The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce on Monday hosted a kite-making workshop at the ‘C’ Field, Sophia Multipurpose Building. Catering to children aged 8–14, the two-day government initiative encourages creativity, community spirit, and the celebration of tradition and culture ahead of the Easter holiday.Tourism Minister, Susan Rodrigues was on hand at the opening day of workshop.
FormerPresidentof S u r i n a m e Chandrikapersad Santokhi, who governed from 2020 to 2025, died suddenly on Monday at the age of 67, his successor and the South American country’s current president said.
“His many years of service in various public officeswillberemembered,” President Jennifer Simons saidinastatementsharedon social media. A cause of death was not immediately given.Santokhi,chairmanof Suriname’s Progressive Reform Party, left office
afterlastyear’selections.He wonmorevotesasamember of parliament than any other lawmaker, but his party finished closely behind S i m o n s ’ N a t i o n a l DemocraticParty,whichled to a coalition deal to install Simonsaspresident.
Suriname’s president is elected indirectly, requiring thevotesoftwo-thirdsofthe members of the National Assembly
As president, Santokhi implemented a series of painful reform measures backed by the International Monetary Fund. Opponents saidhedidnotdoenoughto
protect the poorer and vulnerablesectorsofsociety Santokhi told lawmakers in July that he took responsibility for his shortcomings and hoped he wouldberememberedforhis commitment. After leaving the presidency, Santokhi continued to serve as a member of parliament.As a former police commissioner andlater,asjusticeminister, Santokhi investigated the 1982 killing of 15 leading government critics, and pushed for the case to move ahead.
President Irfaan Ali hailed Santokhi as “a fine
statesman” noting that he was voice of wisdom. “On behalf of the Government and people of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and on my own behalf, I offer our deepest condolences to the Government and people of Suriname, and to the family of the late former President.
Former President Santokhi was a brother forged not by blood but by conviction, not by birth but by the shared callingofservice.Duringhis tenure as President, we walked a path together— leaders who understood that the destiny of our nations is
wovenfromthesamecloth.”
“We were brothers in regionalism, standing shoulder to shoulder in the councils of CARICOM, labouringinthevineyardsof unity when the harvest seemeddistant,andthework washard.Wewerefriendsin the advancement of our shared global interests, raising our voices together on matters of principle.And in the quiet spaces between formal engagements, we were simply two men who hadcometotrustoneanother and to understand one another,”PresidentAlisaid.
HesaidunderSantokhi’s
steady guidance, the relationship between Guyana and Suriname blossomed. “He understood, as I do, that the river which divides us also connects us, that our histories are intertwined, and that the prosperity of one cannot be separated from the prosperity of the other The region has lost a fine statesman, one who carried themantleofleadershipwith grace and humility Guyana has lost a friend, one who gave of himself freely and withoutpretence. Ihavelost a friend, someone whose presence in this world made the burdens of leadership lighter and the triumphs sweeter.”
“To the Government and people of Suriname, I say that your former President was a man of quiet strength. He served you with dedication and conviction. May his memory be a blessing that sustains you in thedaysahead.Tohisfamily, I extend my most heartfelt condolences. May you find solaceinthelegacyheleaves
behind. And may the love thatsurroundedhiminlifebe acomforttoyouinthishour ofloss.Thesunsetsnowona life well lived. But for those ofuswhowereprivilegedto walkalongsidehim,thelight of his example, his friendship, and his brotherhood will not fade. It will remain a quiet glow in thememory,agentlewarmth in the heart,” the President said.
Caricomsaddened T h e C a r i b b e a n Community in a statement said it is deeply saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of Santokhi, who servedastheninthPresident of the Republic of Suriname from 2020 to 2025. “The formerPresidentrepresented his country with distinction in the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community serving as Chairman from July to December 2022 During the Forty-Third Regular Meeting of the Conference in Paramaribo, President Santokhi dealt decisively with matters related to the expansion of the list of professions to be included for the skills certificate under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), the action to be taken by the Community in relation to Haitiandthedevelopmentof the CARICOM Industrial Policyamongothers.
TheCommunityconveys heartfelt condolences to the Government and People of the Republic of Suriname, his wife and other members ofhisfamilyandhispolitical colleagues. The Community haslostadedicated
Continued on page 16
The United States Embassy in Guyana is working to eliminate double taxation for American companies operating here This is according to U S Ambassador,NicoleTheriot.
S p e a k i n g o n
NewsSource interview programme- SOURCES with journalist Svetlana Marshall, the Ambassador disclosed that one of the complaints the embassy
receives from American companies operating in Guyana is having to pay taxestwice–onceinGuyana andthenintheUnitesStates.
“We do not have a bilateral tax treaty That is something that my office, my embassy here, has been working very closely with Washingtonon.We’retrying to convince them that this would be useful. Because, you know obviously, if
you’re a U.S. company, you don’t want to have to pay taxes both in Guyana and in the United States That’s patentlyunfair,”shesaid.
Theriot outlined that American companies are expanding rapidly across severalsectorsinGuyanabut noted that the absence of a bilateral tax treaty with Guyana is a key concern for investors.
“Sowehavesomemajor
A66-year-old pensioner from B l a i r m o n t Settlement, West Bank Berbice, is struggling to come to terms with a harrowing home invasion duringwhichamansheonce trustedforconstructionwork
allegedly held her at knifepoint and attempted to rapeher
The woman, who lives alone in her two-storey home, recounted that the terrifying ordeal unfolded late Friday night, at around 23:20 hrs , after she was startled by her dogs barking
downstairs Initially dismissing the disturbance as noise from a nearby neighbour, she returned to bed only to be jolted moments later by a chilling encounter
“About two to three minutesafter,Ijustfeelawet handonmyfaceandaknife at my neck, and he tell me, ‘don’tmakeasound…don’t shout…orIgonboreyuh,’” the visibly shaken woman recalled.
The voice, she said, was immediatelyrecognisable.It belonged to a construction workerinhislate20swhom she had hired for about a monthtobuildherfence.As he stood partially illuminatedbylightfiltering into the darkened room, she confirmedhisidentityashis facewasuncovered.
What followed was a desperate and prolonged struggle, as the pensioner clutched the hand holding theknifewhilepleadingwith him to leave She offered him the small sum of cash
s h e h a d o n h a n d , approximately $4,000, but herefused.
“I tell he take the money…hesay,‘putitback,
nah bother with that.’ So I ask he, ‘what you really come for?Yuh come to rape me?’”
Accordingtothewoman, the suspect then suggested they have a “nice time,” assuring her he would not harm her Despite her repeated objections, he reportedly undressed himself and then forcibly stripped her, proceeding to fondle and kiss her while warninghertoremainsilent.
The traumatic encounter lastedmorethananhour
“He tell me, ‘for a big woman, yuh keep yuhself good,’andhekissingmeand touchingme…Ikeeptelling he stop,” she said. The man allegedly attempted to rape her but was unsuccessful, becoming frustrated in the process. He then proposed a secret arrangement, suggesting he visit her w e e k l y f o r s e x u a l encounters. Fearing for her life, the woman said she pretendedtoagreeinorderto gethimtoleave.
After exiting the house, the suspect instructed her to returntoherroom.Onceshe wascertainhehadgone,the pensioner raised an alarm, alerting neighbours who quickly mobilised and searched the area, armed withcutlasses.However,the suspecthadalreadyfled.
The matter was reported to the Blairmont Police Station early Saturday morning, and the suspect was subsequently arrested. Heremainsinpolicecustody as investigations continue The woman, a lifelong resident of the community and a mother of three, said
violation,evenwhenleaving her home unattended A widowforthepast14years, sheisnowgrapplingwiththe emotional aftermath of the attack.
“He never show me no sign… he used to come and do he work normal,” she said, still trying to process thebetrayal.
U.S.companieswhoarenow engaged in Guyana in the construction infrastructure sector, in the agriculture sector There is a U S company that recently signed a contract to come here and build a data center So you name it, U S companiesareinterestedinit here in Guyana, ” she explained.
The American envoy furthernoted,“Inallhonesty, yes.Everycountryhasissues of this nature. And because Guyanahasrecentlybecome a popular destination for U.S. investment, I think that it’s natural that there will be areas where they need to revisit Guyana needs to revisit its laws and regulations.”
Guyana currently has double taxation agreements with Canada, the United Kingdom, CARICOM and the United Arab Emirates, but not with the United States Instead, the two countries have a Tax Information Exchange Agreement,whichallowsfor the sharing of financial information but does not addressdoubletaxation.
In an invited comment, localaccountantChristopher Ram explained that such agreements are designed to prevent the same income from being taxed twice, while maintaining the principlethattaxesshouldbe paidwhereincomeisearned.
“If they succeed in gettingatreaty,thenitwillbe taxed in Guyana but not in America Similarly, if our business people go and America, Canada, and we earnincome,wepayincome there,”hesaid.
Ram added that while a treaty could bring benefits, particularly for cross-border investment, the terms would
disadvantagingGuyana.“So it can also work to our
conditions must be good The old-fashioned double taxationtreatyisadangerto countries like ours There was a recent case where Trinidad lost big time, because of a backward double taxation treaty,” he added.
However,henoted,“Any suggestionbyanyAmerican officialthatincomeearnedin Guyana by an American companyshouldnotbetaxed in Guyana must be totally rejected.”
PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.
Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456
Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS
Tel:225-8465,225-8491. Fax:225-8473,226-8210
Saturday’s flooding across Georgetown was not just theresultofheavyrainfall,itwasadamningindictmentof chronicmismanagement.
After nearly 24 hours of intense rain, streets were submerged, but the real culprit lay in clogged drains, debris-choked trenches, and a system that simply failed. Warningshadalreadybeenissuedaboutdaysofsustained rainfall, yet the city appeared predictably unprepared. Residentswereleftwadingthroughstagnantwater,raising health concerns and disrupting livelihoods—an all-toofamiliarsceneinacapitalthatshouldknowbetter
This is not an act of nature alone; it is administrative negligence. Georgetown cannot continue to flood every time the skies open. Until drainage infrastructure is modernised and maintenance treated as a priority, not a photoopportunity,thecitywillremaintrappedinacycleof avoidabledisaster
Yet, while much of the blame rightly falls on the authorities, it would be incomplete and unfair not to examine the role of citizens in perpetuating this crisis. Across the city, drains and canals are routinely used as dumping grounds for household waste, plastic bottles, Styrofoamcontainers,andevenbulkyrefuse.Theseitems donotdisappear;theyaccumulate,formingblockagesthat cripplethealreadyfragiledrainagesystem.Whentherains come,thewaterhasnowheretogo.
Civic responsibility cannot be optional. A city’s infrastructure is only as effective as the behaviour of the people it serves. No amount of government intervention cancompensateforapopulationthattreatspublicspacesas personal dumping sites. Proper waste disposal must become a shared national ethic, reinforced not only by public education campaigns but by strict enforcement of anti-litteringlaws.Finesandpenalties,thoughunpopular, maybenecessarytoinstilldisciplinewhereappealstocivic pridehavefailed.
Atthesametime,itwouldbedisingenuoustoplacethe burdensolelyoncitizenswhentheinstitutionsresponsible for maintaining the city are themselves constrained and under-resourced. Georgetown’s municipal government has, for years, been operating with outdated revenue structures.Ratesandtaxeshaveremainedlargelystagnant despite rising costs, expanding urban demands and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events. A city strapped for cash cannot be expected to deliver modern drainage solutions or sustain the level of maintenance requiredtopreventflooding.
Thisfinancialstagnationisnotmerelyalocalissue;it reflects a broader policy failure at the national level. The reluctanceorrefusaltoallowthecitytoadjustitsrevenue mechanisms has effectively tied its hands. Infrastructure upgrades, the acquisition of modern equipment, and the hiring of adequate personnel all require funding.Without it,eventhemostwell-intentionedplansremainunrealised.
Theresultisaviciouscycle:inadequatefundingleads to poor maintenance, poor maintenance exacerbates flooding, and flooding further strains already limited resources. Breaking this cycle will require political will andarecognitionthaturbanresilienceisnotoptional,itis essential.Allowingmunicipalities,theautonomytorevise rates and taxes, within reasonable and transparent frameworks, is a necessary step toward financial sustainability Moreover, accountability must accompany anyincreaseinrevenue.Citizensaremorelikelytoaccept higher rates if they see tangible improvements: cleaner drains,functionalpumps,andacitythatdoesnotgrindtoa halt after a few hours of rain.Transparency in how funds areallocatedandspentwillbecriticalinrebuildingpublic trust.ThefloodinginGeorgetownshouldserveasawakeupcall,notjustamomentoffrustrationthatfadeswhenthe
OurUnionhastakennote of an article titled “AliTells GAWU Sugar Is Vital—But DataShowIndustryinDeep Trouble” published by the Village Voice on March 28, 2026. A cursory review of the article reveals that it seeks to embrace the same worn-out, tired explanations aboutthesugarindustrythat have been advanced time andagain.
Thoserationaleswemust addhavebeendebunked,yet theeditorshipandthosewho mayguideandinfluencethe ‘news’ entity, journalism, continuetopublishdistorted facts, undoubtedly aimed to justify what clearly was a sordid attempt to punish thousands of Guyanese sugar workers, their families, their communities andanentireindustry.
Thearticlehighlightsthe industry’s cost of production. The challenges in this regard have been known for some time and stem from several factors arising from the industry’s suffocationduringthe20152020periodofAPNU+AFC governance. President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, addressing the GAWU’s celebration of 50 years as a recognised union in the sugar industry, highlighted the situation when his Government took office in August 2020 He drew attention to the dilapidation of machinery and equipment, the forested overgrowth that had taken over cane fields, and the withering away of commitment arising from the paperisation of the workforce.
