new format restricts collective discussions
questions limited to select panel participants forced to move from table to table for answers
Guyana slips in
2026 World Press Freedom Index
...systemicweaponizationof stateadvertisinghighlighted Govt. announces $3B support for rice farmers
PUC warns GPL of penalties over missed targets
Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
Dr Nanda Gopaul has signalled that Guyana Power andLightInc.(GPL)willface penalties if it fails to meet its performance targets by the end of 2026 - an assurance likely to resonate with consumerswhohaveendured yearsofunreliableelectricity
Speaking with Kaieteur News yesterday, Gopaul acknowledged public dissatisfaction and made it clear that the Commission's patienceisnotunlimited.“We will have no choice but to impose penalty if GPL does notmeetitstargetsbytheend of2026,”hestated.
The warning comes even as the PUC defends its decision not to impose fines sofar,astancethathasdrawn criticism from some consumers who feel the regulatorhasbeentoolenient despite persistent service issues. Gopaul is arguing, though,thatsmallfineswould have done little to ease the daily hardships faced by citizens “We could have imposed a $1M or $2M fine, or we could focus on getting things right. I don't see that makinganydifferenceatall,” he said, maintaining that the Commission's focus has been on pushing for real improvements rather than punishment.
Still, many consumers remainfrustrated,particularly giventhatGPLachievedonly 2.5 of its eight performance targets for 2025. The PUC itselfinastatementexpressed dissatisfaction with the c o m p a n y ' s o v e r a l l performance, especially in critical areas such as reliability and financial management.
Despite this, Gopaul shared that the Commission has been actively holding GPL accountable by publicly highlighting its shortcomings and pressing for corrective action. He rejected the view that management is to blame for the ongoing issues. “Alot ofpeopleseemtobelievethat management is a problem. It is not,” he said, adding that GPL's team is experienced andcapable.
Gopaul pointed to some progress in 2025, noting a reduction in prolonged blackouts compared to the previous year However, he acknowledged that outages still occur, often linked to infrastructure works or unexpected incidents, disruptions that continue to affect households and businesses He said the Commission is relying on GPL's plans for 2026, which i n c l u d e u p g r a d i n g infrastructure, improving efficiency, and introducing new technologies These measures, Gopaul said, are expected to deliver the level of service customers have
(Continuedonpage8)
The Government of Guyana has come out swinging against a recent assessment by Reporters WithoutBorders,dismissing its conclusions on press freedom as “deeply flawed, misleading, and rooted in outdatedassumptions.”
See below full statement byKwameMcCoy,Minister within the Office of the PrimeMinister
I have taken note of the recent false assertions made by Reporters Without Borders regarding the state ofmediafreedominGuyana and unequivocally reject the report in its entirety as deeply flawed, misleading, and rooted in outdated and unsupportedassumptions.
Attheoutset,letmestate
clearly and without
hesitation that the Government of Guyana condemns any attack on journalists anywhere in the world, including threats, intimidation, or loss of life.
Theprotectionofjournalists andthepreservationofpress
f r e e d o m r e m a i n fundamental principles of democratic governance, and Guyana stands in solidarity with all who uphold these valuesglobally
However, the report's portrayal of Guyana's media
landscape is wholly inaccurate and recklessly dismissive of verifiable progress. For instance, in 2026, Reporters Without Bordersisstillleaningonthe TravisChaseincident,which never established any
significantly more press conferences than his predecessor, while routinely addressing questions from journalistsonthesidelinesof national and international events,representingmodern, responsiveleadership.
Our country has boldly
entered a new era of information sharing, driven by a deliberate policy of t
inclusive access. Through the expansion of internet
Kwame Mc Coy, Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister
linkage to his media work, from years ago to justify recycled conclusions. Any reportthatdependsondated incidents while ignoring present-dayrealitiesexposes itself as agenda-driven, selective, fundamentally flawedandunreliable.
Further, the report advances a narrow and antiquated view that press conferencesaretheprimary, ifnotsole,measureofmedia access. This is a misguided and reductionist premise. In Guyana, Government Ministers remain among the most accessible public officials, consistently engaging in one-on-one interviews, direct media interactions, and real-time responses across multiple platforms. HisExcellencePresident Dr MohamedIrfaanhimself has d
d an unparalleled level of openness, having held
s hinterland and remote regions, and the rollout of digital government platforms, citizens and media practitioners alike now enjoy unprecedented, real-tim
the flow of information and strengthened public participation.
ss to information and services This transformation has fundamentallydemocratised
The suggestion that journalists face systemic intimidation or economic suppression is entirely unsubstantiated Guyana's (Continuedonpage11)
PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.
Publisher:GLENNLALL-Tel:624-6456
Editor-in-Chief:NigelWilliams
Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
We join with workers across Guyana who gather to honour hard-earned progress made, sacrifices made, developments that led to respect for Guyanese labour It is compulsory for workers and their representatives to vigilantlysafeguardtheirpreciousgains.
PartoftheindigestiblebitternessofGuyaneselabour,in this new era of being citizens in oil rich Guyana, is that those who once stood solidly alongside workers and their rights, they are among those who squeeze and grab those rightsbackfromthem. WhentheStateshouldbeviewedby workers as their biggest asset, too often it has turned out to beamongthemostvillainous.
There is a loud rallying cry, with jobs featuring constantly It is about new jobs created, how Guyanese families are much better off, because they have more to spend. Abouthowinaboomingeconomyallarewelcome, all can find a place in the job market. Despite the lavish claims, there are able-bodied and available Guyanese who are thwarted, denied, and effectively locked out of the job market.
Theirenemyisnotlackoftherequiredqualifications,or less than the experience needed. Their enemy is their politics, their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of association, freedom of political choice. The sad reality is that those who have not openly identified with the PPPC Government, or have a known relationship with the main Oppositiongroups,havejusthadadoorslammedintotheir faces.
They need not apply, they should not turn up, while those who are still in the job ranks are advised to tread carefully,saylittle,anddotheirbestnottobeseen.
It would be helpful if government leaders could offer somerationaleaboutwhytherearesomanyGuyanesewho have been out of a job in the last six years, since the PPPC returnedtopower
Further, it is an open secret that those who have offendedthegovernmentdopoorlyintheirattemptstofind a job in the private sector There is a seeming blacklist in operation, and all that is required is private sector awareness that someone is an activist for social change and justice, and that almost automatically makes them unemployable. Few are the private sector employers who seek to attract the anger of government leaders and party functionaries.
In a new area of the private sector, migrant labour is used to undercut Guyanese. It is cheaper and more exploitable, with a captive workforce at the fingertips of ruthless Guyanese middlemen and exploiters. When holdingthepassportsofmigrantsisseenasanecessarystep to force them to submit to unjust and unlawful working arrangements, then foreign labour wins out, while Guyaneseworkersloseout. Thisisagrowingphenomenon that is coming out of the shadows, but about which the government has been silent, pretends at ignorance, and is largelyhands-off.
The minimum wage for private sector workers remains solidly riveted at $60,447 a month. If there isn’t the reprieve of a full-time second job, or a handful of little side jobs, to provide some extra earnings, the minimum wage is a death sentence that has extended month after month, for threeyears.
It is a miracle that Guyanese families survive on such a minimum wage where already high prices for most household items are rising. The public sector minimum wage/salarylevelishardlysomethingtocelebrate. Starting from around the mid-$90,000s monthly, public sector salary levels are definitely better than equivalent earnings in the private sector What we at this paper would like to know is which family of four can live at a decent standard on $100,000 monthly, when cost-of-living is such a challengingordealinGuyana?
Also, how does a government that got its political beginningsfromthegrassroots,couldhavechangedtosuch
As we approach World Press Freedom Day 2026, events on the ground domestically and in the world at large are moving so quickly that it is hard to keep up. Correspondingly, rapid and significant changes in local print and on social media platforms are not just occurring in Guyana, similar developments across the world show that both podcasters and social media upstarts claim that they have emerged because they want to free themselves from dependence on mainstream media and away from government reach and e s t a b l i s h e d s o c i a l conventions.
The general belief is that people want to read shorter, biased,andsometimes‘more juicy’articles,lettersorposts that tickle their imagination orto‘settongueswagging’. In earnest to satisfy the gullible, the digital upstarts fail to take into account that events on the ground and around the world have become more complex, fast moving and at times, so deceptive that it’s hard to
establishthefacts.
Because of the digital revolution, we are more likely to spend more time with screens than with newspapers,andonlinenews outlets, our preference is to focus on morals rather than difficult truths. The result is an ever-decreasing level of literacy
Here in Guyana, many social media upstarts have sprung up within recent times;Action News Guyana, The Hub, Westside Daily News, Guyana Breaking Updates, Headlines 360, Credible Sources, Guyana Daily Update, GT 59 FM Radio to mention a few, now proliferate. Their role and place are characterised by certain common objectives; to repeat and to appear to be more authentic about stories that have already been published by mainstream media; to cast the PPP/C in a b a d l i g h t a n d b y unreasonably questioning and negativizing any and every government policy initiative.
There are people who read, watch, and absorb content without actively creating or engaging with it,
nevertheless, while welcoming the new digital upstarts, they appear totally oblivious, unconcerned or even unaware of the false and misleading narratives fed to them. Eventually, they b e c o m e a d d i c t e d ; consequently, they end up being victims of depression andhopelessness.
Try as hard as they can, nodigitalupstartcanbetruly faithful to an entire nation. There are times when they try to please a restricted readership circle who claim to represent the nation as a whole, and that can be problematic.
False, ‘old hat’ and repetitive narratives may trigger ‘readership fatigue’ with readers blanking content of a useless and depressing nature posted by some social media upstarts who, in the scramble for space on already crowded platforms just post anything. By publishing repetitive and depressing stories, more subtractions than additions by subscribers becomes the endresult.
And while the following may appear overly basic, the point is that when readers
break with faith in reputable and reliable media sources who, in their view, can no longer be relied upon to publish letters of interest or to carry topical humaninterest stories, people end up depending increasingly on rumours, hearsay and gossip resulting in a low level of appreciation of political, social and economic occurrences in Guyana.
The entry of digital upstartsintothesocialmedia market is a manifestation of the fulfillment of their aspiration to achieve intellectual critique of national and international events However, many eventually end up sitting comfortably with Guyanese non-traditional values and counterculture.
The picture of presentday Guyana portrayed by some digital upstarts is unsurprisingly flat – a symptom of depthlessness and an obsession with surfaces – spectacles, speculation, sensation and mirrors; in effect, a virtual expression of Guyana’s reality
Continued on page 5
DEAR EDITOR,
Iwritewithdeepconcern and a sense of urgency regarding a matter that strikes at the very heart of Guyana’s democratic accountability and fiscal integrity Since the 2025 General and Regional Elections, none of the P a r l i a m e n t a r y Committees particularly the crucial Sectoral and O v e r s i g h t Committees have been convened This is not a procedural oversight; it is a failure of governance with tangible consequences for everycitizenofthisnation.
