Kaieteur News

Exxon extends contracts for four drillships operating in Stabroek Block until 2029

ExxonMobil has extended its contractwithNobleCorporationto keep four drill rigs in the Stabroek Block,until2029.

TheNobleTomMadden,Noble Sam Croft, Noble Don Taylor and Noble Bob Douglas which were deployed to Guyana will continue operationsuntilFebruary2029.

Noble Corporation made the announcementthisweekinitsFleet Status Report The American drilling company announced new contract awards for nine rigs comprising approximately US$1.3 billionofbacklog.

It said, “ExxonMobil has awardedtwoadditionalrigyearsof backlog under the Commercial Enabling Agreement (CEA) in Guyana which has been assigned evenly across the four drillships –Noble Sam Croft, Noble Don Taylor, Noble Tom Madden and Noble Bob Douglas – extending eachrigthroughFebruary2029.”

Noble did not reveal the day rates for the rigs that will continue operating in the Stabroek Block. It however indicated in its Fleet StatusReportthatthepriceswillbe marketbased.

One of the drillships that operates in Guyana: The Noble Bob Douglas

According to the company, “Our drilling contracts generally provide for payment on a day rate basis, with higher rates for periods when the drilling unitisoperatingandlower rates or zero rates for periods when drilling operations are interrupted orrestricted.”

The day rate invoices billed to the customer are typicallydeterminedbased on the varying rates applicable to the specific activities performed on an hourlybasis.

“Such day rate consideration is allocated to the distinct hourly increment it relates to within the contract term and, therefore, recognised in line with the contractual rate billed for the services provided for any given hour,”thecompanyadded.

President and Chief Executive OfficerofNoble,RobertW Eifler commented that these important backlog additions indicate a strong and broad-based demand fordeep-waterdrillingonamultiyearbasis

Eifler said, “Additionally, the

redeploymentoffourcurrentlyidle deep-water rigs should drive a meaningful

sation improvementacrossourfleet,with 92% of our 24 marketed floaters now contracted compared to 75% inourpriorfleetstatusreport.”

He was keen to note that the programswillhelpthecompanyto drivecashflowinfutureyears.

In addition to Guyana, the drilling company noted that new contracts were awarded for rigs to operateinNorway,Nigeria,theUS GulfandTrinidadamongothers.

InMaylastyear,KaieteurNews

reportedthatthemarket-basedday rateforthefourdrillshipsthatwork in Guyana is pegged at

US$400,000 each, however market-based day rates are reset twice per year (March 1, and September 1 each year) to the projectedmarketrateatthattime.

In keeping with the Petroleum Agreement Guyana signed with ExxonMobil in 2016, the country will be required to foot the bill associatedwiththedrillrigs.

AboutNobleCorporationplc Noble is a leading offshore drilling contractor for the oil and

gas industry The Company owns and operates one of the most modern, versatile, and technically advanced fleets in the offshore drilling industry Noble and its predecessorshavebeenengagedin the contract drilling of oil and gas wellssince1921.

Noble performs, through its subsidiaries, contract drilling services with a fleet of offshore drilling units focused largely on ultra-deep-water and high specification jackup drilling opportunities in both established andemergingregionsworldwide.

Despite higher production...

Guyana recorded lower oil revenues in 2025 as price declines

In 2025, Guyana’s total oil exports grew by an estimated 15.8% yet the country recorded lowerearningsfromthesector,due toasignificantdeclineinoilprices.

This was highlighted by the Finance Minister, Dr.Ashni Singh during the presentation of Budget 2026 at the Arthur Chung Conference Center, Liliendaal, GreaterGeorgetown.

Hesaid,“Oilpricesdeclinedin 2025, with crude oil prices averagingUS$69perbarrel,14.5% below the 2024 average, largely reflecting strong supply growth, whichoutpacedsofterdemandand contributedtorisinginventories.”

In the 2025 Budget, government estimated that oil pricesaveragedUS$80.7perbarrel in 2024, a 2.3% contraction from thepreviousyear

As a result of the decline in oil price last year, Guyana’s Natural Resource Fund (NRF) or the oil accountsawareductioninrevenue flow, although the country’s production capacity increased.

According to the 2026 Budget, Guyana received a total of US$2.4B last year The country in

2025recorded260Mbarrelsofoil.

Meanwhile, in 2024, Guyana producedanaverage225.4million barrels of crude oil and earned US$2 6B according to Budget 2025.

Guyana currently has four Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs) operating in the Stabroek Block.

According to information presented by the government, Liza Destiny produced an average of approximately 134,300 bpd, the Liza Unity FPSO at 249,500 bpd, the Prosperity FPSO at a rate of 255,200 bpd, and the One Guyana FPSOatjustunder191,000bpd.

Under the 2016 Production SharingAgreement (PSA), Guyana receives 12 5% of profits

ExxonMobilisallowedtotake75% of the oil produced every month to coveritsexpensesandalsoenjoysa 12.5%profitshare.Inadditiontoits 12.5%profits,Guyanaalsoreceives 2%ofgrossproductionasroyalty.

Government was previously warnedtoring-fencetheprojectsin the Stabroek Block to ensure the country enjoys early benefits from the sector, especially as oil prices

wereexpectedtodeclineinlightof the global transition to cleaner energy sources While more countries have been increasing theiruseofrenewableenergy,other developments, have resulted in an oversupplyofthecommodity

Notably, the recent move by United States President Donald Trump to abduct the President of Venezuela and takeover the country’s oil resources is likely to havefurtherimpactsonthepriceof oil. In fact, Trump has already signaled his intent to use Venezuelan oil to lower the price

perbarreltoUS$50.

Recently, the former Finance Minister,WinstonJordancitedfull support for ring-fencing, a provisionhesaidhesupportedfrom thebeginning.

“Isupportringfencingthenand now. Were we in a better negotiating position then, I’m sure we would have insisted on it or somevariantofit,”hetoldKaieteur News.

DuringtheCoalition’stenurein office between 2015 and 2020, the government negotiated and signed a Petroleum Agreement with

Americanoilmajor,ExxonMobil.

Acknowledgingamajorflawin thecontract,hesaidthatthelackof ring-fencing exposes Guyana to severe financial risks, protecting insteadthecompany’sprofits.

He told this newspaper, “No ring-fencing has effectively transferred all the risks of investment decisions to, and the actualsearchfor,newoilfieldsfrom ExxontotheGovernmentofGuyana while Exxon maintains a high premiumonsuchinvestments” With more and more developments being approved in the absence of a ring-fencing provision, the country has been receiving meager profits, delayed to facilitate cost recovery Ringfencing would ensure the country receive half of the profit from a project after its development costs arerecovered.

The government of Guyana however made it clear on several occasions that it does not intend to implement this provision in the Stabroek Block. It said it would receive “massive” revenue in the future after the country pays off Exxonforitsinvestments.

WIN to meet opposition GECOM commissioners

today

…APNU says Mohamed should have engaged the party before talks with Commission

Leader of the Opposition and theWeInvestinNationhood(WIN) party Azruddin Mohamed will be meetingwithopposition-appointed commissioners of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) todaytoironoutmattersrelatingto theirvacationofoffice.

Mohamed, in an invited comment, told Kaieteur News that he h

Alexander, Charles Corbin and Desmond Trotman to a meeting to formally indicate his desire for themtovacatethepost.

“I will be meeting with the commissioners to have a chat with them on the way forward as it relatestoseeiftheywillbeableto still serve, because what I’m hearing is that they’re medically unfit. That is what we are hearing. So,Iwillbemeetingwiththemon Sunday morning to discuss [these issues],”hesaid.

Mohamed told Kaieteur News thathehasmadeseveralattemptsto contact APNU representatives to no avail. He said he called Norton to discuss several matters in relationtoParliamentandhiscalls were unanswered and never returned.

“I called Mister Campbell; he never returned my call. So, I don’t know how we going to move forward,”hestated.

Mohamed indicated last week that he intends to formally request that the APNU-appointed

commissionersonGECOM,vacate theirseats.

The move comes days after Mohamed’selectionasLeaderofthe Opposition, a position previously held by the People’s National Congress-led APNU, whose nomineescurrentlyoccupythethree opposition seats on GECOM With WINnowthemainopposition,new commissioners from the party are expectedtotaketheirplace

On Thursday, Mohamed told KaieteurNewsthatheandhisteam met with Chairperson of GECOM, Justice(Ret’d)ClaudetteSinghand Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Vishnu Persaud to discuss the appointment of scrutineers and the status of the Commissioners following his election as the new Leader of the Opposition, which reflects a changed dynamic in Parliament.

Basedonthediscussion,which

he described as “productive,” the WIN party leader told this newspaper that the party will be writing the three APNU commissionersVincentAlexander, Desmond Trotman and Charles Corbin, who currently sit on the Commissiontoaskthemtoresign. He told this newspaper that his team plans to follow due process which entails utilising all possibilities to ensure the party’s interestsarerepresentedatthelevel of GECOM. “I cannot disclose at this moment for obvious reasons but [the course of action] will dependontheresponsewereceive whenwewritethecommissioners,” Mohamedsaid.

WIN Member of Parliament Duarte Hetsberger who also attended the meeting expounded “The advice of chair is that she cannot remove anyone from the commission… she said that is

outside of her remit. She however believes based on the constitution that the only right thing to do is to have new commissioners in place giventhatthereisnewopposition.”

Following the September 1, general and regional elections, JusticeSinghinanticipationofnew leader of the Opposition and the likely changes at the level of the commission suspended the business of GECOM. The Chair alluded to provisions found in Article 161(3) (B) of the Constitution. “We have had new elections and remember there is a new opposition. It’s not APNU anymoreinpower,thereisanother oppositioninplace;WINwhichhas the majority of 16 seats,” she told KaieteurNewslatelastyear

“When Parliament convenes then the Opposition Leader will have a chance to choose who his commissionersare…”

Article 161 (3) (B) of the ConstitutioninrelationtoGECOM states: the “Three members are to be appointed by the President in accordance with the advice of the opposition leader tendered after meaningful consultation with nongovernmental political parties represented in the National Assembly.” However, the article doesnotgivedirectiononwhenand underwhatcircumstancestheseats shouldbevacated.

However, on Friday, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) argued that WIN should haveengagedthepartyonthestatus of the GECOM commissioners rather than approach the elections body directly WIN’s leadership met with Chairperson of GECOM retiredJusticeClaudetteSinghlast week.

This is the position ofAPNU’s leaderAubrey Norton. Norton told reporters on Friday at his party’s weekly press conference that there has been no change in his party’s position on the removal of o p p o s i t i o n - a p p o i n t e d commissioners.

“...when the chairman of the commission spoke the first time, I saidatourpressconferencethatshe has no authority, that it’s a permanent commission, and that unless there’s a change in the law, notoneofthecommissionerscould beremoved.

Look,Guyanaarrivedata Continued on page 46

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur News

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Publisher: DR. GLENN LALL - TEL: 624-6456

Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

Parliament and Opposition Leader – closing chapter

Living the ideals of democracy has turned out to be a case of chronic backpain for the PPPC Government. Presenting the best face on parliamentary democracy nothingbutacripplingmigraineforthegovernmentandthe ChiefStewardoftheNationalAssembly,SpeakerManzoor Nadir The controversies and delays on beginning the processfortheelectionoftheLeaderoftheOppositionhas leftparliamentinabadlight,broughtittoitsknees. Ifthis is democracy on the move, then we do not want to know whatdictatorshiplookslike.SpeakerNadirhasbeencaught in the middle of storms of his own making. First, he was silent,thenhewasabsent,andlastsoughtrefugeinlashing outatthediplomaticcommunity,onlytoexposehimselfto more self-inflicted ridicule. Speaker Nadir may not be made of the sternest stuff, but cannot (no one can) be this poor of insight, this devoid of self-respect. There is the Constitution,andthereisaprocess,anduponbothheturned hisback,andbroughtparliamenttolowrepute.

TheSpeakerandhisteamofintellectualauthorsinthe government may comfort themselves with the belief that theyhavepokedafingerinAzruddinMohamed’seye,and hung him out to dry It is more than the We Invest In Nationhood(WIN)leader,andallaboutGuyanaandhowit sinksfurtherintheeyesoftheworld. Allthehelpfromthe internationalcommunitytogetGuyanaonitsfeet,togetit goingontheroadtodemocracy,onlyfortheseoutrageous andbackwardstepstobecomethenorm,withthenation’s parliament now a study in political manipulation, and all manner of crass defenses offered to justify the unacceptable.

Guyanaiseitherademocracy,oritismerelyalairwhere theblatantlyodiousdeedsoftwistedmentakeprecedence, reign supreme. Parliament is an expression of the will of thepeople,andtheSpeakeristhepilotthatshepherdsonthe wayforward. Intheory,atleast,thatistheexpectation. In practice, both presences, the House and the Speaker, have diminished to what insults the intelligence and commonsenseofallcitizens. WhentheSpeakerinafitof pretended rage took aim at the sections of the diplomatic community,whentheyspokeoutandsaidthisisnottheway ontheelectionoftheOppositionLeader,andletitbeover, he added more insults and more injuries. The same ABC&Ecohorthasbeenamongthemostvisible,themost potent, and the most steadfast friend to Guyana when electoral storm clouds gathered thickly and dangerously Yet, when it brings the same frankness to the Opposition Leaderfiasco,itispilloriedbynoneotherthantheSpeaker oftheHouse,withhisfingerpointedaccusinglyatwhathas goneonintheircountries.

Sometimes what is held as the best defense is what crumblesunderalong,severelook. TheSpeakerhasalot ofgroundtocovertorecover,ifeverhesucceedsindoing so. Apositionthatrequirestheappearanceofindependence andneutralitynowsuffersfromwhatresemblestherankest of partisanship, and the continuing of parliament’s long slideintodecay. Havingsacrificedthestandingofhishigh office, Speaker Nadir will have difficulty picking up the pieces and facing his fellows in the lawmaking body of Guyana. Therespectthatheshouldcommand,whatshould behisautomatically,haddissipatedbefore,onlytocollapse infurtherdisarrayonhowhepresidedovertheOpposition Leadermatter

The hard choices, the draining sacrifices, that the Speaker had to make, so that parliament can rise to be a respectedbody,heretreatedfrom,wantednopartof. The presentisalreadygivingahardverdictonwhereparliament is,andhowtheSpeakermanagedhimselfwhentheelection oftheOppositionLeaderprocesshadtobestartedbyhim. WhenthehistoryofGuyana’sparliamentanditsrollcallof Speakersarewritten,therewillbeastillharsherjudgment. WebelievethatSpeakerNadirallowedhimselftobecomea prisonerofcircumstances,and,oncetrappedthere,cameto likehiscondition.

Exxon is doing quite well at Guyana’s expense

DEAREDITOR,

Thefinancialmediahere in North America screams headlineslike,“Exxonbeats Wall Street profit targets with help from higher production” Thanks to Guyana, Exxon did exceptionally well in 2025. The company reported its best production, nearly 5 million barrels/day, in 40 years Guyana’s oil production was 875,000 grossbarrelsperday,aclose second after the Permian with1.6millionbarrels. So: what’s in there for Guyana as Exxon ramps up productionsurpassing1mm barrels/day in the coming years.Let’srefreshourbasic understanding of the 2016 PSA formula for what Guyanacould(notwill)earn underidealconditions:

Formula: Royalty + Profit oil “ Tax paid for contractors (Guyana essentially pays itself the corporate tax from its own profit oil) “ Effects of persistentcostrecoveryupto 75%cap.

Point#1:Fastramp-up:

a.Speedscostrecovery;

b. Expands the dollar amount allowed under the 75%cap;

c. Keeps the cost pool large;and

d.KeepsGuyananearthe 12.25%floor

Note that speeding up cost recovery is “bad” for Guyanaintheshorttermasit leads to (a). It can be good long-term, but here’s the catch: with continual new spending, and no ringfencing provision, the pooled costs stay large (c),

andthiswillkeepGuyanaat the theoretical “floor” for a long,longtime. Theflooris a number less than 12.5% duetoGuyana’spayingitself Exxon’s corporate tax from itsshareofprofitoil).

Even so, 12 25% is theoretical, and not “money in the bank” (New York FederalReserve).Infact,itis actually much less for a variety of reasons that accountants know all too well.

Point #2: In constant dollars(i.e.,marketoilprices divided by the U S consumer price index), and with a flat or sliding real oil price environment, Guyana’s real cash receipts fall as oil price falls, even with volumes soaring. So: Guyana’s oil money buys lessandlessinvolumeterms

for imports, priced in U.S dollars.It’slikeyourGuyana dollarbuyinglessandlessat the market, every shopping day Point #3 and key takeaway: Oil production growth ‘“ proportional Government of Guyana revenuegrowth.

Did someone say

“Guyana is not awash in oil”? Reason enough for soundfiscalmanagementfor thedaywillsooncomewhen all the bills for repairs and maintenance (for all that infrastructure), and for new investment, will come due, but there’s not enough, or zero balance, in the Natural R e s o u r c e F u n d Contemporary examples: Nigeria, Venezuela, and TrinidadandTobago.

Sincerely, TerenceM.Yhip

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox

Budget 2026 is exceptional, a deliberate catalyst for continued national development

DEAREDITOR,

The Government has presented to the people of Guyana an exceptional Budget for 2026, one that functions not merely as a fiscal plan, but as a deliberate catalyst for continued and sustained national development and m u l t i - s e c t o r a l transformation on a grandiosescale.

From the outset, it is important to acknowledge an obvious truth: no budget is ever perfect. I submit to you that every national budget, without exception, contains areas that invite criticism, critique and demand refinement That reality is neither new, unusualnorproblematic;itis the essence of democratic governance and public accountability that our country’sdemocracyenjoys. What matters, however, is notperfection,butdirection, intent, and real tangible and intangiblepositiveimpact.

Budgets are not merely abstract financial instruments. They are, fundamentally, moral and political documents. They reveal a government’s priorities, its values, vision and its commitment and responsiveness to the lived conditions, experiences and realities of its citizens Judgedbythisstandard,Iput it to you, that the government’s 2026 Budget stands firmly as a peoplefirst framework, one that carefully balances immediate social support

with long-term economic transformation, and social protection with productive andpragmaticinvestment. It is entirely reasonable that citizens, myself included, may wish to see even greater allocations for public assistance and our senior citizens Such concerns are valid and legitimate and have been echoed by citizens across passed administrations and generations.Theyarepartof the ongoing national conversation about equity andcare.However,itwould beintellectuallydishonestto dismisstheoverallthrustand coherence of the Budget

based on selective dissatisfaction, divorced f r o m i t s b r o a d e r developmentallogic. While the Opposition haschosentofocusnarrowly on the title or theme of the Budget or selected headline figures, and recycled proposals, the government’s approach is anchored in outcomes, some immediate, others structural and longterm. These outcomes include improved wages through respectful and practical collective bargaining processes with unions, enhanced working conditions, expanded employment opportunities, stronger household stability, increased home ownership, and safer, cleaner communities.Centraltothis framework is the deliberate empowerment of our country’s young people through free access to

education, skills training, entrepreneurship, and increased access to affordable financing Investments in the creative or “orange” economy, alongsidethebuildingoutof modern sporting and recording facilities, further signaling its strategic commitment to nurturing talent and diversifying the economy beyond the traditionalsectors.

Equally significant, is the treatment of senior citizens Budget 2026 ensures that our aging Guyanese can live with dignity through expanded healthcare access, free medicines,strengthenedand enhance community health centres, transportation grants,spectacleanddenture assistance, and increased old-age “assistance” I deliberately use the term assistance rather than “pension” for it connotes previous work, as this sustained provision is noncontributoryanduniversalin nature, an entitlement to all Guyanese65yearsandover, grounded in citizenship and age alone, not prior income or location of employment. Whether one resided locally or spent most of their productive years abroad in thediaspora,thiscontinuous supportremainsabirthright.

Importantly, when seniors are adequately supported,financialpressure on working families is reduced, enabling greater savings, investment, and intergenerational stability Social protection therefore strengthens not only households, but the wider economy Budget 2026 does not merely spend; it invests. It converts public resources into human capability, ensuring that national growth translates into tangible improvements in the daily life of our people. Atitscore,anationalbudget serves two fundamental purposes: to improve living standardsnowandtoprepare the country for the future. This Budget accomplishes both by explicitly linking national investment to jobs, incomes, education, healthcare, agriculture, tourism,security,youth,etc. opportunity for ordinary Guyanesefamilies.

Much have been said aboutthescaleofinvestment ininfrastructure,withcritics attempting to reduce the investment to “concrete, stone, and cement.” Such characterisations ignore e c o n o m i c r e a l i t y Infrastructure investment delivers immediate and widespread benefits It

creates employment, economic empowerment, it lowers transportation and production costs, improves access to schools, hospitals, and markets, and enhances b

Improved roads reduce

consumption, help stabilise transportation fares, allow farmers quicker access to markets,andultimatelyhelp containfoodprices.

A bridge is not merely concrete; it is a child reaching school sooner, a patient accessing healthcare faster, and a small business expanding its reach more efficiently

No economy, in the developed or developing world, has achieved sustained growth without first building the physical backbone that connects people to opportunity I

detached from human welfare; it is the mechanism throughwhichpeopleaccess jobs,services,andincome.

For citizens who ask, “What is in it for me?”, Budget 2026 provides clear

answers: free access to education and healthcare; direct cash grants to adults and school-aged children through the Because We Care initiative and for new born babies ; housing support through lower and interest free loans and buildingmaterialassistance; interest-free financing for business start-ups and expansion; increase in the income tax threshold; no new taxes; and expanded opportunities for enterprise across all regions with specialised concessions for those in the tourism and agricultural sector, the creativesectorandforvalue added in manufacturing and processing of local products and more too numerous to mention.

There have also been claims that the Budget is overly dependent on oil revenues and that declining oil prices could expose Guyana to so-called “Dutch Disease.” Such assertions are misguided and certainly they misunderstand both fiscalarchitectureand (Continuedonpage06)

Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox

More needs to be done to address needs of working poor - 2026 Budget falls short

DEAREDITOR,

Inthe2025elections,the PPP was playing defense to respond to criticisms there wasmoreemphasisonroads and infrastructure than on human and people development. It was said, “wecan’teatroads.”

Nothing is wrong with infrastructure Hospitals, schools, roads, bridges, airstrips,housing,education, etc. are all related to human development.

It will be silly to see infrastructure and human development as mutually exclusive We need both infrastructure and emphasis on addressing the high level of poverty in the society for almost half of our

population. Fifty percent of our people are the “working poor.”

They work hard at a job yettheyremainpoor.

Life for them is a daily grind. Dr Cheddi Jagan, decades ago, referring to sugar workers’ plight said, “itisbettertostayhomeand starve than to work and starve.”

I remember the security guard on theWest Coast of Demerara who told me she makes $2,800 a day and is not supplied withworkuniformsbyher employer I told her, that daily pay cannot even buy a 3-pieceKFCmeal!Suchlow pay is typical of domestics, cleaners, people doing

labourers work, retail and restaurant workers, and entry level workers in Government offices and privatesectoroffices.

This group of working poor are catching daily hell to make ends meet, providing food, paying rents and utilities, buying clothes, sending children to schoolandhavingtofind money for snacks and lunches.

The 2026 budget has failed these people, unless the Government reveals some good plans and initiatives during the budget debate How about a food card for pensioners, public assistance recipients, and workers earning below

$100,000 per month? Don’t tell us nonsense that if you paypoorpeoplemoreitwill causeinflation,butwhenthe contractor class makes multi-millions, it does not causeinflation.

And please explain why the so-called fastest growing economy have the lowest currency in Caricom – lower than the tiny islands of the Eastern Caribbean!

Governmentpropaganda is in overdrive to recruit folks to make short videos praising the budget as the best thing since sliced bread and the budget being poorpeople focused. We simply cannot have government by propaganda.

The budget has more corporate welfare, and “special interests” welfare than poor-people welfare. Our government must listen tothecriesofthepeople.

Thehistoricelectionsof 2025inwhichafly-by-night party, whose leader is being accused of wrongdoing, captured the imagination of oneoutofeveryfourvoters, and should jolt the governmenttoreality

These voters seem to be mostly from the class of the “working poor” being mocked as “scrape heads.”