Of course, through to form and shaped by its distorted narrative and maybe nature, the Village Voice vainly attempts to deceive the Guyanese people,callingtheeraofthe David Granger-led Administration in sugar “major restructuring”. That tale, of course, is clearly an obfuscation. During the rule of now former President Granger, the sugar industry saw:
1.Theclosureoffour(4) estates–Skeldon,RoseHall, East Demerara and Wales Estates
2. Some 7,000 workers whoweremadejobless
3 A shameless and shameful wage freeze imposedonworkers
4 Reduction and abandonment of longstanding benefits and conditions
5.Disregardforworkers’ roleandorganisations,some contrarytothelaw
6. As much as a 42 per cent reduction in real earnings
7 Clear, patent, and unbridled discrimination as workersinotherstatesectors and agencies benefited from payrisesandimprovements, andsugarworkersgotnone That was hardly a restructuring; it was, in our view,aclearattempttocrush the industry and trample on theworkers.Itwas,aswesee it, a pellucid policy to harm the sugar workers. Workers, we should add, who were courted and promised all sorts of ‘goodies’ for their supporttotheCoalitionprior to the 2015 National and Regionalelections.Itturned out to be all lies, deceptions
andglaringuntruths.
Village Voice tells its readership, minimal as it may be, that the Coalition “…introduced measures to cushion the impact on displacedworkers,including severancepayments—atone stage committing to pay at least 50 per cent upfront…”
Ifitwerenotsoserious,this would be laughable. We are awarethatoneoftheregular and prominent contributors to the online news outlet is Lincoln Lewis, a long-time General Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC). Lewis has never failed to burnish thefactthathealwaysstands withtheworkers.
TheGTUCofficialmust, therefore, hang his head in shametoseeanoutfithehas been associated with for a considerable period actually advancing, and more so, glorifying a shameful attempt to breach our laws and the rights of workers.
The Village Voice well knows that the High Court, following the filing of an actionbyGAWU,condignly dealt with this matter and imposed massive interest charges and costs for the 50 per cent severance decision. TheCourtclearlystatedthat the workers were wronged and that their rights were betrayed.Ofcourse,betrayal was a regular feature of the Coalition Government. It is disdainful that the Village Voice wants to say that the then Government attempted to “…cushion the impact on displaced workers…”. See whatwesaidaboutworn-out explanations.
Butthedeceptiondidnot end there; the Village Voice
claimed there were “ initiatives aimed at retraining and facilitating alternative employment ” Thisagainisanotherattempt to rewrite history The socalled training programmes, iftheycanbecalledthat,had no meaningful impact Rather, just a handful of selectedworkersweregiven some training for a few weeks and left to fend for themselves. Certainly, had such objectives been met, the ILO socio-economic study in the post-closure period would not have concludedthatmostworkers remainedunemployed.And, even where a few secured employment, they were reallyworseoff.
TheVillageVoiceeditors tell us that sugar’s miniaturisation “…was occasioned by economic strain on rural communities that relied heavily on the estates.” But that economic strain is what resulted in the aftermath of closure. But it wasnotmerelyeconomic;it wassocial,itwasfamilial,it wasalcoholism,itwaspetty theft, it was domestic violence, it was family disintegration, and so many otherfactors.Thisisthereal andtruecostofclosure.This is the legacy that the APNU+AFC left in the industry That was the indeliblemarkandthecostly consequencesofleadersand a government that chose discrimination over collaboration.Agovernment which placed its apparent partisan political interests above the well-being of the nationanditspeople.
TheVillageVoice,we
(Continuedonpage09)
DEAREDITOR
M a i n S t r e e t , Georgetown, needs strict zoningandacomprehensive plan to preserve and restore itshistoricwhiteaesthetic. I am deeply concerned
thatwithonlyafewcolonial buildingsremainingonMain Street,fromBankofGuyana to Kingston, unattractive modern structures are beginning to dominate the landscape. Some of these buildings, which replaced h
waters recede It is a stark reminder that urban management requires both responsible governance and responsiblecitizenship.Neithercansucceedinisolation. Ifthegovernmentcontinuestorestrictthecity’sability to generate revenue, and if citizens continue to disregard their role in maintaining a clean environment, then the outcome is inevitable: repeated flooding, economic disruption, and a declining quality of life. Georgetown deserves better But achieving that better will require a collectivecommitmenttofundthesystemsthatprotectthe city, to maintain them diligently, and to treat the environmentwiththerespectitdemands.Untilthen,every heavy rainfall will continue to expose the same uncomfortabletruth:thisisadisasterofourownmaking.
contributed to a decay that began as far back as the 1980s. Does the city have functional zoning laws?Are there building codes or regulations regarding color? One only has to look at the outlandish colors currently appearing on Main Street to see the deviation from its historical past, where the street was defined by its classicwhitefacades. Despite the ongoing efforts and plans to restore the city, Main Street should be transformed into a pedestrian-only zone It shouldmoveawayfromloud
clubs, high-traffic businesses, and large hotels. Instead, the area should be characterized by walkways, small cafes, restaurants, and souvenirshops.Commercial businesses should be moved out, and strict restrictions should be placed on noise and parties in the area Congestion, traffic, rubbish and unsustainable infrastructure post an environmental and disaster treattoGeorgetownwhichis frequently affected by floods.Keepthecommotion someplaceelse. Letusenjoy thetranquilityofMainStreet walks.
Sincerely RayChickrie
Let that not just be said—let it be understood, respected, and recorded in the permanent ledger of this nation’shistory
IcalloneveryGuyanese, regardless of origin, race, class or circumstance, to standupanddefendthetruth ofourhistory Becausewhen we sit idly by and allow others—yes,Ispeakdirectly of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime to rewritethisnation’sstory,to pushsometothemarginsas though they never existed, weparticipateinadangerous falsehood.Anation built on distortion cannot stand in dignity
This attempt to recast Guyana’shistoryasthoughit beganwithoneman,onerace and one political tradition is not only dishonest it is an insult to those who laid the foundation with sweat, sacrifice,andstruggle AndI say to the young Minister of Labour, Keoma Griffith, who I am advised is an attorney-at-law: pause and reflect on the path you are treading.You are ofAfrican descent at least by appearance and whether youembracethatheritageor not, it is written into the historyofthiscountry.
If you are not proud of the struggles and sacrifices of your ancestors, that is your burden to carry But it does not give you the right—northeauthority—to erasetheircontributionfrom the national story You may be uncomfortable in your own skin, but you cannot rewritethehistorywrittenby othersintheirs.
Many will say President Irfaan Ali is beyond persuasion that he will continue as he pleases, unbothered by truth. That may well be so. But to you, Minister, I say again: be guided Be guided by history Be guided by truth. Because before Cheddi Jagan, there was Hubert NathanielCritchlow When Critchlow a young man forced to leave primaryschooltosupporthis family was organising workers and igniting a movement across British Guiana and the wider Commonwealth, Cheddi Jagan was not born. The struggle for workers’rights, the foundation of trade unionism,didnotbeginwith Jagan It began decades earlier
Cheddi was born in 1918. But as early as 1905, workers were rising. By the time Jagan returned to Guyana in 1943, Critchlow had already spent nearly forty years laying the groundwork for trade unionism and industrial relations in this country Theseareirrefutablefacts! Andthebeautyofhistory is this: it builds One generation stands on the shoulders of another You cannot erase the foundation andpretendthestructurestill stands. Let me also speak plainly to what I would regardasasisterunion—the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU). Yes, you have celebrated50years,andthat milestone deserves recognition. But it could have been marked without denigrating Black contributions to this society and more so, without ignoring the towering legacy of the FatherofTradeUnionismin Guyana and the British Commonwealth, a National Hero of Guyana, second only to Cuffy: Hubert NathanielCritchlow History did not begin
with GAWU, nor does it revolve around it. Your rise wasnotwithouttheinterplay of forces, including the People’s National Congress (PNC)government,thewider trade union movement, and the leadership of Forbes Burnham even amid political rivalry with Cheddi Jagan Burnham did not obstruct the recognition of GAWU He allowed organisation He allowed growth. Today, independent trade unions that refuse to bow to the PPP are denied thatsamespace.TheGuyana BauxiteandGeneralWorkers Union (GB&GWU) my union can point to repeated instances where efforts to organise workers have been stifled,blockedatthelevelof the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board (TURB), where GAWU and theGuyanaLabourUnionsit So do not speak to us about progress while practicing exclusion We must be vigilant.Wemustbehonest. Let me say it again: before there was Cheddi Jagan, there was Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow
Jagan’s political consciousness did not emergeinavacuum.Yes,he
grewuponthesugarestates. Yes, he struggled. But his formal journey into politics began as a student in the United States at Howard University one of the historically Black colleges and universities—where he would have wet his feet among Black activists and earlier African American civil rights fighters. That environment sharpened his political awareness and curiosity
And when he returned to Guyana, he entered a landscape already shaped by organised labour led by Critchlow,aBlackmanwhose contribution is now being conveniently minimised One must ask: why this persistent effortbythePPP,particularly inthepost-Jaganera,toerase or diminish the role of Black Guyanese in building this nation?IknewCheddiJagan AndtheCheddiJaganIknew would never have supported this rewriting of history He would have acknowledged Critchlow He would have said plainly: “Before me, there were others.” That is what principled leadership does it recognises those who came before. I did not know Critchlow personally.
But I proudly stand on his shoulders And from all accounts—from those who knew him and from the historical record—he was a man of principle, humility, and courage. Perhaps in his humility, he might have bowedhisheadandaccepted being overlooked. But we willnot!
WewillnotallowHubert Nathaniel Critchlow to be erased.Wewillnotallowhis contribution or the contribution of Black Guyanese—tobewrittenout of this nation’s history To thosewhoareingovernment and opposition today, who sit in Parliament, who hold elected office, who benefit f
suffrage let me remind you:thestrugglefortheright to vote, for “one man, one vote,” did not begin with you It began with the workers under Critchlow’s leadership in 1926 when Jagan was merely an eightyear-old.
Cheddi Jagan was not thereinthoseearlyyears.
You stand on theirs and Critchlow’sshoulders.
Youwalkonthepolitical ground that Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow helped to pave—the very earth his ancestors carved out with their bare hands, toiling under inhumane and brutal conditions without compensation And no matterhowhardyoutry,you cannoterasethattruth.
Notnow Notever Irestmycase.
You sit where you sit today because of the groundwork laid by a Black man. And it is a tragic indictment of this society that we must continuously remindyouofthatfact. Let it also be known: Critchlow was part of the early formation of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) itself. So when you attempt to erase him, you erase a part of your own foundation And let me remind you further—Forbes Burnham gave the party its name, and Eusi Kwayana (Sidney King) penned its battle song—both African Guyanese.Tryasyoumight, you cannot erase the foundational contributions and enduring footprints of African Guyanese; they are etched into every corner of thisnation’shistory
Regards LincolnLewis
Last Thursday morning: 22 of Georgetown’s golden arteries Regent’s bustle, Vlissengen’s roar, Camp Street’s commerce, Robb’s retail pulse—yanked from
the Mayor and City Council’s grasp by cold gazettedecree.Fridaydawn:
t h e f o r m e r C i t y Constabulary Training Complex on Water Street, a dilapidated husk guarding Demerara River’s edge, wakes to “No Trespassing”
s i g n s s c r e a m i n g G o v e r n m e n t o f Guyana Earmarked for Immediate Development Private guards from R.K. Security Guyana Police Force officers stonewalling councillors. Deputy Mayor Denise Miller’s voice cutting through: “This is a hostiletakeoverofthiscity.”
Mayor Alfred Mentore calls it bullyism. Councillor Lelon Saul names it a threat t
Government Minister Priya Manickchand counters with colonial title deeds from Demerara and Essequibo, claiming State ownership of the long-vacant riverfront prize. The photo plastered across WhatsApp groups
show
Technicolor: weathered
s, government branding a waterfront fortress now flying central colours, its municipal lineage disputed inrealtime.
Thisisnohaphazardland grab. This is choreography with a pred
’s rhythm—streets seized for daily optics, now the riverfront snatched for skyl
Thursday’s commercial
the campaign’s foreground; Friday’s waterfront jewel crowns the backdrop. Two days. Two conquests. One
deviousarchitecture:control Georgetown’s postcards, thenclaimitspanoramas.
U n d e r s t a n d t h e geometryofthisprize.Water Street’soldtrainingcomplex doesn’t merely sit on the Demerara—it commands it.
Prime real estate where condos could pierce the clouds, hotels could lure tourists, “public-private partnerships” could mint millionaires. A developer’s feverdream,lefttorotunder CityHall’swatch—orsothe narrative goes Now “rediscovered”asStateland, perfectly timed when municipal revenues bleed from those 22 streets and localelectionsflickeronthe horizon.The blitzkrieg pace betraysnocoincidence,only calculation.
Flashback to the template:theLeonoraSugar Estatemansion,nationalized in the 1970s from British owners Jessels and sitting
underGuysucocontrol,then t r a n s f e r r e d t o NICIL Bharrat Jagdeo’s holding pen for choice privatized assets during his presidency. In the early 2000s,IrfaanAliasHousing Minister quietly claimed it undershadowycolonialtitle arguments, without transparent transaction documents. What began as national wealth ended as ministerial acquisition Water Street echoes that sameplaybook.
