Kaieteur News

Abducted Guyanese boat captain, passenger released from Venezuelan jail

Suriname’s US$2,500 river fees threaten Upper Corentyne economy, chamber warns

ExxonMobilexits CanjeBlockafter

U.S. Ambassador says: encountering threedrywells

Exxon exits Canje Block after three dry wells

ExxonMobil does not plantoapplyforarenewalor extension to its Licence to exploretheCanjeBlock.

This was revealed by Country Manager, Alistair Routledge during a recent engagementwiththepressat the company's Ogle, East C o a s t D e m e r a r a Headquarters.

He explained, “We are notplanningtoapplyforany extension or renewal of the Canje Licence. We believe, w e e x c e e d e d t h e commitments that were laid out in the Petroleum

Agreement and the prospecting licence for Canje.”

Exxon does not believe furtherprospectingactivities in the block would be “competitive” for the company, according to the countrymanager

He noted however that

Exxon could not speak on behalf of its partners which will decide whether to pursuetheblock.

ExxonMobil was the operator of the Canje Block witha35percentstake,with partners TotalEnergies with 35%, JHI Associates with 17.5%,andMid-AtlanticOil &Gaswith12.5%.

exploration licence for the blockexpiredearlyinMarch 2026. The Canje Block was first awarded to MidAtlanticOil&GasonMarch 4, 2015 at 6,100 sq. km or about 1 5 million acres

Exxon later farmed in and becametheoperator

The first well by the company, Bulletwood-1, yielded a non-commercial discoveryaswasannounced inMarch2021.

The well was safely

Silence at the top as data contradicts child abuse claims

Despite a glaring statistical divide between official rhetoric and on the ground reality, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security remains silent on why child abuseinvestigationsarehittingrecordhighs while the minister claims cases are "consistently"falling.

During the 2026 Budget Debates, Minister Dr. Vindhya Persaud painted a hopeful picture for the National Assembly, citing a drop in child abuse cases from over 4,000 to approximately 3,000 over the last four years However, an analysis of investigative records from the ministry's own website and its partner, Blossom Inc., reveals a reality that the ministry has yet to explain.

The contradiction lies in the use of forensic interviews, specialised, resourceintensive procedures reserved for the most serious allegations of abuse. While the ministerclaimsareductioningeneralcases, the data for these critical investigations shows a massive incline:2020: 396 forensic interviews and in 2025: 732 forensic interviews. This result in an 84.8 per cent increase in the most severe investigative workloadoverfiveyears.

The peak in 2025 represents the highest workloadintherecordedperiod.Shouldthe abusetrulybeonthedecline,theministryhas offerednoexplanationastowhythedemand for specialised, evidentiary interviews are outpacingpopulationgrowth.

The discrepancy is likely even more profound than current records suggest. The figures available only represent the regions covered by Blossom Inc. (Regions One, Two, Seven, 10, and the East Bank). Data from ChildLink Inc., the NGO responsible forCentralGeorgetown,theEastCoast,and Regions Three, Five, Six, Eight, and Nine, remainsshieldedfrompublicviewasitisnot publiclypostedontheNGO'swebsitenorthe Ministry's.

Efforts to contact the Child Protection Agency's (CPA) Monitoring and Evaluation officer to reconcile these numbers were

MinisterofHumanServices andSocialSecurity, Dr. Vindhya Persaud

unsuccessful Arguably, this lack of transparency means the public is left with a fractured view of child welfare, where the government's "reduction" narrative is protected by the unavailability of data from thenation'smostpopulatedcorridors.

Beyond the administrative silence, the raw data reveals a specific, escalating crisis for girls in Guyana. Since 2020, forensic investigationsinvolvingfemalevictimshave nearlydoubled,risingfrom356to677.

By the end of 2025, the "investigative density"reachedalarminglevels,witheight out of every 1,000 girls in Guyana undergoing a forensic interview, and with a girlbeing12timesmorelikelythanaboyto bethesubjectofaforensicinvestigation.

The2024censusconfirmsthatGuyanais experiencing its highest growth rate since WWII, yet the youth birth rate remains stable.Thismeansthe15.8percentspikein forensic interviews seen between 2024 and 2025cannotbeattributedtoasudden"baby boom."Instead,itsuggeststherateofserious abuseisintensifying.

While the ministry maintains its stance ona"consistentreduction,"the732forensic investigationsrecordedin2025representing only half the country's geographical layout serve as a silent rebuttal to the official governmentposition.

drilled in 2,846 meters of water by the Stena Carron drillshiptoitsplannedtarget depthof6,690meters.Itwas explained that the well encountered quality rese

n

ncommercialhydrocarbons. Jabillo-1,thesecondwell

thatwasdrilledmonthslater in the Canje Block also turned out to be a major disappointment as it did not show evidence of commercial quantities of hydrocarbons.

The well was drilled to test Upper Cretaceous

reservoirs in a stratigraphic trap It was positioned o f f s h o r e G u y a n a , approximately 265 km northeast of Georgetown, in 2,903 meters of water and was safely drilled to a total depthof6,475meters.

Meanwhile, the third well, Sapote-1, also turned out dry with no evidence of commercial hydrocarbons

Thewellwasdrilledin2,549 meters of water in the Canje Block to a total depth of 6,758meters.

The Sapote-1 well is located in the southeastern section of Canje, about 50 km north of the Haimara discovery in the Stabroek Block which encountered ~207 feet (63 meters) of high-quality,gas-condensate bearing sandstone reservoir and approximately 60 km northwest of the Maka Central discovery in Block 58 which encountered ~164 feet (50 meters) of highquality, oil-bearing sandstonereservoir

Todate,Exxonhasmade over 40 discoveries in the resource-rich Stabroek Block which is estimated to hold over 11.6B barrels of oil.

KaieteurNews

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

Tintcrackdown androadsafety

The Guyana Police Force has drawn a hard line in the sand.Withnewtintregulationsnowinforce,themessageis clear: comply or face the courts. No excuses. No favours. Nophonecallsto“bigones”forrescue.

Onpaper,thisislongoverdue.Foryears,tintedvehicles have symbolised more than just privacy—they have come torepresentprivilege,influence,andselectiveenforcement. Toomanydriversoperatedabovethelaw,shieldednotjust by dark glass, but by who they knew That culture, if it is trulybeingdismantled,deservessupport.

Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond has said it plainly:“Don’tcallme.”Itisarefreshingstanceinasociety wherename-droppinghasoftentrumpedtheruleoflaw If enforcedfairly,thiscouldmarkaturningpoint,onewhere lawsarenotbentforthewell-connectedandignoredforthe ordinary citizen. But while the tone is commendable, the timingandintensityraiseuncomfortablequestions.Traffic Chief,MahendraSinghhasrolledoutcalibratedtintmeters and roadside checks. Officers are out in force. The crackdownisvisible,aggressive,andimmediate.Yet,even as this unfolds, Guyana is grappling with a far deadlier crisis,onethatcontinuestoclaimlivesatanalarmingrate. Twenty-eightpeoplelosttheirlivesontheroadwaysinjust thefirstweeksofthisyear Theprimaryculprit?Speeding. Nottint.MemberofParliamentToshannaFamey-Corlette hasrightlysoundedthealarm.Whilenoonedisputesthe needforlawenforcement,prioritiesmatter Whereisthe sameurgency,thesamenationwidemobilisation,the samezero-toleranceposturewhenitcomestoreckless driving?Wherearethesustainedcampaignstocurb speeding,drunkdriving,anddangerousroaduse?

There is no data linking tinted windows to fatal accidents. None. Yet the spectacle unfolding across the countrysuggeststhisisthemostpressingroadsafetyissue of our time. It is not. This is where the government risks sending the wrong message. Enforcement should never be aboutoptics.Itshouldbeaboutimpact.Andtheimpactthat matters most is saving lives.Thatsaid, the tint regulations themselvesarenotunreasonable.Standardisingthesystem, removing waivers, and ensuring transparency are all steps intherightdirection.Auniformlaw,appliedequally,isthe foundation of any functioning society.The days of special permissionsandbackdoorapprovalsneededtoend.

Butequalityunderthelawmustextendbeyondtint. If a minibus driver barrels down the road at dangerous speeds, he should face the same swift consequences as a motoristwithillegaltint.Ifadrunkdriverendangerslives, thereshouldbenoleniency Ifpedestriansandcyclistsareat risk, enforcement must be relentless. What Guyanese are watching now is not just enforcement, it is a test of credibility Willthiscrackdownbeconsistent,orwillitfade once the headlines pass? Will it apply to the powerful as much as the powerless? Will it expand to address the real killers on the road, or remain narrowly focused on what is easiesttopolice?Thepublichasheardthewarnings.They haveseentheroadblocks.Theyunderstandtherules. Whattheywantnowisbalance.

Because while darkened windows may obscure visibility, it is speeding and recklessness that are burying our citizens. The government cannot afford to get this wrong.Lawandorderisnotamenufromwhichauthorities pick and choose. It is a system that must work in totality: firm,fair,andfocusedonwhattrulymatters.Soyes,enforce the tint laws. Enforce them without fear or favour But do notstopthere.

Because if the same energy is not directed at the behaviours that are actually killing people, then this crackdown no matter how well-intentioned will ring hollow Andthecostofmisplacedprioritieswillcontinueto becounted,notinfinesorcourtcases,butinliveslost.

Undemocratic seizure of city assets must be challenged

DEAREDITOR, I am writing to express my profound dismay and outrage at the recent actions of the central government regarding the seizure of publicassetswithinourcity The unilateral takeover of the City Constabulary TrainingSchoolandtheEast Ruimveldt property both now conspicuously adorned with “No Trespassing” signs is not merely an administrative overreach; it isacrass,undemocratic,and frankly dictatorial act that strikes at the very heart of localgovernance.

The Mayor and City

Council of Georgetown has rightfully condemned this action What makes this situation particularly egregious is the complete absence of meaningful consultation.Toseizepublic assets without dialogue, without notice, and without any regard for the elected body that serves the people ofthiscityisanaffronttothe principles of democracy It demonstrates a contempt for the rule of law and a disturbing pattern of consolidatingpowerbyforce ratherthanbycooperation.

Such behaviour is symptomatic of totalitarian

traits, where the machinery of the central government is usednottoservethepeople, but to systematically dismantle the autonomy of localdemocraticinstitutions.

By seizing these facilities, one critical to public safety and the other a community asset the central government is sending a chillingmessagethatthewill of the people, as expressed through their local representatives,isirrelevant.

However, this assault on our city’s governance will not go unchallenged. Let it beknownthatthemayorand city council is prepared to

take decisive legal action to defend these assets and uphold the integrity of the city’sadministration. It is imperative that the judiciary stand as a bulwark against this executive overreach.

We call on all rightthinkingcitizenstocondemn thispowergrab.Ifthecentral government is allowed to seize public property with impunitytoday,therewillbe no limit to what they take tomorrow

Yoursfaithfully,

LelonSaul LtCol(Ret’d) Councillor

Caribbean leaders called to reinforce unity and diplomacy

DearEditor,

A s a p u b l i c communications analyst, I havebeencloselyobserving the relationships among CARICOM member states, particularly the nature of theirdiplomaticengagement andregionalcooperation.

Itismyfirmbeliefthat we must continue to respect and actively support our Caribbean neighbours not only through dialogue and civic engagement, but also through consistent leadership solidarity and adherence to international law and the principles of goodgovernance.

