Kaieteur News

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Front Page Comment

A sad day for Guyana

The final edition of the StabroekNewswillbepublished today.Itisasadmomentnotonly for the newspaper itself but for the nation. Yet even as that newspaperclosesitsdoors,itcan dosowithitsheadunbowed.For decades, it stood as a flag-bearer of press freedom in Guyana, and its disappearance marks a profound loss to the country and especially to the cause of a free andindependentpress.

Stabroek News has defended the principles of independent journalism with persistence over the years. That tradition is not easily replaced.Its closure also dramatically reshapes the country's media landscape. With the end of Stabroek News, KaieteurNewsbecomestheonly independent newspaper remaininginGuyana,inamedia environment now heavily populated by outlets that openly align themselves with the government. That reality should concern anyone who values balance, scrutiny and the democratic necessity of competing voices.For decades, KaieteurNewsenjoyedahealthy rivalry with Stabroek News. We

werecompetitors,certainly—but we were also fellow travellers in the difficult business of independent journalism. Like Stabroek News, we have faced attacks and pressures for doing our work, and often even more intensely Yetthatrivalrypushed both newspapers to dig deeper, report harder and serve our readers better It is a rivalry we willmiss.

What makes this moment evenmoretroublingisthetiming. Guyanatodaystandsinthemidst ofanunprecedentedoilboom.By alleconomiclogic,thisshouldbe a p e r i o d w h e n institutions including the press are strengthened and sustained. Yet the opposite is happening At a time when national wealth is said to be expanding,theindependentpress isshrinking.

That contradiction should alarm every citizen. A country growing richer while its free pressgrowspoorerisnotasignof democratichealth.

Guyana has lost more than a newspaper today It has lost a vital voice.And the vacuum left behindshouldtroubleusall.

familiar landmark in Georgetown:

Govt. must share country's resources with ‘rightful owners’ ...saysExxon’squarterlyreportsandFDPscansolvemysteryofoilreserves

The Government of Guyana (GoG) was caught with its pants down when Kaieteur News learnt thatitsenergypartner,ExxonMobil reported growth in the country's oil reserves without making any such disclosure to the nation, according t o f o r m e r h e a d o f t h e Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),Dr VincentAdams.

The Petroleum and Reservoir Engineer, issued a scathing response to the Ministry of Natural Resources, which according to him spouted“extraneousgibberish”ina statement dated February 24, 2026 whereitsoughttoaddressanarticle published by Kaieteur News under the headline “ExxonMobil reports growth

shareholders…but nothing told to GuyanesebyGovt.andcompany”.

Dr Adams mocked that upon reading the government's response to the article, he did not know whethertolaughorcry

“Being caught with its pants

down, the Govt as usual, responded with its extraneous gibberish about terms they obviously didn't even understand, to bamboozle and insult the Guyanese people,” he said as he wentontoexplaintheissue.

Dr.Adams made it pellucid that the country's reserves represent the bank account of every Guyanese, makingthesubjectanationalissue. With controversy surrounding the country's true oil reserves, the

-Dr.Adams

former EPA boss argued that GoG as the custodian of Guyana's resources is mandated to share the “account information” with its rightfulowners.

As such, he explained, “To unravel this government-created oil reserves mystery, the government must make public, the Exxon Quarterly Reports, the 51 Notice of Discoveries, and the seven Field Development Plans, if they c

ny semblance of credibility and seriousnessrelativetotheiracclaim of transparency and Minister (of Natural Resources Vickram) Bharrat's words to not “withhold anyinformation”.

He was keen to note that Exxon

in its 2025Annual Report stated in simpleEnglishthat “Additions to proved reserves include 2.1 billion barrels of oil equivalent (bboe) from primarily theU.S.andGuyana.”

In responding to the article, government according to Adams responded with “foolishness” that “it is not a country-by-country quantifying incremental proved reserves attributable to Guyana. Presenting that single consolidated figure as a definitive Guyana reservesincreaseisinaccurate”.

He reasoned, “How could anyone, assumed to possess basic comprehension skills, not grasp plain vanilla language specifying that Guyana is one of only two

countries “quantifying” the 2.1 bboe, thus begging KN's valid questionastohowmuchofthat2.1 didGuyanacontribute.”

Dr Adams drew readers' attention to 10 plain facts; the first that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo (Continued on page 11)

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur News

Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: DR. GLENN LALL - TEL: 624-6456

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

Where’sthemoney?

Oil has some chemical in it that drives many who come near to it into madness. It transforms them into mystery writers crafting a language that is hard to decipher Agreat example of this is Guyana, now rich with oil, with the knots into which men tie themselves, the gibberish that stream from their minds. In a country now notorious for its love of secrecies, there is the secret of taxes paid, but no money collected. How could something like that happen, and ExxonMobil allowed to get away with pulling such a trick? Also, there are the company’s financial statements that indicate taxes paid, and the corresponding credits enjoyed. But where is the money? That’s the question that persists amidst the tangle of documents and statements. Who paid whom, and where is the accounting paper trail that supports suchpayments,butleaveshanging? Thereisamuddletobe wadedthrough,butstillthemysteryprevails.

ExxonMobil’s sweetly engineered 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with Guyana provides for the company not paying taxes to Guyana. However, in its 2025 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company states that it paid approximately U.S.$1.1B in taxes to Guyana. Where is that money, i.e., who received it fortheGovernmentofGuyana,andwhere’stheaccounting?

A billion U.S. dollars is such a big development in Guyana that it stands out, shouldn’t be such a difficult payment to locate. No one in the government is taking on the duty of clearing the air surrounding this mystery for Guyanese. Article15.4ofthePSAstatesthatpaymentofthetaxesowed by the company is made by the Minister responsible for Petroleum to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). The GRA is then responsible for issuing the corresponding tax receipts, certificates, to ExxonMobil. Alarge can of worms it is, with the Guyana Government, the GRA, and ExxonMobil all trapped in what can only be described as a danse macabre

Thereistheproperwordinginthecontractrelativetotax payments, including who pays, who receives, and who issuestaxreceiptsandcertificates. Partofthemysteryisthe kindofmoneythatisbeingusedtocoverthedifferentlegsof this tax situation. Physical money doesn’t appear to be involved, for there are no physical entries in Guyana’s accountingbooks,nordepositsmadebythesubjectminister totheGRA. IfGuyana’sMinisterresponsibleforPetroleum directed such a payment, from where did he withdraw the money? TheNewYork-housedNaturalResourceFunddoes not show any related withdrawal, and Guyana’s auditors have been a study in silence and disinterest in what would normally make any self-respecting auditor’s eyes light up with glee. These are among the points made by Chris Ram, chartered accountant and attorney at law, who is one of the fewvigilantoilwatchersinGuyana.

Instead of a single mystery, there is a series of them that thickens the darkness, leaving citizens to question if they willevergetastraightstoryoutofthePPPCGovernmenton its handling of their oil patrimony It is not just a matter of the convoluted activities related to tax payments and tax receipts, but on all things that have something to do with theiroil. Weatthispaperthinkthatitislongpastdueforan end to all these games being played with oil taxes and ExxonMobil.

Taxpaymentsaremadeornotmade. Taxesarecollected and accounted for, or not collected, so there is nothing to accountfor,orwhatleadstotheissuanceoftaxreceipts,and that is all there is to it. It would help if all those that have some role in this tax mystery step forward and speak in the clearest terms about their parts in this tax murk that challengespatienceandcomprehension.

We call on the ExxonMobil Guyana Country Head, Guyana’s Minister responsible for Petroleum, and the Commissioner General of Guyana’s tax collection agency Wehopethatthesethreeseniorofficialswouldsharewhatis informative and reliable concerning the taxes paid, authorised, and received and documented from this oil inheritanceofGuyanese.

Unravelling the Govt-created mystery of Guyana’s Oil Reserves

DEAR EDITOR,

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry upon reading the Government’s recent response to a Kaieteur News (KN) question concerning Guyana’s oil reserves – a subject the Govt has turned into a mystery, if not their privileged information. In other words, screw the peopleofGuyanawhoownstheoil! Government (Govt) elitists still can’t get it that this God given oil endowment belongs to the people and nottothem.Thosereservesstandforthe bank account of all Guyanese, with Govt as custodian mandated to share account information with the rightful owners.TounravelthisGovtcreatedoil reserves mystery, the Govt must make public, the Exxon Quarterly Reports, the 51 Notice of Discoveries, and the 7 FieldDevelopmentPlans,iftheycareto resurrect any semblance of credibility andseriousnessrelativetotheiracclaim of transparency and Minister Bharrat’s words to not “withhold any information”.

KN’s question was triggered by

Exxon’s 2025 Annual Report stating in simple English that the 2025 “additions to prove reserves include 2.1 billion barrels of oil equivalent (bboe) from primarily the US and Guyana ” Considering the 6-year Govt’s blackout of information, this bombshell prompted KN to logically ask how much of those increased reserves came fromGuyana,sinceGuyanawassingled out as one of only two “primary” contributorstotheincrease.

Being caught with its pants down, the Govt as usual, responded with its extraneous gibberish about terms they obviously didn’t even understand, to bamboozle and insult the Guyanese people. Most embarrassing was the foolishness that “it is not a country-bycountryquantifyingincrementalproved reserves attributable to Guyana Presenting that single consolidated figure as a definitive Guyana reserves increase is inaccurate”. How could anyone, assumed to possess basic comprehension skills, not grasp plain vanillalanguagespecifyingthatGuyana

is one of only two countries “quantifying” the 2 1 bboe, thus begging KN’s valid question as to how muchofthat2.1didGuyanacontribute. Whether driven by incompetence, imperiousness, or disrespect for people, this behaviour characterizes the modus operandi of the PPPC (People’s Progressive Party Civic) head honchos who habitually pretzel themselves to immorally defend the indefensible atrocities committed against the Guyanese people Their typical vacillating on the subject of reserves is dizzying as they pitifully and subserviently parrots Exxon’s disinformation, or, as per Judge Kissoon, are “derelict, pliant and submissive”, even when it means ditchingGuyana.

The facts surrounding Guyana’s oil reservesareasfollows:

1. InOctober2024,uponrunning out of excuses to defend Exxon, HonourableVPBharratJagdeopublicly admittedthat“Exxonmaynotbetelling Continued on page 6

M@ilbox

Stabroek News stood as a beacon of hope

DEAR EDITOR,

Sunday, March 15 marks the last day Stabroek News willbepublished.Somemay seethisastheendofanera.I refuse to accept that conclusion so easily I choose instead to hold to the belief that all is not yet lost; that a newspaper which has served this nation for 40 years can still keep its press fresh and continue to perform a service that no healthy society can do without the defence of freedom of expression and thepeople’srighttoknow Let us not pretend that theclosureofthisnewspaper carries no wider meaning. It does. It speaks to the state of a society where good governance is under threat, thejudiciaryisseenbymany as compromised, the

e x e c u t i v e g r o w s increasingly intolerant, and the legislature appears weakened and ineffective. In such an environment, fear stalkstheland.

The corridors of public life have grown hostile to independent and alternative views. Politics have become exclusionary rather than inclusionary Discrimination and marginalisation persist. Too many citizens choose silence lest they lose a contract, be pushed onto the breadline, or see their f a m i l i e s s u ff e r I n circumstances like these, Stabroek News hasstoodasa beacon of hope. Imperfect it m a y b e p e r c e i v e d shortcomings and all—but it has remained a place where voices could be raised, opinions aired, and those entrusted with authority questioned.

Our nation now stands at a dangerous crossroads. If we are serious about preserving and advancing thedemocraticgainssecured bythosewhocamebeforeus,

then we must speak plainly and fearlessly The Irfaan Ali/Bharrat Jagdeo regime must honour the state’s debt to Stabroek News It is widely known that the government owes the newspaper more than $80 millioninadvertising.

Let me make it very clear-thisisnotacasewhere thestatecannotaffordtopay, for it can. And what is at stake here is far greater than a financial transaction. It is about whether a society u n d e r s t a n d s t h e consequences of allowing a platform that facilitates independent and dissenting voices to fall silent. It is about whether we value institutions that hold both g o v e r n m e n t a n d opposition—those entrusted w i t h t h e p e o p l e ’s mandate accountable. Even at the ninth hour, we must press for good sense to prevail in the corridors of power.

There is also the human cost, and it must not be ignored When Stabroek News stopsprinting,workers lose their livelihoods

Journalists, printers, columnists, administrative staff and others who have devoted years of labour to the institution will suddenly face uncertainty Behind

every job stands a household a family that depends on that income to keep food on the table, children in school, and dignity intact When employment disappears, it is not only workers who suffer F a m i l i e s s u f f e r Communities suffer A responsible nation must n e v e r t r e a t s u c h consequencesasincidental.

I am aware that some argue the newspaper’s predicament reflects its own political positioning—that it was seen as sympathetic to

the PPP administration, that it went soft on the regime, andthatperhapsthechickens have come home to roost. There are those who believe the PPP values individuals and institutions only when they serve the party’s interest. I understand these views.Butevenifsomehold them, the larger principle remainsunchanged.

A democratic society requires multiple voices, not fewer We need a national space where spirited debates and discussions flourish, especially as we navigate a social environment growing more individualistic by the day one where instant gratification, lawlessness and the dangerous notion that might is right are beginningtotakeroot.These are not the hallmarks of a society progressing. They are warning signs of a societyindecay.

And so let me state clearly- Stabroek News has rendered yeoman service. For decades it has facilitated voices, expressions and reporting that helped the nation navigate difficult waters. In its own way it has helped defend the rights and freedoms of citizens while reminding leaders that authority must always answertothepeople.Forthat reason alone, its survival matters.

TodayIagainaddmy

Continued on page 9

Kaieteur M@ilbox

Stabroek News: A Legacy of Independent & Courageous Journalism

DEAR EDITOR,

As Stabroek News prepares to close its doors this weekend, we wish to express our deepest gratitude for the newspaper’s decades-long commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance in Guyana. Throughout its history, Stabroek News has stood as one of the country’s most trusted guardians of independent journalism andthepublicinterest.

The mission of the Oil and Gas GovernanceNetwork(OGGN)istoadvocate for the rule of law, environmental protection, andsoundfiscalgovernanceintheoilandgas sector, ensuring that petroleum wealth does not become a curse for our nation. We are therefore particularly grateful for Stabroek News’ willingness over the years to publish ourletters,fromindividualsandfromOGGN as a group, because engaging the media is a vital part of informing the Guyanese publicboth at home and in the diaspora - about critical issues such as the avoidance of taxes on profit oil and the urgent need for adequate liability coverage in the event of a catastrophicoffshoreoilspill.

By shedding light on the realities of the 2016 Stabroek Block Petroleum Agreement, fact-checking official claims regarding ExxonMobil, and drawing attention to environmental legislation and audit findings, Stabroek News has played an indispensable role in keeping the public informed and holding both the government and multinationaloilcompaniestoaccount.

Oilcompaniesnaturallyseektomaximise profits for their shareholders. Too often this imperative leads them to disregard the broader interests of the countries in which they operate and deny citizens a fair share of their natural resources. OGGN’s goal is simple: that the entire Guyanese populationnot a narrow circle of elites - should benefit from our country’s oil wealth. In this effort,

yourjournalismhasbeenaninvaluableally.

At the heart of Stabroek News’ enduring impact has been the exceptional leadership and editorial integrity of your Editor-inChief, Anand Persaud. Under his stewardship, the newspaper upheld the highest standards of journalism, fierce editorialindependence,andrigorousscrutiny of those in power—setting the gold standard for responsible journalism in Guyana for decades Mr Persaud also contributed regularly to public discourse beyond the newspaper, including frequent appearances on “Oil Talk with OGGN” on Kaieteur Radio, where his deep insight into Guyanese and Caribbean affairs proved valuable to audiences both in Guyana and across the diaspora. It is therefore fitting that this work received international recognition when, in December 2022, Mr Persaud was honoured with the European Union Delegation Human Rights Award in Guyana for his longstanding commitment to journalism, pressfreedom,andaccesstoinformation.

Finally, we wish to acknowledge not only theleadershipofthenewspaperbuttheentire Stabroek News editorial and reporting team whose dedication, professionalism, and courage made the paper a trusted source of informationforGuyanesepeopleirrespective ofclass,politicalaffiliation,race,orreligion.

For that enduring contribution to Guyana’s democracy and public life, you haveoursincerethanks.

Sincerely,

Alfred Bhulai

Andre Brandli

Janette Bulkan

Kenrick Hunte

Darsh Khusial

Joe Persaud

Ganga Ramdas On behalf of Oil & Gas Governance Network ( www.oggn.org)

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Stabroek News: An independent voice in support of democracy

DEAR EDITOR,

CRG sincerely thanks Stabroek News (SN) for allowing space for an independentvoiceinsupport of democracy and freedom withinournation.

The commitment and support shown by SN towards the people of our

country have proven invaluable in ushering in change for the betterment of all our citizens. Stabroek Newshasbeenaninspiration overtheyearsandhasbeena true champion of democracy in our country The company has survived oppression in its many forms and CRG is hopeful that the newspaper will be reborn in one form or the other to be able to

c o n t i n u e t o a i d i n championing the voice of those that seek the bettermentofourpeople.

There is no reason why an oil rich country such as ourscannotpaywhatisowed to others if justice, freedom, and democracy are rooted within its foundation If history has taught us anything it has taught us that the will of the people can never be suppressed forever and in time the people will overcome.

All oppressors will eventually be defeated. For those who truly value our nation’s history and seek better for our people, the future is ours and our voices will never be censored. In

today’s digital age access to information and press freedom will overcome censorship. We have seen it tried all over the world, but the truth in matters concerning the state can never remain hidden even if the freedom of the press is curtailed.

The PPP’s Mirror overcame it during the anticolonialstruggleandthoseat Stabroek News overcame it during the difficult Burnham years The voice of the working class will always remainstrong.

Sincerely, Mr

Jamil Changlee Chairman

T h e C o o p e r a t i v e Republicans of Guyana

Unravelling the Govt-created...

From page 4 the truth about Guyana’s oil reserves”;

2. T h e 11 b b o e reserves was announced in April 2022, following the 30thdiscovery;

3. T o d a t e , 2 1 additional discoveries were made with no reported increaseabovethe11bboeof 4yearsago,implyingthatall 21wells came up as dry holes;

4. Hess (Exxon’s partner) disclosed that estimateexceedsthe11bboe claimedbyExxon;

5. CNOOC (Exxon’s partner) reported an additional 746M barrels in onediscoveryin2023,which should have increased the reported reserves to 11.75 bboe;

6. I n 2 0 2 4 , t h e Ministry of Natural R e s o u r c e s ( M N R ) announced that reserves had grown to 11.6 bboe, but hotfooted back in line with Exxon’s 11 bboe, when Exxon disputed MNR’s announcement, though both MNR and Exxon used the samedata;

7. Upuntilthe11bboe announcementinApril2022, E x x o n i m m e d i a t e l y publicised each discovery including non-commercial ones, in keeping with industrypractices;

8. I n f o r m a t i o n blackout started in October 2022 after 4 additional wells followed the April 22 announcement, but no updatewasgiven,thoughthe 4 wells bore similar characteristics to the 1st 30 in pay zone size and oil quality described as having “high-qualityoil”;

9. US internationally renowned S&P Global Energy puts reserves at 18.7 bboe;

10. A s g a r A l l y , economist, former Guyana Finance Minister, and Deputy Governor of the BankofJamaicadeclaredthe reservestobe15bboe.

T h e G o v t t a k e s Guyanese for fools, for even after their oil boss Jagdeo tells the nation that “Exxon may not be telling the truth”, we should still swallow that (i) all of the estimates from internationally accredited experts are wrong; (ii) it is mere coincidence that of 51 discoveries, the 1st 30 showed commercial oil, while the next 21were dry holes, though all were described to have similar oil pay zone size with “highquality oil”; (iii) Exxon

continues to waste U.S. $ billions, drilling dry holes costing over $100 million each; and (iv) the Govt is not obediently parroting Exxon’s disinformation of self-interest.

Motive - It is sad listening to Govt officials such as Minister Vickram Bharrat subserviently uttering that “there is no reasonforExxontowithhold any information as to our discovered resources.” Is it simply incompetence, naivety, or something else that make him such a rabid protector of Exxon? The herein common sence evidence aside, did the Minister sneer at his boss Jagdeo’s conclusion that “Exxon may not be telling thetruth”?DoestheMinister not know of Exxon’s ignoble reputation around the world

including for reporting false data? Does he not know of t h e $ b i l l i o n s o f decommissioning costs Exxonwithholdsforcleanup of the ocean floor at end of operation? And does he not know that like the U.S. $ billions Guyana pays for Exxon’s taxes, t

go into Exxon’s bank account decades before use to do whatever they want with it, including investments withoutapennytoGuyana?

Does the Honourable Minister not know that withholdings are calculated from the reserves and the production rates, decreasing bythesamepercentageasthe increase in reserves, and increasing by the same percentageastheincreasein production rates. So, does the Minister now understand enough, or ready to admit why Exxon lowballs the reserves and illegally and dangerously pumps above the safe operating limits in cahoots with him – all to inflate the early U S $ d e c o m m i s s i o n i n g withholdings?

The stark reality is that Exxon has no obligation whatsoever to Guyana, regardless of the fancy rhetoric confounded by their deeds, but they do a masterful job satisfying their fiduciary duty to their shareholders, pumping plenty oil to make plenty money as quickly as possible. On the other hand, the Govt is not coming close to meeting its only charge of protecting Guyana’s best

interest, but rather, barefacedly insults our intelligence proclaiming that they “remain committed to responsible petroleum management, transparent public communication, and evidence-based economic stewardship”. If this is not another attempt at foolery, don’tknowwhatis!

The keystone cop head spinning caricature of this Govt is embarrassing. When Exxon attempts to validate the 11 bboe reserves saying that their submitted data were verified by the Govt’s, Jagdeo quickly took umbrage, retorting that it is “totally false” that the Govt was conducting its own assessments Jagdeo once hilariously explained that while the recent discoveries made by Exxon are substantial, they do not represent a significant increase. Following Hess’s Report that 8 wells encountering oil was drilled in 2024, in his 2025 budget, Honourable Minister Ashni Singh contradicted that only 5wellsweredrilled.

Whenever asked about reserves, Exxon’s patented answer is that the Govt has the Quarterly Reports with the information Jagdeo confirmed that “we get these reports every 3 months and the reports state what the reserves are” In the meantime, Minister Bharrat boldly promised to “not withholdanyinformation”.

Therefore, if the Govt wishes to regain any hint of credibility and seriousness akin to their acclaim of transparency,theymustkeep Bharrat’s promise to “not withhold any information” by releasing the Quarterly Reports along with the 51 Notice of Discoveries (NODs) and 7 Field Development Plans (FDPs), especially since Jagdeo is on record stating that all of the FDPs were on the Govt’s website.

The NODs contain the analyses and results of each of the 51 discoveries, while the FDPs comprise the planning details of each of projects against which the Quarterly Reports provide theperformanceupdates.

We hope that the Govt won’t repeat its insulting excuse that these documents are too complicated for Guyanese comprehension, and as a reminder, none of this information is proprietary!

Sincerely, Dr VincentAdams

5th form students to access drivers' theory material via Digital School

The Ministry of Education has announced that for the first time, fifth form studentsacrossGuyanawillbeabletoaccess and pursue the drivers' theory curriculum directlythroughtheDigitalSchoolplatform. The ministry stated that the landmark initiativewasthefocusofastrategicmeeting held on Friday between Education Minister Sonia Parag, Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond, and Minister of Labour andManpowerPlanning,KeomaGriffith. Having access to pursue the drivers'

theory, students will graduate secondary school fully equipped with essential road safetyandroaduseknowledge.

“Beyond empowering our youth, this transition also modernises the professional advancement process for members of the Guyana Police Force by moving all promotional testing to a transparent and efficient digital environment,” the ministry reported.

Further, the Education Ministry stated (Continued on page 44)

(From left to right) Minister of Education, Sonia Parag, Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond, and Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith during a meeting on Friday. Friday

Should overseas-based Guyanese qualify for the cash grant?

