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September 22, 2026 - Vol. 19 No. 38 Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $200 readership yesterday, 44,329
Three killed in Baramita brawl Masked bandits U.S. EXIM ready to lend
shoot, rob US$550M for Guyana’s businessman second GTE project of $720K in gold chains
Woman struck to head with axe by husband
President Irfaan Ali (left) with Chairman of the U.S. EXIM Bank, John Jovanovic.
Runway incursions could - Aviation end in tragedy operators warn
Kaieteur News
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Tuesday September 22, 2026
U.S. EXIM ready to lend US$550M for Guyana’s 2nd GTE project The United States Export-Import Bank (US EXIM) is prepared to lend up to US$550 million to finance the second phase of Guyana’s controversial Gasto-Energy (GTE) project at Wales, West Bank Demerara. The financial institution previously approved a US$527 million loan to support Guyana’s first gas development project at Wales, comprising a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility and a 300-megawatt gasfired power plant. In a brief statement on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on M o n d a y, r e l e a s e d b y Fueledgy, the Chairman of the US EXIM Bank, John Jovanovic said, “We are deeply committed to ensuring the GTE One is completed but the GTE Two is brought to life.”
Beyond strengthening its ties with Guyana in the energy sector, the US EXIM Bank is also eyeing partnerships in other “transformative projects” according to Jovanovic such as the deepwater port and housing initiatives in the country. Meanwhile, President Irfaan Ali noted, “There are some important transformative projects for us at home and the US EXIM today has once again demonstrated its full commitment to this transformative agenda and being part of some of our historic projects ahead of us.” According to a US official, the Bank is willing to lend up to US$550M to finance the second phase of the Wales gas project. Kaieteur News understands that the institution has
formally submitted a Letter of Interest to fund part of, or the entire project. According to bid documents, Phase Two of the GTE project includes the design, construction and operation of an NGL facility to produce at approximately 5,800 barrels per day (bpd) of NGL products (propane, butane, and C5+), utilizing 70 MMCFD of “rich gas”. It states that government will be securing from ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), 70 million cubic feet (MMCFD) of rich gas which it intends to use at Phase Two. The Office of the Prime Minister said, “Phase Two will be located on no more than 100 acres of land, immediately adjacent to the existing 300 MW integrated facility. The project will be owned and financed 100% by the private sector, under a
President Irfaan Ali (left) with Chairman of the U.S. EXIM Bank, John Jovanovic. project finance structure, which will design and construct the integrated facilities, to a standard and specification that meets and or exceeds that of Phase I of the GTE.” The RFP issued by government also indicated that investors will recover their investment from the sale of electricity via a 20year term PPA at a price per KWH and monetization of the NGLs. At the end of the PPA term, the facilities will revert to the GOG at no cost.
Additionally, it said Phase Two of the GTE project will enjoy the same fiscal incentives as Phase One. Phase One of the GTE project was awarded to CH4Lindsayca back in December 2022. The project was pegged at US$759M and was slated to be completed by the end of 2024. The deadline to “first power” has since been extended by two years with just 57 MW likely to be delivered to the national grid by the end of 2026. Extensive research by
this newspaper uncovered that Lindsayca was drowning in financial losses when it was awarded the USmultimillion dollar deal. Sources close to government told this newspaper that the troubled contractor has been shortlisted for Phase Two of the GTE project. The project at Wales continues to drain Guyanese taxpayers with mounting cost overruns, Dispute Avoidance and Adjudication Board (DAAB) payouts, and agonising delays.
GPL says grid upgrades will ease blackouts, handle Gas-to-Energy power The frequent blackouts being experienced by customers over the past few months will soon be alleviated as new infrastructure to modernise the electricity grid comes on stream, Team Lead at the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL), Kesh Nandlall, said on Sunday. Speaking to the hosts of the Starting Point Podcast, Nandlall addressed a range of issues, including GPL’s readiness to handle the 300MW expected to come fully onstream next year from the Gas-toTeam Lead at the Guyana Power and Energy (GTE) project, maintenance Light Incorporated (GPL), Kesh Nandlall of generating sets and how the company plans to meet the country’s manufacturing, noting that economic growth rapidly growing demand for brings with it an increased need for energy. electricity. However, he said investments in the He noted that peak electricity demand, which stood at 125MW in 2020, has more power sector take time, as transmission lines than doubled to 255MW six years later. and other infrastructure cannot be built Despite the sharp increase in demand, overnight. “Right now, our investment is Nandlall said the distribution system has not approximately US$800 million in investment changed significantly, resulting in pressure that we are building out infrastructure which are going to come on stream very shortly and on the existing network. “So, the growth in the demand is creating it will alleviate the problem. It will not solve and taxing the network, the distribution all the problems, but it will alleviate the network, and we are seeing overloaded p r o b l e m s i g n i f i c a n t l y w h e n t h e s e networks. We are seeing transformers infrastructures are in place,” Nandlall said. Asked whether Guyana could be free overload and we are working very much around the clock to assist and to fix those from power outages by the middle of next issues,” he said. Nandlall said GPL has a year, Nandlall said outages should be reduced longer-term programme aimed at addressing once the necessary maintenance is the challenges, noting that the company’s completed. He acknowledged, however, that customer base has also increased the grid is not yet redundant. According to significantly, from 201,000 in 2020 to Nandlall, if the work progresses at a steady pace, the grid should become redundant by approximately 250,000 currently. He attributed the rapid growth in 2030, allowing GPL to operate a fully smart electricity demand to the expansion of other system with minimal interruptions. Continued on page 6 sectors, including housing and
Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 22, 2026
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Enough oil money available to pay citizens another cash grant before yearend - APNU As Guyana continues to produce oil from four Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs) with a fifth likely to come online before the end of this year amid soaring oil prices, enough resources are available to pay citizens an additional cash grant. This was the argument of the lead Parliamentary Member of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Dr. Terrence Campbell during a recent media conference. Campbell was commenting on the recent suggestion by chartered accountant and attorney, Christopher Ram who recently said Guyanese must be paid an additional $170,000 cash grant from the current oil bonanza the country is experiencing.
In a letter to the editor, the chartered accountant pointed out that Guyana is now projected to earn 136.8% more from oil and gas production than it envisioned earlier during its budget preparations. He argued that citizens deserve to benefit from an additional cash grant before the end of 2026. Based on calculations by the chartered accountant, the government used G$73.6 billion or 14.3 per cent of the US$2,471.4 million deposited into the NRF in 2025 for the national cash grant, the year on which this y e a r ’s w i t h d r a w a l w a s calculated. Ram said, “Apply the same proportion t o t h e M i n i s t e r ’s o w n projection for 2026, and the citizen’s entitlement for the year is G$193.5 billion, or
roughly G$270,000 for each adult. Of that, G$73.6 billion has been provided. The outstanding balance is G$121.8 billion, or about G$170,000 a head.” For his part, Campbell reminded that the APNU initially proposed a $200,000 cash grant per Guyanese adult; however, the government distributed $100,000 instead. He said while he has not seen the article by Ram, he believes the call for an additional $170,000 cash grant to be paid is reasonable. “Without any detailed study I would say that the government can easily afford that,” the MP stated. He explained further, that the projected oil revenues for 2026 was around US$2.7 billion but based on revised
estimates, the country is expected to enjoy a massive US$6.5 billion. The politician stressed that while Guyanese continue to hear and read about tremendous growth being experienced in the country, their lives remain largely unchanged by these statistics. “One of the things that troubles us on the APNU side is that we see a headline that the economy grew 33.3 per cent in the first half of the year. It doesn’t translate to the level of the man or the woman on the street that they feel that they are 33.3 per cent richer,” he argued. Anticipating push back from government, he pointed out that he is well aware that oil money must first be deposited into the Natural Resource Fund (NRF)
APNU Lead Parliamentarian, Terrence Campbell before it is spent in future years. Campbell however noted, “we’ve been looking at headline growth 40 per cent and fastest growing economy in the world but I engage the man and the woman on the street everyday and there is a huge disconnect between the headline GDP growth, between the revenues that are flowing into our coffers and the situation of the man on the street.” Emphasising his support for Guyanese to enjoy more of their resources, the MP
said, “The biggest failure of this government is the wealth of this country is not reaching the man on the street...our leader Aubrey Norton constantly speaks about reallocation of resources. By that he means that the resources must meet the people where they are and this is not happening.” To this end, the politician noted that Ram’s suggestion for the additional cash grant to Guyanese is only the beginning of what needs to be done citing figures from the mid-year report.
‘Spy chief’ invokes right against self-incrimination over destroyed records in Mohameds’ extradition hearing Head of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Special B r a n c h , S e n i o r Superintendent Prem Narine, invoked his right against self-incrimination when pressed under crossexamination regarding the destruction of operational notes. This came after defence attorney Siand Dhurjon questioned Narine on whether the Police Force maintains a formal destruction register or record for disposed intelligence materials. Narine initially refused to answer, citing legal counsel. When Dhurjon pressed further on the exact grounds for his refusal, Narine acknowledged under oath, “I was legally advised not to answer any question that would allow me to face criminal charges based on the secrecy.” Asked directly by Dhurjon if he was exercising his right against self-incrimination, Narine responded, “Yes, sir.” The invocation triggered legal sparring over witness compellability and court authority. Dhurjon requested that the public be temporarily cleared, submitting that a witness in a statutory inquiry cannot simply refuse to answer
GPF Special Branch, Senior Superintendent Prem Narine questions on crossexamination by asserting self-incrimination. The defence argued that disclosures made pursuant to a lawful court order grant legal exemption from prosecution under the Official Secrets Act, warning that allowing a star witness to hide behind legal advice severely prejudices the defence. Dhurjon told the court, “We have a strange situation here where the witness is saying, if he answers that question, he could be opening himself up to criminal charges... but what of those requested or those accused who stand to suffer for the lack of openness from the witness and from the prosecution?” State counsel Herbert
McKenzie countered, calling D h u r j o n ’s a rg u m e n t unprecedented. McKenzie asserted, “Witnesses might start coming to court and say, ‘Well, my lawyer said I can’t answer that, I might get in trouble.’ And then we will have to hold trials not into the accused’s conduct, but into whether the lawyer could rightfully advise them.” Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman ultimately stepped in to resolve the impasse, disallowing further questioning on a destruction register or record. Ruling that the central established fact remains that the books were destroyed, the chief magistrate instructed counsel to move on. Earlier in the
proceedings, Dhurjon launched a sharp challenge against a September 11 press release issued by the GPF Corporate Communications Unit to the joint services media group, titled “GPF Clarifies Media Reports on Records in Mohameds’ Extradition Proceedings.” Dhurjon argued that the G P F, a c t i n g a s S e n i o r Superintendent Narine’s employer, had misquoted and mischaracterised sworn court testimony regarding incinerated documents in an active attempt to post-justify witness testimony and prejudice the public mind while cross-examination remained underway. Chief Magistrate Latchman refused to examine the police release or accompanying media clips, affirming that the court operates completely isolated from public commentary. Reassuring counsel that external releases have zero bearing on her evaluation, Chief Magistrate Latchman stated, “If you saw something and it is of real concern to the defence... you can take necessary action as you then s ee fit.” S he stressed that her adjudication rests solely on sworn evidence and marked exhibits, instructing the
defence to seek external legal remedies if they believed the release crossed a legal boundary. Dhurjon drew a contrast between the court’s stance and an earlier ruling in the same proceedings, reminding the magistrate that when prosecutor Glenn Hanoman previously raised concerns over Facebook posts by Hana Mohamed, the court issued a stern reprimand and compelled an open-court apology. The morning hearing also faced delays regarding references to a “Secrets Act” made during Narine’s earlier testimony. When the chief magistrate sought clarification on whether a secrets act was being requested, state counsel McKenzie chuckled and suggested the witness had simply meant a “declaration of confidentiality or a confidential secrecy instruction document.” Dhurjon immediately fired back, stating the defence did n o t s h a r e M c K e n z i e ’s “amusement towards his own witness” and criticised t h e S t a t e ’s a t t e m p t t o downplay Narine’s sworn statement as a casual mistake. Following a brief adjournment, Narine
produced a signed excerpt of the Official Secrets Act 1911, which was formally tendered and marked as Exhibit 2. When cross-examination resumed, Dhurjon c h a l l e n g e d N a r i n e ’s justification for destroying his operational notes, exposing contradictions in his sworn statements. Narine admitted to shredding and burning three books in early January 2026, his personal d i a r y a n d t w o o ff i c i a l notebooks, conceding that he made entries in these books in the course of his official duties. When asked about the nature of his entries, Narine explained, “In those books, I would have recorded anything, be it important or not important, once I feel the need to.” The defence highlighted critical omissions from Narine’s official police statement, including his claim that Nazar Mohamed stated he “was waiting for us to come” during his arrest. Narine initially claimed he recorded this statement in his destroyed books, but later altered his testimony under pressure, saying, “I might have or may have” written it down, before ultimately conceding, “I now see I did Continued on page 16
Kaieteur News
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Tuesday September 22, 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
Invest in Peace As the world observed International Day of Peace yesterday, the United Nations issued a renewed appeal for countries to invest in peace, dialogue and diplomacy, even as wars and conflicts continue to devastate communities across the globe. This year’s observance was held under the theme, “Invest in Peace – For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day,” with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warning that peace is in dangerously short supply. Guterres said communities are being shaken by violence and division, while conflicts are growing in scale and complexity, spilling across borders and inflicting enormous suffering. “Dialogue is faltering, solutions are elusive and global solidarity is missing in action,” he said in his message for the observance. But the UN chief stressed that people are not powerless in the face of violence. Volunteers, civil society leaders, peacekeepers, advocates and ordinary citizens are helping to bridge divisions, unite communities and promote dialogue. The UN says International Day of Peace, observed annually on 21st September , is intended to strengthen the ideals of peace among nations and peoples. The General Assembly established the day in 1981 and, in 2001, designated it as a period of non-violence and ceasefire. Guterres said peace cannot be treated as something that happens automatically once guns fall silent. Rather, it requires deliberate investment in people, institutions and communities. He called for greater investment in health, education, nutrition and social protection, while urging countries to protect human rights and dignity and strengthen diplomacy, dialogue, negotiation and peacekeeping. That message also has relevance for Guyana, where the question of peace extends beyond wars between nations to the safety and security of citizens in their own communities. Guyana has recorded a decline in serious crime in recent years. Government figures show that serious crime fell by 16.9 per cent during the first half of 2026, while authorities have also set a target of reducing the overall crime rate and cutting murders. The Guyana Police Force recorded 130 murders in 2025, with a target of 117 for 2026. Those figures represent progress, but they should not obscure the continuing concerns of citizens about murders, robberies, domestic violence, youth crime, illegal firearms and the broader social conditions that can fuel criminal behaviour. Peace, therefore, must mean more than the absence of war. It must also mean people being able to walk their streets without fear, children growing up in secure communities, families having access to opportunities and citizens having confidence in the institutions established to protect them. The UN itself has described peace as a lived experience of safety, dignity, opportunity and cooperation. Against that background, the Government of Guyana should also use its international voice more visibly on the conflicts now causing suffering around the world. Guyana has a long association with multilateral diplomacy and is a member of the United Nations. Its leaders should not be reluctant to speak clearly in support of international law, civilian protection, dialogue and negotiated settlements wherever wars and conflicts threaten human life. Such a position need not be partisan or selective. The principle should be consistent: civilians must be protected, human rights respected, international law upheld and disputes resolved through diplomacy wherever possible. Guterres has called on world leaders to take action, invest in solutions and do the hard work of building lasting, sustainable peace. For Guyana, investing in peace must begin at home through stronger communities, better opportunities for young people, effective policing, social development and respect for the rule of law. But it should not end at Guyana’s borders. This country should add its voice to the call for an end to wars, greater international cooperation and meaningful dialogue. Peace, as the UN reminds the world, is not passive. It is a choice and one that must be made every day, everywhere.
