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The U.S. Navy and the Guyana Defence Force Defence Force successfully completed a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) within Guyana's territorial waters on Saturday. The vessels involved in the exercise were the USS Mahan and GDFS Shahoud. According to the US Embassy, the exercise strengthened coordination between the U.S. Navy and the GDF Coast Guard, enhancing interoperability for future tactical and contingency operations with partner nations and reinforcing the U.S. and Guyana's strategic security partnership.
E x x o n M o b i l P r o d u c t i o n Sharing Agreement (PSA) haslongbeencondemnedfor locking Guyana into rigid, one-sided terms immune to future legislative changes. Critics say it effectively handcuffs Parliament, shielding the oil giant from any new taxes, royalties, or fiscal obligations, no matter howlawsevolve.
But the newly signed P S A b e t w e e n t h e Government of Guyana and French major Total Energies marks a sharp departure. Unlike the Stabroek Block deal, the Total Energies contract explicitly subjects the operator to all present and future laws of Guyana.
According to the Petroleum Agreement at Article 49.2
“The Contractor shall be subject to and must observe the laws of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana in force from time to time and nothing herein contained shall be construed as exempting the Contractor from complying with the laws imposing taxes, duties, levies, fees, royalties, c h a rg e s o r s i m i l a r impositions or contributions which the Contractor would be liable to pay or may be called upon to pay under such laws by virtue of its conduct of Petroleum Operations hereunder, except as provided for in the ActandthisAgreement.”
Notably, the Exxon deal makes it explicit that government “shall not increase the economic burdens of (the) Contractor under this Agreement by
applying to this Agreement or the operations conducted thereunderanyincreaseofor any new petroleum related fiscal obligation, including, but not limited to, any new taxes whatsoever, any new royalty,duties,fees,charges, value-added tax (VAT) or otherimposts.”
The Total Energies oil contract further states that should there be changes to the laws of Guyana, the two parties “shall negotiate in good faith to modify the terms of this agreement in ordertorestoretheeconomic balance...”
Meanwhile, the Stabroek block deal states that if changes to the legislation affect the economic benefits of the contractor, the GoG “shall promptly take any and all affirmative actions to restore the lost or impaired economic benefits to Contractor, so that Contractorreceivesthesame economic benefit under the Agreement that it would have received prior to the change in law or its interpretation, application, orimplementation.”
Further,itnotesthatifthe partiesfailtoreachasolution within 120 days, then the dispute would be forwarded to the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes(ICSID).
ThenewPSAwassigned with Total Energies, Qatar Energy and Petronas on November11,2025.
The consortium has been awardedblockS4, locatedin shallow water, offshore Guyana. Block S4 spans an area of approximately 1,788 square kilometres, located
50 to 100 kilometres off Guyana's coast in water depths ranging between 30 and100metres.
Previously, civil society member, Yog Mahadeo said the Exxon deal is a mockery to the country's constitution as it attempts to shackle this country into more unfair provisions or benefits for the
operatinginStabroekBlock.
Mahadeo reasoned, “Of critical importance to me is thefactthatwehavenotonly allowed the Exxon contract to remove our wealth but are allowing them to effectively
remove our constitutional right to elect a government that can create and enact laws on our behalf – that is, the contract mocks and neuters our Parliament's abilitytopasslaws.”
According to him, the PSA attempts to shackle the Government into financial andotherlopsided deals “It also attempts, in Article 32, to handcuff the Government away from contemplating changing any laws that can impact the Agreement to the economic detriment of the Contractor
By attempting to shackle the Government, it therefore attempts to fetter the entire population from getting a Governmentinplacethatcan pass laws as desired by and
In lashing out at the European Union (EU) election observers last week, President Irfaan Ali has revealed precisely the kind of tone-deafness and hostility that the EU's final report so soberly warns about. It is ironic and deeplytroublingthathecastigatestheseobserversnow,after welcomingthemsowarmlybeforeandduringthecampaign period.
Let us not forget: this mission was deployed “at the invitation of the Government of Guyana,” as was widely reported. Indeed, Chief Observer Robert Biedroń, in presenting the final report, noted that Guyana's elections took place in the context of “deep political polarisation” evenasthevotingwaspeacefuland“well-run.”
Yet now, insteadof addressing the substance, President Alihasgoneonsocialmediato“cussdown”theobservers whose only “crime” is reporting what they saw This reactionbetraysafragileegoandalackofpoliticalmaturity The EU report, in fact, presents a balanced picture. It acknowledges improvements; for example, “the real-time online publication of Statements of Poll marked significant improvements for the transparency and traceabilityofresults.” Butitdoesnotmincewordsonthe enduring structural problems: “an undue advantage of incumbency,misuseofstateresources,andunder-regulated, weakly enforced campaign finance rules.” These are not wildaccusations;theyareobservationsgroundedincareful, systematicmonitoring.
Kaieteur News itself was praised by the mission for “providing balanced and equitable coverage of the elections,”instarkcontrasttostate-controlledmedia.Asthe EU noted, “state-run media was instrumentalised to the exclusivebenefitoftherulingparty,”whileKaieteurNews and other independent outlets gave more even coverage amongcontestingparties.
Still,thereporthighlightsamoredeeplyworryingtrend: politicalpressureonjournalists.“Independentbroadcasters andprintoutletsprovidedmorebalancedcoverage yet… afewindependentjournalistsweresingledoutandverbally attacked by high-ranking government officials some reporters faced threats of legal action by government ministers whichfurthercontributedtothechillingeffect on [the] media environment.” This is the very kind of behaviourthatdemocracycannotignore.
Thesearenotmerequibbles.TheEUmade18concrete recommendations,includingtheadoptionofclearcampaign rules, stronger regulation of political financing, transparencyintheuseofstateassets,andestablishmentofa truly independent media oversight mechanism. These are notoptionalniceties—theyareessentialreformsifGuyana is to safeguard the integrity and fairness of its future elections.
President Ali's dismissal of the EU's concerns calling them “unfounded claims” rather than engaging with them, signalsadangerousunwillingnesstoacceptaccountability Whenheaccusesthereportofbeingbasedoncomplaints,he misses the larger point: the EU mission did not merely collectcomplaints,butinsteademployeda“robustandwellestablished methodology,” with long-term observers in all tenregions,andshort-termobserversonelectionday
This is not to disparage the President's genuine achievements. The EU itself noted historic improvements: theelectionswere“peacefulandwell-run withefficient management of voting, counting and tabulation.” But peacefuladministrationisonlypartoftheequation,fairness requires more. By attacking the observers, President Ali undermines public trust in the very institutions meant to safeguarddemocracy Hisreactionalsoplaysintooneofthe EU's central recommendations:that there needs to be clear and enforceable rules around the use of state resources during campaigns, and more transparency in media coverage. Guyana must heed this report. The EU mission wasinvited;itsfindingsdeservemorethanderision.Instead ofcussingdownthetruth,thegovernmentshouldleaninto the hard work of reform. It must strengthen its electoral
Let us not damage and dismantle what we have and what serviced us admirably for many generations
DearEditor, Iamsickandsaddenbya proposal which seem to be recommendedbythecentral government and supported bysomemembersofthecity council. It is to concrete the walls of certain canals in Georgetown.
The truth is, these geniuses,neitherunderstand the drainage system of Georgetown and, if they do are consumed by the apparent mystic of concrete, and perhaps the need by some folks to sustain the current spending spree, and to hoodwink and deceive unsuspectingcitizens.
In the 70s this question was examined and even though, at that time, cement and steel were relatively cheap we came out on the side of regular maintenance andasenseofdisciplineand responsibility by both residents and the management of the capital city One contention is that
the roadways parallel to these canals now handle much more traffic than they did in the mid-70s, this is true,butfirst,totakegreater and heavier traffic, there is no and I repeat no engineering study that establishes that a concrete wall would be better and moredurableovertheyears.
To provide the level of durabilitywouldrequiretons andtonsofsteel,cement,and skills, since government seemtobelievethatwehave an abundance of cash, we must not ignore the fact that neither cement nor steel are indigenous and produced in Guyana, and therefore a further drain on our foreign exchange.
The watch word and the only safe way forward is discipline,respectforthebylaws,andthatbadword,that alien concept, “regular maintenance”.
In a city below sea level with a kind of procumbent
clay with a low porosity, hence our high-water table, so if we concreted the walls of our canals, we have to provide at regular intervals holes or outlets for the accumulated water to be drained into the canal, when thewaterinthecanalislow
The alternative of course is to build the roads that will notallowrainfalltoseepinto the clays supporting these c o n c r e t e w a l l s , a monumental, if not futile exercise.
If it is felt that heavy trucks, in particular the single axle trucks, would damage the roads and walls ofcertaincanals,weneedto putupsolidbarriersthatwill not allow these vehicles to traversetheseroads.
Nothing new to Guyana nor certain countries around theglobe.
Iamnotanengineerbut, apart from my stint as Mayor, and Minister of Works and Hydraulics, I've
studied new and old Georgetown in depth, against that background I ask; why are we even thinking of embarking on thisadventure.
The British and Dutch who precededus knew what they were doing and I urge the mayor and city council, and the wise men in the government, on this matter of the drainage of Georgetown and contiguous areas, to rely on the wisdom ofourerstwhilemasters.
I hope the decision makers have the good sense and humility to listen and, instead of this crazy costly concrete crusade, ensure discipline and a wellprepared regime of maintenance Mr Mayor, Mr Minister, Mr President let us not damage and dismantlewhatwehave,and what serviced us admirably formany,manygenerations.
Sincerely,
ElderHamiltonGreen
Learning form the recent referendum held in Ecuador
Dear Editor, Ecuador recently held a referendum on whether to allow an American Military Base to be established in its countrytohelpcombatdrug trafficking and violent gangs. Although significant economic development would result, voters have c
f an AmericanMilitaryBase.
A s u r p r i s i n g development, especially given that Ecuador has had such a base in the past. This begsthequestion,why?
ThePresidentofEcuador estimatesthat70%ofglobal cocaine flows through the country (Reference: NPR news, Ecuador rejects U.S. military bases in major defeat for President Noboa,
November17th2025).
This recent event presents two important considerationsforGuyana:
1 S h o u l d w e embrace having an American Military Base alongourWesternBorder?
2 When will we hold a referendum on renegotiatingtheoilcontract withExxon?
Given the current pending military conflict with Venezuela over Essequibo and the strong agreed to position with our American ally to prevent drug trafficking and the strengthening of the violent gangs from Venezuela, the answer to allowing an American Military Base shouldresultinaneasy"yes" answer in our government.
The economic development thatwillalsoresultalongour western border will help boostandsustainthegrowth of our economy Regime changewilleventuallycome to Venezuela, but their position on Essequibo will mostlikelyremainthesame. However, with the presence oftheAmericanMilitaryour nation will be assured of improved national security and the prevention of any future dispute over our sovereignty. In addition, the resulting economic development along the borderwillincreasesafeand beneficial trade and commerce with the new Venezuelangovernment.
As for the second consideration, this was a political promise made by
thePPPtohaveareferendum on the oil contract with Exxon after the elections. The elections have been successfully completed, and the United Nations has for themostpartgivenitsstamp ofapproval.
T h i s s h o u l d b e encouraging and make it easier to have a national referendum held on whether torenegotiatetheoilcontract withExxon.
Ecuador was able to quickly have such a referendum and Guyana is no less capable of doing the same.CRGlooksforwardto hearingtheannouncementof the date for such an important referendum to takeplace.
Best regards, Mr Jamil Changlee
A Generation at the Gate: A Plea to Harness Guyana's Most Valuable Resource
DearEditor,
An Open Letter to the Nation: Our youth are a nationalAsset,notapolitical casualty As another class of
graduates faces a system of closed doors, we propose a concrete solution to harness their talent and prevent a generationalloss.Thechoice
laws, tighten campaign finance, professionalise GECOM, and ensure independent media can operate without fear or favour. These are not attacks, they are calls for maturity, accountability,andademocracystrongenoughtowithstand scrutiny In a time of unprecedented resources and geopolitical attention, Guyana cannot afford to turn inward and lash out at its partners. PresidentAli's response speaks notofstrength,butofinsecurity Democracydemandsbetter thanthat.
is clear: invest in our youth now,orlosethemforever We begin by echoing your own words, Mr President, spoken to the bright-eyed graduates of the University of Guyana: “The future will be built by you.” Thisstatementwasmeantto be a beacon of hope, a passingofthetorch.Yet,for the thousands of young Guyanese who constitute that “you,” these words feel less like an invitation and
morelikeacruelirony They stand at the gate of national progress, degrees in hand, onlytofinditguardedbythe oldsentinelsofnepotismand partyparamountcy We, the youth, are not merely disappointed; we are the ultimate casualties of a system that preaches potential while practicing exclusion When we see cabinet positions and senior publicrolesrecycledamong (Continuedonpage5)
President Ali must be commended for his rescue Georgetown plan
DearEditor
Since becoming
President in 2020 and again in 2025, His Excellency, Dr IrfaanAlihasmadeitclearto all that he will be the presidentforallthepeopleof Guyana and not only those whovotedforhim.Overthe years, he has kept his word by visiting several communities across the country and has received a warm welcome and overwhelming support from all.ThetruthisPresidentAli is a people's person who is loved by almost everyone. However, his most recent visit to the Tiger Bay community proved that actions speak louder than wordsorspeeches.Aspartof the“OneGuyana”initiative, President Dr Ali along with
several members of the cabinet and Heads of Departments visited one of the most depressed areas in the country--Tiger Bay-where he outlined a plan for major urban renewal Located in the Kingston area,Tiger Bay is home to a resilient,spiritedandvibrant population, many of whom have been the foundation of Georgetown civilisation, cultureandheritage. While strolling the streets of Tiger Bay, His Excellency bonded with families, small business owners,eldersandyouth.He told them that part of his urban renewal plan is to build a basketball facility, especially for the youth, restore the two historic buildingsinthearea,expand
supportservicesforchildren and mothers, and help property owners upgrade their homes, among other things. President Dr Ali's TigerBayvisitreinforcedhis hands on and people first a p p r o a c h t o g o o d g
uplifting everyone in every community and provide opportunities for all to
g standards.
The president listened keenly to the complaints of the residents and addressed someifnotalloftheirmajor concerns ranging from access to education, to improvingdrainage,toskills training, micro- and smallbusiness support, and ways to engage young people through sports and after-
A Generation at the Gate: A Plea...
Frompage4 a familiar cohort of party loyalists and retirees, the message is unequivocal: “Your time is not now Your qualifications are secondary toyourconnections.”Thisis notjustapoliticalissue;itis a national emergency in the making.