Ifneurosiswereanatural resource, Guyana would have struck oil decades before Exxon arrived. And nowhere is our national anxiety more visible than in the current debate about the g o v e r n m e n t ’s c a s h grant—specifically, whether Guyanese who live overseas shouldalsoreceiveit.

NowIdon’tpretendtobe a n e c o n o m i s t M y experience with numbers is limited to calculating whether the bills I receive at the end of the month, exceeds my income. But even I can see that when a country announces it is giving out money, it produces two immediate reactions: gratitude from those who qualify and a sudden genealogical awakeningamongthosewho donot.

Overnight, people who have not set foot in Guyana since bell-bottoms were

f a s h i o n a b l e a r e rediscovering their deep spiritual connection to the l a n d C o u s i n s w h o previously could not locate Guyana on a map are now explaining with great patriotic fervour—why they are entitled to the same cash grant as the woman who has been standing in line at GPL forthirtyyears.

This phenomenon is not entirelynew Infact,wehave seen it before. Back in the 1970s,whenthegovernment introduced remigration concessions, there was a lively argument about fairness. Many locals who had stayed and endured the difficult years wondered why incentives were being offered to those who had already left for greener pastures. It was a bit like rewarding someone for abandoning the ship while the rest of the crew stayed behind to bail water with

teacups.

O f c o u r s e , o n e understands the reasoning. Remittances from overseas Guyanese have kept countless families afloat over the decades. Without them, many households would have been surviving on pure optimism and a little rice.Thediasporahasplayed a tremendous role in helping relatives through hard times, and that contribution deservesrespect.

But here is where the arithmetic becomes psychologicallydisturbing.

If the cash grant is meant tobenefitthepeoplelivingin Guyana, then expanding the pool of beneficiaries begins to resemble one of those nightmares where you invite twelve guests to dinner and suddenly seventy-two people arrive—each holding aplateandsmilingwarmly It is widely believed that roughly half of all Guyanese

Stabroek News stood as a beacon...

From page 5 voice to the call to keep this newspaper alive. The PPP administration must engage the managementandownersof Stabroek News in meaningful dialogue to find a path forward. Let us hope that while the presses may pause and the ink may dry for a moment, the matter is resolved before that ink flakes to the floor. The press must remain in the hands of Stabroek News. The struggle to keep Stabroek News alive is not simply about saving a newspaper It is

about defending a space where citizens can question authority without fear When institutions that facilitate public scrutiny disappear, democracy weakens and the peoplelose.

Let it never be said that when the moment demanded courage, we chose silence instead. The hour calls for leadership, responsibility and wisdom for a nation that silences independent voices ultimatelysilencesitself

Lincoln Lewis

Dem Boys Seh...

Theamazingmathematicsoftaxifare

Dem boys seh Guyana got a special kind of mathematics. It ain’t taught at the University of Guyana, but it operating very successfullyontheroad.

Taketaxifareforexample.

OnMondayyoujumpinahirecarandgo a short drop. The driver look thoughtful, scratch he chin like a philosopher, and seh, “Bossman, is $1,000.” You pay, everybody happy, and you even tip a lil something becausethemanbehavedecent.

ThenThursdaycome.

You take the same route. Same distance. Same pothole you had to brace your spine for Same dog crossing the road like he own the republic. But this time the driver turn around with the confidence of a man selling beachfrontpropertyandseh,“$3,000.”

Threethousand!

Demboyssehiftaxifarekeeprisinglike that, soon NASAgoing call Guyana to study the phenomenon. Because clearly gravity workingdifferenthere.

Now don’t get dem boys wrong. Plenty taxi drivers honest and fair Some of them chargereasonablemoneyandcarryyousafe. They understand that people got to survive too. If you meet one of them drivers you feel likeyoufindgoldinthebackyard. Butthenthereistheothercategory

live overseas. Fifty percent. Imagine that For every person in Guyana there is another one abroad explaining to their friends that Guyana has “great potential.”

Now suppose every one of those overseas Guyanese decides they should also receive the cash grant Suddenly the beneficiary pool doubles.And unless the national treasury has discovered a secret oilfield beneath the Bank of Guyana’s parking lot, that means the amount available for each person inevitably shrinks.

In other words, the pie doesnotgetbigger;itsimply gets sliced into thinner and thinner pieces until eventually everyone receives something roughly thesizeofabiscuit.

And this is where things begin to take on a slightly comictone.

In recent months there has been a remarkable surge of interest among overseasbased Guyanese in obtaining identification cards, passports, and proof of c i t i z e n s h i p S o m e individuals who previously required Google to spell “Georgetown” are now urgently trying to verify the maiden name of their grandmother

I t i s a t o u c h i n g rediscovery of national identity

People who once described themselves as “Caribbean-adjacent North Americans” are suddenly declaring with misty-eyed patriotism that Guyana is t h e i r t r u e home—particularly if that home comes with a cash grant and a house lot. One cannot help feeling that somewhere between patriotism has become slightly entangled with opportunism.

Now, before anyone accuses me of being antidiaspora, let me say that overseas Guyanese are a vital part of the national story They send money, invest in businesses, and occasionally return home with suitcases full of electronics that make their relatives believe they work forNASA.

But there is still a philosophical question to be asked: when the government distributes public money intended to help citizens cope with the rising cost of living, who should be first in line?

The family member struggling with grocery bills? Or the cousin who lives comfortably in Toronto buthassuddenlydevelopeda

passionate attachment to the EssequiboRiver?

At some point, a society must decide whether its limited resources are meant primarily for those who live withinitsborders.

Whichbringsustoavery old principle one that predates oil wealth, cash grants, and even the modern Guyanese passport. Charity, as the saying goes, begins at home.

And if that phrase means anything at all, it surely suggests that the people who stayed who endured the hardyears,theshortages,the blackouts, and the endless lines might reasonably expect to benefit first when thenationalpurseisopened.

Otherwise, we may soon findourselvesinthepeculiar situation where half the country is abroad, the other halfisathome,andeveryone is applying for the same cheque.

At which point the government will face a terrible dilemma: either increase the grant or invest heavily in therapy for a very anxiousnation.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

These fellas operating like every passenger just collect an oil bonus and got cashfallingouttheypocket.Oneminuteyou going Kitty, next minute the price sounding likeyoucharteringahelicopter

Demboyssehtheproblemissimple:taxi f a r e i n G u y a n

t h e weather—everybody talking about it but nobodyregulatingit. I

, transportation fares get fixed or at least properly regulated. That way passenger know what they paying and driver know what they earning No confusion No roadside negotiation that feel like you buyingausedrefrigerator

But here, the price depend on mood, traffic, rainfall, planetary alignment, and sometimes whether the driver breakfast good.

Dem boys seh Guyana really is an amazing country Nowhere else in the world you could take the same five-minute ride twice in one week and feel like the economy changethreetimes.

So dem boys got a humble suggestion: regulate the fares. Because right now the only thing moving faster than the taxis… is theprice.

Talk half. Leff half

H@RD TRUTHS

Unintended exposure, unlimited free global advertisement

From the law of u n i n t e n d e d consequences, I highlight situations that d e l i v e r u n i n t e n d e d

exposures BBC World Questions: Guyana revealed internationally what Guyana really is, where Guyanese are. The former is a snake

pit, the latter a crab dance gathering.

What it did was put to shame Excellency Ali's One Guyana scheme, and

confirmed to the widest audience, what a failure that is.

The PPP went to the Pegasus with its paid cheerleading squadron Thus, the arena converted to a political gladiatorial amphitheaterwasdominated by those with exclusive rights to One Guyana benefits.

The PPP-summoned hootedandhollered,clapped their hands and stamped their feet, as prompted, as choreographed A fine spectacleitwas.

A finer spectacle it was, and an assault on Pres. Ali's One Guyana monument, that's now nothing but a graveyard, when the PNC battalion put in its own appearance for the BBC show

The drinks were plentiful, flowed freely, and the food gobbled up, though not of the best culinary quality Buttheretheywere, andthusitwas. OneGuyana that's really Guyana fractured into two, with that merelythestart.

The PNC Guyana had its moments, but all the advantagesofthehometeam went to the PPPmythmakers marshalled to full assembly and charged up to give the fullest display of their harvests from Guyana's Oil Dorado.

Who could speak more of oil's prosperity than those who actuallycollectit? And whohasgottenmorethanthe circle of PPP insiders, and less than the segments in the Guyanese population demographicthatPPPbigots circledout?

What the BBC heard, and what the world both saw andheard,washowmuchoil has divided Guyanese. The

farce of One Guyana collapsed under its own weight from a deluge of impassioned words, and in slow motion. None are more impassioned than religious and political fundamentalists.

What the BBC's audience should know, or just found out, was that the national religion is politics and politics is God Almighty. I sure have to offend somebody with that blasphemy

When everybody is drippingwithriches,nobody isquarrelingopenly

They simply plot and plan covertly about how to help themselves to their neighbour's rich stock of assets. Howtorenderhimor her poorer, a non-competitor for the crown of being the richest. Fact of life, isn't it?

Here's another Greed begetsmoregreed. Andstill onemore. When everyone is poor, shoulders are shrugged, bellies are banded more tightly, and the word that spreadisaalahweedehinde same boat So though looking at nothing, the commitmentistolookoutfor oneanother

That is, until the One Guyana caravan comes rolling around the corner, and there is separating of sheepfromgoat.

Who get leff out, get shack out, too baad. Who saidlifeisfair,orhastobe?

Hence, when the once glittering, glamorous BBC came knocking on Guyana's door, I said they must have heard of the nobility and divinity of one Irfaan Ali. Then I remembered with the abruptness of lumber to the head that Guyana has oil, and that there are concerns

reporting dates that coincide with scheduledcourtappearances.

Dhurjontoldthemagistratethatwhenthe reportingdayfallsonadaywhentheaccused are already required to appear in court, it would be unnecessary and burdensome for themtoalsoreporttothepolicestation.

“It would be onerous and unnecessary In fact, today (Friday) they were to report between13:00hrsand15:00hrs,andthatwas notpossible.

So, we asked that they may be excused forthedefault,”Dhurjonexplained.

Headdedthatthepurposeofthereporting

and questions about the fairness of its revenue distribution.

Now that's my language talking. Talk about fairness andIamsingingandwriting.

And, so were the Guyanese at the actual panel discussion who showed the world how sharply polarised the peoples of this country are. The oil equation is an inequality, a national calamity

The Guyanese who haven't got their fair share of Guyana's gushing oil revenues outnumber by leaps and bounds, and outweigh by countless thousandsoftons,thosewho actuallygot.

T h e r e i s a n e w unintended exposure, thanks to the BBC, despite its own twisty and curly nature There is racial division There's political division Both are older than the Republic.

Now,thereisthenewoil divisionandmoneydivision, with both intensifying the old political and racial divisions that have been Number One hits in this country

Oil and money divisions havesincetoppledthosetwo fromthecharts.

Poor Pres.Ali started out withtheporousandendedup with the dubious One Guyana is deader than a doomeddog.

BBC World Questions: Guyanaburiedthatsix(teen) feetunder

(The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

condition was to ensure that the accused continue to appear before the court when required.

“The whole reason for the reporting conditionsistoensurethattheycometocourt anyway,”hesaid.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Magistrate Latchman ruled that the reporting requirement would be adjusted in circumstances where the reporting date coincideswithascheduledcourthearing.

“The reporting requirement is varied in the following manner: where the reporting dayisacourtday,therequirementtoreportto the officer-in-charge at the station is suspended,”themagistrateruled.

Mohameds’ bail reporting under scrutiny

Questions surrounding t h e b a i l r e p o r t i n g requirements of Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed

and his father Nazar Mohamed came under scrutinyincourtonFridayas prosecutors raised concerns about whether the two men havebeenstrictlycomplying withtheconditionssetbythe court.

The issue arose during proceedingsbeforePrincipal MagistrateJudyLatchmanat theGeorgetownMagistrates' Court.

…Magistrate suspends reporting on court days

During the hearing, prosecutor Glenn Hanoman informed the court that records from the Ruimveldt Police Station suggest that the father and son may not have strictly adhered to the bail condition requiring them to report weekly to the policestation.

Bail conditions and extraditionmatter

Both men were granted bail in the sum of $150,000 eachfollowingtheirarrestin

Govt.mustsharecountry's...

From page 3 admitted that “Exxon may not be telling the truth about Guyana's oil reserves”

According to research done by the Petroleum Engineer, Guyana's 11B barrel oil reserves was announced since April 2022, following the 30th discovery by Exxon yet with 21 additional discoveries, there has been noincreasetothereserves.

B e y o n d t h a t , h e reminded that Hess, a 30% shareholder in the Stabroek Block disclosed that its estimate exceeds the 11 bboe claimed by Exxon, while C N O O C t h e 2 5 % shareholder reported an additional 746M barrels in onediscoveryin2023.

Additionally, U S renowned S&P Global estimated Guyana's reserves at 18 7B while economist, former Guyana Finance

Minister, and Deputy Governor of the Bank of Jamaica,AsgarAllydeclared the reserves to be 15B barrels.

Dr Adams recalled that prior to the 11B barrel announcementinApril2022, Exxon previously publicised each discovery, including non-commercial ones, in keeping with industry practices.

To this end, he said, “Information blackout started in October 2022 after four additional wells followed the April 2022 announcement, but no updatewasgiven,thoughthe four wells bore similar characteristics to the first 30 in pay zone, size and oil quality described as having “high-qualityoil””.

Shifting his attention to the subject minister's statement that “there is no reasonforExxontowithhold any information as to our discovered resources,” Dr Adams said minister Bharrat may be unaware of Jagdeo's conclusion that Exxon may

Georgetown on October 31, 2025, after an extradition request was filed by authorities in the United States The extradition proceedings stem from criminal charges filed against the Mohamed family in a United States federal courtinMiami,Florida.

conditions, the two men were required to report weekly to the Ruimveldt PoliceStation.

not be telling the truth about Guyana'sreserves.

F u r t h e r m o r e , h e reasoned,“DoestheMinister not know of Exxon's ignoble reputation around the world

manifested by many litigations and fines including for reporting false data? Does he not know of t h e b i l l i o n s o f decommissioning costs

Exxon withholds for cleanup of the ocean floor at end of operation?

And does he not know that like the U.S.-billions Guyana pays for Exxon's t a x e s , t h e s e

d e c o m m i s s i o n i n g withholdingsgointoExxon's bank account decades before usetodowhatevertheywant w i t h i t , i n c l u d i n g investments without a penny toGuyana?”

W i t h g l a r i n g contradictions in the public d o m a i n r e p o r t e d b y government and the Stabroek shareholders on the country's reserves, the Petroleum and Reservoir Engineer is calling on the GoG to release the quarterly reports submitted by the contractor, the Notice of Discoveries (NODs) filed by Exxon and the company's seven FDPs, especially since Jagdeo is on record stating that all of the FDPs were on government'swebsite.

He explained, “The NODs contain the analyses and results of each of the 51 discoveries, while the FDPs comprise the planning details of each of projects against which the Quarterly Reports provide the performance updates,” adding that he hopes the administration will not continue to insult Guyanese with its excuse that the d o c u m e n t s a r e t o o complicated for citizens to comprehend. Dr Adams also made it clear that this i n f o r m a t i o n i s n o t proprietary

According to a 25-page indictment unsealed on October2,2025,prosecutors allege that the Mohameds orchestrated a large-scale schemeinvolvingfraudulent gold exports, customs violations, bribery, and the evasionofmillionsofdollars in taxes and royalties owed toGuyana.

As part of their bail

D u r i n g F r i d a y ' s proceedings, Inspector Hindsappearedincourtwith the station diary used to recordreportingvisitsbythe accused However, the officer explained that the diary he brought only contained entries beginning on March 6, 2026. He told the court that the current diary had been opened on March 3 and that the station sergeant responsible for maintaining earlier records was not present in court at thetime.

Based on the March 6

entry, the court heard that Nazar Mohamed reported to the station at approximately 10:00 hrs, while Azruddin Mohamed checked in later thatdayatabout13:14hrs.

Despite this entry, Hanomantoldthemagistrate that earlier station diaries he had reviewed suggested several possible breaches of thereportingschedule.

Hanoman told the court that records indicated the father and son failed to report on December 26, 2025, and January 2, 2026. He also claimed that there were other instances where the two men reportedly checked in either before or after the specific dates

mandatedbythecourt.

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e prosecutor, even reporting earlier than the scheduled date could technically constitute a breach of the court'sreportingconditions.

Hefurtherallegedthaton several occasions the duo reported a day or two late and that at one point they reportedly signed in on the 14th instead of the required 13th in order to maintain a weeklyreportingpattern.

“They failed to report within the strict timeline of the court and instead reported when they felt like,”Hanomansaid.

In response, defence (Continued on page 10)

Machel Montano won the title for a record 12 occasions, with his tune, Encore

Guyana Gas policy-technicalconsiderations

By Anthony Paul Senior Energy and Strategy Advisor and former Director of Geology

and

Geophysics

at the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Energy

Natural Gas Can Be Found Underground in Two Main Ways

1. Associated gas – This is gas that's found together

with oil in the same reservoir

Think of it like a soda bottle: the gas is “dissolved” in the oil, called solution gas, and sometimes forms a pocketofgasontopoftheoil calledagascap

When you produce the oil,somegascomesoutwith it, and if there's a gas cap, you can also extract that separately

2. Non-associated gas –This is gas that exists by itself, not mixed with oil. It's

like opening a balloon filled onlywithgas.

You don't need to produce oil to get it; you're just getting the natural gas directly

Why Gas Re-Injection Becomes a Growing Challenge

When oil is produced offshore, natural gas often comes up with it. Much of this gas is compressed and i n j e c t e d b a c k underground to maintain reservoirpressure. But over time, each production cycle tends to bring up more gas relative tooil

If there is no pipeline to takethegasaway,thesystem must compress and reinject larger and larger volumes, increasing opera

sometimes limiting how fast oilcanbeproduced.

Why the “Gas Cap” Matters

In many oil reservoirs, natural gas sits on top of the oil underground This is calledagascap

That gas helps maintain pressure in the reservoir, pushing oil toward the wells soitcanbeproduced.

q

If gas is removed too

underground can fall, which may reduce how much oil canultimatelyberecovered.

t h

e n o

s t commercialdecisions. They are also reservoir management decisions that can affect the total value of theresource.

Why Gas Production CannotAlways Start Immediately

Many people ask: If the gas is there, why not sell it

right away?

Theansweristwo-fold.

First, there may not be a way to get it to a user (no pipeline, for instance) or there may not be a user to take it (no power plant, for instance)

Second, underground reservoirs behave according tophysics, not politics In some reservoirs, producing gas too early can cause liquids such as condensate to become

recovered.

F o r t h i s reason, engineers sometimes delay gas production while managing pressure carefully to maxim

recovery

What may appear to be delay from the outside may a

reservoirmanagement.

Why Oil Companies Think in Global Terms

Large energy companies do not make decisions about onecountryinisolation.

A company operating in Guyana may also be developing projects in other parts of the world at the same time, and each project competes internally for investment.

This means the timing of developmentscandependon factorssuchas: global gas

available investment capital technicalpriorities

Understanding this helps explain why development timelines do not always m

governments or citizens mightexpect.

Why Technical

Understanding Matters for Policy

Gas development is not justaboutpipelinesorpower plants.

Every decision — how fast to produce gas, when to export it, or how much infrastructuretobuild—can affect:

future oil recovery government revenues

e l e c t r

the long-term value of Guyana'sresources

Someconsequencesmay only become visible many yearslater

G

multinational companies,

country's portfolio and so must be prepared, to ensure the best outcome for their citizens. That is why sound policy must be based on a clear understanding of the technical behaviour of oil andgasreservoirs.

Guyana Gas Development Policy

– The Critical Importance of a Technical & Commercial Base

ByAnthony Paul

Senior Energy and Strategy Advisor and former Director of Geology and Geophysics at the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Energy

Throughout this series, my intention has been to support the continued strengthening of policy thinkingaroundgasproductionand development Sound policy, however, cannot be designed in abstraction.It must be rootedin the technical and commercial realities oftheresourceitself.

Regulators and policymakers do not need to become reservoir engineers or portfolio managers, buttheymustunderstandenoughof theunderlyingmechanicstoaskthe right questions, recognise where value may be created or lost, and design frameworks that can actuallybeimplemented.

No policy is worth its salt if it cannot withstand the discipline of execution - and implementation, in the gas industry especially, reinforces the need for solid technicalgrounding.

This instalment therefore moves deliberately away from the institutionaldiscussionandintothe technicalterrain,toillustratewhya working understanding of gas reservoir behaviour and commercial sequencing is so critically important in shaping outcomesforemergingproducers.

Gas is frequently described in public discourse as a “bridge fuel,” a transition resource, or a byproduct of oil development In subsurface reality, it is none of those simplifications It is a compressible fluid governed by pressure decline, reservoir energy,

permeability architecture and fluid

contacts that behave very differently from oil-dominated systems. The way it is producedthe rate, the sequencing, the pressure management strategymaterially influences ultimate recovery, project economics, and nationalvaluecapture.

Considerfirstthedynamicsofa gas cap in an oil reservoir In many deepwater systems, particularly those where associated gas is present above an oil column within the same reservoir body, production strategy is not merely a commercial decision but a reservoir management choice

Rapidblowdownofthegascapcan accelerate early cash flow, but it alters pressure support within the reservoir

If gas is produced aggressively without coordinated pressure maintenance - whether through reinjection or disciplined rate control - the consequences can include reduced oil recovery, altered fluid contacts, and longterm loss of recoverable hydrocarbons. What appears, on a spreadsheet, as an optimisation of short-term revenue can translate underground into diminished ultimaterecovery

The alternative, pressure

maintenance through gas reinjection or constrained offtake, may preserve reservoir energy and enhance oil recovery factors. But this approach requires capital discipline, infrastructure planning, and alignment between operator portfolio strategy and national development objectives R e i n j e c t i o n d e l a y s g a s monetisation. It may conflict with

corporate sequencing priorities if the operator holds multiple gas assetsgloballyandallocatescapital based on comparative returns acrossitsportfolio.

It is important to recognise that reservoir management choices are rarely linear in their effects Measures designed to preserve long-term recovery - such as gas reinjection to maintain pressure -

can themselves introduce operational trade-offs. Reinjection may increase gas–oil ratios over time, raise compression and separation costs, and require additional injector wells In complex reservoirs, early gas breakthrough or channeling can affect near-wellbore performance andalterproductionprofiles.

Similarly, in condensate-rich non-associated gas reservoirs, pressure maintenance is often essential to prevent retrograde condensationthatcanimpairliquid

recovery In such cases, commercial gas production may be deferred for many years while condensate extraction is prioritised.

What appears externally as a delay in monetisation may, in fact, reflectreservoirphysicsratherthan c o m m e r c i a l r e l u c t a n c e Associated gas co-development may reduce reinjection costs and flaring exposure, yet it can also introduce trade-offs between enhanced oil recovery strategies and early gas revenue Each pathway carries cost, recovery, and timing implications that must be evaluatedholisticallyratherthanin isolation.

Thisiswheretechnicalgeology intersects commercial strategy

Multinational operators manage global portfolios.Agas field in one country competes internally with LNG expansions elsewhere, brownfield optimisations in mature basins, or new deepwater developments in other provinces. The decision to accelerate production, defer infrastructure, prioritise reinjection, or sequence developments in a particular order is rarely driven solely by reservoir considerations. It is influenced by balance sheet constraints, sha

geopolitical exposure, and internal capitalallocationframeworks.

For policymakers, this is not a criticism of operators; it is a structural reality But it has implications If portfolio sequencing decisions influence productionprofiles,andproduction profiles influence reservoir performance,thennationalrevenue trajectoriesareindirectlyshapedby corporate capital allocation strategies Without technical literacy at the regulatory level, these interactions can pass unnoticed.

