Kaieteur News

Painter found dead at Ruimveldt

Dead: Kenny, the painter

An elderly man, who was said to be a painter, was on Thursday morning found lying face down a stone's throw away from the RuimveldtPoliceStation.

The man, identified only as 'Kenny the painter' of A l e x a n d e r Vi l l a g e , Georgetown was pronounced dead by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) attached to the Guyana Fire Service at about10:33h.

When Kaieteur News arrived on the scene 'Kennny' wasobservedlyingfacedown with his hand to his side and hisfeetoutstretched.

He was clad in a blue and red t-shirt, khaki American Eagle pants, khaki and brown sneakers and a light orange headtie.

An eyewitness told the Kaieteur News that the painter appeared intoxicated as he was observed walking andswayinginthearea.

“WhenIcomeroundhere, I see he on the ground trembling up. I tell them don't touch he cause if he dead is murdercharge.

I went to the station and tellthepoliceandtelldemcall d e a m b u l a n c e , ” t h e eyewitness told Kaieteur News.

Kenny reportedly fell and hit his face and damaged his teeth which were seen next to his body As the police awaited the ambulance, the painter's body was covered witharedcloth.

ExxonM now has 14 days before flaring fee kicks in - EPAHead

ExxonMobil Guyana now has 14 days to address flaring issues before the company faces tax penalties, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Khemraj Parsramhassaid.

Parsram was referring to the new environmental th permit issued to Exxon's 7 oil project – Hammerhead. The new permit has 14 provisions meant to address flaring offshore Guyana. There are also an additional eightprovisionsthatspeakto emergencyevents.

He said that the provisions are proof that the country has come a long way, in terms of improving on its permit conditions,

while noting that air quality inGuyanaisnon-negotiable.

The EPA's mandate is to ensure that the air citizens breathe is protected and according to Parsram, Guyana has always had a good history and record of excellent air quality Therefore, as part of issuing permits to authorise and regulate the industry, he said the environment has to be considered and it must be protected.

“Now Guyana also has international obligations under the climate change convention for example, so our record there has been you know undoubtedly very rigidandstrong.So,wehave to maintain our air quality

Now any development, not just oil and gas, any emissions coming from these development activities must be regulated to ensure

explained.

The EPA head reminded that there was always prohibition on routine flaring, and from the start of the oil projects. Instead of burningthegascontinuously as it came up as some countries do, Guyana told the operator and its partners that they are to re-inject the gas to assist with well pressurisation.

However recently, the optionwasgiventobringthe

maximising the uses of the gas resources Nevertheless, there are what he called “upset conditions” and one such instance was experienced withLizaOne.

“They had a problem with the gas compressor and it took some time to get that fixed, and so the time taken for that we learn from it, and we ensure that in subsequent permits that there is a redundancy built in that,” he highlighted.

Parsram explained that there is often time just one gas compressor along with twoorthreeotherequipment that help with providing a quick fix situation

Notwithstanding, the key is

Fivenewsandmininglicencesapproved sinceJagdeoclaimedhaltonprocess

At least five new sand mining licences were i s s u e d b y t h e Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after Vice President (VP), Bharrat Jagdeo claimed that government halted the approval of further permits to facilitate the Silica CityprojectontheLindenHighway AreviewoftheEPA'swebsite,done bythisnewspaperfoundthataboutfive new permits were approved since Jagdeo's revelation in March 2024. In addition to the new permits for sand miningontheHighwayandotherareas, anumberofapplicationsforrenewalof permits were also approved by the regulator Jagdeo in March last year disclosed that the government has made the decision to stop issuing sandpit mining permits, after it was revealed that the then Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken and Acting Deputy Commissioner Calvin Brutus at the timeappliedforsandminingoperations ontheSoesdyke-LindenHighway KaieteurNewsreportedthatHicken and Brutus each secured 11.7 acres of land for their respective sand mining

p r o j e c t s i n Ya r r o w k a b r a , Soesdyke/Linden Highway and submitted their applications to the EPA for permission to proceed with their operations.

The project summaries were published on the regulator's website sinceFebruary26,2024.

The VP however made it clear during a press conference that no new licenceswouldbeapproved. “Let me make it clear that the GovernmentofGuyanaonthehighway

still having preventative measures to ensure that if there is a need for flaring, it is efficiently done. In this regard, emissions will not have a number of dangerous pollutants that will be problematic as it can easily bedispersed.

“ a n d s o t h o s e measures were put in place to make sure that flaring is prevented, and not just in terms of the efficiency, but when there's a need for flaring there is also the aspect of how you deal with that,andthereisit'snotjusta carte blanch; You can't do what you want, you have to seek approval from us and we set a stipulated timeline anddateforthat.So,14days maximum. So, if you know to address your situation, you have that time to play with it, ” he further explained.

Parsram reminded that there is also a tax added on flaring,sothisisnowserving as a deterrent to indefinite flaring With this cost attached developers are encouraged to fix issues

right away, but still upset conditionswilloccur “ T h e r e w i l l b e emergency situations. So, in those conditions we have to define clearly what those upsetconditionsmean.What arethecircumstancesaround it?

What's the approval mechanism, and then we allowthatexcessflaringfirst zero routine flaring upset condition.Yes, we can allow you to fix the situation. If you exceed that time, then it's taxed to get you to 'hurry up' in local language,” he added.

has put a hold on all the sandpits…we are trying to get large tracts of land to dotheSilicaCityonthehighwaysowe want the land for public use, housing and development of new towns along the highway etcetera, so we can't only giveout(land),”hedeclared.

Jagdeo noted that while EPA has published a notice in relation to the sandpits for Hicken and Brutus – he underscored that the Government's position is clear and that the applications will not be granted. “It's not going to happen…Now they may havethelandforagricultureuse,thatis what people have land for but not for thepurposeofminingsand,wehaveto have a strategy that brings down the price (of sand),” the Vice President noted.

The new permits approved do not relate to applications made by the former cop and the new Commissioner ofPolice.

In fact, four of the new sand mining permits were granted to Christopher

the

approval was extended to Richard Hanif.

KaieteurNews

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

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

EDITORIAL

Guyana's EPA flexing its muscles

Guyana's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a criticalsetofdutiesaspartofitswide-rangingportfolio Itisthe nation's premier watchdog agency over the oil patrimony, a patrimonythatholdssomuchofthefuture TheEPAhasbeen asleep for years, in an extended coma, now it finds its voice ExxonMobil,Guyana'soilpartner,mustprovidethedetailsof everywellthatitdrills,bothbeforeandafter,andwithclear supporting images. It is a step in the right direction, an actionthatwasdelayedtoolong. Nowthecompanyhasan opportunitytodemonstratehowmuchofapartneritis.

ExxonMobil now has to cooperate fully in audits of oil reserves,withfullaccessgrantedtoanyGovernmentofGuyana personnel This has been a key point of contention for this newspaper Guyanesehearaboutnewoilwellsbeingdrilled, but nothing about the safety standards in place, or new oil reserves With real-time monitoring set in motion, the government has a better idea of the level of ExxonMobil's activities, and what value this country is getting for the billionsclaimedasexpenses.

It seems that some people in the PPPC Government are unhappywithwhatisbeingreceivedfromGuyana'sleading oil partner Once the EPAis genuine about monitoring and following-upontheinsightsgained,thegovernmentwouldbe betterpositionedtorepresentGuyaneseinterests

What is ExxonMobil doing out there that could be to the disadvantageofthisnation,anditsdependentpeople? Whatisit that ExxonMobil has been doing, but of which both the governmentandcitizensareunaware,butneededtoknow? The company'smanagementofitsbusinessonshoreisbestdescribed asastudyindenialanddelay,asifitstakesmirkingcomfortin using its vast industry experience to make a fool of this nation.

Many citizens are unhappy with what has resulted from competed audits of ExxonMobil's billions in expenses The PPPC Government appears to be more aligned with the oil companies,thanwithlocalinterestsandpriorities Moreoften thannot,thereisthesensethatthegovernmentisreluctanttogo afterGuyana'schiefoilpartner,andlayingoutitsexpectations Guyanesewanttoknow how many new barrels of oil have been found from the discoveries announced. So many discoveries,yetsolittlesaidaboutsomuchmoreoilforthe reserves. The PPPC Government has to do more to push ExxonMobiltobearealpartnerthatactsinastraightforward mannerwiththiscountry,apartnerthathasearnedthetrust ofcitizens.

Today,afteroverfiveyears,theEPAappearstobefinally rising to the challenge and facing off against ExxonMobil Guyana must be supplied with imagery, access, and related documentation Therearethreeprimarybenefitstoallofthis, which offers huge insights to this country on this its most preciousofassets Guyanapositionsitselftobeingintheknow onwhatitspartneris doing almost 200 kilometers offshore, what is the rate and level of this depleting asset, and what could include the status of new oil finds that replenish the nationalreserves. FortoomanyyearsExxonMobilhashad a free hand in operating as though it is the owner and sole controllerofthisnationalpatrimony ExxonMobilisnowso arrogantthatitactuallyinsultstheintelligenceofGuyanese, with actions that no other country with any self-respect would have allowed. We remind readers of the occasion when an audit team was blocked from having access to a certainareaofitsoffshoreoperations. Partnersdon'tdothat tootherpartners,andGuyanaisnota5or10%partnerwith ExxonMobil,butonewiththepowerofequal,ifnotgreater, footing. To insult further, ExxonMobil spokespeople, at differenttimes,becameveryinnovativeintheinformationthat theysharedwiththiscountry. Itseemsthattheobjectivewasto revealless,andobscureasmuchascanbegottenawaywith. The way we assessed what has happened is that the US oil supergiantwasgivenfreereintoolong,andhashadtoomuch advantage Thathastostop

Widening of Heroes Highway raises serious questions about transparency and accountability

DearEditor,

Permit me space to address several critical issues concerning the operations of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) and the expanding nature of its activities The primary mandate of the CHPA is to provide affordable housing andrelatedinfrastructurefor working-class Guyanese

H o w e v e r , r e c e n t developments suggest that the agency has assumed an expanded role in the construction of highways and major access roads, functions that rightfully fall under the purview of the Ministry of Public Works. Upon completion, these roads are subsequently gazetted and handed over to theMinistry Thispracticeis problematic and requires urgentcorrection. It is important to recall that under the APNU+AFC Coalition Government (2015–2020),thereexisteda coherent, clearly articulated policyframeworkgoverning

infrastructure development. All major public roads and highways were designed, supervised, and executed through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. This ensured unified technical oversight, consistent standards, and proper accountability Support was likewise provided to the Ministry of Communities, the Georgetown City Council, and CHPAonly for workswithintheirrespective mandates, namely, inner community roads, drainage, and housing-related infrastructure In stark contrast, the current Ali administration exhibits no coherent policy direction in the management of major infrastructural projects. TodayweseetheMinistryof Agriculture constructing roads, the Ministry of Natural Resources constructing roads, and CHPA constructing highways, resulting in fragmentation, duplication, a n d w e a k e n e d accountability across the

sector

Historically, CHPA has been treated as a semiautonomousagency Priorto May 2015, it was widely regarded as a “cash cow,” with funds from its housing accounts often diverted to undertakeprojectsbeneficial to politicalor administrative interests This stands in contradictiontotheintended purpose of those funds, which is to prudently serve the poor and vulnerable Additionally, CHPA's audits are not conducted by the Audit Office of Guyana but instead by private auditors. This alone should raise concern, especially given thatCHPAroutinelyreceives substantialsubventionsfrom the consolidated fund, for infrastructure works, including electr

c

ty installation, community roads in new housing sch

distributionnetworks.

