with U.S. Secretary of State Marco
on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government being held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
Former President David Granger on Tuesday expressed sadness on the death of Dr Rupert RabindranauthRoopnaraine. Dr Roopnaraine, who served as Minister of EducationandPublicService under the APNU+AFC government,diedattheageof 83onFebruary23,2026
In a statement Granger said, “I am saddened at the death of Dr Rupert Rabindranauth Roopnaraine
…Extolled for his political activism for over five decades, Dr Roopnaraine’s impressiveintellectualtalent haslongdistinguishedhimas ascholar,thinkerandwriter, winning the Guyana Scholarship and embarking on studies at the University of Cambridge and an early teaching career at the UniversityofGuyana.”
Former President Granger saidthatDr Roopnarainewas acknowledged as one of the Working People’s Alliance’s (WPA)mostinfluentialleaders of the ‘civil rebellion’
Eventually,hewaselectedasa Member of the National Assemblyin1995and,again, in2012afterAPartnershipfor NationalUnitywasestablished inJune2011andinMay2015
“Dr Roopnaraine was an energetic, enthusiastic and entertaining speaker for APNU in the campaigns for General and Regional Elections in 2011 and 2015 and as an erudite debater in the National Assembly. Following the formation of the APNU+AFC Coalition administration in 2015, he served first as Minister of Education – overseeing Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations in 2016 and, subsequently, as Minister of the Public Service, the creation of the Bertram Collins College of thePublicService,”hesaid
Granger said Dr Roopnaraine was committed totheGuyana’sculture,social cohesion and political cooperation – values which transcendeddumbdogmaand blindpartyloyalty
Dr Roopnarainewasborn in1943inKitty,Georgetown, Guyana He won a scholarship to Queen’s College in 1954 where he excelledincricket,captaining the team and represented DemeraraintheInter-County CricketFinals In1962hewas awarded a Guyana scholarship to attend the University of Cambridge where he studied Modern Languagesandwasawardeda Cambridge ‘Blue’ for representingtheUniversityin English county cricket. In 1970 he was awarded a scholarship to Cornell University, NewYork, where he obtained an MAand PhD in Comparative Literature. From 1966-1996, he has worked as a university lecturer in the UK, Canada, the USA and at the UniversityofGuyana. In a statement the WPA said it is joining the rest of
Guyana, the Caribbean, and progressives of the wider worldinmourningthelossof Roopnaraine Describing him as a towering figure in Guyana’s post-colonial struggle for bread, justice, and freedom, WPA said Dr Roopnarainehascarvedouta specialplaceinourcountry’s politics.
“WPA remembers Bro Rupert as a revolutionary, an educator, and an artist who broughttogetherthedifferent strandsofhisworkinalifeof struggleforthebettermentof his country, society, and region Hewasunflinchingin hisbeliefthatabetterworldis always possible. Blending Marxist thought with a Caribbean outlook, his was a passionatevoiceofresistance, commitment, and reason at a timeofdisquietanddiscord”
According to the WPA, Dr Roopnaraine embodied t h e p r i n c i p l e o f multiracialism in a Guyana that has been haunted by racial division “He transcended race. He was as comfortable among African Guyanese as he was among Indian and Amerindian Guyanese. For him, Guyana is at its best when all its ethnicgroupswork,struggle, andtriumphtogether.”
The party added: “We alsorememberBroRupertas the ultimate peacemaker He always sought to reach across the partisan divide—always guided by the interest of the collective people and the country at large In this regard, he workedtirelesslyforaunited frontwiththePPPduringthe 1970s and 1980s. He was instrumentalintheformation of the multi-party Patriotic Coalition for Democracy, which was instrumental in heralding the return to electoralnormalcyin1992.”
Forhispart,PresidentDr Irfaan Ali in tribute to Dr Roopnaraine said, “Guyana has lost a public figure of conscience While we sat on differentsidesofthepolitical aisle, I have always regarded Dr Roopnaraineasbelonging tothatrarefellowshipofmen who wed thought to action and principle to sacrifice, especially during the testing yearsoftheanti-dictatorship struggle. When the air itself seemed heavy with fear, he stood upright He faced persecution not with bitterness, but with resolve. Alongside his comrade and friend, the late Walter Rodney,hehelpedtokindlea flameofresistance.”
President Irfaan Ali
PresidentIrfaanAliisslatedtomeetwith USPresidentDonaldTrumponissuesrelated to regional security and other challenges affectingtheCaribbeaninMiamionMarch7.
President Ali made the disclosure to journalists following his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on the sidelines of the 50th regular meeting of the conference of CARICOM Heads of Government in St Kitts and Nevis on
Wednesday
TheGuyaneseHeadofStaterevealedthat the US has been working with Guyana on a numberofissuesincludingregionalsecurity
“WehavebeenworkingwiththeUSona number of issues, one of which is regional security So,overthelastcoupleofyears,we have been engaging on strengthening our bilateralrelationshipintermsofsecurity,and theUSAdministrationishavingameetingon security matters as convened by President TrumpinMiamiandyes,Ihavebeeninvited
ExxonMobilCorporation’srecentdisclosure toshareholdersaboutgrowthinitsoilreserves, including volumes in Guyana, has stirred discussionoverthecountry’sactualpetroleum reservesandtransparencyinreporting
In its 2025 Annual Report, ExxonMobil noted that worldwide additions to prove reserves included 21 billion oil-equivalent barrels(OEB)fromextensionsanddiscoveries “primarily in the United States and Guyana” The report also highlighted that at the end of 2025, approximately 7 billion OEB of the company’sprovedreserveswereclassifiedas provedundeveloped volumesexpectedtobe recovered from new wells or existing wells requiringsignificantinvestment
The shareholder report raised questions locally because no similar public announcement had been made in Guyana. This newspaper has highlighted that while ExxonMobil reported reserve growth to investors, the government and the company had not issued equivalent updates for the Guyanese public, reigniting debates over transparencyandthetruesizeofthecountry’s reserves.
Former Minister of Finance Winston Jordan has previously expressed skepticism overofficialfigures HearguedthatGuyana’s oil reserves could be far higher than the 11 billionbarrelscurrentlyestimated,suggesting thatthecountrymayhaveenoughoiltosustain extraction for 30–50 years, potentially generatingsignificantrevenuesforthenation
However, the Ministry of Natural Resourcesinrespondingtoanarticlebythis newspaperonExxon’sreporttoshareholders has insisted that Guyana’s proved reserves remain at approximately 11 billion barrels consistent with previous official communications The ministry also cautioned against misinterpretation of ExxonMobil’sshareholderdisclosures.
“We also wish to note that ExxonMobil’s reportingtoshareholdersispreparedunderthe U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) framework, which applies a strict definitionof“provedreserves” Under SEC rules, proved reserves are quantities that can be demonstrated, with reasonable certainty, to be commercially recoverable under defined economic conditionsandoperatingassumptions Thisis not the same as a country’s fully discovered resource base and it does not include
contingentresourcesorprospectiveresources that remain subject to appraisal, investment decisions, and development sequencing,” the ministrystated
Further, the ministry said SEC proved reserves are highly sensitive to prescribed price and cost assumptions, project maturity and technical revisions According to the ministry,achangeinSECprovedreservescan occur due to development timing, cost structure, or revisions in engineering and commercial assumptions, without implying that information has been concealed or that “newreserves”haveemergedsuddenly
“Theconsolidatedstatementreferencedin the article, indicating additions to proved reserves, including 21 billion oil-equivalent barrels(OEB)fromextensionsanddiscoveries “primarilyintheUnitedStatesandGuyana”,isa portfolio-level summary across ExxonMobil’s globaloperations Itisnotacountry-by-country or field-by-field statement quantifying incremental proved reserves attributable to Guyana Presenting that single consolidated figure as a definitive “Guyana reserves increase”isinaccurate,”thestatementread
Additionally, the ministry said ExxonMobil’s reserves reporting includes volumes from production sharing and other non-concessionary agreements based on the company’s economic interest under the contract.
“Under these fiscal arrangements, reported reserves volumes may vary with priceandcostdynamicsbecauseentitlement isshapedbycostrecoveryandprofit-sharing mechanics. This further underscores why SEC proved reserves figures should not be simplistically interpreted as a direct statementofGuyana’snationalreserves.”
The ministry said Guyana’s petroleum governance framework requires structured reporting and oversight across exploration, appraisal, development, production, and storage operations. “The State’s engagement with operator activity and development progression is continuous and grounded in statutory and contractual requirements The narrative that reserves information is inherently “kept quiet” from the State is therefore incorrect The Ministry of Natural Resources remains committed to responsible petroleum management, transparent public communication, and evidence-based economicstewardship,”thestatementsaid
to the meeting,” Ali told reporters on the sidelinesofthemeeting.
Hecontinued“It’sameetingdealingwith securitymatters.Itsdealingwithsomeofthe challenges in the region this is an engagementthathasbeenongoing.”
Questioned on how he feels about Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago being the only CARICOM countries invited to attend themeetingwithTrump,Alisaidhecouldnot speak to who will be there but “Guyana will beattending.”
Commenting briefly on the ongoing tension between Guyana and Venezuela, President Ali echoed sentiments of other CARICOMheadsofstate.
He said “our duty as leaders is to ensure
that we work hard in the interest of our country, in the interest of our citizens and in theinterestoftheregionandwehaveinherent responsibilitytosupporteachotherwhenever we come under threat from forces like Venezuela.”
Meanwhile,Aliwelcomedthesupportof TrinidadandTobagoandthewordsofPrime MinisterKamalawhoreinforcedhersupport for Guyana in the face of Venezuela’s aggression.HeassertedtoothatGuyanawill not sit by if any of its state or territorial integrityisthreatened.
‘Wehavearesponsibilitytosupporteach thattheresponsibilityofthecharter.”
PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.
Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456
Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS
Tel:225-8465,225-8491. Fax:225-8473,226-8210
Senior personnel from ExxonMobil have long insisted thatthecompanyisgenuinepartneralongsideGuyana. One that can be trusted, because it nurtures a healthy, mutually respected, partnership. It is a game oil companies play globally,whilereapinghugeprofitsandmakingsuckersof those who believe their commercials. Guyana is a prime example,aterribleone,ofacountryplayedforafool,with ExxonMobil then completing the job by wrapping its tentacles tightly around leaders, governments, the legislature,andcitizens.
There is a one-sided contract, with massive profits for ExxonMobil,andpittancesforGuyana Theexistinglawsof Guyana cannot touch ExxonMobil, and Guyana’s parliament cannotmakeanynewlawsthattampersinanywaywiththat obscenitythat’scalledanoilcontract ButExxonMobil’speople persist with the myth that the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement that they signed with this country’sAPNU+AFC Coalitiongovernmentisafairone,withtrustedpeopleontheir sideofthetable ThebitterrealityisprosperityforExxonMobil from Guyana’s oil, and impoverishment for Guyanese from whattheyown.
AuditorsselectedbytheGuyanaGovernmentwereallowed to view only what ExxonMobil was comfortable with them seeing. Whatever the company had to hide was declared offlimits,withauditorsblockedfromcheckingwhatwasgoingon atoffshoreoperations Still,ExxonMobil’sseniormanagerssay withoutanylossoffacethattheycanbetrusted,thatGuyana’s interestsarealwaysparamount AnauditthathadUS$214Min findings has been an ongoing joke, with ExxonMobil not yieldinganinch,sothatalongoutstandingmatterbetweentwo partners,withtheexactsameobjectives,couldbeamicablyput torest Apartnerorastalkeralwaysonthehuntforasucker, that’sourquestion,that’sourposition Thereisanotheraspectin thatsameUS$214MIHSMarkit(ofBritishorigins)reportthatis stillamystery HowdidthatUS$214Minauditfindingsplunge fromtheretothenegligiblebottomofUS$3M? Whohadahand in that, and which side of the partnership thought of that enormousmultimilliondollarreductioninfindings,influenced it, and almost got away with it? Unless there is a Guyanese whistleblower of standing and credibility that US$211M deductionnegotiatedwillprobablyremainasecretaslongas the oil lasts. Now, there is a new development that tests the substanceoftheGuyana-ExxonMobilpartnership Itwasnota development announced in Guyana for the benefit of the Guyaneseownersofthelocaloilbonanza Itwasannouncedin the US for the inspiration and excitement of ExxonMobil’s shareholders MoreoilhasbeendiscoveredbyExxonMobilin Guyana’s Stabroek Block Is this not unbelievable, that the peoplewhotheoilwealthbelongstoareleftinthedark,whilethe people who invest in it are privy to information on new oil discoveries Again,thequestionraisesitshead,butnowwitha difference: how much can Guyanese trust not only ExxonMobil,buttheirowngovernment,tokeepthemfully informedabouttheirinheritedpatrimony?
