Kaieteur news

Wales gas plant contractor now wants US$250M more to complete project by year-end

TheWalesGas-to-Energy

(GTE) contractor is seeking an additional US$250M to complete the controversial project which is unlikely to meet its 206-year end deadline.

LindsaycaDevelopmentLLPin its Annual Report for the year ended31December2024revealed that talks were ongoing with the Government of Guyana (GoG) to increasethepricetagontheNatural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility and 300-megawattpowerplant.

According to the Report, “Negotiations with the Government of Guyana for a significant contract price adjustment are at an advanced stage,providingstrongevidenceof the Group’s ability to continue to

meetitscommitments.”

Meanwhile,sourcesclosetothe processtoldthisnewspaperthatthe company has made a proposal to the government for a whopping US$250M however, the GTE Taskforce headed by Winston Brassington is considering US$170M to complete the construction activities The President, Dr Irfaan Ali however holds a different perspective, according to insiders He is reportedly against any additional paymentstothecompany

In addition to the additional sums being sought by the contractor, the company has already acquired just over US$102M from a dispute with government Although the company is expected to complete

thegasplantsinWalesbytheendof 2026, technical experts say this is highlyunlikely

In fact, sources explained that ExxonMobilrecentlyconductedan “internal review” at the request of the GoG which showed that the 2026deadlinewillnotbemet.

ThecontinuousdelaysatWales not only mean more blackouts and heavy electricity tariffs for customers of the Guyana Power andLight(GPL)Incbutalsocostly rental contracts to meet the shorttermenergyneedsofthecountry

Moreover, a recent report in The Economist (April 5, 2026) highlighted the current windfall Guyana is experiencing from surgingglobaloilprices.Sadly,this financial boom entirely misses out onNGLproduction.

While prices for light liquids and cooking gas continue to increaseacrosstheregion,Guyana remains sidelined. If the NGL facility were operational and on schedule, the country could currentlybeexportingthesehighly valued commodities to a hungry market.Instead,duetotheproject’s stalled progress and the aforementioned equipment concerns, Guyana is missing a criticalwindow,leavingsignificant realizedvalueonthetable.

Previously, Kaieteur News reportedthatalthoughtheOfficeof thePrimeMinister(OPM)saidina statement that 24-hour work was ongoingatthesite,anindependent, on-the-ground investigation by Kaieteur News painted a starkly differentpicture.

Guyana’soilprofitsshouldnotfinance gas-to-energyproject-ChrisRam

Chartered Accountant and Attorney, ChristopherRamhascristicisedthemoveby oil companies to use Guyana oil revenue to financeGuyana’sgastoenergyproject.

SpeakingonarecentairingoftheOiland Gas Governance Network (OGGN) Programme ‘oil talk,’ on Kaieteur Radio Ram declared that “that ought not to happen.” He later expounded in an invited comment with Kaieteur News that since Guyana’s contract stands on a petroleum agreement, only petroleum costs should be recoverable.

“Gasisconditional-requiringplansand approvals The agreement is clear: Government gas infrastructure outside an approved plan must be paid by the Governmentandmustnotreduceoilprofits,” Ramexplained.

Nonetheless, the outspoken attorney noted that China National Offshore Oil

Corporation (CNOOC) the smallest contractor in the Stabroek Block, quietly hintsinits2024accountsthatgas-to-energy costsarethere.

“Theotherssaynothing,why?”

“Because once those costs enter the system, they disappear from view The Government avoids scrutiny, the companies staysilent,andthepublicpays-withoutever seeingthetruecost.”Ramasserted.

In the final analysis, the chartered accountantsaidtheagreementisviolated,the government deceives, the oil companies are complicit, and the public has no clue about therealcostofthegas-to-energyproject.

The controversial Wales Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project is said to be the country’s single most expensive infrastructure developmentonrecord.Sourcesclosetothe project have revealed damning elements of the contract between ExxonMobil and the

Government of Guyana (GoG), which contradict the assurances given by both the contractorandgovernmentovertheyears.

WhileExxonclaimedthatrepaymentfor the pipeline will not commence until the project comes online, sources said that the associated expenditure is already being deductedthroughcostrecovery Guyanahas alsosignedatake-or-payagreementwiththe company to purchase gas from Exxon. Simplyput,thisarrangementmeanswhether Guyana ever uses the gas or Lindsayca ever finishes Gas to Energy, ExxonMobil’s investment is secured. The contract did not specifythecostthatGuyanawillpayforthe resources.

Citizens were told that the gas in the Stabroek Block will be free, however the secret lies in the inception of the Heads of AgreementbetweenformerExxonMobilVP Jesus Bronchalo, now consultant for the

ThedailyshiftattheWalessite endedabruptlyat6:00PM.By6:30 PM, the vast majority of the workforce can be seen queuing at thebusstopneartheBharratJagdeo Demerara River Bridge, heading homeforthenight.

To corroborate this, our team deployed drones over the project site during nighttime hours just moments after the statement came from government. Instead of a bustling, illuminated operation executinga“tripleshift,”theaerial footage showed a dead stop. The site was dark and completely inactive, flatly contradicting the government’s narrative of a relentless, 24/7 construction effort ( S e e v i d e o : https://youtu.be/G 6QJWvmaS k)

Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram

GovernmentasCEOandOwnerofFulcrum LNG,andgovernment’sconsultant,Winston Brassington.

Sources said, “Initially the government wanted a Gas SupplyAgreement, given the politicalstatementsof“gasisfree”whichare untrue. Gas production falls under the PSA, andproducingGasimpactstherecoveryof Continued on page 9

Appeal Court to decide on Exxon’s Cour role in citizen’s challenge to Govt. for oil sector information

The Court of Appeal is settohearanddecideonthe extentinwhichExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) and the Attorney General (AG) can participate in case brought by a citizen against

the Environmental ProtectionAgency(EPA)for oilsectorinformation.

The proceedings originated from a claim brought by Sherlina Nageer by way of judicial review in relation to the agency’s conduct under the Environmental Protection Act, including its approach to environmental permitting and regulatory oversight in the context of petroleum operations.

Nageer had filed a claim to compel the EPA to disclosetheinsurancepolicy andparent/affiliatecompany guarantee lodged by Exxon in case of an oil spill. She sought copies of the policy andguaranteedocuments.In lieu of that, should the EPA not produce the documents, shehadaskedthecourtfora declaration to cancel Exxon’s permit for the Liza Phase2projectandanorder prohibiting EPA from issuingareplacementorone withweakerprovisions.Her substantive claim was subsequently dismissed by high court judge Simone Ramlall, who found the claim lacked the evidentiary framework that would have allowedthecourttoproperly exercise its judicial review jurisdiction

During the proceedings, lawyers for Exxon and the AGappliedtothehighcourt

and were joined as respondents However, Nageer’s legal team which comprised of lawyers Melinda Janki, Kings Counsel Tim Prudhoe and Anna-Kay Brown had argued that the claim was directed at the lawfulness of the agency’s action and thereforedidnotwarrantthe participationofExxonorthe AG They appealed the decisioninthefullcourt.

The full court in its reasoning, relied on the fact that both Exxon and the Attorney General had an interestintheoutcomeofthe proceedings.

The court noted that ExxonMobil Guyana Limited,astheholderofthe relevant environmental permit, and the attorney general, representing the state,hadthelegalbasistobe joined as respondents since the reliefs sought by Nageer in the substantive matter are not only disclosures about, and orders to compel, the enforcementofconditionsof the permit granted by the EPA to the Exxon but also orderscancellingthepermit, prohibiting the renewal of the permit, prohibiting the issue of a new permit, and curtailingthetermsonwhich any new permit may be issued.

Thefullcourtconsidered that this interest was sufficient to justify their

participationaspartiesunder section 13 of the Judicial Review Act and the Civil ProcedureRules.

Atthesametime,thefull court addressed a separate argumentconcerningsection 94 of the Petroleum ActivitiesAct,whichapplies to disputes “arising out of petroleumoperations.”

The court held that the proceedings concern the agency’s administrative functions under the Environmental Protection Act, rather than petroleum operations.

The result was that Exxon and the attorney general remained joined as

characterised as public law proceedings focused on the agency’s regulatory duties, not operational disputes in thepetroleumsector

The matter which came up before the Court of Appeal Justices comprising C

George, Rishi Persaud, and Narweshar Harnanan on Tuesday concerns whether the full court’s approach to joinder was correct; it questioned whether the existenceofaninterestinthe outcome of judicial review proceedings is sufficient to justify participation as a full respondent, or whether additional considerations shouldapply

The issue before the courtofappealrelatestothe procedural structure of

judicial review proceedings. It raises questions about the appropriate scope of party participation in public law casesthedistinctionbetween parties who are directly responsible for a decision and those who may be affectedbyitsoutcome;and how courts should manage proceedings involving regulatory decisions with wider economic or environmentalimplications.

On Tuesday, the court grantedleavetoappealtoall parties, indicating that the issues raised warrant further consideration The court directed that notices of appealaretobefiledbyMay 7,2026,therecordofappeal

to be settled on May 21, 2026, and the settled record istobefiledbyJune4,2026. At the hearing Nageer was represented by attorney Saevion David-Longe. The state was represented by lawyers attached to the chambers of Attorney GeneralAnilNandlallSC, While ExxonMobil was represented by Edward Luckhoo SC, Andrew Pollard SC, Eleanor Luckhoo. The EPA had no legalrepresentative.

KaieteurNews

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Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456

Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams

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

EDITORIAL

Oil refinery

An oil refinery could be a good development for Guyana. With decades of oil production ahead, over a million barrels of oil equivalents daily in the near future, Guyana having its own oil refinery makes sense. With probablymorecommerciallyfeasibleoildiscoveriesinthe making in the Stabroek Block, one could say that an oil refineryissimplyamatteroftime. Weatthispaperwishto state in the clearest terms that now is not the time for the buildingofalocaloilrefinery

That time will come, but shouldn’t be in the next few years. It may be closer to the end of a decade, if certain componentsareinplace.

There must be national political leadership willing to open itself to scrutiny, especially on a project with such massivedemandsonmoneyandotherresources. Inother words, to be honest enough to generate trust in citizens. TheUS$2BWalesgas-to-energyprojectalreadystandsasa revealing case study of leadership incompetency and inefficiency

There is much skepticism on the part of many citizens thattheirleadershavebeencompletelyhonestwiththemon this biggest infrastructure project to date in Guyana’s history Therehavebeenmysteriesinabundance,mistakes enoughtomakecynicsofoncesupportivebackers,andone delay after another, with cost overruns looking highly probable.

The Wales GTE is so plagued with secrets, par for a government that knows little else, that hopeful Guyanese have no clue about when government leaders are giving them a clean story, or one more clumsy deception. A finished Wales GTE within budget and on time, and functioningasrepeatedlymarketedtocitizens,wouldhave beenthewelcomeprecedent,asuccessstorythatGuyanese havebeenlongingtohearandknowaboutinthelast50to 60years.

Moneydownthedrain,politicalcoverup,anothercostly whiteelephant,aprojectdebtthathastobepaidoff,andno onefeelingthelashofpenaltiesareallthatthiscountryhas known. To begin the conversation, therefore, about the construction of another megaproject against such a background, would be more than wishful thinking. It wouldbewhatamountstoafool’sfolly,andeventhatfalls shortofgivingawidelensimageofwhatcouldbeanother disasterinthemaking.

Also, it has been freely admitted at the highest official levelsthatGuyanastilllaborswithamajorhumanresource deficit, going onto seven years since local oil production started. We do not possess the skills to manage the ballooning oil and gas sector We have a huge lack of capacity in vital areas that range from engineering to the caliber of auditors to a suite of legal and regulatory competenciesneededtomanagethisnation’soilsector To reinforcethisposition,theexpertiseneededforsatisfactory involvement in Guyana’s oil patrimony is short of both quality and quantity ExxonMobil has made rings around Guyanese, including some of those holding high national offices.

Because it is aware of Guyana’s capacity limitations, madeworsebyweakpoliticalleaders,someExxonMobil’s peopleoccasionallypushtheenvelope,andtreatGuyanese asthoughtheyareilliterates,notworthyoftheirtime. Even the most rankly partisan in Guyana would admit that Guyana’s lack of capacity has and is handicapping this country from rising to its full potential as quickly and confidentlyasitshould.

Why now add to the steadily expanding portfolio of projects, a costly and complex oil refinery? Why embark on something so huge, when already existing projects are notgettingthedegreeofattentionandcompetencethatthey should?

Then,fundinganoilrefinerycanbeadilemma. Even when oil prices are high, stay high, Guyana’s oil earnings are not that impressive, what is inspiring. The Natural

Profits over pulses: The $108 ambulance charade

DEAREDITOR,

Thethinveneerofpublic service has once again been peeledback,revealingtherot of systemic avarice beneath. InMarch2026,theMinistry ofHealthparadedsix“new” ambulances before the c a m e r a s , a g r a n d performance designed to convince the Guyanese public that their tax dollars are being transmuted into life-saving gold. But when you look past the high-gloss press releases from the DPI and Guyana Chronicle, the mathdoesn’taddup,andthe optics shift from “medical miracle” to “mechanical masquerade ” We are witnessing a dangerous intersection where procurement skullduggery meetsacallousdisregardfor humanlife.

Thegovernmentclaimsa total cost of $108 million GYD—roughly $18 million GYD or $86,000 USD per unit. For anyone in the field of emergency medicine, this is a red flag the size of a billboard A legitimate, factory-integrated ambulance, built to survive high-speedimpactandhouse complex life-support

systems, typically starts at double that price. What we havebeenhandedinsteadare standardToyotaHiAcecargo shells, likely imported as commercial vans to dodge duties,andthen“retrofitted” by a local auto dealer, BM Soat,whoseexpertiseliesin selling cars, not sustaining life.

The culpability here extends far beyond a single dealership. It leads directly to the doors of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB). The evaluators at NPTAB are bound by rigid guidelines; they are tasked with ensuring bidders possess the technical capacity and specialized certifications to deliver criticalassets.

Howdoesanautodealer, a vendor of commercial transportation, pass a technical evaluation for specialized medical equipment? To award this contract is to admit that the “evaluation” was a sham, a choreographed box-ticking exercisewheretheguardrails of public safety were intentionallydismantled.

Who signed off on this?

Whoauthorizedtheremoval oftheoversightmechanisms thatshouldhavedisqualified a car lot from providing mobile trauma centers? The fact that the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) failed to flag this blatant irregularity suggests something far more sinister than administrative incompetence; it suggests political interference. When the very bodies designed to protect the treasury and the citizenryremainsilentinthe face of such obvious collusion,itisnolongerjust a procurement error it is a criminalbetrayal.

Reports from regional staff in Lima, Diamond, and Enmore tell a story of “ambulances” arriving with dealermarkingsstillclinging to the frames branding that had to be scrubbed away before the official photo-op. Forensic indicators within the vehicles show melamine and PVC cabinetry bolted onto a cargo floor, a far cry from the seamless, antimicrobial, and crashtested interiors required for actual critical care The “value-add” in this $40,000 USD markup per unit is a

ghost in the machine. If the base cost of a HiAce shell is roughly $40,000 USD, where did the other $46,000 go? It went into the pockets ofthecolluders.

B y b y p a s s i n g international medical standards and opting for local fabrication, those in power have effectively bet the lives of the residents in Bath, No. 75 Village, and beyond against a fatter bottom line. To call these vehiclesambulancesisalie; they are commercial vans with a siren and a stretcher When avarice takes precedence over the basic right to survive an emergency, the “official narrative” is more than just misinformation, it is a confession.