Mayor Mentore vows a High Court injunction Councillors demand the sign’s removal Police officersstandmute.Minister Manickchand promises greenspacesfor“thegoodof residents.”Butpeelbackthe rhetoric: streets stripped of billboard fees, vending permits, festival revenues; a waterfront fortress now central government’s to auction as “development.” City Hall, already starved, watches its arteries and anchors slip away The council governs potholes while the Executive claims panoramas.
This is Machiavellian poetry visual conquest withoutfiringashot.The22
PP
competence”:freshparapets where citizens commute.
Water Street becomes the money shot: ribbon-cuttings on the river, skyline transformations branded for ballots. Revenue rerouted from opposition-led council to ruling-party coffers
Consultation?Acourtesyfor lesser powers. When Local
G
declares colonial deeds superiortoelectedauthority, t
municipalities are tenants, notowners.
Thestinglandshardestin the silence—what remains?
wrestletitledeeds—colonial ghosts versus municipal possession but citizens must confront the principle: when does “public good” license unilateral trespass? Whendoes“transformation” excuse disempowerment?
The PPP/C paints Georgetownastheircanvas, buteverybrushstrokeerodes theconstitutionalpromiseof localself-rule.
Georgetown, awaken Your streets were arteries of municipal life; now they’re campaign props Your waterfront was dormant potential; now it’s executive ambition Demand the deeds Demand dialogue Demand that “immediate development” means public benefit,notprivatewindfall.
y?
If streets go Thursday and security complexes Friday, w
Markets already circling the drain of central control Waste contracts bypassed.
The pattern accelerates: asset by asset, Georgetown becomes a stage set for one party’s triumph, its elected stewards reduced to extras protestingfromthecurb.
No judge can unmake this blitz alone. Courts will
Ask every aspiring candidate: Whose hands repaved Regent? Whose riverfrontrisesnext?
FromThursday’sgazette to Friday’s fence, the PPP’s hand is revealed—not in chaos, but in chilling precision. The chessboard tilts. Citizens must flip it back, or watch their capital become someone else’s checkmate.
Regards
HemduttKumar
DEAREDITOR
Ittakesbetween8to18monthstobuilda solar plant. That is more than enough time during the life of the power ship contract to addadditionalcapacitytoournation’spower grid. The government has no excuse for its failure to have enough capacity in place to
endthewastefulspendingonthepowerships. It is time for a change in leadership over the energysector
VPJagdeohasfailedusonceagainashe didwiththeSkeldonproject.
Sincerely,
JamilChanglee
U n i t e d S t a t e s
Ambassador to Guyana, NicoleTheriot,saidtheU.S. is patiently awaiting the outcome of ongoing court proceedings in Guyana before moving forward with theextraditionofsanctioned businessmen Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar
Theriot said the United States stands ready to act immediatelyshouldthelocal courts rule in favour of extradition. “We are ready today Ifthemagistratemade a decision today, we would move forward with the process,” she said, while emphasising that the timeline remains entirely in the hands of the Guyanese judiciary
The ambassador also firmly rejected claims that the extradition request is politically motivated, stressing that the case is based solely on legal grounds and supported by substantialevidence. The Mohameds are
currently facing a federal indictmentinMiami,United States, following the unsealing of a 25-page document on October 30, 2025.Therequestseekstheir extradition to answer to an 1
involving allegations of large-scale fraud, money
violations, bribery, and the evasionofmillionsofdollars in taxes and royalties linked togoldexports.
Acting on a formal
U S authorities, the minister signedtheATP,initiatingthe extradition process. Should sufficient evidence be
committal proceedings, the magistrate could order their extradition to face the
chargesabroad.
Court proceedings, which began on October 31, 2025, have been ongoing, i
prosecution’s first witness, Foreign Affairs Permanent
However, on March 24, the case was adjourned for 12 days af
er Azruddin Mohamed was diagnosed with dengue fever, with hearings initially set to resumeonApril7. That timeline has since been extended to April 21 following a ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), allowing time for arguments before the region’s highest court. The state’scaseisexpectedtobe led byAttorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, AnilNandlall,SC.
Since the start of the extradition proceedings, the Mohameds have argued that
the request is politically driven.Theyclaimthemove is linked to Azruddin Mohamed’srecententryinto politics, having formed his ownpartyjustmonthsbefore electionsandnowservingas oppositionleader
During court hearings, their lawyers contended that theAuthoritytoProceedwas granted with bias, alleging that political rivalry influencedthedecision.
However, speaking on the programme SOURCES, Ambassador Theriot addressed questions about the timeline and what Washington realistically expects, particularly in light of the recent delay in the case.
She emphasised that the processisnowentirelyinthe
hands of the Guyanese courts. “Well, it is in your court, and I think that’s the key point. It is a process. We’ve done our part, and nowit’swithyourcourt,”she said.
Theriot noted that the United States has no set expectationsortimelinesfor theoutcome.“Wedon’thave anexpectationoratimeline, because it’s not ours to control.Whenthedecisionis made, we will proceed from there,”sheexplained.
SheaddedthattheU.S.is fully prepared to act immediatelyoncearulingis handeddown.“Weareready today Ifthemagistratemade a decision today, we would move forward with the process.Butthatisnot
Continued on page 10
Th e r e c e n t statement by the United States AmbassadortoGuyana,that the United States does not bring criminal charges for political reasons but only based on hard evidence, deserves careful reflection.
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e Ambassador,pursuingweak or politically motivated cases would simply be a wasteoftimeandresources.
On its face, that is a reassuringclaim.Anyjustice system should be grounded inevidence,notpolitics.But history, both recent and distant, suggests that the reality is more complicated. Consider the unfolding case involving Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela. Less than three months ago, he was captured in a dramatic United States
militaryoperationinCaracas andtransportedtoNewYork to face drug trafficking charges.Madurohimselfhas described the incident as a “kidnapping,” and he has pleaded not guilty in a U.S. court.
What is striking is not only the manner of his capture, but the shifting natureoftheallegations.For years, the United States had accusedMaduroofleadinga major drug cartel. He was subjected to sanctions on that basis Yet reports indicatethataspectsofthose earlier claims were later adjusted or dropped as prosecutors refined their case.Thisraisesasimplebut important question. If the evidence was always so strong,whydidthenarrative change?
That is a matter for the
courts. But it does illustrate that in the United States political context and prosecutorial strategy can sometimes intersect in ways that are not as clear-cut as officialstatementssuggest. There are also historical precedentsthatshouldnotbe ignored.
After the 1983 invasion of Grenada, the United States established an authority that oversaw the prosecution of members of the People’s Revolutionary Government, including Bernard Coard. The trial of the so-called “Grenada 13” was widely criticised by Amnesty International. This international human rights bodyraisedseriousconcerns about fairness, including issues with jury selection, judicial impartiality, and access to proper legal
DemboyssehiseitherGeorgetownturn Amsterdamovernight,orsomebodylaunch a new fragrance line called Eau de Ganja. Because lately, when yuh walking through de market or hustling down de road, is not justcook-upriceandfriedplantaingreeting yuh nose; it’s a strong, confident, noapologies breeze of marijuana announcing itselflikeitpayrentindeair
Nowdon’tgetdemboyswrong.People does do dem thing quiet, quiet. Back in de day, if yuh smell something funny, people would look around suspicious, squint dem eye,andwhisper,“Whodehsmoking?” Now? Nobody ain’t whispering. De smellwalkingbold,likeitgotpassportand stamp already Is “Good morning,” “Good afternoon,” and poof—a cloud of mystery perfumefollowingrightbehind.
One man tell dem boys he nearly ask a vendor which brand she using. He say, “Aunty, that scent strong, eh! Is that imported?” She watch he straight and say, “Yes, imported, from de next stall.” Dem boysseh,heain’trecoversince.
And is not just one corner, eh.Yuh turn left—boom!Yuhturnright—bam!Evende minibus passing by leave a little “afterscent”likedemtryingtoadvertise.Islikede wholeplacegetanewairfreshenersystem, butnobodyremembertotelldepublic. Somebody even suggest that maybe somebody testing a new attraction. Dem boys seh if that’s de case, at least put up a sign so visitors don’t think dem step into a giantherbalteafactorybymistake.
Buthereisderealconfusion.Whenyuh smelling it so often, yuh start wondering if yuh nose recalibrating. One lady seh she walkpastagardenandasksheson,“Isthat basil?” Deboyseh,“Mummy,please.That basilgotambition.”
In de end, dem boys seh whether is fashion,freedom,orjustplainboldness,one thing clear De air in town ain’t neutral no more.Itgotpersonality Andifthisisanew perfume,demboysadvisingthengoeasyon deapplication,nahman.Becauserightnow, evendebreezefeelingslightly…high.
Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
representation For many observers, this was not justice at its best, but something closer to a politicalexercise.
A similar controversy surrounded the trial of Saddam Hussein following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. That invasion itself was justified by the Americans on the claim that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction-claimsthatwere never substantiated. In fact, the whole claim about Iraq possessingweaponsofmass destruction tuned out to be oneofthebiggestliestoldto the United Nations and the world.
The subsequent trial of Hussein has often been described by critics as deeplyflawed.
That too raises further questions about the intersection of power, politics, and justice. These examples do not prove that every U.S. prosecution is politically motivated Far from it. The United States has a large and complex legal system, and many cases are handled with professionalism and integrity But they do show that the country is not immune from controversy, particularly when geopolitical or economic interests are involved Perhaps the most relevant example in the context of financialcrimeisthecaseof Mike Lynch Lynch, a British businessman, was
extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States to face serious fraud charges linked to the sale of his company The case was presented as a major example of corporate wrongdoing, backedpresumably-by extensive investigation.
Yetwhenthematterwent before a U S jury, the outcome was decisive: Lynch was acquitted on all counts.
This case is important because it highlights a critical point. The fact that U S authorities have investigated a matter, assembled evidence, and secured extradition does not mean that the case will withstand scrutiny in court. Nor does it automatically mean that compelling evidence exists. Extradition is based on a relatively low threshold probable cause—not proof beyond a reasonabledoubt.
It allows a trial to happen;itdoesnotguarantee aconviction.
And after what has happened to Maduro who knows whether the original charges ag
M
be abandoned and substituted for some concocted ones.
The Amba
ador ’s statement reflects an ideal that prosecutions are driven purely by evidence The record, however, suggests a morecomplexreality,onein which law, politics, and power can sometimes overlap.
Intheend,thetruetestof any case is not the confidence with which it is announced, but whether it can survive the rigors of a fair trial. As the Lynch case demonstrates,eventhemost h e a v
l y p u r s u e d prosecutions can fail when tested in court. That is why when it comes to the United States caution, not blind confidence, should guide publicjudgment.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Noneofthisistosuggest that individuals currently facing charges—such as the Mohameds—do not have a casetoanswer They may well do so. The courts will determine that in due course. The fact that the US says that it has solid evidence does not meanthatitdoesorthatifit does that it will hold up at a trial. The United States is a powerful country with global reach. History shows thatithas,attimes,advanced claims that were later questioned, revised, or even discredited.
Frompage04 urge,shouldendthecharade. It should be honest and not deceptive. It should stop misleading andobscuring.Thefactsare the facts, and no attempt to rewrite the narrative will succeed. Those who lived through it, experienced the hardship, confronted the sorrows, and were pushed intopovertyknowthepains.
charade...
WeurgetheVillageVoiceto live up to its axiom and really be “the Voice of the People”.
Yourssincerely, SeepaulNarine President GAWU
In the Gospels reporting Jesus’s last days, it’s Holy Week. TistheweekofJudas also. Amanoverpoweredby his devious impulses, crookedcalculations. Inthis miniseries highlighting the week of Judas, I steer Guyanese to the Judases in thiscountry
APPPGovt.thatisJudas exhumed, one given to extremes in dishonest conduct Traveling wider, politicians who mostly abandon their duty to Guyanese. Andwhatisthat, if not the coolly twisted arrangements of the everconniving Judas? Third,
there is noble Judas. A specter that came from afar, is150yearsold,slickerthan the original. Finally, there’re so-called descendants of Jesus, who sellthemselvesforsilverand supper Theysing. Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesuswithakiss. Beforeany localrepublicangetstheidea that the pending quartet of articles are about Roman Catholic proselytizing, banish the thought. It is the precedent of 2000-year old scriptureaspublicserviceto fellow citizens, both Guyanese and American By pointing to Judas, and
connecting groups in operationhere,theemphasis isonhowmanyJudaseslive here. While thinking they are unseen, not known. For thosewhogiveshortthriftto sacred writings, I gave them another betrayer this time from Shakespeare. There was noble Brutus, for their comfortanddelight.
IsitI,Lord? Thechorus that sounded when Jesus revealed: “one of you will betray me.’ By the tiniest measurement standards, the PPP Govt has betrayed Guyanese. ‘Weshalldothis and we shall be about this.’ Recall how those were the
sworn commitments. Then the same lofty PPPbetrayed the poor and hopeful, the believing and trusting. The thefts from the community purse, as Judas did, so also thePPPGov.tlikeacommon thief. Guyanese don’t have to wait for the shattering grimnessofalong-agodeath onaGoodFridayafternoon, or the threatening, near overwhelming darkness of Diwali, they have the PPP Manyofitspowerhousesand their followers shrink from thelight,mockwhatisright. Where’s the money, stupid? Under the team that has accumulated all the power
that can be imagined in its hands, but misuses it, Judas isnotafigureofhistory,heis PPP reality, and Guyana’s tragedy.