Gas reservoir behaviour compounds this complexity

Unlike oil, gas expansion is highly sensitivetopressuredecline.Indry gas reservoirs, early high-rate production can lead to rapid pressure depletion, affecting deliverability over time. Recovery factors in gas systems are often high relative to oil, but they are not immune to suboptimal rate management Over-aggressive drawdown can compromise longterm plateau stability, alter condensate dropout behaviour in retrograde systems, and increase

surfacehandlingchallenges. In associated gas systems, the trade-off is even more delicate. Oil optimisation and gas monetisation do not always align temporally Accelerating gas sales to meet domestic power demand or to justify pipeline infrastructure may conflict with an oil-focused pressure management strategy

Conversely, deferring gas developmenttoprotectoilrecovery may delay domestic industrial ambitions.

These are not abstract engineering debates. They shape electricity pricing, industrial policy, fiscal stability and sovereign revenue If gas is committed under long-term contracts at a moment of global o v e r s u p p l y, t h e p r i c i n g consequences may persist for decades If infrastructure is oversized relative to sustainable reservoir deliverability, fixed costs can burden the domestic economy (Continued on page 13)

Guyana Gas Development Policy

From page 12 long after initial optimism fades.

The lesson, drawn from pastgasprovinces,isnotthat development should be slowed or that caution shouldparalyseaction.

It is that technical discipline must underpin

p o l i c y a m b i t i o n Infrastructure expansion without reservoir alignment creates systemic risk. Fiscal models built on optimistic plateau assumptions can

unravel if reservoir performance diverges from

early forecasts Domestic market obligations, if misaligned with field productivity, can distort upstreamincentives. Transparency remains essential, but transparency alone does not guarantee optimal outcomes Public disclosure of contracts is valuable;understandinghow production strategy interacts with those contracts is equallyso.

T h e g o v e r n a n c e challenge for emerging gas producers lies in bridging this gap ensuring that

policy frameworks are informed by a sufficiently deep grasp of reservoir physics and commercial sequencing to anticipate where value might be gained orquietlylost.

Gas does not destroy value dramatically It erodes gradually - through marginal recovery losses, suboptimal sequencing, pricing rigidity, o r i n f r a s t r u c t u r e mismatches. Each decision may appear rational in isolation.

Theaggregateeffectmay only become visible years

later, when decline sets in andpolicyspacenarrows.

I t i s w o r t h acknowledging that several of the deeper technical considerations referenced here have been articulated in detail in LinkedIn analyses by Les Anthony (e g https://lnkd.in/e4bEZweU)

Drawing on publicly available production data made possible through transparency initiatives, he has demonstrated how reinjection strategy, gas–oil ratio trends, condensate dynamics and sequencing considerations in associated versus non-associated systems can be identified, examined and in some cases quantified. That capacity to

disclosed data reinforces the importance of transparency not merely as a governance principle, but as a practical tool for safeguarding nationalvalue.

T h i s i s w h y t h e conversation must move beyond institutional design i

Policymakers need not calculate permeability coefficients or simulate reservoir models. But they

consequences of blowdown

maintenance, of accelerated offtake versus reinjection, of portfolio-driven sequencing versus resource-driven optimisation.

Only then can policy frameworks be calibrated to

align corporate incentives withnationalobjectives.

The central point is str

ghtforward: gas development is not merely a commercialopportunity;itis a systems engineering challenge embedded within nationalgovernance. Where technical literacy informs policy, countries retain strategic control over timing, recovery and value capture. Where it does not, outcomes are shaped elsewhere — not by malice, butbymomentum.

The future of emerging gas provinces will depend less on the size of their discoveries and more on the discipline with which they aremanaged.Anddiscipline, in this context, begins with understanding.a

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCIES!

In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Dr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecencies in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

MONDAY – MARCH 09, 2026

Acareful balance on Cuba

President Irfaan Ali has signalled a nuanced shift in Guyana's posture toward Cuba. His call for gradual change through dialogue acknowledges a reality long debated in the region—that Cuba's internal conditions cannot remain static, but n e i t h e r s h o u l d transformation be forced fromoutside.

Guyana's historic solidarity with Cuba, dating back decades, has been anchored in shared regional interests and practical cooperation, especially in health care That history

should not be lightly discarded Yet President Ali's remarks reflect the delicate position Caribbean states now occupy amid risinggeopoliticalpressure.

The challenge for CARICOM is to maintain principled independence while encouraging reforms that improve the lives of the Cuban people. Dialogue, not coercion, remains the most

credible path toward meaningful and lasting change.

TUESDAY –MARCH 10, 2026

Oil wealth must reach ordinary people

The complaints voiced by grassroots women at the forumonSaturdayonoiland the cost of living should not be dismissed as mere activism They reflect a reality many Guyanese feel daily: prices are rising while reliefremainselusive.

As ExxonMobil reports soaring profits from operations in the Stabroek Block, ordinary citizens continue to grapple with expensive food, utilities and transportation.

Pensioners living on modest stipends and single parents struggling to feed families feel the strain most acutely Ironically, even the c o m p a n y ' s o w n environmental assessments acknowledge that largescale oil development can push up the cost of living. That warning now appears lesstheoretical.

Oil wealth was meant to transformlivesinGuyana.If prosperity is measured only in corporate profits while citizens tighten their belts,

then the promise of the petroleum era risks becomingpainfullyhollow

WEDNESDAY – MARCH 11, 2026

The billion-dollar tax mirage

ExxonMobil says it paid Guyana US$1 1 billion in taxes in 2025 That claim may look impressive in a glossy annual report filed in theUnitedStates,butherein Guyana it rings hollow The uncomfortable truth is that Exxon does not pay taxes to this country under the 2016 P r o d u c t i o n S h a r i n g Agreement Instead, the Government pays those taxesonExxon'sbehalffrom Guyana's own share of oil revenues.

Thisbizarrearrangement allowsthecompanytoreport billions in “tax payments” while Guyanese citizens see no direct inflow of such funds It is accounting theatre—legal perhaps, but deeplytroubling.

Exxon can boast about a US$1.1 billion tax payment, but Guyanese know the bitter reality This is money the country desperately needs If Guyana truly received such revenue, the government would not have to keep borrowing to build roads, hospitals and schools. That is the tragedy of this deal: while Exxon reports billions,thenationthatowns the oil is still scrambling for cash.

THURSDAY – MARCH 12, 2026

Visa and our sovereignty

The Caribbean has been handed a crude test: stand by a health programme that saves lives or bow to the threat of losing a United States visa. To their credit, leaders like Mia Mottley, Keith Rowley and Ralph Gonsalves answered with backbone They made it clear that their citizens' health is worth more than travelprivileges.

Guyana, however, has r e s p o n d e d w i t h a n uncomfortable silence. The quiet collapse of the Cuban medical programme raises troubling questions about whether pressure from Washington has already achieveditsgoal.

For decades, Cuban doctors have filled vital gaps acrosstheregion.Theirwork has meant surgeries

performed, clinics staffed andlivessaved.

If Guyana has stepped back because of visa threats, thatwouldbeapoorbargain. Sovereignty should never be traded for convenience A visa is a privilege; national dignity and public health are not.

SATURDAY – MARCH

14, 2026

War and oil prices

Warisacruelaccelerator for oil prices The U SIsrael-Iran conflict has already sent crude climbing, and the longer the hostilities persist, the steeper the rise. For oil-producing nations, the surge in revenue is a silverlining.

For Guyana, increased

daily output could bring gains,yetthepeoplebearthe heavier burden Inflation tightens its grip as costs for essentials, from medical supplies to transport climb alongsideoil.

Ordinary Guyanese, especially the poor, feel the pinch acutely, their purchasing power eroded whileneedsremainurgent.

Globally, volatility benefitstraders,butforthose facing empty shelves and rising bills, war's gains are distantandbitter As Iran shows resilience andtheconflictescalates,the forecast for both oil markets and vulnerable populations is grim War may boost profits, but it punishes the many

Members of the GPF surround the bandits who were nabbed after the robbery.

(Gordon Moseley)

Bandit shot, 4 others arrested during robbery on Chapel Street

A bandit was shot on Saturday afternoon by police and is currentlyreceivingtreatmentattheGeorgetownPublicHospital Corporation (GPHC) while his four accomplices have been arrested following an armed robbery on Chapel Street, Georgetown.

Kaieteur News understands that the men robbed a bus carryingChinesenationals.Quickinterventionbypoliceresulted inonebanditbeinginjuredandtheothersbeingarrested.

Reportsarethatpolicerecoveredagunandstolenitemsina car Further,twomotorcycleswerealsoseizedaspartofthepolice operation.The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is yet to issue a statementonthematter

Drowned siblings Jadon and Tiana DeCourte laid to rest

Tiana's pink casket placed beside her brother Jadon's blue casket

The bodies of 10-year-old JadonDeCourteandeight-year-old TianaDeCourtewerelaidtoreston Saturday at the Bachelor's AdventureBurialGround.

Hundredsofmournersgathered despite persistent rain to bid farewell to the young siblings whose tragic deaths plunged their communityintodeepmourning.

Residents, relatives, schoolmates and friends came out in solidarity with the grieving family, offering comfort and

support to the parents as they said their final goodbye to the children whose story has touched hearts acrossthecountry

Jadon and Tiana, residents of Lot 17 Melanie Public Road, East Coast Demerara, and students at Paradise Primary School, died on March3afterdrowninginatrench behind the Guyana Water Incorporated's(GWI)pumpstation at Bachelor's Adventure The tragedy unfolded during what had become an annual family tradition

ofcelebratingPhagwahtogether.

Reports indicated that Tiana had slipped into the trench while attempting to fill a water gun. Her brother Jadon, upon seeing his sisterfallintothewater,reportedly attemptedtorescueher Tragically, bothchildrendrowned.

Their lifeless bodies were eventuallypulledfromthewaterby theiruncle,surroundedbygrieving family members including their grandmotherCoramDeCourteand their mother Tesha DeCourte, as

Father, Jason DeCourte paying his final farewell to his children

well as neighbours and nearby residentswhorushedtothescene.

The story of Jadon's attempt to save his sister has since resonated deeply with the public, many describingitasthetruestformofa brother'sloveandsacrifice.

On the day of the funeral, mourners gathered in large

Mother,

numbers,

The funeral proceedings began at 11:00 hrs at Jerrick's Funeral (Continuedonpage47)

Sueann

Meet thegorgeous, SueannFraser, contestantnumber8ofthe BarticaRegattaPageant.As partofherplatform,Sueannis dedicatedtoprovidingknowledge, buildingconfidence,andcreating opportunitiesthatallowindividualsespeciallyyouth-toriseandachieve theirfullpotential. Throughworkshops,mentorship,and communityengagement,Sueanninspires otherstoembracelearning,develop essentialskills,andtakeactivesteps towardpersonalandprofessionalgrowth. Shebelievesthateducationand empowermentarethekeystoelevating bothindividualsandcommunities.

Haitians should not be forgotten or left stranded

BySirRonaldSanders

Amid the current turmoil in the world, it is important that, in the Americas, we should not

f o rg e t t h e u rg e n t humanitarian and political crisisconfrontingtheHaitian people.

For many years, the United States has been the principal destination for Haitians seeking refuge, security, and opportunity beyondtheirhomeland.

It has done so while contending with migratory pressuresfromotherpartsof the world that strain border systems, public services, local administrations and domesticpolitics.

Inthosecircumstances,it is understandable that the present U.S. administration should seek firmer control overimmigrationpolicy

The Caribbean should acknowledge that reality plainly It is neither fair nor prudent to speak as though the United States has an unlimited obligation to absorb the consequences of Haiti’s prolonged collapse.

Every state has both a sovereign right and a public duty to manage migration in an orderly way and with proper regard to its own

resources and social stability

Caribbean governments should also approach the issue with some humility Our own record does not suggest any broad readiness to receive large numbers of Haitians.

T h e D o m i n i c a n Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, has for years responded to Haitian migration with increasingly restrictivemeasures. People may differ on aspects of thosepolicies.

But one fact is plain: a country closest to Haiti’s daily reality has concluded that its own capacity has limits,andthatthepressures arisingfromHaiti’scollapse cannot be absorbed without s e r i o u s d o m e s t i c consequences.

Similarcautionisevident withinCARICOM.Haitiisa valued member of the Community, and there is sympathy across the region for the suffering of the Haitianpeople.

But sympathy has not translated into any broad willingness to open borders widely to Haitian migration. The smaller states of the

Caribbean do not have the economic resilience, institutional strength, or social infrastructure to absorb significant inflows from a country as large and asdistressedasHaiti.

That is not indifference. Itisrecognitionofhardfacts. In several CARICOM countries, even modest migration inflows can place pressure on housing, education, health care, employment, and public order

Caribbean governments understand this only too well,andthatunderstanding should make them more appreciative of the pressures felt in the United States

Still, sympathy for the American position cannot settlethematter

The issue before the United States Supreme Court is whether Temporary Protected Status should be ended for large numbers of HaitianswhileHaitiremains in profound crisis The question is not about the United States’ right to regulate immigration, nor aboutwhetherTPSwasever meant to be permanent. The real issue is whether Haiti is now in a condition that allowsthesafeanddignified return of substantial numbers of people. On any serious view of present realities,theanswerisno.

Haiti remains trapped in a crisis that is at once political, humanitarian, and criminal Armed gangs continuetocontrolorcontest majorareas.

Public institutions remain fragile. Large numbersofpeoplehavebeen displaced. Daily life is marked by insecurity and fear The country has not recoveredeventheminimum stability that would justify confidence in largescale return.

Nor is it true that the internationalcommunityhas simply ignored Haiti. The problemisnotawarenessbut the absence of an effective responseequaltothescaleof thecrisis.

The United Nations Security Council has acted. TheSecretaryGeneralofthe Organization of American States(OAS)hasproduceda roadmap.

CARICOM’s Eminent Persons Group helped facilitate the arrangements that led to the Transitional PresidentialCouncil.Yetthe security presence remains too small and underfunded.

The OAS roadmap has not attracted the mobilisation of resources it requires. The mandate of the Haiti Transitional Council ended without resolving the major issues it was meant to address, including basic security and a credible path toelections.

Haiti has since drifted back into rule by decree

discontentandthepersistent dominanceofarmedgangs.

What is required now is not vague appeals to international goodwill, but proper financing and execution of measures already identified: stronger security support, firmer action against the gangs’ arms supply, practical

transition,andeconomicand humanitarian assistance directedinsideHaitiitself.

The effort should be aimed at reducing the causesofflightinHaiti,not only debat

which countries must bear the consequences

Thatisthewidercontext in which the present American legal proceedings should be judged The United States is entitled to say that it has carried a disproportionate share of Haiti’sburden.

Itisalsoentitledtoseeka more orderly immigration system.ButifHaitiisstillin no condition to receive substantial numbers of returneessafely,thencaution is not weakness. It is sound judgement.

Haiti has not lacked plans, meetings, mandates, or declarations. What it has lacked is decisive and coherent effect. The country resembles an outclassed boxerinthering,takingblow after blow, bloodied but still upright. From time to time, those at ringside keep him from falling. But no one has yet found a way to stop the beating and restore his strength.

Thatimage,starkthough it is, captures the present truth. Haiti is still standing, but standing is not recovery Survival is not stability Endurance, however admirable,isnotasubstitute foreffectivepolicy

This is why the present moment calls for realism. The United States deserves understandingfortheburden ithasborne.

TheCaribbeanshouldbe candid about its own

inability to absorb a larger Haitianexodus.

But neither reality alters theessentialfactthatHaitiis stillinnoconditiontosustain substantial repatriation without risking deeper disorder

The answer, therefore, does not lie in moral reproach, nor in inviting small Caribbean states to assumeburdenstheyplainly cannot carry It lies in recognising that Haiti’s

recoverymustbepursued where it can be most effective: in security, in political legitimacy, in humanitarian relief, and in economic support within Haitiitself.

UntilHaitiismadesafer, better governed, and more capableofsustainingitsown people, prudence requires thatprotectionabroadnotbe withdrawnbeforeconditions athomejustifyreturn.

(The author is the

Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the OAS, and Chancellor of the University of Guyana. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronald sanders.com)

WEEK-IN-REVIEW

SUNDAY

Pres.Alipushes forchangeinCuba …saystransformation mustoccurgradually andthroughdialogue

PresidentIrfaanAlionSaturday said that Cuba’s status quo cannot remain unchanged, but changes mustbedonegraduallyandthrough dialogue. The president was at the time speaking during an interview withtheFoxNewsonthesidelines of the Shield of the Americas Summit held in Doral, Miami, Florida.

Duringtheinterview,President Ali was asked about political developments in Cuba and comments made by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting the country could face significant politicalchange.

In response, he explained that leaders within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) recently held discussions about Cuba’s situation; U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio was also engaged in thesediscussions.

During that meeting, he highlighted that regional leaders agreedthatthecurrentstatusquoin Cubacannotremainunchanged.

TheHeadofStatesaidthatany transformationinCubamustoccur graduallyandthroughdialogue.

“There must be dialogue, but those changes must lead to the improvement of the people of Cuba,mustleadtobetterconditions forthepeopleofCuba,mustleadto asocietyinwhichtheruleoflaw,in which democracy, in which freedom is celebrated,” he emphasised.

Diplomatic relations between GuyanaandCubawereestablished onDecember8,1972andhaveover the years been characterised by strong, historical bonds of friendship, cooperation, and mutualsupport.

Importantly, Guyana has always shown solidarity with the government and people of Cuba and have over the years called for theliftingoftheeconomicembargo placedonthecountrybytheUnited States.

Recently, former Caribbean Heads of State and Government issued a public appeal calling for urgent action to prevent what they describe as a “deepening humanitariancrisis”inCuba.

In a statement attributed to formerGuyanesePresidentDonald Ramotar and former Prime Ministers Keith Rowley, Kenny Anthony, Bruce Golding, Edison James, Tillman Thomas, P J Patterson and Freundel Stuart, the leaderssaidtheyare“perturbed”by thesituationunfoldinginCuba.

TheypointedtotheJanuary29, 2026ExecutiveOrderissuedbythe United States against any nation

providing oil to Cuba without the impos

t

on of p

ve, discriminatory tariffs, arguing that itamountstoeconomicwarfareand inflicts“unconscionablesuffering” ontheCubanpeople.

Further, for decades, Cuba’s medical bridgade has been a pillar of Caribbean public health. From disaster response to routine community care, Cuban professionals have filled gaps where local shortages persisted TheirpresenceinGuyanahasbeen especially visible in remote and riverain areas where staffing challengesareacute.

President Ali last week firmly defended his government’s decision to end the medical bridgadeandinsteaddirectlyhiring Cuban medical personnel He insisted that the arrangement complieswithnationallabourlaws and mirrors how other medical professionalsarecompensated.

He made the comment while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis. Amid mounting pressure from the United States over the alleged exploitation of Cuban medical workers, Guyana terminated its longstanding bilateral partnership with Cuba Despite ending the agreement,thegovernmentinstead hasbeenpayingtheCubanmedical professionals directly in line with labourlaws.

The president’s defence followed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s appreciation for Guyana’s decision to end what the U.S.callsa“medialmissionforced labourscheme.”

The U S government had warned Caribbean nations participating in Cuban medical p r o g r a m m e s t h a t s u c h arrangements may amount to human trafficking and could result in visa restrictions and possible trade repercussions Guyana has sincedeniedthatitsdecisiontoend the medical programme with Cuba

“Inresponsetothesteptakenby the government of Jamaica, the government of Cuba has made the sovereigndecisiontoproceedwith the return of the Cuban Medical Brigade These health professionals leave behind an indelible mark and return to Cuba with the satisfaction of a duty fulfilled and the permanent willingnesstoassistwherevertheir spirit of solidarity is required,” the MinistryofForeignAffairssaid.

Watchmanshottohead;body foundinEssequiboRiver

The body of Vishal Miguel, a 24-year-old watchman, was discovered floating in the Essequibo River at Unity, Parika, EastBankEssequibo(EBE)witha gunshotwoundtohishead.

wasinfluencedbyU.S.pressure.

This week, a delegation of concerned Guyanese delivered a strongly worded letter to President Irfaan Ali and Foreign Affairs MinisterHughTodddemandingan immediate reversal of the government’sdecisiontoterminate the services of the Cuban Medical BrigadeinGuyana.

Theletter,signedbymorethan 100 organisations and individuals, calls on the administration to restore the presence of Cuban doctors and to resist what the signatories describe as mounting pressure from the United States to dismantle the long-standing scholarshipprogrammethatallows Guyanese students, particularly in medicinetostudyinCuba.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, CMC reported that Cuba withdrew all of itsmedicalpersonnelfromJamaica less than 48 hours after Jamaica said it was discontinuing the current arrangement with Havana regardingthedeploymentofCuban medicalprofessionalsinthepublic healthsector

“Cuba regrets the decision of thegovernmentofJamaicatocease medical cooperation, yielding to pressure from the U.S,” according to a statement issued by the MinistryofForeignAffairs.

It said that on March 4, the Foreign Ministry of Jamaica communicated to its embassy in Kingston“theunilateraldecisionof its government to terminate the health cooperation agreement that haslinkedbothnationsfordecades.

“With this action, the government of Jamaica yields to the pressures of the government of the United States, which is not concernedaboutthehealthneedsof theCaribbeanbrothers.

“Cubadeeplyregretsthatinthis way a history of fruitful and sustained collaboration is disregarded, one that has brought countless benefits to the Jamaican people, who are now deprived of receiving the basic and specialised health services that Cuban collaboratorsprovided.

Saturday in observance of

International Women’s Day was marked by widespread complaints over the high cost of living, with participants expressing little optimism that the situation would easeforfamiliesatthelowerendof theeconomicscale.

The event themed ‘Guyana’s women and oil- impact and resistance’ was organised by Red ThreadandAFairDealforGuyanaAFairDealforthePlanet,twonongovernmentalorganisations.

Grassroots women from across the country were brought together as award-winning lawyer, Melinda Janki and activists joined for enrichingdiscussionsattheforum, hosted at the Regency Hotel, Georgetown.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Miguel, of Blake, EBE, works at shipping yard and was last seen around 19:00hrs on Monday, March 2, 2026, when he reportedly entered the shipping yardtocommenceduties.

Around 08:00hrs on

Wednesday, March 4, the proprietor of the establishment visited the location and discovered that several outboard engines were missing from boats docked in the river Thispromptedasearchinthe area, during which Miguel’s body was observed floating in the EssequiboRiver

The body was positively identified and taken to the

DeKinderen Regional Hospital, andpronounceddead.

A post mortem examination conducted on Thursday by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh determined that Migueldiedasaresultofagunshot injurytothehead.

Hisbodywaslaterhandedover to relatives for funeral arrangements as police continue theirinvestigations.

MONDAY

Exxon’sprofitssoar whileGuyanesestruggle withrisingcostofliving …womendecryatoilforum

An oil and gas forum held on

Settingthestage,JoyMarcusof RedThreadtold of how hope for a better life from the rich oil resourcesintheStabroekBlockhas dwindled. Instead, she told dozens gathered at the event that the operator, ExxonMobil is enjoying hefty profits while Guyanese women struggle to find meals to feedtheirfamilies.

“WhileExxonisboastingabout the millions of dollars they gain in profit, for ordinary people we gained a cost of living that has skyrocketed so high, making it extremely hard for us to survive,” Marcussaidasshepausedfromher preparedpresentationtosharehow women are forced to cook more stewsthanever,asvegetableshave becomehardtoafford.

Another presenter, Susan Collymore weighed into the impacts of cost of living on pensionersinparticular.Collymore pointed out that food, utilities and transportation have become more expensiveoverthepastfewyears,a situation that is particularly straining on pensioners who dependonafixedmonthlyincome of only $46,000 now- given the recent$5000increase.

Additionally, Rushana Pilgrim, a young single mother of two said she continues to struggle in an oil rich nation “The cost of living keeps rising and it’s getting harder for ordinary families like mine to afford basic necessities…with all theoilwealthinthiscountryweare supposedtobelivingbetterandnot worrying everyday about how to affordapropermeal,”shestated.

