Kaieteur News

K

Tuesday Edition Saudi capital’s AIETEUR NEWS airport to remain shut this week as airlines cancel services October 13, 2026 - Vol. 19 No. 41

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $200 readership yesterday, 44,286

US$15B in oil exported in first 6 months; Guyana received only US$1.9B Diamond Barima victims still waiting declarations for promised relief plunge 61.7% in first half Bank of Guyana:

Republic Bank commits to preferential agricultural loans - Pres. Ali says new financing push will target medium- and large-scale farmers

GGMC finds no major breaches in mining, petroleum licence reviews

Dead: Anthony Kellon Cato

Commissioners of the MV Barima CoI on Monday traveled to Mabaruma to meet with families of those who perished on the vessel that sank on July 18. (Photo credit: NCN Guyana)

Linden man shoots teen girlfriend dead, then kills himself

Dead: Toisha Andrews

PAGE 02

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 13, 2026

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 13, 2026

PAGE 03

US$15B in oil exported in first six months; Guyana received only US$1.9B A staggering US$15B in oil was exported from Guyana during the first months of 2026, 40% more when compared with the same period last year. The Bank of Guyana half year report for 2026 states, “Crude oil export earnings amounted to US$15,053.7 million, US$6,787.6 million higher than the same period one year ago.” Central Bank pointed out that the increase earnings were as a result of more oil leaving the country and higher prices during the period. Kaieteur News understands that 162.4 million barrels of oil were exported during the first six months of the year, compared with 116.1 million barrels one year ago - a 40% increase. Meanwhile, BoG reported, “The average export price received for crude oil also increased by 30.1 per cent or US$21.45 to US$92.68 per barrel from US$71.23 per barrel one year ago.” But while a massive US$15 billion in oil left the country in six months, Guyana only received US$1.9 billion of the earnings from the sector. According to Petroleum

Chart showing the oil exported during the first six months of 2026 versus Guyana’s earnings.

Receipts published by the Ministry of Finance and seen by this newspaper, Guyana got US$761M between January and March 2026. The country’s Natural Resource Fund (NRF) received an additional US$1.2B between April and June. This is as a result of the deal Guyana signed with ExxonMobil and its partners in 2016. The deal

allowed ExxonMobil to take up to 75 per cent of Guyana’s oil each month to pay for developments in the Stabroek Block. The remaining 25 per cent was split equally with Guyana and the contractor meaning 12.5 per cent of profits came to the country and an additional 2 per cent royalty. The formula has now changed

as ExxonMobil has recovered its US$55 billion investments made in the country for the seven projects approved by government. President Irfaan Ali announced that Guyana’s profit share has climbed significantly from 12.5 per cent to 39.8 per cent as operating costs still remain. As expenses have been

recovered, the head-of-state noted that the share of oil to repay costs have been reduced from 75 per cent to 20 per cent. As a result, the NRF has recorded higher inflows since August this year. The BoG reported that in August alone, Guyana’s earnings were US$778 million using an exchange rate of $208 for one USD- more than the country received during the first quarter. Notably, the revenue for August included profit oil and a signing bonus payment. Meanwhile, in September, the oil fund received another US$768 million for profit oil payments, taking the country’s total earnings for the year so far to US$3.5 billion. During the presentation of this year’s budget, Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh revealed that Guyana is anticipated to earn US$2.8B billion. He explained, “Government is expected to earn approximately US$2.4 billion in profit oil and US$375.3 million in royalties. In addition, a signing bonus of US$17 million will be deposited for the new PSA signed for exploration activities in Block S7.”

Almost 30% of Development Bank President Ali sidesteps questions on Seeram’s future applications linked to agriculture as Border Patrol Director – Pres. Ali President Irfaan Ali on Monday deflected questions from the press regarding the future role of National Border Patrol Director, Daniel Seeram following his recent guilty conviction for domestic assault, firmly dismissing queries about executive clemency and declining to state whether the official will be asked to step down. The exchange unfolded on Monday, October 12, 2026, where reporters pressed the head-of-state on whether Seeram would retain his key national security position or if executive intervention was under consideration. “OUTSIDE MY SCOPE OF THINKING” Asked whether he would consider exercising his constitutional powers to grant Seeram executive clemency, President Ali distanced himself from the prospect. “I am not even in that space as yet,” President Ali stated, emphasising his adherence to due process. “This is the president who has always acted in the confines of the law. I believe in that”.

President Irfaan Ali

Convicted: Daniel Seeram

When pressed further by reporters on whether a presidential pardon remained an option, Ali firmly rebuffed the premise, “You are even outside of my scope of thinking at the moment”. However, when questioned directly on whether Seeram would be asked to resign as director of the National Border Patrol given his guilty verdict, the president declined to answer and walked away. The president’s comments follow weeks of intense public interest surrounding Seeram’s legal troubles. On October 2, 2026, Senior Magistrate Abigail Gibbs at the

Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court, found Seeram guilty of assault causing actual bodily harm to his ex-wife. Following the verdict, Seeram, a former captain in the Guyana Defence Force and former Region Four chairman, was remanded into custody pending a formal sentencing hearing scheduled for November 2, 2026. Seeram was handed over to the Camp Street prison on Saturday night October 10. F o r n o w, t h e administration has maintained official silence o n w h e t h e r S e e r a m ’s contract will be terminated or suspended as he awaits his November sentencing date.

Since its launch the Guyana Development Bank has seen almost 30% of its loan application being specific to the agricultural sector, President Irfaan Ali disclosed on Monday during an address at the Farmers’ Conference and Market Day 2026 held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. He explained that the government has been able to build consortiums of young persons who are now into poultry. “Listening to their stories, there is an indication that the direction of the policy is leading to a new wave of excitement, a new wave in agriculture and it’s this fact that almost 30% of all the applications so far in the Development Bank is in the agricultural sector… That is in productivity.” The Guyanese head-of-state noted that once there are persons interested in the production of goods within the sector, then it will continue to grow and expand. Discussions are now being held with all of the commercial banks and negotiations are underway to have them offer similar incentives that are offered by the Development Bank for low-income housing and agricultural loans. This needs to be done so that persons who are interested in getting into medium-largescale production can get those loans at affordable rates. President Ali said too that a private local investor in poultry is also about to commission the startup of a large poultry processing plant, which will triple the current capacity of processing birds locally. President Ali reminded that these investments are not accidental, but are rather following the lead of government, the policies that are being implemented. “…

farmers today are confident that they know they have a government that will back them, a government that will support them, a government that believe in them, that believe in this sector, and believe in our ability to be a strong producer of food,” he added. Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha said in his address that the inaugural conference was created because his government listened and wanted to show farmers that their voices mattered. “We created it because government alone cannot transform agriculture. The most effective policy are those shaped by the people who live the realities of farming every day. It’s a forum to ensure that you have a direct voice in the implementations, refinement and execution of those policies. It is an opportunity for you to help shape the next phase of Guyana’s agricultural transformation,” he added. Mustapha reminded the audience that it is about something bigger; contributing to a national action plan and helping to shape the policies and program that will help support thousands of farmers, create opportunities for future generations, and strengthening Guyana’s role as a leader in regional food security. “Today, I am proud to say that Guyana is leading the CARICOM under President Ali’s leadership in agriculture and food security. President Ali has not only placed Guyana back on the map as the agriculture capital of the Caribbean, but his leadership of the CARICOM 25 by 2025 plus 5 initiative has mobilised real capital, policy reforms, and political will across the region to cut our collective import bill and guarantee regional food security,” he added.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 04

Tuesday October 13, 2026

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL - Tel: 624-6456 Editor-in-Chief: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Eusi Kwayana The passing of Eusi Kwayana at 101 marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in Guyana’s political, educational and intellectual history. His life spanned colonial rule, the struggle for self-government, independence and the turbulent decades that shaped the modern Guyanese state. Few individuals have witnessed so much of the country’s evolution while contributing so significantly to the debates that defined it. Born Sydney Evanson King on 4thApril, 1925, Kwayana became involved in community affairs in Buxton from an early age. His political journey began in the 1940s and eventually took him into the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), where he participated in the movement for selfgovernment. Following the PPP’s victory in the 1953 elections, he served in the short-lived government as Minister of Communication and Works. The British suspension of the Constitution and removal of that administration from office marked an early and consequential episode in his political life. Kwayana’s subsequent departure from the PPP did not end his involvement in national affairs. His political path took him through the People’s National Congress (PNC) before he became a founding member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) in 1974. His journey across these political organisations reflected a career shaped by changing convictions, ideological differences and a sustained interest in the direction of Guyana’s development. Within the WPA, Kwayana served as an executive member, parliamentarian and contributor to the party’s publications. He remained associated with the movement until his death, maintaining a political presence that extended across generations. His involvement in the party also placed him within a movement that challenged the established political order and advocated democratic participation, social justice and a greater role for working people in national affairs. Yet Kwayana’s contribution cannot be measured solely by the political organisations he helped build or the offices he occupied. His commitment to education was equally significant. Having entered the teaching profession at just 15, he founded County High School in Buxton in 1956, later renamed Republic Cooperative High School. This work demonstrated his belief in education as a means of expanding opportunities and strengthening communities. His connection to Buxton remained central to his identity. Through teaching, community organising and writing, he sought to preserve the experiences and history of the people among whom he lived and worked. His life demonstrated that nation-building requires more than participation in political office; it also demands investment in education, culture and the development of future generations. Kwayana was also an important figure in the promotion of African cultural consciousness and Pan-Africanism. He co-founded the African Society for Racial Equality in 1961 and the African Society for Cultural Relations with Independent Africa in 1964. Through these organisations, he contributed to efforts to strengthen African pride, dignity and cultural identity. His adoption of the name Eusi Kwayana, meaning “Black Man of Guyana” in Swahili, reflected this commitment. As a historian and author, he documented important aspects of Guyana’s political and social development, including race relations, labour struggles, colonialism and the contributions of different communities. His publications, alongside his work in theatre and political writing, formed part of a sustained effort to understand the forces that shaped the country. His play, The Promised Land, won the Best Play prize in the Youth Category at the British Guiana Drama Festival in 1965. Kwayana’s long life also offers an opportunity to reflect on the importance of political independence, integrity and principled disagreement. His career crossed party lines, and his experiences placed him among some of the most

Guyana, Venezuela controversy DEAR EDITOR, As the heads of countries addressed the United Nations General Assembly, Ve n e z u e l a ’ s D e l c y Rodriguez did not hesitate to use the opportunity to advance, in her words, “our reaffirmation of Venezuela’s historic rights over Guayana Esequiba” and then proceeds to misrepresent the Geneva Agreement by calling upon Guyana “to resolve and return to negotiations as mandated by the Geneva Agreement.” In fact, just before we became an independent country, the Venezuelan government, in 1962, unilaterally revived its claim to the Essequibo, rejecting the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award, declaring it null and void. The Award had settled the boundaries between Guyana and Venezuela and had been accepted by Venezuela for more than 60

years. The British government refused to entertain the claim and, 3 months before Guyana’s independence was agreed, called a Conference in Geneva to address the controversy which resulted in the 1966 Geneva Agreement and to which Guyana became a Party on becoming independent. It is well established history now that the Geneva Agreement established a framework for the peaceful settlement of the controversy and, importantly, provided that if the controversy could not be settled between Guyana and Venezuela, then the Secretary-General of the United Nations would provide the means of settlement in accordance with the provisions of Article 33 of the United Nations Charter. T h e Ve n e z u e l a n government has consistently chosen to ignore this

provision, as did Rodriguez, when she called upon Guyana to “return to negotiations as mandated by the Geneva Agreement.” We know that in January 2018, acting under his mandate of Article IV (ii) of the Geneva Agreement, the United Nations SecretaryGeneral, Antonio Guterres, determined that the controversy could not be settled through negotiations and should be resolved by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The case before the ICJ has now entered its deliberative phase and the final judgement, which is binding on both Guyana and Ve n e z u e l a u n d e r international law, is likely to be delivered early next year. Rodriguez has already pronounced that her government will not recognise the findings of the ICJ, whereas, Guyana has pledged to respect and abide

by the ICJ’s final judgement. What has changed dramatically in all of this, is that since the U.S. government removed Maduro from Venezuela and Rodriguez has taken over, the U.S. government has taken over Venezuela and Rodriguez is reporting to U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. The U.S. government has consistently supported Guyana against the Venezuelan claim and has remained our staunchest ally in this regard and there is no conceivable reason why this s h o u l d c h a n g e . Nevertheless, given Delcy Rodriguez’s purposeful misrepresentation of the Geneva Agreement at the UN General Assembly, we are far from out of the woods as yet with regard to the Venezuelan threat to our sovereignty. Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

All groups Benefitted from Gandhi’s Struggle in South Africa DEAR EDITOR, I am in agreement with Nigel Bacchus that writers should “be true to history” (Oct 11), his reply to my missive (Oct 10) on Gandhi’s role in abolishing indentureship in British colonies. Bacchus stated that he did not encounter evidence that Gandhi ever addressed the plight and discrimination experienced by Blacks. Gandhi did not go to South Africa to fight racism against Indians and Blacks or to champion the rights of Indians. He did not know about White racism or apartheid or Indian indentureship in SA. He went to SA as a lawyer to represent an Indian business company. There he became a victim of racism that he combated and would also learn about Indian indentureship and its abuses. He also fought against these abuses on behalf of the indentured labourers and the racism experienced by Indians who had completed their indentureship. His early campaign in SA was for

Indian rights. And later after the British violence during the African Bambatha Rebellion in 1906, he addressed the plight of Blacks. He wrote that his heart was with Zulus who were bludgeoned. South Africa was a racially divided place with each race (Whites, Blacks, Mixed, Indians) living within its own confines, not dissimilar to racial separation in Guyana or racial segregation in America. Co-mingling among the races was discouraged. Gandhi had limited contacts with Blacks and Mixed and was restricted from venturing outside of his community. When he fought discrimination, all races benefitted; his campaign against racism drew attention of the world, putting pressure on the regime. It is not dissimilar to when Dr. King fought racism in USA. All racial groups (Hispanics, Chinese, Indians, natives, Jews, and even Catholics and Italians who were at one time in USA not considered as a religion

consequential movements and personalities in Guyana’s modern history. His legacy should therefore be examined thoughtfully, acknowledging both his contributions and the complexities of the political periods through which he lived. Guyana must do more than issue tributes when its elder statesmen and national figures pass away. Their writings, experiences and historical records must be preserved and made accessible to younger generations. A country that neglects its history risks losing valuable lessons about

or as Whites respectively). Dr. King did not set out to fight for rights of Jews or Hispanics or Indians or Italians. But all groups benefitted from Dr. King’s struggle against racism experienced by blacks; s i m i l a r l y, a l l g r o u p s benefitted from Gandhi’s struggle in South Africa although he prioritised Indian rights because he lived and experienced suffering among them similar to Dr. King who lived and experienced suffering among Blacks. Both were legendary freedom fighters, models to emulate. Dr. King emulated Gandhi as did Mandela. In South Africa, the great Mandela deeply revered Gandhi as a vital role model and political inspiration for the anti-apartheid movement, frequently praising him as a “sacred warrior”. Mandela acknowledged that Gandhi’s struggle laid the tactical groundwork that inspired the multi-racial anti-apartheid movement. He famously said during a speech in India:

“You gave us Mohandas Gandhi; we returned him to you as the Mahatma (great one).” On combating racism, Indians were in the forefront of the anti-apartheid struggle. Several Indians went to jail with Mandela for their role in the apartheid struggle; some were even more radical revolutionaries than Mandela. Mandela included several them in his cabinet. Ahmed Khatrada spent almost the same time in jail as Mandela and was released from Robben Island same time as Mandela. Dr. Yusuf Dadoo, IC Meer, Yusuf Cachalia, Fatima Meer, Billy Nair, Kesaveloo Goonam, ES Reddy, and JN Singh, among others, were also jailed for fighting racism. Also, Thambi Naidoo and his wife Ama worked closely with Gandhi to fight racism as did their children and grandchildren Shanthie and Indres who worked with the Natal Indian Congress and the ANC; they and so many others were well known anti-apartheid Continued on page 5

leadership, democracy, cultural identity and the responsibilities of citizenship. Eusi Kwayana devoted much of his life to teaching, writing, political activism and community development. His death at 101 closes a remarkable personal journey, but the questions he engaged with remain relevant. His legacy should inspire Guyanese to pursue knowledge, defend principle, participate meaningfully in public life and continue the work of building a more just and inclusive society.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 13, 2026

The Guyana Development Bank: Get the Auditor General Involved Now! DEAR EDITOR, It was recently announced that the Government of Guyana opened the Guyana Development Bank (GDB). What was abnormal with this opening was that only Members of the Board of Directors were identified, but no mention was made of a General Manager, nor was there an organisational chart identifying the various bank departments. In fact, no project appraisal, loan supervision, credit, and accounting departments, among others, were identified. As a result, will these critical departments be managed on a daily basis by the Board of Directors? Are the Board Members fulltime staff members of the GDB? This must be clarified as trained credit analysts, capable of evaluating, supervising, and recovering development loans in a decentralised system across Guyana’s ten administrative regions, are required to professionally manage the GDB. No other arrangement will be efficient. Equally strange is the fact that the loan applications are expected to be submitted using an online address: (gdb.gov.gy](https://gdb.go v.gy/). Really? Can you imagine a farmer in a rural community in Region 8 having access to the technology to engage in this loan application process? Just a reminder, GAIBANK had branch offices in the regions, since being close to the economic activity reduces transaction costs for applicants and borrowers; and it enhances project supervision, and strengthens cooperation and coordination with the regional administration, along with the supporting

services organised in the community. Furthermore, when consideration is given to the fact that the supply of fish and other crops are decreasing (Bank of Guyana 2026 Half Year Report: https://bankofguyana.org.gy /bog3/images/research/Repo rts/HalfYear2026.pdf); that the demand for food is increasing (immigrants entering Guyana, among others); that none of the Board Members have any qualifications in agriculture; and that the Minister of Agriculture was excluded from the opening of the GDB, these deficiencies are indeed clear signals that s e r i o u s p o l i c y considerations are not being undertaken. One other interesting observation of the GDB is that loan disbursements for approved loans to borrowers will be paid into the commercial bank accounts of approved GDB clients. This is a very worrisome event, because the project disbursements of funds must be paid directly to the suppliers of the inputs, the equipment, or project services financed with the GDB loans. Regrettably, paying the money into the borrower’s account at the commercial bank will increase the probability for misuse, due to the GDB’s lack of oversight and the obvious setbacks due to asymmetrical information concerns. Additionally, without a defined credit policy, this will add further complications to the GDB operations. It has also been reported that successful clients who would have repaid their loans and advanced their business can then move their economic activities to the commercial banks, where

they can obtain larger loans. This development cannot be a serious expectation, simply because commercial banks will require collateral that have market valuations that are no less than the value of the disbursed loan plus interest. Can the GDB borrowers meet these requirements? This would be an important event to monitor; and the data collected should be examined to determine the success or failure of this credit operation. It was reported also that no interest will be collected on the loans provided by the GDB; and therefore, the question is: where will the money come from to pay the Board of Directors and the other expenses of the GDB? Will it be a proportion of the money approved for the Bank? How will the financial viability of the GDB be measured, given that there will not be available the traditional financial statements? Moreover, will the financial sustainability of the GDB be a line item in the National Budget in a manner no different than that of a Ministry? These issues must be clarified. In view of all these operational concerns raised about the GDB, it is extremely important to have the Auditor General be immediately involved in auditing the GDB transactions; for the Auditor General must not wait until “de boat gaan ah falls” to step in. That will be too late for Guyana. Consequently, the time is now for the Auditor General to move into audit action. Wake up Guyana! Sincerely, Dr. C. Kenrick Hunte Professor and Former Ambassador

All groups Benefitted from Gandhi’s... From page 4 activists. Gandhi founded the Indian Congress in SA in 1893; the ANC modelled its.name from it in 1912. Several Indians were in the military wing (MK) of the ANC involved in armed struggle. India also played a vital role in fighting apartheid with large amounts of funds and weaponry for the revolutionary movement. No country contributed as much money (at one time US$50M around 1986) and much more before and after to the ANC and the front line nations against apartheid South Africa. Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Robert Mugabe, Joshua Nkomo, among other Africans, acknowledged as much! India also blanked all trade and

sporting contacts with South Africa. There was no Indian Embassy (HC) in SA. No one with South African passport was granted a visa to visit India. South African Airways was not allowed in India and Air India did not fly to SA until after apartheid. The Indian community in SA suffered in not being able to visit their ancestral homeland during apartheid. It is difficult to measure pain and suffering, and therefore, it is difficult to say one group suffered more than another group when everyone is suffering or experiencing tremendous pain. Whenever there is injustice, race must not influence the position we take. It must be on the side of righteousness. Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

PAGE 05

One of Corbin’s strengths was his willingness to listen DEAR EDITOR, Much has been said, and will continue to be said, about Robert Corbin since his passing on October 4. Today, I take the opportunity to reflect on the man I knewa man who, despite political differences and disagreements, remained civil, respectful and willing to engage others without hostility. In a political culture where disagreement is increasingly treated as d i s l o y a l t y, w h e r e independent thought can invite personal attacks, and where too many confuse power with authority, Corbin demonstrated that one could hold firm convictions without surrendering the basic principles of respect and decency. I first met Robert Corbin in 1968 in Linden, while he was campaigning to become General Secretary of the youth arm of his party, the People’s National Congress (PNC). We discussed several issues, agreeing on some and disagreeing on others. Yet, our differences did not prevent the development of a relationship that continued over the years. On our second occasion of meeting in Kwakwani, Corbin had already secured his position in the Young Socialist Movement. Our engagement continued for a number of years, and I had reason to telephone him on several occasions during his time in the PNC Government and later as Leader of the Opposition. O n e o f C o r b i n ’s strengths was his willingness to listen. Regardless of our differences, he would sit, listen intently to what was being said, and, when the appropriate time came, offer his response. He was a keen and intense listener, so much so that some might have mistaken his silence for

disengagement. Those who knew him understood otherwise. I listened to Corbin’s responses to presentations made in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition. On occasions when he visited me at the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) to discuss issues of common nature he would suggest that we continue our discussions in an informal and cordial setting. He understood that meaningful engagement did not always require a public platform, a confrontation or an audience. Although Corbin and I, and at times leaders of the trade union movement, disagreed on issues, he was never discourteous in his dealings with us. He did not appear to carry grudges simply because another person held an independent position. That is a quality worth remembering, particularly in a society where too many public engagements have deteriorated into personal attacks and political hostility. I want to believe that Corbin’s disposition was shaped not only by the family that raised him with what we call “grace and manners,” but also by the political culture in which he was nurtured. Those of us who have been active in national life since the 1980s can recount countless instances of public

disagreement with the political establishment, whether in government or opposition. Differences were not absent then, nor were political struggles without their difficulties. But the degree of personalised hostility that increasingly characterises political engagement today was not accepted by all as an honourable or necessary feature of public service. T h e r e w a s a n understanding that one could disagree with the government, challenge the opposition, defend workers’ interests or advance an independent position without automatically becoming a personal enemy. Political office did not relieve anyone of the obligation to respect others, and disagreement did not have to destroy the possibility of dialogue. Corbin belonged to that tradition, and those characteristics remained evident in his conduct until the end. During my last telephone conversation with Robert, we discussed our concerns about the declining conditions in our country and the growing intolerance in our national life. As was his nature, he listened attentively, interjected where necessary and offered his perspective. He impressed upon me that the circumstances confronting us represented challenges Continued on page 6

Kaieteur News

PAGE 06

Tuesday October 13, 2026

Commercial banks to Police destroy $26.8M offer agricultural loans at preferential rates - Pres. Ali in cannabis at Wiruni

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali

F

armers looking to move into medium- and large-scale production will soon be able to get bank loans at preferential rates. President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali made the announcement on Monday at the inaugural Farmers’ Conference held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. The president said the government has brought the commercial banks together. It is negotiating agricultural loans to attract the same incentives as the low-income housing loans. One bank has already signed on. “Already, we have the commitment from Republic Bank that they are going to set aside resources for agricultural loans at a preferential rate, and we are negotiating that rate, which I hope can be announced even before the end of the conference, at the end of this week,” President Ali said. Demerara Bank already offers poultry loans at 5 per cent. The president said the government is working to bring those loans under the new incentive arrangement as well. “That is what we do every single day for farmers. We work hard. We try to bring the private sector along. We improve the financial sector so that we can tackle the

challenges farmers face in a multidimensional way,” he said. The financing push comes as demand for credit in the sector grows. Almost 30 per cent of the applications the Guyana Development Bank (GDB) has received since it launched just over a week ago come from agriculture. “If there is one indication as to how the policy direction is leading to a new wave of excitement, a new wave in agriculture, it is this fact, that almost 30 per cent of all the applications so far in the development bank is in the agricultural sector,” the president said. He contrasted this with 2020. Then, large farmers and producers were scaling back their investments, and many medium-sized operators, especially in rice and poultry, were leaving the sector. Today, he said, production has recovered and young people are forming consortiums to invest in poultry and other agricultural businesses. President Ali also pointed to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) latest report on Guyana. It found that agriculture has grown by an average of 10 per cent a year since 2022 and now accounts for six per cent of GDP, or one-fifth of non-oil GDP. He said that growth is a direct result of government investment, subsidies and policies to support farmers. He added that more people investing in production will keep that growth going. “Once we have people interested in the production of goods, especially in the agricultural sector, then what the IMF report is saying about us today will continue to expand and continue to grow,” President Ali said. The Conference forms part of Agriculture Month of activities held under the theme “Innovate, Nourish, Grow: Building a Strong and Sustainable Guyana.” (DPI)

Police destroyed a large quantity of marijuana. Police destroyed four cannabis cultivations spanning approximately seven acres at Wiruni, Upper Berbice River, on Sunday, with the eradication exercise yielding an estimated $26.8 million worth of suspected cannabis plants and dried cannabis. The exercise was conducted between 07:00 hrs and 19:00 hrs, during which ranks discovered four cultivations in close proximity to each other. The first cultivation covered approximately two acres and contained about 15,000 suspected cannabis plants ranging from four to six feet in height. A makeshift camp was also discovered, containing approximately 40 pounds of dried cannabis.

The second cultivation, measuring about one acre, contained approximately 4,000 suspected cannabis plants ranging from five inches to one foot in height. The third cultivation spanned approximately two acres and contained an estimated 10,000 suspected cannabis plants between five and six feet tall. The fourth cultivation also covered approximately two acres and contained about 8,000 suspected cannabis plants ranging from six inches to two feet in height. Police said the suspected cannabis plants, dried cannabis and makeshift camp, with a combined estimated value of GY$26,832,112, were destroyed by fire at the location. No arrests were made, and investigations are ongoing.

Three busted with gun, ammo and drugs in Berbice Four men were arrested by police in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Monday after they were reportedly caught in possession of a firearm, ammunition and narcotics. According to the police, o n M o n d a y, a t a b o u t 10:40am, ranks acting on information proceeded to No. 1 Road, Corentyne, Berbice, where they observed four males who were with two motorcycles. One of the motorcycles bore registration number CS 7869, and the other was without a registration number. The ranks then conducted a search on the four individuals, and found one 12-guage shot gun on one of the males who had a black haversack strapped to his back. Also discovered were eighteen 12-gauge shotgun cartridges and fifteen small zip-lock bags containing a quantity of

One of the cultivations that was destroyed.

The weapon discovered during the operation Suspected cannabis being weighed at the Albion Police Station, Corentyne.

leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis. The suspected cannabis was weighed and amounted to 25.3 grams.

The males age 19 years old, all of whom are from Albion, Corentyne, are in custody assisting the police with investigations.

