Kaieteur News

Jesse Jackson dies at 84

oil to

help lift world from poverty’

...Exxon Upstream boss tells energy confab

‘Toshaos cannot settle sex crimes’

...DPPtellsRupununiwomentoreport murders,sexualoffencestopolice

Govt. invites bids for Lethem, Rose Hall airports

…severalhinterlandairstripsforupgrade

Peru's President ousted over corruption claims

...accusedofholdingsecretmeetings withChinesebusinessman

Two local banks cleared to go fully digital

…asnationalpayment platformcompleted

Govt.eyespartnershipwithSuriname

forsecondgasprojectinBerbice

…Pres. Ali says “our investors are ready”

Irfaan Ali and Jennifer Geerlings-Simons, President of the Republic of Suriname

The Government of Guyana is hoping to partner with neighbouring Suriname on its planned second gas-to-energy (GTE) project whichwillbelocatedinBerbice,RegionSix.

President Irfaan Ali made the disclosure during the opening of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo 2026 at GuyanaMarriottHotel.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)governmenthadsignalitsintentions for a second GTE project, even as the first GTEprojectatWalesWestBankDemerarais stilltobecompleted.PresidentAlihadstated that before the end of the decade, a second GTE pipeline routed through Berbice would beconstructed.

At the opening of the conference, President Ali told the attendees that discussionsareunderwayforajointinitiative that could see gas from both countries being usedforalarger-scaleprojectinBerbice.He said, “And on the path of integration for Berbice gas project we want to do this with our friends in Suriname and we are hoping that our friends in Suriname can make a decisiontojoinusbybringingtheirgaswith our gas so that we can move from a medium sizeprojecttoalargerscaleprojectforbothof ourcountriesandtheregion.”

Alistressedthattheproposedpartnership with Suriname is time-sensitive, with investors awaiting clarity “We are hoping thatveryquicklywecanhavesomedecisions, because our investors are waiting on those decisions and those decisions are critical for yourfutureandourfuture,”hesaid.

Prime Minister, Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips recently stated that the Wales GTE project is now 68 per cent completed. The first GTE projected started five years ago duringtheIrfaan-AliPPPfirstterminoffice. Theprojectentailsbringingnaturalgasfrom the Stabroek Block through a 12-inch pipeline which was built by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL), to fuel a 300megawatt(MW)combined-cyclegasturbine power plant and an integrated Natural Gas Liquids(NGL)facilityattheWalesIndustrial Estate.Theproject,whichhasalreadymissed several deadlines is expected to reduce consumers electricity bill by 50% when operational. However, government is now hopefulthattheinitiativecouldfinallydeliver cheaper and more reliable electricity by the endofthisyear Inrelationtothefirstproject, PresidentAlinoted,“Wearenowcompleting our first plant and we are in the process of finalisingthesecondplant.”

Two local banks cleared to go fully digital

ByRenaySambach

President Irfaan Ali on Tuesday announced that Guyana’sNationalPayments System (NPS) platform has been completed and local banks are ready to go fully digital.

Delivering the keynote addressattheopeningofthe Guyana Energy Conference andSupplyChainExpo2026 at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, PresidentAli said the move marks a major step in modernising the country’s financialarchitecture.

“I am pleased to announce that we have completed the process at the central bank, of building out the national payment platformandtwolocalbanks are ready to go completely on the digital platform, they have already been approved so that we can now have digital wallets, digital payment systems and digital transfer here in Guyana and that will be the new standard,”PresidentAlisaid.

AccordingtotheBankof Guyana, development of a NPS will support economic growththroughthefinancial sector that is stable and enables efficient financial intermediation Central Bank had noted that moving f r o m p a p e r- b a s e d instruments to electronic payments can result in significant cost savings in processing money transfers and increased efficiency in theprocessingofpayments.

President Ali explained that the shift is part of broader financial sector reforms aimed at ensuring the economy operates on a digital backbone, while also promoting financial and technologicalinclusion.

He highlighted the Guyana Development Bank, which will allow small and medium-sized entrepreneurs to benefit from collateralfree and interest-free financing. Assistance will also be provided to help transform ideas into bankableprojects.

“More importantly we are backing them with the technical expertise, by putting together a technical group that will transfer their ideas into bankable proposalsandthenhandhold them through the process of management in creating viable and sustainable enterprise,”Alistated.

He noted that the development bank will also serve as a catalyst to unlock additional lending from commercial banks at low interest rates and with reduced collateral requirements, expanding access to capital for a new generationofentrepreneurs.

President Ali further disclosed that work is a d v a n c i n g o n t h e

establishment of a junior stock exchange to deepen transparency and integrate more local companies into the formal financial system.

“We have to operate in the real world, in the real financial sector by building our companies and having thistransparencytoputthose companies on the stock exchange to ensure that we are fully integrated in the financial system and we are doingthat,”henoted.

Beyond finance, President Ali underscored the government’s push to digitise public services to improve efficiency and reducehumanbias.

“And it’s not about tracking people, it’s about preventingcrimeandweare not doing this the old way, we are doing this using tomorrow’s technology,” he said. He added that the digital transformation drive, will be supported by strengthened cybersecurity and data protection frameworks as Guyana advances.

‘Guyana’s oil to help lift world from poverty’ -ExxonUpstreamboss

ByDavinaBagot

Guyana’ssweetlightcrude,discoveredin the Stabroek Block by American energy giant,ExxonMobilwillnotonlyimprovethe livesofGuyanese,butwillhelptoliftpeople acrosstheglobeoutofpoverty,accordingto thecompany’sVicePresident,DanAmmann.

Delivering a keynote address at the opening day of the fifth installment of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, the President of ExxonMobil UpstreamCompanyandVicePresidentofthe Corporation,DanAmmannspokeglowingly of the country’s energy potential and the crucialroleitplaysinthecompany

Overseeing Exxon’s efforts to discover, develop and produce oil around the world, including the Permian Basin in the United States, Angola, Nigeria Indonesia, and several others, including neighbouring Brazil,Ammann spoke of the vantage point heholds.

With an eagle’s view of each country he said,“IcanveryconfidentlysaythatGuyana is perhaps the most exceptional energy developmentanywhereintheworldnotonly for the scale of the resources offshore, but how it’s being developed and managed and importantlywhatitisenablingonshore.”

Shifting his attention to the role Guyana will play on a much wider level, he said the country’s resources will help improve the lives of people across the globe, with the countryalreadyexperiencingtransformation. “First, energy development is transforming thiscountry Youcanseeiteverywhere.New construction, hospitals, clinics, schools, roads, bridges, shops and stores, beautification projects, community centers andrecreationalfacilities,”hestated.

More importantly, Ammann added that this transformation is also evident in human capital with new jobs being created, expansion of business opportunities, improvements in health and progress in education. “Then, there’s what the energy

from Guyana can do to improve the lives of people all around the world…it helps lift people out of poverty and raise the standard of living of people everywhere. Guyana’s energy develops Guyana but it helps the entire(globe)andthat’swhatthisconference isabout,”heshared.

Already,theVPnotedthatthecountryhas become the world’s largest oil producer per capita, producing over 900,000 barrels per day(bpd).

Guyana currently has four Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSOs) operating in the Stabroek Block.A fifthFPSO,isexpectedtocomeonlinebythe end of 2026, pushing the country’s daily capacity beyond one million barrels daily Meanwhile, a sixth deepwater development will add another 250,000 barrels daily in 2027.

Despite the unprecedented growth in oil production in Guyana, the country will continue to receive a meagre share of the revenue generated offshore, until it repays Exxonforitscurrentandfutureprojects.The country receives just 12.5 barrels of every 100producedintheStabroekBlock.

Inkeepingwiththeprovisionsofthe2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), the contractor, ExxonMobil can take up to 75% of production each month to cover expenses related to production activities The remaining 25% is split equally with Guyana as profits with the country receiving an additional 2% royalty paid from gross production. This model has resulted in Guyana receiving only a trickle of its nonrenewablewealth,whilepovertycontinuesto afflictmorethanhalfofthepopulation.

ImbalanceinPSA

KaieteurNewsreportedinDecemberlast year that ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC raked in US$8.4 billion in profits from Guyana’s Stabroek Block in 2024, while Guyana entitled to a 50 percent share—received just US$2.6 billion, raising renewed concerns about how profits are

calculatedundertheoilcontract.

Exxon, a 45% shareholder in the block reportedaprofitofUS$4,738,784,812forthe year ending December 2024 Financial statements for Hess, the 30% shareholder, s h o w s t h e c o m p a n y e a r n e d

US$3,145,029,074 while CNOOC with the remaining 25% share bagged

US$530,737,000 during the same period. This means that the partners together pocketed a massive US$8,414,550,886 for theyear2024.

Notably, Guyana should be receiving 50% of the profits from the Stabroek Block, or half of the revenue from crude sales in accordance with the provisions of the 2016 PSA.However,Guyanareceivedjustabouta quarter of the US$8.4B that the Stabroek Blockpartnersgainedfromthedeal.Deposits into the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) in 2024 totalled just about US$2.6B raising

President of ExxonMobil Upstream Company and Vice President of the Corporation, Dan Ammann

questionsaboutthemethodofcalculationfor profitsunderthecontract.

PovertyinGuyana

With meagre resources flowing to the country,Guyanesecontinuetocryoutagainst theimpossiblewagestheyareforcedtoliveon

Onlylastweek,womenfromRedThread joined a picket outside the Arthur Chung Conference Center where Parliamentarians weredebatingthe2026NationalBudget.

Continued on page 11

Kaieteur News

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

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

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

EDITORIAL

Lack of punctuality, lack of respect

Lateness is a chronic sickness in Guyana. It interferes with the smooth flow of business, when appointments and schedulesarenotdiligentlyhonored. Someaccidentsonthe EastBankDemerarapublicroadhavebeentracedtoalready late airline passengers racing at dangerous speeds to catch their flight, with either serious injury or deaths resulting. Even parliament a few years ago was made to wait on the budget presenter, who took his own sweet time to make a statement by arriving several minutes late. It didn't matter thatparliamenthadtowait,anditmusthavegivenasenseof powerful satisfaction to have a whole country waiting on pins and needles to hear what that budget had in store. LatenessisaversionofthatuglyscourgethathurtsGuyana, domestic violence, but is one without the pain and blood. Angering and frustration, for sure, but not much beyond somemildreprimand.

NotsoPrincipalMagistrate,JudyLatchman,whowasa figure of impatience, and barely managed distaste, at We InvestinNationhoodleader,AzruddinMohamed,forhis35 minuteslateness. Hecouldhavemissedhisseatonaflight, buthedidn'tmissafewhoursofsittingincustodywaitingfor Magistrate'sLatchman'sjudicialwrathtocool.

Mohamed did the right thing by apologizing and throwinghimselfatthemercyofthecourt. Hemetwiththe cold frown of an unhearing Judy Latchman. It was not the firsttimethathehasbeentardyandwhatwasinterpretedas disrespectforhercourt,sooutcamethehandcuffs,andoffhe wastoaholdingarea. Themanunderseverepressuresthat seem to multiply without source claimed that his lateness was part of ongoing political persecution at the hands of a “wicked, vindictive PPP Government”. The tires of his vehicleswereslashed,anditwasnotthefirsttime. Earlier, onetirewasslashed,butasparerescuedhimfrombeinglate. Onthislastoccasion,twocrippledtireskepthimawayfrom makingatimelyandrespectfulappearancebeforethecourt. Thepoliticalpersecutionisnowsointensethattherecently sworn in Leader of the Opposition cannot even obtain insurance for his vehicles. According to Mohamed, the likelyperpetratorsbehindthetireslashingsaremembersof the Special Branch of the Guyana Police Force, which is underthethumbofthePPPCGovernment.

UnfortunatelyforMohamed,allofhisexplanationsfell ondeafears,asMagistrateLatchmanapparentlyhadhadher fill,andhermindwasmadeup. Asternwarningthatarepeat wouldnotbetolerated,andafewhoursincustodytoshow that she was all business. Did Principal Magistrate Latchmanoverreact,letherfrustrationsgetthebetterofher usual judicial equanimity? Without a doubt, it is not only Mohamed who is under heavy pressure, this jurist is also likelytobefacingseverepressuresonherown. Shemaybe justified to some extent, but a case could be made that the penalty was on the heavy-handed side Was she unreasonable, a little lacking in magisterial kindness, since Mohamed claimed that it was only his second instance of lateness, with the first time being by a mere two minutes? We doubt that Ms. Latchman could be unaware of the tightening circumstances that have made Mohamed's life a constanttorment,andthathislatesttireslashingexperience waspartofacontinuum. Shedidsay“Iwilltemperjustice withmercy”,butthatgotdilutedwhenshedishedoutthose hoursincustody

Then, with her every word laced with judicial menace, shesaid,“Iamverymuchinclinedto…remandyoutoprison soIcanguaranteethatyouwillbehereontimeonthenext occasion.” NowthatAzruddinMohamedhasbeenproperly andsternlywarned,therestisuptohim. Whateverthefuture PPPCGovernmentpoliticalpersecutionsthathemaybethe object of, he had better be present in Principal Magistrate Latchman'scourt,orhisgooseiscooked. Howeverhegets to court that is his challenge. No lateness, no excuses, no apologieswillbeaccepted. Hisnoosejusttightened.

The Data Predator: Why Minister Parag's Privacy Breach is a Warning to every Guyanese

DearEditor, Thehallowedhallsofthe National Assembly are meant for the articulation of p o l i c y , n o t t h e weaponisation of personal data.Yet,inajarringdisplay of administrative overreach, Minister Sonia Parag recently utilized her access to sensitive public service records to "shame" MP Dr GordonBarker,detailinghis exact teaching tardiness downtotheminute. While the Minister framed this as a call for accountability, the reality is far more chilling: it was a calculated data dump designed to silence dissent. This incident isn't just a political spat; it is the "canaryinthecoalmine"for

Guyana'sdigitalfuture.

