Netanyahu says he and Trump committed to ‘eliminating regime’ in Iran
Wednesday Edition October 21, 2026 - Vol. 21 No. 42
Dead: six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran
Price $200
Online readership
yesterday, 47,932
Missing boy found with head chopped off
....father’s confession shatters family
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...mother demands justice; Pres. Ali talks up death penalty ...grandmother says her “two feet couldn’t stand” after learning her son killed his child 8,000-barrel waste oil barge listing Guyana slips in global at East Bank wharf sparks spill fears rule of law ranking ...authorities activate coordinated response; no spill conrmed as freedoms decline Bharat Jaikarran
…ranks 81st out of 143 countries, 50th among 51 high-income nations
20,000 applications for loans at Guyana Development Bank
The barge tilting at the East Bank wharf raising fears of a potential oil spill.
Canadian firm advances US$1 million deal to acquire second gold project in Guyana …project located within 9M ounce gold district
Exxon yet to seek extension for Stabroek Block . .says company exploration licence Vice President
Wednesday October 21, 2026
Kaieteur News
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Missing boy found with head chopped off ...father’s confession shatters family Bharat Jaikarran, father of six-year-old Orlando By Shermon Hawker The harrowing case of missing six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran came to a tragic end on Tuesday morning when the child’s body was found in the backlands of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, in an advanced state of decomposition. Orlando’s father, Bharat Jaikarran, had been at the centre of the investigation since the child was reported missing last Wednesday. He was taken into police custody along with two others as investigators searched for the missing child. Police stated that the child was reportedly taken to the canal, where he was allegedly dealt a chop to his neck with a cutlass. Acting on information, police ranks and civilians formed a search party and searched the Waterloo Main Canal on Tuesday, during which they discovered a partially decomposed body of a male child, suspected to be that of the missing child. The head was visibly severed from the body, along with portions of the left hand and right foot. The body was subsequently escorted to the Bath Regional Hospital, where a doctor confirmed the child’s death. The body awaits a post-mortem examination. Tw o m a l e s h a v e b e e n questioned and are in police custody assisting with the ongoing investigation. Bharat had initially told investigators that he had retired to bed with his three children, including Orlando, and was awakened by two of the children, who informed him that Orlando was missing from the home. On Tuesday, however, Bharat reportedly confessed to police in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) that he had murdered his son by throwing him into a canal. This followed his earlier insistence that, as a father, he could not do anything to harm the boy. He had even assured his own mother that he loved all his children. The child’s mother, Navita Ramnarine, said she was shocked that Orlando’s own father would end his young life. The six-year-old had been living with his father following the couple’s separation. “I never expected that his father
...mother demands justice; Pres. Ali talks up death penalty ...grandmother says her “two feet couldn’t stand” after learning her son killed his child
Location: The canal behind Waterloo Street, Bath Settlement, where the child was reportedly taken by his father.
Navita Ramnarine stated that six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran was her favourite child. would do that to him. As a father of a child, I’m feeling real down,” Ramnarine said. She told reporters that the separation was prompted by persistent abuse, which she suffered at the hands of Jaikarran. After exhausting legal avenues, she said, she allowed him to retain custody of their children. She added that he had never been abusive towards the children. Orlando, she said, was her favourite. He was the youngest of four siblings, aged 11, 10, seven and six. Three of the children lived with their father, while one stayed with their grandmother. Footage circulating on social media reportedly showed Jaikarran carrying the child in his arms to a backland area and later returning alone. Ramnarine said she
recognised him when she watched the video. “He was wrong to do that, as a father. He make the child, and now he did that to a child? I would tell him that he is very cruel to do that to his own child. I need justice for him. I need justice for Orlando Jaikarran,” the grieving mother said. She called on the authorities to ensure that her son’s father remains behind bars and never returns to the outside world. Orlando’s body was found floating in the Sea Dam Canal at Bath Settlement. Police ranks reportedly had to fire shots to scare away alligators that had gathered around the body. His remains were subsequently taken to Bailey’s Funeral Home. A HEARTBREAKING LIE In an earlier interview with reporters, Orlando’s paternal g r a n d m o t h e r, 6 5 - y e a r- o l d Dhankumarie Gowkarran, said she had directly questioned her son about his possible involvement in the child’s disappearance. She said she was reassured when he denied any involvement. Gowkarran had remained hopeful that Orlando was safe and would eventually be found alive. She recalled returning from New York recently, where Orlando and two of his siblings had visited her. After treating the children to sweets, she sent them home to assist their father. That was last Monday, the final day she saw her grandson.
Dhankumarie Gowkarran, 65, mother of the suspect, said her son has left her in shock and disgrace. At around 03:00hrs on Tuesday, ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) visited her home and informed her that the child’s remains had been found. Gowkarran told Kaieteur News that her grandson’s death had dealt her a devastating blow, but her grief deepened when police informed her that her son had confessed to killing the child. She said the revelation had taken a serious toll on her health and affected her relationships with others. “This morning when I hear that my son kill he pickney, my two feet couldn’t stand. I feel so bad. I didn’t expect my son to do that. He told me how he does look after he children,” she said. “When I hear this thing, I can’t sleep. I can’t sleep. This boy mek my head look down from
Dead: Six-year-old, Orlando Jaikarran
everybody. Everybody telling me look wuh meh son do. They disowned me. Nobody want to see me. But I didn’t cause that. He live he life. I deh home here. I’m so sorry for my grandchildren them, because they don’t have a mother to take care of them,” the pensioner said tearfully. NATIONWIDE CONDEMNATION Orlando’s death has triggered widespread grief and condemnation across Guyana. People from various sections of society have denounced the killing, while calls for the immediate implementation of the death penalty have intensified on social media and elsewhere. President Irfaan Ali has said that extreme punitive measures should be considered in response to such crimes, noting that they could help “send a strong signal”. He also said he had tasked the Attorney General with reviewing the practical elements of the relevant laws. “We’ve always kept our development and our thoughts within the confines of human rights, but there are some of these things that touches the core of our society...that I think requires a level of action that sends a signal and a message that is strong, and is understood clearly that such behaviour has no place in our society,” President Ali said. Several government ministers have also condemned the tragedy. Education Minister Sonia Parag described the killing as “senseless and reprehensible”, while Human Services Minister Vindhya Persaud said that “no child deserves such brutality”. Local Government Minister Priya Manickchand also strongly hinted at capital punishment in response to the gruesome killing of the child by his own father. Opposition Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir stressed that Orlando deserved the opportunity to live out his future and condemned the circumstances of his death. “Justice must be swift and sure and care, protection and sustained support for the children left to bear this terrible loss,” the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) MP said.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday October 21, 2026
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‘Exxon’s estimate on gas resources should not determine national strategy’ - Energy expert ...says Guyana must conduct independent analysis ExxonMobil has informed Guyanese officials that the company needs more gas to maximise oil production in the Stabroek Block, a development that may push back the country’s plans for liquefied natural gas (LNG) production and exports, according to a Reuters report. The country should however ensure that its policies are not crafted by the oil giant, according to Senior Energy Governance, Policy & Strategy Advisor, Anthony Paul. In his most recent column, published by this newspaper on Sunday, the energy expert urged the country to do an independent analysis to guide its policy on gas development.
He first sought to explain that a gas discovery is not the same as gas available for sale. He explained, “In an oil reservoir, gas may be needed for pressure maintenance, reinjection or other reservoir-management purposes that protect oil recovery. The value of that molecule may therefore be greater underground, at least temporarily, than if it were immediately sent ashore or exported.” Paul noted that while it may be used for LNG, electricity or fertiliser, reinjection is also crucial. The advisor however cautioned, “This does not mean that E x x o n ’s e s t i m a t e s h o u l d automatically determine national
strategy. The operator properly has to optimise reservoir performance and the commercial value of its developments.” On the other hand, Paul pointed out that the government as the owner of the resource hold a different obligation. He said, “It must understand independently why particular reinjection volumes are required, what incremental oil recovery they support, how those requirements change through time, what alternatives exist, and how new developments such as Longtail, Haimara or later discoveries alter the portfolio.” Longtail, Exxon’s eight project is currently under Government review as the first Stabroek
development centred heavily on gas, with start-up proposed for 2030, while the gas-rich Haimara, a ninth development, is progressing through the regulatory process for the early 2030s. As such, Paul reasoned that the question is therefore not simply, “How much gas has Guyana discovered?” but “How much gas can reliably leave the reservoirs, when, for how long, and without sacrificing greater value elsewhere in the petroleum system?” The Energy Strategist noted that changing a plan is not necessarily evidence that the original plan was wrong. Paul said that good strategy must neither be
Anthony Paul, Senior Energy and Strategy Advisor and former Director of Geology and Geophysics at the T&T Ministry of Energy rigid nor disposable. “It must be durable enough to support Continued on page 8
Kaieteur News
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Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana. Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: NIGEL WILLIAMS Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Continued thwarting of access to information From English Literature, the world was gifted, “the law is an ass.” Considering what is happening to citizens petitioning Guyana's Office of Access to Information, it could be said that the law is being made into an ass, a complete one. What emanates from that office is no less than shocking, with the sting of being insulting. Still more shocking is the reaction of Guyana's President Irfaan Ali, as though access to information does not matter that much, is not worth his intervention. The law is clear. Citizens who petition in the proper form and manner for information from the Office of the Commissioner of Access to Information have a right to that information. Once the information is not in a prohibited category, there is a duty to deliver what is requested. Citizens have tried impressing that on the commissioner of information. They have not received much of anything, other than the commissioner attempts at being funny that have provoked anger more than humour. A judge issued a ruling, which compels the release of information, pursuant to the provisions in law. The commissioner has not changed his attitude (no to many information requests), has not changed his position (no, despite the order of a judge), and has not changed his resistance to requests for information, some of which are years old (no, for he knows the source of his strength). It is surprising that a man steeped in the law, could be so casual about it, unusually dismissive of it. Past petitioners have repetitioned. Old requestors have renewed their requests. There they dangle, held to the whim of the Commissioner of the Office to Access to Information. President Ali has tried his best to keep his distance from the access to information contradiction. A law exists, but it is of no standing. The president is, after all is said and done, Guyana's chief minister of information. When he does not override, does not direct, the commissioner to respond appropriately and timely to requests for information, what message does he send? That he supports the actions of the commissioner? That he is nervous of some of the information requested could be damaging to his government? That he does not have the fullest grasp of what the Access to Information Act mandates? Or, that, President Ali does have more than a working grasp of the requirements of the law, and will get around to commanding the commissioner to do his job? To earn his pay, justify the trust placed in him? Except, for the president, the present time is not the best time for him to act. With each legitimate request for information denied or delayed by the commissioner, the president is embarrassed, made to look impotent. With each written communication sent to his attention and not provoking any presidential action, the president adds to his own discredit. A leader that is at a loss on how to address what calls for commonsense, so cut-and-dried it is. Information requests complied with, because it can be released, it is part of an approved category. Or information denied, and for good reason, the law does not allow it.When the commissioner finds joy in mocking and degrading those seeking information, some of his mockeries and degradations must rub off on the president. It distils to this. Who is running this country, the president or the commissioner? Who has the first and last say, the say that matters, the president or the commissioner? President Ali does not do himself and his government any favours, when he stands aside and leave the law and the ruling of a member of the judiciary to be subjected to the same games that have been going on for years. We do not know what President Ali is afraid of, nor what exposures of his government could be part of some of the information requested. What we do know, however, is that the president makes himself look weak and ineffective, while making the commissioner of information appear strong and invincible. We have one last question: is the commissioner of information put where he is to function exactly as he does? Because the PPP/C Government has so many secrets to hide.
