Guyana Times - Sunday, November 23, 2025

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, November 23 –05:45h–07:15h and Monday, November 24 – 06:15h–07:45h.

BRIDGE OPENINGS FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers are expected during the day and at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East South Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 17:59h reaching a maximum height of 2.54 metres.

Low Tide: 11:35h reaching a minimum height of 0.83 metres.

Housing has emerged as the number one priority for residents of Region Six (East Berbice–Corentyne), overtaking drainage and irrigation (D&I), which previously dominated the list but has now fallen to last place. This was confirmed by President Dr Irfaan Ali during a press conference held on Friday at Albion, where he detailed shifting priorities and provided updated figures on housing demand, allocations and regularisation efforts. President Ali explained that an analysis of recent Cabinet out-

January to October 2025 alone… we have received 3124 new applications,” he disclosed.

The President attributed this spike directly to Government policy interventions aimed at encouraging home ownership.

“That is a direct response to the policy agenda of the Government, incentivising homeownership and creating an enabling environment to stimulate homeownership,” he stated. To meet this demand, he announced that 4,600 residential lots are currently available under ongoing infrastructure

reach consultations shows that the people of Region Six are increasingly focused on home ownership, residential lands, and support for small business growth – marking a decisive shift away from the 2020–2025 period when drainage and irrigation ranked highest due to years of neglect.

“Today, as we completed the analysis so far, D&I is now the lowest-ranked priority for the region. And that is not to say there is still not a lot of work to be done, but that is to say that people are experiencing the results of the investments that we have made,” the President said, adding that the change reflects “the results of the investments that we have made.” He continued, “We see the number one priority now, so far from the analysis in the region, being housing, followed by lands and survey land issues, followed by the desire to own small businesses, local Government and public works issues, human services and public service generally, education, health, and D&I services.”

Surge in housing demand

Addressing the growing demand, President Ali disclosed that the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) has been faced with a surge in new applications.

“The number of applications we have in the system is close to 8500. From

upgrades: Moleson Creek –1200; Palmyra – 1300; and Glasgow and Overwinning – 2300.

“So that when you look

at the current demand and what we have in the system, there is a deficit of 3249, of which we still have to find land for,” President

Ali noted. To bridge this gap, the Government will pursue land acquisition in new areas, including Springlands, Number 77 Village, Hogstye, and further expansion in the Moleson Creek area. He also revealed that Government has been receiving a lot of commercial business proposals for the region and that over the next three weeks, the Housing Ministry will be examining those proposals so that we can make the necessary allocation.”

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Pros and cons of incumbency

The statement by the European Union Election Observer Mission (EU-EOM) in its Official Report on the September 1st elections, “An undue advantage of incumbency distorted the level playing field during the election campaign,” has generated widespread commentaries, especially after President Ali weighed in to point out that the issue of incumbency and elections is a much more nuanced one than the Report implies. In a nutshell, the President pointed out that, “There are negatives and positives with incumbency. The People’s Progressive Party Civic delivered on all of its commitments… The Government has a responsibility to highlight and celebrate its delivery and results.” We feel that it is important for our democratic form of Government that this point is better appreciated.

It is a trite observation in political science – amounting to a “law” – that in all political systems there exists what is labelled “the incumbency bonus” – the fact that incumbents get more media attention than the opposition. This is true of every country in the EU, for instance, and is certainly not confined to Guyana. Governments, after all, are engaged constantly in activities affecting all spheres of national life – political, cultural, economic, social and infrastructural development, etc. That is what they are elected to do, based on manifestos they presented in the election campaigns, which naturally provides grist for the media that has to constantly justify its existence in every news cycle.

The Opposition, on the other hand, while free to engage in newsworthy activities, focuses more on the Government not keeping its promises or taking other negative swipes. Ironically, the Opposition parties therefore also work very hard to keep the Government in the public’s eye. The media, which started out as “the print press”, also has a tradition of viewing Governments as a potentially dictatorial “Leviathan” against which the “people” must always be guarded. Over the hundreds of years of democratic Government, many social groups have also arisen that adopt this perspective and issue critical assessments of Governmental activities.

All of this creates another “law” – “the incumbency burden”. News covering incumbents, which is already persistently extensive, is therefore associated with a more negative tone than news featuring the opposition. Governments are almost invariably criticised for not doing enough, so this incumbency burden in turn negatively affects support for the Government. The strict and negatively bent scrutiny leads to what has been called “the cost of ruling – the fact that incumbents lose support at the next election. This is another of the few empirical laws of political science documented in a number of studies. Governments are therefore driven to publicise their achievements to address this negativity.

The cost of ruling thus underlies alternation in office, which is a key mechanism of democratic representation, ensuring that executive power rests with different segments of the electorate and that changing public preferences are reflected in Government policies. For the longest while our politics had been inordinately influenced by ethnic identifications, where support for the major parties was not generated by party performance in delivering on promises but rather by being identified with one or the other major ethnic group.

However, with Guyana experiencing massive demographic changes through emigration, we have become a nation of minorities where parties have to practise to a greater extent what is called “valency politics”. Here the performance of the party vis-à-vis pertinent issues generates support at elections. As such, we have witnessed first an opposition majority in the National Assembly in 2011 and then the classic alternation of Governments in 2015 and 2020. If incumbency advantage were so preponderant, this could not have occurred and, as such, gives the lie to the claim that our electoral process is fatally flawed by the phenomenon.

In real terms, Guyana, along with looking at Governmental activities with a sceptical eye, as with every other democracy, has some media reporting that falls along a spectrum of support for the policies of the Government or the opposition. As such, it is a travesty of justice for the EU-EOM to suggest that it was the “undue advantage” of incumbency that led to the September 1st results.

President’s bold reform deserves the full support of every Guyanese

Dear Editor, It is with great contentment that I listened to the press conference held by His Excellency in Berbice on Friday, November 21, 2025, as he outlined some of our Government’s policy positions to build a better Guyana. I was particularly delighted to hear of the specific focus on the transformation set to occur in our agricultural sector, especially in the area of agrarian reforms, which should produce greater access for those who are the real producers. I believe this vision holds significant potential not only for our nation but also can foster sustainable partnerships on the global stage, particularly in the context of reducing the food import bill within the Caribbean region by 25 per cent by 2030.

Guyana’s agricultural foundation lies in its fertile coastal lowlands, enriched by the vast, untapped potential of our Intermediate and Rupununi Savannahs. The convergence of advanced technology and proactive governance now allows us to view these lands as a cornerstone for national prosperity and regional food security.

The history books cannot forget the programmes between 1960 and 1964, under the then Premiership of Dr Cheddi Jagan, to settle landless and unemployed people on state-owned lands in places like Black Bush Polder, on the Essequibo Coast, in West Berbice and

other places. The primary goal was to create a class of independent farmers and reduce unemployment.

However, as in everything he tried to do, Dr Jagan was deliberately undermined by greater forces who sought to starve his Government of the necessary finances to put in adequate infrastructures and build the cadre of Guyanese to establish a world-class extension service to stimulate and unleash the full potential of these lands.

During the Forbes Burnham era, there was also an attempt to build out a co-operative system, and the state acquired some areas of private land for redistribution, often targeting unused or underutilised lands from private estates. Of course these matters were frustrated when they were challenged in the courts, but also most of the co-operatives established failed since they were plagued by mismanagement, lack of investment, and political interference.

Thus, these visionary announcements by His Excellency, President Ali, have historical foundations that are pregnant with untapped potential just wanting to be unleashed by catalysing and advancing a comprehensive programme of agrarian reform. Well, the announcement was made, and the action plan is in progress.

This initiative is designed to unlock this poten-

tial by ensuring that land is accessible to those who will actually cultivate it, rather than rewarding those who are land grabbers. The core objective is to bring thousands of acres of arable land into active use, replacing historical patterns of underutilisation with vibrant, value-added agricultural production (agro-processing, vertical agriculture, climatically controlled agriculture in shade houses, etc).

This modern reform programme is strategically designed to overcome legacies of the past. Its key pillars include:

Clearing Administrative

Backlogs: Resolving long-standing application delays to provide certainty to farmers and investors.

Regularising Land

Tenure: Granting legal security to real farmers on lands tied to historically defunct systems where the title holder is either deceased and his ancestors are not even living or interested in Guyana.

Expanding the Agricultural Frontier:

Systematically developing new acreages for diverse and large-scale agricultural pursuits as we finally put into action one of the greatest visions for Guyana’s economic upliftment – “the Jagdeo Initiative” (we must all read this mandatory document on moving Guyana forward).

Enhancing Institutional Efficiency: Deploying specialised teams and digital technology to make land ad-

ministration transparent and efficient.

This initiative is not just a domestic policy – it is a strategic pivot to make Guyana a global leader in sustainable food production. The plan combines agro-processing, climate-resilient techniques, and knowledge partnerships to position Guyana as a key food supplier for the Caribbean and beyond. By learning from global best practices, Guyana is realising its ambition of being an efficient, future-ready agricultural producer.

As the non-resident Ambassador of Guyana to the Netherlands, I continue to see significant opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration, particularly drawing on the world-renowned expertise of the Netherlands in water management, agricultural technology, and logistics. Currently there is a trade mission heading to the Netherlands to do exactly this – collaborate, connect and contract. This delegation of private sector business leaders, coordinated by GOINVEST and the European Union with support from the Embassy of Guyana based in Brussels, will be meeting many stakeholders, including the private sector in Europe. However, most importantly, they will be meeting with top food production researchers at the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands.

