Canada with 100% tariff over China trade talks
Duo nabbed with 345lbs of ganja in stop-and-search
Suspects confess to burning body of wanted man who livestreamed ending his life Essequibo woman dies hours after Anna Regina crash BoatsinksatKarasabai carryingjointservices ranks,GGMCofficer
The upgrade of the Karasabai airstrip, Region Nine will significantly boost tourism and agriculture opportunities for communities in the South Pakaraimas, Toshao David Albert hassaid.
TheMinistryofPublicWorksis spendingawhopping$993million to upgrade the airstrip which will have a length of 3000ft by 50ft, with a strength of 5000 SPI and would be eight inches thick rigid pavedconcrete.
The works will be executed through the Ministry's Special Projects Unit (SPU), with a community participation model of 50 persons. International Import and Supplies will be supplying the
The airstrip in Karasabai Village which the government is spending $993 million to upgrade.
Toshao of Karasabai Village, DavidAlbert
Also, it will benefit if you have to doamedevactoGeorgetownwhich is health wise, and also residents cannowbookaflightfromhereto Georgetown,”hestated.
The Toshao said too that, “We would also be having frequent visitors because our village is already into tourism and we are tryingtogetmoreclientstocometo Karasabai which is also known as thehomeoftheSunParakeets.”
riding, and mountain hiking to improve the tourism experience at thelocation. Thetourismproducts arebeingaggressivelymarketedon the village's social media pages with the aim of attracting more localandinternationaltourists.
“Up to last week, we had eight visitors from the United States of America,theycameandspendlike threedaysinourvillage,”hestated.
concretefortheproject.
Toshao Albert said the soon to beupgradedrunwaywouldnotjust benefit Karasabai but the seven neighbouringvillages.
“Someofthebenefitsthatitwill bringtoustheresidentsisthatyears ago it used to be scheduled flights here and hopefully this would be reinstated back to our community
Toshao Albert disclosed that currently Karasabai boasts bird watching, ant-eater spotting, and river tours for tourists. Efforts are being made to include horseback
In terms of agriculture, he explained that Karasabai is known for its cashew nuts which are harvestedonaseasonalbasis.
He said that the farmers from (Continuedonpage10)
Th e m u c h -
a n t i c i p a t e d budget for the fiscal year 2026 can be funded with about $500B or US$2 4B in oil revenue which flowed into the Natural Resource Fund
(NRF), according to
government's revised regulations.
Notably, the NRFAct of 2021 sets a ceiling on the withdrawal amount for each year
In 2024, the government of Guyana revised the first schedule of the law which sets out the guidelines for withdrawalsfromtheFund. For any fiscal year, it allows 100% withdrawal of the first US$1 billion received in the preceding year, 95% of the next US$1B, 90% of the third US$1B, 85% of the fourth billion, 50% of the fifth billion,and10%ofamounts exceedingUS$5billion.
Thesixsuspectsarrested on Tuesday at Three Miles, Wisroc Linden, where burnt materials were discovered, haveadmittedtoburningthe body of Jamal 'Skinny' Bourne.
Policeconfirmedthatthe suspectsadmittedtoburning the Bourne's body after he shot himself in the head during a live stream last Sunday The suspects reportedly told investigators that they burnt the man's body because they were afraid to go to the police to reportwhattranspired.
The six suspects are expected to appear in court on Monday to answer charges related to failing to report an unnatural death. Further, one of the six suspects will also face charges in relation to possession of a firearm and ammunition without being licensed.
Meanwhile,onSunday,a video recording of Bourne shooting himself while on a live broadcast went viral on social media. Bourne was wanted in connection with themurderofAkeemHamer at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerarawhichoccurredon September12,2024.
Kaieteur News also obtained a short video clip capturing the moments after the live social media
broadcast by Bourne abruptly ended. In the ninesecond video, a man believedtobeBourneisseen lying on the ground with
Figures verified by an independent accountant indicate that government will be allowed to withdraw about US$2.4B or G$500B tofinancethisyear'sbudget, considering the country's earningsfromthesectorlast year
Receipts published by the Bank of Guyana reveal that during the year 2025, G u y a n a e a r n e d approximately US$2.4B in oil revenue, inclusive of profits, royalties and a US$15M signing bonus, paid by oil and gas companies for a Shallow Waterblock.
Meanwhile, in 2025, $512.4 billion or US $2.5 billion from the NRF was usedtofundtheBudget.
what appears to be blood on his face. The camera then pans to a chair where the individual reportedly sat earlier, showing what also appears to be blood on the covering.Amale was heard responding to a female who was crying saying, “No leff duh,leffduhIgundealwith duh.”
Police reported that, “During the broadcast, Bournewasalsoobservedin the company of other individuals while allegedly displaying a cadre of suspected firearms The video has since been removed from the page on which it was originally posted.”
On Wednesday, sources were able to confirm that there were what appeared to be burnt remains of a male, in the area where the burnt materialwasdiscoveredand it is suspected to be that of Bourne.
point in time for intergenerational equity, which willcomelater.”
While concerns were raised regarding raiding of the fund, leaving little or nothing for savings and emergency situations, the government defended the rationale behind the revision.
Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeopreviouslyexplained that spending the revenues now “gives us a greater return than saving at this
Jagdeo at the time justified the formula change by talking about the country's development needs and the potential for higher returns through investmentintheshortterm.
“So, we believe that when you look at the sums given the size of the budget, it's not unreasonable now to utilise a bit more from the NRF,”hesaid.
Asked to respond to concerns about savings, the VP said that the new rule
would ensure significant savingsoncerevenuesreach acertainlevel.“So,it'snota time-bound thing. It is a quantum-bound issue,” he said.
In the meantime, government has been silently preparing to announce the 2026 Budget, which is expected to be announced in the National AssemblyonMonday
With expectations high in some quarters, others expect the government to c o n t i n u e “ s k e w e d allocations” to benefit specificsectionsofsociety
Leader of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Aubrey Norton told reporters that, “The fundamental problem we face is the skewed allocation of resources, into programs and projects that allow family, friends and favoritestogetrich.”
Norton believes that a changeinthispatternwould be difficult, adding that this year's budget is not likely to be produced on equity According to him, this means,thatthosewithlessin thepopulationwouldgetless whilethosegettingmoreare likelytobenefitfrommore.
“They are going to continuedownthesameroad that they have been going. And so, I can say to you, I didn'texpectthemtoconsult us, because if they consult us, we will put to them the things we have in our manifesto,whichisbasedon putting the people first,” the former Opposition Leader said.
More recently, APNU alsourgedthegovernmentto avoid increasing the country's debt profile, amid fallingoilprices.
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Editor-In-Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS
Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
ExpectationsarehighforGuyana’sbudgetfor2026that isamatterofjustonedayaway. Whatkindofbudgetwillit be? What will it hold for the various crucial sectors of Guyana? How much relief will be in it for citizens who desperatelyneedtogeteverydollarthattheycanhavefrom it? WhoinGuyanawillwalkawayfromthebudgetwithjoy ontheirfaces? Whowilllistentoit,readaboutit,andlive withthedisappointmentsofbefore?
Abudget for a country, its national financial plan rich in visions and programs, rarely succeeds in pleasing everyone Thereisalwaysonegrouportheotherthatfeelsitdidn’tfeature ashighlyasitshould,andshouldhavedonemuchbetter Onthe onehand,Guyanesewhohavelongbeenmiredinpoverty,oron itsedges,havemuchtocomplainabout Fromhowmuchthey havebeenneglected,tohowmuchotherareasinGuyanahave benefited,althoughtheyhadalreadyreceivedrichsharesinpast record-breaking budgets Theissue,theworryandfear,onthis Budget Day minus one, is if that conspicuous imbalance will continuetheoldtrendin2026 Ontheotherhand,thereareusually severalsectorsintheeconomythatcanlustilyapplaudthebudget, duetohowmuchtheystandtorakeinfromtheprovisionsspecially madeforthem Theprivatesector,thesubsectionthatisengagedin Guyana’sdizzyingpublicinfrastructurebuildup,hascomeoutontop consistently,withmuchtobepleasedabout
Itisexpectedthatthispronouncedtiltthatfavorsthefew tothedetrimentofthemanywillcontinue. Weatthispaper assertthatthegovernmenthasitsbudgetprioritiesreversed. Incentivising private sector components, and expanding Guyana’s infrastructure architecture and stock, can be commended, but only when provided for at a level that doesn’t leave other segments of the population struggling. Oil production at increasing levels ought to have made a palpabledifferenceinthelivesofallGuyanese,withthose whocannotkeepupbeinghelped. Eithertoliftthemoutof theirdifficultiesor,atleast,toofferthekindofcushionthat helpsthemtomanagetheirlivesbetter,andwithdignity
IfthehavenotsinGuyanacouldnotpartakeinthenation’s naturalresourcebonanzawhenoilwasatUS$90abarrel,thenthe outlookforthemtodobetterwhenoilpricesthreatentodecline belowUS$60abarrellooksremoterwitheachpassingday The government’sbudgetforthisyearhastofactorinthatspecterthat nowhangsintheairrathermenacingly Alogicalresponsewould befortheupcomingbudgettobesmaller,andnotanotherwhopper thatsetsanewrecord Itishopedthatthegovernmentwouldnot compensateforprojectedloweroilpricesbyextendingitsdebt bingeofthelastfewyears Withoilpricestrendingdownwards, current debt servicing obligations assume new and demanding dimensions,soitwouldbemostirresponsibleofthegovernmentto haveanotherblockbusterbudget,alongwithmore debt added. Not only would that increase repayment pressures on citizens in the future, it sets this country to join the list of statesthatcameintoaresourcebonanza,onlytosquanderits potential by overextending on massive projects and loans fromanywherethatthosecanbehad.
SixyearsafterFirstOil,andafterannouncementsoframped up daily oil production, there is the distress of almost half of Guyana’spopulationattheirwitsendonhowtokeepabreastof spiralingprices Theyneedsignificantrelief,fromtheelderlyto parentswithyoungerchildrentothosewhostruggletobuybasic fooditemsandliveatadecentstandard Ithastobeironic,ifnota tragedy, that Guyanese are regaled as being among the richest peopleontheplanet,yetfoodandclothing,payingtheirregular monthlybills,havebecomesuchimpossibleburdens Therehave beenaseriesofrecordbudgetsparadedinannualsuccession,butthere aresignificantnumbersofcitizens,wholivewitharecordoftheirown: can’tafford,can’taccesswhatisavailable,can’trisealongsidethe national oil boom Tomorrow’s budget is sure to incorporate satisfyingallocationsforagriculture,technology,morebuilding, mining,education,health,andnationaldefense,amongothers Thoseareallgood,butononecondition. Thehavenots,the financiallyweak,arealsoaccountedfor,andnotwithtoken considerations. Wehopethattomorrow’sbudgetwillbring the meaningful and enduring to Guyanese who need every ounceofassistancethattheycanget.
DEAREDITOR,
In August of 2020, the M
Resourcestoldthepeopleof Ituni and surrounding communities of the Subregion, that the sectors they ar
, specifically forestry and mining, that development willbecoming.Sixyearson this is seen as yet another emptyandbrokenpromises.
For decades, Ituni and surrounding communities of
national wealth through
Contributing measurable value to Guyana’s GDP, e
revenues, yet the level of development returned to thesecommunities,havenot reflected the scale of resources extracted. Forcing these communities to demand justice in resource governance.
Back in 2020, residents and loggers raised several urgent matters that were important to their survival. They needed access to concessions closer to the community, more tags and
fair distribution for legal logging, access to governm
nt financial support,arealupgradetothe Linden-to-Kwakwani road and accountability for the quarry operating within reachofthecommunity,that is extracting stone while the Linden-to-Kwakwani road suffer Almostsixyearslater and the Minister’s return to the community leaves residents staring at the same empty promises. At his first meeting in 2020, the Minister announced a $900 million Forestry Revolving Fund to support the forestry sector It was presented as a mechanism to help the loggers associations, medium, and small-scale loggers These loggers continue to face the said challenges the fund was establishedtoaddress.
What loggers would like to know is, how can a $900 million support fund exist, and yet the logger’s association nor any of its members have never benefited from it?” Instead, they were pointed toward another future institution, another ‘coming soon’
solution, a merchant bank that will be opening, and more promises that loggers canseekfinancingsomeday
T h e L o g g e r ’ s
Association also asked for what makes sense, concessions closer to the community, opportunities thatreducecost,andincrease viability But the response, again, were promises withoutplans,timelines,and no clear intention to ensure that loggers of the community have access to betterconcessions.
Residents bluntly expressedtotheministerlast week, like they did in 2020, that “pitch patch” works on the Linden-to-Kwakwani roadisnotwhattheydeserve and what the President had promised.Thisrouteisnota luxury road. It’s a lifeline road It carries people, supplies, commerce, and emergency response while contributingbillionstowards nationalGDP
Residents have been seeingpatchworksforyears, and even recently, by the Ministry of Public Works, with official statements on the Linden-Kwakwani trail.
The people are not begging for patch works. They are demanding what was promised,aproperroad.
Here is the irony of the Linden-to-Kwakwani trail Itunisitsintheshadowofthe mostimportantmaterialsfor road building; sand, laterite, and stone. Pulled from the earth around them, yet a major piece of its own infrastructureremainsweak.
ThestateofItuniandthe surrounding communities of the Sub-region, shows what “resource injustice” looks like in real time. Where extraction is high and communitybenefitsarelow This government must therefore see Ituni and the surrounding communities of theSub-region,notasasking for favours. They are not. They are asking for a fair returnonwhatGuyanaearns fromtheirlabour,thetimber, land, stone, and other minerals that are being removedfromaroundthem.
The Minister last week repeated the same things he said in 2020. So, residents are now left to hope that the outcome is not the same. Where years after, they will be asking for the same things.
What the people want is access to the $900M Forestry Revolving Fund, better concession for Ituni/Kwakwani loggers, withaccessiblelocationsand transparentdistribution.The associationswouldlikeatag distribution system with fair allotments and a Linden-toK w a k w a n i r o a d commitment that goes beyond patchwork They would also like to have a committed “quarryc
t frameworktohelpwithlocal development.
Ituni and surrounding communities of the Subregion must not be treated like footnotes in Guyana’s prosperity story. These communities do not want more promises. They want outcomes Not another meeting Not another microphone moment. Not another “soon.” This can startrightnow,notby“pitch patch”worksofthetrail,but aproperlyupgradedLindento-KwakwaniRoad.
Hon.K.Sharma
Solomon MemberofParliament
DEAREDITOR, Dr Walter Persaud’s response (“Sovereignty Is Not Selective,” Jan 23) is a masterclass in using 1961 legalisms to solve 2026 problems.Hearguesthatthe C a n a d i a n H i g h Commissioner’spubliccalls for transparency are a “distraction”andabreachof the Vienna Convention. In doing so, he insults the intelligenceoftheGuyanese public by suggesting we cannot walk and chew gum at the same time—that we cannotlistentointernational perspectives while
not a secret
simultaneously building our ownnation.
TheFallacyoftheSilent Partner Dr Persaud wants a world where diplomacy happens in dark rooms and hushed whispers. He calls this “facilitation.” The rest of us call it a lack of accountability In a modern democracy, the public has a right to know what our internationalpartnersexpect of us When High Commissioner Sébastien Sigouin advocates for electoral reform or parliamentary clarity, he
isn’t“interfering”inourlife; he is describing the conditions under which Canadian taxpayers and shareholders feel safe doing businesshere.
Wemuststoppretending that “internal affairs” and “global economics” are separate. They are the same thing If our democratic houseisperceivedasmessy, the“rent”(thecostofcapital and investment) goes up for everyone Transparency isn’t activism; it’s a prerequisite for a worldclasseconomy
The 1961 Muzzle vs.
TheDoctorleansheavily ontheViennaConvention,a document signed when the world was a collection of closed-off silos Today, Guyana and Canada are signatories to the InterAmerican Democratic Charter Thismeanswehave already agreed that democracy is a shared regional value. You cannot invite the world’s most sophisticated mining and energy companies to your shores and then demand theirgovernmentsstaysilent (Continuedonpage06)
,
As a daily commuter, I feel compelled to speak out
against the glaring incompetence of the PPP/C
government, which continues to boast about developmentwhilefailingto deliverqualityinfrastructure and sound management
Onestarkexampleisthesocalled Heroes Highway, commissioned by the government on the 10th of December,2023.
D e s p i t e t h e government’s claim of progress, the reality for commutersisafarcryfroma modern, reliable road Instead, we are subjected to a rough, bumpy ride filled with new potholes, cracks, anddeterioration,hardlythe sign of a well-constructed highway Thisisparticularly
disappointing given that over $13 3 billion (approximately US$65 million) was spent on this project, awarded to several contractors, including GuyAmerica Construction Inc, V Dalip Enterprise, (JV) Colin Talbot Contracting Services and Eron Lall Civil Engineering
Works, S Jagmohan Construction and General Supplies Inc., H. Nauth and Sons, JS Guyana Inc., (JV) VALs Construction and AJM Enterprise, China
Railway First Group Company Ltd , Aronco Services Inc., (JV) Puran Brothers Disposal Inc. and Khemraj Nauth Contracting Services.
When we compare this with the historic SoesdykeL i n d e n H i g h w a y,
constructed between 1966 and 1968 at a cost of just US$17 million, the contrast inqualityisstark.
Thathighway,builtover 50yearsago,hasservedthe peoplereliablyforoverfour decades and remains functional today It was declared open in December 1968 by then-Prime MinisterForbesBurnhamof the PNC government. In contrast, with The Heroes Highway launched in only 2021, the PPP/C has demonstrated that it is incapableofmanagingeven basic infrastructure projects effectivelytodeliverquality
This pattern of mismanagement and incompetence to deliver quality is not limited to the HeroesHighway It pervades the entire
governance of the PPP/C, where promises are made but rarely fulfilled, and public resources are squandered for political gain.
The people of Guyana deserve better We must stand up, confront this government, and demand accountability
Enough of the lies and empty promises. It is time for real change, for competent leadership that puts the nation’s interests abovepersonalandpolitical gain. Guyanese have had enough of this misrule. Let our voices be heard, our country’s future depends on it.
Sincerely,
SherwinC.Benjamin GeneralSecretary PNCR
I agree and disagree with peeping Tom
, Peeping Tom’s missive of23rdJanuary2026,under caption “Why targeted cash grants make sense” made some well taught out and reasonable arguments that I found easy to agree with. However, I will make some comments and voice disagreements.
IagreewiththePeeper’s observation that targeted cashgrantscanbeusefuland indeed necessary However, I reluctantly support this methodofrespondingtothe plight of needy groups. The thingis, thatcash grants are easily and usually politicised here in Guyana, thus under minding our peopledevelopingasenseof having a right to the wealth ofGuyana.Agoodexample was/isthe“becausewecare” grantwhichtheGovernment does not cease to portray as an act indigestive of its p a t e r n a l i s m a n d benevolence. This is not a mindsetIwantourpeopleto inculcate.
Our people must see these grants as a right. For, me increasing salaries, so that workers can feel the pride of taking care of their families through their earnedwagesandincreasing pensions are better ways of reducing poverty and undermining citizens cultivating a sense of benevolence.
The peeper’s argument that these one-time grants should be for persons living in Guyana since they “contribute to the economy daily” is not acceptable to
me. I live in the USA and since being in Guyana is a qualifying criterion and sinceIamnotlikelytovisit Guyana in the foreseeable future, I do not personally have a stake in these grants. However, I cannot see how persons who have lived and worked in Guyana for sometimes 40 to 50 years during the days when resources were not available, should not share in its present relative abundance today, simply becauseoftheiraddress.
Finally, let me say somethingaboutanissuethe Peeperdidnotraise,buthas relevance to the issue of poverty reduction and elevation which is at the cruxofthisdiscourse.Since the PPP’s return to government in 2021, large numbers of NIS pensioners have been denied any percentage increase in their pension.ThisIfindheartless and unacceptable in a country hailed as the fastest growing economy in the world A significant percentage of the selfemployedandworkersinthe privatesectordonotreceive
(Continuedonpage06)
D
,
In Guyana and in the d i a s p o r a , H i n d u s commenced preparations on Friday evening January 24 for this year’s annual Phagwahcelebrationswhich willbeobservedonMarch3 and4.
January 24 also coincided with what is known as Vasant or Basant Panchami that marked the beginningofspringinIndia. Currently, the northern regionofIndiaisundergoing a very cold spell; northern USA and Europe are also experiencing an unusually cold spell. Vasant Panchami alsocoincidedwiththebirth of Goddess Saraswati, Goddess of Knowledge Hindustendtopropitiatethe Goddess for education, learning, knowledge, wisdom,science,music,and art On Friday, Hindus throngedMandirsinGuyana and the diaspora for puja relating to Holika or Phagwah, Vasant Panchami, andGoddessSaraswati.
Holikaisplanted40days before the actual festival; a castor oil tree was planted amidst puja (havan service
and reading from the scripture) to be set on fire, a hugebonfire,onmidnightof March 3 followed by the colorful jollification of powders and water.Acastor oiltreeisusedbecauseitcan thrive on any adverse environment.Thereareforty nights of festivities in communities congregating at someone’s home for chowtaal and traditional delicacies.
Guyanese Hindus have transplanted their festivals and cultural practices in the diaspora.
They have established many mandirs or temples w h e r e t h e y f o r m communities. Hindus across Guyana and globally symbolically planted the holika in preparation for the burning of Holika Dahan to be followed by the festive celebration of Phagwah GuyaneseHindusacrossthe USA gathered Friday evening at Mandirs to plant holika and to sing chowtaal, folk music that emerged out oftheBhojpurispeakingbelt ofIndia.
There are over one hundred Guyanese Mandirs
in USA and dozens of Trinidadian Mandirs as well as Mandirs founded by Hindus from Fiji, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Africa.
Vasant Panchami is observed on the fifth day of the month of Magha, according to the Hindu calendar, the birth or jayanti ofthedeitySaraswati.Sheis well dressed and presented asplayingtheveenamusical instrument Hindus worshipedheronthatdayto dispel ignorance.According to Hindu scripture, the pursuit of knowledge is the highest form of worshiping. On Saraswati Jayanti, there is a celebration of wisdom overignorance.Childrenare formally introduced to reading and writing and other aspects of learning. They tend to place books before the Murthi of Goddess Saraswati The children pay reverence the Goddess to remove impediments to their learning Hindus look forward for the Holi celebrations.
Yourstruly, VishnuBisram
Once trust in the justice system is undermined, the entire society becomes vulnerable to division
DEAREDITOR, As a public analyst, I have been listening to all sidesandopinionsregarding the political issues and recent happenings in Guyana, especially following the 2025 elections. Political tensions remain unstable, and for good reason, as many citizensareconcernedabout the direction of the country and the impact these developments may have on national unity and democraticorder
With the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) leader facing extradition to the United States, Guyana must still maintain proper parliamentary proceedings andensurethatafunctioning oppositionremainsinplace, as outlined by the Constitution. Regardless of political affiliation, the countrycannotaffordtodrift intouncertaintyorallowany situation to weaken the democratic structures that safeguard fairness, accountability, and representation. International diplomatic statements and concerns from the United
States, Canada, and the British High Commission have also highlighted how closely the world is watching Guyana’s responsewillnotonlyaffect internal stability, but it will also influence how our nation is viewed globally in termsofgovernance,ruleof law, and respect for due process.Thisbeingsaid,any crimes under investigation by the United States government regarding the Mohammeds should be carried out within the full legal framework If wrongdoing is proven, justice must be served. If allegat
n individuals must be treated fairlyandnotcondemnedby public opinion before the courtshaveruled.