Editor, Parliamentary Committees are not ceremonial appendages They are the primary instruments through which elected representatives scrutinise government spending, evaluate policy
implementation, and hold the executive accountable between sittings of the full National Assembly When these committees do not meet, several ramifications areimmediateandsevere:
· Wasted public funds: The National Budget, approved months ago, is being executed without meaningful oversight. Every contract awarded, every ministry’s expenditure, and every supplementary allocation remains largely unexamined by the very bodies constitutionally mandated to perform that scrutiny Taxpayers are effectively funding a system operating without a critical check.
W e a k e n e d
transparency: Major development projects, particularlyininfrastructure, natural resources, and
an unfriendly force that strikes at the very heart of workers’ aspirations in Guyana? In an oil enriched labour environment, Guyanese workers should be kings commanding their own destiny That is still a long way off, thanks to the collusions between government and private capital,withlocalworkersasperennialvictims.
On a day honouring past labour stalwarts, ordinary Guyaneseworkersloseconfidence,fearthefuture.
energy, proceed without parliamentaryreviewoftheir i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o r adherence to timelines and value-for-money principles. Citizens are left in the dark about how their money is beingused.
· Erosion of legislative integrity: Suspending committee operations undermines the principle of separation of powers It signals that parliamentary oversight is optional, not obligatory. This sets a dangerous precedent for future administrations, regardlessofpoliticalparty Failure to address urgent national issues: From crime, border security, and domestic security to public health and education, sectoral committees are where detailed, evidencebased policy reviews occur Their absence leaves critical n a t i o n a l p r o b l e m s inadequately debated and addressed.
Editor, this situation is a disservicetoeveryGuyanese taxpayer who works hard, remits taxes, and expects in return a government that governs with transparency and respect for democratic institutions. It is also an affront to the thousands of citizens who voted in 2025 believing they had elected a Parliament that would serve asarobustcheckonexecutive power The Opposition that was voted in to scrutinizes with checks and balance remains neutered, not by their own fashion but by the seeming government suspension of parliamentary committeemandates.
To the Government of Guyana: This is not a partisan matter The failure to convene committees affects every Guyanese, regardless of political affiliation. We call on you to instruct the Clerk of the National Assembly and the l e a d e r s h i p o f t h e parliamentary parties to schedule and hold all outstanding committee meetings within the next 30 days. No further delay is acceptable. The patience of the citizenry is not infinite. Without functioning committees, our parliament is diminished, our public funds are at risk, and our democracyisweaker
Yours faithfully, Jonathan Subrian Esq.
DEAR EDITOR,
Ve n e z u e l a ’s n e w President, Delcy Rodriguez, by virtue of the fact that Nicolas Maduro has been removed by the US government and is on trial in the US, has drawn considerable and concerning attention to herself by flaunting a brooch worn on her lapel of a map of Venezuela, including the Essequibo as a part of Venezuela, while in meetings with CARICOM Heads-of-State.
Rodriguez has also inflamed, with deliberate intention for public attention, the illegitimate claim of Venezuela to our Essequibo. President Irfaan Ali wasted no time in respondingappropriately It is good, however, that Rodriguez has reminded us and, indeed, our allies,
including the USA, that the Venezuelan regime (they are not an elected government) has every intention of pursuing this pernicious claimatatimewhenGuyana is about to make its oral presentations to the InternationalCourtofJustice who will, early next year, decide on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award and the boundary established by the 1905BoundaryAgreement.
WeknowthatVenezuela, never once, for over 62 years, challenged the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award. We also know that it was the Venezuelan government who pressed the British government that the demarcation of the boundary between Venezuela and Guyana, in accordance with the Award, be settled on 10 January,1905.
It is particularly ironical
that Rodriguez chose the inyour-face display of a false map of Venezuela when, in fact, successive Venezuelan governments since in 1911 published maps consistent with theAward and the 1905 Agreement,againin1928,in 1937, in 1939, in 1940, in 1947,in1950,in1955andin 1956.Infact,theVenezuelan government published about 16 official Venezuelan maps between 1911 and 1962, demarcating the boundary between Venezuela and British Guiana, faithfully depicting the 1899 Arbitral Award and the 1905 Boundary Agreement, until itsrecentfoolishness.
It is history that when Guiana’sIndependencefrom the United Kingdom approached in the 1960s, the United Kingdom who had responsibility for British Guiana’s external relations,
From page 4
Thedenialbysomedigital‘hotshots’ofbasic foundational truths has resulted in their rejection of facts, replacing objective reality with a lack of journalistic profundity And, just as the distinction between surface and depthissoglaringintheirposts,sotooistheir weaknessinclassdifferentiation.
Those who find the time to peruse such posts would easily recognise the nihilistic approach in their stories posted as well as frequent ad hominem attacks on public figures.
As the upstarts seek space in an already narrowdomesticpoliticalenvironment,ithas become unavoidable for them to reflect both neo-liberal and neo-conservative ideological and political views in their posts ignoring completely historical and contemporary East Asian or West Asian reliable sources of information.
Claiming their ‘emancipatory’ upstartish journalism is a vehicle used to ‘protect and shelter people with no voice’, the ghost writers for the digital upstarts conceal their
identities as they try to open backdoors to happeningsinthecorridorsofpowerwiththe hope of gathering scoops to strip established mediahousesoftheirdominance.
As we observeWorld Press Freedom Day 2026, we should be on guard against the ‘champions of transparency’ promoted by today’s‘digitalevangelists’and‘socialmedia entrepreneurs’ whose posts, on close examination, represent opacity, evasion and assaultsfromtheshadows.
We should also recognise that hope for a bright and prosperous Guyana is not to be found in posts by shadowy digital upstarts, many of whom have an axe to grind with eithertheestablishmentorgovernment.
While we must support a free press, we must guard against the proliferation of any and every social media upstart who thrive on fake news, ethic divisiveness, repetition and fear-mongering aimed at creating doubts about the prospects for prosperity and improvementinthelivesofallGuyanese.
Yours faithfully, Clement
J. Rohee
Venezuela contended to the United Kingdom that the 1899 Arbitral Award was a nullity, which the United Kingdom firmly rejected, but agreed to have any relevant documentary material in support of Venezuela’s claim examined byexpertsoftheUK,BGand Venezuela. The UK representative who made the offer at a UN Special th Political Committee, on 12 November, 1962, made it plain, however, and said: “In making this offer, I must make it very clear that it is in nosenseanoffertoengagein substantive talks about the revision of the frontier”
Venezuela accepted the offer The three countries examinedthedocumentsand both the United Kingdom and British Guiana agreed with the experts that there was not a scintilla of evidence to support the Venezuelan contention. Eventually, on the eve of Independence, the United Kingdom and Venezuela, with Guiana’s concurrence, concluded the Geneva Agreement, Article 1 of whichreads:
“A mixed Commission shall be established with the task of seeking satisfactory solutions for the practical settlementofthecontroversy
between Venezuela and the United Kingdom which has arisen as a result of the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of 1899 about the frontier between British Guiana and Venezuelaisnullandvoid”. From its inception, successive Venezuelan governments have refused to recognize or honour the purpose of the Geneva Agreement, continuously insisting that the purpose of the Geneva Agreement was to agree on redefining the borders between Venezuela and Guyana on the assumptionthattheArbitral Continued on page 6
Love is an action wordthe healthcare edition
Gonearethedayswhena simple review of our landscape would unearth a disturbing pattern where when many people fell ill, and upon seeking medical help, were often met with heart breaking words. “If youhadcomeearlierorifwe have detected earlier, we could have saved you”. That realitywasfartoocommon.
Today we witness real love for people and meaningful progress. As a nation, we have evolved in our approach to healthcare, placing greater emphasis on prevention rather than reaction.
In this regard, the Ministry of Health deserves commendation for its proactive early screening p r o g r a m m e s T h e introduction of screening since around 2024 through vouchers covering HPV
testing, eye testing and examinations, liver and kidney, urinal and most chronic diseases marks a significant step forward in public health delivery This investment is in billions of dollars and we couldn’t be happier
These initiatives go beyond policy; they reflect genuine care for the people. Early detection not only saveslivesbutalsoimproves quality of life, allowing persons to access early treatment before it becomes severe As the health minister would say “A healthy population is the backbone of a productive societybecausewhenpeople are well, the economy is stronger, families are more p r o d u c t i v e , a n d communities thrive”. These areallrepercussions.
I also get why persons were hesitant in the past and
it is important for us to recognise the financial burden that existed. Not so long-ago persons had to endure long lines at private pharmacies and pay out of pocketsimplyforthesetests. For many that barrier would have related to critical diagnosis Today it is remarkable to see that persons have the freedom to utilise these vouchers at almost every private health facility whether you are sick ornot.
This transformation speaks volumes and for sure is an expression of love for our children and adults in society Let us continue to build a culture where taking care of our health is seen not as a burden anymore but as a responsibility since we have access to all of these great initiatives.
Regards, Sachin Persaud
T h e n a m e s
“International Workers’ Day”, “Labour Day” or “May Day”, are preferential names given to the day allocated for the celebration and honouring of labour rights by both workers and employers. In Guyana, this day is celebrated on May 1 every year as a public holiday, mostly devoted to the celebration of the achievementsoftheworking class and in “remembrance of the great exploits and major sacrifices made by fellow workers” in Guyana, where industrial relations history proved to be ungenerous.
TheInternationalLabour Organization’s chosen theme for Workers’ Day 2026is“Goodpsychosocial working environments: A pathway to thriving workers and strong organization,” because of i t s s u i t a b i l i t y a n d relationship to World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which precedes May Day on April 28, 2026 However,theGuyanaTrades Union Congress will be celebrating with its affiliates under the theme “A century honouring the struggle for oneman,onevote.”
The Constitution of Guyana guarantees trade union rights of workers, as well as, freedom of association, but, as time passed, these rights have been trampled upon in the nameofpoliticalexpediency and, among other things, glaring double standards in the application of these constitutional entitlements. These entitlements only become self-evident, when persons of perceived
political affiliations and/or with special considerations are affected, while for others the application hoovers as a m y t h , a s a c t s o f d i s c r i m i n a t i o n , victimization and/or as unlawful abuses wantonly perpetrated require legal challengesorexcursionsinto joblessness.