In light of the recent p a s s i n g o f C h a n d

Santokhi, former President

of the Republic of Suriname, we have

witnessed a moment of collective reflection across the region CARICOM

leaders, including Guyana’sheadofstate,His Excellency President

I r f a a n A l i , h a v e acknowledged the loss of a leader whose contributions helped shape regional cooperation and national development

This moment of mourning also serves as a reminder of the importance of unity a m o n g C a r i b b e a n nations.

The mutual respect expressed by regional leaders highlights the deep cultural and historical ties that bind o u r s o c i e t i e s , reinforcing the need for diplomacy rooted in

s h a r e d v a l u e s ,

democratic ideals, and mutual respect

At the same time, the global environment continues to present serious challenges that demand careful attention from regional bodies such as CARICOM

The organisation has expressed concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly in light of recent hostilities involving Iran, the United States, and several Gulf states, all of which have heightened international uncertainty.

Such geopolitical tensions inevitably have implications for Caribbean states, especially in areas such as tourism, travel advisories, and broader economicstability

As a result, travel to affected regions has been discouraged, while CARICOMleaderscontinue to monitor developments closely and advocate for restraint, de-escalation, and respectforinternationallaw

In these uncertain times, the Caribbean must remain steadfast in its commitment to peace, unity, and collective progress Strengthening regional cooperation w h i l e e n g a g i n g responsibly on the global stage will ensure that CARICOM continues to serve as a voice of stability, diplomacy, and principledleadership.

Sincerely:

MrBlaneRBunbury PublicCommunications

Analyst/community advocate

Commending excellence at NIS Brickdam branch

DEAREDITOR, I wish to publicly commend the exemplary servicerecentlyexperienced at the Brickdam Branch of the National Insurance S c h e m e ( N I S ) i n Georgetown. Whileaccompanyingmy uncle, who had to conduct business at the office, I had the distinct pleasure of witnessing a level of

hat deserves recognition We

w

nded to by Supervising Officer, Ms Sharmaine Nelson and Officer Ms.Aruna Khedaru, and team all of whom demonstratedanexceptional degree of competence, knowledge, and courtesy throughouttheengagement. InatimewhenGuyanais u

institutions continues to increase, such standards of ser

e not on

y commendable but essential. Notably, these officers went above and beyond by working through their lunch hourtoensurethatthematter at hand was efficiently resolved an act that reflectsbothdedicationanda strongsenseofduty. I would also like to extendspecialrecognitionto Ms. Natasha Harper, whose interaction with us similarly reflected a high level of

professionalism and attentiveness.

Too often, positive e x p e r i e n c e s g o unmentioned.

It is therefore important to acknowledge and celebrate individuals who upholdthehigheststandards in public service. These officers are a credit to the NIS and to Guyana as a whole.

Yoursfaithfully, EvaEtwaroo-Orderson

Central gov’t takeover: Cause for concern or opportunity for change?

DEAREDITOR, It has been reported that thePPPCentralGovernment has taken control of several streets in Georgetown Understandably, this has raised serious concerns

However, could there be a silver lining? Can the citizens of those streets now look forward to regular and efficient garbagepickup? Cantheylookforwardto regular cleaning of parapets and drains, regular cleaning ofthecanalswithremovalof unsightly buildup of plastic bottlesandotherlargeitems such as unwanted fridges, etc.?

“Don’t call me” - Walrond warns as tint crackdown sparks priority debate

And most important, the regular cleaning and maintenance of the koker outflows to the Demerara River?

Yourssincerely, SylviaBarrow

All hands on deck; let us preserve our precious heritage buildings

DEARMR EDITOR

, Guyana was once a

country which holds

beautiful buildings reminiscent of its rich historical heritage. Many of those structures are either abandoned or destroyed Editor, I would like to make acasefortheauthoritiesand citizens to work hand-inhandtopreservethisintegral partofculture.

Allow me to take our readers down memory lane, wherethereoncestoodSaint Barnabus Church at the cornerofRegentandOrange Walk.

That church had incredible architectural designs; the world loved to see it. But you know what, sir? The church probably needsfundssotheysoldthe building to an investor who

brokeitdownflat.Itisnowa parkinglot.ButMr Editor,I believe,thatPresidentJagan or Burnham would have boughtthatchurchonbehalf ofthecountry

The business transaction would have attracted above expected pricing and the taxes to the Supreme Court would be paid by both parties.

I hope that was done in the initial transaction. And ifitwasmadeintoaheritage site, it should have been protected and used as a touristspotforvisitors. And whatever funds are made for visiting this magnificent building could be used for maintenance for said building What has done,cannotbeundone.

Mr Editor, could we motivate the authorities

never to let such a transaction repeat itself?

There are sites all over the world that people look forwardtoseeing.

The only places, I can think of are St. George’s Cathedral and the City Hall which has been wisely rebuilt in its original form. Kudostothecontractors!

Buttherearemanymore places we can look at; the military cemetery in Eve Leary,avitalpieceoflandis wasted opposite the Bourda Market in Regent Street, formerlyaburialgroundfor theScottishpeople.Records have shown, the last funeral held there was over 130 years ago.And they said no Guyanese was ever buried there.

It is 1500 square foot of land, could we utilise for

n e e d e

s p a c e i n Georgetown, such as vendor’s arcade/mall, parking for vehicles on Regent Street to help beautifythecity

This was discussed with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo at his residence, whenhewaspresidentmore than 17 years ago by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce for which I was present.

Mr Jagdeo agreed but informedusthatthematteris stoppedincourtbyastaffof StabroekNews.

That was more than 17 years ago; any meaningful government would have got that matter settled through the courts, so Guyana could moveforward.

Yourstruly, FrankDeAbreu

The answer to flooding lies beneath our feet

DEAREDITOR, The recent experiences with flooding that the citizens of Georgetown are enduringshouldcomeasno surprise. While some may arguethatthepumpsarenot working sufficiently and others may theorise that the pumps and trenches should be taking care of the flood, there are those who blame global warming and even citizens for improper garbage disposal. The full picture of flooding and the causes thereof still need to be understood. While I am noexpertonflooding,weall

may agree that there is a need to find a workable solution Flooding will remain a major problem. I believe part of the solution lays right below our feet. The network of gutters, alleyways, trenches, and canals designed to manage Georgetown’s storm water exists.That system needs to beexamined.

Editor, I wonder how many know that the small guttersfoundalongmanyof thestreetsareconcretelined. Growing up on Charlotte Streetinthe1970s,Isawthe sweepers who would come

by with brooms to sweep these gutters. They had a longhandletopassunderthe bridgesandashorthandleto push the water and debris between the bridges. Some may say that I am romanticizing the past However, my point is understanding water flow While we may not have a place for gutter sweepers, the point is the gutters need toallowwatertoflow Those small gutters connect to bigger alleys. The alleys thenflowtobiggertrenches and canals They need cleaning,too.

A few memories of trenches and canals include daring friends to cross the big sewer and water pipes ubiquitous to these bigger waterways.Ihavetosaythat none of us ever fell in. Another memory relates to witnessingthebackhoesthat would come by and desilt. The presence of herons, what we call gauldings, seemed to enjoy whatever theyfoundinthewakeofthe backhoe’s deposits of silt. And,yes,Icanstillsmellthe richDemeraramud.Another memorywasseeingthe (Continuedonpage06)

Member of Parliament (MP) for the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN)

Toshanna Famey-Corlette

MHome Affairs

Walrond has issued a blunt warning to motorists: comply with the new tint l a w s o r f a c e t h e consequences And don’t expect rescue from high places. Appearing on New Day, the minister made it clearthattheeraofcallinga “big one” to escape enforcement must end. She acknowledged that some drivers believe connections can override the law “Don’t call me.” Walrond stressed that the regulations are clear and must be applied across the board, with no special treatment. She underscored that leaders themselves are rejecting such interference, echoing calls for strict adherence and equal enforcement. But even as the government pushes ahead with an aggressive tint crackdown, criticism is mounting over whether priorities are misplaced Opposition MP Toshanna Famey-Corlette has raised concerns about the heavy focus on tint enforcement while a far deadlier issue continuestogripthenation: recklessdriving. The MP made it clear that there is nothing wrong with enforcing the law, but stressed that priorities matter Citing the latest report from the Traffic

Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond

Chief, Mahendra Singh which confirmed that 28 lives were lost on the roadways of Guyana betweenMarch1andMarch 21, 2026, she remindedthat speeding remains the leading factor for fatal accidents, and was responsibleforamajorityof thedeaths.

“These are not opinions These are official police statistics Yet, there is no evidence identifying tint as a cause of fatal accidents So, the question must be asked, why are we not seeing the same level of aggressive enforcement and public education targeting speeding,recklessdriving, and dangerous road use? Where is the sustained roadsafetycampaign? Whereistheeducation f o r d r i v e r s a n d pedestrians?” she queried Famey-Corlette reasoned that if the same strict measures and energy that is being placed into tint enforcement, were directed towards road safety then it is likely that the public would respond in the same manner and most likely there will be fewerdeaths “Roadsafety i s e v e r y o n e ’ s responsibility Let us s t o p m i s p l a c i n g priorities Letusfocuson saving lives,” the MP added.

Frances & Co. hosts impactful Menopause Awareness event with community partners

A u n i q u e a n d empoweringinitiativeaimed at breaking the silence around perimenopause and menopausetookcentrestage last Saturday as Frances & Co.,incollaborationwiththe JeanBruschFoundationand Home Everything, hosted “Hot Flashing Fashion and Conversation.”

HeldattheFrances&Co boutique(24JDuncanStreet, Campbellville), the event drew a diverse group of women between the ages of 35and85,alleagertoengage in meaningful dialogue on a topic often overlooked in publicdiscourse

More than just a social gathering,theeventservedasa celebration of womanhood, highlighting resilience, shared experiences, and the importanceofinformedhealth choices Attendeesweretreated to a fashion showcase that highlighted the beauty and practicality of natural fabrics such as linen and cotton, demonstrating how comfort can seamlessly align with eleganceandstyle

The afternoon unfolded in a lively and welcoming atmosphere, featuring engaging conversations, music,curatedrefreshments, and opportunities for meaningful connection Central to the event’s success was the expert guidance provided by two l e a d i n g m e d i c a l professionals. Dr Natasha France, a respected Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, and Dr. Shivani Samlall, an

Obstetrician-Gynaecologist, Gynecologic Oncologist, and founder of the Lotus Cancer Initiative Inc , delivered insightful presentations. Their discussions covered keyaspectsofperimenopause and menopause, including symptom management and approaches to navigating this lifestagewithconfidenceand clarity Founder of Frances & Co, Daneile Hicks-Burnett, underscored the deeper purpose behind the initiative She noted that empowerment extends beyond fashion, emphasisingtheimportanceof creatingspaceswherewomen feel supported, informed, andconnected.

The Jean Brusch Foundation, known for over a decade of advocacy and charitable work supporting women affected by breast cancer and other chronic illnesses in Guyana, played a pivotal role in fostering the event’s educational and community-driven focus Organisers hailed the collaboration as a meaningful steptowardbuildingastronger, more informed community of women With attendees expressing enthusiasm for future engagements, the success of “Hot Flashing Fashion and Conversation” signals a growing demand for open, supportive discussionsaroundwomen’s health. Frances & Co. has encouragedthepublictostay connected for upcoming initiatives through its social media platforms or by visitingtheboutique.