The consequence of this continued exclusion is not
merely a sense of despondency. It is the irreversible loss of our most valuable national resource: our intellectual capital. When ambitious, educated, andpassionateyoungminds are denied a stake in their own country's future, they will seek it elsewhere. We are on the precipice of a catastrophic brain drain, where the very architects you need to build Guyana's future will be building the futuresofTrinidad,Canada, andtheUnitedStates.
Therefore, we move beyondcritiquetoproposea solution. We call on your a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t o immediately collaborate
with the private sector to design and fund a robust N a t i o n a l Y o u t h Transformation Initiative (NYTI). This would not be another government internship. We envision a comprehensive publicprivate work program that strategically absorbs young talent into the heart of our nation'sgrowth.Imagine:
Ÿ Placements within critical sectors like digital governance, sustainable energy, infrastructure * p r o j e c t management, and agri-tech.
Ÿ Partnerships with major international a n d l o c a l corporations, cofunding roles that o f f e r r e a l responsibility and a p a t h w a y t o p e r m a n e n t leadershippositions.
Ÿ Mentorshipthatpairs young graduates with experienced professionals, not as
a replacement for merit-based hiring, butasabridgetoit.
Thisinitiativewouldbea powerful signal that your rhetoric has meaning It would demonstrate a genuine commitment to channeling the energy and innovationofouryouthinto t h e “ o n g o i n g transformation” you speak of It is a pragmatic alternativetothetomfoolery o f c l o s e d - d o o r appointments.
Mr. President, the gate must open. The choice is stark: we can either create a framework that harnesses this incredible youthful
energy for national development, or we will watch it depart our shores, leavingbehindavoidthatno recycled appointee can ever fill.Letusnotlookbackina decadeandwonderwhereall the talented graduates went. Letusactnowtoensurethey are right here, building the Guyanatheywerepromised.
Sincerely,
HemduttKumar
schoolactivities.
He cautioned them to be patientbecausesomeoftheir concerns might take time to achieve, but they will be attained. Many community members, including the elderly were encouraged by President Dr Ali's visit, his emphasis to be transparent andhispromiseoffollow-up visits to measure progress and to make sure that the residentsaresatisfied.
President Dr Irfaan Ali notedthatboththesolutions derived, and the lessons learned from his visit to TigerBaywillbeamodelfor similar development efforts across Georgetown and throughout the country His visittoTigerBayusheredin
a new chapter for the residents of the community as he invited them to come together and “break bread” as a gesture to celebrate unity and symbolise the spirit of togetherness that marked the occasion. He personally took part in preparingamealforthem.
As part of his Rescue Georgetown Plan aimed at beautification of the city, President Dr Ali has invested on a $350 million project that is currently underway to clear overgrown vegetation at the Le Repentir Cemetery, A c
H
s Excellency, the initiative forms
government's national b
on and enhancement drive to renovate, restore, and modernise cemeteries and other areas across the country
The Rescue Georgetown PlandevelopedbyPresident Dr Ali is an ambitious under-taking intended to transform the capital city into a beautiful and natural Garden City It is a good initiative that will create jobs,improvethelivesofthe p e o p l e a n d m a k e communitiessaferandmore secure, it is fully supported by all citizens and President Ali must be commended for it.
Sincerely,
Dr AsquithRose
EU report debunks Mohamed's election lies
DearEditor,
By now, the public is aware that the European Union Election Observation Missionhasreleaseditsfinal report into the 2025 General and Regional Elections
Anyone genuinely concerned about democracy shouldreadthereportinfull.
What becomes apparent onreviewofthereportisthat Guyana has much to be proud of; significant strides have been made to improve the health of our democracy afterthescarsof2020.After the Granger Government attempted to rig the 2020
Elections, the EU EOM made several priority recommendations for the future conduct of elections.
The 2025 EOM report a c k n o w l e d g e s t h e fulfillment of three of these priority measures through t h e G o v
Representation of the People's Act (ROPA) in 2022. These measures, from the real-time online publication of SOPs to harsher penalties for electoral fraud, were heralded as a “welcome development” aimed at
boostingtransparency
Equally compelling is that the report completely dismantlestheallegationsof electoral fraud leveled by U S -indicted Member of Parliament Azruddin Mohamed. Despite the EU itself congratulating PresidentAli and the PPP/C on September 7th, strangely enough, Mr Mohamed has welcomed this very report, even though it thoroughly discreditshisclaims.
Not only was Election Daydescribedas“peaceful” and“orderly”,butthereport (Continuedonpage6)
CDB engages Caribbean bankers on upcoming trade guarantee programme
T h e C a r i b b e a n Development Bank (CDB, the Bank) unveiled its new Trade Finance Guarantee Programme (TFGP) to regional banking leaders, marking a significant step toward enhancing access to trade finance for Caribbean enterprises, particularly Micro, Small, and MediumsizedEnterprises(MSMEs).
According to a CDB pressrelease,speakingatthe Caribbean Association of Banks Annual Conference, heldattheHyattRegencyin Trinidad and Tobago, Dr
Isaac Solomon, Vice President (Operations) of CDB, introduced the initiative as a strategic tool to bridge risk and build accesstoglobalmarkets.
“This Guarantee Programme sits squarely in the middle of our transformationagenda-itis anchored on accelerating transformative financing, advancing opportunities for MSMEs to thrive, and scaling impact through partnerships,” said Dr
Solomon.TheTradeFinance Guarantee Programme is designedtomitigatetherisk exposure of confirming banks by providing partial guarantees against defaults by issuing banks within CDB's 19 Borrowing MemberCountries.
This mechanism aims t o s t r e n g t h e n correspondent banking relationships, unlock capital, and expand trade finance portfolios across theregion
“Adequate trade finance is not just a financial service; it is an enabler of growth, job creation, and regional resilience,” Dr Solomon emphasised “By enabling more transactions, this programme will directly support efforts to grow exportsandincreaseforeign exchangeearnings.”
The pilot phase of the programme will be launched in collaboration with JP Morgan and IDB Invest,covering14issuing and confirming banks
EU report debunks...
Frompage5 also confirms that voting and counting were “efficiently administered,” with tabulation equally efficient.
This underscores the integrityandtransparencyof Polling Day activities, striking down Mohamed's allegation of rigging Additionally, the report highlighted that voters were abletocasttheirballotsinan “orderly environment”, free to exercise their democratic franchise.
Further, the Observer Mission made it clear that PPP/C, APNU and WIN representativeswerepresent at 100% of the observed pollingstations.
Alongsideabriefscanof the SOPs published online, this cements that WIN agentswouldhavejoinedthe PPP/C andAPNU agents in
signing off on every single SOP
Thisexposestheglaring c
g narrative.
Debate will continue on the incumbent's advantage; between 2006 and 2025, Guyanawentnineteenyears without reelecting a sitting President.
But the EU Observers Reportisclear:theintegrity and transparency of the election remained intact. History continues to remind us that lies remain lies, no matter the repetition Guyana is a fledgling and vibrant democracy which only continues to grow Suggestions to the contrary have no basis in fact. The EU Observers Reportsimplyaffirmsthis.
Yoursfaithfully, NikhilSankar
across six Caribbean countries CDB will also provide targeted capacity building to institutions with limited trade finance offerings, with the goal of establishing a long-term, self-sustaining platform for tradefacilitation.
CDB also convened a dynamic panel on the future
of trade finance in the Caribbean, exploring how greater access and affordability can drive enterprise growth The discussion showcased how CDB's Trade Finance Programme will expand regional access to trade finance products, featuring insights from
Mr Stephen Thomas, Head of the Financial Institutions Team for the Caribbean Region; Ms Joanna Charles, General Manager, Antigua Commercial Bank; Mr. Bevon Alvarez, General Manager, Republic Bank; and Ms. Lisa Harding, Division Chief, Private Sector Development,
CDB At the event CDB also reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with regional financial institutions to ensure the success of the pilot and to position the programme as a flagship initiative for Caribbean tradedevelopment.
'Thanks President Ali’
DearEditor
It must be the case that the president of Guyana has come to believe his own propaganda, for his behaviour in relation to the European Union's final report on Guyana's 2025 electionhasbeentooclumsy to be otherwise explained ('President lambastes EU observers report' SN: 20/11/2025)! After criticisingthe EU observers for not supporting their negative positions with suitable evidence and their unwillingness to declare that the election was 'free', President Ali, had to be corrected when he attempted to attach the PPP's historic mantra: 'all the foreign observer missions declared the electionsfreeandfair'tothe 2025election!
Understandably, Stabroek News appears to havebeeninthevanguardof thoseattemptingtogetsome clarity from the EU presenters for its editorials have been consistently peddling this falsity and so may well have been partly responsible of the president coming to believe his own propaganda.
For example, in its attempt to debunk one of Minister Gail Teixeira's usual inaccuracies that Guyana's comparatively short independent political history is substantially responsibleforitsautocratic status, a SN editorial concluded'Ofcourse,noone is suggesting any analogy betweenthiscountryandthe authoritarian states; the government here was elected into office in a free and fair poll' (SN; 16/11/2025)
Then two days later, an editorial titled 'Political dissonance' told us that 'For Guyana'sdemocracytotruly
mature, its citizens, particularlyitsmostdevoted supporters, must learn to sit with this dissonance and choose accountability over comfort' (SN: 18/11/2025).
Perhaps, because of the authors' dissonance (i e a discomfort caused by inconsistencies: hypocrisy, mistake, etc which we are then motivated to try to reduce), the editorial sought to personalise rather than systemically
locate the country's intractable, political difficulties within its historical ethnic/political context!
A 2021 study suggests thiscomplexity
‘The broader context of consensus and inclusion are the underlying challenges for Guyanese citizens and impede the framing of a common vision of the country'sfuture.
The ruling party and the opposition coalition need to find a way to form a functioning democracy
There is not a vibrant and sizeablecivilsocietythatcan contribute to national reconciliation, nor is there a national media that reaches citizens beyond the capital and coastal towns Consequently, there is no cohesive public pressure for substantive political or electoral reform stemming from the political crisis International pressure on the two parties for better governancepracticesisnot breaking the stalemate ' (The United StatesAgency f o r I n t e r n a t i o n a l Development (USAID) 'Democracy, Human Rights and Governance (DRG) Assessment of Guyana' August2021).
Electionrigginginvolves gerrymandering, vote
buying, candidate repression, digital hacking,
multiple voting, duping the international community into legitimising poorquality polls, etc By election day 2025, the PPP had already violated all but some of those not directly relating to the day itself. Furthermore,theregimehad not fulfilled the important reforms the international community and Caricom r e c o u n t g r o u p recommended, and which the opposition has been demanding in relation to the voters register, the introduction of biometrics, reorganisationoftheGuyana Elections Commission, etc. Importantly, the latter was firmly in the hands of the PPP
As a result, the EU's present position should not have come as a surprise.
Immediately upon hearing that the Carter Centre planned to deploy a small teamofinternationalexperts to begin observing the preelection period for the general and regional elections, this column argued that 'The Centre, of all organisations, must know that unless some radical reforms or consensual adjustments take place, they are about to be involved in an electoral process that is so flawed it can only be democratically acceptable if the opposition wins (VV: 'International monitoring rigged elections,'15/06/2025).
Some of those who have studiedtheissueofelectoral manipulation have argued that rather than repeatedly monitoring and making reform recommendations that governments ignore, an effective system of international monitoring requires three main interventionstoimprovethe prospects for protecting elections In a nutshell,
monitors need to: (1) keep up with the technological times and deploy biometric technology, computer logs andstorage,andexpertiseto giveanindicationofwhether there is a hidden digital pattern of electoral manipulation,(2)deviseand implement a common set of standards and give joint statements to send a clear messagetotherulingparties and (3) ensure that weaknesses they identify in the system are rectified and (importantly) refuse to monitorelectionswherethis is not done (Cheeseman, Nicholas and Klaas, Brian2018 – 'How to rig an Elections,' Yale University Press).
My comment above was rootedinasimilarbeliefthat monitors should not participate in elections in which the government has fa
o n s However, the approach the EU adopted, namely participate and publicly confront the defaulters, is clearly a viable way forward for it is public educationandonemustnow be very careful when referring to Guyana as a democracy
Furthermore, one is tempted to argue in the current international environment of democratic backsliding that refusal to participate in the electoral process will more probably lead to reactionary realignments of counterfeit democrats as those in Guyana The EU's approachhelpstoclarifythe boundaries of democratic participation and President Alishouldalsobethankedas his outburst has helped to universalisethismessage.
The three oil discoveries made by ExxonMobil G u y a n a L i m i t e d (EMGL) for the year but kept hushed were not commercial, the USoilmajorsaidonSunday EMGL issued a response to Kaieteur News' lead story published, on November 23, 2025 where it was reported that the company made three additional oil discoveries but made no official announcement in this regard Similarly, there was no word from the Government of Guyana (GoG) onthefinds.
IntheMid-YearReportrecently published by the Ministry of Finance, it was however revealed that three discoveries were made fortheyear
The document did not specify whether the discoveries made were of commercial quantities ExxonMobilhoweverexplainedon Sunday that media reports suggesting that oil discoveries in the Stabroek Block were being concealed are both inaccurate and misleading.
The company said, “We are legally obligated to file a Notice of Discovery with the Ministry of Natural Resources for every hydrocarbon find, regardless of size or commercial viability, and we have fully complied with this requirement.”
It continued, “The three wells referenced in the Ministry of Finance's Mid-Year Report were disclosed to the government in accordancewiththeseobligations.
Thatishowtheyendedupinthe Report. EMGLpublicly announces all significant discoveries – those that materially impact resource estimates or development plans. The three wells mentioned in the report do not meet this threshold, which is why they were not i n c l u d e d i n o u r p u b l i c announcements,” the statement read.
TheAmerican oil giant pointed out that so far it has announced more than 30 significant discoveries in the Stabroek Block,
while filing 51 Notices of DiscoverywiththeMinistry
As such, the company noted, “This reflects our commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance. We remain committed to operating responsibly and transparently, in full alignment with contractual and regulatory requirements.”
However, ExxonMobil has previously made announcements on non-commercial discoveries as well as dry wells which were drilled. In 2020, the company declared that a non-commercial discovery was made in the nearby Kaieteur Block which it has now walkedawayfrom.Inkeepingwith industry practices, petroleum companies usually announce all discoveries,includingthoseofnoncommercialquantities.
