Guyana Times - Monday, March 16, 2026

Era of opportunities – Finance Minister on more employment, entrepreneurial prospects

M&CC earns over $30M from Mashramani Parade vending spots

2 shot, 5 arrested in Georgetown, Lethem armed robberies …smart

cameras help

7 Essequibo Coast drivers fined over $950,000 for drunk driving, traffic offences

2 guns, ammo seized after fight, anti-robbery operation

seized at Mabaruma waterfront Consumers commission steps up enforcement as citizens urged to know their rights

BRIDGE OPENING

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, March 16 –14:55h-16:25h and Tuesday, March 17 – 15:30h–17:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery to light rain showers are expected during the day, followed by late-afternoon sunshine. Partly-cloudy skies are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 4.92 metres and 7.15 metres.

High Tide: 15:14h reaching a maximum height of 2.48 metres.

Low Tide: 08:49h and 21:11h reaching minimum heights of 0.85 metre and 0.69 metre.

Era of opportunities – Finance Minister on more employment, entrepreneurial prospects

…urges young Guyanese to take advantage

Guyana’s economic growth has resulted in the creation of an unprecedented wave of opportunities for all citizens, especially the young people who are being encouraged to grasp them. This call was made by Senior Minister with responsibility for Finance Dr Ashni Singh during his recent appearance on the BBC World Questions programme, which was hosted in Georgetown last week. The podcast, which was hosted by BBC’s Jonny Dymond, was streamed on Saturday and featured Minister Singh alongside Opposition Member of Parliament Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, Secretary of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Clinton Urling and businesswoman and activist Ayodele Dalgety Dean.

According to the Finance Minister, there are more employment and entrepreneurial opportunities available to Guyanese today than ever in the country’s history. In fact, he noted that young people are even better positioned to benefit from these opportunities. “This generation of young Guyanese is the most fortunate generation of all generations because we are literally living in the era of opportunity…

If you consider educational opportunities, this People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has made education free at all levels and has gone further in incentivising participation in the education system including by giving cash transfers to parents and students. There are more employment opportunities and there are more entrepreneurial opportunities available to young people than at any other time in our country’s history. And I want to urge young ladies and gentlemen to take advantage of those opportunities,” he posited. Dr Singh was at the time responding to a young audience member who had asked about the opportunities here that would keep young people in the country rather than looking abroad for betterment. He pointed out over the last five years alone, approximately 104,000 new jobs were created. A key factor in the creation of these jobs, the Minister noted, was skills training for young people to be able to take up these employment opportunities.

“We have 6,000 persons now working in the oil and gas sector who were not working there before. Many of them are engineers, they’re working on the FPSOs (Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels), they are working in highly skilled areas, technical areas, in jobs that simply did not exist before. We have more people working as engineers, we have more working as architects, we have people working as skilled professionals,” Singh stated.

More labour needed

Even as the Government continues to buildout opportunities for training and upskilling, there is still a labour shortage in the country – something which the private sector has been com-

Business Development about two years ago, which found a shortfall of skilled professionals in the oil and gas sector alone of some 52,000. Against this backdrop, he urged young people to stay and upskill themselves to

“This generation of young Guyanese is the most fortunate generation of all generations because we are literally living in the era of opportunity…” – Finance Minister

plaining bitterly about. In fact, Urling explained during the panel discussion that the lack of human capital is the number one binding constraint for the private sector. He cited a study done by the Centre for Local

take up these opportunities.

The PSC Secretary went onto joined Minister Singh in imploring with young diaspora members to also return and participate in Guyana’s development.

“Right now, our private

sector is struggling to find employees. And that is a reality that every person who’s in the private sector will tell you. That’s not just me speaking as a private sector leader. In fact, sometimes I’m hesitant to invest in any big, huge project because it’s difficult to find skilled employees. And that is why I would encourage the folks who are thinking or who have left or who are thinking to leave to look where those opportunities are. Try to upgrade your skills towards that so that you can meet that demand that the private sector wants and from the Government’s perspective, the Government should focus on investing more into vocational and technical skills and some of the skills that are required in the industry, not just skills training for skills training sake,” the businessman asserted.

Editor: Tusika Martin

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The Judiciary’s hermeneutical power

In the aftermath of the PNC’s attempted rigging of the 2020 General Election, two academics from UWI who were part of the team of Caricom observers introduced the term “judicialization of politics” into our everyday vocabulary. They were referring to the inability or unwillingness of the political class within the institutions of the Executive and Legislature to resolve their inevitable differences and consequently taking ever increasing recourse to the third leg of governance – the Judiciary, who are acknowledged as arbiters of the Constitution by which all institutions must be legitimised. The process has continued apace and bears examination since a constitutional crisis seemingly always looms when one party or the other seeks judicial intervention.

We should note that the cause of the increasing judicialization of our politics does not lie in any particular evil or misguided individuals or institutions but rather in the structure of the modern constitutional state itself. This envisages and creates a contradictory relationship among the Judiciary, the Legislature and Executive. It is this contradictory relationship underlying our constitutional structure/scheme which creates the possibilities of constitutional conflict, depending on specific historical circumstances, and which constitutional conflict sometimes leads to constitutional deadlock and breakdown. The point is to understand the distinction between constitutional contradictions, constitutional conflict, and constitutional deadlock and breakdown, because constitutional contradictions are a constitutional requirement, constitutional conflict is an unavoidable constitutional condition, but constitutional deadlock and breakdown is, most of the times, an avoidable historical phenomena.

Our constitutional structure does not envisage a “relationship of reconciliation or harmony” among institutions. The Judiciary’s institutional relationship with the Executive or Legislature is such that the Judiciary has been appointed as the legal and constitutional adjudicator -- to decide disputes between the Legislature, Executive and citizens and also to police the constitutional violations by them. In other words, it is the Judiciary’s role and duty to tell the Legislature and Executive about their legal or constitutional violations and, if necessary, to restrain them from further violating the Constitution.

Clearly, this relationship has to be anything but contradictory. In addition to this institutional power, the Judiciary has been conceded custody (monopoly of interpretation) of the Constitution. The Constitution becomes what the Supreme Court says it is. The distinction between judicial interpretation and the Constitution has disappeared and the judicial interpreters are more powerful than the Constitution-makers. This is the hermeneutical power of the Judiciary. It is not surprising, however, that the Executive and Legislature hackles may be raised when they are treated as constitutional novices and even told that the meaning of any law is not what they (as far as subordinate legislation is concerned) intended it to mean but rather what the Judiciary interprets it to mean.

These institutional and hermeneutical powers of the Judiciary are supposed to be constitutionally safeguarded through the constitutionally-mandated powers shared between the political class and the Judicial Services Commission. This is structural power of the Judiciary. In short, this contradictory relationship between the Judiciary and the Legislature or Executive is a constitutional good and requirement. But this also creates the contradictory pitch on which conflicting political matches are played out. We see this playing out in the inability to have permanent Chancellors and Chief Justices appointed under the present dispensation. But, as in life, not all contradictions should become conflicts. Contradictions become conflicts because of historical circumstances and strategic moves by the persons involved. The political elites are conscious of the abovementioned enormous power of the judicial organs and the threat it poses to its untrammelled rule. But the judicial organs are also equally conscious of its enormous power and also its limitations. It is this interaction based on fear and potential which gives rise to judicial abdication or judicial defiance or judicial defection. Like the ruling elite, Judges and courts also engage in strategic behaviour of judicial abdication, defiance or defection, depending on the constitutional and political space available to them at a particular period of time, in order to increase and preserve their judicial power.

The war of signals: How Russia and China help Iran see the battlefield

…Electronic warfare and intelligence sharing are eroding decades of US-Israeli dominance in the Gulf

By Jasim al-azzawi

When three senior American officials told The Washington Post that Russia was providing Iran with sensitive intelligence, including the precise locations of US warships and aircraft operating across the Middle East, they revealed more than a tactical alliance. They exposed the architecture of a new kind of war. A war without front lines. A war fought not with tanks or missiles, but with radar beams, satellite feeds and encrypted coordinates. In the Gulf today, the battlefield is the electromagnetic spectrum, and both sides are fighting, above all else, to blind the other.

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly denied that Moscow was sharing such intelligence with Iran during a call with US President Donald Trump. The denial, however, changes little. Russia has received Iranian drones and munitions for its war in Ukraine. It has watched the US supply Ukraine with targeting intelligence used to strike Russian positions, including, reportedly, locations near Putin’s residences. Moscow’s calculus is not hard to read. Intelligence is a currency. Putin is simply spending it.

Signals as weapons

As former CIA officer Bruce Riedel once observed, in modern warfare, coordinates are often more valuable than bullets. Whoever knows where the enemy is wins. That axiom is now playing out in real time across the Gulf. Russia’s intelligence pipeline has allowed Iran to locate US and Israeli assets with a precision Tehran could not achieve alone. Iran operates only a limited constellation of military reconnaissance satellites — wholly insufficient for tracking fast-moving naval assets across open water. Russia does not share that limitation. Its advanced overhead surveillance network, including the Kanopus-V satellite — re-designated “Khayyam” upon transfer to Iranian operational use — provides Tehran with roundthe-clock optical and radar imagery. For Iran, this is not a supplement to its military capability. It is the nervous system of its precision-strike doctrine.

The drone that slammed into a US military facility in Kuwait, killing six American service members, did not find its target by accident. Pentagon officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that several recent Iranian strikes hit facilities directly associated with US operations — targets whose coordinates do not appear on any public map. The sourcing is not hard to trace.

China’s silent hand

Beijing’s role is quieter. But it is no less consequential. China has spent years reshaping Iran’s electronic warfare landscape

— exporting advanced radar systems, transitioning Iranian military navigation from US GPS to China’s encrypted BeiDou-3 constellation, and drawing on its expanding satellite network to support signals intelligence and terrain mapping for Iranian forces. Retired Israeli air force Brigadier-General Amos Yadlin once put it plainly: every second counts. If Iran can shave minutes off detection and targeting, it changes the balance in the skies. China has done more than shave minutes. It has reshaped the entire kill chain.

The YLC-8B anti-stealth radar — a Chinese-supplied UHF-band system — uses low-frequency waves designed to reduce the effectiveness of radar-absorbent coatings on US stealth aircraft. The B-21 Raider and the F-35C were engineered to be invisible. Against a YLC-8B, they are considerably less so. And now, Reuters reports that Iran is nearing a deal to acquire 50 CM-302 supersonic antiship missiles — the export variant of China’s YJ-12, capable of travelling at Mach 3 and sea-skimming at altitudes that compress a ship’s reaction window to seconds. Military analysts call them “carrier killers”. The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R Ford are currently operating within their engagement envelope.

US-Israeli countermoves

The US and Israel are not passive. They are hunting. US and Israeli intelligence teams have been tracking Iranian leadership movements, mapping Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command nodes, and — in the opening phase of Operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury — destroying Iranian radar infrastructure with a speed and precision that exposed how brittle Tehran’s defensive integration actually was. As former Israeli air force commander Major-General Eitan Ben-Eliyahu has noted, destroying a radar is not just about knocking out a machine; it blinds the enemy. In the war’s first hours, they erased many of them.

Yet the IRGC’s spokesman, Ali Mohammad Naeini, claimed that Iran had destroyed nearly 10 advanced US radar systems across the region — a statement that, if even partially accurate, offers a partial explanation for how Iranian missiles reached targets in Israel, the Gulf capitals and beyond.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, asked directly about Russia’s intelligence assistance on CBS’s 60 Minutes, answered with studied brevity: “We’re tracking everything.” That is either a reassurance or a warning. Possibly both.

A new balance of power

For decades, the Gulf was a theatre of overwhelming US-Israeli technological dominance. That dominance has not vanished. But

it has been eroded, quietly and deliberately, by years of Chinese hardware transfers and Russian intelligence sharing. As a senior US military commander recently acknowledged, signals are the new bullets: whoever controls the spectrum controls the fight. Neither side controls it decisively. That, in itself, is a profound shift.

This struggle also has precedent, though not a comforting one. In 1991, coalition forces jammed Iraqi radar networks and misled Saddam Hussein’s defences so thoroughly that US aircraft struck with near-impunity. Electronic countermeasures were decisive. Baghdad fought blindly, and it lost. Iran has studied that war closely for three decades. It has studied every subsequent conflict in which a technologically-inferior force was dismantled from the air. Russia’s satellite feeds and China’s radar architecture are, in part, Iran’s answer to those lessons. Tehran is determined not to become the next Baghdad. There is a deeper strategic logic at work that goes beyond Iran’s immediate survival. China is not arming Tehran out of ideological solidarity. It is treating the conflict as a livefire laboratory. Every potential CM-302 engagement against a US carrier strike group can generate targeting and intercept data that Beijing’s military planners will study exhaustively, refining doctrine for the one scenario China actually cares about: Taiwan. Russia, meanwhile, has watched Western sanctions and Ukrainian targeting intelligence hollow out its own military credibility. Enabling Iran to bleed US forces and drain their interceptor stocks in the Gulf is not merely transactional. It is a form of strategic debt collection.

