Guyana Times - Friday, March 13, 2026

Guyana reaffirms maritime sovereignty

…rejects Venezuela’s objection to lawful seismic survey …says Caracas interfering with Guyana’s right to pursue economic development

Public servants 1st in line as Govt begins $100K cash grant distribution

New programme targets better diagnosis, treatment for children with kidney disease

Charred remains of elderly man found after fire guts ECD houses

Miner killed, 2 others critical as gold theft accusation turns deadly

MARCH 13, 2026

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, March 13 –12:20h–13:50h, and Saturday, March 14 – 13:20h–14:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers are expected during the day and at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 3.12 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 12:01h reaching a maximum height of 2.01 metres.

Low Tide: 18:24h reaching a minimum height of 1.18 metres.

Guyana reaffirms maritime sovereignty

…rejects Venezuela’s objection to lawful seismic survey …says Caracas interfering with Guyana’s right to pursue economic development

The Guyanese

Government has reaffirmed the country’s sovereignty over its maritime jurisdiction, telling neighbouring Venezuela that it has no legal rights to the waters off of Guyana’s coast.

This was after the Venezuelan Government on Thursday objected to a decision made by the Guyanese Government to advance a three-dimensional (3D) multi-client seismic exploration to gather data from a 25,000 square kilometre offshore area within Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone

ereignty up to 12 nautical miles in the territorial sea and sovereign rights beyond 12 nautical miles in the Exclusive Economic Zone and the continental shelf.”

“The maritime areas in which the seismic survey will be conducted lie unequivocally within Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf, over which Guyana exercises sovereign rights. These rights include the exclusive authority to explore, exploit, conserve and manage natural resources within its maritime jurisdiction. As such, Guyana’s decision to

tirely consistent with international law and established state practice,” the missive detailed.

(EEZ).

According to a statement from Caracas, Guyana is seeking to carry out unilateral exploration activities in part of the maritime areas that are pending delimitation – something that was outright rejected by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in a statement on Thursday evening. It said such assertions are legally unfounded, inaccurate, and entirely inconsistent with established principles of international law.

Guyana rejects “Guyana respectfully rejects the protest by Venezuela and likewise rejects the notion that any portion of its maritime space or continental shelf appertains to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” declared the missive from Takuba Lodge in Georgetown.

The Foreign Ministry reminds the Venezuelan regime that the Guyanese Government has the authority to grant permission for any activities within the maritime areas appurtenant to the coastal territory of Guyana, as defined by the Arbitral Award of 1899, which established the frontier between the then British Guiana and Venezuela.

In such maritime areas, it said, Guyana enjoys sov-

facilitate the acquisition of high-resolution seismic data through a 3D multi-client seismic survey represents a legitimate and lawful exercise of its rights and is en-

Seismic acquisition & exploration planning

It went onto state that the seismic acquisition initiative is part of Guyana’s na-

tional strategy to strengthen the scientific understanding of its offshore petroleum basin, enhance transparency in resource management, and improve the attractiveness of Guyana’s offshore acreage to responsible international investors.

The missive from Takuba Lodge further noted that the programme will employ advanced geophysical techniques to generate high-resolution subsurface imagery that supports exploration planning and strengthens the long-term governance of Guyana’s offshore energy sector.

“Accordingly, Guyana firmly rejects Venezuela’s attempt to characterise these lawful activities as occurring within ‘undelimited maritime areas.’” Such claims constitute a deliberate misrepresentation of both the geographic and legal realities governing Guyana’s maritime jurisdiction, the note said.

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Cultivating opportunity in the heart of Georgetown

Urban development initiatives often succeed when they combine economic opportunity with practical support for communities that have historically faced limited access to resources. The homestead agricultural project introduced at the One Guyana Kitchen on Main Street is a noteworthy example of such an approach. The harvesting of the first crop of celery by women from Tiger Bay establishes how targeted programmes can create pathways for income generation, food production, and community renewal within the capital.

The initiative arrives at a time when urban agriculture is gaining greater global recognition as a viable tool for economic empowerment and food resilience. In Georgetown, the programme illustrates how modest investments, supported by technical expertise and market access, can deliver meaningful benefits for vulnerable populations. The early harvest shows the emergence of a practical model that can strengthen livelihoods while contributing to broader urban revitalisation.

Central to the project’s promise is its accessibility, and the relatively low cost required to establish the shade house system ensures that the initiative remains scalable and replicable. With the infrastructure costing approximately $150,000, the model offers a feasible framework for expansion across other communities in the city. When paired with the relatively short crop cycle of celery, the approach reveals how consistent production can translate into regular income streams for participants.

Equally significant is the assurance of a reliable market for the produce, and the access to buyers often remains one of the greatest barriers faced by small-scale agricultural initiatives. By securing a commercial outlet through a major supermarket chain, the programme bridges the gap between production and profitability. This form of structured market linkage ensures that participants are not merely cultivating crops but engaging in a sustainable micro-enterprise with tangible financial returns.

Projected earnings of approximately $250,000 per crop cycle highlight the real economic potential of the initiative. When multiplied across multiple cycles throughout the year, such returns can provide a stable supplemental income for participating households. For many women in vulnerable communities, this form of economic empowerment represents more than financial gain. It reinforces independence, strengthens household stability, and contributes to the broader social fabric of the community.

The focus on women is both deliberate and significant, as across Guyana and the wider Caribbean, women frequently serve as the backbone of family and community life, often managing households while contributing to local economic activity. Initiatives that enhance women’s earning capacity therefore have far-reaching effects. Increased financial autonomy often translates into improved welfare for children, greater educational opportunities, and stronger community resilience.

The project also advances the principle of self-sufficiency in an era marked by global supply chain disruptions and fluctuating food prices; localised agricultural production offers a practical response to food security concerns. Even on a small scale, urban farming initiatives can supplement national food supply systems while fostering greater appreciation for agriculture among city residents.

Technical support from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute plays a crucial role in sustaining the project’s success. Access to agricultural expertise ensures that participants receive guidance on crop management, pest control, and best farming practices. This form of support increases productivity while reducing the risks that often accompany new agricultural ventures.

The involvement of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry demonstrates how collaboration between government, research institutions, and commercial stakeholders can create viable development solutions. Such partnerships ensure that initiatives remain economically relevant while maintaining a strong community focus.

Plans to expand the programme across Georgetown are a logical and encouraging next step. Establishing dozens of similar facilities would also deepen the city’s engagement with urban agriculture. Areas such as Kingston, Tiger Bay, and Cummingsburg stand to benefit from projects that combine economic activity with environmental and social improvement.

Transforming small spaces into productive gardens reshapes the physical and social landscape of communities. What might once have been underutilised areas can become centres of activity, learning, and collaboration. The presence of thriving agricultural plots within the city reinforces a sense of ownership and pride among residents.

The celery harvest at the One Guyana Kitchen, therefore, signifies far more than a single agricultural milestone, as it illustrates how thoughtful public policy, supported by strategic partnerships, can unlock potential within communities that have long deserved greater opportunity. By empowering women, creating access to markets, and promoting self-sufficiency, the initiative exemplifies a practical vision of inclusive development.

The quiet war on attention

By Lisa Hanna

There is a quieter conflict shaping the modern world, one that rarely dominates headlines, yet increasingly determines how economies function, how institutions evolve, and how individuals experience daily life. It is a conflict over attention.

Unlike traditional geopolitical contests, this one unfolds quietly across screens, platforms, and markets, where time, focus, and engagement have become some of the most valuable commodities in the global economy. In this sense, attention is no longer only psychological or cultural; it is structural, measurable, and intensely monetised.

Once attention became measurable, it inevitably became tradeable and, ultimately, investable. The scale of this shift is striking. Industry forecasts suggest digital advertising will account for roughly 68.7 per cent of global ad spending in 2026, exceeding US$1 trillion in total value, driven by sustained growth across retail media, online video, and social platforms. Much of this expansion is powered by algorithmic, programmatic buying alongside the rise of short-form video and influencer-driven marketing. As these trends accelerate, traditional formats, particularly print, continue to contract, while even established media organisations adjust their strategies to remain competitive within an increasingly crowded attention economy.

In practical terms, these shifts have reshaped not only how products are marketed

but also how information itself is produced and distributed.

The incentives shaping today’s information environment increasingly reward speed, visibility, and emotional resonance, because these qualities consistently capture attention at scale. Over time this has created an ecosystem in which content is often optimised not simply for accuracy or depth but for engagement, measured in clicks, shares, watch time, and reaction.

Unsurprisingly, traditional media institutions have not been immune to these pressures. Around the world newspapers and broadcasters are adapting to survive in a digital-first economy, experimenting with formats, headlines, and editorial strategies designed to remain competitive in crowded attention markets. Some of this evolution has been necessary and constructive; some of it has raised more difficult questions about tone, trust, and long-term credibility.

Taken together, we are witnessing, in real time, a structural transformation of how journalism functions.

Nowhere is this transition more visible than in Jamaica. RJRGleaner Communications Group has recently moved into full restructuring mode after widening losses linked in part to contracting advertising revenues, recording a net loss of $502.1 million for the nine months, a 52 per cent deterioration from the $329.39-million loss reported in 2024. The company has also sought temporary suspension of licences for stations such as Power 106FM and Hitz

92FM as it reassesses infrastructure, reach, and long-term viability within a changing market.

At the same time, legacy competitors are increasingly cooperating where economics demand it. The Gleaner and the Jamaica Observer have moved toward shared printing and distribution arrangements aimed at reducing operational costs – a step that reflects how profoundly the economics of print have shifted.

Across the sector, the direction is clear: traditional media houses are reorganising themselves around digital audiences, investing more heavily in analytics, diaspora reach, and platform-driven storytelling, while recalibrating editorial strategies towards engagement metrics that increasingly shape both visibility and revenue.

In this environment, attention has effectively become a form of currency, traded, optimised, and fiercely contested.

The consequences are not entirely negative. Digital transformation has expanded access to information, lowered barriers to entry for creators, and allowed new voices to emerge in ways that would have been difficult within older media structures. But it has also introduced new tensions between reach and responsibility, speed and substance, and visibility and trust.

Increasingly, these tensions are shaping behaviour well beyond media and marketing. In workplaces, fragmented attention is now recognised as an economic cost, affecting productivity, decision-making, and organisational culture. Research

increasingly shows that frequent task-switching and constant digital interruption reduce efficiency while increasing cognitive fatigue –trends that businesses themselves are only beginning to address seriously.

At a societal level, the deeper concern may be less about distraction itself and more about its cumulative effects.

When attention fragments, depth often suffers. When depth suffers, complexity becomes harder to sustain. And when complexity fades, public conversations across sectors tend to narrow in ways that ultimately weaken decision-making and institutional resilience.

The quiet war on attention is therefore not simply cultural or technological; it is economic and structural.

The challenge for societies like ours, then, is not to resist change, but to shape it thoughtfully, supporting credible journalism while recognising its evolving constraints, encouraging responsible corporate behaviour within digital markets, and cultivating individual habits that treat attention as something valuable rather than expendable.

Because attention is not only about what we consume. It is about what we become.

And, in an era increasingly defined by noise, the most consequential decisions may ultimately be made by those who can still sustain focus long enough to think clearly. (Jamaica Observer) (Lisa Hanna is a former Member of Parliament, People’s National Party spokesperson on foreign affairs and foreign trade and a former Cabinet member)

Public servants 1st in line as Govt begins $100K cash grant distribution …online digital

The Guyana Government will commence the distribution of the $100,000 National Cash Grant with public servants set to be the first group of people to benefit, according to the Finance Ministry on Thursday.

This $100,000 cash grant initiative targets Guyanese 18 years and older and is the second time the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has undertaken a cash pay-out to citizens with the windfalls from the country’s burgeoning oil and gas sector.

In a statement on Thursday, the Finance Ministry explained that central Government employees already receiving salaries through bank accounts will be getting their cash grant next week.

Announcing the commencement of the distribution exercise on Thursday, Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, said, “The first cohort will comprise those central Government employees who have previously provided their bank account information and are receiving

platform coming for other beneficiaries to register

their Government salaries into their bank accounts.

We anticipate that these Government employees will receive their $100,000 cash grant by the end of next week, and we will be following up with subsequent cohorts of eligible beneficiaries thereafter.”

