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‘We

‘No need to increase local content targets’

-Routledge

The private sector in Guyana has been pushing for government to increase the local content targets set out in law to ensure Guyanese enjoy more opportunities in the oil and gas industry, but ExxonMobil believes this is unnecessary PresidentofExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Alistair Routledge recently shared this view with reporters when asked to comment on discussions around expanding the local contentschedule.According tohim,“fixedtargets”canbe motivational but can also lead to overinvestment wherethereisonlyalimited demand.

Routledgeadded,“Butof course,thereisonlyacertain amount of demand So, I think what has been happening pragmatically over the last several years is that because as an industry, we’vecommittedtoworking so proactively with the government on building up the capacity in the industry, matching the demand with the supply, encouraging other foreign direct investments through these smart partnerships, for now, at least we haven’t seen a needfromthegovernmentto pushadditionaltargets.”

Exxonbelievesthatthere isalreadygreatcollaboration across the industry between government and the private sector with various training institutions now upskilling Guyanese To this end, Routledgenoted,“Soaslong as we are all working together,Ibelievethatisthe most constructive way, and probably the fastest way to

“As it is always, the questionis,isitagoodthing or not to have, you know, thosefixedtargets.Theycan be both motivational, but they can also tend to lead to over investment because people rush in saying, well, I’mguaranteedtogetworkif Iinvestinthatkindofskillor whether product or service offering,”hesaid.

Bagotstown man found dead in car at Mon Repos

Thebodyofa34-year-oldresidentofBagotstown,East Bank Demerara (EBD) was found on Friday afternoon inside a black Nissan Bluebird car bearing registration number PWW 946 at First Street, Mon Repos South, East CoastDemerara(ECD).

Thedeadmanhasbeenidentifiedas34-year-oldImran Khan. Reports are that Khan’s body was discovered in the carataround16:15h.

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) visited the scene “and observed the vehicle parked on the southern parapet of the roadway The body was seated in the front passengerseatwiththeheadleaningtothedriver’sside,no visiblemarksofviolencewereobserved.”

The scene was processed by detectives and several personal items were retrieved from the vehicle, police said noting that the car has since been lodged for further examination “CCTV footage from the area is being reviewedandseveralpersonshavebeeninterviewedaspart oftheongoinginvestigation.”

Khan’sbodywasexaminedbyadoctorwhoconfirmed thedeathanditwaslaterescortedtotheMemorialGardens FuneralHomewhereitawaitsapost-mortemexamination. Investigationsarecontinuing.

efficiently build local capacity, so that the local supply chain can benefit fromtheopportunitiesinthe center.”

While ExxonMobil has dismissed the need for Guyanese to have greater participation in the sector, citing “demand” concerns, the company is on course to almostdoubleitscurrentrate of production over the next fewyears.

Presently, four projects areinoperationandaresetto produce 900,000 barrels of oil daily In the meantime, threeotherprojectsareinthe development phase, with an eight-development pending government approval By 2027, Exxon is aiming to

President, ExxonMobil Guyana, Alistair Routledge

increase Guyana’s daily productionrateto1.7million barrelsperdayby2030.

The Local Content Act

was passed in the National Assembly in December, 2021 It is intended to regulate the way companies operate in Guyana’s oil and gas sector; employ persons, buyservicesandthewaythat theyprocuregoods.

TheFirstScheduleofthe Actsetsout40categoriesof w

participation via the supply ofgoodsandtheprovisionof serviceswhichinclude:food supply,rentalofofficespace, accommodation, insurance, a

services According to the Act,Guyanesemustprovide 90% of office space rental; 90% of accommodation services (rental of houses and apartments;25% pipe

welding onshore; 75% non-

management; 90% janitorial and laundry services; 90% catering; 75% food supply; 100% immigration services and 100% local insurance servicestoname

Public Information (DPI) reported in January of this year that the Private Sector C

legislation to President Irfaan Ali for a thorough review

The private sector here hascalledforincreasedlocal content targets in the schedule to shore up more opportunitiesforGuyanese.

Promptly report suspicious activity -

TheGuyanaPoliceForce (GPF) on Saturday urged all citizens, and residents to remain vigilant and to promptly report any suspiciouspersons,activities or movements observed withintheircommunities,or public spaces. “Members of thepublicarereminded,that maintaining safety and security is a shared responsibility, and early reporting of suspicious behavior can help prevent unlawfulacts,andensurethe wellbeing of all,” the police saidinastatement.

The statement follows lastSunday’sbombingofthe Mobil Service Station located on Regent and King Streets, Georgetown which left a six-year-old girl dead andseveralothersinjured.

The main suspect in last Sunday deadly gas station bombing, Daniel Alexander RamirezPeodomo,hassince confessed to travelling from Venezuela to Guyana illegally with the explosive

device,CrimeChiefWendell Blanhumdisclosed.

Peodomo reportedly confessedtothecrimetelling investigators that he arrived in Guyana at around 08:00h on Sunday via boat, hours before the deadly bombing.

TheVenezuelannationaland eight other accomplices including four Guyanese havebeenarrested.

Blanhumtoldreportersat apressconferenceheldatthe MinistryofHomeAffairsthat Peodomo and a Venezuelan accomplice [who entered Guyana illegally with him] have some affiliation with a “ganginVenezuelaknownas ‘R’” which is linked to the Sindicatogang

On Friday, reports surfaced of a Spanishspeaking man acting suspiciously within the c o m p o u n d o f t h e GeorgetownSupremeCourt. According to Nightly News at around 11:35 hours, the manwhowasdressedinblue pants, a blue jersey, white

GPF

…calls on public to be vigilant

Nike boots, a cream cap, black shades, and carrying a cream haversack with black andwhitestraps,approached the South Road entrance leadingtotheDeedsRegistry The news report said that the man was stopped and questioned by a police constable, to whom he stated thathewas“theretocheckout the court ” The man was allowedentryandsatoutside theDeedsRegistryoffice.

Approximately five minuteslater,securityfroma private firm approached the man and inquired about his

n immediately got up and exited the compound

t hrough the Charlotte Street entrance The matter was subsequently reported to the policeataround13:00hours. Meanwhile, the GPF is asking persons who notice “suspicious individuals loitering, acting unusually, orbehavinginamannerthat raises concern, to immediately contact the Force Control (24-Hour Operations Centre) on 2271149, 227-1611, 225-8196, 225-6940, 226-1389, 2271148,227-2128,227-1141or the Emergency Hotline 911 forimmediateassistance.”

The police assures that all information will be treated with the strictest

KaieteurNews

PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Kaieteur M@ilbox

More debt Access to Information Act 2011

Poorcountriesexperiencegreatdifficultiestogetloans from the big banks, and other lenders, such as the World Bank,theInter-AmericanDevelopmentBank(IDBGroup), andtheInternationalMonetaryFund. Ontheotherhand,a country that discovers billions of barrels of oil, or great fields of rich minerals, finds itself in the best of positions. Today, banks race each other to get Guyana to sign on the dotted line of loan documents for anywhere from tens of millionsofUSdollarstoasmuchasabillionUS. Guyana's President Ali went to Saudi Arabia to attend a global businesssummit,andapprovalforUS$1Bcamelikeabolt of lightning. Suriname is part of that US$1B loan deal alongside Guyana, with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the IDB Group as the happy lenders across the table. Lending one billion US to Guyana is almost a riskproofdecisiononthepartofthetwobanks,becauseGuyana has its rich collateral of 11 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, while Suriname counts its days to belong to the exclusiveglobaloilclub.

HowmuchofthatUS$1BwillbeloanedtoGuyanaisn't clear at this time? Guyana being a daily producer of over 600,000 barrels of oil is sure to get the bulk of that billion overthenextfiveyears,sinceSurinamehasanothertwoto three years before it arrives at its own First Oil day Meanwhile, this country has a sizable total debt of US$5.993B, but is relying on what the PPPC Government extolsasahealthydebt-to-GDPratio. Governmentleaders and experts conveniently ignore that over half of Guyana's fantastic and world-beating GDP goes away from this country, which means that the benefits from it are not experiencedhere. WhensuchamassiveportionofGDPis notinGuyana'shands,thenwhatissoldasarobustdebt-toGDPratio is not such a winner, after all. In effect, the socalled comfortable ratio is shaky and should induce some levelofanxietyinGuyanese. Itgoeswithoutsaying,thatas leadersgoonaborrowingbinge,thedebtloadincreases,and theweightofitisfeltbythoseresponsibleforpayingitback. Guyanese taxpayers, already struggling to cope with a killing cost-of-living environment, are the ones who will havetomakethesacrificestohonortheballooningdebt.

It is obvious that the PPPC Government's thinkers and planners(andirresponsibleborrowers)arebettingonstable oilpricesandmoredailyproduction. Withalltheexpertoil watcherspredictingthattheoilmarketsareinforaperiodof oversupply,oilpricesareseeminglyheadingdownward,not staying where they are. For sure, they are not heading higher,unlessthereissomemajorcatastrophicdevelopment thatinterfereswithoilsupplies.

Weappreciatethatagreaterlevelofdailyoilproduction is on the way in Guyana, and it could assist in cushioning rough times from oil price drops. This would be very meaningfulinthecontextsofdealingwithdebtservice,and whilemoredebtisadded,inaseeminglycavaliermannerby thePPPCGovernment. Thepreciousoilisbeingdepleted, isnotreplenishable,andnewsfromExxonMobilaboutfresh discoveries has entered a barren patch that is of several years'durationpresently

Therefore, this new joint IsDB and IDB Group loan to GuyanaandSurinameforUS$1Boverthenextfiveyearsis referredtoagain. Ithastobeweighedagain,andcalledout again. WefocusonGuyana'sborrowing,whilefirminthe beliefthatmoreloanswillhavetobetakentofundsomeof those multibillion US dollar projects that have been mentionedinthesefirstmonthsofthePPPCGovernment's secondterm.

More billions to repay by Guyanese means more burdensontheirshoulders. Choiceshavetobemade,with the result being that prioritization human infrastructure needsmayagaincomeoutfartherdowntheline. Whether oilpricesfallornot,banksstillcomecallingfortheirmoney Whenprudentborrowingshouldbepracticed,recklessness hasbeenthenorm. Regularcitizensaretheoneswhowillbe lefttofeeltherepaymentpain.

DearEditor, On October 22, 2025, a request was made to Justice CharlesR.Ramson,SC.,OR C o m m i s s i o n e r o f Information for ten (10) documents This request, hand delivered to the Office of the Commissioner of Information at 340 East Street; Georgetown was made under Section 12(1) and section 16 of Access to InformationAct2011.

T

requestedincluded:

1 C o p y o f

Environmental Permit for the 300 MW Gas to Energy PowerPlant

2. Request for Gas to EnergyProposals(RFPs)for design, finance and operationsofproject

3 C o p y o f t h e

Environmental Permit for theNGLGastoEnergyPlant

4 U p d a t e d

Environmental and Social BaselineStudyasrequiredin Environmental Permit No. 2021528-NGPLE - Gas to EnergyProject

5. Terms of Reference missingfromEnvironmental Permit No 2021528NGPLE -Gas to Energy Project

6. Feasibility Study for AssociatedGas-(asrequired in2016PSASection12)

7 C o p i e s o f EnvironmentalPermitsfor:

• Schlumberger Guyana Inc.

• Tiger Rentals Guyana Inc.

• S u s t a i n a b l e Environmental Solutions Inc.Guyana

• Professional Waste SolutionsInc.(PWSI)

8 Copies of EPAEMD2012HWRRF1R1-

Recording and Reporting Form of Hazardous Wastes (For New and Existing Operations) – Oil & Gas Companies for Years 2022, 2023,2024and2025

9. Certification of all marine vessels transporting hazardous wastes from offshore platforms to onshore hazardous waste management facilities by Guyana's Environmental Protectionagencyinkeeping with environmental permits for Liza 1, 2, Payara, Yellowtail, oil and gas platforms for the years 2020 to2025

10. Certification of all road transportation vehicles transporting chemicals and hazardous materials to onshore facilities and bonds ascertifiedbyPesticidesand Toxic Chemicals Control Board Guidelines for

P

To

Permitsfortheyears2020to 2025.

The letter requested that documents be provided electronically and if any request was refused, to providethelegalbasisforthe refusal and details of the right to appeal. The letter thanked the Commissioner of Information for his cooperation and looked forward to a response at the Commissioner's earliest convenience.

On October 24, a hand delivered response was received from Justice Ramson S C O R which acknowledged our applicationandassumedour eligibility to do so 'pursuant to S12 of the Access to InformationAct2011.”

(Continuedonpage5)

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox

Another leap in agriculture bodes well for Guyana

DearEditor,

We have noticed that agriculture is really on the moveinGuyana,andrightly so. We have the land mass for farming and poultry and wehavetomakeuseofthis. Well, it seems as though the MinistryofAgricultureisin overdrive as per a press release regarding “the commissioning of the new TissueCultureLaboratory,a facility that truly represents the spirit of partnership, progress, and peoplecentereddevelopment.”

This is according to Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, who mentionedthatthelab“…is a landmark moment in Guyana's agricultural transformation journey (as it) marks another proud milestone in Guyana's agricultural transformation journey In the broader scheme of things, the minister noted that the project “… is a key part of our government's broader strategy to prom

sustainable agricultural

Guyana (Since) This G

consistently prioritized agriculture,recognizingitas a cornerstone of our non-oil economy.”

First let me take up the issue of 'recognizing it (

economy.' In Guyana, we must realise that modern agricultural laboratories are dynamic innovation hubs that integrate advanced

digital and biological technologies to promote sustainable, efficient, and resilient food systems. The eraoftraditionallabsisgone and no more there is the limited focus on basic testing and quality control. Modern labs use data analytics, automation, and collaborative research models to address complex challenges like climate change and food security So, with this upgrade, “Guyana's agricultural sector has (now) entered a

Access to Information Act 2011...

Frompage4

However, Justice Ramson SCOR response indicated that The Office of the C o m m i s s i o n e r o f Information is not a “Public Authority”asdefinedbyS2 contrary to what “some uninformed members purportedly representatives of unelected “Civil Society” believe, and that if such documents become available consideration will be duly given and appropriate action taken before any further correspondenceissent

Justice Ramson SCOR also recommended that in ordertofacilitateanyfurther applications,wecouldaccess and consider his lecture sponsoredbytheGuyanaBar Association in 2017, his book,MetricsoftheBarand PracticesandtheBarReview

Requests for many of these documents were previously made to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with no success and after repeated attemptstoengagewithEPA Units and officers on availability of these documents A letter on this lackofaccesstoinformation by the EPAwas also written and publicized by news mediapreviously

Based on the response from The Commissioner of Information, this request for informationisonceagainata dead end and calls into question the right of citizens of Guyana to access

information even though since 2011 the Access to Information Act is in effect and should be facilitating citizens'righttoinformation

We hereby share the followingrelevantsectionsof theAccesstoInformationAct 2011forguidance:

• S7(a)(i)-Powersof the Commissioner of I n f

Information has the power to require a public authority to take any steps as may be necessa

secu

compl

nce with the provisions of this Act including (i) by providing access to information, if so requested in a particular form”

• Section 12(1) and (2) - Right to Access to Information says, “Notwithstanding any law to thecontraryandsubjecttothe provisionsofthisinformation act,itshallbetherightofevery citizenorpersondomiciledin Guyanatoobtainaccesstoan officialdocument” (2)“The Minister may, by order, extendtherighttobegivento official documents under subsection (1) to include persons not referred to in that subsection and may set such conditions as the Minister deemsappropriate.”

• In Section 16 (1), and(2)onProceduretoMake a Request the Act states, “A person who wished to obtain accesstoanofficialdocument shallmakerequestintheform

(a) and (b) These procedures were followed by persons making this request and included, “sufficient detail to enable the Commissioner of Informationoranofficerofthe public authority who is familiar with the relevant documents, to identify the document with reasonable effort “ Wetookspecialnote of the Guyana Standard and Guyana Times article of August 19, 2025, which reported that according to the PPP/C's manifesto the next PPP/Cgovtwillfullyenforce theAccesstoInformationAct Unfortunately,thiswasnotour experienceandwecallonthe relevant authorities including

Information, the relevant PPP/C Government and all other agencies to ensure that thisrequestforinformationas set out in the Access to Information Act is followed andmadeavailableandweas wellasotherswhomayhave been denied access to documents and information receivetheseasareourrights under Guyana's Access to InformationAct2011

Yourssincerely, DanutaRadzik E l i z a b e t h D e a n e Hughes and other members of civilsociety

new era with its first-ever Biotechnology Plant Tissue Culture Laboratory, coming atacostof$450millionwith a promise to truly transform local crop production and secure the country's food future.”

Forexample,thefacility, located at the National Agricultural Research and Ex

e (NAREI), will be able to produce over one million plantletsperyear,compared to the previous capacity of just 15,000 A big leap indeed. It will also supply c

materialsforawiderangeof crops, including pineapple, citrus, plantain, sweet

sugarcane, and even exotic fruits such as strawberries and blackberries ” This envisioning is much needed as agriculture really plays a critical role in developing countries by providing food security, driving economic growth, and reducing poverty Infact,itisoftenthe la

d contribution to GDP, supplying raw materials, creating markets for other industries, and generating foreign exchange through exports.

Editor, we all need to be proud of this lab, as the he United Nations (UN) position on agriculture is centered on achieving Sustainable Development Goal(SDG)2:"Endhunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainab

e agriculture" by 2030. The UN

transformation of global foodandagriculturesystems tomakethemmoreefficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable This Tissue Culture Laboratory is indicative of Guyana's trajectoryanditfitsrightinto the global scheme of things. It was developed through a partnership between the Government of Guyana and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) of India, and financed by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) under the Sustainable Agricultural Development Programme (SADP). Confidence must be high as India, already deeply invested in agricultural technology (AgriTech), is experiencing a rapid transformation of its farming sector through variousinnovation.

Yoursfaithfully, RaymondAnderson

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox

A dark day for democracy in Guyana

DearEditor,

The recent arrest of incomingOppositionLeader Mr AzruddinMohamedwas not justice; it was a spectacle—astarkdisplayof state power wielded for politicalgain.

What the nation witnessed was an operation more befitting an illegal covertactionbyaroguestate than a lawful arrest. Over twenty armed men, their identities hidden behind ski masks and lacking clear

upon Mr Mohamed in a public space, puttingthepublicatriskwith their guns drawn, as if confronting a wartime enemy platoon. In such a volatile and deliberately intimidating situation, the marginfora"fatalaccident" becomes terrifyingly thin. The timing and manner of this operation raise grave

andlegitimatequestionsthat everyGuyanesecitizenmust consider

The echoes of our own historyaredeafening.Weare forced to recall past eras where state power was weaponizedagainstpolitical challengers. We must recall the PNC-controlled and House of Israel-infused quasi-military “Bongo Squad” with their primary objective being – “Get Walter Rodney”. Today, the PPPappears to have its own modern-day “bongo squad” in ski masks, with similar instructions – “Get Mr Azruddin Mohamed” It appears that “Bharat” Burnham has learnt much from “Forbes” Burnham The objective feels familiar: toneutralizeapoliticalthreat byanymeansnecessary When the APNU government arrested Dr Roger Luncheon and Dr

AshniSingh,wecondemned it—and we condemn these abuses against Mr Mohamed today Wrong is wrong, no matter who is in p o w e r. We r e j e c t institutional weaponis.ation thenandnow.Thisprinciple underpinsdemocracy.

The timing of these actions is impossible to ignore. Why now, on the very eve of Parliament's convening and Mr Mohamed's election as LeaderoftheOpposition?If the allegations hold merit, wherewasthepursuitofthis case in 2021 when His Excellency President Dr IrfaanAli ate from the same pot as the Mohameds? This s u d d e n u r g e n c y , synchronized precisely with a pivotal political moment, reeks of a calculated strategy, not a blind and impartial application of the law

Unfair criticism of Minister Oneidge Walrond

DearEditor,

In missive captioned

“While a nation mourns, a minister boasts” (KN Oct 30),SherodDuncan(former Opposition Member of

Parliament) unfairly criticized Minister Onedige Walrond on her handling of affairsintheaftermathofthe explosion at the Mobil gas stationoneveningofOct26.

I never had occasion to engage Minister Walrond. The people I engaged said shehandledtheaftermathof the incident well As reported, the Minister and cabinetcolleaguesaswellas the police, CID, special investigator, forensic specialists were quickly at thescenethatwascordoned.

Cordoning off the site and securing it for crime specialists,inthiscasebomb experts, is standard operating procedure The Ministers and the government, in general, immediately provided support to the family They offered their sympathy and solidarity with the family to findtheattackers.

The Minister did not boastabouttheexplosion;no one would other than the perpetrators Minister Oneidge expressed pride in howthepoliceandotherfirst responders (medics, ambulance, health workers) were also quick at the scene andworkedprofessionallyto helpthevictims.Sheboasted about the use of technology

to collect evidence and to identify the perpetrator (s); the force, the CID, and forensic lab are being modernized. All Guyanese should be proud of such investment and the Minister oughttobeproudthatcrime investment technology in a major terror attack worked well.Thatisnotpolitics;the investment is for the benefit of nation. Everyone worked professionally in handling thecrimesceneaswellasin providing assistance to the victims and in using the technology And I believe thatisalsowhattheMinister boasted.

The family called for justice and rightly and deservingly The police moved fast and arrested at least one perpetrator who was identified by a gas station staff as the one who placed the bomb at the station.

I agree with Mr Duncan that better work (and technology) is needed at the porous border But one can have the best technology to control the border and or to detect bombs, a criminal always find a way to get aroundthetechnology Even theAmericans, a tough antimigrant President Trump, can't stop illegal immigration at the porous American borders or able to stop major domestic crimes andexplosions. That is why technology is dynamic to deter criminal

Thissituationtranscends anysingleindividual.Itisan assault on the very foundation of our democracy. It is a preemptive strike designed t o d e c a p i t a t e t h e parliamentary opposition before it can even take its seat. It sends a chilling message to the 109,000 citizens who voted for this representation: your voices arenotwelcomedinGuyana under a PPP Government, irrespective of your Guyanesecitizenship.

The government's actions suggest that it has morphedintoapartythatno longer believes it can competefairlyinthearenaof ideas. Instead of facing its challengers through debate and policy, it has chosen to use the heavy hand of the police state to eliminate its

only political competition. This is a sign of profound weakness,notstrength.

People sometimes speak about the bestial cruelty of the PPP leadership, and many of us did not believe Dr.FentonRamsahoyewhen he cryptically commented some 50 years ago, “the party [the PPP] works in mysteriousways”. Butwhat weareseeingbeingenforced againstMr Mohamedtoday, brings us to a quick realizationthattorefertothe bestial cruelty of the PPP leadership is most unjust to and offensive to the very beastly qualities in animals, since no animal can be as cruel in their behaviour towards a human being as the PPP leadership is behaving with regard to Mr AzruddinMohamed.

Theworldhaswitnessed

throughout history, from NelsonMandelatocountless others, that unjust political persecution will backfire Ultimately, this political misstep on the part of the PPP is fueling the very movement it seeks to crush. The people of Guyana see thisoppressionforwhatitis, and their resolve for justice willonlygrowstronger

WecallonallGuyanese, regardless of political affiliation, to condemn this dangeroussubversionofour democracy We must demand the preservation of due process and the protection of political rights of everyone. The people must never live in fear of theirgovernment.

The world is watching. History is recording. Let us standontherightsideof

(Continuedonpage41)

On with the Amaila Hydro Project

acts.Ourgovernmentshould trytobeupdateintheuseof technology, but it is not cheap.

I agree that government and police officials should addressthepressandbeopen to the public via the media once investigations and national security are not compromised.

ContrarytowhatDuncan penned, on balance, the Minister did not "celebrate wonders".

She celebrated the work put in by various first respondersandtheavailable technology to address major disasters The technology may not work to keep out potential criminals at the borders. That is a work in progress as it is in every country

On her first major challenge in her new Ministry,whereshehasbeen lessthantwomonths,shedid well; the public I engaged praised her work The Minister, the government, the police should be supported as they continue investigations into the explosion and the intellectual planners and perpetrators behind it (them) The investigation should not be politicized. The family and the country wantjusticeandtheMinister and investigators are working towards that objective.

Yourstruly, VishnuBisram

DearEditor, Kudos be heaped upon the Government of Guyana for reviving plans to realise the much-needed Amaila Hydro Project, that can potentially generate some 165MW of power. Simply out, it means that the capacity will be there to

power approximately 200,000 households per month, depending on average household electricityconsumptionand the type of power generation Overall, this means 'hurry-up' and get going, even if many 'complain just for the sake ofcomplaining '

This long overdue project,oncestymiedbythe previous APNU/AFC, will be via “The Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) model ” BOOT is often used often used in public-private partnerships, where a private entity finances, builds, owns, and operates a facility for a set period before transferring it to the public sector This model is typically used for large infrastructure projects like toll roads or water treatment plants and allows the government to fund projects without upfront capital costs, yet eventually gainingexclusivecontrol.

It was indeed a big setback when the project was stopped by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the AllianceForChange(AFC) coalition,backin2014 But

in its 2020 election manifesto, the PPPadministrationnotedthatthe project will be revived, and hereitisabouttohappen.