The implications are not abstract. The Gulf is becoming the first theatre where electronic warfare may prove more decisive than conventional firepower. Alliances are being redrawn not by troop deployments or treaty signings, but by intelligence flows and satellite constellations. Russia and China are not sending divisions to Tehran’s aid. They are doing something more durable: they are teaching Iran how to see.

Radar beams are now as lethal as missiles. Intelligence is the decisive currency. In this signals war, Iran is fighting for parity it has never had — and for the first time, it has partners capable of providing it. For the US and Israel, the challenge is no longer simply to outgun Tehran. It is to ensure that when the trigger is pulled, Iran is the one firing blind.

The question is no longer whether the Gulf will erupt. It already has. The question is who will be able to see clearly when the smoke finally lifts. (Al Jazeera)

(Jasim Al-Azzawi is a news anchor, programme presenter, and media instructor. He presented a weekly show called Inside Iraq.)

Jagdeo at World Sustainable Summit

Dear Editor, Guyana’s Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo delivered the keynote (inaugural) address at the 25th annual World Sustainable Development Summit in Delhi on Feb 25 to a packed hall. Dr. Jagdeo was also a special guest at the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit also held in Delhi a few days earlier.

Dr Jagdeo spoke of the efforts of the Guyana government on sustainable development and preserving the forests. His speech was interrupted with loud applauses. He was honored by the organizers for his work on sustainable development.

The WSDS is the annual flagship multistakeholder convening organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) based

in Delhi. This writer was also an invitee. The Silver Jubilee edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2026, the annual flagship platform of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), was held at the luxurious Taj Palace, bringing together global leaders, policymakers, industry captains, researchers, and civil society to advance the agenda of transformative climate and development action. The theme was: Transformations: Vision, Voices and Values for Sustainable Development.

The WSDS the only independently convened international platform on sustainable development and the 25th edition marks a significant milestone in any climate related NGO focusing on sustainable

development (developing without destroying the environment). It is among a few independently convened bodies with an ongoing discourse on climate change and sustainable development in the global south.

The Summit was formally inaugurated by Shri Bhupender Yadav, Hon’ble Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change. He underscored India’s commitment to climate ambition anchored in equity, resilience, and sustainable growth.

The Chairman of TERI, Nitin Desai, told the gathering: “Our challenge is not awareness and talking. Our challenge is action. The whole transition of the World Sustainable Development Summit has been away from just

talking about awareness, to better understanding of what needs to be done to promote sustainability. We have a very serious problem of actual implementation.”

Dr Jagdeo supported the call for action. Speaking on the work of the Guyana government on implementation of goals for sustainable development, Dr Jagdeo told the august gathering to thunderous applause: “When this Summit began twenty-five years ago, the focus was on raising awareness of climate and sustainability issues. Today, the challenge is no longer awareness, but resolute action and higher ambition to meet our goals. With major economies stepping back, achieving climate targets, especially in carbon pric-

ing, multilateral regimes, and sectors like aviation and shipping, becomes far more difficult. Yet strong national leadership can drive progress.

In Guyana, our 2009 Low Carbon Development Strategy has proven that standing forests provide high-quality, cost-effective mitigation. We have sold forest carbon credits worth hundreds of millions into voluntary and compliance markets, even as we responsibly develop oil resources, showing that sustainability delivers real economic value”.

The LCDS was an initiative of Jagdeo when he was President (August 1999 to November 2011). The aim was to pursue development with while sustaining the environment, the forest. Jagdeo has been

determined to safeguarding Guyana’s forest and maintaining the ecosystem (nature conservation and lowering carbon emissions) while fostering green livelihoods. When he was President, he was among a few leaders honored globally for work on climate action. He was named “Champion of the Earth” by the UN and he was the main speaker on Climate Change in Singapore in 2010.

Guyana is among a handful of countries that have achieved sustainability targets. And the government has been relatively successful at managing rising energy costs for consumers without destroying the forests.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Guyanese must grab this joint medical mission under LAMAT 2026

Dear Editor, Super move! I am happy for all of us as the United States and Guyana are set to launch the 2026 Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Teams (LAMAT) mission. In a nut shell, this is a health security cooperation engagement, designed to strengthen partnerships, enhance medical readiness, and improve access to care across the Caribbean. This Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) is really a big thing, involving a U.S. Southern Command-supported humanitarian mission where a U.S. Air Force medical professionals’ partner with Caribbean nations to provide specialized medical care, exchange knowledge, and strengthen health systems. LAMAT teams typically include surgeons, nurses, and technicians who perform surgeries (e.g., eye, dental) and support local, resource-constrained clinics.

According to the press release from the US Embassy in Guyana, the mission will take place from March 16 to 27 at Ministry of Healthdesignated facilities across Guyana, and during this period, U.S. military medical professionals will work alongside Guyanese health care providers to deliver patient care, conduct medical knowledge exchanges, and collaborate on best practices aimed at strengthening readiness and in-

teroperability. This kind of collaboration is always a good thing, as US medical teams operating in various countries (ranging from large-scale government initiatives to short-term humanitarian missions) provide critical benefits for both host nations and the participating professionals. These efforts often focus on addressing immediate crises while fostering longterm stability and health security. It is a big win-win for all of us in Guyana and I hope we really capitalize.

Affirming what I just said, Col. Brian Gavitt, Command Surgeon for Air Forces Southern, noted that “LAMAT is about building enduring relationships that outlast any single mission, (detailing that) by collaborating closely with our Guyanese partners, we’re strengthening our interoperability, sharing knowledge, and reinforcing the trust that allows us to work together effectively in times of need. As Guyana marks its 60th anniversary, it’s an especially fitting moment to stand together and invest in a partnership focused on readiness, resilience, and the health of our communities.” By the way, I just love the sense of mutuality and reciprocity; it is about ‘us’ and ‘we.’

In this regard, we can look forward for some huge corporate and personal benefits in key areas such

as “… general surgery, primary care, dentistry, optometry, emergency medicine, and preventive health services.” Quite a gamut! Add to this “…the mission will emphasize profession-

al exchanges designed to strengthen long-term medical capacity and regional resilience.”

Editor, I am reminded of a 2025 WHO/World Bank report that states

“Global health challenges in 2026 focus on bridging inequities in care, with 1.6 billion people (still) facing financial hardship due to out-of-pocket health costs. Even in the US, Medicare can cost a fortune. This LAMAT opportune moment then is one to be thankful for.

Yours truly, Raymond Anderson

MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2026

00:00 Movie - Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

02:00 Movie - Transformers One (2024)

03:45 Movie - Bumblebee (2018)

05:45 Daily Quran Recitation

06:00 Cartoons

07:00 Week-in-Review (RB)

07:30 Cartoons

08:00 Stop Suffering

08:30 Movie - Courageous (2011)

10:30 Tom and Jerry: The Movie (1992)

12:00 News Break

12:05 Movie - Chicken Run (2000)

13:30 Movie - Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)

15:15 Documentary - Ramadan in Guyana 16:00 KTLT (RB)

16:30 Indian Soaps

17:00 The Young & The Restless

18:00 Documentary: Our Planet Ep1

19:00 The Evening News

20:00 Movie - Spider-Man: Into the Spider- Verse (2018)

22:00 9-1-1 S6 E8

23:00 House of Cards S3 E12

Page Foundation

Operations, Relations, and Properties Cont’d

Have gooey fun by making colourful, fluffy butter slime with model magic and school glue. Follow the steps of our DIY slime recipe!

Supplies/tools

Glue

Crayola Model Magic

Baking Soda

Contact lens solution

Craft sticks

Lotion

Measuring cups

Measuring spoons

Mixing bowl(s)

Water

By Ben Okri

Directions

Step 1: Pour 3/4 cup glue, 1/8 tsp baking soda, and 1 tbsp lotion into a bowl, stirring well with a craft stick until completely mixed.

Step 2: Add contact lens solution in 1/2 tsp increments. Mix the contact lens solution in each time it’s added, up until 3 tsp have been added or until the slime mixture is easily coming off the bowl.

Step 4: Combine both mixtures by stirring or kneading them together until you have a smooth and well-mixed slime. (Adapted from crayola.com)

Step 3: In another bowl, add 3/4 cup Model Magic and 1/8 cup water. Stir until Model Magic has started to dissolve and mixes well with the water.

I walked your aqueducts at dawn. With giant legs they bestrode the landscape Of  the Moors. Stick insects. Like Romans On stilts, bearing water across the sky.

(Source: Poetry [December 2023])

Write a poem where the rhythming scheme is simply ab ab ab.

WORD SEARCH

Over 9300 women trained, dominating technical fields – Labour Minister

Guyanese women are now playing a direct role in the transformation of Guyana, with many of the them leading in technical fields that were traditionally considered male-dominated. This is according to Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith, who appeared on the recent episode of the Starting Point podcast. Griffith disclosed that in the last five years, more than 16,000 persons were trained through the Ministry’s Board of Industrial Training (BIT) - majority of whom are females.

“In the last five years, we’ve trained 9,331 women and we’ve trained 7,021 men. And what is even more beautiful is that women have dominated all of the training programmes, especially the

male-dominated ones,” the Labour Minister stated.

Among these figures are some 386 women who were trained in electrical installation and another 500 have been trained in heavy-duty equipment operation. These females also received training in photovoltaic (PV) installation and repairs, tractor operation and maintenance and welding and fabrication. “These aren’t just the regular types of skills training. We’ve moved away from cooking and garment construction. We still have those things. But what we’re seeing here is that women are taking opportunities which will directly impact the transformation of Guyana,” Griffith stated.

PWDs

Similarly, the Labour

Minister pointed out that through these BIT training programmes, there has also been an uptake in the number of persons living with disabilities (PWDs) who have upskilled themselves.

“When you think about the Board of Industrial Training, it wouldn’t click automatically that a person who is living with a disability can also access this facility. But that is exactly what happens in Guyana. And so, in the last five years, we have trained close to 500 persons living with disabilities,” he stated. Last year alone, some 107 PWDs benefited from BIT training in areas ranging from welding, commercial food preparation, computer skill training, cosmetology, digital marketing skills, drone technology, plumbing, soap and candle making, sustainable farming, and website development among others.

“It’s a wide cadre of training opportunities for persons living with disabilities,” the Labour Minister posited. He went onto encourage other persons interested in the training programmes to go to or contact the Labour Ministry. “We will ensure that we have a facility whereby you can bring relief and transformation to your life.”

According to Griffith, approximately 77 per cent of

Era of opportunities... …PWDs also benefitting from skills-training

Similar sentiments were expressed by another panelist, Dalgety Dean, who underscored the need to build out the mechanisms that will see not only the needed skills being development but the opportunities are there to retain young Guyanese –a responsibility she says that the Guyana Government is already taking on.

Elevated standard of living

In fact, Minister Singh stated that in addition to job creation, the Government has also undertaken interventions that has elevated the standard of living of citizens. These include over 50,000 Guyanese receiving house lots and increases in disposal incomes that saw almost 15,000 persons becoming vehicle owners, among other tangible bene-

fits that can also be extended to

But even with these opportunities, concerns were raised by an audience member and Sarabo-Halley about the low salary in the country especially within the private sector. Additionally, the rising cost of living in Guyana was another issue that was raised.

In response, the finance minister went onto defend his government’s management of the country’s resources, largely generated from its burgeoning oil and gas sector, noting that the focus is to build out opportunities for citizens now while simultaneously laying the groundwork for long-term prosperity and sustainability.

“As a responsible government, having discovered this

resource endowment, what are we trying to achieve?

The first is to improve the lives of all Guyanese people in a tangible way in the shortest possible time…addressing the short-term and very legitimate imperative and expectation of improvement and well-being.”

“At the same time, with the benefit of the accumulation of global experience with resource-rich economies, we have to ensure, first of all, that we protect the resilience of the growth of our economy, it’s sustainability for the long term, and we have to ensure that we invest in the things that matter for long-term competitiveness, long-term resilience, long-term well-being, and indeed long-term prosperity,” Dr Singh posited.

all the persons trained at BIT are either currently employed or have established their own businesses. “So, we are seeing not just [the issuance of] a training certificate, but we’re seeing transformation in lives,” he emphasised.

Removed all the barriers

In encouraging more persons to take advantage of these training programmes, the Labour Minister explained that Government has removed all the barriers to make accessibility easier. While there are no qualification requirements to join the BIT programmes, applicants have to be at least 16 years of age. Moreover, all the equipment and materials needed for the training are provided and participants are also given a stipend during the four-month programme.

“We give them a stipend, and we ensure that they can complete the programme and see it to fruition. And at the end of it, they get a certificate, which they can use.

A certificate from the Board of Industrial Training is recognised in Guyana,” he stated.