The pay-out through the banking system is consistent with previous announcements by President Dr Irfaan Ali, encouraging all citizens to open bank accounts as part of the Government’s digitisation agenda.

Open bank accounts

“We are digitising everything, so I am urging every Guyanese to open their bank accounts. We want every Guyanese to own their own bank account so that this digital transfer would be easy and efficient and, of course, transparent,” the President had strongly advised.

With active bank accounts, the Government would be able to transfer cash grants swiftly, securely, and efficiently as is currently being done with the disbursements to central Government employees.

“A central pillar of this initiative is to promote financial inclusion. This is why we are urging all Guyanese to utilise the formal banking system,” Minister Singh stated in Thursday’s missive. “To initiate a seamless distribution, we are leveraging existing financial infrastructure by directly depositing the grant into the accounts of about 50,000 public servants, teachers and members of the Disciplined Services by next week. It is our intention that this efficiency encourages the wider public to embrace modern banking.”

Online digital platform

Meanwhile, to allow for the disbursement of the grant to other citizens, the Government will be launching an online digital platform to be announced in due course to facilitate registration of all other eligible beneficiaries with guidance to be provided on the use of the platform.

In anticipation of the rollout of this cash grant, the Finance Ministry has been working with financial institutions to simplify the process of opening bank accounts as well as to facilitate the opening of these accounts online.

Consequently, sever -

Is the US in a conflict of interests & de-escalation, reform, stability?

Dear Editor, Delcy Rodriguez continues to loudly advance Venezuela’s claim for the Essequibo. If she is under Trump’s control, how do we interpret that? Are we now dealing with the US or still with Chavez’/Maduro’s Venezuela? If so, it’s of greater danger to us than before. If not, and Trump remains in support of Guyana, why is Rodriguez free to publicly advocate the claim instead of being silenced on it? With whom are we (Guyana) dealing with? The US does not, like Venezuela, recognise the ICJ. Is the US in a conflict of interests? What happens if, or, in fact, the US is forced to choose when the ICJ rules in our favour, as expected?

Notably, Sir Ronald Sanders, in his regular comments, has observed, on the subject of Cuba, that “Cuba, though absent from the Secretary’s formal plenary remarks, was part of private discussions. Subsequent reporting confirms that US officials close to the secretary met privately in St Kitts with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, grandson and close aide to former Cuban leader

Raúl Castro. That meeting confirms that discussions between Washington and Havana are active.

Reports suggest that the United States is exploring a phased easing of sanctions in exchange for incremental economic and governance changes. Secretary Rubio has indicated publicly that the United States is prepared to listen if Cuban authorities are willing to undertake significant economic reforms that expand private enterprise and open space for broader freedoms.

This moment differs from earlier periods of strain. Cuba faces severe economic contraction, energy shortages, and humanitarian pressure. Regional energy dynamics are also shifting. In such circumstances, steady engagement may yield more than isolation alone.

It is further understood that discussions are underway regarding energy arrangements that could allow Venezuelan oil to reach Cuba through controlled channels, easing the island’s acute pressures. These negotiations remain sensitive and incomplete. But they reflect recognition that col-

lapse in Cuba would carry consequences for the wider Caribbean, particularly in migration and regional stability.

CARICOM Governments have long advocated dialogue rather than rupture in dealing with Cuba. Public statements by regional leaders emphasised de-escalation, reform, and stability. The indication that Washington is pursuing quiet engagement was therefore noted with interest and, in many quarters, with cautious welcome.

The broader significance of the meeting is clear. The Caribbean is America’s immediate neighbourhood. Trade flows in both directions. Migration binds families. Security threats move across maritime space without regard to borders.

The United States seeks secure borders, stable neighbours, and resilient economic ties. CARICOM states seek growth, climate resilience, and protection against transnational crime. These aims intersect.

If reinvigoration means deeper security cooperation, structured and lawful migration arrangements, in-

vestment that integrates Caribbean economies into resilient supply chains, and pragmatic engagement to reduce instability in Venezuela and Cuba, then the meeting in Basseterre may prove consequential.

If it becomes a series of expectations unsupported by proportional safeguards, friction will return. Small states guard sovereignty carefully because sovereignty is their shield. That instinct is not obstruction. It is prudence.”

Gerald A Perreira writes, castigating President Ali for stating in a Fox News interview that “the status quo cannot remain, and we agree that there must be an attempt to have the status quo changed” in referring to Cuba so that Cuba must “benefit from prosperity and democracy” while deriding Guyana by comparison.

People like Perreira who write this kind of nonsense need to ask themself a simple question: “If I lived in Cuba, what would happen to me if I dared write such a letter?”

Yours sincerely, Kit Nascimento

al local commercial banks have introduced online opening of bank accounts. These include Demerara Bank Limited, Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI), Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, and Scotiabank Guyana Incorporated.

However, the Government had previously assured no one would be denied their cash grant in the absence of a bank account.

In its 2025 Elections Manifesto, the PPP/C Government pledged to further promote financial inclusion amongst citizens and make financing more easily and affordably available to Guyanese businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and households, with the objective of fostering a more inclusive financial system. The aim is to empower all Guyanese citizens to access financial systems and participate in saving and investment opportunities across the country.

In recent years, a number of interventions were implemented, including distributing cash grants for newborn babies, cash

grants (which increased each year) to students in both public and private schools, more than doubling the old-age pension and increasing public assistance, amongst other measures. New measures, including transportation grants for students and pensioners, were announced this year.

In late 2024, the PPP/C Government initiated the first $100,000 National Cash Grant for every Guyanese citizen age 18 and older, which saw the transfer of more than $60 billion of disposable income into the pockets of over 600,000 Guyanese.

Citizens aged 18 years and older in Guyana will once again now benefit from this second $100,000 National Cash Grant this year, which will see another $60 billion plus transferred to the This current initiative represents the third time the PPP/C Government is undertaking a major cash grant initiative, with the first being the $25,000 per household cash grant that was initiated when the PPP/C resumed office in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Page Foundation

Operations, Relations, and Properties Cont’d

1. What does it mean to decompose a number?

2. Write two different ways to decompose the number 12.

3. What is the face value of the digit 7 in the number 478?

4. What is the place value of the digit 5 in the number 652?

5 If a function machine adds 4 and the output is 11, what was the input?

6. Which numbers belong to the same fact fam-

ily as 6 + 3 = 9?

7. Write the expanded form of the number 2305.

8. Solve: 7 + 2 times 3 using the correct order of operations.

9. If a function machine subtracts 5 and the output is 9, what was the input?

10. Explain why brackets (parentheses) can change the answer in an expression like (5 + 2) x 4 and (5 + 2) x 4.

By Stephen Spender

For our farewell, we went down to the foot-path Circling the lake. You stood there, looking up at White egrets nesting in high branches. And I, apart, stood silent, searching for Images to recall this moment. The first, I thought, must be that pine tree Which, with slashed bark, climbs vertically Across the lines of waves beyond. Second, your face, a bronze medallion Greek or Roman, against the lake. Perhaps Bellini. Delved from antiquity such an image Of a twenty-year-old Triton lifting up a conch Against a background of blown waves. And Seurat, centuries later, in the profile Of a holidaying boy, against the Seine. And then you turned to me and said With glance a third thing to remember: “You are gone already, your thoughts are far from here Three thousand miles away, Where you will be tomorrow. And I Here, remembering today.”

Then ten years passed till, today, I write these lines.

(Source: Poetry [October/November 1987])

Write a story where a scent or taste evokes a memory or realisation for your character.

US extradition request for Mohameds Magistrate rejects defence’s “fishing expedition”; no further disclosures allowed

As the extradition proceedings of the United States-indicted Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, continued on Thursday, Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman refused to grant a request by the defence for further disclosures in the case.

After more than a week’s adjournment, the case resumed on Thursday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, following the defence’s appeal at the Court of Appeal to stall the proceedings.

On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal declined to grant an order to stay the extradition proceedings against the father-son duo, thus clearing the way for the hearing to continue in the Magistrates’ Courts.

With respect to the substantive appeal, which challenges the February 4 decision by acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh, who dismissed their case challenging the Authority to Proceed

ity as prescribed by law and not in a judicial or quasi-judicial role.

“Fishing expedition”

However, during the hearing on Thursday, the defence made another request, this time for the disclosure of contracts between the Government of Guyana and United States-based lobbying firms, which was immediately shut down by the presiding Magistrate.

In giving her decision, the Magistrate said that the defence’s “fishing expedition” will not be allowed.

Back in January, Magistrate Judy Latchman ruled that the prosecution would not be allowed to tender any further disclosure in the extradition proceedings.

The ruling came follow-

(ATP) issued by Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond on grounds of alleged bias, a decision will be handed down on March 17.

The acting chief justice had rejected arguments of bias and found that the Minister of Home Affairs acted in an executive capac-

ing strong objections from the defence over what they described as late and piecemeal disclosure by the United States. In light of that previous ruling, the Magistrate upheld her decision on Thursday regarding additional disclosures to be made.

Nevertheless, the court continued to hear testimony from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sharon RoopchandEdwards, who spoke about receiving the extradition documents relating to the Mohameds. During her evidence, she was asked several questions by Siand Dhurjon about the Government’s relationship with lobbying firms in the United States and their involvement in matters connected to the extradition request.

She told the court that she was aware that the Government had contracts with two USA-based lobbying firms – Continental Strategy LLC and DR Consulting – but noted that she has never been in communication with any individual from the firms.

Roopchand also stated

Guyana reaffirms maritime...

The Foreign Ministry pointed out that the Guyanese Government has consistently exercised peaceful administration and jurisdiction over its maritime spaces, including the licensing and regulation of offshore exploration activities. These actions, it said, are undertaken in strict conformity with international law and with due regard to the rights and entitlements of other states.

Moreover, the Ministry reminded us that when the boundary between the two neighbouring states was definitively settled more than a century ago by the 1899 Arbitral Award, Venezuela accepted and benefited from that settlement and the legal certainty it provided. That award, it stated,

brought finality to the territorial boundary and enabled both states to exercise the full rights and advantages arising from their respective territories and maritime projections.

Incongruous According to the Foreign Ministry, it is therefore particularly incongruous that Venezuela, having historically benefited from the stability and legal clarity afforded by that settlement, now seeks to challenge Guyana’s sovereign right to utilise and develop the resources contained within the territory and maritime areas that lawfully appertain to Guyana.

The Takuba Lodge missive went onto recall that the

Geneva Agreement of 1966 governs the resolution of the controversy which has arisen because of Venezuela’s contention, first made in 1962, that the Arbitral Award of 1899 is null and void. That Agreement imposes no obligation on Guyana to refrain from economic development activities in any portion of its territory or in any appurtenant maritime areas, the Ministry noted.

“Venezuela’s assertion that it will not recognise concessions, licences or activities authorised by Guyana in its maritime domain is wholly without legal effect. Under international law, no State may arrogate to itself the authority to invalidate the lawful sovereign decisions of another State within its own territory or mar-

itime zones. Venezuela’s statements therefore represent an unwarranted attempt to interfere with Guyana’s sovereign right to pursue its economic development and manage its natural resources for the benefit of its people,” the Foreign Ministry contended.

Inflammatory and misleading

Nevertheless, Guyana calls on the Venezuelan Government to refrain from issuing inflammatory and misleading statements that seek to undermine Guyana’s sovereign rights or discourage legitimate economic activity within Guyana’s maritime domain.

This latest act of aggression from Caracas comes as the border controver-

that after the extradition request documents were received on October 30, 2025, they were opened in her presence. “It was unsealed when it was handed to me by the marshal. The Marshal opened it in my presence and handed it to me. The envelope was opened in my presence.”

Sanctioned Nazar Mohamed, 72, and Azruddin Mohamed, 39, were indicted in a US court in October 2025.

American prosecutors alleged that the two men were involved in a long-running operation involving the export of gold in a manner designed to avoid paying taxes and royalties owed to the Government of Guyana.

Prosecutors allege that from 2017 to 2024, official Government seals taken from a single legitimate gold shipment were reused to validate several additional shipments. United States authorities

estimate that the alleged scheme resulted in approximately US$50 million in lost revenue for the Guyanese state.

Nazar Mohamed is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and mail fraud.

Azruddin Mohamed faces charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud and is also accused of avoiding more than US$1 million in taxes linked to the importation of a Lamborghini from Miami to Guyana.