The details concerning the AFHP are that “…. the Government of Guyana (GoG) will purchase the electricity from the private developer As such, the RFP (Referral for Proposal) explained that government will select a suitable partner based on (i) lowest Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)

price, en

ring, p r o c u r e m e n t a n d construction (EPC) price, operating cost and capital amortization; (ii) timeframes to complete and (iii) ability to finance the project on a PPA basis. I gather that lots of brainstorming went into all of this and Guyana is likely to wetness another massive transformationproject. It is good to bear in mind that Guyana is not isolated in this kind of power generation as many countries do so, with China being the largest producer, followed by Brazil, Canada, the United States, and Russia. Other countries with significant hydropower generation include India, Norway, Turkey, and Vietnam. Some nations,suchasNorwayand Brazil, derive a very large percentage of their total electricity from hydro power Let's remember too thathydroelectricenergyisa clean, renewable, and

flexible power source with several advan

affordability, and the ability to store water for other uses like irrigation and flood control.Also, once a dam is built, operating costs are low, and the infrastructure canhaveaverylongservice life. Its ability to quickly adjust output makes it a valuable tool for grid stability and for meeting peak electricity demands So, the advantages demand thattheprojectbeexpedited. Editor, even when the APNU+AFC coalition had abandoned the project, saying that it was too costly and the financial model unacceptable, the Norconsult Review: An independent study commissioned by the Norwegian government in 2016(theNorconsultreport) didconcludethat“….while developinghydropowerwas the only realistic path to an emission-free electricity sector, the specific AFHP planhadsignificantfinancial and technical issues, including a high price and potential capacity issues duringthedryseason.”

Now that these issues have been ironed out, I hope that there will be no 'sillier' impediment and that Guyana can quickly 'get going' as reliable and affordable power is quite foundationtoanyeconomy

Yourstruly, HargeshB.Singh

Canadian firm projects US$14.7B in gold sales from Toroparu Project

Canadian-based Aris Mining Corporation has projected life-of-mine payable gold sales of US$14.7 billion from its Toroparu Gold Project in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), based on a base gold price of US$3,000 per ounce.

The Toroparu Project is being developed through Aris Mining’s local subsidiary, ETK Inc According to new financial details released by the company, the large-scale open-pitminewillrequirean initialconstructioncapitalof US$820 million, which includes pre-production costs and a US$96 million contingency.

The company explained that this leasing approach will ensure access to modern, well-supported mining equipment under comprehensive maintenance and parts-supply programs throughout the 20-plus-year minelife.

It was also noted that US$138 million in committed funding from a historical precious metals streaming agreement will further reduce the upfront funding requirement to US$682million. Last week, Aris Mining

Aris Mining said this figure represents a US$38 million reduction compared to a previous fleet-purchase plan.Thecutresultsfromthe company’s Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) leasing strategy, which lowers the upfront costoftheminingfleetfrom U S $ 7 3 m i l l i o n t o approximately US$35 millionduringconstruction.

announced the results of a new Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for its 100%-owned Toroparu Project.

It disclosed thatthe PEA confirms plans for a largescale, long-life open-pit operation expected to produce an average of 235,000 ounces of gold per year over more than two decades.

The PEAoutlines strong project economics, including a 21.3-year mine life, an after-tax Net Present Value (NPV5%) of US$1.8 billion, and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 25.2%, based on a gold price of US$3,000 per ounce. The project’s life-of-mine production is estimated at 5.0 million ounces of gold, 4.9 million ounces of silver, and 260 million pounds of

copper Chief Executive Officer Neil Woodyer said the results demonstrate a major new growth opportunity for ArisMining.Henoted,“The Toroparu PEA outlines a major new growth and diversification opportunity for Aris Mining. After the GCMMiningandArisGold mergerandthearrivalofour management team in September 2022, we paused the Project’s previous construction plans to reassess the Project on a first-principles basis, which included completing a new geological interpretation, updating the mineral resource estimate, and undertaking optimization studies.Theresultisarobust PEA that establishes a solid pathforward.”

The company said the operation will feature a conventional truck-andshovel open pit with a mill capacity of 7 million tonnes per year, supported by an initialconstructioncapitalof US$820 million Aris

Miningplanstoadvancethe project to a Prefeasibility Study (PFS) in 2026, with the goal of moving toward construction. A r i s M i n i n g announcement comes against the backdrop of a long-running dispute involving local miner Wallace Daniels, who has a

s Commission (GGMC) of

deliberately withholding approval for his mining permit for over a decade, despite several court rulings in his favor Daniels’ property is located on the fringesofArisMining’s5.4million-ouncedeposit.

Notably, according to information from the company’s website, the project site was first mined by Alfro Alphonso in 1997 and explored by ETK from 1999 under a joint venture with Alphonso ETK acquired full ownership in 2020,payingUS$20million to exercise its option, while Alphonso retained certain alluvial rights and access privileges. A 2011 mineral agreementbetweenETKand the Government of Guyana established a tiered gold royaltyof5%forpricesupto US$1,000perounceand8% for prices above that, along witha1.5%royaltyonother minerals. ETK also secured an investment agreement with GO-Invest granting tax exemptions on projectrelatedimports.

The politics of appointment

The Elections Commission did not fall from heaven. It came from the messycompromisesofmen. The so-called Carter-Price Formula, that tired but enduring offspring of the 1990s political crisis, was not meant to enshrine aloof neutrality; it was meant to broker peace between two parties locked in perpetual suspicion.

Jimmy Carter came in 1991 and reminded Guyana’spoliticalleadersof their inability to trust themselves. So, under the guiding hand of Jimmy Carter,thePPPandthePNC agreedtoaCommissionthat was notpurelytechnicalbut political — deliberately so — so that both sides might have confidence in the process by seeing themselvesreflectedinit.

Under this arrangement, the choice of Chairperson became a ritual of conditional consensus. The President,stillheadofstate, would appoint the Chairperson,butonlyfroma list of six “fit and proper” persons submitted by the Leader of the Opposition. It was a dance of mutual recognition,acautiouswaltz of power and restraint. The President’shandmoved,but it moved only because the Opposition Leader had suppliedthesteps.

Then came the six Commissioners:threeonthe President’s deliberate judgment, three on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition. Equal halves of a divided whole The intention was not that these Commissioners would rise abovethepoliticalorderbut thattheywouldbalanceit.It

was, in essence, a peace treaty disguised as an institution.

Tosay,therefore,thatthe Commissioners “belong to no one” is to misunderstand the nature of the compromise. They are not partyagents,true,butneither are they creatures of abstraction They are constitutionalexpressionsof political representation. The Commission is not apolitical.Itslegitimacylies in the equilibrium between the two great forces of Guyanese political life — government and opposition, each wary of the other, each watchingtheother’shandon thescales.

The Constitution, when read with a sense of history, makes this plain. Article 161(1)istheembodimentof that formula: a President who acts “in his own deliberate judgment” for three appointments, and a President who acts “on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition” for the other three The symmetry is deliberate.Itdoesnotmerely tolerate political division; it institutionalisesit.

Those who now argue that the Oppositionnominated commissioners enjoy some unconditional permanence, as if they were life peers of a Westminster order, mistake tenure for e n t i t l e m e n t T h e Constitution gives them security of office so long as thestructurethatlegitimises their appointment remains intact — that is, three from theGovernment’sside,three from the Opposition’s. The balance is not decorative; it is essential Remove the Opposition’s ability to advise,tonominate,andyou

collapse the entire CarterPricearchitectureintoaonesidedcontraption.

It is true that, for nearly three decades, no one has had reason to disturb the pattern The two main parties have taken turns occupying the seats of power The Opposition of one day becomes the Governmentofthenext,and in that continuity, there has been no pressure to test the limits of the Carter-Price formula In 2015, APNU+AFCcametopower

In2020,whenthependulum swung back, the People’s Progressive Party found itself in the seat of Presidency In2015,thePPP wastheOpposition.In2020, itwastheAPNU.

Buttimeschange,asthey always do The present Leader of the Opposition is not of the same mould as those before him. He is neitherPNCnorPPP

If we are to remain faithful to the constitutional logic of the Carter-Price Formula, then his authority must mean something. The right to advise the President on the appointment of three Commissioners is his in accordance with the CarterPriceformula.

If the formula is to live, notmerelysurviveasarelic of 1992, then the Leader of the Opposition — whoever he is — must possess the right to nominate his own three Commissioners Otherwise, the “Opposition side” of the Commission becomes a fiction, an inheritance of ghosts. What sense does it make for the Constitution to speak of “acting on the advice of the LeaderoftheOpposition”if that advice becomes

DEM BOYS SEH

When tenant start believe he is landlord

Dem boys seh some people get a lil spacetorentandsuddenlystartactinglike dembuydeproperty Yougiveamanakey fuh a small flat, tell he is a temporary arrangement,andnextthingyouknow,he buildveranda,plantlilkitchengarden,and calling de place “mine.” He forget who nameondetransport.

Is same thing happening wid some of dembigpeoplewhogetposition.Someof dem does be dem who move in and behavinglikedeofficeisfamilyestate.Is suh with Guyanese, once dem get a chair, demdoesnailittodefloor

Someofdemnahwantmoveon.Dem don’twantmoveout,don’twantshare,and don’t even want de new boss man to send

meaningless when the Leaderchanges?

The Chairperson stands apart. That office, chosen through the peculiar alchemy of consensus, has its own sanctity Once selected, the Chair is insulated from the political tides. The stability of that role is necessary; it anchors the institution But the Commissioners are not of the same cloth Their presence is justified by political balance, and balance is a dynamic, not a monument.

The six Commissioners oftheElectionsCommission occupy offices that, while constitutionally protected fromarbitrarydismissal,are of a structurally different character from that of the Chairperson Their appointment is expressly political in design: three are appointedbythePresidentin hisowndeliberatejudgment, and three are appointed by the President acting on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition Their legitimacy, therefore, derives from the balance of representation the deliberate equilibrium between government and

opposition built into the Carter-Price Formula. Their tenure cannot be viewed in isolation fro

m T h e constitutional structure contemplates a Commission composed of these two political halves, and the continuingauthorityofeach set of Commissioners depends upon that config

maintained. Their “security of tenure” exists, therefore, w

framework: it does not elevate them to the level of autonomous constitutional officersinthemannerofthe Chairperson.

TheChairperson’soffice stands apart as the singular, nonpartisan head of the Commission. That person’s tenureissecuredinthesame mannerastheheadsofother independent constitutional bodies—removable only for misbehaviour or incapacity, and only after a tribunal process under Article 225.

The six Commissioners, on

constitutional balance itself.

To treat their tenure as i d e n t i c a l t o t h e Chairperson’s is to ignore

the political architecture from which their authority arises. Their protection is functional, not absolute, intended to ensure fairness within a balanced structure, not to confer permanence beyondit.

To cling to the idea that Opposition-nominated Commissioners are irremovable, regardless of wholeadstheOpposition,is to strip the formula of its vitality The Commission was not designed to be frozen in one moment of political history; it was designedtoreflecttheliving opposition of ideas and parties To deny a new LeaderoftheOppositionthe right to name his commissioners is to deny him the constitutional role that the Carter-Price Formulawasbuilttosecure.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

he own people. Dem forget dem was just therewasaninvitedguestnotanowner

Dem boys seh is like when someone squatting.Years,deownerofdelandcome andseh,“Timeup,packyuhthings.”

But de squatter seh, “This is my ancestral land.” Eh eh! What ancestral land?Youwaslivinghereontrust,bai.

So dem boys seh, before every place turn into a private estate, leh we remind dem tenants that keys does get collected when time come Because one fine morning,derightfullandlordgonshowup widnewnamesondelease—andsomeof dem tenants gon get evicted, curtains, bougainvillea,andall. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

H@RD TRUTHS

Norton rising,roaring

Outgoing Leader

o f t h e Opposition, Mr Aubrey Norton, had one of his finer moments recently Herosetotheoccasion,and spoke, not like a politician, but like a man determined that what is wrong must be righted. I was wrong about him on this issue related to the confirmation of the chancellor of the judiciary and chief justice of Guyana. I am glad that I was wrong. If I have to admit publicly that I erred in my assessmentsofGuyana'stop political leaders, then that wouldbeahappydayforme. It would mean that they are doing right, standing for what serves the interests of the peoples of this country best.

“I can say this to you, from the inception with my

While I commend Mr Norton for his principled standonthoseappointments, I am prompted also to share something else in the public domain It is what introduces a sense of openmouthed awe at the comprehensivenatureofthe conniving that goes into the schemes of the PPP Government. Plus, the timing of them. The sequence following should provideproofs. (Justlikethe developments cloaking the Mohameds, on which more willfollowsoon).

AubreyNortonmadehis position very clear from the beginning. Foremphasis,he stated and restated what he was “very clear” about. No

e n g a g e m e n t s w i t h PresidentIrfaanAli,Imade it very, very clear, as pellucid as I can, that I was not prepared to support the removal of Justice Cummings, made that very clear. You're already aware that I am on record as saying I gave consent for the appointment of Justice Cummings and Justice Wiltshireawhileback.” I don't think that anyone could have been clearer. Still, a letter was written to Mr. Norton by Pres. Ali, which sought his approval for the confirmation of JusticeGeorge-Wilshireand Justice Navindra Singh to the positions of chancellor a n d c h i e f j u s t i c e respectively Perhaps, the president didn't hear the Opposition Leader's words clearly;or,itcouldbethathe didn't give them too much value. Or, he forgot, given his packed days and itineraries.

Justice Cummings gracing the senior judiciary picture, noagreeingtoconfirmation. Even a dumbo like me understands that posture, and the irreversibility of its finality But Justice Cummings is cleverly put outtopasture. Ithinkoneof thebindingconditionsofher package is that she is prevented from writing her memoirs to lay bare all the shenaniganssurroundingher jarring, premature, and forced departure. That was steponeinthecunningofthe PPP leadership planning The eagle-eyed and clearheaded would be quick to spot that I blanketed the years that went before Norton's arrival as Opposition Leader and the spinning, unending, careening carousel that featured so much in those two most senior posts in Guyana's judiciary existing in a state of disgrace. I shouldn'thavetoinformany G u y a n e s e o f t h a t ignominious word -acting. If the CCJ knew and weighed-in with its objections, then all Guyanese should know and havetheirsayalso.

The last part in the sequence of this scheming was that Excellency Ali jettedofftothesnowfieldsof Riyadh. Hethoughtthatthe PPP had Aubrey Norton by the, ahm, belly button Damned if he says yes to confirmation (by his own people and future history [if possible]);anddamnedifhe says no, with all manner of PPP dirt on his head for reward. Still, Norton stood tall, stood straight, stood resolute. Notoconfirmation withoutYonette. Apologies for taking the liberty, Madam Justice EdwardsCummings. In his leaving, Norton showed he still has standing.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

Steptwointhissequence came in the blinding and breathtaking arrival (more like ascension and anointing) of the Hon Justice Navindra Singh for the position of Guyana's chief justice. And, with the added coronation of the shortest acting tenure in G u y a n a ' s h i s t o r y Congratulations, your Honor. Justice Singh not onlyjumpedheads,hispush tothetopistheequivalentof himjumpingoverthemoon. Talk about premeditating andplanning,andtherethey wereinblazingTechnicolor All that was left was for Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, to go along to get along Would he, or wouldn't he, that was what swirled in Guyanese minds. Apparently,hispreferenceis togetoutofthatjudicialcrab dance,bywashinghishands clean of that latest example ofgrandsubterfugefromthe PPP Government. Most admiringly, I must say that the boiler room that represents the collective mind, some would say distorted genius, of the PPP wasveryclearly(tostealMr Norton's words) working overtime, and for the unholiest outcome imaginable. Does all this incorporate the best of scheming, or what! I like a work of art, no matter how overlysmartitis.

Mohameds'arrestapublicspectacle...

Frompage7

initiatethearrestofsomeone who had offered full cooperation is a clear disrespectoftheruleoflaw.”

Azruddin Mohamed, through one of his lawyers, wrote the Minister of Home Affairs,theCommissionerof Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions on October 6, where he expressed his readiness to surrender once the proper extradition request was filed andthelegalprocesseswere inplace.

“His father, on the other hand was taken in handcuffs from his Lombard Street office.

He too, fully cooperated and let the process run its course Moreover, this PPP/C regime has time and time again used state machinery as a political weapon, reducing law enforcement to instruments of fear rather than justice,” thepartysaid.

Further, the party highlighted that the younger Mohamed, whose party secured the second largest number of votes in the 2025 general and regional elections, was handcuffed

and thrown in the back of a vehicle, then whisked away in the presence of his supporters.Thepartyalleges thathewasdeniedcallstohis attorneys.

“Mr.Mohamedremained calm and let due course prevail. On this note, Mr. Mohamed's driver was also unlawfully arrested and placed in custody during whichhewaschuckedinthe face in the car while being takentoEveLeary

This is nothing but a premeditated, concocted plan from the beginning. First,asittingmagistratewas brought to Georgetown to preside over this matter; all cases at the Georgetown Magistrate's Court were rescheduled to facilitate this so-called high-profile matter, and arrangements were in place to whisk the Mohameds out of the country,”thestatementsaid.

WIN said that all o p e r a t i o n s a t t h e Georgetown Magistrates' Court were at a standstill, withnoonebeingallowedin or out and several masked, armed men paraded the compound.

“Even soldiers were

called out to surround the court house. Well, that all backfiredthankstoAlmighty GOD and the competent legal team that represented the Mohameds, ” the statementsaid.

Further, the party drew a comparison between the manner in which Azruddin Mohamed was treated and the then presidential candidate of the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) IrfaanAli who was slapped with 19 fraud charges.

WIN questioned, “Were there masked gunmen? Was there a heavy presence of police and soldiers? Was he thrown in the back of a vehicle like a criminal? Was hehandcuffed?”

The party called on citizens to remain vigilant, “and to hold this destructive and criminal-minded PPP government that will lead this nation for another five years,accountable.” Additionally, the party said that no form of intimidation and public humiliation will be enough to prevent its leader and members from going to ParliamentonMonday

'We will not be intimidated, will not bow, will not be broken’ – Pres. Ali on Mobil gas station bombing

President Irfaan Ali on Saturday condemned strongly the recent horrific bombing at the Mobil Gas Station on Regent Street whichclaimedthelifeofsixyear-old Soraya Bourne and left four other persons injuredonOctober26.

The President, who was onanoverseasdutywhenthe bombing occurred, expressed outrage at the terrorist attack while delivering the feature address at the Guyana th Defence Force's (GDF) 60 anniversary service held at theNationalCulturalCentre.

ThePresidentsaidfor60

years,themenandwomenof the GDF have stood watch on Guyana's borders, they have guarded the air space, patrolled the rivers and the country's vast coastline, working tirelessly to keep Guyanasafeandsecure.

“I repeat again what I've said before, the Guyana DefenceForceisnotaForce of aggression. It is not an instrument of intimidation. Ours is not a military that seekstoprovokeorthreaten, rather,itisaForceofpeace, protection and patriotism,” hereassured.

The head of state said that Guyana's commitment

Man arrested for allegedly abusing son

A26-year-oldrealestateagentofHaslington,EastCoast Demerara(ECD)hasbeenarrestedforallegedlyabusinghis 11-year-oldsononFriday

TheGuyanaPoliceForce(GPF)inastatementsaidthat the allegation was reported to police by the child's 25-yearold mother who said the child and his father had a misunderstanding.

“Following the report, both the mother and child were interviewed and statements were obtained. The child was also examined by a medical practitioner and a medical certificatewassubmitted,”policesaid.

Thesuspectisassistingpolicewiththeinvestigation.

to peace must not be mistaken as a sign of weakness.

“We are peaceful, yes, but we are prepared, and we will fiercely defend our territorial integrity and sovereignty against all threats from wherever they maycome,”heexpressed.

PresidentAlinotedthata threat to peace can be unpredictable and at times senseless.

“It is within this context that we must pause to condemn in the strongest possible terms the recent horrific attack on the petrol station on Regent Street, right here in the heart of our capital city. That cowardly act,whichclaimedthelifeof aninnocentchild,wasavile assault on the people, an attempt to create harm and fear our nation mourns with the family of the young life lost,”hecondemned.

The Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces said that the attack which bore all the hallmarks of terrorism was an attempt to sow fear and chaos, to destabilize,tocreatetension.

Notingthatthestatewill get to the bottom of it, he related“Letitbeknownhere and now that we will not be intimidated,wewillnotbow, wewillnotbebroken.”

Commending the swift and coordinated response of the law enforcement authorities and the joint services, including the Guyana Defence Force, for their professionalism and response, he said that it showsthatinthefaceofevil, Guyana stands united and unshaken.

“Investigations will continue,themotivesbehind thisheinousactwillcometo light. We will pursue justice relentlessly,andwewilltake every lawful measure to protect our people and deter those who may contemplate similar action, we are going deep, broad and hard to the bottom on this, ” he promised.

The president warned that attempts to stir fear will fail. “You will fail because the spirit of our people cannot be terrorized. You will fail because we are one nation, resolute and

indivisible You will fail b e c a u s e o u r l a w enforcement agencies will ensure that peace prevails. The safety and security of our citizens are paramount, this is non-negotiable,” he declared.

Notwithstanding,

President Ali cautioned that Sunday's bombing should notbethebasisforprejudice ordiscriminationnotingthat Guyanahaslongbeenaland where immigrants come fleeinghardshipandturmoil.

“Yes,wemuststrengthen our systems of monitoring, screening and enforcement, whichwearedoingandwill continue to do. We must ensure that those who enter our country do so in accordance with our laws and with respect for our peace, but let us not succumbedtothetemptation to paint all immigrants with thesamebrush.Hatredisnot the answer to hatred,” he stated.

Theheadofstatetoldthe gathering of military officials that Guyana will remain a compassionate nation, but one that is also vigilan

g

nd aggressive in the protection ofitscitizenandsovereignty.

“The Guyana Defence Forcewillcontinuetoplaya vitalroleinmaintainingthis balance.Wewillcontinueto supportourlawenforcement agencies in upholding law and order, ensuring that Guyanaremainsasocietyof peace, stability and justice, because a nation that is at peace within sends a powerful message to the world outside A nation united in purpose and spirit becomes an immovable pillaragainstthosewhomay seek to exploit international divisions,originalinstability for their own dark designs,” heassured.

The weed weighing 9.45 pounds

Linden truck driver arrested over 9.45 lbs. of weed found in canter

A 33-year-old truck driver was on Saturday arrested after police intercepted a canterhewasdrivingandfoundacamouflage bag containing two bulky parcels of marijuana.

The vehicle the weed was found in.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) in a statement said that ranks during an intelligence-led operation along Lombard Street, Georgetown intercepted and searched thevehicle.

“During this search a camouflage bag containing two bulky parcels of suspected marijuana were found in the back of the canter The suspect was cautioned, arrested and escorted to the Ruimveldt Police Station where the suspected narcotics were weighed inhispresenceandamountedto9.45pounds,” policesaid.Investigationsareongoing.

A former student of the Ann's Grove Secondary School was on Saturday killedduringacollisionwith atruckatBelfield,EastCoast Demerara(ECD).

The teen has been identified as 17-year-old Laron Harris of Douchfour, ECD.

Police said that the accident occurred at about 14:15hontheBelfieldPublic Road, ECD and involved a

truckdrivenbya33-year-old man from Alberttown, Georgetown and Harris who was driving a motorcycle withregistrationnumberCG 5938.

His friend, the pillion rider, identified as Josiah Abramswasinjured.

“ P

investigations revealed that

proceeding west along the southern driving lane while

proceeding east along the northern driving lane at an allegedfastrateofspeed.Itis

motorcyclist swerved to avoid two animals (goats), on the roadway and collided head-onwiththelorrywhich was proceeding in the opposite direction,” police said.

As a result, both riders (Continuedonpage40)

ArianDahliaRichmond

Guyanesebeautyambassador, stuns in Miss Friendship Int'l contest in China

The Honey Fest 2025

Underscored the country's drive toward strengthening Guyana's apiculture sector

Vanessa

Alexander

Meet the stunning Vanessa Alexander, better known as the 'Guyanese Peppa'. The 27 -year- old beauty is a proud mother, and entrepreneur, who believes in “glowing, growing, and grinding,” for what she wants. Vanessa was born and raised in the small, loving community of Kwakwani Region 10. Her passions include doing make-up, dancing, traveling, cooking, and shopping. This week's beauty recently turned her alias 'Guyanese Peppa' into a brand, and is set to launch her luxury hair line on November 6, 2025. Her favorite quote is “The glow you get from minding your own business is beautiful.” You can find her on Instagram and Facebook: @GuyanesePeppa.

Coercion in Daylight:The World Must Outlaw Arbitrary Detention

Thepracticehasan uglynameandan uglier intent: arbitrary detention in Stateto-State relations means this: tyrannical regimes seize innocents to make other governments submit to their wishes. As I said on October 28, 2025, at the United Nations, this is “not diplomacy; it is coercion in daylight.” The principle at stakeconcernseverynation, largeorsmall.

For large powers, such acts of arbitrary arrest and detention are an affront. For smallstates,theyareatough trial of their capacity to defend their citizens. Small countries have neither vast consular networks nor military leverage When their citizens cross bordersto study, to trade, to seek medical care - they travel in the belief that law will protect them. But if the law canbemanipulatedtoturna student, a journalist, or a businessperson into a hostage with whom to bargain, then traveling citizens of every small state areatrisk.