The average citizen who may favour one political representative over another still needs to wait until the legal process is completed before jumping to conclusions. Emotions and party loyalty must never outweigh facts, evidence, and lawful procedure, because once trust in the
j u s t i c e s y s t e m i s undermined, the entire society becomes vulnerable todivisionandunrest.
At this critical time, all political actors must act responsibly and put country first. Guyana must continue to uphold its democratic principles, protect its institutions, and ensure that thelawisappliedequallyto everyone, regardless of statusorpoliticalinfluence.
With Monday 26th of January being Budget Day, thisisnotjustanotherevent onthenationalcalendar,but a critical opportunity for government and opposition to demonstrate respect for democratic process and the rule of law The country needs meaningful debate, clear priorities, and decisions that address the real issues affecting people daily, including the cost of living, employment, public services, and national security
Sincerely:
Mr.BlaneRBunbury Public Communications Analyst &communityadvocate
I agree and disagree with peeping Tom...
Frompage05 workers’pensionsaftertheir working days are behind them.
Generally, it is the little these workers are able to save coupled with the NIS pension that these exworkers rely on. So, why is government so willing over theseyears,tonotofferthese
workers a percentage increase on their NIS pension what makes them less deserving? Further, on thisimmediatelyabovematter, the peeper did argue for persons receiving less than $150,000permonthtobeseen asqualifyingforthis$100,000 grant Ireadinthisfigurethat thePeeperseesthis$150,000
as the barest of minimum for peopletosurvivalon(notlive on)inGuyanatodayIfthisisso Iwouldsuggestthatwherethe NIS pensions are concerned thatallthosereceivinglessthan thesaidamountshouldqualify for yearly percentage increase intheirpensions
Yourtruly ClaudiusPrince.
The people’s sovereignty is not a secret...
Frompage05 when our democratic institutions face scrutiny
That isn’t sovereignty; it’s a “shutupandpay”policythat noseriousglobalpartnerwill accept The “Distraction” Myth The claim that discussing a diplomat’s words “diverts national attention” is perhaps the most condescending part of theDoctor’sargument.
It assumes that Guyanese citizens are so easily confused that we cannot debate a High Commissioner’s views without losing sight of our national priorities. On the contrary, these debates are the national priority They
force us to ask: Are our institutionsstrongenoughto stand up to criticism? If the answer is yes, then the diplomat’s words shouldn’t botherus.Iftheanswerisno, then the diplomat is simply holdingupamirror The Sovereignty ParadoxItremainsaglaring irony that the defenders of “totalsovereignty”aresilent whentheU.S.justicesystem acts as the “hatcher” for Guyanese legal matters throughextradition,yetthey find a Canadian tweet about electoral reform to be an existential threat This suggests that sovereignty is being used as a shield to protectpoliticalcomfort,not a principle to protect the nation.Conclusion True sovereignty resides in the people, not in the silence of bureaucrats. A confident, mature nation doesn’t fear the “public lecturing” of its friends; it engages with it, proves it wrong with performance, or uses it to get better If we want Guyana to be a global leader, we must stop acting with hyper—sensitivity and startactinglikeapartnerthat embraces the lights of accountability In the modern world, if you aren’t transparent, you aren’t trusted.It’sthatsimple. Respectfully HemduttKumar
In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Dr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecencies in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.
MONDAY–JANUARY
19,2026
Scandalandgovernance
Guyana is racing oil out
of the seabed while accountability crawls on land.
With Liza One and Two possibly drying up in three years, the scandal is not geology, it is governance.
US$28.5 billion in Exxon costs sit under audit fog, reports locked away, figures “under review,” and not a cent recovered from sums alreadyflaggedasimproper ThisisnotExxon'soil.It
isthepeople'spatrimony Yet ministers treat transparency as optional and urgency as inconvenient Audits are m
production, not chase dep
undertakers. Every delayed discl
s Guyana's bargaining power and rewards corporate opacity. The government mustpublishtheVHEreport now, set firm recovery timelines, and explain why earlier findings gathered dust. If stewardship cannot keep pace with extraction,
then the real resource being exhausted is public trust. Andvotersmustact.
TUESDAY–JANUARY 20,2026
Censusclaimsdemand independentscrutiny
The preliminary results of Guyana's 2022 census raise more questions than
celebrate a 17.6 percent population increase and a startling15.5percentgrowth
population, these figures clash with long-standing
migrationrealities.
For decades, Guyana experienced net population stagnation driven by steady emigration, particularly to the United States and Canada There is little evidence that this trend reverseddramaticallybefore 2022. At the same time, the c
undercounting foreign-born
y Venezuelanmigrants,whose real numbers far exceed official figures This suggests that local growth may be artificially inflated
due to flawed enumeration methods Population data shapes national planning, resource allocation, and development policy It cannot rest on questionable a s s u m p t i o n s A n independent, international audit
us methodologyisnotoptional, it is necessary to protect public trust and policy credibility.
WEDNESDAY–
JANUARY21,2026
Policesexscandal
The latest revelations from the Guyana Police Force Academy are not merely disturbing, they are an indictment of a rotten institutional culture long protected by silence and connections.
While the Ministry of Home Affairs promises “zero tolerance” and investigations,thepublichas heard this tune before. Last year's probes ended with quiet transfers, not justice. Now, recruits describe an academy transformed into a marketplace of exploitation, wheregrades,privilegesand survivalareallegedlytraded for sex, alcohol and obedience. Thisisnotmisconduct;it is systemic abuse of power If these allegations are true, then the academy has become a crime scene masquerading as a training institution Government cannot hide behind press releases. Heads must roll, prosecutions must follow, andindependentoversightis urgently needed. Anything
lesswillconfirmwhatmany already suspect, that predators are protected, victims are sacrificed, and accountabilityisoptional.
THURSDAY–
JANUARY22,2026
Thebudget
As the Government of Guyana prepares to present its national budget on Monday, expectations are highandpatienceisthin.
Withrecordoilrevenues flowing into state coffers, citizens will be watching closely to see whether this budget delivers meaningful improvements in everyday life or simply expands bureaucracy and political spending Rising living costs, strained public services and persistent infrastructure gaps demand more than bold promises, they require disciplined planning and transparent e x e c u t i o n T h e administration must demonstrate that oil wealth is being invested wisely in education, healthcare, housingandjobcreation,not lost to inefficiency or favouritism.
Equally important is stronger accountability, ensuring every dollar is tracked and publicly justified.Thisbudgetshould mark a turning point toward inclusive growth, fiscal responsibilityandlong-term national development Anything less, risks deepening public frustration and widening the gap between government rhetoricandreality
FiveranksoftheJointServicesandanofficerofthe
GuyanaGeologyandMinesCommission(GGMC) were forced to swim to safety after the boat they were traveling in at Normandy Crossing, South Pakaraimas sank.
Inastatement,theGuyanaPoliceForce(GPF)saidthatthe incidentwhichoccurredatabout08:10hatKarasabiVillage,is beinginvestigated.
“Therankswereboardingan18-footaluminiumboatatthe landing for a joint operation along the Rupununi River when thevesselsankshortlyafterdepartingthelanding,forcingall occupants to swim safely to the river bank,” police said.No injurieswerereported.However,anumberofammunitionas wellasthreeservicerifleswerereportedmissing.Ranksofthe Guyana Defence Force are currently engaged in recovery effortsintheareaasinvestigationscontinue.
I’m not a particularly political person. Actually, I’m hardly a person at all sometimes,atleastnotinthe sense that people usually mean But I have been following Guyanese politics thewaysomepeoplefollow serial killers.You can’t look away,eventhoughyouknow it’s going to be messy, and probably involve a lot of screaming.
The latest spectacle involvesthePPPC.Theyare reactingasthoughtheendof the world is coming tomorrow. Why? Because AZMO, the Presidential candidate of the WIN party, isfinallygoingtobeelected LeaderoftheOpposition.
Finally. Tomorrow. It’s like watching someone realise that gravity exists, and then pretending that if they just sit very still, the lawsofphysicswon’tapply
ThePPPChas,ofcourse, trieddesperatelytostaveoff this eventuality I mean, whatelseareyougoingtodo when you’re facing something inevitable? They’ve not signaled any sitting of the Assembly for monthsnow
Months! One imagines thattheywerehopingacourt d e c i s i o n w o u l d miraculously appear to extradite the Mohameds,
who, rumor has it, know all sortsofterriblesecretsabout the PPPC, including where theygotthemoneytopayfor the legal fees to fight to ensure that they were not cheated in the 2020 general andregionalelections.
The irony, of course, is delicious, like food that has been sitting out for too long and you can’t decide whether to eat it or call the health inspector Nothing AZMO can do inside the National Assembly will affect the PPPC’s strangleholdongovernment. They have a commanding majority.
The Opposition? Weak. So why, you may ask, is the PPPC so obsessed with preventing AZMO from assuming his rightful position? It’s like worrying that the postman will overthrow your household justbecausehedeliveredthe wrongletteronce.
The answer is that the PPPC has descended into a level of pettiness that is d i s t u r b i n g i n i t s implications.Theyare,inthe most technical sense, petty, pitiful, and puerile. It’s a trinity of dysfunction. Their narrative, recycled as if it were a vintage handbag, claims that the country’s reputation is at stake if
AZMOiselected.
T h e c o u n t r y ’ s reputation! As if the entire world is sitting around sipping overpriced coffee, whispering,“Ohno!AZMO isLeaderoftheOpposition! WhatwillGuyanado?”And of course, the PPPC’s sidekicks nod gravely, as if this were some kind of international conspiracy rather than a political inevitability that has been pendingsince,well,always.
There is speculation, of course, that the PPPC may be contemplating a lastminute gambit—something spectacularly dramatic, like tryingtoinjunctthemeeting o f O p p o s i t i o n parliamentariansorclaiming that AZMO’s nomination is null and void because of some technicality that only exists in their collective imagination This would have to be done through proxy since the PPPC is not partofthemeetingtoelected the Leader of the Opposition This is a meeting for the Opposition MPsonly The grapevine says that certain foreign governments apparently have already signalled that such antics would not be entertained. This is reassuring, mostly because it suggests there is
Dem boys notice de government finally putting lil muscle behind clearing encumbrances on public roads. Dat is good news, because for years now, public road turn private property faster than you couldseh“encumbrance”.
But while dem boys clappingonehand,deother hand scratching head, because action without proper follow-through is likewideningroadandthen blockingityuhself.
Dem boys seh first things first: when de authorities decide to clear roads,demmustgiveproper notice Not notice whispersoft, neither Real notice Loudnotice.Noticesoclear that even de man selling plantainchipspretendinghe ain’t hear would have no excuse. Because chaos on public roads ain’t happen overnight, and it won’t
disappear overnight either unlesspeopleknow
exactlywhatcoming
Dem boys remember clear-clear when Amazona MallRoadjunctionandEast Bank Public Road bin turn into one big open-air
m a r k e t Ve n d o r s everywhere Trafficsqueeze sotight,evenbicyclehadto wait Authorities give notice,vendorsbinaskedto move, and when some pretend deaf, dem was moved Traffic breathes again People clap End of story?Nosir
Because like bush after rain, vendors grow back. Not in de same numbers, but enough to choke de junctionduringpeakhours.
And now, after de government widen Amazona Road to improve traffic flow, a new set of e n c u m b r a n c e s appear hire car drivers parking exactly where a turninglanesupposedtobe. Dem boys nearly laugh till dem cry Widen de road to
stillasemblanceofsanityin the world, though it is precarious.
One recalls the fivemonth impasse over the 2020 election results, when diplomatshadtocheckwith themilitarytoensurethatno onewould,infact,attempta coupinthemiddleofacrisis that should have ended months earlier You have to admit, when diplomacy involves asking the military politely, “Will you do the right thing?” it does make y o u q u e s t i o n t h e fundamentalsofcivilisation.
But with the PPPC, you can never tell.Which is part oftheproblem.Atthispoint, they should lick their wounds, accept the inevitable, and perhaps
consider therapy Their obsession with preventing AZMO from becoming Leader of the Opposition is like a man trying to hold back a charging lion with a broom.
Thebattletheyhavebeen waging was never one they could win. It was a battle that, if it were a movie, would end with the protagonistsittingaloneona park bench, talking to pigeons about how unfair lifeis,whiletheactualworld goesonaroundthem.
The PPPC’s behaviour, to put it mildly, is a remarkable demonstration of the human capacity for overreaction. The rest of us can only watch, slightly horrified, slightly bemused,
and wonder what other minor inevitabilities they will attempt to turn into existentialcrises.
Tomorrow, AZMO will beLeaderoftheOpposition, and the world, shockingly, willcontinuetoexist.Unless the PPPC has somehow arranged for it to end.And I wouldn’t entirely rule that out.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
ease traffic, then turn de turning lane into a hire car park? Dat is like buying biggerpotandstillcooking outside. What supposed to help traffic now helping confusion, and worse yet, danger Vehicles turning south dodging parked cars, drivers guessing, pedestrianspraying.
Demboyssehthisisno small matter Is a serious accidentwaitingforadate. Authorities must act now—not tomorrow after somebody get hurt and
vendors.Cleardeillegalcar park Keep de junction clearandkeepitthatway
Public roads is for de public, not for hustling, parking, or experimenting. Dem boys seh: do de right thing,doitproperly,anddo it before de junction make headline for all de wrong reasons.
Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
It is good that
Attorney General, Anil Nandlall spoke frankly I heard him loud and clear Azruddin Mohamed as Opposition Leader (OL) in Guyana's parliament would be a blot on this country A fecal smear across the face of country and people; an amber stream of liquid bodilydischargethatpushes theworldtowrinkleitsnose. His words give a clue on their connection to the pawing in the air, and balking,oftheHon.Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Manzoor Nadir on the same(OL)standstill. Ishare afewthoughts.
In Mr Nandlall's way of thinking,notonlyopposition members clamoring for WIN's Mohamed as (OL) would be tarnished by
history, but I submit something else. Humbly, naturally So, also, would those four senior diplomats that represent the ABC&E countries in Guyana. It is inconceivable that they spoke personally, without consultingandclearingwith their home countries
Therefore, those countries, allstalwartalliesofGuyana, cannot be excluded from thenwideentrappingnetthat theAGcast.
Next, the AG will disagree, but Guyana has earned a reputation as a major transshipment point for drugs to North America andEurope,assomeofsuch were intercepted in European ports Mr Nandlall could not have forgotten so quickly, easily Perhaps, he has reason to thinkthatthosemassivedrug
busts in Europe do not besmirch Guyana at all. It would help if he is just as forthcoming on the real, or imagined, damage from those developments on this country'sname.
Also, when senior members of the Guyana Police Force, at least one senior public servant, and a PPP Govt minister are stopped and questioned on arrival at US ports, Mr. Nandlall may be able to tell his Facebook audience, and army of swooning admirers, how those were innocuous and of no taint on Guyana's glisteningglobalrecord.
Further, some facts and circumstances are so wellknown that they are now undeniable, and which I'm now pained to lay at Mr Nandlall's feet. Who is this fellow, Azruddin Mohamed
(and dad), that is causing such upheaval, such great shakiness within the newly discovered conscience and soul of the PPP? He was tighter and higher and more welcomed as an insider within the PPP flock, probably more than most others.
Hiscompanyandmoney weresogoodthen;buttoday he smells dangerously, and the AG is incensed that his name could feature in the running for (OL). I tender the mere fact that Mr. Azruddin Mohamed (and padre) was so intimate with PPP lords that some of his alleged taint had to have infected them in some way, forbetterorworse.
To my regret, and with respect, I am unable to give Mr Anil Nandlall an exemption,sinceheispartof
the PPP Govt's inner circle, and a man very muchintheknow Even further, Mr Mohamed has been sanctioned and charged by theUS. ButMr Nandlallof all people must know that those are what they are and nothing more -allegations.
Othershavebeensanctioned (butnotcharged)bytheUS, andeithertheyarestillinthe pay of the State, or deep insidethePPP,wherethereis the equivalent of a Victim ProtectionPrograminplace.
To jog his busy memory, I referhimtotheseniorpolice officer (Matthews Ridge) and a former senior public servant (Home Affairs). A haul of 4.4 tons of the stuff that causes so much destruction may count as smallpotatoestotheAG,but likelyonlyforhe.
Last,Ireservedaspecial gift for AG Nandlall. He must know how Dr Cheddi Jagan was hounded out of office,houndedindailylife, and made into wallpaper in Guyana's National Assembly
He should refamiliarise himself on the nature of Dr Jagan'scrime. Ideologywas his unpardonable illegality Today, it's gold smuggling and money laundering History has a way of furnishing inconvenient remindersandparallels. Mr Nandlall is commended for hisconcern. Heshouldtake histemperaturetodetermine thesourceofhisanxieties.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Taken individually or cumulatively, I discern a terrible stain on Guyana's standing due to the failures of people close to the PPP Govt. Itisnotwell-received when travelling over the decades for ICE agents to l o ok at coldly and watch snifferdogsinactionaround baggagecarouselsfollowing Guyana-originatedflightsto USportsofentry.
Frompage2
his village would plant cassavaandthentheygetthe by-products like farine, cassavabreadandcassareep. They have recently started a lemon farm and presently theyaregoingtoplantbacka village farm which would include red peas, sweet cassava, plantain and some cashcropproduce.
ToshaoAlbert said while villagerswanttomarkettheir produce around the region, the upgraded airstrip would allow them “to export to the regionallevelandifpossible, thenationallevel.”
Further, he said that efforts are being made to export beef, mutton and pork.
“Yes, it is a good investment because not just toKarasabaibuttotheentire sub-district. It is a long-term investment and we really welcomethat.Therearealso other communities nearby also going into tourism like Tiger Pond, Rukumoto and Tipuru. These villages have wonderful tourism sites but it's just that it needs to be explored. They have huge
potentialintermsoftourism, so this airstrip would not bring tourism benefit to K a r a s a b a i b u t t o neighbouring communities thatbordersourvillage,”the Toshaoinformed.
K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that while the airstripisunderconstruction, the closest airstrip residents would access is the Lethem airstrip, which is approximately two hours awayviabus.
It was reported that to ensure accessibility at all times in the event of an emergency,thePublicWorks Ministry said road works were to begin from January 15, to ensure the road to Lethem is at a satisfactory level.
The Public Works Ministryhaddetailedthatthe airstrip will also be outfitted with50navigationallightsto accommodate night operations if necessary. The rehabilitatedairstripwillalso be painted in accordance with international standards and outfitted with a parking space to accommodate five aircraft.
Police have arrested two women for possession of 345.8 pounds of marijuana which was discovered during astopandsearchonSaturday along the Number 10 Public Road, West Coast Berbice (WCB).
The contraband was discoveredaround07:20h.
The women have been identified as 33-year-old Shamay Bryan and 32-yearoldSarafinaCheddy Reports are that Cheddy was arrested for a similar offense back in 2022.
“During the operation, ranks stopped a motor car withtwofemaleoccupants.A search was conducted on the vehicle,duringwhichseveral brown salt bags and black garbage bags containing bulky parcels wrapped in transparent plastic and containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis were found in the trunk,” the Guyana Police Forcesaidinastatement.
The women were both taken to the Fort Wellington
The attack hits civilians gathering firewood near Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, sources say.
Aljazeera - Two children have been killed in an Israeli attack in northern Gazainthelatestviolationof itsceasefiredealwithHamas inthePalestinianenclave.
Medical sources in Gaza onSaturdaysaidthechildren belongingtothesamefamily were killed when an Israeli drone struck civilians gathering firewood near Kamal Adwan Hospital in northernGaza.
Severe fuel shortages
have forced many Palestinians to search for fuelwherevertheycanamid low temperatures that drop aslowas10degreesCelsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) at nightthesedays.
Palestinians living in makeshift tents have little
protection from strong winds and rain, as most shelters are made of thin canvasandplasticsheets.
Israel continues to block or limit the number of vital aids entering the territory, such as tents, mobile homes or materials to fix tents, in violation of the ceasefire it agreed with Hamas in October, as well as its obligations under international law as the occupying power in the Strip.
Israel has violated hundredsoftimesonaneardailybasistheUnitedStatesbrokered ceasefire, which tookeffectonOctober10.
At least481 Palestinians have been killed and 1,206 others wounded in Israeli
attacks since October 11, according to the Palestinian HealthMinistryinGaza.
Israeli attacks killed 71,654 people and wounded 171,391othersinGazasince October 7, 2023, the ministrysays.
Inarelateddevelopment on Saturday, the Palestinian HealthMinistryinGazasaid the number of child deaths causedbycoldweathersince thestartofthecurrentwinter season has risen to 10 with thedeathofanotherchild.
“Thechild,AliAbuZour, aged three months, died due to severe cold at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital,” without specifyingthedateofdeath. The ministry added that the death “raises the number of child fatalities caused by
cold weather since the beginning of the winter seasonto10”.
Meanwhile, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were in Israel on Saturday to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, mainly to discuss Gaza, two people briefedonthemattertoldthe Reutersnewsagency.
The US on Thursday announcedplansfora“New Gaza” rebuilt from scratch, toincluderesidentialtowers, data centres and seaside resorts.
Theprojectformspartof US President Donald Trump'spushtoadvancethe Gazaceasefirethathasbeen shaken by repeated violations.
Meet thebeautiful andproudly Indigenous,Novita Pawelae,delegatenumber4 oftheBarticaRegattaPageant2026. Novitawasbornandraisedinthe beautifulvillageofBatavia,Region#7. ThisbeautyisagraduateofThreeMiles SecondarySchool,Barticaandiscurrently pursuingaBachelor’sDegreeinBusiness AdministrationatWesternStateUniversity throughtheGOALScholarshipprogramme. Beyondpageantry,Novitaisalsoasingeranda memberoftheKanaimaGroup,representing Guyanaanditsindigenouspeoplesonan internationalstage. Shesaidherpassionsevolve aroundgivingbacktohercommunity,aswellas supportinginitiativesthatupliftandcelebrate Indigenouscultureandheritage.
BySirRonaldSanders
OnJanuary14,2026,the U.S. Department of State announced that, effective January 21, it would pause theissuanceofallimmigrant visas for nationals of 75 countries, including eleven intheCaribbeanCommunity (CARICOM), deemed to be at “high risk of public
b e n e f i t s u s a g e ” Applications may still be submitted,butnoimmigrant visas will be issued during thepause.
The notice sets out the policy logic plainly PresidentDonaldTrumphas directed that immigrants must be financially selfsufficient and must not become a “public charge.” Visas are described as a privilege, not a right, and admissions as nationalsecurity decisions Implemented by a DepartmentledbySecretary Marco Rubio, the language isdeliberateandcategorical. It signals a shift in doctrine, not a temporary pause awaitingreversal.
For the Caribbean, this matters because for decades outward migration absorbed part of the region’s internal e c o n o m i c pressure unemployment, lowwages,limiteddomestic markets, and frustrated professionals That outlet has now narrowed The pressure, therefore, will intensifyathome.
The composition of the 75-country list reveals the underlying logic The countries are drawn overwhelmingly from the GlobalSouth—Africa,Latin America and the Caribbean, theMiddleEast,andpartsof Central and Eastern Europe andAsia.Whatlinksthemis notpoliticsorproximity,but economic structure: high youth populations, weak labour absorption, persistent underemployment, and long
reliance on outward migration to relieve domestic pressure The pause thus functions as a broad structural screen, signalling that the United States will no longer accept migrants it does not actively seek.
