death toll climbs to 46 across Caribbean as recovery begins
extradition proceedings start
‘I am innocent; they treated me like a criminal’ - AZ MO. Lawyers say offences not extraditable under treaty
Mohameds’ ignored as police make ‘sneaky arrest’
offer to surrender
700,000 bpd during third quarter - CEO
ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) Stabroek Block operations surpassed 700,000 barrels per day (bpd)duringthethirdquarter of 2025. This was revealed byExxonMobilCorporation Chief Executive Officer (CEO)DarrenWoods.
On Friday, theAmerican oil giant reported thirdquarterupstreamearningsof US$5.7 billion, an increase of US$277 million from the second quarter Exxon said thatearningsimprovedfrom
advantaged volumes, driven by record production in Guyana and the Permian, structural cost savings, and stronger crude realizations.
“These gains were partially offset by lower base volumes,” the company disclosed.
Corporation Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Darren Woods
Woods reported that Exxon had a strong third quarter, as the company continues to demonstrate, “thatwearetrulyinaleague ofourown.”
“We delivered the highest earnings per share
we’vehadcomparedtoother quartersinasimilaroil-price environment.InGuyana,we brokerecordswithquarterly production surpassing 700,000 barrels per day, and started up the Yellowtail development four months early and under budget…” the CEO added. Exxon’s third-quarter net production increased by 139,000 oilequivalentbarrelsperdayto 4 8 million oil-equivalent barrelsperday
Onitsupstreambusiness, Exxon report, “Lower
earnings from weaker crude realizations and higher depreciation from Tengiz were largely offset by advantaged volume growth in the Permian and Guyana, structural cost savings, and favourable foreign exchange, tax impacts, and timing effects. Year-to-date net production was 4 7 million oil-equivalent barrels per day, highlighted by a new quarterly productionrecordinboththe Permian, with nearly 1.7 million oil-equivalent barrelsperday,andGuyana, where gross production exceeded 700,000 oilequivalentbarrelsperday.”
Moreover, Exxon reminded that in Guyana its fourth development in the Stabroek Block, Yellowtail wasabletocomeonlinefour months ahead of schedule.
The ONE GUYANA FPSO is producing oil from the Yellowtail Development
The US$10 billion project received government’s blessings on April 1, 2022.
The FPSO was constructed by Dutch shipbuilder, SBM Offshore.
The vessel arrived in April2025andisthelargest FPSOontheStabroekblock todatewithaninitialannual average production of 250,000 bpd and a storage capacity of two million barrels. “As the largest of four Guyana developments to date, Yellowtail is expected to add an initial annual average production of 250,000 oil-equivalent
barrels per day, increasing total installed capacity in Guyana to over 900,000 oilequivalent barrels per day,” Exxonnoted.
Last month, the Government of Guyana (GoG)approvedaPetroleum Production Licence (PPL) for EMGL’s seventh developmentintheStabroek Block, the US$6.8 billion Hammerheadproject.
First oil from the Hammerhead project is expectedby2029.Notably,a totalof445millionbarrelsof oilisforecasttobeproduced with an estimated daily production capacity of 150,000barrelsofoilperday (bpd) Hammerhead oil productionwillbefacilitated through 10 production wells and8injectionwells.
Hammerheadisexpected to boost Guyana’s overall production capacity at approximately 1.5 million bpd,withtheFDPprojecting thisbythesecondquarterof 2029.
Hammerheadaddstothe othersixsanctionedprojects under Exxon’s belt. These include,LizaOne,LizaTwo, Payara,Yellowtail,Uaruand Whiptail The first four projects are already in operation, producing an average 650,000 bpd, with an installed capacity of 900,000bpd.Constructionis underway for the Uaru and Whiptail, with Uaru anticipated to start production in 2026, and Whiptail is anticipated for startupin2027.
facing US$50 million gold smuggling, money-laundering charges
U.S. indictment alleges massive gold export fraud, tax evasion, and customs conspiracy dating back to 2017
Businessmen,
Nazar Mohamed and Azruddin
Mohamed, the powerful father-and-son duo behind Mohamed’s Enterprise were
arrested early Friday morning by ranks of the Guyana Police Force, acting on a warrant issued by a Georgetown magistrate
following a formal extradition request from the UnitedStates.
The arrests come less than a month after a U.S. Grand Jury in the Southern DistrictofFloridaunsealeda sweeping indictment on October 6, 2025, charging the Mohameds with wire fraud, mail fraud, moneylaundering, conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and customs-related offences linked to a US$50 million gold export and tax evasion scheme.
According to the indictment, first reported by Kaieteur News, the
Mohameds allegedly defrauded the Government ofGuyanabetween2017and June2024byevadingexport taxes and royalties on over 10,000 kilograms of gold, using falsified customs declarations and re-used export seals to disguise unpaidduties.Thedocument alsodetailsaUS$5.3million undeclared gold shipment s e i z e d a t M i a m i InternationalAirport,aswell as the under-invoicing of a luxury vehicle worth more thanUS$680,000.
The extradition request, transmitted to the Guyana Government on October 30, 2025, was made under the U K –Guyana Extradition Treaty, which remains in force pursuant to the FugitiveOffendersAct(Cap. 10:04)asamendedin2024.
A team of attorneys: Terrence Williams, K C , Herbert McKenzie, and Celine Deidrick presented theAuthoritytoProceedand the Application for Arrest Warrant to the Magistrate, leading to Thursday’s operation
The U.S. investigation reportedlybeganinthemid-
2010s,withcross-borderlaw enforcement cooperation between Guyana and the U S involving the DEA, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
In June 2024, the U S Treasury’sOfficeofForeign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the Mohameds and Mohamed’s Enterprise, accusingthemoftrade-based money-laundering, gold smuggling,andtaxevasion.
By March 2025, Guyanese authorities had received a comprehensive dossier of evidence from U.S. agencies under mutual l e g a l a s s i s t a n c e arrangements, including documents and photographs ofseizedgoldshipmentsand forgedcustomsrecords.
TheMohamedswillnow beprocessedunderGuyana’s extradition framework, in accordancewiththeFugitive Offenders Act, the constitution, and other relevantlaws. Seebelowthefull statementissuedby theAttorneyGeneral Chambers Nazar Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed were arrested this morning by members of the Guyana PoliceForcedulyauthorised to do so by a warrant issued by a Magistrate of the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court. On the 30th October, 2025, the Government of
Guyana received a request from the Government of the United States of America to extraditethetwoMohameds pursuant to an extradition treaty between Guyana and the United Kingdom which extends to and remain in force in Guyana under the provisionsofSection4(1)(a) of the Fugitives Offender Act, Cap. 10:04 as amended byActNo.10of2024.
The arrest warrant was issued after a team of lawyers led by Terrence Willaims, KC, Herbert McKenzie and Celine Deidrick, Attorneys-at-Law presented to the Magistrate anAuthoritytoProceedfrom the Government of Guyana accompanied by an application for an arrest warrantasismandatedunder theprovisionoftheAct.
The Mohameds are the subject of an indictment unsealedonOctober6,2025, by a United States Grand Jury sitting in the Southern
District of Florida, which charges them with multiple offences including wire fraud, mail fraud, moneylaundering, conspiracy, aiding and abetting and customs-related violations connectedtoanallegedUS $50milliongoldexportand taxevasionscheme.
The indictment alleges thatbetween2017andJune 2024,theaccusedconspired to defraud the Government of Guyana by evading export taxes and royalties onover10,000kilogramsof gold, using falsified customs declarations and re-used export seals to disguiseunpaidduties.
The indictment further references the attempted shipment of US$5.3 million in undeclared gold seized at MiamiInternationalAirport, and the alleged underinvoicingofaluxuryvehicle valuedatoverUS$680,000.
Theinvestigationintothe Mohameds by U S authorities is understood to have originated in the mid2010s, with intelligence and l a w - e n f o r c e m e n t cooperation between Guyana and the United States dating back to 2016–2017.Accordingtothe indictment, the alleged fraudulent scheme operated “from in or about 2017” throughJune2024.
In June 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’sOfficeofForeign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the Mohameds and their company, Mohamed’s Enterprise, citing allegations of tax evasion,trade-basedmoneylaundering, and gold smuggling.
The Government of Guyanawasfirstinformedof t h e o n g o i n g U S investigation through official diplomatic channels following the June 2024 sanctions.
Reports indicate that U.S.agenciesinvolvedinthe investigation included the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security(DHS).
The two Mohameds will now be processed in accordance with the extradition framework set out in the provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act, as amended,induecompliance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution of Guyana and all other relevantlaws.
In March 2025, the Government of Guyana received a comprehensive dossier of evidence from U.S. authorities pursuant to mutual legal assistance arrangements This dossier included documentation relating to gold export irregularities, falsified customs declarations, and undeclaredshipmentsseized inMiami.
PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.
Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456
Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams
Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
Quitefrequently,mostnotablyinourletterpages,weare reminded of the importance of the rule of law, and a very important point has frequently been ensconced – it is nonnegotiable.
Ithasbecomeclearerbythedaythatinallfacetsofour society, and at every level, persons are willing to test the system,andinmanycases,displayblatantdisregardforthat whichprovidesuswithdirectionandpreventsanarchy The pastfewyearshaveseendangerouslevelsofcontemptfrom thoseinauthority Obviouscasesofwrongdoingarematterof-factlydealtwith.Thishasunfortunatelyhadaprofound impactonthepopulace.Wearelosingourway
TheWorldJusticeProject'sdefinitionoftheruleoflaw isasysteminwhichthefollowingfouruniversalprinciples areupheld:
· Thegovernmentanditsofficialsandagentsaswell asindividualsandprivateentitiesareaccountableunderthe law
· Thelaws are clear, publicized, stable, and just; are applied evenly; and protect fundamental rights, including thesecurityofpersonsandproperty
· The process by which the laws are enacted, administered,andenforcedisaccessible,fair,andefficient.
· Justiceisdeliveredtimelybycompetent,ethical,and independent representatives and neutrals who are of sufficientnumber,haveadequateresources,andreflectthe makeupofthecommunitiestheyserve.
It can be reasonably questioned whether Guyana upholdssuchprinciples.
Aroundtheworld,theruleoflawisincreasinglybeing recognisedasanimportantaspectofconflictresolutionand post-conflictpeace-building.Similarly,itsabsenceisoften implicatedasasourceofconflict,attheveryleastservingto perpetuateinstability
Broadly speaking, the term 'rule of law' refers to the presence of transparent, evenly applied rules and statutes. Obligations,penaltiesandproceduresarecleartoeveryone. Similarly,asysteminwhichtheruleoflawreignssupreme isoneinwhichtheprocessthroughwhichlawiscreatedis open and accessible to all. These rules apply equally to everyoneregardlessofclass,ethnicity,religionandthelike, aswellasalsobindinggovernmentorgans.Inotherwords, nooneisabovethelaw
Therefore,anapolitical,uncorruptedPoliceForceisan importantcomponent.Whatismore,animpartialjudiciary, inwhicheveryonehasaccesstothesystem,isnecessaryto adjudicate disputes. In many societies with a history of conflict and authoritarianism, however, these institutions areeitherineffectualorcomplicitintheconflict.
A lack of rule of law in a country can be a source of conflictinanumberofdifferentrespects.
Perhaps most obviously, the application of law favouringparticulargroupsislikelytogenerateresentment amongst those slighted. Countries lacking the rule of law alsooftenfaceeconomicdisadvantage,whichmaybecome asourceofconflict.
Development experts often point to the importance of having clear statutes for the enforcement of contracts and the like as a precursor to attracting significant investment, andconsequentlyeconomicdevelopment.
The rule of law brings order to society Constitutional reform and the establishment of new legal entities to deal with justice issues in the post-conflict phase are thus importantcomponentstoapeace-buildingeffort.
Ultimately, some argue reconciliation depends in part on the restoration of the rule of law The international community has focused much attention on the means throughwhichitcanbestassistcountriestoconstructarule oflawsystem.Somearguethatconstructingtheruleoflaw requires more than just building new institutions for a brighter road ahead. In their view, holding perpetrators of pastabusesaccountablefortheiractionslaysanimportant moralfoundationforthefuture.
DearEditor, I take issue with the recent missive of Dr
newspapers on the 26 October, 2025 in which he proffered his considered
Judiciary of Guyana in the course of which he vilified and berated Chief Justice Navindra Singh as being unfit to be appointed to that office.
Dr. Campbell omitted anyreferencetothefactthat PresidentGrangerrefusedto appoint Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards CCH, OR as the permanent Chancellor of the Judiciary ofGuyana.
The then President Granger instead identified Chief Justice Kenneth BenjaminoftheBelizeHigh Court to be appointed to the office of the Chancellor However, because of his backlog of undelivered judgments,thateffortdidnot cometofruition.
An indictment upon ChancellorCummings.
The pontifications of Dr Campbell on this issue directed at the incumbent Governmentseemsrootedin a prejudice that may be influenced by personal perspectives and lacks historical accuracy whilst betraying a partisan agenda, disguised as a new found concern for judicial independence.
The last confirmed Chancellor of the Judiciary of Guyana was the distinguished jurist Justice D é s i r é e B e r n a r d
Subsequently,underthePPP Government Justice Ian Chang S C became the ChiefJustice(ag)andJustice Carl Singh CCH, OR the Chancellor(ag).
The question must be asked, why didn't the opposition your party, which was once my party not appoint these judges to permanent positions? This highlights issues of political prejudice, spite, and indifference for the independence of the judiciary.
To thine own self, be true.
Regarding Justice
Navindra Singh, I defended the judge when Mr Glenn Hanoman, Attorney-at-Law instituted private criminal charges against him without any evidence. Mr Hanoman has had several prior interactions with the judge whodidnottoleraterudeness orinsults.Thechargesarose fromonesuchencounterand were intended to embarrass him and yet you omitted to inform the public of the outcomeofthecase.
There was no evidence presented; the case was withdrawn, and that was the endofthematter
To seek to weaponize suchincidentsisanaffrontto fairness and due process. It reeks of political vendetta notprinciple.
Inrelationtotheincident referred to as involving the judge in which you intervened, you failed to provide the context and circumstances and appear intentontarnishinghim.
Justice Singh was an o u t s t a n d i n g l e g a l practitioner, both in Guyana and the United States of America.Heneverrequested a job in Guyana; he was invited to apply, and he did apply, sacrificing his independence in the United Statesandreturningtoserve hiscountry.
He is not a “timorous soul”,incourtoroutofcourt and has stood his ground, refusing to surrender his dignity or compromise his integrity
His decision and
Injunction Orders issued on th the 5 May, 2020 in the Elections case, restraining a declaration of the Region 4 results by the Returning Officer, unless done in compliance with the Law as stipulated in Section 84 of the Representation of the PeopleAct, halted the crude unlawful attempts to unlawfully install Mr BrigadierDavidGrangerfor a second term of office, an Orderanddecisionvalidated by the subsequent recount which appears to remain unforgivable to Dr.Terrence Campbell.
Dr Terrence Campbell has referenced the noconfidence motion decision before the Chancellor Cummings as a source of
disturbing discomfort with theGovernment,butremains silent firstly, as to the observations and comments of the judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and the decision of thatCourt.