ThatiswhyIconsidered it important to accept the invitation to launch the Report of the Independent International Panel on ArbitraryDetentioninStateto-State Relations at the UnitedNationsinNewYork on October 28, 2025. The report is a firm step on the path to giving citizens of

small countries a vital layer of protection in a world wheretyrannyandorganized crimethriveinmanyplaces.

Six eminent jurists formed the Panel. In their report, they expose a hybrid crime - part hostage-taking, part torture, part prohibited intervention - andalways,in the words of the Panel, “a grave abuse of State authority and an affront to human rights and the peaceful conduct of internationalrelations.”

The Panel's findings are unflinching.They show that such detentions breach multiple pillars of international law: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, and the 1979 Hostages Convention. Yet because the existing

enforcement remains weak. The result is impunity, especially when the perpetratorispowerful.

To close this gap, the Panel proposes that nations should consider requesting an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) This is Recommendation 26 of the Report, and it deserves the same courage that small statesshowedinsecuringthe ICJ Advisory Opinion on

Climate Change. In both cases, the logic is identical: when global norms are endangeredbytheactionsof thestrong,theweakmustact together to restore the law's clarityandconscience.

WhytheICJisan effectiveroute

As climate catastrophe threatens humanity's survival,itwasnotthemajor emittersthatcarriedthecase to The Hague - it was small islands Vanuatu, Antigua and Barbuda, and others forgedacoalitionthatasked theCourttopronouncewhat should have been obvious: that States have legal duties to prevent environmental harm to present and future generations The Court's July2025opinionconfirmed thosedutiesandtransformed theterrainofclimatejustice.

The same strategic imagination is now required to confront arbitrary detention. Small states have a collective interest in codifying what conscience already tells us: that a person's liberty must never be collateral in interstate bargaining. The ICJ is the only global body capable of authoritatively declaring that this practice constitutes an internationally wrongful act, violating both human rights and the sovereign equalityofStates.

The Government of AntiguaandBarbuda,ledby Prime Minister Gaston Browne, recognized this

early Antigua and Barbuda was the first small state to signtheDeclarationAgainst ArbitraryDetentioninStateto-State Relations launched by Canada in 2021, because we understood that protectingourpeopleabroad requires international reinforcementofthelaw For small nations, a rules-based order is not a philosophical preference; it is a survival mechanism.

AConstitutionalCompass

Thiscausealsoresonates deeply within the domestic legal heritage of Canada as well as Commonwealth Caribbean countries For instance, on November 1, 2025,AntiguaandBarbuda's Independence Constitution

will mark its 44th anniversary, and central to it—enshrined in Section 5: Protection of the Right to Personal Liberty is the guarantee against arbitrary arrestanddetention.

American countries have similar constitutional provisions, but some governments fail to respect them,particularlyinrelation topoliticaldissidents.

Wherethisconstitutional architectureisupheldbythe governments, it mirrors the

very norms that the international community must now entrench The principle is simple: no one's freedom should depend on power; it should depend on law

FromDeclarationtoLaw

The guiding principles of the Declaration Against ArbitraryDetentioninStateto-StateRelationsarerooted inArticle 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights —“No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile” and Article 36 of the Vienna Convention, guaranteeing consular access But declarations alone do not deter abusers. The Panel warns that the “fragmented” legal response has emboldened offenders and left victims without remedy Itcallsforacoherentbodyof law—onethatuniteshumanrights obligations, State respon

An ICJ Advisory Opinion would crystallize thesedispersednormsintoa s i n g l e j u d i c i a l pronouncement,definingthe practiceasaninternationally wrongful act that triggers obligations of cessation, reparation, and non-

repetition The Court's reasoning would guide States, regional bodies, and domestic courts. It would empower the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and give moral andlegalweighttosanctions and listing mechanisms Most importantly, it would tellvictimsandtheirfamilies thatinternationallawhasnot abandonedthem.

Small states have long beenthemoralconscienceof the international system TheydefendtheUNCharter because they know that without law, they have no defenceatall.AsIsaidatthe launch of the Panel's report attheUN,“thelawmustnot be the privilege of the powerful but the protection ofthepowerless.”

(The author is the AmbassadorofAntiguaand Barbuda to the United States and the OAS, and D e a n o f t h e O A S Ambassadors accredited to the OAS. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronaldsanders.com )

WEEK-IN-REVIEW

SUNDAY

Exxon’sUS$7.3Bexpense notthoroughlyaudited–formerAuditorGeneral …doubtslessthan1%of sumwasineligible

Former Auditor General (AG)Anand Goolsarran has

raised fresh concerns regardingtheUS$7.3Baudit of American oil giant, ExxonMobil.

In a recent Stabroek News column, he stated that theprocesswasnotthorough

enough, hinging his conclusion on the fact that a prior audit of the company, conducted by a British firm, flagged a much higher percentage of questionable costs.

Goolsarran noted, “The auditors’ report identified amounts totalling US$7.435

b i l l i o n a s “ G r o s s Recoverable Costs” for the period 2018 to 2020 However, there were two items: “Gross Exemptions” – US$64 790 million, and “Gross Exemptions Granted” – US$10 319 million, the nature of which aswellastheirimpactonthe recoverable costs have not beenexplained.Ineffect,the auditors found that an amount of US$54 471 million,oramere0.7percent ofthetotalrecoverablecosts, was ineligible, compared with 12.8 percent identified by IHS Markit in the first audit of the recoverable costs.”

To this end, he said, “In our view, not enough audit work was undertaken to enable the auditors to draw thisconclusion.”

Shifting his attention to the audit report, Goolsarran said the document was deficient in a number of ways, specifically as it lacked“basicstructure”.

He noted that the report features no table of contents to guide readers; no executive summary; no list of abbreviations; no definition of the technical terms used; and no sections dealing with the terms of referencefortheassignment, the scope and methodology used, the auditing standards that were followed in the conduct of the audit, and findings, conclusions, and recommendations, among others.

“In the circumstances, one had to go through the meticulous and tedious task of sifting through the entire reporttoascertainwhatwere t h e f i n d i n g s a n d recommendations,” he added.

Additionally, the former AGberatedthedocumentfor s i g n i f i c a n t l y a n d unnecessarily quoting the 2016 Production Sharing

A g r e e m e n t ( P S A ) According to him, “ the report was badly in need of editingtoensureconciseness anduserfriendliness.”

G o o l s a r r a n w a s concerned that auditors s t a t e d t h a t t h e documentation and process of transferring materials out of inventory could not be examined but gave no reasonswhythiswasso.

He described this a “major shortcoming of the audit” since the value of materials issued from inventorytoproductionover the period under review would have constituted a significant portion of the total amount shown in the CostRecoveryStatement. Also concerning to the formerAGisthatauditors,in several parts of the report, statedthatsomeoftheissues would be further examined duringthenextaudit.Hesaid thisclearlyimpliedthatthere was an expectation that they would be re-appointed

auditors Moreover, he noted, “These statements were also clearly an acknowledgement that the auditwasincompleteanddid not meet acceptable standards.”

VHE consulting was c o n t r a c t e d b y t h e Government of Guyana in May 2022 to conduct Guyana’s first cost oil audit fortheyears2018to2020.

They were later rehired for the third audit, this time to review a whopping US$19.6B spent by Exxon between 2021 and 2023 That report has been handed over to the government as reported in May 2025. The initial report has not been madepublicdespitecallsfor transparency in the process. The government has said it will make the report public after the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) completes its review In the meantime, there has been no word regarding the disputed sum flaggedbytheauditors.

Previously, Goolsarran questioned the selection of the local consortium to conduct such an important taskonbehalfofGuyana.

Hestressedthatgiventhe financialimplicationsforthe nation, the audit required experienced professionals withprovenexpertiseincost verification.

On October 10, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) awarded VHE Consulting (which is a registered partnership between Ramdihal & Haynes In

; E

isar Financial; and Vitality Accounting & Consultancy Inc.),a$312millioncontract to conduct the third audit of ExxonMobil’s expenses for theperiod2021to2023.

TheformerAGreasoned that a thorough audit is crucial to ensure that only legitimate, reasonable

expenses are recovered, which impacts Guyana’s profitshare.

Moreover, he recalled that government in its invitation for bids to audit thecompany’sexpensessaid a key requirement is for the bidding firm, along with its partners (local and foreign)

combined, to have completed at least three similar assignments during the past seven years He added that no auditing firm operating in Guyana at that time, includingVHE,would havemetthisrequirement.

Cops,GGMCteardown miner’scamp …following clash with Region 7 gold magnate

Officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) on

Saturday completely destroyed a mining camp

be

Halliman, a medium-scale miner, who has been vocal aboutbeingvictimized.

Halliman, has accused the GGMC of breaching multiple mining regulations and ignoring a court ruling relativetohisoperationona plotoflandlocatednexttoa prominent gold magnate at Toroparu Backdam, Region Seven(Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The miner was recently served a removal letter for disturbingthepeace.

“Me don’t lie, me instruction was given from the minister for work here because they know the truth ofthematter,”Hallimantold reporters. He noted that former Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources Simona Broomes isalsoawareofthematter.

“The person who know thetruthofthismattertoois the past administration minister, I feel her name is Simona Broomes She knows exactly because this permit was already prepared.Iseethispermitat GGMC.WhenIgotocollect the description of the 300 feet,IseetheIntenttoGrant. Iseeitinthefile.Atthetime, I wasn’t so versed with the regulations and I allow it to pass,”herecalled.

OnSaturday,membersof the media witnessed the demolition exercise by the police and GGMC officers. Halliman and two of his security guards were handcuffedataround15:00h andkeptatthelocationuntil 18:00 hours, after the cops said they found an illegal firearmonthecampsite.

Halliman came to tears while in handcuffs as he expressed his frustration with the way small-scale miners are treated in the mining industry He also disclosed that he attended a meeting with GGMC and wasofferedotheralternative mining areas if he gives up theplotofmininglandinthe ToroparuBackdam.

“So, the minister decisionisnothing…[They] shoot at me, cause all this problem for this thing to escalate, he security them. He[largeminer]couldwork and do whatever he wants. Thesepeopleworking?They working on behalf of the government? I breach any mining regulations? I go according to what the court say,whatthelawsay I go with that! GGMC carry them own self to court becauseamagistratemakea decision in our favour We produced the evidence, we produced everything. The party on the other side did notproduceanything.”

Whenmediaworkers

Continued on page 17

Frompage16 arrived at the mining area justaround1pm,membersof GGMC and police officers werealreadyexercisingtheir duty to shut down the camp site Notably, ranks also threatened to seize the vehicle used by media workers,iftheycontinuedto live stream the situation

Media workers, including Kaieteur News, were forced to work for several hours withoutinternetaccesswhile the police and GGMC officers consumed alcohol

that was seized from

Halliman’s camp and smoked at the location, as Halliman and the security guards were in handcuffs nearby

Shortly before the ranks and mines officers left the mining area, they conducted a search on the vehicle the mediaworkersusedandthen instructedthemthattheycan now use the internet It should be noted that despite requestsmadetotherankson the scene, they did not identify themselves or wore their police issued identificationbadges.

Notably, the reporters who travelled to Region Seven to cover the incident were left stuck at the flattened camp site as the gatetotheminingareawhich is controlled by ETK inc., closedat6pm.

At about 19:30h Halliman returned and informed reporters who remained at the dismantled mining camp that the police released him and the two securityguardsandreturned thefirearm.

He explained that after hours of trying to show the ranks the documentation for theweapon,itwasonlyafter they were taken to the ETK compound that the officers properly reviewed the document and decided to let themgo.

“I sit down and I study this thing [the regulations] for8months.Thenextthing I going and do, meen giving up …I gonna go and study the law and I gonna be an advocate for small miners whoarebeingvictimizedby GGMC and these big miners,”hetoldreporters.

The miner argued that there must be “a level playing field whereby everybodycouldearn…”

“…not because you is a big miner Look how much land Alphonso get and he using his influence to mek thisherehappentowesohe couldgettheland.

Hebigthattheyain’tgot no rules, no law apply to he none whatsoever Theseregulationscouldonly be enforced on a small man but is good y’all see wha going on here.And I will let the world know what is goingonhere.,”hedeclared.

Itisimportanttonotethat ETK Inc. only allowed the media to leave the area at around 20:30h after the securitytooktheirnamesand madeseveralcalls.

The mining property at the center of the saga is owned by Wallace Daniels, theuncleofMarvisHalliman –whohaspowerofattorney The issue dates back to December 2012, when Danielsdiscoveredastripof unclaimed land located near property owned by the Alphonso family, wellknown players in the local gold industry After confirming the land was available,Danielsappliedto the GGMC and was granted the claim with no legal challenges or objections at thetime.

and authorises the mines officertoactinanysituation likely to disturb or endanger thepeace.

It was noted too that Halliman was previously served directing him to, “cease unlawful operations, vacate disputed area, desist from interference, and you have failed and/or neglected tocomplywithsame.”

The letter further orders Halliman to remove all equipment and personnel from the claim within 72 hours or face forfeiture and possiblelegalaction.

wallscavingin.

An emergency response teamalongwithcrimescene investigatorswasalsoonthe ground. One of the officials withtheGuyanaFireService (GFS)saidthattheyreceived a call about the explosion around19:30hrs.

“Four persons were transportedtothehospital thethreewerechildrenoutof the three children that were transported, one would have succumbedtotheinjurieshe said”.

MONDAY

Commissioner Jimmy Reece, and Manager of MinesQuincyThom.

y. A

Notably, the Alphonso’s own river claims filed for in 2009, covering 34 claims along the Puruni River, one mile upstream and 300-feet inland on both sides, while Daniels’application,wasfor the 300-feet north and south of the river, adjacent to the A

y Magistrate Allan Wilson heard the matter and in May 2024, ruled in Daniels’ favour, stating that Daniels’ a

injurious to Alphonso nor illegal.

However, the mining property became the center oflegalbattlesandthreats.

This publication had reported that GGMC served Halliman a removal order, accusing him or persons acting under his direction of disrupting the peace in contravention of the mining act.

He shared a copy of the letter dated October 16, 2025, issued by Mines Officer Alvin Graham and witnessed by GGMC

“Ithasbeenobservedand confirmed by the Mines Officer for the said district that you, or persons acting under your direction, have engagedinconductcontrary to the provisions of the mining act and the regulations thereunder, thereby disrupting the peace a n d o r d e r s i s s u e d previously,”theletterstated.

Itfurthercitesregulation 1 5 4 o f t h e m i n i n g regulationswhichempowers aminesofficertoremove,or cause to be removed, any person unlawfully

occupying, or whose conduct is, “prejudicial to good order or proper working, from any claim, licence, or location within hisjurisdiction.”

The letter outlined that regulation 98 of the mining regulations provides for the protectionofpeaceandgood orderwithinminingdistricts

Six-Year-OldGirlKilled, SeveralInjuredinFiery GasStationBlast

A powerful explosion ripped through the Mobil Gas Station at Regent and King Streets on Sunday night, killing a six-year-old girl and injuring several others in a scene witnesses describedas“purechaos.”

The deafening blast, which echoed across the capital around 7:30 p m , shatteredwindowsofnearby buildings, damaged vehicles, and sent debris raining down over the area.

When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene, a mangledcarlayamidtwisted metal and shattered glass.A Toyota Fielder wagon parked nearby was also badlywrecked.

A cage filled with propane bottles was completely destroyed and the glass walls of the supermarket section was alsoshatteredwithpartofthe

Kaieteur News later learnt at the scene that the child who died was identified as a six-year-old girl, Soraya Bourne. Eyewitnesses claimed that a total of six persons were injured. The children were reportedly in the car that suffered the brunt of the explosion and the two surviving children are reportedly in critical condition.

Among the injured was the driver of the fielder wagon that was parked nearby when the explosion occurred.

Reports are that he was sitting in the car when his vehicle lifted into the air beforefallingbackdown.

Pump attendants who wereondutyrecalledseeing the children being pitched out of the car they were in. Two of them recounted that theywereinthesupermarket when the explosion occurred.

“Wenahseenothing,we hear and then all the glass camepitchingin.

Another member of staff saidshewasclosetowhere Continued on page 18

Frompage17 the explosion happened and isluckytobealive.Shesaid that the car pulled up and a woman stepped out and ordered a water from her (FiveGallon).

“Shethenwalkandgoby the KFC”, she said while addingshewantedtogotake outthewaterandwaitwhile thewomanwasatKFC.

“But something tell me nah, leh me wait until she comeback”.Afewmoments later the explosion occurred at the exact location where she would have gone to retrievethebottleofwater

She recalled that two of thechildrenwerepitchedout of the car Public-spirited citizens rushed to the scene immediately to assist the victims and rushed them to thehospital.

M e a n w h i l e , a n immediateinvestigationwas launched.

Crime scene ranks were seen using police sniffer dogs to help comb the area for clues. Speaking with the press at the scene, Minister of Home Affairs, Oneige Waldron said, “Its an explosion so of course immediatelyyouthinkofall thepossibilitiesorthingsthat cancauseanexplosion”.

“The sniffer dogs can detect bombs so they were here it was all part of the investigation”,sheadded.

Unbothered!

ExxonMobilshrugs offGuyana’s US-dollarshortage –saysalreadyhelped GuyanaearnUS$8B

AlthoughGuyanaisnow producing over 700,000 barrels of oil daily, the country is grappling with a shortage of US-currency, causing major setbacks, especially affecting the businesscommunity.

US-currency is key to transacting business on the international market Countries earn foreign currency mostly from the export of its resources.With a Gross domestic Product (GDP) tripling in recent years and an economy rated the ‘fastest growing in the world’localbankshavebeen unabletosupplythedemand forthecurrency,resultingin lossesforbusinesses.

As Guyana’s 50/50 partner in development of theStabroekBlock,Kaieteur

News recently asked

Exxo

Limited (EMGL) whether it would be willing to return a

President and Chief Executive Officer of G Mining Ventures (GMIN) Louis-Pierre Gignac

small portion of its earnings from Guyana to the country to assist in the situation, in the spi

partnership.

The oil giant however made it clear in its response thatitwasunbotheredbythe shortage Guyanese are suffering from. Instead, the company pointed to the billions Guyana has since earned as a result of its operations.

I t e x p l a i n e d , “Ex

contributions to the

Guyanese economy Our investments in Guyana will likelyexceedUSD60billion and have already led to the government receiving US$8 billionofcombinedprofitoil and royalties since productionbeganin2019.”

Currently Exxon takes 75% of Guyana’s oil monthlytocoveritexpenses

with developing the resources in the Stabroek Block.Theremaining25%is split with Guyana, meaning the country receives 12.5% of profits. It also receives a quarterly 2% royalty, meaning the country’s total shareisameagre14.5%.

Earlier this year it was reported that government injected US$100M into the banking system to address foreign currency shortages. The announcement by the Finance Ministry came a week after Central Bank injectedanotherUS$35M.

T h e c o n s t a n t “unavailability of U S currency” in Guyana has been a bug bear especially for local businesses that import perishables They

complained of losing

millions Despite the injections by Bank of Guyana, they complained that sourcing U.S dollars to pay for goods remained a

huge problem for local importers.

Meanwhile, Vice

President, Bharrat Jagdeo said the shortage in the countryistemporaryandthat the demand for foreign currency will drop once the major government projects arecompleted.

He told journalists that the investments the government has made will notgoonforever,sincethey are not recurrent in nature. He said there will be a significant reduction in demand for major capital projects,andwhiletherewill be new ones, they will not significantly affect foreign currency

TUESDAY

Atcurrentgoldprice, Canadiancompany setformassiveprofit …Costtoproduce anounceofgoldpegged atUS$1,200

President and Chief Executive Officer of G Mining Ventures (GMIN), Louis-Pierre Gignac, has disclosedthatthecompany’s Oko West Gold Project, located in Region Seven, Guyana, has an All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC)

estimated between US$1,100andUS$1,200per ounce.

GMIN’s target for the OkoWestmineisanaverage annual production of 350,000ouncesofgoldover a 12.3-year mine life. This gold mine is estimated to hold 5.4 million ounces of gold.

“At Oko, we’re looking at around $1,100 to $1,200 all-in sustaining costs per ounce, which is slightly above what we have at Tocantinzinho (Brazil mine),” Gignac revealed during an interview with BNNBloomberg.

AISC is an industry standard used to determine the total cost of producing one ounce of gold. With global gold prices currently trading just over US$4,000 per ounce, GMIN stands to earn a massive profit once gold prices remain high when gold production commences at Oko West by 2027.

Gold prices have remained elevated in recent years and recently reaching overUS$4000perouncefor the first time in history Notably, GMIN’s CEO last year said that if gold prices

r e m a i n h i g h w h e n

production commences at Oko West, Guyana could receive corporate taxes Gignac said that unlike his f a t h e r ’s p r e v i o u s involvement with Omai’s gold project, where the company did not pay corporate taxes to Guyana duetolowpricesatthetime, heisconfidentthatOkoWest will benefit from the current highgoldprices.Assuch,he had expressed optimism aboutpayingcorporatetaxes

to the government, contingent on gold prices remaininghigh.

Further during the BNN Bloomberg interview,

Gignac reminded that constructionoftheOkoWest project began early 2025, and with the company recentlysecuringafinancing package, the company now has full funding to complete the development of what he described as a “world-class project.”

Gignac said, “We are fully funded now with that financing package that complements our cash flow from our Tocantinzinho Mine in Brazil, which is generatinggreatcashflowat thesegoldprices.”

In October GMIN announced that it secured a whoppingUS$387.5million

financing package to kickstart development. The financing package is anchored by an agreement with a syndicate of financial institutions for a revolving creditfacilitythatallowsthe company to borrow up to US$350 million, with an accordion feature for an additional US$150 million available post-closing, which is subject to customaryconditions.

Speaking about the

TocantinzinhoMine,Gignac said commercial production was achieved about a year ago, and the company expects to produce approximately 175,000 ounces of gold from that operation this year “We were able to complete that basically on time and on budget for about US$460 million for an asset that will producegoldforthenext10 years at around 175,000 ounces,”hesaid.

The CEO noted that the success of the Brazil developmenthaspositioned, well for its Guyana project which is much larger He noted that the Oko West project,isexpectedtohavea capital expenditure just shy of US$1 billion. “Obviously this is a much larger project one that will produce 350,000 ounces a year on average for the next 13 years,”hestated.

Gignac shared that the Oko West operation will begin as an open-pit mine, which will feed the process plant He said once commercial production is underway, GMIN will then move to develop the underground portion of the mine.

The CEO said the company’s roadmap is to reachacombinedproduction of half a million ounces per year across its two mines. “That’s going to catapult us t o e s s e n t i a l l y t h e intermediate producer status with two operating assets,” hesaid.

Last week GMIN announced that its Board of Directors has approved the start of full construction of its 100 percent-owned Oko WestGoldProject.

GMINisthe100percent

owneroftheOkoWestGold Mine through its Guyanese subsidiary The company’s main prospecting licence (PL) covers 44 square kilometers (10,890 acres) However, the company later revealed that it expanded its land holdings in Region Seven to 71 square kilometers.

GMINisinpossessionof an environmental permit f r o m G u y a n a ’ s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the Oko West project. The five-year permit is valid through July 2030 It authorises the construction and operation of Oko West, which is expectedtocreateanaverage of 1,270 direct permanent jobs during its lifetime. The feasibility study for Oko Westoutlinesalong-life,low cost, and high-margin operation.

Mysterysurroundscost ofExxon’sgaspipeline …ascompanyrefusesto disclosefiguresforproject

In two months’time, the 220-kilometer Gas-toEnergy (GTE) pipeline will mark one year since completion in December 2024 The structure was designed to transport gas from the Liza fields in the StabroekBlocktotheWales Development Zone, West Bank Demerara where the Government of Guyana (GoG) is currently constructing a power plant and a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL)facility

Delaysinthecompletion ofthetwogasplantsresulted in the pipeline being left dormant until the facilities arereadyforstartup.Inthe

Continued on page 28

By Alisha Koulen, MSc, Operations Manager, STEMGuyana

Standing in a grocery store checkout line last week, I watched something that has become all too

familiar A woman approachedafunctionalselfcheckout machine, stared at the screen for a moment, then retreated to the back of an extremely long cashier queue I suspected her refusal to interact with the machinewasbecauseshedid notunderstandhowtouseit and was fearful of making mistakes This small moment captures a much larger crisis facing Guyana. The collective fear of technology is threatening to leave us behind just as unprecedentedopportunities knockatourdoor

Foryears,Ihaveworked in my role empowering young people with technological skills across Guyana, and what I have o b s e r v e d i s b o t h encouraging and deeply concerning. During training sessions with both youths and adult members, the pattern repeats itself: youths arecuriousandeagertolearn about coding, software

Advancing Education, Technology & Innovation in Guyana…

Why Guyana's Adults Must Embrace Technology —For Themselves and Their Children

applications, and digital tools.Meanwhile,mostadult participants'adoptamindset of reluctance or outright refusal to engage once the process seems too complex. This generational divide in technological comfort reflects a broader reality:

Guyana's historical development did not require widespread technical literacy in the way today's

economy does The resistance many adults feel toward technology is not a personal failing but rather a naturalresponsetoskillsthat weresimplynotpartoftheir educational or professional formation Jobs were secured through traditional pathways, and technology remainedintheperiphery Meanwhiletheworldhas and continues to change dramatically, and Guyana with it. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, technological skills are projected to grow in importance more rapidly than any other skills in the next five years, withAI, big data, networks, cyber security, and technological literacy topping the list of essential competencies. The report indicates that employers expect 39% of

keyskillsrequiredinthejob marketwillchangeby2030. Therefore, the message is clear; technical proficiency is not optional; it is the baseline requirement for participating in the modern world.

