Festivaltobenationalholiday
Ann’s Grove man killed as bike slams into car PNCR GECOM commissioners reject call to discuss status
Gold, bauxite power non-oil export boom Guyana-China trade soars past US$2.9B
The Government ofGuyana(GoG) willbeincreasing thecountry'sdebtbytheend of 2026 to a troubling US$10.3 billion, all while assuring citizens that its borrowing stands within the threshold-adangerousmove thatcouldaffectgenerations tocome.
Sounding this alarm was former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan during an appearance on 'The Countdown' show, streamed across social media platformsonSunday
In yesterday's episode, Jordanfocusedonthe$1.558 trillionBudgetfor2026,laid intheNationalAssemblyon January 26. In three words, he described the fiscal blueprint for the nation as “reckless, thoughtless and heartless.”
He pointed out that
Guyana simply does not have the physical, financial or human resources to run suchalargebudget. The former minister noted that this year's budget will be financed by about $512 billion in taxes, along withcarboncreditandGRIF inflows of another $49 billion.Governmenthasalso signaled that $495 billion in oilrevenuewillbeavailable this year to finance national development priorities, leaving a deficit of $491 billion which will be financedthroughloans.
T h i s i n c r e a s e d borrowing will move Guyana's debt burden from US$7.7 billion at the end of 2025toUS$10.3billionthis year
With Guyana's debt now hitting double digits, Jordan cautioned against using inflated growth in Gross
Former Finance Minister, Winston Jordan sharing comments on Budget 2026, during his appearance on 'The Countdown'.
Domestic Product (GDP) to justifyborrowing.
“The minister will love us to believe that don't be scaredaboutborrowing.The borrowing is within thresholds and limits and so on.Letmetellyou,threshold don't pay back debt. We could have the lowest of thresholdofdebttoGDPbut
HOUSTON,Jan30(Reuters)-Exxon Mobil beat Wall Street targets in fourthquarter earnings reported on Friday, with higher oil production in profitable Permian Basin and Guyana assets helping to boost theNo.1U.S.oilproducer'sresults.
Adjusted earnings for the October to December quarter were $1.71 per share, beating a consensus estimate of $1.68 per sharefromanalystdatacompiledbyLSEG.
Annualupstreamproductionreachedits highest point in more than 40 years at 4.7 millionbarrelsofoilequivalentperday,the company said. Oil producer profits were under pressure throughout 2025 as an oversuppliedcrudemarketpushedBrentoil futures down 19% last year Exxon's fullyear 2025 adjusted profit declined by a narrower margin of 10%, however, as the company focused on cutting costs. Still, it was Exxon's slimmest annual profit since 2021.
"We'recapturingmorevaluefromevery barrel and molecule we produce and buildinggrowthplatformsatscale-creating alongrunwayofprofitablegrowththrough 2030 and beyond," Exxon CEO Darren Woodssaidinastatement.
Shares were down 0.6% in morning trading.Thestockisupabout30%overthe pastyear,takingthecompanytoitshighestevermarketcap.
Adjustedupstreamearningsinthefourth quarter were $4.4 billion, down from $5.7 billion the previous quarter Exxon is on track to grow full-year 2026 production to 4.9millionboepd,whichwillincludeabout 1.8 million boepd from the Permian Basin, the top U.S. oilfield, the company said in prepared remarks. In the fourth quarter, productionreachednearly5millionboepd. During an earnings call with analysts, Woods said the company had the technological capabilities needed to extract
Venezuela's high-cost heavy crude, but made no new commitments to evaluate reentering the country U S President Donald Trump has urged American companiestospendbillionsinthecountryto revive the oil industry after the U.S. captured and removed President Nicolas Maduro. Woods said earlier on Friday that Exxonhasrecovered"asubstantialamount" of the money it was owed after its Venezuelan assets were nationalised in 2007.
"Today,thebalanceisnotmaterialwith respecttothewholeofthecorporationwith what we're owed there," Woods said in an interview with CNBC. He said Exxon remainedinterestedtosendatechnicalteam to evaluate Venezuela, while speaking duringtheearningscall.
The oil major recorded a jump in both quarterly and annual refining profit, driven by stronger industry refining margins, cost savings and record refinery throughput. Adjusteddownstreamprofitrose60%from the third quarter to $2.9 billion. The chemicals division, however, reported an adjustedlossof$11millioncomparedwith profit of $515 million in the third quarter, due to weaker margins, write-downs and higherseasonalspending,Exxonsaid.
"Notably,thisisthefirstnegativeresult for (Exxon's) chemicals product division since 4Q19, and highlights the severity of the chemicals downturn the industry is facing,"saidBirajBorkhataria,ananalystat RBC Capital Markets, in a research note. Exxon paid $17.2 billion in dividends and repurchased$20billionworthofshareslast year Thecompanysaiditplanstobuyback the same amount through 2026. Exxon's capital expenditures totaled $29 billion last year The oil producer has said capex this year will be between $27 billion and $29 billion.
unprecedentedgrowthinthe oilsectorcreatestheillusion of growth in the country, when in reality, the majority ofoilproducedoffshoredoes notflowtoGuyana.
Although Guyana only receives 14.5 per cent of the wealth generated, Jordan said the production figures nonetheless creates the illusionofmassivegrowthin theeconomy
In 2025 the country in recorded260millionbarrels ofoilofwhichGuyanaonly received32millionbarrels.
it doesn't mean that the earnings are coming to the country for us to pay back thosedebts,”heexplained. Jordan clarified that the
Consequently, Jordan reasoned, “Because of oil, our GDPis inflated. It gives the wrong sense that the country is growing. When
you add up, after all oil, is over 80 per cent of the economyandmorethantwothirds of the GDP Most of this oil, as you know, don't belongtoGuyana.Itbelongs to Exxon and partners, but whenyoutakeadebtandput it on this expanded GDP, most of it doesn't belong to youandyouusethatasyour indicator, you going down thewrongtrack.”
Jordanaddedthatamore accurate indicator of the country'sdebttoGDPshould be calculated using the nonoil economy, as this would inform leaders whether or not they are extending the country's borrowing capacity
PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.
Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456
Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS
Tel:225-8465,225-8491. Fax:225-8473,226-8210
Guyana’s debt has crossed a historic and troubling threshold. With total public debt projected to surpass US$10.3 billion in 2026, many citizens are asking an uncomfortablebutnecessaryquestion:howcanacountry swimming in oil revenues still be borrowing at such a furiouspace?
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration insists that the debt remains “strongly sustainable,” pointing to improved debt-to-GDP ratios and lower debt servicing as a percentage of government revenue. On paper,thoseindicatorsmayappearreassuring.Butbeneath the numbers lies a risky development model increasingly dependentonborrowedmoneyandvolatileoilrevenuesto fundevenroutinenationalspending.
The2026nationalbudgetof$1.558trillionisfueledby US$2.6billioninnewloans,ontopofUS$2.4billioninoil revenues and nearly US$239 million in carbon credit earnings.Thismeansborrowingnowrivalsoilasaprimary funding pillar of the national budget. That should alarm everyGuyanese.
Guyana’s public debt has ballooned at breathtaking speed.ItstoodatUS$5.9billionin2024,jumpedtoUS$7.7 billionin2025,andisnowprojectedtorisebeyondUS$10 billion this year Such rapid accumulation is not the hallmarkoffiscalrestraint,butofagovernmentspending aggressively today while deferring the true cost to tomorrow’staxpayers.
What makes this approach particularly risky is the assumption that oil revenues will remain steady or grow indefinitely Oil prices are notoriously volatile. Global demand shifts, geopolitical tensions, energy transitions and economic slowdowns can quickly slash prices. As opposition MP Dr Terrence Campbell rightly cautioned, even a drop from the US$60 range into the US$50s per barrel would significantly reduce Guyana’s expected revenues.Thatscenarioisnothypothetical,ithashappened repeatedlyinglobalmarkets.
Borrowing heavily while relying on unpredictable oil incomeisakintobuildingahouseonshiftingsand.When pricesfall,debtobligationsdonot.Interestpaymentsstill come due. Infrastructure projects still require financing. Public sector wages still must be paid. The burden then shiftstocitizensthroughhighertaxes,reducedservices,or austeritymeasures.
Equallyconcerningiswhattheborrowingisbeingused for While some loans fund transformative infrastructure, roads, bridges, hospitals and energy projects, a troubling portion supports routine government operations Borrowing to fund long-term productive assets can be justified.Borrowingtofinancerecurrentspendingisared flag.
The government often highlights that Guyana’s debtto-GDP ratio has declined from 47.4 percent in 2020 to 28.6 percent in 2025. But GDPitself has exploded due to oil production A growing economy does not automatically mean growing fiscal resilience, especially when that growth is tied to a single commodity sector Thereisalsothematterofforeignexposure.Bilateraland multilateral debt is increasing sharply, with loans from institutions and governments abroad climbing at a fast pace. External debt comes with currency risks. A weakening Guyana dollar or global financial tightening couldmakerepaymentmoreexpensiveandcomplicated. Another danger lies in political culture. The trend of “largestbudgetever”announcementshasbecomeabadge of honour Bigger budgets are celebrated as proof of progress. But size alone does not equal sustainability Responsible governance is not measured by how much moneyisspent,butbyhowwiselyitismanagedandhow resilient the economy becomes when external shocks occur Guyana stands at a rare crossroads. Few countries have received such a sudden windfall from natural resources. This moment should be used to strengthen
After carefully reading the article titled “ Guyana’s Households Income Model has shifted, from remittance dependence to domestic earningsandstate-ledsocial support (Feb 1, 2026, Joel Bhagwandin), “ I found myself less persuaded by its conclusions and more c o n c e r n e d b y i t s presentation. While under normal circumstances I might overlook such commentary,thescaleofthe claims and the confidence with which they were presented compelled a response.Thepieceattempts to sound data-driven, but on closer inspection, it relies heavily on bold assertions and percentages presented without tr
ent sourcing.Havingspentyears working with research, data interpretation, and policy analysis, I approach economicclaimswithahabit of scrutiny.What I expected was methodological clarity and verifiable evidence; what emerges instead is a narrative that aligns neatly with government talking points while sidestepping the harder socioeconomic realities facing ordinary Guyanese.
Let’s start with remittances The article’s dramatic assertions about remittances accounting for large shares of household incomearenotsupportedby publicly available economic data. According to World Bank indicators, personal
remittances received in Guyana were about 2.4% of GDPin2024,amodestshare that stands in stark contrast to the narrative of overwhelming remittance dependence (World Bank, 2024). Broader remittance trackers similarly show remittances as a small percentage of GDP and decliningrelativetonational output (Global Economy Database, 2024) When figuresofthatmagnitudeare presented without methodology or source references, alarm bells shouldberinging.
Far more important than reshufflingincomeshareson paper is the stubborn reality of poverty in Guyana, a reality the article barely acknowledges. World Bank data show that Guyana’s poverty rate has hovered around 48% of the population living below the US$5.50 per day threshold in the most recent assessments, indicating a high poverty rate relative to theregion(WorldBankdata reported in Stabroek News, 2025).Independentanalyses drawing on Inter-American Development Bank estimates suggest that when poverty lines are adjusted to US$6.85perday,asmanyas 58% of Guyanese may be classified as poor, with roughly 32% in extreme poverty (IDB estimates reported in Stabroek News, 2025). These assessments, not speculative percentages about household income
composition, better reflect thelivedexperienceofmany Guyanesefamilies.
That disconnect becomes even more striking w h e n G u y a n a ’ s macroeconomic growth is compared with household outcomes. Guyana has been one of the fastest-growing economies in the world in recent years due to oil production, with doubledigit GDP expansion reported repeatedly (Reuters, 2026). However, rapid GDP growth does not automatically translate into broad-based improvements in living standards. High GDP per capita driven by resource extraction often coexistswithmodestmedian incomes and persistent poverty when wealth is concentrated in capitalintensive industries and not widelydistributed.