Neitheranamenoraday ishe. InGuyana,andinthe partyfoundedbyDr Cheddi B Jagan, a battalion of Judasesisthebequestthathe hasleftforthepeopleofthis country Check them out, concludeaccordingly Judas was man of secrecy, and whathasbeenthePPPGovt. if not secrecy, through and through? Judas was a great practitioner of cunning; a hustler and operator skilled at covering his tracks. And
behavioralpatternsofalmost all of the children of Cheddi andJanetJagan,butcunning, hustling, scheming, and underground operating? He is not rolling over in his shroud. Cheddi B is crying in his ashes. Is this what I have spawned? Are these pathological liars and serial robbersofGuyanesedreams, Guyanesevisions,Guyanese waiting and longing with expectations,theresultofall the struggles and sacrifices? I feel for his survivors that stayed the course, however shakily, of which Donald Ramotarisone.
Judas was a seller and collector Thirty pieces of silver for his betrayal, a kiss
that has resonated down to thisday Today,that’scalled aiding and abetting one crime that generates many others. In Guyana, during the latter part of this week, the Judas kiss will be repeated when PPP wolves fan out across Guyana’s expanse, and into Christian churches to plant that sickening, flesh-eating, and death-dealing, kiss on the cheeksoftrustingGuyanese. Beware They have betrayed, will go on betraying. Beware: wolves insheep’sclothing. Last, the Biblical Judas had a belated moment of truth. Regret. Remorseover the horror of his deed. He walkedback. Takebackthe 30 pieces of silver When it was rejected, he took the only way left. None of that will happen with the PPP-as government, as party-the first 30 pieces of sellout silver led to a monstrous addiction. Likeonestrikeof crack cocaine, many in the PPPwantmore. Another30 pieces of betrayal, billions lost. Thenanother Itisthe JudasErainGuyana.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
frompage8
within our control, and so we are patiently waiting to seewhathappens,”shesaid.
She also dismissed the claims of any political motivation behind the extradition, emphasizing that it is based on legal grounds.
Theriot reiterated that the United States does not pursue criminal cases for political reasons, but only when there is strong, unequivocalevidence.
“We firmly believe they are guilty of the crimes for which they have been indicted,” she said. “This matterisnowinthehandsof theGuyanesejudiciary,and we are prepared to move forward once a decision is made.”
Theriot also cautioned against any potential instability arising from the case, expressing hope that the legal process would be respectedandunderstoodas
lawfulratherthanpolitical.
“We’re simply holding people that we believe are guilty of a crime accountable for that crime. And to be fair, it’s not just the United States taxpayers thatweredefrauded.Imean, let’s be clear about that. I hopethatisnotthecase,and I hope people will understand that things are being done by the book, basedonthelaw,andit’snot politically, certainly not politically motivated from our side.” The ambassador added, “It’s the US government’s indictment, the government of Guyana did not indict the Mohamed’s, and I can assure you that there’s nothing political about it fromtheUSside.”
However, if the extradition does not proceed,theMohamedswill remain sanctioned under U S law, according to Theriot.
High Court Judge, Nicola Pierre has ruled that the Guyana Bank of Trade
and Industry (GBTI) breached its duty to act in goodfaithwhenitclosedthe bankaccountsofmembersof theWeInvestinNationhood (WIN)party
Members of the main opposition party, WIN had takenGBTItocourtoverthe bank’s decision to terminate theiraccountsowingtotheir
affiliation with USsanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed The membershadmadeanumber of claims against the bank
i n c l u d i n g t h a t o f u n l a w f u l n e s s a n d discrimination.
In separate claims members of the party who were affected by the closure sought declaratory and monetary remedies arising out of the termination of her banking relationship with GBTI These include declarations that the WIN partyisadistinctlegalentity separate from its members, that no sanctions have been imposed on the party or its candidates (save for its leader), that the bank’s actions were unlawful, i m p r o p e r a n d
discriminatory, and that GBTI breached duties of good faith and mutual trust andconfidence.
Further, the WIN members held that their accounts were in good standing and that all transactions were conducted in accordance with the correct banking policies. In her decision delivered on Monday, presiding Justice Pierre noted that while the matter is not explicitly dealt with in common law, Guyana’s apex court, the Caribbean Court of Justice
(CCJ) provides the authoritative framework for it in a recent ruling. In its decision of Cara Investment Limited versus Christopher Ram et al, the CCJ made it clearthatthecommonlawof contractinthisjurisdictionis evolving toward recognition of good faith as a foundational organising principle.
“In particular, the Court affirmed that contractual performance requires that parties act honestly, reasonably, and fairly, and not capriciously or
arbitrarily That articulation represents the starting point for any development of the law in Guyana,” the judge pointed out in her decision.
Beyond the CCJ, Justice Pierre noted that the Court has considered a range of English and wider Commonwealth authorities.
“While these are not binding,”shesaid,“Theyare persuasive and demonstrate a consistentand incremental developmentofthecommon law.”
“Thoseauthoritiesreveal a more structured and disciplinedapproachtogood faith, not as a free-standing, open-endeddutyoffairness, but as a constraint operating
through implied terms controlling the exercise of contractual discretions,” the judgesaid.
S h e c o n t i n u e d , “synthesizing the CCJ’s jurisprudence with these persuasive authorities, this Court considers that, in Guyana,theproperapproach is as follows. Where a bank exercises a contractual power to terminate a customer relationshipparticularly where that power involves evaluative judgment such as risk assessment-thelawimpliesa minimum duty of good faith governing the exercise of that power That duty requires that the bank acts honestly and in good faiththat is, without dishonesty, bad faith, or knowing misrepresentation…”
Meanwhile in a press release issued on Monday, GBTI noted while it acknowledged the findings of the High Court, it will appeal the ruling which was partiallynotinitsfavour
The bank noted that the Courtdismissedthemajority oftheclaimsbroughtagainst it, including allegations of u n l a w f u l n e s s , discrimination, breach of statutory obligations under anti-money laundering legislation, and claims for substantialdamages.
“These findings affirm the bank’s adherence to its regulatory responsibilities and its commitment to operating within the framework of Guyana’s financial laws and international compliance standards,”GBTIsaid.
However, the bank pointed out that the Court determined that the Bank breached “an implied contractual duty of good faith” in its handling of the termination of certain banking relationships, and awarded nominal damages andcostsineachmatter
GBTI said while it respectfully noted the Court’s findings it has taken the decision to appeal some of those findings, remaining unwavering in its commitment to upholding the highest standards of regulatory compliance and risk management, acting responsiblyandprudentlyin protecting the financial system and continuously strengthening its policies, procedures, and decisionmakingframeworks.
In the case the WIN members were represented by attorney, Darren Wade. GBTI was represented by Stephen Fraser, SC, Ms Shontel Scott, Ms. Sydney Fraser, and Ms Shakisa Harvey
(ALJAZEERA) United States President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he wishes to “take the oil” in Iran, as the US-Israel war against Iran enters its second month.
On Monday, President Trump threatened to target Iran’s energy infrastructure, including oil wells, ifTehrandoesnotreopentheStrait ofHormuz,whichhasbeenundera de facto Iranian blockade for weeks, triggering a global energy crisis.
The Trump administration has unveiled no clear goal behind its militarycampaignagainstIran,one oftheworld’sbiggestoilproducers and under US sanctions for decades. Here is more about what Trumpsays,howmuchoilIranhas, andwhetherTrumpcouldtakeit. WhathasTrump saidaboutIran’soil?
TrumptoldtheFinancialTimes that his “preference would be to take the oil” in Iran and that US forcescouldseizeIran’sexporthub at Kharg Island. Kharg is a 22square-kilometre(8.5-square-mile) coral outcrop in Iran’s Bushehr province. Closely guarded by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps(IRGC),entrytotheislandis restricted to those with official securityclearance.
Kharg processes 90 percent of Iran’s total oil exports, handling approximately 1.5 million barrels every day On March 14, Trump announced that the US Air Force had bombed Iranian military facilitiesontheisland.“Forreasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on theIsland.However,shouldIran,or
anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe PassageofShipsthroughtheStrait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,” Trump wroteonTruthSocial.
Critics say the Trump administrationwasemboldenedby the success of its brazen military operation in January to abduct Venezuelan President Nicolas MadurofromCaracas.Washington says it is now in control of Venezuela’soilexports.Getinstant alerts and updates based on your interests.Bethefirsttoknowwhen bigstorieshappen.
Earlier this month, Trump claimed that 100 million barrels of Venezuelanoilhadbeenbroughtto refineries in Houston, Texas in the US.Headdedthatanadditional100 million barrels of Venezuelan oil wereontheway
TiesbetweenVenezuela,which has the world’s largest proven reserves of crude oil, and Washingtonhaddeterioratedunder former President Hugo Chavez, who decided to nationalise the oil sector
Relations collapsed further under Maduro, who succeeded Chavez in 2013 Venezuela’s current interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has since opened the sectorforprivateinvestment. HowmuchoildoesIranhave?
Iran is one of the world’s biggestoilproducers.
The country holds the world’s second-largest proven natural gas reservesandthethird-largestcrude oil reserves, according to the United States Energy Information Administration. Iran holds around
24percentoftheMiddleEast’sand 12percentoftheworld’sprovenoil reserves, with about 157 billion barrelsofprovencrudeoil.Itisthe ninth-largest oil producer globally, and the fourth-largest within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), producingabout3.3millionbarrels ofcrudeoilperday
Before the war, Iran was exporting around two million barrels of crude and refined fuel each day, though its exports dropped dramatically after Trump slapped sanctions on Iran in 2018 during his first term in power The Iran nuclear deal signed under US PresidentBarackObamain2015–the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action(JCPOA)–placedlimitson Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief in place for decades. The US cut diplomatic ties with Iran after pro-
WashingtonrulerShahMohammad Reza Pahlavi was toppled in the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the subsequenthostagecrisisinvolving UScitizens.
CantheU.S.seizeIranianoil?
The Pentagon is preparing for limited ground operations in Iran, potentially including raids on Kharg Island and coastal sites near the Strait of Hormuz, according to US officials quoted by the Washington Post newspaper The plans, which fall short of a full invasion, could involve raids in special operations and by conventional infantry troops, the newspaperreportedonSaturday
However, even if the US invades or occupies Kharg Island, thiswouldnotgivetheUSaccessto Iranian oil. In order to access Iranian oil, the US would have to occupy Iran’s oil production sites and refineries. In essence, the US would need to occupy mainland Iran.
Whatwoulditmeanifthe U.S.weretotakeIranianoil?
In 2023, Iran’s gross domestic product (GDP) was around $457.5bn,accordingtoWorldBank data.Inthesameyear,Iran’snetoil export revenues were estimated at $53bn.
Thatexportfigureisequivalent to roughly 12 percent of Iran’s GDP,althoughexportrevenuesand GDP are not directly comparable. Atthesametime,iftheUSwereto lift sanctions on Iranian oil after seizingit,itcouldleadtoaflowof more Iranian oil into global markets, bringing down oil prices. Iran is one of the most heavily sanctioned countries in the world.
The US first imposed sanctions on Iran in November 1979, after Iranian students stormed its embassy in Tehran and took Americans hostage. The hostage crisis ended when dozens of US citizens were released after more than a year The US-Israeli war on Iran has sent global oil prices soaring. Benchmark Brent crude rose to more than 3 percent on Monday to $116 a barrel – the highest level in nearly two weeks. The oil price was about $65 per barrelbeforethewar
HastheUStriedtointerfere inIranianoilbefore?
Yes;thisisnotthefirsttimethe UShasshownaninterestinIranian oil.
In 1953, the government of Mohammad Mossadegh, Iran’s first democratically elected prime minister, was toppled in a CIAorchestrated coup after he nationalised the British-controlled firm Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC), the predecessor of modern-dayBP.
Washington framed the operation–codenamed“Operation Ajax”–asaColdWarnecessityto keep Iran and its energy reserves outofSoviethands.
The coup restored and entrenched the shah’s rule, a turningpointthatstillhauntsIran’s relationship with the West Neighbouring Iraq’s oil revenue is still effectively under US control morethantwodecadesaftertheUS invaded the Middle East nation. Iraq’s oil revenues are deposited into an account at the Federal Reserve Bank in the US before makingittoBaghdad.
A16-year-old boy was stabbed to death early Monday morning during an altercation along Robb Street,Lacytown,Georgetown.
Dead is Andel Martin of Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara. The incident occurred around 01:30 Kaieteur News understands that a 23-year-old suspecthassincebeenarrestedand is currently in police custody assistingwithinvestigations.
According to an eyewitness, Martin was among a group of four personswhobecameinvolvedinan argument with the suspect. The situation escalated, resulting in the suspect allegedly stabbing the teen beforefleeingthescene.
“A witness said, ‘them man went on the road and they had a disagreement.Themanjookheand he run and fall down. They went troubling the man and he say “leff me alone,” they been fatiguing the manallthetime.Itwasthedecease and four other men went troubling the man and the man can’t take it anymoreandfireajookathe,’”the eyewitnessrelated.
Martin’s aunt, Candacy Duncan, also spoke with reporters, recalling how she learned of the incident. “I was going in my bed and my nephew call me and say andel get jook up,” she said Duncan explained that she later received additional information from another individual, who claimed that he and Martin were attackedbyseveralmenarmedwith cutlasses.Theindividualreportedly fledbutlaterreturnedtofindMartin lying motionless on the ground. “They turned him around, he aint moving,”shesaid.
Upon hearing the news, relativesrushedtothescene,where they identified Martin’s body Duncannotedthathernephewwas a familiar presence in the area, often assisting patrons nearby entertainment venues. “He does
come out at the clubs and help people park car direct them. He doesalsosellmintsthere,”shesaid. She also disclosed that Martin had previous encounters with the police. “He does get problem with the police, he does be on the road doing his mischief.Aweek ago he comewiththepolicebymeandthe police tell me he been accused of stealingthreeelectronicbikes,”she said.