The Labour Minister went onto remind that during the Budget 2026 debates in the National Assembly last month, one of the Opposition Parliamentarians had raised questions about the

BIT training and the effectiveness of the four-month programmes. “Well, I was happy I was able to respond because I invited some of the beneficiaries of the same four-month programmes to come and be a part of my presentation. And I highlighted to the House one such person, who was visually impaired but today has an established business because of the training received through the Board of Industrial Training,” the Minister stated. The BIT, which has been in existence for more than 100 years, offers training in every region across Guyana. In fact, over the last five years, some $2.6 billion was expended at BIT to train over 14,000 persons, of which some 2,218 graduated in 2025. A further $723.1 million has been allocated in Budget 2026 to train another 2,000 more persons in areas such as electrical installation, welding and fabrication, plumbing and furniture making.

Movin’ on… …in journalism

Your Eyewitness gotta be honest…as the Stabber News’s (self-inflicted) death rattle came to its inevitable end – when you gotta go, you gotta go!! – its narcissistic surfeit of plaudits started to stick in his craw!! It appeared nothing else of import – but its disappearance was going on in Guyana!! Your Eyewitness wants to know if – as the Stabber and all its teary-eyed, blubbering correspondents insist – they and the service provided was so vital for our nation, why weren’t they able to keep going?? After all, the foundational assertion of the free enterprise system they claim to represent is if you got a product folks want, they’ll beat a path to your door!!

But no!! Among the reasons proffered for their demise was the $84M owed by the DPI for ads run for the Government. To the average Joe and Josephine in the streets, this seems to be a valid threat to survival. But think of it… it means is they’ve been getting paid – but just that payments were LATE!! The KN revealed that they and THIS paper were owed even larger sums – but they understood the logistical challenges of the DPI coordinating payments from so many Government departments!! But no… rather than pointing to bureaucratic sloth, the Stabber disingenuously dangled that $84M debt every chance they got – or created!!

Then there’s the peans on their “impartiality”!! Your Eyewitness conducted a quick review of all those who took the time to mourn the imminent passing – and it was incredible how much of mutual backscratching and self-congratulation the exercise was!! Sadly, in its opening statement on the first – free – edition, FounderEditor David de Caires declared honestly that there is no such thing as “impartiality” in the press!! As he wrote candidly, “A newspaper represents the interests, outlook (and prejudices) of those who own and control it… By “independent” we do not mean free of any perception of the interests and opinions of its owners. No paper is, or ever will be, so “free”. In a word, it represented the “interests and opinions” of de Caires and the close coterie of the Coloured elite around him.

As such, let us remember that the Stabber was launched with a US$100,000 grant – at a time when US greenbacks were so scarce, you couldn’t even buy Condensed Milk, unless you were Burnham!! – from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which had been formed three years earlier by the Reagan Administration to assist in the fight against communism. Quite candidly, the NED funded activities – with a gentler face – that had previously been performed by the CIA. That Coloured Elite had just rejected Jagan and demanded an African Presidential Candidate. Jagan countered with “Luncheon”, but the rejection was “Black…but too red”!!

…from Maduro’s jingoism

And imagine we used to complain that nobody in the world knew who we were – save being the place where Jim Jones torpedoed Kool Aid’s reputation!! But after Exxon struck those 11 billion barrels (and counting) of sweet, light crude – suddenly we’re on everyone’s radar!! Only to discover being well known ain’t necessarily such a good thing as we might’ve thought it was!!

For one, since Mad Maduro was infected by the “we wuz robbed by perfidious Albion” like his predecessors, the oil made the ex-bus driver lose whatever marbles he had left when Chávez croaked and he became President. How dare these natives of the effete British Empire –who’d been just slaves and indentured servants – now be in a position to leapfrog the heirs to the Spanish Empire that once spanned continents!!?

One of our problems is that because we haven’t been mixing much with our South American neighbours, we don’t realise how low they think of us.

And let’s remember that Delcy’s the same!!

…hassle-free shopping?

Your Eyewitness notices signs that the M&CC in GT are finally making moves to remove the vendors – who turn shopping into running a hurdles course! – from our Capital’s pavements.

At last they’ve acquired a pair?

Consumers commission steps up enforcement as citizens urged to know their rights

…506 complaints filed in 2025, $156.6M secured in consumer redress

As Guyana joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Consumer Rights Day, under the theme “Safe Products, Confident Consumers”, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Susan Rodrigues reaffirmed the Government’s commitment protecting consumers amid the country’s rapid economic growth. Speaking on Sunday, in a video message, the Minister said that Guyana continues along a fast-paced development path, consumer protection must remain a priority, ensuring that economic expansion is matched by fairness, transparency and accountability.

“As our country advances along a rapid economic trajectory, the protection of our consumers remains paramount. Growth must go hand in hand with fairness, transparency and accountability. Under our Government, consumer education and protection are clear priorities,” she said. Rodrigues pointed out that consumer education and enforcement is still a central part of the work of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC), which continues to conduct public awareness and school outreach programmes throughout the country. These initiatives aim to ensure citizens understand their rights and know what steps they need to take when those rights are violated. She also emphasised that awareness must be supported by strong enforcements measures.

Complaints, compliance

In 2025, the commission carried out 1,331 inspections across the country to ensure businesses complied with the Consumer Affairs Act No. 13 of 2011. During

these inspections 176 businesses were initially found to be compliant while 411 were non-compliant. Following guidance and reinspection, 378 of those businesses achieved compliance, though 366 businesses remained non-compliant.

The CCAC issued 259 compliance certificates to businesses that met the required standards, while an additional 75 certificates were renewed across several regions including Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Region Four (Demerara Mahaica), Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Region Nine, (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice). Rodrigues also highlighted the Commission’s role in resolving consumer disputes.

Between January and December 2025, 506 consumers filed complaints with the CCAC regarding goods and services valued at approximately $509.6 million. Of that number, 428 complaints representing 85 per cent were successfully resolved, securing $156.6 million in redress for consumers. The remaining complaints are currently in various stages of resolution.

Five per cent increase

According to the commission, the number of complaints represented a 5 per cent increase compared to the results of 2024, a trend attributed to greater public awareness of consumer

Safe and trustworthy marketplace

rights and increased willingness by citizens to seek assistance. The auto industry recorded the highest number and value of complaints, with 156 complaints totaling $312.7 million in dispute transactions. This was followed by the electronics and electrical sector with 72 complaints valued at $6.3 million, and the construction and building materials sector with 65 complaints worth $131.3 million. Other complaints were related to shipping services online shopping and appliance. The Minister assured citizens that their rights will be protected by the Government. “Let me assure every Guyanese citizen, you have a Government firmly committed to protecting your rights. Together, we will continue building a marketplace that is fair, safe and worthy of your trust.”

Meanwhile the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Roger Rogers, said the observance of World Consumer Rights Day serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring a safe and trustworthy marketplace. “This year’s theme, Safe Products, Confident Consumers, highlights the critical role that safety and quality play in the everyday lives of our citizens. When consumers can trust that goods and services they purchase meet the required standards, they are empowered to make informed choices and participate confidently in the economy,” he said. Rogers explained that the Ministry continues to work closely with agencies such as CCAC and the

Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) to strengthen regulatory oversight and promote fair business practices. Through inspections, product testing and monitoring at ports of entry, authorities are working to ensure that unsafe or substandard goods do not enter the local market.

“Working alongside agencies such as the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, we continue to promote product safety, fair business practices and accountability across the marketplace,” the PS added. The CCAC also reported that in 2025 it filed its first criminal complaint against a supplier in the Magistrates’ Courts, which was resolved through settlement and resulted in redress for the affected consumer. The Commission

noted that it will continue to strengthen enforcement measures where necessary to protect consumer rights. Chairperson of the Board of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission, Yolander Persaud-Sammy, also underscored the Commission’s ongoing commitment to protecting consumers and promoting fairness within the marketplace. In a message marking World Consumer Rights Day, she noted that the Commission continues to advance consumer protection through public awareness initiatives, business inspections, certification programmes and the enforcement of the Consumer Affairs Act. She also encouraged businesses to embrace fair practices while urging consumers to assert their rights and utilise available mechanisms for redress when necessary.

4 fined $620,000 for drunk driving, breathalyser test offences

Four men appeared before the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) last week, where they were fined after pleading guilty to offences related to driving under the influence of alcohol and refusing to provide breath samples. The matters were heard before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir.

Purmeshwar Dhaniram, a 41-year-old taxi driver of Bounty Hall, Essequibo Coast, was charged with driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit. The offence occurred on March 7 at Bounty Hall, Essequibo Coast.

The charge was laid under Section 39A (1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, as amended by the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 17 of 2022. Dhaniram plead -

ed guilty when the charge was read to him. He was fined $200,000- or sixmonths’ imprisonment if the fine is not paid.

Marcus Junior Berin, a 30-year-old taxi driver of Three Friends, Essequibo Coast, was also charged with driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit. The offence occurred on

March 8, 2026, at Mainstay Public Road, Essequibo Coast. Berin was charged under Section 39A (1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, as amended by the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 17 of 2022. He pleaded guilty and was fined $200,000or six-months’ imprisonment if the fine is not paid.

In another matter, Jason Clay, a 41-year-old fire officer of Henrietta Public Road, Essequibo Coast, appeared before the court on a similar charge. Clay was accused of driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit on February 27, at Mainstay Public Road. Clay was also charged under Section 39A (1) of the

Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, as amended. After pleading guilty, he was fined $200,000- or six-months’ imprisonment if the fine remains unpaid. Meanwhile, Davin Persaud, a 40-yearold teacher of Maria’s Lodge, Essequibo Coast, was charged with refusing to provide a breath specimen for a breath al -

cohol test. The offence occurred on March 7, 2026, at Colombia Public Road, Essequibo Coast. Persaud was charged under Section 39B (5) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $20,000- or three-weeks’ imprisonment if the fine is not paid.

Accused in Corentyne fatal stabbing to know fate today

A12-member jury is expected to decide the fate of Andrew Seegobin on Monday after attorneys for the State and the defence delivered their closing addresses in the trial into the fatal stabbing of Ramanand Mingo of John’s Settlement, Port Mourant, at the Berbice High Court. In her clos -

ing address to the jury, Defence Attorney Soraya Sabsook urged jurors to carefully consider the circumstances surrounding the confrontation, maintaining that Seegobin acted in self-defence. She pointed to a video interview conducted with police in which the accused displayed a stab wound to his

chest, which he claimed was inflicted by the now deceased during the altercation. State prosecutor Marisa Edwards, however, urged the jury to reject the defence’s claim of self-defence, arguing that the evidence presented during the trial pointed to the accused’s guilt. She told jurors that the

deceased was unarmed at the time of the confrontation and reminded them of the testimony of eyewitness Dianand Mingo, who said he saw Seegobin stab his brother. Edwards also referenced the video evidence tendered during the trial, including footage that captured events leading up to the confrontation, and argued that the circumstances did not support the accused’s version of events. The prosecutor further told the jury that the accused had placed himself in confrontation with the deceased and that the evidence did not support the defence’s suggestion that Seegobin was acting to protect himself. She argued that the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the evidence presented by witnesses and the medical findings, showed that the fatal wound was in -

flicted during the confrontation and urged the jury to return a verdict based solely on the evidence placed before the court. The court had earlier heard from several witnesses as the prosecution sought to establish the events which led to the fatal stabbing of Ramnarayan Mingo of John’s Settlement, Port Mourant, on November 19, 2023. Among those who testified was Government Pathologist Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan, who told the court that Mingo died as a result of a stab wound to the heart. The prosecution also tendered three video recordings as part of its evidence, including footage recorded by the accused, which captured events leading up to the confrontation and is believed to have ended seconds before the fatal stabbing.

A key eyewitness for the State was the deceased man’s brother, Dianand Mingo, who told the court that he saw Seegobin stabbing his brother during the altercation. Seegobin, however, denied stabbing Mingo when he gave evidence from the dock and maintained that he had been acting in self-defence. The fatal incident occurred on the evening of November 19, 2023, at Amos Shop at John’s Settlement, Port Mourant, Corentyne, where a confrontation between the men escalated. Mingo sustained the stab wound during the altercation and was taken to the Port Mourant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Seegobin was subsequently charged with the killing and is expected to know his fate on Monday when the case resumes before the Berbice High Court.

