(Reuters)-Iraqioilproductionfromitsmainsouthern oilfieldshasfallenby70%tojust13millionbarrelsper dayasthecountryisunabletoexportoilviatheStraitof HormuzduetotheIranwar,threeindustrysourcessaidon Sunday
Production from the fields stood at around 4.3 millionbpdbeforethewar
“Crudestorage`hasreachedmaximumcapacityand theremainingoutputafterthemajorcutwillbeusedto supplythecountry’srefineries,”saidanofficialwiththe state-run Basra Oil Company (BOC), which manages production and export operations from the southern fields.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s key oil transitchokepoints,carryingroughlyafifthofglobaloil andliquefiednaturalgasflows.
TheOPECmember’sexportsalsofellsharplytoan average of around 800,000 barrels per day on Sunday, with only two tankers loading because vessels cannot move‘throughthestraittoIraq’ssouthernterminals,the sourcesaid.
The two tankers, Cospearl Lake andYuan Hua Hu, eachcompletedloadingabout2millionbarrelsofcrude at around 8 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), and with no new vessels arriving, oil flows from Iraq’s southern export terminals were halted, ‘three oil officials and a shippingagenttoldReuters.
Iraq’soilexportsfromthesouthernoilfieldsstoodat 3.334millionbarrelsperdayinFebruary,anoilministry documentshowed.AdropinIraq’soil‘productionand exports is set to strain the country’s already fragile finances,asthestatereliesoncrudesalesfornearlyall publicspendingandmorethan90%of‘itsincome.
“ThisisthemostseriousoperationalthreatIraqhas facedinmorethan20years,”aseniorIraqioilministry officialsaid.
An oil and gas forum held on Saturday in observance of International Women’s Day was markedbywidespreadcomplaints over the high cost of living, with participants expressing little optimism that the situation would ease for families at the lower end oftheeconomicscale
The event themed ‘Guyana’s women and oil- impact and resistance’ was organised by Red Thread and A Fair Deal for Guyana- A Fair Deal for the Planet, two non-governmental organisations
Grassroots women from across the country were brought together as award-winning lawyer, Melinda Janki and other activists joined for enriching discussions at the forum, hosted at the Regency Hotel, Georgetown
Setting the stage, Joy Marcus of Red Thread told of how hope for a better life from the rich oil resources in the Stabroek Block has dwindled Instead, she told dozens gathered at the event that the operator, ExxonMobil is enjoying hefty profits while Guyanese women struggle to find mealstofeedtheirfamilies
“While Exxon is boasting about the millions of dollars they gain in profit, for ordinary people
A section of the gathering that joined the oil and gas discussions
wegainedacostoflivingthathas skyrocketed so high, making it extremely hard for us to survive,”
Marcus said as she paused from her prepared presentation to share how women are forced to cook more stews than ever, as vegetables have become hard to afford
Another presenter, Susan Collymore weighed into the impacts of cost of living on pensionersinparticular Collymore pointed out that food, utilities and transportation have become more expensiveoverthepastfewyears,a situation that is particularly straining on pensioners who dependonafixedmonthlyincome
of only $46,000 now- given the recent$5000increase.
Additionally, Rushana Pilgrim, a young single mother of two said she continues to struggle inanoilrichnation
“The cost of living keeps rising and it’s getting harder for ordinary families like mine to afford basic necessities with all the oil wealth in this country we are supposed to be living better and not worrying everyday about how to afford a proper meal,” she stated
Meanwhile, activists Danuta and Vanda Radzik, Sherlina Nageer, Audreyana Thomas, WintressWhite,ElizabethHughes
and attorney Melinda Janki highlighted the lawsuits they broughtagainsttheoilgiant,some ofwhichwerelostbutstillyielded success
The award-winning lawyer pointed out that some 11 cases havebeenfiledtodateagainstthe company, with Exxon being orderedbythecourttocomplywith the rule of law in their operations hereinGuyana. She made it clear, “When womenspeak,thegovernmenthas to listen When we speak as women, the oil industry has to listen ” OILAND COST OF
Assessment (EIA) submitted to the government of Guyana (GoG) ExxonMobil warned that its seventh project can result in highercost-of-living
According to the EIA, conducted by the company’s consultant, Environmental Resources Management (ERM), “With rising wages and increased purchasingpower(drivennotonly by the Project but by broader e c o n o m i c g r o w t h a n d development trends), the project could also contribute to increased costs-of-living (IDB 2023) ”
The study further states, “This couldmanifestinseveralways;for example, higher prices for indemandgoodsandservices,higher costsforhousingindesirableareas ofGeorgetown,and/orhighercosts for key goods in the supply chain (affecting both consumers and businesses/suppliers).”
ExxonMobil noted in the EIA that Guyana’s inflation rate has risen above “historic levels in recent years” as experienced globally, although these levels subsequently settled below internationalandregionalrates
Inflation refers to the increase in average price of goods and services
As the Government of Guyana
continues to enforce its “zero tolerance” policy against illegal mining and unregulated activities, President IrfaanAli has outlined his vision for a more efficientandaccountableminingsector
On Monday, the president and top government officials met with the president of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) Ronaldo Alphonso andotherexecutives,todiscussthefutureof thesector
During the meeting, President Ali reaffirmedgovernment’ssupportforminers, but stressed that compliance is essential for the sector’s sustainability and development. He emphasised the importance of compliance, noting concerns about miners whofailtomeetroyaltyandtaxobligations. Recognising ongoing labour shortages, Government committed to addressing workforce gaps in collaboration with the GGDMA. The association has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive assessment of labour needs Local recruitment efforts will follow, with advertisements placed in newspapers to attractworkers.
Shouldlocallabourneedsremainunmet, government will engage an overseas recruitment agency President Ali assured thatworkpermitsforforeignworkerswould beprocessedwithinsevendaysandthateach
worker would be issued a digital identificationcard.
President Ali also informed the association of plans to digitise the mining sector to improve efficiency, transparency, andinter-agencycoordination.
Keyinitiativesincludeadigitalplatform for the renewal and issuance of mining licenses, a mobile app for miners to upload production records, and the digitalisation of compliancesystems.
Each miner will receive a unique ID, integrated with banking services and other government platforms, creating a secure frameworkforminingoperations.
GGDMA expressed full support for the zero-tolerance policy and endorsed the government’s campaign to clean up the sector,describing2026asadefiningyearfor eliminating bad actors who harm the reputationofcompliantminers.
Theassociationemphasisedthatinformal andundocumentedgoldtradingmustend.It further clarified that that enforcing mining andgoldtradinglawsdoesnotthreatensmall miners but is necessary to curb gold smuggling.
GGDMA reminded that gold must only besoldtotheGuyanaGoldBoardorlicensed dealers and traders approved by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, and anyone wishing to trade or barter gold must obtaintheproperlicence.
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
Warisusuallyashotofadrenalinforoilprices. Aboost was given to sagging oil prices with the outbreak of widespreadhostilitiesintheU.S.-IsraelandIranwar The longer this war rages, the greater the intensity and destructivepowerunleashedbythecombatants,themore theriseinoilpricesisprolonged. Theriseissteeper,andit hassomegoodinitsmovement,andmuchaboutitthatis bad.
Oilproducingnationsstandtobenefitthroughasurge inrevenuecollections. Butthepricecanalsobegreat.The specter of inflation becomes more pronounced, and the fight to ride that tiger loses its grip. Because oil and oil relatedproductsarelinkedtosomanyvitalcomponentsof modernlife,aspricesofthepreciouscommoditygo,sogo the prices of many of the thousands of oil-derived products. From medical supplies to transportation equipmenttofertiliserstoroadconstructioningredientsto everyday products used in the home, the fallout is common. Higher prices have to be paid, and when that happensthepinchofinflationisfeltmoredeeply
Guyana should collect more for its oil, with daily productionrampingup,andnooillanesintroublearound this region. On the other hand, prices in Guyana are alreadyanissueofconsiderableseverity Thegovernment has its calming inflation statistics, but Guyanese are the oneswhoareforcedtodealwithrealitythatdoesn’tspare, withthepoorlashedmercilessly Whenpricesspiraland spiral,afteratimethereisonlysomuchpurchasingpower that the poorer sections of a country have in hand, which means there’s only so much that those struggling citizens can buy Though needs are urgent, higher prices knock those citizens out of contention. Some parts of the economy would still move forward, but businesses and consumers will experience the pain of less demand, and lessinhandtofillfamilydemand.
Warisgoodnewsforoilprices,andopenwarfare,and more covert elements of war, in the Middle East could extend indefinitely. The odds are high that more participantscouldbedrawnintotheragingconflict. The Iranians may not be able to mount a counterattack that matches their adversaries with missile for missile, or damage for damage. What they have done to date is to showthattheirassetsforwararemanyandtheyaredeep. In addition, there’s the willingness to stand and fight, alongsidewhichtheexpectedwidespreadciviluprisingin thestreetsofTeheranandintheprovinceshasnotshownits head.
Similarly,thereseemstohavebeensomeanticipation intheU.S.-Israelblocthatinternalupheavalatthehigher levelsoftheIraniangovernancesystemwouldhavebeen triggeredbythedevastatingstrikes. Sofar,nothingofthe sorthasbeenseen. Ifthereisanythingtobesaid,itisthat the Iranian High Command, both political and military, was already watching suspected weak links, and were readytoputthemoutofcommission. OneseniorIranian official has since been fingered and his movements curtailed. Fromallappearances,thoughIranhasabsorbed someheavyblows,includingthelossofitsspiritualhead,it stillhasahugeamountoffightleftinit. Weatthispaper gettheimpressionthatacoiledsnakehasbeenpokedand stirredintoaction. Theforecastisgrim,withthewarthat has been started gaining strength, and the release of new resourcesintothebattlebytheday
Allthisisgreatforoil. Oilfuturesareup,oiltradersare set to have good days in the next few weeks, at least. In commodities,suchasoilandgold,themorevolatileprices are, the happier the professional oil watchers and oil gamblers are. Under most circumstances, war is not a gooddevelopment,shouldbethelastresort,andthenonly forthemostjustifiableofreasons. Thoughgeographically distant,theimpactsoftheU.S.-IsraelandIranwarwillbe feltinGuyanainmorethanoneway Thelastdevelopment that hard-hit Guyanese need is having to deal with the higherpricesthataccompanywar
DEAREDITOR,
Former President Bharat Jagdeo’s track record with mega projects reads like a case study in how not to manage public investments.
The Skeldon Sugar Factory and the Amaila Falls Hydro Project already stand as toweringremindersofhubris over prudence projects plagued by half-baked studies, astronomical overruns, and enduring losses.
Today, as he dons the mantle of “Chief Oil Director,” Jagdeo is once again steering Guyana into what could become another financial catastrophe the Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project.
The administration has marketed this enterprise as the nation’s energy breakthrough, promising cheaper electricity and prosperitytofollow
But a closer look reveals soaring costs, engineering blunders, and troubling secrecy that together echo the poorest traditions of project mismanagement underJagdeo’swatch.