The answer to flooding lies...

Frompage05

“Kokerman”ridinghisbike. Weknewhimbecausewhen we walked to the Seawall and passed through Kingston,wesawhimeither operating the sluice or waitingaround.Whatfor,we hadnoidea. As the subject matter ministers stand around blamingandwonderingabout pumps, garbage, and global warming, among others, the full scope of Georgetown’s problem is not for the few to solve.Topoachafamousline, and,asIremindmyself,“It’s the system, stupid.” Pumps alone cannot clear the water Garbage management is its own problem That needs a cultural shift It’s not only global warming. That’s a humongous problem We should focus on the localized context Theguttersandalleys need to be cleared and connected The trenches and canals need desilting Let’s startwiththebasicsandtestthe impact.

Sincerely, L.A.C.Archer

Suriname'sUS$2,500riverfeesthreaten UpperCorentyneeconomy,chamberwarns

The imposition of hefty fees by Suriname for the use of the Corentyne River is sendingshockwavesthroughGuyana's Upper Corentyne region, with the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCCI) warning that the charges could have a devastatingeconomicimpact.

According to the UCCCI, some operators are now facing fees of up to US$2,500 per trip, while brokers are being charged between US$1,000 and US$1,500 Classified as “pilot licenses,” these charges, combined with broker fees, place a significant financial burden on river users, threatening to cripple cross-border trade.

The chamber said in a statement that communities such as Orealla and

Siparuta, which rely heavily on the

commodities like sand, loam, and timber, will be particularly hard-hit.

“The additional cost of doing business willbepassedontopurchasers,making operationslesscompetitiveintheopen market,” the statement warned,

“

repercussions”forthelocaleconomy

The new fees have already prompted a diplomatic response from Guyana.PresidentDr IrfaanAlilodged a formal protest with Surinamese authorities, emphasising that

historically operated in Guyana without undue restriction. Meanwhile, the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC) has called for direct dialogue between the two

governments to protect the wider investment climate and support projects such as the proposed CorentyneRiverBridge.

In light of the crisis, the UCCCI is advocating for the expedited completion of the road linking CrabwoodCreekandOrealla,amoveit says would eliminate dependence on Suriname's discretion for river access.

“The road will be ours to use freely,” theChambernoted,whilestressingthe need for an immediate reversal of the current river policy to prevent further financialstrainonGuyaneseoperators.

UCCCI Vice President Krishnanand Jaichand has reached out to the Private Sector Commission to assistinresolvingtheissueswiftly To date, Surinamese authorities have not publiclyrespondedtoGuyana'sprotest.

Two fired for unauthorised use of tint waiver system - NDMA

The Na

Management Authority (NDMA), on Wednesday confirmed that two employees were fired on March 27, 2026 for the unauthorised use of the Tint WaiverApplicationSystem.

Inastatement,theagency said that as Guyana's lead publicsectorInformationand CommunicationsTechnology (ICT) Agency, it remains committed to secure, transparent and resilient digital services and therefore does not condone any misuse ofgovernmentsystems.

“Safeguarding the integrity of national systems and preserving public trust in digital government services continue to be top priorities...as such, we can confirm that two employees weresummarilydismissedon th the27 March2026following the unauthorised use of the Tint Waiver Application System,”itsaid.

NDMA revealed that the discrepancy was discovered throughtheMinistryofHome Affairs' established routine audit mechanisms and controls An immediate investigation was triggered, and the findings escalated. A thorough review of the evidence was done by an internal committee, with decisive disciplinary being taken.

It reiterated that it maintains a strict zero policy forthemisuseofgovernment or the breach of public trust.

Manipulation of and unauthorised access of the system by these individuals, adduptoseriousviolationsof ethical standards, existing protocols and cybersecurity safeguards.

“Their conduct does not reflect the values or operational standards of

NDMA, nor the high level of professionalismupheldbythe many highly skilled Guyanese professionals a d v a n c i n g d i g i t a l transformationwithinNDMA andGovernmentofGuyana,” theNDMAadded.

Furthermore, the matter willbereferredtotherelevant law enforcement authorities, and NDMA will continue to fully cooperate with the MinistryofHomeAffairs,and other investigative bodies. A comprehensive review of access controls, audit mechanisms and system governance protocols is currently being done, to

strengthening of existing safeguards across digital platforms.

“Additional measures are being implemented to enhance monitoring, accountability,andprotection against unauthorised access, particularly among individuals involved in system administration, d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d assessment,”theagencysaid. NDMAisassuringthatthe incidentisanisolatedoneand is being handled with the highestlevelofefficiencyand strict adherence to the Laws ofGuyana.

It said Home Affairs ministry and NDMA remain committed to ensuring the security of national systems and the upholding of public trust in digital government services.

Is OFAC politically neutral?

The law governing extradition between Guyana andtheUnitedStatesisnota modern bilateral treaty, but the inherited framework of the 1931 Extradition Treaty betweentheUnitedKingdom and the United States. This column does not accept the validityofthatTreaty

Butitisafactthatboththe governments of Guyana and the United States accept it as applicable to extradition requests. The said document is what is being used to seek the extradition of the Mohameds.

The1931Treatycontains a principle of enduring importance. That principle is that extradition is not to be granted for political offences or where the request is politically motivated. This prohibition is not a technical footnote. It is a foundational safeguard designed to preventthecriminallawfrom being weaponised for politicalends.

It is against this legal backdropthatongoingpublic commentary surrounding the extradition proceedings involving the Mohameds mustbeassessed.Outsidethe courtroom, assertions continue to circulate that the United States indictments were politically motivated and more pointedly,

influencedbythelocalPPP/C government.

Notably, however, no evidence has been produced to substantiate these claims. In law, bare allegation is insufficient; the treaty’s protection is engaged only where political motivation can be demonstrated, not merely asserted. Yet, while the evidentiary threshold remains unmet by those cla

n

international developments may have inadvertently providedtheMohamedswith alegallifeline.

Consider the case of Delcy Rodríguez In September 2018, the United States, acting through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), placed her on its Specially Designated Nationals list. This is the same list that the Mohameds havefoundthemselveson.

The justification at the timewasthatshewasaccused of playing a central role in undermining democratic institutions in Venezuela, particularly through her leadership of the Constituent Assemblyandherassociation with the government of Nicolás Maduro U S officials asserted that such figures were instrumental in

consolidating what they described as authoritarian

se sanctions carried severe consequences.Theyinvolved asset freezes, financial isolation,andaprohibitionon dealings with U.S. persons. They were grounded in the U S government’s stated position that Rodríguez’s conductstruckattheheartof democraticgovernance.

Fast forward to this past weekandthethingshavenow shifted dramatically The United States has now lifted sanctions against Rodríguez, effectively restoring her ability to engage with U.S. institutions and signalling a recalibration of diplomatic relations Crucially, this reversalhasnotfollowedany electoral transformation in Venezuela that would traditionally justify such a change. There has been no democratic reset that clearly negatestheearlierallegations ofinstitutionalsubversion. This sequence of events raises an uncomfortable but unavoidable question: if the underlying conduct has not demonstrably changed, what has? The most plausible answer lies not in law, but in politics Sanctions, it appears,maybeimposedand removedwithinaframework

DEM BOYS SEH

Do suh, nah like suh!

Yuh ever notice how when people driving and dem miss dem turn, suddenly everylilbridgeindecountrybecomepublic property?Iseitherdembackinginlikedem parking fuh night, or dem swinging in and reversingoutlikedemauditioningfuhsome drivingschoolvideo.

Dem boys seh, every driver know de routine. Yuh reach, yuh ease in, yuh back out, and yuh gone ‘bout yuh business. Simple.Nobigscience.NoPhDinturning required.

Butlehmetellyuh—deminuteyuhuse some people bridge fuh turn, is like yuh commit high treason. Next thing yuh see: big brick plant down like dem building seawall extension. Chain stretch cross de entrancelikedemguardingFortKnox.One mannearlyputupsign:“Turnhereandface consequences!”

Dem boys seh is funny how dem same people does jump in dem car and use everybody else bridge like dem inherit de whole street. Dem ain’t see no chain when dem doing dem own three-point turn. Hypocrisygotmoremileagethandemcar!

Some of dem does come out shouting too, like yuh just thief dem electricity “Eh eh! Don’t use me bridge!”—but if you watch dem later, dem reversing pon Miss Sheilabridgenextdoorlikedempractising

that is responsive to shifting geopoliticalpriorities.

Thatobservationdoesnot invalidate the original sanctions imposed on Delcy Rodriguez.Nordoesitprove that they were improperly imposed. However, it does suggest that OFAC, like any executive agency operating within the sphere of foreign policy, is not entirely insulated from political considerations The Rodríguez episode illustrates thatsanctionscanfunctionas instruments of diplomacy as well as instruments of accountability

This is where the relevance to the Mohameds emerges. To be clear, the lifting of sanctions against Rodríguez does not establish that the indictments against theMohamedsarepolitically motivated.Theremayormay notbeanevidentiarybasisfor suchaconclusion,andcourts tasked with applying the 1931 treaty will require far more than analogy or

suspicion. The legal test is exacting,andrightlyso.

choreography Guyana got a special breed ofpeople:demnahwantyuhusedemthing, but dem feel entitled fuh use yours. Dem boys seh if selfishness was petrol, half de countrywouldaneverrunouttagas.

But hear de best one yet—one fella claim people wah turn on he bridge does intimidatehe.Intimidate!Demboysnearly chokepondemtea.Isabridge,notacrime scene!

Dem boys she, how he know dem people turning late at night? He watching through de window like night watchman—or he doing surveillance shift inhepyjamas?Onemansehmaybehegot “Bridge CCTV”… which really mean he curtain slightly open and he eye doing overtime!

Nowdatreminddemboysofonedriver reversing a big truck up a narrow hill. Lil boy see dis and ask, “Boss, why yuh nah driveforward?”

Driverseh,“Tracknarrow IfIcan’tturn updeh,Igonbestuck.”

Lilboynodlikehejustlearnphysics.

Few minutes pass, and de same truck coming back down… in reverse again! Lil boyconfusenow

“Whahappen,boss?”heask.

Driverseh,“Ifindaplacefuhturn.”

Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

ace proceedings that are not purelyjudicialincharacter Ultimately,thecourtswill decide. They will do so on evidence,notconjecture,and within the strict confines of thetreaty.Butinthearenaof public discourse, the Rodríguez decision has introduced a fresh line of argument. It is one that stops short of exoneration but presses insistently on the question of whether law and politics can ever be fully disentangled. That question now sits, uncomfortably, at the intersection of law, and thefateoftheMohameds.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

But the Rodríguez case may nonetheless provide what can fairly be described asapoliticallifeline.Itoffers a contemporary example throughwhichcounselmight argue that U.S. enforcement mechanisms are capable of being influenced by political considerations. If sanctions grounded in allegations of democraticsubversioncanbe liftedabsentaclearchangein underlying facts, then it becomes arguable, at least in theory, that other prosecutorial or enforcement decisions could also be shaped by broader strategic interests. Such an argument does not prove political contamination It does, however, seek to raise a reasonable doubt about institutional impartiality, and in extradition law, that doubt can be significant The prohibition on politically motivated extradition is not concerned with certainty alone; it is concerned with risk the risk that an

H@RD TRUTHS

Judas in Guyana - Part III- Exxon

Over 2,000 years ago, Judas assured Jesus and the brethren that he was a genuinepartner Amaninthe trenches with them, one labouringintherichfieldsof God.Aman striving against thepowersinthetowersthat held elders and scribes and all kinds of experts in the law, from the Torah to the OldTestamentintheBible.