Meanwhile, the cross-examination of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sharon RoopchandEdwards, will continue today. Two other witnesses are also expected to be presented by the prosecution.

sy case is pending before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Back in 2018, Guyana approached the court, seeking a final and binding settlement of the 1899 Arbitral Award.

The case is fixed for oral arguments on the merits in May, after which the World Court would deliberate on its decision.

In furtherance of its spurious claims to more than two-thirds of Guyana’s landmass – the entire Essequibo region and a portion of Guyana’s EEZ, where over 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) have been found and production as well as other exploration activities are currently being undertaken offshore – Venezuela has been deploying a series of aggressive tactics towards

Guyana.

Just over a year ago on March 1, 2025, there was an incursion into Guyana’s waters by Venezuelan naval vessels which threatened several oil vessels operating there – something which was widely condemned by the international community, including the United States.

However, there was a belief that the January 3 capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife in Caracas by United States troops to face criminal indictments in New York would have seen an ease in aggression from the Spanishspeaking neighbour.

Following Maduro’s ousting, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has been acting president of Venezuela.

Sunken molasses vessel

“Natasha, the water reach to my foot already” – mother recalls last conversation with son

The body that was discovered near a buoy in the Demerara River has been identified as 22-year-old Ravindra Bissoondyal of Goed Bananen Land (East Berbice–Corentyne), one of two crew members reported missing after the molasses barge TRADER III sank earlier this week while being towed to Georgetown.

Bissoondyal’s body was found on Wednesday, bringing a tragic end to days of uncertainty for his family, who had been desperately hoping for his safe return.

Still missing is 52-yearold Gregory Singh.

His mother, Mohani Persaud, also known as Natasha, recalled that the last time she saw her son was on Saturday when he stopped by their home to collect his life jacket before leaving for work.

“He left home on Saturday. He came here to collect his life jacket. That’s the last time I see him,” the grieving mother said during an interview.

According to Persaud, the young man later contacted her after the vessel had begun taking in water. During the frantic call, he told her the barge was sinking and that attempts to reach the crew on the tug were going unanswered.

Dead: 22-year-old Ravindra Bissoondyal Missing: 52-year-old Gregory Singh

“He said ‘The barge is sinking. Them boys on the tug and nobody answering’. Nobody answering. He’s calling,” she recounted.

Persaud said the conversation left her deeply worried as her son tried to hold on while the vessel was going down.

“The last conversation we had, he said, ‘Natasha, the water reach to my foot already. I’ve got to go and hold on to this tow line,’” she said.

Family members continued trying to reach him after the call ended, but their efforts proved futile.

Later, they received word that a body had been found floating in the Demerara River and that relatives

were required to visit the Marine Outpost to assist with identification.

Persaud said when the body was brought in, she immediately recognised her son.

“When the body came, the way it look in the water… the features of him, I didn’t need to look at his face. I know it’s my son,” she said.

The distraught mother is now calling for answers into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.

“I would just like to get a little bit of justice for my son. I just wanted to know what happened,” she added.

Bissoondyal had reportedly worked in the mari-

time field for several years. His mother said he initially started as a cook on vessels before eventually working his way up to become an engineer.

The 22-year-old was among the crew members aboard the molasses barge TRADER III, which reportedly sank while being transported along the coast to Georgetown.

Meanwhile, search efforts are continuing for the second crew member who remains missing following the incident. Authorities have not yet released further details as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the vessel.

Explaining…

…PNC’s (amazing) shrinking

Your Eyewitness has already mentioned PNC leader Aubrey Norton’s speech to his party’s Ghana Day commemoration last week. Not being invited, your Eyewitness had to rely on news accounts and video feeds to get an idea of what pearls of wisdom fell from Norton’s lips on this nostalgic occasion. Your Eyewitness mentioned a jeremiad – an impassioned and desperate lamentation, Dear Reader! - on his party ignoring “youths” – who then slouched over to Sanction Man’s WIN party that was distributing green-coloured money and motorbikes!!

Well, it seems there was more in his speech – still nothing to do with Ghana – but all having to do with his party’s whupping at the polls to end up as an “also-ran”!! This is according to the Stabber News that decided to commit harakiri and exit the scene. Why? Says – like with so many other hard-copy papers – it can’t feed itself!! Anyhow, they quoted Norton as asserting, “As a party, I felt that one of the biggest problems we had in the last elections was the level that the internal division went to.”

Well…if that isn’t the understatement of the decade!! After Norton took over the PNC in 2022 the internal “divisions” were more like an atomic explosion where all the particles – protons, electrons and neutrons – are hurled outwards at supersonic speeds!! And since things just don’t explode on their own but need some impacting force, the question Norton should’ve answered was what or who applied the force to fission the PNC!!

From your gimlet-eyed Eyewitness’ close observations during that period, it seems it was nobody else but ole Norton himself!! He’d challenged Granger and the coterie brought in when they were recruited by Corbin in 2011 –over Norton’s strident opposition and protests!! Three of the new blood challenged him for the leadership – as was their right according to the PNC’s constitution – but Norton took it badly!! He used his power to stack the deck against them, and they not only pulled out of the leadership race but also from the party!! One of them formed her own party – which snagged a seat in the elections!!

Another disruptive Norton action was his alleged sexual harassment of Linden strongwoman Vanessa Kissoon – who resigned after a promised probe into her charge of stillbirth!! This was followed by the resignation of an even bigger PNC heavyweight – a member for 54 years and a past Chairperson of the PNC, Amna Ally – who criticised Norton’s behaviour. A slew of other resignations followed that left the PNC with the sycophants who supported Norton.

A prime example was the rabidly racist Black Pudding Man from the detritus of the WPA – who was the final nail in the PNC coffin!!

And Norton decided to blank Parliament!!

…Iran war

At a news conference last week, the secretary of the newly designated Dept of War, Pete Hegseth, explained that in the war against Iran, there ain’t gonna be “no stupid rules of engagement”!! Imagine that!! In another, he said the US military would shower “death and destruction from the sky all day long”.

No longer would there be talks about moral purpose or democratic ideals. As the NY Times explained, “His bellicose, at times vengeful, rhetoric reflects his belief that the United States’ lofty goals in Iraq and Afghanistan caused the military to lose focus on its main task, killing the enemy, and led to costly defeats in both wars.”

He won’t let President Trump make that mistake. Today’s campaign isn’t about enduring freedom. It’s called Operation Epic Fury. “Maximum lethality, not tepid legality… Violent effect, not politically correct.” The question, of course, is whether Iran will also not play according to any rules, as it has shown.

The joker in the pack is whether Israel’s gonna use its nuclear bombs!!

…end of nobility

The House of Lords just passed the Hereditary Peers Bill, ending Britain’s hoary system of hereditary peers who could still sit and vote in the House of Lords.

Is abolishing the monarchy next??

Dismembered remains found in Queens T&T man, 75, arrested for murder of 34-year-old Guyanese wife

The 75-year-old

Trinidadian husband of Guyanese-born Salisha Ali, whose remains were discovered last week in the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Broad Channel, has been arrested and indicted for murder.

According to ABC News, the city of New York arrested Rupchand Simboo for killing his wife and then reporting her missing last July.

The victim, 34-year-old Ali, was last seen alive by a relative during a FaceTime call on July 13, 2025. The same day, Simboo filed a missing person’s report.

Detectives now believe he did that to cover his tracks after killing her. The couple met in 2023 when she lived in Trinidad. She moved back to Queens, New York, in 2024 to live with him, and they married that same year.

Police sources told Eyewitness News that the man was the woman’s immigration sponsor. After her torso was discovered in Queens last September, family members in Trinidad feared the worst.

The discovery of her head in another part of Queens last Thursday con-

firmed their worst fears. Simboo was arrested on charges of murder, obstructing Governmental administration, and tampering with physical evidence.

Relatives of Simboo showed up to the house Wednesday evening and refused to offer any comment, but one of them did say they have just as many questions as we do. For months, neighbours have been haunted by what happened to Ali.

Eyewitness News asked

neighbours if they noticed anything alarming about the couple’s relationship. “They would sit outside on the porch in the summertime. Sometimes we’d see them having a beer and just hanging out, playing music, but other than that, they seemed normal to me,” one neighbour said.

Hasiena Dwarika had no idea she was living across the street from an accused killer, but she started to wonder.

“When we gathered a lit-

tle bit of info on what happened, we were like, ‘Okay, this guy is scary,’ but then for a while, everything went silent, and we saw him living his life as normal, so we just thought maybe he wasn’t found guilty,” Dwarika said.

Dwarika said she now feels somewhat relieved.

“Oh well, yes, he’s not just – I have a young daughter and am trying to raise a family and don’t want to live across from someone as dangerous as him,” she said.

Charred remains of elderly man found after fire guts ECD houses

The charred remains of 62-year-old Davanand Sawh, also called “Cheow”, were removed from among the debris following a fire that occurred between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning at his Bee Hive, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home.

Police reported that the fire destroyed two houses between 23:50h on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, and 01:00h on Thursday, March 12, 2026.

One of the houses belonged to Sawh, while the other was owned by 64-yearold Vidishwar Ramkissoon, a farmer.

Based on reports received, the police got a call about the fire, and as the

ranks arrived at the scene, they observed that both wooden buildings were completely gutted. The Guyana Fire Service also responded and extinguished the blaze.

However, after the fire was extinguished, human remains, suspected to be those of Sawh, were discovered among the debris.

The remains were taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where they are awaiting an autopsy. No other persons were reported injured during the fire.

An investigation to determine the cause and origin of the deadly blaze is underway.

Miner killed, 2 others critical as gold theft accusation turns deadly

Achopping incident, which stemmed from an accusation of gold theft at a mining camp at Siparuni River, Region Eight (Potaro–Siparuni) on Tuesday, has left one man dead and two others critically injured.

The dead man has been identified as 32-year-old Rowell La Cruz, also called “Kabaloo”, of Warapoka Village, North West District (NWD), Region One

(Barima–Waini).

The injured are a 36-yearold male of Blygezight, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and also of Fair View Village,

Over 1.3kg of ganja intercepted during Police operation in Bartica, Mahdia

A24-year-old male labourer from Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke–Linden Highway, was arrested on Thursday following the discovery of a quantity of cannabis during an operation in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni–Mazaruni).

Based on reports, Officers were conducting searches on incoming

speedboats travelling from Parika to Bartica.

However, on the day in question, passengers arriving on one of the vessels at the Bartica Stelling were taken to the Bartica Police Station, where searches were conducted on their persons and personal belongings.

During the exercise, six bulky parcels wrapped in brown paper were found in a bag belonging to the suspect. Upon closer inspection, the ganja was uncovered.

The cannabis was subsequently weighed and amounted to 682 grams (g). He remains in custody pending further investiga -

tions and charges.

In another incident, this time at Mahdia Arcade, Region Eight, some 755g of marijuana were found on Thursday during a Police exercise.

The cannabis was reportedly found in a garbage bag in a garbage heap close to a bushy area. At the time of the discovery, no arrests were made. Investigations are ongoing.

North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu–Upper Essequibo), and a 25-yearold miner of Paramakatoi Village, North Pakaraimas, Region Eight.

Based on reports received, the now-deceased man and another male, both employed at a dredging operation, were in the kitchen area when they were approached by three males who accused them of stealing gold from a sluice box.

The men were then ordered to a nearby watch camp where they met another male.

It is alleged that the suspects, armed with a handgun, cutlasses, and a mattock handle, dealt the men several blows about their bodies, causing injuries, after which they left the area. The injured men were taken to the riverfront, where La Cruz succumbed to his injuries.

The matter was reported,

and as Police ranks arrived at the scene, they observed the lifeless body of La Cruz lying with marks of violence about his body.

The two other men were taken to separate medical facilities, where they were seen by medical personnel and admitted in critical condition. The Police have launched a manhunt for the suspects as investigations continue.

Aeronautical Engineering School expands capacity as demand grows for more aviation professionals

The Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School has expanded its capacity to facilitate the training of a larger number of students – a critical move in supporting the growth of the aviation industry in Guyana as well as the technical needs of other sectors.

is an investment in the future of Guyana’s aviation ecosystem, which is critical to national development. In fact, she noted that aviation is not merely a sector of economic activity but a lifeline, especially those living and working in the hinterland regions across the country.