EU Observers report dismantles Mohamed’s election lies

Dear Editor,

By now, the public is aware that the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has released its final report into the 2025 General and Regional Elections. Anyone genuinely concerned about democracy should read the report in full.

What becomes apparent on review of the report is that Guyana has much to be proud of; significant strides have been made to

improve the health of our democracy after the scars of 2020. After the Granger Government attempted to rig the 2020 elections, the EU EOM made several priority recommendations for the future conduct of elections. The 2025 EOM report acknowledges the fulfilment of three of these priority measures through the Government’s amendments to the Representation of the People’s Act (ROPA) in 2022. These measures, from the

real-time online publication of SOPs to harsher penalties for electoral fraud, were heralded as a “welcome development” aimed at boosting transparency.

Equally compelling is that the report completely dismantles the allegations of electoral fraud levelled by U.S.-indicted Member of Parliament Azruddin Mohamed. Despite the EU itself congratulating President Ali and the PPP/C on September 7th, strange-

We are better than this: a plea for respect in our politics

Dear Editor,

In recent months, I have watched with growing sadness as the tone of our public discourse has spiralled downward. The vulgarity and profanity directed at our public officials are not just disappointing –they are heart-breaking. We can disagree. We can debate. We can demand better. But we must never lose our basic respect for the institutions that hold our country together. This behaviour cannot be condoned and certainly must not be encouraged by those who hold influence.

We are living in a time when our nation is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world – a place

admired, studied, and envied by many. At a moment when we should be showcasing our unity, our pride, and our intelligence, too many are choosing to drag our conversation into the gutter. Our progress means nothing if our conduct as citizens does not rise with it.

As a former public servant who served this country with love, loyalty, and a deep sense of duty, I feel this decline personally. I am, and will always be, proud to be a son of the soil. That pride makes it painful to see us slipping into a culture that tears down instead of builds up. We must remember that the younger generation is watching us every day – lis-

tening to our words, copying our tone, and learning from our behaviour. What legacy are we leaving them? Are we teaching them to reason, to lead, to uplift? Or are we teaching them to insult and demean?

This is a moment for all of us to pause and think. Our actions today will shape the leaders of tomorrow. Let us choose to elevate our political conversations. Let us commit to intelligence over ignorance, respect over ridicule, and nation-building over division. Our country deserves nothing less.

Yours sincerely, Julian Williams, CPA

Former public servant & proud son of Guyana

President’s bold reform...

Mr. Editor, for far too long, our farmers have been entangled in a web of bureaucratic red tape, land titling backlogs, and legal ambiguities, particularly within the defunct co-operative societies. The announcement of this comprehensive plan by His Excellency on November 21, 2025, will cut through this Gordian knot and is precisely the kind of decisive action needed to unleash the full productive power of our agricultural sector.

This bold reform deserves the full support of every Guyanese who values empowerment, productivity, and equity. Our long-

term prosperity depends not on oil, but on transforming Guyana into a powerhouse in value-added food production, using proven strategies that are already in place, like the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Yours sincerely, HE Sasenarine Singh Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Netherlands Permanent Representative to the European Union Permanent Representative to the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States

ly enough, Mr Mohamed has welcomed this very report, even though it thoroughly discredits his claims.

Not only was Election Day described as “peaceful” and “orderly”, but the report also confirms that voting and counting were “efficiently administered”, with tabulation equally efficient. This underscores the integrity and transparency of Polling Day activities, striking down Mohamed’s allegation of rigging.

Additionally, the report highlighted that voters were able to cast their ballots in an “orderly environment”,

free to exercise their democratic franchise. Further, the Observer Mission made it clear that PPP/C, APNU and WIN representatives were present at 100 per cent of the observed polling stations.

Alongside a brief scan of the SOPs published online, this cements that WIN agents would have joined the PPP/C and APNU agents in signing off on every single SOP. This exposes the glaring contradiction in Mr Mohamed’s shifting narrative.

Debate will continue on the incumbent’s advan-

tage; 19 years have passed since a sitting President was re-elected. But the EU Observers Report is clear: the integrity and transparency of the election remained intact.

History continues to remind us that lies remain lies, no matter the repetition. Guyana is a fledgling and vibrant democracy which only continues to grow. Suggestions to the contrary have no basis in fact. The EU Observers Report simply affirms this.

Yours sincerely, Nikhil

Sankar

Campbell is continuing a troubling pattern of misogyny in the PNCR

Dear Editor, Terrence Campbell’s recent attempt to body shame Minister Priya Manickchand on his personal Facebook page is yet another example of a troubling pattern of misogyny within the PNCR – the party which Campbell represents in the National Assembly.

For the benefit of readers, Mr Campbell shared an article from “Village Voice” –a propaganda outfit aligned to the PNCR – which was titled “Ozempic! At $1200 USD per month, it is the drug of choice only Guyana’s ‘nouveau riche’ can afford”. The featured image was that of Minister Manickchand.

Of course, Campbell, who has likened himself to Jesus for leading the

APNU’s 12-member team to Parliament, was severely criticised by citizens for his attempt to shame the female Minister.

However, Campbell’s action is not an isolated one.

One would recall in March of this year, former APNU Minister and longstanding PNCR member, the late Amna Ally, resigned from that party, citing the mistreatment of women within the PNCR.

Ms Ally spoke about the “continuous disregard for women”, who she said are the backbone of the PNCR.

She went further to highlight the case of PNCR stalwart Vanessa Kissoon, who resigned just days before Ally, following reports of sexual assault against her

(Kissoon).

Subsequently, former PNCR General Secretary Geeta Chandan-Edmond also spoke about the abuse meted out to women within the PNCR and the disregard for their contributions to the party.

Recall too that Ms Dawn Hastings-Williams also resigned from the PNCR following mistreatment within the party.

Editor, it is clear from Mr Campbell’s actions that men within the leadership of the PNCR continue to see women as less than, and that there will be no end to the misogynistic conduct of men within that party.

Yours sincerely, Attiya Baksh

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2025

Page Foundation

How Ants Make Big Decisions

Have you ever noticed that animals living in groups tend to work together?

For example, African elephants typically walk in a line for safety and follow the age and experience of the oldest and largest female. This is called the “follow the leader” strategy.

But what about the humble ant? Ants often work together to transport large food items back to their nest. Since ants can’t talk to each other to make decisions, they must rely on other senses to work as a team.

Animals that live in

groups need to be great at problem-solving and working as a team. They must have consensus to avoid conflict and keep the group together. There are two ways to achieve consensus:

•Follow the leader – one or a few individuals have control over the group’s decisions.

•Wisdom of the crowd – the group makes a decision by bringing together all the members’ opinions.

An example of when groups need consensus is during cooperative transport. This is when several individuals work together to move a large

object from A to B – usually prey or food. This is only really seen in ants and humans. We can simply talk to each other, but it’s not quite that easy for ants.

Weaver ants have fig-

ured out that the heavier the piece of food, the larger the group of ants that is needed to transport it.

Scientists watched more than 2000 weaver ants from nine queen-

right colonies and gave them varying pieces of grasshopper for their food. They found that the heavier the piece was, the less side-to-side, unsure movement the group had. The groups that carried the lightest grasshopper pieces moved more erratically. So, as the food grew heavier and the groups got bigger, their paths became straighter. This matches what we would expect from the “wisdom of the crowd” strategy.

Each ant has their own sensory mechanism telling them where they should be going. They pool together their information to increase their accuracy. They are able to sense the forces produced by the other ants

through the object they are carrying. As the group size increases, the accuracy increases. If individual ants make errors in the direction they pull, it gets cancelled out. This means that larger groups end up taking more direct routes. What makes weaver ants so special? They live in complex habitats and likely have knowledge of the route back to their nest. They use visual, magnetic, and olfactory cues to help them navigate. This then allows them to contribute their information to the effort of the group. You can do things with a team that you might not be able to do by yourself. Just like weaver ants! There are also lots of different ways to work with a team. Think about how teamwork plays a role in your own life. It might be at home or at school. How do you communicate with those around you? Does it vary depending on the environment you’re in? Or on the number of participants? When do you tend to follow a leader (or be the leader!), and when do you cooperate to make decisions? (Sciencejournalforkids)

Glossary of Key terms

Colony - a group of organisms of the same species that live together. In the case of weaver ants, a colony is made up around 2,000 individuals.

Consensus - a general agreement among memebers of a group.

Co-operative transport - when two or more individuals work together to carry an item to another location.

Olfactory - related to the sense of smell.

Prey - an organism that is eaten by another organism. Prey can be either an animal or a plant.

Queenright colony - a colony that has a queen who is healthly, mated, and laying eggs.

Guyana looks toward 2026 ICJ hearing

date on border controversy with Venezuela

…hopes Caracas will accept court’s final ruling

Guyana has reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful, rules-based resolution of the border controversy with Venezuela, stating that it is now looking forward to receiving a date for the substantive hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2026. The country also urged Venezuela to abide by whatever decision the Court hands down – just as Guyana has pledged to do.

The remarks were delivered by Ambassador Trishala Persaud, Guyana’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, during the UN General Assembly’s debate on the annual report of the ICJ. Her address underscored the critical role of international law at a time when global conflicts continue to destabilise regions and claim thousands of lives.

Ambassador Persaud said Guyana “looks forward to receiving a date for the hearing and hope[s] that Venezuela will accept the decision of the Court,” noting that the ICJ remains the

preferred avenue for small states seeking legal and peaceful settlements to international disputes.