A friend in need that, in deed,couldbecountedupon when the situation demanded. Regardless of howdifficulttheuphillslog. No matter how selfenriching the temptation.To my fellow Guyanese, these questions are posed: has Exxon not been the same way (like Judas)? Has Exxon not, also like Judas, said to Guyanese brethren that I am with you, for you, and all about you? Well, withapartnerofthatquality, Guyanese should be doing very well. On top of the world, just like the stats and World Bank and a slew of other authorities write, report,andreveal.

Well,let'stakeExxonon its word, a global corporate power that has an intimate relationship with a word: honor. Well,havingdoneso, where are Guyanese now, how good are they doing, with a partner like Exxon?

InthepositionofJesus,who had to be reeling from the sting of betrayals? Or big, brave, beautiful speeches walkedback,trampledupon, byapartner Or,onethat'sso fast on its feet, as to leave locals creeping in poverty The speeches from partner and Big Oil evangelizer, Exxon,aresurepretty

We are together with Guyanese on their great oil wealth. No mysteries about how much in total reserves thereare.

When Guyanese don't know,areheldastoodaftto know, who are they dealing with: a commercial Jesus figure, or a plotter of Judas proportions in Exxon as partner?

We will work with Guyaneseforthebetterment oftheircountry,andyetthere is a dispute for years now about a paltry US$214 million in audit findings. Paltry for Exxon, but significant for Guyana, and revealing as to the kind of snapping, grasping, stalking partnerthatitis.

We will share together like true partners, Exxon tells Guyanese, only for its share of what's supposed to be half for one and half for the other to be so lopsided that it is hidden from scrutiny Remember how

confidence rests in the company's hands. Still, its offshore,oilrig,systemsare off-limits to Guyana's auditors WTF! Letters meaning what they represent Bottom line: Guyana's partner, Exxon, is screwingwiththeheadofthe people,withafinehandfrom the PPPGovt, and a sly one from segments of the Opposition. So, who is the Judasnowinthiscountry?

Sorry, Judases, since they are so many Exxon is such a strong and caring partner that it shows Guyanesemuchlove. Want acricketbatandacrickethat for the young ones to practice the national game? Forget about Christ is the Answer Exxon is the answer, a special type of partner In the spirit of the upcoming Easter Season, haveaneedforakiteforthe kiddies, and a ball of twine? There is Exxon, coming out of nowhere, like some longlost friend, with kite and twine at the ready Who could wish for a better partnerthanExxon! Those overjoyed with their cricket bats and kites see in Exxon, the second coming of Jesus. Forgive me,folks. Oneachoccasion thatIlookorlistentopeople from Exxon, I remember

Judas.

Ready to do business, there's the invitation from Exxon to Guyanese who are willing to take up the offer Want a few pieces of silver from a loaded purse? Just say Exxon is the best, and collect on the way out the door Some come here and insist that that is the Exxon Way Some right here in high circles stand as powerful but treacherous aiders and abettors in the

company's s c h e m e s Here's what is desired. Recall who was flown in, who ran the streets here in 2020. Here is staying power I t w a s c a l l e d democracy, with not one wordabouttreachery Judas sleeping with Judas. Judas seniors, junior Judases

Blessed Holy Week, Guyanese. Figure out how todealwiththedomesticand overseasJudases.

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

Reg. 10 governance deadlocked:

WINcouncillorallegesexclusionas REO refuses to reconvene council

Almost six months into a state of administrative paralysis, Region 10 (Upper Demerara–UpperBerbice)remainswithouta chairperson,asWINcouncillorMarkGoring allegesattemptsbythePPPandAPNUasthe primarybarrierstoprogress.

"The chairman has been keeping meetings and completely excluding me... The PPP has found a willing participant to keep us out so APNU is fine with that," Goring stated to Kaieteur News Efforts to contact acting chairman DeronAdams for a commentprovedfutile.

The internal friction comes as Regional Executive Officer (REO) and Clerk of Council,DwightJohn,yesterdaydeclinedto commentonreconveningthestalledelection. Kaieteur News previously reported that he said,“Whenthetimereadyeverybodywillbe appraisedwiththatinformation.Idon'thave thatinmindrightnow.”

The deadlock traces back to October 10, following the September 1, 2025, regional elections.Inashiftforaregiontraditionally dominated by the PNC/R, the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, led by businessman Azruddin Mohamed, secured the most votes. Of the 18 councillors sworn in, WIN held nine seats, APNU five, the PPP/C three, and Forward Guyana Movement(FGM)one.

Whenthecouncilmettoelectaleader,the voteforchairmanendedina9-9tiebetween WIN and APNU nominees The REO subsequentlysuspendedtheprocess,initially claimingthatthematterwouldbereferredto MinisterofLocalGovernmentandRegional Development, Priya Manickchand to break the tie. However, the minister has since clarifiedthatshehasnoroleintheselection, noting that the clerk must follow lawful proceduretoresolvetheimpasse.

Goring previously revealed that the regional administration submitted its 2026 regional budget without any input or consultation from the elected councillors, a move WIN argues violates the Local DemocraticOrgansAct,Cap.28:09.

“Budget submitted without the councillors' input, the old chairman [Deron Adams], the RDC is using to sign off on things... they are using the loophole to do that," Goring said. He noted that while the lawdictatesacouncilmustconvene14days afteranelection,thetimelineforappointinga Chair is less clearly defined, allowing the current"governancevacuum"topersist.

WIN released a statement expressing

Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Ten, Dwight John

concern over the breakdown of oversight. Undernormaloperations,theRDCfunctions through statutory committees, Works, Education,Agriculture,Health,andFinance, that scrutinise regional administration and publicprojects.Withoutanelectedchairman andvicechairman,thesecommitteescannot beestablished.

“This lack of democratic oversight underminesaccountability andexposesthe Region to risks of inefficiency, poor prioritisation,andlackoftransparencyinthe useofpublicfunds,”thepartystated.

SupportersofWINinJanuarylauncheda three-day picketing exercise outside the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Administration Building in Linden over the REO'sfailuretobreakthedeadlockoverthe election of a chairman and vice chairman. The protest was held under the banner, “Democracy Delayed is Democracy Denied”. Demonstrators carried placards reading,“DemocracyDelayedisDemocracy Denied,” “Swear in Goring,” and “Respect my vote, respect my choice, REO,” among others Councillor Leola Narine joined protests held in Region 10 over the delay, emphasisingthatRegion10istheonlyregion "leftbehind"withoutafunctionalRDC."We are asking because it is our constitutional rightforourRDCtofunction,"Narinesaid.

On January 22, WIN and FGM signed a joint resolution demanding the immediate reconvening of the RDC, which would give them a 10–8 majority if a new vote is held. They also wrote to Manickchand, citing the absence of statutory committees, the exclusion of councillors from budget preparation, and the lack of representative leadership for some 40,000 residents Meanwhile, APNU councillors Dominique Blair, Suzette Gordon Murray, Orlon Roger, Donna Perry and Faye Rodriquez said in a statement that they are willing to participate inanelection“attheearliestopportunity.”

Strong backing from Guyana driving large gold production

…company advancing plan to upgrade 4.4 million oz from inferred to

President and Chief Executive Officer of Omai Gold Mines, Elaine said Guyana is increasingly recognised as one of the most mining-friendly jurisdictions in the world, with strong institutional support helping companies advance large-scale projects intoproduction.

Omai is one of five Canadian gold exploration companies operating in Guyana.Thecompanyisthe 100% owner of the Omai Gold Project in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) through its subsidiary Avalon Gold Exploration Inc. and hosts two adjacent orogenic gold deposits: Wenotshear-hostedopenpit depositandtheadjacentGilt Creek intrusion-hosted underground deposit. An updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 4 4 millionoz(Inferred)plus2.1 million oz (Indicated) was announcedAugust25,2025.

Speaking with John Tumazos Very Independent

indicated – Omai CEO

Omai's2.1millionouncesof indicated resources, these projects account for more than 14 million ounces of gold in the indicated categoryacrossGuyana.

Moreover, Ellingham noted that when combined withitshistoricaloutput,the Omai Gold Project exceeds 10millionouncesofgold.“I thinkwe'resettlinginto,you know,theacknowledgement that this is one of the gold giants of the Guyana Shield,”shenoted.

Chief Executive Officer and

limited information, an indicated resource is a resource whose quantity, grade (quality), shape, size and continuity can be more confidentlyreported.

n t o production,”shesaid. O

of Canadian-backed gold projects advancing across Guyana's mining districts, collectively controlling millions of ounces across various stages of development.

Aris Mining's Toroparu

Research, LLC, ON Monday, Ellingham noted the scale of the Omai Gold Project, pointing out that Guyana continues to gain internationalrecognitionasa favourable destination for mining investment, citing supportive policies and a straightforward regulatory environment. “I have been workingthereforfiveyears, I would agree with that. There is strong backing to help companies bring these b i g p r o j e c

Gold Project, located in R

,

ds approximately 5.4 million ounces of gold in the measured and indicated c

Ventures'(GMIN)OkoWest GoldProject,alsoinRegion Seven,containsanestimated 4 64 million ounces of proven and probable reserves and is projected to produce about 350,000 ouncesofgoldannuallyover a12.3-yearminelife.

Mako Mining's Eagle

Mountain Project in the Mahdia district holds approximately 1.2 million ounces of gold in the indicatedcategory,whileG2 Goldfields' Oko-Ghanie deposits contain about 1.5 million ounces of indicated resources Together with

She further shared that Omaiiscurrentlyfocusedon upgrading approximately 4.4 million ounces of inferred resources to the indicated category. She underscored that this is important step required to advance to a pre-feasibility study (PFS). The company already holds an estimated 2.1 million ounces in the indicated category Inferred resource is based on limited sampling and is based on reasonably assumed, but

To support bringing its inferred resource to the indicated resource category, Omai has intensified its exploration programme, with a 50,000-metre drilling campaign underway with five drills. According to the CEO, in 2025, the company drilled11ofthe12monthsin 2025 and intends to do the same this year “We have five drills going We're (Continuedonpage16)

U.S.Ambassador: Changing agreed deals sends ‘bad signal’ to investors

States Ambassador

haswarned thatitsendsa“terriblesignal”and is a “bad idea” for a country to renegotiate a contract that has alreadybeenagreed.Shemadethat comment when asked if the U.S government supports a change to the contract Guyana has with AmericancompanyExxonMobil.

Speaking during a recent episode of SOURCES with journalist Svetlana Marshall, Theriot said renegotiating an already agreed contract could undermineinvestorconfidenceata critical time for the country's economicexpansion.

The Production Sharing Agreement(PSA)fortheStabroek Block was signed in 2016 by the

previous APNU+AFC Coalition government.Undertheagreement, upto75percentofoilproductionis used to recover costs, the remaining25percentisconsidered profit and is split equally between Guyanaandtheconsortium,giving each 12.5 per cent. However, the consortium pays a 2 per cent royalty from its share to Guyana. From Guyana's 14.5 per cent total take, the government must pay the oilcompanies'taxes.