The Government must learn alessonhere,butitseemsto not get it. The 2026 budget made no announcement of increases in the minimum wage. A new threshold of

$140,000 for not paying taxes was announced but mostoftheworkingpoordo not make $140,000 per month.

We have not heard any announcements of salary increases for government workers.

Wehavenotheardofany fixes to the problem of NIS denying benefits to workers because NIS contribution recordsareincomplete.

The paltry increases to pensioners and those needing public assistancebelow what was promised during the election campaign - shows the Government does not understand the reality of currentpoverty

What we have so far is much talk of trickle-down e c o n o m i c s , a n d “macroeconomics.”

For poor people, removing VAT on local jewellery, fertilisers, agrochemicals,pesticides, machinery and equipment used by farmers and miners,whilegoodthings, mean nothing to their immediate needs for i n c o m e r e l i e f Government boasts of reversing APNU’s 220% increase in D&I charges and the 600% increase in land rental but this means nothing to the working poor

Removing corporate taxes on interest earned by banks on poultry sector or

removing all taxes on agriculture and agroprocessing mean nothing to peoplewhocanbarelyafford to buy expensive items such asmeat,milk,cheese,andoil now

The working poor judges the government by the single measure of how much their current low pay has gone up Unlessbasepaygoesup regularly, NIS benefits and pensions would be at a lowerlevelatretirement

Alltheseboastsofindirect macro-level benefits, while goodthings,donotresonate with the poor who need purchasing power and direct benefits now! The P r e s i d e n t h a s a compassionate heart and should listen less to the fat catsintheGovernmentwho are advising him to go slow on fixing poverty To honour our Founder Dr Jagan, the poor must be at the center of policies for reform

Itisnottoolatetodothat Mr President! Don’t let the tears of the poor fall on our government! We do God’s willwhenwetakethesideof thepoor

Matthew 25:40 states: “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I sayuntoyou,inasmuchasye have done it unto one of the leastofthesemybrethren,ye havedoneituntome.”

Sincerely,

Dr.JerryJailall CivilSocietyAdvocate

Budget2026isexceptional...

Frompage05

economic theory Oil revenues under this Budget arenotbeingdirectedtoward reckless consumption, but toward investments that lower national production costs,expandhumancapital, and diversify the economic base, specifically in agriculture,tourism,mining, manufacturing, and education. It is important to note, that Dutch Disease occurs when resource revenues crowd out the productivesectors. Budget 2026 does the opposite; it crowds them in.

Our country’s finite oil wealth is being deliberately transformed into permanent national assets that enhance r

petroleumrevenuesdecline.

Responsible governance requires the prudent use of available resources while planning for volatility Like gold, bauxite, timber, and other commodities, oil pricesfluctuate.

This Government has anticipated that reality and responded by investing in diversified sectors and human capital which is precisely the safeguards required for long-term economicstability

Insum,the2026Budget reflects careful, prudent and responsible stewardship of our country’s national resources. It prioritises long-term development over shortterm consumption, it

protectsthemostvulnerable, it invests decisively and consciously in our country’s greatest assets our youth, and it strengthens the foundations of a diversified economy beyond oil In doing so, it enables all Guyanesetolivebettertoday while building a stronger, more resilient nation for tomorrow

In every meaningful sense, Budget 2026 is a budget for the benefit of all the people of our country, whetherathomeorreturning from “Africa, England, or the wider Caribbean”, it catersforyou.

Yoursrespectfully, JermaineFigueira FormerMemberof Parliament

Children among 31 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces across Gaza

Multiple attacks reported across the besieged enclave a day before Israel expected to reopen Rafah border crossing.

Aljazeera - Relentless Israeli bombardment has k i l l e d a t l e a s t 3 1 Palestinians, including six children and several police officers, in Gaza, a day before the Rafah border crossingisduetoreopen.

An Israeli air strike on Saturday on a tent sheltering displaced people killed at least seven Palestinians, including three children, in the al-Mawasi area to the northwest of Khan Younis, medical sources told Al Jazeera.

Their bodies were taken to the Nasser Medical ComplexinKhanYounis.

In Gaza City, emergency services reported that an Israeli air attack killed at

least five Palestinians, including three children, in an apartment building in the Remal neighbourhood to the westofthecity

“We could feel the s h o c k w a v e s o f t h e explosions, followed by a huge, dark, dusty cloud that filled the area, leaving at leastfivepeoplekilledinside the residential flat, including a mother and children,” Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud reportedfromGazaCity

Eight Palestinians were also injured in an Israeli bombing of an apartment building in the Daraj neighbourhoodofGazaCity

“All of this is happening inside the yellow line,” Mamhoud said, referring to

Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli attack on Gaza City, on January 31, 2026.

[Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters]

the demarcation line where the Israeli army withdrew to under the first phase of the Gazaceasefirethatcameinto effect in October He added that in Khan Younis, a

building “had been hit by fighter jets and destroyed completely after it was prewarned by the Israeli military”.

The head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, condemned the latest Israeli attacks, describing the truce as “a ceasefireinnameonly”.

“A ceasefire means guns fall silent and give way to efforts to end the war,” Philippe Lazzarini posted on X.“PeopleinGazadeservea genuine ceasefire – a much overdueceasefire.”

Egypt and Qatar, the key mediators for the ceasefire, also condemned the latest Israeliviolations.

Egypt demanded that all parties “exercise the utmost restraint” ahead of Sunday’s planned reopening of the Rafah crossing, which links GazaandEgypt.

Qatar said the violence was a “dangerous escalation thatwillinflamethesituation and undermine regional and internationaleffortsaimedat consolidatingthetruce”.

Israel’s military said its latest strikes were retaliation for an incident on Friday in which eight Palestinian fighters exited a tunnel in Rafah, which Israel said violatedtheceasefire.

Itsaidforces“struckfour commanders and additional terrorists from the Hamas

and Islamic Jihad terrorist organisations across the GazaStrip”.

Hamas political bureau member Suhail al-Hindi rejected the Israeli army’s claims.

“What happened today is a fully fledged crime committed by a criminal enemythatdoesnotabideby agreements or respect any commitments,” he told the AFPnewsagency

Gaza’s Government Media Office says at least 524 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the United States-brokered ceasefirecameintoeffect.

Rafah reopening

Residents in the border town of Rafah also reported several air attacks in areas underIsraelicontrol.Israelis due to reopen the Rafah crossing on Sunday for the firsttimesinceMay2024.

The opening of the key entry point is part of the second phase of Israel’s ceasefire agreement with Hamas. It was meant to open during the first phase, but Israel refused to do so until thebodyofitslastremaining captive held in Gaza, Ran Gvili, was found and laid to restearlierintheweek.

Rafah reopening set for Sunday as Israel continues to block aid

Muniral-Bursh,directorgeneral of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, toldAlJazeerathatthehealth situation in the territory is extremely dire, noting that medical supplies are rapidly runningout.

He called for the entry of medical supplies and the facilitation of evacuations for wounded Palestinians to receive treatment outside the GazaStrip.

The Rafah crossing will be overseen by multiple parties, including Egypt, the Palestinian Authority and a European Union mission, butIsraelretainscontrolover who is allowed to enter and exit.

“Only those who fled during the past two years are allowed to come back,” Mahmoud explained

“Those who are born outside the Gaza Strip are not going tobeallowedtocomeback.” Hamas responded to the Rafah announcement by calling for Israel to allow movementinandoutofGaza “without restrictions”, and urged it to adhere to all aspects of the ceasefire agreement Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has killed more than 71,600 PalestinianssinceOctober7, 2023.

Israel on Saturday said it would only allow a “limited movement of people” who have received security clearance by Israel to enter and exit No aid or humanitarian supplies will beallowedtoenter

A test case for the GMSA

In 2023, when the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) urged the removal ofVATonarangeoflocally producedgoods,suchasdata services, chowmein, guava cheese, it was reminded, correctly, that international and regional trade rules do not permit the selective removal of internal taxes on domestic goods while leaving those same taxes in placeforlikeimports.

The rules are old, unromantic, and explicit

They were designed preciselytorestrainthekind ofwell-meaningfavouritism that poor countries, anxious to nurture industry (and some would say please the local private sector), are temptedtodeploy ArticleIIIoftheGeneral Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is the central text.ArticleIII:2states,inits firstsentence:

“The products of the territory of any contracting party imported into the territory of any other contractingpartyshallnotbe

subject, directly or indirectly, to internal taxes or other internal charges of any kind in excess of those applied, directly or indirectly, to like domestic products.”

The meaning is plain. A countrymaynottaximports

more heavily than domestic goods once those imports have crossed the border

Article III:4 extends the discipline beyond taxation, requiringthat:

“The products of the territory of any contracting party imported into the territory of any other contracting party shall be accorded treatment no less favourable than that accorded to like products of national origin in respect of all laws, regulations and requirements affecting their internal sale, offering for s a l e , p u r c h a s e , transportation, distribution oruse.”

Taken together, these provisionsformthedoctrine of national treatment. They do not prevent states from encouraging industry They merely insist that encouragement not take the formofdiscriminationatthe internal tax or regulatory stage.

When confronted with this reality in 2023, the GMSA responded with a clarification. It claimed that it was not seeking discrimination,butparity:an expanded VAT-free basket that would apply equally to domestic and imported goods. If chowmein or data serviceswereVAT-free,then imported chowmein or data services should be VAT-free

aswell.

This is what the GMSA saidbackthen,“Weareinno way implying that the government should impose VAT on identical imported goods This would not violate international or regional trade laws, as it would not give domestic goods and unfair advantage over foreign goods once the product has already entered the domestic market It therefore means that the foreign producers (sic) wouldbeabletoimporttheir goods (identical items) into Guyana without VAT Thus we are accorded the same treatment pursuant to Articles 3(2) and 3(4), providedthatourproposalis approvedbygovernment.”

Fast forward to Budget 2026. The government has announced the removal of V A T o n l o c a l l y manufactured furniture and jewelry. There was no accompanying statement that identical imported furniture and jewelry would receive the same treatment. On its face, the measure confersafiscaladvantageon domesticproducersalone.It is precisely the sort of internal tax differentiation thatArticleIII:2waswritten toprohibit.

More striking still is the response of the GMSA.The association has welcomed

DEM BOYS SEH

WahyuhthinkaboutdeBudget?

Dem boys seh is Budget season again, and like mosquito after rain, everybody suddenlyturneconomist.Sodemboysstop onegentlemanontheroad—shirthalf-tuck, tie swinging like pendulum—and ask him plainandsimple:“Bai,whayuhthinkabout theBudget?”

The man clear he throat, adjust he spectaclesthoughhenahwearingany,and seh, “Well, when yuh examine the fiscal framework through the prism of marginal propensity to consume, yuh does realise immediately that the inflationary coefficient could destabilise aggregate demand.” Dem boys seh, all we hear was “prism”and“consume”andstarttowonder if is Budget or cook-up rice he talking about.Hecontinuewarmingupnow.“The real issue,” he seh, “is the lack of fiscal conservatism coupled with expansionary monetaryposturing.Yuhcan’tbepumping liquidityintothesystemwhileignoringthe velocity of money and the elasticity of consumer confidence.” Dem boys seh, we nodpolitely,thoughoneofwenearlysprain heneck.

When dem boys ask if ordinary people gonfeelrelief,themanseh,“Thatdepends ontheredistributionmatrixandwhetherthe multipliereffectoffsetstheerosioncaused

the measure, despite its earlier insistence that it understoodtheconstraintsof international and regional law Silence,inthisinstance, carries meaning. It suggests eitheralapseofmemoryora willingness to accept illegality when it appears to favour one’s immediate constituency

The problem does not end with GATT Guyana is also bound by the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which governs the CARICOM Single Market and Economy Article 78 of that Treaty provides that goods of Community origin

“shall be accorded Community treatment,” and thatMemberStatesshallnot apply discriminatory internal taxes or charges to such goods. The Treaty, to which Guyana is bound states:

“In order to achieve the objectives of its Trade Policy, the Community

shall: prohibit the imposition by the Member Statesofnewrestrictionson imports and exports of products of Community origin.”

ThelogicmirrorsGATT: once goods are lawfully withinthemarket,theymust competeonequalterms.

If Guyana removes VAT on locally produced furniture and jewelry while retaining it on like imports fromCARICOMpartners,it risks breaching not only multilateral obligations but regional ones—obligations undertaken in the name of integration,cooperation,and collective economic strength.

This is where the GMSA’s responsibility lies.

An organisation that claims literacyintraderulescannot applaud discrimination whenitwearsafriendlyface. Consistency is not a luxury in trade policy; it is its foundation If the

associationtrulybelieves,as it said in 2023, that VAT exemptions should apply equally to domestic and importedgoods,thenitmust now say so—publicly and withoutembarrassment.

To demand equal treatment for imported furniture and jewelry would notweakenlocalindustry.It would strengthen the credibility of policy It would signal that Guyana’s development strategy is not built on shortcuts that invite retaliationordispute,buton rules understood and respected.

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

bycost-pushinflation.”Bai,demboysseh, thatsoundlikesomethingyuhdoescatchif yuhstandinraintoolong.

Hethenwarnabout“structuraldeficits, unsustainable debt-to-GDP ratios, and the peril of pro-cyclical expenditure.” Dem boysseh,bynowtheBudgetsoundingless like national plan and more like advanced algebrawithfeelings.

Butthebestpartcomewhendemboys ask straight: “So yuh like it or nah?” The man pause, look into the distance like he watching GDPgrow, and seh, “It’s neither good nor bad. It’s contextually nuanced withinamacroeconomiccontinuum.”Dem boysseh,translation:hedon’tknow

By the time he finish talking about stochastic variables, fiscal buffers, capital injections, and consumption smoothing, demboyssehtheicecreamvendornextto we raise he price—probably because of inflationaryexpectations.

Demboysseh,ifjargoncouldbalancea Budget,wewouldbeinsurplusalready But until then, leh we remember: plenty big words does hide small answers, and sometimes a simple “things tight” does explain more than a whole lecture on marginalpropensitytoconsume.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

H@RD TRUTHS

Hard questions requiring hard truths from Pres. Ali

Pres. Irfaan Ali and his PPP Govt. are looking worse by the day, development.

On many issues of national importance, the president and his group of governors have faltered heavily, limped along unsteadily, retreated from fearfully I pick a few only, those that have significance for me and a host of other citizens, to generate some hard questions, which I humbly lay atDr Ali’sfeet.

Not answering wouldn’t be the best option. Unleashing shadowy operators and dimmer lights are meaningless for the short thrift given to them, and the great discreditstheyheaponthePPPand, Isay,ExcellencyAlihimself. Hard questions call for hard truths, of which the president should be the best champion. But which hasn’t happened to date. The questions follow

Q1: Mr President: from your 2020 inaugural address, the vision was of national unity, and working to make that happen How unrealistic, how less achievable, is

that today, given that 109,000 Guyanesevotersnowwatchastheir franchise is mocked and trampled upon,theirleaderhung,drawn,and quarteredinpublic?

Pardon me, sir, but your signature verbal production One Guyana now seems to be the effigy that burnt itself beyond recognition, wouldn’t you say? Unless (unless) One Guyanahad as its unpublished Mission Statement what embraces Teutonic Aryan ambitions,andofthatwhatsayyou, chief?

Q2: Excellency Ali: two of the more stirring watchwords from your August 2020 inaugural address were transparency and accountability Where are those now, given the secrecies and the schemesthatsurroundauditsofUS billions in Exxon’s expenses? I submit that transparency is in a comatosestate.

And, how do the secrecies that saturate the US$2 billion (US$2 billion, mind you) Wales Gas-toEnergy project occurring under your watch not put transparency and accountability to shame, and

chasebothofthemoutoftown?

Q3: Dr Ali, you are part of the PPP regiment that never tires to expound on the law and the inviolable nature of its majesty Then why the conspicuously illconceived and ill-advised intransigence on access to information, which the law allows? Why, my lord, is there this backing awaybyyou,thisgivingofspaceto yourself, when petitioners for information, provided for in the law, are denied what should be routine, and not swollen with the whimsical?

Though said many times, I say again. Information is part of the oxygen, the lifeblood, of a democracy, what nourishes its growth,howdoesdenyingaccessto informationnotamounttoderailing democracy most brazenly? And, how does that denial not operate as a running sore and an ugly scar on you yourself, Mr President, and your contributions to the presidency? Or not point to gross derelictionofleadership?

Q4: Pres.Ali, my leader, one of thecommitmentsfromyoursecond

inaugural address was the appointment of an anticorruption commissar Where is he or she now, almost five months later, with corruptions hurtling along at breakneckspeeds?

Or, Dr Ali, did you assign the chief national anticorruption post to yourself, and forgot to share withthepublic? Consideringyour unhappy intervention in alleged corruptions by one of your own people, and your incredibly readymade acceptance of what was tendered, does this stand as proof that Irfaan Ali is now Guyana’s de facto anticorruption chieftain?

Q5:theairisthickandweighed down by misinformation and disinformation, Mr Ali, which you committedtotargeting,anddealing with that deformed twin head-on. Is there a change of heart, with those now nonissues? Or, is it because, Dr President, and I ask frankly, some of the PPP Govt’s own people (some even ministers) are among the leadingpurveyors of misinformation and disinformation inGuyana?

When a national government in a country that attracts international interest has among its chief businesses:1)spreadingrumors;2) marketing innuendo; and 3) celebrating mastery of malice and slander, then that government has to qualify as lawless and reprehensible, by any definition, wouldn’tyousay,Excellency?

Q6: when you as national leader, Dr Ali, promised the Guyanese people some desperately needed relief money, with a caring eye on the poor and suffering, then think it funny to delay and play games with that cash, that couldn’t have been one of your finer moments,skipper,couldit?

I apologise for using the personal pronoun. I apologise furtherDr Presidentforthinkingof 10 questions, only to squeeze in 16 of them sideways. Sixteen hard questions that call for hard answers cementedinhardtruths.

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

Mackenzie-Wismar bridge staff to be employed by Ministry of Public Works

DPI - Staff of the current MackenzieWismar bridge in Region 10 will be employed by the Ministry of Public Works when the US$35 million Mackenzie-Wismar bridgeiscompleted.

Thetoll-freebridgeisexpectedtobefully operational by June 2026, once the roads leadingtoitareconnected.

Duringameetingwithstaffoftheexisting bridge on Thursday at Watooka Lodge, Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill noted that the ministry will align its currentpositionwithitsnewone.

Staff were advised not to panic, as the government is focused on hiring and retainingworkersratherthanlettingthemgo.

The public works minister also reassured

thecurrentbridgestaffthattheywillsufferno loss of salary when they transfer to the ministry “We’ve got to look at where you’re best suited so that you’ll be able to get service, no loss of salary or benefits,”

MinisterEdghillnoted.

Meanwhile, a staff member of the bridge, Aalyiah, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that she believes the transition will go smoothly, which will allow hertoworkmoreefficiently

Anotherstaffmember,Abigail,statedthat shewaselatedtobetransferredwhenthenew bridgecommissions.

Minister Edghill urged the staff to share information about job openings that better matchtheirqualifications.

Essequibo woman freed of manslaughter charge

Radha Sukwah, the woman accused of killing her 73-year-old lover in 2018, was on Thursday freed of manslaughter after a jury returnedaunanimousnotguiltyverdictatthe SuddieHighCourtinEssequibo.

The verdict was delivered by Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln, with jurors finding that the prosecution’s case lacked sufficient evidencetosupportaconviction.

Sukwah, of Lot 363 Charity Housing Scheme, was charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Deonarine, also known as “Russian.” It was alleged that on August 3, 2018, at Grant Maria’s Delight, Lower Pomeroon River, she unlawfully killedtheelderlyman.

During her initial court appearance before Magistrate Crystal Lambert at the Suddie Magistrates’ Court, Sukwah was granted $400,000 bail. Her attorney had informedthecourtthatsheisasinglemother of four and was employed as a cleaner at the CharityPrimarySchool.

In2022,Sukwahwascommittedtostand trial at the Suddie High Court. Nearly four years later, following several court proceedings, she walked free on Thursday afterbeingfoundnotguilty

MikelPuranappearedasdefencecounsel for Sukwah, while the matter was specially prosecuted by Attorney-at-Law Bernard Da Silva.

Initial reports indicated that Deonarine was shot by a ‘masked man’ armed with a ‘long gun’ after responding to a call at his

frontdoor Asubsequentpolicereleasestated that Sukwah had grabbed a knife from the intruderandalsoheldontohisfirearm.

However, police later reported that Sukwah told investigators the shooting occurred accidentally during an argument. It was alleged that Deonarine sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen when he and Sukwah struggled over a shotgun he had pickedup.

Following the fatal shooting, Sukwah was among four individuals detained by police for questioning. The three other detainees, who were employees of the deceased,werelaterreleased.

$800MMatthew’sRidgeAirstripflight capacitylikenedtoOgleAirport-Edghill

Upon completion of works, the new $800 million Matthew’s Ridge Airstrip in Region One will be capable of handling capacity equivalent to the Eugene F CorreiaInternationalAirport atOgle.

This is according to Minister of Public Works, JuanEdghillwhovisitedand inspected the project on Friday alongside Minister of Amerindian Affairs Sarah Browne-Shadeek and the technicalteam.

According to the ministry, the upgraded airstrip will measure 4,000 feet in length and 80 feet in width, while featuring a reinforced eight-inch-thick pavement. This upgrade will elevatethefacilitytoaTier1 aviationhub.

“Everything that can land at Ogle including Caribbean Airlines, InterCaribbeanAirways,and the flights servicing Suriname—will be able to land here and take off when we are finished,” Minister Edghillstated.

He also mentioned that the new aircraft acquired by the Guyana Defence Force canlandthere.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that the project is currently being executed byover60residentsfromthe village.

During a technical debrief, Minister Edghill addressed challenges regarding inclement weather and staff absenteeism. He issued a stern charge to the workforce, emphasising that while the government p r i o r i t i s e s l o c a l employment, efficiency remainsparamount.

“I’m hoping that the instances of absenteeism are

Works ongoing on the new Matthew’s Ridge in Region One.

a thing of the past. I am making it very clear: if we have a repeat of that, I am authorising the Special Projects Unit to bring workers from other parts of Region 1 as a last resort,” Minister Edghill informed workers.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Works said that the Matthew’s Ridge Airstrip s e r

t a l transportation hub for the

community and surrounding villages.

Theministrysaidthatthe new runway is expected to s

economic expansion, and drasticallyimproveaccessto essential services for residents.

Several airstrips in the hinterland regions are being upgradedtoclimate-resilient s t r u c t u r e s b y t h e government.

Visit Rupununi calls for thorough probe into death of tourist guide

L o c a l t o u r i s m organisation,VisitRupununi is calling for justice and a thorough investigation into the death of tourist guide, LeonBairdpopularlyknown as ‘Rasta’ who was found dead, burnt inside a vehicle lastSundayinRegionNine.

In a statement on Saturday, Visit Rupununi stated, “We are deeply disturbed and outraged by the brutal killing of Leon Baird, widely known as “Rasta,” whose life was taken in an act of extreme violence in the South Rupununisavannah.”

According to the organisation, Baird was a respected local guide, v a q u e r o , a n d

conservationist—amanwho dedicatedhislifetotheland, to wildlife, and to the positive development of the Rupununiregion.

“Based on information reported from the area and evidence observed at the scene, this killing is widely believedtobeperpetratedby cattle rustlers active in the Sand Creek area Cattle rustling in the Rupununi has foryearsbeencarriedoutby organised groups known within the region, and repeatedly reported to the authorities. These activities have had serious impact on ranches, villages, and families across the Rupununi,” the organsiation explained.

Teens granted $100k bail in Windsor Park robbery

Three juveniles and an 18-year-old were on Friday granted$100,000bailaftertheywerearrestedandchargedin connection with a violent attack and attempted robbery at FirstLadyPark,WindsorForest,WestCoastDemerara.

The four accused, three underage teens, all residents of Region three, and 18-year-old Shaquan Straker of Zeelugt, EastBankEssequibo,werearrestedbypoliceonJanuary25 andsubsequentlyjointlychargedwiththeoffenceofattempt tocommitamisdemeanor Additionally,oneofthejuveniles and Straker were jointly charged with attempt to commit a felony,namelyrobberywithaggravation.

The incident, which occurred around 14:00 hrs on January 24, was captured on a cellphone by an eyewitness andwidelydescribedasabrazen“broadday-lightrobbery.”