Minister Parag's

d e f e n s e t h a t n o confidentialitywasbreached becauseshewas"leadingby example" suggests a dangerousmisunderstanding ofgovernance.

I n a n y m o d e r n

democracy, personal employment records are protected. By airing them to win a legislative argument, the Minister has effectively signaledthatanycitizenwho critiques the government is fairgamefordoxing.

This behavior is particularly alarming when viewed alongside the 2025 cash grant distribution, where voter lists were allegedly repurposed as partisan canvassing tools

When state-held data becomes"politicalartillery," the line between public service and partisan surveillanceevaporates.

Despite the Data Protection Act receiving assent in August 2023, Guyanaremainsinastateof "legislativeparalysis—alaw withoutteeth.”

TheMissingOrder:Two y e a r s l a t e r , t h e commencement order has notbeenissued.

The Ghost Commission: While a Commissioner (Giddings)wasappointedin January 2026, there is no functional office, no public website, and no hotline for citizenstoreportabuses.

This vacuum allows officials to pillage sensitive

files unchecked. While the government pushes the e-ID projectasa"voluntarypilot," it is simultaneously consolidatingbiometricdata into a centralized vortex. Without the Data Protection Act being fully operational, this "vortex" is a weapon waitingtobefired.

To address this, we must create a roadmap for accountability, if we are to reclaim our digital rights by ensuring that "no one is above the law," we must move beyond social media outrage and toward rigorous institutionalcorrection.

1.ImmediateJudicial& ParliamentaryAction The Apology or Resignation: Minister Parag (Continuedonpage5)

The closure of Stabroek News

DearEditor,

For almost four decades, Stabroek News (SN) has been an important part of Guyanese life, culturally, socially, politically, and intellectually It was indeed sad to learn that the management has decided to close the newspaper on the th15 of March, bringing the end of this national institution Whatever one thinksofSN,ithasbecomea part of the Guyanese reality with its departure in a few weeks;avoidwillbecreated thatwillbedifficulttofill.

Themanagementpointed to several reasons that influenced their painful decision. Among those are: (1) government refusal to paythe80-plusmillionowed tothepaper,(2)competition from social media, (3) insufficient advertisement from the private sector, and (4) a change in reading culturethatledtoadeclinein sales of the paper, to name a few It is difficult to say which of the above had the major influence on the decision to exit the public space. It is obvious that the government's refusal to pay money owed to SN is probably the single most important factor that influenced the decision to close the paper. The PPP's historichostilitytotheSNis publicknowledgethatledto it losing a large section of Indian readership, and its sales for several years came frommainlytheAfricanand other communities This strategybythePPPreachesa newdimensionwiththebirth oftheGuyanaTimes,owned

by a known PPP supporter Given the politics in the country, in which racial/ethnic/ political solidarity and the fear factor o f g o v e r n m e n t victimization, the Indiandominated private sector falls in line withholding ads from the newspaper Added totheabove,theSNbecame victim to the divisive and p a r t i s a n p o l i t i c a l environment where it is difficult, some will say impossible, to engage in public advocacy without being accused of taking a politicalsideandbecominga casualty of our political culture. Over time, the SN was seen as antiPNCR/APNUandlaterantiP P P C ; i t s c r y o f i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d objectivitywasnotsufficient todefeatthisperception.

While the SN never c l a i m e d t o b e a representativeofPortuguese interest because of the ethnicity of its founding fathers and our race base political culture, the paper was seen in some quarters, particularly in the early period, as presenting the Portuguese political and economic interest. Given the Portuguese economic strengthintheeconomy,one is forced to ponder why that community has not rallied behind the SN in its time of need. My judgment is the fearfactor,thegovernment's ability to victimize Whatever the reason in

political terms, the death of the SN represents a decline in the ability of the Portuguese community to influencepublicdiscoursein the society – an unfortunate development. Ironically,theSNhadits birth in a period of PNC domination, and Desmond Hoyte reformed policy Its demisehastakenplaceunder the return of “democracy,” PPPC-style domination T h e c o u n t r y h a s demonstrated in the face of PPPC assault that, like the destruction of a multi-racial consistency to give meaning to multi-racial politics in a sustained way, there is no democraticculturetoprotect andsustainatrue

(Continuedonpage5)

Economic growth is meaningless if not buttressed by a viable

Fourth Estate

DearEditor,

Over the past few days, I had confirmed that one of our prestigious newspapers, Stabroek News, would in a few weeks time, beclosed.Irecallin1986when,withcourage and a sense of duty to this nation, Stabroek News was launched. At the helm were two distinguished Guyanese super patriots, DoreenandthelateDavidDeCaires.

Whatever the reason is, a government committedtotheessenceofdemocracy,press freedom, and the right of citizens to be exposed to all sides of a story, could have intervenedandfoundsomewaytoensurethat independentmediasuchasStabroekNewsbe kept alive. Kept alive to respond to the challengeofdemocracy,decency,andsoasto bequeath this and succeeding generations an environment that will make meaningful our boastofbeingthefastestgrowingeconomyin

the world. Economic growth is meaningless unlessit'sbuttressedbyaviablefourthestate, that is; a truly independent media. A people and a government should ensure that a truly independent media is supported and facilitatedtoallowittosoartogreatheights. As an avid reader of the independent press,Istillbelieveitisnevertoolatetoavoid going over the edge, to be destroyed. True patriotscanusethismomenttospeakupand not be guilty of the curse of saying nothing because it is comfortable. As we recall the philosophical underpinnings of the work by SamuelKoranteng-Pipim,whotitledhisbook “Not for sale; Integrity in a Culture of Silence”. Future generations must judge us kindly and honourably because we stood up likemenandnotmice.

Sincerely HamiltonGreen

Rev. Veron Hussey: a liberation theologian

DearEditor,

IrecentlyvisitedGuyana after a lengthy absence and witnessed significant progress, new buildings, improvedroads,andinsome parts, a much better-looking Georgetown. Development isvisible,andthatinitselfis encouraging.

However, my final weekend in Guyana was what truly uplifted and inspiredme.

O n S a t u r d a y, I participated in a give-back event that my sister organizes twice a year for families in Sophia. I can honestly say that I received more from that experience than the many families who were blessed with clothing for the entire household, household goods, toys, books,andfood.

The event began with

Reverend Veron Hussey counseling the children, encouraging them to be appreciativeandtouseGod's teachingsasguidanceinhow they live their lives. She offered prayers before the distribution began, setting a toneoffaithanddignity

The following day, my livingsiblingsandIdroveto my mother's childhood church in Golden Grove, where Rev Hussey was officiating.

Without doubt, she is a liberation theologian. She told the large congregation thatitisnotenoughtosimply attend church every Sunday She called on believers to playaroleinendingpoverty, injustice, civil rights violations, and corruption. She urged them to follow Christ'sexample,tostandup against evil, but to do so

peacefully She even suggestedthatmembersjoin protests or take whatever lawful action they see fit to bringaboutjustice.

I have always called on the Church in Guyana and other members of civil society to stand against wrongdoing, irrespective of whoiscommittingit.

We all recall the days of Father Darke and Bishop George speaking out boldly against what they saw as wrong. One has to wonder why, in the last three decades, when wrongdoing hasreachednewlevels,there hasbeensomuchsilence.

It was refreshing to hear Rev Hussey standing up for theunderrepresentedandthe disenfranchised. I sincerely hope others follow her example.

RawleBlackman

The closure of Stabroek...

Frompage4 independent news media print or electronic. Thisisourreality.

The departure of the SN is yet another victory for the PPPC and their march to domination. While they will be celebrating the end of the SN in objective politics, it stands as an indictment of that party's governanceofthecountry

The irony is that without a meaningful democratic voice those in power begin to hearonlythemselves.

That echo chamber breeds overconfidence, arrogance, and eventually a decay from within.

Equally important is that this is taking placeinaperiodwhenGuyanahasbecomea Petro-State, and economic activity is

booming in both the public sector and the private sector. In a normal society with government budget of 1.5 trillion dollars, given the small population, our economic activityshouldfosteroptimismforabrighter future for small businesses like SN. What a contradiction.

Inclosing,whileinrecenttimesinprivate I questioned Stabroek News's neutrality and attimesitsobjectivity,Ineverlostsightofits tremendouscontributiontosociety Itwillbe remiss of me not to acknowledge that my coming to public prominence as a letter writerwasfacilitatedbythisnewspaper,and likemany,IamindebtedtotheSN. Iseethis letteraspaymentofthatindebtedness.

Yourssincerely, TacumaOgunseye

The Housing Ministry and the residents of Schoonard

DearEditor, Kaieteur News has reported on 16 February, 2026 that the Ministry of Housing has given notice to residentsofSchoonard,West Bank Demerara to relocate for construction of a community recreational area.

WecallontheMinistryof Housing and other Government bodies to meet the needs of the citizens whose lives are affected by the construction of the community ground in Region3.

We hope that all other community members will also advocate with the Government to ensure that the community ground in Region 3 is

not built on the distress of any citizen of Guyana who will not have a suitable home. We need community grounds and spaces to promote healing and wellness, not to be legacies ofinequalityandoppression. We note that the Ministry of Housing seems to be inconsistent

n

heir applicationoflaw

The Ministry of Housing andtheCentralHousingand PlanningAuthority have not moved against the private business which is operating intheFarnumPlaygroundin Subryanville.

Unlike the citizens in Schoonard, this private business moved into a longestablished community space, even as there were reports in October 2025 about a notice to stop construction.

The Data Predator:

Frompage4 must issue a formal apology ontheAssemblyfloorforthe misuse of public servant files.

If she cannot respect the sanctityofpersonaldata,she isunfitforanoversightrole.

J u d i c i a l R e v i e w : Organizations like the GTU and affected individuals should pursue a judicial review under Article 40 of the Constitution, seeking an injunction against ministerial"datadumps."

The Legislative Ultimatum: The Opposition must tie the continuation of the e-ID project to the immediate,fullactivationof the Data Protection

The Ministry of Housing must also pursue actions to ensure that the private business removes from FarnumPlayground.

Yours sincerely

Eva Rawana-Scott

Aisha Fraites

Johnette Gonsalves

Ingrid Clarke

Leah Alphonso

Peter DeGroot

Ryaad Bacchus

Shad Fernandes

Clair Pestano

Robert Fernandes

Ronald Luckhoo

Clair Pestano

Dominic Fernandes

Vidyaratha Kissoon

Why Minister Parag's...

Commission by April 1, 2026.

2 Strengthening the Watchdog: The Data Protection Act must be amendedtoincludecriminal liability for government officials who weaponise personalinformation.

Fines should not just hit the agency; they should hit the individual abuser's pockets, with potential jail timeforegregiousbreaches.

TheVerdict:Predation, NotPolitics

Minister Parag's actions have turned the National

Assembly into a theater of privacyviolations.

If we allow this to go unpunished,theupcomingeID system will not be a tool for development, but a ledger for state-sponsored intimidation.

Wemustdemandafreeze onbiometriccollectionuntil a fully independent, "teethbaring" watchdog is operational.

Data protection is not a luxury;itisthefinalfrontier ofourcivilliberties.

Regards, HemduttKumar

Peru's President ousted over corruption claims

...accused of holding secret meetings with Chinese businessman

(Reuters) - Peru's CongressonTuesdayousted President Jose Jeri just four months into his term over a scandal involving undisclosedmeetingswitha Chinese businessman, extendingacycleofpolitical upheavalthathasgrippedthe Andean nation for much of thepastdecade.

T h e r e w e r e 7 5 lawmakers who voted in favorofremovingJeri,while 24 voted against and three abstained.

Legislators will now electanewheadofCongress who will also assume Peru's presidency, becoming the

country'seighthpresidentin as many years. Jeri is Peru's third consecutive president toberemovedfromoffice.

The rapid-fire ousters underscore how Peru's political class has failed to address voter concerns like crime and corruption, leavingthecountrystuckina cycle of short-lived administrations with little time or authority to tackle problems and a deeply unpopular Congress that seeks to gain support by removingunpopularleaders.

Ruth Luque, one of the lawmakers who backed the censure measures, said she

Police officers stand guard, while Peru's Congress convenes for an emergency session to debate a motion to remove President Jose Jeri, as the government grapples with a scandal over reports of the President's undisclosed meetings with a Chinese businessman, in Lima, Peru, February 17, 2026. REUTERS/Angela Ponce

wantedtoreplaceJeriwitha leaderwhowouldputpublic interest and security first, ahead of a new president coming into office."We ask to end this agony so we can

Peruvian President Jose Jeri holds a press conference after facing a congressional oversight committee, amid a scandal over undisclosed meetings with a Chinese businessman, a case that has intensified scrutiny over his government's transparency and accountability, at the Government Palace, in Lima, Peru, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Gerardo Marin/ File Photo

truly create the transition citizens are hoping for," she said. "Not a transition with hidden interests, influencepeddling, secret meetings andhoodedfigures.Wedon't wantthatsortoftransition."

With yet another interim leadersettotakeoverahead of scheduled elections on April 12, the volatility risks deepening public distrust as legislators and politicians seek to posture themselves aspresidentialcontenders.

"Itstrikesmethatthereis no trace of high mindedness here, only electoral calculations," said Michael Shifter, president of the Inter-American Dialogue think tank in Washington. "Enough lawmakers concluded their support for Jeri would hurt them in elections,sotheyhadtoact."