On the ground, many Guyanese households continue to face low wages, l i m i t e d e c o n o m i c opportunity, and structural inequality that cannot be papered over by selective macroeconomic narratives. When official statistics and independent poverty assessments indicate a high proportion of citizens living in deprivation despite dramatic headline figures, it is misleading to emphasize abstractpercentageswithout showing how ordinary peopleareactuallyfaring.
Moreover, the article’s framing of government social support as a looming
fiscal risk lacks transparent, independently verifiable data.Without clear sourcing or explanation of methodology, such claims amount to speculation that fuels anxiety without informing constructive debate Public discourse deserves more than percentages presented in isolation;itdemandscontext andempiricalgrounding.
The real story of Guyana’s development is nuanced Rapid oil-era economic growth exists alongsidepersistentpoverty, modestmedianincomes,and unevendistributionofgains. That complexity requires honest conversation, not selective storytelling. When la
a
p
a
ill face economic vulnerability, narratives of transformation should be approached with caution and grounded in credibleevidence.IfGuyana is truly transforming in a waythatbenefitsallcitizens, theproofwillnotbefoundin rhetorical framing but in measurable improvements in household welfare, poverty reduction, and inclusive growth. Serious discourse demands data t r a n s p a r e n c y , methodological clarity, and intellectual honesty Anything less does a disservice to the very citizens whose lives are at stake.
Regards
Dr EonAndreGeorge, PhD,EdD
The opposition must work together
DEAREDITOR, Results from the 2025 General and Regional Electionshavebeendeclared by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) While some may be happy with the results, many are unhappy The We Invest in Nationhood(WIN),asanew party, has consistently made it clear that the results were manipulated to produce the outcome declared by GECOM.
Although three parties wereelectedtorepresentthe Opposition in the National Assembly, WIN received a majorityofthevoteandnow leads the Opposition Regardlessofwhatonemay think of any of the political parties,theresultshave,toa large extent, been accepted by the Opposition
savingsbuffers,diversifytheeconomy,reduceborrowing, andinveststrategically—nottonormalisedebtexpansion. Oilwealthshouldbeashieldagainstexcessiveborrowing, not an excuse for it. If current trends continue, Guyana risksrepeatingthemistakesofmanyresource-richnations: overspending during boom years, accumulating debt during good times, and scrambling for stability when prices fall. The government must slow the pace of borrowing,prioritiseprojectswithcleareconomicreturns, strengthen fiscal transparency and build stronger savings mechanisms. Citizens, too, must remain vigilant and demand accountability Oil will not last forever Debt, however,hasahabitofstayinglongafterthewellsrundry
Opposition parties, regardless of their positions, must work together as a cohesiveforcetoaddressthe intransigence of the current regime. Itisimportanttonotethat WIN entered national politicsbecausemanyvoters felt dissatisfied with the quality of representation the opposition delivered over the last five years The challenges confronting the nation must be viewed from bothsidesofthefence—that is,fromthebehaviourofthe government and that of the opposition.WhileWINmay havemadeitsfirstimpacton the national scene, its continuity depends on how well it performs in representing the issues of society. Post-election conversations with APNU supporters reveal a clear impressionamongsomethat
their problem is now with WINratherthanthePeople’s Progressive Party (PPP) regime. It is important to understandthatWINisnotin the driving seat of the Executive. That being said the Opposition should come together and plan collectivelyhowtheywould addressthegovernmentona clear parliamentary and common agenda. This does notmeanthepartieswillnot exercise independence, but finding common ground is pivotal to parliamentary success and to the quality of representation the people expect, including those who supported the PPP, did not vote, or voted for another party that did not secure a parliamentaryseat.
Guyanese expected whentheOppositionmetlast MondaytoelecttheLeader
(Continuedonpage05)
The recent column by N a z i m B a k s h , “Azruddin’s‘nothing for you’budgetlie”(Feb1,GC), is a masterclass in connectingthedotsbetween political rhetoric and social consequence Baksh has done brilliantly to bridge a gap that is often ignored in our national discourse: the inextricable link between a civil conversation and the deliveryofjustice.
Forsometime,including inmypieceslastyearinthis newspaper (SN, 24/8) on
“how we speak to each other,” I have advocated for a comprehensive Civic Education project My argument has been that civility is the bedrock of a functioning society
However, Baksh’s analysis addsacriticallayerofdepth. He reminds us that when political actors use their platforms to distort the reality of a national budget, they aren’t just being “uncivil” , they are committing an act of injustice against the citizenry by obscuring the
pathtoprogress. This brings us to the philosophical necessity of what Jürgen Habermas called the “ideal speech situation.” For a democracy
he conversation between the state and its people must be systematically undistorted. It must be free from the
al gatekeeping, and, crucially, from the “strategic distortion” practiced by those who prioritise oppositional power over
nationaltruth.InGuyana,we often hide behind the traditional view of the press asa“neutralwatchdog.”Yet, we must confront the reality that when the “watchdog” becomes a megaphone for onlyoppositionalvoices,the conversation is no longer undistorted. It becomes a barrier
A prime example is the currentdismissalofthe2026 budget by the Leader of the Opposition. To characterise a $1.5 trillion investment in our collective future as “nothing” is a calculated
Frompage04
of the Opposition, opportunities would have been taken to begin negotiation between and among parliamentary groups It was also not unreasonable to expect that bothAPNUandtheForward Guyana Movement (FGM) would have congratulated the Leader of the Opposition, set a time to meet, and work out the modalities of their relationshipgoingforward.
No negotiation starts without discussion And negotiationisnotaboutwho is right or wrong. It is about working together to build cohesion between and among the groups and generating an agenda to addressthegovernment.The government’s preference to work with the previous opposition rather than the current one suggests it feels confident it can avoid scrutiny of the issues currentlyraisedbyWINand itsleadership.
Atthesametime,APNU has a responsibility to confirm or dispel this claimedalliancethroughthe representation it provides to
the people. The failure of APNU to provide spirited representation and hold the government accountable could lead to dire consequences for its future, particularly for the People’s National Congress (PNC), which has played a pivotal role in this nation’s development.
The PPP is known to speak about the Constitution and Laws of Guyana, but at no time is the party prepared to give credit to any group outsideofitselfanditsallies, evenifthisrequiresviolating these principles Conscious of these circumstances, it is important that opposition parliamentary parties intensify their efforts to develop an agenda that considers the concerns and desiresofthepeople
It is most unfortunate, therefore, to hear from the Opposition on the eve of budget debates that they have not reached agreement on the speaking line-up and may go their separate ways. This does not bode well for future relations if it is not addressedpromptly
The Opposition must be mindful that it is not setting
the stage for further exclusion of the people it is elected to represent. Let me remind them that the political system of this nation, as enshrined in Article 13 of the Constitution, is one of “inclusionary democracy” Andiftheoppositioncannot strive to forge this relationship between and amongthemselvesonbehalf ofthepeopletheyareelected to represent, they become part and parcel of the exclusionary politics practiced by the PPP, which is inconsistent with the PrincipalPoliticalObjective ofthisnation.
The people are fed up withleadershipthatdoesnot uphold our desire to live in peaceandharmonyandhave aseatatthedecision-making table on matters that impact our well-being, as outlined in the Constitution The people have spoken. They expectstellarleadershipand
representation. No government can be effective and efficient in the face of a weak opposition, and no opposition can claim to represent the people when it abrogates the most basic principle of our governance system: putting the people first Thisisnotsloganeering; it is a fundamental principle running through the Constitution and Laws of Guyana
Our most important resource is the people, and nothing can be achieved when their welfare is trampled on. Finally, the trade union movement did not lead the charge for oneman-one-vote and internal self-government to see it sabotaged by self-serving interests. As we mark the 100th anniversary this year of that struggle, it is about time our representatives deliver
Sincerely LincolnLewis
attempt to manufacture a false reality When such a narrative is amplified without rigorous challenge, it suppresses the civic spirit ofthepeople.
It tells the youth, the w o r k e r s , a n d t h e entrepreneurs that the bridges, hospitals, and educational frameworks being built are not for them. This is more than a political disagreement; it is a direct assault on the project of nationalenlightenment.
TheevolutionofGuyana is currently visible in every new road and every scholarshipawarded.Butfor this physical transformation
to reach its peak, we must undergo a mental and c o m m u n i c a t i v e transformation. We need a discourse that recognises justice not as a handout, but as the fair and honest representation of our shared growth. By moving away from the “nothing for you” rhetoric and toward a model of “communicative action,” we can ensure that the blueprint for our nation’s future is understood and owned by every citizen. We oweittoourselvestospeaka language of reality, not one ofmanufactureddespair.
Sincerely,
Dr WalterH.Persaud
Local hatching egg programme is good for Guyana
DEAREDITOR, As per Budget 2026 details, I note that the People’s Progressive Party/CivicGovernment“… has set its sights on producing up to 20 million hatching eggs annually as part of a long-term plan to strengthen Guyana’s poultry industry,reducedependence on imports and improve disease control across the sector.” This is really great news. As a matter of fact, putting this into context, the egg hatching industry is generally considered a profitable, stable, and essential segment of the broader poultry sector, acting as the foundation for both broiler meat and egg production. On the global scale, the egg hatching industry is currently experiencing a significant boom, driven by high demandforpoultrymeatand eggs, combined with acute supply shortages that have pushed prices to historic highs. The market, which includes both broiler and layer chick production, is highly profitable, with the global egg incubator market estimated to grow from its current USD 1.12 billion to USD1.89billionby2032.
AccordingtoAgriculture MinisterZulfikarMustapha, (Continuedonpage06)
A Partnership for
National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament, Vinceroy Jordan said the PPP/CAdministrationisnot serious about seeing the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo)returntoplaceof economicsuccess.
Jordan, who is also Shadow Minister of Agriculture, said the $113 billion budgeted for the sector this year is a visionless move by the government, especially sinceitkeepspumpinggood moneyintoabadsituation.
“The government is not serious about production
The government is not serious about GuySuCo returning to profitability They’re not serious about GuySuCobeingsustainable. Hence,iftheyhadputproper measures in place, rather
thanjustpouringmoniesinto GuySuCo, we would see structured measures whereby the government w
managementofGuySuCois held accountable and that GuySuCo’s daily operation is properly managed,” Jordanrelayed.
The politician also addressed the increased allocation to the Drainage
and Irrigation (D&I) subsector “We
government has spent almost 40 or would have given almost 40% of the allocation to D&I to contractors as a giveaway, because D&I has been seen as the most corrupt area within agriculture. We have pump stations and sluices that are not completed from since 2022. We know the famous Tepui contract. We know above that, that there are many others that are goingtothefriends,families and favorites, to the point that allegations are made at the Minister of Agriculture himself and his family are benefiting from large, huge contracts within the Drainage and Irrigation Sector Thoseallegationsare
founded upon the fact that theyareseenandareamong those who are supervising andbenefitingfrommajority oftheseprojects,”hesaid.
Jordansaidtheinjections into the agriculture sector must have developmental valuetocitizens.
“Wehaveseeninbudget 2026 that that there is no increase in the minimum wage.Thereisnoincreasein the percentage rate at which taxes are being charged as PAYE. All we’ve seen is a
mere $10,000 added to the tax threshold, and we know thatthat$2,500cannotreally do anything for the ordinary Guyanese We were anticipating at minimum, $400,000 as the basic tax threshold, because we have the revenue, we have the wealth from our oil and so we can give back to our people,”helamented.
This year’s national budget has seen the allocation of some $113.2 billion to the agriculture
sector,with$81.9billionset aside for drainage and irrigation and $13.4 billion for the sugar sector The allocationtothesugarsector represents a $100 million increase from 2025. In his presentation, Minister with responsibility for Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh said the governmentwillcontinueto restore the Guyana Sugar Corporation to financial viability and long-term sustainability “Inthelast
(Continuedonpage09)
Frompage05 the initiative, already into the implementation phase, “…isaimedatensuringthat Guyanacaneventuallymeet itsowndemandforhatching eggs while safeguarding the health and quality of broiler production ” He detailed that “Currently, Guyana utilizes approximately 53 million hatching eggs annually to sustain its poultryindustry,andscaling up things will mean hastening the land clearing thatisunderwayatPokoribe, a settlement located in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), so as to establish dedicated breeder facilities. This means spinoffs like employment, entrepreneurship, and eventually fully meeting localdemands.
