Kaieteur News

‘Oil boom, but

clash as citizens say wealth not reaching the ground

Court

Mother of 6 faced years of abuse beforetragicLongCreekmurder

…two aunts left to raise 15 children

The sister of 39-year-old Caslene Toney, who was tragically murdered by her husband onMarch8,hasrevealedthatsheandanother sisterwillnowberesponsibleforraisingatotal of 15 children, as they grapple with the devastatingloss

CasleneToneywasfounddeadatherhome in Long Creek, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, after being stabbed by her reputed husband, Maurice Hugh Hugh later attempted to take his own life and remains hospitalised The incident occurred early Sunday morning, leavingthefamilyinshock

Caslene was a dedicated mother of six children,aged18,13,11,10,six,andthree She wasalsoahardworkingfarmer,committedto caring for her children and working tirelessly tobuildherownhome

Hersister,PerlinciaToney,whospokewith Kaieteur News on Tuesday, recounted the horrifying events and described Caslene as a resilientwomanwhoenduredyearsofabuse

Alifemarkedbyabuse

Perlinciaexplainedthathersisterhadbeen in the abusive relationship for over 20 years, only recently opening up about her suffering Sherevealedthatshehadreportedincidentsto thepolice,includinganaltercationlastmonth when Hugh reportedly wielded a cutlass and pushedhersisterdown

Mysisterdoestellmehowthismandoes do this thing all the time When she’s in the backdamhedoesslapshe,chokesheupandall kindofthing Iaskmysister,‘sowhyyoudon’t leavehe?Justleavehimaloneandseehowhe

would make it out with them children,’”

Perlinciasaid

“Sincesheleftschool,that’showlongshe withhim,”thesisteradded Despiteherpleas forCaslenetoleaveHugh,hersisterexpressed fearofleavingtheirchildrenwithhim

Perlincia said she had even warned her sister that the abuse could eventually turn deadly “Shetellmeonedaytheygoinginthe backdam, the mining area I used to tell she, ‘sisteryouseehowhedoestreatyourighthere athome,muchlessinthebackdam,hemight killyou,’”shesaid

Themorningofthetragedy

Perlinciarecountedthatonthemorningof the incident, she, Caslene, and another sister were preparing to make cassiri, a traditional beverage “Sundaymorning,Ilefthometogo pick up the grater by my sister that passed to grate the cassiri and then go to clean out the

spotwhereshewasmoving Shesaidwecould make cassiri and call out family and help,” Perlinciasaid

“That’showwelive,especiallyme Idoes makecassiri,cassavabreadandpepperpotand getourfamilyandhelp,”sheadded

WhilePerlinciawasawayfetchingagrater for the cassiri, she received the devastating newsthatCaslenehadbeenkilled

“IranandIstartcrying.Iseesherightby the step she lie down already dead. I start cryingmorebecauseIdidn’texpectthis,”she said. According to Perlincia, the children later told her they heard their mother screaming outside and calling for her eldest daughter to open the door However, Hugh reportedlytoldthechildrennottoopenit.

Sherecalledthatonthedayoftheincident Caslenehadplannedtogotothefarmlandsto dropoffcassiriforanemployee

“Before she passed away, she went in the farmwithshemusicboxhappy,happy Inthe morning she said she gone carry cassiri for him I wait for she but she ain’t come, that’s howsheendupdead,”Perlinciasaid

Perlincia also believes Hugh may have been planning the attack “I think he really planned long He put out my sister bags with herclothesandeverythingoverthere Herson tellmetheirsuitcasewassomewhereelse,soI thinkheplannedlong,”shealleged

Afamilyinmourningandstruggling

Thefamilyisnowfacedwiththeimmense challenge of caring for the children She explained that she and another sister are now

Dead: Mother of six, Caslene Toney

tryingtohelpthechildrencopewiththelossof theirmother “Wetrytosupport,maintainand guidethem,”shesaid

However,shenotedthattheresponsibility willbedifficultforthefamily “Itishardforus tomaintainthesechildren Ihavechildrenand my sister have children too, so it is very hard forusandweneedallthesupportwecanget,” shesaid

The children are deeply affected by their mother’s death “They said they miss their mommy The big girl, she’s not sleeping too well Itryingtosleep,Ican’tsleep Itryingto eat,Ican’teatandthebigboyhesayheain’t wanteat,hejustdrinkingbarewater,”theaunt stated “Isorryformyniece Itissohardtotake care of them me alone It is very hard,” she addedwhilebreakingdownintears Governmentassistance

Following the tragedy, officers from the government,includingtheMinisterofHuman ServicesandSocialSecurity,visitedthefamily to offer condolences and support The aunt statedthattheministryhaspledgedtoprovide assistancetothefamily “Theywillbehelping uswiththeirschoolingfeesandthingsthatwe

Continued on page 9

Court of Appeal tosses Mohameds’ bid to stay extradition case

…appeal ruling set for March 17

The Court of Appeal on Tuesday threw out the request by embattled businessman and politicianAzruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed to stay the extradition proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court pending the determination of their substantiveappealcase.

TheCourtlatersettherulingon the substantive appeal for March 17. The appeal stems from an earlierhighcourtrulinginvolvinga judicial review challenge to the Minister of Home Affairs’ Authority to Proceed (ATP) in the extradition case, as well as a constitutionalchallengetosections of the Fugitive Offenders

(Amendment) Act 2009 On February 4, 2026, the high court dismissed the judicial review application,whichhadallegedbias by the government, particularly by MinisterWalrond.

The defence contends that the application is grounded in alleged breaches of natural justice and claims the ATP issued on October 30, 2025, is unlawful, unreasonable, arbitrary and an abuseofpower Thefilinghadalso sought orders to quash the ATP throughcertiorari(orderbywhicha highercourtreviewsacasetriedin alowercourt).

As such, presiding Justices of AppealincludingChancellorofthe

Judiciary, Roxane George and Judges, Nareshwar Harnanan and Vishnu Persaud heard the arguments from attorneys in the caseontheissueofbias.

The arguments were presented by Mohameds’ lawyers Roysdale Forde SC, Siand Dhurjon and Damien Da Silva and from attorneys representing the State, Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC, Trinidadian Senior Counsel Douglas Mendes, and Attorney, ShushanaLall.

Nandlall argued that the minister must act on extradition requests but it is for the court to decide if the order is lawful. He noted while the affidavit alleged

politicalbiasagainsttheMohamed, the evidence points to a different story TheAGcontendedthatwhen the request was made in 2024, the Mohamedswerestillsupportersof therulingregime.Hesaidhowever that this does not stop the government from performing its duty under the established treaty “These particulars of the charge

date back to 2017 up to 2024 they were with the government, when the sanctions came in 2024 …It laterbecamepublicknowledgethat the person for whom the request is made was running for office. So, the claim of political bias had becomeconvenientexcuse.”

Nandlallstressedthereisno

Continued on page 22

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EDITORIAL

BBC World Questions, Guyana

Ms.HelenTownerisprovingtobemorethanan artful BBC producer Her fancy verbal footwork is impressive, the kind that would makeanacrobatenvious. BBCWorldQuestions:Guyana came to Guyana, and Guyanese from different sections of local society have doubts about the authenticity of its objectives. The program's producer only added more energy to the skepticisms of citizens on everything about theiroilwealth.

Towner said that Stabroek News' Editor-in-Chief, Anand Persaud, wasn't removed from the initial May 6, 2025panel. Duetounforeseencircumstances,thatprogram nevergotgoing,andwasrescheduled. Whenanewpanel forBBCWorldQuestions:Guyanawascompiled,SN'sE-ICwasmissingfromthelineup.

We are trying to come to grips with Ms. Towner's reasoning,andwearriveatthisplace:whentheMay6,2025 program was shelved, so was SN's Persaud. The PPPC Government had expressed its unhappiness with the presenceonthepanelofGuyanesehostiletoitswork,and madethatknowninthesharpestmanner

TheresultwasthatPersaudwaseasedout,andaprivate sectorrepresentativeaddedatthebehestofthegovernment. In recent times, the Guyana private sector is almost an extensionofthegovernment,anuphilltasktoseparateone fromtheother Theoutcomeofallthisisthattheso-called 'unduly critical' is out of the picture, and the uncritically subservient enters the government's scheme on how the panelshouldbecomposed.

This is a government so anxiety-ridden by honest criticism that it goes to great lengths to diminish or shutdown those who do so in the local environment, and nowreelsinaforeignbroadcastingbodytobowtothissame uglystandard.

Tojustifyherdecision,Ms.Townerhadthistosay,“Iput the panel together I can't please everyone. I can't put everyoneonthepanel.” Thatistrue,asfarasitgoes. The second and third sentences just quoted (being unable to “please everyone” and “put everyone on”) are rooted in reality, just not practical for many reasons. On the other hand, “I put the panel together” doesn't pass muster when scrutinizedhonestlyandcritically ThePPPCGovernment, through one of its most ardent operators, objected to SN's Persaudbeingonthepanel.

Loandbehold,whentheBBCpresenteditsfresh,new setofpanelists,Persaudisconspicuousbyhisabsence. But Ms. Towner put the panel together all on her own, and withoutanyinputfromanyoutsidesource. And,whenthe PPPCGovernmentpushedhardforaprivatesectorperson on the reconstituted panel, in came a representative from thatgroup.

But, to take Towner at her word, “I put the panel together.” We do not question that she did, but she apparentlyhadaconsiderableamountofhelptogetapanel that pleased a government that is bent on having its way One that must be the dominant, controlling, voice in any discussionaboutoilinGuyana.

We at this paper think that the BBC faltered, when it startedtoadjustitsslateofpaneliststosatisfythewhimsofa craftygovernmentonthelookoutforanyadvantage,fairor foul. Already, Guyanese are coming out and denouncing the program as a sham on the move, due to its bona fides being questioned, and the responses provided so far fail to persuadeotherwise.

When a program has this type of unsatisfactory beginning,itscredibilitysuffers,anypriorstronginterestin itstartstofade. Wealsocansharesomethingelsethatisyet tocomebeforethepublic.

AGuyanesewasconsidered,andactuallyinvited,tobea panelistfortheMarch10,2026WorldQuestionsprogram. That knowledgeable citizen had to be left out, because the

AFC Pays Tribute to Stabroek News: A Pillar of Guyana's Free Press

DearEditor, As March unfolds, we are confronted with the stark realization that Stabroek News—a bastion of the free press in Guyana—appears to be moving irreversibly toward a painful closure.

How do we say farewell, and thank you,toaninstitutionthathelpeddefine whoweareasGuyanese.Fordecadesit madeadifferenceinthelivesoftensof thousands,everydayofeveryyear The Alliance For Change celebrates the immense contribution of Stabroek Newstoourdemocracy

Iteducatedusincultureandthearts; it provided a forum where friends and foes alike could air their opinions, disagreements, and frustrations; and it consistentlysoughttomaintainbalance in a society often pulled toward dangerousextremes.

TheAFCitselfwasneversparedthe “slings and arrows” of its sharp editorials or the pointed criticisms found in its letters columns. Yet when

Is

credit was due, it was given. That was the mark of a newspaper committed to fairnessandintellectualhonesty

Today we gladly celebrate the founders, the editors, the daily and weekly contributors, and above all the many silent workers whose efforts sustainedthenewspaper:theeditorsand proofreaderswhoshapedthewords,the staff who formatted the pages, the printers who brought them to life, and the drivers who carried the news through the darkness so that Guyanese couldbegineachdayinformed.Toallof you,wesay:thankyou.

It is deeply unfortunate that Stabroek News has become a casualty notonlyofthechangingtidesaffecting newspapers worldwide, but also of a political climate that too often treats criticismashostility

Ademocracythrivesonscrutiny;it weakens when dissent is met with vindictivenessorintolerance.

We therefore encourage all rightthinking Guyanese to stand up for

fairness, decency, and respect—for a Guyana where differences of thought, political affiliation, culture, and belief are embraced as sources of strength ratherthanoccasionsforexclusionand hostility

Inreflectingonthismoment,weare remindedofthewordsofourcelebrated poet,MartinCarter,writtenin1974.His words shout across the decades and speakpowerfullytoourtime:

“Ihaveatlaststarted tounderstandtheorigin ofourvileness,andbeing unabletodenyit,Isuggest itsnativity

Intheshameofknowledge ofourvileness, weshallfight.”

And so we must continue to fight—for truth, for justice, and for the preservationofthefreedoms that make our democracy meaningful.

Regards AllianceForChange

the Region Ready to Consider the Establishment of Petrocaricom?

DearEditor,

Formemberstatesofthe Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the issue of energy security has been featured frequently in regionaldiscourse,withonly minimal identifiable outcomes Member states have, over the years,

d i s c u s s e d p o l i c y frameworks that aim to develop secure, reliable and affordable energy supplies, inthemediumandlongterm, and to enhance energy security through renewable

energy integration Regrettably, calls for bold, f o r w a r d - t h i n k i n g approaches to energy security in the region

through strengthened partnerships, advocated by the CARICOM Secretariat, have not resonated widely acrossregionalborders.

Since PetroCaribe was launched by President Chavez of Venezuela in 2005, some CARICOM states accessed petroleum products with concessional financialtermsandwithlow interestrates,whichenabled the small Caribbean states, especially those of the Eastern Caribbean, to

reduce, in the short term, some of the economic constraints associated with small, open economies

While Venezuela's economic, governance and political crisis in the second decade of the twenty-first century negatively impacted PetroCaribe's sustainability, it was the recent changes in Venezuela, which have brought into focus, issues related to the sustainability of supply, especially to Eastern Caribbean states, in the current context of the United States' control and distribution of all Venezuela's of petroleum resources. An urgent need therefore arises for an assessment of the region's energy security and the potential for establishing a regional mechanism –PetroCARICOM.

Ithasbeenobservedthat in the early phase of PetroCaribe, a structured, flexible petroleum supply arrangement was initiated, whichbroughtwithitalevel of reliability and supply stability that positively impacted PetroCaribe beneficiaries.While in 2026 this no longer obtains, the

government didn't want that would-be contributor participatinginanyway Obviously,Townerwassharing only a part of the story, when she said, “I put the panel together.”

What this veteran, well-versed BBC producer wasn't zealous about sharing was that she received some help in the assembling of the panel, from its appearance, to its depth. Regrettably, BBC World Questions: Guyana convertstobeingmorePPPCGovernmentslop.

issues related to energy stability and resilience remain. When considering options for CARICOM's energy security, it is important to highlight some of the potential benefits which can accrue if the mechanism is effectively s t r u c t u r e d a n d operationalised.

The breadth of the issue related to the enhancement of regional integration through energy cooperation isamajorconsideration.

A convergence of interests around critical regional issues, energy security, and strategic autonomy can rekindle mutual trust and reduce the levels of fragmentation now visible within the regional grouping.

At the same time, there can be reduced dependence on international suppliers, the emergence of a self-

sufficient and integrated energy market and new levels of technical cooperation, while moving towards collective energy resilience.

The assessment of the viability of a regional payment mechanism, with operational authority vested i n t h e C a r i b b e a n Development Bank, and with states utilising local currencies, can also be considered, as it can add another dimension to the regionalintegrationprocess. The facility's location must also be considered, as access to the participating states is of critical importance. I have posited that with Guyana as the leadingregionaloilproducer and Suriname soon to come on stream as a producer in thenearfuture,coupledwith the existing refinery at (Continuedonpage5)

Flip flop on Cuba issue

DearEditor, The columnist asked the pertinent and perplexing question:"whois'we'"?(KN Mar9).