The scandal that was dubbed "Chifagate" - after a local name for Chinese restaurants - began last monthwhenJeriwasfilmed arrivingatarestaurantlateat nightwearingahoodtomeet with Chinese businessman Zhihua Yang, who owns stores and a concession for an energy project The meeting was not publicly

disclosed Jeri became president in October after Peru's unpopular Congress voted unanimously to removehispredecessorDina Boluarte, as the right-wing parties that had backed her dropped their support amid corruption scandals and growing anger over rising crime.Boluarte had no vice president and Jeri, who was the head of Congress at the time, was next in the line of succession This interim status was used to remove him from the presidency on T u e s d a y U n l i k e impeachment, w

requires a supermajority of 87 in the 130-member legislature, Congress voted to censure Jeri, which strips him of his title as head of Congress with a simple majority Jeri has said he would respect the outcome of the vote.

VOTINGONNEW PRESIDENTON WEDNESDAY

The field for the April election is crowded, with dozens of candidates expected to participate According to a recent Ipsos poll, large portions of the electorate are undecided aboutwhotovotefor

Despite the political turmoil, Peru's miningheavy economy has remainedresilientwith3.4% growth in 2025 and relatively low inflation of 1.7%, underscoring how the economy has remained insulated from political shocks.

Whilethecurrentheadof Congress, Fernando Rospigliosi, would be constitutionally next in the line of succession, he has declined to assume the presidency As such, legislators will have to elect anewheadofCongresswho will then automatically assumethepresidency Rospigliosi said parties have until 6 p.m. local time to present their candidates and the legislature would vote on a new president on Wednesday This would be similar to Francisco Sagasti's ascent to the presidency in 2020 after he was chosen by Congress amid a sharp political crisis and protests following former President Manuel Merino's five-day presidency

UAEreadytopartnerinGuyana’soilboom

ByAlliyahAllicock

The United Arab Emirates (UAE)hassignalledstronginterest in deepening ties with Guyana’s fast-expanding oil and gas sector, declaring it stands ready to help build out the country’s energy industry

Speaking virtually at the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo on Tuesday, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Sultan Al Jaber,saidGuyana’sriseasamajor producerisalreadydeliveringjobs, investment and long-term national capacity

NotingthatGuyana’seconomy hasgrownatafastrateoverthepast threeyears,Dr.AlJabernotedthat thisisnotincrementalgrowth,that this is structural transformation.

“Guyana is proof of what progress looks like when energy becomes a platform for development in its border,” he said. According to the minister,energydemandscontinue to rise and reliable supply remain essential for economic growth, energysecurityandsocialstability He noted that the world needs

Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates (UAU), Dr. Sultan Al Jaber

energy that is affordable, secured and energy that delivers lower emissions. “In other words, we need practical solutions that are groundedinreality,”hestated.

In the United Arab Emirates, Dr Al Jaber explained that they have spent more than seven decades developing capabilities across the entire energy value chain, and have learned a simple

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir

but decisive lessonthattheseforcesalonedonot create prosperity, but partnerships do.

“True wealth is not defined by what lies beneath the ground, it is defined by what is built above it, strong institutions, competitive industries, a skilled workforce and long-term economical resilience,” heoutlined.

more than 20 years of experience working with countries across every continent, including in the Caribbean, to expand renewable energythroughwindandsolar,”he mentioned According to him, Guyanaisthemostrecentpartnerin the UAE - Caribbean Renewable Fund,andtheyhavecollaboratedto install a solar farm on Wakenaam Island.

Noting UAE’s partnerships, he said, “Our model is deliberate, we work with countries not just in them.Webuildpartnershipsrooted in trust and create mutual respect anddesignforthelongtermandwe focus on outcomes that matter, economic growth, jobs and industrial capabilities and lasting prosperity.”

Dr. Al Jaber is also the Managing Director of ADNOC, Executive Chairman of XRG and ChairmanofMasdar Henotedthat through reliable partnerships throughthesecompanies,theyhave brought the “know how, technology, capital and a global network of partners to develop oil andgasresponsibilityandatscale.”

”Through Masdar, we offer

The importance of partnership, he said that “Guyana story is not just about growth, it is about choice. The choice to turn natural resources into lasting national strengths,notjustfortodaybutfor generations.

The choice to build partnerships that endure based on trust,shareambition,andmutual

Continued on page 15

Mashramaniandthenationalidentitycrisis

In exactly one week we will once again host Mash Day, that annual exercise in patriotic perspiration where we celebrate becoming a Republic by borrowing someone else's party and adjustingitforinflation.

Now, before I am deported to Lethem for cultural treason, let me say that I love a good festival. I enjoy music, dancing, and watching normally restrained civil servants transform into sequined philosophers. But as Mash Day approaches with the inevitabilityofanelectricity bill, I cannot shake the uneasyfeelingthatourgrand national celebration looks suspiciously like a photocopy of Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival—except thetonerislowandthepaper slightlydamp.

We have the Float Parade We have the costumes.Wehavetheparty trucks We have the gyrations that suggest either cultural liberation or mild chiropractic distress. What wedonotappeartohaveisa clearanswertothequestion: what exactly is Guyanese aboutMashDay?

Mashramani,wearetold, comesfromanArawakword meaning “celebration after hard work ” This is beautiful.Itconjuresimages of community, harvest, storytelling, ancestral memory, and maybe a responsible amount of cassavabread.Yetsomehow

the modern translation seems to be: “celebration after importing a costume catalogue.”

The irony is delicious. We named the festival after an Indigenous concept, then proceeded to sideline Indigenous culture. If an alien landed on Mash Day and watched the parade, it might concludethat Guyana is a small suburb of Port of Spain.Andhereisthething: Trinidad's Carnival is magnificent precisely because it is Trinidad's. It is born of their history, their struggles, their calypso rebellions, their steelpan genius It is a cultural organism. When they do bacchanal, it is historically groundedbacchanal.

When we do bacchanal, itsometimesfeelslikewe're auditioning.

Every year we add new ingredients A chutney competition here A dancehall segment there. A costumebandthatlookslike it survived a collision between a peacock and a glitter factory But inclusivity cannot be achieved by sprinkling cultural confetti over a s t r u c t u r e t h a t i s fundamentallyimitative.We like to say we are “One People.” In reality, we are a salad bowl of African, Indian,Indigenous,Chinese, Portuguese, and European influences. And there is nothing wrong with a salad bowl—exceptthatitrequires intention.

Where, for example, is the storytelling? Where are thedramaticreenactmentsof Cuffy'srebellion?Whereare the indentured labourers steppingofftheshipnotasa footnote, but as theatre? Where are the Indigenous myths brought to life in costume and dance? Where is the Chinese dragon weaving through Main Street?

WhereisPortuguesefolk musiccollidingjoyfully withtassadrums?

Instead, we have a parade that feels like a cultural déjà vu I halfexpect Machel Montano to appear at any moment and politely ask us for the rental fee.

Other countries with diverse populations have managed to create festivals thatareunmistakablytheirs. Festa Junina in Brazil celebrates rural life and harvest traditions, entirely distinctfromRio'sCarnival. CropOverinBarbadosgrew outoftheisland'ssugarcane history

Mashramani, by contrast, feels like it is having an identity crisis. It wants to be a national reflection, but it keeps glancing sideways at Trinidad's mirror Now, imitation is the sincerest formofflattery Itisalsothe sincerest form of insecurity

We have convinced ourselvesthatifitlookslike Carnival, it must be successful. But success is notmeasuredbyhowclosely

DEM BOYS SEH

Cocktails

is now like buffet!

CocktailsinGuyanausedtobeapolite, two-hourexerciseinsmilingtillyuhcheek hurtandpretendingyuhfull.Youwouldeat before you went, sip something that look expensivebuttastelikecoughsyrup,nibble one pholourie, and glide home feeling sophisticated.

Now?CocktailsdoneturnintoNational Feeding Programme with background music.

Dem boys seh cocktails ain't cocktails nomore—isculturalfestivalswithasideof rum.Youreachexpectinglightjazzandsoft conversation, and next thing you know somebodybeatingsteelpan,apoetreading three chapters of an autobiography, and a dance group performing an interpretive piece. All before the cheese cubes even circulate.

And speaking of circulation — that is now a competitive sport. Food and drinks more lavish than ever before. In the old days, when the server pass with a tray, you wouldtakeonelittlepastry,nodgraciously, and whisper, “Thank you.” Now people stalking the waiters like is wildlife documentary

One hand grab a chicken skewer, the next hand balancing mini quiche, and

we resemble someone else's cultural blueprint It is measuredbyhowdeeplyour peopleseethemselvesinthe celebration. Imagine if we paused — just once — and reconceptualizedthefestival from the ground up. Not as “Carnival Lite,” but as an evolving expression of Guyana's layered history Instead,weclingtoimitation likeitisaflotationdevice.

Perhaps we are afraid. Defining a national identity is complicated. It requires u n c o m f o r t a b l e conversations.Itforcesusto admitthatwearenot,infact, “one people,” but many peoples negotiating coexistence It demands

creativity rather than copyand-paste.

But if Mashramani is to mean“celebrationafterhard work,”thenperhapsthehard work now is cultural introspection. In one week, the music trucks will roll.

The costumes will shimmer The sun will scorch us equally, which may be our most authentic unifying experience. We will dance. We will wave. We will post photos. And we will once againcongratulateourselves on a successful national celebration The only lingering question will be: successfulatwhat?

Until we have the courage to abandon the

safety of imitation and risk

Mashramani will remain what it has quietly become

, energetic, slightly insecure echo of another country's festival.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the a

ot necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

somehow a napkin holding spring rolls tucked under the elbow People stacking demplatehigherthanmountRoraima.Dem boyssehitreachthestagewherepeopleno longereatbeforetheyattendcocktails.Why waste groceries at home when you could strategize? Some people arrive early with empty stomach and strong intention. You could see it in dem eyes focus, determination,asmallprayer Andcocktails usedtorunfromseventonine.

Now nine o'clock is when the real operation begin. Nobody moving till the liquor done. When the bartender start packingup,youseepanicspreadfasterthan pepper sauce. Men going in sober and comingoutdrunk.

It ain't networking again It is endurance.

Dem boys seh we done redefine elegance. Cocktails in Guyana now is less about mingling and more about managing resources. Freeness no longer hiding. It strutting round in blazer and high heels, smiling politely, and asking, “Is there any morecomingoutfromthekitchen?”

Classy? Maybe But efficient? Absolutely Talkhalf.Leffhalf.

GUYANA – WHAT KIND OF COUNTRY, SOCIETY, IS THIS?

What kind of country is this? Whatdoesitsayofthe qualityofthesocietythatthe bestthatcanbeproducedand hailed as success stories, are sowanting?

Wanting in what inspires trust Wantinginwhatfosters belief Consider the facts in the environment, what are suretogeneratethearguable, but cannot be overcome

because they are so undeniable

One national leader carries the history of over a dozen and a half serious chargesaspartofthehairon his head Thanks to the cleverness, resourcefulness, of loyal friends, that raft of charges sank slowly underwater Good riddance, hands washed of that inconvenientnuisance. There is a residual

consideration of which very few summon the courage to address Though the raft of charges sank, the water is so translucentthattheshadowy, bulky hulk of that deliberate sinkingcanstillbeseenfrom the bow of passing boats, or from distant shores. Still, that is held aloft as the operation of law in this country

Some country, it is One where there are these oneman tribunals, and one-man juries The majesty and honesty of Justinian it is not Somekindofspecialcountry Guyana has to be, when the citizen weighed down by the baggage of such a slew of chargescanbesponsoredfor the best that can Guyana offertoitsown.

What can be said of the qualityofthesocietyinwhich

this is celebrated as respect for law and order, the blindness of its application andoperation? Thepowerof redemption, or redemption twisted into a grotesque expressionofwhatcloseness topowermakespossible?

Anotherleadernowrisen to national prominence has almost a dozen charges hanging like the sword of Damocles above his neck His neck is so inviting that foreigners in Washington wantathicksliceofhim To compound matters, he has close to the same number of chargeslaidagainsthisname righthere.

The difference between thefirstleaderandthissecond oneisthathisoldfriendshave abandoned the latter, claim never to have known him

Despite a trail of

photographic evidence

Camerasdon’thaveamindof theirown

It is what I know; maybe the technology has outraced me and outsmarted me (again)

The new man who has newfriendsisthemosttalked about currently in Guyana, withalleyesfocusedonhim Some glare and fear (former comrades); some stare and baretheirbreasts.

Ishetheonetocarrytothe PromisedLand? Itwouldbe theheightofironyifheisseen as Peter the Hermit, the spearhead of a local crusade (APauper’sCrusade)against infidels and the dhimmi, givenhisheritage Iwonder what Salah al-Din would t h i n k o f s u c h a n i n c o n c e i v a b l e , imponderabledevelopment.

Amid the budget debate and disputes about growth and figures, these are the leading men on Guyana’s political stage It says something about how ascent

and success are measuredinthiscountry

It also gives a clear indicationofhowtangledand twistedthiscountryis,inthat thisisthebestthatitcanselect andthenletthemloosetolead theway

One is garrulous and frivolous,nottakenseriously byseriouscitizens theother is subdued, the keeper of many deep secrets Some personal,somenational And all that can breakopen a frightening pandora’s box, fuelalocalpoliticalwildfire.

Three out of four Guyanese voters cast their ballot for the two of them, notwithstanding all the negatives,whetherallegedor zigzagging and shimmering in the crown that is commonsense

Again, I raise that earlier question:whatkindofsociety is this that puts most of its eggsinthesetwoporousand precarious leadership baskets, and then with the complacency of the self-

satisfied assert: I have done myduty,thereisnothingelse leftformetodo,sohelpme God.