Weatthispaperhavelongtakenthepositionthatthereisan incestuous relationship between the PPPC Government and ExxonMobil There are too many missing links, too many secrets, and too many instances of verbal dodging that made mattersworse DidExxonMobilinformthePPPCGovernment of new oil discoveries in the Stabroek Block? If it did, why didn’t the government think it necessary for that to be shared withcitizens,orwasitoperatingwithanagreed-ongagorder? And if ExxonMobil informed its shareholders without informingtheGuyanaGovernment,wheredoesthatleavethis so-calledtrustedpartnerintheeyesofeveryGuyanese?
Interestingly, what ExxonMobil disclosed in its 2025 AnnualReportwenttothelengthsoflumpingnewdiscoveries herewiththoseintheUS Thatisclevernesstakentoanother level, with revealing while still concealing After all the gyrations about ‘monetizing’ and ‘prioritizing known oil resources’and‘oilreserveestimationsareacomplexandtimeconsumingexercise,thisishowandwherenewoilfoundshows itsface Itissaidthatnotricks,noliving,butwhatisenragingis howGuyaneseendupgettingrepeatedlytricked
DEAREDITOR, The recent imagery emanating from State House—a tableau of fine diningandfloweryadulation on the 56th Anniversary of our Republic presents a jarring paradox that should alarm every tax-paying citizen of this nation. While President Irfaan Ali waxes lyrical about a partnership builton“trust,”thestructural
’s
transactional, asymmetric, and,frankly,subservient.
As we navigate the complexities of 2026, the chasm between the government’s scripted optimism and the empirical reality of our “oil-rich” statushasbecomeagulfthat no amount of vintage wine canbridge.
The most damning red flag in this purported partnership is the recent revelation that ExxonMobil disclosed significant growth inGuyana’soilreservestoits global shareholders data thatwasnotablyabsentfrom any meaningful briefing to
The
the Guyanese public. If a multinational corporation c a l c u l a t e s a n d communicates the shifting wealth of our own seabed to WallStreetwhileleavingthe sovereign owners of that resource in the dark, we are notwitnessingapartnership; we are witnessing an information hegemony Trust cannot exist in an environment of such deliberate data asymmetry By presiding over a lavish welcomeforExxon’s“super structure” while they withholdthetruescaleofour national assets, this administration isn’t merely being polite it is being complicit in its own marginalization.
There is a profound, almost poetic tragedy in hosting a corporate board meetingasthecenterpieceof Republic Day celebrations.
Republic Day is, by definition, the ultimate commemoration of selfdetermination and the breaking of colonial chains. Yet, the sight of the Chancellor of the Judiciary, theCommissionerofPolice, and the Chief of Defence
Stafflineduptobreakbread with corporate executives signals a dangerous blurring ofStatesovereignty.Whena Head of State uses the national podium to assure a private entity that their investment is “safe, sound, and protected” above all other considerations, he is essentiallyissuinga“No-Fly
Zone” against future legislative or fiscal reforms. Thisisnotthelanguageofa leaderholdingthekeystothe world’s most significant energy frontier; it is the language of a supplicant ensuringthelandlorddoesn’t disturbthetenant.
The narrative that this subservience is a tactical “kindness” intended to lure bettertermsinthefutureisa fallacy that insults the collectiveintelligenceofthe electorate. In the theater of globalextraction,kindnessis not a currency—leverage is.
P r e s i d e n t A l i ’ s “unapologetic” stance toward Exxon appears less like a sophisticated diplomatic strategy and more like a self-serving shield for a status quo that favours a small politicaland
corporate elite. By refusing to leverage our massive resources to rebalance the infamously lopsided 2016
Production Sharing Agreement, the government chooses the comfort of corporate approval over the difficult, necessary work of securingnationalequity
We are told repeatedly thatthe“ruleoflaw”applies here, but that law must also encompass the right of a people to a fair and transparent share of their ownheritage.
As it stands, the only thing“safeandprotected”in Georgetown is the profit margin of a foreign entity, while the spirit of our Republic is relegated to a footnote in a scripted dinner speech. Guyana does not need a partner that acts like an owner; it needs a leadershipthatremembersit represents the owners. The time has passed for exaltations of “trust” that only flow in one direction. Our resources are finite, but our dignity as a Republic shouldnotbe.
Respectfully, HemduttKumar
DEAREDITOR, I ask for space in your newspaper to highlight a matter of national concern involving the treatment of Guyanese workers at the Chineseowned Zijin Mining Group(AuroraGoldMines). Disturbing reports continue toemergefromtheworksite,
and the most recent revelationspointtoaserious breakdown in basic standards of health, safety, andhumandignity
Workers have shared new video evidence on February 24, 2026, with the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Azruddin Mohamed, purportedly showing flies, hair, and pieces of plastic in the meals being provided to them. Editor, this is not an isolated complaint or a minor lapse in kitchen hygiene It is a clear indicationthattheconditions under which these workers are expected to live and labour have continuously deteriorated to an unacceptable level No Guyanese citizen should ever be placed in a position
where they must choose between going hungry or consuming food that is visiblycontaminated.
T h e s e l a t e s t developments must be viewed within a broader context. Over the past year, there has been a consistent pattern of labour violations
and unsafe working environments reported
a c r o s s s e v e r a l Chineseowned companies operating in Guyana. Zijin MiningGroup(AuroraGold Mines) has been one of the most prominent examples, with national media documenting a range of issues—fromunpaidwages
and intimidation to overcrowded worksites and the absence of proper safety protocols. The Ministry of Labour itself, as reported by both the Guyana Chronicle and the Guyana Time on November 26, 2025, confirmed several of these concerns following the November 24, 2025, confrontation between workersandmanagement. What we are witnessing
now is not a new problem, butaworseningone.
Thiscontinueddisregard for the wellbeing of Guyanese workers reflects a troubling trend of Chineseowned companies operating without adequate oversight or accountability It is deeply concerning that practiceswhichwouldnever be tolerated in their own countries are being imposed on our people here. Even moretroublingisthefactthat the Government of Guyana continuestoexhibitablatant disregard for the unfair labour practices and injustices meted out to our Guyanese workforce, despite repeated warnings, documented violations, and clear evidence of mistreatment.
What makes this s i t u a t i o n f u r t h e r unacceptable is the scale of profit being extracted from our nation’s resources
According to publicly
reported finan
disclosuresissuedonAugust 26, 2025, Zijin earned over US$200 million in just the
firstsixmonthsof2025from theAuroraGoldMinealone. It is unconscionable that a company generating such a whopping revenue from Guyana’s gold reserves would subject the very workers responsible for that production to contaminated food, unsafe conditions, and inhumane treatment The contrast between their earnings and their treatment ofGuyaneseworkersisboth starkandshameful.
The PPP/C Government shouldnotbepermittingany
ess of size, nationality,orinvestment— to violate labour laws, compromise worker safety, ordegradethedignityofour citizens.TheroleoftheState istoprotectitspeople,notto turnablindeyewhileforeign corporations enrich themselvesattheexpenseof Guyanese workers’ health andwellbeing.
Editor, given the seriousness of the situation, this is a clarion call for the MinisterofLabourand (Continuedonpage06)
The recent admission by Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, a key architect of theglobalAIrevolution,that h e i s “ d e e p l y uncomfortable” with the “overnight” and accidental concentration of power in hisindustryshouldsoundan immediate alarm for the Guyanesepublic.
As we navigate our own era of rapid economic transformation, we must recognize that the AI tsunamiAmodeidescribesis not a distant concern; it is a structural shift in the global political economy that threatens to redefine sovereignty and labour for developingnations.
Amodei’sremarksonthe WTF Is podcast reveal a startling truth: a handful of labs in the U.S. and China have stumbled into more power than the industrial giantsoftheGildedAge.
In1883,railroadbarons like Cornelius Vanderbilt were powerful enough to “control time” by creating four distinct time zones to replace continental chaos, a day known as the “Day of TwoNoons.”
Today, AI labs are consolidating the power to control the very future of human intelligence and economic value, often by pure chance and “almost by accident,” according to the very man leading one of the world’s most powerful AI firms.
For Guyana, the implications are not merely
technical; they are existential. We are entering an era of “Algorithmic Feudalism,”wherethevalue of local services is
vacuumed into proprietary servers in Silicon Valley
This is already happening.
Earlier this month, the releaseof“ClaudeCowork”, a tool with specific plug-ins for finance and sales, triggered a trillion-dollar software stock selloff as investors realized that traditional service models could be rendered obsolete overnight.
Amodei’s own 20,000w o r d e s s a y, “ T h e
A d o l e s c e n c e o f Technology,” warns of a system that amasses personal fortunes into the trillions for a powerful few, granting them outsized politicalinfluence.
We see this in the $550 billionaddedtothenetworth of U.S. tech billionaires in 2025alone,andElonMusk’s trajectory toward becoming theworld’sfirsttrillionaire.
This concentration of wealth is a direct extraction from the global economy, and Guyana must act before our emerging sectors are swallowedbythiswave.
Tocounterthis,ourlocal banking system must be our firstlineofdefense.Withthe 2026 Budget allocating US100 million to the Guyana Development Bank and an initial US$200 million injection to support SMEs,wehavethecapitalto build a digital fortress. However, capital without a sovereign strategy is just a gifttoforeigntechfirms.
The Bank of Guyana must take the lead by mandating that financial dataremainswithinnational borders and by developing indigenous AI frameworks forcreditscoring.
Relying on “black box”
modelsfromtheU.S.means exporting our citizens’ data and paying a permanent “intelligence tax” to foreign billionaires.
Furthermore, as the Guyana Development Bank targets youth and women with zero-collateral loans, the Central Bank must regulate against algorithmic bias.
We cannot allow foreign data sets, which do not understand the Guyanese cultural or economic context, to decide who is “creditworthy” based on parameters designed in San Francisco.
Amodei admits that warning about these risks is not in his “commercial interest” and is “not an effective marketing strategy,”yethecontinuesto ship tools designed to r e p l a c e t h e v e r y professionals who form the backbone of our economy, from investment bankers to HRmanagers.
He compares the advancement of AI to a tsunami that is so close we can already see it on the horizon. If the builders of these systems are “deeply uncomfortable” with the power they hold, then Guyanamustbeproactivein itsreform.
Our national financial institutions, specifically the Central Bank and the State Development Bank, must serve as a shield for our sovereignty, ensuring that the wealth generated in our country stays in our country rather than being siphoned off by the accidental autocratsoftheAIera.
Sincerely,
Dr WalterH.Persaud
DEAREDITOR, Both Kaieteur News (KN) and Stabroek News (SN) must be applauded for their role in defending and promoting democracy in Guyana. KN founder Glenn Lall played a very critical roleinprotectingdemocracy from the 1990s and especially in 2019 to 2020 when the government refused to adhere to constitutional norms after losing a no confidence vote; he opposed corruption Anyone who engaged SN founder David de Caires would have unforgettable memories of his persona of s
, compassionate person who was committed to Guyana’s development and being an ideal democracy The fight for democracy in Guyana was a tapestry of long-term activismamongaselectfew in Guyana, Caribbean, and North America who made personal sacrifices. David was a part of this activism pre-1992 as were several others not only in Guyana but overseas as well, a handful of us who were concernedaboutthefutureof ourcountry
The democracy activism rangedfromthehigh-profile struggleofCheddiJaganand other opposition politicians (1966 to 1992) to grassroots movement in Guyana, ably encouraged and supported by affiliated party groups in the diaspora. Our group was not tied to any party; our pioneering movement fought against human rights abusesandforrestorationof democratic rule. From the
diaspora, we kept the fight alive lobbying Washington with encouragement and support from David and others in Guyana, bringing media attention to happenings in the diaspora and about Guyana to the international community Wehadourownpublications and also made use of community media to champion causes related to Guyana and the America based diaspora Mr de Caires, a kind of social democrat, opposed to communism, was also a key figure in that liberation movementinGuyanaaswell asinkeyislandsintheregion utilizing the media and his connections with prominent politicians.