Wednesday October 21, 2026
Loss of Hot and Cold Point in a Guyanese Lake Dear Editor, This letter explains the reason there was a Hot and Cold point and how this popular site was lost. The information presented is the result of my limnological research on the Essequibo lakes during the 1970's and 1980's. Hot and Cold point occurred in Ikuraka lake, which is usually referred to, incorrectly, as Iteribisi or Ituribisi lake. The main inflows to Ikuraka lake are Ikuraka creek and its tributaries, all of which flowed cool under thick forest cover, which mostly excluded the heating effect of sunlight. Hot and Cold point was located in the northwestern
part of the lake, where Ikuraka creek flowed into the lake. The prevailing winds blew from northeast across the lake towards the western shores depositing sand and silt on the shore and in the water there. At the same time, Ikuraka creek was also depositing sand and silt in the water where it entered the lake. The result was the creation of a submerged ridge in the lake. When people stood on the ridge, with one leg on the creek side, that leg felt cold from the cooler creek water, while the other leg, on the lake side of the ridge felt warm in the fully exposed, sunlight-heated water. This effect was far less
pronounced on cloudy and rainy days, when the lake water was itself cooler. Hot and Cold point was NOT caused by a hot or cold spring, as is believed by most people, but by Ikuraka creek at its estuary in Ikuraka lake. Now, Hot and Cold point has disappeared forever. This loss occurred around 1983/84 when the Tapakuma Irrigation Project was extended to the Ituribisi River basin, including Ikuraka lake and creek. The outflow creek from Ikuraka creek into Ituribisi River was dammed creating a larger and deeper Ikuraka lake. In addition, Ituribisi River itself was dammed further downstream, creating another large man-made lake
that can be correctly called Ituribisi lake, unlike Ikuraka lake. Creation of the larger and deeper Ikuraka lake resulted in the death from flooding of the forest trees under which Ikuraka creek previously flowed, and the conversion of Ikuraka creek into part of the expanded Ikuraka lake. Ikuraka creek disappeared. No cool water is flowing anymore from the lost Ikuraka creek, and consequently, Hot and Cold point was lost forever. Regards Zinul Bacchus M.Sc (Wales). Limnologist, and former Head, Department of Biology, University of Guyana
The violation of anyone's rights is a threat to all Dear Editor, Attorney-at-law Siand Dhurjon, in defence of respect for the rule of law, made a profound statement last Thursday night that should compel every Guyanese to pay attention. His comments on the detention of Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and members of his staff last Monday night, following an alleged confrontation involving Special Branch Head Prem Narine, conveyed a message that should trouble us all: that no one must dare defy or disagree with the government. If that is the message being sent, Guyana is in dangerous territory. In a democratic state, contrary political opinions must be respected as a right, not treated as an offence against those who hold political power. No citizen should have to fear the consequences of exercising the fundamental right to
disagree with the government. Today, I revisit my articles of August and September in an abridged form because the issues raised remain relevant to the present circumstances. In September, I drew attention to the events surrounding 3rd September, when Mohamed was arrested twice over what I consider spurious allegations, as further evidence of a troubling pattern. The People's Progressive Party (PPP) regime, acting alongside the Guyana Police Force, appears increasingly willing to kick down the guardrails of democracy without regard for the consequences. Such conduct, if allowed to continue without accountability, threatens the very fabric of our society. This issue is not about Mohamed alone. It is about all of us, our rights and respect for the rule of law. Mohamed happens to be the face of the current controversy, but make no mistake: if the
conduct of the state and those in authority is accepted, and dissent is allowed to become a source of fear, tomorrow the face could be mine or yours. Woe betide those who find themselves in such circumstances without the financial means or political influence to seek judicial redress. Our society is becoming increasingly repressive and more dangerous. We are at a critical point and must oppose these developments before it is too late. If we remain silent, we risk suffering a similar fate. The circumstances surrounding Mohamed's detention also raise serious questions about the freedom of an elected constitutional office holder to fulfil the responsibilities of his office. As Opposition Leader, Mohamed is entitled to move throughout the length and breadth of Guyana without (Continued on page 6)
GHK Lall's "EPA Director, Parsram” piece is purposeless Dear Editor, I am writing to offer a candid analytical evaluation of GHK Lall's recent column in Kaieteur News, titled "EPA Director, Parsram." When evaluating any opinion piece, it is critical to distinguish between essential arguments and mere rhetorical style. An analysis of this 650-word column reveals that approximately 75% of the text consists of stylistic filler, sarcasm, and theatrical commentary rather than core f a c t u a l information—making it a definitive waste of time, space, and effort. Put simply, it is all 'talk and no evidence.' It is fair to say that Mr. Lall's writing leans heavily into the lexiphanic, resulting in a highly logomaniacal output. From both a logical and journalistic perspective, the article is completely void of empirical or verifiable
evidence to support its severe accusations. Rather than offering investigative reporting, the piece firmly belongs to the genre of speculative political commentary. The tommyrot, as expected, is quite highsounding, but intellectually empty , as it fundamentally lacks evidence for several key reasons: First, Lall is relying on his 'Unverified Assertions and Speculation.' He wistfully alleges corrupt "arrangements with political gatekeepers" and claims that the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) function merely as a "rubber stamp." Mind you, the gravity of these claims poses great danger. Yet he cites no specific documents, transactions, dates, recorded instances, or witnesses to
prove such backroom deals exist. Secondly, he boringly makes use of cliched Rhetorical Questions Instead of dealing in Facts.' I note that rather than proving the EAB is compromised, Lall relies on loaded questions, asking, "When has the EAB gone against Guyana's Environmental Protection Agency?" In basic logic, a loaded question cannot substitute for empirical evidence. One must ask: wherein lies his academia? Finally, GHK insinuates 'Guilt by Association' as he references a past event involving a judge ("The Justice Gino Persaud development") as a "warning" to other officials. He uses this past situation to insinuate how current officials will behave, rather than offering actual proof of contemporary wrongdoing regarding the uranium
project. Ultimately, instead of an evidence-based report, the column is a rhetorical argument built entirely on a systemic assumption. Because the author assumes the state apparatus is inherently captured by foreign and political interests, every action taken by the EPA Director is viewed through a single lens of sarcasm, cynicism, and hyperbole (such as "invading hordes"). This is an infantile at work. Consequently, the article fails to provide a factual foundation to legally or logically substantiate its claims. Rather than reflecting genuine public cynicism or constructive political dissent, it serves as little more than a selfindulgent exercise for the author. Sincerely Hargesh B. Singh
Wednesday October 21, 2026
Kaieteur News
MP Walton calls for monthly food support and national food affordability compact Dear Editor, Too many Guyanese are struggling to afford the food we need. With the financial resources now available to us as a nation, it is unacceptable that basic staples are beyond the reach of so many households. Greens, vegetables and local fruits are becoming luxuries for families already struggling to make ends meet. In his World Food Day message, the President speaks of agricultural growth, investment and modernisation, but these achievements must be measured against what ordinary Guyanese can afford to put on their tables. His message misses the mark because it does not demonstrate whether the agricultural gains he describes are making nutritious food affordable for households struggling today. This year's theme is “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow”, but for Guyanese families facing hunger, nourishment is an urgent need today. Pensions, public assistance and existing grants do provide some support. The question this government must answer is whether most Guyanese households can meet their essential
expenses and still afford to eat properly. The answer is a resounding no! Accordingly, I am proposing two concrete interventions for the government's urgent consideration. First, establish a monthly household food support programme, drawing on Trinidad and Tobago's model. Eligible households would receive an additional monthly food benefit, delivered through a food card, to help address an assessed shortfall in their ability to afford nutritious food. The amount would reflect household size and assessed need. Existing income and benefits would form part of that assessment. Low paid working families should also be able to qualify where their circumstances warrant assistance. The card must be accepted by participating community shops and market vendors, allowing families to purchase fresh local produce alongside other nutritious foods. Every vendor who meets the published requirements should have a right to participate. Second, negotiate a national food affordability compact, drawing on the Barbados approach. Government should bring major
food suppliers, distributors and retailers together to agree reasonable limits on markups for a defined basket of essential foods. Those limits must be informed by an examination of costs and margins, alongside measures to reduce avoidable production and distribution costs. The basket, participating businesses and commitments must be published, with independent monitoring of the savings consumers actually receive. Farmers must continue to receive fair returns. Both measures must operate under transparent rules, with independent review and equal access regardless of race, political affiliation or personal connections. Government should undertake a rapid costing of both proposals and publish the eligibility criteria, funding arrangements and implementation timetable. As Guyanese, we must be able to feed ourselves and our families adequately, consistently and with dignity. This is the standard against which our food security policies and achievements must be judged. Sincerely Forward Guyana Movement
Allegations Against the Attorney General Fail the Test of Law Dear Editor, I offer my layman's legal counter-perspective to the letter "Prayer and protest" written by Thomas, which levels serious allegations against Attorney General Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC. While Thomas's right to peaceful public assembly is fully protected under Guyana's democratic framework, her central assertions regarding state p o l i c y, c o n s t i t u t i o n a l violations, and the nature of the law-governed state demand necessary rigid legal correction. Overall, Thomas's 'frenetic assertions' are just that, and when weighed against Guyana's actual legal architecture, they implode on delivery. First, there is the 'Fallacy of Personal Judicial Application' where Thomas accuses the Attorney
General of adopting an "uneven or downright discriminatory approach to legal matters." She must know that l e g a l l y, t h i s i s a n i m p o s s i b i l i t y, a s t h e Attorney General is the principal legal advisor to the state, not a judge or a law enforcer. He possesses no judicial authority to apply laws "unevenly" or unilaterally adjudicate property disputes. This is not rocket science. Then there is the utter 'Misrepresentation of Constitutional Violations' where a seemingly angry Thomas asserts that the Attorney General "violate[s] the Constitutional rights of African Guyanese.” In Guyana, the Constitution is supreme and i f a n y s t a t e official—including the chief
law officer—exceeds executive authority, the exclusive power to declare those actions null and void rests with the judiciary, not with ministerial whim. Systemic bias cannot exist at the executive level without being struck down by a constitutional motion in the High Court. I say to her therefore, 'run to the court.' Finally, I come to her claiming of 'Distortion of S t a t u t o r y L a n d Administration' that she, Thomas, deems as 'framing ancestral land regularisation as a matter of personal executive prejudice.' In reality, the legal frameworks governing land titles, verification of unprobated lands, and property rights are rigidly codified under statutory bodies like the Guyana Lands and Surveys
Commission (GLSC). Legal provisions ensure that regularisation must meet precise statutory criteria to prevent racial or institutional discrimination against any demographic. The PPP/C's work in issuing land plots to 'any Tom, Dick and Harry' is obvious and quite unprecedented. I posit that Thomas's letter relies on profound rhetorical and emotional appeals, and it lacks any verifiable legal evidence. In a true constitutional democracy, allegations of state discrimination belong in a court of law, where they must meet strict standards of proof, rather than being litigated through broad public declarations or appeals for foreign diplomatic pressure. Yours faithfully, Raymond Anderson
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Speak not ill of the dead Dear Editor, A poem of contemplation: They died when their journey was over They lived while energy remained Good and bad acts there were Remembered by those amongst us Defend yourself oh corpse of the corrupted Defend yourself that you may rise Speak not of the ill that descended Speak not of that which has tainted your remains Speak only of what was gained There lives amongst us those who know There lives amongst us those who still partake Silence purchased Rebellion provoked Speak not of that which we know Let them rest in peace Blood shed of bygone years remembered Upon our land we hear their cries Upon our land we know their fears Now they meet together down under Let their silence be their speech Together united in the next experience May peace settle upon their souls Speak not ill of the dead they say For you speak of what is already known The dead cannot defend in the yonder For the living know their own For the living know their own Sincerely Jamil Changlee
Have we arrived at the need for consensus politics? Dear Editor, In my view General Secretary of the PPP Bharrat Jagdeo has arrived at the position that CONSENSUS POLITICS is the way forward taken from his reported views. But words are one thing. They need to be put into action. No time is more important than the present time. The Democratically Elected PPP/C Government should and can lead the way b y o p e n i n g CONSULTATIONS with the political opposition WIN and PNCR led APNU.
They can lead the way by CONSULTING with the UNIONS. They can lead the way by consulting with CIVIL SOCIETY. This is how TRUST is built through direct COMMUNICATION. There is no denying that Guyana is prospering economically. It needs to do the same politically and socially. We have arrived at the need for CONSENSUS POLITICS. Let us not waste this opportunity. Sincerely, Sean Ori
Kaieteur News
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Guyana, India eye new partnerships in technology, defence …as new ambassador accredited India's newly appointed High Commissioner to Guyana, Shri Chinmoy Naik presents his Letter of Credence to President Irfaan Ali.
Wednesday October 21, 2026
Why does NIS continue to fail claimants? Dear Editor, In an early year of his first term in office, President Ali went countrywide with NIS staff, and demonstrated his intention to get all NIS outstanding claims sorted out by December of that year, yet some very ill claimants are still waiting to receive their benefits. What are the reason/s for the failure to deliver the President's promise? Are there no solutions to overcome the continuing nonsettlements? Is the efficiency monitoring mechanism itself not efficient? Is it that NIS staff are not true to their oath to serve the people?