In fact, Westmount Energy, an indirect shareholder in the Canje block also previously revealed that ExxonMobil made a discovery at the Bulletwood-1 well, but it was determined non-commercial in
2021. More recently, ExxonMobil also reported that it spent $55B on dry holes drilled in the Stabroek Blockfor2023.
The non-disclosure of the discoveries comes at a time when stakeholders continue to question how Guyana's oil reserves remain stagnantinthefaceofadditionaloil findsbytheoperatoroftheblock.
Back in September Former Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan asserted that the Stabroek Block oil reserves has far more oil than the 11 6 billion barrels announced. The former minister said that even at the current pace of extraction by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited(EMGL),hebelievesthere isenoughoiltolastanother30to40 years. The question of Guyana's true reserves gained attention in 2024.
That August, the Ministry of Natural Resources announced that reserves grew by 600 million barrels to 11.6 billion, following eight new discoveries since the last update in April 2022. But Exxon
disputed the government's figure, providingitsownlowerestimateof below 11 billion barrels. “I believe quite honestly that we are being fooled and we are doing nothing about it, about how much oil has really been discovered,” Jordan said, citing the last eight new discoveries made by the oil company
He argued that there has been a blackout on information about the trueestimateofGuyana'soilfinds.
“All those 11.6 billion barrels thattheyaretellingusIbelieveitis double or triple that. So, we got oil that could last us 40 years or 50 years even at the present extraction,” Jordan noted. Jordan further estimated that at a conservative US$60 per barrel, Guyana stands to earn massive revenues “That's huge money coming to a small country in terms of population, 10 years' time with good investment and all these things, all of us here could be not super rich but we should have a decentstandardliving,”headded.
Economist flags costly loophole in
To prevent oil companies from paying hundreds of millions in royalty to Guyana with one hand andgrabbingitbackwiththeother, an urgent amendment to the 2025 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with Total Energies is required, this is the view of Economist, Elson Low But the government has insisted that there is no need for the oil deal to explicitly block the companies from recovering royalty payments made to the government, noting that in the petroleum industry, it is widely understood that royalty payments on petroleum produced and sold are generally not cost recoverable.
Low, a former advisor to the Leader of the Opposition on SundaytoldKaieteurNewsthatthe government's decision not to explicitly state that royalties are unrecoverable in the newly signed PSAis“extremelyreckless”.
He reasoned that this is due to several considerations, as he
reminded that Guyana is currently embroiled in a dispute over the results of an audit of cost recovery expenses.Lowpointedoutthatany ambiguity about the recovery of royalty could lead to yet another prolonged legal battle that could endupcostingthestate.
Secondly, he explained, “Because the royalty rate is five times higher in the newly signed PSA, this means the risk of loss to the country is much greater if royalties are indeed recovered.”
Low was keen to note that it would cost the GoG little or nothing to ensure that this risk is mitigated, especially since the Stabroek block deal was also previously amended to make it clear that oil companies will not be allowed to recover royalties.
He said, “That previous PSAs have been amended to specify royalty cannot be recovered raises the potential legal argument that if the government did not want royalty to be recovered it would
have explicitly stated this in the (new) PSA Thus, that this precedent has been established could lead, of course, to a prolongeddispute.”
The economist warned that these risks could deny the Guyana government hundreds of millions of US-dollars annually. To put this into context, he pointed out, “Even with a production one fifth the size of that in the Stabroek block the same royalty would be due -which amounted to over US$300M in 2024.”
To this end, Low urged, “An urgent amendment to this flaw in thePSAisdefinitelynecessary.”
On Friday, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) said there is no need for the oil deal to explicitly block the companies from recovering royalty payments made to the government The ministry was responding to an articlepublishedbyKaieteurNews on November 21, 2025 where it was reported that the new oil deal
mirrors the mistake made in the Exxon contract with regard to royalty Government said, “In the petroleum industry, it is widely understood that royalty payments onpetroleumproducedandsoldare generally not cost recoverable.The exceptiontothisruleoccursonlyin petroleum agreements, where the cost recovery of royalty payments isexplicitlystated.”
Total Energies, a French oil giant, in partnership with QatarEnergy, and Petronas of Malaysia was awarded a shallow water block by the GoG following its participation in the 2022launched Oil Blocks Auction Block S4 spans an area of approximately 1,788 square kilometres, located 50 to 100 kilometres off Guyana's coast in water depths ranging between 30 and 100 metres The French companyleadstheconsortiumwith a 40% interest in the block, along with its partners, Qatar Energy and Petronas with 35% and 25%
respectively The companies inked an Exploration License and Petroleum Agreement with the GoG on November 10, 2025. Total willcommenceexplorationactivity in the latter half of 2026. If c
discovered, the operator will move toproductionactivities.
ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge
Economist, Elson Low
No contradiction or conflict
Atempest in a t e a p o t i s b r e w i n g Politicians, including the President of Guyana, are suggesting a fundamental clash between the decisions of two High Court judges over the powers of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The recent decision of Justice Roxane George and that of Justice Gino Persaud are being portrayed as being in contradiction to each other This perception is not only exaggerated but is fundamentally incorrect. A dispassionate examination of the facts reveals no major conflict; instead, we see two differentjudgesapplyingthe lawtotwoverydifferentsets of facts The public excitement is, quite simply, overnothing.
The core of the matter lies in a straightforward legal principle: statutes have clear boundaries, and the same law can produce different outcomes when applied to different scenarios The relevant statute here is the Customs Act, and the critical boundary is a three-year time limit Let's first consider the case before JusticeGeorge.Animporter, Zhangzhen Yu, brought in goods, paid duties, and received clearance Subsequently, but within the three-year period stipulated by law, the GRA's Post
Clearance Audit Unit (PCAU) invoked its powers under Section 233 of the CustomsAct.
This section is used, whether rightly or wrongly, as the linchpin of postclearance auditing. In this regard, it gives the GRA three years from the date of i m p o r t t o r e q u e s t documents—invoices, bills, accounts to verify the accuracy of a declaration. In the Yu case, the GRA made this request within the legal window The importer failed t o p r o v i d e t h e documentation. As a result, the GRArevalued the goods and issued a demand for the extra duty The importer challengedthisdecision.
Justice George's ruling affirmed the lawfulness of this process. She pointed to Section 233 as the source of the GRA's power to investigate and to Section 17(2) as the mechanism to collect any short-levied duties discovered Her
j u d g m e n t w a s a straightforward affirmation of the GRA's civil and administrative powers, exercised within the statutory time limit. The PCAU was found to be a lawful part of the GRA, and the reassessment was justified given the facts available to the court. This was a textbook application ofthelawasitiswritten.
Justice George's broad inte rpretation of Section
17(2) is likely to be challenged in higher courts atsometimeortheother But even assuming a broad interpretation, this does not place her judgement at odds with the earlier judgement by Justice Persaud. Also, Section 79(1)(e) provides that before delivery can be effected the goods must first be entered. Entering the goods is therefore a precondition, under the existing law, for taking delivery Any contention thereforethatthegoodswere not entered is therefore likely to be challenged in a highercourt.
Now,let'sturntothecase before Justice Gino Persaud involving Azruddin Mohamed. On the surface, it seems similar: an importer (ofavehicle),clearedgoods, and was later faced with a demand for extra duties. However, the devil is in the detail—a critical detail the public discourse is ignoring. The GRA made its demand after the three-year window provided for in Section 233 had closed. This changes everything Section 233 creates a clear window for the tax authority to commence investigations. It also provides finality for traders and importers, meaning that after three years, their declarations are considered final and cannot be challenged under this specific civil, administrative section. Once that window
DEM BOYS SEH
Dem boys seh is one thing to wake up to bad news, but is another thing when the news come from the Corentyne road—because by now, everybody know that road turning into one of the deadliest piecesofasphaltinthiswholecountry
Thispastweektragedystrikeagain.Two souls gone, just so. More people in the hospital fighting fuh recover Families shattered. Dreams cut short. And Guyana leffing to ask the same old question: “When wegonlearn?”
Dem boys seh every time one of these accidents happen, we does see the same script play out. Big traffic campaign. Police all over Drivers shaking in dem boots. Everybody behaving good-good like is schoolyard and the headmaster walking around But give it a week, two week—things drop right back to normal. The flashing lights disappear, the speeding return,andwestartcountingbodiesagain. Butwhatreallygotdemboysscratching dem head is the irony Mini-bus traffic pon the Corentyne almost vanish. Hardly any bus running regular now—only private hires.Yetstill,theroadclaimingmorelives. Dem boys seh if fewer buses deh pon the road, how come accidents still racking up?
closes, the GRA cannot simply send a letter demanding documents for a routine audit. The importer is within their rights to refuse Therefore, Justice Persaud's ruling that the GRA could not recoup the duties through an arbitrary assessment is perfectly consistent with the law. The contention that GRA can only do so through an offence-related mechanism is not a contradiction of Justice George. It is the logical next step when the administrative path has expiredordidnotapply The civil window was closed, so the GRA would have to allege and prove a criminal o f f e n c e s u c h a s fraud—whichtypicallyhasa longer limitation period, often seven years. This does not contradict Justice George's ruling in the slightest. If the GRA in the Yu case had waited beyond three years to demand
documents, it too would have lost its administrative powertoreassess.
In my view, the seeming “conflict” between the judges evaporates when you realise they were answering different questions. Justice George was asked: “Is the PCAU acting lawfully when it conducts a reassessment within three years?” She answered correctly, “Yes.”
Justice Persaud was asked: “CantheGRAlawfullyseize property and demand duties for a transaction through a post clearance assessment done after the statutory limitation window has closed, without tying it to a specific offence?” He answered,correctly,“No.”
Something wrong, and everybody know what it is: speed. Especially night-speed. The kinda speed that make even the grass bowdownwhenthecarsflyingpast. And is this same Corentyne—this death strip—where no overhead speed camera installed. Not one. Dem boys seh look pon theEastCoast.Sinceoverheadcamerasstart snapping, drivers start behaving. Fatal accidents drop. Night riders slow down. Peoplegetsensebecausecameradon'tsleep and camera don't take “small drink” excuses. So why Corentyne getting lef out? Why a four-lane expansion in planning but nomoderntrafficenforcementtomatchit? Dem boys seh somebody need to wake up Te
To the families mourning their loved ones, dem boys extend deepest sympathy
We grieving with you And we hoping—begging—that this tragedy not pass like all the others, forgotten until the next one. Guyana deserve better. The Corentyne deserve better. And the people deservetolive. Talk half. Leff half
The real scandal here is not a conflict between judges, but the GRA's apparent failure to manage its own statutory deadlines in the Mohamed case, and the subsequent mysterious withdrawal of the very charges that would have been the proper, offencerelated mechanism to pursue. The judiciary has done its job, applying the law consistently to the facts presented. The public and the politicians should direct their scrutiny away from the courts and toward the administration of the revenue authority itself. The judges are not at odds; the problem lies with an agency that seems to believe its powers are not bound by the clocks and calendars that governeveryoneelse.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
The Universal Church in Guyana leadership reacted authoritatively and vigorously on that parking incident that developed around the old Strand Cinema, and which that involved one of their pastors. It was ugly, it was in the face, and it could have developedintooneofthosecasesof parking rage gone out of control. Now the Universal Church board tookmattersintoitsownhandsand spokewiththethunderofheaven.
The pastor is disqualified from further ministering in Guyana Removed. Gone,andsentpacking, and no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
Decisive and unsparing: get thee away from the pulpit and be done with anymore preaching to the flockinGuyana. Disqualifyinghas to be a hard decision made under difficultcircumstances,andevenin its least significance it has to be impactfulonthepastorandthosein the pews. Ministering is a wide word in the Christian community It could mean teaching, visiting, and counseling members of the flock that are in need of such help. But it is what leaders who are
interested in change for the better, determined to make amends, make it their duty to listen to and to do. I wish it were so outside of that church, in the halls of governance, where there is admission of human lapse.
MyfirstreactionwasIamprivy to a commendable instance of leadership taking action, while leaving no loose strings dangling. This was what happened, this is what is unacceptable to the standards and principles of the leadership (and Universal Church community), and this is how it will be going forward. How I wish that the political leadership in Guyana would take note, and be about such clearandunequivocalactionswhen circumstances warrant Not selectively, but all the time. Not when issues and decisions are in their favor, but when they are against. Whentheyinvolvefailure. Like when ministers and other comrades cross a line. A sexual line. A corruption line. A police line. A basic standard line. No quibbling. No hedging. No ducking nor pretending nor
distancing and hiding. Take ownership. Act responsibly. Be aboutwhatinspiresotherstoaccept that there are ways to go about difficulties, and the comportment of oneself is one of the more watchedlitmustests. Thereligious man is held to a higher standard. He must defuse a situation, not contribute to its further deterioration.
I absorbed how Guyana's Pres. Ali took his wrath public with the EU Final Report on Guyana's 2025 elections,andhistroublingreaction to a judicial ruling in the controversial Lamborghini tax case.
In the EU Final Report, the findings are based on fact, how the weight and might of the state have been misused and abused for incumbent advantage. Neither a secret,noraninaccuracy;notinthe least.
But from Pres. Ali's reaction, it would seem that a terrible injustice was wreaked on Guyana and his government. I beg to differ, Mr President. RetheLamborghiniand thetaxesdue,Pres.Aliknowsmore
than anyone as to who in his government had a hand in a decision of that magnitude, which cheated the national treasury of so many millions. I assert it couldn't have been, wasn't, a junior level public service official, or a political one of low stature Two egregious circumstances, and yet Pres. Ali settles for the tactic that the best defense is to go on offense. I recommend a stint in American Football. Theonewheretheywear helmets.
Notwithstanding the above, I wouldhaveapproacheddifferently The pastor had to apologize publicly, promise that his missteps wouldn't be repeated. Plus, a short periodofsuspension,sothatthere's self-examinationandreflection.
Done in a spirit of Christlike forgiveness, true to the biblical arithmetic that was a puzzle, but what's not a puzzle anymore, thanks to the Master Teacher To elaborate,howmanytimesshouldI forgive an errant brother, seven times? No! not seven times, but seven times seven. In other words,
as many times as is humanly possible. Or, to emphasize this message: blessed are the merciful, for they shall know mercy Disqualifying from further involvement in ministering in Guyana is a harsh step, though it has its merits. Set an example, draw a line, and hold that out as the standard. Personally, I would go withthelesser,softer,gentlerlash. Myhopeandprayerarethatthe rough talking, menacingly advancing,pastorwouldbegivena chance to restart ministering outside of Guyana, and that he seizes it with both hands, accompaniedbythepropercontrite spirit. Last, Guyanese leaders admitfailures.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Duncan slams UNDP's “glowing” elections report
…questions absence of livestreams, limited press conferences -saysGECOM'sreal conduct tells a different story
Opposition Member of
Parliament Sherod Duncan has raised sharp concerns about what he calls a “troubling disconnect” between the UNDP's recent assessment of Guyana's 2025 elections and the actual conduct of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)duringtheperiod.