No signage on new roadways DEAR EDITOR, I would like to bring to the attention of the Ministry of Public Works that there have been extended periods where new roadways have been resurfaced or expanded, and no road markings or signage have been installed to complete these projects, leaving all who use these roadways to guess their way while using them. This is not only stressful to road users, but significantly increases the risk of accidents, damage to public property, injury, and death. Although these are not 100% unavoidable, they can certainly be reduced by simple measures incorporated into transportation infrastructure. What is being asked for is simple: roadway infrastructure that encourages safer
driving by eliminating the guesswork needed on roads that have no lines, no signs, no traffic lights, and sometimes no lights at all. New roads shouldn’t only prioritise speed and capacity - they need to incorporate all the elements to ensure safety at all times, from the time construction begins, to the point the road is finished, and maintained with diligence. At no time should the roads be unsafe or unfit to drive on, especially in a nation where road fatalities are at a very undesirable high. There are other elements that contribute significantly to accidents on the roadways, including reckless driving, less than adequate law enforcement, unfit vehicles, but inadequate infrastructure should not be
one of them, since it’s arguably the easiest to fix. At no time should traffic lights be left in a state of disrepair for months, road markings on major highways and roundabouts become faded and left unattended, damaged roads and complementing infrastructure be left unattended. The lax attitude towards roadway safety is costing this nation human lives unnecessarily, and that needs to be fixed. We cannot continue this culture of accepting unsafe conditions and finding ways around it instead of fixing the problem. Let’s address this head on and get the problem under control. Respectfully, Darrell A. Carpenay
A Judiciary on Loan: Guyana Needs a Permanent Chancellor DEAR EDITOR, Guyana’s oil wealth is a test. We can reform slowly, through institutions that no longer answer to voters, or act boldly for those who have waited longest. Azruddin Mohamed’s party, WIN, chooses boldness. The Opposition Leader’s job. Mr. Mohamed faces a Florida indictment, which he denies, and an allegation isn’t a verdict. Meanwhile he holds the government to account with lengthy video evidence, some of it damning. In my view, the Barima evidence may meet the prima facie standard the DPP applied in charging the vessel’s captain, chief mate
and a goods superintendent. Critics call the charges premature because the Commission of Inquiry hasn’t begun, but the DPP acted on the evidence and Commonwealth authorities. Stepping aside. Mr. Mohamed’s office has asked 2 Cabinet ministers to step aside during investigation. This is long-standing Caribbean practice, and Guyana has followed it. In 2023 a minister took leave for an independent investigation and resigned when the DPP declined to charge. Jamaica’s Prime Minister Holness asked Education Minister Reid to resign in 2019, and he was
later charged. Trinidad and Tobago dismissed Minister McDonald in 2016 during an Integrity Commission probe, reinstated him after a finding of no breach, and removed him again in 2019 when the DPP advised charges. None waited for a court, and none treated stepping aside as an admission of guilt. Those cases concerned contracts and money, while Barima may involve more than 100 deaths. Both ministers were on the PPP’s candidate list, and no party leader should judge his own list. The request is for a pause and an independent decision-maker, not a conviction. Impeachment. Why not
impeach the President? Art. 94 permits removal only for constitutional violation or gross misconduct. Art. 180 requires notice from half the members, a two-thirds vote (44 MPs), and a tribunal appointed by the Chancellor. The test is his own conduct, not a minister’s, and Art. 182 shields him meanwhile. Ministers have no such shield, so impeachment can’t do the work of stepping aside. The Constitution says “the Chancellor,” and an acting Chancellor is not one. Read literally, Guyana has no Chancellor able to appoint the tribunal. A government that can’t appoint a Continued on page 6
Clarity needed on Justice Persaud’s visa matter DEAR EDITOR, The prevention of Justice Gino Persaud from boarding a Miami-bound flight while travelling to a judicial conference in Jamaica, on the ground that his United States visa was “under review,” raises serious questions-both public and private, national and international. Justice Persaud is a sitting High Court judge who has delivered decisions adverse to the Guyana Government and the Guyana Revenue Authority, including matters involving members of the Mohamed family. The timing and absence of an explanation create a troubling appearance and possible chilling effect, even if no improper motive is ultimately established. This is not a partisan issue. It concerns Guyana’s sovereignty, judicial independence and the treatment of its citizens. The U.S. Embassy should provide Justice Persaud, and the public, with: His precise visa status. The legal or administrative basis for the review. The date and reason it began. Whether information or recommendations were supplied by any
Guyanese or other authority. A fair opportunity to correct any misrepresentations, mistakes and/or allegations. The Guyana Government must likewise state whether any official, ministry, police, intelligence, revenue or immigration agency requested, encouraged or supplied information supporting adverse U.S. action against him. The Acting Chancellor and Judicial Service Commission should seek a formal diplomatic explanation and preserve all relevant correspondence. It is no longer a Justice Persaud issue, but a judicial event that goes to the heart of democracy and judicial independence in Guyana. An unavoidable question is being asked: Is this connected to the extradition proceedings against Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, or could it be perceived as a warning to the presiding magistrate and other judicial officers handling politically sensitive cases? Ambassador Nicole D. Theriot must address these and other issues as to whether Justice Persaud’s visa review bears any relationship to his judicial decisions, the Mohamed family or the pending extradition case. The United
States cannot punish, demote or dismiss a Guyanese judicial officer, but it controls their visas. Any use or threatened use of visa powers to influence a judicial decision would constitute a grave interference with Guyana’s judicial independence and warrant review by the U.S. Department of State and appropriate oversight authorities. Article 122A of Guyana’s Constitution requires every court and judicial officer to remain free from political, executive and other external direction. Justice Persaud’s treatment should therefore not be dismissed as a private inconvenience. It requires prompt, lawful and transparent clarification from both governments, especially since it has attracted national and international attention, and scrutiny. Justice Persaud, the Guyanese people, and all fair thinking people deserve an explanation. Guyana’s judiciary deserves protection. The public deserves immediate answers from both the Guyana and U.S. governments. We await your response, Madam Ambassador, and President Ali. Regards, Albert Baldeo
Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 22, 2026
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A timely warning from Guyana’s oil moment: A Review of Guyana’s Human Capital Paradox DEAR EDITOR, Guyana’s Human Capital Paradox: Investing More, R e t u r n i n g Less(forthcoming), by economist Ramesh Gampat and graduate researcher Minakshi Mahabir, is a serious, data-rich, and urgently relevant contribution to the national conversation about development in the age of oil. Its central argument is straightforward but powerful: Guyana is now spending far more on health
and education, yet the measurable returns to that spending remain weaker than the scale of investment should produce. At a moment when public debate is often dazzled by headline GDP growth, new infrastructure, and the symbolism of oil wealth, this book asks a more consequential question: are Guyanese lives, capabilities, and opportunities improving commensurately? The authors’ greatest achievement is to shift
attention from expenditure to outcomes. In resourcerich societies, governments often equate spending with progress: a larger budget, a new school, a hospital expansion, or a scholarship programme is presented as proof of development. Gampat and Mahabir resist that temptation. They insist that public investment must be judged not by its announcement value but by its conversion into healthier people, better learning, higher productivity, and
US$1 Billion Oil Revenue a Month: Why Are Guyanese Still Struggling? DEAR EDITOR, Imagine that you recently received a promotion and suddenly began earning 12 times your previous salary. You would probably make sure that your family could afford nutritious meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You might decide to upgrade your home to one with a garden where you could grow vegetables. You might even install proper floodlights so that your yard is well lit at night. When oil was discovered in commercial quantities in Guyana in May 2015, Guyanese were hopeful that it would transform the country and improve their standard of living. Using production data from July 2026, it is estimated that Guyana produced approximately 27.5 million barrels of oil that month. At an average Brent crude price of US$83.74 per barrel in July, the value of that production would have been approximately US$2.3 billion. Based on recent government statements, Guyana’s share has been estimated at 39.8% of oil revenues, plus a 2% royalty. On that basis, Guyana would have received roughly US$961 million from July’s production. The average Brent crude price rose to approximately US$91 per barrel in August, although we do not yet have the final production figures for that month. With Brent prices now hovering above US$100 per barrel, let us assume that Guyana could receive approximately US$1 billion per month for the remainder of the year. For the purpose of this discussion, we will even ignore estimates that the spot price of Brent crude—the price paid for a barrel delivered today rather than at some future date—could be between US$120 and US$150. To put US$1 billion per month into perspective, Guyana’s entire national budget in 2015 was approximately US$1 billion. That budget had to support the whole country, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, roads, public-sector salaries, and other government services. Now, approaching 12 years since the discovery of oil, Guyana can potentially receive from oil in a single month roughly what the entire country once relied upon for an entire year. With such an extraordinary increase in national income, one would reasonably expect Guyana to be able to ensure that its people can at least afford to feed themselves properly. It has been reported that 58.5% of
Guyanese live on US$6.85 per day or less. If we assume that Guyana has a population of approximately one million people, that would mean roughly 585,000 people are living at or below that level. If the country is now receiving approximately US$1 billion per month from oil, that amount is equivalent to about US$57 per day for every one of those 585,000 citizens. Surely, even 1/3 that amount is enough to ensure a nutritious meal, 3 times a day, for each of those 585,000 living below the poverty line. This raises an obvious question: if so many Guyanese still struggle to afford basic necessities such as food, where is all this new wealth going? It is difficult to argue that the money is being fully reflected in improvements to everyday life when citizens continue to experience frequent blackouts and teachers continue to raise concerns about receiving wages sufficient to maintain a decent standard of living while educating the nation’s children. One possible warning sign is the allegation reported in sections of the media that some government officials have acquired property or accumulated assets that appear difficult to reconcile with their official salaries. Such allegations deserve proper scrutiny, evidence, and accountability. The deeper concern is that those entrusted with managing Guyana’s newfound wealth may be losing touch with the everyday reality faced by ordinary citizens. What began in 2015 as a moment of enormous hope now raises serious questions about whether Guyana is beginning to experience the symptoms of the so-called “resource curse.” Ultimately, Guyana’s oil wealth belongs to the country and should be managed for the benefit of its people. Citizens elect politicians to serve the public interest—not to enrich themselves or allow the country’s naturalresource wealth to be squandered or misused. If Guyana can now earn in one month what it once needed an entire year to generate, Guyanese are entitled to ask a very simple question: Where is the money going, and why are so many people still struggling to meet their most basic needs? Sincerely, Darsh Khusial Rueben Khusial On behalf of OGGN,
broader opportunity. This distinction gives the book both analytical clarity and public importance. The book is strongest when it develops its investment-returns paradox through comparative evidence. Using Guyana’s budget data and international indicators such as the Human Development Index and the Human Capital Index, the authors show that Guyana’s relative spending effort compares favourably with many peer and aspirational countries, while its health and education outcomes lag behind. The formulation of the “64/80 ratio” is especially memorable: Guyana invests more than a majority of comparator countries, but most of those countries achieve better returns. As a summary device, it is elegant, accessible, and difficult to ignore. Another strength is the authors’ refusal to let oil income obscure the lived economy of most citizens. The non-oil adjustment to Guyana’s HDI is one of the b o o k ’s m o s t u s e f u l analytical moves. By distinguishing between the overall economy and the non-oil economy, the study exposes the risk that petroleum-driven GDP can create an inflated image of
human development. The reader is reminded that national income is not the same as household welfare, and that an oil enclave can coexist with weak schools, strained health systems, labour shortages, and persistent inequality. The sections on inequality, labour-market utilisation, and gender deepen the book’s relevance. The use of the utilisationadjusted Human Capital Index rightly broadens the discussion from the formation of human capital to its deployment. This is an important insight for Guyana: even if schools and clinics improve, national development will remain constrained if educated people cannot find productive work, if women’s capabilities are underused, if young people remain outside employment and training, and if public institutions fail to match skills to economic
opportunities. In this sense, the book is not merely about education and health spending; it is about the organisation of national capability. The policy chapters are also valuable because they avoid fatalism. The diagnosis is sober but not despairing. The authors argue that Guyana has both the revenues and the knowledge required to act. Their emphasis on teacher quality, technical and vocational education, health system strengthening, anticorruption oversight, data systems, and alignment between education and economic strategy gives the book a practical orientation. Readers may disagree with particular policy preferences, but the overarching message is persuasive: Guyana must become better at converting money into capability. Continued on page 6
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Kaieteur News
A timely warning from Guyana’s... From page 5 There are, however, areas where the manuscript could be strengthened. First, the prose is sometimes forceful to the point of overstatement. Phrases that describe political actors or institutions in sharply accusatory terms may appeal to readers already sympathetic to the argument, but they may also make skeptical readers less receptive to the evidence. The book’s data are strong enough to carry the criticism; in some places, a slightly cooler tone would give the argument even greater authority. Second, because the manuscript is ambitious and wide-ranging, it naturally returns to several of its core themes—especially the contrast between spending and outcomes, the dangers of corruption, and the inadequacy of GDP as a welfare measure. In a book of this scope, such recurrence helps reinforce the central argument. A little more signposting in a few places could further help readers see how each return to these themes adds a new layer to the analysis. Third, while the authors are careful to describe the HDI and HCI as proxy measures, the causal interpretation of the evidence could be handled with even greater caution. The book convincingly shows that Guyana spends relatively more while achieving relatively weaker outcomes, but the precise causes of that gap are difficult to isolate. Historical underinvestment, migration, g e o g r a p h y, w e a k i m p l e m e n t a t i o n , procurement problems, teacher quality, health-system staffing, and labour-market
structure may all matter. The manuscript acknowledges these complexities, but readers would benefit from an even more explicit framework separating correlation, diagnosis, and causation. These observations are offered in the spirit of refinement rather than objection, and they do not weaken the book’s central contribution. Indeed, they point mostly to matters of emphasis, framing, and presentation rather than substance. Guyana’s Human Capital Paradox succeeds because it poses the right question at the right time. It reminds readers that oil wealth is temporary, but human capability is cumulative; that expenditure is not achievement; and that development cannot be measured by GDP alone. Its core warning is timely: Guyana’s current prosperity will matter historically only if it is converted into healthier children, better-trained workers, stronger institutions, and more inclusive opportunities. For scholars, policymakers, students, and concerned citizens, this is a book worth reading. It is empirical without being narrowly technical, critical without being defeatist, and national in focus while speaking to a wider problem faced by resource-rich societies everywhere. Above all, it insists that the measure of Guyana’s oil era will not be the size of its budgets or the speed of its GDP growth, but the quality of life and productive capacity of its people. That is the right standard, and this book makes a compelling case for applying it now. Yours Truly, Vishnu Bisram
Tuesday September 22, 2026
Masked bandits shoot, rob businessman of $720K in gold chains A 38-year-old businessman was shot in the leg and robbed of three yellow metal chains valued at approximately $720,000 during an armed robbery at ‘A’ Field, Sophia, Greater Georgetown, late Saturday night. Police said the incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. on September 19, 2026. According to preliminary investigations, the businessman was in his yard using his cellular phone when he was approached by two unidentified men, who were reportedly wearing masks and reflective vests. One of the suspects was allegedly armed with a handgun. Police said the men confronted the businessman and attempted to relieve him
of the chains that he was wearing. During the confrontation, a round was discharged, striking the victim to his right leg above the knee. The suspects then allegedly took the three chains and fled the area. The injured businessman was taken by relatives to the Georgetown Public Hospital
Corporation, where he is receiving medical attention. His condition is listed as stable. Police have since questioned several persons as investigations continue. CCTV cameras were identified in the area and police are expected to review the footage as they work to identify and apprehend the suspects.
