Kaieteur News

…as15.7millionouncesidentifiedacrossfiveprojects

Venezuela says T&T downplaying oil spill damage

gunman brutally

Ret’d Assistant Commissioner, Clinton Conway dies Bent Street beaten after foiled

Oil slips to two-week low as US-Iran seen moving closer to peace deal

Observers expected months of disruption before oil flows normalised and damaged oil and gas facilities were repaired. (Reuters)

A man walks past an electronic screen displaying stock quotation board in Tokyo, Japan April 15, 2025. (REUTERS/Issei Kato Purchase Licensing Rights)

(Reuters) - Oil hit twoweek lows on Monday on optimism that the U.S. and Iran were moving closer towards a peace deal even though they remained at odds over key issues, including blockades on the Strait of Hormuz that continued to restrict oil supply ‘from the Middle East.

Brent crude futures fell $4.71,or4.55%,to$98.83a barrel by 2234 GMT, while U S We s t Te x a s Intermediatewasat$92.03a barrel, down $4 57, or 4.73%.

Both contracts touched their lowest since May 7 earlierinthesession.

On Saturday, U S President Donald Trump said that Washington and Iranhad“largelynegotiated”

a memorandum of understanding on a peace deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which before `conflict carried onefifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

However, the two sides remain at odds on several difficult issues, with Trump sayingonSundayhehadtold his representatives not to rushintoanydeal‘withIran.

MST Marquee analyst

Saul Kavonic said: “Notwithstanding all the caveatsandrisksthatremain tothepeacedealandStraitof

Hormuz,thereisnow`some lightattheendofthetunnel, which will bring some neartermoilpricerelief.”

However, analysts expect that it will ‘take monthsforoilflowsthrough the strait to return to normal and for damaged oil and gas facilitiestoberepaired.

Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures rose on Monday while the dollar and oil pricesslippedastheprospect of a deal to end the Iran war buoyed risk appetite although a lack of clarity over when the Strait of wouldopenkeptenthusiasm incheck.

The nearly three-month war in the Middle East has sent energy prices soaring and rewired global rates outlook due to worries over inflation as Tehran effectively shut down the straitthroughwhichmuchof the world’s energy supply passes.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he had told his representatives not ‘to rush into any deal w i t h I r a n , a s h i s administration played down hopes of an imminent breakthrough.

Just a day earlier,Trump hadsaidthatWashingtonand Iranhad“largelynegotiated” a memorandum of understanding on a peace dealthatwouldreopenthe Continuedonpage3

Govt. still pursuing Suriname partnership

for second Berbice gas project - Pres. Ali

Guyana’sGovernmentis still in discussion with neighbouring Suriname to secure the Dutch-speaking nation’s partnership for Guyana’s planned second gas-to-energy(GTE)project which will be located in Berbice,RegionSix.

At his press conference on Friday, President Irfaan Ali outlined the importance of the conversations with Suriname to create the massivegasproject.

“The conversation with Surinameisimportanttosee howtheywilltreattheirgas. We’re working towards having our pipeline to see whether they will feed into

ourpipeline.Ifthathappens, ofcourse,theprojectgoesup to a higher scale with massive additional opportunities,”Alisaid.

Despite the first GTE project at Wales West Bank Demerara is still to be completed, after missing several deadlines, the Aliadministration had earlier signaled their intention to have a second GTE project beforetheendofthedecade.

“We’re in the process of GTE Two, because you know we are already projecting that the power that will be needed from what is happening in the economy will definitely

consume all of GTE One in its initial phase. So, we are already on that, the GTE Two project,” President Ali said.

Back in February, PresidentAli at the opening of the Energy Conference made the call to collaborate withSurinameonthesecond GTEproject.

The Guyanese head-ofstate had told attendees that discussions were underway for a joint initiative that could see gas from both countries being used for a larger-scale project in the ancientcounty

Recently, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL)

Second victim in Tapir Landing boat crash dies

Asecond victim in last Thursday’s boat crash near Tapir Landing, Cuyuni River, RegionSeven,hasdiedfromhisinjuries.

Police identified him as a 23-year-old Brazilian National, Enzo Mateus Alves De Aviz. De Aviz, according to police, was admittedtotheBarticaRegionalHospitalin a serious condition following the incident around12:45hrs.thatday

He was referred to the Georgetown PublicHospitalCorporation(GPHC)around 08:45hrs. On Friday, May 22, for further medicaltreatment.

Earlier reports had confirmed the death of57-year-oldcaptain,SteveDaniels.

Policesaidinitialenquiriesrevealedthat a26-footwoodenboat,poweredbya200HP Yamaha outboard engine and operated by a 51-year-old boat captain of BataviaVillage,

CuyuniRiver,wasproceedinginthevicinity ofTapirLandingwithfouroccupantswhena collision occurred with an 18-foot aluminium boat, powered by a 40 HP Yamahaoutboardengineandoperatedbythe nowdeceased.”

Asaresultofthecollision,thecaptainof the aluminium vessel along with three occupants received injuries about their bodies The captain was observed motionless, while one of the occupants sustained serious injuries The other occupantsreceivedminorinjuries.

Theinjuredaswellatthemotionlessman weretakentotheBarticaRegionalHospital. Danielswaspronounceddeadonarrival.

Theoperatorofthe26-footwoodenwas taken into custody to assist with the investigation.

Oilslipstotwo-weeklowas...

Frompage2

waterway, which before the conflict carried one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gasshipments.

Oilpriceshittwo-weeklowstokickstart theweekwithBrentcrudefuturesdownover 4%to$98.83abarrel,whileU.S.WestTexas Intermediate CLc1 was at $92.03 a barrel, alsodownover4%.

TheEurowasup0.37%at$1.1646,while ‘Japanese Yen firmed to 158.85 per U.S. dollarinearlytradingasthesafehavendollar gaveupsomeofitsrecentgains.

Nasdaq futures were 0.89% higher and S&Pfutureswereup0.6%.

Nick Twidale, chief market analyst at ATFXGlobal,expectsthemarkettoembrace moreriskonMondaybutnottosurgehigher

until ‘there is confirmation that the Strait of Hormuzwillreopen.

“Wewillneedtoseeanagreementoutin place in the coming sessions as we know therearestillsomemajorstickingpoints,”he `said.

Japan’s Nikkei (.N225), opens new tab was poised for a strong start to Monday’s session.

The most important issues for financial markets are when the Strait of Hormuz will reopen, Commonwealth Bank of Australia strategistssaidin‘anote.

“Under what conditions the Strait will reopen and how long it will take to repair production facilities and infrastructure to ramp up production of energy and other goodstoprewarlevels,”theysaid.

president,AlistairRoutledge announced that the second pipelinefortheGTEproject in Berbice should land before President Ali completeshissecondtermin 2030.

Since December 2024 EMGL completed the pipeline for the Wales GTE project;however,todate,the project is yet to be completed. The government is now eyeing the completionoftheprojectby theendofthisyear

The GTE project entails utilisingnaturalgasfromthe Stabroek Block located offshore Guyana to power a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility and a 300-megawatt (MW) power plant which is expected to cut consumers’ electricity bills by 50 per cent.

Moreover, government hadexplainedthatGTETwo willplayacrucialroleaspart of its plan to turn Berbice into a development zone.At his press conference, President Ali cited previous interestfordatacentres,urea plants, and petrochemical

facilitiesinBerbice.

“What I can say to you though, is the interest, especially from the U S (United States) has been incredible in terms of some oftheonshorebuildoutthat can come based on that gas… So definitely in Berbice, we will have the development of that zone, that exclusive development zone,”thepresidentnoted. He also briefly shared that there has been interest expressed from different funding agencies in relation to the deepwater port which

will also be located in Berbice.LikeGTETwo,the deepwater port in Berbice is a critical component of turning Berbice into a developmentzone.

“So, we’re not going to explore that here, but definitely in the months ahead, you will definitely have full understanding of what this development would look like. But now two things: monetising as quickly as possible and also building out the onshore opportunities and facility,” PresidentAlinoted.

KaieteurNews

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

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

EDITORIAL

Firearms bust in Berbice

The discovery of ten AK-47 rifles along the No. 11 Village Public Road in Berbice should alarm every Guyanesecitizen.Thesearenotordinaryweapons.AK-47 riflesarebattlefieldfirearmsdesignedforlethalefficiency, and the seizure of such a large cache raises disturbing questionsaboutthestateoforganisedcrime,bordersecurity and the underground gun trade in Guyana. While police must be commended for intercepting the weapons before they disappeared into criminal circulation, the incident highlightsthefrighteningpossibilitythatmanymoreillegal firearmsmayalreadybehiddenacrossthecountry

The circumstances surrounding the seizure suggest coordination, planning and access to a sophisticated traffickingnetwork.Therifleswerewrappedinplasticand cloth, sections of the weapons appeared tampered with to obscureserialnumbers,andinvestigatorssuspectmultiple vehicleswereusedinthetransportationoperation.Thiswas clearlynottheworkofaloneindividual.Suchanoperation requiresfinanciers,transporters,storagepointsandcontacts capable of moving illegal weapons across regions without detection.

One of the most troubling questions is how these weapons entered Guyana in the first place. Increasing public concern has long surrounded the relatively unregulated backtrack crossings at Corriverton and other riverine entry points. These crossings have often been associated with smuggling activities involving fuel, narcotics,contrabandgoodsandundocumentedmovement between Guyana and Suriname. It is therefore reasonable forinvestigatorstoexaminewhetherthesesameroutesare nowbeingexploitedbyguntraffickers.IftenAK-47rifles couldallegedlybetransportedintothecountry,citizensare justified in asking how many more weapons may have alreadyslippedthroughundetected.

ThememoriesofGuyana’sviolentcriminaleraremain painfully fresh. The last timeAK-47 rifles surfaced in the handsofcriminals,thecountryenduredaterrifyingwaveof murders,kidnappingsandarmedrobberiesthatdestabilised communities and left families traumatised. Entire villages lived in fear while heavily armed gangs challenged law enforcement and terrorised innocent citizens. Guyanese cannotaffordareturntothosedarkdays.

This latest seizure comes at a particularly significant moment, as government has announced plans for a sweeping modernisation of the country’s security infrastructure. President Irfaan Ali recently outlined an ambitious strategy involving AI-powered policing, biometric immigration systems, smart surveillance networks, drone monitoring and integrated intelligence systems.AccordingtothePresident,theobjectiveistobuild one of the most technologically advanced security architecturesintheworld,withpredictivecrimeanalytics, real-time intelligence sharing and nationwide CCTV coverageformingthebackboneoftheinitiative.

In light of the Berbice firearms bust, the urgency of strengtheningnationalsecuritysystemsbecomesevenmore apparent.Advanced surveillance, port monitoring andAIsupported border controls could play a major role in detecting trafficking patterns and identifying criminal networks before weapons reach the streets The government’s proposal to integrate customs, immigration, policeandintelligencedatabasesmayhelpauthoritiestrace suspicious movements of cargo, vehicles and persons linkedtoorganisedcrime.

However, technology alone cannot solve the problem. The success of any security system depends on integrity, accountability and public trust. Sophisticated cameras and AI analytics are useful only if law enforcement agencies remain free from corruption and political interference Criminal networks thrive where systems are weak, where briberyexists,andwheretraffickersbelievetheycanoperate

DEAREDITOR,

First impressions

First impressions are vital; they shape how people perceive and remember a country, which in turn drives tourism revenue and foreign investment.

I recently spoke with a first-time visitor to Guyana whose initial experiencewasdeeplyconcerning.

He shared several issues regarding hisarrivalattheairport.First,thewalk from the plane to immigration and customswasexcessivelylong,whichhe described as the worst he has

experienced globally Furthermore, there was a total lack of assistance for the elderly or disabled, with no wheelchairsavailable.

He even had to assist an elderly passenger with her baggage himself. Upon finally reaching the immigration area, only two officers were working, resultinginsignificantdelays.

Theproblemscontinuedoutsidethe airport. Despite staying at a hotel only ten minutes away, he was overcharged byataxidriver Afterinitiallyagreeing on a US$50 fare, the driver demanded

US$150 upon arrival. Additionally, there was no hotel shuttle available despitehisreservation.

A clean, organised, and efficient entry process encourages tourists and expatriates to return and spend money Research consistently shows that poor first impressions can cost countries billions in lost revenue. We must address these systemic issues to ensure Guyana remains a welcoming and competitivedestination.

Yourstruly, DanielSingh

Seeking compensation from Government for work done

DEAREDITOR,

I am reaching out publicly to request compensation for the substantial preliminary development,adaptationand programme planning, budgeting, and research I undertook between March 2025 and February 2026 requested by the Ministry of Human Service and Social Security pertaining to adapting and rolling out the Partner Assault Response (PAR)Programme.ThePAR Programme is a court ordered early intervention programme that engaged men primarily using a specificmethodology

Formorethanadecade,I maintained a close and productive working relationship with the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, during which I provided technical support, training, policy work, programme concepts, strategic direction, operationalframeworks,and institutional development work that later became embedded within Ministry initiatives.

It is important to state plainly that some of the concepts, programme directions, and policy measures publicly promoted bytheministryoverthepast few years were brought to the ministry by me and the

team I worked with at the time In other instances, work was supported by UnitedNationsagenciesthat retained my services. I have said it before and will say it now,theMHSSSisthemost important ministry in Guyana-thevastmajorityof persons accessing services are low-income earners and Guyanese living in, and experiencing tremendous socio-economichardships.

These contributions included:

-research,reporting,and recommendationsconnected to reform of the Domestic Violence Act, including the recommendation that Guyanamovetowardfamily violence legislation - I presented this directly to the minister;

-thePositivelyEngaging Men and Boys in GBV Prevention, Healing, and Accountability policy and operationalisation;

- t h e B R A V E Programme, including training structures, operational guidelines, piloting,andimplementation support-themenandIwere buildingwhatweallfeltwas needed and an organic brotherhood-Iamsurenone ofuswilleverforgetthis;

- the direction and thematic framing of ministry’s 2026–2031

Strategic Plan: Shaping the

withoutconsequences.Authoritiesmustthereforeensurethat anti-corruption safeguards, professional policing standards and independent oversight accompany any technological expansion.Thereisalsothebroaderissueofsocialstability Illegalweaponsrarelyremainidle.Theyareusuallylinkedto violent robberies, gang activity, drug trafficking, political intimidationororganisedcriminalenterprises.Thepresence ofassaultriflesincriminalcirculationposesadirectthreatnot only to public safety but also to investor confidence, economic development and national stability As Guyana experiences rapid economic transformation through its oil wealth, criminal organisations may also see new opportunitiestoexploitexpandingtraderoutes,construction sectorsandfinancialflows.

