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McDonald fractures ankle in Parliament fall
Member of Parliament, Coretta McDonald has suffered a fractured ankle after slipping and falling in the National Assembly on Thursday She is currently receiving medical care at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. In a statement the APNU said McDonald, A.A., had an unfortunate fall while proceeding to her seat.
“We extend our best wishes to MP McDonald for a full and speedy recovery.”
Dead, Waletta Rigby
(11th left sitting) President Irfaan Ali, Minister of Home Affairs
Oneidge Walrond (third left to president), Prime Minister Retired Brigadier Mark Phillips (immediately left to president), Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan (first right to president), and other heads of security agencies pose for a photo with the officers’post conference opening. (President Ali Facebook Page)
Chief of Defence Staff
BrigadierOmarKhanonThursday delivered a firm message to senior officers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), declaring that the defence of Guyana’s territorial integrity remains “nonnegotiable,” even as regional and globalsecuritypressuresintensify.
Speaking at the opening of the Annual Officers’ Conference, BrigadierKhansaidtheconference theme, Transforming the Force to Better Confront the Nation’s
Present and Future Challenges by
Adaptabil
y
nd Agility capabilities”—accurately reflects the demanding environment in which small states like Guyana mustnowoperate.
OverthenexttwodaysOfficers will reflect and assess their performance over the last year, subsequently deliberating on how they will operate for the rest of 2026. The Commander in Chief President IrfaanAli will also issue
his directives, as Officers having a clear understanding of the environment is key for awareness and how effective the days ahead willbe.
“I say this knowing the year 2025, as being a busy one, a demanding one, we were tested on manyfronts,butyetIfeelhonoured to report, we have made considerable strides in enhancing theforcescapabilitiestoserviceits legacy rule of protecting our borders and defending control. At
- GDF chief tells officers
this particular juncture of our history, an appropriate gesture of service,astheforcejustcelebrated 60 years of existence,” Brigadier Khanreported.
Heproudlytoldtheofficersthat last year the Force remained resolute in maintaining Guyana’s territorial integrity, and sustained operational readiness, while continuously conducting activities to deter threats and protect Guyana’sfaction.
“Punctuatedwithinthisdefense
posture, I need to say, was the critical role you played in supporting the Guyana Police Force, in creating the safest and mostsecureinParliamentsinceour independence and the conduct of Guyana’s national and regional elections held in September 2025, thus reinforcing public confidence in democratic institutions. Also, it was a clear demonstration of professionalism and discipline of ourofficersandranksacrossthe
Continued on page 8
Govt. boasts of US$32 million signing bonus from small oil blocks
Guyana has secured nearly twice the signing bonus from two relatively small offshore oil blocks than it received for the massive Stabroek Block, a point forcefully highlighted by Minister of Natural Resources,VickramBharrat, during Day Two of the Budget 2026 debates on Tuesday
Addressing the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Bharratsaid the government earned US$32 million in signing bonuses from two shallow-water blocks: S4 and S7, each about 2,000 squarekilometresinsize. Bycontrast,henoted,the former APNU/AFC administration accepted a US$18 million signing bonus for the Stabroek Block, which spans more than 26,000 square kilometres and remains Guyana’s most productive oil asset. “Only recently, we signed two new agreements with oil companies around the world and Mr Speaker these two new agreements have earned our country US$32M in signing bonus
only.” “Just to draw comparison,theAPNU/AFC government at that time accepted a US$18M signing bonusforablockthatisover 26,000 square kilometers whenwewouldhaveearned US$32M in signing bonus for two blocks, less than 4,000 square kilometers,” theministerboasted.
Government inked new Production Sharing AgreementsandExploration Licenseswiththecompanies in the latter half of 2025 which feature improved fiscal and regulatory terms, compared with the Stabroek Block deal. The Natural Resources Minister thereforenotedoutthatsuch actionsaregearedat“putting peoplefirst”inkeepingwith thisyear’sBudgettheme. In addition to the negotiation of an enhanced signing bonus, Bharrat highlighted a number of other measures that have beenputinplacetoimprove oversight and management of the sector, including the importation of a capping stack in the country to respondtoanoilspillandthe presenceofGuyaneseonthe
Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs)24/7.
“On every FPSO offshore Guyana we have a representative from the Ministry of N
Resources on a full time
b a s i s . We h a v e a representative from the Environmental Protection
Agency, we have a representative from the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, we have a representative from the Guyana Revenue Authority overlooking our interest,” theBharratsaid.
He noted that the only timeoilisoffloadedfromthe FPSO into a tanker is when theseindividualsarepresent.
When it comes to transparency, Bharrat pointed out that all revenue deposited into the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) is reported, while withdrawals can be easily calculated by anyone using the formula in the Act Moreover, he reminded that all withdrawals are first approved in the National Assembly through the budgetaryprocess.
More charges for truck driver in Demerara River bridge tragedy
Jomel Kenny, 23, of Anna Catherina,
W e s t C o a s t Demerara, the driver of motor lorry GAC 296 involvedinthefatalaccident which occurred last Thursday on the Demerara River Bridge has been charged with multiple traffic-relatedoffences.
Twenty-five-year-old taxi driver Scott Dorwart of Grove, East Bank Demerara died as a result of the accident. OnFridayJanuary 30, 2026, Kenny was charged with Unlicensed Driver, Breach of Insurance andFaultyPackingofLoad. He appeared before the court, pleaded not guilty to the said charges, and was remanded to prison until February4,2026. OnWednesdayFebruary 4, 2026, he was additionally chargedwithCausingDeath by Dangerous Driving, Failing to Have Proper Control of a Motor Vehicle andMaintenanceofaMotor Vehicle.Hereappearedatthe Diamond/Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court before His Worship Dylon Bess, wherethechargeswereread to him. He was not required
to plead to the indictable charge of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving; however, he pleaded not guilty to the remaining offences. He was granted bail in the sum of two million, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($2,150,000 GYD) The matter was adjourned to Thursday April 2, 2026 for trial.
Last week the owner of the truck,55-year-old Antonio Johnson of Lot 6C Anna Catherina was also charged He pleaded not guiltytobreachinginsurance andpermittinganunlicensed drivertooperatethevehicle.
Bharratthrewapunchatthe Opposition side, for failing toofferanycommentsonthe oil and gas sector He
— slams lopsided Stabroek block deal
OppositionParliamentarians
t
Resources presented before him in the National Assembly, however, neither thought it appropriate to
address issues in the burgeoningindustrywhichis thecountry’smaineconomic driver Bharrat mocked the Opposition’s silence, arguing,“bothofthem(WIN and APNU) spoke and they darenotspokeoftheoiland gassector,suchanimportant sector in our country and oil and gas has propelled development in our country Oil and gas has acted as a catalystfor the development inourcountry Oilandgasis actuallyhelpedtoexpandthe other productive sectors in our country, like tourism, like manufacturing, like construction.Oilandgashas beenthecatalystforthat.”
Man shot dead during shootout with police
Police in Regional Division #7 are probing a fatal shooting that unfolded during a high-risk joint service operation at Quartzstone Backdam, RegionSeven,onThursday, leaving one suspected accomplicedead.
He was placed on $50,000 bail.
Accordingtoreports,the accident occurred around 9:30hrs last Thursday along thebridge.
Motor lorry GAC 296, wastravellingonthewestern sideofthebridgeenrouteto RegionThree.
The truck, which was transporting a load of cement, reportedly experienced a mechanical failure while ascending the bridge and began rolling backwards at high speed. The out-of-control vehicle slammed into five other vehicles before eventually comingtoahalt.
The dead man has been identified as Shemar Latif, of Onderneeming Sandpit, Essequibo Coast His age was not immediately available.
According to police, the
operation was launched to capture a wanted fugitive and his alleged accomplices linked to serious crimes withinthedivision.
During the exercise, ranks came upon Latif, who was suspected to be among thoseaidingthefugitive.
Police said attempts were made to engage him, but the situation quickly escalated when Latif, reportedly armed with a handgun, opened fire on the rankswhiletryingtoescape.
Officerstookevasiveaction
and returned fire, during which Latif was shot A 9mm pistol, six live rounds of ammunition and several spent shells were recovered atthescene.
Latif was rushed to the Bartica Regional Hospital butwaspronounceddeadon arrival.
His body is currently at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem e x a m i n a t i o n a s investigations continue into the incident and the wider operation.
Iran has made its position known to the world with a warningthatisclearasabell. Attackandbepreparedfor whatever follows, and it is not going to be nice. It is not going to be like before, whenTeheran and its mullahs and major-generalswerecaughtsleepingandunprepared. This timethingswillbedifferent,andintheworstwaythatcan be expected. Is that a hollow bluff from the besieged and humiliated oil power in the always one step away from a conflagration Middle East? Or, is it that Iranian political and military leaders have had enough of Tel Aviv and Washington, enough of Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump,andisitselfcommittedtoafighttothedeath?
President Trump is almost as determined to teach the Iraniansalesson,bybringingdowntheirleaders,whohave causedtheUSanditsalliessomuchtrouble. Hehasbeena radicallydifferenttypeofUSpresident,onethatgivesshort thrifttotheconventionsofinternationallaw,andnation-tonation relations. This is expressed in the way that he manageshostileadversaries,howheproceedstobringthem to heel, while violating all standing norms that have long existed among sovereign nations. He has done it to Venezuela'sNicolasMaduro,withoutamomentofremorse, andlookslikeheisnotpullingback,butbentonextending that reckless and dangerous approach to settling differences,orfulfillinghisowntwistedambitions.
MexicoandCanada,USneighbours,havefelttheedge ofhiswrath,hisimpatiencewithhowtheygovern,howthe USpaysaprice,andwiththathehasmadehispositionclear Fromillegaldrugstoillegalmigrationtotariffsandrefusing toyield,allhavebeenrepresentationsofTrump'sfuriesand his readiness to level the scales to the favor of the US. Greenland is another apple that has caught his eye, and movesareafootbyhispeopletointroducesomedegreeof changetherewiththeUSinthedriver'sseat. Thisiscausing serious fallout in Europe and even threatening to fracture the 80-year-old NATO defense bloc. Still, Trump is barrelingforward,withverbalgunsblazingandmakinghis intentions obvious. The US must be dominant, dictate to other countries how the program will be, and what is his expectationsonthelimitedorcircumscribedrolesthatthey wouldhave.
Itisthissameveinofthinking,andthisapproach,thatis directedatIran,andwhichhaspusheditsleaderstostandin defiantresistance. TheIraniansarealsoshakingtheirfists in the face of Trump, and rattling their own sabers. If a conflictiswhatisinmind,isbehindallthehostilerhetoric, thenbereadyfortheworstthatcanbeimagined,thelawof unintended consequences. Aregional conflict said one of theleadingayatollahs,whichcouldhaveseveralmeanings, but one that is not so veiled. Since the US may be out of direct Iranian retaliation, then the remainder of the incendiary Middle East is open to the spread of war, by whatevermeansitcomes.
Without a doubt, a prime first target of any Iranian responsetoanattackonitwouldbeonIsrael,itsarchenemy and archnemesis. What happens then, which other countriesgetsuckedinatthatpoint? WhatdotheIranians do to the strategic Straits of Hormuz, through which so much vital oil flows? Who will ally with the US, who wouldbesoboldastostandwithIran,andriskincurringthe unpredictablemaliceandviciousnessoftheUSpresident? Trump is a president who believes he has all the answers, cansolveanyproblem.
We think that he is wrong, goes about contentious mattersinwaysthatleaveirreparabledamage. Theworldis notsubservienttohiswhims,athisbeckandcall,whenhe breaks the rules of engagement in what is clearly a haphazardfashion. Conflictisnotdeal-making,butabout devastation and death. Stirring up hornet's nests is taking riskygamblesthatcouldbackfireinunexpectedways. Iran has taken its stand: attack and be prepared for untold consequences.
Dangers Facing Humanity
DearEditor, On Thursday February 5th,2026,theverylasttreaty, the new Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) that sought to limit the development and number of nuclear weapons, will expire. This is the first time since the 1960s that the worldwouldbewithoutsuch a treaty This will increase thealreadygreatdangersthat faceourworld.
The Russia President, Vladimir Putin, had proposed that this treaty be extended for another year while a new treaty is being hammered out, at least between Russia and the United States, if not with all countries in possession of those weapons of mass destruction. So far, the US hasnotresponded. This is occurring at a time when many conflicts are ongoing and causing unimaginablesufferingsand millions of deaths in the world.