TheBillion-DollarBalloon
When first conceived in 2018, the Gas-to-Energy project was estimated at US$478 million Fast forward to 2026, and the figure has bloated to over US$2 billion, with some experts warning final costs could touch US$3 billion after accounting for delays, grid upgrades, and
contractordisputes.
The breakdown tells its own story: US$1 billion for ExxonMobil’s 250kilometre pipeline; US$759 million for the power plant and Natural Gas Liquids (NGL)facilityatWales;and another US$160 million for transmission lines, substations, and land acquisition.Whatbeganasa pathway to lower light bills has turned into a monument ofcostinflation.
AFoundation
SinkinginMud
Thedecisiontolocatethe projectatWalesmightbethe most reckless stroke of all. Engineers have confirmed thatthelandwassoft,soggy, and unfit for such heavy industrial construction. The result?Fourteenmonthsand over US$100 million just to stabilise the soil an avoidable expense had a credible feasibility study beendone.
Even now, the gas pipeline completed by Exxon in 2024 lies idle, filled with nitrogen to prevent rusting while the power plant lags behind schedule.
That idleness comes at a price: Guyana continues to burn costly heavy fuel for electricity, draining an additional US$232 million fromthetreasury CloudsofControversy
Layered atop the technical fiascos is a web of questionable deals. A US$50,000 monthly
consultancy fee to a Dominican Republic firm with reported ties to highranking officials has stirred alarmamonganalysts.
The main contractor, Lindsayca,isnowembroiled in a multi-million-dollar legal war with the government over overruns and delay claims reportedly approaching US$100 million.
M e a n w h i l e , t h e Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the very body meant to safeguard national interests has fallen into the spotlight for proceduralbreaches.
When environmental activists Vanda Radzik and Elizabeth Deane-Hughes challenged the EPA’s illegal granting of a key permit to ExxonMobil, High Court Judge Priya SewnarineBeharry agreed that the agency acted “contrary to law and improper.” Yet, she stoppedshortofquashingthe permit, citing the billions already sunk into the project—a quiet admission that Guyana’s Gas-toEnergy scheme is now too big to fail, no matter how fatallyflawed.
WhoReallyPays?
The government has promised that electricity billswillfallby50%,butthat arithmetic seems less convincing by the day Hidden within the oil accounts, audits have revealedthatExxonhasbeen deducting pipeline costs
from Guyana’s oil revenues since2018—longbeforegas will ever flow As debt mounts and timelines crumble, the dream of affordable energy risks becoming another illusion soldtowearycitizens.
Earlier studies identified East Coast sites with stronger soil and lower risk. Yet, political calculations appeared to outweigh technical wisdom The result: a project anchored moreinpartisaninterestthan in sound economics or environmentallogic.
AFamiliarTragedy
The Gas-to-Energy projectwasmeanttolightup Guyana.Instead,it’sburning through billions, dimming faith in governance and accountability
The pattern is achingly familiar an elite few gamblewithnationalwealth while citizens are left to shoulderthedebt.
If history is a teacher, then Guyana is once again sitting for a painful lesson. Thistime,however,thescale of the disaster could eclipse even Skeldon Unless transparency, engineering integrity, and fiscal discipline intervene immediately, the country risks turning its most promising energy venture into another chapter in the long, expensive saga of Jagdeo’sunfinishedfollies.
Regards, L e y l a n d C h i t l a l l Roopnarine
IfirstmetEdgarHeyliger during meetings with the thenMinisterofFinance,Mr Asgar Ally I remember during one meeting the minister telling him, “I am hearing things [about corruption] within the IncomeTaxDepartment.”
To which, Mr Heyliger replied, “You tell me what you are hearing, and I will dealwithit.”EdgarHeyliger did not brook any political interference with his department. He was fiercely protective of the Inland RevenueDepartment.
Ilaterworkedwithhimat the Ministry of Finance when he was contracted to superintendthemergerofthe Inland Revenue Department and the Customs and Excise Department. His office was modest indeed, quite
austere for a man of his standing. Unlike the others, it was not air-conditioned, and he had to open the windows to let the air circulate. Yet he never once complained.
I gained valuable experience and learnt important lessons from him during his time at the Ministry of Finance. I had a small hand in the establishmentoftheGuyana Revenue Authority During that time, he would often regale me with stories of his experiences On one occasion he spoke about negotiations he led concerning the Guyana Electricity Corporation and how, during one session, he had to inform the other side thathewouldhavetoconsult his superiors because he did not have the mandate to
proceed with a particular request. As a young man then, I took that lesson to heart,andtothisdayIregard hisinsistenceonneveracting outside one’s mandate or authority as one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received.
When he was leaving to take up the position of Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority(GRA),heinvited me to his office and asked whether I would come and work with him. I felt it was such a great compliment for him to ask that But I declined I have never regretted that decision. But sometimesIwonder
After he left the GRA –andletitbesaidhedidsoon principle–Iwouldoftensee him driving his grey jeep taking his grandchild to and
from school. But I was only able to see him in person on two occasions.The first was atthefuneralofhiswife,and the second was a few years ago at Dr Dalip’s Clinic on SandyBabbStreet.Thenhis sight was fading and he could not see me. But he recognisedmyvoice.Andin his trademark way he asked me, “How you doing boy?” We embraced warmly and I wished him well. It was the lasttimeIwouldseehim.
As I walked away, I noticed a woman standing nearby, watching with a certain curiosity When I passed her, I turned back for a moment and pointed toward him and said, “That thereisamanofintegrity.” Rest in Peace Mr Edgar Heyliger!
Yourssincerely, WilliamCox
DEAREDITOR,
As an analyst looking back some years spanning from 2020 to 2025, Guyana has made remarkable progress in many sectors. Yet, in 2026, the cost of living remains high, despite the country’s abundant natural and agricultural resources.
For many households, thefoodbillcontinuestobea major financial burden, highlighting the need for continuedstrategiestomake essential goods more affordable.
I believe that lifestyle changes can play a critical role in addressing this challenge. Simple measures
suchasreducingfoodwaste, practicing efficient meal planning, and supporting locally grown produce can help families better manage expenses while reducing dependence on imported goods. These small changes, when adopted collectively, can have a meaningful impact on national food security
Guyana has the capability to feed its own populationifagricultureand food production are managed responsibly With properplanning,investment, and support for farmers, the country can reduce reliance on imports and ensure that
DEAREDITOR,
I have been following the press coverage about the two childprotectionofficers.Pleasepermitmetoofferadifferent perspective.Ilikeevery“Tom,DickandHarry”haveseenthe video of two child protection officers dragging the child. Thoseladiesdoadifficultandthanklessjob.Letmemakeit unambiguous: I stand with the two child protection officers. Ladies,thankyou!
ChildProtectionisanareaofsocialpolicythatintersects with Juvenile Delinquency and Juvenile Dependency I am quite sure the reading public is aware that Juvenile Delinquency pertain to the criminal activities of minors. Juvenile Dependency is civil-where the state must step in to protect children from abuse, abandonment, neglect, exploitation,etc.
I have looked at the video and here are my impressions: The two Child Protection Officers in their professional judgmentfeltthattheyhadprobablecausetobelievethatthe child was in danger They approached the child with the intentionofremovingherfromtheperceiveddanger Atthat point, the child could have peaceably left with the officers, and any “misconceptions” could have been resolved at the station or welfare office. Instead, she decided to pull a “George Floyd” and “she ain’t going”; the officers decided thatforthischildowngoodtheywillforciblyremoveher The child, egged on by the crowd and the ubiquitous cellphone camera, decided to “act up”-throwing herself on the ground. Atwhichpoint,theofficershadnoalternativebuttodragher In my opinion, the 2 Child Protection Officers acted reasonablyunderthecircumstances.
I urge Minister Vindhya Persaud-stand by the 2 Child ProtectionOfficers.Topenalisethemwouldbetodemoralise the people on the front lines and you will eventually underminetheverystructureofChildProtectioninGuyana.
Sincerely, RogerAlly
fresh, nutritious food is availabletoallcitizensatfair prices.
The government has been doing wonderfully so far in supporting the agricultural sector and ensuring better access to resourcesforfarmers.
Programmes aimed at improving infrastructure, providing technical support, and facilitating market
access have strengthened production However, as with any system, there is always room for growth, particularly in expanding value-added production and encouraging innovation acrosssub-industries.
A s a p u b l i c communications analyst, I see collaboration between the government, farmers, and citizens as key to
creating a sustainable and resilientfoodsystem.
When all stakeholders work together toward responsible production, c o n s u m p t i o n , a n d distribution, the benefits extend across communities, businesses, and households alike.
Ultimately, with coordinated efforts and continuous improvement,
Guyana can achieve a more affordable cost of living and stronger food security By combining government leadership, citizen responsibility, and proper management of resources, thenationhasthepotentialto feed its population sustainably and foster longtermeconomicstability
Sincerely,
Mr.BlaneR.Bunbury
On the Question of a PPP/WPA Government in 1992 Mr Kissoon claims to possess information that the WPA rejected an offer from the PPP to form a joint government following the 1992elections.
If he indeed has such information,heshouldmake it public. Assertions of this magnitude require evidence, notinsinuation.
As Chairperson of the WPA Committee of Conference in 1992, the party’s highest decisionmaking body at the time—I s t a t e c l e a r l y a n d unequivocally that the Committee, over which I presided, voted by majority to accept the offer to participate in government. Furthermore, Dr Rupert Roopnarainearguedstrongly and consistently in favor of
theWPAacceptingthatoffer It was not the WPA that withdrew from the arrangement. The offer was withdrawn by Dr Cheddi JaganandthePPP TheWPA appointed a three-member delegation Moses Bhagwan, Clive Thomas, and me—to meet with Dr. Jagan and Dr. Roger Luncheon. The discussions addressed three principal matters:
* An arrangement for jointgovernanceofRegion8 (a process I oversaw alongside Harry Persaud Nokta, which ultimately contributed to the PPP securing a majority in the NationalAssembly).
* The naming of individuals to serve on state boards;
* WPA representation at theCabinetlevel.
At no point did theWPA
make demands regarding Cabinet seats Any suggestion to the contrary is entirelyfictional.
2.OntheCommissionof InquiryintotheDeathofDr WalterRodney
As one of the principal personsinvolvedinshaping the parameters for the Commission of Inquiry into the 1980 assassination of Dr. Walter Rodney and as the individual who drafted theacceptancelettersentby the Rodney family to President Bharrat Jagdeo in 2005 to initiate that process I state without reservation that Dr Roopnaraine never rejected theideaofaninquiry
From the moment of Wa l t e r R o d n e y ’ s assassination on June 13, 1980, Rupert Roopnaraine stoodattheforefrontofboth local and international
effortsdemandingacredible a n d i n d e p e n d e n t investigation.
The historical record is clearonthismatter It is therefore deeply disappointing that the n a t i o n a l newspaper—funded by the t a x p a y e r s o f Guyana would permit itselftobeusedasaplatform for the dissemination of untruths and personal animus directed at a man whose public life was marked by intellectual rigor, integrity,andcommitmentto justice.
Public debate is vital to democracy But it must be anchored in fact, not someone’s mischievous and provocativeintent.