Meanwhile, activists Danuta and Vanda Radzik, Sherlina Nageer, Audreyana Thomas, Wintress White, Elizabeth Hughes and attorney Melinda Janki highlighted the lawsuits they brought against the oil giant, some ofwhichwerelostbutstillyielded success.

The award-winning lawyer pointedoutthatsome11caseshave been filed to date against the company, with Exxon being orderedbythecourttocomplywith theruleoflawintheiroperations

Continued on page 21

Frompage20 here in Guyana. She made it clear, “When women speak, the governmenthastolisten.Whenwe speak as women, the oil industry hastolisten.”

Oilandcostofliving

I n i t s m o s t r e c e n t Environmental ImpactAssessment (EIA)submittedtothegovernment of Guyana (GoG) ExxonMobil warned that its seventh project can resultinhighercost-of-living.

According to the EIA, conducted by the company’s consultant, Environmental Resources Management (ERM), “With rising wages and increased purchasing power (driven not only by the Project but by broader economicgrowthanddevelopment trends), the project could also contribute to increased costs-ofliving(IDB2023).”

The study further states, “This couldmanifestinseveralways;for example, higher prices for indemandgoodsandservices,higher costsforhousingindesirableareas ofGeorgetown,and/orhighercosts for key goods in the supply chain (affecting both consumers and businesses/suppliers).”

ExxonMobil noted in the EIA that Guyana’s inflation rate has risen above “historic levels in recent years” as experienced globally, although these levels subsequently settled below internationalandregionalrates.

Inflation refers to the increase in average price of goods and services.

Mankillsmotherofsix, survivessuicideattempt

An 18-year common-law relationship and alleged years of abuse ended in tragedy on Sunday after a welder reportedly stabbed his reputed wife to death at Long Creek,Soesdyke-LindenHighway

Dead is 39-year-old Caslene Toney, a mother of six children aged18,13,11,10,sixandthree.

Hospitalised is 65-year-old Maurice Hughes, a welder who allegedly attempted to turn the knifeonhimselfaftertheattack.

ReportsindicatethatToneywas foundlyinginapoolofbloodather home sometime after 06:00 hrs by hersister

Thesistertoldinvestigatorsthat the suspect had gone to her home around06:06hrsandcalledoutfor her When she looked outside, she reportedly saw him walking away intotheLongCreekbacklandswith aknifeinhishand.

Realising that something was wrong, the woman rushed to Toney’s home where she discoveredherbody

Toneywasfoundlyingnearthe frontstepsunderthehouse.

Police were immediately summoned, and investigators observedthatthebodybore12stab wounds.

Asection of the gathering that joined the oil and gas discussions

According to police, the woundswerelocatedbelowtheleft breast, to the right breast, to both sides of the chin, the right side of the neck, twice to the back of the neck,threetimestotheupperright back, once to the middle of the lower back and once to the right armpit.

Investigators also recovered a blood-stained brown-handled knife, suspected to be the murder weapon, a short distance from the body

Undertakers later removed Toney’s body from the scene and transportedittoMemorialGardens Funeral Home, while police launchedaninvestigation.

Acting on information received, police later located the suspect in the Long Creek backlands.

Ranks found him armed with a knife and noted that he had sustained several injuries. Police said he was threatening to take his own life, but officers managed to restrain him and confiscate the weapon.

He was subsequently taken to McKenzie Hospital, where he was treated for a major stab wound to the centre of his abdomen and multiplelacerationstohisbody Investigations into the incident areongoing.

TUESDAY

Oilpricesup10%onIranwar …paregainsafterhitting highestsince2022

NEW YORK, March 9 (Reuters)–Oilpriceswereup10% onMondayafterparinggainsfrom asessionhighofover$119abarrel, apeaksince2022,asSaudiArabia and other OPEC members cut suppliesduetodisruptionsfromthe expanding U S -Israeli war with Iran.

Brent futures surged $9.60, or 10.4%,to$102.29abarrelat10:53 a.m. EDT (1453 GMT). .S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude jumped $9 21, or 10 1%, to $100.11. The Reuters Power Up newsletterprovideseverythingyou need to know about the global

energyindustry Signuphere.

Inearlytrade,Brentsoaredtoa highof$119.50abarrel,whichifit held would be its biggest-ever absolutepricejumpinasingleday WTIhitahighof$119.48.

Since the U S and Israel bombedIranonFebruary28,Brent hassurgedbyasmuchas65%and WTI 78% Monday’s prices compare with all-time highs of $147 50 a barrel for Brent and $147 27 for WTI in July 2008, accordingtoLSEGdata.Oilprices gotaboostfromtheappointmentof Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as Iran’s supreme leader, signaling that hardliners remain in charge in Tehranaweekintoitsconflictwith theU.S.andIsrael.

Analysts said the market pared gainsfromsessionhighsonfactors including fears that soaring energy prices would cause inflation to skyrocket and lead to weaker

economicgrowth,alongwithprofit taking in a technically overbought market.

To combat rising inflation, central banks generally boost interest rates, lifting borrowing costs This can slow economic growthandreduceenergydemand. Onthetechnicalside,WTIwasthe most overbought on record and Brentwasthemostsince1990.

SAUDI ARAMCO STARTS

CUTTING PRODUCTION

Saudi Aramco has begun cuttingoutputattwoofitsoilfields, sources said Analysts said last week they also expected other heavyweights in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), including the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Kuwait, to cut production soon as they run out of oil storage. Saudi Aramco, which can divert some flows via the Red Sea port of Yanbu, has offered more than 4

million barrels of Saudi crude in rare tenders to counteract Hormuz being shut. The war has virtually shut the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’soilandliquefiednaturalgas passes A Greek-operated oil tanker,however,hassailedthrough the Strait with a cargo of Saudi crude.

Data analytics firm Kpler said that even if the Strait opens tomorrow, it would likely take six tosevenweeksforexportstoreturn full capacity from the Gulf. Frontmonth Brent futures were on track to finish with a premium of $24 a barrelovercontractsfordeliveryin sixmonths.Thiswouldtopthealltime high of around $22 in March 2022 in the early weeks of the Russia-Ukrainewar Thispremium indicatesamarketstructureknown as backwardation, showing traders

y shortages The war could leave c

bus

sses worldwidefacingweeksormonths ofhigherfuelpricesevenifitends quickly, as suppliers grapple with damaged facilities, disrupted logistics and elevated risks to shipping.

In the U.S., gasoline contracts surgedtoanintradayhighofaround $3.22 a gallon, their highest since 2022.

“Alternatives are limited, such astappingstrategicoilreserves,but in comparison to the potential magnitudeofthesupplydisruption iftheStraitstaysclosedlonger,they are a drop in the ocean,” said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo. Japan said the International Energy Agency(IEA)calledduringan Continued on page 22

Frompage21 online meeting with the finance ministersfromtheGroupofSeven (G7) nations on Monday, for member countries to coordinate a release of emergency oil reserves. France said the G7 countries have not made a decision yet and India said it has no plans to join the IEA initiative.

U.S.SenateDemocraticLeader Chuck Schumer has called on PresidentTrumptoreleasestrategic petroleumreserves.

NATURAL GAS MARKETS

In natural gas markets, giant LNG exporter Qatar had already stoppedproductionafterattackson key infrastructure Refinery disruptionsaddtofuelsupplycuts, with Bahrain’s BAPCO announcing a force majeure following a recent attack on its refinerycomplex.SaudiArabiahas alreadyshutitsbiggestoilrefinery Elsewhere in the Middle East, TurkeysaidonMondaythatNATO air defences shot down a second Iranian ballistic missile that had entereditsairspace.

Govt.saysitwasCubathat endedmedicalpact …as Guyana explores recruitment of T&T doctors

Minister of Health, Frank Anthony, has clarified that it was theGovernmentofCubathatended

its longstanding medical cooperation agreement with GuyanaandnotthePresidentIrfaan Aliadministration.

The minister made the disclosureduringaninterviewwith News Source on Monday, explaining that after discussions between the two countries, Cuban authorities ultimately decided to withdraw their medical personnel from Guyana. “We have been engagingtheCubanauthoritiesand theychosetoterminateorwithdraw the Cuban doctors who were here. So that’s the first thing I want to make clear. The Cubans have withdrawn their medical workers whowerehere,”Dr Anthonysaid.

According to the health minister,thewithdrawaltookplace in February 2026, bringing an end to a medical partnership that had lasted for more than 48 years. In 2023,GuyanaandCubahadsigned a new Medical Cooperation Agreement at the Ministry of Health aimed at strengthening bilateralcollaborationinthehealth sector The agreement was signed by Dr Anthony and Cuba’s Ambassador to Guyana, Jorge FranciscoSoberónLuis.

Cuban medical missions have faced increased scrutiny from the United States in recent years During the first administration of Donald Trump (2017–2021), visa sanctions were imposed on Cuba’s global medical programme, which Washington descri

exploitative, alleging that Cuban

doctors were underpaid and had limitedfreedoms.

However, in a previous interview on February 9, Dr Anthony had stated that Guyana had formally ended the bilateral arrangement, arguing that the agreementwasnolongernecessary since Cuban doctors were now travellingtoGuyanaindependently to seek employment. “There is no reason.WehaveCubandoctorsthat are coming to Guyana now, they comeindependently,soweemploy them. So there’s no need for the agreement,”Dr Anthonysaid.

“Rightnowwhatwe’redoingis thatanydoctorornursefromCuba whowantstoworkinGuyana,once they have their qualifications and they come here, we’re able to employ them and they have the sametermsandconditionslikeany Guyanesedoctor,”headded.

Theministeralsoexplainedthat the government is simply complying with the country’s labour laws. “This country has labour laws, and those laws allow peopletobeemployedandreceive their salaries. We can’t break any rules that we have in our country

So we have been following those rules, which are consistent with what the US government has been asking,” he said Following the

withdrawal of the Cuban medical brigade, the Government of Guyana moved to directly hire Cubanmedicalpersonnelwhowish toremainorworkinthecountry

“Cuban doctors, nurses and technicians,iftheywanttocometo Guyana, they can come, and once they are properly qualified and certifiedbyourmedicalauthorities here, such as the Medical Council and Nursing Council, then we will be able to offer them a job,” the MinisterexplainedonMonday

He said a number of Cuban healthcare professionals have already taken up employment within Guyana’s public health system, including some who were previously part of the Cuban medical brigade and chose to remaininthecountry

However, Dr Anthony said he couldnotprovideanexactfigure.“I don’t have the number, but quite a number of persons, and some persons who were on the brigade also decided to stay back, so they are working with the Government of Guyana,” he said. The health minister maintained that the withdrawal of the Cuban brigade has not negatively impacted Guyana’shealthcaresystem,noting thattheMinistryofHealthhasbeen expanding its local training

programmes.

“As you know, we have been expanding our healthcare system andwehavealsostartedtoexpand training.Alot of people who were on the brigade were nurses, and throughourtrainingprogrammewe are compensating for those that would have been withdrawn,” he said.

Dr Anthony noted that the government launched a registered nursing programme three years ago, and by June this year close to 800nursesareexpectedtograduate and enter the health system

Meanwhile, the minister revealed that the government is exploring thepossibilityofrecruitingdoctors fromTrinidadandTobago.

“Wearestillindiscussionswith Trinidad because we understood that they had about 400 doctors who weren’t finding jobs in Trinidad. That’s one of the things we are exploring. Some of them, once they are suitably qualified, then we would be able to accommodate them,” he said. The end of the Cuban medical brigade has also sparked criticism from somesectionsofsociety

OnMarch5,2026,adelegation ofconcernedGuyanesedelivereda stronglywordedlettertoIrfaanAli andForeignAffairsMinisterHugh Todd demanding an immediate reversal of the government’s decisiontoterminatetheservicesof the Cuban Medical Brigade. The letter, signed by more than 100 organisations and individuals, urged the administration to restore the presence of Cuban doctors and resist what they described as mountingpressurefromtheUnited S

programme that allows Guyanese students, particularly in medicine, tostudyinCuba.

Their appeal followed a press release from the U.S. Embassy in Guyana quoting U.S. Secretary of StateMarcoRubio,whoexpressed appreciationforGuyana’sdecision to end participation in what

WashingtondescribedastheCuban regime’s “medical mission forced labour scheme ” The signatories rejected that characterization as baseless and offensive, noting that s u c c e s s i v e G u y a n e s e administrations have long praised thecontributionsofCubanmedical professionals.

WEDNESDAY

‘Oilboom,butemptypockets’ …leadersclashascitizenssay wealthnotreachingtheground

Differingperspectivesemerged Tuesday evening during the BBC World Questions forum in Georgetown as panelists debated whether Guyanese are truly benefitingfromthecountry’srapid oil-driveneconomicgrowth.

The discussion, moderated by Jonny Dymond and held at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre featured Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh, Opposition Member of Parliament Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, Private Sector Commission Secretary Clinton Urling, and activist and businesswoman Ayodele DalgetyDean.

The debate centred on whether ordinary citizens are seeing the benefits of Guyana’s economic expansion following major oil discoveries in the Stabroek Block, where production began in December 2019 Currently, four developments are producing more than 900,000 barrels of oil daily, with ExxonMobil Guyana Limited targeting eight producing projects bytheendofthedecade.

Dymondaskedthepanelists:

“We’re hearing of the oil wealth,butwe’renotfeelingit.The government frequently speaks of thebudgetandtheirallocations,but it’s only a few that are benefiting. Thelastfiveyears,thecostofliving is about the only thing that has changed.”

Sarabo-Halley opened the discussion,acknowledgingthatthe Continued on page 32

ITowards a better life with your psychologist

Medications Side Effects For Poor Mental Health

am alarmed at the growing number of n e w p a t i e n t s struggling with poor mental health, having been using medications for years, without knowing what their diagnosis is, the duration of inhibitingthesemedications, and what the side effects of these medications are. Their mentalhealthisnowworse.I wanttoadvisetodiscontinue these medications unless your psychiatrist or psychologist can tell you what your diagnosis is and the duration of medication treatment.

Its side effects and alternativetreatment.Sothat you can be knowledgeable and well-informed to make sound decisions about your mental health and life, it is unethicalandunprofessional for any mental health professional or doctor to administer medication without the client being madeabsolutelyawareofthe psychoactive drugs they are taking.

MentalHealth Professionals.

A psychologist is a licensed mental health professional International standards dictate that a psychologist must have a psychology education, typicallya3–5-yeardoctoral degree (PsyD or PhD), and undergo clinical training withatleast2000supervised hours. Apart from a 2-year master’s degree and 3 to 4 years of first degree studies in psychology- human behaviour, emotions, and mental processes Psychologists conduct assessments, diagnose and treat mental health, personality, developmental disorders and other psychological imbalances from working in clinics, hospitals, or private practice and using several psychotherapy techniques In some jurisdictions, psychologists cannot prescribe medication, but they work with psychiatrists for comprehensive care. In Guyana, a psychologist can practicewithadiploma.

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) specialisinginmentalhealth, including substance use disorders.Theyarequalified toassessboththementaland physical aspects of psychological problems, diagnose mental health

conditions, and provide treatment through medication management, psychotherapy, and other medical interventions like neurostimulation Unlike psychologists, psychiatrists are physicians who have completed medical school and residency, allowing them to order lab tests, performphysicalexams,and prescribemedication. They use a medical approach, often combining m e d i c a t i o n ( e g , antidepressants, mood s t a b i l i s e r s ) w i t h psychotherapy Psychiatrists treat complex, long-term, or acute men

lth disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, severe anxiety,andPTSD.

A Psychiatrist often w

workers, and nurses while managingandadministering medication The natural order of things is that when someone is in a psychotic state, they see a psychiatrist who administers medication (psychoactive drugs to stabilise patients by addressing the symptoms. Oncethisisundercontrol,it will be in a matter of a few days to a week.The patients are now receptive to psychotherapy Free from irrational and disorganised speech, hallucination, sleeplessness, etc. At this point, the patients began seeing a psychologist with little or no medication management. EthicalCodeofConductDisclosureandInformed consent

The ethical codes for mental health professionals (APA, ACA, NASW) mandate that professionals disclose diagnoses and the effects of medication to clientstopromoteautonomy, informed consent, and beneficence.

Professionals are required to use clear, understandable language to explain the nature of services, potential risks, and benefitsoftreatments.

Informed consent must beprecededbydisclosureof sufficient information. Consent can be challenged on the ground that adequate information has not been disclosed to enable the patient to make an informed decision.

Therefore, accurate, adequate and relevant information must be providedtruthfullyinaform (using non-scientific terms) andlanguagethatthepatient can understand. It cannot be a patient’s signature on a dotted line o

ained routinelybyastaffmember

The info

mation disclosedbeforeoneaccepts and begins using that medication should include: t h e condition/disorder/disease t h e p a t i e n t i s having/suffering from Necessityforfurthertesting. Natural course of the condition and possible c o m p l i c a t

o n s Consequences of nontreatment.Treatmentoptions are available. Potential risks and benefits of treatment options Duration and

up required

As a psychologist, my first duty is to observe, describe, explain, and control (treat). It starts with anassessment,followedbya diagnosis, and then a psychological report outlining the findings, the meaningofthediagnosis,its origin and symptoms, and a suggested psychotherapy approach. The clients ask questions and, when clear, accept or suggest an alternative approach. At no time does a psychologist or mental health professional begin treating a patient withoutthepatient’sconsent regarding the method of treatment.Thesamemustbe followedformedicine.

Psychoactivedrugsandits impact

Psychoactivedrugs(also called psychiatric medications or psychotropic substances) are chemical substances that change how the brain works, resulting in alterations to mood, thoughts, awareness, feelings, or behaviour They primarily affect the central nervous system (CNS) by m o d u l a t i n g neurotransmitters—chemica l messengers such as dopamine, serotonin, and GABA that regulate emotional and physical responses In a nutshell, these medications work by changing the chemical makeup of the brain and nervous system to alter

mood, thoughts, behaviour, or perception. Over time, these medications actually change the size, shape, and structureofthebrain.

Thismedicationincludes A n t i d e p r e s s a n t s , Antipsychotics,Anxiolytics, Mood Stabilisers, Stimulants, etc. They are generally used to reduce symptomsandimprovedaily functioning, often in c o m b i n a t i o n w i t h psychotherapy

T h e y c a n h a v e significant side effects, including neurotoxicity, withdrawal, and, in some cases, serious metabolic changesordependency

Psychoactive drugs do not address the cause of the s y m p t o m s t h a t psychotherapy does Psychoactivedrugtreatment should be initiated when a qualifiedhealthcareprovider determinesthatsymptomsof amentalhealthconditionare psychotic (severe) or

u n m a n a g e d b y psychotherapy and lifestyle These medications are designed to manage symptoms not cure u n d e r l y i n g conditions and are typically used when they interfere significantly with daily functioning, such as work, school, or relationships. For children under 12, taking these medications is a no for me, except if the child has psychosis,where3to6days of medication is enough to begin using psychotherapy to address the cause. The depression from divorce or anxiety from unresolved childhoodtraumawillnotbe cured or corrected with medication.

By Dr. Telford Layne Jr. PsyD, MSc. Postgrad, BSc. Clinical

and Developmental Psychologist - Psychoanalyst Unwrapping Gift -Clinic

anxiety, but the side effects are depression, paranoia, insomnia, liver damage, altered perception, etc. If after taking certain medication and our body becomes immune, let your mental health provider adviseyou,theywillchange the dosage or offer a new type of medication with the statement,“trythisandletus see how it works” Psychotherapyaddressesthe causes of the symptoms and restoresqualityoflife.

Lookatanadvertisement from the United States; the benefits of the medication are mentioned in the same line as the side effects. One canbetakingmedicationfor

Only you can protect yourmentalhealth;youhave thelastsayandthepowerto bring about changes Demand for your mental health professional’s ethical services

ByArriannaMahase

There was a time when I b e l i e v e d I w a s indispensable.

Asastudentonarobotics team,manyofmypeersandI worked tirelessly We spent long evenings building, troubleshooting, and preparing to represent both our organization and our country We were proud of theworkweweredoingand theeffortwewereputtingin.

And quietly, many of us sharedthesamethought,we were carrying the organization.

At the time, that belief felt justified. We were the onesdoingthevisiblework; competing, presenting, and representing. When you are the one putting in the effort that everyone can see, it is easy to believe your

contribution is the foundation holding everythingtogether

Over the years, my role shifted. I moved from being a student participant to becomingaroboticscoach,a software developer, and eventually a business owner responsible for creating opportunities for others Perspective has a way of changing when life moves you to the other side of opportunity

My mentor often says a phrase that has stayed with me, “Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.” As students, we believed our talent and effort made us indispensable But, talent was never a rare resource. What was rare was the structure that made it possible for that talent to develop ; the mentors, the resources, the planning, and the people who believed in us before we fully believed inourselves.

In my own business, I have sometimes seen a similar pattern emerge. In moments of frustration or disagreement, employees have occasionally spoken with great confidence about being the ones who “run the business.” That perspective isunderstandable.Whenyou are immersed in the day-today work, your contribution

can feel central to everything,andintruth,that work does matter a great

deal.

Advancing Education, Technology & Innovation in Guyana…

OPPORTUNITYISNOTOWED

What is not always as visible, however, is the broader burden carried by the person who built the enterprise in the first place: the financial risk, the personal sacrifice, the sleepless nights, the responsibility of meeting payroll, and the many difficult decisions that determine whether the business can continue to stand and grow We tend to see our own labour most clearlybecauseitisclosestto us. What is easier to miss is t

accountabilitythatmakethat labourpossible.

This is not a criticism of any one individual or workplace. It is, rather, a very human instinct. When wearedeeplyinvestedinour role,itcanbeeasytomistake meaningful contribution for full responsibility, or participation for ownership. And when opportunity becomes familiar, we may sometimes forget that it was created through vision, sacrifice, and leadership long before we stepped into it.

Living in a country like Guyana, where new opportunities are emerging rapidly,thismindsetisworth examining. Across all sectors, doors are opening that did not exist just a decade ago. Programs and businesses are expanding, and more platforms are being created for young peopletodeveloptheirskills andmaketheirvoicesheard. But, opportunity alone does not guarantee growth. What we do with opportunity matters just as much as the opportunityitself.

“To whom much is given, much is expected”, is another phrase my mentor often repeated. When I was younger, I sometimes interpreted that statement as pressure. It felt like she was instilling guilt. I understand this phrase differently now thatmyrolehasshifted.That phrase does not mean that you owe the organization. It means opportunity comes with responsibility That responsibilityistogiveyour best effort in fulfilling your role.Thisincludesputtingin

the work, going the extra mile, taking initiative and continuously developing your skillset to produce the best possible outcome. It

means contributing positively to help create space and access for individualstocome.

Opportunity represents investment Someone believed enough in your potential to create space for you. Someone spent time building the platform Someone took the risk of funding the idea. Someone chose to mentor, guide, and support the development of people they believed could carry something meaningful forward.Expectation,inthat sense, is not punishment or instilling guilt It is stewardship.

As Guyana continues to grow and develop, we must understand that talent alone willnotdeterminewholeads the future. Talent has never beenscarce.Thepeoplewho will lead are those that respond to opportunity as somethingentrustedtothem rather than owed to them. It is the people that respond with gratitude that will lead sectors. And, gratitude does not mean silence or submission It means understanding that we were entrusted with something valuable which carries responsibility, the responsibility to build something meaningful with whatwehavebeengiven.

It is easy to believe we are carrying the room when we believe that we are the ones doing the visible work. Effort can create that illusion But maturity sometimes requires us to pause and ask a harder question,Didtheroomexist before we walked into it? In manycases,itdid.Someone builtit.Someonesustainedit and made the difficult decisions that allowed it to exist long enough for us to stepintoit.

Recognizing that truth does not diminish our contributions.Itplacesthem in context When we understand the value of the opportunity we are given, our role shifts from simply benefiting from it to expandingit.Webegintosee ourselves not as people who

are owed something, but as people who have been trustedwithsomething.That distinction matters because when access is seen as an entitlement, it often produces frustration But whenaccessisunderstoodas

a responsibility, it produces growth.

Perhapstherealmeasure ofmaturityisnothowloudly we declare that we are carrying the room, but how intentionallywebuildrooms forothersoncewehavebeen given the chance to stand insideone.