Attacks on the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) became prevalent, where over the years it suffered a litany of abuses, including,butnotlimitedto:
· The suspension of the Agency Shop Agreement, where after a significant amount of Public Servants opted to freeload on Union benefits that were achieved by successful Union representation, because of either sustained political pressures or selfish desires decided not to be organized within the Public Service Union; Reregistration of membership;
· Union busting and derecognitionofrepresentation at a number of agencies, i n c l u d i n g F o r e s t r y Commission.TheUnionwas able to recover the part of its recognition base at MMA/ADA that was delinked and twice defended politically inspired polls at Anna Regina Town Council. In the case of the Maritime Authority, the poll was scuttled when it was recognized that the GPSU would have won. To date the Maritime Authority Branch is not organized, because of this unusual political intervention;
· Active intentions to weaken militant Public Service Workers, through
the refusal to promote vigilant union members and processes of selectively paying higher wages, salaries, and allowances to a chosenfew;
· C o n v e n i e n t l y restricting the militancy and welfare of the Union’s membership by passing legislation to label a large percentage of Public Servants’ functions as “essential services.” In this regard, the GPSU countered by demanding that such workers must be paid the annualone-monthbonusthat has the full support of the GPSU and is being paid members of the disciplinary services, also categorized as essential workers This request has not yet been approvedtodate;
· Scant regard for legally enforceable Collective Labour Agreements with GPSUandlackofrespectfor the legally enshrined collective bargaining processes For example, notwithstanding the 2024 C o l l e c t i v e L a b o u r Agreement, whereby it was agreed that nurses would be given duty free concessions for motor vehicles However, this pact, among other things, has not been implementedtodate.
T h e s e f o r m s o f
d i s c r i m i n a t i o n , victimization and noncompliance are meant to weaken the Union, attack its credibility and rob it of its supportbase.
A d d e d t o t h e Government’s apparent lack of empathy for the working class, its continued ploy to remove workers from protected job conditions by placing them under insecure
TheEthnicRelationsCommission(ERC) proudly joins the nation in commemorating Labour Day as we honour the dedication, perseverance, and achievements of workers across Guyana Workers whose efforts continue to propel the country’s growth and development.
Labour Day is not only a celebration, but also a moment of reflection. It beckons us to remember the generations of workers who organised, sacrificed, and persevered to secure the rights and protections that Guyana’sworkforcebenefitsfromtoday
contract conditions that shatter pensionable rights, among other things, is a disturbing trend taking hold throughout the Public Service.Thiswidespreaduse of contract employment in roles that are clearly permanent and pensionable undermines job security, limits access to union representation, and strips workers of benefits they rightlydeserve.
Even more concerning is thatwiththeofferofcontract work persons are often lured by the myth of contract gratuity,onlytofindthatitis sometimes not paid because of subjective claims of poor performance. This is added to the fact that there is misrepresentation that such workers should not be unionized, which is a blatant violation of the Constitution of Guyana that guarantees freedom of association and therighttobeorganized.The GPSU has repeatedly intervened to address these injustices and continues to demand that all Public Service Workers be treated with fairness, equity and dignity and must be paid a livingwage
The machinations of the political hierarchy seemed designed to consistently
deny Public Servants
a living wage through annu
impositions that occurred repeatedly over the years 2001 through 2023. In those
h e administration adamantly
negotiatewiththeGPSU,the Workers’Representativeand displayed a blatant lack of inclusivity in relation to matters concerning its workers.
nt’s previous stance against bilateral negotiations, together with its dictatorial leaning towards the annual imposition of meagre increases in wages and salaries for Public Servants, waschallengedbytheGPSU in the Law Courts, where it was upheld that based on the A g r e
AvoidanceandSettlementof D i s p u t
s b e t w e e n Government of Guyana and the GPSU, the acts of the Government are unlawful, when decisions affecting the membershipoftheUnionare made without dialogue and consensus and are also in breach of Public Service Rules. To this end, the Judge issued a mandatory order requiring “meaningful
negotiations” with the GPSU, but to date, in contempt of the order of the Court, Government’s Representative,Ms.Soyinka Grogan, M S , Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Public Service, still obstinately avoids meeting withtheGPSU.
The achievement of a negotiated settlement in the year 2024, even though far from the projected living wage, is seen as a “silver lining” emerging from the darknessaftermorethantwo decades This hopefully gives the appearance that the groundwork would be laid for Public Servants to be properly remunerated and elevated from the debts of poverty However,theGPSU must be cautious as emanations from the Hon. Minister of the Public Service Mr Zulfikar Ally indicated that there are plans afoot to vary the conditions of service for public workers, by surreptitiously making amendments to the Public Service Rules. The GPSU is prepared to challengeanysuchunilateral Continued on page 22
From page 5 Awardof1899wasanullity
As part of its ongoing efforts, the ERC provides Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI) training and sensitization programmes to organisations across both the public and privatesectors.Theseinitiativesaredesigned to promulgate mutual understanding, reduce workplacediscrimination,andstrengthenthe social cohesion that underpins a productive andharmoniousworkforce.
As Guyana commemorates Labour Day, the ERC salutes the invaluable contributions of the nation’s workforce and reaffirms its commitment to supporting safe, inclusive, and harmonious working environments for all.
As a constitutional body with labour represented among its core constituencies, the ERC occupies a unique position in advocating for the welfare of workers across all sectors of society In keeping with its mandate to promote harmony and good relations among Guyana’s diverse peoples, the Commission remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering workplaces that are inclusive, respectful, and free from discrimination.
Ethnic Relations Commission
As might have been expected, negotiations and discussions were fruitless and unproductive and agreement was not reached on one of the means of settlement listed in Article 3 of the United Nations Charter, which includes judicial settlement and, therefore, as the Agreement stipulated, the choice of the means of settlement was left to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and that this choice is binding on the twoparties.
Eventually, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guteweres, decided, in accordance with Article IV ( i i ) o f t h e G e n e v a Agreement, that the next means of settlement would be judicial settlement by the International Court of Justice and he so informed both governments of his decision.
T h e Ve n e z u e l a n government, even now, with Delcy Rodriguez reporting
d i r e c t l y t o t h e U S government, is determined to misrepresent and disregard the Geneva Agreement and, as we are on th the eve of our 60 year of Independence, it seems appropriate to recall the words of our first Prime Minister, Forbes Burnham, th spoken on 12 July, 1968, in the National Assembly and, as relevant today as when they were spoken, “ I cannot tell with any certainty where this ill-advised course of action of which the government of Venezuela has embarked will lead us. We must be prepared, however, for further and even more aggressive d e m o n s t r a t i o n s o f international lawlessness from the government of Venezuela. We will need all our courage and strength to withstand these efforts to break our will and despoil our land…in our stance for survival we shall call upon the conscience of all peaceloving people to speak out in our cause and we shall need all our unity as a people so that our voice may be heard in all corners of the world and in all the Councils of the World’s Institution of Peace.”
I conclude with the words from President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali in his letter to Prime Minister Dr Terrence Michael Drew of St Kitts & Nevis and Chairman of CARICOM “The use of CARICOM engagements to project or promote a territorial claim against a member state risk being interpreted as acquiescence or tolerance. No action, whether deliberate or inadvertent, should create the impression that the community’s platforms may be used to advance claims now before the International Court of Justice CARICOM’s principled support for Guyanamustbereflectednot only in declarations, but also in the context and conduct of officialengagements.”
Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento
T
h e G u y a n a Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) said it has welcomed the recent stakeholder consultation
c o n v e n e d b y t h e Government of Guyana, through the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), on issues relating to laytime and demurrage within the shippingsector In a statement on Thursday, the GMSAsaid it had previously expressed concern over the impact of
high shipping costs, demurrage charges, cargohandling delays, and wider logistics on manufacturers, importers,exporters,andthe b r o a d e r b u s i n e s s community “These costs directly affect the price of
s, the competitiveness of locally manufacturedgoodsandthe
d
efficiently,”theGMSAsaid. “The association is therefore pleased that these matters are receiving the direct attention of Deodat Indar, Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, and thatmeaningfulengagement is being pursued with shipping lines, agents, brokers,operators,andother key stakeholders The Associationlooksforwardto favourableoutcomesarising fromthediscussions.”
A t t h e
consultationMinister Indar said the move is aimed at addressing rising import costs driven by port
congestion and current billing practices. “Imagine thatyouhavetopayadvance demurrage,” Indar said “Thelaytimeforthevesselis 72 hours, but once that expires you begin to pay demurrage. This is carrying upthecostofimportationin the country.” Scrap metal recycling
He added that port activityhassurgedsharplyin recent years without correspondinginfrastructure expansion. “In 2020 we had 2,513portcalls.Attheendof 2025, we had 3,700 – a 65 per cent increase. But there was not more built out of commercial wharfing facilities,” he observed, noting that congestion and scheduling delays are translating directly into higher demurrage costs that are ultimately passed on to consumers.
I
government is now working on a policy framework to implement the 21-day window before demurrage applies and to remove advancepayments,whichhe d
y burdensomeforimporters.
id the consultationwasintendedto test the proposals and examine their implications. “Avesselarrivesontime,all of the documents are in place, but cargo operations take just a little longer than expected. One day becomes two, two becomes four, and suddenly what should have beenaroutineportcallturns into tens of thousands of dollars in demurrage,” she said.
Hohenkirk cautioned, however, that eliminating advance demurrage could shift financial risk to shipowners, who may respond by increasing freight rates. “There is a possibility that the intended cost savings may be
neutralized or even result in higher overall shipping costs,” she noted, adding that while ending advance demurrage could bring benefits such as reduced upfront costs, greater flexibility and more predictablepricing,thereare also risks, including higher freight rates, reduced vessel trafficandpotentialdeclines inportcompetitiveness.
Chairman of the
Shipping Association of Guyana, Komal Singh, pointed to congestion as a central issue and criticised the growing use of advance demurrage charges “You needtopayacoupledaysof demurrage in advance then you have to go through a very long process to get that money refunded. That
shouldnothappen,”hesaid. Shippingdelayinsurance Businessman Nicholas Boyer questioned whether infrastructuregapsareatthe rootoftheproblem.“Dowe have a challenge in the infrastructure?” he asked, noting that import volumes have increased significantly withoutmatchingexpansion in port capacity He said inefficiencies along the logistics chain, from shipping lines to customs approvals,alsocontributeto delays.
Vice President of the Guyana Customshouse
Brokers & Clerks Association, Christopher Matthias, highlighted inconsistencies in how shipping lines calculate free
(Continuedonpage9)
Frompage2
long demanded. At the same time, he highlightedelectricitytheftasamajorfactor undermining the system, particularly in squattersettlements.Newmeteringsystems areexpectedtoplayaroleinreducingthese losses.WhiletheCommissionhas,fornow, opted for a reform-based approach, citing challenges such as labour shortages and ongoing projects, it is also anticipating that 2026willbringimprovement.