The bad news for Guyanese is that the divine that manages destinies grew sodisgustedthatGuyanawas givenupon,awhileback All the gifts of providence that couldbedreamedof,desired, and yet this is the ghastly terminal where matters coagulate.

Onewhohadthestainand stench of near a score of charges,butslitheredthrough that net A second who has bundles of charges, who shakesandwiggles,butisstill stuck Withthisspectacularly singular duo, Guyanese are nowstuck

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

Govt. invites bids for Lethem, Rose Hall airports

…several hinterland airstrips for upgrade

The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of PublicUtilitiesandAviationiscurrentlyrequestingproposals for the construction of municipal airports at Lethem in Region Nine and Rose Hall in Region Six, and for the rehabilitationofseveralhinterlandcoastalairstrips.

According to the three tender documents issued on Monday, the government is requesting proposals for the Engineering, Procurement, Construction plus Finance for a Code4EairportatLethemandforaCode3CairportatRose Hall Therehabilitationoftheairstripswillbedoneinfourlots

This newspaper understands that bids for the hinterland projects will be opened on March 19, 2025 at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB), whilebidsfortheairportprojectswillbeopenedonApril14.

As reported in the media, plans to construct airports in Lethem and Rose Hall were announced by President Irfaan Alilastyear Accordingtotheheadofstate,thegoalisnotjust toimproveairtransportbuttostrategicallypositionGuyana as the world’s hottest destination for agro-processing and foodproduction.

By strengthening logistics and connectivity through projects like these, Guyana envisions becoming the most competitivedestinationgloballyforvalue-addedagriculture andfood-basedindustries,hestatedatanevent.

Further, in presenting this year’s budget, Senior Minister with the responsibility for finance, Dr Ashni Singh said the airports, “will improve connectivity within Guyana and with neigbouringcountries,andwillprovideregionalanddomestic carriersalternativelandingdestinationswithinGuyana Inthe caseoftheRoseHall/Canjeairport,thiswillconstitutecritical connectivitytofacilitateeaseofaccessgiventhebroadervision for industrial and economic development in Region 6, once the second gas pipeline is landed there. In the case of the Lethemairport,thiswillfacilitatetheemergenceofRegion9 as a major hub for trade, tourism, and connectivity between northernBrazilandtheCaribbean”

Governmenthassetasidesome$4.1billiontorehabilitate andupgradehinterlandairstripsthisyear

‘Guyana’soiltohelp...

Frompage3

They vented frustration over the allocation of millions to an Office that provided no evidence of work to the House, as moreresourcescontinuetopourinthatdirection.

“IamoutherebecauseIamapoorpersonandthisbudget is not poor people friendly I am angry that a former judge couldbereceiving$40millionayearforworkthatwedon’t evensee,”saidWintressWhyteassheheldherplacard.

“Poorpeoplecan’teatcertainthings.Theyalwayshaveto forego something. Some of them can’t even afford to send theirchildrentoschooleveryday Someofthemgotoschool and they can’t even eat a proper meal. Look at what they giving the children and calling it healthy meal- a pine tart,” SusanCollymoreargued.

Similarly, Wintress Whyte noted, “The government minimum wage is $60,147 per month. House rent in Georgetownis$45,000andupforaonebedroom.Ican’teven addinthemealsandtransportationandsoforth…poorpeople have to be in our bed worrying what we giving the children themtomorrow WegottobedoingMathematicsinwesleep. In we sleep we worrying, take away, subtract and then you divideandmultiplythemoneystillcan’tdo.”

Guyana becomes hotspot for oil firms ramping up global supply

…Chief Oil Data Analyst says country “has been a blessing”

By Rehanna Ramsay

Given the growing demand for new oil supplyglobally,SimonFlowers,Chairmanof Global Energy Data Analytics Firm, Wood MacKenzie, told the opening of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo on Tuesday, that the impact of the nation’s inputcannotbeoverstated.

Infact,Flowers,atopdataanalystforthe companysaid,“Guyanahasbeenablessing,” in the industry, coming at a time when oil operators are looking to scale up production tofillthedemandglobally

Heasserted“ExxonMobildemandsabout 104 million barrels right now, and they think it’sgoingtobe[morethan]104millionbarrels in2050andOPEC,whohassomeskininthe game, of course, have got an even higher number So, what that means is the industry

needs to keep investing in developing new supply Weneedanother20millionbarrelsper day of new supply by the middle of the next decade AndI’mgoingtocomebacktoalittle bit later So, in Guyana has been a blessing, comingalongjustattherighttime…”

The chief oil data analyst said that from thestartof its production,Guyana has made the third largest non-Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) contributiontothesector

He told delegates present at the annual conferencethatGuyanaislistedamongthetop locationforpetroleumresourcesinthecoming decadewhentheglobaldemandwillpeak

“From the start of production in Liza in 2019, Guyana has made the third biggest contribution to the growth in non-OPEC production through 2025 and if we move on another,we’llseethatinthenext10years It’s

evenmore,notquitethemillionbarrelsperday thatwasmentionedearlier,butcertainlyinour forecast, maybe a conservative about point 8 millionbarrelsperday,andit’llbethesecond biggestoverthenext10years,behindBrazil”

He emphasised that the world needs to develop 20 million barrels per day of new supplytomeetdemandin2035.“Andthisis where probably most of it is going to come from is actually existing discovery It’s not future exploration. Is stuff we know about thatneedstobedeveloped,”hesaid

Additionally, Flowers noted that Guyana’s price in terms of cost per barrel is highly competitive. He explained that when comparedtootherdevelopersthathavecosts which range from $40 to $70 per barrel Guyana’shasanadvantagewithacostof$26 perbarrel.

“DeepWateristypicallyquiteexpensive actuallytodrillanddevelop,butbigenough reservesmeanthatthenetcostsarequitelow, andGuyanahasthisincredibleadvantageof $26 per barrel break even costs, which, as I say, they are advantage barrels. That means lowcost,$26abarrel…”

According to the data analyst, the oil

operatorswithintheGuyanacontextsuchas China National Offshore Oil Corporation, CNOOC,ExxonMobilandChevronaresetto be the biggest benefactors since “the big fieldslikeGuyanatendtogetbigger.”

“So, Guyana is there for ExxonMobil, andwelookatitthesameforChevronandthe same from Chinese national offshore oil company And so, Guyana knows the scale growth and margins to drive each of these companies’businessforwardintothe2030’s there’s a super important asset for them…We’relookinghereattheinvestment profile that these companies are putting into the offshore area. And that investment is absolutely massive. It goes up to about just short of $10 billion per year Absolutely massive.”

FormerpolicemandiesaftercrashingintopostonCorentyne

Thirty-four-year-old Seon Hunte, of Albert Street, No.79 Village, Corentyne succumbed to injuries he sustainedearlySundaymorning,after hisvehiclereportedlyslammedintoa utility pole on the No.74 Village PublicRoad,Corentyne.

The incident occurred around 5:00am while Hunte, a former police rank of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), was making his waytoGeorgetown

TishanaHarrilall,Hunte’sreputed wife told Kaieteur News on Tuesday

thatshereceivedaphonecallfromher sister on Sunday morning just after 05:00 hrs enquiring about his whereabouts Harrilall told her youngersiblingthathedidnotreturn home.

“Shetoldmethatsomebodycalled her from the hospital telling she that Seon ended up in an accident and he dehatthehospital,”Harrilallrecalled

She quickly rushed to the No75 VillageRegionalHospital,whereshe was directed to her partner who was positionedonabed,breathingheavily

andshowinglittletonomovement.

Based on her assessment, Hunte didnotbearanymajorabrasionsabout his body, but she related that his injuries included broken legs, a fractured skull, and broken ribs. Despite, these did not appear to her immediately as life-threatening. As such, his eventual death has left her badlyshaken.

Shetoldthispublicationthatbased on information, her reputed husband wasintoxicated “I heard that he was high, he was

drinkingthatnight,andthenhedrive and he gone with a speed,” Harrilall said,whilenotingthatHuntewasnot knowntobearecklessdriver

Their last interaction, she recounted, was on Saturday The two lived together for over ten years, duringwhichtheyproducedonechild Huntewasself-employed.

“He is a very jovial person He made a lot of friends very humble, calm guy, always happy for everybody He’s good in every way,” thegrievingwomanexpressed

Magistrateresumesvoirdirein2020electionsfraudcase

Thecasestemmingfromtheallegedfraud surrounding Guyana’s 2020 General and Regional Elections continued on Tuesday, with the court conducting a voir dire into evidenceagainstoneoftheaccused,Enrique Livan.

Among those charged in the matter are former Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield; former District Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo; former Deputy Chief Elections Officer Roxanne Myers; former Minister of Health Volda Lawrence;

APNU+AFC Chief Scrutineer Carol Smith Joseph; and former GECOM employees Sheffern February, Michelle Miller, and DeniseBabb-Cummings.

ThechargesallegethatbetweenMarch2 andAugust2,2020,theaccusedconspiredto manipulate election results at the Ashmins BuildinginGeorgetown,therebydefrauding electorsacrossGuyana.

During Tuesday’s proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, the courtexaminedevidenceagainstLivan,who

servedasanInformationTechnologyOfficer with GECOM during the tabulation process forthe2020elections.

Livan faces allegations linked to a flash driveincidentonMarch5,2020,atAshmins Building,duringwhatprosecutorsclaimwas aplottoderailtheelectoralprocess.Previous witnessestestifiedthatheallegedlyinserteda flashdriveintoacomputersystemdisplaying what appeared to be statements of polls duringthetabulationprocess.

When party agents and officials reportedly raised concerns that the figures

were different, it is alleged he removed the deviceandleftwithit.

OnTuesday,thecourtturneditsattention to deciding whether certain pieces of evidencecanlegallybeadmittedattrial. This process, known as a voir dire, is conducted to determine the lawfulness of evidence before it is presented during the maintrial.However,underthelaw,thedetails of testimony given during this stage are not permittedtobemadepublic.

SeveralmembersoftheGuyanaPolice Continued on page 15

‘Toshaoscannotsettlesexcrimes’

...DPPtellsRupununiwomentoreportmurders,sexualoffencestopolice

More than 100 women from South Rupununi communities are now better equipped to respond to serious crimes after a targeted outreach by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)lastweek,thechamberssaid inapressrelease.

AccordingtotheDPPduringa seriesofpublicoutreachmeetings held from Tuesday 10th to Friday 13th February, 2026, in the South Rupununi villages the mostly femaleattendeeswereinformedof the importance of reporting serious criminal matters of murdersandsexualoffencestothe police

AccordingtotheDPPbasedon complaintsreceivedresidentsoften saidtheywerenotawareofhowto go about dealing with criminal matters,especiallythoseinrelation to gender- based and sexual violence.

Whenaskediftheywouldmake reports to the police, some

participants informed that “we were not aware that the Toshaos cannot deal with sexual offences anddomesticviolence.”

TheDPPchamberssaidtoothat there have been allegations of village leaders trying to settle matters of sexual offences. “The

UAEreadytopartnerinGuyana’s...

Frompage8

benefit and the choice to shape development on your own terms with confidence, clarity and sovereignty”

TheministersaidthattheUAE believes deeply in this journey, becausetheyhavelivedit.

”We know that progress is not accidental, it is designed, it is governed and it is built with the rightpartnersthatiswhywestand ready to collaborate with Guyana asatruepartnerthatyoucancount on Sharing our experience, capability and conviction to turn opportunity into real impact,” Dr AlJabersaidaffirmed

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir noted that his country will continue to be partners with Guyana to further develop, broaden and deepen its

relationshipinallareas

“I believe this conference is a very important conference, becauseitsetstheagendaandsets the focus on what is really important, how we can harness energy in order to fuel the world

We are looking at an increase in the demand for energy because of technology, because of artificial intelligence. We are looking at moredemandforoilandgasifwe wanttomeetthatdemand,andwe needtofindweneedtocontinueto produce it responsibly and efficiently, and we need to find a way to have a rational transition,” heexplained

He noted that in SaudiArabia, they are determined to produce 50% of their electricity from renewable energies by 2030 and this he said they are ahead of schedule Being able to achieve goals like these, the Minister of

State noted the importance of partnerships

”We believe in free enterprise, we believe in the free market, we believe in putting our hands together with anybody who will partnerwithusinordertoachieve ourcommonobjectives.Attheend of the day, as I said in the beginning, we all inhabit a very small,beautifulplanet,andit’sour responsibility to make the planet work, and it will be our responsibility or fault if it doesn’t work And we in the Kingdom of SaudiArabiaaredeterminedtodo everything we can, to work with our friends and partners and likeminded countries in order to do what is best for all of humanity and do what is best for the planet in a way that is rational, that is practical, that makes sense and that benefits everybody,” he expressed

attendeeswereappreciativethatthe DPP’s Chambers had travelled to their communities to meet with them,” the release stated. “We need more of these public awareness and public education, because we have learnt so much from you on what to do when something happens,” the DPP chambersquotedsomeonewithout attributinganame.

Co-Founder of the South Rupununi Wapichan Wiizi Women’s Movement Immaculata

Casimero stated that the outreach meetings brought awareness, clarity and support to the residents ofthefar-flungcommunities.

The outreach was held in collaboration with the Justice Education Society (JES) which engagedtheparticipantsinartsand culture sessions during which they were able to highlight through drawings their thoughts on ending gender and sexual violence committed against men, women andchildren.

Magistrateresumesvoirdire...

Frompage14

Force testified and were crossexamined by defence attorney Eusi Anderson Those who testified included Assistant Superintendent Komal Pitamber, Corporal Trevor Moore, and DetectiveInspectorJames.

Following their testimony and cross-examination,Livantookthe stand, recounting his version of eventsaspartofhisdefence.