The UNDP, in a publication titled “Strengthening Trust in Democracy: UNDP's Support to Guyana's 2025 General and Regional Elections,” praised GECOM for developing and implementing a comprehensive communications strategy, branding manual, crisis communication protocol, and upgraded outreach efforts. It also highlighted new media policies, training for more than 100 journalists, inclusive messaging, strengthened stakeholder engagement, and a Media Centre that facilitated realtimeupdatesonElectionDay.
But Duncan, an APNU legislature in a statement issued Sunday, said the UNDP's glowing account does not align with the experiences of the media, political parties, or the public during the election cycle. According to the M P, G E C O M ' s a c t u a l communication practices were “anythingbuttransparent.”
“From May 1 to September 30, GECOM issued roughly twenty
press statements,” Duncan noted. “But when it came to live engagement,theclearesttestofany communications strategy, the Commission held only a handful of press conferences, fewer than five in total None of these were livestreamed by GECOM itself, despite livestreaming being standard international practice to ensure transparency, avoid misinformation, and provide equal accesstoallmediahouses.”
Duncan said at almost all of these engagements, the Public Relations Officer was left to carry the responsibility alone “The Chairperson was largely absent, appearing only once across the entirecycle.
The CEO and DCEO deferred answers to several critical questions. At the 22 November 2024 press conference, veteran journalist Gordon Moseley directly confronted the GECOM Chair, stating that she was “dodging questions”, a public expression of frustration that underscores the gap between UNDP's claims and the lived reality of election communications in Guyana Stakeholders at GECOM's own meetings complained of slow answers, inaccessible information, and unresolved queries regarding joined lists, polling agents, death removals, and voter-list accuracy
These are not the hallmarks of a f u n c t i o n i n g “ C r i s i s CommunicationProtocol.”
According to the APNU MP, they are signs of institutional communication strain and internal silence.“Whatisequallystrikingis what the UNDPstatement does not say There is no identification of remaining gaps, no discussion of outstanding reforms, no analysis of what did not work, and no candid reflection on structural weaknesses that still undermine public trust. Every serious technical report includes an honest balance of strengths and shortcomings UNDP'sstatementdoesnot.
“In the wake of the EU's findings and the President's defensive posture, that omission is deeply concerning. Guyana needs clarity, not contradictions. If a Communications Strategy truly exists, the public should have seen itduringtheelection.
If a Crisis Communication Protocol was adopted, it should have been visible in real-time engagement, not only in a donor report If deliverables were completed, Parliament should be abletoscrutinisethem.Andifthere are gaps, and the evidence clearly shows that there are, they must be acknowledged and addressed before the next electoral cycle.”
“We welcome UNDP's continued
commitment to Guyana But transparency demands more than praise; it demands accuracy Development partners strengthen democracywhentheyspeakclearly about both progress and deficiencies. Domestic institutions strengthen democracy when they arewillingtobeaccountableforthe standards they claim to uphold. For these reasons, the APNU will pursue Parliamentary Questions, Motions, Committee inquiries, and disclosure requests to ensure that the full truth about GECOM's communications systems, protocols, obligations, and performanceisplacedonthepublic record. These matters, including the discrepancy between UNDP's claims and GECOM's actual communication practices, will continue to inform our Parliamentary agenda with respect to GECOM. If a communications strategytrulyexisted,theGuyanese peopleshouldhaveseenitinaction, notonlyinaUNDPstatement.”
Among other things the UNDP said in its report that with its support, GECOM developed, adopted and implemented a comprehensive Communications Strategy, Branding Manual and Crisis Communication Protocol, ensuring timely and consistent public information. “A Media Code of Conduct and Media Policy
were introduced, and over 100 journalistsweretrainedonelectoral legislation, procedures, and ethical reporting UNDP further supported GECOM in enhancing inclusivity and accessibility by facilitating collaboration between organisations representing persons with disabilities and election officials. This ensured that polling daystaffreceivedspecificguidance and training on how to effectively support persons with disabilities during the voting process. UNDP also supported the graphic design with integration of inclusive messaging across GECOM's voter information and social media campaigns, reflecting Guyana's cultural and racial diversity and ensuring visibility of persons with disabilities, youth, senior citizens, women,andmen.”
Furthermore, UNDP said it (Continued on page 17)
Member of Parliament, Sherod Duncan
Joint GDF-Brazil patrols hit illegal mining
...as soldiers tighten grip on porous border
Th e G u y a n a Defence Force (GDF) and the Brazilian Army have intensified their joint security posture along the Takutu and Ireng frontiers, completing a high-impact series of mirrored patrols that targeted illegal mining, cross-border trafficking, and other illicit activities plaguing Region Nine
According to a GDF release, senior commanders from both militaries met on November13tosynchronise the multi-layered operation, which deployed air, mobile, and motorised patrol teams
a c r o s s B o n f i m a n d Normandia in Brazil, and KanapangandChiungonthe Guyanese side The coordinated sweep forms
part of the growing bilateral push to lock down one of the most vulnerable stretches of border shared by the two n a t i o n s
During the joint patrols, several locations identified t
monitoring for suspected
activitieswereexaminedand assessed.Aspartofthewider security effort, the GDF supported the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission in an operation targeting illegal mining in the Ireng Sector This activity was coordinated
The Office of the Prime Minister, through its facilitating agency the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), has successfully completed the roll-out of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) WiFiGY service to all 253 indigenous villages across the country, which ensures that every hinterland, remote, and riverain community now benefits from public highspeed internet access for the firsttimeinnationalhistory This milestone reflects the Government's digital inclusion mandate to expand equitable access to essential services, improve learning
o p p o r t u n i t i e s , a n d strengthen connectivity
across Guyana, the Department of Public Information(DPI)reported.
The installations commenced on July 10, 2024, in the Moruca subd i s t r i c t w i t h t h e programme's official launch in Kamwatta Village by Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret'd), the Honourable Mark Phillips. Since then, technical teams deployed across regions 1–10 under the coordination of the NDMA, have completed
hundreds of national installation across the 253 sites To ensure consistent service in communities which are far-flung and remote, the deployment teams applied a tailored
model based on the geographic conditions of each location. This included the use of pole-mounted
More than 135,000 hinterland residents are reportedly benefitting from the service
infrastructure featuring solar-powered systems with batteryreserves,markingthe first time that villages such as Annisbisi (Red Hill) received 24/7 high-speed internet access.Through this effort, schools, ICT hubs, health centres, community grounds, learning facilities, and administrative buildings arenowconnected. This achievement has provided more than 135,000 residents with unhindered a c c e s s t o l e a r n i n g opportunities, including the Guyana Online Academy of L e a r n i n g ( G O A L ) Residents now also benefit from digital skills training, r e m o t e m e d i c a l consultations through telemedicine, expanded micro-entrepreneurship opportunities, and enhanced
One of the mining operations that was destroyed during the joint patrol
Government services. Prime M
n welcoming the completion of the initiative, reaffirmed t h e G o v
n t ' s commitment to national equity in digital access
“This achievement reflects strong collaboration across Government agencies, regional leadership, Village Councils and our technical partners ” He added that “with the completion of the p r o g r a m m e , e v e r y Indigenous community is connected, and every Guyanese child, family and entrepreneur now has a p a t h w a y t o d i g i t a l opportunities that were once out of reach. This is how we build equity, strengthen national participation and continue moving Guyana forward.”
with the Brazilian Army, which conducted a parallel operation on its side of the border Illegal equipment discovered during the mission was seized, disabled and destroyed, with affected communities in the area expressing strong support for the intervention
At the conclusion of the operation, the Commander of the Brazilian Army's 2nd Jungle Infantry Company visited the GDF military facilities in Lethem, while Commander of the Takutu River Base, Lieutenant Philipe Delmiro was hosted at the 1st Special Border Platoon in Bonfim. Both visits featured professional exchanges, interaction between ranks, and the customary presentation of t o k e n s Additionally, a follow up visitwasconductedtothe1st
Special Border Platoon in Bonfim by Staff Officer
Three Operations of the 3 Infantry Battalion, Captain Lawrence King, and Second in Command of the GDF Border Detachment in Lethem, Sergeant Delbert J o s e p h
The joint activities reaffirmed the commitment oftheGDFandtheBrazilian Army to deepening bilateral cooperation, strengthening border security, and safeguarding the wellbeing of communities along the Takutu and Ireng frontiers.
‘Double tragedy’
....Husband cries for justice after wife and baby die in childbirth
The reputed husband of 36year-old Latoya Griffith, who passed away from pregnancyrelated complications last Wednesday, is adding his voice to already mounting calls by family membersandfriendsforathorough investigation into the death of his partner
Griffithalongwithhernewborn died at the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital on Wednesday, leavingbehindthreeotherchildren.
40-year-old Helroy Williams, with whom the now dead woman would have gotten their first child together, told Kaieteur News that he is struggling to absorb the reality,sincehelostbothhispartner andhisnewbornbabyboy
According to the devastated man, Griffith's condition during pregnancy caused her to visit the high-risk clinic, following which
shewastoldtocollectheressentials from home, as she would be admitted. Detailing a series of communication between himself and his wife, Williams recalled being informed by Griffith that she would have to undergo cesarean section.
"When she got back and she wasinthehospital,shetoldmethat in the night they were going to cut her. When I go back, nothing like that. They push up the tablets to bringdownthepain."
Hedisclosedthatshewasgiven three pills in total. For the second pill, Griffith had maintained that she had no pain. Moreover, the woman agreed to have the Csectiondone.
"The last morning, I spoke to her, she said she's willing for the cut,sheain'tgettingnopain."
The family on Wednesday
Helroy Williams, the reputed husband of Latoya Griffith
received a call from the hospital informing them that Griffith neededblood,andthatshehadtobe rushed to the Georgetown Public HospitalCorporation(GPHC).
But Williams claimed that it wasallamovetocover Hesaidthe
hospital should have moved ahead withtheC-sectionratherthantryto inducelabor
"Since Tuesday she's in there. They know she's a high-risk patient. Why you had to push up tablets or whatever? The next day when I went, the Wednesday morning,Iseeshe'shardlymoving. I tell she go back inside and catch her rest. That was the last word I spoke to her," the grieving man said.
Holdinghisemotions,hecalled for more prudence and sharpness on the part of officials at the hospital At the same time, Williams is pleading for timely justice.
"I feel it, and I wish we could get justice. (The) hospital needs to do better It's a high-risk patient.
They're supposed to do everything....it was supposed to be
the best care she was to have. I'm feeling it. It's both gone. It's not one,andsheleavekids.It'ssosad.I wishwecouldgetjustice."
Family members said some officials reached out to them seeking to ensure that the matter is notmadepublic.Theinstitutionhas promised to launch an inquiry into theincident.
Griffith, one of eight siblings, workedattheNo.19HealthCenter ontheCorentyne.
Pres. Ali turns sod for $2.5B Bartica terminal
...Promises international flights, cheaper fares, and new hospital
President Irfaan Ali on Sunday turned the sod for a massive $2.5B aircraft terminal at the Bartica Airport an investment set to deliver international flight capability to the township for the first time and reshape Guyana's aviationlandscape.
The project, a partnership betweenBKInternationalGroupof Companies and Jags Aviationcompanies owned by Brian Tiwarie, will feature commercial spaces, restaurants, cafés, 50 hotelstyle rooms, medical service areas and full aviation facilities. Once completed, within 12 months the terminal will accommodate international traffic and support direct movement of passengers and cargo from the interior to overseas destinations. The development is also expected to complement the world-class golf course soon to be constructedinthetownship.
Duringtheceremony,President Ali commended the project stating, “this is an exciting development and one that is transformative in its nature and character Bartica is changing and changing rapidly and it is all part of the transformation takingplacenationally.”
He revealed that the terminal is expectedtobecompletedwithin12 months, allowing for direct travel from interior regions to international destinations. “When places are easier to reach, they become easier to grow Within 12 months, we will fly food from out the interior, whether it's from Lethem or here directly into Caricom countries. In 12 months, we will get it done,” President Ali stated. President Ali emphasised that the terminal will form part of a
President Irfaan Ali alongside Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, representative of BK group of companies and Jags Aviation officials, turning the sod at Bartica airport
“goldentriangleofconnectivity,by river, by land, and by air”, positioning Bartica as one of the most strategic transportation hubs in Guyana and the wider Caribbean.
He also acknowledged significant improvements within the aviation sector, noting the extensiveinvestmentsmadeinnew assets and modernisation efforts. However, he challenged the sector to adopt a more balanced pricing mechanism for consumers. “We have given the aviation sector enormousincentiveswehavegiven then enormous support in removal of taxes and fuel. It is time that the aviation sector returns that support tothecitizensandthepeopleofour country There is no way the aviationsectorcannotatthistimeat leastreduceairtransportby15%. I
challenge Jags Aviation to once again be the trailblazer in reducing this cost that is not outside of your reach,”PresidentAliurged.
Newhospital
Additionally, President Ali announced that a new, state-of-theart hospital will be launched in
RegionSevenbytheendofthefirst quarter next year. This facility, he said, will significantly enhance medevac capabilities and improve emergency healthcare delivery across the region, with the help of the aviation sector “When we have medevacs we can now have a
facility in Bartica that can take care of those medevac bringing health care more efficient, saving time, saving life in emergency and that is willallowustodoso,”hesaid. Meanwhile, Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, echoed the President's sentiments and highlighted the government's broader aviation expansion plans. These include a new airport at Rose Hall in Region Six, an international airport in Lethem, and extensive upgrades to hinterland airstrips. Additionally, Region Seven will see the construction of 16 new concrete airstrips, while Region Eight will receive 10, bringing the total to 26 new airstrips across the two regions. By 2026, approximately 35 new airstrips with a cost of $30 billion in investment, are expected to be completed. “About 35 new airstripsin2026closeto$30billion will be going into the new airstrips to ensure that no community is inaccessible and to bring own cost oftheoperatorsthatplythosetrade, and in turn we hope that the ticket price, cargo price can reduce,” he said.
Latoya Griffith, of Gibraltar, Corentyne, who died at the New Amsterdam hospital
E/bo teen killed after swerving from reckless rider
An 18-year-old girl lost her life Sunday afternoon after her vehicle collided with a light pole along the Riverstown Public Road, Region Two, Pomeroon-Supenaam.