Meanwhile,inadditiontoitsassessment of GPL's performance, the PUC, in Order No. 1/2026 posted on its website, outlined other developments within the electricity sector that were not tied directly to the company's missed targets.According to the Order, the sector continued to expand, with GPLrecordingafourpercentincreaseinits customerbase.
Electricity demand also rose, with net salesincreasingbysixpercent.
The Order further said that planned and
ongoing initiatives include the construction of hundreds of kilometres of transmission and distribution lines, the development of new substations, and upgrades to existing systems. Among the major works are transmission lines crossing the Demerara River and continued rollout of advanced metering infrastructure aimed at improving efficiencyandmonitoring.
B
operations, the PUC pointed to progress in Guyana's transition to renewable energy Several solar projects were commissioned a
approximately 15.6 megawatts of capacity to the national grid. A 4 MW solar farm at Trafalgar in Region Five came into operation in December 2025, alongside additional installations in RegionsTwo and SixandonLeguanIsland.Theseprojectsare expected to improve grid stability, reduce relianceondiesel,andsupporteffortstocut carbonemissions,theordersaid.
As late as the early 1970s, when night fell, dinner consumed and the children completed their homework, members of the household would usually sit either in the sitting room or on the verandah and discuss various matters, but mainly theeventsoftheday.
In those days there was no television and for news wereliedupontheradio.But that was not the only source ofinformation.
Those members of the household who worked would return with their own stories and the titbits of information they had picked up.
Even the housewives who went to the market would also return with storiestheyhadheard.
At nights families would sit together and share these stories.Theywouldalsofind some time to read or play cards before retiring. These activities tended to bond the household and provided an environment in which everyone looked out for his orherownfamily
Sometimes while chatting on the verandah, you would look over and see your neighbour and his family doing the same. And
you would exchange greetings and even discuss matters without having to leaveyourhome.
That was one of the benefits of living in a traditional society. Everyone within a street knew each other.
And within the home there were hardly any secrets and even when there was the odd dispute there wasnoshortageofpeopleto bring the two disputants together
There was also a great deal of communal support.
In any village, everyone got to know the other Even within the towns, it was unusual for a resident to not know the households on the streets in which he lived. Thus, if someone had a problem he could always appeal to his neighbours for support which was almost alwaysforthcoming. Such, also, were the benefits of living in a traditionalsociety
There are many reasons why Guyanese survived the hard times of the late seventies and eighties. One of those reasons was due to the free exchange of information that took place withincommunities.
If for example, the then Guyana Stores would be selling cooking oil the following day and someone in the street got wind of this, that person would not keep this information to himself but would pass it on to their neighbour.
And of one member was short of a scarce commodity and another had, you could bet the latter would share with the person in need.This was the sort of support system that helped to sustain Guyanese during the hard guavaseason.
W i t h e c
n o m i c liberalisation, things began to change. Liberalism is underpinned by the philosophy of personal initiative: that a man or a wom
e whatever he or she wants throughhisowneffort.
Economic liberalism placed the interests of the community as secondary to the individual and what we had was a rat race whereby everyonetriedtoimprovehis orherownlotwithoutregard to the overall benefit of the community
In the process, social and communal ties which had helped to sustain us for so long began to fall apart.
From page 8 time before demurrage. “Some lines tell you that the free days commence when the vessel arrives in port, some say when it comes alongside the wharf, some say when it starts todischargeandotherssaywhenitisfinished discharging,” Matthias said. “So you don’t know when your actual free days commence.”
CustomsbrokerRajendraRajcoomarsaid administrativeerrorsalsocontributetodelays and costs. “Sometimes the shipping line does make mistakes in terms of the manifest and it
takes three to five days to be corrected,” he said “Why should the importer suffer becauseoftheirmistake?”
A representative of Trident Marine Trading Inc. raised operational concerns, including delays caused by limited pilot availability at the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge. “We have a problem where our vessel has to be stopped… and wait until there’s pilot availability This costs us demurrage,” the representative said, adding thatthereareonlysixlocalpilotsavailableto guidevessels.
It look like if dem shimmering dress full of glitters and sequins still in style or at least somepeoplekeepingitinstyle.
Nuff party tekking place in de country And dem bourgeois nah want go and buy de lastestfashion.Soplentyofdemdigginginto dem chest and bringing out dem shine dress wahdembinwearafewyearsago.Anddem looking good in it especially since dem friendsdemhaddesameidea.
Years ago, dem used to have a comic book called Archie and one of de charcters was a girl named Veronica and it was said thatsheneverworedesameoutfittwice,she wasdatrich.
Wellnow,withalldemcameraandsocial mediaround,somebourgeoisgirlsknowdat dem can’t wear de same dress twice. People
Communitiesbecamehighly impersonal. And with this impersonality, residents have become strangers in theirownvillages.
People do not mix as before and they also do not lend that degree of support thatonceexisted.
And this is one of the main reasons why each day, we can pick up the newspaper and be horrified atwhatweread.
Each day we read about fights within villages, about one person stabbing another overa$500bet,ofahusband forcing rat poison down the throat of his wife, of
neighbour breaking into the home of neighbour and of friends betraying the trust of eachother.
Attempts can be made to reverse these negative t r e n d s t h r o u g h strengthening community ties, but this task will always remain difficult if liberalisation continues to be the guiding philosophy withinthecountry
Everythingcannotbeleft to the invisible hand of the market.
ganrememberdemdidwearitbefore.
But dah nah stop some of dem from digging into dem wardrobe and bringing out dem glittering gowns and dress and wearing ittoparty Demeventekkingoutpicturewith it.
Itmekdemboysrememberdeladywho, on her deathbed, tells she husband, “Dearest Morton, when I’m gone, I want you to go on and live your life to the fullest and meet someone new. I want you to give her my jewelry, my wedding ring, and my Parisian dresses.”
“I can’t do that,” says Morton. His wife insists,“Oh,butyoumust!Youmust!”
He replies, “No, I really can’t –You’re a size17andshewearsasize10.”
Talk half. Leff half.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the a
necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
We have got to return to thosevalueswhichexistedin an earlier time, a time before television when family members sat together and shared their experiences, theirdreamsandtheirfears,a time when a neighbour would come running to your rescue without being asked andatimewhenhavingmore than what your neighbour hadwasnotasimportantasit istoday
OnApril29,2026, I published in Kaieteur News, as part of The GHK Lall Column, a piece entitled “A special kind of lawyering, and at its best” (the “Column”).
Mr Kissoon has never actedfortheGovernmenton the Gas-to-Energy Project. He has never received any payment from the Governmentinrespectofthe Gas-to-Energy dispute. He did not draft, settle, or contribute to any provision of the Gas-to-Energy contract and never had sight of it. He has never operated under any conflict-ofinterestwaiver
settlementbetween the parties The Column ought nevertohavebeen
published, was
judgment and taste, and without any verificationwhatsoever I apologise unreservedly toMr DevindraKissoonfor the harm caused to his personal and professional reputation by the Column.
me, in any form, nor in any medium.
Guyana has fallen three places in the 2026WorldPressFreedomIndex,slidingto 76th out of 180 countries as the nation's medialandscapegrappleswiththeshuttering of a landmark institution and tightening legislativerestrictions.
The annual report, released Thursday, reflects a declining score of 59.58, down from60.12in2025.Thedowngradefollows ayeardefinedbytheclosureoftheStabroek News,acornerstoneofGuyanesejournalism for four decades, and what observers describe as an increasingly hostile environmentforindependentreporting.
"Guyana enjoys a diversity of national and regional media outlets, though a major daily newspaper, The Stabroek News, announceditsclosurein2026after40years ofpublication,"thereportsaid.
Board, noting that members are appointed directly by the President without opposition consultation This lack of bipartisan representation has led to concerns over the independenceoflicensingbodies.
Furthermore, the NationalAssembly has faced criticism for instituting controversial restrictionsin2026,includingabanonnews cameras within the chambers. Journalists have also pointed to the continued use of defamation lawsuits by public officials as a form of "legal harassment" intended to discourageinvestigativeprobes.
The Column has been permanently removed and will not be republished by
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Stabroek News closure sent shockwaves throughtheCaribbean.Uponitsdissolution, the publication's management accused the governmentofwithholdingover$84million (GYD)inadvertisingdebt,amovetheoutlet characterisedasadeliberateattempttostifle itseconomicviability
The Index highlights a systemic weaponisation of State advertising, noting that independent and opposition media outlets struggle to compete with progovernment counterparts for essential revenue."Independent and opposition media outlets struggle to compete with the advertising revenues of pro-government media outlets, which threatens their economic viability The Stabroek News accusedthegovernmentoffailingtopayover $84 million in advertising debt to the newspaper when it announced it would shut downoperations,"thereportadded.
While Guyana's Security Indicator saw an improvement, rising to 86.56 as physical violence against press remains rare, other metrics tell a story of institutional decline. Despite a marginal rise in the economic score,thereportnotesthattheoverallmedia houseenvironmentremainsfragile.
The report raises significant alarms regarding the Guyana Broadcast Authority
Whilethe2023shootingofinvestigative journalist Travis Chase's car remains a memory of physical risk, the 2026 report shiftsfocustodigitalandverbalaggression. Media professionals report being regularly "bullied online" by political actors and supporters.
The report concludes that while the Constitution nominally guarantees freedom of expression, the passage of recent legislation,includinglawsthatallowforthe imprisonment of journalists for up to two years, serves as a "muzzle" on those who openlychallengetheauthorities.
"While Guyana protects freedom of speech and the right to information, journalists who oppose the authorities face intimidation and the economic viability of “media houses,” a local term for outlets, is threatenedbyreducedStateadvertising."
Further,thereportstatesthat"Politicians regularly sideline media houses for political reasons.”
“Presidential press conferences are rare and tightly controlled.In 2026, the National Assembly instituted new, controversial restrictions on press access, including banningnewscameras,"thereportsaidwhile adding that "Public officials use defamation lawsuitstocriticisethemedia,andthethreat of legal harassment can be enough to discourage journalists from pursuing an investigation.”
Asofpresstime,thegovernmenthasnot issued a formal response to the latest Index rankings.
Frompage3
media environment remains plural, competitive, and constitutionally protected, with state, private, and online entities operating freely The allocation of state advertising is conducted in accordance with principles of reach, effectiveness, and responsible use of public resources, not politicalbias.
Equally troubling are the report's assertions regarding the legal and political framework, which are riddled with exaggerationandfactualdistortion.Guyana's Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and access to information, and there exists no credible evidence of legislative efforts aimed at silencing journalists.