Some might argue that the younger generation should already be fluent in technology, having grown up in a more digital era. But thisassumptiondoesn'tfully reflect Guyana's reality International comparisons provide useful context: In deve

children typically have

technology, computers in classrooms from early grades, after-school coding clubs, and parents who are themselves comfortable with digital tools Many young Guyanese have experiencedsomethingquite different While some technology access exists, limited infrastructure,

educational systems that have historically prioritized traditional subjects over digital literacy continue to creategapsthatpersisttoday Moreover, research on learning and development indicates that children's

attitudes toward new skills are significantly influenced bytheadultsaroundthem.

If we are serious about closing this gap, we must startwithearlytechnological e

T

's increasing evidence that supports developing nations are prioritizing this despite resource constraints. South Africa became the first Africancountrytointroduce coding education at primary and secondary levels in 2020, followed by Kenya in August2022.Similarefforts are emerging across other developing nations where programs adapt coding education These countries recognised what we must now accept: technological literacyisasfundamentalas reading and mathematics. Childrenwhobeginlearning computational thinking in primary school do not just gain technical skills, they learned to break down complex problems, test solutions, fail safely, and iterate toward success These cognitive skills transfer to every domain of life.

The integration of technology across professional fields has reached a point where few career paths remain u

's expandingoilandgassector providesaconcreteexample of how these requirements are

employment landscape. For e

positions increasingly s

proficiencyandtheabilityto workwithtechnicalsystems as baseline requirements Thisrealityhasimplications for how parents and guardians support their children's educational development. When young people pursue academic or vocational training in any field, they will encounter technological components regardless of their chosen path. The question of how they approach these components is what will ultimately determine their success.

While there must be curriculum reform, parents hold equal power in this transformation Many expressanxietiesabouttheir children's technological education because they themselves feel lost in the digital world. This creates a dangerous cycle where adultsinadvertentlytransmit fear to children through subtle discouragement or inability to support digital

learning at home The solution is for parents to become co-learners with theirchildren,tosittogether at the computer, to explore new programs together, to celebratesmallvictoriesand troubleshootfrustrationsasa team.

Whenparentslearnbasic digital skills alongside their children, they can help with homework and school p r o j e c t s w h

ng that technology is approachable at any age. They model curiosity rather than fear, showing children that confusion is normal, and persistence pays off Understanding the global professional landscape makes this investment clearer When parents recognize that their child's future career, whether in medicine, business, education, or trades will require technological competence, the motivation to support digital learning intensifies.

Technology is here to stay, and how we decide to interact with it will determine whether Guyana thrives or remains perpetually one step behind. The choice is ours, but the clockisticking.

STowards a better life with your psychologist

Continuing from last week… HealthySelfEsteemKeytoBetterMentalHealthandPersonalsuccess

elf esteem is key towards better mental health and personal success at your undertakings in life vs poor mentalhealthandfailures It's the one tool that separates those that are resilient and thosethataredefeated

Healthy self-esteem is a balanced and positive view of oneself, involving a realistic appreciation of both strengths and weaknesses, which enables resilience and confidence in handling life's challenges I t'snotaboutbeingperfect, butabouthavingacorebelief in your own worth, which helps you to feel confident, set healthy goals, practice self-care, and build positive relationships

Characteristics and importance of healthy self-esteem

Self-acceptance: They embrace their strengths and weaknesses without harsh self-criticism or judgment, understanding that everyone makesmistakes

Balanced perspective, recognizing your strengths andcelebratesuccesseswhile also acknowledging and accepting your weaknesses without harsh self-judgment I may not be a fluent reader, struggling with mathematics andpoormanagerofmytime Butontheotherhand,

Resilience, healthy self-esteem provides a foundation on which selfconfidence flourish I acknowledge challenges but thinkIamadaptableandopen minded to confront those challenges AndifIfailonmy firstandsecondattempt,Iam getting closer with the required skills towards conquering Youarebetterabletocope with setbacks and stress because you don't let a bad day or experience define yourentirelife.

Confidence, lack of good self-esteem produces poor self-confidence. With healthy self-esteem, we

believe in our abilities and feel confident in making decisions and expressing your needs and opinions without self-criticism or thinkingwearenotdeserving of the things we want and express We trust in our own abilities to handle new challenges and make decisions.

Realistic expectations, good self-esteem, not low or inflated self-esteem ( fragile or narcissistic selfesteem that is dependent on constant external praise or a senseofsuperiority)helpsus to have a healthy perception o f o u r s e l v e s a n d environment

It fosters a realistic view of yourself and others, avoiding being overly critical We think clearer, betterperceptionandableto accomplishmorebecauseof ahealthyself-esteem.

Positive self-care, with havinggoodself-valuesasa result of health self-esteem, we are able to prioritize our own physical and mental well-being, And develop Assertivenessandboundaries where we can communicate our needs, feelings, and opinions respectfully and set healthy boundaries in relationshipswithout feeling guilty, shame or undeserving aboutit.

Proactive approach, thinking that we are deserving and not entitled or underservingisahallmarkof good self-esteem We become willing to work on improving our weaknesses and are more likely to stick withhealthandlifegoals

MentalandEmotional

Well-being

Healthy self esteem is a buffer against mental illness.Highself-esteemacts as a protective factor against conditions like depression, anxiety,andeatingdisorders

Positiveoutlook:

A strong sense of selfworth contributes to a more optimistic view of life and helps counteract negative

self-talkandrumination

Emotionalbalance:

It helps regulate emotions, reducing vulnerability to intense feelingsofsadness,anger,or worthlessness

Healthy self-esteem in relationships and social life foster healthy connections

Peoplewithhighself-esteem are more likely to form secure, honest, and fulfilling relationships because they have a healthy relationship withthemselvesfirst Effectivecommunication andboundaries.

Valuing one's own opinions and needs makes it easier to be assertive, communicateeffectively,and set healthy boundaries, reducing the risk of being in abusive or co-dependent relationships

Reduced social anxiety: Confidence in one's social abilitiesandworthcanlessen shyness and social anxiety, promoting positive interactions with friends, family,andcolleagues

O u r P e r s o n a l Development and Career is alsoenhanced

Motivationandgoal achievement.

Believing in one's capabilities provides the motivation to set and pursue goals, persist in the face of obstacles, and take on new challenges

Careersuccessand satisfaction:

High self-esteem has been linked to better job satisfaction, improved work quality, career advancement, andhigherincome

Betterdecision-making:

Trusting one's own judgment leads to more decisive and independent decision-making.

Creativityandinnovation:

Healthy self-esteem fosters open-mindedness and a willingness to take risks and try new ideas without an intense fear of failure.Andfinally,Physical Health, healthy self-esteem

providesa Healthierbehavior

Individuals with high self-esteemtendtotakebetter care of their physical health by engaging in regular exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and avoiding u n h e a l t h y c o p i n g mechanisms like substance abuseorself-harm

Strongersocialsupport:

B e t t e r s o c i a l relationships,aresultofhigh self-esteem,canleadtomore emotional and instrumental support networks, which in turnbenefitsoverallphysical health

Howtobuildhealthy self-esteem:

To build healthy selfesteem,focus on self-care by exercising, eating well, and prioritizingsleep Setrealistic goals, acknowledge your strengths, and practice positive self-talk while avoiding negative comparisons to others

Cultivate supportive relationships, assert your needs, and engage in activities you enjoy Here's a breakdown

Cultivateapositive mindset.Treatyourselflike youtreatothersthatyou love.

Practice self-compassion:

Be kind to yourself and accept that everyone makes mistakes Forgive yourselfforpasterrorsand focus on what you can control

Stop negative selftalk: Challenge negative thoughtsandpayattention to the language you use whentalkingtoyourself

By

Avoidcomparisons:Focus on your own progress rather than comparing yourself to others Recognize your strengths: Make a list of your positive qualities and achievements Practice gratitude: Keep a gratitude journal to focus on the good thingsinyourlife.

Takecareofyour bodyandmind.

Exercise regularly: Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days to boostyourmoodandphysical healthEatahealthydiet:Focus on fruits and vegetables and limitjunkfoodPrioritizesleep, ensureyouaregettingenough rest Relaxandde-stress:Make time for hobbies or relaxing activitiesyouenjoy

Setandachievegoals.

Setrealisticgoals:Choose goals that are achievable to b u i l d a s e n s e o f accomplishment without becoming overwhelmedTake

smallsteps,breakdownlarger goalsintosmaller,manageable steps

Celebrateyoursuccesses, acknowledge and celebrate your victories, no matter how small

Buildsupportive relationships.

Spend time with positive people,surroundyourselfwith people who make you happy and support you for who you areHelp others, doing small actsofkindnessforotherscan create a sense of purpose and fulfillment

AddressingourTrauma

Mostimportantly,address your unresolved childhood trauma The impact of emotional abuse and neglect, mental abuse and neglect, sexual assaults, growing in poverty Amaondoment of parents These are the core experiences that fractured and altered our self-esteem from age 3 towards think, feel and behave ad underserving or inflatedsenseofsuperiority

Nelly Furtado announces break from performing after years of body-shaming and scrutiny

Women's Health--Nelly Furtado's recent decision to go on indefinite hiatus from music comes afterunsavourycommentsabouther body following her comeback last year

'I have decided to step away from performance for the foreseeable future and pursue some other creative and personal endeavours that I feel would better

suit this next phase of my life,' the 46-year-old Canadian singersongwriter announced on social media.

“25 years ago today, my first album: Whoa, Nelly! was released…Ihaveenjoyedmycareer immensely, and I still love writing music as I have always seen it as a hobby I was lucky enough to make into a career I'll identify as a

songwriter forever Endless gratitude to anyone, who has ever listenedandvibratedwithmymusic andattendedanyofmyshows.”

“ThisyearIbecameawareofthe aesthetic pressure of my work in a brandnewway.”

Though she didn't directly mentiontrollinginherpost,the'Say It Right' singer was criticized after headliningatBoardmastersFestival

inCornwallinAugust,duringwhich she wore ruffled hot pants and a faux-furshrug.

'Did she take her maneater song literally?' wrote one commenter, whileanotheradded,'BetNellycan't 'Flylikeabird'now!'Someoneelse remarked, 'Wasn't expecting that build 'Thankfully, many fans –including body confidence coach (Continuedonpage31)

ShobhaMcIntosh: a warrior, pushing back against adversities

ByShermonHawker

During the day, her dedicated hours are spentintheclassroom, shapingthemindsofthe'leadersof tomorrow.'Residueofchalkonher clothing offers evidence to her almostunchangedsettingallday

A trained educator, Shobha McIntoshsnatchesamajorportion of her happiness from being with herpupilsatLearners'Academy

Asamotherandwife,shebasks intheabidingloveofherfamily

Then there are days when, just as ominous clouds creep up and smotherthesun,hermoodshatters as a wineglass thrown violently against a wall, and she is left to gather the hundreds of broken pieceswhichineffectareidentified with her private fragmented emotions, for Shoba McIntosh is a cancer patient, who has been fighting the dreaded disease for morethanadecade.

In October, the world over commemorates Breast Cancer Awareness month. This feature unveils the trials, anguish, determination, triumph and continuedjourneyofawomanwho confrontedharshandunimaginable health realities and stayed afloat throughoutherpersonaltempests.

Uncertaintybecoming thenewnorm

Ms. Shobha, a fairly wellknown individual of Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice, and Stanleytown, New

Amsterdam, is a 40-year-old motherof17-year-oldShowainand 15-year-old Showaina McIntosh. She is effectually the first lady of thetownofNewAmsterdam,being the wife of Mayor, Wainwright McIntosh. Outside the bounds of nothing being perfect, and also of everyone having their fair share of normal, everyday issues, life was otherwise relatively stable for the ever graceful and warm teacher Thepleasantparagraphofherdaily life,andthatofherfamily,wasone day punctuated with the health snare that inserted itself in the family 13 years ago, and it was from then, the McIntoshs were forced to live with the unwanted guest.

Confrontingadeadlyfoe

Shobha told this publication that she had collapsed one afternoon, and that her husband took her to the New Amsterdam Regional Hospital, where she was assessed but her situation proved inconclusive.

There was the belief also that her blood pressure was low Dissatisfied,thefamilyoptedforan alternative medical opinion, and at aprivatehospitalinGeorgetown.It was there that the plot of Shobha's lifewouldtakeanextremetwist.

“My journey got complicated duringavisittotheBalwantSingh hospital. After I was still feeling unwell,myhusbanddecidedtotake me there. Upon completing a few tests, which included urinary and blood, they found out that they are

seeing some signs of active cancer cells, but it could not have been ruledoutatthatpoint.”

Concerned, she was encouraged to have a biopsy done. A biopsy is the removal and examination of tissues, cells, or fluids from the living body According to her, this critical examination could have only been facilitated through the Balwant Singh hospital. The results, after a tense and uncertain period of nine days, came back positive of cancerousactivity

Warpedinaworld ofdepression

Formanywhohaveundergone radicalchangestotheirlives,most ofwhichcameaboutsuddenly,the stress of adjusting and processing the new development is heavily exactingonthemind.Shewaswell into her journey as a teacher and settlingcomfortablyinherroleasa mother Shecouldnotimaginesuch a fate befalling her She lapsed in and out of depression, and her zones took on a character of being present in the body but mentally distant, as she had many days of just“spacingout.”

physically She said the New Amsterdam Hospital said her situation was beyond its capacity Nothing seemed to be helping her situation, and she was racked with physical and mental anguish

“At that time, being a young professional, mother and wife, I thought it best to compose my emotions and look forward for a positive outcome. I wouldn't say I wasn't depressed or saddened or broken,becauseIwas.”

Fuelled by whatever shred of optimismshecouldhavemustered, Shobha rallied mentally and

Reflecting,shesaidshenoticedher physicaldeterioration,andrecalled that her body had greatly weakened.Shewasalsorequiredto frequently take medication with specificemphasisonincreasingher bloodcount.

Arayoflight,storm cloudsreturn

Aftercompletingherfirstmajor surgery at the Balwant Singh

Hospital, she was handed heartening news that she was cancer-free This triggered an offload of mental frustration and despair which had been festering for months The relief was tremendous. Life resumed, though cautiously, with some inkling of normalcy Itwasallshort-lived.

“I was well for 19 months, 6 days,”shedetailedprecisely Shobha experienced great physical agony, and there were dayswhensheboldlyendured,and others when she felt totally overwhelmed As her symptoms (Continuedonpage34)

A sweet start to the holiday season with Noodle Cake Creations

NA sweet start to the holiday season with Noodle Cake Creations

oodle Cake Creations treated its loyal customers and newcomers to a sweet treat on Saturday as the local business launchedfreshflavoursfortheChristmasseason.

An open-house event saw over 100 persons visiting the cozy shop, located on Light Street in Georgetown, for free samples of holiday specials likeblackcakeandfruitcakeaswellasgingerbread cake and the new gingerbread cheesecake, which wasafavouriteformany.Othernewcakeflavoursto make the holiday season even more enjoyable include'masalachai'and'eggnog'tresleche.

In addition to free cakes samples, guests were also treated to samples of eggnog in store. A customerservicerepresentativesaiditwasthefirst everopen-houseactivityhostedbythebusiness.

Honey Fest 2025 underscored

the country's drive toward strengthening Guyana's apiculture sector

Under the theme “Buzz Forward:SweetInnovationfor aSafeandSustainableFuture” and the sub-theme “Transforming Livelihoods throughAgri-Food Systems,” HoneyFest2025underscoredthecountry's drive toward strengthening Guyana's apiculture sector as a viable and ecofriendly contributor to the nation's economy

and safety of locally produced honey through laboratory testing, traceability systems,andcertificationprocesses.

This collaboration was aimed at enhancing consumer confidence and ensuring that Guyana's honey meets the h

standards positioning the country to access lucrative markets across the Caribbeanandbeyond.

The event held on Friday October 31, 2025, on the lawns of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), headquarters, Mon Repos, East CoastDemerara,alignedwiththenational agendabyshowcasingapiculturesolutions that improve livelihoods, strengthen food system resilience, and promote safe, sustainable practices across the honey valuechain.

This year, the GLDA, in collaboration with the Guyana Food Safety Authority (GFSA), hosted 'Honey Fest 2025' as a national celebration of innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship in the apicultureindustry

Fest' is not merely a celebration—it is an

initiative aimed at building an enabling environment for both

existing beekeepers.

exchange,theeventis the catalyst for the progressive develo

picultureindustry

RegionalCollaborationand KnowledgeExchange

The festival welcomed participants from Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, andotherCaribbeanterritories,reflectinga spirit of regional cooperation and shared learning. Representatives from local financialinstitutionswillalsobepresentto engage with beekeepers on financing opportunities and investment models to supportenterprisegrowth.

Beekeepers from across Guyana were invited to participate in exhibitions, technical sessions, and demonstrations.

Akey focus of 'Honey Fest 2025' was expanding regional and international marketsforGuyanesehoneyandhoneybyproducts. The GLDA, in partnership with the GFSA, used the platform to highlight efforts toward authenticating the quality

The GLDA showcased Guyana's Honey Economic Production Zone and highlight innovative technologies designed to enhanceproductivityandqualityassurance withinthesector

InclusiveGrowththroughApiculture

According to Dr Dwight Walrond, Chief Executive Officer, GLDA, 'Honey

“This festival is a goldenopportunityfor our nation,” Dr. Walrond indicated. “We are moving beyond traditional beekeeping to embrace technology, investment, and strategic marketing that will position Guyanese honey as a premium global product. Our long-term goal, in keeping with PresidentAli's vision, is to transform Guyana from an importer into a net exporter of honey and bee-related products, thereby creating sustainable livelihoodsforourpeople.”

Highlighting the government's investments in the apiculture subsector, MinisterofAgriculture,ZulfikarMustapha noted the rapid increase in honey production, demonstrating the success of ongoingmodernizationefforts.

apiculture subsector. We are alreadymaking s

cant strides, with honey production increasing from 2,128 gallons in 2023 to 27,601 gallonsattheendof2024.In2025, weareprojectedtoproduceover30,000 gallons,”MinisterMustaphastated. HeaddedthattheGLDAisworkingto expand the number of active hives to over 5,000 as Guyana aims to achieve selfsufficiency and become a regional honey exporterby2030.

“The GLDA has been leading the charge in providing training on modern techniques, disease control, and improved hive management to increase yield and efficiency Technical support is being provided to build the capacity of beekeepers, enhance productivity, and promotevalueadditionaswelooktowards creatingafuturethatisnotonlyaboutraw honey but also value-added products like beeswax, royal jelly, propolis, and specialty honey flavors derived from our diverse(Continuedonpage27)

“We see beekeeping not just as a traditional craft but as a modern, highpotential agribusiness. Over the past few years, the Government has made significant investments and policy interventions to advance our agri-food systems and

HoneyFest2025underscoredthe...

Frompage26

floral landscape This is how wewillmaximizeprofitsand create new economic opportunities,” the Minister explained FestivalwithaPurpose 'Honey Fest 2025' embodies the Government's commitment to inclusive, sustainable, and innovationdrivenagriculturalgrowth It

d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e Governmentunderstandsthat theapiculturesector rooted

in biod

sity and sustainability—can play a crucial role in job creation, environmental preservation, and foreign exchange earnings.

As Guyana continues to experience rapid economic expansion driven by oil and gas, events such as Honey Fest ensure that non-oil

sectors remain vibrant, competitive, and resilient, aligning with national goals for sustainable and equitable development

The Government of Guyana has recognized apiculture as a sustainable, environmentallyfriendly,and high-value enterprise that contributes to both national food security and economic diversification Since assuming office, the PPP/C

A

prioritizedthegrowthofnontraditional agricultural industries, including honey production, through direct investments, technical assistance, and policy support.

Expanding Markets and StrengtheningFoodSafety

Thisyear's'HoneyFest'is being hosted in alignment

with the Government's vision,ledbyPresidentIrfaan Ali, to modernize and

's agriculture sector under the Low Carbon Development Strategy(LCDS)2030

Overthepastthreeyears, the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and its technical arms, including the GLDAand the GFSA has increased financial and technical support to the apiculture industry

demonstration apiaries, trainingfornewandexisting beekeepers, provision of equipment and start-up

developmentoftheNational Honey Production and Marketing Programme

aimedatexpandinglocaland exportmarketaccess. These investments form partofPresidentAli'sbroader

agenda to ensure that every region of Guyana benefits from Agri-food system transformation and that rural

livelihoods are strengthened through sustainable, valueadded production ( Source: MinistryofAgriculture)

Frompage18 meantime, there is a cost attached to ensuring that the pipeline is kept safe, which was constructed by ExxonMobil to the tune of approximately US$1B. It is Guyana that is ultimately responsible for financing these costs As such, this newspaper recently asked thecompanytostatethecost of maintaining the pipeline and for a disaggregation of what specifically the funds arespentfor

Exxon ignored the question and instead reminded of the company’s responsibilitytomonitorthe pipeline It explained, “ExxonMobil Guyana is responsible for covering the costs associated with monitoring, preserving, providing surveillance, and maintaining the pipeline until the integrated power plantisreadyforstartup.We are actively collaborating with the Government to support the commissioning of the joint pipeline and powerplantfacilities.”

In December last year, theMaritimeAdministration Department (MARAD) issued a public notice indicating that the pipe laying works were completed Since October 2024 President of Exxon Guyana, Alistair Routledge told reporters that the pipeline was mechanically completed He explained, “It’s been hydrotested, pressure test and we have been going through the dewateringexerciseandthen introducing nitrogen so we have a pipeline that is ready tointroducenaturalgas…”

He noted that Exxon’s responsibilitiesincludingthe risers, pipeline through the deep-water, shallow water and onshore is on schedule for completion by year end. In this vein, he said, “So delighted to see that on course and on budget as well.”

The Country Manager explained that it was not unusualforvaryingelements ofamajorprojecttobecome onstreamatseparatedates.

As such, he pointed to measures that will be taken by Exxon to secure the US$1B pipeline. “What we willdoiswe’llcompletethe pipeline and we will make sure that it is secure Generally, we will leave it with an inert gas like nitrogen, perhaps with treatedwater,wearelooking at the details of that depending upon how long

we think it will be left idle until we are ready to commission it with gas which would be when we alreadyknowthattheplantis ready to receive gas,”

Routledgesaid.

He added, “We’ll do the testing of its integrity, but there will be a blind flange on the end of it waiting for the new plant to be connected and in the meantime, we will just keep that pipeline if you like, in earthandsafe,readytogofor theoperation.”

Since then, Kaieteur News understands that contractshavebeenawarded for monitoring the structure, among others This newspaper was told that drones are being used to provide surveillance of the onshore pipeline which runs from Crane, West Coast Demerara to the Wales site. Thecontractwasawardedto alocalcompany

Pipelinecost

To date, Exxon has not publicly revealed the final costtoconstructthepipeline. Routledge was asked to share the figure after he announcedthecompletionof thestructure,butherefused, explaining at the time that the company was still closing up contracts with companiesfortheworks.

LastNovember,Exxon’s Country Manager told this publicationthatthecompany isconfidentthattheprojectis onbudgetsinceallcontracts have been awarded He however noted, “there will always be some final negotiation on any sort of details that the contractors might want to confirm We’re on that billion-dollar number.”

When pressed to say when the final price tag for the project would be revealed, he said, “It would besometimenextyearwhen we wrap up all the contracts.”

WEDNESDAY

‘Bombinbag’: Sindicatobomberscrossed overfromVenezuelawith deadlydeviceinbag —CrimeChiefsays mainsuspectadmits toplantingbomb,visited Guyanabefore

The main suspect in Sunday night’s deadly gas station bombing at Regent a n d K i n g S

G

Peodomo, has confessed to

travellingfromVenezuelato Guyana illegally with the explosive device, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum disclosed.

Peodomo reportedly confessedtothecrimetelling investigators that he arrived in Guyana at around 08:00h on Sunday via boat, hours before the deadly bombing. TheVenezuelannationaland eight other accomplices including four Guyanese havebeenarrested.

Blanhum told reporters at a press conference held at theMinistryofHomeAffairs

that Peodomo and a Venezuelan accomplice

[who entered Guyana illegally with him] have someaffiliationwitha“gang in Venezuela known as ‘R’” which is linked to the Sindicatogang.

The Sindicato gang has beenlinkedtoseveralviolent cross-border crimes The C r i m e C h i e f s a i d investigatorslearnedthatthe explosive device was activated moments after the mainsuspectexitedacarand walked into the Mobil Gas Station at Regent and King Streets,Georgetown.

Thepowerfulblastkilled six-year-old Soraya Bourne and injured four others, including children and adults.Investigatorsarenow working to determine the motivebehindtheattackand whether it was linked to organised transnational criminalactivity

C l o s e d - C i r c u i t Television (CCTV) showed the suspect, clad in a blue jersey, what appeared to be black trousers and a khaki hat, entering the gas station and first attempting to place a bulky black bag in a bin locatedatapumpstation.An attendant, who was seated there, forbade him from placing the bag in the bin. Themanthenventuredtothe areaofthefuelstationwhere itisreportedthatcookinggas wasstored.

Shortlyafter,thecarlittle Soraya Bourne and her family traveled in was seen slowly reversing before the bomb exploded causing the girl and her relatives to be pitchedintotheair

On Monday, the GPF released an Artificial Intelligence (AI) enhanced image of the suspect

However, on Tuesday morning, the Police Force issued another image of the suspectbeforeinformingthe public that his clothes were found.