Thequestionwasaskedin relation to perceived to opposing stance taken regarding Cuba, at the just concluded HOGS in St Kitts on one hand, and an interview given by a sitting headofCaricomstate,onthe otherhand.

The stark 'status quo cannot remain' comment, as

pointedout,collideswiththe muchmoreneutral,collective approach outlined in the St Kittsstatement.

Allthatcanbesaidabout this apparent flip flop on a sensitive issue is depending where the comments emanate from the Cuba issue will be subject to this type of mixed signals commentary

It'sallabouttheimagein aworldgonemad.

Regards ShamshunMohamed

Irfaan allying with President Trump & Americas Shield

ByDr.VishnuBisram

President Irfaan made a smart decision to side with USA (President Trump) againstnarco-traffickersand dictators.

It is not forgotten that Maduro was a threat to Guyana's territory and oil production. Irfaan and PM Kamla Persad Bissessar were the only CARICOM invitees to the Shield of Americas Summit on March 7 at Trump's hotel in Doral, Miami where geo-security and anti-narcotics were discussed. Both leaders supported Trump's policy against drug trafficking and the Venezuelan dictator Maduro who had threatened Guyana.

IrfaanandKamlamustbe commended for the courage and conviction to side with USA (President Trump) against the opposition of theirCARICOMcolleagues. Given the social and economicproblemsTrinidad and Tobago faced, PM Kamla had no other choice but to side with USA, and given the security threats linked to recent bomb explosions in Guyana and claim to territory, Guyana needsAmericanassistanceto mitigateinsecurity

As a commentator in a Trini media put it, “It was a cold, calculated play for survival” of the T&T

economy – to get approval foragasdealwithVenezuela andaloanfromUSA.Itwas a choice of siding with USA or facing economic pressure (opposition to the Dragon gas deal that T&T desperately needed and a US$1 B loan). In addition, criminal gangs from Venezuela were running amok in T&T, threatening thesurvivalofthestate.

The country needs the Dragon Gas deal with Venezuela; Maduro was playing games over a deal. Venezuela had faced oil and gas sanctions; an exemption to the sanction was needed by T&T to pursue the deal. CollaboratingwithUSAwas critical for approval of the gasdeal.

IfT&Thadnotsidedwith USA, the Dragon Gas deal wouldhavebeendead.

InthecaseofGuyana,we need USAas an ally against the threat from Venezuela.

Both Guyana andT&Thave limited resources to address border and geo-strategic issues.

They have to team up with USA to face down a threat from drug traffickers andVenezuela.

Irfaan and Kamla rightly hitched their countries' wagon to USA for energy and security opportunities. They were able to secure bilateral meetings with

senior US officials and regional leaders of Latin America and the Caribbean.

President Trump is a transactionalleader

If you support his mission, you will be rewarded. Kamla and Irfaan met key figures in the American Administration –President Trump who focused on her name distinguishing it from Kamala (Harris) who the President defeated in November 2024 to win the Presidency.

She also met former Homeland Secretary (now Americas Shield Envoy) Kristin Noemi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Trade Rep Jamie Greer, amongothers.

These photo ops have gone down well in the diasporaandathome.

President Trump committed resources to the nationsonnarco-trafficking; he would assist countries to combat drug related violence and to eliminate gangs President Irfaan should accept American offer and invite American security forces to collaboratewithlocalpolice and military to tackle trafficking in drugs, gold, etc.

Yourstruly, VishnuBisram

Is the Region Ready to Consider...

Frompage4

PetroTrin in Trinidad and Tobago, can provide the synergiesnecessarynotonly to produce the necessary petroleum products to supply the region but to returntheregiontothelevel of integration and cooperation envisaged by the founding leaders of CARICOMin1973.

An option of equal importance that may be considered is to establish a large refinery in Guyana, especially given its proximitytoandeasyaccess totheoilfieldsofSuriname. Additionally,withitscurrent statusasamajorplayerinthe globalenergyarena,Guyana is well-positioned to lead a new and sustainable energy network and become a hub fortheregion,usingsomeof itsoilinassociationwiththat of its sister CARICOM State, Suriname, in a collective engagement for regionalbenefit.

The necessity of transition: Navigating the crossroads

DearEditor,

The current geopolitical climate has placed the governmentofGuyanainan extraordinarily complex position requiring a delicate balance between historical regional solidarity and the pragmatic realities of modern international relations.

It is undeniable that the early achievements of the Cuban Revolution provided a profound template for social equity across the Global South particularly in the universal delivery of healthcare and literacy which remained beacons of hopefordecades.

However, the world has transformed significantly since the mid twentieth century and the rigid adherence to an unreformed economic model has unfortunately stalled the progress of the Cuban people.

While the United States continues to exert a heavyhanded influence that limits Havana'sbreathingroomthe internal need for a systemic evolution toward a more flexible market socialism or state capitalism remains a separateandurgentnecessity forCuba'sownsurvival.

The government of G u y a n a ' s r e c e n t reca

ib

ation

s relationship with Havana should be viewed not as a simple capitulation to external pressure but as a recognition that the old

of history and governance

frameworks of cooperation a r e i n c r e a s i n g l y unsustainableintheircurrent form.

A transition away from the traditional socialist modelinCubaislikelylong overdue regardless of the specific agendas currently radiating from Washington orthediplomaticconstraints facingGeorgetown.

Just as other nations h

mechanisms to preserve social stability and enhance the dignity of their citizens Cuba requires a path forward that moves beyond the static revolutionary rhetoricofthepast.

By addressing these structural realities with a senseofrealism rather than

navigateagloballandscape where old alliances must evolve to meet the material needsofthepresent.

S u p p o r t i n g t h e government'spositioninthis c o n t e x

Of equal importance is that a large refinery in Guyana can provide the opportunity to establish a strategic regional energy reservefacility,whichcanbe used as a stockpile of oil to mitigatetheimpactofsupply disruptions to the region in emergency situations and natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions, hurricanes or other climaterelated events, as well as at times of price volatility and economiccrises.

thattheregionis“facingthe compound failure of a development model built on cushions that no longer exist”.

P e r h a p s , t h e consideration of a move to regional energy security throughacollectiveeffortto establish PetroCaricom can serve as a catalyst and support the realisation of “strategic autonomy” in CARICOM.

There is the recent view from a regional political commentator, Professor Justin Robinson, that “no oneiscomingtosaveus”and

Sincerely

Dr.R.MarkKirton Director of the Centre for International

and Border

Studies,

Guyana

If the Cuban model had embraced a more adaptive economic path similar to other socialist transitions it might have avoided the currentlevelofinternational isolation and internal hardship.

Therefore, the current shift in Guyana's foreign policy reflects a necessary pivot toward a future where regional cooperation is defined by economic viability and the pragmatic welfare of the people rather than an attachment to an era that has physically and politicallypassed.

n v o l v e s acknowledging that the preservation of regional stability requires a cleareyed assessment of where systemshavefailedtoadapt. The historical "soft spot" many of us hold for the Cuban Revolution's original promise does not negate the requirement for modern governance to seek more functional and transparent partnerships.

Respectfully, Dr.WalterH.Persaud

The passing of Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine carries a symbolism that should not be lost on Guyanese

DearEditor,

ThepassingofDrRupert Roopnaraine on February 23,2026carriesasymbolism that should not be lost on Guyanese.February23isnot an ordinary day in our nationalstory

It marks the Berbice Slave Rebellion, when enslaved Africans rose in defianceagainstthebrutality ofcolonialdomination.

It is also the day in 1970 when Guyana became a republic, breaking the final constitutional ties to the British monarchy and charting a path toward full self-determination.

To my mind it is fitting thatRupert'slifeclosedona date that symbolises resistanceandthecontinuing questforfreedom.Manywill speak about Rupert the playwright or Rupert the

politician. I knew Rupert also as a comrade and a friend I urge fellow Guyanese to reflect on RupertRoopnarinetheman, seriously, not merely through what others say about him but through the depth of thought and struggle he represented in Guyana'spoliticallife.

We are living in serious times when the structure of ourpoliticalsystemappears increasingly distorted in ways that benefit only a few

honestly on those who tried, in their own way, to challengepowerandexpand thedemocraticspace. Rupert was one of the early founders of the Working People's Alliance

(WPA), a movement that emerged in the 1970s and challenged the government of Forbes Burnham and his People's National Congress (PNC).

Whetheroneagreeswith thatstruggleornotitmustbe acknowledgedaspartofour history

F r o m m y o w n conversations with Rupert over the years I can say he never shied away from difficult discussions about the role he and his party played in Guyana's politics duringthoseturbulenttimes.

R u p e r t h i m s e l f acknowledged that theWPA at one point contemplated acquiringarmsaspartofthe struggle to remove the governmentfromoffice.

The story often told about the alleged role of the WPAinthedestructionofthe

Ministry of National Development also contains gaps.Ruperttoldmyselfand Andrew Garnett that the WPAburntthatbuilding.

The question that remains for us today is whether Guyana has ever seriously engaged Rupert in national conversations on these and other matters. I believedeeplythathewould not have shied away from speakinghistruth.

Historydemandsthatwe askthosequestionshonestly if we are to understand ourselvesasapeople.

Those moments remind us that political struggle in Guyana has always been c o m p l e x a n d layered Rupert's thinking alsoevolvedovertime.

Longbeforethecoalition politics that contested the elections of 2006, 2011 and

thereafter with the PNC as the major partner, Roopnarine suggested that Guyanese may have misinterpretedaspectsofthe leadership of Burnham and argued that our historical understanding required deeper reflection and correction.

Beyond politics Rupert contributed significantly to thelabourmovement.

As Principal of the Critchlow Labour College heworkedcloselywithtrade unions and brought serious thought to labour education and the empowerment of workers. Many of his ideas w e r e n e v e r f u l l y documented not because they lacked value but because the institutional capacity to record them was limited.

I witnessed firsthand his

commitment in 2006 when we worked together around activities marking the 80th anniversaryoftheCaribbean LabourMovement.

Rupert demonstrated the intellectual strength and organisational ability to engage participants locally and internationally, strengthening solidarity among workers across the region.

Rupert has gone to the Great Beyond but his work mustnotbeinterredwithhis bones. His contributions to this nation, good, bad and indifferent,mustbehonestly documented and analysed forposterity

TheRupertRoopnarineI knew would have wanted it nootherway

The history of Rupert must be written with the couragetoconfrontthetruth. Rupert Roopnarine was one oftheseriousthinkersofhis generation and among the few honest politicians Agree with him or disagree, his life deserves serious reflection.

That he passed on February 23, the day that symbolises both rebellion and republican freedom in Guyana, is a reminder that the struggle for dignity, democracy and selfdetermination is never finished.

May his soul rest in peace.

Sincerely LincolnLewis

DarrenWoods,othertopExxonexecutivesto receivehugepayincreasesasrecordprofitsflow

Five Executives of US oil major, Exxon Mobil Corporation,arepoisedtoreceivesalaryincreasesas record profits continue to flow from strategic businessdecisions

Shareholdersofthecompanyhavebeenadvised tovoteforthenewcompensationpackagesthatwill benefit the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Darren Woods; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Kathy Mikells; Senior Vice President, Neil Chapman; Senior Vice President,JPWilliamsJuniorandSeniorPresident ofExxonMobilGlobalOperations,JMGibbs

AsofJanuary1,2026Mr Woods’annualsalary was increased to $2,141,000; Ms Mikells to $1,354,000; Mr Chapman to $1,362,000; Mr Williams to $1,374,000; and Mr Gibbs to $1,020,000 A Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing by Exxon on Tuesday morning indicated that in 2025, Woods received a bonus of almost US$41M or GY$800M Other executives also received large bonuses in 2025 US$23MandUS$26M

In a letter addressed to shareholders of the company, Chair of the Compensation Committee,

Angela Braly highlighted that over 90% of shareholdersvotedinfavourofsalaryincreasesfor executivessince2023

At the upcomingAnnual Shareholder Meeting scheduled for May 27, 2026 Exxon urged shareholders to vote in favour of the proposal to boostthesalariesofthefiveexecutives

Chair of the Compensation Committee said, “The Compensation Committee fully supports the designandresultingpayoutcomesoftheexecutive compensationprogram in2025,ExxonMobil

Continued on page 22

Is a visa worth turning your back on Cuba?

In recent weeks, Caribbean diplomacy has beentestedbyathreatthatis atoncesimpleandunsettling. The threat was possibility that Caribbean leaders could losetheirUnitedStatesvisas iftheirgovernmentscontinue participating in Cuba's longstandingmedicalcooperation programme, commonly knownastheCubanMedical Brigade.

For decades, Cuban doctors have served in small and developing countries around the world, including many in the Caribbean. In places with limited medical personnel,thesedoctorshave filled critical gaps in public health systems In the Caribbean,theirpresencehas been particularly important insavinglives

What has caused the presentcontroversyisnotthe programme itself, but Washington's view of it. The UnitedStateshasarguedthat the arrangement exploits Cuban medical personnel

Buttherealreasonisthatthe programme is one of the few ways in which the Cuban government gets hard currency The United States wants to cut even this small lifeline. It therefore has signalled that governments continuing to participate in the programme could face consequences Among the measures reportedly threatened are visa sanctions against leaders whose governments support the programme.

Several Caribbean leaders responded swiftly and publicly to the suggestion that their visas might be withdrawn. Prime Minister Mia Mottley of

Barbados spoke bluntly about the issue. She made it clear that the presence of Cubandoctorsintheregionis not a political matter but a practical necessity As she p u t i t , C a r i b b e a n governments would not abandon a programme that hashelpedkeeptheircitizens healthy simply because of outsidepressure.

Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Keith Rowley was even more direct.“Ifthepriceofhelping my people is the loss of my visa,” he said in substance, “then so be it.” His message was unmistakable: the welfare of Trinidad and Tobago's citizens must come before the convenience of travelprivilegesabroad.

Prime Minister Ralph GonsalvesofSt.Vincentand the Grenadines also dismissed the idea that the threat of visa restrictions could dictate his country's policy Gonsalves has long beenoutspokenindefenceof Caribbean sovereignty, and he reiterated that no foreign government should determinethehealthpolicies of independent states In short, these leaders responded with clarity They signalledthatwhilerelations with the United States are important, those relations cannot come at the cost of abandoningprogrammesthat servetheirpeople.

But here in Guyana, the silence has been noticeable. Our leaders have not spoken with the same firmness There has been no ringing declaration that Guyana will stand by a programme that has benefited its health s e c t o r I n s t e a d ,

developments suggest a different trajectory. It now appears that the Cuban medical programme in Guyanahascometoanend.

The government has explained that the Cuban g o v e r n

discussions began. But that explanation raises more questions than it answers. Why were discussions necessaryinthefirstplace?

IfGuyanahadintendedto continuetheprogrammeasit had existed for years, there wouldhavebeenlittlereason for negotiations that might place the arrangement in doubt.Theveryfactthattalks began suggests that the government was already r e c o n s i d e r i n g t h e programme. And one must also ask a practical question. How could the Cuban government send doctors to Guyana without receiving payment for their services?

Thesedoctorsweredeployed under an agreement between governments That agreementincludedfinancial arrangements No country sends hundreds of trained professionals abroad simply outofsentiment.