Regards, Dr WazirMohamed Professor,Sociology IndianaUniversityEast
Domestic violence againstwomenhasbecomea major national concern, particularlyduringWomen’s History Month, as Guyana continues to record several gruesome cases of women being killed or severely abusedbytheirpartners.
Dr Persaud made the statement while addressing attendees at the Women and Girls’Summit 2026, held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre last Wednesday
While delivering her message to the women and girls present at the summit, theministeremphasisedthat noonehastherighttoabuse orviolatewomen.
“No girl, no woman should lose their lives at the hands of a violent perpetrator No woman or girl should face abuse,” she said.
Reflecting on initiatives implementedbytheministry tosupportvictimssuchasthe 914-emergency hotline and the iMatter mobile application, Persaud urged women to look out for and supportthosewhomaybein vulnerablesituations.
“Wewillalwayslookfor support everywhere, but support is there. Link the chains to make that a stronger support network. We have to work on safety, butitstartswithmakingwise
choicesandbeingoursisters’ protectors,keepers,eyesand ears,andcustodiansofdoors that can open pathways to safety,”shesaid.
In a strong appeal, the ministeradded,“Iwouldlike to wake up in the next few months and not see another womanloseherlifeoragirl. I mean, I’m saying a few months, but tomorrow is good. It really would be good.”
However, Guyana has recorded multiple incidents ofwomendyingatthehands oftheirpartnersoverthelast coupleofmonths.
On International
Women’s Day 2026, a 39year-old mother, Caslene Toney, was stabbed to death by her reputed husband, Morris Hugh, who later
attemptedtotakehisownlife andisnowhospitalised.The incident occurred at their home in Long Creek, along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway
Earlier this year, on February 24, a 15-year-old girlwasstabbed25timesina vicious attack allegedly carried out by the father of her child The teen, identifiedasTianaChapman of Pepper Street, Edinburg Village, East Bank Berbice, sufferedpuncturedlungsand remains in critical but stable condition.
Reports indicate that the attack occurred around 20:00h while Chapman was visitingafriend’shome.The suspect, Christopher Ali, whohadrecentlyreturnedto Berbiceafterbeingawayfor
several months, was reportedlyupsetthattheteen hadendedtheirrelationship. RelativessaidChapmanhad previously endured physical abuse during her pregnancy before cutting ties with him on the advice of family members.
In another incident on February22,2026,amother of six from No. 76 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, Olive Thompson, was brutally attacked by her husband of 23 years, Mahindra Patrick Singh,alsocalled“Poison.” Thompson, a part-time worker at the Springlands Nursery School, sustained multiple stab wounds, including injuries that damaged her liver and requiredemergencysurgery She remains in critical condition. Singh was later discovered dead the following day, with reports suggesting he ingested a poisonoussubstance.
Domestic violence cases
have continued to surface across the country over the pastyear
In late December 2025, 89-year-old pensioner Lackandai Tamessar was allegedly murdered at her homeonOgleAirstripRoad, EastCoastDemerara.Police believe the murder occurred between December 26 and December30.Herbodywas discoveredbyarelativewho noticed stab wounds. Her husband, Michael Raymond Haralall Tamessar, called “Mike,” was later found deadinJanuary
In September 2025, 50year-oldPaulaAbrahamwas reportedly stabbed to death by her common-law husband,IshwarSingh,who later set their Cummings Lodge home on fire. Her body was discovered with a stabwoundtotheneck.
Earlierthatyear,inApril 2025, years of domestic abuse endured by 26-yearold Maline LaCruz ended in
tragedy when her estranged husband, goldsmith Parmanand Ramdial, also called Ramzan Ramdial, opened fire on her family Maline, her 50-year-old mother Waveney LaCruz, and her 17-year-old sister SueAnn LaCruz were killed in the attack, while her brother was injured. The shooting unfolded in the presence of Maline’s three young children Ramdial later died after ingesting a poisonoussubstance.
Another tragic case occurred on February 22, 2025, when 27-year-old KeneshaVaughnwasshot12 times by her husband, 32year-old businessman Marlan DaSilva, during a heated argument at their homeinBlock‘X’,Diamond HousingScheme,EastBank Demerara.
DaSilva,whoiscurrently on trial for murder, had reportedly been drinking earlier that evening. Police said his blood alcohol level was recorded at 83 per cent which is well above the legallyprescribedlimitof35 percent.
Investigators reported that Vaughn had called DaSilva home, which allegedly annoyed him When he arrived around 20:00h, the couple began arguing in the kitchen. The argument escalated into violence after DaSilva reportedly slapped Vaughn. Police said that when she allegedly approached him withaknife,hepulledouthis gunandopenedfire.
External shocks stemming from geopolitical tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran have already pushed commodity prices upward, creating a mixed outlook for Caribbean economies. This is according to the Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) acting deputy director of economics,JasonCotton.
During the bank’s annual news conference last week in Barbados, Cotton presented a review of the bank’s 2025 performance and the economic outlook for 2026.
He noted that in 2025, Caribbean economies recorded slower growth amid intensifying global uncertainty, climate shocks, and fiscal pressures. Cotton noted that excluding Guyana, regional growth slowedto0.6%in2025,downfrom1.4%in 2024. When Guyana is included, overall growthreached4.7%. Forthisyear,thebank projects that growth across the Caribbean will remain modest. Cotton noted that excluding Guyana, regional GDP is
forecastedtogrowby1.1%,whileGuyanais expected to expand by over 20%, lifting regionalgrowthto6.2%whenincluded.
Responding to questions about potential external risks to the region, Cotton acknowledged that the situation remains highly uncertain but said recent developments have already pushed commodity prices upward. “In terms of the conflictinIran,whatwehavealreadyseenis thattherehasbeenanuptickincommodities prices,higherthanwehaveseenintherecent past,”Cottonsaid.
He noted that commodity-exporting Caribbean countries such as Guyana could see higher export earnings as a result of geopolitical tensions, but spells danger for service dependent economies across the region,asrisingenergyandfoodcostscould simultaneously drive inflation, increase the cost of doing business and potentially dampentourism.
“Now what that means is for our commodityexportingcountriesthatwouldbe
a positive upside because of course they export commodity, but majority of our member countries are service exporting countriesandasaresultthatincreaseinprices would have implications on inflation, it will have implication on growth, it will have implicationspotentiallyontourismdemand,” heexplained.
Cotton cautioned that the full impact of theconflictonCaribbeaneconomiesremains unclear and will depend on how long the situationpersists.
WhenaskedhowsoonCaribbeancitizens couldbeginfeelingtheeffectsthroughhigher living costs or reduced tourism arrivals, Cotton said predicting a timeline would be difficult given the number of variables involved.
TheCDBeconomistremindedthatglobal commodity markets have already shown signsofvolatility Headded,“ButwhatIcan
Police in Regional Division #9 seized multiple firearms and ammunition during an intelligence-led operation at Shea Village, South Rupununi on Saturday,March7.
The operation led to the arrest of a 53-year-old farmer and his two sons, aged 20 and 22, after searchesoftheirhomeuncoveredtwo.22rifles,a12gauge double-barrel shotgun, an airsoft rifle, and severalroundsofammunition.
The men reportedly admitted they did not hold firearm licenses and were escorted toAishalton and Lethem Police Stations, where the firearms and ammunitionwerelodgedpendingexamination.
Investigations are ongoing, and the suspects remaininpolicecustodyassistingwithinquiries.
President Irfaan Ali recently did an interview withFoxNewsanddelivered a pronouncement about the politicaldestinyofCubathat was as startling as it was unexplained.
ThePresidentdeclared:
“We all agreed that the statusquocannotremain.We agreed that there must be an attempt to have the status quo changed. We all are aware that it will take time andbeincrementalandthere must be dialogue but that those changes must lead to the improvement of the peopleofCuba,mustleadto better conditions for the peopleofCuba,mustleadto asocietyinwhichtheruleof law in which democracy, in whichfreedomisfreedomis celebrated.So,asIhavesaid we have discussed this only recently at the CARICOM Heads of Government
Meeting So yes, a transition...andIthinkthisis what the President is referring to: a type of transition that allows the people of Cuba to benefit
from prosperity and democracy.”
President Ali’s remarks unfortunately collide with the stubborn text of the official communiqué issued by CARICOM after its recentHeadsofGovernment meeting.
That document, which inconveniently exists in print,saysthefollowing:
“The matter of the challenging situation in Cubawasalsodiscussed.All parties recognised that there should be efforts to address the growing humanitarian crisis The Caribbean Community, cognisant of its very close relationship with bothCubaandtheUSA,and mindful of the extent to which the Region can be negatively affected, is
willing to participate in any way that will redound to the benefitoftheCubanpeople, while maintaining regional stability.”
Nothunderboltthere.No declaration that “the status quo cannot remain.” No call for “transition ” No
C a r i b b e a n c h o r u s demandingtherenovationof Cuba’spoliticalarchitecture.
The discrepancy invites the obvious question: when PresidentAlisays“we,”who precisely is included in that pronoun?
Isthe“we”thecollective voice of CARICOM? If so, where in the communiqué is this dramatic consensus recorded? Or does the “we” refer to Guyana and the UnitedStates?
Pronouns in diplomacy can be treacherous things.A misplaced “we” has been known to start wars, topple g o v e r n m e n t s , a n d occasionally embarrass those who utter it too casually
What makes the
President’s remarks particularly perplexing is that he is not wandering through the unfamiliar corridors of Caribbean diplomacy.Thisishissecond term in office. He has stood yearafteryearatthepodium of the United Nations to condemn, in language both eloquent and emphatic, the American embargo against Cuba.Hehasjoinedthenearunanimouschorusofnations insisting that the policy amounts to an act of economic strangulation inflicted upon a small island for the crime of choosing its ownpoliticalpath.
Formorethansixtyyears Washingtonhaskeptitsboot firmly pressed upon the Cuban windpipe. Trade is restricted, finance obstructed, fuel shipments
throttled,commercepoliced. The purpose has never been hidden The embargo is designed to suffocate the Cuban economy until the Cubanstatecollapses.
Onewouldthinkthatthis contextmightfindaplacein any serious discussion of Cuba’spresentdifficulties.
History also has its inconvenient chapters When the government of Fidel Castro first emerged from the revolutionary fervour of 1959, it did not immediately resemble the one-party state that critics now denounce with ritual indignation.
In its early days there e x i s t e d t h e out
however fragile—of a more plural political order It was the shock of the Bay of Pigs Invasion,aviolentattemptto overthrow the revolutionary government, that hardened theCubanstateandpushedit toward the centralised systemthatpersiststoday
Political systems, like geological formations, are shapedbypressure.
And if President Ali wishestolectureCubaabout democracy and freedom, he might also recall the era of Fulgencio Batista, the A m e r i c a n - b a c k e d strongman who ruled the island before the revolution. Under Batista’s watch,
Havana acquired the unflatteringnicknameofthe “whorehouseofAmerica,”a playground for gangsters, gamblers, and tourists
seeking pleasures unavailable at home. That was the democracy the revolutionreplaced.
One wonders whether that is the “status quo” anyone now wishes to restore.
CARICOM heads of governmentshouldtherefore
Lang ago dem girls used to ‘match’ de various pieces of dem outfits. If yuh nah matching yuh nah considered to have any dresssense.
