…saysGreenlanddealframeworkreached
Statementsmadeby Speaker of the N a t i o n a l Assembly Manzoor Nadir during a national address, includinglabelingWeInvest in Nationhood (WIN) leader and Member of Parliament Azruddin Mohamed a “fugitive” have drawn sharp rebuke from the political party
On Tuesday evening, Nadir broke his silence on the convening of a meeting to facilitate the election of a leader of the opposition During the live stream, the speaker took aim at Mohamed, suggesting that his possible election as the opposition leader would tarnishGuyana'sparliament.
Nadir said, “If the opposition MPs see it morally right to elect an international fugitive as the country's opposition leader, then the stain on our parliament and our country rests solely with them. This likelihood has been unprecedented in our west minister parliamentary system.”
In response, WIN condemned the speaker's remarks, describing them as improper and politically motivated.
The party said, “We condemn in the strongest possible terms the conduct and remarks of the Speaker of the National Assembly during his recent address to the nation on Tuesday, January20th2026,including his disparaging, abusive, defamatory, false, and malicious statements directed at the presumptive leaderoftheopposition,Mr Azruddin Mohamed and his open contempt for the international diplomatic community.”
WIN said it was unacceptable that the speaker used a national address to personally attack
and prejudge an elected MP and presumptive leader of the opposition. The party argued that Nadir's remarks demonstrated bias incompatible with the neutralityoftheofficeofthe speaker
WIN said, “The speaker isnotaprosecutor,apolitical combatant, or a mouthpiece fortherulingparty Hisduty istoupholdtheconstitution, protect the integrity of Parliament, and act impartially By choosing insults over restraint and propaganda over principle, he has demeaned the National Assembly and further eroded public confidenceinitsleadership.”
Mohamedandhisfather, Nazar, are currently challenging an extradition request by the United States Government in the local courts.
The businessmen have been indicted in the U.S. on multiple charges, including allegationsoforchestratinga fraudandmoney-laundering scheme involving gold exports, customs fraud, bribery, and the evasion of millions of dollars in taxes androyaltiesallegedlyowed toGuyana.
The 13th Parliament of Guyana opened on November 3, 2025, with government and opposition parliamentarians sworn in. Sincethen,WINwhichholds the largest number of seats among the opposition parties, ahead of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Forward Movement Guyana (FGM) had been calling on the Speaker to convene the meeting of non-government MPstofacilitatetheelection of an opposition leader The delay had also attracted comments from diplomatic representativesoftheUnited States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, and the
European Union.It was only on Tuesday night that Nadir disclosedthemeetingwould be held on Monday, January 26, the same day the 2026 Budget is scheduled to be presented. WIN contended that the nearly three-month delay was deliberate and amounted to an abuse of constitutionalresponsibility
Itsaid,“Itwasonlyafter unequivocal and sustained pressure from international partners, civil society, and theGuyanesepublicthatthe speaker was pressured to finallyact.”
The party also criticised comments made by the speakertowardUnitedStates Ambassador Nicole Theriot
Commissioner Sébastien Sigouin, who were among diplomats commenting on the issue. WIN argued that democratic processes in Guyana should not require diplomatic pressure to function and said the situation reflected poorly on theSpeaker'sconduct.
Further, the party said that Monday, January 26, 2026, would mark a historic moment.
The party said, “WIN looks forward to turning the p a g e , r e s t o r i n g constitutional order, and advancing a parliament that puts the interests of all Guyanesefirst.”
PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.
Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456
Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams
Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
Guyana witnessed a troubling spectacle on Tuesday night, not one of leadership, dignity, or constitutional guardianship, but of arrogance, political bias, and institutionaldecay
Inanationaladdressthatshouldhavereassuredcitizens and unified the country, the Speaker of the National Assembly,ManzoorNadirinsteaddeliveredanassaulton democraticnorms,attackingthepresumptiveLeaderofthe Oppositionandinsultinginternationalpartnerswhodared tocallforconstitutionalcompliance.
It is not lost on citizens that for nearly three months, Guyanese were forced to endure deliberate delays in electingaLeaderoftheOpposition.
ThisfollowedaseparateparalysisofParliamentitself after the September 1, 2025 elections- unprecedented stagnation that crippled legislative oversight and governance.
These were not administrative oversights. They were calculated acts of political obstruction that violated the spiritandletterofconstitutionalresponsibility.
Only after sustained pressure from the international community,civilsocietyorganizations,andtheGuyanese publicdidmovementfinallyoccur.Yetratherthanaccept responsibilityforthesefailures,theSpeakerchosetolash out. His public ridicule of diplomats in the so-called national address who merely insisted on constitutional order was not only reckless, it was diplomatically damagingandnationallyembarrassing.
Even more disturbing was the Speaker’s decision to weaponise a national platform to personally vilify and prejudge an elected Member of Parliament and presumptive Leader of the Opposition, Mr Azruddin Mohamed. Such conduct crosses a dangerous line. It undermines due process, erodes parliamentary neutrality, and exposes a level of partisanship wholly incompatible withtheOfficeoftheSpeaker
The Speaker is not a political enforcer He is not a prosecutor He is not a mouthpiece for the government of the day His role is to serve as the impartial guardian of Parliament,toupholdtheConstitution,protectdemocratic integrity,andpreserveinstitutionaldignity
However,justaswasstatedbyWINinastatement,he chose propaganda over principle, insults over statesmanship, and political loyalty over constitutional duty
Bydoingso,hehasnotonlydisgracedhimselfhehas dragged the NationalAssembly into public disrepute and weakenedconfidenceinparliamentaryleadershipatatime whentrustisalreadyfragile.
Democracy in Guyana should never require external intervention to function. That it did so is a damning indictment of the Speaker’s conduct. The blame lies not withthosewhospokeout,butwiththosewhorefusedtoact untilpressurebecameunavoidable.
AswehavesaidbeforeNadirhasnotputhisbestfoot forward, but rather made himself look shabby in his attempttodenythewillofthepeople.
In Speaker Nadir’s hands rest the responsibility to get the selection method moving, as powered by Guyana’s Constitution, and the parliamentary rules over which he standsasthechiefreferee.
We must be frank, though from all indications, he has tied his hands rather unwisely, and they now give off an odoroftaint.
Monday, January 26, 2026, now stands as a pivotal moment. After months of deliberate obstruction, the democraticprocesswillfinallyresumeitsrightfulcourse. Itisanopportunitytorestoreconstitutionalorder,rebuild publictrust,andreassertthatParliamentexiststoservethe people,notpoliticalagendas.
The country must move forward. But it must also remember Because institutions only remain strong when thoseentrustedtoleadthemareheldaccountable.
DEAREDITOR,
The January 3, 2026
kidnapping of the Venezuelan P
sident Nicolas Maduro has signalled that international relations have suffered a greatdisaster Wearebackto acolonialperiod.
Thebigdifferenceofthis periodandtheearliertimeis that in the past we had several colonial powers, all Europeancountries,theUK, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Today we see that the United States has taken theirplaceasasupercolonial state with a junior partner in Israel.
This did not happen overnight;itwasaprocess.It began with the dismantling oftheSovietUnionin1991. At that time many people thought that the world was enteringintoaneraof peace sincetherivalrybetweenthe then two superpowers had ended.
Unfortunately, the UnitedStatescouldnotresist the temptation of expanding its power and to control as much of the world as possible.Thefirstsignofthis was in 1994 when the Clinton administration announced its plans to expand the North Atlantic TreatyOrganisation(NATO) to include many Eastern European countries that had oncebeeninanalliancewith
the Soviet Union, known as theWarsawPact.
This was a renegation of its promise to the last President of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev, made in 1989whentheSovietUnion was told that if it agreed to the re-unification of Germany, NATO would not move an inch beyond the Germanborders.
At that time one of the most experienced US ambassadors, Mr Jack MattlocktoldtheUSForeign Affairs committee that that may very well go down in history as the biggest mistake that the United Stateswouldmake.
However, buoyed by its new status as the only superpower, the US went ahead and in waves, expandedNATO.Bytheend ofthelastcenturyitbombed Serbia, a former state of Yugoslaviaforseventy-eight days, and ripped away KosovofromSerbia.
This process of expanding NATO is the principal reason for the present military conflict betweenRussiaandUkraine, and proved Mr Mattlock prophetic.
Apart from that expansion into Eastern Europe, the United States in alliancewithIsraelmovedto crushanystateintheMiddle East that was opposed to Israel, Iraq being the first
victim. Using deception and misinformationthatIraqhad “weapons of mass destruction,” it launched a massive attack killing about one million people and leaving the country broken and divided The world found out after that there were no weapons of mass destruction, and it was one bigfatlietoinvadeIraq.
Then we had the destruction of the most prosperous country in the Middle East, Libya Its leader was publicly humiliated and murdered Fifteen years after that, the country is in ruins with numerous warlords fighting forcontrol.
Libya was destroyed for tworeasons.Inthefirstplace it was opposed to Israel’s apartheid state and secondly its leader Gaddafi was pushing for a new currency, the Golden Dinar, to replace the US dollar for in trade withAfricancountries.
On October 7, 2023, the oppressedpeopleoftheGaza attempted to break out of their open prison which act was used as the excuse to destroy the whole strip Almost all the buildings weredestroyedbytheIsraeli army The death toll is still unknown but is estimated between 300,000 to 500,000 persons.
This massacre was done
with the full backing of the UnitedStateswhichsupplied most of the weapons to kill the helpless Palestinian civilians. This was done by Presidents of both Democratic and Republican parties.
Since the election of Donald Trump in 2024, the mask was completely taken off. This US administration isnotlookingforexcuses;it is making its intentions explicit.Itwantstotakeover as much of the world as possible.
To do so, the US has taken a very hostile position to international institutions that it does not totally control.We have seen that it isusingthreatsandsanctions against UN officials, among them the fearless Francesa Albanese whose visa was taken away because of her expose’ of the inhumane conditions of the Palestinian people.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the InternationalCriminalCourt (ICC) are attacked and officials facing sanctions, including withdrawals of visas.
The US President has openlyboastedthathehasno regardforlaws,onlywhathe feelsiscorrect.
The US wants to take over Canada, Greenland, Venezuela,thePanama
Continued on page 5
DEAREDITOR,
In a display of semantic gymnasticsthatwouldmake a contortionist blush, MinisterKwameMcCoyhas taken to the airwaves to defend the indefensible. By dismissingconcernsoverthe vacant Leader of the Opposition seat as “manufactured nonsense,” the Minister is not merely playing word games; he is signaling the dawn of an era of executive overreach that threatens to reduce the 13th Parliamenttoamererubberstampfortherulingelite.
Minister McCoy’s argument is as hollow as the “functioning” Parliament he describes.
He rests his case on the technicality that 65 bodies weresworninonNovember 3,2025.Yet,heconveniently ignores the fundamental architecture of our Westminster system A Parliament is not simply a collection of individuals in seats; it is a delicate
ecosystem of checks, balances, and constitutional roles.
To claim that the National Assembly is “lawfully constituted” for the purpose of a National Budget while the Office of theLeaderoftheOpposition remains vacant is an affront to the spirit of the Constitution. The Leader of the Opposition is not a ceremonial garnish; it is a constitutionally mandated office essential for the scrutiny of public spending. Presenting a Budget without thisofficefilledisliketrying to hold a trial without a defense attorney and calling it “justice” simply because the judge and prosecutor showedup.
TheMinisteraccusesthe Opposition of being “unable to mount a credible debate,” yet the Government seems terrified of a process that includes a formally recognized leader of the opposing side. The election
of the Leader of the O
prerequisite for the healthy functioningoftheHouse.By rushing to the January 26th Budget presentation while this role remains in limbo, the PPP/C is attempting to bypasstheveryscrutinythat the Guyanese taxpayer deserves.
Let’s call this what it is: ConstitutionalGaslighting. When the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) andotherssignaltheirintent to boycott, they aren’t “defaultingtodeception,”as McCoy suggests. They are refusing to participate in a charade.
If the Government can unilaterally decide which constitutional offices are “optional” based on their own legislative timeline, thennoguardrailissafe.
Minister McCoy may find the “audacity” of the people’s concerns “astonishing,” but what is truly reckless is the Government’shastetospend billions of the people’s money while the primary constitutional watchdog remainslegallyhobbled.
The13thParliamentmay have the numbers, but until the Speaker fulfills his duty to facilitate the election of theLeaderoftheOpposition, any Budget presented on Monday will be a document of executive overreach, signed in the ink of constitutional bypass Guyana deserves a Parliament that functions by the book, not by the Government’sconvenience Respectfully, HemduttKumar
If we allow the 2026 Budgettobepresentedunder thiscloudofillegitimacy,we aren’t just passing a fiscal plan; we are enshrining a precedent where the Executive branch decides when and how the Opposition is allowed to exist.
DEAREDITOR,
Following sustained public condemnation, Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Manzoor Nadir, was compelled to address the nation. In doing so, his remarks ranged from thepersonaltothepublicand included what can only be described as unfounded and intemperate attacks against Mr Azrrudin Mohamed
WhileIholdnobriefforthe Mohamed family, it is nonetheless troubling to witness the extent to which the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has publicly turned against an individual who, by his own admission, previously rendered assistance from which the Speaker and members of the PPPC benefitted. As a Guyanese citizen observing these developments unfold in real time, one cannot help but ask: if this can be done so openly to them, what then
could be done to ordinary citizenslikemyself?
