Kaieteur News

Magistrate threatens to forfeit bail

Mohamedarrestedoverlatecourtarrival

— accuses Govt., police of slashing car tires

— Magistrate threatens to forfeit bail

Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed on Monday accused the governing People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) of orchestrating events to delay his arrivalatcourt,afterawarrantwas briefly issued for his arrest in his ongoingextraditionproceedings.

Mohamed was scheduled to appearat09:00hrsbeforePrincipal Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court in the matter involving himself and his father, Nazar Mohamed. When the case was called and he was absent, the magistrate issued a warra

, describing his absence as disrespectful. He arrived about 35 minutes later and was escorted to the court’s lock-ups. The warrant was subsequently withdrawn after explanations were offered to the court.

Addressing reporters, Mohamed maintained that throughout the extradition hearings, he has consistently arrived early, except for one prior occasionwhenhewastwominutes late. He described Monday’s delay as a “strange occurrence” and accusedthegovernmentofpolitical persecution.

“ThepoliticalprosecutionthatI am going through is unbelievable under the PPP administration,” he said.“Ihaveutmostrespectforthe magistrate. I think I attended this court more than 12 times. I would always be here before my attorneys.OnlyonceIwaslate,that was 09:02 hrs, two minutes late at thesecondhearing.Themagistrate told me to ensure that I arrive on time, and since that day I never attendedcourtlate.”

Mohamed claimed that his driverdiscoveredtwoslashedtyres onhisvehicleonMondaymorning, preventing him from arriving on time. He alleged that this was not the first such incident, stating that weeksago,oneofthetyreshadalso been slashed on the day of a court hearing. On that occasion, he said, the driver was able to replace the damaged tyre with a spare However, on Monday, with two tyres slashed and only one spare available, the vehicle could not be used.

He further alleged that he has been forced to rely on staff members for transportation becauseinsurancecompanieshave refused to renew coverage for his vehicles,whichheclaimswasdone at the direction of government authorities.

“This morning at 07:20 hrs I calledoneofmyattorneys,Damien Da Silva, and told him to ensure they come early,” Mohamed said. “All my vehicles, the insurance companies are not renewing the insurances because of the wicked, vindictive PPP government instructing them not to renew my

insurances.Igottodependonsome ofmystafftousetheirvehicleslike whatIhavebeenusingforthepast couple of weeks or months,” Mohamedsaid.

He went on to allege that the Special Branch of the Guyana Police Force was responsible for thetyredamage.“Twowheelswere slashedthismorning,andIsuspect thattheSpecialBranch,thearmof theGuyanaPoliceForceheadedby the PPP, did this purposefully so I can arrive to court late,” he stated. Mohamed stressed that he remains committed to punctual attendance atcourt.

“I would always be here on time.Thereportersknowthis.You would see me sitting here before courtstarts.So,thismorning,thatis the reason why I attended court late,”hesaid.

In the court room, Latchman, who is presiding over the extradition matter, initially issued an arrest warrant after Mohamed failed to appear at the scheduled 09:00hrsstart.

However, following repeated pleas and submissions from the defence, the warrant was later reversed.Whileshowingmercyby removing the warrant, the magistrate issued a stern warning that any future late appearance could result in immediate remand. Whenproceedingsbeganpromptly at 09:00 hrs, all attorneys were present but the Mohameds were absent.

The magistrate questioned the accused’s absence, and defence attorney Roysdale Forde SC, told the court he was unaware of his

client’s whereabouts but assured that Mohamed would attend Displeased, Magistrate Latchman sharply questioned the delay, asking,“Ishemovingonasnail?”

She further stated, “he’s disrespectful He needs to be punctual.”About 35 minutes later, Mohamed arrived at court, but by then the warrant had already been issuedandthematteradjourned.He was escorted to the court’s lockups. Defence attorneys, including Forde,DamienDaSilvaandSiand Dhurjon, attempted to notify the magistrate of their client’s presence,butshedeclinedtoleave herchamberstoaddressthem.

In another attempt to prevent their client from being remanded, the attorneys sought the intervention of the Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty However,sheindicatedthatshedid not have jurisdiction to recall a warrant issued by another magistrate and referred the matter backtoMagistrateLatchman.

After repeated applications from the defence to have the warrant reversed and to allow Mohamed to explain his tardiness, Magistrate Latchman stood the matterdownuntil12:30hrs,during which time Mohamed remained in custody When proceedings resumed, Mohamed apologised to the court, stating, “Your Worship, I’msorrythatIwaslateforcourt.”

MagistrateLatchman,however, reminded Mohamed that he had previouslybeenlateforthesecond hearing of the extradition matter andhadalreadybeenwarnedabout punctuality “I warned you that 9

causing delay

o’clockis9o’clockandthatyouare nottoletithappenagain,”shesaid. She further stated that under her watch, the wheels of justice would continuetoturninatimelymanner

“Thisisnotmonopolyandthereare no chances.At this point in time, I am very much inclined to escheat thebailandremandyoutoprisonso Icanguaranteethatyouwillbehere on time on the next occasion,” she said,stressingthatthecourtwould nottolerateexcuses.

In response, attorney Dhurjon apologised on behalf of his client andassuredthecourtthathewould personally ensure Mohamed’s punctual attendance in the future, evenifitrequiredcollectinghimas earlyas6:00hrs.

“Madam I will personally take stepstoensureevenifIhavetogo for him at 6:00hrs to bring him to court I will,” Dhurjon told the court.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Terrence Williams expressed concern about delays in the extraditionproceedings,notingthat Mohamed ought to have been present in court on time. “We are concerned.Thereispublicuttering that the matter may take place in

fiveyears,”hesaid.

In delivering her ruling, MagistrateLatchmanstated,“Iwill temper justice with mercy,” before ordering the removal of the arrest warrant The court was also informed that Nazar Mohamed remains unwell, and an updated medical report will be provided at the next hearing. The matter was adjournedtoFebruary18.

The Mohameds are facing a federal indictment in Miami, United States, following the unsealing of a 25-page indictment onOctober2,2025.Theindictment alleges a wide-ranging fraud and money-laundering scheme involving gold exports, customs fraud, bribery and the evasion of millions of dollars in taxes and royaltiesowedtoGuyana.

Following a formal request from the United States, Minister Oneidge Walrond signed the Authority to Proceed, allowing the extraditionmattertomoveforward before the magistrates’ court. If sufficient evidence is established during committal proceedings, the magistrate could order the Mohameds’ extradition to face chargesintheUnitedStates.

Goolsarran calls on President to block Auditor General’s extension bid

...says Sharma unqualified, extension lacks constitutional ground

Former Auditor General (AG),AnandGoolsarranhas made a public appeal to President Irfaan Ali to not approve an extension of tenure, reportedly being sought by the serving AG, DeodatSharma.

In a recent column published by Stabroek News,Goolsarrannotedthat Sharmaisreportedlyseeking atwo-yearextension,though he is due to retire in March, havingattainedtheageof68.

Goolsarran served in the Audit Office as AG for 11 years He acted in the position for three months and was later appointed on December 31, 1990 before demitting office in 2005.

Subsequently, Sharma was appointed to act as Auditor GeneralinJanuary2005and was confirmed on October 31, 2012 Goolsarran pointed to a flawed process in Sharma’s appointment, contrarytotheAuditAct.

Hesaid,“TheSpeakerof the Assembly should have administered the oath of office and not by the President, as required by Section 7 of the Audit Act. Thatsectionstatesthat‘[t]he Auditor General shall not enter upon the duties of his office unless he has taken and subscribed before the Speaker of the National Assembly, the oath in the form set out in the First S c h e d u l e t o t h e Constitution’.”

Nonetheless, the newspaper columnist pointed out that to date, Sharma has served for 21 years asAG, at a time when many countries are placing termlimitsfortheirheadsof National Audit Offices in order to enhance and preserve their independence fromtheExecutive.

On the other hand, Goolsarran opined that the Auditor General is not qualifiedfortheposition.He reasoned,“Mr Sharmaisnot a professionally qualified accountant, having obtained just a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the UniversityofGuyana.”

Goolsarran explained that he had prepared a draft Audit Act which included qualificationandexperience requirementsfortheAuditor General such as being a CharteredAccountant along with an advanced degree in economics, accounting and finance, administration or other related disciplines as well as at least ten years’ experience in auditing at a seniorlevel.

involvement of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the recruitment process, p

inviting qualified and experiencedpersonstoapply f

n and recommenda

on to Parliament,amongothers.It alsostipulatedalimitationof the tenure of office to 10 years.

Goolsarran however statedthattheserequirements were washed from the final legislation Bethatasitmay, hesaidthatArticle223(1)of the Constitution states that there shall be an Auditor Generalwhoseofficeshallbe apublicoffice

“Section 8 equates the position of Auditor General withthatoftheChiefJustice in terms of salary, superannuation benefits and other conditions of service. This implies that the appointment and retirement procedures of the Auditor General must be consistent with those of the Chief

Justice,”theformerAGsaid.

Tothisend,heexplained that Article 127 (1) of the Constitution that provides for the appointment of the Chief Justice by the President after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of theOpposition.

“Considering the above, the substantive appointment of Mr Sharma as Auditor GeneralinOctober2012was not in conformity with

Article 127 (1) since the Leader of the Opposition wasnotinvolved,”hesaid.

With regards to his retirement,Goolsarranmade it clear that there is no provisionforanextensionof service, since judges, includingtheChancellorand the Chief Justice, are required to demit office on attaining the age 68, as provided for by Article 197 (2A).

Havinglaidoutthelegal framewo

e appointment of the Auditor General, the columnist concluded that there is no constitutional or legislative provision for the extension of the retirement age of the Auditor General. “As such, the President should decline Mr Sharma’s request and advise that he proceeds on retirement,” the former AG said.

Additionally, he urged thatstepsbetakentoamend the Audit Act to include qualificationandexperience requirements for the AG, limitation of tenure of app

involvement of the PAC to

candidateisrecommended.

G

o suggestedchangestotheAct to include approval of the Assembly via two-thirds majority and agreement of theLeaderoftheOpposition o

recommended candidate to ensure compliance with Article 127 (1) of the Constitution.

Previously, Chartered accountant and prominent attorney, Christopher Ram raised serious questions about the independence and qualification of Deodat Sharma who he has accused ofgoingblankatatimewhen public spending has exploded, leaving billions unaudited.

KaieteurNews

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

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

EDITORIAL

Facebook Live

President Irfaan Ali has not held a single news conference since being reelected for a second term. His preferred forum to discuss matters of the State is on Facebook.Duringtheweekofthebudgetdebates,hehelda seriesofearly-morningFacebookmonologues,whichhave becomeadefiningfeatureofhispresidencyandatroubling symbol of how far executive accountability has eroded in Guyana. Almost daily, before the nation was fully awake, the President appeared on Facebook Live to defend his government’s policies, trumpet achievements and vigorously justified a staggering $1.5 trillion national budget.

Itwasacuriousspectacle:aHeadofStateactingashis own chief propagandist, speaking at the public rather than answering to it. What was most striking is not that the Presidentcommunicatedwithcitizens,noonedisputedthe valueofmodernplatform,butthathedidsowhilerefusing to engage in the most basic democratic exercise: the press conference.Atatimewhenpublicspendinghasballooned, oil revenues are reshaping the economy and serious questions abound about transparency, procurement, and priorities, President Ali has chosen monologue over interrogation. Facebook Live offers applause, hearts, and carefullycuratedcomments.Apressconferenceoffersnone ofthatcomfort.

By repeatedly taking it upon himself to defend the budgetlinebyline,thePresidentalsosendsanunflattering message about his own government. One is left to wonder whether his ministers and Members of Parliament were incapable of prosecuting the case for the budget during parliamentarydebates.Iftheyaredoingtheirjob,whydoes the President feel compelled to intervene daily, as if Parliamentwereameresideshow?Andiftheyarenot,why aretheystillentrustedwithsuchenormousresponsibility? More troubling is the pattern of avoidance. When PresidentAlidoessubmittoquestioning,itisrarelybefore independent,probingjournalists.Instead,heappearsbefore schoolchildren,whodeserveeducation,notpoliticaltheatre orbeforeachorusoffriendlyfaceswhopassasjournalists but ask little more than flattering, pre-approved questions. Thisisnotengagement;itischoreography Itisgovernance conducted in a safe space, insulated from dissent, contradictionanddiscomfort.

Ademocracycannotfunctiononsuchterms.Theroleof thepressisnottoapplaudbuttointerrogate,toclarifyandto challengepoweronbehalfofthepublic.Byrefusingtohold regularnewsconferences,thePresidentdeniescitizensthe opportunitytohearunscriptedanswerstopressingnational concerns.Healsodeniesjournaliststhechancetofollowup, to press inconsistencies and to demand accountability Facebook Live, for all its reach, allows none of this. The Presidentcontrolsthecamera,thetiming,themessageand whennecessary,themutebutton.

The irony is that this government often boasts about transparencyandinclusion.Yettransparencydoesnotmean speaking endlessly; it means answering questions you would rather avoid. Inclusion does not mean broadcasting from on high; it means standing in the full glare of public scrutiny A confident leader welcomes hard questions becausetheyprovideanopportunitytopersuade,toexplain andwherenecessarytocorrectcourse.

The $1.5 trillion budget is not a trivial matter It representsthelargestallocationofpublicfundsinGuyana’s history,financedinlargepartbyoilrevenuesthatbelongto bothpresentandfuturegenerations.Suchabudgetdemands rigorous, open examination. It demands that the President himselfbewillingtoexplainpriorities,defendchoices,and respondtocriticism,notinbite-sizedsocialmediaspeeches, butinrealtimebeforeindependentjournalists.