Thepoliceinvestigationmustthereforegobeyondsimply identifying the individuals caught transporting the rifles.

Future of Social Protection inGuyana:People-Centered, Digitally Accessible, and Community-Engaged;

-HopeandJusticeCentre

suitability studies, operational guidelines, manuals, staff training

including GBV case management, and systemsdevelopmentwork,and

- staff training and institutional strengthening support related to genderbased violence response

systems, including engagement with health institutions, Regional Democratic Councils, Village Councils and the GuyanaPoliceForce.

All of this work including more were designedfromthegroundup with the intention to engage people directly affected, local and institutional expertise and service users where applicable from Baramita, to Charity to the EastCoastandEastBankof Demerara,Imetandengaged hundredsofpeople.

The proposed adaptation of the PAR Programme emerged from this same pattern Drawing on my certification as an Ontario PAR Facilitator, my experience in gender-based violence programming, and my exposure to perpetrator intervention systems, I introduced the idea of

studying, adapting, and implementing elements of the PAR model within Guyana to strengthen accountability, better support m

e recidivism, and create a structured, evidence-based, earlyinterventionresponses; punishingperpetratorsalone doesnotreduceGBVratesas we all can attest to in Guyana.

At the minister’s direct and documented request, I subsequently undertook extensive preliminary adaptation work between March 2025 and March 2 0 2 6 D u r i n g o u r engagements, the minister repeatedly emphasised the importance of keeping trusted people around the ministry’s work and stated directly that she wanted to “keep me around” as part of the ministry’s broader domesticviolenceandsocial services initiatives. I even shared some institutional concerns with her that I thoughtsheshouldbeaware of Those assurances, together with the ministry’s request for a budget, s

operationalframeworks,and implementation concepts, reinforced the agreed plan thatafterplanningand Continued on page 5

Investigatorsmustuncoverwhofinancedtheweapons,where theyoriginated,whowasintendedtoreceivethemandwhat operations they were meant to support. Were these rifles destined for local gangs? Were they linked to transnational criminal networks? Were they part of a larger shipment? Thesearequestions,whichthepublicdeservesanswersto. The seizure of the ten AK-47 rifles should serve as a nationalwake-upcall.Guyanastandsatacrossroadbetween development and insecurity The country cannot allow organised crime to gain access to military-grade weapons while borders remain vulnerable and trafficking networks expandinsecrecy.Citizensnowlooktolawenforcementand the government not only for arrests, but for decisive action, transparency and long-term solutions. Guyana has experiencedthehorrorsthatillegalassaultriflescanunleash before.Thenationmustensurehistorydoesnotrepeatitself.

Bus fares have not kept pace with inflation

DEAREDITOR,

When Georgetown transitionedfromTatabuses to minibuses during the 1980’s, the bus fare was

approximately the equivalent of US$2 in some routes.

As inflation rose and the exchange rate changed the bus fare has been kept artificially low and now is

approximately the equivalent of US$0.5 for some of these same routes. The government should be adjustingthefareannuallyto keeppacewithinflation.The sparepartsareimported,and shipping costs have increased.

Fuel prices have also increased. The owners and o p e r a t o r s i n t h e transportation sector should be provided with options to continue to operate a viable business.

To reduce the risk to the pockets of the consumers, a fuelvouchercanbeprovided to bus operators and or a redeemable transportation

voucher provided to schoolchildrenforuseonthe

minibuses.Eitherwayawinwin solution must be sought by the government that prevents an additional burden on those using the minibuses and one which alsoallowsforthecontinued viability of the business for the owners and operators in thesector

Attaching performance metrics will also ensure improved safety on the roadways and prevent overloading and speeding. Each route should have official bus stops and bus sheds from where passengers should only be picked up and dropped off, and the minibuses should have speed governors provided by the government to limit the velocity of the buses.

In addition, the sector

needs to be more professional in appearance with uniforms for conductorsanddrivers. This could be supported by a uniform voucher providedbythegovernment, andseatbeltsinstalledbythe authorities for passengers’

useforimprovedsafetywith higher fines for overloading to accompany the seat belt initiative.

As for the volume and typeofmusicwithinthebus, the government must work with the union and the MinistryofHealthtooutline the decibel limitations and approve the sound system installed via an official inspection and decibel check.

Many still remember the damage caused to a passenger’s hearing not too longago.

We must safeguard againstthis,especiallygiven the liability associated with such matters, and we must prohibit the use of music with vulgarity and poor moralmessaging.

The preferred option would be to allow passengers to hear the news on the radio at the required hour, a low volume that allowsforthereadingofthe newspapers in the morning, and the broadcasting of e d u c a t i o n a l r a d i o programmes during the

times when schoolchildren are going and coming from school.

The sector can have a positiveimpactonthemoral character of our society and should seriously consider embracing such an opportunity

During the remainder of operating hours, there is ample opportunity to provide the Caribbean hospitality and atmosphere that tourists and nationals have come to love over the years without causing disruption, promoting poor moral content, and reducing thecomfortofpassengers.

Theunionthatrepresents thesectorshouldbemetwith and an agreement made on expectations to accompany theannualinflationadjusted rateincreases.

CRG recommends developing the sector in this manner to ensure its continued viability, growth, and effective support of Guyana’s transformation intoa2ndworldeconomy

Bestregards, JamilChanglee

Seeking compensation from Government...

Frompage4 preparation I would lead the fulladaptation.Thiswasthe agreed plan, to prepare the preliminaryoutputsandlead implementation. In reliance on those representations, I completed substantial preliminary work, including:

- development of the Guyana PAR adaptation framework;

- preparation of the detailed 2026 PAR budget and accompanying budget narrative;

- c o u r t - l i n k e d operational process matrices;

- symposium concept notes, agendas, and -operational planning materials;

- facilitator training structuresandtrainingplan;

- preliminary Guyana-

adapted intervention modules;

- accountability and reportingstructures;

- implementation planningmaterials;and - s t a k e h o l d e r engagementandpreparatory documentation.

PAR Guyana was also being supported by a Canadian PAR facilitator, a university professor and a legal non-profit that communicated their interest tocollaborateandwhichthe ministry is aware of. These engagements reflected the seriousness of the initiative andtheeffortbeingmade.

Despite these substantial contributions, professional labour, and intellectual input, I have not been compensated for the extensive preliminary planning and preparation workundertaken.

The situation became particularly concerning when, after I had already completed and submitted

substantial work including a request for the PAR budget and budget narrative by the budget

office and communicated directly to me by Dr Cona Husbands, Director of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy

Unit - I received correspondenceonFebruary 26, 2026 from the minister stating that the symposium was “on hold,” that the ministry would execute the work internally, and that PAR was “not confirmed as the only programme” under consideration.

Inclosing,Iremainopen toworkingwiththeministry and President Ali’s administration, I have close friends, mentors and colleagues who are well placed in the government andIhaveneverexperienced whatIhavedescribedabove.

I have consistently

maintainedthatthereisonly one political administration in Guyana with the institutional reach, regional influence, and international relationships capable of advancing transformational social development initiativesatscale.However, we need to be mindful of some things that might turn peopleoffandawayfromthe administration, and value people whose focus is serving the people of Guyana, not politics, especially when said people embrace and understand the vision of the current administration.

I am an email or phone call away and have always beenreadytoengage,

Sincerely, RawleA.Small

Poor is being left behind by this government

DEAREDITOR,

In an article in the KaieteurNewsdatedMay20, 2026 and captioned “Pres, Ali urge fuel importers, transport operators to slash their profits”, and this because of the increase in pricescausedby theUS/Iran war Accordingtothearticle, the president said that the governmenthasdonealotto help offset the inflationary prices and calls upon all stakeholderstohelp.Whathe did was zeroed the excise taxes on fuel. I cannot think of anything else The president mentioned who benefitted, the hire car, the speedboat operators, the minibuses, the private cars etc. He admitted that even though taxes on fuel was zeroed, that there was no reduction in taxi fares and transportationcost,etc.

Retransportationcost,he is wrong as transportation costhasreducedhoweverthe costofmostthingsincluding groceries, greens and vegetables keep rising. The $100B benefitted those categories he mentioned and not the bottom half of the population.

The president did not learnfromhisobservationas another decision was to return more money into the pockets of some of the same categoriesmentionedabove.

Even though the bridge would have belonged to the people of Guyana in two years, the president decided to use taxpayers’ money to pay the tolls for those who use the Berbice River bridge and decided no tolls for the Demerara bridge. And you

guessed correctly The owners of vehicles again benefittedfromthismeasure. The cost of transportation was reducedbutthosehiring the trucks continued to pay the same price. Fares were not reduced and prices of producecomingfromRegion 6werenotreduced.

A truck crossing would probably pay a minimum of $15,000. Let’s assume twice a week, so a saving of about $120,000 a month, hire cars about$50,000.

With regard to the president’s call to stakeholders to reduce profits, I believe the president is living in a parallel universe, as this s y s t e m s e e k s t h e maximisationofprofitsatall cost.

Mr President, I am sure that not even a little of the gains was transferred to the driversofthosetrucks.Weall know how the owners of gas stations behave when prices fallandwhentheyrise.They maximiseprofits.

Mr President when the government gives a 10% increase in salaries, the personearning$100,000gets an increase of $10,000 but you get about $197,000 a month. I don’t hear you and the ministers foregoing the massive increases, but he is telling the minibus and hire cardriverstobenationalistic whentheyarenotsettingthe example.

The president keeps saying that he has put measuresinplacethathasput billions into the pockets of Guyanese.Well,justlikethe Continued on page 6

Region Eight residents urged to diversify economy through agriculture, tourism

Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Pauline Sukhai, has called on residents of Region Eight to expand the region’s economic activities beyond mining, with a greater focus on sustainable sectors such

asagricultureandtourism.

Delivering feature remarks at the flag-raising ceremony in Madhia to commemorate Guyana’s 60th Independence Anniversary on Sunday, MinisterSukhaisaidRegion Eight possesses enormous untapped potential that can

contribute significantly to the country’s long-term developmentagenda.

The minister noted that while mining remains a major pillar of the region’s economy, there must be deliberate efforts to strengthen other productive sectorsthatcancreatelasting

Poor is being left behind by this...

Frompage5 zeroing of fuel, these policies benefit the rich and those that are relatively better off in the same way likethezeroingofthetaxon fuel.

Thesemeasureshavenot benefitted those who are most in need. I would deal with this in another letter It is to be noted that no measures have been put in place by the government sincethewarcommencedto ease the pressure on our people.

Dr. Cheddi Jagan was definitive in his position when he said the PPPhas to help the poor as the rich can take care of themselves. So far,theleadershipofthePPP has put no measure in place that specifically target the poor

The president should take lessons from persons likeme.WhenIwasadvisor toIndraChandarpalMinister of Human Services and Social Security, because we recognisedthelevelofneed, I fought for and set up the

difficult circumstances programmetohelppeoplein need,sohelpgoesdirectlyto those. Thousands benefitted and are still benefitting However, I have serious questions about how it is beingrun.

I keep calling in my letters for a professionally managed national welfare system that could direct assistance to those most in need so that measures like food stamps and cost-ofliving allowance could go directly to those most in need. Special assistance to single parents and not this blanket payment to the rich andpoor Pensioners got a measly $5,000.

In my letters I condemnedthecashgrantto all, the well to do and the poor The same people who benefittedfromthefuelprice reduction and taxpayers’ subsidised toll also receive the cash grant. They also receive the grant for spectacles and cash grant to children in school. I keep

askingwhataboutthosewho cannotaffordtogotoschool, whohavetodropouttowork to help the family Nothing forthem.

The government could alsoimportitsowngroceries and fertiliser Dr Jagan’s strategy was a tri sectoral economy Theprivatesector, Cooperatives and State but even this policy was cast aside by the present PPP leadership.

Re minibus, it is not fuel alone but rising cost of sparesandcostofgoodsand services. Maybe the government may consider a fuelvoucherforminibuses.I feel they should call off the strike and send a delegation to the government and I feel the government should exerciseflexibility

Supporters of the PNC had their eyes opened Beautiful Guyana is waiting for those who support the PPP to open their eyes and recognise that the Bharat’s PPPdoesnotcareaboutyou.

Regards, RajendraBisessar

opportunitiesforresidents.

S h e n o t e d t h a t agriculture remains one of the most reliable sectors for ensuring food security and economic resilience, while tourism in the North Pakaraimas and the Mahdia district can unlock major o

employment.

Highlighting the region’s natural beauty, M i n i s t e r S u k h a i encouragedyoungpeopleto explore careers and business opportunities withinthetourismindustry

Shealsounderscoredthe government’s commitment to ensuring Region Eight benefits from Guyana’s r

infrastructure, healthcare, education and digital connectivity

The region has moved from being remote to accessible through advancements in internet and telecommunications services, allowing residents inhinterlandcommunitiesto connectinrealtimewiththe rest of the country and the world.

These developments reflect the government’s “One Guyana” vision of inclusive national development.

Minister Sukhai pointed to ongoing works on a modern hospital in Kato,

Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Pauline Sukhai, delivers feature address at the Mahdia Flag Raising Ceremony.

upgrades to hinterland airstrips, including Mahdia, Kopinang and Monkey

Mountain, and the establishment of a technical andpracticaltrainingschool in Mahdia to equip youths withcriticalskills.

She highlighted government investments in education, including free university education and scholarship opportunities, whichshesaidarepreparing Guyanese to participate in

the country’s rapidly expandingeconomy

The minister also urged parents to keep children in school and encouraged residents to embrace patriotism, discipline and national unity as Guyana continues its development journey

The 60th Independence Anniversary is celebrated under the theme “The Homecoming – Guyana’s DiamondJubilee.”(DPI)

Small businesses to access up to $10M under new co-financing initiative

Beyonddirectfinancing, a newly detailed cofinancing mechanism established between the Government of Guyana and several local commercial banks will soon allow local entrepreneurstoleverageup to GY$10 million in total accessiblecapital.