Also, now that NIS advised the pensioners to go to court to get monies owed to them, the signal is that NIS seems not to be on the side of the people. Instead of Mr. Christopher Ram and significant others having to go to court, Executive President Ali should take steps to ensure that all decisions and regulations are complied with and that claimants promptly get what is legally due to them. Conscientious service to the people must be the only option for every Public Service worker. Sincerely Faiyaz Alli
Family fighting to bring home remains
P
resident Dr. Irfaan Ali on Tuesday accepted the Letters of Credence from India's newly appointed High Commissioner to Guyana, Shri Chinmoy Naik, as the two countries look to deepen their longstanding bilateral relations. Congratulating Naik on his appointment, President Ali extended his best wishes to Indian President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian Administration. The Head-of-State described Guyana and India's relationship as strong and enduring, expressing optimism that the “extraordinary
relationship” would pave the way for new partnerships in technology, security and defence, and agro-processing. President Ali also welcomed India's commitment to join the Global Biodiversity Alliance, while encouraging Naik and his wife to explore Guyana's rich cultural heritage and tourism offerings. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hugh Todd, Permanent Secretary Sharon Roopchand-Edwards and Ambass ador Ivan Evelyn were present at the accreditation ceremony.
Dear Editor, I am reaching out on behalf of my family to request media attention to the circumstances surrounding my cousin Kwesi's death in GT Guyana and our ongoing struggle to bring his ashes home to New Jersey. Kwesi died on 30 t h August, 2026, after being removed from the United States, where he was a lawful permanent resident and green card holder. Our family has serious concerns about the due process he received before his removal, and we are seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding his death. Our immediate concern is that we have been unable to proceed with cremation because for more than a month, we have been awaiting his death certificate from the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory. The lab's director, Delon France told Kwesi's mom Sharon that the certificate would be ready for collection on17thSeptember. When she
arrived that day, she was told that it was not ready and that we would need to wait longer. No explanation was provided for the delay nor have there been any updates since. B ecau s e w e can n o t proceed without the necessary documentation, we remain unable to bring Kwesi's ashes home and lay him to rest. We are asking your newsroom to investigate the delay, seek clarification from the relevant authorities, and help bring attention to our
family's efforts to resolve this situation. We c a n p r o v i d e a timeline of events and supporting documentation, and we are available to speak with a reporter. Sharon spent the past month in GT trying to resolve the situation, but eventually didn't have the option to keep pushing back her return flight and had to go back to New Jersey. Thank you for considering our request. Sincerely, Shandel Menezes
The violation of... From page 4 unwarranted interference with his travel and movement, whether in a private or public capacity. If the movement of the holder of such a powerful office, elected by more than 100,000 voters, according to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), can be questioned or reportedly shot at on public thoroughfares, what can the average citizen expect next? What protection can ordinary citizens expect when they lack the resources to challenge the state? Guyanese must not take this matter lightly. The implications extend to every citizen, whether in the Opposition, the government or presumably non-aligned, regardless of political affiliation or support for the government, religion, race, class, colour, creed or geographic location. Political loyalty offers no permanent guarantee of protection when accountability is absent. To remain silent is to risk complicity in oppressive conduct and the violation of citizens' rights. The right to dissent, freedom of movement and access to judicial redress must not depend on political connections, wealth or party allegiance. I am therefore encouraged by the growing number of voices speaking out on this matter. It is only through frank, honest and open conversations, together with respect for each other's rights, that we can move forward as a nation. We cannot build a just society by silencing disagreement, excusing abuses or pretending that violations affecting one person have no bearing on the rest of us. The violation of anyone's rights is a threat to all. Regards Lincoln Lewis
Wednesday October 21, 2026
Kaieteur News
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Wednesday October 21, 2026
CJIA retains number one position in airport services in Latin America & Caribbean
The Cheddi Jagan International Airport located in Timehri, East Bank Demerara. The Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) on Tuesday announced that the airport has retained its position as the number one airport in Latin America and the Caribbean for passenger satisfaction with airport services, according to the Q3/2026
Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey results. CJIAC in a release stated that the ASQ programme which is administered by the Airports Council International (ACI) is a leading global benchmark for measuring passenger satisfaction
with airport services. This recognition reflects passenger feedback across key service indicators, including the overall travel experience, check-in and security processing, facility cleanliness, thermal comfort, signage, and the helpfulness and
courtesy of frontline personnel. “The achievement comes as CJIAC continues to advance infrastructure improvements to accommodate growing international passenger volumes. These developments include rehabilitation of the runways and taxiways; expanded terminal capacity; modernised boarding bridges and automated baggage systems; and airfield upgrades, including improvements to security infrastructure,” CJIA explained. The Corporation noted that further enhancements to commercial spaces and executive lounges, together with developments in the surrounding hospitality sector, are contributing t o t h e a i r p o r t ’s o n g o i n g modernisation efforts. Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar on the latest achievement noted that the recognition reflects the
Government’s continued investment in aviation infrastructure and its commitment to strengthening Guyana’s position as a regional aviation hub. He emphasised that these investments, alongside ongoing efforts to improve airport services, are essential to delivering a positive experience for passengers. CJIAC’s Chief Executive O ff i c e r, M r. R a m e s h G h i r commenting on the ranking, described it as a significant milestone for the entire airport community. He credited the achievement to the dedication of frontline staff, security personnel, immigration officers and airline partners, emphasising that as passenger traffic continues to grow, CJIAC remains committed to providing a high standard of service to t r a v e l l e r s u s i n g G u y a n a ’s international gateway, the release said.
Table showing the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey results.
‘Exxon’s estimate on gas resources should not determine... From page 3 long-lived investments, but adaptable enough to change when geology, markets, economics or national priorities change. The difficulty is that infrastructure and contracts become progressively harder to change,” according to the specialist. Offering advice to the nation on the backdrop of the Reuters article, he said that if
the reported reinjection requirement materially alters gas availability, and if appraisal of the new discovery enlarges the portfolio, Government can reassess its LNG ambitions before every downstream commitment becomes difficult to reverse. He stressed the importance of government conducting its own assessments, as learning of
the mismatch after the LNG plant is built, the pipeline sized, gas-sales agreements signed and lenders expecting repayment may be costly. Furthermore, Paul pointed to the importance of programme management in keeping projects on schedule. “It should help Government understand the consequences of changing the programme itself: which commitments have already
hardened, which remain flexible, where costs migrate, what can be repurposed, and which decisions should wait for better information,” he said. In an October 13 report, Reuters reported that Guyanese officials are now weighing whether to shrink a planned LNG project or skip exports altogether and use the gas for domestic power and petrochemical facilities
only. The country revealed ambitious plans to monetise its massive gas resources, weighing exports as a prime option and a floating LNG facility. The report however states that the Exxon group, ‘which also includes C h e v r o n a n d C h i n a ’s CNOOC is forecasting it will need about 2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of gas for
reinjection into oilfields so it can meet crude output targets at its governmentapproved projects. The government has yet to make a final decision on what it will do with the reduced amount of available gas, frustrating potential investors, sources told Reuters while adding that scaling back the LNG project is the most likely plan.
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Wednesday October 21, 2026
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The politics of a box of cook-up During the PNC era, a gentleman who had been persuaded to participate in one of the many marches organised by the government received a box of food at the end of the proceedings. He opened it. Inside was cook-up rice and a generous piece of chicken. There was only one small problem. The gentleman was a vegetarian. He examined the chicken. The chicken examined him, or so he imagined. After several hours of marching, he had discovered that his employers, under whose banner he had marched, had made no provision for him. He took the box home and gave the chicken to a neighbour. The next time somebody invited him to a political march, he asked one question: “Wha de menu?” That, in a nutshell, is the danger of turning political mobilisation into a catering exercise. Once people begin to associate political participation with material inducements, the cause gradually becomes secondary to the compensation. The militant spirit develops an appetite, and the appetite eventually demands a menu. The People's Progressive Party (PPP) remains the only political party in Guyana that appears capable of mobilising large numbers of supporters for political demonstrations without having to rely on direct financial inducements. This is not to suggest that the PPP never provides transportation
to rallies. It does, as other parties have done. The APNU+AFC provided transportation to supporters during the 2020 elections, and there is nothing inherently improper about helping people get to a political event. Transportation is one thing. Paying people to demonstrate is another. One removes the inconvenience of getting there; the other risks making attendance conditional on what is offered when they arrive. Over the years, allegations have been made that some political parties, including the PNCR, have paid people to appear on picket lines. More recently, the PPP a c c u s e d We I n v e s t i n Nationhood (WIN) of distributing money to persons to participate in its Nomination Day parade. These are allegations, and they should be treated as such. But the underlying question is worth examining: what happens to a political movement when its supporters begin to regard protest as an occupation? Under the PNC dictatorship, political participation sometimes resembled compulsory overtime, except that nobody was certain whether the overtime would be paid and everybody knew who was keeping the attendance register. Public servants understood that appearing at May Day marches and the People's Parade was one of those unofficial requirements
of public employment that nobody had to put in writing. The marches often ended at the National Park, where the main speakers would address the assembled crowds. But there was a d i f f i c u l t y. O n c e t h e government workers arrived, many would begin disappearing before the speeches commenced. They had fulfilled the practical requirements of their employers. They had marched. They had displayed the appropriate degree of enthusiasm. They had demonstrated their commitment to the cause by remaining upright in the heat. What more could the authorities reasonably demand? Unfortunately for the organisers, the speeches were the entire point of the exercise. A parade without an audience for the speeches was like a wedding without a bride or a fish shop without fish. The authorities eventually adjusted their strategy. Instead of relying solely on political exhortation, they arranged for food, drinks and music at the various offices after the proceedings. The prospect of a box of food and a little entertainment encouraged workers to remain until the end and return to their workplaces. It was a practical solution to a political problem, although it also introduced an entirely different problem. Once the authorities discovered that
DEM BOYS SEH
Love behind bars Dem boys seh some people does go to prison and lose dem freedom, but dem never lose dem talent fuh tell lies. In fact, some of dem coulda teach a whole university course in deception. Dem boys see dis one pun Tik Tok. One prisoner was talking to a woman on de phone, and de woman apparently thought she had found herself a man with money, class and a good address. “Where you living?” she ask. “I living in a gated community,” he tell she proudly. “Security tight. I does have to call dem fuh buzz people in.” “Sounds fancy,” she tell he. Fancy? Dem boys seh if she only know! De only gate he passing through is one with iron bars, and de only community he living in is one where everybody does get a number instead of an address. Just then, a guard holler, “You have a visitor!” De man quickly tell de woman, “Babe, I got to go. My legal team is here. We have a case to discuss.” Legal team! Dem boys seh some men does dress up a simple prison visit until it sound like a board meeting at a multinational corporation. De only brief he might have is one containing his court papers. But this is how some relationships
does start nowadays. A man tell you he can't meet you because he under pressure at work. Little you know, he under pressure from a prison warden. He tell you he can't talk long because his movements are restricted. You thinking he working in a highly secured, top-secret government job. Meanwhile, he standing in a cell waiting fuh his turn at de telephone. And when he tell you he planning to come out soon, don't start shopping for wedding clothes. He might be talking about bail, parole, or simply being released from solitary confinement! Dem boys seh, in Guyana, everybody claiming to be a big shot. One man got a mansion, another got a luxury SUV, and another got a gated community with free meals, and security guards who never sleep. The difference is that some people paying a mortgage to live in luxury, while others paying a lawyer to get out of it. So, ladies, before you fall in love with a man who claim he living behind security gates, ask him one important question: “Baby, when I come to visit, should I bring champagne, or should I bring your lawyer?” Talk half. Leff half.
