursday

Rozier was one of several National Basketball Association insiders who allegedly provided nonpublic information about upcoming games to their criminal partners, who in turn used straw bettors to placemultiplebetsbasedon thetips,authoritiessaid.

In March 2023, for instance, Rozier told associates in advance he would leave a game early with a supposed injury, allowingthemtoplacemore than$200,000inbetsthathe

After years on the ropes,theHarpy Eagles Boxing Gym is ready to make its long-awaited return to the Guyana BoxingAssociation (GBA), signaling a comeback for one of the country’s most storied boxinginstitutions.

GBA president Steve Ninvalle hailed the gym’s revivalasamajorwinforthe sport and for youth development in Guyana, callingita“welcomereturn” for a training ground that once produced some of the nation’s best amateur boxers.

“That gym would’ve produced some world-class amateurs, and we’re happy to see them make a return,” Ninvallesaidashepresented asetoftrainingequipmentto

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) handles the ball during the second quarter against the Washington Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. (Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images)

wouldnotreachhisexpected statisticaltotalsforthegame, officials said. “This is the insider trading saga for the NBA,” Patel said. Billups was charged in a separate case with helping to rig poker games to defraud unknowing players who wereluredtothegameswith the promise of playing against celebrities, officials said The defendants employed sophisticated technology to fix the games in New York, Las Vegas, Miami and elsewhere, including fraudulent card shufflersandx-raytables.

That scheme also involved the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese and Genovese organized crime familiesinNewYork,which controlled some of the undergroundpokergamesin the city where the rigging

took place, officials said. Thefamiliestookacutofthe profits, used extortion and robbery to collect unpaid

cryptocurrency and other mean

,

rding to prosecutors While the arrests stemmed from two separate indictments, a handful of defendants were charged in both cases, Brooklyn U S Attorney J

, including former Cleveland Cav

assistant coach Damon Jones.

SCRUTINY

ON SPORTSBETTING

In a statement, the NBA said Rozier and Billups had beenplacedonleaveandthat theleaguewouldcontinueto cooperatewithauthorities.

“ We t a k e t h e s e

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups gives instructions to his team during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center. (Peter Creveling-Imagn Images)

allegations with the utmost seriousness,andtheintegrity ofourgameremainsourtop priority,”thestatementsaid. Rozier’s lawyer, James Trusty, said prosecutors “appeartobetakingtheword of spectacularly incredible sources rather than relying on actual evidence of wrongdoing. Terry was cleared by the NBA and these prosecutors revived thatnon-case.”

The arrests are likely to increase scrutiny of the relationship between online s p o r t s b o o k s a n d professional sports leagues, which have reaped the benefits of a massive expansion in legalized betting even as they have also sought to assure fans and gamblers that the integrity of the game is unaffected.

Harpy Eagles Gym returns to the ring

headcoachJamesWalcott.

For Walcott, the

comeback is deeply personal The trainer revealed that the gym was forced to close its doors just before the COVID-19 pandemic,andsincethen,he hasfoughtanuphillbattleto keep the spirit of Harpy Eaglesalive.

“My mind was out of boxing,” Walcott admitted. “I trained a good set of y o u t h s f r o m t h e Albouystown area, but they would leave for other more established gyms when they were at their peak.That was hardtotake.”

Despite the frustration and setbacks, Walcott said the push to reopen came f r o m w i t h i n t h e Albouystown community itself.

Local residents and formertraineesurgedhimto restart the programme, reminding him of the gym’s vital role in keeping young peopleontherightpath.

“We have youths that need guidance, and I know boxing helped take a lot of themoffthestreets,”Walcott explained.“Thisgymishere tohelpsavealotofyouthsin Albouystown Honestly, these young fighters I have now are the reason I’m back—they’regivingmethe encouragement to keep punching.”

Ninvalle,whohasbeena consistent supporter of the coach’s efforts, said the GBA’sbackingoftheHarpy EaglesGymfitsintoawider national development plan aimed at spreading the sport’sreachacrossGuyana.

“I’m happy that the HarpyEagleGymismaking a comeback, and the GBA will continue to support them along the way,” Ninvallestated.

Headded,“Thisispartof our plan for boxing in Guyana. We’re already working on projects in Linden and Region Nine, and Harpy Eagles’ return strengthens our base even more.”

The Harpy Eagles Gym will make its official return tothecompetitivescenenext weekendattheGBAUnder16Championship.

Ninvalle, excited about what’s ahead, said, “That gym has always produced topyouthboxersinGuyana. I’m eager to see what new talent they’ll bring to the ring.”