During the live broadcast, which has since circulated widely on social media the conduct and utterances of Speaker Nadir were,inmyconsideredview, wholly unbecoming of the office he holds His behaviour was disturbing, distasteful, and deeply dishonourable, bringing the ChairoftheSpeakershipinto disrepute Historically, Guyana has had its share of contentious Speakers; however, notwithstanding political disagreements, none have publicly comportedthemselvesinthe manner displayed by Mr Nadir on Tuesday, January 20,2026.
This public spectacle was a stark reminder of the conduct displayed by then Minister of Education, Ms. Priya Manickchand, at an official function hosted by the outgoing United States
Ambassador, Mr. Brent Hardt, in July 2014, an episode that similarly blurred the line between diplomacy and partisan hostility On this occasion, Speaker Nadir went further bytakingaswipeatHeadsof the Diplomatic Corps who hadcalledfortheelectionof aLeaderoftheOpposition,a position mandated by Guyana’s Constitution. In my view, these comments were entirely out of place a n d h a v e b r o u g h t embarrassment not only to Guyanese,buttoGuyanaby extension.
It is difficult to accept Mr Nadir’s assertion that members of the Diplomatic Corps were “misinformed.” Diplomatic missions are, by theirverynature,meticulous in research, protocol, and constitutional awareness before issuing public statements Consequently, the Speaker’s remarks reflected poorly on the
Government and warrant a public apology to the Diplomatic Community. This is not who we are as a people.
I was, however, delighted to hear Speaker Nadir announce that the long-awaited meeting with the non-governmental members of the National Assembly is scheduled for Monday, January 26, 2026, for the purpose of electing theLeaderoftheOpposition, asrequiredbyArticle184of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of G u y a n a T h i s announcement, though belated, is a necessary step t o w a r d r e s t o r i n g constitutional order and respect for the rule of law Article 184 is explicit in its intentandleavesnoroomfor discretionary delay, political m a n i p u l a t i o n , o r administrative obstruction Compliance with this provision is not an act of
Frompage4
Canalamongotherplaces.
The other method that theUSisusingtoexerciseits control over countries is FEAR Fear of being sanctioned, fear of tariffs, and fear of covert and overt
C I A a n d m i l i t a r y interventionsincountries.
Itisthisfearthathaskept the mouths of all Caribbean leaders,excepttheBarbados PMMiaMotley,tightlyshut about the kidnapping of President Maduro and the pirate like seizure of oil tankers.
It is that fear that governments in the region are breaking contracts with Cuba even after the
tremendous support that the Cuban government gave to theregion,particularlyinthe area of healthcare Now, many governments in the region are caving in under pressure from the US to end the contractual agreements withCuba.
Fear of sanctions, of subversion is a big factor in US relations with weaker nations.
Even European leaders seem deathly afraid of the USandkeepbendingoverto keepitspresidenthappy
However, we are beginning to see some resistance developing that opensnewpossibilities. For instance, Canada is
very actively restructuring their international economic relations.
Building new supply chains and repairing relationswithcountriessuch as China after sanctions imposedonthembytheUS. Clearly Canada values its sovereignty
There are signs too that someEuropeancountriesare beginning to see that alliances with the US mean to be subservient to the master and are beginning to rethinktheirpositions.Some ofthemareevenconsidering openingtalkswithRussia.
With one huge Super Colonial Power, the conditions for new alliances
aretakingshape.Wemaybe able to build a north/south alliance against colonial domination.
Thisofcoursewouldnot always be easy After all the US is not just the most p o w e r f u l c o u n t r y economically and militarily, it also controls most of the information flow in our world It’s ability to influence thinking globally isunmatched.
Therefore,tospeakofno ideology or not to worry about“isms”istodisarmthe masses in the face of a new colonialonslaught.
Regards,
DonaldRamotar FormerPresident
goodwillbytheGovernment or the Speaker, but a constitutional obligation owed to Parliament and the peopleofGuyana.
I was particularly insulted by Speaker Nadir’s repeated use of the terms “fugitive”and“international fugitive” to describe Mr Azrrudin Mohamed Tr o u b l e d b y t h i s characterization, I consulted authoritative legal and academicsources.Afugitive is generally defined as an individual who deliberately flees or remains in hiding to evade arrest or prosecution (Black’s Law Dictionary, 11th ed.; Oxford English Dictionary).Aninternational fugitive refers to a person actively sought across jurisdictions, typically throughmechanismssuchas INTERPOL Red Notices or formal extradition proceedings.
Based on publicly observable facts, this description does not appear to apply Mr Mohamed has been seen openly attending court proceedings with his father, moving freely within the country, and engaging with law enforcement when required, including being arrested on several occasions.These actions are inconsistent with the establishedlegalmeaningof a fugitive. The continued misuseofthesetermsbythe PPP/C and its supporters therefore appears to be a deliberate attempt to stigmatize and publicly shametheMohamedfamily
Guyanesearenotfools;inan era of real-time information andsocialmedia,citizensare increasingly informed and capable of independent judgment. If there is to be any discussion of individuals whomorecloselyalignwith the legal definition of a fugitive, one may recall the case of Mr Su Zhirong. As publicly stated by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, the State has been unable to locate Mr Su since at least 2022 for the purpose of servingcourtdocumentsina m a t t e r s e e k i n g approximately $50 million, n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g international investigative reporting—most notably by Vice News journalist Ms. Isobel Young which exposed serious allegations of corruption linked to Guyana’s gold sector This contrast has not gone unnoticedbythepublic.
Speaker Nadir also sought to justify his attendanceataconferencein India. However, Guyanese werenotinformedofthistrip beforehand,raising Continuedonpage6
Thoughunderserved,theSpeakeroftheHouse,Manzoor Nadirshouldbecommended forconveningthelongoverdue selection of the Leader of the Opposition. Following this commitment by the speaker to fulfill his role, the country should face no more machinations to deny the Opposition MP’s their right and responsibility to have their say in Parliament.
Wouldtherealsoberegularparliamentarysittingswhere equal respect and fair treatment of the Opposition members are normal? What about the selection of Region 10 Chair withoutfurtherdelay?
Regards, FaiyazAlli
DEAREDITOR,
GECOM, in concluding another cycle of national registration,hascommenced the Claims and Objections exercise That exercise providesforpersonswhoare qualifiedtoberegistered,but not yet registered, to completeanapplicationtobe registered. It also provides for registrants to apply for a change of particulars and transfers (name, address, et al).Additionally, it provides forregistrantstoobjecttothe inclusion of names of unqualified persons, such as thedead,intheregister
The goodly Attorney General has seized the momenttotelltheworldand the observer missions, in particular, that this is the mechanismforthecleansing of the list of ineligible and deceased persons, thus contendingthattheclaimsof a “bloated” list can stand public scrutiny and are baseless.
The Attorney General is theonewhohastheultimate responsibility for piloting legislation that’s intended to redress the presence of ineligible names, which
remainintheregisterandon thevoters‘list,evenafterthe conduct of claims and objections.
His public posture seeks to suggest that there is no need to address the contentionofa“bloated”list, since mechanisms are in place to continuously sanitize the list. In effect, whatheisdoingisseekingto maintain a list that‘s evidently corrupted, since there are thousands of registered overseas
Guyanese who have died after 2008 when the current listed was established and continuously subjected to updates, including the current cycle of registration.
There is no adequate mechanism for those names tobedeleted. He is also ignoring the fact that GECOM has consciouslynotprovidedfor the names of deceased persons which are not reported on by the General Registrar‘Office(Birthsand Deaths), but reported on by the Chief Medical Officer and the Commissioner of Police, to be struck off the list.
The Attorney General is thus masking the corrupted state of the list and by his actions condoning and facilitating the retention of thousands of names of dead personsonthevoters‘list.
Itmustneverbeforgotten that in 2020 verified evidence was produced of votes which were cast for persons who were not in the jurisdiction, to wit many of whomwereprobablyalready deceased.
The current rogue and comatose state of GECOM makes the situation even worse, since there are no efforts on its part to rectify theseknowdeficienciesinits system,whiletheAGvirally misleadsthe nationand alla sundry
Yours, Commissioners: Vincent Alexander, C
DemondTrotman
Frompage5
legitimate questions about transparency and accountability The Speaker further claimed that his privacy and that of his family had beenviolated.Whathefailedtoacknowledge is that similar tactics were previously deployedbyPPP/Coperativesagainstmyself andformerPresidentDavidGranger Wedid notallegeinfiltration;instead,weconfronted misinformationwithevidenceandaddressed thematteropenly Wedidnotrun,nordidwe hide.
Editor, as I conclude, it must be stated plainly that the 13th Parliament of the CooperativeRepublicofGuyanaisoncourse
toberememberedasoneoftheworstinpostIndependencehistory
The PPP/C’s record, both in the 12th Parliament and now-of convening sittings onlywhenpoliticallyconvenient,prioritizing personal attacks over the people’s business, andrelyingonaSpeakerwillingtoseenoevil andhearnoevil,hasweakenedparliamentary democracy
Guyana is in a troubling state under the PPP/C, and I hope all Guyanese are taking carefulnoteoftheirconductandapproachto governance.
Yourssincerely,
AnnetteFerguson
A Partnership for
National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament Dexter Todd has sharply criticised Speaker of the NationalAssemblyManzoor Nadir for publicly attacking United States and Canadian diplomats who questioned his failure to convene a meeting to elect a Leader of theOpposition.
Amid stepped-up calls forhimtoconveneameeting of non-government MPs to elect an opposition leader, Nadir on Tuesday evening, during a live broadcast, broke his silence and announced that the meeting willbeheldonMonday–the samedaytheGovernmentof Guyana is expected to presentBudget2026.
Inhisaddress,Nadirtook aim at We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) leader andMPAzruddinMohamed, stating that the likelihood of Mohamed becoming Leader of the Opposition could result in a stain on Guyana's Parliament He also responded to comments made by U.S. Ambassador NicoleTheriotandCanadian High Commissioner SébastienSigouin,whowere
U.S.Ambassador, Nicole Theriot
among several diplomats commenting on the issue.
“To the US Ambassador to Guyana I ask, who is the leader of the opposition in your country Does the absence of an opposition leader interfere with your country democratic process?”
He also addressed the C a n a d i a n H i g h Commissioner, stating, “To mydearfriendSébastienthe C a n a d i a n H i g h Commissioner Your great democracy took six months toproduceabudgetlastyear and your country has the
Six persons were arrested and a black and silver Taurus pistol discovered duringalate-nightoperation at Three Miles, Wisroc, Linden, on Tuesday, the Guyana Police Force has stated.
The police said the operation occurred between 19:00hrs and 23:30hrs, and was in connection to a viral
social media video involvingwantedmanJamal
Bourne, also called “Skinny.”
“Acting on information received, ranks from Regional Divisions #3 and #10 proceeded to the area
where a search was conducted at a wooden structure situated in dense vegetation During the search, a black and silver Taurus pistol with its serial number filed off was found concealed under a mattress, along with six live 32 rounds of ammunition,” policeadded.
Uponconductingfurther searches a heap of burnt material was discovered in
SpeakeroftheNational, Assembly Manzoor Nadir
unique distinction of having apersonwhoisneverelected parliament serve as a prime minister The person imposed on the citizens of CanadabytheformerPrime MinisterJustinTrudeau.”
But in a strong
closedistancetothewooden structure. This resulted in forensic experts being deployedtothearea,inorder tohavefurtherexaminations and searches done to determine the material's originandnature.
There were six persons atthelocationatthetime,all of whom were arrested and escorted to the Mackenzie Police Station, where the firearm and ammunition werelodged.
Thesixinpolicecustody are an 18-year-old male farmer of Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke–LindenHighway, an 18-year-old female of BellWest Housing Scheme, WBD, a 20-year-old male labourer of Beaver Street, NorthRuimveldt,a20-yearoldmaleofKaneville,EBD, a 21-year-old female of Samatta Point, Grove, EBD and a 26-year-old male farmer of Church Street, Georgetown.
The police said additional information will be provided as it becomes available. Investigations are ongoing
Canadian High Commissioner, Sébastien Sigouin
APartnershipforNational Unity(APNU)Memberof Parliament, Dexter Todd
reprimand, Todd said: “The speakerisahumanbeing;he is entitled to his personal views. He may even have a personaldislikeforwhoever may eventually sit in that chair However, the moment he speaks in his official capacity, his personal feelingsmustbesubservient to the Rule of Law,” Todd said in a statement on Wednesday He also stated that the Speaker took the extraordinary step of attacking diplomats during hisaddress.
Todd said governance is notasoloperformancebuta symphony of institutions operating in harmony under the rule of law, adding that when that harmony is (Continuedonpage9)
LONDON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - The global oil market will be in deep surplusinthefirstquarterof 2026, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday, as so far excess supplies have offset the geopolitical risk of disruption.
The IEA, which advises industrialised countries, in its monthly oil report projected global oil supply would exceed demand by 4.25 million barrels per day inthefirstquarter Asurplus of that size would be about 4% of world demand and is largerthanotherpredictions.
Oil prices have risen about 6% since the start of the year, as concerns about geopolitics and possible oil market disruption drove buying. Global benchmark Brent was trading at $65.02 at1142GMTonWednesday, up 10 cents on the day The U.S. captured Venezuelan PresidentNicolasMaduroat the start of the month and called on oil companies to invest in Venezuela to boost production, but in the shortterm supplies from the countryhavebeendisrupted. Threats of possible U.S. strikes on Iran have also
raised the prospect of reduced supplies, and drone attacks and technical issues have reduced output in Kazakhstan.