Opportunityisnotowed. It is entrusted.And what we choose to build with it will determine whether we were truly ready for it in the first place.

GNBSINFOCUS

‘SAFEPRODUCTS,CONFIDENTCONSUMERS’ - WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY 2026

Globally, consumers encounter unsafe products rangingfromchildren’stoys andhouseholdelectronicsto everyday essentials As international trade expands andonlinecommercegrows, these products can move more quickly across borders and enter markets at a faster pace This reality makes consumer protection more importantthanever Today (Sunday, March

between governments, businesses and consumer organisations.

In Guyana, the Guyana N

15, 2026), consumer protection organisations around the world observe WorldConsumerRightsDay (WCRD) under the theme “Safe Products, Confident Consumers ” The theme selected by Consumer International highlights the importance of ensuring that products placed on the market meet established safetyandqualitystandards. Noting that unsafe products canresultininjury,financial loss, environmental harm and, in severe cases, loss of life, the international body emphasises that addressing these risks requires stronger enforcement, coordinated action across borders, and g

Standards (GNBS) plays a critical role in ensuring that products sold on the local market are safe and meet required standards In keeping with this year’s theme, the Bureau works to

continuous monitoring of products, as well as through

, verification of measuring instruments and training services. Through its Product Compliance Programme, GNBS monitors seventeen (17) categories of imported and locally manufactured productstoensuretheymeet nationalstandardsforsafety, quality and proper labelling. These products include electrical and electronic appliances, tyres, footwear, electrical equipment and fittings,furniture,gasstoves, cellular phones, gold articles,andothercommonly usedconsumergoods.

During monitoring, GNBS Inspectors examine productstoensurethatlabels c

he certification mark, brand name, country of origin and other important information suchasvoltage(forelectrical items), materials used in manufacturing,andcareand usageinstructions.Clearand correct labelling helps consumers make informed purchasing decisions and supports their confidence during the purchase and use ofproducts.

Meanwhile, for products which fail to conform to labelling and quality requirements, appropriate enforcement actions are taken by GNBS including seizure, requests for relabelling, or suppliers are required to submit the necessary test certificates to verify the safety and quality of the items before they can enter the marketplace for consumers.

In addition to product monitoring, GNBS provides testing services,including the testing of concrete hollow blocks and gold jewellery Testing of these construction and consumer productshelpstoensurethat consumers and businesses alikecanhaveconfidencein theproductstheyuse.

To further support consumer protection, the GNBS develops, adopts and promotes the use of standards to encourage the production and delivery of quality goods and services. The Bureau also provides training and technical assistancetohelpbusinesses implement national and international standards, certifiescertainproductsand services offered to consumers, and verifies the accuracy of measuring instrumentsusedintrade,the health sector and law enforcement.

Together, these services strengthen consumer protection and contribute to

availableinthemarketplace.

In observance of World Consumer Rights Day this year,theGNBSispartnering with the Competition and C o n s u m e r A ff a i r s Commission (CCAC) and theDepartmentofConsumer Affairs (DCA) to host a panel discussion on the National Communications Network (NCN), along with two radio programmes aimedateducatingthepublic about consumer rights and responsibilities The agencies will also host popup exhibitions in Region Three (Vreed-en-Hoop) on Tuesday, March 17; Region Ten (Linden) on Thursday, March 26; and Region Five inApril.

Additionally, the CCAC is hosting a jingle competition, with winners expected to be announced before the end of March 2026.

For further information, contact the GNBS on telephone numbers 2190062-66 692- or WhatsApp 4627, or visit the website www.gnbsgy.org

Ronaldo doing what he does best

A WORK ETHIC EXEMPLAR Barber Ronaldo Dunn

PERFECTBLEND

With a remarkable consistency that has earned the respectandadmirationofmanyof his peers and acquaintances, Dunn, of Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice, has anchored himself by impeccable professionalism, and a convincing preservation of discipline.

He is the only child for his mom, but has siblings on the paternal end. Though he did not mingle childhood with them, he statedthattheyallarenowfondly familiarizingtomakeupfortimes lost, which he is wholly absorbing This welcoming personality is ever on display at hiswork,wheretheatmosphereis never tense and an engaging discourseflowswithnaturalease.

Irrespectiveofhismethods,there is all the same no shortage of quality or satisfaction to the hundredsuponhundredsofheads hehassprucedupovertheyears.

TECHNICALEXPERTISE

Formal education was facilitated at theVryman’s Erven SecondarySchoolandeventually the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI). Just out of the latter school, he sought employment and went on ahead. Inspiration would catch up not longafter

ByShermonHawker

It’s5:00am.Justaboutthat climax phase where sleep hits best right before the dutifulroosterssuddenlyrendthe silence and passionately announcesanewday

But the buzz of Ronaldo Dunn’s Kemei-branded barber machine contends with the morningbirds,forevenbeforethe

firstcrowing,heisupalreadyand is in minutes lodged at his barbershop, fully capped, machineinhand,andreadytonip thefirststrandofhair

Our special feature is a 28year-old Berbician who sweep clumpsofhairfromthetiledfloor each day after many rewarding hours spent on his feet fulfilling hisforemostdesire:thatofbeinga barber

Fittingly so, for the nature of such a job warrants exceptional people skills, and the barber he has proven that his mastery extendsbeyondjustcuttinghair

Likemanytoday,Dunnmight not have emerged from the distinguished razorblade + comb + scissors era, yet he is versed in that particular technique, while many of his young peers are mainlycompetentwithmachines.

“Iwasdoinglaborworkwitha construction company, and I endedupinalilproblem;Iended upandleftthework.Andjustlike that I was sitting a day on my veranda,meandafriendwewere gyafin...I have a skill, and same time I have this close friend that doesweldingforthesameplaceat Charles Place, and he said the place need a barber I said as I knowtocuthair,it’sbestIcheck andseeiftheywillacceptme,and I went there and checked, they acceptedmeandIstartedofffrom there,” he shared with Kaieteur News.

With a fair extent of experienceinthatspecialized

Continued on page 46

Applications open for Miss, Mrs. and Teen India Guyana 2026

Applications are nowopenforthe h i g h l y anticipated Miss, Mrs., and Teen India Guyana 2026 Pageant, a prestigious platform that continues to celebrate the beauty, talent, and heritage of women of IndianorigininGuyana.

Organized by Nachle Productions,thepageanthas grown over the years into a respectednationaleventthat highlights leadership, cultural pride, and

communityinvolvement.

The pageant provides an opportunity for contestants to represent Guyana on the international stage while promoting Indo-Guyanese culture and engaging in charitable and cultural initiatives.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Thecompetitionfeatures three categories – Miss, Mrs , and Teen India Guyana.

Applicants for Mrs India Guyana must be of Indian originandcanbeofanyage. Participantsmustbecitizens, residents,orborninGuyana. Married, divorced, or widowed women with or withoutchildrenareeligible, and applicants must demonstrate a passion for Indiancultureandcharitable work.

For the Miss India G u y a n a c a t e g o r y, applicants must be between 18and30yearsofageasof December 31, 2026, be of Indian origin, and must be citizens, residents, or born in Guyana Contestants must never have been married or given birth and should have a strong passion for Indian culture andcharity

The Teen India Guyana category is open to applicants 13 to 17 years of age as of December 31, 2026, who must also be of Indian origin and either citizens, residents, or born in Guyana. Participants must never have been married or given birth and should show an interest in promoting Indian culture a n d c o m m u n i t y involvement

Interested applicants are required to submit a short biography, two photographs (onefull-lengthandonehalflength), and their contact information Submissions c a n b e s e n t t o missindiaworldwidegy@gm ail.com.

ALEGACYOFQUEENS REPRESENTING GUYANA

Over the past several years, the Miss India Guyana franchise under the directorship of the amazing duo Hashim Alli and his wife Melicia Partab has produced a number of outstanding queens who have proudly represented Guyana both locally and internationally Since 2018, the platform has continued to expand its influence, with titleholders promoting cultural awareness, charity

initiatives, and national pride. Several queens have gone on to compete at the Miss India Worldwide Pageant, where they have earned international recognition.

A historic achievement came when Guyana’s Miss Teen India Guyana 2022 Beauty Razack won the 2nd ever Miss Teen India Worldwide crown for Guyana while another historic moment came in 2023 when Miss India Guyana Aruna Sukhdeo captured the Miss India Worldwide title, bringing international recognition to Guyanaandmarkingaproud momentforthenation.

Additionally, other Guyanese delegates in the Teen and Mrs. categories have achieved impressive placements internationally, including Top Five finishes, runner-up positions, and special awards such as Miss Congeniality and Miss SocialMedia,demonstrating the strength and talent of Guyana’srepresentatives.

The pageant has also produced accomplished titleholders in the Mrs India Guyana category, including the reigning Malini Persaud who helped set the tone by securing Guyana’s first placement in the Top 3 paving a way for other empoweredmarriedwomen.

MORETHANA PAGEANT

Beyond the glamour and competition,Miss,Mrs.,and Teen India Guyana is recognized as a platform for empowerment, leadership development, and cultural celebration. Contestants are encouraged to become ambassadors for charity, cultural heritage, and positivesocialchange.

Organizers note that the pageant continues to evolve as a movement that inspires young women to embrace their identity, develop confidence, and represent Guyanawithpride.

With applications now open, organizers are encouraging interested applicantsacrossthecountry to seize the opportunity to become part of the next generationofqueens.

TheMiss,Mrs.,andTeen India Guyana 2026 Pageant promise to be another exciting chapter in the continued success of the franchise as it prepares to crown new ambassadors of culture, beauty, and leadershipforGuyana.

Applications close on March31st.

From where I stand... From Where I Stand: The Myth of the Independent Woman

Every year we gather around a theme. We repeat familiar phrases about empowering women and unlocking potential And while many of those statements are true, I cannot help feeling that they often sit uncomfortably atop deeper structural realities

that remain largely unchanged. And we don’t like to have those conversations.

So,whentheeditorasked me to write something “affirming for women” for International Women’s Day[last Sunday], my immediate response surprisedevenme.Itoldhim IdidnotthinkIhadanything affirming to say specifically to women. And this wasn’t because I do not believe women deserve to be celebrated. Of course they do. I have simply grown waryoftheslogansthattend to accompany these commemorations.

Guyana, like many societies, struggle with inequality I care deeply about the disadvantaged in our society Women are certainly among them. But they are not the only ones. The elderly, children, the poor, and even men face vulnerabilities that rarely entertheconversation.

Ifweworkonimproving structural inequality and other systemic challenges periodthentheconditionsof everyone, including women willimproveovertime.

So when I am asked to offer affirmations specificallytowomen,Ifind myself wondering: what does empowerment really mean if the systems around usremainlargelyintact?

Of course, this doesn’t deny the fact that much has changedforwomenoverthe years. Today, women enjoy educational opportunities, professional pathways, and legal protections those previous generations could barely imagine Many women have entered spaces that were once closed to them.Thequestionbeforeus is hardly whether women have advanced, they clearly have. I am more concerned about whether the systems we have inherited or perpetuatearetrulydesigned tosupportthefullflourishing of our families and communities.

Any society serious about empowerment, must

also examine the structures that shape everyday life: childcare systems, familyfriendly workplaces, responsible fatherhood, community support networks, and economic opportunities that allow parents to remain present in theirchildren’slives.

My own life has helped me to see this tension between empowerment and thestructuresthatsupportit.

For many years I embraced the idea of the “independent woman.” Like many women of my generation, I worked hard, builtacareer,andconvinced myself that independence meant being able to do everythingonmyown.

But the truth is, I am not an independent woman. I never was I was an exhausted woman who believed and desperately triedtomaketrue,oneofthe biggest lies told to women; “youcanhaveitall”.

I am a woman who has beenhelpedbymanypeople alongtheway

When I was studying at university,mysistersandmy son’s grandmother helped care for my child while I prepared for exams At another point in my life, a partner helped finance my educationsoIdidnothaveto take on student debt

Throughout my journey, men and women alike opened doors, offered support,andstoodbesideme whenIneededit.

And above all, I believe Godplacedpeopleinmylife at the moments when I neededthemmost.SowhenI hearthelanguageofabsolute independence, I sometimes wonder if we are telling ourselves a story that no humanlifeactuallyreflects.

None of us succeeds alone.

The deeper question for me is not simply whether women should participate fully in the workforce. Of coursetheyshouldhavethat opportunity.Choicematters. ButIworrythatwehavenot fully considered the social consequences of the model wearebuilding.

This question feels especially relevant at a moment when Guyana itself is undergoing profound economic transformation

The oil economy is creating new opportunities, expanding industries, and drawing more citizens;

women included, into the w o r k f o r c e T h e s e developments are important andinmanywayswelcome. B u t e c o n o m i c transformation also raises other questions about the social structures that must evolve alongside it. If our economy grows while our family and community systems remain strained, thenprosperityalonewillnot produce the flourishing societywehopetobuild.

Today, many households likely depend on two incomessimplytomaintaina decentstandardofliving.At the same time, there is a significant number of single mothers raising children on their own. In both cases, the demands of economic survival often mean that parents have less time and attention to devote to the difficult and important work of raising the next generation.

I know this very well frompersonalexperience.

For years I believed that aslongasIwasprovidingfor my son by ensuring he had access to good schools, technology, food, and opportunities that I was giving him everything he needed. But there came a momentwhenIrealisedthat whatheneededmostwasnot simplyprovision.Heneeded myattention.

Iamnottryingtoprovide an argument against women workingorpursuingcareers. Rather,whatIseektoofferis

empowerment cannot be measured only through economicparticipation.

Human flourishing requires more than income.

I

s , a n d relationshipsthatnurturethe nextgeneration.

Another uncomfortable reality is that sometimes, as women we can be our own worstcritics/enemies.

Over the years I have heard some of the harshest and most unkind rumors about my own career and personal life. More often than not, those rumors did notoriginatewithmen.They camefromotherwomen.

It is something many womenquietlyacknowledge but rarely discuss openly Instead of celebrating one another’s successes or learning from each other’s journeys,wesometimespull eachotherdown.

If we truly want respect from the wider society, perhaps we must also ask whether we are extending that same respect to each other Allthissaid,ifIcould offer one honest thing to women in Guyana today, it wouldsimplybethis: Wedonothavetodoany ofthisalone.

Independence does not have to mean isolation Strength certainly isn’t carrying every burden by ourselves. We can lean on o u r f a m i l i e s , o u r communities, and yes, the men in our lives, without

diminishingourownvalue.

Wecancelebrateanother woman’s success without feeling like it threatens our own And perhaps most importantly, we can remember that societies flourish when communities stand together.Too often we d i v i d e o u r s e l v e s unnecessarily; women

By Janelle Persaud

against men, women against each other, communities againstthemselves.

But the truth is simpler than any slogan we can conceive. None of us was meanttodothislifealone.

And perhaps that is the most empowering message we could offer one another today

Frompage22 economyhasgrownbutarguedthat therisingcostoflivingcontinuesto affecthouseholds.

“Iagreewholeheartedlythatthe only thing that has changed is the cost of living, and I believe that is something that we need to deal with We need to target it The realityis that when you look at the lastbudgetthatwaspassed,51%of it went to infrastructure development.”

She noted that although the economy appears strong on paper and major infrastructure projects are being rolled out, citizens often measuretheeconomybytheirdaily expenses.Sheoutlinedthatabouta fifth of the 2026, $1 5 trillion budget went to issues dealing with cost of living measures, but noted that a closer look at the numbers revealssomethingelse.

“Whenyoulooktopension,the increase in pension was so minuscule…but the result and the reality is that the people on the ground, the people across Guyana are not really feeling all of this wealththatiscomingin,”shesaid.

She noted that while it is encouraging to point to the country’sgrowingeconomy,rising Gross Domestic Product and the wave of major infrastructure projects linked to oil revenues, many citizens still face the reality that the economic growth is not beingfeltintheirpockets.

Urling, however, argued that the suggestion that little has changed in five years is not supported by economic data, pointing to the country’s rapid expansion.

“Look,thequestionisvalid,but it’s not true. To say it’s the only thingthathaschangedinfiveyears, I can just pick on one issue to say between2020tonow,we’veseena significant increase in our GDP. When I say significant, we move from a 5 billion GDP economy to somewhere around 25 billion in suchashortspaceoftime,”hesaid.

He acknowledged that citizens often judge economic progress basedontheireverydayspending.

“But people, ordinary people, and this is what is frustrating with the growth that we see, ordinary people experience the economy NottrueGDPstatistics,”hesaid.

He said the challenge for politicians and policymakers is to ensuremechanismsareputinplace so that the funds and revenues being generated are equitably distributed or redistributed to the mostvulnerableinsociety

“So that there’s prosperity, and progress for the majority of Guyanese where we can bring down and reduce the two main challenges the country faces inequality and the second one is poverty,”headded.

Finance Minister Singh maintained that the economic transformation underway is real

and measurable “I think the statement that he made or the question that he asked provides a very good illustration of the difference between rhetoric and reality,”hesaid.

The minister added, “The realityis…theGuyaneseeconomy hasbeengrowingatapacethathas neverbeenseenbefore,certainlyin Guyana and indeed around the world.”

He said that as a responsible government,havingdiscoveredthe resource endowment, the aim is to achieve at least two main objectives He pointed to job creation and new opportunities emerging across sectors as evidence that the benefits are reachingcitizens.

“Over the last five years alone, we’ve created 104,000 new jobs…,”theministersaid.

He noted, “It is not accurate to say that the only thing that’s changedhasbeenthecostofliving. The growth in the Guyanese economy has resulted in the creationofanunprecedentedwave of opportunity for Guyanese at all times.”

When pressed that the jobs createdarelowskillsandlowpaid jobs minister Singh said this too is notconsistentwiththereality.

“We have 6,000 persons now working in the oil and gas sector who are not working on oil. Many of them are engineers, they’re working on the FPSOs, they’re working in highly skilled areas, technical areas, in jobs that simply did not exist before,” the finance ministernoted.

Dalgety-Dean said that while Guyana is experiencing a major economic boom, the focus must also be on how that growth improvesthelivesofcitizens.

“Now of course growth is extraordinary We are really, really going through a boom and lots of people are seeing the boom,”

Dalgety-Deansaid.

However, she stressed that economicexpansionmusttranslate

extremely hard for us to survive,” Marcussaidasshepausedfromher preparedpresentationtosharehow women are forced to cook more stewsthanever,asvegetableshave becomehardtoafford.

Another presenter, Susan Collymore weighed into the impacts of cost of living on pensionersinparticular Collymore pointed out that food, utilities and transportation have become more expensiveoverthepastfewyears,a situation that is particularly straining on pensioners who dependonafixedmonthlyincome of only $46,000 now- given the recent$5000increase.

dismissed the judicial review application,whichhadallegedbias by the government, particularly by MinisterWalrond.

The defence contends that the application is grounded in alleged breaches of natural justice and claims the ATP issued on October 30, 2025, is unlawful, unreasonable, arbitrary and an abuseofpower Thefilinghadalso sought orders to quash the ATP throughcertiorari(orderbywhicha highercourtreviewsacasetriedin alowercourt).

into stronger social systems and opportunitiesforcitizens.

“So oil cannot build only structures, even though it should build structures, and we expect structures to be built. But it should also build the country’s ability to care for its people and to prepare young people for the future. The argumentismadeinsomequarters that the balance has been gotten wronghere.

There’s too much spending on the physical, on the buildings, the roads, the bridges, the hospitals, and not enough on the human, on directinvestmentsinpeople,andon thepoorest,”shesaid.

Grassrootswomen

Meanwhile, an oil and gas forum held on Saturday last in observance of International Women’s Day was marked by widespread complaints over the high cost of living, with participants expressing little optimism that the situation would easeforfamiliesatthelowerendof theeconomicscale.

The event themed ‘Guyana’s women and oil- impact and resistance’ was organised by Red ThreadandAFairDealforGuyanaAFairDealforthePlanet,twonongovernmentalorganisations.

Grassroots women from across the country were brought together as award-winning lawyer, Melinda Janki and other activists joined for enrichingdiscussionsattheforum, hosted at the Regency Hotel, Georgetown.

Settingthestage,JoyMarcusof RedThreadtold of how hope for a better life from the rich oil resourcesintheStabroekBlockhas dwindled. Instead, she told dozens gathered at the event that the operator, ExxonMobil is enjoying hefty profits while Guyanese women struggle to find meals to feedtheirfamilies.

“WhileExxonisboastingabout the millions of dollars they gain in profit, for ordinary people we gained a cost of living that has skyrocketed so high, making it

Additionally, Rushana Pilgrim, a young single mother of two said she continues to struggle in an oil rich nation “The cost of living keeps rising and it’s getting harder for ordinary families like mine to afford basic necessities…with all theoilwealthinthiscountryweare supposedtobelivingbetterandnot worrying everyday about how to affordapropermeal,”shestated.

Courttossesrequestforstayin Mohameds’extraditioncase …appeal ruling set for March 17

Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed’sbidtohaveastayofthe extradition proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court pending the determination of their substantive appeal case was on Tuesday thrown out and the ruling ontheappealissetforMarch17.

The court heard arguments by Mohameds’ lawyers Roysdale Forde SC, Siand Dhurjon and Damien Da Silva and from attorneys representing the State Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC, Trinidadian Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, and Attorney, ShushanaLall.

The Mohameds have accused the government of political bias regardingtheproceedings.

The arguments were heard by Chancellor of the Judiciary, Roxane George and other justices of appeal: Naredhwar Harnanan andVishnuPersaud.

The justices refused the defence’s application for a stay of the proceedings at the magistrate’s court and set the ruling for the substantiveappealforMarch17.

The Mohamed had brought an action against Minister of Home AffairsOneidgeWalrond,Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall SC, and Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman.

The appeal stems from an earlierhighcourtrulinginvolvinga judicial review challenge to the Minister of Home Affairs’ Authority to Proceed (ATP) in the extradition case, as well as a constitutionalchallengetosections of the Fugitive Offenders (Amendment) Act 2009 On February 4, 2026, the high court

Further, the defence contends there is political bias, noting that the minister is a member of the governing PPP/C, while Azruddin Mohamed is an opposition figure who has publicly criticised the government, including the president, vice president and attorney general. The filing also allegeserrorsinlawandfactbythe lower court which, the defence claims,resultedinamiscarriageof justice. “It is submitted that the decisionofthelearnedjudgeinthe court below was premised on a numberoferrorsoflawandoffact which operated altogether to miscarry justice,” the application stated.

Thelawyersfurtherarguedthat the alleged bias by state officials renders the ATP null and void, citingbreachesoftheruleofnatural justice,particularlytheprincipleof nemo judex in sua causa (no one should be a judge in their own cause).

The Mohameds are facing a federal indictment in Miami, United States, following the unsealing of a 25-page indictment onOctober2,2025.Theindictment alleges a wide-ranging fraud and money-laundering scheme involving gold exports, customs fraud, bribery, and the evasion of millions of dollars in taxes and royaltiesowedtoGuyana.

Following a formal request from the United States, Minister Walrond signed the Authority to Proceed, allowing the extradition matter to proceed before the magistrates’ court If sufficient evidence is established during committal proceedings, the magistrate could order the Mohameds’ extradition to face chargesintheUnitedStates.

THURSDAY

Irantellsworldtogetready foroilatUS$200abarrel …asitfiresonmerchantships

DUBAI/TEL AVIV, March 11 (Reuters) – Iran said the world should be ready for oil at $200 a barrel as its forces hit merchant ships on Wednesday and the International Energy Agency recommendedamassivereleaseof strategicreservestodampenoneof the worst oil shocks since the 1970s.

Continued on page 33

Frompage32

The war unleashed with joint U.S. and Israeli air strikes nearly two weeks ago has so far killed around 2,000 people, mostly Iranians and Lebanese, as it has spread into Lebanonandthrownglobalenergy marketsandtransportintochaos.