After years of failed good offices processes through the United Nations (UN), and based on the recommendation of the then UN Secretary General, Guyana approached the World Court in March 2018, seeking a fi-

nal and binding settlement of the 1899 Arbitral Award, which determined the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.

The case is currently pending before the ICJ, which has already established its jurisdiction to hear the matter. Guyana has already filed two written pleadings on the merits,

The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Guyana, in partnership with the US Embassy in Georgetown, hosted its annual Thanksgiving luncheon at the US Ambassador’s residence, continuing a cherished four-year tradition.

According to a press release, the event brought together elders from five geriatric homes across Guyana, including Uncle Eddie’s Home, Demerara Paradise Nursing Home, St Joseph Mercy Resident Care, Byers Senior Citizens Home and Archer’s, to share in the spirit of gratitude as the festive season approaches.

Delivering her heartfelt remarks, Iman Cummings,

and Venezuela has filed one. Oral hearings are expected in the first half of 2026, following which the Court will deliberate on the case and issue its final judgement on the merits, which will be binding on the parties.

Guyana has pledged to accept the ICJ’s judgement.

Peaceful mechanisms

In her address, Ambassador Persaud also highlighted the ICJ’s enduring importance against the backdrop of intensifying conflicts in Sudan, Gaza, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ukraine. At a time when the UN Security Council “is failing to deliver on its mandate” to ensure peace and security, she noted, the ICJ has remained a steady source of reasoned and binding judicial decisions.

She pointed out that during the reporting period, 122 states appeared before the Court in contentious cases or advisory proceedings –an indication of continued trust in the ICJ’s authority.

“It is Guyana’s firm be-

lief that there is no dispute between states that cannot be resolved through peaceful means. The International Court of Justice, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, continues to make a significant contribution in this regard. The growing number of cases and requests for advisory opinions submitted to the Court on wide-ranging issues demonstrates the confidence that member states continue to have in the Court and their deliberate choice of a peaceful means of dispute settlement, consistent with the core principles and objectives of the UN Charter,” the Ambassador stated.

While most states comply with the court’s decisions, Persaud expressed serious concern about instances of non-compliance.

She specifically referenced Israel’s repeated disregard for provisional measures relating to Gaza and the ICJ’s advisory opinion on the legal consequences of its presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

“This blatant disregard

and disrespect for the Court cannot be tolerated,” she said, urging the Security Council to be more forceful in encouraging compliance, including using its enforcement powers under Articles 94 and 96 of the UN Charter.

Ambassador Persaud welcomed the General Assembly’s increased requests for advisory opinions on complex global issues. She noted the importance of the Court’s recent opinions on the responsibilities of states in addressing climate change and on the obligations of Israel and other actors in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Given this rising workload, she echoed the ICJ’s call for greater budgetary support and celebrated the growing participation of developing-country applicants in the Court’s Judicial Fellowship Programme, aided by its Trust Fund.

“As the Court approaches its eightieth anniversary, Guyana remains guided by the principles of the UN Charter and by our faith in the rule of law,” she said.

Vice President of AmCham, thanked all the sponsors, embassy staff, and volunteers for their contributions to another successful luncheon to help lift the spirits of the elders at this time.

She reminded attendees that “progress is not only measured in trade missions and agreements, but also by how we show up for the most vulnerable around us.”

Richard Leo, Executive Director of AmCham, expressed his support for Cummings, noting that she has indicated interest in running for the Chamber’s presidency at the upcoming Annual General Meeting, and wished her well in that endeavour.

Deputy Chief of Mission, John Crippen, offered remarks on behalf of US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot. He expressed her regret at being unable to attend and underscored the importance of Thanksgiving.

Reflecting on his time in Guyana since August, Crippen said he is deeply thankful for the relationships forged and the strong partnership between Guyana and the United States. He also extended his gratitude to Devindra Kissoon, President of AmCham, as well as to all sponsors, staff, and volunteers who made the event possible, particularly as it was his first attendance.

Sponsors of the event

included The Marriott, BDO, Honeywell, Cyrils Transportation, Optique Vision Care, Guyana Americas Merchant Bank, Bynoe’s Realty, Zoon Logistics, Impressions, Zoon Business, CAGE Guyana, Purcee Power, Mid-Atlantic Oil & Gas Inc., Global Venture, Air Dash, Guysons, Pinnacle Business Services, Georgetown American University, International SOS, PS Shipping and Customs Brokerage Inc, Mase Solutions, Ansa Motors, One Communications, Evo Business Solutions Inc, NAMILCO, Corum Group, Japarts, Guyana Payroll Solutions, Suri Trading, MACORP and The Movement Advisors.

Hitting a nerve…

…on Tiger Bay

The PPP/C’s clearly hit a raw nerve in the opposition ranks when their Government – with Pressie directly involved – announced its revitalisation plan to raise GT beyond its glory days of its reputation as the “Garden City of the Caribbean”!! Starting with transforming the Tiger Bay slums into a model neighbourhood!! Well, who tells them to say that??!!! There was Black Pudding Man telling the Minister of Local Government – who’d done a walkabout –to “get the hell out of Tiger Bay!!”

APNU fired off a statement denouncing the announcement as nothing but a “publicity-driven rollout” and made all sorts of demands for “guaranteed incomes, youth-development support, anti-violence programmes, domestic-violence protections, livelihood training, and community-policing reforms”!! You’d have thought Tiger Bay only became a slum on August 2, 2022 – when they were voted out of office!! What had they done for Tiger Bay during their five years at the helm?? Wasn’t State House, with Granger inside, cheek and jowl with Tiger Bay – as President Ali said it was with his??

Along with Sherod Duncan – WIN’s “Shadow of the Shadow Housing Minister” – they demanded the plans for the renewal. You can’t blame them: the PNC was always full of plans (among other things)!! Executing those plans has been their fatal weakness!! And now comes David Patterson with a long missive to the press echoing the same complaints!! “David Who?” you ask?? How quickly you forget, Dear Reader!! Does the Bangle Man – who was APNU/AFC Public Infrastructure Minister – ring a bell?? Yup!! Same fella!!

He’d found himself in the AFC for the last elections – then found himself without even a seat in Parliament!! Amanza stole their supper!! Well, it seems he’s been handed the leadership of the AFC after the mathematically challenged leader resigned!! For the fourth time?? But who does Bangle Man speak for when he was rejected so roundly by the people??!! If he really wants to help those Tiger Bay slum dwellers, maybe he can offer his services as a surveyor – which was always his day job!! –when the PPP/C gives them their house lots??

But the question your Eyewitness has is why all these opposition types have gotten their bucktas in a knot when the PPP/C’s doing what it had been doing for five years – getting up close and helpful with Afro-Guyanese communities?? Didn’t the PNC encourage the Indian-led WIN – wink! Wink!! – thinking Sanction Man would syphon off the PPP’s Indian supporters?? But the latter had the last laugh when it was the PNC Scrapeheads who crossed over!!

The real fear is that from 31 to 16 seats it might next be none for the PNC – and the PPP having a two-thirds majority in the house!!

…with more (PNC) departures

So what does the resignation of former Mayor of GT, Ubraj Narine, from the PNC Executive mean for the part Forbes Burnham carved out from the original PPP back in 1955 – and formalised in 1957?? Let’s remember that whatever may’ve been his faults – and these were legion!! – Burnham understood that in multi-ethnic Guyana a party that aspires to be national always has to have a multi-ethnic leadership.

Even if it were a façade, that façade HAD to be maintained!! So he insisted that contrary to the evidence at elections, Latchmansingh and Jainarine Singh were Indian leaders. From Ubraj’s resignation statement, it seems that leader Norton doesn’t share Burnham’s sentiments!! Your Eyewitness wonders whether he now shares his confidante’s – Black Pudding Man’s – assessment that when Ubraj upbraided the latter’s ally’s derogatory remarks on Indians, he was a “Slave Catcher”??

Whatever the reason, this departure ain’t gonna be the last. So your Eyewitness hopes the last person to leave will turn off the light on the PNC!!

…with Granny

As Pressie continues his now perpetual meet-the-people tours, he has to field all sorts of requests. One from left field was from a sprightly Granny who complained that the cost of her hair dye keeps getting raised by greedy shopkeepers!!

Dealing with Operation Southern Spear

Many Guyanese are understandably concerned about the outcome of the newly named “Operation Southern Spear”, in which, starting in late August, the US has deployed a massive naval force in the Caribbean, ostensibly to interdict narcoshipments from Venezuela to the US. At least 22 small boats have been blown out of the water; 83 persons were killed and 2 captured. But the concern arises not just from the legality of the action – the US Administration insists the attacks are permitted because they are engaged in “noninternational armed conflict” with “designated terrorist organisations” – but also from signals from US spokespersons, starting with President Trump, that the ultimate aim of the operation is regime change in Venezuela.

Ravi Dev

As a small state in the international world order, while we have a vested interest in supporting a peaceful resolution of the crisis, we have to acknowledge the reality that the multilateral institutions which undergirded that order are in a state of flux, and this has introduced a large element of unpredictability which we as a small state have to deal with. As such, while for instance we have supported Caricom’s call that our region remain a “zone of peace”, we have to confront the present realpolitik ethos of the US that gives short shrift to such concerns in what they have declared to be “their hemisphere”. As the Greeks concluded millennia ago, there is no point in a small state agonism about morality since, “as the world goes, right is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.”