This will not be
overnight, even though ongoingisthepreparationof some200acresoflandtobe used for infrastructural things like specialised pens, already procured. The programme has that added elementof‘tested’expertise, as it is in tandem with a Brazilian company, that is bringingtechnicalaidtothis aspectofpoultryproduction that is not the usual ‘everyday’ stuff, but that which differs significantly from standard broiler operations.
The aim is that when completed,andinfullswing, the facilities are expected to produce between 16 and 20 million hatching eggs annually This, as we all know,isnotgoingtosuffice forthecountry,butit’sastart and it represents that allimportant critical first step
toward self-sufficiency, say withinthenextfiveyears(as theMinisterhinted).
Editor, this kind of thinking and planning is what Guyana needs. We know that the poultry industry is quite a cornerstone of global economies, providing essential, high-quality protein (meat and eggs) while acting as a significant driver of income, employment, and rural development.
It enhances food security, serves as a “petty c a s h ” b u f f e r f o r smallholders, and generates substantial economic activity,includingbillionsin wagesandtaxrevenue.With good space available in Guyana,wemustmaximize.
Yourstruly, H.BSingh.
Responding to a request
by opposition leader
AzruddinMohamedtomeet, G u y a n a E l e c t i o n s Commission (GECOM) opposition commissioners
Vincent Alexander, Desmond Trotman and Charles Corbin, said they saw no reason for a meeting to discuss their status on the commission. In the letter dated January 31, 2026, the commissioners said they are cognizant of WINs public pronouncements about their status, and calls for their resignation,alongwithother disparagingremarks.
“In these circumstances, wedonotacceptthatthereis any basis for a meeting to discuss our status as commissioners,”theletterto
theoppositionleadersaid.
Azzrudin, who is also leader of the We Invest in Nation (WIN) party, had requestedameetingwiththe three PNC-R nominated commissioners on Sunday, to discuss, among other things, the vacation of their seatsonthecommission. The commissioners said while they would agree to meet with Mohamed or his representatives on all matters pertaining to GECOM, their status as commissioners was “a sine quanonsubjecttolegislative orjudicialintervention.”
In this light, the commissioners suggested that the initial meeting be convened at a neutral and mutuallyagreedvenue.”
LatelastweekMohamed told Kaieteur News that he had invited the three commissioners to a meeting to formally ask them to vacatethepost.
“I will be meeting with thecommissionerstohavea chat with them on the way forwardasitrelatestoseeif they will be able to still serve, because what I'm hearing is that they're medicallyunfit.Thatiswhat we are hearing. So, I will be meeting with them on Sunday morning to discuss [theseissues],”hesaid.
forward,”hestated.
Dr. Andre Lewis- Shadow Minister of Natural Resources and Leader of the Opposition, Azruddin Mohamed
TheWeInvestinNationhoodpartysaidthatitsMembers ofParliamentarepreparedforthisyear'sbudgetdebates,with Dr AndreLewis-ShadowMinisterofNaturalResourcesset tokickthingsoffintheNationalAssemblyat2pmtoday Ina statement on Sunday WIN said” On Monday, February 2, 2026,theNationalBudget2026debatesofficiallybegininthe NationalAssembly,withOppositionParliamentariansofWe InvestinNationhood(WIN)manyofwhomwillbedelivering their debut budget presentations. These debates take place against the backdrop of the People's Progressive Party Government's $1.558 trillion national budget, a budget unprecedented in size, yet one that falls markedly short of meetingtherealandpressingneedsoftheGuyanesepeople.” The party said Dr Lewis will set the tone for rigorous, factbased scrutiny of the Government's priorities. “Throughout theafternoonandevening,thepubliccanlookforwardtothe followingpresentations:
Approximately 4:00 PM — Natasha Singh, Shadow MinisterforHumanServicesandSocialSecurity
Approximately5:10PM—Dr GordonBarker,Shadow MinisterforEducation
Approximately6:40PM,subjecttowhethertheSpeaker oftheNationalAssemblybreaksfordinner—DeonLaCruz, ShadowMinisterforAmerindianAffairs.”
According to WIN these debut interventions mark the start of what is expected to be the most watched national budgetdebatesinGuyana'shistory,asWINParliamentarians bring clarity, discipline, and a people-centered focus to the examination of the national budget. “We encourage all Guyaneseathomeandabroadtotuneinandlookoutforthese outstandingpresentationsfromWINParliamentarianswhere accountability meets substance, and the people's interests alwayscomefirst.”
Mohamed told Kaieteur News that he had made several attempts to contact APNU representatives to no avail. He said he had called APNU leader Aubrey Norton to discuss several matters regarding parliament, however those calls were unanswered and never returned “I called Mister Campbell; he never returned my call. So, I don't knowhowwegoingtomove
Mohamed indicated last week that he intended to formally request that the A P N U - a p p o i n t e d commissionersonGECOM, vacate their seats The request came days after Mohamed's election as leader of the opposition, a position previously held by the People's National Congress-ledAPNU, whose nominees currently occupy thethreeoppositionseatson
GECOM.WithWINnowthe main opposition, new commissioners from the party are expected to take their place On Thursday, Mohamed told Kaieteur News that he and his team met with GECOM's chairperson, Justice (Ret'd) Claudette Singh and Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Vishnu Persaud to discuss the appointment of scrutineers and the status of the commissio
following his election as the newleaderoftheopposition. Hesaidhisteamplansto follow due process which entails utilising every avenue to ensure the party's interests are represented at the level of GECOM. “I cannot disclose at this momentforobviousreasons but[thecourseofaction]will depend on the response we receive when we write the commissioners,” Mohamed stated.
GoldexporthitUS$1.6B;bauxite reachesUS$144.1Min2025
Guyana's non-oil export earnings surged in 2025, driven largely by strong performancesinthegoldand bauxite sectors, with export revenuesclimbingtoUS$1.6 billion and US$144.1 million,respectively.
A c c o r d i n g t o information from Senior Minister with responsibility forFinanceDr AshniSingh, growth in non-oil exports was fueled by increased production volumes and favourable global market prices, with gold exports rising by 63.4 per cent and bauxite exports by 52 per cent.
Thispublicationreported that Guyana's gold sector posted strong growth in 2025, recording an 11.6 per cent increase in declared production,withtotaloutput climbing to 484,321 ounces an increase of 50,254 ounces over the previousyear
F o r 2 0 2 6 , t h e governmentisnowtargeting an even bigger haul, projecting declarations of 510,450 ounces as mining activityacceleratesacrossall operatorcategories. While declarations from licensed dealerships
declined by 21.5 per cent to 1 2 1 , 8 8 3 o u n c e s , declarations from the country's lone large-scale operator, Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd, operating through its subsidiary Aurora Gold Mine (AGM) rose by 15.5 per cent to 167,005ounces.
As it relates to declarations to the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), there was an increase of 45.6 per centto195,432ounces.
Mid-year figures from the Bank of Guyana showed that 195,486 ounces of gold were exported out of the 208,756.8 ounces declared duringthefirsthalfof2025. At that time, gold export receipts amounted to US$556.3million,reflecting a36.1percentincreaseover thesameperiodin2024.The central bank attributed the
performance to higher export volumes and a sharp riseinglobalprices,withthe average export price per ounce increasing to US$2,845.95.
With four Canadian companies having major goldprojectsinthepipeline, which together hold an estimated 14 6 million ounces of gold, and those projects expected to come onstream before the end of the decade, President Irfaan Ali late last year said he hopes the future entails less gold leaving Guyana's shore unrefined.
Meanwhile, the bauxite industry recorded robust growth in 2025, expanding byanestimated53.4percent with total production reaching3.9milliontonnes.
The expansion was led by the ramp-up of
metallurgical grade bauxite production at the MAZ project in Region 10, where output from the larger producer grew by 138.4 per cent to nearly 3.7 million tonnes. Production from the smaller operator also increased, rising from 173,970 tonnes in 2024 to 253,875tonnesin2025.
Dr Singh had stated that despite operational and weather-related challenges, thesectorremainedresilient.
“The bauxite industry is showing extremely strong prospects Government's policies and actions have resulted in tremendous growth in production and employment in the sector, whichhasbeensupportedby continued investment from foreign operators,” the ministersaidlastweek.
Hehadalsonotedthatthe industry now employs more than 1,000 persons directly, compared with 665 in 2020, and announced cabinet's approval for the restart of bauxite operations along the BerbiceRiver
The operations in the area had ceased in 2020 u n d e r t h e f o r m e r A P N U + A F C administration.
Th e r e i s a
p a r t i c u l a r sadness in a life postponedindefinitelyinthe nameofduty Ithappensnot suddenly but via the quieter erosion of years, years surrendered to causes that promised meaning but which delivered only regrets. One wakes, late, to the realisation that the postponement was not temporary, that the waiting itselfbecamethelife.
Few works capture this condition more poignantly than the movie Remains of the Day, brought to life through one of cinema’s most measured and devastating performances
AnthonyHopkinsdisoneof the great and most versatile actorsofcinema.Oneofhis most riveting performances wasinRemainsoftheDay,a movie adopted from the book by the same name, a bookwrittenbyNobelPrize forLiteraturewinner,Kazuo Ishiguro.
The moral of the book and movie revolves around the central character named Stevens who gives his loyalty to a man and to an ideaofservicesototalthatit consumes him. He does not merely work for Lord Darlington;helendshimhis moraljudgment,hissilence, his emotional life. What is most devastating is not that
Frompage06
fiveyears,wereopenedtheRoseHallEstate, and upgraded the field and factory infrastructure at Albion, Blairmont, Rose Hall and Uitvlugt, which together, reenergised the previously devastated local ruraleconomy
We also remodeled the marketing and sales mix from bulk sugar to higher value products and provided direct economic support to over 5,200 severed workers. Today, more than 8,300 persons are employedinthesector,”hesaid.
Dr Singh sad that over the next five years, the objective will be to continue mechanisation of field operations through land conversion; improve mechanical plantingandharvesting;modernisefactories and improve factory operations; promote high-yieldingandhigh-valuecanevarieties;
D a r l i n g t o n i s flawed—history is crowded with flawed men—but that Stevens, a butler, insists on the purity of his devotion to his master long after the causehascollapsed.
Duty then becomes a r
examination This is the bargainmanymake,notonly in grand houses or imperial drawing rooms, but in political movements and parties. One offers one’s time, intellect, moral seriousness.Inreturn,oneis promised participation in something larger than oneself: progress, justice, nation,destiny Thesacrifice is framed as noble. Personal
invest in value-added production including with private sector participation; improve worker, union, and management relations andtransitionworkerstohigherskilledroles.
“Ultimately, as outlined in the 2025 manifesto, the strategy is to effectively transform and diversify GuySuCo into an agro-industrial hub for rural economic development “In 2026, over 3,000 hectares are targeted to be converted for mechanised harvesting In addition, we will: replace three sugar boilers; procure fivecaneharvesters;constructaconveyor system for billet canes at Albion; procure additional sugar dryers for Rose Hall and Uitvlugt; install billet cane feeder tables; expand value-added production; and, improve all-weather road access to facilitate movement of billet canes , ” he said
Demboyssehisa funny country we living in, bai.Here, onceyuh nah gat a licence, everybody quick to decide yuh can’t drive—especiallyifisabig lorry involved. But dem boys seh, since when licence alone turn man into Max Verstappen? Plenty people gat licence like souvenir, laminated and shiny, but driving skills? Missing like spare tyre whenyuhneeditmost. From the daredevil exhibition dem boys does witnessontheroaddaily,is clear as Georgetown seawall at high tide: is not drivingskillsweshortof.Is discipline.And the Five Cs of driving—care, courtesy, consideration, caution, and common sense—dem seem to mash up in a pothole somewhere between Eccles andEnmore.