“Soastherepresentativeofthe US government, I can tell you, it's incredibly dangerous to start talking about renegotiating a contract that's been agreed upon,” Theriotresponded.

She continued, “That sends a terrible signal to international investors all over the world, that you can't trust what you've signed withagovernmentthat'swillingto renegotiate.”

The U.S Ambassador further

notedthatsuchamovebyGuyana would send a negative signal to potential investors, especially at a time when Guyana is looking to attract more foreign investment into the country “It's a very bad idea,”sheadded. Hercommentscomeagainstthe backdrop of local debates over the 2016 PSA, and calls for the government to bring the oil major back to the table to renegotiate the contract.

"JusticeforSteve":Familydecries brutalpoliceshootingofyoungman

ThefamilyofSteveVyfhius,aresident of No. 9 Village, West Coast Berbice, is callingforimmediateaccountabilityanda thorough investigation into what they describeasa"unnecessaryandtorturous" actofpolicebrutality

Vyfhius, who suffers from schizophrenia, was left with a shattered legandnarrowlyescapedamputationafter being shot by a police officer while in custodyattheBlairmontPoliceLockup.

Senior Superintendent Lonsdale Withrite confirmed with Kaieteur News thataformalinvestigationintothematter isunderway “Yes,aninvestigationbegan immediately,thefileshouldbecompleted before the end of the week” he further confirmedthatnoneofthepoliceinvolved isunderclosearrest.

According to a statement released by his sister to Kaieteur News, Shabekie Vyphius, the incident began on Friday, March 13, when her brother was taken to

the Fort Wellington Police Station followingreportsofpropertydamage.The familymaintainsthatthedamage,broken windscreens and windows at a local church,wasadirectresultofapsychiatric relapse after he discontinued his medication.

"My mom told them it was not a situation for the prison but a psychiatric matter," the statement noted, adding that allvictimshadalreadybeencompensated forthedamages.

The situation escalated the following Saturdayafternoonwhenhe,distressedby a flooding toilet in his cell, attempted to leave Despite being barefoot and unarmed,hewasallegedlyinterceptedby three officers who physically assaulted him. The account alleges that even after Vyfhius complied with orders to "stay down,"anofficerdischargedashotgunat closerangeintohisleg.

"Theofficertoldmenottoletmysize

fool me and that's why the gun had to humble me," Vyfhius recounted, describinghowofficersallegedlypressed aboottohisheadandthreatenedto"blow off"hisheadwhilehebledprofusely

Despite the severity of the injury, Vyfhius was reportedly kept in handcuffs at the Bath Settlement Hospital until his mother intervened Doctors at the Georgetown Public Hospital initially could not find a pulse in the limb, though an external fixation was eventually performedtosavetheleg.

The family has expressed deep frustration with the pace of the investigation. "We have given the police enough grace," Shabekie Vyphius stated, noting that a statement was only taken from her brother on Wednesday and that no confirmed timeline has been given regarding when the investigation into the matter will be concluded, despite the incidentoccurringweeksago.

Steve Vyfhius nursing a shattered leg

The People's Progressive Party government has criticised the PSA but has maintained that it will not renegotiatethecontract.

ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) operates the Stabroek BlockinpartnershipwithHessand CNOOC. The Stabroek Block is estimatedtoholdsome11.6billion barrels of oil Exxon and its partners Hess and CNOOC began pumping oil in December 2019, (Continuedonpage18)

$13 million theft probe:

ASL alleges foreign engineers fled after questionable bail

Air Services Limited (ASL) is raising serious concerns over what it describesasthequestionable handling and subsequent release of three Nicaraguan

engineers accused of stealing more than $13 million in specialised aircraft equipment from the company

According to ASL, the

SeveralBerbicedrivers pulledinforbreaching newtintrules

three foreign nationals were arrested on Tuesday and taken to the Sparendaam Police Station in connection with the theft. However, the men reportedly spent only about four hours in custody before being released on station bail, despite being non-Guyanese nationals and, according to the company,clearflightrisks.

Region Six police enforcing the new tint regulation.

On Wednesday, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) commenced its countrywide crackdown on unlawful tint usage and to enforce the updatedtintregulations.

In Region Six, traffic ranks were positioned at various points to catch offenders The new regulations under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, introduced on January 1, 2026, was set for official implementation from April 1, 2026. Prior to yesterday motoristsweregivenathreemonthgraceperiod togetin line.

On the eve of the enforcement,authoritieshad warned that errant individuals can expect no leniency, and ranks of the GPFwereinstructedtobring noncompliant motorists in line. In fact, Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh issued a caution that there be strict enforcement of the new tint policies, promising stiff penalties for ranks who d e v i a t e f r o m t h e instructions.

More troubling, the airline relayed, is that the men failed to return to the station as instructed on Wednesday at 15:00hrs, raising fears that they may havefled.

Theengineers,whowere employed under work permits, had abruptly resigned from the company on Monday, immediately triggeringsuspicion.Aswift internal audit conducted by ASL uncovered millions of dollars' worth of aviation

equipment, including specialised starter and ignition kits, were missing fromitsinventory

The matter was reported to the police, prompting a rapid investigation that identified the three men as prime suspects Law enforcementofficialsmoved quickly, arrestingthetrioon Tuesday

However, attorney

Motee Singh, speaking on

behalf ASL, strongly criticised the decision to grant station bail under the circumstances. Speaking on Wednesday,Singhdescribed the move as highly irregular andunjustified.

“In my over 23 years of practiceasacriminallawyer, I have never had a client considered a flight risk granted bail, especially in a matterinvolvingsuchalarge sum. I have appeared in courts across Guyana and I am unaware of bail being granted in circumstances like these. It raises serious questions about fairness and consistency.”

Singhfurtherallegedthat the situation took a concerning turn after assurances were reportedly givenbyadetectivesergeant that the suspects would be kept in custody for up to 72 hours to facilitate investigations.According to him, that position changed

after the intervention of a prominentbusinessman.

The lawyer claims that approximately four hours after the arrest, the businessman visited the police station and remained there for about 30 minutes. Shortly after his visit, the three suspects were granted bail.

“The detective who promised that they will be kept for 72 hrs to allow for investigation had no say after her authority was bypassed by her superiors after (the businessman) walked into the police station and spent about 30 minutes. Bail was granted immediatelybeforeheleave thestation,”Singhalleged. He further claimed that thebusinessmanwaspresent when the three men exited the station and that they subsequently entered a vehicle owned by the company which was driven byoneoftheemployees.

Additionally, Singh disclosed that ASL has received information suggesting that the three engineers may now be working with the company owned by the businessman.

“These 3 engineers are workingwith[thecompany] which have similar aircraft that utilise the same starter and ignition kit drawing suspicion of unscrupulous activity between the parties,”hesaid.

While acknowledging his status as a well-known businessman, Singh warned that influence must not interfere with due process.

“[He] is a public figure and an established businessman, but that should not jeopardise the fairness and transparency required in the granting of bail,” he asserted.

I n l i g h t o f t h e developments, ASL has indicated its intention to escalate the matter The companyisexpectedtoseek the intervention of the Minister of HomeAffairs as wellastheCommissionerof Police, as it pushes for a thorough and transparent investigation into both the alleged theft and the circumstances surrounding thereleaseofthesuspects.

At the stop point at the Albion Police Station, Corentyne, scores of drivers werehauledinforbreaching the regulation A senior police officer confirmed to thispublicationthat15cases of prohibition of tint were placed on record. Across at New Amsterdam, a stop pointwassetupjustnearthe Canje Berbice.At these and other locations, motorists found in breach were forced to immediately remove the tintfromtheirwindows.

Christopher Cummings, 56,adriverwhooperatesthe BlairmonttoRosignolroute, was in high praise of the enforcementwhichbeganon Wednesday "I think the tint campaignisreallynecessary, because the police need to identify, and we need to be safe. That is my opinion. I really think it's necessary andIhavenoobjectiontoit," C

his publication. From a security (Continuedonpage18)

More importantly, a fine of $30,000 will be imposed on motorists acting outside of the legal tint stipulations, whichmandates25%visible light transmission (VLT) for visor strip while tint is prohibited from the front windscreen. A 25% VLT is allowed for front side windows, while rear side windows are permitted at least20%.

CDC urges citizens to ‘buckle up’ as heavy rainfall expected until Friday

Th e C i v i l D e f e n c e

Commission (CDC) on Wednesday urged citizens acrossGuyanatobeonhighalertasthe heavy rains are expected to continue untilFriday

InanadvisoryviaitsFacebookpage the commission said that “ the Hydrometeorological Service advises that rainfall with the potential for significant flooding is expected to continueoverGuyanafromWednesday, st rd 1 ApriltoFriday,3 April,2026.”

Members of the public are urged to take necessary precautions and avoid flood prone areas whenever possible andtoexercisecautionwhendrivingor walking during the downpour, especiallyinareaswherewaterspool.

“Keep drains, trenches and waterways clear to reduce the risk of flooding. Secure important documents, household items and other valuables,” theCDCwarned.

Due to soil already being saturated because of the continuous heavy rainfall, the risk of severe flooding in low lying and poorly drained areas has greatly increased. In addition, it said hilly or elevated communities may

experiencemudslides.

The weather is expected to be overcast and cloudy with frequent showers and thunderstorms expected throughout Regions1-5, southern parts ofRegionSix,RegionsSevenandNine.

Impacts expected are coastal flooding, drainage overflow and road inundation, agricultural and riverine flooding with the possibility of community isolation Mining and hinterland access disruptions and transportationdelays.

th On the 30 March, CDC warned of possible flooding from heavy rainfall whichwasexpectedtointensifyacross GuyanafromSundaythroughTuesday

In that statement, the CDC said persistent rainfall could lead to significantflooding.

Itsaidthegovernmenthaddeployed special teams, including engineers and technical personnel nationwide to monitor drainage infrastructure and ensure sluices, pumps, and canals are fullyoperational.

Abducted Guyanese boat captain, passenger released from Venezuelan jail

Seven months after their abduction, Guyanese boat captain Frederick Pollard, 66,alongwithhispassenger, Antonio Leboleiro Jose, 23, arefinallyontheirwayback home The men were released from a Venezuelan jailonTuesday Kaieteur News learnt Pollard's wife travelled on We d n e s d a y t o t h e VenezuelanStateofMiranda tocollectthetwomen.

Pollard and his Venezuelan passenger, Leboleiro Jose were abducted on August 24, last year in the Cuyuni River, Region Seven by a group of armed men who were suspected to be members of the notorious “sindicato gang”.

Family members have been searching for them since then While others feared the worst, Pollard's loved ones did not give-up thesearch.

Their perseverance paidoff in February this year when they received information that both men were alive but were lockedup in a Venezuelan prison located in the State of Miranda,Venezuela.

Themenwerereportedly imprisoned there since November 2025, some two months after they were abducted.

Reports are that they were locked-up by a Venezuelan-intelligence arm forallegedterrorism.

Pollard's relatives were happythathewasfoundalive but immediately began protesting against what they claimed to be wrongful and

Pollard and Jose shop for some new clothes as they commence their journey home where they will reunite with their loved ones

unlawfulimprisonment. They called for his immediate release claiming that Pollard and the passenger were innocent of the accusations levelled against.