food could keep people in a parade, they had inadvertently established the principle that a parade ought to come with food. And once people become accustomed to receiving something for their attendance, the absence of that something becomes a matter of considerable political significance. Imagine a party organiser announcing a demonstration against some grave national injustice. He makes the announcement. He expects thousands of supporters to assemble, placards in hand, voices ready and faces arranged into the appropriate expressions of indignation. But the supporters have questions. “Will we be paid for protesting?” “Yes.” “How much?” “ $2,000.” “And what else?” “Refreshments.” “What kind?” “Light refreshment” “Boss, leh we know from now if it is light refreshments or light refreshments with chicken.” The problem becomes more serious when the next demonstration is announced. This time, there is no transportation allowance, no food and no promise of refreshments. The organisers assume that the cause is sufficiently important to
bring people out. But the people have learned a different lesson. They have come to understand that political participation has a market value, and they are unwilling to surrender that value without negotiation. The organiser can shout about the need for justice until his voice resembles a damaged loudspeaker. He can explain the importance of the moment, invoke the future of the nation and remind everyone that history i s w a t c h i n g . H i s t o r y, unfortunately, does not provide lunch. This is why inducements c a n b e c o m e counterproductive. They may produce impressive protests line in the short term, but they can weaken the very commitment that effective political mobilisation requires. A supporter who attends because he believes in the cause may return repeatedly, even when the circumstances are inconvenient. A supporter who attends because he expects payment may return only when the price is right. There is also the danger that political organisers begin to confuse numbers with loyalty. A thousand people standing in a square may look like a movement. But if they are there because somebody promised them money, the
movement may disappear as quickly as the money runs out. The real test of political support is not how many people can be assembled when incentives are offered. It is how many will turn up when there is no box of food, no envelope, no music and no guarantee that anybody will even say thank you. Political parties should therefore be careful about the bargains they strike with their supporters. It is one thing to facilitate participation. It is quite another to purchase it. The first helps a movement grow; the second risks creating a clientele. And as for the vegetarian gentleman from the PNC era, he eventually learned a valuable political lesson. He never again attended a march without asking about the arrangements beforehand. He was not opposed to the government. He simply wanted to know whether the government had made provision for pumpkin. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper
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Wednesday October 21, 2026
The Great Game: Right around here Guyana now has more than oil in its hands. Guyana has a strain of this century’s Great Game now hanging over its head. It’s not the Great Game played out by Britain and Imperial Russia almost 200 years ago for dominance in Central Asia. Wish it was that distant, and that inconsequential for Guyana. Unfortunately, today’s Great Game is right in this neighbourhood, and it is now picking up momentum. E v e n m o r e unfortunately, the news is all despairing from here. Gone are the days of cavalry and Cossacks on horseback, or lumbering junks dotting the seas. With America and China pawing the air, circling warily around each other, and an array of sophisticated armaments being lined up on each side, in this part of the hemisphere, it’s a most uncomfortable position for Guyana. To m a k e m a t t e r s infinitely worse, Guyanese are yoked to the weakest,
most dreadful, leadership in its history. The situation is ripe for Guyana to be pulled left, to be dragged right, stretched thin, then steamrolled. The PPP calls this reading the situation, and bending accordingly. Whatever America has in mind, the Chinese are sticking around. They really should be going eyeball-toeyeball around the South China Sea and not the Straits of Georgetown. The trouble for Guyana is that nobody is going anywhere. Not with all this oil, gold, bauxite, and uranium present in Guyana; and, who knows, maybe some deposits of rare earth. Neither superpower is leaving that behind. Not with a pliable and prostrate PPP leadership that would give away all of Guyana to stay in power and steal what’s left of the national treasury. The Chinese remember all too vividly past humiliations, when they were forced at gunpoint to surrender to the Rape of
Nanjing and opium flotillas poisoning their people. The Americans see business, covet the entire neighbourhood for themselves. USA, China, or Venezuela, it’s the same Guyana impotency. Reality check. Guyana entered this century poor. Under PPP leadership, it’s set to travel through the next half-century on its knees. A ghost town with ghostly people, long stretches of roads and buildings, but always with foreigners commanding the economic heights. When leaders possess no backbone, no balls (crystal or other), check the results. Vo l u n t e e r i n g t o b e suckers, helplessly trapped, the PPP leadership now has two priorities -save itself (and its accumulated wealth). Meanwhile, a battleground grows. No side is retreating. Retreating is to curbing ambitions and visions by 50 years, maybe 100. The Chinese want their
piece of Guyana, a bigger one. The Americans want control over their sphere of influence, and if it isn’t now, then it may never be. The Chinese backdown now, and they will have to be backing down for decades. I don’t envision any bargaining, any gentlemen’s handshake. Coexistence is out, and this is where Guyana is caught underfoot. At one time, all that was heard from high PPP circles was the Chinese are great. The Chinese are friends. The Chinese are brothers. A fraternity today, a lackey tomorrow. Tunes change when new friends and
partners enter the picture. The new song is how long and illustrious the friendship between the PPP and the Yankees. How special the relationship between Washington and Georgetown! Would China have dumped some Uyghurs here, and still call itself an ally? Having forced the PPP Govt leadership’s hand to expel Cubans, the Americans have signalled that that the Chinese are next. Chinese ideas are different. I watch. In today’s PPP Govt, there are some perfect patsies. Couldn’t stand for anything even if put in a
straitjacket. Guyanese now stare at an unhappy future: a mountain on their heads (U.S.), a minefield ahead (Chinese), and barbwire for their best defenses. The Great Game gathers strength around Guyana. It’s the worst time for a country’s leadership to be headless, clueless, and useless. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.
Canadian firm advances US$1M deal to acquire second gold project in Guyana …project located within 9M ounce gold district Canadian gold exploration company Lighthouse Gold Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire a second gold project in Guyana, with the transaction involving cash payments totalling US$1.05 million and 35 million company shares. Lighthouse announced that it had executed a property option purchase agreement granting it the exclusive right to acquire a 100% interest in the Mariwa-Sardine Hill–Lower Cuyuni Gold Property. The agreement gives Lighthouse four years to exercise its option to acquire the property, which comprises three contiguous mediumscale mining permits covering approximately 3,240 acres or 13 square kilometers (km2). The property is located within the highly prospective Oko Gold District – an area where other Canadian firms are developing large-scale gold projects. Under the terms of the agreement, Lighthouse will pay a US$100,000 non-refundable deposit, which was previously paid when the company signed a letter of intent, and a further US$150,000 within five business days of the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) accepting the transaction. The company will also issue 35 million common shares and make annual cash payments of US$200,000 for four years, totalling US$800,000. The total cash consideration is US$1.05 million, with the share issuance is additional consideration. Lighthouse said once it exercises the option and pays the outstanding consideration, it will acquire the vendor’s interest in the property, subject to a 1% net smelter returns royalty in favour of the vendor. However, the deal allows Lighthouse to retain the right to purchase the entire royalty for US$4 million. The transaction remains subject to due diligence, acceptance by the CSE and applicable regulatory approvals in Guyana, including any required approvals from the Minister of Natural Resources and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). Interim Chief Executive Officer Will
Rascan said, “The execution of the Definitive Agreement marks an important milestone for Lighthouse Gold and secures the Company’s path to acquiring this property.” “We have now secured the exclusive right to acquire, a land package within an active gold district in Guyana. With the transaction now formalised, our focus shifts toward unlocking the exploration potential of the Property through modern geological interpretation, data compilation and systematic exploration,” Rascan said. Rascan added that Lighthouse believe the Mariwa–Sardine Hill Property offers the rare combination of extensive historical exploration, compelling drill and trench results, district-scale land position and considerable exploration upside. Lighthouse said it had mobilised its technical team and begun preparing a work programme that includes digitising historical exploration data, validating previous drilling and geophysical information, and conducting geological and structural assessments to identify priority targets. The programme is also expected to include planning and permitting for followup geological mapping, geochemical surveys, trenching and drilling. The company expects exploration activities to commence immediately and said it would provide updates as milestones are achieved. In addition, the definitive agreement includes a 10-kilometre Area of Interest provision under which Lighthouse may elect, within 60 days of notice, to add to the property, at cost, any mineral rights staked or acquired by the vendor or its affiliates within 10 kilometres of the property during the term of the definitive agreement. Earlier this year, Lighthouse entered into a definitive option agreement to acquire 100% interest in the Aurora NW project, consisting of associated mineral rights, permits and claims. In February 2026, Lighthouse entered into the agreement which Continued on page 14
Wednesday October 21, 2026
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Guyana slips in global rule of law ranking as freedoms decline …ranks 81st out of 143 countries, 50th among 51 high-income nations Guyana’s rule of law score has declined, with restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and civic participation emerging among the concerns highlighted in the 2026 Rule of Law Index released by the World Justice Project (WJP). According to the report, Guyana ranks 81st out of 143 countries worldwide, after its overall score fell by less than one per cent. The country also ranks 18th out of 32 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 50th out of 51 high-income countries. The findings form part of a broader global decline in the rule of law, with the WJP reporting that 62 per cent of countries experienced a deterioration in their scores, continuing a trend in which declines outnumber improvements. The report warns that authoritarian practices have become entrenched in many countries, with government interference and declining freedoms posing growing threats to democratic accountability and institutional independence. Guyana is among the countries identified as having experienced sustained declines in safeguards against authoritarian rule over the past five years, including constraints on government powers, open government and fundamental rights. The WJP report also found that freedom of opinion and expression declined in 64 per cent
of countries surveyed, while freedom of assembly and association deteriorated in 67 per cent. Civic participation also declined in 65 per cent of countries. Guyana was among those registering declines in all three areas. The report identifies undue executive pressure and interference as leading drivers of institutional deterioration across both civil and criminal justice systems. Civil justice weakened in 64 per cent of countries surveyed, while criminal justice declined in 58 per cent, with improper government influence emerging as a central factor in both areas. The findings come amid concerns about the ability of institutions to check executive power and protect fundamental freedoms. Despite the overall regional decline, Latin America and the Caribbean recorded some notable improvements. Half of the 10 countries with the greatest improvements in the index between 2025 and 2026 came from the region. Uruguay was the region’s highest-ranked country, placing 22nd globally, followed by Costa Rica and Barbados. Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela recorded the region’s lowest scores, with Venezuela ranking last globally at 143rd. The WJP noted that 19 of the 32 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean recorded declines over the past year. Of those, 13 had also experienced declines in the previous
year. Brazil, however, recorded the world’s second-largest improvement over the threeyear period from 2023 to 2026, increasing its score by 3.17 per cent. The WJP’s 2026
findings underscore the continuing challenge facing countries seeking to strengthen the rule of law, protect fundamental rights and ensure that government authority remains subject to effective checks and balances.