T h e G u y a n e s e government now says that it intends to pay the doctors directly rather than through the Cuban government. But that raises another serious concern.The doctors did not come here as free agents seekingprivateemployment. Theycameaspartofaformal international agreement between the Government of CubaandtheGovernmentof Guyana. By paying them directly, Guyana risks

DEM BOYS SEH

Take away now is part of de shindig!

De time changing like de wind wah blowin'throughdecoconuttrees.Backinde day, yuh coulda invite a few family and friendsoverfuhalil'shindigatyuhhumble abode,andapotofcook-upriceandajugof mauby woulda be plenty to keep de vibes flowin'. But look how de world tun upside down noweh!

De modern get-together, me friends, it's likeabigbuffetatdeMarriottnow Yuhain't just welcomin' dem friends no more; yuh welcomin' de whole neighborhood and dem cousin from out of town, plus dem uncles, aunties, and even dem friends' frenemies. Wha' happen to small and intimate? Dem invitees does show up with more plus ones thanamathexam.

And when dem done stuffin' dem belly, deyain'tsatisfied.Demwantmore–notjust to fill deir bellies, but to fill up takeaway boxes like dey preparin' fuh a famine! One

undermining that agreement andeffectivelytreatingthose doctors as individuals who can simply detach themselves from the programme that brought them here. That approach raises ethical as well as diplomaticquestions.

Itisdifficulttoseehowa governmentcanenterintoan agreementwithanotherstate and then proceed to restructure the arrangement in a way that disregards the role of that state. The Cuban government deployed those doctorsunderaframeworkit designed and managed. To bypass that framework is, at theveryleast,diplomatically awkward. More broadly, the entire episode raises an uncomfortable question: did Guyana quietly step back fromtheprogrammebecause of the threat of visa sanctions? If that is the case, it would be a disappointing

development. Guyana has faced American sanctions before and survived them. In the 1980s, when President ForbesBurnhamopposedthe United States invasion of Grenada, Guyana paid a price The country was excludedfrombenefitsunder

the Caribbean Basin Initiative Yet Guyana endured that period without catastrophe. The sanctions did not bring the country to itsknees.Lifewenton.

That history reminds us that sovereignty sometimes carries costs. But those costs are rarely as devastating as they are imagined to be. In the present case, no economic sanctions were even threatened against Guyana. The talk was about visas essentially the ability of leaders to travel freely to the United States. Therefore,ifpolicydecisions

arebeingshapedbyconcerns about travel privileges, that would be a troubling standard The Caribbean leaders who spoke out understood that point. They made it clear that principles cannot be traded for visas. Guyana, unfortunately, appears to have chosen a quieter path. Whether that path will prove wise diplomatically or morally — is a question that many will continuetoask.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the authoranddonotnecessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

15 children left in sisters' care

Frompage2 need They will also help with the completion of the mother's new home because my other sister said she can't stay here,”Perlinciasaid.

Sheexplainedthatalthoughthechildren donotwanttoleavetheirhome,thefamilyis considering moving into the house Caslene hadbeenbuilding.

“The children don't want to move from herebecauseitistheirhome,butweplanning tomoveintooursister'snewhome.Bothme andmysisterwilltakecareofthechildren,”

shesaid.

According to police report, Toney was found lying near the front steps under the house.Policewereimmediatelysummoned, andinvestigatorsobservedthatthebodybore 12stabwounds.

Police detailed the wounds were located below the left breast, to the right breast, to both sides of the chin, the right side of the neck, twice to the back of the neck, three times to the upper right back, once to the middleofthelowerbackandoncetotheright armpit.

box? Nah, dat's too lil', me pardner Two? Stillnotenough,mesister Three?Well,now yuhtalkin'!Threeboxesperpersonfuhtake home!

Dis ain't nothin' short of pure oldfashioned greediness , and dem folks collectin''emlikedeycollectin'deypension. Me granny always seh, “Share wha' yuh have, me child, and blessings will flow like de Essequibo River.” But some a we s done takedattoawholenewlevel–deysharede blessings, den dey collect de blessings back in dem takeaway boxes fuh later! Covetousness mekkin' de rounds like a persistent mosquito, and it look like some a wecan'tswatitaway

Sonexttimeyuhgettin'readyfuhhosta lil' get-together, remember dis: de company of true friends worth more than a hundred takeawayboxes. TalkHalf!LeffHalf!

Pres. Ali democracy’s missionary

Guyanahasproducedand nurtured a rare genius Guyanese didn’t know it; grasp the fullness of his greatness In Excellency, Pres Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali,Guyanahasgiftedfreely totheworldatruechampion ofdemocracy

D e m o c r a c y f o r Venezuela, as parachuted in byAmerica Democracy for Gaza, compliments of the muscular hands of the US And, now democracy for Cuba,andagainwiththeUSA pushing the levers Throughout all this, there is Guyana’s warrior leader, a fighter for democracy Wunderbar! Awe strikes; blows me down in total conversion, surrender Ali! Ali! Ali!

Dr Irfaan Ali was called to Florida to pounce and pronounce on Cuba A hopeless case Dead The first blow involved doctors; now the whole country abandonedgoingunder One day Cuba is a good friend; next day, it is yesterday’s garbage (sorry to offend Cubans)tobediscarded. America has its interests, imposethemontheweak,and gets them to spout like geysers about democracy What are the interests of Guyana? What does Excellency Ali stand for, is made of at the core? Eddie Murphy made a splash with Coming toAmerica. Meryl StreepdidthesamewithOut of Africa. Last came Dr Irfaan Ali who made

amateurs of them. From CubalibretoCubagoing. Washed down the drain. I recall that crafty Roman Pontius Pilate washing his hands of a touchy matter With Irfaan Ali in charge, Guyana washes its hands of Cuba. Ithasturnedouttobe one hell of a summons (disguised as invitation) Havanagone

Guyana’sPres Alipartof the giving away matrimonial train. With friends like Guyana, enemies have no significance PoorCuba:one daybrotherandvendortothe world, giving from matchstickstomedicinemen to men with machineguns. Today, it is reduced to the doormat that America pushes Guyana to spit on, walkon. Peedon,too,ifthat procedure didn’t lead to someexposure.

I discern recognition due totheworld’srichestcountry First, Guyana is an honored guest Then, a poodle that’s dragged around Last, for special occasions, Guyana’s remade into a superpower football Guyanese should know how poodles are

groomed, and the role reserved for footballs, be theypoliticalorphysical. Thus, there is this pot of (youknowwhat)trashthatis redressed in the finery of democracy for Cuba Democracy must qualify as the most abused, misused, word since its founding Democracy: the slick spin. Democracy, the big farce Democracy, the new allpurpose attack dog In democracy’s name, the poultice that cures It has a thousandfaces

It impresses that

Excellency Ali rose to his full height, boldly let the word democracy flow so easily out his mouth. In Guyana, his version of access to information is whoever fine it, tek it, mek whadehwaantofit. Access to information causes a profusion of contortions

ButGuyanaisademocracy

Though democracy’s oxygenissuckedout

Thinking independently, speaking frankly, has seen from baby to the elderly strangled ruthlessly But Guyana is a democracy In

Guyana, where freedom of the press is under constant attack, and critical thought and expression are savaged by Irfaan Ali’s own PPPGovt agencies, the leaderofthiscountrygoesto another country and expounds on democracy for stillanother

Guyana’s democracy is fromthesametripletlitter,of which Cuba and Venezuela are the other two, and Pres Ali still anoints himself regional spokesman for democracy A global one probably, if given space to perform To repeat: only extraordinary honors fit a leader with the sticky attributes,theniftyprowess, ofPres.Ali.

A r a r e g e n i u s , indomitable champion, a warrior is Irfaan Ali, where democracyisconcerned Ali, a modern wonder, in a class by himself, when the bright, smiling face of democracy hastobesold Iamsold He stands at the helm of a country, that lives with the long underbelly of democracy-scaly, prickly,

smelly, and sickly-and still he waddles and wades throughwithhiscleversales pitchaboutdemocracy

G u y a n a ’s v i t a l institutions from public to civil to spiritual are now mostly in pitifully impotent states, and the chatter and prattle are still about democracy Democracy for Cuba. BeforeHavana,there wasVenezuela.

Charity (democracy) begins at home, Mr President. The Shah was America’s best friend with golden toilet seats, his SAVAK Palace Guard, was America’sbestfriend. Until he wasn’t Beware, Excellency Ali. The bell tolls.

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

28groupscallforrestorationofindependencetoGYEITIbody

A total of 28 anti-corruption groups spanning Africa, Europe, Asia,theAmericasandGuyanahave joinedincallingfortherestorationof an independent process for the selection of civil society representatives to the governing Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) oftheGuyanaExtractiveIndustries TransparencyInitiative(GYEITI).

LastyearPolicyForumGuyana (PFG), the former convenor of the civiccomponentoftheMSGofthe GYEITIflaggedtheappointmentof

Dr IvorEnglishasthenewconvenor bythegovernment,whichitaccused oftryingtocontrolthegroup.

InapressstatementonMonday, PFG pointed out that independent oversight through the MSG is a corerequirementoftheglobalEITI Standard and weakening the independence of the civil society constituencyrisksunderminingthe

designed to monitor Guyana’s rapidly expanding oil, gas, and miningsectors

The body was keen to note that this issue comes at a time when Guyana’s extractive sector continuestotransformthecountry’s developmenttrajectory.

PFG said that Guyanese have been urged to view the country’s revenuestreamfromoilasasudden “windfall” as exciting as winning the lottery In reality, PFG noted that under the current contractual arrangement with the producer, ExxonMobil the Stabroek Block partners enjoy an “overwhelming

share” of the value extracted, while Guyana retains a small portionoftheprofits

“Civil society advocates warn that if natural resources are sold under such conditions without strong oversight, transparency, and long-termfiscalplanning,theresult will not be national prosperity but thedepletionofnationalassets,”the groupstatedwhileemphasizingthe importance of transparency in the managementofthesector Itsaidthatthenextgenerationof

Guyanese can inherit significant public debt and depleted natural resources without receiving the benefits those resources were expectedtogenerate.Thisbecomes a growing concern with notable delays in parliamentary financial oversight and increasing politicization of institutions responsible for natural resource management.

Tothisend,PFGsaiditlaunched aninternationalsignaturecampaign

Continued on page 24

Caribbean states turn to migration to bridge workforce gaps

The International Organization for Migration

(IOM) Caribbean, in partnership with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, hosted the tenth episode of its “CONVERSATIONS on MigrationintheCaribbean”seriesonWednesday,March4.

The event, centered on “Migration and the Caribbean Workforce: Filling the Gaps,” featured Dr Gerard JeanJacques, Dominica’s Ambassador to CARICOM and the OECS, sharing insights on innovative strategies being implementedacrossDominicaandtheCARICOMregionto addresscriticallabourshortages.

Conversations #10 highlighted the urgent need for coordinated policies to leverage labour migration for development. With populations aging, birth rates declining, and persistent outward migration among working-age nationals, labour and skill shortages are placing pressure on key sectors including healthcare, education, construction, agriculture,andpublicservices.

TheeventshowcasedthestoryofYvesJoseph,atrained Haitian agriculturist who moved to Dominica 19 years ago. Now a successful farmer, Yves emphasized, “To produce (more), I only need one thing. I need labourers, I need farm workers,” underscoring that labour shortages remain the mainobstacletoexpandinghisthrivingbusiness.

AmbassadorJean-JacqueshighlightedtheroleofHaitian migrantworkersinDominica’sagriculturalsectoramidlocal labour shortages. “Migration is already playing a role in sustainingourproductivesectors,”henoted,attributingYves’ success partly to structured support systems available to all legitimate farmers He referenced Dominica’s formal recruitment programmes and regulated permit systems, which attract skilled workers including from the diaspora, ensure due diligence, and provide both technical assistance andlabourprotections.

However,Ambassador Jean-Jacques also acknowledged the challenges: “Dominica has relied on the input from Haitian migrants to boost production in our farms. But for many, Dominica is not their final destination; this is a mere transit point.” Despite this trend, Yves has made Dominica home for nearly two decades and plans to further expand production.

Representing the labour portfolio in CARICOM’s quasi-Cabinet, Ambassador Jean-Jacques emphasized the urgencyofstructuredlabourmobilitysolutionsforMember States He noted that while investments in training healthcare and other skilled workers continue, retention remainsachallenge

Recentpolicymeasureshavefacilitatedregionalmobility in hospitality and services, yet shortages in trades and a decline in local agricultural participation have widened workforcegaps.

Moderatorofthesession,IOM’sCaribbeanCoordinator PatriceQuesadanotedtheimportanceofthe Conversation, saying,“Thisissueof(...)accelerateddemographicdecline,is something that makes discussion around labour needs extremely important, and we need to build on any experiencesinthisregionandaroundtheworldthatcanhelp countriesintheCaribbean.”

The challenge of attracting and retaining regional youth and diaspora, addressing wage disparities, improving work conditions,integratingmigrants,andencouraginginnovation wasalsodiscussed.

Co-host of the event, Odane Brooks, CARICOM Youth AmbassadorforJamaica,remindedparticipantsthat“Young people are at the forefront, and so any conversation about migration and workforce also impacts young people”. He stated further, “I continue to emphasise the youth voice, the youthperspectiveintheseconversations.”

Panelists agreed that enhanced data collection and sharing,harmonizedpolicies,andeducationsystemstailored to emerging skills are vital for preparing the Caribbean workforceforthefuture.

As the region navigates demographic transitions and labour market shifts, the central message was clear: safe, orderly, and well-managed migration is a strategic tool for economic growth, workforce sustainability, and long-term resilienceacrosstheCaribbean.

These Conversations support CARICOM’s ongoing development of a Regional Migration Policy Framework. The next installment of “CONVERSATIONS on Migration intheCaribbean”isscheduledfor29April2026.

InternationalYearofthe WomanFarmer2026: OP-ED: Afinancing and innovation agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean

ByReneOrellanaHalkyer (Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean)

The designation of 2026 as the International Year of the WomanFarmerbytheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblycomes atadecisivemomentforLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean The region stands at a turning point to reconfigure its financial ecosystems,inacontextmarkedbyincreasingclimaterisksand theneedtopromotemoreequitableeconomicgrowth

This transformation process will only be complete if women are placed at the center of national development strategies and plans. Ensuring their financial inclusion and strengthening their economic empowerment is an indispensableconditionforadvancingtowardmoreresilient, sustainableandinclusiveagrifoodsystems.

Womenrepresent36percentoftheworkforceintheregion’s agrifood systems However, they continue to participate under deeply unequal conditions They face limited access to credit, trainingprocesses,financialservicesandformalmarkets,aswell asapersistentstructuralburdenofunpaiddomesticandcarework These conditions limit their economic autonomy, reduce their productivity, and restrict their integration into higher valueaddedsegmentsofproductivevaluechains

Advancing gender equality within agrifood systems could generate substantial economic and social impacts, including a significant increase in global Gross Domestic Product and improvementsinfoodsecurityformillionsofpeople.However, agenderperspectivecontinuestooccupyasecondaryplacein development financing flows, and only a limited share of internationalcooperationincorporatesitasapriorityobjective.