Relatives even vented their frustration via Facebookposts.

In one of those posts, his granddaughter wrote, “We, hisfamily,demandthereturn of our loved one, as this procedure was carried outsidetheframeworkofthe law FreedomforFreddy.”

Inlessthanamonththeir protestsandactivismpaidoff and Venezuelan authorities reportedlycalledthefamilies ofbothmen,informingthem thattheywerefreetogo.

Pollard was reportedly transporting fuel for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in a metal boat when the he was stopped and detained by the armed men along with the passenger Reports were that they were enroute to “Devil Hole” whentheywereabducted.

Another boat was stopped by the men and the passengers of that boat recalled seeing Pollard and his passenger detained in a creek on the Venezuelan shoreoftheCuyuniRiver Pollard had managed to slip a message to one of the passengers on that boat before the armed men permitted the captain of the vessel.

The message informed his family that armed men had detained the duo. After the message was delivered, thematterwasreportedtothe (Continuedonpage18)

UK to host meeting of 35 countries on reopening Strait of Hormuz

(AL-JAZEERA) - The United Kingdom will convenetalkswithdozensof countries on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, British PrimeMinisterKeirStarmer has announced, as the USIsraeli war on Iran has effectively shuttered the criticalGulfwaterway

Speaking during a news conference on Wednesday, Starmer said UK Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper wouldhostavirtualmeeting of 35 countries onThursday toassessmeasurestoreopen the strait “after the fighting hasstopped.”

Themeetingwill“assess all viable diplomatic and political measures that we can take to restore freedom of navigation, guarantee the safety of trapped ships and seafarers and resume the movement of vital commodities”,theUKprime ministersaid.

“Followingthatmeeting, we will also convene our military planners to look at how we can marshal our capabilities and make the strait accessible and safe after the fighting has stopped,”Starmeradded.

Countries around the world have raised serious concerns about Iran’s effectiveclosureofthestrait,

Countries are grappling with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a Gulf waterway through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquified natural gas supplies transit [File: AFP]

through which about onefifth of the world’s oil and liquifiednaturalgassupplies transit, amid US-Israeli attacks on Iran and Iranian attacks on targets across the MiddleEast.

The closure has sent global energy prices soaring and pushed nations to announce that they would release some of their strategicoilandgasreserves in an effort to lessen the crisis.

Starmer said on Wednesday that countries

that recently signed a statement saying they were ready “to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz” would takepartinthisweek’stalks.

In addition to the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands are among the countries to havesignedit.

“I do have to level with people on this This [reopening] will not be easy,”Starmersaid.

The UK and other

European countries have faced condemnation from USPresidentDonaldTrump, who has accused them of bothfailingtotakeactionto reopen the strait and not providing sufficient support to Washington in its war effort.

On Tuesday, Trump

wrote on his Truth Social platform that “all those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom”shouldeitherbuy from the US or “build up somedelayedcourage,goto the Strait, and just TAKE IT”.

“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U S A won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us Iran has been, essentially, decimated The hard part is done Gogetyourownoil!” Trumpsaid

Fire calls down by 34%: Walrond shifts focus to prevention

While the Guyana Fire Service(GFS)recorded34% reduction in fire calls in 2025, Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond, hascalledforashiftinfocus, urgingthatfirepreventionbe prioritised over relying solely on emergency responsetimes.

Speaking at the opening of the GFS Annual Senior Officers’ Conference on Wednesday, Walrond emphasised that the public’s attention must turn to preventing fires before they start, rather than solely countingonhowquicklythe fireservicecanrespond.

In her address at the Guyana Police Force Officers’ Mess Annex, Walrond underscored the criticalneedtointensifyfire preventioneffortsacrossthe nation. She noted that fire safety is not just the responsibilityoftheGFSbut

requires continuous community engagement and a national commitment to reducingfirerisks.

“Guyanaisdevelopingat a pace. Guyana has never seen more construction, more industrial activities,

denser populations, expanded infrastructure, electrical systems, fuel storage, and complex facilities across every region,” minister Walrond explained. She warned that allthesedevelopmentscarry fire risks, and when something goes wrong, the fire service must step in to managethedanger

“A developing nation is, by its nature, a nation of increased fire exposure,” Walrond continued. “We cannot speak honestly about Guyana’s growth without speaking honestly about what it demands of this institution. For too long, the measureofthefireserviceis how fast it could respond after fire started. Response time matters. It will always matter,butthemosteffective fire service is one that reduces how often that responseisneeded.”

Theministeremphasised thattruepreventionincludes identifying risks before disaster strikes, whether it’s a faulty electrical system or improper storage of hazardous materials. “Every firethatdoesnotstartisalife

saved, a home preserved,” Walrondsaid.

In her speech, Walrond also highlighted key efforts such as the revision of the Fire Prevention Act, the expansion of fire prevention offices,andthedevelopment of a national security risk

reduction plan in collaboration with partners.

“These efforts are central to our mission and must be properly resourced,” she stressed.

Walrond also discussed the role of technologyin the GFS’s operations, but cautioned that no technological advancement, nomatterhowadvanced,can replace the importance of community education

“Technology will change howweoperate,butitwon’t save a family that doesn’t know the risk they’re living with That gap must be closed through community e n g a g e m e n t , ” s h e emphasized.

The minister highlighted steps in this direction, including the distribution of fire suppression equipment, collaboration with Neighbourhood Democratic

Councils, and training community members in fire safety She stressed that community education is as vital as response capability

“When a market vendor understands the risks their storage practices create, and whenchildreninourschools learn from a young age that firepreventionbelongstoall ofus,thenwewillseefewer emergencies,” Walrond asserted.

S h e p o i n t e d t o improvements in the GFS’s response time, with the introduction of 40 rapid intervention vehicles, three ambulances, and three fire trucks in 2025. “This is a directresponsetoclosingthe gap in our response capabilities,”Walrondsaid.

Fire Chief Gregory Wickham echoed the minister’s remarks, noting that fire calls across the countryhaddroppedby34% over the past year He also praised the work of the GFS’s Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), who responded to over 7,000 emergency calls and delivered12newbornbabies in2025.

Over40foreignershomelessafter

Alberttownblaze

Thefirewhichdestroyed an apartment building located on Fifth Street, Alberttown on Tuesday night has left over forty persons - most of whom are Spanish-speaking foreign nationals,homeless.

Fire Chief (ag) Gregory Wickhamconfirmedthatthe firestartedaround18:30hrs. By 19:00hrs, it quickly engulfed the wooden and concretebuilding. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines on an event, Wickham said while the fire destroyed the building, the occupants of thebuildingescapedunhurt.

“When we got the call and responded with fire five tenders Firefighters managed to bring the fire

down to a controllable position and hence, prevented the blaze from spreading to other buildings in proximity.” According to Wickham, many of the occupants who were displaced were from Cuba, the Dominican Republic as well as a few from Guyana. WhenKaieteurNewsvisited the scene on Tuesday, firefighters were working assiduously to contain the blaze before it could spread tonearbybuildings.

When this publication arrived on the scene, residents had evacuated the burnt apartment building which was situated two doors away from the headquarters of DHL, a

Fire which destroyed an apartment building located on Cummings and Fifth Streets, Alberttown on Tuesday night

popular shipping company

Asthefirefightersworkedto contain the blaze, DHL employees were seen

removing what they described as important documentsandconsignment from their office. Residents and other curious onlookers stood helplessly as the fire

raged through the building whichwasguttedinlessthan an hour Kaieteur News understandsthatthebuilding housed57roomswhichwere occupied by the Spanishspeaking residents The Guyana Fire Service is working to determine cause ofthefire.

Strong backing from Guyana driving...

Frompage11 probably going to add a sixth because we need to just move forward.Wecanstillexpand,”shenoted.

Thedrillingeffortisaimedbothatexpandingtheoverall resourcebaseandimprovingconfidenceinexistingestimates.

Ellingham highlighted recent deep drilling results as a major indicator of the deposit’s long-term potential, at the Wenot shear-hosted deposit. “So, one of the things we did was,weactuallydidadeepdrillholeunderthatshear-hosted Wenot deposit, and we actually did one two-kilometer-long hole, and we hit theWenot shear with seven gold zones 700 metersbelowourdepositsoproofofconcept,thatsuckergoes

deep,”shesaid.

TheOmaiprojectbenefitssignificantlyfromitshistoryas a past-producing mine, which operated between 1993 and 2005 and produced more than 3.7 million ounces of gold beforeclosingduetolowgoldpricesatthetime.

During the interview, Ellingham noted that operating a past producing mine has its benefits. She said there is a vast database of geological information, including handwritten drill logs and assay records from previous operators such as Anacondaand PlacerDome. She notedthatthis has enabled Omai to advance exploration more efficiently and at lower cost.

Changing agreed deals sends ‘bad signal’...

Frompage12 and today with four projects in operation is producing close to a million barrels of oildaily

Addressing concerns about whether Guyana is receivingafairdealunderits oil agreements, Theriot said whilesheisnotinaposition to assess the contract itself, the overall impact has been positive.

ShenotedthatGuyanais already seeing tangible benefits from its oil boom, pointing to community projects, corporate sponsorships and training

initiatives funded by ExxonMobil.

“ B u t f r o m m y perspective,Ithinkit’sbeen incrediblybeneficialtoboth sides just look around when I travel around the country

In fact, I was just in RegionOnethisweekend.

IwasatShellBeachand in Mabaruma and in Imbotero and anywhere you look, you will see signs saying, at the bottom, it will s a y s u p p o r t e d b y ExxonMobil.

They are doing incredible work all over this

country,”shestated.

Moreover,shepointedto initiatives such as Exxon’s sponsorship of the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) for the Caribbean Premier League(CPL)andarecently signed US$100 million agreement to support S

(STEM) development over the next decade.

She added, “So many things that are happening in this country for the goodarebecauseyouhave these U S companies here

and specifically, you have t h a t E x x o n M o b i l consortium.”

The Ambassador maintained that these efforts d

nstrat

tangible benefits for Guyanese, particularly in e

development

“I think absolutely There’s no doubt for me that Guyanese are benefiting so those are just small examples, but I definitely think it’s been a win-win for both of our countries,” Ambassador Theriotstated

Several Berbice drivers pulled...

Frompage13 standpoint,hereasonedthat, contraband items are transported and illegalities are oftentimes committed in heavily-tinted vehicles Emphasising his point, he also stressed that even schoolchildren who engage

in truancy and other socially irresponsible activities are opting for the convenience of tinted vehicles He urged his fellow drivers to “work alongwiththelaw.”

Another driver, 31year-old ‘Buddy’ Baljeet,

while not opposed to the new requirements, is demanding an across-theboard application of the policy, lamenting the existing condition of “who gotmoneydrivingwithtint.”

He also took umbrage with police officers

rting heavily-tinted private vehicles

A Corentyne car operator, opting not to be named, stated: “I think the tint is okay, except the front windscreen visor, it’s too small.Sixinchistoosmall.”

Abducted Guyanese boat captain...

Frompage14 GuyanaPoliceForce.

The Force in a press release, assured that it had c o m m e n c e d a n

investigation. Since then, thepairwasneverseenagain and there were no further updates from the Guyana PoliceForce.

Pollard had, however, made one phone call to his loved ones before all communicationwaslost.