LaterTuesday,thepolice

informed that Peodomo was

Vergenoegen on theEastBankEssequibo.

Given the sensitive natureofthecase,theCrime Chief said that investigators are restricted from releasing elements of their findings at this stage. Nonetheless, he assured that as the investigations proceed, information will be made public.

Further, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said it has been pursuing all leads through collaboration with its local, regional and international counterparts, includingINTERPOL.

A Special Investigative Task Force was established comprising members of the Major Crimes Investigation U n i t , C r i m i n a l Investigations Department Headquarters, Regional Divisions3,4A,and4Band other key stakeholders, supported by intelligence andforensicexperts.

The investigation was also coordinated with continuous oversight by the CommissionerofPoliceand seniorofficers.

Blanhum assured the public that the suspect is c o o p e r a t i n g w i t h investigators “ He indicated to us that the devicehadaswitchwhichhe activatedwhenheexitedthe vehiclewhichwasparkedin the vicinity of the gas station.”

Peodomo, who has declined to have an attorney present during the interrogation, is still being interviewedandaccordingto Blanhum, the questioning is being done through a translator The Crime Chief optednottostatewhetherthe manspeaksEnglish.

Sideline Dam, East Bank Essequibo.

He disclosed that investigators are working to establish the elements to support the charges of Sections 309A and 309B of theCriminalLaw(Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01, which addressactsofterrorismand conspiracy to commit terrorism.

Additional charges relatingtomurder,attempted murder, arson and malicious damage to property are also being actively pursued, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

RevisedAmailahydro projecttogenerateover 165MWofpower

“ W e a r e concerned attacks of this nature are not only perpetrated in Guyana,” Blanhum told reporters given that gang attacks have since moved from the hinterlandregionstothecity

“I recently came back from an Interpol organized conference We had participantsfromthevarious S o u t h A m e r i c a n countries Guyana we made our position clear that we need to have more c o o p e r a t i o n a n d collaborationespeciallyasit relates to exchanging information of individuals who are part of these organized criminal groups. For example, the Sindicato. There is another group in Venezuela that is creating havoc in other countries… that is “Tren de Aragua”,” saidBlanhum.

The Crime Chief disclosed that the GPF has also collaborated with its Venezuelan counterparts on thecase.

M e a n w h i l e , Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken disclosed that the police were able to catch the suspect utilizing intelligence and Guyana’s SafeCityCenter

“ T h e F o r c e , i n collaboration with the Safe City Command Centre and allied intelligence agencies, utilized video-forensic analysis, digital tracking, and data correlation to trace the suspect’s movements before and after the incident,”Hickensaidwhile notingthattheprimesuspect was captured after the investigativetaskforceacted on credible information and field intelligence to locate the suspect at Vergenoegen

The Government of Guyana(GoG)lastweekend issuedarevisedRequestFor Proposals (RFP) which could finally bring the Amailafallshydroprojectto life.

The Office of the Prime M i n i s t e r i n t h e advertisement published on Sunday hinted that the project will produce over 165 megawatts (MW) of electricity It said, “The size of the hydro may be reengineeredtotakeaccount of changes in turbine technology thus allowing more than 165MW to be generatedandtransmitted.”

Thescopeofworkforthe project,accordingtotheRFP includes a 165MW installed hydro dam, plant and a substationattheAmailasite, along with other related works and construction of a 23 square kilometer (KM) storage reservoir, consistent with environmental reports, studiesandpermits.

Governmentalsosaidthe project, to be built under a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer(BOOT)modelwill be executed via a new “Special Purpose Company (SPC)” and will be issued with all previous permits, licences and permissions that previously existed in April 2015; however, the d e v e l o p e r w i l l b e responsible for any updates requiredbylaw

GoG also indicated that the transmission network willbebuiltseparately

Under the BOOT a r r a n g e m e n t , t h e Government of Guyana (GoG) will purchase the electricity from the private developer As such, the RFP explainedthatgovernment

Continued on page 29

Frompage28

will select a suitable partner based on (i) lowest Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)

price, engineering, p r o c u r e m e n t a n d construction (EPC) price, operating cost and capital amortization;(ii)timeframes to complete and (iii) ability to finance the project on a PPAbasis.

Additionally interested firms and consortiums should note that they will only be considered if they havecompletedatleastthree hydroprojects,generatingat least100MWeachwithinthe last15years.

Assuch,responsestothe RFP should include a detailed track record of similar projects completed under(a)EPC(b)Operations and evidence of financial ability, including last three years of audited Financial Statements.

AlsorequiredintheRFP are details of proposed local contentgoals,includingsubcontractors, percentage of project costs that will be

locally sourced, and supporting details of same; detailed project schedule

s h o w i n g t i m e f o r design/engineering, time for construction both in sufficient detail; EPC price breakdown; description of key contractors and subcontractorsmanpower(local

and foreign) during construction, and details of local content; outline of all provided agreements that will make up the project structure, including EPC contract, PPA, and Government Agreement as well as a draft Terms of Reference for appointment ofindependentsupervision.

During the construction phase government plans to engage an independent

consultant for the supervisionofthedesignand ultimateconstruction.

The deadline for s u b m i s s i o n s o f prequalification is on February17,2025.

Governmenthadshelved the Amaila Falls project to focusonthedevelopmentof the Wales Gas-to-Energy (GTE)projectwhichislikely to be completed in 2026 That project will add 300 MW of electricity in its first phase. The feasibility of the Amailaprojecthaslongbeen questioned by the political opposition who worry about the steady supply of water from the falls, among other issues.

In 2024, government

engaged a Chinese contractor, China Railway Group Limited but later disclosed that talks fell through.

The Amaila Falls Hydro project was first introduced bythePPP/CAdministration in2011,butsincethen,ithas never materialized, facing setbacksonmanyoccasions.

The project faced obstacles in its realization when the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) Opposition parties, stopped the project back in 2014. In its 2020 election

manifesto, the PPPadministrationnotedthatthe projectwillberevived.

In 2021, negotiations hit a stalemate after Cabinet granted a no-objection for the Prime Minister’s Office toengagetheChinaRailway Group Limited for construction Discussions faltered as the company reportedlysoughttoalterthe project’s model due to financing challenges for the BOOT model, requesting a shift to an Engineering, P r o c u r e m e n t , a n d Construction (EPC) model.

The government was reluctant to switch to the EPC option, resulting in the talks with the Chinese contractorcomingtoanend.

THURSDAY

‘Bigbankseyeoilboom’ …IDBandIDBsignpact tolendGuyanaand SurinameUS$1Bover nextfiveyears …totargettransportation, energy,education, healthsectors

T h e I s l a m i c Development Bank (IsDB)

and the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) have renewed their strategic partnership, pledging US$1 billion over thenextfiveyearstosupport development projects in GuyanaandSuriname.

T h e r e n e w e d collaboration will focus on advancing inclusive and sustainable development in both countries, with investments focused on key s e c t o r s , s u c h a s transportation,energy,urban development, education, rural development, health, and resilience, the IDB said i n a s t a t e m e n t o n Wednesday “At the Islamic Development Bank, we are committed to empowering our member countries and fostering partnerships that advance sustainable development. This renewed engagement with the IDB Group allows us to jointly deliver transformative projects that will enhance livelihoods, strengthen resilience, and promote shared prosperity in SurinameandGuyana,”said IsDB President H.E. Dr. MuhammadAlJasser

“We are joining forces w i t h t h e I s l a m i c Development Bank to unlock new co-financing opportunitiesinGuyanaand Suriname, as well as cooperation with other member countries, to build resilience, foster inclusive growth, and improve lives,” said IDB Group President IlanGoldfajn.

Beyond Suriname and Guyana, the partnership

s u p p o r t s b r o a d e r collaboration in common member countries and IDB member countries with significant Muslim

populations, the release stated.TheMoUalsoaimsto deepencooperationbetween the two institutions in areas that promote inclusive growth, including trade and investment, as well as sustainable transportation solutions that enhance regional connectivity and climate resilience The institutions reaffirmed their shared commitment to knowledge sharing and delivering impactful development solutions, as well as strengthening cooperation among Latin America and the Caribbean, Gulf States, and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, the renewed agreement comes at a time when both Guyana and Suriname are drawing growing international attention as emerging oil producers.Guyanaisalready pumping over 600,000 barrelsofoilperday,making it the world’s fastestgrowing economy in recent years.Suriname,meanwhile, is preparing to move toward first oil, expected by 2028, with recent discoveries by major international oil companies.

With the oil sector set to transform both economies, analysts note that multilateral development banks such as the IDB and IsDB are positioning themselves to play a larger role in financing infrastructure and public sector reforms linked to oil-driven growth. The MoU, while framed as a development initiative, also provides a platform for expanded lending and co-financing in high-value sectors. In Guyana, the IDB is

External PPG debt loans from multilateral, bilateral, and other foreign creditors was roughly US$2.2 billion, while domestic PPG debt reached approximately US$3 7 billion Debt servicing costs also climbed toUS$196.1millionin2024, up from US$177.5 million the year before Of that, US$124 9 million went to external debt service and US$71.2milliontodomestic obligations Government officials, however, frequentlypointtoGuyana’s decliningdebt-to-GDPratio, downfrom47.4%in2020to 24.3% in 2024, as evidence that debt levels remain within prudent limits and that the country has room to borrowforstrategicprojects.

already one of the largest multila

al lenders, supporting projects in energy, agriculture, and digital infrastructure Suriname, meanwhile, has benefited from IsDB and IDBassistanceinhealthand education but is expected to require significant new investment as oil revenues begintoflow

Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram while commenting Guyana’s growing debt recently told this newspaper the Guyana Government lacks a clear borrowing policy and reliance on a “misleading” debt-to-GDP ratio are troubling “A significant portion of GDParound 60% does not belong to Guyana, while any debt incurred certainlydoes,”hesaid.“We are using oil as a reason for increasing our debt, both in absolute and relative terms. There is no long-term economicplanning.”

Guyana’s total Public and Publicly Guaranteed (PPG) debt stood at US$5.993 billion at the end of 2024, up from about US$4.5billionayearearlier

The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) is the leading source of financing and knowledge for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. It comprises the IDB, which works with theregion’spublicsectorand enables the private sector; IDB Invest, which directly supports private companies and projects; and IDB Lab, which spurs entrepreneurial innovation. Meanwhile, the IsDB, rated AAA by the major rating agencies of the world, is the pioneering multilateral development bank (MDB) of the Global Souththathasbeenworking forover50yearstoimprove the lives of the people and communities it serves by delivering impact at scale. TheBankbringstogether57 Member Countries across fourcontinents,touchingthe lives of nearly 1 of 5 people worldwide.

Elderlymankilledin frenziedbeeattack -stungtodeathwhile cleaningland

A 67-year-old man died on Wednesday after he was attacked by bees at Enterprise backlands, EastCoastDemerara. Police said they are investigatingtheincident which occurred between 09:30 and 10:45 hours involving Lennox Luke, called ‘Mikey’ of Kitty, Georgetown, along with Selwyn Dean, a 29-yearold construction worker alsofromKitty Reports state that Luke had accompanied Deantoassistincleaning upanderectingafenceon aplotoflandownedby Continued on page 30

Frompage29

Dean at Enterprise. “While work was ongoing, a large swarm of bees emerged and attacked the two men. In an attempt to escape, Selwyn ran forward, and Luke ran backwards and fell to the ground, where he was attacked by the swarm of bees. Selwyn ran away after sustainingafewbeestings,” thepolicereleasestated.

PolicesaidtheEMTwas contacted, and along with NARIpersonnel,arrivedand ‘smoked’ the area. With the assistance of public-spirited citizens, Luke was escorted inanunconsciousstatetothe Enmore Regional Hospital. After receiving treatment at about 11:20hrs, he was pronounceddead.

Marks were seen on his back, forearm, and the back ofhishead.Hisbodyisatthe Jerricks Funeral Home, awaitingPME.

T h e s c e n e w a s p h o t o g r a p h e d a n d statements were taken as investigationscontinue.

Luke’s death comes a week after an almost similar incident occurred at Surat Drive, Triumph, East Coast Demerara, when a swarm of beesdescendedonagroupof road workers, killing one man and leaving another fightingforhislife.

Twenty-nine-year-old Winston Semple, a contractorofPrinceWilliam Street, Plaisance, was killed last Wednesday, while 40year-old Glendon Simpson of Non Pareil was hospitalised in critical condition.

According to police, Semple, Simpson, and other workmen were engaged in road construction when the bees attacked without warning, stinging the men repeatedly. Public-spirited residents rushed to their aid and transported them to the Enmore Regional Hospital, where Semple was pronounceddeadonarrival.

Hisbodywastakentothe Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it awaited a post-mortemexamination.

FRIDAY

Schoolboy,15,diesafter hitbypolicewoman’scar —Ministryof HomeAffairs promisesfullprobe

A15-year-oldschoolboy was killed on Thursday morning after being struck by a car driven by a female Police Corporal along the

Success Public Road, East CoastDemerara.

DeadisNavindraMahes, a student of Annandale Secondary School and resident of Lot 44 Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara.

The accident involved motorcar #PAB 214, driven by a 35-year-old female Police Corporal. Police said during inquiries it was disclosed that the motorcar was proceeding west along the northern carriage on Success Public Road in the southerndrivinglane,where the ‘third lane’was active at thattime.

“Video footage revealed that the female driver continuedtoproceedfurther west, while the pedestrian was standing at the median that separates the two carriageways, facing north. The student then attempted tocrosstheroadinanorthern direction, using the Pedestrian Crossing, and in doing so, the left, front portion of the car collided with the schoolboy,” police revealed.

The impact of the collision resulted in Mahes falling onto the roadway, where he sustained injuries about his body. He was picked up by public-spirited citizens and escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s Accident and EmergencyUnit.

“On arrival at the hospital, the pedestrian was seen and examined by doctors on duty, suffering from head injuries and a fractured right leg He succumbed to his injuries at 09:56 hrs while receiving medical treatment. His body is presently at the GeorgetownPublicHospital Mortuary, awaiting a postmortem examination,” police said The female police rank is under close arrest and is assisting with theinvestigation.

production is estimated at 5.0 million ounces of gold, 4.9 million ounces of silver, and 260 million pounds of copper

Chief Executive Officer

Dead: Navindra Mahes

Also, in a statement the Ministry of Home Affairs expressed deep regret over theincident,confirmingthat theaccidentoccurredaround 07:30hrsandresultedinthe tragic death of the young student. The Ministry said police ranks are at the hospitalprovidingsupportto the grieving family and assured that the matter is being handled with “the utmost seriousness, transparency, and in accordance with established procedures ” The Ministry also extended heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and school community of Navindra Mahes, describing his death as a “heartbreaking loss ” The investigation into the circumstances surrounding thefatalcrashisongoing.

Canadianfirmeyes over5Mouncesofgold atToroparumine …toproduce235,000 ouncesyearlyfor20years

Canadian-based Aris Mining Corporation has announced the results of a new Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for its 100%-ownedToroparuGold Project located along the PuruniRiverintheToroparu Backdam, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

OnTuesday,ArisMining disclosed that the PEA confirms plans for a largescale, long-life open-pit operation expected to produce an average of 235,000 ounces of gold per year over more than two decades.

The PEAoutlines strong projecteconomics,including a 21 3-year mine life, an after-tax Net Present Value (NPV5%)ofUS$1.8billion, and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 25 2%, based on a gold price of US$3,000 per ounce The p

Neil Woodyer said the results demonstrate a major new growth opportunity for ArisMining.Henoted,“The Toroparu PEA outlines a major new growth and diversification opportunity for Aris Mining After the GCM Mining andAris Gold mergerandthearrivalofour management team in September 2022, we paused the Project’s previous construction plans to reassess the Project on a first-principles basis, which included completing a new geological interpretation, updating the mineral resource estimate, and undertaking optimization studies.Theresultisarobust PEA that establishes a solid pathforward.”

The company said the operation will feature a conventional truck-andshovel open pit with a mill capacity of 7 million tonnes per year, supported by an initialconstructioncapitalof US$820 million Aris Mining plans to advance the project to a Prefeasibility Study (PFS) in 2026, with the goal of moving toward construction.

The Toroparu Project is being developed through Aris Mining’s local subsidiary,ETKInc.

A r i s M i n i n g announcement comes against the backdrop of a long-running dispute involving local miner Wallace Daniels, who has accused the Guyana

Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) of deliberately withholding approval for his mining permit for over a decade, despite several court rulings in his favor Daniels’ property is located on the fringesofArisMining’s5.4million-ouncedeposit.

Notably, according to information from the company’s website, the project site was first mined by Alfro Alphonso in 1997 and explored by ETK from 1999 under a joint venture with Alphonso ETK acquired full ownership in 2020,payingUS$20million to exercise its option, while Alphonso retained certain alluvial rights and access privileges. A 2011 mineral agreementbetweenETKand the Government of Guyana established a tiered gold royaltyof5%forpricesupto US$1,000perounceand8% for prices above that, along witha1.5%royaltyonother minerals. ETK also secured an investment agreement with GO-Invest granting tax exemptions on projectrelatedimports.

SATURDAY

Bailfor‘Opposition Leader’,father …asU.S.extradition proceedingsstart

Prominent businessmen Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed, on Friday, were granted bail in the sum of $150,000 each following theirarrest,subsequenttoan extradition request from the United States of America (US).

The duo appeared in

person before acting Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman, in Court Seven at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and were represented by a group of attorneys including Siand Dhurjon, Nigel Hughes and Senior Counsel (SC) Roysdale Forde.

The prosecution was represented by special prosecutors, Jamaicans Herbert McKenzie and Terrence Williams who objectedtobail.

Wi l l i a m s i n h i s argument,toldthecourtthat the gentlemen have been engaged in an international criminal enterprise, which includes tentacles reaching into Venezuela’s high offices, the United States of AmericaandintotheMiddle East.

Healsotoldthecourtthat the businessmen, have been incontactwithauthoritiesin Venezuela, and with these contacts, they could flee to the neighbouring country and continue their unlawful enterprise.

“We have information, your honour that the Mohameds have supported the local criminal activities, which have disrupted the peacein Guyana.They have funded for example, the disruptions surrounding the unfortunate death of Younge…”

Williams also told the court that there are concerns thattheduocoulddisruptthe peace of Guyana with the help of Venezuelan enterprises.This,along with his claims that they are a flightrisk,wascitedassome ofthereasonstheyshould

Continued on page 31

Frompage30 notbegrantedbail.

Attorney Siand Dhurjon, r e s p o n d i n g t o t h e prosecution, told the court that the allegations leveled against his clients are new and it was in fact the first time he was hearing about them.

He said no charges have been laid against his clients

regarding any of the

supposed disruptions, criminal activities, or criminal enterprises and despite his clients living a very public life, they have not been questioned by the police in relation to any of thesematters.

Dhurjonnotedthatisita fact the only entity that has ever spoken about a Venezuelanconnectionisthe government, the vice president and their commentators.

He pointed out that the case before the courts was merely an effort to bar his

client, the younger Mohamed,fromenteringthe National Assembly as the oppositionleader SeniorCounselRoysdale Forde in support of his colleague’s argument, pointed out that “a lot has been said about criminal enterprise and extending the tentaclesintheMiddleEast, Venezuela and the United States contact to the Mohameds, the allegations that they can disrupt the peace in Guyana, Mr Mohamed supporting local criminalenterprisesfunding, disruptions in relation to the death or Adrianna Younge and residing witnesses to testify None of these have been supported by a single piece of evidence. It is silly, downright silly to raise this inacourtofthisnaturewhen allegations against them in relation to these things that are being raised now as objectionstobailwouldhave existedformanymonths.”

After listening to the arguments of both sides, Magistrate Latchman granted bail in the sum of $150,000 each, with the conditionthatthemenlodge theirpassportswiththeclerk of courts at the Georgetown MagistratesCourtandreport every Friday afternoon between 13:00hrs and 15:00hrs to the officer-incharge at the Ruimveldt

Police Station from November7th.

IftheFridayisaholiday theyreportonThursday The next court date has been set forNovember10,2025.

Earlier this month, Mohamed and his father, were indicted in a U S federal court in Miami, Floridaon11chargesofwire andmailfraud,conspiracyto commit money laundering and the importation of a Lamborghiniluxurycar–all stemming from accusations of massive tax fraud committedagainstGuyana.

Theindictment,unsealed onOctober2,2025,accused t h e M o h a m e d s o f orchestrating an elaborate fraudandmoney-laundering scheme involving gold exports, customs fraud, bribery, and the evasion of millions in taxes and royaltiesowedtoGuyana.

The case, captioned United States of America v Nazar Mohamed & Azruddin Mohamed, is filed intheU.S.DistrictCourtfor the Southern District of Florida under case number 2 5 - C R - 2 0 4 4 1 (WILLIAMS/LETT) Amongthestatutescitedare: conspiracy to commit mail andwirefraud,conspiracyto commit money laundering, and related forfeiture statutes.

At the heart of the US Government’s case lie several core allegations, among them gold export fraudandcustomssealreuse. The indictment seen by this newspaper charges that Mohamed’s Enterprise, the Guyana-based gold wholesaling and export company controlled 90% by Nazarand10%byAzruddin, isallegedtohavesoldgoldto buyers in Miami and Dubai, while circumventing Guyana’s revenue and regulatorysystem.

The indictment claims that the defendants would reuse official Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Guyana Gold Board (GGB) customs seals and export declarations, originally applied legally on one shipment on subsequent

shipments for which they had not paid taxes or royalties. This, prosecutors say, created the false impression that proper paymentshadbeenmade.

Additionally, the duo is alsoaccusedofbribingState officials to facilitate their alleged corrupt acts The indictmentsetsforththatthe Mohameds paid bribes to Guyanese government officials, including customs agents to allow the acceptance of duplicate paperwork and reused seals. Throughthismechanism,the scheme allegedly enabled the evasion of duties and royalties that should have gonetoGuyana’scoffers.

According to the court papers from 2017 through June 11, 2024, the indictment alleges the defendantscausedexportsof at least 10,000 kilograms of gold to pass through Miami without payment of the proper dues to Guyana, amounting to a loss of approximately US$50 million to the Guyanese government.

The indictment further chargestheMohamedswith conspiring to transport, transmit, and transfer funds derived from their criminal scheme, including through international wire transfers, with the intent to promote the underlying illegal activity The scheme is said to have used U S and f o r e i g n f i n a n c i a l institutions to move illicit proceeds

According to the court papers, the purpose of the conspiracy was for the defendants to unlawfully enrich themselves and defraud the Government of Guyana in connection with taxes and royalties owed on thesaleandexportofgoldby fraudulentlyreusingGuyana customs declarations and sealsongoldshipmentssent through Miami to make it appear that Mohamed’s

Enterprisehadpaidtaxesand royalties when it had not actuallypaidthem.

NortonsnubsPresident Ali’srequesttoconfirm substantiveChancellor, ChiefJustice

Leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) and outgoing opposition leader, Aubrey Norton said he was not prepared to support the request by President Irfaan Ali to appoint Justices Roxane George-Wiltshire and Navindra Singh as the substantive Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice,respectively

In fact, the party leader relayedthathealsocouldnot support the removal of Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards from her post of substantive acting ChancelloroftheJudiciary.

“I can say this to you, from the inception with my engagements with President Irfaan Ali, I made it very, very clear, as pellucid as I can, that I was not prepared to support the removal of Justice Cummings, made that very clear You’re already aware that I am on record as saying I gave consent for the appointment of Justice Cummings and Justice Wiltshire a while back,” he said at his party’s pressconferenceFriday

Thepresidentannounced last week that Justice Cummings-Edwards, who recentlyreturnedfromatwomonth vacation, had written to him to proceed on early retirement Following that announcement,thepresident also announced that he had

question; I made the point that I was not prepared to make Justice Singh Chief Justice and confirm it. I was not prepared to do that,” Nortonfirmlystated.

During a live broadcast onOctober24,PresidentAli said that Justice CummingsEdwards had requested to proceed on pre-retirement leave beginning Monday, October 27, 2025. He said Justices George-Wiltshire and Navindra Singh will continue to perform the duties of acting Chancellor of the Judiciary and acting ChiefJustice,respectively

The president also disclosed via a Facebook postthatheadministeredthe oath of office to Justice Singh as a member of the

written to the outgoing oppositionleader,requesting his support for the substantive appointment of Justices George-Wiltshire andSingh.

Nortontoldreportersthat he has not responded to the letter by the president because he, “wasn’t prepared to confirm with them, and I didn’t write because I didn’t want the letter to be used as some form of consultation. Even onthefirstoccasionwhenhe wrote me on the issue, I did not respond, and I did not respondtothisonebecauseI know of the tendency of using anything you would have written as if you were meaningfullyconsulted.”

He reminded that there was a court case on the matter of meaningful consultation and the acting chief justice at the time, George-Wiltshire had ruled that there was consultation. Therefore,“sincethenIhave never ever become involved in that except, I’m clear, we’re satisfied, and this is whatwe’redoingthenIwill write,butIdidn’trespond.”