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Wednesday October 21, 2026
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GCCI launches Small Business Week, 100 exhibitors to showcase products
T
he Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Tuesday launched the fifth edition of National Small Business Week (NSBW), bringing together entrepreneurs, sponsors and institutional partners for a series of activities aimed at strengthening the capacity and market reach of Guyana's micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Held under the theme “Small Businesses, Big Opportunities,” the week of activities runs from 20th-25th October and will culminate in an expo featuring approximately 100 exhibitors at the Railway Courtyard, Georgetown. Speaking at the launch, GCCI's President Kathy Smith said the National Small Business Week has been an important initiative of GCCI since its introduction in 2022. She stated that over the years, they have continued to build on this initiative, creating opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to gain exposure, develop their capacity and establish connection that can support their growth. The GCCI President noted that this year's initiative continues that effort with a programme designed to address some of the particular challenges facing entrepreneurs while creating opportunities for them to showcase their business. “Small businesses make a significant contribution to Guyana's economy, they generate employment, support household, provide essential goods and services and contribute to economic activities across our communities. As our economy continue to expand, it is important that these
businesses are equipped to participate in the opportunities being created and this is where initiative such as the National Small Business Week, become important,” she explained. Smith said while they recognise that many entrepreneurs have good products, services and business ideas, they often face challenges in financing, business management, pricing standard, and access to market. “Through this year's programme we want to address some of these challenges by connecting entrepreneurs with institution that can provide practical guidance and support,” she added. In providing practical guidance and support, she mentioned that this year, GCCI is collaborating with the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC), Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD), the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), and the Small Business Bureau (SBB). Providing a breakdown of the week of activities, the GCCI President disclosed that on Wednesday, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry will facilitate a workshop on Access to Finance and Financial Management, while the Guyana Marketing Corporation will lead sessions on Business Planning and Strategy, and Costing and Product Pricing. On Thursday, the Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD) will address Procurement, Business Growth and Leadership, including tendering, government contracts and business expansion. The Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) will
Small business owners, Emanuel Macey and Kathlyn Simpson of Flowee Essentials showcasing their product. facilitate a session on Quality, Standards and Certification, while the Small Business Bureau (SBB) will lead Marketing Fundamentals, focusing on marketing, digital readiness and customer engagement. These engagements will be held at the GCCI's building located at 156 Waterloo Street. “These are areas because we want our small business to become more competitive, better managed and prepare to access opportunity in more traditional and emerging sectors,” Smith commented on these events. Further, she noted that the week's activities will also include a Founders' Talk on Friday, which will be hosted in collaboration with the University of Guyana at the SEBI Building, Turkeyen Campus. The engagement will connect university students with entrepreneurs who will share their experiences in establishing, managing and expanding businesses. The National Small B u s i n e s s We e k w i l l culminate with the Expo on 24th and 25th October at the Railway Courtyard, Georgetown, providing a
platform for local enterprises to showcase their products and services, engage potential customers, generate sales and build business relationships. During her remarks also, Smith encouraged the public to support participating entrepreneurs, stressing that increased consumer engagement and market visibility are essential to the continued development of local enterprises. Delivering brief remarks, Chairperson of the GCCI's Entrepreneurship and Small Business Committee, Christpen Bobb-Semple, shared that this year's capacity-building workshops were developed in response to feedback received from Chamber members through a survey aimed at identifying the areas of support most relevant to their business development. He mentioned that the findings informed the selection of workshop topics and the Chamber's engagement with business support organisations to facilitate the training. He noted too that the programme is intended to provide entrepreneurs with
practical steps to strengthen their businesses while encouraging prospective entrepreneurs to move from developing ideas to establishing viable enterprises. GCCI stated that this year NSBW is sponsored by Brava its Principal partner, the Guyana Beverages Inc.; Guyana Deepwater Operations Inc.; Guiana Holding Inc.; Scoop Ride Inc.; Giftland Office max; Massy Stores (Guyana Inc.; and Republic Bank Guyana Limited. Speaking with Kaieteur News on the sideline of the launch, small business owner 21-year-old Emanuel Macey of 'Flowee Essentials' said this is his first time participating in the National Small Business Week of activities having launched his business back in August this year. His business, Flowee Essentials which he operates with his partner Kathlyn Simpson provides feminine care kits and wellness essentials designed to keep females fresh, comfortable and confident. He shared, “It all started as a gift for someone and from that I realised that most men
would want this gift to give to their partner as well, sister or some female in the home because the gift consist of heating belt, period kit, and essential care products.” Noting the importance of being part of GCCI's Small Business Week, he said they are looking forward to the exposure this opportunity will bring to their business. Currently they operate only in Georgetown, but their main goal is to continue supplying customers nationwide. “We are looking forward to meeting new customers, more suppliers as well because currently we are looking for suppliers for storefront because currently we are operating online and we don't have a physical location… The challenges that we face is the exposure and not many people know about the business, we trying to get that exposure and storefront,” he mentioned. Another small business owner, Davina Persaud of DCL Transportation and Rentals which is located in Sixth Field Cummings Lodge, said this is also her first time being part of the National Small Business Week of activities. She shared that her business which turned one year in February this year, a small transportation company that offer a personal driver, car rentals, bus rentals and other transportation services. Noting that she will have an information booth this weekend, she said, “This event I am kind of looking forward to be more seen, or for a lot of persons to get to know the business to engage with persons, give them information that will help them know more about DCL.”
Construction worker arrested for Canadian firm advances US$1M... murder of Parfaite Harmonie teen
From page 10 includes US$100,000 in cash payments and the issuance of two million common shares, alongside a Net Smelter Royalty tied to annual production levels, as defined under the Guyanese Mining Act and its applicable regulations. Similar to the Mariwa/ Sardine Hill property LOI, Lighthouse retains the option to repurchase that royalty but for US$500,000. Since finalising the agreement for the Aurora property, the company has been preparing the ground for exploration, including assembling a local operational team and logistical support to execute field activities. In May, the company announced that it has moved from acquisition to active exploration at its Aurora NW gold project, commencing phase one of its exploration programme at the project which consists of four prospecting permits totalling 19.4 km2 in the Cuyuni–Mazaruni district.
The thirty-nine-year-old suspect who reportedly fatally stabbed 17-yearold Akeem Bannister, called “Boy”, of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, is now in police custody. Police said the suspect also of Westminster, was handed over by his legal representatives at the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station on Monday 19th October, 2026, about 10:50hrs, where he was arrested. It was reported that on Sunday 18th October, 2026, between 15:30hrs and 15:55hrs, in the vicinity of a supermarket at Westminster, the suspect reportedly fatally stabbed Bannister and
injured a 26-year-old man. According to the police, at the time of his arrest, the suspect was observed with injuries about his body and was subsequently escorted to the West Demerara Regional Hospital for medical attention. Preliminary investigations revealed that an argument arose following a card game, which subsequently led to a confrontation involving the 26-year-old construction worker and the suspect who is a vendor. During the confrontation, the 26year-old allegedly armed himself with a cutlass and dealt the vendor a chop to his
right hand. The vendor then reportedly drew a knife, and a physical scuffle ensued, during which the construction worker sustained injuries. Bannister became involved in the confrontation and was allegedly stabbed three times to his lower limbs by the suspect. Police said both Bannister and the injured construction worker were taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where Bannister succumbed to his injuries while receiving medical attention. The 26-year-old was also treated at the hospital.
Wednesday October 21, 2026
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Discrepancies, lack of inter-agency training exposed at MV Barima Inquiry …Commander admits no joint search-and-rescue exercises conducted in years, claims “there was no need for it” Discrepancies in the timeline for locating the wreckage of the MV Barima, communication failures between aircraft and maritime authorities, outdated operational procedures, and the absence of critical digital records came under intense scrutiny on Tuesday when Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard Commanding Officer, Commander David Shamsudeen, testified before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the deadly maritime disaster. The commission’s Chair and other panel members emphasised that access to the report was essential to their investigation and the discharge of their presidential mandate. The testimony placed renewed attention on the preparedness of Guyana’s maritime emergency response system, particularly the absence of regular joint training, the failure to transmit potentially vital coordinates, outdated operating procedures and the limited availability of records needed to independently verify the rescue operation. As the inquiry continues, these revelations are expected to form part of the commission’s wider examination of the circumstances surrounding the MV Barima tragedy and the effectiveness of the response that followed. CRITICAL COORDINATES NEVER REACHED COAST GUARD A major focus of the commission’s questioning was the apparent breakdown in communication between aircraft involved in the search and the Coast Guard’s Maritime Operations Centre. Kaieteur News previously reported that pilot Captain Learie Barclay had identified what he suspected to be the wreck site at approximately 1:56 a.m. on July 19, firing
flares over the area and transmitting coordinates to Timehri Tower for onward communication to the relevant search-andrescue authorities. Barclay had reportedly been flying below radar coverage before ascending to establish communication with Timehri tower and confirm whether his aircraft was visible on radar. However, Commander Shamsudeen testified that the Coast Guard’s Maritime Operations Centre never received the coordinates transmitted by Barclay. The apparent failure to relay that potentially crucial information meant that the suspected location identified by the pilot was not available to coast guard personnel coordinating the search. The sequence of events raised questions about whether the earlier coordinates transmitted by Barclay could have assisted rescuers in identifying the location sooner. DISTRESS SIGNALS SCATTERED ACROSS MILES OF OCEAN The commission was also presented with an analysis of the distress signal coordinates received during the early stages of the emergency. Using Google Earth, Commander Shamsudeen demonstrated how the coast guard plotted the coordinates transmitted through Timehri Tower and compared them with the vessel’s eventual resting location. The first distress signal fix, received at 22:51 hours, placed the vessel approximately 14.60 nautical miles off Anna Regina. A second fix, received at 23:00 hours, indicated a position 5.20 nautical miles off Better Success, approximately 14.63 nautical miles from the first location.
Seeraj accredited Guyana’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Ambassador Dharamkumar Seeraj presenting his Letter of Credence
Guyana’s High Commissioner to India, Dharamkumar Seeraj, has been formally accredited as the country’s Non-Resident High Commissioner to Malaysia, following the presentation of his Letter of Credence to Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim, on Monday. The ceremony took place at Istana Negara, the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur, where Seeraj formally assumed his diplomatic role in representing Guyana to Malaysia. During the occasion, Seeraj reaffirmed Guyana’s commitment to strengthening the longstanding bonds of
friendship between the two countries and advancing shared prosperity, progress and cooperation. Guyana and Malaysia established diplomatic relations on 26th April, 1976, and have since maintained cordial ties, collaborating on matters of mutual interest through bilateral engagement and multilateral forums. Seeraj also serves as Guyana’s High Commissioner to the Republic of India, with concurrent accreditation to Sri Lanka and, now, Malaysia.
Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard Commander Shamsudeen. Commander Shamsudeen was supported by Major Kevin Moore, attorney and Hon Major Melissa Stewart Yearwood, attorney. The Guyana Police Force also participated, with its maritime assets operating closer to shore because of their shallow-draft capabilities. Those operations were conducted under the command of the police commander for district two. Civilian vessels assisted along the shoreline, while larger fishing boats searched deeper offshore waters. One civilian vessel was credited with rescuing two survivors. International assistance was also mobilised through the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre. The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard participated in offshore search operations for
four days, while the Brazilian Navy deployed a 400-foot frigate for a similar period. The Brazilian vessel operated in deeper offshore waters because its draft prevented it from safely approaching the shallower coastal areas near Essequibo. The testimony placed renewed attention on the preparedness of Guyana’s maritime emergency response system, particularly the absence of regular joint training, the failure to transmit potentially vital coordinates, outdated operating procedures and the limited availability of records needed to independently verify the rescue operation.
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Exxon yet to seek extension for Stabroek Block exploration licence
Company Vice President says...
The exploration license for the Stabroek Block, currently held by ExxonMobil is expected to expire in October 2027, but the company has not requested an extension. This is according to ExxonMobil Vice President and Head of Global Exploration, John Ardill. In an interview with Senior Corporate Correspondent, Marc Roussot on the sidelines of an energy event in London, Ardill reportedly said that the company has not applied for an extension to the exploration license “although the possibility could be revisited around the middle of next year.” The company has already applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a massive 35-well exploration and appraisal campaign that is pending approval. According to project documents, the campaign is scheduled to run from 2028 through 2033. In a LinkedIn post, the Correspondent wrote, “Ardill also said the prospectivity of the part of the block subject to force majeure because of the maritime border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela remains difficult to assess. The area has only 2-D seismic data and no 3-D seismic. “Without the data, it’s just speculation.” The International Court of Justice is expected to rule on the dispute in the coming months.” The licence, originally set to expire in October 2026, was extended by one year to 2027. This extension allows ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, to continue exploration
Map showing the first 15 discoveries made by ExxonMobil in the Stabroek Block
and development activities. Four months after General and Regional Elections were held in March 2020, former President, David Granger gave ExxonMobil a one year extension to continue its exploration campaign in three offshore oil blocks, including Stabroek. A formal request was made by President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), Alistair Routledge seeking a grace period
given the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on restricting the implementation of exploration for the three blocks. “In further recognition of EEPGL’s indications regarding section 43 of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act 1986 and Article 24 of the Stabroek Block Petroleum Agreement 2016, the GCRoG…has determined to offer relief in respect of the COVID -19 pandemic…,” the former
President stated. In this respect, Granger ordered that the days from the period March 2020 to March 2021 are not counted in assessing elapsed time applicable to the agreement. The extension was only made public in 2023 by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo after he was pressed on the company’s requirement to relinquish a portion of the block. While the government said it was satisfied that the company’s
work programme was indeed affected by the pandemic, the Alliance For Change (AFC) which formed part of the APNU/AFC Coalition government between 2015 and 2020 argued that Exxon was allowed to conduct its operations throughout the period. In fact, the party presented documents indicating that Exxon’s operations was Gazetted as an essential service, therefore Continued on page 25
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8,000-barrel waste oil barge listing at East Bank wharf sparks spill fears ...authorities activate coordinated response; no spill confirmed Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar briefing workers
Emergency response team members on the ground The Civil Defence Commission (CDC), in collaboration with several government agencies, has activated a coordinated response after a barge carrying approximately 8,000 barrels of waste oil was observed listing significantly at a private wharf on the East Bank of Demerara, raising concerns about a potential oil spill. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the CDC
said the vessel’s condition prompted the immediate mobilisation of relevant authorities to assess the situation and implement measures to mitigate the risk. The response involves the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Guyana Fire Service (GFS) and the Guyana Defence
Force Coast Guard. According to the CDC, efforts are currently focused on safely stabilising the vessel and reducing the likelihood of any environmental damage. Although no oil spill has been confirmed, contingency measures, including containment and response resources, have been positioned to facilitate a swift response should a spill occur. The commission said the situation remains
MV Barima picketing reaches week 7 outside OP The solemn yet resolute chants of grieving families and supporters echoed along Vlissengen Road in on Tuesday, as the picketing exercise outside the Office of the President reached its seventh consecutive week. Relatives and loved ones of the victims of the tragic MV Barima tragedy gathered once again to d e m a n d u rg e n t a n s w e r s , f u l l accountability, and justice from State authorities. The protest drew a diverse coalition of support, bringing together tragedy survivors, grieving relatives, close friends, civil society groups, and Opposition political representatives. Demonstrators stood side-by-side, holding banners and placards emblazoned with messages insisting
that the nation must never forget the events of July 18, 2026. For those gathered, the passage of nearly two months has done little to dull the pain or dampen their resolve. Families emphasise that critical questions regarding the circumstances surrounding the tragedy remain unanswered, while efforts to retrieve and locate the missing must not be abandoned. “The families deserve answers. The missing deserve to be found. The nation deserves accountability,” declared representatives during the peaceful demonstration. Supporters vowed to maintain their presence outside the executive office, rallying under the unyielding slogan: “No Giving Up! No Giving In!”