My early encounters with de Caires were reading hiswritingsaboutGuyanain a Caribbean journal that he confounded and his comments in magazines as well as interviews in Caribbean media outlets out of Trinidad, Barbados, and Jamaica; several of these publications from the 1970s and 1980s have ceased to exist.deCairescontributions were cited in my papers written for graduate degree coursesinthesocialsciences inthe1980sandtomakeour
case with Washington. de Caires was a gifted, exceptional writer, an editor par excellence, who was worthy to be emulated. My face-to-faceencounterswere visiting his law and or SN media offices after the foundingoftheweeklypaper in the1980s. He was a very learned, articulate, and gifted speaker I remember him and his daughter speaking at different GUARDralliesorganizedby Nanda Gopaul and others determined to restore free andfairelections.
SN started from a generous grant (NED) from the USA government to promote democracy in Guyana A group of us, Baytoram Ramharack, Vassan Ramracha, Rennie Ramracha, and myself and later joined by Ravi Dev lobbied the Reagan Administration and Members of Congress to support our struggle to combat communism in Guyana and replace it with democracy Congress and the Reagan administration were very sympathetic with our pro American democracy movement but opposedtheideaofreplacing anopportunisticleft-wing
(Continuedonpage06)
A violent domestic tragedy at No. 76 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, has left amotherfightingforherlife andafatherdead,leavingsix siblingstraumatised.
OnSundayevening,46year-old Mahendra Patrick Singh allegedlyattackedhis wife, 49-year-old Olive Thompson, with a knife in what police believe was an attempted murder Thompson remains in critical condition at the No. 75 Village Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery after one of the stab wounds damaged her liver
Singh was found dead the next morning suspected to have ingested a poisonous substance The couple’s daughter, Chandra
“Stephanie” Singh, 21, told Kaieteur News that she and several of her siblings had visited their parents earlier that day According to her, nothing appeared out of the ordinary
“Weleavehometogoby mybrotherinRoseHall,and we leave them home. That was around 12:00-12:30 time.Weevenmadeplansto go(Number63)Beachwhen wecomeback,”sherecalled.
Shortly after arriving in Rose Hall, they received a frantic call from a neighbour
“Shesaidthatdaddyjust stabbed mommy, and they aretakinghertothehospital. We had to leave and come back home,” the young woman said Neighbours reported hearing Thompson screaming, “I gon’ dead, I gon’dead,”assheattempted to flee the yard. She was quickly transported to the hospital Singh was reportedly seen leaving the premises on his motorcycle, cladonlyinboxershortsand
Frompage04
Manpower Planning to take immediate and decisiveaction.
To reinforce my concerns, I have since written to the subject Minister, Hon. Keoma Griffith, outlining the egregious injustices beinginflicteduponGuyaneseworkersinthe mining sector by certain Chinese-owned companies.
Guyaneseworkersdeservebetter They deserve workplaces that are safe, sanitary, andrespectfuloftheirhumanity.
Noforeigncompanyshouldbeallowed toprofitfromournation’sresourceswhile violating our citizens in ways that underminetheirhealth,dignity,andrights.
I trust that the relevant stakeholders willmoveswiftlytoaddressthisappalling situation
Sincerely, NandranieSingh, MemberofParliament, WeInvestinNationhood.
PhotosavedasWIN
covered in blood. A search was mounted Sunday evening, but he was not located OnMondayatabout 10:45 hrs, his body was discovered aback “Baker ShopDam”,leadingtowards the Skeldon sugarcane cultivation area Singh was employed at the Skeldon Sugar Estate Stephanie noted that the couple had recentlycelebratedtheir23rd wedding anniversary on February14,Valentine’sDay
“The two were loving… everybody will get ups and downsyeah,butnosignthat this would happen, no sign that they had an argument. Weleftthemtwogood,”she said.
Frompage05 partyanddictatorshipwitha hard-core communist party But they were open to supporting pro-democracy activities and activism and new movements. The NED wasbirthedbyCongressand signed into law by Reagan. deCairesandothersapplied for grants to promote democracy in Guyana. SN became a beneficiary of grants to promote a free liberal media and was launched.
KN was founded on private resources of Glenn Lall;hetooktheriskandran the most popular paper de Caires focused like a hawk on abuses of power and violations of democracy Through coverage in SN of resistance activities by the oppositionandofactivismin USA, he nourished the freedom movement that ultimately gave us free and fair elections and the return of the PPP to government; the PPP was kept out of office through electoral fraud and authoritarian rule. Washington was fearful that aPPPgovernmentwouldbe an ally of Moscow and communism. A free press, started by de Caires and SN became the vital tool for Guyana ‘s second wave of freedomafterthestruggleof Jagan and others that ended colonialrulein1966.
I remember meeting ShariefKhanmultipletimes upstairs at SN building whenever I visited Guyana; hewasareporterforforeign press and editor of SN who had known about our struggle in New York through our writings in communitypublicationsand newsletters as well as correspondences He introduced me and Ravi to Mr deCaireswithwhomwe
had multiple face to face exchanges in his office and correspondences (letters for publications) Ramharack was introduced by me and RavitoKhananddeCaires;
a media relationship developedforpublicationof commentaries and polling. He admired our activism, especially in opposing communism. David saluted our activism that played a vital role in the struggle for restoration of democracy in Guyana.Hecommendedour courage and role in the struggle for restoring democracyinourhomeland, using protests in USA and Guyana, lobbying Congress and the administrations of Presidents Carter, Reagan and Bush Sr and other prominent American politicians, and for writing leaders in other countries to put pressure on the dictatorship to restore a free pressandFFEinourcountry Ravi would have an unpaid regular Sunday column Ramharack and I had numerouslettersinSNasdid several others about activities related to our struggle and the diaspora in America. The letters, news reports, and columns contributedtothepopularity ofthepaper,thebestratedin Guyanaandtheregion. I remember being introduced to young Anand Persaud who was an outstanding celebrity reporter, the best in the country at the time of the 1980s. He was a brilliant interviewer, second to none; David got him to interview us on our activism. Anand transformed later into the besteditorafterKhanleftSN in 1992 and the leading editor-in-chief after de Caires passed on the torch. deCaireshimselftoldmein
privateandunabashedlythat Anand was the best in the region.
David was very impressedwiththepollingof TRPI and NACTA, finding them credible SN contributed some funding t o w a r d s c o s t s o f interviewers David and Anand were not swayed by criticismsofourpollingbya discredited unaccomplished academic columnist Publishing polls as introduced by Ramharack, myself and others helped to institutionalize in Guyana. I was wisely advised by both de Caires and Anand in an engagement in David’s office to avoid partisan commentaries.Iwouldmeet both of them and Anna Benjamin multiple times separately in their offices thatstoodnexttoeachother downstairs I maintained objectivity and neutrality All three and Sharief Khan wereextraordinaryeditors. The country owes a debt of gratitude to SN, David, Sharief, Anand, and others for their role in restoring democracy in 1992 and Glenn joined protecting it thereafter David and Glenn listened to the concerns of Guyanese and gave them voice in SN and KN respectfully They demonstrated that the people’s views were taken seriously, which led to building of trust and rapport by a growing readership making it one of the most credible newspapers in Guyana and the region. The country, readers, letter writers, critics will miss SN after March 15. I plead that the paper switch to digital publication. KN should also considergoingdigital.
Yoursfaithfully, Dr.VishnuBisram
The 2026 Warrant Officers’ and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers’Conference of theGuyanaDefenceForce(GDF)openedlast week Tuesday with a firm directive from Chief of Defence Staff, Omar Khan, who urged the Corps to tighten standards while adapting to a fast-changing operational landscape. Delivering the feature address, BrigadierKhanmadeitclear:whilepractices fromthreedecadesagomaynolongerapply, the Force’s core values remain immovable. “Discipline, regimentation, respect for authorityandattentiontodetailmustcontinue todefinethisinstitution,”hestressed,evenas leadershipmethodsevolve.
According to a GDF press release, Khan underscored the importance of adapting leadership approaches to engage the current generation of soldiers effectively Today’s ranks,henoted,oftenseektounderstandthe reasoning behind decisions. Embracing that shift, he explained, will help foster a more integrated and cohesive team, provided standardsarenevercompromised.
Brigadier Khan called on Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officerstousetheconferenceasaforumfor reflection, recalibration, and meaningful dialogue. He challenged them to identify
gaps, acknowledge areas requiring improvement, and propose corrective measures. Tangible outcomes, he stated, are expected, including progress toward developing a Warrant Officers’ and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers’ Handbook throughaconsultativeprocess.
Drawing on the concept of battle preparation, Khan stressed that leadership at every level shapes how soldiers prepare for operations.
He encouraged leaders to frame challenges as opportunities for growth and reaffirmedthatfitnessanddrillsremainnonnegotiable Referencing his strategic principle of Sound, Image and Movement (SIM), he underscored that discipline, bearing, and coordinated action are visible indicatorsofoperationalprofessionalism.He addedthatregimentationstandardsshouldbe examinedwithaviewtostrengtheningthem.
“Our operational strength begins with you,”theChiefofDefenceStaff isquotedas saying in the release, reminding those
assembled of the solemn oath they took to defendthenation.Heurgedleaderstoremain unwavering in upholding standards while beingintentionalinmentorship,ensuringthat every Senior Non-Commissioned Officer feels heard, valued, and empowered. He furtherencouragedthemtoextendthatsame principled and supportive leadership to their subordinates.
Khan also commended the growing number of Corporals, Staff Sergeants, and WarrantOfficerspursuingmilitary,technical, and academic advancement. He highlighted initiatives such as the Government’s GOAL programme as vital avenues for professional growthandinstitutionalstrengthening.
Settingthetonefortheconference,Force Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class One Christopher Harmon emphasised the distinctive responsibility of the Corps as custodians of standards and the critical link between command intent and operational execution.Heremindedparticipantsthattheir mandate extends beyond enforcing discipline;itincludesnurturing,training,and developing soldiers who embody both competenceandcharacter
He urged members to remain fully conversant with policies, regulations, and establishedstandards,notingthatknowledge enhances leadership effectiveness and strengthens units. He highlighted the increasing academic and professional advancementwithintheranksasevidenceof a culture of self-improvement taking root across the Corps, encouraging continued pursuit of qualifications that enhance operational capability The Force Sergeant Major also stressed the importance of physicalreadinessandaccountability,noting thatfitnessandBodyMassIndexcompliance directlyimpactuniteffectivenessandmission readiness. Substandard conduct, particularly in matters of discipline and physical standards,mustnotbetolerated.
The opening ceremony was attended by senior officers, serving, retired Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, and retired Force Sergeant Majors whoseserviceshavebeenretainedaspartofa panel to address matters related to military regulations and standards, reflecting a deliberate commitmenttopreservingand strengthening the institutional foundation of the Guyana Defence Force The conference continues with focuseddeliberationsaimedat reinforcing accountability, adaptability, and professional excellence across the Guyana Defence Force as it positions itself to confront present and futurechallenges.
Thereissomething profoundly small about big men who think the world cannot move unless Washington
nods At the World Sustainable Development
Summit 2025, Vice
President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo reportedly suggested that global climate targets may be difficult to achieve without stronger U.S. participation. In plain language, the argument seems to be this: withoutAmericaatthetable, thetablecollapses.
Letusstartwiththefacts. At the last COP, held in Brazil — COP30 — the global climate conversation did not grind to a halt because Washington was absent.Onthecontrary,what the Brazil summit highlighted was that the world is quietly learning to walk without leaning on Americancrutches.
The Global South showed up. Latin America showed up. Africa showed up. Asia showed up. And Chinadidmorethanshowup —itarrivedasaforce.
W h i l e s o m e i n Georgetown still speak as though climate salvation must be stamped “Made in the USA,” China has been busy cornering the global market in solar panels, electric vehicles, battery
storage, and critical minerals. It is China that is manufacturing at scale. It is China that is financing infrastructure across Africa and Latin America. It is China that is reshaping the cleanenergysupplychain.
Yet we are told — again —thatwithoutAmerica,we may not achieve climate goals.Thatthinkingbelongs toanotherera.
It assumes the world is permanently wedded to Western domination It assumes that global governancecannotevolve.It assumes that new power centerscannotemerge.