GPL says grid upgrades will ease... From page 2 On whether the distribution system would be capable of handling the full 300MW expected from the Wales Gas-to-Energy Project, Nandlall said the contracts for the grid modernisation programme were structured to prioritise the delivery of energy. “As GPL completes its upgrades and puts in the infrastructure work, then we’ll see
more of that power coming from the Gas-toEnergy project. We’ll be able to take off more of the power,” he said. Nandlall noted that the first phase of the Gas-to-Energy project is expected to deliver 300MW, while a second phase at Wales could provide another 300MW. “Provided that is available, I don’t see an issue in that regard. That needs to come on stream,” he said.
A Judiciary on Loan: Guyana Needs... From page 4 permanent CJ has no business lecturing anyone on the rule of law. Justices Roxane George and Navindra Singh have been Acting Chancellor and Acting CJ since 4th August, 2025. Before them, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards acted for about 10.5 years and was reportedly sent home on returning from leave. If true, that resembles forcing someone out by making the job untenable, which courts treat as dismissal (Western Excavating v Sharp). Judges may be removed only by constitutional process, after a hearing (Re Therrien; Rees v Crane). The Commonwealth is consistent. Valente v The Queen made secure tenure essential to judicial independence, and South Africa’s Constitutional Court struck down President Zuma’s extension of CJ Ngcobo’s term ([2011] ZACC 23). Tenure protects the public, not the judge: a judge who can’t be fired has no reason to please the government. “Acting” posts suit short gaps, not the head of a branch of government. Since the Constitution requires consulting the LOTO, the fair question is whether acting posts are a response to stalled consultation. Democracy. WIN’s 16 MPs waited until 26th January, 2026, about 145 days after the September 2025 election, to be seated with a recognised leader. Over 100,000 voters were left in limbo. That’s a “Zombie Democracy,” where votes move nothing. In June 2026, APNU and WIN nominated attorney Amanza to opposition committee seats. Speaker Nadir refused, citing Standing Order 94(1), since her party holds one seat. As
a layman, I believe those seats belong to the opposition. Excluding her appears to be political and gender discrimination, which Article 149F bars, and a standing order cannot outrank the Constitution. The onethird quota for women is a floor, not a ceiling. Women have presided over the House in T&T, St. Vincent, Jamaica and the Bahamas. If oil wealth should reach those who waited longest, many of them women, they belong in the room. Why does the Speaker decide this? Is it not the Chief Whip’s role to fill Opposition committee seats? Is he not overriding Ms. S a r a b o - H a l l e y, w h o s e c o n d e d t h e nomination? I respectfully urge the Speaker to uphold democratic protocols and the privileges of female members. Staying away, on principle. I understand the decision not to attend the President’s meeting. No agenda was offered, and the convening lacked proper protocol. A meeting without an agenda is a photo opportunity, not consultation. An opposition that refuses to be used isn’t obstructing. The door isn’t closed: provide a written agenda in advance, keep minutes, and make a permanent Chancellor and CJ item one. My endorsement. This isn’t blind loyalty. I ask of Mr. Mohamed what I ask of every MP: answer to the voters, not to party or power. That starts with a public pledge to appoint a permanent Chancellor and CJ, with full job security, within WIN’s first year. That is why I endorse Azruddin Mohamed. Regards, M. Shabeer Zafar, Barrister
Tuesday September 22, 2026
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 22, 2026
Man charged, remanded for murder of sex worker Kanand Ojha who has been accused of murdering a sex worker back in 2015 was on Friday charged with murder, police reported on Monday. Ojha was charged with the offence of murder in connection with the death of Noel Nephi Luthers, which occurred on 22nd July, 2015. Ojha was arrested on Friday 18th September, 2026, by ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters. He appeared on Monday before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where the charge was read to him. Ojha was not required to enter a plea and was subsequently remanded to prison. The matter was adjourned to Monday 12th October, 2026. More than a decade after he was wanted by police in connection with the killing of Noel a male sex worker Ojha was deported to Guyana. He arrived in Guyana from the United States on Friday where he was placed in police custody. According to a release from the Government of Guyana, “Law Enforcement Authorities in Queens, New Yo r k , i n c l u d i n g N e w York/New Jersey Regional F u g i t i v e Ta s k F o r c e consisting of US Marshals, members of Homeland Security and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), on
Kanand Ojha
Dead: Noel “Nephi” Luther Monday, 8th September, 2025 arrested Kanand Ojha. The government stated that the arrest of Ojha was as a result of continuous collaboration and cooperation between the Guyana Police Force, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Attorney General’s Chambers and authorities in the United States of America under the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters platform. “Over the years, Guyana and the U.S. law
enforcement agencies have strengthened their relationship and this has led to mutual cooperation in criminal investigations by virtue of which criminal investigations have been pursued in both jurisdictions leading to the arrest of fugitives in both countries and their extradition to stand trial in the country where they have committed offences. This relationship will intensify in the future,” the release stated. It was reported that the GPF had issued a wanted bulletin for Ojha in July, 2019 in relation to the killing of Luther, who was shot at Carmichael and Quamina Streets, Georgetown. Luther was reportedly shot once in his chest during a confrontation with Ojha and his friend Ron ‘Andel’ Forde. Forde was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June, 2017 after pleading guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter for Luther’s death.
Couple charged with marijuana trafficking released on bail
A common-law couple, Joseph Mohanlall and Candy Lambert charged with the possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking has been released on $1 million bail each. The couple who resides at Lot 14 Bel Air Road, Lamaha Gardens, appeared on Friday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Faith McGusty. They both pleaded not guilty to the offence. Their lawyer, Bernard DaSilva made
an application for bail and it was granted. The drug trafficking case against them have been adjourned until 16th October, 2026 for disclosure. Mohanlall and Lambert are being accused of trafficking marijuana by the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU). CANU alleges that its ranks found some 29.5 Kilograms of cannabis at the couple’s home on 6th September, 2026.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 22, 2026
PAGE 09
WIN is losing There are many things Guyana has acquired since the discovery of oil, including wealth, multistoried buildings, newly built apartments that will remain empty, traffic jams and the sudden appearance of people who have always known how to spend money they never previously had. But one thing remains stubbornly underdeveloped: the political opposition. We have an Opposition, certainly, but having an Opposition and having an effective opposition are two different things, rather like having a gym membership and actually going to the gym. The Opposition’s is supposed to scrutinise the Government, expose its failures, challenge its policies and offer the electorate an alternative vision of the country. In Guyana, however, the Opposition sometimes seems to believe that its principal responsibility is to remind the population that the Government is terrible. The Government does not need to be told every morning that it is wrong, because governments are generally quite capable of discovering this themselves, usually several years after everybody else has noticed. What the country needs is an Opposition capable of explaining not merely what the Government is doing badly, but what it would do
differently, how much it would cost and why anybody should trust it with the keys to the Treasury. This becomes especially important in an oil-rich Guyana, where politics is no longer about arguing over a relatively small national pie but about deciding what to do with an enormous one. The Opposition should therefore be discussing the future of the N atural Resource Fund, the management of oil revenues, education, healthcare, e l e c t r i c i t y, p o v e r t y, productivity, agriculture, public-sector reform and the frightening possibility that Guyana could become a very rich country populated by people who remain mysteriously poor. Instead, too much political energy is consumed by personalities, accusations, counteraccusations and the sort of political theatre in which everybody appears to be outraged while the public sits at home wondering whether somebody could please fix the electricity. There is nothing wrong with political combat, but if politics becomes entirely combat and contains no policy, eventually the electorate begins to feel like the referee at a boxing match in which neither fighter wants to throw punches. The Government, of course, has no reason to complain about this
situation. An ineffective Opposition is one of the greatest gifts a government can receive, particularly a government with money, political organisation and a talent for turning every new road, school and hospital into evidence that civilisation began on the day it took office. The Opposition should be making the Government uncomfortable, not merely angry. There is a difference, because anger produces press conferences and social media statements while discomfort produces answers, documents, investigations and occasionally resignations. This is particularly true when allegations arise concerning corruption, overpriced contracts, conflicts of interest or the possible misuse of state agencies. The Opposition should not simply shout that corruption exists; it should properly investigate, produce evidence, ask precise questions and pursue the matter until the Government has nowhere left to hide except behind another committee. Not like what is being done now where allegations are being thrown but based on suspicion , inferences and innuendos. Nor should the Opposition allow the
Dem Boys Seh...
Guyana Gat Stores Weh Discount Deh Pon Ice Guyana got some stores where the word “discount” apparently does not exist in the English language. Dem stores never hear about “Sale,” “Special Offer,” “Clearance” or even “Buy one, get one free,” and asking for a little reduction in price is like asking the store owner to donate one of his kidneys. Yuh walk into one ah dem stores with yuh wallet full of hope and yuh heart full of ambition. Yuh see something yuh been watching for months and decide today is the day. Yuh pick it up, admire it, turn it around, and then gather courage and ask, “Boss, yuh could knock off a lil piece from de price?” The owner does look at yuh like yuh just proposed that he give away the whole business. “Discount?” Sometimes yuh does wonder if yuh asking for a discount or applying for a government grant. Dem store owners got a whole dictionary of reasons why the price cannot move. “That is de best price.” “We nah making much on this.” “The supplier price gone up.” “The dollar rate high.” And de favourite: “I can’t do anything on that.”
But somehow, if yuh turn around and walk out, suddenly somebody could “talk to de boss.” De negotiation does then begin. Yuh ask fuh $5,000 off. They offer $500. Yuh ask fuh meet halfway. They tell yuh, “I could give yuh a pen.” A pen! At some stores, the only thing getting discounted is yuh expectation. And don’t look for no “Buy One, Get One Free.” Dem does prefer “Buy One, Get One—Full Price.” Stock-clearance sales also rare. Some stores would rather let an item gather dust until archaeologists discover it than reduce the price. The strange thing is that de same stores does suddenly find discounts when competition appears or when business slow. Then yuh see banners: “MEGA SALE! EVERYTHING MUST GO!” Everything must go—but apparently not below the original price. So Guyana gat stores where discount does indeed exist.It just deh pon ice. Talk Half! Leff Half!