Meanwhile, the Red Dragon Club, in a statement, extended condolences to the family while distancing itself from the incident. “We categorically state that this incidentdid not occurwithinor on the premises of Club Red Dragon, and the club has no involvement whatsoeverinthematter ClubRed Dragonmaintainsastrict18+entry policy,andwedonotpermitminors under any circumstances Our security protocols are designed to ensure full compliance with this standard at all times. We remain committed to providing a safe, controlled, and responsible environment for our patrons,” the statement said. Up to press time, the Guyana Police Force has not issuedastatement.
Governmenthasdoubleddown onitsreclassificationofcitystreets into public roads by gazetting another 35 to add to the 22 it took controlofearlierthismonth.
The35streetsweregazettedon March 24, 2026 the streets are: FourthStreet(Alberttown),Durban Street, Front Street, Homestretch Avenue, Independence Boulevard, Jackson Street, Longden Street, Lance Gibbs Drive, Main Street, NorthRoad,NortonStreet,Orange WalkStreet,ParadeStreet,Princess Street, South Road, Quamina Street, Sussex Street,Water Street, Thomas Street, Waterloo Street, A Field Access Road (Sophia), B Field Access Road (Sophia), C Field Access Road (Sophia), D
F i e l d A c c e s s R o a d (Sophia),Arapaima Street, Avenue of the Republic, Barrack Street, Broad Street, Church Street, Carmichael Street, Crown Street, Duke Street, Hunter Street, Delph
Street, and Third Street (Alberttown).
Government had quietly formalised in a March 21, 2026 gazette order key revenuegenerating corridors, including the busyVlissengenRoad,transferring control directly to the Ministry of Public Works The orders, numbered 15 through 37 of 2026 and signed by Minister Juan Edghill declare a wide network of streetsaspublicroadsundercentral government control. Among them are Regent Street, Robb Street, Camp Street, Charlotte Street, Lamaha Street and the Eastern Highway— arteries that are not
only vital to transportation, but crucialtothecity’sincomestream. Other streets include: Cowan Street, New Market Street, Middle Street, Aubrey Barker Road, Cane View Avenue, Garnett Street, D’andrade Street, Da Silva Street, DennisStreet, SandyBabbStreet, Albert Street, Cummings Street, Charlotte Street, America Street, East Street and Hadfield Street Public.
The Georgetown Mayor and City Council had condemned the government takeover as bullyism aimed at starving the municipality of much needed funds In a statement City Mayor, Alfred Mentore said: “It represents a calculated act of political intimidation and overreach, designed to destabilize the Municipalityandsilencethevoices ofthepeopleofGeorgetown.”
Mentorehadcalledthemoveas “notjustunlawfulgovernancebutit is the arbitrary centralisation of local assets by executive fiat/decree.”Mentorenotedthatthe sudden takeover without consultation undermines the constitutional principle of local self-government and treats the electedCouncilasirrelevant.“The roads, which should be managed, maintained, and funded by the Council using ratepayers’ resources, were simply gazetted as “public roads” with zero prior notice, zero consultation with the elected Council, and zero engagement with the residents and businesses who depend on them daily,”heasserted.
He explained that “The Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01, explicitly
defines and protects the Council’s jurisdiction over these roads. The Government has chosen to ignore the clear statutory framework that vests responsibility for council roadsinthedemocraticallyelected localauthority.”Themayorpointed to key provisions within the Municipal and District Councils Act,thatdefines:“councilroad”as anyhighwayorotherroadorstreet to which the public has right of accessinacouncilareaotherthana publicroad;and any referenceto a council road includes the roadway, shoulders, verges, embankments, pedestrian walks, cycle tracks, bridges,culverts,canalsanddrains on the line of the road and connected therewith. He explained further that section 274 of the Act states unequivocally that a council shall have power, subject to the provisionsoftheTownandCountry
PlanningAct,theRoadsActandthe Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act to construct, maintain, repair, protectandcarryoutworks forthe betterment of council roads in its council area and to regulate and controltrafficthereon.
“NowhereintheMunicipaland District Councils Act does the Central Government or the Minister possess the power to unilaterallyreclassifycouncilroads aspublicroads,transferownership, orremovethemfromtheCouncil’s portfolio without due process, notice, or consultation The Government’s action therefore directly contravenes the letter and spirit of theAct.” By reclassifying these 22 roads as public roads, he said the PPP/C Government has stripped the City Council of the powers expressly granted to it underSection274oftheMunicipal and District Councils Act According to the chief citizen, the Council can no longer fulfill its legaldutytomaintainandregulate trafficontheseroads–adutyithas discharged for decades using local fund
Govt.actedlawfully The Ministry Public Works in response emphasised that the Government of Guyana has acted lawfully, responsibly, and in the public interest, and therefore, will not be distracted by assertions that distortboththelawandreality “At thecoreofthemayor’spositionisa fundamental misinterpretation of theMunicipalandDistrictCouncils Act,Cap.28:01.TheActexpressly Continued on page 17
The University of Guyana (UG) on Monday announced that its new Regional Pre-Medical Programme is scheduled to commence across all ten administrative regions duringthefirstweekofApril 2026.
T h i s a m b i t i o u s expansion follows the successful implementation of two of the Faculty of EngineeringandTechnology (FET) programmes, which have already begun delivery in three regions to increase local technical capacity in electrical engineering and civil engineering, as well as the new Infrastructure and Construction programmes first being rolled out in Berbice at UG’s Training Campusearlynextmonth.
InapressreleaseUGsaid theseinitiativesarecentralto the University’s “One Graduate per Household” aspirationalgoalsembedded in the university’s Blueprint 2040 They align with President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s mandate to ensure quality university
education is accessible to regional students As Guyanamovesforwardwith the construction of 14 new hospitals, the University is proactively supporting the r a p i d , b u t r o b u s t development of a local medicalworkforce.
In addition to the premedical launch, the University is actively workingtoaddresstheneeds of Guyanese medical students returning from Cuba.Adynamic team from the College of Medical Sciences, led by Dean Prof. Ranjini Kurup andAssistant Deans Dr Andrew Hutson and Dr Jamain Hatton, is currently spearheading efforts to design a potential pathway that could support the continuation of their medical education locally shoulditberequired.
This process is being handled with high priority but remains conditional upon rigorous academic assessment and interministerial coordination
The University is collaborating closely with
the Ministry of Health (Hon Minister Dr Frank Anthony and Dr Samaroo), the Ministry of Education (Hon Minister Sonia Parag), and the Ministry of Public Service and Government Efficiency (Hon. Minister ZulfikarAlly)toproactively addressthispossibility
Vice-Chancellor Prof Paloma Mohamed Martin, whohasbeenworkingclosely with the cross-University teams, has assigned Deputy Vice-Chancellor for AcademicEngagement,Prof. EmanuelCummings,tolead the key aspects of the operationalisation of these programmes. As a former Dean of the College of Medical Sciences, Prof Cummings provides the institutional expertise necessary to ensure the regional rollout and any special programes maintain the College’s MBBS internationally accredited status and University’s high standards of excellence otherwise.
The rollout of these programmesissupportedby
University of Guyana medical students engaged in hands-on learning in one of the laboratories within the new College of Medical Sciences Building at the University’s Turkeyen Campus.
a significant leap in the University’s physical and technological infrastructure, including:
• The New Medical Sciences Building at Turkeyen, supported by the World Bank through the GovernmentofGuyana.
• The Yesu Persaud Building for Medical Education gifted by the late Dr YesuPersaudFoundation located at the Georgetown Public Hospital providing modern lecture and clinical spaces supported by the
MinistryofHealth.
• A d v a n c e d Microbiology and Dental Labs made possible through PACE in the Vice-
Chancellor’s Office as gifts from the Greater Guyana Initiative(GGI).
“TheUniversity’sgoalis to ensure that the expansion ofourmedicalfacultykeeps pacewiththenationalhealth
vision, ” said Vice
Chancellor Prof Paloma Mohamed Martin. “While the April launch of the PreMed programme across all
ten regions is a definitive step in accessibility, we are also working diligently to seehowwemighteffectively work in a collegial intersectoral way in the event of ourmedicalstudentshaveto returnfromCubaintoalocal curriculum that meets both their needs and our national standards,” VC added. The premedical programme begins in a week, and was developed in record time. It will serve around 200 students across the country initsinitialphase.
- bandits escape with 15 cellphones ...residents say attack exposes cross-border crime threat
A brazen midday robbery in Lethem has once again exposed the growing threat of cross-border crime, with foreign nationals allegedly storming an electronic store and escapingwithacacheofcellularphonesatgunpoint.
Thevictim,27-year-oldAhmadAfzal,BranchManagerof SamTronix,wasconductingbusinessasusualwhentwomen entered the store: one brandishing a handgun before swiftly seizingoveradozenphonesandfleeing.Whatfollowedwasa familiarpattern:awaitinggetawaycar,aquickescaperoute, andadashtowardtheBrazilianborder.Policeactedquickly, intercepting the suspected driver, Brazilian national Christiano Barros Buckley, in whose possession a stolen iPhone was found. But the alleged gunmen remain at large. Thisincidentunderscoresatroublingreality,Lethem’sporous borders are being exploited by criminal networks, leaving businessesexposedandlawenforcementplayingcatch-up.
Police said that the robbery was allegedly committed by three identifiable males of Venezuelan and Brazilian nationality,oneofwhomisnamedChristianoBarrosBuckley, a 28-year-old Brazilian national and taxi driver of Bonfim, Brazil. The suspects reportedly stole in excess of fifteen cellularphones, valueunknown, thepropertyof SamTronix. Theincidentoccurredbetween12:25hrs.and12:30hrs.The scenewasvisitedbyapartyofpolicemenfromLethemPolice Station,CentralRupununi.
Investigations revealed that the victim was conducting business as normal, when two when two bandits entered the store. One of the suspects pointed a handgun in the victim’s directionandproceededtorobhimofthecellularphonesthat wereondisplay,afterwhichtheymadegoodtheirescapeon foot.TheareawascanvassedforCCTVcameras,andseveral video footages were retrieved Several persons were questioned. Police were told that about 12:20 hrs., a goldcoloured Brazilian motor car bearing registration number JWY1202 parked in front of a resident’s yard.The driver, a male, remained in the vehicle while two other males exited, jumped a neighbouring fence, and proceeded onward. Witnessesstatedthatafewminuteslater,thetwo twomales returned,runningfromthewesternside,onecarryingabulky black haversack. They re-entered the vehicle, which then made good its escape in an easterly direction. Acting on information received at approximately 14:00 hrs., the said gold-coloured Volkswagen motor car, registration number JWY1202,wasintercepted.Thevehicleatthetimewasbeing driven by Christiano Barros Buckley and had no other occupants. A search was conducted on his person, during which an iPhone 15 Pro was found in his right-side pants pocket.
Thephonewaslateridentifiedaspropertybelongingtothe SamTronixandhadbeenondisplayatthestore.Themotorcar wasalsosearched;however,nothingelseofevidentialvalue wasfound.ChristianoBarrosBuckleywasfurtherquestioned and stated that he had been hired by a Venezuelan and a Braziliannational,bothknowntohiminBonfim,Brazil.He stated that one of them was armed with a firearm (revolver). He transported them to Lethem, where he was told by both suspects to park on a back street and wait. He further stated thatthetwomenreturnedshortlyafteratafastpace,carryinga bulkyblackbag.
Theytoldhimtodrive,whichhedid,andhedroppedoff thesuspects,whothenmadegoodtheirescapeonfoottowards theBrazilborder Heispresentlyincustodyassistingwiththis investigation.
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Contractors and members of the public who damage infrastructure belonging to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc. will now face legal action, as the company intensifies efforts to hold offenders accountable.
This was disclosed by head of executive management, Kesh Nandlall, during a recent hearing before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), where he explained that GPL has strengthened its collaboration with the Guyana Police Force to address the issue.
“We have a team of guys that are working very closely with the police. When we have these incidents, we act immediately… there was a lot of charges being meted out to these contractors,” Nandlall told the commission.
The move comes amid growing concerns over repeated damage to utility infrastructure, much of which has been linked not only to vehicular accidents but also to ongoing construction and roadworks across the country.
PUC Chairman, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, stressed that those responsible must be held financially accountable, noting that the burden should not fall
Persram Peraud the Divisional Director for Load Reduction (second to last far right) and other members of the GPL executive management team. on GPL or consumers.
“Has there been any attempt to penalise these contractors… bring them before the courts and make them pay fines?” Gopaul questioned, adding that insurance coverage carried by contractors should be used to offset such damages.
He further warned that the consequences extend beyond power disruptions, pointing out that damage to utility poles often results in severed telephone lines and prolonged service outages in affected communities.
“We can’t continue going
there… when you drive around and see posts knocked down at corners, one wonders whether people are driving war tanks on the road,” he remarked, referencing areas such as LBI where such incidents are frequent.
Divisional director for load reduction, Persram Peraud, confirmed a noticeable spike in infrastructure damage, linking it to the increase in road and construction projects nationwide.
“In the last few months, it’s a significant increase,” he said, noting that the rise in damage has also contributed
to more frequent power outages.
Under current procedures, GPL assesses the cost of damages and seeks compensation from those responsible. However, officials noted that contractors often fail to notify the company before conducting works near power lines, a requirement intended to prevent such incidents.
In those cases, matters are referred to the police for further action, as GPL moves to clamp down on negligence and protect critical infrastructure.
From page 2 regionalist. May his soul Rest in Peace,” the statement read.