3 Essequibo Coast drivers fined over $345,000 for traffic offences

Three men were fined a combined total of $345,000 when they appeared before the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court on traffic-related offences. The matters were heard on Friday last before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir. Tyron Mack, 31, a construction worker of Lot 37 Aurora, Essequibo Coast, was charged with refusing to consent to the taking of a breathalyser test, being an unlicensed driver and breach of insurance. The offences occurred on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at La Union Public Road, Essequibo Coast. The charges were instituted under Section 39(e)(5) (a) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02 for refusing a breathalyser test, Section 23(1) of the Act for driving without a licence and Section 3(1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:03 for breach of insurance. Mack pleaded guilty to the charges and was

fined $20,000 for refusing the breathalyser test, with a default sentence of two months’ imprisonment. He was also fined $10,000 for being an unlicensed driver, with two weeks’ imprisonment in default and $25,000 for breach of insurance, with two months’ imprisonment in default. The total fine imposed was $55,000. In a similar case, Anil Williams, 20, a labourer of Lot 18 Hibernia, Essequibo Coast was also charged with refusing to consent to the taking of a

breathalyser test, driving without a licence, and breach of insurance. The offences occurred on the same date at La Union Public Road. Williams pleaded guilty when the charges were read to him in court. He was fined $20,000 for refusing the breathalyser test, $10,000 for driving without a licence and $25,000 for breach of insurance. The total fine amounted to $55,000. Default sentences ranging from two weeks to two months’ imprisonment were attached

to the fines. Meanwhile, Kumar Moses, 37, a labourer of Lot 99 Onderneeming Sand Pit, Essequibo Coast, was charged with driving while his breath alcohol level exceeded the prescribed limit, being an unlicensed driver and breach of insurance. The offences occurred on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Onderneeming Access Road, Essequibo Coast. The charge for driving while over the prescribed alcohol limit was laid under Section 39A (1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act,

Chapter 51:02, as amended by the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Act No. 17 of 2022. Moses pleaded guilty and was fined $200,000 for the alcohol-related offence, with six months’ imprisonment in default. He was also fined $10,000 for driving without a licence and $25,000 for breach of insurance. The total fine imposed was $235,000.

In a separate matter, Actar Jay, 49, a taxi driver of Good Hope, Essequibo Coast, was charged with dangerous driving. The offence allegedly occurred on December 21, 2025, at Perseverance Public Road, Essequibo Coast. Jay appeared before Magistrate Mohabir on the same day and pleaded not guilty to the charge, which was instituted under Section 36(1) of the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02. He was granted bail in the sum of $50,000. The matter was adjourned to August 7, 2026, for the commencement of trial.

Family escapes burning home after early morning fire …grandfather, teen grandson jumps through window to flee blaze

Police in Regional Division Two are investigating a fire of unknown origin that destroyed the home of a 74-year-old pensioner and farmer at Grant Canaan, Lower Pomeroon River, early Saturday morning. Reports are that the fire occurred at about 02:30h on Saturday and completely destroyed the two-storey dwelling belonging to Albert Peters, also called Quintal. Peters lived in the house with his wife, Joan Peters, 72, and their 15-year-old grandson. According reports, the family had retired to bed around 21:30h on Friday, after switching off their music and generator after celebrating Joan Peters’ birthday. Investigations revealed that around 17:00h on Friday, a 34-year-old farmer of

Grant Canaan, had entered the yard and was confronted by a close relative of the victims about a dispute involving a “Fire Red” bird that was lent to his father. The suspect reportedly became annoyed during the exchange, verbally abused the teen and later left the area in a paddle boat across the river. Police said that at about 02:30h on Saturday, Albert Peters was awakened by a burning smell. Upon checking, he discovered a fire in the lower flat, in front of his son’s room, with thick smoke coming from the area. Peters’ son, Swayne Peters Sr, 46, a miner who is currently working in the interior, occupied the lower flat of the house, while the elderly couple and their grandson lived in the upper flat.

An alarm was raised and the pensioner, his wife and

their grandson attempted to escape. Peters and his grandson jumped through windows from the upper floor, while his wife forced open the bedroom door and ran down the back steps.

Neighbours and the family attempted to control the blaze by forming a bucket brigade, but the building was already engulfed in flames. The wooden and concrete structure located on the left bank of the Pomeroon River was completely destroyed. No injuries were reported. The matter was reported to the police and ranks from the Charity Police Station and the Fire Service visited the scene. Efforts were made to locate the farmer who had the confrontation with the victims’ relative; however, he was not found. An investigation has been launched.

“I want to know how my son died” - mother of motorcyclist found on roadway

The family of a 27-year-old man is calling for a thorough investigation after the young motorcyclist was found unconscious along the roadway in the vicinity of the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge and Heroes Highway and later died at the Diamond Regional Hospital. Dead is David Oliver Mentore. Relatives told this publication that they remain uncertain about how he sustained the injuries that led to his death. Mentore had reportedly left his home around 23:00h on Wednesday on his motorcycle, telling relatives that he was heading into Georgetown to visit his nephew. However, he never returned home. Several hours later, at around 04:00h on Thursday, his mother, Eudora Thornhill, received a telephone call informing her that her son had been involved in an accident and had been taken to the hospital.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Thornhill said the caller identified himself only as a doctor but did not provide his name or any other details. According to the grieving mother, the man told her that Mentore had been taken to the Diamond

Regional Hospital, East Bank of Demerara (EBD), after being involved in an accident and urged the family to come immediately. Thornhill said relatives immediately made their way to the hospital and arrived shortly before 06:00h. However, upon reaching there, they were informed that Mentore had already died. According to Thornhill, medical personnel told the family that Mentore had suffered several severe injuries and had lost a significant amount of blood before his death. “They tell me that he left neck to his shoulder and his back break, his hip break and two ankle break,” she related. “And he bleed his blood out. They tried to get some blood to give him, but he had already passed when they were going to try, according to the doctor.”

“I asked them who took him to the hospital. They said maybe an ambulance. They didn’t know who took him there or how he ended up in there,” she said. Thornhill said hospital staff informed her that Mentore had briefly regained consciousness and was able to provide his name and his mother’s contact information before he

died. However, what has left the family particularly distressed is that they have received little information about how or if an accident occurred or the exact circumstances that led to Mentore being found along the roadway.

Thornhill recalled that while at the hospital, she spoke with a police officer, who indicated that investigators initially had little information about the incident. According to the mother, the officer made calls to other police ranks but was told that there were no reports of an accident in the area at the time. Thornhill said another officer later visited the hospital and took statements from family members as investigations continued. She also noted that she was informed that Mentore’s motorcycle had later been located at a police outpost, though she remains uncertain how the bike ended up there. “When he call to the outpost, the bike was there. I don’t know how it reach there because I ain’t go to the outpost. Also, we were told that the bike was okay. So, I am confused as to what happened. How was the bike okay, and he sustained such injuries?” she said. Mentore had recently

returned from working in the interior mining sector and had only resumed construction work last week. The 27-year-old leaves behind a young daughter and several grieving relatives. His mother described him as a respectful and caring individual who was always willing to help family members and neighbours.

“My son’s personality was loving, kind and friendly to everybody. Very respectable. I always train them from small,” she said. According to Thornhill, Mentore was also a strong support for the family and often assisted whenever he could. “He had a lot of vision. He helped me a lot because I am a single mother and he was like a real help to me,” she explained. Now struggling to cope with the sudden loss, the family is appealing to investigators to conduct a thorough probe into the incident and determine exactly what occurred. “I would like a real good investigation. I want

to know how my son died,” Thornhill said. “I would like footage. If I could see footage…. that would make my heart pleased.” The grieving family is also urging anyone who may have

witnessed the incident or who may have information about what occurred to come forward, as they continue to search for answers surrounding the young man’s death.

2 guns, ammo seized after fight, anti-robbery operation

Police have seized firearms and ammunition in two separate incidents over the weekend in Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and the Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). In Berbice, ranks of Regional Division Number Six, discovered a 9mm pistol with one round of ammunition during a patrol along the Number 73 Public Road, Corentyne, on Saturday. According to police reports, officers on motorcycle patrol observed two men involved in an altercation at about 17:32h and one of the men was seen holding what appeared to be a firearm,

drain and placed the weapon in a corner before being apprehended. The 54-yearold suspect of Number 73 Village, Corentyne, and a 25-year-old labourer of Number 72 Village, Corentyne, were both ar -

while the other wielded a piece of wood. Officers intervened and ordered the men to stop. The suspect with the firearm reportedly jumped into a nearby

rested and escorted to the Springlands Police Station along with the firearm and ammunition. The men were treated at the Number 75 Regional Hospital and re -

main in police custody. Investigations are ongoing. Meanwhile, in Lethem, Central Rupununi, ranks of Regional Division Nine recovered a .38 revolver with six live rounds during an operation at Yaya Landing on Saturday around 13:30h. The operation targeted a group of men allegedly planning a robbery near the Guyana/ Brazil border. During the operation, police observed one man armed with a suspected firearm. Ranks gave chase as the suspect discharged several rounds and dropped a haversack containing the firearm before escaping with three others into nearby bushes. Police said that all four individuals are identified as Venezuelan nationals and Brazilian law enforcement officials have been notified, and searches for the suspects continue. No police officers were injured during the operation.

Students gain insight into military life during visit to GDF Base

Students from schools across Guyana have been visiting Base Camp Ayanganna as part of a programme by the Ministry of Education that allows young people to tour places of national interest. According to a Guyana Defence Force (GDF) post on social media, during the visits, the students were given guided tours of several facilities within the base. They learned about the role of the GDF, its history and the work car-

ried out daily in service to the country. The GDF post stated that the tours also provided an opportunity for the students to interact with members of the Force and gain insight into values such as discipline, leadership and service. According to the GDF, the initiative supports efforts to help young people better understand the work of the Joint Services while encouraging interest in national service and leadership among the country’s youth.

2 die in separate crashes involving car, trucks, electric bike

Two individuals lost their lives in separate road accidents on Saturday.

Dead are Deryck Singh of St Lawrence, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) and Carlos Eliber, a 34-year-old Venezuelan construction worker of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD). Reports are that the first incident occurred around 21:10h on Greenwich Park Public Road, EBE, involving motorcar, PXX 9053, driven by 55-year-old Deryck

Singh and two motor lorries, GAB 5416 and GAF 6756, driven by a 31-yearold male of Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD) and a 21-year-old man of Cornelia Ida, WCD.

Police reported that both lorries were traveling east along the northern side of the roadway when Singh’s car, traveling west in the centre lane, reportedly swerved north into the path of GAB 5416, colliding with the right-side rear wheel. The motorcar lost control, ending up on the southern lane facing west. GAF 6756, also traveling east, swerved onto the southern lane in an attempt to avoid the initial collision but struck the motorcar head-on. The impact left Singh pinned inside the vehicle with injuries across his body. Public-spirited citizens rushed to his aid, removing him from the wreckage. He was transported in an unconscious state to the De Kinderen Regional

Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body is currently at Ezekiel Mortuary, awaiting a post-mortem examination. Police said that a breathalyser test conducted on the drivers of the two lorries revealed 0.71 and 0.72 micrograms of alcohol in the driver of GAB 5416, while the driver of GAF 6756 tested 0.5 micrograms. Both men remain in police custody, assisting with investigations. Just about two hours later, a second fatal accident oc -

curred on Enmore Public Road, ECD, claiming the life of Carlos Eliber, a 34-year-old Venezuelan construction worker of Mon Repos, ECD. The incident involved motorcar, PAN 5007, driven by a 25-year-old man of Blossom Scheme, Enmore, and an electric cycle ridden by Eliber. Reports indicate that the motorcar was traveling west along the southern lane at about 23:50h when the cyclist crossed the road from north to south, entering the vehicle’s path.

The driver reportedly attempted to swerve and apply brakes to avoid a collision, but the right-front portion of the car struck the electric cycle. The impact caused the cyclist to be flung into the air before landing on the roadway, sustaining multiple injuries. Emergency medical technicians responded to the scene and a doctor attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital

Corporation (GPHC) pronounced Eliber dead. His body has been transported to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home for a post-mortem examination (PME).

Breathalyser tests conducted on the driver of PAN 5007 recorded 0.35 and 0.39 micrograms of alcohol in his breath. He remains in police custody, assisting with investigations.

2 shot, 5 arrested in Georgetown, Lethem armed robberies

…smart city cameras help Police track bandits

Police in Georgetown and Lethem, Region Nine (PomeroonSupenaam) are investigating two separate armed robberies that occurred over the weekend, resulting in several arrests and injuries. In Georgetown, Regional Division 4 ‘A’ ranks are probing an alleged robbery under arms that took place on Saturday, at about 15:03h

along Chappel Street, between Durban and Hadfield Streets, Lodge, Georgetown.

According to Police, the victim, a Chinese national was driving a minibus when his path was reportedly blocked by a black Toyota Auris. Two motorcycles then approached, and the victim was allegedly held at gunpoint and relieved of a bag before the suspects fled.

Using Smart City sur-

veillance cameras, police tracked the movements of the suspects. The motorcycles were later seen in James Street, Albouystown, where the suspects reportedly joined the Toyota Auris, which proceeded into Bel Air. Police intercepted the vehicle on Eping Avenue, Bel Air. During the operation, a 22-year-old male of ‘E’ Field, Sophia, allegedly pulled a firearm on

Ganja seized at Mabaruma waterfront

Police in Regional Division One are investigating after a small quantity of suspected cannabis was discovered during an operation at the Kumaka Waterfront, Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) on Saturday. During the operation, officers conducting searches of passengers boarding a vessel approached a 32-year-old excavator operator of Middle Street, Princetown, Corriverton, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). A search of his haversack revealed a plastic bag containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis. The suspect was arrested and escorted to the Mabaruma Police Station, where the substance was weighed in his presence, totaling 6.3 grams, before being

The cannabis that was found at Kumaka Waterfront, Mabaruma

lodged as evidence. The man remains in police custody pending charge.

an officer and was shot in the left thigh. He was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) for medical treatment.