There is also a deeper issue at stake. Governance by Facebook risks reducing politics to performance. It encourages personality over process, optics over institutions. Parliament becomes less relevant. The press becomes optional. Citizens are invited to listen, not to

Regarding viability of Guyana healthcare

DEAREDITOR,

This missive is being penned in my capacity as a health professional whose work has spanned 2 continents, three countries, six decades, and with deep natal ties to Guyana and a longstandingcommitmentto safe,evidence-basednursing educationandpatientcare.

Guyana stands at a pivotal moment in the development of its health system. The announcement of a new hybrid nursing programme developed in partnership with the World Health Organization and supported by regional training collaboration in Brazil signals an important c o m m i t m e n t t o strengthening the national workforce. I acknowledge a n d c o m m e n d t h e Government’s effort to strengthen the national healthworkforcethroughthe

introduction of the new hybrid nursing programme developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization and supported by training partnerships in Brazil, as well as the use of online platforms such as Coursera.

The country’s present healthcare system bears testimonytothefactthatitis pasttimeandimperativethat the number of nurses be increased. However, there are significant questions regarding patient safety, clinical supervision and educational quality given that800registerednursesare expected to graduate in a single cycle Nursing education is not solely an academic exercise; it is a practice-based profession that depends heavily on supervisedclinicalexposure, mentorship, and progressive competency development

The rapid expansion of cohort size raises several criticalquestions: Accreditation and Quality Assurance, Clinical Supervision Ratio, Clinical PlacementCapacity:

Do hospitals and community health settings have the capacity to accommodate such a large influx of trainees without compromisingpatientcare?

Faculty Preparedness andSupport: What measures ensure thattutors—newlytrainedor otherwise are adequately supported to deliver a curriculumofthisscale?

A n e w h y b r i d programme should realistically plan for 20-30 graduatespersessionintheir first year to maintain highquality clinical training and adequate student support, allowing the cohort size to grow as the programme matures.

While expanding the workforce is a national priority, quality cannot be compromised. The safety of patients, the readiness of nurses and the long-term viability of Guyana’s healthcare system should all be considered when evaluating the programmes success not just the quantity of graduates. Guyana can createaworkforcethatisnot only bigger but also more resilient. This necessitates careful preparation, gradual expansion, and a steadfast dedication to nursing educationandexcellence. Iofferthesereflectionsin the spirit of partnership, professional responsibility, and deep concern for the health and safety of the people of my Guyana “EL DORADO”.

Respectfully,

YvonneSam

Let’s see ONE GUYANA in play

DEAREDITOR,

InGuyanawherethereis much talk about democracy, the Government should see to it that democracy is not justaword.

Instead of employing tactics to penalise the Stabroek News which has alsobeenatthefore-frontof getting democracy to

Guyana, and which continues its work to strengthen democracy, the Government should insist and take responsibility for the survival of the Stabroek News and also all other independentmedia.

Stabroek News has proved itself beyond any doubt that it wants better

governancefortheGuyanese people and it should get the backing of every Guyanese, be it those in Government, members of oppositions, those with influence, and Guyaneseatlarge.

Guyanakeepsbailingout GUYSUCO with billions because it is accepted that GUYSUCO is vital to

Guyaneselivelihood. Stabroek News is also vitaltoGuyaneselivelihood, but it has never sought Government bailouts All that Stabroek News needs is honest and equal treatment. Stabroek News deserves this.

Sincerely, FaiyazAlli

Solidarity with Cuba at this time is necessary

DEAREDITOR,

InDecember,1972,atthe ageoftwenty-two,Ihadjust arrived in Havana, Cuba when four Caricom member states had the foresight and courage to agree to simultaneously establish diplomaticrelationsbetween their respective countries and the Republic of Cuba. The US attitude towards Cuba then, is no different thanitistoday

The US-imposed economic blockade on Cuba since 1962 made it difficult inthosedaystogettoCuba. Save for Caribbean Airlines and COPA, travel to Cuba remains challenging to this day The current fuel crisis will only compound the situation.

Traveling through several Latin American countries, I finally ended up

in Santiago, Chile but was unabletosecureaseatonthe Lan Chile (now Latam) or CubanaAirlinesthatshuttled betweenChileandCubadue to the heavy traffic at the time of Salvador Allende’s Socialist Unity government. In the circumstances, I travelledtoMexicoCityand from there, I managed to arriveinHavana.

I arrived on the island thirteen years after the triumph of the Cuban revolution and eleven years after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion by anti-Castro mercenaryforces.

MymissioninCubawas to join an international voluntary brigade of young people from different countries to help construct a secondaryschoolinCuba.

One year in Cuba was sufficient enough for me to

question. This is a dangerous trajectory for a young democracy navigating sudden wealth and immense expectations.

No one is asking the President to abandon social media. But social media must supplement, not replace, democratic accountability. A president who truly believes in his stewardship does not fear the press conference. He does not outsourcescrutinytoacommentsection.Hedoesnotconfuse

grasptheresilienceanddeep commitment of the Cuban people to the socialist cause towhichthegovernmentand ruling communist party led by Fidel Castro was committed notwithstanding theeconomicdifficultiesthe country was experiencing becauseoftheblockade. Cubamanagedtosurvive the October 1962, missile crisisandthegrindingsocioeconomic conditions of the embargo thanks to the tremendous assistance from the Eastern European socialist countries primarily the USSR as well as the creative and innovative economic and productive measures adopted by its government and people When the Soviet Union and the socialist block of countries disappeared, Cuba depended on trade, it’s

diplomatic prowess, agreements on technical and international cooperation with countries of the global south to press on with its socialistproject.

And although a GuyanaCuba Joint Economic and Technical Cooperation Commissionwasestablished in 1975, it was Guyana who benefited more than Cuba from cooperation in areas such as agriculture, health, education, sport and culture, and maritime cooperation. All Cuba asked for was solidarity Cuba has never exportedrevolution.Norhas iteverengagedin,promoted nor sponsored international terrorism nor the drug trade. Rather, it helped freedom fighters in Angola; fought against apartheid in South Africa;helpedbuildan Continued on page 5

likes with legitimacy Leadership is tested not in controlled monologues, but in open forums where tough questions are askedandrealanswersarerequired.UntilPresidentIrfaanAli is prepared to step out from behind Facebook Live and face the nation’s independent journalists, his morning broadcasts will remain what they increasingly appear to be: a polished performancedesignedtoavoidtheveryaccountability,which democracydemands.

Beyond the Plantation: Labour Leadership in a

US$21 billion Economy

DEAREDITOR,

While Mr Lincoln Lewis remains a tireless campaigner for workers’ rights, his recent missive suggests he is increasingly operating as a non-partisan political operative rather than a grounded labour leader His rhetoric, though seasoned with the familiar language of “solidarity” and “massa-thinking,”reliesonanostalgicviewoftradeunionism that seems ill-equipped for the complexities of a modern economy

Mr Lewiscorrectlyidentifiesasenseofalienationamong someworkers,buthefailstodistinguishbetweenabsoluteand relativepoverty AccordingtoWorldBankandIMFstatistics, as Guyana transitioned toward a high-income economy, the international poverty line for our bracket shifted to approximately $6.85 per day To suggest that poverty is “escalating”isadisservicetothefacts.

Twenty years ago, the struggle was for basic caloric survival; today, the debate is about the pace of wealth distribution. Mr Lewis ignores the historical reality that in everymajorindustrialrevolution,from19th-centuryEngland to modern East Asia, there is a documented lag between skyrocketing GDP and the rise of real wages. This “Engels’ Pause” is a global economic phenomenon, not a Guyanese failure.

The weakness in his approach is most evident in his recycling of the bauxite narrative He laments the BCGI/RUSALsituationandthe“contempt”forworkers,yet he offers no modern industrial strategy It is a masterclass in selectivememorytodecrycurrentinactionwhileomittingthat during the APNU+AFC’s five-year tenure—a period where Mr Lewis held significant influence, the fundamental structural issues facing bauxite workers remained largely unresolved.

The data tells a story that Mr Lewis’s “plantation-style” metaphors conveniently overlook. By the end of 2025, Guyanesenationalsheldover50%ofalljobsintheoilandgas sector, with local content spending reaching approximately US$743million.

Thisisn’t“markingtime.”Weareinthecapital-intensive phase of development. The explosion of private home construction and car ownership across the coastline are indicatorsofanabsoluteriseinlivingstandards.

Insteadofvaguecallsfor“inclusionarydemocracy,”the trade union movement must focus on the 21st-century technical upskilling required for our people to command the “equal pay” he mentions. With GDP growth projected at 16.2% for 2026, the “poverty” he cites requires a labour movementthatunderstandsthatrealwagegrowthfollowsthe closingofthe“Engels’Pause”throughproductivity

Mr Lewis’sletterisarelicof20th-centuryplantationstyle agitation.Iftheunionistotrulymakeusstrong,itmuststart speakingthelanguageofahigh-techGuyana.

Regards,

Dr WalterH.Persaud

Solidarity with Cuba at this...

Frompage4

international airport in Grenada; sent qualified medical personnel to many developing countries including Guyana; offered academic scholarships to students from countries including Guyana; and shared its technical experts in the sugarindustry,fisheries,sportsandculture.

TheprevailingexistentialthreattoCubanotwithstanding, thereisasilentnationalconsensusamongstGuyanesethatour country owes a huge debt of gratitude to Cuba for its generosityextendedtothousandsofGuyaneseovertheyears.

That sense of pride and solidarity, part of the Guyanese national psyche, is characterized by a spirit of commitment, principle and generosity towards Cuba. It was fostered over theyearsbyboththePPPandPNCrespectively,inandoutof government.

ItremainsapowerfulreasonwhysolidaritywithCubaat this time is not only necessary but would be viewed as a demonstrable manifestation of support for a people who continuestostruggleheroicallyandlabourresolutelyforthe independenceandsovereigntyoftheircountry.

Yoursfaithfully, ClementJ.Rohee

The Audacity of “Efficiency”: When Political Expediency Tramples on the Dignity of Women

DEAREDITOR,

There is a particularly unique brand of crassness thatcanonlybecultivatedin thehallsofabsolutepower It is the kind of hubris that believes a population is so easily distracted by the glitter of oil wealth and infrastructure that they will forgetthestainsonthefabric of our national leadership. The recent re-insertion of Nigel Dharamlall into the public sphere as the “Director of Government Efficiency” is not just a policy decision; it is a calculated middle finger to the women, the Indigenous communities, and the moral conscienceofGuyana.

In the theater of politics, men do not resign from powerful Cabinet posts and Parliamentary seats out of “unlucky timing ” They resignwhentheweightofan allegation is so heavy it

threatens to sink the entire ship.Whilethelegalprocess was halted following the withdrawal of the complainant’sstatement,the actofsteppingdownremains a haunting admission of the untenable Yet, the Government of Guyana seems to believe that a resignation is merely a “pause” button rather than a permanentdisqualification.

By finding a backdoor for Dharamlall to return to state-funded authority, the administration has sent a chilling message to every woman and girl in Guyana: your safety and dignity are negotiable, and your trauma is merely a temporary politicalhurdle.Itisaninsult to the intelligence of the Guyanese people to suggest that in a country of nearly a million souls; we are so intellectually bankrupt and devoidoftalentthatwemust

resort to a man who left office under the darkest of clouds To suggest that Dharamlall is the only person capable of driving “efficiency” is a pathetic indictment of every other professionalinthiscountry

The activists those relentless voices in the streets and online—are right tobeoutraged,andtheymust keep advocating Their persistence is the only thing standing between us and a total descent into a culture wherepowerservesasanallaccess pass to impunity. If

“Government Efficiency” nowwearsthefaceofaman who resigned in the wake of grooming and rape allegations,thenwemustask whatexactlythegovernment istryingtobeefficientat.Isit the efficiency of erasing accountability?

Mr Dharamlall, if you had any shred of respect for the office you once held or the people you claimed to serve,youwouldhavestayed in the shadows. To accept a public-facing role is to demanda“reset”thathasnot beenearnedandcanneverbe granted by a simple title change.

As for the GoG, public office is a privilege, not a playground for party loyalists who have fallen from grace. By insisting on this appointment, the government has shown a profounddisdainforthevery peopleitrepresents,banking on a collective amnesia that simplydoesnotexist.Weare not forgetting; we are watching, and we are still waiting for a leadership that values the integrity of its daughters more than the “efficiency” of its operatives.

Respectfully, HemduttKumar

Minister Parag’s timely educational move is good for Guyana

DEAREDITOR,

I heap accolades on Sonia Parag, Minister of Education, for announcing the implementation of Biometric Systems, in an effort to improve accountability in the educationsector,particularly at the levels of Primary and Secondary

Like she said, it is not about punishing teachers, and on this note, I quickly iterate,thatevenifitisabout ‘punishing’teachers, it begs the question of ‘why’. It

means, in all likelihood, if there is a ‘fear’ factor, it is simply because teachers, even if just a few, are guilty of some sort of professional misconduct that must be dealtwith.

In support of Minister Parag, and by way of informing, I remind all that both students and teachers need to be ‘live’in class, to maximise learning. This is obvious, but never really checked upon in terms of finding out the effect when this‘norm’isnotadheredto.