Inthiscontext,the39thFAORegionalConferenceforLatin AmericaandtheCaribbeanrepresentedastartingpointtorenew commitments for countries to strengthen their political will towardthefullparticipationofruralwomenandtranslateitinto concretepublicpolicyagreements,financingandinnovation

This entails promoting financial architectures capable of effectively responding to rural realities, articulating instruments such as credit, banking access, insurance and other financial mechanisms with key services, including capacity strengthening, technical assistance, market access, anddigitalliteracyandconnectivity

Itisalsoessentialtostrengthentheroleofruralwomen’s organizations in all their diversity, through the legal recognition of savings and credit cooperatives and communitysavingsgroupsasfinancialintermediaries.Atthe same time, financial inclusion must be linked to social protection systems, positioning the State as a key actor in providing public guarantees, insurance and mechanisms that facilitateruralwomen’saccesstofinancialservices

Within this framework, investment in comprehensive care systemsconstitutesacriticalfactorinthisprocess Recognizing unpaid care work and expanding women’s economic participation strengthens household incomes and stimulates local economies Regional evidence shows that such investmentsgeneratesocialandeconomicreturns,contributeto jobcreation,andstrengthentheresilienceofruralcommunities

To support these efforts, the FAO-led Regional Platform fortheEmpowermentofRuralWomenhasbeenconsolidated asarelevanttoolforassistingcountries.Theplatformbrings together evidence, good practices, training and cooperation spacesaimedatstrengtheningthedesignandimplementation ofpublicpoliciesthatchannelmoreeffectiveandinnovative investmentsinfavorofruralwomen.

The InternationalYear of theWoman Farmer 2026 calls on governments,theprivatesector,developmentbanks,international cooperationandcivilsocietytoaccelerateactionbymobilizing investments with a gender-transformative approach and promotinginnovationasadriverofagrifoodsystemsustainability AtFAO,wewillcontinuesupportingthetransformationof these systems through solid evidence, strategic partnerships andtechnicalassistancetocountries,firmlyconvincedthata hunger-free, more sustainable and inclusive region will only be possible if we strengthen the empowerment of those who sustainfoodproduction,ruraleconomiesandtheresilienceof territoriesacrossLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean.

Guyanaexpandsoilsearch

...launches massive 25,000 km² offshore seismic survey

The Government of Guyana (GoG), through the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), has partnered with Viridien to launch a major 3D multiclient seismic survey covering about 25,000 square kilometres offshore Guyana, a move aimed at further de-risking the country’s oil-rich basin and strengthening exploration prospects.

A 3D seismic survey is an advanced geophysical method that uses sound waves to produce detailed, three-dimensional, highresolution images of the earth’s subsurface The technology is commonly used to map geological structures, identify potential oil and gas deposits and optimisedrilling.

In a statement on

Monday, the ministry said thesurveywillincludeall11 blocks from the 2022 Licensing Round located south of the Stabroek Block and extending to the Guyana–Suriname border Theagreementalsoprovides for the reprocessing and integration of existing seismic datasets across the threesurveylots.

“Thanks to advanced seismic acquisition and processing technologies, the 3Dsurveywillmateriallyderisk the Guyana Basin, thereby enhancing the exploration decision-making process and increasing investor confidence,” the ministrystated It added that the data generated from the survey will strengthen the basin’s marketability in future bid rounds and position Guyana

competitively within the regionalexplorationmarket.

According to the ministry, the agreement allows for large-scale seismic acquisition without direct public expenditure. This will be done through pre-funding arrangements, where energy companies provide early capital for geophysical surveys in exchangeforexclusiveearly accesstothedata.

All data acquired will remain the sole property of the Government of Guyana, preserving the country’s sovereign ownership of national petroleum data However, the data can be licensedtothirdpartiesfora fee Notably, acquisition activitieswillbeginoncethe necessary pre-funding commitments are secured. Thesurveyphaseisexpected

Teen biker killed in Barnwell smash-up

A16-year-oldmotorcyclistwaskilledon Mondayevening,andthe19-year-oldpillion rider remains in critical condition after the motorcycle they were on collided with a minibus along the Barnwell Public Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).Guyana travel guide

ThedeceasedhasbeenidentifiedasAngel Manchan of Ruby Back Dam, EBE. Police reported that the accident occurred around 19:20hrs and involved motorcycle CR 487 andminibusBAG2484,drivenbya58-yearold man from Edinburgh, West Coast Demerara.

According to reports, the minibus was traveling east along the northern side of the roadatanormalspeedwhenthemotorcycle, reportedly moving fast west along the southern side, crossed into the opposite lane and struck the right-front portion of the minibus.

Manchan and the pillion rider, from Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara, were thrown from the motorcycle and landed in a yardonthesouthernsideoftheroad.Publicspirited citizens rushed them to the De KinderenRegionalHospital,whereManchan was pronounced dead on arrival. His body wastakentotheEzekielFuneralHomefora post-mortem examination. The pillion rider remainsincriticalconditioninthehospital’s emergencyunit.

PolicenotedthatneitherManchannorthe pillion rider was wearing a safety helmet at thetimeofthecrash.Theminibusdriverisin custodyassistingwiththeinvestigation.

Abreathalyzer test was conducted and it revealed no trace of alcohol. Both vehicles have been lodged for examination as the investigationcontinues.

to take approximately one year, followed by data p r o c e s s i n g a n d interpretation.

Viridien was selected following an international procurement process that beganonSeptember6,2024. The ministry said the agreement continues a longstanding partnership and represents a step toward strengthening Guyana’s offshore petroleum framework and advancing

the modernisation of the energysector

The company, formerly CGGServices(US)Inc.,has maintained a working relationship with the Government of Guyana since2010.Duringthattime it has acquired, processed and managed the country’s seismicdata.

Viridien is a global advanced technology and Earth data company specialising in geoscience,

subsurface imaging and h i g h - p e r f o r m a n c e computing for the energy, mining and environmental sectors.Inadditiontosectorwide benefits, the acquisition partners have agreed to maximise the use of local content in accordance with national legislation and provide technical training and capacity-building for petroleum sector regulatory agencies.

DemeraraBankcrowns10winnersofInnovationTank

Demerara Bank Limited has announced the 10 winners of the 2025–2026 DBL Innovation Tank, bringingtoaclosemonthsof inspiring competition, c r e a t i v i t y , a n d entrepreneurial ambition that showcased the depth of talent and innovation emergingacrossGuyana.

Launched in September 2025 as part of the Bank’s G$10 million Corporate Social Responsibility commitment, the DBL InnovationTankProgramme wascreatedtosupportearlystagebusinessesandstartups by providing non-repayable grant funding, mentorship, and practical business development support, the banksaidinapressrelease.

G u i d e d b y t h e programme’s ethos “Dream. Build. Lead.”, the initiative aims to help entrepreneurs transform promising ideas into sustainable ventures capable of contributing to Guyana’sgrowingeconomy

Accordingtothebank,the response to the programme exceeded expectations, noting that more than 200 entrepreneurs from across

Guyana submitted applications, each presenting ideas aimed at solving

problems, creating opportunities and building newbusinesses

Thebanksaidfollowinga structured and transparent screening process, applications were carefully evaluated based on innovation,businessviability, scalability,andtheirpotential contribution to sustainable developmentinGuyana

From this pool, 23 entrepr

shortlisted and invited to particip

programme’s development phase. During this stage, participants benefited from mentorship, technical training, and business guidance delivered by experienced professionals and partner organisations, including the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association, the American Chamber of Commerce

Guyana, and the Centre for L o c a l B u s i n e s s Development.

T h r o u g h t h e s e partnerships, participants were also able to gain practical business insight and build valuable connectionswithinthewider business community, strengthening their capacity to develop sustainable ventures.

The journey concluded on March 7, 2026, when the finalistspresentedtheirideas

on Pitch Day before a distinguished panel of judges comprising of bankingexperts.

Each entrepreneur delivered thoughtful and passionate presentations, demonstratingtheeffortand dedication invested throughouttheprogramme.

Thejudgesevaluatedthe pitches based on Clarity of Business Concept & Value Proposition, Innovation & Differentiation, Market Opportunity & Demand,

Business Model & Revenue

Strategy, Growth & Scalability Potential, Financial Understanding & Investment Readiness, Risk Awareness & Mitigation, Founder Capability & Leadership, Social & Community Impact, and E n v i r o n m e n t a l Sustainability Representatives from Demerara Bank shared that the experience was both inspiring and encouraging.

“Weweretrulyimpressedby

the level of creativity, p r e p a r a t i o n , a n d determination displayed by the participants,” the Bank noted. “The ideas presented were thoughtful, innovative, and reflective of a new generation of entrepreneurs who are eager to contribute meaningfully to Guyana’s development.”

A f t e r c a r e f u l deliberation, the judging panel selected 10 ventures whose ideas demonstrated strong potential for growth andimpact.Eachwinnerwill receivegrantfundingofG$1 million, along with continued mentorship, guidance, and opportunities to connect with networks that can help support the growthoftheirbusinesses.

The 2025–2026 DBL Innovation Tank Winners are:

1. Ruth Pendleton –Divine Preserves: Expanding production and market reach for traditional Guyanese condiments and preserves.

2. Da Costa Aboagye –ProElevateSportsAgency: Developing structured pathways for young footballers to access local a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l opportunities.

3. Nadeen Dejonge –A g r i O r g a n i c s & Solutions: Establishing specializedgrowingsystems for year-round celery production.

4. Winton Camacho –Aqua Greens Guyana: Expanding hydroponic vegetable production for sustainable, pesticide-free supply

5. Kevin Higgins –Farm For Christ: Growing organic crop production to strengthenfoodsecurityand communityoutreach.

6. Kayteram Prasaud –Legacy Shine Automotive: Acquiring professional detailing equipment to offer premium vehicle care services.

7. Andre Sargeant –S e l e c t o r A n d r e Entertainment: Expanding music production and recording capabilities for localartists.

8. Delon Simpson –Kukki Agriculture: Introducing tambaqui fish alongside tilapia to boost proteinsupplyandlocalfood security

9.Ann Marie Machado – Auto Climate Solutions: Expanding mobile automotive AC services for faster,on-sitediagnostics.

10.ShermanGonsalves – G. Reclaim, Recycle & C o n s t r u c t i o n :

‘Oilboom,butemptypockets’

...leaders clash as citizens say wealth not reaching the ground

ByRenaySambach

Differingperspectivesemerged Tuesday evening during the BBC World Questions forum in Georgetown as panelists debated whether Guyanese are truly benefitingfromthecountry’srapid oil-driveneconomicgrowth.

The discussion, moderated by Jonny Dymond and held at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate CentrefeaturedFinanceMinisterDr. AshniSingh,OppositionMemberof Parliament Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, Private Sector Commission

Secretary Clinton Urling, and activist and businesswoman AyodeleDalgety-Dean

The debate centred on whether ordinary citizens are seeing the benefits of Guyana’s economic expansion following major oil discoveries in the Stabroek Block, where production began in December 2019. Currently, four developments are producing more than 900,000 barrels of oil daily, with ExxonMobil Guyana Limited targeting eight producing projects bytheendofthedecade.

Dymondaskedthepanelists:

“We’re hearing of the oil wealth,butwe’renotfeelingit.The government frequently speaks of thebudgetandtheirallocations,but it’s only a few that are benefiting. Thelastfiveyears,thecostofliving is about the only thing that has changed.”

Sarabo-Halley opened the discussion,acknowledgingthatthe economyhasgrownbutarguedthat therisingcostoflivingcontinuesto affecthouseholds.

“Iagreewholeheartedlythatthe only thing that has changed is the cost of living, and I believe that is something that we need to deal with. We need to target it. The realityisthatwhenyoulookatthe

lastbudgetthatwaspassed,51%of it went to infrastructure development.”

She noted that although the economy appears strong on paper and major infrastructure projects are being rolled out, citizens often measuretheeconomybytheirdaily expenses.Sheoutlinedthatabouta fifth of the 2026, $1.5 trillion budget went to issues dealing with cost of living measures, but noted that a closer look at the numbers revealssomethingelse.

“Whenyoulooktopension,the increase in pension was so minuscule…but the result and the reality is that the people on the ground, the people across Guyana are not really feeling all of this wealththatiscomingin,”shesaid.

She noted that while it is encouraging to point to the country’sgrowingeconomy,rising Gross Domestic Product and the wave of major infrastructure projects linked to oil revenues, many citizens still face the reality that the economic growth is not beingfeltintheirpockets.

Urling, however, argued that the suggestion that little has changed in five years is not supported by economic data, pointing to the country’s rapid expansion.

“Look,thequestionisvalid,but it’s not true. To say it’s the only thingthathaschangedinfiveyears, I can just pick on one issue to say between2020tonow,we’veseena significant increase in our GDP When I say significant, we move from a 5 billion GDP economy to somewhere around 25 billion in suchashortspaceoftime,”hesaid.

He acknowledged that citizens often judge economic progress basedontheireverydayspending.

“But people, ordinary people, and this is what is frustrating with

the growth that we see, ordinary people experience the economy NottrueGDPstatistics,”hesaid.

He said the challenge for politicians and policymakers is to ensuremechanismsareputinplace so that the funds and revenues being generated are equitably distributed or redistributed to the mostvulnerableinsociety.

“So that there’s prosperity, and progress for the majority of Guyanese where we can bring down and reduce the two main challenges the country faces inequality and the second one is poverty,”headded.

Finance Minister Singh maintained that the economic transformation underway is real and measurable “I think the statement that he made or the question that he asked provides a very good illustration of the difference between rhetoric and reality,”hesaid.

The minister added, “The realityis…theGuyaneseeconomy hasbeengrowingatapacethathas neverbeenseenbefore,certainlyin Guyana and indeed around the world.”

He said that as a responsible government,havingdiscoveredthe resource endowment, the aim is to achieve at least two main objectives. He pointed to job creation and new opportunities emerging across sectors as evidence that the benefits are reachingcitizens.

“Over the last five years alone, we’ve created 104,000 new jobs…,”theministersaid.

He noted, “It is not accurate to saythattheonlythingthat’schanged has been the cost of living. The growth in the Guyanese economy has resulted in the creation of an unprecedented wave of opportunity forGuyaneseatalltimes.”

When pressed that the jobs createdarelowskillsandlowpaid jobs minister Singh said this too is notconsistentwiththereality

“We have 6,000 persons now working in the oil and gas sector who are not working on oil. Many of them are engineers, they’re working on the FPSOs, they’re working in highly skilled areas, technical areas, in jobs that simply did not exist before,” the finance ministernoted.

Dalgety-Dean said that while Guyana is experiencing a major economic boom, the focus must also be on how that growth improvesthelivesofcitizens.

“Now of course growth is extraordinary.We are really, really going through a boom and lots of people are seeing the boom,” Dalgety-Deansaid.

However, she stressed that economicexpansionmusttranslate into stronger social systems and opportunitiesforcitizens.

“So oil cannot build only structures, even though it should build structures, and we expect structurestobebuilt.Butitshould

also build the country’s ability to care for its people and to prepare young people for the future. The argumentismadeinsomequarters that the balance has been gotten wronghere.

There’s too much spending on the physical, on the buildings, the roads, the bridges, the hospitals, and not enough on the human, on direct investments in people, and onthepoorest,”shesaid.

Grassrootswomen

Meanwhile, an oil and gas forum held on Saturday last in observance of International Women’s Day was marked by widespread complaints over the high cost of living, with participants expressing little optimism that the situation would easeforfamiliesatthelowerendof theeconomicscale.

The event themed ‘Guyana’s women and oil- impact and resistance’ was organised by Red ThreadandAFairDealforGuyanaAFairDealforthePlanet,twonongovernmentalorganisations.