"Barring any significant disruptions to supplies in Iran, Venezuela, or further cuts from other producers, a significant surplus is likely to re-emerge in the first quarter of 2026," the IEA said.
"For now, bloated balances provide some comfort to market participants and have kept pricesincheck."
Supply has risen faster thandemandmostlybecause OPEC+,ortheOrganization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries plus Russia and other allies, began boosting output in April 2025 after years of cuts Other producers, such as the U.S., Guyana, and Brazil, have also increased production. OPEC+ has, however, paused its output hikes for thefirstquarterof2026.
For the whole year, the market faces an implied surplus of 3.69 million bpd, the IEA's latest figures on Wednesday indicated, a downward revision from 3.84 million bpd in last
A view shows oil pump jacks outside Almetyevsk, in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer
month's report He, who livesnearthecityofBaoding in Hebei province, is one of several people in his village who choose to barely heat theirhomesbecauseofrising naturalgasprices.Helpingto erode the surplus forecast, the IEA revised up its prediction for world oil demand growth by 70,000 bpd to 930,000 bpd, citing w h a t i t c a l l e d a normalisation of economic conditions after last year's tariff turmoil, and lower oil pricesthanayearago.
The IEA said it is too early to assess the full implications of all the latest geopolitical developments ontheoilmarket,butsaidthe U S b l o c k a d e o n Venezuelan oil shipments had lowered exports by 580,000bpdfromDecember toearlyJanuary.
Thesurpluswillbuildup in the first quarter in
particular as that is when global oil refiners carry out planned shutdowns and demandislower
"With seasonal refinery maintenance about to commence, reducing demand for crude, further reductions in crude production will be needed," the Paris-based IEA said. Rival forecaster OPEC expects faster demand growth than the IEA, predictingoilusewillriseby 1.38 million bpd this year OPEC's data indicate a near balance between supply and demand in 2026, according to a Reuters calculation, rather than a surplus. On supply, the IEA revised its global growth forecast for this year higher, to 2 5 millionbpdfromaround2.4 million bpd in December, saying around 52% of the growth will come from outsideOPEC+.
I’ll begin with the hard truth, stated plainly and without ornament: illegal vending has destroyed Georgetown. Say it again, becauserepetitionistheonly way reality cuts through denial—illegal vending has destroyed Georgetown. And because it has destroyed Georgetown, it makes no sensepretendingthatthecity can be rescued by cosmetic fixes, enforcement blitzes that last a week, or billiondollar plans that ignore the obvious.
The city is beyond restitution as it is currently conceived Beyond restitution. Beyond repair Beyonddenial.
A city cannot survive chaos. I visited the Stabroek Market a few days ago. I wentnotasatourist,notasa nostalgic observer, but as someone trying to see what thegovernmentclaimsithas “fixed.”AndwhatIsawwas not order, not improvement, not progress. I saw chaos. I sawconfusion.Isawamess.
D e s p i t e w h a t t h e government has done—and they will tell you they have done a lot the place
remains chaotic and unmanageable.
What used to be a small car park for short-drop cars plying the East Bank Public Road is gone. Erased. In its place are permanent shacks—permanent—operat
ing as businesses, with no planning, no zoning, no sanitationlogic.Thiswasnot an accident This was allowedtohappen.Andonce allowed, it became entrenched. When disorder becomes permanent, governancedisappears. Howcananycitysurvive under such conditions? That isnotarhetoricalquestion;it isapracticalone.Theanswer is simple:it cannot.Vendors arestilloutinlargenumbers outside the market, even as the inside of the market remains underused Not muchbusinessisbeingdone inside. Why would it be, when the streets are free, enforcement is weak, and illegality is rewarded with foot traffic? When the street becomes the shop, the shop dies.
A city that cannot be walked is a city that cannot breathe. Walk along Water Street by the Museum and you see another example of quiet collapse The pavements are no longer pavements. They are noovertaking zones for pedestrians, squeezed from both sides by vendors who have encroached until movement itself becomes a negotiation.Thisisnoturban life;thisisurbansuffocation. This is not vibrancy; this is paralysis.
The situation is unmanageable. It cannot be
managed into order because disorderisnowtheoperating system.And so, it makes no sense—none at all—for the governmenttospendbillions trying to impose sanitation, structure,anddisciplineona citythatcontinuestoexpand commercially without restraint Yes, the government is fixing roads. Roadsmatter Butroadsonly deliver people faster into chaos.Infrastructurewithout controlacceleratescollapse. Nothing meaningful can be achieved until certain lines are drawn and enforced.First,theremustbe a halt to new commercial activityinthecity Fullstop. Second,illegalvendorsmust beremovedfromstreetsand p a v e m e n t s n o t temporarily, not selectively, butpermanently Third,store owners who have been f o r c e d , b y u n f a i r competition, to spill their goods onto pavements must be told firmly and fairly—to return to selling inside their stores The pavement is not a warehouse.Thepavementis not a shop. The pavement is notaright.
If the government truly wantstohelpGeorgetown,it mustalsolookinward.Move some Ministries outside the city Decentralize gove
s Reduce the daily flood of workers and citizens who
Demboyssehonceuponatime,whena fella land at Cheddi Jagan International Airport with a suitcase and a smile, everybody know he bring chocolate. Not because Guyana had none, but because overseas chocolate does taste nice. These days though, dem boys noticing a new flavour in the arrivals hall: suspicion, 80% cocoa.
Amantelldemboyshelandatdeairport recently with a “modest assortment” of chocolates. Not a shop, mind you—just a few bars tucked between socks and foreign deodorant. Next thing he know, Customs pull him aside like he carrying gold bullion wrapped in foil. One officer watching the chocolate like it was contraband, asking serious questions “Sir, is this for commercialuse?”
Themannearlychokeonheownsaliva. Commercial? He say he bringing it for family. Friends. People who smile extra wide when yuh come from overseas. The officer cock he head, like a parrot hearing French, and ask, “Any of them going to school?”
Dem boys seh this is where the plot thicken faster than chocolate in the sun. School? The man start to wonder if the chocolate planning to write CXC Apparently, the concern is not calories or
have no choice but to enter the city to transact official business. Congestion is not just caused by vendors; it is fueled by policy choices. You cannot ease congestion whileconcentratingpower
T h e c o n t i n u e d commercial expansion of Georgetown especially through illegal vending—is not a sign of economic health.Itisawarningsignof systemic failure It will furtherdestroythecity,street by street, pavement by pavement, until nothing remains but movement without purpose and commercewithoutvalue.
Zoning must be implemented now, not as a study,notasapromise,butas a firm and enforceable policy, and it must apply
equally to every ward without exception, favoritism, or political bargaining No more residential properties should be converted into businesses—none—because once homes disappear, neighborhoods collapse, families move out, and the city becomes nothing more thanacongestedtradingpost thatshutsdownatnight.
cavities, but capitalism. The officer warn him that if any chocolate change hands for money, the income must be declared. Declared!Likechocolateisnowaregistered businesssector
Dem boys start to imagine a new syllabus:PrimarySchoolEntrepreneurship, Form One Cocoa Studies, CAPE Confectionery Management. Children no longer asking for lunch money they seeking seed capital. Chocolate bar today, multinationaltomorrow
Islikethecountrysuddenlydiscoverthat chocolateisnotjustsweet—itdangerous.It could inspire ideas. Ambition. Next thing youknow,achildmightlearnprofitandloss beforelongdivision.Thatkindofthingneed monitoring.
Demboyssehnobodyagainsttax,butifa man can’t walk with two Snickers and a Dairy Milk without being treated like a mogul, then we might soon need balance sheets for pepperpot. Maybe next time, visitors should bring a receipt, a business plan, and a PowerPoint when dem walking withchocolate.
Until then, dem boys advising: if you bringing chocolate, eat it on the plane. Or declare yourself CEO of Cocoa Holdings Inc.Justincase. Talkhalf.Leffhalf
So let us stop pretending that the city can be saved. It cannot Georgetown, as currently structured, is beyond restitution.The only honest conversation left is nothowtosaveit,buthowto stop destroying it. Stop the expansion Remove the illegal vendors. Enforce the law Return zoning Decentralizethestate.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Acity without homes is notacity Zoningisnotantibusiness; it is pro-survival, drawing clear lines between living, working, and trading so that communities can breatheagain.Ifeveryhouse becomesashop,everystreet becomesamarket,andevery resident becomes a stranger, then the city ceases to be a place of life and becomes o n l y a p l a c e o f transaction—and that is the surest path to permanent decline.
Frompage8 disruptedbythosesworntoprotectit,thereis adutytospeakout.HestressedthattheOffice of the Leader of the Opposition is a constitutionaloffice,notapoliticalcourtesy, and that leaving the position vacant leaves Guyana’sdemocracyincomplete.“Whenthe international community calls for this vacancytobefilled,theyarenottakingsides, they are standing on the side of the Supremacy of the Constitution, which is the highestlawofourland,”Toddsaid.
“These diplomats were not expressing ‘personal opinions’ or interfering in our internal affairs. They were doing something far more fundamental:they were advocating for the integrity of the Guyanese Constitution. By calling for the appointment of a Leader of the Opposition, these representatives were supporting the
completionofourgovernmentalarchitecture. Agovernmentdoesnotfunctionsolelyonthe willofaPresident.
Our system is designed to be a complete structure,” he stated. Todd further said it is deeply concerning that the Speaker appears comfortablepresidingoverwhathedescribed as an undemocratic and unconstitutional situation,remindingthattheSpeaker’sroleis toupholdtherulesoftheHouse,notobstruct them. Looking ahead, Todd said Guyana is entering “interesting times” in Parliament.
“Whentheguardrailsofourdemocracystart tolean,itisuptoustheelectedmembersand the citizens to straighten them. We must return to a place where respect for our Constitution outweighs personal political agendas.Ourinternationalpartnersexpectit, but more importantly, the Guyanese people deserveit,”headded.
Call it politics, statistics,
s e m a n t i c s Ta k e individually or collectively
The center of the nail's head is still missed. For there's that new Guyanese phenomenon,thelocalcraze aly-nomics. There is one definition that superbly covers and captures aly-atics.
Theatrics. Promise a nice table, then remove the tableclothfirst;next,thelegs one by one; and, last the wholedamntablerightdown to the polish and the glue.
S h o c k i n g , i s n ' t ?
Depressing,also. That'salynomics in a nutshell. There hasbeenvoodooeconomics, Reaganomics, and now the bestofall,aly-nomics.
Aly-nomics in a nutshell is what many Guyanese call the size of their pay packet. Ow! A little boost would make so much difference, if only briefly A nutshell is what Guyanese hopes have been forced into; none as much as poor ones. Tell them about oil wealth, and they think the storyteller is crazier than a bat that had a slugofHighWine. Thanks to aly-nomics, which middle name is jumbee-nomics, the man-inthe-street citizen is now forced to accept that oil wealthisrichpeoplewealth; and, as always, the little people, the weak citizen, have to be content with the cheap, scrawny, poisoned endofthestick. Itisasharp
and dirty stick that pierces savagely
With Guyanese made into losers, by those that assured citizens that when they win, the small man and woman also win. If today Guyanese cannot get a l'il raise out of this great, glorious, globally-heralded oil wealth (recall, worldclassandcrownjewel),then the probability is that they will never get a li'l sumthin' from the wealth that is supposedly their birthright. Oil has to reach US$250 a barrel for that handout to arrive.
For safety, better make that US$350 per 42 US gallons Naturally, the world just came to an unnatural and untimely end.
But that's the reality of alynomicsinanutshell.
Whenmoneywasrolling in at US$80-90 a cask, the priority was to rollout roads andbridgesandtunnels.
It is a fact of life that if there is no spending, there canbenostealing. Whereis theopportunity?
But there has been astronomical spending, which is a major plank of aly-nomics And where havethehundredsofbillions gone, not mainly to roads andbridges.
To use them to get to markets is to setup one for embarrassment Food prices But roads and bridges can serve as a route to someplace to stash the billions allocated for contingencies. With all the money circulating at swifter velocities, there must be contingency preparations to secretawaythebillionsfrom the people clamoring and cryingoutforsomething,but not getting anything Instead of lamenting of 'where have all the flowers gone', it is more personally meaningfultothinkofwhere has all the oil wealth gone.
Certainly, it can't be in the pockets of the poor people. That's alynomics, friends and countryfolk.
Aly-nomics don't operate on sentiment, don't function on emotion and compassion. Aly-nomics is about cold-bloodedness, hardheadedness, and the baldness of emptiness. Try
existing in such an environment Here's a holiday challenge for Guyanesewhoarebetteroff. Dare to go to the house of a pensioner, or a down-andout villager, or some other scrapper that has no money, andseeforselfhowbareand empty those hamlets are. Look, be honest for once: how wealthy, healthy, and wellarethoseGuyanese?
How much has alynomics spread the wealth to theirlevels?
It is said that water runs downhill. So,howisit,from a poor man's position that wealth always sticks to the top, circles around there, doesn't follow the laws of gravity? Then there's that other callous component of aly-nomics, which pretends
at gravitas, but succeeds as grave damage done to vulnerable and gullible
Guyanese Gullible Guyanese are so far gone that they will take a crocodile with a cobra in its teeth as credible Alynomics has its own battle hymnthatgoeslikethis. Be st my friend on September 1 , and watch me change to the foul and fiendish around st December1
And here it was that I thought that Devil's Island was next door, a totally different Guiana This Guyana is the real Devil's Island,nottheoneonFrench Guiana, give praise and thanks to aly-nomics, that twisted, tortured version of economics without eatables forpoorpeople.