TheaccusedappearedbeforeMagistrateRabindranauth SinghattheLeonoraMagistrates’Court,wherethecharges were read to them. All four pleaded not guilty and were granted $100,000 bail each. The matter was adjourned to March18,2026.

Thevideofootageshowedoneofthesuspectsgrabbing itemsfromthevictimwhileanotherheldhiminavicegrip andwrestledhimtotheground.Eyewitnessescouldbeheard inthebackgroundpleadingfortheattackerstoleavetheman alone.

“Hey,stopit!”awomanshoutedasthesuspectreleased the victim from his grip. He then pulled a large knife from waistandadvancedtothevictimbeforegrabbinghisslippers andfleeingthescenewithhisaccomplices.

The suspects escaped in a waiting red Toyota Carina, model192,believedtobetheirgetawayvehicle.Policelater confirmed that the vehicle bears registration number PGG 6502.

Visit Rupununi stated that despite formal reports made over a prolonged period, these crimes have continued, leaving many in the region feeling exposed andunprotected.

“Today marks the seventh day since Leon’s body was found.Therehave been reported sightings of suspects, witnesses have come forward, and physical evidence remains at the crimescenethathasyettobe collected The lead investigator has not been seen in the district since last Sunday, and no suspects are knowntohavebeenformally questioned This lack of visible progress is deeply concerning,” the statement

said.

Urgently calling for the relevant authorities to interveneandensurethatthis case is actively and thoroughly pursued, Visit Rupununi noted that when acts of this magnitude go unanswered, it sends a dangerous message “that violence can occur without consequence.”

“This is not only about one man. It is about safety, accountability, and the rule of law Many in the Rupununi are now asking whether the long-standing lack of effective response to reported criminal activity has contributed to an environment where such violence could occur If this

crime is ignored, the risk is that such acts will continue—andescalate,”the organisationstated. Thestatementcontinued: “ThepeopleoftheRupununi deserve nothing less. Leon wasnotjustaprofessionalin his field; he was a trusted figure,amentortomany,and a person whose work and character helped shape a more hopeful future for the communities he served. His loss is felt deeply across the Rupununi and beyond. We stand in solidarity with Leon’s family, friends, and community, and we call for immediate action to ensure that this crime is not forgotten and not left unresolved.”

Kaieteur News reported that the partially charred humanremainsofBairdwas foundalongtheeasternbank of the Rupununi River in close proximity to Wichabai Ranch, South Rupununi on January25,2026.

Close friends and colleagues of Baird told this publication on Wednesday that Baird resided at the Wichabai Ranch and reportedly went missing on Friday (January 23). “We weresearchingforhimfrom FridayafternoonandSunday afternoon the cow boys found him,” one of the colleaguesrelated.

While they are still unclearastowhatreally Continued on page 45

GoldminerremandedformurderofBarticaman

A34-year-oldgoldminerwas on Friday remanded to prison in connection with the murder of BarticaresidentEmmanuelWilliams, alsoknownas“Chiney.”

The accused, Travis Brewster, called ‘Turpin’ of Victory Valley, Wismar, Linden, was wanted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) since July 2025 in relation to two separate murderinvestigations.

He was arrested on January 26 and charged in connection with

Williams’ death, which occurred on January 23, 2026, at 14 Mile, Issano Landing,MiddleMazaruni.Brewster isalsowantedinrelationtoaseparate murder that allegedly occurred on July17.

Following his arrest, Brewster was charged with the indictable offenceofmurder

He appeared via Zoom before Magistrate Teriq Mohamed at the BarticaMagistrates’Court,wherethe charge was read to him. He was not

required to plead and was remanded toprisonuntilFebruary27,2026.

Investigations revealed that Williams was at a bar when he and another male (allegedly Brewster) hadanaltercation.Duringtheruckus he was stabbed in the chest. A postm

determined that Williams died from perforation of the lungs and heart causedbythestabwound.

His body was subsequently handedovertorelativesforburial.

Remanded: Travis Brewster

Banks DIH to appeal injunction on share ownership by-law-Chairman

...saysBeharrynotashareholder

Chairman of Banks DIH Holdings Inc. Clifford Reis on Saturday said the company will appeal the High Court injunction granted by Justice Sandil K i s s o o n b l o c k i n g shareholders from voting on the15%limitationby-lawat Saturday’s Annual General Assembly(AGM).

Reis told shareholders at the company’sAGM held at ThirstPark,Georgetownthat the company operated in accordance with its articles of incorporation and its bylaws. He said while the Board of Directors has the authority to recommend amendments to the by-laws, it is subject to the shareholder’sapproval.

“The shareholders have therighttovotenooryesto the resolution. If the vote is no, the resolution cannot be implemented, and that will bring an end to that resolution.Ifthevoteisyes, any shareholder who believes that he or she has been injured by that approval, has the right, withinonemonth,toapplyto the court for a hearing,” he explained in clear reference tothecourtorder

On Saturday, Kaieteur Newsreportedthatthecourt casewasbroughtbyGuyana Americas Merchant Bank I n c a n d B e h a r r y Stockbrokers Limited

against Banks DIH According to the court document seen by this publication, the decision

effectively halts the implementation of “New By-law8ShareOwnership,” which was adopted by the company’s directors on November20,2025,andwas slated to be presented to

s h a r e h o l d e r s f o r confirmation at the AGM

scheduled for January 31, 2026.

In his ruling, Justice Kissoon granted a series of interlocutory injunctions restraining Banks DIH, its directors, officers, and agents from presenting, tabling, proposing, or permitting any vote at the AGM to confirm or give effecttothenewby-law

Thecourtalsosuspended theoperationandlegaleffect of the by-law pending the final determination of the substantiveproceedings.

Additionally, the court restrainedthecompanyfrom invalidating or discounting votes attached to issued ordinarysharesbyreference toany15percentownership or voting limitation, and fromissuingoractingonany notice, investigation, divestmentrequest,orforced sale process purportedly authorised by the new bylaw

The issue arose from the directors’decision to amend the company’s by-laws to introduce a cap on share ownershipandvotingrights, amovehesaidraisedserious legalconcerns.

Justice Kissoon noted that the proposed by-law went further by authorising the company to invalidate votesheldinexcessofthe15 percentthreshold,determine whether shareholders were acting in concert to circumvent the cap, appoint a special registrar for that purpose,andcompelthesale of shares held above the limit.

The judge in his ruling highlighted that courts are generally reluctant to interfere in the internal affairs of companies or restrain the holding of an AGM. However, he stated

intervention was warranted inthiscaseduetotheserious implications for shareholder rights.

He further noted that Banks DIH, a public company listed on the Guyana Stock Exchange with a single class of common shares, had operated for more than 50 yearswithoutanyrestriction onshareownershiporvoting rights. He pointed out that under the Companies Act and the company’s Articles ofAssociation, shareholders areentitledtooneshare,one vote, and that no cap was expressly or impliedly providedfor

It was also outlined that theby-lawsofacompanyare incidental to its Articles of Association and cannot be used to erode or unlawfully restrict entrenched shareholder rights. Justice Kissoon held that the procedure used by the directors to adopt New BylawEightwasnotcapableof lawfully achieving the intended outcome and could notbecuredorratifiedbyan ordinary resolution of shareholders.

The judge said that allowing the by-law to proceed could result in irreparable harm to shareholders, including the potential invalidation of votes and forced divestment of shares, affecting not only the claimants but the c o m p a n y ’s w i d e r shareholderbase.

The injunction that will remain in effect until the hearinganddeterminationof thesubstantiveaction.

At the AGM, Reis told shareholders that Beharry StockBrokerLimitedisnota shareholder of the company. Notwithstanding, he noted

thatbywayoftheinjunction the shareholders are barred fromvotingontheby-law

“As a law abiding and a responsible corporate citizen,wewillcomplywith the judge’s order However, the company proposes to appeal this matter to the full courtforthedischargeofthis injunction,”hedeclared.

The company in a paid advertisement in the Saturday, January 31, 2026 editionoftheKaieteurNews described Justice Kissoon’s order as “sweeping”. The company maintained that it was not afforded the opportunity to properly respond to the filed application.

Chairman of Banks DIH Holdings Inc., Clifford Reis

Theapplicationwasfiled on January 27 with multiple exhibits and an order for the hearing of the matter made the following day for Banks DIHtoappear Accordingto the advertisement, the company’s corporate secretaryMrs.KavornKyteWilliamswasnevergivenan Continuedonpage46

The Waterfalls Waterfalls

WildBloom COLLECTIONS

Anisa Nedd

Our featuredbeautythisweekisnone otherthanthesimplygorgeousandtalentedAnisa Nedd AnisaiscurrentlypursuingadegreeinLogisticsand SupplyChainManagement,buildingonherstronginterestinefficiency, coordination,andstrategicproblemsolving.Beyondheracademicpursuits, Anisaisacertifiedcosmetologist.Herportfoliorangesfromrunwaymodelingto promotionalandcommercialwork,whereshehasbuiltareputationforpoise, professionalism,andcreativity Throughherworkandpresence,shestrivestoinspireothersto embracetheirworth,strengthentheirconfidence.Aquotethatguidesheris“Loveyourselffirst andeverythingwillfallinline.”—LucilleBall(Photocredit: Reliable Graphic Designs)

EDUCATIONASECONOMICPOLICY:

Remedying the Mismatch

BySirRonaldSanders

When the door to migration narrows, the long-standing mismatch between education and economic absorption is no longer abstract; a country’s true immigration policy becomes domestic — how many jobs it can create, and how quickly it can match peopletothem.

OnJanuary14,2026,the UnitedStatesDepartmentof State announced a policy shift with direct economic consequences: effective January 21, it paused the issuance of immigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries deemedtobeat“highriskof public benefits usage ” Eleven of the fourteen independent CARICOM countriesareincludedinthat list,whichmayyetexpand.

Thiswasnotframedasa temporary administrative adjustment It signals a doctrinal shift: the United States will tighten selection toward migrants it actively seeks and will screen harder forthoseitfearsmayimpose fiscalorsocialcosts.

For decades, outward migration absorbed part of the Caribbean’s internal economic pressure

u n e m p l o y m e n t , underemployment, low wages, limited domestic markets, and frustrated professionals. As that outlet narrows, the pressure will intensifyathome.

This does not mean migration has ended, but it does mean that the longstanding assumption that migration will always remain available as a safety valve is no longer reliable. That illusion has been erodinggloballyforyears.

As migration tightens, more people — including skilled graduates — will have to stay in their home countries. That reality turns attention to an issue Caribbean states have too often postponed: whether theireducationoutputaligns with their development needs.

Even in the three CARICOMcountriesnotyet affected, education should now be regarded as an integral part of economic policy

The response required

now is structural Governments, the private sector, and trade unions in each CARICOM country should waste no time in confronting a shared

responsibility: to create and sustain conditions in which enterprise expands fast enough to absorb both skilledandunskilledlabour

This requires political coordination at the highest level. Each country should a d o p t a n a t i o n a l development strategy that states clearly where it intendstobeintenyearsand use it as a governing instrument.

That strategy should be reviewed every two years to adjustprioritiesandmethods as conditions change, and it should explicitly guide budget allocations, public investment,skillsformation, and regulatory reform Without such a framework, education systems will continue to produce graduates without clear economic pathways, and governments will continue torespondtounemployment after the fact rather than preventitbydesign.

This is not central planning; it is coordination — the difference between drifting and choosing a direction.

A credible national strategyprovidesaroadmap forinstitutions—especially universities and training institutes — to align their workwithnationalpriorities. It clarifies how many engineers, technicians, nurses, teachers, digital specialists, construction supervisors, energy professionals, agroprocessing workers, and specialist lawyers and doctors the economy will require. It allows teaching institutions to shape curricula accordingly encouraging study and research in priority areas while placing less emphasis on fields that play a smaller role in the agreed national developmentplan. This is not an argument against broad education or intellectual freedom. It is an argument for a system that takesfullaccountoftheneed forgraduatestoearnaliving intheirhomeeconomies.

The Caribbean’s challenge lies in remedying mismatch.Employersacross the region report difficulty finding workers with appropriate skills, even as graduates struggle to find employment. Weak linkages among firms, universities, and training institutions compound the problem, leaving education and enterprise operating in parallel rather than in

partnership.

Addressing this requires deliberate collaboration

Governments should convene sector-specific councils in tourism, construction, logistics, health, agriculture, renewable energy, creative industries, and digital

services where employers, unions, and training institutions jointly d

certification standards, and pathways from training to work.

Tradeunionshaveavital role here, not only in defending wages and conditions, but in engaging seriously with productivity, skills upgrading, and enterprisesustainability

Technicalandvocational education and training (TVET) must also be modernised. In too many societies,TVETistreatedas asecondchoiceratherthana respected route to skilled employment That misjudgement carries a high price.

Modern TVET systems — linked to employers and responsive to technological change — are essential to labourabsorptionatscale.

Education must also prepare people not only to seekjobs,buttocreatethem. Thisdoesnotmeaneveryone should become an entrepreneur.Itmeansevery economy needs a growing share of citizens who can build enterprises particularlywhentraditional wage employment cannot absorb all who seek it

Training in finance, management, technology, and the disciplined use of digital tools, including artificial intelligence, can allow small firms to reach markets beyond national borders. In a digital economy, small states can export services and ideas withoutexportingpeople.

Noneofthiswillsucceed if the wider economic environmentremainshostile toenterprise.

High energy costs, slow approvals, overlapping regulation, expensive logistics, and entrenched inefficiencies continue to inflate the cost of doing business in many Caribbean states.Theeconomic cost of delay is consistently underestimated.

If unemployment remains high while migrationoutletsnarrow,the consequences will not be patience.

There will be rising poverty, higher crime, strained public finances, weakened investor confidence, and social fragmentation.

Responsibilityforlabour

absorption must be operational Governments mustlowerthecostofdoing business decisively and remove regulatory bottlenecks that deter investment.

The private sector, in turn, must commit capital, innovation, and managerial efforttodomesticproduction r

y on protection, rent-seeking, or incentivesalone.

Trade unions have a

central role in this compact: defending workers’ rights while engaging constructively on productivity, skills upgrading, and enterprise sustainability Educational institutions must also be full partners aligning curricula,researchpriorities, and certification with national development objectives and labourmarketdemand.

Economicreformcannot be treated as a partisan contest or deferred without cost When any actor withholds cooperation, societyasawholesuffers.

There is only one viable r e s p o n s e : b u i l d

opportunities for investment and jobs at home deliberately, collectively, andwithsharedpurpose.

(The author is the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the OAS, and Dean of the OAS Ambassadors accredited to the OAS. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronald sanders.com)

WEEK-IN-REVIEW

SUNDAY $500BOilWindfall toFuel2026Budget

The much-anticipated budget for the fiscal year 2026 can be funded with about $500B or US$2 4B in oil revenue which flowed into the Natural Resource Fund (NRF), according to government’srevisedregulations.

Notably, the NRF Act of 2021 sets a ceiling on the withdrawal amount for each year In 2024, the government of Guyana revised the firstscheduleofthelawwhichsets out the guidelines for withdrawals fromtheFund.

For any fiscal year, it allows 100%withdrawalofthefirstUS$1 billion received in the preceding year,95%ofthenextUS$1B,90% of the third US$1B, 85% of the fourth billion, 50% of the fifth billion, and 10% of amounts exceedingUS$5billion.

Figures verified by an independent accountant indicate thatgovernmentwillbeallowedto withdraw about US$2 4B or G$500B to finance this year’s budget, considering the country’s earningsfromthesectorlastyear ReceiptspublishedbytheBank of Guyana reveal that during the year 2025, Guyana earned approximately US$2 4B in oil revenue, inclusive of profits, royalties and a US$15M signing bonus, paid by oil and gas companies for a Shallow Water block.

Meanwhile, in 2025, $512 4 billion or US $2.5 billion from the NRFwasusedtofundtheBudget. While concerns were raised regarding raiding of the fund, leavinglittleornothingforsavings and emergency situations, the governmentdefendedtherationale behindtherevision.

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo previouslyexplainedthatspending the revenues now “gives us a greater return than saving at this point in time for inter-generational equity,whichwillcomelater.”

Jagdeo at the time justified the formula change by talking about the country’s development needs andthepotentialforhigherreturns through investment in the short term.

“So, we believe that when you look at the sums given the size of the budget, it’s not unreasonable now to utilise a bit more from the NRF,”hesaid.

Asked to respond to concerns about savings, the VPsaid that the new rule would ensure significant savings once revenues reach a certain level. “So, it’s not a timeboundthing.Itisaquantum-bound issue,”hesaid.

In the meantime, government has been silently preparing to announce the 2026 Budget, which is expected to be announced in the

National Assembly on Monday

With expectations high in some quarters, others expect the government to continue “skewed allocations” to benefit specific sectionsofsociety

Leader of theAPartnership for National Unity (APNU) Aubrey Norton told reporters that, “The fundamentalproblemwefaceisthe skewed allocation of resources, into programs and projects that allow family, friends and favorites togetrich.”

Nortonbelievesthatachangein this pattern would be difficult, addingthatthisyear’sbudgetisnot likely to be produced on equity According to him, this means, that those with less in the population would get less while those getting more are likely to benefit from more.

“They are going to continue downthesameroadthattheyhave been going. And so, I can say to you,Ididn’texpectthemtoconsult us, because if they consult us, we willputtothemthethingswehave inourmanifesto,whichisbasedon puttingthepeoplefirst,”theformer OppositionLeadersaid.

More recently, APNU also urged the government to avoid increasing the country’s debt profile,amidfallingoilprices.

Threekilledon Linden-Maburatrail ...as car slams into parked truck

Three persons were on

Thursdaynightkilledinanaccident alongtheLinden-MaburaTrail,the Guyana Police Force (GPF) disclosed on Saturday In a statement, the GPF said that the accident occurred around 21:30h andinvolvedatruckandahirecar

The dead trio have been identified as 32-year-old Marcus Berley of One Mile, Wismar – the driverofthehirecarandpassengers AndrewIrvin,52,alsoofOneMile, Wismar and Maureen Patricia Woodley, 81, a Jamaican-born naturalisedUSAcitizen.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the hire car bearing HD 6751 was headed west along

the southern lane of the road, allegedly at a fast rate when it collided with the right rear end of parked truck bearing registration number GJJ 4000 with trailer TSS 4613 that was facing the same direction on the same side of the road.

The collision resulted in the Berley, Irvin and Woodley sustaining injuries They were subsequently being transported to theLindenHospitalComplexinan unconsciousstate.

The trio was examined by a doctor on duty, who pronounced them dead on arrival. The truck driver, a 36-year-old male who hails from Craig, East Bank Demerara,hasbeenarrestedandis assisting police with the investigation.

MONDAY

GoldnearsUS$5,000peroz …as Guyana mining projects gain billions in value

Gold prices surged sharply in January,withratespublishedbythe Guyana Gold Board showing a steepclimbbetweenJanuary2and January23.

On January 2, gold quoted at 94% purity was priced at US$4,386 85 per ounce in the morning and US$4,352 95 per ounce in the afternoon. The price per pennyweight (dwt) stood at $40,274 in the morning and $39,963 in the afternoon By January 23, gold had climbed to a new high, edging close to the US$5,000 per ounce Morning prices were listed at US$4,926.20 per ounce, rising further to US$4,946.25 per ounce in the afternoon. The per dwt price also advanced significantly, reaching $45,226 in the morning and $45,410intheafternoon.

TherisebetweenJanuary2and January 23 reflects a substantial gainingoldpriceswithinjustthree weeks,pushingthemetaltorecord territory

Notably,overthepastyear,gold prices have maintained a strong upward trajectory, repeatedly settingnewrecordhighs.

At a time when gold has been recording its highest prices ever, it is worthy to note that several gold operations across Guyana are expectedtostartproductionbefore the end of the decade. Currently, there is only one large-scale gold producer in Guyana, Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd, a Chinese stateowned mining giant operating locallythroughitssubsidiaryAGM Inc.

Beyond Zijin, at least five Canadian mining companies collectively control an estimated 15.5 million ounces of gold across various stages of development in Guyana These projects, spread across several mining districts, are advancing through exploration, feasibility studies and permitting. The companies have consistently pointed to Guyana’s miningfriendly policies as a key factor underpinning their investment decisions and long-term growth strategies.

At a gold price exceeding US$4,900 per ounce, the 15 5 million ounces of gold controlled by these Canadian companies now represent a value of more than US$75 billion Meanwhile, the Government of Guyana has intensifiedeffortstocrackdownon and eradicate illegal mining across Guyana The operations spearheaded by the Ministry of NaturalResourcesincollaboration with the Guyana Geology and MinesCommissionandtheGuyana PoliceForce.

After years of delays… Govt.turnstoIndian firmstorevive AmailaFallshydroproject

The Government of Guyana is lookingtoattractIndiancompanies to bid for the Amaila Falls Hydropower project, which was first introduced back in 2011 and shelvedonmultipleoccasions.

Guyana’s High Commissioner to India, Dhanamkumar Seeraj, during an interview with an Indian media entity, ANI News outlined that Guyana currently has an expression of interest open for the project and encouraged Indian firmstoparticipate.

“And we also, we have an expression of interest out for the development of a hydroelectric power station at a place called AmeliaFalls.So,weexpectIndian companies, and we trying to encourageIndiancompaniestoalso go there, express interest and to bid,”Seerajsaid.

Henotedthatthegovernmentis flexible on how the project can be structured,dependingonproposals received.“Youknow,itcanbedone underdifferentarrangement,under apowerpurchaseagreement,under buildownoperateandtransferand so, depending on the particular project itself there are different modelsthatthegovernmentisopen to pursue with companies,” he added.Despitetheproject’shistory, the People’s Progressive Party administrationhasreneweditspush for the project to reach realisation. The revised Request for Proposals (RFP) issued last year, states that theAmailaFallsprojectisexpected to generate more than 165 megawatts(MW)ofelectricity. Thescopeofworkforthe Continued on page 21

Frompage20 project, according to the RFP includes a 165MW installed hydro dam, plant and a substation at the Amaila site, along with other relatedworksandconstructionofa 23 square kilometer (KM) storage

reservoir, consistent with environmental reports, studies and permits.

Government also said the project, to be built under a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT)modelwillbeexecutedvia a new “Special Purpose Company (SPC)” and will be issued with all previous permits, licences and permissionsthatpreviouslyexisted in April 2015; however, the developer will be responsible for anyupdatesrequiredbylaw GoG also indicated that the transmission network will be built separately Under the BOOT arrangement, the Government of Guyana (GoG) will purchase the electricity from the private developer As such, the RFP explained that government will selectasuitablepartnerbasedon(i) lowestPowerPurchaseAgreement (PPA) price, Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) price, operating cost and capital amortisation; (ii) timeframes to complete and (iii) ability to finance the project on a PPAbasis.

Notably, interested firms and consortiums should note that they willonlybeconsiderediftheyhave completed at least three hydro projects, generating at least 100MW each within the last 15 years.Thedeadlineforsubmissions of prequalification is on February 17,2026.

This publication had highlighted that since assuming officein2020underthefirstIrfaan Ali-led PPP administration, government tendered twice for a contractor for the project but both wereunsuccessfulinmaterialising.

TheAmailaFallsHydroproject was introduced by a previous PPP/C Administration in 2011 However, the project faced obstaclesinitsrealisationwhenthe A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) Opposition parties, stoppedtheprojectbackin2014.

In its 2020 election manifesto, the PPP-administration noted that the project will be revived However, to date the PPP government was unable to do so before the end of the first term in office.

In 2021, negotiations hit a stalemate after Cabinet granted a no-objection for the Prime Minister’s Office to engage the China Railway Group Limited for construction. Discussions faltered as the company sought to alter the project’s model due to financing challenges for a BOOT model, requestingashifttoanEPCmodel. The government was reluctant to

switchtotheEPCoption,resulting in the talks with the Chinese contractorcomingtoanend.

The government later issued a revised RFP under the BOOT model for theAmaila Falls project and four local and international firms submitted proposals for the Amaila Falls project that was scheduled to begin in 2027 However,thistoowasstalled.

Early in 2025, the government announcedthatitwouldonceagain gototenderfortheproject,andthis ledtothecurrentRFPbeingissued.