Grassroots women from across the country were brought together asaward-winninglawyer,Melinda Janki and other activists joined for enrichingdiscussionsattheforum, hosted at the Regency Hotel, Georgetown.

Settingthestage,JoyMarcusof RedThreadtoldofhowhopefora better life from the rich oil resourcesintheStabroekBlockhas

Continued on page 21

GGMCandpoliceshutdownillegalminingsitesinRegionSeven

The Ministry of Natural Resources reports continued successinitscrackdownonillegal mining across Guyana’s mining districts with the closure of two sitesinRegionSeven.

AjointoperationbytheGuyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Police Forceledtothedismantlingoftwo illegal mining sites along the Puruni River in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

In a statement the ministry on March 6, 2026, between 08:00 hrs and 12:00 hrs, a GGMC mining officer along with police ranks, conducted an exercise at Kumung Kumung along the Puruni River duringwhichsixBraziliannationals and one Venezuelan national were foundworkingillegally

Following the operation, the GGMC instituted several charges against the land owners. These

Station for processing while an excavator, dragger and other equipment used in the illegal operations have been placed in the State’s possession. The ministry has taken the necessary steps to ensure all costs for environmental reclamation are covered by the unlicensedoperators.

According to the ministry the discovery of these two illegal mining operations, among others which have been dismantled over thepastfewmonths,isatestament to the importance of His Excellency, President Dr Irfaan Ali’s call to ensure greater complianceintheminingsector

As the ministry continues to fulfillthemandatesetbyPresident Ali, all miners and claim holders are urged to take the necessary steps to ensure their operations conform with Guyana’s mining lawsandregulations.

Over140womenentrepreneursgraduate fromleadership,financeprogrammes

More than 140 women entrepreneurs graduated from three business development programmesonSunday,markingasignificant milestoneineffortstostrengthenwomen-led enterprises and expand access to leadership trainingandfinancialliteracyinGuyana.

The graduation ceremony took place during the HerVenture Summit and Expo 2026 at the National Cultural Centre, held in observance of International Women’s Day, March 8. According to a press release by organsiers, the event brought together entrepreneurs - including over 40 exhibitors, development partners, financial institutions and business leaders to celebrate the achievementsofwomeninbusiness.

Theceremonyrecognisedgraduatesfrom theBankabilityFundforWomenMentorship Programme, the Road to Leadership (R2L) course and the Road to Finance (R2F) programme; initiatives designed to equip women entrepreneurs with the knowledge, confidence and networks needed to build strongerandmoresustainablebusinesses.

In total, 33 women graduated from the Bankability Fund for Women Mentorship Programme, 58 from the Road to Leadership course and 50 from the Road to Finance programme,eachrepresentinganentrepreneur whoinvestedinstrengtheningherbusinessand expandingopportunitiesforgrowth

Trainer and business coach at ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc , Upasna Mudlier,whoaddressedthegraduatesduring the ceremony, said the programmes were designed to help women entrepreneurs strengthen both their leadership capabilities and their financial understanding. She noted that the programmes were created to equip womenentrepreneurswiththetoolsneededto grow their businesses sustainably while building the confidence required to pursue financing and new opportunities. “For many entrepreneurs,financecanfeelintimidating,” she told the graduates, “but today you leave thisprogrammenotjustwithknowledge,but with the confidence to understand your numbers, manage your resources effectively and position your businesses for investment andexpansion.”

The Bankability Fund for Women Mentorship Programme, implemented by ActionINVEST Caribbean Inc. with support fromtheCherieBlairFoundationforWomen and funded by IDB Lab, pairs entrepreneurs withexperiencedmentorswhoguidethemin financial management, business strategy and growth planning. In addition to Mudlier, Keon Smith, Training Director also coached thegraduates.

Meanwhile, according to the release, the Road to Leadership and Road to Finance

programmes, delivered through the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and funded by the ExxonMobil Foundation, provide entrepreneurs with training in leadership development and financial management Chairman ofActionINVESTCaribbean Inc., Dr VishnuDoerga,saidthesummitreflectsa broader movement to empower women entrepreneurstoplayagreaterroleinshaping Guyana’seconomicfuture.“March8ismore than a date on a calendar It is a global reminderthatwhenwomenmove,economies move, and when women lead, communities rise,”Doergasaid.

He added that initiatives such as HerVenture demonstrate how investing in women’s entrepreneurship can expand opportunitiesnotonlyforindividualsbutfor entire communities. Also speaking at the Summit, Chief of Operations at IDB Lab, Iván-Alonzo Gaviria, highlighted the importance of programmes such as Road to Finance in addressing one of the most persistent barriers faced by women entrepreneurs:accesstocapital.

Gaviriasaiddiscussionswithentrepreneurs revealed that securing financing remains a major challenge for many businesses seeking to expand However, he stressed that women entrepreneursarealreadyplayinganimportant roleinGuyana’srapidlyevolvingeconomy

“WomeninGuyanaarenotstandingon Continued on page 21

DemeraraBankcrowns10winnersof...

Frompage16 into high-quality charcoal to create a sustainable,environmentallyfriendlyenergy resource.

Demerara Bank views the Innovation Tankasmorethanacompetition.Itrepresents a long-term commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and encouraging the development of small businesses that can grow,createemployment,andcontributetoa strongerandmorediverseeconomy

The Bank also expressed sincere appreciation to everyone who contributed to making the programme a success. Gratitude was extended to the many applicants who shared their ideas, the participants who dedicated time and effort throughout the programme, the mentors and judges who offered their expertise, and the partner

organisationsthatsupportedtheinitiative.

DemeraraBankalsocongratulatedthe23 finalists who reached the final stage of the programme and thanked the more than 200 entrepreneurs who applied, noting that their ideas and enthusiasm reflect the growing spiritofentrepreneurshipacrossGuyana.

Demerara Bank Limited remains committed to supporting national development through innovative financial services and meaningful community initiatives.

Building on the success of this year’s programme, the Bank looks forward to the 2026–2027DBLInnovationTankandintends tocontinueexpandingtheinitiativeovertime, with progressively increased allocations to supportevenmoreentrepreneursintheyears ahead.

Agri. Ministry to purchase more vessel tracking devices

The Ministry of Agriculture is seeking bids for the procurementofvesseltrackingdevices.

According to a recent opening of bids at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), nine companies have signaled interest in the ministry's contract. It is unclear the number of devices the ministry is seeking but bids for the contract ranges from $23 million to $119million.BackinMay2024,theministryannouncedthe introductionofartisanalvesselmonitoringdevicesforfisher folks. These devices, according to the ministry enables the

Belowarethecompaniesandtheir

tracking of fishing boats and monitoring of fish populations withintheocean,enhancingsafetyandefficiency

During a distribution exercise at the time, Agriculture Minister,ZulfikarMustaphatoldfisherfolksthat“Wearenot onlyinvestinginthephysicalstructurelikethewharvesand soon,butwewillalsobeputtingequipmentonyourvesselsto trackyousothatwecanknowwhereyouarefishingandwe canmonitoryou.”

In addition to combating piracy, these devices will enhance the security of fishing activities within Guyana's

borders.Theagricultureministerassuredthateveryvesselin thecountrywilleventuallybeequippedwiththedevice. This publication understands that since its introduction, over500vesselsarenowequippedthetrackingdevices.

Over140womenentrepreneurs...

Frompage20 the sidelines of this transformation, you are helping to shape it,”hesaid. Heencouragedentrepreneurstostrengthentheir ability to clearly present their business strategies and market opportunities when seeking financing, noting that strong storytellingandfinancialplanningarekeyfactorsinsecuring investment.

During her feature address, ExxonMobil Guyana, Attorney-at-Law Oneka Archer-Caulder said empowering women entrepreneurs is essential for inclusive economic growth.

“Guyana is experiencing historic economic transformation, but growth is only meaningful when it is inclusive; when women who drive households, communities and entire sectors have equal opportunity not only to participate,buttoleadandtoscale,”Archer-Cauldersaid.

She noted that the ExxonMobil Foundation's partnership with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women supports initiatives that expand access to training and mentorship for women entrepreneurs. Delivering the keynote address, MinisterofHumanServicesandSocialSecurity,Dr Vindhya Persaud said initiatives such as HerVenture are helping womentransformtheircircumstancesbyequippingthemwith theknowledgeandskillsneededtogrowtheirbusinesses.

Shenotedthatdigitallearningtoolsandentrepreneurship training programmes are enabling women to develop new capabilities and apply those skills to strengthen their enterprises.AccordingtotheMinister,womenwhoparticipate in these programmes are increasingly able to transition from micro and small businesses to medium-sized enterprises, strengthening their economic independence and contributing to national development. Dr Persaud also reflected on the broader significance of International Women's Day, noting that women are increasingly entering new sectors and redefiningtherolestheyplaywithintheeconomy Organisers saidthegraduationmarksthebeginningofanewchapterfor the entrepreneurs who participated. Mudlier encouraged graduates to apply the knowledge and connections gained through the programmes as they continue building their businessesandsupportingotherwomenalongthesamepath. “Your success will ripple far beyond your own businesses,” shesaid.“Itwillimpactfamilies,communitiesandthewider economy.” She closed by saying that as Guyana's economy continues to expand, initiatives such as the HerVenture SummitandExpoanditsassociatedtrainingprogrammeswill play an important role in ensuring that women entrepreneurs havethetools,confidenceandnetworksneededtoparticipate fullyinthatgrowth.

'Oilboom,butemptypockets’

Frompage18 dwindled. Instead, she told dozens gathered at the event that the operator, ExxonMobil is enjoying hefty profits whileGuyanesewomenstruggletofind mealstofeedtheirfamilies.

“WhileExxonisboastingaboutthe millions of dollars they gain in profit, forordinarypeoplewegainedacostof living that has skyrocketed so high, making it extremely hard for us to survive,” Marcus said as she paused fromherpreparedpresentationtoshare

how women are forced to cook more stews than ever, as vegetables have becomehardtoafford.

Another presenter, Susan

Collymoreweighed intotheimpactsof cost of living on pensioners in particular Collymore pointed out that food, utilitiesandtransportationhavebecome moreexpensiveoverthepastfewyears, a situation that is particularly straining on pensioners who depend on a fixed monthly income of only $46,000 now-

giventherecent$5000increase. Additionally, Rushana Pilgrim, a young single mother of two said she continues to struggle in an oil rich nation.

“Thecostoflivingkeepsrisingand it's getting harder for ordinary families like mine to afford basic necessities…with all the oil wealth in this country we are supposed to be livingbetterandnotworryingeveryday abouthowtoaffordapropermeal,”she stated.

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PAHOcallsforintensifiedeffortsto ensuresafemotherhoodintheAmericas

Washington, D.C., 6 March2026(PAHO)–OnInternationalWomen’sDay,the PanAmericanHealthOrganization(PAHO)callsforaccelerating efforts to reduce maternal mortality and ensure that all women in theAmericas have access to essential health services, medicines, and technologies for safe motherhood.

Despiteprogressinrecent decades, thousands of women continue to lose their lives each year from pregnancy and childbirth-related causes that are preventable.

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In2023,nearly8,000maternal deaths were recorded in the Americas, with a maternal mortalityratioof59deathsper 100,000livebirths,stillabove the regional target of 30 per 100,000 established under PAHO’s Sustainable Health Agenda for the Americas 2030.

TheCOVID-19pandemic deepenedexistinginequalities and caused a temporary increase in maternal deaths. In thefollowingyears,thecountries of the Americas offered an organized and determined response, succeeding to reducing maternal deaths by 17%, which is equivalent to saving the lives of five pregnant women every day

“Despite this recovery, gapsinaccesstomaternaland neonatal health services continue to disproportionately affect populations in situationsofgreatervulnerability,” said James Fitzgerald, DirectorofPAHO’sDepartmentof HealthSystemsandServices. InsomecountriesofLatin

America and the Caribbean, Indigenouswomenfaceupto three times the risk of dying during pregnancy or childbirth.

The main causes of maternaldeathintheRegioninclude postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy such as preeclampsia and eclampsia, and severe infections related to pregnancy

Nearlyallofthesedeaths can be prevented when womenhavetimelyaccessto quality, respectful, and evidence-based care, as well as appropriate medicines and technologies.

“Strengtheningaccessto essentialmedicines,maternal and neonatal health technologies,andcomprehensive health services is necessary to reduce mortality among women and newborns,” Fitzgeraldsaid.

In2024,theOrganization issued a call to action and launched the Zero Preventable Maternal Deaths initia-

tive in order to accelerate action so that no woman dies from preventable causes related to pregnancy or childbirth.

Under the proposed efforts,countrieswereurgedto make commitments to adequate financing that prioritizes women’s health; promote intersectoral collaboration to eliminate barriers that limit access to care; and deployeffectivesocialmobilization strategies to increase the visibilityofmaternalhealthissues.

This call to action promotes stronger governance and stewardship of health systems to improve the managementofmaternalhealth.It calls for expanding and strengtheningprimaryhealth care and consolidating integrated health service networks based on the Primary HealthCareapproach,witha focus on quality maternal, sexual, and reproductive healthservices.Italsoemphasizes the need to ensure suf-

ficient,well-distributed,welltrained,andmotivatedhealth workers, while empowering women,families,andcommunities to access health servicesandexercisetheirsexual and reproductive rights.

Recently, PAHO has strengthened its technical cooperation through the launch of essential maternal and neonatal health supply packages, which contain a catalogue of priority medicines, medical devices, and equipment, facilitating their joint, safe, and affordable procurement through the Organization’s Regional Revolving Funds.

On International Women’sDay,observedeach 8 March, PAHO underscores the urgency of ensuring equity in access to health services, medicines, and health technologies, strengthening healthsystems,andprioritizing the most vulnerable populations so that all womencanexercisetheirright to safe motherhood.

Court of Appeal tosses Mohameds’ bid to stay extradition...

From page 3 case whereby extradition requests can be stalled or rejected due to political influence. He described the claim as convenient and contrived. Onthosegrounds,hesaidthe allegation must be rejected.

ThedefenceledbySenior Counsel and attorney for the Mohameds, Fyard Hosein contended there is political bias, noting that the minister is a member of the governing PPP/C, while Azruddin Mohamed is an opposition figure who has publicly criticisedthegovernment,including the president, vice president and attorney general. The lawyer contended thattheproceedingshouldbe handled by an independent party and not a minister attached to the government. However, the Attorney General argued that the minister cannotdelegateherfunctions to anyone else in extradition matters.

“Theministerisnamedby the Parliament as the agency to perform this function. It is an executive function, treaty obligations,extraditionisfrom Government to Government...”

Mendes also argued that delegating the power to anotherministerwouldnotsolve the defence’s concerns. “If another minister were to act, they too would be accused of presumed bias,” he told the court, adding that delegation would more appropriately be made to a public officer if it werecontemplatedatall.

He further noted that the extradition request predated Mohamed’spoliticalinvolve-

ment,tellingthecourtthatthe processcannotbeinvalidated becausehelaterenteredelectoralpolitics.“Theprocessof extradition cannot grind to a halt because one of the men beingsoughtisanopposition leader,” Mendes said.

The Mohameds are facing a federal indictment in Miami,UnitedStates,follow-

ingtheunsealingofa25-page indictmentonOctober2,2025. Theindictmentallegesawideranging fraud and moneylaunderingschemeinvolving gold exports, customs fraud, bribery, and the evasion of millionsofdollarsintaxesand royalties owed to Guyana.