It assumes that capital, and regulatory frameworks are frozen in Washington. It assumesthatAmericaisvital to the viability of carbon markets.
Thatisnaïve.
Carbonmarketsarenota uniquely American invention Regulations governing shipping and aviationarenotdraftedinthe Oval Office Methane protocols do not descend fromCapitolHillliketablets fromSinai.
The International Maritime Organization sets shipping standards The International Civil Aviation Organization regulates aviation emissions
Multilateral frameworks govern methane pledges
Yes, the United States is influential.Butinfluentialis notindispensable.
To say that without U.S. involvement it would be “very, very difficult” to achieve climate goals is to underestimatetherestofthe w o r l d a n d t o underestimateourselves.
We in Guyana pride ourselvesonoursovereignty andindependence.Yetwhen it comes to climate diplomacy,westillsoundas though we are waiting for instructions.
Vice President Jagdeo proudlycitesGuyana’sLow Carbon Development Strategy.Heremindsusthat wearethesizeoftheUnited Kingdom,that86percentof our land is covered in primary forest, that we have one of the lowest deforestation rates in the world. He notes that we monetized30percentofour forest carbon for US$750 million.
A l l o f t h a t i s commendable.
But here is the uncomfortable question: if we have monetized our forests, if we are expanding oil production to 1.5 to 2 millionbarrelsperdayinthe nextthreeyears,ifweclaim wecan“prove”thatmassive
oil extraction and sustainabilitycancoexist— then why do we sound so
Dem boys seh people like to believe that ordinary citizens don’t know nothing.They feel is only big men in big office with big briefcase have information. But dem boys seh if you ever sit down in a barber shop, rumshop,minibusparkoratastreetcorner in the night, you would realize that the “small man” have more information than theSpecialBranch.
Look at how the big revelations in America unfolding about Jeffrey Epstein. Wholesetofpowerfulpeoplesweatinglike deminaspa.Andthisisinacountrywhere journalists hiding in bushes, cameras watching every handshake, and senators doesinvestigatesenators.Ifallthatscrutiny could still produce the Epstein scandal, imagine what could be bubbling under the surface in a country like Guyana where everybody know everybody and everybody minding everybody business too.
DemboyssehsomeGuyanesewalking around with stories that would make Netflix beg for script rights. The kind of late-night rendezvous, private flights, exclusiveguestlists,bingedrinking,orgies
uncertain about global climate progress without Washington?
There is another contradiction. We are told thatwewillsoonproduceup to2millionbarrelsofoilper day — per day — and that economics must shape climate policy “Nobody argues with economics,” we aretold.
To insist that economics mustshapeclimatepolicyis to invert the moral order of thecrisis.
It reduces an existential environmentalemergencyto a balance sheet calculation.
Climate change is a planetarythreatgroundedin science, not profit margins. When economics is allowed to “shape” climate policy, what often follows is delay, dilution,andjustification— forests are protected only if they can be sold, emissions are reduced only if it is profitable,andoilispumped aslongastherevenueflows. Thatisnotstewardship;itis opportunism dressed up as pragmatism It converts e n v i r o n m e n t a l
responsibility into a marketplace transaction and treats the atmosphere like a commodity Instead of asking what survival demands, we ask what returnsareacceptable.
And then there is artificialintelligence.
WearetoldAIwillbring “great challenges” and “greatrewards.”
That is not a policy position. That is a greetingcard statement Every technology in history has brought risks and rewards.
The question is: what is Guyana’sstrategy?
Are we investing in digital literacy? Are we protectingdatasovereignty? Are we creating regulatory safeguards?Arewebuilding local capacity? Or are we waitingagainfortheUnited States — or China — to definetherules?
AI will reshape labour markets, governance, surveillance, and inequality To treat it as a vague dualedged sword is not leadership.Itishesitation.
The world is changing.
Power is diffusing. Climate diplomacy is evolving Clean energy markets are shifting eastward Multipolarity is no longer a theory—itisafact.
To cling to the idea that nothing substantial can be achievedwithoutAmericais to misread the times. It is to underestimate emerging economies.
It is to undervalue regional alliances. It is to shrinkourimagination.
The world will move — withorwithoutWashington. The only real question is whether Guyana will move withit…orwhetherwewill forever look over our shoulder waiting for someoneelsetolead.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
and “business meetings” that start after midnight and end when the rooster crow Allegedly Veryallegedly
Becauseletwebehonest:whenrichand powerful start to lime with politically powerful, it ain’t always about discussing destockmarket.Sometimestheonlything flowing is imported liquor. Dem boys seh there must be at least one Guyanaequivalent of an Epstein. In fact, knowing weefficiencylevels,theremightbetwoor threefranchises.Maybewithloyaltycards: attend five secret parties, get one hush agreementfree.
But here is the real joke: the ordinary peopleknowwhocarparkwhereandwhich “conference” had more dancing than debating.Guyanesememorylong.
Demboyssehitisonlyamatteroftime before what people whisper become what othersreadinheadlines.Andwhenthatday come,someofthesehighandmightyfaces will look like dem accidentally bite into a limeinsteadofasapodilla.
Until then, the small man smiling. Because knowledge is power — and in Guyana,powerdoesleak.
Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
Call me a Neanderthal, dismissmeasaUFO Butthe fervently held belief is that there’re certain places in whichpoliticsshould be offlimits Doesn’t belong, period. Neverbeallowedto intrude. Full stop. Today, the lines that held forever crumbleonebrickatatime.
There is no dam to hold back the raw sewage that seeps into daily interactions of people, swamps the social fabric, and eventually devours it. No! it’s not the New World Order emerging by nose, then monstrous head.
It is those routines, long taken for granted, that are
overwhelmed by harsh narratives,aggressivedealing with differences, and whitehot zeal to stay on those roads. I elaborate, begin locally
Guyana’s National Assembly should be an exemplary house of civility Prominent with unswerving dedication to old-school standards of self-discipline and respect for opponents. When there is contempt for opponents, no matter how deserving, it is scorn for the people who sent them to parliament.
The old, simple mathematical formula still hold fast: if A is equal to B,
and B is equal to C, then A equalsC Substituting:when A disrespects B, then A disrespects C. It cuts both ways. Neither conducive to healthy social cohesion, a forgotten vision now; or the production of One Guyana, whoeverthatencircles,what seeks oxygen now I would like to see some genuine conciliatory, courteous, efforts th
parliament.
Old grudges lead to new acrimonies Acrimonies, ancientormodern,fuelmore hate,moredivisions Aworld detested Definitely not the worldinwhichIwishtolive. Others can have it, relish it.
Excludeme. Politicscanbe lively to the point of boisterousexuberance.
B u t n o t o n e parliamentarian should empower it to be inseparable from the gutter Or represent the sewage of Guyana bubbling up uncontrollably, and taking hold of senses, w
disregard for the dignity of others Perhaps, there are thosewhodismissthatasoldschool Here’s a reminder: old school is timeless; never out of session, doesn’t take a recess
A holiday from even shaking hands now characterizes encounters between India and Pakistan onsportingfields Cricket,a game dear to hundreds of millions within neighbours, issweptup,anextension,of thestateofwarthatsimmers between the two countries, the product force pruned from one soil. It’s where men in whites meet in the fiercestcompetition. Where bat meets ball with every ounceofenergyexpendedon both sides of that sporting equation.
Yet deficient in the courage to meet at midfield
and let hands clasp with the mutual respect shared among gladiatorsinafighttothe death. National hostilities intrudingonthefieldofplay, overtaking individual and group honour Is there not one champion, one knight, fromeitherside,whohasthe daring, the independence, to break ranks and say: that is notme,willneverbeme,and makethatsimplestofhuman gestures.
Extend a hand to shake a hand The hands kept resolutelyatthesidesconfirm how the raw sewage of politics has seeped into sportingarena. AGermanof distinctioncouldhavedefied the odds under Hitler’s watch and reached to America’s Jesse Owens, while the Nazi machinery watching. A hundred years later, it is clear that the stuff ofthesewerhassucceededin establishing its own special mastery on India and Pakistan.
When politics pierces so deeply,thenallareprofaned. Former England cricket captain, Mike Atherton, said the wisest words to date on theIndia-Pakistanstalemate. It has gone too far, been incentivizedtodivelow,drill
lower Isaythis:sometime, thesetwoaregoingtoblowupeachother Fromsewage toshardsscatteredalloverin a radioactive winter Hands may be wrung then, not shaken.
In America, the art of lying is now cherished as leadership Demagoguery, raw Montgomery and Little Rockstyleracialvisions,now saturateaplacethatIthought wasbetter. IfinWashington, then Dallas, Lynchburg, and MaconCountyareasgoodas gone into the pile of sewage andlikingit.
Inspiringly, there are those still raising voice, standing against, gaining inchesofhard-foughtground Who’s willing to fight, to sacrifice here? The raw sewage of politics must be resisted tooth-and-nail from becomingpartoftheregular nationaldiet. Guyanesecan beforsewage. Istandapart.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper)
4 killed as Cuban forces open fire on U.S. registered boat
…sixotherswoundedaftervesselillegally entersCubanterritorialwaters
(NBCNEWS)CubanofficialssaidaUSregistered speedboat violated their territorial waters, kicking off an armed confrontation withCubanborderguardtroopsinwhichfour peopleonthevesselwerekilled.
Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior posted a statement about the confrontation on Facebook US officials did not immediately respondtorequestsforcomment
Acommander of the Cuban border guard was injured and six people on the U.S.registered vessel were also injured, the statementsaid.
Thestatementnotedthatthepeopleonthe U.S.-registered vessel had initiated the firefight, which took place one nautical mile northeastoftheElPinochanneloffofCuba’s northcoast.
“WhenasurfaceunitoftheBorderGuard TroopsoftheMinistryoftheInterior,carrying five service members, approached the vessel
for identification, the crew of the violating speedboat opened fire on the Cuban personnel, resulting in the injury of the commander of the Cuban vessel,” the statementsaid.
FloridaAttorneyGeneralJamesUthmeier said he had ordered an investigation into the incident
“I’ve directed the Office of Statewide Prosecutiontoworkwithourfederal,state,and law enforcement partners to begin an investigation,” he said in a post on X. “The Cubangovernmentcannotbetrusted,andwe willdoeverythinginourpowertoholdthese communistsaccountable.”
Rep Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla also called foraninvestigation
“UnitedStatesauthoritiesmustdetermine whetheranyofthevictimswereUS citizens or legal residents and establish exactly what occurred,”Gimenezsaidinastatement
(Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday called for deeper cooperation on tackling criminal gangs as he met Caribbeanleaders,evenasregional concerns grew over the potential fallout fromWashington’s squeeze onCuba.
The Trump administration is blockingoffoilshipmentstoCuba, worsening a humanitarian crisis and ratcheting up the pressure on Washington’s long-time foe in the wake of the ousting ofVenezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a key Cubanally,onJanuary3.
Rubio addressed a closed-door meeting of CARICOM, the Caribbeangroupthatcomprises15 member states and five associated members,inSaintKittsandNevis, andwasholdingbilateralmeetings withsomeoftheregionalleaders.
The Trump administration was “giving priority to the Western Hemisphere after (the region) largely being ignored for a very long time,” Rubio said, according toatranscriptofhisremarks.
“Weareinterestedinrebuilding andconstructinganewdynamicin this Western Hemisphere in which we partner with all of you on the issuesweshareincommon,”Rubio said The U S and Caribbean countries would need to cooperate more to tackle international criminal groups involved in drug trafficking through the region, he said,highlightingthatthesegroups areheavilyarmed.
“We recognise that many of these groups are buying weaponry fromtheUnitedStates,andthatwe arecommittedandcontinuetowork veryhardwithourlawenforcement agencies to shut that down,” Rubio said, adding that the US was also taking a tough approach with criminalgangsinHaiti
Rubio also said Venezuela’s
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio poses for a family photo with Bahama’s Prime Minister Philip Edward Davis, Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Barbados’Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness and St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew, alongside Caribbean Community (CARICOM) meetings, in Saint Kitts and Nevis, February 25, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/Pool.
interim authorities had made significant changes since the US operationtoseizeMaduro,citingthe release of political prisoners, but said “they will need the legitimacy offair,democraticelections”
CUBACONCERNS
Rubio did not mention Cuba in theremarksthatweremadepublic.