Politics, semantics, and aly-nomics, a fine mess for Guyanese. Inhale deeply, holdbreath,digestgases.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Six suspects arrested on Tuesday at a location in Three Miles, Wisroc Linden, where burnt materials were discovered nearby, remain in police custody and are currently being questioned, according to a sourceclosetotheinvestigation.
Thispublicationhasalsoobtainedashort video clip capturing moments after a live socialmediabroadcastbywantedmanJason “Skinny”Bourneabruptlyended.Intheninesecondvideo,amanbelievedtobeBourneis seenlyingonthegroundwithwhatappearsto bebloodonhisface.Thecamerathenpansto a chair where the individual reportedly sat earlier, showing what also appears to be blood on the covering. A male was heard responding to a female who was crying saying,“Noleffduh,leffduhIgundealwith duh.”
On Wednesday sources were able to confirm that there were what appeared to be burntremainsofamale,intheareawherethe burnt material was discovered and it is suspected to be that of Bourne. On January 20,thispublicationreportedthattheGuyana Police Force (GPF) said that it was yet to confirm whether Bourne had died following a viral video of him shooting himself in the head.
in
“During the broadcast, Bourne was also observedinthecompanyofotherindividuals while allegedly displaying a cadre of suspectedfirearms.Thevideohassincebeen removed from the page on which it was originallyposted,”policesaid.
…astaxidriver'slawyerchallenges admissibilityofconfessions
The case surrounding the deadly terrorist bombing at the Regent Street Mobil Gas Station continued on Wednesday at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court, where the lawyer of 27-year-old Guyanese taxi driver Johnny Boodram, moved to challenge the admissibility of his client's confession.
Meanwhile, the court granted permission for two Venezuelan suspectstocontacttheirfamiliesin an effort to secure legal representation.
The permission was granted aftertwooftheaccusedappealedto acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, requesting assistance to contacttheirfamiliessotheycould obtainlawyers.
During the hearing, four of the seven accused appeared before the court: 33-year-old Venezuelan nationalDanielAlexanderRamirez Poedemo, identified as the main suspect; 44-year-old Venezuelan Alexander Bettancourt; Venezuelan national Krystal LaCruz;andBoodram.
During the presentation of further disclosure, Magistrate McGusty, in the absence of Boodram's attorney Mikel Puran, informed the court that Puran had submitted several documents in advance,includingonechallenging theadmissibilityofanyconfession statements allegedly made by his client.
“WhatIwouldhaveseenisthat Mr Boodram's attorney is
indicating that he wishes to challenge the admissibility of any confessionsorstatements,whether recordedorinwriting,”Magistrate McGustystated.
Additionally, attorney Tifaine Rutherford, who appeared on behalf of Krystal LaCruz, also informedthecourtthatthedefence intends to submit statements on LaCruz'sbehalf.
Attention then turned to the issue of legal representation for Bettancourt and Poedemo. When questioned by the magistrate, Bettancourt said that since being remanded, he had limited contact withhisfamilyandwishestoretain a lawyer. Shortly thereafter, Poedemoresponded,“Yotambién” (me too), indicating that he also wantsalawyerbuthasnotyetbeen abletocontacthisfamily
As a result, Magistrate McGusty instructed the prison officer present to facilitate communication between the accused and their families. The prison officer informed the court that prison welfare officers had been in contact with Bettancourt's wife, though communication has been inconsistent. He added that efforts would continue, with attemptstoreachheratleasttwice weekly In Poedemo's case, the officer said attempts are being madetocontacthismother
ThecourtsetJanuary28asthe deadline for all statements to be filed and adjourned the matter to February4,2026.
Two men were remanded on Wednesday and another was granted bail for the 154 pounds of cocaine discovered at Parika on Sunday
Inarelease,theCustoms
Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) said that “Devon Haynes and Narindra Singh appeared before Magistrate George at the Leonora Magistrate's Court on charges related to the offence of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking70.008kilograms ofcocaine.”
Though the duo pleaded notguiltytothecharge,they wererefusedbailandinstead
remanded until 20th February2026.
A third man, Mark Jainarine appeared before Magistrate George at the same court to answer to the charge of aiding in the commission of trafficking
The accused are chargedi n connection with the October 26 bombing,whichclaimedthelifeof six-year-old Soraya Bourne Poedemo faces a separate indictablechargeofcommittingan act of terrorism, alleging that he used an explosive device at the
Mobil Fuel Station with the intent to threaten Guyana's sovereignty andsecurityortoinstilfearamong thepopulation.Hewasnotrequired topleadtothecharge.
Bettancourt, LaCruz, and Boodram are jointly charged with aiding and abetting Poedemo in
carrying out the attack. While the others; Venezuelan national Jennifer Rodriguez, along with Guyanese nationals Wayne Correia,44,andRameshPramdeo, 51, are appearing at the Leonora Magistrates' Court before MagistrateAlishaGeorge.
thesaid70.008kilogramsof cocaine.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sumofGYD$600,000.Heis settoreturntocourton20th
February2026.
On January 19 CANU intercepted some 154 poundsofcocaineatParika, EastBankEssequibo.
The unit said acting on
information, an operation wasconductedinthevicinity of Parika, East Bank Essequibo,whichresultedin the seizure of 70 kilograms (154pounds)ofcocaine.
Four men, including a Hispanic national were arrested and escorted to CANU headquarters, along withthecocaine.Policesaid investigationsareongoing.
A 46-year-old man who was found guilty of attempted rape of a 4-yearold in 2022, was on Wednesday sentenced to 18 years in prison for the offence.
The ruling was handed down at the Demerara High Court before acting Chief JusticeNavindraSingh.
The accused, Ganesh Lewisof St. Lawrence,East Bank Essequibo, was originally charged with two offences;attemptedrapeand rapeofachildundertheage of 16 contrary to Section 10(3)oftheSexualOffences Act, Chapter 8:03, and in contravention of Section 36(a)oftheAct.
The crime was allegedly committed in January 2022. However,Lewispleadednot guilty to both charges when the trial commenced on December 12 before Justice Singh. Lewis was found not guilty on the charge of rape, but was unanimously found guilty on the alternative chargeofattemptedrapeofa childunder16.
During the sentencing, the prosecution led by Christopher Belfield, with assistance from Simran Gajraj and Geneva Wills, outlinedseveralaggravating factorsagainstLewis.These
includedthevulnerabilityof thevictimandthenatureand seriousness of the offence, thesexualoffencecrisisand itsprevalenceinGuyanaand the wider Caribbean, particularly as it affects c h i l d r e n F u r t h e r aggravating factors cited werevictim-blaming,Lewis' lack of remorse, and the severe and lasting impact of sexual offences on children.
A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e prosecution emphasised the importance of sentencing as a deterrent and underscored theneedforaculturalshiftin Guyana'sapproachtosexual offences.
Belfield argued that Lewis committed the offence in August 2022, when he was 43 years old, while the victim was just fouryearsold.Heexplained that Lewis deliberately exploited the child's tender a g e a n d e x t r e m e vulnerability
According to Belfield, the convicted man shared a close relationship with the victim's family, frequently spendingtimeattheirhome, eating with them, and being regarded as a trusted family friend. To the child, he was k n o w n a s “ U n c l e Ganesh”—apositionoftrust that Belfield said Lewis
ultimately betrayed in the most vile and disrespectful manner “He violated not only the sanctity of the victim's body, but also the child's psychological self andfuture,”Belfieldtoldthe court.
Belfield further emphasised that Lewis took advantage of the child's vulnerability and lack of cognitive capacity to understand the nature and intent of the offence, describing the conduct as completelyunforgivableand one that, he said, “lacks the mercyofanycourt.”
Secondly, in addressing theseriousnessandnatureof the offence, Belfield stated that on the day in question, Lewis took the child away from his grandmother at her stall to an isolated area near his brother's barbershop Lewisthenattemptedtorape the child by pulling down both his pants as well as the child'sown,and,“placedhis penis around the region of his buttocks ” The prosecutor emphasised that the circumstances of the offence amounted to “cold, deliberate predation”, highlighting that Lewis had intentionallyplannedtheact. “The conduct was a settled sexual intention,” Belfield
toldthecourt.
Hefurtherexplainedthat the offence remained inchoateduetointervention, and not because of any abandonment or restraint by the convicted man, noting that the only reason the act didnotcontinuewasbecause Lewiswascaughtmid-way
Additionally, Belfield highlighted the sexual offenceepidemicinGuyana, noting that its true extent is reflectednotonlyinreported cases,butinthethousandsof unreported stories, the family and community accounts of children being abused across generations. He emphasised that in most instances,theseoffencesare committed by individuals knowntothevictimandwho occupy positions of trust, influence,orresponsibility
Belfield also informed the court that Lewis, in his defence, resorted to shifting the blame of the situation onto the victim, his family, andthewitness,towhichthe prosecution admitted that such a move is a common trend that is often displayed by persons guilty of sexual crimes.
The prosecution also emphasised the impact of sexual offences on children, noting that child sexual abuse inflicts deep and lasting psychological harm, particularly as young victimsstruggletocopewith the chaos and trauma that followsuchexperiences.
“Your Honour, this is an experience that will be etched in the victim's mind forever, and all of these consequences flow from the actions of this convicted person, not from any exercise of free will by the victim,” Belfield told the court.
Meanwhile,thenowsixyear-old victim, in a statement read aloud to the court,expressedsatisfaction that Lewis is set to be sentencedforhiscrime.The child described the close relationship he once shared with Lewis and spoke about how he has felt since the incident.“Ganeshwaslikea familytome.
He used to come by us andhangout.Ifeelbadabout what happened. I am happy that he has to go to jail because he did something badtome,”thechildstated.
Inhisclosingstatements, Lewis's lawyer, Ronald Bostwick, sought to shed light on his client's background. He described Lewis as a quiet member of hiscommunityandaregular churchgoer who lives alone, is single, and has no children Bostwick noted that in his younger days, Lewis had dropped out of primary school due to economic difficulties Despite these challenges, he supported himself by workingasasecurityguard, supplementing his income withearningsfromelectrical repairwork.
Addressing Lewis's attitude toward the offence, Bostwick explained that Lewis maintained the witnesshadprovidedafalse statement to the police “This means there is no mitigation by way of an expression of remorse Overall,Lewisconsidersthe witness's statement to be mistaken rather than deliberately truthful,” he said.
Bostwick further urged thejudgetoconsiderLewis's circumstances, including whathedescribedasa“poor startinlife,”arguingthathis upbringing had contributed to his “poor critical thinking.”Heappealedfora sentence that would allow Lewis the opportunity for rehabilitation. “I hope,Your Honour, you can give this man a sentence that would allow him to receive rehabilitationinprison.Heis not an old man; he can be rehabilitated,” Bostwick concluded.
Lewis during the sentencing refused to speak when given an opportunity bythecourt.
Assuch,JusticeSinghin handing down his sentence imposed a starting point sentence of 20 years However, he deducted five years for favourable probation report, but added anadditionalthreeduetothe youthfulness of the victim and no remorse showed by Lewis.
In total, Lewis was sentenced to serve a full 18 yearsinprison,havingnever been on remand Singh emphasisedthattheseverity ofthesentencewasintended to send a strong message across the country about the graveconsequencesofchild sexualoffences.
“Astrong message must be sent, especially in Guyana, where sexual offences against children appear to be extraordinarily high.Astrongmessagemust be sent to the society that paedophiles and child molesters will be dealt with severely by the courts,” he stated.
Additionally, an order was issued directing the department of social services, or any similar agency that has been providing counselling, to continue services for the child until they are deemed nolongernecessary
(Trinidad Express)
Following Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's decision to boycott the TrinidadandTobagoEnergy Conference next week, Energy and Energy Industries Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal said he would attend India's Energy Conferenceinstead.
Moonilal is among the confirmed speakers at the four-dayIndiaEnergyWeek, to begin next Tuesday at ONGC Advanced Training InstituteinGoa,India.
The Energy Chamber of TrinidadandTobagoissetto host its annual conference fromMondaytoWednesday nextweek.
In a WhatsApp response to the Express yesterday, Moonilal said it was an “honourtobeinvited”tothe IndiaEnergyWeek.
“It is a very significant event. It's truly a global event involving over 700 exhibitions and professional speakers,fellowministersof energy from across the globe, the hierarchy of executive management of the major oil and gas companies in India and outsideofIndia,”hesaid.
The minister added that he was looking forward to the trip and planned to promote T&T at the conference.
“We are promotingT&T as a premier destination for
foreign direct investment particularly in the upstream sector, since we all know there is a deficit in gas production, and oil productionhasalsodeclined significantly in the period between2016and2025.So, we are working to attract investors and explorers to cometoT&Tandparticipate and work with us to further develop our oil and gas sector,”saidMoonilal.
He also reiterated the Prime Minister's stance, saying that the Government has had “serious concerns” about the arrangements in place in the energy sector regarding the STOW (Safe To Work) certification and entry for workers and contractors, particularly the small contractors in the servicesectors.
“We have had a serious
Aminer was shot during an armed robbery and bandits subsequently escaped with an all terrain vehicle (ATV) at MaraMaraBackdamonTuesday
PolicesaidonWednesdaythataninvestigationhasbeen launched into the alleged robbery that “occurred, between 16:30hrs and 17:00hrs at Mara Mara Backdam, Middle MazaruniRiver,whichwascommittedona32-year-oldgold minerofBlankenburg,WestCoastDemerara.”
Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was travelling from a mining pit to his camp, accompanied by two co-workers. During the journey, they were intercepted by an armed man who emerged from the bushes nearby, he orderedthemtodismountfromthevehicle.
The same suspect discharged a round during the ordeal which struck a 62-year-old Brazilian gold miner in the left footabovetheankle.Twootheraccompliceswiththeirfaces coveredandarmedwithwhatappearedtobefirearms,later joined the first one and escorted the miners to their camp, whichwasthenransacked.
Unfortunately for the robbers, no valuables were obtained.ThesuspectsthenescapedwiththeATV,fleeingin anunknowndirection.
The injured worker, was transported to the Bartica RegionalHospital,whereheisreceivingmedicalattention, as efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend the suspects andinvestigationscontinue.
concern about the entry requirements, the cost and howitimpedesbusinessand simply put, we believe it is not fair, it is unjust and it discriminates against the small-sizedcontractors.This is a matter that we are dealing with now with the energy companies, and I am dealingwithitnow,”hesaid.
Speaking on the T&T energyconference,Moonilal
expressedhissupportforthe PrimeMinisterandcalledon the Energy Chamber to “sponsorthemselves”.
“I support the Prime Minister'sobservationonthe energyconference;Ibelieve that the energy conference, Energy Chamber should sponsor themselves given the quantum of resources thattheymayhavefromthis type of arrangements that
they have had in place for sometime,”hesaid.
“Wearenotparticipating in the energy conference until and unless we have fundamental change in the s t r u c t u r e o f t h e arrangements in the energy sector We prefer not to participate, and the State sector will not participate as well,”hesaid.
When contacted for
comment, the Energy Chamber stated via e-mail, “We have not issued a response, but you will receiveanystatementthatis sharedwiththemediaifthat changes.”
On Monday, PersadBissessarcalledthechamber anditsconferencea“farce”, saying that they “publicly pretend to be interested in
(Continuedonpage16)
(AL-JAZEERA) At least 11 Palestinians, including two childrenandthreejournalists,have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn, with six others injured, according to Gaza’s MinistryofHealth.
Munir al-Bursh, directorgeneral of the ministry, told Al Jazeera that the photojournalists killedwhentheirvehiclewasstruck on Wednesday worked for the Egyptian Committee for Gaza Relief, which supervises Egypt’s reliefworkinGaza.
Anas Ghunaim, Abdul Ra’ouf and Shaath Mohammad Qeshta were documenting developments on the ground in central Gaza near the so-called Netzarim Corridor when they were hit in an Israeli strike, colleagues and medical officials told Al Jazeera. A fourth personwasalsokilledintheattack, an Al Jazeera team on the ground reported.Videofootagecirculating online showed their charred, bombed-out vehicle by the roadside, smoke still rising from thewreckage.
Mohammed Mansour, the committee’s spokesman, told The AssociatedPressnewsagencythat thejournalistswerefilminganewly
establisheddisplacementcamp.He said the strike occurred about 5km (3 miles) from Israeli-controlled territory and that the vehicle was known to the Israeli military as belonging to the Egyptian committee.
Israeli Army Radio, citing an Israelisecuritysource,saidthatthe
Israeli Air Force had targeted a vehicle in central Gaza, claiming that its occupants were using a drone to collect intelligence on armyforces.
Threekilled fromsinglefamily
In a separate attack in central Gaza,threeotherPalestiniansfrom
asinglefamily–includingachild–were killed in eastern Deir elBalah, sources atAl-Aqsa Martyrs HospitaltoldAlJazeera.
The victims were a father, his son and another relative, the sourcessaid.
InsouthernGaza,a13-year-old was shot and killed by Israeli
soldiers,anAlJazeerateamonthe ground reported. The Associated Press reported, quoting hospital staff, that the child was shot while collecting firewood in the eastern townofBaniSuheila.
Infootagecirculatedonline,the boy’sfathercouldbeseenweeping over his son’s body on a hospital bed.A32-year-oldwomanwasshot andkilledinaseparateattackinthe vicinityofKhanYounisinsouthern Gaza,anAlJazeerateamreported.
Two other Palestinians were killed in attacks in the north of the strip, the Wafa news agency reported.
Repeatedceasefireviolations
Palestinian officials said Israel has repeatedly violated the United States-brokered ceasefire since it came into effect on October 10. Israelcontinuestorestricttheentry of food, medical aid and shelter materials into Gaza, where about 2 2 million people face acute humanitarianneedincoldweather, barelyshieldedbyflimsytents.
Israel still has military control of large swaths of Gaza, including much of the south, east and north, according to Israeli military data, but, in effect, occupies the entire territory
Toshao of Aishalton Village, Deep South Rupununi, Region Nine, Timothy Williams said the $920 million spent by the government to upgrade the airstrip in his community is “a good investment.”
President IrfaanAli along with some cabinet members earlier this month commissioned the new 2,500ft concrete rigid pavement airstrip in the Amerindian community
Works on the airstrip was spearheadedbythespecialprojects' unit of the Ministry of Public Works, through local contractor International Import & Supplies which saw at least 60 residents involved in the construction process.Theworks commenced in October 2025 and was completed byDecember10,2025.
President Ali, speaking on the newly upgraded airstrip, said “It willimproveaccesstohealthcare,it will improve and reduce cost of living, it will improve market accessandopportunitiesandcreate better connectivity It is an
Toshao, Timothy Williams
transformationofyourcommunity, ithasmajoreconomicbenefitinthe diversificationofoureconomyand tourismnowhasarealopportunity inAishalton.”
AchawibandAwarewaunau.
“Well,wehavebeenaskingfor an airstrip for the longest while, at
Speaking to Kaieteur News on Wednesday, Toshao Williams said the airstrip will benefit his communityandnineothervillages including Shea, Parabara,
for the last 20 years we have been requesting that because we have realised the importance of that.So,Ithinkfromourenditwas a
Re g i o n a l E x e c u t i v e Officer(REO)of Region Ten, Dwight John has said that he is still to decide on the date and time when the meeting will be called for election of the chairman for the Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice Region.
JohntoldKaieteurNews “When the time ready everybody will be appraised withthatinformation.Idon't have that in mind right now I'm at a ribbon cutting event.”
The REO's comment followsfourmonthsafterthe elections and scheduled meeting was held for the selection of a new chairman for the council At the September 1 2025 Regional Elections, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) led by businessman Azruddin Mohamed secured the most votesinRegionTen,aregion traditionally dominated by
the People's National CongressReform(PNC/R).
Eighteen councillors were sworn in back in October, nine for WIN, five for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), three for the People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and one for the ForwardMovementGuyana (FGM).
TheRDCelectionended ina9-9tiebetweentheWIN andAPNU nominees. Since then the REO and Clerk of Council, suspended the process and said the matter would be referred to Minister Manickchand to break the tie. However, the minister has since said she has no role in choosing a ChairforRegionTen,noting that the Clerk must follow thelawfulprocedure. Nevertheless, WIN councilorshavebeencalling Chair to be put in place. On Tuesday, Region 10 Councillor, Leola Narine
Inspections by a team fromtheMinistryofNatural Resources have led to the shutdown of an illegal mining operation in the EssequiboRiver
According to the ministry, its corps of wardens recently inspected nine mining operations along the river and found oneoperationtobeinbreach
of regulations The operation, overseen by Jonathan Rodrigues, was discovered to be operating without permission and a designatedbufferzone.
The general manager was found in possession of one ounce 13 dwt of gold and was arrested. He was later placed before the Mahdia Magistrate's Court, wherehepleadedguiltyand was fined. The seized gold was lodged at the Guyana
Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) headquarters.
Minister of Natural
Resources, Vickram Bharrat,stated,“Wewillnot
who joined the protest over for the delayed appointment of the opposition leader added her voice to the call. She said “We are asking for Region 10 the RDC to reconvene we are the only region that is left behind [a Chairman is not in place]. Andweareaskingbecauseit isourconstitutionalrightfor ourRDCtofunction.
Now with the 2026 national budget days away, the stalled appointment of a chairman of the region is evenmoreconcerningasthis has created a serious governance vacuum within the RDC and is now impeding the statutory and developmental functions of
decision-makingbody
The 2026 regional budget was recently submitted by the regional administration without the involvement or input of the electedcouncillors.
The party outlined that the Local Democratic Organs Act, Cap 28:09 envisions the RDC as the central body responsible for consulting communities and
prioritising development needsbeforethepreparation andsubmissionoftheannual regionalbudget.
WIN Councillor for Region Ten Mark Goring told this newspaper that the RDC is using the current Chairman, the APNU appointed Deron Adams to sign off important matters. “Budget submitted without thecouncillorsinput,theold chairman, the RDC is using to sign off on things until newchairisinplacetheyare usingtheloopholetodothat. Because the laws are fully definedastothetimelinefor a Chair to be in place; one chaptersayscouncilmustbe convened 14 days after the election but does not specifically address the chair,”Goringsaid.
He revealed that WIN Councillors were looking intothepossibilityofhaving aresolutioninplacetoforce the REO to reconvene the meeting but the other opposition councillors from APNUandForwardGuyana Movementrefusedtosignit.
“There is a lot of internal politics preventing us from
movingforward,”hesaid.
WIN had previously r
expressing concern at the governance paralysis and oversight breakdown within theRDC.
The party noted that undernormalcircumstances, the RDC operates through a
committees tasked with
direction to the regional administration.
The party stressed that the impasse will affect the legitimate functions of key committees such as the works committee, which oversees infrastructure and c
education committee, responsible for monitoring education delivery and resources; the agriculture committee, which monitors agricultural programmes and resources; the health committee, ensuring health services meet community needs; and the finance and administration committee, which reviews expenditure andbudgetimplementation.
RegionalExecutive Officer(REO) ofRegionTen, Dwight John
Without an elected chairman, vice chairman, and a properly convened statutory council, these critical committees have not b
r functioning, effectively disablingtheregion'ssystem of checks and balances.
“This lack of democratic oversight undermines accountability in the execution of public projects and exposes the region to risks of inefficiency, poor prioritisation, and lack of transparency in the use of publicfunds,”WINsaidina statement.
tolerateillegalactivitiesthat undermine our laws and jeopardise our natural resources. We will remain steadfast in honouring our commitment to rigorous enforcement of the law to safeguardtheintegrityofour miningsector.”
Headded,“Theministry will therefore continue to intensify its efforts against illegal mining, in line with the call by His Excellency, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali to address non-compliant operations.”
The ministry said the enforcement action forms part of ongoing efforts to ensure strict compliance withtheGuyanaMiningAct anditsRegulations. It noted that as inspections continue, the public can expect all breachestobemadepublic.
Operators were again reminded to conduct their businesswithintheconfines of the law, as all offenders will be dealt with without fearorfavour
Atechnical team from the InternationalAir Transport Association (IATA) on WednesdaymetwithMinisterofPublic Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, andseniorofficialsoftheCheddiJagan InternationalAirport(CJIA)toadvance strategic cooperation aimed at modernising airport operations and improvingpassengerservicedelivery
During the high-level engagement, Minister Indar reaffirmed that the transformation of CJIA is central to President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali's “OneGuyana”vision,whichprioritises efficiency, accountability and resultsdrivengovernance.
“ThePresidenthasbeenveryclear: service must be our top priority,” Minister Indar said, according to a Department of Public Information (DPI) release. “We are building an aviation hub that reflects a modern Guyana, and that requires a culture of excellence where every second counts forthetravellingpublic.Iampleasedto welcome IATA to Guyana and look forwardtoclosercollaborationbetween theairlinesandtheairporttoensureour passengers receive world-class service.”
Aspartofthevisit,IATAfacilitated a specialised workshop for key airport
personnel focused on service-level standards The session highlighted international best practices and innovative approaches designed to place the passenger at the centre of airport operations. Discussions also identified several areas for technical collaboration, including the deployment of digital solutions to streamline operational workflows These initiatives directly support the Government's mandate to eliminate inefficiencies and reduce wait times, ensuring that CJIA's infrastructure keeps pace with Guyana's rapid economicexpansion.
Following the ministerial engagement and a guided tour of the airport's facilities, Chief Executive Officer of CJIA, Mr Ramesh Ghir, underscoredtheairport'sstrategicfocus ontransformingthepassengerjourney “I am pleased to collaborate with our airline partners and IATAto ensure the passenger experience remains our absolute priority,” Mr Ghir stated. “In keeping with the Government's mandate for efficiency, we welcome IATA's commitment to engaging its airlineshareholders.
Together, we are focused on a singular goal: reducing processing times and delivering a seamless and
Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar
pleasanttravelexperienceatCJIA.” Ms. Annaleen Lord, IATA's Area Manager for the Caribbean, described the engagement as timely, noting that IATA is strategically expanding its technical support to assist Caribbean partners in meeting the evolving expectationsofglobaltravellers.
The visiting delegation also included Mr.Alejandro Pineda, Senior ManagerofConsulting,andMr Jürgen Renner, Principal of Airport Consulting.SeniorAdvisoronAviation attached to the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation, Mr Lenox Shuman, also participated in the discussions.
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(Reuters) - U.S. Energy
Secretary Chris Wright told oil company executives on Wednesday that Venezuela’s output can rise 30% from its current level of 900,000 barrels per day in the short- to medium-term, three executives who attended the meeting said. U.S. President DonaldTrumpwantsU.S.oil executivestoinvest$100billiontofixVenezuela’sdilapidated oil industry and increase output, a key objectiveforWashingtonafterU.S. forces seized Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro in a raidearlierthismonth.