The report also fails to acknowledge the Government's ongoing investment in strengthening the media sector, including training, professional development, and the expansion of communication infrastructure. Theseeffortsreflectaclearcommitmentnot
only to media freedom, but to the growth, professionalism, and sustainability of the sector
Guyana remains a proud signatory to internationalframeworksthatpromotemedia freedom and continues to engage constructively with global partners However,assessmentsofthecountry'smedia environment must be grounded in objective evidence, contextual understanding, and
transformation.
The Government therefore calls on ReportersWithout Borders to ensure that its analyses are balanced, fact-based, and reflective of current realities, rather than shaped by selective narratives that do not withstandscrutiny Guyanastandsfirminits commitment to a free, independent, and responsible media, and will continue to advance policies and systems that expand accesstoinformation,strengthendemocratic participation, and uphold the rights of all citizens.
Participants pay keen attention to a presentation during the recent Longtail meeting at
ExxonMobil Guyana
Limited (EMGL) the operator of the Stabroek Block has implemented a new strategy for its “public consultations” that restricts an in-depth disclosure on proposedprojects.
On Tuesday afternoon, the company along with its Consultant, Acorn International of Houston, TexasandtheEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) met with citizens at the Umana in Georgetown to discussthefindingsfromthe Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the eight proposed projectLongtail.
This study is done after consulting the public to hear their concerns and questions andisalegalrequirementfor oil projects, given the potential to affect multiple receptors such as air quality, marinelifeandwaterquality andevenland.
Usually, the meetings allow the public, in a transparent way, to raise questions or concerns with the use of a microphone for the benefit of the attending audience. This ensures that everyone in attendance not only hears the questions and answers provided by the specialists, but can also seek follow-ups or clarity where necessary - offered deeper scrutinyonissuesofinterest.
This recent meeting took a different approach, removing this transparent methodandreplacingitwith three desks where questions could be quietly raised and addressed.
No microphones were used,meaningtheteamcould have been faced with the same questions multiple times and provide answers that may only scratch the surface.
Participants were directed to three desksenvironmental, emergency, andsocio-economicfortheir queries or concerns to be addressed, following a brief presentation by Acorn Public feedback is crucial to thealreadyconductedEIAas thiswouldpromptarevision of the draft document, upon expirationoftheongoing'60daypubliccommentsperiod'.
Kaieteur News spoke with a few persons that attended the “public consultation” all of whom expressed frustration with the new system. “They just sent me to this desk because they said it's not a question for them, now he is sending me to another desk,” said an energetic young lady who attended with two of her friends. Her question was perhaps a troublesome one that sought answers to who wouldcompensatefishermen for losses as a result of any impact from the oil and gas activities.
Another young lady that attendedfromtheUniversity ofGuyana(UG)saidshefelt the meeting was a “brainwashing ceremony” She said, “I was listening to them speak before you started asking questions about the discharges into the ocean and it's so clear that they cannot answer your questions because the EPA guy could not say what measuresareinplace.Ithink they are trying to sell us a dream about all the good things the project can do for us but it's really like putting cat to watch milk because there aren't any systems to verify what they are telling us.”
Concerns were also raised at the “environment desk” about how changes in temperature can affect marine life, but were not answered Marine water temperature can change due totheoffshoredischargesby Exxon during its project relatedactivities.
While interacting with other participants, they also vented frustration over the languagebarrierbyoneofthe officials,whoseemedtohave a French accent, making it extremely difficult to understand the responses provided.
Personsalsocomplained of being unable to hear the responses to their queries as other discussions were ongoing simultaneously around the room. The new conduct of the meetings, accordingtoExxonofficials, is intended to allow more persons the opportunity to raisequestionsandconcerns.
AI,April30(Reuters)-Iran said on Thursday it would respond with "long and painful strikes" on U.S. positions if Washington renewed attacks, and also restateditsclaimtotheStrait of Hormuz, complicating U.S. plans for a coalition to reopenthewaterway
Two months into the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, thevitalseachannelremains
reiterated to reporters on ThursdaythatIranwouldnot beallowedtohaveanuclear weaponandthatthepriceof gasoline - a key concern for his Republican Party in the November midterm elections-would"droplikea rock" as soon as the war ended While repeating allegations of serious rights violations by Iran, Trump said he was "OK" with it playing in the upcoming
closed, choking off 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies That has sent global energy prices surging and heightened concerns about the risks of an economicdownturn.
Efforts to resolve the conflicthavehitanimpasse, with a ceasefire in place since April 8 but Iran still blocking the strait in response to a U.S. naval blockade of Iran's oil exports, Tehran's economic lifeline U S President DonaldTrump was slated to receive a briefing on Thursday on plans for a series of fresh military strikesonIrantocompelitto negotiate an end to the conflict, a U.S. official told Reuters.
Such options have long been part of U.S. planning but reports of the proposed briefing,firstissuedbynews
site Axios late on Wednesday,initiallyspurred big gains in oil prices, with the benchmark Brent crude contract hitting more than $126abarrelatonepoint.It later slipped back to around $114. Air defense sounds were heard in some areas of Iran's capital Tehran late on Thursday, Iran's semiofficial Mehr news agency reported, and the Tasnim news agency said air defences were engaging s m a l l d r o n e s a n d surveillance unmanned aerialvehicles.
OnThursday, the United Arab Emirates said it had banned its citizens from travelling to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, and urged those currently in those countries to leave immediately and return home, citing regional developments Trump
for extending it. However, analysts and congressional aidessaidtheyexpecthimto either notify Congress that he plans a 30-day extension or simply disregard the deadline.
Trump reiterated on Thursday that Iran's economy was "a disaster," but analysts say that if he expectsIrantoblinkfirstina game of economic chicken, he may be waiting a while. The conflict has aggravated Iran's dire economic problems, risking calamity afterthewar,butitlooksable to survive a standoff in the
Gulf for now, despite a U.S. blockade that has cut off energyexports.
RANGEOFOPTIONS
As well as blocking almost all but its own shipping through the strait during the war, Iran launched drones and missilesatIsraelandatU.S. bases, infrastructure and U S -linked companies in Gulf states. Axios said that another plan to be shared with Trump during the briefing involved using ground forces to take over part of the strait to reopen it to commercial shipping
Trump is also considering extending the U.S. blockade or declaring a unilateral victory,officialshavesaid.
In a sign the U.S. was also envisaging a scenario where hostilities cease, a State Department cable due to be delivered orally to partner nations by May 1 invited partner countries to join a new coalition called the Maritime Freedom Construct to enable ships to navigatethestrait.
France,Britainandother countries have held talks on contributing to such a coalition but said they were
willing to help open the Straitonlywhentheconflict ends. Iranian Foreign MinisterAbbasAraqchisaid after talks with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday that halting Israeli attacks on Lebanon, where a shaky ceasefire is in place, formed part of the Iran–U S ceasefire understanding and would remain a key issue in anyfutureprocess.Mediator Pakistanwastryingtoavoid escalationwhiletheU.S.and Iranexchangemessagesona potential deal, a Pakistani sourcesaidonWednesday
soccer World Cup in the United States, after FIFA president Gianni Infantino insisted the country would takepart.
IRANWARNSOF 'LONGANDPAINFUL STRIKES'
AseniorofficialofIran's Revolutionary Guards said anynewU.S.attackonIran, even if limited, would usher in "long and painful strikes" on U.S. regional positions, while Aerospace Force Commander Majid Mousavi wasquotedbyIranianmedia as saying: "We've seen what happened to your regional bases, we will see the same thing happen to your warships."
Supreme Leader
Mojtaba Khamenei said in a written message to Iranians that Tehran would eliminate "the enemies' abuses of the waterway" under new management of the strait, indicating that Tehran intendedtomaintainitshold overit.
"Foreigners who from thousands of kilometres away have no place there except at the bottom of its waters," he said U N Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that if the disruption caused by the closure dragged on through mid-year, global growth would fall, inflation would rise and tens of millions more people would be pushed into poverty and extremehunger
"The longer this vital arteryischoked,theharderit will be to reverse the damage,"hetoldreportersin New York. Trump faces a formal U S deadline on Friday to end the war or make the case to Congress
The two pilots onboard the Guyana Defence Force (GDF)Bell412helicopterin December 2023 which crashed and claimed the lives of five persons lacked the necessary certifying instruments to operate the aircraft through low visibility
This was revealed in the draft final report into the deadly helicopter crash.The reporthasnotyetbeenmade publicbythegovernmentof Guyana or the agencies responsibleforinvestigating thecrash.
On December 8th, 2023 five of seven occupants of the Bell412 helicopter died when the aircraft crashed in thejunglebetweenArauand Ekereku in Region Seven. Those who died are: the pilot-in-command, veteran aviator Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, Colonel M i c h a e l S h a h o u d , Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome, Staff Sergeant Jason Khan and Brigadier (ret'd) Gary Beaton. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Andio Michael Crawford, a pilot on board the aircraft, and Corporal Dwayne Johnsonsurvivedthecrash.
Thereportsaidthatpilot Lieutenant Colonel Charles and co-pilot Lieutenant Crawford, were trained and type rated on the helicopter and had valid pilot and medicallicencesandwerein goodhealth.
However, the report noted that “Neither pilot possessedavalidinstrument rating for the Bell 412 Epi helicopter or any other type of helicopter or aircraft and may not have been adequately prepared for an Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IIMC).”
“The perusal of the captain's records indicated that he did not hold an Instrument Rating for over 25 years (last instrument rating expired in 1998). The helicopterwasbeingutilised in the Private Category for militaryandStatepurposes,” itwasstated.
Thefindingsalsopointed to a steep cockpit gradient due to the wide disparity in experienceandmilitaryrank between the captain and copilot. It stressed that there wasaneedforpropercockpit and crew resource management and adequate instrumentratingtrainingfor flight crew on the Bell 412 EPi It was stated in the findings that the “cockpit
gradient” was very steep by bothexperienceandmilitary
rank and that cockpit resource management and cockpit management was “unacceptable.”
Notwithstanding the pilots' lack of instrument rating for the Bell 412 helicopter, the report states that the aircraft itself was in excellent working condition prior to and during the accidentflight.
“The helicopter had no knowndefect(exceptforthe weather radar), and the engines,rotors,electrics,and avionics were operating
optimally up to the time of the accident,” the report compiled by Aircraft Accident Investigation Department of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA)said.
The helicopter was designed and certified to be flownbyasinglepilotunder instrumentflightrules.
“It was also designed to be flown by two crew, with two pilot seats, two sets of controls, two autopilots and t w o s e t s o f f l i g h t instruments, such as the helicopter could be fully controlled and flown from
either the right or the left pilot'sseat,”thereportstates whilenotingthatin“normal operations” the captain is seatedintheright-handseat, and generally flew the helicopter with the assistance of the copilot in theleft-handseat.