TUESDAY

Govtunveils$1.558Tbudget …19.3%growthin GDPrecordedin2025 …16.2%growth expectedthisyear

By Davina Bagot

SeniorMinisterintheOfficeof the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh on Monday unveiled this year’s Budget, set at a staggering $1.558 trillion, emerging yet again as the largesttoeverbepresented.

Thefiscalplanthemed‘Putting PeopleFirst’marksthefirstbudget

to be presented by the administration since its re-election toofficein2025.

During his almost seven-hour

long presentation at the Arthur Chung Conference Center at Lililendaal, Greater Georgetown, Dr Singh explained that “Budget 2026 was crafted to give effect to His Excellency’s vision for a modern, prosperous Guyana, that provides opportunities for every single Guyanese person.” It was financed with no new taxes and is 12.7% larger compared with the 2025budget.

Notably,governmentintendsto transfer $495B or approximately US$2.4B in oil revenue from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) to finance the budget This year’s fiscalplanwillalsobesupportedby some $49 7B in carbon credit inflows.

The extended budget presentationintheHousewasoften met with fierce criticism from the Opposition benches, particularly thoseoccupiedbytheAPartnership for National Unity (APNU) Members of Parliament (MPs), while the newcomer majority opposition party, We Invest In Nationhood (WIN) just quietly observed the process. In fact, the party’s leader,Azruddin Mohamed evenmadeapersonalsocialmedia post criticizing some MPs for creating “chaos” and “drama” instead of focusing on the national agenda.

Despite the interruptions, Dr Singh reported another year of double-digit growth in the economy He said, “Mr Speaker, despite the challenging global context, our government’s robust policyframeworkhasenabledusin Guyana to demonstrate consistently that economic growth canbestrongandsteadyinthemost testing of circumstances. Today, I have the pleasure of reporting that theGuyaneseeconomyisestimated tohaveexpandedby19.3%overall in 2025, with expansion of 14.3% observedinournon-oilrealGDP.”

He was keen to note that the overall real economic growth continuestobesupportedbystrong expansion in the petroleum sector, as well as sustained growth across the non-oil sectors. According to

ministersaidthatthegrowthinthe fishing industry was due to the expansion in marine fish productionandaquaculture.

He said, “Marine fish productionexpandedby16.7%and aquacultureproductionby52%.In contrast,marineshrimpproduction declined by 42 percent, with contractions in prawns, and industrial and artisanal shrimp output.Themarineshrimpindustry continues to be affected by lower catch rates and a decline in the activeindustrialfleet.”

Forestry,gold,bauxite,diamond

Asmall 2.7% expansion in the forestry sector was recorded in 2025 Timber production totaled 495,226cubicmetresin2025.

him,growthinthenon-oileconomy for 2025 was driven largely by the agriculture, mining, construction, andservicessectors.

This year, government expects continuousgrowthintheeconomy, with overall growth projected at 16 2% and non-oil growth at 10.8%.

Sugar

In 2025, the sugar subsector expanded by an average 265%, recording 59,600 tonnes of production The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCO) said heavy rainfall hampered its harvesting and field operations This was compounded by labour shortages, low employee turnout, and equipment challenges at some estates.

Rice,crops,livestock

In spite of lower global prices, thericesubsectorrecordedanother year of growth, expanding by 15.7%in2025.

TheGuyanaRiceDevelopment Board (GRDB) reported productionof810,299tonnes.

Similarly, the crops subsector grew by an estimated 11 1% in 2025, with expansions observed across all major crop categories.

According to the finance minister, “Significant growth was recorded in the production of root crops, vegetables, spices, and fruits. Output of these commodities expanded by 18 percent, 5.8 percent, 11 2 percent, and 5 1 percent, respectively Of note, the production of beans and cereals also expanded in 2025, with soyabean and corn output growing by 72.1 percent and 10.3 percent, respectively.”

Alsoexperiencingexpansionin 2025wasthelivestockindustryby 12.5%. Government said that the notablegrowthobservedinpoultry production was supported by an increase in the importation of eggs following reduced prevalence of bird flu, as well as a significant reduction in the incidence of the viraldiseaseaffectingtheindustry

Fishandshrimp

While the fishing industry recordeda6.6%expansion,shrimp production suffered a worrying 42% decline in 2025. The finance

Meanwhile, the gold mining industryrecorded11.6%growthin 2025, with total gold declarations of484,321ounces.

Dr Singh highlighted, “While declarations from licensed dealerships declined by 21 5 percent to 121,883 ounces, declarations from the lone large operator grew by 15.5 percent to 167,005ounces,anddeclarationsto the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) grew by 45.6 percent to 195,432 ounces.”

He pointed out that the improved declarations were as a result of stronger enforcement in the sector, requiring greater compliance.

Additionally, bauxite mining also recorded 53 4% growth in 2025,withproductionreaching3.9 milliontonnes.

On the other hand, diamond declarations suffered a major 24.2%decreasein2025.

Sand,stone,manganese Recording massive growth in 2025 was sand and stone declarationswhichareestimatedto havegrownby20%and68.3%.

Manganese production is also estimated to have expanded by 13.5%to331,402tonnes.

Mohamedelected OppositionLeader …as APNU stages walkout

L

ByRenaySambach

of We Inves

in Nationhood (WIN) Azruddin Mohamed was on Monday elected as Guyana’s new Leader of the Opposition, securing 17 votes in a process that lasted less than five minutes.

The meeting, summoned by Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, was held at the Parliament B

ding with oppositionMembersofParliament from WIN, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) While APNU’s 12 MPs attended, they later walked out of the chamber, leaving WIN’s 16 MPs and FGM’s sole MP,Amanza Walton-Desir,toproceedwiththe Continued on page 22

Frompage21 election. The 13th Parliament of Guyana was convened on November 2, 2025 Under Guyana’s Constitution, the Leader of the Opposition is elected by a majority of non-government MPs. According to a recording of the proceedings shared with this publication, Mohamed was the only nominee WIN’s 16 MPs voted,aswellasWalton-Desir “I take this opportunity to warmly congratulate, the honourable member Mr Azruddin Mohamedforbeingdulyelectedas leader of the opposition,” Speaker Nadirsaidattheendoftheelection. Speakingwithreportersoutsidethe Parliament Building after his election, Mohamed described the processasseamless.“Thismorning the process was very smooth. No hiccups, no delay In less than five minutesIwaselectedleaderofthe opposition ready to serve the peopleofthiscountry Iwouldlike tothankallmysupporters…wehad alongfight,wemakeittotheend,” hesaid.

OnfuturerelationswithAPNU despite their walkout, Mohamed said,“Yesonceit’sfortheinterest, to benefit the people.” “We will scrutinisethebudgetandthenIwill make my pronouncements but I hope the budget is primarily to servethepeopleandnotjustaselect few…Wearegoingtopresshardto stampoutcorruption.Corruptionis a major issue in this country and that is why the PPPgovernment is afraidofmebecausetheyknowthat they cannot buy me…” Mohamed said in response to a series of questions on his parliamentary agenda and his relations with APNU.

Mohamed also addressed questions about whether his new role provides any insulation from ongoing extradition proceedings involving himself and his father, businessman Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, following a 2024 United States sanction and their recent indictment “No I don’t haveimmunityforthat,”Mohamed said.

Further, he thanked Walton-

Desir for her vote and added, “We willensurethatweputheronsome of the parliamentary committees since she didn’t get the amount of votes to be on the committee. For instancesPAC,thePublicAccounts Committee, you’d need five from PPP, two from WIN, two from APNU so they would select their two.ButAmanzashedidn’tgetany of the seats so we will name her in some of the parliamentary committees.”

Mohamed flanked by his MPs waswelcomedwithcheersfromhis party supporters who gathered in their numbers across from Parliament Building behind barricades. For her part, WaltonDesir made similar sentiments that theprocesswentsmoothlyandonly lasted a few minutes. “It was five minutes, and that was it The process was smooth. Nominations wereopen.Mr AzruddinMohamed was nominated. The nominations were closed APNU walked out before the vote, but the 17 remainingMPsvoted,”shesaid.

She explained that the process should not have attracted all the controversy that was seen over the past few months. “I keep saying, thisisaveryrudimentaryrunofthe mill process, not deserving of a lot of the drama that we’ve seen,” Walton-Desirsaid.

When asked why she voted, Walton-Desir noted that it is her constitutional duty She further stated, “Understand that for a candidate to enter into elections, their requirements, if a candidate meets those requirements and they’re allowed to contest in an election and the people vote in a particular way, then who are we to ignorehowthepeoplehavevoted.”

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) received a total of 242,498 votes at the 2025 General Elections securing its reelection, while newcomer WIN received 109,066 votes ahead of APNU 77, 998, and FGM with 4326.

As it relates to APNU, the party’s lead MP Dr. Terrence Campbell reiterated that the party walkedoutbecausetherewasonly

one nomination and, in their view, their vote was not required. The partyhascontendedthatgiventhat WIN holds the majority of the oppositionbloc,therewas no need tovote.“Therewasonenomination for the position of leader of the opposition Nominations were closed,andaswehadsaid,thereis no need for votes. So, we have left theassembly,”Campbellsaid.

Notwithstanding the party’s decision to walk out, Campbell expressed hope for improved collaboration with WIN, going forward “We look forward to working with WIN and hope that there’ll be improvement in collaborationbetweenusandWIN going forward. It has not been the best road so far, but we took the position not to nominate anyone, and we hope they see this as a signal, and we expect an improvement.”

The election took place amid controversy over restricted media access to Parliament Building Onlythetechnicalteamofthestateowned National Communications Network (NCN) was allowed physical access to the parliament

compoundandchambers.

When questioned by members ofthemedia,ClerkoftheNational Assembly Sherlock Isaacs said he could not explain why media were barredfromthecompound.

WEDNESDAY

Govt’s$1.558Tbudget fueledbyUS$2.6Bborrowing …as Guyana’s debt soars past US$10B

ByDavinaBagot

Guyana’s third consecutive trillion-dollarbudget,presentedby the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government on Monday, will be financed in large part by heavy borrowing, with new loans totalling US$2.6 billion pushing the country’s total debt beyond the US$10 billion mark for the first timeinitshistory.

Thedetailswereoutlinedinthe 2026 Budget presented to the National Assembly by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance,Dr AshniSingh.

A careful look at this year’s financial blueprint reveals that

government intends to further increasethecountry’sdebtthisyear to a startling US$10.3B, pushing the Guyana’s loans up to double digits for the first time in the country’shistory

Multilateral debt, owed to agencies such as the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is projected to climb from around US$1 9B to US$2 4B, while bilateral loans with allies such as Canada, China and the United States of America will jump from US$880M in 2025 to US$1.5B in 2026.

Similarly, the country’s domestic debt is anticipated to move from US$4.8B in 2025 to aboutUS$6Bin2026.Bethatasit may, the Finance Minister noted, “Guyana’s debt is projected to remainstronglysustainableintothe medium-term,evenasgovernment advances its comprehensive development and transformation programme.”

InadditiontoUS$2.6Binloans, the2026BudgetincludesUS$2.4B oil money and US$238 7M in carbon credit inflows. This year’s Budget is set at $1.558 trillion, a 12.7%increaseover2025’s$1.382 trillion-dollarplan.

Prior to Monday’s presentation byDr Singh,theAPartnershipfor National Unity (APNU) lead Member of Parliament (MP), Dr Terrence Campbell cautioned the Government of Guyana (GoG) to bemindfulofhowitcontractsmore loans to fund this year’s Budget amidfallingoilprices.

Campbell pointed out that Guyana was projected to earn less revenuein2025,comparedto2024, despite the startup of an additional Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO) and the productionofoilbeyondtheinitial Continued on page 32

Towards a better life with your psychologist OvercomingshamePartII

Shame is a feeling that canmakeyoubelievethereis something wrong with you. Itisnotanemotion.Instead, it is a core belief you have about yourself, shaped by societal expectations and your psychological imbalance.

Growing up in shame involves internalizing

f e e l i n g s o f b e i n g fundamentally flawed, unworthy,oraburden,often stemming from childhood trauma, neglect, or chronic criticism This “toxic” shame acts as a survival

response, causing individuals to hide, selfsabotage, or develop a “persona”toavoidrejection.

Last week, we looked at the devastating impact, short-term, long-term and generational, on an individual living with shame, more so from childhood This week in closing, we will look at how to overcome shame, moreover, overcoming shame paralysis. There are foursteps.

Step one-Labelling your emotions: Labelling the emotion relating to shameisacrucialfirststepin managing it, as shame often operates in secrecy, silence, and judgment, causing us to feel“Iambad”ratherthan“I did something bad.” It is a self-conscious. To properly label shame, it helps to distinguish it from related emotions: Shame (“I am bad”) vs Guilt (“I did something bad”): Guilt is focused on behaviour and can be adaptive (leading to repairs), while shame is focused on the self and is oftendestructive.

Shame vs. Humiliation:

Humiliation is a form of public shame, often involving unwanted exposureorunfairtreatment.

Shame vs. Embarrassment:

Embarrassment is a milder, often temporary, feeling

r e l a t e d t o s o c i a l awkwardness, while shame feels more profound and morepermanent

P h y s i c a l l y , uncomfortableemotionscan be identified through specific bodily and psychological markers

Shame is experienced in the body,oftenasasudden“hot” response Key physical markersinclude:Blushingor feeling heat: A flash of heat in the face, neck, or chest.

Physical collapse: A feeling of becoming smaller,

slouching, or slumping shoulders Lowered gaze: Avoiding eye contact or looking down. Freezing: A sense of being frozen in place. Stomach turning: A feeling of sickness in the stomach.

Identifying Behavioural SignsofShame

When you feel shame, you might notice the following behavioural patterns: Urge to hide or disappear: The desire to escape the gaze of others. Isolation/withdrawal: Social withdrawal and avoiding interaction.Perfectionism:A desperateattempttocoverup p e r c e i v e d f l a w s

Defensiveness: Lashing out or blaming others to deflect attention Silencing:

Hesitant speech or avoiding sharingthoughts

The cognitive aspects (Internal Dialogue)

Labelling the internal narrativeisessential.Shame oftensoundslike:

Withshame,youmaytell yourself, “There is something wrong with me.”

Rather say “My decision I made turned out to be the wrong one that was made. I understand why and will make better decisions going forward”.

Withshame,youmaytell yourself, “I am not good enough.” “I am a failure.”

Rather than say I became pregnant because I chose to have unprotected sex, I will takeafew semestersoff and getadjustedsoIcancontinue withmydreams.

Withshame,youmaytell yourself, “I am a failure”. Say,“Forawhilenow,Ihave been struggling with impulsivity I kept spending when I should have been saving and investing. I will get help for my impulsivity andmakelifestylechanges.

Naming the emotion (e.g., saying “I am feeling shame right now”) is a key strategy for reducing the power of shame. Labelling

helps you to realise and separate from the emotion—you feel shame, youarenotshame.

Labelling bypasses Defence: It allows you to move from a “freeze” state, shame paralysis, to being curious about what you are protectingyourselffrom.

LabellingisanantidoteEmpathy: Because shame thrives in secret, sharing it with a trusted, empathetic person can dissolve its power

Step two Selfdiscovery is the continuous, lifelong process of understanding your true self including your core values, needs, desires, s

societal expectations or external pressures It involves self-reflection, introspection, and stepping outofcomfortzonestoalign yourlifewithyourauthentic purpose and passion. Shame isatraumathatseparatesyou from your authentic self, hence a false self emergesthesurvivalyou.

Step three - Self Forgiveness and SelfCompassio

compassion and self-

interconnected; evidencebased tools for emotional healing,enablingyoutotreat yourselfwithkindnessrather thanjudgmentafterfailures.

Self-compassion fosters a nurturing, non-judgmental space,whileself-forgiveness involves accepting responsibility and releasing shame, allowing for growth and resilience without bypassingaccountability

Self-Forgiveness: The process of accepting responsibility for past actions, releasing negative emotions,andcommittingto positive change. It is not a b o u t i g n o r i n g accountability, but about holding oneself accountable w h i l e r e l e a s i n g

unproductive Guilt and shame,andforgivingoneself for not making a sound decision, for not trusting advice or guidance from others, for becoming pregnant out of marriage, or fornotdoingenoughtosave one’s marriage For not being financially prudent. For not furthering your education when the opportunity arrived. For not being a better parent to your child(ren) For betraying someone’s trust in you or evenbetrayingyourself,etc.

Self-Compassion:

D e f i n e d a s b e i n g emotionally supportive toward oneself, recognising one’s humanity and imperfections without engaging in harsh selfdenial. It involves holding oneself with kindness, especially during difficult timesandacceptingthatyou made the best decision with the information you had. That you are human, like everyone else, and you are allowed to make mistakes

and fall short. Avoid self-stigma and resist thelabelsthatsocietyor your parents seek to imposeonyou.Moreso if you are the eldest or lastsibling,orawoman

By Dr. Telford Layne Jr. PsyD, MSc. Postgrad, BSc. Clinical and Developmental Psychologist

TheProcess:While self-forgiveness allows letting go of past wrongdoings, selfc o m p a s s i o n h e l p s understandthehumannature behindthemistake,fostering a kinder, more accepting attitude.

Step four - Identify

Triggers: Recognise situations,thoughts,feelings or behaviour that cause you to feel shame. Shame is a profoundly uncomfortable emotional state triggered by internalised beliefs of worthlessness, fear of social devaluation, or experiences ofhumiliation.

Common Triggers of Shame are Childhood and Social Experiences: Childhood abuse, neglect, bullying, or harsh, critical parenting styles. Rejection,

humiliation, or social disapproval from others I n t e r n a l Expectations/Perfectionism: Failingtoliveuptopersonal, unrealistic standards or experiencingfailure.Secrets and Concealment: Keeping secrets out of fear that one’s “true,” flawed self will be revealed. If you are unable to identifytriggers,Iencourage youtobecomeself-awareof yourbehaviouralreactionsto s h a m e Isolation/Withdrawal: Hiding from social interaction to avoid further j u d g m e n t Masking/Perfectionism: Acting overly competent or cheerfultohideinsecurities.

ByKarenAbrams, MBA,AA, DoctoralCandidate

Ar t i f i c i a l intelligence

a g e n t s a r e quickly becoming part of everyday business conversations, and for good reason. Unlike basic chat tools, AI agents can plan tasks, move across digital systems, and complete work with limited human supervision.

Global research, including the Stanford AI Index Report 2025, shows that these systems are already being used in

Advancing Education, Technology & Innovation in Guyana…

AIAgentsAreChanging Business,EvenforSmallFirms

custom

s u p p o r t , scheduling,basicaccounting workflows,

cs coordination, and internal r

businesses in Guyana and across the Caribbean, this matters because agents lower the cost of doing complex work and make sophisticated capabilities accessible without large teams. In practical terms, AI agents can help small firms respond faster to customers, reduce manual paperwork, andoperatemoreefficiently Studies from the OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2024, note that automation

tools can free owners and staff from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on sales, service quality, and growth For businesses operating in tight markets withlimitedlaborpools,this kind of productivity support can be transformative rather thanthreatening.

Agents are also reshaping the economics of software. Instead of paying formultipleapplicationsand user licenses, firms can increasingly rely on a single agent that works across systems Research from McKinsey Global Institute 2024 shows that this shift is alreadyreducingoperational friction for smaller

enterprises in developed markets The same logic applies in the Caribbean, where businesses often operate with lean structures and must make every dollar count.

There are, however, real disadvantagesthatshouldbe acknowledged AI agents still make errors, require human oversight, increase exposure to data security risks, and can create dependence on foreign technology providers Studies from the OECD 2024 and the World Bank 2023 confirm that these systems struggle with contextual judgment and e

exposure if not carefully managed Integration and training costs are often underestimated, and automation can affect routine administrative jobs, as documented by the

Organization 2024. These risks are manageable, but they are not imaginary,

businesses with limited technicalsupport. The key point is that AI agents are tools, not replacements for human

consistently shows that the

automation with clear

supervision, and realistic expectations. In that model, agents do not displace owners or managers. They amplifytheircapacity For Guyanese and Caribbean businesses, the opportunity is not to chase technology trends blindly, nortoresistthemoutoffear It is to adopt AI agents thoughtfully, starting with clearly defined tasks, strong data controls, and a willingness to learn. Used well, agents can help small firms compete in a world where speed, efficiency, and adaptability increasingly determine who survives and whoscales.

Iwokramareceivessupport fromCARDIforWildlife clubsprogramme

The Iwokrama International Centre has received 11 smart phones from the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) to support its STEM activities for its WildlifeClubsProgramme.

According to a release fromIwokrama,theWildlife Clubs programme is part of Iwokrama’s larger conservation leadership initiative where community youth are groomed from very young ages to assume

leadership roles in their communities and at a nationallevel.

The programme consists of approximately 17 communities and engages around400children(aged417) from the North Rupununi. The programme exposes youth to areas such as land management, cons

ce Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) robotics and biodiversity awareness, amongst other areas.

CEO of Iwokrama Dane Gobin noted “We are very grateful for this most useful supportfromCARDI.Itwill beputtogooduseinbuilding capacity among hinterland youth, especially to support our Community Monitoring Reporting and Verification (CMRV) work which feeds intothenationalMRV CARDI, Officer-inCharge,MitchroyThomsaid “OnbehalfoftheCaribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute, it is mypleasuretoparticipatein this meaningful handover of elevencellulardevicestoour wildlifepartners.

He said “At CARDI, we recognize that protecting agriculture and protecting wildlife go hand in hand.

These devices will strengthen communication, improvedatacollection,and support timely reporting from the field each of whichiscriticaltoinformed decision-making and

management We look forward to continued partnership as we work togethertopromoteresilient ecosystems, sustainable agriculture, and a healthier Caribbean for future generations.”

The Centre thanked its partners,theNorthRupununi District Development Board (NRDDB), for their continued commitment and support to the Centre and to the ExxonMobil Foundation for substantially supporting this programme over the last fouryears ABOUTIWOKRAMA

F o l l o w i n g t h e acceptance by the Commonwealth of an offer by the Government of Guyana in 1989 by late President Hugh Desmond Hoyte, the Iwokrama International Centre (IIC) was established in 1996

whenlatePresidentCheddie Jagan assented the IwokramaActof1996under a joint mandate from the Government of Guyana and the Commonwealth Secretariat to manage the Iwokrama forest, a unique reserve of 371,000 hectares of rainforest “in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world ingeneral”.

TheCentre,guidedbyan international Board of Trustees,isuniqueproviding a dedicated well managed and researched forest environment. The forest is zoned into a Sustainable UtilizationArea(SUA)anda WildernessPreserve(WP)in whichtotesttheconceptofa truly sustainable forest where conservation, environmental balance and economic use can be mutually reinforcing. The IIC collaborates with the Government of Guyana, the Commonwealth and other international partners and donors to develop new approaches and forest management models to enable countries with rainforests to market their ecosystem services whilst carefully managing their resources through innovative and creative conservation practices In morerecentyears,theCentre has received support from corporate partners such as Exxon Mobil (Guyana) Limited who has funded the development of its Science Programmeandcontinuesto

implementation of this Programme.

participants in the IIC’s sustainable timber, tourism, research operations and forestmanagementactivities t

management and benefit sharingarrangements.

S

d researchers engaged in groundbreaking research into the impacts of climate change on the forest and measuring the scope and value of its ecosystem services.

Ithasaportfolioof

Continuedonpage46

Claudia Rodrigues, a singlemotheroftwo,praised Thursday’s launch of the Ministry of Housing Hyde Park (Yarrowkabra) HomesteadProjectalongthe Soesdyke/Linden Highway, calling it helpful for singleparentmothers.

R o d r i g u e s a l s o expressed her gratitude to the government for driving theinitiativeforward,which she said would significantly improve the lives of single mothers.

The area, formerly referred to as Yarrowkabra, forms a key pillar of the People’s Progressive Party C i v i c ’ s ( P P P / C ) Government’s national

Rodrigues described the allocationprocessassmooth and hassle-free, noting that beneficiaries are being provided with a house and financial assistance through a grant to support construction.

housing strategy under Budget2026andwillseethe construction of 500 housing unitson100acresofland.

Fifty homes have been completed, and Rodrigues was one of 27 women who wereassignedhomes,which meant they left Thursday’s launch with a sense of fulfilmentandpride.