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Years of under-investment and sanctions have seen Venezuela’s oil output plummet. It pumped 3.5 million bpd in the 1970s when it accounted for 7% of global supply, but today represents just 1% of world output.
Wright’s closed-door meeting took place on the sidelines of the World EconomicForuminDavos,Switzerland.
An increase of 300,000 barrels per day would have little impact on the global market, one person at the meeting said. Global oil supplywas106millionbarrelsper dayin2025.
Wright also told the group that the world would need all energy resources including renewables to meet
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U.S. Department of Energy Secretary
Chris Wright attends a Reuters Next event in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., September 25, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
rapiddemandgrowth,another executivesaid.
Wright has said the U.S. plans to control Venezuela’s oil resources indefinitely. So far, Washington has done deals with trading houses Vitol and Trafigura to move
50 million barrels of oil that were stuck on tankers or in storage after a month-long U.S.blockadeonVenezuelan oilexports.
The U.S. has become the world’s largest energy producer thanks to fast-growing
shale oil and gas, which allows companies to quickly adjust production depending onprices.Majorrivalproducers Saudi Arabia and Russia mostly rely on less-flexible conventional oil production, which can take decades to develop. Venezuela sits on mostly heavy oil reserves, which are relatively expensive and difficult to extract.
“Youhavetoheattheground, dilute crude, heat the pipelinestotransportVenezuelan oil. It takes a lot of time and money,”oneoftheexecutives present at the meeting said.
Another said U.S. and other companies would face challenges around safety, inspection and standards should they come to Venezuela,asmostequipmentisoutdated.
Trump met with over 15 oil executives earlier this month,withExxon(XOM.N), opens new tab CEO Darren Woods telling Trump that Venezuela would need to changeitslawsbeforeitcould be an attractive investment opportunity
From page 13
national development to benefit all citizens, but behind the scenes they carve up the sector for their special interest groups and engage in exclusionary and exploitative behaviour”.
In a WhatsApp response to the Express that day, she said the current Energy Chamber is structured to serve only the priorities of foreign multinationals and select local special interests’ groups.
She also said she thought the chamber was “self-serving, greedy and have acted in a detrimental manner towards citizens and the country”, as have exploited companies withits“STOWmandate”.
For weeks, the Energy Chamber listed Minister of Planning, EconomicAffairs and Development Kennedy Swaratsingh as a speaker at the event. However, checks yesterday done by the Express showed that he was removed.
Persad-Bissessar first signalled her stance on the Energy Chamber during her response to the 2024 budget while serving as Opposition Leader
Persad-Bissessar stated then that the
Energy Chamber was “dominated by large multinationals and local special interest groups,andthelocally-ownedMSMEsinthe energy sector are really without an adequate voice”. She added that many local businesspeople have stated they are afraid tovoicetheirtrueopinionsforfearofretaliation from multinational companies and local special interests.
As such, Persad-Bissessar said that if electedtoofficeinthe2025generalelection, her administration would create and fully finance the formation and operation of a new body to represent local energy service companies and contractors. This body, she said, would also advocate for businesses providing goods and services throughout the energy value chain.
When the Energy Chamber held its Caribbean Sustainable Energy Conference in June, months after Persad-Bissessar was electedPrimeMinister,noCabinetministers attended, despite formal invitations.
The Energy Chamber’s conference has previously drawn top-level government participation,includingprimeministersandenergyministers.
$920 million spent on new airstrip “a good...
From page 14
infrastructure that can accommodate night flights as well,” Williams said of the multimillion-dollarproject.
He further noted that the upgraded airstrip improves travel especially during the rainy season when travel is very difficult there.
“We are currently in talks with some air services to have scheduled flights because priortonow,wewouldhavehadmostlychartered flights, and so we are to have that kind ofimprovementintravellingtothesouthand of course bringing in other services and connecting Aishalton and the surrounding communities,”herelated.
During the commissioning, PresidentAli had noted that the airstrip will link to more market access for their agricultural produces and create tourism opportunities.
Speaking on tourism, Toshao Williams
said, ‘currently, we are working on several productsnotinAishaltonbutinthesurroundingcommunities,toensurethatwehavemore travel into that part of the country We want tocapitalisenotonlyonthesites,butwewant to explore other enterprises, such as lodges and so on in the communities that would be ourattractionfor(air)traffic.”
According to the Toshao, while tourism packages are available, they are not so established.
He said the village is working with the Ministry of Tourism, “to ensure that we have moreestablishedpackagesandwithAishalton being the port of entry.”
Regardingagriculture,hesaidthat“atthe moment we don’t have any medium or large scale,it’smorelocalbutwiththatairstripthere is now opportunity for expanding or going into at least medium scale agriculture, especially to the agri-processing sector.”
Waste collection
contractors are
laying blame at the feet of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, alleging that late payments is among the chief reasons the city garbage waste is notbeingcollectedontime.
At a meeting with Minister of local Government and Regional Development,PriyaManickchand, the service providers outlined several challenges, including claimsthattheyhavenotbeenpaid for months, despite funds being availableatthecitycouncil.
The engagement comes days after a planned meeting between local government officials was boycotted by City Mayor, Alfred MentoreandAPNUcouncilors.
Mayor Mentore had taken to his official Facebook page on Sunday to express his dissatisfaction on the state of the city despite the government’s sanitationefforts
He reported that garbage collectionhadnotbeenuptodatein severalwardsofthecityleavingthe areasreekingoffilth.
Mentoresaidthatwhileheison board with those efforts, he believes the government is underminingthecouncil’scapacity to function effectively by obstructing its ability to collect taxes, levy fines, and enforce litter andsanitationlaws.
Further,themayorclarifiedthe decisions to hire or dismiss waste collection contractors fall within the collective processes of the council.
“It is also worth noting that all
Garbage contractors during a meeting with Minister of local Government and Regional Development Priya Manickchand.
contractors currently engaged by the council to assist with solid wastemanagementare,inoneform or another, affiliated or connected to the incumbent central government administration I sincerely hope that the perceived inefficiencies in service delivery are not deliberate or designed to embarrass the Georgetown Mayor andCityCouncil.”
However, the contractors have denied the allegations, saying only that the M&CC needs to pay their billsontime.
Timothy Tucker of Sandip WasteManagementsaid“Wedon’t play politics. We are businessmen; we are here to provide a service based on the contract that we signed.”
He explained “If the city hall paystheirbillsontimeandtheypay for the parapet waste and bulky wastetobeclearedthenthecitywill be a lot cleaner They know the
problemandtheyknowthesolution forthecitytobealotcleaner.”
Lester Kellman of Guyana
Waste Solutions refuted allegationsthatthereisanattempt to sabotage the city cleanup efforts
He said “We bid for the contract; we won the bid to carry out the service. Yes, there are challenges. We don’t know any sabotaging…any sabotaging may be coming from the council becausewearenotusuallypaidon time…Sometimes it would be four months five before we are paid when the mayor made that statementitverydisturbing.”
Kalishwar Puran of Puran Brothers Waste management said that the company does not play politicalgames.
“We take our work very seriously,” he asserted while a representative Cevon’s Waste Management clarified that their
company was never politically aligned as they were contracted underdifferentadministrations.
On Monday, Minister of Local Government Priya Manickchand vowed that the government will continue its efforts to clean and upgrade Georgetown despite the lack of cooperation from the opposition-controlled Mayor and CityCouncil.
During a press briefing hosted at the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development in Kingston, Georgetown, Manickchand accused Mentore of flip-flopping on crucial issues affecting the citizensofGeorgetown.
The minister explained that Mentore has expressed interest in working with the ministry on various plans to improve the cleanliness and sanitisation efforts throughout the city, his actions differ
Manickchandtoldreportersthat she was “stunned” by the mayor’s comments She described the statementsas”completelyopposite towhathappened.”
She noted that contradictions often arise between the mayor’s off-camerapositionsandhispublic statements, particularly on sanitationandvendorissues.
“He said it has nothing to do with garbage trucks. He didn’t ask me for more trucks. Then to see a post saying the only reason they can’t clean the city is lack of resourcesistheoppositeofwhathe said,”Manickchandasserted.
Nevertheless, she said the government will take decisive,
comprehensive action and work with citizens to address sanitation issuesinGeorgetown.
“What we intend to do is to consult, hear the citizens and the residents and users of Georgetown and determine how central government can help the city of Georgetown get rescued. How we could restore the city of Georgetownwithoutpeoplewhose only jobs seem to be is to stand in thewayofthat...”
The minister noted that central government already handles road works,drainage,beautificationand maintenance in Georgetown, leaving the city council primarily responsibleforgarbagecollection.
She asserted “Any roads you see in the city of Georgetown that werebuiltormaintainedweredone bytheMinistryofPublicWorksnot by the M&CC. Any drainage that you see that was desilted, the primarydrainsaredonebyNDIA–the primary drains are the large drainsthatleadouttopumpstations and kokers, that desilting has been done and maintained by the national drainage and irrigation authority, it has not been done by the city council. Tertiary drains under your bridge, the smaller drains have been done by the Ministry of Public Works, and again,centralgovernment.”
Manickchand said the continuedabsenceofcollaboration meansthegovernmentwillnowact independentlytorestorethecapital. “Yourgovernmentunderstandsthis cannotgoon.Wearegoingtotake action that will see Georgetown rescued,”Manickchandsaid.
Despite the impasse over the election of a Leader of the Opposition, the Parliament Office hasalreadysubmitteditsbudgetary proposal to the Government of Guyana, including allocations for the operation of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, without anyinputfromthemainOpposition party- We Invest in Nationhood WIN)andtheotherparties.
The 13th Parliament convened on November 3, 2025, when Members of Parliament (MPs) fromboththegovernmentandnongovernment sides were sworn in. Since that initial sitting, however, theNationalAssemblyhasnotmet again. During that period, political party We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), which holds the most opposition seats, have repeatedly called on Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, to convene a meeting of opposition MPs to facilitate the election of an OppositionLeader
Those calls were met with silence until Tuesday, when Nadir a
announced that the meeting would be held on Monday, the same day the government is expected to presentthe2026Budget.
Despite the impasse, Parliament Office has confirmed that it submitted budgetary proposals for the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, even though no leader has yet been elected Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, confirmed this during a telephone interview with Kaieteur News on Wednesday “Yeah we submitted a proposalforsalaries,upkeepofthe officeandsoon.Yeswedid.Topay rental for a building and so on,” Isaacssaid.
Heexplainedthattheestimates are generally based on previous allocations, noting, “Well I think whatInormallydo.Welookatthe previous years allocation and we increase it just by five or ten percent,notmuch.”
Isaacsaddedthattheallocation fortheofficewouldonlybeknown after the budget process is completed.“Butwewouldn’tknow
untilthebudgetispassed,”hesaid. In 2025, the Committee of Supply approved $32.5 million for the Office of the Leader of the Opposition That allocation, unchanged from the previous year, formed part of the $2.1 billion approvedfortheParliamentOffice.
Parliamentary Chief Whip Ganesh Mahipaul said it is customary for budget submissions relating to the oppositiontoberoutedthroughthe ParliamentOffice.“Itiscustomary for a submission to be made from theoppositiontotheParliament,for the parliament to include in their submissions,” Mahipaul told
Kaieteur News during a telephone interviewonWednesday He continued, “But what has been happening is that the government has been putting specific sums based on what they conclude is the affordability of the state.”
Mahipual added that while in recent times the recurrent expenditure has been about 35 million and the capital has been 5 million, he does not know if that will change for this year’s budget. Mahipaul reminded that similar to
judiciary and other state entities
proposals to the Ministry of Finance, it does not means the requestedsumwillbeapproved.
“So the Parliament could very well request $10 billion but the state could always claim that they cannot afford to give them $10 billion and instead allocate $2 billionforparliament,andthesame goes for [other agencies],” Mahipaulstated.
(Reuters) - U S
President Donald Trump on Wednesday withdrew a threat to impose tariffs on a number of nations for their stance on Greenland, saying he had reached the outlines of a deal with NATO on the island’sfuture.
“Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposingthetariffsthatwere scheduledtogointoeffecton February 1st,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after a
meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Davos. He did not givedetailsofthedeal.
MARKET REACTION
*U S stocks sharply extended gains; S&Plast up 1.4%
*U S Treasury yields extendfall;10-yearyieldlast down 4.2 basis points at 4.255%
*U.S.dollarindexlastup 0.1%at98.79
MATTHEW SMART, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL PLANNING AND PORTFOLIO
ANALYSIS, WWM INVESTMENTS IN CHICAGO, IL
“Markets aren’t rallying
because they suddenly understand the endgame in Greenland. They’re rallying because uncertainty just got priced out. The signal from DonaldTrumpcomingoutof Davos is coordination, not confrontation, and that matters. Pulling back nearterm tariffs while opening a framework with NATO around Greenland tells investorsthisisshiftingfrom headline risk to negotiation risk.
“Historically, markets are very comfortable with negotiation risk. From an investment perspective, this fitsthebroaderpatternwe’ve seen time and again, aggressive positioning to gain leverage, followed by deal architecture that lowers the probability of policy shock.Whenyoureducethe odds of a sudden trade or geopolitical escalation, risk assets tend to breathe easier, and today’s price action reflectsexactlythat.”
ART HOGAN, STRATEGIST, B. RILEYWEALTH MANAGEMENT, BOSTON:
“Yesterday was like
April all over again, just as wethoughtwewerecloseto the exits on this very long tariff threat journey So today’s retracement of most of the selling that we saw yesterday makes sense: we got the positive news that Trump wouldn’t use the militarytoinvadeGreenland, which got the ball rolling Then came the Truth Social Postthatadealofsomekind was struck So the biggest headwinds have been removed,atleastinemotional impact on the market But what we need now is a constantflowoffundamental good news in the shape of better earnings. Hopefully next week we’ll see more of that from a wider array of S&P500companies,andnot havetorelyonrandomTruth Socialpostsforgoodnews.”