Demboysseh,weknow fellas who nah got licence but could reverse a loaded truck into a tight yard with one hand on the wheel and the other holding a phone (not that we encouraging that, eh). Meanwhile, some certifiedprofessionalscan’t park straight unless dem call three spotters, say a prayer, and sacrifice a clutch plate. Licence or no licence, ability is ability Paper don’t steer vehicle—peopledo. Andlehwetalkplain.If dem saying the truck roll backbecauseofmechanical failure, dem boys seh that explanation need some better tyres. If the brakes fail, how come the gears didn’thold?Ifthegearsfail, how come the brakes nah bite?Orisbothdecidetotek a lunch break at the same time? That sound like two witnesses suddenly
desireisindulgence;doubtis weakness. Life, we are told, canwait.
Andso,itdoes.
The years pass in meetings and manifestos, in defence of leaders who speak the language of virtue while practicing something far more ordinary We, their supporters, repeat their arguments, internalise their grievances,andborrowtheir enemies. Slowly, our own inner life thins out We become representatives rather than persons. What is most unsettling is not the eventual betrayal but our complicity in it. The signs are always there. Stevens hears them in the polite evasions, the changing guests, the narrowing moral universe of the house he serves.Yetherefusestosee. To see would require him to acknowledge that the life he postponed has no later date scheduled.
This is the unspoken terror. It is one in which loyalty, once invested, becomes irreversible not because the cause remains worthy, but because withdrawal would expose the emptiness beneath it. To leave is to confront the question that loyalty s u c c e s s f u l l y postpones what have I donewithmylife?
Men and causes exploit thisfearinstinctively They reward obedience with proximity, with the illusion of influence. They
punish doubt and dissent with exile And they understand that those who have given the most are the least likely to leave. The sunk cost becomes moral captivity When the betrayal comes as it always does—it is rarely dramatic. It arrives quietly, dressed as necessity Principles are “reinterpreted ” Promises are“contextualised.”
Thelanguageofsacrifice isrepurposedtoexplainwhy the sacrificers themselves mustcontinuetodowithout. And still we remain, defending what no longer defends us. The tragedy is not simply that leaders fail us.Itisthatweallowthemto borrow our lives without interest or repayment. We confuse endurance with virtue. We mistake loyalty for identity Like Stevens, we pride ourselves on professionalism, on restraint, on having “done our duty,” even as the substance of that duty emptiesout.
Only later often too late does the reckoning arrive.
Not in public disgrace, butinprivatemomentswhen we are hit by the realisation that relationships were neglected, talents undeveloped, joys deferred until they quietly expired. One sees that the cause did notrequirethismuchofus;it merelyacceptedit.
To give oneself to a causeistoescapetheburden
ofself-definition.Itiseasier toservethantochoose.
Yet the cost is severe. A lifepostponedinthenameof duty is rarely recovered When Stevens finally travels, finally speaks of love, the world has already moved on. The dignity he prized reveals itself as sterility The lesson is not cynicism, but vigilance Causes matter Loyalty has meaning. But when duty demands the permanent suspension of one’s humanity—when it asks for silence where conscience should speak, or patience w h e r e c o u r a g e i s required—it is no longer duty Itisabdication.
And the most painful betrayal,intheend,isnotby the men or movements we s e r v e d , b u t b y ourselves for mistaking postponement for purpose, and obedience for a life. Choosecarefullytheleaders towhomyougiveyourdays and your voice, lest in serving them too faithfully you discover too late—thatyourownlifewas the thing most faithfully postponed.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
“forgetting”whathappen.
Dem boys also asking: how heavy was the load? Because if yuh carrying weight like yuh hauling the national debt, physics gon collectitstax.Gravitydon’t respect licence class Gravityseh,“Tryme.”
Solehwestoppretending every accident is mystery Is not always about who licensed Plentypeoplenah gat licence who can drive better than those who certify to drive. Dem boys sehuntilwelearnthatrules is not decoration and licencesisnotmagiccharm, we gon keep seeing truck rolling back like it reconsideringlifechoices.
And dem boys seh finally—next time a truck decide to moonwalk down theroad,lehweasktheright questions, not just check whogotthepaper Talkhalf.Leffhalf.
Neither oilman nor math man did one have to be. Simple arithmetic and commonsense suffice Whenleadersareprincipled, keen insights are theirs They don't play shifty games, discard wisdom, gamble recklessly I urge fellow citizens to suspend their partisan prejudices; be honestwiththemselves. Just thisonce.
The word-persistent and pounding-was all over Oil prices set for a correction. It's a gentle way of saying heading downward. The steepness and timespan no onecanchart,estimate,with complete authority Not even oil market watchers with stellar records Estimates and projections areusuallyofthatnature. In 2025, and in their infinite wisdom, PPP Govt thinkers did the smart thing, but to a pointonly
Half smart, I would say Oil prices will decline Smart. Per 2025 budget estimates, it was oil prices
‘We
will decline by 2.3%. Half smart or less than a quarter smartiswhatIputbeforeall citizens, PPP friendly, PPP enemy Adeclineof2.3%is so miniscule, it was better nottomentionatall. Ablip, as is said in the trade, sometimes smaller than the size of intraday price movements. Instead of an i n s i g n i f i c a n t a n d inconsequential 2.3% slip, oil prices fell in 2025 by 14 5% from the 2024 average. Ithinktherecanbe agreementthat14.5%means something, is material, strikesandhurts. Revisions and adjustments enter official conversations, influence calculations, decisions. Nosuchthinking happened. When oil prices decline more than six times the government's estimate, and give strong indications of continuing retreat, then a sensible and constructive government tugs on the reins Smaller budgets Softer spending. Lower
borrowings. At twice or thrice the 2.3% estimated dropfor2025,thePPPGovt would still have done well. But to call the anticipated decline in percentages that were realistic would then necessitate, nay demand, a more conservative mindset, approach I repeat to remind. Smaller budgets. Softer spending. Lower b
considerations could never be allowed to enter the thought frame. To do so
y, runaway capitalising, of the rogues and scoundrels whose white blood cells are
borrowings. The wise-guys in the PPPGovt's brain trust had to find a basis for
reckless path they traveled, loved. Morebarrelsdaily More daily production has merits, (depleting asset suspended temporarily)
The merits start to dwindle, then disappear, when oil pricesnoseintodouble-digit percentage territory Not nosedive,butsteadysniffing for a lower, sturdier resting place. Say around US$5055abasket.
Though oil hasn't reached there (hopefully doesn't), the daily productiongainsrecordedin 2025over2024,yieldedthis wakeup call: less revenue collections. The numbers testify: 35 million barrels morein2025over2024,and Guyana's2025oilrevenueis US$200M less versus 2024.
A PPP ole-head assured expectant Guyanese that more barrels mean more dollarsforthem. Theywait, counttheirwoes.
I regret writing this, but must. IbelievethatthePPP Govt's 2.3% price decline
estimate was foxily u n d e r e s t i m a t e d , understated. Sothatthefun and games (spending and stealing) could continue unchecked I will be
rea
charitable. A mistake was made with that estimate in 2025. It's costly history Therefore, I assert that prudence should have guided-indeed, compelled-
plannersanddecisionmakers to unveil a smaller budget. Yes, the corruption crowd would feel the squeeze, be forcedtoslowdown.
Asmaller budget with a smaller Oil Fund drawdown and a smaller loan program would be the apex of astuteness and stepping out of the path of a knife falling point forward. Falling oil prices.
Demand is softening Gold is spiraling. Investors are praying. National oil suppliers desire to maintain their revenue levels. More barrels Venezuelan oil hovers like a thoroughbred waiting for release. More barrels.
An Iranian strike could tighten supply, level the price field. Putting on my
McKinsey hat, the advice would be to go slow Read thetimes. Managecravings. PeopleinandoutofthePPP Govt should have no difficulty picking up the message immediately Stop budgeting and borrowing so muchtofeedthenowout-ofcontrolspendinghabit. Debt servicing has been sidestepped. It's bludgeon andbummer,whenoilprices rollover
Noonecanpersuadethat the PPP wisemen don't know, can't fathom, any of the above. I need none to convince me that national development priorities representanythingbutacon game. Prices rise, prices fall. The good times roll. Guyanesegrinditout.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
The Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP) on Sunday marked its one-year anniversary; with party leader and women's rights activist Simona Broomes declaring that the party is growing and positioning itself to become “stronger,biggerandbetter.”
The celebrations were held at Cara Lodge Hotel on Quamina Street,Georgetown.
The political movement was launched one year ago at the De Impeccable Banquet Hall on Brickdam amid much pomp and ceremony ALP's mission, according to Broomes, is to fight for dignity, justice and the protection of citizens' rights. The party's objectives include advocating for marginalised voices, ensuring access to free and quality education and healthcare, eradicating poverty, promoting access to jobs and fair wages, upholding democratic values, strengthening citizen security, buildingresilientandtechnological infrastructure, and encouraging innovation.
Following its launch, ALP contested the 2025 General and Regional Elections but failed to secure enough votes to gain parliamentary representation
Despite this setback, Broomes speaking at the anniversary celebration, emphasised that the party has continue to grow in membershipandnationalreach.
“For a lot of people in this country, they taught that when we did not make it into the National Assembly that we lost and we'll disappear But I want to put all on notice and to say we are stronger, biggerandgettingbetter,”shesaid.
She added that whether inside or outside of the National Assembly,ALPremainscommitted to operating with truth and integrity “We will perform better than persons even within the National Assembly who do not carry those values.And so, we are marchingon,”Broomesstated.
Highlighting the party's expansion, Broomes revealed that ALPnowhasrepresentativesinall ten administrative regions and plans to contest in every region at thenextelections.
“We are there in the different communities.Bythetimewegetto the next election, we will be contesting in all ten administrative regions,”shesaid.
The ALP leader also stressed the party's commitment to addressing national issues such as
poverty and violence against women and children, which she described as crises of national importance.“We will work day by day to remove a government from officethatisnotworkinginthebest interest of the people.At the same time,wewillcontinuetoreachout to the government to engage on nationalissues,”shesaid.“Poverty isanationalissue.Theslaughtering of women is a national issue. The most important resource that we haveinthiscountryisyouandme,” shesaid.
Theeventconcludedwithacall for unity, collaboration and accountability, as Broomes reaffirmed the party's mission and
Members of the ALP gathered at the Cara Lodge Hotel to celebrate the party's one year anniversary
vision.
“The mission, vision and objectivesofthismovementbelong toallofus.Youhaveentrustedme to lead based on those principles. When we collaborate, we are not afraid — but we will not lose our identity,”shesaid.
ALPnotedthatinvitationswere extended to other political parties for the anniversary celebration. However, those in attendance includedmembersofAPartnership forNationalUnity(APNU),among them Members of Parliament Terrence Campbell, Dexter Todd and Saiku Andrews, as well as Justice forAll Party leader Jaipual Sharma.
Tw e n t y - t w o
femicide cases were recorded in
G u y a n a i n 2 0 2 5 , representingasharpincrease from the 13 cases in 2024, according to the 2026 NationalBudgetdocument.
Femicide is defined by the United Nations as the
promoting gender equality wereconducted.Afurther61 programmes and campaigns targeted the elimination of sexual,domesticandgenderbasedviolence.
The budget document also reports 1,823 cases of domestic and gender-based violence during the year,
EonMoore.Alsointhesame month, 34-year-old Bibi FazilaAllywaskilledbyher ex-partner Bidraj Ganesh. Herbodywasleftinapoolof bloodandwasdiscoveredby hereight-year-oldson.
InFebruary,27-year-old, KeneshaVaughnwasshot12 timesbyherhusbandMarlan
intentionalkillingofwomen or girls because of their
gender, driven by discrimination, unequal power relations, harmful social norms, or gender stereotypes. It is considered
t h e m o s t e x t r e m e manifestation of violence against women and girls, often linked to intimate partner violence and other formsofabuse.