Picketing exercise outside of OP.
stable and is being continuously monitored by the relevant authorities. It also assured the public that all necessary precautions are being taken to protect public safety, nearby communities and the surrounding environment. The CDC said it would continue working with its partner agencies to safeguard lives and protect the environment as the situation develops.
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Netanyahu says he and Trump committed to 'eliminating regime' in Iran (AL-JAZEERA) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says both he and P r e s i d e n t Tr u m p a r e “committed to completing the elimination of the Iranian regime” and recently “discussed this.” President Donald Trump had stated on his social media platform Truth Social that he will not attack Iran before the November 3 midterm elections. But he also told a Republican convention in September that the conflict “is going to end immediately after the elections”, and the US military has been sending more forces to the region in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Iranian attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz have surged to their highest level since the war began, with an Iranian official telling the Reuters news agency that Tehran has begun using different offensive tactics against vessels it considers to violate its restrictions. As control of the Strait of Hormuz remains central to the US-Iran conflict, what military options does Trump have left, and what would each cost? Al Jazeera spoke to military analysts to find out more: Where does the US-Iran war stand? Deadlocked. The US and Israel first launched an attack on Iran on February 28, triggering counterattacks by Iran against US military assets and other infrastructure in Gulf countries and Jordan in the following months. Iran also closed the Strait of Hormuz, which carried at least 20 percent of global crude and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies before the war, sending global energy markets into chaos. The price of Crude Oil – the global benchmark – rose from about $72 a barrel the day before the war began to a high of nearly $120 a barrel e a r l i e r t h i s y e a r. O n Thursday, it was trading at about $104. A June ceasefire agreement collapsed over control of the strait, and Washington has kept up a naval blockade on Iran's southern ports while Iran has continued to attack ships attempting to pass through. Indirect talks via Pakistan and Qatar continue – along with the exchange of various proposals from each side – but Trump rejected Iran's latest offer to reopen the strait last month. The US has “enormous military capability that Iran
can't match”, but it has not delivered the outcomes Washington wants, Afzal Ashraf, a visiting fellow in international relations and security at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom and a former senior Royal Air Force officer who served in Iraq, told Al Jazeera. What forces does the US have in the Middle East right now? It has at least three aircraft carrier strike groups in the Gulf, or heading towards it. The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group, carrying about 7,000 sailors and 2,000 Marines, is sailing to the Middle East to join the carriers already there.The US also maintains a host of military assets and about 50,000 soldiers at different bases in Middle East countries. W h a t a r e Tr u m p ' s military options? Keep squeezing Iran The US naval blockade on Iranian ports and the naval escorts for commercial ships it has been providing through the Strait of Hormuz are the status quo, which it can continue. This is the most likely course of action, Patrick Bury, a senior associate professor at the University of Bath and former NATO research analyst, told Al Jazeera. Before the war began, the Strait of Hormuz typically handled about 125 large commercial vessels a day, carrying an average of 17.1 million barrels of oil. This collapsed with the closure of the strait in March. In recent weeks, with the help of US Navy escorts, Gulf oil flows through Hormuz – excluding Iran's – had recovered to more than 81 percent of pre-war levels in September, according to maritime tracking firm Kpler. However, this has again reversed with Iran's recent stepping up of attacks on ships in the strait. According to Kpler, only 2.9 million barrels of oil were carried through the waterway on October 11, the lowest level this month. Washington is trying to maintain patrols and surveillance over the southwestern side of the strait, “enough to give ships some sort of protection to get out”, Bury said. Increasingly, drones do the grunt work of feeding intelligence and carrying out attacks, which is cheaper than keeping aircraft on long sorties. “I mean, it's been somewhat effective,” he said, adding that high oil
prices and crew bonuses mean “people are willing to take some risk.” B u t n o w, I r a n h a s changed tactics. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) centre recorded 15 attacks on ships between October 6 and 14. Iran appears well prepared, Bury said, pointing to “the asymmetry of costs”. “By dint of its geography”, he explained, Iran still enjoys “a kind of easier starting point.” Trump has said it may be “possible” to ramp up bombing after the elections, but has not given details. If the situation does escalate, however, Bury said he expects “further strikes in fairly limited packets” against targets on Iran's coastline and further inland. A new campaign could “actually achieve a lot less” than the hits earlier this year, Ashraf said, because Iran has adapted. “They have fewer, but they can conceal them better,” he said of its weapons. The costs would also be high for the US, which has already depleted much of its stockpile of very expensive defensive missile systems. Each relatively cheap Iranian drone or missile can force the US to fire “an interceptor of a million [dollars] or more”, he said, and “the United States is running out of missiles for its own defence.” Furthermore, the US has fired more than 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Iran during the course of the war. Fully restoring its prewar inventory could take until the end of 2030, according to estimates from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Getting back to pre-war levels across key munitions would take “three to four years”, Bury said. “The problem is to solve that issue takes a long time, even when you press Go with the money.” Tehran has also promised t o h i t b a c k h a r d e r. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared last month that the era of “proportionate responses” was over. Renewed attacks could also cost Washington access to some Gulf bases, Ashraf said. Iran's recent retaliation has targeted Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain, sparing other Gulf states that Ashraf said may have reached an understanding with Tehran to stay out of the fighting. Could a US ground
operation against Iran be an option? It is very unlikely, experts say. One target could be Kharg Island, 26km (16 miles) off Iran's coast, which handles about 90 percent of Iran's exports. Joseph Votel, a former US Central Command (CENTCOM) commander, has said 800 to 1,000 soldiers
could take it, but they would be highly exposed to fire from the mainland, according to Reuters. Ashraf said US forces could launch a limited invasion, likely preceded by electronic warfare to blind Iranian defences. But Iran would then attack the island itself. “They don't need very much in the way of targeting
information, once they know the island is occupied by American forces,” he said. “And the appetite for casualties is low in a war that is already very unpopular.” Iran could also hit oil infrastructure across the Gulf in return, he warned, concluding that the seizure of Kharg Island would be “the most irrational of the irrational decisions”.
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Opposition leader doubles down on assassination attempt as bullet riddled vehicle returned by police
Picketers in front of embassies Leader of the Opposition Azzrudin Mohamed has publicly accused elements within the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the government of a deliberate attempt on his life, following the return of his vehicle from the Kitty Police Station. Speaking during a Facebook Live broadcast on Tuesday while inspecting the returned vehicle, the opposition leader displayed multiple bullet holes visible on the bodywork, windows, and structural pillars of the car. He rejected previous assertions made by authorities regarding heavy window tinting, demonstrating on camera that the front windscreen was entirely clear and side windows fell within legal transparency limits. Pointing to shot damage along the side stanchion and driver’s side door panel, the opposition leader argued that the trajectory of the bullets indicated a direct attempt to inflict fatal or paralysing injuries. “If this was two inches more- a millisecond more- it would have been in my back,” he stated during the broadcast, describing the incident as an intentional, closerange shooting aimed at him and his passengers, identified as Mario Mohammed and Eugene Thorne. Recounting the night of October 12 at the intersection of
One of the bullet holes in vehicle
Vlissengen Road and Sandy Babb Street, he stated that upon being intercepted by a police vehicle, he immediately stepped out of the front passenger seat with his hands raised in surrender before shots were fired. The opposition leader singled out Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, alleging that the officer fired indiscriminately despite his clear surrendering posture. He further alleged that following the shooting, officers physically assaulted him, placed him in handcuffs, and conducted a search of the vehicle that initially yielded
no illegal items. He claimed that a rusty .32 firearm was subsequently planted near the accelerator pedal during a secondary inspection while the vehicle was being transported to the police station. Additional allegations were leveled against officer Rodwell Sarabo, with the opposition leader characterising both officers as key figures operating with political protection and impunity. Throughout the broadcast, the opposition leader repeatedly called on the administration of President Irfaan Ali to publicly release all
IDB increases lending capacity to US$138B The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) has increased its additional lending capacity to US$138 billion over the next decade to support development in Latin America and the Caribbean, reflecting the impact of institutional reforms and financial innovation. Additional lending headroom has increased by 68% this year, from US$82 billion to US$138 billion over the next 10 years, exceeding initial projections, the bank said in a press release. The increase is driven by capital-adequacy reforms,
exposure-exchange agreements, and revised credit-rating agency criteria. The IDB Group’s US$138 billion in additional space accounts for nearly 20% of the US$792 billion in additional lending capacity collectively reported today by the heads of multilateral development banks (MDBs) in Manila. The IDB Group is on track to reach its ambition of providing US$500 billion in financing over the next decade. “The increase in lending capacity demonstrates how capitaladequacy measures, innovation, and prudent risk management can
help multilateral development banks expand their scale and impact while maintaining financial strength,” said IDB Group President Ilan Goldfajn. At the IDB, the public-sector arm of the IDB Group, additional lending headroom increased as a result of financial innovations as well as revised credit-rating agency criteria for the institution’ s financial strength. At IDB Invest, the privatesector arm of the IDB Group, lending headroom was supported by internal risk-tolerance adjustments, expanded commercial risk-transfer activities, and improved creditrating agency criteria.
police and smart-city CCTV camera footage captured at the scene on October 12 at approximately 11:45 p.m. He said the footage would confirm his account of surrendering with raised hands, the subsequent shooting, the timeline of the vehicle search, and alleged physical abuse. “If I were in the wrong, they would have already released it- it would have been everywhere,” he said, citing instances where trafficrelated footage involving his drivers was made available within minutes. In addition to demanding that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) initiate an independent investigation and lay attempted murder charges against Officer Narine, the opposition leader called on the international community to take action. Before the vehicle’s release,
supporters and representatives of the opposition gathered in front of diplomatic missions in G e o rg e t o w n , i n c l u d i n g t h e Canadian High Commission and the United States Embassy. Demonstrators demanded that foreign governments intervene by revoking the travel visas of Officers Prem Narine and Rodwell Sarabo, citing allegations of police brutality, human rights violations, and extrajudicial actions. The opposition leader affirmed that despite his recent 81-hour detention, he remains steadfast in his political mandate. “No matter what you do under this government, you cannot silence me,” he declared. The government and the Guyana Police Force have not yet issued an updated response to the specific claims made during the live broadcast.