China, as an ally of Venezuela that has credible aspirations to challenge the US post-WWII hegemony, has given lip service opposition to the US actions by reaffirming platitudes about peace and multilateral institutions but shows no sign of becoming involved. Russia, also an ally which had supplied most of Venezuela’s military materiel, has answered Venezuela’s call for assistance by at best possibly sending its supersonic Oreshnik missiles but no interventions. Brazil, the strongest Latin American power, had echoed China’s line.

The US actions, therefore, will be guided by the Trump Administration’s reading of their domestic reactions. Their naval build-up concedes that the old strategy of sanctions, elections or wooing military leaders has been abandoned after repeated failures. But as we have stated repeatedly, while President Trump cannot afford to reinforce the mocking TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) label given after his position on tariffs, he also would not want to launch a scaled-up repetition of the 1989 invasion of Panama to remove General Noriega, also accused of narco-trafficking like Maduro. Americans are in no mood for body bags returning home as a result of a large force taking on house-to-house mopping-up operations after confronting Venezuela’s 100,000-plus armed forces. The option on the table is most likely bombings with shiplaunched or drone missiles of strategic locations supporting a Special Operations raid to assassinate Maduro and his upper echelon leadership or at least foster defections in the latter. The present US warnings on aircraft being in Venezuelan airspace signal that this option might be imminent.

It is possible, but unlikely, that the pressure may convince Maduro to participate in a transition to a Government that involves the opposition and members of his PSUV party. However, because of a host of reasons – the fragmented opposition; the rentier military establishment refusing to step aside; the presence of numerous armed groups – colectivos, sindicatos, FARC and ELN guerrillas, empowered cooperatives, etc. – even such a transition will not be peaceful.

What this means for us is that in any scenario that will unfold, the turmoil in the country will create a new tsunami of “refugees” into surrounding countries, including Guyana. But this time there will be a significant number of operatives who had forcefully supported the Maduro regime and would be fearful of retribution. These can become the core of violent non-state terrorist groups operating domestically and towards any new Venezuelan regime. As such, we repeat our calls for securing our borders that have been described as “porous” even after our half of Ankoko was seized in 1966 and we have now experienced terrorist bombings in GT.

While we trust in God (and zones of peace), let us tie our camel.

Pres Ali orders action against delinquent contractors on Corentyne highway bridges

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Thursday issued a strong warning to contractors engaged in building bridges along the Corentyne highway, declaring that the Government will no longer tolerate poor performance, delays, or disregard for contractual obligations.

The Head of State made the remarks during an engagement with residents at State House in New Amsterdam, where he outlined new accountability measures for both contrac-

tors and supervising engineers.

President Ali said he is “astonished” at the level of sloth displayed by some of the contractors hired for the bridge-replacement programme, as well as by certain supervising engineers responsible for monitoring progress. He stressed that the delays are unacceptable, especially given the importance of the project to regional development.

“The Government has awarded the building of the

bridges on the main public road, and you have seen the slothfulness of the contractors and the engineer who is supervising this project,” Ali stated. “I am astonished that liquidated damages are not yet applied. And from my information so far, these contractors seem disinterested in the completion of these bridges.”

The President said he has instructed the Permanent Secretary and the Head of Procurement to take immediate steps to en-

force contractual penalties and to block non-performing contractors from receiving any new Government projects until they complete the bridges currently under construction.

“There is no excuse any more. There cannot be excuses; we pay for services from the Government, and those services must be delivered efficiently. There is no shortcut to this.”

President Ali was equally firm about the responsibility of project engineers,

noting that several administrative requirements necessary for the Government to take action against delinquent contractors have not been properly documented.

“I have asked the Finance Secretary to examine whether project engineers are delinquent in the management of this project. If they are not ensuring that all administrative requirements are in

place, the Finance Secretary is aware of the powers vested in the system for action to be taken, and action will be taken.”

He emphasised that the Government’s commitment to accountability applies “at every level”, and that those paid to deliver public services cannot expect to do so without measurable outcomes.

Housing Ministry to regularise 35 swamp lots in Belvedere North, Region 6

–

20 families set to receive land titles; relocation support promised for those under high-voltage power lines

Residents of Belvedere North, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), are now closer than ever to gaining legal ownership of the lands they have occupied for years, following a major announcement earlier today by Minister of Housing and Water Collin Croal.

cleared for regularisation.

Extensive work by the Ministry’s Community Development Department has already set the foundation for the process. Inventories, block surveys, and occupation surveys have been completed. Surveyor Travis Fields is expected to deliver the final design by November 19, 2025, with boundary paals scheduled to be placed the following day to clearly demarcate each household’s lot.

“Once that’s completed, the final plan will be recorded,” Minister Croal explained. “I will return for the signing of the Agreements of Sale.”

While most residents will finally receive the security of formal land ownership, nine households face a different outcome. These families currently live directly beneath the 69 KVA GPL power line reserve – a high-voltage zone that cannot legally or safely be regularised.

Speaking during a community engagement, Minister Croal confirmed that the Ministry has begun the process of regularising 35 swamp-classified lots located in the Old Housing Scheme section of Belvedere North – an area first devel-

Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has advised that dwelling under the power lines poses serious risks. Minister Croal reassured the affected households that they will not be displaced without support. Relocation options will be arranged to ensure they transition safe-

oped in 1997 but left in limbo for decades.

For many of the families who settled there, today’s news marks the end of long-standing uncertainty.

“We will regularise the Belvedere area,” Minister Croal assured residents, prompting applause from the gathering.

The 35 swamp lots remained unallocated for years, even as 20 families gradually constructed homes, raised families, and built their lives in the community. After a recent survey, all 35 lots were confirmed as suitable for residential development and

mind. Legal recognition of their homes means access to land titles, the ability to in-

vest in their properties, and the comfort that their land is rightfully theirs.

Today’s decision marks a significant step in the Ministry’s wider mandate to bring order, fairness, and long-term development to communities across

ly and securely.

Belvedere North is not the only community in the region benefitting from the Housing Ministry’s push to bring stability to long-settled areas. Port Mourant Block Six, a community with a history of uneven settlement dating back to early 2000s surveys, is also undergoing regularisation. Its final plan is expected to be completed by November 30, 2025.

For many Belvedere families – some of whom have lived on their lots for more than a decade – the announcement represents dignity, security, and peace of

Finance Minister highlights Guyana’s global climate leadership through LCDS

– says 3MW Hampshire solar farm signals commitment to clean energy transition

Guyana has taken another major step in its renewable energy transition with the commissioning of a 3 megawatt (MW) solar farm at Hampshire, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) –an initiative Government officials say underscores the country’s seriousness about transforming its energy landscape while positioning itself as a global leader in climate financing.

Speaking at the ceremony, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh hailed the project as “historic,” emphasising its significance in Guyana’s clean energy journey, job creation, and strengthening of regional and international partnerships.

“This project is part of a very important historic journey,” Dr. Singh said. “It reflects the Government of Guyana’s unwavering com-

mitment to delivering sustainable energy solutions nationwide.”

The facility, commissioned on Friday last during President Irfaan Ali’s two-

Programme, which is funded through the Guyana–Norway forest partnership.

The US$83 million programme will see the construction of eight solar

at Hampshire, Prospect, and Trafalgar.

Dr Singh also used the opportunity to reflect on the foundations of Guyana’s global climate leadership, noting that as far back as 2006, then-President Bharrat Jagdeo championed the call for the preservation of Guyana’s rainforest to be financially recognised. This advocacy culminated in the landmark 2009 Guyana–Norway agreement, under which Norway committed US$250 million for Guyana’s forest conservation services.

“Guyana was providing climate services to the world free of charge,” Dr Singh reminded. “Former President Jagdeo articulated the vision for forest compensation in a way that had never before been done anywhere in the world.”

day Cabinet outreach to region, forms part of the

farms delivering a total of 33 megawatt peak (MWp) of power across the country, including three in Region Six

He noted that this vision continues under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, launched by President Irfaan Ali, which has expanded climate financing opportunities and funded various renewable energy and community development projects – including

the GUYSOL programme.

Women, Youth, PLWD

Benefiting

The solar project is already delivering meaningful social benefits. IDB

Resident Representative Lorena Solórzano Salazar highlighted that 31 of the 50 persons trained in solar PV installation under the programme were women, all of whom gained employment during the first three years of implementation across Regions Two (PomeroonSupenaam), Five (MahaicaBerbice), Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice). Additionally, six persons with disabilities were trained and are now employed with the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL).

Pillar of Guyana’s Energy Future

The Government’s 2025 Manifesto outlines ambitious plans to expand the country’s renewable energy portfolio, including resuscitating the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) and adding another 100MW

of solar generation capacity. These initiatives are part of a diversified energy mix aimed at lowering emissions, improving reliability, and reducing electricity costs over time.

The commissioning of the Hampshire solar farm aligns with broader transformative developments underway in Region Six. Over the last five years, Berbice has seen significant investments toward becoming Guyana’s second major industrial hub. The region now boasts a modern Number 75 Regional Hospital, improved road infrastructure, an ongoing New Amsterdam hospital project, call centres that provide new employment opportunities, and major projects such as the Palmyra stadium and plans for new bridges across both the Berbice and Corentyne rivers.

As the GUYSOL programme progresses, Government officials say these solar farms will not only provide cleaner energy but also support economic expansion, stimulate investment, and reduce the region’s long-term dependence on fossil fuels.