Some lawmakers have expressed concern about the proliferation of bets that could be most easily manipulated by players, such as prop bets, in which bettors can wager on whetheranindividualplayer will hit or miss specific statistical totals in a given game. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday that he supported more federal regulation on sports betting and that the league had asked some bettingpartnerstolimitprop bets for more marginal players.

PLAYERSPUNISHED

Several players in the “Big Four” NorthAmerican men’sleagues-theNBA,the National Football League, Major League Baseball and theNationalHockeyLeague - have faced punishment for gamblinginrecentyears.

Former NBA player Jontay Porter was banned from the league for life and pleaded guilty in 2024 after

associateswinwagersonhis play,acasethatwaslinkedto Thursday’sindictment.

PeteRose,MajorLeague Baseball’s all-time hits leader, was barred for life from MLB in 1989 after he wascaughtbettingongames w

CincinnatiReds.

Afterrepeatedcallsfrom U S President Donald T

m p , R o

posthumouslyremovedfrom MLB’s p

manently ineligible list earlier this year,makinghimeligiblefor theHallofFame.

Billups,49,isinhisfifth year as Portland’s head coach. He played for seven teams during his NBA career, including the New York Knicks, and won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, when he was named Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals. He was expected to make an initial court appearance on Thursday in Portland.

Rozier, 31, is in his 11th NBA season and has averaged13.9pointsagame in his career. His 2025-26 salary is $26.6 million, according to the sports contract tracking website Spotrac.

He was arrested in Orlando, Florida, where the Heat played the Magic on Wednesday night, and was expected to appear in court thereonThursdayafternoon.

Novak Djokovic withdraws from the Paris Masters after quitting an exhibition with an injury

PARIS (AP) — Novak

Djokovic is withdrawing from next week’s Paris Masters, he announced on social media on Tuesday, just days after he stopped playing in an exhibition eventbecauseofaleginjury

The24-timeGrandSlam champion has competed infrequently this season, appearing in only eightATP Tour events outside of the fourmajors.

Djokovic, who is 38, reachedthesemifinalsatthe Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open this season. From late May to late September, the

onlytournamentsheentered werethoselastthreeSlams.

At his most recent official tournament, the ShanghaiMasters,Djokovic was slowed by a sore hip duringasemifinalexit. He was one of the halfdozenmeninvitedtotheSix Kings Slam in SaudiArabia last week. After an opening bye,DjokoviclosttoJannik Sinner, then faced Taylor Fritz to determine the thirdplace finisher but stopped playingafteroneset.

The ATP Finals, which Djokovic qualified for but skippedin2024,areNov 916inTurin,Italy

Sarkar, Saif carry Bangladesh to series victory over West Indies

E S P N c r i c i n f o -

Bangladesh blazed a hole throughWestIndiesina179run win in the third ODI, achieving their first series victory since March last year Saif Hassan and Soumya Sarkar put together a scintillating 176-run

opening stand which provided the backbone for Bangladesh’s296for8.The visitors lasted 30.1 overs, gettingbowledoutfor117in reply

Rishad Hossain claimed three wickets to take his series haul to 12, becoming the first Bangladesh bowler since2015totakemorethan tenwicketsinabilateralODI series. Nasum Ahmed also picked up three wickets while Tanvir Islam finished with8-0-16-2.

Bangladesh got off to a fast start, unusual for this series as it was played on mostly dark, cracked, spindominated pitches. Sarkar (91 off 86) and Saif (80 off 72) went on a boundary spree that lasted 25 overs. The two stylish batters matched each other stroke for stroke as they raised

Bangladesh’s secondhighest opening partnership inODIsandthefirstcentury opening stand at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in tenyears.

SaifstruckAkealHosein fortwofoursinthefirstover, followed by his first six in the left-arm spinner’s next over. That inside-out strike over the covers set off the big-hitting spree. Sarkar struckRostonChasefortwo

sixes,bothreverse-hitsearly in the innings. Saif focused on hitting straight, blazing Chase for his second six before he overturned an onfield lbw decision when he was on 28 and extended his innings Justin Greaves broke a sequence of 59 consecutive overs of spin fromWestIndies,acrosstwo matches, and Sarkar welcomed him two fours through fine leg. Saif, then,

played the shot of the innings.HechargedGreaves who tried to cramp him, but the batter backed himself and the result was a lovely high-elbowloftthatwentfor abigsixdowntheground.

Saif struck two boundaries in the 16th over, o n e b r i n g i n g u p Bangladesh’s 100-run opening stand, and the next onetakinghimtohismaiden fifty. Sarkar wasn’t done at

Queensway GCB Super50 Cup Final...