Despite the rising femicide figures, the 2026 Budget outlines several social intervention efforts
undertaken in 2025
According to the document, 4,970womenbenefitedfrom empowerment programmes, while 86 sensitisation and awar
s
with 55 victims of domestic violenceandsexualoffences receivingshelterservices.In 2024 there were 1,863 reported cases of domestic andgender-basedviolence.
Further, the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security has stated that its overarching objective remains the promotion of social welfare and the e l i m i n a t i o n o f discrimination and violence against women, with strategies focused on prevention, protection, empowerment and support forvulnerablegroups.
In January, 16-year-old Janelly David was beaten to deathandleftinahammock inRegionOnebyherpartner
Da Silva during an argument, while he was allegedlyintoxicatedattheir Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara. Also, i
n
h, Shameeza Mohamed was brutally beaten by her sonin-law Parsuram Arjune subsequentlysuccumbingto herinjuries.
The month of April saw five women losing their lives: Mezona Ronaldo was set on fire by her partner Kevin Cadogan and subsequently succumbed to her injuries. Also, in April Maline La Cruz, her sister Sueann La Cruz and her mother, Waveney La Cruz losttheirlivesatthehandsof her ex-partner Parmanand
Ramdehol, when he shot them at their Waiakabra Village, Soesdyke – Linden Highway home. In the same month,30-year-oldMarissa Beete was shot by her exboyfriend Ghalee Khan, a convicted drug trafficker In July, 26-year-old Jenel Pollydorewasshotdeadata weddingbythefatherofher child, Shaka Phillips, also known as 'Concrete Man', a 21-year-old resident of Central Amelia's Ward, Linden.
In August, Teekadai Solomon was shot at least 10 times by her husband Alroy Solomon whothenturnedtheweapon on himself ending his life. Healsoshottheirsonduring the ordeal In the same month, 45-year-old Bibi Shazida Hanif was stabbed to death by her ex-husband MartinTrue.
In September, 50-yearold Paula Abraham was stabbed to death by her husband, Ishwar Singh, at
,
Cummings Lodge, East CoastDemerarahouse.After committingtheact,Singhset the house on fire He subsequently died while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital.AlsoinSeptember, 36-year-old Alisha Narine from Crabwood Creek, Corentyne Berbice, was chopped to death by her reputedhusbandRamSingh, knownas“Singh,”duringan argument.
Gu y a n a i s expected to receive about US$2.8B in oil revenue in 2026, as oil prices continue tosufferfurtherdeclines.
Senior Minister in the OfficeofthePresident,with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh recently informed the National Assemblythatthecountryis poised to receive 40 million barrels of a staggering 309 million barrels to be produced this year in the StabroekBlock.
This means that Exxon will be flushed with a massive 269 million barrels of sweet light crude, producedoffshoreGuyana.
Thefinanceministerwas at the time presenting the national budget when he highlighted the expected revenue flow from the sector
H e e x p l a i n e d , “government is expected to earn approximately US$2.4 billion in profit oil and US$375 3 million in royalties In addition, a signing bonus of US$17 millionwillbedepositedfor the new PSA signed for exploration activities in BlockS7.”
Dr Singh noted that
Guyana's petroleum production will continue to be driven by the four Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs) in operation- Liza Destiny, Liza Unity, ProsperityandOneGuyana.
Furthermore, he pointed out that the average price of crude oil is expected to further decline this year by 15.2 per cent to US$59 per barrel.
Dr Singh explained that this was as a result of “the expectation of continued deceleration in demand growth and expanding globalsupply.”
Notably, in 2025 oil prices recorded a decline, with crude oil prices averagingUS$69perbarrel, 14.5percentbelowthe2024 average of US$80 7 per barrel.
Asaresultofthedecline in oil price last year, Guyana's Natural Resource Fund (NRF) or the oil account saw a reduction in revenue flow, although the c
According to the 2026
Budget, Guyana received a total of US$2.4 billion last year The country in 2025 recorded260millionbarrels ofoil.
Meanwhile, in 2024, Guyanaproducedanaverage 225 4 million barrels of crudeoilandearnedUS$2.6 billion according to Budget 2025.
ExxonMobil, the operator of the Stabroek Block has already received regulatory approvals for seven deep-water projects.
To date it has commenced
d
preparations ongoing to startup the three other projects over the next few years.
The fifth project, Uaru wasexpectedtocomeonline in 2026, according to the company, while the sixth project, Whiptail, was pegged for startup in 2027 andtheeight-Hammerheadin 2029 Consequently, Guyana's daily production capacity is expected to be around 1.7 million barrels daily by 2029 In the meantime, the company is seeking the blessings of government for an eight project to develop the resources at the Longtail discovery
Despite producing more oil however, critics fear that the country will hardly reap any benefits from the sector as crude oil prices continue todecline.
Guyana could have already been receiving multibillion US-dollar
profits annually if governmenthadring-fenced the projects in the Stabroek Block.
This provision would have prevented Exxon from using revenue generated to cover the expense of other projects Ring-fencing would ensure the country benefit from 50 per cent of the revenue generated at each project, after expenses aremet.
In accordance with the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), ExxonMobil is allowed to take 75 per cent of the oil produced every month to cover costs; it also enjoys a 12.5 per cent profit share.
G
royalty
Gov'tignores
K a i e t e u r N e w s previously reported that in three separate reports dated 2017, 2018 and 2019, the International Monetary Fund(IMF)urgedGuyanato ring-fenceitsoilprojects.In one of the reports, the IMF stated: “This asymmetrical treatment of profit and cost oilwillbenefitthecontractor at the expense of delaying governmentrevenue.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), along with another international expert, Chatham House and the World Bank called on Guyana to include a ringfencing provision for each project.
Director of Financial AnalysisfortheInstitutefor Energy Economics and FinancialAnalysis(IEEFA), TomSanzillopaintedamore graphic picture in one his reportsonGuyana.
He said, “The lack of contract protections means that every time Guyana announces it has received
Chart showing the portion of oil that will go to Exxon in 2026 (in blue) versus the barrels that will flow to Guyana this year (in orange).
more revenue, it is actually being shortchanged the country may never see the promisedannualrevenuesin thebillionsofdollars.”
The government of Guyana however made it clear on several occasions that it does not intend to implement this provision in
theStabroekBlock.Itsaidit would receive “massive” revenue in the future after the country pays off Exxon foritsinvestments.
receives
meagre 12.5 per cent of profits and two per cent of gross production as
With bilateral trade surging to nearly US$2.9 billion in 2025, more than doubling within a year and cementing China's position as one of Guyana's major trading partners, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, YangYang,lastFridaynight underscored the deepening economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries while also calling for wider recognition of the ChineseSpringFestivalasa national holiday, during remarks delivered ahead of the2026celebrations.
Speaking at a reception hosted by the Chinese
Embassy,AmbassadorYang extended early New Year
greetings to Chinese nationals and the Guyanese public, noting that the upcoming Spring Festival will usher in theYear of the Horse, a symbol of vitality, p e r s e v e r a n c e a n d determination in Chinese culture.
ShedescribedtheSpring Festival as the most important cultural celebration in China, emphasising its themes of family unity, harmony and hope The Ambassador highlighted that in 2023 the United Nations General
Assembly officially recognised the Spring Festival as a UN holiday, while nearly 20 countries now observe it as a public holiday
“The'ChineseNewYear' is becoming a 'World New Year,'” Yang said, adding that members of Guyana's Chinese community have expressed hope that the Government of Guyana would consider officially designating the festival as a national holiday to allow more citizens to participate inthecelebration.
Drawing symbolic parallels between the two
The Customs Anti Narcotic Unit (CANU) said it has observed online advertisements offering cartoon-themed “1gram”zip-lockbagscommonlyusedforthe packaging, distribution, and sale of illicit narcotics, including cannabis and synthetic drugs.
These items are not ordinary packaging and are widely recognised by law enforcement as drug paraphernalia used in street-level drug distribution. The sale, possession, or use of such packaging in connectionwithnarcoticsisanoffenceunder the laws of Guyana and may result in criminal prosecution. The use of cartoon, candy, or child-appealing designs is especiallyalarming,asitincreasesthe
nations,Yangnotedthatred, the dominant colour of the Spring Festival is also featured on Guyana's national flag, representing vitality and progress. The Ambassador also outlined China's recent economic achievements, stating that despite global economic challenges, the country recorded a 5 percent GDP growth rate in 2025, with total output surpassing 140 trillion yuan for the first time. She said China now
contributes roughly 30 percent of global economic growth, providing stability to the international economy She further disclosed that China's total imports and exports exceeded 45 trillion yuan last year, r
economic openness. Yang alsoreferencedPresidentXi J i n p i n g ' s G l o b a l Governance Initiative launched in September 2025, which she said
Thirty-two-year-old electric-biker and bus conductor Kendel Lewis of Ann'sGroveVillagehasdied aftersustaininginjuriesinan accident along the Ann's Grove Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD) Saturdaynight.
Lewis succumbed to his injuries at the Enmore Regional Hospital shortly after the incident. Kaieteur News confirmed his death with relatives. Up to press time, the Guyana Police Force had not issued an official statement on the matter
According to an eyewitness account shared on Facebook by Samuel Kevin Gills, the accident occurred around 8PM while he was travelling toward Ann's Grove Village. Gills said he observed Lewis ridinganelectricmotorcycle in the same direction along the eastern side of the roadway Gills explained that the rider appeared to be travelling in the middle of theroadandswervedinfront of vehicles. He said he
sounded his horn to caution Lewis before passing him and proceeding toward the Ann's Grove Bridge. “He swerved in front of two vehiclesthatpassedme.AsI waspassingtheguy,Itooted my horn indicating that he hastoridemoreinthecorner becausehewasinthemiddle oftheroad,”hesaid.
“I passed him and went uptotheAnn'sGrovebridge on the west side of the road turning onto the bridge and as I was there, I put on my trafficator to turn but there was a black Toyota Allion car that was coming from Berbice.Theplacewasdark and it is possible that the rider didn't see the car I stopped to allow the car to pass and the rider turned behindme.Hewasswerving and not riding close to the corner at all. While at the time he turned behind me, the Allion ran into him,” Gillsexplained.
Gills noted that Lewis sustained severe head injuries and was bleeding profusely from the back of his head. He added that the
contributestoreformingand strengthening international cooperationframeworks.
Bilateral Relations on 'FastTrack'
Turning to GuyanaChina relations, the Ambassador said the partnershipbetweenthetwo countries has entered a “fast track”ofdevelopmentunder the strategic leadership of Presidents Mohamed Irfaan Ali and Xi Jinping
AccordingtoYang,bilateral (Continuedonpage16)
driverofthecarstoppedand rendered assistance. Lewis was rushed to the Enmore Regional Hospital in a critical condition, where he later succumbed to his injuries. News of his death has sent shockwaves throughout the Ann's Grove community and the 44 Bus Park, where Lewis worked as a conductor. Friends, colleagues, and relatives have since taken to social mediatoexpresstheirgrief.
Onefriend,JesseDwight Rockerfeller Gibbs, described Lewis as a jovial and genuine individual, noting that the 44 Bus Park has“lostarealone.”Another friend, Troy Del, expressed disbelief at the tragic loss, while others remember Lewis as someone who was alwayscheerfulandquickto makejokes.
Job opening: Truck Driver, AC Technicians, Excavator and Skid Steer Operators. To apply send application via WhatsApp: 689-1111/ 608-2114.
Live in Maid wanted. Robb St. Call: 762-3155
Job opening:Site Supervisor,Office Assistant. To apply send application via WhatsApp: 689-1111/ 608-2114.
1 personal trainer to work on the ecd,Mon,Wed,Fri from 6am-9am.Contact 2235273/647-5470.