Dem blouse or jacket does used to have tomatchwithdemskirt.Anddemshoesgat to be the same colour as de bag or be standard black or brown. Otherwise yuh attirenahganpassmuster
Evendemmenstartfuhmatchdemshirt withdempantsanddemshoes.Yuhwasnot considered elegantly dressed unless yuh matchingfromcollartosockstoshoetip.
Deodderdaydemboyssee manpunde road with brown shirt, kakhi-coloured trousers, light brown socks and a brown shoes. On top he head was a brown cap. Fromheadtotoedemanwasmatching
clarify the matter without delay Did they agree that “the status quo cannot remain” in Cuba? Did they endorsea“transition”inthat country’s political system? Or is President Ali’s declaration merely indicative of where Guyana now stands in relation to Cuba?
The leadership of the People’s Progressive Party/Civicmustalsodecide
whether this is now the official policy of Guyana. If the government has abandoned the traditional Caribbean position that Cubahasthesovereignright todetermineitsowndestiny, then the Guyanese people deserveanexplanation.
Foreign policy, like language, should be used withcare.Wordsspokentoo lightly can carry the weight ofunintendedalliances.
And when a president says “we,” the public is entitledtoknowexactlywho isstandingbesidehim.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Butitnowlookasifdemgalachangede rules of fashion. Contrast is now in style. Dem gals wearing white dress with red and even pink shoes.And dat is de new fashion fad.
But if dem men follow this trend, yuh ganhearhowdemnahgattasteinstyle.Day willbeabigmistake
When it comes to buying shoes, men shouldnevergowiththeirbetterhalftothe shoe store. One man did dis one time and lived to regret it. De lady pick up every singlepairofshoesandlookatdem.Ittooka fulltwohours.Anddenwhenshewasdone trying on about fourteen pairs, she told the attendant dat she did not see anything she liked. Talkhalf.Leffhalf
“Ifyoubecomecorruptis becauseyouhaveagiverand you’re the receiver As of today, stop receiving and persons must be charged whentheycometobribethe police. I’m making myself very clear or else other thingswillhappen.”
ThanksCommissionerof Police, Clifton Hicken, for those comforting words on that Guyanese cultural
p l a g u e , b r i b e s Commissioner Hicken is gifted the benefit of the doubt. Heisserious,means business. Hiswordistaken. If Guyanese do not have a TopCoptheycantrust,then they have only one thing.
Nothing. Pres. Ali, AG Nandlall can speak like angels (a public struggle for both of them) about piety for democratic norms, respect fortheruleoflawandorder, and the pristine majesty of thelaw,butasGuyana’sTop Cop goes, so go Guyanese. If his words represent nothing but echoes in a vacuum, then that’s what Guyanesehave. Nothing. I go out on a limb. Top Cop Hicken means well. The environment is against him. He should know that, having lived with it in his decades of professional service. Themanorwoman
at the desk, on the road, in one or another engagement withthepublicisthefaceof theGuyanaPoliceForce.
Some at his 2026 sergeants conference may have smirked when they heard the word bribe mentioned. Theyhavebeen putonnotice:smilewiththe public plying the roads, or crying out for help. And, better still, keep hands in pockets.
Top Cop Hicken chose his audience well for the message that he delivered. Sergeants in charge. About corrupters who are bribers and,toclosethecircle,those in uniform who are
receivers. For what are sergeants, if not the counterparts of nurses who knoweverynookandcranny in a medical facility, virtuallyruntheshow
Like nurses in hospitals, so also sergeants who have their own wards to patrol, command with a sharp eye. And a clean, closed hand. Withnothinginside.
With no reckless, haadaazeconstablemakingafool of himself, and crossing forbiddenlines. Bribetaking is one. With no illusions in anysergeantthatheorsheis an unknown quantity, has some special grant of immunity Whoever has to be charged, let it be done fairly, and without fear Some charges take too long tobelaid.
IfTopCopHickenishalf as keen as I think he is, he must surely know what I mean. Sinceahelpfulmode pervades today, some additional edification is extended to senior brother and Guyanese Supercop Silence has its uses, circumstances necessitating.
Silence can also be deafening, commissioner, depending on the contexts;
particularly when who is involved is considered.
If I may, and with Top Cop Hicken’s generous blessing, I’m a cop, too. Uniform, badge, and cap have been given by two constituencies to which he likely subscribes. The first and most important is upstairs. The second is beforebothofus,inthebusy streetsandremotevillagesof Guyana. Webothhaveother constituenc
Guyanesediaspora.
A resident foreign legion. Andthatindefinable beauty that has its own majestythat’samystery In the event that a man as busy as Top Cop Hicken forgot, I assist. Conscience.
Guyanesehaveasaying, which money would be wagered (scarce, honest spare change, I reassure all) thattheTopCopknowswell: like cockroach eet owt deh conscience. The trouble is thatthereissuchaninvasion of
roaches that conscienceisanendangered species in Guyana If Guyana, then I daresay that the Guyana Police Force isn’texempt.
The objective today is not to disturb the commissioner,buttoinspire him. Truth is tonic; never overdosed. Bribes are a chronic problem. Top Cop Hickenhasdonewell,inhis warning efforts with sergeants. Sergeants are responsible for constables andcorporals.
Commissioner Hicken holdsinhishandsthekeysto the conduct of his cadets, captains, and commanders. Allshouldbeenlightenedon the commandments. Thou shaltnotsteal.
Thoushaltnotcovertthy neighbour’s assets. Seeing I’m on a roll, there’s one moreforTopCopHickento consider:thoushaltnotbear false witness Thanks, Commissioner Hicken, for thisopportunitytoserve.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
An18-yearcommon-lawrelationshipand alleged years of abuse ended in tragedy on Sundayafterawelderreportedlystabbedhis reputed wife to death at Long Creek, Soesdyke-LindenHighway Deadis39-yearold Caslene Toney, a mother of six children aged18,13,11,10,sixandthree.
Hospitalised is 65-year-old Maurice Hughes,awelderwhoallegedlyattemptedto turntheknifeonhimselfaftertheattack.
Reports indicate that Toney was found lyinginapoolofbloodatherhomesometime after06:00hrsbyhersister
The sister told investigators that the suspect had gone to her home around 06:06 hrs and called out for her When she looked outside, she reportedly saw him walking away into the Long Creek backlands with a knifeinhishand.
Realisingthatsomethingwaswrong,the woman rushed to Toney’s home where she discoveredherbody Toneywasfoundlying nearthefrontstepsunderthehouse.
Policewereimmediatelysummoned,and investigatorsobservedthatthebodybore12 stabwounds.
According to police, the wounds were located below the left breast, to the right breast,tobothsidesofthechin,therightside of the neck, twice to the back of the neck, threetimestotheupperrightback,oncetothe middleofthelowerbackandoncetotheright armpit.
Investigators also recovered a bloodstainedbrown-handledknife,suspectedtobe
Stabbed to death by her reputed husband, Caslene Toney
themurderweapon,ashortdistancefromthe body Undertakers later removed Toney’s body from the scene and transported it to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, while police launched an investigation. Acting on informationreceived,policelaterlocatedthe suspectintheLongCreekbacklands.
Ranksfoundhimarmedwithaknifeand noted that he had sustained several injuries. Policesaidhewasthreateningtotakehisown life,butofficersmanagedtorestrainhimand confiscatetheweapon.
HewassubsequentlytakentoMcKenzie Hospital, where he was treated for a major stabwoundtothecentreofhisabdomenand multiplelacerationstohisbody Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
In observance of the 115th International Women’s Day, under the theme “Rights, Justice and Action for All Women and Girls,”theOfficeoftheFirst Lady on Sunday hosted a walkinGeorgetown.
Thewalkbeganat06:30 hrsonMainStreetinfrontof the Bank of Guyana and proceeded to the Kingston Seawall Esplanade, where a briefceremonywasheld.
Thousands of women, supportedbymen,dressedin the symbolic colour purple, gathered to celebrate the strength, achievements, and contributions of women acrosstheworld.
The event brought together participants from various sectors of society to promotegenderequalityand theempowermentofwomen andgirls.
Followingthewalk,First Lady Arya Ali delivered remarks highlighting the vital role women play in society and the initiatives undertaken by the Office of the First Lady to support womenandgirls.
These initiatives include assistance for women-led start-ups, the provision of sanitary pads, and housing supportprogrammes.
Thefirstladyalsoraised concerns about the number of women who lost their lives as a result of domestic violence.
“Victims like Shauna Dover and Kenisha Vaughn were mothers, daughters, sisters and friends whose futures were cut short,
Women’s Day 2026
leaving behind not just grieving families but an entirenation,”shesaid. She also referenced the recent tragedies of young girls Aleema Pretam and Tiana Chapman, who fell victimatthehandsofmen.
Ali expressed hope that t h r o u g h s t r o n g e r collaboration between the government and other organisations, as well as increased public awareness, Guyana could address domesticviolence.
“Our aim is to break the toxic culture that undermines the dignity of our women and girls,” she said, while also calling for continued efforts toward genderequality
Remarks were also delivered by Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya
Persaud, who commended thelargeturnout.
“There is a sea of purple here reflecting the conscience of every person and the support of everyone for all the women here in Guyana, ” she said, encouraging women to support each other and remindingthemthattheydo notstandalone.
Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning Keoma Griffith also addressed the gathering, highlighting the prevalence of domestic violenceagainstwomenand urging men to play a more supportiverole.
“Wehavealotofworkto do. As men, we ought to be protectorsofourwomen,”he said. Griffith also reflected on the impact women have hadinhisownlife.
“I am extremely happy
A two-year-old child, Samirah Evans, reportedly drowned in the Pomeroon River on Saturday, moments after her 23-year-old mother breast-fed her and left her in thekitchenoftheirhome.
According to police, the tragic incident occurred between12:30hrsand17:30 hrs at Kabakaburi Mission, UpperPomeroonRiver
Reports indicate that the young mother was washing clothes next to their home, located about 300 feet from the river, when the toddler woke up around 12:30 hrs andbegancrying.
The woman reportedly stopped what she was doing and went to the house to attend to the child. She later toldpolicethatshesuspected the child was hungry, so she breast-fed her and then left her in the kitchen before returning to complete her laundry She said while hanging outtheclothes,shecalledfor the toddler but received no response.Shethenwentback intothehousebutdiscovered thatthechildwasnowhereto befound. The mother immediately began searching and soon
came across the underwear thechildhadbeenwearingat theriversidelanding.
She alerted relatives and other villagers, and together they began searching the area, including the nearby river.
Despite their efforts, the toddler could not be found. The search continued for several hours until around 17:30 hrs, when the child’s body was
scovered floating in the vicinity of Warapana, Upper Pomeroon River by 48-year-old Elton Thomas.
The body was removed from the water and transported to Charity Wharf, Essequibo Coast (Region Two) where it was handedovertopolice.
Police reported that an examination of the remains revealed that parts of the body had been eaten by piranhas. Investigations into theincidentareongoing.
