Company documents by Lindsayca revealing details about the dispute with Guyana which government claimed was “confidential”.
DPP orders inquest into death of Adriana Younge
Guyanese urged to conserve on fuel amid -sayscontractmust berenegotiated Ram dismisses warning over renegotiation of lopsided ExxonMobil deal
U.S. Ambassador’s
...oppositionhammers Govt.over‘unpreparedness’ Chinese company exported affected on first day of global crisis
US$718M in gold last year
‘GOVT. EXPOSED’
Company documents by Lindsayca revealing details about the dispute with Guyana which government claimed was “confidential”.
Despite firm denials from the GovernmentofGuyana(GoG)thatno“secret payments” were made to the Wales Gas-toEnergy (GtE) contractor, newly surfaced financial records from Lindsayca/CH4 have revealedafarlargersettlement,raisingfresh concernsabouttransparencyinthecountry’s mostexpensiveproject.
Whilethepaymentwasneverreportedor admitted to by government, which claimed strict adherence to “confidentiality” terms, the contractor’s financials show that the Dispute Adjudication/Avoidance Board (DAAB) ordered the government to pay US$102.7 million, significantly higher than thepreviouslyreportedUS$80million.More
strikingly, the documents confirm that US$34.2 million has already been paid in 2025, with additional installments expected in2026.
According to the financials seen by this newspaper,“On31January2025,theDAAB issued two awards ordering the Government of Guyana to pay a total amount of US$102,679,839 to Lindsayca CH4 Guyana Inc.”
Lindsayca explained that in accordance with the contract it signed with government, accesstotheprojectsitefortheconstruction of the power plant was agreed as June 1, 2023. However, access was granted several months later due to delays in completion of
preparation and the costs associated with remediating defects related to the site preparation.”
AlthoughthePrimeMinister’sOfficeina statement last week informed that both partiesweredissatisfiedwiththeoutcomeof the DAAB, Lindsayca clearly stated, “To date, the outcome of the mediation process hasbeensatisfactoryfortheGroup.”
sitepreparationactivities.
Additionally, the company noted that there were defects to the quality of the site whichrequiredLindsayca/CH4toincurcosts toremedythesituation.Thepartiestherefore took their case to the DAAB “following a disagreement over the extension of the final deliverydateoftheproject.Thedisputearose due to delays in accessing the site for land
Following the ruling by the DAAB, the companyhighlightedalackofcomplianceby theGoG,whichledtoamediationagreement two months later According to Lindsayca, “Following this and a lack of compliance fromtheGovernmentofGuyana,theparties executed a Mediation Agreement on March 25,2025,todiscussandresolvethepayment oftheDAABawards.Duringthemediation Continued on page 25
The US has declared war against its world of enemies, many of them dressed up to suit the crazed visions of one man. Enemiesrecreatedasdangersilos,whichserveasthe justification for waging a continuing series of wars. The worldisinadarkplace,andispoisedtogrowdarker Few arethevoicestalkingaboutpeaceandzonesofpeace,with those doing so regarded as first-rate hypocrites, seen as devious,whilemissilesrainandinnocentciviliansdie.
In his last Wednesday night’s address to Americans, President Trump made his position clear The war against Iran would be fought at a fiercer pitch, with hitting Iran “extremely hard” how he informed Americans, and the world. ToneutraliseadangerousthreattoUSinterests,toits friends and allies, of which Israel is the first. Israel was always itching to settle long outstanding scores with Iran, and with the US now firmly entrenched in its corner, this could be war without end, even after it officially ends. Which country willingly yields its lands, its treasures, its right to govern itself to one that is seen as a diabolical usurper? Leaderscomeandgo,andmanyofthemhaveleft legacies of failed promises, shattered hopes, and stunted peoplebehind. Buttherearefewthatreadilywelcomethose who displace leadership regimes because they covet the richesoftheircountries.
Iran has a magical prize in its two hundred billion plus barrels of proven oil reserves. It is what make leaders less ambitiousthan DonaldTrump kill for, trump up (pun or no pun) reasons to embark on that fateful step and start a war. Bigger men than Trump have had their visions of world domination, and remaking it to fit their mold. Hitler had fevereddreamsofhisMasterRaceenslavingtheworldand marchingalloveritslesserspecimens. Trumpisdrivenby thoughtsofgreatness,whichhesaysisaboutAmerica,butis abouthimselfatthecrux,whenexaminedclosely Hehasset one region that is always on the brink aflame, the consequences of which will last long after he is gone from thescene. Hehaslaunchedprecedentsthatotherswilluseas the basis for justifying their actions, when they decide to move.
What chance does peace have in such an environment? How likely is peace to be, when a state of war, or warlike intentions, started in Washington, which once advertised itselfastheworld’spoliceman,theworld’speacemakerand peacekeeper? Probabilities are that a culture of follow the leader could develop, the unilateralism that brooks neither interferencenorlistening. Guyanafinditselfinaprecarious position, on the side of the warmongers, and clear as to its preferences. The buzzwords of restoration of democracy, the application of international law, and quality of life for citizensincountriesunderattackallringhollow,representso muchsoundandfury,butsignifyingnothing.
Guyana ought to be a nonaligned voice, a brave one calling for peace, and refusing to be dragged into conflicts that pose ill for international law, that violate long established norms, and that make up the rules as circumstancesdevelop. Thatisnotleadershiptobetrusted, nor battles to be supported, for they expose of lacking in independence,andofleadersnothavingawilloftheirown. Ourownoilwealthhasbeentheobjectofpredatoryassaults and calibrated deceptions, with the result being a rich country not in control of its potential, nor its destiny, anymore.
The enslavement of Guyana and control of its wealth have come into being under the ironclad provisions of a contract.
Abloodlesswaritwas,andadefeatedGuyananowprone toanymanipulation,anditsimmensewealthfreelyavailable for every exploitation. In Iran, the lethal weapons of war have been unleashed, with thousands already dead. Now withtheintensityofwarabouttodeepen,thequestionishow many more will die, how much more destruction, before somesortofvictoryisdeclared,orslowdownoccurs. Guyanese leaders celebrate being on the winning side. Therecouldbeapriceforthat,asourceoflaterregret.
AFC expresses grave disappointment over Govt’s mishandling of domestic fuel supply
DEAREDITOR,
The Alliance For Change (AFC) today express
disappointment and deep concern over the Government of Guyana’s apparent mismanagement of the domestic fuel supply, which has resulted in
inconvenience to citizens and businessesacrossthecountry
The AFC notes with alarm that, despite clear and growing signs of a looming global energy crisis, the Government was both deliberately and negligently slow in responding to the situation and in putting measures in place to safeguard the domestic supply chain This lack of foresight and preparedness has now manifested in empty gas stations, long lines, and uncertaintyforordinaryGuyanesewho depend on fuel for their daily
livelihoods.
Particularly troubling is the President’s belated announcement that the situation is being “monitored,” coming only after fuel shortages had already become widespread and disruptive. Such a reactive posture is unacceptable and reflects a failure of leadership at the highest level Monitoring a crisis after it has already impacted the population is not governance it is abdication of responsibility
The AFC believes that the Government had both the time and the resources to anticipate and mitigate thesechallenges.Proactiveengagement with suppliers, strategic stockpiling, and clear communication with the publiccouldhavesignificantlyreduced theimpactofthissituation.Instead,the Guyanese people have been left
unpreparedandunsupported.
WecallontheGovernmentto:
1 Provide an immediate and transparent explanation for the current fuelshortages;
2. Outline concrete steps being taken to restore stable supply in the shortestpossibletime;
3. Implement a comprehensive and forward-looking energy contingency plantopreventrecurrence;and
4 Communicate clearly and consistently with the public on developmentsandtimelines.
TheAFCstandsreadytosupportall efforts that place the interests of the Guyanese people first. However, we will not remain silent in the face of evident mismanagement and disregard forthewelfareofourcitizens.
Regards, AllianceForChange
The national clean-up exercise
DEAREDITOR,
The ongoing National Clean-Up Campaign being advanced by the PPP/C administration raises serious concerns regarding governance, accountability,andrespectforGuyana’s localdemocraticframework.
At the outset, one must question whether this initiative represents a genuine, sustainable public policy intervention,orwhetheritisyetanother centrallydrivenexercisethatundermines theauthorityandfunctionalroleofLocal Government Authorities (LGAs) The Constitutionandthestatutoryframework governing local democracy in Guyana clearly envisage that municipalities and neighbourhood democratic councils are primarily responsible for the maintenance and sanitation of their respective jurisdictions Yet, the current approach appears to bypass these institutions, thereby eroding their autonomyandweakeningtheveryfabric oflocalgovernance
Equally troubling is the absence of any coherent, long-term strategy underpinning these clean-up exercises. Whatthepubliccontinuestowitnessare episodic, highly publicised activities that lack continuity, measurable outcomes, and community ownership. Thereisnoevidenceofstructuredwaste management systems, behavioural
change programmes, or institutional strengtheningtoensurethatcleanliness issustainedbeyondthedayofexercise. This raises the inevitable question: are these campaigns about optics rather thanoutcomes?
Of even greater concern is the glaring lack of transparency and accountability with respect to public expenditure.Todate,therehasbeenno clear disclosure of the total sums expended on these national clean-up activities Under which budgetary allocations are these initiatives being financed? Notably, Budget 2026 contains no explicit line item for a National Clean-Up Campaign. This givesrisetolegitimatesuspicionsasto whether these expenditures are being subsumed under other programmes, suchasthe“MenonMission”initiative, without prior disclosure during the budgetaryexaminationprocess.
Such an approach, if true, would representatroublingdeparturefromthe principles of fiscal transparency and parliamentary oversight. It therefore becomes imperative to ask: is the Auditor General’s Office actively monitoring this expenditure, and will there be a comprehensive audit to ensure that public funds are being utilised in a lawful and efficient manner?
The deterioration of the local government framework under the PPP/C must also be placed on record. This stands in stark contrast to the period under the APNU+AFC Coalition,duringwhichtwosuccessful Local Government Elections were conducted in 2016 and 2018 (without the benefit of oil revenues), and where communities were demonstrably cleaner and better managed through empoweredlocalauthorities. Today, instead of strengthening these institutions, we are witnessing increasing centralisation, political interference,andthemarginalisationof localdemocraticorgans.Thistrajectory is neither sustainable nor consistent with good governance principles. As Guyana approaches its 60th IndependenceAnniversary on May 26, 2026, one must ask whether the nation will once again be subjectedto another round of ad hoc clean-up campaigns aimedatcreatingatemporaryveneerof order,ratherthaninvestinginenduring systems that reflect national pride and civic responsibility Guyana deserves better We deserve policies that are transparent, accountable, and sustainable policies that empower communitiesratherthansidelinethem.
Yourssincerely,
AnnetteFerguson
Guyanese must not distance themselves from this unfolding human tragedy in Cuba
DEAREDITOR,
OnSunday12thApril,Iwaspartofa solidarity march from St. Andrew’s ChurchtotheSquareoftheRevolution, andlaterarallyatGuerrillaBar
During the proceedings, a video showing past and present conditions in Cuba was shown. This included a statement by a US citizen from Colorado,whoclaimedthattreatmentin the US did not help his wife who was suffering fromAlzheimer, but after six monthsinCuba,usingadrugthatCuba has recently developed, there was marked improvement in her cognitive
skills. At the rally at the Square of the Revolution, we were reminded of the horrors of apartheid and the plight of orphansinSouthernAfrica.ItwasCuba that provided shelter, food and education for these displaced orphans, on the Isle ofYouth, giving them hope and a reason to live. When the Cuban Ambassador, who spoke in impeccable English,describedthehardshipsfacing ordinaryCubans,tearscametomyeyes, and I wondered if someone could say what did the Cuban leadership and people do to deserve this punitive
embargoforseveraldecades. Guyanese must not distance themselves from this unfolding human tragedy, and again must pose the question why? For brevity and for the benefitofyoungreaders,Iremindusof the following; when Dr Fidel Castro Ruz took charge of Cuba in January of 1959, it was in the wake of Batista turning Cuba into the playground of wealthyAmericansandCubans.Aplace of immorality, similar to the present Epstein revelations. In April 1959, whenCastrovisitedtheUS,hemetwith Continued on page 5
When compassion chooses spectacle over suffering
DEAR EDITOR,
A nation’s soul bleeds when stacked wallets rush for the First Son’s animal lemonade stand, yet Marlon Jupiter’s GYD 7.3M plea for life faded unanswered Human pretenders: soulsearch your selective humanity paws over a dying boy’s pulse exposes our moral collapse. Guyana, reclaimequityinurgency
Twelve-year-old Marlon
J u p i t e r f o u g h t TLymphoblastic Lymphoma with the fierce innocence only a child can muster Diagnosed at Georgetown PublicHospitalCorporation, where Guyana’s vaunted GYD 161 billion health budget offered treatment but no cure, he needed a bone m a r r o w t r a n s p l a n t abroad—GYD 7.3 million for surgery, travel, recovery His family, crushed by poverty’s unyielding grip,
turned to raw pleas: social media posts, a US charity’s GoFundMe from Saving Hands Emergency Aid. Dollars trickled in USD 7,899 by the end—too little, too late Marlon slipped away in late March 2026, his small body surrendering to an aggressive blood cancer that ravaged him while the nationscrolledpast. To Marlon’s mother, we extend our deepest ache. Your boy—vibrant, hopeful, unnamed in the spectacle of p o w e r d e s e r v e d ambulances of urgency, not echoes of indifference. You cradled his final breaths amid grief too heavy for any parent,whileahealthsystem flush with funds diverted GYD900millionto“Menon a Mission” and other opticsfriendly causes. Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed named it a national disgrace; wenameitamoralcollapse.
Unmasked. Enter the human pretenders: those who, just yesterday, clutched stacked wallets for a lemonade stand staged by the First Son, raising millions for animal welfare Polished photos c
megaphones, a narrative gift-wrapped for applause.
C
compassion as performance art Puppies and kittens gained lifelines; Marlon’s
? A
unfortunate. These are not monsters, but mirrors of our selective soul They saw greater value in paws and fur visible, symbolic, shareable—while ignoring a boy’s unraveling humanity Did the animals’ cause sparkle with political utility,
Guyanese must not distance themselves...