One experienced office assistant & one handyman wanted,send ur resume via email bakshwork@gmail.com / 662-0469.
Wanted one Maid. For more information please Call: 680-1282.
Experience (Big Bus) drivers MUST have CLEAN driving license,police clearance.WhatsApp:592747-4905.
Single male seeks a live in domestic partner,age 18 and over. Light indoor & outdoor work. $65000 monthly. Call 603-9085.
1 Honda CRV, includes TV, music system, alarm, reverse camera, spoiler, low mileage, PTT Series (first owner). Call: 649-0956.
Aracari Hotel Renovated rooms, A/C, TV, Restaurant, Bar, Pool, Gym. Stay 7 nights, 1 FREE! Call: 2642946.
T RUCK TIRES 295 / 75R22.5 $40K EACH. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL / WHATSAPP:+592-6883201. FOR SALE
From page 14 platforms are actively being monitored, and intelligenceled operations include digital marketplaces and social media sales activity.
COOK/BAKER AND PITMEN for interior location . Applicants must be experienced. Call: 231-2250.
Career Opportunity: Data Entry , Accounts . ACCOUNTING SERVICES 141 Regent St Georgetown,Contact: whatsapp 620-8611.Job Training Available.
One (1) female cleaner for Eccles office call 645-8443.
General Domestic (4 day work) & experiened handyman, apply at Keyfood Trading Mc Doom next to the post office.
Pump Attendant / Cashier Shifts rotated weekly.Mobil Prov E.B.D, Call: 265-7305/6. Email:Mobilramsburg@gmail.com
Desk Clerk,Room Attendant,Laundry Attendant ages 20-55. 225-0198/ Kvchotel@gmail.com(all letters lowercase).
Wales Public Road, W.B.D, Parcel 21 (0.467 acres) 20,342 sq ft. Available Long term 2025 years. Sign on property. Phone/Whatsapp: 615-2270/ 628-8619.
Wales Public Road, W.B.D, Parcel 25 (0.494 acres) 21,388 sq ft. Available Long term 20-25 years. Sign on property. Phone/ Whatsapp: 615-2270/6288619.
Malgre Tout, W.B.D, (South of Masjid)-Lot "C" (1.347 acres) 58675 sq ft. Available Long term 20-25 years. Sign on property. Phone/Whatsapp: 6152270/628-8619.
Versailles, W.B.D, (South of Aracari Hotel)-Lot 167 (4.6606 acres) 203,016 sq ft. Available Long term 20-25 years. Sign on property. Phone/Whatsapp: 6152270/628-8619.
Family Fun Aracari Resort! Crystal clear pool, safe kids & adult sections, Music & food. W.B.D. Call: 2642946-9. ENTERTAINMENT
Visa Application:U.S.A, Canada & UK:Graphics design, advertisements, wedding arch rentals.Tel:626-7040.
“Persons are strongly advised to cease the sale, purchase, or distribution of these items where they are intended for illicit use.
Members of the public are
encouraged to report suspicious online drug-related sales anonymously to CANU,” the release stated. CANU said it remains committed to protecting
communities, disrupting drug distribution networks, and preventing narcotics from reaching homes, schools and vulnerable populations.
From page 14 trade between Guyana and China reached nearly US$2.9 billion in 2025, more than double the figure recorded the previous year. She highlighted the completion of the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge by a Chinese company, describing it as a “Bridge of Friendship and Development” that is improving transportation, easing daily commutes and stimulating regional economic activity.
Yang also pointed to the six regional hospitals constructed by Chinese firms, which she said have become a flagship symbol of cooperation under the “Health Silk Road” initiative. She praised the work of Chinese medical teams stationed in Guyana, noting their life-saving contributions and the positive reception from Guyanese citizens.
The Ambassador reported increased people-topeople exchanges between the two countries, revealing that more than 200 Guyanese professionals from government, healthcare, business and other sectors traveled to China in 2025 for training programmes. She said the skills and knowledge gained have already begun contributing to Guyana’s national development agenda.
Looking ahead, Yang said Guyana stands to benefit from China’s long-term development planning under the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee. She reaffirmed China’s commitment to working with Guyana to implement bilateral agreements and expand cooperation across infrastructure, trade, healthcare and cultural exchange. She noted that future collaboration will focus on strengthening both “hard connectiv-
V/Hoop Empty, lot 1 New Road,public road,W.C.D.1 Acre rental investments for prime businesses Tel#2274377.
V/Hoop front lot building and land next to KFC . Lot 8 New Road,W.C.D.Investment for businesses Tel#227-4377.
ity” through physical infrastructure projects and “soft connectivity” by deepening cultural and social ties between citizens.
Chinese community has flourished
Meanwhile, in remarks, Prime Minister, Mark Phillips said the Spring Festival represents a time for unity, hope and renewal for the Chinese people, which is rooted in valued traditions, bringing together families and communities to share their aspirations for the year ahead. “As the Year of the Fire Horse begins, on behalf of His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the Government, and the people of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, I extend my best wishes to His Excellency Xi Jinping, the Government, and the people of the People’s Republic of China for a successful, progressive, and joyous year ahead. And let us be reminded of the qualities of this magnificent animal - perseverance, energy and independence. May these qualities give us the strength to work even harder towards our goals, embrace new opportunities, and approach challenges with confidence, energy and strength over the next year.”
Phillips said Guyana takes great pride in its Chinese community, which has flourished since their arrival on our shores on January 12, 1853, marking 173 years of remarkable growth and develop-
ment. “Our Chinese brothers and sisters have contributed significantly to Guyana’s social, cultural and economic fabric. We have seen how dedicated, persistent, and entrepreneurial they are, and how these traits have helped shape our business sector, especially in trade, retail, and business development. Furthermore, Chinese festivals, food, and cultural traditions have also added vibrancy and diversity to Guyana’s multicultural society. We deeply appreciate the values of family unity, respect for tradition, and the spirit of understanding and harmony that the Chinese community has helped to strengthen nationally,” the prime minister said.
He said this festive occasion also provides an opportunity to reflect on the strong ties of friendship and partnership that persist between Guyana and China.
“We have built a robust and dynamic partnership over the years, based on mutual respect and shared vision and interests for growth and development – both at the individual and national levels. Our diplomatic ties have advanced due to closer peopleto-people connections, and enhanced collaboration in numerous areas.
Our cooperation in the sectors of infrastructure, trade, health, agriculture, and education, have borne tangible mutual benefits. Our joint efforts have made
billion...
Guyana’s transport systems better, our healthcare facilities better, our educational opportunities better, and our cultural exchange better. We have recently signed agreements to promote green development. This demonstrates our mutual commitment to making the world more sustainable and to building economies that are resilient to climate change, while partnering to contribute to the battle at combatting climate change. China has been a reliable partner through our times of need, whether it was tackling health challenges or disaster response and for this, Guyana remains deeply grateful. “ Phillips said as the partnership between the two countries continues to evolve and grow, Guyana will continue to engage in investment opportunities from China. “As we continue to engage in areas of mutual interest, Guyana reiterates its unwavering support for the One China Policy.
At the same time, China’s respect for the rule of international law supports sovereignty and territorial integrity of nation states within the international system.
In a time when democracy and respect for the rule of law faces increasing challenges, it is essential that we stand together to safeguard these fundamental principles and foster mutual respect on the global stage.”
MPublic Works
Bishop Juan
Edghill has assured employees of the old Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), that their jobs are secure, amid ongoing preparations to transition parts of the river crossing to severallocations.
skillsandqualifications.
During a recent meeting with staff, Edghill said workerswillbereassignedto various departments within the ministry based on their
Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill speaks with staff of the Demerara
“Nobody is going to be demoted or put to do a job thatislessthanwhatyouare doing We believe that people must preserve their dignity,” he told the staff. “Thisisnotfindingworkfor people, this is about putting people where they are best suited.”
Heexplainedthatseveral employees will be absorbed into the ministry’s Works Services Group (WSG), whileotherswillbeassigned to the Transport and Harbou
(T&HD) and the Guyana N
Shipping Corporation(GNSC).
All welders and other technical staff will form part of the special projects unit (SPU) within the ministry
A separate group will be responsible for operationsattheSandHills to Timehri Bridge, where components of the existing
Demerara Harbour Bridge structure will be relocated to s u pp or t a new alignment
Another team will be assigned to work on the LeguantoWakenaamlink
He also stated that Wayne Watson will remain the director general of the DHB and will oversee operations at the new
fromDPI)
(Barbados Today) The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) has pledged cost-oflivingreliefthroughtargeted cash credits and tax measures if re-elected, rejecting broad value-added tax (VAT) cuts it says may not translate into lower prices.
BLP political leader
PrimeMinisterMiaMottley said the approach was designed to put money directly back into people’s pockets.
Addressingsupportersat Golden Square on Saturday night during the launch of the party’s manifesto, Mottley said the BLP had deliberatelyrejectedcallsfor VATreductions,arguingthat such measures offered no guarantee of relief for the mostvulnerable.
“Everybodydeservesthe money back in their pockets and not with some arbitrary reduction of VAT that you don’tknowwhethertheman will reduce the prices in the shopsornotortheservices,” shesaid.
Instead,Mottleysaidthe partyhadoptedforwhatshe described as creative and responsible solutions, building on measures implemented since taking officein2018.
She recalled that when theBLPreturnedtoofficein
2019, the reverse tax credit stood at $650 and was available only to those earning $1 500 a month or less.
“We extended that $1 300topeopleearning$2080 amonthorless,orcallit$25 000ayear,”shesaid,noting thatthecredithadsincebeen increasedagain.
“Well,asofthisyear,you will now get $1 700 and not $1 300, and that is to help make up for all of the costof-living increases that you havehadtoincur.”
Mottley also announced a new reverse tax credit of $750 for people earning between$2080and$2900a month, roughly $25 000 to $35 000 a year, a group that previouslydidnotqualify
Turning to proposals by the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) to reduce VAT, Mottley issued a sharp warning.
“Ralph tells you about givingyoubackandcarrying VATto15percentbutwhen the VAT goes back down to 15 per cent, first of all, he ain’t tell you how much it’s goingtocost.
Then secondly, he ain’t tellyouthatyouain’tgetting back that money from the merchants. When you see merchants carry up prices, you ever seen them come back down? They don’t
come back down. But the difference between this government and that (DLP) isthatwewillputthemoney back in your pockets at the endoftheyear.”
For those earning between $35 000 and $50 000 a year, Mottley said a compensatory income credit would ensure that any income tax paid during the year would be fully refunded, once the countrycouldaffordit.
She illustrated the measure by noting that a person earning $4 000 a month, or $48 000 a year, currently paid $2 875 in incometax
“You will now get back all of that money at the end of the year,” she said Mottley also outlined new measures for pensioners and the most vulnerable, noting that the tax-free allowance for pensioners had already been increased from $45 000to$50000lastyear
“ To n i g h t , I a m announcing that if we come backintooffice,thattax-free allowance will be increased to $75 000 for pensioners in thiscountry,”shesaid.
H o w e v e r , s h e acknowledged that some pensioners, welfare
recipients and people receiving special needs grants would not benefit from tax changes because their incomes fell below the threshold.
To address this, she announced a new cost-oflivingcashcredit.
“We will give every pensioner, contributory and non-contributory, every welfare recipient and every recipient of a special needs grant,adultorchild,$1200a year,” she said, explaining that the payment could be taken monthly, quarterly, half-yearlyorasalumpsum attheendoftheyear
Mottley stressed that thesemeasureswereno“idle promises” and said the approach was preferable to VATreductions.
In recent weeks, several parties contesting the February 11 general election, most notably the opposition, have proposed VAT cuts as a means of easingconsumerpressures.
The Central Bank of Barbados has cautioned against wholesale VAT r e d u c t i o n s , w i t h Governor Dr Kevin Greenidge warning on Wednesday that such measures could undermine fiscalstability,increasedebt pressures and fail to deliver meaningful benefits to
households, particularly the mostvulnerable.