Manpower agency seems redundant

DEAREDITOR,

Now a Manpower Agency is to be established. It was explainedthatitisintendedtoaddresstheneedsofthelabour market.So,ithastobewonderedwhatisthefunctionofthe manpowerplanningarmoftheMinistry?

Seems redundant and a waste of tax dollars which could havebeenputtobetteruse,likegivingpensionersandthosein needofpublicassistanceabetterincrease.

Regards, ShamshunMohamed

Forexample,arecentsurvey revealedthatoversixmillion studentsintheUnitedStates (i.e., one in every eight) missedmorethan15daysof school, during the 2013–14 school year Further, attendance data shows that 27.0% of teachers (i.e., one in every four) missed more than10daysofschoolwithin the same year, with this percentage going as high as 49.0%and75.0%,inNevada and Hawaii, respectively (U S Department of Education,2016).

So,weallneedtoabsorb therealitythatwhenstudents andteachersareabsentfrom school, regardless of the reasonsfortheseabsences,it presents significant barriers to equitable and effective instruction, undermining stablelearningenvironments and inhibiting student success—theimplicationsof which can be profoundly detrimentalandfar-reaching.

Iaddfurtherthatthebodyof literature out there, clearly shows that teacher absenteeism significantly disrupts student learning, leading to lower academic achievement particularly in math and reading—and increased behavioral issues. Frequent absences break instructional continuity, oftenresultinginunassigned work or less qualified substitutes. Ten, or more, absencesinayearcanreduce student performance significantly The Ministry of Education therefore is doing the right thing, that is “moving ahead with the introduction of biometric attendance systems for schools ” She expressly statedthat“… theinitiative is aimed at strengthening accountability and improving learning outcomesratherthan

Continued on page 6

Miners seeking Govt. incentives for mercuryfree gold push

With Guyana committed under the Minamata Convention to cut mercury use in mining by 55% by 2027, a leading mining advocacygroupiscallingfor urgent government incentives to help small minersmakethetransition.

The appeal came as the Artisanal Gold Council (AGC), in partnership with the Government of Guyana and the U.S. Department of State,markedthecloseofits two-year Roadmap to Responsible Gold Project in Georgetown.

In an interview on the sidelines of the event, Country Manager Vasquez Ramdassaidtheprojectwas designed to support Guyana’s commitments

under the Minamata Convention on Mercury “That’sjustayearfromnow So, what we have done, our project is really designed to support that national strategy,toreducetheuseof

mercury and whereby

explained.

RoadmaptoResponsible G o l d P r o j

implementedovertwoyears a

Guyana’s efforts to promote safer, mercury-free, and more responsible artisanal and small-scale gold mining by working directly with m

s, government agencies, and technical institutions across keyminingregions. Ramdas noted that throughouttheproject,AGC introduced mercury-free

ng technologies like helicoid concentrator cones, which uses gravity, centrifugal motion and water to recover gold The group also showcased two smaller equipment, gold cube a portable mining equipment and blue bowl, a specialised equipment designed for fine

Members of the Artisanal Gold Council (AGC) in Guyana and other attendees at the Roadmap to Responsible Gold Project (RTRGP) completion ceremony

goldrecovery

“We have worked with the mining communities there to build capacity We have done demonstrations with them, training them to operate the equipment and the maintenance of it…but the idea really was to promote that technology, to showcase the technology, to show miners that it is possible to recover gold withouttheuseofmercury,” henoted.

Demonstrations were conductedinvariousmining communities in Region Seven and Eight, like Mahdia, Tiger Creek and Campbelltown,withsupport

from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Ramdas said miners were trained to operate and maintain the e q u i p m e n t , a n d demonstration

extended to surrounding communities to show that gold recovery without mercuryispossible. According to him, while feedback from miners was largely positive, cost remainsasignificanthurdle.

“Theywereveryhappythata project of our nature could cometotheircommunityand actually demonstrated

technology Whiletheywere happy, at the same time but there was a large concern thatmostofthesetechnology areverycostly,”hesaid.

He noted that the equipment is not readily availableonthelocalmarket and can be expensive to acquire and transport due to its size and weight He disclosed that AGC is now working with partners in Colombia to develop smaller, more portable units at a reduced cost. “It’s not readily available, meaning it’s not in Guyana as a market, but is available on

themarketifaminerwantit, theycanreachouttous,”he noted.

H

stressed that stronger colla

stakeholders like the Mini

y of Natu

al Resources and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, will be critical toacceleratingadoption.

“So you would need the government involvement to incentivize equipment.As it is, as we speak, there is no incentive for mercury in termsofproducingmercury

Continued on page 16

Minister Parag’s timely educational move...

Frompage5 penalizing teachers.” She also pointed out that the whole thing will not be ‘overnight’andthatitwillbe ‘uniform’in order to put all school on the same playing field Already “ the ministry has issued standard specifications to guide schools in procuring biometric systems, ensuring compatibility and durability,” since the equipment must be compatible with the Education Management InformationSystem(EMIS). Alsoofgoodnoteisthat“… where schools are unable to finance the system, the ministry may provide support to ensure a uniform implementationprocess.”

I repeat, that this is the way to go, as education is vital and there must be accountability, if not too much will be wasted in finance and personnel I mean,since“…teachers(are already signing) in and out manually and their professional responsibilities extend beyond classroom hours to tasks such as planning and administrative duties…” then simplifying the process and making it

foolproof should be welcomed.Infact,Ilovethe w a y s h e p r e f a c e d everything, explaining that “ significant public investment in education

must be matched by improved outcomes, noting that absenteeism or lost teaching time undermines efforts to raise matriculation r a t e s a n d s t u d e n t performance…wecan’t,asa nation, speak about wanting matriculation rates to be better… and then you’re not seeingtheresults.”

Editor and Readers, biometric technology providesadministratorswith irrefutable proof of attendance for accurate and auditable reporting In addition, administrators can be provided with period-byperiod attendance records in real-time, quickly identifying teachers and students who are not in the appropriate classrooms. In this modern era, the integration of technology into the educational environment has become standard, driven by social changes and the diverse demands of the education sector

Gone are the days of manual attendance tracking, as this is too prone to vulnerabilities, such as signature fraud, where one person signs in on behalf of another

Biometrics eliminates these weaknesses by identifying individuals in an automated and precise manner, ensuring that only authenticated persons are counted.

Yourstruly, HB.Singh

115smallbusinessowners participateintrainingto competeforGovt.contracts

A total of 115 small business owners on Friday benefited from a training exercise on how to access government contract opportunities.

The session was held by the Small Business Bureau (SBB) in collaboration with the National Procurement and Tender Administration, and the World Trade Centre Georgetown SBB in a release stated that the training guided participants throughthekeystagesofthe tendering process, including understanding bid documents, meeting compliance requirements, and structuring competitive submissions.

The practical, hands-on approach equipped entrepreneurs with the tools and confidence needed to pursueGovernmentcontract opportunities, the Bureau disclosed.

Speaking on the session, Chief Executive Officer of

the Small Business Bureau, Mohamed Shazim Ibrahim, emphasised the importance o f s t r e n g t h e n i n g procurement readiness amongsmallbusinesses.

According to him accessing Government contracts can significantly transformsmallenterprises.

“ B y e q u i p p i n g entrepreneurs with the knowledge to prepare compliant and competitive bids, we are expanding their opportunitiesforgrowthand long-termsustainability,”he stated.

One participant, Robert Forresterwhowasquotedin the release said, “They gave u s a v e r y v e r y comprehensive overview of thethingsandthepitfallsthat you need to look for in the bid preparation process, especially when you are dealing with compliance, howit’sstructured.Youneed to ensure that you full all relevantdocuments.”

Some of the small business owners who were present at the training.

Further, the Small BusinessBureauhighlighted thatthisinitiativealignswith the Government’s broader economic agenda to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises through targeted training, expanded market access and structured capacity building

They reported that by investing in the skills and competitiveness of local businesses, the Government continues to create an enablingenvironmentwhere SMEs can scale, access procurement opportunities, generate employment and contribute meaningfully to Guyana’s sustainable economictransformation.

“Through strategic partnerships, the Small Business Bureau continues to enhance entrepreneurial capabilityandincreasesmall business participation in public procurement,” the agencynoted.

Therealwealthisalwaysclosertohome

Just over one week ago, Stabroek News Sunday columnist Ian McDonald wrote about what he called ‘The quiet satisfactions of life”. It was not a loud or dramatic column There were no fiery political arguments, no grand accusations, no breaking news.

Instead, it was about gardens, birds, rivers, fruit on a plate, and the simple pleasure of being at home while the world rushed past. In today’s climate, that kind of writing almost feels rebellious.

McDonald suggested that as we grow older, the grandpublicdramasbeginto lose their shine The summits,theribboncuttings, the speeches, the political manoeuvrings all the thingsthatseemsoimportant ontheeveningnewsbeginto feel strangely hollow They are noisy They are theatrical. But they do not necessarilysatisfytheheart.

W h a t r e m a i n s meaningful are the quiet satisfactions.Whatarethese satisfactions? They are simple things, but powerful ones.

They are the sight of hummingbirdsinagardenon agoldenafternoon.Theyare thechanginglightasevening turns into moonlit night They are a visit to the windswept banks of the great Essequibo River They are watching a kingfisher dip intodarkwaterandriseagain in a flash of blue. They are also smaller, more intimate pleasures. A plate of ripe fruit. A rosebud in a glass vase A comfortable bed waitingforaquietafternoon

rest. A moment of stillness while the rest of the world hurries to some grand event itwillsoonforget. These are not expensive pleasures They do not require status, position or influence. They cannot be televised. They cannot be measured in likes, shares or headlines. But they nourish something deeper inside us. And that is exactly why we needmoreofthem.

Wearelivinginanageof constant noise. Our phones vibrate with alerts. Social media demands attention Political debates grow sharper and at times nastier Economic pressures weigh heavier Everywhere we turn there is competition for money, for recognition, forpower,forsuccess.

Materialism has quietly become our default setting. Bigger house. Newer car Better title. More visibility We are encouraged to believe that satisfaction comes from acquisition. But acquisitionhasnofinishline. The moment you reach one goal, another appears. The appetitegrowsfasterthanthe contentment.

Stress follows close behind. Many people today are exhausted not from physical labour, but from mental overload We are always “on ” Always comparing.Always striving. Always reacting. Even rest has become scheduled and optimised.

In that kind of world, quiet satisfactions are not

are necessities. They slow us down They restore perspective.They remind us that life is not only about

Dem Boys Seh...

achievement but about experience. When you sit in your yard and watch birds movebetweentrees,thereis no competition. When you walk along a riverbank, the water does not care about yourjobtitle.Whenyoutake time to enjoy a simple meal without distraction, you are not performing for anyone. In those moments, you are simplyalive.

There is also humility in quiet satisfactions They teachusthatbeautydoesnot depend on human power Governments rise and fall. Political leaders come and go Grand projects are launched with speeches and banners. But orchids bloom whether or not there is applause Rivers flow whether or not there is a ribbon-cutting ceremony That realisation can be liberating. It reminds us that not everything important needstobedramatic.Infact, the most sustaining parts of life are often the least dramatic. We need more of thesemomentsbecausethey protect our inner balance. They create mental space. They reduce anxiety They reconnect us to something steady and real. They also makeuskinder

A person who is constantly stressed and chasing status is rarely patient. But someone who has learned to value small daily joys tends to move more gently through the world Quiet satisfaction breeds gratitude. Gratitude softens the spirit. This does not mean we abandon ambition or ignore public life Society still needs leaders, builders and

The law is not blind

Apparently, justice now comes with a receipt.Here’showitworks.Ifyouprovidea serviceforsomeoneandtheydon’tpayyou, thepoliceadjusttheirspectacles,cleartheir throats, and tell you, “Sir, that is a private matter.” Translation: Congratulations, you havetogotocivilcourt.Maythebestlawyer win.

But reverse the roles — take someone’s moneyandfailtodelivertheservice—and suddenly it’s not a “private matter.” Oh no. Now it’s misappropriation. Now it’s fraud. Nowit’shandcuffsandfingerprinting.

So,ifIcutyourgrassandwashyourcar and you don’t pay me, I must hire a lawyer, file papers, wait two years, and perhaps recover my $2,000, minus $53,000 in legal fees.Butifyoupaymetoweedyouryardand Idecidetowaituntiltheweatherdry,Icould endupfacingcharges.

That’s not justice. That’s a buyer’s protectionplan.

The law, it seems, has a soft spot for people who are “requesting the service.” They are treated like delicate orchids. The

thinkers. But if we rely only on public achievement for happiness, we will always feel slightly empty Public applause fades quickly Privatecontentmentlingers. Perhaps that was the deeper message in McDonald’s reflection. As the years pass, we begin to see that the noise was never the point. The real wealth was always closer to home.

In a country like ours, blessed with rivers, forests and extraordinary natural beauty, quiet satisfactions are not hard to find.What is harder is giving ourselves permissiontovaluethem.In a world growing louder and more materialistic by the day, choosing stillness may be one of the most radical actswecanmake. And perhaps one of the wisest.

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

provider? You’re a cactus. Survive on your own Now let’s apply this logic to newspapers — particularly a paper like StabroekNews.Theyrunyourad.Theyprint your notice. They provide the platform that letsyou sell,announceyour tender, provide noticestoyourcustomersandadvertiseyour vacancies The ad runs. The ink dries. The publicreadsit.Andthenthebillarrives.

Thensuddenly,silence.