Following a formal request from the United States,

Minister Walrond signed the Authority to Proceed, allowing the extradition matter to proceed before the magistrates’court.Ifsufficientevidence is established during committal proceedings, the magistrate could order the Mohameds’ extradition to face charges in the United States.

Darren Woods, other top Exxon executives...

From page 8 delivered industry-leading results across all performancedimensions.Ourdisciplinedapproach to capital allocation and aggressive cost management led to $28.8B in earnings, $52Bincashflowfromoperationsand$3Bin structural cost savings.” Currently, Exxon leads the chart where compensation is concerned when compared to other American companies such as Ford, Chevron, Verizon, Johnson and Johnson, Boeing and Pfizer to nameafew WhileexecutivesofExxonMobil have been enjoying huge bonuses and monthly salaries, Guyanese continue to call

forafairshareoftheirwealthbeinggenerated offshore. Only on Tuesday Kaieteur News reported that Exxon said it paid US$1.1B in taxes to Guyana that the country never received. Instead, Guyana’s Natural Resource Fundin2025barelyreceivedUS$2,473,718,141 inprofitandroyalties.Inaccordancewiththe lopsidedPetroleumAgreementGuyanasigned withthecompanyin2016thecountryreceives 2%ofoilproducedsoldintheStabroekBlock. It also receives a profit share, equivalent to 12.5%afterExxonMobildeducts75%monthly towards expenses and takes another 12.5% as its profit.

Chevron, Shell closing in on first big oil production deals in Venezuela since U.S. captured Maduro, sources say

(Reuters)-International

oil majors Chevron (CVX.N),opensnewtaband Shell (SHEL.L), opens new tabareclosinginonthefirst bigoilproductiondealswith Venezuela since the U.S. capture of President Nicolas Maduro in January, five

sources close to the negotiationstoldReuters.

The deals would allow both companies ​to boost production in coveted oil regions in the South American country, the biggest steps to date toward what U.S. President Donald Trump has said would be a $100billionefforttorebuild Venezuela's oil industry decades of mismanagement and underinvestment under Maduro and his predecessor HugoChavez.

Venezuela's National Assembly in late January approvedasweepingreform ofthecountry'smainoillaw It now grants foreign companies autonomy to operate, export and sell Venezuelan oil even when theyareminoritypartnersof state-owned oil company PDVSA.

ChevronandVenezuela's energy authorities have agreed on preliminary terms to expand Chevron's largest oil project, Petropiar, in the vastOrinocoBelt,twoofthe sourcessaid.

Venezuela's oil ministry, PDVSAandChevrondidnot reply to requests for comment.

The deal would give Chevron the rights to produce from the Ayacucho 8 area ​located south of the Petropiar project area, the two sources added, a large block with proven oil resources.This would allow

Chevron to make a substantial increase in the extra-heavy oil it produces andexports.

Chevronaimstosecurea reduced ​royalty rate for the new area and other tax and trade incentives offered to companies under the new legislation to develop greenfield oil and gas areas, accordingtothetwosources.

PDVSA completed exploration and appraisal in Ayacuchoabouttwodecades ago but it remains largely undeveloped.

Chevron and PDVSA could extend their wellclusterproductionsystem in Petropiar to Ayacucho 8, allowing them to boost outputrelativelyquickly,the sources added. The project would be ​Chevron's fifth oil areainVenezuela.

The project could turn Chevron into the biggest private producer in the Orinoco, which holds over three quarters of the country's total crude reserves Rival U S company ConocoPhillips (COPN), opens new tab used to be that region's top foreign producer before it left Venezuela two decades ago following ​a wave of nationalizations.

Chevron and PDVSA were producing around 90,000barrelsperday(bpd) of upgraded Hamaca crude and 20,000 bpd of vacuum gasoil at Petropiar last month, according to a PDVSA document seen by Reuters. Venezuela's total production is around 1.05 millionbpd.

SHELLPROGRESSES INOIL,GASDEALS

Shell signed preliminary oil and gas agreements with

Venezuela last week, when U.S.InteriorSecretaryDoug Burgum was in Caracas. Venezuela's government did not make public the details of those deals and the fields included.Reutershaslearned from an official summary document of the agreements that Shell aims to develop the Carito and ​Pirital fields in the coveted Monagas North region in eastern Venezuela.Theseareamong the few areas in the country that can produce light and medium crude and natural gas,prizedbyoilcompanies that need it for blending to facilitate exports of Venezuela'sheavyoil.

Shell confirmed ​in an email it signed several agreements with the government, engineering companies Vepica and KBR (KBR.N),opensnewtaband oil-service firm Baker Hughes (BKR O), opens new tab, which "formally articulate Shell's intent to progress a variety of opportunities with Venezuela," including offshoregas,onshoreoiland

gas, exploration, local content and workforce development. It did not the fields ⁠or give further details toReuters.

Monagas North could also fit into Shell's broader strategy focused on natural gas - due to its proximity to the country's onshore gas infrastructure and the areas with the most gas flaring in Venezuela. Shell, M&P and other companies have previouslydesignedplansto minimize gas flaring by building the infrastructure neededtocaptureit,process itandtransportitforexport, possiblythroughTrinidad.

The Punta de Mata area, which includes Pirital, Carito and the nearby El Furrialfield,producedsome 94,000 bpd of crude and some 1.03 billion cubic feet per day of gas last month, according to independent figures. Of that, some 350 million cubic feet per day wereflared.

Shell's only project in Venezuela before the preliminary agreement was announced was the flagship

development near Trinidad. ​The company has struggled to advance it after the U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela's energy sector in 2019.Shellhadsold⁠itsstake in the flagship Urdaneta Oeste oilfield to French M a u r e l & P r o m (MAUP.PA), opens new tab in 2018.PDVSA and the oil ministry are in talks with about a dozen joint venture partners willing to expand operations to neighboring fields, mature areas or

infrastructure development is needed Among other companies seeking to expandtheareaswherethey have projects so they can boost oil and gas output ​are Spain's Repsol (REP.MC), opensnewtabandM&P,the sources said. Repsol is the foreign partner with the largest debt to recover in Venezuela, with over $5 billion that accumulated under sanctions, the firm said​lastmonth.

ChevronandVenezuela's

government are also negotiating for the U S majortoreturntwountapped offshore natural gas areas to Venezuela at the Plataforma Deltana project on the maritime border with Trinidad andTobago, which could be reoffered for privateinvestment.

It is unclear what the terms would be for Chevron to give up those stakes. Chevron is focused on oil ratherthangasproductionin Venezuela Venezuela in February began a review of all oil and gas projects, starting with production sharing contracts signed by Maduro's administration with little-known firms, and more recently moving to joint ventures with larger partners. ⁠The government is requesting documentation o n p r o j e c t s f r o m participating companies, the sourcessaid.

PDVSA has taken over the administration and oil sales of many production sharing contracts while it conducts the review, s u s p e n d i n g t h e m temporarily Oil ministry officials have told oil executives they would completethereviewassoon astheendofMarch,sources said.

Officials from the oil ministry have told oil executives that projects that were inactive or that did not meet investment targets could see their contracts revokedunderthereview

The U S government also is carefully checking company credentials and sanctionscompliancebefore granting clearance to any existing or new partners, separatesourcessaid.

UN peacekeepers defy South Sudan military's order to leave opposition-held town

(AP) The United Nations Mission in South Sudan said Monday that it would not comply with a government order to shut down its base in Akobo, an opposition stronghold near the Ethiopian border where tensofthousandsofrefugees havefled.

On Friday, the South SudanesearmyorderedU.N. peacekeepers as well as humanitarian organizations and civilians to vacate the town ahead of a planned assault.

But the mission refused to leave and said it would provide “a protective presenceforcivilians”inthe town, adding that the safety and security of its personnel “must be fully respected at alltimes.”

TheU.N.Missionsaidit was engaging “intensively withnational,stateandlocal stakeholders” regarding this order “Any military operations in and around Akobogravelyendangerthe safety and security of civilians,”saidmissionchief AnitaKikiGbeho.

The South Sudanese government has been fighting opposition forces since a 2018 peace deal brokedownaboutayearago. A dramatic escalation took place in December 2025, when opposition forces seized several government outposts in n

offensive repelled their forces a month later and displaced over 280,000

people. Tens of thousands have sought refuge in Akobo, where a small contingent of U N peacekeepersisstationed. Fearing the looming government assault, humanitarian workers were evacuated from Akobo over the weekend, and a mass

exodusofthepopulationhas alsobegun.

The army announced Tuesday that Akobo was now under its control and it hasescortedthegovernment commissioner James Kueth Makuach back to his office and official residence Makuach had left the town

afterhewasdismissedbythe opposition,whichappointed another commissioner in his place.

Local officials contacted by the TheAssociated Press said fleeing civilians faced danger and widespread shortages of essential supplies. Dual Diew, the Akobo County health director, who has fled to Ethiopia, said there were 84 wounded patients at the hospital.

“We have most of them with us here now,” he said, adding that they lack medicine and basic nursing equipment.

Christophe Garnier, the leader of Doctors Without BordersinSouthSudansaid the organization had to evacuate its staff from

Akobo on Saturday and learned of the subsequent lootingofitshospitalandthe ransackingofitsoffice.

“People in Akobo must now either flee without protection or remain at risk of being killed, while losing access to healthcare and other essential services,” he said.

The three Western governments that have played a major role in the peace process — the U.S, U.K., and Norway — sent a lettertoPresidentSalvaKiir on Monday urging that the army's evacuation order be revoked and warning of “ f u r t h e r d e a t h s , displacement and suffering for the South Sudanese people” if the offensive on Akoboisimplemented.

U.S. destroys mine-laying vessels after warning Iran over Strait of Hormuz

(Reuters) - The U.S. military ​hashitand"completelydestroyed" 10 inactive mine-laying vessels, U.S. President Donald Trump said onTuesday,warningthatmineslaid intheStraitofHormuzbyIranmust beremovedimmediately

In apparent response to media reports that Iran had begun laying minesinthestrait,Trumppostedon Truth Social on Tuesday: "If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait, and we ​have no reports of them doing so, we want themremoved,IMMEDIATELY!

HesaidthatifTehrandidnotdo so it would face military consequences, without providing details.

“If for any reason mines were placed, ⁠and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before. If, ​on the otherhand,theyremovewhatmay havebeenplaced,itwillbeagiant step in the right direction!" ​Trump wrote.

He said the U.S. was using the same technology deployed against

drug traffickers to "permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait," later adding that the U.S. had hit and destroyed 10 inactive mine-laying vessels In recent months, the U.S. has carried out a series ​of strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific that it alleges were carrying drugs, killing dozens of people The ​Pentagon said earlier on Tuesday that it was striking Iranian minelaying vessels and mine storage facilities.

TheU.S.-IsraelwaragainstIran has already effectively halted through⁠theStraitofHormuz,along Iran'scoast,whereafifthofglobal oil and liquefied natural gas normallypasses.

POSTDELETION

ThetopU.S.generalsaidearlier on Tuesday that the U.S. military has started looking at ways to potentiallyescortshipsthroughthe Strait of Hormuz, should it be orderedtodoso.

"We're looking at a range of options there," General Dan Caine

Pentagon Secretary of Energy Chris Wright posted ⁠on X that the U.S.Navyhadalreadysuccessfully escorted an oil tanker through the keywaterway,butlaterdeletedthe post.

The United States has not yet escorted any oil tankers ​or vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters ​when asked about ⁠the issue at a pressconferencelateronTuesday "Avideo clip was deleted from Secretary Wright's official X account after it was determined to be incorrectly captioned by Department of Energy staff," a departmentspokespersonsaid.

New800kVAgeneratortoboost powersupplyforMahdia

As part of the government's ongoing Hinterland development programme, the Mahdia Power & Light CompanyInc.(MPL)hasreceivedanew800kVAgenerator to strengthen its electricity supply to the community of Mahdia.

According to a press release, the generator, which arrived in the community last Sunday, is expected to significantlyimprovegenerationcapacityandreliabilityfor (825)residentsandbusinessesintheminingtown.Withthe growing demand for electricity in recent years, additional generation capacity will better position MPL to meet this rising demand while maintaining service quality The new unit will provide much-needed reserve capacity, reducing theriskofoutagesandsupportinglocaleconomicactivities. Regional officials and residents welcomed the new generator, noting that reliable electricity is fundamental to both daily life and business development in hinterland regions.

Boats in the Strait of Hormuz amid the U.S.Israeli conflict with Iran, as seen from Musandam, Oman, March 2, 2026.REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File Photo

Commenting on Wright's remarks, a spokesperson for Iran's Revolutionary⁠Guardsdenied​anoil shiphadbeenescorted.

"Any movement of the U.S.

28groupscallforrestoration...

From page 12 withsupportfromtheResourceJusticeNetworkcallingforthe restorationofalegitimateGYEITIprocessinfullcompliancewiththe EITIStandard.

Assuch,itexplainedthatsupportforthecampaignhascomefrom transparency,anti-corruption,environmentaljustice,andhumanrights organizationsacrossAfrica,Asia,Europe,andtheAmericas,including theAlbanianCentreforDevelopmentandIntegration;AsiaPacific TransitionMineralAccountabilityWorkingGroup;TheAssociationfor thePromotionofRightsandDevelopment-Senegal(ASPRODDELL'AssociationpourlaPromotiondesDroitsetduDéveloppement); AGAGESManagementConsultants(AGAGES–AgirpourGarantirla GouvernanceÉconomiqueetSociale); CartoCrítica,Mexico;Centrefor TransparencyAdvocacy/KoyenumImmalahFoundation;Centrode IntegridadePública(Mozambique);CRADEC(CentreRégionalAfricain pourleDéveloppementEndogèneetCommunautaire);Derecho AmbienteyRecursosNaturales–DAR(Peru);DynamiqueMondiale desJeunes(DMJ); EspacedeSolidaritéetdeCoopérationdel'Oriental (Morocco);FundaciónCiudadaníayDesarrollo(Transparency InternationalEcuador)andseveralothersfromKenya,Ghana, Mongolia,Yemen,TrinidadandTobago,Niger,Suriname,Indiaand Guyanatonameafew

PFGsaidthediversityofendorsementsdemonstratesthatthe GYEITIissueisnotsimplyadomesticadministrativematterbutatest ofwhetherglobaltransparencystandardscanwithstandpolitical interference.

Further,itexplained,“Thesegroupsarguethatthecontroversy highlightsadeeperstructuralissue:Guyanastilllacksacoherentnatural resourcespolicygroundedinintergenerationalequity,fiscalprudence, andthepreservationofnationalwealth.”

Assuch,PFGurgedthatensuringtransparencyandgenuine stakeholderparticipationinthemanagementofGuyana'snatural resourcesisnotmerelyatechnicalrequirementoftheEITIStandard,but afundamentaltosafeguardingthecountry'slong-termdevelopmentand ensuringthatthebenefitsofresourceextractionaresharedfairlyamong presentandfuturegenerations.

AdvantageGalatasarayasLemina headerearns1-0winoverLiverpool

ISTANBUL, (Reuters)

- Mario Lemina's early diving header handed Galatasaray a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in their Champions League last-16 first leg on Tuesday, the tie finely balanced after a compelling contest in which both sides saw goals disallowed.