Dr Terrence Campbell remainsconspicuouslysilent of and concerning the observations of the academics of the University of the West Indies on the questionable decisions emanatingfromtheCourtof Appeal, Guyana during this period but pontificates nonetheless at length on i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d impartiality.
An extract is attached belowforeaseofreference.
“Dr Ronnie Yearwood, LecturerinLawandCynthia Barrow-Giles, Senior LecturerinPoliticalScience, wereatthetimedeliveringa lecture as part of the UWI Cave Hill Campus, Faculty of Law, Working Paper Series titled “The Judiciary and the 2020 Guyana Elections”onThursdaylast.
Barrow-Giles was a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) High Level Team for the Recount of the Vote for the 2020 elections in Guyana in March 2020 and she served as Team Leader of the CARICOM Observer Mission for the recount of theMarch2020Generaland Regional Elections in May 2020.
Duringtheir (Continuedonpage5)
DearEditor,
I am writing to express mydeepestappreciationand the gratitude, perhaps echoed by a multitude of Guyana's citizenry, for the swift, decisive, and professional action taken by the Guyana Police Force in apprehending the alleged suspects connected to the devastating gas station explosioninGeorgetown.
Depending on the particular circumstances, this might involveoneormoretransitionaljusticemechanismssuchas trials, international tribunals, truth commissions, or lustration measures. Compensation and restitution are also crucial in correcting past wrongs. Many transitional justice experts see uncovering the truth about past abuses as an important part of entrenching the rule of law It involves a social transformation in which the rule of law becomes a widelysharedvalue.Ithasbeentheorisedthattheconnection betweentruthandtheruleoflawisthroughthedevelopment ofcivictrust.
Insomecircumstances,theremaybecallstotradesome degreeoftruthfortheruleoflawsuchasgrantingamnesties to forego prosecution. Otherwise, nervous perpetrators that retainsignificantpowermayfinditmorebeneficialtodisrupt thepeaceprocesstoprotecttheirinterests.Howunfortunate itisthatwealreadyhavemanysuchedgyindividualsinour midst.
Inthefaceofsuchatragedy, the public looks to its law enforcement agencies for reassurance, stability, and, most importantly, justice
In this relatively placid land of our, the shocking nature of this incident sent waves of fear and anxiety throughout the community.
The GPF's aggressive and focusedinvestigativeefforts, leading to the rapid identificationandcustodyof the suspects, have provided exactlythat.
This prompt action demonstrates a high level of competence,dedication,and resolve It sends an unequivocal message that such acts which threaten public safety and security of ourcountrywillbemetwith the full and immediate force of Guyana's Protective Services. The work of the SecurityForcesinthismatter hasnotonlybeencrucialfor the course of justice but has also been instrumental in restoring a sense of security and confidence within the terrifiedcommunity.
Editor,pleaseconveymy earnest commendation to all the officers, detectives, and supporting staff involved in this successful operation TheirhardworkunderwhatI can only assume was significant pressure, is a testament to their commitment to duty and the peopleofGuyana. Conclusive acts like these are reassurances that theGuyana'sSecurityForces remain vigilant and capable guardians of our peace Encomium to Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum et al for the leadership and for the Force'sexemplaryservicein thiscriticalsituation.
Sincerely, JonathanSubrianEsq
DearEditor,
Since the government of theUnitedStatesofAmerica has stationed an armada of some of the world's most powerful military ships off the coast of Venezuela and, therefore,inthewatersofthe Caribbean, this fact has becometosomeCARICOM
leaders, 'a bone of contention',while,toothers, itismorethanwelcome.
Some 46 years ago, the government of Grenada, on st31 October1979,supported by all of the Caribbean HeadsofState,introduceda Resolution at the General
A s s e m b l y o f t h e Organisation of American States (OAS) that the Caribbean should be declared a “Zone of Peace”.
The Resolution was passed unanimously,includingwith the support of the government of the United States of America This concept was reenforced in 2014 when the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) formally embraced this Resolution.Inessence,itisa
commitment by Caribbean nations to maintain peace, sovereignty, and nonintervention in the region. It is, however, a commitment morehonouredinthebreach thaninfact.
The loudest voice amongst the CARICOM leaders critical of the presenceoftheUSarmadain ourwatersisPrimeMinister, Mia Mottley, of Barbados, whensherecentlyaddressed theBarbadosLabourParty's t h 86 Conference in Bridgetown. She described thebombinganddestruction by the US forces of boats claimed by the US to be operated by narco-terrorists carryingdangerousdrugsfor entry into the US, as “extra judicial killings”, and she referred to the US fleet as “menacing military vessels from the United States across the Caribbean Sea”. Mottley went on to say that “peaceiscriticaltoallwedo in this region, and now that peace is being threatened, wehavetospeakup”.
The Barbados Prime Minister, however, seems to
have forgotten that that “peace” was long since disturbed when US forces invaded Grenada in 1983 to protect its students when Grenadian Prime Minister, Maurice Bishop, was murdered and, more recently, the ongoing threat of military intervention in Guyana by the Maduro regime in their illegal claim of the Essequibo, about which, again, with the exception of Trinidad & Tobago, the CARICOM leadershavebeenpeculiarly silent.
According, therefore, to Prime Minister Mottley, “peace is being threatened” by the presence of the US armada off the coast of Venezuela and by the elimination of boats said to becarryingdangerousdrugs. Well,isit?
The presence of the US fleet is specifically directed at the machinations of NicolasMaduro. Justdays ago, our country was attacked by a bomber out of Venezuela who arrived complete with sophisticated
equipment to set off the bomb,and,whoconfessedto beingconnectedwithknown terrorist organizations in Venezuela.According to the US government, whether trueorfalse,wedon'tknow, these terrorist gangs come under the directions of the Maduro regime So far, Prime Minister Mottley, nor for that matter, any other of theCARICOMleaders,have seenitfittocommentonthis attackonGuyana.
The government of Prime Minister, Kamla
Persad-Bissessar, of Trinidad & Tobago, is the outstanding exception who, has not only refused to support the statement from the CARICOM Heads criticaloftheUSfleetinthe Caribbean, but whose government further categorically expressed “a strong support for the o n g o i n g m i l i t a r y intervention of the United States of America in the region”.
Casting traditional CARICOM diplomacy aside,theTrinidad&Tobago
Frompage4 presentation, with reference to the Appeal Court decisions, the academics also scrutinised whether there was a breach of the separationofpowers.
“Someofthejudgements thatcameoutoftheCourtof A p p e l a r e h i g h l y questionable,” BarrowGiles said, and, while makingitclearthatsheisnot trying to “impute” anyone, she suggested that the reasons for the decisions might be influenced by the processusedtoappointment officers of the court ” (Caribbeantrakker com, October232021)
Dr Campbell's criticism ofJusticeSingh'ssentencing practices as being reversed on appeal by the CCJ for beingharshandexcessiveis equallyhollow
Severe crimes require severe penalties. Consider
sentencing practices for the offences of murder and rape intheUnitedStatesandthen consider secondly, the fact thatsentencefortheoffence ofmurderinGuyanaandthe wider Caribbean was at all material times the sentence ofdeath.ItwasJusticeSingh who issued a written judgement clarifying the constitutional question of whetherthepenaltyofdeath was mandatory a position that had prevailed in this jurisdictiontothatjuncture.
Whilst however, Dr. Campbell has highlighted the fact that the CCJ has intervened to reduce sentences imposed by Justice Singh, he has remained conspicuously silent as to the outcome of the Appeals in the Election cases emanating from the Court of Appeal of Guyana under the tenure of ChancellorCummings.
Justi
h has performed with excellence in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Guyana, delivering timely written judgements on every legal i
m proceedings before him, a circumstance that is not replicated across the board from jurists whom Dr. Campbell seeks to celebrate primarilyfortheirpositions.
Justice Singh's rulings have at all times been grounded in the Law, not political bias Dr Campbell's silence on these decisions exposes the selective outrage fueling his narrative.
There continues to be arrears of timely written judgments from the judiciary
The attack and criticism of Justice Singh by Dr TerrenceCampbellflowsnot from the fact that he is
unworthy or unqualified to be the Chief Justice of Guyana,itappearsdrivenby prejudiceandconcernofthe author over his fearless approach as the incumbent Chief Justice within the judiciaryofGuyana.
Dr Martin Luther King Jnr reminded us: “A man must not be judged by the colourofhisskin,butbythe contentofhischaracter.”
We are a nation on the threshold of greatness, considerations based on age old divisions and prejudice flowing from political preferences or ethnicity has noplaceamongthecitizenry or any arm of Government, moresofromonewhoseeks to vilify judges for narrow politicalgain.
Anything less is hypocrisy
Bestregards, JailallT.Kissoon, Attorney-at-Law
Prime Minister has unapologeticallysaidthat“I do not consider CARICOM a reliable partner and over thenextcoupleofyearsthere will be a significant realignment of our policy”. It raises the question, of course, whether the Government of Guyana can rely on the support of its CARICOM “partners” to protectusfromwhatappears to be the dangerously escalating menace to our peace, security and stability from Venezuela and, let me stress, that this threat is not fromtheVenezuelanpeople, thousands of whom we are giving a home, but from the narco-gangs and regime led byNicolasMaduro.
Guyana's President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, while supporting the CARICOM position, at the same time, has given full support to the interdictionofanyoralldrug carrying boats in the Caribbean and has not criticizedthepresenceofthe Americanfleetinourwaters.
Where Guyana stands and where the US government stands with us, has been made very plain by US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, when he visited Guyana in March 2025 Speaking at a Press Conference alongside PresidentAliatStateHouse, Rubio said “it would be a very bad day for the Venezuelan regime if they were to attack Guyana or attack ExxonMobil or anythinglikeit…itwouldbe a very bad day, a very bad week for them and it would notendwellforthem”.
In all of this, there is a blatant hypocrisy evidenced
in the position of the CARICOM leaders quick to criticize the Americans but, withthemarkedexceptionof Kamla Persad-Bissessar, failingtorecognizeandraise their voices against the actions of the Maduro regimeagainsttheterritorial integrityofGuyana.
Former Senior Minister for Finance in the PPP/C government,AsgarAlly,has, therefore, quite correctly, raised his voice in criticism of the Barbados Prime Minister, and, by inference, the CARICOM Heads opposed to the American military naval presence in our waters Asgar Ally describes Prime Minister Mottley's remarks as “both i m p r u d e n t a n d unjustifiable”. “I find the Barbados Prime Minister's positiondangerouslynaïve”, he said.Ally points out that “the US has never shown a propensity or inclination to occupy sovereign states in our region for long term occupation; rather, the US presencehasoftenservedas a stabilizing factor for democratic nations All countries that profess democratic values should therefore support efforts to counter dictators like Maduro and defend the sovereigntyofsmallerstates in our region. Rejecting US presence now undermines ourcapacitytodefendpeace, sovereignty, and the rule of lawintheCaribbean”.
Wecannotforgetthefact thatVenezuelastilloccupies AnkokoIsland,whichispart of Guyana, that they have bridged a connection to Venezuelacarrying
(Continuedonpage6)
Images of the explosive device used in the deadly Mobil S ervice Station bombinghavebeenretrieved fromtheprimesuspect'scell phone,CrimeChiefWendell Blanhum told Kaieteur NewsonFriday
“The explosives experts are currently examining images of the device”, the Crime Chief added when asked if investigators were able to determine what kind of explosives were used in the terrorist act
Detectiveshavealsosecured an extension from the high court to keep the ninth suspect in custody as the investigationscontinue
TheMobilServiceStation
was bombed around 19:30hrsonSundayOctober 26, killing six-year-old SorayaBourneandinjuring seven others Among the
injured were her cousinsalso children, her aunt and 71-year-oldgrandmother Kaieteur News reported on Thursday that two Venezuelan nationals accused of bombing the gas station on Sunday allegedly used a KFC food run as cover to scout the site before carrying out the deadly attack According to a senior police officer,
investigationsofarrevealed that sometime between 11 a.m.and12noonon Sunday, theprimesuspect,identified as Daniel Alexander Ramirez Peodomo, and his Venezuelan accomplice travelledtoGeorgetownina motorcaralongwithafemale accomplice and a hired taxi driver “They parked the car in the vicinity of the gas station.
The female accomplice then exited the vehicle and went to the KFC outlet at the said location, where she purchased food for the two Venezuelans,” the seniorofficerdisclosed “It was during that time that the Venezuelans took the opportunity to conduct surveillance of the fuel station before executing theiracttobombthestation,” the officer added After
c o m p l e t i n g t h e i r reconnaissance,thesuspects reportedly returned to Region Three, the officer said Police investigations havealsoconfirmedthatthe suspects entered Guyana illegally through a backtrack route in the Pomeroon River, before being dropped off at Parika, East Bank Essequibo. From there, they made their way to Georgetown, where the deadly attack was later carriedout.Asofpresstime, theGuyanaPoliceForcewas holding around nine suspects, including Peodomo,whowascaughton surveillance camera setting the device that triggered the explosionattheRegentStreet ServiceStation Blanhum had told reporters at a press conference held at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Tuesday that Peodomo and his accomplice have some affiliation with a “gang in Venezuela known as'R'whichislinkedtothe Sindicato gang The Sindicato gang has been linked to several violent cross-border crimes The C
DearEditor,
It breaks my heart to see whathasbecomeoftheBamia Primary School project in Region 10 This school was supposedtobringhopetoour children, a place where they couldlearnincomfort, safety, anddignity Instead,afterfour long years of waiting, all we haveisanunfinishedbuilding, mounting costs, and empty promises
The construction started backinNovember2021,and since then the project has been pushed back time and time again. The deadlines
keep changing, and yet the school remains incomplete. Every time the government says “soon,” another year passes, and our children continue to suffer It's a painfulreminderofhowthis PPP government has neglected the people of LindenandRegion10.
Millions of taxpayers' dollars have already gone into this project, and yet there is nothing to show for it.Noproperexplanation,no accountability, just more excuses Meanwhile, our children are forced to learn
uncomfortable conditions while a half-finished building stands as a monumentoffailure.
This government seems tofindmoneyforfanfareand foreign trips, but not for the children of the hinterland and mining communities who depend on proper education to change their lives. It is disgraceful and disheartening that a school, something so basic and essential, has become anotherpoliticalfootballand symbolofbrokenpromises.
ThepeopleofRegion10 deserve better Our children deserve better The PPP government must come cleanonthisproject,tellthe nation how many times the contract has been extended, how much money has been spent, and why after four years the Bamia Primary Schoolisstillunfinished. We are tired of hearing “soon.” We need results not moreexcuses.