From page 4 prominent leaders including the vice president, there included a meeting in Washington,hemadeitclear he was no communist, but wanted to give every Cuban black, brown, and white a better life. This is significant in the light of the heat and height of an all-consuming cold war However, the beneficiaries of the Batista, banalities in Cuba and parts of the United States were unhappy, and unforgiving, refusing to accept the validity of the 1959 popular uprising.
So, this very month in 1961, aided by certain elements there was the “bay of pigs” invasion, an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Cuban government. And, of course there is the well-known but incorrectly described Cuban missile crisis, the following year November 1962, when the two ‘Ks’ Kennedy and Khruschev brought us back from the brink of disaster What the western media do notsayisthatpartofthedeal was not only for the soviets to remove their missiles in Cuba pointing towards the
US, but for the Americans simultaneously removing their missiles in Italy and Turkey aimed at parts of the SovietUnion.
We in Guyana must not forget the Cubana Air disaster in 1976, intended to intimidate and, as the boys say “manners” independent thinkers. In other words, we are seeing today a repeat of a levelofintoleranceatseveral levels, inconsistent with the underpinnings and meaning o f d e m o c r a c y , independence, and the international rule for people to choose their own path to libertyandlove.
It is unnecessary for me to burden this letter with more details but, save again to pose the question; what crime, what deed, have the
people of the Republic of Cuba done to deserve this inhumane punishment I appeal to all Guyanese, irrespective of religious or political beliefs and background, to speak up and let your voices be heard to supportthepeopleofCuba.I believe they are on the right side of history and we must fearlessly stand by them, fearless, because on Sunday many friends were afraid to showtheirfaces.
Inallthisweoughtnotto ignore the influence of ideology; remember England 1642-49, America 1776, France 1789, Russia 1905, Mexico 1910 -1919, Vietnam 1946 – 1975, and SouthAfrica1948-1994.
Sincerely,
Elder Hamilton Green
cameras flashing, leaders nodding? Marlon offered no such stage. His suffering whispered from the shadows of poverty, unamplified, unphotogenic. No national campaigns mobilised; no
elevated his fight. Just a GoFundMe limbo, funds crawling while cancer sprinted.
The Machinery of Uneven Compassion
This is no accident of t i m i n g . G u y a n a ’ s compassion engine hums for the staged: a child’s entrepreneurial lemonade talebecomesnationalpride, Continued on page 6
NY Guyanese Mourn
Passing of U.S. Congressman
DEAR EDITOR,
Former Congressman Elliot Engel, who worked closely with a few of us when we were deeply involved in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Guyana, died a few days ago. He was a consistent friend of Guyana and Guyanese New Yorkers and the Caribbean. He was a tireless advocate for democracyinothercountriesandimmigrants in USA. He played a very important role in Guyana’saffairsgoingbacktothelate1980s. We mourned his passing, remembering his role in helping to restore democratic governance in Guyana and in championing causes of the greater Caribbean and its diaspora(immigrants)inAmerica.
Engel was elected from Westchester and the Bronx where large numbers of Guyanese have been settled going back to the 1970s; thiswriteralsolivedintheBronxforoversix years while studying Bio-Chemistry at the nearby (CUNY) CCNY campus which produced the likes of Henry Kissinger and severalNobellaureatesinthesciences.
Engel also studied at CUNY, and like me, taught for several years. He entered politics. He served in NYS legislature before being elected to Congress where he served for 32 years. Community advocate Mike Persaud and I lobbied Engel around 1989 to assist in the struggle for restoration of democracy. There was a Guyanese program on one Saturday in the Spring of 1990 at a cinematic hall (owned by realtor Herman Singh and insurancebrokerRamJodha)onJamaicaAve in Queens Village and both gave permission tometoinviteEngelasaguestspeaker Mike Persaud,whowaslivinginBronxatthetime, visited Engel’s office multiple times seeking assistance for our struggle. Engel accepted Mike’s invitation to attend the Queens event andheaddressedthegathering.
The Congressman spoke passionately
about the importance of democratic governance and criticized history of election rigging in Guyana. I interviewed him for an article in the local community newspaper As a leading Member of Congress in Foreign Affairs, he committed to tying future aid to Guyana with the holding of democratic elections. And he subsequently issued a statement calling for FFE in Guyana, joining Congressman Stephen Solarz and Senator Ted Kennedy both of whom had also issued statements on Guyana at the urging of Mike and I. Mike and I met Solarz at his office in Williamsburg in Brooklyn, pleading on him toissueastatement.Wealsopennedlettersto other Members of Congress who also issued statementsonGuyana.Mikeandothersdrove toWashingtonandmetMembersofCongress as wellAssist Secretary for LatinAmerica & CaribbeanAffairsSallyCowalwhocalledfor FFEinGuyana.
Engel was not motivated by ethnicity or District (local) politics, but by righteousness. At times when other politicians were quiet about lack of democracy and human rights violations, he chose to act. He and his staff were available to discuss what mattered to Guyanese in NYC. He set a standard in politics worthy of emulation. He did champion a law calling for closer relations (economic engagement and security arrangements) with Guyana and the Caribbean. Our regret was our inability to consistently raise funds for his re-election; other left wing Guyanese groups were not supportive viewing America government as imperialistic even when Washington sided withusondemocracyinGuyana. MikeandI and others remember Engel for addressing issues (justice, equality, democracy, etc.) that concernedNYGuyaneseandGuyana.
ATransGuyanaAirways aircraftwasdamagedafterit was involved in a runway collision with a herd of capybara moments after it landed at the Eugene F CorreiaInternationalAirport atOgleonTuesdayevening.
Communications and Public Relations (PR) Consultant for the airport, Kit Nascimento told this newspaperviatelephonethat the Beechcraft 1900 bearing registration 8R-GAQ had just arrived from Suriname. He said the aircraft was transporting 12 passengers andtwocrewmemberswhen it struck a herd of capybara after it touched down at the runway shortly after 18:00 hours.
“Theaircraftwasalready on the land, completing its landing when it came into collision with a herd of capybaras crossing the runway Thepilotwasableto maintain control of the aircraft,butthelandinggear atthefrontoftheaircraftwas
badly damaged He said when the collision took place,thecaptainshutdown the engines immediately to maintain control of the aircraft which came off the runway but remained stable,”hesaid.
He explained that the passengers were deplaned immediately an
emergency vehicles were deployed. “No injuries wer
reported.”
When compassion chooses...
Frompage5 proving goodwill’s abundance when visibility aligns. But human suffering without optics? It stalls. Marlon’s family beggedpublicly—posts,appeals,charitybridges—yetraised afractionbeforehisheartstopped.Contrasttheanimalfund’s flood: resources deployed with efficiency, cheer, coordination.
Povertydoesn’tgeneratespectacle.Itbreedssilence.And silence rarely outshines the shine of curated goodwill. Contributors to yesterday’s event indulged willingly, perhapsseekingsolaceinaunique—sharedhumanity—must nowconfrontthehierarchytheyfueled:animalsoveradying child,becauseonehadstaging,theotheronlyneed.
ReclaimingaLostNationalSoul
Marlon’s demise is our indictment.Anation oil-rich yet compassion-poor cannot indefinitely ignore this chasm without fracturing. We’ve lost our soul when human pretenders prioritise paws over a boy’s pulse, spectacle over survival. To those who scoffed at his fight: soul-search. Did Marlon’s lack of amplifiers diminish his worth? His mother carrieseternalloss;youcarrytheburdenofselectivegiving. Let this resonate: compassion exists, but conditionally—unlocked by optics, locked by obscurity Guyana, awaken. Mobilise for the invisible before more Marlonsteachus,toolate,thatasoul-lessnationmournsnot just one child, but its own humanity Honour him by demandingequityinurgency,visibilityforeverylife,amoral architecturewhereneedalonecommandsthemachinery
Sincerely,
HemduttKumar
The damaged Beecraft at Ogle airport, East Coast Demerara.
Nascimento, in recent times
experiencing problems with aninvasionofwildanimals.
capybaras and other wild animals is a relatively new one. (These) animals have been invading the airport,
resulting largely from the massive road construction that has been taking place around the airport, driving these animals out of their natural habitat. We’ve not only had capybaras, we’ve hadcaimanontherunway.”
the runway.
The communications specialist said that the authorities are aware of the problem.
“Well…the government authoritiesarewellawareof thisproblem.Wedoourbest to make sure that the runways are clear prior to touch down and but this happened, and I want to stress this, when the plane had already touched down, whenthecapybarasinvaded, it was a herd of them,” he said.
AactivityacrossSurinameand Guyana, the SurinameGuy
Commerce (SGCC) has elected its Executive Officers for the 2026–2027 term, positioning the organisation to deepen private sector engagement andcross-bordertrade.
The Chamber in a statement extended its sincere appreciation to its outgoingExecutiveOfficers and inaugural Board for their foundational leadership and service, which established SGCC as acredibleandresults-driven bilateral platform during a period of rapid economic transformation.
T h e C h a m b e r announced the Executive Officers (2026-2027) include Chair - Mr Mark Anthony Sookhai, Partner, M Sookhai & Co A Chartered Accountant with over20yearsofexperience, bringing strong expertise in financial stewardship and strategic leadership, contributing to regional economic development; Vice-Chair - Mr Navin
Accountants&TaxAdvisors
Accountant (USA) recognized for supporting businesses establishing and o p e r a t i n g i n Suriname;Treasurer - Ms. Annabelle Carter-Sharma, Company Secretary & Operations and Quality Director, Total Property Management Services
B
technical and governance expertise, grounded in integrity and operational excellence; Board Secretary - Dr Vishnu Doerga, Chairman, ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc. Co-founder of SGCC, with over two decades of leadership in investment, private sector development, and regional trade
The Directors (20262027)are Dr Alista Bishop, Founder,AXInvestments& Consultants - Financial expert specializing in investment strategy and oil & gas advisory; Mr Brian
Imambaks, Founder, Technovate N VTechnology and innovation leader focused on AI and
automation solutions; Mr Derrick Klaverweide, Commercial Director, OptiekNinon-Experienced commercial leader with regional business expertise; Mr Samuel Glasgow, Attorney-at-Law, Glasgow Law Practice - Corporate attorneyadvisingbusinesses on legal and governance matters; Mr Jimmy Manna, Managing Director, Elgawa N V - Engineering and building technologies specialistdrivinginnovation and efficiency; Mr Pritipaul Singh Jr , Managing Director, Guyana Port Inc. - Logistics and operations leader with maritime and industrial expertiseandMs.Angelique Redjodiwirjo, Senior Commercial Manager, Fernandes Bakery N.VCommercial professional with experience in largescale manufacturing and distribution.
With new leadership in place,SGCCremainsfirmly focused on advancing private sector collaboration andstrengtheningeconomic ties between Suriname and Guyanaastheimportanceof strong, sustained private
continuestogrow
A
es continuetoexperiencerapid growth across energy, infrastructure, and industry, theChamberiscommittedto ensuring that opportunity is matched by partnership, supporting businesses to engage confidently across borders and contribute to long-term, shared prosperity
SGCCservesbusinesses and partners in Suriname, Guyana,acrossCARICOM, and internationally, looking to engage across both markets - providing tailored support, facilitating crossborder connections, and delivering over 10 events and 12 targeted trade missionsannually
Atthecenterofthisisits flagship platform, the International Business Conference (IBC) 2026, happening in Suriname on October 13-15, supported by SITA and G-Invest SGCC remains committed to being a trusted platform for connection, continuity, and progress, advancing trade, investment, and meaningful partnerships across the SurinameGuyanacorridor
Guyana on Tuesday reiterated its commitmenttoreparations,racialjusticeand equitable development for people ofAfrican descent, as Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Vanessa Benn, addressed an internationalUnitedNationsforum.
DeliveringastatementattheFifthSession ofthePermanentForumonPeopleofAfrican Descent,BennsaidtheGovernmentremains “steadfast” in advancing policies aimed at reducing historical inequalities while promotingsustainabledevelopment.
Speaking during a panel on reparations, sustainable development and economic justice, the minister said Guyana supports global efforts to uplift people of African descent and reaffirmed its adherence to international agreements, including the International Convention on the Elimination ofAllFormsofRacialDiscriminationandthe
Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.
Benn told delegates that Guyana “unequivocally” condemns racism, discriminationandsocioeconomicexclusion, while calling for stronger global action to protect vulnerable populations. She also welcomedtheUnitedNations’recognitionof slavery as a crime against humanity, noting that such acknowledgment, though “long overdue,” is critical to advancing the reparationsagenda.
The minister warned that global challenges, including conflict, supply chain disruptions, rising fuel and food prices, and climate change, are worsening poverty and inequality, particularly among marginalised communities. She further condemned what shedescribedasthe“racistand Continued on page 22
Ministers Vanessa Benn and Steven Jacobs, Guyana’s Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Leslie Ramsammy, and others, in Geneva, Switzerland
(Photo: Minister Benn’s Facebook page)
Wherearethecoroners?
The law in Guyana governing the holding of a Coroner’s Inquest is both clear in its intent and, at the same time, revealing in its limitations. Rooted in the CoronersAct,Cap.4:03,the legal framework establishes the circumstances under which deaths must be
investigated and the mechanisms through which suchinvestigationsaretobe carriedout.
At its core, the law requiresthatwhereadeathis sudden, violent, unnatural, orofunknowncause,itmust be reported to the appropriate authorities
Upon such a report, a coroner is obligated to i n q u i r e i n t o t h e circumstances of the death. This inquiry may take the formofaninquest—aformal judicial examination aimed atdeterminingtheidentityof the deceased, and how, when, and where the person cametotheirdeath.
Importantly,thelawdoes not mandate that every u n n a t u r a l d e a t h automatically results in an inquest. Rather, it places a duty on the coroner to investigate and to determine whether the holding of a formal inquest is necessary
This distinction is significant It reflects an intention to allow some degree of discretion, enabling the coroner to decidewhethertheavailable evidence justifies a full publicinquiryorwhetherthe
matter can be resolved through other investigative means.