The Turkish champions struck after seven minutes when Lemina nodded home afterVictorOsimhenheaded a corner back across goal, giving them a precious advantage ahead of the ​secondlegatAnfield.

"I am grateful to my teammates and all our fans. We wanted to win by

fightinghard,justlikeinthe first match (in the league phase) And we did," Lemina, who earned the Player of the Match award, said.

The result mirrored September's league phase encounterbetween​thesides, when Galatasaray also won 1-0 thanks to an Osimhen penalty

"It's bad deja vu, you could say The score is ​the same as the match three monthsago.Butweplayeda game where we could have scored much more, " Liverpool manager Arne Slot said after taking charge of the club for the 100th time.

GOALSDISALLOWED

Both teams thought they hadscoredlate​on,onlytobe deniedbytheofficials.

Just after the hour mark, Osimhentappedtheballinto ​an open net, but Liverpool were spared as Baris Alper Yilmaz had strayed offside inthebuild-up.

Liverpool found the net in ⁠70th minute, forcing the ball over the line after a goalmouth scramble, with theeffortruledoutfollowing aVARreviewastheballhad seemingly struck Ibrahima Konate's hand before ricochetingintothenet.

The visitors began brightly with a number of halfchances,yetaftertaking

thelead,Galatasaraypushed forward with Liverpool k e e p e r G i o r g i Mamardashvili producing severalsuperbsaves.

​half. It's ⁠very important to take advantage of these opportunities and convert them into goals," Liverpool captainVirgilvanDijksaid.

Galatasaray's Mario Lemina celebrates scoring their first goal with Victor Osimhen.

(REUTERS/Murad Sezer)

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19

In general, things should be going extremely well for you today, Aries, so don't miss this opportunity to pursue your dreams in every sense oftheword

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Youmayfeelanxioustoday, even more so than usual, Taurus. Your nerves may be quite jittery, and there's a feeling that you may not be onexactlytherighttrack.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Other people are the most important aspect of your day today, Gemini. You'll find that things might get a bit difficultandunrulyalone,but ifyouconnectwithothers.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Don't be a pushover today, Cancer This is your time to lead At least get your opinion out in the open and let it be knowntothepeoplearoundyou

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

You have a great deal of poweratyourdisposaltoday, Leo.Youshouldkeepinmind that just about anything you wishforwillcometrue.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22) Wednesday March 11,

Be careful of getting into fightstoday,Virgo.However, if a squabbleoraltercationof some sort seems inevitable, don'tshrinkawayandhide.It's important that you face the sourceoftheattackandstand uptowhomeverorwhatever

2026

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Issuesregardingfreedomare apttocomeuptodayinmore ways than one, Libra. These issues could be connected with opportunities for adventureandtravel.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

Thereisagreatdealofstartup energy working for you today,Scorpio.Youmayfeel as if you're walking on hot coals.Thisisn'tagooddayto sitonthecouchwatchingTV

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Yourenergywilllightupany room you enter today, Sagittarius. Feel free to take advantage of this incredible magnetism by initiating and encouragingotherstojoin.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Put an extra spring in your step, Capricorn The slow, steadypacemaybesomething thatyou'recomfortablewith,but notethatthesituationsoftheday callforsomethingmuchmore dynamicandbrave

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Be prepared for all-out combat with people today, Aquarius,eventhoughthisis pretty much the opposite of yournormalstyle.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Control is apt to be a big theme for youandthepeople around you today, Pisces. You'llfindsuchabrutaldispute over who is holding the reins thatoncesomeonefinallygets afirmholdofthem.

Asthe​clocktickeddown in the second half, the visitorsagainbegan⁠tocreate opportunities, forcing Galatasaray onto the defensive, with keeper Ugurcan Cakir producing a superb save to deny Hugo Ekitike'schippedeffort.

"We created a lot of chances, but we also ​missed a lot. I think we came very close to scoring in the first

T h e D u t c

optimistic about the return legnextWednesday

"The second leg will be at our home. And that's definitely ⁠an advantage ​for us," he said. "Everything is in our hands when we're at home.​We'llbeplayingthere to advance to the next round."

Galatasaray had reached

Slingerzmust delivertrophies...

Frompage35 about delivery This becomes even more critical when considering what lies ahead. Slingerz FC will represent GuyanaattheCaribbeanClub Shield later this year after capturing the Elite League title. That tournament will placethemonaregionalstage where standards are higher and margins for error even smaller

If they cannot assert clear dominancedomestically,how will they fare against the Caribbean's emerging club powers? That is the uncomfortable reality facing theSlingerzproject.

But inside the Slingerz camp, the interpretation must be different. For them, this is not about parity It is about pressure.

And with the resources, talent, and international recruitment invested into this club,thatpressureisjustified. When players arrive from Jamaica, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Cameroon to strengthen a squad already loaded with local quality, expectationsriseaccordingly

That may sound harsh. It mayfeelunfairtoplayerswho already carry the burden of representing one of the country'sbiggestclubs.Butit isthepriceofambition.

If Slingerz FC intends to remain the standard-bearer of Guyanese football, then competing in finals is not enough Losing them, especially twice, cannot becomeacceptable.

For Slingerz FC, the message moving forward must be simple. Win the next tournament Win it convincingly And make it lookeasy

Diamond Sec' lift Goodwood Racing, R&T Taxi Secondary School Tapeball Cricket C/ship

Diamond Secondary School claimed the title at the 2026 Secondary Schools Goodwood and R&T Taxi Tapeball Cricket Competition.

Diamond Secondary School claimed the titleatthe2026SecondarySchoolsTapeball Cricket Competition, sponsored by Goodwood Racing Service and R&T Taxi Service. The event took place over the weekendattheNationalParktarmac.

Avocalcrowd,includingseveralparents, most notably mothers, turned out in support of their boys, celebrating International Women's Day through this exciting tapeball competition, the most attractive school cricketeventinthecountry

Organiserswerethrilledwiththemassive turnout, which saw participation from numerousschools.

The competition eventually narrowed down to a thrilling Super 8's stage, where Annandale Secondary delivered impressive performances, dominating Bishops High. Campbellville Secondary had their own plans, defeating Christ Church Secondary decisively.

Diamond Secondary then returned to the field, completing their mission by convincingly beating Veed-en-Hoop Secondarytoadvancetothefinal.Pateniaon the other hand, mirrored Diamond's performance, beating West Demerara Secondarytoapulptoascendtotheultimate challenge,thegrandfinale.

In the final, Diamond Secondary batted first, scoring 42 for 3 in their allotted overs. Vikash Roopnarine contributed 16 runs, while Kevin Mahase took 2 wickets for 19 runs In response, Patentia Secondary managed only 33 for 6, resulting in another tapeballtitleforDiamondSecondary Shazad Ally was the only batter to show resilience, scoring12runsinthechase.RavinSinghwas the standout bowler, taking 3 wickets for 17 runsandhelpingrestrictPatentiatojustnine runsinthefinalmoments.

Ravin Singh's outstanding performance earned him the Best Bowler and Most ValuablePlayer(MVP)awards,whileVikash Roopnarine received the Best Batsman trophyforhistopscoringinthefinal.

Looking ahead, the school boys' league fortheMike'sPharmacyTrophycontinueson Saturday, March 28th, 2026. Defending champions Covent Garden Secondary will faceBerbiceHighfrom9a.m.attheNational Culture Centre tarmac. Other matches include Abram Zuil Secondary versus B.V. Secondary; Brickdam Secondary versus St. Stanislaus College; Queen's College versus Diamond Secondary; Charlestown Secondary versus President's College; and Vergenoegen Secondary versus L B I Secondary

Zion Hickerson dominant at Tennis & Table Tennis Tournaments

At his last international

tournament, Casely International Tennis in Florida, Zion Hickerson earned a runner up place. Locally, he won the U12 category at the Rebel Tennis C l u b A n n i v e r s a r y Tournament. He defeated Olufemi Cuffy 4/0,4/0 and Michael Fordyce 4-0 5-3 in the group phase. In the semifinal, he overcame Yoshua Mangru 4-1 4-1 whileinthefinalheoutlasted HaydenChan4-14-2.

In the same week, he defeated Joshua Peter to win the U11 Boys Annual Mashramani Table tennis competition.Duetoschedule clash, he was unable to participate in U13 & U 15 divisions. The youth athlete who attends St Gabriel's Primary is currently preparing for the upcoming NationalGradeSixExams.

Zion is sponsored by ENet, BK, Acado Guyana, Beacon Cafe, Jai Signs, Guyoil, Tristone Auto Sales, MVP Sports, Fireside Grill, Smalta, Modern Optical, Corum Restaurant Group, Toucan Industries, BBS

Coating, Ramchand Autospares and Slingerz Fam/Shi-Oil.

YBG's Five Challenge Series delivers two days of intense Developmental action

Youth Basketball

Guyana reached new heights over two action-packed days as the Five Challenge Series brought together thenation'smostpromisingyoung talents for a celebration of skill, sportsmanship,anddevelopment.

TheChallengeSeriesdelivered

two dynamic days of developmental basketball, designed to strengthen and refine thefundamentalskillsofthegame. Throughout the event, studentathletes were assessed on key competencies, including shooting, passing, dribbling, and game application.

What set this series apart was

emerged as divisional champions, demonstrating exceptional teamworkandskillthroughoutthe competition.

Individualexcellencewasalso prominently displayed throughout the series. Daniel Cox (St. Roses High) received MVP honours for theU14category,whileMattaniah Fordyce (President's College) claimedtheU18MVPaward.

The three-point shooting award went to JosiahArcher, who let them flow quite nicely through the air, much to the delight of spectators Alafin Joseph was adjudged the player with the most skills combined, while Stephan Dukesoaredtovictoryinthedunk

St Rose's High School share photo-op with YBG co-director Rayad Boyce after copping the U14 Series.

heightening motivation and enthusiasm.Thefollowingawards werepresented:

Co-director of YBG Rayad Boyce shared photo with U18 champions after President's College would have received their first place medals, marking the conclusion of the YBG's two-day Five Challenge Series

its commitment to equal opportunity

TheChallengeSeriescreateda fun and engaging atmosphere, ensuringthateveryparticipanthad the opportunity to fully engage in basketball. With no substitutions made, each athlete benefited from equal court time to demonstrate their abilities, a philosophy that aligns perfectly with Youth

B a s k e t b a l l G u y a n a ' s developmentalmission.

This year also marked the introduction of the Mini Basketball Tournament (U12), a significant milestone that underscores the stepping stones being created for youth development in the sport. Four teams competed with exceptional determination, showcasing their commitment to improving their skillsandlayingthefoundationfor basketball'sfutureinGuyana.

ChampionsCrowned

The event concluded with high-levelperformancesacrossall divisions. St. Roses High (U14) and President's College (U18)

contest, electrifying the crowd withhisathleticism.

Attheconclusionoftheseries,

outstanding performers were recognized and rewarded with

(Reuters) - Organisers of the Indian Wells tennis tournament apologised to Venus Williams and her playing partner

​Leylah Fernandez after a clerical error ahead the women's doubles draw denied the wildcard duo the opportunity to compete.

Seven-times Grand Slam champion Williams, 45, was ​beaten in the opening round of the ​singles tournament by Diane Parry while Canada's ⁠Fernandez lost to KaterinaSiniakovainthesecond​round.

However, organisers said they had made an error and ​failed to certify the doubleswildcardentryofthepairaheadof thedraw

"We worked with the WTAsupervisor ​toreviewallavailableoptions,butbecause the ​draw had already been made, the mistakecouldnotbe,"⁠organiserssaidina

Championsreceivedcashprize of $65,000 along with medals, runner-up cashed in on a $32,000 cashprizealongwithmedals.The Most Valuable Player (MVP) received $20,000 and a trophy, while skills challenge winners tapped in on a $10,000 financial incentiveaswellasatrophy

"We remain devoted to advancing and strengthening our developmental framework, continuallyprovidingtheessential foundation and opportunities needed for players to grow and

statement.”WehaveapologisedtoVenus, Leylahandtheirteamsaboutthematter, andregretthatourfanswerenotableto ​see this ​duo compete ⁠in Indian Wells thisyear

“Fans were eager to catch the duo in action ​in the doubles after they reached​the⁠U.S.Openquarter-finals last year, losing to eventual runners-up Taylor Townsend and Siniakova.However, they will be in ⁠mixed ​doubles action,Williamsteaming up with American compatriot Christian

excel across the country," a YBG representativeshared.

"We extend our sincere gratitude to our community partners; Edward B. Beharry Ltd, G-Boat Inc, and the National Sports Commission, for their continuedsupportinmakingyearround youth development possible."

The Series has once again proven to be a vital platform for nurturing basketball talent in Guyana, providing young athletes with the opportunity to develop theirskills,competeatahighlevel, andfallevenmoreinlovewiththe game.

Venus Williams of the U.S. in action during her first round match against Serbia's Olga Danilovic.

(REUTERS/Jaimi Joy/File Photo)

BCBSmaltaUnder19Tournament...

Rose Hall Town Pepsi 'A' advance to quarterfinals as Runner up in Zone C

The Rose Hall Town Pepsi A team has qualified for the quarterfinals of the Berbice Cricket Board Smalta Under 19 tournament. The team under the leadership of Khomalchand Ramnarace defeated arch rival PortMourantandRoseHallTown Pepsi B while they lost toAlbion. They emerged as the runner up in Zone C whileAlbion advanced as thewinner

1) Playing their counterparts Pepsi'B'attheArea'H'ground,the Rose Hall Town Pepsi 'A' scored 170alloutin37oftheirallotted40 overs. The match was reduced from its original 50 overs due to earlymorningshowers.

RoshawnCrandon30,Ramzan Koober 25, Jonathan Hicks 20, Tameshwar Deonarine 20 and Leon Reddy 21 were the main scorersforthePepsiAteamwhile Nicholas Cameron 3 for 10, Anthony Budhoo 2 for 5 and Austin Narine 3 for 28 were the mainbowlersforPepsiB.

Khomalchand Ramnarace 4 for 8 fromsixoversandBalrajNarine4 for 6 from three overs were the destroyers.

2) Playing at the Area 'H' ground versus Port Mourant, the hometeamamassed232for9from their50overs.

The principal scorers were openerRamzanKoober49,theinform Tameshwar Deonarine 60, RoshawnCrandon33andnational Under 13 player Jayden Ganpat 20.

The best bowlers for the visitorswereMuneshRamparsaud 3 for 36 (10 overs) and Joseph Persaud2for14from8overs.

Inreplyneeding233runsfrom 50overs,thevisitorswerebowled outfor206from39overswiththe aggressive Vishaul Williams top scoring with 86 (9x4, 3x6) and NavinBoodwa53(3x4,2x6).

Bowling for the home team, legspinnerAsifMarimuthoo4for 28 and Khomalchand Ramnarace 2for28werethetopbowlersasthe PepsiAteamwonby26runs.

3) Albion defeated Rose Hall TownPepsi'A'bysevenwicketsat

In reply, the B team were bowled out for 69 with Nicholas Camerontopscoringwithaneven 50 which included four sixes and five fours Off spinners

theAlbionCommunityCentre.

RoseHallTownPepsi'A'–126 alloutin45overs.JonathanHicks 20, Tameshwar Deonarine 35 and RamzanKoober15. OffspinnerRovinLallbehari3

for 12 was the best bowler for Albion while Nathaniel Ramsanmy and Nicholas Lepps tooktwowicketseach.