One of Corbin’s strengths was his... From page 5 associated with Guyana’s politics, while encouraging me to stay the course and continue the fight. Those words resonated with me because the struggle for workers’ rights, social justice, dignity and accountability does not end when the political circumstances become difficult. The trade union movement has a responsibility to continue speaking out, defending the rights of workers and challenging conditions that undermine the welfare of our people. That responsibility cannot be abandoned simply because the road ahead is difficult. Corbin was a man, with the shortcomings that come with being human. I do not pretend that we agreed on everything or that he was without imperfections. But I can speak to my experience: he was civil and cordial in his engagements with me and with the trade

union movement. He understood that disagreement was part of public life and that respect for another person’s right to hold a different view was essential. Today, Robert Corbin’s work on earth is done. His passing provides an opportunity not merely to remember the political offices he held, but to reflect on the personal qualities he demonstrated and the value of preserving civility in our national discourse. May his soul rest in eternal peace. I extend my condolences to his wife, Carol, his children, other family members, and the People’s National Congress, the party he led and called his political home. Farewell, warrior. May your contribution to Guyana’s political life, and the memory of the man who could disagree without disrespect, endure. Sincerely, Lincoln Lewis

Tuesday October 13, 2026

Kaieteur News

PAGE 07

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Tuesday October 13, 2026

DIAMOND DECLARATIONS PLUNGE 61.7% IN FIRST HALF – Bank of Guyana ...declarations have fallen for four consecutive years as miners shift to gold The Government of Guyana (GoG) has made targeted interventions to address falling gold declarations but diamond declarations have been rapidly decreasing over the past six months, recording a steep decline by 61.7%. Central Bank in its HalfYe a r r e p o r t s t a t e s , “Declarations of diamond decreased by 61.7 percent to 8,710 metric carats at endJune 2026.” It explained that the decline in diamonds was associated with lower declarations and the continued concentration of small-scale mining activity in gold. A closer analysis of the numbers by this publication shows a steady decline in diamond declarations at the mid-year mark since 2022. In 2022, some 49,016 metric carats of diamonds were declared for the six months of the year. In 2023, this fell to 38,608 metric carats. In 2024, the BoG recorded 29,387 metric carats of diamond declarations while in 2025 it was 22,750 metric carats at mid-year. Minister of Natural

The decline in diamond declarations (Data source: Bank of Guyana)

Resources, Vickram Bharrat during the sidelines of an event in 2024 was asked whether government was concerned about the consecutive decline in diamond declarations, when he pointed to a lower global demand for the mineral. He

explained, “If you are following what is happening on the World market, it’s not only Guyana, the diamond trade has suffered worldwidelike manganese- it has suffered worldwide. The world market price is very

low and as an indication of that you will realise that not much of our miners now are into diamond mining.” Bharrat added, “…and mainly too because of the ‘lab diamonds’ that are being created by many other countries around the world.

There are so many other forms- I don’t want to say minerals, but elements that are being used as jewellery to replace diamonds that it has created a kind of unfair competition, because at the end of the day it’s not real but generally on the world

market there is a problem. It’s not only Guyana.” He also told this newspaper that there are no indications that smuggling of diamonds is ongoing. “We have no such report of it but it cannot be ruled out. We are looking at the situation but for a number of years now it has been on the decline so I don’t think it’s a major concern,” Bharrat noted. Kaieteur News had reported on the steep decline in gold declarations over a sustained period. Government subsequently beefed up monitoring activities in mining areas leading to several illegal mining camps being destroyed since the beginning of this year. A number of foreign miners were arrested with equipment seized by government. These activities resulted in higher gold declarations in the first six months of 2026. According to the Bank of Guyana, gold declarations in the first half of the year increased by 11.3% to 232,287 troy ounces from 208,757 troy ounces at the end-June 2025.

Govt. building food IMF urges Guyana to tackle labour reserves to cushion shortages, strengthen food security skilled and unskilled labour. The International Monetary Fund price shocks Construction, manufacturing and (IMF) has urged Guyana to address The government is building storage facilities for rice, honey, poultry and fresh produce to store up to three months’ supply of food, helping to maintain stable prices when global markets are disrupted. President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali shared the plan on Monday during his keynote address at the first-ever Farmers’ Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC). He believes food security calls for the same planning strategy countries use for fuel. “In today’s market, just like oil, if you have massive storage facility for oil and you buy when oil is cheap and you can store that oil, you have a longer security period in terms of stability in your market. It’s becoming the same for food because of climate-related events,” he said. He futher explained that “When chicken price is stable, we load up our storage. So, when prices go up because of something that is happening globally…We have a threemonth buffer of food supply to stabilise the market.” The head of state also highlighted the volatility of the global rice market, which shifted from a glut in January to a shortage just nine months later. “That’s the dynamism of the food market today. That is why we have to invest in the regional food hub,” he said. Storage facilities for rice are being built in Regions Two and Three, along with a national storage facility for honey. Private poultry producers are investing more in storage, chill room capacity is being increased, and a regional food hub is being built for fresh crops and vegetables. President Ali said the facilities will also strengthen Guyana’s role in food security for the Caribbean. The plan is being developed with Northern Brazil and the Caribbean as key partners. “Just imagine if we can have the capacity in the Continued on page 15

labour shortages, expand employment opportunities and strengthen food security as the country seeks to diversify its rapidly growing economy beyond oil. In its latest Article IV consultation report on Guyana, released on October 8, the Fund said broader diversification efforts should focus on strengthening human capital, expanding employment opportunities, addressing labour shortages and improving food security. The recommendations come as Guyana’s economy continues to grow rapidly, fuelled by expanding oil production and robust activity in nonoil sectors, including construction, agriculture, mining and manufacturing. Although the country recorded real economic growth of 19.3 per cent in 2025, the IMF projected that the economy would expand by a further 22.3 per cent in 2026. Non-oil gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 14 per cent last year and is projected to increase by 10.2 per cent this year. Despite this expansion, the IMF said addressing labour shortages and broadening the productive base of the economy remain important to sustaining growth and ensuring that the benefits of development extend beyond the petroleum industry.

The IMF expects non-oil economic growth to average approximately seven per cent over the medium term, underscoring the importance of maintaining productive activity outside the oil sector. Agriculture, in particular, remains a critical component of that effort, given its contribution to domestic food supplies, employment and the wider economy. According to the IMF inflation, which averaged 3.3 per cent in 2025, had begun rising in 2026, reflecting higher global energy and food prices. It projected average inflation of 4.1 per cent for the year. The Fund also identified labour shortages as an issue that must be addressed if Guyana is to sustain its economic expansion. As oil production and public and private investment stimulate activity across the economy, competition for workers can place pressure on businesses seeking to recruit and retain

agriculture are among the non-oil activities that the IMF identified as contributing to economic growth. The report calls for stronger human capital, pointing to the importance of developing the skills and capabilities needed to support economic diversification. However, the IMF did not quantify the number of workers Guyana lacks, identify particular occupations experiencing the most severe shortages or prescribe a specific labour-market programme in the recommendations outlined in its report. The IMF also said Guyana’s economic outlook remains highly favourable, with rising oil production expected to strengthen both its fiscal and external positions. However, the long-term benefits of the petroleum boom will also depend on the country’s ability to develop other productive sectors, expand employment and improve resilience to economic shocks. The Fund identified oil price volatility, potential overheating pressures and climate shocks among the risks to the country’s otherwise favourable outlook. The report also stressed the importance of climate resilience, calling for investment in sea defences, drainage and climate-resilient agriculture.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 13, 2026

PAGE 09

Some persons have determined guilt before the inquiry began When it comes to the M. V. Barima tragedy, there are persons who wants the neck of a Minister, and, if possible two. They want them summoned, grilled, condemned, and, if possible, escorted directly from the witness box to prison. Anything less, they contend, would be an insult to public intelligence, an assault on accountability, and probably evidence of a conspiracy involving everybody who has ever occupied a government office. The facts, meanwhile, are expected to have the good manners to fall into line. This is the curious spectacle surrounding the Commission of Inquiry. Before the investigators have even started public hearings, before the operational details have been fully examined, and before the evidence has established where responsibility lies, certain individuals have already assembled their courtroom and selected their defendants. Their position is refreshingly simple: somebody must be held accountable, and that somebody must be a Minister of the PPP/C Government. It cannot merely be a failure of supervision, a breakdown in operational procedures, an

error of management, or even tidal conditions. Heaven forbid that responsibility should stop somewhere below Cabinet level. One suspects that if the Commission were to discover that the immediate cause of a failure lay squarely within operational management, these selfappointed guardians of accountability would demand an investigation into why the investigation had failed to discover a Minister. For them, accountability is predetermined destination to which the evidence must be transported, preferably with the Minister handcuffed in the passenger seat. The most revealing feature of this obsession is the endless fixation on whether the two Ministers with direct responsibilities for the relevant areas will be summoned to testify and cross-examined. C o n s i d e r t h e extraordinary logic. The Commission has a broad mandate and extensive powers. It is empowered to investigate the relevant circumstances and establish responsibility. Yet some people appear incapable of contemplating the exercise of those powers without first demanding a public guarantee that the Ministers

will be called. Why? Are they worried that the Commission might somehow overlook the existence of two Ministers? Perhaps they imagine the investigators sitting around a table, examining documents, interviewing witnesses, and suddenly asking, “Does anybody know who was responsible for this department?” There is, of course, no mystery about the matter. If the inquiry establishes that ministerial decisions, policy failures, or failures of oversight require examination, the Commission can summon the Ministers and question them. If their evidence needs to be tested, they can be cross-examined. That is precisely why an inquiry possesses investigative powers. But the existence of those powers does not mean that the Commission must begin with the Ministers and work its way downwards, as though responsibility were a ladder on which the highest rung automatically bears the greatest blame. The sensible approach is to investigate the events, establish the sequence of decisions, identify the people responsible for those decisions, and follow the evidence wherever it leads.

Dem Boys Seh...

What goes up and don’t come down? When yuh small and yuh throw a ball in de air, it does come back down. When yuh fly a kite, it does come back down. Even a government promise sometimes does come down — especially when election time done pass. But in Guyana, dem boys discover something dat does only know one direction. De cost of living. It going up like a rocket, and it ain’t got no parachute. The cost of basic items in the supermarket going up, including cooking oil. Since COVID, de price of cooking oil shoot up so high dat frying an egg does feel like investing in Exxon. De importers blame shipping costs. Dem boys wondering if de oil coming from Mars by private jet, because every time dem turn round, de price jump again. Rice, flour, chicken, vegetables — everything climbing. Even de cemetery raise de price fuh bury people. Dat is what dem boys call a grave situation. In Guyana, yuh can’t even dead cheap! One lil boy visit he granny and find de poor woman looking worried over de grocery bill. “ G r a n n y, w h y y u h l o o k i n g s o miserable?” he ask.

“Child, when I was young, I could go in de supermarket with $5,000 and come out with groceries, change, and enough money fuh buy a lil ice cream.” “Granny, dat is inflation,” de boy explain. “Inflation?” Granny shout. “It ain’t got nothing to do with inflation! Is dem security cameras dem put in de supermarket! Dem watching me so close, I too frighten to steal anything!” Dem boys nearly fall off de chair laughing. But when dem stop laughing, dem realise granny got a point about something else: ordinary people watching every dollar, cutting back on necessities, and wondering how far de next pay cheque could stretch. De problem is dat wages don’t climb as fast as prices. When de supermarket raise prices, it does happen overnight. When workers ask for more money, dem got to wait fuh a committee, a consultation, and sometimes a whole change of government. Talk half and wait fuh de day when de cost of living decide to come down without needing a ladder and a government announcement! Talk half. Leff half.

That might involve questioning the management o f t h e Tr a n s p o r t a n d Harbours Department, examining the role of its Board, scrutinising the management of the Maritime Administration Department ( M A R A D ) , a n d investigating the conduct of those responsible for implementing and supervising operational procedures. It might also involve examining the formulation of policy, the adequacy of oversight arrangements, the allocation of responsibilities, and the decisions taken by those charged with supervising the relevant institutions. And if that evidence points towards the Ministers, then the Ministers should be questioned. There is no reason to presume that the Commission would hesitate to do so if their testimony is necessary to establish the truth. But why must the inquiry be required to announce its destination before it has completed the journey? The investigation must first establish what happened, how it happened, who knew what, who was responsible for acting, and whether established

procedures were followed. Only then can the evidence determine whether the failure was operational, managerial, supervisory, systemic, or political. This is not an argument for shielding Ministers. It is an argument against treating their condemnation as the predetermined purpose of the exercise. Indeed, the obsession with whether the Ministers will be summoned exposes the very problem with this approach. Those consumed by that question appear less interested in discovering the full chain of responsibility than in securing a particular name at the end of it. In their eyes, if the Ministers are summoned, they will demand to know why they have not yet been blamed. If they are not summoned immediately, they will declare the inquiry compromised. If the evidence points elsewhere, they will presumably investigate the investigators, preferably until somebody discovers the Minister they originally ordered. At this rate, the Commission could publish its findings, release every document, and provide a detailed explanation of every decision, and somebody

would still complain that the wrong person had been blamed. A genuine inquiry is not a political fishing expedition in which the investigator is instructed to catch a particular fish. It is an exercise in establishing facts, testing evidence, and determining responsibility without fear or favour. Ministers are not above s c r u t i n y. N e i t h e r a r e departmental managers, board members, administrators, supervisors, or operational personnel. Public office does not confer immunity, but neither does it establish guilt. The objective must be justice, not the satisfaction of those who have already decided who should be sacrificed. Let the Commission do its work. Let it examine the evidence, question those who need to be questioned, and follow the trail wherever it leads. If that trail ends at a Minister’s door, so be it. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Tuesday October 13, 2026

Kwayana: A great Guyanese son for the ages The day had to come. An exceptional one it is, for such is reaching the landmark figure of 101 in this life. By itself, it speaks of a passage in life that made the extraordinary look ordinary. But when Eusi Kwayana travelled those 101 years, they took on a gleam that was simply more than human. For the Sage of Guyana was not just a man of his time, but of one beyond his time. Am I up to this task? This task of honoring a truly great Guyanese, one that I would dare to number a m o n g t h i s n a t i o n ’s Founding Fathers. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them” is from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night (Act 2, Scene 5). I can’t say anything about Eusi Kwayana and his being born great. But with all the strength and skill that I am capable of, the man achieved greatness, and he had the call of greatness thrust upon him. From his journey in the crags and moors, the dark

places and highlights, of Guyana, those are all a tribute to his greatness. Nothing that I can pen adds to that homespun truth. A man of the village was Eusi Kwayana. He spoke the language of the common man. Yet, he could make powers and plenipotentiaries rock back on their heels, take another look at him. A man to take seriously, a man for the seasons, a man for the ages of Guyana. There was a time when he had a lot to say, a time when he offered this country more. He knew when to speak, when to hold his peace. Unlike the Young Turks, for whom words are a commodity (like peddled flesh), Kwayana made every word count. No frills. No frivolousness. And certainly, no fooling of the people who trusted at his knee, hung on to his every word. I came of age when the years of his vigorous youthfulness were taking its first steps away from the

crucible of struggle in Guyana. When he assumed the role of an elder statesman in a place that time forgot, and no one wanted to know. In the grey years, his voice still could be heard. The people. the people. the people. Guyana. Guyana united. Guyana together. Guyana going places, despite its selfinflicted handicaps that kept it going on its knees. Who listens to such a man? Who has any interest in sharing power, spreading around the spoils? It is why that even when Guyana is on top of the world, it still does not have roots, lacks foundations, and cheats itself of the strengths that rightly belong to it. It has been the Guyana story. The story that Kwayana and a small company took as their mandate to change, to upend what has always made this country less than it is, should ever be. A figure like Kwayana attracts slings and arrows. The poisoned variety. He was a racist. He was a

divider. He was an African supremacist. Great God in heaven! Savagery does stalk this land, and it has never been at less than full strength. He outlived all those assaults and insults on his dignity, his striving for the people. Indeed, a prophet is not loved in his hometown. Kwayana was the living embodiment of that truth. He knew what it was to be vilified, damned, and condemned. He knew what it was to be written off; yet he always came back, lingered, left a greater impression than before. The man was a marvel and a miracle. The irony is that so many Guyanese have so little use for him. The simple people adored him. In a time when cyberspace creatures rule the

roost in Guyana, the Sage of Buxton still had the grassroots about him. He smelled of grass. The scent of honest sweat from hard labour. So was his. For the people, for a better Guyana. The willingness still to keep trying when the odds are so long and so against. Yet, there was no give in him. How much can Guyana and Guyanese be better, if only there were a half dozen more like Eusi Kwayana. It is one part of the many tragedies in this country that is so rich with so many other fruits. The nonhuman. The servant-leaders that should abound, but never around. The loudmouths that haven’t a clue of how vulgar and vacuous they sound. But I, too, just erred. There should be no tainting of this homage to a man who

has served this country as well as Eusi Kwayana, as humbly, and as continuously. Now, he returns to the village and the folks from whence he came. Now he makes that one last journey to be in the bosom of his ancestors. Farewell, great son of Guyana. Farewell, Eusi Kwayana, for a life well lived, for all the gifts left for others, including me. May his spirit soar with the ancestors, may he find peace in this continent,and all others. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.