R e m i n d i n g t h a t government did not pursue it, he added that when the issuewasraisedwithhim,he maintainedthatheneededto hearfromJusticeCummings herself However, he was unabletohearfromher

“Thatformewasenough tosuggestthatIshouldn’tget involved in appointing a permanent chancellor and chief justice However, in discussions, I asked the question, let’s assume that she was legitimately out, whichIdidn’tbelieve.Isaid, well, I didn’t ask the

e Commission (JSC) at State House Justice Singh will serve a three-year term on the commission, which was reconstituted in July 2023 afterasix-yearhiatus.

Back in 2022, Norton informed President Ali that heagreedtotheconfirmation of Justice CummingsEdwards and Justice George as Chancellor and Chief Justice,respectively Kaieteur News reported thenthatNortonthroughthe People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) member and attorney Roysdale Forde, presented a letter to Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, informing the government of the opposition’s support for the appointment of the chancellorandchiefjustice.

IntheletterdatedJune7, 2022,Fordetoldtheminister that: “This serves to inform you that the leader of the opposition, Mr. Aubrey C. Norton is in agreement that Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards be appointed chancellor of the judiciary and Justice Roxane GeorgeWiltshire be appointed chief justice in keeping with Article 127 (1) of the Constitution which states that ‘The chancellor and the chief justice shall each be appointed by the president, acting after obtaining the agreement of the leader of theopposition’.”

To this end, Norton told members of the media that since the opposition leader has already fulfilled his constitutional responsibility, thepresidentisnowcharged w i t h m a k i n g t h e appointment.

However, no action was takenbythepresident.

The Night the Pumpkins Sneezed

It was the night before Halloween, and the whole town of Maple Hollow smelledlikecinnamonand roasted pumpkin seeds Emily and Daniel were helping their neighbor, Granny Maple, decorate her pumpkin patch for the big Pumpkin of the Year Contest.

Granny Maple’s pumpkins weren’t ordinary They were the biggest, roundest, most colorful pumpkins anyone had ever seen—each one as shiny as orange glass. “They look perfect this year,” Granny Maple said proudly, patting one with her gloved hand. “A little sprinkle of my special pumpkin spice mix, and they’llwinforsure!”

She reached into her apron and sprinkled sparkly orange dust over the pumpkins It glowed faintly under the moonlight,thenfizzledout withasoftpop.

“What’s in that spice, Granny?”Danielasked.

“Oh, just my secret recipe,” she said with a wink.“Alittlecinnamon,a little sugar, and maybe a tinytouchofmagic.”

Emily giggled “You meanlikefairydust?”

Granny Maple just smiled “Something like that,dear.”

The next morning, EmilyandDanielwokeup tothesoundofachoo!

Then another And another

“Is that sneezing?” Emilyrubbedhereyes.“At seveninthemorning?”

The kids hurried

outside When they

reached Granny Maple’s pumpkin patch, they gasped.

The pumpkins were gone!

Well not exactly gone. Orange goo covered the ground, seeds were everywhere, and the air smelled like sneezy spice. Afaint “ah-choo!” echoed fromthefield,followedby agiggle.

Granny Maple came running out, holding a tissue.“Oh,goodheavens! My pumpkins have sneezed themselves inside out!”

Daniel blinked

“Pumpkinscansneeze?”

“They can if you use too much enchanted spice!”Grannygroaned.“I must’ve mixed up my cinnamonjarwithmyfairy pumpkindustagain.”

T h e P u m p k i n

Detectives

Emily pulled out her detectivenotebook.“Don’t worry,Granny—we’llfind them.”

IwanttobeGood

Ithinkitisonlyright

ThatImustalwaystrytobegood, Tosayanddothecorrectthing, AndbehaveaswellasIcould.

Iwillalwaystrytobehonest, InwhateverIhavetodo, Nottotakewhatbelongstoothers, Andalwaysspeakwhatistrue.

Iwilltrytobealwaysfair, WheneverIworkorplay, AlwaysmakesureIdonotcheat, Andbehonest ineveryway

Aboveall,Iwillnotbeselfish, Especiallywiththosewhohavelessthanme; Thiswillmakemefeelsogood, Astheybecomegratefultome.

Creepy Eyeball Plant

Add some spooky charm to your Halloween party with this creepyeyeballplant!Aswiththe other decorations appearing on ourlist,thiscraftrequiresonlya fewbasicmaterials.

Supplies

Greenmeshtubing(fromthe

DollarTree)

Fakeeyeballs

Floralfoam

Pailorplantpot

Hotgluegun

Danielcroucheddown, inspecting the ground “Look! A trail of glowing pumpkinseeds!”

The glowing trail led them out of the patch, across the field, and down MapleHollowLane.Every few steps, they heard another tiny achoo! echoinginthedistance.

Theyfollowedthetrail pastMr.Jones’sscarecrow, who sneezed so hard his hat flew off.Then past the bakery,whereafeworange seeds had rolled under the door Mrs Plum peeked out “You kids chasing pumpkins again?” she asked.

Emily grinned. “They sneezedawaythistime!”

Mrs Plum blinked “Well,that’snew.”

PumpkinParadeGone Wild

The glowing trail ended at the town square. Andwhatasightitwas!

The pumpkins had gatheredthemselvesintoa huge circle, bouncing and

seconds,onewouldsneeze out a shower of seeds like confetti.Kidslaughed,and t o w n s f o l k clapped—thinking it was part of the Halloween festivities.

But Granny Maple looked horrified “My poor pumpkins! They’ll lose all their seeds if they keepsneezing!”

EmilyandDanieltried to round them up, but the pumpkins were slippery and giggly Whenever someone said “Boo!” they’dsneezeagain—loud

fountain.

Daniel wiped goo off his sleeve “We need to stop the sneezing before theyallexplode!”

Granny Maple thought for a moment “There’s onlyonecureformagical

(Continued on page 40)

Hotgluesticks

Step-By-StepDirections

Cut your mesh tubing into differentlengthstocreateaplantlike structure Next, hot glue eyeballstoeachtube.

Once they have dried, place the floral foam inside your container and arrange the ‘eyeball’ stems to resemble the pictureabove.

Instructions

Thispuzzleislikeacrossword,butwithnumbers.Eachdigitoccupiesahexagonalcellandcanbeapartofa "word"intheacross,up,anddowndirections.Rules:

1."Words"maynotstartwithazero.

2."Words"inthe'across'directionreadfromlefttoright.

3."Words"inthe'up'directionreadalongtheupwarddiagonaltotheright.

4."Words"inthe'down'directionreadalongthedownwarddiagonaltotheright.

5.Thereisoneuniquesolutionwhichsatisfiesallthecluesgivenbelow.Some"words"maynothaveclues.They willbedeterminedbythe"words"whichintersectthem.

Prepare for the Future by adopting Right Principles

When the time comes for a teenager to leaveschoolandgooutinto the wider world to start life as an adult citizen and worker,hewouldobviously behopingthathewillbegin in the right way He must thereforerealisethathewill need to think about this beforemovingforward. There are many people who feel that they can achieve success and happiness by means which are not honest and fair to others, even to the point of making them suffer. The unfortunate thing is that thesepeoplemayappearfor some time to be prospering inlife,somuchsothatothers are tempted to follow their exampleandlikewiseforget the principles they have been taught, and resort to theirtypeofbehaviour But

if you have the opportunity to check on these same peoplelater,youwillalways find that they have reaped thesamekindofrewardthat theyhavesown.

Treat people in a bad way,anditwillcomebackto you when you least expect. Neglect your duty, be dishonest in your dealings with others, and you will eventually suffer the

Use principles rather that your feelings as the guidelines of your life to ensure you are always on the right path to success and happiness.

consequences, perhaps at the time when you can least affordit.

t is a fact that one of the laws of nature is that what goes around comes around, andthisisjustastrueofour actions as the earth moving around the sun. Whatever you do in this world will work to determine your future progress and happiness.

Sometimes we feel that doing good will not be observed,butyoucannever tell when this is noticed by others However, just knowingthatyouhavedone a right thing, especially

whenitshowsnoimmediate benefittoyou,canbereward enough, and moreover the rewardwillsurelycome.

Whenever you are faced with a challenging situation remember that the way you react will determine what you will reap in the long run. This must surely prompt you to askyourselfinanysituation whatistherightthingtodo, and take the high road, not reacting but acting always according to what you have identifiedasrightprinciples. Then you can rest assured that all will turn out right in theend.

This day won’t come again

I’llneverseethisdayagain, Thesecondsorthehours,Now’sthetime totakethetimeTostopandsmelltheflowers. Today’sthedaytogivesmilesAndsome happinessaway,Andthesunshineyou weresavingForsomedarkandrainyday.

Thisdayistrulypriceless,Godmadethis daysonew,Thegooddeedyoudofor anotherMayjustcomebacktoyou.

Ihavesomanythankstogive,Iscarcecan evenstart,ForwhenItrytoaddthemup, Morepourforthfrommyheart.

I’lltakewhattheLordhasgiven,Drawnfrom Hisgracesotrue,IngratitudeforallI take,I’llgivemyselftoYou.

Sotouchaheart,holdanother’shand, Callthatlonelyfriend,Sharethelovethatyou musthave,Forthisdaywon’tcomeagain.

UncleRoyisonceagainappealingtoallteenstowrite tohimaboutanyproblemyoumaybefacingforwhichyou needasolution. HewouldalsolikeyoutocontributetothisPageby submittingothermaterialthathecanincludehere. Theseinclude:1.Apoem,shortstoryorbitofadvicethat youhavewrittenandwouldliketosharewithyourfellow teens.2.Anysignificanteventthathashappened,orany interestingitemaboutwhatisgoingoninyourcommunity 3.Acommentaryaboutwhereyoulivetoacquaintothers aboutit.Asmentionedbefore,youcanemailme at:uncleroy1992@yahoo.com

GNBS IN FOCUS ELEVATING OUR TOURISM PRODUCT WITH STANDARDS

It is the beginning of Tourism Awareness Month, andourcountrycontinuesto see steady growth in the tourism sector, especially in theareasofaccommodation, visitor arrivals, activities andexperiences.

As we continue to

elevate our country as a tourist destination, it is imperative that standards be included in the cocktail of services offered to visitors.

The Guyana National Bureau of Standards is committed to making these standards available to

accommodation and services providers who are desirous of implementing themtofurtherimprovetheir facilitiesandservices.

This week’s article provides a brief insight into severalkeystandards,which could benefit the sector and

enhance the experience of visitors to our shores.These standards include the Code ofPracticefortouroperators

a n d t o u r g u i d e s , Requirements for bed and breakfasts facilities and the Code of Practice for quality management in the restaurantservice.

TheCodeofPracticefor tour operators and tour guides specifies acceptable practices to be used by tour operatorsandtourguides.It is intended to be used as a quality tool by tour guides and tour operators; present andprospectivemembersof tourparties;andtherelevant authorities and agencies responsible for tourism in Guyana.

The bed and breakfast facilities standard specifies minimum requirements for bed and breakfast facilities (A and B categories) operating in Guyana to improve the quality of services to visitors who choose this accommodation style It addresses

cleanliness, fire protection, rooms and bathrooms, electrical, pest control, waste management, maintenance and other requirements to ensure guests have a comfortable stay

Forrestaurants,theCode of Practice for Quality

management in the restaurant service (GCP 17:2003) ensures that the food prepared is safe and wholesome and services provided to customers are reliable It specifies the managerial requirements necessary to ensure the efficient running of any restaurant establishment to maintain quality in the sight ofitscustomers.

Meanwhile, GNBS also has international standards, which are very relevant and applicable to the sector These include the ISO 9001:20

standard, which focuses on customer satisfaction and continuous improvement

Additionally, ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System can help to address food safety aspects of the sector, providing guidance for the implementation of a Food Safety Management System extending “from the farmtothefork”.

Finally, GNBS can

technical assistance to tourist establishments needing standards to enhance quality, maintain consistency and ensure

Collectively, our country’s tourism product will not only be known for its

infrastructure but also for s

services,foodandamenities provided to people who are comingtoexperiencethem.

For further information on this subject, please contactGNBSonTelephone Numbers: 219-0065, 2190066, WhatsApp 692GNBS (4627) or follow us onFacebook.

Shobha McIntosh: a warrior,...

Frompage23 resurfaced, she sought a second opinion for which she travelled to Trinidad. Doctorstheredetectedsome activecancercells,andthen began an undertaking in earnest to locate the source. Subsequently, she went to theUnitedStates,whereshe was admitted, down with liver metastasis, which is causedbyaspreadofcancer cells from a main tumor to another organ to the liver, formingsmallertumors.

Reasonsforliving Support, both tangible and effectual, goes a great distance along the way of aiding in one’s recovery

both physically and mentally As a woman who hasexperiencedthemedical highs and lows of being a cancer patient, Shobha has opened her massive coffers of gratitude to her family who she noted always gave her the hope and encouragement she so vitallyneededtosurvivethe circumstances.

At 40-years-old, she has to date undergone 10 sessionsofchemotherapyin theformofdripsandtablets, as well as forty sessions of radiation. None of these are

as pleasant as waiting to be served at a cafeteria. She persevered,nonetheless.

“I was on the hospital bed and I heard my kids saying‘mommyyouhaveto fightthis!”

Spurred on by these sentiments, she was able to reconfigure her priorities and her purposes where necessary, as she felt more thaneverthatsheowesalot asamother,wifeandteacher to her kids, husband and students.

These notions, along with the love shown by those closest to her, lent to her mentally muscling her way through the tough times, and now with an unmatched determination to best her situation, the educator of 23 years would even here

and there sidestep

medical prohibitions such as that of avoiding much sunlight postradiation, which can insidiously draw on skin cancer Such defiance, on account of her love for teaching.

A casual drop by at Learners’ Academy in Chapel Street, New Amsterdam, which she runs alongside her husband, would find her dutifully engaged in imparting knowledge to her absorbent pupils, and her affectionate smile a n d w e l c o m i n g personality would never give anyone an idea even intheslightest,thatsheis fighting, purposely so, one of the biggest threats tohumanlife.

Such is the positive intent of one who knows what it is to confront adversities of the highest levelandcarveoutastoryof encouragement to share Suchistheongoingstoryof Mrs.ShobaMcIntosh. “Justthankful.”

Her faith in God played a defining role in her survival, she affirmed Surrending circumstances to God, and wallowing in faith for His will for her life, g a v e h e r a l l t h e assurances she needed throughout her battles Even though now she occasionally feels tired, and she has been experiencing pain about her body, she stated that overall, she is “just thankful.”

ArianDahliaRichmond

Guyanese beauty ambassador, stunsinMissFriendshipInt'lcontestinChina

Guyanesebeautyambassador,ArianDahliaRichmond has been selected to represent Guyana for the first time everattheMissFriendshipInternationalpageantinChina

Miss Friendship International is an esteemed global beauty pageant that celebrates cultural exchange, international goodwill, and the spirit of unity among nations.

Under the banner, delegates from across the world come together not only to compete but also to forge lifelongfriendships,andpromotemutualunderstanding.

As part of the Miss Friendship International experience, contestants travel across various cities in China, immersing themselves in its rich history, culture, andtraditions.Guyana'sdebutinthisprestigiouseventisa moment of national pride, symbolizing the country's growinginfluenceininternationalculturalrepresentation.

In a historic milestone, Richmond is proudly participating for the very first time, marking a significant step forward in the nation's presence ontheglobalpageantrystage.

Richmondisbestknownforherexcellence as an entrepreneur, model, volunteer, and marketingspecialist.

Hailing from Bartica, the 26-year-old hasdistinguishedhercareerbycombining business acumen, philanthropic

achievements on the international pageantstage.

Richmond is pageantry par excellence having consistently demonstrated grace, intelligence, and a compelling stage presence, culminating in numerous top titles; MissGlobalInternational2024,Miss World Guyana 2022:--First RunnerUp;MissEmeraldInternational2020-Second Runner-Up and National Representative ; Miss Caribbean CultureQueen2019--FirstRunner-Up; and Miss Guyana Culture 2019-National Representative and Miss BarticaRegatta2018.

Beyond the runway, the Guyanese beautyambassadorisdedicatedtoservice, emphasizingthatvolunteeringisamission, notahobby Hereffortshavebeenformally recognized National Youth Award of ServiceinNovember2017.

Inrecognitionofherdedicatedeffortsin promotingwomenandgirlsineducationand entrepreneurship, the beauty queen is also a formidabledebater,havingsecuredwinsasthe Youth Parliament Debate Opposition Winner in March 2016 and the JOF Haynes Debating CompetitionWinnerinDecember2016.

Whensheisnotengagedinherprofessional orcharitablework,Richmondisanadventurerat heart. She enjoys challenging herself by hiking tough terrain, and finds creative expression throughsingingandreading.

Guyanese entrepreneurs and ActionCoach Directors and Coaches at the BizX 2025 conference in Texas

Two Guyanese named ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ at BizX 2025 Awards in Texas

Two Guyanese, PritipaulSinghJr

and Candace Wickham have recently copped 'Entrepreneur of the Year' awards at the prestigious BizX 2025 Awards, which was held in Houston,Texas.

According to a press releasefromActionCOACH Guyana, Pritipaul Singh Jr who is the Managing DirectorofGuyanaPortInc., won the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, while Candace Wickham, the Founder and CEOofProcareTherapyand WellnessCentre,wasnamed Female Entrepreneur of the Year

Accepting his award, Singh Jr credited faith, family, and teamwork as the driving forces behind his company'ssuccess.

“I live by a quote from Jim Rohn: 'Success is not something you pursue; it's somethingyouattractbythe personyoubecome.'Tonight is about faith, purpose, perseverance, and the discipline to keep moving forward. I give it all to God for the opportunities and blessings that have brought mehere,”heexpressed.

Candace Wickham in an emotional acceptance speech reflected on her journey from humble beginnings to building one of Guyana's most impactful therapycentres.

“As a special language therapist,Iwantedtomakea greaterimpactinthelivesof children and families. I was born on December 3rd—International Day of P e r s o n s w i t h

Disabilities and I truly believe I'm living my divine purpose,”shesaid.

She added that her companysupportsmorethan

6 7 children, helping many go from being unable to speak or walk to achieving incrediblemilestones. S

ChairmanofActionCOACH Guyana, Dr Vishnu Doerga noted the honours are a

momentofnationalpride.

“I'm incredibly proud to see Pritipaul Singh Jr win the Entrepreneur of theYear award,thehighesthonourat BizX 2025 in Houston, Texas.Hisrelentlessdriveto improve and his bold vision for Guyana Port Inc continue to set new standards for excellence in themaritimesector

This achievem

t reflects his success and amplifies the transformative impact he is creating for Guyana's growth and global competitiveness. For more t h a n a d e c a d e , ActionCOACH Guyana has been elevating the standards atwhichthenation'sleading companies operate, and this milestone stands as another powerful example of that

(Continuedonpage39)

Cop shot dead by businessman laid to rest

Lance Corporal

Richard Hayes, the policeman who was killed by a businessman just outside the Vreed-en-Hoop stelling, was laidtorestonSaturday Minister of HomeAffairs

Oneidge Waldron attended Hayes funeral and expressed condolences on behalf of President Irfaan Ali and the governmentofGuyana.

“I joined the family, colleagues,andfriendsofthe late Lance Corporal Richard Hayes to pay my final respects to a devoted officer. My heartfelt condolences go out to his loved ones during this difficult time,” the minister said on her Facebookpage.

Hayes, 35, of Lot 13 School Street, Vreed-enHoop was shot and killed by Robert Hossein of Crane HousingScheme,WestCoast

Demerara during a confrontation at Hossein's cellular phone stall at the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling on October23.

The businessman appeared at the Vreed-enHoop Magistrates' Court on October 27 where he was charged with manslaughter andplacedon$1millionbail.

Hoosein,37,isalicensed firearmholderofa.32Taurus pistol. According to police reports, Hayes who was attachedtotheImpactBaseat BrickdamPoliceStation,had visited the suspect's shop on October 22 (Wednesday) to enquire about purchasing cellphones and left shortly after

However, around 09:00hrs on October 23, Hayes reportedly returned to the stall, indicating he had come to buy a phone. The suspecttoldpolicethatwhile hewaspackingboxes,Hayes became “hostile”, prompting himtoasktheofficertoleave.

Thebusinessmanallegedthat Hayes instead picked up a cellphoneheatergunfromthe displaycounterandthrewitat him,strikinghiminthechest.

In response, the suspect reportedly drew his firearm and discharged one round, hitting Hayes in his right chest.

A video of the shooting showed that the policeman and the businessman were in heated conversation and the police picked up an object and threw it at the businessmanwhoreachedfor his weapon and shot the policemaninhischest.

Parika gets new $128M fire station

Amodern $128M fire

s t a t i

commiss

d at Parika, East Bank Essequibo on Friday The new fire station was commissioned by Home Affairs MinisterOneidgeWaldron.

TheprojectwasawardedtoLF GlobalInc.for$128,608,803.

Thefirestationwasconstructed in response to the February 2023 fire at the Parika Market.The new facility is strategically located to improve response time, enhance coordination, and ensure that firefighterscanoperateefficiently

It forms part of a broader national effort to modernise the Guyana Fire Service, strengthen preparedness, and support communityresilience,theministry stated.

Minister Walrond said that the project reflects responsive

governance in action, listening to citizens' concerns and delivering practicalsolutions.

“This is more than just a building.Itisapromisedelivered,a promise to strengthen the capacity of the Guyana Fire Service and ensurethatcommunitiesacrossour country are better protected from the threat of fires and other emergencies,”theMinistersaid.

She said that the project is part of the larger framework of Region Three'stransformation,pointingto major government investments such as the Bharrat Jagdeo River Bridge, Parika Port Development, and housing and infrastructure expansion.

“Tosupportthisgrowinghubof commerce and travel, essential services,customs,immigration,the Coast Guard, the police, and of course, a modern Fire Service,

must all be in place. And that is preciselywhatwearebuildinghere today,”theministersaid.

During her remarks, the

minister further urged the Parika community and private sector to collaboratewiththeFireServicein promoting prevention and safety

a w a r e n e s s “ To d a y ' s commissioning marks yet another milestoneinourbroaderagendato modernise the Guyana Fire Service, expand its national footprint, and ensure that every community, regardless of location, has timely access to critical emergency and rescue services,” sheexplained.

Permanent Secretary, Mr Andre Ally in his remarks, commended the efforts of all stakeholders involved in bringing the project to completion, noting

that the facility reflects the Government'sstrategicvisionfora modern, responsive, and wellresourcedemergencysystem.

“This investment represents our collective commitment to strengthening national safety infrastructure. By equipping our firefighters with the resources and environmenttheyneed,we arenot only protecting lives and property butalsobuildingpublicconfidence in the essential services of our nation,”hesaid.

New fire stations are being established in key areas across the countrytoensurethateveryregion benefitsfromenhancedemergency responsecapacity

UG'sEarlyChildhoodCentreofExcellence,

Int'lpartnershostdisability access&inclusionconference

The University of Guyana (UG), in partnership with Texas Southern University, the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), Rutgers Center for Minority Serving

C

Community College, Joyful Signing, and the Ministry of Education (Guyana), on Thursday,October30,2025, hosted

s inaugu

al conference on disability accessandinclusion.

The conference, held virtually, provided a space for participants to “explore the impact of disability access across the spectrum, frombirthtoemployment.”

Theconferencewasheld virtually under the theme “Empowering Inclusion, Transforming Futures” and was open free to all participants.

The global conference attracted almost 700 participants from across the world, including individuals with disabilities, academics, practitioners, advocates, policymakers, and students dedicated to advancing accessibility and inclusion throughoutthelifecourse.

Dr Lidon Lashley, DirectoroftheUniversityof Guyana's Early Childhood Centre of Excellence (UGECCE), highlighted the university's leadership in inclusive education and its commitment to disability equity

“The University of Guyana leads the way in the

GlobalSouthandCaribbean region in research in understanding the evolving and emerging trends in neurodiversity As an institution, we are proud of our service to Guyana, the Caribbean, and the wider Global South in expanding rese

responses, and developing Indigenous resources for

disabilities,” Dr Lashley said, noting that UG's Inclusivity, Diversity and Equity Policy and the UG 2040Blueprintaimtoensure one graduate per household, inclusive of persons with disabilities and other diversities.

Delivering the opening remarks, Provost of Texas Southern University, Dr

Cindy Maloney, CEO of Maggie's Catering Inc and a talentedpastryartistknownforher exquisite signature cakes, proudly l ent her support to The Rotaract Club of Georgetown,incollaborationwithNoodleCake Creations, for the inspiring event “Cakes for a Cause – CakeNic.”The sweet initiative held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the Promenade Gardens, brought together bakers, artists, and communitiesinadayfilledwithcreativity,fun, andpurpose.Theeventaimedtoraiseawareness

C a r o l G o o d m a n , underscored the global relevance of disability inclusion and the need for struc

ge:

“Disability intersects almost everyaspectoflife.

True inclusion means removing barriers and reimagining systems. May we leave here not only informed, but inspired to lead ch

institutions,” Dr Goodman said.

Meanwhile, keynote speaker, Dr Bea Awoniyi, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and College OmbudsatSantaFeCollege, delivered a compelling addresscentredonthepower of possibility and the transformative impact of beliefandsupportinthelives

ofpersonswithdisabilities.

“Every student carries a universeofpossibilityinside them, and every educator holdsthekeytounlockthose possibilities.

When educators believe inpossibility,theimpossible doesnothaveachance,”Dr Awoniyishared.

Dr Awoniyi further urged participants to go b e y o n d m i n i m u m compliance toward cultivating belonging, dismantling attitudinal barriers, and designing systems where accessibility is foundational rather than optional.