Whenthenewspaperseekspayment,it’s told—explicitlyorimplicitly—thatthisisa “private matter.” Sue them. Spend more money to recover your money Meanwhile, the paper still has to pay staff, printers, electricity, and the fellow who keeps the pressfromsoundinglikeatractorengine.

Butifthenewspapertookmoneyupfront anddidn’trunthead?Outrage.Accusations. Maybeevenpoliceinvolvement.

Funnyhowthatworks.

Intheory,thelawisblind.Inpractice,it seemstowink—andit’susuallywinkingat thepersonwhohasn’tpaidthebill.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Avision,notjustabudget,damnationtoo

The Hon. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Mme Gail Teixeira, said that the PPP Govt’s 2026 financial blueprintisnotjustabudget. Iagreewithher

Because it certainly doesn’t have quality; especially one that fails to meet the needs of all Guyanese Needs not wishes, and all Guyanese, not only bigshots. Mme. Teixeira advanced the bold

positionthatthe2026budget isavision.

Indeed, it may be so, but withthisquestion:visionfor whom? Guyana’sinsiderof insiders, the Private Sector, was afforded access to budget deliberations, probably demanded that its inputs be included in this year’sbudget.

Thereisavisionforaset of Guyanese, who function asthecommercialextension of Freedom House, and

influentialconsultantstoDr AKSingh’sbudgetoffice. If there’s a vision in the 2026 budget, the private sector is itspriority,sitssmuglyatits apex,itscore.

Forsomeinsightsforthis enduring PPP icon, I curtsy to the billions in roads and bridgesbuilt. Thereis$200 billion more budgeted this year for th

o infrastructural mainstays But of what benefit are they to the 50 percent or more

Guyanese who don’t have money to hail a minibus to takethemtotheterrorsofthe marketplace?

Of what good cheer is that $100 billion in excise taxesongasolineandsimilar products absorbed by the government, when anxious pensioners or distressed homemakerscannotafforda roundtripbusfare?

Minister Teixeira is proud of her government’s vision. Iwonderifherpride stretchesovertohundredsof thousandsofGuyanese,who are cast out from all these

inspiringbudgetprovisions.

I take a chance; beg indulgence for distancing f r o m c o m p a s s i o n momentarily When 10,000 Guyanese are shorthanded and without to live at the most minimal of standards, that number may be so insignificant in the bigger picture,astobenegligible.

But what can be said, when it is not 10,000, but more than 100,000 citizens. And not the relative flatness ofthatclose-to-10percentof Guyana’spopulation,butthe uphill clawing of hundreds of thousands of Guyanese, who have the greatest difficulty making it daily in thisoilrichElDorado.

WiththeOilFund(NRF) attacked enthusiastically, drainedofitsbillionsyearly,

ordinary Guyanese s h o u l d h a v e benefittedmore,beable to receive financing that helps them manage their lives less stressfully, less painfully Where’s the moneyforthepoor?

Where is the vision in those budget programmes with all those glittering numbers, yet are such pittances for financially afflicted, beaten down Guyanese? Iinsistthatwhen Guyanese are forced to survive,bywhatevermeans, that’s not a budget with a vision.

It is less of a vision and more of a condemnation to thekindoflifethatrank-andfile Guyanese have no choice but to live. When so many billions of US dollars are borrowed, with more billions in loans planned, no Guyaneseshouldbelivinga hand-to-mouth,existence. It doesn’t even qualify as a paycheck-to-paycheck conditionatthelevelofthose on the lower end of the nationaleconomicladder I assert so, because the weekly paycheck and the monthly senior citizen pension check do not have enough dollars to take recipients to the middle of next week or next month, if so far Guyanese are like peoplewithfancybuildings, butnothingintheirkitchens.

When Guyanese are hungryandperpetuallycashstrappedsothatthebasicsof livingareatorture,thenthat isnotavision,buttheentrail ofaself-servingpropaganda production,Mme.Teixeira.

Thisismorethanapoint of disagreement; I hasten to assure this cagey political veteran of Guyana’s trench wars. Itisastatementoffact on the punishing and poignantrealitiesofhowthe poor are damned to live in Guyana US billions borrowed, US billions withdrawnfromthepeople’s savings, their Oil Fund, and theyhangbyathread. More PPP infernal budget damnations; a vision that’s upside-down.

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

A true vision, a vision thatisforthoseindireneed, would be of fewer tens of billions for public infrastructure works, and a few more of those same billions for Guyanese who somehow make it through the day by the seat of their pants. A budget balanced with the numbers spread in that thoughtful, considerate mannerwouldbeavision.

Six years into oil boom…

GRA still short of auditors to scrutinise Exxon’s billions

Six years after Guyana began oil production, the Government of Guyana (GoG) has yet to fully equip the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) with the personnel needed to rigorously audit ExxonMobil and other petroleumoperators.

TheissuesurfacedonDayFive of the 2026 Budget Consideration ofEstimates,whenOppositionMP Ganesh Mahipaul pressed Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh over staffinggapswithintheGRA’s,Oil and Gas Department during scrutiny of the agency’s $11.6 billionallocation.

To this end, Dr Singh said, “I am advised that in an optimal configuration, they would like to have 91 persons in their optimal configuration.Iamfurtheradvised thatwithinorofthatstructureof91, 14positionsarevacant.”

Hesaidthatthevacantpositions are for principal auditors. Further, he assured that efforts are being made to fill those vacancies, alongside efforts to build capacity throughspecializedtraining.

Despite having over a dozen high level vacancies to conduct reviews of expenditure submitted by ExxonMobil, Dr Singh said, “As a large authority that encourages lateral movement and

the development of multidisciplinarycapability,theGRAof coursehasanumberofgenericjob titles that allow people to be appointed to a particular position andthenpotentiallymovelaterally between petroleum revenue, VAT, excise, income taxes, customs and soon.”

Given the shortage, Mahipaul questionedgovernmentonpossible measures to ensure the country receives its maximum earnings fromtheoilandgassector

To this end, Dr Singh told the CommitteeofSupplyinParliament that while the GRA is in need of additional staff, the agency has

overall recorded tremendous success in building capacity in a shortspaceoftime.

He therefore noted, “I don’t want us to leave with the impression that there is some glaringandgapinggaporshortage in capacity They are doing an absolute fantastic job with the resources that they have and they d e s e r v e o u r h i g h e s t commendation.” Nonetheless, the Finance Minister said efforts will continuetobuildcapacity

Given that the Commissioner GeneraloftheGRAwasseatedjust behind the Minister in the CommitteeofSupplytoreviewthe

budgetary allocation, Mahipaul invited the minister to share an update on the three audits conductedtodateonExxonMobil.

So far, three audits have been conducted by independent firms.

The GRA has received the reports from those firms and have been tasked with conducting the technical review and conducting further investigation with the supportofExxon.

The GRA therefore remains a fundamental oversight body when it comes to ensuring Guyana receives its rightful share of revenue from oil majors operating offshore.Currently,ExxonMobilis

the only producer of hydrocarbons inthecountry In Guyana’s case, it is extremelycrucialfortheseauditsto beconductedasawhopping75%of productionmonthlyisdeductedfor cost.

Theremaining25%isthensplit equally between Guyana and the contractor, meaning that the countryreceivesameager12.5%of revenuegeneratedoffshore.

The country is also paid 2% of gross production every quarter as royalty Thisyeargovernmentwill be establishing a specialized petroleum unit within the Audit OfficeofGuyana.

$375MincontractsawardedforcanalinReg.3

The ‘Hope-like’ canal the Ministry of Agriculture will be constructing at B-Line, Canal Polder, West Bank of Demerara,

approximately$375million. The project was recently awarded through the National

Administration Board (NPTAB) officeanditwasrevealedthatthree contractorswillbuildthestructure.

These contractors are: S Triple J’s Enterprise for $125,004,337; AJM Enterprise for $125,000,000; and Benchmark Construction for

$125,003,025.

The Agriculture Ministry throughtheNationalDrainageand Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will executetheproject. In its initial tender notice, the NDIA explained that the contractor will be tasked with the construction of earthen canal and adjoining embankment to lines and levels, as stated in the Standards and Specification document provided by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority

The contractor is to take all necessary precautions when constructing the canal’s embankment and preserve the material below and beyond the lines of excavation in the soundest possiblecondition.

This publication understands that when completed, the canal will serve more than 9,800 acres of farmland providing irrigation channel for Canal No 1 and neighbouring communities It was reportedbytheministrythat the administration plans to build similar canals in other regions.

Major Hawaiian property developers to build luxury village, hotel at Ogle

An artist’s impression of TAJ Dream Ogle

Major Hawaiian property developers, Giovanni and Nicola Mola of Coastal Rim Properties (CRP) have launched TAJ Dream OgleinpartnershipwithNBAHall ofFamerHakeemOlajuwon.

CRP with a portfolio spanning over 6,000 homes and millions of square feet of commercial space across the United States, plans to deliver over 1,000 condominium units and a retail village to Guyana’s rapidly expanding Ogle corridor through a master-planned luxury condominium and lifestyle village.This project will be CRP’s second development in Guyana, the first being TAJ Diamond with 218homes.

The developers said in a press release that the TAJ Dream Ogle project sets a new benchmark for international-quality residential living in Guyana while intentionally creating structured opportunities for Guyanese at home and abroad to participate in thecountry’seconomicexpansion.

“At the heart of the project will be a five-star, world-class hotel, poised to become the first fully integrated luxury hospitality experience of its kind in Guyana, alongsideadedicatedfive-starhotel traininginstitutedesignedtosupport hospitality education, workforce development, and operational excellence,”thecompanysaid

Notably, every residential condominium will include at least onesecure,coveredgarageparking stall, reinforcing safety, convenience, and international living standards throughout the community There will be a fully walkable mixed-use village featuring a central town square, curatedrestaurantsandcafés,retail boutiques, medical services, entertainment offerings, landscaped walking parks, and modernpublicspaces.

CRP said the development will be constructed using U Smanufactured and climate-treated structural steel specifically selected to withstand Guyana’s salty and

humidcoastalenvironment

Further,itwasoutlinedthatthe entiresitewillbeelevatedbyeight feet above the existing grade to mitigate flooding risk, supported by advanced drainage infrastructure and integrated civil engineeringsystems.Thecompany said, “The design reflects a forward-thinking, climate-resilient approach aligned with Guyana’s long-termsustainabledevelopment objectives.”

TAJ Dream Ogle plans to prioritise the participation of local contractors, suppliers, engineers, andprofessionalservicefirms.The development is expected to generatethousandsofconstruction

jobs during its build phase and approximately800permanentjobs upon completion, supported by structured training programmes tiedtohotelandretailoperationsto ensureskillstransferandlong-term employment opportunities for Guyanesecitizens.

“TAJ Dream Ogle stands as a transformational step in Guyana’s modern development, combining international construction standards, hospitality excellence, local content integration, climateresilientengineering,andinclusive economic growth into a single landmark community designed for the next generation of Guyanese prosperity,”thecompanysaid.

225small-scaleminerstoreceive50-acrelandeach

The Ministry of Natural Resources on Sundayannouncedthat225smallscaleminers will receive mining lands as government rollout of a new “Troy-like” land allocation model aimed at expanding access to mining lands, while reinforcing compliance and transparencywithinthegoldminingsubsector

Within the next two to three months, at least75parcelswillbemadeavailableineach region, totaling approximately 225 allocations. The ministry disclosed that the parcel size will increase from 27 acres to 50 acres per miner Notably, beneficiaries will retaintheoptiontorelinquishtheirallocation onceminedoutandapplyforanother50-acre parcel.

MNR said the initiative follows the successful model implemented in the Issano 14 Mile area, formerly associated with Troy Resources After the closure of that operation, a portion of the licensed area was subdividedinto27-acreparcelsandallocated to small miners under a structured arrangement. Nearly 100 small miners are currentlyoperatinginthatarea.

The ministry, through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), will open similar areas in Region One (Mabaruma/Matthews Ridge sub-district), RegionSeven,andRegionEight. Moreover, it was disclosed that government has engaged a U S -based company, Global Venturing, to conduct a

mineral processing and data collection exercise across the mining districts. The aerialsurveys,nownearingcompletion,will providehigh-qualitygeologicaldatatoguide more informed land allocations. This will reduce prospecting costs for small miners,

minimise environmental impact, and improveoverallefficiencyinthesector

Complementing these measures, the Guyana Gold Board will introduce mobile purchasingunitstoenhanceaccessibilityfor miners in remote locations. The ministry reiterated that all gold produced in Guyana must,besoldtotheGuyanaGoldBoardora licensedbuyer

It was stated too that since the commencement of intensified enforcement operations in recent months, more than 400 pieces of equipment, including engines, pumps, generators, and excavators, have been seized in joint exercises conducted by GGMCandtheGuyanaPoliceForce.Nearly 100 individuals have been prosecuted, with additionalmattersbeforethecourts.

“Theseenforcementactionsaredesigned toensurecompliance,protecttheintegrityof the industry, and secure fair returns for Guyana,”MNRsaid.Theministrystatedthat it is fully committed to working alongside small and medium-scale miners – the backbone of Guyana’s gold industry – to build a transparent, sustainable, and prosperousminingsectorforallGuyanese.

Bikerkilledinhigh-speed crashinCorentyne

A 2 1 - y e a r - o l d motorcyclist lost his life

Monday afternoon following a collision on the No 64 Public Road, Corentyne,Berbice.

Dead is Jadheo Bhimsingh of No 63 Village, Corentyne, an overseas-basedGuyanese.