At the time of the accident, Charles was the pilotflying(PF)andpilot-incommand (PIC) and seated in the right-hand pilot seat, whereas the co-pilot was navigating and performing pilot-not-flying(PNF)duties and seated in the left-hand pilotseat.
subsequently became dense and opaque (IIMC) The helicopter impacted trees about 38 nautical miles northwest of SYOC, fell to the ground, caught fire and wasburntdown.”
Further, the report highlighted that the aircraft was not listed on the GDF's Air Operator Certificate (AOC) as it was operated in the “Private Category” and not governed by the restrictions of a commercial AOCorbytheconditionsof the GDF Flight Operations Manual.
Itwasfoundthatpriorto and up to the time of the report, the GCAA had “no flight operations inspector current” on the Bell 412 helicopter to adequately carry out regulatory surveillance and oversight activities.
According to the report, the aircraft departed Base
Camp Ayanganna in
G e o rg e t o w n o n a n
unscheduled military resupplymissionandmadea refuelling stop at Olive Creek before continuing westtoArau.Approximately 25 minutes after leaving Olive Creek, the helicopter flewfromVisualFlightRule (VFR) conditions into Inadvertent Instrument MeteorologicalConditions.
It said that, “The helicopter entered low scattered clouds in a mountainous area which
On the day of the deadly crash, the aircraft had been transporting military personnel along with cargo consisting of provisions, such as sugar, rice, salt, wheat flour, and other “ u n k n o w n ” i t e m s However,thereportoutlines that,“Thetruepayloadofthe helicopter for the accident flight was not known; c o n s e q u e n t l y, t h e investigation team was unable to determine if being overweight was a factor and may have contributed to the accident.”
An emergency locator transmitter(ELT)signalwas received at approximately 11:19 hrs. on December 8, 2023, the approximate time of the accident. However, duetotheroughandheavily forested terrain and the heavy clouds on the mountainside in the vicinity of the accident, the extractionoftherescueteam andthesurvivorswas
(Continued on page 21)
Global professional services giant KPMG has officiallyopeneditsdoorsin Guyana, in what Senior Minister with responsibility
Singh has described the move as a major vote of confidenceinGuyana'sfastgrowing economy and its emergenceasaregionalhub
moment with US Ambassador, HE Nicole Theriot
forFinance,Dr AshniSingh, hails as a powerful vote of confidence in one of the hemisphere'sfastestgrowing economies and its rise as a regional hub for investment andcommerce.
KPMG operates in more than130countrieswithover 300,000 professionals Guyana is its first new marketentryinsixyears.Dr
commerce.
Addressingthelaunchon Tuesday,MinisterSinghsaid KPMG's decision sends a
international business community “You clearly made the right decision. We want to see KPMG Guyana grow to become a major regional office,” Minister
The Ministry of Health has received just one bid to furnish maternity waiting homes in Guyana's hinterland, a development that raises fresh questions about competition and value formoneyinpubliclyfunded projects.
The lone bidder, Caribbean Medical Supplies Inc , submitted proposals across all three lots when tenders were opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board(NPTAB).
The ministry's project whichrecentlyopenedatthe NPTABofficeisdividedinto three lots Furnishing is needed for the maternity waiting home at Moruca (Lot1),atKato(Lot2),andat Lethem(Lot3).
Caribbean Medical SuppliesInc.theonlybidder for the contract, bid the f o l
$1,987,669.
Kaieteur News had reported that the Ministry of Healthwillbeusingpartofa US$97millionloanfromthe
Singhstated. The company provides
management and business consulting services to governments, corporations and investors worldwide. Its arrivalinGuyanaisexpected to strengthen support for businesses expanding in oil and gas, finance, healthcare, logistics, infrastructure and otherhigh-growthsectors.
Minister Singh said Guyana'seconomicprogress is creating unmatched opportunities for global firms He noted that the country has moved from producing no oil six years ago to more than 900,000 barrels per day Dr Singh also highlighted strong expansion in the non-oil economy, with sustained
construction, agriculture,
transport, healthcare and education.
He pointed to major infrastructure projects, including the road linking Georgetown to Brazil, expanded ports, new hotels, bridges and gas-to-energy developments.
He urged KPMG to
southern regional hub serving the Caribbean and northern South America,
strategically placed for companiesseekingaccessto newmarkets.
The minister assured the
committed to creating
environment, adding that Guyanaisnolongerasmall, overlooked economy, but
hemisphere.(DPI)
I n t e r - A m e r i c a n Development Bank under the Health Care Network StrengtheningProgrammein Guyanatofurnishthreenew hinterland maternity waiting homes. As previously reported by the Health Ministry, waiting homes are being built to provide expectant mothers from
mote communitieswithasafeand comfortable environment to stay both before and after delivery Some features of suchfacilitieswouldinclude c o n s u l t a t i o n a n d examination rooms, as well as a fully equipped laundry area and kitchen, ensuring both medical care and dayto-day convenience are readilyavailable.
Health Minister Dr FrankAnthonyhadnotedthe importance of maternal waiting homes close to hinterland hospitals, stating thatitwillhelpeliminatethe challengesmothersfromfarflungvillagesface. D u r i n g t h e commissioning ceremony of the maternity waiting home (Continuedonpage22)
WASHINGTON, April 29 (Reuters) - The United States’ war in Iran has cost $25 billion so far, a senior Pentagon official said on Wednesday, providing the first official estimate of the military’stagfortheconflict. With just six months before midterm elections in which President Donald Trump’s Republicans may face an uphill battle to keep their House majority, Democrats are riding high in public opinion polls as they attempt to link the unpopular Iran war with affordability
Jules Hurst, who is performing the duties of the comptroller, told lawmakers on the House Armed
Services Committee that most of that money was for munitions.
Hurst did not detail what that cost estimate included and whether it took into account the projected costs of rebuilding and repairing ‘base infrastructure in the Middle East damaged in the conflict. Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, responded to Hurst: “I’m glad you answered that question Because we’ve been asking for a hell of a long time, and no one’s given us the number.”
The $25 billion cost is equal to the entire budget of NASA for this year But it is
unclear how the Pentagon arrived at the $25 billion amount given that a source had told Reuters last month that President Donald Trump’s administration estimated that the first six days of the war had cost the United States at least $11.3 billion.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that the cost was justified given theU.S.goalofensuringIran will not have a nuclear weapon.
“What would you pay to ensure Iran does not get a nuclear bomb? What would you pay?” Hegseth asked. Hegseth sought to defend
From page 18 delayed until two days after theaccident.
Also, the accident investigation team was unable to visit the accident site and the wreckage due to the dangerous terrain and inclement weather It was determined that access to the sitebytheinvestigationteam would pose serious and detrimental risks to the safety and life of the investigationteam.
Captain Charles and four passengers died, while the co-pilot and third crew survived with burns and other minor injuries. As for the helicopter, this was severely damaged after impacting large trees and subsequently burnt out by post-crashfire.
Moreover, flight data recovered from the cockpit voiceandflightdatarecorder revealed that most of the recordings were obscured or masked by the helicopter engineandrotornoise.Itwas also stated that there here was no recording from the crew’smicrophone. It was found that the performance remained stable for both engines and appeared synchronized, not exhibiting anomalous behavior or fluctuations This is consistent with proper delivery of power from the engines to the main and tail rotor systems. It was further stated that the engine and rotor performance remained stable, and there was no evidence of mec
`Iran war more broadly in fiery remarks, saying it was notaquagmireandattacking Democratic lawmakers as “feckless” for criticizing the unpopularconflict.
“You call it a quagmire, handing propaganda to our enemies? Shame on you for thatstatement,”Hegsethsaid in response to Garamendi, and slammed “reckless, feckless, and defeatist” Congressional Democrats The United States started carrying out strikes against Iran on February 28 and the two sides are currently maintaining a fragile ceasefire. The Pentagon has poured tens of thousands of
additional forces into `the Middle East, including keeping three aircraft carriers in the region
Thirteen U.S. troops have been killed in the conflict andhundredswounded.
Few issues resonate with U.S.votersmoredeeplythan priceincreases,andthelatest inflationary upswing is unsettling Republican insiders worried about their party’s prospects before Novemberelectionsthatwill determine control of the House ‘and possibly the Senate.
Disruptions in shipments of oil and natural gas since thewarstartedhavecauseda
A cleric walks near a residential building damaged by a strike on March 4, in Tehran, Iran, April 14, 2026.
However, about a minute before the end of the recording, both autopilot systems disengaged suggesting that either the a u t o p i l o t s w e r e inadvertently switched off, orbothautopilotsfailed. Notably, the report notes that in accordance with Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation,itisnotthepurpose of this investigation and the Final Report to apportion blame or liability The sole o b j e c t i v e o f t h i s investigation and the Final Report is the prevention of accidents and incidents Times in this report are dual indicating both Guyana Standard Time (GST) and Universal Time Coordinated (UTC).
run-up in U.S. gasoline prices and agricultural products such as fertilizers, ontopofthelonglistofother highconsumerprices.
The average U S gasoline price on Tuesday rose to its highest ‘level in nearly four years, according to data from the American AutomobileAssociation.
Trump’s popularity has takenabeatingsincetheU.S. and Israel launched the war againstIran.
Just 34% of Americans approve of the U.S. conflict withIran,downfrom36%in mid-April and 38% in midM a r c h , a r e c e n t Reuters/Ipsospollfound.
Kim spoke at the opening of a vast new memorial complex on the outskirts of Pyongyang. (KCNA)
(CNN) At the unveiling of a towering bronze sculpture of North Korean and Russian soldiers in combat, Kim Jong Un praised troops who chose death over capture while fighting in Ukraine. It was a striking and unusually explicit acknowledgment of Pyongyang’s long-suspected battlefield doctrine.
According to a transcript published by North Korean state media KCNA, Kim declared that those who “unhesitatingly opted for self-blasting” and suicide attacks had shown the highest form of loyalty, a referencetosoldiersthrowingthemselveson grenades or detonating explosives rather
thanriskbeingtakenprisoner Kimmadetheremarksattheopeningofa vast new memorial complex on the outskirts of the capital, walking past rows of freshly laid graves before kneeling to place soil into an open burial site. Inside, bronze statuary and black marble walls etched with names surround displays of soldiers’ remains, personal relics and captured military equipment. The site, part cemetery and part museum, is the centerpiece of a broader campaign to frame the deaths of North Korean soldiers in Russia’s war on its neighborasactsofheroismandpatriotic
Continued on page 23
From page 21
sacrifice For months, North Korean state media has offered vivid and often graphic accounts of how those soldiers died. Previous reporting has described troops detonating grenades as they were surrounded, shouting for comrades to stay back before triggering the blast, or killing themselves after being wounded to avoid capture. In one account, soldiers embraced each other before setting off explosives.