Another 25 homes are about50percentcompleted, andconstructionofafurther 37 will begin soon. In total,

Hyde Park homestead brings hope and homes for single mothers –

27 single-parent mothers receive homes

102 homes are currently underconstruction.

Each homestead will include a core house paired with a shade house to

agricultural production, providing beneficiaries with opportunities for food security and supplemental income.

Minister of Housing, Collin Croal, said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment

empowerment of women, noting that housing goes beyondshelterandservesas a foundation for stability, dignity and economic advancement.

“These are not abstract figures; they represent real families, real opportunities and real progress, as we continue to put people first thr

sustainable livelihoods,” MinisterCroalsaid.

Rochelle Wellington, a teacher and mother of three, said the government’s housinginitiativeforwomen with children, is a dream come true, after waiting morethan10yearstoreceive a house lot. She explained that receiving confirmation

last week brought immense joy,asitmeanssheisnowon track to own a home of her own. Wellington,whohastwo children, also welcomed the inclusion of shade houses, noting that she plans to cultivate celery, tomatoes and broccoli to supplement her income and reduce householdfoodexpenses.

Ministers Kwame McCoy and Vanessa Benn tour one of the fully furnished homes to showcasehowthespacecan bebothwarmandinviting Minister within the OfficeofthePrimeMinister, Kwame McCoy told the gathering that housing remains central to national development, noting that safe and stable homes providedignity,security,and opportunities for families to thrive.

The project, one of several being implemented across the country, also includes access to essential amenities such as security, recreational facilities, and nearbyschools,creating Continuedonpage31

GNBS IN FOCUS

UPDATED LPG SAFETY STANDARD STRENGTHENS PROTECTION FOR CONSUMERS AND INDUSTRY

The use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) continues to grow across Guyana for domestic, commercial, and industrial purposes, driven by expanding economic activityandincreasedenergydemand.

This rapid expansion underscores the need for clear, enforceable requirements governing the safe design, use, storage, handling, and transportation of LPG cylinders to reduce accidents and protect livesandproperty

Inresponse,theGuyanaNationalBureau of Standards (GNBS) updated the National Standard — GYS 265: Specification for LPG Cylinders and their Storage, Handling and Transportation — in 2025. Originally developed in 2005, the standard was revised by the Technical Committee (TC)onGasCylinderstoexpandandclarify requirements, making them easier to understandandapplyacrosstheLPGsupply chain.

AsLPGplaysanincreasinglycriticalrole in energy access and national development, the updated standard provides a comprehensiveregulatoryframeworkaimed at public safety, protecting property, and promoting consistent best practices among manufacturers,distributors,transporters,and end-users. The document is intended to be made compulsory to strengthen compliance andreducepreventableincidents.

The standard outlines mandatory markings on LPG cylinders, including tare weight, water capacity, serial number, manufacturer or trade name, date of manufactureormostrecenttestdate,tester’s symbol, and cylinder specification or working pressure These markings are essentialfortraceability,inspection,safeuse andhandling.

It further specifies that cylinder bodies must be free from dents, cuts, bulging, corrosion, excessive dirt, or any evidence of exposuretofireorexcessiveheat.Footrings

must be undamaged, valves must be free of defects,andnooilorgreaseshouldbepresent on valves or fittings. All cylinders are requiredtoundergovisualinspectionpriorto refilling.

Withrespecttorepairs,thestandardstates that work on the foot ring or neck ring may only be carried out if welding or excessive heat is not applied to the pressure-bearing parts of the cylinder Any cylinder that has undergone repairs must be tested and requalifiedbeforebeingreturnedtoservice.

In addition, cylinders must be periodically requalified to ensure continued safety Requalification is required every 12 yearsafterthedateofmanufacture,every12 years if the previous requalification was carried out using the DOT water-jacket hydrostatic test, or every seven years if the DOTsimplehydrostatictestwasused.

The updated standard also addresses concerns surrounding cylinder connections and appurtenances, particularly in light of incidentsreportedoverthepastyear;someof whichresultedinseriousinjuriesorfatalities.

Itnotesthatcylindersmustbefittedwitha safety relief device designed to relieve vapour,asecurelyweldedshroudorneckring that allows for the attachment of a valve protection cap, and a foot ring securely welded to the cylinder body to ensure stable uprightpositioning.

The GYS 256 and other energy-related standards are available at the GNBS. The Bureau will be at the upcoming Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, scheduled for February 17-20, 2026, at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown Members of the public and industry stakeholders are encouraged to visit the GNBS booth to learn more about this and other oil and gas related standards. For further information, contact the GNBS on 219-0064 or 219-0065, or via WhatsApp at 692-4627

Hyde Park homestead brings hope...

Frompage30

well-plannedandsustainablecommunities.

TheSoesdyke/LindenHighwaycorridor is being strategically developed to support housing, business, tourism, and investment opportunities, with additional projects plannedforyoungprofessionals.

Beneficiaries were also encouraged to leveragebusinessopportunitieslinkedtothe ShadeHouseProjectandthearea’sgrowing economicactivity

The development is being implemented through a public-private partnership with Duravilla Homes and is supported by expanded mortgage financing, increased low-income mortgage ceilings, and new home improvement subsidy programmes

announcedinBudget2026.

Financial institutions were present to screen and assess eligible applicants, with priority given to those who do not already ownlandorhousing.

The government has also committed to road,waterandelectricityinfrastructurefor the area, as part of a broader $7.5 billion investment along the Soesdyke/Linden corridor, positioning the region as a major growthandhousingdevelopmentzone.

Also present were Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Vanessa Benn, Chief Executive Officer of the Central Housing and Planning Authority, Dr Martin Pertab and Chief Executive Officer of NAREI, JagnarineSingh.(DPI)

Frompage22

design rates of the ships Consequently, he said, “This alone should tell us that we have some problems.Ifwearetofallfromthe 60sdownto50(perbarrelofoil),it meansthatwewillbeearningmuch less revenue and the government would be wise, as you have suggested to reduce borrowing There will be challenging times aheadandthisisentirelythewrong

government, a profligate governmentforustohaveatatime when the economic road ahead, especially with energy looks challenging.”

Given the prevailing circumstances, Campbell said it would be reckless for yet another “largest budget ever” to be presented to the House. “If he (the finance minister) comes to the Assembly and he opens up about thelargestbudgetever,Iknowthat he is continuing on the reckless paththattheyhavegonebeforeand he is not taking note, he is not cognizant of the effects of a lower oil prices on Guyana’s economy andthebudget,”heexplained.The MP made it clear that the government should restrain itself from increasing the country’s debt burden under such conditions. “In this scenario, borrowing should be restrained We should not be looking in this scenario to be drivingupourdebtload,”heurged.

Notably, Guyana closed the year 2025 with a whopping US$7 7B debt burden, up from US$5.993billionayearearlierand Dr Singh said theincreasereflects continued fiscal discipline alongside the government’s aggressive development drive “Our government continues to balance the financing of our transformation agenda with the preservation of fiscal and debt sustainability,” Singh told the National Assembly “We remain committed to the responsible and transparent management of public debt within prudent cost and risk parameters.”

He noted that the PPP government has demonstrated a well-established track record since it resumed office in 2020 He reported that total PPG debt stood atUS$7.7billionattheendof2025, reflectingpositivenetinflowsfrom both external and domestic financing sources. Domestic PPG debt accounted for 62.3% of the total,amountingtoUS$4.8billion, whileexternalPPGdebtcomprised 37.7%,orUS$2.9billion.

According to Minister Singh, multilateral creditors held the largest share of external PPG debt at 64%, followed by bilateral creditors at 30 1% and private creditorsat5.9%. Onthedomestic side, treasury bills (T-Bills) dominated the debt profile, accounting for 82.5%, an increase of 6 2% from a year earlier Debentures accounted for the

remaining17.5%.

Moreover, the finance minister stated that Guyana’s debt sustainability indicators have continued to improve. He outlined that since 2020, the ratio of total PPGdebttogrossdomesticproduct (GDP) declined from 47 4% to 28 6% at the end of 2025 He furtherstatedthattotaldebtservice payments for 2025 amounted to US$264.6 million, with US$176.6 million paid to external creditors and US$88 million to domestic creditors.Notably,Dr Singhstated that the share of external debt serviceexpandedto66.7%,mainly asaresultofanincreaseinbilateral payments Meanwhile, domestic debtservicecontractedto33.3%.

It was also disclosed that 5.5% of Government revenue went towards debt service in 2025, a decreasefrom8.5%in2020.“This indicates a strong and improving capacity to meet our financial commitments as they come due, andimpliesagreaterproportionof public funds being available for fiscal purposes other than debt service,”Dr Singhsaid.

Govt.emptiesnearlyallof 2025earningsfromoilfund

As global oil prices slide and economic uncertainty looms, Guyana’s political leadership has continued a troubling trend,

drawing down nearly all oil revenues earned in a single year to financegovernmentspending.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, revealed during the 2026 National Budget presentation on Monday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre that the governmentwithdrewastaggering US$2.463 billion from the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) in 2025, almost identical to the US$2 4 billion earned from oil revenues during the same period.According toDr Singh,thewithdrawalswere made in accordance with the NRF Act of 2021 and parliamentary approvals “In keeping with stipulations in the NRF Act 2021 and approvals granted by this Honourable House, US$2 463 billion was withdrawn to finance national development priorities in Budget 2025, ” he told the Assembly

Dr Singh added, “For the year 2025, the Fund received US$2.1 billion in profit oil, comprising US$400 1 million from Liza Destiny, US$767 7 million from LizaUnity,US$824.4millionfrom Prosperity, and US$133.6 million fromOneGuyana.”

In 2025, the country also receivedroyaltypaymentsfromthe operator of the Stabroek Block, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, whichtotaledUS$330.7million.In addition, petroleum revenue receipts for 2025 also included a US$15millionsigningbonusfrom a new Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed on November 11, 2025 with a consortium for the shallow-water BlockS4offshoreGuyana.

This means Guyana recorded US$2.4B in oil revenue during the year. Dr. Singh was keen to note, “Attheendof2025,thebalancein the NRF, inclusive of interest income and net of withdrawals, stood at US$3 250 billion ” Meanwhile, government will be withdrawing a further US$2.374 billion this year from the fund to support its national development prioritiesinthe2026Budget.

Notably, the NRF Act of 2021 sets a ceiling on the withdrawal amount for each year In 2024, the government of Guyana revised the firstscheduleofthelawwhichsets

out the guidelines for withdrawals fromtheFund.

For any fiscal year, it allows 100%withdrawalofthefirstUS$1 billion received in the preceding year,95%ofthenextUS$1B,90% of the third US$1B, 85% of the fourth billion, 50% of the fifth billion, and 10% of amounts exceedingUS$5billion.

While concerns were raised regarding raiding of the fund, leavinglittleornothingforsavings and emergency situations, the governmentdefendedtherationale behindtherevision.VicePresident, Bharrat Jagdeo previously explained that spending the revenues now “gives us a greater return than saving at this point in time for inter-generational equity, which will come later.” Jagdeo at the time justified the formula change by talking about the country’s development needs and the potential for higher returns through investment in the short term. “So, we believe that when youlookatthesumsgiventhesize ofthebudget,it’snotunreasonable now to utilise a bit more from the NRF,”hesaid.

THURSDAY

RUBIO TO VENEZUELA: Reforminvestmentsystemsor oilgiantswillflockGuyana

UnitedStatesSecretaryofState Marco Rubio on Wednesday delivered a blunt message to Venezuela, urging the South American country to reform its brokeninvestmentsystemorwatch American oil companies take their billions elsewhere including Guyana.

Rubiomadetheremarksduring aheatedappearancebeforetheU.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, where U S policy towardVenezuelaandthefutureof itsoilindustrytookcentrestage.

His remarks came against the backdropofrecentdevelopmentsin Venezuela. On January 3, the U.S. military conducted an operation in

Caracasthatresultedinthearrestof Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both are now facing narcoterrorism charges in the U S Following Maduro’s removal, President Donald Trump announced plans for the U.S. to “run” Venezuela until a proper transition takes place, while also outlining ambitious plans for the oil-richcountry’sresources.

During the hearing, Secretary Rubio disclosed that America and the new leaders in Venezuela were cooperating.Further,SenatorDave McCormick referenced Venezuela’s long and troubled history with foreign investors. He pointed to a recent meeting between President Trump and executives from several American oil companies, during which concerns were raised about the safety of investing in Venezuela. McCormick asked Rubio what assurances could be provided to giveinvestorsconfidencetopursue opportunitiesthere.

Secretary Rubio said investors would first require licences from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) before any exploration could take place “Venezuelahasalotofoil,theydo, but there is a lot of oil in other places too Companies are only gonna invest somewhere if they know,wearegoingtoinvest,weare goingtomakeourmoneybackwith a profit and our land isn’t going to be taken from us and if you try to, thereisacourtthatwecangotoand contracts that we can enforce That’sthelevelofcertaintythatwe are talking about in terms of security. And that’s part of this transitionprocess,that’spartofthis recoveryprocessistonormalizethe industry,”Rubiostated.

He warned that if Venezuela fails to reform its oil industry and broader investment framework, companies would simply invest elsewhere, including in neighbouringGuyana.

“They’re not gonna risk it. So, it’s to their benefit to have set up a normal, transparent process that encourages foreign investment not just in oil by the way, in other natural resources but in other sectors of the economy ” At a January 9 meeting with President Trump, other U.S. officials and oil company executives, several firms expressedinterestinenteringorreenteringVenezuela’soilsectorand thanked the President for the military operation that paved the way

However, ExxonMobil Chief Executive Officer Darren Woods adopted a more cautious tone. He remindedthemeetingthatExxon’s assets in Venezuela were seized twice, stressing that significant changes would be required before the company could consider returning.WoodssaidVenezuela’s Continued on page 33

Frompage32

current legal and commercial environment is un-investable and would require major reforms. He also noted that after two decades away from the country, Exxon would need an invitation from the Venezuelangovernmentalongwith appropriatesecurityguarantees.

Rubio’s reference to Guyana comes at a time when major American oil companies already have a significant presence in the country.ExxonMobilandChevron both operate in Guyana’s offshore oil sector Currently, oil is only being produced from the Stabroek Block, where four developments are producing more than 900,000 barrels per day ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) is the operator and holds a 45 percent interest in the 6 6-million-acre block,whichisestimatedtocontain 11.6billionbarrelsofoil.CNOOC holdsa25percentstake,whileHess owns30percent.Chevronacquired Hess last year, giving it indirect accesstotheStabroekBlock.

The agreement governing the Stabroek Block extends favorable terms to the oil companies According to the agreement, Stabroek Block partners can recover 75% of oil produced to cover investment costs The remaining25%isconsideredprofit and is split equally between Guyanaandtheconsortium,giving each 12 5% However, the consortiumpaysa2%royaltyfrom itssharetoGuyana.FromGuyana’s 14.5% total take, the government must pay the oil companies’taxes. The deal stipulates that the sum equivalenttothetaxesowedbythe companies must be paid by the Ministerresponsibleforpetroleum totheCommissionerGeneralofthe GuyanaRevenueAuthority(GRA).

‘Whomustgo?REO’ WINsupportersprotest overRegion10 chairmanshipstandoff

Supporters and representatives of the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN)tooktothestreetsofLinden on Wednesday, in a public demonstration exercise calling for the immediate election of the chairmaninRegion10.

Protestors stood in a line in the vicinity of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) with placards demanding that a chairmanbeswornin.

“Who must go? …REO!’”, the crowd chanted loudly referring the RegionalExecutiveOfficerDwight John who they accused of deliberately stalling the reconvening of the meeting set for thechairmantobeelected.

On October 10, the Regional DemocraticCouncilelectionended in a 9-9 tie between WIN and APNU nominees However, instead of moving to the second round of voting as stipulated by

Protestors stood in a line in the vicinity of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) in Linden with placards and chanted in support of having a chairman sworn in.

law, the REO and clerk of council, Dwight John subsequently suspended the process, referring the matter to Minister Manickchand, who later clarified shehasnoroleinselectingthechair and hoping the process is completed.

To this, party supporters on the protest line shouted “Swear in— Goring” referring to WIN councilor, Mark Goring who was peggedforthechairmanshipofthe region.

“Democracymustprevail!Our vote must count!” The people shoutedinashowofsupportforthe Azruddin Mohamed led party which secured a victory in the region once controlled by the People’sNationalCongress(PNC).

During the protest, Goring reiterated his concerns about the management of the affairs of the localdemocraticorgan.

“It’s been almost five months sincetheregionalelectionsandhalf of the region including the chairman and the oversight committees are not in place and so thereisnomonitoringofprojectsin theregion,”Goringlamented

He noted that the REO has ignored every attempt made by councilors to try and correct the situation.

“We are calling for democracy to be respected. We would have done a resolution for the 18 councilorstosignforthemeetingto appointthechairtoreconvene.Itis clear that the REO is disrespecting the laws of Guyana,” he said lamenting that the absence of a chair affects the regions to put the committee responsible for monitoring and oversight of the region’sspendinginplace.

WIN’s leader, Azruddin Mohamed has been calling for the electionofthechairinRegion10,a district traditionally dominated by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) lead APNU. For its part, APNU’s Region 10 councilorsinastatementlastweek, expressed readiness to participate oncetheelectionisconvened.

They said, “We respectfully

statethatwearefullypreparedand willingtoparticipateinanelection once it is convened, and we hope that this is done at the earliest opportunity Weremaincommitted to the democratic process and to operatewithintheframeworkofthe lawtoensurethismatterisbrought toatimelyandorderlyconclusion.”

FRIDAY

ExxongaveGuyana 32Mof260Mbarrelsof oilproducedin2025

In 2025, oil production in the Stabroek Block increased significantly by 21%, recording a totalof260millionbarrelsofwhich Guyana only received 32 million barrels.

This was highlighted by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh onMondayashelaidoutthefiscal plan for this year in the National Assembly

He provided a detailed overviewoftheperformanceofthe petroleum sector, highlighting that production in 2025 averaged just below 830,000 barrels per day (bpd) Currently, there are four Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels operating in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ).

The Liza Destiny FPSO produced an average of approximately 134,300 bpd, the Liza Unity FPSO at 249,500 bpd, the Prosperity FPSO at a rate of 255,200 bpd, and the One Guyana FPSOatjustunder191,000bpd.

To this end, Dr Singh explained,“In2025therewere260 lifts of crude oil from Guyana’s fourproducingFPSOs,inclusiveof a combined inaugural lift from the OneGuyanaFPSO.Thereweresix liftsexecutedfromtheLizaDestiny FPSOforGovernment,11fromthe Liza Unity FPSO, 12 from the ProsperityFPSOandthreefromthe One Guyana FPSO – a total of 32 liftsfortheGovernmentofGuyana in2025.”

Each lift is equivalent to one millionbarrelsofoil.

Consequently, the Natural

Resource Fund (NRF) in 2025 received US$2 1B in profit oil, comprising US$400.1M from Liza Destiny, US$767 7M from Liza Unity, US$824M from Prosperity, andUS$133.6MfromOneGuyana.

The oil account also obtained $330 7M in royalty payments duringtheyearfromtheoperatorof the Stabroek Block. Additionally, the petroleum receipts for the year included a US$15M signing bonus from a new Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) signed on November 11, 2025 with a consortium for the shallow-water BlockS4.

In2025,theNationalAssembly approved the sum of US$2 463 billion to be withdrawn to finance nationaldevelopmentpriorities.As such,theFundclosedtheyearwith US$3 250 billion inclusive of interest income and net of withdrawals.

During the previous year, Guyana received 28 lifts of crude oilfromthe225liftsrecordedfrom threeFPSOsthatwereoperatingat thetime.

Under the 2016 Production SharingAgreement(PSA),Guyana receives 12.5% of profits. ExxonMobilisallowedtotake75% oftheoilproducedeverymonthto

coveritsexpensesandalsoenjoysa 12.5%profitshare.Inadditiontoits 12 5% profits, Guyana also receives2%ofgrossproductionas royalty

Oppositionleaderwants APNUnomineestovacate GECOMseats - to formally write commissioners

ThenewlyelectedLeaderofthe Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed has announced plans to formally request that the APNU-appointed commissioners on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) vacatetheirseats.Themovecomes days after Mohamed’s election as LeaderoftheOpposition,aposition previously held by the People’s National Congress-led APNU, whose nominees currently occupy the three opposition seats on GECOM.WithWINnowthemain opposition, new commissioners fromthepartyareexpectedtotake theirplace.

On Thursday, Mohamed told KaieteurNewsthatheandhisteam met with Chairperson of GECOM, retiredJusticeClaudetteSinghand Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Vishnu Persaud to discuss the appointment of scrutineers and the status of the Commissioners following his election as the new Leader of the Opposition, which reflects a changed dynamic in Parliament.

Based on the discussion which he described as “productive,” the WIN party leader told this newspaper that the party will be writing to the three APNU commissionersVincentAlexander, Desmond Trotman and Charles Corbin, who currently sit on the Commissiontoaskthemtoresign. He told this newspaper that his team plans to follow due process which entails utilising all possibilitiestoensuringtheparty’s interestsarerepresentedatthelevel of GECOM. “I cannot disclose at this moment for obvious reasons but [the course of action] will dependontheresponsewereceive Continued on page 34

Frompage33 whenwewritethecommissioners,” Mohamedsaid.

WIN Member of Parliament Duarte Hetsberger who also attended the meeting expounded “The advice of chair is that she cannot remove anyone from the commission she said that is outside of her remit. She however believes based on the constitution that the only right thing to do is to have new commissioners in place giventhatthereisnewopposition.”

KaieteurNewsunderstandsthat WIN will not only write to the Opposition commissioners but to Chief Scrutineer of APNU Carol JosephSmithtoinformofthemove to occupy the posts. As the main opposition,WINissettoappoint69 scrutineers. “We will engage the commissionersetaltogivethema chancetoresignandifthatdoesn’t happen we will seek recourse the through the courts,” Hetsberger said.

Following the September 1, general and regional elections, JusticeSinghinanticipationofnew leader of the Opposition and the likely changes at the level of the commission suspended the business of GECOM. The Chair alluded to provisions found in Article 161(3) (B) of the Constitution. “We have had new elections and remember there is a new opposition It’s not APNU anymoreinpower,thereisanother oppositioninplace;WINwhichhas the majority of 16 seats,” she told Kaieteur News late last year.

“When Parliament convenes then the Opposition Leader will have a chance to choose who his commissionersare...”

Article 161 (3) (B) of the ConstitutioninrelationtoGECOM

states: the “Three members are to be appointed by the President in accordance with the advice of the opposition leader tendered after meaningful consultation with nongovernmental political parties represented in the National Assembly” However, the article doesnotgivedirectiononwhenand underwhatcircumstancestheseats should be vacated APNU

Commissioner Vincent Alexander had suggested that appointments haveatypeofsecurityoftenurethat there is no term limit to the appointments.

Alexander is of the view that onlyachangeinthelawscanrectify the situation at GECOM He posited that constitutional provision on the appointment of commissioners cannot be read in isolation “It has to read with articles226and225whichindicate that there is no term limit for commissioners ” Alexander argued.

Henotedinorderforchangesto take place in the appointment, the laws will have to be amended. “I

have no problem with this. I was sayingtheywillhavetoamendthe law.The law as it is presently read doesnotprovideforustostepdown that’showIpresentlyseeit.Ihave saidinthepast,Ithinkthewayhow ourcommissionisconstitutedisnot good…I agree that there should be a change but not to just remove commissioners but it should provideforcommissionersthatare more unbiased,” Alexander contended.

SATURDAY

Recentdevelopmentsin Venezuelapresentopportunity forExxontoexpandexploration inStabroekBlock-Woods

With recent developments in neighbouringVenezuela,American oil major ExxonMobil, that operates in Guyana says it is optimisticthatchangestherecould eventuallycreateamorefavourable environment for the company to explorepartsofGuyana’sStabroek Block that have long been

inaccessible due to the border controversy between the two countries.

The comments were made by ExxonMobil Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Darren Woods during the company’s fourthquarterearningscallonFriday

Woods was asked about the future of the Stabroek Block exploration licence, which expires in2027,andthelargeportionofthe block currently under force majeurebecauseitliesinGuyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone but it is an area that Venezuela claims. He was also questioned on whether that area could qualify for an extension and what milestones would be required before work couldbegintoevaluateitsresource potential.