Four other suspects, aged 18 to 26, of Albouystown, East Ruimveldt, Durban and Smyth Streets and La Penitence, Georgetown were arrested and remain in custody at the Ruimveldt Police Station. Police recovered a Glock 17 pistol, three 9mm rounds of ammunition, and the vehicles used in the robbery. Meanwhile, in Lethem, Central Rupununi, Region Nine, police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at about 22:15h also on Saturday,

targeting a 42-year-old businesswoman. Reports are that the woman had just closed her store when a man brandished a handgun and demanded her side bag containing cash and a cell phone. Two employees of the victim and another man gave chase. During the pursuit, the suspect allegedly fired a shot, injuring a 31-year-old Venezuelan in the upper right thigh. The man was treated at the Lethem Regional Hospital

and later referred to Boa Vista, Brazil, for further care. Two others sustained injuries during the incident and were treated at the Lethem Regional Hospital. Police recovered a 9mm spent shell at the scene and CCTV footage is being reviewed.

A 52-year-old suspect, residing in Lethem and also of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, is in custody as investigations continue.

M&CC earns over $30M from Mashramani Parade vending spots

The Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has generated more than $30 million in revenues from this year’s Mashramani Costume and Float Parade. This was revealed by Minister within the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry, Steven Jacobs, during the 2026 Mashramani Awards Ceremony and Concert held on Saturday evening at Castellani House. According to Jacobs, these revenues were earned from the sale of over 400 vend-

of what I saw this year. We had four monarchs we ran off.”

Dubbed as the biggest Mashramani season, this year’s celebrations featured more than 20 events within a two-week period. According to Ramson Jr, “I will challenge anybody anywhere to put together a team that can successfully deliver 20 events in that time to such a high standard.” He explained that the Government has implemented a new system, which helped boost the qual-

my. Saturday’s Mashramani Awards Ceremony brought together the nation’s creatives to celebrate the outstanding achievements from this year’s Mashramani competitions. The evening honoured winners from the various song competitions and costume and float parade competitions, recognising the creativity, dedication and excellence displayed throughout the Mashramani season. Among the winners were Carlvin Burnett, whose hit track “Lunatic” dominated

the Mashramani 2026 celebrations, earning him the coveted Road March title. Meanwhile, the costume and float parade saw Government Ministries and organisations

ing spots along the parade route in Georgetown this year. Held under the theme “Expressing Our Culture Through Innovation and Creativity,” the 2026 Mashramani Costume and Float Parade showcased Guyana’s rich cultural heritage and talents across several categories. At least 24 bands participated in the costume and float parade, which flowed through the city streets.

Govt injects $200M

In fact, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr disclosed at the prize-giving ceremony that Government spent $200 million on the Mashramani floats alone. This investment, he explained, enabling Ministries and designers to deliver more elaborate displays for the February 23 parade. “We have spent over $200 million this year on Mashramani floats alone,” Ramson Jr stated, adding that, “I am extremely proud

ity of the displays seen at the road parade last month. The Government released funds earlier and engaged designers months ahead of time to allow creatives to have more time to properly curate their pieces.

Commended

Meanwhile, Minister Jacobs also commended the organisers and creatives for their dedication to making the celebrations a success. He highlighted that Mashramani continues to unite communities across the country, with participation ranging from children to veteran designers and performers. “This is one of the few national events that spans right across the entire country, showcasing our culture and giving our creatives a space to shine,” he added. Jacobs also encouraged greater collaboration with the private sector to further develop the celebration and strengthen opportunities in the creative econo-

capturing top honours across multiple categories. In the Non-Commercial Float category, first place went to the Housing Ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA), designed by Jermaine Brooms. The Natural Resources Ministry placed second, while the Public Utilities and Civil Aviation Ministry finished third. The Commercial Float category was led by the Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL), designed by Samuel Ince, with the Heritage Band taking second place. Heritage Band also secured first place in the Commercial Band category, while GUYOIL finished second. In the Non-Commercial Full Costume Bands (Large) category, the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry captured first place, followed by the Natural Resources Ministry in second and the Public Works Ministry in third. For medium bands, the Health Ministry placed first, the Labour and Manpower Planning Ministry second, and the Amerindian Affairs Ministry third.

In the Small Bands category, the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry was first, followed by the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry in second and the Home Affairs Ministry in third. The SemiCostume Large Band category was won by the Ministry of Agriculture, while the Guyana Police Force (GPF) claimed first place in the Military and Paramilitary Organisation category. In the regional competition, Region Six captured first place in the Full Costume Small Regional category, with Region Four placing second. Individual costume honours were dominated by Maxi Williams, who was named Designer of the Year. Williams also took home King of the Band, Queen of the Band, Male Individual and Female Individual awards for the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, as well as first place in the Party Truck category. Saturday’s award ceremony effectively brought the curtains down on the 2026 Mashramani season.

Truck damages GPL pole in New Amsterdam

Amotor lorry transporting an excavator damaged an electricity pole along Philadelphia Street, Berbice, on Sunday causing a temporary disruption in power supply to some customers in the area. According to a public advisory issued by the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL), the truck bearing registration number, GAD 7226, came into contact with a util-

ity pole along Philadelphia Street, breaking the pole and damaging sections of the electrical network. GPL said its teams had since isolated the affected section of the network and restored power to most customers. However, some customers between Philadelphia Street and Church Street, New Amsterdam, on the waterside, were without electricity for an extended period as repair works continued. GPL said the relevant authorities have been notified of the incident. The company also condemned in-

After 3 retinal detachments 30-year-old undergoes complex surgery at GPHC as doctors fight to save his sight

A30-year-old man who has battled serious vision problems since birth is continuing his fight to preserve his eyesight after undergoing several complex procedures at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Miracle Singh, who was born premature and has lived with severe short-sightedness and other eye complications, first experienced a major setback in 2022 when he developed a retinal detachment, a condition that can lead to permanent vision loss if not treated promptly. His first surgery was performed at the hospital by ophthalmologist Arlene Bobb-Semple with assistance from visiting retinal specialist Dr Benskin of Barbados. While the procedure was initially successful, Singh’s retina later detached again in 2023, requiring a second surgery. Complications persisted and in 2024, he underwent another procedure related to the earlier repair. Nearly a year and a half later, the

retina detached for a third time. “It’s rare,” Singh said. “But I’m already rare just being here.” Determined to save his vision, Singh returned to GPHC where he

recently underwent a more advanced operation performed by Dr Bobb-Semple and visiting retinal specialist Dr Krishi Peddada. The procedure involved a

“Your sight is important. Don’t give up. Get regular eye tests. Don’t wait until it’s too late. As soon as you notice something, get it checked” - Miracle Singh

vitrectomy combined with scleral buckling, a technique typically used in complex and recurrent retinal detachments. Singh is the second patient to receive the scleral buckling procedure at the hospital, following another patient, David Sukhdeo. In cases where the retina detaches multiple times, scar tissue can form and create tension that prevents the retina from remaining in place. During the surgery, doc-

tors removed scar tissue, cleared the gel inside the eye and placed a supportive band around the outside of the eye to stabilise the retina and improve the chances of long-term attachment. Facing yet another operation was emotionally challenging for Singh. “I tend to overthink,” he admitted. “But the doctors and nurses did a good job helping to calm my fears. They reassured me.” Despite the repeated procedures,

Singh expressed gratitude for the medical team and the opportunity to undergo the advanced surgery locally. “I understand I’ll be one of two patients for the first time getting the scleral buckle done here in Guyana, which I’m really grateful to God and to the surgical team. I hope this surgery allows me to continue living life, supporting my family and friends and fulfilling my purpose,” he said. Now recovering, Singh is encouraging others to prioritise their eye health and seek medical attention early if they notice changes in their vision.

“Your sight is important. Don’t give up. Get regular eye tests. Don’t wait until it’s too late. As soon as you notice something, get it checked.”

“Remain focused” – Education Minister encourages Math mock exams students

As the third mathematics mock exam gets underway today, Education Minister Sonia Parag, is encouraging Grade 10 and 11 students preparing for these examinations to remain focused as they continue preparations for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificates (CSEC). Parag said the examinations form part of the Ministry’s ongoing mathematics intervention programme aimed at improving students’ performance in the subject.

The Minister urged the students to use the experience they gained from the two previous exams to strengthen areas in which they struggle. She also expressed confidence that many students have been working hard to improve their understanding of the subject. “What I really want to say to you is remain focused, but I know that from the last mock exam to now, you would have known where some of your weaknesses

lie and what you can do to strengthen those. I’m very sure as well that you have been working hard to ensure that you have a good grasp of the topic areas.,” she said. Parag reminded students that mock exams are designed not only to assess performance but to also help identify areas that require further improvement before their final regional examinations.

“As you head into these exams, just remember that these exams are also a diagnostic test to ensure that you get to that place

of full knowledge of all of the areas when you will be writing CSEC very soon,” she encouraged.

Students were also encouraged to revise several key topics including fractions, simplifying algebraic expressions, patterns and sequences, functions and graphs, trigonometric rations and vectors and matrices.

“I’m very sure you know the topic areas and from the last two mock exams, you would have been working to in whichever topic area that you have been, you think that you are weakened,” the Minister added. The Minister noted that the initiative forms part of the Ministry’s broader effort to support students ahead of the CSEC Examinations.

“As you know, this forms a part of our math intervention programme and it is really to help you to do well at the CSEC exams, especially in mathematics. So, I look forward to seeing you be successful at CSEC,” Parag said.

Understanding antibiotics

Antibiotics are medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria. For decades, they have saved millions of lives by curing illnesses that were once deadly, such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and serious wound infections.

However, antibiotics are increasingly ineffective because they are used incorrectly and too often. Around the world, bacteria are becoming resistant to these medicines. This means infections that were once easy to treat are becoming increasingly difficult, and sometimes impossible, to cure. This growing problem is known as antimicrobial resistance.

Why antibiotic resistance matters

When antibiotics stop working, common infections can become dangerous. Minor injuries can lead to serious complications, routine surgeries become riskier, and diseases that were once easily treated may spread more widely.

Healthcare systems across the world are already facing this challenge. In some cases, doctors are seeing infections that no longer respond to several types of antibiotics.

This is not merely a global issue; it is also a concern in Guyana. Misuse of antibiotics in homes and communities contributes directly to the development of resistant bacteria.

How misuse happens

One of the most common problems is taking antibiotics without proper medical advice. Some peo -

HEALTH TIPS

Health Tips: Antibiotics are losing their power – why misuse is creating dangerous superbugs

…How everyday habits are making common infections harder to treat

ple buy antibiotics over the counter, borrow them from friends or relatives, or use leftover medication from previous illnesses.

Another common mistake is stopping antibiotics too early. When people feel better after a few days, they may stop taking the medicine before completing the full course. This allows some bacteria to survive and become stronger.

Antibiotics are also sometimes used to treat illnesses caused by viruses, such as colds or flu. Because antibiotics only work against bacteria, us -

tance. Self-medication is a major one. In many communities, people keep an -

antibiotic is appropriate. In many cases, rest, fluids, and supportive care

ing them for viral infections offers no benefit and contributes to resistance.

What are “superbugs”?

When bacteria become resistant to multiple antibiotics, they are sometimes called superbugs. These bacteria have adapted in ways that allow them to survive medicines designed to kill them.

Infections caused by resistant bacteria require stronger, more expensive drugs and longer hospital stays. In some cases, treatment options become very limited. The more antibiotics are misused, the faster these resistant bacteria spread.

Why this problem is growing

Several factors contribute to antibiotic resis -

tibiotics at home and use them whenever they feel sick, even without knowing the cause of the illness.

Incomplete treatment courses are another problem. When bacteria are exposed to antibiotics but not fully eliminated, they learn to survive future treatments.

Poor infection control and lack of awareness also play a role. When resistant bacteria spread from person to person, they become a wider community problem.

When antibiotics are truly needed

Antibiotics should only be used when prescribed by a qualified healthcare professional. Doctors determine whether bacteria cause an illness and which

are sufficient for recovery, especially for viral infections like the common cold or flu.

Using antibiotics responsibly helps preserve their effectiveness for situations where they are truly needed.

Protecting

yourself and your community

Everyone has a role in preventing antibiotic resistance. Taking antibiotics exactly as prescribed is essential. This includes completing the full course of medication, even if symptoms improve.

Never share antibiotics with others or save leftover pills for future illnesses. Each infection requires proper medical evaluation and treatment.

Good hygiene practices also reduce the spread of infection. Washing hands regularly, preparing food safely, and keeping vaccinations up to date help prevent illnesses that might otherwise require antibiotics.