20,000 applications for loans at Guyana Development Bank President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali said on Tuesday that the newly launched Guyana Development Bank is attracting significant interest from Guyanese, with an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 persons already applying for support to pursue business ventures and entrepreneurial opportunities. The head of state made the disclosure during an interview, noting that the strong response, coupled with the convenience of the application process, signals an encouraging start for the national initiative, launched on 5th October. “Imagine launching such a huge national programme. You have maybe 15,000, 20,000 persons who have applied already, without a line, without a single line, without any long line anywhere, just from their bedroom, from their desk, on a cricket field,” President Ali said. Applications are currently undergoing evaluation, with the relevant teams assessing submissions and categorising applicants according to the sectors in which they intend to invest. He
also noted the promising ideas emerging from the applications, including those submitted by young people. The bank is being designed to combine digital efficiency with a physical presence across the country, allowing applicants to access assistance without creating an extensive bureaucratic structure. The bank is being designed to combine digital efficiency with a physical presence across the country, allowing applicants to access assistance without creating an extensive bureaucratic structure. He urged citizens to obtain their digital identification cards and establish bank accounts, describing these as essential components of the country’s expanding digital framework. “The future that you’re building is built on these important national assets,” the president stated. Meanwhile, the bank’s board is considering candidates for the position of chief executive officer, with the president indicating that an appointment is expected soon. (DPI)
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UN reports more than 1,000 killed in Haiti as gang violence persists (CNW) More than 1,000 people were killed in Haiti between July and September as armed gangs continued to challenge state authority, according to the United Nations, which is calling for sustained international support to strengthen security operations and advance the country's political transition. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the UN secretary-general's special representative for Haiti, presented the figures to the Security Council on Monday, October 19, saying the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) had also documented more than 100 kidnapping victims during the three-month period. He warned that sexual violence remained
widespread and self-defence groups continued to expand as gangs adapted their tactics in response to intensified security operations. “On the ground, we are witnessing increasing reliance on retaliatory violence against communities, including hostage-taking and other forms of intimidation,” Ruiz Massieu said, adding that gangs were seeking to undermine state authority, maintain territorial control and spread fear. He condemned the violence and urged Haitian authorities to strengthen national security institutions and take measures to protect communities. The briefing came as the international Gang
ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19 You don't normally tend toward frugality, but today you could go overboard with your spending. Frustration from all sides makes you want to release it all at once by acquiring new possessions. Some failures that you may have experienced over the past few days could have you beating yourself up today . Perhaps you feel that you were too hasty or too sloppy and could have done things better. Today you might be able to tune in to the thoughts and feelings of others, but you aren't likely to know exactly how to handle the situation. Group activities are probably very much on your agenda today. You could attend an online meeting or lecture and later participate in a group chat with a bunch of friends.
Suppression Force (GSF) expanded its presence in metropolitan Port-au-Prince and the Artibonite Department, supported by additional troop deployments. Ruiz Massieu welcomed the expansion but said the force's full deployment remained critical to addressing the security crisis. He also acknowledged the Haitian government's decision to increase funding for national security institutions, including the Haitian National Police and the Armed Forces of Haiti. The latest security concerns coincide with an attack on Salvadoran personnel serving with the GSF. Four Salvadoran
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Although your financial situation appears to be on the upswing, you still might be feeling pessimistic and indifferent about money and life in general. A minor and rather silly quarrel with a friend or romantic partner could have you downin the dumps. You might need to get away for a while before you can make sense of it all. SAGIT (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Pressures on the job may be mounting. You might feel so disgruntled that you want to chuck it all and run away. Foreign countries and distant states may suddenly seem far more appealing than usual. CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Demands made by friends, children, or the special person in your life might have you feeling like you're moving in a dozen different directions at once.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Too much pressure on the job could have you feeling like chucking it all and going somewhere by yourself. You might be tempted to go on a spending spree or overindulge in food or drink.
A number of deliveries, service people, emails, or phone calls might keep you jumping today, right when you're in the mood for a quiet day.
Inner conflict regarding spiritual matters might have you questioning your and others' beliefs. You might doubt just about everything, Virgo, and you could be tempted into angry debates over different concepts.
A close friend might pass along some seemingly harmless but nonetheless untrue gossip, Pisces. Don't accept anything you hear today until you check the facts for yourself.
aviation technicians went missing after their armoured vehicle was attacked with explosives and set on fire in Croix-des-Bouquets, near Port-au-Prince, on Sunday, October 18. The technicians escaped the burning vehicle, but their whereabouts remained unknown as efforts to reach the area were hampered by intense fighting. The incident has highlighted the dangers facing international personnel operating in gangaffected areas. Guatemala also announced the deployment of a new contingent of military police to support the GSF. The move forms part of international efforts to reinforce security operations in Haiti.Despite the security challenges, preparations for elections have continued. Ruiz Massieu told the Security Council that more than 35 political parties and groupings and more than 3,500 candidates had registered, marking significant progress after more than a decade without
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Haiti, Carlos Ruis Massieu, briefs the Security Council. UN Photo / Loey Felipe elections. A revised electoral decree published on October 6 introduced measures including an extended candidate registration period, provisions intended to facilitate women's candidacies and online voter registration. However, Ruiz Massieu cautioned that election dates must be based on realistic assessments of security and logistical conditions. “The repeated announcement of electoral dates without a realistic assessment of their
feasibility can only erode public confidence and the credibility of Haitian institutions,” he said. He also called for stronger national mechanisms to address allegations of crime and corruption, saying the rule of law and judicial system would be essential to restoring public confidence in state institutions. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen. Renewed insecurity displaced more than 17,000 people over the preceding three months, bringing the number of internally displaced people in Haiti to nearly 1.5 million, including more than 740,000 children. The country's economic outlook also remains bleak, with the economy projected to contract for a seventh consecutive year in 2026. Ruiz Massieu said less than half of the humanitarian response plan for the year had been funded, warning that the gap between humanitarian needs and available assistance could widen without additional international support. He stressed that security operations alone would not deliver lasting stability, calling for a Haitian-led approach combining the recovery of territory with a sustained state presence, justice initiatives and programmes to disarm, dismantle and reintegrate armed groups, with particular attention to children recruited by gangs. Ruiz Massieu urged UN member states to maintain their support for Haiti, including contributions to the GSF trust fund and the Haiti Peace Dividend Fund. He said progress in s e c u r i t y, p o l i t i c s a n d election preparations would need to advance together to help restore democratically elected institutions and lay the foundations for lasting peace and stability.
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GDF in the lead, Western Tigers hunting up the ladder G By Rawle Toney
uyana Defence Force (GDF) continue to set the standard in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League Season VIII, but Western Tigers clawed their way up the table after another strong weekend of competition at the National Training Centre in Providence. In the latest points standing for the country's premier football league, former champions GDF sit atop the standings with a perfect record of five wins from five matches, collecting 15 points without conceding a goal. However, current title holders, Slingerz FC, having won all four of their matches, remain unbeaten and firmly in contention with 12 points.
Western Tigers FC also have 12 points from five matches, but Slingerz hold a game in hand and have an opportunity to strengthen their position as the title race begins to take shape. Western Tigers send emphatic message Western Tigers delivered one of the weekend's most impressive performances, crushing Den Amstel FC 5-0 to strengthen their hold on
second place with 12 points. The comprehensive victory lifted their goal tally to 21, the highest in the league, while their defensive record remains equally impressive, with just three goals conceded in five matches. However, their only defeat so far came against G D F, u n d e r l i n i n g t h e challenge they face in catching the league leaders. Slingerz, meanwhile, remain level on points with Western Tigers but have played one fewer match. The defending champions have scored 13 goals and conceded just twice in four outings, giving them a goal difference of +11. With a game in hand and a perfect record, Slingerz remain firmly positioned to challenge GDF for top spot. Their consistency at both ends of the pitch will be crucial as the competition intensifies. GDF maintain defensive excellence GDF further underlined their title credentials picking up a 4 – 0 win in their last match against Santos FC, with goals compliments of Trayon Bobb (34'), Abumchi Opara (57', 90+2') and Seon Tyshawn Cato (90'). The reigning contenders
Western Tigers on a four-game win streak in the GFF Elite League
have been outstanding defensively, keeping five consecutive clean sheets while scoring 19 goals. Their goal difference of +19 is the best in the competition, reflecting their dominance
across the opening rounds. Santos, by contrast, remain fifth with six points from four matches. They have scored five goals but conceded 10, leaving them with a goal difference of -5. Police force their way into contention The Guyana Police Force FC also enjoyed a productive weekend, defeating Monedderlust FC 4-0 to move to nine points and fourth place. The result strengthened Police's position in the upper half of the standings, placing them within striking distance of the leading trio. With three wins from five matches, the lawmen will be eager to maintain their momentum and close the gap on the front-runners. Monedderlust, however, remain ninth with three points from four matches. Their goal difference of -15
highlights the defensive difficulties they must address to climb away from the lower end of the table. Ann's Grove and Camptown share points In the weekend's other fixture, Camptown FC and Ann's Grove United FC played to a goalless draw, with neither side able to find the breakthrough. The result took Ann's Grove to four points from five matches, leaving them sixth, while Camptown earned their first point of the campaign after five outings. Camptown remain at the foot of the table, with four defeats and one draw. They have scored four goals and conceded 14, leaving them with a goal difference of -10. Title race set to intensify With GDF maintaining a flawless record, Slingerz continuing to apply pressure a n d We s t e r n T i g e r s
producing goals in abundance, the battle for supremacy in Season VIII is gathering momentum. The next round will be particularly important for Slingerz, who have the opportunity to make up ground on the leaders while keeping their unbeaten run intact. Meanwhile, Western Tigers will look to build on their emphatic win, and Police will aim to establish themselves as genuine challengers. At the other end of the table, the pressure is mounting on Camptown, Monedderlust and Den Amstel to arrest their respective slumps. With plenty of football still to be played, the latest results have shown that GDF may lead the way, but Slingerz and Western Tigers are determined to keep the title race alive.
GBF names boys' and girls' teams... From page 35 Osafa Johnson and Ann Gordon will lead the girls' squad. The Federation believes the combination of returning players and emerging talent will provide a solid foundation as Guyana seeks to make a strong impression at the regional tournament. The Inter-Guiana Games holds a rich history in basketball, particularly through the longstanding rivalry between Guyana and Suriname, which has produced
numerous competitive encounters over the years. French Guiana's involvement has further strengthened the tournament's regional significance, creating additional opportunities for young players to gain international exposure and experience. For the GBF, the tournament represents an important platform for developing young talent, strengthening regional relationships and identifying players capable of progressing to higher levels of competition.
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Reeves masterclass inspires South Africa's one-wicket heist against West Indies By Clifton Ross Ryan Reeves produced a match-winning all-round performance to guide defending champions South Africa to a thrilling one-
wicket victory over hosts West Indies in the IMC Over-40s World Cup 2026 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, yesterday. In a gripping encounter,
Reeves delivered with both bat and ball, first claiming two wickets before unleashing a blistering halfcentury to propel South Africa to victory and leave the Windies still searching
South Africa snatched a thrilling one-wicket victory over the West Indies yesterday, leaving the tournament hosts still searching for their first win for their first win of the tournament. Opting to bat, the West Indies were anchored by opener Randy Thomas, who struck a composed 78 off 74 deliveries. His innings featured 12 boundaries and provided the foundation for the hosts to establish a competitive total. Thomas found support from fellow opener Sewnarine Chattergoon, with the pair providing a solid start to the Windies' innings. Seasoned spinner Imran Khan was among the leading wicket-takers for the home side, finishing with figures of 3-52 from nine overs as South Africa worked to keep the hosts in check. Reeves led South Africa's bowling effort with a disciplined spell of 2-47 from nine overs, while
teammate Piet Botha recorded identical figures, helping to restrict the Windies' scoring opportunities. However, it was during the chase that Reeves truly stamped his authority on the contest. The South African batter launched a devastating assault on the West Indies bowling attack, smashing 64 runs from just 29 deliveries at a remarkable strike rate of 220.69. His explosive innings included eight fours and three sixes, swinging the momentum firmly in the defending champions' favour. Reeves received valuable support from B r e n d o n R e d d y, w h o contributed an aggressive 52 off 35 balls. Reddy struck four sixes and maintained a strike rate of 148.57,
ensuring South Africa remained firmly in contention during a tense pursuit. Despite losing nine wickets, South Africa held their nerve to secure the narrow victory, underlining the resilience and experience that have made them a formidable force in the over40s competition. For the West Indies, the defeat will be a difficult one to absorb after Thomas and Chattergoon laid a solid platform. The hosts will now need to regroup quickly as the group-stage fixtures continue across Guyana. South Africa's dramatic triumph keeps their title defence on track, while the Windies are left seeking a turnaround in their campaign.
West Indies top scorer Randy Thomas, alongside opening partner Sewnarine Chattergoon, provided a solid start for the hosts.