The trial is expected to continueonWednesday

The case resumed on Monday with testimony from Sasenarine

Singh, Guyana’s Ambassador to The Netherlands and an agent for

Party/Civic (PPP/C) during the elections.Duringhistestimony,he detailed what he observed throughoutthetabulationprocess. Several other witnesses have already testified, including Minister of Education Sonia Parag,ANewandUnitedGuyana (ANUG) executive Kian Jabour,

Commissioner Edgar Thomas, and election observer Rosalinda Rasul.

Energy experts warn:

Oil wealth alone won’t secure Guyana’s future without strict fiscal discipline

As Guyana barrels deeper into its oil and gas era, regional and international energy finance experts are cautioning that petroleum riches, by themselves, will not guarantee long-term prosperity

Instead, they say, the country must exercise strict fiscal discipline, strengthen governance systemsandcarefullymanagehow oil revenues are spent, or risk fallingintothesametrapsthathave plagued other resource-rich nations.

Those warnings were sounded on Tuesday during a project financing panel at the Guyana Energy Conference 2026, held at the Guyana Marriott Hotel Georgetown.

The panel, led by energy consultant Ignacio Rooney of WoodMackenzie,featuredAleshia Duncan of the United States Department of Energy; Jorge Ordonez, Director of Sustainable Finance Global Sovereign Solutions at Citi; O’Reilly Lewis, Director of Projects at the CaribbeanDevelopmentBank;and Josh Loftus, Director of the EY EnergyMarketsGroupatEY

Speaking remotely on fiscal discipline, Ordonez warned that rapid oil expansion, particularly in emerging producers like Guyana

can significantly increase fiscal risks if governments do not maintain a firm grip on production forecasts, expected revenues and pricevolatility

“They have to have robust investment and risk management policies and checks and balances that foster accountability and transparency at the fiscal level,”

Ordonez said. He stressed that governmentsmustmaintainaclear view of oil production levels and projectedearnings,whileenforcing spending discipline backed by a crediblefiscalrule.

He explained that such a rule could be anchored to a non-oil fiscal deficit target, cautious debt levelsorspendinglimits.However, he cautioned that having a rule on paperisnotenough.

“Theruleisonlyasgoodasyou can keep it, ” he stated, underscoring the need for political commitmentatthehighestlevelsto enforceandsustainit.

Ordonezfurtherarguedthatoilproducingcountriesmustlimithow much petroleum revenue flows directly into the national budget, whileprioritizinglong-termcapital

investments over short-term consumption.

“When governments have strong fiscal and governance frameworks that guarantee disciplined and transparent management of oil wealth, it becomes an opportunity,” he said. Sovereign wealth funds, he noted, can help ring-fence revenues to buildsavings,stabilizebudgetsand supportessentialspending.

Without such discipline, he warned, oil wealth can drive debt accumulation, inflationary pressuresandeconomicinstability Rating agencies and investors, he added, closely monitor debt sustainability, fiscal buffers, institutionalstrengthandeconomic diversification before determining whether oil production represents anopportunityorarisk.

Meanwhile, Duncan pointed to Guyana’srapidproductiongrowth, driven by ExxonMobil, which could see output reach approximately 1.3 million barrels per day by 2027, placing the countryamongtheworld’sfastestgrowingoilproducers.

However, she cautioned that such explosive growth can trigger mixed reactions from credit rating agencies and investors if not matched by strong governance frameworks.

“That opportunity to grow not only the economy, but strengthen the economic infrastructure, really yields a unique point in time,” Duncan said. She emphasized that disciplined management of oil revenues can send positive signals about bankability, attract private financing and strengthen publicprivatepartnerships.

The discussion also turned to thewiderCaribbean,withpanelists highlighting the need for stronger regionalenergyintegration.

Lewis underscored the potential of submarine cable interconnections to link electricity grids across the region, reduce energy costs and improve energy security He explained that such projects require technical

feasibility studies, regulatory harmonization, transaction structuring and risk mitigation measures to make them commerciallyviable.

He also pointed to geothermal energy as a major opportunity, particularly if regional grid integration improves project economicsandattractsinvestors.

Ordonezaddedthatsustainable debt instruments could support economic diversification while reducing dependence on oil revenues.Suchbonds,hesaid,can be structured t

infrastructure, renewable energy andsocialdevelopmentprojectsin education, health and housing, wh

transparency and accountability through stricter reporting requirements.

Gasastrategicopportunity

As the session drew to a close, natural gas was identified as a key strategic opportunity for Guyana andthewiderCaribbean.

Loftus said gas development could support petrochemical industries, domestic power generation and even export markets, including liquefied naturalgas(LNG).

However,hestressedthatearly policy clarity on gas utilization, long-term supply contracts and creditworthycounterpartieswillbe critical to securing investor confidence.

Panelists also highlighted ongoing efforts by the Caribbean Development Bank to strengthen governments’ capacity to plan, structure and manage large-scale sustainableenergyprojects.

In summarising the discussion, the panelist emphasized that while Guyana’s production continues to surge, experts warned that longterm economic security will depend on disciplined financial management, strong institutions andstrategicregionalcooperation. Without those safeguards, they cautioned, the country risks squandering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

Jesse Jackson, civil rights leader and U.S. presidential hopeful, dies at 84

(Reuters) - Charismatic US civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, an eloquent Baptist minister raised in thesegregatedSouthwhobecamea close associate of Martin Luther King Jr and twice ran for the Democratic presidential nomination,hasdiedatage84,his family said in a statement on Tuesday

“Ourfatherwasaservantleader - not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jacksonfamilysaid Jackson, an inspirational orator and long-time Chicagoan, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in2017.

Hisdeathcomesatatimewhen theadministrationofDonaldTrump has targeted U.S. institutions, from museumstomonumentstonational parks,toremovewhatthepresident

office.

Jackson founded the Chicagobased civil rights groups Operation PUSH and the National Rainbow CoalitionandservedasDemocratic President Bill Clinton’s special envoy to Africa in the 1990s Jackson also was instrumental in securingthereleaseofanumberof Americans and others held overseas in places including Syria, Cuba,IraqandSerbia.

MESMERIZING

ORATORY

Jackson pursued his political ambitions in the 1980s, relying on his mesmerizing oratory It was not until fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama’s election as president in 2008thataBlackcandidatecameas close to securing a major party presidential nomination as Jackson.

In1984,Jacksonwon33million votes in Democratic nominating

life story and calling onAmericans tofindcommonground.

“Americaisnotablanketwoven from one thread, one color, one cloth,”Jacksontoldthedelegatesin Atlanta

“Wherever you aretonight, you can make it Hold your head high, stickyourchestout Youcanmakeit It gets dark sometimes, but the morning comes Don’t you surrender Suffering breeds character,characterbreedsfaith.In the end, faith will not disappoint,” Jacksonadded.

Jackson announced in 2017 at age 76 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a movement disorder marked by trembling, stiffness and poor balance and coordination, after experiencing symptoms for three years.

SOUTHERNROOTS

calls “anti-American” ideology, leading to the dismantling of slavery exhibits, the restoration of Confederate statues and other moves that civil rights advocates saycouldreversedecadesofsocial progress.

The media-savvy Jackson advocated for the rights of Black Americans and other marginalized communities dating back to the turbulent civil rights movement of the1960sspearheadedbyhismentor King, a Baptist minister and toweringsocialactivist.

Jackson weathered a spate of controversies but remained America’s preeminent civil rights figurefordecades

He ran for the Democratic presidentialnominationin1984and 1988, attracting Black voters and many white liberals in mounting unexpectedly strong campaigns but fellshortofbecomingthefirstBlack majorpartyWhiteHousenominee. Ultimately, he never held elective

contests, about 18% of those cast, and finished third behind eventual nominee Walter Mondale and Gary Hartintheracefortherighttoface Republican incumbent Ronald Reagan His candidacy lost momentum after it became public that Jackson had privately called Jewish people “Hymies” and New York“Hymietown.”

In 1988, Jackson was a more polishedandmainstreamcandidate, coming in a close second in the DemocraticracetofaceRepublican George HW Bush Jackson gave eventual Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis a run for his money, winning 11 state primaries and caucuses, including several in theSouth,andamassing6.8million votes in nominating contests, or 29%.

Jacksoncasthimselfasabarrierbreaker for people of color, the impoverishedandthepowerless He electrified the 1988 Democratic conventionwithaspeechtellinghis

Born on Oct 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, his mother was a 16-year-old high school student and his father was a 33-year-oldmarriedmanwholived next door His mother later married anothermanwhoadoptedJackson. HegrewupamidtheJimCrowera in the United States, the often brutallyenforcedwebofracistlaws and practices born in the South to subjugateBlackAmericans.

Jackson earned a football scholarship at the University of Illinois, but transferred to a historically Black college because he said he experienced discrimination He began his civil rights activism while a student at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical College, and was arrested when he sought to enter a “whites-only” public library in SouthCarolina.

He attended Chicago Theological Seminary and was ordained

Jesse Jackson addresses a Non-Governmental Organisation debate on racism in the media at the World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) September 5, 2001. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/File Photo

despitefailingtograduate

Jackson became a lieutenant to civil rights leader Martin Luther KingJrandsometimestraveledwith him. On the day King was assassinatedbyawhitemannamed JamesEarlRayonthebalconyofthe Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Jackson was just a floor below.

Jackson infuriated some of King’s other associates when he told reporters he had cradled the dying King in his arms and was the last person to whom King spoke, an accounttheydisputed.

King, who headed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, had installed the energetic Jackson in a leadership role to help create economic opportunities in Black communities

Jackson later broke with King’s successor at the SCLC, Ralph Abernathy,andsetuphisowncivil rights organization in Chicago, OperationPUSH,intheearly1970s In 1984, Jackson founded the NationalRainbowCoalition,whose broader civil rights mission also included women’s rights and gay rights, and the two organizations merged in 1996. He stepped down asthepresidentofRainbow-PUSH Coalition in 2023 after more than five decades of leadership and activism.

He met his wife, Jacqueline Brown, during college They

married in 1962 and had five children His son Jesse Jackson Jr was elected to the US House of Representatives but resigned and served prison time on a fraud conviction. Jackson also had a daughter out of wedlock in 1999 with a woman who worked at his civilrightsgroups,whichbecamea scandal.

Jacksonwasknownforpersonal diplomacy After he secured the 1984releasebySyriaofUS naval aviator Robert Goodman Jr , President Ronald Reagan invited Jackson to the White House and expressedgratitudeforthe“mission of mercy.” Jackson met in 1990 with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to gain the release of hundreds of Americans and others after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. He won the 1984 release of dozens of Cuban and American prisoners from Cubanjailsandthereleaseofthree U.S.airmenheldinSerbiain1999. He hosted a weekly show on CNN from 1992 to 2000, pressed corporations for Black economic empowerment, and received the highest US civilian honor, the PresidentialMedalofFreedomfrom Clintonin2000

Jackson continued his activism laterinlife,condemningthepolice killing of George Floyd and other BlackAmericansin2020amidthe globalracialjusticemovement.

BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT

The passing of Jesse Jackson

The passing of Jesse Jackson marks the end of a towering chapter in the long and unfinished struggle for racial justice in the United States. A protégé of Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson refused to allow the dream to wither in the harsh winds of political compromise and social backlash. Through the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, he championed economic empowerment, voter participation, and international human rights, giving voice to those relegated to society's margins.

Twice a candidate for the presidency, he expanded the boundaries of American politics, compelling it to confront its moral deficits.

Yet his career was not without controversy, reminding admirers and critics alike that leaders are human and movements imperfect.

History, however, will likely judge Jackson as a relentless advocate, who insisted that America live up to its promise of equality and justice for all.

Iranforeignministersaysprogressmade in nuclear talks with U.S. in Geneva

(Reuters) - Iran and the United States reached an understanding on Tuesday onmain"guidingprinciples" in talks aimed at resolving their longstanding nuclear dispute, but that does not mean a deal is imminent, Iranian Foreign Minister AbbasAraqchisaid.

Oil futures fell and the benchmark Brent crude contract tumbled more than 1% after Araqchi's comments, which helped ease fears of conflict in the region, where the U.S. has deployed a battle force to p r e s s Te h r a n f o r concessions.

"Different ideas have been presented, these ideas have been seriously discussed, ultimately we've been able to reach a general agreement on some guiding principles," Araqchi told Iranian media after the talks concludedinGeneva.

A U.S. official said Iran would make detailed proposals in the next two weeks to close gaps in the nucleartalks.

"Progress was made, but there are still a lot of details to discuss," said the official, who declined to be identified.

BOTHSIDESHAVE 'CLEARNEXTSTEPS'

The indirect discussions betweenU.S.SpecialEnvoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, alongside Araqchi, were mediated by Oman The WhiteHousedidnotrespond to emailed questions about themeeting.

Oman'sForeignMinister Badral-Busaidisaidinapost onX"muchworkisyettobe done" but Iran and the U.S. wereleavingwith"clearnext steps".

Just as talks began on Tuesday,Iranianstatemedia said Iran would temporarily shut part of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil supplyroute,dueto"security precautions" while Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards conducted military drills there.

Tehran has in the past threatened to shut down the strait to commercial shipping if it is attacked, a movethatwouldchokeoffa fifth of global oil flows and driveupcrudeprices.

R e s p o n d i n g t o comments by Trump that "regime change" in Iran mightbethebestcourse,the country's Supreme Leader AyatollahAliKhamenei,86, warned that any U S

attempts to depose his governmentwouldfail.

"TheU.S.Presidentsays their army is the world's strongest, but the strongest army in the world can sometimes be slapped so hard it cannot get up," he said,incommentspublished byIranianmedia.