During the construction phase of the continuation of Mandela Avenue, stretching fromAubreyBarkerRoadto the area now referred to as the Heroes Highway and onward to Diamond, my colleague, former Minister DavidPatterson,andIraised concerns about this expanded role of CHPA.We questioned whether the agency possessed the technical capacity to construct major public highways At that time, MinisterColinCroalassured thepublicthatCHPAindeed hadthecapability Asafrequentuserofthis corridor, I encourage Minister Croal and the technical team at CHPA to conduct an urgent assessment of the westernbound carriageway, where cracks have already emerged. These early signs offailureposesafetyrisksto motorists and suggest premature wear and tear, an outcome that should not characterize a recently constructedroadway

It is important to recall that the Heroes Highway, coveringapproximately9.4

(Continuedonpage6)

PSC's election assessment should be viewed in proper context

DearEditor,

The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has now released its final assessment of the 2025 General and Regional Elections, stating that it found no evidence of state-resource misuse and that the elections were free andcredible.

WhilethePSCisentitled to its observations, it is important that the public understands what kind of body the PSC is and how international observers themselvesclassifyit.

At the European Union

Election Observation Mission's (EU EOM) press conference several weeks ago, the Mission was asked directly whether the PSC shouldberegardedasacivil-

society organisation The EU's response was both d i p l o m a t i c a n d unambiguous:

t h e P S C “ h a s experience observing elections,” but its “main purpose is that it is a business organisation, not civilsociety.”

This clarification is crucial.

I n e s t a b l i s h e d international practice, “civil society observers” refer to independent, rights-based, citizen-focused groups with no political or commercial interests.

Their role is to monitor electionsfromthestandpoint of democratic participation and public accountability A private-sector body, by

contrast, represents commercial and corporate interests. Its observations may be valuableintheirownsphere, but they do not carry the same methodological or democraticmandateasthose of civic election-monitoring groups.

In that light, the PSC's assessment should be understoodforwhatitis:the viewpoint of an important stakeholder in the business community, not a substitute for civic oversight. Guyana

still lacks a strong, independent domestic civilsociety election observer tradition, and the EU itself

n o t e d t h i s g a p Strengthening such participation is essential if

we are to build long-term public confidence in our electoralprocesses.

The PSC's contribution to national discussions is always welcome, but its findings must be read in the proper institutional context, especially when other international observers have clearly distinguished between commercial bodies and genuine civil-society monitors.

For future elections, Guyana would benefit from a broader and more diverse set of independent civic observers whose purpose is explicitly democratic rather than representative of a particularsectoralinterest.

Sincerely,

SherodDuncan,M.P

With rising food cost, GWI frustrates citizens

DearEditor,

I am writing to express my profound dissatisfaction and concern regarding the appalling delay in addressing a significant water leakage at my residence (Uitvlugt Side Line Dam, West Coast Demerara)

On November16, 2025,

Iofficiallyfiledareportwith the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) regardingaseriousleak,and Iwasissuedwithareference number Today, December 12, 2025, marks nearly a month since the initial report, and no one from GWI has yet arrived to assess or fix the leakage. I

made multiple follow up calls during this period, however this leakage is not fixed. My premises are equippedwithawatermeter that records consumption.

Thisraisesacriticalquestion thatGWImustanswer:Who willbeheldresponsiblefor the cost of the substantial

volume of water that has been wasted due to this unaddressed leak? Will GWI expect customers to bear the financial burden indicatedontheirmeterfora leakthattheyfailedtofixina timelymanner,despitebeing officiallynotified?

Sincerely, FrustratedCitizen

“You can't outsource responsibility: Why Guyana's breakfast programme is failing the children it claims to serve”

DearEditor,

When a government minister declares that the National Breakfast Programme “can never be deemed a bad programme,” theconversationhasalready shifted from children's welfare to political self-preservation.

The issue is notwhether feeding children is a good idea–itis–butwhetherthe current model is capable of delivering safe, nutritious, consistent meals every morning.Onthis,therecord speakslouderthananypress release.

T h e M i n i s t r y ' s instinctive response to criticism has been deflection, labelling concerns as “political mileage” rather than an

opportunity to fix a programmethattouchestens ofthousandsofyounglives.

The scale of the operation is frequently used as a badge of honour, but in reality, is a logistical nightmare. Officials boast that the programme has expanded from around 11,000beneficiariesin2022 to more than 51,000 today, serviced by over 380–388 private caterers nationwide. That expansion, however, is precisely what exposes the structural weakness at the heart of the current approach.

Quality, equity and nutritional value are being outsourced to hundreds of profit-driven suppliers whom the Ministry cannot realisticallysuperviseinreal time.

The larger the network, the more gaps appear between the policy on paper andthemealthatendsupina child'sstomach

The Ministry insiststhat complaints are “isolated incidents,” pointing to verification logs and field reportsasproofthatthereare no “widespread disparities.” But look closely at how this verification system works. Paymenttocaterersdepends on Dietary Tracker Sheets stamped and signed by headteachers, while a handful of field officers rotatethroughschoolsoncea month and out- sourced kitchens are inspected without notice once every schoolterm.

This is not ironclad oversight; it is bureaucracy

I

convenient to record, not necessarily what children actuallyreceiveonanygiven morning. I

corner-cutting Caterers operate on fixed-price contractswhereeverydollar savedoningredients,portion sizeorpreparationtranslates d

Headteachers, already stretched thin, must choose b

disrupting breakfast for hundreds of pupils or quietly signing off on meals they know are not ideal, because “no tracker, no payment” also means no foodtomorrow

T e a c h e r s a n d administrators themselves receive the same breakfast, blurring the line between independent oversight and shared resignation to whateverisdelivered.When the system relies on forms, not with on-the-spot control

ofkitchensandsupplies,the truth is whatever the paperworksaysitis.

There is an alternative, and it begins with honesty about th

of outsourcing Instead of clinging to an unwieldy networkofexternalcaterers, the Ministry should pilot in-house breakfast programmes at selected schools.

These schools would have fully staffed kitchens, centralised procurement, and direct supervision by trainednutritionistsandfood safetyofficers.

Ingredients would be p

ugh transparent, standardised procurement channels, allowing government to enforce clear quality specifications and benefit fromeconomiesofscale.

In-house kitchens also permit genuine real-time monitoring With simple tools – temperature logs,

digital stock records, and, where appropriate, internal

programme managers can see what is happening as meals are being made, not weekslaterinareport.

When complaints arise, the Minister and the programme director would have immediately on hand, whatwascooked,howmany portions were served, and whether any deviation from the approved menu occurred.

They could correct problems quickly instead of retreating into defensive statements about “logs” and “isolatedincidents.”

Crucially, a properly designed pilot would generate hard numbers. It would compare outsourced andin-housemodelsoncost permeal,nutritionalquality, punctuality, wastage and student outcomes such as attendance and classroom

concentration.

If the current system is as sound as its defender's claim, it will withstand the scrutiny Ifnot,theevidence will justify a phased shift towards a model where the s

responsibility for what it

y guaranteeing.

The National Breakfast Programmeisfundedbythe peopleofGuyanaandexists in their children's names. Thosechildrendeservemore than public relations and political one-upmanship;

they deserve a system built for their health, not for the convenience of contractors ortheegoofofficials.

A government truly confident in its programme would not insult critics; it would embrace a rigorous, transparent evaluation and an in-house pilot. Anything less is an admission that, behindtheglowingrhetoric, the nutritional needs of our children remain a risk the Ministry is willing to outsource.

Yourstruly

HemduttKumar

ProfessorRandolphPersaudelectedUG'sProChancellor

Professor Randolph (Randy) Persaud has been elected as Pro Chancellor of the University of Guyana, a statement from the universitysaidonThursday

According to the statement,ProfessorPersaud was elected following the procedures laid out by the th statutes and the 12 Council of the University on Monday,December8,2025.

The new Pro Chancellor will also perform the duties of Acting Chancellor of the university until a new Chancellorisnamed.

“The University wishes to extend its deepest appreciation to Prof. John

Edward Greene

immediate past Chancellor for his stellar and futuristic

University's Council from 2019, whose tenure has come to a natural end. The University also wishes to thank the immediate past Council.

The new Council also extendsheartfeltgratitudeto the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Paloma Mohamed-Martin, who has by statute, carried the additional duties of Pro Chancellorsince2020while a new Pro Chancellor was named, as well as recently acting in the role of Chancellor under statutes governingvacanciesofthese positions.”

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Mohamed, presents the instruments of office to Professor Randy Persaud.

Professor Mohamed welcomedandcongratulated

Professor Persaud who has maintained a close relationship with the universitysincehisreturnto Guyana upon retirement frominternationalservice.

“AsProChancellor,Prof Persaud will work with the Council which oversees the strategic direction of the University, and the ViceChancellor and Senior Management Team who h a v e e x e c u t i v e responsibility for the management and operations oftheUniversity.”

y, S

gic SecurityandtheFutureatthe University of Guyana. He holdstheB.A(Hons.),M.A., andPhDinPoliticalScience from York University, Toronto, and is Professor Emeritus at the American University,WashingtonDC. He was Director of Comparative and Regional Studies at the School of International Service (SIS), AmericanUniversity, (Continuedonpage10)

The university said that Prof. Persaud is a wellrespected academic and international scholar He is currently an Advisor in the Office of the President, the Director of the National DefenceInstitute(NDI),and a Teaching Fellow at the Insti

Widening of Heroes Highway raises serious questions...

Frompage4 kilometresatacostof$13.3 billion, was commissioned exactly two years ago, (December 10, 2025). Yet, with the current widening works now underway, the public remains uninformed about critical technical details, including the proposedwidthanddepthof the expansion, since these specifications were omitted from the recent public reporting.

After the opening of the Ogle Bypass Road from Eccles, including the Haags Bosch Road connector, I observed significant congestion at the Jaguar Roundabout.

Motorists experience daily discomfort as vehicles converge from four major points: North from Aubrey

BarkerRoad, East from Haags Bosch Road, WestfromHaagsBosch Road,and South from the alignment of the New DemeraraHarbourBridge.

I previously raised these concerns through written commentaryandalivevideo a

e authorities to intervene Eventually, corrective attentionwasgiven.

Approximately three weeks ago, I observed renewed activity along the western-bound side of the H e r o e

H

s t o c k p i l i n g , a n d mobilisation of equipment. The installation of survey pickets indicated imminent expansion works, which a worker later confirmed

excavation has now started on the eastern-bound side neartheJaguarRoundabout. W

concerned about the manner in which these works have beenprocuredandfinanced. Notably, the 2025 National Budget did not provide allocations for this specific wideninginitiative.

Your Kaieteur News

article of Thursday, December 11, 2025, reported that $4.2 billion in contractshavebeenawarded for the widening of Heroes Highway Thisraisesserious q u e s t i

a n d accountability Itisfareasier to process contracts through CHPA, which has its own

tender board Contractors deemed favourable are frequently shortlisted, after whichCHPAseeksapproval from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), a body also dominated by PPP/Caligned members and sympathisers.

To spend an additional $4.2 billion on a highway completedjusttwoyearsago suggests that the original project lacked a proper feasibility study, one that should have accounted for increased vehicular activity following the completion of theOgleBypass.

Such foundational planning would have anticipated the resulting congestionandmitigatedthe needforcostlyrevisions.

In the absence of active

parliamentary sittings, where Minister Croal could be questioned and held to account, it falls upon concerned citizens to demandtransparency

I therefore publicly call on Minister Croal to clarify

the following urgent matters, which the recent news article failed to address:

1 Why were the wideningworksnotincluded in the initial design and construction of the 9.4 km HeroesHighway?

2. Where is the $4.2 billion being sourced to financethisproject?

3. What data, studies, or traffic modelling informed the decision to widen the roadwayin2025?

4. Why was this project not deferred to 2026, given the absence of a 2025

budgetaryallocation?

5. What is the expected duration of the widening works?

6. Upon completion, howwilltheprojectalleviate congestion at the Jaguar Roundabout, and will this eliminatetheneedforpolice officers to manually control trafficduringpeakhours?