SAHAK MANUELIAN, MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR GLOBAL EQUITIES TRADING AT WEDBUSH SECURITIES, PASADENA, CA:
“President Trump came out and said that he would not be imposing tariffs on February1standthatthere’s some framework of a future
deal that will be coming together so markets went up onthatnews.”
“With the buildup over Greenland in the last few daysandtheproposedtariffs for February 1 investors were certainly worried and there was also a lot of angst about whether or not he’d take military action, which he shot down earlier this morning when he was speaking at the World EconomicForuminDavos.”
KARL SCHAMOTTA, CHIEF MARKET STRATEGIST, CORPAY, TORONTO:
“The President’s apparent climbdown should take some alreadydiscounted tail risks off the table in markets... However, itisimportanttonotethatthe episode shocked investors out of their early-year complacency, and has provided a valuable reminder of the risks still underpinning global market valuations.”
MICHAEL BROWN, SENIOR RESEARCH STRATEGIST, PEPPERSTONE, LONDON
U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a bilateral meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (not pictured) at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
“Very predictable, I suppose, as we had been viewing this as an ‘escalate to de-escalate’ situation all along.”
“Now that geopolitical riskhasbeendialeddownby many notches, I’d expect that participants will refocus on what remains a solidequitybullcase,asseen by dip buyers already steppingin,whileriskstothe USDalsotilttotheupside,as we again focus on the US macro-outlook, where risks tiltfirmlytotheupside.”
“Frankly,thespecificsof the ‘deal framework’ don’t really matter, just that there shan’t be an escalation, and that tariffs won’t happen, is
enoughtosootheanyandall worries that investors had had.”
MATT WELLER, GLOBAL HEAD OF MARKET RESEARCH AT STONEX, GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
“We’re seeing a bit of a relief rally in markets. SpecificallyontheFXfront, the dollar is recovering, though notably still down from where it opened the week.”“Ireallydothinkthe details perhaps are not as relevant, even perhaps if theynevercometolight.The near-termcrisisappearstobe behind us, and we’ll wait to see what crops up next to drivesentiment.”
As the Government of Guyana prepares to present its national budget on Monday, expectations are high and patience is thin. With record oil revenues flowing into state coffers, citizens will be watching closely to see whether this budget delivers meaningful improvements in everyday life or simply expands bureaucracy and political spending.
Rising living costs, strained public services and persistent infrastructure gaps demand more than bold promises, they require disciplined planning and transparent execution.
The administration must demonstrate that oil wealth is being invested wisely in education, healthcare, housing and job creation, not lost to inefficiency or favouritism.
Equally important is stronger accountability, ensuring every dollar is tracked and publicly justified. This budget should mark a turning point toward inclusive growth, fiscal responsibility and long-term national development. Anything less, risks deepening public frustration and widening the gap between government rhetoric and reality.
Frompage23
Bangladesh team in India. “Despite these efforts, the BCB maintained its position, repeatedly linking its participation in the tournament to a single, isolated and unrelateddevelopmentconcerningoneofits player’s involvement in a domestic league. This linkage has no bearing on the tournament’s security framework or the conditions governing participation in the ICCMen’sT20WorldCup.
“The ICC’s venue and scheduling decisions are guided by objective threat assessments, host guarantees, and the tournament’sagreedtermsofparticipation, whichapplyuniformlytoall20competing
nations In the absence of any independent security findings that materially compromise the safety of the Bangladesh team,theICCisunabletorelocatefixtures Doing so would carry significant logistical and scheduling consequences for other teams and fans worldwide, and would also create far-reaching precedent-related challenges that risk undermining the neutrality, fairness, and integrity of ICC governance ”
Bangladesh are in Group C at the T20 World Cup and are scheduled to play their firstthreegamesinKolkataonFebruary7,9 and 14 and the final one in Mumbai on February17.
Frompage25 finished the innings off nicelywithacoupleofsixes afour,offamere13ballsto help propel the Afghans to 189-4 from 20 overs; their new highest T20I score versus the Windies after beatingtheinitial181which theymadeinthefirstgame.
For the second straight game, West Indies have managedtobowlthemselves into a hole, with left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie hemorrhaging 54-0 from his 4overs.
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
Your opinions are apt to be strongtodayandyoumayfeel on top of the world, Aries. Remember, however, that there are other people who share the world with you, so don't disregard them as you plowthoughtheday
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
Realize that you may be controlling other people's actions without even consciously knowing it. This is one of those days in which emotional outbursts could explodeinyourfaceasaresult of other people's reactions to yourpressure.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Beware of unexpected circumstances today, Gemini. The good news is that your flexible attitude is perfectly suited to deal with the twists andturnsthatthisdayislikely tooffer
CANCER(June21–July22)
Come out of your shell today and try not to be so aloof, Cancer You will never find the exact path you want to be on until you explore the differentoptions.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
You may be wondering why everyone is getting so touchy whenyouseethisasbeingjust a normal day, Leo. Cut other people some slack when you think they aren't wearing as bigasmileasyouare.
VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)
It could be that you don't feel as if you can begin your day until you've made it clear to someone that you have an issue that needs to be dealt with,Virgo.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Don't let another person's small, thoughtless comment ruin your entire day, Libra. Peoplemaybeabitstingywith everything from money to emotions to time spent with lovedones.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
You may be feeling a bit tired and worn out lately, Scorpio. Don't push yourself to do things when you know that your body needs rest. It could be extremely tempting to roll with the crowd and participate inallthefun.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
Don't fritter away your time withapersonwhoisn'tgoingto change his or her mind about something, Sagittarius. This is oneofthosedaysinwhichyou may end up wasting your time andeveryoneelse.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
More than likely there is a person in your world who desperatelywantstogetcloser to you, Capricorn. Conflict is apttoarisetonightifyoudon't openupandletthispersonina bitcloser
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
Itmaybeeasyforyoutoshow up at a party or answer the phonewhenyouknowthatit's your best friend calling with good news, but where are you whenthegoinggetsrough.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Realize that your inner state of mindisquiteapparenttopeople just by the look on your face Don'tthinkyoucanhidethings from others, especially today You'rebetteroffjustsayinghow you feel even if you think someonemaybeputoffbyit
victoryfromthelast6overs, King reached his fifty but soon after fell to Rahman as the tail-enders failed to change the course of the matchbytheendofthe20th over Earlier, after another failure in this series from openerRahmanullahGurbaz (2) and a misfire from topscorer in the last match Ibrahim Zadran (22) who punched a quartet of fours, RasooliandAtaltookcontrol oftheinnings.
Although the Windies had a slightly better economical game compared to that of the first, fastbowlers Shamar Joseph (135) and Ramon Simmonds (1-39) were a bit expensive; whilefast-bowlerandpickof thelot,MatthewFordemade amends for his below-par performanceinGame1with returnsof2-25.
Looking to keep their series alive, the Caribbean team were muzzled for 150 all out in 18.3 overs, which was courtesy of Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s hat-trick and returnsof4-21.
Skipper Rashid Khan bagged1-19whiletheduoof Fazalhaq Farrooqi (2-28) andOmarzaiwhoreturnedto grab 2-20, all played a huge roleinthewin.
West Indies captain and opener Brandon King led with50,hittingtwofoursand 4 maximums, while GuyaneseShimronHetmyer hammeredaquick-fire46off 17 with 6 sixes and a four; but not much came from the others who were kept containedbytheAfghans.
Windies’ chase started withahugerunoutcourtesy of Zadran which sent Alick Athanze(8)packingandalso set the tone for a mini collapsewhichwastriggered by some fine bowling from Rahman.
Mujeeb removed the dangerous pair of Johnson Charles (0) and Evin Lewis (13), before Hetmyer and King looked to steady the ship.
Hetmyercutloosewitha handfulofsixestohelpease thepressureonhisskipper’s end,whichhelpedthepairto raisetheirteam’s100aswell as their own half-century stand;inthe14thover Tragedy struck for Hetmyer and his team when Zadran completed a good catch to remove the lefthander and break the 66-run partnership, 4 runs shy of what would have been a brillianthalf-century With 83 runs needed for
100inthe12thover.
Rasooli’s fifty required just27ballswhileAtalgotto his mini milestone off 38 deliveries.
Afghanistan’s 150 came in16.2overswhichgavethe green light to Omarzai and Mohammad Nabi (7*) to finish off the innings with a flurryofboundaries.
Thethirdandfinalmatch is set for today (Clifton Ross)
The pair added a quick half-century partnership which essentially took Afghanistan to their team
Scores:Afghanistan189 for 4 (Rasooli 68, Atal 53, Forde2-25)beatWestIndies 150 (King 50, Hetmyer 46, Mujeeb4-21)by39runs.
Frompage24 homesafelythankstotheseniorduoofNationandTaylor
TheformerWindiesskipperTaylor,hitasubtle21with3 fours while the opener Nation scored 24 (3x4). Abigail Brycescoredauseful12astheJamaicansgottotheirmark, despitesomeinroadsfromTrinileggyBriannaHarricharan (3-19).
Trinidad’slethalspinattacknearlypulledoffaheist,as KarishamaRamharack(2-13),AnisaMohammed(1-15)and Samara Ramnath (1-19), returned brilliant figures despite thetoughloss.(CliftonRoss)
The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) has unveiled a comprehensive andfar-reachingcompetition
calendar for 2026, underscoringwhatPresident MichaelSinghhasdescribed as one of the busiest and most ambitious years in the Federation’shistory
Spanning grassroots development, domestic
l e a g u e s , r e g i o n a l engagements and major international tournaments, the 2026 calendar reflects G B F ’s c o n t i n u e d
c o m m i t m e n t t o strengthening basketball at every level, while ensuring sustained exposure for both the men’s and women’s nationalprogrammes.
Singh,inhighlightingthe
scope of the calendar, noted that2026representsacritical phase in the Federation’s visionforthesport.
He underlined that the packed schedule is a deliberate effort to create consistentcompetition,build depthacrossagegroups,and position Guyana more comp
regional and international stage.
The year opens in January with the School Basketball League (U18 Boys), running through to March, reinforcing GBF’s focusonyouthdevelopment. That initiative is quickly followedbytheFourNations Cup in Suriname, giving the senior programme an early t
opposition.
Domestic basketball remainsamajorpillarofthe calendar, with the One
Guyana Premier Basketball League set for February, complemented by the continued growth of 3x3 basketball through events such as the Edge Series Lite Quest, One Guyana 3x3 Q u e s t , G B F 3 x 3 Championship, and multiple Schools 3x3 Challenges across Georgetown, Linden andBerbice.
Women’s basketball features prominently throughouttheyear,withthe GBF 3x3 Women’s Challenge, the Guyana Women in Basketball Association (GWiBA) Women’s League, and international opportunities including the FIBA 3x3 Women’s Series Qualifier and the FIBA Women’s
C e n t r o b a s k e t Championship.
Singh has consistently pointed to the women’s programme as a key growth area, noting that sustained competition is vital for closingtheperformancegap attheinternationallevel.
On the international front, 2026 is particularly demanding.
Guyana will contest the Junior South American Games (3x3 U19) in Panama, the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 CBC PreQualifiers, FIBA U16 and U16 Women’s AmeriCup Division B Qualifiers, and the Central American and Caribbean Games, which include both traditional and 3x3 basketball in the DominicanRepublic.
Auguststandsoutasone of the most intense months, featuring the FIBA CentrobasketU17Qualifiers forbothmenandwomen,the F I B A W o m e n ’ s C e n t r o b a s k e t Championship, and the FIBA 3x3 U23 Nations L e a g u e A m e r i c a s Conference.
The latter half of the year continues with the High School Basketball League, club knockout championships in Linden and Berbice, the InterGuianaGamesinSuriname, and culminates with the FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup in M e x i c o a n d t h e Georgetown U23 Knockout Tournament
According to Singh, the breadth of the calendar reflects a Federation intent on balancing elite p e r f o r m a n c e w i t h sustainabledevelopment. Hestressedthatwhilethe year presents logistical and financial challenges, it also offers unprecedented opportunities for players, coachesandofficialstogain experience and elevate Guyana’sbasketballprofile. With most domestic competitions centered at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and a strong slate of international assignments, the GBF’s 2026 calendar, Singh said, signals a Federationfirmlyfocusedon progress, performance and purposefulgrowth.
Guyana will be among the competing nations when eFIBA Season Four South American qualifiers which tipped off yesterday, marking another significant step in the country’s growing footprint in international e-sportsbasketball.
The Guyana team will be stationed at the Cliff Anderson SportsHall,astheycompeteinthe tournament contested on the NBA 2K26platform.
Guyana will be joined by Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela,placingthecountryona competitive regional digital stage sanctionedbyFIBA.
According to basketball’s global governing body, eFIBA Season Four continues to expand the global reach of virtual basketball, blending national team pride with elite-level gaming as countriesvieforadvancementfrom regional qualifiers to the world stage. The winning team from the South American regional competition will earn the right to advance to Qatar, where global supremacywillbeontheline.
Guyana’s challenge will be led by a seven-member roster of local e-sports athletes, with Captain JetherHarrisbeingjoinedbyCraig Harlequin, Roshan Washington, Treston Burnett,Akeem Morrison, TyreesArthurandHurtonRodney
The team will compete under the banner of the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF), with preparations focused on both technical gameplay and the stability required for high-level onlinecompetition.