S p e a k i n g a t a disarmament conference in Geneva after the talks, Araqchi said that a "new window of opportunity" had opened and that he hoped discussions would lead to a "sustainable" solution that ensured the full recognition ofIran'slegitimaterights.

Earlier, Trump said he himself would be involved "indirectly" in the Geneva talks and that he believed Tehran wanted to make a deal.

"I don't think they want the consequences of not making a deal," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force OneonMonday

"We could have had a deal instead of sending the B-2s in to knock out their nuclear potential. And we hadtosendtheB-2s."

The U.S. joined Israel lastJuneinbombingIranian nuclearfacilities.

The U.S. and Israel believeIranaspirestobuilda nuclear weapon that could threaten Israel's existence. Iran says its nuclear programme is purely peaceful, even though it has enricheduraniumfarbeyond the purity needed for power generation,andclosetowhat isrequiredforabomb.

IRANSAYSITWILL ONLYDISCUSS NUCLEAR PROGRAMME

Sincethosestrikes,Iran's Islamic rulers have been weakened by street protests, suppressed at a cost of thousands of lives, against a cost-of-livingcrisisdrivenin part by international sanctionsthathavestrangled Iran'soilincome.

Washington has sought to expand the scope of talks tonon-nuclearissuessuchas Iran's missile stockpile Tehransaysitiswillingonly to discuss curbs on its nuclear programme - in exchangeforsanctionsrelief - and that it will not give up uranium enrichment completely or discuss its missileprogramme.

Khamenei reiterated Iran's position that its formidable missile stockpile is non-negotiable and missile type and range have nothingtodowiththeUnited

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addresses a special session of the Conference on Disarmament at the UN in Geneva. /Pierre Albouy/Reuters

States. A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday the

success of the Geneva talks hinged on the U S not making unrealistic demands

and on its seriousness on lifting the crippling sanctionsonIran.

U.S.B-2BOMBERS STRUCKNUCLEAR TARGETS

Tehran and Washington were scheduled to hold a sixth round of talks in June last year whenWashington's ally Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran,andwasthenjoinedby U.S.B-2bombersthatstruck nucleartargets.

Tehran has since said it

enrichmentactivity

Iran has joined the

nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which guarantees countries the right to pursue civilian nuclear power in return for requiring them to forgo atomic weapons and cooperate with the U N nuclear watchdog, the InternationalAtomicEnergy Agency

Israel, which has not signed the NPT, neither

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A man lost his life Tuesday afternoon in

Reports indicate that the victim was riding an electric scooter when he collided

and was subse-

quently crushed. Up to press time, Kaieteur News was unable to obtain official details on the circumstances surrounding the crash, as police failed to respond to media enquiries. Investigations are ongoing.

St Lucia PM confirms 'lost lives' in latest

U.S.strikeagainstallegeddrugdealers

CMC – Prime Minister Phillip Pierre Monday said the St Lucia government “is actively engaging through established diplomatic and security channels” after confirming that “people lost their lives” in the latest United States military strike against illegal drug dealers intheCaribbeanSea.

“Today, I addressed reportscirculatingacrossthe region that have raised concern among our citizens. Let me assure the nation: TheGovernmentofStLucia isactivelyengagingthrough established diplomatic and security channels to verify the facts We will communicate confirmed information to the public promptly and responsibly,” Pierre said in a statement posted on his Facebook page.

But speaking at the weekly news conference ahead of the Cabinet meeting, Pierre told reporters,“Icanconfirmthat peoplelosttheirlives,andto thecircumstancesIhavegot noofficialnotificationonthe circumstances surrounding theirdeaths”.

Asked by reporters whetherthosekilledwereSt Lucians, Pierre repeated, “I can confirm that people lost their lives, but I got no official notification on anythingelse

“The issue is being investigated by the powers r e s p o n s i b l e f o r investigations,”headded.

Last Friday, the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said that at

SOUTHCOM Commander

GeneralFrancisL.Donovan, the “Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a

Organizations.

“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narcotrafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Three narcoterrorists were killed during this action. No US military forces were harmed,” SOUTHCOM said in a statement.

SOUTHCOM has since releasedavideooftheattack

that appears to show a missile strike on the boat, which then explodes into flames, leaving the vessel obliterated.

Last Saturday, the St Vincent Times newspaper published photographs that it said were the remnants of an alleged drug boat blown upinalethalstrikebytheUS military last week that surfacedoffCanouan,oneof theGrenadineislands.

It said that the discovery was made by a group of fishermenfromthemainland who had indicated that no bodies were seen floating in thearea.

The newspaper reported thatthefishermenwhomade thediscoverysaidthebowof the boat was still visible, with the engine and most of thehullsubmerged.

“Thenationalityofthose killed in the strike was not detailed by the US military However, St Vincent Times understands from several sourcesthatthreeStLucians who went out to sea last week Monday have been missingsince.”

The paper said that the location of the find raises questions about whether the boat was blown up in internationalwatersorinthe territorial waters of St Vincent.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines government has not made any statement on the matter and the police have also not issued a

statement.

International law and human rights experts have repeatedly said such attacks by the Donald Trump administration amount to extrajudicial executions, even if those targeted are alleged to be engaged in traffickingdrugs.

Last month, the families of two Trinidadian men killed in a US strike on an allegeddrug-smugglingboat filed a lawsuit against the Americangovernment.

Lawyers filed the claim

infederalcourtinBostonon behalf of relatives of Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo, who were among six men killed off the coast of VenezuelaonOctober14last year.

One of the lawyers said in a statement that the strike amounted to “lawless killings in cold blood; killingsforsportandkillings fortheatre”.

The US has struck at least 36 vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific since September last

year, killing more than 120 people, with the Trump administration saying it is targeting “narco-terrorists” carrying drugs that kill Americans.

In his statement, Pierre said in “matters affecting national security and regional stability, speculationhasnoplace.

“Our approach is disciplined, fact-based, and guided by the singular priority of protecting the people and interests of St Lucia,”headded.

GonsalvesurgesSVGGovt.to sendhumanitarianaidtoCuba

(SVG Times) St Vincent's leader of the Opposition, Ralph Gonsalves,hascalledonthe current government to send shipments of flour and rice to Cuba Gonsalves on Monday stated that the assistance should be a humanitarianactratherthan an ideological one He argued that aid is necessary because of the “blockade” and the tightening of restrictions on Cuba by UnitedStatesauthorities.

He emphasized that CubahashelpedSt.Vincent and the Grenadines

“immensely”inthepast.He believes the country has a duty to show assistance “in real terms” to those who havestoodinsolidaritywith them.

Gonsalves cited the Book of Matthew, Chapter 25, as the mandate for providing this help He challenged the “Christian” values of U.S. leaders like

Donald Trump and Marco Rubio,statingthattheymust show their faith through actions rather than just words.

He expressed concern t h a t t h e c u r r e n t administration might “put aside” Cuban district doctors and urged them to maintain their relationship throughthisaid.

Gonsalvesnotedthathis party had provided similar assistance to Cuba in the past and insisted that St. Vincent and the Grenadines mustcontinuetosupportits “Cubanbrothers.”

U.S. kills 11 people in three strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels

(AL-JAZEERA) The United States military announcedthatithascarried out three strikes against alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Pacific Ocean andCaribbeanSea,killingat least11people.

US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which oversees military activities in Latin America, said it conducted two of the strikes in the Eastern Pacific and one in the Caribbean as part of a campaign dubbed Operation Southern Spear All three attacks were carriedoutlateonMonday “Eleven male narcoterrorists were killed during these actions, 4 on the first vesselintheEasternPacific, 4onthesecondvesselinthe EasternPacific,and3onthe third vessel in the Caribbean,” SOUTHCOM

saidinasocialmediaposton Tuesday

TheadministrationofUS PresidentDonaldTrumphas been attacking what it says are drug-trafficking boats in thewatersoffSouthAmerica sinceSeptember2aspartof a broader campaign against regionaldrugcartels.

But legal experts have condemned the campaign as a series of extrajudicial killings.

Atleast145peoplehave been killed in 42 strikes since September, with Trump pitching the campaign as an effort to staunch the flow of drugs to the US.But the identities of thosekilledhaveneverbeen formally released to the public,norhasanyevidence beenreleasedtosubstantiate the claims that they were connected to drug

trafficking Families in Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago have stepped forwardtoclaimthevictims astheirlovedones.Someof the suspected victims were identified as fishermen or temporary workers transitingfromVenezuelato nearby islands.Some of the families have taken legal actioninapushforjustice.

In December, the family of missing fisherman Alejandro Carranza filed a petition before the InterAmerican Commission on Human Rights, and in late January, relatives of two Trinidadian workers Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo—filedawrongful deathlawsuitinaUScourtin Massachusetts.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addresses National Guard soldiers in Washington, DC, on February 6 [File: Kevin Wolf/AP Photo]

But those claims have b e e n r e j e c t e d b y international law experts who say that no armed conflict exists and that the Trump administration is instead using lethal military force against criminal activity

Officials at the United Nations have called for the US to cease the military strikes, warning of violationsoftheUNCharter

“Noneof theindividuals on the targeted boats appeared to pose an imminent threat to the lives of others or otherwise justified the use of lethal

T h e T r u m p administration,however,has said it is in a state of armed conflict with drugtraffickinggroups,severalof whichithaslabelledforeign terroristorganisations.

armed force against them under international law,” Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights,saidinOctober

B u t t h e T r u m p administration has pressed forward with the bombing campaign despite criticisms ofitslegality

It has even pledged to shift to hitting drugtraffickingtargetsonland,as wellasbysea.

“Turns out President's Day under President Trump—isnotagooddayto run drugs,” Secretary of DefensePeteHegsethsaidin a social media post showing a video of vessels being struck.

Juve executives banned after clash with referee in wake of Kalulu dismissal

Wednesday February 18, 2026

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19

An emotional issue with a family member could have youwantingtorunawayand hide, Aries. Don't fight the urge.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

Emotional issues rooted in the past could leave you feelinginhibitedtoday,Taurus You might also be a bit more touchythanusualandseeinsult wherenoneisintended.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Consider channeling your philosophical inspirations into some creative writing, Gemini You’ll certainly enjoythistypeofactivity

CANCER(June21–July22)

Your self-confidence could well be in the pits today, Cancer Mistakes from the pastcouldcomebacktohaunt you, and you may be momentarilyovercomebythe fear that you'll make similar errorsagain.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)

Generally, you tend to be a veryphysicallyorientedperson, Leo, but today you’re more likely to want to look within, perhapstoexperimentwithyour ownpsychicabilities

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Financial considerations coulddelaythestartofanew project that you’ve wanted to begin for a long time, Virgo. Perhapsyoudon'tquitehavethe funds you need, or maybe the costisabithigher

MILAN, (Reuters)Juventus chief executive Damien Comolli has been suspendeduntilMarch31by Serie A's sport judge for his conduct towards the referee in Saturday's defeat at pacesetters Inter Milan, the leaguesaidonTuesday,after acontroversialsending-off.

The judge found that Comolli confronted referee Federico La Penna in the tunnel at halftime, adopting an "aggressive and gravely intimidating" attitude, attempting to make physical contact before being restrainedbyJuvestaff.

Juventus director

The disciplinary fallout comesafterthecontroversial dismissal of defender Pierre Kalulu infuriated Juventus andcontributedtotheheated post-matchatmosphere.

Kalulu was sent off just before halftime for a second yellowcardafterachallenge on Inter's Alessandro Bastoni.Bastoni tumbled to

indicating Kalulu had pulled his shirt, although

suggested there was no contactbetweentheplayers.

calling La Penna's decision todismissKaluluas"clearly wrong" and lamenting that VAR could not intervene on s

incidents.Comolli was also f

($17,725.50) by the sport judge. ($1=0.8462euros)

Frompage33 Boyer (2-25) and Aaron Persaud(1-22).

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

The day may be temporarily plagued by scandal of some sort, Libra. Some of your entourage, particularly women, may gather in conspiratorialgossip.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov.21)

You’re intuitive by nature, Scorpio, but today you’re likelytohavearushofpsychic premonitions Insightsintoyour own character could bring old traumastothesurfacesoyou canreleasethem.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21)

Sex and romance are very much on your mind today, Sagittarius. You’re feeling especiallypassionate,andyour emotionsarerichanddeep

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

A family member could be feeling a little down, Capricorn, and you may be tempted to give him or her a pep talk to get them going again.Don't.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Toomuchexposuretobooks, newspapers, and computers todaycouldproduceeyestrain headaches,Aquarius,sotryto exercise a little caution when working with small print or computertext.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

By nature you’re a master psychologist, Pisces and you don'tneedtoknowsomeonewell to accurately assess his or her thoughtsandmotives

Giorgio Chiellini also received a suspension, until February27,for"heatedand disrespectful" protests towards La Penna and offensive remarks towards match officials witnessed by anassistantreferee.

Interwon3–2withalastminute goal and lead the standings by eight points on 61,withJuvefifthon46from 25games.

S

A

designator Gianluca Rocchi apologised on Sunday,

Only opener Solomon Hercules (22) really got going when compared to the rest of his teammates who struggledunderthevariables which came in the form of a complete Demerara bowling unit.

BerbicebeatEssequiboby 73runsatLusignan Ground

The Ancient County lads posted a decent first innings score of 194-9 after their overs ended. Middle-order batsman Asgaralli Nabi was the rock of the innings after showing some form in the first round, the Berbician carried his team with a composed knock of 52 (3x4 1x6).

Captain and all-rounder Leon Reddy (41) missed out on a half-century but found some useful support in his soldiers like opener Akash Ramdewar (20) and allrounderAltafAli(21).