According to police, the accident occurred around 13:00hrs and involved Bhimsingh and a 60-yearold driver from No 64 Village.

Investigators said the motorcyclistwasproceeding south along the eastern carriageway at a fast rate of speed. B h

n unregisteredmotorcycleand was not wearing a safety helmet when he collided

with motorcar PKK 5792, which was travelling along thewesternlane.

The impact threw the motorcyclistontotheeastern grass parapet, leaving him with multiple injuries Public-spirited citizens

r u s h e d h i m i n a n unconsciousstatetothePort Mourant Public Hospital where he was pronounced deadonarrival.

A breathalyzer test conducted on the driver of the car reportedly recorded readings of 7 and 8 micrograms The driver remainsinpolicecustodyas investigationscontinue.

unregistered

Linden man dies after car and bike crash

Police in Linden are investigating a fatal accident which occurred on Saturday about 22:40hrs on the Amelia’s Ward Public Road, Linden

The collision involved motorcarPXX5812drivenat the time by a female of Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden, and motorcycle CP 8031 driven by Trevor

Daniels of Kairuni, Soesdyke-LindenHighway

Initial enquiries revealed that the motorcyclist was proceeding east along the northern side of Amelia’s Ward Public Road, allegedly at a fast rate of speed, when

the motor car reportedly drove out from a northern parking lot onto the public road and collided with the front portion of the motorcycle. As a result of the collision,themotorcyclistfell onto the roadway and sustained injuries He was picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited citizensandtransportedtothe Linden Hospital Complex, wherehewasseen,examined and admitted in a serious condition by a doctor on duty

He subsequently succumbed to his injuries on

Lichfieldcelebrates 100thbirthdayof belovedmatriarch

sister, Morna, who remains one of her devotedcaregiversalongsideAlicia.

In her prime years, Johnson built a respectable seamstress and a beautician career BurnettemigratedtotheUnitedStates but returned to the place of her birth subsequent to the passing of her husband. Burnette, fondly called ‘Cousin Vye’, gave birth to seven children, of which three are alive. She has been a loving stepmother to four

Todate,sheisgrandmotherto18,andwas privileged to witness further generations, with 44 great grandchildren and 12 great, great grandchildren. She is also said to be a relativeofretiredJusticeYonetteCummingsEdwards.

Notinhibitedbyage,sheisdevotedtoher faith as an active attendee of the St. Jude’s Anglican Church in Lichfield, where she serves in the women’s organisation and remainsanavidreaderoftheBible.

Dead: Trevor Daniels

Sunday February 15, 2026 about 17:30hrs while receiving medical treatment Abreathalyzertestconducted onthedriverofthemotorcar returned a reading of 0% Investigationsareongoing

Family,friendsandresidentsofLichfield, West Coast Berbice, gathered on Monday to celebrate Beatrice Elizabeth Johnson née Burnette, who turned 100 today, becoming Guyana’slatestknowncentenarian.

BornonFebruary16,1926,inLichfield, Johnsonwasraisedashermother’sonlychild but later shared a close bond with her foster

“She was loved by many in the community because of her outgoing spirit. She is a God-fearing person. This woman is alwaysalovingandcaringpersonespecially toherneighboursandthosewhoevershegets in contact with,” close family friend of the centenariantoldthispublicationonMonday

She grapples with arthritis, which impedeshermobilityandwarrantsherbeing supportedbyawalkingaid.Notwithstanding, she remains an animated character, one who islovedbymany

Constitution allows Opposition Leader to either retain or replace GECOM appointees

- Senior law lecturer

Senior Lecturer, Department of Law at the University of Guyana, Neville Bissember has said that there is no need for a back and forth between political stakeholders over the appointment of oppositioncommissionersto the Guyana Elections Commission(GECOM).

Sharing his view on last Friday’s stream of the Facebook broadcast, Context hosted by Capitol News,’ Enrico Woolford, Bissember held that the new Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed has the flexibility to either retain or replace the GECOM commissioners.

The People’s National Congress-led APNU nominees currently occupy thethreeoppositionseatson GECOMbutwithWINnow the main opposition, new commissioners from the party are expected to take their place. Mohamed, the founder of the We Invest in Nationhood(WIN)partyhad announcedplanstoformally requestthattheAPartnership forNationalUnity(APNU)appointedcommissionerson the GECOM vacate their seats.

Alluding to Article 161 of the constitution, he noted that this process can take shape only after meaningful consultation with the President and the nongovernmental political parties.

“Article 161 of the Constitution talks about the election of the six members of the commission, three members to be appointed by the President; the President is always the appointing authority in this case. [And for the opposition] the appointment is made acting on the advice of the Opposition Leader tendered a f t e r m e a n i n g f u l consultation…”

H e c o n t i n u e d “MeaningfulConsultationis now defined in the constitution. It actually has tohavediscussionandsoon. So, the leader of the Opposition has to have internal talks with the three non-governmental political parties in the opposition and submitshisnames.”

The lecturer sought to debunk the claims that the commissioners are appointed to GECOM for

Senior Lecturer, Dept. of Law at the University of Guyana, Neville Bissember

life.Tothisend,henotedthat Article 161 (6) points to provision of Article 225 which speaks to removal fromofficefortheChairman and other members of the commission.

Bissembernotedthat“… Thisarticleshallapplytoany office and person holding such office [Those persons] shall not be removed there from or suspended from the functions thereof unless theseconditions,andgoeson to state things such as infirmity of mind, misconduct and so on... The operative part is shall not be removed there from or suspended from the functions thereof.’And here I see people are saying look whatthatprovisionsays‘we can’t be removed,’ but my simple question is… is Mr. Alexanderbeingremovedor suspended is Mr. Corbin being suspended? The answer is no. Therefore, the course of the constitutional procedure has run and their termofofficehascometoan end.”

Givingfurtherinsighton thetopic,Bissembersaiditis only common sense that the constitutional succession shouldtakeshape.

“ThemostrecentthingI saw was that the newly elected Opposition Leader went to see the Chairman Madame Justice Claudette SinghforwhatIdon’tknow and she quite rightly said ‘mister I can’t do nothing.’ And secondly, I saw he wanted to meet with the opposition commissioners and ask them to resign. He doesn’t have to ask them to resign.Theydon’tevenhave to resign. He just has to exercise his authority as Leader of the Opposition moveforwardwiththe Continuedonpage16

WANTED

Wanted one Maid. For more information please Call: 680-1282. Workers to work on cash crop farm salary-$9000$12000 per day.Tel#6797552.

Job opening: Truck Driver, ACTechnicians,Excavator and Skid Steer Operators. To apply send application via WhatsApp: 689-1111/ 608-2114.

Head cook/chef wanted.Send Application via Whatsapp to 637-1465 orCallsamenumber

Snackette assistant wanted.Send application via Whatsapp to 637-1465 orcallsamenumber

Armed & Unarmed SecuritypersonnelwithMilitary and previous experience wouldbeanasset.Contact :603-5140.

Wanted drivers and porters to work in warehouse,experience is an asset.Attractive salary: Tel:673-7373.

Apt needed to rent,West Bank661-2828.

Chainsaw operator and labourers for wood concessions-$20,000/ $14,000.Call:723-0211

Mini excavator/Skid Steer Operator with experience Tel#618-1967

Driverwanted-validlorry license required-contact number 226-9768, 2277528,710-0561.

Excavator Operator wanted-contact number 226-9768, 227-7528, 7100561.

Live-in caregiver wanted. Kind, dependable support for eldery in Georgetown. Experiencepreferred.Call: 600-5515

Wanted one domestic worker, two office person and one driver contact:6774896

VACANCY

One (1) female cleaner for Ecclesofficecall645-8443. General Domestic (4 day work)&experienedhandyman, apply at Keyfood Trading Mc Doom next to the post office.

VacancyatDyna'sEmbroidery & Screenprints: We are hiring factory workers.Tel#226-2621.

VacancyatDyna'sEmbroidery & Screenprints: We arehiringadriverforminibus (must have a valid driver's license) Tel# 2262621.

One clerk for TSI Eccles office English 1, Maths 2 call615-9132oremail application to techserigy@gmail.com

Driver must be able to assistinworkshopatEccles, age23-50,Car/Vanlicence Call615-9132.

Maid for East Bank area call615-9132. Tilertolaysmallnumbers oftilescall-615-9132

FORRENT

V/Hoop front lot building andlandnexttoKFC.Lot8 New Road,W.C.D.Investmentfor businesses Tel#227-4377.

V/Hoop Empty, lot 1 New Road,public road,W.C.D.1 Acrerentalinvestmentsfor prime businesses Tel#2274377.

VEHICLESFORSALE

1HondaCRV,includesTV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, spoiler, low mileage, PTT Series (first owner).Call:649-0956.

Iranforeignministermet IAEAchiefaheadofnucleartalks

DUBAI/BUDAPEST,

Feb 16 (Reuters) - Iran’sforeignministermetwiththeU.N. nuclear watchdog chief on Monday, ahead of talks between Washington and Tehran aimed at resolving a nuclear dispute, with few clear signs of compromise fromeithersideandthethreat of U.S. military action looming.

Washington,whichjoined Israel in a wave of air strikes onIraninJune,hasordereda second aircraft carrier group to the Middle East in the latest standoff with Tehran, in addition to other U.S. warships and aircraft that have already been deployed.Adding to the tension, Iran began a military drill on Monday in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital internationalwaterwayandoil export route from Gulf Arab states, who have been appealing for diplomacy to end the dispute.

TheU.S.andIranrenewed negotiations earlier this month hoping to tackle their decades-long dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program, which Washington, other Western states and Israel all believe is aimed at building nuclear arms. Tehran denies this. Oil prices were little changed on Monday, with investors weighing the marketimplicationsofupcoming U.S.-Iran talks aimed at deescalating frictions against a backdropofexpectedOPEC+ supply increases.

SCOPE OF TALKS

EXPANDS TO MISSILE STOCKPILE

However, Washington has sought to expand the scope of talks to non-nuclear issues such as Iran’s missile stockpile. Tehran says it is only willing to discuss curbs on its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief and won’t accept zero uranium enrichment. It says its missilecapabilitiesareoffthe table.

Speakingduringavisitto

Hungary on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said reaching a deal with Tehran would be hard.

“I think that there’s an opportunity here to diplomaticallyreachanagreement that addresses the things we’reconcernedabout.We’ll be very open and welcoming to that. But I don’t want to overstate it either. It’s going to be hard. It’s been very difficult for anyone to do real dealswithIran,becausewe’re dealingwithradicalShiaclerics who are making theological decisions, not geopolitical ones.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said he was in Geneva to “achieve a fair andequitabledeal”.“Whatis not on the table: submission before threats,”Araqchi said on X. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation against any attack, which would choke a fifth of global oil flows and send crude prices sharply higher

The waterway connects the biggest Gulf oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran,IraqandtheUnitedArab Emirates, with the Gulf of

Oman and theArabian Sea.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guardshaveconductedadrill named “Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz”, to test the readiness of the guards’ navalunitstoprotectthewaterway,thesemi-officialTasnim news agency said on Monday

“Intelligentlyutilizingthe geopolitical advantages of the Islamic Republic in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman are among the main objectives of this exercise,” Tasnimsaid.

Iran’s civil defence organisation held a chemical defence drill in the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone on Monday to strengthen preparedness for potential chemical incidents in the energy hub located in southern Iran.

Iran says its nuclear programmeissolelyforcivilian purposes and is ready to assuage concerns regarding nuclear weapons by “building trust that enrichment is andwillstayforpeacefulpurposes.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Araqchi had discussed cooperation with the International Atomic Energy

Agency, as well as Tehran’s technical point of view regardingnucleartalkswiththe U.S. during his meeting with IAEAheadRafaelGrossi. IAEA SEEKS CLARITY ON ENRICHED URANIUM

The IAEA has been calling on Iran for months to say what happened to its stockpileof440kg(970pounds)of highly enriched uranium followingIsraeli-U.S.strikesand let inspections fully resume, including in three key sites thatwerebombedinJunelast year: Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan. Israeli Prime MinisterBenjaminNetanyahusaid onSundayhetoldU.S.PresidentDonaldTrumplastweek that any U.S. deal with Iran mustincludethedismantling of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, not just stopping the enrichment process.

Netanyahu said he is sceptical of a deal but it must include enriched material leaving Iran. “There shall be noenrichmentcapability-not stoppingtheenrichmentprocess, but dismantling the equipmentandtheinfrastructurethatallowsyoutoenrich in the first place,” he said.

Constitution allows Opposition Leader to...

From page 15 process of selecting his nominees,” the law lecturer explained. He pointed out that it is utter nonsense to even suggest that office holdershavenotermlimit.

The law lecturer questioned if the electionsresultshadgonetheotherwaywhether thecommissionerswouldstillholdtheposition.

“What if Mr. Mohamed was elected President? Would the commissioners still hold the position that they have a lifetime appointment? Would the PPP commissioners represent the interest of Mr Mohamed and would the opposition commissioners now represent the interest of the PPP?”