Son of the soil
Acting Chairman of A New and United Guyana (ANUG) Jonathan Subrian in offering sincere condolences to the people of Suriname and the
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Santoki family, hailed the late leader as a son of the soil and Statesman, par excellence.
“The passing of this former Surinamese President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi is a profound loss not only for the people of Suriname but also for the people of Guyana.
As a nation that shared with him a vision of regional integration and economic partnership, Guyana mourns a true friend and a distinguished statesman whose contributions to strengthening the bonds between our two countries will be remembered for generations,” ANUG said.
The party said President Santokhi’s leadership marked a turning point in GuyanaSuriname relations, noting that when he took office in 2020, he brought a commitment to partnership that transformed our bilateral dynamic from mere neighbourliness into genuine strategic cooperation. “His August 2021 official visit to Guyana set the stage for what President Irfaan Ali rightly described as a “new paradigm” in relations between our nations. Under President Santokhi’s leadership, the Guyana-Suriname Strategic Dialogue and Cooperation Platform flourished, yielding unprecedented col-
laboration across multiple sectors. His government worked alongside ours to advance initiatives that had long been discussed but never realized: the historic Corentyne River Bridge project, which he consistently championed as essential to our economic integration; cooperation in the oil and gas sector, recognizing the transformational potential both nations share; and agreements on everything from agricultural trade to health services.”
According to ANUG what made President Santokhi remarkable was his deep understanding of our shared history and heritage. “He recognized that Guyana and Suriname were, for centuries, a single Dutch colonial territory, and that this common identity continues to bind our peoples. He spoke often of the role Guyanese have played in Suriname’s economy and welcomed our citizens as partners in his nation’s development. This spirit of mutual respect and recognition defined his approach to regional cooperation.”
“President Santokhi also demonstrated solidarity with Guyana in moments that mattered. He understood our struggles because his nation had faced similar challenges.
When he spoke of turning around Suriname’s economy through difficult structural adjustments, he drew parallels to the work of Guyana’s Cheddi Jagan. He understood that our two nations share not only geography but also the experience of overcoming adversity through determination and sound governance,” ANUG said.
The party noted that Guyana will remember President Santokhi for his humility and quiet strength. “We will remember his charm, his Jagan-like charisma, and his ability to connect with ordinary people. But above all, we will remember him as the leader who looked across the Corentyne River and saw not a divide but an opportunity— a bridge to be built, partnerships to be forged, and a future of shared prosperity. To the government and people of Suriname, and especially to the Santokhi family, ANUG extends our deepest condolences.
The legacy President Santokhi leaves—in the strengthened ties between our nations, in the projects he advanced, and in the friendship he cultivated—will endure. He was, and will remain, a genuine friend of Guyana,” the ANUG statement concluded.
Thegovernmentof G u y a n a i s planning to build a modern museum and art gallery to improve the country’s cultural infrastructure and support thepreservationofitsculture andhistory
Director of Culture, Tamika Boatswain, and DirectorofNationalEvents, AndrewTyndall, along with the Chief Engineer within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, recently conducted a site visit with representatives from China IPPR International EngineeringCorporation.
The engagement took place at the site designated for the new facility and marks a significant step
toward advancing the project from planning to execution With an investment of $1.3 billion,
the proposed Museum and Art Gallery is envisioned as a space that will preserve, showcase and celebrate
Guyana’s rich cultural
providingamodernplatform forartisticexpression.
The museum will house h
contemporary art, and interactiveexhibitsdesigned to engage both local and international audiences This initiative is set to deliver wide-rangi
g benefits for the country It will play a key role in preserving Guyana’s history and cultural identity, e
generations have access to curated narratives of the country’s development, traditions, and artistic achievements.
Additionally, the facility isexpectedtoattractvisitors byaddingapremiercultural attraction to Guyana’s tourism product The developmentwillalsocreate
new opportunities for local artists, historians, curators, and creative professionals byofferingadedicatedspace f o r e x h i b i t i o n s , collaborations, and cultural programming.
The collaboration with international partners ensures that the facility will bedesignedandconstructed to meet modern standards, incorporating innovative technologies and best p
completed,theMuseumand Art Gallery is expected to serve as a flagship cultural institution, reinforcing Guyana’s commitment to cultural preservation, education, and sustainable tourismdevelopment.(DPI)
Frompage14 defines a “council road” as any road other than a public road.Thisisdecisive.Oncea road is lawfully designated asapublicroad,itceases,by operation of law, to be a council road. The notion proffered that these roads remain permanently within the Council’s jurisdiction is wholly misconceived.” The ministry said section 274 of the Act, upon which the mayor relies, clearly states thattheCouncil’spowersare subjecttootherwrittenlaws, one of which would be the RoadsAct, Cap. 51:01.This critical limitation subjects themunicipalauthorityover roadstothebroadernational legal framework “The RoadsAct, Cap. 51:01 vests responsibility for public roads in the Minister of Public Works, including the authority to designate and manage such roads. This power is not subject to or limited by the City Council under any other law Therefore, the Minister, on behalf of the Central Government, has the lawful authority to take over and designate any road as a Public Road. The claim that there was an absence of consultationisnotonlyfalse but is without legal foundation In many previous engagements with City Council as well as by public pronouncements, Central Government has appealedtotheCityCouncil to upkeep, maintain, and manage these streets diligently and in the best interest of residents and
businesses.” The ministry said unfortunately, these constant appeals were i g n o r e d C e n t r a l Government owes a duty to the public in such circumstances to do that which is necessary to remedy this situation, as these roads have been wholly neglected, are in disrepair, and in some cases are hazardous to public use.
“Equally,theassertionthatthe Government has “seized” c o u n c i l a s s e t s i s fundamentally flawed Roads are public infrastructure, not private property owned by municipal bodies What has occurred is a lawful reallocation of responsibility within the statutory framework,notanacquisition of property.” Saiku’s warning Member of Parliament, SaikuAndrewsinreactingto the reclassification of the first 22 streets said public investment is not a pretext for seizing local authority
“The justification now being a d v a n c e d b y t h e Government thatitsbillions ofdollarsininvestmentsinthe rehabilitationofGeorgetown’s streets and the restoration of City Hall somehow legitimises its seizure of municipal assets must be firmly rejected” Andrews a businessman said He said public investment is not a favour,butratheraduty “The Government of Guyana ( Central Government) forms part of Guyana’s Local Governance Structure, in which the citizens of Georgetown contributes
significantly to the national treasury, therefore, infrastructure spending is a constitutionalresponsibility, not a license for control. To suggest otherwise is both flawed and dangerous. The logic, that state intervention could justify a takeover is worrying and raises legitimateconcerns.”
Andrews asked said today is 22 city streets and the Constabulary Training Complex; what will it be tomorrow? “Is the minister (Juan Edghill) signaling a possible tak
ver of Independence Boulevard and community streets in Albouystown because of its investment there? Should the people of Buxton be concernedthatagovernment takeover of its streets, market and playfields is imminent and justified by whatever financial assistancewasgiventotheir c o m m u n i t y ? I s i t unreasonable to expect a take over of the Property at CityHall?”
“Additionally, we must examine a much broader context, which gives insight into a more sinister political plot.Whatwearewitnessing is the unfolding of a deliberate strategy to weaken local democracy for the purpose of political control and domination through financial strangulation While highlighting capital spending asacover,theGovernmentis simultaneously starving Georgetown of revenue and autonomy which allows it to manufacture the narrative of incompetence by the Mayor
and City Councillors, a narrative it has already began topeddleandwillmostlikely use as it campaigns in the u p c o m i n g L o c a l Government Elections ”
This strategy, Andrews said is clear: provide an inadequate subvention, no different from smaller municipalities and disproportionate to even muchsmallerNDCs;refusal to approve property revaluation, freezing the city’s revenue base in time, even as the cost-of-service delivery continues to rise and removal of key incomegenerating assets, including streets- inclusive of sidewalks and parapets, and the municipal abattoir This effectivelystripstheCouncil of income derived from vendingduringMashramani and other national events,
from advertising placements, and from utility-related rentals The seizure of the abattoir removes a valuable piece of real estate property with strong commercial potential Onecannotclaimto invest in a city while dismantling its ability to sustain itself That is not partnership itiscontrol
The MP said even in service delivery, the plan is laid bare as the disparity is evident. “The Government recently delivered ten new garbagecompactortrucksto Region Two While any investment in public sanitation is welcome, it raises a fundamental question:whatpreventedthe additionalallocationofeven a portion of those resources to Georgetown—the largest municipality in the country, where waste management
challenges are most acute? This is not oversight—it is intentional If the Government’s intention to support Georgetown was genuine, it would have pursued collaboration, not confiscation. It would have pursuedthestrengtheningof t h e f i n a n c i a l a n d administrative capacity of the City Council, not undermine it. It would have recognized that local governance is not an obstacle to development, rather, a cornerstone of it. The people of Georgetown deserve development—but also dignity, representation, and the right to be governed by those they elected. Yes, those they elected at Local Government Elections. No amount of expenditure can justify the erosion of that principle.”
(AL-JAZEERA) - United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told Al Jazeera that the Strait of Hormuz will “reopen one wayoranother”inthewakeofthe eventual end of the US-Israeli war with Iran.The exclusive interview onMondaycameasspeculationhas grown over a possible US troop deployment in Iran and as the effective closure of the strait continuestoroilglobaloilmarkets.
US boots on the ground would represent a new phase in the grinding conflict, which began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes, even as US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that the US is pursuing diplomacy withIran.
Rubio again maintained there were “messages and some direct talksgoingonbetweensomeinside of Iran and the United States, primarily through intermediaries, but there’s been some conversation”. Iran has repeatedly denied that talks were ongoing. Pakistan on Sunday said it would host direct talks “in the coming days for a comprehensive and lasting settlement of the ongoing conflict”. Rubio added that Trump “alwaysprefersdiplomacy,always prefers an outcome...and we could havedonethisbefore”.
The Trump administration had previously pursued indirect talks with Iran to curtail its nuclear programme.Oneroundoftalkswas
derailed last year with Israel’s 12day war against Iran, which ended with US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facility. A second round of diplomacywasunderwaywhenthe USandIsraelbeganthelatestwar
Rubio again indicated the US administration’s preference for regime change in Iran, which the US and Israel have so far been unable to achieve despite several high-profile assassinations, including the killing of Supreme LeaderAyatollahAliKhamenei.
“We would always welcome a scenario in which Iran was led by people that had a different view of thefutureandhadadifferentview,” he said. “And if that opportunity presents itself, we’re going to take it” “The people of Iran are incrediblepeople,veryresourceful, veryentrepreneurial,”headded.
“But it’s their regime that’s been a problem And instead, they’vechosentospendthewealth of their country to support Hezbollah and Hamas and Shiite militiasinsideofIraq,andtotryto destabilise Syria when [Bashar alAssad]wasthere,”hesaid.
Nuclearandballisticweapons
Rubio further called on Iran to end its nuclear programme and to curtail its drone and missile programme. He accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons to “threatenandblackmailtheworld”, aclaimTehranhasforyearsdenied, maintainingitsnuclearprogramme
wasonlyforcivilianpurposes.
On Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was considering a US Special Forces operationtoseizeenricheduranium storedinIran.Militaryexpertshave warnedthroughoutthewarthatUS and Israeli air strikes alone would not be able to destroy Iran’s capabilities.
In a statement to Al Jazeera, WhiteHousepresssecretaryKaroline Leavitt did not deny the report, but said: “It’s the job of the Pentagon to makepreparationsinordertogivethe Commander-in-Chief maximum optionality It does not mean the President has made a decision” Rubio said Iran needs “to stop sponsoring terrorism, and they need to stop building weapons that can threaten their neighbours,” adding that the “short-range missiles that they’relaunching,theyonlyhaveone purpose, and that is to attack Saudi Arabia and the UAE and Qatar and KuwaitandBahrain”Turningtothe Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed to open traffic, Rubio voiced optimism it would be reopenedwhentheconflictends
“The Strait of Hormuz will be open when this operation is over…one way or another,” Rubio said. “It will be open because Iran agreestoabidebyinternationallaw and not block the commercial waterway, or a coalition of nations around the world and the region, withtheparticipationoftheUnited
States will make sure that it’s open ” He threatened “real consequences” if Iran closes the straitafterthefightingends.
The US has previously sought to raise a coalition to protect ships in the Strait of Hormuz, but has faced wariness from many traditional allies concerned over tacitentryintotheconflict.
‘Ourobjectivesin Iranareclear’
Rubio’s statements on Monday broadly reflected a list of demands putforthbyWashingtontoendthe war Iranhasrejectedtheproposal, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkianreleasingitsownlistof demands, including “recognising Iran’slegitimaterights,paymentof reparations, and firm int’l g
aggression”. For his part, Trump told the Financial Times in an interviewpublishedonSundaythat he hopes to “take the oil in Iran” including by possibly seizing the keyexporthubofKhargIsland.
“Maybe we take Kharg Island,maybewedon’t Wehave a lot of options,” he added “It would also mean we had to be there [on Kharg Island] for a w h i l e ” T h e T r u m p administration has presented a carouselofobjectivesinthewar, including degrading Iran’s military capability, preventing it from ever developing a nuclear weapon, and helping to foment
regime change. However, its endgame has remained unclear, with its final goals possibly diverging from Israel, which has pushed for more comprehensive regime change To date, at least 1,937 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, with at least20killedinIsrael,26killed across the Gulf states and 13 US soldiers killed Rubio told Al Jazeerathattheadministrationdid not expect the war to drag on indefinitely “We have very clear objectives that we’re trying to achievehere Thoseobjectivesare the destruction of the Air Force, which has been achieved; the destruction of their navy, which has largely been achieved; a significant reduction in the numberofmissilelaunchersthat they have, which we’re well on ourwaytoachieving ”
“And we are going to destroy the factories that make those missilesandthosedronesthatthey are using to attack their neighbors and the United States and our presence in the region…We will achieve them in weeks, not months,”hesaid.