Linden farmers urged to increase crop production

– as Govt collaborates with livestock farmers to expand agriculture in region

Minister of Agriculture

Zulfikar Mustapha conducted a community meeting with residents and farmers at the Christianburg Community Center Ground, Linden, Region 10, on Saturday to present the Ministry's and the Government's develop-

Linden has received substantial development under the PPP/C Administration.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Minister Mustapha confirmed that a request for a tractor from the Naibingi Association was fulfilled, and a shade house would be delivered to the group in the coming

ment plans.

The Minister emphasised the significance of agriculture in Linden and highlighted the Government's investments over the years, noting that the Minister stated that

days.

Linden boasts a state-ofthe-art hydroponic facility where young persons are engaged in farming.

Minister Mustapha also noted the necessity of the

agro-processing facility operating daily. This facility is expected to enhance value for farmers in the region. He mentioned that large companies have been engaging with the Ministry.

Minister Mustapha challenged farmers to increase crop production to meet demand and will collaborate with livestock farmers to pursue the same path.

"We are actively developing a brand for blackbelly sheep. We can implement a program to work with farmers in Linden to establish the Black Belly Sheep programme locally."

Milk production in Moblissa will provide added value to the residents of Linden, he added, and encouraged farmers to seize opportunities within the region.

The Ministry aims to expand agriculture in Region 10, and Minister Mustapha noted that the Government

Haliborange Giving Tree Initiative bringing brighter Christmas to Children at GPHC

The spirit of Christmas giving came to life on Saturday with the launch of the 2025 Haliborange Giving Tree Initiative at Massy Stores

Mega, where First Lady Arya Ali placed the first ornament and offered her full endorsement of the programme. Now in its second year, the Giving Tree continues its mission of supporting children receiving care at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) by helping to create brighter, more nurturing spaces for healing.

This year’s initiative aims to raise approximately $1.5 million to construct an indoor mini play zone in the paediatric ward of GPHC. Hospital representatives underscored the value of child-friendly environments within healthcare settings, highlighting that play can reduce fear and anxiety, improve emotional well-being, and provide moments of comfort during treatment. Construction of the new play zone is expected to begin early in the new year. Members of the public can contribute simply by purchasing any Haliborange product at Massy Stores Mega, Providence, or Giftland. For

Inc

every purchase, five per cent of the sales value will be donated to the Giving Tree fund, and Massy Stores (Guyana) Inc. will match that amount—doubling the impact of each contribution. All proceeds, along with care packages, will be handed over to young patients on Christmas Day. During the launch cere-

mony, the First Lady praised the initiative for its focus on children’s emotional and physical well-being. “This initiative reflects what my office continues to champion across Guyana—creating safe, nurturing and meaningful spaces for our children no matter where they live,” she said. “I want to thank Massy Distribution

and Haliborange for leading with care and consistently supporting the well-being of our young kids.”

Echoing this sentiment, Bhashkaranand Singh, Sales Director of Massy Distribution, said the initiative aligns with the company’s long-standing commitment to serving communities. “At Massy Distribution, corporate social responsibility is not an obligation—it is a core part of who we are. We believe that every organisation has a responsibility to help improve the communities it serves,” Singh noted. Christpen Bobb-Semple, Assistant Vice President & General Manager of Massy Stores (Guyana) Inc, said the Giving Tree allows customers to directly participate in meaningful community support. “We are always

excited about initiatives that allow our customers to participate in being a Force for Good,” he said. “At Massy, we often speak about love and care, and this partnership demonstrates those values by stepping up where it truly counts.” Last year’s Giving Tree Initiative delivered Christmas cheer to children across Guyana. This year, the project deepens its impact by focusing on longterm improvements within the healthcare system, offering young patients comfort and hope during a challenging time in their lives. With the generosity of customers and the dedication of Haliborange, Massy Distribution, and Massy Stores, the Giving Tree continues to grow as a holiday tradition grounded in care, community, and compassion.

LEO WiFiGY programme

135,000 Hinterland residents from 253 villages receive full connectivity

The Office of the Prime Minister, through its facilitating agency, the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), has successfully completed the roll-out of the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) WiFiGY service to all 253 Hinterland villages across the country, which ensures that every hinterland, remote, and riverine community now benefits from public high-speed internet access for the first time in national history.

According to a press release by the Office of the Prime Minister on Saturday, the milestone reflects the Government’s digital inclusion mandate to expand equitable access to essential services, improve learning opportunities, and strengthen connectivity across Guyana.

The installations commenced on July 10, 2024, in the Moruca sub-district, with the programme’s official launch in Kamwatta Village by Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips. Since then, technical teams deployed across Regions One through 10 under the coordination of the NDMA have completed hundreds of national installations across the 253 sites.

To ensure consistent service in communities which are far-flung and remote, the deployment teams applied a tailored model based on the geographic conditions of each location. This included the use of pole-mounted infrastructure featuring solar-powered systems with battery reserves, marking the first time that villages

such as Annisbisi (Red Hill) received 24/7 high-speed internet access.

Through this effort, schools, ICT hubs, health centres, community grounds, learning facilities, and administrative buildings are now connected.

This achievement has provided more than 135,000 residents with unhindered access to learning opportunities, including the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL). Residents now also benefit from digital skills training, remote medical consultations through telemedicine, expanded micro entrepreneurship opportunities, and enhanced Government services.

Prime Minister Phillips, in welcoming the completion of the initiative, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to national equity in digital access.

“This achievement reflects strong collaboration across Government agencies, regional leadership, village councils and our technical partners.” He added that "with the completion of the programme, every Hinterland community is connected, and every Guyanese child, family and entrepreneur now has a pathway to digital opportunities that were once out of reach. This is how we build equity, strengthen national participation and continue moving Guyana forward.”

Yupukari students leap from 0% to 50% pass rate in NGSA; improved reading skills

For nearly two decades, villagers of Yupukari, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), have watched a quiet revolution unfold, one built not on technology or large infrastructure, but on books, community effort, and a belief that children deserve every chance to succeed.

When the library was founded by a US-based social worker, Alice Layton, in 2001 to improve literacy in Yupukari, just a small percentage of students from the village could read.

During a visit to the community, Layton was struck by a comment from one of the teachers: the children were showing low levels of creativity. The observation troubled her, prompting her to consider how she could use her own skills and resources to support learning in the area. After further discussions with several teachers, she realised that the solution rested in providing access to books and information. This idea became the foundation for the Rupununi Learners Foundation (RLF), established that same year with a mission to enhance the quality of life for Rupununi residents. Layton believed that this could be achieved through access to materials and activities that promote literacy, numeracy, informa-

lages. Although language remains a challenge, the team advocates for a curriculum that introduces Makushi as a written language either before or alongside English in the early grades, and they express full support for such an initiative.

From the outset, Yupukari villagers have been deeply involved in ensuring access to books for their community. They

rate on the National Grade Six Assessment in 2025, a dramatic rise that residents credit to the Yupukari Public Library, its outreach programmes, and the partnerships formed along the way.

“Villagers credit the library and its outreach activities with the consistent rise in the pass rate,” one library representative noted. “We went from near zero when

tion sharing, and the preservation and transmission of Indigenous knowledge.

In 2007, the organisation’s local branch, Rupununi Learners Incorporated (RLI), was formally registered. Comprising villagers from across the Rupununi, RLI focuses on building and maintaining community learning centres in the region, while the RLF remains headquartered in the United States. The organisation has since expanded its focus to introduce its programmes to additional vil-

helped construct the village’s public library, the Caiman House Field Station, and assisted with school building renovations through mayu –community service labour.

Yupukari now boasts four libraries: three classroom libraries within the nursery and primary schools and one public library. These facilities are managed by three full-time librarian trainees and are equipped with six Internet-enabled laptops and a collection of books suited for readers of all ages.

Today, the community celebrates a 50 per cent pass

we started in 2005 to 50 per cent this year.”

The Yupukari Public Library has grown into one of the most impactful institutions in the North Rupununi. Staffed by a fulltime librarian and several volunteers, the library now houses more than 5000 hand-picked Englishlanguage books, laptops, internet access, educational toys, maps, art supplies, puzzles, and resources designed to strengthen foundational skills.

Its influence expanded significantly during the pan-

demic. Through the EMG Memorial Fund, the library distributed 266 home schooling kits, one for every child in the Yupukari schools, and kept learning alive through pickup and delivery of worksheets, art materials, and reading books at its outdoor reading room and park. The period also saw the birth of its first branch library in Fly Hill Village.

But the transformation began long before, sparked by a realisation that the home-school connection in 2005 was weak. “Teachers were not collaborating. Reading wasn’t regarded as fun,” the library team recalled. Even after the library was built, community engagement with reading remained uneven.

That changed with Reading Rodeo, an allday literacy celebration launched on December 6, 2006. Every teacher and both librarians hosted activities in different buildings across the village. Families received “passports” to stamp at each location, a hands-on, community-wide introduction to reading as joy, not obligation.

Reading Rodeo is now held annually and is one of the village’s most beloved events.

While the focus has long been on English literacy, the language of national exams, Yupukari faces a unique challenge: most children grow up speaking Macushi, the Indigenous language of the region. Macushi has only been a written language for about a generation.

Into this rich ecosystem stepped Lindsay, a Peace Corps volunteer assigned to Yupukari three weeks ago. In an interview with Guyana

Times, she said her focus is on strengthening literacy from Grades 1 to 6 under the Ministry of Education’s Read to Achieve initiative.

The initiative (officially part of the National Literacy Programmes) is a comprehensive, nationwide drive launched to ensure every child can read by the end of Grade Four and to improve literacy levels across all age groups.