He had told relatives

motorbike to a location in Venezuela Months passed and Pollard’s trail went

especially his commonlaw wife who resides in Venezuela, never gave up thesearch.

https://kaieteurnewsonli ne com/2026/03/08/abd

venezuelan-jail

City Hall to challenge govt's 'hostile takeover' of city assets in court - lawyer

Attorney Dexter Todd has said that the Mayor and City Council is ready to challenge the Government's hostile takeover council's assets in the Georgetown municipality Todd told this newspaper that his office is

m a k i n g t h e f i n a l

preparations of the documentsforcourt.

“There was considerable research and data collection

that went into this filing…We had to consult with agencies like the lands and surveys and collect the necessary data for a court challenge…”

Accordingtothelawyer, the next step is for the town clerk to sign off on the documents before they are filed in the court. “We want to ensure that when these matters reach the court, we are fully capable of defending our case.” Todd added.

The lawyer spoke to Kaieteur News hours after Attorney General, Anil Nandlall SC declared that

the government will continue to take over empty

spaces within the Georgetownmunicipality

Speaking during his weekly“IssuesintheNews” programme on Tuesday night, Nandlall Government will also be moving to take overemptyspacesinthecity This is in addition to the morethan50citystreetsthat were already taken over by the government The

Attorney General said that the takeover by government is due to the council's shriekingitsresponsibilityto thecity

“TheGeorgetownMayor and City Council has for decades demonstrated their incompetence to discharge their statutory functions… theydoalotistorentoutthe pavements, give people permission structures to build on these pavements, encouragelawlessnessofthe city to the detriment of Guyana and to the citizens. The government's intention issimplytoactinthepublic's interestandaddresswhatisa national disaster and we are going to do it in stages, we willmovefromtheroadsand we will take over the empty spaces as well, the state has that power in law,” Nandlall declared.

L a s t w e e k , t h e

Government has doubled down on its reclassification of city streets into public roads by gazetting another 35 to add to the 22 it took controlofearlierthismonth.

Government had quietly formalised in a March 21, 2026 gazette order key

r

ng corridors,includingthebusy V

n g e n R o a d , transferring control directly to the Ministry of Public Works The orders, numbered 15 through 37 of 2026andsignedbyMinister Juan Edghill declare a wide network of streets as public

governmentcontrol.

Among them are Regent Street, Robb Street, Camp Street, Charlotte Street, Lamaha Street and the Eastern Highway— arteries that are not only vital to transportation,butcrucialto the city's income stream. Otherstreetsinclude:Cowan Street, New Market Street, Middle Street, Aubrey Barker Road, Cane View Avenue, Garnett Street, D'andrade Street, Da Silva Street, Dennis Street, Sandy

Babb Street, Albert Street, Cummings Street, Charlotte Street, America Street, East Street and Hadfield Street Public.

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council had condemned the government takeover as bullyism aimed at starving the municipality of much needed funds. In a statement City Mayor, Alfred Mentore said: “It representsacalculatedactof political intimidation and overreach, designed to destabilize the Municipality andsilencethevoicesofthe peopleofGeorgetown.”

Mentore had called the move as “not just unlawful governance but it is the arbitrary centralisation of local assets by executive fiat/decree.” Mentore noted that the sudden takeover

constitutional principle of local self-government and treats the elected Council as irrelevant “The roads, which should be managed, maintained, and funded by theCouncilusingratepayers' resources, were simply gazetted as “public roads”

with zero prior notice, zero consultationwiththeelected C

residents and businesses who depend on them daily,” heasserted.

He explained that “The Municipal and District CouncilsAct,Chapter28:01, explicitly defines and protects the Council's jurisdictionovertheseroads.

TheGovernmenthaschosen to ignore the clear statutory framework that vests responsibility for council roads in the democratically electedlocalauthority.”

“Now

in the Municipal and District

Councils Act does the Central Government or the Minister possess the power to unilaterally reclassify council roads as public roads,transferownership,or remove them from the Council's portfolio without due process, notice, or

contravenes the letter and spiritoftheAct.”

According to the chief citizen, the Council can no longerfulfillitslegaldutyto maintainandregulatetraffic ontheseroads–adutyithas dischargedfordecadesusing localfund”

Eight teams to battle for championship honours

…Hamilton Green Cup to decide champions this evening

The stage is set for an electrifying climax as eight teams collide for one crown when the Hamilton Green Cup concludes its 2026 tournament with a thrilling ‘night of finals’ at the PlaisanceGround.

Action begins at the quarterfinal stage, where WestSideAlliance,Zeelugt, Mocha, Mahaica, Golden

Stars, Order and Discipline, Victoria, and Plaisance will compete for places in the semifinals segment of the annual Inter Ward/Village Nine-a-Side Knockout Football Tournament. From there,theracewillintensify, culminating in the grand final where the 2026 championswillbecrowned. With the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final all

scheduledfortonight,fanscan expectanonstopshowcaseof explosive and entertaining inter-ward football Only two teams will emerge from the openingsixmatchestocontest the final, keeping the race for thetitlewideopen Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm at the P

Ground,wherethetoptwo teams in the competition will need to play at least

Thursday April 02, 2026

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

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

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

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

GEMINI(May21–June20)

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

CANCER(June21–July22)

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

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

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

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

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

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

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

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

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

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

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

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

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

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)Mixyourrealitywithabit of fantasy today, Aquarius. Allowyourfeettocomeoffthe ground for a little while. Give yourselfarest.Takesometime to meditate and clear your mindofyourdailyworries.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

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

Eight teams set to battle for Hamilton Green Cup crown tonight at Plaisance ground.

three matches to secure the championship From an initial pool of 32 teams, the tournament has now narrowedtoitsfinaleight,each juststepsawayfromglory

At stake is a $500,000 grand prize, along with hampers courtesy of Rick’s and Sari Enterprise The teamsfinishingsecond,third, and fourth will also be rewarded with $200,000, $100,000, and $50,000 respectively

Trophiesandmedalswill be awarded to the top four

tournament’s Most Valuable Player will receive a fitting trophy donated by Minister BishopJuanEdghill

Several teams have generated strong support t h r o u g h o u t t h e competition Mahaica, Mocha, Victoria, and Order and Discipline have drawn significant backing from their communities, while Golden Stars, West Side Alliance, and Zeelugt have produced key upsets to earn their places into the

eight-teamfinalsnight

Atthisstage,anyteamis capable of reaching the final—buteachstepforward will come at a demanding 30-minutecost.

With everything on the line, resilience, tactical discipline, and individual brilliance will ultimately separate the champions fromtherest

Thetournamentisbacked by former Mayor Hamilton Green and coordinated by former national football coachLennoxArthur

Reddy (4-8), Bishop (37) set up crushing...

Frompage26 thankstohisthreesixesand asolitaryfour

Opener Javion Batson (13) gave his team the ideal start as he cracked a trifecta of fours, racing to 13 of 12 balls but failed to transfer any of his aggression to the other teammates outside of Francis; as no other player reacheddoublefigures.

Action continues today with the Bajans in a desperate situation having suffered a tough loss but will need a win come today, while Guyana on the other hand will be keen on maintaining their

ScoresofArchers shootforGold...

Frompage24

Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce,andMs.Chester and the staff of the Sophia Exhibition Centre for their support.

Archery Guyana also extendssincereappreciation to Guyana Beverages Inc. foritsgeneroussponsorship through the provision of Oasis Water and Altitude sports drinks, helping athletes remain hydrated and perform at their best throughoutthecompetition.

which could impact the remainder of the tournament

West Demerara crush Diamond Sec’ to lift Mike’s Mike’s

Pharmacy 2026 Schools Tapeball title

In a thrilling display

o f s k i l l a n d resilience, West DemeraraSecondarySchool

defeated Diamond Secondary by eight wickets to capture the Mike’s Pharmacy 2026 InterSecondary SchoolsTapeball Cricket title on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the National Culture Centre tarmac.

Diamond Secondary, takingfirststrikeinthefinal, posted a competitive 62-5 from their allotted overs. Ravin Singh led the charge

with a top score of 28, but West Demerara’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Jerome Phang, kept the East Bank side in check. Phang delivered an impressive spell, claiming 3-26 to restricttheopposition.

In response, West Demerara Second

y showcased composure and control during the chase.

Jeremiah Garnett anchored the innings with a wellcrafted 31, guiding his team to 67-2 and sealing victory withthreeballstospare.His match-winning knock not

o n

championship but also earned him both the Best Batsman award and the tournament’s Most Valuable Player(MVP)award.

Theeventwasgracedby G

MinisterStevenJacobs,who

contributing additional prizes,includingcricketgear for the tournament’s top performers—Best Batsman, MVP, and leading wickettaker

announced that the next

secondary schools’ boys’ competitionisscheduledfor Easter weekend,April 4 and 5,2026,withthevenuetobe

confirmed.

The tournament was sponsored by Cummings Electrical Ltd, Office of

Police Commissioner with continued support from the Ministry of Culture, Youth andSport.

Scores ofArchers shoot for Gold atArchery Guyana’s 2025 National IndoorChampionships

While heavy rainstorms enveloped Guyana last weekend, it made for ideal environment for indoor archery, as proven over the weekend when Archery Guyana successfully hosted the 2025 National Indoor Archery Championships at the Sophia Exhibition Centre The Federation motivated some 43 archers and their support personnel fromacrossGuyanatobrave theweatherandcomeoutto giveanimpressivedisplayof precision, discipline, competitive excellence and mentalfortitudeinhighlevel competition. The two-day championship showcased thenation’sexpandingtalent pool across archery disciplines of recurve, compound, and barebow divisions On Saturday morning Archery Athletes lefttheirhomesamongstthe croaking of frogs and persistent pitter patter of raindrops making the damp journey to compete in qualification rounds in the sport they love. Sunday was asimilarinnaturebeforethe start of elimination matches and finals. Results of these championships contribute to national rankings and data collection to be used for national team consideration and historical records, reinforcing the importance within the local archery calendar of these ranking events.

Archery Guyana commends the commitment and resilience of the Organising Committee, athletes, coaches, officials, andfamilieswhoensuredthe e v e n t p r o c e e d e d

conditions.

With almos

50 participants registered, several high-level performances were seen together with increasing youthengagement.The2025 N a t i o n a l I n d o o r Championships represent another important milestone in the continued growth and development of archery in Guyana and attracted participation from various clubs such as Bow Nation, GoldenLeagueArchery,Pro Archers Guyana, Qayyim Archery and independent archers.

MedalistsbyEvent

RecurveDivision

Men: Gold:Trevaughn

Waldron

Silver:Jeewanram

Persaud

Bronze:Mehandra

Chatargum

Women: Gold:Julie-Ann

Williams

Silver:KarinOnica

Toppin

Bronze:Roshini

Boodhoo

U18Men: Gold:SaifullahGani

Silver:Brandon

Cummings

Bronze:KeziahArcher

U18Women:

Gold:FatimaGani

Silver:SamiyyahLa

Cruez

Bronze:ImaniDaniels

CompoundDivision

Men:

Gold:AnandMangra

Silver:JahleelFarley

Bronze:RickyRoss

U18Men:

Men:

Gold:NolanGray

Silver:ShivaTularam

Bronze:DarrellSaul

Women:

Gold:Jo-LeeZammet

Silver:KenishaAlleyne

Bronze:JuanitaPersaud U18Men

Gold:AalimKahn

Silver:Ezekiel Hernandez

Bronze:KadenArinda U18Women

Gold:NeepaChaturgum

Silver:Nikasie

McGregor

Bronze:Aleandra Rodrigues

The tournament was officiated by National Archery Judges, Ryan McKinnoninthecapacityof DirectorofShooting,whose leadership ensured safe, smooth and efficient competitionoperations. Line and Target judging duties were carried out by Judges Afzal Karim and VidushiPersaud-McKinnon. Judges ensure rules are abided by while upholding thestandardsandintegrityof thesport.