First Lady, Arya Ali
to be a part of this celebration I couldn’t help butreflectontheimpactmy grandmothers, mother, aunt and sister have had on my life There is no better way topayhomagetotheirwork than by celebrating them andallthewomenoutthere Women have shattered every glass ceiling that has beenpresentedtothem,”he said
He also highlighted the contributions of women across Guyana, noting that
many hold leadership roles in organisations and across various sectors. “In every sphere we have outstanding women,”headded.
Also delivering remarks was Ambassador of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to Guyana, Yang Yang, who extended greetings to womeninGuyana.
“On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Guyana, I would like to extend warm greetings and wishestoallwomen.Across our two countries, women aregaininggreateraccessto education and playing
increasingly important roles in economic, cultural and social life. Moving forward, China and Guyana will continuetoworksidebyside to end discrimination and help more women realise their dreams for a better life,”shesaid.
During the event, Cabinet Ministers and members of the diplomatic corps paid tribute to women who lost their lives to domestic violence by pinning their names on a boardintheirhonour.
The event concluded with a Zumba session for participants.
Amid renewed concerns aboutthelikelihoodofoiland gas exploration and production activities onshore in the Rupununi Region,
Minister of Natural
Resources, Vickram Bharrat saidthatCataleyaPetroleum Incwasgiventhegreenlight by government to engage residents.
Bharrat told Kaieteur
News Sunday, that government is aware of the ongoing consultations and is yet to make a decision regarding the activities
proposedbythecompany He said, “They were asked to speak with the people first then apply” The minister was referring to the application process legally required in acquiring a permit for oil and gas activities.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would review
ore determining whether an Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA)shouldbe conducted for the proposed
activity Prior to conducting this study to assess impacts on the environment and livelihoods of residents, the communityisengagedbyan independent consultant to help draft a Terms of Reference(ToR)toguidethe EIA.
After the study is completed, the EPA would review the document and could grant approval Any decision made by the EPA could be objected to by c
Environmental Assessment
Board (EAB), a legal body that is empowered to overturn a decision of the regulator
Cataleya Petroleum Inc, alocallyownedcompanyhas commenced talks with Indigenous leaders on its intention to commence onshoreoperations.
This newspaper was told that on February 28, representatives of Cataleya met with residents in Karasabai, Region Nine wheretheyunfoldedplansto start operations at the ‘Hunt
Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat
Oil Stretch’ an area of significance to Indigenous communities which they plantopreserve.
The chairman of the North Rupununi District
Development Board (NRDDB),MichaelWilliams in a previous interview explained, “In the North Rupununi we were trying to protectthewetlandsover25 yearsago.Wewantedittobe a Ramsar site but Guyana was not a signatory to the Ramsar Convention even though Guyana was a signatory of many conventions so that fell apart,”theChairmannoted.
Ramsar sites, according to research, are wetlands of international importance designatedundertheRamsar Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty established in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran.As of January 2026, there are over 2,520 sites worldwide covering more than 253 million hectares, aimed at conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable, “wise use” of these ecosystems.
TheChairmanhasmadeit clearthathewouldnotsupport anyoilandgasactivityinthe Region since the country is already not benefitting financially from the ongoing production by American oil giant,ExxonMobil But beyond the environmental, fiscal and socialconcernsrelatedtothe proposedoilandgasactivities in the Hinterland, Williams also worries that there is no legal framework to govern such activities onshore. He
said,“Iamquitesurethatthe lawsaresayingweonlyhave offshore oil drilling and not onshoreyet.”
The chairman plans to seek legal advice on the proposed oil and gas explorationactivities
THETAKATUPROJECT
Accordingtoadocument shared with Rupununi villagers by Cataleya Petroleum Inc, the Takatu projectseekstodeterminethe feasibility of exploring for commercial quantities of petroleum; upgrade all geological models for the Takatu Block and increase economic investment in the NorthRupununi.
The company said, “The Takatu Project is an idea to lookforenergy(OilandGas) deep underground in the Rupununi wewanttoseeif oil found in this area in the 1980s can be produced safelyandcleanlyusingnew technology.”
Among its initial steps, theGuyanesecompanysaidit will share information and seekfree,priorandinformed consent, seek approval from the EPAand the Ministry of NaturalResources.
The next stage will see Cataleya moving to synthesise and reprocess historical seismic data, inspecting and testing well safety, conducting 3D seismic and or aero surveys and moving to drill explorationwells.
According to the document, Cataleya Petroleum Inc was founded by Ryan Pereira, Michael Cawood and Ryan Ramjit in 2025
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TheRoseHall,Albionand Blairmont Sugar Estates in Berbice have exceeded their weeklyproductiontargetduring the second week of the currentcrop,producing2,457 tonnes of sugar against a targetof1,989tonnes;some468 more tonnes than expected.
Theachievementmarksa significant milestone for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) as it continues to strengthenproductionfollowing the reopening of estates.
According to the Rose Hall estate manager, ThrebhowanShiwprasad,the strong performance also saw the corporation recording its highest daily sugar production since reopening, reaching156tonnesinasingleday, surpassing the previous high of 147 tonnes.
The production was supported by combined operations between theAlbion Estate and Blairmont Estate, where canes from Blairmont arecurrentlybeingprocessed at the Albion factory due to
ongoing mechanical issues affecting operations.
Shiwprasadexplainedthat efficient coordination in harvesting and grinding helped to boost output. After canes are harvested, they are quicklytransportedtothefactory to ensure fresher cane is processed, allowing for greater juice extraction and higher sugar yields.
Workers were also motivated by the Weekly Production Incentive (WPI), a system designed to encourage higherproductivityacrossestates. This allows all workers to gain an extra day’s pay on top of their usual salary
One cane harvester, Somadat Rangasammy who has been doing this job since 1995,expressedhiseagerness toknowthatheisoneofmany workerscontributingtowards this higher sugar output.
Herecallsthe2017closure of the estate, describing it as a depressing time which turned the community into a ghost town.
“Everything fell apart when the estate closed. We struggle a lot. We didn’t get the money we were supposed to get because there was no work. Now, we’re seeing changes in GuySuCo. This week’s production made us feel happy We got that extra pay because we passed the target, and I know we’ll go even further,” Rangasammy said.
To address labour shortages and improve efficiency, the corporation is also utilising mechanical harvesting,withtwobilletharvesters currently operating in the fields. Workers are being upskilled in the mechanisation process as well.
Additionally,workersfrom Albion have been supporting operations to maintain a steadycanesupplytothefactory
GuySuCoisalsoconverting sections of agricultural land from Dutch beds to English beds, a change aimed at
making the fields more compatible with mechanical harvestingastheindustrymoves toward greater mechanisation.
Further support is expected through the engagement of contracted cane harvestersfromJamaica,whorecently conducted demonstration exercises and are expected to begin operations shortly
Despite the encouraging results, the harvesting manager, Partap Kuldeep noted that weather conditions remainthemainpotentialchallenge to maintaining production targets. Heavy rainfall couldhindermechanicalharvesting and require a shift to manual cutting and loading, which can slow operations.
Nevertheless, with favourable weather and continuedcollaborationbetween managementandworkers,he remains optimistic about achieving its production targets for the current crop. (DPI)
A21-year-old man of Lot 9Alness Village, Corentyne Berbice was arrested and charged for robbery committed on three individuals at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice.
Police in Region Six have confirmed that SteveAnthonyTsoi,alsoknownas“Timmy”, a Guyanese male ofAfrican descent, was apprehended on March 3 and subsequently charged on the same date with two counts of robbery under arms committed on Stephen Ramsingh, Petal Sabsoop, and Gurudat Sudhai,whichoccurredbetweenFebruary23 and February 28, 2026 at the aforementioned location.
ThechargeswerelaidunderSection222(c)
of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01,LawsofGuyana.
On Friday, the construction worker appeared at the Albion Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Michelle Matthias, where the charges were read to him.
Hepleadednotguiltyandwasgrantedbail in the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000)foreachoffence.
The magistrate then adjourned the matter toMarch20,2026.
Tsoi, however, remained in custody pending additional charges of robbery under arms, possessionofafirearm,andpossessionofammunition which will be laid against him on Monday
A afro Guyanese man is interested in a single woman between the ages of 45-55 yearsold.Call:633-1492.
The vehicle the Spanish-speaking driver was in.
Former Member of Parliament for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), MervynWilliams,wasonSunday afternoon involved in a motor vehicle accident with a Spanish-speaking driver at the intersection of Regent and Cummings streets in Georgetown.
Williams reportedly escapedunharmed,whiletheforeign national sustained minor injuries. Eyewitnesses said the Spanish-speakingdriver,operating motor car PPP 332, was travelling at high speed along RegentStreet.AsWilliams’bus was crossing the intersection, thecarreportedlycollidedwith the bus.
The impact caused the car tospinseveraltimesbeforehitting a nearby traffic light pole. Police were at the scene conducting investigations.
The University of Guyana (UG) Council announcedonSundaythatit has begun the process of searching for a new ViceChancellor and Principal, as the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr Paloma
Mohamed-Martin, is expected to leave the post laterthisyear
In a statement, ChancellorandChairmanof the Council, Sir Ronald Sanders, said the search officially commenced on February16,2026.
“University council decidedtoestablishasearch committee to identify and recommend a new vicechancellor and principal of theUniversityofGuyana,in light of the fact that the current vice-chancellor’s contractualterm,afterseven years in office, is due to come to an end,” Sanders said.
He explained that the council took the decision to ensure the process of selecting new leadership proceeds in an orderly, transparent, and merit-based manner, in keeping with the institution’s governance frameworkandthecouncil’s responsibility to secure the best possible leadership for theuniversity
According to Sanders, thesearchcommitteeagreed that the establishment of the
process, along with the public advertisement of the position, would be announced on March 9, 2026.
“This is an important momentfortheUniversityof Guyanaandforthecountryit serves,”hesaid.
Thechancellornotedthat Guyana is currently experiencingoneofthemost dynamic peri
d
f economic growth and structural transformation in itsmodernhistory.
“Expansion in energy production, infrastructure modernisation, economic diversification, and wider international engagement are reshaping national priorities and workforce demands In these new circumstances, the
UniversityofGuyana,asthe nation’s premier public university,mustplayaneven more central role in producing highly qualified graduates, expanding postgraduate education, strengthening research, and contributing independent expertise, innovation and practical knowledge to national and regional development,”hesaid.
Asaresult,thecouncilis seeking a vice-chancellor w
th “
nte
ual distinction,strategiccourage and proven executive capacity,” capable of positioning the university as a cen
s
a
ch excellence, professional training, and regional influence, according to Sanders.
Sanders said the successful candidate should possess a distinguished academicrecord,normallyat the rank of full professor or equivalent, along with significant senior executive leadershipexperiencewithin a university or similar institution. “The council is looking for a leader with a strongrecordofinvolvement atseniorlevelininstitutional growth, research expansion
n d
m
e improvement; sound experience in financial m a n a g e m e n t a n d institutional administration;
and the capacity to lead o r g a n i s a t i o n a l transformation and complex change,”hesaid. He added that the candidate must also demonstrate a commitment toacademicfreedom,shared governance, institutional accountability, and high standardsofintegrity
Additionally, the individualshouldbecapable of building partnerships, mobilising resources, inspiring high-performing teams, and modernising academic programmes to better respond to emerging workforce and industry needs.