Woods first explained that ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) has been using seismic

development drilling programme to identify additional exploration targets in areas of the Stabroek Blockthatarecurrentlyaccessible. He added, “We still think there’s opportunityinthatspacetoexplore the block that we can currently access.”

Addressing the issue of relinquishment, Woods said decisions on returning acreage are based on a well-informed understanding of the geology and opportunityset.

LastJuly,Exxonrelinquisheda portionoftheStabroekBlocktothe State The government had announced it agreed with the company that a minimum area of 2,534 square kilometres must be returned.

The Stabroek Block spans approximately6.6millionacres,or about 26,709 square kilometres, makingtheagreedrelinquishmenta minimum of 9percent of the total area However, the relinquished section did not include any discoveriesorproductionactivities and excluded areas Exxon could notexplorebecauseoftheGuyanaVenezuelabordercontroversy

Moreover,Woodsnotedthatthe disputed portion of the block remains under force majeure, a mechanism he said preserves Exxon’s rights in the acreage. “I thinkoneoftheadvantagesofforce majeure, is it pauses the clock and sowewillhaveanopportunitytodo what we need to do in that portion of the block when it’s available to us,”hesaid.

R e f e r r i n g t o r e c e n t developmentsinVenezuela,Woods added, “Obviously, with the developments in Venezuela, perhapswe’llseeanopportunityto, withlessnavalpatrols,that’llmake it a little more friendly environment.So,we’llseehowthat goes.”

He also pointed out that the ruling of the border controversy case by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will be a key development.“So,Ithinkthat’llbe acriticalmilestone,”hesaid.

“But we’ve got plenty of work ahead of us here in the short term andthenlongerterm,we’llgetinto

Continued on page 35

Frompage34 that additional acreage and see what the opportunity looks like. We’re pretty optimistic,” Woods added.

His remarks came against the backdropofrecentdevelopmentsin Venezuela. On January 3, the U.S. military conducted an operation in Caracasthatresultedinthearrestof Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both are now facing narcoterrorism charges in the U S Following Maduro’s removal, President Donald Trump announced plans for the U.S. to “run” Venezuela until a proper transition takes place, while also outlining ambitious plans for the oil-richcountry’sresources.

The Stabroek Block spans 6.6 million acres and is estimated to 11 6 billion barrels of oil Currently, oil is only being producedfromtheStabroekBlock, where four developments are producing more than 900,000 barrelsperday

EMGListheoperatorandholds a 45 percent interest in the 6.6million-acre block, which is estimated to contain 11.6 billion barrels of oil. CNOOC holds a 25 percent stake, while Hess owns 30 percent.

Chevron acquired Hess last year,givingitindirectaccesstothe StabroekBlock.Since2015,Exxon hasunlockedover40discoveriesin theblock.

CourtblocksBanksDIHfrom enforcingnewshareownership by-lawaheadofAGM

Justice Sandil Kissoon has

granted injunctive orders restraining Banks DIH Holdings Inc. from enforcing or putting to a vote a new by-law that would cap shareholder voting rights and ownershipat15percent.

The ruling handed down on Friday,comesjustonedayaheadof the company’s scheduled Annual GeneralMeeting(AGM).

The proceedings were brought by Guyana Americas Merchant Bank Inc and Beharry Stockbrokers Limited against BanksDIH.Accordingtothecourt documentseenbythispublication, the decision effectively halts the implementation of “New By-law 8 Share Ownership,” which was adoptedbythecompany’sdirectors on November 20, 2025, and was

slated to be presented to shareholdersforconfirmationatthe AGM scheduled for January 31, 2026.

In his ruling, Justice Kissoon granted a series of interlocutory injunctionsrestrainingBanksDIH, its directors, officers, and agents

from presenting, tabling, proposing,orpermittinganyvoteat theAGM to confirm or give effect tothenewby-law

The court also suspended the

operationandlegaleffectofthebylawpendingthefinaldetermination ofthesubstantiveproceedings.

Additionally, the court restrained the company from invalidating or discounting votes attached to issued ordinary shares by reference to any 15 percent ownershiporvotinglimitation,and from issuing or acting on any notice, investigation, divestment request, or forced sale process purportedly authorised by the new by-law

The issue arose from the directors’ decision to amend the company’s by-laws to introduce a caponshareownershipandvoting rights,amovehesaidraisedserious legalconcerns.

Justice Kissoon noted that the proposed by-law went further by authorising the company to invalidate votes held in excess of the15percentthreshold,determine whether shareholders were acting in concert to circumvent the cap, appoint a special registrar for that

ExxonMobil Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Darren Woods

purpose, and compel the sale of sharesheldabovethelimit.

The judge in his ruling highlighted that courts are generally reluctant to interfere in theinternalaffairsofcompaniesor restrain the holding of an AGM. However, he stated intervention was warranted in this case due to

the serious implications for shareholderrights.

“ThisCourtintheexerciseofits discretion,iscognizant,firstly,that Courts are ordinarily reluctant to intervene,torestraintheconvening ofanAnnualGeneralMeetingorto interveneintheinternalaffairsofa company and do so as a matter of exceptiononlyinclearcaseswhere thereisarealriskofharm,”Justice Kissoonstated.

He further noted that Banks DIH,apubliccompanylistedonthe Guyana Stock Exchange with a singleclassofcommonshares,had operated for more than 50 years without any restriction on share ownership or voting rights He pointed out that under the CompaniesAct and the company’s

Articles of Association, shareholders are entitled to one share,onevote,andthatnocapwas expressly or impliedly provided for

Itwasalsooutlinedthatthebylawsofacompanyareincidentalto its Articles of Association and cannot be used to erode or

unlawfully restrict entrenched shareholderrights.JusticeKissoon heldthattheprocedureusedbythe directors to adopt New By-law Eight was not capable of lawfully achieving the intended outcome andcouldnotbecuredorratifiedby an ordinary resolution of shareholders.

He further noted that allowing the by-law to proceed could result inirreparableharmtoshareholders, includingthepotentialinvalidation of votes and forced divestment of shares, affecting not only the claimantsbutthecompany’swider shareholderbase.

In concluding, the judge granted the injunctions that will remain in effect until the hearing and determ

substantiveaction.

SeniorCounselStephenFraser, Shantell Scott-Lall and Sydney Fraser, represented the claimants whileSeniorCounselNeilBoston, along with Senior Counsel Claude Denbow and Ms Denbow, appeared for Banks DIH Holdings Inc.:

Secret Admirer Scavenger Hunt!

Continuedfromthepreviousedition

DearEmily, Ithinkyou'refunny,kind,andcool. Youalwayscheermeupatschool. Thishuntwasjustmylittleway

TobrightenupyourFriday IfyouwanttoknowwhoIam, Turnaroundwithasmileandaslam! Emilylaughed.“Withaslam?Whatdoes thatmean?”Suddenly,sheheardasmallthud behind her She spun around and saw a boy nervously holding a small bouquet of wildflowers “Hi,” he said shyly “I'm Noah…fromtheartclub.I'velikedyoufora while,butIdidn'tknowhowtosayit.So…I made the scavenger hunt ” Emily's eyes widened.“Youdidallofthis?” Noah nodded. “I thought it would be fun.” “It was amazing!” she said. “Thank you.Thismademyday.”Danielnudgedher

DIYLoveBugCard

Valentine'sDayCraftbyHappyCraftyonYT

SUPPLIES

Colouredconstructionpaperorcardstock (red,pink,black,white)

Scissors

Gluestickorliquidglue

Markersorcrayons

Pencil(optional)

Googly eyes (optional – you can draw eyesinstead)

andwhispered,“See?Secretadmirer.”Noah handedhertheflowers.“So…maybewecan draw together at art club sometime?” Emily smiledbrightly.“I'dlovethat.”Asthethreeof themsatunderthecherryblossomtree,with petalsdancingaroundthemlikesnow,Emily looked at the last note again. She couldn't believe how a few simple clues had led to a sweetsurpriseandanewfriendship.Andjust like that, a regular Friday turned into a memoryshe'dneverforget.TheEnd!

Follow-UpQuestions:

Why do you think Noah chose a scavenger hunt instead of just telling Emily howhefelt?

Whichcluedidyoufindthemostfunor creative,andwhy?

If you made a secret admirer scavenger huntforsomeone,whatwouldyourfirstclue say?

I Love Reading

by Uncle Roy

There are many things I need to do

To help me in my learning, But the one I love most of all Is making a habit of reading

Reading makes me learn new things, As well as to speak and write; I find lessons at school so much easier, As I get more of my work right.

Story books can be so much fun, As well as teach new things; Newspapers also make me happy With all the information they bring So make the time to read each day, And you will feel so much better; You will become more confident of yourself, As your work at school becomes a pleasure.

Fold the red cardstock like in the photo and crease the folds. Then fold it onto each otherwiththeflapsexternally

STAR BATTLE

"Each puzzle is divided into 10 different regions. Each region, row and column contain exactly two stars. Stars may not be adjacent to each other (not even diagonally)."

The things that we indulge in that keep us off the track towards the goals thatwehaveprioritisedareprobablythe biggest obstacles facing any young person who is trying to make it in the modernworld.

There are so many things that can keep your attention away from the things that you really need to do that youcanwastealotofenergy,timeand resources in getting involved in these andmoveinthewrongdirection.

The unfortunate things is that we find many people who are otherwise keenonworkingtowardsattainingtheir goalsgettingdistracted,sometimesjust to please others, believing that they themselves need this time to idle and enjoy the pleasure that these bring, or even thinking that they have enough

AVOID THE DISTRACTIONS THAT CAN BLOCK YOUR PATH TO PROGRESS

time and resources at theirdisposaltospendon uselessactivities.

It is true that each of us needs to spend some time in enjoying life and the pleasures that can keep us in a good mood, but we have to carefully balance this time with whatisneededtoachieve progress towards the goals that we have determined to make the bestofourlives.

There is a great philosophicaltheorythat says: Whatever you place your undivided attention to grows. This meansthat, as long as we are serious

about attending to the really necessary things in our lives, then we can be assured that we will see progress in these.

by Uncle Roy

Always remember the Guyanese proverb:You can't eat and blow whistle at the same time.

Keep telling yourself not to let the TV,cell-phone,idlefriends,anduseless activities get in the way of your ambitions, both short and long term. Onceyoudothisearnestly,thenyoucan be assured that your intuition will always guide you to do the right thing everytime.

AmericanCryptogram

Sometimes I find, when doing something, That I try to do another, Like when I am at homework, I want to play with my brother.

I even know when I am at school, Doing some work for my teacher, I stop to chat with some friend, And then cannot finish ever

So I now see that whatever I am doing, I must put my whole mind to it; This is the only way I can do my best, And so make the most of any effort. This is also true of everything else, That I have to do each day, Whether eating, bathing, or any work at home, It is one thing at a time always.

I would like to inform our readers that the Uncle Roy email address is temporarily unavailable. So please send any contributions you would like to make to this page to roypaul2002@yahoo.com

GuyaneseentrepreneurRobertLeelaunchesREAS todriveGuyana’sAI-powereddigitaltransformation

Atthethirdannual Technology Conference held at the Marriott Hotel, Guyanese entrepreneur, RobertLee,CEOandowner

of REAS, officially announced that his firm is openforbusinessinGuyana.

As Guyana’s Google CloudandWorkspaceSelect Partner, REAS is set to revolutionize the local business landscape by bringing the full power of Google Workspace with

Gemini AI to every organizationinthecountry

During his featured presentation, “Gen AI at Work,” Lee detailed his mission to leverage global expertiseforlocalimpact.

REAS already operates in the UK, India, Ukraine, and the USA, and its expansion into Guyana

marks a significant

milestone in Lee’s commitment to his home

country’s “technology super cycle”.

“The right technology investmentstodaywilldrive

growth and competitive advantagetomorrow,”stated Robert Lee. “REAS is here to ensure that every

Guyanese organization has access to the best AI tools available globally to shape ourdigitaldestiny”.

As a Select Co-sell & ServicesPartnerforGoogle, R E A S o f f e r s a n interconnected productivity suite that integrates Gemini AI directly into essential tools like Gmail, Docs, and Meet.

This empowers local businesses to automate financial decision-making: useAItotransformcomplex dataintoactionableinsights, enhanc

erational excellence: transition from traditional processes to modern digital systems in sectors ranging from manufacturing and finance toagricultureandlogistics.

It drives innovation through the premium features such as Notebook LM and built-in review and approval processes and eSignatures to streamline

workflows and reduce reporting time, futureproofing Guyanese organizations for a digital economy

Streamline Project

Management: Build project trackerswithSheetsthatcan schedule tasks, assign them and update their status complete with Gantt charts to©2026REASGroupLtd. 1 track project milestones andKPIs.

You can develop your own Apps using AppSheet and Apps Script to create Apps in minutes from Surveys, directories, project trackers, 5s audit checklists, management systems, incidentreporting,inventory management,equipmentand vehicleinspectionsappsand manymore.

There are also modules forstrategicdistributionand security to ensure seamless delivery and scalability REAS is working alongside

Ingram Micro, a global leader in technology software and hardware distribution for the likes of Apple, Dell, Cisco, Lenovo, HP,Epson,Canonandmany othermanufacturers.

This partnership ensures that Guyanese enterprises receive the most robust and reliable support for their digital transformation journeys.Securityremainsa cornerstone of the REAS offering.

Wi t h I S O 9 0 0 1 certification and a team of Google-certified experts, REAS provides a “securityfirst” approach to digital collaboration, ensuring that local organizations meet the highest global standards for data protection and management.

And of course Google Workspace with Gemini is already compliant with ISO 27001, ISO 9001 and ISO 42001andmore.

WildBloom COLLECTIONS

“

Young entrepreneurs bring fresh ideas and energy! They innovate and inspire.

“

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we know many of you would be lookingforthatidealflowershoptobuyyour freshflowersandbouquetsfrom.

Well, look no further, today, this publication introduces you to a new and thriving flower shop called ‘Wild Bloom Collections’.

WildBloomCollectionsisownedby35year-oldTiffanyNandalall,amotheroftwo.

Aloverofflowers,Nandalall,inarecent exclusive interview with this publication, saidwhatinspiredhertostartwas,“Mymom - she’s a florist, and I got inspired by her passion, (and) decided to start my own flowershop.”

She shared that her business first came intooperationinlateNovember2025,andat Wild Bloom Collections, they offer fresh flowers,bouquets,andincludeagiftcenter

Speaking about her small business,

Nandalall described that the support so far has been good, noting that her biggest supporterisherpartner,andherclosefamily hasbeenabighelpaswell.

Further, she related that, like any other small business, some of the challenges she faced were finding an affordable, suitable location,whichshesaid“wastough.”

“And juggling business and kids (I’ve gottwo)isabitofatask,”sheadded.

Nevertheless, she manages to find ways to overcome this through the help of her family, and “just putting my mind to it; age ain’tstoppingme,”sherelated.

Whenaskedwhatherlong-termgoalsare forherbusiness,Nandalallsaidshewantsto growWildBloomCollectionsandmakeita go-tospotforflowersandgifts.

Speaking of making it a go-to spot, she revealed to this publication that for this Valentine’s Day, they are teaming up with

ByAllyiahAllicock

‘Cakes in the City’for a special promotion. “Get a custom bouquet paired with a heart shaped cake (like the cake with roses) –perfect for that special someone,” she mentioned. Details on this will be available onhersocialmediapages.

Meanwhile, when asked what role she thinks young entrepreneurs play in our society,Nandlallsaid,“Youngentrepreneurs bringfreshideasandenergy!Theyinnovate andinspire.”

Asshecontinuestoworkongrowingher business and giving it the recognition it deserves,Nandalallsuggestedthatmorecan be done locally to boost small businesses. She suggested that more affordable spaces andlocalsupportwouldbeabigboost.

Persons desirous of connecting with WildBloomCollectionscancontactTiffany Nandalallviathephonenumber(592)6669912.

Some of the beautiful bouquets prepared Wild Bloom Collections has to offer.

Construction of Mabaruma and Morawhanna Stellingscompleted – Public Works Ministry

The Ministry of Public Works on Saturday announced that the over $4 billioninupgradestotheMabarumaand MorawhannaStellingsinRegionOneare nowcompleted

OnFriday,MinisterofPublicWorks, JuanEdghillandMinisterofAmerindian Affairs, Sarah Browne-Shadeek visited the new stellings where they were informedofthecompletionofworks.

The Public Works Ministry shared that the works at both stellings were executed by R Bassoo & Son Construction Company The works at Mabarumacost$216billionandthenew stelling features a robust pre-cast, pre-

stressedconcretestructure.

Itisequippedwithalink-spanbridge specifically designed to accommodate Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) vessels, including the MV Ma Lisha and the Kalliopi N, which will significantly improve the movement of heavy cargo andpassengers.

Additionally, the facility boasts a modern terminal with a seating capacity for60persons

“Designed for comfort and convenience,theterminalincludes:Male and female washrooms and a dedicated baby-changingstation,staffofficesanda cargo storage bond, two canteens and a Benab for public use, and two toll booths to streamline operations,” the ministry informed.

The newly constructed ferry Stelling at Morawhanna was completedatacostof$19billion

“This facility features a passenger seating capacity of 50 and is outfitted with similar modern amenities to its counterpart in Mabaruma Both projects mark a significant upgradeintheregion’stransport network, enhancing the safety andefficiencyofmovingpeople and goods throughout the Barima-Waini region,” the ministrysaid.

DuringthevisittoRegionOne also, Minister Edghill also traveled to Port Kaituma to inspect ongoing works at the stellingthere

The stelling, which is a vital link for regional commerce and travel, is currently entering its final stages and is slated for completioninFebruary2026,the ministrynoted

Guyanesestudentsnamedamongtopfivefinalists atglobalroboticscompetitioninMalaysia

Agroup of Guyanese students representing Camille’s Academy have been named among the top fivefinalistsattheGlobalRobotics Competition,Robowunder,heldin Malaysia.

Camille’sAcademyplacedfifth out of 30 shortlisted teams at competition, held on January 24, 2026, for their project titled the

Automatic Fire Detection IntelligenceSystem(AFDIS).

Team developer and engineer, Sherisa Khan explained that AFDIS is designed with AI assistance to help identify and preventdangerousforestfires.She said the team decided to create an original prototype to help protect Guyana’s forest in the face of climatechangerisks.

Khan explained “We all know thatGuyanaismadeup85percent forest and as we know we are at serious risk of global warming. To helpcreateasolutiontocombatthe effects of global warming like dangerous forest fires, we have designedAFDISwhichisourphase 1 prototype to detect the slightest amount of carbon monoxide, humidity like how dry or wet the atmosphereintheforestisandifit isindangerofafirebeingstarted.”

The team developer said that theprogrammeisengineeredbyan edgeAI algorithm to help detect a firebeingstartedwithina500-mile radius.

“The minute the algorithm detects a threshold of 65 percent it sends a sms straight to the forest ranger’s phone that ‘hey, there is a

risk of a fire being started at this exactlocation,’”shesaid.

She explained that another usefulcomponentofAFDISisthat itisbuilttomakesystemfailureor defaultreports.

“Thesystemiscompletelyselfreliant. So, if for any reason the equipment is damaged or malfunctions, the system is designed to report those problems. It will notify the ranger that ‘hey a sensorisdamagedhereorthere.’”

Khan explained to that unlike other forest fire detection devices that use satellite technology, AFDIS is reliant on soil

intelligence making it is truly originalbydesign.

“Thisisthefirstofitskindand wearelookingtogetitpatentedand made into an actual device. We wanttochangetheworld,innovate and make something that will preserveourforests,”shesaid.

According to her, the idea was to make the project cost effective, safeandclimatefriendly

“Wehaveaddedsolarpanelsso thatwecanusethesun’senergyto power the device. Those panels also charge the backup battery Duringtheday,weusesolarandat night back up battery If the rain

falls,itwillrelyonbackupbattery, makingitagreenenergydevice.”

Lead researcher, Ricardo Bhagwandin had the task for gathering data to assist with ensuring that the project was feasible,originalandworthwhile.

He said “My main job was to scour the internet for information on forest fire prevention technologyandgatherrelevantdata relatingtoourproject.Ihadtofind information on forest fires in Guyana and the rest of the world.

For example, we looked at the California wildfires and the fire in the Rupununi Savannahs here in

Guyana.”

“Wetookaboutaweektocome upwiththeideaandmapitoutand getstarted.”

Project coordinator Faith Jaisingh told this publication that she was responsible for logistical componentoftheproject.

“Iwasresponsibleforensuring that everyone pitched in, did their part and received the necessary tools and information needed to completetheprojectintime.”

Aaryan Gafoor related that he was responsible for building and programmingtheprototype.

“My job is basically building web component of the project ensuringthatitworkscorrectly,”he said.

Academic Director of Camille’s Academy, Dr Camille Deokie-Gorakh expressed how very proud she is of her team. She noted that this was their first international competition and they represented their school, Guyana andCaribbean,well.

“Congratulationstoourchamps forsecuringaspotamongtheTop5 out of 30 shortlisted teams at the Global Robotics Competition, Robowunder, in Malaysia!” the Academic Director said in a Facebook post shortly after the results of the competition were announced.

She continued “Being named a finalist is a remarkable achievement—atruereflectionof your hard work, innovation, and dedication. Keep striving, keep innovating, and continue to shine ontheglobalstage!”

$3.7B allocated to boost tourism and cultural development in 2026 budget

…preparatory works to advance for state-of-the-art museum

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has allocated $3.7 billion in the 2026 National BudgetfortheadvancementofGuyana’stourismandcultural heritagesector,whichincludespreparatoryworksforastateof-the-artmuseum.

The announcement was made on Monday by Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, during the presentation of Budget 2026 in the National Assembly

Outlining the Government’s vision for the new term, Dr Singh emphasised the importance of advancing Guyana’s cultural sector, with the aim of positioning the country as a regionalleaderinculturaldevelopmentandtourism.

“Overthenextfiveyears,wewilltransformthesectorby ensuring sustainable and world-class tourism experiences, expanding air and domestic connectivity, creating jobs and empoweringcommunities,andmakingtravelmoreaffordable forourcitizensandvisitors,”Dr Singhsaid.Headdedthatthe governmentwillreview,update,andimplementtheNational Strategic Tourism Action Plan to help Guyana reach its full potentialinthetourismandculturesector

As part of efforts to strengthen Guyana’s Orange Economy,Dr Singhannouncedthatworkwillmoveforward on a state-of-the-art museum and art gallery, as well as the Palmyra Cultural Market. A total of $1.3 billion has been budgeted for these initiatives. According to the minister, “These facilities will provide a vibrant marketplace for creativeexpressionandculturalexchange.”

Additionally, in a bid to position Guyana as a preferred destination for conferences, weddings, and reunions, particularlywithinthediasporamarket,theGovernmentwill construct a new Hospitality andTourism Institute. Dr Singh statedthattheinstituteisexpectedtoopenlaterthisyear,with $2.2billionallocatedfortheproject.

“Mr. Speaker, diversifying Guyana’s tourism products is central to Government’s strategy to grow the sector more rapidly, retain more tourism revenue locally, and ensure that benefits reach communities across the country, not just traditionaltourismhotspots,”hesaid.

Meanwhile,Dr SinghannouncedthatGuyanaisalsosetto host the State of the Industry Conference, a key Caribbean tourism organisation event that will focus on innovation and sustainability in the tourism sector across Guyana and the widerCaribbean.

Visit Rupununi calls for...

Frompage13

transpiredwhenhewentmissingandwhatledtohisdeath, colleaguesnotedthatBairdwasthecare-takeroftheanimals attheranch.Theydisclosedthatbeforehisdeath,Bairdwas missing some of the animals from the ranch and so they suspected that on Friday (January 23) morning he left in searchoftheanimals.

The police in a report on Friday noted that during subsequent enquiries in the area, investigators also discovered the remains of two cattle nearby, suspected to havebeenshot.“Itemsofevidentialvalue,includingaknife andspentshotgunshells,wererecoveredandlodgedaspart ofongoingexaminations,”thepolicesaidinitsstatement.

Withnoarrestmade,policeaddedthatinvestigationsare continuing as they work to establish the full circumstances surroundingtheincident.

VACANCY WANTED

Job opening: Truck Driver, AC Technicians, Excavator and Skid Steer Operators. To apply send application via WhatsApp: 689-1111/ 608-2114.