Sincerely, LorenzoJoseph United Workers Party (UWP)
DearEditor,
At his weekly press conference on October 17, 2025,VicePresidentBharrat Jagdeo announced that the government will launch a national procurement websitein2026-astepthat, on paper, points in the right direction. But if we suspend belief that this may also servetomuzzlethepressby
diverting valuable government advertising from print media, a key revenue stream that sustains independent journalism, the initiative could still mark p r o g r e s s t o w a r d transparency
Yet the reform comes very late Many of the
government's largest contracts, awarded in the energy, infrastructure, and
housing sectors, have already been concluded without public visibility or competitivescrutiny
The Vice President has statedthat“allcontractswill be advertised, and transparency will improve.” Yet, as it stands, the website exists only as a promise. Until 2026, contracts will continue to be advertised through newspapers and agency notice boardsmethods the government advises are fragmented, slow, and easily missed by thewiderpublic. Even if we accept that rationale, the delay itself raises the question: how, after more than five years back in office, is this only now being conceived? It reflects a government still
strugglingwithtransparency and strong oversight in publicprocurement.
This delay raises legitimate concerns about whether the reform is substantiveorsymbolic.
The absence of an immediate rollout means near-term projects, some of them multimillion-dollar undertakings,willstillmove through opaque processes. Andgiventhisgovernment's poor record of timely implementation, especially in areas touching on oversightandaccountability, thepublichaslittlereasonto be confident that 2026 will bring the promised transparency Without independent oversight and timely disclosure, the risk of
favouritism, inefficiency, andmisuseoffundsremains.
This gap between promise and practice, potential and performance, can be closed only by decisivestepsnow.
If the administration is serious about restoring
confidence in public procurement, it must move beyond press releases to action: fast-track the website's implementation, mandate online publication ofallexistingcontracts,and empower independent watchdogs to monitor compliance.
A good idea delayed is accountability denied - and by 2026, the biggest deals mayalreadybehistory Yoursfaithfully, SherodDuncan
d that the explosive device was activated moments after the main suspect exitedacarandwalkedinto the Mobil Gas Station at Regent and King Streets, Georgetown Investigatorsare working to determine the motive behind the attack and whether it was linked to organised transnational criminal activity ClosedCircuit Television (CCTV) showedthesuspect, clad in a bluejersey,whatappearedto beblacktrousersandakhaki hat, entering the gas station andfirstattempting to place a bulky black bag in a bin located at a pump station An attendant, who was seated there, forbade him fromplacingthebaginthe bin The man then ventured to the area of the fuel station where it is
Main Suspect in deadly gas station bombing, Daniel Alexander Ramirez Peodomo,
reported that cooking gas was stored Shortly after, the car in which little Soraya Bourne and her family traveled in was seen slowly reversing before the bomb explodedcausingthegirland her relatives to be pitched intotheair
Further,theGuyanaPolice Force (GPF) said it has been pursuing all leads through collaboration with its local, regional and international counterparts, including INTERPOL
A Special Investigative Task Force was established comprising members of the Major Crimes Investigation Unit, Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters, Regional Divisions 3, 4A, and 4B and other key stakeholders, supported by intelligence and forensic experts The investigation was also coordinated with continuous oversight by the Commissioner ofPolice andseniorofficers
DearEditor,
Recent events and statements would lead to believe Caricom, the bedrock of Caribbean integration and unity, is foundering,withonePMofa founder nation of the Community declaring CARICOM no longer a reliablepartner
That same PM was also declared persona non grata byaperceivedroguestate.
The founder fathers of the Community must be shaking their heads in disbelief.
Someothershavesigned a Trade Treaty with the perceived rogue nation pledging support (SN October30).
So, is CARICOM at the cross roads? Can it survive and overcome these hurdles and remain the strong integrationist, the hallmark ofitsfoundation?
Further there are differing views, positions and stances from leaders on the military buildup and imposition in the South Caribbean, with some openly in favour, some againstandothersstraddling a position of both sides with zoneofpeacecentral.
ShamshunMohamed
The US fleet in the Caribbean is...
Frompage6 Venezuelan armed vehicles and tanks, that from time to time, Venezuelan troops have been mobilized along our borders, a Venezuelan military vessel has crossed into our waters and threatened an Exxon FPSO, that the Venezuelan legislator has appointed a Governor to rule over the Essequibo.
While all of that is happening, not a word of
protest or support for Guyanaaboutthischallenge to the Caribbean Zone of Peace from any of those Caribbean leaders now loud in their protest against the American presence in our waters So much for Caribbeanunitywhenoneof its own is directly threatened. The US fleet in the Caribbean is threatening nooneexceptMaduro. Yourssincerely, KitNascimento
Ex x o n M o b i l
Guyana Limited (EMGL) has shifted its operations to the company's spanking new headquarters, a multiple story, double building at Ogle,EastCoastDemerara.
The structure was completed several months ago, as employees were officially moved since February of this year, Kaieteur News was told, fromthecompany'sprevious Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetownoffice.Withthe construction works completed and operations currently in full swing, this newspaper recently asked the company to disclose the sum spent on the facility to date.
Asitdidwithfourothers
questions submitted by this newspaper, the company provided an empty response tothedirectquestion.Exxon said, “We are in the process offinalisingthespendaswe closeout the project, but the final number will not be available until early next year However, we expect that the final cost will be consistent with what we budgetedandcommunicated tothegovernment.”
The project was initially pegged at US$160 million. Since the company said it could not disclose the final price tag of the facility, this newspaper invited it to say howmuchwasspenttodate.
During its first press conference at the new Ogle HQ,presidentofEMGLtold reporters,“TheOgleofficeis
fully operational We've actually moved in some 560 p e o p l e n o t o n l y ExxonMobil people, but some [of our] contractors, particularly SBM, there's around at 150 SBM employees who are based, workinghereinouroffice.”
With regard to the final price of the facility, he explained that the company couldtake“severalmonths” todeterminethatfigure.
“It would probably take several months to reach that point, as in any major project There's always contractual questions, and matters that have to be worked through in order to align the final numbers between the contractor and our subcontracts, and ourselves, as the client,” he
explained.
Notably, the cost of the new HQ will recover out of cost oil, meaning Guyana willfoottheexpenses.
A contract was awarded to NABI/KCL Oilfield Construction Services Guyana in 2019 for the construction of the HQ at Ogle,whichsitsona15-acre
plot.AccordingtoaRequest for Information issued by ExxonMobil Guyana, the scope of works include construction of two buildings; an outdoor p a v i l i o n ; p a v i n g ; landscaping; fill and storm drainage; site utilities; plumbing utilities; and electricalworks.
During a media tour of the facility on October 13, 2025, Exxon showed off selectedpartsofthebuilding and prohibited journalists from capturing certain sections of the facility, like itsnewcommandcenterthat isusedtomonitortheoiland gas operations in the StabroekBlock.
An 18-year-old pillion riderwaskilledonThursday, after the motorcycle he was travelling on crashed into a stray cow along the Danielstown Public Road, Essequibo Coast, Region Two.
Police in the regional division said they are investigating the fatal accident which involved a motorcycle driven by a 23year-old,labourerofCharity Extension Scheme, Essequibo Coast and his pillion rider, Enrico Rodriguez, 18, a labourer, also of Charity Extension Scheme.
Enquiries revealed that the motorcycle was proceeding south along the Danielstown Public Road whenitcollidedwithastray cow which was crossing the roadway Police said both occupantswerethrownonto the surface of the road, receivinginjuriesabouttheir bodies.
Thetwoyoungmenwere taken to the Lima Regional Hospital, where Rodriguez was pronounced dead on arrival The biker was admitted to the hospital underpoliceguard.
Investigations are ongoing.
Pa r t o f a columnist’s job is to observe the patternsandtrendsgoingon in society Sometimes, this involves sitting on a bench lookingatpeoplegoingpast. Other times, it means riding the minibus back and forth listeningtotheconversation (at great peril to one’s life).
Some of you are no doubt saying it sounds like I have nothing to do with my life. Maybe you are right. But I do notice things. And I do write about them. And I do getpaidforit.
OneworryingtrendIsee is that young professionals are not shining their shoes. Thistroubledmeforawhile.
Clearly it was not out of disregard for their appearance. They all wore crisply pressed clothes and sported fashionable hairstyles.Infact,thismade their shoes, dull and badly scuffed, stand out even more. Neither could it be from want of time. Shining shoes with modern polish
(AL-JAZEERA) The United Nations human rightschiefhascalledforan investigation into United States military strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean allegedly carrying illegal drugs from South America, saying the attacks are “unacceptable” andmuststop.
UNHighCommissioner
for Human Rights (UNHCR)headVolkerTurk voiced the first outright condemnation of US strikes fromaUNorganisationina statementonFriday “These attacks – and theirmountinghumancost–are unacceptable,” Turk said.“TheUSmusthaltsuch attacks and take all measures necessary to prevent the extrajudicial killing of people aboard these boats, whatever the criminal conduct alleged againstthem.”
Speaking on Turk’s behalf at a regular UN briefing, spokesperson RavinaShamdasanisaidthe top UN official believed Washington’s conduct violated international humanrightslawandcalled for “prompt, independent, a n d t r a n s p a r e n t investigations”.
US President Donald Trump has justified the attacks on the boats as a necessary escalation in the effort to stem the flow of drugsintotheUnitedStates, but the campaign against drug cartels has been divisive among countries in theregion.
His increasingly belligerent approach to Venezuela and Colombia, both led by left-wing governments, suggests possible ulterior motives, perhaps even “regime
change”intheformer.
TheUShasrecentlysent an aircraft carrier strike grouptoLatinAmerica,ina major escalation of its military presence in the region, prompting speculation of a possible effort to overthrow the Venezuelangovernment.
Shamdasani noted the US explanations but said countries have long agreed that the fight against illicit drug trafficking is a lawenforcement matter governedby“carefullimits” placed on the use of lethal force.
Intentional use of lethal force is allowed only as a last resort against someone representing “an imminent threat to life,” she said. “Otherwise, it would amount to a violation of the rightoflifeandconstitute
(Continuedonpage24)
In Guyana if you want big wuk in de government, yuh gat fuh learn fuh curry favour, be a bootlicker or beayes-person.Yuhgatto beagoodyes-manandyeswoman, if yuh hope to score a good job. De more yuh can say yes, de faster yuhganclimbdeladderof success.
takes less than five minutes, and thereafter just a few seconds brushing to maintain.
One group is an exception to this pattern. Uniformed personnel –security guards, soldiers, police–sportshoessoshiny, you can see your reflection in them clear enough to shave. Some of them wear patent leather but a great many put in the effort and take pride in their shoes. Some may ascribe this to personal discipline, but I think it more likely that regularuniforminspectionis partoftheirjob.
Thisgivesusaclueasto why no one else is shining their shoes. They face no judgmentfornotdoingso.If anything, people may tell themtheirshoeslookoldand theywillgooutandbuynew ones.
This throwaway culture is unnecessary – a pair of shoes, cared for and polished, can last and look goodforyears.Ithascreated perversebusinessincentives – why sell a customer one pairofgoodshoeseveryfive years when you can flog them a new pair, held together with just a little glue,thatwilllasttwoyears and that they will replace becauseitwon’ttakeashine andisn’tpresentable.
The poor customer is blameless in this – when people have only the barest amountofcashonhand,they
areinnopositiontoconsider the long-term financial economics of something as trivialasashoepurchase.
This practice, called planned obsolescence, has become rampant Shoes, household appliances, printers, phones, televisions – all examples of products built to fail or not allow maintenance.
Countries have cottoned on and begun to introduce lawsagainstit,buttheseare next to impossible to enforce Companies will parrot the same line –making products this way makesthemmoreaffordable tothecustomer “Intheshort run”,theyforgettoadd.
Customers may be reluctant to demand change for other reasons The middle class, normally extremely vocal when they feel they are being shortchanged, has been brought onside. Businesses have launched campaigns, throughadsandpromotions, to “make shopping fun”. This is now a major social activity It is fast becoming entertainment – one very well-known store blasts musicatfullvolumeoutside itspremises.
Products failing faster means you get a chance to buy more often, to go shopping and show off your newgoods.
This, my fellow
Guyanese is consumer
culture.Itisthenaturalresult oftheneoliberalpolicieswe have pursued for the past three decades. It is a sick, twisted society where principles are sacrificed at the altar of profit, and believemewehaveonlyjust begun,inthesefewdecades, to sink below the surface of theconsumeristtide.
As we go under the oil slick, and the water closes overourheads,weshallfind ourselves in a dark place indeed.Butmoreonthatina futurecolumn.
Youmayhavefoundthis column slightly disjointed, jumpingfromtopictotopic, from shoeshine to planned obsolescence to consumer culture.Butthisisthejobof a columnist – to observe society, to look at the mundane and follow to chains of causation and discover the real maladies afflictingsociety
So, keep your eyes open as you go about your day You may be surprised what you see in other people’s shoes. Or maybe I just have nothing to do with my life. Youdecide.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Don’t worry ‘bout too much qualifications, competence,expertise,and integrity Dem things gan carryyuhonlysofar Butif yuh want to be catapulted from bottom to top, learn the rules of climbing the ladder of success. If yuh want big wuk, yuh gat to start practising to bow and kneel. Mek certain yuh gat good knees and yuh neck muscles are strong. Buy a pair of knee guards. Yuh gan need it because yuh gan be spending nuff time stoopingandpa-dooping. Yuh also gat to have stronghands. Yuh must know how fuh slap backs good. And yuh must gat a sweet tongue fuh them semiGods with complements andflattery
inspiring! I agree with everything you say ” Remember echoing the opinionsofhigher-upsand behind-kissingaresomeof thekeystosuccess.Andde more yuh can carry news and stab odder people in dem back, de more suc
ul yuh gan become Experience, qualifications, and track recordsgancarryyuhonly sofarandnofurther Who needs those when you can fawnyuhwaytodetop?
There are certain catch phrases yuh must practice such as: “You’re so brilliant! Your visionary
And if all of dat not opening doors fuh yuh, learnfuhcookduckcurry! TalkHalf!LeffHalf!
The members of Guyana's Ethnic R e l a t i o n s Commission (“the ERC”) haveamostsensitiveroleto performinthiscountry Ina
society where major
s e g m e n t s i n t h e demographic are as sharply
a n d b i t t e r l y ( a n d immovably) divided, the ERC's role become doubly sensitive, and how it responds to developments takes on more weight than normal, that can be imagined. There is nothing extraordinary there; merely a restatement of the regular
thinking and expectation of Guyanese, who place a high priority on a calm, respectableplaceinwhichto live,goabouttheirbusiness. My concern, my problem, is that when the expectationisfortheERCto be evenhanded, there is the sense that it is dragging its feet. Itisasensethatsticks. For example, what decent Guyanese consider vile and vicious was uttered in cyberspace during a time of national rage and national uncertainty,andtheERC,in substance, sat on its hands and turned its face. It is
equated to the state entity stopping its ears and blindfoldingitseyes,leading to its hearing nothing offensive and seeing what was not enough to drive an engagement. An apology was tendered, and that was considered sufficient. The scales at the ERC, in my thinking,seemstocryoutfor s o m e t e s t i n g a n d r e c a l i b r a t i n g , a s administered by Guyana's Bureau of Standards. And, the power of Guyanese public opinion, fearlessly expressed, responsibly utilized.