In reply, Albion reached 129 for 3 in 25 overs to win by seven wickets.Ramsanmyreturnedwith the bat to top score with a composed 42 while Saeed Jumratty30andSahidGajnabi24 not out also batted well in the victorychase.

West Indies players leave India on commercial flights after charter cancelled

(Reuters) - West Indies players are leaving India on commercial flights in batches after their departure was delayed dueto​internationalairspaceclosuresamid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Caribbean side's governing body CWI saidonTuesday

Indian media reported that a charter flightfortheWestIndiesandSouthAfrica Twenty20 ​World Cup teams scheduled to fly to Johannesburg ​before continuing on to Antigua was cancelled earlier on ⁠Tuesday

Some players and staff have departed and others are scheduled ​to leave on different flights on Tuesday and Wednesday,CWI​saidinastatement.

West Indies were eliminated from the tournament's Super Eight stage on March 1, but remained in India as their charter flight organised by the International

CricketCouncil(ICC)wasrepeatedlydelayed.

"As is ​customary for both men's and women's ICC World Cups, all travel and arrangements for participating teams are coordinated and managed by the ICC," CWI said.

"OngoinguncertaintysurroundingtheICCorganisedcharter, as aresultof globaltensions and aviation regulations, made the situation ​increasinglydistressing."

WestIndies​coachDaren⁠SammyandSouth African players Quinton de Kock and David Miller have accused the ICC of ​leaving them stranded, pointing out that the England ​team ⁠returned on a charter flight within two days of losinginthesemi-finalstoIndia.

"Multipleapproacheshavesincebeenmade through ⁠CWI, ​players, and other partners, in coordination with the ICC, to secure commercial travel to facilitate the squad's safe return,"​CWIadded.

GuyanatocompeteatGrand PrixoftheAmericasArchery Tournament in El Salvador

Guyana will be represented by three archers at the upcoming Grand Prix of the Americas, Stage I – Second Qualifier for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, scheduled for 15–19 April 2026 in Santa Tecla,ElSalvador

TheGuyanesecontingentwillcomprise Devin Persaud Permaul, Wayne DeAbreu, and Roshini Boodhoo, who will compete against top archers from across the Americas in one of the region's most significant international archery competitions.

Theevent,organisedundertheauspices of World Archery and the Salvadoran Archery Federation, will take place at the Jardines de La Sabana Sports Complex in Santa Tecla, a venue that has previously hosted major regional championships. The tournament serves not only as a World Ranking Event (WRE) but also as an important qualifier for the Central American and Caribbean Games, giving athletes the opportunity to earn valuable ranking points and secure qualification opportunities.

Competition will begin with official practice, equipment inspection, and the team managers' meeting, followed by qualification rounds and elimination matches across several categories. The programme culminates with individual, team,andmixedteammedalmatches.

The Guyanese team will also be enteringthemixedteamevent,markingan important milestone in the development of the country's competitive archery programme.

Team member Devin Persaud Permaul expressed enthusiasm about the

West Indies' Sherfane Rutherford celebrates with teammates after catching out India's Suryakumar Yadav off the bowling of West Indies' Shamar Joseph. (REUTERS/Sahiba Chawdhary/File Photo)

opportunity,noting:“I'mexcitedtoenterfor thefirsttimeasamixedteam.It'sonestep forwardinourteamprogression.”

Meanwhile, Roshini Boodhoo highlightedthemotivationthatcomesfrom competing alongside experienced national teammatesasshecontinuesherpreparation.

“I'm elated to meet up with fellow Guyanese archers who are no strangers on the international scene, which adds motivationasIpreparethroughone-on-one training sessions with Coach Lula,” she said.

Archery Guyana views participation in thisprestigioustournamentasanimportant step in the continued development of the sport locally Competing on the international stage provides invaluable experience for Guyanese athletes while strengtheningthecountry'spresenceonthe internationalstage.

The three athletes who will be representing Guyana have demonstrated commitmentandsteadyprogresswithinthe nationalprogramme.

Their participation reflects Archery Guyana's ongoing efforts to expose local athletestohigherlevelsofcompetitionand tobuildastrongpipelineoftalentcapableof competing at regional and international events.

Santa Tecla, located in the department ofLaLibertadinElSalvador,isknownfor its modern sporting infrastructure and experience hosting international archery competitions.

The Board of Directors of Archery Guyanahasextendeditsbestwishestothe athletes as they prepare to represent the nationandcompeteagainstsomeofthebest archersintheAmericas.

Sandiford victorious in Open Chess Championship Qualifiers Sam wins Diamond Insurance Women's Category

Keron Sandiford, after two weekends of intense competition, won the

National Open Chess Championship Qualifiers, while young Kataleya Sam took home the first-place prize in the Women's

Qualifiers The 2026

National Open Chess ChampionshipQualifiersand the Diamond Fire-sponsored W o m e n ' s C h e s s Championship Qualifiers concludedonSunday,March 8,2026,attheCliffAnderson Sports Hall to determine the top nine positions in each category who will move f o r w a r d t o t h e championships.

Sandiford delivered a dominant performance, finishing with an impressive seven points in the eightroundclassictournament.He demonstrated profound strategic depth and technical skills, securing definitive victories against seasoned senior players, including FM Anthony Drayon, CM RonuelGreenidge,andjunior player CM Sachin Pitamber His only setback in an otherwise flawless run occurred in the seventh round; a hard-fought loss to KyleCouchmanwasthesole factor that thwarted his bid foraperfectscore.

Securing second place was Drayton, who finished withahard-fought6.5points. FM Drayton showcased his vast experienceto navigatea competitive field of both seniorandjuniorplayers.His onlysetbackswerehislossto Keron Sandiford in the third roundandastrategicdrawin the seventh round against Greenidge.

Couchman, the reigning National Junior Chess Champion, secured third place with 6 points from the eight rounds of play As one of Guyana's most seasoned junior competitors, Couchman recorded crucial victoriesagainstcounterparts KimShingChong,Alexander Zhang,andKeronSandiford. He also managed draws against CM Pitamber and CM Greenidge, with his sole defeatcomingatthehandsof FM Drayton in the fifth round.

Fourth place went to Greenidge, who secured five points after the tie-breaker calculations Greenidge recorded four commanding wins, though he conceded

matchestoKishanPuranand Keron Sandiford in the first and fourth rounds, respectively He also fought tostrategicdrawsinthesixth and seventh rounds against FMDraytonandCouchman.

Also finishing on five points was Jaden Taylor, whose strong tie-break score earned him the fifth-place position. Taylor enjoyed an excellent showing, with his only losses coming against the tournament's top three finishers.

Sixth place went to CM Pitamber, who also concluded with five points. Pitamber played nearly flawlesschessthroughoutthe event; however, despite securing crucial draws, he slipped to sixth after a fifthround loss to Keron Sandiford and being forced tomissthesixthrounddueto illness.

Rounding off the top nine, Rolex Alexander secured seventh position with 5 points, followed by Alexander Zhang and Leslie Campbell,whobothfinished with 4.5 points to claim eighth and ninth spots respectively IntheWomen'sCategory, twelve-year-old Kataleya Samproducedaflawlessand commendable performance, finishing with an unbeaten seven points across eight rounds of play, making her the youngest female to win the National Women's Qualifiers.ThereigningU14 and U16 Girls' Champion played immaculately throughout both weekends, securing notable victories against WCM Jessica Callender and Ciel Clement in rounds five and six. She also navigated hard-fought draws against WCM Sasha

Shariff and Treskolé Archibald in rounds three and four, while efficiently dispatchingheropponentsin the remaining rounds with seemingease. Securing second place

was former National Women's Champion WCM Shariff, who also remained unbeaten throughout the tournament to finish with a solid six points WCM Shariff'syearsofcompetitive experience were on full displayasshemovedthrough the field with poised confidence, securing comfortable victories while navigating several hard-

fought draws. A particularly notable win came in the second round, where she defeated teammate and former National Women's ChampionWCMCallender Callender claimed third place due to the tie breakers withsixpoints.Sheutilizeda careful and strategic approach throughout the tournament, resulting in several hard-fought victories overheropponents.Heronly setbacks in the eight-round tournament were two losses against WCM Shariff and Sam in the second and fifth rounds,respectively

Securing fourth place with 5 5 points after a gruelling tournament was Ciel Clement. As one of Guyana's seasoned female competitors, Clement demonstrated her vast experience through a series of pivotal victories and strategic draws during the tournament's most critical

roun

gameplaywasonfulldisplay as she navigated the eightroundtournament.

Securing fifth place is Sana Sreebalakumar, one of Guyana'smostpromisingupand-coming young players. Throughout the tournament, Sreebalakumar displayed remarkable discipline and courage over the board, qualities that ultimately earned her a top position finish. She recorded a series ofcommandingvictoriesand secured pivotal draws exactly when they were neededthemost.

Roundingoffthetopnine positions were Archibald, AnayaLall,ItalyTon-Chung, and Parnita Kishun, who all concluded the tournament with a competitive score of 4 5 points each These

l throughout the eight rounds to secure their places among

t h e e l i t e qualifiers.

Thetopnineplayersfrom each category have earned a well-deserved place from a field of over 50 participants to qualify for the upcoming 2026 National Che

candidates in each division arevyingtoseizethenational title from the reigning Open Chess Champion CM Taffin Khan and Women's Chess ChampionWCMAditiJoshi.

Twenty players, including the respective Champions, will be engaged in nine rounds of mental combat over the board in a single Round-Robincontest.

Thechampionshipbattles commence on Saturday, March14,2026,attheDavid RoseSpecialSchool.

The GCF extends its heartfelt gratitude t

Diamond Fire and General Insurance for their steadfast and invaluable support of women's chess. For several years, the company has served as the proud sponsor ofboththeNationalWomen's C

Championships, fostering the growth of the game in Guyana. Special thanks are also due to the National Sports Commission for facilitating the use of the CliffAndersonSportsHall. The top six boards for each category were livestreamed on lichess.org by John Lee, FIDE Arbiter and Technical Director for the GCF Results and pairings were published on chessresults.com.

Visit guyanachess.gy to learn more about the GCF and follow us on Facebook andInstagram.

Persaud claims NTFGL honours as title race heats up

The National Top Flight Golf League (NTFGL) continued to deliver exciting competition at Lusignan Golf Course with another closely contested round thatsawVideshPersaudemerge astheday'stopperformer

Persaud produced a solid round of gross 85, and with his 18 handicap converted that into an impressive net 67 to secure overallhonoursand10valuable points.

Hisstrongfinishalsoearned him the back nine title, highlighting a composed performancedownthestretch.

The front nine competition proved equally dramatic, with IanGouveiaedgingPersaudina tie-breaker to take the honours. The decision came down to the final stretch, where Gouveia finished two under par over the last six holes, narrowly beating Persaud's one under over the sameclosingsegment.

In second place overall, the in-form Keshan Bacchus continued his strong run, returninganet71tocollectfive points and remain firmly in the hunt as the league standings tighten.

Another highlight of the round came in a three-way tiebreaker involving experienced competitors Patrick Prashad,

Brian Hackett, and Patanjilee Persaud.

After the countback was applied, Prashad secured three points, Hackett collected two, and Persaud picked up one, ensuring the race for points remainsextremelyclose.

The developing storyline of the league continues to be the intensebattlebetweenPatanjilee “Pur”PersaudandHackett,who remain locked together on 14 pointsastheychasetheleader

Meanwhile, Chet Bowling, popularly known as “Smoking Chet,” returned to action but endured an uncharacteristic outing, finishing the round without registering a point, a rare occurrence for one of the league'sconsistentcompetitors.

CurrentStandings

● Videsh Persaud — 17 points

● Patanjilee “Pur” Persaud—14points

● Brian Hackett — 14 points

● Chet “Smoking” Bowling—10points

With several rounds still to be played, the NTFGL is shaping up to be a thrilling contest, with players battling fiercely each week and the leaderboard remaining tightly packed as the tournament progresses.

Videsh Persaud currently lead with 17 points.

Underdogs rising or giants slipping? Slingerz must deliver trophies on investments

ByRawleToney

Slingerz Football Club is bothablessingandaproblem forGuyanesefootball.

That statement may sound contradictory at first, but the club's recent run of results, particularly their back-to-back defeats in two major finals, has forced a deeper conversation about where the local game truly stands.

Thesquadboastssomeofthe bestlocalplayersavailablein nearly every position, s u p p l e m e n t e d b y international talent from Jamaica, Sierra Leone, The GambiaandCameroon.

That level of recruitment is not accidental. It is the product of deliberate investment.

Owner and President Javed Ali have built the

FootballFederation.

Even Police FC's win, historicasitmaybe,mustbe viewed within context

Despitetheirstatusasoneof the country's most recognised teams, the lawmenhadneverpreviously wonatrophyinatournament or league organised by the GFF

Their victory was significant, but it was also

On January 1, Slingerz FC, the reigning national champions, fell 1–0 to Western Tigers in the GFF Super16CupFinal.Then,on March 7, they suffered anothersetback,losing2–1to the Guyana Police Force Football Club (GPF FC) in the GFF Elite League Cup Final.

On paper, these results might excite the casual football fan For those watching from the outside, it appears as though balance is returning to the domestic game. Two teams widely considered underdogs toppled a side that many believed had become nearly untouchable.

Parity, some will argue, has returned to Guyana's football. But has it really? The reality is far more complicated.

To begin with, one must acknowledge what Slingerz FChasbuiltoverthepastfew years The club did not simply win the Elite League last season, they dominated it. They went through the entire campaign unbeaten, conceded the fewest goals, and consistently displayed a level of tactical discipline and individual quality rarely seeninthedomesticgame.

More importantly, when one surveys the roster from goalkeeper to striker, Slingerz FC is arguably the moststackedclubinGuyana.

Slingerz brand on a philosophythatsuccessisnot optional, it is expected. The clubspendsheavily,whether on player recruitment, or the broader professionalization oftheorganisation.

That investment has elevatedstandardsacrossthe league, but it also creates expectations that cannot be ignored. Because when a club invests at that level, when it brings in foreign talenttocomplementthebest local players, the objective cannotsimplybetocompete. Theobjectivemustbetowin, andtowinconvincingly.

Which brings us back to the uncomfortable question…whatdothesetwo finalslossesactuallymean?

For neutral observers, they represent hope The victories by Western Tigers and Police FC suggest that the giants can be beaten. They hint at the possibility thatotherclubsmightfinally closethegap.

But that interpretation overlooksanimportanttruth.

Guyana's competitive structure remains largely centred around four clubs; Slingerz FC, Guyana Defence Force, Western TigersandtheGuyanaPolice Force. While other teams participate in national tournaments, it is these four that consistently shape the outcomes of competitions organised by the Guyana

Jamaican Kemar Beckford, swarmed by Police FC defenders during their Elite League Cup finals clash.

long overdue So, the narrative that Guyanese footballhassuddenlyentered a new era of widespread competitive balance may be somewhatexaggerated. What these results truly reveal is something else entirely. They reveal that

Slingerz FC, despite all their talent, investment and dominance, are not invincible. And for a club built on the principle of excellence, that reality will hurt.The defeats to Western Tigers and Police FC will sting deeply inside the

Slingerz camp.They should.

Becausewhenateamwidely viewedasthebestassembled squad in the country fails to secure silverware in consecutive finals, questions inevitablyfollow

Not about effort, but

(Continuedonpage29)