“So, what we do is diagnostic testing with the kids, and we assess kind of different components of literacy, and the kids that are struggling the most or most below their grade level are the kids that we choose for intervention. So, we do small group intervention with about five kids at a time that are all at a similar literacy level, and we try to use more interactive or different styles of learning for kids that maybe don›t do very well with kind of sitting in one place and reading. So, a lot of games. We do a lot of letter bingo, picture cards, things like that,” she said.

She was quick to acknowledge the foundation laid long before she arrived.

“The kids are very enthusiastic about learning, and that comes from the great teachers and mentors already here. The community has been incredibly welcoming.”

Peace Corps has served in Guyana since the 1960s, with volunteers supporting community-driven projects in education, health, and the environment. Volunteers also learn to speak Creole as part of their service, deepening their integration into village life.

For Lindsay, integration has been natural and imme-

diate. She participates with the Wildlife Club – joining 05:30h brooding activities, Saturday sessions, and village clean-ups. She spends evenings “gaffing” with her landlord, who has already become a close friend.

“It feels like a sense of family and home already, which I didn’t expect so fast,” she said. “I’m very grateful.” Lindsay’s goals for the next two years align with the community’s long-term literacy vision: improved Grade Six exam scores, an after-school reading programme, and new interactive learning materials such as outdoor letter hopscotch and educational games.

“I’d love to help build more confidence in the children, help them be better friends, better community members,” she said. “They already have so many great ideas. It’s about giving them a space to talk, dream, and plan.”

The library continues to call for donated materials, especially beginner reader books with simple sentences and three- or four-letter words, which are critical for early literacy in a second language.

As Yupukari moves toward its goal of stronger bilingual literacy and even higher exam pass rates, the story remains a testament to what communities can achieve when they rally behind their children.

From 0 per cent passes to 50 per cent, from a handful of books to a thriving library system, and from fragmented teaching to village-wide literacy celebrations, Yupukari is proving that when reading becomes a culture, success follows naturally.

Driver/teacher succumbs one day after Corentyne minibus smash-up; death toll now 2

By Andrew CArmiChAel

The 31-year-old teacher who was driving the minibus involved in Friday’s horrific crash at Number 63 Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) has died – just one day after the 16-year-old student, Jodea Seline, lost her life in the tragedy.

Police confirmed on Saturday that the Brighton Village educator, who was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in critical condition with severe head injuries, succumbed despite extensive medical treatment.

Seline, a student of Bush

Lot Secondary and resident of Limlair Village, was pronounced dead shortly after the accident on Friday evening when she and several schoolmates were rushed to the Number 75 Regional Hospital. The group was returning home after athletics sports held in Corriverton. According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), minibus BAB 7570 was heading north with 17 passengers of teachers and students around 18:05h when the driver reportedly lost control. The vehicle toppled onto its right side and was extensively damaged. Public-spirited residents assisted in pulling the injured from the wreckage and transporting them to the Number 75 Hospital.

Three of the injured –the driver, a 13-year-old girl of Brighton Village, and a 16-year-old girl of Cromarty Village – were later transferred to GPHC for specialist neurosurgical attention. The remaining passengers were admitted in stable condition.

There were 18 persons on the bus at the time of the crash, the majority being children.

When this publication visited the scene, there were skid marks on the road indicating where the driver would have applied brakes; 110 metres farther, there was debris on the road shoulder, indicating where the bus finally came to a halt.

Inside the wreckage were footwear and empty alcoholic beverage bottles.

Jodea Seline

Through tears, Shamella Glasgow, mother of the deceased 16-year-old, said she last saw her daughter alive when she dropped her off at school that morning.

“When I reached the hospital, they told me she didn’t make it,” she said. Her younger daughter, aged 13, also suffered injuries and remains under observation.

“She was friendly… always friendly to everybody. Everybody broken in the family,” Glasgow cried. Their aunt, Shelay Casline, said the family hurried to the scene before racing to the hospital. “There was confusion… we didn’t know who survived or how bad the injuries were,” she said. Meanwhile, the medical superintendent of the Skeldon Hospital, Dr Devendra Radhy, said the institution managed 18 patients, the majority being schoolchildren between the ages of 4 and 18.

“Three had to be transferred to Georgetown because they required neurosurgery – two children with skull fractures and the adult driver, who showed signs of severe brain damage on CT scan,” Dr Radhy explained.

One female student underwent emergency ab-

dominal surgery and remains in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Another is being monitored in the High Dependency Unit. A fouryear-old child escaped injury. Dr Radhy said the response involved all medical and support staff, with personnel rushing in even while off duty.

Director General of the Ministry of Health Dr Vishwa Mahadeo commended the hospital team and the community’s rapid response. “Yesterday alone proved the importance of having a fully equipped facility like Skeldon Hospital,” he said, noting that immediate CT scans allowed doctors to rapidly determine who needed

Pres Ali says housing now....

Informal settlements

A major announcement was the Government’s new push to regularise long-standing informal settlements across Region Six. “In terms of informal settlements, we will be regularising 25 sub-settlements, which will result in the regularisation of almost ,000 house lots. These areas include Nigg, Belvedere, and Hampshire,” the President confirmed. He said this drive is part of a broader effort to ensure that persons occupying lands for many years can finally receive secure documentation.

The Head of State also outlined special initiatives for communities where residents have lived without ownership for generations. Seventy families of Number 46 Village, who have been living on the lands for generations dating back to over 100 years, will get titles for those lands before June 2026. Over 25 of these will be ready by the end of January 2026, and the rest

will be completed before June,” President Ali announced.

He stressed that the state has taken on the financial burden to make this possible.

“The state purchased the land from private persons and distributed it to those who have been in occupation, and therefore the occupants now get clean titles. It’s important… that the state has borne and will continue to bear all of the costs related to these transactions. The legal fees, the surveying fees, the filing fees, and the acquisition. And I think this is not only commendable, but this must be the first country… in which the state is acting in this manner in the interest of our people,” the President said. He noted that many defunct co-op societies in the region still control or have in their possession hundreds of acres of land which persons occupy without leases. “We have to take steps now to vest these leas-

surgery and who required urgent transfer. He also dismissed rumours about blood shortages, saying adequate supplies were available and reinforcements were already en route from New Amsterdam and Georgetown.

Both Dr Radhy and Dr Mahadeo said residents played a vital role in quickly transporting the injured to hospital, alongside ambulances from Skeldon, Port Mourant, Mibicuri, and New Amsterdam. Officials from the Health and Education Ministries and the Regional Administration are continuing to work with affected families as investigations into the crash continue.

FROM PAGE 3

es in the occupants’ names,” he said, while pointing out that frequent legal challenges and disputes often delay block surveys and the registration of titles and leases. To tackle this, he said, “We now would set up a special team to conduct an occupational survey with the inclusion of communities themselves and grant leases from the master lease. This will

bring the leases in line with lawful land occupation.”

He added that the Cabinet will appoint a subcommittee to deal specifically with other land issues across the region with a view to regularising occupation.

Priority shift

President Ali said the shift in the region’s priority

profile shows that people are now becoming very aligned with the policy agenda of the Government. “So, issues of home ownership, owning small businesses, owning agricultural land and expanding agricultural production, quality of service, whether it’s GWI (Guyana Water Inc), GPL (Guyana Power & Light), or health services – these are now oc-

cupying the priority of people,” he explained. He emphasised that investments in drainage, irrigation, healthcare, education, and other sectors have reduced the burden on citizens and allowed them to focus on building better lives. “This region is going to undergo massive infrastructure, economic, and investment transformation… not only from the gas, but in terms of tourism, in terms of modern infrastructure, healthcare, education, private investment,” the President said, noting that the overall policy framework is geared towards “economic growth and transformation in the region.” He further stressed that the Government’s manifesto remains aligned identically with the priorities of the people because it was built “bottom up, with the involvement of the people, with consultation, and building a team approach to what we want to accomplish as a Government and as a people.”

How Yupukari’s Caiman House became a beacon for conservation and culture

Deep in the heart of the Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), where the rainforest gives way to floodplain savannah, the stillness of the river at night is broken by the soft hum of boats and the shining reflection of a black caiman’s eye. This is the site of Caiman House, a field station and guest lodge where conservation is not just a project; it is woven into the very fabric of community life. Caiman House was founded in 2005 by two Americans, biologist Peter Taylor and Alice Layton, who saw more than just a research opportunity when they came to one of the beautiful communities in the Rupununi: Yupukari. They envisioned a model where science, culture and local stewardship converge.

Over some two decades, that vision has grown into a thriving social enterprise, entirely community-led, un-

derscored by research, education, craft and cultural revival. Delrene Lawrence, General Manager (GM) of Caiman House, captured the soul of the place during a meeting with members of the media during our visit. Guyana Times, along with leading media houses in Guyana, was at the time on a media familiarisation trip organised by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Government of Guyana. Lawrence told us, “So, since Peter left, we have been working and still continue to do the Black Caiman research. So, we still collect data. We have our local team that was trained, and we continue that through research tourism. We do crafts, we do research, we do education, we have a public library. And also, we try to, as much as we can, to reintroduce back our culture that is failing every day.” Her words re-

flect not a temporary project, but a commitment to institutionalising conservation and cultural resilience. Importantly, she didn’t shy away from the deeper struggles: traditional knowledge fading, environmental threats and the very real need to sustain the younger generation’s interest in their heritage.

Intergenerational

She explained how children are being drawn back into cultural arts: “We have kids coming over. [They] learn to plot. Some are into pottery. Some are spinning cotton. We work closely with [the] wildlife club. We do a garbage campaign. We pass on to our children.”