The genocide and ethnic cleansing are continuing in Palestine, in the Gaza, the West Bank and in East Jerusalem.Thisisdespitethe cease fire brokered by PresidentTrumpoftheUSA. This, of course, is not surprising since Israel, with thefullbackingoftheUnited States carries out their horrendouscrimeswithtotal
impunity Many experts on genocide have concluded that more than five hundred thousand Palestinians have been killed since October 7th, 2023. This is tragic and one of the most shameful pages in human history No other people have had to endurewhatthePalestinians areforcedtobear
In a few days we will be commemorating four years since the proxy war against Russia began. Ukraine has beenusedbyNATOtotryto inflict a military and an economic defeat on Russia. Some two million persons, mainlyUkrainianshavedied in that war Yet European NATO countries continue to arm Ukraine in what is now obviously a futile attempt to defeat Russia. Since it is Ukrainians that are dying, theEuropeanstatesseemnot to give a damn. This is the extent of their concern for Ukrainians.
Tensions are high in the Middle East as the United States continue to threaten Iranwithwar Itappearsthat such an attack would not remain local but can easily develop into a regional war and even a wider conflict is possible.
In our own region tensions are growing. The January 3rd kidnapping of the Venezuelan President remindsusthatnocountryis
safe from aggression
America has shown once morethatitisnotarespecter of law, and it is ready to use its enormous power to achieve its ends. It has set itself up as the world's sole supercolonialpower
Cubaisbeingthreatened with military intervention. Atthemomenttheeconomic sanctionsimposedbytheUS is becoming much more severe. The new measure is anoilembargoontheisland.
This is caus
hardships to the people on that island, all because they d
development The Cuban example has to be destroyed due to fear that it would become attractive to other nations in the region; therefore the US is making itseconomyscream.
The United States, by those very oppressive measures is hoping to create dissatisfaction among the masses before they engage the island in a military invasion.
Even though we have seen some disagreements between the United States and the European NATO states many of those countries have adopted very aggressivepositions.TheUS is openly threatening Denmark in its bid to seize Greenland and even Canada
has been threatened and had some tariffs placed on it. There are even fears being expressed that the US is encouraging separatist forcesinCanada.
Franceisadoptingavery hostileattitudetomanyofits former colonies in Africa. BurkinaFasohasbeenoneof its main targets because it is tryingtocorrectsomeofthe historic wrongs that colonialism had imposed, particularlyitseffortstotake control of its own natural resources.
Added to this already dangerous situation is the weakening of International Institutions. The UN, the mostimportantbodyisbeing undermined and subverted. Resources are being withheldfromittoincreases itswoes.
In the midst of these burning conflicts, this treaty iscomingtoanend. It stands to reason that many middle-developed countries are feeling very vulnerable This was expressed very clearly and eloquently by the Prime Minister of Canada in his Davosspeechlastmonth.He even called for closer relations with countries at a similarlevelofdevelopment as Canada, in subsequent speeches.
In light of the ever(Continuedonpage6)
The $3 Billion Ghost Hunt: Was Guyana's Cash Grant a
DearEditor,
The mathematical anomalies of Budget 2026 are not just fiscal "fog"; theyarethesmokinggunofacalculated electoral heist. As Guyana's oil wealth swells the 2026 Budget to $1.558 trillion, the sudden contraction of the National Cash Grant the very programusedtoregisterthepopulacein 2025—exposes a terrifying logic. The 30,000-person"Evaporation"isthefirst anomaly that defies biological and statistical reality In the lead-up to the September 2025 elections, Vice PresidentJagdeoandtheadministration touted a $63 billion allocation for $100,000grants,anamountspecifically calculatedtocover630,000adults.This figurewasn'taguess;itwasbasedona massive,door-to-doorstateregistration drive.Yet,withthe2025ballotscounted andthePPP/Cbackinpower,the2026 Budget has inexplicably "corrected" itself to $60 billion—exactly 600,000 people. In a country with a rising population, how do 30,000 eligible adults—roughly 5% of the voting-age population—simply vanish from the state'sbooksthemomenttheinkonthe electionresultsisdry?
This discrepancy points toward a darker, best-case scenario for the administration: that the 2025 register
Trojan Horse for Voter Padding?
was intentionally bloated to facilitate electoral manipulation. The $3 billion "delta" likely didn't just disappear into thin air; it either funded the ruling party's campaign machinery or, more nefariously, provided the financial "skin" for 30,000 ghost voters. If these individualswere"registered"forgrants by non-GECOM government agents and subsequently fast-tracked onto the Official List of Electors (OLE), they served their purpose on September 1st. Now that the mandate is secured, the "padding" is being quietly scrubbed from the budget to save $3 billion and hide the evidence. The manufactured unreadinessofGECOMcompletesthis orchestration, as the commission's funding has been gutted by a brutal 86%—from $7.3 billion in 2025 to a skeletal$981.2millionin2026.Thisis not a budget cut; it is a tactical decommissioning of the only body capableofauditingtheselistsbeforethe 2026LocalGovernmentElections.
When you starve the umpire and shrink the register simultaneously, you aren'tgoverning;youareentrenchinga one-partystate.BycripplingGECOM's ability to conduct a claims-andobjections exercise or implement biometrics, the administration ensures that the "ghosts" of 2025 cannot be
exorcised. The $3 billion in missing grantfundsservesasagrimmonument to this lack of accountability Our national demand must be a forensic cross-check of the grant and voter databases. We must demand to know whothese30,000"missing"peopleare, wheretheir$3billionwent,andwhythe governmentissoafraidofafullyfunded GECOM. Citizens are the rightful owners of the Natural Resource Fund; we are not props in a play designed to turn oil wealth into a permanent politicaldynasty
A Payout Reconciliation: Publish the2025grantregistry(anonymisedby region) and explain the $3 billion contractionin2026.
A GECOM Funding Restoration: Re-allocate the $6.3 billion "cut" to ensureLocalGovernmentElectionsare notpostponedorcompromised.
The "Voter List" Audit: A joint forensic audit between the Ministry of Finance and GECOM to ensure no "grant recipients" were illegally added tovoterrolls.
Respectfully HemduttKumar
Mining and the Green Economy: A Synergistic Future for Guyana
DearEditor,
The conversation surrounding our extractive industries often presents a false choice: we are told we mustchooseeitherindustrial miningorthepreservationof ourpristineenvironment.
A s a G u y a n e s e professional who moves between the operational hubs of the Guiana Shield
a
boardrooms of Vancouver, I
s e e a m u c h m o r e sophisticated reality The heavy investments from Canadian firms like G Mining Ventures (GMIN), ArisMining,andOmaiGold Mines are not roadblocks to ourgreeneconomy;theyare the high-tech engines that willfundandfacilitateit. It is important to correct the record on the scale of thesepartnerships.GMining Ventures,ledbyCEOLouisPierre Gignac, recently secured its 20-year mining license for the Oko West project in Region Seven. This represents a nearly US$1billioncommitmentto oursoil.
Similarly,ArisMiningis advancing the Toroparu project with a massive resource base of 5.3 million ounces of gold, while Omai Gold Mines, under CEO
Elaine Ellingham, is targeting a transformational 2026 after increasing its Mineral Resource Estimate byover50%lastyear Thesearenotspeculative
ventures;theyarethepillars of our non-oil economy, which is projected to grow by10.8%thisyear Are these investments incompatible with our Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030? On the contrary, they are foundationaltoit.TheLCDS 2030 explicitly promotes "low-impact mining" and integrated mineral mapping toensurethatourcarbonsink remains intact even as we responsibly extract our wealth As Mr Gignac recently noted regarding GMIN's sustainability efforts, the company is "building a resilient, responsible business groundedinlong-termvalue creation," having already reforested 33 hectares and rescued thousands of native floraandfaunaspecimensat theirexistingoperations. Thismappingofmining into sustainability is further evidenced by GMIN's commitment to "100% greenhouse gas reporting" and a local labor usage rate of 67%, far exceeding industrytargets.
Elaine Ellingham of Omai Gold has echoed this sentiment, emphasising that their project benefits from "established mining expertise and a community eager to see the mine return toproduction"undermodern environmental standards This is the new standard: demandingthatinternational
partners bring their most advanced, carbon-conscious technologiestoourshores.
Furthermore,theimpact on the lives of Guyanese people is direct and measurable The mining subsector is anticipated to expand by 5.4% in 2026, with gold declarations targeted at 510,450 ounces. This production feeds into a national treasury that is currently deploying $10 billion for hinterland roads and $4 billion for regional airstrips.
This infrastructure does more than move ore; it connects remote families to healthcare, opens up agricultural corridors, and reduces the cost of living in theinterior
As we look ahead, the needforimprovementisnot anargumentagainstmining, but an argument for more of this high-caliber, regulated investment.
By partnering with Vancouver-based firms that are answerable to strict internationalESGstandards, we ensure that Guyana's development is both rapid andresponsible.
We are proving to the world that a nation can be a g l o b a l l e a d e r i n environmental services while simultaneously building a world-class extractive industry that upliftseverycitizen.
Respectfully, Dr.
WalterH.Persaud
Peaceful protest is not an act of defiance against the state; it is an appeal to it
DearEditor,
A s a p u b l i c communications analyst, I have long taken the position of stepping back and allowing citizens the space tofreelyexpressthemselves, exercisingtheirfundamental human right to speak up for their beliefs, concerns, and convictions.
A healthy democracy depends on this freedom, particularly when people feel unheard through traditionalchannels.
Freedom of protest is a fundamental human right p r o t e c t e d u n d e r international law, including Article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which affirms the right to peaceful assembly andassociation.
This right is not conditional on political alignment, popularity of opinion, or convenience to thoseinauthority;itexiststo safeguard the voice of the people. In recent times, I have observed a growing number of citizens taking to the streets to protest a wide range of issues affecting theirdailylives.
These individuals often stand together as a community peacefully, visibly, and with shared purpose—seeking attention for concerns they believe have not been adequately addressed through other means Their presence should not be automatically viewed as disorder, but rather as a clear signal of
civicengagement.
Peacefulprotestisnotan act of defiance against the state; it is an appeal to it. It
reflects a desire for accountability,dialogue,and inclusion in decisionmaking processes that directly impact livelihoods, rights, and national wellbeing When managed respectfully, protests can serve as an important pressure valve in society, helping to prevent deeper frustrationandunrest.
It is therefore essential that authorities uphold their responsibility to protect the right to peaceful protest whileensuringpublicsafety
A n y r e s p o n s e t o demonstrations must be proportionate, lawful, and rooted in respect for human dignity Suppressing or dismissing public expression only risks deepening mistrust between citizensandinstitutions.
Across Guyana, nearly all major regions have witnessed public protests in recent years, reflecting widespread frustration a
Situations tend to escalate when citizens perceive that no one is being held accountable for decisions, misconduct, or unmet promises In extreme cases, such as in 2025, the country experienced intense demonstrations led largely by frustrated youths, driven by unemployment, rising living costs, and a growing sense of exclusion from meaningful participation in national decision-making W
mechanisms fail or appear
movements risk shifting from peaceful expression to volatile confrontation an outcome that serves neither thepublicnorthestate. As a society, we must remember that the freedom to protest today safeguards the freedom to be heard tomorrow. Protecting this rightisnotafavorgrantedby those in power; it is a duty owed to every citizen in a democraticstate
Sincerely:
Mr BlaneRBunbury
Time to end the Political Charade: Guyana's 2026 Budget exposes bankruptcy of entire system
DearEditor, The beat goes on. The theatrics we are forced to witness are tragic and depressing. PPP/C Minister of Finance, Ashni Singh releases a budget that he claims is firmly anchored in President Ali's “peoplecenteredvision”forGuyana. Inreality,itwasanassaulton the most vulnerable sectors of our society Let us take justoneexample,theelderly They were promised during the PPP's election campaign that the pension would be raised to $60,000 and that theywouldreceiveanannual transportation allowance of $50,000.
E v e n t h i s w a s inadequate. Perhaps more heartbreaking than the increasing numbers of children begging on our streets is the increasing numbers of elderly While speaking of the PPP's commitment to deliver on their promises, Minister Singh'sbudgetraisedtheold agepensionfrom$41,000to $46,000, and in place of the p r o m i s e d a n n u a l transportation allowance of $50,000, pensioners were awarded $20,000. The idea that this amount could help
t h e e l d e r l y w i t h transportation costs for a year is downright dishonest andshameful.