While the Ministry of Health takes its victory lap, therealityisfargrimmer:the “lifesaving” fleet delivered to our regions is nothing morethancommercialcargo vans dressed in emergency paint By awarding specialized medical contracts to a general auto dealer, the NPTAB didn’t justignoretheguidelines, Continued on page 5

Does birthright give you ownership of a given country?

DEAREDITOR,

IntheSeasonofDebates: WhoOwnsaNation?

In the season of debates about who owns America, India, Guyana and Trinidad, there is a call for analytical discussion and critical thinking on the question of national ownership. I am using these four countries to illustrate a broader point about ownership that is relevanttomanynations.

In America, often described as a “discovery” country, where mass migration and deportation continue to shape society, discussions arise about who built the nation and who its rightful owners are. This same logic of ownership is alsoreflectedinGuyanaand Trinidad, where similar debates occur over who

ownsthecountry

UnlikeAmerica, India is not a “discovery” country It has long been home to the same peoples, religions, and ways of life, though these were interrupted by various Middle Eastern (Muslim) and European (Christian) influences.

This is historically documented However, India’s ownership debate is more political in nature, whereasintheUnitedStates it is often framed through e t h n i c a n d r a c i a l perspectives.

In America, where Indigenous peoples (“Indians”) are not a dominantnumericalpolitical force, many ethnic groups claim ownership of the country, often based on birthright. The same pattern

Resource Fund now functions as a governmentATM, while bingeing on debt is another signature government practice. LenderswouldloanGuyanawhateveritneedstobuildanoil refinery, but this country is already overloaded with debt, notwithstanding comforting paper ratios. They usually do, until some material event knocks over political arrogance. Wesaythatanoilrefinerytimewillcome,onlyitisn’tnow

can be seen in Guyana and Trinidad.

In India, while birthright grants citizenship and the abilitytofunctionwithinthe Constitution, many Hindus, particularly Sanatanists, view themselves as the true owners of Bharat (India), based on thousands of years of heritage and civilizations such as the Harappan and IndusValleycivilizations.

InAmerica, the question arises: does the fact that people came to the country legally or illegally, or are born there automatically make them owners of the nation?

Similarly, migrants who work under exploitative conditions in other regions, such as Pakistanis in Gulf States, do not necessarily become “owners” of those countries. Such claims can beseenasquestionable.

In America, those who arebornandworktheremay be viewed as stakeholders with varying degrees of claim to ownership

Undocumented immigrants

have limited or no claims in thisview,whilethosewhose lineage traces back to early settlers from the Mayflower to the founders of independent America who helped establish the Constitution and shape the nation’s industrial and military power, are seen as having a deeper investment inownership.

In Guyana and Trinidad, theAfricansandIndianswho worked the swampy lands and contributed to the country’s development and independence within a unique historical experience similar to early American pioneers,maybeconsidered among the primary stakeholders in the nation’s politicalpower,muchlikein theUnitedStates.

On the questions of “stolenLand“TheAmericas and Caribbean, we all are guilty of the crime, not only ‘White ‘ people. All those who live on the land are guiltyascharged. Yoursrespectfully, VassanRamracha

The EPA and Police must enforce the law

DEAREDITOR,

If you’re doing anything illegal, put yourself in

order, ” warned the

Honourable Vice President, BharratJagdeo.InGuyana’s context, this advice is not

confined to any one particular public or private entity, be it an industry,

company, institution, organisation, club, person, ministry or agency.Thisis a holistic and national alert and with good reason to be alarmed.Onlylastweek,the suddenclosingofafinancial

company to provide payment service is tangible evidencetosupporttheVP’s caution.

“Corruption is not a minorbreach,itisanational security threat and will be treated that way in 2026,” Home Affairs Minister,

Honourable Oneidge

Walrond had said. In the past, companies have folded up, shipped their assets out and left Guyanese workers high and dry without immediate compensation nor information. Guyanese have been ripped off by various scams including fraudulent Ponzi schemes. They have been hoaxed by falseloveaffairsfromsocial media platforms Many people have lost their property titles from rip-offs. Bank accounts have been exhausted by swindlers Many senior citizens have fallen prey to vultures who have fooled them into signing documents transferring their assets into thewronghands.

To quote President Dr Irfaan Ali, “Every official will be required to account fortheirpersonalassets,and

Pity the city and state that has a leader who is a fox

DEAREDITOR,

So, President Irfaan Ali hasletthecatoutofthebag, he wants control of the capital city, nothing new, a clearviolationofthecontent and intent of the country’s constitution. Ourconstitutionmakesit very clear that there is an important role for local government. However, no human being can perform and produce until he or she has control of money, machineryandthepeopleto manage and execute given task. It is unnecessary to go into details of the constant efforts by the PPP to starve the city of funds, and deny the city control over the execution of tasks for the effectiverunningofthecity

As we listened to President Ali’s address on Monday, as he opened the

Aubrey Barker Road, it is clearheandhiscabinethave no interest in respecting the constitution and therefore democracy Forthefirsttime in our history, with massive billions available, the government has embarked on a merciless merry march to manage city and state. Giving out contracts to contractors whose work last a few months, instead of severalyears.

The statement we heard on Monday makes Adolf Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin and Ceasar look like infants What is worrisome citizens, thesefolkswiththeirmoney bags and, as we say “soup drinkers”, still have the gall totalkaboutdemocracy

Pitythecityandstatethat hasaleaderwhoisafox.

YoursRespectfully, NigelBacchus

Profits over pulses: The...

Frompage4

theydismantledtheguardrailsofpublicsafety

Thisisn’tprocurement;it’sacoordinatedbetrayal.Every dollar of the $40,000 markup per unit that didn’t go into medical engineering went into the pockets of the colluders. When the PPC stays silent and the evaluators look the other way,theyaren’tjustsigningoffonacontract,theyaresigning offontheinevitablefailureofavehiclewhenaGuyaneselife isontheline.

Thecitizensmustnowdemandtoknowwhichindividuals authorised this trade-off, for when profits are placed over people, the cost is ultimately measured in lives lost on the roadside.

The math is simple. The greed is transparent. The consequencesarefatal.

Sincerely, HemduttKumar

anyone who cannot do so willfacethefullforceofthe law Wewillpursueboththe corruptedandthecorrupters, leaving no room for i m p u n i t y ” M a n y government agencies have been riddled with financial misdemeanours and the State audit reports cannot keep up with all these transactions, perhaps, because of lack of adequate personnel and also not fieldingstafftoauditcurrent work.Indeed,corruptionisa “cancer that undermines the efficiency, fairness, and credibility of public service.” The procurement process is a procedure with constraints, conspiracy and compromise! Is the ten percent commission a compulsory overhead builtinexpense?

“If you become corrupt, it’s because there is a giver andyou’rethereceiver Asof today, stop receiving, and persons must be charged

whentheycometobribethe police. I’m making myself v e r y c l e a r , ” t h e Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken had instructed.

The question of “left or right” has stigmatized the Police Force for ages and must now be stamped out. The men and women in uniform cannot become susceptibletomorethanone pay masters, bribery, kickbacks and different inducements.

Minister Walrond insisted that there must be “Zero tolerance for bribery, collusion,abuseofauthority or neglect of duty ” Examples must be set from the top so that the lower ranks may follow There have been too many damaging cases which have undermined the outstanding workputinbythefewgood women and men in the Force “Greasing of the palm”and“lookingtheother

way”mustbecomeathingof the past. Half fried rice or chowmein with chicken must not be an enticement for“favours.”

In the words of the Honourable Minister of LegalAffairs,AnilNandlall, Guyana,“isoneofthefastest growing economies in the world, recording a growth rate of almost 50% in 2024. Thisnewlyfoundpetroleum revenue stream has made Guyana even more acutely aware of the pernicious nature of corruption and its destructive impact in every s p h e r e o f h u m a n endeavour.” Large sums of revenueshaveslippedunder theradarduetoahighdegree of compromising from a numberofsources.Fromthe illegal shipment of gold to d r u g s a n d o t h e r commodities, there are a number of operations throughout Guyana which remained unnoticed to law enforcementagencies.

“So, I have been instructedbyHisExcellency to review the current framework with a view of strengtheningit,increasethe penalties and also consider makingenforcementeasier,” Nandlall said. On the last episode of “Issues in the News with Anil Nandlall,” the Honourable Minister of Legal Affairs devoted more than half of his airtime to deal in particular with littering and noise nuisance. Itwasapainstakingexercise butonethatwasinformative, inspiring and invigorating. Fortoolongthiscountryhas taken for granted the s e r i o u s n e s s a n d repercussions of the effects of these senseless, sinister andshamefulactions.

“Noise nuisance and garbage are major issues in our country… as decent, law-abiding, civil-minded citizens,wealllivehere.The environmentisimportant.

Continued on page 6

Overview of Poverty in Guyana

DEAREDITOR,

Oneofthemostpressing issues in Guyana’s socioeconomic landscape is the high number of people livinginpoverty

Currently, it is reported that58%ofGuyanesepeople are below the poverty line. This figure highlights the magnitude of economic hardshipfacedbymorethan half of the population. The severity of this situation emphasises the urgent need for targeted interventions and effective policies to addresswidespreadpoverty

Guyana’s experience with socialism provides valuable insights into the complexities of using this ideology as the foundation for national transformation and development. The implementation of cooperative socialism by previous governments was conceptually flawed and poorlyexecuted.Ratherthan fostering a participatory or inclusive approach, the government pursued a topdown development strategy, concentrating decision-

making and control at the highestlevels.

This approach had profound consequences for Guyana’s political and economic development Instead of fostering genuine progress,itcontributedtothe c o n s o l i d a t i o n o f authoritarian political rule. The centralisation of authority and exclusion of broad-based participation hindered the country’s ability to achieve its developmentalgoals.

The government’s unwavering commitment to socialist policies resulted in Guyana’s loss of the economic support typically provided by Western industrialized nations. This diplomatic and economic estrangement restricted access to crucial resources anddevelopmentaid,further limitingthenation’scapacity to stimulate economic growth. Consequently, the difficulties faced by the Guyanese economy from 1979 to 1982 intensified, deepening the country’s socioeconomichardships.

Another important lesson from Guyana’s economic crisis is the dysfunction associated with statist economic policies

Statism was evident in the dominant roles of the public sector and the central government, which significantly contributed to the creation and worsening of the country’s economic problems.

The public sector in Guyana was plagued by substantial management deficienciesthatundermined its effectiveness. Instead of operating as independent entities focused on efficiency and profitability, these organizations were

heavily influenced by political interference Decision-making processes often became subject to arbitrary and sometimes unpredictable political directives, disrupting operations and preventing thesesectorsfromachieving their intended economic objectives. This pattern of mismanagement and external political control contributed to dysfunction within the public sector and exacerbated Guyana’s b r o a d e r e c o n o m i c challenges.

Sincerely, SherwoodClarke GeneralSecretary CCWU

Irregular cash grants will not improve the health and overall wellbeing of citizens

DEAREDITOR,

It seemed to be a good method chosen by the governmentforthepayment of the $100,000 cash grant. Hopefully, citizens without bank accounts and the great percentage of those living belowthepovertyline,were able to obtain the necessary amount to open an account. Maybe assistance was given from relatives or friends, based on reimbursement uponreceivingthegrant. Withtheexpectationthat the banks would be filled with people trying to access the grant, lanes solely for that purpose, could have been established. I can’t say whether the Banks were approached for such cooperation.

Oil rich countries are required to use their wealth to improve the lives of their citizens through effective social services among other means.

Cash grants, especially i r r e g u l a r a n d inconsequential, will not improve the health and overallwellbeingofcitizens.

Which path is our government going to take? Are they going to choose between cash grants, social services, infrastructure or a combinationofall?

Seven years has passed since oil production. Maybe allthreewillbefittingatthis stage.Whatever is done, the massesneedrelief.

Sincerely, ConradBarrow

The EPA and Police must...

Frompage5

Public health is involved. Public sanitation is involved,” Minister Anil Nandlall said. The Honourable Minister vehementlystressedthemonstrousbehaviourofthoseguilty ofcontributingtopollutingtheenvironment.Itisbeyondthe conscience of any sane person not to be concerned of the damaging domino effects created when they contribute to demoralising any civil society The loud noise emanating from vehicles with enhanced electrical appliances is unbearable,unbelievableandunacceptableinanypartofthe world.

Whenbarsandnightclubsopenuntil5and6o’clocknext morninginresidentialareas,howdoyouexpectlaw-abiding citizens to enjoy their peaceful rest and sleep? It is their constitutional right not to be disturbed by the operation of these businesses and this is an infringement of their basic human rights! Will the Ministry of Human Services and SocialSecuritynotprotectthisnationalrightlocallyandjoin with theAttorney General in his campaign to stamp out this nonsensical disorderliness? “When we bring these penalties intothenewregime,wearedoingnothingnew…thequestion isenforceability So,wewillhavetoworkonenforcingthese measures,”theMinisterofLegalAffairsadded.

Guyana awaits the full cooperation in particular of the EPAandthePolicetoenforcethelawwithoutfearorfavour fromfriends,familiesandfavourites.

Yoursrespectfully, JaiLall

Only the Dutch can tell us what to do now

DEAREDITOR,

Nearly two years ago, I wrotealetterquestioningthe reduction of the size of our open drains in Georgetown, towidentheroads.

It seemed to me that the authorities were unaware that to solve one problem, they were creating another equallydamagingone,since narrowing those drains was contrary to the principle which the Dutch used in making these canals. That size in the first place allows them to act as reservoirs to hold water between tides sincewearebelowsealevel and that water does not go outuntilthetidegoesdown.

I have the GuySuCo rainfall figures for over 80 years on all estates and to dateglobalwarminghasnot affected our rainfall significantly All of these climate change experts extolling the rising oceans etc. on our inability to drain the city now, is only a distractionforusfocusingon our main problems which is bad planning and especially verypoorenforcement. Policing in Guyana is very poor So, our kokers have been turned into a parking lot for numerous smallfishingboats.Editorif you are in charge, for a few

fishermen to interfere with thedrainageofanentirecity, thereby flooding thousands and so are frequently destroying millions in property,istotallyinsane.

But the fact is that the parkingof theseboats in the outfall channels [the channelsbetweenthekokers and the river or ocean] is definitely restricting drainage,thereisnoquestion ofthatinmymind.

There is one fact which has been evident to me for a long time, and it is that the oceansareindeedrisingand so it MUST be affecting the low tide levels It is unreasonable to expect that the high level will rise and leave the low level at the same height it was 30 years ago.SoweMUSTknowthat the amount of time being allowedtodrainthroughthe kokers are getting less and less, since the land level is not rising but the low tide water level is rising, so, IT MUST be affecting the periodperdayofourgravity drainage, i.e. the amount of time per tide when these kokers can remove the rainfallwater Georgetownis20square miles according to the professorGoogle,sonowwe have to drain that area

through structures which were not PROPERLY maintained, we are deliberately removing our capacity to hold water, exacerbated by many restrictions such as: 1 people dumping garbage into the drainage canals; 2. badly maintained and policedoutfallchannels3.A rising ocean affecting the amountoftimeperdaywhen wecanexpecttidaldrainage. So, what’s the sense of making the internal drains smaller and incapable of holding any water between tides when we cannot drain escapes me. Then I see the pumps that these geniuses are putting in to supplement thedrainageofthekokers.