Government to define the national conversation entirely through infrastructure. Roads, bridges, hospitals, schools and housing are important, but a country is not a construction site with a flag attached to it. The Opposition must ask who can afford to pay rent in this economy, whether the schools are producing educated citizens, whether the hospitals have enough staff and whether the electricity network can actually power the modern economy being advertised. The Opposition also needs to resist the temptation to behave as though every Guyanese who supports the Government has been hypnotised. People support governments for many reasons, including because they genuinely believe their lives have improved, and telling those people that they have been deceived is not a particularly effective method
of winning their votes. What Guyana needs is an Opposition that respects the intelligence of the electorate. It should be able to say, “The Government did this well, but it failed here,” because credibility is built not by opposing everything but by demonstrating that one can distinguish between achievement and failure. The Opposition must also become less obsessed with personalities and more interested in institutions. Guyana does not need another political Messiah who promises to rescue the r e p u b l i c w h i l e simultaneously explaining why everyone else is incompetent; it needs people capable of building institutions that will function even when their favourite politician is having a bad day. The great irony is that the Government may actually benefit from a stronger Opposition. A serious
Opposition would force it to improve its arguments, tighten its policies, investigate misconduct more aggressively and become more accountable, which means that the Opposition’s job is not merely to defeat the Government but to make government better. So perhaps the question is not whether Guyana has an Opposition, because clearly it does. The question is whether Guyana has an Opposition capable of convincing the electorate that if given the opportunity, it could actually govern—and in a country awash with oil money, that may be the most important opposition question of all. (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 S
UTH
D TR
HAR
HK
BY G
L
LAL
Tuesday September 2026 Monday May 02,22, 2022
H@RD TRUTHS
BY GHK LALL
Changes, contradictions, crimes covered Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained…” (John 23:20) This is the secular world. Not the space of the spiritual. It’s a world of sometimes subtle, other times, astonishing changes. The areas covered are endless. Filled with the contradictory. Where crimes are covered over (transgressions overlooked). Pursued for the Holy Grails of truth and justice, standards and models that brook neither disagreement nor pushback. O r, f o r d i s h o n e s t a n d ultimately damaging objectives. Those are the first questions. One of the changes referred to has to do with visas. Coveted American visas. Almost, if not, better
than a birth certificate; as good as a president’s or pontiff’s seal of approval. Maybe held a step higher in many minds. The Judge Gino Persaud “visa review” development pushed me to that unpardonably subversive place. Thinking. How what is covered reveals the irony of contradictions. The changes and reversals that expose those who wear the crowns of presidents and untouchables follow. It was just a few moons back. Men and women in high Guyanese offices feared U.S. airports. For good reason: their troubled history, their secret baggage, their life in the dark. Times have changed, haven’t they? They now have something better than the immunity granted by diplomatic passports. They have
unwritten letters that testify to the grant of presidential immunity. On this side of the Atlantic and the American side, too. The latter is what counts. It hinges on what is wanted here, what is liked about here. And when there’s that pleasure, then crimes are washed away. The records compiled disappear. Of no merit, and no force anymore. I had harboured the misplaced idea that it was only in Guyana that one-man tribunals, one-man COIs, and one-man arbitrators existed. It is clear that, up north, that spirit has taken hold, and expands in demented exercises of power. Go next door. For those who seek proof, there it is. A basket marked Delcy Rodrigues and Alejandro Betancourt. Once, they were earmarked for the hammer (like Nicolas Maduro). Now they are on the side of Washington’s angels. It counts to be recognised as a helper to the prosecution, even when that one may be depraved, exemplary as a walking crime wave. The changes in fortunes that
come about, when the fortune hunters are allowed to get their way. There are none better than some in the United States. In the current environment, it is more rewarding for the scientist and seeker of deviousness to look to the U.S. and less at Putin and Jinping, if one is interested in how corruptions can inspire changes and corruptions can also cover them up. Today, the men and women in power in Guyana have undergone transformations that neither steroids nor Botox nor Ozempic (combined) can match for results. Guyana’s powerful are renewed. Their prior darkness and current o n e s s t r i p p e d a w a y. Discarded. Don’t matter like before. The pendulum has swung, and it is not toward justice, nor the American Way. The American Way is mirage to be examined later. Today, those who stand against the rampages of the twisted and deformed in Guyana’s power architecture are the ones targeted. Visa review. I am all for it. But when all are included, when no one is excluded. Not even
presidents and prime ministers. If they, then ministers and senior public servants, must be part of the American Dragnets. And if there was no such beast as chronic, alarming, destructive levels of corruptions, then there would be no need for Arthur Chung whippings and a l e a d e r ’s d a w n f l a y i n g . There’s absolutely nothing in this world that can convince me that American Ambassador, Nicole D. Theriot and her posse of visible and invisible helpers are clueless of what is written here. On the contrary, they know much more than all Guyanese put together will ever know. Alistair Routledge (Mr.) can breathe still easier. In hand. Under control. Retreat at JFK with scrutiny. Advance on those in Guyana who stand against the dirty tide. Gino Persaud stands. It is not that he is taken down. It is how. A favour among friends sharing a special bond. An opportunity to lash at one who angered. Because he interpreted the law, admitted or blocked material, as seen proper. A
secretive jury on a judge now publicly impeached. All that it took were those two tragic words “visa review.” He could emerge the clearest of the clear, but that undesired moment in the sun, I am afraid, has torched him. I am touched and troubled by how this national patrimony has become a Pandora’s Box for Guyanese. A world of ills. An arena of disreputable men and women in Guyana and abroad. A time of crimes covered and new ones arranged. I laugh aloud when I read of oil curse and resource curse. Get out of the bloody textbooks. Next, absorb the biggest curse of all. Accursed men and women, Brown, Black, Bronze, in Guyana. Leaders, they are called. And the curse bigger than even them, once oil is around: The Great White Fathers in Washington. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
PUC says 1,658 consumer complaints processed over five years - $178M secured in credits The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) says it processed 1,658 consumer complaints between 2021 and 2025, with an average annual resolution rate of 87%, while consumers collectively benefitted from more than $178 million in credits and rebates resulting from the regulator’s intervention. The Commission disclosed the figures in a response to a Kaieteur News editorial published on 17th September, titled “Consumers deserve more than advice.” The editorial had questioned what happens after consumers bring complaints to the PUC and highlighted the need for consumers to see tangible results from the Commission’s regulatory role. In its response, the PUC said the complaints are investigated and resolved and that 83% of the complaints processed during the five-year period were resolved in favour of consumers. The Commission said the $178 million-plus in credits and rebates demonstrates the practical impact of its interventions on behalf of utility consumers. The PUC, however, stressed that consumer education and public awareness are only one part of its regulatory responsibilities. It said
public awareness initiatives have been a critical part of its operations since the Commission was established in 1991, allowing it to reach consumers, explain their rights and obligations, and inform them of avenues available for redress. According to the Commission, these initiatives have included radio and television interviews, social media campaigns, pop-up shops, walkabouts, school education sessions and engagements with Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, public agencies and commercial enterprises. The PUC said such activities “complement, rather than detract from” its regulatory and enforcement responsibilities. It further explained that its interactions with consumers provide an important mechanism for identifying problems at an early stage. The Commission said individual complaints can help expose broader or systemic concerns within the regulated sectors, allowing issues to be addressed before they become structural shortcomings. The PUC pointed to its continued outreach efforts, noting that its most recent consumer education exercise was held on Friday, 18th September, at St. Margaret’s Primary School.
PUC Chairman, Dr. Nanda Gopaul The Commission said its objective is not merely to address individual complaints but also to use evidence emerging from those complaints to promote improved service quality, accountability and compliance across the regulated sectors. Responding directly to the question of what happens after a consumer complains, the PUC said: “To put it s i m p l y, t h o s e c o m p l a i n t s a r e investigated and resolved.” It added that no complainant is left without a hearing and that utility companies and agencies under its jurisdiction are regularly monitored to ensure performance. The response comes amid continuing public concern over t h e q u a l i t y, r e l i a b i l i t y a n d accountability of utility services and the mechanisms available to consumers when they experience problems.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 22, 2026
PAGE 11
Woman struck to head with axe by husband Domestic violence has been a source of major concern in Guyana for years.
A
29-year-old female farmer is hospitalised after she was allegedly struck in the forehead with an axe during a domestic d i s p u t e a t Wa r i q u i m a Settlement, Upper Mazaruni River, on Thursday. Police said the incident occurred around 15:00hrs l a s t w e e k T h u r s d a y. According to preliminary investigations, the woman and the suspect, a 30-yearold miner, are in a commonlaw relationship and live together. Police said the woman was at home splitting firewood with an axe when the suspect returned and allegedly accused her of being unfaithful. An
argument reportedly followed, during which the suspect allegedly took the axe from the woman and struck her in the forehead with the base of the tool. The woman reportedly fell to the ground unconscious. She was taken to the Kamarang District Hospital, where she was examined by a doctor and admitted. She was subsequently referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for further medical attention. Her condition is listed as stable. The suspect was arrested and remains in police custody as investigations continue. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) recorded 124 reports
of domestic and family violence involving girls under the age of 18 between 2020 and 2025. The figure was confirmed by Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond back in August during a sitting of the National Assembly, in a written response to a question from Opposition Member of Parliament and Leader of the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), Amanza Walton. Walton had asked the minister to state “how many reports of domestic violence involved girls under the age of 18, disaggregated by region, during the period of 20202025.” In her response, Minister Walrond said, “The Guyana Police Force records reports of domestic and family violence in its occurrence books, station diaries, investigative files, domestic violence registers and related case management systems.” Region Four —
18 bid to design, supervise construction of new National Reference Lab
combining policing divisions 4A, 4B and 4C — recorded the highest number of cases for the period, with a total of 42. Across the full five-year span, 2025 saw the most reports filed in a single year, with 28 cases. Region Eight recorded the fewest cases, with three, while Region Seven recorded six and Region Nine recorded seven. An August 6 report by this publication, found that 532 girls under 18 were placed in emergency care
between 2020 and 2025 after experiencing abuse, according to Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Vindhya Persaud. Those figures were also disclosed in a written response to a National Assembly question from Walton, who had asked how m a n y e m e rg e n c y s a f e housing placements were provided to girls under 18 fleeing domestic violence during the period. Minister Persaud said the
Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) reported that 532 girls were placed into care due to abuse over the five years, and explained that the children were accommodated through State-run care facilities, privately operated homes and foster care arrangements. Walton also asked how many social workers are assigned nationwide to handle adolescent protection matters.
Three killed in Baramita brawl T
hree farmers, including a husband and wife, were killed following an alleged confrontation at Aranka Village, Baramita, North West District, on Saturday. Dead are: Joy John, 40, her husband, Amar Thomas, 38, and Tony Williams, 62. Police said the incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on September 19, 2026. Preliminary investigations revealed that John and Thomas lived together with their five-year-old son at a camp in the area, while Williams resided at another camp approximately 20 miles away. According to police, Williams went to John and Thomas’ camp, where an argument allegedly developed between him and John. During the confrontation, Williams allegedly chopped John to her neck with a cutlass. Thomas, who was reportedly returning from
his farm, subsequently confronted Williams. The two men then allegedly became involved in an altercation during which they inflicted injuries on each other with sharp objects. John was found motionless at the camp, while Thomas was found approximately 50 feet away. Williams was later found about 100 feet from the camp along a track. Police ranks visited the location on Sunday and examined the bodies. John was observed with a wound to her neck, while Thomas had a stab wound to his left groin. Williams had a stab wound to the left side of his chest. The three bodies were taken to the Baramita Cottage Hospital, where a doctor pronounced them dead on arrival. They were subsequently placed in the hospital mortuary pending post-mortem examinations.
Corentyne woman succumbs one week after car toppled into trench
The Ministry of Health has received 18 bids from consultancy firms interested in providing design and supervision services for the construction of a new National Public Health Reference Laboratory. According to the tender minutes published by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), consultancy firms hail from countries like Guyana, the United Kingdom, Italy, Bangladesh, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States of America, Japan, Germany, Canada and Bulgaria. The ministry’s expression of interest stated that the government received financing from the world bank for the ‘One Health Project’ and intends to use part of the proceeds to procure consulting services covering both the pre-contract and construction phases of the project. The wider Guyana One Health Project, valued at US$22 million, was announced by
the world bank in a press release in March last year. The project aims to strengthen the country’s ability to prevent, prepare for and respond to health emergencies, using a one health approach that integrates human, animal and environmental health systems. It is funded by a US$15 million grant from the pandemic fund and a US$7 million credit from the world bank’s international development association. Among its components, the project will support upgrading and decentralising the national laboratory network, including transforming the National Public Health Reference Laboratory into a modern, stateof-the-art facility. Meanwhile, speaking at the strengthening clinical capacity for the management of advanced HIV disease in Guyana workshop last Monday, Minister Anthony highlighted plans to strengthen Guyana’s laboratory and Continued on page 17
Twenty-four-year-old Reanna Ramkissoon of Letter Kenny, Corentyne, succumbed to injuries she sustained in a vehicular accident at Auchlyne Village, Corentyne, last week. Kaieteur News understands that Ramkissoon died a week after the vehicle in which she was travelling toppled into a trench on September 14, reportedly after the driver, her husband, attempted to avoid a donkey that was on the roadway. Police reports confirmed that her husband, Richard Gobin of Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, was driving motorcar PYY 6384, owned by Elvin Tullakarnum of East Canje, at the time of the accident. According to police, Gobin was proceeding west along the southern drive lane of Auchlyne Public Road at a
Dead: Reanna Ramkissoon, 24 fast rate when a donkey reportedly ran from the southern side of the road into the vehicle’s path. Gobin reportedly turned right in an attempt to avoid colliding with the animal but lost control of the vehicle, which then careened into a trench on the northern side of the road. Ramkissoon was seated in the front passenger
seat and became trapped inside the vehicle. Police reported that she sustained multiple injuries to her body. Quick-thinking passersby managed to extract Ramkissoon from the vehicle, after which she was taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where she received medical attention and was kept under observation after reportedly having fluid in her lungs. She was discharged the following morning but, after complaining of discomfort several hours later, was admitted to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital. Ramkissoon was subsequently placed in the Intensive Care Unit, where her condition was initially described as stable. Police said the accident was reported shortly after it occurred and officers visited the scene.