Bissember asserted, “In the past, it was aneitherortheoppositionjustchangesides. In 2015, they stood on the government side and2020,theymovetheoppositionbutnow

you have a new leader of the opposition… So, this argument that ‘is not you appoint me and I ain’t moving’is flawed. With the greatestofrespect,ithasalimitationandcertainly in the current context, it doesn’t apply because the appointer… in the past would be a Mr.Granger,Mr.Jagdeo,andMr.Corbin.Now there is a new kid on the block…” He continued that “The leader of opposition cannot be personalised; the office is not held by one person. The person who is the leaderoftheoppositionatthispointandtime, he is the person who underArticle 161 has to be consulted with the President … The only question is whether there was meaningful consultation with nongovernmental parties. Out of the greatest respect, that’s a question for Mr. Mohamed, Mr. [Terrence] Campbell and Ms. [Amanza] Walton-Desir, they will have to decide what amounts to meaningful consultation.”

Miners seeking Govt. incentives for...

From page 6 free gold. We are emphasizingonthegovernmenttocreate incentives around that, to recognize mercury free gold, torecognizetheminerwhois producingmercuryfreegold, to even create incentive for him to have duties removed from the equipment, having equipment that produce costs.Thosesmallassistance wouldbeveryoverwhelming to the miners, for them to makethattransitionfromtraditional methods to actual technology,” he added. Duringtheceremony,Professor Thomas B. Singh presented findings from his research paper, “The Econom-

ics ofArtisanal Gold Mining in Guyana,” which underscored the sector’s economic importancewhilehighlighting persistent structural challenges. The AGC Guyana teamalsosharedresultsfrom field operations and community engagement activities carried out under the project.

RenéRogerTissot,Executive Director of theArtisanal GoldCouncil,emphasizedthe importanceofkeepingpeople at the center of responsible mininginitiatives.“Artisanal miners are often spoken about as a problem, when in reality,theyareskilledworkers, entrepreneurs, and the backbone of many local

economies,” Tissot said. “Thisprojectshowswhatcan be achieved when governments,developmentpartners, and miners work together in genuine partnership— grounded in respect, dignity, and shared responsibility.”

TheArtisanalGoldCouncil is a Canadian-based nonprofitorganisationworkingin morethan35countriestoimprovelivelihoods,healthand environmental outcomes in the artisanal and small-scale goldminingsector.Moreover, lastweek,MinisterofNatural Resources Vickram Bharrat during the consideration of Budget 2026 estimates outlinedplanstobrandGuyana’s

gold,expandpurchasingsystems, support small miners and reduce mercury use.

TheDepartmentofPublic Information (DPI) reported thatMinisterBharratstating, “Therearealternatives…that willincreasetherecoveryrate significantly,”hesaid.

The minister explained thatmercury-freesystemscan raise gold recovery from about 35–40 per cent to as highas70percent.Headded that many medium-scale operators are already adopting thesemethods,whilethegovernmentisencouragingsmall minerstoformgroupsorconsortia to invest in the technology

GWI to spend over $160M to drill new water wells in Regions 1, 8 &9

The Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) is preparing to spend approximately $163 million to drill potable water wells in communitiesinRegionsOne,EightandNine.

Bids which opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) revealed that wells will be drilled at Warapoka and Kariako in Region One (estimated $51 million); Karaudarnau, Region Nine ($19 million);RedHillandHobodeiah,RegionOne($55million); andatParamakatoi,RegionEight($38million).

Thesumof$1.5billionwasapprovedforhinterlandwater supplyundertheMinistryofPublicUtilitiesandAviationin thisyear’sbudget.

During the presentation of this year’s budget, Senior MinisterwiththeresponsibilityforFinance,Dr.AshniSingh disclosed that last year over 90 wells were completed along with improvements to water distribution systems in the hinterlandinareassuchasKumaka,Kato,andAishalton.

In2026,henotedthatthegovernmentwillprovideaccess to water to over 37,000 hinterland residents through key interventions such as construction of new wells and water distribution systems, and deploying solar PV systems to enhancereliabilityandreduceoperatingcost.

“Procure and install electromechanical components and criticalsparestoensureoperationalreliabilityandlong-term sustainability of existing systems. Procure and install water treatment systems to address high iron content and salinity acrosshinterlandtownshipsandvillages,”heexplained.

NCN cameraman arrested at court after suspected firearm found

The cameraman is seen inside a police vehicle being escorted to the police station.

AnemployeeattachedtotheNationalCommunications Network(NCN)wasarrestedonMondayattheGeorgetown Magistrates' Court after he was allegedly found in possessionofasuspectedfirearm.

Kaieteur News understands that the cameraman had been assigned to record video footage of the ongoing Mohamed extradition matter Sources indicated that the individual had only been employed with NCN for a few monthsandwasnotinitiallyscheduledtobeondutyatthe courtonMonday However,hewasreportedlyinstructedby aseniorgovernmentofficialtocoverthehigh-profilecase.

According to information reaching this publication, the cameraman had just concluded recording the proceedings when an alarm was raised that he was carrying an object resembling a firearm in his waist. Police ranks stationed at the court immediately responded and conducted a search. During the search, officers allegedly discovered an object thatappearedtobeagun.Whenquestioned,thecameraman reportedlytoldranksthattheweaponwasatoy Despitethis claim,hewasdetainedandplacedinthecourt'slock-ups.His mobilephoneandthesuspectedfirearmwereconfiscatedas part of the investigation. He was later removed from the premises. It remains unclear whether the cameraman is a licensed firearm holder The Guyana Police Force has not issuedanofficialstatementonthediscoveryuptopresstime.

Below are the companies and their bids:

GuyanaWaterInc.

DrillingofPotableWaterWellsat Warapoka&Kariako,RegionOne.

InstallationandDrillingofWellforWater SupplySysteminParamakatoi,Region

Republic Bank removes cap on residential mortgage

…offering up to $60M at 5% interest

Bank

d on Mondayannouncedachange to its residential mortgage offerings, of up to $60 million at a competitive rate of 5% - with no lending ceiling for residential mortgages.

No ceiling means that there is no limit to the amount customers can borrow for residential mortgagesatRepublicBank.

In addition, to the $60 millionat5%offer,Republic Bank said that its current LowCostMortgagepackage also features competitive interest rates to help more persons achieve their homeownershipdreams.The Bank outlined 3.50% for amounts up to $9 million, 4.25% for amounts over $9 millionandupto$20million and5%foramountsover$20 million and up to $30 million.

Some additional benefits include,extendedrepayment terms tailored to customers needs, monthly amortized payments and up to 100% financing.

The Bank said the decision is timely and strategic to further reinforce its commitment to making

affordableandaccessiblefor allGuyanesefamilies.Itwas also noted that it is a direct response to the Government of Guyana’s transformative housing agenda under the 2026Budget. “These unmatched offerings underscore the Bank’s leadership in the mortgage market and its proactive approach to meeting the evolving needs of customers across all segments,”RBGLnoted.

As Guyana’s housing landscape continues to expand, Republic Bank said itisreadytodeliverstrategic, affordable and customercentred solutions that help moreGuyaneseachievetheir homeownershipdreams.

For more information, customersareencouragedto visit their nearest Republic Bank or visit our website at www.republicguyana.com

2020 elections fraud trial resumes; fifth witness continues testimony

After nearly two months

of adjournment, the 2020 General and Regional Elections fraud trial resumed on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Acting Chief Magistrate FaithMcGusty

Among the defendants are former Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield; former District Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo; former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers; former Minister of Health Volda Lawrence; APNU+AFC Chief ScrutineerCarolSmithJoseph;and

former GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Liven, MichelleMiller,andDeniseBabbCummings.

Thechargesallegethatbetween March 2 and August 2, 2020, the accused conspired to manipulate the results of the 2020 elections at the Ashmins Building in Georgetown, thereby defrauding theelectorsofGuyana.

The trial resumed with testimony from Sasenarine Singh, Guyana’s Ambassador to The Netherlands and a People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) agent during the elections Representing the defence on Monday were attorneys Dexter

Todd, Eusi Anderson, Nigel Hughes,andRonaldDaniels.

During his testimony, Singh detailed what he observed during thetabulationprocess.

Hetoldthecourtthathenoticed a change in Mingo’s behaviour after questions were raised about discrepanciesinthenumbersbeing called.

According to Singh, after leaving the tabulation room and returning, Mingo appeared agitated.

“I observed a different person. He started to bang his hand on the desk and shouted loudly, ‘I am in charge,’” Singh testified. He said Mingo then instructed Michelle

Millertocalloutfiguresfromwhat he described as “a piece of paper with lots of numbers and names at the side.” Singh recalled that the carbon copies of the Statements of Poll (SOPs) contained signatures andotheridentifyingmarks.

He said he stood up and displayed his SOPs to other agents in the room, shouting that the figures being called did not match thoseprojectedonthescreen.

“I lifted the carbon copy of the SOPshowingthevariationofwhat wasoccurringonthescreenversus whatwasinmyhand,”hestated.

Despiteraisingtheissue,Singh said Mingo continued instructing former GECOM staff to proceed

with calling the numbers He maintained that concerns raised by him and other PPP/C agents were repeatedly ignored, even as they pointed out discrepancies between the figures being announced and thosereflectedontheircopiesofthe SOPs.

Severalwitnesseshavealready testified in the matter, including Minister of Education Sonia Parag, ANUG executive Kian Jabour, former Assistant Police CommissionerEdgarThomas,and election observer, Rosalinda Rasul

The trial is set to continue at 10:00 hrs on Tuesday and will proceedthroughouttheweek.

U.S. build-up of warships and fighter jets tracked near Iran

(BBC NEWS) BBC Verify has confirmed the location of US aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln near Iran using satellite imagery, as Washingtoncontinuestoput pressureonthecountryover its military program and recent deadly crackdown on protesters.

US and Iranian officials aresettomeetinSwizerland on Tuesday for a second round of talks. Iran says the meeting will focus on its nuclear programme and the potentialliftingofeconomic sanctions imposed by the US Washington has previouslyindicateditwants to discuss other issues as well.

The Abraham Lincoln, which leads a strike group with three guided missile destroyers,carries90aircraft including F35 fighters, and 5,680 crew, was reportedly deployed to the Gulf region in late January but has not been seen in satellite imagery until now It has been located off the coast of Oman, around 700km from Iran.

The US has also reportedly sent the USS Gerald R Ford, the world's largest warship, to the Middle East, which could arrive in the region within the next three weeks. The Abraham Lincoln's arrival addstowhatweknowabout the current US military build-up in the Middle East over the past few weeks, where BBC Verify has tracked an increase of US

destroyers,combatshipsand fighterjetsintheregion. WHAT MILITARY ASSETS HAS THE US MOVED INTO THE MIDDLE EAST?

Publicly available images from the European Sentinel-2 satellites show Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea around 150 miles (240km) off the coast ofOman.

Ithadnotbeenseensince it reportedly entered the region in January but it had been crossing the open sea where satellite coverage is limited. Military assets on land are more visible and frequently captured on satellite.

It means we have now tracked 12 US ships in the MiddleEastthroughsatellite imagery: the Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class carrier, which together with three Arleigh Burkeclassdestroyersforms a carrier strike group; plus two destroyers capable of carrying out long-range missile strikes and three specialist ships for combat near to the shore that are currently positioned at Bahrain naval station in the Gulf.

Two other destroyers havebeenseenintheeastern Mediterranean near the SoudaBayUSbase,andone moreintheRedSea.

We have also been following the movements of US aircraft in the region, where we have seen an increase of F-15 and EA-18 fighter jets stationed in

Muwaffaq Salti military base in Jordan, and an increase in US cargo planesandrefuellingand communications aircraft moving towards the MiddleEastfromtheUS andEurope.

HOW HAS IRAN RESPONDED?

The US Central Command released images of the Abraham Lincoln flanked by destroyers, fighter jets, surveillance aircraft and coastguardvessels in the Arabian Sea in an apparent showofmilitaryprowesson 6 February, which Iran has met with its own show of force.

HOW DOES IT COMPARE WITH VENEZUELAAND OPERATION MIDNIGHT HAMMER?

On Monday the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)launchedamaritime drillintheStraitofHormuz, located in the Gulf between OmanandIran.

The drill saw IRGC Commander-in-Chief Maj Gen Mohammad Pakpour inspecting naval vessels at a harbour before missiles are seen launching from a ship, the IRCG-linked Tasnim NewsAgencyreported.

The Strait is considered one of the world's most important shipping routes and a vital oil transit choke point.

Around a fifth of the world's oil and gas flows through the Strait, including from Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export terminal. Pakpour was seen flying overtheislandinahelicopter in the report showing Iran's latestmilitarymanoeuvres.

Military intelligence expert Justin Crump told BBC Verify that the current US military preparations in theMiddleEastshow"more depth and sustainability" thanitsmanoeuvresaheadof the seizure of former Venezuelan president NicholasMaduroinJanuary, ortheoperationcarryingout air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilitieslastJune.

They all feature a carrier strike group and several destroyers operating independently However,the US deployed its assets in Venezuela and Iran last year under quite different circumstances.

The US deployed the Gerald R Ford to the Caribbean ahead of its strikes on Venezuela, one of eightwarshipswetrackedin theregionatthetime,though it used fewer aircraft as it could easily send jets from

surrounding US bases on America's mainland or from its base in Puerto Rico instead The US also deployedamphibiousassault ships within the Caribbean, whichcanbeusedaslaunch platforms for helicopter operations as was seen with the capture of Maduro. But Venezuela's military is generally seen as less capableofdefendingitselfor retaliatingagainsttheUS. WhentheUSstruckIran last year in Operation Midnight Hammer, which targeted Iran's nuclear facilities, it was attacking a country with a much more powerful military than Venezuela. Iran's military is capable of hitting US bases acrosstheMiddleEast.