Editor,ifoneinchofrain falls on 1 square miles of land, that is 17.4 million gallons of water so we are talking about removing 348 million gallons of water but recently I understand that one there were 3 and 4 inch days of 3-inch rain so now we are talking about over 1 billion gallons of water in 5 or 6 hours because we have reducedtheamountofwater we can store, which in turn means that we must now pumpitout. Inthreedaysof April2026 10 inchesof rain fell Our efficiency of

drainage is to have the drainage capacity, in our housing areas, capable of removing2inches[49MM] every 24 hours Any flooding when less than 49 MMs per day shows bad drainage. Those pumps are too small. We need 3 ft diameter pumps, not the smaller ones I see being installedforsomeveryfancy prices.

I’m not saying that I thinkthatwehavetobuilda system which is capable of removing6inches[147mm] ofrainaday[24hours]since to maintain n such a system would be prohibitively expensive,I’msayingthatto my mind the current design of removing 2 inches [49 MM] in 24 hours is complete compromised by therestrictionsIhaveherein identified And that the drainage systems of city of Georgetown and indeed elsewherealongthecoastare absolutelynotfunctioningas designed.

If I had to resolve this problem myself, I’d bring engineers from the Netherlandstogivemesome help in this situation. Only theDutchcantelluswhatto donow

Regards, TonyVieira

Stop treating animals as disposable objects or furniture

DEAREDITOR,

I write this letter with a heavy heart, compelled to bring attention to the “silent epidemic” of animal cruelty thatseemstobetreatedwith indifference, or in some cases, amused disregard by many in our Guyanese

society The daily occurrences of brutal beatings, abandonment, and the starvation of dogs,

horses, and donkeys continue to plague our

streetsandvillages.

It is truly shocking to witness, or hear reports of, horses and donkeys collapsing under impossible loads under the intense

Guyanese sun, often whippedandbeatenbytheir owners.

Also, animals tied in the hot sun without shade for themtogounder Too often, we see strays on the roadside that is hurt and bystanders walking by

without a second glance. This lack of empathy this normalisationofpainisasad reflection of our communal compassion.

Why is the welfare of these voiceless creatures so rarely prioritised? When reports are made, they are too often met with inaction, or the belief that this is just “normal behaviour” or “survivalofthefittest.”

As Mahatma Gandhi said, “The greatness of a nationanditsmoralprogress canbejudgedbythewayits animals are treated”. If we are to be a progressive nation,wemustbeahumane nation. We cannot claim to

be a compassionate society while ignoring the skeletal, starved dog or the tortured animal in our own neighbourhood.

I urge my fellow Guyanese to stop treating animals as disposable objects or “furniture.” I call on the Guyana Police Force totakeanimalcrueltyreports seriously and for the laws to beenforced. We must support the hardworking animal welfare groups. Let us wake up and act with empathy. Stop the abuse.

W E N E E D A SANCTUARY FOR THE ANIMALS

City faces $1.28B budget deficit

...receivables pegged at $7.69B, accounts payable at $6.76B

The Mayor and City Council of Georgetown on Tuesday unveiled its 2026 budgetwiththefinancialprojectionsrevealing a significant deficit of approximately $128 billion,highlightingongoingfiscalchallenges and the urgent need for revenue optimisation andexpenditurecontrol

Accordingtotheprojectedestimates,total revenue is expected to reach $441 billion, while expenditure is forecasted at $569 billion However, the city’s broader financial positionincludesaccountsreceivableof$769 billionandaccountspayableof$676billion To address the deficit, the Council plans to intensify revenue collection efforts, particularlytargetingdelinquentratepayers. Strengthening compliance, improving billing systems, and diversifying revenue streams are expected to be central to the recoverystrategy Additionally,theremaybea need to reassess spending priorities, improve efficiency across departments, and explore

compromisingessentialpublicservices.

Inpresentingthebudget,Chairmanofthe city’s Finance Committee, Lelon Saul noted that several departments are projected to operate at substantial deficits The City Engineer’s Department shows one of the

largest shortfalls, with expenditure far exceeding revenue Similarly, Solid Waste Management, Public Health, and Human Resources are all expected to require heavy financialsupport.TheCityConstabularyand TownClerk’sOfficealsoreflectconsiderable fundinggaps,indicatingthatessentialpublic services continue to place pressure on the city’sfinancialresources.

Despite the overall deficit, certain departments contribute significantly to revenue generation The City Treasurer’s Department stands out with a strong surplus, generating over $3 billion in revenue, far exceeding its expenditure. The Markets Department also records a positive balance, albeitonasmallerscale.

Meanwhile, Saul warned that the capital remains under severe financial and administrative pressure Delivering what he suggested may be his final budget presentation, Saul addressed councillors and citizens against the backdrop of Guyana’s approaching 60th IndependenceAnniversary Heurgedpoliticalleaderstomoveawayfrom divisive practices and embrace governance rootedinequity,meritocracy,andrespectfor democraticrights.

The 2026 budget themed, “Fortifying

LocalFoundations:Efficiency,Advocacy,and Controlled Delivery Amid Constraints,” reflectedwhattheCouncildescribedaslimited capacity to launch new initiatives Instead, Saulsaidthefocuswillbeonmaintainingcore services and preventing further deterioration ofinfrastructure.

According to him, the Council aims to distribute resources prudently to improve qualityoflifeinGeorgetownthroughstrategic investments and operational efficiency Key priorities include economic development, infrastructure upgrades, public safety, environmental sustainability, education support,andcommunitywell-being.

Among its main objectives for 2026 are maintaining approximately 645 miles of drainage networks, reducing mosquito breeding in streets and alleyways, continuing waste collection services to over 34,000 properties, and strengthening public health oversight, including operations at the city abattoir Additional goals include improving early childhood outreach, supporting maternalhealthprogrammes,andincreasing citizenparticipationinmunicipalinitiatives.

TAXPOLICIES

On the revenue side, the Council plans to review tax policies, pursue grants, expand

Chairman of the Finance Committee of City Hall, Lelon Saul

public-privatepartnerships,andadjustservice feeswherenecessary Italsointendstoexplore new revenue streams in areas such as open spaces,streetvending,andadvertising

However, the presentation underscored significant financial challenges In 2025, the Councilprojectedrevenuesof$38billionbut collected only $19 billion General rates, the city’s primary income source yielded $11 billionagainstatargetof$26billion,Saulsaid inhispresentation

Saul attributed the shortfall largely to an outdated property valuation system. The current framework he said is based on assessmentslastconductedin1997,limiting Continued on page 22

MY WISH

To live to a

hundred: that is the wish But beyond that, the body gives way—the joints harden into little more than stone, the eyesdimpastthehelpofany knife, and the memory, that fragile vessel, empties itself withoutceremony Thatwouldbetheproper timetogo,topresentoneself totheMaker Butbeforethat, I would want to be in Guyana. Not for any grand

reason. Simply because the sun is nearly always there, and even on the highest peaks,theheatdoesnotbully you. I would want a new capital,somewherealongthe Essequibo. A modest place. Each

b

sh, persistent chirping—and the dew on the grass, which is a small miracle if you care to notice it. I would want a window that faces east, to catch the sun rising, and in

the evening, that particular sunsetwhichbelongsonlyto thiscoast,thisriver,thismud andsky.

I would want to swim in the warm creeks until the very end. To sit under a tree with a book, or with a companion who would not run off—though these days, too many run off with someone else. That is the fashion. I would want to grow old without too much disgrace. I would want the

Guyana’s oil profits should not...

Frompage2

Oil of the co-venturers, so ultimately they arrivedataGasSalesAgreement(GSA).”

Sources were clear that the agreement betweenGoGandExxonisacommercialgas contract, and not a repayment of an investment. As part of the contract, Guyana hasagreedtopurchasethegasintheStabroek Block from Exxon, a move which stakeholders question since the resources in the Stabroek Block should be the nation’s property

In 2023, Brassington told the world at Guyana’s International Energy Conference that the GoG will be paying Exxon US$55 millionannuallyfor20yearstoclearthecosts associated with constructing a 12- inch pipelinethatwillbeusedtotransportnatural gasfromtheLizaFieldsoffshoretotheWales developmentsite.

Ontheotherhand,VPJagdeopresenteda differentplantorepaythecontractor.During a press conference in June 2022 he told reporters, “Well the pipeline will be funded fromcostoil,andwewouldhavetorepaythat

over 20 years. But the gas is free, and this is crucial;itisoneofthethingswewerearguing forfromthebeginning.”

Meanwhile, Exxon’s Country Manager explainedthattheGoGwillpurchasethegas torepaythecompanyforitsinvestment.“The gas that will come on shore, in essence, that development is just gonna pay for the pipeline cost. Nothing more…the gas itself, wearesellingthefull50millioncubicfeeta daytothegovernmentoragovernmententity thatisbeingestablishedinordertoreceivethe gas and put it through the power station,” Routledgeexplained.

Sourceshoweverindicatedthatthisisthe true take-or-pay, in which ExxonMobil is guaranteedthattheGoGwillpayforthegas volumes, regardless of utilisation and riskfree as cost-oil becomes its recovery mechanism.

It is unclear whether the gas payment agreement commenced upon completion of the pipeline or will take effect after commissioning of the NGLand power plant atWales.

Dem Boys Seh...

Rain got more secrets than politician

Afewweeksago,rainfallinGuyanalike if Noah had reopen applications for the ark.

Water deh pon road, water deh in trench, waterdehinyard,andonemanswearheseea hassar swimming past he gate looking for higher ground. Dem boys start to panic and sehdewholecountrygonfloatawayandend upmoorupsomewherenearTrinidad.

Butassuddenasitcome,derainpackup anddisappear

Now sunshine blazing like if it trying to collect back-pay Grass drying out, dust rising, and some people who did complain about too much rain now complaining that cassavacrackingindeground.Demboysseh Guyanesedoescomplainineveryseason.If rainfall,ittoomuch.Ifsunshine,ittoohot.If breeze blow, it carrying dust. If no breeze blow,itstifling.

Sonowdebigquestionis:whenderainy seasonreallystarting?

One day de weatherman come on television with map, arrows, blue patches, cloud movement, pressure system and enough scientific words to confuse everybody He point at de screen seriousserious and seh, “There is a possibility of scatteredshowersovercoastalregions.”

That could mean Georgetown gon flood and Berbice dry, or Linden wet and

NIS not to collapse before I collectwhatismine.Iwould want no new sickness, b e c a u s e s i c k n e s s d i s q u a l i f i e s you—automatically, as they say. I would want, now and then, the privacy to bathe in the rain, in my underpants, without the police dragging meawayforindecency This isnottoomuchtoask.

In the evenings, under the stars, I would want to sit and remember The day just gone. The days long gone. I wouldwanttodothethingsI never had time for: collect stamps, learn to cut hair, finallyplaytheguitar Thatis asmalllist.

I would want to see a major hydro-electric project finally, after so many promises, so many abandoned dreams. Cheap current, they say I hope those who inherit it will pay for it, and not force the GPL tochasethemlikebailiffs.

I would want to drive all the way to Boa Vista, and from there take the

transcontinental highway to Argentina. But more than that,Iwouldwanttoreturnto Guyana.Tothedailysun.To thepeople,whoarelovelyin theirway.

I would want the young Guyanese not to forget their cultural foods. For what is Guyana without its food? Without Banks Beer and El Doradorum?

These are not trivial things. I would want to see the interior opened up with roads, so that people might stopdreamingofabetterlife overseas.Thebestlife,Ihave come to think, is here. I would want those roll-on ferriestostartrollingon.

I would want the people tostopfightingoverpolitics. To let politics bring them together, though that is a dream that has failed everywhere. Still, I would want to see everybody happy

That is the kind of foolishness one permits oneself at the end. I would want a railway to Lethem.

Andanotheralongthebanks of the Corentyne River, to open up lands, to cross the riverandlinkwithSuriname, andfromtherebygoodroads to French Guiana. I would want more tourists, more jobs, more filled hotel rooms. But no more white e l e p h a n t s t h o s e monuments to expense and vanity, built at the people’s cost.

I would want the public healthsystemtodowhatthe privatehospitalsnowdo:the surgeries, the specialties. So thatwhenmytimecomesfor the knife, my little savings might stay with me. That is the wish. Not grand. Not entirely reasonable. But it is mine.

Whatisyourwish?

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

Essequibo bright. Is like prophecy with graphics.

Oneoldladytelldemboysshedon’tneed noweatherforecast.Shesehwhensheknee start pain, rain coming. Another man seh when ants start carrying leaf uphill, prepare fuh flood. A third one seh when neighbour washcurtain,rainsurefuhfallbeforeitdry In the old days all yuh had to do was to arrangeaTestmatchinGuyanaandyuhsure rainganfall.

Demboys noticetoothatumbrellagota strange power Once you carry it, sun gon shine all day and people gon laugh at you. But leave it home one time, and cloud gon gather from nowhere like political promises beforeelection.

Samethingwithraincoat.Walkwithone andyougonsweattillyounearlyfaint.Leave it and sky gon burst open exactly when you reachhalfwayfrombusstoptooffice.

Sodemboysain’tstudyingnoexactdate for rainy season no more. In Guyana, rain season start when you wash car, dry season begin when you plant bora, and flood warning come when you paint yuh lower wall.

Untilthen,carryumbrella,carryshades, andmaybeapaddletoo.Justincase. Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

Two U.S. Ambassadors on Exxon contract: TIMES CHANGE

During her Guyana tour, U.S.AmbassadorSarahAnn Lynch pronounced on the Exxon-Guyana oil contract.

Current U.S.Ambassador to Guyana, Excellency Nicole D. Theriot recently relayed Washington’s position on that same Exxon contract. The learned US diplomats are a study in contrast ExcellencyLynchisfirst.

“The United States acknowledges that it is within Guyana’s right to renegotiate the controversial Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) between the country and ExxonMobil if it so chooses ” And, “We certainlybelievethatGuyana is a sovereign country so that would be for Guyana to work out toseeifthereisroomfor renegotiation We certainly won’t interfere with that ” Former Ambassador Lynch onApril10,2019. Isayfair, balanced,reasonable,neutral, satisfactory. Let Exxon and Guyanadukeitout. Timefor AmbassadorTheriot.

Almostsevenyearslater, AmbassadorTheriot’swords knifethroughtheair,shatter local ambience, thunder alarmingly He that hath ears, let him listen: “As the representative of the U.S. Government,Icantellyouit is incredibly dangerous to start talking about renegotiation of a contract thathasbeenagreedupon.”

Incredibly dangerous” is as subtleasahyena. And,“that sends a terrible signal to i n t e r n a t i o n a l investors…that you can’t trust what you have signed with a Government that is willing to renegotiate.”

How to interpret the message(s) in “a terrible signal” - nuanced or stark? And doubling down, “now, that is a really negative signalthatyoudon’twantto besendingrightnow,asyou are trying to attract more, and more international investments, that is a very badidea.”

FromExcellencyTheriot

came those two don’t-messaround piledrivers: “really negativesignal”and“avery bad idea ” Those are freighted phrases from a U S g o v e r n m e n t representative,andasjarring as an unblocked knuckle flushtothenose. Inshort:be forewarned:don’teventhink about renegotiation. I now proceed to do a compareand-contrast of the U.S.’ positions articulated by Ambassador Lynch in 2019, and Ambassador Theriot in April 2026 on this 2016 Exxon contract An instrument that would be a nonstarter in many other countries;spatuponbymost populations.

Ambassador Lynch (April, 2019): “it’s within Guyana’srighttorenegotiate thecontroversial”contract.

Excellency Theriot

(April 2026): “it is incredibly dangerous…” even to think about exercisingthatright.

Ambassador Lynch

(April 2019): “We certainly believe…that would be for Guyanatoworkout…” That is, if it wants to pursue renegotiation to fix a contract that was foul from its first word, has grown progressivelyfouler

Excellency Theriot

(April 2026): even mentioning an interest in renegotiation “sends a terriblesignal…”

Ambassador Lynch (April 2019): “The United S t a t e s acknowledges Guyana’s right…” And,“wecertainly wouldn’t interfere with that.”