President Donald Trump had previously threatened tariff hikes against any nation sending energy suppliestoCubaandhasurgedthe island’s leaders to reach a deal to avert a worsening humanitarian crisis.
On Wednesday, the U S TreasuryDepartmentsaiditwould allowthesaleofVenezuelanoilfor use in Cuba, as long as the transactions do not support the military or government, in what appeared to be an easing of restrictions.
TheTreasurysaiditwastaking theactionin“supportandsolidarity fortheCubanpeople.”TheU.S.has separately pledged to provide $9 million of humanitarian assistance toCubansthatisbeingdeliveredby theCatholicChurch.
Ahead of Rubio’s arrival,
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness appealed for a collective response from CARICOM to the crisis in Cuba, which is not a memberbutmaintainstieswiththe group. Cuba has long sent doctors, as well as teachers, to work in neighbouring countries Washington is also pushing for countriestostopparticipatinginthe Cuban medics program that is a source of foreign currency for the Cubangovernment.
“Humanitariansufferingserves no one. Apart from our fraternal care and solidarity with the Cuban
people, it must be clear that a prolonged crisis in Cuba will not remain confined to Cuba. It will affect migration, security and economic security across the Caribbean basin,” Holness said on Tuesday, calling for “constructive dialogue between Cuba and the United States aimed at deescalation,reformandstability.”
The meeting’s host, Saint Kitts andNevisPrimeMinisterTerrance Drew,saidCARICOMshouldbea conduit for dialogue over Cuba’s future. “A destabilised Cuba will destabiliseallofus,”hesaid.
A 15-year-old teen mother, on Mondaymorning,wasfounddeadat herhomeinGoodHope,Essequibo, RegionTwoleavingbehindheronemonth-oldbaby
Dead is Aleena Preetam, a former student of Abram Zuil Secondary School, who recently dropped out after being transferred to another institution when she discoveredshewaspregnant.
Kaieteur News understands that the teen was found unresponsive in her bedroom after her baby was heardcryingforaprolongedperiod. Concerned relatives went to check on the infant and found Preetam motionlessonherbed.
The circumstances surrounding theteen’sdeathremainunclear
Regional Commander, SuperintendentKhemrajShivbaran, confirmed that an investigation has been launched and that authorities are awaiting the results of a postmortem examination to determine thecauseofdeath.
Speaking with Kaieteur News, Preetam’s sister-in-law, Ameena Ramzan, said she had checked on theteenthenightbeforeherdeath.
“Ijustaskedherhowsheandthe baby were doing, and she said they werealright.Iaskedifshewassure, andshesaidyes,”Ramzanrecalled.
Newsoftheteen’ssuddendeath has deeply shocked her family and community Relativestooktosocial mediatoexpresstheirgrief.
“Ripmybeautifulsister-in-law,I can’t believe that I hear your gone this morning may you rest in peace our belove Aleena What will happen with my little princess niece?”Ramzansaid.
Another relative, Shameeza Ramzan, wrote, “WhyAleena, why so soon? You left without saying goodbye. You left shocking news thismorningtoallofus.Youwillbe missed and beloved forever May yoursoulrestinpeace.”
Police investigations are ongoing.
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was represented at the inaugural Western Hemisphere Chiefs of Defence Conference in Washington, D C , signalling Guyana’s deepening engagement inregionalsecuritycooperation.
Colonel General Staff, Kenlloyd Roberts, MSM, attended the February 11–12 forum on behalf of Chief of Defence Staff, Omar Khan, MSS. The high-level
conference, hosted by the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, brought together defence chiefs from 33 nations across the hemisphereandwiderregion.
Delegations included 13 CARICOMmemberstates,15Latin American countries, Canada, and fourEuropeannationswithterritories intheregion,includingDenmark
The two-day engagement examined pressing hemispheric
securityconcerns,includingthreats posed by foreign terrorist organisations, transnational criminalnetworks,cyberrisks,and other challenges impacting regionalstabilityandprosperity T he conference served as a strategic platform to examine hemispheric security priorities, including risks posed by foreign
organisations, cyber and other threatstothesecurity,stabilityand prosperityofthehemisphere,GDF saidinapressrelease.
Particularemphasiswasplaced onstrengtheninginstitutionaltrust, enhancingintelligencesharing,and sustaining consistent engagement amongregionaldefencepartners.
Discussions underscored the importanceofcoordinatedresponses grounded in partnership and mutual
confidence Guyana’s participation reflectsitscontinuedcommitmentto proactive regional engagement and meaningful dialogue on collective defenceissues
Through representation at forums of this level, the Guyana Defence Force advances strategic relationships while contributing to broader efforts aimed at strengtheningstabilityandsecurity throughoutthehemisphere.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo
on Wednesday called on developing nations to continue strengthening their climate action efforts, even as the United States remains absent from key discussions.
Jagdeomadetheremarkswhile delivering the inaugural address at the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) at theTajPalaceinNewDelhi,India.
He acknowledged that achieving climate targets will be more challenging without US participation, especially in areas such as carbon pricing, aviation, shipping, and methane regulation, but urged countries of the Global Southnottolosemomentum.
“I think the challenge before this gathering here and over the nextcoupleofdaysistofindways where we can move forward even without the participation of the United States of America at this point,”thevicepresidentsaid.
Jagdeo noted that despite persistent climate skepticism in some regions, biodiversity conservation continues to gather internationaltraction.
Hereferencedthelaunchofthe Global Biodiversity Alliance (GBA) in Georgetown last year, under the leadership of President MohamedIrfaanAli,whichbrings together several partner countries and institutions, including The
Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
“We believe that we can encourage many countries and organisations to get on board because we have a biodiversity crisis too, along with a climate crisis…allthesethingscanbedone at the national level,” Jagdeo underlined.
As an example of effective nationalaction,Jagdeohighlighted Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, which builds on over a decade of leadership in forest conservation. With 86 per cent of its land
Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo (3rd left) at the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) at the Taj Palace in New Delhi, India
coveredbypristineforests,Guyana maintains one of the lowest deforestation rates worldwide and has successfully monetised its forest carbon through voluntary andcompliancemarkets.
Guyana has one of the world’s lowest deforestation rates, with approximately 86 per cent of its landcoveredwithforest.
Guyana, he said, has earned US$750millionfromthesaleof30 per cent of its forest carbon, demonstrating the economic value ofsustainablestewardship,andhas alsosoldtwomillioncreditsunder the international aviation carbon offsettingscheme,CORSIA.
“Ifyouweretoextrapolate,that would be about 2.5 to 3 billion dollars for our entire forest.That’s moremoneythatisavailabletothe 99 per cent of the remaining tropical forests at this point,” VP Jagdeodisclosed.
The vice president also addressed Guyana’s expanding oil production,notingthatthecountry expectstoproducebetween1.5and 2 million barrels of oil per day withinthenextthreeyears,arguing thatGuyanaisprovingtotheworld that a country can expand oil production while embarking on sustainabledevelopment.
Development Summit, hosted annually by TERI, is one of the world’s leading platforms for climate and green development dialogue This year’s opening session also featured India’s Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, alongside other global leaders, policymakers, and scientists.
In 2025, Jagdeo was among 18 world figures recognised with the Sustainable Development Leadership Award, honouring his ongoing work in climate advocacy and sustainable development (DPI)
The trial into alleged fraud during Guyana’s 2020 General and Regional Elections continued on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, with voir dire testimonies despite the absence of a key defence attorney
Although several prosecution witnesses were present and prepared to testify, cross-examination couldnotproceedduetothe continued absence of defence attorney Eusi Anderson who is leading cross-examination for some of the accused In his absence, the court allowed the prosecution to continue leading evidence in the presence of another defence representative.
The prosecution, expressing frustration over the delay, applied for the defence counsel to collectively represent the defendants, arguing that Anderson’s absence should not impede the progress of thecase.
Those charged include former Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield; former District Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo; former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers; former Minister of Health Volda Lawrence; APNU+AFC Chief Scrutineer Carol Smith Joseph;andformerGECOM employees Sheffern February, Michelle Miller, and Denise BabbCummings.
The accused allegedly conspired between March 2 and August 2, 2020, to manipulate election results at the Ashmins Building in Georgetown, thereby defrauding electors across Guyana.
On Tuesday, Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty was informed that Anderson, who represents
Babb-Cummings,wasoutof the jurisdiction and could not be contacted. Despite repeated attempts by other defence attorneys to reach him, there was no communication, resulting in the matter being adjourned toWednesday H o w e v e r, w h e n proceedings resumed, Anderson was again absent, delaying cross-examination in the voir dire involving Sheffern February and Denise Babb-Cummings
Bothwomen,whoservedas registration officers with GECOM, are accused of declaring false vote counts duringthetabulationprocess attheAshminsbuilding.
Prosecutor Latchmie Rahamat objected to the delay and asked the court to permit another defence attorney to conduct the cross-examination, noting that all counsels are collectivelyonrecordforthe defendants. She emphasised that the voir dire and trial dateshadbeenfixedmonths in advance with the agreementoftheattorneys.
“These dates were reserved since November last year Witnesses have beenscheduledandprepared for months. Persons have alreadybeenbriefed,alotof the other civilian witnesses and these witnesses have jobs,” Rahamat told the court, adding that the prosecution had planned to complete February’s voir direandbeginthatof BabbCummings.
Rahamat further argued that each defendant is represented by multiple attorneys and that no prejudice would result if another lawyer handled the cross-examination She criticised the absence of prior notice regarding Anderson’sunavailability
“All of the defendants havefivelawyers.Wedonot believe there is any prejudiceinpermittingthe Continuedonpage16
InspectorsoftheGuyana Police Force (GPF) were on Wednesday charged to deliver visible and active supervision and ensure stronger enforcement of discipline.
Thechargewasmadeby Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond. Minister Walrond reminded the inspectors during the opening ceremony of the GPF’s Inspector ’s Conferencethattheymustbe ready to improve policing andbuildpublictrust.
The two-day conference isthemed,“ModernPolicing for a Modern Nation: Integrating Technology, Innovation and Leadership to Strengthen Public Safety andTrust.”
The minister during her address at the Police Officers’ Mess Annex, Eve Leary said that as supervisors, performance is important.
“So, inspectors hinge between strategy and
execution. So, you approve the rosters, you review the files, and you deploy the patrols, you correct misconduct, you respond to complaints,andyouenforce thestandard.So,thesepillars will either move us forward or stagnate based on the consistency of your supervision. So, we don’t start and stop, we continue, wegetbetter,”shesaid.
Minister Walrond noted that strong supervision produces discipline, and discipline produces good performance while ultimately ensures public trust.
“When we have the public trust, most of our problemsaresolved,butthat is a chain of responsibility, and that chain begins with you,”shetoldofficers.
Further, the minister of Home Affairs made it clear that inspectors are required to improve their response times and patrol coverage and ensure that they are
‘court-ready’ by having all casefilesintact.
“You’re expected to deliver consistent traffic management, proactive disruption of organised crime, professional public engagement, protection of vulnerable people and vulnerable communities,” shecontinuedinhercharge.
Moreover, the minister said that domestic violence and sexual offenses must be treated with urgency and w i t h t h e u t m o s t confidentiality “Victims should be treated with
Twelve-year-old,Delroy Moses on Wednesday completed a successful aneurysm surgery at the GeorgetownPublicHospital Corporation (GPHC), a source close to the family confirmed.
Reportsarethatthechild who hails from Victoria, EastCoastDemerara(ECD) isrecoveringatthePediatric WardoftheGPHC.
Moses was diagnosed a rupturedsaccularaneurysm, a critical life-threatening medical emergency characterised by sudden headaches, spontaneous hemorrhages and in some cases seizures. He needed urgent operation that was reportedly not readily available via the public healthcare system The family had therefore sought public assistance to raise G$9 million for the surgery to be conducted at the St. JosephMercyHospital.
The family was initially toldthatGPHCdidnothave the capacity to perform the surgeryandassuch,itwould havetobedoneprivately.
The12-year-oldinitially presented to Enmore Hospital after experiencing four episodes of first-time generalised tonic-clonic seizures, according to medical records seen by
KaieteurNews. The medical records noted that the patient was later admitted to the IntensiveCareUnit(ICU)at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) with a working diagnosis of a ruptured saccular aneurysm at the terminal bifurcation of the left internal carotid artery (ICA). He was subsequently referred to the GPHC for further management and admittedunderthePediatric HighDependencyUnit,with subsequent transfer to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
dignity Follow up must be structured, once again, not ad hoc. When a force fails the vulnerable, we cannot buildtrust,”sheexpressed.