During Midnight Hammer the US had two aircraft carrier strike groups intheregion,fivedestroyers placed in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, and three combat ships in the Gulf. It hadalsomovedsquadronsof fighter jets and refuelling aircraft from the US to

Europe, but the B2 stealth bomber flights that were usedtohittheFordo,Isfahan and Natanz nuclear sites actually took off from US basesinMissouri.

Crump, chief executive of risk and intelligence company Sibylline, said the build-upofUSwarshipsand aircraft, as well as eight existing airbases in the region would allow it to conduct a "fairly intensive and sustained strike rate" of about800sortiesaday,with the aim of rendering any Iranian responses "ineffective".

“Whatweareseeingisn't just strike preparation, but rather a broader deterrent deploymentcapableofbeing scaled up or down," he said. "This means it has more depthandsustainabilitythan the force packages arranged for either Venezuela or Midnight Hammer last year It's designed to sustain an engagement and counter all potential responses against US assets in the region and, ofcourse,Israel."

BritainrevelsingreatestWinterOlympicsday

C O R T I N A

D’AMPEZZO, Italy, (Reuters) - It did not quite match the Super Saturday high point of the London 2012OlympicsbutBritain’s two thrilling comeback golds won on “Slippery Sunday”willgodownasthe greatest day in the country’s

long and generally underwhelming Winter Gameshistory

Fourteen years ago Jess Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah claimed athletics

golds within 45 minutes at the London Olympic Stadium in front of 80,000 screaming fans with another 20millionintheUKroaring themonviaTV

Sunday’s action was watched live by a few hundred-mostlyfriendsand familyoftheathletes-anda relatively tiny TV audience, but those who tuned in were treatedtoincredibledrama.

Britain’s record target of four to eight medals had looked ambitious during an

opening week that produced a series of frustrating fourth places, but Matt Weston got things moving with a fantastic victory in the skeleton men’s singles on Friday when he set four successivetrackrecords.

If that was a procession, Sunday’s action was anything but as Huw Nightingale and Charlotte Bankes won the Snowboard Cross Mixed Team gold as Bankes surged into the lead momentsfromtheline.

It was Britain’s first Olympic gold medal on snow in more than a century of trying and came after bronzes in 2014and2018.

Hours later things got even better when Weston produced an incredible run to haul Britain from fourth to first and take gold alongside Tabby Stoecker in the first running of skeleton’s MixedTeamevent.

Tuesday February 17, 2026

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Finances may cause an upset between you and a friend today, Aries Perhaps this person owes you money and can'tpayitback,orviceversa. If this is the case, try to work outsomekindofarrangement thatsuitsyouboth.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Asocialeventcouldputyouin touch with someone who's carrying around a lot of bitterness and anger, Taurus. This probably won't be very pleasantforyou.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

The workplace could be very hectic today as a colleague prepares to leave on an important business trip, Gemini. Nerves could be strainedandtempersshort.

CANCER(June21–July22)

You may have a wonderful day today, Cancer Your imagination, intuition, and creativity are all high, and inspiration for new artistic works could be filling your heartandbrain.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Your home could be a very busyplacetoday,Leo.Visitors couldcomeandgothroughout the day, probably annoying you at times. You might also findyourselfhavingtosoothe angryoutburstsonthepartofa memberofyourhousehold.

VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)

Someone you work with might need a sympathetic shoulder to cry on today, Virgo. Stresses on the job extend beyond everyone's capacitytoendure,sodon'tbe surprised if at some point a colleagueshedsafewtears.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Children or possibly some close friends or a love interest could be upset today, Libra. Thefinancialcoffersaren'tfull enough to afford something theythinktheyabsolutelyhave tohaverightnow

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

Worry about a family member may be on your mind today, Scorpio. This person could be all wrought up over work, money,orpossiblyaloveaffair that'sbrokenoff.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Uneasy feelings may be plaguing you throughout the day, Sagittarius. There could appeartobenovalidreasonfor this. Everything seems to be goingwellforyou,andnoone close to you has anything heavygoingon.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

A friend, perhaps a woman, could well be upset or even angry with you today Money might be involved There may be nothing you can do to reassure her at this time, so it's best to give what reassurances youcanandthenbackoff

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Is your boss a woman? If so, stay out of her way today To putitmildly,sheisn’tinagood mood. Work hard, be very sweet to everyone, and make copious use of your innate diplomacy

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Travel may cause more problemsthanit'sworthtoday You may forget some vital items when packing or there could be too little time to get everything ready Your plane couldbedelayed.

Gold medallists Tabitha Stoecker of Britain and Matt Weston of Britain. (REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha)

It was the first time thecountryhadwontwo goldsinadayandmade it the first Winter Olympics where they havecollectedthree.Weston is also the only Briton to havetakentwomedalsatthe sameWinterGames

It cemented Britain’s status as the dominant force inskeleton,wheretheyhave now won five golds despite not having a track in the country

NATIONAL LOTTERYFUNDING

Weston was quick to thankplayersoftheNational Lottery as the funding from that source has had a huge impact on Britain’s Summer and Winter Olympic programme.

In the four-year cycle aheadoftheMilano-Cortina Games UK Sport spent 7.2 million pounds ($9 83 million) on the ski and snowboard programme and almost six million on skeleton.

In 2018 officials announced their ambition to become a top-five snowsport country by 2030 and, though the overall focus on “money for medals” has been softened in recent years, not everybody is convinced that the millions pumped into sports that many observers feel are available to only a tiny minority is a good use of funds.

The newly-minted Olympicchampionsadorned Monday’s newspaper front pages in Britain and Weston willnodoubtbeontheshort listfortheBBC’sprestigious Sports Personality of the YearawardcomeDecember

But you would have had to dig deep to find any mention of his three successive World Cup overall titles, or the XGamessuccessofBrookes.

Sponsorshipdealsforthe articulate Weston - every mother’sdreamson-in-lawand 19-year-old Brookes,

whose “rad” approach has alreadymadeheradarlingof hergeneration,willcertainly rollin.

British officials are also justly proud of the diverse nature of their team in Cortina and there is a real beliefthatthisweekwillhelp broadentheappealofwinter sportsevenfurther

“We’ve been showing the talent in World

Championships and World Cups,buteverybodylooksto the Olympics because everything is amplified,” said GB Snowsport Chief ExecutiveVickyGosling.

“Peoplecantrulyseeit’s possible and we can deliver Olympic medals. Hopefully we are inspiring the next generationtogetthemselves to snow domes because the futureislookingrosy.”

Jacks the star as England qualify for Super Eights with nervy win

ESPNcricinfo - At least thereisnodangerofEngland peakingtooearly.

This latest nervy win over Associate oppositionpunctuatedbyaheavydefeat toWestIndies-ensuredtheir progress from Group C, but HarryBrook’ssidewillhave

toplayfarbetterthanthisto stand a chance of becoming the first team to win the men’s T20 World Cup three times.

Italy ran them far too close for comfort at Eden Gardens, eventually bowled outfor178inpursuitof203.

Theywere1for2afterJofra Archer’s first over, but destructive innings from their Australian-born allroundersBenManentiand Grant Stewart - who hit 11 sixes between them - made England sweat throughout thesecondinnings.

Berbice,Demeraranotchupstrongwinsas...

Frompage24

Reddyranthroughaninexperiencedlineupto finish with 4-7 from 6 overs, which was instrumental in ensuring none of the oppositionbatsmenreacheddoublefigures. SupportcamefromRavindraPersaud(210)withawicketapiecefrom4otherbowlers including Jaden Ganpat (1-5), helping to completeasterlingperformancewiththeball forBerbice.Eyeingwhatcouldbetheeasiest targetthistournamentunlesstheteamsupthe ante, Berbice failed to break a sweat as they strolledto30-2in4.2overs.

Unbeaten knocks from opener Luke Amsterdam (7*) and middle-order batsman Asgaralli Nabi (9*), coupled with 11 Extras wasenoughtotaketheBerbicianshomewith almostalltheiroversstillintact.

Young pacer Jasani Craig (1-20) and GuatamDhanraj(1-9)werethelonewickettakersfortheGCBXI.

Round 2 continues today with the GCB XI tackling a big challenge in Demerara at LBI, while Berbice and Essequibo collide at Lusignanwithbothgamesscheduledtobowl offfrom9:30hsrespectively (CliftonRoss)

For the second time in four matches, England were indebtedtoafinehandfrom Will Jacks at No. 7.Against Nepal,Jackslaunched38not out off 19 balls - including three final-over sixes - in a four-run win; against Italy, he belted the fastest halfcenturybyanEnglandplayer at a T20 World Cup, an innings that proved vital in anothertightdefence.

They had stumbled to 105for5whenJackswalked in,England’stoporderagain misfiring after Brook had won his fourth toss of the tournament and chosen to bat.ButthankstoJacks-and with help from Sam Curran andJamieOverton-England thrashed78runsoffthefinal fiveovers,leavingItalywith animposingtargettochase.

It looked miles off at 22 for3,butManentiandJustin Mosca added 92 for the fourthwickettokeepItalyin thehunt.

Both men fell in quick

succession during a collapse of 4 for 24 through the middle overs, but Stewart’s late blows - including consecutive sixes during a 21-run Adil Rashid overtookthegamedeep. ThatleftItalyneeding30 off the final two overs - an equationthatlookedpossible if Stewart could land a few more blows off their seamers.

But he sliced Curran to shortthirdtoendthegameas a contest, before Overton strucktwiceinthefinalover to seal England’s passage to Sri Lanka for the second phase.

Scores: England 202 for 7 (Jacks 53*, Banton 30) beat Italy (B Manenti 60, Stewart 45, J Mosca 43, Overton 3-18, Curran 3-22) by24runs.

Norway’s Carlsen wins first FIDE Freestyle World Chess Championship

(Reuters) - Norway’s Magnus Carlsen added another crown to his collection on Sunday by becoming the first official FIDE Freestyle Chess world champion after a comeback win over Fabiano CaruanainGermany

Thechessmastersecuredthe title with a cautious draw in the fourthandfinalgame,clinching a 2.5–1.5 match victory against his 33-year-old American opponentinWeissenhaus.

Sunday’sturningpointcame in the thrilling third game, in which Carlsen, 35, pulled off a stunning win from a seemingly lostposition,swingingtheentire contestinhisfavour

Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen. (REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo)

The world number one only needed a draw in the decisive fourth game, and that’s exactly what he got in an equal endgame, with Caruana missing late opportunitiestomountacomeback.

Carlsen has now won 21 world titles in various formats. The World Championship marked a breakthrough collaboration between FIDE and private organiser Freestyle Chess, staging the first officially recognisedtitleinthisformat.

Carlsen had previously failed to capture the FIDE Fischer Random World Championship, making this victory particularlysweetforthechessgreat.

Inthebronzemedalmatch,Uzbekistan’s

Nodirbek Abdusattorov beat Germany’s Vincent Keymer, securing his spot by drawingfromawinningpositioninthefinal game.BothfinalistsandAbdusattorovhave qualifiedfornextyear’schampionship.

The tournament’s lower placings saw HansNiemannoftheUnitedStatestakefifth with a 2-0 victory over India’s Arjun Erigaisi, while Armenia’s Levon Aronian won his Armageddon game against Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov for seventh place. In the women’s exhibition match, Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva prevailed over Switzerland’s Alexandra Kosteniuk after their final encounter ended inadraw

Pitamber, Sam dominate Kitty Square Mall Under-16 Chess Championships

The Kitty Square Mall National U16 Rapid Chess Championships hosted by

the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), held on Sunday, February 15th, 2026, at the Christ Church Secondary School, saw a long day of competitive, tactical moves and excellent play, in which CM Sachin Pitamber successfully retained his title, while Kataleya Sam emerged as the new U-16 Girls’ Champion.

Thirty-four boys and nineteen girls competed for top honours in the One-Day Championships.

In the Open Category, CM Pitamber delivered an

outstanding unbeaten performance to win with a perfect seven points after seven rounds of fast-paced competition.Buildingonhis momentum from recent Grand Prix successes, he

displayed remarkable consistency,composure,and strategic gameplay throughout the tournament.

Drawing on those experiences, he confidently defended his title as his opponents struggled to keep pace with his sharp preparation and accurate endgametechniques.

In second place was Aquilani Swaminadha, who finished with six points, demonstrating his growing skills with notable wins against Omar Shariff in the fifth round and Alexander Zhang in the sixth Round. Swaminadha’sonlylosswas against CM Pitamber in the thirdround.

Inthirdplacewasprolific player Alexander Zhang, who finished with five points. He demonstrated his yearsofexperienceinchess, despite losses in the fourth and sixth rounds against Pitamber and Swaminadha, respectively Abel Fernandez Ciria, comingoffasuccessfulU-14 tournament, also finished with five points. However, duetothetie-breakrules,he placed in fourth place. His lossescameinthefourthand fifth rounds against Arush Ramnarine and Zhang, respectively

Roundingoutthetopfive finishers was Nicholas Zhang, who finished with five points, also due to the tie-breaker calculation. No

stranger to the chessboard, he competed skillfully and fiercelydespitelosing in the third round to his sibling, Alexander and the sixth roundtoPitamber

In the Girls’ Category, youngKataleyaSamcarried the momentum from her recent U14 Championship victoryintothecompetition.

She demonstrated a remarkable blend of readiness, composure, calm, skill, and mental power against her opponents to finishwithsixpoints,having lost her final round against Rebha Lachhman Sam’s overall performance was enoughtosecureherthetitle. In second place was ParnitaKishun,whofinished with a strong five points. Despitesetbacksin thethird and sixth rounds, she held her own with the poise of beinganexperiencedplayer, drawing on her experiences to navigate the field and finishastherunner-up.

