Kaieteur News

No date set for election of Leader of Opposition

The 13th Parliament of Guyana opened on Monday with the swearing-in of 36 Members of Parliament (MPs) from the government and 29 from the combined opposition However, the sitting ended without any announcement on when the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir will convene a meeting for the election o

e OppositionLeader

T

e Opposition Leader is s

businessman, Azruddin Mohamed, who heads the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party Mohamed was among 16 persons sworn in asMPsforhisWINpartyof the 13th Parliament His swearing-in came just days afterheandhisfather,Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, were arrested and brought before theGeorgetownMagistrates’ Courts for the start of extradition proceedings requested by the United States Government The father-son duo is facing an 11-count indictment in a U.S. federal court in Miami related to financial crimes. They were each granted bail inthesumof$150,000.

Member of Parliament and leader of We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), Azruddin Mohamed

During Monday’s sitting held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in Liliendaal, Nadir was unanimously re-elected as Speaker of the National A s s e m b l y, w h i l e GovernmentMPDr Vishwa Mahadeo was elected Deputy Speaker after securing 36 votes from the PPP/Cbenches.

The first sitting of the 13th parliament concluded with no word on when the Speakerwillcallthemeeting for the Opposition Leader election.Followingthe2025 General and Regional Elections, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic

of the National

(PPP/C) secured 36 seats in the National Assembly, followedbyWINwith16,A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) with 12, and Forward Movement Guyana (FMG) with one. With WIN holding the largest number of opposition seats, it is presumed that its leader, Mohamed, will become Opposition Leader However, the election is yet tobecalled.

Speaking to reporters after he was sworn in as a Member of Parliament, Mohamedsaid,“Ofcourse,I am the presumptive opposition leader…” When asked if he was informed

2 dead in Kara Kara crash

when the election will be held, he explained, “We just asked the speaker and he walked away so we are hoping to get it as soon as possible but you know it is up to the speaker…no he didn’trespond.”

Notably, the party had writtentotheSpeakerofthe NationalAssembly,formally requestingthatheconvenesa meeting of opposition

parliamentarians to elect the Opposition Leader The party had asked for the election to be held on Monday,butitwasnotdone.

Speaking with reporters at ACCC, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, explained, “theStandingOrdersissilent on the election of the leader of the opposition, but the constitution speaks to the

election of the leader of the opposition, it doesn’t say when the meeting to be held…”

Henotedthattheelection is conducted at a meeting chaired by the Speaker and decidedbyashowofhands. “The constitution doesn’t saywhenthemeetingistobe held,ifit’satthefirstsitting or the second sitting or third sittingit’satthediscretionof thespeaker,”Isaacssaid.

“What happened in this case, Mr Mohamed wrote thespeaker,thespeakersent the letter to me to acknowledgetosaywearein receipt of the letter and to inform Mr Mohamed that his request is receiving attention or being considered,thespeakerused the word considered. So, I think it is receiving the attention of the speaker,” Isaacsadded.

InrelationtoMohamed’s U.S.indictmentoncharges

Continued on page 3

Guyana, Saudi Eksab ink MoU to explore investment opportunities

The scene of the fatal motorcycle-motorcar collision at Kara Kara, Linden on Tuesday night T

TwomenwerekilledMondaynightwhen their motorcycle collided with a motorcar at KaraKara,Linden.

Kaieteur News up to press time was unabletoascertainthenamesofthedeceased and details about the crash. In recent weeks therehavebeenanumberoffatalmotorcycle accidentsacrossthecountry

OnSundayKaieteurNewsreportedthata formerstudentoftheAnn’sGroveSecondary School was on Saturday killed during a collision with a truck at Belfield,East Coast Demerara(ECD).

The teen has been identified as 17-yearoldLaronHarrisofDouchfour,ECD.Police said that the accident occurred at about 14:15hontheBelfieldPublicRoad,ECDand involvedatruckdrivenbya33-year-oldman from Alberttown, Georgetown and Harris who was driving a motorcycle with registrationnumberCG5938.

His friend, the pillion rider, identified as Josiah Abrams was injured. “Preliminary investigations revealed that the motor lorry was proceeding west along the southern

driving lane while the motorcycle was proceeding east along the northern driving lane at an alleged fast rate of speed. It is reported that the motorcyclist swerved to avoid two animals (goats), on the roadway and collided head-on with the lorry which was proceeding in the opposite direction,” policesaid.

Across Region Two in Essequibo an 18year-old pillion rider was killed last Thursday, after the motorcycle he was travelling on crashed into a stray cow along the Danielstown Public Road, Essequibo Coast, Region Two. Police had said that enquiries revealed that the motorcycle was proceeding south along the Danielstown PublicRoadwhenitcollidedwithastraycow whichwascrossingtheroadway Policesaid bothoccupantswerethrownontothesurface of the road, receiving injuries about their bodies.Thetwoyoungmenweretakentothe Lima Regional Hospital, where Rodriguez was pronounced dead on arrival. The biker was admitted to the hospital under police guard.

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali (centre) observes as Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally (left) and Saudi Eksab’s Chief Executive Officer, Yazeed Alyahya, signed the MoU

The Government of Guyana and Saudi Eksab have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore investment collaboration across key strategic sectors to drivesustainablegrowthanddiversification.

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali witnessed the signing ceremony on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative inRiyadh.SaudiEksabdescribesitselfas“an international investment entity guided by purpose,poweredbyinvestmentrigour.”

The company’s website further states, “Weprovidethebold,strategiccapitalneeded to unlock the potential of frontier and emerging markets. Led by a team with technical expertise across a variety of investment types and international markets, wedeploycapitalwithambition.Toincrease prosperitydeniedbyfinancialexclusion.”

The document was signed by Guyana’s Minister of Public Service, Government

EfficiencyandImplementation,ZulfikarAlly and Saudi Eksab’s Chief Executive Officer, YazeedAlyahya.

Thepartnershipopensapathwayforjoint efforts on new investment ventures and knowledgetransferbetweenthetwonations. Also,itreinforcesSaudiEksab’scurrentrole as a trusted partner in supporting Guyana’s economictransformation.

According to a statement, Minister Ally said Guyana is eager to explore partnerships that accelerate infrastructure development andeconomicdiversificationwhilefostering globalcooperation.HebelievestheMoUwill contributetothetransformativeenvironment in Guyana Alyahya noted that “This partnershipmarksanexcitingstepforwardin our mission to identify high-impact investment initiatives that drive shared economic growth. We look forward to identifyingmeaningfulopportunities.”(DPI)

Gold roars back!

...as

Gsector on track for biggest comeback in years - mid-year report

uyana’s gold sectorrecordeda 10.9%growthin the first six months of 2025, d r i v e n b y h i g h e r declarations from Aurora Gold Mines (AGM) the country’s only large-scale gold producer as well as small and medium-scale miners.

Thiswasdisclosedinthe 2025 Mid-Year Report, which was tabled in the National Assembly on Monday during the opening ofthe13thParliament.

According to the report, “The gold industry grew by an estimated 10.9 percent in the first half of 2025, with higher declarations from the singlelargeproducerandthe small- and medium-scale miners. The sector’s growth target for 2025 remains unchangedat17.2percent.”

In the broader extractive sector, the mining and quarrying industry is estimated to have expanded by5.9%inthefirsthalfofthe year, spurred by increased output across all subsectors bauxite, gold, other mining, andoilandgas.

Thereportstatedthatthe bauxite industry grew by an estimated133.1%inthefirst half of 2025 and is now projectedtorecordanoverall 65.9% growth for the year The “other mining and quarrying” category which

includes sand, stone, diamonds, and manganese grew by 24.2% during the same period, largely due to heightened construction activity, and is expected to riseby21.2%byyear-end.

M e a n w h i l e , t h e

petroleum subsector recorded a 5 5% increase, with115.7millionbarrelsof oil produced in the first half of the year The sector is

projected to grow by 15.6% for2025.

I n A u g u s t , t h i s publication reported that Chinese state-owned Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd , operatinginGuyanathrough its subsidiary AGM Inc , earned RMB1.4789 billion (over US$200 million) from theAuroraGoldMineduring thefirsthalfof2025.

The company’s interim report valued the mine’s total assets at RMB4 5287 billion and disclosed that it produced 2,039 kilograms (over 71,000 ounces) of gold between January and June

ZijinstatedthatAurora’s output contributed to the 41,186 kilograms of gold produced across its global operations, marking a 16% increase over the same periodlastyear

The company also noted that a technological upgrade wascompletedattheGuyana operation.

TheAuroraGoldProject, located in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), is wholly owned byAGM and remains Guyana’s only

Nodatesetforelectionof...

Frompage2 offraud,moneylaundering,customsfraud,bribery,andtax evasion, Isaacs clarified that as of now, it is only an indictmentandnotaconviction.“Theconstitutionsays,ifhe is convicted or reported to be guilty of an offence, so he hasn’tbeenconvicted…”hesaid.However,headmittedhe was uncertain about the interpretation of “reported to be guiltyofanoffence.”

Further, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, speaking with reporters at the ACCC, said the government has not deliberately delayed the process for the swearing in of the opposition leader and reminded that this is something that needstobedonebytheSpeaker “Theyhavetogothrougha process,throughaselectionorvotingprocess,todetermine who will be the next opposition leader,” Jagdeo explained. He added, “WIN misleadingly told their people that today theoppositionleaderwouldbeswornin,andsomehowthat it is a conspiracy of the People’s Progressive Party not to have that done. That’s all garbage. They peddle that a lot, misinformation.”

large-scale gold mine currently in production It holds estimated reserves of 184 tonnes (approximately sixmillionounces)ofgold.

The Cuyuni-Mazaruni district also hosts several o t h e r l a r g e - s c a l e developments, including the 5.4 million-ounce Toroparu GoldProject,the5.4millionounce Oko West Gold

Project, and the 2.1 millionounceOmaiGoldProject,all controlled by Canadian companies.

Guyana’s gold industry had experienced a steady decline in declarations between 2019 and 2023, falling by approximately 209,000 troy ounces, according to the Bank of Guyana’s annual reports.

However,2024sawamodest i n c r e a s e o f 1 , 9 5 4 ounces from 432,113 ounces in 2023 to 434,067 ouncesin2024.

Despitethemarginalrise in output, gold revenue for 2024 climbed to US$989.9 million, a US$180 million increase over the previous year, largely due to higher globalgoldprices.

For 2025, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharratsaidthegovernment is prioritising efforts to improve recovery rates among small and mediumscale miners, whose current recovery levels range between 40% and 45%. He noted that AGM has achieved recovery rates as highas95%.

Guard held at gunpoint as bandits rob Chinese supermarket

Anunarmedguard

bandits stormed and robbed

Supermarket at 621 La Penitence, Georgetown, on Sunday Reportsarethatthe banditsgrabbedanunknown amountofcashfromthecash register before making good theirescape.

Investigatorssaidthatthe armed robbery took place around 19:11 hrs and said there were four men on two motorcycles wearing skimasks One of them was reportedly armed with a handgun.

Reports are that the quartet arrived on their motorcycles, and stopped in frontofthesupermarket.The pillion riders came off the motorcyclesandwalkedinto thesupermarket. Thebandit

armed with the gun fired a shotintotheceilingandheld on to the unarmed security guard while the others enteredthecashierarea.

The men snatched the cash from the register and

backpack after which they left the supermarket and made good their escape on themotorcycles. I

ongoing.

KaieteurNews

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

Crimesagainstjournalists

SundaymarkedtheUnitedNationsInternationalDayto End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists—a reminder that attacks on the press are not distant tragedies, but a globalemergency

According to the UN, ending impunity for crimes againstjournalistsisoneofthemostimportantandcomplex challengesofrecenttimes.Itisanessentialpreconditionto guaranteefreedomofexpressionandaccesstoinformation forallcitizens.Thisyear’sobservancehighlightsthethreats womenjournalistsfaceinthedigitalspaceandthechilling effectthiscanhaveonfreedomofexpressionmorebroadly

The United Nations said that, Latin America and the Caribbean remains the deadliest region for journalists, as highlightedin the UNESCO Director-General’s Report on theSafetyofJournalistsandtheDangerofImpunity

Since 1993, more than 1,700 journalists have been murdered for doing their jobs: informing the public. Nine out of ten of those killers walk free, the UNESCO observatory reports. Impunity fuels continued violence, signalling collapsing justice systems and growing authoritarianism. Murder is the most extreme silencing tactic, but far from the only one, the UN said. Journalists worldwide are stalked, kidnapped, assaulted, intimidated especially online. The UN warns that violence against reporterssuffocatesthefreeflowofideas,leavingcitizens in the dark. Women journalists are disproportionately targeted: 73% report online threats and abuse tied to their work,accordingtoUNESCO’sTheChillingreport.When threats are ignored or investigations stall, criminals grow bolderwhilesocietiesgrowmoreafraid.