Live in Maid wanted. Robb St. Call: 762-3155

Job opening:Site Supervisor,Office Assistant. To apply send application via WhatsApp: 689-1111/ 608-2114.

1 personal trainer to work on the ecd,Mon,Wed,Fri from 6am-9am.Contact 2235273/647-5470.

One experienced office assistant & one handyman wanted,send ur resume via email bakshwork@gmail.com / 662-0469.

Wanted one Maid. For more information please Call: 680-1282.

Experience (Big Bus) drivers MUST have CLEAN driving license,police clearance.WhatsApp:592747-4905.

Single male seeks a live in domestic partner,age 18 and over. Light indoor & outdoor work. $65000 monthly. Call 603-9085.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

1 Honda CRV, includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, spoiler, low mileage, PTT Series (first owner). Call: 649-0956.

2015 Nissan Rogue/Xtrail fully loaded with keyless start,360 view camera,leather tan 7 seater.Price negotiabe call 608-3834.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Aracari Hotel Renovated rooms, A/C, TV, Restaurant, Bar, Pool, Gym. Stay 7 nights, 1 FREE! Call: 2642946.

T RUCK TIRES 295 / 75R22.5 $40K EACH. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL / WHATSAPP:+592-6883201. FOR SALE

COOK/BAKER AND PITMEN for interior location . Applicants must be experienced. Call: 231-2250.

Career Opportunity: Data Entry , Accounts . ACCOUNTING SERVICES 141 Regent St Georgetown,Contact: whatsapp 620-8611.Job Training Available.

One (1) female cleaner for Eccles office call 645-8443.

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Motorcyclist critical after

Ann’s Grove accident

A 32-year-old motorcyclist is critical at the Enmore Regional Hospital following an accident along the Ann’s Grove Public Road, East Coast Demerara.

The injured man has been identified as Kendel Lewis of Ann’s Grove Village.

The accident reportedly occurred around 08:00pm hrs and involved his motorcycle and a motorcar.

Kaieteur News under-

stands from witnesses that Lewis was riding along the eastern side of the road and was in the process of turning when a car travelling along the western side collided with him.

The impact caused Lewis to be flung from the motorcycle, landing on the roadway.

Reports are that Lewis sustained multiple head injuries and a broken leg.

WIN to meet opposition GECOM commissioners

From page 3

permanent commission after years of wrangling. I recall the PNC was one at the time pointing out the dangers of a permanent commission while acknowledging the positives, and so you have a change in the dynamics but the law hasn’t changed and in so far as the law hasn’t changed then there is nothing that the chairman could have done,” Norton said. Norton, who is also leader of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), told reporters that as an opposition party he thought WIN would have, “engage us in consultation so that we could deal with the issue and point out to him and his team that it is the law.”

“I think it doesn’t look well if you as an opposition run to GECOM for GECOM to tell you we can’t do anything,” he said noting that WIN approaching GECOM directly shows that the party failed to do its due diligence on the matter. He maintained that GECOM is permanent and so too are the appointed commissioners.

In response, APNU Member of Parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul reminded that Vincent Alexander and Charles Corbin were nominated by the PNC /R while Desmond Trotman was nominated by the APNU/AFC.

“They cannot be removed by those very parties who nominated them, and that is

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an important point to note, and I think there is a commissioner or two from the PPP side that were claimed to be from the PPP side that were nominated when the PPP was in opposition. The point I’m making is that when these nominations are made and they’re appointed, they serve at the behest of the people of Guyana really, not necessarily to a political party, because the political party after making the nomination no longer have that leverage or that claim to remove,” Mahipaul posited.

Similarly, Leader of APNU’s parliamentary team Dr. Terrence Campbell opined “that the issue of appointments by the leader of the opposition is not limited to the opposition commissioners.”

He reminded that the

Chairperson of GECOM is appointed by the president who selects him or her from a list of six nominees that are provided to him by the leader of the opposition.

“I find it curious that only the issue of the opposition commission as has come up in the public uh well uh since the appointment of the leader of the opposition,” Dr. Campbell said. He stressed that there has been no objection to the Chairperson of GECOM Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh and “if I had to identify a problem at GECOM, I would first identify the chairperson as the source of most of the problems rather than the opposition commissioners.” The party officials said that by not addressing the issues related to the GECOM Chair it can be con-

cluded that WIN is in agreement with the occurrences at the electoral body. Meanwhile, opposition-nominate commissioner Vincent Alexander told Kaieteur News on Saturday that he received a letter from WIN inviting him to a meeting today. He said the party spoke to a “need to discuss the status of the commission.” Alexander made it clear that despite WIN’s position on who occupies seats as opposition-nominated commissioners, “there is no basis for me to resign.” He has always argued that the appointment of commissioners attracts a security of tenure that has no term limit. Like the leaders of APNU, Alexander is of the view that only a change in the laws can rectify the situation at GECOM.

Banks DIH to appeal injunction on share...

From page 15 opportunity to file an Affidavit in Opposition to the Application, and the company was never given the opportunity to address the legal issues in detail as was to be expected in a Court of law.

“The main issue in the case required consideration of documents which made up the constitution of BDIH which was only incorporated some 3 years ago on 18th January, 2023. Those documents are the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws. In a lengthy Judgement read for almost half an hour, the learned Judge repeatedly stated that the proposed vote by shareholders at its AGM would be illegal, ultra vires and not permitted by the document the learned Judge referred to as the Articles of Association. However, there is no such document in the constitution of BDIH,” the advertisement stated.

Banks DIH opined that Justice Kissoon’s judgement was “plainly wrong, particularly in relying on: i. ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION, which do not exist in the constitution of

BDIHHI; ii. Failing to give an opportunity to BDIHHI’s Corporate Secretary to file an Affidavit in Opposition which is one of the essential hallmarks of any system of justice. BDIH proposes to appeal this matter to the Full Court for the discharge of the injunction.”

COMPANY PROFITS

Meanwhile, Reis announced that for the last fiscal year, the company recorded $13,795,000,000 profit in profit before taxation and $9,827,000,000 profit after tax. Reis disclosed that for 2021-2025 the company’s revenues increased by 25% and the profits have increased by 50%. The share price was $300 per share in March 2022 and by December it was $155, a decline of 48%.

“Banks pays $51M daily in taxes, inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. The above information my fellow shareholders served to emphasise the inherit contradiction in the downward moment of Banks Holdings in share prices while at the same time the revenue and profits are increasing,” he told shareholders.

Iwokrama receives support from CARDI...

From page 28 sustainably managed and certified business models using innovative governance systems which include participation of the private and public sectors and the local communities, earning income from the forest and its natural assets whilst employing international social, environ-

mental and economic best practice, whilst still keeping abreast of the ever changing thinking on funding for environmental projects in the face of climate change and the perennial scarcity of international finance. This alliance and the Centre’s work programmes are committed to showing how a rain forest can

be used for real sustainability, real climate change protection and real community benefit. For further details about the Iwokrama International Centre please visit www.iwokrama.org , www.iwokramariverlodge.com or contact Dane Gobin, Chief Executive Officer on dgobin@iwokrama.org

World Bank opens new Caribbean offices in Jamaica

CMC - TheWorld Bank Group,hasofficiallyopened its new, energy-efficient offices here, which will serve as the hub for its Caribbeanoperations.

The building brings the Bank’s Caribbean team together in one physical space,whichwillstrengthen theinstitution’spresenceand support in Jamaica and the widerregion.

In2021,theWorldBank

moved its Caribbean operationsfromWashington DC to the island as part of a strategicshifttodecentralise functionstothefieldoffices.

Minister without PortfoliointheOfficeofthe

Prime Minister with responsibilityforEfficiency, Innovation and Digital

T r a n s f o r m a t i o n , Ambassador Audrey Marks commendedthemovebythe Bank.

“Today’s opening of the World Bank’s Belmont office is not only the launch of a new workplace. It is a visible statement of longterm partnership, trust and shared ambition between Jamaica and the World

Bank,”shesaid. Marks said the World Bank has been a key development partner, noting theimpactoftheinstitution’s support in building the foundations of a modern, digital economy and strong institutions with capable systems, and a workforce preparedforthefuture.

“For decades, the World Bank has walked alongside Jamaica at pivotal moments in our developing journey.

supporting institutional

investment, this partnership has consistently been anchored in a shared belief

development must be inclusive, forward-looking and people-centered, and in many ways, this building exemplifies that belief,” she said.

development through a 2024-2027 framework focusing on human capital, economic growth, and resilience Key activities

without

the

includefinancingeducation, healthcare, and social protection.

The Bank also invests in disaster risk reduction, p r i v a t e s e c t o r modernisation, and climate resilienceprojects.

Country Director for Caribbean Countries, World Bank,LiliaBurunciuc,inher remarks, said that the new

building reflects the Bank’s focusonsustainability

“We are very proud of this. Our mission is a world freeofpovertyonaliveable planet So, the liveable planetisanimportantpartof it, and we would like to implement what we preach, which is energy efficiency, e n v i r o n m e n t a l c

responsibility for

standard for measuring energy, for measuring weather and the overall efficiency of the building,” she pointed out. The EDGE certification, which is an International Finance Corporation (IFC)-created green building certification system,willenabletheoffice toconsume65percentlower energy, 42 per cent lower weather use and 25 per cent lowerinvertedenergy.

Burunciuc, who assumed office in Jamaica on July 1, 2021, said when she arrived in the island, “it was the first time that a director for the region was beingsenttotheregion”.

“The previous director was sitting in Washington,” shepointedout.

sustainability,whichiswhat thisofficeisabout.

“It’s not only a new, beautiful building that actually increases our productivity, but it also an Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE)-certified building.

EDGE certification is an advanced certification, which is actually a global

Burunciuc said that the Jamaica office at the time was small, with persons havingtosharespace.

“Finally, we have a new [building] where everybody hasanoffice.

We had to share, sometimes two, sometimes three people in the previous office, so we’re very happy tobeheretoday,”shesaid.

More than 200 killed in mine collapse in DR Congo

BBC News - More than 200 people have been killed inaminecollapseineastern Democratic Republic of Congo, rebel authorities havesaid.

Themine,inthetownof Rubaya, gave way on Wednesday due to heavy rains, Lumumba Kambere Muyisa, spokesman for the North Kivu region’s rebel governor, told reporters. At the time, the death toll remainedunclear

Women and children were among those mining coltan – a mineral used to manufacture electronics such as smartphones and computers–atthetime.

A former supervisor of the mine told the BBC the site was not properly maintained, making accidents more likely and hampering rescue efforts whentheyoccur

Headdedthatthefragile nature of the soil made the situationworse.

Women, children and artisanal miners – those not

officially employed by a mining firm – are among those killed in the collapse. Around20survivorsaresaid to be receiving treatment in hospital.

A source whose cousin died in the landslide expressed shock, saying it was “a big loss” for the

familyandcommunity

“Ididn’tbelievehecould pass away in such circumstances,” the source, who did not wish to be named, told the BBC, describing his cousin as a “ c o u r a g e o u s ” a n d “ambitious” man whose maingoalwastoprovidefor

Sources say the mine, currently under rebel control, has been poorly maintained. (BBC)

hiswifeandtwochildren.

“Ididn’tbelieve[hewas dead]becauseinvestigations werestillongoing.Hisbody wasn’t found after the accident, so I did have hope thathecouldbefoundalive. Unfortunately, some hours later, his body was discovered ” Governor

The mines in Rubaya hold about 15% of the world’s coltan supply and halfoftheDRCongo’stotal deposits. The metallic ore contains tantalum, which is used to produce highperformance capacitors in a range of electronic devices, making it in high demand worldwide.

When a BBC team visited the site in July 2025, they observed miners digging manually to source the precious mineral Conditions at the site are very bad, with dangerous pits dotted around its vast expanse.

Since 2024, the M23 rebels have been in control of the mines. The UN has accused the group of imposing taxes on the mining sector for their own benefit.

The BBC has contacted the Congolese government inKinshasaforcomment.

ErastoBahatiMusanga,who was appointed by M23 rebels after seizing swathes of territory in North Kivu, visited survivors of the incidentonFriday Rubaya is one of a number of towns across NorthKivuunderthecontrol o f t h e M 2 3 , w h o international observers say are backed by neighbouring Rwanda.

TopUSenvoyforVenezuelaarrivesinCaracas

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Laura Dogu, the top U S envoy for Venezuela, arrived on Saturday in Caracas as the two countries gradually resume bilateral relations,

broken in 2019 by

Venezuelan President NicolasMaduro.

In a post on Telegram, Venezuelan foreign affairs minister Yván Gil said that her visit is meant to “establish a roadmap on matters of bilateral interest” and “resolve existing

differences through diplomatic dialogue and through a base of mutual understanding and internationallaw.”

Dogu, who previously served as ambassador to Honduras and Nicaragua, wrote on X that she had arrivedinVenezuelaandthat

“my team and I are ready to work.”

The U S captured Maduro on January 3 and broughthimtoNewYorkfor arraignment in court on narcoterrorism charges

D e l c y R o d r i g u e z , Venezuela’s interim president, has since said she seeks to move towards “balanced and respectful international relations” with theUnitedStates.

The two countries have reachedadealtoexportupto $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude to the UnitedStates,andonFriday Rodriguez announced a proposed “amnesty law” for hundreds of prisoners in the country and said the Helicoidedetentioncenterin Caracaswouldbeturnedinto acenterforsportsandsocial services.

“I just arrived in Venezuela. My team and I are ready to work,” Laura Dogu, the United States’new top envoy to Venezuela said in a social media post. Embajada de los EE.UU., Venezuela/@usembassyve/X

Guterres warns of Un’s

‘imminent financial collapse’

Geneva, Switzerland

Reuters — The UN chief has told member states that the organisation is at risk of “imminent financial collapse,”citingunpaidfees andabudgetrulethatforces the global body to return unspentmoney,aletterseen

by Reuters on Friday

showed.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly spoken about the organisation’s worsening liquiditycrisisbutthisishis starkest warning yet, and it comes as its main

contributortheUnitedStates i

multilateralismonnumerous fronts.

“Thecrisisisdeepening, threatening programme delivery and risking financial collapse. And the situation will deteriorate

further in the near future,” Guterres wrote in a letter to ambassadors dated January 28.

The US has slashed voluntary funding to UN agencies and refused to make mandatory payments to its regular and peacekeepingbudgets

US President Donald Trump has described the UN as having “great potential” but said it is not fulfilling that, and he has launched a Board of Peace which some fear could undermine the older internationalbody

Founded in 1945, the UN has 193 member states and works to maintain international peace and security, promote human rights, foster social and economic development, a n d c o o r d i n a t e humanitarianaid.

In his letter, Guterres said “decisions not to h o n o u r a s s e s s e d contributionsthatfinancea significant share of the approved regular budget have now been formally announced.”

He did not say which state or states he was referring to, and a UN spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.

United Nations Secretary-GeneralAntonio Guterres speaks during a press conference outlining his priorities for 2026 at UN headquarters in New York City, on Thursday. Eduardo Munoz/Reuters

‘KafkaesqueCycle’

Under UN rules, contributions depend on the size of the economy of each member state The US accountsfor22%ofthecore budget followed by China with20%.

But by the end of 2025 there was a record $1.57 billion in outstanding dues, Guterres said, without namingthem.

“Either all Member

States honour their obligationstopayinfulland on time – or Member States must fundamentally overhaul our financial rules to prevent an imminent financialcollapse,”hesaid.

Guterres launched a reform task force last year, known as UN80, which seeks to cut costs and

improve efficiency To that end, states agreed to cut the 2026 budget by around 7% to$3.45billion.

Still, Guterres warned in the letter that the organisation could run outofcashbyJuly

One of the problems is a rule now seen as antiquated whereby the global body has to credit back hundreds of millions of dollars in unspent dues to states each year

“In other words,wearetrappedina K a f k a e s q u e c y c l e expected to give back cash that does not exist,” said Guterres, referring to author Franz Kafka w h o w r o t e a b o u t oppressive bureaucratic processes

BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCIES!

In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecencies in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.

MONDAY –JANUARY 26, 2026

Integrity

Commission’s silence

T h e I n t e g r i t y Commission’s refusal to say whether it is even examining the mounting wealth of Tourism Minister Susan Rodrigues is a dereliction of duty that undermines public confidence and institutional credibility

The body, established to ensure transparency and guardagainstcorruption,hid

behind a blanket of confidentiality instead of providing basic reassurance that declarations are being scrutinised This is not o v e r s i g h t , t h i s i s obfuscation. Questions over Rodrigues’ rapid asset accumulation, including overseaspropertiesandlocal land holdings, have sparked legitimate public concern. Instead of addressing

whether her declared assets match her income, the Commission chose silence, sending a troubling message that powerful officials are s h i e l d e d f r o m accountability If confidence in governance is to be restored, the Commission must act transparently, investigate allegations, and demonstrate that no one in publiclifeisabovescrutiny

WEDNESDAY –JANUARY 28, 2026

$5,000 hike in old age pension

M o n d a y ’ s announcement of the $5,000 increase on the paltry $41,000old-agepensionand $3,000onthe$22,000public assistance fall painfully shortofwhatthegovernment promised and of what reality demands.

With food, medicine, transport and utilities rising

relentlessly, these marginal adjustments barely cushion weekly expenses, let alone restoredignity Manyseniors already choose between prescriptions and groceries; families on assistance face similar impossible tradeoffs Campaign pledges created expectations of meaningful relief, yet the outcome suggests a spurge on infrastructure again where the loopholes to steal abound over so

responsibility

While this year’s budget breaks record, protecting the most vulnerable was not prioritised.

A society is judged by how it treats its weakest members. Token increases undermine public trust and deepen hardship The government must revisit this decision and deliver on its p

nationwide.

Personschargedwith illegalminingclimbto53

The Ministry of

N a t u r a l Resources on Saturday said that nine persons were arrested, charged, and placed before the courts during January for breaches of Guyana’s M i n i n g L a w s a n d Regulations.

“These matters were concluded before the Bartica, Mahdia, and Linden Magistrates’ Courts, where the offenders pleaded guilty and were made to pay various fines for engaging in illegalminingoperationsand related offences, ” a statement published by the Department of Public Information(DPI)said.

The convictions arose from illegal activities that included mining without a licence or permit, operating licensed dredges on mining p r o p e r t i e s w i t h o u t permission, and the use of unregistered or unlicensed dredges.

In keeping with the law, the courts imposed fines for thevaryingoffences.

The nine convictions add to the 44 persons previously arrested, charged, and taken before the courts as part of the Ministry’s intensified national crackdown on illegal mining operations,

bringing the total number of personsprosecutedto53.

“The Ministry of Natural Resources reiterates that this course of action will continue unabated to ensure full compliance with the M i n i n g L a w s a n d Regulations, while ensuring environmental sustainability in harnessing Guyana’s natural resources for present and future generations,” the statementsaid.

On January 23, Kaieteur News reported that more than 50 pieces of mining equipment and related materials were seized from u n l i c e n c e d m i n i n g operations in the North West District.

The ministry in a statement said the seizures form part of its ongoing and intensified efforts to dismantle illegal mining activities across Guyana The equipment was

c o n f i s c a t e d d u r i n g complianceandenforcement exercises conducted in collaboration with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) at several locations within the Eclipse Falls–North West area.

Among the items seized were mining engines, generators, water pumps,

THURSDAY –JANUARY 29, 2026

Near-total drawdown

Government’s near-total drawdownofGuyana’s2025 oil earnings should alarm every citizen who cares aboutthecountry’sfuture.

With US$2 463 billion withdrawn from the Natural Resource Fund, almost matching the US$2 4 billion earned,theadministrationhas

again demonstrated a spendnow,save-latermentalitythat places the nation at risk Oil prices are volatile, global markets uncertain, and emergenciesunpredictable

Yet the authorities continuetotreattheNRFasa bottomless purse While officials argue that heavy spending yields faster development returns, this approach ignores the very

purpose of a sovereign wealth fund: to stabilise the economy and safeguard intergenerationalwealth.

D e v e l o p m e n t i s important, but recklessness is not. Guyana must strike a balance between present needs and future security Otherwise, today’s oil windfall could become t o m o r r o w ’s m i s s e d opportunity

hoses and gold detection equipment,allofwhichwere being used in contravention of the country’s mining laws and regulations The equipment has since been detained and lodged at the Mines Station pending furtheraction.

The ministry reiterated that illegal and unregulated mining poses serious environmental, economic and safety risks and will not be tolerated. It noted too that the enforcement exercises are part of a broader, sustained strategy to ensure compliance with the Mining Act and to protect Guyana’s natural resources for present andfuturegenerations.

Further, the ministry reminded that such operations will continue nationwide and that all findings and breaches i d e n t i f i e d d u r i n g enforcement activities will be made public, in keeping with the government’s c o m m i t m e n t t o transparency, accountability andtheruleoflaw

The Ministry of Natural Resources also reiterated its call to all miners and operators to ensure their activities are fully licensed and compliant with national regulations.

MaduekeshinesasArsenalgosevenpointsclear

BBC Sport - Noni Madueke starred as Arsenal extendedtheirleadatthetop ofthetabletosevenpointsas they beat Leeds United to record their first league win in four Premier League matches.

Noni Madueke registered his first assist in the Premier League this season. (Getty Images)

Madueke was not meant to start the game and was a late replacement for winger Bukayo Saka, who limped out of the warm-up with a hipproblem.

And Madueke, who has hadtoplaytheroleofbackup for most of this season, tookhischancetoimpressas

Sunday February 01, 2026

ARIES(Mar 21–Apr 19)

Tension may arise today, Aries.It'spossiblethatyou're either too dreamy or too practical to deal effectively with the issue. It's important to strike a balance The toughest part will be finding otherswhoagreewithyou.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Yesterday's trajectory may runintotroubletoday,Taurus. Your intrinsically dreamy nature is dragging down the action you initiated This conflict could create tension that will be difficult to resolve.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Try to align your mind with youremotionstoday,Gemini. It's possible that a powerful yet subtle force is slowly pullingyouofftrack.

CANCER(June21–July22)

An emotional issue could be rubbing you the wrong way, Cancer Your impulse is to escape. Try to do so in a healthy manner Go see a movie or read a book. Don't fall prey to the temptation to indulgeinalcoholorfood.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Yourartisticsidewantstotake to the airwaves in some way, Leo Perhaps you should considerbuildingawebsiteor becomingacommentatorona localradioshow

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

It may be apparent that what was so light and active yesterday is running into a few roadblocks today, Virgo. You're suddenly heading into a brick wall with some of the projects you've been working on.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

There may be dreaminess about your emotions today, Scorpio,whichcouldkeepyou from focusing on the task at hand. The aspects dictate that people may be stubborn and confused-andyou'relikelyto beoneofthem.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

Little voices whisper in your ear and ask you to take flight and join them in the clouds, Sagittarius There's tension between what your heart and mind tell you. They're pulling you in very different directions.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Recentspiritualbreakthroughs might have you feeling both exhilarated and downcast, Scorpio. Your sensitive side tells you that this is a definite step forward on your spiritual path.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Something or someone may prod you to take action today, Capricorn. It may be best if you beat them to it and motivateyourself.Breakaway fromtheherdandgowherever youwanttogo.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20–Feb 18) You might experience a great deal of emotional confusion,Aquarius.There'sa debatebrewinginsideyou,and you're having a hard time deciding whether to be practicalormorefanciful.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar 20)

It will be a challenge to keep youremotionsonanevenkeel today,Pisces.Conflictmaybe brewing and you might fear it could get out of hand Everythingwillworkout.

he curled in an excellent cross for Martin Zubimendi tonodArsenalinfront.

The home side had started the game well but Arsenal pinned Leeds back for large parts of the first half, winning a number of corners and throw-ins to increase pressure on the Leedsdefence.

It was from one of these cornersthatArsenaldoubled the lead when Madueke’s curling delivery caught out goalkeeperKarlDarlowand hecouldonlypunchtheball intohisownnet.

Viktor Gyokeres then

a comfortableendtothegame whenhefoughttogetonthe end of Gabriel Martinelli’s inviting cross to make it 3-0 before substitute Gabriel Jesusaddedafourthlateon.