Under the existing legal framework, the coroner plays a pivotal role. The office is not merely administrative; it is quasijudicial, carrying with it the responsibility to ensure that suspicious or unexplained deaths are subjected to proper scrutiny Inquests, whenheld,serveanessential public function: they promote transparency, provide answers to grieving families, and may uncover facts relevant to criminal proceedings.
However, while the structure of the law has remained largely intact, a significant development occurred with legislative changes introduced under t h e A P N U + A F C administration. On January 14, 2016, the National Assembly passed the Coroners (Amendment) Bill 2015 following what was widelydescribedasaheated and protracted debate between the Government andtheOpposition. Theamendmentsdidnot fundamentally alter the substantive law governing inquests Instead, they addressed an important structural issue: the definition and scope of who may act as a coroner Under the amended provisions, the magistrateofthemagisterial districtinwhichanunnatural deathoccursisdesignatedas
Dem Boys Seh...
the coroner Where that magistrate cannot conveniently or speedily be found,orisunabletoact,the lawprovidesthatthenearest Justice of the Peace who is abletodososhallassumethe role A coroner, in this context, is defined as a public official who investigates, by way of inquest,anydeathnotdueto naturalcauses.
C r u c i a l l y , t h e amendmentalsowidenedthe meaning of “coroner ” A c c o r d i n g t o t h e explanatory memorandum, it empowered the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to appoint “fit and proper persons”toserveascoroners across the country.This was a forward-looking reform, intended to expand the pool of individuals capable of performing this critical function, and to ease the burden on magistrates who already face heavy caseloads. Yet, despite this legislative advancement, therehasbeenlittleevidence that the intended expansion has been meaningfully implemented. There are no widely known or publicly identified appointments of such specially designated coroners under the authority of the Judicial Service Commission. In effect, the system continues to rely almost exclusively on magistrates and, in limited circumstances, Justices of thePeace.Thisgapbetween legislative intent and
practical implementation is increasingly difficult to justify Guyanahas,inrecent years, experienced a troubling rise in reports of unnatural deaths ranging from violent crimes to accidents and other unexplained fatalities. Each ofthesecasesrepresentsnot only a potential legal matter but also a human tragedy, often leaving families withoutanswersandwithout closure. The consequence is a growing backlog of cases that either await inquest or are never fully ventilated through the formal process envisioned by the law Magistrates, already burdened with their regular judicial duties, cannot reasonably be expected to absorb this additional w o r k l o a d w i t h o u t consequence. It is precisely this
situation that the 2015 amendment sought to address. By allowing for the appointment of additional, qualified individuals as coroners, the law created a mechanism through which the system could be strengthenedandmademore responsive However, a mechanism unused is a problem unsolved The J u d i c i a l S e r v i c e Commission should move withdispatchtoidentifyand appoint suitably qualified personstoserveascoroners. These individuals must possess the requisite legal knowledge, independence, andintegritytodischargethe responsibilities of the office effectively
Such appointments would not only reduce the existing backlog of inquests but also enhance public c
n
administration of justice More timely inquests would mean quicker answers, greater transparency, and a stronger foundation for any subsequent criminal proceedings. The law, as it stands, provides the tools. What is required now is the will to use them. In the face of rising unnatural deaths, the failure to fully operationalize the office of the coroner is no longer a matter of administrative oversight—itisamatterthat goes to the heart of justice itself.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.) Gas,
Dem boys seh is one lil gas hiccup and suddenly the whole country behave like is doomsday dress rehearsal. One day—just oneday—gasgetlilsnag,andGuyaneseturn topanicbuying.
Yuhwouldathinkisthelastdropofpetrol onEarth.Linesstretchlongerthanpaydayat payoffice,andtempersgethotterthansunin August sun. But the real comedy? People turn up with every container known to mankind. Dem boys seh they see man with bucket, water bottle, old paint tin, one fella eventryheluckwithaplasticbag.
Now nobody ain’t got problem if you buying lil extra—just in case. But some people behaving like they planning to open theirowngasstationnextweek.
And while everybody scrambling, nobodystoptothink:themoreyouhoard,the less for everybody else. Is simple math, but apparentlypanicdoescancelcommonsense quicker than rain cancel cricket. The real joke is how the panic itself make things worse.
Lines moving slower, people cussing, horn blowing, and pump attendant looking liketheyneedcounselling.Allbecausefolks decide to top up everything from car to
cutlass.
Now dem boys seh the situation done stabilize since yesterday Tankers roll in, pumps flowing, and things getting back to normal. But you think that stop the panic buyers? No! Some still out deh like they buying enough gas to see them through the rest of the year One man get so catch up in the frenzy, he empty out he whole wallet filling gas When he done, tank full, containersfull,pridefull—butpocketempty Man reach home and had to explain to he family that dinner is now “premium unleaded imagination,” because he ain’t evenhadmoneyleftfuhbuyaloafofbread.
Another man tell dem boys, “I just topping up fuh safety.” Safety?At this rate, you safer opening a petrol station in yuh backyard.
DemboyssehGuyanesegotplentygood qualities—but when it come to panic, we does go all out. Next time, leh we try a new strategy: calm down, tek a breath, and remember—yuh cyah drive two car at the sametime.
Unless, of course, panic reach that stage too. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
National minimum wage citizens
For several years, senior citizensreceivedanincrease in their monthly pensions. Paltry and unlivable, but an extradollarforcash-stressed elderly Public servants fromjuniorstoapexseniors, notably the president, have received a salary increase. Trade unions negotiated with private entities to gain increasesfortheirmembers.
Generally speaking, the increases may be cheap and slender, given the scanty percentages There are exceptions Examples include the president,
ministers, opposition members,andseniorormidlevel public servants. Try this: 10% of $3,000,000 is $300,000(president).
Or a million is $100,000 (PS). Betteryet,allowances (utilities, security, hospitality, more) attached to some high-level jobs
would be more than enough for a stuck-at-the-bottom Guyanese to manage Guyana’s living challenges fairlyreasonably
ButwhataboutGuyana’s minimum wage workers? Where do they stand? What’s been done for them? How do they manage? To survive? What do their numberssay?
The Ministry of Labour proudly reported that effective, July 1, 2022, the national monthly minimum wage is $60,147. Three months hence, it would be fouryearssincethat$60,147 monthly minimum wage humiliation and heartbreak has stayed unmoving, stagnant as an abandoned latrine.
First inquiry: how many private sector minimum wage workers are they in Guyana?
Second, how many of them are still around (alive andwell)?
Third, how many forced to beggary, thievery, or bodily slavery, to cope (to a point), to feed their families (decently, humanely, daily)? No mentioning of Stats Chief,Dr ErroldelaCruz’s, preliminary census report, and what it contains or doesn’tincludeinrelationto thisissue.
S i m i l a r l y , n o disparagementismadetoday of official food inflation levels, or overall inflation baskets an
, regardless of source. What is asked again is how do these Guyanese live, creep fromonedaytothenext?
IshallnotcondemnPres. AlinorDr Singhforinaction orineptitude. Mayinfuriate, but of no help. But for minimum wage workers to
beburiedandforgottensince July2022toApril2026must qualify as a national disgrace,stench.
Neither may welcome; I willmanage. Butcaneither of these two legendary Guyanese superstars now dancing with the stars (Exxon,Rubio,Arabsheiks, and Polynesians), disagree with me? Is there anything that kind and caring Dr Ali, and grim-faced and sharpeyed Dr Singh, can retrieve from their capacious intellectual reservoirs as argumentsintheirfavour?
For sure, more roads havebeenbuilt,withbillions expended. But those have become a trail of tears for minimum wage Guyanese workers who see them and weep. Insubstance:theycan beused. Buttobuywhatand withwhat?
Maybe a small, tight, light basket of pumpkin seeds. Like potato skin, word is that pumpkin seeds are nutritious Okay! Guyanese can afford to purchase a gallon of rice, a kiloofflour,andapintofoil.
But what else?
What else after a bottleofcookinggas?
The rent collector and mortgage banker (if there is one) has his hand stretchedout,andheorsheis not taking no for an answer
Pay that monthly debt and plunge into financial depths for the rest of the month.
Month after dismal, despondent,destitutemonth.
Intheunlikelyeventthat ExcellencyAliwasunaware of the national minimum wage situation, I do the honours Respectfully, naturally
More for the office, far lesstheman. Howcanthere be drinking champagne and gorging on caviar (halal, of course and no relation), when men and women earning$60,147monthlyare reduced to fine dining on coconut shells and castor oil?
For Dr Ashni “NDP”
Singh, when budget numbers roll off paper and palate, the reality is that Guyanese lowest wage earners are degraded to
nonpersons, treated worse than inconvenient census detritus. I hear that Dr Singhhasaheart. Eitherhehadatransplant since;orit’sanartificialone. A cash grant helps, but not for long. When market day isdreaded,andcookingtime induces chronic pain, in minimum wage recipients, I assert the obvious: government has partnered with commercial allies to weaken, sicken, Guyana’s lowestwageearners. Nostonesarehurled. No insults delivered No official stats comfort. No graph,chart,tablehelpstheir day Simply, this shouldn’t be. Noteventoadog. Over toDrs.AliandNDPSingh.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Ram dismisses U.S. Ambassador’s warning over renegotiation of lopsided Exxon deal ...sayscontractmustberenegotiated
Chartered accountant Christopher Ram has firmly rejected the warnings by United States Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot that any move to revisit the 2016PetroleumAgreement, the country has with
American oil giant
ExxonMobil for the lucrative Stabroek Block, couldsendthewrongsignal toinvestors.
In his latest column, Ram outlined that what Guyanese are seeking therefore are neither radical nor unprecedented. “They range from requiring the oil companiestobeartheirown corporationtaxliabilities,be willing to pay withholding tax on profits, and introducing a modest mechanism that allows the State to participate more fully in periods of exceptionally high prices,” hesaid.
It would be recalled that the 2016 deal, the previous APNU+AFC Coalition government signed with Exxon, stipulates that the government must pay Exxon, Hess and CNOOC taxesfromitsshareofprofit oil. In addition to that, the agreement allows for up to 75percentofoilproduction is used to recover costs, the remaining 25 per cent is consideredprofitandissplit equally between Guyana and the consortium, giving each 12.5 per cent. The consortium pays a mere 2 per cent royalty from its sharetoGuyana.
Ambassador Theriot during a recent interview cautioned that renegotiating the contract Guyana has with American oil major ExxonMobil sends a “terrible signal” and is a “badidea.”
There have been local debatesoverthetermsofthe contract, triggering calls for the government to bring the oilmajorbacktothetableto renegotiatethecontracteven nowasoilpricessoarandthe block is estimated to hold 11.6 billion barrels of oil; Theriotsaidrenegotiatingan already agreed contract could undermine investor confidence at a critical time for the country’s economic expansion.
However, Ram stated,
States
“Evenunderlessfavourable conditions, many resourceproducing countries revisit theirfiscalregimes.Notasa breach of faith, as the Ambassador would have Guyanesebelieve,orworse, hostility towards investors, but as a recognition that long-term agreements must retain a measure of flexibility if they are to remain justifiable economicallyandlegitimate politically.”
He cited that with President Donald Trump’s Israeli-led War on Iran triggering a dramatic rise in oil price, there have been heightened calls for a windfall tax on the American led consortium that owns the hugely profitable Stabroek Block. He added that the U S envoy’s intervention comes at a time when public discussion in Guyana is turning to whether the existing fiscal terms still deliverafairoutcomeinthe face of high prices and sustainedprofitability
He highlighted that at this time when Guyana is in apositiontobenefitfromthe windfall in oil prices, the country must seize every opportunity to maximise earningsfromafinite
Continuedonpage22
United
Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot
Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram
Adriana Younge
DPP orders inquest into death of Adriana Younge
Almost a year since the body of 11-year-old Adriana SueriaYounge was discovered in the pool of a hotel on the East Bank Essequibo, an inquest into her death has been ordered by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ShalimarAli-Hack,S.C.
ThecircumstancessurroundingYounge’sdeathhaveleft many with unanswered questions. Younge who resided at Hyde Park, Parika, died inApril 2025 under circumstances thatcontinuetotroublebothherfamilyandthewiderpublic. The young girl was reported missing on April 23, 2025, duringafamilyoutingattheDoubleDayInternationalHotel andBarinTuschen,EastBankEssequibo.
An inquest is a public inquiry aimed at determining the factsrelatedtoadeath,includingtheidentityofthedeceased, thecauseofdeath,andthecircumstancessurroundingit.The inquest will be conducted by a Magistrate in the division wheretheincidentoccurred. Theinquestwillbeheldunder theCoroner’sAct,allowingtheMagistratetocallwitnesses andexamineevidencetoascertainthecauseofdeath.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) in a statement on Tuesdayeveningconfirmedthedirectionsreceivedfromthe DPP’sofficeandnotedthatitistakingthenecessarystepsin keeping with the legal process. “The Guyana Police Force also recognises the importance of public confidence in matters of this nature and remains committed to upholding thehigheststandardsofprofessionalism,accountabilityand integrity in the execution of its duties,” it was stated. Police saidfurtherinformationwillbeprovidedasappropriate.
This update follows recent criticism from Adriana’s family lawyer Dr. Dexter Todd, who expressed frustration over the lack of progress in the case, noting that despite the lengthoftimethathaspassed;theinvestigationhadnotbeen completed. According to reports, Younge was seen at approximately 13:01hrs on the day she disappeared. Her grandmother had reportedly observed her swimming in the hotel’spoolshortlybeforeshewentmissing.
Despite immediate concern and searches, Adriana was not found until the following day—nearly 20 hours later—whenherbodywasdiscoveredinthesameswimming pool.Reportsindicatedthatherbodywasfoundinanupright position,raisingseriousconcerns,particularlysincethepool hadreportedlybeensearchedearlier
Apost-mortemexaminationconductedonApril28,2025, byinternationalpathologistsdeterminedthatAdrianadiedas a result of drowning. However, the unusual circumstances surrounding the discovery of her body, combined with unansweredquestionsabouttheinitialinvestigation,fuelled widespreadpublicskepticismandoutrage.
Thecasehadsincedrawnbothnationalandinternational attention, with many questioning the handling of the investigationbytheGuyanaPoliceForce(GPF).