According to Lawrence, this is not just environmental work; it’s intergenerational healing. One of the most compelling experiences for guests she highlighted was the night-time caiman capture tour. As Tourism Guyana describes it: “You have to wait until dusk. Then … you board your boats … with the expert black caiman research team … capturing, measuring and tagging black caiman … in the wild.”

Under a canopy of stars, the research crew manoeuvre their boat, spotlights sweeping the water, until the tell-tale glint of a caiman’s eye appears. Once caught, the team carefully handles the animal, measuring, recording, and sometimes implanting a small tag, always ensuring its safe return to the river.

But Caiman House’s conservation isn’t limited to caimans. Over the years, it has expanded into turtle conservation, particularly of the

yellow-spotted river turtle. Lawrence shared how the community now monitors turtle nesting sites, collects eggs, incubates them and eventually releases hatchlings:

“As soon as we find them, we would monitor them. We have local rangers; they would bring these eggs to [a] man-made sand pit. [Then] they’re hatched, and after one year, we would release them. We have released over 8000 turtles back into the wild.”

The impact of that goes beyond biology. It is deeply cultural.

Public library

Lawrence also emphasised the role of the Yupukari Public Library, funded and run through Caiman House’s non-profit framework, in shaping young minds.

“We have after-school programmes, making education as fun. We put them, give them different activities. They borrow books, at the end reading rodeo. Games, gifts.” Every December, they host a “reading rodeo”, bringing children from local schools together in a celebration of stories, learning, and nature. The library also distributes books to surrounding communities, nurturing a regional culture of literacy. One of the less visible but deeply powerful parts of Caiman House’s work is in cultural preservation. As Lawrence described: “We try as much to get [the children] involved. We try to get them to learn weaving, making matapis, making shumba. But the younger generation now, they are not interested. We encourage the school chil-

dren to do weaving, pottery, spinning cotton.” By teaching these arts, Lawrence said the Caiman House is doing more than preserving crafts; it is restoring a sense of identity, anchoring tradition in future generations. Caiman House’s model has begun to gain national and international recognition. It is registered as a non-profit in Guyana, with 100 per cent of its surplus revenue channelled back into conservation, education and cultural projects. Its success has been noted in policy documents: a blueprint on community tourism from Conservation International describes the caiman project’s structure, emphasising that “the tourism committee reports directly to the village council,” preserving local governance and ownership. Moreover, the turtle conservation project, part of the broader work at Caiman House, has been highlighted by CIFOR-ICRAF for its community-led approach.

Our media trip, led by the Ministry of Tourism and Commerce and supported

by the GTA, couldn’t have come at a better time. With biodiversity under increasing pressure and local traditions eroding in many places, Caiman House stands as a living rebuke to the idea that conservation must extract value from nature without giving back. There, conservation is not a foreign imposition; it’s an inherited responsibility. And tourism isn’t parasitic; it’s part of the village’s fabric.

Looking Forward: challenges and hopes Lawrence was clear-eyed about the road ahead; climate change, water-level shifts, and the need to maintain youth engagement are real challenges. She also acknowledges the fragility of memory, especially as elders pass on and young people draw toward modern life.

“We reintroduce back our culture that is failing every day,” she said.

That alone makes Caiman House more than a field station; it makes it a sanctuary for resilience.

Chief Investment Officer leads high-level investment mission to Europe

– as PSC throws support behind outreach

Guyana has embarked on a landmark investment outreach to Europe, led by Chief Investment Officer at the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) and newly appointed Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Peter Ramsaroop. The Private Sector Commission (PSC) has formally recognised and endorsed the mission, describing it as a pivotal step in advancing the country’s logistics, trade, and agro-processing development. The delegation –Guyana’s first outward investment mission to Europe – brings together Public and Private Sector leaders for a comprehensive eight-day programme across France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain. Delegates will study advanced port systems, digital logistics frameworks, and cutting-edge agro-processing operations,

gathering insights crucial to Guyana’s rapid economic expansion and diversification.

The PSC is participating in the EU-funded mission through its Executive Director, Nayteram Ramnarine. He joins representatives from GOInvest, the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO), VEHSI, Crane Guyana Inc, Guyana Port Inc, Western Logistics Guyana, Banks DIH Ltd, DDL, UMAMI Inc, and other private-sector stakeholders. The mission also includes delegates from Antigua, Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, the EU Delegation, and the Spanish Foundation for the Internationalisation

of Public Administrations (FIAP) – expanding the opportunity for regional collaboration and shared learning.

During the tour, the Guyanese delegation will engage with some of Europe’s most sophisticated logistics and research institutions.

Scheduled visits include the ports of Marseille, AntwerpBruges, Rotterdam, and Málaga – global leaders in sustainable port governance, digitalisation, and maritime innovation.

Academic and technical exchanges with Wageningen University and other partners will provide practical exposure to modern agro-processing systems, advanced food-safety frameworks, and market-access best practices.

These insights, the PSC notes, will directly support Guyana’s ongoing work to modernise its supply chains, improve the ease of export-

ing, and strengthen agro-industrial competitiveness.

The PSC stressed that the mission aligns seamlessly with the development agenda being advanced by President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, particularly the establishment of a modern, regionally connected deep-water port in Berbice.

Such a facility is expected to transform Guyana into a major logistics and transhipment hub, reduce ship-

ping costs, and unlock new investment opportunities for local producers.

“The PSC views this initiative as a transformative step toward improving export competitiveness, strengthening logistics performance, and expanding investment opportunities for Guyana’s private sector,” the organisation said.

The PSC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting public-private partnerships,

innovation, and capacity building – critical pillars in Guyana’s evolution into a modern, globally connected trading hub.

As the mission continues, the delegation is expected to return with key recommendations and strategic frameworks that will guide the country’s next phase of investment, port development, and agro-industrial modernisation.

G/Town Mayor among 2025 UG graduates earning

Bachelor’s

Degree in International Relations

– completes 20-year academic journey along various paths

Georgetown’s Mayor, Alfred Mentore, will walk across the University of Guyana’s graduation stage on Saturday to receive his Bachelor’s Degree in international relations – bringing to completion an academic journey that began more than two decades ago.

For the Chief Citizen, the achievement represents far more than a certificate. It marks the fulfilment of a personal promise made years before he ever entered public life.

“This degree made my job a lot easier,” Mentore shared in an interview with UG’s Department of Events, Conferences and Communication (DECC). “I was able to understand from an academic standpoint what I was doing in real life. It gave me a deeper perspective on how to address and apply my learnings to everyday matters and to make more informed decisions as council head.”

Mentore’s academic path was anything but linear. In the late 1990s he began pursuing a degree in Economics, later switching to Banking and Finance in the early 2000s. But life –and responsibility – intervened.

“I had to shelve my aspirations,” he recalled. “I needed to secure a solid livelihood, develop a business portfolio, and build partnerships that created net worth. My work as a real estate investor and entrepreneur took precedence.”

Along the way, Mentore discovered another calling: public service. His long-standing interest in politics eventually drew him into the Georgetown City Council, where he rose from councillor to Deputy Mayor and ultimately Mayor.

Yet the desire to complete his studies never faded.

Full circle

“Coming full circle… that has always been foremost in my mind. I felt it was necessary to complete this first step in my journey. And I’m not stopping here – my master’s is next. Learning is a lifelong journey,” he said.

Mentore returned to university amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period during which he was simultaneously serving as Deputy Mayor, helping manage essential service operations, and raising a young family with two teenagers.

“It was around 2020–

But he stayed motivated – partly by the desire to graduate before his daughter, who is expected to finish school next year.

“I wanted bragging rights,” he laughed. “And I wanted her to get her own moment.”

Mentore credited UG’s teaching staff for enriching his learning experience.

“The lecturers at UG were well informed and interactive. The experiences strengthened my leadership capacity and widened my knowledge base. My learnings will truly shape how I see things locally, regionally, and internationally,” he said.

He emphasised that the degree directly supports his mayoral responsibilities: “My role will always be to find workable solutions for the greater good of the city and the nation.”

Words of encouragement

on the prize!” he urged. “If I could come full circle and dedicate the time – while running the city – to complete this journey… why not you?”

He also underscored the importance of certification.

“Many people are qualified for the job they are doing but not certified. And sometimes someone comes along with a certificate and gets your job – not because they’re more capable, but because they’re certified. Certification and qualification are two distinct things. Regardless of your constraints, find a way to get certified. There are so many avenues now, online or otherwise. And Government is doing much more to make that journey possible.”

The demands were immense.

“It was hard and tiring,” he admitted. “I had to switch on and off between work and study and still put on a brave face every day.”

2021. I had to care for citizens, discharge my responsibilities as Deputy Mayor, and continue working as part of an essential service entity,” he explained. “My family gave me the support I needed. A lot of resourceful people played their part in helping me pursue this degree.”

As he prepares to officially graduate, Mayor Mentore offered words of encouragement to public servants, working parents, entrepreneurs, and young people who doubt their ability to balance education with life’s responsibilities.

“Never give up on your dreams. Keep your sight

The public is invited to join the University of Guyana in celebrating this year’s graduation ceremonies, which will be streamed live on UG’s Facebook page and the UG Broadcasting Service. The events are also receiving coverage from local and international media.

UG, now in its 62nd year, has produced more than 70,000 graduates, many of whom have gone on to serve with distinction at the highest levels of national and international leadership.