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Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 22, 2026
OP:ED New 69kV line Mid-year Report: Confusion: Housing to clear ECD Report, Finance Ministry and Ashni Singh highway path by November
Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Hon. Deodat Indar The government, through the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation, is advancing work on a new 69kV transmission line along the backlands of the East Coast Demerara, which is expected to be completed by the end of November. This will allow the existing transmission infrastructure along the Plaisance Railway Embankment to be removed and the four-lane highway expansion to proceed without disrupting electricity supply. Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, provided the update via his Facebook. Minister Indar explained that the existing line is a critical component of Guyana’s transmission network, carrying 69,000 volts of bulk power along the East Coast Corridor and maintaining the connection between the Demerara and Berbice systems. “We have plans to move this line to the backlands, and it will be finished around the end of November, where we will move all of these poles out, and we can reroute the power without affecting the people,” Minister Indar explained. He said the relocation could not be undertaken immediately because removing the existing line without an Continued on page 18
By Christopher Ram On September 17, 2026, on chrisram.net, I published a letter entitled “CHPA and its Performance,” raising questions about the quality of financial and performance reporting by the Central Housing and Planning Authority. I indicated then that I would examine the Government’s 2026 MidYear Report more fully. Having now done so, the housing section - and the role of Dr. Ashni Singh, the Minister Responsible for Finance - reinforce those concerns. The Report states that $89.9 billion of the $159.1 billion housing-sector allocation was spent in the first half of 2026, describing the expenditure as being “to expand affordable housing for citizens.” That description is misleadingly broad, since the housing programme also encompasses major infrastructure, community facilities, Silica City and other expenditure which cannot simply be equated with affordable housing. If the $89.9 billion includes expenditure on roads, drains, street lighting, industrial areas, recreational facilities and major developments still in progress, then the Report should say so and identify how much was spent on each major component. Without that breakdown, the reader cannot tell what proportion
Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram of the $89.9 billion actually went to houses or house lots, what went to infrastructure and community works, and what went to longer-term projects such as Silica City. Clearly, the problem is not a shortage of numbers. It is that, presented as they are by Singh, they make very little sense as an account of expenditure. They are neither reconciled nor adequately explained and, for purposes of determining what the $89.9 billion actually purchased, are largely meaningless. Instead of a coherent account showing where the money went, the reader is given a succession of disparate statistics: lots allocated, titles distributed, houses constructed, developments completed or in progress,
street lamps installed, subsidies provided, applications processed, and recreational spaces and industrial areas under development. The sheer quantity of numbers should not be mistaken for accountability. What Dr. Singh fails to provide is the information that matters: expenditure by programme and project; the cost of completed works; expenditure to date on unfinished works; the relationship between money spent and physical progress; material variations from budget; and some basis upon which the National Assembly and the public can judge the use made of nearly $90 billion. The deficiencies are therefore not merely matters
of presentation or drafting. When expenditure of this magnitude is reported without the information necessary to assess it, public scrutiny is weakened and financial accountability is reduced to a cash spent statement. A country dealing with public expenditure on this scale is entitled to considerably better reporting. That responsibility cannot simply be laid at the door of CHPA. Dr. Singh presents both the annual Budget and the Mid-Year Report. The Budget sets out the Government’s account of past performance and its policies, allocations and targets for the current year; the Mid-Year Report is intended to report on their implementation. The defective quality of that financial reporting therefore falls squarely within the portfolio for which Dr. Singh is responsible. On top of this, there is a curious institutional confusion surrounding the f i n a n c e p o r t f o l i o . D r. S i n g h ’s f o r m a l - a n d cumbersome - title is Senior Minister in the Office of the P r e s i d e n t w i t h Responsibility for Finance. The Office of the President stated on his appointment that responsibility for finance was placed within the Office of the President, which would retain its Continued on page 17
Tuesday September 22, 2026
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Tuesday September 22, 2026
Chinese Medical team
President Dr Irfaan Ali met with members of the 21st Chinese Medical Brigade, who are scheduled to depart Guyana after a one-year tour of duty. Over the past year, the 18-member team provided 11,500 outpatient consultations, treated 4,039 inpatients, and performed
2,500 surgical procedures. The President was joined by Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony; Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd; and Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Vanessa Benn.
Guyana joins major transnational crime crackdown 4.4 tonnes of cocaine seized from an illegal airstrip in the dense forests of Matthews Ridge in Region One back in 2024.
— 490+ arrests, 156 tonnes of drugs seized An international crackdown targeting transnational organised crime has resulted in more than 490 arrests and the seizure of over 156.9 tonnes of drugs, firearms, ammunition, gold, wildlife and other criminal assets, with Guyana among the 35 countries participating in the operation. O p e r a t i o n AT L A S NEXUS, described by organisers as the largest joint operation against organised crime conducted to date between Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe in terms of the volume of seizures and countries involved, concluded with dozens of criminal networks identified and dismantled. The operation was led by the Belgian Federal Police and coordinated jointly by t h e E u r o p e a n Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX) and
the Caribbean Community ( C A R I C O M ) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS). It was facilitated by the European Union’s EL PACCTO 2.0 programme, which supports cooperation between Latin America and the Caribbean and Europe on security and justice. In a statement IMPACS said Guyana was among the participating countries, alongside Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as countries across Latin America and Europe. The operation t a rg e t e d f i v e p r i o r i t y criminal markets—drug trafficking, human trafficking, document fraud, firearms trafficking and environmental crime. H o w e v e r, t h e information released on ATLAS NEXUS does not identify any specific arrests, seizures or criminal networks in Guyana.
Authorities reported the seizure of 37.6 tonnes of cocaine and 118.6 tonnes of cannabis, along with 201 firearms, 3,131 units of ammunition and explosives, 803 wild animals and livestock, US$135,000 in cash and cryptocurrencies, 0.83 kilogrammes of gold, 169 properties, 464 pieces of jewellery, 468 fraudulent documents and one vehicle. Eighteen victims were also rescued and assisted. The international operation involved more than 8,680 police officers and justice authorities who monitored 110 aircraft, 28 vessels, 415 vehicles and 271 containers at 28 designated checkpoints in ports, airports and on roads. A total of 595 search warrants were executed. Authorities also reported that 37 INTERPOL notices were issued during the operation, including 17 red notices. The operation was not limited to intercepting shipments. Organisers said a
central objective was to identify and dismantle the criminal structures behind the movement of drugs, people, weapons and other illicit goods, while confiscating the assets that sustain those networks. Among the significant discoveries was the identification and dismantling of the first cocaine processing laboratory detected in Ireland. Authorities also identified two new illegal gold-mining sites in French Guiana. Australia played a key role in the seizure of more than 5.6 tonnes of cocaine, while significant operations were also reported in Costa Rica, France, Greece, Ireland, Montenegro, Paraguay, Portugal, Suriname and Sweden. The operation brought together 35 countries and involved regional and international organisations including AMERIPOL, Continued on page 16
$557 million contract awarded to build National Neurological Centre The National Neurological Centre which the government plans to construct will cost $557,560,000. According to the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) website, the $557 million contract was awarded to contractor Digital Design Construction, Logistics and Supplies. Digital Design Construction was among 11 companies that bid for the contract and had submitted the lowest of bidders for the ministry’s project. During the presentation of the national budget earlier this year, the National Assembly heard that plans were underway for the construction of the centre, which will provide specialised clinical care and long-term management of brain injuries such as stroke, head and spinal cord and neuro-muscular disorders. Senior Minister with the responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh said that $1.1 billion was budgeted for the centre, along with a modern oncology department to provide a comprehensive patientcentered cancer care facility. At the sod-turning ceremony for the Industry Polyclinic back in August last year, Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony said the
projects were part of the government’s commitment to transforming the local health sector. “While we are doing that, we also recognise that there is a challenge with persons who are hypertensive. Some of them might get complications that ended up with a stroke and so we are also working to build a national rehab
centre for stroke patients,” Dr. Anthony said at the time. “And so, maybe next two years or so, you would see that come to fruition. So, when we talk about a world class health care, we’re not paying lip service to this, what we are doing is investing. The government is investing to make sure that we can develop these types of facilities,” he added. The project will form part of the $134 billion approved in the national budget this year for the Ministry of Health.
Tuesday September 22, 2026
Runway incursions could end in tragedy — Aviation operators warn
A passenger leaving the Trans Guyana Airways aircraft.
The Aviation Operators’ Association of Guyana (AOAG) is warning that the growing threat of animals, people and other obstructions entering active runways, particularly at hinterland aerodromes could result in a serious aviation tragedy if urgent measures are not taken. The warning comes in the wake of the recent aircraft occurrence at Mabaruma, where an aircraft ran off the runway during landing following an animal incursion. While the circumstances of that incident remain under investigation by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), the AOAG said the broader problem of animals and people entering aerodrome operating areas has been a longstanding concern for aircraft operators. According to the association, an aircraft taking off or landing is at one of the most critical stages of flight, leaving pilots with very little time to respond when an unexpected obstruction appears on the runway. A dog, cow, horse, pig, bird, person, vehicle or other obstruction could force a pilot to make an emergency decision within seconds, including aborting a take-off, executing a go-around, applying heavy braking or taking evasive action. The AOAG said such actions could place passengers, crew and aircraft at considerable risk. The association stressed that hinterland aerodromes are not merely transportation facilities, but critical lifelines for communities, providing access to medical evacuations, food and other supplies, passenger transportation, government services, tourism and emergency response. “Protecting these aerodromes must therefore be a shared responsibility,” the AOAG said. It is calling on residents living near aerodromes to keep livestock away from airport boundaries, refrain from crossing runways and desist from damaging perimeter fences. Residents are also being urged to immediately report any animals, persons or other hazards observed within restricted areas. At the same time, the AOAG is calling on aerodrome operators and the relevant authorities to strengthen runway inspections, perimeter security, wildlife-control measures and systems for reporting and responding to hazards. The association said the objective should not be to assign blame, but to prevent an avoidable tragedy. “A runway is not a roadway, footpath or grazing area,” the AOAG warned, stressing that when an aircraft is taking off or landing, “even a few seconds can mean the difference between a normal operation and a serious accident.” The association is therefore appealing to communities across Guyana to help protect hinterland aerodromes and the lives of the passengers, pilots and communities that depend on them. The AOAG also called on the GCAA to “assert its authority” and ensure that all aerodromes in Guyana are properly regulated and meet the required aviation safety standards. Last Thursday a black dog running onto the Mabaruma runway during the landing of a Trans Guyana Airways (TGA) aircraft forced the pilot to take evasive action, sending the aircraft off the runway and triggering renewed concerns about safety at Guyana’s hinterland aerodromes. The Cessna Caravan, registered 8RGCC, was landing at approximately 8:15 a.m. with 12 passengers aboard when, according to TGA, the pilot spotted Continued on page 16
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Tuesday September 22, 2026
Health ministers of the Americas to meet in Washington to address the Region’s leading public health challenges
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Ministers of Health and other high-level authorities from across the Americas will gather from 28th September to 2nd October, 2026 at the headquarters of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Washington, D.C., for the 63rd PAHO Directing Council and other governance meetings. During the week, Member States will review major public health advances and challenges in the Region and consider the adoption of new policies, strategies, and plans of action that will shape regional cooperation in the years ahead, PAHO said in a press release. The opening session will take place on Monday, 28th September, at 9:00 a.m. EDT at PAHO headquarters. Speakers will include Lisa Cummins, Minister of Health and Wellness of Barbados and outgoing President of the Directing Council, and Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO. Senior representatives of the United States Government, the Organizat i o n o f American States (OAS), and the Inter-Ameri-
can Development Bank (IDB) are also expected to participate. Following the opening session, Dr. Barbosa will present his annual report on the health situation in the Americas and the work of the Organisation. The report highlights progress in disease elimination, immunization coverage, digital health, maternal health, emergency preparedness and response, and access to vaccines, medicines, and other health technologies. Among the major issues to be discussed and considered for adoption are: Strategy for Strengthening Health Emergency and Risk Management for Health Security 2026– 2031, aimed at enhancing preparedness, detection, and response to epidemics, disasters, and other health emergencies. Also a plan of action on Antimicrobial Resistance 2027–2031, designed to accelerate action against one of the Region’s growing public health threats through a One Health approach will be addressed and integrated management strategy for the prevention and control of
PEN PAL 51 year old male of African decent looking for future partner of any race within the age group of 40-50yrs. Call From page 14 CARICOM IMPACS, EUROPOL, FRONTEX, INTERPOL, #603-6400 MAOC(N) and the Regional Security System. The United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Australia and other countries also contributed to intelligence-sharing and operational activities. Preparatory work for the operation included an April 2026 meeting in Panama City involving EMPACT MTCNI, FRONTEX, CARICOM IMPACS and EL PACCTO 2.0. Authorities used that process to identify high-value targets and WANTED criminal methods before coordinated operational actions were One cook preferable form the launched. The operation also involved programmes including East Bank.Contact #616-5700 CRIMARIO II, SEACOP VI and the Italian-funded INTERPOL or 748-0359 I-CAN programme, whose international connections were WantedPARTS used to strengthen intelligence-sharing. In Costa Rica, auSALESPERSONS & JR thorities seized more than 27.8 tonnes of drugs, including 24.5 ACCOUNTS CLERK for an tonnes of cocaine and 3.2 tonnes of cannabis, along with 181 established workshop. firearms. A total of 375 people were arrested and 14 victims Applicants must have CSCE rescued. Paraguay recorded a separate major seizure of 104.96 ENGLISH & MATHS, must tonnes of cannabis, with eight arrests reported for drug and be computer literate, accurate, firearms trafficking. The international authorities said the opdetail-oriented, and reliable. eration demonstrated the importance of connecting intelliTraning provied. gence from different jurisdictions and taking simultaneous techserigy@gmail.com action against criminal networks operating across several continents.
Guyana joins major...
Arboviral Diseases 2026– 2035, intended to strengthen responses to diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Oropouche. Also the meeting will develop a strategy and plan of action on Food Safety 2026– 2031, aimed at strengthening national food safety systems and reducing the burden of foodborne diseases as well as strengthening and aligning PAHO’s Regional Revolving Funds, a proposal to strengthen, integrate, and modernise the Organization’s regional procurement mechanisms for vaccines, medicines, and other health technologies. Delegates will also review reports on the implementation of the PAHO Strategic Plan 2020–2025, the Organization’s financial situation, implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR), the PAHO Forward initiative, and
progress on disease elimination, One Health, cervical cancer, health promotion, genomic surveillance, and data science. Health in the Americas During the week, PAHO will launch Health in the Americas 2026: Prioritising Avertable Disease Burden to Maximize Impact, the latest edition of the Organisation’s flagship publication. The report examines the leading causes of disability and premature mortality in the Region, analyzes health financing trends, and identifies the interventions that offer the greatest potential to improve health outcomes and guide public health decision-making Special events during the week will include: Advancing and Accelerating Digital Transformation in the Americas: The Case of the Pan-American Highway
for Digital Health (28th September). Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of PAHO’s Health Emergencies Program (28th September). Accelerating Action in Primary Health Care: Innovative Experiences from the Region (29th September). PAHO Ceremony Recognising the Elimination of Communicable Diseases in the Americas (29th September). Catalytic Investments to Accelerate Disease Elimination in the Americas (30th September). Following the Directing Council, Ministers of Health and national delegations will participate in additional governance meetings during the week, including the 78th Session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Americas and the 179th Session of PAHO’s Executive Committee. A special briefing session, “Reforming the Global Health Architecture,” will take place on 2nd October, focusing on challenges and opportunities to strengthen global health cooperation and governance.