InJuly2025,theGPFhadstatedthatitsinvestigationwas completeandthatthecasefilehadbeensubmittedtotheDPP That file included a report prepared by retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer Leonard McCoshen, who had been brought in by the government to assistwiththeprobeandspentseveraldaysinGuyanabefore presentinghisfindings.
Inalaterupdate,CrimeChiefWendellBlanhumindicated thattheinvestigationremainsactive Hehadrevealedthatinthe interest of transparency, the police had shared Adriana Younge’sautopsyreportwiththefamily’sattorney anaction henotedwascontrarytostandardoperatingprocedures
Guyana’s lone large-scale gold operator, Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd, through its subsidiary Aurora Gold Mine (AGM) Inc., exported 167,005 ounces of gold from Guyana in 2025 – an estimated value of US$718 million (about G$143 billion) based on a gold price of US$4,300perounce.
ZijinrecentlyreportedanetprofitofUS$7.4billionfor2025from its global operations. The company is among the world’s leading producers of gold, copper, and zinc, with more than 30 large-scale mining projects across 19 countries. In its 2025Annual Results, Zijin statedthattheAuroramineproducedapproximately4.5tonnesofgold, representingan11percentincreasefrom4.1tonnesin2024. Kaieteur News had reported that according to Zijin’s interim half-year 2025 report,ZijinearnedRMB1.4789billion(overUS$200million)fromthe AuroraGoldMineduringthefirsthalfof2025.
Zijin’s foothold in Guyana’s mining landscape was solidified in August2020whentheyacquiredthelargestgoldminesoperationinthe country from Canadian-owned AGM for a sum of US$238 million. AGM Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zijin, operates the Aurora GoldMine,whichislocatedinRegionSeven(Cuyuni-Mazaruni). The mineholdsestimatedreservescloseto184tonnesofgold(183,809kg), or approximately six million ounces of gold. In 2024, AGM had reported a 32.3 per cent increase in declarations reaching 144,593 ouncesofgoldproduced.In2023,thecompanyreporteda7.8percent increaseindeclarationsto109,358.4ounces.
During the 2026 budget presentation, Senior Minister with responsibilityforFinance,Dr AshniSinghrevealedthatGuyana’sgold sectorpostedstronggrowthin2025,recordingan11.6percentincrease in declared production, with total output climbing to 484,321 ounces—an increase of 50,254 ounces over the previous year The minister stated that while declarations from licensed dealerships declined by 21.5 per cent to 121,883 ounces, declarations fromAGM rose by 15.5 per cent.As it relates to declarations to the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), Dr Singh said these increased by 45.6 per cent to 195,432ounces.For2026,thegoldsectorisprojectedtoexpandby5.4 percent.Thegovernmentisnowtargetinganevenbiggerhaulin2026, projecting declarations of 510,450 ounces as mining activity acceleratesacrossalloperatorcategories.
The Protected Areas Commission (PAC) has strongly condemned what it describes as the misuse and vandalism of sanitary
Guyana–China Friendship Park, warning that such actions could lead to serious disruptionsforthepublic.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Commission
concern” over the condition of the newly commissioned facilities, noting that recent maintenance inspections
attemptstoclogthesewerage system.
According to the PAC, largequantitiesofindustrialgrade tissue were found obstructingpipes,andinone alarminginstance,afishwas reportedly discovered in a toilet bowl The agency cautioned that such acts could result in major plumbing failures and force the temporary closure of facilities to facilitate emergencyrepairs.
The Commission further warnedthattheparkisunder 24-hour CCTV surveillance andthatfootagewillbeused to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for
actsofvandalism.Itstressed that it maintains a zerotolerance approach to the destruction of public property and confirmed that offenders will be reported to the Guyana Police Force for criminalproceedings.
The PAC also used the opportunity to urge greater civic responsibility among park users It reminded visitors to dispose of waste properly, use facilities only for their intended purposes, and report any suspicious behaviour or vandalism to on-sitesecuritypersonnel.
The Guyana–China Friendship Park, located
along the West Bank of Demerara,wasdesignedasa recreational space for families, fitness enthusiasts and tourists by the Chinese Government The facility was commissioned on Sunday The Commission emphasised that maintaining the park’s cleanliness and functionality requires the cooperation of all patrons.
Appealing to the public’s sense of responsibility, the PAC said that preserving the facility is essential to ensuring it remains a source of national pride for generationstocome.
Man dies following gas cylinder explosion
The 56-year-old man who was injured when his gas cylinder exploded Sunday morningatEastRuimveldt,Georgetownhas succumbed to his injuries, his wife has confirmed.
Troy Alleyne was being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital Burns Care Unit. He died early Tuesday morning. The powerful explosion ripped through his East Ruimveldt home leaving the structure partially collapsed and trapping occupants beneathdebris.
Alleyne, a father of three lived at Pineapple Street and Front Road, East Ruimveldt. The incident occurred around 02:00hrs.
Alleyne’s wife had told this newspaper
that she awoke to a strong smell of gas and alerted her husband. He reportedly went outside to the lower flat of the house to investigatea100-poundgascylinderthatwas installed at the property It was during this timethataloudexplosionoccurred,followed by screams, causing the eastern side of the buildingtocollapseandignited.
Residents of the community responded swiftlyandassistedinrescuingtheoccupants from the debris.Alleyne was later rushed to theGeorgetownPublicHospitalCorporation, where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit with severe burns. The Guyana Fire Service responded to the scene and extinguished the blaze The area was subsequentlyprocessedbypoliceranks.
The destruction after the explosion. (Royston Drakes Photos)
The fish that was found in one of the toilets at the facility
Two new health posts commissioned in Region One
The new health post at Tobago Village in Region One.
MinisterofHealth,Dr FrankAnthonyon Tuesday joined regional and health officials ofRegionOne,forthecommissioningoftwo new health posts at Wanakai and Tobago Villages.
Kaieteur News understands that this is Wanakai’s first ever health post marking major step forward in improving access to healthcare services for residents ofWanakai andsurroundingareas.
Together, Tobago and Wanaki Health Postswillbringimprovedaccesstoessential medical services and strengthening
healthcaredeliveryinthecommunities.
Similar to other health posts commissioned in other hinterland villages, the facilities are set to provide services like the vaccination, chronic diseases treatment, maternal and child health and general outpatientcare,amongothers.
Dr Anthony on numerous occasions, noted that the government has been constructing health centres and posts across the country to complement the regional hospitals and ensure modern facilities for healthcareworkersacrosstheregions.
The new Wanakai Health Post in Region One, which was commissioned by Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony on Tuesday
New Demerara River Bridge office opens to boost efficiency
A new office building was officially opened on Sunday to support the efficient management and operation of the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge.
The facility includes offices and collaborative workspaces, alongside a 24/7 high-tech command centre for real-time traffic monitoring.Italsoincludesa training room, maintenance workshop,andothermodern amenities At the commissioning ceremony, Minister of Public Works
Bishop Juan Edghill said staff members from the old Demerara Harbour Bridge
havebeenretainedtoensure continuity
“We have retained some members of the staff from the old bridge to transition here to ensure that daily operations continueseamlessly
The rest of the staff have been absorbed into the ministry and its agencies, including the Special Projects Unit,” he said S
e responsible for monitoring and maintaining bridge operations, including its l
superstructure at night, which has quickly become a
majorattraction.
The relocation of staff also allows the Special Projects Unit (SPU) to occupytheformerDemerara Harbour Bridge building at the old Harbour Bridge compound, providing a stronger operational base to execute infrastructure projectsnationwide.
Wayne Watson, General Manager of the former Demerara Harbour Bridge, willcontinueinthesamerole for the new bridge. “On behalf of the staff, who will ensure the bridge operates efficiently and delivers the required service, we thank the government, particularly
Solar expansion targets 5000 homes
The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has announced a significant acceleration in the country’s renewable energy transition, targeting 5,000 homes in the initial phase of the National Grid-Connected Solar Programme.
Thisprogrammeaimstohelphouseholds generatetheirownelectricity,whichsupports the government’s broader aim of providing adequate, affordable and reliable electricity toGuyanese.
SpeakingontheStartingPointpodcaston Sunday, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Dr. Mahender Sharma, noted that the initiative formspartofthegovernment’spushtoreduce dependence on heavy fuel oil and transition towardcleanerenergysources.
The programme encourages residents to turn unused roof space into solar hubs, slashing grid dependence and lowering monthlyutilitybills.
HowitWorks
Under the grid-connected system, solar panels generate electricity during daylight hours for use within the home. When additional power is needed, it is supplied by the Guyana Power & Light (GPL). Where excessenergyisgenerated,itisfedbackinto the grid, allowing homeowners to receive credits through a billing mechanism. As a result, some consumers may even receive payments if they generate more electricity thantheyuse.
Theagencyhasalsoestablishedasupport system to guide homeowners through every step of the process, from initial interest and technical assessments to quotations, financing and installation. “We are going to hold your hands throughout the entire process,” Dr Sharma noted, adding that technical teams will help customers review quotations, ensure proper installations and coordinateapprovalswiththeGuyanaPower and Light (GPL) and the Government ElectricalInspectorate(GEI).
Theprogrammealsobenefitsfromafasttracked approval process through GPL, including bidirectional meters that allow energytoflowbothtoandfromthegridatno additional cost to customers. To make the programme more accessible, the GEA has
His Exce
y, for providing the resources needed to support and maintainthebridge,”Watson said.
Commenting on bridge safety and accountability, Watson cautioned motorists: “We have cameras, and any incidents, speeding or
partnered with local financial institutions to providefinancingoptions.
CommercialbanksandtheNewBuilding Society have indicated support for the initiative, with estimated monthly payments ranging between $7,000 and $26,000 depending on financing arrangements. Dr. Sharma explained that a five-kilowatt system, estimated at approximately $1.2 million, can generate electricity valued at roughly $28,000 monthly, significantly offsettinghouseholdenergycosts.
Interested homeowners can sign up through the Guyana Energy Agency’s website as the country moves toward a cleaner,moresustainableenergyfuture.
Nationaldevelopmentgoals
Beyond cost savings, the initiative is expected to improve energy security, reduce fossil fuel dependence and contribute to Guyana’s climate commitments. The solar drive also complements major national energyinvestments,includinggas-to-energy, hydropower and utility-scale solar farms. In July 2023, the government launched the 30,000 Solar Photovoltaic (PV) project aimedatexpandingrenewableenergyaccess inHinterlandandRiverinecommunitiesthat are not connected to the electricity grid. Severalsolarfarmswerealsocommissioned to boost renewable energy and reduce fossil fueldependence.
These include a 5 MWp facility at Onderneeming, Region Two; a 4 MWp facility at Trafalgar, Region Five; a 3 MWp facility at Hampshire, Region Six and a 1 MW farm in Lethem, alongside 0.6 MW at Leguan.
The government is also upgrading 11 solar photovoltaic (PV) mini-grids in Regions One,Two, Six and Nine, benefiting morethan12,000residentsinhinterlandand riverine communities. The project will raise total solar capacity from 108.8 to 528.8 kilowatts peak, delivering reliable 24-hour electricity to 116 public facilities. The government is also advancing the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, setting an April deadline for proposal submissions from interested firms. The project is expected to deliver at least 165 megawatts of renewable energytothenationalgrid.(DPI)
accidents, as soon as the information is available, we will pass it to the police for the necessary action to be taken.Wewillbelookingout for those persons who are bent on violating the laws, and all the necessary corrective action will be taken.”
The new facility equips thebridgecompanywiththe tools and environment needed for high-level m o n i t o r i n g a n d maintenance, ensuring the bridge remains a safe and efficient transport link for commuters and commerce.
(DPI)
Berbice River man pleads guilty to murdering friend
Inaclearintenttoownuptohisaction,an Upper Berbice River murder accused on Tuesday pled guilty before Justice Simone MorrisattheBerbiceHighCourt.
Maxton Walker, 30, a tractor operator, was indicted for the offence of murder contrarytocommonlaw
It is alleged that on March 18, 2024, in Berbice, he murdered 36-year-old Marcus Adrian.
Investigations revealed that Walker and Adrian were friends, both of whom resided inthecommunityofHururuMission,Upper Berbice River The deceased was a logger whofrequentlycollaboratedwithWalker Police had confirmed the two friends wereconsumingalcoholonMarch18,2024 and both became intoxicated. Shortly after, an argument ensued between them, leading toascuffle.
Basedonreports,WalkerpushedAdrian to the ground, and then proceeded to chop
him several times. The victim, after sustainingchopwoundstohisneckandface, attempted to escape but collapsed along a trail. His body was later discovered in a puddle of blood. Adrian was taken to the Linden Hospital Complex, where he was pronounceddeadonarrival.
The village Toshao subsequently intercepted Walker and handed him over to thepolice.StateprosecutorMarisaEdwards summarised the particulars of the offence before the court, while Walker sat visibly resigned and remorseful. Attorney Charlyn Artigaappearedonbehalfoftheaccused.
As the details of the crime were highlighted, Walter immediately told the courtthattheyweretrue.Healsoconfirmed that his guilty admission was free from any externalinfluences.
Because of his guilty plea, there was no need for a jury to be empanelled. His next appearanceonMay6,willbeforsentencing.
Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, cutting the ribbon of the new Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge Office Building.
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Police mum on crash involving relativeofGovernmentminister
The Guyana Police Force isyettoissueanofficialstatement regarding an accident involving a governmentowned pick-up that was reportedly driven by a relative of Home Affairs Minister, Oneidge Walrond.
The vehicle reportedly ended up in a trench under circumstances that remain unclear A video circulating widelyonsocialmediashows thedriverbeingrescuedfrom the wrecked pick-up. In the footage, he is later seen appearing to joke about the incident.
Unconfirmed reports online suggest that the accidentoccurredshortlyafterthe driver left a nightclub. However, these claims have not been independently verified.