As I conclude, let me reiterate,Iamnotopposedto infrastructural development. Rather, I am deeply concerned about the persistent absence of t r a n s p a r e n c y a n d accountability in public spending.Guyanesecitizens deserve accurate, timely inform

resources are being utilised responsibly

Yourssincerely, AnnetteFerguson

Venezuela - linked oil tankers US issues fresh sanctions targeting Maduro's family,

WASHINGTON,Dec11 (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife,aswellassixcrudeoil tankers and shipping companieslinkedtothem,as Washington ramps up pressureonCaracas.

The action came as the U.S. executes a large-scale military buildup in the southern Caribbean and as U S President Donald Trump campaigns for Maduro'souster

On Wednesday, Trump said the U.S. had seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coastofVenezuela.

The U S Treasury Department, in a statement, saiditimposedsanctionson six shipping companies moving Venezuelan oil, as well as six crude oil tankers thatitsaid"haveengagedin deceptive and unsafe shipping practices and continuetoprovidefinancial resourcesthatfuelMaduro's corrupt narco-terrorist regime."

Four of the tankers, including the 2002-built H. Constance and the 2003built Lattafa, are Panamaflagged, with the other two flagged by the Cook Islands andHongKong.

The targeted vessels are supertankers that recently loaded crude in Venezuela, according to state oil company PDVSA's internal shippingdocuments.

'POWERFUL INTIMIDATION TACTIC'

Franqui Flores and Efrain Antonio Campo

Flores, nephews of Venezuelan first lady Cilia Flores, were also hit with sanctions The two were dubbedthe"narconephews" after their arrest in Haiti in 2015 in a U S Drug EnforcementAdministration stingoperation.

They were convicted in 2016 on charges that they tried to carry out a multimillion-dollar cocaine deal and sentenced to 18 years in prison, but were

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro attends an event, in Caracas, Venezuela May 1, 2023.

REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

released in a 2022 prison swapwithVenezuela.

The Vene

uelan communications ministry, w

immediately respond to a requestforcomment.

M

vehemently denied links to crime.

David Goldwyn, a former energy diplomat at the U.S. State Department and the president of consultancy Goldwyn Global Strategies, said the sanctions on the six vessels could lay the groundwork for the U.S. to try and seize them.

"This is a powerful intimida

on tactic Certainly, any sanctioned vessel owner will think twice about lifting Venezuelancrudeforfearof losing the vessel entirely And those that are not sanctioned will certainly be concerned about being boardedordesignatedgoing forward,"Goldwynsaid.

Francisco Monaldi from Rice University's Baker Institute said the impact of the seizure and further sanctions will depend on U.S.enforcement.

"But in any case, the risks are now higher to depart from Venezuelan waters, especially for shadowfleetandsanctioned vessels.

That will at least force wider price discounts for Venezuela's oil or more flexible terms by PDVSA not to lose customers, and

could hit export volumes too," Monaldi said The shadow fleet refers to ships that carry oil that is under sanctions.

They are typically old, their ownership opaque and they sail without top-tier insurance cover to meet international standards for oilmajorsandmanyports.

SHARPLYESCALATED TENSIONS

Wednesday'sseizurewas the first of a Venezuelan oil cargo amid U.S. sanctions thathavebeeninforcesince 2019 It is the Trump administration's first known action against a Venezuelarelated tanker since he ordered a massive military buildupintheregion.

The administration is planning more tanker seizures, sources told ReutersonThursday

U.S. Attorney General PamBondipostedonXthat the FBI, Homeland Security and Coast Guard, with support from the U.S. military,carriedoutaseizure warrant for a crude tanker used to transport sanctioned oilfromVenezuelaandIran.

Themovesentoilprices higherandsharplyescalated t e n s i o n s b e t w e e n WashingtonandCaracas.

Trump has repeatedly raised the possibility of military intervention in Venezuela, accusing it of sending narcotics to the UnitedStates.

The U.S. has already carried out more than 20 strikes against suspected drug vessels, which have raised concerns among lawmakersandlegalexperts.

The arithmetic of public safety

Iwokeupthisweekto the astonishing revelationthatsome, not all, of our police ranks apparently do not have passes in Maths and English at the CSEC examinations. This came as such a shock that I nearly dropped my cup of morning tea. Fortunately, thanks to my own CSEC pass in Maths, I calculated the trajectory early enough to preventadisaster

Naturally,Ifoundmyself asking a question that any rational person would ask upon learning this news: How on earth were these persons hired? Because last time I checked—and I do check these things compulsively, in case the requirement has changed during the night—the basic qualification for almost any entry-level job in the public service is having passes

including in Maths and English. You need Maths and Englishtobeaclerk,tobea cashier, to sell SIM cards from a tent on the pavement on Regent Street But somehow,mysteriously,you do not need them to join the premier law enforcement agency of the nation, which is only responsible for arresting people, taking statements, preparing case files,testifyingincourt,and other small chores like operating radar guns and calculating the improbable speed of the average Route 45minibus.

Howisthispossible?Did someone misplace the rule book?Didthequalifications fall behind a filing cabinet?

Were they, perhaps, accidentally shredded and used as confetti at some official celebration of mediocrity? I am not

accusing.

Iammerelyspeculating, which, I might add, is a cherishedrightofallcitizens whoareintheearlystagesof existentialpanic.

Because, truly, one must ask:Howfardoesthisgo?Is this phenomenon confined to the Guyana Police Force, oristhereagrand,sweeping, national philosophy that says, “Why let literacy gets in the way of a good government job?” If so, this philosophy ought to be documented. Preferably by someone who can spell “documented.”

Those academically deficientpolice officers will now have a few years to get their passes. To which I say including with the authority of someone who failed Technical Drawing twice—shouldn’t they have had those passes before joining an agency that

DEM BOYS SEH

Don’tdrinkanddrive!

DisisdeSeasonwhenyuhdoes haveplentyChristmasparties. And dem staff does enjoy themselves.Whenthingsfreepeopledoes gooverboardanddon’tknowdemlimits.

Demboyssehyesterdayonemangone by a Christmas party and de spirits was flowingmorethanderainsinrainyseason. Fuheverybeerhedrink,hefollowitwida cocktail,andfuheverycocktailhefollow itwidacoupleshots. Bydetimehedone, hewasseeingdoubleandwalkingsingle. Buthestillhadlilsenselefinhehead. He tell heself, “Bai, you over de limit. Time fuh do de responsible thing.” So he decidefuhdosomethingheneverdoinhe life—hetekataxihome.

Ondeway,demboyssehhemeetabig policeroadblock.Soonasdeofficersseeis

a taxi, dem wave he through likeVIP He reach home safe, steady, and proud ah heself.

But here is de ketch: he shock bad, becauseheneverdriveataxibeforeinhe life! He ain’t know where he get de taxi from,howitendupinhehand,andnowde blasted thing deh park up in he garage. Dem boys seh he still trying fuh decide whether fuh return it, sell it, or start a lil hirecarbusiness.

Sodisyear,whenyouget“wasted”at yuh workplace Christmas party, please leave them people hire car alone. Beg a drop home or call a recognised taxi service. Otherwise in the New Year you will find yourself as a ‘barman” -behind bars.

Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

requires them to read and write things that later go beforeamagistrate?

This is not advanced astrophysics This is not quantum mechanics. This is basicarithmetic:youcannot have a modern, efficient police force in 2025 if some ofitsmembersstrugglewith the multiplication table or believe that “statement” is renderedas“stayt-ment”.

Now,tobefair,thisisnot the first-time qualifications have taken a beating in this country

I am reminded of the latter days of the old PNC regime, when the minimum requirements for the public servicewerequietlylowered likealimbobaratadrunken wedding. What used to be five subjects including Maths and English—slowly trickled down to four, then three,then,ifrumouristobe believed, eventually to “just show up with a birth certificateandapartycard.” Itwasalldone,weweretold, to facilitate “inclusion,” which is political language for“weneededtohiresome friendsandsupporters.”

T h e r e s u l t w a s predictable: we ended up with sections of the public service populated by people who could not spell “public service” even if you spotted themthevowels.

But while a poorly staffed ministry may produce delayed letters, missing files, and an

inability to find a single functioningstaplerinatwostorey building, a poorly staffed police force can producesomethingfarmore catastrophic:chaos.Because policingisnotguesswork.It requires precision It requires clarity It requires, dare I say it, the ability to write a coherent witness statement without sending the prosecutor into cardiac distress.

Imagine a police rank that cannot calculate the speed of a vehicle, estimate distances, add up evidence logs,orspellthelocationofa crime scene correctly You cannot build a modern policing institution on numericalimprovisationand alphabetic gambling. You cannot tell a young constable, “Go take a statement,”onlytohavehim reply, “Boss, how you spell ‘statement’again?”

We live in a digital age an age of data, analytics, forensics, GPS, cybercrime units, crimemapping software. Modern policing is practically a marriage between law e n f o r c e m e n t a n d mathematics. And yet, here we supposedly have some ranks – how much no one knows for sure – treating basic literacy and numeracy asoptional.

The truth is harsh but unavoidable: A modern police force cannot function without every rank being

able to count properly and write clearly To pretend otherwise is to engage in nationalself-deception.

And so, I propose we treat this moment not as a scandal but as an intervention A turning point.Anationalepiphanyin which we collectively agree that mediocrity is not an acceptable qualification for publicservice.

Let us insist firmly, politely, neurotically—that the people we entrust with our safety should know the difference between a sentence and a fragment, between 30 kilometres per hour and 130, between “there, ” “their,” and “they’re,”andbetween“it’s” and “its”, especially when each one could determine whetheracasecollapsesora criminalwalkfree.

Because if we cannot rely on the literacy and numeracy of the people enforcingthelaw,thenwhat, exactly,canwerelyon?

Certainly not my tea, whichIamnowtoonervous todrink.

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

H@RD TRUTHS

Pres. Ali – one who surrenders self-respect

Many Guyanese chuckle at Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar total surrendertoUSpriorities The polite rolls their eyes; the caustic sees a leader belittling her nation, in kowtowing before the

relentless America juggernaut. I think that is a reasonable position, thoroughly justified, for the T&T PM has rolled herself

into a ball, relinquished the last vestiges of her selfrespect Regarding

Guyanese who see in PM Persad-Bissessar a leader of disturbing tendencies, they areadvisedtocasttheireyes homeward, and recognise what they have in their own leader

Hewasintherebeforethe TT's PM reached it A Guyaneseleaderwhohasbeen the biggest contributor in

makinghimselfintoaneffigy, a dartboard for derision When a man's self-respect means so little to him, then there are few who can respect him. Refer to the recently concluded Guyana electionsof2025. Theonly person,localorforeignwho twinned those elections as being“freeandfair”wasDr IrfaanAli,Guyana'sbudding baby strongman. The EU didn't. The Carter Center

didn't. TheOASdidn't. Not one of the Elections Observer Missions have touched the livewire of free andfair,todate.

The Commonwealth is waitedupon,butitwouldbea stunning development, if that group were to attest that Guyana'selections were 'free and fair', or approached that blue ribbon standard. Not one to be thrown off stride, especially by what is selfcongratulatory, Excellency

Alihasmanifestedamarked disregard for such handicaps, which he sees as mere hindrances that can be blown away by his verbal batteriesonfacts,truths,and Guyaneserealities.

InAli'smind,becausehe saystheelectionsfreeandfair, that's all that matters; they were free and fair, and the world can talk cheese, suck sand.

Hereisanotherinstanceof Dr IrfaanAlidoingcartwheels to avoid taking a courageous stand for the biggest, richest development in Guyana's history Among the few timesthatGuyana'snational sovereignty ever crosses Pres.Ali'slips,thelastdollar can be wagered that Venezuela's Nicholas Madurodidoneofhissaberrattling salsa war dances. Suddenly,Dr Aliremembers that Guyana is a sovereign nation,withallsacredrights enshrined, and every citizen summoned to stand in defense of territorial integrity A momentary

glimpseofwhatOneGuyana could look like-at least, in a crisis-isprovided. Outofthe next 100 times, it is safe to assert that 99 times he is pontificatingsolemnlyabout sanctity of contract, without a whiff of the sacred sovereignty of Guyana heard. Heforgetswhatmen and women died for, that special something called inviolable sanctity of sovereignty Sovereignty not bartered and subjugated for political profit, sovereignty that's not dressed up in sanctity of contract That's where Guyanaisstranded.