Excellency Theriot

(April 2026): “As a representative of the U.S. Government to start t a l k i n g a b o u t renegotiation is a really negativesignal….averybad idea.”

Trump was the U.S. president in 2019, is president today (2026). Both former Ambassador

Lynch and current

Ambassador Theriot spoke as authorized U S Government officials Lynch highlighted Guyana’s rightasasovereignnationto renegotiate. Theriot warns that exercising that right to renegotiatecouldbethekiss of death. Considering that odious contract, would Guyanabeclassifiedarogue state, if it pursued renegotiation, pushed for better for its disadvantaged, destitute,distressedpeople?

special can only mean G u y a n a ’s l e a d e r s willingness to function as fawning, groveling U S stooges. Translation:handsoff the Exxon contract Touch it, get incinerated. Whathappened?

P l a c i n g t h e representations of these two senior U S government officials is like struggling with the difference between litdayanddarkestnight. It’s a radical change in the U.S. government’s position within seven years. Even more appalling, when a “special relationship” exists between America and Guyana.

Given Excellency Theriot’s warning, laden with ominous language,

D i d E x x o n s o successfully lobby the State Dept. and White House? Is this MAGAin action with a knee on Guyanese necks, their wealth as the prize? Undoubtedly, Guyanese leadersaredismissedasmen made of straw, with a sovereign nation captured, handcuffed, held hostage. Real men would rise and renegotiate. Test strength, make sacrifices When sighted,pleaseinform. Here Istand.

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

WorldBankjoinsGuyana-ledGlobalBiodiversityAlliance

TheGovernmentofGuyanahas welcomed the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) as a formal partner in the Global Biodiversity

Alliance marking another significant milestone in Guyana’s leadershipinglobalenvironmental and sustainable development initiatives.

Thepartnershipwasformalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on April 17, 2026, between the Government of Guyana and IDA, outlining collaboration to strengthen global action for the c

, restoration, and sustainable use of biodiversity through the Global BiodiversityAlliance.

In a press release the Ministry of Finance said President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s leadership

positioningGuyanaattheforefront of innovative global solutions that align biodiversity protection with

Biodiversity Alliance builds on Guyana’s pioneering Low Carbon DevelopmentStrategy(LCDS)and its globally recognized forest climate services model, which has demonstrated that standing forests

supportinglivelihoodsandnational development.

During the signing ceremony, Dr Singh emphasised that the WorldBank’sparticipationreflects growing international confidence in Guyana’s leadership “This partnershiprepresentsamajorstep forwardinmobilizingglobalaction

SeniorMinisterintheOfficeof the President with Responsibility forFinanceDr AshniSinghsigned theMOUonbehalfofGovernment while World Bank Group Director for the Environment, Dr Valerie Hickey, signed on behalf of the IDA.

and financing for biodiversity Under President Ali’s leadership, Guyana has demonstrated that countriesrichinnaturalcapitalcan pursue development while safeguarding ecosystems The World Bank’s participation further expands the Global Biodiversity Allianceandenhancesourabilityto scale impact globally,” Minister Singhstated.

The collaboration between Guyana and the World Bank will focus on knowledge sharing, joint initiatives, research collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and mobilizing financing to support biodiversity conservation and sustainable development These areas of cooperation reflect a shared commitment to expanding

strengthening global ambition to addressbiodiversityloss.

This partnership builds on a longstandingandproductive

Continued on page 21

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance Dr.Ashni Singh signed the MOU on behalf of Government while World Bank Group Director for the Environment, Dr. Valerie Hickey, signed on behalf of the IDA

ExxonMobil to hold consultations on 8th project this week in Regions 4, 5, 6

ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), the operator of Guyana’s Stabroek Block, will engage the public this week on its eighth planned deepwater development, Longtail According to a public notice, the company and its consultant,Acorn International will be holding meetings with members ofthepublictoshareanoverviewof the Project and key findings of its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will be presented to support publicawareness.

According to the notice, two meetings were already held in Region Five on April 20, and one meetinginRegionSixonApril21, 2026.OnApril22,2026Exxonwill consultresidentsinRegionFourat t h e M o n R e p o s / L a Reconnaissance NDC, Lusignan Community Centre Ground, Lusignan, East Coast Demerara andagaininRegionFouronApril 23, 2026 at the New Diamond/ Grove Primary School, Diamond, EastBankDemerara

In the new week, two final meetingswillbeheldonApril27in Region Two at Town Hall, Anna Regina,EssequiboCoastandathird sessioninRegionFourattheUmana Yana,Kingston,Georgetown

The EIA along with the Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) has been filed with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)forreview Uponcompletion of the review process, the regulator willannounceitsdecisionregarding the application made by the contractor for the new development, signaling its approvalorrejectionfortheproject with adequate reasons for the decision.

When the company applies to the EPA for a new project, the regulator, in most instances, orders an EIA to determine the likely impacts of the development on socio-economic conditions, health andwellbeingofeverythingthatcan beaffected.Thestudyplaysavital

roleinnotonlyidentifyingrisksto the population but highlights measurestomitigatethese.

As part of the EIA process, Exxon is required to engage the publictoseekinputonwhatexactly should be studied and addressed Every question or concern raised during the scoping meetings is requiredtobeaddressedintheEIA

Two significant matters were raisedbyKaieteurNewsduringthe scoping meetings for the eight project between March 17 and 28, 2025 but the study recently published by the EPA does not addresstheissues.

During a meeting held at the Diamond/Grove Primary School,

East Bank Demerara, Kaieteur News asked the Exxon officials to saywhetheritstudiedthelikelihood of offshore workers, or any other Guyanese, developing NonCommunicable Diseases (NCDs), suchascancerandothersasaresult of flaring, or any other petroleumrelated activities, given that hazardous waste is also generated duringtheoperations.

Additionally,atanothermeeting at the Leonora Technical Institute, West Coast Demerara, this newspaper asked Exxon to say whetherthecompanyisconsidering afinancialstudytodeterminewhata spill from this project, along with others,maycostnotjustthecountry

buttheCaribbeanregionaswell. Noneoftheseissueshavebeen addressed in the new study conductedbythecompany

Unlike previous developments focused primarily on oil, Longtail will focus on gas production The EIA explained that Exxon plans to drill approximately 24 to 60 development wells, with developmentwelldrillingscheduled to begin in 2027 and possibly extending as late as 2031 and beyond It said installation of subsea components is slated to commence in 2028 with installation of the Floating ProductionStorageandOffloading vessel(FPSO),commissioningand startupplannedtooccurfrom2028 to2031.

Longtailisexpectedtocontinue foratleast30yearsaccordingtothe project schedule. It will produce hydrocarbons from the nonassociated gas fields and potential proximal resources according to theEIA.

TheFPSO isbeingdesignedto produce 250,000 barrels of condensateperday(bpd)withagas production capacity of 1,200 millionstandardcubicfeetperday (MMscf/day) BlackRock Midstreamdescribescondensateas extremelylightoil.

Threecontractorswhosubmittedbidsfor therehabilitationoftheloungeareaandfood court at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport(CJIA)haveallsubmittedbidsmore than$12millionbelowtheengineer’s$308.2 milliontoexecutetheprojects.

Contractors bid more than $12M below engineer’s $308M for CJIA projects

National Procurement and Tender AdministrationBoard(NPTAB)office.

The three companies vying for the contract are:Westbrook Caribbean Inc. with a bid of $292,908,040; Qianjiang Group Company Guyana Inc. $295,596,522; and PDContracting$273,990,938.

Government has budgeted this year $3,655,586,000 for the CJIA and this is for the terminal project and upgrading of facilities.

Theprojectwhichisbeingundertakenby the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Corporation, an agency which falls under the Ministry of Public Utilities and Aviation is estimated to cost $308,245,813, according to information released by the

It was reported in the media that the country’s main airport in Timehri is undergoing extensive upgrades by the government to meet international standards. Recently,theCJIAhadissuedanothertender for the rehabilitation of the viewing gallery andpresidentiallounge.

As previously reported, the contract for the airport expansion project was signed in 2011,underPresidentBharratJagdeo’s Continued on page 22

Nandlall grilled by CCJ on comments on Mohameds in extradition hearing

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Tuesday reserved its decision following a grueling fivehour hearing that saw Guyana’s Attorney General, Mohabir Anil Nandlall SC, face sharp rebukes from the bench regarding his public c o m m e n t a r y a n d constitutional interpretations intheMohameds’extradition case

The appeal, brought by Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, seeks to overturn the Authority to Proceed (ATP) issued by Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond lastOctober

While the Mohameds face an 11-count indictment intheUS formailandwire fraudandmoneylaundering, their legal team argues the entireprocessis“tainted”by political bias originating from the highest levels of government

The“Running Commentary” Controversy

The hearing was marked byasterninterrogationofthe Attorney General’s role as the state’s Chief Legal Advisor CCJ President, Justice Winston Anderson, andJusticeChileEboe-Osuji expresseddeepconcernover Nandlall’s public statements regardingtheappellants

“We are just wondering whether the Attorney Generalmakingthosekindof statements is the best practice for the kind of society and democracy that we seek to encourage in Guyana,” Justice Anderson remarked, questioning if the AG’s high office demanded moreprofessionalrestraint

Justice Eboe-Osuji pushed further, asking whethertheAG’sjobshould be to encourage respect for the judicial process “rather than making comments that might add to that negative publicview”Hespecifically cited allegations that theAG had cast “criminal aspersions” and offered a “running commentary” that includedinnuendosaboutthe Magistratehandlingthecase.

Nandlall defended his actions,claiminghisremarks were “exported and used for politicalpurposes”byothers He argued the court must consider the context of a “political campaign” and noted that the allegations, which he referred to as the Mohameds’ “rap sheet”, were already in the public domain via international reports

A“DramaticRetreat”on ConstitutionalRights

The proceedings took a tenseturnwhentheAttorney General suggested that Article 144 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair trial, does not apply to extraditionmatters

“Are you saying that Article 144 doesn’t apply to committal proceedings?”

Justice Arif Bulkan demanded “Because if so, that would be an extraordinary submission I am very troubled when you say ‘right to a fair hearing does not apply’ to an extraditionhearing!”

Faced with the bench’s immediateandsharprebuke, Nandlall retreated from the position, stating, “Not at all Thank you very much,Your Honours”

The“Elephantinthe Room”:TheMinister’s Independence

Akeypointofcontention was whether Minister Walrond,alawyerof30years andformerMagistrate,acted independently or was influenced by the AG’s public stance Justice Anderson noted that the “elephant in the room” was the allegation that the Minister was present at events where the AG made hismindsetclear

Nandlall insisted his advice to the Minister was limitedtotechnicalities,such asensuringformswerefilled out properly and addressing treatyconflicts Hereiterated the government’s stance that the ATP is a “special, administrative gateway function” that does not lend itself to the principles of naturaljustice.

FinalWarningand StayofProceedings

A s t h e h e a r i n g concluded, JusticeAnderson issued a final warning to counsel on both sides r e g a r d i n g p u b l i c commentary that could u n d e r m i n e t h e administrationofjustice.

“Thecourtdoesnotseek to regulate public commentary... However, statementswhichcouldhave theeffectofunderminingthe fairnessoftheproceedings should be avoided,” the President warned The interim stay of proceedings remains in place, meaning the extradition process is halted until the CCJ delivers its final ruling The court is expected to announce its decision “as soon as is reasonablypractical”

DoobayMedicalopensEyeClinic

…providing

affordable vision care for diabetes and hypertension patients in Guyana

The Doobay Medical and Research Center, on

TuesdaycommissionedtheLatchminKissoonand Family Eye Clinic at the centre located in Annandale,EastCoastDemerara.

Speakingonbehalfofhismotherandhersevenchildren, all of whom were in Guyana together for the first time in decades, Dhaman Kissoon, explained that his family, who migrated from Canada in the early 1980s, felt compelled to give back after achieving their personal, professional, and family goals. He said, “After spending years and having achievedourgoalsinstudiesorwork,wedecidedthatit’stime togivebacktothecommunity.”

Kissoon noted that his mother’s name, Latchmin, means light,visionandsoafterlearningthatapreviousundertaking toprovidefundingforequipmentwasnotfulfilled,thefamily steppedintosupporttheprojectintheirmother’shonour

Latchmin Kissoon, in brief remarks herself, expressed gratitude at being able to participate in the outstanding initiative. She pointed out that she and her children were livinginCanadafor47yearsandthattheywerehonouredto have the opportunity to contribute. She said, “I thank Dr Doobay for choosing me and my family for this occasion,” and added that, “the goal is to help people achieve good health.”

Dr DoobayexpressedappreciationtotheKissoonfamily andtothemanydonorsandsupporterswhokeepthefacility operatingandexpanding.

He noted that diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of eye disease and blindness in Guyana. Dr Doobay said that many Guyanese with these conditions cannotaffordprivateeyecare,andwithoutearlydetectionand treatment, vision loss can be permanent. The burden of managing chronic disease is already heavy for families struggling to make ends meet and adding the cost of specializedeyecareoftenbecomesimpossible.

“The new eye clinic addresses this crisis by offering comprehensive eye services at approximately 70percent below private sector costs. The clinic provides cataract surgery, retinal care for diabetic and hypertensive patients, completeeyeexaminations,andvisionrestorationtreatments. Most importantly, patients unable to pay are still treated,” a statementbyDoobayMedicalandResearchCentersaid.

The Doobay Medical & Research Centre operates on a non-profitmodelwherenooneisturnedawayduetofinancial constraints. The Centre has a long history of serving those whocannotaffordexpensivemedicaltreatment.

The Center’s dialysis program began with just six machinesoperatingfromamodestspaceandhasexpandedto serveover250patientsacrossGuyana,manyofwhomwould otherwise have no access to life-saving care. Patients who cannot afford the full cost of dialysis are never turned away The same commitment to affordable, accessible healthcare nowextendstoeyecare.

“The new eye-clinic is led by the country’s best ophthalmologists who have volunteered their expertise, becausetheyunderstandthatqualityeyecareshouldnotbea luxury reserved for the wealthy These dedicated professionalsarecommittedtoprovidingthesamestandardof caretheywouldofferinanyprivatefacility,butatapricethat workingfamiliescanafford.”

Further,theeyecliniccomplementsexistingdialysisand stroke rehabilitation services, providing integrated care for patients with kidney disease, diabetes, and hypertensionrelatedcomplications.

TheclinicisalsopartneringwithMcMasterUniversityto conduct research on how diabetes and hypertension damage the eyes. This research will lead to better treatments and preventionstrategiesforGuyanesecommunities

SeveraldonorsandsupportersoftheDoobayMedicaland ResearchCenterwerepresenttodayforthecommissioningof theneweyeclinic.AlsopresentDr SoniaAnandProfessorof MedicineandEpidemiologyatMcMasterUniversityandHis ExcellencySébastienSigouinCanadianHighCommissioner toGuyana.

ChineseacrobatictroupedazzlesGuyanese

A 14-year-old performer opened the show with the Lion Dance

The International ChineseAcrobatic Troupe has taken Guyana by storm, delivering a series of electrifying performancessincelaunchingitsnationaltour.

The tour commenced at the Leonora Track and Field Stadium,WestCoastDemeraraonSundaywherethegroup treatedGuyanesetoavibrantdisplayofskillandprecision. It then moved to the National Cultural Centre on Monday nightandwillreturnthereforanothershowFridaynight.