Thenewmemorialoffersoneof the clearest indications yet of the scaleofNorthKorea’sinvolvement
in Russia’s war For years, intelligence agencies, Ukrainian officials and defectors have reportedthatNorthKoreansoldiers were expected to take their own lives rather than be captured Pyongyang never confirmed it. Now the doctrineis being endorsed at the highest level, in public, at a sitebuilttohonorthewardead.
The memorial offers one of the clearest indications yet of the scale of North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war Analysis by NK News found that two black marble walls inside the complex list 2,288 names of soldiers believed to have
died in combat, alongside 271 graves and more than 1,700 compartments for cremated remains The complex has expanded walls and empty space for future graves, suggesting this is notaclosedchapter
South Korean and Western officials estimate more than 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia’s Kursk region, with thousands killed or wounded, losses North Korea has not admittedsoopenlyuntilnow
Unveiled on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s declaration of victory in Kursk, with senior
Moscowofficialsinattendanceand a message from PresidentVladimir Putin read aloud, the complex also displays captured military equipment, including what appear to be German Leopard tanks, American Abrams tanks and other NATO-origin systems, though analysts question whether North Korean forces obtained them directly A small number of North Korean soldiers are known to have been captured alive by Ukrainian forces.Somehavesaidtheydidnot know they would be sent into combat until shortly before deployment, and at least one
expressed regret – not for being captured, but for failing to take his ownlife.
Their existence presents a problem for Pyongyang. Under international law, prisoners of war are typically repatriated at the end of hostilities. However, human rights advocates warn that returning them to North Korea could expose them to severe punishment Officials in South Korea have said they would accept any soldiers who seek to defect, setting up a legal and diplomatic dilemma that could outlast the fightingitself.
President Irfaan Ali on Thursday announced a $3B support package for rice farmersacrossGuyana.
Speakingtothemediaon thesidelinesofaneventheld at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) he said that farmers who have“above50acreswillget $10,000 (and) below 50 acres $15,000 per acre.That ismorethan$4Bininjection tosupportourricefarmers.”
Addressing the farmers at the meeting held at the ACCC he said that government has been making huge investments in the rice industry since its return to office in 2020, working to ensure that drainage and irrigation is improved and investing in researchanddevelopmentto improveyields.
Hesaidoverthenextfive years there are plans to address the farm-to-market roads, and critical dams, which will allow farmers to continue their work under the different weather conditions and patterns “Theseinvestmentswehave been making continuously and will make continue to make, because we want to ensurethatweareabletoget
up,tobringdownthecostof production, to improve p r o d u c t i v i t y, a n d importantly, to allow you to be in an industry that would allow you to earn and to grow Partofthestrategythat we have over the next five years also include maximizing or optimizing theopportunitytoearnfrom
yourland,andthatiswhywe are doing some important work now in research and development and crop integration, to find ways in which we can optimize the valuethatyougetfromyour land,”theheadofstatesaid. He went on to explain that if a farmer has 10 acres of land, they are examining
ways in which one acre can be converted to farm high value crops, which would allow the farmer to earn more “Not only is the government doing the research but they are in the process of co investing by s u p p o r t i n g t h e infrastructure, and building out the capital cost to allowing the supplementing of income rice farming and withstandtheshocksfarmers experience in the industry,” President Ali said The President explained that the reasonforthemeetingwasto find ways in which to
explore some of the global challenges faced He reminded that in 2025 there was an oversupply in the market due to countries like Indiareleasingricetheyhad stored during the pandemic. This severely affected the prices and government intervened by providing subsidiesandfertilizer
“From then to now, we have seen what is taking place with markets and the geopoliticalsituationaround the world, whether it be Cuba, the situation in Venezuela and the Middle East. All of this, when you
take it into totality, has had tremendous impact on the global system, and as you know, we are part of that global system, we cannot escape these global realities,”headded.
PresidentAlihighlighted that currently massive increases have been observed in prices globally for things like fertilizer, petrolandshippingcostsand they have been trying to mitigateit.
H o w e v e r , t h e government he said has maxed out all of its tools availabletodosuch.
Reuters-JabariSmithJr scored 22 points and Tari Eason added 18 as the Houston Rockets fought off elimination for a second consecutive game and crawled back into their first-round playoff series with a 99-93 road victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game5on Alperen Sengun scored 14 pointswithninereboundsandeight assists while Amen Thompson added 15 points for the Rockets, who now trail 3-2 in the best-ofseven Western Conference series after falling into a 3-0 hole. No
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) dribbles defended by Orlando Magic forward Jamal Cain (8).
(Rick OsentoskiImagn Images)
NBA team has rallied back from a 3-0deficittowinaplayoffseries.
The consecutive Rockets victories have come without star KevinDurant(ankle),whohasonly played‘inGame2.
Austin Reaves scored 22 points off the bench in his return from an oblique injury and LeBron James added 25 points for the Lakers.
Deandre Ayton scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for Los Angeles, which will get a third chance to clinch the series on Friday at Houston. The Lakers continue to be without star Luka
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dennis Schroder (8) drives to the basket beside Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4).
(David RichardImagn Images)
Doncic(hamstring).
Pistons 116, Magic 109
Cade Cunningham poured in a career-playoff-high 45 points as top-seeded Detroit stayed alive withavictoryovervisitingOrlando in Game 5 of their Eastern Conferencefirst-roundseries.
Tobias Harris supplied 23 points and eight assists for the Pistons, who trail in ‘the best-ofseven series Ausar Thompson contributedsixpoints,15rebounds, sixassistsandfivesteals.
The Magic’s Paolo Banchero countered Cunningham with a
career-playoff-best 45 points to go alongwithninereboundsandseven assists. Anthony Black had 19 points for eighth-seeded Orlando.
Franz Wagner sat out due to a calf strain.
Cavaliers 125, Raptors 120
Dennis Schroder scored ‘11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter and James Harden finished with 23 points, rallying Cleveland to a 3-2 lead over visiting Toronto in an Eastern Conference first-round playoffseries.
The Cavaliers, who trailed by 12 points on ‘multiple occasions,
CricketWest Indies (CWI) has issued a statement following the passing of Mr Norman Gilbert, President of the Grenada Cricket AssociationandMemberoftheWindwardIslandsCricketBoard.
The statement said, “It is with profound sadness that we acknowledge the sudden passing of Mr Norman Gilbert, President of the Grenada Cricket Association and Member of the Windward IslandsCricketBoard.
On behalf of Cricket West Indies, I extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the entire cricketing fraternityinGrenadaandacrosstheregion.”
“Norman was a committed and visionary leader who served the game with distinction His unwavering dedication to the development and promotion of cricket in Grenada, and his genuine passion for uplifting the sport at all levels, have left an indelible markonthecricketinglandscape.
He was widely respected for his integrity, humility, and his abilitytoinspireplayers,administrators,andstakeholdersalike.His contributions extended far beyond administration. He was a true steward of the game who believed deeply in its power to unite and upliftcommunities.
At this difficult time, we stand in solidarity with the Grenada Cricket Association and the people of Grenada as they mourn this significantloss.
Norman’slegacywillliveonthroughthemanyliveshetouched andthestrongfoundationhehelpedtobuildforcricketinGrenada.” “Mayhissoulrestineternalpeace.”
Gilbert addresses a gathering at the National Cricket Stadium during the launch of the Girls Power Play Cricket Programme, held during the Women’s International white-ball series vs. Sri Lanka in February/March.
have won all three of their home games so far Evan Mobley had 23 points and nine rebounds, and Donovan Mitchell scored 19 for Cleveland. Harden also had nine rebounds, five assists ‘and six turnovers in a series-high 39:45 minutes.
RJ Barrett paced the Raptors with 25 points and Ja’Kobe Walter scored a career-playoff-high 20 points and made 6 of 14 3-point attempts.RaptorsforwardBrandon Ingram injured his right heel in the secondquarteranddidnotreturn.
(Field Level Media)
N a t i o n a l S p o r t s Commission, Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport 11th editionJanet&CheddiJagan Windball Cricket champion trophy Georgetown edition, organised by Sport OfficeA. Munroe, at the Gymnasium, continues today with matchesinthelaterstages.
In recent Janet Jagan Girlsaction:Saint Roses High School
invited to bat by Houston Secondary School scored 96-1, with Tonuja Singh 48 andReyaSookwah28. Houston Secondary in search of reaching the finals could only manage 69-7, when the chase came to an endNafezaPertab16,Hanna Charles 14. Chelsea Francis 2wkts.
The other game saw Bishops High School batting
firstandmade39-2withJael Chan12.
Saint Stanislaus College replied with 42-0 in 1.1 overs, Sarshini Lallbeharry hit36(6sx6).
Action today, Friday May 1st, 2026 at the National Gymnasium will see the Georgetown zone being decided as the curtains comedownonthezone.
In the Janet Jagan school
girls Windball Cricket segment, Saint Stanislaus College will play Saint RosesHighSchoolinwhatis expected to be a keenly contestedmatch.
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
In some ways, you may feel like a lost soul who isn't quite in touch with your dreams Although you feel energetic and boisterous, you might also getthesensethatyourenergyis misdirected and you're being ledinthewrongdirection.
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
The best way to create harmony among others is to first establish harmony in yourself, Taurus. Don't expect others to take care of you and attendtoallyourdesires.
GEMINI(May21–June20)
You might feel as if your powerful emotions are getting in the way of your dreams, Gemini. Or perhaps you're finding that you're so wrapped up in a particular vision of the futurethatyou'regettinglostin yourownbrain.
CANCER(June21–July22)
Perhaps you're stuck in a mindset you can't seem to escape, Cancer Be careful about taking action based on ideas rooted more in past fantasy than present reality Your emotions could be playingtricksonyou.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Whenyoutalk,youwantother people to listen. More than likely, your thoughts will drift toward humanitarian ideas andphilosophies.You'reeager toshareyourideaswithothers.
VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)
Issues regarding control of a situationareprobablygoingto be your focus, Virgo. More than likely, you adhere to a solidly planned routine. You have a set way of doing things andyouwanttosticktoit.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
You'reapttospeakandactwith agreatdealofpower,Libra,but be careful that you don't get swept away by emotion. There's a surrealistic quality to the day It could lead you to believeamirageisreal.
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
Your concept of reality could be based more on your emotionsthanfacts.Thisisone of those days when this could get you into trouble. Whatever comes up, you're likely to feel verypassionateaboutit.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
This is your day to shine, Sagittarius. Just make sure you don't do so at someone else's expense. You're feeling more self-confident than usual, which may be hard for you to believe.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
You may feel like you're being left out of the equation Perhaps you feel like the oddball, the fifth wheel who simply doesn't have a place. Don'tworry
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
Take your creativity to a new level. There are many ways to express yourself creatively, so pick one and follow through. You may have a desire to be on stage, and you want to share your dreams and inner passion withtheworld.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Yourfeelingsmaydeceiveyou, so be careful. Perhaps you feel you're getting pushed and pulled in uncomfortable directions. You might tolerate this tension for a while without expressing your feelings about it.