Is there anything that lowers a man respect for himself (and the respect of othersforhim)morethansuch an abandonment of the obligationduetohisplaceof birth? Whennotaword,not even a muscle, is raised in defense of what is best for theMotherland?

Next,saytoPres Alithat he and his government have relinquished any claims to transparency and he spirals intofrenzies The PPPGovt has been the most transparent government that Guyanahaseverseenorhad. The vital Oil Fund law was moved forward under the coverofdarkness,andwhen a considerable number of Guyanese were disengaged due to holiday celebrations. Yet,thepresidentinsiststhat that's transparency Operating in a cloak-anddagger manner, and only a

fine scholar such as Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali could define that as transparency What does it take to get a man to such a state? The results of a national census are hidden for three years, andthatqualifiesinDr Ali's book as transparency Access to information, as provided for by the law, is stymied, thwarted, delayed, dodged, and even denigrated, at times, and by Pres. Ali's Oxford don's r e c k o n i n g t h a t i s transparency. Either all of Guyananeedtobesubjectto aseriesofbrainscans,andif theypasswithflyingcolors, then I recommend the president as the next most fitting candidate to determinewhoisrightabout transparency If the presidentstillhadsomeselfrespect inside, that morsel may have been surrendered, too Last, Pres. Ali sold Guyanese on unity alongside transparencyinAugust,2020 In 2025, Guyana is more sharply,bitterlypolarised,but the president contends that's progress. Crossover'scount. If that's the measure of national unity, then presidential self-respect has gone abegging. I pity this brother (Theviewsexpressed in this article are those of the authoranddonotnecessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper)

ProfessorRandolphPersaud...

Frompage6

Assistant Director for the Centre for International and Security Studies, York University, Vice President and the elected president of the SIS, which is among the largest schools of international affairs in the world.

Professor Persaud has consultedwiththeU.S.State Department, Carnegie Corporation, the Council on ForeignRelations,Centrefor Strategic and International

Studies, the United Nations via the United Nations University, the World Bank on Bio-Diversity excellence at the University of Guyana, andwasaResearchFellowat the Institute of Advanced International Theory, University of Sussex. He previously served as an academic editor for Third World Quarterly and currentlysitsontheeditorial boardofthejournal.

The university said that ProfessorPersaudisawidely

published scholar with a significant international footprint. He has spoken at 37 universities including UCLA,JohnsHopkins,LSE, City University of London, University of Toronto, McMasterUniversity,andat universities in Japan, Korea, Italy, Taiwan, Sweden, Holland, and the UAE, amongothers.

“The University communitycongratulatesthe new Pro Chancellor The University looks forward to working with Prof. Persaud and the new University Council on the continued trajectory of the University of Guyana in achieving the University Blueprint's national focus on growth in science, technology, human problem solving and the provision of world class University education for the nation.”

interCaribbeanAirways launches inaugural flight at OgleAirport

interCaribbean Airways on Thursday launched its inaugural flight into the E u g e n e F C o r r e i a International Airport. In a statement posted on the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce's Facebook page, subject minister Susan Rodrigues said the inaugural flight “carries special meaningforGuyana.”

She highlighted that the aircraft, bearing the Golden Arrowhead and the “Spirit of Guyana” tagline, reflects

confidence in the country and the direction in which the aviation and tourism sectors continue to grow She further emphasised that this new connection deepens Guyana's link to the region, making it easier for people to travel for business, leisure, and family, while creating wider opportunities in tourism, trade,andinvestment. Minister Rodrigues reaffirmed the Government of Guyana's commitment to (Continued on page 16)

Manwhoinvaded HomeAffairsMinistry remandedtoprison

A48-year-oldmanwason Wednesday remanded to prison for breaking into the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centreandstealingfromthree persons.

Police in a statement said the man, identified as Neil Medas called 'Shoulders' was arrestedonMondayandmade his first court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates' CourtonWednesday Medas appeared before ActingChiefMagistrateFaith McGusty where he was charged with five counts of break-and-enter and larceny He pleaded guilty to all the chargesandwasremanded.

The matters were adjournedtoJanuary7,2026.

Medas broke into the ministry between 03:00h and 04:55h on Monday Police

reported that several electronic devices, including laptop computers, electronic tablets and digital cameras along with a quantity of personal property belonging to a staff member, were reported stolen from the building.

“Investigations revealed that sections of the ministry's middle and lower flats were ransacked.

A n e a s t e r n - s i d e washroom window on the

Ministers of Public Utilities and Aviation and Tourism Deodat Indar and Susan Rodrigues (respectively) join Chairman of interCaribbean Airways Lyndon Gardiner, Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Lt. Col. (Ret'd) Egbert Field, British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller and other officials for the cutting of the ribbon.

Charged: Neil Medas

lower flat was found open, indicating the point through which entry was believed to have been gained,” the police explained.

In a separate statement, the Home Affairs ministry related that the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage showed the suspect entering the building by pulling open the eastern washroom window and later moving about the middle flat carrying ablack,bulkytravellingbag.

The footage showed the suspectexitedthebuildingvia a fire escape on the northern side, before scaling the easternfencewiththebagand proceeding east along Croal Street.

Several stolen items were foundinhispossession.

A whopping 22% of Guyana's bilateral loans to support the national budget was supplied in 2024 by China. This is according to the 2025 International Debt Report published by the WorldBank.

The report presents data for 119 low and middleincome countries and Guyana (the only highincome country eligible for International Development

A s s o c i a t i o n [ I D A ] resources) reporting to the World Bank Debtor ReportingSystem.

“Twenty-four of these countries are classified as low-income, with per capita income of US$1,135 or below; 95 countries are classified as middle-income, with per capita income greater than US$1,135 and less than or equal to US$13,935; and one country, Guyana, is classified as high-income, with per capita income of

more than US$13,935,” the documentexplains.

Moreover, during the period, growth in the total externaldebtstockslowedto 1 1%, reaching US$8 9 trillion, after more than doublingthe2010level.

The World Bank Report highlights that “public debt

owed to multilateral creditors, an important source of concessional financing for (low- and middle-income countries) LMICs, increased 3 0 percent in 2024, to US$1.4 trillion.”

Meanwhile, it added “over the past decade the share of outstanding debt owed to bilateral creditors hasdecreased5.2percentage points, to 12.1% in 2024; by contrast, that of multilateral creditors has increased 4.9 percentagepointsto34.6%.”

bilateral loans supplied

– 2025 Int'l Debt Report

T h e Wo r l d B a n k accounted for US$463 1 billion, or 34.1 percent, of multilateral debt stock, f ollowed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at US$371.6 billion, or 27.3%.

The notable reduction of debt obligations to official bilateral creditors resulted from a combination of a

slowdown in new financing provided by these creditors and the implementation of d e b t r e s t r u c t u r i n g agreements and forgiveness operations.

In Guyana, the country's total external debt stock reached US$3.682 billion in 2024. The report points out that this equals 18% of exports and 23% of Gross NationalIncome(GNI).

With regards to debt service, the external debt stocks totaled 3% of exports and 4% of GNI with an average population of 831,000.

According to the report, China remained Guyana's

largest bilateral creditor, accounting for 22% of the country'stotalexternaldebt.

Some 39% of loans were provided by bilateral partners while 59% were supplied by multilateral creditors and 2% by “private”lenders. In 2024, Guyana's total public debt climbed to almost US$6B, after closing 2023 with a total public debt ofUS$4.5B.

Despite the worrying increase of debt, the government of Guyana ( G o G ) b e l i e v e s i t s borrowing portfolio is sustainable, given the increaseinearningsfromthe

83 women each receive $300,000 business grant through Human Services, Canada and IDB Partnership

Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindhya Persaud with one of the grantees (DPI)

DPI - The Ministry of Human Services and Social

Security, through a collaboration with the Government of Canada and t h e I n t e r- A m e r i c a n Development Bank (IDB), on Wednesday, supported 83 women with business grants to help them launch or expand their entrepreneurial pursuits These included persons from the Women's Innovation and Investment N e t w o r k ( W I I N ) programme, survivors of gender-based violence, and persons assisted by the Counter-Trafficking in PersonsUnit, Each woman received a $300,000 grant, totalling approximately $25 million. The distribution was held at the Guyana Women's

Leadership Institute

(GWLI), East Coast Demeraraandwasfacilitated through the Social Safety N e t s a n d G e n d e r Empowerment Programme, ensuring that women across varied backgrounds and in nine of the ten regions have the financial support needed to build sustainable and independentlivelihoods.

Delivering the feature address, Minister of Human

Services and Social Security

Dr Vindhya Persaud described the initiative as a transformational milestone, one that builds on months of intensive training under WIIN “We have not just trained you through WIIN in a particular skill. We have engagedwithyousothatyou can see how your skills can lead you to financial independence and stability You will understand what it meanstonotonlyputmoney into the business but to constantly reinvest it,” MinisterPersaudstated. She underscored the importanceofaccountability and sustainability as these women take the next step in their entrepreneurial journeys.

The minister also applauded the increasing number of women venturing into non-traditional fields such as construction, oil and gas services, logistics, technology, and other emergingsectors.

She said that this initiative introduces 83 additional women into Guyana's expanding network of female-owned businesses, (Continued on page 16)

Govt.lookingtoattractmore...

Frompage7

pronouncements and obviously attract more investment in the mining sector,”Bharratsaid.

The new data will help Guyana track mineral reserves, improve investor trust, and guide decisions to benefit communities nationwide. There are several gold operations across Guyana that are expected to start production

beforetheendofthedecade, joining the only large-scale gold producer in Guyana, ZijinMiningGroupCo.Ltd, a Chinese state-owned mining giant operating locally through its subsidiaryAGMInc. Kaieteur News had reported that there are five Canadianminingcompanies collectively controlling an estimated 15.5 million ounces of gold across

development.

Theseprojects,spanning across Guyana's mining regions, are progressing

, feasibility studies, and permitting. Many of the companies have praised Guyana's mining-friendly policies and are banking on these projects to drive substantial growth for their shareholders.

Putin offers ‘solidarity’ for Venezuelan people as tensions mount between

Maduro and US

WANTED

Job opening: Truck Driver, AC Technicians, Excavator and Skid Steer Operator. To apply send application via WhatsApp: 689-1111/ 6082114.

Sales Rep needed, ages 1830 years. Knowledge of vehicle model will be an asset. Contact: 619-1237.

Wanted , one night guard and one handyman . Call : 612-2125

Labourers to work on farm (wakenaam) contact : 6579237

Wanted : Carpenter , Mason , Labourer , Painter and Plumber . Call : 6834700/712-4700 .

1 transport officer , 2 human resource manager , 3 human resource officer . 4 executive assistant. Send your cv to synimed@gmail.com.

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

Wanted house lot to buy & land with unfinished building. We pay cash. Call: 216-0671 / 692-8464. Whataspp 622-0267.

VEHICLES FOR SALE

1 Honda CRV, includes TV,

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

VISA Application for USA, Canada, UK, ETA, ETC. Naturalisation guidance + application filling & Building Plans. Tel: 626-7040.

In need of healing , guidance , or a passive income boost? . Reach out today : 696-3030 / 620-6691

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed “solidarity with the Venezuelan people” on Thursday amid growing tensions between Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, and the Trump administration.

The Kremlin said in a statement that Putin spoke with Maduro by phone and reaffirmed his support for Venezuelan leader’s policy of “protecting national interests and sovereignty in the face of growing external pressure.”

The call comes a day after American forces seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, the latest tactic from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration to ramp up pressure on Maduro, who has been charged with narcoterrorism in the United States.

During testimony before Congress on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem linked the seizure of the vessel to the Trump administration’s anti-drug efforts in the region.

The U.S. has built up its largest military presence in

WANTED

One clerk for TSI Eccles office English 1, Maths 2 call 615-9132 or email application to techserigy@yahoo.com.