Minister Walrond made it clear that there is a zero tolerance for corruption and ahighvalueisplacedonthe protection of national developmentassets.
“Zero tolerance for bribery, collusion, abuse of authority or neglect of duty Corruption survives where supervision is weak. Once again, the talk stops with you,”shestated.
The minister reminded that Budget 2026 provides the resources necessary for thePoliceForcetofunction, the National Security Strategy provides the framework which must be executedbyseniorofficers.
“Performancewillnotbe measuredineffort,itwillbe measured in results and Inspectors this is your charge,”shestated.
“With growth comes new risk, when progress accelerates, securities responsibilities multiply, and when order weakens, opportunity becomes exposure, and so we have to continue with enforcement thatdoesnotlackdiscipline, because that is when organised crime and other kinds of serious crime finds space to mature and grow,” the home Affairs minister stated Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken highlighted thecentralleadershiproleof inspectors in translating
policy into real-world policing outcomes He emphasised that the expectations of a rapidly modernising Guyana demand a corresponding transformation within the Force.
“Today’s theme is not just a phrase on a banner It represents a clear national expectation,” he said. The Top Cop noted that inspectors occupy the most influential link between strategy and public service delivery “You are the link betweenpolicyandpractice. It is at your level that strategy becomes service, policy becomes action, and standards become habit,” he said. That being said, the Commissioner charged the inspectors to embrace their roles with renewed purpose, describing them as frontline ambassadors of the organisation “You are ambassadors of the Guyana Police Force. Let this be a change,”heurged.
following endotracheal intubation.
Thedocumentexplained that “An MRI of the brain with brain and neck a n g i o g r a p h y a n d venography, performed on January 21, 2026, demonstrated a ruptured saccular aneurysm at the terminal bifurcation of the leftinternalcarotidartery.”
Itcontinued,“Therewas a
involving the left frontal lobe and left gangliocapsular region, with significant intra ventricular extension of hemorrhage intothelateralventricles,the third ventricle, and the fourthventricle.Inaddition, a large non-hemorrhagic acute infract was noted involving the left temporoo c c i p i t a l l o b e s , corresponding to the left posterior cerebral artery (PCA) territory.” Further, the information noted that “multiple small acute infarcts were also identified in the right medial temporal lobe, right hippocampus, bilateral caudate nuclei, left thalamus, posterior limb of theleftinternalcapsule,and paramedian regions of the left frontal-parietal lobes. Thesefindingswere (Continuedonpage18)
The Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday launched its new mobile application, ‘Farmer’s Connect,’ a digital platform designed to strengthen support services for farmers nationwide.
The platform delivers agricultural data and essential services through a single digital interface, allowing farmers to better plan operations, manage risks and improve overall output.
The app was unveiled at theNationalCultureCentre. It was developed in collaboration with the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) over a three-monthperiod.
Among the features are real-time weather updates f r o m t h e G u y a n a HydrometeorologicalOffice to assist with crop planning
and risk reduction. Farmers can also request extension services and technical support from the ministry and its agencies directly throughtheapp,eliminating theneedforin-personvisits. It allows users to report flooding and identify the locations of drainage and irrigation infrastructure, includingpumpsandsluices, to help prevent potential losses.Italsoprovidesdaily market price information across regions to support more strategic buying and selling decisions The platform facilitates linkages by allowing producers to engage with potential purchasers and industry stakeholders, streamlining transactions and enhancing efficiency throughout the agriculturalsupplychain. Additionally, the app includes a soil and crop
suitability feature, offering access to a soil map that outlines soil types and recommendedcropsforeach region. Farmers can upload images of crops or livestock to an Artificial Intelligence (AI) farming assistant for immediate feedback and guidance.
Adigital library stocked with farming guides, tutorials, manuals and other educationalmaterialsisalso available. Users can access information on upcoming events, workshops and seminars hosted by the ministry
Delivering the keynote a
, M
Mustapha, underscored the significanceoftheinitiative, noting that it marks a shift away from the perception thatfarmersarenot
(Continuedonpage18)
The United States of America has signalled its willingness to assist Trinidad and Tobago in identifying a partner to restart its state-owned Pointe-a-Pierre refinery, whichwasclosedin2018.
T&T Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar
made the disclosure following talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubioonthesidelinesofthe 50thRegularMeetingofthe Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government in Basseterre, St. Kitts and NevisonWednesday
She told reporters that
energy and security cooperation featured prominently during the bilateral engagement and revealed that Secretary Rubiohasagreedtoconnect Port of Spain with the U.S. Department of Energy to help source a suitable partner for the refinery’s reopening.
“We discussed the reopening of the Trinidad refinery As you know, we have been very serious about getting a refinery reopened, and Secretary agreed that he would put us
on to their department of energy to assist us in seeking to find the best partnertoopenthatrefinery
We’ve had several persons so far with expressions of interest. Of course, at the end of the day, we choose thebestthatwethinkwecan get,”Persad-Bissessarsaid. She further noted that s e v e r a l b i l a t e r a l engagements are also being pursued, including discussionswiththeAfrican Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM Bank) and otherstates.
Recently,T&T’sEnergy Minister, Dr. Roodal Moonilal, while attending a conference in Guyana, pointedoutthatthecountry
could play a key part in the restart of the refinery The minister had disclosed that the facility can process about150,000barrelsofoil daily but will require petroleum from regional partners.Atthesameevent, Guyana’s Minister of NaturalResources,Vickram Bharrat, disclosed that the two CARICOM states are alreadyindiscussiontolook at the possibility of having thatrefineryrestart. Also,onthesidelinesof the CARICOM heads meeting, President Dr. Irfaan Ali was asked whether Guyana is interested in assisting Trinidad with its plan to reopentherefinery
President Ali noted that Guyana remains open to exploring avenues of supportbutstressedthatany arrangement must be economically sound and aligned with national and regionalinterests.
He noted, “So wherever and however, we can integrate for the benefit of theregionandbenefitofour countries, we will, do that. Whereverandhowever But you know, this requires constant evaluation and strategic decisions that are intheinterestofourpeople, ininterestofourcountry,in theinterestoftheregionand economicallyviable.”
He also pointed to the longstanding commercial ties between the two CARICOM states.Ali said, “Guyana’sdevelopmenthas always been tremendously beneficial to Trinidad and Tobago,longbeforeoiland gas. We are one of your strongest trading partners…and when the oil and gas sector started, Trinidad private sector benefited enormously from that oil and gas sector, and we did not have any restrictionsonhowTrinidad
A 15-year-old girl is battling for her life in the IntensiveCareUnit(ICU)of the New Amsterdam Hospital after she was allegedly stabbed 25 times Tuesdayeveninginavicious attackbyherchild’sfather
The injured mother has been identified as Tiana Chapman of Pepper Street, EdinburgVillage,EastBank Berbice.
The teen’s lungs have been punctured and doctors have told relatives that “she iscriticalbutstable.”
Relatives told Kaieteur Newsthatwhentheyvisited the hospital Wednesday afternoon, Chapman was hooked up to an oxygen machine since she is unable tobreatheindependently
Despite being pleased withthetreatmenttheteenis receiving at the New Amsterdam Hospital, her relativesarehopefulthatshe would be transferred to the GeorgetownPublicHospital to receive advanced treatment.
“We don’t understand why they don’t take her to Georgetown Hospital since
Tiana Chapman, 15, stabbed reportedly over 25 times.
theconditionisthatcritical,” arelativeopined. Reports are that on Tuesday night at about 20:00h, Chapman was attacked by Christopher Ali with whom she has had a tumultuous relationship, while at a friend’s home on PepperStreet.
“She got some bad stabs… it’s a lot. I heard it’s like25stabwoundsshegot,” a relative said Wednesday morning. Family members
Christopher Ali
disclosed thatAlihadrecentlyreturned to Berbice after being away for several months. He was reportedly upset that Chapman had ended their relationship During her pregnancy,relativessaid,the teen endured physical abuse at his hands before ultimatelycuttingtiesonthe advice of family members. Reportsarethatwhileather friend’shouseAliattempted to lure Chapman outside by
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar
and Tobago participated in theoilsector.”
Moreover, Rubio in his address at the CARICOM heads meeting underscored Washington’s interest in deeperenergycollaboration withCaribbeannations.
He said, “There are extraordinary opportunities foreconomicadvancement, to work together on issues like energy Energy is critical for the future; it’s critical for every economy inordertoprosper.”
“Many of the countries
representedheretodayhave energy resources that I know you seek to explore responsibly, safely, but in a way that generates wealth and prosperity for your people and your countries, and we want to be your partner in that regard. So that’s another area of – that hopefully we can cooperate on very closely together AndIwouldaddtothatthat partofthedynamicsthereis someoftheregional–some oftheregionalopportunities thatareoccurring.”
Frompage17
technologicallysavvy
He referenced a recent studywhichfoundthatoutof 186 countries, Guyana is the only nation that produces enough food to feed its population across all seven food groups “That is a tremendous achievement for us we are not only producingenoughtobeselfsufficient but also producing to be the main producer of foodinthishemisphere,”the ministerstated.
Highlighting the sector’s roleinnationaldevelopment, hesaidagriculturecontinues to stand alongside other key industries as a pillar of the economy “When I say carry thenation,Imeanit.Youfeed people, you support our export and you strengthen our economy,” Mustapha
said. While acknowledging Guyana’sgrowingreputation as an oil and gas producer earning billions of US dollars, Minister Mustapha stressed that the government remains committed to advancing the agriculture sector He pointed to President Irfaan Ali’s vision of modernising the industry andattractingmorepeopleto thesector
The ministry described theappasthefirstofitskind locally and a significant step in the government’s digital transformation agenda It was stated that the platform goes beyond technology, servingasatooltoempower farmers,fisherfolkandagrop r o c e s s o r s w h i l e strengthening and digitising one of the country’s most vitaleconomicsectors.
repeatedly sending her youngerbrothertocallher
“She said she wasn’t going anywhere. He ended up going in himself,” the relativerecounted.Chapman was stabbed multiple times about her body, including to herfaceandback.
Aftertheattack,policein New Amsterdam pursued the suspect, but he managed toevadecapture.Heremains on the run, as investigations continue.
Frompage17
effacement of the left lateral ventricle and a rightward midlineshift. An incidental arachnoid cyst was noted in the left anteriortemporalregion ” The document said that
...SAYS MOVE FULLY LEGAL
President Irfaan Ali on Wednesday firmly defended Guyana’s decision to pay Cuban doctors and nurses directly, insisting the arrangement complies with national labour laws and mirrors how other medical p r o f e s s i o n a l s a r e compensated.
He made the comment whilespeakingtoreporterson the sidelines of the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government in Basseterre,St KittsandNevis
Amid mounting pressure fromtheUnitedStatesoverthe alleged exploitation of Cuban medical workers, Guyana terminated its longstanding bilateralpartnershipwithCuba Despite ending the agreement, the government instead has beenpayingtheCubanmedical professionals directly in line withlabourlaws.
Whenaskedwhetherother CARICOMstatesfacingUS pressure should adopt Guyana’smodel,PresidentAli stressed that the approach aligns with both local and internationallabourlaws
He highlighted the region’s health sector challenges and the need for medicalworkers,notingthat if Cuban doctors and nurses arehiredaccordingtolabour regulations and paid legally, they meet international standards.
“We ensure that they’re paid within the laws of our country and under the same conditions as any other worker is paid, that is to receive their money directly,”PresidentAlisaid.
Kaieteur News had reported that the U S government had warned Caribbean nations participating in Cuban medical programmes that such arrangements may amounttohumantrafficking and could result in visa restrictions and possible traderepercussions.
However, Guyana’s MinisterofHealthDr Frank Anthony earlier this month denied that the decision was influenced by U.S. pressure, stating that there was no specificreasonforendingthe agreement.
Instead,heexplainedthat Cubanmedicalprofessionals are now entering Guyana on their own and applying for jobs outside of any formal government-to-government programme.