It is now incumbent on theelevenCARICOMstates to build conditions that attract investment, expand enterprise, and generate employment.Thealternative is clear and costly: higher unemployment, deepening poverty, rising crime, social instability, and declining
economicprospects. This warning is not speculative.Researchbythe International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank shows a consistent pattern across Latin America and the Caribbean: persistent unemployment especially among youth drives poverty, fuels crime, weakens social cohesion, and deters investment Strongerlabourmarketsand rising real earnings, by contrast,areamongthemost reliable drivers of poverty reductionandstability
Addressing these challenges, however, is not the responsibility of governments alone It requiresacollectivenational effort.
Governments must create conditions for growth—but they do not createjobsontheirown.The private sector must invest, expand, innovate, and take calculatedrisksathome,not merely extract rents or wait for incentives. Trade unions must defend workers, while engaging seriously with productivity, skills upgrading, and enterprise sustainability Political parties especially those that aspire to govern—must treat economic reform as a national obligation, not a partisanweapon.
If this collective effort fails—if no national plan is
j o i n t l y d e v i s e d , i m p l e m e n t e d , a n d monitored Caribbean economies will fracture
under the weight of u n e m p l o y m e n t , accompanied by familiar cycles of bickering and finger-pointing among actors unwilling to place national interest above sectionaladvantage. The region’s difficulties are compounded by a self-
inflicted handicap World Bank and IDB assessments show that many Caribbean economiesoperatewithhigh c o s t s o f d o i n g business slow approvals, overlapping regulation, expensive logistics, and especially high energy prices. Electricity costs in some states are two to three times higher than in North America.Regulationisoften cumbersome, mired in red tapeandinstitutionalinertia, and in some cases distorted by practices that extract private gain for favourable treatment.
Too often, reform is postponed because it is inconvenient. Governments fear backlash Businesses resist competition. Unions resist change. Oppositions calculate advantage The political cost of reform is exaggerated; the economic costofdelayisdiscounted.
Thatmiscalculationisno longer theoretical It is urgent If unemployment
remains high while migrationoutletsnarrow,the resultwillnotbepatience.It willberisingpoverty,higher crime, social strain, and a deteriorating investment climate Investors will withdraw Insurance costs will rise. Bank deposits will shrink and interest rates increase.Tourismwillfalter Publicfinanceswillweaken. Socialcohesionwillfray
T h i s i s w h y responsibility must now be shared and openly acknowledged as such CARICOM must also take its own commitments seriously The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas
envisaged a regional industrial policy under the C S M E . H e a d s o f Government are expected to consider a CARICOM IndustrialPolicyFramework at their Fiftieth Meeting in St. Kitts and Nevis next
month more than three decades after theTreaty was signed.
Similarly, the Caribbean Skills Certificate and regional labour mobility were intended to create a genuine internal market for skills They have yet to deliveratscale.Initiativesto deepencapitalandfinancialmarket integration—such as the long-promised regional stock exchange championed by the CARICOM Private
S e c t o r
Organization remain worthy causes deserving urgentsupport.
If external doors are narrowing, the region must make its internal space work—or accept the cost of fragmentation What is required now is a new compact.Governmentsmust lower the cost of doing business decisively The private sector must commit
capital and creativity to domestic production
Trade unions must c h a m p i o n s k i l l s , productivity, and fair wages together Political parties must accept that economic reform is not optional, and that sabotaging it for shortterm gain undermines everyone’sfuture.
a
The State Department’s noticedoesnotsingleoutthe Caribbean, but its consequences should rivet regional attention It removes the long-standing illusion that migration will always be available as a safety valve. That era is all but over The door to migration to the United Statesisnolongerajar;ithas been closed elsewhere for years.
E
an societies governments, businesses, unions, and p
ed responsibility for building opportunityathome,orthey continue to defer and allow unemployment, crime, and instability to exact a far higherprice.
As migration closes, there is only one viable r e s p o n s e : b u i l d opportunities for investment andjobsathome—together
(The author is the Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the United States and the OAS, and Dean of the OAS Ambassadors accredited to the OAS. Responses and previous commentaries: www.sirronald sanders.com)
Shame is a powerful, self-evaluative emotion that causes a person to feel fundamentally flawed,
worthless, or deeply unlovable, rather than just having done something wrong. It acts as a toxic internalstate,drivingintense psychological distress, social withdrawal, and a desire to hide Chronic shameoftenleadstoanxiety, depression, addiction, and perfectionism.
There is nothing to be ashamedof.Youareallowed to make mistakes and manifest shortcomings. We are allowed to recognize them,accept,learnandmove on with our lives without ascribingshametoourselves or having others doing it. Shame is one of the single most effective methods of small trauma that keep most people stuck and in survival modeforyears.
Shame is a painful, complex, and universal emotion resulting from the
belief that one is fundamentally flawed, unworthy, or has violated social norms. It involves intense feelings of selfloathing, inferiority, and a desire to hide, often causing individuals to isolate or withdraw Unlike guilt, which focuses on behaviors, shame focuses on the self.
While guilt can be constructive ”I did something bad” (focus on behavior) shame is destructive ”I am bad” (focusonidentity.)
IamADHDanddyslexic thatcamewithhyperactivity, impulsivity, inattentiveness, procrastination which helped to destroy my marriage I cannot read fluently in public and I cannot spell, unable to put words to sounds I was diagnosed with dyslexia at 41.Forabout37yearsIthink I was dunce and out of control and wild person yet accomplishing everything, enjoyingnothing.
While I was struggled with shame a few years back— I remain paralyzed. On my way of becoming a psychologist, I wanted to be the best but was reminded that I failed at my marriage, can’t read and after behaviour modification still struggle in some areas of ADHD. Then there are those, especially from the religious community, that made it a duty to remind me
ofmypast,tokeepmethere
because my journey offended them or was just unbelievable.
However, after my diagnosis I acquired a first degree,twomasters,intothe third at the University of London and a doctoral Making deans scholar list and with distinction in Clinical Psychology s p e c i a l i z a t i o n –psychoanalysis I am a lecture at 2 universities, a private and public clinic helping people process their brokenness back to health. Now,Iamsavingmarriages. This is what SHAME looksandfeelslike.
A trauma inflected on others by our parents, caregiversandsociety Shame is a tool used to keep us in check according to the standards and interpretation of the worldThe impact of shame is enormous for both short and long term on our mental health. It disrupts everyaspectofyourthinking, feelings, and behaviour towardsyourselfandothers
Shame is strongly linked to mental health disorders: depression, anxiety, PTSD, and eating disorders especially in females Chronic shame is a primary driver for depression, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders It often creates a “shame-depression spiral” where feeling unworthy fuels depression, which in turn deepens the shame.
Shame causes its victim to internalize the belief that “Iamamistake,”ratherthan “I made a mistake”. This is themanifestationoflowselfesteem&self-loathing: Shamegeneratesafearof being seen, judged, or rejectedandcausespeopleto hide their true selves. This causes social withdrawal & isolation.
This is the most destructive impact of SHAME, defensiveness, aggression & narcissism: Masking profound shame with outward anger, blame, or an inflated ego to protect theself.Thisdrivespeopleto
hide or deny their actions, ratherthancorrectingthem.
Maladaptive Coping Mechanisms, shame victims aspire to perfectionism, overachieving, peoplepleasing, or substance abuse oraddictionlikegamblingor binge eating to numb the intolerable feeling of rejection, inequalities and unworthiness.
Shame triggers a “survival mode,” causing a neurological impact inhibiting the prefrontal cortex and preventing learning or growth. I have a few clients, school children. Shamed by certain teachers now those students are deficient in the subjects that arethoughbythoseteachers.
Shame activates the limbic system (the brain’s emotion center) and triggers the body’s threat response, releasing cortisol. Chronic shame can keep the nervous system in a prolonged state of defense, impairing the prefrontal cortex and hinderingtheabilitytolearn frommistakes.
There is a physical componenttoshame.Itoften manifestsasadesiretohide, blushing, looking down, or slumpingshoulders.
Shame can stem from multiple angles and factors, being teased, experiencing failure, or believing others arejudgingyounegatively IdentityErosion manifestingas Perfectionism
Strivingrelentlesslytobe “flawless” to hide perceived inadequacy; this is shame that whispers one is fundamentally flawed, broken, or “not good enough”. This leads to a collapseinself-esteemanda loss of personal agency At theheartofshameisafearof social exclusion. This fear can lead to “protective
concealment, ” where individuals hide their authentic selves, preventing deep or meaningful relationships.
Intergenerational Transmission, unprocessed shame in parents can be unwittingly projected onto children through overly
critical or authoritarian parenting, creating a “shame-based”self-imagein thenextgeneration.
I am not proud of my divorce.Iwouldlovetoread as fluently as others. I can’t stop the multi-tasking and hyperactivityandfullyenjoy the moment. I am not proud of everything in my past. I leftschoolwithzeroCXCs. But I can’t use that to
restrict or sacrifice myselfintopassiveness
and subjectivity
By
Rather, Idecided to move address my shameandliveahealth life which offers me a betterchanceatlifeand be progressive and purposeful. In part 2, I will share with you the process of healing from shame. Learning from the past, building resilience in humilityasyouachieveyour truepotentialwithoutfeeling unworthyandundeserving.
SUNDAY
GuyanagaveawayUS-billions fromLizaOneandLizaTwo …asGovt.settlesfor‘small bone’
The Government of Guyana (GoG) has consistently refused to ring-fence the Stabroek Block projects,hinderingtheearlyflowof massive revenues into the country, in the hope of earning more in the future.
Instead of the measly 12.5% profit, Guyana could have already been enjoying its full 50% profits from the Liza One and Liza Two projects. With the reserve at the fields now running low, stakeholders are doubtful the country would ever see the promised 50% profit share from thoseprojects.
Already, the operator of the block, ExxonMobil has produced about 500M barrels from the two projects which holds about one billionbarrelsintotal.
Withjustabouthalfofthetotal reserve for the two developments remaining, Guyana is poised to continuereceivingtheshortendof the stick- 12.5% profits, instead of itsfull50%profits.
Guyanalost
At an average oil price of US$75perbarrel,US$37.5Binoil has already been produced (500M barrels). The two projects carry a price tag of US$9 5B and an average production cost of US$25 perbarrel.Assuch,iftheUS$12.5B production costs is also removed, US$15.5B in profits would have beenavailableforsplittingbetween thepartners.
Further, using the 50/50 profit share model, Guyana could have already seen US$8B in revenue fromLizaOneandLizaTwoalone, had a ring-fencing provision been activated, in addition to its 2% royaltyofUS$740M.
Instead, the country has earned about US$8.5B from oil produced at Liza One, LizaTwo, Payara and Yellowtail.
This mechanism would have allowed the country to enjoy 50% of the profits, after the operator recoverscosts.
Foregoingrevenue
In October 2023, when Brent crudepricesaveragedUS$91,Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo told reporters that by not ring-fencing the projects, government was ‘giving up a small bone for bigger bonesinthefuture’.
He explained, “We admitted thatweareforegoingrevenuenow in exchange for massive future income,becauseit’sgoingintonew projects that will increase production and so even with the sameshareofthe50/50plusthetwo percent royalty that the future income,becauseofthebiggerscale will be massive in Guyana’s case
and we are deliberately foregoing that in this period for that purpose and then trying to grab this bone nowcouldcauseyoutoloseallthe bones, the bigger bones too in the future.”
With oil prices now hovering around US$60 per barrel and is likely to further decline, Guyana’s share of profits in the future will alsoreducesincethecountrywould be receiving less for the sale of its oil.
The 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with Exxon stipulatesthat75%ofoilproduced monthly can be recovered by the operator to cover expenses The remaining 25% is then shared equallybetweentheGovernmentof Guyana(GoG)andtheoilcompany as profits, with the country receivinganadditional2%royalty
“Parliamentisthecornerstone ofdemocracy” – Canadian High Commissioner says
Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana Sébastien Sigouin in a FacebookpostonFridayreminded that “Parliament is the cornerstone of democracy ” The High
Commissioner’s statement followed closely that of other envoys who also spoke of the importance of democracy to nations.
“Inrecentweeks,therehasbeen
renewed public discussion in Guyana about the role of Parliament. Those who follow me saw in one of my previous posts, leading to International Human Rights Day, my belief that Parliament is a cornerstone of democracy a place where accountability is exercised, differing views are expressed peacefully, and the interests of citizens are debated through constitutional means,” Sigouin said.
The Canadian diplomat reminded that his role as the High Commissioner of Canada entails engaging with a wide range of actors across society, including government, figures in the opposition, civil society, communitiesandtheprivatesector
“This is because of my longstanding support for democratic governance, human rights, and the rule of law Engagement does not imply endorsement; it reflects a genuine commitment to dialogue and to institutions,”headded.
The High Commissioner said thatCanada’sapproachhasalways been guided by respect. “Respect for sovereignty, for constitutional processes,andfortheprinciplethat stronginstitutionsareessentialtoa resilient democracy These principles will continue to guide my work, and the approach of the
the appointment of a leader of the opposition is a prerequisite for parliamentarians to fully execute theirconstitutionalduties.Shealso said there is a vital link between a robustlegislatureandaflourishing democracy, adding that she “eagerly awaits” the formal openingofthenationalassembly At that time Sigouin, calledfor theprotectionandstrengtheningof democratic principles, good governanceandtheruleoflaw.He stated: “The appointment of the Leader of the Opposition and the scheduling of parliamentary sittings are matters for Guyana’s constitutional actors to resolve in accordance with the law I am c
institutions will address these issues and ensure that Parliament cancarryoutitsimportantworkon behalfofthepeopleofGuyana.”
EuropeanUnionAmbassadorto Guyana, Luca Pierantoni, said he would be “rather surprised” if parliament does not resume sitting within the next couple of weeks, expressing confidence that the
appointing a leader of the oppositionwouldberesolvedonce
recommences.
country I have the privilege to represent,”Sigouinstressed.
On January 12, Kaieteur News reported that, in invited comments to Stabroek News, diplomatic representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, CanadaandtheEuropeanUnionall weighedinontheissue.
United States Ambassador to Guyana, NicoleTheriot, said: “We all recognise the importance of a functioning opposition as part of any legislative body I join my EU and British colleagues in encouraging the convening of Parliament and the election of the LeaderoftheOppositionassoonas possible so all those elected by the people of Guyana can begin performing their constitutionally designated duties An active Parliament is important for Guyana’s continued growth and developmentwhichwillbenefitall thepeopleofGuyana.”
British High Commissioner to Guyana Jane Miller similarly emphasised that both government and opposition parliamentarians occupy a “critical role” in the legislative process, and called for the election of a leader of the opposition to take place “without delay.”
Miller told Stabroek News that Guyana’s system of governance dependsontheactiveparticipation of allelectedmembers,notingthat
Stakeholders have been calling on Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir to call a meeting of the members of the OppositionsothattheLeaderofthe Opposition can be elected and parliamentary matters proceeded with.
Further, the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, which secured the most votes in the parliamentaryopposition,hasbeen repeatedlycallingonthespeakerto conveneameetingsothatitsleader, the presumptive Leader of the Opposition,couldbeelected.
The party welcomed the statements made by the western diplomatsinGuyanaandreminded that the timely convening of parliament and the election of a leader of the opposition are essential to accountability, representation and the proper
constitutional responsibilities and denies citizens the full benefit of theirdemocraticrights.
WINhasaccusedthespeakerof undermining the functioning of parliament in an effort to prevent WIN’s leader, U S sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed, from being sworninasleaderoftheopposition.
The 13th Parliament was convened on November 3, 2025, when government and opposition MPswereswornin.
Since then, no date has been announced for Speaker Nadir to preside over a sitting to elect the oppositionleader Theparty Continued on page 19
Frompage18 currently holds the majority of opposition seats in the National Assembly, with 16 MPs A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has 12 seats, while Forward Guyana Movement (FGM)holdsone.
FormerFinanceMinister concedesGuyanawas exploitedbyExxon -admitsCoalitionfailedtodo homeworkoncompany -saysExxontookadvantageof Venezuelabordercontroversy, knowledgeoffailingsectors
Guyanawastakenadvantageof during the negotiation of the 2016 Petroleum Sharing Agreement (PSA) with American oil major, ExxonMobil.
Thisisaccordingtothefinance minister at the time, Winston Jordan During a recent live broadcast, the former Member of Parliament addressed the US$18 million signing bonus paid by the company, and the circumstances whichledtothethenAPartnership forNationalUnityandAllianceFor Change (APNU/AFC) coalition governmentacceptingthedeal.
He detailed that Guyana’s neighbour,Venezuela,hadbeenon the nation’s back with reactivated claims to the country’s Essequibo. Not only was the country faced with a border controversy, but failing industries, naming rice and sugar in particular With its back against the wall, government not only accepted a lopsided agreement, but signed away 600 blocks to the company, instead of 60,asperindustrynorms.
“You know how long this reactivatedclaimbyVenezuelahas been going on. You know how manymeasures,differentthingswe havetried…Venezuelawasholding this thing like an axe in our head, monkey on our backs,” the former MPnotedasheexplainedGuyana’s decision to approach the world court which required finances to defendthecountry’scase.
To this end, Jordan pointed out thattheadministrationdidnotmeet aloadedtreasury,whenitassumed officein2015,butrather,bankrupt agenciessuchastheGuyanaSugar Corporation (GuySuCo) and a troubled rice industry, while other workerswerenotbeingpaid.
“We never cried and so on.We took it on board and start to do it. So, you had to get money to prosecute your case, that is why I saidthiscasethatwassoimportant to us, this case that Exxon knew wasmajortousandsotheygottwo slicesofthepie,”Jordanreasoned.
He added, “On the one hand, they wanted the oil that they knew wastheretoreplacewhatwastaken
and
Maduroanchoreddownonthemso Exxonwasthebogey.”
The former finance minister admitted that the administration failedtodoitsduediligenceonthe company, allowing Exxon to have theupperhandinthediscussions.
Hesaid,“Exxon’sbalancesheet wasn’t looking too nice but again wedidn’tdohomeworkwherethat wasconcerned,butExxonknewthe reserves were there. Exxon knew our impossible position with Venezuela Exxon knew the tenuousnessofoureconomysothat wasastackdecked.”
“Signaway”
Jordan noted that while many areoftheopinionthattheCoalition signed away the country’s resources to the American oil major,thedealvastlyresembledthe 1999 agreement, signed under the JanetJaganPresidency
“The coalition government merely inherited a PSAfrom 1999 and constructed a Bridge to that PSA where we got an additional one percentage point in terms of royalty- from one per cent to two per cent- we got the issue of the signing bonus which really and truly were the monies for prosecutingthecase,”hedetailed.
Further to that, the company wouldalsosignthedealtoenjoythe benefits of a massive block, equivalent to the size of 600 oil blocks, instead of 60, as the coalition maintained the terms of the Janet Jagan arrangement, accordingtohim.
Nevertheless,Jordanalludedto an intangible benefit for the country, one which he believes is not often recognised. “But I think what we don’t add, the intangible which in our case intangible can’t be measured but implied. We got security on the shelf and with that security came investment because onceamajorlikeExxonwasonthe shelf, Venezuela had to think twice,”theformerministerpointed out.
Pregnantwomanjumps todeathfromGPHCward
medical ward at the Georgetown PublicHospital.
Dead is Marrisa Eastman. It is reportedthattheyoungwomanwas pregnant and w
observation at the hospital She reportedly made a facebook post and was also live prior to the incident. Following the incident, her relatives rushed down to the hospital-some of them inconsolable Police were also summoned to the scene as they conductedtheirowninvestigation.
AccordingtothePanAmerican Health Organisation (PAHO) suicide disproportionately affects olderadults,with71%ofmaleand 65% of female suicides occurring among those over 50. While men facehigherrates(14.7per100,000 population, compared to 4 per 100,000), the rate among women has increased more sharply (23% since 2000, compared to 14 4% among men) Suicide attempts were also nearly five times more frequentamongwomen.
Several underlying factors appear to be driving these increases. Among men, suicide is closely linked to alcohol and drug use, as well as unemployment and living in areas with high homicide rates For women, educational inequality and unemployment are the strongest associated factors. “Thiscrisisdemandsactionbeyond health systems,” said Renato Oliveira e Souza, Chief of the Mental Health and Substance Use Unit at PAHO “It requires collaboration across society to elaborate and implement national suicide prevention strategies that canbeeffectiveinreducingsuicide
mortality.”
If you are experiencing poor mental health and would like to speaktosomeoneaboutit,thereare several avenues available to you, freeofcost.ContacttheMinistryof Health’s Mental Health Unit. The trained counsellors and psychologists provide free counselling services. The mental health unit can be reached via phone at: 225-0804 or 223-6604.
The Mental Health Unit has introduced a new Suicide PreventionHotline—call915when experiencingseveredistress.Ifyou or someone you love is actively suicidalorinastateofcrisis,please contactthenearesthealthfacilityor hospitalemergencyroom.Amental health emergency is the same as a realemergency!
TUESDAY
Sex-for-passesscandal rockspolicecollegeagain -femalerecruitalleges widespreadabuse
Amid mounting complaints of sexual harassment of female recruitsattheGuyanaPoliceForce Academy, one of the trainees have come forward detailing damning allegations against her instructors andotherofficials,pointingtowhat she describes as a culture of exploitation,abuseofauthorityand institutionalsilence.
The Guyana Police Force has not responded to queries for a commentontheincidentandHome AffairsMinister,OneidgeWalrond also could not be reached by KaieteurNewsonMonday Itisnot thefirsttimetheseallegationshave surfaced against officers manning the police academy. Some of them were investigated last year and were transferred from the college. In this latest complaint, one of the female recruits said sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct at the Training School, located at Eve Leary is out of control. “I wish to bring to your attention a recent incident which occurredonThursday15thJanuary, 2026 at the Training School between 23:00 hours and Friday 16thJanuary,2026to03:00hours.”
The young woman said between the periods mentioned a sergeantwasthedutyofficeranda lance corporal was the subordinate
officer and he was assisted by a womancorporalandanapprentice. Therecruitdetailedthatduringthe period, several identifiable police andunidentifiablemaleswereseen in the compound. “My squaddies (fellow recruits) and I found it strange because no visitors are allowedafter6:00pm.So,afewof usinthefemaledormreachoutitto ourmaleclassmatesviaphoneand askwhatwasgoingon.”
The female recruit said during whatsapptextmessagesandphone calls they were told that some instructors and other males are takingseveralfemaletraineestothe instructors’ rooms, gym, instructors’officeandintheircars. “So, we decided to check the femalebarracksandwenoticedthat several females were missing. A few girls and I went downstairs where we reach a few of our male squaddies and we went to check what was going on. We found that several male staff and female trainees were drinking alcohol and some even having sex in the enquiries office and oral sex in the instructors’ office ” The female recruit related. The female also providedavideorecordingofwhat transpiredintheinstructor’soffice. “We the trainee girls and boys are being exploited. Trainees have to do all kinds of things to get by in here, to get passes, not to work nightsandtopasstheexaminations, themaleshavetopayandpurchase expensive alcohol and the females have to do oral, anal and vaginal sex. This is real, can you imagine thatmysquaddiehadtolietooneof the male instructors and told him that she is a virgin and her parents take her for medical check-up just topushhimoff,”therecruitrelated. She noted that in return, to convinceher,theinstructoroffered her to assist her to make her the valedictorian for her batch just to have sex with her “Ever since the last investigation was done and nothing happened to the staff, they are boasting that they have connections and they are abusing their powers. It’s hard to be here andwitnesswhatishappening,”the female recruit noted She also listed the suspects and also stated thatpersonsare“coveringforthem sincethelasttime.” “Ihumblyask, whathastohappenhereforthis
Continued on page 20
Frompage19 situationtostop,”thefemalerecruit enquired before calling on President Irfaan Ali, Walrond and Minister of Human Service, Dr Vindyha Persaud to intervene and takeactions.