We know that in the current context, 'peoplecentered'isjustabuzzword, like'people'sempowerment', a false promise, a broken dream, used to pacify and create false hope. You only have to walk the streets of our cities, towns and communities to know that the masses of Guyanese people are not benefitting from the wealth of this nation The despair is tangible. The areas that the poorinhabitaresofilthyand dilapidated as to be uninhabitable and yet, they are inhabited by those for whomeverydayhasbecome afightfortheirverysurvival at the margins of this resource-rich country They watch on as the rich get richerandtheygetpoorer Nonetheless, despite years of broken promises, the people who have not yet seen through this charade were waiting on this budget inanticipationofsomerelief from the cruel poverty and hardship that characterises their existence, and once again they were bitterly
disappointed I was not anticipating any change from the current status quo, because along with the membersofOrganisationfor the Victory of the People (OVP), and our many supporters, we know what the people who are still p
fraudulent system need to understand once and for all. There can be no peoplecentere
development and no relief from persistent poverty within the framework of a
economy
Butthegamewillgoon. Those people who still believeinthemythstheyare being fed will now be comforted by the barrage of criticismofthisbudgetfrom APNU,ForwardGuyanaand WIN.Thisisthecharadethat constitutesoneofthebiggest cons ever thrust upon humanity – Western liberalparliamentary democracy I have called liberal democracy a con for decades.Iampleasedtosay thatwhatwasonceseenasan extreme position is now a commonly accepted and proven position for people all over the world as we
witnesstheliftingofWestern democracy's mask The illusion, deception and hypocrisy is laid bare. More people than ever before can see that the emperor is naked. Just a few days ago, the Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana took it upon himself to lectureusonthetenetsofthis democraticsystem,whilehis own prime minister told the gathering at Davos that they knewtheinternationalrulesbased order was a lie but went along with it while it benefittedthem.
Sadly, in Guyana, the charade continues. The sole job of the parties in opposition is to criticise the partyingovernment.Evenif the government does something that benefits the people, the opposition must and will find a way to criticizeit.Reasonforthatis because the system of socalled democracy that we adhere to necessitates that politicians put their party above the nation. Partisan politics is tribal, and fragmentsratherthatunifies. The opposition parties are allowed to continually criticise and condemn without ever having to
Guyana Budget 2026 Viewed Favourably
Frompage4
borrow less and use our own financing from the heritage fund or some other means.Insteadofforeign(highinterest) borrowing, borrow from local sources and encourage foreign currency accountsfromthediasporainourlocal banks from which we can borrow Or the diaspora can loan directly to the government through accounts in banks asusedbyIndiasome25yearsago.We should also look at means to increase foreigncurrencygeneration.
The general consensus is it is a growthandpeoplecenteredbudget.The business community has expressed optimism. The poor are happy for
increased handouts The deficit is problematic as expressed by objective econo
businesspeople.
The advice is that Government has tokeeptabofglobalenergyfluctuations and lingering vulnerabilities of the lower class or poor that is half of the population.
We must grow the non-oil revenue sector Wemustbolsterthenon-energy sectors to further diversify the economy We must encourage more people from the lower and working class to get into small business Businesses should pursue asset divestmentsaimedatgeneratinggreater
revenues and export more to bring in foreigncurrency
We have to grow more food to cut the food import bill that is soaking up ourforeigncurrency
The many initiatives announced by the Finance Minister are expected to addtothebuoyancyoftheeconomyand yield significant economic benefits. They will continue to create employment opportunities and contribute to a more resilient, stable, and diversified economy Growth will continue perhaps beyond what governmentprojects.
Yourstruly,
Dr.VishnuBisram
explain what policy shifts they would make in order to bringabouttransformational change.Thisisbecausenone of them can bring about meaningful change since they have all succumbed to t h e n e o - c o l o n i a l arrangement, that is, they take their direction from the centers of Western capitalism and White supremacy This means that they are bound to take as a given neo-liberal capitalist ideologyandpolicies.
Theycannotbreakoutof thisbox.Todosotheywould have to challenge their foreignmastersandwhathas been imposed on us since President Hoyte took office andacceptedtheWashington consensus.
As we can see, all the opposition parties are cozy with the US/UK/EU and Canadian diplomats. They cantalkalltheylikewhilein opposition,theycanpromise us the earth. They can shout from the rooftops about renegotiating lopsided oil and gas contracts, but when theytakeoffice,theywilltoe the line because they know thedealtheymade.
They know that their veryelection,orshouldIsay selection to political office depends on them staying in line.
Truth be told, elections change nothing. Did you everseeapoliticianwhodid not promise the people everything under the sun? What they never tell us is how they are going to make their promises a reality That's because to improve the lives of every Guyanese they would need to do what none of them are willing to do. They will have to tear down the plantation structures and stop taking orders from their foreign
masters – the ones they call their allies and friends. The ones who plunder our resources and leave our childrenhungry Theyareall afraidtobreakoutofthisbox they have imprisoned themselvesin.Theylackthe couragetobreakfree.Andif we do not break free, as the people of Burkina Faso and the Sahel region have under the leadership of Captain IbrahimTraoré,therecanbe no solution to the problems Guyanafaces.
Despite Minister Ashni Singh's extensive quoting of globalandnationalstatistics andaPhDinfinance,hewas unable to tell us the plain truth, that the economic modelbeingpursuedbythis governmentandagreedtoby all the opposition parties is actually designed to keep us in a state of persistent povertyanddependency,and can never serve the needs of the people Let Captain Ibrahim Traoré explain it clearly because he has the couragetodoso:
“They say we are poor, but we are rich. Rich in gold, in people, in pride. What we lack is freedom from foreign chains…we came to break the chains we will not tremble, we will face it, we w i l l f i g h t f o r t r u e independence…this is the languageofrevolution”
We need to wake up and fightourrealenemiesrather thanallowingourselvestobe pulled into the constant, useless bickering between the neo-colonial politicians andpoliticalparties.
The real enemies are the ones that control the parameterswithinwhichthe PPP, APNU, Forward Guyana and WIN operate. They are the ones who ensure that we never take (Continuedonpage17)
Frompage5 vacuum in which unchecked power thrives—while she continuestocollectasalaryfundedbytheverycitizenswhose democraticrightsarebeingimperiled.
The public must now ask: what exactly are taxpayers paying for? There is no functioning Commission, no collective oversight, and no justification for maintaining a highly paid chairmanship under these circumstances.This is notgovernance;itisexploitationofpublicpatienceandpublic money.Until the Commission is properly reconstituted, the continuedpaymentofmillionsofdollarstosustainthishollow officeisindefensible.Democracycannotbesafeguardedbya lone chair and an empowered CEO operating in a constitutionalvoid.
First-time Member of Parliament and General SecretaryoftheWeInvestin Nationhood (WIN) Party, OdessaPrimus,onThursday launched a blistering attack on the PPP/C government’s Budget, branding it “deeply flawed” and accusing it of abandoning youth, culture and sport despite lofty promises.
Speaking during the Budget debate, Primus zeroed in on the Culture, Youth and Sport sector, saying the budget’s theme, “Putting People First,” collapses under scrutiny. While she welcomed the slogan with biting sarcasm, she argued that the numbers and policies or lack thereof tell a very different story “And now looking at that, imagine,afteralltheseyears, youhavenowdecidedtoput the people first. Thank God for that But when you examine the budget, honourable members, when
Primus tears into budget
— says not a single policy for culture, youth and sport in spending plan
you examine the budget, does it actually put the people first?Absolutely not, absolutelynot,”sheargued. Noting that the “entire budget is flawed, including thecoverofthebudget,”she said when you look at the culture, youth and sport section, the problem begins whenthereisaministerwho lacks vision and an understanding of how culture, youth and sport works.“Howcouldyouhave a ministry and have not one single policy for that ministry,whetheritbeyouth, whether it be sport or whetheritbeculture.Thatin itself says that there exists a flaw,”shesaid.
Primus noted that there has to be something that guides, that informs what happens within those ministries, and this she said, the ministry has taken a no policy position. Not only is there no policy, the Opposition MP pointed out
that as it relates to culture, Youth and Sport, the government does not see youth as important, as they have gotten one of the smallestbudgetsallocatedto anyministry
“I was so concerned when I looked at the $8 billion that they were given last year, and this year they had to reduce that to $6 billion and we have over 70% of the people in this country are youths. So, you could imagine 70% of the people are only given the smallest part of anything. This can’t be a government that is putting the people first, which people, who certainlynotthepeoplewho are involved in youth, sport andculture,certainlynotour artist, certainly not our sportsmen and women, certainly not our young people.Thisgovernmenthas failed, and this budget is a clear illustration that they intend to continue failing,”
‘DefendingGuyana’sborders...
Frompage2
jointservices,”headded.Withoutgoinginto toomuchdetailthearmychiefexplainedthat river trials are being conducted for the Force’snewlybuiltboats,thatisexpectedto arrive at the end of the month, and drone operations are being expanded to support groundtroopswherevertheyaredeployed.In addition, the acquisition of other assets is ongoing.
Though 2025 had its challenges, Brigadier Khan said that most of them were manageable Some took unexpected resources,andafewalmostcausesthepause momentarilyanditisknownthattherewillbe more in the coming days, however the best option is to continue the confrontation and elimination any disruption to the mission to protect and defend the people and the country.
He highlighted that since the last conference there have been changes both globallyandregionally,andthechangeswill continue to take form this year and they are significantenoughtodemandmorefromthe forceinunprecedentedways.
“They necessitate our undivided and focused attention, as they have essentially addedforeignimplicationstoourownthreat matrix, comprising of traditional and emerging threats. Notably this environment continuesevolvedandisshapedbypersistent conflicts,strategiccompetitionsandshifting geopolitical alignments, ongoing wars and regionaltensionsareregardinglongstanding norms, straining global stability (and) affectingtradeequilibrium,”theChiefstated. He went on to say that strain will be
placedontraditionalinstitutionsandtosome extentmilitarypartnershipsand“forGuyana, thesedevelopmentsarenotabstractordistant concerns. They translated into real and present risks for national security Particularly respect to border security and expense. Through one particular lens, we continuetoassesstherecentdevelopmentin Venezuela.”
BrigadierKhanchargedtheOfficersthat regardless of any opportunities such developmentscanpotentiallybring,themust continuetostandguard.
President Irfaan Ali in his address said that even as accomplishments are being celebrated,thenextphaseofthejourneymust bedefined.“Wheredowewantourpeopleto position? Is our Coast Guard appropriately positioned or headquartered in this modern era of defence and what is needed in the future? These are the questions we must confrontnowandadapttowhatisnecessary inanewenvironment,”hesaid.
The Head of State said that this is an indicationthatGuyana’sdefencearchitecture goes beyond tradition and it must be demonstratedbykeepingupwiththenational andinternationalpriorityonwhatthedefence system will look like in relation to the country’s ecology, biodiversity and environment. “We have to develop our inhouseAI and train our in-houseAI with the rightdata,withtherightinformationtobethe right tool for our defence system. We can’t tiptoe around this issue…Our partners must know we are reliable in the defence of democracy, the rule of law, sovereignty and territorialintegrity,”thePresidentadded.
Primusraised.
Turning her attention to address the struggles in the industry of culture, Primus toldtheHousethatifthereis anybody who has an authoritytospeakonculture; it would be her andAPNU’s MP Saiku Andrews. Primus noted she has been in that industryfromchildhoodand can relate directly what are the struggles faced by the people who are in the culturalindustry.Asitrelates tothepreservationofculture inthiscountry,theMPstated thatwhenitcomestoculture, there is absolutely no place inthiscountrythatartistscan go and learn about other people who paved the way and who participated in culture.“Wehavenameslike
Timehri
the Mighty Rebel How many young people who are goingtoschoolandtellthem about Rebel, and they could tell you who the Mighty Rebel is. How many young people could tell us about H e n r y R o d n e y ’ s contributiontothetheateras well as to the culture. Habib Khan has been one of the mostoutstandingcomedians in this country That man lovedtheartsomuchthathe dropped out of law school and went ahead and pursued his career in standup comedy,” Primus pointed out.
She noted that the government’s idea of promoting culture at One Guyana shows, cannot be something that you just do
one and two times. “That is not how it works, Honourable Member, our culture should be preserved,”shecalledout.
Deathofdrama
Primus also recalled that previouslythereusedtobea Drama Festival for budding writers and actors which is no more. Describing what is happening in the sector as a sad state of affairs, Primus stated firmly that there is “Nothing in this budget, absolutely nothing in this peoplecenteredbudgetisfor thepeoplewhoarepartofthe arts.”
Speaking about the struggles in sports, the WIN MP stated that there are sportsmenandwomenwho
Continued on page 16
man fined $50,000, licence suspended for
dangerous driving
CameronDefreitas,ofTimehri,EastBank Demerara, was charged with the offence of dangerous driving, contrary to Section 36(1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter51:02.
The charge followed a damage accident which occurred on Saturday January 31, 2026,about03:45hrsontheLandofCanaan PublicRoad,EastBankDemerara,involving twomotorlorries.
On Wednesday Defreitas appeared at the Friendship Magistrate’s Court before Her Worship Tameika Clarke, where the charge was read to him. He pleaded guilty and was fined $50,000. Additionally, his driver’s licencewassuspendedforaperiodoftwelve months.
Cops hunt juveniles after schoolgirl found unconscious in Sophia
Police have launched an investigation into an incident involving a 14-year-old female student from the East Bank Demerara, who was found unconscious on Wednesdayeveningandlaterhospitalised.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the teen was reportedly transported to a residence in Sophia in an unconscious state by other juveniles The teen was subsequently escorted to the Georgetown PublicHospitalCorporation,whereshewas admitted. She is presently conscious and
listedinstablecondition.