To this end, Minister Parag underscored the importance of Guyana building its local capacity, especially in the aviation sector.

“Aircraft do not maintain themselves… Behind every safe landing and every successful flight is a network of skilled profession-

On Wednesday, the school commissioned new premises at its Eugene F Correia International Airport, Ogle, location on the East Coast of Demerara.

Delivering the feature remarks at the commissioning ceremony, Education Minister Sonia Parag said the expanded facility represents an investment in improving the quality of aeronautical training.

“It provides more modern, convenient and firstclass facilities in which aviation engineers and other professionals can acquire the knowledge and technical skills required for a demanding and highly specialised industry,” she noted.

According to Parag, this

“In many parts of our hinterland, aviation is the only reliable bridge connecting citizens to the wider national community, and especially in Guyana, where we have a really unique geography. This is why aviation plays such a crucial role in national integration,” the Minister stated.

She went on to add, “When an aircraft takes off from the coast and lands in a remote hinterland community, it is doing far more than transporting passengers or cargo. It is delivering opportunity. It is carrying medical supplies, teachers, technicians, miners, foresters and entrepreneurs. It is connecting families. It is knitting together the many regions of Guyana into a single national fabric.”

als like yourselves. Pilots, engineers, technicians and safety specialists whose training and discipline ensure that the entire system works with precision. This is why institutions such as the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School are so important.”

“We must ensure that our aircraft are piloted and maintained by certified and highly competent professionals… And so here we are with an expansion of the existing facility being open here to accommodate not just more persons but also to be able to expand the access and the quality of what you’re going to be getting as trainees. So, that is the big success story here,” the Minister stated.

Meanwhile, the expansion of the Aeronautical Engineering School comes at a time when the demand for technical professionals continues to grow amidst Guyana’s rapid economic development, driven largely by its burgeoning oil and gas industry.

In fact, the oil sector has been draining the local aviation industry of its skilled professionals – some-

Authority (GCCA) had bemoaned the situation whereby the aviation industry was losing workers to the oil and gas sector, which was paying higher salaries.

Moreover, the University of Guyana (UG) had similarly stated that its engineer students are being absorbed by oil and gas companies even before they graduate.

Nevertheless, the Art

Berbice and Linden,” the school’s general manager stated.

Similarly, Minister Parag underscored the importance of building out technical capacity in the country.

She noted that technical and vocational skills are very important. “Why? Because not everyone is an academic. Not everything requires you to be an academic. So,

thing which the school’s General Manager Nalini Chanderban said they had already been preparing for.

“We’ve been doing it right. We’ve been changing and adapting as fast as all the sectors demand, including oil and gas,” she stated.

In the same breath, however, Chanderban said the oil companies operating in Guyana were lining up to scoop up the students graduating from the Aeronautical Engineering School. “I had to step back and tell the board, we need to stop. Aviation is crying [because all the] people are moving to oil and gas,” she noted.

Only last year, the Guyana Civil Aviation

Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School has now been expanded to facilitate more students. According to Chanderban, the training school has even expanded its curriculum to produce more skilled technical personnel.

“The CVQ (Caribbean Vocational Qualification) that focuses now on those students who don’t have five CXC [subjects] or didn’t finish high school but could work in the fuel farms, or stores or other departments. So, we want to spread it out [across the country]. We’re at ETI (Essequibo Technical Institute), running foundations for Regions One and Two, but we wish to go to

we have to prepare a part of our population for those or to meet those skills requirements. So, you form a very important part of that component of training that we need for our country.”

The Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School was founded 33 years ago with the objective of producing highly competent aircraft maintenance engineers to serve the local aviation sector. It offers modular certificate courses, diploma courses, associate degree and degree programmes that are accredited by civil aviation authorities in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Suriname and the Eastern Caribbean nations.

New programme targets better diagnosis, treatment for children with kidney disease

The Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) has launched a new collaboration aimed at strengthening paediatric kidney care services in Guyana with an international grant from the University of Calgary, Canada, under the International Society of Nephrology (ISN).

The US$6000 grant was awarded in February 2026 under the ISN Sister Renal Centers Programme.

The initiative was announced on World Kidney Day on Thursday and is a partnership between GPHC, the University of Calgary in Canada and the International Society of Nephrology. The programme is being funded through a competitive grant awarded by the global nephrology body to help build paediatric nephrology capacity in developing health systems.

Guyana’s paediatric nephrologist, Dr Areefa

Alladin, said the project will focus on establishing comprehensive services for children with kidney disease while expanding diagnostic and treatment capabilities at the hospital. She noted that there will be a team of trained medical professionals who will collaboratively work to provide specialised care for young patients.

“This grant is a two-year grant that will be renewable for up to six years… Our goal is to build a multidisciplinary chronic kidney disease paediatric consultation team at the Georgetown Public Hospital using that model of working collaboratively with healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, dieticians, psychologists, and all other partners who will help us to provide comprehensive care for children. We plan to train people who are going to help us to build this

team within those collaborative efforts,” she said.

According to Dr Alladin, plans include developing kidney pathology, expanding immunology testing, and training specialists to conduct kidney biopsies and other essential diagnostic procedures.

“We also plan to increase diagnostic capacity by building immunology studies and immunology testing that is timely and appropriate and building a kidney pathology service where we train people to do kidney biopsies,” she added.

Create a national registry

Dr Alladin said the programme will create a national registry of children diagnosed with kidney disease to help doctors better understand the prevalence of the condition and intervene earlier.

“At the end of these two years, we want to have a registry of all children diagnosed with kidney disease in this country, enrol them into this registry, have their kidney function assessed, stratify their risk of progression to kidney disease, know what the cause of their kidney disease is, and implement measures to slow, prevent, or stop their kidney disease progression,” she explained.

Another key component of the initiative is the development of treatment tailored specifically for children, and according to Dr Alladin, while haemodialysis is widely used, peritoneal dialysis may be more suitable for paediatric patients because it allows them to maintain a normal daily

routine.

She noted, “We want to train nurses in paediatric PD, and we want to have automated peritoneal dialysis so that children could be plugged into a machine at night, have their dialysis while they’re asleep, and go to school and have play and live a normal life during the day. We also know that peritoneal dialysis will not be applicable to all kids.”

However, she acknowledged that some children may still require haemodialysis, making it necessary to train specialised nurses to run this and establish protocols for both forms of treatment.

Work closely with local doctors

Supporting this initiative is Dr Jullian Midgley, a paediatric nephrologist from the University of Calgary

with more than three decades of experience, who said the Canadian institution will serve as a mentor centre for the programme.

He added that specialists from Calgary will work closely with local doctors through periodic visits and regular virtual meetings to guide the programme’s development.

“We’re going to support Dr Aladdin as a mentor centre from Canada, Calgary, in her establishment of a full-service paediatric nephrology section within this hospital serving the children of Guyana and later, as you heard, in the Caribbean.” He also said, “We’ll be visiting from time to time, but more importantly, we’ll be having monthly meetings by Zoom to discuss progress, see what we can assist with, and give her guidance.”

Chief Executive Officer

of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Robbie Rambarran, praised the partnership and emphasised the importance of strengthening paediatric kidney care in the country. He noted that more than 100 children are currently registered as living with kidney disease in Guyana. Rambarran said the hospital is committed to expanding nephrology services and improving outcomes for patients.

“This programme is a very important one to us. While we are having several discussions about how we are delivering dialysis and the whole nephrology care for our adult patients, this new component will now play a part, and all these developments of new policies and protocols will work collectively in both adults and paediatrics.”

Essequibo Coast gets 10 garbage trucks to tackle waste

Ten garbage compactor trucks were dispatched to Region Two (Pomeroon–Supenaam) on Thursday to support improved sanitation services on the Essequibo Coast.

The 10 garbage compactor trucks that arrived in the region to support improved solid waste management on the Essequibo Coast

for that region, while another was provided to Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

The Government has placed renewed focus on sol-

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Priya Manickchand had previously announced that the Government intends to ensure that every Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) and municipality across the country is provided with at least one garbage compactor truck.

id waste management, acknowledging concerns raised by residents regarding irregular garbage collection and the environmental consequences of improper waste disposal. The provision of compactor trucks is expected to improve the efficiency of waste collection while help-

ing to reduce illegal dumping and environmental degradation. Up to September last year, only one NDC nationwide had a functioning garbage truck, while four others had trucks that were non-operational. Since then, the Government has begun addressing the issue. Earlier this week, two compactor trucks were delivered to Region One (Barima–Waini), the first such facility

During the presentation of the 10 trucks to the Essequibo Coast on Thursday, Minister Manickchand addressed representatives from several Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and the Anna Regina Town Council, noting that the initiative is part of the Government’s plan to strengthen waste

management systems along the Essequibo Coast. She acknowledged the efforts made by local leaders who travelled from various communities across the region to attend the engagement, including representatives from Charity/ Ursara, Evergreen/Paradise, Anna Regina, Aberdeen/ Zorg-en-Vlygt, Annandale/ Riverstown and Good Hope/ Pomona.

“I

Corentyne fatal stabbing

saw him stab my brother” – witness tells Judge, jury

…as accused says he was cornered by Mingo brothers, fled after realising he was in a “bad situation”

The brother of dead Port Mourant resident Ramanand Mingo told the Berbice High Court that he saw Andrew Seegobin stab the 29-year-old during an argument at a shop and bar in the village on the night of November 19, 2023.

Dianand Mingo, who testified before Justice Deborah Kumar-Chetty and a 12-member jury, said he was sitting on a motorcycle outside the shop when he noticed his brother and the accused arguing inside.

The witness told the court that earlier that night, he and his brother had stopped at a supermarket, which also operated as a bar and beer garden. He said he remained outside at the gate while his brother went into the shop to purchase a drink using a $5000 bill he had given him.

Mingo said that while he was waiting outside, he noticed his brother and Seegobin engaged in an argument inside the shop. He said he went inside and told his brother to stop the argument but was confronted by the shop owner and his mother, who began pushing him and ordering him to leave.

The witness told the court that after he exited the shop, he saw Seegobin taking out his phone and recording video while his brother asked not to be filmed.

“I see Andrew pick up a

knife and stab my brother –one stab,” the witness said. “I hold my brother, and he collapse.”

Mingo told the court the weapon appeared to be a kitchen knife about eight inches long and insisted that his brother was unarmed at the time.

“My brother did not have any knife; he had nothing,” he said.

The witness said that after the stabbing, the accused ran towards the back of the building. He said he then rushed his brother to the hospital, but the injured man was already dead.

Under cross-examination, Mingo admitted that he was standing outside the bar when the stabbing occurred and acknowledged that he had picked up bricks and thrown them inside the

shop during the commotion.

He also told the court that when he attempted to intervene earlier in the argument, the shop owner had armed himself with a cutlass, while another man had a knife and pushed him out of the shop.

When shown a video recording previously played for the jury, Mingo said the footage showed Seegobin recording before throwing down the phone, pulling a knife from his waist, and stabbing his brother.

The witness also denied telling Police that the weapon used was a “Rambo knife”, maintaining that he had said it was a kitchen knife and explaining that he could not read and did not know what was written in his statement.

Mingo further told the

court that security cameras were mounted at the shop and that he saw red lights on them but could not say whether they were recording at the time.

Earlier, State Counsel Marisa Edwards closed the prosecution’s case after presenting its witnesses.

Cornered by brothers, he fled “bad situation”

The defence attorney, Soraya Subersook, then called the accused, Andrew Seegobin, to give his evidence from the dock.

Seegobin told the jury that he first encountered Mingo earlier that evening at a supermarket in the village but left after being verbally abused by him.

He said that while heading home, he stopped briefly at a wake and later saw the Mingo brothers outside his

home, claiming that one of them was armed with a cutlass and cursing. According to the accused, he decided not to go home and instead went to a nearby shop where music was playing, the same location where the fatal incident later occurred.

Seegobin said that shortly after he entered the shop, the two Mingo brothers also arrived. He told the jury that he realised he was in a “bad situation” and took out his phone and began recording with his right hand.

During his testimony, the accused showed the jury an injury to his left hand, explaining that because of the injury, he could not have used that hand to record the video.

He further told the court that since returning to Guyana from the United States in 2018, he had been repeatedly harassed and attacked by the Mingo brothers. He claimed that about a year before the fatal incident he had been chopped by Ramanand Mingo and left for dead.