Thedeadteenhasbeenidentifiedas Nayomi Singh of Huist T'Dieren, RegionTwo.
KaieteurNewsunderstandsthatthe accident occurred at approximately 17:00 hrs. Reports indicate that Singh was driving along the Riverstown Public Road when a motorcyclist allegedly swerved into her path. In an
attempt to avoid a collision, she reportedlyveeredawaybutlostcontrol ofhervehicleandcrashedintoanearby lightpole.Theimpactcausedextensive damage to the front driver's side of the car
Public-spirited citizens rushed to the scene and pulled Singh from the wreckagebeforetransportinghertothe SuddiePublicHospital.Unfortunately, she was pronounced dead on arrival. Her body was later taken to the Suddie Mortuary, where it awaits a postmortemexamination.
Singh, a former student of the Abram Zuil Secondary school and youth parliamentarian, was renowned
competitions.
In2023shewonbestspeakerasshe led her debating team to victory defeating the Anna Regina Secondary School to win the regional leg of the JOF Haynes debating competition for herschool.Shewasreportedlytheonly daughterofherparents.
Facebook and other social media platforms have been flooded with tributes following the news of her tragic death. Photos have also surfaced of loved ones, and friends gathered at a hospital in the region mourning her loss.
Corentyne cook caught with 1.585 kilograms of cannabis
An intelligence-led operation by Guyana Police Force (GPF) ranks in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) has led to the seizure of cannabis and the arrest of a Corentyne, Berbice woman.Ranks made the discovery of a quantity of suspected cannabis on Sunday at about 10:00hrs during the operation at Number 77 Housing Scheme, Corentyne, Berbice, which led to the apprehension of the 31-year-old suspect, who is said to be a cook.During the operation, ranks conducted searches in an abandonedhouselotlocatedimmediatelysouthofthewoman's residence, where they discovered a grey jumbo garbage bag containing two transparent plastic wraps and a white paint bucket, all holding quantities of leaves, seeds and stems suspectedtobecannabis.
ThewomanwasarrestedandtakentotheSpringlandsPolice Stationalongwiththesuspectednarcotics,wheresheremainsin custody While at the station, the suspected cannabis was weighedinherpresenceandamountedto1.585kilograms.The itemswereprocessedandlodgedasinvestigationscontinue.
Family members at Suddie Public Hospital following the news of Singh's demise (Essequibo on the rise photo)
Dead: 18-year-old Nayomi Singh
GGI supports Step Change Safety Campaign
…strengthening capacity with 26 new NEBOSH-certified instructors
The Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) has hailed the inaugural graduation of 26 participants from the NEBOSH International General Certificate programme, which was held at the Guyana MarriottHotel.
Launched in September 2024, the 11-week programme, fully funded by the Greater Guyana Initiativeequippedinstructorsfrom 11 public TVET institutions across Guyana with globally recognised safety knowledge and critical thinking skills, GGI said in a press release.
The programme combined inperson sessions with virtual learning, culminating in the NEBOSH examinations in late November. This achievement represents a significant step in strengthening occupational safety and technical education within Guyana'sTVETenvironment.
The programme empowers graduates to foster safer learning environments and workplaces, aligning with international
standards. As Guyana's oil and gas sector expands, the demand for a well-trained, safety-conscious workforce grows ever more critical This initiative directly supportsthatgoal.
Patrick Chinedu, Director of CTVET opened the ceremony by emphasising the importance of safety in all training environments. He emphasised that for TVET programmes, a strong safety culture is essential because it prepares learners for real world industry standards. Reflecting on the collaboration, Phil Doody, President of LearnCorp International,highlightedthevalue of delivering global best practices through local partnerships, noting, “Your expertise will be critical in shaping a safer workplace, influencing national development andensuringGuyaneseworkplaces meetglobalstandards.”
Dr Ritesh Tularam, Deputy Chief Education Officer (Technical),MinistryofEducation, delivered the featured address and underscored the broader
significance of upskilling TVET instructors stating, “Your decision to pursue the NEBOSH qualification reflects a profound sense of responsibility A recognition that safety is at the heart of sustainable development, productivity and human dignity, given the rapidity of the developmental trajectory that we are currently experiencingandthatisenveloping thisbeautifulcountryofGuyana.”
Illegal gun found in hotel washroom
An illegal firearm along with ammunition was discovered by police ranks in Regional Division #6attheLeisureInnHotelandBar inNewAmsterdam,Berbice.
Reports from the police confirmed that the illegal weapon and ammunition were found on Sunday at about 02:00hrs at the location.
Based on preliminary investigations, a 24-year-old male security guard attached to the hotel discovered a Taurus pistol with a magazine containing nine live rounds in the male washroom onthelowerflatofthebuilding.
He immediately notified his supervisor,whothencontactedthe police. Ranks visited the location,
Graduates shared their pride in completing the certification Dexter Bellamy of the Linden Technical Institute shared that the programme supported their professional growth and prepared them to shape safer training environments noting, “The NEBOSH Safety Training Campaign has resonated with us deeply To our colleagues, it represents a collectively forward effort to move beyond basic compliance and toward a culture founded on responsibility, mutual c a r e a n d c o n t i n u o u s improvement.”
Lorna Carlson, Socioeconomic Manager at ExxonMobil Guyana Limited,deliveredthechargetothe students, reminding them that, “you are not just graduates, you are guardians of safety, champions of best practices and role models for every technician, engineer and professional who will follow in yourfootsteps.”
The initiative was delivered through collaboration with the GreaterGuyanaInitiative,Ministry
of Education, the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), and LearnCorp International. This collaboration ensured that global standardswereadaptedtoGuyana's local context, strengthening institutions and contributing to long-term national impact. Also present at the graduation and delivering remarks was Robert Harris, Safety OIMS Supervisor, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited During his remarks, he reinforced the importance of safety training and commended the graduates for their commitment to advancing nationaldevelopment.
The Greater Guyana Initiative is supported by the Stabroek Block Co-venturers - ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited Through this ten-year programme, GGI is investing in capacitybuilding initiatives across Guyana with a focus on education and training, economic development, andhealthcare.
These efforts aim to strengthen the local workforce, enhance the competitiveness of Guyanese businesses, and lay the foundation for sustained economic growth beyondtheoilandgassector
Dr. Ritesh Tularam, Deputy Chief Education Officer (Technical), Ministry of Education delivering remarks
Phil Doody, President and CEO Learn Corp International delivering remarks
Representatives of the Ministry of Education, Greater Guyana Initiative, LearnCorp International, Council for TVET, and graduates.
UNDP cites quiet overhaul of GECOM's machinery
...says 2025 elections mark Guyana's biggest leap in electoral modernisation
T h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s Development Programme (UNDP) has revealed the extent of its behind-the-scenes support to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), describing the 2025 General and Regional Elections as a turning point in electoral modernisation, communication, and institutional resilience in Guyana.
According to a report regarding itsinvolvementintheSeptember1, 2025 elections, the UNDP highlighted the deep structural upgrades inside GECOM that strengthened its internal systems, improved engagement with the public, and enhanced long-term trust in the electoral process Funded by the Government of the United Kingdom, UNDP's technical mission worked alongside GECOM for months leading up to the poll, introducing modern IT solutions, crisis-ready communications tools, and inclusive voter-education mechanismsthatspannedtheentire country, the report noted. The UNDP said that the 2025 General and Regional Elections were more thanjustacivicexercise;theywere an opportunity to strengthen public
confidence in the democratic process. The UN agency said that its role in Guyana reflected its broader global expertise, noting that in recent years, UNDP has supported electoral processes in more than 60 countries, bringing agile and experienced experts with comparative insights and adaptive solutions.
“UNDP's support to GECOM enhanced transparency and resilience within the country's electoral framework. By providing strategic advice, strengthening communications, introducing innovative IT solutions, and enhancing operations and logistics, the support reinforced GECOM's role as a trusted guardian of Guyana's democratic values
Engagement with diverse stakeholders fostered inclusivity and dialogue, while the technical assistance implemented ensured credibility and public confidence. These efforts reflect Guyana's rich d i v e r s
n d e n d u r i n g commitment to democratic governance, enabling citizens to participatemeaningfullyinshaping thenation'ssharedfuture.”
Leading amultidisciplinaryteamofexperts, the Electoral Support Project
ensured that UNDP's assistance was practical, timely, and responsive to GECOM's needs, the report stated. “The focus was not just on conducting elections but on building institutional capacity and resilience, enhancing stakeholder engagement and transparency, togetherwithlong-termtrust.”
Regarding elections day, the UNDP said that elections, as reported by local and international observers, were calm and peaceful. The tabulation process, despite recount challenges, was conducted inanorganisedmannerwithresults being given within days of polls closing and all political parties accepting the results. “The conduct of the election, despite its challenges, is attributed in large part by the professionalism and direction taken by the Guyana Elections Commission. As team leader of UNDP's technical assistance to GECOM, it is reassuring when your strategic advice is highly appreciated and implemented to unlock bottlenecks throughout the process.” - Team Lead, UNDP Electoral Technical Support to GECOM,” the report stated.
Communications
Members of UNDP's technical support team
The UNDP said with its support, GECOM developed, adopted and implemented a comprehensive Communications Strategy, Branding Manual and Crisis Communication Protocol, ensuring timely and consistent public information. It noted that a Media Code of Conduct and Media Policy were introduced, and over 100 journalists were trained on electoral legislation, procedures, and ethical reporting “UNDP further supported GECOM in enhancing inclusivity and accessibility by facilitating
organisations representing persons with disabilities and election officials. This ensured that polling daystaffreceivedspecificguidance and training on how to effectively support persons with disabilities
during the voting process. UNDP also supported the graphic design with integration of inclusive messaging across GECOM's voter information and social media campaigns, reflecting Guyana's cultural and racial diversity and ensuring visibility of persons with disabilities, youth, senior citizens, women,andmen,”thereportstates. Furthermore, UNDP said it s u p p o r t e d G E C O M i n strengthening its engagement and dialoguewithpoliticalparties,civil society, observer groups, and media These forums provided platforms for open discussions and fact-basedupdates,helpingtobuild trust in a sometimes-polarised environment “Civic and voter education campaigns also reached citizens throughout Guyana, from (Continued on page 16)
US to launch new phase of Venezuela operations, sources say
(Reuters) - The United States is poised to launch a new phase of Venezuelarelated operations in the coming days, four U.S. officials told Reuters, as the Trump administration escalates pressure on President Nicolas Maduro's government.
Reuters was not able to establish the exact timing or scope of the new operations, nor whether U.S. President Donald Trump had made a final decision to act. Reports of looming action have proliferated in recent weeks as the U.S. military has deployed forces to the Caribbean amid worsening relationswithVenezuela.
Two of the U.S. officials saidcovertoperationswould likely be the first part of the new action against Maduro. All four officials quoted in this article spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of impending action by the UnitedStates.
The Pentagon referred questions to the White House. The CIA declined to comment.
A senior administration
official on Saturday did not rule anything out regarding Venezuela.
"President Trump is prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice," said the official, speaking on theconditionofanonymity
T h e T r u m p administration has been weighing Venezuela-related optionstocombatwhatithas portrayedasMaduro'srolein supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans. He has denied having any links totheillegaldrugtrade.
Two U.S. officials told Reuters the options under consideration included attempting to overthrow Maduro.
Maduro, in power since 2013, has contended that Trump seeks to oust him and that Venezuelan citizens and the military will resist any suchattempt.
T h e Ve n e z u e l a n president,whowillcelebrate his 63rd birthday on Sunday, appeared on Saturday night at Caracas' main theater for the premiere of a television
seriesbasedonhislife.
Amilitary buildup in the Caribbean has been underway for months, and Trump has authorised covert C I A o p e r a t i o n s i n Venezuela. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Fridaywarnedmajorairlines of a "potentially hazardous situation" when flying over Venezuelaandurgedthemto exercisecaution.
Three international airlines cancelled flights departingfromVenezuelaon Saturday after the FAA warning.
The United States plans on Monday to designate the Cartel de los Soles a foreign terrorist organisation for its alleged role in importing illegal drugs into the United States, officials said. The Trump administration has accused Maduro of leading CarteldelosSoles,whichhe denies.
HEGSETH:
NEW OPTIONSAFTER TERRORIST
DESIGNATION
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week that the terrorist designation "brings a whole bunch of
new options to the United States."
Trump has said the upcoming designation would allow the United States to strike Maduro's assets and infrastructure in Venezuela, but he also has indicated a willingness to potentially pursue talks in hopes of a diplomatic solution.
Two U S officials
a c k n o w l e d g e d conversations between Caracas and Washington. It was unclear whether those conversations could impact the timing or scale of the U.S.operations.
The U.S. Navy's largest aircraftcarrier,theGeraldR. Ford, arrived in the Caribbean on November 16 with its strike group, joining atleastsevenotherwarships, a nuclear submarine and F35aircraft.
U.S. forces in the region so far have focused on c o u n t e r - n a r c o t i c s operations, even though the assembled firepower far outweighs anything needed for them. U.S. troops have carried out at least 21 strikes on alleged drug boats in the
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks during an event at the Parque Caiza socialist commune, amid rising tensions with the United States, in Caracas, Venezuela, November 6, 2025.
Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS
Caribbean and Pacific since September,killingatleast83 people.
Human rights groups have condemned the strikes as illegal extrajudicial killings of civilians, and some U S allies have expressed growing concerns that Washington may be violatinginternationallaw Washington in August doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million.
The U.S. military dwarfs Venezuela's, which is debilitated by a lack of training, low wages and deteriorating equipment Someunitcommandershave beenforcedtonegotiatewith
local food producers to feed their troops because government supplies fall short,Reutershasreported. That reality has led Maduro's government to consider alternative strategies in the event of a U S invasion, including possibly a guerrilla-style response, which the government has termed "prolonged resistance" and mentioned in broadcasts on statetelevision. This approach would involve small military units at more than 280 locations carrying out acts of sabotage and other guerrilla tactics, Reuters has reported, citing sources and years-old planningdocuments.
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An audit conducted into the operation of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) for January 2021 to June 2024 shows that 10 pieces of heavy-duty equipment were not recorded in its assets register
The report presented in the recently convened 13th Parliament said that the team of auditors were seeking to verifytheassetsoftheauthority that were located in RegionsTwo,Three,Four,Five, andSix.
“A comparison was made betweentheinformationgathered from the physical verification exercise and that contained in the asset register. It was revealed that ten pieces of heavy-duty equipment, motor vehicles, and cycles were not recorded in the register,” the report revealed.