At the Leonora track and Field Stadium the show quickly won over the audience, many of whom responded with patience and enthusiasm even as performers experienced some missteps during what was their first showing. The overall quality of the acts, however, drew strongapplausethroughouttheevening.

TheLeonorafacilitywasfilledtocapacity,withseatson thegroundfullyoccupiedwhilescoresofattendeesstoodat the back or gathered in the stands. The car park was also crowded as families arrived early to secure parking. Two largescreenswereinstalledtoensurethosefurtherfromthe stagecouldstillviewtheperformances.

Featuring primarily young performers, the production opened with a Lion Dance led by a 14-year-old, and other actsincludedhand-standingroutines,ropeskipping,group acrobatics, ball juggling, a solo contortion performance, hoopdiving,footjuggling,andanintricatejarjugglingact to conclude the event. Members of Guyana’s National Dance Company also performed a Guyanese dance piece, showcasinglocalculture.

MasterofCeremoniesKatushaFrasertoldtheaudience thatthetroupehasperformedinmorethan80countriesand earned over 50 awards. She noted that the group first performed in Guyana in 1981 and has returned more than four decades later, underscoring the enduring friendship betweenGuyanaandChina.

The performance forms part of activities marking Guyana’s 60th IndependenceAnniversary, with the troupe scheduledtoappearatseverallocationsacrossthecountry, including the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, Albion Stadium, McKenzie Stadium, and Anna Regina Stadium. The tour is being co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Guyana and the Government of Guyana, with sponsorshipfromCNOOCPetroleumGuyanaLimited.

One of the dynamic performances on stage at the National Cultural Centre Monday night

CCJ hears arguments on“vitriolic” bias in Mohameds’ extradition case

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)yesterdaywadedintoahighstakes 5-hour legal battle over whether political “vitriol” from government officials can disqualify a Cabinet Minister from initiating extraditionproceedings

At the heart of the matter are AzruddinandNazarMohamed,who are wanted in the United States to face federal charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering Theirlegalteamisseekingtoquash the Authority to Proceed (ATP) issued by Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond on October 30, 2025, arguing the decision was “infectedwithbias”

TheArgumentfor“First Opportunity”Redress Defense Counsel Fyard Hosein SC argued that the Fugitive OffendersActprovidesa“four-tier” protection system, and the Minister’s role under Section 12 is thecriticalfirstgate “Section12isa self-containedsectionthatgivesyou access for the minister to consider matters such as specialty, double criminality, [and] minimum gravity,” Hosein told the bench. He contendedthatanaccusedpersonis entitled to an unbiased determinationattheearlieststageto avoid the “hardship and expense” ofafullcommittalprocess.

“If it is that the minister who is

biased takes that decision what follows is a number of other processeswhichwouldnotvindicate yourentitlementundersection12to have that issue determined earlier,” Hoseinsaid.

When pressed by the bench on whetherhecouldpointtoaspecific legal error, such as the Minister ignoring a lack of “double criminality”, Hosein admitted he could not, but maintained that bias itself is a “standing” issue that nullifies the process “Bias goes to theheartandthesoulofthedecisionmaking process and confidence in the administration of law. It is not only the individual rights that have

…WIN launches program to observe Guyana’s 60th Independence ‘Rooted in Identity, Rising in Destiny’

AsGuyanastandsontheprecipiceofits

60th year of independence, the We InvestinNationhood(WIN)partyhas launched a program aimed at shifting the focus from mere revelry to a profound exploration of Guyanesesoulandsovereignty

Launched yesterday, the initiative, titled “Rooted in Identity – Rising in Destiny”, was introduced via joint statements from WIN’s Member of Parliament (MP) Odessa Primus and Clayon Halley of the Office of the Leader of the Opposition. The campaign is aimed at shifting how the nation marks its diamond jubilee, prioritizing historical reflection and community serviceovertraditionalsurface-levelfestivities.

ASix-PhaseJourneytoSovereignty

MP Primus outlined a six-week program designed to engage citizens across all ten administrative regions. According to Primus, independence is “the culmination of sacrifice, resilience, and the enduring spirit of a people determinedtodefinetheirowndestiny.”

Thecampaignwillunfoldthroughsixdistinct thematicpillars:

·Remember(“WeDidn’tStartHere”):Afocus on historical education and storytelling to honor thejourneyto1966.

Reflect (“Who Are We Becoming?”): National dialogues on the values and responsibilitiesofmoderncitizenship.

· Reclaim (“This Is Who We Are”): A showcase of creative expression and cultural traditions.

· Rise (“One People, One Nation”): Sectorwide collaboration aimed at fostering national unity.

· Serve (“Build the Nation”):Acall to action forcommunitydevelopmentandvolunteerism.

Celebrate (“Independence Week”): Culminating in the grand multi-stage production, “TheDawnofaNation:Guyana60.”

“MoreThanOilandGold”

Echoing the call for depth, Clayon Halley, representing the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, challenged Guyanese to view the milestone as a “national awakening” rather than justaseasonofparties.

“Independence was never built on revelry,” Halley stated during the launch. “It was forged through struggle, sacrifice, and vision.There is a growing concern that the depth of our history is being overshadowed by surface-level celebration.”

Halley emphasized that while Guyana’s economic landscape is shifting rapidly, the nation’s core strength remains its human capital. “Our greatest resource is not oil, nor gold, nor land; it is our people. If we are to truly move forward,wemustinvestnotonlyininfrastructure but also in identity.” By integrating “acts of service” and “national reflection” into the anniversary calendar, the organizers said they hope to bridge divides of race, class, and creed.

“Sixtyyearswillnotjustbeamilestonewemark,” Halley concluded, “but a turning point we remember.”

been vindicated, it is the public rights,”Hoseinasserted.

The defense’s case rests on the environment surrounding the decision.Hoseinclaimedthat

Continued on page 21

Search on for ferry to launch delayed regional ferry service

After scrapping an earlier vesseldeemedunfitfortheroute, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar MustaphaonMondaysaidthat the government is seeking a moresuitableferrytolaunch the long-delayed regional service linking Guyana with Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados, as part of efforts to advance regional integration.

Speaking with reporters on thesidelinesofaneventinKitty toannouncethesuccessofapilot onion cultivation project in Region Nine, Mustapha disclosed that the vessel previously identified for the route was rejected after technical evaluations found it incapable of efficiently s e r v i c i n g t h e Guyana–Caribbeancorridor

While plans had been progressing, the assessments ultimately determined that theferrywas notsuitablefor the operational demands of the journey but despite the setback, the minister said that the initiative remains a priority for the administration

Heexplainedthatauthorities arecontinuingtoexploreoptions to secure a vessel that meets safety and performance requirements, while ensuring reliabilityforbothpassenger and cargo transport The proposedserviceisexpected to play a significant role in reducing transportation costs and improving connectivity within the region, particularly by providing an alternative to air travel and easing the movementofgoods.

Mustapha also reminded that President Irfaan Ali has identified Parika as the designated landing site in Guyana Plans are in train to develop the necessary infrastructureatthelocation, including port facilities, and systems for customs, immigration and plant quarantine to support efficientprocessing.

The ferry service is intended to transport both passengers and containerised cargo, with officials highlighting its potential to strengthen trade ties and support food security initiatives among the participating countries The projecthadpreviouslybeen advanced following highlevel discussions in TrinidadandTobago,where regional partners agreed to fast-track pre-clearance arrangements to facilitate theservice Ali had earlier expressed confidence that the initiative would signal a new phase of

Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha

cooperationamongparticipating states, while encouraging private sector investment in regionallogisticsandsupply chain development. No new timeline has been announced.

Speakingattheopeningof the12thannualInter-American Development Bank (IDB) consultation with Caribbean GovernorsinFebruary2024,Ali hadexpressed optimism that the regional ferry service could be operational within approximatelythreemonths. His remarks followed a high-levelmeetinginTrinidad and Tobago held two weeks earlier, where participating countries agreed to complete pre-clearance arrangements for immigration, customs and plant quarantine within a two-month timeframe, withtheaimoffast-tracking implementation of the service Ali had also underscored the importance o f p r i v a t e s e c t o r involvement, noting that the initiative is intended to encourage broader investment in supply chain and logistics systems across theregion.

“Wehavelaunchedthefirst phaseofthis.Inanothertwo,or three months, that ferry will begin operations, and we are hoping that this will instil confidence in the private sector, and for the IDB investors,thisisanexcellent opportunity to bring a regional consortium together,”hesaid.

The Head of State further told the IDB forum that the project reflects a shared commitment among the participating countries to address common regional challenges.Hedescribedthe effort as part of a “coalition of the willing,” signalling a readiness by like-minded states to move ahead with innovative solutions, while allowing others to join at a laterstage.

“We are not waiting on everyone. Those who are willing to start will move forward, and others will come onboardwhentheyareready,” headded

CCJ hears arguments on...

Frompage18

Minister Walrond operated

within a “collegial relationship” with the President and Vice President, whom he accused of publicly labeling the Mohameds “criminals, robbers, and thieves.” “This is just not pure political banter,” Hosein argued “What makes this case different from a normal minister is the extent of the vitriolic statements meeted outagainstthesepersons.”

However,theCCJbench raised questions about the “architecture of the statute.”

OneJusticenotedthatinany case involving a political opponent, some level of political advantage is inherent.

“A minister exercising the powers granted by the statutecouldnotbythatfact alone be said to be biased suchthattheministercannot exercise those functions,” theJusticeremarked.

Representing the Minister of Home Affairs

Oneidge Walrond, Senior Counsel, Douglas Mendes argued that the Mohameds had essentially waived their right to challenge the Minister’s authority on bias, having engaged in correspondence with her office while knowing the extradition was “in the works ” Mendes further contended that because extradition involves “high politicalelements,”amember of the Executive must be involved Hesuggestedthatif biaswereanissue,theremedy wouldbeforthePresidentto temporarily reassign the portfolio, rather than strippingtheExecutiveofits power “The substantive issues of legality will be addressed at the judicial phase,” Mendes said, arguingthatevenifbiaswere established,thecourtsystem remains the ultimate safeguard.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall took a firmer

stance, arguing that the issuance of an ATP is a “gateway function” that is purely administrative and does not attract the “full rigor” of natural justice

“There can be situations... where an administrator can actclearly,butnaturaljustice is not required or employed in the performance of that particularfunction,”Nandlall stated Justice Arif Bulkan immediately challenged this, indicating he would require legalauthoritiestosupportthe claimthatfairtrialprinciples do not apply to extradition proceedings in light of constitutional rights to a fair hearing. Nandlall faced a flurry of questions from the bench, specifically regarding whether the standard for a judge (the Porter v Magill test) should apply to a politician acting in a “diplomatic” or “policy” capacity

Justice Peter Jamadar highlightedanapparentsplit inthegovernment’sdefense. While Douglas Mendes SC hadsuggestedthatthePorter v Magill test, which asks whether a “fair-minded and informed observer” would conclude there was a real possibility of bias, was “inapt” for this case, the Attorney General initially appeared to embrace it Justice Jamadar pressed the AG to clarify if he was abandoningthe“openmind” standardinfavorofthemore rigorous judicial test. “A politician can be biased and still act fairly,” Nandlall countered. “The test is: Did the minister act fairly? Did she follow the statutory guidelines? Was she influenced by something irrelevant?”

Nandlall argued that in the context of an executive act, the only “disqualifying factors”thatshouldtriggera court’s intervention are personal or financial (pecuniary) interests He maintained that because the Authority to Proceed (ATP)

is a “gateway function,” it doesnotattractthefullrigor ofnaturaljusticeappliedina courtroom The bench, however,seemedfocusedon whether the “political mandate” of a minister fundamentally “taints” the process Justice Jamadar noted that the core of the applicants’ argument is that the alleged bias was so pervasive it poisoned the decision regardless of whether the Minister followedtherulesonpaper

Justice Eboe-Osuji questioned why a version of the “fair-minded observer” test couldn’t be adapted to the political context, where the observer would simply b

he political environment) and then ask if the decision was stillvalid.

The discussion turned to the previous ruling by the Guyana Court of Appeal. JusticeEboe-Osujiobserved thatthelowercourthadused a two-step logic, the test for bias is not engaged at all because issuing an ATP is a ministerial function, not a judicial one and even if the test were engaged, the facts of the Mohamed case would not meet the Porter v Magill standardforafindingofbias.

Attorney General Nandlall confirmed that the state has adopted this “dual-layered” position. He insisted that while the court has supervisory jurisdiction, it must respect the “policy nature”ofthedecision.

While the Attorney General argued that “political influence” does not equate to “legal unfairness,” the CCJ bench signaled that it must now define exactly what “fairness” looks like when the decision-maker is a political actor “We have to write a judgment... and we have to try and understand what the law is before we apply it,” Justice Jamadar remarked.

World Bank joins Guyana-led Global...

Frompage11

relationship between Guyana and the World Bank, including support for sustainable development, climate resilience, forest conservation,andinstitutionalstrengthening. The Government of Guyana and the World Bank will work together to leverage resources, expertise, and global partnerships to advance biodiversity protection and sustainableeconomicopportunities.

The Global Biodiversity Alliance, launched by Guyana, complements internationaleffortsundertheConventionon Biological Diversity and aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework It seeks to raise global awareness of the biodiversity crisis, expand financingoptions,andpromotecollaborative action among countries, development

Heavy rains, flood loom from tomorrow

...as Hydromet Dept. predicts unstable weather system

The Hydrometeorological Service advisesthatunstableatmosphericconditions willaffectGuyanafromApril22to25,2026, bringingwidespreadrainfallandanelevated risk of flooding—especially in low-lying andpoorlydrainedareas.

While conditions remain highly dynamic,thelatestmodelguidanceindicates that Regions 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are likely to experience the heaviest rainfall during this period.

SYNOPTIC ANALYSIS

Unstable atmospheric conditions associatedwithasurfacetroughareexpected to begin affecting Guyana from the evening ofApril21intotheearlymorningofApril22, 2026. Thereafter, a gradual strengthening and oscillation of the inter-Tropical ConvergenceZone(ITCZ)overthecountry will persist throughout the remainder of the week. These conditions are likely to be further enhanced by strong upper-level divergence.

Thesecombinedfactorsarecontributing to increased cloudiness, frequent showers,

periods of moderate to heavy rainfall, and isolatedtoscatteredthunderstorms.

FORECAST OUTLOOK

Unsettled conditions are forecast to continue for the remainder of the week, as meteorological models indicate that the projected atmospheric conditions will remain in place. While there are some indications of a temporary reduction in rainfall activity over coastal areas on Thursday,otherpartsofthecountryarestill expectedtoexperiencecloudiness,showers, and possible thunderstorms due to ongoing instability

Rainfall amounts are likely to average between 50mm (-2 inches) and 75mm (-3 inches) in 24 hours; however, some areas mayrecordmorethan100mm(-4inches)in 24hours.)

WHAT TO EXPECT

Widespreadrainfall,attimesheavy Thunderstorms (lightning, thunder, increased wind speeds), particularly during the early morning and late afternoon into eveningperiods.

Five companies bid to rehabilitate MV Lisha, Barima, & Hercules

The Ministry of Public Workshasreceivedfivebids fortherehabilitationofthree of its vessels: M.V Lisha, M V Barima, and M V Hercules.

The bids which were opened at the National Tender Board revealed that Gopie Investments Inc , Caribbean Shipyard Guyana Inc., J&M Shipping Inc., FastTransportationInc.,and Guyana Port Inc. bid for the projectwhichisdividedinto threelots.