Turning to the events of the night in question, Seegobin said Mingo approached him and began verbally abusing him while persons in the shop attempted to prevent the confrontation.

“He came and rushed to me. I push him, and he fall back on the bench,” Seegobin told the court.

The accused said he then exited through the gate leading to the private dwelling area behind the shop but was warned not to go to the front, as persons might try to kill him. He said he subsequently jumped a fence and left the premises.

Seegobin also told the court that security cameras were installed at the shop.

Following his testimony, the defence closed its case.

The trial of Andrew Seegobin for the murder of Ramanand Mingo opened on Monday before Justice Deborah Kumar-Chetty at the Berbice Assizes, where a jury was empanelled to hear the matter. The prosecution had indicated that it intended to call several witnesses to prove that Seegobin fatally stabbed Mingo during an incident at Amos Shop, Port Mourant, Corentyne.

On Tuesday, the court heard evidence from Government pathologist Dr Vivakanand Bridgemohan, who testified that Mingo died from shock and haemorrhage caused by a stab wound to the heart. The pathologist told the court the wound perforated the heart and said such an injury could cause death “very quickly”.

The trial continued on Thursday, and both the prosecution and defence gave closing arguments to the jury.

Scotiabank rolls out intelligent ATMs to speed up banking services in Guyana

Scotiabank has completed the rollout of its enhanced automated teller machines across its branch network in Guyana, introducing Intelligent Deposit Machines (IDMs) designed to provide faster and more accessible banking services. The new self-service terminals allow customers to complete a wider range of banking transactions without visiting a teller. According to the bank, the installation of the IDMs is among its ongoing efforts to modernise services and expand access to banking solutions around the clock.

Country Manager of Scotiabank Guyana Inc, Nafeeza Gaffoor, said the

machines are intended to improve the customer experience by making routine transactions quicker and more efficient.

“These enhanced ATMs allow us to deliver a smoother, more efficient client experience,” Gaffoor said. “By investing in intelligent deposit technology, we are giving clients the ability to complete transactions quickly, securely, and at their convenience.”

The Intelligent Deposit Machines allow customers to deposit cash and cheques directly into the machine without the use of envelopes. The system automatically counts cash, scans cheques and verifies deposit amounts, while printed receipts pro -

vide images of the deposited items.

Cash deposits made through the machines are processed in real time and are available instantly or within minutes. Cheque images are transmitted digitally to enable faster clearing.

The new machines also expand the range of self-service transactions available to customers. Users can conduct transfers, make loan and credit card payments, pay bills and check account balances through the terminals. The bank described the machines as functioning similarly to a “mini branch” that is available 24 hours a day.

Accessibility features have also been incorpo -

rated into the machines. These include large touchscreens, tactile keypads, audio navigation, multilingual prompts and a design intended to accommodate customers of varying abilities.

Scotiabank said the introduction of the enhanced ATMs supports its wider digital transformation strategy and is intended to provide customers with more flexible, technology-driven banking options beyond traditional branch services.

The bank noted that businesses are expected to benefit from the machines as well, particularly through the ability to make secure deposits outside of regular banking hours.

As global oil prices rise GuyOil maintains lower fuel rates compared to local private stations

Even as oil prices on the world market continue to surge amid geopolitical tensions, the state-owned Guyana Oil Company Limited (GuyOil) continues to maintain modest rates compared to local privately owned service stations.

Using prices from GuyOil as the base, a comparison shows that fuel sold by other major companies in Guyana is notably higher.

GuyOil’s Super 95 gasoline is currently priced at $170 per litre, while the same fuel at Rubis Guyana, branded Ultra Tec, is priced at $189 per litre. At Mobil,

gasoline is being sold at $1.91. Diesel at GuyOil is being sold at between $168 and $190 per litre. At Rubis, diesel is being sold at $189 per litre and at Mobil, $194 per litre.

These comparisons show that motorists purchasing fuel from Rubis and Mobil are paying between 11 and 12 per cent more per litre when compared with the price offered by the stateowned GuyOil.

In a statement on Wednesday, GuyOil had confirmed that its fuel prices have not increased, reminding that it is guided by a strict regulatory and com-

pliance framework that ensures transparent pricing while safeguarding consumers from undue market volatility.

Since March 2022, the Guyanese Government has been actively subsidising fuel imports to block global price surges from being passed on to consumers.

The Government completely removed the excise tax on fuel, resulting in consumers in Guyana paying significantly less at the pumps.

Oil prices continue to soar on the world market in light of the escalation of violence in the Middle East.

Since the war began, traffic through the Strait of Hormuz – a narrow waterway through which oil from the Middle East, about a fifth of the world’s supply, has halted. Iran has threatened to bomb oil tankers passing through the major shipping route for oil produced by Gulf States, and according to international reports, the country has been laying mines in the Strait to target oil tankers.

Crude oil prices have recently surged, with Brent crude reaching over $90$100 per barrel.

Further, GuyOil urges the public to rely on of-

ficial statements issued by GuyOil and other competent authorities for accurate information regarding fuel pricing and supply.

“Misinformation circulated through unofficial sources can undermine public confidence and distort the facts surrounding issues of national importance.”

Prior to the war in Iran, Brent was priced at around US$73 per barrel. By Monday, it went up to US$120 before dropping into the 80s on Tuesday but then soaring to over US$90 on Wednesday, and on Thursday Brent crude rose to about 9 per cent in volatile trading, reaching US$101.4 a barrel.

In order to curb the disruptions to oil flow in the Middle East, the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Wednesday released some 400 million

barrels of crude from its members’ strategic reserves to stabilise global supply and prices.

Meanwhile, this surge in oil prices since the war began has been feeding through to pump prices in the US and the United Kingdom (UK).

The BBC reported that in the US, average petrol prices have risen above US$3.50 per gallon from about US$2.92 a month ago, while diesel had risen from US$3.66 to US$4.78 over the same period, according to the American Automobile Association.

In the UK, it was reported that average petrol prices have hit £1.3895 a litre, while diesel has hit £1.5512, having risen by £0.0612 and £0.1274, respectively, since the end of last month, according to the motoring firm Royal Automobile Club.

Essequibo Coast gets 10 garbage trucks...

Manickchand explained that the garbage compactor trucks are being distributed among the NDCs and the municipality on the Essequibo Coast to significantly improve waste collection services for residents. She noted that while there are additional NDCs located along the Pomeroon River, the unique geographical layout of those areas requires separate solutions for waste management.

“So what you’re taking away today would be 10 garbage compactor trucks for the people of the Essequibo Coast,” the Minister said.

She further emphasised that the trucks are intended to directly benefit residents across the various communities and must be used responsibly and fairly by local authorities.

“And so each NDC is going to get either one or two garbage compactor trucks,

and this belongs to you… This is for you to use so that your residents, your schools, your health centres, your roadways, and your pathways look different,” she stated.

Manickchand also reminded officials that the equipment must be properly maintained to ensure that the investment delivers long-term benefits. She stressed that systems must be put in place to ensure routine servicing and responsible operation of the vehicles.

“Then we expect to come back and see, one, garbage trucks that are working… So you got to put in place… how to maintain, when to maintain, and how to care

for,” she said.

She also revealed that the trucks will be monitored through a central system to ensure accountability and proper usage.

“All of these trucks are tagged, so we will know where they are at any given point, and we are managing them centrally also,” she explained.

Work with residents

In addition to improving waste collection, Manickchand urged local leaders to work with residents to change attitudes toward littering and environmental responsibility, noting that cleaner surroundings will require cooperation between author-

ities and citizens.

“But we expect to see a cleaner Essequibo Coast. We expect to see you starting campaigns that bring in the kind of energy where people do not want to litter on the streets,” she added.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Good Hope/Pomona NDC, Andy Ramnarine, welcomed the initiative and expressed gratitude to the Government for fulfilling its commitment to provide garbage compactor trucks to the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils in Region Two. He noted that the equipment will significantly assist local authorities in improving waste management and maintaining cleaner communities across the region.

“On behalf of Region 2, all my colleagues from the NDCs that will be receiving these garbage trucks, we want to express our gratitude to the Government, more so President Ali, and you as Minister of local Government. I know last year you guys made the commitment towards NDCs receiving garbage trucks, and we want to say how happy we are that the commitment has been fulfilled today,” Ramnarine said. He also assured that the councils will ensure the trucks are properly utilised and maintained for the benefit of residents.

“And I can guarantee you, on behalf of all the NDCs, that these trucks will be fully utilised and properly maintained and, more so, serve the people of Region Two. As you rightly said, when you come to Region two, you’re going to see a cleaner and a more beautiful Region two,” he added.

With approximately 70 NDCs across Guyana, the Administration has announced that it is working toward ensuring that each council has access to the necessary equipment to manage waste collection effectively by mid-2026.

Command must never be taken lightly – Chief of Defence Staff

…as 16 cadets promoted to ensign at midpoint of officer training

Sixteen Officer Cadets of the Standard Officer Course

Number 57 have attained the rank of Ensign, marking the halfway point in their journey toward officership. The milestone was commemorated during the Ensigncy Parade held on Wednesday at the Colonel Ulric Pilgrim Officer Cadet School Drill Square, Base Camp Stephenson.

According to an article posted on the Guyana Defence Force (GDF)’s website, of the 16 promoted, one is from the Belize Defence Force (BDF), two from the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF), four from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), and two from the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), while the remaining seven will serve in the GDF.

The course initially commenced with 45 officer cadets drawn from the participating services. The article posted by GDF stated that the 16 promoted represent those who have successfully

progressed through the demanding stages of training and demonstrated the resilience, discipline and leadership potential required to advance to the Ensigncy phase.

Following the presentation of badges of rank, Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Omar Khan, MSS, addressed the newly promoted Ensigns, congratulating them on reaching this important milestone and re-

minding them that the responsibility of command must never be taken lightly.

He emphasized that the profession of arms demands unwavering discipline and adherence to the highest standards. In doing so, he acknowledged the work of the Officer Commanding the course and the training staff, noting that their dedication to shaping the next generation of military leaders is essential to main-

taining the standards of the Force. “Your work ensures that the standards of the Force remain strong. These are standards we must maintain, as lowering standards raises risk,” he stated.

Addressing the Ensigns from sister services, Brigadier Khan noted that although they represent different nations and organisations, the values expected of officers remain the same.

Teen mother’s death

He encouraged them to lead with confidence, professionalism and integrity, noting that these principles form the foundation of effective leadership.

The Chief of Defence Staff further stressed that the Ensigncy phase demands greater discipline, maturity and focus, warning that complacency has no place in the journey toward officership. He also reminded the Ensigns that of-

ficership carries a duty of care for those under their command and urged them to remain steadfast in their commitment to the defence of their nation.

Brigadier Khan acknowledged the support of families and loved ones who have stood alongside the cadets throughout their training. He commended them for their encouragement and sacrifices, noting that their continued support will remain essential as the Ensigns proceed to the next phase of their development. The Standard Officer Course is designed to shape capable leaders of character, competence and resilience, and progression through the programme is determined by each cadet’s ability to meet its rigorous academic, physical and leadership requirements

The ceremony was also attended by officers, other ranks, and relatives, as well as representatives from the BDF, ABDF, GPF, and the GFS.

Baby now in foster care; DNA test ordered to establish paternity

The newborn daughter of 14-year-old Aleena Preetam, who died in February only weeks after giving birth, has been placed in the foster care system, the Human Services and Social Security Ministry revealed on Thursday.

The Ministry, through its Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), said DNA tests are scheduled to determine the paternity of the baby, as investigations suggest the father may be a teenage boy under 18 years old. The CPA is coordinating with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding next steps.

Guyana Times had previously reported that Aleena Preetam, of Good Hope, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon–Supenaam), died of heart failure and anaemia. She was found dead in her bed-

Dead: 14-year-old Aleena Preetam

room about a month after delivering her baby.

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony earlier this month had also outlined the standard procedures for the care of pregnant patients at public health facilities, including assessments at accident and emergency departments and follow-up clinic appoint-

ments after discharge.

Preetam, a former student of Abram Zuil Secondary School, had transferred to another school but eventually left school before becoming pregnant. Her delivery was considered safe, and she returned home with her baby prior to her death.