Under this framework, small businesses can access an initial GY$3 million interest-freefacilityfromthe State,whichcanthenbeused tounlockuptoanadditional GY$7millionincommercial loansatpreferential,reduced interestrates.

The initiative effectively allowsState-backedfundsto act as the financial leverage that local small businesses havehistoricallylacked.

Theco-financingfacility forms a core pillar of the upcoming Development Bank of Guyana, a major nationalinitiativecapitalised with an initial US$100 million to drive economic diversification and lower commercialbarriers.

The announcement was made by Minister Zulfikar Ally on Thursday during a businessluncheonhostedby the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) at the Marriott HotelinKingston.Speaking to a room of Private Sector executives, organisation

business leaders, Ally outlined the institution’s strategic role in Guyana’s currenteconomicexpansion, noting that long-term support for the bank is projected to approach US$200million.

Ally stated that while Guyana is undergoing an

transformative period

infrastructure growth and emerging non-traditional sectors, economic growth alone does not guarantee inclusivity.

He explained that too many promising enterprises have struggled to scale their

adequatelymeettheirneeds. High interest rates, strict collateral requirements, and

d mentorshiphavehistorically impeded local talent, which is exactly what this new bankingmodelisdesignedto target.

To directly stimulate grassroots enterprise, the bank’s foundational tier will offerdirectlendingfacilities of up to GY$3 million featuring 0% interest and zerocollateralrequirements. The primary focus of these directfundswillbeonmicro,

small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), startups, sole traders, youth entrepreneurs, womenowned businesses, and d

d individuals. The key sectors prioritised for this targeted funding include agriculture and agro-processing, tourism and hospitality, services and trade, and the c

industries.

Addressing the GMSA

m e m b e r s h i p , A l l y emphasised that regional infrastructuredevelopments, such as the recent completion of new bridge structures and the ongoing expansion of a four-lane highwayandnewterminalat

International Airport, are rapidly shifting real estate values and commercial logistics He urged local entrepreneurs to look beyond Region 4 and

aditio

al business structures,pointingtocrossborder opportunities with n

rth

n B

zil and Suriname, alongside global digitalmarketingaccessthat allows even small village operations to reach internationalclients.

Ally also strongly advocated for the formation of local business consortia and joint partnerships to

compete against the hundreds of international firms currently entering the Guyanese market He warned that individuals trying to operate entirely on their own put immense pressure on themselves and takelongertosucceed.

Byformingpartnerships, entrepreneurs can pool diverse talents in accounting, marketing, and operations to pursue larger logisticalopportunities,such as forming groups to invest intheheavytransporttrucks required for upcoming national gas and energy initiatives.

Allyfurtherclarifiedthat the new entity would not function merely as a credit

clearinghouse The institutionismandate-bound to provide mandatory capacity-building support a l o n g s i d e c a p i t a l disbursement.

To qualify for and maintain the loans, beneficiaries will receive structured financial literacy training, direct mentorship, business development assistance, and technical support designed to

capabilities and ensure long-t

m corporate sustainability

An official launch date for the application portal and formal opening of the physical branches is expectedtobeannouncedin thecomingweeks.

NewRegionFourREOvowspeoplecentred,accountableleadership

New Regional Executive Officer (REO) forRegionFour,JuanEdghillJr,saidSunday thathisadministrationwillfocusonstronger public service delivery, accountability, responsiveness and community engagement ashesettlesintotherole.

According to DPI, Edghill described public service as “one of the most dynamic and humbling” responsibilities, noting that leadershipisaboutservingpeopleratherthan holdingatitle.

“Idon’tseeleadershipassomethingyou do to get a position, but it is to serve,” he stated, adding that his new role presents an opportunitytoprovide“higherservice”tothe peopleofRegionFour

The REO said his administration will operate on three main pillars: being peoplecentred, service-oriented and developmentfocused.

According to him, every policy, programme or project undertaken by the regional administration must directly improve the welfare and wellbeing of citizens.

The new REO also outlined plans to strengthen accountability and efficiency acrosstheregion’soperations,particularlyin publicspendingandprocurement.

Drawing from his background in financial regulation, Edghill said strict adherence to the law and financial regulations will guide the administration’s work.

He explained that the region will follow closely the Fiscal Management and AccountabilityAct,theProcurementAct,the AuditAct and the Local Democratic Organs Act to ensure transparency and proper governance.

“We will be guided by the recommendationsoftheAuditorGeneraland ensure we correct deficiencies that were repeatedlyflagged,”headded.

TheRegionalDemocraticCouncil(RDC) will focus heavily on responsiveness to citizens’ concerns and improving access to regionalservices.

“I don’t want complaints about people callingtheRDCandnotgettingthrough,”the REO stressed, while pledging greater visibility within communities through outreach activities, walkabouts and future publicdays.

On development, he revealed that more than 100 projects are currently underway across the East Coast, East Bank and Highwayareas.Programmeheads,engineers anddepartmentalofficialshavealreadybeen engaged to review project progress and ensureworksmoveatafasterpace.

EdghillcreditedPresident,Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali and his government for creating opportunitiesforyoungprofessionalstolead and contribute meaningfully to Guyana’s transformation.

Therewasalullinlabourmovementafter1905

Thereissubstantial h i s t o r i c a l evidence that the labour movement in British Guiana experienced a lull or period of weakened organisation after the upheavalsof1905,beforereemerging forcefully in the near mid-1920s and especiallythe1930s.

The evidence comes from several interconnected developments First, historians note that the waterfront protests of 1905 disturbances were not followed immediately by stable labour institutions. The protests were violently suppressed by the colonial state. In fact, it is now the verdict that in terms of achieving its objective, the strike and protests were a failure.

Hubert Nathaniel

Critchlow himself admitted that he had learnt his lesson from the suppression of the strike and opted in 1916 for negotiations Given the suppression by the colonial state–eightpersonsdiedand more than thirty injured –eventheworkerswerenotat all confident in that petitioning the authorities would yield gain. In fact, Critchlow said that one year after the 1905 strike, the workers were saying that they would never strike again.

The workers movement lacked union organisation and the structures necessary to withstand retaliation by the colonial state. As Dr Melissa Ifill noted the

outcome of the strike

“clearlysignalledthatitwas essential that workers organise themselves to advance their interests, preferably within a trade union.”

But even though an exploratory meeting was heldin1906,itwasnotuntil 13 years later that the first trade union was established. That thirteen-year gap is itself important evidence of declineorstagnation.

Second, Hubert

Nathaniel Critchlow’s recollectionemphasisedthat following 1905 strike, there remained harsh working conditions. But he did not describe sustained labour

agitation surviving afterward The historical record shows relatively scatteredandepisodiclabour protests during the interveningyearsratherthan c o n t i n u o u s m a s s mobilisation.

Onthesugarestates,the conditionswerealsoharsh.A commission appointed by the colonial government found that workers laboured under conditions that were often harsh, degrading and deeply exploitative. Many complained that estate managements deliberately failed to inform them of the rates paid for task work, leaving labourers uncertain abouthowmuchtheywould earn for exhausting days in the cane fields. Overseers were frequently accused of treatingworkerswithcruelty

and little sympathy, enforcing discipline through

Dem Boys Seh...

intimidationandhumiliation ratherthanfairness.

Labourers also suffered financial penalties for irregular attendance, even when absence resulted from illness, fatigue or family hardship. Discontent grew overchangesinthemethods used to measure cane loads, sinceworkersbelievedthese alterations unfairly reduced theirearnings.

Beyond the estates themselves, labourers faced difficulty sustaining their families because the small plots of land provided for cultivation were inadequate for proper subsistence. Wages remained painfully low and were often insufficient to meet basic needs,whiletheworkingday stretched for long hours under punishing tropical conditions.

Whilelabourprotestsdid not disappear altogether after 1905, they were too sporadic and intermittent to give the first two decades of the 20th century the tag of being major milestones in workers’organisation.Itwas in1920’sand1930’sthatare considered the most defining decades for trade unionism in Guyana and the Caribbean.

Third, the lab

movement’s revival is

economic crises of the 1920’s and especially the Great Depression of the 1930’s. As global demand and prices for sugar, cocoa, and other exports collapsed, w

Sweet oil, silent voices

Dem boys seh de whole country behaving like one big cricket match where everybody watching de scoreboard but nobodyaskingwhowritederules.Yearsnow de oil contract scandal done burst out like overripecoconut,andalldembigcompanies and private sector organisations still get lockjaw Silence sweet like cane juice but it sweetsuspiciously

Dem boys seh dem looking left, dem lookingright,demlookinguptodeskylike rain go fall answers. Not a single press release,notasingleboldstatement,noteven one “we concerned about transparency” whisper from de usual chambers and associations. Is like everybody forget dem gat voice. Or maybe dem voice gone on annualleave.

But dem boys seh here is de real joke. Some of dem same companies and private sector fellas dem enjoying de boom right now Contracts expanding, money circulating, new offices opening, trucks rolling. Dem smiling because everything sweet-sweet.

Yet nobody stop for ask one simple question: if de contract had been better negotiated, if Guyana had been getting a

, unemployment soared, and w

g conditions deteriorated rapidly

At the same time, colonial governments and plantation owners refused to provide adequate relief

economic hardship and political neglect pushed workers beyond endurance, leading to strikes, riots, and t

movements across the regionduringthe1930’s

(The views expressed in this article are those of the

necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

biggersliceofdepie,wouldallofusnotbe swimming in even more opportunities?

More infrastructure, more contracts, more demand, more spin-off business, more peopleeatingabiggersliceinsteadoflicking crumbsoffdetable?

Dem boys seh is like man sitting in one restauranteatinghalfplateandpraisingchef, while outside de kitchen burning down and nobodyfixingdestove.

Because de truth is, if de nation had negotiated better, even dem private sector boys would be selling more, hiring more, expanding more. But silence easier when profitsalreadyflowing.

Dem boys seh maybe is fear, maybe is comfort,maybeisdesweetsmellofpresent gain drowning out future logic. But history doesnotforgetsilence.Andeconomicsdoes not reward missed opportunity just because itcomewithshort-termcomfort.

Sodemboyssehwhiledescandalrolling like barrel downhill, de question still hanging in de air like wet laundry: when de piewasbeingdivided,whoreallysharpende knife, who determine the size of the slice, andwhojusthappytolickdeplate? Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Independence:FromMathematicstopolitics

Independence Sixty years of what should have manifested all the vitality of youthfulness. Grown to the stability of adult maturity Then going over those hills to lengthy (hopefully) silvery years before twilight steps in, and the silence of eternitytakesover

Ask any two Guyanese what Independence means, whatIndependencehasdone for them, and be ready for twodozenanswers.Itrymy hand, go on record. This is myIndependencestory

I b e g i n w i t h mathematics,theunblinking unnegotiability of sharp, scorching numbers. The 60 years of Independent Guyana fits neatly into this simple, somewhat shaky arithmetic:28yearsofPNC, 28yearsofPPP,and4years of a chameleon that went by the name of APNU+AFC. It’s 60, plus or minus a few monthshere,andayearorso there.Themathisneat.

The politics is ugly In theterminologyfavouredby those at the top, those who have lost their moral marbles, who pawned their ethical energies, it is ‘Stink

and Dutty.’It is a part of the New Guyana English Dictionary, the pages of which keep multiplying Uglyandstinkand‘dutty’is 28yearsofPNCdarkness(to which I add madness and utterfoolishness).

Twenty-eight years of darkness was and still is the PPP’s Independence anthem. Ugly and obscene was 28 years of PPP unscrupulousness, d e v i o u s n e s s , a n d pompousness,whichhasjust been honoured with a new lease on life, and the means to extend its leadership vulgarities.

The PNC has lost its rhythm and is still trying to shaketheblues.Itislefttoa peasantlikemetodefinethe PPP’s reign, which I just compressed Then, the APNU+AFCclaweditsway intotheIndependenceframe. It presided over a sickness and delivered crippling sloppiness that made flunkeys and lackeys of all Guyanese, save for those in duty-free cars and their turreted, airconditioned, plantationhouses.

The largest plantation

mansions belong to Guyana’s new voracious landlords. Prado-Ville is a current address, and Silica Cityoneinthemaking.

When the Union Jack went down, the Golden Arrowhead went up. Since then, most Guyanese got shot to pieces and scattered all over in controlled disarray. The best and brightest fled The middleclass hit by a hurricane, from which it hasn’t,maybecan’t,recover Which society can aspire to greatness, when its human capitalhaemorrhagesaway?

When old capital took flight from the 1960s, new capital bubbled up from below the sea starting six yearsago.Thecatastropheof Guyana is that the new capitalendedupinthehands oftheworstscoundrelssince MadoffandAdolph.Madoff calculated how to rob his fellow Jews in the synagogue Then did Adolph studied the Jews of Germany, then he separated themfromtheirjewels,their freedom, and even their teeth. Wherever it is, gold hasvalue.

TheCaseforanExpanding GuyaneseMiddleClass

ByKarenAbrams,MBA,AA

WatchtherestaurantsceneinGeorgetown long enough, and a pattern emerges A new eateryopens Thereisaflurryofexcitement And then, within months, the indicators of struggling business appears and in many cases, a closed sign shortly thereafter The reasonisnothardtofind.

The same small group of faces tends to flock to every new opening In a country where international agencies describe a 48% to 58% poverty rate, the broader population simply does not yet have the disposable incometosupportawide,variedandrapidly expandingconsumereconomy

Thisisnotafailureofculinaryambition It is a symptom of a structural feature of the Guyaneseeconomythatdeservesagreatdeal more public discussion than it currently receives Guyana does not yet have a middle classofthesizeanddepthrequiredtosupporta thriving non-oil consumer economy, and building one is among the most consequential national projects of the oil decade.

The data tell a clear story According to International Labour Organization statistics publishedin2024,Guyana’sminimumwage in purchasing power parity terms is fourth from the bottom of the CARICOM region, aheadonlyofBarbados,Suriname,andHaiti

Thecountrysitsatoponeofthelargestnew oildiscoveriesofthecentury,yetonthewage indicatorthatmostdirectlyshapeshousehold purchasing power, the country is still in the

Madoff and Adolph cheated Americans and Germans(allJews)outtheir present and their piles. In Guyana, the PNC was first, then the PPP, then the APNU+AFC, and then the PPP again cheat Guyanese out of both their present and their future How is it possible to cheat a whole population out of its future?