GGMC finds no major breaches in mining, petroleum licence reviews The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) says it found no material deviations from the legal and regulatory framework governing the award and transfer of mineral and petroleum licences during 2023 and 2024. In a recent statement, the Commission said it reviewed the processes applied during the two reporting periods against the applicable legislation, regulations, documented procedures and supporting records. For mineral licences, GGMC’s review covered six documented application and transfer processes involving medium- and large-scale mineral properties within the Commission’s ISO 9001-certified quality management system. It was explained that the system was audited and recertified to ISO 9001 in 2023 and provides for documented procedures, process controls, record keeping, monitoring and continual improvement. Based on its review, GGMC said it identified no material deviations from the legal and regulatory framework governing the award and transfer of mineral licences at the small, medium and large scales during 2023 and 2024. In April 2024, Canada-based Reunion Gold Corporation announced that it signed a mineral agreement with the Government of Guyana and the GGMC for its 5.4 million ounce Oko West gold project in Region Seven. Later that month, it was announced that G Mining Ventures Corp. (GMIN) and Reunion entered a business combination with valued at US$638 million. GMIN’s deal with Reunion added the Oko West Gold Project to its portfolio. GGMC’s review of the award and transfer of mineral licences during the twoyear period comes at a time when mineral properties are increasingly being transferred. In a separate advisory GGMC had put mining stakeholders and tenure holders on notice

GGMC Commissioner, Newell Dennison that it will be cracking down on the practice of selling, or purporting to sell, mining lands granted by the Commission. GGMC said the issue is “seriously engaging the attention” of the Commission and suggested that persons who wish to develop or participate in the development of mining properties to explore legitimate Joint Venture arrangements and other lawful mechanisms through which parties can collaborate in mining operations and achieve beneficial occupation and productive use of the property. Meanwhile, as it relates to petroleum licences, GGMC said this fall outside the scope of the Commission’s ISO 9001certified processes. As such, the award and transfer processes were reviewed separately against the applicable petroleum legislation, regulations and administrative requirements. The Commission said that review also identified no material deviations from the applicable legal and regulatory framework governing the award and transfer of petroleum licences were identified during 2023 and 2024.

Tuesday October 13, 2026

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Barima victims still waiting for promised relief

Families speaking with the Commissioners at Kumaka cargo, gas bottles, barrels of fish, generator equipment, and big rollers riding precariously low in the water, with many passengers forced to set up hammocks in overcrowded spaces. Adding to the peril, life jackets were reportedly locked away inside a wooden cage-like structure. One survivor recounted attempting to take her daughter to the washroom downstairs prior to the capsizing, but turned back

By Khadidja Bâ Months after the catastrophic sinking of the MV Barima, grieving families, survivors, and residents from White Water, Mabaruma, Wauna, and surrounding communities are speaking out against what they say is a profound abandonment by the State and humanitarian agencies. During community hearings on Monday addressing the disaster, relatives of those lost and individuals who barely escaped the river, voiced deep frustration over unfulfilled promises of financial assistance, systemic neglect, and the absence of sustained psychological counseling. Community members gathered in the NAREI Compound, Kumaka to share harrowing accounts of survival, loss, and the heavy financial tolls exacted by the tragedy. For many families, the burden of traveling long distances to attend hearings and maintain memorials has drained limited resources, while official relief remains elusive. Survivors noted that despite public talk of extensive support packages, families have only received

about $6,000 worth of goods and support thus far, leaving them largely to fend for themselves without adequate mental health counseling. “ To d a y i s m y s o n birthday…he same one that died... Today is his birthday and I come out here to go and paint his tomb,” shared one grieving father who traveled from the Barima River to honour his young child lost in the disaster. “So, I wish if you all could remind them about the promise, they must not keep it. Because what they’re saying, we hear from the news that millions, a hundred and something million, are all going out to support these people, survivors and losses of family. And no money is coming to you. We don’t know where the money is going. So, you have to remind them for me, sir... Because they’re not coming up the way they’re supposed to be.” Residents criticised the sluggish rollout of support promised by entities such as the Heart Initiative and government bodies. Expressing the widespread anger felt across the region, resident Eva stated plainly, “The president is failing us.” Speaking on behalf of

affected households, resident Andrew Cox directly confronted the commission regarding the toll the ongoing procedures take on residents: “The reason why I am raising concerns in the promises and requests and so, is because this is multiple times, you know, police coming to the region, or evening to the village, and would ask the same question over and over. And I think it is being watched. Because in the same question, people come in and ask over and over and over. And it is affecting some of the people as well. Because when they come and question the people, they feel like they are being pressured.” Survivors offered vivid, harrowing recollections of the disaster, detailing a sequence of mechanical failures, extreme overloading, and safety hazards that preceded the vessel’s capsizing. Passengers recounted that the MV Barima experienced multiple engine failures throughout the journey, stopping around 5:00 p.m. and again at 9:00 p.m. before tragedy struck near 10:00 p.m. Witnesses described a vessel packed heavily with

because water was already visibly pooling below, “I take my daughter for urinating at the washroom. I can’t go downstairs because I see water, and I can’t. I just come back and go outside. And my daughter was so frightened.” Describing the total darkness and immediate panic as the ship went down in mere minutes, another survivor recalled “When my daughter jumped up in the water, she said, ‘Water,

mommy, water.’ When we jumped up, a picture, we didn’t have no light, no way. So, the engine had cut off... And then suddenly, the boat came down... No light, no light. Let me jump up and pick up my babies in the dark... In the third black hole... The water cover everything inside.” She recounted the testimony of a crew member who noticed the rising water level from below, “This boat Continued on page 15

PAGE 12

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 13, 2026

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 13, 2026

PAGE 13

Jamadar feels ‘targeted, harassed and bullied’ - CCJ judge alleges ‘abuse of power’ in e-mail to President Anderson A “greatly troubled” Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Judge Peter Jamadar has complained that he feels “targeted, harassed and bullied” following what he described as an intrusion into his private affairs and the questioning of his assigned administrative officer. At the heart of Justice Jamadar’s complaint, outlined in a 4th September, 2026, e-mail to CCJ president Winston Anderson, the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC), also headed by Justice Anderson, fellow judges and court staff, is an enquiry into his appointments and commitments, including activities outside his duties at the court. ‘INTRUSION’ Jamadar alleged that information about his activities was sought without his knowledge through his administrative officer, Candace Simmons-Peters. The e-mail and its contents were verified by three CCJ insiders to the Sunday Express. In the e-mail, Jamadar described the enquiry as “investigative and inquisitorial” and questioned the authority under which the CCJ president or the CCJ registrar, who also serves as secretary of the RJLSC, sought information about his (Jamadar’s) non-CCJ activities from an employee assigned to him. He alleged the circumstances were intended to “invite and or coerce” Simmons-Peters into disclosing confidential, private and work unrelated information about his affairs. According to Jamadar, the questioning of Simmons, Peters went further. He alleged that on 1st September, she was questioned separately by CCJ information systems manager Ayinde Burgess,

CCJ President, Justice Winston Anderson and later by Anderson, in connection with an apparent investigation into “the leak to the press” and possible breaches. Burgess was reportedly appointed by Anderson to oversee the leak investigation. The latest development follows exclusive Sunday Express reports in August that exposed deep divisions within the CCJ. Five of the court’s six sitting judges had challenged a s p e c t s o f t h e p r e s i d e n t ’s leadership and raised concerns ranging from his administrative approach to allegations of “panel fixing” and attempts to influence cases. The Sunday Express had obtained internal e-mail correspondence among the judges concerning the contentious issues. In response, the CCJ president rejected allegations of judicial “panel fixing” in a statement issued on 14th August, 2026. He described the allegation that panels were manipulated to secure particular case outcomes as “wholly untrue”. The controversy centres on allegations that judges were removed from or panels altered in

ways that could influence judicial outcomes. Anderson maintains that the changes were administrative and not intended to influence the merits of any case. A probe had been initiated into this matter, as alluded to by Justice Jamadar in his 4th September e-mail, but no outcome has been reported by the CCJ or the RJLSC. ENQUIRY INTO JUDGE’S ACTIVITIES In his six-page e-mail to Anderson, the RJLSC and judges on 4th September, Jamadar alleged that Simmons, Peters was questioned about whether she had access to his files, which documents she had printed for judges’ meetings, and material prepared in connection with an RJLSC, facilitated intervention. She was also questioned about how she communicated with him, whether she had worked on particular days and her arrival and departure times at the CCJ, he said. Jamadar further alleged that Simmons-Peters were required to surrender her CCJ assigned computer to Burgess for examination. She subsequently did so. More troubling, he wrote, was a subsequent exchange in which Simmons-Peters was questioned about Trinidad and Tobago’s Computer Misuse Act and the possible consequences of breaching it. Jamadar alleged that during the questioning, Anderson referred to the possibility of a two-year prison sentence and indicated that investigations would continue to establish who had leaked the information. The incidents led Jamadar to question not only the treatment of his administrative officer but also whether the enquiries were being

Justice Peter Jamadar used to gather information about him. “In both instances there are, in my opinion, a clear focus on and targeting of me and maybe more indirectly Ms. Simmons-Peters, the CCJ’s Administrative Officer assigned to me,” he wrote. In the correspondence, Jamadar characterised the actions as an “abuse of power, administrative overreach” and raised concerns about what he considered infringements of his rights to privacy, due process and protection of the law. He formally asked Anderson, in his capacity as CCJ president and chairperson of the RJLSC, and the CCJ registrar to identify the legal and institutional authority under which the enquiries were conducted. He also requested the relevant CCJ treaties, statutes, regulations, policies and practices, together with applicable Trinidad and Tobago laws and international legal principles that would authorise such action. QUESTIONABLE

INVESTIGATIVE ACTION Of particular concern to Jamadar was the alleged attempt to obtain details of his judicial appointments outside the CCJ. He argued that neither Anderson nor the CCJ registrar, in the latter’s capacity as RJLSC secretary, was entitled to seek such information from Simmons-Peters without first notifying him and obtaining his agreement. Jamadar also questioned why documents connected to an RJLSCfacilitated intervention had become the subject of enquiries during the investigation into the alleged leak to the media. He argued that those documents could not logically have been connected to the suspected disclosure of internal correspondence to the press. The questions raised concerns that the enquiry had extended beyond the alleged leak and that the broader investigation was focused on him, Jamadar said. He also sought to establish whether the RJLSC knew of, approved or supported the investigative actions being undertaken within the court. In addition, he questioned whether the manner in which Simmons-Peters was interrogated was appropriate, particularly given the alleged references to possible criminal consequences. THREE INCIDENTS RAISE CONCERNS For Jamadar, the incidents could not be viewed in isolation. He pointed to three events that, in his view, demonstrated a pattern of targeting. 1. The first involved a proposed judges’ meeting scheduled for 4th September. Jamadar said he had Continued on page 15

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Tuesday October 13, 2026

Brazilian company wants to help Guyana identify transport bottlenecks …says will assist in structuring logistics projects across road, rail, water and air transport Brazilian state-owned infrastructure company Infra S.A. is proposing to help Guyana identify transport bottlenecks and develop logistics projects. The proposal was discussed during a meeting on 1st October between representatives of Infra S.A. and Guyana’s Embassy in Brazil. During the engagement, Infra S.A. Director of Market and Innovation, Marcelo Vinaud, underscored that the company’s project portfolio and accumulated experience across different transportation modes provide a technical foundation that can be applied to Guyana’s circumstances. “Infra S.A. has the technical capacity to structure logistics projects across different modes of transportation, including road, rail, water and air. We will assist Guyana in identifying bottlenecks, structuring governance and transforming demands into projects, from initial

Representatives of Infra S.A. and Guyana’s Embassy in Brazil during the recent meeting. planning through to procurement and the definition of concession models,” he said. Guyana’s Ambassador to Brazil, Compton Bourne, said the rapid growth resulting from oil exploration has generated an unprecedented demand for logistics modernisation and connectivity with Brazil. “Guyana is a new oil producer, growing at an extremely rapid pace, and

seeks to use these resources to address major public infrastructure challenges,” he said. Meanwhile, Infra president Jorge Bastos advocated for expanded technical cooperation with South American countries and the development of integrated logistics planning for the region. “Infra S.A. is fully capable of preparing this plan, and we are already talking and coordinating

with Itamaraty so that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can serve as the institutional body leading this integration,” he said. The company’s director of Administration and Finance, Elisabeth Braga, said the work could establish a new model for the company’s international operations by combining planning, project structuring and links to potential funding sources.