Professor Troy Lorde, a university dean and acting director of the Shridath Ramphal Centre, also warned that while VAT cuts may be politically attractive, a targeted, evidence-based approach would better protect vulnerable households, preserve fiscal balance and support Barbados’s wider economic competitiveness.
Referencing those warnings, Mottley accused the opposition of failing to explain the fiscal impact of its promises.
She said the BLP had put a cost to its proposals and published them in the manifesto, noting that the package of benefits for pensioners alone amounted to$142million.
The party leader added that the measures reflected a government that had listened to public concerns
“This government is putting money back into your pockets immediately and that is what is going to make the difference. I have heard you on the cost of living,andwerecognisethat we are in a position now to giveyousomethingback.”
(Reuters) - Iran’s leadership warned of a regional conflict on Sunday if the U.S. were to attack it, stoking the tension between WashingtonandTehran,and it designated EU armies as “terrorist groups” in a retaliatorymove.
The United States has rampedupitsnavalpresence in the Middle East after President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened Iran withinterventionifitdidnot agree to a nuclear deal or failed to stop killing protesters.
Despite the standoff betweenIran’sclericalrulers a n d t h e T r u m p administration, both sides havesignalledtheyareready toresumetalks,andregional allies such as Turkey have soughtde-escalation.
An Iranian official denied an earlier report by state-run Press TV that the
RevolutionaryGuards’naval forces would carry out livefireexercisesintheStraitof Hormuz on Sunday and Monday,tellingReutersthey have no such plan and the mediareportsarewrong.
Suprem
AyatollahAliKhameneiwas quoted on state media as saying that although Trump says he has sent ships to the region, “the Iranian nation shall not be scared by these things, the Iranian people will not be stirred by these threats”.
“Wearenottheinitiators anddonotwanttoattackany country, but the Iranian nation will strike a strong blow against anyone who attacks and harasses them,” he said. The U.S. Navy currently has six destroyers, oneaircraftcarrier,andthree littoral combat ships in the region,raisingtheriskofwar after Iran’s deadly
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, January 17, 2026. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
crackdown in January on nationwide protests against Iranianleadership.
Trump was weighing options against Iran that include targeted strikes on security forces, Reuters has
(AL-JAZEERA)
Israel
says it will terminate the humanitarian operations in Gaza of Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, after itfailedtoprovidealistofits Palestinian staff, further deprivingPalestiniansinthe besieged enclave of lifesavingassistance.
In December, Israel announceditwouldprevent37 aid organisations, including MSF, from working in Gaza from March 1 for failing to submit detailed information about their Palestinian employees, drawing widespread condemnation from NGOs and the United Nations. “The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism is moving to terminate the activities of Medecins Sans Frontieres(MSF)intheGaza Strip,” the ministry said on Sunday
The decision followed “MSF’s failure to submit lists of local employees, a requirementapplicabletoall humanitarian organisations operating in the region”, it added.
The ministry had earlier
alleged that two MSF employees had links with Palestinian groups Hamas andIslamicJihad,whichthe charityhasdenied.
On Sunday, the ministry said MSF had committed in early January to sharing the staff list as required by the Israeli authorities but ultimately refrained, citing concernsforstaffsafetyand a lack of assurances over how the information would beused.
“Subsequently, MSF announceditdoesnotintendto proceed with the registration processatall,contradictingits previous statements and the binding protocol,” the ministryadded,saying,“MSF will cease its operations and depart the Gaza Strip by February28”Israel’sdecision toterminateMSF’soperations in Gaza “is an extension of Israel’s systematic weaponisation and instrumentalisation of aid”, James Smith, an emergency physician based in London, told Al Jazeera “Israel has systematically targeted the Palestinian healthcare system, killing more than 1,700 Palestinian healthcare
workers,” thereby “creating a profound dependency on internationalorganisations”, Smith said. MSF said 15 of its employees have been killed over the course of Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, which began on October7,2023.
MSFhaslongbeenakey provider of medical and humanitarian aid in the enclave, particularly since the war began. The charity said it currently provides at least 20 percent of hospital beds in the territory and operates about 20 health centres. In 2025 alone, it carried out more than 8 0 0 , 0 0 0 m e d i c a l consultations and more than 10,000 infant deliveries. It also provides drinking water
Aid groups warned that w
y organisations such as MSF, critical services such as emergency care, maternal healthcare and paediatric treatment could collapse entirely in Gaza, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents without basic medicalcare.
Ali Larijani said on X that a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r negotiationswereunderway
Trumpalsosaid:“Ihope they negotiate something acceptable. You could make a negotiated deal that would be satisfactory with no nuclearweapons.”
Tehransaysitisreadyfor “fair” negotiations that do not seek to curtail its defensivecapabilities.
The protests, which started over economic hardships but morphed into the most acute political challenge to the Islamic Republic since its establishment in 1979, have nowabatedafterrepression.
reported, citing multiple sources.
On Saturday Trump told reporters that Iran was “seriously talking” with Washington, hours after Tehran’stopsecurityofficial
Official numbers put the unrest-related death toll at 3,117, while U S -based HRANArightsgroupsaidon Sundayithadsofarverified the death of 6,713 people.
Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.
In retaliation on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said EU armies would also be designated as such, and that authorities would deliberate on the expulsion of EU states’ military attachés.
“By trying to hit the Revolutionary Guards... the Europeans actually shot themselves in the foot” the speaker told fellow lawmakers, who all wore IRGCuniformsinsupportof theeliteforce.
After his address, lawmakers shouted “Death to America, Shame on you Europe”
Reuters was unable to independently verify the numbers.Inasymbolicshift inresponsetothecrackdown on protests, the European Un
Laura Dogu, the top US envoy to Venezuela, arrives in Caracas on January 31, 2026. [@usembassyve/X via Reuters]
(Reuters)-LauraDogu, the top U S envoy for Venezuela, arrived on Saturday in Caracas as the two countries gradually resume bilateral relations, broken in 2019 by Venezuelan President NicolasMaduro.
In a post on Telegram, Venezuelan foreign affairs minister Yván Gil said that her visit is meant to “establish a roadmap on matters of bilateral interest” and “resolve existing differences through diplomatic dialogue and
through a base of mutual understanding and internationallaw.”
Dogu, who previously served as ambassador to Honduras and Nicaragua, wrote on X that she had arrivedinVenezuelaandthat “my team and I are ready to work.”
The U S captured Maduro on January 3 and broughthimtoNewYorkfor arraignment in court on narcoterrorism charges
D e l c y R o d r i g u e z , Venezuela’s interim president, has since said she seeks to move towards “balanced and respectful international relations” with theUnitedStates.
The two countries have reached a deal to export up to $2 billion worth of Venezuelan crude to the United States, and on F r i d a y R o d r i g u e z announced a proposed “amnesty law” for hundreds of prisoners in the country and said the Helicoide detention center inCaracaswouldbeturned into a center for sports and socialservices
BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT
BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT...BLUNT
Guyana’s men’s
n a t i o n a l basketball team opened their Nations Cup campaign in commanding fashiononSaturdayevening, defeating French Guiana 65–51 at the Ismay van Wilgen Sports Hall in Paramaribo,Suriname.
Inagamethatshowcased the team’s depth and discipline,Guyanadelivered
a
m performance,settingthetone early and never allowing their opponents to find sustainedrhythm.
The victory sets up a decisive clash against host nation Suriname on Sunday evening, with the winner crowned champions of the tri-nationtournament.
Guyana entered the contest knowing the stakes.
Surinamehadalreadybeaten French Guiana on Friday, meaning Saturday’s result ensured a winner-take-all showdown.
Thematchupalsocarries added motivation for the Guyaneseside,whofinished behind Suriname at last year’s tournament, also held intheDutch-speakingSouth Americannation.
Head coach Adrian
Hooper will be eager for redemption against a familiarrival.
Offensively, Guyana spread the load efficiently.
One player led the way with ateam-high14points,while Travis Belgrave added 10 in a strong supporting role.
Akiel Hughes chipped in with nine, highlighting the balanced scoring effort that kept French Guiana on the back foot throughout the contest.
You'll find that things are slipping nicely into place for you today, Aries. Your persuasivemannerandgentle nudges are just enough to get peoplewhereyouwantthem.
When faced with ten entrees onthemenu,itmightbehard for you to choose just one. Feelfreetoordertwoormore, Ta u r u s D o n ' t l e t indecisiveness slow you down.Atthesametime.
Your dreams won't come true unless you believe in and act onthem,Gemini.Nooneelse is going to do it for you. Unless you have a fairy godmother, you need to take mattersintoyourownhands.
If people hassle you or give you a hard time about your appearance today, pay them nomind,Cancer Youhavethe righttoliveyourlifeanyway youwantto.
Reachforthepotofgoldatthe end of the rainbow, Leo. It's closerthanyouthink.Indeed, your dreams are completely within your reach, and there are huge forces at work helping you achieve your goals.
VIRGO
Today is your day to dream and dream big, Virgo. Think aboutwhatitisthatyouwant most out of life. Aim your arrow to the stars and pull back your bow as far as possible. There's no limit to howfaryoucango.
Expand your mind to its furthest reaches today, Libra. There's an incredible opportunity opening up for you in which you can make great strides in a creative realm.Followthemusic.
Your mind may seem rather cloudy today, Scorpio, but don't let this hinder you. In fact, you'll find that you can use this feeling of fantasy to your advantage. Try to bring moremagicintoyourlife.
Today is an excellent day for you,oneinwhichyou'llfinda great deal of strength in your emotions, Sagittarius Trust that your instincts are serving youwell.
Things might get a bit confusing for you today, Capricorn. Don't feel like you needtomakesenseofitall.In fact, this task may be impossible. Just be yourself. Let your creative nature shine through.
Mix your reality with a bit of fantasytoday,Aquarius.Allow your feet to come off the ground for a little while. Give yourselfarest.Takesometime to meditate and clear your mindofyourdailyworries.
Let yourself go into high creative mode and drift into a whole other world, Pisces. Escape your present reality and explore your fantasies through any sort of artistic endeavor Dreamasbigasyour mindallows.
French Guiana fought hard but struggled to close the gap. Fzedizique Yann produced a game-high 14 points in a losing effort, as his team ended the tournamentwithoutawin.
Guyana’s roster features Domair Gladstone, Zian Gray, Nikkoli Smith, Travis Belgrave, Shelroy Thomas, Oquacey Shortt, Kimmol Grimmond, Akiel Hughes, Domitre Rankin, Jermaine SlaterandDanielBenjamin.
AccordingtotheGuyana Basketball Federation (GBF), participation in the Nations Cup forms part of a broadervisionforthesport. While the men prepare for the upcoming Caribbean Championship,thewomen’s national team is set to a s s e m b l e f o r t h e CentroBasket tournament later this year, building on their runner-up finish at last year’s regional event hosted inGuyana.
(Cricinfo)-TheICChas said it “expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptableresolution,which protects the interests of all stakeholders,” following the Pakistan government’s announcement that Pakistan will boycott their group game against India in the 2026T20WorldCup.
With the India-Pakistan fixture on February 15 likely to be the most commercially lucrative group game of the tournament, the ICC issued astatementthreehoursafter the Pakistan government’s social media post on X, saying it “hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiaryof ”
The statement said that
the ICC was yet to receive communication on the matterfromthePCB.
“The ICC notes the statement that the government of Pakistan has made regarding the decision to instruct its national team to selectively participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, ” the ICC statement said. “While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of selective participation is difficulttoreconcilewiththe fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule.
“ICC tournaments are built on sporting integrity, c o m p e t i t i v e n e s s , consistencyandfairness,and selective participation undermines the spirit and
sanctityofthecompetitions.
“While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interestoftheglobalgameor the wel
millionsinPakistan.
“The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implicationsforcricketinits own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem,whichitisitselfa memberandbeneficiaryof.
“The ICC’s priority remains the successful delivery of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup which should also be the responsibility of all its membersincludingthePCB. ItexpectsthePCBtoexplore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects
stakeholders.”