The role of healthcare and public awareness Healthcare providers, pharmacists, and public health authorities play an important role in educating communities about responsible antibiotic use. Awareness campaigns and better prescribing practices can slow the spread of resistant bacteria. At the same time, patients must understand that antibiotics are powerful medicines that must be used carefully. Protecting their effectiveness is a shared responsibility. If antibiotic resistance continues to grow, the world could face a future where routine infections become deadly again. Medical procedures such as surgeries, cancer treatment, and organ transplants rely on effective antibiotics to prevent infection. Protecting antibiotics today helps safeguard healthcare for future generations.

Antibiotics are one of medicine’s greatest achievements. But their power is not guaranteed forever. Using antibiotics responsibly, only when necessary and exactly as prescribed, helps prevent the rise of dangerous superbugs.

Respect antibiotics today so they can continue saving lives tomorrow.

Trump says talks with Cuba ongoing, action possible after Iran

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States could soon reach a deal with Cuba or take other action, signalling that developments in the long-strained relationship may come quickly.

“Cuba also wants to make a deal, and I think we will pretty soon either make a deal or do whatever we have to do,” Trump said to reporters on Air Force One. “We’re talking to Cuba, but we’re going to do Iran before Cuba.”

The comments come as tensions between Washington and Havana remain elevated following years of sanctions, diplomatic friction, and disputes over migration and security, with regional allies and investors watching closely for signs of a policy shift.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said on Friday that the country opened talks with the United States as the island

by disruptions in imported oil, which the island relies on to run power plants and transportation networks. Fuel shortages have forced authorities to impose rolling electricity outages across the ⁠country and limit some public services.

2 men found shot dead in vehicle in Barbados

faces one of its most severe economic crises in decades.

“These talks have been aimed at finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences we have between the two nations,” Diaz-Canel said in a video aired on State television.

Diaz-Canel said he hoped the negotiations would move the two longtime rivals “away from confrontation”.

The country’s economic crisis has been exacerbated

Trump in recent weeks had made a series of statements, saying Cuba was on the verge of collapse or eager to make a deal with the United States. Last Monday he said Cuba may be subject to a “friendly takeover,” then added, “it may not be a friendly takeover.”

Despite the renewed contact, significant differences remain between the two governments. US officials have suggested that any easing of pressure would likely depend on political and economic concessions from Havana, while Cuban leaders insist that negotiations must respect the island’s independence.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Venezuela’s students reclaim the streets after years of oppression

In mid-February, hundreds of students from Venezuela’s most prestigious university did the once unthinkable: their protest left the campus of the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas and spilled out into a nearby street.

Before the US military operation that captured Nicolas Maduro on January 3, student activism was a risky proposition in Venezuela. Remaining on campus had historically offered some protection; student protesters who took to the streets risked being beaten, detained, or worse. Bodies like the United Nations have denounced tor-

ture against detainees in Venezuela, including electric shocks, asphyxiation and sleep deprivation. So when the students, marching alongside relatives of some of those imprisoned by the Maduro Government left campus chanting “free them all,” it was an act of defiance.

“I was born in 2003 and all I knew was fear…until today,” Paola Carrillo, 22, a member of the student union told the cheering crowd. “We are fighting for the freedom we want.”

Venezuelan university students, waving flags or bloodied from clashes with security forces, were the key protagonists of massive an-

ti-government protests a decade ago.

Those demonstrations waned amid a crackdown by security services which included arrests of students and professors and violence by ruling-party-allied motorcycle gangs that killed hundreds. A deep economic crisis forced many out of classrooms and into the workforce. Smaller protests in 2019, 2024 and early 2025 were quickly extinguished.

But now a new generation is on the streets. Ten student activists from four universities around the country told Reuters they see real hope after the ouster of Maduro –despite the endurance of the

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Samuda welcomes audit of Jamaica’s climate change response

Jamaica’s Minister with responsibility for Climate Change, Matthew Samuda has welcomed recent audits of the Government’s response to this global environmental challenge by Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis.

“I take note of the recently-tabled auditor general’s reports and I do not have a challenge with audits. Audits are particularly important if you are to identify weaknesses and identify gaps that need to be solved in a very short period,” said Samuda while addressing the start of consultations on Jamaica’s climate change framework legislation last Thursday.

“Audits are what they are, and I take this one as nothing more than a regular audit,” added Samuda as he pointed out that work on climate change legislation is ongoing, with support from the Government of the United Kingdom.

He pointed to the summary of the auditor general’s report titled Plans and Assessment of Jamaica’s Climate Response, which stated that: “While foundational policies, plans, and partnerships were in place, implementation and accountability mechanisms needed to be strengthened. Enhanced data management, stakeholder in-

clusion, capacity building, and the development of sector-specific financing strategies will be critical in accelerating progress toward climate resilience…”

He announced that Jamaica will officially complete its first climate change framework legislation later this year, and positioned the legislation as the “anchor” for the country’s international climate leadership, transitioning the nation’s response from policy commitments to a comprehensive regulatory framework.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Police have confirmed that two men were found shot dead in a vehicle at Cambridge on Sunday afternoon.

Public Affairs and Communications Officer, Inspector Ryan Brathwaite, said Police received a report around 14:25h, indicating that a grey Toyota Axio was parked along Cambridge

Road with two men inside who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.

Officers responded immediately to the area and discovered the bodies of the two men inside the vehicle.

A medical doctor was summoned to the scene and later pronounced both men dead.

Brathwaite appealed to

members of the public who may have information to contact Crime Stoppers or the District F Police Station. He also urged Barbadians to work together to address the issue of crime, noting that violence has far-reaching effects on families, communities and the country as a whole. (Nation News)

T&T Minister Sturge shocked man held for plot to assassinate him gunned down

Defence Minister Wayne Sturge says he is shocked by the murder of businessman Danny Guerra, who was held last year for an alleged plot to assassinate him.

Guerra, owner of DG Homes and other businesses, was shot several times while in his vehicle outside his business place at his North Oropouche Road, Sangre Grande office. He was later pronounced dead at the Sangre Grande Hospital.

“I am shocked like everyone else,” Sturge told Guardian Media Sunday morning in response to a request for comment. He later extended condolences to Guerra’s relatives.

Not only did Sturge, MP for Toco/ Sangre Grande, count Guerra among his

constituents, but he was also among his clients.

Before being elected to Parliament, Sturge, a criminal defence attorney, represented Guerra in several legal matters dating back over 11 years ago, along with now National Gas Company (NGC) chairman Gerald Ramdeen.

Guardian Media was also informed that Guerra was a keen supporter of Sturge during his parliamentary run for last year’s general election.

But by November last year, under that State of Emergency (SoE), Guerra was detained after intelligence agencies uncovered that he was allegedly behind a credible plot to assassinate Sturge, which led to heightened security for him and his relatives.

At the time, reports suggested that the threat was linked to illegal quarrying and political influence and was “a real and present danger”.

Reports also suggested that the threat stemmed from Sturge’s refusal to install individuals handpicked by politically-connected figures into state and constituency-level positions.

Guerra was the manager of D Guerra Ltd and owned several companies under the D Guerra Group of Companies, a real estate company doing housing developments.

But for decades, allegations of illegal quarrying dogged him. There were several investigations and several legal matters.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

OIL NEWS

Asia shares wary, oil volatile as war drags on

Asian markets were in a wary mood today as hostilities in the Gulf kept oil prices elevated, complicating an inflation outlook that should keep most central banks on pause at policy meetings this week, barring one possible hike.

In a possible hint of hope, the Wall Street Journal reported the Trump Administration plans to announce as early as this week that multiple countries have agreed to form a coalition to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

President Donald Trump told the Financial Times it would be very bad for the future of NATO if the allies did not help.

European Union Foreign Ministers will discuss today bolstering a small naval mission in the Middle East, though any operation in the Strait would be fraught with risk.

Oil markets were cautious as Brent rose 0.1 per cent to US$103.27 a barrel, while US crude fell 0.7 per cent to US$97.99.

Policymakers in the US, United Kingdom, Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada, Switzerland and Sweden hold their first full meetings since the start of ⁠the war, with energy prices looming over all of them.

“Central bank forecasts will immediately bias towards higher inflation and lower growth,” said Bruce Kasman, chief economist at JPMorgan. “Consistent with this view, we have pushed back or removed action for most central banks that were expected to move in March and April.”

“Developments on the ground highlight the potential for further price increases and the likelihood that the risk premium will remain elevated.”

Japan’s Nikkei dipped 0.1 per cent, while South Korean stocks added 0.9 per cent after both lost ground last week. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan edged up 0.1 per cent.

Regionally, the focus will be on Chinese economic data out today with retail sales seen picking up in February after a dismal start to the year, while growth in industrial output is forecast to stay around five per cent.

Top US and Chinese officials are also meeting in Paris to discuss potential deals in agriculture, critical minerals and managed trade for US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to consider in Beijing.

All the central banks

S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq futures bounced 0.4 per cent in choppy trading. While earnings season is over, concerns about ⁠AI will be front and centre as Nvidia hosts its GTC conference at Silicon Valley this week, where it is expected to show off the latest advances in chips and AI infrastructure.

The coming energy shock, combined with pressure on fiscal budgets from higher defence spending, saw bond yields globally suffer double-digit increases last week.

Ten-year Treasury yields were at 4.26 per cent, having climbed 32 basis points since the war began, while futures have sharply scaled back the scope for future rate cuts.

The Federal Reserve is considered certain to hold on Wednesday and the chance of an easing by June has come down to just 26 per cent, ⁠from 69 per cent a month earlier.

Investor attention will be on the tone of the statement and media conference, and whether the median “dot plot” projections from policymakers remove any further easing for this year.

A cautiously steady outcome is expected at all the other central bank meetings, bar the Reserve Bank of Australia which is seen likely to hike its cash rate a quarter point to 4.1 per cent as it battles resurgent inflation at ⁠home. (Excerpt from Reuters)

EU to discuss bolstering Middle East naval mission amid Iran war turmoil

European Union

Foreign Ministers will discuss today bolstering a small naval mission in the Middle East, but are not expected to decide on extending its role to the choked-off Strait of Hormuz, diplomats and officials say.

The EU’s Aspides mission was established in 2024 to protect ships from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebel group in the Red Sea. It currently has an Italian and a Greek ship under its direct command and can also call upon a French ship and another Italian vessel for support. With the Strait of Hormuz largely shut off

⁠since the United States

and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28, some European officials have pondered whether the EU mission could be part of an effort to restore freedom of navigation in the Gulf.

Iran’s ability to choke off traffic through the strait, the conduit for a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas, has emerged as a major threat to the global economy.

But EU officials and diplomats said Ministers’ discussions today in Brussels would likely focus on a push by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to add more ships to the mission.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Around the World

Trump demands other countries help secure vital Strait of Hormuz as Iran vows defiance

United States President Donald Trump said on Sunday his Administration is talking to seven countries about helping to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, calling on them to help protect ships in the vital waterway that Tehran has mostly blocked to oil tanker traffic.

With the conflict creating turmoil across the Middle East and shaking up global energy markets in its third week, Trump insisted that nations relying heavily on oil from the Gulf have a responsibility to protect the strait.

”I’m demanding that these countries come in and protect their own territory, because it is their territory,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on the way from Florida to Washington.

Though he declined to identify the Governments that his Administration has

contacted, Trump said this weekend that he expected many countries would send warships to allow shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for 20 per cent of the world’s oil.

He said in a social media post he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain, and others would participate.

Trump also said Washington is in contact with Iran, but expressed doubt that Tehran is prepared for serious negotiations to end the conflict.

US officials responding to economic uncertainty over high oil prices predicted on Sunday that the war on Iran would end within weeks and

that a drop in energy costs would follow, despite Iran’s assertion that it remains ”stable and strong” and ready to defend itself.

Trump had threatened more strikes on Iran’s main oil export hub Kharg Island over the weekend and said he was not ready to reach a deal to end the war which has shut off the vital Strait of Hormuz.

The Trump administration plans to announce as early as this week that multiple countries have agreed to form a coalition to escort ships through the narrow waterway, but they are still discussing whether those operations would begin before or after hostilities end, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed US officials. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US, China seek to wrap Paris talks on managed trade, agriculture deals for Xi-Trump summit

Top US and Chinese economic officials were due to conclude talks in Paris today, with potential areas of agreement in agriculture, critical minerals and managed trade that could be taken up by US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, sources familiar with the discussions said.

The sources told Reuters that the ”remarkably stable” talks led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng would set in motion possible ”deliverables” for Trump’s expected trip to China at the end of March to meet with Xi.

But they added that the leaders would have the final

A US delegation arrives at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) headquarters for trade talks with a Chinese delegation, in Paris, France, March 15,

say on the proposals.

Trump, however, told the Financial Times in an interview published on Sunday that he could also delay his summit with Xi later this month as he presses Beijing to help unblock the crucial Strait of Hormuz closed by Iran.

”We may delay,” he said of the trip.

The US and Chinese delegations met for more than six hours on Sunday at the Paris headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, a club of most-

ly wealthy democracies that does not count China as a member.

During those discussions, the Chinese side showed openness to potential additional purchases of US agricultural goods including poultry, beef and non-soybean row crops, one of the sources said, adding that China was still committed to buying 25 million metric tons of American soybeans for each of the next three years under the TrumpXi October 2025 trade truce.