‘Spy chief’ invokes right against selfincrimination over destroyed records... From page 3 not write that information.” Addressing his authority to incinerate classified documents, Narine testified that he destroyed the books out of fear of breaching his obligations under the Official Secrets Act 1911, which carries penalties of up to 14 years’ imprisonment with hard labour. However, when confronted with the text of Exhibit 2, which specifies that disposal of classified documents can only be carried out where directions are issued by a lawful authority, Narine asserted, “I am the authorised person to give that decision,” maintaining that he could destroy
special branch records as he saw fit. Narine further admitted that at the time he destroyed the records in January 2026, he was fully aware that extradition proceedings were ongoing and that he would serve as a material witness. He confirmed he never informed the police legal advisor or prosecutors of his intention to destroy the books, nor did he inform them after the fact until it emerged during cross-examination. He also acknowledged seeking advice from the police legal advisor on how to proceed with his testimony prior to returning to the
stand. Finally, the defence confronted Narine with GPF Standing Order 28, specifically rule 28.8 requiring officers to retain completed pocketbooks for three years before destruction, and rule 28.4 prohibiting any erasures or obliterations of notes. Narine argued that signing a secrecy declaration under the official secrets Act exempted Special Branch officers from standard retention protocols, asserting that section 21C of the 1911 Act criminalises failing to take reasonable care of official secrets. Cross-examination has been deferred.
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From page 15 an animal entering the aircraft’s path during the landing roll. The pilot reportedly applied the brakes aggressively, after which the aircraft skidded off the runway and came to rest sideways. No injuries were reported, although the passengers were taken for medical assessment. The aircraft, however, sustained significant damage and was rendered inoperable, according to TGA. The incident prompted
TGA to renew its call for urgent action to address what it described as the recurring problem of animals and even people gaining access to government-owned and operated hinterland airports. In a statement issued last Friday, the airline said the incident represents a “considerable concern” because such incursions pose a continuing threat to commercial and private aircraft using the aerodromes. TGA said it had already raised the issue with the Director General of the Guyana
Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), including a correspondence dated 9th September and 16th June, 2026. The airline said it was releasing those letters publicly in light of Thursday’s incident at Mabaruma. The airline is now calling for the matter to be urgently addressed, particularly as several hinterland airports are undergoing significant expansion and development. TGA said it remains available to work with the GCAA, other licensed aircraft operators and the Aviation Operators’
Association of Guyana (AOAG) to find a solution. Meanwhile, the GCAA has launched an investigation into the Mabaruma incident. The authority said preliminary information indicates that the aircraft experienced a runway excursion and that its Accident and Investigation Team was dispatched to the site to conduct a detailed assessment. The investigation will determine the circumstances surrounding the incident and the factors that led to the aircraft leaving the runway.
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Tuesday September 22, 2026
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Kamala Harris launches into the 2026 midterms as her 2028 decision looms (AP) As Kamala Harris mulls whether to run for president again, she’s throwing herself into the midterms by campaigning with fellow Democrats, starting with a Tuesday trip to Michigan on behalf of Senate nominee Abdul ElSayed. It’s an especially notable destination for the former vice president. Michigan was one of seven battlegrounds she lost to Donald Trump two years ago, and it’s now one of six states that will start Democrats’ next presidential nominating process. Harris has additional rallies scheduled in Nevada and Georgia, two other key places on the political map.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis, File)
Her campaigning could serve to solidify or undermine her status as a potential Democratic frontrunner. Although she’s one of the n a t i o n ’s b e s t - k n o w n politicians and a barrierbreaking figure, there are others eager to turn the page after she failed to defeat
Trump when she replaced President Joe Biden on the top of the ticket. “I think she’s run her course,” said Barry Goodman, a Democratic National Committee member from Michigan who raised money for Biden and then Harris. “I just don’t think her running again
18 bid to design, supervise construction... From page 11 disease-surveillance capabilities. The minister disclosed that the new reference laboratory, when constructed, will be equipped with improved technology to enhance the country’s capacity to conduct molecular surveillance and detect infections earlier. “These investments will strengthen Guyana’s capacity to respond to emerging
infectious diseases,” the minister said, adding that local laboratories could eventually serve as reference laboratories for specific conditions. He noted that new technologies and diagnostic techniques will increasingly be employed to strengthen the country’s ability to identify infections earlier and respond more effectively to emerging health threats. Below are the companies and their bids:
Ministry of Health Expression of Interest - Design and Supervision of the National Public Health Reference Laboratory.
would be the right thing for America moving forward.” Some Democratic candidates, especially in places Trump won handily, have curtly dismissed any possibility of campaigning with Harris. “No thanks,” Iowa gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand told Politico. “Let’s move on. We need some new leadership.” But plenty of Democrats, including some influential Black women who helped convince Biden to select Harris as his running mate in 2020, said she has more than earned the space to consider
her options without being rushed or pilloried. Underscoring her unique position, California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently told CNN that he would not seek the nomination if Harris does. “Kamala isn’t under any deadline to run for anything,” said Donna Brazile, a former Democratic National Committee chair who m a n a g e d A l G o r e ’s presidential campaign in 2000. She called it a “waste of time” to relitigate Harris’s truncated 2024 campaign
and said any White House hopefuls “should follow Kamala’s lead and get out there” by trying to help midterm candidates. Harris has not announced any upcoming trips to South Carolina, where Democrats will hold their first primary. Antjuan Seawright, a political consultant in the state, said she could make a strong case for herself but another campaign would need to look and sound different. “She’s going to have to admit that she was wrong about some things,” he said.
Region Two to get 10,000-tonne climate-controlled rice storage hub Construction of Guyana’s first climatecontrolled rice storage hub in Region Two is set to begin in the second half of 2026, with the facility expected to provide an intended 10,000 tonnes of storage capacity as the government continues to strengthen infrastructure and support across the rice industry. The initiative is outlined in the 2026 MidYear Report and forms part of a wider strategy to improve rice production, postharvest management, market access and resilience within the sector. The investment follows the government’s 2026 Budget commitment to increase ricestorage capacity through climate-controlled silos over the next five years, with $1 billion allocated this year to commence construction of the silos. For rice, controlled storage is particularly important because improperly stored paddy may be affected by moisture, heat, insects, mould, and other forms of grain deterioration. The main purpose is to protect and preserve harvested paddy/rice under controlled conditions so it can be stored for longer while maintaining the grain quality. The planned facility comes against the backdrop of continued growth in the rice subsector. In the first half of 2026, rice production grew by an estimated 4.4 per cent, increasing to 414,088 tonnes of rice equivalent compared to 410,194 tonnes during the corresponding period in 2025. Full-year production is projected at 827,838 tonnes of
rice equivalent. At the same time, the government has strengthened mechanisms to protect farmers against production risks. In the first half of the year, 2,068 rice farmers received nearly US$128,000 in crop-insurance claims after weather-related losses associated with above-normal rainfall during the first crop. This marked the first time the crop-insurance facility was accessed. Beyond insurance payouts, approximately $2.8 billion in direct support was provided to 5,106 rice farmers cultivating 234,920 acres during the review period. Additional interventions included improved tillage, drone-based crop management, new varieties, pest-control measures, nano fertiliser and certified seeds. The government is also advancing measures to improve the quality and value of Guyana’s rice production, including the development of improved and biofortified varieties, expansion of newly commissioned varieties, promotion of value-added rice products and research into new markets for paddy and rice. The planned climate-controlled storage hub will add to this support by expanding the sector’s capacity to properly store harvested rice, while complementing ongoing efforts to improve production and create additional opportunities for farmers. The investment underscores the government’s continued focus on building a more resilient and modern rice industry, from production and risk protection to storage, value addition, and market development. (DPI)
Mid-year Report: Confusion: Housing...
Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Procurement of CISCO Meraki Enterprise Licenses.
From page 12 oversight role. Yet the 2026 National Estimates contain “Agency 03 – Ministry of Finance”, identify Dr. Singh as the Minister responsible for that agency, and describe its functions as those of “the Ministry”. The Government also operates a Ministry of Finance website and issues its Budget documents under that name. The Gazette arrangements recognise a Ministry of Finance, but there is no separately styled Minister of Finance: the political responsibility remains with Dr. Singh in his capacity as Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance. The problem may therefore be wider than the housing numbers. The Government’s
own documents do not present a wholly coherent institutional picture: finance is retained within the Office of the President, while for budgeting and administration a Ministry of Finance continues to exist and operate under Singh’s responsibility. Whatever explains that strange arrangement, accountability cannot be allowed to become equally confused. Dr. Singh presents the Budget and the Mid-Year Report, while President Ali retained oversight of finance within the Office of the President. Between them, there should be no uncertainty about who bears responsibility for ensuring that the country receives a clear, coherent and intelligible account of how its money is being spent.
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Tuesday September 22, 2026
U.S. threatens to ground Iranian airlines worldwide from Wednesday (AL-JAZEERA) United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says Iranian airlines could effectively be shut out of international travel from Wednesday, as Wa s h i n g t o n t h r e a t e n s foreign companies with secondary sanctions if they continue servicing the country’s carriers. “On September 23, all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world,” Bessent told CNBC on Monday. The warning is aimed not just at the airlines themselves, but at the airports, fuel suppliers, ticketing companies and other businesses they rely on to operate abroad. “If they land, you cannot provide them with fuel, you cannot provide them with landing services, you cannot sell them tickets, or you will be knocked out of the dollar system,” Bessent said. The threat marks the latest step in US President D o n a l d T r u m p administration’s escalating economic campaign against Tehran, which has continued alongside the war between the US and Iran. Earlier this month, the U S Tr e a s u r y i m p o s e d sanctions on all remaining Iranian airlines that had not already been targeted, as well as companies outside Iran accused of supporting the country’s aviation sector. Iran’s aviation industry was already heavily constrained by years of US sanctions, which have made it difficult for carriers to buy new aircraft and obtain spare parts and maintenance
Iranians in Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps uniforms march during a military parade in Tehran. [File: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images] services. The measures are part of a much broader sanctions regime aimed at isolating Iran from the international financial system. US secondary sanctions threaten foreign companies that do business with Iran across sectors including energy, shipping, technology, gold and digital assets with penalties of their own. China ‘very engaged’ on Iran sanctions Bessent’s comments came a day after talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday. China is one of Iran’s most important economic partners and diplomatic backers, making Beijing’s cooperation potentially
significant to Washington’s efforts to financially isolate Tehran. Bessent said Chinese officials had been “very engaged” in the US pressure campaign. Washington was holding what he described as positive talks with Chinese financial authorities, including People’s Bank of China Governor Pan Gongsheng, about compliance with US sanctions on Iran. Iran’s military says US preparing to resume strikes Iran’s central military command says it has received information that the United States is preparing to resume strikes on the country. The warning, issued on Sunday by the Khatam alAnbiya Central Headquarters, which
oversees Iran’s armed forces, raises the prospect of a new round of fighting after months of reduced direct attacks. Tehran said any renewed US assault would bring retaliation against American bases and interests in the Middle East and warned regional countries against helping Washington. The military command said states that allowed their territory or facilities to support US attacks would be “considered complicit” and could face an Iranian response. US President Donald Trump told Fox News on
Sunday that he was in a “deciding mode” over Iran and said his options included further military action, economic pressure or a deal. He also said he would be open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Tehran on Sunday evening for the UN General Assembly in New York, state media announced, adding that he is making a brief stopover in Qatar. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told lawmakers on Sunday that Tehran should use military force to push back its opponents before turning to diplomacy to secure any gains. Tehran has told Qatari and Pakistani mediators that conditions for renewed talks include an end to the war and US attacks, the release of frozen Iranian funds and the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports. Ghalibaf said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Washington met what Iran says are its commitments under an earlier agreement. Al Jazeera correspondent Tohid Asadi, reporting from Tehran, said Iranian officials were sending a deliberate two-track message,
signalling that they remained open to diplomacy while preparing for renewed fighting. Qatar, a Gulf state mediating between the two sides, says its officials are travelling between capitals and exchanging proposals aimed at restarting negotiations. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed alAnsari said Doha had heard assurances from US officials that Washington wanted an agreement. The confrontation is already disrupting the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway linking the Gulf to the Arabian Sea and a key route for global energy shipments. Shipping data showed 12 commodity vessels crossed the strait over the weekend, down from 35 the previous weekend. The war began in late February after joint USIsraeli strikes on Iran. A 60-day memorandum reached in June reduced fullscale fighting but expired last month, with attacks around Hormuz increasing since then. Mark Pfeifle, a Republican strategist and former White House national security official, told Al Jazeera that both countries were “locked in this frozen conflict” and trying to increase pressure before possible diplomacy around the UN gathering.