Back in November last year Minister Walrond had reaffirmed the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) zero-tolerance policy for sexual misconduct Her statement had come on the heels of allegations involving senior male officers and their female subordinates Addressing the issue the minister said from the outset of her tenure, she has made it clear that a much higher standard of ethical conduct is required of senior ranks. “I have had this conversation already with the Commissioner wherever these allegations may arise, especially when it relates to subordinate female officers, it will bedealtwithvery,veryseriously,” MinisterWalrondstressed.
Referencing the Sexual Offences Act, the minister emphasised that consent cannot exist where there is a power imbalance “If the person who has… an alleged relationship, the consent element does not exist if youareinapositionofpower That power dynamic removes the element of consent where sex is concerned,” she explained She added that this principle mirrors provisions concerning minors, “because of her young and tender age,theelementofconsentdoesnot arise.”
On the subject of officers who arebeinginvestigatedatthePolice Training College, the Minister confirmed that those implicated have been removed from their duties pending disciplinary proceedings. “The matter is before the Office of Professional Responsibility, and they were removed immediately after the report came to our attention,” she said The home affairs minister acknowledged that while such instances are not the norm, they must nevertheless be addressed decisively “We have many young and senior female officers who serve with integrity These instances are not the norm, and when they do arise, we will deal with them very strongly It should not prevent our female officers from coming forward ” Minister Walrondurgedwomenintheforce to speak up, reminding them that the administration stands ready to supportandprotecttheirrights.
Canadiangoldfirm shiftsstrategyinGuyana - drops two gold projects, bets big on Gold Hill
C
Hill project in Guyana, while terminating its option agreements for the Tamakay and Abuya projects after concluding that the deposits do not meet the size and scale required for economic development.
GreenheartGoldwasformedin July 2024 as a spin-off from a business combination between fellow Canadian companies Reunion Gold and G Mining Ventures (GMIN) GMIN is the 100% owner of the 5 4 million ounces Oko West Gold project Greenheart is focused on earlystage exploration within the geologically rich but historically underexplored Guiana Shield, which spans parts of Guyana and Suriname.
TheGoldHillprojectislocated approximately13.5kilometreseast of Canadian firm Aris Mining Toroparu project, which hosts an estimated 5 3 million ounces of gold in measured and indicated resources.
Greenheart said the Gold Hill property covers roughly 40 square kilometres in the Mazaruni mining districtinnorth-westernGuyana.
o
d explo
r Greenheart Gold Inc. has entered into an option agreement with “arms’ length third parties” to acquirea100%interestintheGold
Itwasnotedthattheprojectarea is deformed around a dolerite intrusion and appears to have been subjected to multiple deformation events and exhibits similar open
folding to that observed at the nearbyToroparudeposit.
“The presence of multiple gold bearing vein systems on the property suggests a strong likelihood of hydrothermal alteration related to mineralizing fluids. The presence of artisanal saproliteandalluvialminingatthe project area provides further evidenceofthegoldmineralization inthearea,”thecompanynoted.
Moreover, the company disclosedthatithasdecidedtowalk awayfromitsTamakayandAbuya projects following extensive exploration work that failed to demonstrate the potential for deposits of sufficient economic scale.
At Tamakay, Greenheart completed detailed mapping, 276 grab samples, 7,794 soil samples and more than 7,600 metres of trenching, supported by groundbased magnetic and induced polarisation surveys.Asubsequent 1,473-metre diamond drilling programmeconfirmedthepresence and continuity of some high-grade quartz veins associated with historicartisanalmining.
“TheCompanybelievesthatthe densityofveiningandtheextentof goldmineralizationareinsufficient to suggest potential for an economic deposit of the size and
developmentinsucharemotearea and has therefore elected to terminate its option with the v
Greenheartsaid.
B
sults, Greenheart concluded that the density of veining and extent of mineralisation were insufficient to justify development in the remote area and terminated its option agreements with the property owners.
At Abuya, approximately 12 months of exploration included detailedmapping,nearly2,800soil samples, 295 grab samples and more than 3,200 metres of trenchingandchannelsampling.
Itsaid,“Aftercompletingthese programs,theCompanydidnotfeel thatthetargetswarrantedfollow-up drilling and has therefore also decided to drop its option on the project.”
Thedecisionmarksashiftfrom earlier optimism around Tamakay and Abuya In April 2025, Greenheart had highlighted promising early-stage results at both projects and committed millionsofUSdollarsinpayments to local titleholders to secure the Tamakay option. In March 2025, Kaieteur News reported that GreenheartGoldcommittedtoover
US$3 8 million in payments to local titleholders to fully acquire theTamakayproject.
Greenheart said the acquisition ofGoldHill,alongsidethedecision to exitTamakay andAbuya, aligns with its strategy of rapidly assessing exploration projects and either advancing prospective targets to drilling within 10 to 12 months or moving on from properties that do not meet expectations It added, “The Company feels that this strategy willcontinuetoprovidethehighest possible chance of exploration success.”
WEDNESDAY
‘Speakerbucklesunder pressure’…Election ofOppositionLeader setforMonday
Amid stepped up calls for him to convene a meeting of nongovernmentalMPstoelectaleader of the opposition, Speaker of the NationalAssemblyManzoorNadir on Tuesday evening broke his silencedeclaringthatitwillbeheld onMondayat10am–onthedaythe GovernmentofGuyanaisexpected topresentits2026Budget. Nadir made the disclosure duringalivebroadcast,several Continued on page 34
ByKarenAbrams, MBA,AA,DoctoralCandidate
Business leaders occupy a vantage point few others do. Effective leadership requires constantscanningofenvironmentalvariables such as politics, competition, regulation, labormarkets,andemergingtechnologies.At the same time, leaders confront the hard realities of bank balances, cash flow, and financial statements. Risk is not an abstract concept.Itisstrategicanddeeplypersonal. When employees can respond to uncertainty by seeking new employment, business leaders cannot. They carry the weight of downturns, poor decisions, weak execution, gaps in vision, and inefficient operations The consequences do not disappear They compound, and they rest squarely on the shoulders of those responsible for keeping the organization alive.
The business leader’s vantage point belongstothemalone.Yetmanybelievethat Artificial Intelligence (AI) is beyond their ability to fully comprehend and are eager to hand over strategic decisions about artificial intelligence to technical teams simply because the technology feels complex and unfamiliar Myadvicetoanybusinessleader who wishes to survive is simple. Resist the urge. Ex Google CEO, Eric Schmidt is famouslyquotedsaying,“AIwillbethemost transformative technology since electricity
Thosewhomoveearlywilldefinethefuture. Thosewhodonotwillbedefinedbyit.
AI strategy is not a back-office function. It is not an IT project. It cannot be safely delegated and revisited once the engineers are finished. AI is already reshaping how organizations operate, compete, scale, and maintain profitability. Business leaders who removethemselvesfromtheAIconversation surrender a critical strategic imperative, increasing the likelihood of poor decisions thatcandirectlythreatenthesurvivaloftheir companies.
Asanonprofitwithasmallmanagement team, STEM Guyana operates without a formalITsecuritydepartment,althoughover several years, we have been targeted by persistentlocalcyberattacksseriousenough to warrant the involvement of international technologyagenciesrecentlyusingadvanced AI-driven security systems Through a controlled honey pot approach, monitored decoy environments have been deployed to attract attackers, allowing data to be collected, patterns to be analyzed, and intelligence to be gathered These investigations are intricate but remain ongoing, and new technologies have been central to our ability to navigate these challenges. Cyber threats have been a sad, relentlessscourgewithwhichwehavehadto contendovertheyears.
That same posture shaped how we adoptedAI. Today we operate with roughly ninety percent less reliance on cloud
spreadsheets and data files on various employeecomputers.Wehavequiteliterally vibecodedourwaytooperationalefficiency Registration processing across all services hasbeenstreamlined.Turnaroundtimeshave collapsed.Thishashappenedduringaperiod when finding human resources that fit both our culture and the required expertise have becomeincreasinglydifficult.
One of our biggest wins came with the developmentofafullyintegratedend-to-end seminar management system. Automated registration flows directly into formative evaluationandendswiththeauto-generation of numbered certificates. What once took weeks of manual coordination now runs smoothly at scale. We process hundreds of registrations with ease and add new features almost on demand. This is not incremental improvement. This is structural change driven by leadership clarity, not technical heroics.
Here is the uncomfortable truth many organizations avoid. If your development team is still saying to you that critical applications must take months to deploy, something is broken. If your security teams and engineers cannot explain how AI tools
improve organizational efficiency at scale, theyarealreadybehind.Themarketwillnot waitforthemtocatchup.
But technical teams are not the villains here. Leadership abdication is. Business leaders must understand enough aboutAI to ask the right questions and craft the correct strategic vision for their companies. They must insist on documented workflows and organized internal data. AI amplifies what already exists If your processes are fragmented and your data is chaotic,AI will expose that reality faster and more brutally thananyaudit.
We often say change is coming. That framing is already obsolete. Change is here. The world three years from now will look dramatically different from today, and the realities of 2026; markets, competition, and technology, already diverge sharply from thoseof2023.Thosewhopreparedearlyand committed to continuous improvement will benefit disproportionately Skeptics and doubterswillnotquietlyoptout.Theywillbe overtaken.
ForbusinessleadersinGuyana,thisisnot a future problem. It is a present one. Move noworloselater Yes,thisisawarning.
Accurate and reliable measurements are essential forthesuccessofbusinesses acrosskeysectors,including manufacturing, commerce, agriculture, health, and transportation. To operators within these sectors, measurement accuracy is especially critical to ensure profitability, transparency, consumer confidence and protection.
The Guyana National
Bureau of Standards (GNBS), as the custodian of the national measurement standards, is mandated to carry out verification functions in industry and trade with support to law enforcement Through its
accordancewiththeWeights and Measures Act of 1981,the Bureau provides verificationservicestousers of weighing and measuring instruments to support fair trade, public health and safety
Through verification, weighing and measuring instruments in trade and law
enforcement operate within legally accepted tolerances, ensuring that quantities emanating from these instrumentsareneithermore norless.Hence,forexample in the marketplace, the process protects both users w
nd consumerswhoarebuying. To maintain accuracy and confidence, the GNBS uses calibrated measuring instruments which are traceable to internationally recognised standards. The procedures for verification are also internationally
g consistency
From offices across the Administrative Regions of Guyana, GNBS Inspectors and Weights and Measures Officersconductverification of newly imported and locally manufactured weighing and measuring instruments, and those already in use This mandatory process is done twice annually, during the first and second half of the year Based on order #4 of 2001, which makes the
Metric system the legal system of measurement in Guyana, only metric instrumentsusedintradeare verifiedbytheGNBS.
Measuring instruments verified by GNBS include scales, masses, measures, petrol meters, bulk meters, tankerwagoncompartments, electricitymeters,measuring rulers, moisture meters, fuel vessel meters, storage tank met
breathalyzers and custody transfer meters on Floating Production Storage and
Offloading (FPSO) vessels. Users can arrange with GNBS to have larg
weighbridge scales, hopper scales, storage tanks and bulk meters verified at their premises.
During last year, the GNBS Legal Metrology
verifications of measuring
packaged goods nationwide
to support measurement accuracy in trade and law enforcement.These services arelikelytoexpandin2026. Importantly, GNBS does not verify unapproved dial scales commonly used for domestic purposes, as these instrumentsarenotdesigned
Retailers, merchants, and other users are therefore advised against using such instruments in trade
usingunapprovedmeasuring instruments.
For retail trade at shops and markets, approved scalesincluderedequal-arm scales, platform scales, and electronic or digital scales. Consumers are advised to lookfortheGNBSApproval Seal on these instruments whenmakingpurchases.
F o r f u r t h e r information, please contact the GNBS at Telephone: 219-0064–66, WhatsApp: +592 692 4627, or visit www.gnbsgy.org.
(DancehallMag)DancehallstarKonshens has secured his first Gold certification in Canada for Wine Pon You, his 2018 collaboration with American rap sensation DojaCat.MusicCanadaissuedcertificationon Monday (January 20) to commemorate sales and streaming equivalents exceeding 40,000 unitsinthecountry
Wine Pon You was the fourth track on Doja’sdebutstudioalbum,Amala.Notably,it istheonlytrackonthestandardeditionofthe 13-trackprojecttofeatureaguestartist.
Produced by Yeti Beats and Troy Nôka (who also provides uncredited vocals), the trackseesDojablendingherpop-rapstylewith a sleepy, seductive melody, while Konshens deliversadizzyingPatoisverse.
The song, which went viral on TikTok in
2022, has amassed over 356 million plays on Spotify and 72 million views on YouTube. AmalapeakedatNo.138ontheBillboard200 AlbumschartandiscurrentlycertifiedGoldin the US (500,000 units) and Silver in the UK (60,000units).
While he holds a Brit Certified Silver awardintheUKforhis2016anthemBrukOff Yuh Back (which surpassed 200,000 units sold), this is Konshens’ first certification in Canada.
ThesuccessofWinePonYouunderscores Konshens’ reputation as one of Dancehall’s mostreliablecrossoverpartners—astatusheis wellawareof.Reflectingonwhenherealized hehadbecomea“go-to”artistforinternational labels, Konshens pinpointed his 2015 hit Policeman with Dutch singer Eva Simons as
theturningpoint.
“It was around 5 years ago with a track called Policeman with Eva Simons,” he told DancehallMag in a 2021 interview “Then I startedhearingwhatA&R’sweresayingabout me in meetings. If dem cyaan get Sean Paul, youknowwhodemahcall!”helaughed.
That call has rung frequently over the last decade Since Policeman, Konshens’ international collabs have ranged from Latin trapanthemslikePrivado(withRvssian,Nicky Jam, Farruko, and Arcangel) to Hip-Hop heavyweightslikeCardiB(BackItUp)andthe lateNipseyHussle(SuccaProof).
HealsodidelectronicpoponIDon’tDance (Without You) with Matoma and Enrique Iglesias,andAfrobeatsonthe2021trackBoom BangwithDavido.
Konshens
PEOPLE - Queen of Dancehall Spice is reliving the moment she was left fightingforherlife.
W h i l e s p e a k i n g exclusively with PEOPLE on Monday, Jan. 19, the Jamaican musician, 43, revealed that her newly released gospel song, “God Don’t PlayAbout Me,” was inspired by the health scare she experienced in the DominicanRepublicbackin 2022.
Spice (real name Grace LatoyaHamilton)ismomto son Nicholas, 18, and daughterNicholatoy,14,but was on her own on the Caribbeanislandatthetime. She describes surviving sepsis as a “miracle” as she recalls her sister rushing to herside.
“One of my intestines openedupandsentmybody into sepsis shock,” Spice tells PEOPLE. “I had to do an emergency surgery to performaherniarepair They had to cut my body open fromtopdown.”
“The sepsis was attacking my lungs and my organs, lungs, liver, and all of that,” she continues. “My body was becoming poisonous.”
While asleep in the hospital, Spice says she could hear her sister playing JekalynCarr’ssong“You’re Bigger.” The mother of two nowcreditsthegospelhitfor bringing her out of the lifethreateningillness.
myentireskinfrommybelly area I’ve shared those imageswithmyfansbecause I wanted them to see the goodnessofGod.”
“Doctors called in a plasticsurgeon,sayingthatI would need skin grafting becauseofhowdamagedmy skin was,” she continues. “Thanks be to God, my skin grew back to its normal form,andIdidn’thavetodo anyskingrafting.”
Spice explains that her new song isn’t just a reminder of her near-death experience, but of all the
times in life when her faith hasbeencrucialtoher “It brought me closer to God and I have a more spiritual connection,” she says of the life-altering illness. “I read my Bible more,Iworshipmore,Ipray more.I’mstricterwithhowI show up when it comes to worshiping.”
“I want people to just wake up and praise God in their homes in the mornings,” she adds, referringtohersong.“Every morning I get up, I play gospel, but I’m a very old-
school type of gospel girl where it’s going to be loud singing and clapping and tambourines and stuff, so this is why I chose this type of gospel where it’s just worshipingGod.
“I have a large platform andIwantmyfanstobeable togetupandworshipGod,” she concludes. “Part of me wants to see them worshiping God the same way they would get up and singanyofmyothersongs.”
“They had to cut my body open from top down,” Spice recalls exclusively to
PEOPLE of her sepsis illness.
Spice spoke exclusively toPEOPLEaboutherhealth following a near-death experienceintheDominican Republic
The Grammy-nominated dancehall music star says she’s become closer to God in the years since, which inspired her new song “God Don’tPlayaboutMe” “Thanks be to God, my skingrewbacktoitsnormal form,andIdidn’thavetodo any skin grafting,” Spice tellsPEOPLE
“I’ve always had a close relationship with God, and my near-death experience just brought me closer to Him,” Spice tells PEOPLE. “Thewordtellsyouthatyou havetotasteandseetoknow thatHe’sGod.Mytestimony blew me out of the water because even the doctors themselves were calling familiestotellthemtocome saytheirgoodbyestome.So not even they could believe themiraclethathappened.”
The Love and Hip-Hop: Atlantastarunderwentseven surgeries to save her life amidtheillness.
She says it wasn’t until 2024thatshewentunderthe knife for the last time, as aftereachprocedure,doctors had to wait a few months before they could operate again.
Shecontinues,“There’sa timeronmyphonethatgoes offwhentoprayandwhento havemyalonemomentwith God. During the time of my procedures,
Thesinger,whogrewup in Portmore, Jamaica, but nowlivesinAtlanta,reveals that her follow-up surgeries took place in the U.S. rather than the Dominican Republic.
She admits that she’s surprised her body is now “perfectlyhealthy.”
“Even the doctors said that things would have happened,” Spice says “[But]whatevertheysaid,it didn’thappen.Thesepsisate
Frompage20 hours after the leader ofWe Invest in Nationhood (WIN), Azruddin Mohamed and others visited the ParliamentBuildingtoseekclarity onwhenthemeetingwouldbeheld.
Nadir’s comments also follows months of the main opposition partyWINcallingontheSpeakerto convene the meeting with the nongovernmental members of
parliament since the 13th ParliamentopenedonNovember3, 2025. The issue had also attracted comments from diplomatic representatives from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, and the European Union (EU).
Addressing the issue, Nadir saidthatoverthepastfewmonths, he has been bombarded with “vile aspersions” particularly by WIN’s leaderandhispartysupporters.He notedthatinhismorethan45years ofpubliclife,including33yearsas an elected official, he has never experienced such attacks despite his acknowledged contributions to humanity, democracy, the rule of law,andservicetothepeople.
“I have every intention to continuinginmytenureasSpeaker to honour and uphold the contribution of the Cooperative of Guyana without fear or favour, affectionorill-will,”hesaid.
However, he added, “I have an obligationtopreservethedignityof thehouse.”
The Speaker noted that he had planned to convene the meeting with opposition parliamentarians following his recent trip to New Delhi, India, where he participated i n t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h Parliamentary Officials Conference(CPOC).Headdedthat hehadintendedtocallthemeeting regardless of how the vote would go. He also took aim at WIN’s leader,notingthatthelikelihoodof Mohamed becoming the Leader of the Opposition could result in a stainonGuyana’sparliament.
Mohamed, who is sanctioned by the United States and currently in a legal battle in the local courts over an extradition request, was among 16WIN members sworn in as Members of Parliament on November 3, 2025 With WIN controlling16ofthe29opposition seats alongside A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Forward Movement Guyana (FGM), it is presumed Mohamed will be elected Leader of the Opposition.
Nadir said, “If the opposition MPsseeitmorallyrighttoelectan ‘international fugitive’ as the country’s opposition leader, then thestainonourparliamentandour countryrestssolelywiththem.This likelihood has been unprecedented in our west minister parliamentary system.”
Further, the Speaker acknowledged the diplomatic community’s historic support for
democracyinGuyana.However,he responded to comments made by U S Ambassador Nicole Theriot and Canadian High Commissioner Sébastien Sigouin, who were amongseveraldiplomatsweighing inontheissue.
Ambassador Theriot had said, “Weallrecognisetheimportanceof a functioning opposition as part of any legislative body I join my EU and British colleagues in encouraging the convening of Parliament and the election of the LeaderoftheOppositionassoonas possible so all those elected by the people of Guyana can begin performing their constitutionally designated duties An active Parliament is important for Guyana’s continued growth and developmentwhichwillbenefitall thepeopleofGuyana.”
Nadir responded, “To the US Ambassador to Guyana I ask, who is the leader of the opposition in your country. Does the absence of an opposition leader interfere with yourcountrydemocraticprocess?”
H e a l s o a d d r e s s e d
Commissioner Sigouin, saying, “To my dear friend Sébastien the Canadian High Commissioner Your great democracy took six months to produce a budget last year and your country has the unique distinction of having a person who is never elected parliament serve as a prime minister The person imposed on the citizens of Canada by the former prime minister Justin Trudeau.”
Commissioner Sigouin had called for the protection and strengthening of democratic principles, good governance and the rule of law He stated: “The appointment of the Leader of the Opposition and the scheduling of parliamentary sittings are matters for Guyana’s constitutional actors to resolve in accordance with the law I am confident that Guyana’s democratic traditions and institutions will address these issues and ensure that Parliament cancarryoutitsimportantworkon
behalfofthepeopleofGuyana.”
IntegrityCommission hidesbehindsecrecy - as questions mount over Tourism Minister’s wealth
Amid mounting concerns regarding the accumulation of wealth and ownership of multibillion-assetsbothlocallyand abroad by a junior minister who nowleadstheMinistryofTourism, Industry and Commerce, the Integrity Commission has refused to answer any questions, insisting that the law requires strict confidentiality
This newspaper emailed half a dozenquestionstothecommission one week prior to the explanation by the body that it is prohibited from disclosing any declaration made in accordance with the Integrity Commission Act, CAP 26:01.
The body explained, “The commission wishes to advise that the mandate of the integrity commission is circumscribed by theIntegrityCommissionAct,CAP 26:01 which dictates a strict and continuing obligation of confidentiality in respect of the contents of all declarations received and any assessment undertakenbythecommission.”
It pointed to Section 35 (1) of the legislation which states, “Any information received by any member, or by any officer or other employeeofthecommission,inthe course of the performance of the functionsofsuchpersonunderthis Act (including information contained in any document receivedbythatpersonbyvirtueof theprovisionsofthisAct)shallnot bedivulgedbyanysuchmember,or byanysuchofficeroremployee,to any Person, except to the extent necessary to exercise or discharge his functions as such member or officer or employee or to comply with the provision of any written lawortheorderofanycourtorfor the purpose of prosecution for an offence.”
While the Act prevents the disclosure of information by the commissionrelativetotheassetsof
persons in public life, the body declined to say whether it was conducting an investigation of the minister’s assets, or if a probe would be launched in light of the corruption scandal involving the minister
The commission informed Kaieteur News, “The Integrity Commission must again refer to Section 35 of the Integrity Commission Act, CAP 26:01 regarding confidentiality, which expressly regulates the confidentiality of matters before the commission and precludes any furthercomment.”