TheERCwasupinarms, apictureofresolution,when a Hindu goddess, and a senior one at that, was insulted. The ERC came right out subsequently and condemned vandalism against a mandir, the place where Hindus publicly practice their faith, and partake to the fullest in a constitutionally mandated right,asacredone. TheERC is applauded for those unequivocal stances Straightout,straightup,and straight in the face of the allegedinsulter
The same was done in a matter involving veteran political activist, and political scientist and commentator, Dr David Hinds, for remarks that he allegedly made that were interpreted as being inflammatory, with the potentialtosowdiscordinan already polarized society An investigation was launched,andthefruitsofit are awaited. Three very specific instances targeted, spoken about, and looked into by the ERC, which provided some indication that it was doing its job. In the runup to the September st1 General and Regional Elections, the ERC is on recordcallingforpeace,and responsiblebehaviour,byall the competing parties Whetherspecificorgeneral, thereissomethingtobesaid
for the work, the actions, of theERC.
In the last Local Government Elections held on June 12, 2023, I had writteninofthemanypieces shared with Guyanese how “cook-up rice” was among the incentives that the PPP Government was using to strengthenitspresenceinthe municipalities. One of the more senior PPP leaders singled those two words (“cook-up rice”) and urged others to consider filing a complaint to the ERC Whethersomeonedidornot isnottheissue. Butitwasan earlier example, now over two years old, which highlighted how the PPP Government and leadership were bent on plastering any label on me, regardless of howshallowandmeritlessit was. I didn't hear a peep from the Commission, whichIchalkuptoitspeople either not receiving a complaintor,ifitdidgetone, shakingitsheadindisbelief. The bigger point is the lengths to which leading members of the ruling political establishment would go to attach a stigma to me, put me out of business, and get rid of a spike in their eyes. I would have welcomed an inquiry from the ERC, see where that led. Just like I do with currentmatters.
A current matter that
should have caught the attention of the ERC were alleged revolting posts on social media by a Guyanese in the wake of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge's mystery death. The summary of my commentaryisthattheERC cannot be a national entity that employs different standardsfordifferentfolks, in times when different issues roil the peace of Guyanese. It should have actedthen. Withenergyand determination to defuse a rawsituation,maderawerby what was offered to the public. Withastandardthat struck all citizens as representative of an ERC that is quick to scent a dangerousdevelopment,and dealingwithitbeforethings deteriorate. Oftentimes, all it takes is that one spark to ignite the unthinkable, the undesirable. Therehadtobe more than an apology; at least a conversation, and a caution Didn't happen Now there is a repeat, and whatshouldhavebeendone before is now belatedly occurring. The ERC must operate in a more balanced manner. In appearance and inactuality
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh with representatives of Citi.
Citi on Friday announced its intention to establish a representative office in Guyana, subject to regulatoryapprovalfromthe Bank of Guyana.According to a press release, the bank said that the move is driven by “Guyana's exponential
economic growth, particularlyininfrastructure andexportfinancing,andits increasingly attractive investmentclimate.”
“Withawell-established presence in over 90 countries and jurisdictions acrosstheglobe,Citiaimsto leverage its extensive scale and expertise to contribute
significantly to the Guyanese economy,” the statementsaid.
The opening of a representative office in Guyana will enable Citi to help its clients and partners access global markets and help support the growth, development and financial infrastructureofthecountry "We are very excited about the prospect of establishing a presence through a representative office in Guyana," said Pablo del Valle, Citi's Head for Central America and Caribbean "Guyana's growth trajectory and vibrant investment landscape, present a compelling opportunity for C i t i , a n d f u r t h e r complement our unmatched global network. We are
committed to working closely with the Bank of Guyana and other stakeholders to build strong andlastingrelationships."
Meanwhile,theMinistry of Finance in a statement said it welcomes the establishment of the bank notingthatitisanexpression of confidence in the country'sdevelopment.
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni K. Singh said the move by one of the world's largest financial institutions is a clear testament to the rapidly expanding opportunitiesinGuyanaand the strong international confidence in the country's economictrajectory
“The attraction of major globalcompanieslikeCitiis a direct result of the strong leadershipofHisExcellency President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali in positioning Guyana as a premier and stable destination for international investment This development also underscores the PPP/C's Government's efforts to engage with the global community and build a resilient, modern, and diversified economy.,” the ministrysaid.
Further, the Ministry of Finance noted that the establishment of Citi's representativeofficeisalsoa direct result of the tabling and successful piloting of
the Financial Institutions (Amendment) Bill 2024, by Dr SinghinFebruary
The amendment allows for the establishment of representative offices by foreignfinancialinstitutions and is in keeping with Government's broad agenda to build and strengthen the legal framework and modernise the country's bankingsector
“This new development will provide immense benefits for the Guyanese economy
It will help facilitate greater access to global financial markets for Guyanese businesses, and introducenew,sophisticated financial products and servicestoGuyana'smarket. This new presence will bolster Guyana's financial infrastructureandcontribute
significantlytothecountry's ongoingdevelopment.”
Citi describes itself as a preeminent banking partner for institutions with crossborderneeds,agloballeader
inwealthmanagementanda valued personal bank in its home market of the United States.
Citi does business in morethan180countriesand
jurisdictions, providing corporations, governments, investors, institutions and individuals with a broad range of financial products andservices.
Nazar Mohamed, and his son Azruddin Mohamed being escorted to the Georgetown Magistrate Court on Sunday by masked officers.
From willing surrender to a sudden police grab, this was the story the Mohameds on Friday after heavily armed special branch ranks dressed in all black with ski masks pounced on them in a sneakyarrest
The We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) party leader,AzruddinMohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed were arrested in what is being dubbed as a publicspectacle Mohamed Jr 's arrest was caught on camera in the vicinity of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) licensing and certifying office on Smyth Street, Charlestown,Georgetown
Cell-phone recorded videos showed masked men grabbing and handcuffing him before forcing himintothebackofapolice pick-up
His father, the senior Mohamed was picked up from another location They were later seen on c
d togetherandescortedbythe same special branch ranks to the Georgetown Magistrate Court for an Extradition hearing The hearing came weeks after the father and son were indicted by the United States of America (USA) over US$50M gold, fraud andmoneylaunderingcase
The Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC and the
Guyana Police Force in
confirmed that arrests we made in response to an extradition request made bytheUSA
Thefatherandsonwere granted bail by Magistrate Judy Latchman following the hearing and they are expected to return to court onNovember10
However, one of their lawyers, Sian Dhurjon expressed shock at the Mohamed's sneaky and surprise arrest He told reportersatthecourt
The letter that sent to the respective authorities by the the Mohameds' lawyer
“Yes we are shocked cause we wrote, we took steps to the write the AG (Attorney General), the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions, ShalimarAli Hack Sc ) the Ministry of H
irs, the Commissioner of Police (Clifton Hicken), basically telling them to hang on a s e c , w e s a w t h i s indictment
We would surrender our clients when they are ready, you don't need to arrest and then they sneakily do all of this today”,Dhurjonsaid
The letter written by
Dhujon Chambers was dated October 6 and was titled “Willingness of Na
M
d Azruddin Mohamed to participate in lawful purposes and surrender to custody”
A section of the letter stated, “Please note that my clients have every intention to participate in the lawful extradition processes provided for
to
within
The letter further stated, “To this end, my clients intend to surrender to authorities whensoever
e necessary warrant(s), whether provisional or otherwise, and/or the authority to proceed, are executed
Attorney-at-law Siand Dhurjon, one of the lawyers representing sanctioned businessmen Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed, has insisted that the offences listed in the United States (U.S.) indictment are not extraditableunderGuyanese law or the treaty between GuyanaandtheU.S.
The Mohameds are the subject of an extradition requestlinkedtoan11-count indictment filed in the U.S. Southern District Court of Florida.Thechargesinclude wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and customsrelated offences connected toanallegedUS$50million gold export and tax evasion scheme.
On Friday, they were both arrested and arraigned before Magistrate Judy L a t c h m a n a t t h e Georgetown Magistrates' Court where the extradition proceedings commenced
The Mohameds are represented by a team of attorneys: Dhurjon, Nigel Hughes, Roysdale Forde, DamianDaSilvaandDarren Wade.
Speaking to members of the media at the court, Dhurjon explained that several strong arguments were advanced during the hearing, which lasted for closetothreehours.
“Well, many arguments weremadeoverclasstwoto three hours. We made forceful arguments, as we had ample time to prepare lastmonth.Theoffencesfor which Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed are wanted in the U.S. are not extraditable offences under the laws of ourland,norunderthetreaty with which we have an arrangement,”hestated.
InastatementonFriday, the Government of Guyana stated that on October 30, 2025; it received a request from the Government of the United States ofAmerica to extradite the Mohameds, pursuant to an extradition treaty between Guyana and the United States. Notably, this treaty extends to and remains in force in Guyana under Section 4(1)(a) of the FugitiveOffendersAct,Cap. 10:04, as amended by Act No.10of2024.
However, Dhurjon contended that the offences his clients are wanted for in the U.S. do not qualify for themtobeextradited.
The lawyer said that the defencesoughtadeclaration and referral under Article 133 of the Constitution, notingthattheyhavealleged
aconstitutionalbreachtothe Fugitive Offenders Act “TheConstitutionsayswhen w e r a i s e s u c h a constitutional point, the magistrate is duty-bound to referittotheHighCourt.So, we come back in November on the 10th, I believe to debatethatpointfurther,”he said.
According to Dhurjon, the prosecution has not yet presented any documentary evidence against the Mohameds. “They have not provided any documents whatsoever or their evidences yet. We applied for those documents. They ought to bring them at that nextstageaswell,”henoted.
The attorney said the defence was pleased that Magistrate Latchman granted bail, describing the decisionasanaffirmationof judicial independence. “We are pleased that our magistrates are fit to award bail to vote independence… wearepleasedwiththeway the proceedings have unfolded, and we are ready to do all things necessary to vindicate our clients,” he said.
Dhurjon also criticized statements made by Special Prosecutor Terrence Williams, who had alleged, “Wehaveinformation,Your Honor, that the Mohameds have supported local criminal activities, which have disrupted the peace in Guyana. They have funded, for example, the disruptions surrounding the unfortunate death of [Adriana] Younge…”
Responding to the aforementioned, the lawyer said,“Well,thatwasnewsto us concerning Adriana Younge, the Mohameds h a v e n e v e r b e e n investigated, never been questioned, never been charged with anything such as that. So that's news to us. And I think that works to their discredit, because for makingsuchallegationsand failing to have any information at all to substantiate…”hesaid. Moreover, the lawyer
stated that they were surprised by the sudden arrests, explaining that the defence had previously writtentoseveralauthorities expressing willingness to surrender their clients instead of them being arrested.Hesaidletterswere written to the Attorney General Anil Nandlall, the D
PP) Shalimar Ali-Hack SC, the Minister of Foreign Affairs a
o n a l Cooperation, Hugh Todd and the Commissioner of PoliceCliftonHicken.
Meanwhile, Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde said the extradition application raises a number of serious constitutional issues“whichwearticulated today ranging from the issueofauthoritytoproceed. We believe that it is unconstitutional, we believe that the minister could not have properly exercise her discretion in view of what was written to her and a challenge in relation to Section11oftheActpassed in 2009 which prohibits a person who is to be extradited from challenging in these courts the legitimacyandlawfulnessof theprocess.
Forde, SC said, “these are a number of significant issues and we are nowhere close to beginning to consider any process of extradition. All these issues will certainly lead to a number of significant challengesallthewaytothe CCJ [Caribbean Court of Justice]. Let me assure the members of the public that thisisasignificantissue.
“I believethatitwas not lost on the court that on Monday Mr [Azruddin] Mohamed is to be presumptivelyelectedasthe leaderoftheopposition.Itis not lost on the court that at this 12th hour such a proceedingwouldhavebeen filed.Itisclearlyinaneffort, we believe, to prevent that fromhappening.”
The attorney maintained t
provided no evidence to substantiate their allegations. “What we had w a s a s t r i n g o f unsubstantiated statements which we asked them to produce the basis was thereanyaffidavitevidence?
You can't make such a seriousaccusationbordering on treason and come to the court and simply make the statement.”
Forde is not optimistic that evidence of the allegations against the
forthcoming. He noted that the State has the machinery tosecureanorderagainstthe Mohameds in the High Court but failed to utilize thatwhichitisarmedwith.
(Continuedonpage21)
Prominentbusinessmen Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed, on Friday, were granted bail in the sum of $150,000 each following their arrest, subsequent to anextraditionrequestfrom the United States of America(US).
The duo appeared in person before acting Chief MagistrateJudyLatchman, in Court Seven at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and was represented by a group of attorneys including Siand Dhurjon, Nigel Hughes and Senior Counsel (SC) Roysdale Forde.
The prosecution was represented by special prosecutors, Jamaicans Herbert McKenzie and Terrence Williams who objectedtobail.
Williams in his argument,toldthecourtthat the gentlemen have been engaged in an international criminal enterprise, which includes tentacles reaching into Venezuela’s high offices, the United States of AmericaandintotheMiddle East.
Healsotoldthecourtthat the businessmen, have been incontactwithauthoritiesin Venezuela, and with these contacts, they could flee to the neighbouring country and continue their unlawful enterprise “We have information, your honour that the Mohameds have supported the local criminal activities, which have disrupted the peace in Guyana. They have funded for example, the disruptions surrounding the unfortunate deathofYounge…”
Williams also told the court that there are concerns thattheduocoulddisruptthe peace of Guyana with the help of Venezuelan enterprises.This,along with
his claims that they are a flightrisk,wascitedassome of the reasons they should notbegrantedbail.
Attorney Siand Dhurjon, responding to the prosecution, told the court that the allegations leveled against his clients are new and it was in fact the first time he was hearing about them.
He said no charges have been laid against his clients regarding any of the supposed disruptions, criminal activities, or criminal enterprises and despite his clients living a very public life, they have not been questioned by the police in relation to any of thesematters.
Dhurjonnotedthatisita fact the only entity that has ever spoken about a Venezuelanconnectionisthe government, the vice president and their commentators.
He pointed out that the case before the courts was merely an effort to bar his client, the younger Mohamed,fromenteringthe National Assembly as the
oppositionleader SeniorCounselRoysdale Forde in support of his colleague’s argument, pointed out that “a lot has been said about criminal enterprise and extending the tentaclesintheMiddleEast, Venezuela and the United States contact to the Mohameds, the allegations that they can disrupt the peace in Guyana, Mr Mohamed supporting local criminalenterprisesfunding, disruptions in relation to the death or Adrianna Younge and residing witnesses to testify None of these have been supported by a single piece of evidence. It is silly, downright silly to raise this inacourtofthisnaturewhen allegations against them in relation to these things that are being raised now as objectionstobailwouldhave existedformanymonths.”
After listening to the arguments of both sides, Magistrate Latchman granted bail in the sum of $150,000 each, with the conditionthatthemenlodge theirpassportswiththeclerk of courts at the Georgetown
Magistrates Court and report every Friday
afternoon between 13:00hrs and 15:00hrs to theofficer-in-chargeatthe Ruimveldt Police Station fromNovember7th.Ifthe Friday is a holiday they report on Thursday. The next court date has been set for November 10, 2025.
Earlier this month, Mohamed and his father, were indicted in a U.S. federal court in Miami, Florida on 11 charges of wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money launderingand the importation of a Lamborghini luxury carall stemming from accusationsofmassivetax fraud committed against Guyana.