Impunity hides corruption and rights abuses from the public eye. Justice systems that actively pursue offenders sendtheoppositemessagethattruthwillneverbepunished. TheUNsaidtoothatinmanycases,threatsofviolenceand attacks against journalists are not properly investigated. Thisimpunityemboldenstheperpetratorsofthecrimesand at the same time has a chilling effect on society, including journalists themselves UNESCO is concerned that impunity damages whole societies by covering up serious humanrightsabuses,corruption,andcrime.Readandshare the stories of killed journalists #TruthNeverDies. On the other hand, justice systems that vigorously investigate all threats of violence against journalists send a powerful message that society will not tolerate attacks against journalistsandagainsttherighttofreedomofexpressionfor all.HereinGuyana,wemaynotcountmurderedjournalistsand weprayweneverdo,butwehaveseenfrighteningescalations: public harassment of reporters, newsroom intimidation, political operatives weaponising state platforms to smear, shame,andsilence KaieteurNewshasstoodinthedirectlineof fire targeted for exposing truths that powerful actors in the PPP/C Government would rather bury Their strategy is transparent: discredit the press, bully dissenters, obstruct coverage of the oil sector, and muzzle those who warn of corruptionandnationalbetrayal Silencethepress,controlthe narrative, hide the mismanagement of Guyana’s once-in-alifetimeresource

Withoilcomeswealthandahistoryofgrief,ifsecrecy wins. Guyana’s petroleum patrimony is now under global surveillancebecauseofhowoftennationshavebeenruined bythesameforceswenowfeeltighteningaroundourown media. The more this government hides, the more suspicious the world and Guyanese become. The more it lashes out, the more determinedreal journalists are to pull backthecurtain.ThisisthegroundwestandonatKN.Ifthe intentionisfear,ithasfailedalready Guyana’soilbelongs toitspeoplenottowhicheverpoliticianshappenedtobein officewhenitwasdiscovered.Betterleadersthanourshave succumbed to oil’s corrosive influence; we refuse to let Guyanajointhatgraveyardofshatteredhopes.Ourleaders have not earned blind trust and will not get it. We remain vigilant,relentless,andunbowed.Thetruthisourmandate, andwewilldefenditforthegoodofthisnation

The discontinuation of the Third Lane: Adecision of emotion, not logic

DEAREDITOR, Please allow me a space to vent my concern. The recentdecisionbytheTraffic Department to discontinue the use of the third lane on the East Coast/East Bank Public Road, following the tragic accident involving a young schoolboy, is yet

emotional decision-making ratherthanrationalthinking. Whilethedeathofanychild is deeply saddening and d

s symp

hy, policymaking must be guided by reason, not reaction.

Every day, thousands of Guyanese who travel along the East Bank experience unbearab

traffic congestion The journey fromFarmtoEccles—which

should take no more than fifteen minutes now stretches into an hour or more.

This situation has left citizens stranded, frustrated, and consistently late for work. Perhaps the Traffic Department should begin writingapologynotestoour employers every morning, sincetheirdecisionsdirectly causenationwidetardiness.

Instead of punishing drivers and commuters, the Traffic Department should focusitseffortsonenforcing existingtrafficlaws.Justthis morning, I personally witnessedfourmotorcyclists ridingwithouthelmets.

They passed three different sets of police officers, yet none of them were stopped or cautioned.

Had one of them been hit down while using the third lane, the blame would have automatically been placed on the driver—despite the motorcyclist’s own lawlessness.

P r o p e r t r a f f i c management is not about removing lanes—it’s about ensuringorder

Policeofficersshouldbe stationed at every major intersection to direct vehicles efficiently, and clear signage should be installed to guide drivers.

P e d e s t r i a n s a n d motorcyclists must also be held accountable for their actions. Drivers should not be punished because others refuse to follow the rules of theroad.

The truth is, the Guyana

Police Force appears to lack organisation and the ability to make clear, consistent decisions. Their approach to traffic management changes with every incident, without analysis or consultation This reactive style of policing helps no one—it only creates more confusion and inconvenience for lawabidingcitizens.

It’s time the Traffic Department steps back, reassesses its priorities, and focuses on real enforcement and education rather than knee-jerkbans.Orderonour roads will come from d i s c i p l i n e a n d accountability not emotion-drivendecisions.

Regards

RajivSingh

“BUT WHATABOUT THE OTHERS?”

DEAREDITOR

A striking feature of the Mohamed saga is that each stage appears to have been initiatedbytheUnitedStates Government, with local law enforcement in reactive mode,asifGuyanawerenot a sovereign State This patternwasreinforcedbythe

announcement on 3 November 2025 of more extraditions in the near future[i], as if he were just a post-box.

The charges against the Mohameds all relate to evasionofdutiesowedtothe GuyanaGovernment,notthe USA, on over USD 50 million worth of gold exports. The alleged crimes occurred in Guyana, and the Mohameds lived in Guyana throughout the period in question.Yet,overtheperiod these events allegedly occurred (2019-2023) [ii], there is no evidence of any proactive effort by the Guyana Government to investigate or prosecute them.

This USA-led approach masks a critical issue: the Mohameds could not have executed the alleged schemes alone. Who else in the government Ministries and bureaucracy colluded in thislong-standingoperation, andwhyhastheGovernment of Guyana not charged anyoneelse?

The Mohameds would have needed assistance in securing bogus licences, permissions,firearms,andin perpetratingtaxevasion.The USArecognisedthisbyalso sanctioning Ms Mae

Thomas, Permanent

Secretary,MinistryofHome Affairs, who “misused her position …to offer benefits to Mohamed’s Enterprise and Azruddin in exchange forcashpaymentsandhighvalue gifts” [iii]. Even so, Ms.Thomasalonecouldnot account for all the collusion implied by the scale of the chargesleviedagainstNazar andAzruddinMohamed.

This raises the central domestic question: “But what about the others?” SincetheUSsanctionswere imposed, no action has been taken against alleged collaboratorsinGuyanawho facilitated the illegal export of massive amounts of gold.

GRA charges against the Mohameds for unpaid incometaxesmaybelegally valid, but their timing –coinciding with the ruling party’s anxiety over the Mohammed’s political influence–istainted.

From a domestic perspective, the political d i m e n s i o n o f t h e Mohammed saga has overshadowed the criminal. Once considered influential allies of the ruling PPP, bankrolling their 2020 electoral victory, importing high-end cars without paying taxes, and with the senior Mohammed even winningaseatin2023onthe Eccles/Ramsburg,EastBank Demerara Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) as a PPP candidate[iv], the family’s wealth appears closely tied to political association.

Extradition efforts were widely interpreted as

attempts to prevent the younger Mohammed from becoming Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, following the ruling party’s franticattemptstocurtailthe political rise of the Mohammeds during the September 2025 national elections This perplexed many Guyanese and ironically, increased public sympathyforthem.

Beyond political maneuvering,thecaseraises concerns over domestic accountability Reducingthe complex problem of illegal g o l d e x p o r t s a n d international smuggling solely to the Mohameds ignores broader systemic failures.

Attempts to link them to anti-national activity via the Venezuelan embassy has further politicised and distracted from the core issues of sovereignty and governance.

The arrest itself, carried out on 31 October 2025, resembled a theatrical spectacle. On a public street in Georgetown, police wearing full head-covers reminiscent of ICE operations in the US, forcibly arrested and handcuffed Azruddin Mohamed, despite his publicly-stated willingness to comply with extradition procedures.

Frustrated by repeated granting of bail toAzruddin Mohamed[v], one PPP lawyer now seeks to c h a l l e n g e b a i l a s unconstitutionalinthislatest instance, an argument devoidoflegalmerit.Article

139(1) of Guyana’s Constitution clearly grants magistrates discretion, rather than obliging them to impose restrictions on freedom, with extraditionrelated detention being a low-priority category

Finally, the Mohammed case underscores the importance of context in extradition proceedings While the principle of global justice for serious crimes is commendable, the circumstances and domestic implications of c h a r g e s m u s t b e considered

The International Court of Justice (ICJ)

extradition, especially w h e n i t i n v o l v e s prominentStatefigures

In Guyana, however, r

n subordinated to political expediency Guyana’s low prioritisation of illegal goldexportsingeneral–as evidenced by the need for USA sanctions to spur local legal action –highlights the systemic nature of this problem

Without commenting on the content of the case, or theguiltoftheMohameds, this case should clearly be approached with a wider range of suspects in mind if serving the national, rather than partisan interests, is the ultimate goal

Regards ExecutiveCommittee

GuyanaHumanRights Association

Theimageofour Presidentinsuchforeign attiresendsaconfusing messagetothenation

DEAREDITOR

,

I am writing to express my deep alarm and disappointment regarding the official photographs of His Excellency President Irfaan Ali dressed in full traditional Arabian attire during his recent visit to the KingdomofSaudiArabia.

Whileweunderstandthe importance of diplomatic courtesy and showing respect for the host nation’s culture, the President’s decision to fully adopt this foreignnationaldress,thatis alien to our local identity, raises serious questions about the representation of ourownnationalidentityon theglobalstage.

Guyana is not an Arab Stateandwillneverbecome an Arab State for geographical reasons Guyana is also neither a Muslim-majority nation (some 7% of the nation is consideredasMuslim).

Our identity is a unique and proud tapestry woven from Indigenous, Indian, African, Portuguese, and Chinesethreads.

Our official state visits are a platform to showcase ourheritagetotheworldand flyourflag;notpretendwhat wearenot.

This sort of tomfoolery behaviour does our country nogood.

TheimageofourHeadof State in such distinctly foreign attire, rather than in formal business wear or a garment that reflects the Guyanese culture, sends a confusing message to the

nation. It creates a visual disconnect between the President and the people he represents since when he walked on that Saudi Arabian stage the Hindus

and Christians were abandoned and so many others.

ManyGuyaneseathome andintheDiasporamayfeel thatthissartorialchoicedoes not reflect their identity, but rathersignifiesanunsettling indifference to it (more that 75% of Guyanese are not Muslims).

Diplomatic respect can be shown in many ways through words, gestures, and adherence to protocol—without a leader sublimating his own country’sidentity

A simple boutonniere or a token of appreciation for thehost’sculturewouldhave sufficed to demonstrate respectwithoutresortingtoa full sartorial transformation to pretend what we are not. Thisisnotthefirsttimethese mistakes are being made by PresidentAli.

This incident goes beyond mere clothing; it touches upon the core principlesofhowweproject ourselves as a sovereign nation. We must ask: what message are we sending to theworldaboutwhoweare?

And what message is the President sending to the people of Guyana about whose identityheprioritises inhisrepresentation?

I urge the President and hisadvisorstobemore

(Continuedonpage06)

This act of interference comes across as an act of desperation

DEAREDITOR,

I writeinreactiontoMr Sanjeev Datadin’s recent interpretation of Article 139(1) of the Guyana Constitution concerning the granting of bail in extradition proceedings While Mr Datadin presents a position, a more nuanced legalanalysisrevealsthathis conclusions are flawed on severalgroundsasfollows:

1. Mr Datadin correctly notes that Article 139(1)(i) permits the deprivation of liberty for the purpose of extradition However, his analysis conflates the existenceofthisstatepower with its mandatory application.

The constitutional text states that liberty can be deprived “as may be authorised by law,” which presupposes a judicial process.

I ask the question – was the judicial process completed and the obvious answer is no, so why would Mr Datadinwanttolockup aninnocentmanwhohasnot been found guilty of anythingbyacourtoflaw?

A constitutional provision that permits detention does not automatically prohibit bail. The magistrate’s power to grant bail, derived from statutory law and inherent judicial discretion, operates alongsidethisprovision.

The article does not use the mandatory “shall be deprived,” but rather provides the legal authority for such deprivation when a court, through due process, deemsitnecessary

2.Theargumentthatbail

is irrelevant because the magistrate is not hearing a substantive criminal charge is an unduly narrow interpretation for these two reasons:

Anextraditionhearingis acriticallegalprocesswhere an individual’s liberty is directlyatstake.Thecentral purpose of bail—to secure a person’s appearance at a judicial proceeding is therefore paramount The risk of flight was mitigated with the commandeering of thepassportsoftheaccused.

In any bail decision, the primary inquiry is whether the individual presents a flightrisk.

Amagistrateisexpressly empowered to assess this riskbasedontheindividual’s community ties, assets, and theallegationsfaced.

The Mohameds have deep-rooted financial and community connections in Guyana that add up to billions of dollars and thus this is a fact that cannot be ignoredbythemagistrate

3 The claim that a magistrate, as a “creature of statute,” lacks the authority to grant bail in this context artificially constrains judicial power and this is a dangerous overreach by an agent of the Executive that can be seen as an attempt to intimidate and interfere withtheJudiciary

Magistrates are conferred with the authority to administer justice, which inherently includes the discretion to grantbailwherenoexplicit legalprohibitionexists

The absence of a

specific statutory provision for extradition bail does not equate to a prohibition Courts frequently rely on their inherent jurisdiction to manage processes and prevent injustice, which can logically extend to bail

The Mohameds are not being accused of murder, so why is Mr Datadin attempting to treat them like convicted murderers? Did he try the same technique in the Nigel Dharamlall case when he was accused of a heinous andmonstrousact?

4 Noting the absence of a “previously reported case”isanobservation,not a compelling legal argument. The lack of precedent does not render anactionunlawful. So,the magistrate has not done anything unlawful by granting bail to the Mohameds Common law systems evolve as courts make rulings on firstimpression cases Sound legal reasoning must carry currency when there is no legalprecedence.

5 Mr Datadin’s dismissal of the defense’s intended constitutional challengeasirrelevanttothe baildecisionisprocedurally unsound.

Apending constitutional challenge is a significant factor a judicial officer can andshouldconsider Ifthere is a potential argument that an individual’s detention is unconstitutional, it is within the magistrate’s purview to considerreleasependingthe resolutionofthatsubstantive

challenge, in the interests of justice.

In conclusion, Mr Datadin’s position represents a rigid textualist reading that prioritises state power over a nuanced application of judicial discretion.

A more balanced and

Constitution provides a framework for possible detentionbutdoesnotdivest judicial officers of their discretiontograntbailwhere justified. The magistrate’s decision can be defended as a lawful and prudent exercise of that discretion, grounded in fundamental principles of justice, a practical assessment of flight risk, and the unique circumstances of a case involving a potential constitutional violation T h e r e f o r e , t h e characterisation of the bail grant as “most unusual” is premature since it failed to consider the fullness of the legal principles that frames thismatter

But what was more worryingistheattemptbyan agent of the Executive to i n t e r f e r e j u d i c i a l independence. This act of interferencecomesacrossas anactofdesperation. Stopit rightnow!