Call Freedom House and State House, and mention myname.Ididwarnthatthe politics is ugly, unconscious toscruples.

Time to lean over to economics. Men cursed 2%, cursed the hands that made no taxes, cursed no ringfencing. Today, they cry the curse of sanctity of contract.Whenvulgarityand profanity stand as commanding warlords, how can there be place for sanctity?I’llbedamnedand doublydamnedanydaythat I succumb to that abomination,thatantichrist.

Sanctity of contractistheepitome of what is unholy Of what is naked and scarred andoozingtheputrid.Ifonly therewasaGuyaneseleader who would stand before Exxon, before ambassadors, and before other principals and use those same exact words that I repeat now to ramthepointhome.Sanctity

o f c o n t r a c t i s a n abomination, the antichrist.

Sanctity is national blasphemy, it is ugly and unholy, an utterly putrid revulsion.

Now that would be men of free and independent spirit, speaking from the hallowed soil of a truly Independent Guyana Guyanesehavebeenhurtby toomanyofthosetheylove, observing them as they turn traitorous.

Independence is not of the gamesmanship of ‘Essequibo is Ours ’

Independence is of standing

tall, and facing one and all andtakingonoathwrittenin blood. This wealth belongs to all Guyanese, and damn thosewhopartnerwithlocal turncoatstocheatthepeople of the true and full value of theirinheritance.

I would say to my dying daythatthatisthespirit,the nerve, in the blood of independent men and women.Thosewho’rereally free Those who value freedom in all of its small and enormous splendours. It is the human formula that proves and proves again, what Independence and national sovereignty are all about.

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

Caribbean Airlines cuts Ogle-Suriname route

...says Guyana remains a key connectivity hub despite realignment

lowerquartileofitsregionalpeers

The opportunity to use this moment to reset that picture is exceptional, and the available fiscal headroom to do so has rarely been larger In other words, the nation is wealthyenoughtogetthisdone

Thestructuralpatterniswelldocumented intheeconomicliterature Approximately91 percentofGuyana’sexportsbyvaluearenow crude oil, according to Harvard’s Atlas of Economic Complexity 2024,] and the oil sector contributes more than half of GDP accordingtorecent Ministry of Finance and IMFdata.

The non-oil sectors, agriculture, manufacturing,retail,andhospitality,remain comparatively narrow The development literature describes this concentration pattern as a familiar challenge facing resource-rich economies, and the country has the opportunity to address it deliberately during theperiodinwhichoilrevenuesareavailable toinvestinbroaderproductivecapability

Public sector compensation is one of the mostdirectleversformiddleclassexpansion, andthedataherealsotellanimportantstory

The Guyana Public Service Union called in January 2025 for a minimum public sector salaryofGY$221,000,onthebasisofitsown cost-of-livinganalysis.

Demerara Waves reported in the same month that at least 40 percent of public servantstakehomeGY$140,000orlessafter statutory deductions. Our teachers, nurses, police,soldiers,andcivilservantsarethe Continued on page 16

Caribbean Airlines has announced a strategic adjustment to its regional network effective June 1, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen operational efficiency and improve long-term service reliability acrosstheCaribbean.

According to a press release by the regionalairline,undertherevisedschedule,it will discontinue services on the Dominica, St. Kitts, and Ogle (Guyana)–Suriname routes, while also reducing flight frequency to Martinique and Guadeloupe to twice weekly

Passengersholdingbookingsbeyondthe affected travel dates will be contacted directly by Caribbean Airlines or through theirtravelagents.

PassengerSupportMeasures

Customers impacted by these changes willbeoffered:

Ÿ Re-accommodation on alternative regionalserviceswhereavailable

Ÿ Re-routing options via Caribbean Airlinesandpartnernetworks

Ÿ Full refunds for unused ticket

segments,or

Ÿ Travel credit options subject to fare conditions.

GuyanaConnectivityPerspective

Caribbean Airlines reaffirmed its commitment to Guyana as a strategic hub withinitsnetwork.WhiletheOgle–Suriname service will be discontinued, the airline emphasisedthatitcontinuestoevaluateroute optimisation to support reliable air links for Guyanese travellers across the region throughexistingandpartnerconnections.

The airline also noted ongoing work toward expanded codeshare partnerships aimedatimprovingaccessfromGuyanatoa wider regional and international network, with smoother connections and integrated ticketingoptions.

Caribbean Airlines said the adjustments formpartofabroaderstrategytomaintaina sustainable and commercially resilient network, while continuing to prioritise customer experience, operational performance, and long-term regional connectivity

VenezuelasaysT&Tdownplayingoilspilldamage

(Trinidad Guardian)

Venezuelan energy consultant Dr Einstein Millán Arcia is accusing T&T’s Government of downplaying the true extent of the environmental damage caused by theoilthreeweeksago.

OnMonday,Venezuela’sForeign AffairsMinisterYvánGildemanded compensation for the oil spill and claimedthatT&T’sGovernmenthas not been responding toVenezuela’s communication relating to the oil spill

Gil said there has been a real economic and environmental impactwithover140speciesoffish affected adding that this is not the firsttimetherehasbeenanoilspill fromT&TinVenezuela’swaters.

The Foreign Affairs Minister warned of an impact on 1,625 square kilometers in 12 strategic wetland systems, as well as on the activity of more than 500 fishermen.

Millán Arcia a prominent former PDVSA consultant and Venezuelanenergyanalystwhohas a PhD from Oklahoma University in the US—gave his views on the recent oil spill and other energy relations between Venezuela and T&T in a recent interview with SundayBusinessGuardian.

From 2016 to 2017, he was a personal advisor to former Venezuelan Oil Minister Nelson Martínez and he does consultancy

work throughout the Middle East andAfrica.

In response to a Venezuela’s Government communiqué, T&T’s Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries released an account of the incident three weeks ago confirming that Heritage Petroleumdetectedanoilspillatits ma

approximately7.25amonMay1.

The Ministry reported that oil spilltrajectorymodellingindicated a risk of untreated hydrocarbons potential

y crossing into Venezuelanwaters.

The spill was estimated at approximately10barrelsofoil,and dailyinspectionshavesinceshown norecurrence.

MillánArciadisagreeswiththe

Ministry of Energy’s assessment thatthespillwasonly10barrels.

“Thisisimpossible,giventhatthe hypotheticalareathataspillofjust10 barrels of crude oil would cover would not exceed, at most, between 002 and 02 square kilometers, considering a film thickness that varies due to wind conditions and the turbulence of the water discharge in the area surrounding the Orinoco Delta. This area was clearly calculated for convenience and“fitstheTrinidadianminister’s ownnarrative.”

Similar to Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Millán Arcia called on T&T’s Government to pay for the damage thatVenezuela hassuffered.

“This is not the first time that spills have occurred from the neighbouringisland,impactingthe Venezuelanecosystem.Itistimeto firmly demand that Trinidad and Tobago assumes its responsibility and pay every cent for the environmental damage repairs, includingcleanupandrestoringthe ecosystem’sbalance.”

Venezuelaessentialtoreviving

T&T’senergysector

MillánArciagavetheviewthat T&T’s energy sector faces many challenges and ventures with VenezuelaareessentialifT&Tisto advanceitsgasprojects.

during quarter 1 of 2026, Trinidad crude oil and condensate production averaged some 52.000 barrels per day (BPD), while natural gas output about 2 59 billioncubicfeetperday(Bcfd).

“To date, no major new oil or gas discoveries have come online. Exxoniscontinuingeffortsindeepwaterexplorationinthesevennew blocks,butnooilorgasproduction fromtheseisyetcontributingtothe island portfolio, as exploratory results are still commercially inconclusive.”

“Despite exploratory and redevelopment efforts from global oil and gas majors like Shell, Exxon, and BP, production continues to fall at a pseudoconstantrateof3.2percentforthe hydrocarbons liquids, and two per cent for natural gas. Crude oil producingassetsstartedshowinga higher decline rate relatively early inthedevelopmentstage,whilefor thecasenaturalgas,theyremained relativelyconstant.Thisbehavioris believedtobeacombinedresultof volumetric reservoirs located in l i m i t e d a n d h i g h l y compartmentalisedformations.”

According to figures he gave,

He pointed out that in the 21st century,T&Treachedpeakoiland gas production in 2005 and 2009 respectively, but has been on the declinesincethen.

He said the Loran-Manatee field,ajointassetextendingacross the Venezuela-Trinidad marine border, contains estimated gas reserves of nearly 10.3 TcF, with 73.75percentofthetotalbelonging toVenezuela.

He pointed out that on the Trinidadianside,theManateefield begandrillingearlyin2026,butitis not expected to produce until late 2027orearly2028.Manateealone does not guarantee a net positive ROI for the operator without the gas from Loran-Venezuela, as out of each barrel of oil equivalent producedfromthesharedasset,the same 73.75 percent to 26.25 per centinterestratioapplies.

“A number of smaller gas projects including; Cypre, Mento, Coconut, Ginger, Frangipani, Onyx,Kanikonna,andAphrodite

Continued on page 16

11 Canadian firms on gold hunt in Guyana

…as 15.7 million ounces identified across five projects

By Renay Sambach

Overtheyears,Guyana’s mineralwealthand“miningfriendly jurisdiction” has attracted significant foreign investment, leading to almost a dozen Canadian companies engaged in gold mininghere.

About11Canadianfirms arecurrentlyadvancinggold projects across Guyana’s

miningdistricts,collectively controlling millions of ounces of gold at various stagesofdevelopment–with some nearing gold production.

Most of these projects arelocatedinRegionSeven, the Cuyuni-Mazaruni

Mining District, a region recognisedforitssignificant gold potential. For five of the 11 companies, the

International borders

Toroparu titles

Mining operation

Mining project Roads Rivers

Proven and Probable Reserves and indicated Mineral Resource Estimate

(MRE) amount to 15 7 millionouncesofgold. The remaining companies are still in the exploration stage and have not reached the point of announcing resourceestimates.

OmaiGoldMinesCorp.–OmaiProject

Since its return to Guyana’s mining sector in 2020, Omai Gold Mines Corp. through its subsidiary Avalon Gold Exploration Inc , has identified 2 5 millionouncesofgoldinthe indicated category at the historicOmaiGoldproject.

Omai holds 100% interestintheprojectlocated in Region Seven The property hosts two orogenic gold deposits: the shearhosted Wenot Deposit and the adjacent intrusionhostedGiltDeposit.

In April 2026, the company announced an updatedMREfortheoverall gold project showing 400,000 ounces increase above the August 2025, MRE–bringingtheproject’s indicated MRE to 2 5 millionounces.

The updated MRE puts theWenotIndicatedMREat 1,453,000 ounces, and the Wenot Inferred MRE at 3,999,000 ounces. At the Gilt Deposit, the Inferred MRE stands at 1,465,000 ounces, and its Indicated MRE is now at 1,042,000 ounces Overall, Omai’s updated MRE estimates 2,495,000 ounces of gold in theindicatedcategoryand Continuedonpage15

Customer Service and Credit wins GPSCCU’s Cook-Up clash

Staff members of the GPSCCU

Customer Service and Credit emergedvictoriousattheGuyanaPublic Service Co-operative Credit Union Limited (GPSCCU) 60th Independence Inter-Department Cooking

Competition, capping off an exciting afternoonfilledwithflavour,creativity, teamwork,andfriendlyrivalry

In a press release, the credit union saidfourdepartments: HumanResource andAdministrative,CorporateServices, Accounting and Finance, and Customer Service and Credit — faced off in the highly anticipated cook-up showdown held on the avenue opposite GPSCCU Headquarters on Hadfield Street on Friday,May22,2026.

Thecompetitionshowcasednotonly culinary talent, but also strong team spirit,unity,andcamaraderieamongstaff members,thereleaseadded

Each department fielded a team comprising one Head Chef and two assistants, all determined to impress the judges with their presentation, originality,andmouthwateringdishes.

The event officially began at 2:00 p.m. and concluded at 4:45 p.m., attractingenthusiasticsupportfromstaff and curious passers-by who stopped to

enjoy the lively atmosphere and enticingaromas.

ServingasjudgeswereEslynHarris, SecretarytotheGPSCCUCommitteeof Management;DesireEdghill,prominent actress, theatre personality, HIV/AIDS advocate, and Executive Director of Artistes in Direct Support; and Mr Simple, Security Supervisor at GPSCCUHeadquarters.

Teams were evaluated based on the followingcriteria:

TasteandFlavour–40points

Presentation and Creativity – 30 points

Originality and Inspiration Behind theDish–30points

The Credit Union said, all four departments delivered impressive presentations and demonstrated remarkable creativity throughout the competition However, Customer Service and Credit ultimately secured the championship title with an outstanding cumulative score of 262.5 points.

Corporate Services placed second with 257 5 points, followed by Accounting and Finance with 2475 points, while Human Resource and

The creativity, effort, and teamwork displayedbyallcontestantsreflectedthe vibrant and unified spirit of the Credit Unionfamily

ChiefExecutiveOfficer,Christopher

participatingteamsfortheirexceptional performancesanddescribedtheeventas a true celebration of togetherness and collaboration.

“This is what we can achieve when we come together have fun and create somethingspecial

”

Chairman, Trevor Benn also commendedtheteamsandassistedwith thepresentationofprizestothewinning department

As excitement from this year’s competition settles, anticipation is already building for next year’s showdown The big question now is whether Customer Service and Credit can successfully defend their title or if CorporateServiceswillrisetoclaimthe crown.Onethingremainscertain the GPSCCU Inter-Department Cooking Competition has become a winning recipe for fun, unity, and unforgettable memories

Clinton Conway, Ret’d Assistant Commissioner and former Member of the Police Service Commission

Ret’d Assistant Commissioner, Commissioner Clinton Conway dies

Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police and former memberofthePoliceServiceCommission,ClintonConway has died. Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe announced Conway’s passing in a Facebook post Sundaymorning.

“It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce the passing of my dear friend and co-host of Speaking Out, Assistant Commissioner (Retired), Clinton Conway My deepest condolences to his wife and other family members. Mayherestinpeaceandriseinglory,”Slowesaid.