EffortsbyKaieteurNews
yesterday to obtain a comment from Minister Walrond proved unsuccessful. So far, neithertheminister,theMinistryofHomeAffairs,northe Guyana Police Force (GPF) has issued a statement on the matter
Opposition Leader AzruddinMohamed,inapost on Team Mohamed’s Facebook page, alleged that a MarshallAllicock was previously involved in a fatal accident in early October 2024.At the time, this newspaper reported that 60-yearoldSalimaHeeralaldiedafter the vehicle in which she was a passenger was struck during a collision along the La BonneIntention(LBI)Public Road. The incident involved two vehicles - one driven by Allicock and the other by
Ram dismisses U.S.
From page 12 resource which he believes will be gone before this generationexpires.
Ram argued that in the contractExxonappliedmaximum duress and the David GrangerledCoalitiongovernment were not up to the task at hand.
Hehighlightedthatexplorationriskwhichwasminimal on the signing of the Agreementhaslargelydisappeared, reserves have been proven well beyond initial expectations, and production has entered a phase of sustained expansion.
“Wemustthereforereject any interference by the U.S. Ambassadorinwhatisacommercial, sovereign issue. We must reject too, her suggestionthatGuyanaisbreaching the2016Agreementwhenall wearedoingiscallingforjus-
Salima’s husband, Prakash Heeralal.
Accordingtopolicestatements issued then, Prakash Heeralalwasproceedingwest along the southern carriagewaywhenAllicock,whowas exiting the LBI access road, allegedly failed to stop at the intersection. The collision causedtheHeeralalvehicleto crash into a nearby bridge. Public-spiritedcitizensreportedly assisted in removing the injured occupants from the vehicleandtransportingthem to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where SalimawasadmittedtotheIntensive Care Unit. She later succumbed to her injuries whileAllicockwastakentoa private city hospital for observation.
The latest incident has
alsodrawnattentionfromthe We Invest in Nationhood (WIN)party,whichiscalling for greater transparency and accountability
The party has raised questions about the circumstances under which a government vehicle was being operated and whether standard procedures were followedafterthecrash.Among the issues highlighted by WIN are whether a breathalyzer test was conducted, whether the driver was taken to a police station, andwhetheranofficialinvestigation has been launched. The party also referenced reportsofapreviousfatalaccident, noting that such matters underscore the importance of consistent enforcementofthelaw
Ambassador’s warning over...
tice and fairness - like every other country ought to do. And that we are putting Guyana first, just like her President does forAmerica,” Ramadded.
Moreover, he noted that no unilateral action is called for Additionally, he stressed thatotheractionscanbetaken withintheexistingcontractual frameworkwithoutunderminingtheviabilityoftheBlock, or the attractiveness of the investmentclimate.
“Since there is no intentionofunilaterallyamending theAgreement-whichExxon would in any case successfully challenge - the Ambassador’scommentsare, at best, uninformed and must be rejected outright, and at the other end nothing less than an unwelcome interference in our country’s sovereign affairs.Asourguest,the
Ambassador must respect our country’s permanent sovereignty over its petroleum resources. A State that refuses to revisit arrangements that no longer reflect currentrealitiesconveyweakness, while one that engages constructivelyandwithinthe bounds of its agreements to secure a more equitable outcome, signals both maturity and confidence,” Ram outlined.
Further, he noted that there is a myth peddled by Exxon that the 2016 Agreement provides for equal benefits. That narrative, he stressedfailstoacknowledge the economic reality when one looks behind the numbers. According to Ram, it disregards the royalty structure, the cost recovery ceiling, the payment of corporationtaxbytheGovernmenton
behalf of the companies, or the absence of withholding tax on distributions.
“Applying the Agreement,whenthe75%costceiling is utilised, the Government’sshareofevery hundred barrels is approximately 12%, rising only to about 24% when costs fall to 40%. Over the same range, thecompanies’profit-related benefit increases from about 20%to41%,consistentlyand significantly exceeding the State’s share. This outcome is driven not by risk, but by a fiscal structure under which Guyana pays the companies’ taxes and collects no withholdingtaxontheprofitsthey takeabroad,”Ramexplained. To this end, he added that Guyana’s wider economy bearsthesubstantialexternal costsofadominantextractive sub-sector
Guyana reaffirms commitment to reparations...
From page 8 disproportionate treatment” of migrants of African descent.
Benn urged greater support for the forum and called on the wider UN system to respond more effectively to the needs of vulnerable groups.
Highlighting domestic measures, she said the Government’s“OneGuyana” development model is focused on inclusive growth, with expanded access to housing, potable water and food security
According to Benn, nearly half, 47.1 per cent, of the 51,756 house lots allocated nationwide over the past five years were granted to Guyanese of African descent.Sheaddedthatpolicies are also targeting rural and ancestral communities
through economic and resilienceprogrammes.
“Guyana stands resolute in its support for people of Africandescenttoliveindignity and thrive in societies definedbyequity,justiceand opportunity,” Benn said.The forumcontinuedwithdiscussions on advancing reparatory justice and addressingsystemicinequalities affecting people of African descentworldwide.
Benn,alongwithMinister withintheMinistryofCulture, Youth and Sport Steven Jacobs attended in Geneva, Switzerland together with Guyana’sAmbassador to the SwissConfederationandPermanentRepresentativetothe United Nations, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
In addressing delegates on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM),
JacobssaidCARICOMstates remain firm in their push for reparations,groundedinwhat he described as a “lived reality” shaped by the enduring impacts of slavery and colonialism.
He noted that while the United Nations General Assembly has formally recognised slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as crimes against humanity, acknowledgmentaloneisinsufficient to address the deeprooted inequalities that persist.
Jacobs pointed to growing international momentum on the issue, including strengthened ties between AfricaandtheCaribbeanand initiatives such as the Accra Proclamation, which he said reflect a shared commitment to confronting historical injustice through collective ac-
tion.
Hefurtherwarnedthatthe legacy of enslavement remains embedded in global economicsystems,contributing to ongoing imbalances and limited development opportunities, particularly for Small Island Developing States.
Thesechallenges,hesaid, are compounded by climate changeandotherglobalpressures. Calling for a more coordinated global response, Jacobs urged alignment between reparatory justice efforts, reform of international financial systems and equitableclimateaction.
CARICOM, he added, stands ready to continue working with international partners to advance justice, equityandsustainabledevelopmentforpeopleofAfrican descent.
AnnaReginagetsnew$185Mpolicestation
Mnister of Home Affairs,
Wa
reconstructed $185 million
Anna Regina Police Station inRegionTwo.
Improving policing services in the region, the new modern structure is expected to strengthen public safety, improve working conditions for officers, and provide more dignified support for membersofthepublic.
Reconstructed by
Builders Hardware General
Supplies and Construction for $185,865,689, this newspaper understands that the station is equipped with male, female, juvenile, and isolationholdingcells,along withspecialisedspacessuch asaChild-FriendlyAreaand a Dom
Vi
Interview and Waiting Room. It also includes key operational areas such as CID, Traffic, Enquiries,
evidence storage, and living quartersforranks.
A c c o r d
n g t o information shared by the ministry, Minister Walrond in her remarks at the commissioning ceremony, said the new station is “a clea
nt, of commitment, of investment, and of intent,” in ensuring the people of PomeroonSupenaam receive better
policing and better public service.
The minister noted that the facility is designed to meettherealitiesofpolicing a growing region with dispersed communities, active commerce, and expanding economic activity
She also highlighted the strong performance of Regional Division No. 2,
which recorded a 39 2 percent reduction in crime and a 54.2 percent clear-up rate in 2025. The minister added that the new station will help build on that momentum and improve the quality of policing throughouttheregion.
“MinisterWalrondurged officers to maintain high standardsofprofessionalism andcalledonresidentstosee the station as a community institution that belongs to them,”theministryreported. Further, the Home Affairs Ministry shared that the commissioning of the facilityformspartofawider push to upgrade security infrastructure in Region Two, alongside investments at Charity and the Anna Regina Divisional Headquarters.
Damone Younge sworn in as appellate judge
Justice Damone Younge was sworn in, on Tuesday, as a Justice of Appeal during a formal ceremony at the Office of the President, presided over by His Excellency President Dr MohamedIrfaanAli.
The appointment follows a recommendation by the Judicial ServiceCommissionandwasmade in accordance with Article 128(1) oftheConstitutionofGuyana.With h
complement of seven judges appointedtotheCourtofAppealis now complete, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the country’s judiciary
In his address, President Ali underscored the critical role of the appellate court within Guyana’s legal system, describing it as a defining pillar of justice and legal coherence. He emphasised that the appellatecourtiswherelegalerrors
are examined without fear and where principles are refined with careful deliberation, ensuring that the law is given authoritative expressionforgenerationstocome.
“TheCourtofAppealstandsas thevigilantconscienceofourlegal system, its steady hand, its corrective voice and its enduring memory,” the President stated Whileextendingcongratulationsto JusticeYounge,PresidentAlinoted thatherelevationrepresentsbotha personal distinction and an institutional advancement. “Your ascension marks not only a personal milestone of distinction but also a strengthening of our judiciary Your appointment attests totheconfidencewereposeinyour
intellect, integrity and judicial temperament,”PresidentAlisaid.
Thehead-of-statealsoreflected on the importance of the judicial system’s hierarchical structure, noting that it ensures consistency, order, and legitimacy in decisionmaking. He explained that higher courts provide authoritative interpretations that unify the law and guide lower courts, fostering public confidence in a system groundedinreasonandcoherence. He also spoke to the weight of responsibilitythataccompaniesher newrole.
“You now assume a role that demandsnotonlylegalacumenbut also wisdom, restraint and a profound sense of responsibility
Yourwordswillshapethecontours ofthelawandinfluencethelivesof countless citizens,” President Ali noted.
He further charged her with upholding the highest standards of fai
ness, consistency and responsiveness, reminding her that judicial authority must always be exercised with both firmness and humility JusticeYoungenowjoins the distinguished ranks of the appellate bench, entrusted with safeguarding the rule of law and contributing to the continued development of Guyana’s legal system. Justice Younge assumes office with effect from April 14, 2026, in the 57th year of the RepublicofGuyana.(DPI)
The newly reconstructed Anna Region Police Station in Region Two.
Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond
President Irfaan Ali confirms the appointment of Justice Damone Younge.
Strait of Hormuz traffic barely affected on first day of U.S. blockade, data shows
(Reuters)-Thefirstfulldayofa U.S.blockadeonvesselscallingat Iranian ports made little difference to Strait of Hormuz traffic on Tuesday, with at least eight includingthreeIran-linkedtankers, crossing the waterway, shipping data showed U S President Donald Trump announced the blockadeonSundayafterweekend peace talks in Islamabad between the U.S. and Iran failed to reach a deal.
Theblockadehascreatedeven further uncertainty for shippers, oil companies and war risk insurers Traffic remains at only a fraction of the 130-plus daily crossings before the U S and Israel’s war on Iran began on February28,industrysourcessaid onTuesday
“During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the U S blockade,” the U S Central Command said, opens new tabon X,addingthatsixvesselscomplied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter `an Iranian port.
The three Iran-linked vessels that transited the strait were not
heading to Iranian ports and were notaffectedbytheblockade.
Panama-flagged Peace Gulf, a medium-rangetanker,isheadingto Hamriyah port in the United Arab Emirates,LSEGdatashowed.
The vessel typically moves Iranian naphtha, a petrochemical feedstock, to other non-Iranian Middle Eastern ports for export to Asia,Kplerdatashowed.
Prior to this, two U Ssanctioned tankers passed through thenarrowwaterway
Handy tanker Murlikishan is heading to Iraq to load fuel oil on April 16, Kpler data showed. The vessel, formerly known as MKA, hastransportedRussianandIranian oil Another sanctioned tanker, Rich Starry, would be the first to makeitthroughthestraitandtoexit the Gulf since the blockade began, datafromLSEGandKplershowed.
The tanker and its owner, Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co, were placed under U.S. sanctions fordealingwithIran.Thecompany couldnotbereachedforimmediate comment.
Rich Starry is a medium-range tanker carrying about 250,000
barrels of methanol, according to the data. It loaded the cargo at its port‘ofcall,theUAE’sHamriyah, thedatashowed.
The Chinese-owned tanker has Chinese crew on board, the data showed. China’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday that a U S blockade of Iranian ports is “dangerous and irresponsible”, warning that it would only aggravate tensions. The ministry did not mention whether Chinese shipswerepassingthestrait.
FURTHER SAILINGS THROUGH THE STRAIT
Five other vessels had sailed through the strait since the blockade began at 1400 GMT on
Monday These comprised two otherchemicalandgastankers,two dry bulk vessels and the Ocean Energy cargo ship that docked at Iran’sBandarAbbas‘port.
A U.S. military note sent to mariners and seen by Reuters said thathumanitarianshipmentswould beexemptfromtheblockade.
“The United States does not needtoblockeverytypeofshipor enter the Strait of Hormuz; it can carryoutanintermittentblockade,” said Fabrizio Coticchia, professor of political science at Italy’s UniversityofGenoa.
“Shipswillnotbeattacked,but rather diverted,” Coticchia said, `adding that U.S. warships would
belocatedoutsideofthestraitinthe GulfofOman.
While the cost of war-risk insurance has not increased since the blockade began, it remains at hundredsofthousandsofdollarsin additionalweeklycosts,withcover typicallyreviewedbyunderwriters every 48 hours, industry sources said.
“A return to ‘normality’ in the MiddleEast`arguablynowappears more distant than it did one week ago, especially given that the U.S. navy has started a blockade,” ship brokerBRSsaidinareport.
“It is anticipated that there will belittleornocommercialtrafficin thestraitfortheforeseeablefuture.
U.S., Iran may resume talks this week despite port blockade
(Reuters)-TalkstoendtheIran war could resume in Pakistan over the next two days, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, after the collapse of weekend negotiationspromptedWashington to impose a blockade on Iranian ports.
Gulf, Pakistani and Iranian officialsalsosaidnegotiatingteams fromtheU.S.andIrancouldreturn to Pakistan later this week, though one senior Iranian source said no datehadbeenset.
“You should there, really, because something could be happening over the next two days, and we’re more inclined to go there,”Trumpwasquotedassaying in an interview with the NewYork Post.
While the U.S. blockade drew angry rhetoric from Tehran, signs that diplomatic engagement might continue helped calm oil markets, pushing benchmark prices below $100onTuesday
Thehighest-leveltalksbetween the two adversaries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution ended in Islamabadwithoutabreakthrough, raisingdoubtsoverthesurvivalofa two-week ceasefire that still has a weektorun.