Regards KhemrajHarryram

Guyanese in USAurged to vote Tuesday

DEAREDITOR, General elections are on Tuesday November 4 in several states in USA for Governor and state legislatures as well as for city mayor and local legislatures and for other offices.Nationalelectionsin USAareusuallyheldineven yearsforCongressandorfor the Presidency – every two years for the House, four years for President, and six years for the Senate Elections are being held in New York City (for mayor and other citywide offices and for 51 City Council

seats), New Jersey (Governor and statewide races), Virginia (Governor andstatewideraces),among others. Significantnumbers of Guyanese Americans resideinthoseareasholding elections; there are more Guyanese in NY and New Jersey than in Virginia with large numbers of Guyanese

also settled in other states like Florida, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Texas, Georgia, etc. The election races are very tight in NY, NJ, and Virginia and can go either way Guyanese are urged to vote as their ballot could help determine the winner Guyanese in Guyana, around the USA and other parts of the diaspora are payingcloseattentiontothe NYCMayoralelection. Theworldisalsopaying attention. It is the first time an immigrant, an Indian American, a Muslim, is on thecuspofbecomingMayor of the largest and most popular city in America. President Trump has been campaigning nationally on media and social media against the Democratic candidate who he has labeledasasocialist.

Indian American Zoran Mamdani (Democrat Party

nominee) is leading in the poll, closely followed by former NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo (running as an Independent after being defeated by Mamdani in the Democratic primary for the nomination last June) and Curtis Sliwa (Republican). Madani is the grandson of Girmitya immigrants from India who, like Indo Caribbeanpeople,weresent by the British to work in Uganda; some prominent Guyanese are campaigning forhim.

Hisparentsmigratedand settledinUSAfromUganda. His mother, a Hindu, is a well-knownfilmmaker His father, a Muslim, is a ProfessorinNYC.Mamdani hasbeenraisedasaMuslim. Mamdani was leading by doubledigitsinseveralpolls until a couple of weeks ago.

Latestpollnumbersoverthe weekend show Cuomo closing the gap with

Mandani after a sleuth of attack ads (calling him a c o m m u n i s t ) a n d endorsements from prominent politicians; tens of millions of dollars have been spent over the last couple weeks in attacks ads onMamdani.

The incumbent Eric Adams, abandoned his campaignasanindependent, and has been campaigning forandwithCuomo.Several Republican leaders are urging Republican party voterstoabandonSliwaand voteforCuomo.

Guyanese are divided with some going with Mamdani and others Cuomo. A small number of GuyanesearebackingSliwa.

Some 600,000 already cast ballots in early voting. Thatisthehighestnumberin thehistoryofearlyvotingfor that position. Early voting ended Sunday Election day is Tuesday – fixed first

Tuesday of November of everyyearunlessitisonthe firstoftheMondayinwhich case election is held on second Tuesday in November If one did not already vote, then he or she can vote on Tuesday Most Americans vote on election day

ThoseGuyanesebacking Mamdani are confident he will win. Those opposed to himhopeCuomowins.City Councilracesarealsobeing held.

Voting in Guyana and USA are slightly different. Paper ballots are used. But afterbubblingincirclesnext tonamesorpropositions,(at times on both sides of the ballots), the large screen sized ballots are scanned by the voter in a machine and aggregated.

On Election night after 9:00 PM, when balloting closes (other states end votingearlier),themachines

are open and aggregated numbers for each candidate in every position and for propositions (referendum) arerevealedforeachpolling station.

The winner is generally known a few hours later when all the numbers are reported to the central electionbodyandtabulated.

Guyanese are generally not very active inAmerican politics, not as volunteers, not as donors, and not as voters.

However, in this election, some have been activeinthecampaignforall threecandidates.

They also show a strong interest to vote in NYC. If they don’t vote, others will make the decision on who should be mayor They are urged to vote in all of the election contests around America.

Yourssincerely Vishnu

Bisram

ERC’s China Trip Misses the Mark

DEAREDITOR

The Ethnic Relations Commission’s (ERC) recent announcement of its “successfulparticipation”in a poverty reduction seminar in China is deeply disappointing—notbecause of the effort to build international ties, but because it starkly exposes howfartheCommissionhas d r i f t e d f r o m i t s constitutionalpurpose.

T h e E R C w a s established to promote harmony, equality, and mutual respect among Guyana’s ethnic groups not to study poverty reduction models or rural development strategies in China

Its mandate is rooted in social cohesion, community dialogue, and monitoring acts of discrimination

None of these functions are even remotely related to what was described as a “Global Development Initiative training” focused on economic models and antipovertymeasures.

To d e f e n d t h i s criticism is simple: the ERC is not a poverty reduction agency

The

Guyana already has ministries and statutory bodies responsible for economic development, agriculture, and rural policy

The Commission’s constitutional role is moral and social to foster trust among groups, mediate tensions, and guide policy to prevent ethnic exclusion. Every dollar, every trip, every workshop it undertakes should be tied to that mission. This seminar wasnot.

I t i s d i ff i c u l t , therefore, not to see the trip as a waste of resources both by the Chinese hosts and the ERCitself

The Government of China could have invested these funds in meaningful bilateral programs, such as youth leadership exchanges, d i g i t a l e d u c a t i o n initiatives, or technical assistance for ethnic equality projects Instead, it facilitated another “training” that may look impressive in photos but produces no practical outcomes for Guyanesecitizens

At a time when racial rhetoric, social division, and institutional distrust continue to strain the nation, the ERC should have been focused on building its credibility at home

The Commission struggles to investigate cases promptly, rarely issues detailed reports on ethnic complaints, and has failed to lead national dialogue on sensitive issues. Yet it finds time and resources for overseas junkets under the guise of capacity building

If the ERC wishes to be respected, it must first understand and return to its core mandate Guyana needs a Commission that i s p r e s e n t i n communities, not at conferences; one that is trusted by citizens, not tolerated by politicians Until then, these international seminars will remain costly exercises in symbolism s e l f - s e r v i n g , detached, and ultimately meaningless to the people it claims to serve

Regards

R.Hamilton

image of our President in such...

Frompage05 mindful in the future. Our leaders must rememberthatwhentheytravelabroad,they arethelivingembodimentofGuyana.Their public appearances should, first and

foremost, be a source of pride and a clear reflection of our rich and diverse Guyanese heritage.

Sincerely, SurujdaiJuglall

Inflation up by nearly 3% at mid-year

- Govt. blames rising food prices despite big drop in fuel costs

At the end of June 2025, Guyana’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) climbed 2.9% comparedtotheendof2024 and food costs are almost entirely to blame, the Government of Guyana has said.

While gasoline, diesel, and keroseneprices plunged

easing pressure on

transportation and businessesthesavingsatthe pump weren’t enough to offsetsoaringfoodbills.Fuel pricesdroppedsharplyinthe first six months of the year:

Gasoline: 20 9%; Diesel: 32.8%andKerosene:34%.

T h e s e d e c l i n e s contributed -0.2 percentage points to inflation, a direct boost to household budgets. Buthigherfoodpricesalone added2.9percentagepoints, wiping out the relief, the Ministry of Finance said in its mid-year report which was tabled in the National AssemblyonMonday

Vegetables and fruits were the biggest drivers, together accounting for 2.1 percentage points Key staples like eschallot, bora, ochro, and tomato saw notable increases due to the unusually prolonged rainy season, which disrupted supply, the report said. The 12-month inflation rate at Junestoodat4.2%,largelyin line with last year, but overwhelmingly driven by food,withvegetables,meats, fish, eggs, and cereals

leading the surge Government says targeted measures are in place to stabiliseprices,anditisnow projecting end-of-year inflationat3.1percent.

Back in July Kaieteur

News reported that consumers who visited the

Bourda and Stabroek markets early that month paid significantly more for common food items than theydidjustthreeyearsago, as prices for meats, vegetables, and seasonings continuetorise.

AnanalysisoftheJuly3, 2025 price list from the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) shows widespreadincreasesinboth wholesale and retail prices for key commodities Among the steepest climbs areseeninthemeatcategory, where local chicken, which retailed for $381 55 per pound in 2020 and $488.33 in2022,isnowsellingforup to $560 per pound at Stabroek Market and $520 per pound at Bourda. Beef, priced at $430.37 per pound in 2020, had reached $659.74 in 2022, and now stands at $950 per pound, more than doubling its 2020 cost. Pork has also seen a sustained increase, now retailing at $750 per pound, upfrom$585.46in2022and $417.17in2020.

As it relates to, vegetables and seasonings, these food items are no exception to the trend. Bora whichwassellingat$348.19 perpoundsin2020,surgedto an extraordinary $6,915.31 by2022.The2025pricehas stabilisedsomewhattoabout $2,100 per bundle. Other vegetables have continued theirupwardtrend:ochrohas climbed from $107.83 per poundin2020,to$171.93in 2022, and now to $360 per pound.Cabbage,oncesoldat $228 99 per pound, now retails at $400–$480, depending on the market. Pumpkin, previously $61.50 per pound, is now

consistently priced at $140 per pound and corilla went from $136.20 in 2020, to $251.20 in 2022, and now retailsat$360perpound. In terms of seasoning, celerynowsellsforasmuch as $4,250 per pound at Bourda and $3,500 at Stabroek, while eschallot retails for $1,000 and $950 per pound Ginger, previouslyavailableat more modest prices, has risen to $900 to $1,000 per pound. Similarly,Sweetpeppersare among the highest-priced seasoning items, now at $1,500perpound.

A m o n g g r o u n d provisions, sweet potatoes and eddoes have remained fairly stable since 2022, still priced at $200 per pound. Cassava, which had increased to $224.28 per pound in 2022, has now dropped slightly to $160 per pound Plantains, once retailing for over $206 per pound, have also seen a modestdecreaseto$160.As it relates to eggs, which had previously surged due to supply chain issues and demand spikes. Data shows thatlocalwhiteeggs,soldby the unit, are now priced at $60 each, compared to $50 wholesale, placing the retail traypriceatroughly$1,800. In 2022, that tray price peaked at $1,350 The Guyana Marketing Corporation notes that the figures represent average wholesale and retail prices recorded at Bourda, and Stabroek markets, and are not set or regulated by the State.

Pricestofall Meanwhile,lastweekthe World Bank said that global commodity prices are

projected to fall to their lowest level in six years in 2026, marking the fourth consecutive year of decline. Pricesareforecasttodropby 7% in both 2025 and 2026, driven by weak global economicgrowth,agrowing oil surplus, and persistent policyuncertainty

Falling energy prices are helping to ease global inflation, while lower rice andwheatpriceshavehelped make food more affordable in some developing countries.Despitetherecent declines, however, commodity prices remain above pre-pandemic levels, withpricesin2025and2026 projectedtobe23%and14% higher, respectively, than in 2019. “Commodity markets are helping to stabilise the global economy,” said Indermit Gill, the World Bank Group’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics. “Falling energy prices have contributed to the decline in global consumer-price inflation But this respite will not last. Governmentsshoulduseitto get their fiscal house in order, make economies

business-ready, and accel

d investment.”

The global oil glut has expanded significantly in 2025 and is expected to rise next year to 65% above the most recent high, in 2020.

Oildemandisgrowingmore slowlyasdemandforelectric and hybrid vehicles grows and oil consumption stagnates in China. Brent crude oil prices are forecast tofallfromanaverageof$68 in 2025 to $60 in 2026—a five-year low. Overall, energy prices are forecast to fall by 12% in 2025 and a further10%in2026.

Food prices are also easing,withdeclinesof6.1% projected in 2025 and 0.3% in 2026. Soybean prices are falling in 2025 because of record production and trade tensions but are expected to stabilise over the next two years Meanwhile, coffee andcocoapricesareforecast to fall in 2026 as supply conditions improve However,fertiliserpricesare projected to surge 21% in 2025,reflectinghigherinput costs and trade restrictions, before easing 5% in 2026. These increases are likely to

further erode farmers’profit margins and raise concerns aboutfuturecropyields.

Precious metals have reached record highs in 2025, fueled by demand for safe-haven assets and continued central bank purchases The price of gold—widely viewed as a safe haven during times of economic uncertainty is expectedtoincreaseby42% in 2025. It is projected to increasebyafurther5%next year, leaving gold prices at nearly double their 20152019 average. Silver prices are also expected to hit a record annual average in 2025, rising by 34% and further8%in2026.

Commodity prices could fall more than expected duringtheforecasthorizonif global growth remains sluggish amid prolonged trade tensions and policy uncertainty Greater-thanexpected oil output from OPEC+coulddeepentheoil glut and exert additional downward pressure on energy prices Electricvehicle sales, which are expected to increase sharply by 2030, could further depressoildemand.

‘CriminalandPredatory’

— Home Affairs Minister slams senior cops of preying on junior ranks

HomeAffairsMinisterOniedgeWalrond has issued a stern warning to senior ranks within the disciplined services: sexual involvement with subordinate officers is a criminal act and will be met with zero tolerance.

Speaking on Monday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre following the swearing-in of Members of Parliament, Minister Walrond underscored that the Sexual Offences Act explicitly prohibits senior officers from exploiting power imbalances to pursue sexual relationships withjuniorranks.

“The sexual Offences Act says that a woman, especially a young woman, cannot be said to have consented to a sexual relationshipifit’sapositionofpower Ifthey are calling it a relationship, it says the consentelementdoesnotexistifyouareina position of power Similarly, it is when a person has an inappropriate relationship with a minor because of her young and tenderage,thatelementofconsentcannotbe considered.It’sthesamewaywiththepower dynamic,”Walrondasserted.