MeanwhileintheCheddi Jaganboyswillseethesemis then the finals. The schools are Saint Stanislaus College,
Saint Rose’s High School (defending champions), Houston Secondary and BrickdamSecondary Play starts at 5:30 pm, this is to give the Parents/Guardians the opportunity to come out the and witness their children’s
tournament. Gratitude is extended to the NSC MCYS formakingthispossible. Both winners will advance to the national semis. Which will see the winners from Regions 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 1 0 a n d Georgetown battling for nationalhonours.
Football fans from across Linden and those supporting the two unbeaten teams Blueberry Hill/Alleys/ Valleys/ Christianburg and One Mile/ Half Mile/ Scheme will converge in their numbers to witness the epic Linden Town Week Inter Ward battle for $1M at the Bayrock National Stadium, knowing that the losing team gets $400,000.
Bothteamscamethroughtheirgroupplay unscathed, and one will have to remain perfect,iftheyaretoliftthetopprizeatstake,
andchoosingoneisanybody’sguess.
In their last group play game on Wednesday night playing in Group A, One Mile/HalfMile/Schemewerewinnersbya32 score against Amelia’s Ward/ Kara Kara/ Bamia, while the Group B match saw Blueberry Hill/ Alleys/ Valleys/ Christianburg downed Block 22/Wisrock 4 nil.
The two losers will from 6.00pm play for thirdandfourthplaces,wherethewinnergets $200,000andthelosers$150,000.
Former champions Leopold Street stormed into the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Georgetown Zone final after a c o m m a n d i n g s e m i f i n a l performance on Wednesday evening, brushing aside New Bay Ballers in emphatic fashion. They now set up a highly anticipated showdown against Bent Street ‘B,’ who also secured their place with a hard-foughtvictory
With pride, history, and ambition all on the line, the final is shaping up as a classic clash betweenlegacyandrisinghunger Leopold Street, one of the competition’s most storied teams, underlined their pedigree with a ruthless 6–0 demolition of New Bay Ballers Bent Street ‘B,’ meanwhile, continued their impressiverunwithatense1-0win over Island All-Stars, showcasing discipline and tactical awareness to reach their first-ever Guinness final.
Anticipation is building for what is expected to be one of the largest finals in the tournament’s history Adding to the excitement, organisers will distribute approximately two million dollars in prizes at the end of the night, further raising the stakes for all teamsinvolved.
While the championship clash will headline proceedings, both finalists have already secured qualification for the National Championship, set for May 8 at the samevenue.
Before that, attention will turn to the crucial third-place playoff, where Island All-Stars and New Bay Ballers will battle for the final qualifying spot to the national
stage. With everything to play for, this encounter carries significant weight.
The action will also extend to the Guinness Plate Tournament semifinals.GoldisMoneywillface Sparta Boss, while National AllStars take on Festival City, with bothwinnersadvancingtothePlate Finallaterintheevening.
With high intensity expected
across all matches, major incentives on offer, and a packed atmosphereanticipated,thestageis set for a thrilling conclusion to weeks of electrifying street football.
T h e G e o r g e t o w n Championship will culminate today, Friday, May 1, at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac on Hadfield Street, where Leopold
Street and Bent Street ‘B’ will battleforGuinnessglory
Completed Plate (Wednesday) results PlateQuarterfinals Game-1
FestivalCity-2vsNorthEast-0 Game-2
National All-Stars-2 vs Team Cruel-1 Game-3
G o l d i s M o n e y - 4 v s Albouystown-2 Game-4
Day 6 (3rd Place, Plate Final, and Championship Final) May 1st GuinnessPlateSegment Semifinals Game-1
(E) 19:00hrs: National AllStarsvs.FestivalCity Game-2 (F)19:45hrs:GoldisMoneyvs. SpartaBoss Intermission PlateFinal (G) 21:00hrs: Winner of E vs WinnerofF ChampionshipSection 3rdPlace
21:45hrs: Island All-Stars vs NewBayBallers Final
22:15hrs:LeopoldStvsBentSt B
By Clifton Ross
Headquarters stormed to an empathetic win yesterday after putting on an exceptional all-round show to end this year’s Commissioner of Police T20 Cup as champions, after arresting the GPF Officers by 8-wickets during yesterday’s final played at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary.
Afterweeksofstiffcompetition and a continuous battle with the weather, the mouthwatering finale wasplayedinthepresenceofasold out crowd, both lawmen and women, former national players, fans amongst others; who were treated to almost 40 overs of brilliantcricket.
O p e n e r a n d s k i p p e r Ravindradat Budhram steadied the Officers with 33 not out (3x4) after losing his partner RonaldAlli (15), a huge blow which set his team back.
Supportcamedowntheorderas formerGuyanaandWestIndiesall-
overs, with a wicket each from PernellLondon(1-26),DwainDick (1-23) and Kanhaiya Ramkarran (1-38).
The chase was simple and brutalastheformernational
Prior
Action from last year’s competition.
All systems are in place for this year’s ExxonMobil Guyana Regional Inter Schools Kayaking Competition today (Friday) at 12.00 noon on the water-top of the Demerara River,outsidetheWatookaGuestHouseLandinginLinden.
Whenthetwelveparticipatingschoolsattendedthelaunch last Sunday, they were given the opportunity to have practice sessions of the various races on the Demerara River ahead of thelaunch.
This year the twelve contesting schools are the defending champions President’s College, Linden Foundation Secondary,NewSilvercitySecondary,KwakwaniSecondary, Mackenzie High, Harmony Secondary, Wisburg Secondary, Christianburg/ Wismar Secondary, Hururu Secondary, New Amsterdam Secondary, Leonora Secondary and Queens College.
ExxonMobil’s Community Supervisor Ryan Hoppie informed this is the third consecutive year of ExxonMobil’s sponsorship of the event, and they will continue to partner with Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours in such rich student engagementexperiencesinLinden.
Dr Deon Anderson, owner and proprietor of Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours, is once again excited about the eventashesaidtheschoolswerelastSundayfacilitatingtodo theirkayakingstartsoftheracescardedfortoday
He was pleased that once more, for the third straight year, ExxonMobilisthetitlesponsorforthechampionship.
Regional Chairman of Region 10 (Upper Demerara / Upper Berbice) DeronAdams hinted at the high standards of theorganizingoftheeventwhichmustbeacknowledged,and its impact on sports across the community Education Officer Selwyn Griffith from the Department of Education, Region10, expressed his appreciation for the activity in the region, and encouraged the host schools to be fully involved. In a release Dr Deon Anderson, said: “We commit to work closelyandcollaboratewithmembersoftheUpperDemerara/ Kwakwani Sports Committee (UDKSC) which is an experiencedcommittee,whosemembershavebeenintegrally involved in officiating national sports events countrywide for many years, and also with the Ministry’s Allied Arts unit so that competitions are consequently executed using the same format and rules implemented nationally, with the same level ofprofessionalism,safetyandoversight.”
Elite Kayaking and Nature Tours, a certified operator by the Guyana Tourism Authority, also stated that the National Inter Schools Kayaking competition will be held on Sunday, June19alsoattheWatookaGuestHouse.
According to the organisers there will be nine races, namely Short Distance Kayak Races: (400m), Under 14
Mixed Double Kayak Race: 1 male and 1 female, Under 16
Male single kayak race: 1 male, Female Single kayak race: 1 female, Mixed Double Kayak Race: 1 male and 1 female, OPEN (15+ and upwards), Male single kayak race: 1 male, Female Single kayak race: 1 female, Mixed Double Kayak Race:1maleand1female.
Substitutes can also be registered in this age category. Substitutes are to be taken from the existing pool of 16 participants.
Schools will be represented by teams of sixteen (16) participants: 8 males and 8 females and the various age categoriesareUnder14;Under16;andOpen(15+andup).
The2026RepublicBank5forFunprogrammebowledoff yesterday at the Everest Cricket Club Pavilion, with the 4th edition expected to eclipse the feats achieved in the previous years.
Chairman of Senior National Selection Ramnaresh Sarwan, Director of Sports Steve Ninvalle, Chief Education Sadam Hussain, GCB President Bissoondyal Singh, national coordinator of 5 for Fun Reon King, players coaches and parents were in attendance yesterday when the programme wasofficiallydeclaredopeninGuyana.
Republic Bank and Cricket West Indies recently renewed their partnership for the 2026 Programme, reaffirming their shared commitment to youth development and grassroots cricketacrosstheCaribbean.
Enteringitssixthyearandits4thinGuyana,King,saidthe fast-paced and inclusive programme which has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of youth cricket, has grown from75schoolsoverthefirst3yearstoover100thisyearwith theinitiativereachingover2000boysandgirls.
10 Essequibo zones, 4 from Berbice as well as Georgetown, will welcome newbies from the Mabaruma and Moruca and other parts of the hinterland regions, a move which has been backed by His Excellency President Irfaan Ali; who has rolled out massive plans to restructure the hinterlandareas,whiletargetingmoreschoolbasedcricket.
Aimed at targeting Boys and Girls specifically ranged between 7–11, Five for Fun introduces participants to the fundamentals of the game through a modern, exciting format that emphasizes participation, enjoyment, and the acquisition ofcriticallifeskills.
Schools will compete for the zonal title with champs playing an inter-county with the 3 county winners bidding for thenationalchampionshiptitle.
GCB president Singh said the GCB is proud to stand alongside CWI Republic Bank, the Government and other entities, for helping to strengthen and reintroduce cricket into the school system; adding that the programme remains a vital grassroots initiative as he declared the programme officially open.
Director of Sports Ninvalle during his brief remarks said the entire programme was built on commitment. He took his hat off to Republic Bank for their continued investment in cricketinGuyana.
HesaidtheMinistryofCultureYouthandSportssupportis something that the GCB as well as the initiative can depend on, adding that If you don’t have fundamental support, it creates a void. He closed by applauding Region 1 and 9 as it fits directly into President Ali’s plans to expand cricket and sportsoverallacrossthehinterlandareas.
Mrs.JanissLondon,ManageratRepublicBank,saidit
Continued on page 26
Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ decides Georgetown champions tonight
A packed crowd is expected tonight at the National Cultural Centre tarmac as the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ decides its Georgetown quota for the National Championship.
Commissioner of
2026 Commissioner of Police T20 Cup finals …Headquarters vs. GPF Officers
All-roundHeadquarters clinchtitleafter stormingto8-wicketwin
- Lyght, Dick miss half-centuries