Wednesday October 21, 2026
Kaieteur News
Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana set for IGG showdown …eight sporting disciplines to feature as regional rivals converge in Suriname
G
uyana's young athletes are preparing to represent the country at the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG), scheduled for October 23–26 in Suriname, where competitors from the three territories will battle for regional honours across eight sporting disciplines. The Games, which date back to 1967, will feature athletics, aquatics, basketball, futsal, volleyball, chess, judo and boxing, providing studentathletes with an opportunity to showcase their talents while strengthening sporting ties among Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Competition will be
French Guiana on Friday at 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm, respectively, before facing Suriname on Saturday at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm Boxing enthusiasts can anticipate GuyanaSuriname contests on Saturday from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Athletics will run from 9:00 am on Saturday and Sunday, while aquatics takes place at Parima from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm on both days. Chess runs across all three days, while judo is scheduled for Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Team Guyana Athletics: Esther McKinnon, Adanya Glen, Ronessa Johnson, Russheeda Hartley, Areanna
Junelly Paddy, Ricielle Fowler, Ciara Persaud, Krizel Wells, Brianna Benjamin, Breann Ritchie, Chazaiah Bernard, Darren Dublin, Avion Kesney, Terron Mohabir, Josiah Cumberbatch, Mattaniah Fordyce, Tyreek Sampson, Stephan Duke, Tyler Tappin, Leon Simon and Hartley Price. C h e s s : S a n a Sreebalakumar, Parnita Kishun, Emma John, Ciel Clement, Darrel Abrams, Jeremy Cole, Abel Fernandez Ciria and Bojia Nicholas Zhang. Futsal: Quaency Fraser, J a m a l F r a s e r, D a r i u s Chester, Shaquan David, Isaiah Ifill, Malcolm Hendricks, Luke Langevine,
From left: Directors of Sport Steve Ninvalle (Guyana), Tatiana Tisserand (French Guiana) and Enrique Ralim (Suriname). staged at several venues, including the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall for basketball, futsal and volleyball; the Ring Center for judo; Residence Inn for chess; Andre Kampervene Stadium for athletics; and Parima for aquatics. Boxing will take place outside the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall. Guyana's basketball teams will face French Guiana on Friday, with the female encounter at 2:30 pm and the male contest at 4:30 p.m. Both teams will meet hosts Suriname on Saturday, before the basketball programme concludes with Suriname facing French Guiana on Sunday. Futsal begins Friday, with Guyana's male team facing French Guiana at 1:00 pm. The team will return to action against Suriname on Sunday at 1:30 pm. In volleyball, Guyana's female and male teams meet
Bart, Shanea Moore, Tesianna Harris, Esther Blair, Kunusasha Medas King, Christina Lindore, Tierra Lekha, Tasianna Benjamin, Alysa Jacobs, Ade Sealy, David Williams, Keimal Gishard, Michael Kyte, Nathaniel Samaroo, Ezekiel Millington, Malique Kendall, Alvin Richmond, Courtney Haynes, Jadel Liverpool, Ebo McNeil, Timothy Smith and Jordan Dos Santos. Aquatics: Andica Vieira, Ashley Ramsammy, Yadhira Toocaram, Katy Budhan, Zafirah Hackett, Duru Gokcal, Kyra Soares, Zariah D e y, M a k e e n H o p e , Malakhiy Patokie, Shiven Singh, Jordan Agrippa, Michael Thompson, Jelani Odinga, Jaden Mercurius and Zidan John. Basketball: Sherece Leacock, Malia Samuels, Kassidy Woolford, Lanasha Mohammed, Kenesha Fraser, Ronaya Grant,
Caedon Whyte, Seon Grant, Ranny Yaw, Mark Glasgow, Michael Joseph, Randy K i n g , J e r m i n e J u n o r, Gregory Richardson, Deshane Garnett, Colin Abel and Otis Williams. Volleyball: Deaundre Alcee, Aqeel Butcher, Luquacy Brummell, Marvin David, Mark David, Dominic Newman, Marcus Samuels, Kobe Marshall, Jamari Benons, Jonathan Bissoondial, Shakeel Dawson, Me-Shack Roberts, Isabella De Freitas, Seandra Carrington, Amisha Hooper, Aliyah Blackman, Sharissa Moore, Shevane Livan, Jahnia Rodney, Sonia Agapchenko, Delencia Campbell, Jasmin Joseph, Deborah Leitch and Priya Henry. Boxing: Itavius Vanderstoop (48kg), Ken Harvey (66kg), Ryan Rogers (57kg), Josh Chester (46kg), Kenisha Klass (50kg) and Akella Macey (60kg).
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Wednesday October 21, 2026
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U15 Golden Jaguars depart for historic FIFA World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan
Guyana's U15 boys' national football team departed for Azerbaijan for the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival.
Guyana's U15 boys' national football team departed today for Baku, Azerbaijan, where the young Golden Jaguars will represent the nation at the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival. The tournament, scheduled to be held at the Hovsan Competition Complex, is an international event expected to bring together more than 3,000 players, coaches and officials from around the world. The competition will feature an eight-aside format, with matches consisting of two 20-minute halves. Guyana will contest five qualificationstage matches from October 24 to 26, facing the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mauritius, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam and Vietnam. The Golden Jaguars will open their campaign against Iran on October 24 at 11:30 am, before taking on Mauritius the following day at 10:15 am. Guyana will then face Bosnia and Herzegovina at 5:00 pm on October 25, before completing the qualification stage with matches against Brunei Darussalam at 9:00 am and Vietnam at 3:45 pm on October 26. Head Coach Trevon Lythcott will lead the 14-man squad, supported by Assistant Coach Jamal Pedro and Goalkeeper Coach Delon Young.The selection features a blend of locally based and international-based players, reflecting the Guyana Football Federation's (GFF) continued commitment to expanding development opportunities for young footballers and exposing them to higher levels of competition. Western Tigers FC defender Nyron Barrow will captain the side, with Tyler
Abrams of Den Amstel FC, Joel Griffith and Lawrence Wong of Vurlon Mills Football Academy completing the defensive contingent. The midfield features Mark Stewart of South Side High School International, Kijani Drakes of Met Oval Academy International, Mateo Morel of Florida Kraze Krush FC, Jashan Haynes of Vurlon Mills Football Academy and Malachi Muhammad of Den Amstel FC. In attack, Guyana will look to Joel Stephen of Buxton Stars FC, Jaden Christian of Fruta Conquerors FC and Callum La-Rose of North Toronto FC to provide the offensive impetus. Goalkeeping duties will be shared by Christiano Solomon of Paradise Invaders FC and Royston Winter of Gladiators FC. GFF President Wayne Forde has highlighted the importance of the U15 Youth Ensemble Championship in identifying and developing promising players for future national team representation, reinforcing the significance of providing young footballers with structured pathways into the senior programme. The inaugural FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival is designed to broaden access to international football, particularly for member associations that face challenges qualifying for traditional FIFA competitions. By bringing together young players from diverse footballing environments, the initiative aims to promote competitive development, cultural exchange and opportunities for participating nations to assess their progress against international opposition.
D'Anjou, Tyrell lead Guyana's... From page 35 tournament by JCMA's Ryan Cox and Alfredo Ramirez of the Academy of Contemporary Martial Arts. Cox was awarded a victory by opponent forfeit against Ramirez. Both Guyanese fighters, however, faced a formidable challenge in Trinidadian Orlando Charles of Fight Club. Charles defeated Ramirez by submission before stopping Cox by technical knockout, accounting for two of Trinidad's victories in the tournament. Although the results did not favour the Guyanese pair in their matchups against Charles, their participation added to the host nation's representation across the event's divisions.Regional competition provides
platform for development RAGE 2 offered Guyanese MMA athletes an opportunity to compete on home soil while testing their skills against fighters from neighbouring territories. The event featured 15 athletes and included 10 contested bouts, eight of which ended by knockout, technical knockout or submission, while two were decided by the judges. Three additional victories were recorded by opponent forfeit. For the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation (GYMMAF) and the wider local MMA community, the event provided a platform for competition, experience and continued development.
Kaieteur News
Wednesday October 21, 2026
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D'Anjou, Tyrell lead Guyana's winning charge at RAGE 2 Corwin D'Anjou and Samuel Tyrell delivered emphatic finishing performances, while Zaim Sampson and Vladimir Rodriguez secured decision victories to headline Guyana's results at RAGE 2, held on October 17 at Parc Rayne, hosted by the Guyana Mixed Martial Arts Federation. GMMAF (GYMMAF). The four Guyanese fighters recorded victories by submission, knockout and judges' decision,
...Sampson and Rodriguez add decision victories as local MMA fighters test themselves against regional opposition representing the local clubs JCMA, Academy of Contemporary Martial Arts and Pheonix BJJ&MMA. Guyana recorded four victories in contested bouts, alongside two wins awarded by opponent forfeit. D'Anjou and Tyrel l shine on main card D'Anjou produced one of the
The GYMMAF brought MMA action to life over the weekend.
MMA action took over Parc Rayne
highlighting the range of talent on display as local competitors faced opponents from Trinidad and Suriname at the regional mixed martial arts (MMA) event. Eight Guyanese athletes competed across the main fight card and two tournaments,
standout performances of the night, defeating Trinidadian Keron Bourne by guillotine submission in a professional bout. The victory provided a strong statement from the Guyanese fighter, who secured one of the host nation's two main-card wins.
Tyrell, representing Pheonix BJJ&MMA, also delivered a decisive result, knocking out Trinidad's Jeremy Rodulfo to give Guyana another victory against international opposition. However, the main card also presented challenges for Guyana's representatives. JCMA's Anthony Johnson was stopped by Suriname's Jadhiel Redout in just 14 seconds, while teammate Shane Bennett lost by submission to Chael Main, with both opponents representing Fight Centre Suriname. Despite those setbacks, Guyana maintained a presence in every main-card matchup, gaining valuable experience against regional competition.
Sampson and Rodriguez deliver in bantamweight tournament The four-man bantamweight segment produced two important results for Guyana, with Sampson and Rodriguez each recording a decision victory over Suriname's Marvel Ristra. Sampson, representing the Academy of Contemporary Martial Arts, earned a split-decision win over Ristra, demonstrating his ability to prevail in a closely contested encounter. Rodriguez of JCMA secured a unanimous-decision victory against the same opponent, giving Guyana another success on the judges' scorecards. Sampson also received a win by opponent forfeit against
Rodriguez, although the tournament results reflected a challenging field that included Trinidadian Damani Adams of Fight Club. Adams proved difficult to contain, submitting Sampson in the opening minute and defeating Ristra by submission. He also received a forfeit victory against Rodriguez. Nevertheless, the Guyanese pair each secured a contested-bout victory, ensuring that both local entrants left the tournament with a win against regional opposition. Cox and Ramirez face tough light heavyweight challenge Guyana was also represented in the three-man light heavyweight (Continued on page 34)
GBF names boys' and girls' teams for Inter-Guiana Games basketball showdown The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) has named its boys' and girls' teams for the basketball competition at the 2026 InterGuiana Games (IGG), scheduled for October 23–25 at the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall in Suriname. The girls team will come from Sherese Leacock, Malia Samuels, Brianna Benjamin, Lanasha Mohamed, Breann Ritchie, Kassidy Woolford, Junelly Paddy, Krizel Wells, Ronaya Grant, Ricielle Fowler, Kennesha Fraser and Ciara Persaud. Meanwhile, the boys team come from Mattaniah Fordyce, Stephan Duke, Terron Mohabir, Darren Dublin, Tyreek Sampson, Chaziah Bernard, Tyler Tappin, Josiah Cumberbatch, Hartley Price, Avion Kesney and Leon Simon. The competition will bring together
student-athletes aged 18 and under from Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, with the young Guyanese players preparing to test their skills against familiar regional rivals in their pursuit of international success. Guyana's girls will open their campaign against French Guiana on Friday at 2:30 pm, before the boys take to the court in the second game of the double-header. Both teams will return to action on Saturday, facing hosts Suriname from 3:30 pm. The GBF is anticipating competitive performances from both squads, with a blend of returning players and newcomers expected to bring experience, fresh energy and determination to the national teams. The boys' team will be guided by coaches Warren Wilson and Kwesi Thompson, while (Continued on page 31)
Breann Ritchie (left) and Junely Paddy are members of the IGG female basketball team.
D'Anjou, Tyrell lead Guyana's winning charge at RAGE 2 …Sampson and Rodriguez add decision victories as local MMA fighters test themselves against regional opposition
Corwin D'Anjou defeated Trinidadian Keron Bourne by guillotine submission (Brandon Ramjit/StapleStudio photos)
s t r o Sp
GDF in the lead, Western Tigers hunting up the ladder
GDF FC sitting comfortably at the top of the GFF Elite League table
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