She was at the time addressing reports that images circulating on social media showed a Deputy Commissioner having sexual relations with a junior female rank. Noting that she is not aware of the incident involving the deputy commissioner and the junior rank, Walrond said while she is not aware of the details of the matter, there is zerotoleranceforsuchbehaviour

The Home Affairs Minister noted that: “It is criminal behaviour for a person in authority and power to engage in sexual behaviourwithasubordinateofficer,andwe have a zero tolerance policy for those who engageinsuchcrimes.” She continued, “From the first day arrivinginthisportfolio,Ihavemadeitclear thatthosekindsofallegationsagainstpolice, male police officers, especially when they are senior, a much higher standard is required of them, that they will be treated with a zero-tolerance approach. I have had this conversation already with the commissioner Wherever these allegations will arise, especially as they relate to subordinatefemaleofficers,theywillbe Continued on page 16

Nothingsurreptitiousaboutretirement

In a society where speculationtoooften substitutes for analysis, it is unsurprising that the lawful retirement of the Acting Chancellor has beenrepackagedbysomeas a “surreptitious removal.”

But when examined with a clear head and a firm grasp of the facts, that claim collapsesundertheweightof itsownexaggeration.

Tobeginwith,therewas nothing “hidden” about the Chancellor’s departure. She hasindicatedthatshewillbe proceeding on preretirement leave. When that leave ends, the retirement willthereforebegin.

Pre-retirement leave is

not dismissal; it is a bridge between active service and retirement. Leave earned should be awarded, not lost upon retirement. How preretirement leave can be interpreted as “removal” is therefore a linguistic and logicalstretch.

The constitutional process for appointing or substituting a Chancellor or ChiefJusticewhentheoffice is vacant or its occupant is unable to perform the functionsisclearlysetoutin Article 127(2) It is a mechanism for stability, not manipulation It ensures that,evenintheabsenceofa substantiveappointment,the work of the judiciary

continues uninterrupted. WhentheActingChancellor indicated that she would be proceedingonleave,another senior judge was designated to perform the functions of Chancellor That is exactly how the system is meant to work — and how it has workedinthepast.

What some have chosen to interpret as “musical chairs” is, in fact, institutional order Acting appointments, by definition, are temporary They end either when a substantive appointment is made or when the person acting demits office — through resignation, retirement, or leave. This was neither a

Venezuelanfishermenrob EastBankwomanwithtoygun

Five Venezuelan fishermen were arrested on Monday for allegedly invading the home of a 20year-old woman at New Hope, East Bank Demerara (EBD), and robbing her of an undisclosed amount of US and Guyanese currencies, along with two iPhones and a quantity of goldjewelry

The home invasion, according to police, took place around 09:00 hrs. on Monday The suspects were latercapturedbyranksofthe police force’s marine department at Ruimveldt Georgetown.

Information reaching KaieteurNewsstatethatthe menwereapickedupatthe Meadow Bank Wharf in Georgetown.

The suspects were identified as Samir Somaru, 26, and Danny Somaru, 24, both of New Hope EBD, Richard Reyes, 55, Ian Reyes, 26, and Wilmer Jose 43, all of Meadow Bank, Georgetown.

Thevictimidentifiedthe men from the clothes they were reportedly wearing duringthehomeinvasion.

She told police that four ofthemenenteredherhome wearing cloth masks

According to her, one was armed with a handgun which, according to police, maybeatoy-gun.

Thewomandetailedthat shewashomealonewithher babysisterwhenshenoticed amaskedmanintheirliving

room. Shortly after, three other masked men joined him. Oneofthemapproached her and demanded she gave them cash and gold jewelry HethengrabbedtheiPhones while the other three suspects ransacked the house before making good their escape along the Craig SeaDam.

The matter was immediately reported to police. Ranks were sent to the scene and combed the Craig Sea Dam area where they found a toy gun along with the cloth masks and clothes they were seen wearingduringtherobbery

Five suspects were later nabbedattheMeadowBank Wharf.

DEM BOYS SEH

De Jukka in de Pants

Long time, if de police ketch yuh walking down de road wid a cutlass showing,demusedtoseizeitquick,quick. Dem nah use to tolerate no sharp object flashinginpublic.Manlearnfastthatifyuh mustwalkwidacutlass,yuhbetterwrapit in newspaper, cloth or plastic bag. It was likearule—concealyuhtoolorloseit.

Back then, if yuh get ketch wid a penknife, yuh could find yuhself explaining in front of a magistrate.And if yuh deh wid a ice pick in yuh pocket, yuh had to give one good story bout why yuh carryingit.Knifeinyuhwaist?Trouble.De police use to say prevention better than cure,sodemusetostop,search,andseize. Now? Different story These days, everybodywalkingboutwidjukkaindem pants — knife, ice pick, screwdriver, even cutlass swinging like fashion accessory Nobodyhidingnothing.Andworseyet,de police turning a blind eye. Dem boys seh

demotion nor a dismissal. It wasthenaturalandexpected consequence of the Acting Chancellor’s own decision tostepbackfromduty.

There is no evidence in the public domain that the incumbent was pressured to retire Therefore, the suggestion that the Executive sought to “manipulate” the judiciary or“erodeconfidence”inthe courtsismisplaced.

The judiciary in Guyana remains constitutionally independent. Judges are not answerable to politicians; they are guided by the law, precedent, and conscience. That independence is not c

becaus

n acting appointmentendsoranother begins.

It is worth recalling that both the Acting Chancellor and Acting Chief Justice wereoriginallyappointedin 2 0 1 7 t h r o u g h a constitutional process, following consultation between then President David Granger and then Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. Nobody then cried “interference”or“removal.”

The same rules apply today, the only difference being that the personalities have changed.Onemustask:how does a voluntary and lawful transition suddenly become anactofpoliticaltreachery?

There has been no evidence — none whatsoever — that the President or any other officialactedoutsidethelaw. Nor has there been any indication that the outgoing Chancellor objected to her leave or was denied any entitlement.

Calls to “backdate” her appointment as substantive Chancellor are emotionally appealing but legally

u n s o u n d A c

g appoin

do not retroactively transform into substantive ones. A person either holds the substantive title or does not. To pretend otherwise is to rewrite the recordandtomisunderstand how judicial appointments

function within a constitutionaldemocracy

The narrative that this event signals the “corruption”ofthejudiciary isthereforebothcynicaland damaging. The true danger lies not in the transition itself, but in the ease with w h i c h o r d i n a r y administrativeprocessescan be distorted into political drama.

I n a n y s e r i o u s democracy, judicial independence depends on two things: adherence to procedure and respect for truth.Inthiscase,bothwere observed The Acting Chancellor’s departure followed established norms.

H e r s u c c e s s o r ’ s appointment followed the constitutional formula. The judiciarycontinuesitswork, unaffected by the noise outsideitschambers.

Guyana’s courts have faced many real challenges backlogs, resource shortages, and the need for permanent appointments to top judicial offices. But the routine pre-retirement of an acting officer is not among them To label it “surreptitious” is to confuse transitionwithconspiracy

Theindependenceofthe judiciary is not shaken by a judge’s retirement; it is shaken when facts are twisted to serve political narratives. Those who truly value the rule of law should defend its processes, not distort them for effect. The Acting Chancellor served with distinction and left honorably That should be the story — not imagined intrigue.

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

some police only searching people fuh bulge—butnotdekindindewaistband,de kindindepocketwidmoneyinside.

Worse yet, people now openly selling Rambo knives on de pavements.And it is notsurprisingdatdehospitalsgettingnuff cases of people with stab wounds. Yet de police walking bout like dem ain’t see de bloodtrailleadingstraightfromdestreetto deward.

Even school pickney getting rob at knifepointnow Icepickandbladebecome part of de school uniform.Yuh could even spot who packing — de bulge in de waist does give it away But like nobody ain’t watching,nobodyain’tcaring.

Dem boys seh things gone real mad. One fella even see a madman wid knife in hewaistandask,“Boss,whayuhdoingwid that?”Demanlookcalm,calmandanswer, “Ahgoingandpeeltwomango.” Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

H@RD TRUTHS

What happened, where did everybody go?

I confess publicly that I’m unhappy What happened to all the excitement and energy relative to gold smuggling? What happened to all those who were obsessed with making me into a Guyanese of extraordinary villainy, infamy? How come all the beautiful people moved on, remolded their minds, rechanneled their hostility? Where did they go? Have they lost their voices? Did they finally come to the realisation of the spectacles that they made of themselves, while attracting thekindofattentionthatthey don’t want spotlighted on theirbosses’heads?

I look around without success I listen for a whisper, and it is the same story,thesilenceofaSunday morning. I look and listen for a great Guyanese gentleman by the name of Big Boss Bharrat. Dr Big Brother Jagdeo, he of

Orwell’s 1984 standards in 2025. Perhaps, he took a long overdue holiday by thosecommiewateringholes neartheBlackSea. Whena mandarestoopenhismouth, displays publicly the malignanciesinhismind,he must come good on the positions he takes. Gold smuggling begins with a capital G, and that is owned by Guyanese pretender and offenderG.Lall. Evenifrun amokwithbysurrogatesand others of that outstanding P P P G o v e r n m e n t brotherhood, it is still as good as if Dr Bharrat “Big Jefe”Jagdeospoke. Heisin suchcompletecontrolthathe doesn’thavetobarkanorder The troops are so welltrained that they spring into action. Whatever the dirty jobthattobedone;it’sdone. Guaranteed. ThelovelyPPP machinery is that good, that attunedtothedemandsofthe job.

Now all is quiet on the

Western Front, with Robb Street (Freedom House) and Vlissingen Road (the Plantation House) occupying themselves with other issues. Those that don’t point right back at the PPPGovt,andwithsomeone ready to hurl their dirty, rottencorruptionsrightback intotheirfaces. Inimitation of David Michael Rudder of songster lore, I blast: ‘who letthecocainepass?’ Inthis case, I steer the question to wholetthegoldpass? Who in the government collected a kickback for every shipment allowed to pass? AndwhenIsaygovernment, thereismorethanlookingat the Guyana Revenue Authority and some helpful CustomOfficer(s). Ilookat politicians, and not just the PPP But the PPP, PNC, AFC. All three. All who playin stupidee gon get sense. Everybodyclamming up. They have Venezuelan terroristsasabiggerpriority;

glad for the change of issue, escape. Deh lie. How deh couldlie. Dehliebaad! Police -bring it on, let’s get it on. See who gold smugglingstickson.

What’sthestorywithDr Bharrat Jagdeo, Master Propagandist and pappyshowartist? Likeherunout ah steam, taking up chess in heoldage,orcatchingupon his fairytales. It’s the other way: his fairytales catch up withhim,nowovertakehim. The PPP big men played their regular tricks to run from a snapping alligator (sanctions revelations) only to run into a ticking device (guess who?). The more they cursed, the more they condemned themselves, from top to middle. The little guys are small-time operators, extras in a political soap opera. Where are the performers (is Lall), is not we? Where are the pretenders (is Lall), we aint deh pun dem dah kine ah

runnins? How come Guyana not hearing from Excellency Ali, ‘we shall dismantle onerous rules and regs in the mining (gold) sector?’ Helping hand, or self-help? Where is Mr Anti-Money Laundering, MohabirAnil? Hesmart,leh cat tek ovah he tongue. He isn’t saying much of anything.

Ah,whatatangledwebis weaved,whenthepracticeis to deceive by a government thatgrievouslywoundsitself

(fabrications, farces). To deflect to deceive. To deny its own roles. To distance from,todisown,allegedgold smugglers, previously

smuggling still going on right now Just check with thewhitepeepleupnorth.

Where are all of the PPP superstars right now?

Probably working in their laboratory of ingenuity to

produce another Molotov cocktail. The Office of the President character could help some more; he of Molotov cocktail history I pityJagdeowhotrieshisbest topawnoffonothershisown buddy friends. I never gave a dollar to the PPP or PNC. Who gave a million, then hundreds more? That buys plentyspace,awholeroadto run cocaine and gold, and whatever else makes for more lavish political donations.

My duty is difficult. I denounce them. Then, I havetoprayforthem. Lord have mercy Forgive them. They are terribly out of kilter, but no one is ever beyondrescuing.

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

Pres.Alisaysenoughevidencetoprocess extraditionrequestforMohameds

President IrfaanAli saidMondaythere i s e n o u g h evidence available to process the extradition requestbytheUnitedStated (US)government.

The president said that claims by leader of the We InvestinNationhood(WIN) party, Azzrudin Mohamed, that he is being targeted and politicallyprosecutedbythe People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government arealllies.

“Thisstartedlongbefore we came into office. This investigation started long before we came into office, and we followed all the steps.We came, we met this i n v e s t i g a t i o n , w e cooperated, and now the finalstep,herewearewhere the United States government well, let’s go back,acourtinUnitedStates had indictment now against the Mohamed’s indictment, 11 indictments,” he said during an interview posted onhisFacebookpage.

The president explained that an indictment is not simply arrived at, as the courtmustbeconvincedthat a clear case is laid out with allnecessaryevidence.

“…they went further the strength of the indictment, which lies on gold smuggling, money laundering and other criminal activity, then advanced a case for extradition. The extradition request was made in accordance with illegal and administrative mechanisms. Thatrequest,likemanyother requests before, has been p r o c e s s e d b y t h e Government of Guyana after examining the

evidence and being convinced that there is a clearcase,”hestressed. Ali added that the extradition request was made and is currently being processed.

“This is a clear investigation that started long before 2020 An investigation that has followed legal and administrative mechanisms, aninvestigationthatiscross jurisdiction,aninvestigation that is international in nature.”

The head-0f-state said that the notion that parliament was deliberately delayed to facilitate an extradition is a disconnect from the truth, and created foraspecificpurpose.