Amongthequestionssubmitted bythisnewspaperwaswhetherthe commission was satisfied that the assets owned by the minister matched her income Kaieteur News also asked the Integrity Commission if the minister declared ownership of any properties and or companies in the UnitedStates.
As the authority charged with key oversight on assets owned by persons in public life to avert corruption, the commission’s responseleavesmuchtobedesired. As the only independent body tasked with carrying out such a serious mandate, questions will continue to linger on whether the minister indeed declared ownership of her overseas and otherlocalassets.
The Integrity Act at Section 15(1) highlights the requirement forpersonsinpubliclifetodeclare all assets to the commission It states, “A person in public life is required to disclose in his declaration, under section 13, such details in respect of the income, assetsandliabilitiesofhimselfand thoseofhisspouseandhischildren, as by the exercise of reasonable careshouldbeknowntohim.”
‘Noexcuse’
Meanwhile, in an invited comment, the former president of Transparency Institute Guyana Inc (TIGI), Frederick Collins laughed heartily when he heard that the commissionevenrefusedtosimply state whether it was satisfied that the minister’s income matched her assets.
For him, had the declarations been“aboveboard”therewouldbe no hesitation to address such a query “That’s a question that is good for a lawyer Why, if things are so above board, why can’t the integrity commission simply answer the question as to whether they are satisfied?That it seems to me is a fair question to ask, and I don’tunderstandwhygiventhefact that there’s so much controversy over it, the fact that they are going torefusetoanswersuchaquestion might suggest that things that are n o t a b o v e b o a r d , ” t h e anticorruptionactivistreasoned.
He pointed out that while he understands the commission is not a
y declarationsmadetoit,thetourism m
commissiontomakethedisclosure if she so desire, in the interest of transparency
Collinshowevercautionedthat while a person in public life may s
commission,itdoesnotmeanafull declaration was made, as was flagged in Trinidad and Tobago a fewyearsago,involvingJudgeand former Prime Minister, Basdeo Panday
Dysfunctional
Collins is of the view that the integrity commission, like others such as the commission of information does not serve the countrybutrather,individuals.
He reasoned, “ here’s the problemthatwehave,theintegrity commission has not been functioning in the way that an integrity commission, as I understand it, ought to function. Like so many institutions in Guyana,theinstitutionsthatprotect the country seem to be more organised to protect people, individuals than protect the country.”
He pointed to the commission of information as an example of such an agency he believes is responsible for running Guyana undera‘blanketofsecrecy’. Noinvestigation
Last week, President IrfaanAli dismissedcallsforaninvestigation into the rapidly expanding asset portfolioofMinisterRodrigues.He explained that the minister has sufficiently accounted for her wealththroughpublicexplanations andstatutorydeclarations.
ItwasleaderoftheWeInvestin Nationhood(WIN)party,Azruddin Mohamed who dropped several bombshell disclosures on prime properties owned by the former housingminister
Shelateracceptedownershipof a US property and an overseas company,twoparcelsofprimestate lands in Guyana and other properties, financed through mortgages.
Rodriguesmadeitclearthatall Continued on page 35
Frompage34 her assets were declared to the commission.
Guyana’srisingoiloutput helpsfuelglobalsupplyglut
- IEA predicts deep surplus in early 2026
LONDON, Jan 21 (Reuters) –The global oil market will be in deep surplus in the first quarter of 2026, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday, as so far excess supplies have offset the geopoliticalriskofdisruption.
The IEA, which advises industrialised countries, in its monthlyoilreportprojectedglobal oilsupplywouldexceeddemandby 4.25 million barrels per day in the first quarter A surplus of that size would be about 4% of world demand and is larger than other predictions.
Oil prices have risen about 6% since the start of the year, as concerns about geopolitics and possible oil market disruption drove buying. Global benchmark Brentwastradingat$65.02at1142 GMTonWednesday,up10centson the day The U S captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduroatthestartofthemonthand calledonoilcompaniestoinvestin Venezuelatoboostproduction,but in the short-term supplies from the countryhavebeendisrupted ThreatsofpossibleU.S.strikes on Iran have also raised the prospect of reduced supplies, and drone attacks and technical issues havereducedoutputinKazakhstan.
“Barring any significant disruptions to supplies in Iran, Venezuela, or further cuts from other producers, a significant surplusislikelytore-emergeinthe firstquarterof2026,”theIEAsaid.
“For now, bloated balances provide some comfort to market participantsandhavekeptpricesin check.”
Supply has risen faster than demandmostlybecauseOPEC+,or the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries plus Russia and other allies, began boosting output inApril 2025 after years of cuts. Other producers, such as the U.S.,Guyana,andBrazil,havealso increased production. OPEC+ has, however, paused its output hikes forthefirstquarterof2026.
For the whole year, the market faces an implied surplus of 3.69 millionbpd,theIEA’slatestfigures on Wednesday indicated, a downward revision from 3 84 million bpd in last month’s report. He, who lives near the city of Baoding in Hebei province, is one ofseveralpeopleinhisvillagewho choose to barely heat their homes becauseofrisingnaturalgasprices. Helping to erode the surplus forecast, the IEA revised up its prediction for world oil demand growth by 70,000 bpd to 930,000
bpd, citing what it called a normalisation of economic conditions after last year’s tariff turmoil,andloweroilpricesthana yearago.TheIEAsaiditistooearly toassessthefullimplicationsofall t
developmentsontheoilmarket,but s
d the U S
d
n Venezuelan oil shipments had lowered exports by 580,000 bpd fromDecembertoearlyJanuary
Thesurpluswillbuildupinthe first quarter in particular as that is when global oil refiners carry out planned shutdowns and demand is lower
“With seasonal refinery maintenance about to commence, reducingdemandforcrude,further reductionsincrudeproductionwill be needed,” the Paris-based IEA said Rival forecaster OPEC expectsfasterdemandgrowththan theIEA,predictingoilusewillrise by 1 38 million bpd this year OPEC’s data indicate a near balance between supply and demand in 2026, according to a Reuters’ calculation, rather than a surplus.Onsupply,theIEArevised its global growth forecast for this yearhigher,to2.5millionbpdfrom around 2.4 million bpd in December, saying around 52% of the growth will come from outside OPEC+.
‘Speakerunderfire’…WIN blastsNadiroverattackson diplomats,AzruddinMohamed
StatementsmadebySpeakerof the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir during a national address, including labeling We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) leader and Member of Parliament Azruddin Mohamed a “fugitive” have drawn sharp rebuke from the political party
On Tuesday evening, Nadir broke his silence on the convening of a meeting to facilitate the election of a leader of the opposition.Duringthelivestream, the speaker took aim at Mohamed, suggesting that his possible election as the opposition leader would tarnish Guyana’s parliament.
Nadir said, “If the opposition MPsseeitmorallyrighttoelectan
Aview of oil pump jacks outsideAlmetyevsk, in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer
international fugitive as the country’s opposition leader, then thestainonourparliamentandour countryrestssolelywiththem.This likelihood has been unprecedented in our west minister parliamentary system.”
In response, WIN condemned the speaker’s remarks, describing them as improper and politically motivated.
Thepartysaid,“Wecondemnin the strongest possible terms the conductandremarksoftheSpeaker of the National Assembly during his recent address to the nation on Tuesday, January 20th 2026, includinghisdisparaging,abusive, defamatory, false, and malicious
Mohamed and his open contempt for the international diplomatic community.”
WIN said it was unacceptable that the speaker used a national address to personally attack and prejudge an elected MP and p
opposition. The party argued that Nadir’sremarksdemonstratedbias incompatible with the neutrality of theofficeofthespeaker
WINsaid,“Thespeakerisnota prosecutor, a political combatant, oramouthpiecefortherulingparty His duty is to uphold the constitution,protecttheintegrityof Parliament,andactimpartially.By choosing insults over restraint and propaganda over principle, he has demeaned the National Assembly and further eroded public confidenceinitsleadership.”
Mohamedandhisfather,Nazar, are currently challenging an extradition request by the United States Government in the local courts.Thebusinessmenhavebeen indicted in the U.S. on multiple charges, including allegations of orchestrating a fraud and moneylaundering scheme involving gold exports, customs fraud, bribery, and the evasion of millions of dollars in taxes and royalties allegedlyowedtoGuyana.
The13thParliamentofGuyana openedonNovember3,2025,with government and opposition parliamentarians sworn in. Since then, WIN which holds the largest number of seats among the opposition parties, ahead of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Forward Movement Guyana(FGM)hadbeencallingon theSpeakertoconvenethemeeting of non-government MPs to facilitate the election of an opposition leader The delay had also attracted comments from diplomatic representatives of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, and the European Union.
It was only on Tuesday night
that Nadir disclosed the meeting wouldbeheldonMonday,January 26,thesamedaythe2026Budgetis scheduled to be presented. WIN contended that the nearly threemonth delay was deliberate and amounted to an abuse of constitutionalresponsibility It said, “It was only after unequivocalandsustainedpressure from international partners, civil society, and the Guyanese public that the speaker was pressured to finallyact.”
The party also criticised comments made by the speaker toward United States Ambassador Nicole Theriot and Canadian High Commissioner Sébastien Sigouin, who were among diplomats commenting on the issue WIN arguedthatdemocraticprocessesin Guyana should not require diplomaticpressuretofunctionand said the situation reflected poorly ontheSpeaker’sconduct.
Further, the party said that Monday, January 26, 2026, would mark a historic moment.The party said, “WIN looks forward to turning the page, restoring constitutionalorder,andadvancing a parliament that puts the interests ofallGuyanesefirst.”
FRIDAY
INTERPOLbustsgold smugglingringinGuyana - three persons arrested, $118M cash, raw gold seized
Three men found in possession ofunprocessedgoldandmorethan $118millionincashweredetained in Guyana as part of a major multinationalcrackdownonillegal goldminingandmoneylaundering,
Continued on page 36
from the operation.
Frompage35
INTERPOL has confirmed The arrests formed part of a sweeping cross-border enforcement effort involving law enforcement agencies from Guyana, Brazil, Suriname and French Guiana, which resulted in the detention of 198 suspects The coordinated initiative marked the first transnational operation among the fourcountriesaimedspecificallyat dismantling illegal gold mining networks operating across porous borders.
INTERPOL in a release on Thursday said the three detainees are believed to be linked to a leading Guyanese gold exporting firm.
The operation involved more than24,500checksonvehiclesand individualsacrosstheparticipating countries INTERPOL Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza said: “The surge in international gold pricesinrecentyearshasresultedin increased illegal gold mining making it the fastest-growing revenuestreamfororganisedcrime groups,includinginLatinAmerica. At INTERPOL, we are committed to working with our partners to disruptthosenetworksandprevent more damage to this remote and environmentallyfragileregion.”
Theexercisealsoresultedinthe seizureofmercurycylindersvalued at over US$60,000 in Guyana and Suriname Mercury, which is commonly used in illegal gold miningtoseparategoldfromother metals, is extremely harmful to both the environment and human health. INTERPOL noted that the cylinderswerebeingtransportedby bus and were concealed in solar panels.
Dubbed Operation Guyana Shield, the initiative also included “mirror operations”, with officers from Brazil, French Guiana and Surinameconductingsimultaneous checks and searches on opposite banks of the Oyapock and Maroni rivers,whichformbordersbetween French Guiana and Brazil to the southandSurinametothewest.
As part of the operation, authorities inspected several small riverside stores along the Maroni Riverthatsellminingsuppliesand equipment and, in some cases, are suspected of facilitating gold smuggling and the illegal trade in mercury
The inspections marked a first step in transnational police deployment in the area and led to the seizure of counterfeit medicines, alcohol and cigarettes valuedatmorethanUS$40,000.
INTERPOL further reported that officers seized mining equipment, including pumps and gold-trapping mats, along with firearms and communications devices such as mobile phones Authorities also intercepted a bus transporting undocumented migrants, including several minors
suspected of being exploited for childlabourorsexualabuse.
Operation Guiana Shield was supported by EL PACCTO 2.0, a European Union cooperation programme that assists Latin AmericanandCaribbeancountries in combating transnational organised crime, in partnership with INTERPOL and the High ImpactEnvironmentalCrimeteam oftheDutchPolice.
Roadsidehorror… studentbeatenwithcutlass, ropeatDeWillem
Threemales:ages15,16and19 areinpolicecustodyfollowingthe brutal assault of a male student on Wednesday at De Willem, West Coast Demerara, an incident that has sparked public outrage after a video of the attack circulated widelyonsocialmedia.
The disturbing footage shows thevictim,dressedinwhatappears to be his school uniform, standing helplessly as he is surrounded by thethreesuspects.Theattackersare seen taking turns threatening, insulting and intimidating the student, with one demanding that he apologise while the others lookedon.
Police said in a statement that aninvestigationhasbeenlaunched into the assault “Enquiries revealed that earlier that day the victim was assaulted by several male individuals who dealt him severalslapstothefaceandseveral lashesabouthisbodywithacutlass andarope,”police.
The investigations led to the arrest of three persons in connection with the matter They include two juveniles, ages 15 and 16 and a 19-year-old, all males of Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara. They remain in police custody as the investigation continues.
Minister of Education Sonia Parag visited the Zeeburg SecondarySchoolwherethevictim is attending and had a stern talk
with teachers and students. In a video clip posted to the ministry’s Facebook page she said that there will be zero-tolerance for gangs under her tenure “Are you supposed to be disrespecting a teacher? Are you supposed to be disrespecting fellow students? So, we know all the right things to do, but why don’t you? Why we don’t do them? Because we are influenced, and because we can be easily influenced. Let me say something to you.There is no way undermytenurethatIamgoingto tolerate any group of persons calling themselves a gang,” MinisterParagsaid.
She added that any group of persons that infiltrates a school withtheintentionstocreateeithera gang, clique or group, she will be workingwitheverysingleauthority against it Noting that children cannotdevelopunlesstheyareina safe environment, she also highlighted that the teachers will not be able to do their jobs unless theytooareinasafespace.“Weare takingazero-toleranceapproachto anykindofviolence,whetheritbe student against student, student against teacher, student from one school to another school, school againstschool,andwhenIsayzero tolerance, we are going to be working to drastically reduce
previouslyraisedanalarmoverthe government’s spending of revenue garneredfromthesector Campbell pointed out that Guyana was projected to earn less revenuein2025,comparedto2024, despite the startup of an additional Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO) and the productionofoilbeyondtheinitial designratesoftheships.
Consequently, he said, “This alone should tell us that we have some problems. If we are to fall fromthe60sdownto50(perbarrel of oil), it means that we will be earning much less revenue and the governmentwouldbewise,asyou h
challengingtimesaheadandthisis entirely the wrong government, a profligate government for us to have at a time when the economic road ahead, especially with energy lookschallenging.”
The Member of Parliament (MP) said Guyana’s situation was particularly troubling due to the economy’s dependence on oil revenue.Infact,henotedthatmany of the other sectors, such as sugar a
experiencingdifficulties,withgold also suffering lower declarations. Notably, Campbell acknowledged the ongoing efforts by government totackleillegalgoldmining,which he believes is specifically being targeted to cushion the lower oil prices.
bullying,violence,thatisstemming from bullying and so on It’s a situation where I definitely want thistobecomesomethingthatIwill work wholeheartedly on for the next five years and that is the position of the Government as well,”sheadded.
SATURDAY
APNUwarns:Cut borrowingforBudget2026 asoilpricesslide - says another “largest budget” would be reckless gamble
TheAPartnership for National Unity (APNU) is urging the Government of Guyana (GoG) to bemindfulofhowitcontractsmore loans to fund this year’s Budget amid falling oil prices, largely influenced by the abduction of Venezuelan President, Nicolas MadurobyPresidentoftheUnited States,DonaldTrump.
The U S President not only capturedtheheadofstate,buttook control of the country’s oil resources which he plans to use to cutoilpricesto$50perbarrel.
Asapetro-state,thishasagrave impactonGuyanaandthenation’s economy Consequently, Terrence Campbell,a former memberof the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Investment Committee said he
Given the prevailing circumstances, Campbell said it would be reckless for yet another “largest budget ever” to be presented to the House. “If he (the finance minister) comes to the Assembly and he opens up about thelargestbudgetever,Iknowthat he is continuing on the reckless paththattheyhavegonebeforeand he is not taking note, he is not cognizant of the effects of a lower oil prices on Guyana’s economy andthebudget,”heexplained.
The MP made it clear that the government should restrain itself from increasing the country’s debt burden under such conditions. “In this scenario, borrowing should be restrained We should not be looking in this scenario to be drivingupourdebtload,”heurged. He said that while he does not believe the budget should be reduced,atthesametimethefiscal plan should not be increased Instead, he said, “I’m suggesting cautioninthebudget.”
During the presentation of Budget2025,FinanceMinisterDr AshniSinghexplainedthatGuyana was expected to receive less revenue from the sector, despite higher production was anticipated. Theministernotedthatthiswasasa result of the decline in oil prices fromthepreviousyear Hesaiditisanticipatedthat Continued on page 37
Frompage36 there will be 246 lifts of profit oil from the Stabroek Block in 2025. Within this, Government was projected to have 31 lifts of profit oil from three FPSOs that were in operation at the time and the One Guyana FPSO, commissioned in the second halfoftheyear
Be that as it may, Dr Singhpointedout,“Withthe averagepriceofBrentcrude expected to decline to an average of US$71 9 per barrel, Government’s petroleum revenue deposits are projected to be 2 6 percent lower than in 2024. Government is projected to earn an estimated US$2.2 billion in profit oil and US$340.6 million in royalties.”
In 2024, an average 225 4 million barrels of crudeoilwasproduced,with the sector recording 57.7% growth that year With the price of oil averaging, US$80.7 per barrel in 2024, Guyana earned US$2 6B fromoilproduction.
Mohamedscaredaheadof OppositionLeadervote - accuses PPP of poaching MPs families
With just days to go b e f o r e o p p o s i t i o n parliamentarians meet to elect a leader of the opposition, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) leader Azruddin Mohamed says he is “worried,” but on high alertamidwhatheclaimsare efforts by the governing People’s Progressive Party to destabilise his party and possibly prevent him from assuming the post of OppositionLeader Opposition MPs are
scheduled to meet on Monday to elect a leader WIN holds 16 seats in the National Assembly, followed by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)
APNU’spressconference.
H o w e v e r, A P N U Parliamentary Chief Whip Ganesh Mahipaul cautioned thatdevelopmentscouldstill occurbeforeMonday,noting the unpredictability of politics.
“So, several things can happen between today and Monday…Wearenotshying
away but there are possibilities of things can happen that is very much beyond us too because we don’tknownecessarilywhat is happening in the People’s Progressive Party and what they are doing,” Mahipaul saidatthepressconference.
M a h i p a u l a l s o referencedrecentremarksby
Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs
AnilNandlall,S.C.Duringa live broadcast on Tuesday evening, Nadir said he has a duty to protect the integrity of the House and suggested that Mohamed’s possible election would tarnish Parliament, labelling him an “internationalfugitive.” Nandlall,forhispart,has said on multiple occasions that Mohamed being sanctioned by the United Statesandfacingextradition proceedings would be unprecedented, deeply damagingandanindictment onGuyana.
with 12 seats and the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM)withone.
During a telephone interview with Kaieteur News on Friday, Mohamed linkedhisconcernstoevents s u r r o u n d i n g t h e commencement of the 13th Parliament, which he describedaspartofabroader pattern of pressure and intimidation.
“Ofcourse,Iamworried because if you can recall on the October 31, I was arrestedthreedaysbeforethe first sitting of the 13th parliamentwhichwasonthe 3rd of November So, e v e r y t h i n g w a s coincidental,”hesaid.
He added, “So I am worried, I am being very vigilant.Iwantthenationto bevigilantbecauseanything is possible with this PPP dictatorshipgovernmentand they are very desperate presently.”
Mohamed further alleged that contact has been made with relatives of WIN’s Members of Parliament (MPs) “Calls were made to family members of my MPs Personsreachedouttotheir families but my MPs they are standing strong,” he stated
According to the WIN leader, “Approaches were made as of recent in the last twodays,butIamconfident in my MPs but I am on the lookout because anything is possible under this administration.”
His comments come against the backdrop of statements made earlier on Friday by APNU lead MP, Dr.Terrence Campbell, who signaledthatthepartyhasno intention of challenging the post and is likely to abstain fromvoting.
Campbell maintained that there will be only one nominee, Mohamed He made those remarks at
PlatonAntoniou shared a series of photos from a 2006 photoshoot with David Beckham in an Instagram post on Jan. 22. In the caption of his post, he recounted a sweet family moment shared between Victoria, 51, David, 50, and their three sons — Brooklyn Beckham, Romeo Beckham and CruzBeckham.
“In 2006, I travelled to Madrid tophotographDavidBeckham.He was playing for REAL MADRID andbynowwasoneoftheworld’s biggest superstars,” Antoniou began.“Thatdayhisfamilycameto visit Victoria arrived with Brooklyn, who was seven years old, Romeo, who was four and Cruz,whowasjustababy.”
“Brooklyn and Romeo charged into the studio wearing football
kits, kicking balls, doing headers andothertricks.WhileVictoriawas busy with the children, I started work with David. At one point, Brooklyn ran on set with his
football under his arm and hugged his dad’s right leg. Then, Romeo joined his older brother Victoria alsoappearedwithbabyCruzinher arms,” he continued. “The whole
family turned away from us for a privateheartfeltgrouphug.Itwasa poignant thing to see this spontaneous moment of affection happening on a giant photography setinfrontof60people.”
Writing that he believes “celebritycomeswithaheavyprice andoftenitisfamilymemberswho alsopay,”Antoniouadded,“Tosee this tenderness was very moving and I knew it would make a beautiful picture, especially as this famous family were not facing my camera.Butmyportraitsarealways collaborative and I never feel comfortablestealingamoment.IfI had taken a single frame, it would have betrayed trust and invaded privacy So,Iputdownmycamera and took a picture only with my eyes.” Later on, the British
photographer recalled asking Victoria if they “could recreate the familyembraceIhadseenfrommy perspective.”
“She gently smiled and said, ‘Thank you for not taking that picture earlier.Today, I’m not here asacelebrity,I’mhereasamother I hope you don’t mind if I respectfully pass,’ “ Antoniou wrote, adding: “I found Victoria’s human response dignified and sincere.”
Victoria Beckham Reflects on ‘Great Memories’ with Son Brooklyn amid Ongoing Family Feud
“Then, sensing my slight disappointment Victoria said, ‘But David will do a back shot.’ So, I photographed David on his own facingaway–amanstrippedbare, Continued on page 48
Dancehall Mag - There is a quiet confidence to Jada Kingdom’slatestEP,“JustaGirlinaMoneyMan’sWorld.” Norolloutfrenzy
No overexposure. Just six records, mostly produced by Stephen Di Genius, that feel deliberate, controlled, and culturallylockedin.Thekindof projectthatdoesn’t beg for attentionyetcommandsit.
Across six tracks, Jada Kingdom does something deceptively difficult: she captures the present moment of Jamaicangirlhoodontheglobalstage–itshumor,defiance, contradictions, and digital-era hustle without sounding manufactured or trend-chasing. This EP doesn’t chase virality;itdocumentsit.
Within 24 hours of its release, Jada’s Kingdom’s impact onthechartswasfelt,debutingatNo.2ontheiTunesReggae ChartsandeventuallyreachingNo.1.TheEP,atthetimeof this publication, notes that Jada has secured six No. 1 chart positionsonAppleMusicacrosstheCaribbean,notablyinher homeland,Jamaica,with13otherchartplacements,and, most notably, the No. 72 position on the US iTunes Top AlbumAllGenreschart.