Theindictment,unsealed onOctober2,2025,accused t h e M o h a m e d s o f orchestrating an elaborate fraudandmoney-laundering scheme involving gold exports, customs fraud, bribery, and the evasion of millions in taxes and royaltiesowedtoGuyana.
The case, captioned United States of America v Nazar Mohamed & Azruddin Mohamed, is filed intheU.S.DistrictCourtfor the Southern District of Florida under case number 2 5 - C R - 2 0 4 4 1 (WILLIAMS/LETT) Amongthestatutescitedare: conspiracy to commit mail andwirefraud,conspiracyto commit money laundering, and related forfeiture statutes.
At the heart of the US Government’s case lie several core allegations, among them gold export fraudandcustomssealreuse. The indictment seen by this newspaper charges that Mohamed’s Enterprise, the
Guyana-based gold wholesaling and export company controlled 90% by Nazarand10%byAzruddin, isallegedtohavesoldgoldto buyers in Miami and Dubai, while circumventing Guyana’s revenue and regulatorysystem.
The indictment claims that the defendants would reuse official Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Guyana Gold Board (GGB) customs seals and export declarations, originally applied legally on one shipment on subsequent shipments for which they had not paid taxes or royalties. This, prosecutors say, created the false impression that proper paymentshadbeenmade.
Additionally, the duo is alsoaccusedofbribingState officials to facilitate their alleged corrupt acts. The indictmentsetsforththatthe Mohameds paid bribes to Guyanese government
Supporters of the WIN Party Leader, Azruddin Mohamed flanking him outside the court just after his released on Friday afternoon.
officials, including customs agents to allow the acceptance of duplicate paperwork and reused seals. Throughthismechanism,the scheme allegedly enabled the evasion of duties and royalties that should have gonetoGuyana’scoffers.
According to the court papers from 2017 through June 11, 2024, the indictment alleges the defendantscausedexportsof at least 10,000 kilograms of gold to pass through Miami without payment of the proper dues to Guyana, amounting to a loss of approximately US$50 million to the Guyanese government.The indictment further charges the Mohameds with conspiring to transport, transmit, and transfer funds derived from their criminal scheme, including through international wire transfers, withtheintenttopromotethe underlying illegal activity The scheme is said to have used U S and foreign financial institutions to moveillicitproceeds.
According to the court papers, the purpose of the conspiracy was for the defendants to unlawfully enrich themselves and defraud the Government of Guyana in connection with taxes and royalties owed on thesaleandexportofgoldby fraudulentlyreusingGuyana customs declarations and sealsongoldshipmentssent through Miami to make it appear that Mohamed’s Enterprisehadpaidtaxesand royalties when it had not actuallypaidthem.
Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC has hinted that there will be additional extradition
requests for persons connected to the gold smuggling indictment
b r o u g h t a g a i n s t businessman and Leader of theWeInvestinNationhood (WIN) party Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed by the UnitedStates.
Nandlall made the announcement during an interview aired on the National Communications Network (NCN) hours after the father and son duo
appeared before a Magistrate in relation to the extraditionrequest.
“I am told that in the courseofnextweek,wewill get some more extradition requests perhaps the Mohameds will feel a little better once that is made publicandwewillmakethat public once we receive them.Thesamewaythatwe have made the Mohameds' extradition public,” the AttorneyGeneralsaid.
During the broadcast, Nandlall also addressed c l a i m s t h a t s o m e government officials might be linked to the Mohameds case.
“The allegation, indictment and other supportingdocumentsinthe OFAC sanctions is that the M o h a m e d b r i b e d government officials so I don't understand how the Mohamedscanbemystified about who the government officialsare.”
Hecontinued:“IfIbribe you, I must know who you are. Why don't they list or name the government officials whom they bribed? They are the best persons to answer that question rather than pose it for others to speculate and try to create politicalpropaganda.”
AccordingtotheAG,the matteragainsttheprominent businessmen will become more interesting as the weeksgoby
“The next step is for the State to disclose to the defence the paper work that was received from the UnitedStatesandforthemto prepare themselves for the hearing,”hesaid.
Nandlall sought to quell public concerns that the extradition proceedings are partofaplannedvendettaby the People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government against the businessman turned politician. He explained that the
extraditionprocessispartof a statutory measure established between the two sovereignstates.
AccordingtotheAG,the request for the Mohameds' extradition came from the highest offices of the U.S. federalgovernmentwhichis outside of the control or influence of the Guyana government.
“The request for extraditioncameinfromthe United State Government came in yesterday, the 30th ofOctoberunderthehandof the Secretary of State of the United States Mr Marco Rubioandunderthehandof the Department of Justice. Those are the authorised agenciesintheUnitedStates Government in relation to extraditions. For anyone to thinkthattheGovernmentof Guyana can influence such highplacedauthoritiesinthe U.S.governmentintermsof extradition or any process you have to be of fanciful thinking,”Nandlallsaid.
He said that, “We don't control the workings of the United States Government and the Mohameds fully well know it was supposed tocome. Infact,theyknew it was supposed to come earlier but the American government thought they shouldn't do it during the elections period. Then the U.S. government was met withastrike(shutdown)that affected some important agencies of the federal apparatus of the U S government.”
According to Nandlall, all this hullabaloo about political persecution is all part of a narrative that is constructed to be selfserving and politically expedient.
He stressed that the extradition cannot be surprising to anyone since the investigations into the matterstartedsome15years ago.
“The indictments themselves speak to periods relating to transactions that begun since 2017 Long before the PPP was in governmentandendedsome time in 2024. So, you are speakingaboutatransaction periodofsevenyear During that time two governments changed in the United States This particular extradition process transcends different governments in both the U.S. and Guyana. The first indication of these proceedingwouldhavebeen concretelyrealizedwhenthe OFAC sanctions were imposed.”
(Continuedonpage21)
Businessman and leader
of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Party, Azruddin Mohamed on Fridayreactedtothemanner in which he was arrested by ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), stating that they treated him like “a criminal.”
OnFriday,Azruddinand his father Nazar Mohamed werearrestedattwoseparate locations by local law enforcement authorities following an extradition
r e q u e s t f r o m t h e Government of the United StatesofAmerica(USA).
Videos of the arrests surfacing on social media, showed the younger Mohamed being accosted in frontoftheGuyanaRevenue
Authority (GRA) office on Smyth Street, Georgetown. He was surrounded by a party of masked policemen with firearms who showed upinseveralpolicevehicles. The businessman was handcuffed then placed at thebackofapolicepickup.
Azruddintoldjournalists outside the Georgetown Magistrate's Court Friday, “Oh my, the manner that I wasarrested,IthoughtIwas a criminal They had NarineandSarabopulledup withsix,sevenvehicleswith more than 20 gunmen (police officers) in mask. I thought they wanted to kill me there. I thought they wanted to execute me right there.” He continued, “So I asked, what is the problem? Because there are the same guys that follow my move every day, these special branch guys, every day they followmymove.”
Following his arrest, the businessman and his father were taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)atEveLeary
In an interview with reporters outside CID, his sister Hana Mohamed, said the senior Mohamed was arrested at Lombard Street. “Yeah, I did hear that they arrested both my brother AzruddinMohamedandour elderly father, Nazar M o h a m e d , ( t h e y ) confiscatedtheirphonesand aswellasthephonesoftheir employees.And I heard that they threw Azruddin Mohamed in the back of a pickup truck on direct orders,andourelderlyfather inacar,”sheshared.
While her brother is expected to be sworn in asa member of parliament (MP) on Monday, the woman further expressed, “Nearly 110,000 of Guyanese
citizensvoicetheirchoiceon September 1 for their representative,andifthisisa deliberate tactic to prevent him from taking that role, thenallIcansayisthatwe're ataverysadstate.”
Meanwhile, in letter addresstoMinisterofHome Affairs, Oneidge Walrond dated October 6, 2025, lawyer for the Mohameds, SiandDhurjonaddressedhis clients' willingness to participate in lawful processes and surrender to custody in relation to the indictment filed against themintheUSA.
“My clients have observed a purported indictment filed against them in the United States of America on behalf of the American government indicting them with the commission of eleven (11) offences.Pleasenotethatmy
clients have every intention to participate in the lawful extradition processes provided for under the FugitiveOffendersAct,Cap. 10:04 to vindicate themselves therein. To this end, my clients intend to surrender to the authorities whensoever the relevant formal processes, i.e., the necessary warrants), whether provisional or otherwise, and/or the authority to proceed, are executed,”theletterstated.
The lawyer even providedcontactnumbersof him and his clients “to arrangefortheirsurrenderat theappropriatetime.”
Following news of the Mohameds' arrest and court appearance, supporters of the WIN Party leader lined thefrontthecourtbuildingto show support with chants of “Free,freeMohamed.”
(NBC News) Hurricane Melissa's death toll climbed to 46 on Friday, days after the record-breaking storm barreled through the Caribbean and left behind a wakeofdestruction.
ThedeathtollinJamaica rose to 19 by Friday morning, Dana Morris Dixon,thecountry'sminister for education, skills, youth and information, said at a Fridaypressconference.
Dixonsuggestedthatthe death count will grow, saying, "We do expect that numberwillchangetoday."
"Every single life that is lostisahugetragedy,andso I know that these numbers aredistressing,butknowthat we're doing our best to retrieve the bodies and provide support to those families that need it," she said.
Beyond Jamaica, the storm killed 26 people in Haitiandonepersondiedin the Dominican Republic, accordingtoofficials.
The number of deaths climbed as the scope of the storm's destruction became clear
Satellite imagery shows entire communities swept away by floodwater and wind.
Videos on social media show Jamaican towns completely consumed by mudslides and swaths of downed trees and power lines One video shows Jamaicans canoeing home throughfloodedroadsinSalt Marsh.
JimetraAlexanderwasin Montego Bay, Jamaica, whenthestormhit.
"It was absolutely horrifying," she told NBC
Hurricane Melissa has spared South Florida a direct hit, but the storm's impact is deeply felt by residents with Caribbean roots. The Caribbean diaspora is now mobilizing to help affected communities. (AP Video/Cody Jackson)
News. "The devastation that Melissa brought is indescribable."
Jamaican officials are still struggling to restore power to the island nation andreopenitspillagedroads.
As of noon ET Thursday, Melissa left more than 70% of Jamaica without power and shut down at least 82 roadsontheisland.
"A large percentage of the Jamaican public service facilities are lying on the road, " Infrastructure
Minister Robert Morgan said "The contractors cannot touch those power lines without the Jamaica Public Service Company sayingtousitissafeforusto doso."
Power outages have
made it difficult for Jamaicans to reach family members. On Thursday, peoplecouldbeseenpulling overonthesideofhighways, tryingtogetcellservice.
Kimberley Dunkley Watkinssaidshehasn'theard from her younger brother, who lives in Montego Bay, Jamaica, since Monday evening.
"It's probably one of the worstexperiencesofmylife,
Hurricane Gilbert,” she told NBCNews."Soit'srough."
At a Thursday press conf
e frustrationoverthecountry's telecommunicationsissues.
“Please know that the government is doing
Frompage19
The Attorney General said thatthesanctionsagainstthe businessmen were not imposed in isolation but as partofaprocess.
Additionally, the AG pointed out that the Mohameds are facing some graveallegations.
“I don't know what political prosecution they arereferringto. They have been indicted byacourtoflawinsouthern Florida in a fraud of over US$50 billion and the
American government is requesting their presence in thejurisdictionoftheUnited States ofAmerica to answer those charges where is the politicsinthat?”
Nandlallstressedthatthe Guyana government is bound under its treaty obligation and under international law to accede torequestsforextradition.
“We have stated openly that we will discharge those obligations faithfully and in accordancewithlawandina manner that ensures that
there is due process and the recognition of the constitutional rights of any Guyanese implicated and that has been the position of any government in Guyana.
That has been an international obligation of reciprocal nature that governmentoperatinginthe international framework
owe each other and discharge in relation as a matter of comity of nations, that's international law, d i p l o m a c y a n d cooperation,”hesaid.
everything we can to get to them. ... It may take a little time,butwe'regoingtodoit asquicklyaswecan,andget aidandfoodtoallthosewho need it,” Information MinisterDanaDixonsaid.
Hurricane Melissa is a Category1stormwithwinds of 90 mph as of Friday morning It blew by Bermuda last night, where a peak wind gust of 69 mph was reported. By Saturday, the historic Atlantic hurricane will lose its tropical characteristics — anditsname—andbecome a strong post-tropical cyclone over the north Atlantic, brushing by the CanadianMaritimes.
Asthestormheadsnorth, aidhasbeguntopourintothe Caribbean.
J a m a i c a n Telecommunications and Transportation Minister Daryl Vaz said at a Friday press conference that the amount of aid the country is r e c e i v i n g i s "overwhelming " He said that 20 planes full of aid are expected to reach the island on Friday, in addition to the 13 planes that came on Thursday Eight to 10 helicopters full of aid from the U.S. were projected to reachtheislandonFridayas well.
"That's the easy part," Vaz said. "The hard part is
the logistics of getting this relief into these areas in the shortestpossibletime."
SecretaryofStateMarco Rubio activated the State Department's regional disaster assistance response team(DART)onWednesday to assist Jamaica, Cuba, the Bahamas and Haiti in their recovery efforts, a department spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, said in a statementThursday DART arrived in the Caribbean on Thursday, Pigott said. One former and two current U.S. officials told NBC News on Wednesday that the State Department's response was delayed because of the government shutdown and the elimination of the U.S. Agency for International Development. The sources said that in prior years, the DART team would have been on the ground in Jamaicabeforethestormhit.
"The United States stands with Jamaica, Haiti, theBahamas,andtheCuban peopleastheyrespondtothe impactsofthehurricaneand remains prepared to swiftly deliver emergency relief items to communities most severely affected," Pigott said. The United Nations said Wednesday that it was sending 2,000 emergency food boxes from Barbados, enough to feed about 6,000 peopleaweek.
"Thisisaterribletragedy and there is a real sense of urgencyhereontheground," Brian Bogart, the World Food Program's director for the Caribbean, told the U.N.'snewsservice.
‘Offencesnotextraditableunder...
Frompage13 “…they could have gone to the High Court and get an order but they have simply donenothingbutcometoday to raise red herrings to present,” he said noting that it is clear that Friday's actions will not be “the last of efforts” to ensure that Azruddin Mohamed does notbecometheLeaderofthe Opposition.
The Mohameds were arrested on Friday morning by ranks of the Guyana Police Force and later charged in connection with an extradition request from the United States. Both men were granted $150,000 bail each and are scheduled to returntocourtonNovember 10.
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Children was filed against you by SHENERIA ISAACS, the Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana.