Despite what the Pentagon has described as the most intense airstrikessincethestartofthewar, Iran also fired at Israel and targets across the Middle East on Wednesday, demonstrating it can still fight back On Wednesday, threevesselswerereportedtohave been hit in Gulf waters as Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said their forceshadfiredonshipsintheGulf thathaddisobeyedtheirorders.

U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the campaign would not last much longer, telling Axios newswebsitetherewas“practically nothingleft”totargetinIran.“Any timeIwantittoend,itwillend,”he said in a telephone interview Oil prices, which shot up earlier in the weektonearly$120abarrelbefore settling back to around $90, rose morethan4%onWednesdayamid renewed fears about supply disruption, while Wall Street’s mainshareindexesfellinmorning trade.

Previously, stock markets had rebounded as investors bet on Trump finding a quick exit. But other signs pointed to a continuation of fighting which has seen ports and cities in the Gulf statesaswellastargetsinIsraelhit bydroneandmissilebarragesfrom Iran, adding urgency to calls from Turkey and Europe to end the fighting.AnIsraelimilitaryofficial said the military still had an extensive list of targets to hit in Iran,includingballisticmissileand nuclear-relatedsites.

‘LEGITIMATE

TARGETS

So far there has been no sign that ships can safely sail through the Strait of Hormuz, the nowblockaded channel along the Iranian coast that serves as a conduit for around a fifth of the world’s oil Trump said on Wednesday that ships “should” transit through the Strait but sources said Iran had deployed aboutadozenminesinthechannel, further complicating the blockade.

The U.S. military told Iranians to stayclearofportswithIraniannavy facilities, drawing a warning from Iran’smilitarythatiftheportswere threatened, economic and trade centers in the region would be “legitimatetargets”.

With prices at the pumps already surging in some countries and Trump’s Republican Party trailing badly in the polls ahead of midterm elections, oil prices have become an increasingly urgent element in the calculations behind the war The International Energy Agency, made up of major oil consuming nations, recommended releasing 400 million barrels from

globalstrategicreservestostabilise prices, the bigges

intervention in history, which was swiftlyendorsedbyWashington. But the rate at which countries can release strategic reserves will vary and the amount released wouldaccountforjustafractionof the supply through the Hormuz Strait.

Iranian officials made clear on Wednesday they intended to impose a prolonged economic shock as the war continues. “Get ready for oil to be $200 a barrel, because the oil price depends on regional security, which you have destabilised, ” Ebrahim , spokesperson for Iran’s military command, said in comments addressedtoWashington.

AfterofficesofabankinTehran were hit overnight, Zolfaqari said Iranwouldrespondwithattackson banksthatdobusinesswiththeU.S. or Israel.Peopleacross theMiddle Eastshouldstay1,000metresfrom banks,headded.

At sea, a Thai-flagged bulk carrier was set ablaze, forcing the evacuation of crew, with three people reported missing and believed trapped in the engine room.Twootherships,aJapaneseflagged container ship and a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, were also reported to have sustaineddamagefromprojectiles, bringing the number of merchant ships that have been hit since the warbeganto14.

IRANIAN OFFICIAL SAYS

MOJTABA KHAMENEI

LIGHTLYWOUNDED

InIran,hugecrowdstooktothe streets for funerals for top commanders killed in airstrikes

They carried caskets and brandished flags and portraits of slainSupremeLeaderAyatollahAli Khamenei and his son and successor, Mojtaba An Iranian official told Reuters that Mojtaba

Khamenei had been lightly wounded early in the war, when airstrikes killed his father, mother, wifeandason.Hehasnotappeared in public or issued any direct messagesincethewarbegan.

The Iranian military said on Tuesdayithadlaunchedmissilesat targets including a U.S. base in northern Iraq, the U S naval headquartersfortheMiddleEastin Bahrain, and at targets in central Israel. Explosions rang out in Bahrain,whileinDubaifourpeople were wounded by two drones that crashedneartheairport.InTehran, residents said they were growing accustomed to nightly airstrikes that have sent hundreds of thousands of people fleeing to the countryside and contaminated the citywithblackrainfromoilsmoke. “There were bombings last night butIdidnotgetscaredlikebefore. Life goes on,” Farshid, 52, told Reutersbyphone.

‘NO

TIME LIMIT’, SAYS ISRAEL

Despite calls from Trump for Iranianstoriseup,U.S.andIsraeli hopesthatIran’ssystemofclerical rule would be overthrown by popularprotesthavenotbeenborne out.

Iran’s police chief, Ahmadreza Radan, said onWednesday anyone taking to the streets would be treated “as an enemy, not a protester All our security forces havetheirfingersonthetrigger”.A senior Israeli official told Reuters Israeli leaders now privately accepted that Iran’s ruling system could survive the war Two other Israeli officials said there was no sign Washington was close to endingthecampaign.

U.S. and Israeli officials say their aim is to end Iran’s ability to projectforcebeyonditsbordersand destroy its nuclear programme

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday the

waspronounceddead. His body is currently at the LindenHospitalComplexawaiting apost-mortemexamination. The lorry is in police custody assisting with investigations A breathalyser test was conducted, however, no trace of alcohol was detected,policeadded.

FRIDAY

GuyanarejectsVenezuela’s oppositiontoitsoffshore seismicexplorationplans

The government of Guyana on Thursday firmly rejected Venezuela’s objection to Guyana’s decision to advance a threedimensional multi-client seismic exploration programme within Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ).

operation “will continue without anytimelimit,aslongasrequired, until we achieve all objectives and win the campaign”.Alexander has over a decade of international reporting experience He is currentlyaseniorcorrespondentin Jerusalem covering Israel & the Palestinian Territories and was formerly in Dubai where he covered the Arabian Peninsula, including the United Arab Emirates,SaudiArabiaandYemen, often writing about foreign policy, security and economic-related issues.

Driverkilledas carslamsintotruck

Keiron Warner, a 31-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene after he was pinned in his vehicle by a lorry, following an accident at Loo Creek, SoesdykeLindenHighway,onWednesday

Policesaidaninvestigationhas been launched into the incident which occurred around 06:30hrs, involving motor car PZZ 943 driven by Warner of Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden and motor lorry GXX 3002 driven by a 50year-old male of Half Mile, Wismar,Linden.

“Initial enquiries revealed that the motor lorry was proceeding north along the western driving lane of the highway in the vicinity of Loo Creek, when the motor car, which was proceeding south along the eastern driving lane, allegedly atafastrate,suddenlyswervedina south-western direction and collided head-on with the motor lorry,”policesaid. Warner was pinned in the vehicle as a result of the collision, and received several injuries to his body Shortly after the ambulance servicesweresummoned,ateamof Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs)arrivedonthesceneandhe

Guyanaannounceditsdecision to partner with a company to conduct a 3D multi-client seismic survey covering approximately 25,000 square kilometres offshore on Monday The Ministry of Natural Resources announced a partnership with Viridien to conduct the offshore survey aimed at de-risking the basin and attractinginvestment.Accordingto the ministry, the survey will cover all 11 blocks from the 2022 Licencing Round located south of the Stabroek Block and extending totheGuyana–Surinameborder In a communiqué issued on March 11, Caracas said it “categorically rejects” Guyana’s decision to proceed with exploration activities in areas Guyana considers part of its ExclusiveEconomicZone(EEZ).

“Onceagain,Guyanareiterates its intention to carry out unilateral exploration activities over part of the maritime spaces that are pending delimitation, in open contravention of fundamental principlesofinternationallaw,”the Venezuelangovernmentsaid.

The Spanish-speaking nation called on Guyana to refrain from unilateralactionsthatcouldviolate principles of customary international law governing relations between coastal states, particularly measures that could createoraggravatedifferencesand depart from the framework of internationallaw

Caracasalsowarnedthatitdoes not recognise any concession, licence or activity related to the exploration or exploitation of naturalresourcesinmaritimeareas itconsidersundelimited.Thelongstanding border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela is currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) after Venezuela laid claim to Guyana’s resource-richEssequiboregion.

However, in response to Venezuela,theMinistryofForeign Affairs and International CooperationonThursdaysaidit Continued on page 34

Frompage33 “categoricallyrejectstheassertions containedtherein,whicharelegally unfounded,inaccurate,andentirely inconsistent with established principlesofinternationallaw.”

“TheMinistrywishestoremind the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela that the Government of Guyana has the authority to grant permission for any activities within the maritime areas appurtenant to the coastal territory of Guyana, as defined by theArbitralAward of 1899, which established the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuela. In such maritime areas, Guyana enjoys sovereignty up to 12 nauticalmilesin the territorialsea, and sovereign rights beyond 12 nautical miles in the Exclusive EconomicZoneandthecontinental shelf.”

Further, the statement said that the maritime areas in which the seismic survey will be conducted lie unequivocally within Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf, over which Guyanaexercisessovereignrights. “Theserightsincludetheexclusive authority to explore, exploit, conserve and manage natural resources within its maritime jurisdiction. As such, Guyana’s decisiontofacilitatetheacquisition of high-resolution seismic data througha3DMulti-ClientSeismic Survey represents a legitimate and lawful exercise of its rights and is entirely consistent with international law and established statepractice.”

TheGovernmentnotedtoothat the seismic acquisition initiative forms part of Guyana’s broader national strategy to strengthen the scientific understanding of its offshore petroleum basin, enhance transparency in resource management, and improve the attractivenessofGuyana’soffshore acreagetoresponsibleinternational investors The programme will employ advanced geophysical techniques to generate highresolution subsurface imagery that supports exploration planning and strengthens the long-term governance of Guyana’s offshore energysector,thestatementsaid.

Accordingly, Guyana firmly rejects Venezuela’s attempt to characterise these lawful activities as occurring within “undelimited maritimeareas.”

The ministry said that “Such claims constitute a deliberate misrepresentation of both the geographic and legal realities governing Guyana’s maritime jurisdiction The Government of Guyana has consistently exercised peaceful administration and jurisdiction over its maritime spaces,includingthelicensingand regulation of offshore exploration activities These actions are undertaken in strict conformity withinternationallawandwithdue

regardtotherightsandentitlement ofotherStates.”

Additionally,Guyanareminded that when the boundary between the two States was definitively settled more than a century ago by the1899ArbitralAward,Venezuela accepted and benefited from that settlementandthelegalcertaintyit provided That Award brought finality to the territorial boundary andenabledbothStatestoexercise the full rights and advantages arising from their respective territories and maritime projections However, Caracas later claimed the award was null and void. In 2018, Guyana filed a caseattheICJseekingarulingthat the award is valid and legally binding.

“It is therefore particularly incongruous that Venezuela, having historically benefited from the stability and legal clarity afforded by that settlement, now seeks to challenge Guyana’s sovereign right to utilise and develop the resources contained within the territory and maritime areas that lawfully appertain to Guyana.”

As a result, Guyana rejects the protestbyVenezuelaandthenotion that any portion of its maritime

space or continental shelf appertainstoVenezuela.

Guyana also reminded that the Geneva Agreement of 1966

governs the resolution of the controversy which has arisen becauseofVenezuela’scontention, firstmadein1962,thattheArbitral Award of 1899, which settled the land boundary between British Guiana and Venezuela, is null and void. That Agreement imposes no obligation on Guyana to refrain from economic development activities in any portion of its territory or in any appurtenant maritimeareas.

“Moreover, Venezuela’s assertion that it will not recognise concessions, licences or activities authorised by Guyana in its maritimedomainiswhollywithout legal effect Under international law,noStatemayarrogatetoitself the authority to invalidate the lawful sovereign decisions of another State within its own territory or maritime zones Venezuela’s statements therefore represent an unwarranted attempt to interfere with Guyana’s sovereign right to pursue its economic development and manageitsnaturalresourcesforthe benefitofitspeople.”

The government of Guyana called on the government of Venezuela “to refrain from issuing inflammatory and misleading statements that seek to undermine Guyana’s sovereign rights or discourage legitimate economic activity within Guyana’s maritime domain.”

Probedeepensinto deathofteenmom

…father charged for allegedly raping her, DNA test ordered to determine child’s father

The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security on Thursday said investigations suggest that the father of 14-yearoldAleenaPreetam’sbabygirlmay be a teenage boy under the age of 18.

Inastatement,theministrysaid that through its Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), an indepth investigation was conducted following Pretam’s death between February 22 to February 23, 2026, weeksaftergivingbirth.DNAtests have been scheduled to assist with the determination of paternity It wasalsodisclosedthatthebabyhas been placed into the foster care system.

“CPA is following up with the GuyanaPoliceForceandOfficeof Director of Public Prosecution on next steps,” the ministry stated. The ministry stated that CPA was made aware of Preetam’s pregnancy in September 2025, where a Forensic Interview was conducted withAleena at Blossom Inc.duringwhichshemadecertain statements. “Shereceivedmedical care at the regional hospital A referral was submitted to Blossom Inc requesting victim support, court preparation support and trauma focused counseling,” the ministrysaid.

Further, the ministry revealed that back in 2024, the teen was the subject of a previous intervention by the CPA following reports that shewasallegedlybeingphysically, verbally, and sexually abused by herfather Theministrysaidthegirl was removed from her parents’ homeinRegion2andplacedinthe temporarycareofheroldersisterin Region 3.The matter was reported to the Guyana Police Force and followinginvestigations,thefather wascharged.

On November 11, 2024, the matter was heard at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court and the father wasremandedtoprison.According

to the ministry, on December 6, 2024, upon the application of Preetam’s mother, the Essequibo High Court granted bail to the fatherinthesumof$350,000. The High Court Order stipulated that the accused and anyone on his behalf, including the applicant mother, should not make any contactwhatsoeverwiththeteenor go within 100 feet of her It was furtherorderedthatPreetamshould remaininthecareandcontrolofher eldersisterinRegion3orwithany other person that the CPA so directs.Thismatterisstillpending. In late February a post mortem examination carried out on the body Preetam determined that her causeofdeathwasheartfailureand anaemia Preliminary enquiries revealedthat the teen, who resided with her parents and her onemonth-oldchild,waslastseenalive on Sunday evening, February 22. On Monday morning family membersattemptedtowakeherbut found her unresponsive. She was escorted to the Suddie Public Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Preetam’s body was examined and no marks of violence were observed. Kaieteur News had reported that the teen was found unresponsive in her bedroom after her baby was heard crying for a prolonged period Concerned relativeswenttocheckontheinfant and found Preetam motionless on herbed.

SATURDAY

Teenmomattacker,caught, beatenbymob

The man accused of stabbing 15-year-old Tiana Chapman more than 25 times was captured after two weeks on the run and was reportedly brutalised before being handedovertothepolice.

Christopher Ali, 28, of Pepper Street, Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice, attacked Chapman, hisformergirlfriendandmotherof his child, leaving her with punctured lungs She was discharged from New Amsterdam Hospital on Tuesday, two weeks afterthenear-fatalassault.

Continued on page 35

Frompage34

Relatives confirmed that Ali was spottedalongtheBerbiceRiverlast week and was apprehended on Thursday evening. Before police custody, he was reportedly assaulted by unknown individuals and required treatment at the New AmsterdamHospital.

AttheNewAmsterdamStelling Friday,acrowdgatheredaswordof Ali’s capture spread, marking the endofatensemanhunt.Policehave

taken custody of Ali, and investigationsintothestabbingare ongoing.

On Tuesday, Chapman was discharged from the New AmsterdamHospital.Theteenager hadbeenfightingforherlifeinthe hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Her mother, Adisea Andrews, 37, told Kaieteur News she was relievedthatherdaughtersurvived theviciousassault.

While earlier reports indicated thatChapmanhadsustained25stab wounds,Andrews said the number wasactuallyhigher

The attack occurred on February 24 when Ali, the teen’s former boyfriend and the father of her child, allegedly ambushed her atafriend’shome,notfarfromher own.

According to reports, the man cornered the teenager and repeatedly stabbed her before leaving her slumped in a chair, severelywoundedandbleeding.He thenfledthescene.

Forseveraldaysaftertheattack, Chapman remained on an oxygen machine in the ICU as doctors worked to stabilise her condition. Despitetheseverityofherinjuries, she began showing remarkable signsofrecovery

On Tuesday, Kaieteur News spoke briefly with the teen as she prepared to leave the hospital

Though she still showed signs of discomfort from the numerous wounds, Chapman appeared in goodspiritsandspokeclearly

Where she had once been confinedtoahospitalbed,unableto move freely, she now walked independently.Herbodystillbears numerousstitchesandstaplesused toclosethewoundsinflictedduring theattack.

Reflecting briefly on the incident, Chapman said the attack happenedsuddenly

Thethirdofsevenchildren,the teen grew up in the same communityasthesuspect.

Her mother said the two had knowneachothersincechildhood, as is common in close-knit communities.

However, Andrews stressed that she never approved of any romanticinvolvementbetweenher daughterandtheolderman.

“How I could ever want that to happen when Tiana is a child?” Andrews said. “That boy grow up

Stabbed more than 25 times, 15-year-old, Tiana Chapman

right here in this community

Everybody know everybody from childhood… but you can’t know a person mind. If people did know a person mind, she woulda know he wouldaboreshe.”

Chapmanwillbe16yearsoldin May. Her son, Javed Chapman, is justtenmonthsold.

Andrews explained that when the attack occurred she was workingasacookataminingcamp intheMazaruni.

Because of low tides, she was unable to travel immediately and did not reach the hospital until the followingFriday

“I never abandoned my children,” the single mother said, defending herself against criticism shehasreceivedsincetheincident.

She explained that when she travels to work in the interior she ensures that her children are providedfor

“I never leave them hungry WhenIleavetogoandworkinthe backdam, I leave money and ration in the house,” she said “I

tell Tiana, ‘Mama, anything y’all short of, you gon’ go and get the money and buy it ’Anybody who sayIleavemychildrenundoneisa liar”

Andrewsalsodismissedclaims that she supported the relationship between her daughter andAli. She said there was a time when she calledthepoliceafterhelingeredat theirhomelateatnight.

However, she claimed the officers’ response allowed him to escapethroughthebackyard.

Father,4-month-oldbabydiein EastBankEssequibocollision

Twenty-two-year-old Krishna PersaudofMeten-Meer-Zorg,West Coast Demerara and his fourmonth-old son, Luke Persaud, lost theirlivesinanaccidentonFriday after the motorcycle they were traveling on collided with a truck alongtheOrangesteinPublicRoad, EastBankEssequibo(EBE).

The baby’s 19-year-old, mother, who was also on the

motorcycle, survived and is currentlyhospitalised.

According to police, the accident occurred around 11:00hrs and involved motor lorry GZZ 5068, driven by a 27-year-old man of Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara, and motorcycle CM 5492, which was being driven by Persaud.

Police reported that the motor lorry was proceeding north out of a parking lot of a shopping mall situated on the southern parapet, whenanotherlorrytravellingwest alongthesouthernsideoftheroad stopped and to allow the driver of GZZ 5068 to turn and proceed east

Asthedriverattemptedtomake theturn,themotorcycle,whichwas travelling west along the southern side of the road at an alleged fast rate of speed, overtook the stationarylorryonthesoliddouble yellow lines and ended up on the northernsideoftheroad.

The motorcycle then collided with the right-side front portion of the motor lorry As a result of the collision, the motorcyclist and the twopillionriderswerethrownonto theroadwayandsustainedmultiple injuries.

They were picked up in an unconsciousconditionandtakento the De Kinderen Regional Hospital, where Persaud and the infant were pronounced dead on

arrival.

Police said the woman later regained consciousness and was admitted to the female surgical wardsufferingfromheadandother injuries. Her condition has been listedasstable.

The bodies of the deceased are currently at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting post-mortem examinations.

Police said the driver of the motor lorry remains in custody assisting with investigations A breathalysertestconductedonhim showed no trace of alcohol Investigators have also obtained CCTV footage as the probe continues.

Moreover, Tropical Orchard Products Company Limited (TOPCO) in a statement on Friday confirmedthatoneofitstruckswas involved in the accident that claimedthelivesofthemanandhis baby

Thecompanysaiditwasdeeply saddenedbytheincidentandnoted that the mother was left in critical conditionfollowingthecrash.“On behalfofthemanagementandstaff ofTOPCO,weextendourheartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones affected by this devastating tragedy,” the company said.

TOPCOalsoindicatedthatitis cooperating with investigators as the circumstances surrounding the accidentareexamined.

Thecompanyfurtherstatedthat it will not provide additional comments at this time “Out of respect for the grieving family and the integrity of the ongoing investigation, we will refrain from further comment until more informationbecomesavailable.”

Saint Patrick's Day

Many centuries ago, in a land far across the sea called Ireland, the hills were bright green, and the wind carried the sound of waves against the rocky shores In those days lived a man who would one day becomefamousSaintPatrick.

Patrick was not born in Ireland As a young boy, he lived with his family in anotherpartofEurope

But when he was about sixteen years old, raiders captured him and brought him toIrelandasaslave Patrickhadtoworkasa shepherd,watchingsheeponlonelyhillsides formanyyears.

Duringthosequietdaysandcoldnights, Patrickspentalotoftimethinking,praying, and hoping for freedom After six long years, he finally escaped and traveled acrosstheseatoreturnhometohisfamily

But Patrick never forgot Ireland Even thoughithadoncebeenaplaceofhardship

Materials:

Popsiclesticks:Miniandsmallsizes.

Paint: Green, orange, black, yellow, black

Paintbrushes

Glue

Scissors

Wool:orange

forhim,hefeltthatheshouldreturnoneday tohelpthepeoplethere

Years later, Patrick studied to become a Christian teacher When he was ready, he bravelysailedbacktoIreland Thistimehe came not as a prisoner, but as a missionary who wanted to teach people about Christianity and share messages of kindness andhope.

Patrick traveled from village to village across the green countryside Many people listenedtohisteachings,thoughsomewere unsureaboutthenewideashebrought

One day, while speaking to a group of people, Patrick noticed a small green Shamrockgrowinginthegrass Hepickedit up and showed it to the crowd Patrick explained that just as the shamrock had three leaves but was still one plant, it could helppeopleunderstandtheHolyTrinity

The simple plant helped many people understandhismessage Soontheshamrock became a symbol connected to PatrickandIrelanditself

Instructions Step1:First,takethreejumbocraftsticks

and stick them together using super tacky glue Place a rectangleofpaperorcardonthe backforextrasupport,andletit dry

Step 2: Next, take six mini sticks and stick them together thesameway Letthemdry

Step 3:Add two craft sticks fortherimofthehat.

Step 4: Once dry, paint your leprechaun using a skin tone for the face and green for the body andhat.

Step 5: Take some orange woolandroughlychopitintotiny pieces.

Step6:Stickthewoolaround thefacetomakethebeard,thenattachthehat ontop.

by Uncle Roy

The best people I know besides my family Are the friends that make me feel so good; They are the children who help me out, And keep me as happy as I could.

My friends and I love to be together, Whether at school, work or play; I feel that these special people Are what make my life okay

My father is glad I have such nice friends; He often lets me bring them along, But he says that I should be careful That they do not make me do wrong

When we try to keep each other happy, And help one another to always do right, Then I know we would always be friends, And never have to quarrel or fight.

As the years passed, Patrick continued traveling, teaching, and helping communities across the land. Stories about his courage and wisdom spread throughout Ireland. Legends even said he drove snakes from the island, though historians believe that story was meant to symbolize the end of older beliefs.

Patrick eventually grew old and passed away on March 17

The people of Ireland remembered him as a man who had changed their country and helpedmanypeople

To honor his life, the Irish began celebrating his memory every year on that date Over time, the celebration grew into a joyful holiday filled with music, dancing,andgatherings

Today, Saint Patrick's Day is celebratednotonlyinIrelandbut around the world Cities hold colorful parades, people wear green clothing, and shamrocks decoratehomesandstreets Itisa day when people celebrate Irish culture, friendship, and the story of a man who once walked the greenhillsofIrelandwithhopein hisheart.