The standout single, “Maxine,” leans into dancehall’s hardcore lineage through the iconic influence of Chaka Demus hit single “Murder She Wrote,” but it never feels nostalgicfornostalgia’ssake.
Instead,Jadafiltershistorythroughherownstylizedlens, polishedfortoday’sclubsandstreets,whetherthat’s inKingstonorNewYorkCity Itsheritagerepurposed,not recycled.
Anothernotablesingle,“StillSearching”,JadaKingdom samples Damian “Jr Gong” Marley’s classic “Still Searching.”
This highlights her contemporary dancehall sound, building on Marley’s foundational reggae, a testament to her/itsmusicalevolutionandglobalimpact.
Theproject’semotionalcenterissharperthanitsruntime suggests. Jada frames the realities of navigating a capitalist, male-dominated industry with the casual clarity of someone whohasalreadysurviveditsworstcontradictions.There’sno sermonizing here, just lived experience rendered as sound. Confidencewithoutapology Femininitywithoutpermission.
PerhapsmoststrikingishowtheEPmirrorstheecosystem of modern Jamaican digital culture. In just six tracks, Jada captures the cadence, humor, and bravado of Jamaican TikTokpersonalitiesandonlinemicro-celebritiessoprecisely that the EP feels like the unofficial soundtrack to a living, breathingcartoonseriesonecreatedbythestreetsthemselves.
What makes this all the more compelling is Jada Kingdom’s current physical absence from the traditional spotlight.
Thesedays,sheappearstobeselectivelyspendingtimein solitude, gaming, streaming, and staying close to her inner circle.Yetparadoxically,herculturalpresencefeelsstronger thanever Therestraintonlyamplifiespower
FromBudumtoUnwantedtohersultry,unapologeticrise intothegenre’suppertier,JadaKingdomhasevolvedwithout dilution.Today, she stands comfortably among the top three female acts in dancehall—not by hype, but by consistency, identity,andcontrol.
If “Just a Girl in a Money Man’s World” continues to climb the charts and dominates others, it won’t merely be a commercial win. It will be a validation. Proof that Jada Kingdom isn’t just “Mumma Heavy,” or just the East Side queen,buttheJamaicanfemaledancehallartistmostpoisedto take the throne.And when she’s ready, she won’t ask for it. She’llclaimit.
It was a bright spring morning at Meadowville Elementary, and somethingmysteriouswashappening Emily opened her locker and gasped Inside wasasmallnotetiedwitharedribbon
Shequicklyunfoldeditandreadaloud:
“Clue#1–Ithinkyou'rekindandsuper sweet, Yoursmilemakesthedaycomplete Lookwherethebooksgotorest, Yournextcluewaits goonyourquest!” Emily looked around and saw her best friend,Daniel,standingnearby.“Daniel!Look atthis!”shesaid,showinghimthenote.Daniel raised his eyebrows. “Whoa, a scavenger hunt?Withrhymes?Thissoundslikeasecret admirer!” Emily giggled. “Asecret admirer? Like in the movies?” Daniel nodded. “Let's find out who it is. Come on, the clue said to checkwherebooksrest.Thatmustmeanthe library!”Theyhurrieddownthehallandinto the quiet library Ms. Hazel, the librarian, smiled as they walked in “Looking for somethingspecial?”sheaskedwithatwinkle in her eye. Emily scanned the shelves until she spotted something unusual—a sparkly envelopetuckedbetweentwobigbooks.She pulleditout.
Clue#2–You'recleverandbrave,that's true, Thisnextspothasballsandhulahoopstoo Wherefunandlaughterfilltheair, Yournextclueiswaitingthere!
“The gym!” Daniel said immediately They raced to the gymnasium, where Coach Berrywassettingupcones “Hey,norunning indoors!”hecalledwithagrin Emilyspotteda brightpinkballoontiedtothebasketballhoop Tapedtoitwasthethirdnote
Clue#3–You'rethoughtfulandalways lendahand,
Helpingothersisjusthowyoustand Checktheplacewherelunchismade, Wheretraysandcookiesaredisplayed!
“Cafeteria!”they shouted together Atthe cafeteria,thesmellofwarmpizzafilledtheair They tiptoed past the kitchen door and saw a stickynotestucktothecounterbesideabasket ofapples
Clue#4–Yourlaughislikeahappysong, I'velikedyousecretlyforsolong
Gototheroomwheremusicplays, Where rhythm and melodies brighten our days.
Emilyclutchedthenotetoherchest.“This is getting really sweet,” she said softly. “Whoeverthisis…theyknowmereallywell.” TheyreachedthemusicroomwhereMr.Alto was tuning his guitar. “Looking for clues, detectives?”heasked Emilypeekedunderthe pianobenchandfoundanothercard,thistime intheshapeofaheart.
Clue#5–Justonemorecluebeforeyou see,
Thefacebehindthemystery
Lookbythetreethatbloomsoutside, Youradmirertherewillnolongerhide
Emily and Daniel exchanged wide-eyed glances “The big cherry blossom tree in the playground!” Daniel said They dashed outside into the warm sunshine The cherry blossom tree stood proudly in full bloom, its pinkpetalsflutteringlikeconfettiinthebreeze Beneath the tree stood a small wooden box withafinalnote Tobecontinued
Supplies:
Heartwreathbase(cardboardorsimilar)
Pinkwool/thread(formakingatassel)
Supertackyglue(oranotherstrongcraft glue)
Tissue paper (pink and white cut into smallsquares)
Scissors
Yarn wool/thread (to attach the tassel to thewreath)
ChooseValentinecolours.
Step 1: To start, for the tassel, begin by wrappingpinkwoolaroundyourhand.Aim for 15 wraps, but you can always do more. Pull the wool off your hand, then thread a
length of wool through the top loops. Next, pull the two ends together and tie a knot. Carefullycutalongtheloopsatthebottom.
Step2:Takeanotherpieceofthreadand wrapaboutone-thirdofthewaydown,then securetightlywithaknot.Trimthetassel.
Step 3: Next, cut a length of wool and threaditthroughtheholeinthewreath.
Step 4: Stick the tassel to the bottom of theheartwreathusingsupertackyglue.
Step5:Cutoutsquaresofpinkandwhite tissuepaper
Step6:Tofinish,stickthecentreofeach square to the heart wreath to create texture. Repeatthisuntilthewreathisfull.
“The finished puzzle should be filled with Xs and Os. Horizontally and vertically, there should never be a continuous run of the same symbol longer than 2. There are an equal number of Xs and Os in each row and column. All rows are unique. All columns are unique, too."
by Uncle Roy
I used to think some work was too hard, And so did not even try; This is because I had tried before, And gave up when I could not get by
But then I looked around my class, And saw others doing swell, When I thought I was brighter than them, And felt I could do just as well.
So I decided to never give up, And to always feel I could do better; I put my whole mind to my work, And soon everything got so much easier
As a person with ambition and the desire to make the best of yourself, you must realise that you need to continuously make the effort at improving yourself in the various aspects of your life. In this week's article, we deal with one of the most importantfactorsbywhichwecankeep onthispathofself-improvement.
Exercise daily – Take some time everydaytodosomephysicalexercises, suchasstretching,walking,runningand liftingweights,evenifthisisminimal.
Here are some benefits of regular exercise that you will do well to keep in mind to encourage you to keep at this practice:
Exercise not only makes you physically fitter, but it also improves your mental health and your general senseofwell-being.
Exercise increases energy levels, so that you will do better in all other activities Exercise improves muscle strength, which you need to make you abletobetterperformphysicalwork.
Exercise can help you to maintain a healthy weight, a necessity in being at yourbestphysically
Exercise improves brain function, whichissonecessaryatthisstageofyour life
Exercise is good for your heart, the organofwhichthehealthissovitaltoour living Exercise enhances your immune system, making you less likely to contractdisease
Stayingactivereducesthelikelihood
As a human being, we must appreciate that one of your most important duties is to seek ways by which we continuously improve ourselves.
of developing some degenerative bone diseases
Exercisemayhelptoreducetherisk of certain cancers, a disease which we cancontractatanyage.
Exercise improves your mood and gives you an improved sense of wellbeing, the value of which cannot be overstated.
Exercise can help prevent and treat mental illnesses like depression, which canhelpusintimeof loss of the things andpeoplewecherish.
Active people tend to sleep better, whichkeepsthemmoreabletofunction when awake and active Please look forward to these articles on selfimprovementintheweeksahead.
“In a Slitherlink Puzzle, you connect horizontally or vertically adjacent dots to form a meandering path that forms a single loop, without crossing itself, or branching. The numbers indicate how many lines surround each cell. Empty cells may be surrounded by any number of lines (from 0 to 3). There is one unique solution, and you should be able to find it without guessing. You may find it helpful to make small x's between dots that cannot be connected."
by Douglas Malloch
If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill, Be a scrub in the valley — but be
The best little scrub by the side of the rill; Be a bush if you can't be a tree
If you can't be a bush be a bit of the grass, And some highway happier make; If you can't be a muskie then just be a bass — But the liveliest bass in the lake!
We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew, There's something for all of us here, There's big work to do, and there's lesser to do, And the task you must do is the near
If you can't be a highway then just be a trail, If you can't be the sun be a star; It isn't by size that you win or you fail — Be the best of whatever you are!
Ninebeautiesarecompetingfor the title of Miss Bartica Regatta 2026. The pageant slated forApril 4, 2026 will feature a talent segment, fashion show and intelligencesegment.
Logistics Coordinator of the pageant, PatriceWilson, explained that this year, organizers of the event are seeking to add a little moreexcitementtotheexperience.
According to her, this year’s competition includes a talent segment- which was not done before in addition to upgraded winningprizes.
“Wewillbegivingawaythree luminous scooters along with the cash prices…This year, we also opened the pageant to include young women who are not necessarily born in Bartica but are bred here. They have their roots here. We have two Venezuelans who grew up in Bartica and a Brazilian girl who also lived here for a number of years,” she said adding that the goal is to bring a littlemorediversitytothestage.
Wilsonnotedthatalthoughlast year’s competition faced some controversy,theRegattacommittee is intentional about preserving the historyofthepageant.
She said “The Miss Bartica RegattaPageantisoneoftheoldest, ifnottheoldestcommunitypageants inGuyanaandwhilewehavefaced some negativity, this pageant has
history and value that is worth preserving Bartica as a mining destination that hold so much potential for tourism The pageant allows our young women to showcase their beauty, intelligence and talent It also offers a platform for them to build self confidence whileshowcasingtheirRegion”
The coordinator emphasized thatthereisalotthatparticipantsof theMissBarticaPageantcanyield by just taking part in the event besidestheprizes.
“There are training sessions on how to operate with grace and poise, how to do your makeup and dressforvariousoccasions,speech deliveryetc,”sheadded
The pageant is part of a line of activities for the Bartica Easter Regattaeventscalendar OnFriday infrontofasmall,selectgathering and a social media live stream, Chairman of the Bartica Regatta Committee - Holbert Knights, and team gave brief outlines of the activities that will make up the annual event at Bartica. Chairman of the RDC of Region # 7 - June Shurland-Gittens also gave brief remarks on behalf of the Regional Administration.
Accordingtothecommittee,the programme of activities for the Bartica Easter Regatta 2026 was officially revealed to the public on Friday, January 23, by way of the
Regatta Press Launch, which was held at Mary’s Sunset Resort at Bartica; Sunday, January 25: Regatta Launch Party (Citrus Themed)atAuroraHall,FourMiles Junction; Sunday, March 22: Cultural Village and Food extravaganza and Sashing of Miss BarticaRegattaContestantsatDagg PointPlayfield -Friday,March27: RegattainKingstonJamaicaatSixth Avenue, Bartica- Saturday, March 28: Regatta Talent Competition at PalmSpringsPoolside;followedby Mary’sPoolsideParty On Sunday, March 29: Kiddies Fun Village; Dominoes Competition; followed by Regatta Big People Party; Tuesday, March
31: Miss Bartica Regatta Intelligence Segment - Live on socialmedia.OnThursday,April2: Gospel Concert at the Bartica Community Centre Ground and Friday,April3:FootballFinals.On Saturday,April4:LocalDayTours; MissBarticaRegattaPageantatthe Bartica Community Centre; followed by the Brooklyn AllWhiteRoadJamPartyandSunday, April5:RegattaPowerBoatRaces; and Regatta Beach Party, at the Bartica Golden Beach. The final activity will be held on Monday, April 6: Grasstrack Races at Mora Camp Circuit; and Regatta Mega Stage Show at the Bartica CommunityCenterGround.
Variety of beautifully decorated cakes Jewel’s Goodies Box has to offer.
ByAllyiahAllicock
Growingupinafamilyofbakers,
first her grandmother then her mother, 29-year-old Jewel Chan is continuing a generational legacy and tradition through her very own small business,‘Jewel’sGoodiesBox’.
BasedinPortKaituma,RegionOne,the young entrepreneur told The Waterfalls ‘Jewel’sGoodiesBox’startedinMay2020, after her friends and family encouraged her toturnthispastimeintoabusiness.
Sharing how it all started, Chan explainedthat“Ihadalwayslovedbaking.I came from a family of bakers my grandmother used to bake bread, buns and cakesandsellbackinherdays.Mymomon the other used to bake everything for us exceptsheneversold.”
Being exposed to the baking environmentfromayoungage,Chanbegan to develop the necessary skills and passion for it which saw her baking her own treats fromtimetotime.
“My friend Sassy encouraged me to sell
“
I had always loved baking. I came from a family of bakers my grandmother used to bake bread, buns and cakes and sell back in her days. My mom on the other hand used to bake everything for us except she never sold.
“
after a day I made brownie with cream cheeseswirlinside,aftereatingoneshewas like ‘Jew why don’t you make boxes with these to sell.’ I actually laughed when she saidthatIwaslike‘youthinkpeoplewould buy?’Shewaslike‘Girlpeopledoeshaveto wait till they go to Georgetown to get lil fancy dessert and you right here and can makeforus,”Chanrecalled.
Feeling a bit hesitant at first, Chan said thatherfriendcontinuetoencourageherand offered to carry some of the baked treats to herworkplaceandsellonherbehalf.
“After that day that was the birth of Jewel’s Goodies Box,” she recalled. The name, Jewel’s Goodies Box, she said inspired the fact that she only made boxes with different desserts, mostly cookies, chocolatecupcakesandcheesecakes.
Chan said she initially started with 12 boxes,thenitwentto18andcustomerskept coming and even encouraged her to start doingdecoratedcakes.
“WhichItoldthemI’llbeworkingonit,I
started to watch a lot ofYouTube videos howtostackacake,howtodecorateacake, howtomakebuttercream,ohmyitwassuch achallengebutIwasdeterminetolearnsoI cansatisfymycustomers,”sheexplained.
Fromthereonout,thebusinessstartedto grow
Reminiscing on her entrepreneurial journey, the young woman said that her biggest challenge was establishing the right pricesforthecakesanddessertboxesatthe time. “I was undercharging my work. Most of my ingredients I have to source from GeorgetownsoIwasn’tthinkingabouthow muchmoneyIwasreallyspendingjusttoget the ingredients alone. I’m located in Port KaitumaRegionOne,”shesaid.
She continued, “I started by calculating mycostfortheingredientsrightdowntothe overhead cost, and making sure to add in labourcost.IneverdidthatbeforeandIthink that’s the most common mistake most first timebakersdoes.”
Having watched videos on how to price
design everything Chanstatedthatnoweverythingisinplace.
Looking ahead, the talented baker disclosed that her long term goal is to open her own cafe in Port Kaituma, “that’s my ultimatedreamgoalforJewel’sGoodies.”
“I want to have a place where persons would walk in and feel their stress fall off fromtheirshouldersjustbywalkingintomy littlecafé,”sheelaborated.
Working to achieve these goals, our featured entrepreneur expressed that while sheappreciatewhatthegovernmentisdoing to recognize small businesses by giving out start-up capital and implementing training programs.
Shesuggeststhatthereneedstobefollow up by authorities that persons are indeed benefittingfromtheseinitiatives.
For persons looking to take a bite out of these tasty treats, feel free to contract Jewel Chan via Tik Tok @jewel goodies and on FacebookatJewelGoodiesBox.
Three persons were on Thursdaynightkilledinanaccident alongtheLinden-MaburaTrail,the Guyana Police Force (GPF) disclosed on Saturday In a statement, the GPF said that the accident occurred around 21:30h andinvolvedatruckandahirecar
The dead trio have been identified as 32-year-old Marcus Berley of One Mile, Wismar – the driverofthehirecarandpassengers AndrewIrvin,52,alsoofOneMile, Wismar and Maureen Patricia Woodley, 81, a Jamaican-born naturalisedUSAcitizen.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the hire car bearing HD 6751 was headed west along the southern lane of the road, allegedly at a fast rate when it collided with the right rear end of parked truck bearing registration number GJJ 4000 with trailer TSS 4613 that was facing the same direction on the same side of the road.
The collision resulted in the Berley, Irvin and Woodley
sustaining injuries They were subsequently being transported to theLindenHospitalComplexinan unconsciousstate.
The trio was examined by a doctor on duty, who pronounced them dead on arrival. The truck driver, a 36-year-old male who hails from Craig, East Bank Demerara,hasbeenarrestedandis assisting police with the investigation.
The $880 million Charity WharfprojectinRegionTwois14 percent completed, the Ministry of PublicWorkshasdisclosed.
MinisterwithintheMinistryof Public Works, Madanlall Ramraj and regional officials visited the projectsiteonSaturday
Speaking about the project, Minister Ramraj stated that upon completion, the wharf will significantly improve livelihood andtradeforresidentsandfarmers of Region Two. “This wharf is not just a structure; it is an investment inpeople,infarmers,inbusinesses and in the long-term development
will protect the community from floods while expanding transport andeconomicactivity
The Charity Market Wharf project, valued at $880 million, entails the construction of a new climate-resilient wharf facility designedtoprovidemodernmarine docking services for the largest community on the Essequibo Coast.The ministry shared that the project includes the installation of 160 stressed concrete foundation piles, each approximately 130 feet long; a reinforced concrete wharf deck and superstructure; a floating dock to facilitate the docking of
of RegionTwo.When we improve docking facilities, protect the river bank and create space for commerce, we are directly improving incomes, encouraging trade and opening new opportunities for tourism and investmentinthisregion,”hesaid.
According to the minister, the modern, climate-resilient facility
vessels of varying sizes; provision forafutureGIPcranetoassistwith off-loading and cargo handling; a covered passenger deck and waiting area; an administrative buildingandparkingfacilities;and upgraded river defence works to provide flood protection for the wharf frontage.Additionally, two separate sections of river defence,
An artist's impression of what the
would look like when completed.
500 feet upstream and 500 feet downstream, will be upgraded underaparallelcontract.
The ministry disclosed that major foundation works are currentlyunderway
“Substantial development is expected by the second quarter of 2026,withcompletiontargetedfor
MinisterofPublicUtilitiesand Aviation, Deodat Indar on Friday commissioned four new water supply systems at several villages in the South Pakaraimas, Region Nine.
The Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) on Saturday said that the projects which value $102 million collectively benefit some 1,865 residents. The company said that the residents are benefitting from “near-universal access to potable water.”
Karasabai Village, along with its satellite settlements of Jawari, Wichabai, and Curicock are beneficiaries of the water systems. GWIstatedthatthesevillageshave longfacedthechallengeofuneven waterdistributionandbeforethese interventions; families had to rely entirely on rainwater harvesting andopensurfacesources.
“Within Karasabai itself, two
the last quarter of 2026,” the ministryreported.
Regional Vice-Chairman Humace Oodit, who was at the visit, mentioned that the project will have a major impact on farmers, traders and riverain communities.Hetoonotedthatthe structure will benefit farmers,
business people and residents across the Pomeroon and riverine areas.
Kaieteur News had reported thattheministryinDecember2024 signedacontractwithS.Jagmohan ConstructionandGeneralSupplies Inc. to execute the project, which hasadurationof24months.
commissioning said that the investments in the water systems areatestamenttothegovernment's commitment to ensuring that no village is left behind in its quest to bridge the gap in water access between the coast and the hinterland.
acknowledged those local labourers were used to bring the projects to fruition “We are bringing the people in the community to be part of the
execution of the development... theyarepaid,theylearnaskill,and they become skillful to move that skilltootherareas,”hesaid. Theministernotedalsothatthe projects form part of some $30.4 billion the government spent since assumingofficeonthewatersector intheregion.
Guyana's Beharry
G r o u p a n d Jamaica'sAmber Group have entered into a strategic joint venture to establish a new IT and cybersecurity services company, Beharry-Amber TechnologiesInc..
The establishment of the company marks a major milestone in the region's digital transformation journey The partnership brings together two of the mostrespectedcompaniesin the Caribbean and signals a significant investment into the future of technology,
statement.
Thejointventurereflects a shared vision to address a critical gap in Guyana's technology landscape Guyana's rapid economic expansion and strong government focus on digital transformation requires a
comprehensive, locally anchoredtechnologypartner capableofdeliveringend-toend IT and cybersecurity servicesatscale.
The companies said that the partnership directly responds to that need, c
op technology platform that will serve both government and private sector clients, meeting domestic as well as regionaldemand.
Suresh Beharry, Chairman and CEO of Beharry Group, stated that Guyana is at a pivotal moment in its development, where digital infrastructure and cybersecurity are no longeroptionalbutessential.
He noted that the vision behindthejointventureisto s u p p o r t G u y a n a ' s modernisation journey by buildingstrong,reliable,and future-ready technology capabilities. He added that AmberGroupstoodoutasa partner due to its proven
delivery record, depth of expertise, and shared commitment to long-term impactacrosstheregion.
Dushyant Savadia, FounderandCEOofAmber Group, expressed his
partnership and the trust placedinAmberbyBeharry Group. He described the collaboration as far more than a commercial venture,
commitment to Guyana's growth, resilience, and technological advancement. He highlighted Beharry G
contribution to national development and noted that the joint venture will play a
infrastructure, improving cybersecurity readiness, and supporting the country's rapideconomicexpansion.
“Guyana's emergence as one of the fastest-growing
Suresh Beharry, Chairman and CEO of Beharry Group signs the partnership agreement as Dushyant Savadia, Founder and CEO ofAmber Group looks on.
economiesgloballyandwith increasinginvestmentacross energy, infrastructure, and financialservices,thetiming of this joint venture is both strategicandnecessary Built on strong local roots and g
collaboration aligns closely with the government's focus ondigitaltransformationand positions the new entity to become a central enabler of
innovation, security, and efficiency across the region,”thestatementsaid.
With Guyana emerging asoneofthefastest-growing economies globally and
investment across energy, infrastructure, financial services, and public sector m
e companies view the timing of the joint venture as both
strategicandnecessary
“Built on strong local roots and global expertise, B e h a r r y - A m b e r Technologies Inc aligns closely with national digital transformation objectives and is positioned to become a key enabler of innovation, security, and operational efficiency across Guyana and the wider Caribbean,” thecompaniesconcluded.
Wanted experience & reliable sales girls,cook,porters physically fit and dependable.Contact:6941170.
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Job opening: Truck Driver, AC Technicians, Excavator and Skid Steer Operators. To apply send application via WhatsApp: 689-1111/ 608-2114.
Live in Maid wanted. Robb St. Call: 762-3155
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Wanted one Maid. For more information please Call: 680-1282.
1 Honda CRV, includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, spoiler, low mileage, PTT Series (first owner). Call: 649-0956.