After losing opener Ravid Fredericks (23) and topscorer Devraj Persaud (25), Essequibo found themselves in a hole, being 81-6 at one pointbeforeeventuallybeing reduced to a final score of 121-10inthe43rdover

The right-arm/left-arm combo of spinners of Sahid Gajnabi (2-22) and Jaden Ganpat(2-17), created an immediate mismatch for the Essequibo batsmen.

Medium-pacer/match MVPReddy,whobagged4in the last game, returned figures of 2-10 alongside Brandon Grimmond (2-20) who helped cap off a comprehensive bowling exhibition by the Ancient Countyyoungsters.

The tournament continues Tomorrow (Thursday), with Berbice and Demerara duking it out at Lusignan, with the Essequibo/GCB XI clash taking place at the LBI Ground;from9:30h.

(CliftonRoss)

IMMAF Holds First European Elective General Assembly, Elects New Leadership

On the 14th of February 2026, European members of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) gathered in Belgrade for the first European Elective General Assembly, marking a milestone moment for thegovernanceandfuturedirection of amateur MMA across the continent.

Delegates reviewed the manifestos of the nominated candidates, each underscoring key priorities: strengthening European unity,acceleratingthedevelopment of MMA, expanding the championship platform, and advancing eff

ward government support and official recognition.

Martin Lewandowski, founder of Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW) and Chairman of MMA Polska, presented an overview of his work in both professional and amateur MMA. He highlighted sustained growth in participation, the expansion of national programmes, and his long-term commitment to developing the sportacrossPolandandEurope.

Serbian MMA Federation President Luka Nikolic outlined threeyearsofworkwithinIMMAF, focusing on the delivery of cont

European members of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation gathered in Belgrade for the first European Elective General Assembly. (IMMAF)

educational cooperation, and

relations. His manifesto expressed a clear vision for a cohesive and strategically developed European MMAlandscape.

Both candidates demonstrated strongcredentialsanddedicationto the sport. In a notable display of unity and sportsmanship, Lewandowski withdrew his candidacy and publicly endorsed Nikolic, encouraging members to movetheirvotestoNikolic,whom he recognised as a capable,

committedleaderreadytoadvance EuropeanMMA.

Following presentations and member deliberations, IMMAF Europe elected its new executive team:

President: Luka Nikolic (Serbia) V i c e President: Marek Herda (Slovakia)

V i c e

President: JoAnne van der

Washout takes Zimbabwe into Super Eight; Ireland and Australia knocked out

ESPNcricinfo - Zimbabwe have qualifiedfortheSuperEightstageofthe 2026 T20 World Cup after rain washed outtheirgameagainstIreland.

After their victories over Oman and Australia, Zimbabwe needed just a point to secure qualification, and with persistentraininPallekele,thematchwas abandonedwithoutatoss.Thegamewas calledoffat5:30pmlocaltime,twoanda half hours after the scheduled start. The washout also guarantees Australia's eliminationaftertheirdefeattoSriLanka on Monday night left them stranded on twopoints.

Well before the game was due to begin,bluecoversshieldedtheentiretyof

thePallekelesquareandtherestoftheground. There were large puddles forming on the covers, and though the rain was never torrential, a persistent drizzle meant the groundstaffwerelargelyreducedtotheroleof dryingoutthecoversperiodically

Zimbabwe will enter a group that also features India, West Indies and South Africa, with the top two going through to the semifinals. Ireland, who also had a brief chance at qualification with the win, will exit the tournament.ItisthefirsttimeZimbabwehave progressedtotheSuperEightstageofaWorld Cup,twoyearsaftertheydidn'tqualifyforthe eventitselfin2024.

Result:Matchabandonedwithoutatoss IrelandvsZimbabwe.

Vlugt(Netherlands)

The newly elected Board of Directorsconsistsof: AntonBlank(Ukraine) LudoBoulvin(Belgium)

Coco Gauff speaks out, doesn’t 'like what's going on' in U.S.

Valér

Luigi

U.S. reacts during her quarter final match against Ukraine's Elina Svitolina.

(REUTERS/Edgar Su)

Reuters - Coco Gauff said at a press conference Sunday at the Dubai Tennis Championships that she's "proud to be an American"whilealsodenouncingthekillings ofReneeGoodandAlexPrettiinMinneapolis lastmonth.

"Everything going on in the U.S. -obviously I'm not really for it. I don't think people should be dying in the streets just for existing. I don't like what's going on," Gauff said Gauff, 21, a two-time Grand Slam champion, is the latest in a growing list of American athletes who have voiced their displeasure with U S Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who were responsible forthedeathsofGoodandPretti.

Winter Olympian Hunter Hess told reportersonFeb.6,"JustbecauseI'mwearing the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the U.S." That drew a reaction from President Donald Trump, who calledHessa"realLoser"onhisTruthSocial platform.

Madison Keys, who is ranked No. 17 on the WTAcircuit and fourth amongAmerican women,alsoweighedinonthesubject.

"I am hopeful that we as a country can

cometogetherandgetbacktothevaluesthatI thinkmakeourcountrygreat,"Keyssaid."We areverydiverse.Weareahomeofimmigrants. and I hope that we can get back to those values."

On the men's side, top-ranked American playerTaylorFritzoptedoutofthetopic.

"IfeellikewhateverIsayhereisgoingto getputinaheadline,andit'sgoingtogettaken out of context," he said. "So, I'd really rather not do something that's going to cause a big distraction for me in the middle of the tournament."

Gauff, whose grandmother was the first BlackstudenttoattendpublicschoolinDelray Beach, Fla., in 1961, said players have the "right"nottocommentonpolitics,butshewill continuetoanswerquestionsonthesubject.

"I think the biggest thing I hate is when people say stay out of it when we're being askedit,"shesaid."Ifyouaskme,I'mgoingto giveyoumyhonestanswer Forme,that'smy honest answer I always try to always answer honestly.Ihavenoproblems.Ilivedthis.My grandmaisliterallyanactivist.Thisisliterally mylife.I'mOKansweringtoughquestions."

(FieldLevelMedia)

Nepal wrap up T20 World Cup W campaign with win over Scotland

(Reuters) - Nepal beat Scotland by seven wickets in a Twenty20 World Cup Group C deadrubberinMumbaionTuesday as the Himalayan side signed off from the tournament with a memorablevictory

Both teams were already packing their bags after the West Indies and England had sealed progresstotheSuperEight,butthat did not stop Nepal's fans from turning up in numbers to create a party atmosphere at the Wankhede

Stadium.Chasing171fortheirfirst victory of the tournament, Nepal got there with four balls to spare thanks to Dipendra Singh Airee's explosiveunbeaten50off23balls.

"First of all, I would like to thankthefans.TheycametoIndia and to Mumbai and supported us a lot Our confidence also increased...Iamveryhappy,"Airee said after picking up the player of thematchaward.

'ONE

OFMYBESTINNINGS'

"In the last World Cup, we

didn'twinasinglematch.So,that's why this win is very important for us,"headded."Itisoneofmybest innings,especiallywhilechasing."

Nepal looked to be cruising at 74-0 in nine overs with Kushal Bhurtel's brisk 43 off 35 deliveries settingthetone,butMichaelLeask had other ideas The Scotland spinner took three swift wickets to leaveNepalwobblingat98-3.

Leaskconcededonly10runsin hisfirstthreeoversbuthewentfor 20 in his last over as Airee

welcomed him back with two massivesixestoraisethevolumeat theWankhede.

Airee's fireworks display includedfourboundariesandthree sixes while he was joined at the other end by Gulsan Jha (24 not out), who hit the winning runs before Nepal took a lap of honour aroundtheground.

"The atmosphere was incredible, we always knew it would be a tough game against Nepal, with the crowd behind

them," Scotland skipper Richie Berringtonsaid.

"But a lot of credit has to go to Airee. The way he's come out and played, he's changed the whole tempoofthegame."

Earlier, Scotland had posted a competitive170-7afterbeingputin to bat, with opener Michael Jones blazingto71off45balls.

Scores: Nepal 171 for 3 (Airee 50*, Bhurtel 43, Leask 3-30) beat Scotland 170 for 7 (Jones 71, Kami 3-25)bysevenwickets.

Davidsonstarswithhat-trick asETIconquerLeonoraT&VTC

Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI)kepttheirquarterfinalhopes alive with a pulsating 5-3 victory over Leonora Technical and Vocational Training Centre (LTVTC) when the inaugural Modec Te

TournamentcontinuedonTuesday Playing at the Imam Bacchus RecreationalFacilityinEssequibo, ETI showed resilience and attacking flair to secure their secondwinofthehome-and-away campaigninaneight-goalthriller LTVTC struck first in the 25th minutethroughReonAlleyne,who finished confidently to hand his side an early 1-0 advantage However, ETI responded five minutes later as Deangelo Davidsonfoundtheequaliserinthe 30thminutetorestoreparity

The visitors regained the lead shortly after the restart when Therry Thorne breached ETI's backlinewithaclinicalfinishinthe 49thminutetomakeit2-1.Butthe advantage was short-lived. Jamal Smithproducedatimelyresponse, netting the equaliser in the 51st minuteasthecontestintensified.

With progression on the line, the tempo and emotions soared.

DavidsonstruckagaintogiveETI a 3-2 edge, but LTVTC refused to go away Kenard Simon levelled proceedings at 3-3 in the 55th minute, setting up a dramatic finale.

Davidson,however,provedthe difference-maker The in-form forward powered home his third goal in the 62nd minute to complete a well-earned hat-trick

and restore ETI's lead at 4-3. Ten minuteslater,JimCartersealedthe result with a decisive strike to makeit5-3.

From there, ETI tightened defensively and denied LTVTC any route back into the contest, preservingacrucialvictory

Meanwhile,actionlatershifted to Scott's Ground in Berbice, where the University of Guyana TainCampusandUpperCorentyne Training Centre battled to a 2-2 draw

The tournament is sponsored by Modec Guyana with support from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Demerara MutualGroup,MVPSports,Banks Powerade and Macorp The competition is being coordinated bythePetraOrganisation.

LA Mayor Bass calls on LA28 chair Wasserman to resign

MILAN,(Reuters)-Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass on Monday said Casey Wassermanshouldstepdown aschairmanofthecommittee organisingthe2028Olympic Gamesfollowingrevelations of his interactions with convicted sex trafficker GhislaineMaxwell.

Files published by the U.S. Justice Department late last month included flirty email exchanges from more than two decades ago between Wasserman and Maxwell, the former girlfriend of the late Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender Wasserman has denied havingapersonalorbusiness relationshipwithEpstein.He haspreviouslyapologisedfor

his association with Maxwell, saying their relationship came before her

Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass speaks at NBA Cares Legacy Project Dedication at the Weingart YMCA. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

or Epstein's crimes were revealed.

The board of LA28 last

weeksaidWassermanwould stay on as chairman after a review, using outside counsel, found his relationshipwithEpsteinand Maxwell did not go beyond what had already been publiclydocumented.

"My opinion is that he shouldstepdown,"Basssaid in an interview with CNN. "That'snottheopinionofthe board."

The board determined that 23 years ago, before Wasserman or the public knew of Epstein and Maxwell's crimes, Wassermanandhisthen-wife flew on a humanitarian mission to Africa on Epstein's plane at the invitation of the Clinton Foundation.

LA28 said this was his single interaction with

Casey Wasserman, chairman of the Los Angeles Organizing Committee for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games during the 145th IOC Session. (REUTERS/ Guglielmo Mangiapane)

LA28 used a law firm to conduct its review of Wa s s e r m a n ' s p a s t interactionswithEpsteinand Maxwell. Wasserman fully cooperated with the review, LA28said.

"I understand there are many conversations happeningatthismomentbut I will not make any further comment,"Adamssaid.

Bass said she does not have the power to fire Wasserman and her focus is on preparing LA to host the Games.

Epstein and shortly after, he exchanged the emails with Maxwell, and the board praised Wasserman's "strong leadership"inrunningLA28 overthepastdecade.

ONGOING DISCUSSIONS

The International

Olympic Committee said on Tuesday while any decision regarding Wasserman's futureaschieforganiserwas up to the LA Games board,

there were ongoing discussions.

"This obviously is a matterfortheboardofLA28, still, at this stage," IOC spokesmanMarkAdamstold a press conference in Milan.

" A s y o u k n o w a n independentlawfirmlooked intoitandit'suptotheboard to draw their own conclusions."

"The board made a decision," she said. "I think that decision was unfortunate, I don't support thedecision.

Idothinkthatweneedto lookattheleadership.

"However, my job as mayor of Los Angeles is to make sure that our city is completely prepared to have the best Olympics that has ever happened in Olympic history,"shesaid.

"So my focus is a little different,butthebehaviorof Maxwell, what they were involved in is abhorrent, and it's an issue that I've worked onforalongtime."

Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that Wasserman was putting his talentandmarketingagency up for sale, telling employees that he felt he had "become a distraction" to its work and had begun the process of selling the company

BrignonecompletesgoldenAlpineskidoubleonhomesnow

C O R T I N A D'AMPEZZO, Italy, (Reuters) - Italy's Federica Brignonecompletedagolden double on home snow at the Winter Olympics on Sunday, adding the giant slalom title to the super-G she won last Thursday, as U.S.Alpine ski great Mikaela Shiffrin again missedoutonamedal.

Sweden's Sara Hector, champion at Beijing 2022, shared silver with Norway's Thea Louise Stjernesund with the pair astonishingly clocking identical times in both runs in a race of fine margins.

Italy's Lara Della Mea finished fourth, missing out on the podium by an agonising 0.05 of a second with Austria's pre-race favourite Julia Scheib, the World Cup giant slalom leader, a further 0.02 behind in fifth Brignone, who returned to the Alpine ski World Cup only in January after a career-threatening leg injury, won by 0.62 of a second.