Driver must be able to assist in workshop at Eccles, age 23-50, Car/ Van licence. Call 615-9132.

Maid for East Bank area call 615-9132.

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

Painter and Electrician call 615-9132.

Buxton Friendship Gas station is hiring Supervisor, Western Union Rep, Cashier, manager & Pump attendant. Contact : 646-3117.

Vacancy exists for one general domestic. Please call: 704-5054

SALE FOR RENT

T RUCK TIRES 295/ 75R22.5 $40K EACH. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL/WHATSAPP: +592688-3201.

the region in decades and launched a series of deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats.

Maduro has insisted the real purpose of the U.S. military operations is to force him from office. Venezuela’s government said the tanker seizure “constitutes a blatant theft and an act of international piracy.”

The South American country’s government said that Putin had “categorically reaffirmed his support” for Maduro in their call.

It said in a statement that Putin had told Maduro that direct communication between Moscow and Caracas would “remain permanently open” and Russia would continue to support Venezuela “in its struggle to assert its sovereignty, international law, and peace throughout Latin America.”

Like his predecessor, the late President Hugo Chávez, Maduro has forged a close relationship with Russia, which has offered Venezuela help, ranging from coronavirus vaccines to the

design of a cryptocurrency. In 2018, it also briefly dispatched a pair of nuclear-capable Tu160 bombers to the airport outside Venezuela’s capital amid soaring Russia-U.S. tensions.

Last year, two Russian naval ships docked in the Venezuelan port of La Guaira after exercises in the Atlantic Ocean that Moscow said were to “show the flag” in remote, important regions.

In Belarus, authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, a Putin ally, met with the Venezuelan ambassador to Russia, Jesus Rafael Salazar Velázquez, on Thursday, for the second time in just over two weeks.

Details of what was discussed were not revealed, but Belarus’ state news agency Belta quoted Lukashenko as saying that the diplomat was expected to discuss “certain issues” with Maduro after their first meeting on Nov. 25 and to travel to Belarus again, so that they could reach “a

certain decision.”

During the November meeting, Lukashenko extended an invitation to Maduro to visit Belarus, and said that he would try and find the time to visit Venezuela, too.

Meanwhile, Aljazeera reported that the oil tanker seized off the coast of Venezuela will be taken to a United States port, according to White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Leavitt addressed a US military operation a day prior to take control of the tanker. She explained that the US intends to keep the oil on the vessel, despite protest from Venezuela.

“The vessel will go to a US port, and the United States does intend to seize the oil,” Leavitt told reporters, adding that the proper legal processes would be observed.

She did not rule out similar actions in future. Observers have called Tuesday’s tanker seizure an escalation in the US pressure campaign

against the government of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

“We’re not going to stand by and watch sanctioned vessels sail the seas with black-market oil, the proceeds of which will fuel narco-terrorism of rogue and illegitimate regimes around the world,” Leavitt said.

Washington has not officially identified the tanker, but British maritime risk firm Vanguard said the vessel appeared to be the crude carrier Skipper.

The tanker was sanctioned in 2022 for allegedly helping to transport oil for Iran’s Quds Force and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.

Caracas has called the seizure an act of “international piracy”.

The US has surged military assets to the Caribbean region in recent months, leading to speculation that the administration of President Donald Trump could be teeing up aggressive actions against Maduro.

InterCaribbean Airways launches inaugural flight...

From page 11 expanding regional and international connectivity. She noted that ongoing investments in airport development, new routes, and aviation partnerships ensure that Guyana remains accessible, competitive, and ready to welcome a growing number of visitors.

She added that this new service also builds on the government’s aviation partnership in Barbados, further strengthening Guyana’s presence across the region.

The ministry said that Thursday’s inaugural service demonstrates how the government’s efforts trans-

late into tangible benefits for citizens, the economy, and the continued growth of the tourism sector. Meanwhile, Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar in his address, said that Guyana’s ongoing economic boom continues to drive strong growth across the aviation sector, creating new opportunities for investment and expansion. He also commended interCaribbean Airways for employing Guyanese pilots and crew, noting that the airline is helping to inspire national pride by featuring the Golden Arrowhead on the tail of one of its aircraft.

83 women each receive $300,000 business grant...

From page 14 further strengthening gender equality, economic diversification, and women’s leadership nationwide.

“Every year, we host the largest women’s expo in Guyana, and what we are doing here is adding you to the more than 300 women who lead and own businesses,” Minister Persaud added.

Meanwhile, Country Representative of IDB in Guyana, Lorena Salazar, encouraged

the awardees to continue striving for success, noting that the grant has the potential to significantly impact not only their lives but also the well-being of their families.

“With business, you will help to improve the condition of your families, or more so, the entire ecosystem of your family, and this includes better health and education,” Salazar highlighted.

Also addressing the gathering was Tariq Williams,

Representative of the High Commissioner of Canada in Guyana, who emphasised that the partnership with the ministry and IDB continues to open pathways for women’s economic empowerment.

“We are extremely honoured to be part of this initiative to economically empower women through the provision of training.

Spacious , Furnished 900 SQ FT 1 bed/1 bath in Subryanville. Call: 624-2619/ 624-4636

Space to rent in Sandy Babb street Kitty. For More Information call : 610-8552 .

LAND FOR SALE

150 Acres coconut farm Pomeroon river. Tele: 6579237.

But we also recognised that training wasn’t enough and that it was necessary to provide capital in the form of business grants,” Williams said.

This collaborative effort marks another major step in strengthening women’s economic independence across Guyana, ensuring that more women have the tools, skills, and resources to build thriving businesses and secure brighter futures for themselves and their families.

PAHO supports Jamaica in the immediate deployment of mental health and psychosocial services after Hurricane Melissa

Hu r r i c a n e

Melissa has s e v e r e l y damaged health service infrastructure and disrupted life in Jamaica In the aftermath, thousands of displaced families, health workers, children, and people living with chronic illnesses continue to deal w i t h t h e s t o r m ' s psychosocial impacts: including acute stress, grief, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion.

With shelters operating at capacity and privacy in

short supply, early assessments show that people who lost their homes

or livelihoods are experiencing deep feelings

of helplessness and uncertainty Older adults, overwhelmed health workers, and people living with chronic illnesses are also struggling with fatigue and diminished coping abilities.

Inapressrelease,PAHO said for decades, Jamaica delivers mental health care through a community-based model integrated into its primary health system. The Ministry of Health & Wellness (MoHW) deploys mental health experts

( p s y c h i a t r i s t s , psychologists, and psychiatric nurses) to health centersacrosstheislandona weekly or biweekly basis. This rotation system allows peopletoaccesscarecloseto home - through outpatient mental health clinics, home visits, and mobile outreach teams - and ensures that individuals with severe conditions receive adequate andcontinuoussupport.This model normally provides broad, equitable coverage, with over 300 participating clinics.

According to posthurricane analysis, over 130 healthclinicsweredamaged, causing disruption in services. In Trelawny, for example, two of six mental health service sites became non-functional after the hurricane, while in St Elizabeth four of six centers stopped operationsdramatically reducing access to routine follow-up and medication continuity forpeoplelivingwithmental healthconditions.

As a result, urgent clinical and psychosocial risks emerged: people with severe mental illness who depend on regular treatment were suddenly at risk of disruptionandrelapse,while communitiesalreadycoping

with acute stress, grief, and anxiety faced even greater vulnerability in the hurricane's aftermath. “The devastation caused by HurricaneMelissahasledto widespread emotional distress and if it is not addressed in a coordinated way, we will miss people who require mental and psychological support,” explains Dr Kevin Goulbourne, Director of Mental Health Services for theMoWH.

Strengthening national coordination

ThePanamericanHealth Organisation (PAHO) immediatelyrespondedwith support to help Jamaica's Ministry of Health and Wellness (MoHW) organise a multilayered support system, reactivate critical services, and coordinate dozens of responding organisations.Justdaysafter the hurricane, the Ministry, supported by PAHO, conducted a 48-hour assessmentandactivatedthe National MHPSS Working Group, bringing together 14 organisations.

The group adapted and rolled out the WHO/PAHO 4Ws tool, a simple and effective way to identify gaps,understandchallenges, and map who was doing what and where in the early phaseofaresponse.Manyof the hardest-hit communities - St. Elizabeth, Trelawny, Westmoreland, and St James - experienced prolonged isolation due to blocked roads and damaged infrastructure. MoHW and PAHO mobilized 20 trained volunteers to deliver psychosocial support in shelters.

These interventions

integrate structured problem-solving counseling with key behavioral strategies to improve people's ability to cope and function Joined by the Jamaican Red Cross and CTECH, these teams reached approximately950peoplein the first two weeks, providing psychological first aid, stress-management techniques, and referrals whereneeded.

Simultaneously, PAHO, in collaboration with the MoHW and the University of the West Indies (UWI), launched a series of weekly face-to-face training sessions in Psychological First Aid (PFA) These sessions are complemented by the dissemination of comprehensive guidance materials designed to

PAHO/WHO/Just days after the hurricane, Jamaica's Ministry of Health, supported by PAHO, conducted an assessment and activated the National Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Working Group.

strengthentheMHPSSsurge response. Over 100 health sector workers have been trained thus far, including participants from the hardest-hitcommunities.

Supporting Jamaica's healthworkers

Health workers were among the most heavily affected by the hurricane, working under extreme stress while dealing with personal losses and displacement.

To support them, PAHO helped establish a weekly “Care for Carers” deploymentofmentalhealth professionals from the Southeast Regional Health Authority to the most affectedparishes.Bytheend ofthemonth,over200health workers from 11 health facilitieshadreceivedgroup or individual support sessions.

“ M a n y h e a l t h p r o f e s s i o n a l s a r e experiencing grief and loss, have lost their homes, and still feel compelled to continue working in emergency settings and provide services,” said MarcelloRorizdeQueiroz,a mental health expert with PAHOwhowasdeployedto Jamaica immediately after thehurricane.

With PAHO's support, the MoHW intensified mental health messaging through radio, social media, and printed materials. The campaigns promote positive coping strategies, counter misinformation,andconnect people to support services like the national Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Helpline and the UMatterChatline.

Regional psychiatrists were invited to join the Mental Health and

Psychosocial Support Working Group, updating them on evolving needs. Mobile mental health teams reestablished follow-up, home visits, and medication continuity in hard-to-reach communities, efforts crucial to reaching psychiatric patients whose treatment was interrupted by the hurricane.

“With PAHO's support, we have developed indic

d data collection sheets used by MHPSS providers to ensure we can record data for monitoring and evaluation. Withthisinformationwecan make adjustments to ensure

Goulbourneadded.

Next phase: Building capacity PAHO and MoHW are transitioningintothesecond phase of the MHPSS response, shifting from short-term emergency deployments toward longert

onal strengthening Priorities include expanding training for health workers on key

interventions, restoring and equipping mobile mental health outreach teams, institutionalising the Care for Carers programme, and optimising parish-level information systems to improve mental health supportservices.

“The next phase must prioritise consolidating and expanding these capacities through institutional mechanisms,” Roriz de Q u e i r o z a d v i s e d , highlighting the need to e

e d M H P S S p

d coordination into national structures to improve

e emergencies.

Winter storm rips through Gaza, exposing failure to deliver enough aid to territory

DEIR AL-BALAH,

Gaza Strip (AP) Rains drenched Gaza’s tent camps and dropping temperatures chilled Palestinians huddling inside them

Thursday as winter storm Byrondescendedonthewarbattered territory, showing how two months of a ceasefire have failed to sufficiently address the spiralinghumanitariancrisis there.

Families found their possessions and food supplies soaked inside their tents. Children’s sandaled feet disappeared under opaque brown water that flooded the camps, running knee deep in some places. Dirt roads turned to mud. Pilesofgarbageandsewage cascadedlikewaterfalls.