“The council’s objective
is clear: to secure leadership equal to the scale of Guyana’s transformation and to the university’s indispensableroleinshaping the country’s future,” Sanders stated Kaieteur news on Sunday reported thatProfessorDr MohamedMartin, the first woman appointedvice-chancellorof the University of Guyana, willstepdownlaterthisyear Her departure comes shortly after Sir Ronald Sanders was officially installed as the 11th ChancelloroftheUniversity of Guyana on February 13, during a ceremony at the George Walcott Lecture Theatre.
Five months after the adjournmentof a meetingto elect a new chairman and vice chair for the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 10, Upper Demerara–Upper Berbice region is still without the criticalleadership.
At its weekly press conferenceonFriday,theWe InvestinNationhood(WIN) renewed calls for Regional Executive Officer (REO) Dwight John to reconvene the meeting so that the council could elect a chairperson and vice chairperson.
Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Ryan Richards toldreportersthattheregion herepresentshasbeenleftin limbo He stressed that reconvening the meeting is criticaltoensuringtheregion functionseffectively “The regional and
general elections have long passed. The national budget has also been passed in the National Assembly, yet to this date the region remains in limbo without a functioning RDC,” Dr Richardssaid.
He explained that while the outgoing regional chairman continues to functionalongsidetheREO, the absence of a newly elected leadership structure is affecting the council’s operations.
Dr. Richards further stated that he has been reliably informed that several persons within the RDC are being sidelined, including the outgoing regionalvicechairmananda number of elected councillors who are unable to properly execute their mandate under the current circumstances.
Ordinarily, councillors would conduct community outreaches to listen to residents’concernsandbring those issues to statutory meetingswheresolutionsare b e d i s c u s s e d a n d implemented However, those processes have effectively been placed on hold.
WIN is therefore calling on the REO to fulfil his responsibilities and reconvene the statutory meetingsothattheelections could be concluded and the region can move forward with proper oversight and administration.
Dr Richards noted that the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development has already indicated publicly that she has no role in reconvening themeeting.
“ T h e m i n i s t e r
responsible has already statedthatshehasnopartto play in this matter That has been well ventilated in the public domain. So, it now rests with the REO to do his jobandconvenethemeeting sothatproperleadershipcan be elected for the RDC,” he said.
This publication contactedREODwightJohn for an update and to determinewhetheradatehad been set for the meeting. He responded, “When I am readytocallthemeeting,all media houses will be notified.”
When reminded that he hadgivenasimilarresponse months ago and asked whether there were any challenges or timing issues delaying the process, John simply said, “The issue will beresolved.”
Last month, WIN
Dr. Mohamed-Martin wasappointedinJune2020.
An alumna of the University of Guyana, Harvard University, and the University of the West Indies, her doctoral specialisation focuses on social and behavioural change, particularly the influence of communication and culture on societal transformation.
Her research on social m e d i a h a s g a i n e d internationalrecognition.As an academic and creative professional, she has produced or co-produced more than 22 films and documentaries, written or edited 11 books, and published numerous journal articles. Her work has also earned several recognitions in Guyana and across the Caribbean.Duringhercareer atUG,sheservedasdirector of the Centre for Communication Studies, DeanoftheFacultyofSocial Sciences, and Deputy ViceChancellorforPhilanthropy, Alumni and Civic Engagement (PACE). She a l s o l e c t u r e s i n communicationresearchand healthbehaviour
Dr. Mohamed-Martin succeeded Professor Ivelaw Griffith, whose contract as vice-chancellor ended in June2019afterservinginthe positionfrom2016.
Member of Parliament Duarte Hetsberger accused the government of constitutional failure over the continued delay in convening the RDC’s statutory meeting, months aftertheelections.
Speaking during the budget debate, Hetsberger told the National Assembly thattheRegion10RDChad still not met to elect its chairperson and vice chairperson despite the national budget already being laid and regional programmesmovingahead.
“ T h e y h a v e n ’ t reconvened that statutory
meeting to conclude the election for its chairperson and vice chairperson, Mr Speaker, and yet a budget is before this Honourable House.Expenditurehasbeen outlined, programmes are movingforward,yettheduly elected council — the body constitutionallymandatedto guide, scrutinise and implement regional development — has been excluded from the process,” he said “This is not a technical delay It is not an administrative oversight. It is a constitutional failure — utter failure,” Hetsberger added.
(Reuters) - Iran on Monday named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as Supreme Leader, signaling thathardlinersremainfirmly in charge in Tehran a week into its conflict the United StatesandIsrael.
Mojtaba, a mid-ranking cleric with influence inside Iran’s security forces and vast business networks under his father, had been seen as a frontrunner in the lead up to the vote by the assembly, a body of 88 clerics charged with choosingthenewleaderafter AliKhamenei.
“By a decisive vote, the Assembly of Experts, appointed Ayatollah Seyyed MojtabaHosseiniKhamenei as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the assemblysaidinastatement
issued just after midnight Tehrantime.
The position gives Mojtaba the final say in all ‘matters of state in the IslamicRepublic.
Mojtaba’s appointment will likely draw the ire of U S President Donald Trump, who said on Sunday thatWashingtonshouldhave a say in the selection. “If he doesn’tgetapprovalfromus, he’s not going to last long,” he told ABC News. Israel, ahead of the announcement, threatenedtotargetwhoever waschosen.
Mojtaba’s father, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei,waskilledinone of the first strikes launched against Iran more than a weekago.
The U S military on Sunday reported a seventh American has died from wounds sustained during
Iran’sinitialcounter-attacka weekago,adayafterTrump presided over the return to the United States of the remainsofthesixotherswho died.
The U.S.-Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,332 Iranian civilians and wounded thousands, according to Iran’s U N ambassador
AsTrump pressed for an “unconditional surrender,” MohammadBagherQalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker, said Tehran was not seeking a ceasefire to the war and wouldpunishaggressors.
Israel continued target ‘senior Iranian figures, including Abolqasem Babaian, the recently appointed head of the military office of the supreme leader, saying he was killed in a Saturday strike.
As fighting escalated on day nine of the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran, thick black smoke hung over Tehran on Sunday, residents said, after strikes on oil storage facilities, opens new tab had lit up the night sky withplumesoforangeflame.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the large-scale attack marked a “dangerous new phase” of the conflict and amounted to a war crime.
“By `targeting fuel depots, the aggressors are releasing hazardous materials and toxic substances into the air,” he wroteonX.
Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani told reporters the depots
Son of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei, attends a demonstration to mark Jerusalem day in Tehran.
[File: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images]
were used to fuel Iran’s war effort, including producing or storing propellant for ballistic missiles. “They are a legal military target,” he said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said hisgovernmentwould‘press onwiththeassaultandstrike Iran’s rulers “without mercy”.
“We have an organised plan with many surprises to destabilise the regime and enable change,” he said in a videostatement.
U.S.specialenvoySteve WitkoffandTrump’sson-inlaw Jared Kushner will visit IsraelonTuesday,according toAxios,citingaseniorU.S. official.
Trump told ‘reporters on Air Force One that he was not seeking negotiations to end the conflict, which has driven up global energy prices, disrupted business andsnarledairtravel.
“At some point, I don’t think there will be anybody left maybe to say, ‘We surrender’,”hesaid.
JUBA, South Sudan (AP)
— Thousands of civilians have fled an opposition-held town in eastern South Sudan following an evacuation order issued by the army to pave the way for a militaryoperation,officialssaid Sunday The exodus from Akobo, near the border with Ethiopia, began on Saturday night. “The town is now almost empty,” said Nhial Lew, a local official in charge of humanitarian affairs. “Women, childrenandtheelderlyhaveleft andcrossedintoEthiopia.”
While the government’s deadline to evacuate was supposed to expire on Monday afternoon, fighting has been reported west of Akobo since Saturday
“Wearehearingthesoundof machine guns approaching,” LewsaidonSundayevening.
Thenationalarmy,calledthe South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, ordered the U N Mission in South Sudan, or UNMISS, to close its Akobo baseonFriday
N o n g o v e r n m e n t a l organisations and civilians were also asked to evacuate “in order to avoid unnecessary collateral damage,” as the government preparesamilitaryassaulttargeting “Akobo and surrounding areas,” accordingtoastatementbymilitary spokespersonLulRuaiKoang. Akobo is one of the last strongholds of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition, or SPLM-IO, led by
peopleinafewweeks.
ThetownofAkobo,located in the far east of South Sudan and under opposition control since the civil war that erupted in2013,wasseenasarelatively safe haven. The presence of a small contingent of U N peacekeepershasledmorethan 82,000displacedpeopletoseek refugeinandaroundAkobo.
UNMISS hasn’t officially responded to the government’s ordertoshutdownitsbase.
Two U.N. flights evacuated most humanitarian workers on Sunday. The International Committee of the Red Cross runsasurgicalunitattheAkobo CountyHospital,whereseveral wounded patients were being treated. The ICRC hadn’t yet evacuateditsstaff.
But fear of an imminent assault on Akobo has local healthauthoritiesconcerned.
Riek Machar, South Sudan’s detainedvicepresident.
A 2018 peace deal between Machar and President Salva Kiir has nearly collapsed since fighting resumed between their forces last year Confrontations have dramatically increased in the northern part of Jonglei since December, when opposition forces captured government outposts
They were repelled by a government counteroffensive that displaced more than 280,000
“We are worried for our patients at the hospital,” said Dual Diew, the Akobo County health director “We tried to make a plan to take them to a safer location, but we don’t have enough fuel ” On Saturday, civilians in Akobo demonstrated against the army’s ultimatum and marched toward the U.N. base callingforpeaceandprotection.
TheVryheid’sLustAccessBridge,which suffered significant damage on Friday night after an overloaded truck crossed the structure, will undergo two weeks of emergency repairs, the Ministry of Public Workshassaid.
The access bridge links Vryheid’s Lust South and Better Hope South on the East CoastofDemerara.
Duringavisittothedamagedstructureon Saturday, Minister Juan Edghill was briefed by the Ministry’s Chief of Bridges, Sherod Parkinson on the works to be done, with a confirmed emergency repair timeline of approximately two weeks to restore the structuralintegrityofthecrossing.
Upon inspecting the structure, the minister expressed grave concern about the habitual reckless transport being done by heavy laden trucks that continue to damage theroadandbridgenetworks.
Heemphasisedthatthesevehiclesarenot supposed to be on the road if they are
overloaded, much less attempting to cross bridges of this nature. “Without proper axle load distribution, these failures will persist.
Considertheimplications:ifadriverbreaksa bridgeatthislocation,onecanonlyimagine the cumulative damage caused to the entire route before reaching their destination,” he said.
EdghillreiteratedtheGovernment’sfirm stance on the destruction of public property, and warned that the Ministry will no longer absorbthecostsofnegligence.Heinformed that they will be taking legal action against thedriverwhocausedthedamage.
“Andagain,wearesaying,ifyoudamage government property, you will pay for it because I have been putting legal action behind the driver who caused the damage. Legalactionwillbetaken,”hesaid.
Motorists and commuters are advised to temporarily utilise the School Bridge as an alternative route while work will begin to repairthestructuralintegrityofthebridge.