Demerara,

Essequibo

battle shifts to November 1

- Teams given additional rest/prep

time ahead of final

Th

( G C B ) i n c

, QueenswaySecurityService Inc. have decided to afford the two finalists additional time to rest and recover aheadoftheirmake-or-break battle for this year’s Senior Super50Inter-Countytitle.

The final, which was originally set for this weekend October 26, will

nowseetheencounterbeing pushed back by roughly a w e e k , f o l l o w i n g consultations between the GCB and tournament sponsors,Queensway

Both entities agreed on affording defending champs Demerara and their opponents Essequibo, the time to recover having done mostofthehardworktoget wherethey’reat.

The match will still be hosted at the Joe Jagmohan

Ground in Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast, with the GCBsendingitsbestwishes to both finalists ahead of theirmatch.

When these two sides met during the round-robin stages,thechampsDemerara defeated the Cinderella County boys by 50 runs in theirownbackyard.

Fast-forward a few rounds later and both sides have scratched and clawed theirwaytothefinal,having

endured some stiff competition from ousted teams;BerbiceandtheGCB

Select XI However, Essequibo will be looking for revenge, playing in their home county, while Demerara aim to remain unbeaten and retain their championship The GCB also urged fans and cricket enthusiastsacrosstheregion to come out and witness some of Guyana’s top talent ondisplayinthefinal.

the other end. He slammed Khary Pierre for a straight six before he went after Motie with a six and four in the 25th over Just like that hewasintothenineties.

Chase ended the opening standinthe26thoverwhenhe had Saif caught at long-on Sarkar was left distraught whenhealsoholedoutinthe deep,atmidwicket,nineshort ofhisfourthODIton Therest of the Bangladesh batters couldn’tquitedojusticetothe Saif-Sarkar double act Najmul Hossain Shanto and TowhidHridoyadded50runs for the third wicket Alick Athanaze took a tremendous catch to remove Shanto, running back from his bowling mark before diving fulllength

West Indies had a bit of respite when Hosein removed Mahidul Islam, RishadandNasum,allinthe 4 6 t h o v e r S t i l l , Bangladesh’s 296 - which included a record-equalling 14 sixes - looked like a formidable total on the Dhakasurface.

West Indies never got theirchasegoing,astheyran

into Nasum who took their firstthreewickets.Athanaze fell lbw trying to paddle Nasum in the fifth over, before Ackeem Auguste, playing a similar shot, also felllbwforaduck.

BrandonKing,whostruck a six and two fours, was Nasum’sthirdwicket,bowled for18 ShaiHopefellforjust4, mishittingTanvirIslaminthe 14th over Sherfane Rutherford became Rishad’s first wicket, when he insideedged one to Mehidy Hasan Miraz at midwicket, having made12 Hehadaparticularly poorODIseries West Indies’ lower half caved in steadily Rishad bowled a full toss and had Chaseoutforaduck,before trapping Gudakesh Motie for his third. After winning the first ODI and losing the second in a Super Over, the emphaticvictoryinthethird match sealed the series 2-1 forBangladesh.

Scores: Bangladesh 296 for 8 (Sarkar 91, Saif 80, Hosein 4-41) beat West Indies 117 (Hosein 27, Nasum 3-11, Rishad 3-54) by179runs.

GuyanaSettoHost RegionalDopingControl OfficerTraining

The Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization (Caribbean RADO), in conjunction with the G u y a n a O l y m p i c Association, and the World Anti-Doping A

ncy (WADA), is set to host a regional Doping Control OfficerTrainingProgramme fromOctober24-262025in Georgetown,Guyana. The three-day training workshop is being facilitatedbyexperttrainers from the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES). Delegatesfromtendifferent countrieswilltakepartinthe s

confidently execute sample collection processes and support the anti-doping efforts in their respective territories, and across the region. The training workshop comes at a crucial time as countriespreparetoexecute their doping control testing and anti-doping education programmesaheadofabusy

2026 sporting calendar which includes the CAC Games in the Dominican R e p u b l i c , t h e Commonwealth Games in Scotland and the Youth OlympicGamesinSenegal. The main objective of the training is to build capacity for anti-doping programmes throughout the regionintheareaoftesting. Participants will acquire the theoretical background and practical skills necessary to meet all requirements of sample urine collection in sportinaccordancewiththe World Anti-Doping Code and the applicable InternationalStandards.

Top four schools benefitted from ExxonMobil’s courtesy packages packages

ExxonMobil has o n c e a g a i n demonstrated its commitment to youth developmentandsports,this time by presenting schools with much-needed supplies to enhance both their academic and athletic programmes.