“We can work together on what would be an International Logistics and Transport Plan, the first of this format in our history. We will design a comprehensive logistics plan for them, connecting it to available sources of financing and making use of Infra S.A.’s technical capabilities,” she said. The initiative between Infra S.A. and the Guyanese Embassy is being pursued in

coordination with the private sector through the National Association of Road Construction Companies (Aneor) and is aligned with the South American Integration Routes, which aim to improve connectivity between countries in the region. Notably, it was stated too that structuring the projects could facilitate access to financing from multilateral banks and Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), while creating opportunities for Brazilian companies to participate in infrastructure tenders. For his part, Aneor President Daniel Zveiter said the initiative comes at a time when opportunities for Brazilian engineering companies in international markets are expanding. “Infra S.A. can act as the project structuring entity and create the conditions for Brazilian companies to participate competitively in international tenders,” he said.

ANSA McAL commits $20M to youth, education programmes

From left, Sandi Bowen of Tamùkke Feminists, Dr. Ayodele Dalgety-Dean of Blossom Inc., and Magaiva Gonsalves of Project New Nation ANSA McAL and the ANSA McAL Foundation awarded three NGOs in Georgetown last week Tuesday, signaling their intention to invest $20 million in programmes designed to create impact for youth and support education in communities across Guyana. Following a national call for social investment proposals in May that generated over 40 submissions, a rigorous selection process, site visits to shortlisted NGOs and a capacity-building workshop, three NGOs were presented with awards at Cara Lodge by Country Head for Guyana and Suriname, Troy Cadogan, the company said in a press release.

The awards are a commitment to support: • Blossom Inc., which will implement a year-long education-equity initiative for vulnerable youth between ages 12 and 26 in Region 7. ($10 million in funding) • Project New Nation, which will roll out a youth career-guidance programme in Bartica. ($5 million) • Tamùkke Feminists, which will produce a video series aimed at strengthening young women’s voices in the Wapichan Indigenous community in the South Rupununi. ($5million) Guyanese social development consultant, Tiffany Kirton supported the site visits and workshop.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 13, 2026

PAGE 15

Republic Bank commits to Sudan’s famine risk worsened by conflict, preferential agricultural loans drought and funding shortages, report says will — Pres. Ali says new financing push mers target medium and large-scale far Farmers seeking to expand into mediumand large-scale production could soon access bank loans at preferential interest rates, with Republic Bank committing resources to support agricultural financing. President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali announced the initiative on Monday at the inaugural Farmers’ Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. Ali said the government is negotiating with commercial banks to provide agricultural loans with incentives similar to those offered under low-income housing financing. Republic Bank has already committed to setting aside funds for the initiative, although the interest rate is still being negotiated. “Already, we have the commitment from Republic Bank that they are going to set aside resources for agricultural loans at a preferential rate, and we are negotiating that rate, which I hope can be announced even before the end of the conference, at the end of this week,” the President said. The government is also seeking to bring existing agricultural financing arrangements under the new incentive structure. Ali pointed to Demerara Bank’s poultry loans, which already carry an interest rate of five per cent. “That is what we do every single day for farmers. We work hard. We try to bring the private sector along. We improve the financial sector so that we can tackle the challenges farmers face in a multidimensional way,” he said. The financing push comes amid growing interest in agricultural investment. According to Ali, almost 30 per cent of the applications received by the Guyana Development Bank (GDB) since its launch just over a week ago are from the agriculture sector. “If there is one indication as to how the policy direction is leading to a new wave of excitement, a new wave in agriculture, it is this fact, that almost 30 per cent of all the applications so far in the development bank is

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali delivers the keynote address in the agricultural sector,” he said. Ali contrasted the current interest with conditions in 2020, when large farmers and producers were scaling back investments, while many medium-sized operators, particularly in rice and poultry, were exiting the sector. He said production has since recovered, with young people now forming consortiums to invest in poultry and other agricultural enterprises. The President also cited the International Monetary Fund’s latest report on Guyana, which found that agriculture has grown by an average of 10 per cent annually since 2022. The sector now accounts for six per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and one-fifth of non-oil GDP. Ali attributed the growth to government investments, subsidies and policies aimed at supporting farmers, adding that increased investment in production would help sustain the sector’s expansion. “Once we have people interested in the production of goods, especially in the agricultural sector, then what the IMF report is saying about us today will continue to expand and continue to grow,” he said. The Farmers’ Conference forms part of activities for Agriculture Month, being held under the theme, “Innovate, Nourish, Grow: Building a Strong and Sustainable Guyana.” (DPI)

Jamadar feels ‘targeted, harassed... From page 13 indicated that a prior commitment prevented him from attending in person, but he remained available to participate virtually. He became concerned, he said, when Anderson’s position appeared to shift from a suggestion that judges attend in person to an expectation that they do so. 2. The second incident involved the questioning of Simmons-Peters and the enquiries into Jamadar’s professional and personal commitments. 3. The third concerned an earlier judges’ meeting in August. Jamadar said he and four other judges had sought to postpone that meeting to allow an RJLSC-facilitated intervention to take place. According to Jamadar, Anderson subsequently told him that if he did not attend, “I suspect that will be an occasion and a reason for me to write to you”. He described this as “shocking”. Jamadar said Justice Margaret RajnauthLee received a similar e-mail, while the other three judges who sought the postponement did not.He questioned why he and RajnauthLee appeared to have been singled out. Referring to the three incidents collectively, Jamadar wrote, “This pattern of

targeting in relation to me, illustrated for the time being by these three incidents, raises great concerns in my mind. Troubling concerns.” He added, “Certainly, I feel targeted, harassed, and bullied (directly or indirectly) by their occurrence, and their proximity to the wider contexts that are related to the broader and unresolved impasse among the judges and the CCJ President.” Jamadar also questioned whether Anderson should play any role in investigations involving judges or court staff when, according to him, the president was himself closely involved in the underlying dispute. He further raised questions about the privileges and immunities afforded to CCJ judges under the agreement establishing the CCJ and its Protocol on Privileges and Immunities. The Sunday Express sent questions about Jamadar’s allegations to Justice Anderson, the court’s communications department and the RJLSC on 30th September, requesting responses by 7th October. The questions were resent on 5th October as a reminder. Up to press time last night, no response had been received. (Trinidad Express)

(AP) — Conflict and drought are worsening food insecurity across parts of Sudan’s Darfur and Kordofan regions, a global food crisis monitor warned on Monday. There is a “deteriorating humanitarian situation” across greater Darfur and Kordofan, including areas identified as at risk of famine, as well as other locations, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC. Severe drought linked to El Niño is affecting more than half of Sudan, causing localized crop failures and depriving households of food and income, it said. In May, nearly 19.5 million people — more than 40% of the population — were facing high levels of acute food insecurity, according to an IPC assessment. Of those, 135,000 were in Phase 5, the most severe classification, characterized by extreme food shortages, starvation, very high levels of malnutrition and deaths from disease or acute malnutrition. Sudan’s war erupted in April 2023 when tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, escalated into open fighting in the capital, Khartoum, before spreading across the country. The conflict has killed at least 150,000 people, according to conflict monitor ACLED, though aid groups say the true toll is likely higher. The war has also displaced about 13 million people and pushed parts of the country into famine.

Farmers’ livelihoods have also changed as they’re now relying more on markets and assistance, said the IPC, which further warned that without a quick significant increase in assistance, “food insecurity, acute malnutrition, and excess mortality will likely intensify.” Poor vegetation growth affects 64% of croplands in North Darfur and about half in South Darfur, West Kordofan and South Kordofan, where severe water deficits and limited opportunity for agricultural recovery threaten livelihoods. The IPC reported worsening acute malnutrition in additional areas, including Nyala, where children accessing nutrition services who were admitted for severe acute malnutrition doubled from approximately 5% to 11% between January and August. Two displacement camps in South Darfur also recorded global acute malnutrition above famine thresholds. In North Darfur, delayed rains that impacted crop cultivation and “critically low” food stocks have worsened food insecurity. Meanwhile, Western Kordofan is experiencing one of its worst droughts since 2004, the IPC said, citing rainfall levels. Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly said that ending the conflict and ensuring safe, sustained humanitarian access are essential to improving conditions across Sudan. But repeated efforts to achieve peace have yet to bring the war to an end.

Barima victims still waiting for... From page 11 was sink by water... He keep seeing how the water lodging up. He said, the water not coming off. Like, how it’s lashing and come off. The water just coming up from the bottom. Like he said, the water just coming up, he said. The water coming from the boat bottom, pulling up. So that when the water reach the engine and cut it off, he said, that caps over the boat.” Another survivor detailed the terrifying fight for life after being thrown into the open river, “When I got out of the boat, I saw the boat was totally torn, but when I got out of the water, the boat was completely submerged... We were there the whole time in the water... When we reached, it was quarter past five. They picked us up. Quarter past five. They picked us up from 10 o’clock. We had the whole night in the water. The whole night.” Rosita Persaud, whose brother Leonardo was traveling to surprise their family, joined others in mourning loved ones lost to the deep waters. Commission representatives attending the hearings acknowledged the grievances, noting the profound fatigue and frustration felt across the communities. Addressing the inquiries

regarding timelines and State promises, COI Chairman Godfrey Smith stated “We are estimating six months. So sometime next year, that would be what? March. That’s what we’re aiming for. We want to work as fast, but as carefully as possible... We are not the government. As I explained earlier, we come from different countries to come and investigate this thing. But what we can do, what I, as the chairman can do, is to pass on a message to say, I came here, and all the people are saying they’re not getting the help that was promised. I can pass that on forcefully, and I will do that.” Another commissioner emphasised the broader regulatory focus of the inquiry “Our mission is not solely to answer what

happened, because what could happen again. So, our focus is a little broader than that... Getting the facts as to why this happened. But just a s i m p o r t a n t l y, d o i n g everything we can to ensure it never happens again anywhere in Guyana... That involves the rules for vessels on your waterways... Limits of how many people can travel on a vessel, and ensuring those limits are respected. Essentially, safety.” As families continue to pick up the pieces, the demand from White Water, Mabaruma, Wauna, and surrounding communities remains clear, immediate financial relief, genuine psychological support, and accountability for the structural failures that led to the MV Barima catastrophe.

Govt. building food... From page 8 country to hold three months of food supply for the Caribbean,” he said. The International Monetary Fund’s latest assessment of Guyana found that food makes up onethird of the consumer price basket. That means changes in food prices are felt directly in household budgets. The president noted that production has risen sharply since 2020, but demand is also growing as more workers come into the country. He said production, productivity and yields must continue to increase to keep pace with demand, adding that ensuring food remains affordable is a shared responsibility. “We have a responsibility together, the farmers, the government and the retailers, to work on keeping food prices affordable,” President Ali said. Together we will build a sector by 2030 that is unimaginable.” (DPI)

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 13, 2026

Govt’s $63.3B budget gives more to pensioners, taxes remote digital services (CMC) Trinidad and Tobago’s Finance Minister, Davendranath Tancoo presented a $63.368 billion national budget for fiscal year 2027 on Monday, anchoring the package with across-theboard increases in social welfare grants, an allocation of

WANTED One cook preferable from the East Bank.Contact #6165700 or 748-0359 Accounts Clerk-Must be Quickbooks literate and have accounting experience. Interested applicants please call #652-7444

SERVICES Visa Application:U.S.A, Canada & UK:Graphics design, advertisements, wedding arch rentals.Tel:626-7040. PEN PAL 51 year old male of African decent looking for future partner of any race within the age group of 40-50yrs. Call #603-6400

FOR SALE TRUCK TIRES 295/75R22.5 $40K EACH. CALL/ WHATSAPP +592-688-3201. Whole chicken for sale Retail $360 per lb and wholesale $340 per lb. For orders and enquiries, Call #625-7634

FOR RENT Furnished Apartment for rent. Tele#621-5282

nearly $2.5 billion for public sector wage arrears, and targeted tax measures aimed at remote digital services, corporate losses, and high-usage electricity consumers. Delivering the United National Congress administration’s second budget under the theme “A People-Centered Approach: Investing in Communities, Transforming the Economy and Securing a Sustainable Future,” Minister Tancoo projected total revenue of $59.729 billion, leaving an estimated fiscal deficit of $3.639 billion, or 2.1 per cent of Gross Domestic Product. The fiscal framework is pegged against an assumed crude oil price of US$77.00 per barrel and a natural gas netback price of US$5.00 per MMBtu, with energy receipts estimated at $14.355 billion and non-oil revenues projected at $45.062 billion. Social grants increased by $250 monthly Placing direct relief at the top of the Government’s agenda, Minister Tancoo announced an immediate $250 monthly increase to the Senior Citizens’ Grant, the Public Assistance Grant, and the Disability Assistance Grant, taking effect on January 1, 2027. The grant adjustments will cost an estimated $555 million and provide financial relief to more than 165,000 vulnerable recipients. Additionally, retired public officers received a boost through an increase in the personal tax

Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo allowance for pensioners from $90,000 to $102,000 per annum. The Minister also reaffirmed the State’s commitment to public servants, setting aside approximately $2.5 billion to honour outstanding wage agreements, including a 40 per cent cash payment on arrears for Public Services Association members and over $760 million in wage adjustments and backpay for the National Union of Government and Federated Workers. Digital services and corporate tax measures To balance these social commitments, the Ministry of Finance introduced several revenue-raising measures and tax-tightening provisions set to roll out in early 2027. Beginning March 1, 2027, the State will standard-rate all

supplies of digital and remote services, applying Value Added Tax to foreign nonresident streaming, software, and digital platform providers to generate an estimated $18 million. Corporate tax arrangements will also see major adjustments: the utilisation of carried-forward business losses will be capped at 75 per cent of chargeable profits in any income year to yield $430 million, the Unemployment Levy on petroleum company profits will rise from 5 to 8 per cent to generate $155 million, and an electricity surcharge of 5 cents per kilowatt-hour will be applied to residential power consumption exceeding 3,000 kilowatt-hours per billing period to fund low-income utility relief. At the same time, local

beverage manufacturers were offered relief through a 25 per cent reduction in excise duties on alcohol, balanced by an ad valorem customs regime on foreign alcohol imports. Refinery restart and new gas projects Turning to the economic engine of the nation, Tancoo signalled a revival of the energy landscape, reporting that negotiations are actively advancing for a phased, commercially viable restart of the Guaracara Refinery at Pointea-Pierre with shortlisted investors. He detailed a pipeline of new upstream natural gas projects slated for first delivery throughout 2027, including bpTT’s Ginger, Mahogany A Extended, Juniper Phase II, and Shell’s Manatee Plus, alongside a pro-

jected US$2.3 billion in upstream capital expenditure across the sector next year. Health, education lead allocations Sectoral allocations saw the Ministry of Health receive the largest allocation at $8.061 billion, closely followed by Education and Training at $8.033 billion, and National Security at $7.321 billion. Tobago received a total budgetary allocation of $3.473 billion, or 5.48 per cent of the national envelope, comprising $2.756 billion directly allocated to the Tobago House of Assembly and $716.5 million in spending executed via central ministries. New savings and investment programmes In a further move to widen domestic savings and investment channels, the Finance Minister disclosed plans for a Retail Government Securities Programme and a Government Savings Bond Programme, offering electronic, tradeable securities in denominations as low as TT$1,000 and TT$5,000 in both local and US dollars. Govt promises sustainable economic renewal Closing his presentation to the House of Representatives, Minister Tancoo asserted that the administration had laid the groundwork to lift national confidence, stabilise debt, and diversify into manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism, maintaining that the 2027 fiscal package positions the country firmly on a path to sustainable economic renewal.