Mechanical reports produced by the maintenance department were also examinedfortheauditedperiodand
the asset register was looked at to be verified with the assetslistedtodetermineitsaccuracy and completeness.
It was discovered that twenty pieces of heavy-duty equipment and motor vehicles, serviced at a total cost of $27.326 million, were not recorded in the register
In its recommendations the audit office said that “the management of the authority implement measures to properly account for all assets underitscontrol.Thiswillfacilitate proper tracking for improved budgeting and maintenance planning, as well as prevent loss or theft.”
The management team in response, acknowledged the findings and said it has updateditsassetregister.“However,pickupPHH2524under table ¹. 9 is registered under the Ministry ofAgriculture.”
OnNovember23thispublication reported that in a report on NDIA’s performance
of the auditors flagged the non-presentation of documentation to ascertain the ownership of the assets in its possession.
“The audit sought to verify the ownership of over 500 assets recorded in the authority’s asset register However, despite several requests for the relevant documentation to prove ownership, only 21 of the total requested were presented for audit,” the report said.
As a result, auditors were unabletodeterminethenumber of assets owned by the NDIA and whether maintenance expenditure was in the interest of the authority
In this light the audit office, has recommended that themanagementoftheNDIA “take the required steps to ensure pertinent records for the assets under their control are available and presented forauditverification.”
TheNDIA,inresponseto
the findings, said that the necessary corrective steps willbetakentoensurethatits records are kept and compliancewiththestoreregulation of1993ismaintained.
The audit office said that the goal of the assets register is to ensure that an organisation’s records contain complete information about all its assets so that there can be easy tracking where necessary This ultimately allows for the proper managementandaccountability.
It was disclosed that the NDIA maintained assets register for the audited period. However, the entity failed to properlywrite-uptheregister as pertinent information was omitted.Theomittedinformation includes: the location of theasset,assetserialnumber, asset identification number and,assets’transfersbetween regions/locations,”thereport added.
UNDP cites quiet overhaul of GECOM's...
From page 15 hinterland villages to urban centres,usingmultiplemedia channels and introduced a feedback framework to capture and address common concernsandmisinformation during community outreach. ThesetoolsenabledGECOM to deliver clear, fact-based information, counter misinformation, and engage proactively with the public andmedia.
The establishment of a Media Centre on election day provided journalists and observerswithacentralhubfor press briefings and real-time data updates,” the UNDP said.
“The people of Guyana reflect a remarkable and diversetapestry,eachwiththeir ownhistories,traditions,and voices.
Allelectoralcommunication was therefore aimed to be tailored to speak to all communities in a way that wasclear,impartial,andinclusive.
With UNDP's technical support, communication became the bridge that could unite communities, build trust, curb misinformation, and foster a culture of tolerance and responsibility The strengthened engagement
withallelectoralstakeholders ensured the electoral process wasmoreinclusive,credible, and widely accepted,” said Electoral Communications Specialist, UNDP Electoral Technical Support to GECOM.
Keeping the wheels turning Meanwhile, UNDP said Guyana's elections reflect both the resilience of its people and the complexity of administering polls across a diverse and expansive territory. However, with UNDP support, GECOM successfully assessed 2,790 polling stations nationwide, strengthening accessibility for communities in coastal, hinterland,andriverineareas. 13,925 polling officials were trained to uphold fairness, transparency, and efficiency Sensitivematerials,including ballots,ballotboxes,indelible ink, forms and others, were securely procured, verified and dispatched under strict oversight by party agents. These efforts reinforced Guyana's democratic values, ensuring that every citizenacross its multicultural and resource-rich society, could participate meaningfully in shaping the nation's collective future.
participate. Their resilience, diversity, and determination gavemeaningtoeveryballot cast,demonstratingthatcredible elections are about empowering people to shape their common future,” said the Operations and Logistics Specialist, UNDP Electoral Technical Support to GECOM.
Technology
The UNDP report also noted that technology shouldmeetpracticalrequirementsinanefficientandsustainableway,providingvalue that exceeds the costs of obtaining and maintaining it. It said that in 2022, GECOM underwent significant legal reforms which enabled technology to play a groundbreaking role in advancing transparency throughout the electoral process. “GECOM's in-house StatementofPollUploadsystem was strengthened with cybersecurity safeguards, ensuring results were uploaded seamlessly even duringtemporarypublicwebsite outages.Atthesametime,an upgraded ResultsTabulation application was deployed across 20 counting centres and praised by observers for its clarity and user-friendliness.”
tions & procedures and assisttheEMBto,amongstothers, enhance transparency, trust, reduce human errors, uphold accountability and providetraceableaudittrails. Appropriate technology aids an EMB in ensuring that every vote counts and every voice is heard – without partisanship or political bias.
Whenstakeholders–from voters to political party agents–areactivelyengaged and understand the individual electoral activities & their supporting technologies, then trust flourishes. And in that trust lies the strengthofdemocracy:asystem where informed citizens shapetheirfuturewithconfidence, clarity, and collective purpose”–UNDPITSpecialist said.
According to the UNDP, theimpactofitstechnicalassistance allowed GECOM to improveinstitutionalcredibility, strengthen operational capacity, enhance voter education, and unprecedented levels of transparency in results reporting.
“Delivering elections in Guyana is an operational and logisticalchallengeandaprofound civic duty With UNDP's technical assistance and support, GECOM strengthened systems to ensure secure materials, welltrained officials, and accessible polling across coastland,hinterland,andriverinecommunities.
Yet beyond operations and logistics, what stood out was the commitment of citizens who came forward to
“In the digital age, information technology is no longer just a tool—it is the backbone of credible, inclusive, and resilient elections. By investing in capacity building, we empower electoral bodies to harness secure systems, manage data responsibly, and respond swiftly to emerging needs & challenges.
Technology in elections mustbealignedwithanElectoral Management Body's (EMB) existing law, regula-
“Electionobservershighlighted GECOM's openness, professionalism,andresponsiveness, reinforcing public trust in Guyana's electoral process across its diverse and resilient society. UNDP Guyanaremainscommittedto supporting democratic institutions, building resilience, and strengthening governance in Guyana in this new developmental age. As we moveforward,ourpartnership withGECOMandotherinstitutions will continue to uphold the values of transparency,inclusion,andtrust,ensuring that democracy in Guyana grows stronger with every election,” the report concluded.
Patterson urges G20 leaders to prioritise climate justice
(Jamaica Observer)
Former Jamaica Prime Minister PJ Patterson is hoping that global leaders now meeting at the G20 summit in Johannesburg, SouthAfrica,willgivegreat focus to the issue of climate justice as they work toward resolving several of the persistent challenges facing theworld'spoorestnations.
Patterson, a persistent climate justice advocate, made the call against the background of Hurricane Melissa'sassaultonsections of Jamaica late last month, which has left hundreds of people homeless, destroyed infrastructure, and delivered heavy blows to tourism, agriculture and other industries. The Category 5 hurricane, which made landfall on Jamaica's southwesterncoastonOctober28, has been blamed for 45 deaths so far while its physical damage to the country has been estimated bytheWorldBankatUS$8.8 billion, which is equivalent to 41 per cent of Jamaica's gross domestic product (GDP) last year That, the World Bank said, has made Melissa, “the costliest hurricane in Jamaica's recordedhistory”.
South Africa chose 'Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability'asthethemeof its presidency of the G20, which comprises 19 countries and two regional
bodies the European UnionandtheAfricanUnion — and accounts for 85 per centofglobalGDP
Noting the focus on equality in the theme, Patterson pointed to the decisionoftheUnitedStates Government to eventually send a delegation, though notatthepresidentiallevel.
“If ever there is an area wheretheyneedimmediately tolookatglobalinequality,it is in the area of global warming and climate change,” Patterson told the Jamaica Observer on Saturday
Hesaidthatlastmonthhe was invited to join Accra Reset, a group of elders spearheaded by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and comprising past heads of Africa'ssixregions.
The former prime minister said that he sent an inputforthegrouptopresent at the G20, urging the importanceofaddressingthe issueofclimatechange.
Patterson also said he is hoping that Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, who is attending the two-day summit which ends on Sunday, November 23, will use the opportunity to speak about Hurricane Melissa's impactonJamaica.
“I am hoping that we are going to have a strong statementemergingfromthat conference on the whole
Patterson…”if
ever there is an area where they need immediately to look at global inequality, it is in the area of global warming and climate change”
question of climate change, because the Accra Reset groupwasinvitednotonlyto make an input into those deliberations, but is also beingchargedtoassistinthe follow-up, and the implementation, and the acceptance of whatever decisions emerge from the Johannesburg summit. And we are particularly certainly in Jamaica — very much interested in this question of climate justice,” Pattersonsaid.
“Now, there are things that can follow from that, if accepted We know already about the insurance policies on which we are entitled to draw…” he said. “But every time we make a step forward we are being
pushed back by forces outside our control,” he argued He described as frightening the argument being advanced by “perhaps the greatest polluter” that climate change “is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind”, despite “all the scientific evidence which is abundant and which we have been ignoringforsolong”.
“So, it is a very serious thing,anditisinthiscontext that I think we have to approach our appeal to the international community, because while the disaster occurred in Jamaica, and while it is occurring in the Caribbean, it is really not of our making. It is not within our control. We are not the
ones that have caused it but we are the ones that have been the worst victims of it, facedwiththepossibility,in some cases, of extinction whenthesealevelscontinue to rise over our small island states or we are being ravaged by something like Hurricane Melissa, ”
Patterson told the Sunday Observer
He pointed to the World Bank estimate of Melissa's damage and said that, in his humble judgement, it is at best an approximation of whathasbeenseensofar
“There are still some portions of the country that have been damaged that are relatively inaccessible, and wewon'treallyknowthefull extent of the damage until we have been able to go in and do proper calculations,” said Patterson who, during his 14-year tenure as prime minister, has had to manage the State's response to a number hurricanes He expressed disappointment that the deal reached at the United Nations climate summit (COP30) in Brazil onSaturdaydoesnotinclude what was being pushed as a “road map” to phase out fossil fuels. “When there is an elimination of any target levels for the reduction and theremovaloffossilfuelsas a main source of energy, instead of going forward, we're going backward,” Pattersonsaid.
The COP30 agreement, which was reached after intense negotiations between oil-producing nations and emerging economies, calls on countries to voluntarily “accelerate” their climate action It recalls the consensusreachedin2023at COP28 in Dubai, which called for the world to transition away from fossil fuels. The European Union (EU),whichhadwarnedthat the COP30 summit could end without a deal if fossil fuels were not addressed, accepted the watered-down language.
Additionally, during the climate summit, developing nations had pushed the EU and other developed economies to pledge more moneytohelpthemadaptto the impacts of climate change, such as floods and droughts,andmovetowarda low-carbonfuture.
The EU had resisted the appealsbutthedealcallsfor efforts to “at least triple” adaptationfinanceby2035.
On Saturday, French newsserviceAgenceFrance Presse reported Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva — who had staked political capital in the successofwhathecalledthe “COPof truth” — as telling the G20 summit: “At the COP of truth, science prevailed Multilateralism won.”
CDB President calls for increased climate finance and justice for Caribbean
President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB/the Bank), Mr Daniel M. Best, issued a strong call for significantly increased climate financing and climate justice for the Caribbeanatthe30thUnited Nations Climate Change
Conference (COP30) currently underway in Belém,Brazil.
During an address to the High-Level Ministerial Roundtable on pre-2030 ambition on November 18, President Best urged global leaders to confront the widening gap between climate ambition and real support for the world's most vulnerable regions, CDB said in a press release. He highlighted the Caribbean's
emergency, noting that five Category 5 hurricanes have hit the region in just eight years, causing social dislocation, environmental damage, and overwhelming economiclosses.
Hurricane Maria, which ravaged Dominica in 2017, caused USD1.3 billion in damage and losses,
Duncan slams UNDP's “glowing” elections...
“Civic and voter education campaigns also reached citizensthroughoutGuyana, from hinterland villages to urbancentres,usingmultiple media channels and introduced a feedback framework to capture and address common concerns and misinformation during community outreach. These
Frompage10 supported GECOM in s t r e n g t h e n i n g i t s engagement and dialogue with political parties, civil society, observer groups, andmedia. These forums provided platforms for open discussions and fact-based updates, helping to build trust in a sometimespolarised environment
tools enabled GECOM to deliver clear, fact-based information, counter misinformation, and engage proactively with the public a n d m e d i a T h e establishment of a Media Centre on election day provided journalists and observerswithacentralhub for press briefings and realtimedataupdates.”
equivalent to 226 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Hurricane Dorian inflicted morethanUSD3.4billionin damage when it devastated TheBahamasin2019.Now, the Government of Jamaica estimates that losses from the recent passage of Hurricane Melissa could reach as much as USD7 billion. “The scale of these disasters is catastrophic,” President Best explained. “Single events have caused losses exceeding entire national GDPs, with widespread damage to infrastructure, livelihoods, and ecosystems. Year after year, our islands endure climate-related shocks that e r a s e d e c a d e s o f development.”
Urging the international
community to match
“ambition to action”, the CDBChiefsaid,“Wecallon donor countries to significantly increase their contributionstotheFundfor Responding to Loss and Damage to ensure it adequately addresses the severe losses and damage incurred by vulnerable countriesannually.”
He added: “We support the RoadmaptoBelém'scall for USD1.3 trillion annually, and we echo the voices of Small Island Developing States calling for justice, not just survival, but the opportunity to thrive Caribbean nations need outcomes that prioritise equity and justice, including mechanisms to address loss and damage, predictable and accessible financing, and meaningfulpartnershipsand supporttobuildresilienceat
thecommunitylevel.”
The CDB is among the regional organisations at COP 30 advocating for increasedsupportforclimate adaptation, disaster recovery and loss and damage as the Caribbean grapples with increasingly severe impacts from Climate Change The Bank is hosting and participatedinseveralevents in Belem to highlight the region's extensive needs considering its severe vulnerabilities.
President of CDB, Danaiel M. Best
Israel violated Gaza truce 500 times in 44 days,killed hundreds
(AL-JAZEERA) Israel
has violated the United
States-brokered Gaza ceasefireatleast497timesin 44 days, killing hundreds of Palestinians since the ceasefirecameintoeffecton 10October,accordingtothe Gaza Government Media Office.
Some 342 civilians have been killed in the attacks, with children, women and the elderly accounting for themajorityofthevictims.