PalestinianAuthoritycallsthebilla‘warcrime’against Palestinians,saysitbreachestheFourthGenevaConvention.
Aljazeera - Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has passed a controversial onesided bill that will instruct militarycourtstoimposethe deathpenaltyonPalestinians convicted of killing Israelis in acts of “terror”, but will notimposethesamepenalty on Jewish Israelis convicted ofkillingPalestinians.
The law, which enters into effect within 30 days, wasapprovedonMondayin the 120-seat Knesset by 62 lawmakers, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with 48 voting againstitandoneabstention.
Its passage marks a majorvictoryforIsrael’sfar right,withNationalSecurity Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir having pushed for its enactmentasoneofthemain conditions of his Otzma
Yehudit (Jewish Power) party’s coalition agreement withNetanyahu.
The Palestinian Authority called the bill “a war crime against the Palestinian people”, saying that it breached the Fourth Geneva Convention, “particularly the protections it guarantees for individuals and the safeguards for fair trials” The new law, introduced as Israel’s g e n o c i d e a g a i n s t
Palestinians in Gaza continues, instructs military courtstryingonlyWestBank Palestinians, who are not Israelicitizens,toimposethe draconiansentenceforlethal attacksonIsraelis.
AmichaiCohen,asenior fellow at the Israel
Democracy Institute’s Center for Democratic
Values and Institutions, told the Associated Press that “Jews will not be indicted underthislaw”.
Under international law, henoted,Israel’sparliament should not be legislating in the West Bank, which is not sovereign Israeli territory in spite of the best efforts of Netanyahu’s far-right coalition to annex the territorytoIsrael.
The lawyer for the Knesset’s National Security Committee also raised several concerns during earlier deliberations, noting that it did not allow clemency, contradicting internationalconventions.
Rights group B’Tselem pointed out prior to the Knesset’sapprovalofthebill that the conviction rate for Palestinians tried in military
courts is about 96 percent.
“In many cases, these convictions are based on ‘confessions’ obtained through pressure and torture during interrogations,” it said in a post on X on Sunday
“The law is worded in suchawaythatittargetsonly Palestinians.Anditwillturn the killing of Palestinians into an accepted and common tool of punishment t h r o u g h s e v e r a l mechanisms,” said the group According to Palestinian prisoner advocacy group Addameer, morethanathirdofthe9,500 Palestinians detained by Israel as of March 11 were
b e i n g h e l d u n d e r administrative detention withoutbeingtried.
Minutes after the law
was passed, the Association ofCivilRightsinIsraelsaid it had filed a petition with Israel’s Supreme Court to challenge it, describing it as “discriminatory by design” and “enacted without legal authority” over West Bank Palestinians. On its website, theassociationnotes,among other criticisms, that the “threshold for imposing the death penalty would be lowered”,withcourtsableto imposesentencesofdeathby hanging by simple majority rather than a unanimous decision by judges. Though Israel technically has the deathpenaltyonthebooksas a possible punishment for acts of genocide, espionage during wartime, and for certain“terror”offences,the countryhasn’tputanyoneto death since Nazi war
criminal Adolf Eichmann wasexecutedin1962. AppearingintheKnesset before voting began, BenGvir wore a pin featuring a small metal noose on his lapel. “From today, every terrorist will know, and the whole world will know, that whoever takes a life, the StateofIsraelwilltaketheir life,”hesaid.Thebill,which comes into effect as the occupied West Bank experiencesasurgeinIsraeli militaryandsettlerviolence, was condemned by the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy and the UnitedKingdomonSunday Amnesty International saidinFebruarythatitwould make the death penalty “anotherdiscriminatorytool in Israel’s system of apartheid”.
The escalating war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran is being sold as a mission of security and stability, but increasingly it resembles a dangerous exercise in power without foresight.What began as strikes on nuclear and military targets has spiraled into a widening regional conflict, drawing retaliation, civilian suffering, and global economic shock.
The precision killings, the bombings, the ultimatums, these are tactics, not strategy. Even as Iranian leadership has been decimated, the state remains intact, and arguably more hardened. Regime change cannot be delivered by missiles, nor imposed by foreign hands without consequences.
Meanwhile, dissent is growing internationally. Allies are breaking ranks, calling the war illegal and unjust, exposing the fragile legitimacy of this campaign. This is not a clean war It is a gamble, one that risks igniting a broader catastrophe while repeating the oldest mistake in geopolitics: believing force alone can reshape nations.
The roar of engines and the return of competitive karting created an electrifying atmosphere as the 2026 MPS Kart Revival roared to life at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club Kart Circuit, with drivers across multiple classes delivering thrilling performances in front of an enthusiasticcrowd.
The event, which signaledastrongresurgence of local karting, brought
toge
n
d competitors and rising talents, all eager to stamp theirauthorityonthecircuit. Fromthejuniorcategories totheeliteclasses,thedaywas filled with speed, skill, and intense battles for podium positions In the Briggs and Stratton Cadet class, young sensation William Vieira poweredhiswaytofirstplace with a composed and confidentdrive Vieiraheldoff strong challenges from
Asrudeen Mohamed, who securedsecond,whileNathan Seejatan rounded out the podium in third. The Cadet d
highlighted the promising
motorsport, with all three
g impressive control and race awareness The Briggs and Stratton Senior Heavy categorysawJeremyTen-Pow dominate proceedings, converting pace into victory
with a commanding performance Mikhail Persaud finished second after a consistent run, but was unable to match Ten Pow’srace-winningspeed.
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
You'll find that things are slipping nicely into place for you today, Aries Your persuasivemannerandgentle nudges are just enough to get peoplewhereyouwantthem.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
When faced with ten entrees onthemenu,itmightbehard for you to choose just one. Feelfreetoordertwoormore, Ta u r u s D o n ' t l e t indecisiveness slow you down.Atthesametime.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Your dreams won't come true unless you believe in and act onthem,Gemini.Nooneelse is going to do it for you. Unless you have a fairy godmother, you need to take mattersintoyourownhands.
CANCER(June21–July22)
If people hassle you or give you a hard time about your appearance today, pay them nomind,Cancer Youhavethe righttoliveyourlifeanyway youwantto.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Reachforthepotofgoldatthe end of the rainbow, Leo. It's closerthanyouthink.Indeed, your dreams are completely within your reach, and there are huge forces at work helping you achieve your goals.
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
Today is your day to dream and dream big, Virgo. Think aboutwhatitisthatyouwant most out of life. Aim your arrow to the stars and pull back your bow as far as possible. There's no limit to howfaryoucango.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Expand your mind to its furthest reaches today, Libra.
e opportunity opening up for you in which you can make great strides in a creative realm.Followthemusic.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
Your mind may seem rather cloudy today, Scorpio, but don't let this hinder you. In fact, you'll find that you can use this feeling of fantasy to your advantage. Try to bring moremagicintoyourlife.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
Today is an excellent day for you,oneinwhichyou'llfinda great deal of strength in your emotions, Sagittarius Trust that your instincts are serving youwell.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Things might get a bit confusing for you today, Capricorn. Don't feel like you needtomakesenseofitall.In fact, this task may be impossible. Just be yourself. Let your creative nature shine through.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)Mixyourrealitywithabit of fantasy today, Aquarius. Allowyourfeettocomeoffthe ground for a little while. Give yourselfarest.Takesometime to meditate and clear your mindofyourdailyworries.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Let yourself go into high creative mode and drift into a whole other world, Pisces. Escape your present reality and explore your fantasies through any sort of artistic endeavor Dreamasbigasyour mindallows.
Ten Pow would go on to doublehissuccessontheday, returning to the track for the SuperMoto Final where he delivered another standout performance to claim top honours Elan Rahaman (#6) rodestronglytofinishsecond, while Matthew Phang and Andrew Jordan completed thetopfourinacompetitive field. In the Honda GX200 class, Luis Kumar emerged victorious after a wellcontrolled race, fending off challenges from Zachary Persaud, who took second place Shahab Ghanie completed the podium with a solidthird-placefinish
One of the marquee categoriesoftheday,theIAME X30 Senior class, delivered high-intensityactionasCalvin Ming (#4) proved his class withadominantdrivetofirst place. Ming’s performance was a testament to his experience and racecraft, as he held off Nicholas Sawh, who finished second, and Benjamin Phang, who securedthird.
Mingwasnotdonethere. He returned to claim top honours in the Open Class Time Attack, once again showcasing his versatility and speed Samuel Seukiree finished second in that segment, unable to topple Ming’s impressive lap times. Meanwhile, the 555 Speedway Rental Kart
opportunity for emerging drivers and enthusiasts alike IntheUnder-18mixed category, Zariah Insanally p
d
t performancetotakefirstplace, ahead of Javier Mendonca in second and Miquel McLeod in third. The Over-18 Male division saw Viraj Sharma claim victory, with Aditya Seetaramfinishingsecondand AkeemSemplesecuringthird
In the Over-18 Female category, Malicia Lawrence toppedthepodium,followed by Mickelly Rahaman in second and Alana Chung in third. One category remains under review, as the Briggs and Stratton Senior Light resultsarecurrentlypending due to an appeal Race officialshaveconfirmedthat the final standings will be released once the appeal processhasbeencompleted.
Play in the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports (MCYS) and National Sports Commission (NSC) sponsored Janet & Cheddi Jagan Memorial School Girls and Boys Windball Cricket competition will continue today, Tuesday March 31, at the National Gymnasium. Action starts at 10:00am andwillseeschoolsfromthe Georgetown zone battling it out for supremacy This is the second set of matches in the Gymnasium following the opening and then action in Berbice which was dampenedbyrain.
Frompage25 making it as exciting as possible for the attendees whohavehadtopre-register Each student would also be receiving educational supplies whilst there is
spontaneous giveaways of electronic gadgets to those who are attentive and answer questions w
presenters
Frompage24 ground is where it all happens.
The event is made possiblethroughthesupport of sponsors including G MIN Ventures, Rick’s and Sari, Busta Soft Drinks, Toolsie Persaud Ltd, China Trading, BK International, ENet, Star Rentals, JCA, IPA, Aurora, Kings Liquor Store, Cummings Electrical Company Ltd, Gafoors, and NewThrivingRestaurant.
schedulefor 9:00pm
SF #1Winnerof1vs Winnerof3 SF.#2Winnerof2vs Winnerof4 Losersofsemifinalswill battleforthirdplace honours at10:00pm FinalWinnerofSF#1vs Winner ofSF#2
Thursday,April2, Quarterfinalfixtures WestSideAlliancevs Zeelugt 7:00pm Plaisance vs Order & Discipline
Guyana will have their fingers crossed for good weather when they face off against Barbados following
theirabandonedfirstgameat theLusignanGround,aspart of today’s second round triple-header hosted across
theCaribbean. At Melbourne Park in Kingston, Trinidad and Tobago beat the home
Guyana will be hoping for some good weather today as they seek a much-needed win against the Bajans.
wererestrictedfor77intheir pursuitof128,thusaddingto theworkloadtoday
Meanwhile, today’s proposed matches will see Guyana praying for some good weather at home as theylooktogetsomeactual playtimeagainsttheBajans at Lusignan; with one eye stillontheweather.
Jamaica, who failed to reacha100runs,willbekeen ondoingmuchbetteragainst the Trinidadians, who will have the home-field advantage at the JB Cricket Ground in St Catherine from 10:30h; with the other twogamesexpectedtobowl off from 9:30h with all eyes on the weather (Clifton Ross) 2026/27
Jamaica by 2 wickets via DLS, after skipper Keshav Mongru and company had littleworktodowiththebat in order to get their team home. OverattheLusignan GroundontheEastCoastof Demerara, the visiting Barbados team and Guyana had their match abandoned due to the recent torrential rainswhichplaguedpartsof Georgetown city as well as otherpartsofthecountry Windward Islands and Leeward Islands also suffered a bit from the rain despite the former pulling off a 51-run win. Leewards
Leeward Islands will be on a revenge tour having suffered a huge loss at the hands of Windwards, makingtoday’sreturnmatch allthemoreimportantforthe Leewards.
The Guyanese are easily among the tournament favorites and a win today could not only help their momentum but renew a clean start after losing potential points due to the abandonedopeningmatch.
The stage is finally set for a thrilling climax to the 2026 Hamilton Green Cup, asorganisersconfirmthatall roads now lead to Plaisance groundonThursday,April2, for what promises to be an electrifying night of nine-asidefootballaction.
After last week’s postponement disrupted the scheduled quarterfinal clashes, the tournament will now conclude in dramatic fashion with a full eightteamfinaleplayedinasingle evening From the quarterfinals straight throughtothesemifinalsand endingwiththegrandfinale, fans will be treated to nonstop action in a winnertakes-allshowdown.
Atstakeisnotjustpride, but a substantial prize pool. Theeventualchampionswill walkawaywithatopprizeof $500,000incash,alongwith hampers courtesy of Rick’s and Sari Enterprise Additionally, trophies and medals will be awarded to the top four finishers, while second, third, and fourth place teams will earn $200,000, $100,000, and
$50,000 respectively In total,$800,000willbeupfor grabs on one unforgettable night.