Preliminary enquiries further indicate thattheteenwasreportedlyinthecompany of the said juveniles prior to becoming unconsciousandallegationshavebeenmade that alcohol may have been consumed. No arrests have been made. Several persons havebeeninterviewedaspartoftheongoing investigation. Efforts are being made to locate three juveniles who were reportedly present. Investigationsareongoing.
Cameron Defreitas
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr.
Parliamentary debate has never been a tea party From Westminster to the National Assembly of Guyana, it has alwaysbeenatheatreofsharp tongues, cutting wit, and pointed language, carefully balancedagainsttheneedfor order and dignity to the House and its members. It is within this tension that the recentcontroversy,involving statementsbyaWINmember of parliament must be understood.
Theallegedobjectionable remark did not emerge in a vacuum. The Member who uttered it prefaced her comments with an explicit expression of concern about the quality of conduct in the House, lamenting what that conduct signals to young people partic
More road, more traffic Parliamentary language
ularly schoolchildren—who observe parliamentary proceedings. The thrust of her intervention was not person
Parliamentary language, like law itself, is rarely governed byisolation.Contentmatters. But context matters greatly also.
Theremarkwasneithera direct shaming nor a personalised insult. It was a simile,deployedrhetorically, inserviceofabroadermoral critique about decorum, standards, and public example That places it s q u a r e l y i n w h a t parliamentary authorities have long recognised as a grey area—where criticism
of conduct shades into metaphor, and metaphor risks offence without necessarily intending insult. The Speaker therefore made the right call when he suggested caution in staying ontherighttrack.
British parliamentarians, overcenturies,haveelevated irony, sarcasm, and repartee into an art form One Member once remarked that another had demonstrated “remarkableconsistency—in being wrong ” Another observed, with theatrical politeness,admirationforthe confidence with which a colleague advanced an indefensible argument. Such statements were sharp, stinging, and unmistakably personalintheirimplication, yetwereallowedto
DEM BOYS SEH
Dem boys seh Guyana discover a new scientific law: the more road yuh build, the moretrafficyuhget.Islikehunger—demore yuh cook, de more people turn up with spoon. Government build new road, widen oldroad,addtwolane,fourlane,eightlane, and still by 7:30 in de morning everybody cussin',hornin',sweatin'andlate.
Atdispoint,roadwideningislikebuyin' biggerpantsinsteadofgoin'onadiet.Itdon't fix de problem, it just make it more comfortable for a lil while—then yuh need bigger pants again Today four lanes, tomorrow six lanes, next week we paving peopleyard.
Every morning now is Olympic-level preparation. People leaving home 6:00 sharp not to catch plane, not to go interior—justtoreachworkbeforebossstart watching clock like CCTV Schoolchildren half asleep in back seat, mother vex, father vexer,everybodyvex.Bydetimeyuhreach work,yuhalreadytiredandyuhstillgoteight hourstopretendtobeproductive.
And de stress! People blood pressure rising faster than food price. Small, small fender-benderturnintofulldebate.Onehorn
blow too long and next thing yuh see hand wavinglikeairtrafficcontrol.Butdemboys sehgovernmentsolutionsimple:buildmore road.Trafficbad?Buildroad.Trafficworse? Widen road. Traffic still bad? Cut tree, take fence,eatsidewalk.Soonwegonhavefourlanehighwayrightthroughlivingroom,and stilltrafficgonbackupbydefridge.
Nobody want talk about mass public transport. Big bus? Train? School bus system? No no. That too sensible. Instead, every parent must personally chauffeur one child in one car, creating ten thousand mini taxisallgoingsameplace,sametime.Logic takebusandgonehome.
If schoolchildren had proper public transport,halfdemvehicleswouldn'tevenbe on de road. Parents could sleep lil longer, childrencouldreachschoolcalm,andtraffic might actually move like traffic instead of parking lot. Dem boys seh at dis rate, next budget speech gon announce: “We solving congestion by building more roads ” Everybody clap, then go outside and sit in traffic for two hours. Because right now, everybodymoving—butnobodyreaching. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
stand because they attacked behaviour, argument, or posture, not the inherent dignity of the individual. On another occasion, one Member accused another of transforming himself from a sternpoliticalstrongmaninto a figure of comic incompetence The House laughed.TheSpeakerdidnot intervene.Thejudgmentwas that the remark, though biting, belonged to the tradition of political satire, notpersonalabuse.
Wit has always found a comfortable home in parliamentary chambers, servingbothasasafetyvalve and a subtle weapon in debate. In one oft-recalled exchange, a member observed only half in jest—thatthereisnowherein the world where sleep is as deepasintheHouse itself,a remark that drew laughter precisely because it exposed an uncomfortable truth withoutnamingaculprit.
The difference, Speakers have often said between acceptable and unacceptable language, is between degradation and description. Where language seeks to humiliate or dehumanise, it crosses the line. Where it seeks to illustrate c o n d u c t h o w e v e r colourfully—it may remain within bounds. That line is thin, often subjective, and
rarelybright.
Critics argue that animal metaphors almost always tip the balance. Yet even here, precedent is not as absolute as sometimes suggested Britishparliamentaryhistory is replete with figurative language. The House has tolerated metaphors about parroting party lines, political theatre, circus acts, and choreographed performances so long as they illuminate behaviour rather than reduce the Member to an object of ridicule.
In the present case, the metaphor was not used to assign permanent character or moral worth. Importantly, the Member anchored her remarkinacivicconcern:the image Parliament projects to the nation's children. That framing aligns with a long Westminster tradition in which Member's appeal to public standards as a rhetoricaldevice.Onetime,a British parliamentarian famouslyrebukedcolleagues
by suggesting that schoolchildren reading Hansard would struggle to reconcile parliamentary antics with the values taught in classrooms. The House accepted the rebuke, recognising its moral purpose.
Noneofthisistosuggest that the phrase employed by
theWINparliamentarianwas risk-free. It plainly ventured close to the edge.ASpeaker would be entitled—indeed justified to ask for a withdrawal in the interest of restraint and precedent Parliamentary order depends as much on preventing escalationasonadjudicating intent.Buttotreattheremark as a clear-cut breach is to flatten parliamentary language into something it has never been. Robust debate is not antiseptic. It is expressive, rhetorical, and occasionally uncomfortable. The British Parliament did notbecomethemodelitisby sanding down every sharp edge; it did so by tolerating sharpness while policing cruelty
Seen in full context, the remark belongs not to the category of personal insult, but to the tradition of rhetorical admonishment, imperfectly executed, perhaps, but recognisably parliamentary (The views expressed in this article are those of the authoranddonotnecessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
H@RD TRUTHS
Budget2026:Amatchlesspropaganda
Because the budget debate is a no man’s that devours all comers in its vise, my first call was to boycott it Jawboning Guyaneseusedtousejackass nexttothatword. Itapplies. Considerthesesimpletruths that may be tough to swallow Theyarethatbitter on the palate, rough on the mindalreadyshrunkenfrom the savaging of too many budgetriches(thehaves,and superrich). Or the assaults fromreceivingtoolittleofits splendor (the have nots, the destitute).
Hon Minister Vindya Persaud of the PPP Govt.
took offense at the
Opposition’s equally honourable Natasha SinghLewis, who spoke of ‘twofaced governance ’ Dr Persaud’s thrust came in the form of “transformational progress.” In all fairness, what else could Minister Persaud’s retort be? The PPP 2026 budget is an obscenity, a smear of feces across the face of the G u y a n e s e p e o p l e , impoverished ones? And what other verbal missile could the Hon. Singh-Lewis launch:thePPPGovt.isoneeyed (private sector), oneeared (doesn’t hear poor people cries), but only onetoothed, because it is good enoughnottobitethelifeout ofGuyanese? C’mon,folks: be fair, be grounded in reality Forwhatisabudget debatedeepinitsguts?
thanthePPPGovt. TheAlis and Jagdeos and Nandlalls (andVindya Persauds [sorry neighbour]) learned that on the knee of Cheddi Jagan. And who did he get that mastery from, if not the masters of that game, universe?
Joseph Stalin and
Vladimir Lenin Adolf Hitler came earlier and left earlier, but my thinking is that his teachings about the infinite value of propaganda clearly have been taken to heart in the PPP What is good for the paatee is good fordeguvment.
Iask,Ianswer Abudget debateisthebestpropaganda asset, the most productive propaganda resource, and the ultimate in propaganda slyness,wheninthehandsof thebest. Thereisnonebetter
This is what the Guyana budgetdebatedistilsto,isall about. The PNC. APNU, WIN, and FGM are aiders and abettors of that PPP propaganda machine. What they are doing is consorting with and comforting the
enemy of the Guyanese people. Theymaysincerely thinkthattheyaredoingwell (includingputtingonashow for their duty-free) by participating in the2026 budget debate, but all they succeedindoingiswringing aknifeinthecrawofthepoor in Guyana, and adding to their mountain of woes
When the PPP Govt is persuaded, comes to its senses, and agrees to switch $100 billion from the building budgets, the slush fund (OP) budgets, and the
impoverished, then it is mission accomplished Otherwise, it is huffing and puffing,andwheezingtothe inevitable conclusion Another successful budget passage under the skillful steerage of one Dr.Ashni K Singh. Dr AK Singh is not to be mixed with that Russian of inventive fame, Kalashnikov, the father of the AK-47. The Guyanese AK Singh has shot to pieces
the hopes of Guyanese, hasn’t he? Somebody should tell me. I challenge Dr Ashni to disagree Because Lent looms, I modify challenge and sub invite. SeehowdevoutIam! Ifevertherewasadevout man in the PPPGovt, it just has to be the Right Hon. Auxiliary Archbishop Juan Edghill,who’salsoaDoctor of Divinity My word, I am awed by these men and women in the PPP He told the WIN freshman, Dr AndreLewisto“rewrite”his statements and ‘reconsult’ with his intellectual sponsors. I, too, have a recommendation for Archbishop Edghill: reread Reverend, that good book that is well
Archbishop Edghill insisted that the PPP 2026 budget is “pro-poor.” Then, this man of the cloth, who some different kind of god speaks to, should inform the world whyGuyanesearesopoorin spirit,howcomethereareso manywhomourn… Surely, he couldn’t have forgotten
those Beatitudes. Or he needs any reminder from a heathen like me, about that Mosaic Commandment that warns about bearing false witness. Now that I have donemydutytoArchbishop Edghill, Minister Persaud, a vestalsister,ifevertherewas one, the government and opposition, and the Guyanese people, it is time tocloseshoptoday
The 2026 budget debate is rich with antics, mystics, and heretics; but poor in substanceandsustenancefor citizens. The budget is a propaganda creation, and a propaganda production, for the consumption of naïve Guyanese. It’s a Ponzi scheme and a confidence man’s self-enriching dream cometrue.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
ofthe
Police ForceonThursdaycarriedout
eradication exercise at Yaruni Bend,Linden,alongtheUpper Demerara River, uncovering extensive cultivation and processing operations The jointoperation,whichranfrom 05:00 hrs to 14:10 hrs on February 5, 2026, led to the discovery of two cannabis farms spanning approximately eight acres. Police found an estimated 53,000 suspected cannabis plants, ranging from twotosixfeetinheight.
Further checks led to the discovery of two makeshift camps and five drying areas containing a combined total of approximatelyeighthundred(800)poundsof dried cannabis. The suspected cannabis plants, dried cannabis, makeshift camps and drying areas were destroyed by fire. No arrestshavebeenmadeandtheexercisewas
Ranks
Guyana
Govt.saysGDFcoptercrashreportofflimits
— OPPOSITION RAISES TRANSPARENCY CONCERNS
Minister of
P u b l i c Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar has refuted comments made by Opposition Member of ParliamentandLeaderofthe Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), Amanza WaltonDesirthatGuyanaisrequired by international convention to release the report on the deadly helicopter crash that claimed the lives of five servicemen.
During the Budget Debate on Thursday, the minister said that while the MP claimed Guyana is breaching international aviation codes by failing to release the report on the helicopter crash, she was “woefully” incorrect He explained that the flight was military in nature and not civilian, which exempts the report from becoming a publicdocument.
Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar
The Aviation Minister informed the National Assembly, “The flight operationatthetimewhenit happened, it was a military operation Annex 13 of ICAO speaks to disclosures of flights that are civil in nature.”
Consequently,hepointed out,“Whenyouhaveaflight thatisunderthestatecontrol, whenyouhaveaflightthatis controlledbythearmyorthe state, it is governed by the Chicago Convention and it says “aircraft used in military, customs and police services shall be deemed stateaircraft”andbecauseof this, which country, that has military operation disclose tothepublicaboutwhenyou have incidents or accidents?
Find a country! It is a militaryoperationwithinthe virtueofthenationalsecurity board...andbecauseofthatit
is a national security issue and it is exempted by virtue ofthat.”