The Human Services

Ministry said Aleena had previously been under CPA supervision following reports of physical, verbal, and sexual abuse by her father in 2024.

She was removed from her parents’ home in Region Two and placed in the care of her older sister in Region Three. The father was charged, remanded, and later granted bail in December 2024 under conditions prohibiting any contact with Aleena. The case remains pending.

When Aleena’s underage pregnancy was first reported in September 2025, a forensic interview was conducted, and she received medical care at the regional hospital. She was also referred to an NGO for victim support, court preparation assistance, and trauma-focused counselling. Reports indicated that Aleena and her sister opted not to pursue counselling at that time.

The Ministry said it continues to strengthen CPA operations and staff recruitment, particularly in regions with high caseloads. Ongoing training is being provided, and amendments

to the Sexual Offences Act have been drafted and are expected to be tabled in the National Assembly shortly to enhance the statutory framework.

Opposition parties in Tobago ask PM why US troops still there

Four months after their arrival in Tobago to install a military-grade radar system at the ANR Robinson International Airport in Crown Point, the US military maintains a consistent presence on the island.

Opposition parties want to know why, since the US no longer has a pressing reason to stay given that it has managed to achieve its main goal for being in the region.

Their comments have come amid a Guardian Media report that access to the Grafton Beach Resort in Black Rock has been restricted due to the presence of US military there, with security saying the facility has been booked for a specific group and only guests are allowed on the compound. There have been multiple reports of US troops exercising at the gym facilities there and jogging along the nearby Courland beach.

Innovative Democratic Alliance leader Dr Denise Tsoiafatt Angus yesterday demanded to know how long the US troops will be stationed in Tobago.

Drone strikes in Haiti that killed 1250, including 17 children, condemned by rights groups

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Tuesday that drone strikes carried out in Haiti over the past year have killed at least 1250 persons, including 17 children, many of whom had no apparent links to the criminal groups the attacks seek to squash.

She said Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar had assured the nation that the arrangement was temporary and the US$3 million-per-day radar was installed in Tobago to tackle narco-trafficking and gun smuggling, especially out of Venezuela. The US has labelled Maduro the head of a drug cartel and blamed him for illegal drugs flooding Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean and the US.

of Assembly presiding officer said, “Instead of a clear withdrawal, the public is hearing of signatures to additional agreements and expanded operational activities. So, the real question for the Government to answer is, are they leaving or are they staying?”

Tsoiafatt Angus said the elimination of Maduro from Venezuela’s political landscape should have resulted in the American military’s exit as well.

The former Tobago House

“If the chief cook and bottle washer in that operation has already been captured and removed, then the obvious question is, what exactly is the continuing mission here?” (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Argentina grants asylum to Brasília rioter in move that may

sway Brazilian vote

Argentina has granted asylum to a Brazilian fugitive convicted for his role in the 2023 pro-Bolsonaro riots – a decision that analysts say could reverberate in Brazil’s upcoming Presidential election.

A week after Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s President, took office, hundreds of persons ransacked Brazil’s congress building, Presidential palace and supreme court on January 8, 2023 in an attempt to overturn former President Jair Bolsonaro’s electoral defeat. Investigators later concluded the attacks were the culmination of a broader plot aimed at staging a coup.

Alongside Bolsonaro and members of his inner circle, who were convicted for their role in the plot, hundreds of rioters were given sentences of up to 17 years in prison for vandalism and insurrection. Dozens fled to Argentina after Javier Milei, a rightwing libertarian, took office there in December 2023.

This week, one of the Brazilians – Joel Borges Correa, 47 – was informed that Argentina’s refugee commission (Conare), which operates under the security Ministry, ruled that he should be granted asylum.

The decision suggests that other fugitives will be successful in their request for asylum.

Venezuela’s Rodriguez

In a video posted on social media, national deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro – one of Jair Bolsonaro’s sons – celebrated the ruling as a “victory of freedom” and thanked Milei.

The decision is understood to have come as a surprise to Brazilian authorities.

“The Milei Administration is starting to get involved in Brazil’s elections,” said a source in the Brazilian Government who asked not to be named.

“There is a real possibility that [Bolsonaro] could win. And that changes the political calculations of Milei’s Government.” (Excerpt from The Guardian)

promotes deputy to head Oil Ministry

Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodriguez said on Wednesday that she has appointed Paula Henao as oil minister, filling the key role as the country overhauls its oil industry amid US pressure.

The position became vacant when Rodriguez, who had been serving as both oil minister and Vice President, rose to the presidency following the United States’ capture of President

Nicolas Maduro in January. Henao, previously vice oil minister, will take the helm as the US pushes to open Venezuela to American ⁠investment, especially in oil, gas and mining. US President Donald Trump has praised Rodriguez for cooperating on efforts to move oil to the United States. In January, Venezuela’s ruling party-dominated legislature unanimously passed a reform to the hy-

drocarbons law that expands the oil Ministry’s decision-making power, in addition to lowering taxes and granting autonomy for private producers and making possible asset transfer and outsourcing.

The changes are aimed at boosting oil and gas production and foreign investment following a $100 billion reconstruction plan for the industry proposed by Trump shortly after Maduro’s capture. (Reuters)

Launched by Haitian law enforcement forces and private contractors working for Vectus Global between March 1, 2025, and January 21, 2026, the strikes also injured at least 738 persons, according to the organisation’s report. At least 49 of the injured appeared to have no ties to gangs or other criminal groups.

“Haitian authorities must urgently take control of the security forces and the private companies working on their behalf before more children die,” said Juanita Goebertus, director of the Americas

Program at HRW. HRW also said that international standards allow the deliberate use of lethal force only when strictly necessary to protect life.

“The deliberate and lethal use of firearms and other weapons is only permitted when absolutely necessary to protect a person’s life,” the organisation said. “Any use of force must be both necessary and pro-

portionate.”

The group criticised the use of explosive-equipped quadcopter drones capable of navigating between buildings and tracking moving targets in crowded urban neighbourhoods. Under such conditions, the organisation said, the strikes resemble targeted killings rather than conventional law enforcement operations. (Excerpt from The Haitian Times)

FBI opens first Ecuador office in fight against drug trafficking

The United States has opened its first Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office in Ecuador, the US Embassy in Quito said on Wednesday.

The office will aim to work with Ecuadorean officials to fight the trafficking of drugs and weapons, along with money laundering and the financing of terrorism, the embassy said in a social media post.

Ecuador’s Interior Minister John Reimber told reporters that collaboration with the FBI office would start immediately, after prior joint efforts with the US

“What has changed is that we have FBI agents permanently in Ecuador working with a national po-

lice unit that has been set up so that they can work together,” he said.

Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa has made a military crackdown on organised crime a corner-

stone of his administration. Last week his Government staged a joint operation with US officials to target drug trafficking operations in the South American country. (Reuters)

J’ca: St James records 16 murders for first 3 months of 2026

The St James Police Division has recorded 16 murders during the first three months of 2026, according to Divisional Commander Senior Superintendent Eron Samuels.

Samuels disclosed the figures while addressing the monthly meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation.

He told councillors that the division has seen an increase in murders since the

beginning of the year.

“For the St James Division, since the start of the week, we have recorded 16 murders; this is an increase of four compared to last year,” Samuels said.

The total is seven more than the nine murders that had been reported up to February.

Samuels noted that most of the recent killings are primarily linked to domestic and interpersonal disputes.

“Interestingly to note,

we have seen a reduction in gang-related murders; most of the murders we are seeing now are interpersonal, mostly choppings, stabbings, etc,” he explained. With 16 murders recorded up to March 7, the St James Police Division currently has the highest number of killings among police divisions across Jamaica. It is followed by St Andrew South, which has recorded 11 murders during the same period. (Jamaica Observer)

OIL NEWS

World faces largest-ever oil supply disruption from Middle East war, IEA says

The war in the Middle East is creating the biggest oil supply disruption in history, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday, a day after it agreed to release a record volume from strategic stockpiles to offset shortages and a spike in prices.

Global supply is expected to drop by eight million barrels per day in March, the IEA said in its latest monthly oil market report – a volume equal to almost eight per cent of world demand – due to the blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow channel along the Iranian coast, since the US and Israel began airstrikes on Iran on February 28.

The outlook from the IEA, which advises industrialised countries, contrasts with its earlier warnings of a sizeable surplus on the market for the first quarter of 2026.

It added, however, that supply could rise in April as some Middle East Gulf producers use alternative export routes to bypass the Strait of Hormuz and said that, for the year, production would still expand more quickly than global demand. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Around the World

Iran shares first statement attributed to new Supreme Leader

Iran’s state-run media issued on Thursday the first public statement attributed to the Islamic Republic’s new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, since his appointment in the wake of his father and predecessor Ali Khamenei’s killing on February 28 in the initial US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

His statement was read out by a presenter on Iranian state television and accompanied by a photo of Khamenei, but no audio or video of the new leader.

In the statement read by the presenter on Thursday, attributed to Khamenei, he says he learned of his appointment on state TV along with everyone else in Iran and that it would be difficult to

Israel attacks central Beirut in escalation of deadly assault on Lebanon

Israel has carried out a new wave of attacks on

the Lebanese capital, Beirut, sending enormous plumes of black smoke billowing up over parts of the city.

The latest Israeli strikes on Thursday targeted central Beirut’s Bashoura neighbourhood as well as the southern suburbs.

The Israeli military also issued a warning to evacuate a building in Zuqaq alBlat, another area in the city centre.

The targeting of central Beirut marks an escalation in a week and a half of intensified Israeli bombing across Lebanon, which has killed at least 687 persons and wounded more than 1,500, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

Lebanese authorities said more than 800,000 persons have been forcibly

displaced due to the violence, which began on March 2 after Hezbollah launched rockets towards Israeli territory following the start of the United States-Israeli war on Iran.

At least 12 persons were killed in an Israeli double-tap strike earlier on Thursday in the seafront

area of Ramlet al-Baida, where displaced families were sleeping in tents.

Separately, Lebanon’s National News Agency also reported that an Israeli drone strike on a Lebanese university building in Hadath, near Beirut, killed two academics. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Parents accused of hiding daughter’s HIV infection, neglect

Prosecutors in Italy are seeking charges against the parents of a nineyear-old girl alleged to have been infected with HIV and deprived of medical care for years. The girl’s mother is said to have hidden her HIV-positive status during pregnancy and travelled to Spain to give birth in 2017.

The couple then returned to Italy, but their daughter was alleged not to have been seen by any medical professionals until six years later when she became very ill.

They face charges of grave mistreatment leading to

serious injury, Italian media say. The BBC has approached the Bologna prosecutor’s office for comment.

According to accounts in the Italian media, the couple’s daughter was born ”outside any medical establishment”.

Her parents then took no measures to ascertain if the infection had been passed on and did not arrange for any medical visits or any vaccinations for their child.

It was only in July 2023 that they finally took her to see a doctor following a fever and persistent coughing.

The child appeared malnourished and had difficul-

ty walking; her teeth were in poor condition, and she was still wearing nappies, Italian media say, and the doctor recommended immediate hospital care, even threatening to call the Police given the parents’ reluctance to agree to it.

It was in hospital that the child’s HIV condition was discovered – with the parents eventually revealing the sequence of events.

The couple’s lawyer says the case will determine whether the parents intended to harm their daughter. A hearing has been scheduled in May. (Excerpt from BBC News)

follow in his father’s footsteps.

The statement went on to say that during the time before Khamenei was appointed as the new supreme leader, in the days after his father was killed, ”it was you, the people, who led the country and

guaranteed its authority.”

He expressed ”sincere gratitude to our brave warriors” and added that ”the lever of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must definitely continue to be used” as a tool in the ongoing war with the US and Israel.

”The brave and faithful

Yemen did not stop defending the oppressed people of Gaza, and the devoted Hezbollah has come to the aid of the Islamic Republic despite all obstacles, and the Iraqi resistance has also courageously taken the same line,” the statement said.

The message also urged Iranians who had lost loved ones to have patience and faith in the promise of God, adding that Iran would ”not refrain from avenging the blood of your martyrs”. The revenge we intend is not only related to the martyrdom of the Supreme Leader of the Revolution; rather, every member of the nation who is martyred by the enemy is an independent subject for the revenge case.”