The People’s National Congress Reform in a statement extended condolences to Conway’s family, friends, and formercolleagues,notingthathispassingrepresentstheloss of a dedicated public servant whose contributions extended beyond the uniform and into the broader national conversation on governance, rights, and public accountability

“Mr Conway dedicated many years of distinguished service to the people of Guyana through the Guyana Police Force, where he served with professionalism, commitment, andadeepsenseofdutytocountry Throughouthiscareerin law enforcement, he earned the respect of colleagues and citizens alike for his knowledge, discipline, and steadfast approachtopolicingandpublicservice,”PNCRnoted.

Thepartyfurtherhighlightedthatevenafterhisretirement from active-duty, Conway continued to make meaningful contributionsasaHumanRightsAdvocateandamemberof the Police Service Commission. “He remained actively engagedinissuesconcerningjustice,accountability,policing, and national development. Many Guyanese relied on his insight, experience, and thoughtful commentary on matters affecting public security and the administration of justice,” PNCRsaid.

BentStreetgunman brutallybeatenafter foiled robbery

A bandit was brutally beaten on Sunday, while his accomplice managed to escape with a food vendor’s gold chain at Bent Street, Georgetown. Police said that the two banditswereonaHondaXRmotorcyclewhentheypulledup infrontofthefoodvendor’sstallaround11:50hrs.

Thevictimwasinfrontofthestallatthetime.According toreports,thepillionridergotoffthebikeandpointedagunat the victim, ordering him not to move and demanded that the manhandoverallhisbelongings.

Afraid of being shot, the food vendor reached for his $200,000goldchainwhichwasaroundhisneckandhandedit tothesuspect.Asthesuspectstretchedouthishandstograb thechain,thevictimheldontohimandascufflebegan.

Thebanditreportedlyfiredtwoshotsbutthegunfellfrom his hand. Seeing that he was unarmed, residents close by rushedtothevendor’sassistanceandgavethebanditabrutal beating.

Meanwhilehisaccomplice,theriderofthebikerodeaway fromthescene,leavinghispartneratthemercyoftheangry crowd.Itisbelievedthathemighthaveescapedwiththegold chain during the chaos, since police did not recover it from pillionriderafterthecrowdhandedhimovertothem.

Police,however,recoveredthegunandspentshellsfrom thescenebeforetakingthebadlybeatenbandittothehospital where he is receiving treatment for head and body injuries underpoliceguard.Hereportedlyrefusedtogivepoliceand healthofficialshisname.Investigationsareongoing.

11Canadianfirms ongoldhunt...

Frompage12

5,465,000 ounces in the inferred category

Omai is now engaged in a 50,000-meterdrillprogrammeatthe Wenot deposit focusing on testing the limits of the deposit and to convert the large Inferred MRE to IndicatedMRE

ArisMining–ToroparuProject

The Toroparu Project also located in Region Seven, is one of the largest undeveloped gold deposits in Guyana This project is being developed by ETK Inc a subsidiary of Aris Mining Corporation

This project is expected to produce an average of 235,000 ounces of gold per year over more than two decades, yielding approximately five million ounces ofgold,49millionouncesofsilver, and 260 million pounds of copper overitsminelife.

Thecompanyhasalreadybegun pre-constructionactivitiesatthesite, including the construction of a bridge at the Puruni River crossing andongoingroadworkstoimprove access to the project The Toroparu prefeasibilitystudyisexpectedtobe completedthisyear,asthecompany positionsforapotentialconstruction decisionbyearly2027

GMiningVentures(GMIN) &G2GoldfieldsInc –OkoGoldprojects

G Mining Ventures Corp (GMIN)iscurrentlyintheprocessof acquiringG2Goldfields,tocombine the companies’ adjacent gold projects in Region Seven mining district

On April 9, G2 entered into a definitive agreement with GMIN, valued at approximately US$22 billion(C$3billion)

Thetransactionwillconsolidate the two adjacent gold projects in Guyana: G2’s Oko-Ghanie Project and GMIN’s fully permitted and fullyfinancedOkoWestProject

Acquiring G2 will bring the Combined Measured & Indicated Mineral Resources of 70 million ounces and Inferred Mineral Resources of 23 million ounces The deal will also expand GMIN’s footprint in Guyana by 293 square kilometers (km²), creating a combined contiguous land package ofover362km²

GMIN’s Oko West project is

estimated to hold 4.64 million ounces of proven and probable reserves The project is expected to produce about 350,000 ounces of goldannuallyovera123-yearmine life

G2’s Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) released last year, outlines a combined open pit and underground operation with a 14-yearminelifeandestimatetotal production of 3.2 million ounces gold Annual production is projected to average 298,000 ouncesduringyears3through10.

The deal is expected to close in June 2026, subject to shareholder andcourtapprovals Meanwhile,the targeted timeline for first gold productionatOkoWestissetforthe secondhalfof2027

MakoMining–

EagleMountainGoldProject

Earlier this year, Mako Mining Corp. through its subsidiary Stronghold Guyana Inc. submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the EagleMountainGoldProject,which is located about eight kilometres south of Mahdia in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni)

Mako acquired the project through its 2024 takeover of GoldsourceMinesInc,inheritinga resource base of nearly 12 million ounces of gold (indicated) and 582,000ounces(inferred)

The Eagle Mountain Gold Projectisintheadvanced-stagegold explorationstageandisplannedfor anopenpitgoldmineovera15-year period

Stronghold Guyana holds a prospecting licence on the Eagle MountainProperty,referredtoasthe Eagle Mountain Prospecting Licence(EMPL)totalling48km²

According to the EIA, the companywillrelyonuptosixflights perweektosupportoperations Gold doré bars produced at the project’s processingplantwillbetransported byaireitherfromtheMahdiaairstrip or from the project site to Georgetown From there, it is expected that the doré will be exported to foreign refineries pursuant to standard terms and conditions of Mineral Agreements withtheGovernmentofGuyana.

Mako Mining had disclosed that gold production at the Eagle Mountain project will commence

in2027.

Moreover, Guyana’s mining lawscatersforeitherfiveoreightper centroyaltiestobepaidtotheState from the large-scale mining companiesoperatinghere Thelaws stipulatethatwhenthepriceofgold went beyond US$1000 per ounce, large-scale mining companies’ royalty would raise from five to eightpercent

Thefollowingprojectsarestillin the exploration and development stage

FortunaMiningQuartzstoneProject

Fortuna Mining Corp is one of the newest additions to Guyana’s mining industry To establish its presencehere,Fortunarecentlypaid a Guyanese firm, Qstone IncUS$5 million as part of a deal that could seeitacquiringupto70%interestin theQuartzstoneProject.

Theprojectspans295km²andis located in the greenstone belt of northcentralGuyana.

As per the agreement, the company can earn an initial 51% stake by funding exploration and completing60,000metresofdrilling withinfouryears,andmayincrease its interest to 70 per cent by solely funding a feasibility study within three years of exercising the first option and continuing to pay all licencefees

President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fortuna Jorge A Ganoza commented, “We are excitedtoestablishapresenceinthe GuyanaShield,ahighlyprospective regionwithastronghistoryofgold discoveries”

TajiriResources–Yonoproject

Just last week, Tajiri Resources Corp reported that it is now fullyfundedtoadvanceitsgoldprojectin Guyana, which it labeled as an “A High-Potential Gold Exploration OpportunityinGuyana”

ThiscompanycontrolstheYono GoldProject,whichconsistsofone mining permit covering 12 km² in RegionSeven

Results from the first trenching exerciseconductedin2025returned high-grade gold intercepts In its latest update, Tajiri said from the recent closing of two non-brokered private placements it has strengthened its cash position and enhanceditscapacitytopursuehighimpact opportunities, and continue

aggressive exploration and developmentworkatitsYonoGold ProjectinGuyana.

GreenheartGold–GoldHillProject

Greenheart Gold was formed in July 2024, as a spin-off from a business combination between fellow Canadian companies Reunion Gold and GMIN

GreenheartGoldwascreatedtohold allofReunion’sassetsotherthanthe Oko West Project which is now controlledbyGMIN

Greenheart is focused on earlystage exploration within the geologically rich but historically underexploredGuianaShield Greenheart on April 20, announced it has upsized its nonbrokered private placement to raise funds to support exploration in Guyana and Suriname, as well as potential acquisitions across the GuianaShield.

Earlier this year, Greenheart Gold announced it entered into an optionagreementwith“arms’length third parties” to acquire a 100% interest in the Gold Hill Project in Guyana,whileterminatingitsoption agreements for the Tamakay and Abuyaprojectsafterconcludingthat thedepositsdonotmeetthesizeand scale required for economic development.

The Gold Hill property covers roughly 40 km² in the Mazaruni mining district in north-western Guyana

LighthouseGold-

AuroraNWGoldProject

LighthouseGoldCorp formerly named Alerio Gold Corp as of December 2025, this month announced that it has moved from acquisition to active exploration at itsAuroraNWGoldProjectlocated inRegionSeven

In February this year, Lighthouseenteredintoadefinitive option agreement to acquire 100% interest in the Aurora project, comprising of associated mineral rights,permitsandclaims

Phase I of the exploration programme is aimed at identifying mineralised corridors and generatingdrill-readytargets Work includes the compilation and reinterpretation of historical data, geological mapping, structural analysis,andgeochemicalsampling through rock, stream, and soil

surveys

Initialtrenchinganddrillingare expected later in the exploration season Lighthouse is also evaluating potential additional acquisitionsinthesurroundingarea to consolidate prospective ground within the fertile Guyanese greenstonebelt.

GoldPort-Groete GoldCopperProject Gold Port Corporation controls the Groete Gold Copper Project, which spans across 138 km² of mining lands about 10 kilometres westoftheEssequiboRiver

A 2019 report on the project states that the Groete Project hosts an inferred MRE of 157 million gold-copper equivalent ounces, containedin74milliontonnes

In April, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) renewed three mining permits for Gold Port. The company is now engaged in constructing its camp facilityandpreparingthesiteforthe construction of a road to make accesstotheprojecteasier

Gold Port had disclosed that rising gold prices seen in recent years encouraged the company to renewitsinterestinthegoldproject inGuyana

GoldenShieldResources

Golden Shield Resources controls the 5457 km² Marudi Mountain Property located in the Rupununi District of southwestern Guyana GoldenShieldcommenced explorationontheMarudiMountain Property in late 2021, completing a preliminary, ‘Phase 1’, drill programme

Recent updates from the company, focused on reporting stock option grants and its fundraising exercises Golden Shield in April said it intends to use the net proceeds raised, to advance permittingatthecompany’sflagship MarudiMountainGoldProject,and forgeneralworkingcapital

AccordingtoGoldenShield,the project contains an extensive mineralised gold system centred on the Mazoa Hill Deposit, with a historical resource of 350,000 ouncesofgold,andmultiplehighly prospective target areas There are alsoothermajorprospectsthatwere already identified by current and previous operators, as well as new targets

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Youth suicide in the Americas up by 38%

...new report cites social media pressures, cyberbullying

Suicide among adolescents and young adults in the Americas has increased by 38% over the past two decades, with 18,157 young peopleaged10to24dyingby suicidein2021alone,according to a new study published inTheLancetRegionalHealth –Americas.

According to a press releaseissuedbythePanAmerican Health Organisation (PAHO) that published the report, suicide now ranks as the third leading cause of deathamongyoungpeoplein the region.

The study found that suicide mortality rates among youth rose from 5.7 to 7.84 deathsper100,000population between2000and2021,with the sharpest increase recorded among children aged 10to14years.

Although males ac-

countedforthreeoutofevery four suicide deaths, the rate of increase has been rising fasteramongfemales.

“The fact that the suicide rate among young people has risen38%injustovertwodecades — compared to a 17% increase in the general population — is a wake-up call,” saidPanAmericanHealthOrganization(PAHO)DirectorDr Jarbas Barbosa. “We must strengthenpreventionefforts, especiallyforchildren,adolescents, and young adults, and ensure they receive timely support.”

Multiplepreventablefactors drivingtheincrease

Thearticlehighlightsseveral factors that may be associated with this increase, including mental health conditions (such as depression and anxiety appearing at younger ages), substance use, exces-

sive exposure to digital environments and cyberbullying, socialpressures,andeasyaccess to lethal means.

Evidence also shows that manyofthesefactorsarepreventable or treatable, especiallywhenidentifiedearly

“The increase in suicide mortality among younger populationscallsforstronger early detection and interventions in schools and communities,”saidRenatoOliveirae Souza,ChiefofPAHO’sMentalHealthandSubstanceUse Unit. “It is essential to continue expanding access to mental health services and strengthening measures aimed at restricting access to lethalmeans.”

Based on data from the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Estimates covering 35 countries between 2000 and 2021, the

study found that the suicide mortalityrateinthisagegroup (10-24) rose from 5.7 to 7.84 deathsper100,000population, representing an average annualriseof1.48%.

Trends varied across countries and subregions, but the increase was widespread, with particularly high levels in North America and some Southern Cone countries.

The study, conducted by specialists from PAHO and the Renaissance School of MedicineatStonyBrookUniversity in NewYork, also underscores the importance of implementing school-based mental health promotion and socio-emotional skills programs, improving early identification and follow-up of people at risk, and promoting responsible media reporting on suicide.

Regionalinitiative topreventsuicide

Since 2000, the suicide mortality rate in the general population of the Americas has increased by more than 17%, making the region the only one in the world where this trend continues to rise.

In response, PAHO launched the Regional Suicide Prevention Initiative in 2025 to support countries in implementingevidence-based interventions. The initiative aims to strengthen national plans, expand access to mentalhealthservices,andreduce stigma around mental health and suicide.

“Suicide affects families, communities,andentiresocieties,andispreventable,”Dr Barbosa added. “With political commitment, investment, and collaboration across sectors, we can save lives.”

The Case for an Expanding Guyanese...

From page 10 foundation of the public goods on which all of us depend.

Thereisastrongeconomic case, in addition to the ethicalcase,forensuringthatthis group is supported through a sustained period of real wage growth.

Global oil prices have moved sharply higher through2026,andECLACreported in April 2026 that the averagepriceofoilinthefirst three weeks of that month was 74 percent above the December2025average.