New 69kV line to clear ECD highway... From page 12 alternative would require significant electricity outages and risk disconnecting the Demerara and Berbice systems. To address this, the government has contracted POWERCHINA to construct the new transmission line through the backlands from Ogle to Good Hope. Work includes preparing the route through wetlands and marshlands, constructing foundations, installing steel monopoles and stringing conductors. Minister Indar said the new infrastructure is also being equipped with more reliable conductors designed for a longer operational lifespan, noting that major transmission infrastructure is built with a 30-to-40-year outlook. Guyana Power and Light Director of Power Generation and Delivery, Bharat Harjohn, said the existing transmission lines are essential to maintaining the interconnected Demerara-Berbice system while the replacement infrastructure is being completed. “It is important that we maintain this link until we complete that new line because if we
don’t maintain this link then we will have a disconnect between our Berbice and Demerara system.” The ongoing investment also includes construction of a new 230kV transmission line, which will significantly increase Guyana’s transmission capacity and support the country’s expanding electricity demand. Minister Indar also noted that substations and other supporting infrastructure are being developed simultaneously, with long-lead equipment, including transformers, already arriving or being shipped to Guyana. The upgraded transmission network are efforts by the government to modernise the national electricity system while supporting major infrastructure development, including the expansion of the East Coast corridor into a four-lane highway. Additional resources are being deployed to fast-track construction of the replacement line, with the objective of having it ready by the end of November, after which power can be diverted to the new route and the existing poles removed from the highway corridor. (DPI)
Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 22, 2026
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Election fraud trial...
Jaskarran admits he never checked integrity of elections data after former IT manager seized GECOM servers
R
evelations emerged in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court during the ongoing 2020 electoral fraud trial, as prosecution witness and forensic auditor Terrence Jaskarran admitted under cross-examination that he never verified the digital integrity or chain of custody of election files provided to him after servers were removed from the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) former DCEO Anneal Giddings. Jaskarran, who was
retained by the Ministry of Home Affairs on August 21, 2020, to conduct a forensic tabulation exercise, admitted that his analysis was strictly confined to basic data entry and interface comparison, leaving the foundational validity of the underlying digital records completely unexamined. Defence counsel Nigel Hughes pressed Jaskarran before Magistrate Faith McGusty on whether he took any measures to audit or authenticate the raw data files given to him following the seizure of GECOM’s IT
infrastructure. Under questioning, Jaskarran conceded that he did not examine the cause, digital history, or integrity of any documents or files handed over for his report. “You never, for the entire election results, investigated the integrity of any of the documents that were presented to you?” defence counsel put to the witness. “I did not examine cause and effect of any documents,” Jaskarran replied. The defence highlighted that without checking whether the data had been
Bandits flee with $708K in cash and cellphones at Canje Police are investigating an alleged robbery which occurred on Sunday morning at Sheet Anchor Village, East Canje, Berbice, during which a 32-year-old chef was robbed of cash and several cellular phones with a total value of GY$708,000. According to a police release, preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was asleep at his residence with his two young children when he was confronted by two men, who were reportedly armed. The suspects allegedly assaulted the victim and threatened him and his children while
demanding money. They subsequently searched the residence and relieved the victim of $375,000 in cash and five cellular phones valued at a total of $333,000. The suspects subsequently made good their escape. The victim was later escorted to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was examined and treated before being sent away. Several persons were questioned and CCTV cameras were observed in the area and will be reviewed. No arrests have been made. Investigations are ongoing.
Oil price dips to US$100 on hopes of U.S.-Iran diplomacy, partial recovery in Saudi exports NEW YORK, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Oil prices eased on Monday to their lowest level in 12 days, as investors for diplomatic progress on the Iran war due to this week’s United Nations meeting and eyed a partial recovery in shipments from Saudi Arabia. The Brent crude futures November contract settled at US$100.34 a barrel, down US$3.53, or 3.4%. The WTI October contract that is expiring on Tuesday fell $4.52, or 4.51%, to $95.78 a barrel. The November contract stood at US$92.47. Both benchmarks fell to their lowest since 9th September. On Sunday, Iran and the U.S. exchanged new threats, ‘although President Donald Trump said he would be open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is expected to be in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly. Investors are pinning their hopes on a breakthrough in peace talks this week, said Tamas Varga, analyst at PVM Oil Associates. “Just a couple days ago that would have seemed like a very far-flung idea,” said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho. “It’s a move in the right direction.” Iran has conveyed its conditions to mediators for reengaging in negotiations, Al Jazeera reported, citing Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei.
Fighting in the Middle East continued as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis said they had attacked Riyadh as well as a Saudi Aramco ‘in the Red Sea city of Yanbu, while pushing to cut off the Red Sea coast from remaining areas held by Saudi-backed forces. China has asked Iran to help rein in the Houthis after an appeal to Beijing by Saudi Arabia following the attacks, according to three Iranian sources familiar with the matter. The attacks by the Houthis on Aramco’s East-West pipeline have prompted the firm ‘to increase exports through the Strait of Hormuz this month and next after halting some shipments via Yanbu. Expectations of a partial recovery in shipments from Saudi Arabia further weighed on prices. Saudi Aramco loaded about 14 million barrels of crude oil on seven supertankers inside the ‘Mideast Gulf on Sunday, tanker tracking data showed. Satellite data indicated Saudi oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz averaged 2.9 million barrels per day over the past six days, up from just 700,000 bpd in August. Meanwhile, Libya’s National ‘Oil Corp Chairman Massoud Suleman told Reuters on Monday that the country’s Sharara oilfield has seen a partial reduction in production, without giving a reason.
corrupted, modified, or compromised during or after the server’s removal from GECOM, any conclusions drawn from the State’s tabulation exercise remain fundamentally flawed. Jaskarran further acknowledged that no independent entity peerreviewed his work, nor did any secondary auditor conduct sample verifications on his data entries to check
for errors or external manipulation. The cross-examination also exposed discrepancies in the data Jaskarran analysed. Regarding Region 8, Jaskarran confirmed that the United Republican Party (URP) appeared on the Form 24 declaration despite being entirely absent from the corresponding Statements of Poll (SOPs). When pressed on whether this pointed to
fraudulent manipulation or compromised files, Jaskarran repeatedly insisted that evaluating document tampering or file corruption fell outside the scope of his mandate. “I was hired for a tabulation exercise,” Jaskarran stated, confirming that he took the files at face value without assessing their integrity or origin. The trial continues today at 9am.
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Tuesday September 22, 2026
Tuesday September 22, 2026
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Tuesday September 22, 2026
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Tuesday Thursday September November22, 24,2026 2022
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Australia bowling attack Guyana’s archers... boosted as Cummins and Starc return v S Africa JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) - Australia’s bowling attack for their three one-day internationals
Australia’s Mitchell Starc celebrates with Pat Cummins after taking the wicket of England’s Chris Woakes caught by Usman Khawaja. (Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo)
Tuesday September 22, 2026 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) A long but necessary phone call from a close friend or love partner could come at work today, Aries. Matters of immediate concern need resolution.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Inspiration for writing, music, drawing, painting, or other creative activities could hover just out of reach today, Libra. Great ideas could pop into your head and out just as quickly.
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) Today you might discover a previously untapped talent, Taurus, perhaps an artistic gift. This could be thrilling, but it will probably take some getting used to. Your first efforts might be tentative and uncertain.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Today you could run into an old friend and suddenly see him or her in a different light. A romantic, sensual attraction you never believed possible could suddenly seem overwhelming.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20) You should be looking especially attractive, Gemini. You may have an ethereal, mystical look about you that attracts attention from strangers. This won't be lost on your friends, either. CANCER (June 21–July 22) Yo u r p h o n e m a y s e e m haunted today, Cancer. Calls might be filled with static, you could get some phantom rings, or callers may insist they tried to call when your phone never rang. It might be a good idea check with your phone company LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) A reassessment of your financial goals may be needed now, Leo. Some of your expectations may be unrealistic, and you might need to look at them in a more practical light. VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) Are you romantically attracted to someone you know through work, Virgo? If so, this isn't a good time to pursue it. You might be wearing your heart on your sleeve a little too obviously.
SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) A current or potential love relationship could hit a snag as you have a clash of wills. If either of you is stubborn, this could turn into an unpleasant power struggle. Try to work out a course of action that creates a win/win situation. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) An opportunity to increase your income by working in an artistic or innovative manner could come your way today, Capricorn. Technologies like film or computer graphics may be involved. Don't be timid. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Circumstances beyond your control may frustrate your desire to get together with a love partner today, Aquarius. Work or family obligations could interfere. If your partner has to beg off, don't get upset and start doling out blame. PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Family who mean a lot to you can make your home an even warmer and cozier place, Pisces. You'll probably spend a lot of time fixing it up in order to receive sincere compliments. Enjoy the visit and invite your family to return.
against South Africa has been considerably strengthened with captain Cummins and Mitchell Starc joining the squad along with all-rounder Jack Edwards, Cricket Australia said on Monday. Cummins and Starc sat out the 3-0 series win in ‘Zimbabwe over the last week but will play in the series in South Africa, which starts in Durban on Thursday. Edwards, 26, is in line to make his ODI debut after diverting from the Australia A tour of India, while fast bowlers Billy Stanlake and ‘Johnson return home after competing in Zimbabwe. Stanlake suffered a side strain and will have medical scans on his return to Australia. Johnson was ‘deemed surplus to requirements after playing two of the three matches in Harare. Edwards has played a s i n g l e ‘ Tw e n t y 2 0 international against Pakistan in January and offers cover with Cameron Green struggling with ‘a sore shoulder, which caused him to sit out the three fixtures in Zimbabwe.
Inaugural Neville... From page 25 successful tournament. Rohan stated that he is still saddened with the passing of his dad since 1998. Neville was a Guyana Cricket Board’s long-serving administrator and national selector. He was born in Hampton Court village, Essequibo Coast, Region 2 (PomeroonSupenaam). According to Rohan he is delighted to start the competition and thanked all six teams for their participation. Rohan, who represented Guyana at both the youth and senior levels, stated that his father kept cricket lively in the community and he had always wanted to give back to the game. Neville served as the President of the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association and staged a few Neville Sarjoo Under-16 Inter-county tournaments.
From page 24 The GOA has identified the South American Games as part of Guyana’s broader preparation and development pathway toward future major multi-sport competitions, including the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The Santa Fe Games are particularly significant for Archery Guyana as the federation prepares to welcome the archery family to Guyana later this year for the inaugural Caribbean Archery Championships and 8th Caribbean Development Championships, scheduled for October 22–25, 2026 at the Guyana National Stadium. Archery Guyana President Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon expressed pride in the team’s participation: “It is always a proud moment to see Guyanese archers take their place on an international field representing our country. Santa Fe provides another valuable opportunity for our athletes to test themselves, gain experience and continue building their international careers.” She added that participation in major Games must be viewed as part of a continuing development process. “Every international competition adds another chapter to an athlete’s development. Our responsibility as a federation is to ensure that these opportunities translate into experience, knowledge and a stronger pathway for the athletes who will follow.” Archery Guyana extends its best wishes to Devin, Mehandra and Trevaughn, as well as Coach Ryan McKinnon, as they prepare to take the field in Rosario.
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Tuesday September 22, 2026
Pace and Power, NA Boxing Academy ready to rumble at GBA Novice Championships The Pace and Power Gym of Albouystown and the New Amsterdam Boxing Academy are putting the finishing touches on their preparations for the Guyana Boxing Association’s (GBA) National Novice Championships, scheduled for September 25–27 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. The three-day tournament is expected to bring together some of the country’s most promising amateur boxers, all eager to showcase their skills, gain valuable competitive experience and make their mark on the local boxing scene. With the championship providing an important platform for developing talent, both gyms are determined to ensure their boxers enter the ring wellprepared and ready to make an impression. Pace and Power, under the guidance of experienced coach Clifton Barker, has been working tirelessly in Albouystown, with the trainer targeting a strong representation at the championships. Barker revealed that he currently has approximately 15 boxers in his programme, including four females, and hopes to bring at least 10 competitors to the
Jeff Roberts tournament. He noted that the female boxers will be given the chance to test their skills, as he continues his efforts to contribute to the development of women’s boxing in Guyana. A number of Barker’s boxers hail from Sophia, o u t s i d e t h e g y m ’s Albouystown base. The coach said he was pleased with the dedication shown by the youngsters, despite the challenges involved in getting them to and from training. “I’m glad that they’re all showing the interest and the commitment. It’s difficult, you know, I have to pick
Clifton Barker at left with the other top performers them up daily, and take them back home, but they’re always eager to learn,” Barker said. Meanwhile, the New Amsterdam Boxing Academy, led by former National champion Jeff Roberts, is preparing a smaller but highly motivated contingent. Roberts said he is working with at least five boxers, but made it clear that
his boxers will be entering the competition with ambitious targets. The Berbice-based academy has a proud tradition of producing national and Caribbean champions under Roberts’ guidance. The upcoming championships will provide an opportunity for the gym to introduce another group of
promising boxers to the national amateur boxing circuit. The tournament has generated considerable interest, particularly with the return of the Republican Gym, adding further competition to an already highly anticipated championship. GBA President Steve Ninvalle said he was pleased with the efforts being made
by gyms across the country to participate in the event. Ninvalle noted that the strong response from coaches and boxers reflects the continued development of amateur boxing in Guyana. He also commended the coaches for their dedication to nurturing young talent and keeping the sport active and competitive.
Guyana’s archers prepare to take the field in Rosario as part of Team Guyana
From left to right: Trevaughn Waldron, Mehandra Chatargum and Devin Persaud-Permaul along with Coach Ryan McKinnon.
Tree of Guyana’s archers are set to take the field at the XIII South American Games Santa Fe 2026, being held in Argentina. Representing Guyana in archery are: Devin Persaud Permaul, Mehandra Chatargum and Tr e v a u g h n Wa l d r o n . T h e t e a m i s accompanied by Coach Ryan McKinnon. The archery competition will take place in Rosario from September 22–25, 2026 as part of the Games programme, which brings together athletes from across South America and the wider region. The Games are being hosted across the three Argentine cities of Rosario, Santa Fe and Rafaela, with 43 sports and 60 disciplines on the programme. The Guyanese archers form part of the 44member Team Guyana competing across eight sporting disciplines under the umbrella of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA). Guyana’s delegation includes athletes competing in athletics, archery, boxing, esports, squash, table tennis, taekwondo and tennis. For Archery Guyana, participation at
Santa Fe 2026 represents another important opportunity for Guyanese archers to compete at a major multi-sport international event, gain experience against athletes from across the region and continue developing within Guyana’s high-performance pathway. The participation also forms part of a particularly active international year for Guyanese archery. In 2026, Guyanese archers have represented the country at major regional competitions, while the federation continues to develop athletes, coaches and officials for sustained international participation. Archery Guyana recognises the important role played by the Guyana Olympic Association in facilitating Guyana’s participation in the South American Games and in providing national federations and athletes with opportunities to compete on the international stage and in this regard extends thanks to GOA President Godfrey Munroe and his Executive Committee. Continued on page 23
Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 22, 2026
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Georgia Women Cricket Association, NA Secondary Schools female T10 Cricket...