F o l l o w i n g t h e conclusion of his presentation, the lead Opposition MP for the APNUbenches,Dr Terrence Campbell challenged the statements made by the minister Hepointedoutthat the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill who was previously tasked with controloftheaviationsector at the time of the crash had committedtothepublication of the report Campbell therefore questioned the reason for this sudden reliance on the Chicago Convention to dodge transparency in that tragic accident.
Kaieteur News had reported Minister Edghill as saying,“They(stakeholders) have until January 10, 2025 to make their comments, whenthosecommentscome, if there are any serious concerns to be adjusted that will be and then the report willbepublished.”
M o r e o v e r, Vi c e President, Bharrat Jagdeo had also given the
commitmentforthereportto be published, following its completion. On December 8th, 2023 five of seven occupants of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Bell412 helicopter died when the aircraft crashed in thejunglebetweenArauand Ekereku in Region Seven. Those who died are: the pilot-in-command, veteran aviator Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, Colonel Michael Shahoud, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome, Staff Sergeant Jason Khan and Brigadier (ret’d) Gary Beaton Lieutenant Andio Michael Crawford, a pilot on board the aircraft, and Corporal Dwayne Johnson survived thecrash.
Shortly after the crash, Edghill had appointed a special investigator to probe the incident and at a news conference late December 2023, he disclosed that the Blackboxofthechopperhad beensenttotheUnitedStates (US). Subsequently, Edghill told reporters at his ministry’s end-of-year press conferencethatthefeedback on the draft helicopter crash report should be submitted byJanuary10,2025.
To this end, MPWaltonDesir on Wednesday during the2026BudgetDebatesaid that the report should be made public. She noted, “ U n d e r G u y a n a ’s international obligations,
including the Chicago Convention, accident investigationisnotoptional, anditisnotpolitical.Itmust be independent, credible, and transparent.” As such, she reiterated calls for the Government to release the a i r c r a f t a c c i d e n t investigationreport.TheMP suggested, “If there are n a t i o n a l - s e c u r i t y sensitivities, those sections can be redacted. But the technical findings must be released They must be released. Families deserve closure. The aviation sector deservesthelessonsandtrust demands transparency When accident reports are withheld, confidence in the systemisundermined.”
Fire flattens Essequibo woman’s home
The five men who died in the tragic GDF helicopter crash.
‘Oil era exposes fault lines’ er
…as Todd,Walton-Desir spar over foreign policy
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,HughTodd,on Tuesday, defended the government’s foreign policy agenda, pushing back against criticisms from Leader of the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) party,AmanzaWalton-Desir
Speaking during the National Assembly debate on Budget 2026, WaltonDesir heavily criticised government’s guiding principle on international relations Walton-Desir sought to call out the government on their lack of foresight and strategy when it comes to improving the foreignpolicy “Mr Speaker, our emergence as an oilproducing state has changed howtheworldseesus,andit has changed how we are tested. Increased attention brings opportunity, but it also brings pressure. And pressure exposes weakness where institutions are not prepared,”shesaid.
Walton-Desir continued that “By preparedness, I mean the legal, institutional and strategic capacity to anticipate pressure, coordinate responses and defend national interests before a crisis becomes confrontation…”
The FGM party leader notedthatforthisreason,she has consistently called for the establishment of a standing Foreign Policy Council. She explained that council is “not another committee, but as a preparedness instrument.”
“Such a council would integrate legal, diplomatic, security, energy and migration expertise into a single permanent structure capable of coordinating across agencies, stresstesting assumptions and
quality of life for citizens.
“As a government, we believe in policies that are backedbydata,science,and empirical evidence backed bythepeople,andthatiswhy we have been successful at our national policies,” he stated.
According to Minister Todd, the administration’s achievements in healthcare, education, infrastructure development,environmental protection, and economic expansionhavestrengthened
Guyana’s global reputation, allowing President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali to confidently articulate the country’s progress during engagements with foreign leaders.
Thesesuccesses,hesaid, have been well received by international partners and have translated into tangible cooperation agreements and strategic alliances “The president set the foreign policyagendaonbehalfof Continued on page 16
protecting our credibility before our interests are tested.This is what building for contestation looks like. And that architecture is not reflectedinthisbudget.”
According to Walton –Desirasayoungpetroleum state, protecting national interests requires legal expertise that can move at speed, diplomats trained in energy geopolitics and the capacity to respond decisively before pressure becomesacrisis.
“ T h a t r e q u i r e s investment in people, systems and coordination, not just attendance at meetings. If we are serious a b o u t p r o t e c t i n g sovereignty, future budgets must reflect a shift from symbolism to substance, from routine diplomacy to strategic capability because in an oil-producing Guyana, sovereignty will not be challenged once. It will be tested again and again,” she cautioned.
“Our sovereignty rests on the strength of international law, credible diplomacy, strong institutions, and alliances that reinforce legitimacy That is precisely why sovereignty must be treated as a capability of preparedness ” Walton Desiradded.
In his response, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugh Todd asserted that Guyana’s international standing has never been stronger than u n d e r t h e P P P / C Administration.
M i n i s t e r To d d emphasised that foreign policy remains a central pillar of Guyana’s national development, directly s u p p o r t i n g s o c i a l advancement, economic growth, and improved
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd
Leader of the Forward Guyana Movement, Amanza Walton-Desir.
…as Pres. Ali announces expanded role for military ‘GDFmustmovebeyondthebattlefield’
President Irfaan Ali on Thursday signalled a decisive shift in Guyana’s defence posture, charging the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to take on broader national responsibilities beyond traditional military roles, as security, development and sustainability increasingly intersect.
Addressing senior officers at theAnnual Officers Conference at Camp Ayanganna, the Commander-in-Chief said defence can no longer operate in isolation, arguingthattheGDFmustactively support national priorities tied to economic growth, environmental protection and technological resilience. The force, he stressed, must remain “flexible, nimble and relevant” in an evolving security landscape.
The conference is being held underthetheme“Transformingthe Force to Better Confront the Nation’s Present and Future challenges by enhancing its Awareness, Adaptability and Agility capabilities.” PresidentAli outlined a framework built on partnership, priority, position and policy, urging closer integration between defence planning and national assets He questioned whether current deployments, including that of the Coast Guard, remain fit for purpose in a modern
era.“Wheredowewantourpeople to position? Is our Coast Guard appropriately positioned or headquartered in this modern era of defence and what is needed in the future? These are the questions we must confront now andadapttowhatisnecessaryina newenvironment,”hestressed.
He said at the core of this modern force are its people President Ali warned that training must anticipate the future
challenges rather than reacting to past ones, asking, “what are we trainingfor?Todayortomorrow?”
Henotedthatdefencepersonnel mustprepareforshiftsinmigration and culture, stating that training withintheGDFmustnotbelimited to military priorities alone. To support this, he called for a clear gapanalysiscoveringthenext15to 20 years to ensure that people, capabilityandcapacityareproperly aligned. The commander-in-chief
went on to outline a significant expansion of traditional defence domains to include the economy, ecologyandenvironment. He raised concerns about the protection of telecommunications and technological infrastructure, including undersea cables, describing them as central to Guyana’s economic well-being.At the same time, he highlighted Guyana’s leadership on environmental issues, referencing
the country’s role in advancing the GlobalBiodiversityAlliance. Only recently, the United Kingdom(UK),BelizeandPanama signed onto the GBA, which was launched in Georgetown by the president last year “This tells you that our defence architecture goes beyond the tradition,” the President said, stating that, “We must now demonstrate in keeping withthisnationaland Continued on page 16
President Ali speaking at the Annual Officers Conference on Thursday. (President Irfaan Ali Facebook page)
Hinds highlights gaps in budget
— urges Govt. to slash GOAL funding in half, hike public servants pay
Me m b e r o f ParliamentDr David Hinds on Wednesday during his budget debate presentation highlighted the gaps in the budget in relation to public servants and the University ofGuyana,evenasheurged a reduction of the allocation to the GOAL programme and hand it to the country’s premiertertiaryinstitution. The politician made it clear that he was not interestedincondemningthe budget and commended the Minister with responsibility forFinance,Dr AshniSingh on putting it together, as he
deemed it not an easy task, and persons who have experienced putting document together know of thetechnicalandintellectual skillsthatgointoit.
“…wealsocommendthe public servants who helped to put the budget together, many of the ministers talk abouttheirstaff,buthavewe thought that those public servants who helped to put this budget together do not see themselves in that budget?”hequestioned.
Dr Hinds highlighted that these very public servantshavenoplaceinthe 2026 budget, with the
minimum wages for them being $102,000 and the private sector standing at $60,000, it is surprising that in a $1.5 trillion budget provisionswerenotmadefor them,hesaid.TheMPurged the government to put the publicservantsfirst.
Hopping over to tertiary educationandtheUniversity of Guyana (UG), he reminded the House that he is an educationist, a product of education like many othersintheHouse.Looking at UG which he said was called the ‘Jagan Night School’in the early days he questions if the People’s
Buried at last, but justice still missing for Walleta Rigby
Nearly five years after her disappearance, the family of 38-year-old Walleta Rigby was finally able to lay her to rest on Thursday, bringing a measure of closure to a case stillshroudedinunanswered questions and lingering suspicions.
Rigby, a market vendor who traded in New Amsterdam, Georgetown and Linden, was believed to have drowned in the Takatu River in 2021 after the boat she was travelling in capsized while returning from Brazil Years later, forensic testing confirmed thathumanremainsfoundin Lethem were hers, allowing her family to proceed with burial.
While relieved to finally perform the last rites, r e l a t i v e s s a y t h e circumstances of Rigby’s death remain deeply troubling Her mother, Waveney August, told reporters at the funeral in Friends Village, East Bank Berbice, that she was informedasfarbackas2023 thatherdaughter,amotherof five,wasmurdered.
“I was at the market selling, and a young man, a soldier boy told me that he was traveling on a boat, and he hear a young man saying thathedrownedmydaughter in Lethem.” August related
thatshecontactedthepolice in Lethem and conveyed what she was told The police conducted a successful search, and requested that she travel to Lethem to confirm whether or not the human remains discovered by the border squarewasherdaughter’s. August was able to identify the remains by making out Rigby’s natural bowedlegs,andaquantityof underwear she noted her daughter was fond of Subsequently, the police informedherthattheycould not charge anyone, and the case fell through She remains adamant, however, that the suspect identified ended her daughter’s life. “I
Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C),thepartywhichDr CheddiJaganwasapartofis running the risk of turning UG into a night school. “Oh mygod.Wespendbillionsof dollars paying overseas universities for this GOAL scholarship while depriving our university of funds. Can the University of Guyana, I know the University of Guyanacanprovidesomeof thosedegreesthattheGOAL scholarship is sending our
students abroad for?” Dr Hinds lamented. To the end, he urged the government to slash the funds allocated to the GOAL scholarship program in half and give thoseresourcestoUG.
In this year’s budget government has allocated a sum of $183.6 billion to support the education sector this year, with a portion of $14.5 billion budgeted for UG and $5.8 billion for the Guyana OnlineAcademy of
Learning (GOAL). During his budget presentation, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh noted since the government abolished tuition fees for UG from 2025, the number of applicationstopursuehigher education at the institution increased significantly to over26,000fortheacademic year 2025/2026, compared with 17,800 in the 2024/2025period.
Inrecognitionofthehigh demand for access to UG programmes, the minister said that this year some $14 5 billion has been allocated to finance its ongoing and expanded operations.Asitrelatestothe GOAL programme, the Senior Minister said that with 10,805 scholarships awarded last year, this year to support the programme they have set aside a $5.8 billionallocation.
knowtomyselfthathekilled my daughter He did it.And my granddaughter knows about it also...and the boat manandthegirlwhosaidshe was holding on to the tree, theyknow...Ineedjusticefor mychild.Mychildhadtogo in that small box, and it’s really hard. She left five children,andI’msupporting fourofthem.”
In January, 2025, after DNA testing, August said she received a call from the police while on a trip to England confirming that the remains were indeed Rigby’s. At a small service attended by a handful of close relatives and friends, Walleta’s skeletal remains wereburied.
Dead, Waletta Rigby
Dr. David Hinds
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From page 8 would go around and seek donation from the business community for sporting gears, sponsorship and other needs. “And I am saying that ifwehadapolicyinplace,we would not be in this position. Because in as much as there isallthisexcitementandgrandeur, when our artists come back in the country from performing overseas, and they hang these wonderful medals around their necks, from which we are proud of as a nation,thatisallthattheyare getting in very many cases, because very many of them did not have the money to go there,”sheexplained.