A key boost to Guyana’s
One Communications CEO, Abraham Smith, and GBF Vice President, Jermaine Slatter, look on as Craig Harlequin battles on the virtual court of NBA 2K26 ahead of eFIBA’s South America Qualifiers.
participation comes through support from the country’s leading internet and communications provider, One Communications, which has provided high-speed fibre connectivity to support seamlesstrainingandcompetition.
The initiative is powered by One Fibre, ensuring low latency, stability and uninterrupted online play,criticalelementsinmodernesports where performancedepends as much on connectivity as it does on skill. One Communications’ Chief Executive Officer Abraham Smith underscored the wider nationalrelevanceoftheinitiative, stating, “President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has consistently highlighted the importance of the
Orange Economy as a driver of diversification, innovation and youthempowermentinGuyana.Esportsisapowerfulexampleofthat vision in action, where creativity, technology and talent come togethertocreaterealopportunities foryoungpeople.”
“These athletes are not just playing a game, they are building digital skills, careers and global exposurethroughonlineplatforms. At One Communications, we are proudtosupportthismovementby providing the reliable connectivity that allows Guyana’s talent to compete regionally and internationally, including on the roadtoQatar,”Smithsaid.
Smith further emphasized the
broader re
company’s investment, n o t i n g , “ a t O n e Communications, we don’t just connect devices, we connect lifestyles. Whether you’re a gamer, student, entrepreneur or family at home, our network is built to support how people live, work and play every day Supporting e-sports is a natural extension of our mission to empower modern digital lifestyles across Guyana.”
Smith met with the team at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, where they presented the One Communications CEO with a team jersey, just before their practice run, thanks to company’s One Fibre Meanwhile, Jasmin Harris, Public Relations Manager atOneCommunications,described thepartnershipasaninvestmentin the future of sport and youth development.
regional basketball tournaments, high
y importanceofreliableconnectivity
H a r r i s h i g h l i g h t e d , “Connectivity today shapes how people learn, compete, create and entertain By supporting the GuyanaBasketballAssociation’sesports team, we are investing in youth development, digital inclusion and the future of sport. Thispartnershipdemonstrateshow One Communications supports the evolving lifestyles of Guyanese, where technology and talent intersect on both local and global stages.”
Jether Harris, the team’s captain, who would’ve also represented Guyana at youth
According to the local ebasketball team captain, “e-sports isnotjustagameforus,it’spartof how we live, train and compete. Having reliable fibre connectivity from One Communications means we can play without lag, stay connected with international competitors and push ourselves to perform our best. This support fits perfectly into our lifestyle, where gaming, technology and ambition come together.” As eFIBA Season Four gets underway, Guyana’s participation signals convergence of sport, technology and national development,withlocaltalentnow poised to test itself against the region’s best on the virtual hardwood.
ICC to replace Bangladesh at T20 World Cup if they don’t travel to India
ESPNcricinfo - The ICC has given the BCB one more day to confer with the Bangladesh government and decide whether their team will travel to India to play the 2026 T20 World Cup. If Bangladeshsticktotheirrefusalto play in India out of security concerns, the ICC Board has decided to replace them with Scotland-basedonteamrankingsinthetournament.
The decision was taken at an ICC Board meeting onWednesday where the majority of directors votedin favour of a replacementif Bangladeshdidn’tbudge.Ofthe15 directors present, it is understood onlyPakistanbackedtheBCB.The meeting was called after the PCB wrote to the ICC and other boards onTuesdaystatingitsupportedthe BCB’sposition.
The board meeting was attendedbythedirectorsofallFull Members.ApartfromtheICCchair
JayShah,theparticipantsincluded BCB president Aminul Islam, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, SLCpresidentShammiSilva,PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, CA chairman Mike Baird, Zimbabwe Cricket president Tavenga Mukuhlani,CWIpresidentKishore Shallow, Cricket Ireland chair Brian MacNeice, Cricket New Zealand representative Roger Twose, ECB chair Richard Thompson, CSA representative Mohammed Moosajee and Cricket Afghanistan chairman Mirwais Ashraf.
Two Associate Member directors Mubashshir Usmani and Mahinda Vallipuram, ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta, ICC deputy chairman Imran Khawaja and ICC’s general manager Gaurav Saxena were also in attendance.
ICCACU headAndrew Ephgrave, whowasinDhakalastweektohave in-person meetings with BCB to
- BCB has been given one more day to change its stance on the issue
assuage the security concerns, was partofthemeetingtoo.
“The decision was taken after considering all security assessments conducted, including independent reviews, all of which indicated there was no threat to Bangladesh players, media persons,officialsandfansatanyof the tournament venues in India,” the ICC said in a statement followingtheboardmeeting.
“The ICC Board noted that it wasnotfeasibletomakechangesso close to the tournament and that altering the schedule under the circumstances, in the absence of any credible security threat, could set a precedent that would jeopardise the sanctity of future ICC events and undermine its neutrality as a global governing body
“The ICC management also engaged in a series of correspondencesandmeetingswith
the BCB in a bid to resolve the impasse, sharing detailed
information on the event security plan,includinglayeredfederaland statelaw-enforcementsupport.”
The ICC’s decision follows weeks of uncertainty over Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup after the BCB, in coordination with the Bangladesh government, wrote to the ICC on January4tostatetheywouldnotbe sending their team to India due to security concerns They asked instead to play their games in Sri Lanka, the event co-hosts. That movewasinresponsetotheBCCI instructing Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for IPL 2026, though no specific reason was given for that directive.
Since then, the BCB and the Bangladesh government have maintained that Bangladesh will
nottraveltoIndiaandwanttoplay in Sri Lanka instead During interactionswiththeICClastweek, BCB had also requested if Bangladesh’s group could be swapped with a team like Ireland, which is playing all their group matches in Sri Lanka. The ICC rejectedthatrequest.
“Over the past several weeks, theICChasengagedwiththeBCB in sustained and constructive dialogue,withtheclearobjectiveof enabling Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament,” the ICC said. “During this period, theICChasshareddetailedinputs, including independent security assessments, comprehensive venue-level security plans and formal assurances from the host authorities, all of which consistentlyconcludedthatthereis no credible or verifiable threat to thesafetyorsecurityofthe Continued on page 21
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has confirmed a 21-member GuyanaLadyJagsUnder-17 squad as preparations intensify on Tuesday, ahead of the 2026 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Qualifiers, whichisslatedtokickoffon Saturday,January24.
The young prospects reported for duty Tuesday last at the National Training Centre, launching a focused preparation phase ahead of their opening group match this weekend. The session forms part of the GFF’s
broader initiative to strengthen girls’ football nationwide, with emphasis on technical development, discipline, and the overall confidence of the Women’s team.
Following a highintensitytrainingsession,the final squad was confirmed.
The roster includes
goalkeepers Alexis Mars, Sara Ernest and Jasmine
Solomon-Ross The defensive unit features right back Aliyah John; center backs Ella Yhip, Avri
Pasvolsky, Caraleena Elliston and Laila Ross; and leftbacksLilyBiffin,Kuleni SpringerandLailiSo.
In midfield, the Lady Jags will rely on Sydney Glean, Arrianna Chin, Kamora Edwards, Carissa Lombardi,AyahStewartand Ellie Biffin. The attacking options include center forwards Tanya De Vair and Alexaudria Charles, supported on the wings by Anaya Joseph (left) and EleannaIsaacs(right).
Head Coach Delon Williams will lead the technical bench, assisted by Gavin Fredricks, with Nichola Argyle serving as mentor coach and Danitza Indacochea assigned as
goalkeepingcoach.
GFF Technical Director Bryan Joseph expressed satisfaction with the early sessions, noting, “Training went well. The girls were able to get in some intensity work, focusing on strength and technicality.” He added that the federation remains firmly focused on ensuring theteamisfullypreparedfor t h e i r C O N C A C A F campaign.
The Lady Jags will compete in Group D of Round One, alongside Honduras, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Aruba Guyana is scheduled to open its campaign against Jamaica onSundayat3:00pm,before facing Aruba on Thursday, January29.
The 2026 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Qualifiers mark the second edition of the competition under the
current two-round format, introduced in 2025. At the conclusion of the opening rounds, the six group winners and the two best second-place teams will
advancetotheFinalRound.
As the countdown continues,theGFFreiterated its belief that investing in girls’ football is an investment in stronger communities, families and a s t r o n g e r G u y a n a , reaffirming its commitment to building clear pathways for female athletes through thenationalsystem.
2026 CWI Women’s Blaze T20 Championships Round 5… Guyana vs.
- LEEWARDS/BARBADOS FINALS SET FOR FRIDAY
Guyana failed to cross the line courtesy of some clinical Barbados bowling in a low-scoring skirmish, which resulted in them suffering a 22-run loss, as the Bajans booked their spot in this year’s Blaze T20 Championships.
The reigning champs desperately needed a win to help solidifyashotatgoingdeeperinthe tournament,whichhasjustonefinal round left consisting of two qualifiersandafinal.
After a drought during the first few games, spinner Kaysia Schultz finally showed her class with magical returns of 4-13, which spearheaded another top bowling performancebythechamps.
Off-spinner Plaffianna
Millington(1-21),AshminiMunisar (1-15), Shabika Gajnabi (1-6) and medium-pacer Sheneta Grimmond (1-15),yethadbrilliantspells.
CaptainAaliyahAlleynewhoscored38* (2x4)wasthecornerstonebehindBarbados’ meager92-8off20overs.
The Bajans then triggered a collapse, as Guyana found themselves 45-7 with just 5 oversleft,resultinginafinalscoreof70.
Gajnabitriedherbesttoanchorthechase but no other player offered support, apart fromMandyMangru(11)whowastheonly otherdouble-digitscorer
Intheend,theWestIndiesplayerwasleft stranded on 41* (2x4 1x6), as Theanny Herbert-MayersslicedthroughtheGuyanese battingordertoclaim3-16.
Fresh off a 5-fer, spinners Najanni Cumberbatch claimed 2-16, as pacer
Shabika Gajnabi
Shamilia Connell (1-6) bowled brilliantly, leg-spinner Kelia Elliot (2-21) and Captain Alleyne (2-11), assisted in put the finishing touches on their opponents with overs remaining.
JamaicadefeatTrinidad andTobagoby3wickets(DLS) Djenaba Joseph top-scored with 27 as Trinidad made just 76-8 from a revised allotmentof17overs,battingfirst. No other player got going, as the Jamaican veteran core featuring Stafanie Taylor (3-9), Vanessa Watts (2-13), NeishaAnnWaisome(2-18)andChedeanNation(17)didthenecessarydamage.
Jamaica then finished on 79-7 in 15.2 overs,encounteringafewhiccupsbutgot Continued on page 21
Thirty secondary schools are set to compete in the Georgetown Office Assistant Promotion Committee (GOAPC)Tapeball Cricket Competition, which bowls off at the National Park Tarmac on Sunday, January 25 and runs throughtoFebruary1todetermineitschampion.
The tournament will mark the first Boys’ Secondary School cricket competition for the 2026 season and is expected to showcase some of the country’s top young cricketing talent. Among the participating schools are St Stanislaus College, The Bishops’ High School, St Joseph High, Tutorial High, St Roses High, North Georgetown Secondary, Richard Ishmael Secondary, St George’s High, Charlestown Secondary, Christ Church Secondary, Tucville Secondary,SchooloftheNations,LBISecondary,Cummings Lodge Secondary, Patentia Secondary, West Demerara Secondary, Leonora Secondary, Zeeburg Secondary, Vreeden-Hoop Secondary, Yarrowkabra Secondary, St John’s College, and Hope Secondary, along with several others. Matcheswillgetunderwaydailyfrom9:00a.m.,withawide rangeofprizesupforgrabs.Thegrandfinalisscheduledfor February1andwillbehostedattheNationalCulturalCentre.
As excitement builds ahead of the opening matches, Trophy Stall has come on board as a major sponsor of the tournament Recently, Trophy Stall’s Yamona Rajpaul officially handed over the first-place trophy to event coordinatorJames“Uprising”Lewis,HeadoftheGOAPC,at the company’s South Road location, as the leading trophy store makes stronger efforts to promote Youth development across Guyana. The GOAPC Tapeball Cricket Competition aims to promote youth development, sportsmanship, and competitivecricketatthesecondaryschoollevel.
Forfurtherinformationregardingthecompetition,please contact688-0073.
Afghanistan, led by fifties from Darwish Rasooli and Sediqullah Atal backedbyabrilliantspellof4-21from off-breakspecialistMujeebUrRahman handed their team a huge series win over the West Indies, who suffered a horrific 39-run loss yesterday at the DubaiInternationalCricketStadium.
Darwish Rasooli cracked back-to-back fifties. (ACB)
Playing with the series on the line,theAfghanscameoutfiringon all cylinders as they surpassed their highest T20I score versus the Caribbean side; while sealing an emphatic series win versus the former 2-time champions as they continuepreparationsaheadofnext month’sT20WorldCup.
Rasooli showed his class for the secondsuccessivematch,dazzlingwith 68off39with5foursand3sixeswhich provided the stability needed for a big score. He shared a 115 3rd wicket partnership with Atal, who cracked 3 sixesandapairoffoursinhis42-ball53 Pinch-hitterAzmatullahOmarzai(23*) Continued on page 21
Lady Jags gearing up for 2026 CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Qualifiers opening fixture this weekend.