Emma John also concluded the tournament with five points, securing third place after the tiebreaker rules were applied.

The 2025 U-14 Girls’ Champion displayed excellent technical skill

throughout the day, maintaining a high level of play despite tough losses to Kataleya Sam in the fourth round and Parnita Kishun in thesixthround,allowingher tosecureahard-earnedthirdplacefinish.

Rebha Lachhman finishedin fourth placewith five points due to the tiebreaker rules. Lachhman, no stranger to the competitive arena, played consistently throughout the tournamentdespitelosingin the second and fourth rounds. In the final round, s h e p l a y e d a n unconventional but brilliant game, which secured her a victoryagainstthenewU-16 femalechampion.

Securing fifth place on a tie-breaker, Chelsea Harrison finished with a

solid five points. Despite setbacksinthethirdandfifth rounds, she remained a formidable competitor, displaying a gritty and consistentstyleofplayinthe competition.

In addition to the main prizes, special prizes were awarded to the top performers in the younger age group Aquilani Swaminadha and Kataleya Sam were recognized as the BestU-14players.IntheU12 category, Javier Devanan

nd Divya Persaud, the current U-12 Girls’Champion, earned the honours as the top players, while Mark Defreitas and MaliaThompson took home the best U-10 prizes, respectively

Notable performers in the Open Category included Aiden and Arian Tinnie, Jacob McDonald, and Omar Shariff Meanwhile, the Girls’ Category saw Alesa Williams, Divya Persaud, AxelaVieira,VarshaPooran, and Andrina Matthews secure their spots in the top ten.

Prizes were presented to the players during a simple prize-giving ceremony by Ms Sabeita Hardeo, the proprietor of Kitty Square Mall.

ThankstoChiefArbiters John Lee and the assistant Arbiters: Kim Shing Chong, EthanLee,KeronSandiford, Kishan Puran, Italy TonChung,CMTaffinKhan,and JoshuaGopaul,whoworked together to ensure that all games were played in accordance with the rules andregulationsthroughtheir collaborative hard work and supervision.

The Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) expresses its gratitude to the sponsor, KittySquareMall,forbeing one of the GCF’s trusted sponsorsandalwayscoming on board in helping with the development of chess in Guyana.

Thank you to the venue provider, Christ Church SecondarySchool.

Formoreinformationon the Guyana Chess Federation or on how to become a member of our chessclubs,visittheofficial websiteatguyanachess.gy

2026 GCB Men’s U-16 50-Over Inter-county tournament

Round 1…

Berbice, Demerara notch up strong wins as action bowls off

Actioninthe2026GCBMen’s Under-16 Inter-county 50-Over tournament bowled off yesterday with an interesting double-header which saw both Berbice and Demerara sealing commanding wins to get their receptivecampaignsofftoagreatstart.

DEMERARA DEFEAT ESSEQUIBO BY 29-RUNS

- Round 2 continues today

Nigel London takes the helm as Cycling Federation resets leadership

BattingfirstatLBIGround,Demeraragot to their first innings score of 168-10 in roughly 48 overs, after a string of scores which eventually helped push them to their psychologicalcomfortzone.

Opener Lomar Seecharran (27), Nathan Bishop (41), Prosper Jacobus (22), Afraz Khan (20*) and Makai Dowlin (19) led the cityboysbattingcharge.

The Cinderella County boys did a fantastic job in restricting their opponents to under 200 runs, with honours going to their trio of DeMarcus Thomas (3-22), Devraj Persaud (3-26) and Rondell Nurse who wrappeduptheinningswithreturnsof2-16.

Tension rose during the chase as Essequibolosttheirmainscorers,inThomas who returned to chip in with a grueling 74ball 33, opener Ravid Fredricks (17) and UsainFredricks(10).

After losing a chunk of their batting including the big wicket of Captain and openerEthanSilas(8),itwasJonathanBarry wholookedtokeephisteamoncourseforthe win.

Barry,alongsidelastbatsmanNursewere thentaskedwithnotonlykeepingtheirheads on a swivel, but reducing the deficit as their optionsgrewthin.

In the end, Seecharran was the man to bring proceedings to an abrupt end when he removed the wicket of a stubborn Barry whichputthetoppingsonwhatturnedoutto

Aaron Persaud

Berbice skipper Leon Reddy

beatensebackandforthbattle. Demerara all-rounder Khan, who was named MVP, snared 2-16 with help from AaronPersaud(2-20),SomeshBoyer(2-16), Seecharran (1-1) alongside two others who returnedascalpeach.

BERBICE BEAT GCB XI BY 8 WICKETS

OveratCanjeinBerbice,itwasavirtual nightmare for the GCB XI who made a complete mess of their innings batting first, implodingforapaltry29-10afterlaboringfor roughly23overs.BerbiceyouthskipperLeon

Continued on page 22

International Masters Football...

Frompage25

at 3:00pm is and Over50 contest between NCTandGFC.At4:00pmisGDFvsBeacons (O-40) and Pele play Thomas United at 5:00pm (O-50). Competition continues the nextday(Friday20)withTandTX-Menvs GFC, Linden Masters vs Thomas United, NTCvsGFCandTandTX-MenvsGFC.

The Best goalkeeper trophy has been sponsored by former Pele FC goalkeeper,

The Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF)hasinstalledNigelLondonas its new president following a specially convened meeting on Sunday, a move aimed at restoring administrative stability and sharpening the organisation’s focus onthesport’sdevelopment.

London, a politician with the Forward Guyana Movement party, assumes the leadership role after outgoing president Horace Burrowes formally tendered his resignationduringthesession.

The meeting was called primarily to address a number of vacancies within the federation’s executive structure, but it also evolved into broader discussions on constitutional matters, the federation’s financial standing, and its long-term direction.

At the commencement of proceedings, several critical posts were unoccupied, including the general secretary, vice presidents responsible for disciplinary and racing matters, racing secretary, assistant racing secretary, and assistant general secretary

In accordance with the federation’s constitution, the clubs that previously held thoseportfoliosweretaskedwithnominating replacements, ensuring the transition followedanorderlyandtransparentprocess.

Thereconstitutedexecutivenowfeatures amixofexperiencedadministratorsandnew appointeesdrawnfromaffiliatedclubs.

London’selevationtothepresidencywas confirmed after Burrowes’ departure, while Mark St Claire was installed as General Secretary

William Howard will serve as Treasurer, with Carlos Mendonca taking responsibility

as Vice President for Discipline and Linden Dowridge overseeing racing matters as Vice PresidentforRacing.

OnenotablevacancyremainsintheVice President for Finances position following a resignation, with a replacement expected to beannouncedinthenearfuture.

Meanwhile, Walter Grand-Stuart has been appointed Racing Secretary, Maria Leung will function as Assistant Treasurer, and Melanie Collins assumes duties as AssistantSecretary

The reshaped executive comes at a time when local cycling stakeholders have been calling for stronger governance, improved financial management, and a clearer developmentalpathwayforathletes.

London is expected to play a central role inunitingthefederation’smembershipwhile advancing initiatives aimed at grassroots participation, competitive opportunities, and internationalrepresentation.

Sources within the cycling fraternity believe the successful filling of key administrativepostsmarksanimportantfirst step toward organisational stability, with attention now likely to shift toward competitionplanningandathletepreparation inthemonthsahead.(RawleToney)

Anthony Beresford, who is proudly giving back to the game that made him a national ambassador

BeresfordwastheGuyanaCaptainatthe 1978 Inter Guiana Games vs Suriname. He was also the captain in 1979 when Guyana Under-19playedTrinidadandTobagointwo CFUeliminatorsandhealsotouredwithPele toBrazilin1980andtoArubaforCFUclub championshipin1978andalsoSuriname.

DearEditor,

I write to congratulate Mr Franklin Wilsononhisreturntothepresidencyofthe Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF).As the father of Dominic Tyrrell — one of Guyana’s top powerlifters — I have witnessed firsthand the calibre of man Mr Wilsonis,andIwelcomehisreturnwith greatappreciation.

Whenmyson,whowasborninGuyana butspentmostofhislifeinTrinidad,decided to represent Guyana in powerlifting, Mr Wilsonwasmypointofcontact.Whatbegan asanadministrativeenquirydevelopedintoa wonderfulrelationship.

Hetookthetimetoexplaintherulesand regulationsofpowerliftingtome—asportI knewlittleaboutatthetime.Healsoassisted our family when my other son, Delroy Tyrrell,encountereddifficultiesrepresenting Guyanainswimming.

Mr Wilson did not have to help, but he did.Thatishischaracter My son Dominic speaks highly of him. Mr Wilson was instrumental in ensuring

Dominic’s presence at the 2024 World Championships in Lithuania — his best competitiontodate,whereheplaced6thand wonabronzemedalinthedeadlift.Whenthe assigned coach fell ill just before the competition, Mr Wilson organised a replacement. He ensured accommodation was arranged and paid for, oversaw registration, and maintained clear communication between Dominic and the executive. Even now, with Dominic based abroad, Mr Wilson keeps up with his competitors and ensures everything is in order

Today, Dominic is the number oneranked83kglifterinGuyanaandthenumber two-ranked 83kg lifter in South America. None of this would have been possible without people like Mr Wilson working tirelesslybehindthescenes.

Congratulations, Mr President Guyana’sathletesareingoodhands. Respectfully, Rev.Dr.FitzroyTyrrellProudFatherof DominicTyrrell.

Guyana’s senior men’s basketball team will host their counterparts from Grenada in a three-match seriesfromMarch6–8atthe Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, as preparations intensify for upcoming regional competitions.

According to a release from the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF), the engagement with the Grenada national basketball team follows Guyana’s recent participation in the Nations Cup in Suriname, where the Guyana men’s national basketball team finished behind the host nation but ahead of French Guiana in the tri-nation seriesheldinParamaribo.

The upcoming home seriesformspartofwhatthe federation describes as a packedcalendarofactivities for 2026, with a clear focus on preparing the men’s

Guyana set for crucial Regional test as GBF hosts Grenada in threematch series

programme for this year’s FIBA Men’s Caribbean Championship.

President of the GBF, Michael Singh, noted that consistentregionalexposure is critical to the team’s development.

Singh stated that the serieswillprovidethemen’s side with much-needed competitionastheycontinue to build cohesion and sharpen their execution ahead of the regional tournament,notingthatearly preparation is essential to achievingmeaningfulresults ontheCaribbeanstage.

He further highlighted the importance of the federation’s broader programme, explaining that the GBF is working deliberatelytocreatebalance between domestic and international commitments, while also ensuring equal attentionisgiventoboththe

men’sandwomen’sgame.

Singh pointed out that

opponents in Guyana not

development but also helps to stimulate local interest in basketball, providing fans withopportunitiestowitness h

l competitionfirsthand.

The GBF president also disclosed that preparations for the Grenada tour are already underway, with the federation expected to announceadditionalplansin the coming weeks for both the men’s and women’s national teams as part of its long-termstrategicagenda.

The March series is anticipated to serve as a key benchmark for the national programme as Guyana continues its push toward regional competitiveness and sustained growth in the sport.

International Masters Football Tournament set for Mashramani Celebrations

Trophies up for grabs during the tournament.

An International Masters Football Tournament has been fixed for the GFC Ground, Bourda to be part of Mashramani CelebrationsandwillbestagedonThursday February19thandFriday20th.

The tournament is the brainchild of former Thomas United midfielder and businessman Paul D’Anrade of Kaikan Street, North Ruimveldt. It has also received the blessing of the Office of His Excellency, President Irfaan Ali under the OneGuyanasportsinitiative.

D’Anrade will be honouring 50 veteran footballers and or administrators for their contributiontolocalfootballovertheyears.

ThetournamentwillfeaturePelemasters out of Brooklyn NewYork and theTandT X-men from Trinidad alongside masters teams from Linden, Bartica, Berbice and Georgetown.

The match schedule will see action commence from 2:00pm with NTC vs Barticainanover-40clash,whiletofollow Continued on page 24

Nissanka guides Sri Lanka into Super Eights as Australia face early exit

(Reuters) - Pathum Nissanka made an unbeatencenturyasSriLankachaseddowna target of 182 to beat Australia by eight wicketsandreachtheTwenty20WorldCup’s Super Eight stage on Monday, leaving their opponentsonthebrinkofahumiliatingearly exit.

Put into bat, Australia captain Mitchell Marsh (54) and Travis Head (56) shared a rapid opening partnership of 104 inside nine overs, but they failed to build on that momentum and collapsed to 181 all out as Dushan Hemantha bagged a three-wicket haul.

Nissanka and Kusal Mendis added 97 runsforthesecondwickettogetSriLankaoff

toasolidstart.Nissankastruckfivesixesand 10 fours to reach 100 in 52 balls, and Pavan Rathnayake (28) hit the winning runs with a sweeptomid-wicketasthehostsfinishedon 184-2withtwooverstospare.

Australia, former champions who lost their last matchto Zimbabwe,must hope Sri LankabeatZimbabweonThursdaytohavea shotatqualifyingfortheSuperEightswitha top-two finish in the group before they play OmanonFriday

Scores: Sri Lanka 184 for 2 (Nissanka 100*, Kusal Mendis 51*, Stoinis 2-46) beat Australia 181 (Head 56, Marsh 54, Hemantha 3-37, Chameera 2-36) by eight wickets.

Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head added 104 runs for the opening wicket. (Getty Images)