Second Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo speaking on the matter at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre

(ACCC) on Monday at the h convening of the 13 Parliament told reporters that, “The United States prosecutors went to a grand jury Thegrandjuryindicted him, not a PPP, not a single person.Agrandjuryindicted him on serious charges, charges of money laundering, wire fraud, etc, mailfraud.”

Hestressedthatoffences ofthisnaturearehugeinthe United States with a maximum jail term of two decades.

“…they’ve been moving money through the US system and gold. So that’s separate from his trouble with the authorities, the tax

authorities, there, the indictment came. So, they said, oh, the indictment is there. The extradition will notcome,”Jagdeoadded.

The VP noted that the extradition request came fromtheUSgovernmentand now Mohamed is facing it, with the process already commencing through the courts. Making it clear that the accused would be afforded due process, he highlighted that Guyana has extradited persons for lesser offenses than what the WIN leaderisindictedfor

“So I think they’re pittingtheirlastbeton,oh,if he’samemberofparliament, maybeitwillgoaway Itwill not go away There’s no immunity as a member of parliament, even as opposition leader, for this to happen.Sothat’swhyIdon’t want to mar and they were saying, Oh, the PPP, delaying this, delaying the convening of Parliament, just to get him in, digging andsentaway,isnottohave himswornin,”headded.

Last Friday, the WIN leader and his father, Nazar Mohamed were granted bail inthesumof$150,000each following their arrest,

subsequent to an extradition request from the United StatesofAmerica(US).

The duo appeared in person before acting Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman, in Court Seven at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court and was represented by a group of attorneys including Siand Dhurjon, Nigel Hughes and Senior Counsel (SC) Roysdale Forde.

The prosecution was represented by special prosecutors, Jamaicans Herbert McKenzie and Terrence Williams who objectedtobail.

After listening to the arguments of both sides, Magistrate Latchman granted bail in the sum of $150,000 each, with the conditionthatthemenlodge theirpassportswiththeclerk of courts at the Georgetown MagistratesCourtandreport every Friday afternoon between 13:00hrs and 15:00hrs to the officer-incharge at the Ruimveldt Police Station from November7th.

If the Friday is a holiday theyreportonThursday The next court date has been set forNovember10,2025.

StormStrikesLimaHousingScheme

- homes torn apart; families displaced

Heavywindsandintense

rainfall hammered the L i m a H o u s i n g Scheme, Essequibo Coast on Monday morning, tearing through the community and leaving destructioninitswake.

Around 08:00 hrs, a sudden violent storm ripped the roofs from

homes and caused one structure to collapse entirely, according to reportsfromRegionTwoofficials.

According to reports from the RegionalChairmanofRegionTwo, Devin Mohan, the incident occurred around 08:00hrs on Monday, destroying about six homes and leaving over 20 persons

affected.

“Thismorningaround8o’clock we had a storm and it ripped off the roof of several houses. Myself, and regional officials we were on the ground assisting families, we had the enhancement team and we are currently working with the residents to restore them back to

Jail for ‘cocaine granny’

A 6 2 - y e a r - o l d businesswoman was on Monday sentenced to jail after she was charged with two counts of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

The accused, Paulette Emanuel of Lot 2567 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown appeared at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court before M a g i s t r a t e T e r i q Mohammed where the chargeswerereadtoher

The charges was laid underSection5(i)a(i)ofthe

Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances

(control) Act 10:10 Emanuel pleaded guilty to the charges and was

The drugs that was seized.

‘You

normalcy,”hetoldthispublication.

When asked if there was any report of injuries, the Regional Chairman said there was one case but the hospital dealt with it promptly He added that while they are working to restore all the residents to normalcy, they have since made arrangements for

accommodation for those families whose homes were severely damaged.

Images and videos of the aftermath seen by this newspaper showed homes partially destroyed withtheirzincsheetsroofblownoff while at least one house collapsed asaresultofthestorm.

–

new APNU MP Saiku Andrews

will be surprised what 12 can do’

…says primary focus is holding Govt. accountable

First-time parliamentarian, Saiku Andrews, moments after taking the oath to th serveinthe13 ParliamentonMondaysaidhe is confident that his party, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) with its 12 seats can holdthegovernmentaccountable.

“…Definitely we will hold those 36 seats accountable, you will be surprised at what 12 cando,”AndrewstoldKaieteurNews.

Jailed, Paulette Emanuel

sentenced to two years in prison and fine $30,000 on eachcount.

It was reported that the Emanuel was arrested on Sunday after cocaine and cannabis were unearthed in herbagduringasearchatthe Itaballi Police Checkpoint in RegionSeven. According to police

reports, during the operation ranks stopped a motor pickup driven by a 38-yearold of Byderabo Road, Bartica, and conducted a search of the occupants and their belongings. A multicolouredbaginthewoman’s possession was found to containseveralbulkyparcels suspected to be cocaine along with a smaller parcel containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis The suspected narcotics were weighed in her presence and amounted to 261 grams of cocaine and 102 grams of cannabis, police reported.The exhibits were lodged and the woman wastakenintocustody

Andrews, a businessman and gospel singer, was sworn in during the first sitting of the National Assembly The new parliamentarian who will be shadowing the Ministry of Public Works said that his primary role is to hold the government accountable.

“What I intend to do is to hold governmentaccountable,”hedeclarednoting that “As a businessman you always want value for your money My plan and my purpose are to ensure that the people of this countrygettheirvalueformoney.”

The APNU Member of Parliament (MP) noted that, “it’s not sufficient enough to just name projects and execute projects. Do these projects benefit the people? …will they go a longway?”

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) won the 2025 General and Regional Elections (GECOM) securing 36 seats in the National Assembly while the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) led by Azruddin

APNU Parliamentarian, Saiku Andrews

Mohamed gained 16 seats, APNU gained 12 seats, and Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) led by Amanza Walton-Desir got 1 seat.

Despite the new dispensation in the NationalAssemblyAndrewsisconfidentthat APNU’s12seatscan‘lightfireunderthefeet’ ofthoseelectedtomanagethecountry’s Continued on page 16

Presidentpledges“swiftjustice”

forgasstationbombingvictims

PresidentIrfaanAlionMondaymet with the grieving families of the victimsoftheOctober26bombing at the Mobil Gas Station on Regent Street, a violent attack that claimed the life of sixyear-old Soraya Bourne and injured seven others, including her young cousins, aunt, and71-year-oldgrandmother

AccordingtoareleasefromtheOfficeof the President, during the meeting with the families at State House, President Ali promised “swift justice” and confirmed that the Guyana Police Force has been interrogating the suspect who has since confessed to the crime to determine his motivesforthe“horrificact”.

ThePresidentduringhisengagementalso

updated the families on the findings to date.

“He told the parents of six-year-old Soraya Bourne, who died in the incident, that the Government would assist them in every possible way,” the Office of the President stated.

Duringhismeeting,theHeadofStatetold the families that the government would use every available tool to help them and those injuredtoreturntosomeformofnormalcy

ItwasreportedthattheMobilGasStation was bombed around 19:30hrs on Sunday October 26, killing six-year-old Bourne and injuring seven others. The blast also caused significant damage to the gas station and several vehicles, while affecting nearby buildings.

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‘Syphilis on the Rise’

…PAHO sounds alarm as cases surge across the Americas

Adult syphilis cases have surged dra matically across the Americas, rising 26% between 2020 and 2022 to an estimated 3.4 million, and climbing another 10% by 2024, according to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).

To reverse this trend, PAHO has released a set of 15 key recommendations aimed at eliminating syphilis and congenital syphilis— preventable and curable infections that disproportionately affect pregnant women, newborns, and vulnerable populations. The agreement stems from a regional meeting held in July 2025 in São Paulo, Brazil, which brought together representatives from

23 countries across the Americas, including ministries of health, academic institutions, civil society organisations, and public health agencies. Participants agreed that the region faces a concerning trend that requires a collective response centered on primary health care.

“One of the main factors behind this increase is the gap in access to syphilis prevention, screening, and treatment services,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, PAHO Director.

“Addressing this challenge requires stronger surveillance, timely diagnosis and treatment, and the integration of syphilis screening across all levels of the health system—especially in primary

care, emergency services, and sexual and reproductive health services,” he added.

The document outlines 15 strategic recommendations to strengthen political and financial leadership, expand access to diagnosis and treatment, enhance surveillance systems, and foster community engagement.

It also calls for inclusive policies, stronger prenatal care, expanded roles for health workers in syphilis management, improved laboratory quality control, and better access to confidential and respectful health services.

As a follow-up to this agreement, this week, PAHO convened a virtual seminar focused on political commitments and national leadership

to accelerate the response to syphilis and congenital syphilis.

The event brought together experts, partners, and health authorities from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Jamaica, and Paraguay, who shared their experiences in innovation and strategies to strengthen technical capacities and advance regional goals to eliminate mother-to-child transmission.

Syphilis is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection that is both preventable and curable.

If left untreated, it can cause serious health problems, including neurological and cardiovascular disease. It can also be transmitted during pregnancy, leading to se-

vere complications such as miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, or congenital abnormalities.

PAHO works with countries across the Americas to improve syphilis surveillance and strengthen the capacity of health personnel in prenatal care services. Through its Strategic Fund, the Organisation helps Member States procure rapid diagnostic tests and medicines at lower costs, contributing to the prevention of transmission and related complications. Both syphilis and congenital syphilis are part of PAHO’s Disease Elimination Initiative, which aims to end more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions by 2030.

Guyana strengthens commitment to Integrated Fire Management

To advance the institutionalisation of Integrated Fire Management (IFM)—a key approach to reducing wildfire risks, protecting livelihoods, and fostering ecosystem restoration, Guyana joined representatives from 15 countries at the International Workshop on the Incorporation of Integrated Fire Management into Public Policies, National Plans, and Sectoral Strategies. The meeting was held at the Regional Office of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) for Latin America and the Caribbean. In a press release, the FAO

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said that Integrated Fire Management is a holistic approach that recognises the ecological, cultural, and social roles of fire. It promotes management actions that include prevention, controlled use, response, recovery, and financing, to reduce the negative impacts of wildfires, protect biodiversity, and ensuring the resilience of territories and communities.

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay discussed the region’s challenges, as each country is at a different stage of progress on this issue.

For instance, Brazil is currently the only country with an active national policy on IFM. At the same time, Colombia has begun its legislative

process with a bill that has just passed its second reading. Some countries have made significant progress in institutional coordination, while others are in the early stages of technical and regulatory exploration.

This international meeting took place in a regional context marked by an increase in wildfires and their impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, livelihoods, and food security. The workshop provided a technical space for peer dialogue and learning to explore how to institutionalise Integrated Fire Management—an approach that goes beyond fire suppression to encompass prevention, controlled use, response, recovery, and financing. The event was organized by FAO, through the FiRe Project, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB),

and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) through the CoRAmazonia project, with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Participants included Flávia Saltini, General Coordinator for Forest Fire Prevention at the Brazilian Institute of the Environment (IBAMA); Captain Lina Marín, National Director of

the Colombian Fire Department; César Robles, General Manager for Fire Management at Mexico’s National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR); and Gastón Martínez, Director General of Forestry at Uruguay’s Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, among other government representatives. The workshop concluded with the identification of common challenges and opportunities to strengthen regional cooperation, promote good practices, and advance toward more resilient fire management.

You will be surprised...

‘Criminal

‘Criminal and

‘Criminal and

From page 8 dealt with very, very seriously.”

According to the minister, there are several instances where officers have been disciplined for their inappropriate behaviour.

“Those officers who do this, their cases are with the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and they are being removed.

Immediately, as the report came to our attention, they were dealt with.”

She stressed, nevertheless, that the occurrences should not deter young people, particularly women, from joining the military forces.

“They should be reassured that the powers that be will deal very strongly with

P

and P

P

‘Criminal and P Predatory redatory redatory redatory ’... ’... ’... ’... ’...

any report of sexual misconduct. And if they are in a position where they are being victimised sexually, they should be able to report it, and mechanisms are in place to make sure that these more senior officers are dealt with.”

The minister emphasised that the incidence of sexual misconduct within the police force is not the norm.

“We want them to know that these instances are not the norm, but when they happen, they are dealt with strongly. These instances should not prevent our females from coming out and speaking up if it happens, knowing what their rights are and knowing that we have an administration that will defend and protect our young women,” she stressed.

From page 14 affairs. “We are not fazed by the fact that there are 12 of us in Parliament…there is a famous guy, you know, who took 12 individuals and upturn the world,” said Andrews who assured the 77,988 persons who voted for the party that it means business.

“Yes, the PPP has 36 seats in parliament and that means that they will be able to pass whatever bill they need but I think that once we do a good job at scrutinising… first of

all, we are not anti-development so we are not gonna oppose for the sake of opposing, but we must be able to get value for projects” he said. The new MP said that whatever is being done by the government in the name of development “must benefit the people.”

“…So, the PPP cannot use their 36 seats to allow the economic hitmen who are prying open our doors to get away with murder,” Andrews declared.

NEW ERA BEGINS...

From centre sovereignty. Our unity is our strength and our patriotism are shield. Together, let us advance the cause of Guyana, forging a legacy of peace, prosperity, pride, and greatness for generations to come.”

He called on the Assembly to remember their duty to represent the people with fairness, objectivity, and an “unyielding commitment to jus-

tice free from personal or partisan biases” as Guyana stands tall for its remarkable strides across numerous sectors.

Importantly, Nadir reminded the MPs of their duty to uphold mutual respect and act with dignity in the performance of their duties.

“Our conduct must reflect the honour of this House and especially the expectations of our people,” the Speaker said.