Among the slew of issues at stake were access to the Strait of Hormuz,Iran’snuclearprogramme and international sanctions on Tehran.
Since the United States and Israel began the war on February
28,Iraneffectivelyshutthestraitto nearly all vessels except its own, sayingpassagewouldbepermitted only under Iranian control and subject to a fee. Nearly a fifth of global oil and gas supplies previously flowed through the narrow waterway, making the fallout from ‘its closure widespread.
In a countermeasure, the U.S. military said it began blocking shippingtrafficinandoutofIran’s ports on Monday Tehran has threatened to hit naval ships going through the strait and to retaliate againstitsGulfneighbours’ports.
IMF CUTS GROWTH OUTLOOK
U.S.CentralCommandsaidthe blockade of Iranian ports, which only applies to ships going to or from Iran, involved more than 10,000 U.S. military personnel, more than a dozen warships and dozensofaircraft.
“During the first 24 hours, no shipsmadeitpasttheU.S.blockade and 6 merchant vessels complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around to re-enter an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman,” CENTCOM said in a statement postedonX.
Shipping data showed the blockadehadmadelittledifference to Strait of Hormuz traffic on Tuesday, with at least eight ships crossingthewaterway
The latest standoff has further clouded the outlook for global
energy security and the supply of goodsthatrelyonpetroleum.
The International Monetary Fund cut its growth outlook and said the global economy would teeter on the brink of recession if the conflict worsens and oil stays above $100 per barrel into 2027. The International Energy Agency meanwhileslasheditsforecastsfor global oil supply and demand growth.
TheUnitedStates’NATOallies including Britain and France said they would not be drawn into the conflict by taking part in the blockade, although they have offered to help safeguard the strait by drawing together a defensive multilateral mission to assist when anagreementisinplace.
China, the main buyer of Iranian oil, said the U.S. blockade was “dangerous and irresponsible” andwouldaggravatetensions.
PROPOSAL ‘FOR 20-YEAR SUSPENSION OF NUCLEAR ACTIVITY
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, wholedWashington’sdelegationin Pakistan, has said Trump was adamant that any enriched nuclear material must be removed from Iran and a mechanism be establishedtoverifythatIranisnot developingnuclearweapons.
A source briefed on the matter confirmedreportsthattheU.S.had proposed a 20-year suspension of allnuclearactivitybyIran“withall sortsofrestrictions.”
Two Iranian sources said Iran had rejected the proposal, suggestingahaltofjustthreetofive years.
One source involved in the negotiations in Pakistan said backchannel talks since the weekend had produced good progress in closing the gap on the nuclear issue, bringing the two sides closer to a deal that could be putforwardatanewroundoftalks. It was unclear what kind of nuclear deal could be quickly agreedbytheU.S.andIran,‘given thecomplexityofthe2015nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers that Trump withdrew from in 2018, and the likely need for monitoring and verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency Iran also wants international sanctionsremoved,amovetheU.S. could only pledge with broader support.
Further complicating Pakistan’s mediation efforts, Israel has continued targeting Iranbacked Hezbollah in Lebanon IsraelandtheUnitedStatessaythat campaign is not covered by the ceasefire, while Iran has insisted it is.
Israeli and Lebanese envoys met in Washington on Tuesday in talks hosted by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the first ‘direct negotiations between the two countries since 1983. Lebanon’s government sought the
negotiations despite objections fromHezbollah,whichIsraelwants to see disarmed before any peace deal.
Israel killed more than 350 people in Lebanon in the war’s worst strikes hours after the Iran ceasefirewasannouncedlastweek, but later said it was willing to discussaseparateceasefirewiththe Lebanesegovernment.
CEASEFIRE HOLDING
Withthewarunpopularathome and rising energy prices causing political blowback, Trump paused theU.S.-Israelibombingcampaign last week after threatening to destroyIran’s“whole`civilisation” unlessitreopenedthestrait.
AReuters/Ipsospollconducted from April 10 to 12 after the ceasefire was announced showed that 35% ofAmericans approve of U.S. strikes against Iran, down from37%aweekearlier
The ceasefire has largely held over its first week despite sharp rhetoricfrombothsides.
An Iranian military spokesperson called any U S restrictions on international shipping “piracy”, while Trump said Iran’s navy had been “completely obliterated” and that onlyasmallnumberof“fast-attack ships”remained.
“Warning: If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED,” Trumpwroteonsocialmedia.
Oil tankers and cargo ships line up at the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, in March [File: Altaf Qadri/The Associated Press]
Guyaneseurgedtoconserveonfuelamidglobalcrisis
Guyanese are being urged to conserve fuel as global tensions disrupt supply and trigger local shortages, forcing some service stationstoshuttheirdoors.
The crisis stems from escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, whichhaschokedoilflowsthrough the Strait of Hormuz—a critical route for roughly 20% of global supply The impact is now being felt at home While the Government has attributed the disruption to delayed shipments andassuredthatsuppliesareonthe way, opposition voices argue the response has been reactive, not proactive. Leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC) and Former Minister of Public Works, David Patterson believes that the Government could be more proactive in dealing with the situation.
“Thisiscommonsense…when there is a shortage you have to conserve If there’s a water shortage,yousaytopeoplelistento me, please don’t wash your lawns. Please don’t wash, try not to wash your car every day You give advisories to limit the use immediately Therefore, at the gas stationsnooneisallowedtocollect gasincontainers.That’shoarding.I mean, these are standard operating procedures. And you cut back on non-essentialservices.”
“You know? I mean, people can’t go and party drive up and downburninggasforleisure inthe middle of a shortage, It’s those things like that we are supposed to putalimitonnon-essentialtravels, non-essential usages immediately because we don’t know how long this war will last and the entire worldisbeingaffected.”
Patterson pointed to the absence of proper planning and preparationbytheauthorities.
Patterson held that “The Government has known about this for like two weeks in advance. There are indicators by the energy agencies and they would have a good idea of how much fuel in consumed daily, weekly, and monthly So this is no surprise… Everyothercountrystartedmaking preparationsforincreasedsupplies which means we dropped the ball everyone, every single person in theworld,everygovernment,every agencyknewyouwouldhaveafuel issue if they had not secured and maximized the reserves,” the former minister added He continued that in these circumstances with proper and adequate storage, government will beabletotapintoreserve.
“The very first thing that governmentsdoismaximizeonthe reserve.Thecountryshouldbeable to run for a set amount of time on the reserve. We fill your tanks and reserves and you just don’t touch thosesothatinthecaseofshortage w e f a l l b a c k o n t h e reserves….Thereissupposedtobe amuchmorecoordinatedapproach and not waiting until the fuel is
Local service stations were forced to close operations due to a shortage of fuel
...oppositionhammersGovt. over‘unpreparedness’
running out to meet with the suppliers,”headded.
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament(MP)GaneshMahipaul sharedsimilarsentiments.Henoted that while the Government has indicated that it is monitoring the situationandthatshipmentsoffuel are expected within days, there is strong reason to doubt whether thosesupplieswillbesufficient.
“The current rush for fuel reflects not just increased demand, but panic-driven behavior, with many individuals attempting to stock up. This, in itself, raises additional concerns, as fuel is not always being stored properly, both in terms of the containers being used and the environments in which it is being kept, creating potential safety risks,” Mahipaul asserted.
He stressed that in light of global disruptions, including tensionslinkedtotheIsraeli-U.S.Iran conflict, it is reasonable to expect that better preparation should have been in place. He noted that these types of international developments are not entirely unforeseen, and they demandproactiveplanning.
According to Mahipaul, the situationraisesimportantquestions about the structure of the fuel supply system in Guyana, particularly whether there are potential suppliers who may have sought entry into the market but were not granted licences, and whether the sector is being limited to a select few rather than being opened to greater competition and resilience.
He noted that the immediate priority must be to cushion the impact on citizens The Parliamentariannotedthisrequires improved coordination in d i s t r i b u t i o n , c l e a r e r communication to avoid panic buying, and public guidance to preventunsafestoragepractices.
He noted that “Beyond the immediateresponse, there must be a broader strategy focused on
confidence.
“The impact is being felt most acutely by ordinary citizens, and it demandsacareful,transparent,and decisive response. Going forward, the focus must be on ensuring fairness, strengthening systems, andpreventingarecurrenceofsuch adisruptiveandcostlysituation.”
Leader of Forward Guyana Movement- Amanza Walton said over the past two days, “we have been receiving numerous reports from commuters across
Georgetown and along key routes about sudden, unregulated increases in public transportation fares. Short drops that typically cost $100 to $120 are now being charged at $200. Routes such as Georgetown to Diamond have movedfrom$200to$300.Insome cases, passengers are being required to pay before boarding, andthoseunabletomeetthesefares arebeingturnedaway.”
diversifying suppliers, strengthening reserves, and building a more responsive and resilient system….There is also justified concern about the possibilityofpriceincreases.”
“Stability in fuel prices is critical at this time, and the Government should not allow increasesatthepump.Ifnecessary, consideration should be given to temporary subsidies to maintain currentpricelevels.Anyriseincost would only place an even greater burden on hardworking Guyanese whoarealreadyfeelingthestrainof the shortage and heavy cost of living,”hesaid.
Ultimately, Mahipaul underscoredthissituationpointsto deeper issues related to planning, supply management, and public
She said this is not simply a matter of individual conduct. “It reflects the absence of clear direction, timely communication, and visible enforcement at a moment when it is most needed.”
The Member of Parliament said a temporarydisruptioninfuelsupply hasnowspilledoverintoeveryday life, and the burden is falling squarelyonordinarycitizens.
“In moments of disruption, people look to the system for stability Whenthatsystemissilent, uncertainty takes hold, and unfair practicesfollow Governanceisnot only about response. It is about anticipation, coordination, and protection. At a minimum, the publicdeservesclarityonapproved fares, active enforcement where abuses are occurring, and
immediate steps to prevent temporary disruptions from becoming everyday hardship. No citizenshouldhavetoworryabout whether they can afford to get home,”Waltonsaid.
Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed also urged Guyanese to conserve on fuel for emergencies as the country faces a looming crisis. “The “No Gas” signs and closed pumps across our country speak to the government’s inability to
resources…”
M
congested gas stations with vehicles hurrying for fuel and driverswaitinginlinesjusttokeep their vehicles on the road. “This is not just a logistical hiccup; it is a total failure of proper oversight by thePPP.”
He said on Tuesday the WIN movement received reports of blatantrationingatthestate-owned Guyoil stations, where motorists wererestrictedtopurchasesaslow as$2,000.
“In a nation that produces a million barrels per day, our people are being forced into a “black market” for fuel or left stranded becauseofpoormanagementanda lack of transparency Despite our oil wealth, Guyana still lacks a functional oil refinery, an obvious and urgent necessity to ensure domesticfuelsecurityandstability WIN demands an immediate, honest explanation from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the management of Guyoil. The governmentmuststoptheexcuses, end the discriminatory rationing, andfixthesupplychainbeforethe entire economy is brought to a standstill.”
Govt.orderedtopayWalesgasproject...
Frompage3
process on April 1, 2025, an agreement for payment in installments was reached with the Government of Guyana’s representatives.”
Tothisend,Lindsaycareported thatithassuccessfullyobtainedthe first installment which was paid in 2025 Thecompanyanticipatesthe remaining installments to be made in2026
“The Group obtained favourableawardsfromtheDispute AvoidanceandAdjudicationBoard (DAAB) regarding specific claims and has already collected the first installment of US$342 million in 2025,” the company’s financials state
Sources close to the process informed Kaieteur News that a US$34Mpaymentwasmadetothe contractor about four weeks ago. Moreover, this publication was told that the local law firm, London House Chambers was i n v o l v e d i n a d v i s i n g Lindsayca/CH4duringthedispute with government. It is unclear whether the legal team for the contractor will be paid from the
US$102M awarded to the company or whether this is yet another cost added to Guyana’s billfortheGTEproject.
Inadditiontohidingthepayout made to the GTE contractor, government has not said exactly how much it paid in legal feesboth foreign and local. With the projectcostincreasingbymillions of USD, the head of the GTE Taskforce, Winston Brassington continuestoholdhistongueasthe Prime Minister, Mark Phillips faces the heat for the project. Further, President Irfaan Ali who promised to deliver the project since 2024 has not issued a statement on this matter since a seriesofdisclosuresweremadeby this newspaper, raising deeper concerns of accountability, one observersaid.
One week ago, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statementinresponsetoanarticle published by Kaieteur News indicating that a US$80M payment was secretly paid to the WalesGTEcontractortosettlethe dispute The PM however indicated, “There are no secret
payments made to the Contractor All payments are made via the ConsolidatedFundandreportedto Parliament. For the record, the Parties have not advanced the arbitration process and as such there is no arbitration ruling Arbitration continues to be an optionavailabletotheParties. Itis therefore incorrect to suggest that theGoGhaslostthearbitration.”
Further, the statement noted, “ItmayberecalledthatinJanuary 2 0 2 5 , t h e D i s p u t e Avoidance/Adjudication Board (DAAB) made decisions which both parties were dissatised with. In March 2025, both Parties signaled their intent to go to arbitrationandnotiedthemembers oftheDAAB. Ithasbeenpublicly stated that DAAB decisions are condential.As such, neither party canspeaktoitscontents.”
Notably, questions sent by Kaieteur News to the PM since April 9, seeking clarity on the payments made to the contractor were ignored. Subsequent queries specifically relating to Guyana’s agreementtopurchasegashasalso beenmetwithsilence.
The Centre for International and Border Studies (CIBS) has announced it will host a major international conference next month, bringing together a diverse assembly of global experts to address the shifting geopolitical and economic tides facing the region.
The two-day hybrid event, titled “Navigating The Future: Guyana, the Caribbean and LatinAmerica in a Changing Global Environment,” is scheduled for May 14 and 15 at the Herdmanston Lodge in Georgetown.