Emphasising that inclusionrequiresactionand compassion, Dr Awoniyi challenged stakeholders to serve as “architects of possibility” and “quiet

and vital support for breast cancer patients and survivors, reminding everyone of the strength, resilience, and hope that unite us in the fight against breast cancer Through Maggie's Catering Inc., Ms. Maloney contributed her artistry and support to the 'CakeNic' competition, by judging and encouraging participants to not only showcase their baking talentsbutalsotobepartofameaningfulcause, helpingraisefundsthatwilldirectlyimpactlives and spread hope. ( Source: Maggies Catering Facebook)

creating environments wherepersonsofallagesand abilitiescanflourish.

CEO of AHEAD, Mr Stephan Smith, welcomed participants and applauded UG's leadership in convening the international dialogue.

“We are here to explore possibility Everythingleads from one stage of life to the next, and collaboration across the lifespan is essential. I am impressed by the leadership and vision behindthisevent.”

The conference also featured concurrent expertled sessions exploring inclusive pedagogy, disability rights and policy, neurodiversity, accessible technology, early childhood intervention, employment

pathways, and culturally responsive practices across d i v e r s e c o n t e x t s Participants engaged in knowledge-sharing and explored strategies for strengthening disability support systems from birth throughadulthood.

The event forms part of UG's sustained efforts to champion equity, diversity, access, and inclusion across Guyana and the wider Caribbean.

The University's Early Childhood Centre of Excellencecontinuestolead i n r e s e a r c h o n neurodiversity, disability access, and inclusive learning.Personsmayaccess a selection of UG-ECCE's researchatthefollowinglink https://ecce uog edu gy/rese arch-professionaldevelopment

Lusignanman allegedlydrowns atAnnandale

A29-year-old labourer of Lusignan Pasture, East Coast Demerara(ECD)allegedlydrownedonSaturdaymorningat theAnnandaleAccessRoad/SidelineDam,ECD.

DeadisJagadhwarMohan.

Theincidentoccurredbetween07:10hrsand07:25hrs.

Accordingtopolice,Mohanwasinthecompanyoftwo men,collecting‘purileaf’fromatrenchintheareawhenhe reportedlyslippedintoadeepsectionofthewaterway

“He was later pulled from the water in an unconscious statebythesaidmen,andsubsequentlypronounceddeadby Emergency Medical Technicians who responded to the scene,”policesaidinastatement.

Mohan’s body was examined by investigators and no marks of violence were found. The body was taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home where it awaits a postmortemexamination.

Investigationsareongoing.

Nelly Furtado announces...

Frompage22

AlexLight–defendedher 'She'sbeenaliveforseveralyears inaworldthattellswomenthattheirexpirydateis25.She's beentoldtodisappear,toshrink,tostayinabodythatsociety findsmorepalatable,andshesaidno.

Andthisisn'treallyaboutherbody,it'saboutcontroland about a culture that fears women who don't apologize for existing. So, what the hell has happened? She's free and maybethat'swhatscarespeople.'

Nelly herself responded to the vitriol by wearing an 'optical illusion' t-shirt that depicted a figure wearing a croppedwhitevestandminiskirtatManchesterPrideaweek later

Thiscontentisimportedfrominstagram.Youmaybeable tofindthesamecontentinanotherformat,oryoumaybeable tofindmoreinformation,attheirwebsite.

Atthestartoftheyear,thesingeraddressedtheubiquityof cosmetic procedures and treatments in the industry and revealedherdecisiontorejectsimilarenhancements,instead vowing to have a 'body neutral 2025'. She called out the scrutinyintheindustrythatshe'dclearlyfeltsubjectedto.

'ThisyearIbecameawareoftheaestheticpressureofmy workinabrandnewway…Ihadtopursuesomelegalaction against a few charlatans online selling services based on sellinghealthandbeautymythsaboutme.

'I have never had any face or body surgeries or augmentation,besidesforveneersonthetoprowofmyteeth.

'So far, I have not had any face or lip injections or fillers…Sometimes on the red carpet or at photo shoots my makeupartistusesfacetapetogivemyeyes,skinandmakeup more lift. Sometimes my stylist uses body tape to give a certain look to different silhouettes…body makeup can do magical things! So can great eyebrows! So can a great hairstylist!Socangreatunderthings!'

Two Guyanese named...

Frompage36 missioninaction,”heexpressed.

Wickham's coach, Coach Keon, praised her commitment,statingthat“Fromvisiontovictory!Candace's discipline and ownership made this BizX win inevitable. ThrilledtobeherCoach.”

Sharingalittleabouttheircompanies,ActionCOACHin its statement shared that under Singh's leadership, Guyana PortInc.(GPI)hasrapidlybecomeamajorforceinGuyana's maritimesector Thecompanyalreadyprovidesshiprepair, shipbuilding,anddredgingservices,allcriticaltosupporting the nation's expanding offshore and shipping industries. Withcontinuedinvestmentandinnovation,GPIispoisedto further scale these capabilities to meet Guyana's growing maritimeneedsandstrengthenitsroleinregionaltradeand development,thereleaseexplained.

AsforProcareTherapyandWellnessCentrewhichwas foundedin2015,itisaleadingprivatetherapyandwellness facility in Georgetown which focuses on early intervention for children, including speech-language therapy, occupationalandphysicaltherapy,andmassagemodalities. It has supported dozens of children with special needs and recently validated its service-offerings with Caribbean VocationalQualification(CVQ)-certifiedprogrammes.

12 bid to construct NGL storage & offloading facility

The Government of Guyanahasreceived12bids for the construction of a natural gas liquids (NGLs) storage and offloading facility and pipeline as part of the gas-to-energy (GTE) project.

The tender for the project, which is being executed through the Office

of the Prime Minister (OPM), was opened this week at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office. According to NPTAB, the bidders include firms from China, UnitedKingdom(UK),India andBrasil.

The 12 bidders are:

China National Machinery Import & Export Co. (JV) SINOP

Construction Inc. (China); ISI ANDINA Corp S A (Panama) (joint venture with)ESGCOLGuyanaInc.; Worley Inc. (Huston) joint venturewithViridianEnergy Ltd (UK); Persaud

Engineering and Hydraulic Services; BK International Inc.; Kent Huston Offshore Engineering LLC (joint venturewith)Environmental Engineering Solutions Inc.; J E R E H H E N G R I EngineeringandTechnology Company Ltd (China); ChinaCamcEngineering Continued on page 40

Job opening: Truck Driver, AC Technicians, Excavator and Skid Steer Operator. To apply send application via WhatsApp: 689-1111/ 6082114.

One Hauler Driver. Contact 611-7088.

Urgently wanted able bodied Security, attractive benefits and salary. Apply@ 21 Seaforth Street, Campbellville. Call: 6215140.

Wanted: Professional chef to work in a private home. Contact: 623-0133. Sales Clerk wanted to work in store. Attractive salary offered. Call: 661-1000.

Experienced Jet and Marack men to work Interior & 1 male Cook needed. Call: 677-2385.

Wanted one Maid.Call: 6801282.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

1 Honda CRV, includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, spoiler, low mileage PTT Series (first owner). Call: 649-0956.

US sends helicopters to assist Jamaica

Jamaica Observer – The first three of eight helicopters being provided by the United States as part of humanitarian aid to communities impacted by the passage of Hurricane Melissa arrived here on Friday.

They will be put into service across the country to assist with the distribution of relief supplies.

The helicopters, loaded with relief supplies, were welcomed by Minister of Transport, Daryl Vaz, at the Caribbean Military Academy School of Aviation.

“I want to thank the Government of the United States of America and, of course, the

US Embassy here in Jamaica for the coordination. I want to thank all the personnel who have come,” he said.

“We are hoping that by tomorrow the balance will be here, if not, the latest this weekend, and of course, these three will be put to work tomorrow morning (Saturday), in conjunction with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). They will be taking supplies for widespread distribution to all affected communities in Western Jamaica.”

Vaz reassured Jamaicans that the Government is at work to get much-needed assistance to persons in severely affected parishes.

US send helicopters to Jamaica as part of humanitarian aid to communities impacted by the passage of Hurricane Melissa. (CMC)

“We are here. We understand the frustration. We understand the anxiety and the suffering from the catastrophic category-five hurricane. We definitely are doing everything in our power to respond as quickly as pos-

sible. We pray for you and God bless Jamaica, Vaz said.

In an interview with JIS News, Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Kingston, Scott Renner, informed that the helicopters will remain in the island to distribute supplies.

“They’ll be used to help the shipments that come in to be moved around the country to the areas in need because these big helicopters can go where they need to go,” he added.

12 bid to construct NGL storage & offloading facility...

From page 39 Company Limited; Kalpataru Projects International Limited (India); China Railway First

Western Union CSRS, Cashiers, Shelf Restockers, Floor Supervisors, Porters & Bond Attendants wanted @ Survival Supermarket. Call/ WhatsApp: 609-2995, Email: survivalhumanresources2 @gmail.com

Royalty Salon & Spa is now hiring, Barbers, Pedicarists, Masseuses, Nail Technicians, Hairstylists & Lash Technicians. Call: 627-3838 / 626-9171.

Hick's Ville Hotel is now hiring Receptionist, Hotel Attendant, Washer, Presser. Call: 227-7714 / 223-3448 / 640-0673. Email: info@vegeworld.net

Vacancy for Merchandiser and Factory Worker. Email info@vegeworld.net. EDUCATION

CAPE pure Mathematics online lessons.

M.I.Karimullah (Guyana Scholar), BSc, MSc. Email: capegy592@gmail.com / WhatsApp: 724-9552.

1 Shift Receptionist, Handyman & Sales Boy needed @ Luxury Inn Hotel, 16 Durban St. Call: 510-6821.

Vacancy exists for Accounts Clerk. Email info@splashminsresort.com.

Group Company Ltd. (joint venture with) China Petroleum Engineering and Construction; ALYA CONSTRUTORA S.A (Brasil); and Baywood Continental Limited (Nigeria).

Kaieteur News had reported that in its request for pre-qualification advertisement, the Office of the Prime Minister stated that the facilities are required by the government of Guyana to enhance the capacity for safe storage, efficient operations, marine offloading capabilities and effective distribution and marketing of NGLS, both domestically and internationally.

“The NGL storage and offloading project is planned for development within and / or near the Wales Industrial Zone approximately 25 km inland from the mouth of the Demerara River on the West

Bank adjacent to the Phase I Power Plant currently under construction, and’ or on the East Bank of Demerara River at Garden of Eden.

The Gas-to-Energy (GTE) Phase I project includes a Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) fractionation plant to extract liquids (C3, C4, C5+) and provides limited storage,” the document explained.

The document further detailed that the facility should be able to receive and store sufficient volume of NGLs to allow for no disruption in the phase I plant and to optimise batch offloading to marine vessels.

“The production rate from phase I is anticipated to be approximately 4,200 bbls per day of NGLs. The facilities should be sufficiently flexible to accommodate, with modifications, additional future

NGLs anticipated from potential future NGL production facilities,” the OPM stated.

Noting that only firms that have constructed at least five similar or larger facilities, should seek to be pre-qualified, the government noted that the project will be designed and constructed to accommodate the safe storage of NGLs and offloading to floating vessels with considerations for security, environmental compliance, and future expansion capabilities.

In relation to this project also, the government had issued a separate tender for the provision of engineering services for the construction of a natural gas liquids Storage and Offloading Facility and pipeline.

For that aspect, four bids were received.

+592688-3201.

From page 32

pumpkin sneezes—the Pumpkin Soup Potion!”

The Great Pumpkin Soup Plan

The trio rushed back to Granny’s kitchen. It looked like a cozy potion lab— shelves of jars labeled Fairy Flour, Moonlight Sugar, and Toadstool Tea.

Granny Maple tossed ingredients into a big copper pot. “A pinch of salt, a dash of cream, and three giggles from a happy child.”

Emily laughed. “Does that count?”

“Perfect!” Granny said. “Now stir while I hum the pumpkin lullaby.”

The pot glowed a warm golden orange. The air filled with the smell of cozy autumn—cinnamon, vanilla, and just a hint of magic.

When the potion was ready, Granny poured it into her watering can. “All right, detectives. Let’s calm those pumpkins.”

A Sneezeless Ending Back in the town square, the pumpkins were still sneez-

ing up a storm. Daniel tiptoed toward the biggest one. “Don’t worry, buddy. This will make you feel better.”

He poured a tiny drop of potion over its head. The pumpkin hiccupped, glowed faintly, and then sighed.

“Ahhh… much better,” it said in a sleepy voice before settling still.

One by one, Emily and Daniel helped Granny cure each pumpkin. The sneezing stopped, and soon the square was filled with peaceful, smiling pumpkins.

But as the last drop of potion was poured, something magical happened. The pumpkins began to glow brighter—gold, orange, and green light swirling around them. Then, with a whoosh, they lifted off the ground and floated into the air, creating a glowing Pumpkin Lantern Show above Maple Hollow.

The townsfolk cheered as the pumpkins twirled and sparkled in the night sky, lighting up the entire town in shimmering orange light.

Granny Maple smiled

The project is being executed by a joint venture between CH4 (Texas) and Lindsayca (Puerto Rico).

The companies, hired in 2022, are constructing the plant and NGL facility at a cost of US$759 million.

The GTE project was initially slated for completion by the end of 2025. However, in May, Prime Minister (Retd) Brigadier Mark Phillips stated that the project would be completed in the second quarter of 2026.

The GTE project, located at Wales on the West Bank of Demerara, includes a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility and a 300-megawatt power plant. Natural gas will be transported from the offshore Stabroek Blocks Liza oilfield via a 12-inch pipeline to the site, where 50 million cubic feet of gas will be converted to electricity daily.

The Night the Pumpkins Sneezed...

proudly. “Looks like they’re putting on their own Halloween show this year.”

A Halloween to Remember When the lanterns finally settled back into the patch, Emily patted the biggest pumpkin. “You should definitely win the contest now.”

Granny chuckled. “Win or not, I think this has been the most magical Halloween yet.”

Daniel yawned. “Next

time, maybe we just bake pumpkin pie instead of chasing them through town.”

“Good idea,” Emily agreed. That night, as they walked home under the glowing pumpkin lights, the kids heard one last faint “Achoo!” echo through the air.

They smiled. Some Halloween magic, it seemed, liked to stick around a little longer.

The End!

Motorcyclist, 17, killed...

From page 12 sustained multiple injuries. They were picked up and taken to the Enmore Regional Hospital where Harris was pronounced dead on arrival and Abrams was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he is admitted in a critical condition.

The driver of the truck was subjected to a breathalyzer test which returned a negative reading. Both vehicles are lodged at the Cove and John Police Sta-

tion as investigations continue, police said.

Harris’ body was taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, the Ann’s Grove Secondary School in a post on Facebook expressed its deepest sympathy to Harris’ family. “Laron will be remembered fondly by all who knew him. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends during this difficult time,” the school said.

the PPP/C's authoritarian governance'- APNU ‘Mohameds’ arrest another dark reflection of

A Partnership for

National Unity (APNU) on Saturday condemned the manner of arrest and treatmentoftheleaderofthe We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party Azruddin Mohammed,sayingthatitis anotherdarkreflectionofthe People's Progressive Party Civic's (PPP/C) “continuing pattern of authoritarian governance and its blatant disregardfordueprocess.”

The coalition said that the issue is not what was done but the manner in which it was done particularly since the Mohameds have indicated thattheywillcooperatewith theauthorities.

Through one of his

lawyers, Azruddin Mohamed wrote the Minister of Home Affairs expressinghiswillingnessto surrender once the proper extraditionrequestwasfiled and the legal process in place.

“Yet,insteadofallowing due process to take its course, the PPP/C Governmentchosetostagea public display of power Surrounded by armed ranks and cameras, the arrest of a citizen who had offered full cooperationwasacalculated

actofintimidation,designed to send a political message ratherthanupholdtheruleof law,”thepartystated.

Furthermore, the party said that the heavy-handed display is symptomatic of a regime that is desperate to prove its might instead if its morality.Thepartysaidthat the PPP/C administration has yet again used state machinery a political weapon.

“When the rule of law becomes selective, when cooperation is met with coercion, and when the presumptionofinnocenceis replaced with public humiliation,weceasetobea democracy; we become a dictatorship cloaked in procedure We, the

PNCR/APNU, condemn in thestrongestpossibleterms, the manner in which Mr Mohamed was treated,” the partystated.

Further, the APNU said that justice should never bow to politics and due process must never be sacrificedforpropaganda.

“The world is watching and today's events have shownthatunderthePPP/C, theinstitutionsofournation arebeingusednottoprotect citizens, but to persecute them.ItistimeforGuyanato reclaimtheruleoflaw,notas a slogan, but as a standard,” APNUsaid.

Meanwhile,Attorney-atLaw Ronald Daniels in a Facebook post said that while he holds no brief for the Mohameds, he was appalled at the treatment metedouttothemnotingthat it was a “vulgar abuse of statepower”.

“Iam,however,appalled by this treatment meted out to Mr. Mohamed, the same asIamwhenitismetedout to any other person for whom it is unnecessary Whyisthereaneedtomake suchapublicspectacle-guns drawn and putting him into the tray of the police pickup?”hequestioned.

A dark day for democracy in...

Frompage6 both. The objective of the entire exercise failed, and Dr Bharat Jagdeo must return to the drawing board and reflect on his entire strategy

While this exercise was designed to embarrass Mr Mohamed,theoutcomewas turned on its head since the incident caused more

Guyanese to love him, even more.

Thetimingandnatureof these actions reveal a strategy of the PPP that is totally focused on the 2030 elections.

B y m o v i n g preemptively against the onlypoliticalchallenger(the WINTeam)thatcanbeatthe PPPinafaircontest,thePPP

leadership demonstrates its intention to eliminate this electoral threat using the darkest of means, long beforetheofficialcampaign begins This is not the behavior of a government confident in its record and ideas. History is not on the side of the PPP and Dr BharatJagdeo.

KhemrajHarryram

Daniels said Azruddin Mohammed has been presenting himself to the policeonrequest,andiswell aware of the inevitable request for his extradition, whichwouldbeattendedby arequestforhisarrest.

“HehasnotfledGuyana and has ever since been in the public space on outreaches. This spectacle was not necessary and has a political purpose to serve.

UnlessMr Mohamedwas (Continuedonpage42)

Attorney-at-Law

Ronald Daniels

Demerara Bank expands digital services

Demerara Bank

Limited on S a t u r d a y announcedthatitscustomers can now open accounts online aswellashaveaccess to a number of retail and businesscreditfacilities.

In a statement to the media, the bank said it welcomestheannouncement by Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh that customers can open accounts online at fourcommercialbanks.

“At Demerara Bank Limited (DBL), we proudly welcome this initiative and reaffirm our commitment to advancingdigitalaccessand customer convenience throughourenhancedonline bankingplatform.

With the Minister's

announcement, our commitment to providing hassle-free and secure banking experiences has been further strengthened,” thebanksaid.

Further, the bank said that the new policy allows for the expansion of online bankingacrossthesector As such, Demerara Bank reminded that it already offersacomprehensivesuite ofonlineapplicationsviaits w e b s i t e www demerarabank com, offering convenience for

… Customers can now apply online for accounts, retail credit facilities, and other banking services

both ind

businesses.

Persons or entities can apply for SavingsAccounts, Term Deposit Accounts, Foreign CurrencyAccounts, Registered Business Accounts and Company

A c c o u n t s o

Additionally, customers can seamlesslyapplyonlinefora comprehensive range of retail and business credit facilities, including: housing loans, automobile (Vehicle) loans, SME loans, overdrafts and Visa credit cards (available in all classes).

Moreover,customerscan alsotakeadvantageofasuite of additional services online including applications for personal and corporate ebanking, night deposit facility and safety deposit facility

“All these services are convenientlylistedunderthe “Accounts,” “Services,” “Credit Facilities,” and “VisaCreditCards”sections on our website By integrating these digital tools, Demerara Bank ensures that customers can open accounts, apply for loans, or request banking services anywhere, anytime, without the need to visit a branch,”thestatementsaid.

The bank said its eBanking platform provides 24-hour access to monitor accounts, make transfers, and pay utility bills, empowering customers to manage their finances securelyandefficiently For businesses and professionals, the ability to open company or registered business accounts online streamlines the onboarding process, improving

naround tim

and reducingpaperwork.

Demerara Bank invites all its customers to visit its website to learn more about itsservices.

“We fully support the Honourable Minister's vision for a more digitally connected financial sector and are proud to be part of this national advancement. Our enhanced online services reflect this shared commitment delivering greater convenience, innovation, and trust to customers across Guyana today and into the future,” the bank said noting that it looks forward to continuing its journey of digital excellence, empowering individuals and businesses across Guyana to bank smarter, faster, and more securely

GazaGovernmentMediaOfficesaysjust24percentofagreed aid allowed into Gaza since ceasefire deal came into force.

Israel still blocking most Gaza aid as military carries out more attacks

Aljazeera-Authoritiesin GazasaythatIsraelhasonly allowed a fraction of the humanitarian aid deliveries agreed on as part of the United States-brokered ceasefire into the enclave since the agreement came intoeffectlastmonth.

In a statement on

S a t u r d a y, G a z a ’s Government Media Office said that 3,203 commercial and aid trucks brought supplies into Gaza between October10and31.Thisisan averageof145aidtrucksper day,orjust24percentofthe 600 trucks that are meant to be entering Gaza daily as partofthedeal,itadded.

“We strongly condemn the Israeli occupation’s obstruction of aid and commercial trucks and hold it fully responsible for the worsening and deteriorating humanitariansituationfaced by more than 2.4 million peopleintheGazaStrip,”the officesaidinastatement.

It also called on US PresidentDonaldTrumpand other ceasefire deal

mediatorstoputpressureon Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza “without restrictionsandconditions”.

Whileaiddeliverieshave increased since the truce cameintoforce,Palestinians acrossGazacontinuetoface shortages of food, water, medicine and other critical suppliesasaresultofIsraeli restrictions.

Many families also lack

adequate shelter as their homes and neighbourhoods have been completely destroyed in Israel’s twoyearmilitarybombardment.

A spokesperson for United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that the UN’s humanitarianofficereported that aid collection has been “limited” due to the “rerouting ordered by the

Israeliauthorities”.

“Youwillrecallthat convoysarenowforcedto gothroughthePhiladelphi Corridoralongtheborder withEgypt,andthenupthe narrowcoastalroad.This roadisnarrow,damaged andheavilycongested,” FarhanHaqtoldreporters.

“Additional crossings and internal routes are neededtoexpandcollections

andresponse.”

Meanwhile, the Israeli military has continued to carryoutattacksacrossGaza in violation of the ceasefire agreement.

On Saturday, Israeli fighter jets, artillery and tanks shelled areas around KhanYounis,inthesouthof the territory The army also demolished residential buildings east of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum reported that witnesses in Khan Younis described “constant heavy shelling and drone fire hitting what’s left of residential homes and farmland” beyond the socalled yellow line, where Israeliforcesaredeployed.

“We have also been told by Gaza’s Civil Defence agencythatit’sstrugglingto reachsomesitesclosetothe yellow line because of the continuation of air strikes and Israeli drones hovering overhead,” Abu Azzoum said. Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 222

Palestinians and wounded 594 others since the ceasefire took effect, according to the Ministry of Healthintheenclave.

Israeli leaders have defended the continued military strikes and accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire agreement by not returning all the bodies of deceased Israeli captives fromtheenclave.

ButthePalestiniangroup says that retrieval efforts have been complicated by widespread destruction in Gaza, as well as by Israeli restrictions on the entry of heavy machinery and bulldozers to help with the search. Late on Friday, the International Committee of the Red Cross said it had transferred the bodies of three people to Israel after they were handed over by Hamas.

But Israel assessed that theremainsdidnotbelongto any of the remaining 11 deceased Israeli captives, according to Israeli media reports.

Trump threatens US military action in Nigeria over treatment of Christians

WASHINGTON/ABUJ

A, Nov 1 (Reuters) - U.S.

President Donald Trump on Saturday said he has asked the Defense Department to prepare for possible “fast” military action in Nigeria if theWestAfricannationfails to crack down on the killing ofChristians. The U S government will also immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria,Trumpsaidinapost onTruthSocial.IftheUnited States sends in military forces,itwouldgoin“‘gunsa-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic

Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities,” Trump wrote, without providing any evidence of specifics about thetreatmentofChristiansin Nigeria Trump called Nigeria a “disgraced country” and warned its government must move quickly “Ifweattack,itwill be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians!”hewrote.

Abujahadnoimmediate reactiontoTrump’sthreatof

military action. The White House also had no immediate comment on the potential timing of any U.S. militaryaction.

His social media post came a day after his administration added Nigeria back to a “Countries of Particular Concern” list of nationsthattheUS sayshave violated religious freedom Other nations on the list include China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia and Pakistan.