AND FURTHER TAKE
HIGH COURT IN THE HIGE COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE OF GUYANAREGULAR JURISDICTION
2025/597 - HC - FDA - DEM - CIV –
LEGAL NOTICE 2
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LEGAL NOTICE 1
2025/250-FD-APN-DEM IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION Application No. FD-250 BETWEEN: In the matter of Custody, Contact, Guardianship and Maintenance Act of Guyana. -andIn the matter of JAMAL AMARANTHONY CADOGAN, a male child. SHENERIA ISAACS Applicant -andFAITH AMEICA CADOGAN
TO: FAITHAMEICA CADOGAN Formerly of 1850 Central Amelia’s Ward. Linden, Guyana
TAKE NOTICE that on the 11th day of September, 2025 an Application relating to
NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-atLaw at the Registry of Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Notice of Application together with related documents. AND FURTHERTAKE
NOTICE that if you desire to defend this Application in Relating to child, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Application, you must file a Reply to Application Relating to Child, an Statement of Arrangements for child Via the e-litigation Platform(online) https:// ejudiciary.supremecourt.gv within 35 (thirty-five) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice. Your access code is VqFip6.
TAKE NOTICE that this Notice of Application is fixed for Directions Hearing on Tuesday the 18th day of November, 2025 at 9:00 am before the Honourable Justice Peter-Hugh in Court 7 IN DEFAULT of your filing a Application Relating to Child, an Answer and/or, Notice of Intention to Defend the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting Custody. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30 pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00 am to 2:30 pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed. Dated the 24th day of October, 2025.
In the matter of the Immovable Property (Sale of Interest) Act, Chapter 60:01 of the Laws of Guyana. BETWEEN: RIAZ ALLYApplicant -V-
SHERI ANN JOHNSON Respondent - and –
In the matter of an Application pursuant to the Supreme Court of Guyana, CIVIL PROCEDURE
RB NOTICE: TO: SHERI ANN JOHNSON
United States of America
TAKE NOTICE that a Fixed Date Application was filed on the 24th day of June, 2025 against you by RIAZ ALLY, in the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara, where the Applicant asks for:
a)An Order that the joint interest of the Applicant and the Respondent in and to the property comprising land and building situate at and known as:
b)
“Lot numbered 9 (nine) being a portion of Block lettered “CC”, being a part of Plantation Mon Repos West, situate on the east coast of Demerara, in the County of Demerara, in the Republic of Guyana, with the building and erections thereon, more fully described in Transport No, 2028 of 2011 dated the 19th day of December, 2011" be severed so that the Parties own the said property in equal shares. b) An Order that the joint interest of the Applicant and the Respondent in and to the property comprising land only situate at and known as: “Parcel: 799 Block: VI Zone: E.B.D., Description and location of Land: Plantation Farm, no building thereon, more fully described Certificate of Title to Land No. 2016/2172-H”
c)An order directing that the Applicant be given the first option to purchase the respondent’s one undivided half part or share of and in the aforesaid properties: alternatively
d)An Order directing that the properties at 1 (a) and (b) known as and described as: (ii) “Lot numbered 9 (nine) being a portion of Block lettered “CC”, being a part of Plantation Mon Repos West, situate on the east coast of Demerara, in the County of Demerara, in the Republic of Guyana, with the building and erections thereon, more fully described in Transport No, 2028 of 2011 dated the 19th day of December, 2011" (ii)Parcel: 799 Block: VI Zone: E.B.D., Description and location of Land: Plantation Farm, no building thereon, more fully described Certificate of Title to Land No. 2016/2172-H”
Be Sold by private treaty at the current market value and that the proceeds of sale, the sum of all expenses incidental to the sale of the properties and the mortgage payments to the New Building Society, be divided between the Parties equally.
a)That the Parties bear the cost of the aforesaid conveyance(s) in equal shares.
b)Costs.
c)Such further or other orders as the Court deem just.
AND FURTHER TAKE
NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 23rd day of September, 2025, the Applicant is directed to effect service of this application on you by publication of a Notice in two (2) consecutive editions in the Kaieteur Newspaper, circulating in the Republic of Guyana and Overseas. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to defend this Application you must forthwith after the final publication, must enter an Appearance thereto, and serve an Affidavit in Defence on MS. DHANWANTI SUKHDEO whose address for service and place of business is at Lot 169 Charlotte Street, Lacytown, Georgetown, Guyana, Tel: 226-0631, Email: dollysukhdeo1@gmail.com, and file same to this cause in the Registry of the High Court at Georgetown via the High Court’s eLitigation online platform with the use of the authorisation code: U7EARb, not later than 4 (four) days before the date
fixed for hearing of the application, and you or your Attorney-at-Law must appear at the hearing AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you fail to file an Affidavit in Defence and/or if you fail to appear at the hearing, final judgment may be given against you notwithstanding your absence. AND
FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that the Fixed Date Application is adjourned to the 11th day of Noyember 2025, at 09:00 before the Honourable Madam Justice Jacqueline Josiah Graham.
Dated this 17th day of October, 2025
Applicant in person: Jewel Sooknarine
Address: Lot 698 Plantation Best, West Coast Demerara Guyana Tel #: 690-2424 2025/953-FD-PET-DEM IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION Petition No. FD-953 BETWEEN: JEWEL SOOKNARINE Petitioner/ Applicant -andJAHAIDA SOOKNARINE nee ALBERTS Respondent TO: JAHAIDA SOOKNARINE nee ALBERTS UNKNOWN
TAKE NOTICE that on the 29th day of August, 2025 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by JEWEL SOOKNARINE, the Petitioner/Applicant in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 30th day of September, 2025, the Petitioner/Applicant was directed to effect service of his Petition on you by publication of Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News, a newspaper
(Trinidad Express) Prime Minister Kamla PersadBissessar says she is not aware of the reason why
printed, published and circulated in Guyana and on the world wide (online).
AND FURTHER TAKE
NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of Family division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.
AND FURTHER TAKE
NOTICE that if you desire to defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition and Application, you must file an Acknowledgment of Service. Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition Via the e-litigation Platform (online)https:// ejudiciary.supremecourt.gy within 35 (thirty-five) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.Your access code is LLp3N5.
TAKE NOTICE that the Divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday the 1st day of December, 2025 at 9:00 am before the Honourable Justice Peter Hugh in Court 7. IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service. Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce. The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00 am and 3:30 pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00 am to 2:30 pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.
Dated the 23rd day of October, 2025
members of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force have been placed on high alert, with soldiers and coast guard officers ordered to report to their bases this evening.
The Prime Minister however urged citizens to remain calm, stating that she had no information of any imminent strikes occurring within the region.
Speaking to members of the media today shortly after news broke that the TTDF had been moved to a State One Level alert, Persad-Bissessar said she had no information and would find out more.
“I don’t know, I have no information or knowledge about that. I’ll find out. I don’t know no one who has requested these things of me. When it comes on my desk or this phone, I get a lot of messages so if there’s a situation that arises we will deal with it,” she said.
Asked if she had seen international reporting that the
US was poised to carry out a land strike within Venezuela, Persad-Bissessar noted that she had also seen US President Donald Trump claim differently today.
“It is a lot of speculation, not just here locally but everywhere. It is a situation that demands everybody’s attention. May we keep our eyes and ears peeled… we are not sitting ducks in the rain”
“We have been receiving intelligence reports and thus far I have received none that there is an imminent strike anywhere in the region. Be calm, there is nothing to fear at this time.
I cannot predict the future but on my cards and on my books, there is nothing to fear,” she said.
According to the order sent to TTDF members, all soldiers are to report to their bases by 6 p.m., with a general muster scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
The Express understands
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, centre, supervises the packing and dispatch of the first shipment of humanitarian relief supplies from Trinidad and Tobago to Jamaica, at the Plipdeco warehouse complex on the Point Lisas Industrial Estate yesterday, following the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.
from multiple intelligence and military sources that soldiers have been directed to return to the four main military bases at Cumuto, La Romaine, Chaguaramas and Long Circular, while Coast Guard of-
ficers have been told to report to Staubles Bay, Galeota Point and the Cedros Security Complex.
“This is not a drill,” the memo stated, advising all ranks to make arrangements with their families and prepare for possible confinement.
Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander also told members of the media today that the exercise was however a “normal” one.
Palestinian children inspect the site of an overnight Israeli strike on a house, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, October 29, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Frompage09 extrajudicialkillings.”
The strikes are taking place “outside the context” of armed conflict or active hostilities,Shamdasanisaid.
USstrikeskilldozens
USSecretaryofDefense
PeteHegsethonWednesday announcedthelatestmilitary strike on a boat he said was carryingdrugsintheeastern Pacific Ocean All four peopleonboardwerekilled.
WithWednesday’sstrike – the 14th since the campaign began in early September –the death toll hasgrowntoatleast61.
On Tuesday morning, Hegseth said Washington had carried out three more attacks against boats accusedoftraffickingillegal
narcoticsinthewatersofthe eastern Pacific Ocean, killing14peopleandleaving onesurvivor.
The string of attacks on Monday marked the firsttime multiple strikes were announcedinasingleday It was also the second time a survivorhasbeenconfirmed sincethebombingcampaign beganonSeptember2.
On October 16, another strike reportedly left two survivors, both of whom were repatriated to their homecountries.
The US president has alsorepeatedlythreatenedto expand his bombing campaigntooverlandtargets aswell,apledgethathasyet tocometofruition.
(Reuters) - The Israeli military attacked the Gaza Strip for a fourth day on Friday, killing three people, Palestinian health authorities said, in another test of a fragile ceasefire agreement.
Residents reported Israeli shelling and gunfire in northern Gaza on Friday, as Israel continued to bombard areas of the enclavedespitesayingthatit remains committed to a ceasefire brokered by U.S. PresidentDonaldTrump.
The Israeli military did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.
AnotherPalestiniandied of wounds sustained from previousIsraelishelling,the Palestinian WAFA news agencyreported.
The U S -brokered ceasefire, which left thorny issues like the disarmament of Hamas and a timeline for
Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip unresolved, has been tested by periodic outbreaks of violence since it came into place three weeksago.
Between Tuesday and Wednesday, Israel retaliated for the death of an Israeli soldier with bombardments that Gaza health authorities saidkilled104people.
MOREBODIES
HANDEDOVER
Gaza’s health ministry said the Red Cross had delivered to it 30 bodies of Palestinians killed by Israel during the war, a day after Hamas handed over two bodiesofhostages.
Under the ceasefire accord, Hamas released all livinghostagesheldinGaza in return for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and wartime detainees, while Israelagreedtopullbackits troops,haltitsoffensiveand increaseaid.
Hamas also agreed to hand over the remains of all 28 dead hostages in exchangefor360Palestinian militants killed in the war After Thursday’s release, it had handed over 17 bodies, while225Palestinianbodies have so far been returned to Gaza.
Hamas has said that it will take time to locate and retrievethebodiesofallthe remaininghostages Israel has accused Hamas of violating the truce by stalling in the handover
Two years of conflict in Gaza have killed over 68,000 Palestinians, according to Gazan health authorities and left the enclaveinruins.
Israel launched the war after Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel in October2023,killing1,200 people and bringing 251 hostagesbacktoGaza
(Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Friday denied he was considering strikes inside Venezuela, appearing to contradict his own comments from last week and amid intensifying e x p e c t a t i o n s t h a t Washington may soon expand drug-traffickingrelatedoperations.
The United States has built up a large military presenceintheCaribbean in recent months, with fighter jets, warships and thousandsoftroops.
That presence will significantly expand in the coming weeks with the arrival of the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier strikegroup
On Friday, when asked by reporters on Air F
strikes within Venezuela were true,Trumpsaid:“No.”
I t w a s n o t immediately clear if Trump was ruling out future strikes inside
Venezuela or simply saying no final decision
hadbeenmadeyet ATLEAST14BOATS ALREADYTARGETED
In recent weeks, Trump has publicly said his administration will carry out strikes against drug-related targets inside Venezuela
“The land is going to be next,” Trump told reporterslastweek
The U S campaign in the Caribbean and eastern
Pacific has already targeted at least 14 boats thatWashington said were involved in the illegal drug trade, killing 61 people Trump has previously confirmed he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations inVenezuela
Whiletheexacttimingof any land strikes is unclear, officials close toTrump had suggesteditcouldbesoon.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a senior Republican lawmaker, on Sunday said Trump had t o l d h i m t h e administration planned to brief lawmakers on military operations
against Venezuela and Colombia when he returned fromhistriptoAsia.
Trump returned to WashingtononThursday
A U S official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the military had provided a range of options, including strikes against military facilities inside Venezuela, such as runways.
DRUGTIESALLEGED
The Venezuelan opposition, watchdog groups and some Latin American neighbors have l o n g a c c u s e d t h e Venezuelan governmentespeciallythemilitary-of
having ties to the drug trade, particularly in the country’s west, along the border with Colombia President Nicolas Maduro’s government has always denied any criminalconnections
M a d u r o h a s repeatedly alleged that the U S is hoping to drivehimfrompower
The two main leaders o f V e n e z u e l a ’ s o p p o s i t i o n a r e increasingly divided over looming U S actions targeting the country, even as a crackdown against opposition figures continues, politicians and analystssay Washington in August doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million, accusing him of links to drug trafficking andcriminalgroups.
Ongoing strikes against the alleged drug boats have raised alarm among some Democratic lawmakers who question whether they adhere to thelawsofwar
Leader of the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) and outgoing opposition leader, Aubrey Norton said he was not prepared to support the request by President Irfaan Ali to appoint Justices Roxane George-Wiltshire and Navindra Singh as the substantive Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice,respectively
In fact, the party leader relayedthathealsocouldnot support the removal of Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards from her post of substantive acting ChancelloroftheJudiciary
“I can say this to you, from the inception with my engagements with President Irfaan Ali, I made it very, very clear, as pellucid as I can, that I was not prepared to support the removal of Justice Cummings, made that very clear. You're already aware that I am on record as saying I gave consent for the appointment of Justice Cummings and Justice Wiltshire a while back,” he said at his party's pressconferenceFriday
Thepresidentannounced last week that Justice Cummings-Edwards, who recently returned from a two-month vacation, had writtentohimtoproceedon early retirement. Following that announcement, the president also announced that he had written to the outgoing opposition leader, requestinghissupportforthe substantive appointment of Justices George-Wiltshire andSingh.
Nortontoldreportersthat he has not responded to the letter by the president becausehe,“wasn'tprepared to confirm with them, and I didn't write because I didn't want the letter to be used as some form of consultation. Even on the first occasion when he wrote me on the issue,Ididnotrespond,andI did not respond to this one because I know of the tendency of using anything youwouldhavewrittenasif you were meaningfully consulted.”
He reminded that there was a court case on the matter of meaningful consultation and the acting chief justice at the time,
Leader of the People's National Congress Reform (PNCR) and outgoing Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton.
George-Wiltshire had ruled that there was consultation. Therefore,“sincethenIhave never ever become involved in that except, I'm clear, we're satisfied, and this is what we're doing then I will write,butIdidn'trespond.”
R e m i n d i n g t h a t government did not pursue it, he added that when the issuewasraisedwithhim,he maintainedthatheneededto hearfromJusticeCummings herself. However, he was unabletohearfromher
“Thatformewasenough tosuggestthatIshouldn'tget involved in appointing a permanent chancellor and chief justice. However, in discussions, I asked the question, let's assume that she was legitimately out, whichIdidn'tbelieve.Isaid, well, I didn't ask the question; I made the point that I was not prepared to make Justice Singh Chief Justice and confirm it. I was not prepared to do that,” Nortonfirmlystated.