Spokespersons for the US Treasury and the US Trade Representative’s office declined to characterise the discussions, while Chinese officials left the talks on Sunday without speaking to reporters.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Zelenskyy says Ukraine wants money, technology in return for Middle East drone help

Ukraine wants money and technology in return for helping Middle Eastern nations that have sought its expertise as they defend against Iranian kamikaze drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, after Kyiv sent specialists to the region.

Zelenskiy told reporters that three teams were sent to the Middle East to conduct expert assessments

and demonstrate how drone defences should operate. Earlier this week he said teams were sent to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, as well as a US military base in Jordan.

”This is not about being involved in operations. We are not at war ⁠with Iran,” Zelenskyy said.

He said that more fundamental, long-term drone deals could be negotiated

with Gulf countries and what Ukraine will get in return for the assistance still needed to be discussed.

”For us today, both the technology and the funding are important,” Zelenskiy said.

Gulf States have expended large quantities of air-defence missiles to counter Iran’s Shahed drones. Kyiv downs Russian drones every night using an array of

weaponry including cheaper, smaller drones or jamming equipment.

Zelenskyy has said that the US as well as countries from Europe, the Middle East and Africa has sought help from Ukraine on how to counter these attacks.

However, US President Donald Trump has said the US does not need Ukraine’s help with downing drones. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Severe flooding kills 66 in Kenya, as heavy rains continue

Afurther four persons have died in Kenya after heavy rain caused widespread flooding, Police said, taking the number to have died in the past week to at least 66.

The capital, Nairobi, was hit by more heavy rain over-

night although no new deaths were reported.

Eleven persons were rescued after a minibus taxi, known locally as a matatu, got stuck as water rose in Nairobi, according to the Kenya Red Cross, while two children were saved from a flooded house.

Heavy rainfall over the past week has triggered flash floods as rivers have burst their banks, flooding homes and damaging roads, and power and water lines.

The Interior Ministry warned on Sunday that different parts of the country were continuing to experience heavy rains, increasing the risk of flooding.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Some roads have been closed after bridges were damaged in Nairobi, while some schools were also flooded after Saturday’s downpour.

SUDOKU

Avoid impulsive spending and overreaction. Replace excess with a minimalist mindset, and you’ll empower yourself. By simplifying your lifestyle, you will ease stress.

Rely on yourself. Promises others make will create uncertainty and more work for you. Let your actions speak for you. Put your energy where it will deliver the highest return.

You can chase change, but before you do, consider why. Do so in search of greater security, stability and financial gain, not because of curiosity, emotional uncertainty or boredom.

Refrain from offering to do too much. Equality is essential if you want to maintain your position. Pick a path and follow it. Commitment will be the mae of the game.

It’s up to you to bring about change. Let the choices you make and the actions you take empower you to do what’s right. Selfimprovement will come from practice.

Have a goal in mind and a plan in place that will get you there, and the rest will take care of itself. Put energy behind your words and pay attention to what things cost.

Put more time and effort into your relationships, domestic situation and lifestyle. If it’s a change you desire, do something cost-efficient and sensible.

Follow your heart, but don’t lose sight of your responsibilities. Learn as you go by expressing your thoughts and plans.

Don’t take on an impossible fight. Keep your thoughts to yourself and your eye on what’s unfolding. When the time is right, you’ll know how to react.

Truth matters; gather facts, assess situations and consider how your actions and responses will affect those you encounter. Honesty and integrity are your best paths forward.

Don’t let change cost you. A hasty decision will set you back financially, but bide your time, and you’ll discover how to avoid some high-end expenses by doing the work yourself.

Speak up, finish what you start and adjust your lifestyle to suit your needs. Say no to temptation and gluttonous behavior. A domestic issue will arise if you overspend.

Antonelli, Ferrari give F1 feelgood race, but critics remain

Kimi Antonelli could not keep his emotions contained as he processed becoming Formula 1’s second-youngest winner of all time.

“I’m speechless,” said a tearful Antonelli, 19, as soon as a microphone was thrust into his hand on Sunday. “I’m about to cry, to be honest.”

The tears did indeed flow, and Antonelli’s win will be difficult to replicate anytime soon.

Depending on your view of it, Antonelli’s win, and the fact that he was flanked by the man he replaced at Mercedes, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, on the podium, was the culmination of a much-needed shot in the arm. On paper, the second race of F1’s new era – featuring cars whose power units have a controversial, much-debated 50/50 split between combustion power and electrification, including a big shift towards energy harvesting and battery boosts – had everything you could want from a grand prix.

Multiple lead changes?

Check.

Cars able to follow each other closely, much closer than we’ve seen through recent rule changes? Check.

A popular new race winner, a fresh-faced wonderkid seemingly on a rocket ship to superstardom? Check.

A title battle suddenly not as predictable as it might have seemed seven days ago? Check.

Ferrari in the mix?

Check.

A long and entertaining duel between Ferrari’s drivers, Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, who regularly went wheel to wheel without coming to blows? Check.

As if to top it all off, F1 was treated to a feel-good postrace podium ceremony. The race result culminated in Mercedes’ past, present and future sharing a podium together with the popular Peter Bonnington, who was the engineer for Hamilton until the seven-time world champion left for Ferrari, the move that prompted Mercedes boss Toto Wolff to make the risky move to replace the man who is statistically the greatest of all time with a teenager.

Given the driver Antonelli is turning into, that looks like an absolute masterstroke now.

But as the celebrations on the podium unfolded, the day’s other headline was already being crafted a little further down the Shanghai pit lane. Ironically, it came

from the man whose name is the only one standing above Antonelli’s on the list of F1’s youngest race winners: Max Verstappen.

“It’s still terrible,” said the Dutchman, who has despised these new cars since his first lap in them. “I don’t know, if someone likes this, then you really don’t know what racing is about. It’s not fun at all. It’s playing Mario Kart. This is not racing.”

Verstappen went from TV camera to TV camera repeating a similar line, his most succinct and cutting evisceration of the new rules so far. Amid all the good vibes from the race at the front, it was also difficult to ignore what Verstappen said, and even more difficult to ignore how many people seemed to agree with his sentiments as soon as he said them, even if Sunday’s race had all the ingredients of a classic.

Lance Stroll’s stopped Aston Martin. An early Virtual Safety Car at a similar point of the race had nullified the wheel-to-wheel fighting in Melbourne seven days ago, but the Safety Car this time around reignited the contest. Antonelli was able to scamper clear into the distance for his first win, but George Russell’s long battle to get past the Ferraris, and their own battle that followed, would become the story of the race.

F1’s new cars have given the sport something of an existential crisis since their first public outing in February. F1 has always had things that needed managing – notably, in recent years, Pirelli’s unpopular tires – but nothing to such extremes as required by these new hybrid engines. Cars now harvest energy into their batteries through the braking phase

Mercedes was on a different planet Sunday, and when it mattered, made light work of the Ferrari pair. But Hamilton and Leclerc’s fight went on and on, with the Italian team not stepping in at any point to intervene or freeze the positions for fear of a collision.

“Huge respect for both of them,” Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur said after the event. “It made sense in this situation to let them race. I know perfectly well we can also look very stupid half an hour later, but at the end of the day, it’s also the best way to build up a team.”

Leclerc and Hamilton had nearly come to blows during a wheel-to-wheel fight during the sprint, but their fight on Sunday was firm and fair. “This is actually quite a fun battle,” Leclerc told his team at one

It’s still hard to know exactly what to make of Formula 1’s regulations, but Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix gave a curious and contrasting tale of two sides, and just how far apart those two extremes are.

The yo-yo effect

While Sunday’s race saw the top four finish in the order they started the race, that did a disservice to how the contest played out. As was the case at Melbourne’s opener and again during Saturday’s sprint in Shanghai, the fast-starting Ferraris made life very difficult for Mercedes out in front. Hamilton led into Turn 1, to huge roars of approval from a Chinese crowd that seemed as passionately behind the seven-time world champion as you might find at Silverstone later this year.

After some early fun, Mercedes quickly got itself back into a comfortable one-two, only for fate to intervene in the form of

of a lap, which has reduced qualifying into a lifeless, horrible spectacle in which drivers often coast through some of the calendar’s most fearsome corners. The spectacle has at least, outwardly, been more spectacular during races themselves.

After Melbourne, Leclerc coined a phrase that will likely stick to these cars for as long as they exist: “yoyo racing.” The back-andforth nature of passing has already become a hallmark of this generation. With a battery pack on each car, drivers have now been given the choice of when they use the boost and when they don’t around a lap. Earlier in the week, Verstappen likened this to Mario Kart, joking that he had taken to the popular video game as part of his practice for the race. After their battle for the win in Melbourne, both Russell and Leclerc had said the newest element of the cars had created a racing style that has traded bravery for strategy.

point.

The fun he referred to will be up for debate for a long time. You do not have to scroll through social media for long to find fans arguing very loudly that two drivers using a power boost to pass each other back and forth is not really the kind of racing Ayrton Senna talked about when he uttered his iconic quote, “If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver.” Gaps with F1’s new cars seem irrelevant now –all that matters is whether one car has more boost than the other at the next approaching corner.

What is not up for debate is one thing the new formula appears to have done. F1 has had several iterations of regulations in the past that have produced the same old problem: cars that cannot follow each other closely. A car that cannot get close enough to follow can also not get close enough to attempt an overtake. Drivers that attempted to would

chew through their tyres, their brakes, or both. It was why the drag reduction system aid was required in the first place in 2011, after Fernando Alonso spent the entire 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix stuck behind Renault’s Vitaly Petrov, costing him that year’s title.

While a common criticism of the new regulations has been that they have created “artificial” racing, it’s worth remembering the DRS contraption was the sport’s first artificial aid to produce more passes during race weekends. It was often called a band-aid and was far from perfect, but it would be wrong to suggest artificial racing has just appeared from nowhere this year.

While much of the focus on the new generation has been what’s underneath the engine covers, the aerodynamics were a big part of the change, too. This seems to have a superb impact in changing the racing. More simplified aero was implemented to lessen the impact of “dirty air”, the turbulent wake generated behind cars that made following each other so difficult. That problem, at least according to Hamilton, has been consigned to the past with these new cars.

“The cars are easier to follow, much better than past years,” he said on Sunday evening. “You can get very close. There’s not a bad wake where you’re losing too much downforce. I think it’s the best racing that I’ve ever experienced in Formula 1.”

It’s often said in Formula 1 that a competitive driver is a happy driver. Hamilton, especially, sums this up better than anyone at the moment.

The seven-time world champion loathed the socalled ground effect cars of 2022-2025, a period that saw him claim just two race victories. His complaints about them were numerous; he was one of the most vocal about the bouncing quirk the cars produced, an effect known as porpoising. It could not have helped seeing Red Bull and Verstappen cleaning up the championships in the first years of that set of regulations.

Things have flipped 180 now.

While Hamilton and Ferrari appear to be in a good place, Verstappen and Red Bull are in a horrible place. Nowhere near as competitive as Mercedes suggested it would be in preseason testing, Red Bull has had a brutal start to the new year. Verstappen retired the car midway through the contest. Every journalist waiting for him in the media pen knew he was going to double down on his criticisms.

Asked whether the rules can be saved by making small tweaks within the regulations, Verstappen said, “You can help it a little bit, but it’s fundamentally flawed.”

When it was put to Verstappen by ESPN on Sunday night that the sport had so far featured three races of back-and-forth action, he shrugged.

“It’s just Kimi or George that is winning, right? It’s not really back and forth,” he replied. “They’re miles ahead of the field. It’s just that Ferrari sometimes has these good starts that they push themselves in front, and then it takes a few laps to sort it all out. Like I said, this has nothing to do with racing.”

On whether F1 was now pushing overtakes above anything else, regardless of how they materialised, he said, “I hope they don’t think like that, because it will eventually ruin the sport. It will come and bite them back in the ass.”

Here you have to say, Verstappen has a point. All three of the races we’ve seen – two full-length races and Saturday’s sprint in Shanghai – have seen Ferrari’s lightning-fast starts vault the red cars into contention. Mercedes was still 15 seconds clear of the quickest Ferrari after Melbourne’s 58-lap contest, and 25 seconds clear after Sunday’s 56 laps in Shanghai, and that was with a Safety Car that bunched the field back together after 11 of those laps. Mercedes is well ahead, and it’s fair to wonder what a race will look like once the lead cars are able to nullify Ferrari’s threat from the launch.

(tsn.ca)

GCB names U16 squad for CWI Rising Stars 50-Over Bilateral Series

The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) on Sunday revealed the Guyana Under-16 squad selected to participate in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Rising Stars Under-16 50-Over Bilateral Series, scheduled to be hosted in Guyana from March 27, 2026 to April 7, 2026.

The tournament, organised by CWI, will provide an important platform for the Region’s emerging young cricketers to showcase their skills and gain valuable competitive experience at the youth level.