As Guyana continues its rapid economic
transformation,theCIBSconferenceaimsto provide a critical platform for interrogating thecomplexitiesofthemoderninternational order
The think-tank, which comprises academics, professionals, and practitioners from Latin America, the Caribbean, the United States, Asia, and Africa, intends for the agenda to focus heavily on regional integration,sustainabledevelopment,andthe changing hemispheric geopolitical landscape.
The conference features an expansive rosterofinternationalpresenters.Leadingthe
discussionsarenotablefiguresincludingDr BertrandRamcharan,formerUnitedNations official and current Chancellor of the University of Guyana, and Dr Scott McDonald, a prominent U S -based academic.
Theywillbejoinedbyaheavycontingent from the University of the West Indies, including Dr Kai-Ann Skeete, Dr Marlon Anatol, and Dr Jacqueline LaGuardia Martinez.
Continental perspectives will be further bolstered by Brazilian academics Professor Paulo Correa of the Federal University of
Amapá and Professor Ambere Freitas of Roraima.
Additional panelists slated for the event include Mr Carl Greenidge, Dr UlricTrotz, Dr Clement Henry, and Mr Neville Bissember Theproceedingswillbeoverseen byDr MarkKirton,whocurrentlyservesas theDirectorofthethink-tank.
The hybrid format of the event is designed to facilitate broad participation, allowingforbothin-personattendanceatthe HerdmanstonLodgeandvirtualengagement from international stakeholders and online participants.
Lahore Qalandars Set for Global Stage Return at ExxonMobil Global Super League 2026
Lahore Qalandars, the three-time champions of the HBL Pakistan Super League and one of the most prominent cricket franchises intheworld,aresettoreturn to the global stage as they confirm participation in the upcoming ExxonMobil GlobalSuperLeague(GSL).
The tournament is scheduled to take place from July 23 toAugust 1, 2026, at the iconic Guyana National Stadium, bringing together leadingfranchiseteamsfrom across the world in a celebration of elite T20 cricket.
franchiseontheglobalcircuit
and the increasing importance of cross-league competitions in shaping the futureofthesport.
This marks a highly anticipatedreturn for Lahore QalandarstotheGSL,having beenpartofthetournament’s inaugural edition. Their reentry underscores both the growing stature of the
Widelyregardedasoneof the most followed and commercially successful franchises in the world of franchise cricket, Lahore Qalandars have cultivated a vibrant brand built on excellenceandadeep-rooted
connectionwithfans.
T
d commercial strength and global popularity have translated into significant franchise value, with an independentvaluationbyEY MENA (Ernst & Young)
Qalandars as the most valuableteaminthePakistan Super League. With such repute, their participation in t h e G S L w i l l a d d considerable weight and global appeal to this year’s ExxonMobil Global Super League.
Wednesday April 15, 2026
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
You'll have to let go of your usual drill-sergeant manner and simply let the day unfold as it will. Try as you might, even you won't be able to directeventstoday,Aries.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
You work hard to reach your goaloffinancialindependence All signs indicate that you're well on your way Today you could receive some news that makes you realize you aren't thereyet.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
You're bound to be busy but happy today You'll likely spend the morning doing chores around the house. Don't be surprised if a friend drops by unexpectedly in the afternoon with some importantnewstoshare.
CANCER(June21–July22)
This could be a rather intense day for you, Cancer Your mind is filled with plots for novels you want to write and ideas for ways to streamline productionatwork.Don'tyou havean"pause"switch?
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Thisisonedayforyoutobeas flexible as possible, Leo. It may be that you begin with a specific list of items that absolutely must be done, but get distracted by some news fromafriendorco-worker
VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)
You can overcome the intensity of today's planetary energiesbymakingaconscious effort stay positive. Distract yourself with necessary householdchoresanderrands. Don'tforgettotakesometime outforfun,too.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Don'ttakeanyinformationyou receive today at face value, Libra. Technical glitches will likely plague you throughout the day Your bank statement couldbeincomprehensible.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
Don'ttakeanythingyoureador hear today at face value, Scorpio.It'spossiblethatyou'll receivesomeratherdistressing news, but before you react in frustration,readthefineprint.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
It's likely that you'll receive some unpleasant news today, Sagittarius. Perhaps there are changesoccurringatworkthat you read about in the morning newspaper Or it could be that you get a phone call and receive some upsetting news aboutanoldfriend.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Thiscouldbeadayoftechnical glitches and malfunctions, Capricorn.It'sfrustrating,tobe sure, but a little bit funny, too. Everything you touch, from computertowashingmachine, seems to groan and shudder beforefinallybreaking.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
Todayisfilledwithsocializing, with a strong emphasis on the exchange of information. If you're attending a party this evening, be receptive to anyoneyoumeet.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
You might want to make an extraefforttotidyupthehouse this morning. It's likely that you'll have some unexpected guests. Some neighbors could dropbyunannounced,oranold friend could say she's on her wayover
Sameen Rana, Team Owner of Lahore Qalandars, said: “We are delighted to return to the ExxonMobil Global Super League. The inaugural edition was a fantastic platform for highquality cricket and meaningful gl
engagement, and we are
proudtoonceagainrepresent Pakistan on this stage LahoreQalandarshasalways stoodforpushingboundaries andthistournamentallowsus to showcase our talent, our culture,andourambitiontoa global audience I am particularly excited to bring our exciting Player DevelopmentProgramtalent totheGSLthisyear.”
CliveLloyd,Chairmanof the Global Super League, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Lahore Qalandars back to the Global Super League. They are one of the mostdynamicandsuccessful T20 franchises in world cricket,withapassionatefan base and a proven track record of excellence. Their participation significantly enhances the quality and profile of the tournament, and we look forward to seeing them compete at the highestlevelonceagain.”
With top-tier talent expected to feature from acrosscricketingnations,the ExxonMobil GSL continues toestablishitselfasapremier globalfranchisecompetition.
Frompage35
section of things ” Apart from the expo, the drifters took full advantage of the crowds on display to showcasetheircraftandthey didnotdisappoint.
A daring display of car control, shredded tires and smoke filled the air during each of their sessions, with fans hanging on the edge of thebarrierstocatchawhiffof theaction.
Aside from that, the music and sound clash that followed topped off a night of unforgettable action from the‘WestSide.’
“Allinall,Ithinkwehad agoodnightofracingandoff course action to engage our fans and its definitely somethingwewillbelooking into doing more of,” Roshandinconcluded.
Lahore Qalandars squad for the tournament will be announced in due course.
The Ministry of
E d u c a t i o n i n collaboration with the Guyana Golf Association and NexgenGolfAcademycontinuesto make significant strides in developing youth golf, as the sport entersitsfourthconsecutiveyearas a Physical Education (PE) elective in the Caribbean Examinations Council(CSEC)curriculum.
So far in 2026, students from Regions 4, 5, and 6 have been actively participating in the practical examination component, hosted at the Nexgen Golf Academy facility on Woolford Avenue.
The Ministry of Education continues its strong support of the GGA school's golf physical education programme.
Thisinitiativeprovidesstudents with hands-on experience in golf fundamentals, rules, etiquette, and on-course play as part of their officialassessment.
The examinations were moderated by Sir StanleyAlkey of the Cyril Potter College of Education, who oversaw students from a wide cross-section of schools including Bush Lot Secondary, North Georgetown Secondary, Berbice Educational Institute, Queen’s College, Frasers EducationalInstituteandWestSide HighSchool.Hewassupportedby
a team of Physical Education teachers many of whom are graduatesoftheCPCEgolftraining programme as well as GGA PresidentAleemHussain.
Darrius Pearson bagged 5 wickets yesterday.
Round 2 of the ongoing GCB U-19 50 over tourney continued with wins for Demerara and Berbice following the end of yesterday’spairofmatches.
DemerarabeatGCBXIby6wickets
AtLusignan,GCBXIfellforamere8410from24oversbattingfirst,thankstolegspinner Dhanesh Persaud’s amazing spell which yielded 5-18 from 6 overs, with help fromParmeshwarRamwhograbbed2-20.
Only opener Yannick Newton (16) and middle-order batsman Joshua Budhram (17*) tried to get going against a versatile Demerarabowlingunit.
The lads from the city, despite losing 4 wicketsintheprocess,gottotheirfinalscore of85-4inthe18thover
Demerara’s engine room which consists of Johnathan Mentore (10), Shamar Apple (11*) and Emmanuel Lewis (14*) powered thecityboyshome.
This year marks another milestonefor the programme,with participation numbers expected to e
d 3 0 0
continued growth and national interestinthesportatthesecondary schoollevel.
GGAPresidentAleem Hussain expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Education for its ongoing support: “Our programme
reaches thousands of students across the country, even as we operate primarily through volunteers, sponsors, and funding from Nexgen Golf Academy and the Westside Golf Course. We provide equipment, balls, tournaments, and training to both teachers and students at zero cost.
Theresultsweareseeingtodayare truly the fruits of years of dedicationandcollaboration.”
Sir Stanley Alkey also commended the partnership and leadership behind the initiative:
“Without the commitment and support of Nexgen GolfAcademy,
and in particular Mr Hussain, this programme would never have achievedsuchsuccess.Itisamodel for how sport can be effectively integratedintoeducation.”
Over the past four years, the programme has trained dozens of PE teachers, introduced golf to schools across multiple regions, and created new opportunities for students to pursue the sport competitively and recreationally
Several students have already transitioned into national junior programs and local tournaments, signaling a strong pipeline for the futureofgolfinGuyana.
and West Indies cricketer Christopher Barnwell presents Uniforms to Guyana Police Force Officers cricket team. - Demerara cruise to 6-wicket win over GCB XI 2026GCBInter-CountyU-1950OverstournamentRound2…
The Guyana Police Force Officers’ Cricket Team received complete uniforms
Spinner Gilbert Griffith snared a 6-fer. Grif
GCB XI bowlers toiled during their spells with four of their bowlers grabbing a wicket each, including Gibran Yacoob who pickedup1-1from2overs.
BerbicedefeatEssequiboby92runs
Over at Police Ground, the Ancient County boys posted a solid 184-10 in 40.3 oversaftertheRamdehol’s,Richard(37)and Romario (43), alongside Adrian Hetmyer (31) carried the middle-order as well as the entireinnings Medium-pacer Darrius Pearson bagged 5-33 along with some assistance from Darwin Joseph (2-30) led Essequibo’s bowling efforts. Chasing almost 200, the CinderellaCountyboysfailedtogetnearthe requiredtarget,afterleft-armspinnerGilbert Griffithamazedwithreturnsof6-15inalittle over6overs.
OnlyopenerRomarioBhologotadecent start with 28 (4x4 1x6), as the other Essequiboladsfailedtomakeanimpact. Round3continuesonThursday (Clifton Ross)
Leading Edge Sports owner
BySamuelWhyte
TheGuyanaPoliceForce(GPF)Officers cricket team recently received a set of uniforms. The uniforms were presented by formerGuyanaandWestIndiescricketerand owner of Leading Edge Sports, Christopher Barnwell.
The uniforms are expected to be used by theOfficersintheupcomingCommissioner’s T20CricketFinalonadatetobeannounced.
The uniforms were handed over to Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ Ravindradat Budhram, who is also the CaptainoftheOfficers’cricketTeam,which tookplaceatEveLeary
Also present at the handover were SuperintendentRonaldAlli,Vice-Captainof theOfficers’Team,andPoliceCricketCoach
Mr JoelAlleyne.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony, Barnwell stated that the contribution was made in recognition of the Officers’ Team’s role in promoting cricket within the GPF He also acknowledged the team’s continued support of Leading Edge Sports.
In response, Budhram expressed sincere appreciation to Barnwell and his company LeadingEdgeSports,forthetimelysupport. He said the gesture will serve as a source of motivationfortheplayersastheylookahead tothefinal.
The Commissioner’s T20 Cricket Final will see the Officers’ Team facing Headquarters in what is expected to be a competitiveandspiritedcontestbetweenthe tournament’stoptwoteams.
Former Guyana
Dhanesh Persaud spun his way to a nice 5-wicket haul.
Preparations on stream for One Guyana T10 2026; Registration to open soon
ThefourthseasonoftheOneGuyanaT10 Tapeballisofficiallyinmotionasorganisers confirmed today that, preparations are "well underway"forwhatisexpectedtobethemost exhilaratingeditionofthetournamenttodate.
Tournament Director John Ramsingh highlighted that significant "behind-thescenes" work is currently being finalised aheadofthebowl-offinearlyAugust.
Ramsingh has assured teams that cash prizes have increased, and a key priority for the upcoming season is enhancing the spectatorexperience.
The tournament, which has rapidly evolved from a grassroots pastime into a premier fixture on the national sporting calendar, has received a significant boost with President Irfaan Ali's reaffirmation of support. Serving as the tournament’s patron, PresidentAlirecentlymetwithorganisersat theStateHousetogreenlighttheroadmapfor the upcoming season, emphasising the competition's vital role in national unity and talentidentification.
Ramsingh has promised an elevated experienceforbothplayersandfansthisyear, notingthatcashprizeshavebeenincreasedto reflectthegrowingprestigeoftheBlast.
The organising committee is focused on enhancing the spectator experience and creating an atmosphere at matches that mirrorstheintensityonthepitch.
According to Ramsingh, the team is "stepping on the gas" to ensure all logistical hurdles are cleared before registration officiallyopenstothepublicsoon.
Toaccommodatethesurgeininterestand the growing number of participating teams, the2026tournamentwillbecontestedacross fourprimaryzones:Berbice,Essequibo,East Bank/West Demerara, and Georgetown/East CoastDemerara.
This zonal structure is designed to manage the heavy volume of entries while maintaining the tournament’s footprint acrossallcounties.
The standout performers from each region will then advance to the national finals,slatedformid-October
The impact of the T10 Blast on the professional game remains one of its most compellingnarratives.
President Ali highlighted Quentin Sampson'ssuccessasaprimeexampleofthe tournament's utility; Sampson’s transition from the tapeball circuit to the West Indies regional stage serves as a blueprint for the nextgenerationofGuyanesecricketers.
The President noted that providing "notorietytothenation’sbest"remainsacore objectiveoftheinitiative.
This decision aims to decentralise major sporting events, bringing the tournament's climaxtofansoutsidethecapital.