(Excerpt from CBS News)

Hungary returns seized Ukrainian bank vehicles but withholds cash, gold

Hungary returned two seized armoured bank vehicles to Ukraine on Thursday but withheld cash and gold worth approximately $82 million, citing an investigation into alleged money laundering, a move Kyiv has denounced as theft.

Relations between Hungary and Ukraine, already strained by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s close ties to Russia, reached a new low last week when Hungary detained seven Ukrainians transporting cash and gold.

Kyiv accused Budapest of taking the bank employees hostage in order to pressure Ukraine into restarting suspended oil shipments. It said ⁠the employees were engaged in a legitimate transfer.

Those detained were expelled by Hungary and crossed into Ukraine on Friday.

Ukraine’s Oschadbank

said the vehicles were turned over to diplomats and customs officers but that they had sustained some damage which would be formally assessed once they were back in Ukraine.

The bank said the cash and gold remained ”illegally held in Hungary”. Ukraine has demanded the return of the seized assets, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Sunday describing Hungary’s actions as an ”unprecedented act of state banditism and racketeering”. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Eswatini received more “third country” deportees as part of deal with Trump Administration

The Government of Eswatini announced on Thursday it received four more “third country” deportees from the United States as part of the Trump Administration’s multimillion-dollar deal with the small African nation.

Now, a total of 19 deportees from the US have been sent to Eswatini, though they hail from other countries, amid the Trump Administration’s continued anti-immigrant crackdown and changes to immigration policy.

A system for monitoring people moved around by

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in the form of a flight tracker, run by the advocacy group Human Rights First, tracked the deportation flight to Eswatini. The flight apparently took off from Phoenix, Arizona, and landed in Eswatini in southern Africa at around 23:00h ET on Wednesday night, according to the ICE flight monitor.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the parent agency of ICE, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Guardian.

Two of the deportees sent to Eswatini on Wednesday night were from Somalia; one was from Sudan and one was from Tanzania, the Government said. No identities or other details about them were disclosed by the authorities.

In the past year, the Trump administration has struck “third country” deals with numerous countries around the globe. The deals allow countries, often after payment from the US, to accept deported immigrants who are not their citizens. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Take your time. Spontaneous reactions will meet with mixed emotions. Observation will help you recognize what’s best for you. A kind gesture, volunteering your time for a worthy cause, or focusing more on what you can do for others, not what they can do for you, will set the tone for what’s to follow.

Communication is your gateway to better understanding what others expect of you and how to deliver. Start the conversation, ask questions, make suggestions, and be a part of the dialogue that solves problems. Your input will help you gain confidence and recognition. Trust your instincts, follow through with your plans, and you’ll get positive results.

Gather information. Preparation and knowing the facts will save you from scams and those trying to take advantage of you. You are overdue for a change. Upgrade your skills and experience to meet today’s demands. Participate in events that allow you to meet and greet those who share your specialties or require what you can do.

Share your feelings and find out where you stand. It’s time to invest in you and your future. Consider what you can add to your résumé that will make you more marketable, unique, or captivating, and prepare to put yourself and your talents on display. Promote yourself, and opportunities will come your way.

Socialize, communicate, and charm your way into the hearts of those you encounter. Put your best foot forward and dedicate time, effort, and ingenuity toward being the best version of yourself. Self-preservation will help you gain respect and position you for perks that encourage you to take on projects that make a difference. Positive change requires action.

Look past negativity and roadblocks, and you’ll gain insight into what’s possible. Intelligence, along with desire and a strong push forward, will make onlookers take notice. Put more time and effort into wealth management and physical health and wellbeing. A change to your routine that includes fitness and greater interaction with proactive people will inspire you.

A change of perspective will help you adjust your goals to suit your situation. Put more energy into your relationships. Getting along will make a difference when it comes to hands-on help. An opportunity will arise at a social event that has a positive influence on your life, direction, or reputation. Romance is in the stars.

Speak up. Share your intentions and talk to experts. Show enthusiasm and stretch yourself to the limit to reach your goal. Mingle, promote your attributes, and see who gravitates toward you. Clear a space for a project or activity you want to pursue. Refuse to let your emotions overrule common sense. You can’t buy love or respect.

Look for creative lifestyle alternatives. Use discipline to achieve that comfort and convenience that will make your domestic life easier. Pay attention to how you look and present yourself to others. Steer clear of anyone looking for an argument or trying to use emotional manipulation to separate you from your money. Focus on personal growth, love, and happiness.

Think, if you jump into something without hesitation, you’ll face discrepancies. Personal changes will offer satisfaction and give you the boost you need to move forward on your own. Make wellthought-out changes that advance your agenda. Opportunity is apparent in love, partnerships, and financial gains. Don’t take risks that can lead to illness or injury.

Invest more time dealing with money management, and you’ll discover ways to lower your overhead. An innovative minimalist lifestyle will help you declutter your space while bringing in extra cash by selling the artifacts you no longer need. Incorporate a healthy mindset by implementing a fitfor-life approach into your daily routine. Romance and commitment are on the rise.

Put common sense first when someone makes costly demands. Too much of anything will set you back. Say no to temptation, overspending, indulgent behavior, and taking on unnecessary burdens that don’t belong to you. Free yourself from those eager to use or abuse you. Put your needs first, and focus on your health and emotional well-being.

THope Estate, Lowland Lions secure victories in ECCB 2nd Division matches

Hope Estate defeat Novar All Stars by four wickets At La Bonne Intention (LBI), Novar

All Stars won the toss and elected to bat first but were dismissed for 141 in 25 overs after a strong bowling performance from Hope Estate. Despite useful contributions from D Joyce (30), A Alfred (26) and A Singh (25), Novar struggled to build large partnerships as Hope’s bowlers applied consistent pressure. The standout performer was Shaeed Sattaur, who produced an excellent spell to

“Not

he East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) 40 Over Premier Insurance

The Second Division competition continued with two exciting matches on the East Coast on Wednesday, as Hope Estate Cricket Club and Lowland Lions registered hard-fought victories over Novar All Stars and Unity, respectively.

Ufinish with six wickets for 50 runs, dismantling the Novar batting line-up.

In reply, Hope Estate successfully chased down the target, reaching 142-6 in 28 overs. Kaeran Singh led the chase with a quick 41 not out, guiding his team to victory. He received support from Saeed Sattaur (25) and Bharat (17).

Novar’s bowlers tried to keep the contest alive, with S Da Silva delivering an economical spell of 3–28 from eight overs, while A. Bharrat took 2–38 and D Joyce claimed 1–25. However, Hope Estate held their nerve to secure a four-wicket win.

Lowland Lions edge Unity in thrilling finish

In the other match played at Unity, the Lowland Lions pulled off a dramatic one-wicket victory over Unity after a closely contested encounter.

Batting first, Unity posted 164 all out, with their top and middle order making valuable contributions. However, the Lions’ bowlers maintained tight control and regularly broke partnerships to restrict the total.

Leading the bowling effort was Jamaladeen Khan, who claimed three wickets for

14 runs from six overs, while Mitra supported well with 3–24 from five overs. Jake also chipped in with two wickets.

Chasing 165 for victory, the Lions remained composed despite a tense run chase.

Toney Smith anchored the innings with 43 runs, while Jake delivered an impressive all-round performance, scoring 29 runs to go along with his earlier wickets.

Lowland Lions eventually reached 166 for eight in 26.4 overs, sealing a narrow two-wicket win and completing an exciting day of cricket in the competition.

appropriate” for Iran to be at World Cup – Trump

S President Donald Trump has said Iran’s men’s football team is “welcome” at the 2026 World Cup but that it is not “appropriate” for them to be there “for their own life and safety”.

Trump’s comments come after Iran’s Minister of Sports and Youth, Ahmad Donyamali, said his country was not in a position to participate in the tournament, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11.

Iran is due to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, respectively, and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

But their participation has been in doubt

Csince the US and Israel launched strikes on the country, killing supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran responded by launching missiles and drones towards Israel and four Gulf Arab countries which host US military bases – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

“The Iran national soccer team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there for their own life and safety,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Thursday.

Earlier this week, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Trump had told him Iran is “wel-

come to compete” at this summer’s finals. But in an interview with the IRIB Sports Network on Tuesday, Donyamali said: “Given that this corrupt government has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances do we have the appropriate conditions to participate in the World Cup.

“Our boys are not safe, and conditions for participation do not exist.”

If Iran does withdraw from what would be its fourth consecutive World Cup, FIFA’s regulations give the governing body discretion to choose a replacement, but it is unclear who that would be. (BBC Sport)

Windies Women name unchanged squad for blockbuster T20 clash against Australia

The Maroon Warriors will field an unchanged squad as they prepare to take on the world’s top-ranked side in what promises to be an electrifying contest on Caribbean soil. The series forms a key part of the team’s build-up to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup later this year in the United Kingdom, offering the perfect opportunity for the regional side to test their strength against one of the game’s most dominant teams.

The upcoming clash follows a competitive home tour against the Sri Lanka women’s national cricket team, which provided valuable match experience for the Caribbean outfit.

Sri Lanka secured the three-match ODI series 2–1, but the West Indies responded in style in the final encounter when Captain Hayley Matthews produced a superb century to lead the team to a memorable six-wicket victory and prevent a clean sweep.

during the series. Emerging prospects Eboni Brathwaite (17) and Jahzara Claxton (19) add youthful energy as the West Indies look to challenge Australia’s dominance and build momentum in a pivotal year of white-ball cricket.

Head Coach Shane Deitz welcomed the opportunity to face the world’s best in Caribbean conditions.

ricket West Indies (CWI) on Thursday afternoon announced the West Indies Women’s squad for the highly anticipated T20 International series against Australia’s women’s national cricket team, set to take place from March 19–23 at Arnos Vale Cricket Ground in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The squad blends proven match-winners with exciting young talent. Senior stars Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, and Captain Hayley Matthews bring experience and firepower, while wicketkeeper-batter Shemaine Campbelle stands on the verge of a milestone, expected to earn her 150th T20 International cap

“We’re really excited about the opportunity to play the number one-ranked ODI and T20 teams in the world. It’s just before the World Cup, so it’s a great opportunity to see where we are in our preparation. Playing against the best team in the world, we can see where our deficiencies are and where things are working well as we look forward to the tournament in June in England.”

He added:

“It’s going to be a very tough series, but the players are up for the challenge. We haven’t played them in a competitive match since October 2023, so it’ll be good to see the progression of the team since that last meeting, namely in how much we’ve improved in certain areas and where we still need to improve moving forward. Our players are ready to show their skills and demonstrate the talent in this West Indies group. It’s going to be a fantastic tour and entertaining for everyone.”

Following the T20Is, the teams will travel to Warner Park in St Kitts and Nevis for a three-match ODI series. Fans across the region will have the chance to experience the action live, with free entry to all matches, or watch the Maroon Warriors battle the world champi-

ons via ESPN’s Disney+ streaming service.

West Indies Women’s T20 Squad vs Australia: Captain Hayley Matthews, Vice-Captain Chinelle Henry, Aaliyah Alleyne, Eboni Brathwaite, Shemaine Campbelle, Jahzara Claxton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Jannillea Glasgow, Shawnisha Hector, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Karishma Ramharack, and Stafanie Taylor.

Team Management Unit:

Head Coach: Shane Deitz

Team Manager: Sheena Gooding

Assistant Coach: Ryan Austin

Assistant Coach: Damien

Wright

Assistant Coach: Shane Dowrich

Physiotherapist: Ashley

Stephens

Strength & Conditioning Coach: Hector Martinez Charles

Performance Coach: Dr Nadine

Sammy

Media & Content Officer: Nicholas Maitland

Series Schedule: (All games played at Arnos Vale commence at 6:30 PM each day)

First T20I – Thursday, March 19

Second T20I – Saturday, March 21

Third T20I – Monday, March 23

The highly touted Elite Training Programme for track and field athletes in Guyana could start as early as this month, Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr has disclosed.

The Sport Minister made the revelation during his speech at the opening of the National Secondary School Championships on Wednesday at the National Track and Field Centre (NTFC), West Coast

Elite Training Programme can start as early as this month – Ramson Jr

Demerara (WCD).

Ramson Jr announced, “Now we’ve made a big investment coming out from last year into this year, and it will last over the next three years, which is on the Elite Training Programme for Athletics. Over the next three years, starting this, in fact, starting this month or next month, you will now have exposure to the training programmes that are comparable to the best in the world.”