The expectation was on Arsenal to deliver a result coming into this game after their recent form, but they recorded an important victory to put pressure on their title rivals, Manchester City and Aston Villa, who are not in action until Sunday

Injured Cummins out of T20 World Cup...

Frompage54

Tim David completing his return-to-play program in the early phase of the tournament,” Dodemaide saidofRenshaw’sselection.

“Asaleft-hander,healso offersapointofdifferenceto themiddle-orderbatting.”

Renshawscored15inhis T20 debut for Australia in Thursday’sdefeatinLahore.

The former champions begin their World Cup

campaign against Ireland in a February 11 match in Colombo.

Australia World Cup squad: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Travis Head, Xavier Bartlett, Josh

OneGuyanaInter-RegionTen10Softball CupplayoffsfixedforFebruary15th

Th e m u c h -

a n t i c i p a t e d playoffs of the 2nd edition of the “One Guyana Inter-Region Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup” is set to take the Better Hope Community Centre Ground by storm on Sunday, 15th February 2026, from 9am sharp.

Top regional winning teams in both male and female categories across the country will battle for supremacy, as the day’s event is set to feature exciting softball cricket, with players taking the field to showcase their best skills andexperienceinthegame.

The male winning team will walk away with $1,000,000 and the winning Trophy, while the runner-up team is going to take home $250,000 and a trophy. Prizes will also be awarded

to the MVP, Best Bowler, andBatsmanforthedayand Man of the Final. While in the female category, the

winner will walk away with $300,000 and the winning trophy, the runner-up will receive $100,000 and a

trophy. Prizes will also be awarded to the MVP, Best Bowler,andBatsmanforthe dayandManoftheFinal.

According to the organisers,thefinalsinboth categories will be played under lights, while

spectators can look forward to the best of entertainment off the field as several local artists are set to perform from4pm,andlotsofgames and side attractions for the kids. There will be a wellstocked beverage bar and BBQ on sale, music will be provided by Earth Storm Sound System, and admission to the venue is free.

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Hon CharlesRamsonM.P.,along with other senior officials andsponsors,willbegracing theevent.

RSSportsisencouraging cricketfanstocomeoutand witnesstopsoftballactionin this “One Guyana InterRegion Ten10 Softball Cricket Cup” Playoffs, which is the country’s biggest softball cricket competition.

Injured Cummins out of T20 World Cup, Dwarshuis in Australia squad

(Reuters)-Australiafast bowler Pat Cummins was ruled out on Saturday for next month’s Twenty20 World Cup after failing to recoverfromanaggingback injury, and Ben Dwarshuis will replace him for the globalshowpiece.

Cummins played just one of the five Ashes tests against England, but Australia kept him in the provisional World Cup squad hoping for his availability in the Super Eight stage of the tournament to be played in IndiaandSriLanka.

Matt Renshaw also replaced fellow batter Matthew Short but veteran SteveSmithcouldnotbreak into the World Cup squad despitehisstrongforminthe BigBashLeague.

“With Pat needing more time to recover from his back injury, Ben is a ready replacement who offers a left-arm pace option as well asdynamicfieldingandlateorderhitting,”selectorTony Dodemaidesaid.

“Webelievehisabilityto swing the ball at good pace along with clever variations will be well suited to the

Australia’s Pat Cummins during practice. (Action

conditions we expect and overall structure of the squad.”

The Mitchell Marsh-led side are currently playing a three-match T20 series in Pakistan as part of their preparation for the World Cup. “With the top order settled and spin-heavy conditions expected in the poolstagesinSriLanka,we alsofeelMattprovidesextra middle-ordersupport,with (Continuedonpage53)

Anaya Joseph

Another spirited performance by the Junior Lady Jagswasnotenoughtokeep Hondurasfromregainingthe lead in Group D when the 2026 Concacaf Women’s

Under-17 Qualifiers continuedonSaturdayatthe Guillermo Prospero

Trinidad Stadium in Oranjestad,Aruba.

Honduras were able to secure a 3 – 1 victory over Guyana to extend their unbeaten run and elevate their points tally to nine (9) Jamaicaissecondonce again with seven (7) points while Guyana remains of four(4)points.

The other two teams in the Group, Aruba and St V i n c e n t a n d t h e

2026Concacaf Women’sU17Qualifiers…

HondurasdefeatGuyanatoregainGrouplead

no lower than 8 – 0 to beat Jamaica’s goal difference of 7. With that, Guyana must then hope they are among the top two second placefinisherstoadvanceto the next round. Only the six Groupwinners(A,B,C,D,E and F) and the best two second-place finishers will advance to the Concacaf Women’s Under-17

QualifiersFinalRound.

Meanwhile, Saturday’s match saw Honduras put G

Grenadines, were both without points before the encounter against each otherlastnight

Now, just one match remains for every team in theGroupexceptAruba

The top two teams in the Group face off at 20:00 hrsonMonday,February2, after Guyana battle St V i n c e n t a n d t h e Grenadines earlier in the dayat15:00hrs

A win for Guyana means they will match the Jamaicans’ points, but must hope the mighty Honduras squad defeat the Reggae Girls and restrict theirgoalscoring

However, Guyana must recordacleansheetresultin thatfinalmatchwithascore

arly pressure with a goal in the 7 t h m i n u t e w h e n Honduras’ Ilsy Sevilla found the top left corner fromafreekick

The Jags did well in t

und themselves down by two goals on the brink of half time, compliments of a head

zlyn Sánchezneargoal

Resuming with a 2 – 0 lead, two minutes into the second half Valentina Chavarria added more misery to the Guyanese outfit when she found the backofthenet

With the victory beyond doubt, Honduras proceededwiththecomfort of a three-goal cushion but hadtheircleansheetruined by Anaya Joseph, who recorded a consolation goalinthe87thminute

Guyana’s U17 Squad: Jasmine Solomon-Ross (GK), Alexis Mars (GK), Sara Ernest (GK), Aliyah John, Ella Yhip, Kuleni

Springer, Lily Biffin, Avril Pasvolsky, Laila Ross, Laila So, Caraleena Elliston, Sydney Glean, Kimora Edwards, Arianna Chin,

Carissa Lombardi, Ellie Biffin, Ayah Stewart, Alexaudria Chasles, Tanya De Vair, Anaya Joseph and EleannaIsaacs.

2026 CWI CG United Women’s Super50 tournament Final Round…

Guyana push past Windwards by 6 wickets

A collective all-round effort from Guyana got them past an inform Windward Islands XI by 6wicketsyesterdayascurtainscame down on this season’s CG United Women’sSuper50tournament.

Knocks from Mandy Mangru (24), Shamaine Campbell (26*), LaureneWilliams(14)andShabika Gajnabi (10) took Guyana 100-4 battingfirst.

All-rounder Afy Fletcher pickedup2-23withawicketapiece coming from Janiella Glasgow (129)andCarenaNoel(1-6).

Fletcher (21), Glasgow (22) and top-scorer Earnisha Fontaine (32) failed to get Windwards over theropes,astheyfoundthemselves shortat97allout.

Spinner Ashmini Munisar (421) completed a good tournament

with another 4-wicket haul, while KaysiaSchultz(2-25)andMangru (2-19) kept things stiff for the Windwards.JamaicabeatLeeward Islandsby8wickets

Batting first, Leewards posted 146 all out, thanks to efforts from Reniece Boyce (37), Jahzara Claxton (29) and CaptainAmanda Edwards(27).

Jamaica all-rounder Chedean Nation bagged 4-23, with assistancefromStafanieTaylor(234)andCelinaWhyte(2-19).

Jamaicainreplyendedon1492aftera94-runstandfromopeners Chrishana McKenzie (39) and LenaScott(47),whichsetthetone for veterans Rashada Williams (29*)andTaylor(19*)tofinishthe job.

Trinidad and Tobago beat

spun her way to another 4 wickets alongside Nadia Mohammed (324), Karishama Ramharack (1-21) andSamaraRamnath(1-20).

overs.

After claiming 8 wickets againstGuyana,AnsiaMohammed

Needing 153 for victory, Trinidad got to the revised DLS required target of 133-5 which ensured their

theTrinidadians.

GFF names boy’s Under-17 team for upcoming duty

Gu

p

2026/Concacaf U-17

Qualifiers. They are part of the thirty-three Concacaf

Member Associations competing in the event that startsonFeb.3.

Guyana is in Group H along with Honduras, Bermuda and Suriname Their matches have been fixed for the Estadio Francisco Morazan in San PedroSula,Honduras.

According to the Concacaf website, the rosters have been selected and submitted by each MemberAssociationandare published as such. To be eligible to participate in the competition,allplayersmust fullycomplywiththecriteria stipulated in the applicable

FIFA player eligibility regulations. Changes to the final rosters will be allowed intheeventofseriousinjury orapprovedmedicalreasons up to 24 hours before each team´s first match All changes must be approved by Concacaf, and the replacement player must also come from each team’s provisionallists.

The competition will follow the same format introduced for the 2025 edition, featuring a single round The participating teamswillbesplitintoeight groups, and each team will face every other team in its grouponce.Theeightgroups areasfollows:

GroupA

Mexico,Trinidad& Tobago,Barbados,Saint Martin,SintMaarten

GroupB

Panama,Nicaragua, Anguilla,Dominica

GroupC

Haiti,Guatemala, AntiguaandBarbuda, Grenada

GroupD

CostaRica,PuertoRico, BritishVirginIslands, TurksandCaicosIslands

GroupE

UnitedStates, DominicanRepublic, SaintKittsandNevis, SaintVincentandthe Grenadines

GroupF

ElSalvador,Curaçao, Cuba,Belize

GroupG

Canada,Jamaica,Aruba, CaymanIslands

GroupH

Honduras,Bermuda, Guyana,Suriname

At the conclusion of round-robin play, the eight

groupwinnersqualifyforthe FIFAU-17WorldCup. Matches will be divided acrossvenuesinsixnations; Honduras,SaintVincentand the Grenadines, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica, and Guatemala have beenconfirmedashosts.

TheGuyanaBoys Under-17FinalListand Staff:Goalkeeper:

1.ZackBrief(Fulham F.C.Academy,England)

2.NyallKendall (CharltonAthletic Academy,England)

3.FlavioLarose(Pele F.C.,Guyana)

Defenders:

4.TyrellWalcott(Pele F.C.,Guyana)

5.NyronBarrow (TimehriUnitedF.C., Guyana)6.TamerUnver (Unattached)

7.MalachiPatrick

(BromleyF.C.,England)

8.MaximusCato (DowntownUnited SoccerClub,USA)

9.JoshuaMorris(Rush CanadaF.C.,Canada)

10.LeviStephens Midfielders:

11.MicaiahDefreitas( U.W.IPelicans,Trinidad andTobago)

12.TrayvonSmith (GoldenStarsF.C., Guyana)

13.AadenArthur(WNY FlashECNL,USA)

14.JadenTasher( GenesisF.C.,Guyana)

15.JeremiahWelcome (GuyanaDefenseForce, Guyana)

Forwards:

16.MatthewStewart (BlauWeissGottschee Academy,USA)

17.QushonLewis (EaglesUnited,Guyana)

19.

Foundation,Guyana)

20.JadenNelson (YMCA,Guyana)

21.MarkGlasgow(B.V UnitedF.C.)

Staff:AndrewNestorTeamManager

TrevonLythcott-Head CoachDevnonWinterAsst.Coach

AndreGibbsGoalkeeperCoach

GodwinMitchellPhysiotherapist. StephenGennaroMatchAnalysis/Asst. Coach.

Lakers’ Doncic hits triple double in 20 minutes

BBC Sport - Luka Doncic scored a triple double in 20 first-half minutes as the Los Angeles

L

Washington Wizards 142111onFriday

The26-year-old,whoon Tue

quickest Laker to reach 2,000 points, showed no lasting injuries after he fell off Cleveland’s elevated courtina30-pointdefeaton Thursday

Leadingthewaywith26 pointsbyhalf-time,six-time NBAAll-StarDoncichelped

the Lakers to their secondhighestscoringperformance oftheseason.

Deandre Ayton bagged 28pointsandagame-high13 rebounds, while LeBron Jamesgrabbed20pointsand sixassists. The victory denied three

straight wins for the Wizards,whohadbeatenthe Portland Trail Blazers and theMilwaukeeBucks. TheLakersnextplaythe New York Knicks on Monday, while the Wizards face the Sacramento Kings onSunday

GCB Praises Government’s $6 Billion budget allocation for sport development in 2026

The Guyana Cricket

B o a r d ( G C B ) h a s

c o n g r a t u l a t e d t h e Government of Guyana (GoG)onthepresentationof the National Budget for 2026, which once again underscores Government’s unwavering commitment to national development Of particularsignificanceisthe allocation of $6 billion towards sport development, including $1 3 billion earmarked specifically for the maintenance and upgrading of sport grounds across the country This substantial investment reflects Government’s continued recognition of sport as a vital pillar for youth development, social cohesionandnationalpride.

TheGCBcommendsthis significant investment, which reinforces the Government’s strategic vision for the holistic development of sport across all ten administrative regions This allocation

provides continued opportunities for both infrastructural advancement

and human

development, ensuring that athletes at the grassroots, developmental and elite levels can benefit from

, structured programmes and enhancedsupportsystems. As the governing body for cricket in Guyana, the GCB is especially appreciative of the positive implications this allocation holds for the continued growth of the nation’s premier sport. Investments in the construction of new facilities and the upgrading

of existing grounds across the counties will allow for the expansion of local, regional and international cricketwhilesimultaneously fost

ncreased community participation and inspir

ng a new generationofcricketers.

In an invited comment, Head of the GCB, Mr Bissoondyal Singh, noted that the tangible results of Government’s sustained investment are already evident.

Guyanese male and female cricketers representing the WestIndiesatvariouslevels aswellasthoseparticipating successfully in international franchise leagues. Recently, twoplayerswereselectedin the West Indies under-19 team for the International CricketCouncil(ICC)Youth World Cup 2026 presently beingplayedinSouthAfrica and Zimbabwe, while six players have been selected for the West Indies senior men’steamsettoparticipate

in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup which will be played in India and Sri LankainFebruary2026.

Mr Singh further pointed to the growing emergence of talent from hinterland and riverain communities, signaling a more inclusive and nationally-representative cricketlandscape. HisExcellencyPresident Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s consistent advocacy for sport, cricket in particular, continues to set a strong

example. His leadership has been instrumental in positioning Guyana as a rising hub for sporting excellenceintheCaribbean. Initiatives such as the establishment of modern training facilities and academies,alongsideyouthcentered programs, reflect a long-term commitment to s u s t a i n a b l e s p o r t development.

The Guyana Cricket Board therefore takes this opportunity to express its sincere appreciation to the GovernmentofGuyana,and inparticular,HisExcellency President Dr Mohamed IrfaanAliandtheHonorable Charles Ramson Jr , Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, for their continued support, investment and steadfast comm

advancement of cricket and thewidersportingfraternity The GCB looks forward to deepening its partnership with the Government as together we continue to elevate cricket as a cornerstone of national development.

Red-hot Rybakina resists Sabalenka to reign at Australian Open

M E L B O U R N E , (Reuters) - Elena Rybakina delivered a thunderous display to dismantle firm favourite Aryna Sabalenka and win a maiden Australian Open title on Saturday, turning the tables on the world number one in their Melbourne Park final rematchfromthreeyearsago Rybakina returned to the site of her 2023 defeat to completeanimpressive6446 6-4 win and capture her second major trophy after Wi m b l e d o n 2 0 2 2 , underlininghercredentialsas the player best equipped to further puncture Sabalenka’s hardcourtaura

The Moscow-born Kazakhcappedafortnightof relentless efficiency, largely flying under the radar and adding the Daphne Akhurst MemorialCuptoasparkling resume which also includes the WTA Finals crown she won by stunning Sabalenka

last year “It’s an incredible achievement,” said the 26year-old, who will rise to number three in the world rankings on Monday behind SabalenkaandIgaSwiatek.

“I’m super happy and proud. It was a really tough battle.Ididn’texpecttoturn

it around I got some opportunities.

“Aryna is a very tough opponent but I’m super happy that this time I’m holdingthetrophy.”

ALLGUNSBLAZING

In the first Grand Slam final since 2008 featuring

players yet to drop a set, it wastopseedSabalenkawho blinked first under the Rod Laver Arena roof as Rybakina came out all guns blazing to break in the opening game and take control The fifth seed’s booming ball-striking

caused all sorts of problems

for twice champion

Sabalenka, as Rybakina comfortably got to set point in the 10th game and finished it in style to send alarm bells ringing in her opponent’sdugout.

Arrivingwith46hardcourt

Grand Slam match victories from the last 48, four-times majorwinnerSabalenkafound her groove and began the secondsetmorepositively,but Rybakina saved three breakpointstoholdfor1-1

Awaywardforehandfrom Rybakina handed Sabalenka the chance to level at one set apiece, and the Belarusian gleefully took it to turn the final set into a shootout destined to be decided by whichever player held their nerve

HavingbeatenRybakina from a similar situation in the 2023 title clash, Sabalenkaunleashedaflurry of winners to go ahead 3-0,

but the Kazakh erased the deficit and broke for 4-3 before securing victory to add to herAll England club triumph. The knockout blow wasathumpingace,following which the typically restrained Rybakina walked forward, smiled and pumped her fist before hugging her opponent and then celebrating with her teaminthedugout

Only a year ago at Melbourne Park, Rybakina was defending her coach Stefano Vukov, who had a provisional ban lifted by the WTAinAugustfollowingan investigationintoapotential breachofitscodeofconduct. The coach has denied any wrongdoing.

HONESTPEPTALK

Vukov gave Rybakina a brutallyhonestpeptalkafter shetrailedbythreegamesin Saturday’s decider, telling her she showed “no energy” in the games that preceded hercomeback.

2026WestIndiestourofSouthAfricaT20I3-MatchSeriesGame3…

Windies pull off tense win to finish series 2-1

- Hope (48), Hetmyer (48), Motie (3-17) help seal 6-run win (DLS)

West Indies wrapped up what was an already dead series with a confidence-boosting 6-run win via the Duckworth LewisSystem(DLS),thanks toacollaborativeteameffort withbatandballyesterdayat Johannesburg.

South Africa may have won the series but the win yesterdayhadmostcertainly helpedtorestoresomeofthe confidencelostbetweenthis and the Afghanistan series whichbothfinishedwitha21scoreline.

Windies continued their good batting effort despite the various hurdles, looking like another big score prior to the reduction of overs posting,114-3after10overs.

Captain Shai Hope cracked 48 off 25 with 4 sixes and 2 fours, added 86 forthe2ndwicketalongside Shimron Hetmyer, who also scored48.

The Guyanese, who was probably the best batsmen for the Windies this series, smashed 6 sixes and a four off 22 balls, which helped the Windies to keep their momentum after another disappointing performance fromJohnsonCharles(0).

Fast-bowlers Kwena Maphaka (1-21) and Lungi Ngidi(1-19)hadgoodspells along with left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj (1-38) for SouthAfrica.

Windiesleft-armspinner

Gudakesh Motie (3-17) led with an exceptional game after making his return for the series; with a wicket apiece for Jason Holder, Shamar Joseph and Akeal Hosein.

South Africa then chipped away at the total despite still needing 10 runs an over, to end on 118-6, with tw

remaining.

Fresh off his ton, QuintondeKockhitaquick 28(4x41x6),withhelpfrom all-rounder Jason Smith (26), Dewald Brevis (17), George Linde (17), Ryan Rickelton (15) and Tristan Stubbs(10)failedtogettheir teamhome.

South Africa, although racing to 50 inside the first p o w e r p l a y, f o u n d themselves needing 9 runs offthelasttwodeliveries,to which Joseph held his composure against the capablepairofCorbinBosch (2*)andStubbs.

Meanwhile, Hope and

Shai Hope goes after the ball early on. (AFP/Getty Images)

Hetmyer were ultra aggressive during the openingstagesofthematch, taking a liking especially to Maharaj and skipper Aiden Markram who disappeared for 18 off his one over bowled.

Bad light eventually stopped play, thus forcing a reduction of overs in the game while putting the SouthAfricansinatightspot of bother during the runchase.

Scores: West Indies 114 for3(Hetmyer48,Hope48) beat South Africa 118 for 6 (deKock28,Motie3-17)by 6 runs – DLS. (Clifton Ross)

Hundreds protest in Milan over US ICE role in Games security

Protesters attend a demonstration after it was confirmed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel will help protect U.S. delegations at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, January 31, 2026. (REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis)

MILAN, (Reuters)Hundreds of Italians protested in Milan on Saturday over the involvement of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement staff in supporting the U.S. delegation at the Milano CortinaWinterOlympics.

The demonstrators, including family groups, blew whistles and sang Bruce Springsteen songs, picking up on some of the tactics used by anti-ICE protesters in the United States.MilanandtheAlpine resortofCortinad’Ampezzo willco-hosttheGamesfrom February 6-22. The U.S. State Department said earlierthisweekthatseveral federal agencies, including ICE, would help protect the visiting Americans, as they haveatpastOlympics.

However, the planned presence of ICE staff after the fatal shootings of two U S citizens by federal

agents in Minnesota in Januaryhascauseduproarin Italy, traditionally a close U S ally Umberto Daddario, a 54-year-old industrialchemist,wasatthe protest with his daughter, Giorgia, a student who is aged16.

They carried a handwritten placard that read “ICE=FASCISM.”

Fabio, a 49-year-old architect from Milan, attended the demonstration, with his wife and daughters aged10andsix.

“We are here at the requestofourdaughterswho wanted to demonstrate as a protestagainstwhatisgoing onintheUSA,”hesaid.

Italy has detailed a sweeping security plan for the Winter Olympics, stressing that it will keep commandofalloperations.

The U.S. delegation will beledbyU.S.VicePresident JD Vance and Secretary of StateMarcoRubio.

CM S a c h i n

Pitamber and WCM Jessica Callender are both leading the Open and Female categories, respectively, after four rounds ended in the I-CEE Grand Prix III Chess tournament on Sunday,January25th,2026, at the David Rose Special School. The winners were set to emerge this past

weekend as the tournament leadersbattleovertheboard withopponentsinfourmore intenseRounds.

Dominating the field, Pitamber finished last weekend undefeated, securing the lead with a perfect4points.Closeonhis heels is FM Anthony Drayton with 3.5 points, followed by Alexander Zhang in third with 3. The

PitamberandCallenderleading I-CEEGrandPrixIIIChess

Couchman, Kishan Puran, and Saeed Ali ended the fourth round with 2 points apiece.

tournament’s competitive depth was on full display as Alek Ubaldo Singh fought his way to 3 points, while Keron Sandiford, Tejas Kandavel, and Gilbert Williams remain in striking distance with 2 5 points each.

Rounding out the top half of the table, Kyle

Callender leads the charge in the women’s division, remaining unbeaten with 3.5 points. Herimpressiverunincluded victories over Emma John, WCM Sasha Shariff, and Treskolé Archibald Her only draw came against a formidable Ciel Clement, who is currently on 35 points.

Thecompetitionremains fierce,withShariffandJohn holding steady at 3 points each, followed by Olivia Rajmangalon2.5.

Rounding out the top spots are Archibald, Amaya

Sharma, Kataleya Sam, and SanaSreebalakumar,alltied at2points.

With a $100,000 prize fund on the line, this FIDErated tournament was set to reachitsthrillingconclusion thisweekend.

The final four rounds, held on January 31st and February1st,carryimmense weight; players are not only battling for ELO rating points but also for crucial GrandPrixpoints.

These points are crucial to the qualification process, determining who will ultimatelyrepresentGuyana atthe2026ChessOlympiad inSamarkand,Uzbekistan.

The top eight boards of the open category and top

four of the female category a

-st

on lichess org by John Lee, FIDE Arbiter and Technical Director of the GCF Full results and pairings can be viewed on Chessresults.com.

The Guyana Chess Federation expresses its gratitude to its dedicated sponsor, I-CEE, for its continued support of chess developmentinGuyana,and to David Rose Special School for providing the venue.

The tournament is the third in a series of hardfought competitions for Guyanese chess players to qualify for the 2026 Chess Olympiad.

- Hope (48), Hetmyer (48), Motie (3-17) help seal 6-run win (DLS)

Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina poses with the trophy after winning her women’s singles final against Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka. (REUTERS/HollieAdams)

2026 CWI CG United Women’s Super50 tournament Final Round…