$115,607,250; and Guyana

$124,083,226. According to the ministry’s engineer Lot1 is e s t i m a t e d t o c o s t

partners,andtheprivatesector

Guyana’s leadership in biodiversity and climate finance continues to gain global recognition, particularly through its LCDS 2030, which integrates forest climate services, biodiversity conservation, and sustainabledevelopmentinvestments.

The addition of the World Bank to the Alliance further strengthens international collaboration and supports the scaling of innovative approaches that reward countries forprotectingnature.

The Government of Guyana looks forward to deepening collaboration with the WorldBankandotherpartnersastheGlobal BiodiversityAllianceadvancesitsmissionto safeguard biodiversity while promoting sustainable development and economic prosperity

Their bids are as follow: Gopie Investment Inc –Lot1

$321,834,700, Lot2

$106,117,000; Caribbean ShipyardGuyanaInc.–Lot1

Shipping Inc – Lot1

Transportation Inc. – Lot1

$199,347,500, Lot2: $124,539,250, and Lot3: $124,184,000. Meanwhile,$11.2billion was budgeted by the government for the river transportsectorin2026.Out o f t h a t a m o u n t , $570,000,000 was approved intheNationalAssemblyfor the reconditioning of ferry vessels. Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill disclosed recently at the National Assembly that the MV Hercules, is a tug boat the government bought.The boatservicestheresidentsof Regions Two and Region Three: Wakenaam and LeguanIslands. According to Edghill, whenHerculeswastakenon board it was operated by

THD staff, but there were some challenges In this regard, the minister explainedthattoensurethere was “no real crisis,” the government engaged the operators who were more familiar with the boat that is Marine Inc. to operate the boat.

K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that between 2023 and 2024 the government bought the MV Hercules from Marine Inc. Edghill responding to the opposition in the National Assembly last month disclosed that they are paying the operator $400,000 per day to operate theboat.

As it relates to MV Ma Lisha,theIndianbuiltvessel first started its operation in August 2023 and operates the Region Four to Region One route. Similarly, the cargo and passenger ferry, MV Barima also operates between Regions One and Four

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PAHOassistantdirectortovisitGuyana

Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas,AssistantDirectorofthe PanAmericanHealthOrganization (PAHO), will visit Guyana from 18 to 26 April 2026 to participate in several major health events.

Her engagements include the 70th Annual Health Research Conference at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre,organizedbytheCaribbean Public HealthAgency (CARPHA) and the Ministry of Health of Guyana. During this important event, she will deliver remarks under the theme“InnovationinHealth”. She will emphasize how cutting-edge public health innovations—from AI-powered epidemic prediction tools to smart vaccines—are transforming disease prevention,

From page 8

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diagnosis, and community care across the Caribbean.

In a press release PAHO said Dr. Sealey-Thomas will hold a courtesy meeting with Hon.Dr.FrankAnthony,MinisterofHealthinGuyana,and participate in the 52nd Ordinary Meeting of the South AmericanCommissionforthe Fight Against Foot-andMouth Disease (COSALFA) at the Pegasus Corporate Suites.

During this meeting, delegates will launch the Fourth Action Plan (2026–2030) of the Hemispheric Foot-andMouth Disease Eradication Programandreviewprogress achieved during the 2021–2025 cycle, reinforcing regional cooperation in animal healthanddiseaseprevention.

In addition, Dr. SealeyThomas will visit several PAHO-supportedMinistryof Health initiatives, including Eccles Health Center to observe NCDs HEARTS in the Americas,aregionalinitiative to improve cardiovascular health through standardized hypertension management as partoftheBetterCareforNonCommunicableDiseaseInitiative, and Cervical Cancer screening efforts. She will also observe the implementation of the RehabilitationBasicPackageofInterventions.Shewillalsotour the Diamond Hospital to see the new regional hospital facilities and cervical cancer training sites, highlighting Guyana’s commitment to expandingqualityhealthcarefor all. On 25 April, Dr. SealeyThomaswillprovideremarks at the launch of Vaccination Week in the Americas at the UmanaYanaunderthetheme “Your decision makes a difference:preventionisprotection,vaccinatenow.”Herparticipation underscores PAHO’s commitment to advancing Caribbean health research, supporting regional animal health programs, and promoting vaccination awareness.

This visit highlights Guyana’s growing role as a hub for regional health dialogue and action, reinforcing the country’s leadership in strengthening public health across the Americas,’PAHO said.

City faces $1.28B budget deficit

theCouncil’sabilitytogenerate revenue reflective of present-day economic conditions. He noted that many propertyownersfaceaccumulated debts that exceed their property values, contributing to widespread non-payment.

AMNESTY

Saul mentioned that the Council had proposed a rates amnesty to central governmenttoencouragecompliance and provide relief to affected citizens, but this request was not approved. As a result, he saidthemunicipalityindicated it will proceed with legal action against defaulting ratepayers.

Saul cited what he described as ongoing central

government intervention in cityfunctionswithoutconsultation, noting that projects suchasroadrepairsanddrainage works are often executed independentlyoftheM&CC. Additionally, he said the absence of a functioning Local GovernmentCommissionisa major constraint.Without the commission,hesaidtheCouncil faces difficulties in staffing, disciplinary processes, and administrative oversight. The finance chairman reported increased waste generation in recent years without a corresponding expansion in collection capacity This he said has resulted in reduced collection frequency in some areas and visible accumulationofgarbageacross

the city Hepointedtobehavioural challenges, including indiscriminate dumping and noncompliance by businesses, as well as the lack of a national waste management strategy Saul noted that overlapping responsibilities among agencies and the absence of recyclingsystemsfurthercomplicate efforts to address the issue.

Looking ahead, the 2026 budget places emphasis on strengthening key departments, including the City Engineer’s office, the City Constabulary, Solid Waste Management, and the Public HealthDepartment.Saulsaid efforts will also be made to improve financial reporting

throughupgradesintheTreasury Department, including the implementation of new accounting systems and recruitment of qualified staff. Saul acknowledged that uncertainty regarding central government plans continues to affect budget preparation, noting that the lack of information on potential national interventionsinareassuchas road maintenance and drainage creates challenges in planningandresourceallocation. Factors influencing the 2026budgetincludeeffortsto monetise municipal assets, pursue delinquent taxpayers, including government agencies, update valuation lists, and enhance collaboration withcentralauthorities.

Contractorsbidmorethan$12Mbelow...

From page 13 tenure, with China Harbour andEngineeringCorporation (CHEC).

The Jagdeo-led administrationacquiredaUS$138millionloanfromtheChinaExim Bank,andusedUS$12million from the Consolidated Fund (taxpayers’ money) for the total project cost of US$150 million. Jagdeo said that the US$150millioncontractwas signed with CHEC for a new airport. However, he said it wasthecoalitiongovernment that made changes which resultedinitbeingarehabilitation project.

According to reports, uponassumingofficein2015, theDavidGrangeradministration deemed the airport plan defective, necessitating adjustments.

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Subsequently, in August 2020, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill expressed dissatisfaction with the contractor’s work. Consequently, negotiations resulted in additional works beingundertakenbyCHECat no extra cost to Guyana. These enhancements included a superstructure, corridor,andcurtainwall.

WhiletheUS$150million rehabilitationworksbyCHEC is complete, the PPP-admin-

istration has substantially increased spending for the modernisation of the airport, albeit falling below internationalstandardsandexpectations.

Partoftheadditionalwork by the PPP government included the construction of a new commercial centre, VIP lounge, upgraded tarmac or aircraftparkingareas,administrative office, and an improved baggage handling facility. In addition, last year,

government turned the sod for the construction of a secondarrivalterminalattheairport. Terminal 2 will feature business lounges, expanded concessions, and facilities to handle the increasing global demand. The airport upgrades, which also include runway expansion and modernised bridges, are all strategic steps to prepare Guyana to become a major aviationhub,MinisterEdghill stated.

Suspect in Berbice hairdresser shooting surrenders to police

The suspect behind the shooting of Berbice hairdresser, Vasanti Gordon, isnowinpolicecustodyafter being on the run for nearly twoweeks.

According to police reports,DamionMorgan,28, of Fort Ordinance Housing Scheme,EastCanjeBerbice, surrendered to the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam at 09:40 hrs on Mondaymorning.

Morgan was wanted for dischargingseveralgunshots at Gordon, a 27-year-old hairdresser of Lot 60

Stanleytown, New AmsterdamBerbiceonApril 11, 2026 The incident occurredatthesaidlocation, which is both her home and placeofbusiness.

The mother of two confirmed to investigators that she and Morgan once shared a relationship Gordon detailed that the relationship ended because

of Morgan’s constant infidelityandphysicalabuse towardsher

At about 17:00 hours on the day of the incident, GordonsaidMorganwalked up to her while she was seated in her car in front of her home He reportedly brandishedablackhandgun, with which he struck her in herheadwhilethreateningto killher Hethenfiredseveral shotsatbothherfeet.

The injured woman was takentotheNewAmsterdam Hospital wher

underwent surgery The medical report showed four wounds to her right leg and thigh.

continuing.

Tourism Ministry to develop National Tourism Policy and Strategic Action Plan

Pres. Ali holds talks with EU agency

President Dr IrfaanAli onTuesday met with Deputy DirectorGeneral of the European Union (EU) Directorate for International Partnerships Mr Martin Seychell, and the Bank’s representative for the Southern and Eastern Caribbean, Ms. Maria Rojas Gonzalez, at the Office of the PresidentonShivChandrapaulDrive.

The meeting was aimed at gaining a firsthand understanding of the trade relationship, bottlenecks and challenges betweenGuyanaandEUcountriesandtheir privatesectors.

TheEUInvestmentBankalsoexpressed

its commitment to working with the Governmentinpriorityareassuchashealth, education, climate and energy security, human capital development, and the expansionoftheorangeeconomy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd; Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally; EUAmbassador to Guyana, HE Luca Pierantoni; and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ms Sharon Roopchand,wereamongthosepresent.

Imbotero police station strengthens border security, cuts crime by 75%

The newly commissioned Imbotero Police Station in Region One.

Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues in talks with stakeholders. (DPI)

DPI – TheMinistryofTourism,Industry and Commerce is formalising the National Tourism Policy and StrategicAction Plan, a majorstepinstrengtheningGuyana’stourism sectorandpositioningitforsustainable,longterm growth. The policy is set to be completedlaterthisyear

Developed in collaboration with the Ministry, through the Department of Tourism, the GuyanaTourismAuthority and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, the policy will establish a strategic frameworktoguidegovernance,investment, and development across the industry, while promoting innovation, sustainability, and strongerpublic-privatesectorcoordination. Itsadvancementcomesatacriticaltime, as Guyana records rapid growth in visitor arrivals and infrastructure expansion, includinga22percentincreaseinarrivalsin 2025 and projections of approximately 550,000 visitors by the end of 2026. The policywillprovideaclearroadmaptoensure this growth is effectively managed and widelybeneficial.

Key priorities include improving

y, strengthening destination marketing, enhancing product development, and establishing higher industry standards and quality assurance. The policy will also support workforce development and aims to expand opportunities for small businesses andcommunity-ledtourisminitiatives.

Emphasising environmental stewardship and community empowerment, the policy will align with Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy, ensuring tourism growth supports conservation while deliveringtangiblebenefitstocitizens.

The Department of Tourism, alongside the Guyana Tourism Authority, will lead implementation in collaboration with stakeholdersacrossthesector

The National Tourism Policy reinforces theGovernmentofGuyana’scommitmentto positioning tourism as a key pillar of economic diversification and establishing Guyana as a leading destination for sustainableandnature-basedtravel.

DPI - The northern border of Guyana is being strengthenedwiththelaunch of the newly commissioned Imbotero Police Station, which greatly enhances safety and instils a strong senseofpublicconfidencein the nation’s security systems.

The$200millionfacility wascommissionedinMarch byMinisterofHomeAffairs, Oneidge Walrond, and remains a critical point for national security, located within proximity to the Venezuelanmilitaryoutpost.

According to the Divisional Commander, Senior Superintendent Krishna Ramana, the communities remain peaceful with no recent reports of illegal border crossingsorsecuritythreats. According to Commander Ramana, Region One has recorded a 75 per cent decreaseinseriouscrime.

He highlighted that the station is supported by a

multi-agency presence, including ranks from the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force (Coast Guard), and immigrationofficers,whoall maintain 24-hour visibility patrols along both land and river A key element of the security framework is the active involvement of r e s i d e n t s t h r o u g h CommunityPolicingGroups (CPGs).

T h e i r i n t i m a t e knowledge of the terrain, including smaller access routes such as creeks, has enhanced intelligence gathering and rapid response, creating a strong partnership between law enforcement an

community

Beyond security operations, the newly constructed concrete police station represents a major upgrade from the previous woodenfacility

Equipped with a modern boathouse, watchtower, and

expanded accommodations, the station is now better positioned to support joint operations and deliver improvedpublicservice. W h i l e s p e c i f i c technological systems remain intact, existing monitoring mechanisms have been retained and integrated into the new f a c i l i t y , f u r t h e r strengthening surveillance capabilities.

Importantly, these combinedeffortsarealready yielding measurable results, reflecting the effectiveness of proactive policing, increased patrol visibility, and continuous community engagement.

The strengthened security posture at Imbotero not only safeguards Guyana’s borders but also fosters a sense of safety among residents, supporting economic activity, community development, and overall national resilience.

Pres.TrumpannouncesIranceasefireextension

(AL-JAZEERA) United States

President Donald Trump has announced an extension to the ceasefire with Iran, saying that the USmilitarywillholdoffitsplanned attack to allow more time for Tehran to put forward a proposal to endthewar

The move on Tuesday comes at the request of Pakistani mediators, according to Trump. The truce was settoexpireonWednesday

“I have therefore directed our Military to continue the Blockade and, in all other respects, remain ready and able, and will therefore extendtheCeasefireuntilsuchtime as their proposal is submitted, and discussionsareconcluded,oneway or the other,” the US president said inasocialmediapost.

Without a specific deadline, Trump’sstatementsuggeststhatthe truce’s extension is open-ended, at leastfromtheUSside.

Iran did not issue an immediate responsetoTrump’sstatement.The semi-official Tasnim news agency said Tehran’s position will be “officiallyannouncedlater”.

The extension marks the latest abrupt reversal from the Trump White House. Hours before his social media post, Trump had said that he opposed lengthening the truce, warning Iran that time is running out before the US launches ahugeattackonitsinfrastructure.

The about-face came as Iranian officials condemned the US naval blockade on the country’s ports,

U.S. President Donald Trump [File: Nathan Howard/Reuters]

putting in doubt their participation intalksscheduledforWednesday.

Afterwards, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to Trump for agreeing to prolong the truce, saying that Islamabad will continue to push for a negotiated settlement to the conflict.

“Isincerelyhopethatbothsides will continue to observe the ceasefire and be able to conclude a comprehensive‘PeaceDeal’during thesecondroundoftalksscheduled atIslamabadforapermanentendto the conflict,” Sharif said in a post onX.

With the naval siege persisting, it is unclear whether the extension of the truce will be enough to bring Iran to the negotiating table in Islamabad.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas AraghchicalledblockadingIranian portsan“actofwar”andaviolation

oftheexistingceasefire.

“Iran knows how to neutralize restrictions, how to defend its interests, and how to resist bullying,”Araghchiwrote.

Although the Iranian position has publicly been to reject US threats and its naval siege, Trump suggested that disagreements within the leadership in Tehran are slowingdowndiplomaticefforts.

“Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iranuntilsuchtimeastheirleaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal,” the US president wrote in Tuesday’s message

Since the US and Israel first launched strikes against Iran on

February 28, multiple top Iranian officialshavebeenkilled,including SupremeLeaderAliKhamenei.