“We’ve spent a lot of money to bring in those elite coaches to upskill our coaches here but also to upskill you. Get your training programme now to the best level.”

Long-awaited East Bank InterVillage kicks off Saturday

It is finally here; the long-awaited East Bank Inter-Village Football Tournament is set to kick off this Saturday with a double header at the Eccles EE Community Centre ground.

However, preceding the start of on-field action there will be a Grassroots Festival before the March Pass of all 12 participating teams at 17:00h.

Organised by Sports Extra, all the big names in the sport from communities located on the East Bank of Demerara and the Soesdyke–Linden Highway have confirmed their participation, and fans could expect riveting clashes throughout the competition.

According to a release from the organisers, the teams have been placed into four groups of three, with Agricola, Kuru Kururu and Mocha making up Group A, while Group B consists of Herstelling, Lower Soesdyke and Swan.

Group C contains Grove, Circuitville and Upper Soesdyke, while Timehri, Kaneville and Friendship are stationed in Group D.

In the opening encounter Kuru Kururu goes up against Agricola in what many pundits believe will be a gruelling contest, and this clash will be followed by Herstelling colliding

with Lower Soesdyke.

Sports Extra’s Franklin Wilson, in comments about the staging of the tournament, said that the communities along the East Bank and Soesdyke–Linden Highway corridors have been starved of organised football for quite some time, and this festival aims to serve as a stimulus to get the sport playing once again among the various villages.

He pointed to the Government’s vision for a “One Guyana” as an added incentive to boost the relationships among the teams and community by extension, adding it can also serve as talent spotting and much-needed economic activities.

The tournament carries cash prizes and trophies to-

talling more than $3 million along with prizes for outstanding individual performances.

The first prize is set at $1 million, while second, third, and fourth prizes are $500,000, $250,000 and $150,000, respectively, along with individual accolades for Best Goalkeeper, Most Valuable Player and Highest Goalscorer.

The competition resumes the following day with another doubleheader at the same venue.

In the opening game, Grove takes on Circuitville from 17:00h, followed by the feature clash between Timehri and Kaneville.

Fans from the participating communities are being urged to come out and represent their stars.

The Sport Minister went on to discuss the importance of such high-level training.

“You’re not going to be able to succeed at the international level, where you are gaining medals at the Olympics or World Championships, unless you are deploying and employing the international techniques that are now at the highest scientific level and then also managing your programme and managing the analytics that come from assessing your programme. Measuring it on that level where you are

now doing it so that you are comparable with the elite programmes in the world,” the Minister warned.

He further opined, “We have the talent; we have the raw talent; we always did, but that is not enough.” You have to have the right training programme.”

During his speech, Ramson Jr also emphasised the importance of not just training but elite training that the programme will offer local athletes who are desirous of reaching new heights.

The sport Minister cautioned, “What is important

too is that the training you undertake, you don’t always have to love, but you have to do it. Even Usain Bolt would tell you that he hated to train, but he still did it; he did it every single day because he wanted to be the best and he wanted to win.”

“So, what I will tell you is, even if you are talented, even if you are the best in your school or the best in your district, you will not become the best in the world unless you train every single day, even on the days when you hate it,” he added.

The stars will align for battle at the Rose Hall Canje ground on March 14 and 15. Rose Hall Town will play Albion in the grand final of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) twoday final.

A host of international and national players are expected to feature. The likes of West Indies Test batsmen Kevlon Anderson, Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, Veerasammy Permaul, and Devendra Bishoo are expected to suit up for their respective clubs.

Rose Hall Town will rely heavily on Anderson and the Sinclair boys, but they will be supported by players with national experience in Sylus Tyndall and Clinton

Rose Hall Town, Albion to clash in star-studded BCB final

Pestano.

Albion will rely on the spin trio of Motie, Permaul, and Bishoo. This final has been controversial, as Young Warriors objected to replaying the drawn game against Rose Hall Town.

After a decision made by the board, the final will now be played after a long delay.

Young Warriors sent several pieces of correspondence to the BCB objecting to the decision to replay the game after the encounter against Rose Hall Town ended in a draw, with Young Warriors taking first-innings points.

Young Warriors had claimed that over the past several years, it has been clearly understood and consistently applied that, in

the event a semi-final match ends in a draw, the team that finished at the top of its respective group or accumulated the most points progresses to the next round. This principle has guided teams throughout the competition and has formed the basis upon which preparation, strategy, and participation were conducted. This final is a much-anticipated one, and after all the confrontation, the game will be played on the field this weekend. The first ball is expected to bowl off at 09:30h local time.

More online CPL tickets go on sale; box office sales coming soon

Given the unprecedented demand for Republic Bank

Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Finals week, the tournament will be releasing more tickets for sale online at 09:00h on Friday, March 13. Fans wanting to secure a seat at the CPL final will need to visit cplt20.com to make sure they do not miss out. The initial allocation of online tickets for the 2026 Republic Bank CPL Final in Barbados has sold out following intense demand from fans around the world. Sales data show that 92 per cent of tickets have been sold to fans outside Barbados.

Fans in Barbados need not worry – a dedicated allocation of box office tickets will be made available locally. Details on box office sale

dates and locations will be announced in due course, giving local supporters the opportunity to purchase tickets for the final in person.

The strong early response highlights the continued growth and global

appeal of the CPL, with supporters securing their places for the tournament’s showpiece event as soon as tickets became available online.

Tickets for the remaining playoff fixtures remain available online via the official CPL website. (Cplt20)

Perth Scorchers XI confirm participation in ExxonMobil Guyana GSL

The Perth Scorchers, one of Australia’s most successful and widely supported T20 teams, have officially confirmed their participation in the upcoming ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL), adding further international star power to the ground-breaking tournament.

League is designed to showcase elite franchise talent while strengthening cricket’s global footprint. Hosted in Guyana – a nation with a proud cricketing heritage –the tournament provides a world-class stage for international clubs to compete for global supremacy.

gion and around the world.”

Playing as the Perth Scorchers XI, the current Big Bash League champions will be the third Australian team to take part in the GSL, with Cricket Victoria and Hobart Hurricanes having also taken part in the tournament.

Renowned for their winning culture, strong leadership, and consistent performances in Australia’s KFC Big Bash League, the Scorchers bring a formidable pedigree to the Global Super League. Their inclusion underscores the GSL’s growing reputation as a premier international T20 competition, uniting champion teams from around the cricketing world in Guyana.

Sir Clive Lloyd, Chairman of the Global Super League, welcomed the Scorchers’ participation.

Caribbean Premier League tickets go on sale today

PThe ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super

“The Perth Scorchers represent excellence, professionalism, and a winning tradition that aligns perfectly with the vision of the Global Super League,” said Sir Clive Lloyd. “Their involvement enhances the quality and global appeal of the tournament. We are proud to welcome them to Guyana and look forward to seeing their brand of cricket excite fans across the re-

Milo competition gets name change as Massy injects $8M into U18 tournament

at the official launch on Thursday afternoon, which was hosted at Massy’s Montrose, East Coast Demerara (ECD) location. There, Massy Distribution Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Troy Beharry underscored their commitment to supporting the next generation of Guyanese football talent.

Beharry told the gathering,

opularly known as the Milo Under–18 Football Tournament, title sponsor Massy has taken the reins of one of the most anticipated secondary school football competitions in Guyana, titling the competition the “Massy Under–18 Football Tournament” for its 12th edition in 2026.

The company will sponsor the tournament under a complement of brands, including Milo, Club Social, Orchard, Ocean Spray Creamery and Tang, injecting some $8M into this year’s competition.

All this was unveiled

“At Massy, we believe that corporate social responsibility must be real, meaningful and must create impact. Supporting this tournament does exactly that. Over the years, this competition has helped to develop football in Guyana. Many of our national footballers would’ve emerged from a tournament like this one; that is something we should all be proud of,” Beharry told the gathering.

“So, when we support this tournament, we are not just sponsoring football; we are supporting dreams, we are supporting potential, we are supporting

the next generation of talent in Guyana,” the Massy Distribution CEO added.

The Minister within the Sport Ministry, Steven Jacobs, also graced the launching ceremony, detailing how the organisers’ efforts tie into the Government’s plan whilst also making an appeal to corporate Guyana.

“We are working to have one of the best sporting ecosystems in the entire world. So, what we’re doing is geared towards accomplishing that. When you have people like Petra on board and all the other organisations, we are happy to have that, and we are happy to have Massy and any other corporate entity. What we’re building out is second to none, and we want to

lead; we want to lead in every single sector,” the sport Minister explained.

Meanwhile, Co-Director of the Petra Organisation, Troy Mendonca, was on hand to divulge key details about this year’s tournament.

Mendonca informed, “One of our foundation tournaments and this competition are not just another fixture on

Western Australia Cricket Chief Executive Officer John Stephenson said: “We are extremely excited by the prospect of taking part in the third edition of the GSL. The Perth Scorchers represent everything that is uniquely Western Australian, and the GSL provides us with a chance to showcase this at an international level. The tournament has gone from strength-to-strength since its inception, and we look forward to seeing how our team goes on the global stage.”

Jacobs, a former athlete himself, went on to appeal, “So, sport plays a vital role in the development of any single society because it develops people. So, what Massy is doing here is something that is remarkable. And at this time, I also want to call on all of corporate Guyana to join hands in propelling sport, in helping our athletes. If it’s even sponsoring an athlete in some type of way so that they can then develop their skills, sponsoring a tournament, and this can fall in any sport discipline, but it is important so that we create individuals that can contribute to society meaningfully.”

our calendar but one of the tournaments that is embedded in our school system. From this tournament, the top 8 teams will qualify for our league later down in the year, and from that league, the top two teams will go on to represent Guyana at our year-end championship.”

He went on to divulge, “In essence, this tournament is the first step in our journey that takes the young footballers from school grounds to national representation, either through the national team or the school that you play for.”

According to the organiser, over 50 schools have

expressed their interest in the competition. However, that number will be reduced to 32, through knockout matches, by the time the tournament kicks off on Saturday, March 21. The 32 teams will compete in a round-robin/ knockout format, being drafted into 8 groups of 4 for the first round of the tournament. The championship-winning team will cart off a $300,000 grand prize that will be allocated to a school project of the winner’s choice. Second and third place will receive $200,000 and $100,000 for the same purpose.

Glen cops double on 2nd day of “Nationals”

Adanya Glen of North Georgetown copped her second gold medal of the 2026 National Schools’ Championships, which continued on Thursday at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

After a brilliant run in the 1500 metres on Wednesday to win gold, Glen returned to clock 2:22.59s to win the girls’ Under-20 800 metres. Alkila Blucher of Christianburg Wismar finished second in a time of 2:31.41s, while Kaymayra Lacon of Richard Ishmeal grabbed third in a time of 2:36.57s.

In the boy’s Under-20 800 metres, which brought spectators to their feet with a steamy finish, Kaidon Persaud of Linden Technical Institute (LTI) was impressive, dipping under the two-minute mark with a time of 1:59.64s to take the gold medal. Jonathon Bristol of Government Technical Institute (GTI) won the silver in 2:01.54 while Quency Marks finished in 2:01.68.

Meanwhile, on the field, Duel Europe of St Stanislaus College took gold in the boys’ Under-20 long jump with a leap of 6.82 metres. Finishing closely behind for silver was David Williams of Vreed En Hoop Secondary with a jump of 6.79 metres. Nichol Nieuelder finished third with a leap of 6.30 metres.

Athalia Simmons of Bartica Secondary grabbed gold in the girls’ Under-17 discus with a throw of 26.86 metres to outperform Jasmin Sultan of New Silver City, who finished second with a throw of 21.67 metres. Jada Sampson of East Ruimveldt Secondary took third with a throw of 21.42 metres.

In other results, Mattania Fordyce of President’s College won the boys’ Under-20 high jump with a leap of 1.85 metres, while Kenetha Fraser of Christianburg Wismar won the girls’ Under-20 long jump with a leap of 5.24 metres. The boys’ Under-17 800 metres was won by Orlando Thomas of Maruanau Secondary in a time of 2:04.39, while Ayesha Austin won the girls’ equivalent in a time of 2:36.72.

The final day will feature both the 200 and 400-metre finals, with the 2026 National Schools’ Championships set for an exciting finish.