During a live broadcast onOctober24,PresidentAli said that Justice CummingsEdwards had requested to proceed on pre-retirement leave beginning Monday, October 27, 2025. He said Justices George-Wiltshire and Navindra Singh will continue to perform the duties of acting Chancellor of the Judiciary and acting ChiefJustice,respectively The president also disclosed via a Facebook postthatheadministeredthe oath of office to Justice Singh as a member of the J u d i c i a l S e r v i c e Commission (JSC) at State House. Justice Singh will serve a three-year term on
the commission, which was reconstituted in July 2023 afterasix-yearhiatus.
Back in 2022, Norton informed President Ali that h e a g r e e d t o t h e confirmation of Justice Cummings-Edwards and JusticeGeorgeasChancellor and Chief J
, respectively
Kaieteur News reported thenthatNortonthroughthe 'Peoples National Congress Reform (PNC/R) member and attorney Roysdale Forde, presented a letter to Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, informing the government of the opposition's support for the appointment of the chancellorandchiefjustice.
IntheletterdatedJune7, 2022,Fordetoldtheminister that: “This serves to inform you that the leader of the opposition, Mr Aubrey C. Norton is in agreement that Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards be appointed chancellor of the judiciary and Justice Roxane GeorgeWiltshirebeappointedchief justice in keeping with Article 127 (1) of the Constitution which states that 'The chancellor and the chief justice shall each be appointed by the president, acting after obtaining the agreement of the leader of theopposition'.”
To this end, Norton told members of the media that since the opposition leader has already fulfilled his constitutional responsibility, thepresidentisnowcharged w i t h m a k i n g t h e appointment.
However, no action was takenbythepresident.
The stage is set for the crowning of the 2025 Courts Pee Wee Under-11 Schools Football champions, as the Petra Organisation brings the curtain down on yet another exhilarating season ofgrassrootsfootball.
With the preliminary rounds and semifinals completed, Region Three’s Leonora Primary and Bartica’sSt.JohntheBaptist
Primary have booked their places in the grand final of the tournament’s 12th edition Both sides showcased exceptional situation awareness, grit, andmentaltoughnesstoearn their spots after weeks of competitiveaction.
What began with 32 schools across the country has now been narrowed down to just two, and after today only one will walk
awaywiththecovetedtitle. The 12th Annual Pee Wee Boys’ Under-11 Football Championship is proudly sponsored by the Courts Unicomer Group under its Courts Optical brand.
Several other corporate entitieshavealsorecognised the value of the tournament, joiningforcestosupportone of the country’s most promising school football programmes.
Theroadtothefinalwas no easy feat. Both teams have been undefeated throughout the competition, overcoming every opponent intheirpath.
While several sides cameclosetovictory,itwas the consistency, precision, and composure of these two giantsthatsetthemapart.
Leonora Primary carved their path to the final with commanding victories over Clonbrook Primary, St. Pius Primary, Agatash Primary, Stella Maris Primary, Tucville Primary, and West RuimveldtPrimary
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
A close friend or romantic partner might not seem communicativetodayandyou might wonder whether this person still cares for you. He or she is experiencing a few difficulties,perhapsinvolving money
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
Doyouhaveagardenorsome houseplants that seem a little droopy? Don't worry about whether or not they're all going to die. Revive them! You might feel that some things are more trouble than they'reworth.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Today close friends, a love partner, or children may appear to be in a quiet, melancholymood.Youmight wonder if you've done somethingtocauseit.
CANCER(June21–July22)
Home responsibilities may increase markedly today, leavingyoufeelinglikeyou're the only member of the household getting anything done. You might give in to gloom.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Hurry up and wait is today's phrase. A visit from a close friend, love partner, or colleague might be delayed, perhapsbecauseofsomething regarding money or possibly thearts.
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
You've been doing well financially You want to do better, but you might feel temporarily discouraged. It seems you have to keep workinghardertokeepupthe pace.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Today you might think you lookawfulandperhapswantto gooutandchangeyourwhole look. Buy some new clothes and go for a workout. Even though you probably look pretty good, these activities makeyoufeelgood.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
Today you might feel unloved even though there's no real reason for it Your relationships should be pretty strong, but your biorhythms are down so you might be lacking in self-confidence Phone a close friend and get together
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
Plans to get together with friends tonight could be delayed by responsibilities. It won'tstopyoubutitwillmean gettingtogetheralittlelater
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Youmighthavetoworkjusta little harder to make money now This might involve puttinginextratimeonatask, or it could simply mean that you have to make a few extra tripstothebank.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)A delay in receiving acknowledgment of some sort could happen today This might be disappointing, but don'tletitgetyoudown.You'll receive it, just maybe not on time!
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Depressing news about the state of the world economy or stock market could have you feelinggloomyandwondering about your financial future. Don'tworry
Likewise, St. John the BaptistPrimary(SJTB)also enjoyed a perfect run, sweeping aside Winfer Garden Primary, Ann’s GrovePrimary, andGenesis Academyintheearlyrounds before edging Stella Maris Primary2–1intheRoundof 16. They then survived a tense nil-all quarterfinal against St Gabriel’s Primary, advancing 3–0 on penalties. In the semifinals, SJTB’s leading striker deliveredonceagain,netting a second half goal in a 2–0 victory over Redeemer Primarytosecuretheirplace intoday’sfinal.
Earlier this week, the Petra Organisation hosted the traditional captains’ face-off to mark the final stage of the tournament N e y m a r E d w a r d s represented St John the Baptist, proudly leading his team into the final, while Jhonathan Melvin of LeonoraPrimarydonnedhis maroon shirt with pride as both captains looked ahead to today’s championship showdown.
The teams are ready, the stage is set, and fans can expect scintillating action whenplaykicksoffat13:00 hourstoday(November1)at the Ministry of Education ground with placement matches followed by the ultimate third place clash between Redeemer Primary and West Ruimveldt Primary.
This year’s tournament was made possible through thegeneroussupportofSky Tec Enterprise, Demerara Mutual, MVP Sports, Sterling Products Limited (through its Igloo Ice Cream brand), the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth andSport
The battle to see which Georgetown/Linden club rivalry will collide for top honours in this year’s BruschesBasketballClassic final, is to be decided when the semifinals are played tonight at the Community Hard Court in Retrieve, Linden.
Battling it out from 7.00pm will be Georgetown clubsRavensandEagles.
Ravens knocked out Kwakwanitoreachthefinal four,wheretheyfaceEagles who downed Pacesetters, to now challenge Ravens for a spot in the final set for tomorrownight.
Frompage35 non-competingdelegates.
“This is the first attempt to provide the membership and the powerlifting community with the clarity needed to avert further reputational damage to the federation,”Rogersstated.
PRESIDENT
MEUSA’SRESPONSE
In the other semifinal tonightfrom9.00pmthetwo Linden sides, Royals after dismissing Raiders to reach the semifinal, face a Jets teamwhichovercameBlock 22Flamestotakeafinalfour spot.
The task at hand tilts in favourofRoyalsandRavens to advance, but their semifinal opponents surely musthaveotherideas.
The losers tonight will face each other in the first game at 7.00pm tomorrow night for third place, while the victors match skills against each other in the finalfrom9.00pm.
Meanwhile, Meusa, when contacted by Kaieteur News, acknowledged receipt of the letter from Rogers but stated that due process was not followed. He added that a formal responsewillbeissuedafter the GAPLF Executive Committee meets to review the team’s performance in SouthAfrica.
When pressed to clarify the contents of Rogers’ letter, Meusa m a i n t a i n e d t h a t , according to protocol, such matters are to be addressed during an executive meeting and not throughthemedia
BBC Sport - Jannik Sinnermovedastepcloserto regaining the world number one status with victory over Ben Shelton at the Paris Masters.
Carlos Alcaraz’s shock second-round defeat to Cameron Norrie means the Italian can overtake the Spaniard by winning the the ATPMasters1,000eventinthe Frenchcapital Sinnerreached the Paris semi-finals for the firsttimeafterbeatingShelton 6-3 6-3 - his seventh straight winovertheAmerican
The 24-year-old will face third seed Alexander Zverev after the defending champion survived two match points to beat Daniil Medvedev in a three-set thriller “I’m very happy,” Sinner told Sky Sports “It was a very, very tough match. “At times you don’t have a lot of control because of his incredible serving,buttodayIfeltlikeI was returning very well Also, from the back of the courtIplayedverysolidand veryaggressive.”
Sinner dropped serve in themiddleofthesecondset, but soon re-established his advantagetowrapupvictory over Shelton, 23, inside 70 minutes.
“At the moment I’m not thinking about the ranking,” added the Australian Open and Wimbledon champion.
“It’s a consequence of how I’m playing. “Making the semis here in Paris means a lot. It has been a very long season with some great, greatresultsandInevertake these results for granted.”
Sinner will face Zverev in
thelastfouraftertheGerman
Medvedev2-66-37-6(7-5). Alexander Bublik will appear in a Masters semifinal for the first time after winning 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 7-5 againstAustraliansixthseed Alex de Minaur, sparking emotional scenes for Kazakhstan’snumberone.
The 13th seed will next face Canada’s Felix AugerAliassime, with the ninth seedhavingendedtherunof Shanghai Masters champion ValentinVacherotwitha6-2 6-2success.
BBC Sport - Australia raced to a four-wicket victory against India inside 14 overs to go 1-0 up in the T20series.
Havingbeenputintobat in Melbourne, only Abhishek Sharma, who topscored with a blistering 68 from 37 deliveries, and Harshit Rana (35) made it into double figures as India were bowled out for 125 in the19thover
Seamer Josh Hazlewood (3-13) did early damage for
the hosts, dismissing Shubman Gill, visiting captain Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma as India slumped to 32-4 inside the powerplay
Opener Abhishek and Rana put on 56 for the sixth wicket to give their side hope,butXavierBartlett(239) ended the partnership when he had Rana caught at long-on.
Abhishek was the ninth wickettofall,trappedlbwby Nathan Ellis (2-21), and
Jasprit Bumrah was run out off the next delivery to end India’sinningsprematurely Australia captain Mitchell Marsh led the reply from the top of the order, scoring 46 from 26 deliveries and putting on an opening partnership of 51withTravisHead(28) By the time he was caught by Abhishek off Kuldeep Yadav the home side were well on their way to their target, and while the middle order was dismissed cheaply they still wrapped up the match with 40 balls to spare Australia lead the fivematch series 1-0, after Wednesday’s opener in Canberra was abandoned because of rain, with the third game in Hobart on Sunday Scores:Australia126for 6 (Marsh 46, Varun 2-23) beatIndia125(Abhishek68, Hazlewood 3-13) by four wickets.
MUMBAI, (Reuters)India’s Jemimah Rodrigues said she has struggled with anxiety at the Women’s World Cup but her determination to contribute helped her overcome being dropped earlier in the tournamenttoscoreamatchwinning century in their semi-finalagainstAustralia.
Fuelled by Rodrigues’ unbeaten 127, India pulled offarecordchaseof339runs at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday tosealafive-wicketwinover the defending champions and book their place in Sunday’sfinalagainstSouth Africa.
The 25-year-old allrounder missed the 2022 edition due to a dip in form beforefightingherwayback intotheside.
Facing the pressure of playing in a World Cup on home soil, Rodrigues struggled for consistence, postingtwoducksandapair of 30s before being dropped for India’s group-stage matchagainstEngland.
She said she often broke down in calls to her parents as she tried to cope with the pressure.
“I am so blessed to have friends, I can call family, I didn’t have to go through it alone.
And it’s okay to ask for help,”Rodriguessaid.
“Iwillbeveryvulnerable here because I know if someone is watching, this might be going through the same thing. Nobody likes to talk about their weakness,” she added, holding back tears.
“I was going through a lot of anxiety and when you are going through anxiety, you just feel numb. You don’t know what to do. You aretryingtobeyourself.And inthistime,mymumanddad supportedmealot.
“When you are dropped, you have a lot of doubts because I always want to contributetotheteam.
That really hit me But sometimesallyouneedtodo is, just hang in there and, thingsfallintoplace.”
A composed 76 not out againstNewZealandhelped restore her confidence and set the stage for her semifinal heroics against seventimeschampionsAustralia.
Rodrigues said she had only one thought in mind whenshewentouttobat.
“All I would say was I didn’t play for my 100. I didn’tplaytoproveapointat number three,” she said. “I
ESPNcricinfo-Ackeem
Auguste and Roston Chase struck fifties to help West Indiestoafive-wicketwinin the third T20I against BangladeshinChattogram.
RomarioShepherd’shattrickhadearlierhelpedtheir cause for the 3-0 triumph, after Bangladesh were bowledoutfor151runs.The series sweep comes at the right time for West Indies, who had lost seven bilateral T20Iseriesinarow,coming intothisseries.
Auguste and Chase put on 91 runs for the fourth wicket, after they lost three early wickets Auguste peppered the leg-side with five sixes against the Bangladesh spinners, while
the stand-in captain Chase gothisboundariesallaround thewicket.
Bangladesh had earlier collapsed from 107 for 2 in the 15th over, to be bowled outfor151in20overs.They losteightwicketsfor44runs in the last 5 3 overs, including Shepherd’s hattrick spread over two overs.
He was unaware of his achievement, until Jason Holder happily informed himfrommid-off.
JangoosurprisesforWI Bangladesh restricted West Indies’ openers in the firstthreeoversofthechase.
ThereturningMahediHasan gotAlickAthanazestumped for 1 and Amir Jangoo was also struggling to get going.
Buthehadluckonhisside.A mix-up between Litton Das and Saif Hassan gave him a let-off in the second over, before substitute Towhid Hridoy dropped a skier at mid-off.
Jangoo then took on Taskin Ahmed in his first over He started with a crisp flicked six off the first ball, before driving and pulling for three more fours in the 18-runover
Bangladeshhitbackwith Nasum Ahmed removing Brandon King in the sixth over Jangoo struck two more fours before Rishad Hossain had him lbw in the eighthover Jangoo’s23-ball 34 provided West Indies the boost their 152-run chase
neededafteraslowstart.
Augustepacksapunch
Auguste built on Jangoo’s innings Like Jangoo,hisfirstsixwasalso a beautifully flicked six off Taskin Chase, who was dropped on 10, struck three boundaries to get going, before Auguste took on Rishad.Heusedtheflickoff thefirstballofthe13thover, before hitting him for two moreontheleg-side.Rishad though was unlucky, as substitute Tanzim Hasan dropped Auguste at the covers,on27.
Auguste hammered Nasum’sfirstballnextover, beforeChasetookoverinthe boundary-hitting. He struck three more in the next two overs, on the way to completing his fourth T20I fifty
Bangladesh had some respite when Rishad removed both Chase and Augusteinthe16thover,but West Indies were already comfortably placed to completethewin.
Tanzidshinesagain
Bangladesh had earlier gotofftoadecentstartafter deciding to bat first. Tanzid Hasan hit three fours in the first three overs, before Holder dropped him at midoff on 12 Tanzid kept Bangladesh forceful in the powerplay, lofting Akeal Hoseinforasixoversquareleg.