GRArollsoutnewexcisetaxstamps tocrushalcoholsmuggling

Th e G u y a n a

R e v e n u e Authority (GRA)

has unveiled three new ExciseTaxStampsaspartof its ongoing push to

modernise customs operations and clamp down ontheillicitalcoholtrade.

Implementation began on November 1, 2025, with GRAonceagainteamingup with the Canadian Bank Note Company (CBN) to ensure every designated alcoholic product entering the market is properly declared and taxed. In a press statement on Monday the GRA said the new stamps, mandatory on all imported alcohol confirm that the correct duties, excise, and other taxes have beenpaid.Theywillreplace the previous stamps currently used on these products. The categories of

stamps are as follows: Tax Paid Alcohol Stamp– Up to and including 500m; Tax Paid Alcohol Stamp – Over 500ml and Duty-Free AlcoholStamp.

According to the GRA, the Excise Stamp Tax is an anti-smuggling measure to reduce the illicit trade of alcohol/tobacco products

within Guyana The Revenue Authority first launched the Excise Stamp TaxinNovember2017onall imports of foreign alcoholic beverages and tobacco products(ExceptBeer).The introduction of these new Stamps, along with a corresponding automated Monitoring System, represents a significant step forward in strengthening transparency,accountability, and efficiency in excise tax administration. As such, the GRA is

wholesalers, and retailers

packages/units of alcoholic and tobacco products must be affixed with an approved Excise Stamp in accordance with Regulations made under the Customs Act, Chapter82:01.

It should be noted that underAct, the following are c

‘Deadly night at Issano Landing’

...Young miner gunned Down, police hunt armed suspects

A22-year-oldgoldminer was on Sunday shot and killed during a social gatheringatIssanoLanding, RegionSeven.

A c c o r d i n g t o information provided by the police, the dead man has been identified as Samuel Marciano of One Mile, Wismar, Linden. The fatal incident occurred around 01:00hrsonSundayatashop located at 14 Miles, Issano Landing.

Police said preliminary investigation revealed that Marciano was reportedly shot multiple times by two known individuals. “Upon responding, Police ranks discoveredMarciano’sbody with several gunshot wounds. A number of spent shells and a live round were recovered at the scene,” the policestatedinitsrelease.

This publication understands that his body was taken to the McKenzie Hospital, where it was pronounced dead. It was later transferred to the hospital’smortuaryawaiting apost-mortemexamination.

The Police have indicated that they are actively pursuing leads to locate the two suspects and in doing so, they are appealing to anyone with information that may assist investigators to contact 911 or the nearest police station. Investigationsareongoing.

The new excise stamps

offences:

• Importation of any goods on which excise stamps should be affixed without being registered with the CommissionerGeneral under these regulations;

• Failure to affix an excisestamponthepackage of good in such secure m a n n e r a s t h e Commissioner-General may

prescribe;

• Printing over or defacing an excise stamp affixedonapackage;

• The possession of goods on which the excise stampshavenotbeenaffixed and which are not destined forexport;

• Attempts to acquire or the acquisition of an excise stamp without the approval of the Comptroller or Commissioner-General;

• Printing, making or in any way creating an excise stamp without the authority of the Comptroller or Commissioner-General;or

• The removal or otherwisepreparationofany excise stamp with the intent touseorcausethesametobe re-used after it has already beenused.

AccordingtotheGRA,it shouldalsobenotedthatany goods connected to the

offences set out under this regulation may be forfeited to the State in accordance with the applicable provisions under the Act, and may also result in penalties or legal proceedings against the offender “In light of the foregoing, all stakeholders, including importers, distributors, and retailers, areurgedto:

• Prepare for the transition.

•Ensurefullcompliance with the updated stamp requirements.

• Take advantage of the awareness programmes, training and support being providedbytheGRA.

• Register with the E x c i s e S t a m p & Environmental Levy Division of the GRA if not already registered ” The GRAsaid.

Israel kills 3 in Gaza, Palestinians say food scarce amid ceasefire

(AL-JAZEERA) -

Israel has killed three more Palestinians in south Gaza, whilegunfirefromitstroops has wounded children in Gaza City. The death toll in the besieged enclave has risentoatleast236sincethe ceasefirewasagreed.

Despite a ceasefire, Israel continues to carry out deadly attacks. A source at Nasser Medical Complex told Al Jazeera Arabic that three Palestinians were killed on Monday by Israeli fire north of Rafah in southernGaza.

The Israeli army said it launchedstrikesonsouthern Gaza, claiming individuals had crossed the “yellow line”, an Israeli-controlled area, in what it called a ceasefireviolation.

The Israeli version of events could not be independently verified It also remains unclear whether the Israeli military was referring to the same attack that killed the three Palestinians.

A Palestinian stand atop the remains of a heavily damaged building in Gaza City, November 2, 2025 [Mahmoud Issa/Reuters]

Relatives gathered at the hospital, some embracing the freed prisoners, while others anxiously sought information about missing familymembers.

“This is the first time since the ceasefire that Israeli forces have released unknown Palestinian prisoners,”saidKhoudary T h o

imprisoned in Israel, many held without charge under what rights groups call arbitrarydetention.

ministry said in a statement onMonday

Officials previously reported that many of the returned bodies bore evidence of torture and abuse, including bound hands, blindfolds, and facial disfigurement, and were handed back without identificationtags.

Thehandoverformspart of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10, which includes prisoner and bodyexchangesmediatedby Turkiye, Egypt, and Qatar, with involvement from the UnitedStates.

InGazaCity,achildwas among three people woundedbyIsraelifireinthe city’seast,asourceatal-Ahli Arab Hospital told Al Jazeera.

violations of the ceasefire,” hesaid.

Reporting from Gaza City,AlJazeera’sTareqAbu Azzoum said Israel continues to use quadcopter drones to drop grenades on buildings left partially standing. “Authorities here describe these acts as

The Gaza Government Media Office has accused Israel of committing more than125ceasefireviolations since the truce took effect, warning that continued attacks threaten to reignite full-scalehostilities.

Israel meanwhile, has released five Palestinian

prisoners as part of a fragile ceasefire deal with Hamas, offering a rare moment of relief for the families in Gaza.

The five men, freed on Mondayevening,weretaken to Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir el-Balah for medical examinations, Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary reported fromoutsidethefacility

Earlier on Monday, Gaza’s Health Ministry said itreceivedtheremainsof45 Palestinians from Israel through the International CommitteeoftheRedCross (ICRC), bringing the total number of bodies handed over under the ceasefire agreementto270.

Forensic teams have identified 78 bodies so far and will continue their e x a m i n a t i o n s “ i n accordance with approved medical procedures and protocols” before returning the remains to families, the

Reporting from Deir elBalah in central Gaza, Khoudarysaid,“Manyofthe bodies returned show signs of torture.” She added that families of missing Palestinians are still searching for relatives amongthedead.

“If these bodies are not identified, they will be buried along with other Palestinians in a mass grave inDeirel-Balah,”shesaid.

How the US is preparing a military staging ground near Venezuela

(Reuters) The United States military is upgrading a long-abandoned former Cold War naval base in the Caribbean, a Reuters visual investigation has found, suggesting preparations for sustained operations that could help support possible actionsinsideVenezuela.

The construction activity at the former RooseveltRoadsnavalbase in Puerto Rico — shuttered by the Navy more than 20 years ago — was underway on September 17 when crews began clearing and repaving taxiways leading to the runway, according to photostakenbyReuters.

UntiltheNavywithdrew from the facility in 2004, RooseveltRoadswasoneof the biggest U S naval stations in the world. The base occupies a strategic location and offers a large amount of space for gathering equipment, one U S official said In addition to the upgrades of

landing and take-off capabilities at Roosevelt Roads, the U.S. is building out facilities at civilian airports in Puerto Rico and St Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The two U.S. territories sit roughly 500 miles from Venezuela.

Reuters spoke to three U.S. military officials and three maritime experts who saidthenewconstructionin Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands pointed to preparations that could enable the U.S. military to carry out operations inside Venezuela Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly alleged that the U.S. is hoping to drive himfrompower

“Allofthesethingsare,I think, are designed to scare the pants off the Maduro regime and the generals around him, with the hope that it will create fissures,” Christopher HernandezRoy, a senior fellow at the

Center for Strategic and InternationalStudies(CSIS) inWashington,toldReuters.

TomonitorU.S.military activity in the region over thelasttwomonths,Reuters photographed U.S. military bases and reviewed satellite imagery, ship and flight tracking data and social media posts The news

agency also tracked movements of U.S. military vessels through on-theground reporting and opensourcephotosandvideos.

The military buildup in the region is the largest unrelated to disaster relief since1994,whentheUnited States sent two aircraft carriers and more than 20,000 troops to Haiti to take part in “Operation UpholdDemocracy.”

Since early September, theUnitedStateshascarried outatleast14strikesagainst alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing61people.

The strikes on alleged

drug vessels have increased tensionswithVenezuelaand Colombia and drawn attention to a part of the world that has received limited resources within the U.S.militaryinrecentyears.

Asked for comment on themilitaryexpansioninthe region, the White House said President Donald Trump had promised on the campaigntrailtotakeonthe region’sdrugcartels.

“ H e h a s t a k e n unprecedentedactiontostop thescourgeofnarcoterrorism that has resulted in the needless deaths of innocent Americans,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly saidinastatementtoReuters

The US military buildup in the Caribbean began in August with the arrival of warships,anuclear-powered submarine, fighter jets and spyplanes.

The Ford aircraft carrier strike group, with roughly 10,000troopsanddozensof aircraft and weapons

systems, is on its way from theAdriatic Sea. One of the Ford’s destroyers cleared Gibraltar on October 29, according to satellite imagery and ship tracking data.

Presented with Reuters’ findings, the Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment.

The governor of Puerto Rico did not respond to a request for comment Building up Caribbean bases Some of the most dramatic infrastructure improvementsareoccurring at the former Roosevelt Roadsbase,wherecrewsare upgrading taxiways with improvements that analysts say would enable use by fighter jets as well as cargo planes.

Mark Cancian, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel and senior adviser with the CSIS,saidthechangeswere consistentwithpreparations for an increase in landings and takeoffs of military aircraft.

In addition to the taxiway refurbishments, Reuters observed the installation of portable air traffic support and other mobilesecurityequipment. Satellite imagery taken onOctober29shows20new tents southeast of the runway near an abandoned aircrafthangar Hernandez-Roy, the CSIS fellow, told Reuters it was possible that the U.S. military was simply repairing potholes. But he added: “Ifyourfocusisnow going to be on Western Hemisphere, it makes perfectsensethatyouwould want to reopen what was once a huge naval station and make sure that it can accommodate the range of airframes that the U.S. militaryuses.”

Reuters also found significant changes at Rafael Hernandez Airport, the second-busiest civilian airportinPuertoRico.

BLUNT BLUNT

The 13 Parliament

The Thirteenth Parliament of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana opened yesterday. The weight of national expectation sits squarely on the shoulders of every elected representative. The people did not send lawmakers to the National Assembly to engage in petty rivalries or personal enrichment. They sent them to serve, to legislate with integrity, to scrutinise governance and to ensure that the prosperity of this nation reaches every Guyanese home.

Parliament is a sacred chamber of democracy, not a stage for mindless heckling, empty grandstanding, or the disruptive foolishness that too often defined the Twelfth Parliament. The people of Guyana are tired of politics as performance. They demand politics with purpose. They demand maturity, respect for the House, and respect for those who placed them in it.

With oil wealth transforming our national landscape, the stakes have never been higher. Every voice in that Chamber must reflect the needs of citizens, not party financiers, not egos, not narrow agendas.

Lawmakers must remember: their duty is to the people. Their debates must illuminate, not inflame. Their actions must uplift, not undermine. In this new Parliament, let service replace spectacle. Let responsibility replace recklessness. Let the nation come first and always.

Racing Cycle worth $2.1M presented to up-and-coming cyclist

BySamuelWhyte

The love of a father has no bounds and former National cycling champion

Franco Crawford is exhibiting that adage to the fullest.

The Overseas based former national cyclist, Crawford, who is now a remigrant, counties to assist hisfellowGuyaneseinmany ways. This time he decided to show the love to his own

soninabigway Crawford stated that his 10 years old son Franco Jr, like him and many family members before, likes cycling.

He stated that his son was born in England and resides permanently in Guyana.

Tuesday November 04, 2025

ARIES

You'll find that things are slipping nicely into place for you today, Aries. Your persuasivemannerandgentle nudges are just enough to get peoplewhereyouwantthem.

TAURUS

When faced with ten entrees onthemenu,itmightbehard for you to choose just one. Feelfreetoordertwoormore, Ta u r u s D o n ' t l e t indecisiveness slow you down.Atthesametime.

GEMINIS

Your dreams won't come true unless you believe in and act onthem,Gemini.Nooneelse is going to do it for you. Unless you have a fairy godmother, you need to take mattersintoyourownhands.

CANCER

If people hassle you or give you a hard time about your appearance today, pay them nomind,Cancer Youhavethe righttoliveyourlifeanyway youwantto.

LEO

Reachforthepotofgoldatthe end of the rainbow, Leo. It's closerthanyouthink.Indeed, your dreams are completely within your reach, and there are huge forces at work helping you achieve your goals.

VIRGO

Today is your day to dream and dream big, Virgo. Think aboutwhatitisthatyouwant most out of life. Aim your arrow to the stars and pull back your bow as far as possible. There's no limit to howfaryoucango.

LIBRA

Expand your mind to its furthest reaches today, Libra. There's an incredible opportunity opening up for you in which you can make great strides in a creative realm.Followthemusic.

SCORPIO

Your mind may seem rather cloudy today, Scorpio, but don't let this hinder you. In fact, you'll find that you can use this feeling of fantasy to your advantage. Try to bring moremagicintoyourlife.