Before Trump posted his attack threat, Nigerian PresidentBolaAhmedTinubu earlier Saturday pushed back againsttheclaimsofreligious intolerance and defended his country’s efforts to protect religiousfreedom

“The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerantdoesnotreflectour nationalreality,nordoesittake into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguardfreedomofreligion andbeliefsforallNigerians,” Tinubu said in a statement, citing “constitutional guarantees to protect citizens

of all faiths ” Nigeria’s ForeignMinistry,inaseparate statement, vowed to keep fighting violent extremism andsaidithopedWashington would remain a close ally, saying it “will continue to defend all citizens, irrespective of race, creed, or religion Like America, Nigeria has no option but to celebrate the diversity that is ourgreateststrength”

TheUS militaryfootprint in West Africa was significantlydiminishedwhen about 1,000 troops withdrew fromNigerlastyear Whilethe US sometimes has small groupsoftroopsintheregion totakepartindrills,thelargest US military base on the continent is in East Africa in Djibouti, which hosts over 5,000 troops and is used for operationsintheregion

TRUMPPUTNIGERIA ON‘CONCERNLIST’ DURINGFIRSTTERM

Trump had designated Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and top oil producer, a country of concernduringhisfirstterm in the White House. His Democratic successor Joe

Biden removed it from the U.S.StateDepartmentlistin 2021.OnFriday,Trumpsaid “thousands of Christians” were being killed in Nigeria by radical Islamists, but offerednodetails.

Nigeria, which has 200 ethnic groups practicing Christianity, Islam and traditional religions, has a long history of peaceful coexistence, but it has also seen flare-ups of violence among groups, often exacerbated by ethnic divisions or conflict over scarceresources.

The extremist Islamist armed group Boko Haram has also terrorized northeast Nigeria, an insurgency that has killed tens of thousands of people over the past 15 years,althoughhumanrights experts have said most victimshavebeenMuslims.

U.S. lawmakers such as Representative Tom Cole, a Republican who chairs the U S H o u s e o f R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s Appropriations Committee, hailed Trump’s move on Friday, citing what they called “the alarming and

ongoing persecution of Christians across the country.”

The committee’s fiscal 2026 national security appropriations bill included increased funding for international religious freedom programs and support for programs supporting communities in Nigeria targeted by extremist violence Trump’s redesignation of Nigeria as a countryofconcernopensthe door to a range of policy responses such as sanctions or waivers, but they are not

automatic Some religious groups pressed Trump for the re-designation in a letter last month, according to a copyontheHudsonInstitute thinktank’swebsite.

“Christianityisfacingan existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote without offering any specifics. He also called on the U S House of R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s Appropriations Committee toinvestigate.

‘Mohameds’ arrest another...

Frompage41 wanted for something else other than what is already public, what barred the police from requesting that he submit himself into custody as he has done before?Thisissuchavulgar abuse of state power,” he stressed.

Daniels made it clear thatonedoesnothavetobe on the same team with someone to condemn wrongdoings He said

persons must be bold enough to condemn the abuseofpowerregardlessof who the victim may be or regardless of who constitutesthegovernment.

“ lest we become the victims and there is no one tostandforus

Note this position is mine as an ordinary Guyanesecitizenandnotas a representative of any professionororganisation,” theattorneymadeclear

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCIES!

In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Dr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecencies in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

TUESDAY–

OCTOBER 28, 2025

Justice must be swift and certain

The horrific explosion at the Mobil Gas Station on

Sunday night, which claimedthelifeofsix-yearold Soraya Bourne and left others injured, has shaken theconscienceofournation. This brutal act, apparently carried out with deliberate intent, represents not only an attack on innocent lives

but also a vile assault on publicsafetyandpeace. We strongly condemn thisactofterrorintheheart of our capital The authorities must pursue every lead and use every lawful means to bring the perpetratorandanywhomay have aided or directed him swiftly to justice Nothing lesswillsuffice

Tothegrievingrelatives ofyoungSoraya,weextend our deepest sympathies To thoseinjured,wewishafull

and speedy recovery At a time when tensions ripple across our region, with the USmilitarybuildup,weurge all Guyanese to remain calm yet vigilant Evil thrives in complacency; unity and alertness are our greatest safeguards. Let us stand together for justice, peace and the protection of everyinnocentlife.

THURSDAY–

OCTOBER 30, 2025

Adistracted Gov't

Kudos to the Guyana Police Force and the other law enforcement agencies for the swift capture of the gas station bomber, Daniel

Alexander Ramirez Peodomo. Notwithstanding, the events over the last two dayshaveexposed how this country's national security is slipping through the cracks not because of ignorance, but because of distraction

While the government

busies itself monitoring journalists, critics, and social media commentators who dare to speak out, real threats are emerging unchecked across the coun

migrants and other foreign groups are increasingly at the centre of violent incidents that have shaken public confidence Yet, instead of confronting these realities with decisive action, senior men and womenintheadministration

appear fixated on silencing dissent and controlling the nationalnarrative. Itisadangerouskindof blindness, one that endangers every citizen When the State turns its gaze inward to suppress criticism, those who wish harm on our peace and security move freely The questionnowisnotwhether violence will spread, but how long before the government finally wakes uptoit

Mohameds' arrest a public spectacle,

exhibition of power –WIN

Acopy of the letter from the Mohameds' lawyer which was written to the Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond.

The We Invest in

Nationhood (WIN) party on Saturday strongly condemned the manner in which its leader prominent businessman Azruddin Mohamed and his 72-yearold father Nazar 'Shell' Mohamed were arrested on Friday

The party, in a statement published on its Team Mohamed's Facebook page, said that the arrests were “nothing but a public spectacle and an exhibition of power and authoritative attitudeunderthePPP/C.”

Videosofthearreststhat surfaced on social media, showed the younger Mohamed being accosted in frontoftheGuyanaRevenue Authority's (GRA) office on Smyth Street, Georgetown. He was surrounded by a party of masked policemen with firearms who showed upinseveralpolicevehicles. The businessman was handcuffedthenplacedatthe backofapolicepickup.

Following their arrest, the father-and-son duo were placed before the Georgetown Magistrates' Court before Acting Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman following an extradition requestfromthegovernment of the United States of America Subsequent to hearingargumentsfromboth sides the men were granted bail in the sum of $150,000 each. They were required to lodge their passports and report to the Officer- inCharge of the Ruimveldt Police Station every Friday between 13:00hrs and 15:00

BusinessmanAzruddin Mohamed being arrested in front of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) office on Smyth Street, Georgetown on Friday morning.

hrs. AzruddinMohamedsaid hethoughthewasacriminal given the manner of his arrest.

“Oh my, the manner that I was arrested, I thought I was a criminal… They had Narine and Sarabo pull up withsix,sevenvehicleswith more than 20 gunmen (police officers) in mask. I thought they wanted to kill me there. I thought they wanted to execute me right there,” he told reporters shortly after being granted bail. He continued, “So I asked, what is the problem? Because they are the same guys that follow my moves every day, these Special Branchguys,everydaythey followmymoves.”

The woman reminded that, “Nearly 110,000 of Guyanese citizens voiced their choice on September 1 for their representative, and ifthisisadeliberatetacticto preventhimfromtakingthat role,thenallIcansayisthat we'reataverysadstate.”

In the statement headlined “Let's compare President Irfaan's arrest in 2018andAzruddin'sarrestin 2025!!!”thepartysaidthatto initiate a sneaky arrest of a leader who is also a wellknown humanitarian along one of Georgetown's busiest streetswasnotjustaboutthe arrestofitself.

Itwasa“calculatedactof intimidation, designed to send a political message to anyone who opposes the PPP/C regime,” the party said noting that “The use of over 20 masked gunmen whopointedtheirfirearmsin the face of Mr Mohamed andcamerasto

Azruddin's sister Hana Mohamed told reporters outside of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)atEveLearyonFriday that“(they)confiscatedtheir phones and as well as the phones of their employees. And I heard that they threw Azruddin Mohamed in the back of a pickup truck on directorders,andourelderly fatherinacar.”

(Continuedonpage41)

Soesdyke beat Wakenaam by 48 runs in Factory-Price Under-15 T20 Windball

Soesdyke defeated Wakenaam by 48 runs in a one-off Under-15 T20 Windball match recently at Maria’s Pleasure,Wakenaam.

Soesdyke batted first after winning the toss and tallied up a competitive 202 alloutoff17-overswhilethe hosts replied with 154-9 at the expiration of the 20overs.

Skipper Adrian Peters led the charge with a stroked-filled63(7x6,3x4).

He was well supporter by Jaden Narine, Aman Mohamed, Anthony Indar and Christian Medina all contributing16each.

Nikail Retimyer was the pickofthebowlerswith3for 42offhis4overs.

OpenerKevonLewisled the way with a rapid 51

which including three sixes and a similar number of fours Fiyad Baksh supportedhimwith21.

Once these two were dismissed Wakenaam struggled to find their way back in the game. Christian Medina bowled excellently picking up 3 wickets for 15 runs from his 4 overs which earned him the best-bowler award.

The players strike a pose after the

Adrian Peters was awarded separate prizes for Man of the match and best batsman.Therewasatrophy each for the winners and

Sunday November 02, 2025

ARIES(Mar 21–Apr 19)

Matters involving work and home should be going very well Physically, you're feeling well and strong in spite of your recent overindulgence News of success in things you've been workingon.

TAURUS(Apr 20–May20)

A passionate letter or call fromaromanticpartnercould have you longing for an encounter You're likely to makeanightofitthisevening. You're both feeling happy, glowing in each other's company

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Unexpected financial benefit could leave you speechless today It could be an unanticipated bonus, gift, or evenasmalllotterywin.

CANCER(June21–July22)

You're probably getting a lot ofgreatnewstoday Business and personal success are coming your way A project that you've hoped would turn aprofitmayfinallybemoving thatway

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Special information that comes to you either from within-yourintuitiveinsights - or without - information received from books, TV, or the Internet - could pave the way for career advancement andfinancialgain.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

You should feel happy and enthusiastic today Whatever you strive for should be successful, whether it's job relatedorcreativeinspiration.

Your dedication and organizingtalent

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Yourpersonalandprofessional relationships should benefit fromtoday'senergies.Thisisa day to strengthen all your relationships, especially friendships. You may want to gather your closest pals and planaparty

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

A long journey to a distant place could be uppermost in your mind today You may be gettingreadytotakeoff,orthe trip might still be in the planning stages. Either way, this could be a very exciting day

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Alotofyourtimetodaycould be spent working on financial matters on the computer, phone, or other form of technology

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Abusinessorromanticpartner could either contact you or return from a long trip with great news Perhaps your friendhashadaluckybreakof some kind that betters life in generalforbothofyou.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)Workthatneedstobedone could center on money, investments, and other financialmatters.Yourmindis especially quick, and you're likely to get everything done well.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Love and romance are very muchonyourmindtoday This is a perfect day to concentrate onthispartofyourlife,forall signs indicate that relations with romantic partners are goingtobehappy,

Over 80 Golfers Brava commence...

Frompage45 even greaterdrama. TheresultsforDay1 wereasfollows: Mens9&Under

1.MarlonAbena-HC0, Gross76,Net76

2.RidelDoeko-HC-1, Gross76,Net77

3.KirsJaddenauth-HC 2,Gross77,Net75 Men10-18

1.RakeshHarry-HC 11,Gross78,Net67

2.RichardHaniff-HC 13,Gross82,Net69

3.SpencerHutchinsHC18,Gross84,Net66 Mens19-28

1.RohanAlbert-HC19, Gross84,Net65

2.RajMisir-HC22, Gross91,Net69

3.SheldonDavis-HC 21,Gross93,Net72 Ladies0-36

1.ChristineSukhramHC9,Gross90,Net81 (betterback9)

2.JoaanDeo-HC14, Gross90,Net76

3.ShanellaLondon-HC 9,Gross91,Net82 Seniors0-28

1.BholaramDeo-HC 21,Gross95,Net74

2.SetoPersaud-HC23, Gross99,Net76

3.CarlosAdams-HC 23,Gross102,Net79

2025Inter-GuianaGames… Delegations from Suriname,French Guiana to arrive for final prep

High-level delegations from French Guiana and Suriname is expected to arrive in Guyana this week to meet with Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle, and officials from the National Sports Commission (NSC) tofinaliseplansforthe2025 Inter-Guiana Games (IGG), scheduledforDecember5–7 inGeorgetown.

Wednesday’s visit marksthefinalpreparatory meeting ahead of this year’s highly anticipated Games, which will see the three neighboring territories (Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana) reignite a longstanding sporting rivalry built on friendship andculturalexchange.

During their stay, the visiting delegations will

sign the Protocol Agreement that will confirm the disciplines to be contested at this year’s I G G , w h i l e a l s o conducting venue inspectionsofthefacilities expectedtohostthevarious events.

The IGG, which first began in 1967, stands as oneoftheregion’slongestrunning youth sports exchanges, designed to foster unity, cooperation, and mutual understanding among the young athletes oftheGuianas

Over the decades, the

Games have produced severalathleteswhowenton to represent their countries attheinternationallevel.

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle,saidthatGuyanais well-positioned to host all proposed disciplines and assuredthatpreparationsare progressingsteadily

“We are ready to welcome our counterparts from French Guiana and Suriname,” Ninvalle stated, while adding, “Guyana is prepared to host the InterGuianaGamesatthehighest standard, and we look forward to an exciting and productiveengagementwith ourvisitingcolleagues.”

Ninvalle further emphasized the importance of dialogue, not only in finalizingthisyear’shosting arrangements but also in enhancing the overall structure and impact of the

IGG According to Ninvalle, “this event continues to be a vital platform for youth development in sports. Our discussions will also focus on how we can improve the Games to better serve our student-athletes.”

WithGuyanasettohost, the 2025 Inter-Guiana Gamespromisestocelebrate not only competition but also camaraderie, regional cooperation, and the enduring spirit of youth sports.

Leonora Primary clinches 2025 Courts...

Frompage47 presentation, the Petra Organisation and sponsors hosted a brief but heartwarmingceremony

Iwantedtowinthistitle for my school, so I gave it everything, and it paid off! Leonora’s triumph not only earned them the coveted trophyandmedalsbutalsoa $300,000 cash prize toward a school project of their choice.

The 2025 Courts Pee Wee U11 Tournament was made possible through the generous support of Courts Optical, alongside partners including the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, SkyTecEnterprise,Sterling ProductsLimited,Demerara Mutual,andMVPSports.

A few lucky fans received special awards, followed by the tournament prizes Aaron Christian walked away with the Golden Boot for Most Goals, Akeem George was named Best Goalkeeper, and the sensational ten-year-old Jhonathan “Messi” Melvin earned the Most Valuable Player(MVP) awardforhis all-roundbrilliance. Speakingafterthegame, a beaming Melvin said, “Godcamethroughforus.I knew we had to finish strong.

Epic Clash 2025 Showcases Guyana’s Martial Arts Excellence

There was an encouraging turnout of participants in the recently hosted MartialArts Championships

TheGuyanaMixed

Martial Arts

K a r a t e Association (GMMAKA) successfully hosted the Epic

Clash Martial Arts Championship 2025 on Sunday, October 26, at the

G u y a n a N a t i o n a l Gymnasium The event brought together some of Guyana’s most talented martial artists, displaying exceptional skill, discipline andsportsmanship.

Participating academies includedtheUnitedWarriors Martial Arts Academy, Red

Dragon Martial Arts Academy, Vreed-En-Hoop Martial Arts Academy, La Parfaite Harmony Martial Arts Academy, Iron Fist

Martial Arts Academy, Black Dragon Martial Arts Academy and Eternal Dragon Martial Arts Academy

The championship concluded with outstanding performances from the top competitors Mr Naryan Sawh secured the title of JuniorGrandChampionship Winner in Kata, while Mr Chaitram Ramotar was named Senio

nd Championship Winner in Kata both demonstrating precision,focusandmastery oftechnique.

M a s t e r L l o y d

Ramnarine, President and Founder of the GMMAKA, extended heartfelt congratulations to all

participantsandwinners.He c o m m e n d e d t h e i r commitment,discipline,and perseverance, noting that their performances embody the true spirit of martial

Over 80 Golfers Brava commence at Brava Guyana

Open 2025

Beneath golden sunshine and a soft coastal breeze, the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) transformed into a scene of precision, passion, and prestige as the Brava Guyana Open 2025 officially teed off on Saturday, November 1, 2025.

The emerald fairways shimmered under the morning light, the greens rolled to perfection, and excitement rippled through the crowd as more than 80 golfers from the United States, Canada, Barbados,

Trinidad, Suriname, Mexico, and other nations took to the course in pursuit ofthecovetedtitle.

According to LGC Public Relations Officer Dr Joaan Deo, the course conditions have been exceptional, providing the perfect environment for competitiveplay

“The course is in excellent condition, the fairway cut and the greens rolledbeautifully We’veput inalotofworkandhavethe mindset that champions are built,notborn. As we head into Day 2, I’m looking forward to an evenbetterdayof golf,”Dr Deonoted.

T h e w e e k e n d ’s festivities began with a Cocktail Reception on Friday, October 31, 2025, hosted at the LGC Clubhouse, a night of elegance and anticipation that set the tone for the tournamentahead.

Delivering remarks at the reception, Hon. Charles Ramson Jr, Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport, commended the Lusignan GolfClubforitsgrowthand partnership w

Ministry

He noted, “This tournament has grown

significantly since I first startedattending.

The facility has developed tremendously, and it shows what can be achieved when we work together.”

TheMinisteraddedthat “golf has a bright future in Guyana,”emphasizingthat the sport teaches “patience, discipline, and self-mastery”

He reaffirmed his and P r e s i d e n t A l i ’ s commitment to supporting thecontinueddevelopment and expansion of golf acrossthecountry.

As Day One came to a close, the Lusignan course glowed under the late afternoon sun, a fitting reflection of the energy and optimism defining this year’scompetition

With fierce rivalries forming and new talents emerging,Day2issetfor (Continuedonpage47)

arts respect, honor and c o n t i n u o u s s e l fimprovement.

Master Ramnarine also expressed sincere appreciation to Guyana Breweries Inc for their unwaveringsupportoverthe years. He highlighted that their partnership has significantly elevated the Epic Clash Championships, providing invaluable opportunities for young

martialartistsandpositively shaping lives through disciplineandsport.

Looking ahead, the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Karate Association proudly announced its upcoming I n t e r n a t i o n a l Championship, scheduled for March 26, 2026, right hereinGuyana.

Individuals interested in joining any of the association’s dojos across

Regions 3 and 4 are encouraged to contact the GMMAKAviaWhatsAppat 698-6727, 689-9288, 6987456, 681-1701, or 6020591.

The Epic Clash Martial Arts Championship 2025 stoodasatruecelebrationof strength, unity and excellence, reaffirming Guyana’s growing presence in the regional martial arts arena.

2nd One Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup starts today

Action in the country’s biggestopensoftballcricket tournament is set to get underwaytodayinregions3, 4 and 10 in the RS Sports, Ministry of Culture, Youth andSports2ndeditionofthe “One Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cricket

Cup”. According to the coordinators, both male and femaleteamsaregoingtobe in action at the Zeeburg Sports Ground in region 3, StrathavonSportsGroundin Cane Grove, Mahaica Region 4, and at Speigland Groundinregion10,andthe

actiongetsunderwayfrom9 am,asteamswillbedrawing at8:30am.

The coor

explainedthatthereasonfor thedrawingtobeheldonthe morningbeforethegamesis that many teams tend to show up late on the day of

their games, and therefore cause confusion and time delays.

he coordinators said in the local village, game time isalwaysanissuewithmany teams, and therefore, doing the drawing on the morning means all teams registered

Akaze Thompson of RS Sports displaying some of the trophies that will be up for grabs at today’s “One Guyana Inter Region Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup” regional games

have to be there for the drawing,ortheirteamwon’t beabletoplay

In the regional zone, the winning male teams will receive $100,000 and a trophy, while trophies will be awarded to the runnersup, MVP, Man of the Match inthefinal,bestbowler,and bestbatsmaninaninnings.

While in the female category, the winning teams will receive $50,000 and a trophy, while trophies will be awarded to the runnersup, MVP, Player of the Match in the final, best bowler, and batter in an innings.Thetournamentwill continue to use supreme balls, and it’s a one-game knockout competition that will use round-arm bowling withextrasinplace.

Accordingtotherelease, overthirty(30)teamswillbe in action and vying for the regional top spots to enter into the national playoffs, which will be played on the 29th and 30th of November atavenuetobenamed.

The organisers said that spectators should be prepared for an actionpacked day and lots of excitement in the games as players take to the fields to show their skills, exposing their talents as they put all theirenergiesintothegame.

It’s the true belief of the organizers that the tournament once again will bring our people together a c r o s s v a r i o u s villages/communities/regio ns in unity through sports and strengthen the game of softballcricketlocally

The organisers said that softball cricket is the grassroots of all forms of cricket, and it nurtures our youthstomoveoninplaying all forms of the game at the

veryhighestlevel,anditalso brings families, friends, and communitiestogether In the national playoff of thetournament,thewinnerin the male category will walk away with $1 million and a trophy, the runner-up $250,000 and a trophy Prizeswillbeawardedtothe MVP, best bowler, best batsman,andmanofthefinal And in the female category, thewinningteamwillpocket $300,000 and a trophy, the runner-up $150,000 and a trophy, while prizes will be awarded to the MVP, best bowler, best batsman, and player of the final In both categories, prizes will be awarded to the player of the matchinthesemi-finals Supporting this second edition of the One Guyana Inter-RegionTournament so far are Khan’s Construction andTransportationServices, Mike’s Pharmacy, N Balgobin and Sons Contracting Service and Electrical Supplies, MohamedExcavating,Young Brothers Construction, Modern Optical Service, Basheir and Sons’, GMIN Ventures Guyana Inc , PoonamEngineeringServices Guyana Inc., C. Ramoutar Mechanics and Construction, Regal Stationary, Caribbean ConstructionConsultancyand International Supplies Inc., and the Ministry of Culture, YouthandSports. The coordinators said that next Sunday, 9th November, teams in regions 2, 5, and 6 will get into action. Interested teams can contact Brian (Region 2) 651-0358, Mahesh (Region 5) 668-9993, RS Sports (Region 6) 726-1386, and Apache (Region 9) 6712001.

It was pure football drama on Saturday evening at the Ministry of Education Ground as Leonora Primary hadthelastlaugh,liftingthe 2025CourtsPeeWeeUnder11 Football Championship after a nerve-shredding 6–5 penalty shootout victory over St. John the Baptist Primary (SJTB). The pulsating finale brought the curtains down on the 12th

edition of the Petra Organisation’s flagship U11 tournament in spectacular fashion.

Coming out of Region Three,Leonorafacedawelldrilled and determined St. John the Baptist outfit that had shown class all tournament long. Both sides had dazzled over the past five weeks, but it was Leonora who rose to the occasion and etched their name into the history books as2025champions.

The clash kicked off at a blistering tempo, and the

crowd didn’t have to wait long for fireworks. In the 17th minute, young star

Jhonathan “Messi” Melvin lived up to his nickname, curling home a beauty straightfromacornerkickto put Leonora 1–0 up. The strike sent the fans into a frenzyasLeonoraseizedthe earlymomentum.

However, football is never short on twists. In the 35th minute, controversy struck when the referee pointed to the spot for a handballinfringementinside theLeonorabox.Upstepped

Aaron Christian, the tournament’s most lethal finisher, who coolly slotted thepenaltylowandhardpast thekeepertolevelthings1–1 and set up a grandstand finish.

With both teams giving everything in regulation time,thematchendedlocked at one-all. Extra time saw end-to-end action, with Leonora pressing forward

Republic Bank Under-18 School Football League continues today

The sixth Annual Republic Bank Under-18 School Football League continues today at the Ministry of Education Ground,withfourexciting clashes set to wrap up the roundthreephase.

After two rounds of competition, Chase’s Academic Foundation, ThreeMileSecondary,and Charlestown Secondary remain unbeaten and will look to extend their impressiveruns.

Defending champions Chase’s Academic have already stamped their a u t h o r i t y o n t h e tournament with two dominant victories, while Three Mile Secondary has also impressed with backto-backwins.Themarquee matchup kicks off at 12:00 noon, when these two

unbeaten sides face off in what promises to be a thrilling contest that could d e t e r m i n e e a r l y championshipmomentum. In the other fixtures, AbramZuilSecondarywill meet West Ruimveldt Secondary, followed by President’s College going head-to-headwithDolphin Secondary in match #11.

The day concludes with SouthRuimveldttakingon the in-form Charlestown Secondary in what should beafiercefinale.

The2025editionofthe tournament continues to enjoy strong support from Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, alongside partners MVP Sports, Demerara Mutual, Ronoca Concrete Inc., and Guyana Beverage Inc. through its Bustabrand.

Leonora Primary clinches 2025 Courts Pee Wee U11 title after penalty thriller

and Melvin dazzling the crowdwithhisdribblingand awareness, but neither side couldfindthebreakthrough. Thatmeantonlyonething— penaltyshootout!

The little master Jhonathan Melvin in full flow against St John the Baptist Primary

The shootout started nervously for Leonora as Melvin’s first attempt was denied, allowing SJTB to edge ahead. But Leonora’s goalkeeper Akeem George

quickly turned hero, pulling offaspectacularsavetokeep his team alive.The shootout wentintosuddendeath,with both sides converting under immense pressure Then came the decisive moment, another clutch save from George!The Leonora bench erupted as their young custodiansealedthe6–5win andthechampionshiptitle.

Scenes of jubilation followed as Leonora’s players, coaches, and supporters flooded the pitch in celebration. The Ministry ofEducationGroundechoed withchantsofvictoryasthe champions lifted the 2025 trophy high under the eveningsky

Atthepost-match

(Continuedonpage48)

Leonora Primary clinches 2025 Courts Pee Wee U11 title after

Defending champs Chase’sAcademic Foundation face off with Bartica powerhouse Three Mile Secondary today