She dominated the first run in bright sunshine on the Olimpia delle Tofane piste and then took a safer approach with the medal

Rouseyto makeMMA returnafter adecadeto fightCarano

beckoning.

'SUCHANEASYRUN'

"It was such an easy run, because the snow was so easy," the 35-year-old, who nowholdsboththeworldand Olympic titles, said after setting a scorching first-run time while smooth and light onherskis.

"I was almost too calm," shesaidofthesecondrun."I was afraid of not being aggressive enough and I couldn'texplainit.

"IthoughtIhaddoneasosolegandwhenIcrossedthe lineandIsawfirst,andheard only shouting, I could not understand anything. I just saw it as a ski race, as something not easy but just thinkingofmyskis."

No other female Italian Alpine skier has ever won two individual golds at the same Games. Brignone is nowtheoldestOlympicgold medallist inAlpine skiing as well as the oldest female medallist."I think if I was coming here to make gold medals, I would go home with no medals," she said of her mindset coming into the

18thplaced Austrian Nina Astner was less than a second, remarkably little at thislevel.

Federica Brignone of Italy reacts after her run during the Women's Giant Slalom Run 2. (REUTERS/ Leonhard Foeger)

"I would love to race on therealslalomslopefromthe World Champs, because that'sarealslalomslope.This islikeajuniorraceslope.But that's life. We are at the Olympics and we take what we have to do,” said Switzerland's Camille Rast, second in the giant slalom WorldCupstandings.

Games after such a long comebackbattleandthelack of pressure on her as an underdog.

KNEELING

SALUTETO THECHAMPION

Hector and Stjernesund saluted her on their knees, bowing to the "Tiger", and Brignone sang along to the national anthem as Italian flagswavedfromthestands.

"She has done an incredible journey and I am super proud of mine," said Hector "Ijusthadthesuggestion

ofweshouldbowtoFede,not onlybecauseofthegoldthat she got but also considering the gold she had in super-G andbeingback.

"Fedeissuchabigpartof our sport and is such a big profile and important person... so it means a lot to giveherthatconfirmation."

T h e S w e d e a n d Norwegian were tied on 1:03.97 in the first run and then each went down in 1:10.15inthesecond.

The gap between the silver medallists and

Shiffrin,seventhafterthe first run of a discipline she hasfoundchallengingsincea nasty crash in 2024, missed out on an Olympic medal againafterfinishing11thona course set by her coach but hadnocomplaints.

Themostsuccessfulskier in World Cup history, with a record108wins,hasnotwon anOlympicmedalsince2018 after drawing a blank in Beijing and now has just the slalom remaining to end that drought.

She will be favourite for that title, having won seven of eight World Cup slaloms thisseason.

American professional MMAfighter and actor Ronda Rousey arrives at the red carpet ahead of the Joy Awards in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, January 17, 2026. (REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed)

(Reuters) - Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey will return after a decade away from the cage for a showdown with fellow veteranGinaCaranoonMay 16inablockbusterfightthat will be streamed on Netflix, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced on Tuesday

The featherweight bout between the two Americans at145poundswilltakeplace at the Intuit Dome in Los Angelesandstreamglobally on Netflix at no additional cost.

T h e b o u t w i l l b e professionally sanctioned under the Unified Rules of MMA, contested over five five-minute rounds inside a hexagoncage.

"Been waiting so long to announce this: Me and Gina Carano are gonna throw down in the biggest super fight in women's combat sport history!" said 39-yearold Rousey, who boasts a 12-2 record with nine submissions and three

knockouts.

Rousey, a 2008 Olympics judo medallist and former WWE star, was the UFC's first female bantamweight champion and first woman inducted into the UFC Hall ofFame.

Carano, 43, revealed the fight came about after a personal approach from her opponent, who was known as "Rowdy Ronda" in her heyday

"Rondacametomeandsaid there is only one person she wouldmakeacomebackfor andithasbeenherdreamto make this fight happen between us," said Carano, who has a 7-1 record and was dubbed the "Face of Women's MMA" after popularisingthesport.

"She thanked me for opening up doors for her in hercareerandwasrespectful in asking for this fight to happen."

The two fighters also found fame in Hollywood, with both appearing in the "Fast & Furious" movie franchise amongothers.

New Zealand reach Super Eight despite Samra hundred

(Reuters) - Canada opener Yuvraj Samra smashed a scintillating hundred but New ZealandprevailedbyeightwicketsinaGroup Dcontestbetweenthesidestobooktheirplace intheSuperEightstageoftheTwenty20World Cup while also eliminating Afghanistan on Tuesday

Glenn Phillips (76) and Rachin Ravindra (59) smashed unbeaten half-centuries as New Zealand chased down a target of 174 with 4.5 overs to spare for their third win in four matches.

Group leaders South Africa had already advancedtotheSuperEightsafterahat-trickof wins.

"RachinandIwerejusttryingtosticktoour processes and take it one ball at a time," said Phillips, who smashed six sixes in his 36-ball blitzandwastheplayerofthematch.

"Theypickedupacoupleofearlywickets, which put us on the back foot slightly From there,itwasaboutstayingcalmandbuildinga partnership.Thankfully,itendedupthewayit did."

Earlier, Samra, named after India stalwart Yuvraj Singh, smashed 110 off 65 balls to power Canada to a commanding 173-4

Hackett fires flawless 68 to win NTFGL round

- Persaud holds overall lead

Brian Hackett

produced a masterclass in precisiongolftocapturetop honours in the latest round of the Promotech Guyana Inc.-backed National Top

Flight Golf League (NTFGL) at Lusignan Golf Course,butPatanjilee“Pur” Persaudcontinuestositatop the overall standings as the titleraceintensifies.

Hackettwasincomplete control from tee to green, turning in what many described as his best performance of the season. He did not miss a single fairway over 18 holes and displayedexceptionaltouch

around the greens, repeatedly choosing to chip

from distance with remarkableaccuracy

His disciplined ballstriking and calm putting

s a w h i m c a r d a

commanding net 68, earning 10 points and securingoutrightvictoryon the back nine. The win moves Hackett into second place overall on 12 points, just one point behind the leagueleader

Thefrontninedelivered early drama as Ian Gouveia

edged Hackett on a tiebreaker Gouveia applied

relentless pressure through the opening stretch and looked poised for a dominant outing. However, increasinglydifficultcourse conditions and mounting competition on the back nine curtailed his momentum.

Persaud, meanwhile, endured one of his most turbulent rounds of the campaign Multiple lost balls on the front nine, including a punishing TEN on a par four, threatened to derail his title charge

D e m o n s t r a t i n g championship composure, theleagueleaderregrouped andbattledbacktosalvagea net73,finishingthirdonthe day and collecting crucial points to remain at the summitwith13overall.

Fazil Haniff secured second place on the day with a composed net 71, once again proving the value of steady golf under pressure Veterans Mike Mangal and Squeaky rounded out the points positions in fourth and fifth

respectively, further tightening an already congestedleaderboard.

Adding intrigue to the contest was the entry of seasoned campaigner

followingtheirdecisiontobatfirst.

The 19-year-old lit up the MA Chidambaram Stadium with his batting pyrotechnics, smacking 11 fours and six sixes in what is the highest individual score in the ongoingtournament.

Samra combined in a 116-run opening partnership with his captain Dilpreet Bajwa (36) and the duo denied New Zealand any breakthroughinthefirst13overs.

Samra raced to a 36-ball fifty and never took his foot off the pedal even after losing Bajwa.

NavneetDhaliwalandNicholasKirtonfell inquicksuccessionbutSamralookedunfazed by the loss of partners and untroubled by the NewZealandattack.

The left-hander brought up his 58-ball hundred with a four off Kyle Jamieson before removing his helmet and soaking in the applausefromthestands.

Samra's fine knock came to an end in the finaloveroftheinningswhenPhillipstookhis thirdcatchofthematch.

New Zealand were rattled early in their chase, losing both their openers - Tim Seifert and Finn Allen - but Phillips and Ravindra

scored at a two-run-a-ball rate in their unbroken partnership of 146 to secure what turnedouttobeaneasywinintheend.

Daryl Mitchell led New Zealand in the match after regular skipper Mitchell Santner wassidelinedwithillness.

Scores: New Zealand 176 for 2 (Phillips 76*, Ravindra 59*, Saad 1-29) beat Canada 173for4(Samra110,Bajwa36,Duffy1-25)by eightwickets.

Jens Luraas Oftebro of Norway crosses the finish line to win the Individual Gundersen Large Hill/10km, Cross-Country. (REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq)

Patrick Prashad, whose presence immediately heightened the competitive

atmosphere. Though dangerous, he was kept in check by the leading trio, signalling that the fight for supremacy will demand sustainedexcellence.

Chet “Smoking Chet” Bowling remains firmly in contentiondespitebeingout ofjurisdictionandcurrently occupies third place overall with10points.Challenging rainy-season conditions added another layer of difficulty at Lusignan While the greens held firm, heavy fairways and thick rough demanded precision andpatiencefromthefield.

Standings After Latest Round:

● Patanjilee Persaud –13points

● Brian Hackett – 12 points

● Chet Bowling – 10 points

With Hackett surging, Persaudabsorbingpressure, andBowlingwithinstriking range, the Promotech

Guyana Inc -backed

NTFGL is evolving into a compelling battle of endurance, execution and mental toughness as the seasonprogresses.

Norway's Oftebro powers to gold with late surge in Olympic men's large hill Nordic combined

TESERO, Italy, (Reuters) - Norway's JensLuraasOftebroproducedapowerfullate surgetowinthegoldmedalinthemen'slarge hill Nordic combined at theWinter Olympics onTuesday

Austria's Johannes Lamparter secured silverandFinland'sIlkkaHerolathebronzeas Oftebro settled the race with a decisive surge upthefinalclimbintheclosingmetresofthe 10-kilometre course, a finish that echoed fellow Norwegian Johannes Klaebo's trademarklatekickinthecross-countrysprint earlierintheGames.

"It was a bit of a tactical race, but I felt strong and it was difficult to get the gap earlier," Oftebro told Reuters, before denying thathehadtriedtoemulateKlaebo.

"No,Ididn'tfeellikehim,butofcourseit's nicewhenyoufeellikeyougetagap.ButIstill gotlikeoneturnandanotheruphillsoIwasa bit afraid of crashing, so I needed to be focused. But I think Klaebo would have gone prettyfast."

The gold was the 25-year-old's second of the Games, adding to the normal hill Nordic

combinedtitleheclaimedonWednesday

Lamparter, who started eight seconds behind in second place after the ski jumping, moved quickly to the front in the early stages and opened up a small advantage. His pace faded around the halfway mark, allowing his rivals to reel him in and he ended up 5.9 secondsbehindOftebro.

Lamparter admitted Oftebro was tough to beat.

"You always need to believe in it, but I knewthatheisprobablythestrongestone.SoI triedit,butIneedtoacceptit,"hetoldReuters. Herolafadedintheclosingstagesandsaid hehadlittleenergyleftforthefinalpush.

"IknewIdidn'thaveanythingtofightwith againstJensandJohannes.Theyhadtheirown game going on there. I was part of it without anyrole,"hesaid.

"Iwassotired.Myonlygoalwastokeepit togetheruntilthefinishline."

Japan'sRyotaYamamoto,wholedafterthe large hill segment, struggled in the sunny conditions and faded to 15th, finishing more thantwominutesbehindOftebro.

2026 GCB Men's U-16 50-Over Inter-county tournament Round

Seecharran's sublime 151 sets up crushing 252-run win for Demerara

Opener Lomar S e e c h a r r a n continued to raise his stock as one of the elite YouthbatsmeninGuyana,as his mind-blowing 151 piloted Demerara to a whopping 252-run pummeling over the GCB XI, while Berbice handed Essequibo a 73-run defeat; all apart of Tuesday's round ofU16action.

Seecharran, arguably the best junior national opener and one of the better scorers attheyouthlevel,slammeda majestic 151 off 124 balls before retiring; an innings whichlaidthefoundationfor Demerara's whopping 3588.

His 17 fours and 4 sixes headlinedtheinningsatLBI Ground, which was supported by some good knocks from the in-form Nathan Bishop who stroked an aggressive 57-ball 67 (6x4).Opener Aaron Narine scored31duringthe101run first wicket stand as allrounderAfrazKhanfinished theinningswitharun-a-ball 31notout.

Wicketswerehardtocome by for the GCB XI, as spinner Shaker Ramesh (257) finished as the most successful bowler out of the 7operatorsused.

Lomar Seecharran's stock as one of the elite Youth openers/batsmen in Guyana, continues to grow with another majestic innings

The Demerara opener got to his half-century off 41 before turning on the boosterstoreachhis150-run mark off a mere 124

deliveries.

His breathtaking strokeplay, which has been on full display over the past year or so, again played a hugeroleingettinghisteam to a strong first innings score.

- Berbice romp to 73-run win over GCB XI

The knock effectively crushed the spirits of the GCB XI bowlers who struggledduringtheirspells, but were tasked with even harder duties during the mammothchase.

In response, GCB XI failed to get anywhere close to the gargantuan target and were stuck on 106-10 after 39oversoftoiling.

All-rounder Makai Dowlinswappeddutiesashe opted to save his best performance of the innings, as his off-spin yielded impressive returns of 5-17 fromhis10overquota. Medium-pacer Khan continued to show his class inbothdepartments,snaring (1-5)withhelpfromSomesh (Continuedonpage27)

Seecharran's sublime 151 sets up crushing 252-run win for Demerara

- Berbice romp to 73-run win over GCB XI

- Persaud holds overall lead