SAGITTARIUS

Today is an excellent day for you,oneinwhichyou'llfinda great deal of strength in your emotions, Sagittarius Trust that your instincts are serving youwell.

CAPRICORN

Things might get a bit confusing for you today, Capricorn. Don't feel like you needtomakesenseofitall.In fact, this task may be impossible. Just be yourself. Let your creative nature shine through.

AQUARIUS

Mix your reality with a bit of fantasytoday,Aquarius.Allow your feet to come off the ground for a little while. Give yourselfarest.Takesometime to meditate and clear your mindofyourdailyworries.

PISCES

Let yourself go into high creative mode and drift into a whole other world, Pisces. Escape your present reality and explore your fantasies through any sort of artistic endeavor Dreamasbigasyour mindallows.

Berbice Cricket Board two-day first division cricket tournament Albionthrough

tofinal aftertakingfirstinnings pointsfromTucberPark

Albion Community Centre(ACC)arethroughto the final of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) two days First Division Cricket competition.

HeattendstheAllSaints Primary School and is presently the BMX championinthecountry He has never lost a race in his career so far in Guyana and overseas. According to the senior Crawford, his son would like to go all the way to the top and represent Guyana at the senior level overseas.

Afterdiscussionwithhis Coach Randolph Roberts, arrangements were made with the manufacturers in Englandtocustommakethe cycle for his son. It took a fewmonths.Butwhenitwas donehissonwashappy

T h e b i k e , a CERVELO made, is similar to what he rides It is fitted with Cleats for riding shoes.

Crawford Senior, now a businessman, started his cycling career as a member of the Flying Ace Cycle Club(FACC).

He is still a member His son has also joined C r a w f o r d , w h i l s t overseas, would return on a regularbasisandshow hisbenevolence.

Crawford Junior was very thankful and full of praise for his father He thanked both his father andRobertsandpromisedto dohisbest

The senior Crawford had churned out a name for himself in Guyana as a top cyclist before migratingtoEnglandwhere hecontinuedtoplyhistrade in the European and the NorthAmericancircuits.

Roberts expressed thanks to Crawford for investing in his son and always remembering the club

In their semifinal encounter against Tucber Park Cricket Club (TPCC) which was played over the weekend at the Albion Community Centre Ground, Albion CC won on first innings in the drawn encounter

Asked to bat first on a two pace pitch,Albion were dismissedfor224afterbeing atonestage208for6. Skipper Veerasammy Permaul leading from in front with a well-played 49. He was supported by Damion Cecil with 41, Adrian Sukhwa 36, Kelvin Umroa23andJonathanFoo 20.BowlingforTucberPark CC, National U19 paceman Micah Amsterdam was in goodformwiththeballashe troubled the batsmen taking 5 for 58 He received admirable support from legspinner Zeynul Ramsammy with 3 for 35, while offspinner Kwesi Mickle snared2for39.

Inreply,TucberParkCC resuming on 19 for 1, found the going tough and were dismissedfor162toconcede a first lead of 62. Damion Vantull led the way for the visitors with 49 Other contributions came from Gilbert Griffith 21 and MalcomMickle20. Bowling for ACCC, left arm spinners Gouraf Ramesh andPermaulskipperpickedup three wickets each for 43 and 68 respectively, while offspinner Leon Cecil bagged 2 for 45 With the lead on first innings by 62, Albion ended thedayon154for7 Adrian Sukhwa top scored with 50 with openers Ari Afrizal Kadir and Damion Cecil made48and20each.

Bowling for TPCC, Ramsammywasagainamong the wickets with 3 for 7. AlbionCCC,apowerhousein Berbice cricket, will take on the winner of the other semifinalbetweenYoungWarriors and Rose Hall Town, in the final,atadateandvenuetobe announced

The competition, which is sponsored by the BCB, saw 10 teams participating. (SamuelWhyte)

Kenya sweep the men’s and women’s podiums at NYC Marathon

N E W Y O R K ,

(Reuters)-Kenyasweptthe men’s and women’s podiums at the New York CityMarathononSunday,as Benson Kipruto survived a thrilling sprint finish in two hourseightminutesandnine seconds and Hellen Obiri won the women’s race in a course-record2:19:51.

Kipruto ran flat out through the final 50 metres to hold off a late fight from Alexander Mutiso, breaking the tape by less than twotenthsofasecondinaphoto finish, with 2021 winner Albert Korir finishing third (2:08:57).

“It was amazing The last part was so hard,” Kipruto said in a televised interview “Iwaspushingso hardtomakesureIwin ” It was the fourth major titleforKipruto,whowasin atwo-manracewithMutiso at the 25-mile mark and appeared to be completely in control with 200 metres left.

Kenya’s Hellen Obiri celebrates with her national flag after winning the women’s elite race alongside second place Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi and third place Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui. (REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz)

AmericanSusannahScaroni won the women’s race in 1:42:10.

Kenyan two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, the only man to breakthetwo-hourbarrierin the marathon, finished 17th in2:14:36.

A m i d r a m p a n t speculationthatNewYork could be his final competitive marathon, the 40-year-old Kipchoge instead announced plans to embark on a two-year mission to run seven marathons across seven continents in his “Eliud KipchogeWorldTour.”

I’m not mad we went I’m not mad we didn’t sell thetickets

Paris bronze medalist Obiri,whowonin2023,was running shoulder-toshoulder with runner-up SharonLokedi(2:20:07)and

He was forced to accelerate through the final straight, however, as Mutiso launched a gutsy late attack to wild cheers in CentralPark.

enjoyedacomfortablefinish after pulling away ahead of the final turn to claim her fourthmajortitle.

Last year’s winner, Sheila Chepkirui (2:20:24), wasthird.

Eight teams advance to final stage of GFF Blue Water Shipping U15 Girls National Secondary School Championship

The excitement is building as the final eight schools have been confirmedfortheGFFBlue Water Shipping Under-15 National Secondary School Championship.

This year’s quarterfinal lineupfeaturesamixofnew contenders and returning powerhouses Marian Academy, Wauna Primary, Annai Secondary, and Christianburg Wismar Secondary have all made history by qualifying for thisstageofthecompetition fortheveryfirsttime. They join Bartica Secondary, Waramuri Secondary, Bush Lot Secondary, and President’s

College, who are determinedtoimprovetheir performancesfromlastyear and make a strong run for thenationaltitle.

The tournament has been nothing short of thrillingsofar Atotalof191 goals were scored during the preliminary rounds, with President’s College netting an impressive 23 goals and MarianAcademy closebehindwith21.Inthe Round of 16, teams combinedfor56goals,with President’s College again dominating the scoresheet with 27 goals in that round alone.

Among the standout playersisReyannaGounga, lastyear’srunner-upforthe Top Goal Scorer award, who is once again in contention for the coveted title.

The Guyana Football Federationextendsheartfelt appreciationtoallwhohave contributedtothecontinued

success of this program.

Special thanks to Tristone Auto Sales and Greaves Transportation and Tours for their sponsorship and support of Wauna Primary and Annai Secondary, respectively

invaluable contributions of the Ministry of Education, the teachers who dedicated their time and energy to prepare and accompany their teams, and the parents whose encouragement and support continue to inspire theyoungathletes. Mostofall,appreciation goes to the students and players across Guyana who participated with passion, t e a m w o r k , a n d sportsmanship ensuring another successful year for thechampionship.

“We had a very strong field,” said Obiri, who pocketed an extra $50,000 for breaking Margaret Okayo’s 22-year-old course recordof2:22:31.

“(I told myself) let me

try to do my best, let me push.”

In the wheelchair division, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug won a recordextendingseventhtitleinthe men’sracein1:30:16,while

The five-borough classic capped the World MarathonMajorscalendar fortheyear,afteradoping suspension for the women’s world-record holder rocked competitive distancerunning.

K e n y a n R u t h Chepngetichwasbannedfor three years late last month after admitting to antidopingruleviolations.

TeamGuyanaShineatCAREBACO SeniorChampionships2025

Team Guyana has advancedtofoursemi-finals attheongoingCAREBACO

(Caribbean) Senior Badminton Championships 2025 being staged in Trinidad Those matches w

tournamentconcludestoday Lead player Priyanna Ramdhani secured spots in threesemi-finals:

•Women’sSingles

Team Guyana were on song at the Regional Badminton tournament.

• Mixed Doubles (with AkiliHaynes)

• Women’s Doubles (with Chequeda De Boulet, Trinidad&Tobago)

Akili Haynes secured spotsintwosemi-finals:

•Men’sSingles

• Mixed Doubles (with PriyannaRamdhani)

Nkosi Beaton and Akili Haynesputupastrongfight in Men’s Doubles but were edged out by Jamaica in the

Round of 16 Mishka Beharry also showed great determination, narrowly falling to Trinidad in the Round of 16 in Women’s Singles.PriyannaRamdhani played Jamaica in the Women Singles, Women DoublesandMixedDoubles Semi-Finals. Akili Haynes playedTrinidad&Tobagoin the Men Singles SemiFinalsandJamaicainMixed DoublesSemi-Finals.

Dynasties of Golf: Persaud and Sukhram capture their 14th Brava Guyana Open titles

The 2025 Brava Guyana Open

c a m e t o a thrilling conclusion on Sunday evening at the Lusignan Golf Club, as two ofGuyana’sgreatestgolfing icons, Avinash Persaud and Christine Sukhram, etched their names deeper into history by each capturing their 14th Brava Guyana Opentitle.

Themen’schampionship endedindramaticfashionas Avinash Persaud battled Suriname’sRidelDoekotoa tie, both finishing with a gross score of 151 after two daysofintensecompetition. The title was ultimately decided via countback, with Persaud claiming victory thanks to his superior back

nine performance, a testament to his skill, r e s i l i e n c e , a n d championshipmentality

Meanwhile, Christine

Sukhram once again

d e m o n s t r a t e d h e r dominance on the course, carding90and86foratotal of 176, to secure the Ladies Overall Best Gross (0–36)

Her consistency and composure under pressure reaffirmed her standing as the most decorated female golferinGuyana’shistory

The results are as follows-

Ladies - Longest Drive Day1-ShanellaLondon

Men - Longest Drive Day1-RichardHaniff

Nearest to pin Day 1MarlonAbeana

Ladies Best Net Day 1JoaanDeo76

Ladies Best Net Day 2EurekaGiddings74

LadiesBestGrossDay1 & 2 - Christine Sukhram 90 and86

Ladies Overall Best Net Day1&2(0-36)

1stEurekaGiddings151

2ndJoaanDeo154

3rd Christine Sukhram 158

Overall Best GrossDay

1st Christine Sukhram 176

2nd Shanella London 180

3rdJoaanDeo182

Men10-28

Best Net Day 1 - Rohan Albert65

Best Net Day 2 - Chet Bowling67

Best Gross Day 1 -

RohanAlbert84

Best Gross Day 2 - Chet

Bowling88

Men10-18

BestNetDay1-Spencer Hutchins66

Best Net Day 2 - Robin Tiwari67

Best Gross Day 1&2RakeshHarry78&79

Seniors Overall Best GrossDay1&2

1stHilbertShields181

2ndBholaramDeo190

Men0-9

Best Net Day 1 - Feroze Barkat70

BestNetDay2-Avinash Persaud68

Best Gross Day 1 -

MarlonAbeana76

Best Gross Day 2AvinashPersaud70

Men 0-28 Overall Best NetDay1&2

1stRakeshHarry135

2nd Spencer Hutchins 136

3rdRichardHaniff138

Men 0-28 Overall Best GrossDay1&2

1stAvinashPersaud151

2ndRidelDoeko151

3rdFerozeBarkat157

During the presentation

ceremony,BravaSalesLead Andrea King commended the Lusignan Golf Club for itscontinuedexcellenceand contribution to local sport: “OnbehalfofBrava,I’dlike to congratulate the club for the great work they have done in organizing this year’s tournament. Events like this thrive because of yourdedicationandpassion, and Brava is proud to stand with the golf community in Guyana I’m pleased to announce that Brava is also committed to support Lusignan Golf Club in hosting another edition of the Brava Guyana Open come2026,solet’skeepthe spirit of the game alive and m a k e n e x t y e a r ’s tournamentevenbetter.” With both Persaud and Sukhram reinforcing their dynastic dominance, the 2025 Brava Guyana Open will be remembered as a tournament of legacy, passion, and excellence, where Guyana’s finest once again proved that true champions rise above all challenges.

NBA roundup: Suns contain Victor Wembanyama, deal Spurs 1st loss

Reuters - Devin Booker collected 28 points and 13 assists, Grayson Allen had 17pointsandfive3-pointers and the host Phoenix Suns dealt the SanAntonio Spurs their first loss of the season inadecisive130-118victory onSundaynight.

TheSunsbuilta31-point leadinthethirdquarterwhile throttling Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, who finished with nine points, nine rebounds, four blocked shots and six turnovers. He was4of14fromthefield.

Ryan Dunn had 17 points, Collin Gillespie had 15 points and Royce O’Neale and Jordan Goodwin had 11 points apiecefortheSuns.

Stephon Castle had a season-high 26 points, Keldon Johnson had 19 points and Harrison Barnes had 13 for San Antonio, which had won its first five gamesbyanaverageof14.4 points.

Rookie Dylan Harper, who had 12 points, left the

game with a left calf injury with 4:49 remaining in the second quarter and did not return.

Knicks128,Bulls116 Jalen Brunson scored 31 points as NewYork ended a three-game skid as well as the unbeaten run of visiting Chicagowithawin.

Brunsonsetthetonewith a 19-point first-quarter explosion for the Knicks, who buried 20 of 42 3pointers (47 6%) OG

Anunoby contributed 21 points and Karl-Anthony Townspaired20pointswith 15rebounds.