As Guyana marked its 56th anniversary as a Cooperative Republic, the nation lost not only a statesman and scholar, but a fierce competitor who once made his name with ball in
Education Minister and CoLeader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA),
passed away early Monday morning at the Georgetown PublicHospitalattheageof 83, leaving behind a legacy that stretched from cricket pitchtoparliament.
Born in 1943 in Kitty, Georgetown, Roopnaraine’s early promise was not confined to academia. Long before he became a respected intellectual and
political leader, he was known as a commanding presence in schoolboy cricket After earning a scholarship to Queen’s College in 1954, he flourished both in the classroom and on the field. He captained the college team and represented DemeraraintheInter-county Cricket Finals, already
showing the leadership and competitive fire that would definehislife.
His cricketing journey reached an even grander stage in 1962 when he secured a Guyana scholarshiptotheUniversity of Cambridge to study Modern Languages. There, he achieved one of the highesthonoursinuniversity sport, earning a coveted Cambridge “Blue” for representingtheuniversityat the top level of English countycricket.
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
Toomuchmentalorphysical exercise could have you feelingabitburnedouttoday, Aries You could be considerably slower on the uptake than usual, and those aroundyoucouldbesurprised thatyou,
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
Althoughyourpartnermaybe feeling very sensual at this time, Taurus, you might not feel much like getting passionate You've had a stressful few days and can barelymove.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Yourhomecouldbeagloomy place today, Gemini. A member of the household is likely to be away, and this person's presence is apt to be verysorelymissed.
CANCER(June21–July22)
An older relative or neighbor may need your assistance today,Cancer Thisisapttobe a very inconvenient time for someone to ask for help, because you have plenty of chores of your own Nonetheless.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Your creative talents could seem totally blocked today, Leo. You may have a project you really want to work on. You have the mental focus, but the creative element just mightnotbethere.
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
This definitely isn’t a good day to stay home and do household chores, Virgo. If you do, some sad and rather irrational thoughts may plague you throughout the day
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Some disappointing news could put you into a rather gloomy state at some point today,Libra.Someonecloseto you might suddenly have to leave town for several weeks and you'll be lonely without them.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
The fundraising activities of a group with which you're affiliated are going very well, Scorpio, but today you're likely to find that things seem to be stalled. Checks may not comeinthemail.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
Career matters could move so slowly today that you just might be tempted to give up, Sagittarius. Don't even think that way! It's just one of those dayswhennothingseemstogo right.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Ifyou'vegotsomethingyou're tryingtostudy,Capricorn,this isn’t the day to do it. Your concentration is likely to be off, and what you're reading will probably look like Greek to you Unless it’s really necessary
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Dark, depressing dreams could plague your sleep tonight, Aquarius, probably alternatingwithsillyonesthat make you laugh out loud.You could wake in the morning totally confused by these images.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Have you been invited to a party that's supposed to take place today? If you think you haven't, Pisces, you'd better checkyourcalendaragain.
Y
On English soil, he built a reputation as a relentless and penetrative bowler — a cricketerteammatesfittingly dubbed “the destroyer.” In 1965,playingforCambridge University against Essex County Cricket Club, Roopnaraine produced a spellfortheages,claiming8 for 88 from 48.2 overs, a marathon effort of skill and stamina. A year later, in 1966, he tore through Worcestershire County Cricket Club with figures of 5 for 78 at Fenners in Cambridge, leading the chargeintheEnglishCounty Championship.
For years, his 8 for 88 stood as the best bowling figuresbyaGuyaneseinthe E n g l i s h C o u n t y Championship,abenchmark of excellence that underscored his place in the country’s cricketing history It would later be surpassed by the legendary Lance Gibbs,whoclaimed8for37 against Glamorgan County Cricket Club in 1970, and subsequentlybyColinCroft, whoseblistering8for29for Lancashire further elevated Guyana’s bowling pedigree.
’
performances remain etched inthearchivesastrailblasing feats for a young scholarathleteabroad.
Even as his academic journey continued, earning a
Cambridge and later at Cornell University and his professional life spanned threedecadesasauniversity lecturer across the UK, Canada, the USA and the University of Guyana, the disciplineandresolvehoned onthecricketfieldneverleft him.
He entered politics in 1977, joining the WPA and risingalongsidefiguressuch as Walter Rodney, Clive Thomas and Eusi Kwayana.
A f t e r R o d n e y ’ s assassination, Roopnaraine assumed leadership of the party,earningareputationas a principled and measured
Dr. Rupert Roopnarine
voiceinturbulenttimes. But beyond the lecture hallsandpoliticalplatforms, many will remember Rupert R
competitor — the captain at Queen’s College, the Cambridge Blue, the bowler whocoulddismantlebatting line-ups with patience and precision.
As Guyana mourns, it salutes not just a former Education Minister and political leader, but a sportsman who carried the pride of his country onto some of cricket’s most storiedgrounds.
ByCliftonRoss
Today’s match will feature huge implications as SouthAfricawillbekeenon upstaging what could be a historic run to the finals for the West Indies, should the Caribbean side brush aside today’s opponents ahead of their next crucial encounter versustheIndians.
This far, West Indies have been one of the best teams in the tournament having won all their games on the way to the Super8s, but will need to keep their feetonthepedalshouldthey look to make a sprint to the finals, with two big challengesintheway;onein the form of South Africa today and India a few days from now West Indies’ engine room has been
running smoothly this tournament, with Shimron Hetmyer continuing his rebirth with a master knock against Zimbabwe, Shai Hope returningto form with a few half-centuries during the crunch stages alongside Sherfane Rutheford, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder and Roston Chase beingX-Factorswiththebat.
Only Hetmyer (219 runs), second leading runscorer behind Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan (283 runs), Hope and Rutherford havemorethan150runsand will be important pieces when faced with the likes of Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, South Africa’s leading wicket-taker Marco Jansen most notably South Africa
Frompage27 perspective.Severalmembersofthatsquad went on to represent Guyana with distinctionintheyearsthatfollowed.
Among them was Deon “Big Merv” Barnwell,theyoungestmemberoftheteam at just 18 years old. Reflecting on the matchesyearslater,Barnwelldescribedthe Guatemalafixturesasthelargestcrowdshe had ever faced during his international career—anoverwhelmingyetunforgettable experiencefortheyoungmidfielder
Barnwell also revealed that Guyana forfeited their home advantage after
The speedster has been among the wickets, as he continues to work himself back into top form but could use today’s match to really blow the door open and possibly keep South Africa awayfromthesemis.
South Africa will be a dangerous opponent.
have been solid all-round, withmostoftheirbigplayers in form like David Miller, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, CaptainAidenMarkramand Tristan Stubbs The win against India has further buffedtheProteasmindsetas they are well aware of the Caribbean side’s unbeaten
acceptingUS$45,000fromtheGuatemalan Football Federation, an arrangement he noted was similarly negotiated with the MexicanFootballFederation.
Nearly four decades later, Barnwell receivedaMedalofAppreciationfromPaul D’Andrade in recognition of his yeoman servicetoGuyanesefootball.Severalofhis former teammates were likewise honoured at the recently concluded International MastersFootballTournament—anenduring tribute to a pioneering generation that carried Guyana’s football ambitions onto theinternationalstage.
run,acredittotheirbowling unit who have been equally goodasthebatsmen.
Left-arm pacer Jansen, freshoffa4-feragainstIndia willbethekeytodayagainst twooftheWindiesmainleftarm batters in Hetmyer and Rutherford.
Right-arm speedster Corbin Bosch has been brilliant all tournament, picking up wickets at a consistentrateandwillhave his work cut out today
againstafewbighitters.
Left-arm spinner
GudakeshMotieonlyneededa fewgamestoreturntowickettakingform,with10scalpsto his name as well as the opportunity to claim the number one spot, should he baganother4wicketstoday Apart from the veteran Holder and Matthew Forde, West Indies have seen some good returns from Guyanese ShamarJosephwithballand inthefield.
Given the form of both teams, their journey to this stage and the road ahead still beingapotentiallytoughone; today’s battle will be a stern Test of who sticks to their gameplanandwhoexecutes betteron-field.
West Indies are the likely favorites while South Africa havebeenknowninthepastto foldinthedeepstages of big tournaments.
Although both teams are tied on two points apiece, West Indies lead Group 1 with a better Net Run Rate, whichaddsabitofanedgeas theyrallyintotoday’smatch at Ahmedabad bowling off from9:30h.
New Amsterdam Mayor Wainwright Mc Intosh presenting his sponsorship to FACC President and Coordinator Randolph Roberts.
NationalCyclist,Andre“Padlock” Green returned to the world of cycling with a telling
performance as he whipped the field to ride away with the Mashramani cycle event in Berbice.
The event, which was organised by the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) of New Amsterdam, was held on Mash Day around thetownofNewAmsterdam.
Green,whowasabsentfromcyclingfora while due to a number of unforeseen circumstances,showedthathehaslostnone ofhistouchesashetookchargeofthesix-lap eventearlytowinwithease.
The race, which was for cyclists in RegionsFiveandSix,sawthecyclistsbeing sent on their way around 14:00hrs as he pedaled off from the junction of Republic RoadandCharlesPlace.
1st place Andre
The riders then turned left into Vryheid Street, left into Main Street, proceed along MainStreet,turnedleftatTacamaTurn,into RepublicRoadforsixlapsatotalof30miles. Green was so dominant that he took charge from the start and was never challenged,lappingsomeoftheridersinthe processtowinwithease.
Riding in second was the evergreen Junior Niles, with Sidwell Sandy third, Jaikarran Sookhai fourth, Syborne FernandesfifthandDeonDavidsixth.
Arjune Sookhai won in the junior category
Founder President and coach of the FACC Randolph Roberts was the coordinator
A number of sponsors including New Amsterdam Mayor Wainwright McIntosh assistedwithsponsorship. (SamuelWhyte)
Director of Sport
Steve Ninvalle
programme as an important step in modernising sport development locally and revealed that the NSC is calling on all National
advantageoftheopportunity by registering their coaches andtechnicalstaff.
“With45personsalready registered, we are encouraged by the response sofar,butwearestillhopeful that the sports associations and others interested can comeonboardandregister,” Ninvallesaid.
andKellyCoonjah.
a n d s t r e n g t h a n d conditioning for injury resilience.
Additional sessions will examine youth athlete considerations, injury tracking systems, and criteria-based return-to-play frameworks.
T h e u p c o m i n g
physiotherapy seminar for coacheshasalreadyattracted strong interest, with 45 participantsregisteredsofar for what is being described
as a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed a
ete welfare and performance standardsinGuyana.
T h e o n e - d a y programme, scheduled for February 27 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, is being organised by the N a t i o n a l S p o r t s Commission (NSC) in collaboration with the Physiotherapy Department oftheMinistryofHealth. Theinitiativeisdesigned to bridge the gap between clinical sports medicine and everyday coaching practice, ensuring coaches are better equipped to manage athlete healthandinjuryprevention.
He added, “This programme is important because coaches are often the first responders when injuriesoccur,andtheymust be equipped with the right knowledgeandtoolstomake informeddecisions.”
Eachpresenterwillfocus on critical areas ranging from injury prevention to safe return-to-play protocols, providing both theoretical knowledge and practicalapplications.
Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle described the
Kennard Memorial Turf Club Phagwah Horserace meet pushed back by one week
Due to a number of unforeseen circumstances, the organisers of The Kennard Memorial Turf Club Phagwah Horserace meet have been forced to reschedule the event by one weektoSunday15thMarch.
Allarrangementsarestill inplaceandpreparationsare almost complete for the mouthwatering event which isslatedfortheClub’strack
at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne,Berbice.
There are still Seven
races on the day’s programmewithawhopping $9M in cash, trophies and otherincentivesatstake.
Thefeatureeventknown as the Metro Mile for the Metrostakesissponsoredby MetroStationaryandOffice Supplies to the tune of over $4M. The winner will race away with an enticing $2M andthePhagwahCupover9 furlongs.
The other events are the Fclassraceover7furlongs. ThereistheHclassrace
also over 7 furlongs for the tophorses.
Three years old Guyana bredmaidenhorsescompete over6furlongs.
Horses classified J class gallopsover7Furlongs.
The K class and lower event will see the animals competingover6Furlongs.
The final event for L classmaidenhorseswillalso see the competitors battling over6furlongs.Outstanding performances including the Champion Jockey and Runner up Jockeys, trainer and stables etc., will all receive accolades compliments of Ramesh SunichoftheTrophyStall.