“We condemn in the
strongest terms the continued serious and systematic violations of the ceasefire agreement by the Israeli occupation authorities,” the office said inastatementonSaturday
“These violations constitute a flagrant breach
o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l humanitarian law and the humanitarian protocol attached to the agreement. Among these violations, 27 occurred today, Saturday, resulting in 24 martyrs and 87wounded,”itadded.
The office also said Israel was fully responsible for the humanitarian and security repercussions from itsviolations.
Israel continues to
heavily restrict the full and free flow of desperately needed aid and medical supplies into the devastated enclave as was mandated in theceasefireagreement.
Israel'smilitarylaunched a wave of air attacks across Gaza on Saturday, killing at least 24 Palestinians, including children, in its latest violation of a sixweek-old ceasefire in the war-tornterritory
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it launched these latest attacks after a Hamas fighter attacked Israeli soldiers in Israeli-occupied territory inside Gaza's socalledyellowline.
“In response, Israel eliminated five senior Hamas[fighters],”itsaidina statement.
'Aceasefire in name' Hamas demanded Israel reveal the identity of the fighter that allegedly attackedtheIsraeliforces.
Izzat al-Risheq, a senior memberofHamas'spolitical bureau, called on the mediators of the Gaza deal andtheUSadministrationto pressure Israel to back its claim and to implement the Gazaagreement.
An injured Palestinian child reacts at al-Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, as casualties are brought into the medical facility following Israeli attacks on November 22, 2025 [AFP]
“Israel is fabricating pretexts to evade the agreement and return to a war of extermination,” he saidinastatement.
“It is Israel that violates the agreement daily and systematically.”
He also dismissed the reports that claimed Hamas hadcalledofftheceasefire.
Al Jazeera's Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Gaza City, said on Sunday thatthetrucedealinGazais only“aceasefireinname”.
“In reality, despite the announcedpause,theIsraeli forcescarriedoutaseriesof air strikes across Gaza,” he said.
Abu Azzoum said such attackshaveleftPalestinians in Gaza with “a shattered sense of safety” despite the allegedtruce.
“Such strikes reinforce the belief that the Gaza deal hasbeentreatedasatactical withdrawal rather than a g e n u i n e b i n d i n g commitment,”headded.
Dozens of Palestinian families have been besieged in northern Gaza, local authorities have said, as the Israeli military has repositioned its forces deeper into the enclave in violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Set out in the agreement between Israel and Hamas, the yellow line refers to an unmarked boundary where the Israeli military repositioned itself when the deal came into effect last month.
It has allowed Israel, which routinely fires at and kills Palestinians who approach the line, to retain control over more than half ofthecoastalterritory
Hamas said Israel has pushed westwards beyond theyellowline,whereIsraeli troopsarestationedinGaza, and is changing the boundary set out as part of thedeal.
M e a n w h i l e , a spokesperson for Gaza Forensic Evidence Department told Al Jazeera that the organisation needed laboratories and equipment to examine fingerprints and DNA of the bodies of the Palestinians returned by Israel as part of the truce deal, many of which show signs of torture, mutilation andexecution.
“We rely on forensic photography and the observations of the families and face difficulties,” the spokesperson said, calling ontheinternationalbodiesto provide equipment for the identificationprocess.
The spokesperson added that 330 bodies have been returned by Israel and only 90havebeenidentified.
50 kidnapped Catholic school students in Nigeria escape
(Reuters) - Fifty of the more than 300 students kidnapped from a Nigerian Catholic school last week have escaped and have been reunited with their parents, the Catholic Church and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said on Sunday
However around 253 of those kidnapped, including 12 staff members and teachers, are still with the kidnappers, said CAN chairman Bulus Yohanna, a Catholic Bishop whoisalsotheproprietorof theschool.
In a statement, Yohanna said the pupils escaped between Friday
and Saturday Parents rushed to the school in Niger state, to the west of the capital Abuja, after hearing that some children hadescaped.
Amose Ibrahim was one of the parents who went to St Mary's school to check if any of his three childrenhadescaped "Unfortunately, they were not among the escapees,"Ibrahim,whose youngest child is six years old, told Reuters by phone "As of now, many parents and their loved ones are roaming around the school."
POPE LEO PLEADS FOR RELEASE
G u n m e n h a d
kidnapped students and teachers from the school on Friday, the latest in a spate of school attacks that has forced some northern states to shut schools The government also ordered the closure of 47collegesinthenorth.
In response to the kidnappings, Pope Leo pleaded on Sunday for the immediatereleaseofthose who had been taken in one of the worst mass kidnappings ever recorded there.
"I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of the hostages," the Pope said at the end of amassinStPeter'sSquare inRome
A person looks at newspapers with headlines on recent abductions at a stand in Area 1, Abuja, Nigeria, November 23, 2025. REUTERS/Marvellous Durowaiye
The referee took a close look at Yarde in the sixth, before halting the contest in the seventh (Getty Images)
Bloodied Yarde stopped in third world title heartbreak
(BBC Sport) - British light-heavyweight Anthony Yarde's third shot at a world title ended in heartbreak again after a systematic beat-down by WBC champion David BenavidezinSaudiArabia.
After a slow start, American Benavidez seized control, sending 34year-oldYardetothecanvas with a barrage in the seventh.
Monday November 24, 2025
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
In a philosophical or political conversation,youdon'thesitate to offer your thoughts Your examplesmaybeextreme,but yourprinciplesaresound
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
Youshouldbeinagoodmood, although you might have a hard time fully expressing yourself.Perhapsyoufeellike there is someone keeping an eyeonyoureverymove.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
You may get the feeling that despite all the hard work you've accomplished, something is still missing, Gemini. There's still a long road ahead, regardless of the goalsyou'veattainedsofar.
CANCER(June21–July22)
Freedom may be a theme for youtoday You'rebeginningto question what it is you're tryingtofreeyourselffrom.A person? Job? Commitment? These may be the very things youstarttosearchforassoon asyou'refreeofthem.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
You'retheliquidthattakesthe shape of its container, Leo. Even though this may seem like the most nonconfrontational way to do things, you may find that it's actually a cause of great frustrationforyouandothers
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
Youmayfeellikeapuppythat has been let outside for the first time, Virgo. The air is warm and you're full of energy You're ready to run over the fields and hills Unfortunately,you'retiedtoa stake and you can't move beyondaten-footradius.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Youmayfeelastrangetension. Itseemsthatnothingyousayor do is quite right, Libra. As much as you may try to do the correct thing, you can't make thingsclickthewayyou'dlike.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov 21)
It may be hard for you to maintain your self-discipline. Your childlike nature wants to go out and play Emotionally, you're anxious to let loose and followyourplayful,instinctual nature.
SAGITTARIUS(Nov22–Dec21)
Ifyou'reunclearaboutthetopic of discussion, say so Asking questionsisanimportantpartof learning You shouldn't be afraid to ask. Communication maytakeonaserioustone,and intellectual discussions are likelytogetheated.
CAPRICORN(Dec22–Jan19)
Youmaybeshywhenitcomes to expressing your emotions today,Capricorn.Thiscouldbe a rare thing for you. Other people may wonder if somethingiswrong.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
Youmaynotknowwhichway to turn,Aquarius. You may be emotionally weighed down by sentimental feelings and memories that bind you to the past You may also feel restrictedbyauthorityfigures.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Your mind may be going in manydifferentdirections,with fantastic ideas about how things should be done, Pisces.
T h e d i f f i c u l t y i s communicatingtheseideasina way that makes sense. Others mayseeyouasathreattotheir authority
championship bouts to Sergey Kovalev in 2019 and Artur Beterbiev in 2022 - may now have to accept the possibility that a world title might elude him Benavidez, 28, remains unbeaten and extends his record to a formidable 2
With blood streaming from Yarde's nose and smeared across the canvas, another heavy flurry of puncheswithaminuteleftin the round forced the referee tohaltthecontest.
"I stuck in there I'm a fighter," Yarde told BBC Radio5Live
"I felt like it was competitive.Iknowhowhe c o m e s w i t h g o o d pressure I was boxing, boxing, thinking middle rounds, the dog rounds, we wouldexchange.
"He has quick hands, caught me first and hit me with a good shot on the nose When I took a knee and he hit me when I was down, I was dizzy after that."
Benavidezwasdeducted two points for punches while Yarde was down, but the outcome was alreadyinevitable.
The Londoner - having previously lost in world
St.Ignatiusbattle...
From page 20 the equalizer, sealing the comeback and keeping St Ignatius firmly in the h u n t f o r K F C qualification
With everything now to play for, both sides turn their attention to the decisive second leg on November 29 at theAnnai Community Centre Annai may hold the slight advantage of home turf, but with goal difference potentially coming into play, the final outcome remainsanyone'sguess.
One thing, however, is certain: Saturday's showdown will decide who earns the right to represent Guyana in the highly anticipated international Secondary Schools tournament and who will be left watching fromthestands
Benavidez - of Mexican heritage - revealed he plans to move
Gilberto Ramirez for the W B A a n d W B O cruiserweight titles on 2 May, aiming to become
champion
Muthusamy comes out of the wilderness and stuns India
(ESPN Cricinfo) - If you're surprised to be reading the words Senuran Muthusamy, Test centurion, don'tworry You'reprobably nottheonlyone.
Though Muthusamy has spent his domestic career labelled as a batting allrounder, he was picked at international level as more of a bowling allrounder He was included in South Africa's Guwahati XI at the expense of a seamer, rather than one of the frontline batters (remember Zubayr Hamza and Dewald Brevis are sitting on the sidelines). Still,hemanagedtodowhat no-one else has in the series sofar:scoreahundred.
And he did it while demonstrating the perfect technique for these conditions, with a solid defence, the ability to play the ball late and levels of patience that Ravi Shastri called "meditative." While Muthusamy himself often onlygoesasfarassayinghe is"justtryingtodoajobfor the team," as he did in Sunday's post-match press conference,healsoshoweda skill set that ranged from navigatingMohammedSiraj infadinglightondayoneto negotiating Jasprit Bumrah and India's spinners on day two.
Muthusamy occupied the crease with monk-like discipline.Intheearlystages ofhisinnings,helookedfor runs only when he could steer the ball behind square. Hehadtwonervymomentsone,whenhewason37and edged Bumrah short of secondslip;theotheron48,
whenhemissedasweepand wasgivenoutlbwtoJadeja.
South Africa had just crossed 300 at the time, and his partnership with Kyle Verreynne was worth 57. Muthusamy later told the broadcasters he was so " e m o t i o n a l a n d disappointed" at losing his wicketthathejustreviewed, not knowing whether there wasanythingthatcouldsave him.Whilehewaitedforthe replays and chatted to Verreynne, Muthusamy said he realised there was the possibility the ball brushed hisglove,althoughhedidn't feelit.
When the smallest of spikes resulted in Rod Tucker's on-field out decision being overturned, neither the Indian fielders nor Muthusamy could believe it, but that's sport. There's often some luck involved.
Muthusamy capitalised onhis,andlater,revealedhis improved hand-eye coordination was down to a stint with a South African sports scientist, Dr Sheryll Calder, who founded EyeGym - an organisation that works with ordinary people and athletes to sharpenmotorresponses.
There was a point when Muthusamy "wasn't sure if I'd ever play Test cricket again, and certainly not in India." For four years after hisdebutinVisakhapatnam, he just went into what he called "the wilderness," of domestic cricket, where he took 76 wickets in 24 matches at 25.15. He was lookedatagainwhenShukri
Conrad took over as head coach Even then, Muthusamy played just one game in 2023, against West Indies in Centurion, where South Africa went all-pace but with the security of someone who could bowl spin. He only bowled eight oversinthematch.
Since then, Muthusamy has played six of South Africa's 21 Tests but only appeared in consecutive matches once, in Pakistan lastmonthwhereconditions called for an extra spinner That he can bat is a bonus (especially for a coach like Conrad who places significant store in allrounders), and it's proved more th
n Guwahati.
And let's not forget that Muthusamy definitely can bat.
His game awareness, especiallyofhisownscoring
strengths - which is something South Africa have been working on - was exemplary, and he even venturedoutofhiscreaseas his innings progressed Whenhewason68andhad seen Marco Jansen clear the ropes, Muthusamy decided he could also show aggression Washington Sundartossedtheballupand Muthusamy slogged it over long-on for his first six. Jansenwouldgoontohitsix more sixes during what Muthusamy called a "sublime knock," helping SouthAfricaracepast400.
M u t h u s a m y a n d Verreynne managed just 28 runs in the first hour of play and scored at a rate of 2.23 per over, but when that partnership was broken and Jansen came in, the run-rate jumped to 5.49. Several factors, including an older ball and a flat pitch,
St. Ignatius battle back to hold Annai to a stalemate in Region 9 playoff
Preparation for the Petra-KFC International
Goodwill Under-18
SecondarySchoolsFootball Serieskickedintohighgear onSaturdayasRegionNine powerhouses St Ignatius Secondary and Annai Secondary clashed in the first leg of their home-and-
away playoff The encounter, held at the St Ignatius Village Sports Facility, delivered all the intensityexpectedandmore, as the sides battled to an electrifying2–2draw Annai Secondary struck
firstinthe13thminutewhen MichealWilsonunleasheda brilliantefforttosilencethe homefans,givinghissidean early advantage Despite dominating possession for much of the first half, St Ignatiusstruggledtoconvert their chances, heading into halftimetrailing1–0. Thingsworsenedforthe home side shortly after the restart, as a defensive miscue resulted in an own goal that pushed Annai ahead 2–0. But the setback lit a fire under St Ignatius, who responded with
renewed urgency and determination. Their fightback began roughly 10 minutes later,
cuttingthedeficitinhalfand shifting the momentum sharply Annai's back line, socomposedinthefirsthalf, appeared increasingly vulnerable as St Ignatius pressed with pace and purpose.
The breakthrough came in the 58th minute when Ishmael Gaskin hammered home a powerful closerange strike to level the scoresat2–2.Andthehome supporters erupted again in the 67th minute when StephonFrancisconetted
(Continuedonpage19)
the 558 for 6 declared in Nagpur in 2010. The next step is figuring out how to takewicketsasurfacethatis stillexcellentforbatting.
contributedtothedifference. ButmostlyitwasJansen.
"He's got fantastic levers,he'sacleanstrikerof the ball, and he really showed his skills today," Muthusamy said. "That was a treat to watch from the otherend.
It was really attritional cricketoutthereuntilMarco cameinandreallyplayedhis shots beautifully It was a good challenge and then awesome to just build those partnerships and really extendourfirstinnings."
After bettering his previous career-best of 84 with a swing over midwicket, Jansen was on trackforafirstTesthundred, and furious with himself when he bottom-edged Kuldeep Yadav onto his stumpson93.