The top four finishers of the2025Petra–ExxonMobil Under-14 Boys and Girls Football Tournament were yesterday presented with a range of valuable items courtesyofGuyana’senergy partner,ExxonMobil.

The presentation ceremony, held at the Ministry of Education Ground, recognized schools for their outstanding performances both on and offthefield.

Through its continued partnership with the Petra Organisation, ExxonMobil Guyana provided the winning schools with comprehensive packages

that included stationery supplies, televisions, water dispensers, footballs, gear bags, warm-up equipment, backpacks and

he

amenities designed to support students’ academic andathleticgrowth.

The hand

ver ceremony was led by Mr Ryan Hoppie, Community Relations Supervisor at ExxonMobil Guyana and Co-Director of the Petra O r g a n

s a t i o n . H e commended the young athletes for their dedication and discipline throughout thetournament.

“ExxonMobil remains committed to supporting youth development through sports and education,” Hoppiesaid.“Thisinitiative not only encourages healthy comp

, resilience, and academic balance among our young people ” The top four finishers in both the boys’

Exxon’s Community Relation Supervisor, Ryan Hoppie speaking during yesterday’s handing over ceremony

and girls’ divisions were r

exemplary performances.

The tournament, which featured52teams—32boys’ and 20 girls’—saw Chase’s Academic Foundation crowned as the Boys’ champions, while Bartica Secondary denied Chase’s Academic a double title by

GBI Fulfils MoU commitment with Archery Guyana through team attire support

Guyana Beverages Inc. provided official shirts for the 42-member delegation

representing Archery

Guyana at the 2025 Caribbean Development Championships.

Archery Guyana has extended heartfelt gratitude to Guyana Beverages Inc. (GBI) for fulfilling its commitment under the M e m o r a n d u m o f Understanding (MoU) signed earlier this year between the two entities. Pursuant to this agreement, GBI provided branded official team shirts for Guyana’s national archery delegation heading to the 2 0 2 5 C a r i b b e a n D e v e l o p m e n t Championships(CDC).

T h e g e n e r o u s contribution outfitted 31 athletes and 11 officials, totalling 42 team shirts, ensuring a unified, professional, and patriotic appearance for Team Guyana as they prepare to represent the nation on the regionalstage.

“We are deeply

appreciative of the continued partnership and

confidence shown by Guyana Beverages Inc , ” said Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon, President of Archery Guyana. “This collaboration reflects the shared commitment of both organisations to youth empowerment, national pride, and sporting excellence. The team will proudly wear these colours as they represent Guyana at

CDC2025.”

Mr. Samuel Arjoon, GeneralManagerofGuyana Beverages Inc., reaffirmed the company’s commitment to local sport development: “We are proud to support Team Guyana as they compete at the Caribbean D e v e l o p m e n t Championships. Providing theofficialteamshirtsisa (Continuedonpage23)

claimingvictoryintheGirls’ divisionlastJuly.

The participating teams expressed their gratitude for thecontinuedinvestmentby ExxonMobil and the Petra Organisation in grassroots football,whichhasbecomea vital platform for nurturing emerging talent across the country Petra Co-Director

TroyMendoncareflectedon the tournament’s impact:

“The journey was a difficult task, but with the support of our sponsors, my team, the media, and the various teachers, we were able to achieve success This programme is dear to us at the Petra Organisation because it serves as a

‘transition tournament’ for manyofourplayers,several of whom have gone on to represent Guyana at the nationallevel.”

Over the past decade, E x x o n M o b i l h a s consistentlysupportedyouth development and sports within several communities andschools.Thecompany’s aim is to foster a healthy balance between academics and athletics in an everevolvingworld.Hoppiealso noted that this initiative is notonlyabouthelpingyouth developtheirpassionforthe game but also about supporting their academic pursuits.

The Petra Under-14 Tournament continues to stand as one of Guyana’s most looked-forward-to youth football events, promoting both sporting excellence and educational growth through strong corporate and community collaboration.

BMC T20 Final round matches set to take place this weekend

Sponsored by Peter Lewis Contracting &

Asphalting Services, Diamond Fire & General

Insurance, Read

Concrete and Permaul Trading & Distribution, this w

kend marks the conclusion of the 42 preliminary matches in the 2025 BIG MAN CRICKET O40s T20 tournament, with 8 matches scheduled. To date, we have witnessed 2 remarkable centuries and numerous half-centuries Following this weekend’s

league stage, four teams fromeachpoolwilladvance to the quarterfinals, leading to the semifinals and ultimatelythechampionship match.