Josh Giddey produced his19thcareertriple-double, peeling off 23 points, 12 boards and 12 assists for the Bulls, who suffered their first loss this season after startingwithfivewins. 76ers129,Nets105

KellyOubreJr scored29 points before exiting with a sprained ankle as Philadelphia continued its strong start with a victory over winless Brooklyn in

NewYork.

Oubre scored 24 points in the first half and shot 12of-21 from the field for his bestgameoftheearlyseason asthe76ersreboundedfrom their first loss and improved to 5-1. NBA scoring leader Tyrese Maxey added 26 as Philadelphia shot 52 1%

whilerestingJoelEmbiidfor the second time this season.

Quentin Grimes added 22 and a career-high 13 assists while former Net Trendon Watford chipped in 16, nine reboundsandsevenassists.

Cam Thomas scored 29 points, and Nic Claxton added19,butBrooklynshot

43.3%, missed 31 of 38 3point tries and is off to its first 0-6 start since opening the 2015-16 season with seven straight losses

Michael Porter Jr finished with 17 points and 17 rebounds, but shot 7 of 23, including 1 of 12 from 3pointrange.

Raptors 117, Grizzlies 104

RJ Barrett scored 27 points, Brandon Ingram added 26 and Toronto defeatedvisitingMemphis.

Scottie Barnes had 19 points, 12 rebounds, eight assistsandfiveblocksforthe Raptors, who have won two straight Collin MurrayBoylesscored15points.

Jaren Jackson Jr collected 20 points and nine rebounds for the Grizzlies despite picking up his fifth foul late in the third quarter

Santi Aldama added 15 points for Memphis, which has lost two in a row Jock LandaleandVinceWilliams Jr each had 14 points Kentavious Caldwell-Pope andCedricCowardeachhad 12.

Inotherresults: Thunder137,Pelicans 106

Hornets126,Jazz103 Cavaliers117,Hawks 109

Lakers130,Heat120 (FieldLevelMedia)

Thierry Henry magnificent hundred helps Agricola to dominant 186-run victory over Bel Air Rubis

Ab r i l l i a n t

hundred by

Berbice U17 wicketkeeper batsman

Thierry Henry help

Positive Foundation

Agricola whip Bel Air Rubis by 186 runs in their Georgetown City Cricket Cup & Friends Mayor’s Under-17 hundred Overs Leaguematch.

In the game which was played at the Queen’s College ground, Positive

Foundation Agricola batted first a galloped to 299alloutin31 4overs.

Henry was in ripping form as he cracked a breathtaking 112 off just 61 d e l i v e r i e s H i s pugnacious innings including 13 fours and 6 sixes

N a m e d a f t e r a f

Henry’s

Thierry Henry after scoring a blazing century for Positive Foundation Agricola.

Nandu to Captain Harpy Eagles squad for CG United Super50

16-year-old Apple earns maiden call-up

includes Matthew Nandu (Captain), Raymond Perez, Kevlon Anderson, Mavendra Dindyal, Kemol Savory (Wicketkeeper), Richie

s Anthony Drepaul with a confident 69 and Gavin Kisten, who slammed 43

Bowling for Bel Air Rubis, Arjune Gainda picked up four wickets,

h u n d r e d w a s a s dominant as his name s a k e o n t h e international sceneashe tore into the bowling from the start hammering the bowling with shots all around the ground with a brilliantcentury

while Steffan Seymour took2 Rubisinreplywere bundledoutfor113in25 3 overs withYannickNewton scoring44andRuelDIndyal 23.

Bowling for Positive Foundation Agricola, Offspinner Kisten returned with the ball to take 3 wickets, while Zemuel Felix supported with 2 (SamuelWhyte)

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) successfully concluded the Queensway Super50 Inter-County Cup over the weekend at the Joe Jagmohan Ground, Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast. The two-week long tournament featured seven competitive matches that provided selectors with a valuableopportunitytoassess performances ahead of the regional CG United Super50 competition

Followingtheconclusion of the tournament, the GCB Selection Panel, headed by Chairman Ramnaresh Sarwan, named the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad for the upcoming CG United Super50tournament

The 14-member squad

Alimohamed, Gudakesh Motie (Vice-Captain), Thaddeus Lovell, Sylus Tyndall,KeemoPaul,Junior Sinclair,andShamarApple. Apple,whoisjust16years old,hasbeenrewardedforhis performances at regional under19andunder17leveland the selection panel feels his aggressive nature is something the team can benefitfrom.

The reserves are Kevin Sinclair,AntonyAdams,Isai Thorne, Kevon Boodie, Tomanni Caesar, Romeo

Deonarain, and Joshua Jones Meanwhile, Niall Smith (injured), Ashmead Nedd, Romario Shepherd, Sherfane Rutherford, and Shimron Hetmyer and Quentin Sampson are all unavailable for selection as they are set to participate in theAbu Dhabi T10 League, while Tevin Imlach was not consideredasheisexpected torepresenttheWestIndies. Jonathan Van Lange will also be on West Indies Under19duties.

TheQueenswaySuper50 Inter-County Cup once again highlighted the depth of talent in Guyana, as the GCB continues its commitment to player development and regional competitiveness.

NFL roundup: Bills fend off Chiefs in latest edition of rivalry

Reuters - Josh Allen rushed for two touchdowns and passed for another, and the defense generated three sackstolifttheBuffaloBills to a 28-21 win against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y

Buffalo(6-2)withstooda fourth-quarter rally from reigning AFC champion KansasCity(5-4),whichfell outofaplayoffspotwiththe defeat. The Chiefs got the ball back in the closing seconds after Matt Prater’s 52-yardfieldgoalattempthit the right upright They advancedtotheBills’40but wereunabletoscore.

Allen was 23 of 26 through the air for a careerbest 88 5% completion percentage and 273 yards, and he surpassed Cam Newtonforthemostrushing TDs (regular season plus playoffs)byaquarterbackin league history, with 79 James Cook gained 114 yards on 27 carries and

Dalton Kincaid had six catches for 101 yards and a score.

Patrick Mahomes was 15-for-34 for 250 yards and an interception Kareem Hunt rushed 11 times for 49 yards and a score while Rashee Rice had four catches for 80 yards to go with a rushing TD Seahawks 38, Commanders 14 Sam Darnold passed for 330 yards and four touchdowns, and Seattle won its third straight with a rout of Washington, whose quarterback Jayden Daniels exited in the fourth quarter withaleftelbowinjury

Darnold tied the franchise record by completing his first 17 passesandfinished21of24 with one interception in Landover,Md.JaxonSmithNjigba had eight catches for 129 yards for Seattle (6-2), and Tory Horton had four catchesfor48yardsandtwo touchdowns Daniels, returning after missing one

game with a hamstring injury, hurt the elbow on his non-throwing arm when sacked by Drake Thomas. Danielshadcompleted16of 22 passes for 153 yards and oneinterception,andhealso ran for a touchdown and 51 yards for the Commanders (3-6), who lost their fourth straightgame.

Jaguars 30, Raiders 29 (OT)

DaVon Hamilton batted down a two-point conversion pass to help Jacksonville escape with a victory over host Las Vegas to snap a two-game losing streak.

AfterTrevorLawrence’s second rushing touchdown gave the Jaguars (5-3) a 3023 overtime lead with 3:24 left in the extra period, the Raiders responded with a 2yard touchdown catch by Brock Bowers with 16 seconds left They then electedtogofortwoandthe wininsteadofatie,butnose tackle Hamilton deflected a

pass that appeared to be headingtowardawide-open TylerLockett. Lawrence threw for 220 yards and a pick, Parker Washington caught eight passesfor90yardsandCam Little kicked a 68-yard field goal, breaking Justin Tucker’s NFL record of 66. Smiththrewfor284yards,a

career-high-tying four

touchdowns and one interception for Las Vegas (2-6). Bowers, the Raiders’ All-Protightend,returnedin glorious form with a gamehigh127yardsandacareerhigh three touchdown catchesaftermissingthelast three games with a knee injury

Frankly Speaking, The Franks are a legacy of grit and grace

The world, once a mosaicofdistinct cultures and customs, has transformed intoaninterconnectedglobal community marked by constant movement and migration Families from developing nations often journey to more prosperous countries in search of better opportunities, stronger human-rights protections, andthepromiseofwhatthey call“abetterlife.”

My name is Joshua Frank, an American born to RaulandGillianFrank,both ofGuyaneseheritage.

Like many of their fellow countrymen, my parents migrated to the United States in pursuit of new horizons and improved livingstandards.

In2000,Imademyfirst visit to Guyana. Though brief, that trip left a lasting impression. Since then, I’ve listened with admiration as myparentsreminiscedabout t h e i r t i m e i n Guyana—stories filled with warmth, humor, and deep prideintheirroots.

Reflecting on their journey, I’ve realized how theirexperiencescontinueto guide me. They’ve inspired me to strive for excellence and to embody the values

t h e y r e p r e s e n t : perseverance, humility, and faithinone’spotential.

Myfather,RaulFrank,is a renowned professional boxer who began his career in Guyana, debuting with a knockout victory over his countryman, Wayne Coats. As a child, I was captivated by his discipline and drive. Manyexpectedmetofollow himintothe“squarejungle,” as the boxing ring is fondly called,butmypathunfolded in a different arena—the fieldoflawandpolicy Like myfather,I’vehadmyshare

of battles, though mine are fought in courtrooms and classrooms rather than boxing rings I attended Trinity College on a full tuition scholarship with a programme called the Posse Foundation I graduated from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law I am a Fulbright scholar, currently working within the New York Court System.

I t w a s a t o u g h undertaking but, throughout my journey, my father rendered unwavering supportwhichIregardasthe catalyst to my achievement.

During my formative years, hedefendedmydreamswith the same courage he once displayedinthering.

Over the course of his 34-fight professional career, heearnedadmirationbothin Guyana and the U S , particularly for his two memorableboutsagainstthe late Vernon Forrest in 2000 and2001.Thefirstendedas a “no contest” after an accidental head clash, while the rematch went the distance, with my father losing on points but gaininglastingrespect.

My father’s exploits in the ‘square jungle’ had served Guyana well, and he was involved in many action-packed encounters locally before migrating to the United States of America.

Even then, he had alwayshadaninterestinthe advancement of the sport locally and had returned, when promoters were most productive, to engage his countrymen, Barrington Cambridge, Michael Benjamin, and Jeff Roberts, among other top-ranked Guyanesefighters. Those bouts are now nostalgic memories and

way—as a promoter with BigVisionNYC,organizing major boxing events that spotlight both emerging and established talent My cousin Stephen Frank has also expanded the family’s footprint in the sport Alongside Ronson, he operates “Hit the Deck,” a dynamic boxing gym with two locations that continue to nurture fighters and community members alike. Together, their efforts embody the same fighting spirit that has defined our familyforgenerations.

spark heated street corner debatesamongthepundits.

Even in retirement, my father’s passion for boxing remains undiminished Today, he is a respected trainer at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, New York—one of the sport’s most iconic institutions where he mentors the next generation offighters.

Growing up around Gleason’sGym,Iwitnessed, firsthand,therawenergyand culture of the sport I remember watching the great Lennox Blackmore coach at work—his sharp movements and intensity commanding everyone’s attention.

Thereverberatingchants of his supporters, “Beat them, Blackmore, beat them!” still ring in my ears. Theboxinggymwasaplace filled with nostalgic memories, sweat, and ambition.

I also recall seeing fighters like my father’s countryman, among them, former Olympian, Dillon Carew, hone their craft within those same walls before going on to open his owngym,atestamenttohow Gleason’s has long been a cradle of dreams for those determinedtorise.

Boxing runs deep in the Frank family My uncles Linsley, Stephen, Nicholas, Rory, and Ronson each laced up gloves at various points, supportedbytheirfather,the late Richard Frank, who proudly cheered his sons from ringside until his passing. Debates about who was the best pugilist among them still stir passionate conversations across Guyana’sboxingcircles.

My uncle Ronson Frank has since carried the family tradition forward in a new

matched with empathy and integrity My mom worked close to Wall Street and I rememberwhenshetookme to the trading floor one day Thatsimplevisitboostedmy self-confidence and strengthened my belief that with determination and tact, anythingwaspossible.

dialogue.

Behind every fighter, though,thereisoftenaquiet force of strength—and that, for me, was my mother, Gillian Frank Her compassion, discipline, and steady belief in education were foundational to my growth. She balanced the energy of a boxing household with grace and purpose, constantly reminding me that determination must be

Over time, I’ve also discovered my own lane within the boxing fraternity I realized that I’d found my way in boxing—not inside the ring, but through storytelling. I co-manage a boxing media page called Sociology of the Sweet Science with my friend Patrick Devitt, where we explore the human and cultural side of the sport. We’ve collaborated on Instagramwithheavyweight legend Shannon Briggs, world-class fighter Chris Colbert, and award-winning film director Rodrigo

B e l o n e , b r i d g i n g generations of fighters and fans through creative

My experiences have compelledmetoreachoutto all Guyanese, especially the youth, to encourage them to pursue their dreams boldly and take full advantage of the educational and professional opportunities availablebothinGuyanaand here in the United States of America.Whetherinthering or the courtroom, our journeys prove that success isnotinherited—itisearned t h r o u g h c o u r a g e , perseverance, and belief in one’spurpose.

I am an American, born to Guyanese parents, and I amveryproudofGuyana.It makesmebeamwithprideto see the country join other world leaders to take strategic advantage of oil reserves. I will continue to shout, from the hills and vales;nomatterwhereIbe,I amGuyanese!”

Yes, I will always cheer for Guyana and the Guyanesepeople!