SVG faces intl. press freedom ‘black eye’ over threats to Star Radio (St. Vincent Times) Former Telecommunications Minister Camilo Gonsalves has issued a stern warning that regulatory attempts to shut down opposition-aligned Star Radio threaten to inflict a severe international “black eye” on St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ reputation for press freedom and democratic governance. Speaking during a national radio broadcast, Gonsalves charged that forcing the primary broadcast organ of the Unity Labour Party (ULP) off the air over minor administrative technicalities mirrors tactics used by authoritarian regimes and undermines constitutional guarantees of free speech. Gonsalves argued that any move by the state-run National Telecommunications

Regulatory Commission (NTRC) to terminate or refuse the broadcast license of a major opposition voice will inevitably attract global condemnation. “This gives the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines a black eye in the international media and globally,” Gonsalves stated. “If we start to hear that the governmentrun communication authority is terminating the license of a radio station that opposes the government, that becomes a direct threat to freedom of expression in the country”. He cautioned that weaponizing administrative technicalities—such as missing corporate formatting details or signatures from nearly two decades ago—to silence critical commentary resembles

the behavior of “tinpot dictatorships” rather than a mature democracy. Highlighting the broader risks of prolonged conflict, Gonsalves warned that if the NTRC does not reverse course, Star Radio will pursue full legal remedies. He predicted that such litigation would generate damaging international news coverage depicting the government as actively suppressing political dissent. Gonsalves emphasized that the dispute would ultimately end in Star Radio’s legal vindication, making the current regulatory push counterproductive and self-defeating: International Scrutiny: Prolonged legal warfare will attract international media

coverage, framing the dispute as a government attempt to lock off political dissent and “muzzle the press”. Institutional Undermining: Political interference risks hollowing out the NTRC’s longstanding reputation as an impartial, world-class regional regulator. Inevitable Legal Vindication: Gonsalves expressed full confidence that court proceedings would resolve the matter in Star Radio’s favor, allowing the station to remain on the air. Rather than escalating into an international embarrassment, Gonsalves urged the NTRC board and technical leadership to exercise professional maturity, lower the political temperature, and handle broadcast licensing strictly in accordance with statutory procedures. He called on regulators to

Former Telecommunications Minister Camilo Gonsalves cease what he described as a petty and ill-advised campaign against the station, reminding officials that preserving open political speech and institutional integrity is far more vital than enforcing minor paperwork technicalities.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 13, 2026

PAGE 17

Guyanese shun constitutional reform exercise - AG bemoans low submission of written recommendations Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC is lamenting the low submissions of written recommendations to the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) to begin the public consultation, as citizens appear to shun the process. Speaking Sunday on an online podcast, the AG pointed to a “shocking absence” of input from individuals, civil society groups and other organisations. “I’m told that we have some just over 20 statements from the public. We have had a publication inviting statements running for several months now and only 2 0 . We h a v e i n v i t e d individuals, civil society organisations, to make submissions, we need to know what the person is coming to say so we can prepare,” Nandlall, a member of CRC, told the podcast. He noted that the intention of the commission is to get sufficient statements to begin the public

engagements. “But we anticipated much more than 20 over the period for which the advertisement or the public invitation has been out. So, we may have to go out there and even begin to encourage people that you know, this initiative is important and they must come on board or else the process will fail, because as I said, the process was designed to be driven by the public.” Nandlall stressed that even the political parties have not made submissions. “I would have thought that, you know, there are so many pressure groups out there, so many interest groups, so many groups advocating for different causes that they would have jumped upon this opportunity to prosecute their particular mandate and this is the forum to do so. But unfortunately, I have not seen that enthusiasm expressed in the form of statements. So, we may have to begin the consultations with what we have and try other methods and other forms of encouragement to

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC bring awareness to this issue.” B a c k i n J u l y, t h e commission had issued an ad, inviting the public to make written submissions on areas to be reviewed in the Constitution of Guyana during the reform process. The CRC had set a deadline of December 31, 2026, for these proposals to be made. The Constitution Reform Commission said it will engage the public in a series of consultations over the next six months in accordance with the Act, which mandates that public consultations be held before

Linden man shoots teen girlfriend dead, then kills himself

Dead: Anthony Kellon Cato

Dead: Toisha Andrews

A 17-year-old student of the Linden Technical Institute and her 21-year-old boyfriend were found dead following a suspected murder-suicide at Block 22 Squatting Area, Wismar, Linden, on Monday afternoon. The deceased have been identified as Toisha Andrews, who resided at Block 22 Squatting Area, and Anthony Kellon Malachi Cato, a 10-day worker of Phase Three, Murphy Street, Amelia’s Ward, Linden. According to a police report, the incident occurred at about 16:30hrs on October 12, 2026, shortly after Andrews returned home from school.

The report stated that Cato, who was armed with a handgun, approached Andrews and discharged a round, striking her in the forehead and causing her to fall to the ground. Cato then reportedly shot himself and fell to the ground, where he became motionless. Andrews was subsequently taken to the Linden Hospital Complex, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Cato’s body remained at the scene, with a handgun found next to it, according to the report. Police ranks were at the scene processing it as investigations continued.

amending any supreme law. Back then, Nandlall had explained that the public’s input will directly influence the amendments that will be made to the constitution. “I take this opportunity at this time to appeal to all persons, groups, communities, organisations and institutions to participate in this crucial, national process,” the minister urged.

He further explained that a public notice will be issued outlining sections of the constitution that are under review, ensuring citizens are fully informed ahead of the consultation process. While the entire constitution will be reviewed, the process has been organised into several thematic areas. These include the full protection of fundamental rights and freedoms of all Guyanese under law; the rights of Indigenous people; the rights of children; the e l i m i n a t i o n o f discrimination in all forms; and measures to ensure that the views of minorities in decision-making processes and in the conduct of government are given due consideration. More areas to be covered include the implementation of reforms relating to elections and the elections

commission, and measures to secure and protect economic, social and cultural rights of all Guyanese. The AG had emphasised that these thematic areas are intended as a guide. Members of the public are free to make submissions on any other matter that may have been excluded but is in the constitution. All submissions must be clearly labelled written proposals on constitution reform, and must include full name, address, email and any other contact information. Submissions must be accompanied by a scanned copy of a valid photo identification and can be delivered by hand to the Office of the Secretariat, 5th floor Constitution Reform Commission, 211 Camp and Lamaha Streets in Georgetown, or via email: gycrc2024@gmail.com

One caught, gun, ammo and $500,000 recovered in Canje $10M robbery As investigations continue into Saturday night’s multi-million dollar armed robbery in Canje, Berbice, police in Region Six have confirmed that so far, one suspect has been nabbed. The identity of the alleged suspect was not disclosed, but the police stated that a 27year-old food vendor of Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam, Berbice, was apprehended on Sunday, about 14:00hrs in connection with the incident. Jagnarine Persuad, a 57-year-old businessman, was the victim of a robbery which was carried out on his beverage supply establishment, Seema and Devalsh (Balram) Outlet, on Saturday at about 19:43 at No. 2 Village, East Canje, Berbice, where he also lives with his wife and their five-year-old son. According to information received, Persaud was in the cashier area of his beverage depot, located on the lower flat of his premises, when three masked men entered the establishment. One of the suspects was armed with a handgun, while the other two carried a baseball bat and a cutlass. Jagnarine had told Kaieteur News that he was inside of the shop while his wife was nearby outside. Footage from the security cameras set up around the building showed a car without registration plate reversing onto the premises, as his son was outside with a male customer. He related that just as he was preparing to close, his son hollered and ran inside to where he was, followed by three masked individuals who carried weapons and immediately instructed that he direct them to where his money was. Jagnarine initially held out that he did not have any, but death threats by the men forced him and his wife to surrender to the demands,

Robbed: Jagnarine Persaud, 57 fearing for their lives and that of their son. No one was hurt during the course of the incident, but the trio managed to escape with $10 million, which Jagnarine said were two days’ business earnings. On the day following the robbery, investigators, acting on information, subsequently recovered GY$500,000 in cash and also a motor car, which was suspected to have been used during the course of the robbery. A .32 revolver containing two rounds of ammunition was also discovered following a search of the said vehicle. The firearm, ammunition, cash and motor car were lodged pending investigation, which are continuing. The suspect remains in custody, as police intensify their efforts to locate other persons suspected of being involved in the robbery. The businessman also made a pitch for gun licenses to be expeditiously processed for certain business owners, which could allow them to secure their businesses where necessary.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 18

Tuesday October 13, 2026

Saudi capital’s airport to remain shut this week as airlines cancel services (Reuters) - Authorities have extended the closure of Riyadh’s international airport until Saturday and airlines scrapped flights after continuing attacks by Yemen’s Iran-aligned emptied the skies over Saudi Arabia’s capital. Operations at King Khalid International Airport, Saudi Arabia’s secondbusiest airport after Jeddah, were suspended to “allow for the completion of procedures to ensure the safety and operational readiness of the airport’s facilities”, the Saudi civil aviation authority said in a statement. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued later in the day showed that the airport will stay closed until 2100 GMT on October 17. The airport has been shut since an attack on Saturday that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300, the deadliest in the kingdom in ‘more than a decade. On Sunday, another attack killed one person and injured nearly a dozen others. The attacks marked one of the

General view of the highway leading to the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 12, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS most significant disruptions to Saudi aviation in years, adding to pressures on an industry already grappling with conflict across the Middle East and with higher jet fuel prices that are eating into profits. They have also raised worries over civil aviation becoming a target in armed conflict. CRISIS OVERSHADOWS ‘SAUDI BUSINESS OUTLOOK The disruption has forced

airlines across Europe and Asia to suspend services, while the Federal Aviation Administration advised US carriers on Sunday to exercise caution when flying to or over Saudi Arabia. EU aviation body EASA widened a Saudi airspace warning on Friday, citing missile and drone attacks. “The impact goes beyond Saudi Arabia to the wider region and to its global connections,” said aviation

analyst John Strickland. OPSGROUP advised airlines to avoid the southern aviation corridor over the Middle East altogether, and take ‘a route from Europe to Asia over central Asia. That adds “extensive distance” for some routes and “closes off options for getting into Dubai, Abu Dhabi for most western carriers,” Zee said. Lufthansa Group (LHAG.DE),

opens new tab has cancelled all flights to Riyadh until October 16, while Air France-KLM (AIRF.PA), opens new tab has extended a suspension to and from Riyadh until the end of the month. ‘Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways also extended cancellations. Delta Air Lines (DAL.N), opens new tab said it was delaying planned services from Atlanta to Riyadh, initially due to start on October 23, until March 2027. The escalation with the Houthis has raised concerns over the broader economic impact. Saudi Arabia’s real GDP is projected to contract by 3.6% ‘this year, reflecting a combination of factors including lower oil activity. The attacks have put events scheduled in Riyadh this month under pressure, including the kingdom’s flagship investment conference and the WPC Energy Congress, where several top oil executives were dropped from the programme.

Indian opposition marches to Supreme Court, seeks suspension of voter list changes

Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi holds a doll depicting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. REUTERS/Priyanshu Singh (Reuters) - Thousands of opposition demonstrators marched to India’s Supreme Court on Monday and petitioned it against revision of voter lists that has sparked days of unrest in the Indian capital and challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Opposition parties and supporters of the “cockroach” youth movement have rallied almost daily this month to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the revision that critics say benefits Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The change, which started last year, led to over 130 million names – more than the population of Japan – being struck from voter lists,

including 28 million who died, 63 million who relocated, and 30 million who could not be traced. Monday’s rally wound its way through some 7 km (4 ‘miles) of streets in central Delhi before reaching the Supreme Court, with protesters waving party flags and shouting slogans demanding Kumar quit. It passed off peacefully amid tight security, after a clampdown foiled plans by the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ to mobilise larger crowds over the weekend, when police detained thousands of protesters, including CJP leaders, and locked down central Delhi. COURT HEARING EXPECTED ON TUESDAY The opposition group’s petition

is expected to be heard by the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The petition, whose signatories include opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, seeks an audit of voter deletions, safeguards against deletions without notice, a hearing, and an interim suspension of the revision nationwide. The Election Commission has denied favouring any party and said wrongly deleted voters can reenrol, while the BJP has accused rivals of trying to undermine democracy by wrongly questioning legitimate electoral processes. Monday’s marchers included opposition party members and leftwing student groups. “The fundamental values of this country are being assaulted, institutions are losing their independence ... I am here protest `against this assault,” said Anirudh Siyag, a PhD student. Authorities closed six metro stations for 11 hours and restricted

traffic along several stretches. DESIGNATED PROTEST SITE MOVED The BJP said the protests were an attempt by the main opposition party Congress to seize power. “By discrediting constitutional institutions, spreading chaos and riots on the streets, and attacking people in the name of politics, all it seeks is a return to power,” Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told reporters. Delhi Police announced that Jantar Mantar in the central business district was no longer designated ‘as an official protest site and said three new venues had been identified. CJP supporters had staged a sitin for weeks earlier this year at J a n t a r M a n t a r, a h i s t o r i c observatory and well-known protest site for decades, to force Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to quit over exam paper

leaks. Separately, CJP leaders met Delhi Police to demand a date for a peaceful protest, threatening ‘a new protest call if a date is not given within 24 hours. The youth movement, which has mobilised protests in recent months against issues ranging from government school infrastructure to jobs, is one of the biggest political challenges to Modi and his BJP in his 12 years in power. The protests erupted after the Indian ‘Express newspaper reported last month that Kumar’s two deputies raised several concerns internally about voter list revisions, registration procedures and digital systems. Opposition parties allege Muslim voters and other minorities, who are unlikely to support the Hindu nationalist ruling party, are disproportionately affected by the deletions – charges both the poll panel and BJP reject.