Former National fast bowler Kevin Darlington among old students supporting Alumni
Mark Bradford presents a pair of cricket boots to Rickeisha Kisten of Tutorial Academy.
Students of Berbice High School pose with their kits along with coordinator Petula (Petal) Samuels.
Former National fast bowler Kevin Darlington
Kevin Darlington, a former Guyana Senior National Fast Bowler and a former student of the Berbice High School (BHS), was among some old students that is taking the opportunity to remember his Alma Mata. Darlington, who now lives overseas, had a stellar career in his younger days whilst
representing Guyana and opening the bowling for a number of years on the international scene. He continued his career whilst living in the USA and went on to become a national coach. He would return to Guyana on a regular basis and would assist in sports and community activities in
various ways. Darlington presented a full uniform kit to the BHS female cricket team that participated in the G e o r g i a Wo m e n C r i c k e t Association New Amsterdam Inter Secondary school female T10 cricket Tournament. Also making a donation was f o r m e r Tu t o r i a l A c a d e m y
Secondary student Mark Bradford who made a presentation to the Tutorial Captain Rickeisha Kisten. He presented her with a pair of cricket shoes. The tournament was played over the weekend at the Berbice High School ground. (Samuel Whyte)
Inaugural Neville Sarjoo Sports enthusiast and record Memorial Masters Over-50 keeper Leslie Allen passes T20 tourney starts October 10 away after brief illness Statistician Charwayne Wa l k e r h a s i n f o r m e d Kaieteur Sport that well known sports enthusiast and records keeper Leslie Allen has passed away last Monday night after a brief battle with illness. Allen was a reliable record keeper on Guyana’s sports history, whether cricket, football, basketball, hockey and or boxing. Allen, who worked for decades at the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), served from region one to ten as an inspector. Walker notes that, He was always a joy to be around and his expertise on sports personalities will surely be missed. Allen’s favorite Guyanese sportsmen were Neville Hunter, Randy To u s s a n t a n d A u b r e y
Leslie Allen Gordon of cycling fame. Aubrey Chalmers, Auric Tappin, Lugard Mohan of basketball, Colin France, Sydney Christophe and Carol Davidson of table tennis. He held footballers Patrick ‘Labba’ Barton, Clyde Forde, Gordon ‘ U l t i m a t e Wa r r i o r ’
Brathwaite, Denzil ‘Hunky Brains’ Thompson and Adrian Forde in high esteem. Along with cricketers Andrew ‘Monster’ Lyght, Andrew Jackman, Sir Clive Lloyd and Roy Fredericks. Boxers Mark Harris, Kenny Bristol, Anthony ‘The Pearl’ Andrews, Winfield Brathwaite, Patrick Forde and Lennox Blackmoore. Athletes June Marcia Griffith and James Wren Gilkes were also on his high l i s t . Wa l k e r s a i d , h i s recorded saddest moment in Guyana’s sport was when Guyana boycotted the 1976 Montreal Olympics where it was believed the country was in line to medal at athletics. Kaieteur Sports extends condolences to his bereaved family and friends. Allen was 55years old at the time of his passing.
The inaugural Neville Sarjoo Memorial Masters Over-50 T20 tournament is set to bowl off on October 10 with six teams participating. Two teams from the three counties, Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice each will face off on a round-robin basis with the top four teams advancing to the semis. The top team will play the number three team and the second-place side will take on the fourth-place team with the winners going through to the final which will be played on the Essequibo Coast, November 14th at a venue to be announced. No entrance fee is required and balls will be provided by the sponsor- the competition will be played with white balls and coloured clothing. The winning team will take home a trophy and $300,000, runner -up a trophy and $150,000, while the most valuable player in the tournament will receive a trophy and a motor cycle. Members of the top two finalists will also receive medals. Additionally, the best batsman and best bowler for each game will be given a trophy. The teams will be required to submit a list
The late Neville Sarjoo of players along with their ID to the organisers before the launching which will be held on Saturday, September 26 at the Everest Cricket Club. The tournament will be held annually for the next five years and is expected to expand, while cricket gears will be handed out to aspiring cricketers in Essequibo after the final. Meanwhile, son of Neville Sarjoo, Rohan Sarjoo has expressed optimism of a Continued on page 23
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Tuesday September 22, 2026
Oie slams double as Western Tigers upset Police FC ...Hamilton, Dennis star with hat-tricks
Sachia Vickery is set to make her Olympic-cycle Games debut and represent Guyana for the first time.
Sachia Vickery set for historic team Guyana debut at South American Games
P
rofessional tennis player Sachia Vickery is set to make her Olympic-cycle Games debut and represent Guyana for the first time at the 2026 South American Games in Rosario, Argentina. Seeded seventh in the women’s singles draw, Vickery received a first-round bye and has advanced directly to the Round of 16, where she will face Paraguay’s L. Brítez Risso for a place in the quarterfinals. A highly accomplished player with extensive international and Grand Slam experience, Vickery achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 73 in the world. Her addition brings quality, experience and a strong competitive presence to Team Guyana. This appearance also represents an important first step in her new journey with Guyana as she sets her sights on pursuing qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. During a recent visit to Guyana, Vickery
held discussions with the Guyana Olympic Association and the Guyana Tennis Association about her interest in representing the country. The GOA was pleased to welcome her commitment and support her pursuit of Olympic qualification. At this stage of her career, we believe Sachia still has much to offer. She possesses tremendous talent, international experience and the ability to compete against leading players on the world stage. Her transition to representing Guyana is timely and can also inspire a new generation of local tennis players. Her participation marks the first time that the Guyana Tennis Association has fielded a senior athlete at an Olympic-cycle multisport Games—a significant milestone for the continued development of tennis in Guyana. Accompanied by her mother, Vickery is in high spirits and had her first practice session in Rosario yesterday as she prepares for the challenge ahead.
The goals came in bunches as Guyana Football Federation’s Season Eight Elite League produced another weekend of attacking football, with Ann’s Grove Football Club, Santos FC and Western Tigers FC all claiming victories at the National Training Centre. Julius Hamilton was the headline act on Saturday, firing a commanding hatt r i c k a s A n n ’s G r o v e powered past Den Amstel FC in a thrilling 5-3 encounter, w h i l e Ty r i c e D e n n i s matched his performance later in the day to steer Santos FC to a convincing 30 victory over Camptown FC. Western Tigers then completed the weekend schedule on Sunday with an impressive 4-0 triumph over Police FC, with veteran Michael Junior Oie helping himself to a second-half brace. Ann’s Grove set the tone from the opening exchanges against Den Amstel, with Hamilton needing just six minutes to break the deadlock to put them up 1-0. Youhance Francis soon doubled the advantage with a well-taken strike before Hamilton returned to the scoresheet to put the East Coast side firmly in control. Ann’s Grove most lethal performer completed his hattrick before the interval, leaving Den Amstel with a mountain to climb after a
Tyrice Dennis scores three in Santos FC 3-0 rout over Camptown FC. dominant opening period from Ann’s Grove. Den Amstel responded with greater purpose after the break and managed to put Ann’s Grove under sustained pressure, but the early damage proved decisive as the East Coast outfit held on for an entertaining 5-3 victory. Santos later produced a more disciplined display in the second game, with Dennis eventually breaking Camptown’s resistance in
Amzad Mohammed of Trinidad and Tobago donates two cricket bats to project “cricket gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana” Amzad Mohammed, on a recent visit to Guyana with the Valley Boys Masters cricket team of South Trinidad, donated two cricket bats to this joint initiative between Anil Beharry of Guyana and Kishan Das of the USA. The medium pacer allrounder, who tours the Caribbean and North America on goodwill tours, said that he followed the project and is very impressed with the number of persons that benefited from it, youths in particular. The successful businessman does lots of charities in his country as well. We are very thankful for the contribution. Over the years, many Guyanese
cricketers benefitted from this project, some of whom went on to represent West Indies at different levels. This project will continue to improve the lives of youths in every community. We are pleased to be part of the development of young cricketers in Guyana. Our aim is to keep them off the streets and get them actively involved in sports, cricket in particular. To date, one hundred and eight players, male and female, from all three counties of Guyana have benefited directly from cash, eleven gear bags, two trophies, four arm guards, forty three bats, five boxes, six helmets, thirty nine pairs of
cricket shoes, twenty three pairs of batting pads, twenty five thigh pads, one bat grip, forty two pairs of batting gloves, one pair of wicketkeeping pads and four pairs of wicketkeeping gloves. Many others benefited indirectly. In addition, several clubs and schools have also benefited from assistance. Distribution will continue. Gratitude has been extended to the many sponsors who have kept the success of the programme on stream. Anyone interested to contribute can contact Anil Beharry on 623 6875 or Kishan Das on 1 718 664 0896.
Amzad Mohammed
the 36th minute after a cagey opening period. Already with a goal in the contest, Dennis returned after the interval, doubling Santos’ advantage in the 69th minute before completing a hat-trick of his own deep into the contest with a 90-minute strike, capping a clinical individual performance and securing a 3-0 win. Western Tigers closed out the weekend in emphatic fashion against Police FC on Sunday. Mark Anthony Jhalu clinical in the first half, provided an early breakthrough in the 13th minute, giving Western a 10 lead at the interval despite P o l i c e ’s a t t e m p t s t o respond. The second half belonged to the Tigers. Oie extended the advantage six minutes after the restart, firing home in the 51st minute before Kevon Woodley added a third, some fourteen minutes later. Oie returned late to complete his brace, laying the finishing touch in a comprehensive 4-0 victory. Wi t h t h r e e t e a m s producing convincing results and two forwards walking away with hattricks, the latest round added another burst of attacking flair to the Elite League’s Season Eight campaign.
Kaieteur News
Tuesday September 22, 2026
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FESUPO 2026 Chile...
Brisport and debutant Tamasar open Guyana’s medal count with gold and silver Leading Guyana to its first gold medal of the South American Powerlifting Championships hosted by the South American Powerlifting Federation (Fesupo) in Santiago, Chile was veteran lifter, Franklyn Brisport-Luke. Lifting late into Sunday night, Brisport-Luke who was the lone competitor in the 66kg master’s 11 equipped competition, achieved a best squat of 125kg, benchpressed 72.5kg and had a best deadlift of 140kg for a total of 337.5kg. On debut and claiming the silver medal in the 66kg open equipped class against Ecuadorian Soria Fernando, was Navindra Tamasar who recorded a best squat of 200kg after opening with 182.5, his second attempt at 200kg failed but he rebounded in style as his third attempt which was the same 200kg, turned out to be successful with the backing of his vociferous teammates in the stands. Tamasar’s best benchpress was 117.5kg and a top deadlift of 192.5kg for a total of 510kg, capping a fine debut. Guyana’s third athlete on the opening day and first on the platform was the Brazil based Janice Savory who, while not medaling churned in a creditable performance in the female 57kg
Janice Savory deadlifts
Tamasar with his medal
open classic division. Savory recorded a best squat of 120kg, benchpressed 55kg and crowned her debut Fesupo championship with a best deadlift of 135kg for a total of 310kg. Both Savory and Tamasar were
nervous initially but their teammates ensured that they sent out positive vibes and encouragement to urge them on, both expressing gratitude at the end. Guyana Amateur Powerlifting
Federation (GAPLF) President, Franklin Wilson congratulated both Tamasar and Savory on their first competition for Guyana assuring that the Federation is proud of them as well as the other eight first timers on the team.
”Your presence at these championships and the other debutants speaks to the fact that the sport is growing encouragingly. We have to focus on developmental programmes and that’s why we have invested in the training of two new coaches who both passed the level two IPF course, and we say, congratulations.” Guyana was aiming to increase t h e m e d a l h a u l y e s t e r d a y, September 21, day two of the competition.
Newton, Leung power first-place finishes at Victor Macedo Memorial A
Aaron Newton (first place) dominates the Open Division as Flying Stars Cycle Club wraps up its 15 Annual Victor Macedo Memorial Road Race.
aron Newton, Robin Persaud and Alexander Leung emerged among the standout performers as the Flying Stars Cycling Club staged its 15th annual Victor Macedo Memorial Cycle Road Race on Sunday. Newton produced another commanding ride along the East Coast motorway to capture the Open category, while Leung continued his strong form among the juniors. Persaud, meanwhile, dominated the Over-35 division in the early-morning six-category road race. Young Newton faced an aggressive peloton in the Open event, with last year’s winner Jamaul John emerging as one of his closest challengers. Robin Persaud, Paul DeNobrega and Alex Mendes were also among those in contention as the race intensified. The decisive move came on the homestretch when Newton launched a late attack, powering away from the field to secure the Victor Macedo Memorial Trophy. Persaud was equally impressive in the Over-35 battle, overcoming pre-race setbacks which later fueled a strong backend performance. Persaud’s earlier advantage proved decisive, however, as he recovered to comfortably cross the finish line first. Mendes
settled for second, with Kwame Fortune taking third. Leung once again demonstrated his class in the Junior division, securing another firstplace finish in the Victor Macedo Memorial Junior race. Leon Koulen topped the Category Four event, while Mark Spencer led the field in the Masters Over-50 category, finishing ahead of Ian Jackson and Ray Harlequin. The annual race continues to serve as a major fixture on the Flying Stars calendar while honouring the memory of Victor Macedo, drawing cyclists together in a celebration of competition and camaraderie. “Congratulations to all the cyclists who took on the challenge and battled throughout the course,” the organisers said. The club also extended appreciation to the cyclists, officials, volunteers, supporters and members who contributed to the staging of the event. In a release, special congratulations were sent to all the winners and podium finishers. “…appreciation to every cyclist, supporter, official, volunteer and member of the Flying Stars Cycling Club who would have helped make the 15th Annual Victor Macedo Memorial Cycle Road Race a success,” the club stated.
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