But South Africa could still be satisfied with their highest score in India, since
Muthusamy seems to be banking on the collective experience of the South Africanattackmorethanthe prospect of the surface deterioratingandtakingturn astheteamgoesinsearchof a series win. "We'll adjust accordingly to the conditions.Simon(Harmer), Kesh(av Maharaj), and myself have got a lot of experience," he said "Simon's got over 1,000 first-class wickets and Kesh has over 200 international wickets, so there's a vast amount of experience, and I look forward to seeing how thingsunfold."
Don't forget Muthusamy has 277 first-class wickets, including 11 in the Lahore Test last month, which contributed to him earning the Player-of-the-Series award.Healsoscored89*in theRawalpindigame,giving South Africa a matchwinning lead, and showing the full range of what he offers. Perhaps he shouldn't be categorised as either a batting allrounder or a bowling allrounder, but ratherwhathethinksheis.
“I see myself as an allrounder," he said, no caveat attached besides this one. "And it's tough being a spinningallrounderinSouth Africa. Conditions are a lot differenttothesubcontinent. But when we get an opportunity to come to the subcontinent,wereallylook forwardtoit.”
Michael Wilson
Ishmael Gaskin and Stephon Francisco keep St. Ignatius alive
Premier League: Eze hat-trick sends Arsenal six points clear at top
(BBC Sport) - Eberechi Eze scored his first senior hat-trickasArsenalthrashed north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to move six points clear at the top of thePremierLeague.
Spurs boss Thomas Frank picked a five-man defenceashelookedtokeep things tight at Emirates Stadium, but his side could not contain the league leaders.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring for an utterly dominant Arsenal in the 36th minute, finishing well after a lovely through ballfromMikelMerino.
Then Eze, who almost joined Spurs in the summer fromCrystalPalacebeforea late swoop by Arsenal, doubledthehosts'advantage before the break - beating two players on the edge of the box before drilling a strike past Guglielmo Vicario.
Frankscrappedhisbackfive plan at half-time and brought on Xavi Simons as he looked to inject some moreattackingintentintohis lacklustreside.
But Arsenal extended their advantage just 35 secondsintothesecondhalf, when Eze curled a leftfootedstrikeintothebottom corner from the edge of the area.
Tottenham were pinned back for large parts of the match, but Richarlison did pull a goal back for the visitors by lifting the ball over the stranded David Raya from about 40 yards out.
However, Eze added gloss to the scoreline - and completed a brilliant hattrick - with another expert finishpastVicariointhe76th minute.
Arsenal's six-point lead overChelseaatthetopofthe table is their biggest advantageatthisstageofany PremierLeaguecampaign.
TheGunnersarelooking to win their first title since 2004 - and after three second-placed finishes in succession.
Rogersscorestwicein AstonVillawin
Morgan Rogers scored twice as Aston Villa came from behind to beat Leeds United at Elland Road and pile more pressure on home managerDanielFarke.
Leeds took the lead in chaotic style after just eight minutes. A Sean Longstaff free-kick was played back across goal by Gabriel Gudmundsson and Villa keeper Emi Martinez was outjumpedbyAntonStach.
Stach's header was cleared off the line - but deflectedinoffLeedsstriker LukasNmecha,withthegoal finally awarded after a long checkbytheVideoAssistant Referee(VAR).
Villa needed a response after the break, and found it whenDonyellMalen-oneof two half-time changes by manager Unai Emeryprovided a low cross which Rogersflickedhome.
And Rogers completed the turnaround when he netted a stunning free-kick from the edge of the area 15 minutesfromtime.
The hosts thought they had netted an immediate equaliser, but this timeVAR wentagainstthemasreplays showed Dominic CalvertLewin had handled the ball in.
LeedsstayinthePremier Leaguerelegationzoneafter a third straight loss, which will raise further questions aboutthefutureofFarke.
Arsenal's Eberechi Eze scores their third goal (Reuters)
BK Security lends support to ExxonMobil Guyana Futsal Championship
The ExxonMobil Guyana Futsal Championship receivedatimelyboostthis week as BK Security, through Managing Director Travis Shepherd, handed over a sponsorship package to support the ongoingtournament
The contribution came at a crucial moment, with teams gearing up for the highly anticipated semifinal round, which wrapped up over the weekend at the Retrieve TarmacinLinden
T
coordinatorAndrew Major of New Era Entertainment expressedsinceregratitude for the support, noting that the a
“The support from BK Security helps ease many of the financial pressures associated with organising the semifinal and final stages ” ShepherdnotedthatBK
BCB to host AGM and General Elections on December 14
The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) would be holding its Bi-annual general meeting (AGM) and general elections on Sunday, December 14, at the Rose Hall Community Centre (RHCDC), Rose Hall,EastCanjeBerbice.
The AGM is scheduled tostartat10:30hrs.
Among topics on the agenda are- minutes of the last meeting, corrections, adoption and matters arisingoutofthesame.
Thepresident,secretary and treasurer reports, along with correspondence and anyotherbusiness.
The meeting will then close to facilitate the holding of the election of officebearers.
The elections would then be conducted by the cricketombudsman.
Positions up for grabs are President, three vice president slots, secretary, treas
secretary and assistant treasurer.
A total of 14 cricket clubs and three sub-
associationsareexpectedto participate. The last time, two sub-associations were debarredfromparticipating due to them not being in order
Thesubassociationand clubs expected to participate are the Berbice River Cricket Association, West Berbice Cricket
A
Association; The clubs are AlbionCommunityCentre, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Blairmont Community Centre, Port Mourant Cricket Club, Kildonan Cricket Club, Whim Cricket Club, Chesney Cricket Club, Young Warriors Cricket
C l u b , R o s e H a l l CommunityCentre,Tucber
Park Cricket Club, Guymine Cricket Club, Mt Sinai Cricket Club, Police SportsClubandFortCanje MentalHospital. The last election of office bearers was held in 2023. Dr Beharry and his executives are expected to seekreelection.
Security's decision to sponsor the tournament aligns with the company's commitmenttocommunity development
“Sportsplayavitalrole in youth engagement, discipline, and social unity,” he said “We are proudtocontributetothese positiveoutcomes ”
This year's champion will claim $1,500,000, while the second-, third-, and fourth-place finishers will take home $750,000, $350,000, and $200,000 respectively, along with their accompanying
accolades The tournament concludes this Saturday in Linden, where defending champions YMCA will face Silver Bullets for the title.
Additionally, the Most Valuable Player will ride away with a brand-new
tournament's opening, a $300,000 educational grant will be awarded to a player or fan to support academic advancement
Each team is required to nominateonecandidatefor thescholarship
Team Spirit stuns Sparta Boss to clinch semifinal berth
- Back Circle, Bent St 'A' also advance in Bent St/VP Futsal
Te a m S p i r i t continued their remarkable giantkilling run in the Bent St/VP 'Champion of Champions' FutsalCuponFridayevening, edgingSpartaBoss5–4atthe NationalGymnasiumtobook aplaceinthesemifinals
Neron Barrow led the charge for Team Spirit with goals in the 10th and 30th minutes, while Solomon Austinstrucktwiceinthe43rd and 45th Carl Griffith added anotherinthe46thminute For Sparta Boss, Omari Glasgow nettedabraceinthe25th and 47th minutes, with CurtezKellman and Jermin Junior scoring in the 33rd and44th.
In the following matchup, Back Circle overwhelmed Team Family 6–3. Martin King scored in the 14th and 32nd minutes, and Ravin Naughton added goals in the 5th and 34th. Gerry Burnett and Simeon Moorechippedinduringthe 2nd and 10th minutes.Team Family'sreplycamethrough Steffon Ramsay, who bagged a double in the 5th and 35th minutes, and Brandon Solomon, who scoredinthe37th.
Bent St A secured a 2–0 victoryoverWashBayBoys, with early strikes from Raushan Ritch in the 5th minuteandBevneyMarksin the6th.
BentStBfollowedwitha narrow 1–0 win against Melanie, courtesy of a second-minute goal from
Part of the action between Sparta Boss (blue) and Team Spirit in Bent St/VP Futsal.
The tournament champions will walk away with$1,000,000andthetitle trophy The runners-up will earn $500,000, while the third-andfourth-placeteams will collect $300,000 and $200,000, respectively, alongwiththeirtrophies.
Semifinalactionissetfor Tuesday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, HomestretchAvenue, where BentStAwillfaceBentStB, and Team Spirit will meet BackCircle.
The event will also launch its women's and youth divisions on Tuesday Winners of the women's bracket will receive $150,000, while the youth
champions will take home
$100,000. Both runners-up willearn$50,000.
CompleteResults
Game-1
BentStB-1vs.Melanie0
RandyRoberts-2nd
Game-2
Back Circle-6 vs. Team
Family-3
BackCirclescorers: Martin King-14th and 32nd Ravin Naughton-5th and 34th
GerryBurnette-2nd
SimeonMoore-10th
Familyscorers: Steffon Ramsay-5th and 35th
BrandonSolomon-37th Game-3
BentStA-2vs.WashBay Boys-0
RaushanRitch-5th
BevneyMarks-6th
Game-4
Team Spirit-5 vs. Sparta Boss-4
TeamSpiritscorers: Neron Barrow-10th and 30th
Solomon Austin-43rd and45th
CarlGriffith-46th
Spartascorers: Omari Glasgow-25th and47th
CurtezKellman-33rd
JerminJunior-44th
Semifinal FixturesTuesday
BentStAvs.BentStB
Team Spirit vs. Back Circle
New Era Entertainment Co-Director Andrew Major (left) receives the sponsorship from BK Security Managing Director, Travis Shepherd
RandyRoberts.
YMCA and Silver Bullets to battle for ExxonMobil Futsal crown
Defending champion
UMCAAand Silver Bullets will contest the final of the ExxonMobil Guyana Futsal following semifinal wins on Saturday evening at the RetrieveTarmacinLinden.
In the first semifinal fixture,YMCAdefeatedDC Ballers 9-6. Kevin Gittens and Jamal Bentick recorded respective hat-tricks, while Jonah Simon, Keyshawn Dey, and Jermaine Padmore scoredonegoaleach.
For the loser, Andre Mayers recorded a double, while Jayshawn Moore, Nicholas Gentle, Adrian Aaron, and Antwoine Gill nettedonegoaleach.
Ontheotherhand,Silver Bullets riddled Hardknocks 6-1 in the second semifinal Sigmund C o b e n a , D a m i o n Williams, and Colwyn Drakes each recorded a brace in the rout. For the loser, Neron Barrow netted once. The winners will contest the final at the same venue on the 29th The losers will battle in the thirdplaceplayoff
The winner of the event will pocket $1,500,000, while the eventual second, third, and fourth place
finishers will receive $750,000, $350,000, and $200,000, respectively, and thecorrespondingaccolade.
On the individual level, the eventual Most Valuable Player will ride away with a motorcycle It was also
disclosed that a $300,000 economic grant will be awardedtoaplayerorfanto aid their academic development Each team mustputforwardacandidate fortheaforesaidscholarship.
CompleteResults
Semifinals1
YMCA A-9 vs DC
Ballers-6
YMCAscorers:
KevinGittens-3
JamalBentick-3
JonahSimon-1
KeyshawnDey-1
JermainePadmore-1
DCBallersscorers:
AndreMayers-2
JayshawnMoore-1
NicholasGentle-1
AdrianAaron-1
AntwoineGill-1
Semifinal2
Silver Bullets-6 vs Hard-knocks-1
Bulletsscorers:
SigmundCobena-2
ColwynDrakes-2
DamionWilliams-2
Hard-knocksscorer:
NeronBarrow-1
Republic Bank U18 Football League Chase hammers PC to remain perfect
The charge toward championship glory moved another step closer on Sundayasthe2025Republic Bank Under-18 Secondary Schools Football League wrappedupitssixthroundof matches at the Ministry of Educationground.Andonce again, Chase's Academic Foundation made their intentions crystal clear, this titleistheirstolose.
The reigning Republic Bank and KFC Goodwill champions were in ruthless form, dismantling bottomplaced President's College
10–0 to keep their perfect record intact. Six matches, six wins, and not a slip in sight.
Captain Bryan Wharton continued to lead from the front, bagging a first-half hat-trick and stamping his authority on the league. He opened the scoring in the ninth minute, added another in the 15th, and rounded off his treble in the 27th. Isaiah Ifill joined the scoring spree withaquickfiredoubleinthe 14th and 16th minutes, sendingChaseintothebreak with a commanding 5–0
West Ruimveldt needles South Ruimveldt to maintain second place
cushion.
President's College never recovered, and the second half turned into another exhibition from Chase's Academy Wharton struck twice more to finish withanimpressivefive-goal haul, while Nyron Barrow (44'), Shaquan David (45') and Darius Chester (47') eachfoundthenet,sealinga flawlessthree-pointhauland taking Chase to a maximum 18points.
Later on, Charlestown Secondary notched their fourth win of their 2025
campaign, brushing aside Three Mile Secondary 3–1. NicholasNeiuelderfiredina tidy brace in the 15th and 17th minutes, before Dilshawn Alleyne added anotherinthe18thtoensure acomfortableresult.
West Ruimveldt Secondarykepttheirgripon second place with a gritty 1–0victoryoverrivalsSouth Ruimveldt Secondary With both defenses holding firm through the first half, the match looked destined for a stalemate, until Joel Griffith broke the deadlock in the 38th minute with a sharp finish that sealed three crucial points West Ruimveldt now sit on 15 points, and a win in next week's finale could punch their ticket to the sixth Annual KFC Goodwill Series, where they'll line up against some of the Caribbean's best in the prestigious eight-team showdown.
Inthefinalfixtureofthe round, Dolphin Secondary collected a straightforward threepointsafterAbramZuil
Secondary failed to show, resultinginawalkover
Theleague'sseventhand final round kicks off this weekend, with the top two teams advancing to Petra's KFCYearendTournament.
This year's competition is sponsored by Republic
Bank (Guyana) Limited, withadditionalsupportfrom Demerara Mutual, MVP Sports, Ronoca Concrete Inc., Guyana Beverage Inc. (Busta), the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, andismadepossiblethrough theMinistryofEducation.
YMCA 'A' goal scorers (from right) Kevin Gittens, Jamal Bentick, Jonah Simon, Keyshawn Dey and Jermaine Padmore
Charlestown Secondary goal scorers Dilshawn Alleyne and Nicholas Nieuelder
Unstoppable Wharton drills five in PC during their round six encounter at MoE ground