In2025,thetournamentwasaresounding success and received support from: Kares Engineering Inc, the Office of the President, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, KFC Guyana, Star Rentals, Banks DIH, ENet, Guyana Lottery Company, Regal Stationery and Computer Centre, Trophy Stall, Impressions,Avinash Contracting and Scrap Metal, Shawn’s Mini Mart, Giftland Group of Companies, Kris Jagdeo Construction Company, Montra Restaurant & Lounge,Windsor Estates, GuyOil,ANSA McAL, SuperBet Guyana, Digital Technology, Camille’sAcademy, Navin and Sons Construction, Demerara Mutual Life Insurance, Continental Transportation, and Environmental&TechnicalSolutions.
Persaud crowned inaugural Promotech...
Frompage33
Bacchusfinishedsecondandthirdwithfive and three points respectively At the conclusionoftheleague,Persaudtoppedthe standingswith20points.
The Promotech National Top Golf League, which featured multiple rounds of intense competition, has been widely regardedasasignificantadditiontothelocal golfingcalendar,providingastructuredand competitive platform for the country’s top players.Persaud’striumphmarksnotonlya personal milestone but also a historic moment as the first champion of the Promotech National Top Golf League, having demonstrated consistency, composure, and resilience throughout the season.
The
biggest Tapeball rivalries in Guyana will resume in early August.
Action to restart on Thursday night as quarterfinals are at hand MCYS/East Bank Inter Village Football...
It will be all to play for when the inaugural
MCYS/East Bank Inter VillageFootballTournament organised by Sports Extra resumes on Thursday night attheEcclesEEGroundwith thepenultimatedayofgroup action.
When play was halted duetounusualrainfall,ofthe twelve (12) contesting villages, only Grove and UpperSoesdykehavesealed
theirplacesinthefinaleight (8) where the knockout formatwillkickinfollowing round-robinplay
Group B play will get action underway on Thursday evening from
19:00hrswhenSwanfaceoff with Lower Soesdyke in a high stakes clash. Lower Soesdyke is in a must-win situation having lost their lone match so far to Herstelling which lost their second and final group matchtoSwan.
AwinforSwanwillseal their quarterfinal spot and willalsoensureHerstelling’s passage to the knockout round. However, a Lower Soesdyke victory will then see the goals for and against coming into play to determine the top two teams from the group who will advance.
The feature game is a GroupAencounter between the undefeated Kuru Kururu and Mocha which will have to win in order to have a chance of knocking out Agricola which defeated Mocha but lost to Kuru Kururu.
Mochawillhavetodraw on all their experience and hope that the lads from the Soesdyke Linden Highway based Kuru Kururu have a badnighttostandachanceof advancing Kuru Kururu defied the odds in the competitions opening game tobrushasideAgricola3-1.
When on the ropes, Agricolabattledtheirwayto a3-1triumphagainstMocha which has now set up an interestingfinalmatch-upin thegroup.
The final two group matches which will then determine the quarterfinal
Action in the Swan vs Herstelling clash which the former won, 4-1.
fixtures will be on Saturday atthesamevenue.
Friendship, which edged Kaneville in their opening clash, will be seeking to maintain that form when they oppose Timehri which was stunned by Kaneville.
This will be another highstakeshowdownasawinfor Friendship will seal their onward march whilst securingKaneville’s.
On the other hand, a victory for Timehri will see goals coming into play to decide the top two villages.
Thefinalround-robinmatch will feature Grove against UpperSoesdykeinabattleto decide which of these two villages will top Group C as they both defeated Circuitville by 7-2 and 1-0 margins,respectively In the knockout phase, the winner of Group A will face the runner-up of Group
C, winner of Group B will take on the runner-up of GroupA,winnerofGroupC willfaceoffwiththerunnerup of Group D with the GroupDwinnermatchingup against the runner-up of Group B Villagers are encouraged to come out in their numbers to cheer on theirrespectivevillages.The first prize set at $1million, while2nd,3rdand4thprizes are $500,000, $250,000 and $150,000 respectively along withindividualaccoladesfor Best Goalkeeper, Most ValuablePlayerandHighest Goalscorer.
The tournament has receivedsupporttodatefrom the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Office of thePrimeMinister,Ministry of Housing, National Sports Commission, Fitness Express, Bounty Farm Ltd., StarRental.
Persaud crowned inaugural Promotech National Top Golf League Champion
Patanjilee Persaud has been crowned the inaugural
Promotech National Top Golf League Champion, cappingoffademandingand highly competitive season w i t h a c o m p o s e d performance in the final round to finish on 20 points andsecurethechampionship purseatLusignanGolfClub over the weekend. He was followed by a four-way tie for second place, with Brian Hackett, Joseph Szeplaki, Fazil Haniff, and Videsh Persaud all finishing on 17 points.
The decisive final round broughttogethertheleague’s top eight contenders in a high-pressure showdown, whereeachplayerstillhada mathematical chance at the title Competing in two groups were Brian Hackett, Joseph Szeplaki, Fazil Haniff, Videsh Persaud, Patrick Prashad, Mike Mangal, Kishan Bacchus, andOrsonFerguson.
With the championship on the line, the round unfolded as a true test of
mental resilience and execution. Several players showed early promise, but themountingpressureofthe occasion proved decisive. Hackett, who had been consistent throughout the season, was unable to convert when it mattered most, while Szeplaki and Haniff both displayed moments of quality but fell short of sustaining the momentum required for a titlepush.
Vi d e s h P
s a u d remained composed but could not generate the scoring surge needed to challengeforthelead,while Prashad,comingoffastrong prior performance, was unable to mount a late charge Former Guyana Open champion Mike Mangal demonstrated his experience with steady play but ultimately fell out of contention Bacchus and Ferguson also showed flashesofbrilliancebutwere unabletoclosethegaponthe leader
Amid the intensity,
GOAPC secondary school boys 8 a-side Tapeball cricket competition set for Saturday
The G.O.A.P.C. would be playing off their “Spot the Talent Early”, secondary school boys 8 a-side Tapeball cricket competition on Saturday, 18th April, 2026 on the NationalParktarmacortheGNICgroundfrom9a.m.witha numberofmatches. ThegamesinvolveteamsfromBerbice, East Coast, Georgetown, East Bank, West Demerara and Essequibo with mainly boys from second, third and fourth formswiththeaimofbuildingmoreandbetterteamsinthe schoolsystem.Attheendofthecompetitionalotofvaluable prizeswouldbeawardedtooutstandingperformances.The group is still seeking co-sponsorship from the business community
On Sunday, on the National Park tarmac from 9a.m. would be the “One Guyana” Inter Ministries 11 a-side, 8 overs a-side knockout, bat your own Tapeball cricket competition, sponsored by Start Express a contracting companyinGuyana.
A number of Ministries have already hinted their intention of participating, among them are M.O.E. Young Gums, which is being drawn from secondary schools, N.D.I.A, Ministry of Home Affairs, Parliament, Audit Office, Maritime Administration, E.P.A, Ministry of Housing, G.R.A, G.W.I, Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education Teachers.
ThecompetitionisbeingsponsoredbyStartExpressand coordinated by James “Uprising” Lewis of the Ministry of ForeignAffairs.OtherteamshaveuntilFridaytoenter
disciplined and controlled round, securing the two crucial points needed to extendhisleadandclinchthe
consistency under pressure ultimately proved the defining factor in a closely contestedleague.
competition also produced anexcitingfinishintheday’s tournament segment, with a three-way tie at 72 forcing a countback decision. Balla
Vijmoor emerged as the winneroncountbackwith10 points, while Orson FergusonandKeshan
Continued on page 31
Ambris ton headlines competitive 3rd day
- Eagles, with 9 wickets left require 194 runs for victory heading into final day 2026/27 West Indies Regional 4-Day C/ships Round 1
ByCliftonRoss
Aworkman-like unbeaten ton from Volcanoes veteranSunilAmbrisshifted themomentumslightlyback in favor of his team, leaving the Guyana Harpy Eagles a
stiff 194-run target for victory with almost all their battersintactandpotentially a full final day’s play ahead todayattheSirVivRichards Ground.
After Gilon Tyson finished with 5 wickets to help restrict Guyana to 264
all out in the first innings following a pair of halfcenturies from Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Kemol Savory; Ambris rolled back theclockashecontrolledthe day. The ex-West Indies batsman rolled back the
years, digging deep for his 107 not out, facing 176 deliveries and smashing 17 fours which helped the Volcanoesposta2ndinnings scoreof209allout.
Volcanoes’ next best second innings scorer Shadrack Descarte (39) in support of Ambris, fought back but failed to stop the mixed bowling attack of the HarpyEagles.
PacersNialSmith(2-47) and Keemo Paul (2-31), were good seam up; while
the pair of left-handers in VeerasammyPermaul(2-53) and by far the star of the match,GudakeshMotiewho added 4-46 to his first innings haul of 6-73; gave their team something to bat for during the remainder of Day 3 and a full day’s play ahead.
The Eagles were dealt a huge blow when they lost Kevlon Anderson (4) who was promoted to open, for yetanothercheapscore.
MatthewNandu(7*)and
Tevin Imlach, who was aggressiveforhis27*off38 (5x4),tooktheEaglesto381battingasecondtime,with acrucialfinaldayahead.
Day 4 action continues withGuyananeedingabitof patience and tempered aggressioninpursuitoftheir firstwinoftheseason.
Dexterity action returned in style over the weekend as the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) revived the agility-based form at the National TrackandFieldCenterparkinglot.
Saturdayafternoon’sactionwas compounded by a heartening field ofnewandestablisheddrivers,with GMR&SC President Mohamed ShairazRoshandincontendingthat theclubisheartenedbythesupport.
“It was very positive to see so many participants come out to the event We had just over 40 registeredcompetitors,andabout6 or7ofthemwerefemale.That,by itself, was heartening to see the femalecompetitorscomeout.”
Inthe0–1500ccclass,Shemroy Ramsingh won ahead of Paul Jiwanram and Nyron Maraj, while the 1501–1600cc division saw
Ryan Rahaman, Joshua Ali, and SaifRoshandinfinishinthatorder
The 1601–2000cc category competitors included Sharaf Roshandin, Budhave Singh, and Ravin Ramotar finishing in that order,withatensebattleinthefinal coursedeterminingDanielScottas the narrow winner over M S RoshandinandShanSeejattan.
The Female Class highlighted talentedwomenracerswithAshley Persaud, Tejani Arjune, and MariamPaulfinishinginthatorder
Theeventwasnotwithouttwowheel action, as the Kids Cadet (motorbike) class saw close racing between eventual winner Lashion LewisandJoshuaHolder,whilethe 49–250cc motorbike category saw Elan Rahaman finish ahead of SalimAzeez.
The event saw competitors
running the gauntlet through three preset obstacle courses set up around the parking lot using constructioncones.
Thecompetitorwhocompleted it in the fastest time was declared the winner of the round, with the times from all three rounds added together, and the fastest time declaredthewinner
Thefirst,calledLazyeight,saw competitorsdrawingtwofigure8’s and completing a 360 spin before crossingthefinishline.
The second saw competitors complete a slalom, then simulate forward and reverse parking procedures before returning throughtheslalomtothefinish.
The final course featured a head-to-head slalom of two competitors’sidebyside.
Competitors saw their times
International Import & Supplies joins the 2026 IMC Over-40s World Cup as Silver Sponsor
The Cricket West Indies Masters
Association (CWIMA)hasinformedthat International Import & Supplies, owned by Joe Jagmohan, has officially come on board as a Silver Sponsor of the 2026 IMC Over-40s World Cup, set to be hosted in Guyana from October 17 to November 1, 2026.
T h i s i m p o r t a n t partnership adds further momentum to what is shaping up to be one of the mostexcitingandsignificant M a s t e r ’s C r i c k e t tournaments ever staged in theregion.
The 2026 IMC Over-40s World Cup will feature 16 international teams, 72 matches, and broad international exposure through live streaming of every match, 16 televised matches on Willow TV, and intended broadcast reach throughout the Caribbean. The tournament is expected to bring together players, officials, supporters, families, and cricket followers from around the world, while also delivering a strong boost to Guyana’s tourism, hospitality, transportation, and business sectors.
Joe Jagmohan presenting the sponsorship cheque to Raj Singh, Chairman of CWIMA.
increaseby2secondsforeachcone hit on the obstacle course, with an additional 10 seconds added for goingthewrongwayormissingan instruction.
A showcase of automotive culture, energy, and creativity, showcasing the other side of car culturewaswhatitbroughttothose who had an inkling for more offtrackaction.
“Wehadasectionforeveryone here. We had our classic car guys who have done restoration of antique pieces and as a matter of fact,threeofthosecarscameallthe way from Berbice and I want to personallythankthoseguys.”
“There were also exhibitions for guys who were interested in engine swaps and mechanical modifications, you know, the mechanical side of things and we sawalotpersonsgravitatingtothat
Continued on page 29
CWIMA welcomes the support of International Import & Supplies and recognizesJoeJagmohanfor hiscommitmenttobuildinga successful, world-class tournament in Guyana Corporate partnerships such as this play a vital role in strengthening the event’s commercial platform and supporting the growth of Masters Cricket across the region.
Speaking on the partnership, CWIMA noted
As a Silver Sponsor, International Import & Supplies will benefit from brand visibility across tournamentmaterials,digital assets, social and digital promotion, and official sponsor recognition associated with this major internationalevent.
International Import & Suppliesreflectsthegrowing confidence that leading companiesareplacinginthe tournament and in Guyana’s ability to host major international sporting events.
The 2026 IMC Over-40s World Cup is expected to attracttopcricketingnations and deliver not only a high standard of competition but also a major opportunity to showcase Guyana on an internationalstage.
CWIMA looks forward to working closely with Joe Jagmohan and International Import & Supplies as preparations continue for thislandmarktournament.
f
Shemroy Ramsingh in action with his Toyota Vitz. (GT Tuners Photo)
2026/27 West Indies
Regional 4-Day C/ships
Round 1 GHE vs WWIV Ambris ton headlines competitive 3rd day
- Eagles, with 9 wickets left require 194 runs for victory heading into final day
Ryan Rahaman piloted his Mazda Miata to the top spot in the 1501-1600CC Class. (GT Tuners Photo)