AndeveryyearonMarch17, when people see a shamrock or wear something green, they remember the journey of Saint Patrick and the story that turned into one of the most famous celebrationsintheworld

INKIES

“Fill in the blank squares so that each row and each column contain all of the digits 1 thru 5. The heavy lines surround areas (called cages) that contain groups of numbers that can be combined (in any order) to produce the result shown in the clue, either using addition (+) or subtraction (-) as shown in the clue For example, 12+ means you can add the values together to produce 12. "

We always need to cooperate with those with whomweinteractatthevariouslevelsofourlives soastogetthemostoutofourrelationshipswith them,aswellasintheeffortswemakeeverydayto moveforwardefficiently

Simply put, we need to strive always to be a greatteammate. Whetheryouareinteractingwith others at home, at school or at a workplace, you should always see that it is important for you to realise that youarepartofateam.

Improveyourinteraction withallotherstoensure propercooperation

natural habit of wanting others to listen to and accept their ownviews,andsotheylistenlesstowhatothershavetosay

Make sure you do your part of the work at home, which includeskeepingtheplacecleanandingoodorder,alongwith alltheotherthingsthatareneeded. Inyourclass,youshould cooperatewithyourteacherandclassmatessothateveryone getsthemostoutofthetimespentthere.

Ifyouareworking,itwouldbemuchappreciatedbyyour employerifyoucanseeyourselfaspartofthewholegroup, andworkwithallotherstogetthegoodsandservicesyoudeal withproducedanddeliveredefficiently

Abasic part of this interaction is in our communication withothers. Onewayofbeingefficientinthisistorealisethat weneedtospeaklessandlistenmore. P e o p l e h a v e a

Infact,manytimespeoplearesoanxioustogettheirown perspectiveacrosstoothersthattheyhardlyeverlisten. This ofcourselessenstheirchancesoflearningfromothers,which can serve to keep them from much information and opinion thatwouldhaveenrichedtheirownfundofknowledge.

Formahabitofreallylisteningtoothers,andyouwillbe surprisedathowmuchyoucanlearn,bywhichyoucanhelp yourselfaswellasseetheopportunitytohelpothers. Inthis effort,itistruethattherearetimeswhenyoucanhelppeople withsomeproblemsimplybylisteningtothem.

Thishappensbecausepeoplecanfindtheirownsolutions whentheygettheopportunitytoreallyexpresswhatisintheir minds. Also, when they have someone who is willing to listen to them, they feel worthy and appreciated, which helps them in this search for thesolutionstotheirproblems.

Make cooperation as the basis of your life, and you will reap tremendous benefits from this practice.

Weallshouldbeaware,byitsveryname.that our country has been founded on principles that embracecooperation,andweasapeopleshould beexamplesofthismodeofbehaviour

A friend is one who reaches for your hand, One who shares his ideas and together you expand, When you are in trouble or pain, One who lends assistance and together you gain.

A friend is not selfish, cruel or heartless, He is not unmindful or helpless; A friend does not watch another in sorrow, But is always there today and tomorrow

A friend is caring, loving and kind, He is there with a wise and pure mind, He is not vulgar, rude or immature, But is there to solve, assist and cure.

A friend is always there to land a hand, He is not vain, proud or playing grand, He is there to ever offer a smile, And keep you happy through all life's trials.

So, just as you value a good friend, Be there for others with a helping hand to lend; Always be known for the good you do, And you will benefit from friendship too

MindYour Business

Respect,Pride,andthePsychologyofReputation

…WHY IMAGE, HONOR, AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION MATTER SO DEEPLY

ByDr.EonAndre George,PhD,EdD

News, whether good or bad,rarelystaysinoneplace for long.Spend enough time in any close community and you begin to notice how quickly news travels Someone’s achievement is celebrated far beyond the household where it happened A young man earns a scholarship and by evening several neighbors already know At the same time, a mistake made in publicrarelystaysprivatefor long. Conversations move fromyardtoyard,fromshop counter to minibus seat, and before long a story that began in one place has reachedmanyears.

Thispatternisnotsimply about gossip. It reflects a deeper psychological reality about how identity forms in tightly connected societies. When communities are closely knit, people often develop a strong awareness ofhowtheyareperceivedby others Personal identity becomes intertwined with family reputation and social respect As a result, individuals are rarely concerned only with who they are privately They are also conscious of how their actions reflect on the people connectedtothem.

TheSocialPsychology ofReputation

Psychologists often explain this through the concept of Social Identity, whichsuggeststhatpartofa person’s self-esteem comes fromthegroups theybelong to(TajfelandTurner,1979). Family, neighborhood, and community all become extensions of identity

Because of this, personal behavior carries meaning beyondtheindividual.

Consider a familiar situation A student graduates from university, and suddenly the entire family feels proud. Parents tell the story to coworkers.

Grandparents repeat it to visitors. The achievement feels collective because it reflects positively on the household that raised the child. The reverse can also happen When someone behaves irresponsibly in public, parents or relatives may feel embarrassed even thoughtheywerenotdirectly involved.Statementssuchas “Youmakingthefamilylook bad” are often less about control and more about protecting the shared identity attached to the family name.In this way, reputation becomes part of the psychological fabric of everydaylife.

Pride,Respect,and

EmotionalReaction

Because reputation carries weight, respect becomes extremel

ng acknowledged, spoken to properly, or treated with dignityreinforcesaperson’s sense of worth. When that respect feels threatened, emotional responses can becomeintense.

Psychologists refer to this as status threat, the experience of feeling that one’s standing or dignity is being challenged For example, a disagreement between neighbors may escalate quickly if one person believes they have been publicly embarrassed. The original issue may have beensmall,buttheperceived loss of respect feels significant.

A simple example illustrates this clearly Two men might argue about a parking space or a minor misunderstanding What beginsasadisagreementcan escalate because each feels theneedtodefendtheirpride in front of others The emotional reaction is not onlyabouttheincidentitself. Itisaboutreputation.

LivingUndertheEyesof theCommunity

Another factor that shapes behavior in closely

connected communities is thesenseofbeingconstantly observed. People are aware that their actions rarely go unnoticed.Someoneleaving home late at night, someone arguing in the street, or someone achieving success quickly becomes part of publicconversation.

Psychologists describe this awareness as selfmonitoring,thetendencyto regulate behavior based on howothersmightperceiveit.

High levels of selfmonitoring can encourage responsibilityanddiscipline. Manyindividualslearnearly to conduct themselves in ways that reflect well on theirfamilies.However,that same awareness of being constantlyobservedcanalso create quiet pressure, especially for young people. In close communities where everyone seems to know everyoneelse,actionsrarely feel private A teenager steppingoutintheevening,a young man liming on the corner, or a young woman returning home later than expectedmayfeelasthough several pairs of eyes are watching It is not uncommon for a parent to hear about their child’s behavior from a neighbor beforethechildevenreaches home.Becauseofthis,many youngpeoplegrowupwitha strong sense that their actions are being evaluated not only by their parents but by the wider community as well.

A s a r e s u l t , experimenting with independence can feel complicated.Ateenagermay want to dress differently, spend time with friends, or make choices that reflect growingautonomy,yetatthe same time worry about how those choices will be interpreted Will the neighborstalk?Willanelder mention it to their parents? Will it reflect poorly on the family name? In many households, the phrase “don’tembarrassthefamily” carries real emotional weight.Theyoungpersonis not simply managing their own reputation but also the perceived reputation of the entirehousehold.

This dynamic can shape behavior in powerful ways. Someyoungpeoplerespond by becoming extremely cautious, carefully managing how they present themselvesinpublic.Others react in the opposite direction, pushing back against the pressure and expressing frustration or

defiance. In both cases, the psychological influence of community observation is present. The individual is learning to balance personal freedom with social expectations, a process that can produce both maturity and tension as identity graduallyforms.

RespectasSocialGlue

While the awareness of being watched can create pressure, it also serves an important social purpose. In communities where people live closely connected lives, respect and reputation help maintain a certain social balance. Individuals often regulate their behavior not only because of laws or formal rules, but because theycareabouthowtheyare perceived by others around them.

In this sense, respect functions almost like social glue that holds everyday relationships together Elders are honored because they represent experience, authority, and continuity across generations. Parents teachchildrenearlythattheir behaviorreflectsnotonlyon themselves but on the household that raised them. Small everyday actions reinforcetheseexpectations. Greeting elders properly, speaking respectfully, offering assistance to someone older, or even the way a young person carries themselves in public all communicate something about the values of the family

Over time, these practices help strengthen social cohesion.They create shared expectations about how people should treat one anotherandhowindividuals should conduct themselves inpublicspaces.Inthisway, respect becomes more than simple politeness. It becomes a quiet but

powerful mechanism through which communities reinforceorder,identity,and mutualresponsibility

BecomesHeavy

At the same time, the importance placed on reputation can create emotional strain When maintainingapositiveimage becomesaconstantconcern, individuals may struggle to express vulnerability

Admitting emotional distress or seeking psychological help can feel uncomfortable if one fears beingjudged.

For instance, someone experiencing anxiety or depression may hide their struggles rather than risk appearing weak. A young mandealingwithstressmay express frustration as anger instead of acknowledging emotional exhaustion In such cases, protecting reputatio

n e s t conversations about mental health.This does not mean that communities lack compassion Rather, it reflectshowstronglydignity andimagearevalued.

Understandingthe PsychologyBehind Respect

When these patterns are examined carefully, they r

mportant psychological truth. Pride, sensitivity to respect, and concernaboutreputationare not random traits They develop within social

y, and community are closely connected.

Understandingthishelps explain many everyday behaviors. What appears to outsiders as stubborn pride may actually reflect a desire to protect dignity What appears as anger may stem from a perceived loss of respect. Recognizing these m

behavior to move beyond judgmentandtowarddeeper understanding.Every belief hasahistory

Everyreactionhasaroot. Understanding them is wherewisdombegins.

INSPIRE YOU 2026 – Empowerment through Purposeful Giving

As we continue celebratingWomen’sHistory Month, I am reminded that progress has always been shaped by the courage of women who dare to step forward, share their stories, and use their influence to upliftothers

For many years, my brand, ‘Inspire You,’ has served as a platform where

voices from across disciplines, industries, and cultures come together to share lessons on leadership, resilience,faith,andpurpose both in person and virtually These conversations go far beyond inspiration They challenge us to reflect on how we show up in the world and how we use our gifts to make a meaningful impact.

This year, INSPIRE YOU 2026 – Empowerment Through Purposeful Giving returns as a global virtual experience taking place on March 21 and March 22 Produced by the Sonia Noel Foundation in collaboration withWomenAcrossBorders, the event continues its mission of bringing together powerful voices who are shaping communities, industries,andlives.

TheINSPIREYOU2026 featured speakers include Vidushi Persaud McKinnon from Guyana, Dr. Andrew Boyle from Guyana, Leah Smith from Guyana, Dr. Safeeya Mohammed from TrinidadandTobago,Aretha Auguste from Saint Lucia, Samantha M Holder from Barbados, Saurel Quettan fromHaitiandGeorgiainthe United States, Valentina Molina Velez from Colombia, Kea ModiseMoloto from South Africa, Dr Tonya Bailey from the United States, ShafaqueAli fromIndia,andEdwardLee fromSuriname.

G u i d i n g t h e conversationsaremoderators Richard Young of Trinidad and Tobago, who has moderated Inspire You panels for several years, and communications consultant JewelFordofBarbados,who will facilitate the panel on March21

This week we highlight six of the speakers who will appear on the March 21 panel,andnextweekwewill feature the remaining voices

who w

conversation on March 22

Though their journeys span continents and industries, they share one common thread: each is committed to

communities that empower otherstothrive.

Dr.AndrewBoyle–Guyana

Few stories capture the spirit of

on and perseverance like that of Dr Andrew Boyle Born in the hinterland village of Kimbia along the Berbice River, Dr Boyle rose from humble beginningstobecomeoneof Guyana’s most respected innovators in healthcare and entrepreneurship

AsthefounderofEureka Medical Laboratories, he established Guyana’s first ISO-accredited medical laboratory, placing the countryamonganelitegroup ofmedicalinstitutionsinthe Carib

y standards With more than threedecadesofserviceinthe medicalfield, Dr Boyle has playedatransformativerole in advancing laboratory science and healthcare deliveryinGuyana.

His leadership has been widely recognized. Among his many accolades are the G o l d e n A r r o w o f Achievement, one of Guyana’s highest national honors, and the ANSA Caribbean Entrepreneur of the Year Award Yet beyond t h e a w a r d s a n d achievements, Dr Boyle continues to inspire others through his story of determination and vision, capturedinhisbook Aspire: Dare to Dream, a reminder that extraordinary journeys oftenbeginwiththecourage tobelieveinpossibility

Dr TonyaC Bailey–UnitedStates Leadership takes many forms, and Dr Tonya C Bailey exemplifies what it meanstoleadacrossmultiple spheresofinfluence

With more than twenty five years of experience in higher education, corporate leadership, and ministry, Dr Bailey currently serves as AssociateDeanforDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Community Engagement at Oakland University William B

Medicine Her work focuses on creating inclusive env

individuals and institutions canthrive.

Beyond academia, she is t

Consulting, a firm dedicated to executive coaching, corporate strategy, and professional development Through leadership programs and mentoring initiatives, Dr Bailey empowers individuals to

their leadership

Herphilosophyissimple

ue leadership is measured not bypersonalsuccessalone

Continuedonpage46

Guyanese beauty entrepreneur, Susan Ibrahim is appointed the lead makeup artist for Fenty Beauty in Guyana. The top beauty and skin care brand, founded by Barbadian Superstar Rihannaissettoopenitsfirst outlet March 28th, 2026 at Movietowne Mall under Glamourbeauty.gybanner

Ibrahim said Glamour beauty proprietor, Varsha Sharma has been integral to bringing the brand to Guyana. She explained in a Facebookpostshortlyafterit was announced that the brand will make its debut in Guyana that the two have

Beauty entrepreneur, Susan Ibrahim is lead makeup artist for Fenty beauty in Guyana

The makeup artist in action

Guyanese beauty entrepreneur, Susan Ibrahim

working closely with Glamourbeauty gy to help bring this brand to Guyana, it'sfinallyhere.”

The MUA continued “It was one of the very first foundations I started using when I began my career, and it remains a product I still rely on today because of its quality, shade range and performance on different skintones.”

She noted that the cosmetics will work well for Guyanesewomenbecauseof the diverse nature of the country

“The brand's wide range of shades allows women of different complexions and

been working to have the iconicbrandhere.

“It's truly an honor to represent such an iconic brand. Thank you Glamour Beauty and Fenty Beauty for this opportunity Special congratulations to Varsha Sharma Your hard work made this happen. You did this and you made this possible for all of us. Cheers toyou!”

As a leading makeup artist in Guyana, Ibrahim said Fenty Beauty has alwaysheldaspecialplacein herprofessionalkit.

She explained “Back in 2019,whenmybusinesswas still called SAKS Makeup Artistry, most of my promo shoots were done using Fentybeauty. I was just building my portfolio, creatinglooks,anddreaming big. After a few years of

undertones to find a true match. It is also a brand that goes beyond makeup. Fenty Skin encourages healthy skincare for everyone, and mencanalsobenefitfromthe simpleandeffectiveskincare routine the line offers,” she said.

Additionally, as an advocate for the beauty industry to be respected as a real and meaningful career, Ibrahim said having a global brand like Fenty Beauty present in Guyana is a big step forward for the local beauty industry and for Guyanesemakeupartists.

She noted that the arrival of Fenty Beauty will create new opportunities for artists t h r o u g h e d u c a t i o n , collaborations, events and professionalgrowth.

“It also inspires the next

generation of makeup artists to see that the beauty industry in Guyana has the potential to grow and be part of the global beauty community Fenty Beauty being here shows that our market and our talent are beingrecognized.”

Toensurethatshedeliver top tier artistry in her newest portfolio, the Guyanese MUA underwent Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin

training in Barbados where she learned more about the skincare and the artistry behindthemakeup.

She told this newspaper “We truly appreciate the time, training, and guidance.

Everything we learned is coming straight back to our community.”

For Ibrahim, seeing Fenty Beauty here feels like afullcirclemoment.

“It is a brand that helped shape my journey as a makeup artist, and I am e x c i t e d t o s e e t h e opportunitiesitwillbringfor artists and beauty lovers across Guyana,” the MUA added.

‘UG Got 90% of Me’

...Dr. Paloma Mohamed reflects on seven demanding years as Vice Chancellor

ByDavinaBagot

When Professor Paloma Mohamed applied to become Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Guyana (UG) she did not envisage the extra loads of responsibility that came with the portfolio. Whilesheexecutedwith Lazer focused excellence for the past years she is now eager to reconnect with aspects of her life thatwereneglected,

Before she was appointed VC, theprofessorservedasChairofthe Transition Management Committeefollowingthedeparture of the then VC in 2019. Dr Mohamedwasofficiallyappointed as VC in June 2020, where she becamethefirstfemaletoholdthe position at any University in the AnglophoneCaribbean.

Her decision to apply was one heavilyinfluencedbyherpeers,Dr Mohamed recalled, during an interviewwithKaieteurNews.

are there to pick up these jobs and that we are going to be able to function if ever this happens again,”sheremarked.

She rallied through numerous difficultseasonsduringhertenure, including an impasse that lasted several months after the tumultuous national elections in 2020, heightened border threats from Venezuela and more recently the decision to make tertiary education free for Guyanese nationals.

Professor Mohamed shared, “There could be no balance. Too much needed to be done, and the resources were never enough… I don'tthinkintheseconditionsthere could have ever been any kind of work-lifebalanceatonepointwhen IwascarryingtheportfoliosofVice Chancellor, Pro Chancellor and Chancellor all at once. So UG got 90%,everythingelsegot10orless. And that's just because of how much the place needs...there have been times when I (had) people

“Ididn'treallywanttoapplythe position.That'sthefirstthing.Ihate applyingforanything...Iwasasked when I was Deputy Vice Chancellor because I'd been on faculty, I was asked to do the DeputyVice Chancellor job. I told you, my reaction to that was like, no, no, no, no, for six months. But the then Vice Chancellor kept at it and then I was like, eventually, okay,”shesaid.

Herfriendsalsoencouragedher to take on the responsibility recognisingherabilitytoinfluence changes at the institution. At the time-February2020-theworldwas grappling with a pandemic that later hit these shores, an epidemic that the Change Specialist maneuvered with grace and excellence Under her astute leadership,theUniversity,withjust around 6900 students at the time, managed to transition to online classes. “We're state funded, we couldsitdownandsay,well,look, you know what, it's COVID, nobody'steaching,westillgetpaid. But that was never a conversation. Theconversationwaswearestate; wehavetoensurethatwhenthisis over,wepickupthepieces,people

construction of a new dental clinic tobenefitstaff,asportsfacilityand the tremendous back-end work, of setting up systems and polices to support the rapid growth in programs and delivery sites. The number of campuses has grown fromaroundfiveto10. “Thereare hundreds of ways in which we changed UG for the better “she says. One thing was the increased ranking of UG internationally She explained, “Not only did we achieve institutional accreditation for the first time but we had accreditation for our petroleum engineering programmes, our medical school which was accredited but got reaccredited, accreditations for the business

Reflecting on her years of service, the professor said she almost gave up her personal life to focusonUG,butonethingthatshe madesurewasnevercompromised washerspirituallife,ananchorthat ledherthroughvariouschallenges. The number 7, she has said, is significant for her “It speaks of completion, perfection, appreciation”. She said her social life started to “disappear” with dinner plans often being cancelled

and her loved ones left disappointedtoomanytimes.

At just 14-years old, the VC said her eldest son at the time lookedintohereyesandprotested, “Youhave11,000childrenandIam notoneofthem.Itwaslikeablow to my stomach,” she added with tearssettlinginhereyes.

waiting for me for hours for social eventsandtheneventuallyIhaveto say,Ican'tdoitbecauseIhavethis thing that is urgent or something happened with a student. I have to go by the police station to help somestaff,orsomebody'spregnant andneedstogettohospital last minute request for a brief opportunity with a tight deadline….”

The scholar said she is grateful for her support group and friends including her mom who has been helpingtonurturehersixchildren, fiveofwhomwereadopted.

“I missed so many things, you know, birthdays, parties. I, you know, have not seen my own husband for eight months now Because he's away and looking

after his parents who have been unwell, and if I spoke to him five times in the last six or eight months...andthen,ofcourse,Imiss my own work as a scholar so I wantedtoreallykindofrefocusmy logicandmyintellectonthingsthat I was interested and have passion for because that has suffered a tremendous lot ” She added “Bitter-sweet it was also my greatestprivilegeandhonourtobe entrusted with this place I love so much… this responsibility which totallyconsumedme.”

Beyondherpersonalchallenges

and numerous different circumstancesattheUniversity,Dr Mohamed was able to achieve monumental accomplishments, whichshehumblyacknowledgedis not due to her role alone. “I have had a generally great team and it's not enough” as the University still requirestremendouswork.

Some of the notable achievements highlighted by her between 2020 and 2026 were the growthofthecampusfrom6900to 16000 students. The addition of several new buildings including new laboratories where the first timeinthecountry'shistory23new species of flora and fauna were genetically sequenced in 2025, the

schoolandfor theengineeringand faculty of engineering and technology,onthewayISOforthe facultyofAgriculturesowe'rekind of continuously working on international standards and accreditation for various programmes.And I am very proud of our Maka Tawa Forest Campus at Aishalton…a model for the world.Aswellastheachievements ofmycolleaguesandourstudents. Any success associated with my tenureisacollectiveone.Couldnot haveachievedanythingalone.”

Dr Mohamedisalsoproudthat the University enhanced its online services with local online payments, other services and registration to benefit students as wellasreducingthetimeforgrades to be available. “I am a systems person.Alotoftimehadtobespent on building good systems, with morestilltobedone.”

While many are deeply concerned about whether the scholarwillbejoiningthepolitical stage,Dr Mohamedsaidshehasno such intentions and never had any “I have a very strong personal (Continuedonpage44)

Enforce laws to protect victims of domestic violence – WIN

The government of Guyana was on Friday urged to enforce the country's laws and support systems with the aim of arresting domestic violence.

T h e We I n v e s t i n Nationhood (WIN) party in a s t a t e m e n t o n F r i d a y cautioned that with the upsurge of domestic violence families are being torn apart.

T h e c o u n t r y ' s m a i n oppositionpartysaidthereare growing concerns about domestic violence escalating intomurder

TheWINpartyreferenced four cases that occurred between January 1 and February25,2026.

Hugh reportedly wielded a cutlass and pushed her sister down.

“My sister does tell me how this man does do this thing all the time. When she's in the backdam he does slap she, choke she up and all kind of thing. I ask my sister, 'so why you don't leave he? Just leave him alone and see how he would make it out with them children,'” Perlincia said.

Since she left school, that'showlongshewithhim,” thesisteradded.

Despite her pleas for Caslene to leave Hugh, her sister expressed fear of leaving their children with him.

Perlincia said she had evenwarnedhersisterthatthe abuse could eventually turn deadly “She tell me one day they going in the backdam, the mining area. I used to tell she, 'sister you see how he does treat you right here at home, much less in the backdam, he might kill you,'”

“On March 8th, a day the world sets aside to celebrate women, another life was taken. Caslene Toney, a 39year-old mother of six, was killed, leaving behind children as young as three years old We have to ask ourselves: where are we heading as a society?” the statementsaid. T

n Mohamed, reminded that Guyana has laws to protect and systems in place to support woman while urging that “they must be enforced earlierandmoreeffectivelyso situations like these are addressed before families are tornapart.”

Further,thestatementsaid citizens must be always protectedbythelaw

Last week, 39-year-old Caslene Toney, a mother of six, was stabbed to death by her reputed husband at Long Creek, Soesdyke-Linden HighwayonMarch8.

Her sister, Perlincia Toney, who spoke with Kaieteur News recently, recounted the horrifying events and described Caslene as a resilient woman who enduredyearsofabuse.

Perlincia explained that her sister had been in the abusive relationship for over 20 years, only recently opening about her suffering. She revealed that she had reported incidents to the police, including an altercation last month when her reputed husband Morris

shesaid.

Earlier this month, WIN representative Dr. Andre Lewis bemoaned the country's spate of domestic violence noting that the numbers are alarming and warrant stronger preventative measures aimed at protecting thevulnerable.