The fiscal capacity to fundamiddle-classexpansion is, by any reasonable measure, available. The question isthepoliticalwilltoprioritise

it. Targeted measures, a significant across-the-board public sector wage uplift, expandedhouseholdtaxthresholds,reducingtheVAT,deliberateprocurementpreferences for small Guyanese-owned firms, and structured wage supports for the lowest-paid privatesectorworkers,areall withinreach.

These wage supports can for example take the form of earned income tax credits. Thisisthebest-knowninstrument internationally The United States Earned Income Tax Credit, the United KingdomWorkingTaxCredit,and similar schemes in Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand all share the same logic. A lowpaidworkerfilesataxreturn.

The government calculates a credit based on earnings and household size.

The credit either reduces the tax owed to zero or, more commonly,producesarefund that exceeds anything the workerpaidin.

Theeffectistoraisetakehomeincomefromlow-wage work, making employment more attractive than unemployment and reducing inwork poverty TheAmerican version transferred roughly seventybillionUnitedStates dollars annually to working households at last estimate.

Alargemiddleclasshowever, is not a luxury. It is the shockabsorberofdemocratic life and the engine of consumer-ledeconomicstability

Withoutit,acountrycanproduce significant headline growth and still find that its non-oileconomystrugglesto thrive.

Withit,theentirearchitecture of a more diversified economy becomes possible.

Restaurants stay open becausecustomerscanaffordto eat in them.

Small businesses survive theirfirstthreeyearsbecause demand exists across a wider population.

New firms launch because the local market can absorb their products before they need to export. The private sector lobby groups should support this.

This is the most consequentialwindowinGuyana’s

modern history for this kind of intervention.

The country has the resources, the talent, and the international attention to build a society in which oil wealth produces broad prosperity rather than narrow accumulation.

Doing so will not happen by accident however. It requires deliberate policy choice and sustained political commitment over more than one electoral cycle.

The restaurants will close, or they will stay open, depending on what we collectivelydecidetobuild.The Guyanese people have been promised prosperity. We deserve a deliberate national plantodeliverit.

Venezuela says T&T downplaying oil...

From page 11 fromBP,Shell,Perenco,and EOG, were early produced helping, to some extent, to partially offset production decay in preexisting fields. These projects were mostly underdeveloped, or in preFIDstage.Unfortunatelyfor Trinidad, most of these fields are capital intensive and low-return, precisely because of the low relative deliverability, and high lifting and corporate costs compared to larger oil and gas fields.”

He also said the Woodside Energy Calypso deepwater gas project re-

mains stalled without a Final InvestmentDecision(FID)for similarreasons.

“Thisprojectincludesthe unitisationofblock-23(a)and TTDAA-14. Important to mentionthatsocalled3.5TcF of supposed gas reserves are not reserves, but resources, whoseeconomicviabilityhas not yet been rigorously established.

“Although the appraisal drillingcampaign[Bongos-3, Bongos-3X, Bongos-4] encountered hydrocarbons, the full resource definition, includingrecoveryfactorcalculations and economic viability under current market con-

ditions,isstillmarginaltoinconclusive.”

With all these into account,hesaid,increasinglifting and production costs are being actively translated directly to the end-customers, including key industries like petrochemical and manufacturing,aswellasthefinalconsumers,constitutingthemain reason behind the sharp increase in the overall energy and gas costs being experienced by Trinidad since late 2025andearly2026.

“As a consequence, the energy services sector reported a 56 per cent drop in businessvolumeandvaluein

Q1of2026,reflectingreduced upstream investment, and an increasing number of marginal-to-uneconomical greenfieldprojects.Thedownturn is linked to decreasing gas supply, while increasing energy costs, impacting industry, manufacturing sectors, productivity, and end costs.”

He also referred to attempts to reopen Petrotrin’s refinery

“Recently, the government announced moves to reopen Petrotrin’s refinery in phases, which could boost downstream demand for gas and oil, nevertheless, that is still in the conceptual phase, as revamping and reengineeringcostscanmake thisideafinanciallyunattractive.”

Finally, he said unfortunately politics has got in the

way of potential business opportunities as in the meantime,majorVenezuelan gas projects including Dragon, have stalled because of the “incendiary rhetoric”towardsVenezuela from the Kamla PersadBissessar administration, contributing to create tensions between both governments, derailing energy agreements already signed bypreviousadministrations.

“In summary, Trinidad energy sector faces challenges from stalled Venezuelan gas projects, underinvestment,increasing energy costs, and a broader downturn in upstream and downstream activity. Undeniably,remainingoilandgas assets on the Trinidadian sidealonecouldhardlyguarantee the energy survival of the island.”

TrumpsaysnorushforIrandeal,U.S.blockadestays

(Reuters) - U S President Donald Trump said on Sunday he had told his representatives not to rush into any deal with Iran, as his administration played down hopes ofanimminentbreakthroughinthe three-month-old war that had been raisedadayearlier

The U S blockade on Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz would “remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed”, Trump wrote on Truth Social “Both sides must take their time andgetitright,”headded

There was no immediate response from Iran’s government. But Tasnim news agency, which is linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, said the U.S. was still obstructingpartsofapotentialdeal, including Tehran’s demand for the releaseoffrozenfunds.

A day earlier, Trump said Washington and Iran had “largely negotiated” a memorandum of understanding on a peace deal that wouldreopentheStraitofHormuz, which before the conflict carried one-fifthofglobaloilandliquefied naturalgasshipments.

Trump, whose approval ratings have been hit by the war’s impact on U S energy prices, has repeatedly played up the prospect ‘ofanagreementtoendtheconflict that the U.S. and Israel started on

U.S. President Donald Trump says ‘final aspects’ of an agreement to end the war on Iran ‘will be announced shortly’[File: Kent Nishimura/AFP]

February 28. A tenuous ceasefire hasbeeninplacesinceearlyApril.

Thetwosidesremainatoddson several difficult issues, such as Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Israel’s war in Lebanon with the Iranianbacked Hezbollah militia and Tehran’sdemandsfortheliftingof sanctionsandthereleaseoftensof billions of dollars of Iranian oil revenuesfrozeninforeignbanks.

‘PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS’ UNRESOLVED

Asenior Trump administration officialtoldreportersanagreement would not be signed on Sunday, saying the Iranian system did not movefastenough.

But he outlined what he said were the latest contours of what wasbeingnegotiated.

The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Iran had agreed “in principle” to open the Strait of Hormuz, in exchange for the United States lifting its naval blockade, and to dispose of Tehran’shighlyenricheduranium.

He said the U.S. understood Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had endorsed thebroadtemplateofthedeal.

There was no immediate confirmation from Iran or elaboration on what an “in principle”agreementmeant. The U S offi

Washington envisioned first reopening the strait and lifting the U.S.navalblockade.

Thatwould“takethateconomic pressureoutoftheworldeconomy, and then you negotiate the mechanism which `they will give up various parts of the nuclear programme,andyes,ofcourse,we would contemplate some time limit,”theofficialsaid.

Negotiating the details of the nuclear measures would take more time,hesaid.

Hepushedbackonsuggestions thatIranhasnotaccepteddisposing ofitsstockpiledenricheduranium.

“It’s a question about how,” the official said, adding “there are a n u m b e r o f p r a c t i c a l considerations.”

IraniansourceshadtoldReuters that in future stages, “feasible formulas”couldbefoundtoresolve thedisputeoveritshighlyenriched uranium stockpile, including diluting the material under the supervision of the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

Iran has long denied U S and Israeli accusations that it is pursuing nuclear weapons and says ‘it has a right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes, althoughthepurityithasachieved far exceeds that needed for power generation

IRAN

CLAIMS RIGHT TO

Attacks on Ebola centres intensify in eastern DRC amid outbreak fears

(AL-JAZEERA) Attacks on Ebola health facilities are intensifying in the eastern DemocraticRepublicoftheCongo (DRC) as the World Health Organization warns the outbreak could worsen in the DRC and Uganda

On Thursday, the Rwampara health centre was stormed by a group of angry residents demanding the bodies of relatives who had died from Ebola, according to local sources. The incident was also confirmed by partners of the Congolese government involved in the responseinthearea.

A day later, a tent provided by Doctors Without Borders, also known by its acronym MSF, at a hospital in Mongbwalu in Ituri provincewassetonfire.

“Following the death of a patient showing symptoms of Ebola virus disease in one of the tents, healthcare staff isolated the body in line with strict health protocols,” the NGO Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA)saidinastatementsentto AlJazeera.

Body retrieval clashes

MANAGE HORMUZ

In another potential stumbling block,anIranianmilitaryadviserto KhameneisaidTehranhadthelegal right to manage the Strait of Hormuz, though it was not clear if that meant continuing to decide whichshipscangothrough.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said33vesselshadpassedthrough the strait ‘over the past 24 hours after getting permission from Tehran,stillfarshortofthe140ona typicaldaybeforethewar

Anydealreinforcingthecurrent fragile ceasefire would bring relief to markets but not immediately quell a global energy crisis, which hasdrivenupcostsoffuel,fertilizer andfood.

Even if the war ends now, full flows through the strait will not return before the first or second ‘quarter of 2027, the head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company saidlastweek.

The U.S.-Israeli bombing of Iran killed thousands of people in Iran before it was suspended in earlyApril.

Israel has also killed thousands more and driven hundreds of thousands from their homes in Lebanon, which it invaded in pursuitofHezbollah.

Iranian strikes on Israel and neighbouring Gulf states have killeddozens.

“Despite this incident, the teams were also able to secure the body of the deceased patient in preparationforadignifiedandsafe burial, in accordance with Ebola response standards,” ALIMA added.

Health workers in Ebola-hit areas of the eastern DRC have repeatedly faced resistance from communities over strict burial protocols, which require specialised handling of bodies to prevent further transmission of the virus Aid agencies said the tensions are often driven by fear, rumours and mistrust of medical teams.

“Somepeopleherebelievethat Ebola is a business,” said Gloire Idriss,aresidentofRwamparawho witnessed the scene “When healthcareprovidersrefusetohand over the bodies of those who have diedfromEbola,peoplethinkthey mightbetraffickingtheirorgans.”

Mistrust deepens

The Congolese health minister hassaidthebodiesofEbolavictims remainhighlycontagiousandmust behandledonlybytrainedteamsin

It said that while the body was being prepared for burial, tensions flared, resulting in the burning of twotents.

protectivegear

“Let us bury the deceased safely,” Roger Kamba told Radio France Internationale. “The dead mustnottakeotherswiththeminto thegrave.”

In the eastern DRC, it is customary for relatives and neighbourstogatheratthehomeof the deceased to pay their last respects,andsomemournerstouch thebodyasafinalactoffarewell.

“When my daughter died of Ebolalastmonth,themedicalteam came to bury her. We didn’t get to say our final goodbyes. It still upsets me that I had to watch her funeral helplessly without our cultural rites,” said Lokana Jean, a 40-year-old resident of Mongbwalu. Name changed for privacyreasons.

“Undernormalcircumstances,I would have held her close and felt her final warmth,” he told Al Jazeera.

Rising cases

As of Saturday, nearly 180 people had died from the disease and close to 800 cases had been recorded, according to the Congolese Ministry of Public Health.

Authorities in Ituri have

Health workers wearing protective equipment gather to disinfect the isolation area for Ebola patients at the General Referral Hospital of Mongbwalu [AFP]

introduced measures to try to slow transmission, including limits on public gatherings, suspension of wakeservicesandabanonmoving bodiesbetweenlocations.

Rodriguez Kisando, a doctor specialising in health and the environment, said violence targeting Ebola treatment facilities is being driven by rumours and misinformation.

“Whenanepidemicbreaksout, rumoursspreadquickly Ifaccurate information is not shared fast, people will believe anything, and that is when violence takes hold,” hetoldAlJazeera.

Response under strain

He warned that attacks on treatment centres along with

patients fleeing before completing care could speed up the spread of thedisease.

“As long as there are scenes of violence and sick people escape from Ebola treatment centres before they are cured, the disease will continue spreading. This is extremelyserious,”hesaid.

Amid a sharp decline in international aid, Congolese authorities said the national treasuryiscoveringalargeshareof the response, and shortages are becomingmorevisible.

ALIMA said resources for detecting, treating and preventing Ebola remain severely inadequate andcalledformoreinternational

Continued on page 18

Dversnes keeps sprinters at bay to win

Giro stage 15, Vingegaard

(Reuters) - Norway’s

F r e d r i k D v e r s n e s

outsprinted rivals a breakaway group and kept the peloton at bay to win stage 15 of Giro d’Italia on Sunday, with Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard retaining thepinkjerseyafterthestage was shortened for safety reasons.

Dversnes, an Uno-X Mobilityrider,joinedMartin Marcellusi, Mattia Bais and Mirco Maestri in the break and prevailed in a four-man sprinttothefinishline.

Italians Maestri and Marcellusi also made the podium, in second and third placerespectively

“Thiswasmy`bigshot,”

said Dversnes, the first Norwegian to win a stage in Giro d’Italia since Edvald Boasson Hagen won the seventhstagein2009.

“You always think about (the win) on the way, but when we had two minutes’ lead pretty late in the race, you of course start believing.”

Thebreakawaygroupset a high pace in the flat stage, maintaining an average speedofover51kmperhour

Thepelotonhungbackin the 157-km ride from Voghera as they entered Milanforfourlapsina16.3km local circuit with the leadersstillovertwominutes ahead.

retains pink

However, several riders faced trouble with the placing of barriers near the narrowfinishline,andsome approached race director Marco Velo’s car to complain about them, including‘Vingegaard.

NEAR-CRASH

“It’s dangerous,” the two-time Tour de France winner was heard on the broadcast telling Velo throughthecarwindow,just as his bike shook hard as he rodeoverapothole.

“Look, I almost crashed now,”Vingegaardshoutedto the director, pointing out an additional issue with the stage’sroughsurface.

Soon after, the race jury ruled that the final five kilometres of the stage wouldnotcountfor‘general classification.

Later, that was extended to the entire final lap, with the organisers announcing

the time for general classification would be recordedwithonelapstillto go. Only the stage win and points would still be in play inthefinallap.

Thefourleaderswere52 ‘seconds ahead of the peloton going into the last lap, and despite a late chase from the sprinters, they kept anarrowlead.

Dversnes, 29, outpaced the exhausted Italians in the finalyards,andcollapsedon thegroundafterfinishingthe ‘stage in three hours, three minutesand18seconds.