With Guyana being the fastest growing economy in theworld,thereshouldnotbe acasewhere“ourathletesand our artists living like beggars in this country.” Not only
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shouldtherebeimprovement for athletes, Primus said for coaches in the country who have dedicated their lives to the children in this country, there should be some sort of compensation for their contributions. She also went onto speak about the sporting facilities and grounds in communities around the country, that with billions beingallocated,somearestill in a deplorable state. “How couldwehavebillionsofdollars, billions of dollars year come year go, and it is not reflectedinthewayourcountry looks. Nobody’s saying that we don’t appreciate the work that the ministry is doing, but we would appreciate greatly if it is done with holistic thought that covers everything,” she disclosed. While highlighting other issues affecting the sector, Primusduringherspeechalso made several suggestions thattheministrycanapproach fordevelopment. Incentivisingcoaches
As it relates to sports, she suggested that the governmentcanlookatgivingincentives to coaches and ensure they are well trained and placed across the country to develop more athletes. “One ofthethingsIlistedhereisto teachGuyanesehistory,folklore and so on within our schools.AndIdobelievethat, that is one of the things that our ministry needs to ensure that they do to look at local language, proverbs, storytelling and our heroes should be included in our education system,” she suggested.
She suggested grants should be given for short films, stage plays, documentaries, dancing, painters, and writers. “Those are people who are starving for help withintheindustry,aswellas tax incentives or breaks for artists who produce local contentwithinGuyana.Most important and urgent, of course,isputtingtogetherthe policy,” she added.
In defending his government’s budget and sector, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. noted of the severalinvestmentsmadetosupport and develop the culture, youth and sport in the country since resuming office in 2020.
Highlighting some of these, he stated that they undertook the responsibility of buildingfivestadiumswhich are all set to open this year and rehabilitating the Sport Halls. “Iwanttobeclear,the firstoneishappeningonSaturday.Itisgoingtobeahuge event and it’s a beautiful facility, in Bayroc in Linden,” the minister announced.
He added that in the last five years they have invested in over 600 community grounds and have installed lights at some 145 grounds across this country. Ramson noted that they have establishedaNationalSportsAcademy,andhavebuiltstrongrelations with sport associa-
‘GDF must move beyond the battlefield’
From page 14 international priority what our defence system will look like in relation to our ecology, our biodiversity, our environment because we are positioning this country and this economy in that sphere.”
The President also announced a strategic shift toward technology-driven defence,includingartificialintelligence and enhanced intelligence capabilities. He disclosedthatdefencestructures would be adjusted to reflect new priorities involving AI,
technology and modern defence assets, describing this area as “the most important branch of the future.” “We have to develop our in-house AI and train our in-house AI with the right data, with the right information to be the right tool for our defence system. We can’t tiptoe around this issue,” the president stressed. He also emphasised the importanceofdomainawarenessinprotectingcriticalnational assets, referencing recent acts of terrorism as evi-
dence of evolving threats. PresidentAlitoldofficersthat responsibility, reliability and readiness must define the GDF,particularlyinbuilding trust with international partners. “Our partners must know we are reliable in the defence of democracy, the rule of law, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he emphasised. Heremindedofficers that decisions made at the conference would affect every level of the Defence Force, placing a heavy responsibility on leadership.
tions and “all of them have issue their support and benefit for this budget.” He said they have started the tracking and monitoring how many medals local athletes haveearnednotingthatthere are over 1000 medals they participatedinatinternational andregionalsportingevents. Additionally,hesaidthey also distributed a number of sporting gears which they would continue to do.
As it relates to culture, theministerdefendedbystating that his ministry restored the Guyana Prize for Literature, added new categories and which is being held annually. “We turn that into a LiteratureFestivalthatiswhat we are doing for culture.” Minister Ramson noted that officials had met the drama artist,andworkedwithonthe right to stage initiatives where the government funds their drama plays. Among other initiatives that the government invested in, he stated “Persons who are involvedinourprogrammesare doing better now than they have ever done before. They are earning a good living, they are buying homes, or buyingcars,allofthatishappening.”
‘Oil era exposes...
From page 13 the people who have elected him, and it’s very clear that he has a mandate to execute on behalf of the people,” the ministersaid.
He highlighted several recent high-level engagements, including President Ali’s recent meetings in the United Kingdom with senior government officials, business leaders, and Commonwealth representatives, as well as Guyana’s successful role in advancing the Global BiodiversityAlliance. Onmattersofsovereignty and territorial integrity, the minister reaffirmed the government’s bipartisan and inclusive approach, pointing out that diplomats appointed under previous administrations continue to serve Guyana abroad. He noted that$100millionhasbeenallocated to safeguarding Guyana’sborders,alongwith ongoing strategic partnerships with Brazil, Suriname, and other regional allies. Minister Todd stressed that “Guyana’s foreign policy is driven by substance, not rhetoric, and is executed through a coordinated topdown and bottom-up approach.”
He maintained that the government’sexpandingdiplomatic footprint, strengthened international partnerships,andgrowingglobalrespect are clear evidence of effectiveforeignpolicyexecutionunderthecurrentadministration.
VACANCY
Todd slams budget for ignoring electoral, forensic and justice reform
APartnership for National Unity ( A P N U )
Member of Parliament
Dexter Todd has criticised thegovernmentforfailingto allocate funds toward key legislative reforms in the 2026 Budget – arguing that the budget neglect urgent changestoelectorallaws,the Coroner's Act, and broader forensicandcriminaljustice systems.
MP Todd made those commentsduringdayfourof the2026BudgetDebates.He
chided government parliamentarians,sayingthat speeches delivered over the firstthreedaysofthedebates focused on the number of seatsheldbypoliticalparties in the National Assembly were misplaced. Instead, he argued that the government should prioritise the establishment of a national developmentcommitteethat reflects all stakeholders and interestsacrossthecountry
Turning to the need of electoral reform, the MP referenced reports from international observers following Guyana's 2025 General and Regional
Elections. “May I remind you,incaseyoudidnotread the EU (European Union) observers report, 'do not be mistaken. Do not confuse a smooth and peaceful elections for a free and fair elections in this country,” Toddstated.
He noted that while government MPs have spoken extensively about prioritiesduringthedebates, the budget fails to prioritise legislative reform “What must be prioritised in this budget is def
ly addressing the problems at GECOM (Guyana Elections Commission),”henoted.
Referring again to the observers' report, Todd said it highlighted structural deficiencies and the undue advantage of incumbency arising from the use of state resources.Toddbelievesthat thebudgetshouldreflectthe government's intention to pursue electoral reform “Nothing in this budget for the use of biometrics…no they don't want biometrics. Theydon'twantcleanvoters list,”Toddsaid.
“Mr Speaker, there is absolutely nothing in this
budget. There is nothing in thisbudgetwhichadvancesa legislative agenda,” the MP added. Turning to the need for wider legislative reform, Toddreferencedthedeathof AdrianaYoung,aresidentof Hyde Park, Parika, whose body was discovered in the pool of the Double Day HotelinTuschen,Essequibo Coast, on the morning of April 24, 2025, nearly 20 hours after she was reported missing.Shewaslastseenby heraround13:01hrsonApril 23 while swimming in the hotel's pool. Two autopsies
were later conducted,one in Guyana and another in the United States, amid public concernoverthehandlingof the investigation into her death.
Holding up a placard bearing Adriana's image, Todd asked, “What has the government learned about that matter,” adding, “We call for justice. We call for justice.Wecallforreforming of the laws.”Todd argued that the budget should include comprehensive reformoftheCriminalCode, particularly in relation to
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Dexter Todd
investigationsandtheuseof forensic science He
highlighted that Guyana inherited its Coroner's Act from the United Kingdom butthatitisnowoutdated.
“The United Kingdom has moved past. They have moved to amendments, way up to 2024 The entire Commonwealth Caribbean havemovedpastbutGuyana stands still They have movedpasttoensurethatthe coroner'sactensurethatthey are used in relation to experts, persons who are identifiedtobeonanational
forensic authority body,” Toddsaid.
He added, “We advocate thatthisbudget,inorderthat we see real change and justice for our people, will include changes in relation tothoselaws.”
Pointingtoothernational tragedies,theMPreferenced the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 20 children in 2023, as well as the recent incident in which four men were found dead following suspected chemical exposure aboard a cargo vessel docked at a wharf on Water Street, Georgetown He stressed that these incidents demonstrate serious gaps in Guyana'sforensiccapacity
“Guyana lacks the expertise forensically to investigate and to do these matters.The budget is silent onit.Budgetissilentonit.It makesnoprovisionforthat,” henoted.
Heconcludedbystating, “We (must) ensure that the systems and the legislations thatareinplacearereformed toensurethatthey(citizens) canbenefit.”
PAHO issues epidemiological alert amid continued measles transmission in the Americas and urges strengthened vaccination and surveillance
Washington, D.C., February 4, 2026 (PAHO) — The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has issued a new epidemiological alert on measles for the Region of the Americas, calling on countries to intensify epidemiological surveillance, vaccination, and rapid outbreak response activities to interrupt transmission and protect vulnerablepopulations.
Published yesterday, the alert highlights the ongoing occurrence of cases and outbreaks in several countries in the Region, against a backdropofasustainedincreaseof measles cases in 2025 compared withthepreviousfiveyears,atrend that appears to be continuing into 2026.
Epidemiological situation in theRegion
In 2025, the Region reported 14,891 confirmed measles cases, including 29 deaths, across 13 countries: Argentina (36 cases), Belize (44 cases), Bolivia (597 cases), Brazil (38 cases), Canada (5,436 cases, including 2 deaths), CostaRica(1case),ElSalvador(1 case), the United States (2,242 cases, including 3 deaths), Guatemala(1case),Mexico(6,428 cases, including 24 deaths), Paraguay(49cases),Peru(5cases), andUruguay(13cases).
This represents a 32-fold increase compared with the 466 cases reported in 2024. During the first three weeks of 2026, an additional 1,031 measles cases were confirmed in seven countries—Bolivia (10), Canada (67), Chile (1), the United States (171), Guatemala (41), Mexico (740), and Uruguay (1)—with no
PA H O r e c o m m e n d s strengthening surveillance and active case finding, including l a b o r a t o r y d i a g n o s i s ; implementing supplementary immunisation activities to close immunity gaps; and ensuring a timely response to any suspected measlescase.
deaths reported. This represents a 43-foldincreasecomparedwiththe 23 cases reported during the same periodin2025.
Available evidence indicates that, among confirmed cases with vaccinationinformation,78%were unvaccinated and 11% had an unknownvaccinationstatus.
While the largest proportion of cases occurred among adolescents and young adults, the highest incidence rates were observed in infants under one year of age, followed by children aged 1–4 yearsand5–9years.
This underscores the need to complete vaccination schedules and employ additional protective measuresinoutbreaksettings.
Globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that during 2025 more than 552,000 suspected measles cases were notified across 179 countries, of which nearly 45% (247,623) were confirmed, reflecting a global resurgence of the disease amid
persistentimmunisationgaps.
Vaccination coverage and immunitygaps
Regional vaccination coverage with the measles, rubella, and mumps (MMR) vaccine in the Americas showed a slight increase in2024comparedwith2023(from 87% to 89% for the first dose and from 76% to 79% for the second dose), but remains below the 95% coverage needed to prevent outbreaks.
Only 33% of countries and territoriesintheRegionachievedat least 95% coverage with the first dose, and just 20% reached that targetfortheseconddose.
An estimated 1 5 million childrendidnotreceiveanydoseof thevaccinein2024.
PAHOemphasisedthatmeasles is highly contagious but preventable through timely vaccination with two doses of the MMRvaccine.
In countries experiencing active outbreaks, PAHO reiterated
the need to intensify vaccination, active case finding, and rapid response to interrupt transmission. At the same time, for all countries in the Region, PAHO stressed the importance of closing vaccination coverage gaps, maintaining sensitive and timely surveillance, and protecting travelers through vaccination, particularly those traveling to areas with active transmission.
Inthecontextofthe2026FIFA World Cup and other mass gatherings involving high population mobility, PAHO recommends that countries increase the sensitivity of their surveillance systems through the implementation of active case finding to promptly detect the presence or absence of measles and rubellacases.
PAHOwillcontinuetomonitor themeaslessituationandupdateits recommendations as the epidemiologicalsituationevolves.
Famine conditions spread to more towns in Sudan's Darfur, experts warn
(ALJAZEERA)
Acute malnutrition has reached famine levels in two more areas of western Sudan's Darfur region, United Nations-backed experts warn, as a civil war between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army has causedwidespreadhunger
In an alert issued on Thursday by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), global food security experts said famine thresholds for acute malnutrition had been surpassed in North Darfur state'scontestedareasofUm BaruandKernoi.
The IPC alert is not a formalfamineclassification, but it highlights alarming levelsofhungerbasedonthe latest data. In Um Baru, the rate of acutely malnourished children aged under five was nearly double the famine threshold, with 53 percent
affected,thereportsaid.
Nearlyathirdofchildren in Kernoi suffered from acute malnutrition, it added.