Currently, three teams remain undefeated: Albion Masters, North Soesdyke Masters, and Vintage Strikers, all of whom are leading the points table in their respective pools. Both Albion and Jai Hind have completed their league fixtures, with Jai Hind Jaguars managing to secure

a single loss againstAlbion, placing them in the top two positionsinPoolA. Meanwhile, Ex Berbice Police have had a challenging run, narrowly losing all four of their matches; they will need to win both of their games this weekendtohaveachanceat qua

n The competition for the fourth spot will be fierce among Enterprise Star Sports, Legend Rangers, and Ex BerbicePolice,asBlairmont (Continuedonpage23)

India beat New Zealand to take last semi-final spot

BBC Sport - India secured the final spot in the World Cup semi-finals and eliminatedNewZealandand Sri Lanka with a 53-run victory (DLS) over the White Ferns in Navi Mumbai.

Theco-hostshadbeenin dangerofmissingoutonthe last four of the 50-over competition for the third

time in four editions, heading into their penultimate group match on a run of three consecutive defeats.

N e w Z e a l a n d , meanwhile, level with India onfourpoints,hadseentheir campaign disrupted by the weather, with their past two matches abandoned due to rain after winning one of

theiropeningthree. Morewetweatherbriefly threatened to frustrate both sides, with a 90-minute delay at the backend of India’s innings reducing the game to 49 overs per side before a second delay saw New Zealand’s chase adjusted to 325 from 44 overs. H o w e v e r, I n d i a

Delroy Tyrrell to represent Guyana at Islamic Solidarity Games

After his welldocumented administrative hurdles,Guyaneseswimmer DelroyTyrrellwillrepresent Guyana at the Islamic Solidarity Games, scheduled for November 7–21, 2025, in Riyadh, SaudiArabia.

Tyrrell’sselectionbythe G u y a n a O l y m p i c Association (GOA) brings an end to a protracted battle over his eligibility to compete under the national banner—a dispute that saw him sidelined for several months as he sought formal recognition from the GuyanaAmateurSwimming Association(GASA).

Theswimmerwasleftin limbo after a disagreement arosebetweenhimandlocal officials regarding his registration status and representationrights.

The issue escalated to the point where the world

governing body for swimming, World Aquatics (formerly FINA), had to intervene to clarify and resolvethematter

Tyrrell has been a

standout performer at both collegiate and regional levels.Hisselectionmarksa significant moment for Guyana’s swimming programme, which has struggled in recent years to maintain consistent athlete participationatinternational

comfortably secured the required two points to join Australia, SouthAfrica, and England in the knockout stages, with centuries from Pratika Rawal – whose 122 (134) is the second-highest score of the tournament –and Smriti Mandhana (109 off 95) helping India post 340-3. New Zealand could onlymake271-8inreply

Although New Zealand and Sri Lanka could join them on six points if they win their final group matches and India lose to Bangladesh,neithersidecan match India’s three wins, which is the first criteria usedtoseparatesides.

Mandhana and Rawal wererarelytroubledbyNew Z

effortlesslypilingon212for the first wicket, while J

contributed a quickfire 76 (55) as India compiled the highest

tournament.

In reply, New Zealand

Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal brought up yet anotherhalf-century partnership. (Getty Images)

lost experienced duo Suzie Bates and captain Sophie Devine for single-figure scoresastheyslippedto593.

Halliday and Izzy Gaze scored half-centuries from the middle order, the latter from an eye-catching 39 balls, as the White Ferns wentdownfighting.

This was must-win territory for both teams, but

the bulk of the pressure was onIndia.Searchingfortheir maidenWomen’sWorldCup crown,theyheadedintothis tournament,onhomesoil,as title favourites alongside AustraliaandEngland. Scores: India 340 for 3 (Rawal122,Mandhana109, Rodrigues 76*) beat New Zealand 271 for 8 (Halliday 81, Gaze 65*, Renuka 2-25, Gaud 2-48) by 53 runs via DLSmethod.

competitions.

The Islamic Solidarity Games, for Tyrrell presents not only an opportunity to competeagainstworld-class athletes from across the worldbutalsotoreaffirmhis commitment to elevating Guyana’snameinthepool.

Sarkar, Saif carry Bangladesh to series victory over West Indies

Harpy Eagles Gym returns to the ring

…a revival for Albouystown and Guyana’s Boxing future

Top four schools benefitted from ExxonMobil courtesy packages

Schools benefited yesterday as ExxonMobil donated several essentials to the top four participating teams of the 2025 Exxon Mobil U14 Football tournament.

NBA’s Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier among dozens arrested in illegal gambling probe