The event will be held using the rules of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club.
Interested persons can contact the secretary of the club Ms. Isabela Beaton on telephonenumber693-7812 forfurtherdetails.
Race time is 12:30hrs.
(SamuelWhyte)
The seminar will feature a panel of experienced local physiotherapists and sports medicine practitioners, including Vanessa Wickham, Jana Edghill, AngelicaHolder,NeilBarry,
According to organisers, theseminarwillcoverawide cross-section of topics, including injury prevention and load management, mechanismsofinjurylinked to coaching decisions, acute injury management, concussionrecognition,heat illnesspreventionintropical environments, hydration strategies, structured warmupandcool-downprotocols,
Wickham is expected to set the foundation by addressing sports medicine team dynamics, injury patterns, and International Olympic Committee injury prevention protocols, while Edghill will focus on acute injury response, concussion management, and heatrelated illnesses, a particularly relevant topic givenGuyana’sclimate.
Holder will emphasise proper warm-up and recovery strategies, Barry will present strength and conditioning principles for performance and injury prevention, and Coonjah will conclude with guidance on safe return-to-play systems and youth athlete development.
Ninvalle further stressed that the partnership between theNSCandtheMinistryof Health represents a significant shift toward a more integrated national sports system, where medical expertise becomes embedded within training environments rather than treatedasanafterthought.
“Its our vision for Guyanese athletes to perform at their highest level, but never at the expense of their health Whenweinvestineducation forcoaches,weareinvesting in the protection of athletes acrosseverydiscipline,from grassroots to elite levels,” Ninvalleexplained.
The NSC believes the seminar will play a key role inreducinginjuryincidence, preventing reinjury, and improving long-term athlete performance sustainability nationwide, while reinforcing a broader national commitment to athlete-centred sport development.
West Ham United’s Jean-Clair Todibo clashes with Chelsea’s Joao Pedro and is later sent off. (REUTERS/David Klein)
(Reuters) - Chelsea and West Ham United have been fined 325,000 pounds ($439,140) and 300,000 pounds respectively for the mass confrontation at the end of their Premier League game last month, the Football Association saidonWednesday ChelseabattledfromtwogoalsdowntobeatWestHam32 in the London derby on January 31 but nearly 20 players wereinvolvedinameleeattheendofthegame.
WestHamwingerAdamaTraorethrewMarcCucurellato thegroundbeforeheclashedwithJoaoPedroasotherplayers arrivedtobreakupthefight.
WestHam’sJean-ClairTodiboreceivedastraightredcard afteraVARreviewforclutchingPedro’sthroat.
“ItwasallegedthatChelseaFCfailedtoensureitsplayers didn’tbehaveinanimproperand/orprovocativewayaround the95thminute,”theFAsaidinastatement.
“It was also alleged that West Ham United FC failed to ensure its players didn’t behave in an improper and/or provocativeand/orviolentwayatthistime.”
The FAsaid both clubs had admitted the charges against them.
($1=0.7401pounds)
COLOMBO, (Reuters) -
New Zealand recovered fromapoorstarttocrushSri Lanka by 61 runs in the Twenty20 World Cup Super Eights and eliminate the cohosts from the tournament onWednesday Mitchell Santner led New Zealand’s recovery withacaptain’sknockof47 off 26 balls after coming in withhissideinhugetrouble
at 84-5 to power them to a competitive 168-7 at the R PremadasaStadium.
Sri Lanka managed 1078 in reply, never recovering from a top-order collapse to succumb to their second defeat in the Super Eight stage of the 20-team tournament.
Rachin Ravindra (4-27) and Matt Henry (2-3) impressed with the ball for
NewZealand.
“It’s embarrassing to disappoint the home crowd, they’ve been very supportive,” Sri Lanka captainDasunShanakasaid.
“We wanted to restrict themto130but,tobehonest, theyplayedreallywellsowe mustgivethemcredit.”
HavinglosttoEnglandin theirfirstSuperEightmatch, it was a do-or-die game for
Sri Lanka and they initially showed a sense of urgency withtheballafterelectingto field.a
NEW ZEALAND STARTWELL
NewZealandgotofftoa strong start before losing openers FinnAllen and Tim Seifertinsuccessiveovers. They were 75-2 in the 10th over before the Sri Lankan spinners wreaked havoc to reduce them to 846.
MaheeshTheekshana(330) removed the well-set Ravindra (32) and Mark Chapmaninthesameoverto turnthescrew Santner joined Cole McConchie, who made 31 not out, in a rapid 47-ball stand of 84 that proved decisive.
Santner smacked four sixes as New Zealand plundered 70 runs from the lastfouroverstoensuretheir bowlershadadecenttotalto defend.
Henry bowled Pathum Nissankaforaduckwiththe first ball of the Sri Lankan innings and deceived Charith Asalanka with a
slower delivery in his next over Player of the match Ravindra then whittled out Sri Lanka’s middle order to derailthechase.
Theleft-armspinnersent down a two-wicket over in which Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake were stumpedtoreduceSriLanka to29-4intheninthover Ravindra also dismissed Shanaka for three to effectivelysealtheirvictory Kamindu Mendis (31) and Dunith Wellalage (29) offered brief resistance but Sri Lanka were never in the chase.
“It’soneofthosewickets where, if you can get in and
give yourself a bit of time, you can cash in,” Santner said.
“It was pretty tough to start out there, so to hit 160 wasnice.”
Group Two leaders England have qualified for the semi-finals with four pointsfromtwomatches.
NewZealand,whocame intothematchwithonepoint fromtheirwashed-outmatch against Pakistan, have three points.
Scores: New Zealand 168 for 7 (Santner 47, Ravindra 32, Theekshana 330,Chameera3-38)beatSri Lanka 107 for 8 (Kamindu 31, Wellalage 29, Ravindra 4-27,Henry2-3)by61runs.
Reuters - Paolo
Banchero scored 36 points with 10 rebounds and Desmond Bane added 22 pointsastheOrlandoMagic finishedoffasuccessfulroad
trip against Western Conference foes with a 110109 victory over the Los AngelesLakersonTuesday
WendellCarterJr scored 20 points and Tristan da Silvaadded13astheMagic went 3-1 on their trip with a victory at Sacramento and two more against a pair of Los Angeles teams in the Clippers and Lakers. They lostatPhoenixinthesecond gameofthetrip.
Luka Doncic scored 22 points with 15 assists and ninereboundswhileLeBron James and Deandre Ayton eachadded21pointsforthe Lakers, who went 4-4 on an extended homestand that wrapped around both sides of theAll-Star break. James had a chance to win it at the buzzer but his fallaway 3-
pointerwasofftarget.
Orlando shot 45.7% in thegamebutfinishedoffthe victorybyshooting59.1%in the fourth quarter while scoring 31 points. It was the Magic’s fourth consecutive victory against the Lakers going back to November of 2023 Cavaliers 109, Knicks
94 Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points and James Harden added 20 as Cleveland ran awayfromvisitingNewYork towinfortheeighthtimeinits lastninegames JarrettAllen collected19pointson7-of-8 field-goal attempts and grabbed 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which tied New York for third place in the Eastern Conference The Cavaliersare6-1withHarden inthelineupandaleague-best 13-2sinceJan.21.
Jalen Brunson scored 20 points and Mikal Bridges had 18, but the starting guardsshotacombined12of 36 from the field for the Knicks. New York, which
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) moves the ball against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)
only led for 19 seconds and trailed by 20 in the fourth quarter,is12-4sinceJan.19.
76ers135,Pacers114
Tyrese Maxey collected 32points,ninereboundsand eightassistsandJoelEmbiid added 27 points to fuel
Philadelphia to a victory overIndianainIndianapolis.
Maxey made 10 of 22 shots from the floor and all 10 attempts from the freethrowlineforthe76ers,who erupted for 45 points in the second quarter and shot a
sizzling57.6%forthegame.
Embiid sank 11 of 17 shots from the floor in his return from a five-game absence due to knee and shin issues.
Rookie VJ Edgecombe recorded23pointsandseven rebounds and Quentin Grimes added 15 points off the bench Micah Potter scored a season-high 23
points and Andrew Nembhardmatchedthattotal toleadthePacers.
Hawks 119, Wizards 98
Jonathan Kuminga scored a season-high 27 points in his AtlantadebutandtheHawks led wire-to-wire, beating visitingWashingtonfortheir secondstraightwin.
Kuminga, acquired from Golden State at the trade deadline, was 9 of 12 from the floor and scored 18 points in the third quarter
The good vibrations were tempered by the loss ofAllStar Jalen Johnson, who left the game at 6:22 in the first quarterwithalefthipflexor
injury. The Hawks also got 16 points from Nickeil Alexander-Walker,12points from Corey Kispert and 10 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists from Onyeka Okongwu.
The Wizards were led by reserves Will Riley, who scored 18, and Justin Campagnie and Jamir Watkins,whobothscored14 Trae Young, who played the firstseven-plusseasonsofhis careerwithAtlanta,wasonthe bench but did not play, still nursing the right knee MCL strain that has kept him out since Dec 27 The Hawks honoredYoungbyshowing a highlightvideo.
Inotherresults: Mavericks123,Nets114 Thunder116,Raptors 107Hornets131,Bulls 99Bucks128,Heat117 Pelicans113,Warriors 109Celtics97,Suns81 Timberwolves124,Trail Blazers121 (FieldLevelMedia)
United), Royston Hetemiah (Conquerors FC), Terrence “Junior” George (Thomas United), Godfrey Gibbons (Santos FC, deceased), Oswald Taylor (Pele FC), David Kistoo (Thomas United), Nigel “Mice” Cummings (Butafago FC) andShawn“Putty”Williams
(deceasedConquerors).
Supporting staff also played vital roles. Sharon H a r p e r s e r v e d a s physiotherapist, Keith Michael Austin was the official interpreter, and the late Mark Bender acted as Team Manager The technical bench was led by
Guatemala City! 39 years ago, a historic Guyana eleven pose for photo-op ahead of the Guatemala clash. Young Deon Barnwell standing fourth from left, at his right is skipper Terrence Archer along with other members of the team.
Rollingbackthehandsof time some 39 years, as we revisit a defining chapter in Guyana’s football history, when the Guyana national football team faced the Guatemala national side in an Olympic Qualifiers showdown.
As highlighted by Statistician Charwayne Walker, It was a landmark occasion. For the first time, the local football federation fieldedaseniornationalside against opposition from outside the Caribbean Football Union (CFU). The o p p o r t u n i t y w a s monumental, signaling the nation’s ambition to test its strength beyond regional borders.
The journey led the Guyanese contingent to Guatemala City, where they confronted a seasoned Guatemalan outfit on home soil.LedbycaptainTerrence Archer, the Guyana national side entered the qualifiers playing an attractive and spirited brand of football.
However, facing a formidable Central American opponent proved tobeasternexamination.
History records a sobering outcome The
“Land of Many Waters” suffered a 6–0 defeat in the opening encounter before falling 3–0 in the return match. While the scorelines reflected Guatemala’s dominance, the experience marked a crucial learning curve for the emerging Guyaneseside.
Accordingtostatistician, Charwayne Walker, Guyana’s starting eleven for that memorable campaign were captain Terrence Archer (Pele FC), Deon Barnwell (Thomas United), Trevor “Lannie” Maxwell
(Western Tigers FC, deceased), Rupert “Choppeye” Gordon (Western Tigers FC), Anthony “Brains” Bowen (Western Tigers FC, deceased), Gerald “Austin” Williams (Western Tigers FC), Adrian Forde (Police FC), Elson “Chilly kong” Hinckson (GDF FC, deceased), Broderick
Murray (GDF FC), Lawrence“Coachie”Arjoon (Camptown FC) and Neil O’Choa(CamptownFC).
Other squad members included Mark “Taggy” Pollard (GDF FC), Phillip “Pine” Carrington (Cougars FC),KeithLondon(Thomas
head coach Lennox Arthur and assistant coach Mervyn “Pug”Wilson(deceased).
D e s p i t e t h e disappointing results, the tour proved invaluable Competingagainstahigherranked nation offered exposure,experience,and (Continuedonpage24)
Race winnerAndre Green receives his winning prize from an official as other outstanding performers and officials pose for a photograph at the presentation ceremony