“These alarming rates suggest an increased risk of excess mortality and raise concern that nearby areas may be experiencing similar catastrophic conditions,” the report said. Thursday's alert, based on data available up to February,comesnearlythree months after the IPC confirmedfamineconditions in el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, and Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, about 800km (500 miles) to the east. The IPC said at the time that 20 more areas in Darfur and neighbouring Kordofan wereatriskoffamine.
Brutalsiege El-Fasher, long the Sudanese army's final stronghold in the Darfur region, fell to the RSF in October after 18 months of b
starvation. The fall of the city, amid reports of mass k i l l i n g s , r a p e a n d abductions, pushed at least 127,000 people to flee to nearby towns, according United Nations data. “The movement of tens of thousands of people facing hunger and malnutrition into already fragile areas of North Darfur is likely to sharply increase the number ofpeoplefacingcatastrophic food insecurity,” the IPC said.
Um Baru and Kernoi are near the border with Chad and have received some of the tens of thousands of displaced people who fled el-Fasher Fighting subsequently has been reported in both locations. SinceApril 2023, Sudan has been engulfed in a devastating war between the army and the RSF The conflict has effectively split
Sudan in two, with the army holding the north, east and centre and the RSF dominating Darfur and, alongside allies, parts of the south.
Fighting has recently concentrated in areas of Kordofan,withtheSudanese military starting to make progress in the region after breaking a siege in the key city of Kadugli and the neighbouring town of Dilling.
RSFattackhospital
On Thursday, at least 22 peoplewerekilledinanRSF attack on a military hospital in South Kordofan province, according to the Sudan Doctors Network, a group of medical professionals tracking the war The group said the paramilitary's bombing of the Al-Kuweik Hospital killed the facility's medical director and three other members of the medicalstaff.
Famine conditions were reported last year in el-Fasher in Darfur, Sudan [File: WFP screenshot via AP]
In a statement posted to social media, the doctors' network said the targeting of health facilities and medical personnel was a war crime and flagrant violation of international humanitarian law,addingthatthebombing was just the latest attack targeting health facilities in South Kordofan Several hospitals had been left inoperable in the attacks, it said. “This has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis and threatens the remaining health services available to
statement The conflict, nearing the three-year mark, has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced nearly 11 million and driven multiple regions into famine and hunger, creating one of t
s According to the UN, more than 21 million Sudanese –nearly half of the population – are facing acute food insecurity,withtwo-thirdsof thepopulationinurgentneed ofassistance.
As treaty expires, Russia says it’s still ready to talk to US on nuclear limits
MOSCOW, Feb 5 (Reuters)RussiasaidonThursdayitregretted the expiry of its last remaining nuclear arms treaty with the United States but was still ready to talk, raising the possibility of a lastminute deal to preserve limits on deploymentoftheworld’sdeadliest weapons Axios reported that negotiations had been taking place overthepast24hoursinAbuDhabi and the two countries were closing in on a deal to keep observing key terms of the New START treaty, whichlimitseachside’snumbersof missiles, launchers and strategic nuclearwarheads.
U.S. President Donald Trump has not formally responded to a proposal from Russian President Vladimir Putin to stick to those central provisions for one more year, even though there is no legal option to extend the full treaty Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was still ready to engage in dialogue with the U.S.
if Washington responded constructively to Putin’s proposal.
“Listen, if there are any constructive replies, of course we will conduct a dialogue,” Peskov toldreporters.
LAST IN A SERIES OF TREATIES
New START was the last in a series of nuclear agreements
Russia’s Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system unit.
between Moscow and Washington dating back more than half a centurytotheColdWar
Besides setting numerical limits on weapons, they included inspection regimes that experts say served to build a level of trust and confidence between the nuclear adversaries, helping make the worldsafer
If nothing replaces the treaty, security analysts see a more dangerous environment with a higher risk of miscalculation
Forced to rely on worst-case assumptions about the other’s intentions, the U S and Russia would see an incentive to increase their arsenals, especially as China
plays catch-up with its own rapid nuclearbuild-up.
Trump has said he wants to replace New START with a better deal, bringing in China but Beijing has declined negotiations with Moscow and Washington. It has a fractionoftheirwarheadnumbersan estimated 600, compared to around 4,000 each for Russia and theU.S.
Repeating that position on Thursday,Chinasaidtheexpiration of the treaty was regrettable, and urged the U.S. to resume dialogue withRussiaon“strategicstability”.
Peskov said Russia would take a responsible approach. The White House said this week that Trump
would decide the way forward on nuclear arms control, which he would “clarify on his own timeline”.
CONFUSION OVER EXACT TIMING
There was confusion over the exact timing of the expiry, but Peskovsaiditwouldbeattheendof Thursday Former Russian
President Dmitry Medvedev, who signed the treaty with then U.S. President Barack Obama in 2010, said on Wednesday that New START and its predecessors were now “all in the past” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Moscow’s assumption was that the treaty no longer applied and both sides were freetochoosetheirnextsteps.
It said Russia was prepared to take “decisive military-technical countermeasures to mitigate potential additional threats to national security” but was also opentodiplomacy Ukraine, which has been at war with Russia since Moscow’s 2022 invasion, said the treaty’s expiry was a consequence of Russian e ff o r t s t o a c h i e v e t h e “fragmentation of the global security architecture” and called it “another tool for nuclear blackmail to undermine international support forUkraine.”
UN CHIEF SAYS
NUCLEAR RISK IS HIGHEST IN DECADES
Strategic nuclear weapons are the long-range systems that each side would use to strike the other’s capital, military and industrial centres in the event of a nuclear war
They differ from so-called tacticalnuclearweaponsthathavea lower yield and are designed for limitedstrikesorbattlefielduse. If left unconstrained by any agreement, Russia and the U S could each, within a couple of years, deploy hundreds more warheads beyond the New START limitof1,550,expertssay “ T r a n s p a r e n c y a n d predictability are among the more intangible benefits of arms control and underpin deterrence and strategic stability,” said Karim Haggag, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
U N
dissolution of decades of achievementinarmscontrol“could not come at a worse time – the risk of a nuclear weapon being used is the highest in decades.” He urged the sides to resume negotiations without delay to agree a successor framework restoring verifiable limits.
BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT
Aworldlesssafe
The quiet expiration of the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia marks a dangerous moment for global security.
For years such agreements placed verifiable limits on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals, reducing miscalculation and providing a measure of predictability in an unpredictable world.With this framework gone, both powers are now free to expand, modernise and deploy weapons with fewer restraints, at a time when trust is already at historic lows.
The end of the treaty also weakens the broader non-proliferation regime. Smaller states may conclude that restraint is optional, while rivals feel compelled to respond in kind. For countries far removed from the centres of power, including Guyana, the risks are no less real: heightened global tensions, increased militarisation and the everpresent danger of catastrophic error. Action is urgently required now globally.
Hetmyer Visa issues days prior to T20 World Cup, reflects iffy administrative planning
The Shimron Hetmyer Visa fiasco has created a bit of pre-T20 World Cup buzz, with the West Indies set to tackle Scotland in Saturday's opener;possiblymissingone oftheirkeybattingweapons.
West Indies have had a rough lead up to the World Cup, losing the pair of T20I
3-Match Series to Afghanistan and South Africa,respectively
The team has also been plagued by a number of views from cricket pundits across the Caribbean who have been vocal as it relates to aspects of the team's selection, progress and overall shape of West Indies
cricketinitspresentstage. Now with this huge setback regarding their Hetmyer, who since his return for the Afghan series has been their best batsman heading into the World Cup, being stuck somewhere in South Africa reflects somewhat sloppy pre-World Cup preparations from an administrative position; in this instance the governing body for the Caribbean, CricketWestIndies(CWI).
While players have their protocoltofollowasitrelates to ensuring certain documentations are valid, majorityoftheonusstillrests
administration; which in this caseCWI.
Hetmyer led the South Africa series with 171 runs with a best of 75, striking at close to 180.00, as he batted himselfbackintoformwhile cementing that number 4/5 positionintheline-up.
Since January, the
Guyanese has hit scores of 46,48,histopscoreof75and 48notout,makinghisimpact for the World Cup an invaluable commodity; especially with the majority of the West Indies players lacking form coming off of thetwoseries.
Now with the Caribbean sideplayingScotlandintheir
Friday February 06, 2026
ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19
Youmayfeelthatyouhaveto defend your motives today, Aries, and this can really put you off, especially if you can'tseeareasonforit.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
Is there a person in your life who keeps coming to mind again and again, Taurus? If so, it might be time to get together
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Your usual outgoing and often radical nature may be far more conservative today, Gemini Thiscanbearesultof theday'splanetaryinfluences, andifusedwell,thismoodcan provemostbeneficial
CANCER(June21–July22)
Focus on yourself today, Cancer Yours is often an extremelygivingnature.You can be compassionate to a fault,inthattoomuchofyour energy goes to helping solve others’problems.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Todayisanexcellentdaytoset some new goals, Leo When wasthelasttimeyoudidthis? Many think that New Year's Day and birthdays are prime timestomakeresolutionsorset goals
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
Another person will probably bringyoumuchcomforttoday, Virgo.Itcouldbesomeoneyou know well, but chances are it will be someone you’d least expect to be there for you.
firstgameSaturdayFebruary 7, it will be left to see what directionanalreadyflustered Windiesteamgoin.
This untimely wreck in the wheel has yet to be fully explained by CWI, who has been concise in their response, citing that “The matter will be dealt with soon”.
Given the timeline, Hetmyer could either find himself back in the team's mix over the next few days, should CWI scramble to get their act together with just hours until the team looks to getthemselvesfine-tunedfor theScottish.
Or, alternatively the Caribbean side will have to
Shimron Hetmyer
bidetheirtimeandlooktoget past Scotland on Saturday, minus Hetmyer, who in all should have had his issues fullysortedoutatleastbythe nextmatchandarguablytheir toughest Group C challenge on Wednesday February 11; England.(CliftonRoss)
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Libra,youmayfindyourself feeling more aggressive than normal today This can serve you well when it comes to gettingwhatyouwant,provided noonesuffersintheprocess
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)
It would be wise to spend some time thinking about your finances today, Scorpio Do you have a realistic budget,ordoesyoursexclude such things as entertainment, gifts,andoccasionalsplurges?
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)
Take the time to consider your physical and mental health today, Sagittarius. Given your hard-driving nature, these are areas that maybeneglected.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
It'stheperfectdaytodosome planning, Capricorn Take thetimeonaregularbasisto think about the things you wanttodoandaccomplish.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
Todayisagooddaytothink about your ambitions, Aquarius Considering what youreallywantoutoflifecan beinstrumentalinsettinggoals andmakingdreamscometrue
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
You might be feeling a bit morehesitantthanusualwhenit comes to making decisions, Pisces Evenifsomeoneaccuses youofbeingdistrustful,it'syour sense of caution that saves youalotofgrief.
Mandhana stars as RCB...
Frompage23 have been delighted with their203-4-thehighestscore inaWPLfinal.
It comfortably cleared Mumbai Indians' 149-7 last year and was built on contributionsfromalloftheir toporder
ShafaliVermamade20in an opening stand of 49 with Lizelle Lee, who made 37 before falling in the eighth over
Captain Jemimah Rodrigues (57) and South African Laura Wolvaardt (44) put on 76 in 51 balls, before West Indies allrounder Henry crashed an unbeaten 35 off 15 balls, including two sixes and four fours.
RCBtook16offthesixth over to finish the powerplay on 59-1 and that laid the platform for the recordbreakingchase.
Every over between then andthe15thwentforatleast nine runs, with six of those going for double figures as Capitals failed to control Mandhana's placement and Voll'spower
Thelossofbothmadefor a nervy ending, but Radha showed RCB's depth as they impressively surpassed their chase of 202 against Gujarat Giants in last year's opening match. Their triumph ensured they joined Mumbai Indians asthemostsuccessfulsidein WPLhistory
S c o r e s : R o y a l Challengers Bengaluru 204 for 4 (Mandhana 87, Voll 79, Henry 2-34) beat Delhi Capitals 2 0 3 f o r 4 (Rodrigues57,Wolvaardt44, Lee 37, Henry 35*) by six wickets.
is shown a red card by referee Davide Massa. (REUTERS/Pedro Rocha)
Imane Khelif of Algeria in action against Liu Yang of China. (REUTERS/Peter Cziborra/ File Photo)
(Reuters) - Real Madrid forward Rodrygohasbeenhandedatwo-match ban for insulting a match official during last week's 4-2 Champions League loss at Benfica, European soccer governing body UEFA said on Thursday Brazilian Rodrygo was shown two yellow cards in stoppage time as he angrily protested perceived timewasting tactics employed by the Portugueseside.
ThelosstoBenficadeniedRealan automatic place in the Champions Leaguelast16,astheymissedoutona top-eightfinishintheleaguephase.
UEFA's disciplinary committee said Rodrygo was suspended for directinginsultingorabusivelanguage atthereferee.