But there has nevertheless been no major defections in the governing system in Tehran, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spearheading the wareffort.

Khamenei was replaced by his son,Mojtaba,whohasyettomakea public appearance since his selection as supreme leader last month.

Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera correspondent Ali Hashem explained that Trump’s assertion about fractures in the Iranian l e a d e r s h i p i s l i k e l y a “misconception”.

“Iran has a very unified leadership since the assassination of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,” Hashem said.

“Why? Because the new leader Mojtaba Khamenei and the circle around him are a team that’s been working together for the past 15 years. Members of this team are currently in the centres of decision inTehran.

Iran and the US agreed to an initial two-week ceasefire on April 8, but the deal has been marred by disagreementsovertheinclusionof Lebanon in the truce and control of the Strait of Hormuz, leading to persistingtensions.

To end the war, the US is seeking a complete shutdown of

Iran’s nuclear programme as well as limits on its missile production and its support for regional allies, includingHezbollahandHamas.

But Tehran has insisted on its right to enrich uranium domestically as part of a civilian nuclear programme. It also ruled out using its military capabilities and regional alliances as concessions.

Another sticking point is Iran’s existing stockpiles of highly enricheduranium.

Trump has claimed that Tehran agreed to the US extracting nuclear material from bombed sites. But Iran has said that it will not allow theuraniumtoleavethecountry.

Barbara Slavin, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center, a think tank, said Trump’s statement extending the ceasefire is a “way to cover the embarrassment” of flounderingnegotiations.

She pointed out thatTrump was willing to send Vice President JD Vance to negotiate with Iran in Pakistan, butTehran did not appear readytoshowupatthetalks.

“This war hasn’t gone the way he expected from the very beginning, and Iran has discovered new leverage in its control of the Strait of Hormuz,” Slavin told Al Jazeera.

The US should “relinquish its maximalist demands” and offer Iran “some sort of gesture that it is seriousinseekingaresolution”,she added.

Halliburton discussing commercial terms with customers for Venezuela operations

(Reuters) - Oilfield service firm Halliburton (HAL.N), opens new tab on Tuesday said it has been discussing commercial terms with customers for operations inVenezuela aftermakingvisitstoitsexistingfacilitiesinthecountry

InterestinVenezuelahasrampedupdramaticallysincethe U.S. capture of former President Nicolas Maduro in January, withoilproducersandinvestorslookingtore-enterthecountry that is home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves. Oil majors already operating in the country like Chevron (CVX.N), opens new tab have been advancing plans to ramp up output, putting increased focus on service firms and equipmentneededformuchofthework.

“We’re having great discussions with customers. We’re talking about commercial terms,” said Jeff Miller, CEO of Halliburton, adding the company is getting lots of inbound inquiries.

Miller many of the company’s bases and facilities in the South American country are in better shape than he had expected.HalliburtonexitedVenezuelain2020andeliminated staff positions there following the introduction of U.S. sanctions.

Miller participated in a White House meeting with PresidentDonaldTrumpearlierintheyear,wherehenotedthe companyfirststartedoperationsinVenezuelain1938.

ThecompanyinJanuarybeganseekingresumesforarange ofpositionsinVenezuelaincludingengineersandtechnicians, according to a job board posting, while the U.S. government has since moved to ease or remove many of the sanctions that had been imposed on industry there as part of an ambitious plantorestoreoiloutput.

Sunrisers’Abhishekhitsfifth-highestIPLscore

There was no stopping Abhishek Sharma once he got going. (BCCI)

BBCSport-Indiaopener Abhishek Sharma hit the fifth-highest score in Indian Premier League history in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s 47run win against Delhi Capitals.

The 25-year-old lefthander,whoisnumberonein the men’s T20 batting rankings, batted throughout the innings for 135 not out from 68 balls in the hosts’ 242-2.

He peppered the straight boundaries with powerful drives, hitting 10 sixes and 10 fours, and reached three figuresin47deliveries.

Wednesday April 22, 2026

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Today would be best spent alone behind closed doors, if possible There's a lot of tension in your household for some reason. Since there isn't much you can do about it, try toavoiditaltogether

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Thereisalotoftensioninthe airtoday.Itisn'tjustaffecting your home environmenteveryone you meet seems out of sorts. You'll be happiest if you spend much of today in solitude.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

You feel that life would run moresmoothlyifmoneydidn't exist!The amount of time and energy you spend sorting out your financial affairs is frustrating. Unfortunately, todaywillbeafrustratingday.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Youfeelinvincible, asthough you can do anything. Enjoy this abundance of energy, for it'scertainlyunusual Takecare nottooverdoit Ifyouhaven't joggedinawhile,runningfive miles today will leave you prettysoretomorrow

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

This would be a good day to putteraboutthehouse,Leo.It isn't a good day to travel or beginanymajorprojects.This couldbejusttheexcuseyou've needed for taking a day off fromyourlife!

VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)

Thisisn'tthebestdayforgettogethers, Virgo. What starts asafriendlylunchcouldwind up a gossip-fest. No one wins in that situation. You could fear leaving the table because ofwhatthey'dsayaboutyou.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Don't take anything you hear today at face value, especially where money is concerned. A well-meaning friend could approach you with an opportunitynottobemissed.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

This would be a good day to stay home and spend much of thedayinbed,Scorpio!You've been working especially hard lately, juggling both home and workwithyourusualaplomb.

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Love is very much in the air today, Sagittarius, so take advantage of this auspicious environment!Inviteyourloved one over to play hide and seek underthebedcovers!Spendthe afternoon reading a good novel.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

This is a day to stay close to home and organize the house. Youmightbethinkinghowyou can best utilize your living space. It's clear that some improvements are in order, Capricorn.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

You need rest,Aquarius. Even though you have a long list of tasks,seeifyoucanleavesome forlater Allsignsindicatethat youshouldn'tstraytoofarfrom home today if you can help it. You'reeasilydistracted,which makesyoupronetoaccidents.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

You're on your own when it comes to financial matters, Pisces. This may not be what you want to hear, but it's how things are. Trust that your business acumen will pull you through.Don'ttakeanythingat facevalue.

him joint fourth on the alltimelist.

Delhi made 195-9 in reply with seamer Eshan Malingataking4-32.

Abhishek has been a dominant force in T20s in recent years, with two T20 international centuries to go withhistwointheIPL.

He began the recent T20 World Cup with three consecutiveducksbuthit52 asIndiabeatNewZealandin thefinal.

His score has only been bettered in the IPL by West Indies great Chris Gayle (175 not out), Brendon McCullum (158 not out), Abhishek’s 141 on the same groundlastyearandQuinton de Kock’s 140 against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022.

It was also Abhishek’s ninth T20 century, taking

He has built a fearsome partnership with Australian Travis Head at Sunrisers, particularlysince2024when New Zealander Daniel Vettori and Australian Pat Cummins, who is currently injured, took over as coach andcaptain.

“Ialwayswantedtoshow my talent in the powerplay but you have to have the backingfromthecaptainand thecoach,”Abhisheksaid.

“The environment we had in ’24 was the game-

changer for us. I always wanted to play like this, in myPunjabteamaswell.”

ThreeofAbhishek’sfour T20 hundreds have come at Sunrisers’ home ground in Hyderabad,wheretwoofthe four highest IPL totals have alsobeenmade.

Against Delhi he put on 97in8.5overswithHead,79 in 35 with Ishan Kishan and 66 not out in 32 with South AfricanHeinrichKlaasen.

Klaasenhitthreesixesin 37 not out from 13 balls. Head made 37 and Kishan 25.

“When we went to the wicket it was a bit slow,” Abhisheksaid.

“Wehadthematch-upsin our mind and wanted to ultilise the powerplay as I alwaysdo.

“It is always a special moment scoring on this specialground.”

The win, Sunrisers’third inarow,liftsthemtothirdin thetable,threepointsbehind leadersPunjabKings.

Scores: Sunriser Hyderabad 242 for 2 (Abhishek 135*, Klaasen 37*, Head 37, Axar 1-23) beatDelhiCapitals195for9 (Rana 57, Rizvi 41, Malinga 4-32, Dubey 3-12) by 47 runs.

NSC’s unparalleled initiative to enhance safety across Guyana’s waterways

In a concerted effort to strengthen safety across the country’s waterways at both the community and organisational levels, the NationalSportsCommission (NSC)haspartneredwiththe Guyana Lifesaving Society (GLSS) and the Lifesaving SocietyofCanadatodeliver a comprehensive series of

F i r s t A i d a n d

C a r d i o p u l m o n a r y Resuscitation(CPR)training workshops.

The week-long initiative

featured a range of

c e r t i f i c a t i o n a n d recertification programmes, includingNationalLifeguard Pool Recertification and Waterfrontcourses

These sessions were led by experienced Canadian instructorsSarahNewtonand Patrick D’Almada, whose

expertise brought internationalbestpracticesto thelocaltraininglandscape

In addition, Emergency First Aid training was conducted by Patrick D’Almada, Kenita Mahaica, and Cleveland King, further broadening the scope of the

programme and ensuring that participants received well-rounded, practical instruction.

M o r e t h a n 5 0 participants, primarily coaches and sports administrators, gathered at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hallforthefinalsegmentof thetraining.

However, according to Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle, one of the most significant outcomes of the initiative was the successful certificationof13waterfront lifeguards.

This followed a rigorous three-day intensive course held at Lake Mainstay, a location well-suited for simulating real-world open waterconditions.

Deliveringremarksatthe country’s premier indoor sportingfacilityonMonday, Ninvallealsohighlightedthe NSC’songoingcommitment tocapacitybuilding.

Hereferencedlastyear’s successful recertification of 15existinglifeguards,along with the awarding of three examiner certifications

Facilitator Cleveland King, addressing the scores of participants at the NSC’s waterways safeguarding programme. (Rawle Toney photo)

Additionally, 41 individuals earned Emergency FirstAid certification, while 32 achieved Bronze Medallion and28attainedBronzeCross certifications.

“Guyanaisknownasthe ‘Land of Many Waters,’and our training must reflect the realities of safety at the community level,” Ninvalle stated, while adding, “it is essential that we target riverine communities in particular, equipping them with the necessary first aid skillsandcertifications.”

He further emphasised theNSC’sroleinpreserving lives, especially among young and aspiring athletes. Many of these individuals are first introduced to swimming in natural waterways within their communities.

Ninvalle pointed to the

example of Onan Thom, Guyana’s first Olympic swimmer,whohailsfromthe indigenous community of Coomacka in Region 10 along the Upper Demerara River While expressing satisfaction with the expansion of training opportunitiestocoachesand admini

g disciplines, Ninvalle urged participants to share their knowledge.

“Whatwelearnfromthis FirstAid programme should not be kept to ourselves.We must pass it on. The NSC remains committed to utilisingitsresourcestotrain and develop personnel across the country,” the DirectorofSportsaid.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Lifesaving Society

reaffirmed that its primary focus remains the safety of individualsinandaroundthe nation’s waterways The organisation views these programmes as critical to fulfillingthatmandate.

Particular emphasis was placed on the Waterfront certification, which is designed to develop the essential values, judgement, knowledge, technical skills, andphysicalfitnessrequired of lifeguards operating in open water environments. The course prioritises practical lifeguarding techniques, sound decisionmaking, and effective supervision in dynamic and often unpredictable conditions.

Participants benefited from instruction delivered by experts from Canada’s leading lifeguard training

authority, gaining advanced competencies tailored to real-worldscenarios.

Theseincludedassessing environmental factors such as waves and currents, operating rescue craft, managing spinal injuries, and conducting search and rescue operations for missingpersons.

T h r o u g h t h i s certification p

, Guyana’s aquatic lifesavers are expected to significantly enhance both their theoretical understanding and hands-on capabilities across diverse water environments.

The training also reinforcedtheimportanceof swimming proficiency and awareness of water-related risks; critical elements in reducing incidents and ultimatelysavinglives.

Region 3 Jagan MCYS and NSC Windball...

Frompage31 National2ndplaceteam&defendingRegion 3championsParikaSalemSecondarybatted first and rattled up 56-7, Suresh Rajaram made25.ReginaldSimiontook4-0.

Debutant Vergenoegen Secondary School were restricted to 28-3. Shazim Mohamedtook2-3.

Essequibo Island Secondary made 76-2, JustinDowlin41andBhomeshLall11. Zeeburg Secondary 33-4, Bhojnarine Peters12.DemarcusThomastookthefirsta hat-trickforthe2026tournament,3-1offhis oneover

Debutant Tuschen Secondary after been invitedto bat scored 17-4. RonaldoPersaud took2-0&MonteyMiguel2-3.

ParikaSalemSecondaryrespondedwith 18-1off2overs.

IntheJanetJaganGirlsplay:Last year national 2nd place team and region3defendingchampionsParikaSalem

squeezedintothisyearfinalsafterdefeating rivalsDeWillemSecondary

ParikaSalembattedfirstandscored42-2, RehannaRobinson24, ReshanaBlake 11. De Willem responded 38-1, Nelica France12&PrincessOsborne10. Vergenoegen Secondary sent in to bat made 75-0, Christina Subrattie 33 and RosmeldieRam15.

Zeeburg Secondary in replied were restricted to 71-1 when their five overs expired. LeannaHarrymade22andMariah Wilson19.

DeWillemhit70-2withCystalMelville 23.

Tuschen Secondary in reply 67-0, Karishma Narinedatt 24 and Faith Samuels 13.

UitvlugtSecondaryscored31-5. Shania Jonestook3wktsfor4runs.

Leonora Secondary replied with 32 off 2.3overswithAlliyahMohamed11.

Lynx Logistics backs Marques for local title clash with Allicock

With anticipation building for one of the most significant nights in Guyana’s boxing history,LynxLogisticshasthrownitssupport behind fighter Dexter Marques ahead of his pivotalshowdownwithKeevinAllicockthis Saturday

Theboutwillserveasthemainundercard attractiontothehistoricInternationalBoxing Organisation (IBO) super-bantamweight world title clash between Elton Dharry and Tanzania’s Salmin Kassim, set for the PegasusSuitesandCorporateCentre.

Known for its expertise in heavy lifting, transport, heavy-duty mechanics, and logistical services, Lynx Logistics made a timelypresentationtoMarquesatitsMeadow Bankheadquarters.

Thecompanyexpressedconfidenceinthe boxer’sabilityandextendedbestwishesashe prepares for what is widely regarded as a definingfightinhiscareer

Marques, who boasts a professional

recordof19winsandsixlosses,facesastern test against Allicock, Tokyo Olympian, and oneofGuyana’smostpromisingpunchers.

Allicock enters the bout with a flawless record of three wins from three fights since turningprofessional,allcomingbyknockout.

With the Guyana National featherweight titleontheline,LynxLogisticsindicatedthat theirsupportisaimedatensuringMarquesis fullyequipped,bothmentallyandphysically, torisetotheoccasion.

The clash presents a classic matchup of determinationversuspedigree,withMarques seeking to upset the highly touted Allicock, whoenterswithinternationalexperienceand growinglocalacclaim.

Saturday’s card is headlined by Dharry’s bid to etch his name in history against Kassim.Thecontestwillmarkthefirstmale world title fight ever staged in Guyana, addingfurtherprestigetoanalreadystacked event.

Region 3 Jagan MCYS and NSC Windball leg contested

NationalSportsCommissionMinistryof Culture,Youth & Sport 11th edition Janet & Cheddi Jagan Windball Cricket champion trophy Region 3 edition organised by Sport OfficeA.MunroewasplayedattheTrack& FieldTarmacWCD.