“Wehavebeendrowned. I don’t have clothes to wear and we have no mattresses left,” said Um Salman Abu Qenas,adisplacedmotherin a Khan Younis tent camp. She said that her family couldn’t sleep the night before, because of the water inthetent.

Aid groups say not enough shelter materials are getting into Gaza during the truce Figures recently released by Israel’s military suggest it hasn’t met the ceasefire stipulation of allowing 600 trucks of aid into Gaza a day, though Israeldisputesthatfinding.

“Cold,overcrowded,and unsanitary environments heighten the risk of illness and infection,” the U N agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said on X. “This suffering could be prevented by unhindered humanitarian aid, including medical support and proper

Palestinians cross a flooded street following heavy rain in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 (AP Photo/ Abdel Kareem Hana)

shelter.”

Rainswreakhavoc Sabreen Qudeeh, also in the Khan Younis camp, in a squalid area known as Muwasi,saidthatherfamily wokeuptorainleakingfrom theirtent’sceilingandwater from the street soaking their mattresses.

“My little daughters werescreaming,”shesaid.

Ahmad Abu Taha, also livinginthecamp,saidthere wasn’tatentthatescapedthe flooding “Conditions are very bad, we have old people, displaced, and sick peopleinsidethiscamp,”he said.

Floods in south-central Israel trapped more than a dozen people in their cars, accordingtoHebrewmedia.

Israel’s rescue services, MDA, said that two young girls were slightly injured when a tree fell on their school.

The contrasting scenes with Gaza made clear how

profoundlytheIsrael-Hamas war had damaged the territory, destroying the majority of homes. Gaza’s population of around 2 million is almost entirely displaced, and most people live in vast tent camps stretchingalongthecoast,or set up among the shells of damaged buildings without adequate flooding infrastructure and with cesspits dug near tents as toilets.

At least three buildings in Gaza City already damaged by Israeli bombardmentduringthewar partiallycollapsedunderthe rain, Palestinian Civil Defense said It warned people not to stay inside damaged buildings, saying they too could fall down on topofthem.

Theagencyalsosaidthat since the storm began, they have received more than 2,500 distress calls from people across Gaza whose

tents and shelters were damaged.

With buckets and mops, Palestinians laboriously scooped water out of their tents.

Aliaa Bahtiti said her 8year-old son “was soaked overnight, and in the morninghehadturnedblue, sleeping on water.” Her tent floorhadaninchofwateron it “We cannot buy food, covers, towels, or sheets to sleepon.”

Baraka Bhar was caring for her 3-month-old twins inside her tent as the rain poured outside. One of the twins has hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluids in the brain.

“Our tents are worn out ... and they leak rain water,” shesaid.“Weshouldnotlose ourchildrenthiswinter.”

Notenoughaid

AidgroupssaythatIsrael isn’t allowing enough aid intoGazatobeginrebuilding the territory after years of

war Under the agreement, Israelagreedtocomplywith aid stipulations from an earlier January truce, which specified that it allow 600 trucks of aid each day into Gaza,Itmaintainsit’sdoing so,butTheAssociatedPress found that some of its own figures call that into question.

The January truce also specified that Israel let in a number of caravans and tents. No caravans have yet entered Gaza during the ceasefire, said Tania Hary, executive director of Gisha, an Israeli group advocating for Palestinians’ right to freedomofmovement.

TheIsraelimilitarybody inchargeofcoordinatingaid toGaza,calledCOGAT,said on Dec. 9 it had “lately” let 260,000 tents and tarpaulins into Gaza and more than 1,500trucksofblanketsand warmclothing.

Shelter Cluster, an internationalcoalitionofaid providers led by the Norwegian Refugee Council, sets the number lower It says the U.N. and i n t e r n a t i o n a l n o n g o v e r n m e n t a l organizations have gotten 15,590tentsintoGazasince the truce began, and other countries have sent about 48,000. Many of the tents aren’t properly insulated, it says.

Amjad al-Shawa, Gaza chief of the Palestinian NGO Network, told Al Jazeera on Thursday that only a fraction of the 300,000 tents needed had entered Gaza He said that Palestinians were in dire need of warmer winter clothes and accused Israel of blocking the entry of water pumps to help clear floodedshelters..

“All international sides s h o u l d t a k e t h e responsibility regarding conditions in Gaza,” he said. “There is real danger for people in Gaza at all levels.”

Khaled Mashaal, a Hamas leader, said in an interview with Al Jazeera

that Gaza needs the rehabilitation of hospitals, the entry of heavy machinery to remove rubble, and the opening of theRafahcrossing which remains closed after Israel said last week it would shortlyopen

C O G AT d i d n ’ t immediately respond to a request for comment on the

claims that Israel wasn’t allowing water pumps or heavymachineryintoGaza AmnestyaccusesHamas ofcrimesagainsthumanity Amnesty International said in a report released Thursday that Hamas and other militant groups committed crimes against humanityintheOct.7,2023 attackonsouthernIsraelthat triggeredthewarinGaza.

In the 173-page report, Amnesty pointed to what it found to be widespread and systematic killing of civiliansintheattack,aswell as torture, hostage-taking andsexualabuse.

In the attack, Hamas fighters and other militants rampaged through southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 250 others hostage. Israel’s campaign in Gaza has since killed more than 70,300 Palestinians, roughly half of them women and children, according to the territory’s HealthMinistry,whichdoes not distinguish between militants and civilians in its count. Last year, Amnesty accusedIsraelofcommitting genocide in Gaza, a charge Israeldenied.

Amnesty said it conducted interviews with 70 people, including 17 survivors of the attack and family members of some of thosekilled.Italsoreviewed hundreds of open-source videos and photos from the dayoftheattack.

Contrary to Hamas claims it was targeting the military, it said, the attack was intentionally “directed against a civilian population” and met international law standards forcrimesagainsthumanity It said sexual assaults werealsocommitted,though it said it could not reach a conclusionontheir“scopeor scale.” It interviewed one man who testified he was raped by armed men at the Novamusicfestival,aswell as a therapist who said she providedintensivetreatment to three other survivors of rape.

Hamas condemned the report, saying it “echoed falseclaims”byIsrael.

Israeli Foreign Minister spokesperson Oren Marmorstein derided the report in a posting on X, sayingittookmorethantwo yearsforAmnestytoaddress theattack“andevennowits report falls far short of reflecting the full scope of Hamas’shorrificatrocities.”

Govt. looking to attract more investment in mining sector following completion of $4B mineral mapping project

The government expects Guyana's ongoing $4 billion mineral mapping project to positionthecountryforanew wave of mining investments once the first phase of data collection is completed next year This is according to Minister of Natural ResourcesVickramBharrat

Speakingonthesidelines of an event on Tuesday, Minister Bharrat reminded that Guyana's mineral inventory is dated between 40-50years

I n A u g u s t , t h e Government through the Ministry of Natural Resources and American company Global Venture Consultancysignedadealto conduct a comprehensive mineral mapping of the nation'smininghotspots The mineral mapping project is expected to be a multi-year endeavour, initially focusing on the Mazaruni, Potaro, Northwest, and Cuyuni miningdistricts.

Bharrat said, “I'm very pleased to say that we are at this stage where we are updating our mineral inventory, it hasn't been updated in a very long time, mainly because of the cost, the high cost of carrying out such a survey and updating

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

the mineral inventory Now thatwe'reinabetterposition as a country, and we have madesomecommitmentsin ourlowcarbondevelopment strategy, we are executing this now, which I'm very pleased It's going very good.”

Henoted,“Thecountryis now in a better position to move forward with this critical initiative, especially given its commitment to the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS),” the minister noted On the status of the project, the minister said the exercise is “advancingwell” The large-scale airborne geophysicalsurvey,launched in October, is gathering, processing and integrating new and legacy geological

dataacrossGuyana.

The goal is to build a detailed, modern mineral database that can support betterpolicydecisions,guide investment and ensure mining growth aligns with environmental commitments undertheLCDS

Minister Bharrat said preliminary feedback from the survey teams has been encouraging, even as the work remains in its early stages

“The initial data that we've received from the companies are the initial meetings that we've had to discuss the process of being very positive, but it's early stages as yet, they're still doingthosephysicalflyovers andcapturingthedata,which obviously have to be analyzed, and then process andprovideittous,”hesaid.

The minister explained that once the data is processed, the government expects to be able to make more definitive assessments on the country's mineral prospects including critical minerals such as lithium and copper The minister noted that Guyana's geology follows broader South Americantrends,makingthe potential for such finds

New Mabaruma Water Treatment Plant estimated to cost $2.8 billion

The Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) has set aside approximately $2.8 billion for the new water treatment facilities at Mabaruma, RegionOne.

Four contractors submitted bids for the project which entails the plant design, supply, i n s t a l l a t i o n a n d commissioning of the facility, the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office, GWI disclosed.

The contractors: Hi-Pro Ecologicos SA De CV (Mexico) – $2,599,000,069; D&R Construction and Machinery Rental$2,953,989,213; Prokaizec WaterCompanyInc.injoint venture with Zico Group of ServicesIncandProtecnosrl

and Kaizen Group Ingenieria S A S$7,020,650,900 67; and SinghandSonConstruction (No Form of Tender Page Seen ) The engineer's estimate for the project is $2,827,500,000.

The Guyana Water Inc.

had reported in November that a high-level technical team from its office conducted critical site visits i n M a b a r u m a a s preparations ramp up for major water infrastructure developmentintheregion. The primary goal of the

visit was to conduct a thorough analysis and discussion on the geographical layout and capacity of the area's water systems. Discussions were centered on identifying the mostreliablepotentialwater sources to feed the new treatmentplant.

GWI stated that the MabarumaWaterTreatment Plant is set to serve Central Mabaruma and its

plausible.

“So, we'll be in a better position sometime next year

surroundingcommunities.

“Thisplantisdesignedto fundamentally transform waterdeliveryinMabaruma by streamlining water qualityandfacilitatinga24hour supply to residents. Currently, Mabaruma relies onawatersystemthatlimits service to intermittent, sectional delivery. The treatment plant w

l consolidateandenhancethis system for consistent service,” the agency had explained.

Further, the water company said that the construction of this water treatment plant, alongside the development of new wells, signifies the government's unwavering commitment to expanding essential utilities and improving the daily lives of citizensineveryregion.

“GWI's proactive efforts inMabarumaunderscorethe dedication to building r o b u s t , m o d e r n infrastructure that ensures reliable, high-quality water service for all,” the agency noted.

I think the project runs until second or third quarter next year So,atthatpointintime,

we'll be in a very good positiontomakemore (Continuedonpage15)

New Zealand nose ahead against West Indies despite Tickner unavailability

W E L L I N G TO N , (Reuters) - Opener Devon Conway and debutant

Mitchell Hay struck halfcenturies to earn New Zealand a handy firstinnings lead of 73 before their depleted bowling attack reduced West Indies to 32 for two to take control of the second test in WellingtononThursday

HavingbowledoutWest Indiesfor205,NewZealand posted 278 before being all out in the final session on daytwoatBasinReserve.