Real will have to face Jose Mourinho's Benfica again in the knockoutplayoffs,withRodrygosetto missbothlegsofthetiethismonth.c-
Reuters)-Algerianboxer Imane Khelif said she will comply with genetic testing requirements as long as the tests are conducted by the International Olympic Council (IOC), to be able to participateincompetitions.
Khelif won gold in the women's welterweight divisionattheParisGamesin 2024 amid a gender dispute over her eligibility, after the International Boxing
Association (IBA) disqualified her from the 2023 World Championships based on sex chromosome tests.
WorldBoxing,whichwill oversee boxing competitions in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles after being granted provisional recognition by theIOC,lastMayannounced mandatory sex testing for all boxersinitscompetitions.
Khelif, who lodged an
appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overWorldBoxing'sdecision barring her from events unless she undergoes genetic sex testing, said she would onlyundergothetestingifitis administeredbytheIOC.
"Of course, I would accept doing anything I'm requiredtodotoparticipatein competitions," Khelif told CNN."They should protect women, but they need to pay attention that while protecting women, they shouldn'thurtotherwomen."
"I'mnottransgender I'ma woman.Iwanttolivemylife. Please do not exploit me in yourpolitical agendas."
The 26-year-old was hopeful of getting justice fromtheCAS.
“I will not surrender until IhavejusticebecauseIknow justiceisonmysideaboveall else,”shesaid.ic-
Real Madrid's Rodrygo
BBC Sport - Royal Challengers Bengaluru completeda stunning record Women's Premier League chase to lift their second title and inflict a fourth successive final defeat on DelhiCapitals.
RCB, who won their first title in 2024, chased 204 with two balls to spare after a memorable innings from both captainSmritiMandhana(87off41)andAustralia'sGeorgia Voll(79off54).
Thepairputonarecord-breakingstandof165off92balls aftertheylostGraceHarrisinthesecondoverfornine. They brilliantly exploited their match-ups and Mandhana'ssuperbinningssawherfinishasthetournament's leadingrun-scorerwith377.
Voll was dismissed with 30 required and Richa Ghosh followed seven balls later, before Mandhana fell in the penultimateoverwhenshewasbowledbyChinelleHenry RadhaYadav was dropped off her first ball, but with 10 needed from the final over, she hit the third and fourth balls overthecoversforfourtosealvictory
The defeat marked another disappointment for Capitals, whohavebeenbeatenineveryfinalinthetournament'sfouryear history.At the halfway point of the game, they would (Continuedonpage19)
As t h e championship window opens for regional darts, the Guyana Darts Association (GDA) is set to host its Caribbean Darts and Latin Central America (CDLC) trialsonSundays,February 8and15,attheMalteenoes Sports Club, Thomas Lands,Georgetown.
Thetrialsformacritical partofGuyana'spathwayto international darts, giving more local players the opportunitytoearnnational representation on the Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean Tour
emerging talent across the region,withtopperformers on the CDLC Order of Merit advancing to qualify for the World Darts Championship.
According to the GDA, the upcoming trials will serve as a talent-scouting p l a t f o r m a s t h e association seeks to identify the country's b e s t p l a y e r s Participation slots are limited due to having four male
d
wo female in ranking order to representGuyanainthefirst
legoftheCDLCQualifier That eventisscheduledtotakeplace inPanamainApril2026.
Guyana Darts Association to host CDLC trials on February 8 and 15 Mandhana stars as RCB beat Capitals to win WPL
The second leg of the Qualifier has already been confirmedforJuly2026,giving successful players a structured andcompetitivepathwaytotest themselves against the region's elite.
The association has extended an open invitation to darts lovers and sports enthusiasts to attend and support what it describes as a groundbreaking initiative for thesportlocally
The GDAis also appealing to Corporate Guyana for sponsorship and assistance, notingthatanylevelofsupport wouldhelpinnurturingthenext generation of darts stars and ensuringthesuccessfulhosting oftheseevents.
Registration for the trials will begin at 1:00 p.m. on both days,withmatchesexpectedto getunderwayat2:00p.m.
Aregistrationfeeof$2,000 willbecharged.
With international qualification on the line and regional recognition at stake, the upcoming trials are expected to be a major highlight on Guyana's sporting calendar and a significant step forward for the development of darts in thecountry
Jemimah Rodrigues was quick off the blocks. (BCCI)
Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll put on a rapid century stand. (BCCI)
Jade's Wok among joint sponsors of National U-14 Chess Championships
Jade's Wok, Pinnacle Business Services, and Cubs in Action International have once again reaffirmed their commitment to youth sports by sponsoring the National U 1 4 R
C
tournament is scheduled for t
morrow, Saturday, February 7, 2026, at School oftheNations,withmatches beginningat9:00a.m.
severalstrongjuniorplayers are expected to contend for the title, including current U12 Open Chess Champion Aiden Tinnie, former U12 Open Champion Abel FernandezCiria,VirNarine, Arian Tinne, and Javier Davenand,amongothers.
More than fifty players are expected to compete for the National Rapid Chess Championship titles in both the Open and Girls categories. The tournament will consist of seven rounds played in a Swiss System format, utilizing a time control of 15 minutes plus a 5-second increment per move.
This year's tournament promisestobeexceptionally competitive With 2025 champions Nicholas Zhang
andEmmaJohnhavingaged out of the category, the field iswideopenforanewpairof national champions to emerge.
In the Open Category,
In the Girls Category, competition promises a mix of fresh talent and seasoned players Young talents Kataleya Sam, former U12 Girls Champion, Divya Persaud, 2026 U12 Girls Champion, Saura Ruplall, Rebha Lachhman, Amaya Sharma, Chelsea Harrison, Sana Sreebalakumar, and Olivia Rajmangal, among others, will all be vying for thechampionshiptitle.
Trophieswillbeawarded to the top five finishers in both the Open and Girls categories Additional Trophieswillbepresentedto the Best U10 and Best U12 forbothCategories.
The GCF extends its
sincere gratitude to Jade's Wok, Pinnacle Business Services,andCubsinAction International for their unwavering support and commitment to sponsorship and the development of ChesswithinGuyana.
Wealsowishtothankthe School of the Nations, a
steadfast partner that continues to provide a premier venue for the federation's tournament for several years For more information on the Guyana Chess Federation or on how to become a member, visit our official website at guyanachess.gy
Guyana commences road to World Cup today
Today, Guyana's Men's Under-17 team springs into action against Bermuda to commence their 2026 Concacaf Men's U-17 Qualifiers campaign at the General Francisco Morazán Stadium in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Guyana, sporting a ConcacafRankingof18was drawn in Group H with today's opponent, who is ranked 12, and Honduras –rank5.
Suriname, ranked 30, was the other team drawn in the Group but was excluded from the tournament due to an “administrative error”, according to a statement from the Suriname Football Association(SVB).
ThatlefttheGroupasthe smallest in the tournament, withtheteams(GUY,BER& HON) only having to play twogameseachintheirquest to qualify for the 2026 FIFA WorldCup.
Therewillbenoroomfor errorsinceonlytheeight(8) groupwinners(A,B,C,D,E, F, G and H) will advance to theprestigiousevent.
Meanwhile, the first Group H matchis scheduled tokickoffat18:00hrsandis expected to be quite a challenge for Guyana. Both teamswillbeexpectedtoput in a good performance to start since neither has ever madeitpastthisstage.
After that, the Junior Golden Jaguars' next assignment is the mighty Honduras,whichispittedfor Sunday,February8,at22:00 hrs.Theothermatchthatwill decide the outcome of the Group takes place on Wednesday, February 11, andfeaturesBermudaversus Honduras.
Inthepreviouseditionof the Concacaf Under-17 Qualifiers, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, andtheUnitedStatestopped their respective groups to secure qualification for the FIFAU-17WorldCupQatar 2025.
This year's qualifiers beganonFebruary3andwill culminateonFebruary12.
The Guyana Boys Under-17 team: Zack Brief
(Fulham F C Academy, England), Nyall Kendall (CharltonAthleticAcademy, England), Flavio Larose (Pele F.C., Guyana), Tyrell Walcott(PeleF.C.,Guyana), Nyron Barrow (Timehri UnitedF.C.,Guyana),Tamer Unver (Unattached), Malachi Patrick (Bromley FC , England), Maximus Cato (Downtown United Soccer Club, USA), Joshua Morris (Rush Canada F.C., Canada), Levi Stephens, Micaiah Defreitas (U WI Pelicans, Trinidad and Tobago), Trayvon Smith (GoldenStarsF.C.,Guyana), Aaden Arthur (WNY Flash ECNL, USA), Jaden Tasher (Genesis FC , Guyana), Jeremiah Welcome (Guyana Defense Force, Guyana), Matthew Stewart (Blau Weiss Gottschee Academy, USA), Qushon Lewis (Eagles United, Guyana), DavidWilliams(EaglesF.C., Guyana), Darius Chester, ( C h a s e A c a d e m y Foundation, Guyana), Jaden Nelson (YMCA, Guyana) and Mark Glasgow (B.V UnitedF.C.).
Mrs. Marcia Lee (L), GCF Company Secretary receives sponsorship cheque from Mr. Lucknauth (R) proprietor of Jade's Wok.
Arjoon, Edwards, Mekdeci among winners as BCQS Masters get underway
Th e G u y a n a
S q u a s h
Association opened its 2026 season in fine style on Wednesday as the BCQS Masters served offattheGeorgetownClub, with Guyanese Joseph Mekdeci, Brian Edwards, AlexArjoon and Jason-Ray Khalil among those taking early strikes across the variousdivisions.
Several local players began their campaigns with victories, while regional competitors also produced standout performances Trinidadian Gowkaran Bissoon edged Sandeep Chand 3–2 in a thrilling five-game encounter, while Barbados' Peter Harris was dominant in the Men's 55–64category,dispatching Rob Edwards 11–3, 11–5, 11–4.
In theWomen's Over 35 division,AlisonSmithmade a solid start, defeating Guyanese Maria Munroe 3–1.
Munroe showed brief resistance in the third game before Smith closed out the
match emphatically with a 12–10wininthefourth.
Alex Arjoon and JasonR a y K h a l i l w e r e untouchable in the Men's 30–44 division. Arjoon brushed aside Lester Lewis 11–1, 11–6, 11–1, while Khalil turned up the intensity against Sherwyn Caesar, cruising to an 11–1, 11–2, 11–3 victory to cap a strongopeningday The Men's 55–64 division was controlled early by Brian Edwards, Joseph Mekdeci and Lloyd Fung-A-Fat, all of whom recorded wins. Eighth seed Edwards secured a comfortable straight-games victory over Sanjay Amin, Mekdeci delivered a composed11–2,11–1,11–3 winagainstRogerSeymour, whileFung-A-Fatovercame countryman Dennis Dias 11–5, 12–10, 11–7 to advancetodaytwo.
O t h e r n o t a b l e performances included Medhi Ramdhani's impressive three-game victoryoverfifthseedDean Straker of Barbados in the
Slingerz Physio Jana Edghill attending Barbados Course
SlingerzFootballClubisproudtohighlightthecontinued professional development of their medical team, as club physiotherapist Jana Edghill is currently attending the Barbados Sports Medicine Association's four-day Team PhysicianDevelopmentCourse. Thisprestigiousprogramme brings together physiotherapists and sports medicine professionals from across the Caribbean and beyond, and is beingdeliveredbysomeoftheregionsandtheworld'sleading sports medicine practitioners and doctors. The course is designedtostrengthentheknowledgeandpracticalexpertise required to care for athletes at the highest levels of sport.At Slingerz FC, they believe that Edghill's participation will further enhance their capacity to not only care for their players,buttoensuretheyreceivetreatmentandsupportthat meets international standards, the club noted in a release. Edghill expressed her sincere appreciation to the club's management for making her attendance and participation possible, noting that the experience will greatly benefit both herandtheclub.
55–64 division. Robert Fernandes enjoyed a successful return, defeating SuneshMaikoo11–3,11–5, 11–4 in the Men's 45–54 category, while Ryan Rahaman also advanced with a straight-games win over Ron Dickey Jonathan Antczak and Steven Xavier both registered convincing victoriesintheMen's30–44 division.
The tournament continued yesterday with intense second-round action, including Joseph
Mekdeci versus Lloyd Fung-A-Fat, Alex Arjoon against Peter DeGroot, and Medhi Ramdhani battling John Holly of Trinidad and Tobago. The day's schedule also featured Anna Pereira taking on Lydia Fraser, among several other key clashes.
Action continues today, through to tomorrow, Saturday, February 7, when champions will be crowned intheWomen'sOver35,and Men's 30–44, 45–54 and 55–64divisions.
Guyanese Joseph Mekdeci opens 2026 BCQS Masters with win. (GSA photo)
Jana Edghill
...Suriname excluded from Competition
Guyana Golden Jaguars Under17 team will be in action today. (GFF Facebook)
Smriti Mandhana can't wait to get her hands on the trophy. (BCCI) trophy