Vingegaard safely crossed the line with the peloton,retaininghisoverall lead of two minutes and 26 seconds ahead of secondplacedAfonsoEulalio.

The race continues on Tuesday in Switzerland, with a 113-km ride through the mountains from BellinzonatoCari.

Attacks on Ebola centres...

Frompage17

support. A senior Congolese official involved in the responseinRwampara,speakingonconditionofanonymity, saidtreatmentcentreswereoverwhelmed.

“We are receiving new confirmed cases almost every day.Theresources we have are not enough for the scale of theoutbreak,”hesaid.

Regional response

AuthoritiesinIturiandNorthKivuareurgingresidents to wash their hands regularly, keep their distance from the sick,cookfoodthoroughly,avoidself-medicationandtrust responseteams.

TheAfrica Centres for Disease Control and Prevention hasplaced10Africancountriesonhighalert:SouthSudan, Rwanda,Kenya,Tanzania,Ethiopia,theRepublicofCongo, Burundi,Angola,theCentralAfricanRepublicandZambia.

The DRC, Uganda and South Sudan have agreed to strengthen cross-border coordination, including surveillance,earlywarningsystems,bordermonitoringand improvedlaboratoryandresponsecapacity

WestIndiesmenneedaverygoodwicket-keeper...

Frompage25 be considered for higher station.

Beinganaveragewicketkeeper is not acceptable anywhere anymore. Being that, plus being a very poor batter, has never been acceptable anywhere since WI first played Test cricket in 1928. No-one of present day Caribbean wicketkeeper-battersgivesanyreal confidence.

MyWicket-keepersfrom Guyana,WestIndies&

LancashireCCC

From 1972 to 1982/3, for Guyana andWI, and for Lancashire CCC, I played with some good, some not so good, wicket-keepers; late Milton Pydanna (GUY), Stephen Banfield (GUY), Lonsdale Skinner (GUY), Deryck Murray (T&T), late David Murray (BAR), Jeffrey Dujon (JAM) and late John Lyons (LAN)

Except for late Milton Pydanna, who had no self-

confidence at all, which underminedhiseffortstoget to the heights and achievements of Deryck Murray, David Murray and Jeffrey Dujon, the rest were confident,evenifnotalways up to levels required for the taskathand.

In my opinion, Skinner should not have been selected to play for Guyana but his inclusions were due, in part, to the lackadaisical approaches of Bamfield and especiallyPydanna.

There were four wicketkeepers,whonevermadeWI teams, who had the most effectonmyinitialeffortsto be a good fast bowler (1) KemrajChanderpaul,known as“Cow-Fly”,fatherofShiv Chanderpaul; (2) late Monilall Chanderpaul, known as “Bun”, Shiv Chanderpaul’s uncle; (3) Geoffrey“Reds”Murray;all Guyanese;(4)RonFaria,the lateT&Topeningbatter

Deryck Murray assisted me a lot once I had bridged thatmassivegaptoplayTest cricket.

He even facilitated some of my operationalcricketing foot-wear

Monday May 25, 2026

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

You may have been engaged inabattlewiththefactslately Perhaps new information has forcedyoutotakeastepback as you contemplate the next moveinyourgameplan.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Goals that may have seemed unreachable in the recent past arefinallystartingtocomeinto focus It could be that you've been neglecting your dreams because they only seemed to move farther away every time youaddressedthem

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Youmayhavehadahardtime launching long-term personal projectslately,Gemini.Today marks a critical starting point toward attaining your goals. Perhaps there has been some confusionordelayinthisarea.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Shake off the dust of the past few weeks and put the confusionbehindyou,Cancer Your tremendous imagination andcreativeabilityhavebeen dormant lately because you mayhavenotknownhowbest tochannelthem.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Long-term projects that you've been working on are apt to shift into forward gear today This change may be subtle, but it's quite powerful and extremely helpful to whateveritisyouhavegoing.

VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)

Partsofyourlifethatmayhave recentlytakenabackwardturn now get back on track You shouldfindthatlargeprojects involving electricity, gadgets, or any mechanical parts will finallybefavorednow

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Issues involving fashion, magazines, and the spoken or written word will all slowly begintotakeaturninapositive direction today You may find that these things have been somewhatobscuredlately

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

It could be that you've been losingfaithinyourdreamsand fantasies lately, Scorpio. Now is the time to refocus on what you want and move forward withconfidence.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Recent opposition standing in the way of long-term goals is apt to ease a bit today Situations surrounding these issues should become clearer, and you should have a better idea of what exactly it is that you'reupagainst.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

It'stimetoreviewyourdreams and fantasies, Capricorn. It could be that you've been neglectingthemlately Perhaps things you've been working toward haven't exactly panned outthewayyou'dhoped.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Things that have been out of whackinyourlifeshouldbegin to come back into balance, Aquarius.Thebadnewsisthat it may take a while for the pendulum to return to the optimalpoint.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Thetidewillstarttoebbtoday just after it reaches its highest point. There is a pause now, Pisces, and you'll find that things are about to pick up considerably again. The shift that's happening within you is profound.

Mackenzie High School and Linden Foundation Secondary to contest for Region 10 Jagans Windball cricket title

Mackenzie High School and Linden Foundation SecondarywillcontesttheRegion10sectionoftheNational Sports Commission Ministry of Culture,Youth & Sport 11 edition of the Janet & Cheddi Jagan Windball Cricket champion trophy organised by Sport Office A. Munroe, coordinatedbyALSport&TourPromotionsofficialsJulius David & Clavon Monchoir & NSC’s Jermaine Green and playedattheBotofagoGroundinCanvasCity

IntheCheddiJaganboystournament:-

Kemraj and the late Monilallwerefishermenby tradewhoonlypracticed,at Mahaica Hospital Ground, four hours a week, but they had magnificent eyes, wonderful hands and tremendous reflexes As teenagers, we borrowed theirboats,tocatchcrabsat the mouth of Mahaica River, for our UnityLancaster villagers Both were even called to Guyana’sTrials

The late Ron Faria kept wickets for my T&T club, Paragon Hocket & Cricket Club,andopenedbattingfor T&T too, during my Navigation training stint for my entire year 1975 stay in T&T

“Reds” Murray was wicket-keeperatmyGuyana club, Guyana Sports Club, andmyManager/SeniorAir Traffic Controller, when I wenttoworkatATCin1973. He had only just abdicated being Guyana’s wicketkeeper that year, also just missing out on WI Tour to theUK1973.

They all bellowed the exact same thing: “Line and length, Crofty Line and length. Get the line right first. Then you can always adjust your length afterwards ” Simple bowlingrules.

“Bun” and Ron must be turning in their graves, and “Cow-Fly” and “Reds” weeping in their morning coffees, at the state of the wicket-keeping, and batting too, present in WI cricket nowadays.

Even now, they might stillbethinkingofsomehow makingacomebacktoo.

To say that 100 % improvements are required in all departments of WI wicket-keeping and batting i s a t r e m e n d o u s understatement!

New Silver City Secondary batted first on their home groundandmade36-2inamatchwhichhadtobereducedto 4 overs,Anaya Samuels made 14. Mackenzie High School repliedwith39.

WisburgSecondarywonthetossandchoosetobat,made 31-1,withEzekelJackman16.

Linden Foundation Secondary responded with 32 - 0, withJosephHallhitting31.

Mackenzie High School batted first and scored 41, LindenHaneshitting25.ChristiansburgMultilateralSchool inreplywererestrictedto36-1,JamalNeddmade18.

Meanwhile, Mackenzie High School will play Linden FoundationSecondaryinthefinalforaplaceinthenational championship.

Champions Arsenal finish Premier League season on high with win at Palace

LONDON, (Reuters)Arsenal celebrated their coronation as Premier League champions for the firsttimein22yearswitha21winoverCrystalPalaceon Sunday at a sun-drenched SelhurstPark.Victoryonthe final day capped a remarkable season that saw Mikel Arteta’s side finish with85points,sevenclearof -placed Manchester City, wholost2-1toAstonVilla.

GoalsfromGabrielJesus and Noni Madueke gave Arsenaltheir26thwinofthe season while Jean-Philippe Matetaheadedhomelatefor Palace in what was Oliver Glasner’s final home game inchargeoftheLondonclub.

The occasion was marked with traditional fanfare as Palace players formed a guard of honour before kickoff, applauding the newly crowned championsontothepitch.

After the final whistle,

Arsenal fans remained in their seats for the ‘trophy presentationceremony

The gleaming silver trophy was brought out by the club’s American cochairmen Stan Kroenke and hissonJosh.

The players swapped their match kit for special red-and-white shirts emblazoned with the word “Champions” and the number 26 on the back as they collected their winners’ medals Captain Martin Odegaard then lifted the trophy to jubilant scenes as the confetti and champagne raineddownontheplayers.

The biggest cheer was reserved for Arteta as he carried the trophy towards the travelling fans, who broke into song with the club’s anthem - “The Angel (North London Forever)”while the Spanish manager was also thrown into the air bytheplayers.

ARTETA PLAYS SECOND-STRING TEAM

WiththePremierLeague title already secured earlier in the week, managerArteta fielded a heavily-rotated squad ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final clash Paris ‘St Germain, restingkeyplayers.

Golden Glove-winning goalkeeper David Raya was notnamedinthesquad-with KepaArrizabalagatakinghis placeingoal-whileGabriel, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Eberechi Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Declan Rice werebenched.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Max Dowman became the youngest ever player to start a Premier League match at the age of 16 years and 144 days.

After several chances, Jesus opened the scoring when he ‘squeezed a low

Henderson at the near post after being put through by GabrielMartinelli.

The second goal came threeminutesaftertherestart whenArsenal scored from a set-pieceagain-astheyhave manytimesthisseason-with Havertz heading a corner back to Madueke to ‘volley home through a crowd of players.

Eze, who joined from Palace inAugust, received a warm reception from the Selhurst Park faithful when he came on in the 75th minute, the supporters still grateful for the role he playedinguidingthe‘clubto FACupglorylastseason.

AfterMatetascoredwith a header in the 89th minute, Palace thought they had equalisedwhenYeremyPino scoredbuttheflagwentupas theshottookadeflectionoff Evann Guessand who was offside, ensuring Arsenal tookallthreepoints.

Million-Dollar Independence Dominoes tourney to commence tomorrow

Alexander Million-Dollar Independence Dominoes competition is set to commence tomorrow, Tuesday at TransportSportsClub,ThomasLands.

Double-sixtimeis17:00hrsand$500,000willbeadded “tothepot”.TheMVPinthefinalwillreceive$10,000. Teams can contact Barbara Marshall on 663-8280 or MarkWiltshire on 659-8672 for registration which will be facilitatedbetweenthehoursof14:30hrsand16:30hrswith thedrawingtobeheldimmediatelyafteronTuesday Entry fee is $20,000 (male) and $17,000 (female).The tournament will be played on a six-game, two-in-one-out basis. The competition will conclude on May 27th at TransportSC.

Rampant Knicks beat Cavs to close in on NBA Finals

BBC Sport - The New York Knicks swept aside the ClevelandCavalierstomovewithinonewinoftheirfirstNBA Finals since 1999. The 121-108 victory at Rocket Arena means they lead the Eastern Conference finals 3-0 and can wrapuptheseriesatthesamevenueonMonday(01:00BST, Tuesday).NoNBAteamhasovercomea3-0deficitinaplayoff series in NBA history The Knicks are on a franchiserecord run of 10 straight play-off victories, winning by an averagemarginof22.5points.

JalenBrunsonscored30pointsandMikalBridges22for thethirdseeds,whonevertrailedagainsttheCavaliers.

“Wefeel-andwealwayshavefelt-theskyisthelimitwith this team,” said Karl-Anthony Towns, who finished with 13 points,eightreboundsandsevenassists.

EvanMobleyscored24points,DonovanMitchell23and JamesHarden19fortheCavaliers.

The winners will meet the San Antonio Spurs or the OklahomaCityThunderintheNBAFinals,startingon4June. The Thunder lead 2-1 in the Western Conference finals before game four in San Antonio on Sunday (01:00 BST, Monday).

Zverev in cruise control as French Open starts under blazing sun

Germany’s Alexander Zverev. (REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq)

PARIS, (Reuters) - French Open dark horse Alexander ZverevstartedhisRolandGarroscampaignwitha6-36-46-2 first-rounddemolitionofFrance’sBenjaminBonziinsearing heatonSunday

The2024runner-upandthree-timessemi-finalist,whois chasinghismaidenGrandSlamtitle,neverallowedtheworld number95intothecontestoncourtPhilippeChatrierasheset upasecond-roundmeetingwithTomasMachacoftheCzech Republic.

“Very good start to the tournament, it’s always good to startwithawininstraight`setsespeciallyagainstBenjamin whocanbeatrickyopponent,”theGermansecondseedsaid. The tournament started under blazing sun as fans in Panama hats streamed into Roland Garros, which felt more like the Riviera than claycourt grind as alleys echoed with a violinrenditionofColdplay’s“VivalaVida”andothersoftrockstaples.

Withtemperaturesexpectedtoexceed30degreesCelsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), Russian Karen Khachanov, seeded 13, dispatched French hope Arthur Gea on Court Suzanne Lenglenbefore11thseedSwissBelindaBencicdownedSinja KrausofAustria.

INJURYWITHDRAWALS

The claycourt Grand Slam suffered two major withdrawals as twice champion Carlos Alcaraz and local favouriteArthurFilspulledoutduetoinjuries.

Italian Jannik Sinner, the ‘number one, is the heavy favourite in the men’s draw, while the women’s draw seems wideopen.

SerbianNovakDjokovic,chasingarecord-breaking25th Grand Slam title, opens his campaign against big-serving FrenchmanGiovanniMpetshiPerricardlateronSunday Eighth seed Mirra Andreeva dished out a barrage of baseline winners as she made light work of France’s Fiona Ferro6-36-3to‘advancetothesecondround.

The 19-year-old Russian was never in trouble on a sundrenched court Philippe Chatrier and sealed victory on her firstmatchpointwhenFerromadeher24thunforcederror. Hours after a landed near her family home ‘in Kyiv in Ukraine,MartaKostyuktooktothecourttodispatchOksana Selekhmeteva6-26-3.