Prisoniscommonlyviewed as a place with no freedom; a placewheresomefeelthatonce incarcerated your life is over However, for the inmates at the Lusignan Prisons who are enrolledinatradeprogramme whichprovidesinmateswitha secondchance.
Inmates are given the opportunitytobettertheirskills or learn a trade as they serve theirsentences,andawaittobe reintegratedintosociety
On Wednesday, inmates attached to this prison praised the trade programme and shared their stories Chief Prison Officer Owen Charles inavideopostedonthePrison Service’sFacebookpage,said that the trade shop he is in charge of was once a holding bay.Hesaiditnowplaysavital role as it relates to the rehabilitation of inmates, with the numerous skills being taughtdaily
“With these trades, some amateurs might come into prisonwithafairknowledgeof some of these trades. The inmates with knowledge would help us to train others who don’t have knowledge of the various skills,” Charles said.
The Chief Prison Officer said he is proud of the seven formerinmateswhobenefitted from the programme fending for themselves and providing fortheirfamilies.
In the body work section, inmate Feroze Shakir said, “I work at the trade shop right now Right about I’m doing body work I used to previously do this, also on the road,sojustcomeinherenow enhancemyskills.It’sgoingto helpmewithremission,toget meoutofherefaster,andwhenIgothere,it’s going to enhance my skills more so it will benefitmeandmyfamilymore.”
Screen grabs from the video showing various inmates engaged in work fitting their specific trades at the trade shop.
AlbertChapelwhoseinterestisinwelding andfabricationsaidthathewasfamiliarwith the trade before entering prison. He is using theopportunitytobetterhisskillsasheawaits re-integration.
“I came here with my skill, and I just contributed to the Lusignan Prison Penitentiary That’sbasicallyit,youknowjust teaching one, one other inmates, normal thing,sowhattheycancontributetosociety, when they’re out back with your family and friends.”
In mechanics, Gonzales Alexis, said, “I
comeintoprisonaboutayearnow,andIhave this trade, the mechanic trade (and I am) teachingsomeofthefriendsthem.So,whenI gone,theycouldcontinuethejourney.”
Emton Felix, a joiner, disclosed that he wenttoprisononChristmasEveDaylastyear and since then he has received support in developing his trade. Felix thanked the PrisonServicefortheopportunitytolearn.
Over in general construction, Bruce said thatwhileheisatradesman,heenjoysteaching hisfellowinmatestobettertheirskills,sothat whentheyleave,theywillbeabletofendfor themselvesandnotreturntoprison.
Similarly,forJosiahBaptist,beingpartof theprogrammehasgivenhimasecondchance
(BBC Sport) - Alex Pereira will attempt to become the first fighter to win UFC titles in three weight divisions when he faces Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight belt at theWhiteHouseon14June.
GaneorPereiraarelikely to face Aspinall in a unification bout when he recovers,althoughhehasnot confirmed when he will return.
The event, named UFC Freedom 250, was announced by US President Donald Trump last year and isbeingheldtocelebrate250 years of American independence.
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
Whether or not you willingly participate, you'll certainly play a key role in the action,. At times you'll feel like the pivotal player whose actions decidethefateofthegame.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
The time for planning and calculating is over, Taurus. Thetimefortakingaggressive actionhasarrived.Ifyoudon't have your armor ready, too bad.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Alargeforceisgatheringnow to make a bold statement and important pledge, Gemini Thiskindofmovementbrings together generations and unites people in a revolution. Put away the petty issues and thinkglobally.
CANCER(June21–July22)
Thereisaburningrestlessness inside you that is activated because you don't feel as if you're fulfilling your life's destiny You could have a insight that you have a much greater purpose in this life thanwhatyou'redoingnow
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
There is a strong wave of powercomingyourway,sobe careful how you handle it, Leo. You're extra prone to injuries and accidents of an explosivenature.
VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)
Your energy is likely to operateinextremebursts.One minute you may be lethargic and the next you're ready to run a marathon. Engage in activities that nurture your fluctuating moods.There's no need to figure out why you feelthisway
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Youmightwanttoputonyour suit of armor as soon as you wake up, Libra. An all-out battleisragingoutthere,andit could seem like everyone has pickedyouasthemaintarget.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
Debates over philosophy, religion, and education are likely to turn into all-out war Feelfreetoaddyourtwocents. This is one time in which it's crucialtostandupforwhatyou believe or else the loudest peoplewillhavetheirway
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
There is a tremendous amount of physical energy building withinyou.Becarefulthatyou don't let this incredible force come out in the form of a heated argument against someoneyoureallycareabout.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
You're sailing along and suddenly see a big ramp in front of you. Your choice: avoid the ramp, stay on the ground where you know it's safe, and be content with a limited worldview, or hit that rampheadonandsoaroverthe treesandbeyond.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
A great sense of duty toward yourfellowhumansislikelyto drive your actions. Think of yourself as an important role model for young people. They maylookuptoyouwithoutyou evenknowingit.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
There is a negative intensity aboutthedaythatisonlygoing to get worse if you continue this stubbornness about every issue that comes your way, Pisces.
Brazil’s former middleweight champion Pereira vacated his lightheavyweighttitlelastmonth topursueahistoricthirdbelt atheavyweight.
Frenchman Gane last fought in October when his bout with undisputed champion Tom Aspinall endedinanocontest.
Briton Aspinall suffered accidental eye pokes which left him needing surgery on botheyes.
Pereira’sboutwithGane, which will take place on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington DC, will serve as the co-main eventonthesix-fightcard.
Themaineventwillbea unification fight between lightweight champion Ilia Topuria and interim title holderJustinGaethje.
Spanish-Georgian Topuriahasnotfoughtsince June after dealing with personalissuesfollowinghis divorce, while American GaethjebeatBritain’sPaddy Pimblett for the interim belt inJanuary
The White House has hosted recreational sports and events before but the UFC’s show will mark the
first professional live sporting event to take place onthegrounds.
The UFC is set to spend about$60m(£44.3m)onthe event.
Full details are yet to be confirmed, but UFC presidentDanaWhitesaidhe expects about 5,000 spectators on the South Lawn, with a further 85,000 watching at a nearby park calledtheEllipse.
White said fans will not beabletobuyticketsforthe South Lawn, with about 1,000 reserved for members ofthemilitary
The other fights on the card are: Sean O’Malley v Aiemann Zahabi –bantamweight, Mauricio Ruffy v Michael Chandler –lightweight, Bo Nickal v K y l e D a u k a u s –middleweight and Diego Lopes v Steve Garcia –featherweight.
Fourteen years old, Makhaya Jones was the recipient of one pair of batting gloves from this noble joint initiative between Anil Beharry and KishanDas. He recently participated in the Demerara Cricket Board Inter Association
u n d e r 1 6 c r i c k e t competition. The Demerara Cricket Club fast bowling
allrounder is a student of Campbellville Secondary School. Young Jones was highinpraiseforthesupport and promised to balance his cricketandacademiclife.
Over the years, many Guyanese cricketers benefitted from this project, some of whom went on to represent West Indies at differentlevels.
This project will
continuetoimprovethelives of youths in every community We are pleased tobepartofthedevelopment of young cricketers in Guyana. Our aim is to keep them off the streets and get them actively involved in sports,cricketinparticular Todate,onehundredand five players, male and female, from all three counties of Guyana have
benefiteddirectlyfromcash, ten gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, forty two bats,fourboxes,sixhelmets, thirty eight pairs of cricket shoes, twenty two pairs of batting pads, twenty five thighpads,onebatgrip,forty two pairs of batting gloves, one pair of wicketkeeping pads and four pairs of wicketkeepinggloves.Many othersbenefitedindirectly
Cricket related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients. Talent spotting is being done across the countryandclubleadersalso assist to identify same Progressive and well managedcricketclubswitha youth program, will also benefit.
The success of this initiative would have never been possible without the support of the following: Javed and Imran of West Indian Sports Complex, Option Group of USA, Hilbert Foster, Bish Panday ofPandPInsuranceBrokers and Consultants Ltd., Sean Devers, Trevis Simon, Årïêl J Tïlkú, Aaron Beharry, Leanna Bachan and Imran Saccoor, Devon Ramnauth, Teddy Singh, Romash Munna, Ravi Etwaroo of Cricket Zone USA, Kelvin Brijlall, Ravin Harkishun, Surendra Harkishun, Allan MangruandDennisMangru, Vishal Mahabir, Sherman Austin, Huburn Evans, RajendraSadeoandRamesh Sunich of Trophy Stall, Sheik Mohamed of Star SportsAwardsandTrophies, Ajay Gainda of Cricket Equipment Guyana, Gajanand Singh, Peter Ramkissoon, Rabindranath Saywack, Roshan Gaffoor, Ameer Rahaman, Chin Singh,DeneshChandrapaul, Davo Naraine of UK, Dr Cecil Beharry, Raj Mathura, Raj Bharrat, Latch Mohabir and family, Suresh Dhanai,
Vishal Nagamootoo, Moses Nagamootoo Jnr, Regal Sports Store, Onkar Singh, Parmanand Dhaniram, Reshma Mathura, Booman S i n g h , K r i s h n a Rengensamy, Ishwar Singh, Ricky Deonarain of 4R Bearings, Terry Mathura of TDMJ Inc , Kennard VerapenandNYPioneerCC, A n i t a a n d D e r e k Kallicharran,SubhasPowan Persaud of DX Sports, Ramjit Singh, Vishnu Dudnauth, Johnno Persaud, Bob Harrischan, Kumar Dindial, Shazam Hussain, Ravi Lutchman of JIS&L, NY, Muhammad Afzal of CyberTrading, Kaieteur CC of Canada, Randolph Soobrian of the USA, C
Companies, Raymond H
y Investments Inc , Realtor Mahadeo Ajodhi, Surendra H
, NALICO/NAFICO, Joseph Aubrey Blackman, Renick Beharryandfamily,DrDhar R
,
Ramdeholl, A friend of the project (name withheld as per request), Naeem Kamal and Vikings and Riverside Cricket Clubs of the USA and Realtor Reshma Raman ofCanada.Wealsothankthe media for the role they have played so far in promoting this venture Distribution willcontinue.
Anyone interested to contribute can contact Anil Beharry at 623-6875 or Kishan Das at +1-718-6640896.
Mahaicony Technical and Vocational Training
Centre (MT&VTC) completed an unbeaten run on Sunday in the inaugural Modec Tertiary Education Football Tournament with a commanding 6–3 victory over Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre (UCITC) in the final at Queen’sCollegeground.
Ridingthemomentumof animpressivechampionship campaign, Mahaicony asserted their dominance from the opening stages of t h e m a t c h T h e i r breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Youance Francisconvertedfromclose range after receiving a welldelivered throw-in from the corner Positionedlevelwith the UCITC goalkeeper, Francis calmly picked his spotbeforesmashingtheball into the net to give Mahaiconya1–0lead.
Upper Corentyne responded with urgency, pressingforanequaliser,and their efforts paid off in the 30th minute Joshaun Marshall capitalised on a moment of hesitation from the Mahaicony goalkeeper, who was caught off his line, as Marshall lofted the ball overtheadvancingcustodian tolevelthescoreat1–1.