Lomar Seecharran has been appointed Captain of the Guyana Under-16 team, with Leon Reddy serving as Vice Captain. The selected squad features a balanced group of talented players drawn from across the country.

Guyana Under-16 squad 2026: Captain Lomar Seecharran, Vice Captain Leon Reddy, Ravid Fredricks, Akash Ramdewar, Luke Amsterdam, Wicketkeeper Nathan Bishop, Asgaralli Nabi, Altaf Ali, Makai Dowlin, Jaden Ganpat, Jonathan Barry, Gautam Dhanraj, Brandon Grimmond, and Devraj Persaud.

Ravindra Persaud, Demarcus Thomas, Trevor Reynolds, Afraz Khan, Prosper Jacobus, and Usain Fredricks.

The team will be under the guidance of Manager Terry Newton, with Yeuraj Khemraj as coach.

The GCB, in a statement, extended its congratulations to the select -

ed players and encouraged them to represent Guyana with discipline, pride, and determination during the tournament.

The Board also expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to perform competitively on home soil and continues to emphasise the development of youth cricket as a key com -

ponent of Guyana’s cricketing future.

According to the GCB, further details regarding match venues and fixtures for the CWI Rising Stars Under-16 50-Over Bilateral Series will be announced in due course.

Jumbo Jet Events Nitro Kart Clash 2026...

Additional players include: Ashton Collins,

TGabriel Guyadin preparing for competitive karting debut

nior karting category as he looks to begin carving out his own path in the sport.

he next generation of motorsport talent will be in the spotlight on March 28 and March 29 when Jumbo Jet Events partners with the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC) to host the Nitro Kart Clash.

Among the young drivers set to compete is Gabriel Guyadin, a second-generation racer and son of Group Four competitor Gavin Guyadin. Gabriel will make his appearance in the ju-

Speaking recently with the Jumbo Jet Events team, the young driver explained that his passion for racing developed largely from watching his father compete in the GMR&SC Circuit Racing Championships at South Dakota.

“I got involved mostly because of my father. He races in Group Four for Guyana, so I’ve always admired the sport,” Gabriel said.

With the March 29 race day approaching, Gabriel has been putting in regular practice at the track to prepare.

“I usually come to the track on weekends, from Friday to Sunday. On

Saturdays and Sundays, I practice from about 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm. When I go out, I try to get my tires warm as quickly as possible to get good grip, and I also focus on improving my racing lines,” he explained.

Despite being new to competitive karting, Gabriel is already anticipating strong competition in the junior field.

“I think William, who is Mark’s [Vieira] son, and Jayden from the Jumbo team will be very competitive,” he noted.

The two-day Nitro Kart Clash event will begin with scrutineering and qualifying on March 28, starting at 10:00h. Racing action will follow on March 29 from 10:00h, with the gates opening to spectators at 08:00h.

The event is supported by several sponsors, including Banks DIH, AJM Enterprise, KP Jagdeo General Contractors, J’s Supermarket, 555 Speedway, SCI (Sawh Construction Inc), Precision Service Centre and Ramchand’s Auto Body. Multiple racing categories will feature during the event. These include the Briggs and Stratton sealed engine class for Senior Heavy and Light divisions, Junior (13-15 years) and Cadet (6-12 years) classes, the 200cc Honda 4-Stroke Promoters and Light classes, 125cc IAME 2-Stroke Heavy and Light divisions, the Under-12 60cc IAME class, an Open Time Attack (5 laps), the 555 Speedway Rental Kart race, and Supermoto 250cc bikes.

Albion opted not to participate in controversial BCB 2-Day

Tensions in the Ancient County of Berbice were higher than usual as Albion Community Centre Cricket Club opted not to play in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) TwoDay final at the weekend.

On the eve of the match, Albion released a statement saying they will not play in the final, which was billed for Rose Hall Canje Community Centre Ground.

Rose Hall Town were the lone team present and were declared controversial winners of a tournament which had major question marks.

According to Albion Cricket Club, the rightful opponent that

should have played the final against them were Young Warriors. The Young Warriors Cricket Club had also expressed dissatisfaction with the process used by the BCB to determine the finalists.

Full statement by

Albion Cricket Club:

“The Albion Community Centre Cricket Club wishes to publicly express its profound disappointment and strong objection to the decision taken by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) to order a replay of the semi-final match in the BCB’s Two-Day First- Division Cricket

Tournament between the Young Warriors Cricket Club and the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club.

The semi-final match, played at the Young Warriors Ground in Cumberland, Canje, ended in a stalemate. However, despite Young Warriors having emerged as the winner of its zone during the preliminary stage of the competition, the Berbice Cricket Board ordered a replay of the match.

Young Warriors subsequently objected strongly to the decision and informed the Board of its dissatisfaction to participate in the replay fixture.

Following this de-

velopment, the Board decided that Rose Hall Town would instead be Albion’s opponents in the final.

Historically, and by long-standing precedent within Berbice cricket, in circumstances where a semi-final match ends without a definitive result, the team with the superior standing in the preliminary round advance to the final.

It must be clearly stated that the outcome of the semi-final was in no way the fault of Young Warriors. Rather, the situation arose due to the failure of the tournament’s playing conditions to clearly address such circumstances, a matter that falls within the responsibility of the Competitions Committee of the Berbice Cricket Board.

The decision to replay the match represents a significant departure from established precedent and raises serious concerns regarding fairness, consistency and the integrity of the competition.

The abandonment of long-standing practice without sound justification undermines confidence in the administration of the game and compromises the fundamental principles of equity and fair play that must govern crick-

et at all levels.

The Albion Community Centre Cricket Club has always been a steadfast advocate for the preservation of the spirit and integrity of cricket. The Club firmly believes that decisions affecting competition outcomes must be guided by fairness, established precedent and transparent governance.

In light of the foregoing, the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club wishes to inform the cricketing public, the Berbice Cricket Board (to whom we had earlier formally written) and all stakeholders that the Club will not participate in the final of the BCB’s TwoDay First-Division Cricket Competition unless and until the rightful opponent, Young Warriors Cricket Club, is allowed to advance to the final in accordance with established precedent.

This position has not been taken lightly. However, the integrity of the game must always take precedence. Cricket in Berbice has been built on principles of fairness, respect for the rules, and consistent administration and these principles must be upheld at all times.

The Albion Community Centre Cricket Club, therefore, calls on the Berbice

Board to urgently review and correct its decision in the interest of fairness, credibility and the continued development of the game in the Ancient County.”

Mapa Do Brasil storms to victory in Kennard’s Memorial horse race

By Brandon Corlette

Class was class as Mapa Do Brasil of Js Racing Stables stormed to another victory at Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club, Bush Lot Village, East Berbice.

It was almost déjà vu, but this time the feature race was nine furlongs, and Mapa Do Brasil, piloted by Ronaldo Appadu, was unfazed by the extra distance.

Grande Rainha, who was impressive for second, was running down the Js horse

but in the end, it was the class of Appadu that prevailed. Stormy Victory ran third and Companheiro Lea finished fourth. Initially, only three horses were in the feature race, but two more horses were added.

Js Racing Stables was the stable of the year in 2025, and it has already been in the front seat of the winners’ row in 2026. Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club has been a favourable venue for Js.

In the opening race of the day, which started under

glorious sunshine, Perfect Trip won by six lengths to claim the top spot in the L Class Maiden. Top Rankin finished second followed by Citation and Catch the Cat rounded out the top four finishers.

First-time starter Manisha displayed top speed to secure a comfortable win in the three-yearold Guyana-bred maidens. In a packed field, Miracle Boy finished in second place while Granite Storm came in third and Glory Queen finished fourth.

AGovernment to introduce structured football programme to schools’ PE

country, that there is an opportunity for you in sport.”

“Physical Education Fridays” is the brainchild of President Dr Irfaan Ali, who had advised that Friday afternoons would be dedicated to Physical Education in public schools across the country.

President Ali had made the announcement at the commissioning of the Brickdam Secondary School in July of 2025.

In race three, the H Class which had the more familiar horses, Here Comes Heidi dominated the field and displayed good form. Amicable Kate had a good outing, but had to settle for second while Mulan ran third and Sydney ran fourth.

The K Class and Lower had 10 horses riding for glory, but Republican of the Elcock Racing Stables was the top horse. Sakar ran sec-

ond while Regal Surprise and Heartland rounded out the top four.

Jagdeo Racing Stables returned to the top of the podium after Frontline Warrior led the charge in the F Class and Lower. Stolen Money had a solid return finishing second while Full Liberty ran third.

Race seven, J Class and Lower was the final race of the day. Top Gun shot the

last fire in the

The next race day will be the all-important Easter Cup on April 5 at the Port Mourant Turf

Horses will be running towards glory as the Easter Cup is the second nomination day for the Guyana Cup on August 23.

Cougars FC crowned BFA Senior Men’s League champions

…following dramatic draw with Paradise

structured, football-focused programme is likely to be rolled out soon in public schools across Guyana as the Government of Guyana works alongside the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) to incorporate such into their “Physical Education Fridays” initiative, Minister within the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry, Steven Jacobs revealed last week.

Jacobs made the utterances at the launch of the 12th Massy Under-18 Schools’ football tournament, as he discussed how Government would be playing a part in the development of the sport locally.

Jacobs disclosed, “But from a Government’s perspective, the President’s initiative of the PE programme is to address sports in schools and currently, we are work-

ing on a structured PE programme with the Guyana Football Federation, constantly in talks on how we can structure a football programme during the PE hours of schools.”

“Because we understand that the real grassroot or the feeder system stems or lies in school,” the Sport Minister added.

However, collaborative efforts for the Physical Education programme will go beyond just football as Jacobs also divulged about partnerships with the Education Ministry.

The Sport Minister informed, “With that also, we are working along with the Ministry of Education, the Allied Arts department, we are working very closely in how we will continue to work together to make sure you, the young people of this

The Head of State shared on that occasion, “We’re building complete human beings, understanding what real human capital really is, and understanding that in our national ecosystem, sports, physical education, play a very important role. And I’ve seen the beautiful schools across our country. And in the next five years, great emphasis will be placed on recreational facilities to support our academic education. To this end, I want to see in the education system Friday afternoons, after lunch, completely dedicated to sports and physical education. I believe strongly that if we are to make a shift from a device-led world to a human-led world, we need to make these important changes. And I would say that one of the priorities would be reorganising our education system to make Friday afternoons completely dedicated to physical education, recreation, and sports.”

Cougars Football Club were crowned champions of the Berbice Football Association (BFA) Senior Men’s League on Sunday evening after playing to an entertaining 3-3 draw with arch-rivals Paradise FC in the final match of the tournament at the All Saints Ground on Princess Elizabeth Road in New Amsterdam.

The tournament, which featured six teams and was played on a round-robin basis, concluded with a triple-header that drew a lively crowd of football supporters to the venue.

Cougars entered the final game at the top of the standings and secured the title after sharing the points with Paradise in a thrilling encounter that saw both teams display attacking football throughout the contest.

Cougars took an early 2-0 lead through goals from Amare Caesar and Alex Antonio, putting Paradise on the back foot in the opening stages of the game. Paradise responded before the halftime whistle when Curtland Richmond found the back of the net to reduce the deficit.

In the second half, Cougars extended their advantage when Tyrick Ogleton scored to make it

3-1, but Paradise refused to surrender and quickly responded with a goal from Jevell Fraser.

With time running down and Paradise pressing relentlessly for an equaliser, Cougars’ goalkeeper Reshaun Deane produced several impressive saves to deny multiple attempts on goal.

However, with just two minutes remaining on the clock, Paradise finally broke through when Deon Moriah scored the equaliser to level the game at 3-3, bringing a dramatic finish to the contest.

In the other matches of the evening’s triple-header, Trafalgar Titans FC were awarded a walkover victory against Fyrish Black Sharks FC, while Kildonan Young Warriors defeated Ithaca FC 3-1.

At the conclusion of the competition, Cougars FC finished at the top of the standings with 23 points from 10 matches, recording seven wins, two draws, and one loss to capture the championship.

Trafalgar Titans FC finished second with 19 points from 10 matches, with six wins, one draw and three losses, while Ithaca FC placed third with 18 points

from 10 games, recording six wins and four losses.

Paradise FC ended the tournament in fourth position with 17 points from 10 matches, after registering five wins, two draws, and three losses.

Kildonan Young Warriors finished fifth with 12 points, while Fyrish Black Sharks FC placed sixth with one point.

The competition was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, with the champions receiving $500,000, while the runners-up collected $300,000. The third-place team earned $200,000, and the fourthplace finishers received $100,000.

Individual awards were also presented at the end of the tournament. Deon Moriah, who scored nine goals during the competition, captured the award for most goals, while Reshaun Deane of Cougars FC was named best goalkeeper.

The tournament brought together six teams – Cougars FC, Trafalgar Titans FC, Ithaca FC, Paradise FC, Kildonan Young Warriors and Fyrish Black Sharks FC – and was widely praised for the competitive football displayed throughout the season.