Opposition parties march to the Supreme Court. REUTERS/Priyanshu Singh

Tuesday October 13, 2026

Kaieteur News

PAGE 19

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 13, 2026

Tuesday October 13, 2026

Kaieteur News

PAGE 21

PAGE 22

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 13, 2026

Kaieteur News

Tuesday Thursday October November 13, 2026 24, 2022

PAGE 23 19

National Archery Judge Seminar to be... Thousands turn out for... From page 24 particularly significant. Following four days of international competition in Guyana, the seminar will provide a further opportunity to strengthen the country’s technical expertise and contribute to the long-term development of archery. The championships and the seminar represent c o m p l e m e n t a r y investments: one brings a t h l e t e s a n d o ff i c i a l s together through international competition,

while the other develops the knowledge and skills required to support future competitions. President of Archery G u y a n a I n c . , Vi d u s h i Persaud-McKinnon, welcomed the opportunity to e x p a n d t h e c o u n t r y ’s technical capacity. “Hosting an international championship is an important milestone, but the true value of such an opportunity lies in what we build from it. By bringing international competition

and technical education together, we are investing not only in the event itself, but also in the people who will help sustain the growth of archery in Guyana for years to come. “Our judges are essential to ensuring that our competitions are safe, fair and conducted to the appropriate standards. This seminar provides an important opportunity for our participants to strengthen their knowledge and contribute more

Tuesday October 13, 2026 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Perhaps you've been impatiently waiting for the moment to jump into new adventures after your meditation during the last few months. Know that the moment has almost arrived!

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Today, more than ever, you will yearn to escape the daily routine, Libra. You thirst for new sights and sounds, new faces and new places, but you know you must juggle your desires with professional and domestic obligations.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) If you find yourself tired and irritable at the moment, you should know that this is normal. You may have had a few weeks that were a little too studious. Would you like to continue on the same path?

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) You're finally on the mend. The minor ailments that may have dragged you down lately are beginning to disappear. You're about to regain all of your physical energy.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) This is going to be a good moment to look elsewhere, Gemini. You should do just as the artist does when he has worked too long on a painting, which is to take a step back.

SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Do you feel a little under the weather today, Sagittarius? It's quite possible, considering all the emotional turmoil you've been through lately. It takes time to recover from such storms.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) This is the right moment to extricate yourself from relationships that have seen their day. This won't be easy, but you must. In your professional and private lives, you're too hesitant to get out of distasteful situations or obligations.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) There is some likelihood that the mood at home is fraught with tension. Did you have some intellectual disagreement? In any case, it looks as though your selfconfidence is stronger than ever right now.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You took off like a bullet a few days ago, making great progress in a short amount of time. Now you're grappling with doubts that are undermining all of your energy.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) It seems that your sensitivity is in slight conflict with your a c t i o n s , A q u a r i u s . Yo u continue to go through the daily motions and do what you planned on doing, but it seems as though your heart is no longer in it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) There is some likelihood that you will be haunted by thoughts of your love life t o d a y. P e r h a p s y o u ' r e intrigued by the idea of exploring certain secret realms of your relationship, yet you aren't sure how to.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may have been spending or saving too much money, Pisces. It's clear that a rebalancing is in order if you're to find pleasure rather than frustration. It's a curious phenomenon.

meaningfully to the development of the sport.” The Board of Directors of Archery Guyana extends its sincere appreciation to M r. G o d f r e y M u n r o e , President of the Guyana Olympic Association, and the GOA Executive Committee for their support in facilitating opportunities that strengthen the technical and institutional capacity of sport in Guyana. The Federation also a c k n o w l e d g e s Wo r l d Archery Americas and Olympic Solidarity for their contribution to sport development and the advancement of technical education within the Olympic Movement. Their support helps create opportunities for national federations to develop the people, systems and expertise needed to deliver sport more effectively and sustainably. Archery Guyana remains committed to strengthening its coaching and officiating structures, expanding opportunities for participation, and ensuring that the continued growth of archery in Guyana is supported by competent personnel and sound technical standards.

From page 27 were heartened by the enthusiasm for the event.” To see so many fans and racers and their families turn out to the venue tells us that Berbice is definitely going to be something we do on a yearly basis moving forward. All in all, we had a great day of racing across all classes, and while there may have been a few setbacks, we overcame them and put on a show. A big thank you to all again,” he added. Meanwhile, there were several winners across seven car classes, a female category and three motorcycle classes, with Imran Mohamed Ally’s Tesla Plaid leading the nine-second bracket. Ally, driving car number 1998, won the nine-second class in the, while Paramdeo Seeram took the 11-second category in his Toyota Allion 4WD, car number 216. The other car class winners were Afzal Maiku in a Toyota Corolla Fielder Wagon (#289) in the 16-second class, Ramesh Persaud in a Toyota Corolla Fielder Wagon (#484) in the 15-second class, and Romaine Henry in a Toyota Celica (#81) in the 14-second class. Roshandin won the 13-second class in his Mitsubishi Evolution X (#30), while Sayyad Ramcharran took the 12second category in a Toyota Corolla EE90 (#137). Ashley Persaud-Jewanram claimed the female class in her Toyota GT-86, car number 162. In the motorcycle categories, Shem Chattersingh won the 600cc Superbike class on a Suzuki GSX-R (#1011), while Stephon Vishmon took the 1000cc Superbike category on a BMW 1000 RR (#342). Steven Chung won the 125cc–212cc motorcycle class on bike number 251.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 24

Tuesday October 13, 2026

SVC/AJM crowned new One Guyana T10 Tapeball champions

The SVC/AJM Team celebrate winning the Lotto/ Let’sBet One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast title.

S

VC/AJM CC put on a masterclass at the Anna Regina National Stadium on Sunday, crushing Mahdia (Movements Family) by 67 runs in the grand final to capture the Lotto/Let’sBet One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast title. In their first year, the roundedup unit, led by Kemol Savoury, who was in his fourth final, also won the $2 million top prize, courtesy of Star Rentals. Led by a scintillating Man-ofthe-Final performance from Kevon Boodie, who smashed a blazing 67 off just 32 deliveries—anchored by five fours and six towering sixes—and a fluent 42 off 27 balls from Jonte Thomas, SVC/AJM posted a formidable 132-2 in their allotted 10 overs.

The pair put on a matchdefining 119-run partnership in just 8.5 overs, putting the game firmly in their control. In response, Mahdia’s chase never got off the ground as a disciplined SVC pace attack strangled the innings, restricting them to 65-8. Leon Swamy led the bowling effort with 2-3, ably supported by Ojay Shields (2-13) and Keyon Sinclair (2-14), sealing a comprehensive victory and leaving Mahdia to settle for the $1 million runners-up purse. Earlier, Mahdia steamrolled GrillMaster Sip N Play All-Stars by 100 runs in the first semi-final. Batting first, Mahdia posted a commanding 157-5, powered by Ershaad Ali’s destructive 65 off 25

balls, including seven sixes and a boundary. Ali and Andy Lall (33 off 14) laid the platform with a blistering 72-run opening stand in 4.2 overs, while Yeudestir Persaud added a quickfire 23 off 13. Despite Devon Wharton claiming 2-44 for GrillMaster, their batting lineup completely collapsed in the chase, bundled out for 57 in 9.4 overs. Junior Sinclair’s 19 off 12 was the only double-digit score, as Neiland Cadogan wreaked havoc with 4-11, backed by Persaud (2-6) and Orrin Gibson (2-9). The second semi-final proved equally one-sided as SVC/AJM brushed aside Lusignan Bulls DTP II by 78 runs. Powered by an unbeaten halfcentury from the in-form Johnathan

Fernandes (51), alongside vital contributions from Kemol Savory (27 not out), Jamar Ifill (15 not out), and Boodie (15), SVC posted 1443. Joshua James took 2-54 and Dequan Bamfield claimed 1-21 for Lusignan, but their reply faltered at 76-6. Veteran West Indies pacer Miguel Cummins starred with the ball, claiming 3-14, while Nial Smith (1-9) and Ojay Shields (118) tightened the screws, and Vishwanauth Ramalakhan topscored with 20. As a result, both losing semifinalists pocketed $500,000, matching the $500,000 awarded to each team that triumphed in their respective zone finals. The packed finals day also

featured vibrant undercard action, highlighted by a high-scoring fiveover women’s clash where Ta p a k u m a ( E l i t e Wa r r i o r s ) defeated Capoey United by 59 runs. Tapakuma piled up an imposing 111-1, driven by Tramaine Marks’ sensational 58 off 17 balls and Shonette Belgrave’s 40 off 15. In reply, Capoey were restricted to 521, with Tapakuma collecting the $90,000 winner’s prize and Capoey taking home $60,000. Adding star-studded entertainment to the schedule, the President’s Exhibition Match saw the One Guyana XI—featuring Ministers Charles Ramson and Steben Jacobs—defeat Team Eagles to cap off an unforgettable day of tapeball cricket in Essequibo.

National Archery Judge Seminar to be hosted in Guyana Archery Guyana Inc. recently announced that Guyana will host a National Judge Seminar from October 26–28, 2026, immediately following the Inaugural 2026 Caribbean Archery Championships and 8th Caribbean Developmental Championships, which will take place at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, from October 22–25. The seminar forms part of a broader effort to strengthen the technical capacity of archery in Guyana, ensuring that the experience and exposure generated by hosting an international championship are matched by investment in the people responsible for upholding the sport’s standards. The programme is being facilitated with the support of the Olympic Movement, including Olympic Solidarity, and reflects the importance of technical education and capacity building in the

Following four days of international competition in Guyana, the seminar will provide a further opportunity to strengthen the country’s technical expertise continued development of sport. The seminar will be facilitated by Randall D. Jones of Canada, a Continental Judge with World Archery Americas, a member of its

Constitution and Rules Committee, and Technical Editor for the World Archery Constitution and Rules Committee. He is also a retired World Archery International Judge.

M r. J o n e s w i l l g u i d e participants through the principles, rules and procedures governing archery competitions, using seminar materials, case studies and

practical examples to strengthen their understanding of the responsibilities of a judge. The programme will draw on the World Archery Rulebooks, the Judges’ Guidebook and the National Judge Manual. Participants will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of competition procedures, equipment requirements, scoring, safety and the consistent application of the rules. Judges play a critical role in archery, ensuring that competitions are conducted fairly, safely and in accordance with the applicable rules. Developing knowledgeable and competent technical officials is therefore essential to maintaining the integrity of the sport and supporting the growth of competitive archery at national and regional levels. The timing of the seminar is Continued on page 19

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 13, 2026

PAGE 25

Golden Jaguars climb eight places in FIFA rankings amid nine-match winning streak The Golden Jaguars’ resurgence on the international stage has been reflected in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking, with the Guyana’s senior men’s national team climbing eight places from 150th to 142nd following a remarkable run of nine consecutive victories. The rise comes as Guyana continues to make significant strides in the Concacaf Nations League, where the Golden Jaguars have won all four of their matches in League B, Group A, under head coach Marco Bonofiglio. Guyana’s latest ranking improvement represents a significant boost for the national programme, with the team combining consistent results with an increasingly convincing attacking output as it pursues promotion to League A and qualification for the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup. The Golden Jaguars have

collected a perfect 12 points from their four Nations League fixtures, defeating Puerto Rico 1-0, the Cayman Islands 2-0, and Dominica 51 and 8-1. Those results have given Guyana a commanding position in the group, with a goal difference of plus-14. The 8-1 demolition of Dominica was particularly emphatic, highlighting the team’s attacking depth and ability to convert its opportunities. The fourmatch winning run has also strengthened Guyana’s position in the race for promotion to League A, and qualify to next year’s Gold Cup. Beyond their Nations League performances, the Golden Jaguars have recorded nine consecutive victories over the past 18 months, underlining the consistency that has accompanied their recent progress. Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde has previously

Guyana’s Golden Jaguars

expressed confidence in the team’s direction, while cautioning that important

work remains to be done. Wi t h p r o m o t i o n t o League A and qualification

for the 2027 Concacaf Gold Cup within reach, the Golden Jaguars now face the

challenge of converting their strong group position into tangible achievements.

Ramdin backs West Indies for strong One Guyana Intershowing at IMC Over-40s World Cup Region Softball bowls off Oct. 18 in Reg.5

West Indies Masters captain Denesh Ramdin is confident that home advantage, experienced players and careful preparation can help the hosts make a strong showing at the 2026 International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-40s World Cup, which begins in Guyana on October 17. The West Indies will open their campaign against Australia at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, at 9:30 a.m. The tournament will bring together 16 teams for 72 matches, with the final scheduled for October 31 at the same venue. Matches will be played over 45 overs per side, and admission to all games will be free. Ramdin, a former West Indies wicketkeeper-batter and captain, welcomed the opportunity to return to competitive cricket alongside former international teammates, including Ramnaresh Sarwan, Sewnarine Chattergoon and Devendra Bishoo. “Yeah, I think it’s an exciting time for players who have retired and still coming back home to get back to the game. A lot of past players like myself, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Devendra Bishoo and all those guys coming back to play in this tournament,” Ramdin said. He acknowledged the support behind the initiative and expressed

be important in building match readiness. Particular attention will be given to allowing bowlers time to find their rhythm and ensuring the squad is prepared for competitive conditions. He also believes the team’s familiarity with Guyanese grounds could provide an advantage, although players will need to assess the conditions on each match day and adapt their approach. “Being in Guyana, a lot of us have played in Guyana, it’s an advantage for us,” Ramdin said. West Indies will compete in Zone A alongside Australia, Canada, Denesh Ramdin Colombia, Namibia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Wales. Zone B comprises England, India, New hope that the competition would continue to provide opportunities for Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, the United retired players to remain involved in the States, Rest of the Caribbean and Rest of the World. game. Each team will play seven league While winning the World Cup is the team’s ultimate goal, Ramdin stressed matches, with the top two teams from that the players must focus on each e a c h z o n e a d v a n c i n g t o t h e championship semifinals on October match as their campaign progresses. “Well, it’s important that we take 28. The remaining teams will contest one game at a time and see how that crossover and placement matches. With fixtures scheduled across goes. Obviously, it’s winning the t o u r n a m e n t , b u t w i n n i n g t h e Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo, tournament, you have to win your first CWIMA encourages cricket fans to game, second game, and take it in take advantage of free admission and support the teams as Guyana hosts the strides,” he explained. Ramdin said the remaining practice IMC Over-40s World Cup for the first sessions and warm-up matches would time.