Eight teams remain in contention, each with a legitimateshotatglory:West Side Alliance, Plaisance, Victoria, Mahaica, Zeelugt, Discipline and Order, GoldenStars,andMocha.
Amongthefrontrunners, West Side Alliance has emerged as a formidable f o r c e , d i s p l a y i n g consistency and attacking strength throughout the competition If they maintain their current form, they could very well go all the way Discipline and Order, on the other hand, havebuilttheircampaignon a rock-solid defensive structure, making them one ofthehardestteamstobreak down and a serious title contender Victoria and Mahaica bring balance and discipline to the field, both boasting resilient midfields and dependable defensive units that could carry them deep into the night. Meanwhile, teams like Golden Stars,
Plaisance, Mocha, and Zeelugt remain dangerous competitors, capable of upsetting any of the tournamentfavouritesifthey hit top gear at the right moment.
With eight matches, eight teams, and only one championtobecrowned,the anticipation continues to build. The format ensures there is no room for error—every game is do-ordie,everymomentdecisive.
Tournament coordinator Lennox Arthur is calling on fans to come out in full support, promising a showcase of some of the finest nine-a-side football talent in the country With highstakes,oneteamgetsto walk away with maximum spoils A grand prize amounting to 500,000 is up forgrabs.Theactionissetto be fierce competition, with nonstopactionallnightlong.
Thursday night is shapinguptobeaspectacle. Who will walk away with halfamilliondollarsincash and the coveted Inter-Ward Footballcrown?Plaisance
(Continuedonpage23)
The annual EasterYouth Educational Seminar hosted by the Pele FC Alumni, a non-profit organization based in the USA, is set to unfold at the MarianAcademyonApril78 where over 100 kids between the ages of 14-18
w i l l b e n e f i t According to Executive Member Patrick ‘Labba’ Barton, who is also the Alumni Treasurer and a former national player, this year’s activity will continue their investment in youth
e m p o w e r m e n t
”This all forms part of the P e l e F C A l u m n i Corporation’s mantra of giving back to our nation.
Well over one thousand children have benefitted from this investment over the years, and we will continue to make this a priority.”
Barton shared that this year again, many of the membersfromtheUSAwill be back here to support the programme which will also see two football matches being played on Saturday
April4thatthePoliceSports Club Ground, Eve Leary Buxton Stars and Pele FC will clash in an Under-15 match from 16:00hrs with theGuyanaPoliceForceand PeleFCfacingoffinasenior encounter to cap the night off. Bartonstated,“Football isthesportthatmadeuswho weare,affordingmanyofus
the opportunity to study in the USA and here we are today
Wewanttoletourvalued youngpeopleknowthatwith discipline, commitment and the will to achieve, they too can emulate and even do better than us ” Fellow Executive Member, Eric ‘Riggy’ Smith echoed
Participants, facilitators and organisers of Pele FC Alumni Easter Youth Educational Seminar 2025 at Marian Academy.
Barton’s sentiments and informed that a solid foundation educationally is need regardless of which sport you play and the Pele FC Alumni is committed to playing their part in supporting this as much as theycan.”Thisyearwehave includedthefollowingareas that would be featured durin
d
educational seminar, dental h y g i e n e , m e n t a l health/suicide, healthcare, social etiquette, self-esteem, banking/finance, reading importance and aviation.” Smithnotedthatthesessions are always interactive and thepresenterswillbe (Continuedonpage23)
Candidate Master Sachin Pitamber
is the 2026 National Chess Champion, while Woman Candidate Master Aditi Joshi has successfully retained her title as Women’s Chess Championfor2026.
Theninthandfinalround was played last Saturday by 20 qualifying participants. After nine rounds of gruelling, high-stakes competition, CM Pitamber emerged as the definitive winner of the JUMBO JET Auto Sales-sponsored 2026 National Open Chess Championship. Meanwhile, W C M A d i t i J o s h i showcased remarkable
poise, successfully defendinghertitletoremain the National Women’s Champion in the Diamond Fire Insurance-sponsored 2026 National Women’s Championship.
The nine-round robin tournament started on Saturday, March 14, at the David Rose Special School and concluded on March 28 at the National Racquet Centre.
In the Open Category, fifteen-year-old Pitamber
dominated the field, steamrolling through his opponents to secure a flawless, unbeaten finish with an impressive 7 5 points, while three hardfought draws denied him a perfect score; his performance was nothing short of commanding. His most critical tests came in the fourth, sixth and eight rounds, where he stood his ground, defeating FM Anthony Drayton, drawing
with finalist, Rolex A l e x a n d e r a n d heavyweights CM Taffin Khan and Keron Sandiford. Currently the U16 Open Champion, Pitamber has cementedhisstatusasoneof Guyana’selitechessplayers, consistently demonstrating remarkable resilience and tactical prowess across both local and international stages.
Securing second place with a hard-earned 7 points is the reigning Junior Champion,KyleCouchman. No stranger to the highstakes environment of elite championships, Couchman dismantled his competition withaseriesofclinicalwins and strategic draws His championship run was
Scene from the 2026 Open Chess Championship.
highlightedbycrucialdraws againstKeronSandifordand FM Anthony Drayton, alongside a massive victory over CM Taffin Khan. As one of Guyana’s most prominent young chess talents,Couchmancontinues
on a steady upward trajectory within the chess community
FM Drayton secured thirdplaceoverall,finishing with 7 points after tiebreakerrulesdeterminedthe final standings FM Drayton’s run was nearly flawless, marred only by a lone defeat from CM Pitamber and two hardearned draws His deep wealth of experience providedthenecessaryedge tosecurehistop-threefinish.
Asoneofthemostseasoned veterans in the Guyanese Chess Community, Drayton
remains a profound inspiration to his younger colleagues, setting a high standard for tactical gameplay and competitive consistency
Taking fourth place with 6.5 points is CM Khan. Despite a challenging run, Khan’s deep tactical knowledge and veteran presence at the board gave him a distinct edge over the field.Whilehewasunableto successfully defend his title thisyear,hemadeenormous inroads during the opening weekend with a string of solid victories Despite setbacks against Couchman and hard-fought draws with FM Drayton, CM Pitamber, and Sandiford, Khan’s performance reinforced his reputation as an elite player Having represented Guyana in countless arenas, he remains a mainstay of
e x c e l l e n c e a n d a powerhouse in the national chesscommunity
Keron Sandiford
claimed fifth place with a total of 5.5 points after a taxing series of games
While the tournament
proved challenging, Sandiford’s refined game allowed him to navigate the field effectively Although he conceded two games to Jaden Taylor and FM Drayton, respectively, and drew with three opponents, his resilience in securing pivotal victories ensured a strongtop-tierfinish.
A mainstay of the local chess scene, Sandiford frequently draws on his experience representing Guyana on the international stage, bringing a high level of strategic depth to every match against Guyana’s seasonedandyoungplayers.
Rounding out the Open Category standings were Roxel Alexander and Jaden Taylor, who both concluded with 3.5 points. They were followed by CM Ronuel Greenidgewith3pointsand Alexander Zhang, who finished with 1 5 points Despite a spirited effort in his debut at the National Championship, Leslie Campbell remained at the bottom of the standings, unable to break through and put points on the board this timearound.
In the Women’s Championship, WCM Aditi Joshi successfully retained her title with a commanding unbeaten performance, finishingwith7.5pointsand drawingmatcheswithWCM Jessica Callender, WCM Sasha Shariff and Kataleya Sam. While a perfect score
narrowly eluded her following three strategic drawsinthefinalrounds,her dominance remained absolute Leveraging a wealth of experience from
points. Proving her mettle against a younger field, the veteranstandoutbroughther A-game and tactical strategies to secure several pivotalwinsandhard-fought draws. While she conceded her only loss to young Kataleya Sam, Callender’s overall performance was a masterclass in resilience.As a seasoned player who has represented Guyana on the
continues to serve as an example and mentor for the next generation of chess players.
both local and international
stages, Joshi outmanoeuvred the field with precision and poise Her current standing as a toprated national female player highlights her dedication to thesport.
Sheremainsarolemodel f o r h e r y o u n g e r counterparts, proving that discipline and perseverance arethekeystochampionship success Securing second place is the experienced WCM Sasha Shariff, a former national women’s champion who concluded the tournament with an impressive7points.
Like the champion, Shariff remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, showcasing her trademark resilience.
She navigated the field with precision, securing victoriesatcrucialmoments and holding her teammates to hard-fought draws Shariff continues to prove herselfasaformidableforce onthenationalcircuit.
Claiming the third-place spot is WCM Jessica Callender,aformerNational champion who finished the tournament with a solid 6.5
Securing fourth place withastrong6pointsisCiel Clement.
No stranger to the highstakes intensity of ch
, Clement, known for her composure under pressure, successfully navigated the nine-round tournament with skillandprecision,withfive victories and two draws. Despite setbacks in the second and sixth rounds, Clement’s veteran experience shone through, allowing her to overcome her opponents when it mattered the most She remains a formidable presence in national competitions.
Securingfifthplacewith 5 5 points is the young Kataleya Sam, the reigning U14 and U16 Girls Champion.
Fresh off a dominant qualifying run, Sam demonstrated remarkable tactical maturity throughout thechampionship.
Despite facing setbacks inroundsthreeandfour,she staged a brilliant recovery, highlighted by a pivotal eight-round win against WCM Callender and a final
round draw against the champion WCM Joshi. As one of Guyana’s most decorated juniors, Sam remains a formidable force to be reckoned with as she continues her climb through thenationalrankings.
Rounding out the field was deaf playerAnaya Lall, who marked a successful return to competition by securingasolid4points.She was followed by Treskolé Archibald with 3.5 points and Sana Sreebalakumar, whofinishedwith2.5points. ItalyTon-ChungandParnita Kishun completed the standingswith1.5pointsand 1point,respectively.
Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded soon to the top three finishers from each category
The GCF extends its sincere gratitude to FIDE Arbiter John Lee, Technical Director for the GCF, for his exceptional workinlive-streamingall of the boards for each category on Lichess org and publishing all pairings and results on chessresults.com.
The Guyana Chess Federation extends its profound appreciation to our esteemed sponsors, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and Diamond Fire Insurance Their generous support was instrumental in the successful hosting of the 2 0 2 6 N a t i o n a l Championships.
We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to the David Rose Special School and the National Racquet Centre for providing the excellent venues that housed this year’s highstakescompetition
Frompage27 the better of me,” he admitted. “This is not an excuse, but rather an explanation.”
Vieira was clear in accepting accountability, acknowledging that his reaction was inappropriate and did not reflect the standards he strives to uphold as a national athlete and representative of the sport.
“I fully acknowledge that my reaction was inappropriate… I regret my
actions and the negative impacttheymayhavehadon the event, the club, and the sport as a whole,” he said, while emphasizing that he holds no personal grievance againstSingh.
TheSuperbikechampion also indicated his willingness to face the consequencesofhisactions, stating that he accepts full responsibility and remains committed to learning from theexperience.
The focus now shifts to the GMR&SC and the
disciplinary measures that willfollow
With the club having alreadysignaleditsintentto impose penalties and possible bans in accordance withitscodeofconduct,the spotlight is firmly on what action will be taken against one of the country’s top riders.
As the investigation continues, the outcome will likely set a significant precedent for how similar incidents are handled in the future.
Tensions boiled over at the Guyana Motor Racing andSportsClubKartCircuit duringtheMPSKartRevival onSunday,asadramaticontrack incident between two riders escalated into a shocking physical altercation that has since drawn widespread attention across the local motorsport community
The incident occurred during the final of the Supermoto race, when a clash between Superbike champion Matthew Vieira and fellow competitor Ravi Singhresultedinbothriders goingtotheground.
Whatfollowed,however, went beyond the boundaries of sport, as Vieira, after getting back to his feet, approached Singh, who was still on the ground, and struck him, slapping him in fullviewofspectators.
The altercation stunned fans in attendance and quickly overshadowed what had otherwise been a thrilling day of racing at the ThomasLandscircuit.
While motorsport is no stranger to high emotions andintenserivalries,suchan act of physical aggression has been widely condemned
as a serious breach of sportsmanship.
In the immediate aftermath,theGuyanaMotor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) issued a formal statement acknowledging the incident However, notably, the club refrained from identifying the riders involved.
In its statement, the GMR&SCsaidithad“taken noteofanincidentduringthe final of the Supermoto race at its sanctioned event ‘Kart Revival’” and strongly condemnedtheactionsofthe offender.
“Theclubisactingonthe matter,” the statement read.
“Penalties and bans, in line withitscodeofconduct,will be instituted to deter future transgressions GMR&SC reminds the public, its fans, and enthusiasts that it takes these transgressions seriously, as it goes against true sportsmanship and camaraderie in the motor racingfraternity.”
Despite the governing body’s measured response, clarity on the identities of thoseinvolvedcamethrough other channels, with M a t t h e w V i e i r a subsequently issuing a public apology in which he
directly acknowledged Ravi Singh and accepted responsibilityforhisactions.
In a detailed statement, Vieira expressed regret to spectators, sponsors, and members of the racing fraternity, while also offering a personal apology toSingh.
“I would like to extend
my sincere apologies Most importantly, I wish to personallyapologisetoRavi Singh,”Vieirastated. He explained that the incidentunfoldedintheheat of competition, noting that hehadworkedhiswayfrom last position to first and was in the process of lapping Singh when the situation
developed According to Vieira, a lack of a blue flag signal, typically used to indicate that a faster rider is approaching to lap another, contributed to the confusion on track. “In that moment, with adrenaline high and emotions running strong, I allowedmyfrustrationtoget (Continuedonpage26)