TGeneral Domestic (4 day work) & experiened handyman, apply at Keyfood Trading Mc Doom next to the post office.
COOK/BAKER AND PITMEN for interior location . Applicants must be experienced. Call: 231-2250.
One clerk for TSI Eccles office English 1, Maths 2 call 615-9132 or email application to techserigy@gmail.com
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Restaurant Supervisors & Front Service cashiers . New exciting restaurant experience necessary : 7100750 . Send Resume eatitguyana@gmail.com
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OFFICE ASSISTANT / MESSENGER . Please send application to P.O.BOX 10109 , Georgetown . A valid motorcycle license .
One (1) female cleaner for Eccles office call 645-8443.
Visa Application:U.S.A, Canada & UK:Graphics design, advertisements, wedding arch rentals.Tel:6267040.
he decision by Speaker of the Na tional Assembly Manzoor Nadir to allow only the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) to be present on Monday for the election of the Leader of the Opposition has been heavily criticised by the opposition parties.
A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) have objected to the Speaker’s decision. Speaking at an APNU press conference on Friday, party lead MP Dr. Terrence Campbell said the reported restriction reflects a troubling pattern and should be condemned. He said, “my understanding that the speaker of the national assembly in keeping with his current practices or current trend has decided that only NCN will be present um for the election of the leader of the opposition. I believe that if NCN should be present, all media houses should be present. And at this point, if the reports are true to actually condemn that very partisan decision.”
Similarly, WIN in a statement issued on Saturday, described the move as discriminatory and inconsistent with
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democratic norms and press freedom.
“The decision to allow only the state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) at the Opposition Leader’s election demonstrates a bias and is contrary to transparency, fairness, and press freedom in Guyana,” the party said. WIN’s leader Azruddin Mohamed, who has been identified as the presumptive Opposition Leader, called for the decision to be reversed. He said, “I therefore formally request that this decision be reviewed and rescinded without delay and that all accredited media houses be allowed access to cover the election process in the National Assembly. No single state-owned media house is the sole gatekeeper of information.”
WIN contended that the election of the Leader of the Opposition is a matter of public interest and should be conducted openly, without media restrictions or any appearance of political favouritism. It also noted that it has drawn the matter to the attention of international and local stakeholders, including diplomatic missions and transparency bodies.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir
On Saturday, Stabroek reported that Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs confirmed the Speaker’s decision.
“Only NCN, as instructed by the Speaker of the National Assembly, will be allowed in the Chamber, and I was told that the feed will be provided to other members of the media,” Isaacs was quoted as saying. Further, Stabroek News reported that President of the Guyana Press Association (GPA), Iva Wharton, said the association wrote the Clerk seeking clarity on media access arrangements, particularly for the upcoming budget debates and clarity on the arrangements for the election of the Opposition Leader.
Wharton told Stabroek News that five seats had re-
portedly been allocated to media houses for the budget, with three possibly designated for the Department of Public Information (DPI).
“So, we have asked for the criteria used to allocate the remaining two seats designated to independent media, assuming that if three go to DPI, the other two would go to independent outlets,” Wharton said. According to the report, Wharton said that the GPA also requested details on the guidelines or restrictions that will govern media presence within the National Assembly on the day of the proceedings.
On the election of the Leader of the Opposition, the GPA President told Stabroek News that traditionally the media is not invited into those meetings.
“Generally, we have never been invited into one of those meetings. We would usually just receive information on who the Opposition Leader is and then seek interviews with the individual and their team,” she said. “However, we have asked for the reasons why coverage of these proceedings has been restricted to such a finite number of media.”
From page 38 no belt, no designer shirt, no fancy watch,” he continued. “I’m normally drawn to eyes, but when we can’t see the face we search for other clues that may reveal someone’s humanity.
In this picture, although David stands alone, we see the love of his children tattooed onto his back. Family is everything. David Beckham, I salute you.”
In the comments section of the Instagram post, Victoria reacted to Antoniou’s stroll down memory lane. She wrote:
“Brings back great memories! d’.” The interaction between Antoniou and Victoria took place after Brooklyn, 26, broke his silence on the ongoing feud between himself and his parents in a lengthy social media post, in which he accused them of “trying endlessly to ruin my relationship” with wife Nicola Peltz Beckham.
“I do not want to reconcile with my family.
I’m not being controlled, I’m standing up for myself for the first time in my life,” Brooklyn wrote, then going on to describe several moments in which he claimed his
family attempted to sabotage his relationship, including during his 2022 wedding at his wife’s Palm Beach estate, and at his father’s 50th birthday last year. A source previously told PEOPLE of the Beckhams, “The relationship is definitely not beyond repair. Earlier this month, an insider with knowledge of the situation told PEOPLE, “David and Victoria have repeatedly asked Brooklyn and Nicola to meet and talk in order to move forward.”
The insider added, “David loves his kids. They are his everything.”
From page 46 and friendships.Held on Friday, January 09, “Nail Free Zone Friday” saw 14 nail technicians show up at the location, and set up shop eager to do what they love and expand their reach and client base.
“This was a Nail Free Zone Friday where several nail techs get together. This is the second year we’ve done it. We plan to do it annually to give back to our loyal clients, customers and our potential customers, one free nail service per year. This is our second year doing it. I’m the host person, Nail Room Cosmetology School and Spa,” Gray cheerfully told this publication.
In addition to the 14 nail techs there were also three distributors on site ready to give access to quality products, LA Beauty Supply, OD’s Creative Nails Supplies and NSI Guyana. This publication ventured to the location to have a firsthand view of what was happening. Not only was there a long line of women lined up to be pampered but every nail table had a client
who seemed contented and was happily chatting along with their peers. In addition to getting their nails done for free they also got free mental health advice and a sort of mini therapy session from personnel attached to the Ministry of Health. Interactive discussions were also held in relation to sexual health and safe sex, with a station set up with pamphlets on how to address certain topics with their spouse or child. A number of fellow local business owners also donated gifts and token to hand out to the ladies with Crissy Exotic and Beauty Corner included. Gray happily told this publication that, “this event a success, we gave out in excess of 100 nail sets, persons were given gifts. Nail techs, getting gifts from various places, who donated tokens of appreciation and things like that.”
Gray is looking forward to part three next year as she enjoys the smiles it brings to faces as well as the networking aspect of it. She hopes that more nail techs join the cause and many more businesses come onboard next year to make it bigger.
City Mayor Alfred Mentore will be seeking financialassistancefromthe government to construct sheds for the vendors who wererecentlyremovedfrom outside ofYhip’s Bakery on AlexanderandRobbStreets, Bourda,Georgetown.
The sheds are being constructed on Merriman’s Mall between Orange Walk and Cummings Street, Georgetown and are expected to accommodate approximately 70 vendors operating in and around the BourdaMarketarea.
Mentore, in an invited comment, told Kaieteur NewsonSaturdaythatwhile theexactcostfortheproject is unknown, the cost will be more than the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC)couldafford.
Hesaidheispreparingto writethecentralgovernment torequestassistancetocover 50 per cent of the project’s total cost, that is to be determined at the Council’s meetingonTuesday
“We got the design for the mall, and we have a meeting on Tuesday to get the approval so that construction can begin Right now, we are waiting for that approval,” he explained.
The design includes specifications for the shed’s structure, height and length, sanitary facilities, and designated sections for vendors. According to the mayor, councillors will also reviewtheoverallcostofthe project at Tuesday’s meeting.
“Thereatthemeetingwe will know the cost of the wholething,butitseemslike the cost is more than we expected it to be,” Mentore said. “I’ll be writing to the government to cover 50 per
Alfred Mentore
cent of the cost because this project is both a City Council and government initiative What we are trying to do is involve the government in clearing roadways and relocating vendors into a better environment.Allofthatwill bediscussedonTuesday.”
The project follows the recent displacement of approximately 15 vendors who were operating in front of Yhip’s Bakery at the corner of Robb and Alexander Streets Their stalls were dismantled following a High Court order, leaving several vendors distressed and in need of alternative vending spaces.
On January 19, Kaieteur Newsreportedthatwhilean exact completion timeline for the new shed has not yet b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d , groundwork is ongoing to finalise the project’s modalities. These include discussions on the overall structure, sanitary facilities, number of tables, parking arrangements, and the generallayoutofthearea.
Mentore further emphasised that the project will be treated as an emergency matter stating, “Thewholeideabehindthis is that once we get everything in place, this is notadelayissue.”
In 2025, 1302 inmates obtained skills to aid in their re-integration to society, the Guyana Prison Service (GPS)said.Inastatementon its Facebook page, the GPS saidthatthegovernmenthas committed to prison reform and has been providing offenderswithrehabilitation a n d r e i n t e g r a t i o n opportunities.
In keeping with this mandate
conducted across the five prison locations, supporting and providing inmates with practicalskills.
“The programs varied and focused on developing inmate’s skills through technical and vocational training, academic, behaviour modifications programs.Asaresult,atotal 1302 inmates benefitted from the training provided during 2025. These training programsarealignmentwith the Prison Service’s goal of facilitating a smooth integration into society for workemployment,”theGPS said.Athoroughassessment into each inmate’s needs is
Some inmates during a class session.
done by the Sentence
P
programmes are tailored to individualneeds.
It was explained by Prisoners’ Welfare and Corrections Officer, Tassa McGarrell, that the department had recognised that there is need for programmes that meet inmatesattheirlevel.Hence it offers vocational, academic, and behavioural training programmes Inmates are carefully assessed to determine their suitability for each programme.
Over the last year, the
strengtheninginmatetraining
strategic partnerships with governmentministries,nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and the private sector along with other stakeholders.
“I am immensely proud of the transformative progress we’ve made in empowering inmates throughskillacquisitionand e d u c a t i o n T h e s e partnerships have not only equipped inmates with practical skills but are paving the way for a more
skillworkforce,”McGarrell said.
Additionally, the GPS said that Director of Prisons Nicklon Elliot said the programmes are aimed at improving the lives of offenders.
“He also noted that the p r i s o n s e r v i c e i s transitioning from penal to correctional,withafocuson building partnerships with the private sector, government ministries and other stakeholders to provide inmates with opportunities to meet the growing labour demand,” theGPSsaidinitsstatement.
WA S H I N G T O N , (Reuters) – U.S. President DonaldTrumpsaidtodayhe would impose a 100% tariff on Canada if it follows through on a trade deal with China and warned Canadian PrimeMinisterMarkCarney that a deal would endanger hiscountry
“China will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“If Canada makes a deal with China, it will immediately be hit with a 100% Tariff against all Canadian goods and products coming into the U.S.A.”
Carney’s office did not immediately respond to a requestforcomment.
The Canadian prime minister this month traveled to China to reset the countries’ strained relationship and reached a trade deal with Canada’s second-biggest trading
manufacturing, autos and machinery
of Entry next to the Thousand Islands Bridge in Lansdowne,
partner after the United States Immediately after Carney’s China trip, Trump sounded supportive. “It’s a good thing for him to sign a trade deal,” Trump told reportersattheWhiteHouse on January 16. “If you can get a deal with China, you shoulddothat.”
But U S -Canada tensions have grown in
recent days following Carney’s criticism of Trump’s pursuit of Greenland.
Trump today suggested China would try to use CanadatoevadeU.S.tariffs. “If Governor Carney thinks heisgoingtomakeCanadaa ‘Drop Off Port’for China to sendgoodsandproductsinto the United States, he is
sorely mistaken,” Trump said,usingatitleforCarney that refers to Trump’s past calls for Canada to become the51stU.S.state.
IfTrumpmakesgoodon today’s threat, the new tariff would greatly increase U.S. duties on its northern neighbour, adding pressure to Canadian industrial sectors such as metal
Relations between Carney and Trump seemed relatively placid until the Canadian leader this week spoke out forcefully against Trump’s pursuit of Greenland.
Carney subsequently at the World Economic Forum called on nations to accept that a rules-based global order was over and pointed to Canada as an example of how“middlepowers”might act together to avoid being victimised by American hegemony
Carney, during his s p e e c h i n D a v o s , Switzerland,didnotdirectly calloutTrumportheUnited States by name. However, the prime minister argued that“middlepowersmustact together because if you are not at the table, you are on themenu.”
Many world leaders and industry titans present at the Switzerland confab responded with a standing ovation.
Trump shot back in his own Davos speech and said Canada“livesbecauseofthe United States,” a statement that Carney rejected on Thursday
“Canada and the United States have built a remarkable partnership in theeconomy,insecurityand in rich cultural exchange,” Carney said in Quebec “Canada doesn’t live becauseoftheUnitedStates. Canada thrives because we areCanadian.”
Since then, Trump has dug in, revoking Canada’s invitation to his Board of Peace that he wants to deal with international conflicts andGaza’sfuture.
After Carney’s election lastyear,TrumpandCarney shared a congenial tone. “I think the relationship is going to be very strong,” Trumpsaidatthetime.
But Trump this month dismissed the mega trade deal between the United States, Canada, and Mexico — up for renegotiation in July—as“irrelevant.”
Brazil’sLulasaysTrumpisattemptingto‘createanewUN’
comments
as Trump invites war crimes suspect Netanyahu to join ‘Board of Peace’.
Aljazeera - Brazilian
PresidentLuizInacio“Lula” da Silva has accused his United States counterpart DonaldTrumpofwantingto create “a new UN”, days after the US president launched his new “Board of Peace” initiative in Switzerland.
“Instead of fixing” the United Nations, “what’s happening?
President Trump is proposing to create a new UN where only he is the owner,”Lulasaidinaspeech onFriday
Speaking in Rio Grande do Sul, Lula also said that Trump “wants to run the worldthroughTwitter”.
“It’s remarkable. Every day he says something, and
every day the world is talking about what he said,” Lula said, according to Brazil’s Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper.
L u l a d e f e n d e d multilateralismagainstwhat he called “the law of the jungle” in global affairs and warnedthat“theUNcharter isbeingtorn”.
Lula’s remarks come a day after he spoke by phone with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who urged his Brazilian counterpart to safeguard the “central role” of the UN in international affairs.
Hiscommentsalsocome as the White House withdraws the US from dozens of UN bodies and Trump launches his “Board
of Peace”, while imposing his “America First” agenda on global politics and trade through tariffs and military threats to such a degree that allies of Washington question whether they can nowtrusttheUS.
Trump launched the board with a signing ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, duringtheannualsummitof theWorldEconomicForum, another international body that has increasingly presented itself as an alternativetotheUNsystem. Members of the board include Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is accused of war crimes by the InternationalCriminalCourt
andwhoseforceshavekilled morethan300staffmembers from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA,inGaza.
The US originally said that the “Board of Peace” wouldoverseetherebuilding of Gaza after more than two years of Israel’s genocidal waronthebesiegedenclave, but the board’s 11-page charter does not mention Gaza,suggestingitsinterests may have expanded in scope. The UN, which was createdinthewakeofWorld War II, has said it is experiencing funding s h o
t f a l l s f o r i t s humanitarian and human rights activities, as the US and other Western countries redirect funding away from
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva delivers a speech during the Ceremony in Defence of Democracy in Brasilia, on January 8, 2026 [Evaristo Sa/AFP]
international aid towards militaryspending. The world body operatesonaregularbudget of about $3 72bn annually, of which the US was required to contribute $820m in 2025, although it has fallen behind on payments under the Trump administration. By contrast, the draft charter of the Board of Peace says that countries would be required to pay $1bn if they wish to remain members for more than threeyears.
The A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is stilluncertainaboutwhether it agrees with stakeholders on the need to ring-fence projects in the Stabroek Block.
During a media conference on Friday, this newspaper asked the party's lead Member of Parliament (MP), Dr. Terrence Campbellwhetherthegroup sees the need to implement this provision, in light of falling oil prices and the likelihood of projects being drained before their 20-year lifespan.
Last week a member of thepartyandformerFinance Minister, Winston Jordan cited his full support for ring-fencing.
He told this newspaper, “No ring-fencing has effectivelytransferredallthe risksofinvestmentdecisions to, and the actual search for, newoilfieldsfromExxonto the Government of Guyana while Exxon maintains a
high premium on such investments.”
Jordannotedthatwhilea bright and rosy future is often painted for revenue flowstobenefitGuyana,the reality is starkly different, considering the current rate of depletion and falling oil prices.
The former Finance minister acknowledged that the coalition failed to do its homework on the company whichuseditsknowledgeof Guyana to extract the best possible deal to benefit its shareholders.
Be that as it may, Dr Campbell explained that the party has not met to determine whether it supports such a provision.
According to him, “On the issueofring-fencingInoted the comments by former ministerWinstonJordanand I understand the comments, especially in light of facts...loweroilpricesandso on, however as a Parliamentary team and as a
A 29-year-old woman of Bush Lot, Essequibo Coast died on Saturday hours after she was involved in an accidentalongtheAnnaReginaPublicRoad,Essequibo. DeadisAshleyHolder
Reports are that Holder died around 05:56h Saturday whilereceivingtreatmentattheLimaRegionalHospital. Police said that the accident occurred about 21:50h FridayandinvolvedacarbearingregistrationnumberPAK 4313 and driven by a 54-year-old male of Onderneeming, EssequiboCoastandHolder
“Preliminaryinvestigationsrevealedthatthemotorcar wasproceedingsouthalongtheeasterndrivinglaneofthe roadway when the driver felt an impact to the front of his vehicle.Uponstopping,thedriverobservedthepedestrian lyingunconsciousinfrontofthemotorcar,”Policesaid. Holder was picked up by the driver and rushed to the Lima Regional Hospital, where she was admitted with injuriesaboutherbodyandhead.
The driver was subsequently arrested and taken to the Anna Regina Police Station, where a breathlyzer test was done, revealing he had 10 micrograms of alcohol in his systemwhichisbelowthelegallimitof30micrograms. Heremainsincustodyandvideofootageextractedfrom the car's dash camera will be reviewed as investigations continue.
APNU MP, Dr. Terrence Campbell
party we have not discussed andformalisedapositionon this ring-fencing and so I wouldnotliketojumpahead of myself and to provide an answeratthispoint.”
Dr Campbell could not give a definitive timeline on whenAPNUwouldbeready
to announce its decision in that regard When this newspaperinvitedtheMPto say whenAPNU is likely to arriveataposition,henoted, “Theimmediatefocusofthe Parliamentary team is the budgetsoitwillbesometime after the process is concluded.”
In accordance with the agreement, Guyana receives 12 5% of profits ExxonMobil is allowed to take75%oftheoilproduced every month to cover its expenses and also enjoys a 12.5% profit share. In additiontoits12.5%profits, Guyana also receives 2% of grossproductionasroyalty Notably, after the contractor recovers all of its expenses to develop the resources,Guyanawouldbe eligible for 50% of all production, minus operating expensesfromtheprojects.
With more and more developments being approvedintheabsenceofa ring-fencing provision, the country has been receiving meager profits, delayed to facilitate cost recovery.This provision would ensure the
country receive half of the profit after paying off the developmentcosts.
This newspaper recently reported that the blistering extraction rates in the Stabroek Block led by ExxonMobil have slashed theprojectedlifespanofLiza One and the Liza Two developments. What should have been a 20-year project life for each development has been reduced in half as the oil remaining will only last for another three years' time.
(Cricinfo) - RS Ambrish’s four-wicket haul and captain Ayush Mhatre’s rapid 53 helped India beat New Zealand in the final group stage fixture of the Under-19WorldCup,taking them to the top of Group B withanunbeatenrecordafter threematches.Afterelecting to field, India quickly had New Zealand in trouble in
the powerplay: Ambrish took out Hugo Bogue and Aryan Mann, while Henil Patel had Aryan Mann nicking behind, to leave New Zealand reeling at 17 for3whentherainarrived.
After a stop-and-start delay, the innings was reduced to 37 overs. Still, NewZealanddidnotlastthe distance. They were reduce
to 22 for 5, then 69 for 7. It was only a 53-run partnership for the eighth wicket, between Callum Samson (37*) and Selwin Sanjay (28), that provided late resistance for their side.
AfterSanjaywasdismissed, the last of Ambrish’s four victims, Henil returned to cleanupthetail. Inresponse,Indiaopener
Aaraon George fell in the second over Once Mhatre and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi were at the crease, however, theychangedgearstosmash 76 runs in just 6.3 overs. Sooryavanshi hit two fours andthreesixesduringhis23ball 40, before a stunning catch by Mason Clarke at mid-offsenthimback.
ARIES(Mar 21–Apr 19)
Tension may arise today, Aries.It'spossiblethatyou're either too dreamy or too practical to deal effectively with the issue. It's important to strike a balance The toughest part will be finding otherswhoagreewithyou.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
Yesterday's trajectory may runintotroubletoday,Taurus. Your intrinsically dreamy nature is dragging down the action you initiated This conflict could create tension that will be difficult to resolve.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Try to align your mind with youremotionstoday,Gemini. It's possible that a powerful yet subtle force is slowly pullingyouofftrack.
CANCER(June21–July22)
An emotional issue could be rubbing you the wrong way, Cancer Your impulse is to escape. Try to do so in a healthy manner Go see a movie or read a book. Don't fall prey to the temptation to indulgeinalcoholorfood.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Yourartisticsidewantstotake to the airwaves in some way, Leo Perhaps you should considerbuildingawebsiteor becomingacommentatorona localradioshow
VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)
It may be apparent that what was so light and active yesterday is running into a few roadblocks today, Virgo. You're suddenly heading into a brick wall with some of the projects you've been working on.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
There may be dreaminess about your emotions today, Scorpio,whichcouldkeepyou from focusing on the task at hand. The aspects dictate that people may be stubborn and confused-andyou'relikelyto beoneofthem.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)
Little voices whisper in your ear and ask you to take flight and join them in the clouds, Sagittarius There's tension between what your heart and mind tell you. They're pulling you in very different directions.
SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)
Recentspiritualbreakthroughs might have you feeling both exhilarated and downcast, Scorpio. Your sensitive side tells you that this is a definite step forward on your spiritual path.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Something or someone may prod you to take action today, Capricorn. It may be best if you beat them to it and motivateyourself.Breakaway fromtheherdandgowherever youwanttogo.
AQUARIUS (Jan 20–Feb 18) You might experience a great deal of emotional confusion,Aquarius.There'sa debatebrewinginsideyou,and you're having a hard time deciding whether to be practicalormorefanciful.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar 20)
It will be a challenge to keep youremotionsonanevenkeel today,Pisces.Conflictmaybe brewing and you might fear it could get out of hand Everythingwillworkout.
from the top of the orderheadlinedJapan’sfirstwinat aWorldCup.Thetwoteams were meeting in a play-off for the 15th and 16th spots. The result means Tanzania end their tournament with thewoodenspoon.
Mhatre ensured there were no further hiccups in the small chase: he smashed six sixes, along with two fours, to kill the chase and bringuphishalf-centuryoff just 24 balls. He was taken outbySanjay,butjustafew overs later, Vedant Trivedi knocked off the winning runs,sealingawinforIndia. ParmarsealsJapan’s A n a l l - r o u n d performance from Nihar Parmar-whotook4for30to bowl out Tanzania for 131, then score an unbeaten 53
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, opener Acrey Hugo gave Tanzania a steady start. He losthispartnerKarimKiseto in the second over, but forged a 79-run partnership with Ayaan Sharrif. Hugo’s 55 and Shariff’s 40 would end up being the highest scores of the innings. They fellat81for2,and118for3 respectively From there, Tanzania collapsed, losing their last seven wickets for just 13 runs. Nikhil Pol’s 3 for 23 complemented Parmar as they ran through Tanzania’smiddleorder
In response, Japan were
steadyatthetop:Parmarand Taylor Waugh stitched a 122-run partnership for the opening wicket, batting out 27 overs to almost singlehandedly take Japan to a historic win. Waugh was eventually run out just short of a half-century, on 47, but No 3 Hugo Tani-Kelly walked out and hit a four, then a six, in quick succession to finish the contest.