Pakistan’s participation,
The ICC asked the PCB to consider the “long-term implications for cricket in its own country” if Pakistan refused to play India in Colombo on February 15 (AFP/Getty Images)
ortheextentofit,atthe2026 T20 World Cup had been thrown into doubt by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi after Bangladesh were remo
tournament on January 24
following their refusal to play in India due to security concerns. Pakistan was the only country vocally supportive of Bangladesh’s request for an alternate venue, and reacted to their
removalbyaccusingtheICC o
favouring India. He said the gove
ld ultimately decide whether Pakistanweretotakepartin thetournament.
(BBC Sport) - Carlos Alcaraz won a pulsating Australian Open final to becometheyoungestmanto complete a career Grand Slam - ending Novak Djokovic’s latest attempt to landa25thmajortitleinthe process The 22-year-old immediately collapsed on thecourtincelebrationafter clinching a 2-6 6-2 6-3 7-5 victoryinMelbourne.
D e s p i t e h i s disappointment, Djokovic showed his sportsmanship byclamberingoverthenetto warmly congratulate Alcarazoncreatingasliceof history
However, the Serb great willknowhemayneverhave anotherbetteropportunityto underline his place as the greatestplayerofall-time.
Afterwards, the 10-time champion placed doubt on whether he would be on courtinMelbourneagain.
“I didn’t think I’d be standing at the closing
ceremony of a Grand Slam once again,” Djokovic, 38, toldthecrowd.
“Who knows what happens tomorrow, never mind the next six or 12 months, but it has been a greatride.”
Spanish world number oneAlcaraz struggled in the opening exchanges as Djokovicusedallhisnousto dominate.
But Alcaraz found more rhythm from the baseline andoutlastedthefourthseed to claim his seventh major title.
Alcaraz is only the ninth man to win all four Grand Slam tournaments - the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open - and the first since Djokovicin2016.
Alcaraz’s victory means Djokovic’s wait to break his tie with Margaret Court for themostGrandSlamsingles titlegoeson.
Djokovic has been tied
withAustralia’sCourt-who was watching on Rod Laver Arena - since winning the 2023USOpen.
Over the past two seasons, Alcaraz and Italy’s Jannik Sinner have emerged asthedominantforcesinthe men’sgame.
Alcaraz’smaidenwinon the Melbourne hard courts meansthepairhaveliftedthe past nine major trophies betweenthem.
Djokovic produced a superhuman effort to beat second seed Sinner in Friday’s semi-finals, but beating both of his younger opponents back-to-back always looked like being a steptoofar
“The work you have been doing is historiclegendary,” Djokovic told Alcaraz.
With a grin, he added:
“You’re still young so I’m sure we will be seeing each other many more times over theyears.”
Guyana’s Sydney Glean in action on Saturday against a Honduran forward
Guyana Women’s u n d e r - 1 7 footballteamare scheduled to play their final Group D match of the 2026
Prospero Trinidad Stadium inOranjestad,Aruba.
After three matches, Guyana has a win, a draw and a loss, which tallied to fourpointsonthetableanda seatinthirdplace.Honduras has remained perfect with three wins from as many matches to lead the Group with9points,whileJamaica hastwowinsandadrawfora total of seven points and a spotinsecondplace.
The other two teams at the bottom of the Group, Aruba and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, have three andzeropoints,respectively
One match remains for
Concacaf Women’s Under17 Qualifiers today when they oppose the hapless St. VincentandtheGrenadines unit at the Guillermo
(BBCSport)- Dominic
Solanke produced a stunning piece of improvisationasTottenham came from two goals down toearnapointanddelivera serious setback to Manchester City’s Premier Leaguetitlehopes.
Citywereintotalcontrol at half-time as goals from Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo emphasised their domination, with Thomas Frank’s team enduring another hostile reaction fromtheirownfans.
Solanke gave Spurs hope by pulling one back before he showed superb presence of mind to divert Conor Gallagher’s cross, whichwasbehindhim,over City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
It capped a comeback which seemed unthinkable at half-time, with City outclassing Spurs with embarrassingease.
City had already threatened before Cherki put them ahead, the Spurs defence allowing him to advance unchecked to send alowshotbeyondthereach of keeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Cherki almost added a second after a superb run and cross-shot that was diverted wide by a vital touchfromVicario.
City’s second seemed inevitable, eventually
arriving moments before half-time when Spurs defender Radu Dragusin’s poor clearance was collected by Rodri He found Bernardo Silva, who slipped in Semenyo for a coolfinish.
Spurs, as so often in recenttimes,werejeeredoff at half-time but finally roused themselves after the break to at least put City underpressure.
T h e p r e v i o u s l y unemployed Donnarumma saved superbly from Destiny Udogie before Spurs offered some hope when Solanke bundled home, although City were furious, believing he had fouledMarcGuehi.
Solankethenproduceda moment to live long in the memory as Spurs drew level, delivering a so-called “scorpion kick” to turn Gallagher’s cross beyond Donnarumma’sreach.
The result left City six points behind leaders Arsenal, while Spurs, who have suffered so much misery at home this season, deservehugecreditforsuch a show of spirit when all seemedlost.
Brilliant 10-man BrentfordbeatVilla…
Ten-man Brentford claimed a brilliant win at AstonVillatodentthehosts’ Premier League title ambitions.
every team in the Group except Aruba. The top two teamsintheGroupfaceoffat 20:00 hrs on Monday, February 2, after Guyana battles St. Vincent and the Grenadinesearlierintheday at15:00hrs.
AwinforGuyanameans they will match the Jamaicans’ points, but must hope the mighty Honduras squad defeats the Reggae Girls and restrict their goal scoring.
However, Guyana must recordacleansheetresultin thatfinalmatchwithascore no lower than 8 – 0 to beat Jamaica’s goal difference of
7.
With that, Guyana must thenhopetheyareamongthe top two second-place finishers to advance to the next round. Only the six Groupwinners(A,B,C,D,E and F) and the best two second-place finishers will advance to the Concacaf Women’s Under-17 QualifiersFinalRound.
Meanwhile, the Junior Women’s team’s game play acrossthethreematcheswas quite commendable as they heldJamaicatoa1–1result toopentheircampaign,then recorded a confident 0 – 2 win against the host nation,
Aruba. They lost the most recent encounter to a very skillfulHondurasunit,1–3, even though the effort expendedwasexceptional.
Guyana’s U17 Squad: Jasmine Solomon-Ross (GK), Alexis Mars (GK), Sara Ernest (GK), Aliyah John, Ella Yhip, Kuleni Springer, Lily Biffin, Avril Pasvolsky, Laila Ross, Laila So, Caraleena Elliston, Sydney Glean, Kimora Edwards, Arianna Chin, Carissa Lombardi, Ellie Biffin, Ayah Stewart, Alexaudria Chasles, Tanya De Vair, Anaya Joseph and EleannaIsaacs.
Master Z dynamic horse Dataman displayed class of the highest order to clinch a massivevictoryattheBanks ClassicatPortMourantTurf Club. Watched by a packed racetrack, Dataman stopped the clock in one minute 33 seconds in the one mile feature and walked away as the best horse, claiming the G$2millionprize.
Jumbo Jet Racing Stab
es completed a dominant day as Anthem Kingransecond,pippingthe returning Olympic Kremlin
in an all-time classic. Order andProgressfinishedfourth.
Race one began with the L Non Earners Last three starts.OnapackedfieldTop of the Cloud proved too hot to handle, clinching a thrilling win. Angel had to settle for second while Patriotism finished third DanStarranfourth. In the L Class Maiden crowd favorite Dr J pulled off a victory of note while Miss Simran ran second. Perfect Trip gave good competitionbuthadtosettle
for third while Citation ran fourth. The three-year-old Guyanabrednonwinnersof twohadapackedfieldof11, but it was Torpedo Jet who flew to a scintillating win.
TheJumboJethorse,piloted by seasoned jockey Colin Ross was all class in the 6.5 furling race. After Torpedo Jet stopped the clock at one minute and 25 seconds, Monica Time finished second while Miracle Boy ranthirdfollowedbyGranite Storm.
Race four looked evenly poisedasthehorsesgalloped togetherintheJ3andLower Sakarhadthemostgasinthe tanktocomeoutontopofan exciting race She’s a Monica ran second while Regal Surprise ran third an Heartlandranfourth.
TheSprintClassicwhich saw four horses running for 6.5 furlung was won by the ever consistent Js Raving Stables.RegalManstartedin fine fashion to complete a gatetopolewin,stoppingthe clock at one minute 19’seconds One Sharp Cookie looked sharp, but was not sharp enough; and settledforsecond.JohnBull ran third and Rei Da Brincaderiafinishedfourth.
The closest race of the day was the G Class and Lower Open to West Indian bred also Open to F class Nonwinnersinthelastthree starts. Grande Rainha was the first to jump out of the gate butAmicable Kate was equallyuptothetask.Itwas a photo finish in race six. StormyVictoryranthirdand Kanemfinishedfourth.
The cameramen had a busy day as another photo finish was on the card. She WBO on Time won the IClass and Lower to West Indian bred Just Exhale edged Sydney for second while Blinding Light ran fourth.
The penultimate race of the day was the F Class and Lower Open to E Class and four-year-old imported maidens in Guyana The Jumbo Jet Racing Stales Barbra, set the tone and it was Jockey Colin Ross who registeredhisthirdwinofthe day Full Liberty settled for second while Front Line Warriorranthird.
Despitethebriefshowers the Banks Classic was deemedagrandsuccess.The next race set for Phagwah at the Kennard’s Memorial TurfClub.
high-performance facility
This landmark development is expected to significantly e n h a n c e a t h l e t e preparedness and help maintain Guyana’s competitiveness at both the regional and international levels.
Th e G u y a n a
Powerlifting
F e d e r a t i o n (GAPLF) joins fellow
sporting bodies in applauding the Government ofGuyanaforthesignificant monetaryprovisionsmadein the 2026 National Budget, presented last Monday The allocation of $6 billion to sports is viewed as both sustainable and strategic, representing a long-term
investment aimed at elevating the standard of the localsportssector
For the powerlifting fraternity, this allocation
s i g n i f i e s a m a j o r commitment to talent
development and the enhancement of sporting infrastructure nationwide
The announcement by Hon. Dr Ashni Singh was met with great enthusiasm, as it clearly demonstrates the
Government’s strong commitment to investing in sport The investment is
intended to expand opportunities for athlete
development while complementing broader national priorities, including health,youthempowerment, andtourismdevelopment.
Athletes across all disciplines will be further motivated to train and compete at higher levels, confident that with a clear
national vision, prudent management, and strategic planning within their respective federations, achievable and sustainable development pathways can beestablished.
The Feder
n is particularly encouraged by the emphasis placed on the developmentofprofessional coaches. There is an urgent n
investment in the technical aspectsofsporttoensurethat athletes have access to
techniques necessary to
internationalcompetitors.
Additionally, the powerlifting fraternity welcomestheGovernment’s continued support for hosting international teams andcompetitionsinGuyana. This initiative aligns closely with the Federation’s developmentalobjectives,as exposure to international competition is critical to athlete growth and supports the national vision of positioning Guyana as a sportstourismhubwithinthe Caribbean.
The Federation is also extremelyencouragedbythe announcementofinvestment in Guyana’s first-ever dedicated powerlifting and
GAPLF echoes favourable sentiments, applauding Govt’s $6B budgetary allocation to sports
In its release, the Federation extended congratulations to Hon CharlesRamsonJr.,Minister ofCulture,YouthandSports, and Hon. Steven Jacobs,
MinisterwithintheMinistry of Culture,Youth and Sport, stating:
“We would like to congratulate Hon. Charles Ramson Jr and Hon. Steven Jacobs for their exceptional leadershipandforfosteringa genuine and open partnership with all sporting bodies. This collaborative approach will undoubtedly contributetogreatersuccess for sports and our athletes acrossGuyana.”