Meanwhile, on March 1, 2026 Kaieteur News reported Dr Lewis, a Member of Parliament, referencing statistics provided by the Crime Chief that indicated domestic violence murders doubled in 2025 with an increaseof13in2024to26in 2025.

“In just two months of 2026 several more domestic related killings have already been reported This shows thatviolenceisnotdecreasing butthereisshifttowardsmore violence in the home,” he said.

Dr Lewis said while the country's laws address the matter there seems to be a challenge relative to its implementation.

“And we understand the cultural context of why it is difficult for implementing the (Continued on page 44)

‘UG Got 90% of Me’

From page 42 aversiontopartisanpolitics.“

She said she received numerous phone calls from people who were curious to know whether she was ill or plans to team up with a politician given her decision not to reapply for the position.

The Vice Chancellor, however, clarified that she had two terms asVC, the longest tenure of aVice Chancellor at UG for at least 20 years. “I don't know why a person cannot wish to returntotheirfirstloveinpeace”.Shesmiles,“Itriedtobalance myintellectualpassionswiththeworkofahigh-levelmanager Itcannotwork;it'stimetoconnecttootherthings.Sheplansto complete several books that she started working on years ago and get back to other things that she neglected such as her nurturingworkintheTheatre,teachingandresearch.

Moreover, Dr Mohamed is thinking of creating an InstituteforFuturistStrategy,ResearchandPolicy “Oneofthe thingsthatIthinkthatIreallywanttodoissetupaninstitutefor futurists, research and policy, I think not only for institutions butcompanies,perhapstheregion.Thechangesintechnology, geo-politics, environment, their application, implications for human functionality, the changes in society, the changes in workforce, in mentality and attitudes, all of those things somebody or some set of people have to make sense of those things and they have to make sense of them fast enough so that weareabletonotonlyberesilienttothesechangesbuttoadapt and leverage what we really have at this point for the best humanoutcomes.”

5th form students to access...

Frompage8

that this collaborative effort reflects the Government's commitmenttoequippingbothstudentsandworkforcewiththe moderndigitaltoolsnecessaryforsuccessinarapidlyevolving nation.

In a separate post, Minister Walrond noted that the discussions focused on ensuring the system is inclusive and accessible, particularly for users with lower literacy levels, while also addressing stakeholder representation and key operationalrequirementsforimplementation.

This initiative, the minister stated, will establish a centralised, transparent digital record linking training and examination outcomes to national identification and biometric systems, thereby strengthening accountability, efficiency, and integrityacrosstheprocess.

TheinitiativefollowsanannouncementbyPresidentIrfaan Ali that all vital examinations will be administered through the DigitalSchoolplatform.

Enforce laws to protect...

From page 43 laws. In many cases there are signs, there are prior threats or repeated abuse yet there is no clear explanation of what we have been doing after we have all this data on domestic violence, what we intend to use it for or what system we plantoputinplacetocounter someofwhatweareseeingin society,”herelated.

The WIN MP noted too that there are several unreported cases due to fear offurtherabuse.

“…and for many people they stay in those situations because they are afraid, because they are financially dependent, because they are intimidated,”headded.

TheWINMPsaidthatthe new domestic violence and sexual offences unit must be properly resourced across the country and monitoring must be heightened to ensure there are fewer breaches of protectionorders.

“Butweindeedneedtodo is move from a system from where we react, to a system where we are more proactive in acknowledging that these are the issues that exist and this is how we should move forward with them in a sense of accountability but also consider that it is a sense of urgencybecausethenumbers are quite alarming as I say,” Dr Lewissaid.

Dr Lewis suggested that the government needs to employ systems that monitors reports. “We can't just issue an order, (and) take a report but we have to make sure that we are taking notes of when the protection orders are not followed so that we have that information in place,”hesaid. He also suggested that, “We need to make sure that we are putting better system to protect the vulnerable in the situation There should always be a quarterly publicly reporting on domestic violence data. Not revealingthenamesandallof that but let us understand what is happening in regard to reinforcement and what is notworkingsothatwecango back to the drawing board and revisit and make changes aswegoon.”

Understanding,PreventingandManagingChronic

KidneyDisease(CKD)onWorldKidneyDay

By Dr Wang Han (The 21st China Medical Team)

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a persistent and progressive chronic illness, knownasthe“silentkiller”—ithasalmostno obvious symptoms in the early stages, and kidney function gradually deteriorates unnoticed.

By the time obvious discomfort such as fatigue, swelling, or abnormal urination appears, the disease has often progressed to a moderateoradvancedstage.

The kidneys are the body’s natural filters, mainly responsible for removing waste from the blood, regulating blood pressure, balancing electrolytes in the body, helping produce red blood cells, and maintaining bone health. When CKD occurs, the filtering function of the kidneys gradually declines, andwasteaccumulatesinthebody,leadingto a series of complications such as high blood pressure,anemia,andfragilebones.Insevere cases, it can lead to kidney failure, where patients must rely on dialysis or kidney transplantationtosustainlife.

The occurrence of CKD is closely related to various factors First, diabetes and hypertension are the main causes. These two diseases are relatively common in Guyana,

andifnotwellcontrolledforalongtime,they will continuously damage the kidneys Secondly,excessiveintakeofhigh-saltfoods, sugary drinks, and lack of a reasonable diet will increase the burden on the kidneys. In addition, some people have insufficient awareness of chronic diseases and ignore regular physical examinations, often discovering kidney problems only when severe symptoms appear, missing the best opportunityforintervention.

Preventing and managing CKD is not complicated for people, and early screening is the core key to achieving early detection and early intervention, which can effectively avoid the progression of the disease to an irreversiblestage.

Specific measures can be divided into thefollowingaspects:

I. Emphasize great importance to early screening: It is recommended that all Guyanese people, especially high-risk groups, take regular early screening seriously High-risk groups include patients withdiabetesandhypertension,peoplewitha family history of kidney disease, and those who often take drugs that may damage the kidneys. The core screening items include urine routine and kidney function tests, such as serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen tests

andkidneyultrasound.Thesetestsaresimple to operateand can quickly detectsubtle signs ofearlykidneydamage,providingabasisfor timelyintervention.

II. Develop a healthy diet habit: Maintain a low-salt and low-sugar diet in daily life, reduce the intake of processed foods, pickled foods and sugary drinks, which can effectively reduce the metabolic burden on the kidneys. At the same time, increase the intake of vegetables, fruits and whole grains, which are rich in vitamins and dietary fiber, helpingtomaintainthenormalfunctionofthe kidneysandimprovethebody’sresistance.

III. Strictly control basic diseases: For patients with diabetes and hypertension, which are the main causes of CKD, it is necessary to actively control blood sugar and blood pressure within the normal range. Adhere to the treatment plan prescribed by doctors, monitor blood sugar and blood pressureregularly

IV Insistonhealthylivinghabits:Adhere to moderate physical exercise, such as walking, jogging and other gentle sports, whichcanpromotebloodcirculationandhelp maintainthenormalmetabolicfunctionofthe body Quit smoking and limit alcohol, becausesmokingandexcessivedrinkingwill damage the blood vessels of the kidneys. In

addition, avoid the abuse of nephrotoxic drugs, and take any drugs under the guidance of doctors to prevent drug-induced kidney damage.

V Strengthen health awareness: Through the combination of regular early screening andscientificdailyhealthmanagement,itcan effectively delay the deterioration of kidney function, protect kidney health, and reduce theburdenonthemselvesandtheirfamilies.

March 12, 2026, marked the 21st World Kidney Day This year’s theme was “Kidney Health forAll–Caring for People, Protecting thePlanet”.

Early screening, early detection, timely intervention, safeguard kidney function. On WorldKidneyDay,let’stakeactiontogether!

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LAND FOR SALE

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BUSSERVICE

Easter weekend trip to Suriname,call Matthew Bus Service&Tourforinfo6392663/673-2348/6896661.Leaving2ndApril.

BarberRonaldoDunn,aworkethicexemplar

From page 27

technicalarea,hisfirstpublic station was a prime spot at MainandCharlesStreet,New Amsterdam, which was the launchingpadofhiscareeras a barber Throughendurance, experience accumulated, and hundreds of hours of painstaking research, the barber has aced his craft to the point wherehehasbeendeservedly referenced among the most prominent of barbers in the townofNewAmsterdam.

These credentials are responsibleforthedailyflowof clients, both first-timers and faithfuls/regulars.Despitehis expertise and success, there is no complacency

He remains humble and receptive to learning, and would allocate personal time to further research on how to advancehisskillsandprovide services par excellence to thosewhoconfideinhisabilitytopolishtheirappearance.

Were he to miss the opportunity to become a barber, his nearest option was being a fireman within the Guyana FireService(GFS),andstrong consideration was given to retaining another technical skill.

“My next alternative if barbering didn’t work out, I would’ve either go and join Fire Station, or I would’ve learnedatrade....”

TESTING THE WATERS

For years he shared that CharlesPlacevenuewithseveral other young but truly skillfulbarbers,withwhomhe

INSPIRE

From page 39 but by the ability to help others rise.

SamanthaM.Holder–Barbados

For Samantha M. Holder, leadershipisrootedinconnection and service. With more than twenty years of professional experience spanning human resources and events coordination, she has dedicatedhercareertosupporting people and creating environments where individuals feel valued and empowered.

Known for her generosity ofspirit,Samanthahasvolunteered in numerous professional and community initiatives, consistently offering mentorship, encouragement, and guidance to those around her

Herpassionliesinhelping others grow, whether through coaching,listening,orsimply creating spaces where people feel seen and supported. Her work reflects a deep commitment to building meaningful relationships and uplifting communities.

ShafaqueAli–India

Attheintersectionoffashion,culture,andglobalpolicy stands Shafaque Ali, a designer and entrepreneur redefining how traditional craftsmanshipcanthriveinmodern

weaved bona fide friendships. Recently, however, he acquired his individual stationandrelocatedtoSt.Ann’s Street, New Amsterdam, branding his shop ‘Dunn’s Barbershop&Salon’.Forhim, owning one’s own business establishment affords a profound sense of satisfaction. The present location is furnishedwithtopnotchinterior, creating aesthetics that sees his barbershop now being touted as one of, if not the mostexquisiteofallsuchentities in the town.

As the capital of Region Six,NewAmsterdamisamajorcommercialzone,notlacking much as well in the technicalarena.

In a fiercely competitive field abundant with career barbers,anewandupcoming barber with limited exposure andexperiencewouldfeelthe brunt. This reality did not bypass him, but became his bed companion many nights back then as he sighed and laidhimselfout,frustrated...

“When I now got into the work,Iusedtogotothebank and pay my rent and stuff. Some days you ain’t cut no hair. I used to take it on lil. Tried to discourage, but you just got to keep strong and keep your head up and focus on your aim and where you came from. It used to get to my head sometimes, but I usedtoalwayssaythat’show you’ll know when there are better days ahead. I see a day like today coming, from the

starting,”heaffirmed. He detailed his positive navigation of obstacles strewn along his path.

“Sometimes I would go work and I would see things infrontthedoor,likelimeand some weird stuff. Then challenges like people trying to talk you down, or people would try to tell you things that other people say. Sometimes it don’t be true. Some people come and try to break your mind towards what you’re doing. It’s all on you tobestrongandknowtheaim that you came for in being a betterpersonintheworkthat you’re doing...”

PARADIGM SHIFT

Whereas in an earlier phase of his life he handled earnings recklessly and lavishly,theyoungbarberisnow prudent with his financial management and much more lazer-focusandgoal-oriented. Whereas he once submitted to alcoholic lust, that indulgencenolongerformspartof hislife.Morethanforhimself, he seeks to inspire those aroundhimtocommittopersonaldiscipline.Andwhereas it proved challenging and frustratingatthebeginningof thejourney,Dunnrelatedthat the job is now very yielding, “very beneficial.” This change in fortune could have only materialized after personal re-evaluation, and a positive realignment of his goals.

“I notice I used to spend a lot of money on the alcohol

and stuff, and I used to end upgoinginmysavingstoget myworkstarted,asintherent part. I ended up stop drinkingsoIcanfocusonmywork mostly.”

Dunn’s discipline to his profession is as sharp as the pristine lineup on foreheads and temples. His dedication is as neat as the drop fades he so meticulously designs. Hispunctualityandworkethics are worn about him just as the working cape. Moreover,thesearetraitsforwhich clientsandpeerscangivetestimony

LASTING IMPACT

His hobbies are, unsurprisingly,readingupon everything barber-related, and tuning into such contents on social platforms to tracenewmethods,learnnew styles,anddiscoverproducts and essentials, all of which are geared towards broadening his service capacity. Beyond the blades and buzz of the machines, Dunn enjoys travelling and going on adventures.

He also engages customers in deep conversation on philosophy,owingtohislove for sharing advice. We all retain imperfections, and he is no exception. Be that so, he diligently strivestofashionhislifestyle in such a manner so that he couldbehailedasanexample to many, and that he would have made a lasting impact when, “it’s all said and...Dunn.”

YOU 2026 – Empowerment through...

globalmarkets.

As the founder of SHAFAQUE, she collaborates directly with artisan communities across India, translating centuries old craftsmanshipintocontemporary designs that reach internationalaudiences.Herwork celebrates cultural heritage while building sustainable economic models that empowerartisancommunities.

Educated at Polimoda in Florenceandwithexperience at Hugo Boss in New York, Shafaque brings both artistic vision and global business expertisetothefashionindustry. She also serves as Youth SpokespersonforIndiatothe UnitedNationsandtheWorld Intellectual Property Organization, advocating for inclusive systems that protect culturalknowledgewhilefostering economic opportunity

KeaModise-Moloto –SouthAfrica Entrepreneur, publisher, and community builder Kea Modise-Moloto has dedicated her work to empowering women to lead boldly while remaining anchored in their values.

As founder of the Christian Women Business Network,shehascreatedagrowing ecosystem where women

in business and professional careers connect, collaborate, andleadwithoutcompromisingtheirfaith.

ThroughAriseMagazine, Keaamplifiespurposedriven brands and women led enterprises,helpingthemgainvisibilityinaworldwherebeing seen often shapes opportunity. Her commitment to empowerment extends beyond business through Bontlebame NPO, where she supports women and teenage girlsinruralcommunities.

LeahSmith–Guyana Aviation and logistics executive Leah Smith brings a powerful perspective to leadership rooted in accountability, precision, and strategic execution.Workinginahighly regulated industry environment, she has built a reputationformanagingcomplexoperationswhiledrivingorganizational growth and operationalexcellence.

Beyond her professional achievements,Leahisdeeply passionateaboutempowering women and young people. She advocates for creating spaces where emerging leaderscangrowwithconfidence, discipline, and purpose.

One of the most distinctive aspects of Inspire You is that participation goes be-

yond simply attending a virtual event. There is no monetary registration fee. Instead, participants secure their seat by performing anintentionalactofkindness for another woman or girl. Thatactofkindnessbecomes theentrancefee.Whenregistering, participants share the act of kindness they have committed to, ensuring that the ripple of impact begins even before the event starts.

AGlobalVirtualExperience

This year’s event will reach audiences across the Caribbean and beyond through multiple media platforms.INSPIREYOU2026will be streamed on Facebook, OMG Media, Caribbean Broadcasting Network, and Ignite TV, allowing viewers across different regions to join the conversations.

TheeventtakesplacevirtuallyonMarch21andMarch 22, bringing together voices fromaroundtheworldtoshare perspectives on leadership, empowerment,resilience,and purposefulliving. Thosewhowishtoparticipate can register at: https:// forms.gle/ VbZmcGCCVLUqtfvcA For more information, contact 684 8129.Admission isfree.

Drowned siblings Jadon and Tiana DeCourte laid to rest

From page 15

Home, where a large crowd had assembled longbeforetheserviceofficiallybegan.

From there, the mourners moved to the Melanie Ball Field, located opposite the trench where the children lost their lives, a placefilledwithmemoriesoftheirchildhood.

Duringtheviewing,thechildren’smother Tesha DeCourte appeared visibly broken and distraught. Overcome with emotion, she broke down in tears beside her daughter’s casket, at one point holdingTiana’s hand and strugglingtoletgo.

Meanwhile, their father Jason DeCourte moved between both caskets, appearing stunned and still grappling with the reality of hischildren’spassing.

Tiana’s twin sister,Tia, remained close to her sister’s casket throughout the viewing, quietlymourningbesideher

As members of the public passed by the caskets to pay their respects, many wept openly and shared words of comfort with the grievingfamily Thepublicviewinglastedfor anhour,from12:30hrsto13:30hrs.

Following the viewing, the funeral procession moved to the Bethel Wesleyan Churchwheretheofficialfuneralservicewas held.

By the time the procession arrived, the crowd had grown significantly, filling both theinsideandoutsideofthechurch.

Several members of the parliamentary opposition attended the service to offer

Mourners, relatives and friends gathered to pay their final respects to Jadon and Tiana DeCourte.

condolences to the family, including Aubrey Norton, leader of the A Partnership for NationalUnity

In a brief tribute, Norton reflected on the tragicloss.

“Children are the gems of the world. We lost two gems and I am saddened by it. We needtobeverycareful,”hesaid.

Also present were Members of ParliamentSherodDuncan,VinceroyJordan, David Hinds, Nema Flue-Bess and Dexter Todd, along with former Member of ParliamentSimonaBroomes.

No government officials were present at theservice.

Throughout the funeral, several tributes were delivered in honour of the siblings, including heartfelt poems, songs and personal reflections from those who knew them.

One musical tribute included the song

GreatestLoveofAllbyWhitneyHouston.

A student speaking on behalf of Paradise Primary School shared the grief felt by teachersandstudentsfollowingtheloss.

“Speaking on behalf of Miss Lams of ParadisePrimary,Iampayingmylastrespect for Jadon and Tiana, my fellow students. ParadisePrimarySchoolwillnotbethesame without Jadon and Tiana. Jadon and Tiana will dearly be missed by Miss Lam and the children of Paradise Primary We will always love you and you will be missed by us. May theirsoulsrestinpeace,”thestudentsaid.

A close family friend, Roy Stewart, also recalledhislastinteractionwiththechildren.

“These children were close friends to my kids. They played in our yard. That day it shook me to the core of my existence. Jadon was my boy. I was at a shop and Jadon came out to me saying, ‘Hey brother Roy.’I asked him how he was doing and that was the last I

spoketohim,”hesaid.

During the service, Jadon was remembered as a brave and respectful boy who had strong values instilled in him from a young age, values that many said were reflectedinhisattempttosavehissister

Speakers also comforted the children’s mother, reminding her that she had raised her childrenwithloveandcare.

Throughout the tributes, Tesha DeCourte sat quietly, often appearing numb with grief while holding her daughter Tia close to her side.

The atmosphere in the church was filled with deep sorrow as mourners wept openly duringthefinalprayers.

Following the service, the hearses departedthechurchandmadetheirwaytothe Bachelor’s Adventure Burial Ground, where thesiblingswerelaidtorest.

At the graveside, Tiana’s pink casket and Jadon’s blue casket were gently placed side by side into their tomb, bringing a solemn close to lives that had touched the hearts of theircommunityandthenation.

Tiana would have celebrated her ninth birthday on March 21, while Jadon had celebrated his birthday earlier this year in January

Family members described the children as loving, helpful and inseparable, two siblings whose bond in life remained evident even in the tragedy that ultimately took them both.

Trump urges UK and other nations to send ships to Strait of Hormuz

BBC - The president’s message came a week after he said he “couldn’t care less” whether allies could do more to assist the U.S. war effort

Donald Trump has urged the UK and other nations to sendwarshipstotheStraitof Hormuz to help secure the key shipping route out of the MiddleEast.

The U.S. president said he hoped China, France, Japan and South Korea would also send ships to the passage, where a number of tankers are said to have been attacked since the U.S. and Israel mounted their war againstIranafortnightago.

Responding to Trump’s comments, the UK Ministry of Defence said it was discussing “a range of optionstoensurethesecurity of shipping in the region” withallies.

Tehran has said it will keep blocking the strait - the world’s busiest oil shipping

channelthroughwhichabout 20% of world oil supplies usuallypass.

Its effective closure, as well as strikes on shipping and energy infrastructure since the war started, has led to a huge rise in global oil prices.

TrumpwroteonhisTruth Social platform on Saturday that “many countries” would be sending warships in conjunction with the U.S. to help keep the strait “open andsafe”.

He claimed “100% of Iran’s military capability” had already been destroyed, but that Tehran could still “send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a closerange missile somewhere along,orin,thiswaterway”.

“Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint will send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a

threat by a nation that has beentotallydecapitated.”

He added: “In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!”

Trump repeated his appeal in a post later on Saturday - extending it to all “the Countries of the World that receive Oil through the HormuzStrait”-andsaidthe U.S.wouldprovide“alot”of support to those who participated.

The president has separately threatened to target Iran’s vital oil infrastructure on Kharg Island if its leadership were to “interfere” with ships seeking to pass through the StraitofHormuz.

He said the U.S. had “obliterated”military targets

on the small island off Iran’s coast on Friday, calling it “one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history oftheMiddleEast”.

Iran’s military said oil and energy infrastructure belonging to firms working with the U S would “immediately be destroyed” should the island’s oil infrastructurebeattacked.

Tehranhasbeenstepping up such attacks on energy

Sixteen ships are reported to have been attacked in the strait since the war began. (Reuters)

targets in the Gulf, which have become a key element of its response to U.S. and Israeli strikes. It warned on Thursday that any tanker bound for the U.S., Israel or its partners was a legitimate target.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said in its latest update on 12 March that 16 ships were reported to have been attacked in and around the

strait since the war began on 28February

Currently, not even the U S Navy is escorting tankers through the narrow shippinglane.

Trump’s message came a week after he said the U.S. did not need the UK to send aircraft carriers to the region and accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of seeking to“joinwarsafterwe’ve

Continued on page 49

Trump urges UK and other nations to send...

From page 48 already won”. He also told the BBC’s U.S. partner CBS that he “couldn’t care less” whether allies could do more toassistwiththewar,adding: “It’s a little bit late to be sending ships, right? A little bitlate.”

He had already criticised Sir Keir for not joining the initial strikes on Iran and refusing at first to allow the U.S. to use UK bases for its joint offensive with Israelcalling him “no Winston Churchill”.

The prime minister later approved “defensive” U.S. action on Iranian missile sites from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean,

saying Iran’s response had becomeathreattoBritain.

The UK’s first and only warship set to be present in the region - the Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragondeparted for Cyprus on Tuesday,whereitwillbolster RAF Akrotiri after it was hit bydronestrikes.

The Royal Navy used to keep minesweepers based in Bahrain, but no longer has that capability after it withdrewHMSMiddleton.

Ministers have insisted the UK built up an RAF presence in the region before the conflict, with the aim of protecting British military personnel.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said on

Saturday that Sir Keir must “rule out deploying British ships just because Trump tellshimto”.

“Last week, Trump said he didn’t need Britain’s help because he’d already won this war So we mustn’t let him push the UK around now Any decision on the deployment of our armed forces should be made in the UK’s national interest and subject to a vote in Parliament.”

France’s President

Emmanuel Macron has previously said he was willing to send warships to the Gulf as “purely an escort mission” - but only once the most “intense phase of the conflict”hadended.

Home Affairs Ministry launched Online Tint Waiver Application System

The Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the Guyana Police Force, has launched the Online Tint Waiver Application System, providing a digital platform for individuals, companies, and organisations to apply for tint exemptions under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Tint) Regulations 2026.In a statement on Friday,theministrysaidthattheportalallows applicants to submit requests, upload required documents, track application status, anddownloadapprovedwaiversonlineat: https://tint.moha.gov.gy Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge

Walrond stated that the system strengthens transparency and improves public access to serviceswhilesupportingenforcementofthe national tint regulations.“Under the new regulations, the minimum allowable Visible LightTransmission(VLT)levelsare25%for front side windows and 20% for rear side windows and the rear windscreen, with no tint permitted on the front windscreen except for a 6-inch visor strip.”The amnesty period ends on March 31, 2026, after which the Guyana Police Force will fully enforce the regulations. Non-compliance may result in a G$30,000fine.