IntheRegion3openingceremonywhich was declared open by Parliamentary SecretaryThandiMcAllister Inheraddress she reminded the participants that sport is essential to achieving structure and balance. Playing Windball Cricket and Our National gameofCircleTennisduringmyhighschool yearshelpedmyacademicfocusandeventual success “Iamhappytoseeyouparticipatein this tournament and I encourage you to stay focus,remaindisciplinedandwin.”

SchoolsfromRegion3coastlandandalso Wakenaan&Leguanwerealsopresentatthe daysprogrammewhichassistedbyALSport & Tour Promotions Official Julius David, FrancinaNichols&ClavonMonchoir.

Port Mourant TC to come alive this Sunday with 11-race Horserace Meet

A total of 11 races, including the Jockey Dash, Easter Sprint, three-year-old and five-year-old imported races are set to belt off Port MourantTurfClubOne-Day Horseracemeet,thisSunday, April26.

The meet, originally set for last Easter Sunday, but duetotheinclementweather, it was forced to be held at a laterdate.

This Sunday, over 80 horses will assemble at the starting gate to vie for top spotsinseveralfeaturedrace prizes billed for the day’s proceedings.

Results from the Cheddi Jagan boys show:-

Essequibo Island Secondary school (Wakenaam)marchedtotheRegion3finals.

Leguan secondary School after been invited to bat made 24-5 Thavindra Persaud 10.JustinDowlinpickedup3-6.

EssequiboIslandSecondaryrepliedwith 25-0off1.5overswithJustinDowlinscoring 11.

UitvlugtSecondaryschoolssendintobat scored 68-3, with Parmeshwar Ram left unbeatenon51(6sx7).

De Willem Secondary in reply were restrictedto26-5offtheir5overs. Ramcame backwiththeballtograb2-2offhisoneover Leonora Secondary send into bat, scored 41-1, Irfan Takeram & Videsh Rambarran each scoring 18 run a piece. Zeeburg Secondaryrepliedwith44-0,RahulRoopam 23andBhonarinePeters17ledthescoring.

Continued on page 30

According to organisers, they will be newly imported horsesthatwillberunningat the event and some eight horses could run in the featureeventrunningatnine furlongs. Horses in the Port Mourant feature/Easter Cup stakes will be eyeing the $4 million purse, and the top horsewillcollect$2million.

It will be a race of the highest order as top stables secured confirmation Slingers Racing stables top horse Olympic Kremlin will be out to rule his counterparts, while Js Racing stables will want to letloseallofitstoprunners. Stat of the Master Z racing stables will be aiming to repeat heroics from Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club outing as is Mapa Do Brasil.

This race day is of great importance as it marks the second nomination day for

Olympic Kremlin could rule the track at Port Mourant on Sunday April 26.

the Guyana Cup, which is slated for August 23 at a venuetobeannounced.

Several races are billed for this Sunday, including featured events like the Jockey Dash and Easter Sprint, aiming to ignite the stage.

Other races on the provisional programme include, open to all horses four years and older; the Three-Year-Old Imported; and the F Class and Lower, open to four- and five-yearold imported horses that havenotracedwithinthelast six months, as well as sixyear-oldsandolderthathave notracedforoverayear

Additionally, other races intheprogrammeincludethe Three-Year-Old and Over West Indian Bred; the Open

Three-Year-Old Native Bred; K/L Maiden; the H Class and Lower for West Indian-bred horses that have not won in Guyana in 2025; theThree-Year-OldandOver I/J/K Class; the Open L Class;andtheJockeyDash.

Horsesfromnearandfar will assemble at the Port Mourant Turf Club on SundayApril 26 for a grand one-day horserace meet Racing will be conducted underthenewGuyanaRules ofRacing.

Meanwhile, some of the sponsors for the event are Premium Asphalt, Big G Sawmill and Lumber Yard, K

Arka Supplies.

LeewardIslands,RedForceMatchabandonedasaDraw followingDangerousPitchConditionsatSirVivRichardsStadium

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced that the second match of the Leeward Islands vs Trinidad and Tobago bilateral series in the 2026 West Indies Championshiphasbeenabandonedasadraw due to dangerous pitch conditions at the Sir VivRichardsStadium.

Playwashaltedonthefirstsessionofthe third day after the pitch began to exhibit unpredictable and uneven behaviour, raising serious concerns for player safety During thisperiod,LeewardIslandsplayerJeremiah Louiswasstruckwhilebatting. He was immediately attended to by

medical personnel and subsequently transported to hospital to be evaluated for a possible concussion and is reported to be in stablecondition.Thedecisiontoabandonthe match was made in accordance with the official playing conditions governing the competition. Under these conditions, when on-field umpires determine that it is dangerous or unreasonable for play to continue,playmustbestoppedandtheCWI MatchRefereeconsulted.

Followingdiscussionswiththecurator,it was determined that the pitch could not be safely repaired without creating an unfair advantageandwasthereforedeemedunfitto resume, resulting in the match being abandonedasadraw

CWI further advises that no matches are scheduled at the Sir Viv Richards Stadium until the Championship Final, set for May 17–20, and confirms that all necessary resources and expertise will be deployed to ensure the preparation of a safe and competitiveplayingsurfaceforthatfixture. Itisalsoimportanttonotethatthesurface usedfortheLeewardIslandsvsTrinidadand Tobagomatchisoneofsixpitchesavailable atthevenueanddiffersfromtheoneusedfor match one of the Guyana vs Windward Islandsseries.

CWI will continue to prioritize player safetywhileensuringthehigheststandardsof pitch preparation and match operations acrossallvenues.

Bothteamswillbeawardedpointsearned up until the abandonment of the contest in accordancewiththechampionship’splaying conditions.

GFA-NALICO/NAFICO KO Football kicks off April 26

Competitive football is set to make a thrillingreturntotheEastCoastofDemerara as the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Senior Men’s Knockout Football TournamentofficiallykicksoffthisSunday, April 26, at the Plaisance Community Ground. The long-anticipated tournament will see several Georgetown-based clubs battling for top honours fromApril 26-May 9,inwhatpromisestobeafiercelycontested competition.

Thepartnershipwasformallyannounced yesterday following a brief sponsorship presentation held in the boardroom of NALICO/NAFICO Insurance Company, located on Charlotte Street, Georgetown. The event underscored a renewed collaboration between the GFA and one of Guyana’s leading insurance providers, signalling a strong commitment to the developmentoflocalfootball.

NALICO/NAFICO has once again stepped forward in support of the nation’s sportsmen and women, reaffirming its role not only as a provider of financial security but also as a champion of community development Known for helping individuals and businesses manage unexpectedcosts,thecompanycontinuesto expand its corporate social responsibility effortsthroughstrategicpartnershipssuchas this.

During the presentation, representatives of the insurance firm expressed confidence in the initiative, assuring organisers of their fullsupport.Theyhighlightedthatinvesting inyouthdevelopmentalignscloselywiththe company’s broader mission, noting that sport remains a powerful tool in shaping discipline, unity, and opportunity among youngpeople.

“The greatest beneficiary of this partnership is the youth,” a company representativestated,emphasizingthelongtermimpactsuchcollaborationscanhaveon thesportinglandscapeinGuyana.

Thecompanyfurthernotedthataligning with programmes like the GFA Senior Football helps to break down barriers and stigma that have historically hindered the growthoffootballinthecountry

The Georgetown Football Association welcomed the partnership, pointing out that the backing of a corporate entity like NALICO/NAFICO significantly enhances thequalityandreachofthecompetition.

Kicking off the tournament this Sunday willseeCamptonFCtakingonEastveldtFC at19:0hrs.

With kickoff confirmed, all eyes will now turn to the Plaisance Community Ground, where the opening matchup will markthebeginningofwhatisexpectedtobe anelectrifyingseasonoffootball.

2026/27 West Indies

Motie (5-51), Permaul (82* & 4-20)

subdue Volcanoes, as Eagles cruise to victory by innings and 141 runs

ByCliftonRoss

Left-armspintwins

Gudakesh Motie, who followed up his10-wickethaulinthelast game, with a magical 5-fer and veteran Veerasammy

Permaul who punched an unbeaten half-century and snagged 4 second innings

wickets, inspired an implosion by the Windward Volcanoes who sunk to their second successive defeat, thistimebyawhopping141run deficit and a full day’s playleftinAntigua.

TheChampspiledonthe runs to give themselves a biggershotofwinningwhich they did, inside 4 days as they bowled out their opponents twice before havingtobatjustonetimeas they piled on a mammoth 491allout;initiallyreplying to the Volcanoes’ first inningstotalof151allout.

After a solid top-order performancefromtheupper order big guns, the bowlers took over the show with an exceptional performance led by veteran spinner Permaul who finished unbeatenon82off150balls (9x42x6).

Fast-bowler Shamar

Joseph, who missed a quick fifty but played extremely well for his 46 off 32 balls, along with Nial Smith, applied himself for a useful 37, helped the Eagles to almost fly to a 500 first inningstotal.

Right-arm off-break spinner Kenneth Dember toiledforhis4wicketswhich came at a high price as he conceded113runsoffhis40 overspell.

Medium-pacer Shadrack Descarte bagged 2-67 with assistancefrom4otherswho claimedawicketeachforthe

Volcanoes, but essentially failed to stop a marauding tail-endcharge. Despite a classy 91 from opener Ackeem Auguste, who missed out on another possible three figure score, onlyKavemHodgewhohit4 fours in his 27, Stephan Pascal(16)andSunilAmbris (15) resisted before Motie and Permaul unleashed a series of blows, which essentially reduced the Windwards from the safe position of 141-3 to their final second innings total of 199alloutfrom43overs. The tw

spinners spun webs around the opposition batsmen, as their combined 9 wickets immediately put a stop to what looked like a turnaround second innings, thanks to the start provided byAuguste.

EarlierafterPermauland Josephresumedtheirinnings

on the third day, the Volcanoes would have fancied their chances at wrapping up the innings earlybeforethetwobowlers hadotherideas.

Permaul showed all his past experiences as a former West Indies Test player by keeping his cool and

allowing his younger teammatetohaveago,ashe quietly brought up a vital half-century

Joseph smacked 6 fours and 2 sixes but fell to Dember, which broke the partnership. Smith launched abriefcounterattack,finding the ropes twice along with

two sixes before being trapped LBW by Darrel Cyrus(1-95).

Meanwhile, rain stopped play between the Jamaicans whorackedup457alloutin the first innings and the Barbados Pride, who were brilliantlyplacedat341-2in reply

Guyana’s 3x3 team eyes podium finish at South American Youth Games

Guyana’s push to make its mark in 3x3 basketball at the continental level has taken another step forward, withthenation’syouthteam arriving in Panama City ahead of the 2026 South AmericanYouthGames.

The four-man squad of Daniel Chisholm, Jaden Simon,KadeemBecklesand Stephan Duke, will open their campaign on April 23 against Brazil, before facing host nation Panama later on

thesameday

Their group-stage schedule will conclude against Venezuela, with qualification to the medal roundfirmlyintheirsights.

The South American Youth Games, which runs from April 12 to 25, brings together more than 2,000 young athletes from 15 countries competing across multiple disciplines, including3x3basketball.

President of the Guyana

Basketball Federation (GBF), Michael Singh, expressed gratitude to the G u y a n a O l y m p i c Association (GOA) for its continued support of the programme.

Singh noted that Guyana’s involvement at this level reflects steady progress since the country’s previous participation at the 2017 edition in Chile where the country was represented by Nigel Bowen, Isaiah

Hintzen, Akeem Crandon andShamarFrance.

Singh stressed that the federation’s strategic focus on developing 3x3 basketball is beginning to yieldtangibleopportunities.

He pointed out that Guyana is now consistently represented at regional and continental multi-sport events, including the South AmericanYouth Games, the Central American and Caribbean Games, and even

theCommonwealthGames. Importantly, Singh highlightedthevalueofsuch exposure for young players, noting that participation against high-level opposition is critical for development.

Singh believes these experiences will not only sharpen the players’ competitive edge, but also contribute to the long-term growth of 3x3 basketball in Guyana.

Pitamber claims third...

Frompage35

pacedformats,Couchmannavigatedmuchofthetournament with ease, dispatching several opponents through clinical play.Hisonlystumblescameviaathird-rounddrawandtough losses to senior teammates in the fourth, seventh, and eighth rounds.

Roundingoutthetopten,KishanPuransecuredasolid5.5 points, followed closely by WCM Jessica Callender, newcomer Odinnie Reece, Italy Ton-Chung, and Kataleya Sam,whoallfinishedwithfivepointsapiece.Throughoutthe event, these players demonstrated the tactical depth and endgameprecisionnecessarytonavigateahighlycompetitive field.

WCMCallenderwasawardedtheBestFemalePrizeafter shefinishedaheadoftheotherfemaleswith5points.

TwentymalesandsevenfemalesparticipatedintheOneDay Championship. A simple prize-giving ceremony was held,andprizesweredistributedbyMrs.RuplallofReadymix Concrete.ThefederationextendsitssinceregratitudetoFIDE ArbitersJohnLeeandhisassistants,OluwadareOyeyipoand KimShin-Chong,forensuringthatallthegameswereplayed fairlyandinaccordancewiththerules.

Thegameswerelive-streamedonlichess.org,andresults andpairingswerepublishedonchessresults.combyMr John Lee.

Thank you to our sponsors, Readymix Concrete, for always supporting the development of chess in Guyana, and PegasusSuitesandCorporateCentreforgenerouslyproviding uswiththevenueforthetournament.

For further details on our chess clubs, membership registration, and upcoming events, please visit our official website at guyanachess.gy or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Pitamber claims third National Chess Title for 2026

After nine gruelling rounds of rapid chess, Candidate Master Sachin Pitamber emerged as the winner of the ReadymixConcrete2026NationalRapidChessTournament last Saturday, at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre, Kingston. In the fast paced event, players were each allotted 15 minutes on the clock plus five seconds increment after every move. Pitamber took top honours after a flawless 8 points, dropping his only point against CM Taffin Khan. Coming off excellent performances where he was recently crowned the 2026 National Chess Champion, Pitamber confidentlyoutplayedhisopponentswithtechnicalprecision and knowledge. The fifteen-year-old now holds three National titles for 2026, the other being the National U-16 OpenChessChampion.

Keron Sandiford claimed the runner-up spot, finishing withanimpressive8pointsbutnarrowlymissingthetitleon tiebreak criteria. Sandiford displayed technical precision throughout the day; his sole defeat came at the hands of CM Pitamber in the fourth round. However, he distinguished himself with two major victories in rounds three and six, overcoming veteran heavyweights CM Taffin Khan and FM AnthonyDrayton.

FIDE Master Drayton secured third place with 7 points, though he was unable to retain his Rapid Champion title. Drayton’sexperiencewasonfulldisplay;despitesetbacksin rounds three and six against Pitamber and Sandiford, respectively,heremainedaformidablecontender,highlighted byapivotalvictoryoverCMKhaninthefifthround.

In fourth place was CM Khan with 6.5 points. One of Guyana’s most seasoned players and past National Chess Championforseveralyears,Khandemonstratedhistalentand experience on the board, outplaying several of his younger counterparts. His only defeats came at the hands of fellow veterans Sandiford and Drayton, with a lone draw against JoshuaGopaulinthesixthround.

NationalJuniorChessChampionKyleCouchmansecured fifthplacewith5.5points.AseasonedcompetitorinfastContinued on page 34

2026/27 West Indies Regional 4-Day C/ships Round 2… GHE vs WWIV Day 3 Motie (5-51), Permaul (82* & 4-20) subdue Volcanoes, as Eagles cruise to victory by innings and 141 runs