West Indies wobbled in theirsecondinningsaswell Brandon King was batting on 15 with Kavem Hodge on three at the other end with the tourists still 41 behind

N

bowler Blair Tickner did not bat in the first innings, andwillnotbowlorfieldin thematchhavingdislocated hisshoulderwhiledivingto stop a

Wednesday

“I think there might be a couple of guys that are guttedtogetthestartandnot quitekickon,butIthink80-

Friday December 12, 2025

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Difficult predicaments could arise today if you try to exert your will over others without having the most honorable intentions, Aries. It could be that you're using someone else's fear of you to control himorher

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

The fire within you is raging today,Taurus,andyoushould becarefulhowyouwieldthis power Be proud and triumphant. Walk with your shouldersbackandheadhigh. Freedomisimportant.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

There may be a great deal of fuss over something that seems quite insignificant to you, Gemini. Try to see the beauty and importance of everythingaroundyou.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Thingsarecomingtoacritical point for you today, Cancer, and you may find that other people openly object to your actions. It's OK to be a bit selfish if the situation is appropriate.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Feelfreetospeakmoreloudly today, Leo. You'll find that things fall into place more easily if you speak your thoughts outwardly and directly in the presence of others. Bring your internal powerunderyourcontrol.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Youshouldbaskinaglorious splendortoday,Virgo.There's a great deal of power at your disposal.You'll find your ego ishealthy,charged,andready forthebattlefield.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Add more sunshine to your day, Libra. It may be time to stir up your inner passion and let it speak with greater confidencethanyouhavebeen lately Make sure you heal yourself by letting the people aroundyouhearyourtruth.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

You'llfindthatyoursparkcan easily turn potential energy into kinetic energy, Scorpio. Don'tunderestimatethepower of your words. Realize the profound impact they have on othersandtakeresponsibility

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Don't dwell on your fluctuating moods today, Sagittarius. Look at the larger trends and how positive elements are coming together inyourfavor

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Thisisyourdaytoshineinall your glory, Capricorn. There's noneedtoholdanythingback. You'll find that you have a great deal of love to share. Your heart is likely to go to extremes today in order to proveitslove.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)Trynottolosesightofyour own projects or desires, Aquarius. There's a great deal of power and manipulative energy in the air today that could throw you off course if youaren'tcareful.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Recharge today by getting outside and stretching your arms to the sky, Pisces. Be proud and courageous. You have the power to turn an unhealthy situation into a positiveone,

90leadandwegotthemtwo down already, so I think I’ll be happy with that,” New ZealandbowlerJacobDuffy said. Earlier, New Zealand captainTomLathamlosthis off stump to Kemar Roach afterthehostsresumedon22 but Conway and Kane Williamsonsteadiedtheship witha67-runstand.

Anderson Phillip (3-70) cleanbowledWilliamsonfor 37 and Roach removed Rachin Ravindra for five to put the pressure back on the hosts.

Hay, however, looked keen to capitalise on his test debut replacing Tom Blundell, who suffered a hamstring injury in the drawnseriesopener

Soon after bringing up his fifty, Hay hit Ojay Shields for back-to-back fours before pulling him straight to Roach at square leg. Hay’s 61 included nine foursandasix.

WestIndiesgotadoublereprieveearlyintheirsecond innings when opener Brandon King drove Duffy, who spilled the return catch and the deflected ball narrowly missed the stumps at the non-striker’s end with John Campbell well out of thecrease.

A much-relieved Campbell(14)celebratedby hitting Foulkes for three foursinthenextoverbefore shouldering arms to a delivery from debutant Michael Rae that crashed ontohisstumps.

AndersonPhillipwalked in as thenightwatchmanbut returned after a three-ball duck, pinged lbw by Duffy, who convinced his skipper

BanksDIHtopartnerwithUDFAfor4thChristmas

futsaltourney

- Drawing of fixtures today at 5.00pm at Community Hard Court

As clubs prepare for this year’s 4th annual

Banks DIH sponsored yearendfutsalchampionship,the drawingofthefixturestakes place this afternoon, as President of the Upper Demerara Football Association Wainwright Bethunesaidthetournament is more of a club-based programme,becausethereis no big field competition in Linden.

Bethune,theUDFA’stop football official stated: “It’s a club format tournament which will involve all the clubsthatareaffiliatedtothe UDFA, using futsal rules,” as he urged clubs to make theirbestplayersavailableto compete in this year’s tournament.

Each club has been encouragedtobringouttheir players and play to the best oftheirabilities.

“While we will not be

havingthebigfieldfootball, wehopetogetthesamekind ofenthusiasmlikewhenitis big field football,” Bethune toldthegathering.

Organising Secretary of the UDFA James Trotman said that the clubs will be involved in the drawing at 5.00pm at the Community HardCourtthisafternoonto determine the fixtures for this year’s competition, where club captains and managersareinvited.

Some fifteen clubs are targetedtocontestthisyear’s tournament, according to Trotman.

The tournament’s major sponsor once more will be beveragegiants,BanksDIH, and their Linden Branch Supervisor Omari Gordon stated, “Banks DIH always worktowardsgivingbackto the Linden community in any form possible. We are delighted that the UDFA asked us to be a part of this

prestigioustournamentonce again. For the last three years, Banks DIH and the UDFA have built a strong relationship and we will

work hand in hand to make this year’s tournament a success. Good luck to the teams and we look forward to discipline and successful

Carlos Adams donates three complete Golf Club sets to the Lusignan Golf Club

The festive season of goodwill has b r o u g h t a n especiallymeaningfulgiftto the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC), as celebrated Guyanese sportsman Carlos Adams has donated three full sets of golf clubs, each complete with putters, bags, and gloves, to support the c l u b ’s c o n t i n u e d

d e v e l o p m e n t a n d accessibility.

Adams, a multidisciplineathletewithalong and distinguished sporting career, said his contribution is rooted in gratitude and a desire to give back. “As a sportsman, someone who has been involved in sports for many years, I’ve always tried to make contributions. One such area was the sport of tennis, in which I represented Guyana. This time,Idecidedtocontribute to golf, a sport I truly love,” he noted “It is always meaningful to do something for your club and for the peoplewhocanbenefitfrom it.Theseclubscanberented by players, which in turn generates revenue for the LGC. They will also be helpfulforvisitorsandfirsttime players who may not have their own equipment.

That is why I felt I should givebacktotheclub.” Adams’love for sport is matched only by his competitive success. He is widely regarded as one of Guyana’s most versatile a t h l e t e s , h o l d i n g championship titles across several disciplines. In 2014, he dominated lawn tennis, capturing both the singles and doubles titles in the Over-35 and Over-45 categories. That same year, he made his mark in golf by

winning a major local title, the Macorp Open More recently, Adams recorded strong international performances, securing 4th placeintheSeniorCategory at the 2024 Suriname Open and improving to 3rd place in2025. His donation arrives at a strategic time for the LGC, which continues to expand its reach and strengthen its role as the home of golf in G u y a n a C l u b representatives expressed

gratitude for the gesture, noting that the equipment will support training, e n c o u r a g e n e w participation, and enhance theplayerexperienceduring tournamentsandcommunity engagements.

For many newcomers, access to quality equipment is a crucial first step toward discovering and embracing thesport.

Adams’ contribution reflects the broader spirit of Christmas, a season defined bygenerosity,commu nity,andupliftingothers. His gesture not only enhancestheclub’sofferings but also reinforces the importance of athletes giving back to the institutions that helped shapetheirjourneys.

The Lusignan Golf Club extended heartfelt thanks to Adams for his commitment to the sport and for continuing to champion its growth both locally and abroad.

Astheclubpreparesfora new year of tournaments, outreach, and development, gifts like these serve as timelyremindersthatoneact of generosity can have a lasting impact on an entire sportingcommunity

games.”

The tournament is to be played over seven days beginning Sunday, December 14, with the

semifinals set for December 29 and the final on New Year’snightJanuary1,2026, at the Community Hard Court,inLinden.

BMCO40T20semifinals setforSaturdayinBerbice

A double header is set for the Albion Ground in Berbice tomorrow, Saturday,whentheBigMan Cricket (BMC) Over-40 T20 tournament semifinals arestaged.Admissionisfree and he action starts from 12:30pm with the first semifinal featuring North

Soesdyke Masters battling VintageStrikers. Following at 5:00pm EverestMasterstanglewith Albion Masters in the second semifinal. Keen competitionisanticipatedin the day’s two encounters andfansareinvitedtocome outandsupport.

Williams, Grimmond among...

Frompage25

scores38*,24,12and3.

Essequibo’s Laurene Williams with scores of 35, 17 and 14 sealed the second leading run-scorers spot withanaggregateof56.

Another Berbician, Tiea Isaacssealedthetop3spotfor runs,endingwithatotalof49 runsoverallincludingabestof 47 DemeraraskipperKaysia Schultz copped the award for Most wickets with 13 scalps, returningfiguresof6-30,5-16 and2-25despiteherteamnot goingalltheway Withhauls of3-19,5-10,1-5and3-5togo along with 33 runs, Super50 MVP Plaffianna Millington showed her class in both departments while further establishing herself as one of the premiere spinners in the Caribbean

T20topperformers

Williamspickedupfrom where she left off in the Super50 to emerge as the leadingscorerintheshortest

format. The Essequibian scoredaclassy51*alongwith knocksof18,13and3which helpedherteamcreatehistory as maiden double champs Apart from Demerara’s Naomi Barkoye (56 runs 2nd place), it was Essequibo who dominated the batting charts with Shonette Belgrave scoring 55 runs to finish 3rd, whilepower-hitterAnnestecia Vanezula notched up 51 runs tolockdownthe4thspotasthe Cinderella County women outscoredthecompetition Tournament MVP award alsowenttoEssequibiancamp as Tramaine Marks finished with 8 wickets and 29 runs The all-rounder was also one of the key individual stars duringtheSuper50,scoring46 runstogowithher7wickets; thuscompletingback-to-back tournaments as one of few playerstofeatureinthetop5in both formats as well as both statistical categories (Clifton Ross)

Chess Federation hails government’s support in winning inaugural IGG title

President of the Guyana Chess Federation, Anand Ragunauth has commended his players for their hard work and for delivering for the first time, the Inter Guiana Games title Ragunauth who has been at the helm of the Federation, which is investing in growingthesport,expressed elation at winning this year athome.

”The Guyana Chess Federation was pleased to have chess as one of the eventsattheIGG2025.Our

athletestrainedwiththeaim of winning the tournament. We were happy to achieve ourgoalsasthiswasthefirst timewewereabletowin.We lookforwardtoretainingthis titlenextyearinSuriname.”

Ragunauth also singled out the Government of Guyana,MinistryofCulture, Youth and Sport (MCYS) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) for the strategicrolestheyplayedin ensuring the games were hosted here and the support offered to his federation

which enabled them to deliverthetitle.

Guyana placed first ahead of Suriname in the overall standings with French Guiana third. The open tournament saw Guyana taking gold with Suriname silver and French Guiana bronze. In the girl’s segment, Suriname won aheadofGuyanaandFrench Guianainthatorder

Kyle Couchman, CM Sachin Pitamber, Micaiah Enoe, andAlexander Zhang copped gold medals for

GCF President Anand Ragunauth and the winning IGG team display the silverware.

GuyaneseyouthsofftoCentralAmerican andCaribbeanYouthChessFestival

Pegasus Suites & Corporate Centre sponsorship secured for two athletes

Nine young chess playerswillbeheadingoffto Puerto Rico to compete in the 20th Central American andCaribbean(CAC)Youth Chess Festival in the city of Dorado. The competition, a collaboration between the Puerto Rican Chess Federation (FAPR) and the Confederation of Chess for the Americas (CCA), is scheduledtotakeplacefrom December14thtoDecember 21st,2025.

This event, now in its twentieth edition, is a celebration of the young talent within the region and provides a valuable opportunity to continue strengtheningthebondsthat unite the chess community All member federations within the Caribbean and Central America are invited to participate in the U-8, U12, U-14, U-16, and U-18 Absolute and Girls Categories.

Guyana will be represented by the talented youths of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) in the various categories. National Junior Chess Champion: KyleCouchmanintheU-18 Absolute Category, Ciel Clement in the U-18 Girls, National U-16 Champion: CM Sachin Pitamber in the U-16 Absolute, National Women’s Champion: WCM Aditi Joshi - U16 Girls, National U-14 Girls’ Champion Emma John - U14 Girls, National U-14 Open Champion Nicholas Zhang- U-14 Absolute,

National U-12 Open ChampionAbelFernandez-

U-12

Absolute, National U12GirlsChampionKataleya Sam- U-12 Girls, and Vir NarinewillplayintheU-10 AbsoluteCategory

In addition, two of these playershavebeensponsored by the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre, through the Pegasus Chess Club and its new Pegasus Youth Development Programme (PYDP).

Kyle Couchman and Aditi Joshi are now ambassadors of the Pegasus Chess Club and part of the upcoming PYDP initiative which will formally launch in2026.