ThiswasTanzania’sfirst appearanceataWorldCupat any level. While they finish winless, Japan end the tournament on a relative high, capturing their own maiden victory in their second appearance at the tournament. In 2020, they had made their own Under19WorldCupdebut,andlost thesame16thplaceplay-off contesttoNigeria.
Frompage56 closed when he played at MargaretCourtArena.
“I don’t think I could have finished this match without the roof, I don’t thinkanyonecould,”hesaid. “Youallstaycooloutthere.”
Organisers warned fans to bring hats, slap on sunscreen and drink plenty ofwater-butmanyavoided themajoraltogether.Theday sessionattendanceof51,048 was some 10,000 short of Fridayandevenlessthanlast year’s corresponding session.
Those who braved the conditionstowatch40-yearold Stan Wawrinka’s clash with American ninth seed TaylorFritzmighthavebeen a little disappointed when theSwissfell7-6(5)2-66-4 6-4 to bow out of the tournament for the final time. F
Frompage59 andYMCAOldFortHockey Club.
The Guyana Hockey Boardhasextendedheartfelt appreciationtoBountyFarm Limited and the National SportsCommissionfortheir pivotalrolesinbringingthis seasonopenertolife. Asthe traditional curtain-raiser for the season, the tournament promises non-stop, end-toend action throughout the day; showcasing skill, speed, and strategy at the country’s finest outdoor sportsfacility Comewitness the drama, goals, and glory unfold.
campaignerMarinCilic
to 12th seed Casper Ruud.
(BBC Sport) - Omar Marmoush scored his first Premier League goal of the season to help Manchester City return to winning ways by easing past bottom side WolvesatEtihadStadium.
PepGuardiola’ssidehad suffered a miserable start to 2026 by not winning any of theirfourleaguegames,and theSpaniarddecidedtogive star striker Erling Haaland and midfielder Phil Foden a restbydroppingthemtothe bench.
The duo came on in the second half by which time theirteam-mateshadalready madeapositiveimpacttoput Citybackontrackinthetopflight.
Bothsidessettheirstalls out early on, with visitors Wolves opting to sit back withafive-mandefence,but Cityexertedtheirdominance bycarvingthemopenatwill insidethefirst10minutes.
Debutant Marc Guehi almostmadeadreamstartin a City shirt but his header at the back post was straight into the grasp of goalkeeper
AFC
Jose Sa inside the first five minutes.
City grabbed the lead a minute later when
Marmoush stabbed home
Matheus Nunes’ whipped cross, before Semenyo latched on to a ball over the top but his first-time strike wasbundledawaybySa. The hosts doubled their lead on the stroke of half-
time to effectively seal the points when Bernardo Silva fizzed a pass into the feet of Semenyo, who converted a cool finish from the edge of the area - and he also rattled the crossbar in the second half Yerson Mosquera’s flicked header clipped the crossbar for Wolves late on, but Rob Edwards’side have nowwonjustonceallseason
and lie 14 points adrift of safety
Bournemouth stun Liverpool…
Amine Adli scored a stoppage-time winner as Bournemouth ended Liverpool’s 13-match unbeaten run in a Premier League thriller at Vitality Stadium.
After a goalmouth
scramble, Adli finished in the fifth minute of time added on to send the home fanswildafterLiverpoolhad initially come from two goalsdowntolevel.
With 10 minutes to go, Dominik Szoboszlai scored his second free-kick of the week to equalise for Liverpool after Virgil van Dijk had initially pulled a goalback.
A calamitous sevenminute spell for Liverpool sawArne Slot’s side go two goals down on the south coast.
Evanilson gave the Cherriestheleadinthe26th minute after Van Dijk failed to clear the ball and Joe Gomez was injured as he clashed with goalkeeper Alissonwhiletryingtoblock Evanilson’sstrike.
WithGomezoffthepitch and Wataru Endo ready to replace him, Liverpool did not kick the ball out and carried on playing with 10 menforsevenminutes.
In the 33rd minute,Alex Jimenez got on the end of a
throughballfromJamesHill and finished through Alisson’s legs to double Bournemouth’slead.
Liverpool then made the change and showed great resilience to come back into the game with Van Dijk heading in Szoboszlai’s corner on the brink of halftime, before Mohamed Salah, from a free-kick, rolledtheballintothepathof Szoboszlaiwhofiredintothe bottom corner past Djordje Petrovictolevel.
Both sides had chances towinitinnormaltimewith Alisson tipping Ryan Christie’s effort over before Petrovic pulled off a great stoptodenyFlorianWirtz.
Adli’s last-gasp winner stood after a video assistant referee (VAR) check for a possiblefoulinthebuild-up, meaning Liverpool tasted defeatforthefirsttimesince November
Yet to win a Premier League game in 2026, Liverpool remain fourth in t h e t a b l e , w h i l e Bournemouthriseto13th.
(Reuters)-JannikSinner battled back from the brink
of a cramp-induced breakdown to keep his Australian Open title defence alive after extreme heat halted play on outdoor courtsatMelbourneParkon Saturday but Novak Djokovic escaped the furnacetoforgeahead.
IgaSwiatekcontinuedto misfire in her hunt for a maiden Melbourne Park crown and a career Grand Slam, the second seed singedinher6-11-66-1win over Russian Anna Kalinskaya to reach the fourth round Local favourite Maddison Inglis’ path was much easier after her opponent and twice Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka pulled out withanabdominalinjury
Second seed Sinner providedtheearlydrama,as the Italian dropped his first set since October against inspired American Eliot Spizzirri and was a limping wreckunderablazingsunat RodLaverArena.
The match swung in his favourwhenthetournament invoked its extreme heat policy, allowing the stadium’s roof to shut and Sinnertorallyforadramatic 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 win. The Italian said he was “lucky” to finish the last two sets under the roof, after cramp affected first his legs and thenhisarms.
“Tennis is a mental game. I just tried to play as calm as possible,” he said before cutting short his oncourt chat. A trio of Italian men reached the fourth roundatMelbourneParkfor the first time, as Lorenzo MusettibeatTomasMachac 5–7 6–4 6–2 5–7 6–2 and Luciano Darderi got past KarenKhachanov7-6(5)3-6 6-3 6-4. Djokovic opened the evening session on Rod Laver Arena in much better
conditions, the Serb defeating dangerous Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp6-36-47-6(4)to continue his hunt for a record 25th Grand Slam title. With his 102nd match
main showcourts continued aftertheroofswereshut.
Poland’s Iga Swiatek in action during her third round match against Russia’sAnna Kalinskaya (Reuters)
win at Melbourne, he equalled six-times champion Roger Federer’s record at the major and also became the first player to secure400matchvictoriesat GrandSlams.
“It’sbeenagreatstartto the tournament,” said Djokovic,whonexttakeson
younggunJakubMensik. “Things can change and I’m not getting ahead of myself.”
The heat shutdown earlier halted outdoor matches for most of the afternoon, but those on the
With the temperature forecasttohitascorching40 degrees Celsius (104F), the actionstartedanhourearlier thanusualtotakeadvantage of cooler morning conditions Americans Madison Keys and Jessica Pegula capitalised on their early starts, beating Czech Karolina Pliskova 6-3 6-3 and Russian Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3 6-2 respectively to set up a last16clashagainsteachother Holder Keys, the ninth seed, and sixth seed Pegula are Florida-based and had littlefearoftheheat.
Fourth seed Amanda Anisimova soon followed theduointothefourthround with a 6-1 6-4 victory over fellow American Peyton Stearns in the second match atMargaretCourtArena.
“I hated training in the summer,”Anisimovasaid.
“Butyouknowwhat?At leastitpaidoffalittlebit.It’s great to be playing out here even when it’s so hot, it’s nicetohaveachallenge.”
While the Americans soared,EliseMertens,Elena Rybakina and Wang Xinyu all flew under the radar to progress.
STARSANDSTRIPES
Fifth seed Musetti and Czech Machac might have begged to differ as the duo sloggeditoutforfourhours and27minutesatJohnCain Arena before the Italian prevailed.
On a day dominated by Americans, eighth seed Ben Shelton delivered another victory for the Stars and Stripes, beating Valentin Vacherot6-46-47-6(5).
Shelton’s win was held up at 4-4 in the tiebreak as Vacherot thought the Americanhittheballaftera double-bounce.Sheltonwas handed the point after a video review that took so long even Vacherot was readytoconcedeittogetthe matchgoingagain.
Asemi-finalist last year, Sheltonwasalmostashappy asSinnerfortherooftobe
(Continuedonpage55)
(Cricinfo) - Pakistan’s participation at the upcoming Men’sT20World Cup 2026 has been thrown into uncertainty after the PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said a final decision would be made after talking to Pakistan’s government.
Speaking shortly after the ICC officially removed Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup owing to their refusal to play in India, Naqvi accused the ICC of “double standards” favouring India, and termed what happened to Bangladesh“aninjustice”.
“Our stance [on World Cup participation] will be what the government of Pakistan instructs me,” he said
“The Prime Minister is not in Pakistan right now.When he returns, I’ll be able to give you our final decision. It’s the government’s decision. We obey them, not the ICC ”
Over the past week or so, Pakistan has firmly thrown its support behind
Bangladesh in their
dispute with the ICC
demanding a venue outside of India to play their T20 World Cup
matches At an ICC meeting last week, the PCBwasunderstoodtobe the only board to back the BCBintheirstance
The tournament is jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, but
Bangladesh’s games were all scheduled in India
Bangladesh, however, have said it is no longer safe for them to play in India after the BCCI, on January 3, instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026squad
Though no reason was stated for that directive, it came amid deteriorating relations between India andBangladesh. OnJanuary4,theBCB wrote to the ICC after consultation with the government that the Bangladesh team would not travel to India for its T20 World Cup matches due to securityconcerns,astanceit
stuck to through several subsequent discussions with theICC.
T h e I C C h a s repeatedly refused Bangladesh’s request, and earlier this week gave them an ultimatum demandingthemtoaccept the schedule as it was, or face being removed from the tournament On Saturday, with Bangladesh stickingtotheirposition,the ICC formally announced Bangladesh would not be part of the T20 World Cup, and would be replaced insteadbyScotland.
Naqvi was critical of the decision, calling it an injustice to Bangladesh “I think Bangladesh has been hard done by,” he said. “You can’t have double standards. You can’t say for one country [India]theycandowhatever they want and for the others to have to do the complete opposite.
That’s why we’ve taken this stand, and made clear Bangladesh have had an injusticedonetothem.They should play in the World
Cup, they are a major stakeholderincricket.”
While there have been local, unverified reports thatthePCBwouldrefuse toparticipateintheWorld Cup in solidarity with Bangladesh should they be removed, the PCB has declined to confirm to ESPNcricinfo when approached.
Naqvi’scommentstothe media on Saturday was the firsttimeanyoneatthePCB has directly addressed the issue, where he repeatedly said the decision was no longer in the hands of the PCB.
“If the government of Pakistan says we mustn’t play, then maybe the ICC will bring in a 22nd team (after Scotland). It’s up to thegovernment.”
No specific reason was given by Naqvi other t h a n t o s u p p o r t Bangladesh, as to why government permission would now be required for an event that starts in twoweeks
Last year, both BCCI and PCB, with the approval
Mohsin Naqvi said the decision to play in the T20 World Cup or not now rests with the Pakistan government (Associated
ofICC,signeduptoahybrid model agreement by which both countries would play each other on neutral territoryforallglobalevents inthe2024-27rightscycle.
Pakistan play all their games in Sri Lanka for this event (which already was a
co-hosted event) and are scheduled to play the opening game of the tournament, against Netherlands on February 7. They are scheduled to play India on February 15 in Colombointheirgroupstage clash.
F o l l o w i n g a disappointing performance in their just concluded T20I series against Afghanistan, stand-inWest Indies captain Brandon King has admitted that the regional team needs t o m a k e m a j o r improvementsaheadofnext month’s ICC Men’s T20 WorldCup.
The West Indies were below par with both bat and ball and their fielding was similarly lackluster throughout the three-match series, which Afghanistan won2-1.
Andwhiletheyproduced agutsydisplayinThursday’s final T20I which they won by 15 runs, King said they had been well below their bestintheseries.
“The difference in this gamewasexecution.Wehad similar plans in the first two games, but I think the guys didexceptionallywelltoday. All the bowlers bowled brilliantly, and we really madeithardforthem.
“Ithinkwe’recomingup with good plans from a bowling point of view, it’s just execution. Obviously,
our batting needs some work, trying to not face as many dot balls throughout the innings to try and set up in the end better for the hitters,”Kingsaidinapostmatchinterview
“Obviously with our fielding we dropped a few catches this series that kind ofhurtusinrestrictingthem in the first two games, so there are areas all around to improve.”
Despite the series loss, King said it was still a good feelingtoendtheserieswith a win and avoid a clean sweep.
He said the return of some of their key players ahead of the World Cup would also help to boost the team.
“Obviously it’s great to end on a winning note even though we lost the series. I don’t think the first two games showed what we’re reallycapableof,Ithinkthis isclosertowhatwecando.
“…We have some other guysreturningnowafterthis seriessoitwillonlymakeus stronger,” King said (TrinidadExpress)
(Cricinfo)-TheICChas replaced Bangladesh with Scotland at the 2026 T20 World Cup, the decision coming after nearly three weeks of negotiations with the BCB over its refusal to send a team to India due to securityconcerns.
The ICC informed its board members via email of the decision: “The BCB is not agreeable to playing the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026perthematchschedule with their matches in India. We are, therefore, going ahead with the Board
decision to replace Bangladesh in the tournament.”
In a statement released on Saturday, the ICC said they“reviewedtheconcerns
cited by the BCB,
commissioned and considered independent security assessments from internalandexternalexperts, and shared detailed security and operational plans covering federal and state arrangements, as well as enhanced and escalating security protocols for the event These assurances were reiterated at several stages, including during discussions involving the ICC Business Corporation (IBC)Board.
“The ICC’s assessments concluded that there was no credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh national team,
officials or supporters in India In light of these findings, and after careful consideration of the broader implications, the ICC determined that it was not appropriate to amend the publishedeventschedule.”
Followingitsmeetingon Wednesday, the IBC board gave the BCB a 24-hour deadline on whether they would participate in the tournament in India as scheduled.TheICCsaid“no confirmation was received within the stipulated deadline,” so the body went ahead “in line with its established governance and qualification processes to identify a replacement team ” The ICC is understood to have sent the BCB an email on Friday evening informing them of thedecision.
E S P N c r i c i n f o understands that the BCB
didsendacommunicationto the ICC on Thursday in which it said it wanted to take the matter to the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC). It is not known on what grounds the BCB is taking this to the DRC, or what the ICC’s responsewas.TheDRCisan independent panel, which is assembled by ICC, to help resolve disputes of various kindsincludingthatbetween a member board and the governingbody
It remains to be seen if the BCB can even take the DRC route, given the ICC Board voted by a clear majority for a replacement teamincaseBangladeshdid not travel to India. Clause 1.3 of DRC states: “The Committeeshallnotoperate as an appeal body against decisions of the ICC or any decision-making body established under the ICC’s
Memorandum and Articles of Association or under any rules and regulations of the ICC,butshalloperateasthe soleforumandprocedurefor challenges to the lawfulness of such decisions, with the Committee exercising a supervisoryjurisdiction.”
Scotland acknowledged their unexpected opportunity to compete in theT20World Cup “This is an exciting opportunity for Scotland’s players to compete on the global stage in front of millions of supporters,”
Cricket Scotland said in a media statement We also a c k n o w l e d g e t h i s opportunity has arisen out of challenging and unique circumstances.
“Our squad have been training for some weeks in preparation for upcoming tours and are now preparing toarriveinIndiaimminently to acclimatise to local
conditions,readytoplayand contributetowhatshouldbe a fantastic ICC Men’s T20 WorldCup.”
TheICC’sdecisioncame finallyaftertheitsBoardhad an emergency meeting on Wednesday via video conferenceduringwhichthe majority of the directors votedtoreplaceBangladesh if they did not agree to play in India and continued to insist on moving their matchestoSriLanka.
In a statement following themeeting,theICCsaidits board had agreed it would not be “feasible” to change thetournamentschedule“so close” to the start date. The ICCBoardalsobelievedthat altering the schedule in the “absence of any credible security threat” for teams in India could “set a precedent that would jeopardise the sanctityoffutureICCevents and undermine its neutrality asaglobalgoverningbody.”
TheboardgavetheBCB untilThursdaytoconferwith the Bangladesh government and decide on whether they would travel to India as per the existing T20 World Cup schedule. Bangladesh were in Group C and were scheduled to play their first threematchesinKolkataand the fourth one in Mumbaigames that will now be played by Scotland instead.
On Thursday, however, the Bangladeshgovernmentand BCBreiteratedthattheywill
notbetravelingtoIndia.The BCB president Aminul Islam accused the ICC of double standards, in how it was dealing with this situation compared to how they had dealt with the BCCI’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ChampionsTrophy
Theissueofsecurityarose aftertheBCCI,onJanuary3, instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur from their IPL 2026 squad Althoughnoreasonwasstated forthatdirective,itcameamid deteriorating relations between India and Bangladesh OnJanuary4,the BCB wrote to the ICC after consultation with the government that the Bangladesh team would not travel to India for its T20 World Cup matches due to security concerns, a stance it stuck to through several subsequent discussions with theICC
The ICC, however, rejectedtheMustafizurissue asavalidconcern,sayingthe BCB was “repeatedly linking its participation in the tournament to a single, isolated and unrelated development concerning one of its player’s involvement in a domestic league. This linkage has no bearing on the tournament’s security framework or the conditions governing participation in the ICC Men’sT20WorldCup.”
( B B C S p o r t )Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo expects to be out for about fourtosixweekswithacalf injury
Antetokounmpo played 32minutesofhisside’s102100 defeat by the Denver Nuggets on Friday before coming off in the final minuteofthegame.
“Probably the next steps will be, go to [an] MRI tomorrow,”saidthe31-yearold,whoproduced22points, 13 rebounds and seven assistsagainsttheNuggets.
“After the MRI, they’ll
tell me, probably, I popped something in my calf, in my soleus, something. They’ll probably give me a protocol of four to six weeks that I’ll beout.
“This is from my experience being around the NBA.”
He added: “After that, I’m going to work my butt off to come back. That will probably be the end of February, beginning of March.”
Antetokounmpo was hurt in the first quarter, exitedbrieflyandcameback toplayatotalof32minutes.
Milwaukee coach Doc Riversdefendedthedecision to allow Antetokounmpo to continue playing after the first-quarter issue He explained: “I asked our [medical]teamfivedifferent times.“Ididn’tlikewhatmy eyeswereseeing,personally Giannis was defiant about stayingin.”
The two-time MVP recently criticised his teammatesamidtheirpoorform.
The loss to the Nuggets was a fifth defeat in six games for the Bucks and leaves them 11th in the Eastern Conference. Their
final game of the regular seasonison12April.
“We’renotplayinghard, we’re not doing the right thing, we’re not playing to win, we’re not playing t o g e t h e r , ” s a i d Antetokounmpo following their previous outing, which ended with the Bucks being beatenbytheOklahomaCity Thunder
“Our chemistry is not there,guysarebeingselfish, rather try to look for their own shots than look for the rightshotfortheteam.Guys are trying to do it on their own.”:
John Bull in action for Slingers Racing Stable
After capturing top spots on the Guyana racing circuit and making their presencefeltatinternational race meets, Slingers Racing Stable is leaving no stone unturned as they set their sightsonanothertriumphant runin2026.Anticipationhas grown tremendously for the Banks Classic tipped to be thefirstracecardedfor2026 atthePortMorantTurfClub
onFebruary1. With momentum firmly ontheirside,thepowerhouse stableisgearingupforoneof themostanticipatedraceson the 2026 racing calendar, “The Banks Classic” where theyaredeterminedtoreturn to the winner’s circle in emphatic fashion while securing their spot for the 2026 Guyana Cup. With the new legislation solidified in parliament the Jumbo Jet Thoroughbred Ra
Committee has initiated a structured qualification process that evens the playingfield.
When contacted, Mr JavidAli, owner of Slingers Racing Stable, expressed strong confidence in his camp, stating that thus far they can guarantee their star sprinter ‘John Bull’ is fully prepp
d
nd
eady to dominate the sprint classic. Mr Ali further indicated, “JohnBullissharp,focused, and firing on all cylinders. We’re promising an electrifyingrunforeveryone in attendance Our entire t
y competitive and we take Horse Racing very serious and will not allow new comerstostealourglory We knowrivalsarealsopushing forward but we have in my view the best team to make 2026 a very successful year for us. So, I would like to
urgealloursupporterstojoin us on Sunday, 1st February 2026,atthePortMorantTurf Clubforahighlyanticipated showdown.”
As a tested and proven competitorandwinner,John Bull is a seasoned sprint specialist known for his explosive early speed and strong finishing kick The powerful bay gelding has consistently delivered under pressure, boasting multiple wins and surprise upsets against elite company Trained with precision and discipline, John Bull thrives in high-stakes races and has earnedareputationforrising
to the occasion when it mattersmost.
His consistency on the track, coupled with his fearless racing style, has madeJohnBullahousehold namewithinthehorseracing fraternity and a fan favorite
anticipation builds for race day, all eyes will be on Slingers Racing Stable and their formidable contender as they aim to once again stamp their authority on the
preparation and confidence areanyindication,JohnBull maywellbepoisedtocharge
his way into racing history oncemore.
Widely regarded as one of the premier sprint events, The Banks Classic has 10 electrifying races carded with a grand purse of over $15,000,000 Owners, trainers and jockeys have
preparationsinrecentweeks with the main focus set firmly on capturing one of themostcovetedtitlesinthe GuyanaHorseracingcircuit. Race officials at the Port Morant Turf Club have confirmed that the track conditions are ideal for the firstracefor2026.
Bounty Farm Outdoor Hockey tips into action from 9:00am today the National Stadium
As the Guyana Hockey Board
swingsintothe2026season,the most anticipated one-day event on the local hockey calendar returns to the National Stadium today, with the Bounty Farm Outdoor Hockey Tournament taking center stage. This fast-paced seven-a-side showdown gets underway from 9:00 a.m., promisingafulldayofthrillingcompetition. Renowned for its electrifying atmosphere, the tournament is geared for anotherexcitingchallenge.
This year, however, carries special significance, as the event celebrates over a decade of unwavering sponsorship from Guyana’s leading poultry supplier, Bounty FarmLimited.
The company has once again thrown its weightbehindwhatmanyregardasthemost
exciting outdoor hockey event locally, reaffirming its strong commitment to sports developmentandcommunityengagement.
“Today,alotisonthecards.Weexpecta pulsatingjourneytothecrowns.”
After months of anticipation, hockey makes its glorious return to the Guyana National Stadium, with fierce clashes set to unfold in both the male and female categories.
The margin for error is slim, expect nothing short of high-octane action as some of the nation’s finest athletes go ‘all guns blazing’inpursuitofthecoveted2026title.
Today’s lineup features top-tier clubs battling for supremacy, including the Georgetown Cricket Club Hockey Team, HikersHockeyClub,SaintsHockeyClub, (Continuedonpage55)