Technical scoring operationsweremanagedby

Results Manager Saeed Karim, with verification supportprovidedbyAnoopa Ramdial, ensuring accurate scoring and timely results t h r o u g h o u t t h e championship Special appreciation were extended to the Ministry of Tourism, IndustryandCommerce,Mr RogerRogers,Permanent (Continuedonpage23)

One lucky fan will head to New York this summer as iBet Supreme unveils its Goal Rush 2026 Promotion

As sports betting company continues to provide its supporters with unimaginable lifetime experiences, iBet Supreme continues to push the bar with exciting initiatives Yesterday,iBetSupremehas officiallylauncheditshighly anticipated “Goal Rush 2026” promotion, offering one lucky fan the chance to win an all-expenses-paid VIP football experience for two in New York this summer

The promotion was unveiled at the Upstairs Bar

in Georgetown on Wednesday,wherecompany

officials gathered to introduce the bet-to-win promotion ahead of the world’sbiggestinternational football tournament As excitement builds toward kickoff, iBet Supreme is aiming to bring local fans closertotheglobalstage.

Running fromApril 1 to July24,thepromotiongives participants the opportunity

iBet Giveaways! The 2026 Goal Rush Promotion has been officially launched as iBet Supreme gears up to send two lucky persons to New York. iBet Assistant Customers Service Manager, Dennis Scantlebury (left) making the announcement during yesterday’s promotion launch.

to secure entries by placing betsofGYD$2,000ormore via the company’s online platform. Each qualifying bet counts as an entry, with no cap on the number of chancesaplayercanearn.

The grand prize draw is set for June 8, 2026. The

winner will receive a fully paid trip for two to New York, including the chance to attend a live Round of 16 match at the one of the world’smosticonicvenues.

Speaking at the launch, Assistant Manager of Customer Service and

Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club reinstates

Calvin

Ming following appeal

The Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) has officially reinstated competitor #4, Calvin Ming, as the winner of the Briggs and Stratton LightclassfinaloftheMPS Kart Revival event held last Sunday

The decision followed a successfulappealprocessby the competitor after the event on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the Thomaslands, Georgetownfacility Ming’s #4 Kart, which had initially won the class, was found in violation of a technical rule regarding clearance tolerances. That triggeredthepenalty Mingappealed,andafter furtherinvestigations,itwas adjudged that the error s t e m m e d f r o m

circumstances outside the competitorandthetechnical team.

As such, Ming is reinstated to the position, confirming the finishing orderas:

-1stPlace-#4–Calvin

Ming-2ndPlace-#221

-StevenNobrega

-3rdPlace-#346–

JaradRamnarayan

The GMR&SC reminds all competitors of their rights to appeal any decision, technical or otherwise.

Team Guyana unveils new Adidas...

Frompage27 anddiscus.AttheU20level, Onesi Dunn and Gordon Thompson will contest the 100m,whileTishaunEaston and Dequan Farrell are set for the 200m. Farrell will also line up in the 400m alongside Austin Javon Roberts will compete in the 800m and 1500m, Kaidon

Persaud in the javelin, and Ebo McNeil in both the 1500m and 5000m The relay events are again expected to be among Guyana’s strongest medal opportunities.

The U20 boys’ 4x400m team, led by Austin and Farrell, is expected to be highly competitive, while

the mixed 4x400m relay featuring Austin, Persaud, Springer and Akela Dover also has the potential to challenge for a podium finish.

Sprintrelayteamsacross both age categories will provide Guyana with additional chances to add to itsmedaltally

O

Scantlebury,emphasizedthe company’s commitment to rewardingitsloyalcustomer base.

“This summer, the world’s biggest football tournament comes to our region, and we wanted iBet Supremetoshowupinabig way,” he said. “Football is partofourcustomers’DNA. Every week, they back their teams with passion and insight. Goal Rush 2026 is about taking one of those fans from their living room in Guyana to football’s biggeststageinNewYork.”

In addition to the grand prize, the promotion will feature weekly giveaways beginning April 17 and

continuing through July 24. Participants will have chances to win a range of p r i z e s , i n c l u d i n g smartphones, electronics, sports gear, supermarket vouchers, and fast-food vouchers.

Thepromotionisopento individuals aged 18 and older Grand prize winners must possess a valid U.S. visaatthetimeoftravel.iBet Supreme also reiterated its commitment to responsible gamingpractices.

Withmultiplechancesto winandaonce-in-a-lifetime grand prize on offer, “Goal Rush 2026” is expected to generate significant interest among football fans and bettorsacrossGuyana.

2026/27 CWI Rising Stars Men’s U-16 bilateral 50-Overs tournament…Guyana vs. Barbados

up crushing 76-run win for Guyana

Abrilliantspellof seam bowling f r o m L e o n Reddy, backed by a decent knock under tough conditions from Nathan Bishop set up a massive 76run victory for the home team Guyana, who picked apart opponents Barbados during yesterday’s first battle.

A long overdue battle which was abandoned twice over the last few days, managed to see some play timedespitealatestart;with the result favoring a ball-

dominant Guyana side. It was a tranquil effort from hosts batting first, posting just 137-8 in their 31 overs, ledbywicket-keeperNathan Bishopwhohit3foursanda sixinhistopscoreof37.

MakaiDowlinscored20 to keep the middle-lower order steady given the circumstances of the late start All-rounder Leon Reddystartedoffhisbrilliant game by hitting a six and a four to finish the innings on 13*. Captain and opener Lomar Seecharran (11) and hispartnerAsgallaryNabbie

(11),eachhitonefourbutno otherplayerreallygotgoing forGuyana. Barbados, who would

eventually implode during the chase, were indebted to thepairofJalenMcAllister (3-24) and Liam Sealy (2-

34) who tried to contain a dangerous Guyana batting unit.

But the Berbice youth skipper Reddy, would return to show his true c

completely in favor of Guyana.

The fast-bowler snared impressive figures of 4-8 from 6 overs including 3 maidens which rocked the Bajans Support came from batsman and part-timer Akash Ramdewar (2-13), s p i n n e r B r a n d o n Grimmond (3-19) who was excellent in the crunch stages and Altaf Ali (1-17), who landed lethal blowswhichhelpedstrangle Barbadosforameasly61all outin20.1overs.

Itwasabraveeffortby all accounts from middleorder batsman and leading scorerforBarbados,Oshea Francis (35); who aided his team’s recovery from a derelict state of 24-7 to help them cross the 50-run mark

(Continued on page 23)

Team Guyana unveils new Adidas kit ahead of CARIFTA Games departure

BYRAWLETONEY

Guyana’s CARIFTA Games team officially unveiled its new Adidas outfit on Wednesday ahead of the squad’s departure for StGeorge’s,Grenada,where the 53rd edition of the regional championships will be staged over the Easter weekendattheKiraniJames Stadium.Thenewkit,which includes travel wear, warmup apparel and competition gear, was revealed during a courtesy call by the team on Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Steven Jacobs, Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle, Chairman of the NationalSportsCommission KashifMuhammadandNSC Commissioner Cristy Campbell.

A total of 24 athletes, along with a contingent of coaches and officials, will represent Guyana at the Games, which run from

April 4-7 The unveiling marks another major milestone in the Athletics Association of Guyana’s partnership with global sportsweargiantAdidas. InMarch2025,theAAG landed a significant multiyear agreement with the German brand. The initial payout of the deal was valued at US$300,000 in

equipment, while the following three years will see Guyanese athletics benefit from US$250,000 annually

The partnership, which was facilitated by renowned Guyanese Cubie Seegobin, includesbothequipmentand financial support, and has already transformed the imageandpreparationofthe

K&SOrganisationbacks Linden sprinterAngelJeffery aheadofCARIFTAGames

Linden’s rising sprint sensation Angel Jeffery has receivedamajorboostahead of the CARIFTA Games, with the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation stepping in to ensure the young athlete is fully equipped for regional competition.

country’sathletes.Dressedin the new Adidas gear, the athletes were encouraged by Minister Jacobs, who wished the team well and reminded them that they are ambassadorsforGuyana

The Minister also expressed confidence that the squad can improve on Guyana’s performances from last year’s CARIFTA Games inTrinidadandTobago,where the country won five medals (one gold, one silver and threebronze).

Jacobssaidhewaspleased that Guyana would be represented by such a large contingent, noting that the depthofthesquadreflectsthe growth of athletics in the country Leading Guyana’s

charge in Grenada will be a core group of returning standouts, including Tianna Springer and Malachi Austin Springer, now competing at the University of Georgia, returns in the Girls U20 category and is expectedtodefendhertitle.

Hinckson, who recently securedherownAdidasNIL deal while competing as a freshman at Louisiana State University, will contest the Girls Under-20 100m and 200m. On the boys’ side, Austin returns in the U20 division after an impressive 2025 campaign. Now based at LSU, he will compete in the400m,4x400mrelayand mixed 4x400m relay In the Girls U17 category, Angela

Jeffery will contest both the 100m and 200m, while OliviaSolomonwilltakeon the demanding 400m and 800mdouble.TheBoysU17 t e a m a l s o b o a s t s considerable depth. Omari Welchisenteredinthe100m and long jump, Malique Kendall in the 100m and 200m,JerrelCampbellinthe 400m and long jump, Jermaine Shepherd in the 800m and 1500m, and Bryson Anderson in the 800m.Guyanawillalsohave strong representation in the fieldevents.KeimalGishard will compete in the triple jump and high jump, while Nathaniel Samaroo is enteredinboththeshotput (Continuedonpage25)

The 15-year-old athlete, w h o a t t e n d s t h e Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (Multi) in Linden, is among a 24memberteamsettorepresent Guyana at this year’s championships, scheduled fortheEasterweekendatthe Kirani James Stadium in Grenada Jeffery,whowillcompete in the U17 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay events, is gearing up for her second appearance at the regional junior showpiece, having made her debut at last year’s Games in Trinidad and Tobago Co-Director of the organisation, Kashif Muhammad, explained that thedecisiontoassisttheyoung sprinter came swiftly after a request was made on her behalf The organisation has long been known for its contribution to the development of sports in Guyana, particularly throughitssupportofyoung andemergingathletes. Muhammad pointed out that Jeffery is the latest in a line of talents who have benefited from their commitment to grassroots sportsdevelopment.

Angel Jeffery (left) receives the support package from Co-Director of the K&S organisation, Kashif Muhammad yesterday.

continue supporting,” Muhammadadded.

“We have always believed in investing in youth, andAngel represents thekindoftalentwewantto

Jeffery, who has already shown immense promise on the track, boasts personal best times of 11.78 seconds in the 100m and 24 66 secondsinthe200m. Expressing gratitude for the support, the young sprinter described the assistanceasbothtimelyand motivating as she prepares fortheGames.

Team Guyana unveils new Adidas kit Adidas ahead of CARIFTA Games departure Sports