Guyana’s Biggest Open Softball Cricket Tournament will take the country by storm as the 3rd edition of the “One Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cup” bowls off in Region 5 on Sunday 18th October at the Bath Community Centre Ground. The action will then move on to Regions 4, 6 and 10 on Sunday 25th October, while on Sunday 1st November teams in Regions 2 and 3 will take to the fields. The action then moves to Region 7 on Sunday 8th November. According to RS Sports, the winner of each Region in both categories will head to Region 3 for the National Playoffs on the November 14th and 15th. In the regional playoffs, the winner of the male category will walk away with $100,000 and a trophy, while the runnerup, MVP, Player of the Final, Best Bowler in an innings, and Highest Score in an innings will walk away with trophies. In the female category, the winner will walk away with $50,000 and a trophy, while the runner-up, MVP, Player of the Final, Best Bowler in an innings, and Highest Score in an innings will walk away with trophies. The games will be played at 10 overs per innings and round-arm bowling. Extras will be in play, and a bowler can only bowl two overs maximum. The organisers said each region will have different closing dates for registration, and Teams can get registered by sending their information via WhatsApp on 725-7829. The entrance fee per team is $20,000. The closing date for registration in Region 5 is on Friday, 16th October at 4 pm, and thereafter will be the drawing. The tournament is being powered by Peter Lewis Associated Construction Services, Lindsayca Guyana, Alki’s Investments, 6 S Construction, GMINING, Bashier and Sons Construction Inc., Courts, Guyoil, Mohamed’s Excavation Construction Inc., Tourism Guyana, T&R Construction Services, Z’S Business Enterprise and A’S Concrete Business.

Kaieteur News

PAGE 26

Tuesday October 13, 2026

More than 80 horses confirmed for Showdown of Champions stakes Close to 100 horses are confirmed to run at Sunday’s Showdown of champions. The stage is set for a thrilling race meet at Port Mourant Turf Club on Sunday October 18. It was confirmed that the Port Mourant Sprint Stakes is expected to feature Hot N Lucky, Barbara, Order & Progress and Grande Rainha are expected to feature. Clash at D Big Yard Stakes are expected to feature Here Comes Heidi, Frontline Warrior, Oy Vey, Royale Rocks, Novo Sol and Daring Move. The feature race is expected to have top horses from Master Z, Jumbo Jet, Jagdeo and Js Racing Stables. General admission for the race meet is $3000, and 10 exciting races are on the cards. The juvenile invitational twoyear-old race will be in honour of the late Carlton “Blackmouth” Pluck. The feature race will be the Doodnauth Shook Sivmangal Memorial Clash at the Big Yard stakes, where the total purse is $1.6 million. All of the top horses will be fresh and ready for the first competitive race since the Guyana Cup back in August.

Below is the provisional program for the October-18 race day: RACE 1 - Carlton “Blackmouth” Pluck Memorial Juvenile Invitational Distance: 1000M 2 Y.O. Native & W.I. Bred 2 Y.O. W.I. Bred Colt/Gelding Allotted 119 LBS 2 Y.O. W.I. Bred Filly Allotted 116 LBS 2 Y.O. Native Bred Colt/Gelding Allotted 114 LBS 2 Y.O. Native Bred Filly Allotted 111 LBS

2026 Caribbean Elite Cycling Championships...

John pedals way into history books with Silver Guyana’s national road race champion Briton John made history on Sunday by capturing a silver medal at the 2026 Caribbean Elite Cycling Championships in the Dominican Republic. Competing against the region’s top riders in the Elite Men’s Road Race, John delivered a standout performance to finish second in the grueling 12-lap, 127.6-kilometer event. Puerto Rico’s Christopher Morales Fontán claimed the gold medal with a winning time of 3:11:19, averaging 40.017 km/h. John crossed the line just 1 minute and 28 seconds later at 3:12:47, maintaining a strong average speed of 39.713 km/h. Bermuda’s Nicholas Narraway followed John to secure the bronze medal. Team Guyana’s Performance The silver medal marked the pinnacle achievement for the Guyanese contingent at this year’s championships. Earlier in the tournament, John placed sixth in the Elite Individual Time Trial, while teammate Aaron Newton secured a fifth-place finish in the Under-23 category. In Sunday’s road race, Andre Greene finished 29th with a time of 3:36:58. The remaining Guyanese riders—Segun Hubbard, Aaron Newton and national Under-23 champion Ajani Cutting—faced a challenging day on the course and did not finish the race. Top 5 Finishers Gold - Christopher Morales Fontán (Puerto Rico) – 3:11:19 Silver - Briton John (Guyana) – 3:12:47 Bronze - Nicholas Narraway (Bermuda) 4th Place - Benjamin Le Ny (French Guiana) – 3:14:22 5th Place - Julien Chane Foc (French Guiana) – 3:15:51

5LBS Penalty For Previous Win Native Bred Allowed 5LBS When Meeting W.I. Bred Total Purse: $1 Million 1st $500,000 | 2nd $250,000 3rd $125,000 | 4th $62,500 Entry Fee: $55,000 RACE 2 - Sonny Habibulla Memorial Cup Distance: 1300M 3 Y.O. Native Bred Maidens 3 Y.O. Colt/Gelding Allotted 121 LBS 3 Y.O. Filly Allotted 118 LBS Total Purse: $800,000 1st $400,000 | 2nd $200,000 3rd $100,000 | 4th $50,000 Entry Fee: $45,000 RACE 3 - Big G Lumber Yard & Sawmill Enterprise Distance: 1200M 4 Y.O. & Over J/K/L Maidens 4 Y.O. & Over Colt/Gelding Allotted 126 LBS 4 Y.O. & Over Filly/Mare Allotted 123 LBS No Class Allowance Total Purse: $600,000 1st $300,000 | 2nd $150,000 3rd $75,000 | 4th $37,500 Entry Fee: $35,000 RACE 4 - Kishawn Pereira Memorial Cup Distance: 1500M J/K/L Winners Of 1 Since August 2025 4 Y.O. & Over Colt/Gelding Allotted 126 LBS 4 Y.O. & Over Filly/Mare Allotted 123 LBS 3 Y.O. Colt/Gelding Allotted 121 LBS 3 Y.O. Filly Allotted 118 LBS 3 Y.O. Allowed 5 LBS As A Weight For Age Allowance. No Class Allowance Total Purse: $600,000 1st $300,000 | 2nd $150,000 3rd $75,000 | 4th $37,500 Entry Fee: $35,000 RACE 5 - Armco Construction Company Distance: 1550M I/J/K/L Winners Of 2 & Over 4 Y.O. & Over Colt/Gelding Allotted 126 LBS 4 Y.O. & Over Filly/Mare Allotted

All of the top horses will be fresh and ready for the first competitive race since the Guyana Cup in August.

123 LBS 3 Y.O. Colt/Gelding Allotted 121 LBS 3 Y.O. Filly Allotted 118 LBS 3 Y.O. Allowed 5 LBS As A Weight For Age Allowance. No Class Allowance Total Purse: $600,000 1st $300,000 | 2nd $150,000 3rd $75,000 | 4th $37,500 Entry Fee: $35,000 RACE 6 - Forrester’s Lumber & Building Complex Distance: 1300M H1 & Lower Colt/Gelding Allotted 126 LBS Filly/Mare Allotted 123 LBS Weights Allotted By Class 5LBS Per Sub Class Not To Exceed 15LBS Maiden Allowance 5 LBS Total Purse: $800,000 1st $400,000 | 2nd $200,000 3rd $100,000 | 4th $50,000 Entry Fee: $45,000 RACE 7 - Doodnauth “Shook” Shivmangal Memorial Clash at D Big Yard Stakes Distance: 1550M E Class Non-Winner In Guyana Open To F1 & Lower Total Purse: $1.6 Million 1st $800,000 | 2nd $400,000 3rd $200,000 | 4th $100,000 Entry Fee: $85,000 Colt/Gelding Allotted 126 LBS Filly/Mare Allotted 123 LBS Weights Allotted By Class 5LBS Per Sub Class Not To Exceed 15LBS Additional 5 LBS Allowance When W.I. Bred Meeting Imported Horses No Maiden Allowance RACE 8 - Imported Open 2 Y.O. Sophomore Sprint Distance: 1100M 2 Y.O. Imported Colt/Gelding Allotted 117 LBS 2 Y.O. Imported Filly Allotted 114 LBS 5LBS Penalty For Previous Win Total Purse: $1.6 Million 1st $800,000 | 2nd $400,000 3rd $200,000 | 4th $100,000 Entry Fee: $85,000 RACE 9 - Port Mourant Sprint

Stakes Distance: 1200M Open To All 3 Y.O. & Over Total Purse: $1.6 Million 1st $800,000 | 2nd $400,000 3rd $200,000 | 4th $100,000 Entry Fee: $85,000 4 Y.O. & Over Colt/Gelding Allotted 126 LBS 4 Y.O. & Over Filly/Mare Allotted 123 LBS 3 Y.O. Colt/Gelding Allotted 121 LBS 3 Y.O. Filly Allotted 118 LBS Weights Allotted By Class 5LBS Per Sub Class Not To Exceed 15LBS Additional 5 LBS Allowance When W.I. Bred Meeting Imported Horses No Maiden Allowance RACE 10 - Showdown of Champions Stakes Distance: 1750M Open To All 3 Y.O. & Over Total Purse: $3 Million 1st $1.5 Million 2nd $750,000 | 3rd $375,000 | 4th $187,500 Entry Fee: $155,000 4 Y.O. & Over Colt/Gelding Allotted 126 LBS 4 Y.O. & Over Filly/Mare Allotted 123 LBS 3 Y.O. Colt/Gelding Allotted 121 LBS 3 Y.O. Filly Allotted 118 LBS Weights Allotted By Class 5LBS Per Sub Class Not To Exceed 15LBS Additional 5 LBS Allowance When W.I. Bred Meeting Imported Horses No Maiden Allowance RACE PAYOUT CONDITIONS 1. If Three (3) Horses Start Stakes Reduction By 40%. 2. If Four (4) Horses Start Stakes Reduction By 25%. 3. Five (5) Horses To Start Then Third (3rd) Prize Be Paid. 4. Seven (7) Horses To Start Then Fourth (4th) Prize Be Paid. 5. Entry Fee Refunds Entry fee refunds on vet scratched or withdrawn runners will be subjected to a 50% reduction.

Kaieteur News

Tuesday October 13, 2026

PAGE 27

Slingerz go top as Elite League returns with 23-goal weekend

GDF FC Slingerz FC's Yusifu Kargbo from Sierra Leone scored a double in their 5-1 win over Fruta Conquerors. (Mansoor Cave photo)

T

he Guyana F o o t b a l l Federation (GFF) Elite League resumed over the weekend following the FIFA international window, and the teams wasted little time getting back into the goals, with 23 scored across four matches. Defending champions Slingerz FC maintained their unbeaten run with a 5-2 victory over Fruta Conquerors, while Western Tigers continued their impressive form with an emphatic 8-1 demolition of Monedderlust on Sunday. Saturday’s action saw the Guyana Police Force (GPF) hand struggling Camptown a 3-1 defeat, while the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) secured a comfortable 3-0 win over Ann’s Grove United. Slingerz FC’s victory was their fifth consecutive

win in the league, propelling the Vergenoegen-based side to the top of the standings as they continue their title defence in commanding fashion. For Fruta Conquerors, the defeat was their third in four matches, leaving the Tucville-based club with plenty of work to do as they seek to regain consistency in the competition. We s t e r n Ti g e r s , meanwhile, are gathering considerable momentum after suffering defeat to GDF earlier in the campaign. The West Ruimveldt side has since won three consecutive matches, scoring an impressive 16 goals during that run. Their latest performance against Monedderlust underlined their attacking strength, with the eight-goal haul providing further evidence of their growing

confidence as the league progresses. Monedderlust, in contrast, continue to struggle for consistency. The West Berbice outfit has suffered four defeats in five matches, managing just one victory as they look to turn their fortunes around. Camptown’s difficult transition to the Elite League has also continued. Having earned their place in the c o u n t r y ’s t o p - f l i g h t competition through the Georgetown Football Association, the club has found results hard to come by and will need to improve if they are to compete consistently against the league’s established sides. The GPF’s victory over Camptown and GDF’s clean-sheet performance against Ann’s Grove United further reinforced the two teams’ competitiveness, with

Drag Racing action back in Berbice at the Rose Hall Airstrip. (GT Tuners Photo)

Thousands turn out for historic Berbice Invasion drag race event Thousands of fans turned out on Sunday for the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) Berbice Invasion drag race meet, representing one of the largest fan turnouts of any event outside the South Dakota Circuit. The event marked the first time the Rose Hall Canjie venue hosted timebracket drag

racing in GMR&SC’s modern history. GMR&SC President Mohamed Shairaz Roshandin said, “We want to thank all the fans, spectators, and racers who turned out yesterday for our Berbice Invasion. The support and love the ancient county gave GMR&SC left me speechless; I and the team Continued on page 23

both securing valuable points as the battle for league positions intensifies.

The GFF Elite League will continue this weekend, with teams looking to build

on their latest performances as the race for supremacy gathers momentum.

More than 80 horses confirmed for Showdown of Champions stakes Sunday’s card for Port Mourant has 10 races listed.

2026 Caribbean Elite Cycling Championships...

John pedals way into history books with Silver

s t r o Sp Slingerz go top as Elite League returns with 23-goal weekend

Guyana Cycle Ace Britton John (centre) copped the Silver Medal at the 2026 CUU Elite Race hosted at Dominican Republic. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.