However, Mahaicony regained control just before the halftime whistle. Omar Williams found the back of the net in the 43rd minute, while Tyrell Delph struck two minutes later to extend theadvantage.Withaminute of stoppage time played, MT&VTC headed into the break holding a comfortable 3–1lead.
The second half saw
Mahaicony continue their attacking display Niron Thomaddedafourthgoalin the 62nd minute before Winton Hartman sealed the contest with a late double in the 71st and 82nd minutes, effectively putting the title beyondreach.
UCITC managed late consolation strikes through Raevon Simon and Aakiah Jacobs,butitwasnotenough to overturn the deficit as Mahaicony secured the championship with a 6–3 victory
Following the triumph, MT&VTC captain Odel Fordyceexpresseddelightat lifting the inaugural Modec Footballtitle.
“We came into this tournament with the intention of winning. We’ve been putting in the work during training and in our teamdiscussionsweoutlined howwewantedtoplay And cameouttoday,executedour plananddelivered,”Fordyce said.
He also praised his teammates for their commitment throughout the tournament, noting that the presence of active club players within the squad contributed significantly to theirstrongperformance.
In the third-place playoff,EssequiboTechnical Institute (ETI) produced a remarkable comeback to defeat New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) 6–3.
NATI raced to a commanding 3–0 lead, thanks to a hat-trick from Amare Caesar ETI, however, rallied in the second half as Jim Cater struck in the 26th and 59th
Mahaicony Technical and Voctional Training Centre lifts
Modec’s inaugural Football trophy …defeating Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre 6-3 in the final.
minutes, while Deangelo Davidson added another in the 50th minute to level the score at 3–3 just 14 minutes intothesecondhalf.
Fromthatpoint,ETItook full control. Jamaal Smith fired home in the 62nd minute before Austin Hernandez(75’)andMorries Henry(80’)addedlategoals to secure the victory and third-placefinish.
The tournament delivered exciting football for fans while providing a platform to showcase emerging talent at the tertiary level After four weeks of competition and 125 goals, the Petra Organisation officially brought the curtain down on the tournament on Sunday, honouringthetopfourteams fortheirperformances.
Mahaicony Technical Institute also dominated the individual awards. Jeremy Thornhill was named Best Goalkeeper, Niron Thom finished as the tournament’s top scorer, while Winton Hartman copped the Most Valuable Player award Upper Corentyne Industrial Training Centre finished second,EssequiboTechnical Institute secured third place, and New Amsterdam Technical Institute placed fourth.
M o d e c G u y a n a sponsored the tournament, withadditionalsupportfrom MVP Sports, Demerara Mutual Group, Quality Deliverers, Macorp, and Banks Powerade Energy Drink The event also received backing from the Ministry of Culture, Youth andSportandtheMinistryof Education.
ByRawleToney
TheGuyanaPoliceForce Football Club produced one ofthemostsignificantupsets in recent domestic football
when they defeated tournament favourites Slingerz Football Club 2–1 on Sunday evening to capturetheEliteLeagueCup title at the GFF National TrainingCentre.
For Police FC, the victory represents far more thanjustanothertrophy Itis the first time in the club’s history that they have captured a title in a tournamentorganisedbythe GuyanaFootballFederation, bringing a long-awaited end toyearsoffrustrationforone of Guyana’s most
recognisable football institutions.
Despite consistently being regarded as one of the stronger sides in local football, the lawmen had never managed to secure a truly noteworthy piece of silverware.
Sunday’s victory thereforesignalledtheendof an underachieving drought that had lingered over the clubforyears.
Ironically, it came at the expense of the star-studded SlingerzFC,whoenteredthe match as heavy favourites and the reigning Elite Leaguechampions. The defeat also marked another painful final for the ambitious club, which had alreadyfallen1–0toWestern
Part of the action between Police and Slingerz in the finals of the GFF Elite League Cup.
Tigers Football Club in the GFF Super 16 Cup final on January1.
The opening half was a tense, tactical affair with bothsidesprobingbutfailing to find the breakthrough. Slingerz enjoyed spells of possession and created
several promising opportunities, but the Police defence remained organised while goalkeeper play on both ends kept the scoreline locked at 0–0 heading into theinterval.
The match, however, sprang to life in the second half. In the 63rd minute, Police finally found the moment they had been waiting for Midfielder Beveney McGarrell, who would later be named the final’sMostValuablePlayer, pounced on a loose opportunity inside the penalty area and fired past Slingerz goalkeeper Sese Norville from point-blank range.
The moment carried an added layer of drama, as McGarrell beat his former teammate to give Police a 1–0 advantage and ignite celebrationsamongthesmall but vocal Police supporters inattendance.
Slingerz attempted to respond quickly, pushing numbersforwardinsearchof the equaliser Instead, their situation worsened in the 76thminute.
A dangerous ball driven acrossthefaceofgoalforced second-half substitute Romaine Brackenridge into a desperate defensive intervention. Attempting to clearthecross,Brackenridge inadvertently redirected the ball into his own net, doubling Police’s advantage and placing the favourites firmlyonthebackfoot.
Withtimeslippingaway, Slingerzlaunchedwaveafter wave of attacks Their persistence was finally rewarded in the 90th minute whencaptainQuincyAdams rose to score, cutting the deficit to 2–1 and giving his teamalateglimmerofhope.
But the clock proved to betheirgreatestenemy
Moments later, referee ShavinGreeneblewthefinal whistle, triggering jubilant celebrations among the Police players and staff as they secured a landmark victoryinGuyanesefootball.
An emotional Police head coach Wayne Dover
described the triumph as a moment the club had long beenstrivingtoachieve.
“Tonightissospecialfor us, because we crossed the finishline,”Doversaid.
The veteran coach noted that his team entered the match as clear underdogs against a powerful Slingerz squadledbyformernational coachJamaalShabazz.
“The fans always have their team, but their team neverplay,”Doverremarked candidly “Wehavemadeour preparation, and we know once the players come out andexecutethestuffthatwe worked on in training, we wouldbevictorious.”
On the opposite bench, Shabazz graciously acknowledged the achievement of the Police side while reflecting on his team’smissedopportunities.
“Congrats to Coach Dover and the Police team. For the last couple years, they’vebeeninthedungeon. They’ve regrouped and w o r k e d h a r d , s o congratulations to them,” Shabazzsaid.
The Slingerz coach pointed out that the decisive difference in the match was his team’s inability to convert the chances they created.
“Goalswinmatches,”he addedbluntly
D e s p i t e t h e disappointment, Shabazz indicated that Slingerz will quickly shift their focus to the future The team is expectedtoreturntotraining within the next few days as they prepare for the upcomingtournamentonthe GFFcalendar
For now, however, the spotlight firmly belongs to PoliceFC,ateamthatfinally transformed years of promise into history, stunning the favourites and liftingalong-awaitedtrophy
(BBC Sport) - India banished the ghosts of 2023 by emphatically beating New Zealand by 96 runs inAhmedabad to defend their T20 World Cup title. On the same ground they wilted under pressure and expectancy two and a half years ago againstAustralia in the 50-over showpiece, the co-hosts romped to 255-5 - two more than they managedinThursday’ssemi-finalagainstEngland-infrontofacrowd ofmorethan100,000jubilantsupporters.
Thetopthreeallmadethemostofsupremebattingconditions,with SanjuSamsoncrashing89from46deliveries,AbhishekSharmaa21ball52andIshanKishan54from25.
Their total could have been even greater but for Jimmy Neesham takingthreewicketsinthe16thover.ShivamDubehit24fromthelast toensureNewZealand’srespitewasonlybrief.
TimSeifertwhacked52from26ballsbutaroundhimNewZealand lostregularwicketsinpursuitofalostcause,includingFinnAllen,the BlackCaps’semi-finalcenturion,fornineinthethirdover
ThemajesticJaspritBumrahbamboozledthelowerordertofinish with4-15asNewZealandwerebowledoutfor159in19overs.
ThewinmeansIndia-thefirstsidetodefendthemen’sT20World Cup-havenowwonthepastthreemen’swhite-balltournaments-this, the2024titleandthe2025ChampionsTrophy
For New Zealand, also beaten by India in Dubai last year, this defeatgoesalongsidetheirnearmissesintheWorldCupfinalsof2015, 2019and2021.
NightofgloryforIndia’slatestgeneration
For two overs, it appeared things could have been just like 2023 when India were far too tentative on, quite literally, cricket’s biggest stage.Therewerefivedotballsinthefirstover,bowledbyseamerMatt Henry, and only five runs in the second, off Glenn Phillips’part-time spin.ButSamsonandAbhishektook15fromJacobDuffy’sfirstover and24fromthenextbowledbyLockieFergusonastheinnings,andthe crowd,roaredintolife.Evenwiththatslowstart,AbhishekandSamson took 92 runs from the best powerplay ever seen at a World Cup. In comparison, the Black Caps were 52-3 after their first six overs - a crucial difference.Abhishek had only made one score over 15 in this tournament but flogged the ball to all parts. Samson was again supreme,backinguphis97notoutagainstWestIndiesand89against England with another innings that mixed flair with a classical technique. Together he andAbhishek hit 12 of the innings’18 sixes, which took India’s tournament total to 106 - 30 more than any other teamhereandarecordforaT20WorldCup.
Whenleft-handerKishanfollowedinraisinghisbatitwasthefirst time the top three had reached fifty in a men’sT20World Cup.They had203runsafter15.1oversandDube’slateburst-afterarunof28 runsin24balls-ensuredIndiachargedbeyondaparscore.
Theytookallthemomentum,abattingparadisecapitalisedupon. Afterwardsthechasewasaslowcoronation.
India were beaten by SouthAfrica in the Super 8s stage but have responded brilliantly with three scores in excess of 250. This was a night of glory for a new generation, after the T20 retirement of superstarsViratKohli,RohitSharmaandRavindraJadeja.
AgambleandslowstartcostNewZealand
NewZealand,asever,hadbattledadmirablytothisstage.Theyare sorarelybelowparbut,onthisoccasion,apoorstartcostthem.
There were eight wides in the first four overs, as well as some waywardbowlingfromDuffyandFerguson.
Seamer Duffy was brought in for off-spinner Cole McConchie, curiousgivenIndia’sstrugglesagainstoff-spininthetournament.
Afterhisfirstoverwentfor15,hefinishedwith0-42fromthree-a gamblethatdidnotpayoff-whileFerguson’stwooverscost48.
Thepitchremainedflatbuttheweightofacolossaltargetwastoo great.Allen,whosethrilling33-ballcenturyagainstSouthAfricatook the Black Caps to this point, survived a comically bad drop from ShivamDubeinthefirstoverbutwascaughtoffspinnerAxarPatelin the third. Seifert carried on the assault by striking five sixes before hitting aVarun Chakravarthy long-hop to deep mid-wicket.That was 72-5.Thegamewasdone.
The lower order dragged the game out but Bumrah could not be resisted. He bowled Neesham, Henry and captain Mitchell Santner with perfect slower-ball yorkers to add sparkle to a superb team performance.
…Western Tigers stuns GDF 2 – 1 to finish third