The two youths have o f f i c i a l l y s i g n e d sponsorship agreements with Pegasus Suites and CorporateCentreandwillbe provided support for travel andcompetitionreadiness.

Couchman, age 16, is one of Guyana’s strongest risingcompetitorsandisthe 2025 National Junior Chess

Champion He holds a career-high ELO rating of 2004,placinghimamongthe top youth players in the country, while Joshi is Guyana’s top female chess performer and holds the distinguishedtitleofWoman Candidate Master (WCM) and National Women’s Championfor2025 Aditihas earned national and regional recognition for her strategic maturity, composure, and strong performances against elitecompetition

“Pegasus is deeply committedtothegrowthand development of young Guyanese talent. Kyle and Aditi have demonstrated exceptional discipline, integrity, and competitive excellence.Wearehonoured to support their journeys as they continue to represent Guyana at the highest levels,”saidBrandonBadal, Director of Pegasus Suites andCorporateCenter

“PYDP will play a key

role in creating more opportunities for youth across multiple fields, and this sponsorship is the first step in that mission. This initiative also provides a streamlined approach for domestic and international companies to exercise their CSR,andweencourageany organisation that wishes to getinvolvedtocontactus.”

The GCF is pleased to have the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre on board as a sponsor for the two young chess talents and hopes that more companies can recognise the need for sponsorship of other rising talents within the chess federation.

TheGuyanateamwillbe accompanied by a few parents, with Mrs Tanya Clement as Head of Delegation.TheGCFwishes the team a safe and successful trip as they continue to grow and developintheirchesscareer

Guyanaintheopencategory while the silver medals amongst the girls, were snaredbyWCMAditiJoshi, Ciel Clement, Maliha Rajkumar, and Italy TonChung. The Guyana Chess Federation was responsible for ensuring the smooth and fair application of FIDE regulations throughout the competition and their professionalism was instrumental in maintaining theintegrityofthegames.

2025GCBSeniorWomen’sT20 /50-OversInter-countytournaments Williams, Grimmond among leading performers as Women wrap up fruitful season

-Millington,MarkscopMVPawards Essequibo all-rounder Tramaine Marks was named MVP of the T20 series.

Following an end to one of the more exciting senior women’s inter-county seasons in recent years, Essequibo finished not only with both titles but with the majority of the individual awards. Due to weather mostly, the women had their fun interrupted on multiple occasions but still managed to put on an entertaining schedule, most notably the T20final. Althoughafewmatches never got going in terms of tonsofrunsbeingscoredby either team consistently, the women managed to pull off featsofprofessionalismand class to make every

encounterentertaininginits ownright.

The Hinterland Women, who had their first taste of Inter-county action against some of the country/ Caribbean’s top talents and while their debut was more of a baptism by fire, the learning process coupled with a glimpse of potential meansthesky’sthelimitfor theladies.

Super50topperformers

Leading with the most runs In the Super50 leg of the tournament, honours went to Berbice skipper Sheneta Grimmond who scored 77 runs overall with anaverageof38.5;with

(Continuedonpage24)

One Guyana/K&S President’s Futsal Championship, Schoolboy’s segment

New Central High, South Ruimveldt, St. John’s and Charlestown secure wins on day 2

Play in the inaugural schoolboy’s tournament of thethirdOneGuyana/Kashif & Shanghai Presidents Futsal Championship will continue today, Friday, December12withfourmore matchesfrom10:00hrsatthe Cliff Anderson Sports Hall located on Homestretch AvenueinGeorgetown.

Annandale will face Brickdam in the opener followed by Vreed-en-Hoop against Dolphin, Lodge engaging North Ruimveldt andSt.Stanislauscompeting against Hope Secondary as round-robinplaycontinues.

Yesterday, four more teams recorded wins, the largest margin of victory recordedinthefinalmatchof the day when New Central High trounced Bishops High, 6-0. This match also saw the fastest goals scored, bytheendofthefirstminute, Central was already up 2-0, Caedon Michael scoring on the first run down followed by another strike from Danger Michael within seconds.

Bishops played with heart in this inaugural tournament but were no matchforNewCentralHigh as the winners, controlled playwithease.

Michael completed a brace in the match when he fired home again in the 3rd minute Trevor Gordon

Trans GuyanaAirways signs on as latest sponsorof KFC Int’l Goodwill FootballTournament

accounted for the next three goals which were scored in the 6th, 10th and 16th minute.

SouthRuimveldtwere31 victors, over VYC Academyledbyadoubleoff thebootofObediahMunroe whofoundthebackofthenet in the 4th and 11th minute. His teammate, Devonte Gaime accounted for the othergoalinthe7thminute.

VYC’sconsolationgoalwas scoredbyCasmirThomasin the14thminute. Later on, Charlestown edged West Minster 2-1, thankstogoalsfromDequan

Hetsberger(4th)andColwin Kissoon (20th) West Minster played well and if they had put away the chances created, the result could have been different. Their consolation goal was nettedbyKeandreCarrinthe 15thminute.

Thursday’s opening matchsawSt.John’sCollege coastingtoa4-1winoverSt. Joseph’sHighonaccountof twogoalsapiecefromJasiah Nedd(2nd,23rd)andAkeem Stephens(4th,20th)withSt. Joseph’s lone strike coming in the 22nd minute from LaurelGeorge.

Th e P e t r a Organisation, in

collaboration with KFC Guyana, yesterday unveiled a newly constructed, state-of-the-art spectator pavilion at the Ministry of Education Ground.

During a brief ribboncutting ceremony, officials fromthePetraOrganisation, along with KFC Guyana’s Franchise CEO, Paul Subryan, formally opened

the brand-new KFC Grandstand, a modern facility designed to comfortably accommodate 420spectators.

The Ministry of Education Ground, which regularlyhostsmajorschool and national football

tournaments, will put the n

welcomesteamsandfansfor the KFC International Secondary School Football Championship, kicking off onSunday,December14. The ceremony drew attendance from a wide c

stakeholders, including c

p

Ministry officials, Members o

P

, KFC executives, and members of the public The event featuredofficialremarks,the ribbon-cutting,andaguided walkthrough of the newly completedstructure.

Petra Co-Director Troy Mendonca described the

growing list of corporate partners backing this year’s Petra-o

International Secondary Schools Goodwill Football Tournament. The airline’s support was confirmed yesterday during a simple handover ceremony at its lounge at the Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle.

Asthetournament’sofficialairline,Trans Guyana Airways will provide crucial logistical support for teams travelling into Georgetownforthesixthannualcompetition. This sponsorship significantly eases the financial burden associated with hosting the expanded2025edition.

The tournament kicks off on Sunday, December 14, and will feature eight schools from across the region Guyana’s representatives include defending champions Chase’s Academic Foundation, WestRuimveldtSecondary(runner-upofthe RBLU18FootballLeague)andRegionNine powerhouseAnnai Secondary They will be joined by St Benedict’s College of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica’s Kingston College, Anglican Central Educational Authority of TheBahamas,NickerieTechnicalInstituteof Suriname,andJoseVieraDeSalesGuerraof Brazil.

Speaking at the presentation, Petra Co-

Deputy CEO at the Ministry of Education, Marti DeSouza, Paul Subryan, GEO KFC participating in the first official tour of the KFC Grand stand.

rans

Guyana Airways’ continued partnership.

“The Petra Organisation is once again pleasedtoacceptsupportfromTransGuyana Airways. Since we started bringing teams fromRegionsSevenandNine,TransGuyana hasbeentheretoassist.Thistimearound,we are bringing a team from Brazil, and we are extremely grateful for this extended support,”Mendoncasaid.

Commercial Operations Officer Pooja Jagrooexpressedtheairline’senthusiasmfor beinginvolvedintheregion’spremierschool football showcase. “We at Trans Guyana Airways are happy to be part of the sixth AnnualKFCInternationalGoodwillFootball Tournament,” Jagroo noted. “We’ve had the privilegeofwatchingthetournament’svision unfold over the years. It continues to grow, and we’re pleased to support its successful hosting.”

MatcheswillrunfromDecember14to21 at the Ministry of Education Complex ground. With the addition of teams from Brazil and The Bahamas, this year’s tournament is poised to be the largest and mostcompetitivetodate.

Trans Guyana Airways’ involvement underscoresitsongoingcommitmenttolocal sports and community development initiatives.

PetraunveilsnewlycommissionedKFCGrandStandatMoEground

pavilionasthefulfillmentof a dream more than a decade inthemaking.

“Parents and visiting teamswillnolongerhaveto

crowdundersmalltentsthat offer little protection during heavy rainfall,” Mendonca noted “Thanks to the continued support of our longstanding partner, KFC, we now have a modern, comfortableseatingareathat will elevate the viewing experienceatourevents.”

He expressed deep appreciation to KFC for helping deliver the venue’s first-ever permanent spectator stand “Though time was against us, with construction starting on October 20, we are proud to present this pavilion today What began as a simple conversationhasgrowninto a meaningful investment in s p o r t a n d y o u t h development KFC has

supported Petra for over six years, and we are thrilled to u n v e i l t h e K F C Grandstand.”

KFC Guyana CEO Paul Subryan reaffirmed the company’s commitment to national development through sports and communityengagement.

“This is an important milestone for us,” Subryan said “Despite being in Guyana for just nine years, KFC has built a culture of r e c o g n i t i o n a n d contribution. Projects like thisreflectourdedicationto sports and the arts. We are immensely grateful for the support we receive across the country, and we will continue to give back in meaningfulways.”

In his closing remarks, Subryan officially declared the facility open. “Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you this magnificent structure one that will positively impact lives and help propel sport in Guyana forward. According to him, “the KFC Grandstand will enhance the overall experience both on and off thefield.”

Petra’s head also extended heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, the Minister of Culture Youth and Sports, CharlesRamson,Directorof Sports Steve Ninvalle, KFC Guyana Franchise and all those who make this initiativeareality

One Guyana Inter-Region Inter-Re

Ten10 Softball Cricket Crick

Cup Playoffs Postponed P

The playoffs in the

One Guyana

Inter-Region Ten10 Cricket Softball Cricket Cup, which was slated to play on the 14th December, has been postponed due to the inclementweather

According to the organisers the playoffs will now take place in January 2026 and will see the regional winners vying for the championship in both maleandfemalecategories.

T h e o r g a n i s e r s expressed their apologies for the inconvenience caused and urged the teams to stay focused and continue to practice so that they can put their best intotheplayoffs.

In a recent regional playoff in region 2, QueenstownAriel walked away as the regional winner after they

defeated Riverstown AnnadaleYouthandSports Club (RAYS) in the semifinals and CA Stars in the final.

In the semi-final, RAYS won the toss and sent in Queenstown Ariel tobat Arielmade140for 3intheirallotted10overs with Franky Satrohan top

scoring with 95. Arif Singh pickedup2for22.

In reply RAYS made 85 for 6 off 10 overs with Niel Kumar scoring 24 and Arif Singh 20 Joel Innis picked up 2 for 16, Brian Manager 1 for4and JoshInnis1for21.

In the final, Ariel batted first and made 197 for 3 with Satnarine scoring 125 off 30 balls with 19 sixes and 1 four, and Mangar 54 Bowling for CA Stars T Khemraj pickedup2for22.

In reply CA Stars made 152 for 4 off their 10 overs with S Persaud scoring 69 off 24 balls and D Grosvenor 30 off 14 balls Josh Innis pickedup1for16.

Arielwonby45runs Name Brand of region 6 and Blairmont Cricket Club of region 5 have booked their places as regional champions and will represent their region intheplayoffs.

In the final over in Region 6, Name Brand got thebetterofChaseXI. ChaseXImade120for6 off their allotted overs, with J.Ronaldtopscoringwith26 and N. Chase 13. C. Tinga picked up 2 for 29 and T

Dyal1for15.Inreply,Name Brand scored 121 for 4 off their allotted overs with Navin top scoring with 50 and Dyal with 37 R Doodnauth picked up 2 for 24,andFineman2for28.