The 23-year-old, who at Roland Garros, said she was overwhelmed with anxiety after receiving pictures of the ‘damageclosetothehousewherehermother,sisterandaunt werestaying.

“I felt sick just for the thought that if it was 100 metres closer, I probably wouldn’t have a mum and a sister today,” Kostyuktoldreporters.

Archer’s double act fires Rajasthan into IPL playoffs

MUMBAI, (Reuters)Rajasthan Royals sealed the final Indian Premier League playoff spot with a commanding 30-run victory over Mumbai Indians on Sunday after Jofra Archer turned match-winner with bothbatandball.

The English fast bowler’sexplosivecameoof 32 off just 15 balls, which included three sixes, helped rescue Rajasthan from early trouble before his devastating bowling spell dismantledMumbai’schase.

Mumbaiwonthetossand elected to field, a decision that initially looked shrewd when Rajasthan stumbled to

33-2 with openers Yashasvi

Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi back ‘in the pavilion. But Dhruv Jurel (38)steadiedtheshipbefore Archer’sfireworkspropelled the visitors to a challenging totalof205-8.

Archer then switched roles to devastating effect, dismissing veteran Mumbai opener Rohit Sharma for a duck in the very first over before bowling Naman Dhir in his next over to leave the hostsreelingat18-2.

The fast bowler then dismissed skipper Hardik Pandya (34) to finish with figures of 3-17. Despite a fighting knock of 60 from

SuryakumarYadav,Mumbai could only muster 175-9 in ‘20overs.

“Idon’tthinkit’smybest year,Ihavebowledalittlebit betterthanthis,”Archersaid afterhewasnamedplayerof thematch.

“Everytimeyoutakethe ball, you just try to bowl in good areas Some days you’re not going `to get rewarded, happy that we got rewarded on the day we neededtowin.

“Iwasn’texpectingtobat so early Because of the impact sub, I hardly get to bat. `When the coach said, ‘Put the pads on,’ I was surprised.I’mgladIwasable to contribute. I class myself anall-rounder.”

The victory means reigning champions Royal ‘Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan advancetotheplayoffs. Bengaluru will play Gujarat in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday while Hyderabad face Rajasthan in the eliminatoradaylater Scores: Rajasthan Royals 205 for 8 (Jurel 38, Archer 32, Thakur 2-41, Chahar 2-43) beat Mumbai I n d i a n s 1 7 5 f o r 9 (Suryakumar 60, Hardik 34, Archer 3-17, Brijesh 2-26, Burger2-43)by30runs.

Brilliant Barcelona finally dethrone

Lyon as queens of Europe

(Reuters) - Barcelona’s blistering second-half displayintheir4-0winover OLLyonnes in the women’s ChampionsLeaguefinalwas arguably the moment the Spaniardsfinallywrestedthe title of Europe’s most dominant force in the women’sgame.

Appearing in their sixth final in a row, Barca have knocking on the door for a long time, but a shock 1-0 defeat by Arsenal in last year’s decider left critics wondering if they would ever be capable of matching Lyon’seighttitles.

Saturdaynight’sfirsthalf at Oslo’s Ullevaal Stadium suggested they might come up short again as a physical, powerful Lyon side controlled possession for lengthy spells and forced Barcelona to survive on counter-attacks. However,thesecondhalf

was a different picture as BarcastrikerEwaPajor,who had the ignominious record of losing ‘all five previous Champions League finals she had played in, scored in the 55th minute and added a gut-punchsecondinthe69th tobluntLyon’schallenge.

“WeareBarca–wewant the ball. In the first half, we did not really have that control. At half-time, the coachtoldusnottorushour passes, to stay calm on the ball and simply play our football, the tiki-taka style that represents this club so well,” Barca keeper Cata Coll said after the final whistle.

WingerSalmaParalluelo added a late brace to Pajor’s pair, and such was their clinicalabilityonthecounter that Lyon could have no complaints as Barca won theirfourthEuropeancrown. The French side now face

FC Barcelona’s Irene Paredes lifts the trophy as she celebrates winning the UEFAWomen’s Champions League with her teammates.

(REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo)

something of a rebuilding taskiftheyaretogetbackto theEuropeansummit.

ADVANTAGE

Norwegian striker ‘Ada Hegerberg, who won the golden ball as the world’s best player in 2018, struggled to shake off an Achilles problem, and at 35 years old, towering centreback Wendie Renard cannot have too many more punishing European campaignsaheadofher.

The momentum is now

with Barcelona, who bounced back from losing the2022finalbybeatingVfL Wolfsburg 3-2 in the 2023 decider and gained a measure of revenge when theybeatLyon2-0‘in2024. Their run at dominance wasbrokenbythatdefeatby Arsenal last year, but Saturday’s comprehensive win in Oslo removed those doubtsandmovedtheminto

a league of their own in the women’s game, with Lyon facing an uphill battle if they are to regain the summit

For Barcelona’s Norwegian‘wingerCaroline GrahamHansen,thewinwas somethingextra.

The31-year-oldgrewup a few hundred metres from the stadium where the game was played, and a Champions League for women did not even exist whenshefirstbegankicking aball.

“I guess most `people willsaythisisadreamcome true, but it wasn’t a possible dream when I grew up,” she saidafterthefinalwhistle.

“But here I am, bringing the trophy home with beautifulBarcelona,withall our beautiful fans, making thisafantasticfinalandalso being on the winning side. It’sadreamscenario.”

Minister Bharrat continues support of BCB growth

- Coaching manual set to drop this summer

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) recently received a sponsorship cheque of GY$1.5M courtesy of Patron, Minister of Natural Resources, VickramBharrat.

TheMinistercommittedtothesponsorshipduringarecentmeetingwith BCBexecutives,alsoraisingasimilaramounttowardsthehostingofthe2day 1st division tournament alongside some cricket developmental programmes.

The BCB expressed thanks to Minister Bharrat for his continued support as it relates to the growth of Cricket and the players across the AncientCounty

Meanwhile, the BCB announced that the 2nd edition of the coaching manualisexpectedtobepublishedshortly,followingtheboardbeingable tosecurekeysponsorshipfromMassyMotors.

BCB under the leadership of former president Hilbert Foster back in 2021, managed to create some history by becoming the first board in the Caribbean to publish its own coaching manual with the input of its own coaches.

All clubs with junior players especially, would benefit from the distributionofthecoachingbookletswhichareearmarkedtobeoutbyJuly

Aspartofthegratitude,theBCBpresidentandexecutivesthankedMr Mark Roopnarine for his assistance in securing the sponsorship for the upcomingendeavors.

By Colin E. H. Croft – Former Guyana, Lancashire CCC and West Indies Cricketer

START

Any bowler, in any competition, format or team, even on the beaches, needs at least one playertoalwaysbeontopofhisor hergame,atalltimes,fortheirteam to progress and succeed. That playeristhewicket-keeper;notthe captain. Theworstthingtohappen to any bowler, whatever his or her skill levels, is to have a poor wicket-keeperbehindthestumps.

ThejustconcludedWestIndies Men’s Four-Day 2026 Championship was convincingly won by Trinidad & Tobago’s Red Force, beating Guyana’s Harpy Eagles by 141 runs. Did anyone notice that neither team got to 300 runs;notevenclose;inanyinnings in that four-day game? Red Force 260 and 267; Harpy Eagles 247 & 139. “De Force out-flying de doomedEagles!”

Talk about batting mediocrity Godhelpourcricket. OnlyHEcan change the poverty that envelops our regional cricket. At least ten

WestIndiesmenneedaverygood wicket-keeperbatterverybadly!

recent WI Test players, including highly heralded batters, were involvedinthatgame. Also,these two teams are supposed to have beenthebestintheCaribbean. Oh Gaddo!!

JoshuaDaSilva(T&T)&Tevin Imlach(GUY)

Ironically, the two opposing captains in that Final, T&T’s Joshua Da Silva and Guyana’s Tevin Imlach, are their respective team’s wicket-keepers too, even though Kemol Savory was sometimes Guyana’s wicketkeepertoo.

Supposedly, Da Silva and Imlach are in high competition to be WI wicket-keeper for the upcoming ODIs, Tests and T-20s series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand, for the long upcoming Caribbean Cricket 2026 Summer

To compound this quite underwhelming situation, one of thesetwoistoutedtobethenextWI captain against the teams touring the Caribbean this year What a thing!!

Former regional men’s wicketkeepers Deryck Murray (T&T), Jeffrey Dujon (JA), Ridley Jacobs (LI), Junior Murray (WI), Carlton Baugh (JA), Randall Lyon (T&T), Courtney Browne (BAR) and DavidWilliams(T&T);justafew; are probably regurgitating their breakfasts,thinkingaboutthedeep povertyoftheCaribbean’sregional wicket-keepers-batters on show nowadays.

Inanygame,anywicket-keeper worth his or her salt, must keep theireyesontheentiregame,atall times,whilefieldingorbeingback in the hutch. Not even the captain doesthat. Onlytheteam’swicketkeeper must do that; thinking, planning, scheming, explaining to battersandbowlersalike,100%of thetime,astowhatisnecessaryfor success.

I remember interviewing Ms. Merissa Aguilleira, former T&T and WI Women’s Teams Captain andwicket-keeper:“Crofty,beinga wicket-keeper is almost a 24-hour job. Always planning, always learning, always plotting, always beinginvolved,alwayslookingfor angles and weaknesses. It is very tiring!” She is not wrong. Wicket-keeping is very difficult indeed.

Butwhatexactlyaretheclaims to fame for Joshua Da Silva and

TevinImlachanyway?

DaSilva,28next19June2026, slimmer now too, has been around for at least six years. 33 Tests, 1238runs,avg.24.76;highestscore 100 no. v England, in Granada; 2022. 84FirstClassGames,4537 runs,avg.35.72. Highestscore220 v Leeward Island; 2026. One hundredandfivefiftiesin33Tests. Those are just barely acceptable averagereturns.

TevinImlach,whowillbe30on 30November2026,ismuchworse off. 6Tests,169runs,avg.,15.36, highest score 35 v Pakistan, in Multan; 2025. 40 First Class Games, 2090 runs, avg. 32.65, Highest score 136 N.O., v Jamaica Scorpions;2023. NoTest100s;no Test50s!

Thosebattingstatsaresopoor; tail-ender numbers poor; that even ifTevinImlachwasSpidermanasa wicket-keeper, which he certainly

isnot,heshouldnotbeplayingfor WI with those dastardly poor batting stats. Nowhere in the cricket world are those standards acceptable. Tevin Imlach must have some “God-Father” somewhereinCaribbeancricket!

The rest of the wicket-keeper batters in the 2026 WI Four-Day Championship were Lenico Boucher (Barbados Pride), Romaine Morrisson (Jamaica Scorpions), Jamar Hamilton (Leeward Islands Hurricanes), Rivaldo Clarke and Carlton Bowen-Tucket (West Indies Academy), and Noelle Leo (WindwardIslandsVolcanoes).

Somemadegoodscores,butas combination wicket-keeperbatters, none distinguished themselves. A few also showed promise as pure wicket-keepers, butmoreconsistencyisrequiredto Continued on page 21

Victor W.C Benjamin remembers Desmond T. Roberts

Today I choose to write on a man who made an impact on Guyanese athletes during the early 70’s to mid 90s. He certainly contributed in a significantly fashion because the spirit in which hedidsame,hedidsamebeyondhis professional occupations, and this is a fitting time as we celebrate 60 yearsofGuyana’sIndependence. Desmond T. Roberts former Colonel of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), who raised the Golden Arrowhead flag when GuyanaachieveditsIndependence, andalsoservedasDirectorGeneral of Guyana Youth Corps and Guyana National Service (GNS) and President of the Guyana Amateur Athletic Association shouldberecognizedforhisstrong leadership Commitment and dedicationqualitiesthatreallyhelp many top Guyanese athletes. His efforts aided especially those that came from the GDF, including myself (Victor Benjamin), Doctor Godfrey Washington, Ashton

Liverpool (deceased), William Porter, Ashton Layne (deceased)

George Angoy, Regan Cambridge (deceased), Oliver Ales, Anthony October, Mental Walker, Williams, Ferdinand, Clarke, Clifton Thom, Burke, Caroline Forde, Burgette Williams, Linda Darrell and David Darrell. And in the Juniors category the Lewis’s Brothers, Gladstone Hopkinson, Boy Briner Campbell, and he also played an importantroleinhelpingtopquality athletes like Rayfield Beaton and JamesWrenGilkes.

In the most simple way, D.T Roberts did achieved useful successes during his career and tenure that really changed the dynamics of Track and Field in Guyana through his clear vision, dedication and actions to revitalize track and field and the Guyana’s AthleticAssociation.

Ipersonallyfeelthatwithouthis courageandunselfishcommitment, no one around the world would know of some of the best athletes

that came out of this beautiful Country, including myself, Dr Godfrey Washington, Rayfield Beaton,JamesWrenGilkes,Oliver Alves,andAubreyWilson. Through the years as President of the AAA with minimal support financially,theannualprogrammes were organized and run properly, national cross-country races, track andRoadrelayeventsandfinished off with National track and field

championship every year with a well-organizedprogramme.

Desmond never got tired doing what he loves best, to get out athletes to compete regularly, regardlessofsponsorship.

He has a strong sense of humour, confidence in his own abilities to succeed. He trained others to organize events, encouragingothers’devotiontothe sport because he was a nurturing

person when it comes to the sport and the extra miles to ensure Guyana’syoung athletes were exposed to top class competitions, given the best opportunities and managed well at alltimes.

Barry Massay had a seminal roleinorganizingbigmeetsbutthe feeder competitions under Roberts prepared athletes for higher levels ofcompetition.

Although his pet project to refurbish and upgrade the ProvidenceCinderTrackwasnever accomplished, better facilities would have allowed more internationalandlocalmeets.

Our senior and junior athletes represented Guyana well, always performing well throughout the Caribbean, despite the absence of all-weathertracks.

HatsofftoDesmond,shouldbe spokenmorewheneverwearetruly talking about the development of sportsinthehistoryofthisbeautiful Country

Archer’sdoubleactfiresRajasthanintoIPLplayoffs

Rajasthan Royals players celebrate after the match as they qualify for the playoffs. (REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas)

Players in the Region 10 Linden zone share a moment during the competition.