Parvez Hossain and Litton though fell cheaply, beforeTanzidandSaifadded 63 runs for the third wicket. Saif started with a six over square-leg against Chase, followed by Tanzid hitting his second off Khary Pierre. Tanzidcrackedtwofoursoff Shepherd in the 11th over, before he lofted Gudakesh Motieforhisthirdsixinthe nextover
RovmanPowelldropped Tanzidon57,althoughitwas a tough chance at long-on.
This one made it West Indies’ sixth dropped catch inthelasttwomatches.
Shepherd’s special hattrick
WestIndies’luckthough wouldchangefromthe15th over HolderhadSaifcaught in the backward square-leg boundary, a ball after he struck a six over the same region.
Bangladesh would then lose wickets off the last ball of the over for five successive overs Pierre removed Rishad in the next over, lbw for three, before Nurul Hasan was caught in thedeepoffShepherd.
Powell Nasum in the
Shepherd
deep at the end of the 18th over before Holder got outof-form Jaker Ali lbw for five. Shepherd started the 20thoverwithTanzidcaught atmid-off,beforeheyorked Shoriful Islam. He wasn’t aware of the hat-trick until Holder-theonlyotherWest IndiantogetaT20Ihat-trick - told him Shepherd celebrated with a smile. It was the eighth hat-trick Bangladesh’s batters had suffered.
Scores: West Indies 152 for5(Auguste50,Chase50, Rishad 3-43) Bangladesh 151(Tanzid89,Shepherd336)byfivewickets.
Paradise Invaders FC are the current leaders.
Paradise Football Club (PFC), the only unbeaten team,enjoystheslimmestof leadsintheBerbiceFootball Association (BFA) Senior Men’s League sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. They are just ahead of fellow West Bank Berbice side, Ithaca
FootballClub.
This weekend’s action is anticipated to be very exciting as the other clubs seek to narrow their advantage.
PFC are on 10 points from their four (4) matches to date, Ithaca have also played a similar number of matches and they have an
Organiser of the annual Berbice Exposition and Trade Fair, the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce(CCCC)plansto usepartsoftheirprofitstodo someenhancementsworkat the Rose Hall Community Centre in East Canje. This accordingtoPresidentofthe CCCCMrPoonaiBhijroog.
The exposition which willonceagainbeheldatthe Rose Hall Community Centre (RHCC). Will be held from Friday 31st October to Monday 3 November
TheCCCCannualTrade Fair and Expo use to be staged at the Albion Community Centre but for thepastfewyearsithasbeen shiftedtotheRHCC.
The RHCC was once among the top cricket grounds in the country It was the venue for a number of first class and international matches. Over the years it has not been maintained to first class standard and is in need of seriousrehabilitation.
According to Bhijroog every year the CCCC used some of its profits to give back to the community He said that the RHCCC was one of the beneficiaries last yearandtheCCCCthinkit’s
fitting to assist the RHCC again.
A c c o r d i n g t o Coordinator Mr Tajpaul Adjodha, preparations for the19ExpoandTradeFairis almost complete. He said that they are leaving no stonesunturnedtomakethis event the showpiece trade activity in the country this year The activity this year planstothebiggestsofar It is being held under theme, “harnessing New Wealth: modernizing Traditional Sectors for Suitable EconomicDevelopment.”
Theexpoisbeingheldto give producers in Berbice and Berbice-based businesses the opportunity t o h e l p s h o w c a s e themselves. It also helps the businesses to get the opportunity to create links and partners with other business outside of the region. There are not any spacesleft.
Apart from the regular bevy of Guyanese companiesthatareexpected to be in attendance displaying products of all sorts, some new ones are expected on board while othersarereturning.
Most of the companies plan to have big giveaways at the event (Samuel Whyte)
average of two (2) goals per match thus far underlining theirpotencyintheattacking third. Their only blemish thus far was at the hands of
theleagueleaders. Cougars and Trafalgar Titansaretiedonfourpoints eachandtheywillbeaiming to build on this position when they collide today, Saturday, at the Scott’s School Ground, New Amsterdamfrom19:00hrs. Fyrish Black Sharks FC (1 point) will face Kildonan YoungWarriors who are yet to record a single point in a bottomofthetableclash.
The#5groundwillbethe center of attraction again tomorrow, Sunday, when Paradise entertain Cougars in the main attraction from 20:00hrs Opening play feature Ithaca and Kildonan from18:00hrs.
Wh e n t h e whistle blows on November 12 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, it will mark more than the start of the 2025 FIBA Women’s Caribbean Basketball Championship it will signal a full-circle moment for Guyana’s women’s basketball.
Thirty-seven years ago, thesamevenueservedasthe battlegroundwhereayoung, fearless Guyanese team, led by the legendary Yvette Herbert, went toe-to-toe with the Caribbean’s best. Among the fresh faces then was a teenager whose name would become etched in local basketball history, DawnBristol.
brilliance could not be ignored. She made history by becoming the first Guyanese female basketball player to earn a place in the All-Star team, which went on to face the tournament champions,Suriname.
Her achievements inspired generations of female ballers who followed, and now, as Guyanapreparesonceagain to defend home turf, a new crop of talent is ready to carrythattorch.
I n h e r s e n i o r international debut against powerhouse Trinidad and Tobago, Bristol poured in a game-high 21 points and 8
At just 19, Bristol, a standout from the Government Technical Institute (GTI), dominated thepaintasGuyana’scenter Despitetheteam’sstruggles, she was nothing short of sensational.
rebounds, earning Player of the Match honours. Against Antigua and Barbuda, she fought hard again, adding 7 points and 8 rebounds, before closing the preliminary round with
another top-scoring performance with 17 points and 7 rebounds versus Barbados.
Though Guyana’s campaign ended in disappointment, Bristol’s
Sponsored by Peter LewisConstructionService, Permaul Trading & Distribution,DiamondFire& General Insurance Company, Readymix Concrete, and Trophy Stall, the 2025 Big Man Cricket O40s T20 playoffshasbeenfixedforthis weekend
Afterfourweeksofintense competition, the playoffs will showcase the top eight teams emergingfromsixpreliminary roundsheldnationwide
The first quarter-final at Port Mourant will see the undefeated Albion Masters faceoffagainsttheWestBank Warriors Albion features a lineup of exceptional talent, including former test players such as Devendra Bishoo and Sewnarine Chattergoon, alongside Royston Crandon and National Under-19-star MichaelChinsammy
Incontrast,theWestBank Warriors, while lacking national or international players, bring a wealth of experience with key players like Deoram Persaud, Seenarine Mathura, Anthony Ifill, Chabiraj Ramcharran, Sham Persaud, and Krishna Singh This matchup promisestobethrilling,with Albion Masters favored to
advancetothesemifinals. Quarter-finaltwoattheJai Hind ground will showcase a huge clash between Everest Masters and host Jai Hind Jaguars
JaiHindhasonlysuffered onedefeatintheleaguestage and is expected to deliver a strong performance, led by centurion Vinode Samaroo and former Guyana player
VejaiSeonarinewhoisalsoa current Windies masters’ player, alongside a robust lineup including Imran Khan, Ravi Mangali, Zamin Zakeir,andRudolphLatcha.
Everest Masters, meanwhile, boasts a starstudded roster with former West Indies keeper Dinesh RamdinandtestplayerRyan Ramdass, as well as other seasoned players like Vic
Mahabeer, Rajendra Chandrika, Derwin Christian, Vishan Lall, Trevon Garraway,LawrenceFarnum, Hemraj Garbarran, Antonnel Atwell, and experienced players such as Sahadeo Hardaiow, Rohan Sarjoo, Basil Persaud, and Bheemraj Ramkhelawan,makingsquad selectionachallengingtask
Blairmont ground will host quarter-final three, featuring the Hunters against theVintageStrikers
Whilethismatchmaylack some of the big stars from other teams, both squads are formidable and capable of d e l i v e r i n g s t r o n g performances
VintageStrikerswillrely on the talents of Trevor and Troy Benn, along with centurion Richard Latif and
ChienGittens
The Hunters will look to their captain Shabeer Baksh and other consistent players like Balram Samaroo and Mark Sampson for a strong showing
Lastly,quarter-finalfour at the Police ground will feature the unbeaten North Soesdyke Masters taking on the competitive Enterprise StarSports.NorthSoesdyke boasts former West Indies players like captain Asad Fudadin and Christopher Barnwell, as well as talented youth and first-class players includingAbilaishDookieand Delbert Hicks, along with Deputy Commissioner Ravindradat Budhram expectedtojointheEastBankbasedteam
Thefixtures:
The provisional national squad features an exciting mix of homegrown and overseas-based players Several standout talents sit among those vying for selection, including; Shanill James, Keisha Copperfield, Jamaicy Ogle, Breann Ritchie, Akeelah Campbell (Linden), Junelly Paddy (Berbice), Kean Andrews, Kassidy Wilford, Brianna Benjamin, Rehaica Romain (Linden), Natalia Clarke (Kwakwani), Sherese Leacock(Kwakwani),Malia Samuels (Kwakwani), Petal Leacock (Kwakwani), as well as overseas-based players Brooklyn McDavid, Ruth Adams, Joy Brown, Amisha Ramlall, Arshia Ramlall,andAshaRamlall.
For these athletes, the 2025championshipisn’tjust another tournament, it’s an opportunity to “repeat history.” Head Coach and local basketball officials have emphasized that this generationhasthetalentand heart to emulate Bristol’s passion and performances from nearly four decades ago. As the countdown to tip-offcontinues,theechoes of1988stilllingerwithinthe walls of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. History, as it often does, seems poised to repeat itself, if the next Dawn Bristol can rise to the occasion.
Countdown begins, 55 days to go for first ever Caribbean Boxing Organisation/ Bris-O Promotions December 26, Boxing Day, fight card
Pn g Organization (CBO) Guyanese Seon Bristol has announced that soon the match-upsforthefirstever boxing card set for Boxing Day in Guyana on December 26, will be known via live streaming ontheCBO’splatform.
The Brooklyn-based Bristol, whose Bris-O Promotions outfit out of Guyana is collaborating withtheCBOforthisfight card, said contracts for the bouts are now being finalized.
In an earlier interview Bristol remarked: “This event is expected to attract boxingfansfromacrossthe Caribbean and beyond, uniting the region through sport while shining a spotlight on its elite athletes.
With the combined efforts of CBO member promoters,theBoxingDay card is poised to deliver n o n - s t o p a c t i o n , unforgettable moments, and the start of an annual tradition celebrating
Caribbean boxing excellence.”
This newly formed CBO is a collective of leading boxing promoters from across the Caribbean, aimstoelevateprofessional combatsportsintheregion by uniting top talent, creating larger platforms, and delivering world-class events to Caribbean fans. The organization is currently comprised of promoters representing Guyana, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, St. Maarten, The Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia, GrenadaandCuraçao,each bringing their fighters and expertisetothering.
The names of the fighters are to be released soon to the public via live streaming on the CBO platform,itwasannounced. Additionally,effortsare underway to obtain sponsorshipforadvertising space for this card, which willbestreamingacrossthe Caribbean; and such spots available include for the ring apron, corner pads coverandadsontheCBO’s websiteduringstreaming.
The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF),consideredoneof the country’s most disciplined and wellorganizedsportingbodies,is facing intense internal scrutinyfollowingastrongly worded letter from its General Secretary, Roger Rogers, to President Paul Meusa.
Theletter,datedOctober 28, 2025, calls for “forensic clarity” on the financial and administrative handling of Guyana’sparticipationatthe 2025 World Masters PowerliftingChampionship, held from October 10–19 in CapeTown,SouthAfrica.
Rogers’correspondence, obtained by Kaieteur News, raises serious concerns aboutthewelfareofathletes and the management of funds allocated for the internationalevent.
The World Masters Championship is one of the m o s t p r e s t i g i o u s tournamentsinthesport,and Guyana’s participation was expectedtobeanotherproud chapter for a federation rarely associated with controversy
However, the letter paints a troubling picture of mismanagement and questionable decisionmaking that, according to Rogers, has eroded athlete
confidenceandtarnishedthe imageofthefederation.
According to the letter, the federation had approved a budget to support six athletes, including provisions for airfare, hotel accommodation,and a daily stipend Guyana was represented by Bjorn Williams, Nadina Taharally, Frankin Brisport - Luke and WazimMohamed.
However, two athletes, GordonSpencerandRogers himself, later withdrew for personal and professional reasons, which should have createdafinancialsurplus.
Despite confirmed sponsorship contributions totalingapproximatelyGYD
$3.4million(USD$16,252) fromtheMinistryofCulture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), complaints from athletes
suggest th
provided.
Rogers’letterdemandsa detailed breakdown of expenditures, including ticket types, lodging costs, and justification for the a p p a r e n t b u d g e t discrepancies.
T h e f e d e r a t i o n
reportedly secured hotel rooms at just US$30 per night, significantly below what was allocated, yet athletes claim they endured substandard conditions throughoutthetrip.
Perhaps most alarming are the personal testimonies shared with the General
Sec
ary Ath
s describedhavingtofendfor themselves for meals and lodging, at times depending on unpredictable provisions from President Meusa and hisassistant.
The only female athlete on the team was allegedly requiredtosharearoomwith male athletes, while Meusa reportedly shared accommodation with a female committee member (namegiven).
The letter calls for clarification on whether the female committee member attended the championship in an official capacity and if federation funds were used tocoverhertravelandstay
Equally troubling were reportsthatathleteswereleft without confirmed accommodation before arrivalinSouthAfrica.They were allegedly forced to walk for hours and travel in cramped vehicles in search ofsuitablelodging,justdays
Powerlifting Federation General Secretary, Roger Rogers.
beforecompetition.
This, Rogers noted, “caused duress and fatigue that impacted the athletes’ performanceoncompetition day.”
Additionally, the team reportedlyenduredalengthy layover in London because thePresidentandthefemale committee member were returning from a vacation in Dubai This decision, according to Rogers, “ j e o p a r d i z e d t h e employment of at least one athlete.”
Thelackofaperdiem,as outlined in the letter, left athletes financially strained, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e correspondence.
Rogers noted that some competitors even handed overtheirownUSdollarsto Meusa and his assistant for currency exchange to cover
mealsandincidentals,butno equivalent amount in local currencywasreturned.
Theletteralsohighlights that travel arrangements appeared to be made on a budget airline that did not include luggage costs, resulting in additional outof-pocket expenses for the athletes.
“These reports suggest systemic administrative lapses that contradict the federation’s long-standing r e p u t a t i o n f o r professionalism,” Rogers wrote. “It is imperative that
Powerlifting Federation president, Paul Meusa.
the federation provides full disclosure to preserve the confidence of our athletes, sponsors, and the powerliftingcommunity.”
ACALLFOR TRANSPARENCYAND ACCOUNTABILITY
The correspondence concludes with a direct appeal to President Meusa fordetailedexplanationsand documentationregardingthe handlingoffederationfunds, thedecision-makingprocess surrounding travel logistics, andtheofficialroleof (Continuedonpage29)
Shepherd hat-trick and twin fifties
Wi’s 3-0 sweep over Bangladesh
…athletes cry foul over South Africa trip; President Meusa in the hotseat