Police find 5.4kg of ganja, 9mm ammo on truck at Cuyuni checkpoint

Aroutine traffic oper -

ation at the 70-kilometre (km) Police

Checkpoint in Cuyuni Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) on Saturday led to the seizure of suspected cannabis and ammunition.

According to the police’s report, at around 06:10h, a lorry bearing registration number GYY 2105 was stopped after the driver reportedly attempted to bypass the checkpoint. The lone occupant, a 48-yearold male truck driv-

er of Carmichael Street, Georgetown, was escorted to the Outpost, where officers conducted a search of his person and the lorry in his presence. The search revealed six bulky parcels inside two travelling bags, each containing leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis. A further search uncovered a box containing fifty (50) live rounds of suspected 9 mm Luger ammunition. The cannabis was later weighed at

5.4 kilograms (kg) in the presence of the suspect and processed for lodging as investigations continue. The driver was arrested and remains in custody while investigations proceed. This discovery comes just two days after two separate operations at New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), and Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), on Tuesday, which led to the discovery of over 56 pounds (lbs) of cannabis and the

arrest of two men.

In the first instance, ranks found 55.7 lbs of ganja in two bulky black plastic bags and several parcels wrapped in transparent plastic during an intelligence-led operation at Angoys Avenue, New Amsterdam. The ganja was discovered in Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, in the living room area of the two-storey wooden house, which was at the time occupied by two 26-year-olds and a 27-yearold mason.

Following the discovery, the narcotics, along with the two suspects, were taken to the Narcotics Branch. When weighed, the ganja amounted to 55.75 lbs. The two men remain in custody pending charges. Meanwhile, over in Region Eight, 350 grams were found wrapped in plastic bags hidden in a drainage channel near the Mahdia Arcade. According to reports, the Police were conducting an operation in and around the arcade area when the drugs were found in two black plastic bags and one small transparent plastic bag. At the time of the operation, no one was seen in close proximity. Investigations are continuing.

First Lady, MoM present 5 families with new homes

The Men on Mission (MoM) organisation recently presented five newly constructed homes to five families in the East Berbice-Corentyne Region.

First Lady Arya Ali, on her Facebook page, commended MoM for the remarkable work they have been leading in providing homes for hundreds of families across Guyana and emphasised that access to adequate, safe and affordable housing is a foundation of social development. Deomattie Jainarine of Ankerville, Coreen Clarkson of Fort Ordinance,

Parbattie Babunarine of Williamsburg, Welma Permaul of East Canje, and Soorjbally Ramlochan of No. 19 Village received their homes from the First Lady and MoM. MoM was launched by President Dr Irfaan Ali in 2022 to empower men to become role models for advancing a progressive society. It looks to equip men with responsibility and encourages mentoring, motivating and coaching young people for better lives. In addition, MoM aims to have a positive impact on the lives of the vulnerable, who include single parents, the elderly, persons with dis-

abilities, pensioners, and disaster victims. Some of the non-profit organisation’s key initiatives include housing, economic and community support, and empowering youth and men.

Speaking at the 2022 launch, the President had said, “We are the root cause of much problems in society. It is now our time to be the root of solution, to be the root of positivity, to be the root that makes a difference, to be a root that builds a support system. Men on Mission will be the foundation to remove violence against women and children. This is not the responsibility for wom-

Mahaicony man found dead with gunshot wounds

The body of a Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD), resident was found lying on a flight of stairs to his home with gunshot wounds to his head and body on Friday evening. Dead is 52-year-old Sesupaul Ramgobin, also known as “John Paul”, from Quakers Hall, Mahaicony,

ECD. Preliminary investigations revealed that at about 23:00h on Friday evening, relatives heard what appeared to be an explosion and later discovered Ramgobin’s body on the steps of his home. The matter was reported, and ranks responded and commenced investiga -

en; this is the responsibility for us to work with each other. We must make the change. We must drive the

change. We must lead the movement of respect, we must lead the movement of dignity, we must lead the

2 die in separate

movement of pride.” MoM has since ensured it continues to carry out its mandate.

accidents on ECD, WCD

Police in Regions Three (Essequibo IslandWest Demerara) and Four (Demerara-Mahaica) are investigating two separate fatal road accidents that occurred on Friday, leaving at least two dead and others injured.

tions. The scene was processed, during which injuries suspected to be gunshot wounds were found to the back of the head and upper body. No spent shells were recovered at the scene, according to detectives. No arrests have been made as investigations continue.

The first incident occurred at approximately 18:10h on the Wallers Delight Public Road, West Coast Demerara (WCD), where a 58-year-old pedestrian, Anand Persaud, of no fixed place of abode, was struck by an unknown silver pickup. Preliminary investigations revealed that the vehicle was proceeding west along the southern side of the roadway when it collided with Persaud. Following the collision, Persaud sustained injuries to his head and other parts of his body. Publicspirited citizens transported him to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor

on duty. His body is currently at the Ezekiel Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene and is being actively sought as investigations continue.

Later that evening, at approximately 21:15h, police in Regional Division Four C responded to a fatal accident on the Nabaclis Public Road, East Coast

Demerara (ECD). Dead is Carlos Bacchus of Paradise Village, ECD. According to reports, a black and red Honda XR motorcycle, proceeding west along the southern lane of the roadway, collided with a pedal cycle ridden by a 23-yearold self-employed male of Sideline Dam, Golden Grove, who was crossing the road with an eight-year-old female pillion rider, also of Golden Grove. As a result of the collision, the motorcyclist, the pedal cyclist, and the child sustained injuries. They were transported to the Enmore Regional Hospital, where the motorcyclist was pronounced dead on arrival.

The pedal cyclist and the child remain hospitalised. The motorcyclist’s body is presently at the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination. Both incidents are under active investigations.

UN climate talks end without agreement on phasing out fossil fuels

This year’s United Nations (UN) global climate conference in Brazil ended on Saturday with a formal agreement that made no commitment to phasing out fossil fuels, despite fossil fuels being the principal driver of global warming.

The United States (US) was absent from the talks – known formally as the Conference of the Parties (COP30) – after the Trump administration declined to send an official delegation to Belém, Brazil.

In the end, the conference delivered only modest progress on international efforts to curb global warming and pay for the costs of adapting to a hot -

Russia and Saudi Arabia, have opposed the creation of a process or timetable to move away from those energy resources.

In the end, the formal agreement did not include any mention of fossil fuels.

The President of this year’s summit, André Aranha Corrêa do Lago of Brazil, acknowledged that many countries had wanted a more ambitious agreement. Two dozen countries have said they’ll work alongside the UN in a new process focused on transitioning away from fossil fuels. In April, Colombia and the Netherlands plan to host the first international conference focused on the issue.

ter planet. Earlier in the week, more than 80 countries had demanded negotiators agree to a “roadmap” to transition the global economy away from fossil fuels. The group included many developing nations hit hard by climate change, along with the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, and oil producers like Mexico and Brazil. They said world leaders need to start drawing up concrete plans to deliver on a landmark 2023 commitment to reduce the use of oil, coal and natural gas. However, major fossil fuel producers, including

Ralph Regenvanu is the climate change Minister of Vanuatu, an island nation facing rising sea levels. He says the new conference is the key accomplishment to emerge in Belém.

“The text is not great, but at least we have an outcome,” Regenvanu says.

Here are the important takeaways from COP30.

No roadmap for fossil fuel transition

The burning of fossil fuels remains the biggest driver of global warming. However, climate negotiators have struggled for years to agree on how countries should address the

world’s reliance on those resources. Two years ago in Dubai, countries for the first time called for a global transition away from fossil fuels. This year, dozens of countries had wanted world leaders to start coming up with plans to do just that. But in the end, there was no such deal. The final agreement in Brazil says countries understand the “need for urgent action” to make “deep, rapid and sustained” cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, without any specific mention of fossil fuels. Many countries were disappointed.

“There is no [climate change] mitigation if we cannot discuss transitioning away from fossil fuels,” said Daniela Durán González, head of international affairs for the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. Setting a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels won’t be easy. The global economy still largely runs on oil, coal and natural gas, though countries are adding huge amounts of renewable energy to their electric grids. A transition away from fossil fuels should not be imposed on countries, especially developing nations, Nigeria’s delegate told the conference. Nigeria will not support climate plans “that will lead to our sudden economic contraction and heightened social instability,” the delegate said.

The planet will pass a critical temperature limit in the 2030s

COP30 came as a crucial temperature target slipped out of reach. Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, nations agreed to try to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, or about 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to temperatures in the late 1800s. Scientists have found that

risks to people and ecosystems accelerate with every tenth of a degree beyond that limit. But a recent UN report concluded that the planet will likely exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming in the next decade. It is still possible to limit that overshoot, however. If countries can cut overall greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2035, scientists say the planet would quickly return to lower levels of warming.

The world is not currently on track to meet that goal. Under current policies, global emissions are expected to fall by just 12 per cent by 2035.

$300 billion a year in financing by 2035. That’s triple what poorer countries were promised under a previous commitment. The deal struck in Azerbaijan also included a broader target to boost overall climate financing for developing countries – including from the private sector – to $1.3 trillion annually within a decade. But wealthy countries have been unreliable funders in the past. Developed nations were late meeting a prior funding commitment. And funds set up to compensate countries for climate-related damages are still mostly empty, according to UN Secretary-

With the US absent from this year’s talks, attention turned to China, which is both the largest current source of climate pollution and the global leader in manufacturing green technology like solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles. China has elevated discussions of trade at the conference, says Li Shuo, director of the China hub at the nonprofit Asia Society. “They happen to be the country that produces the lion’s share of green and low-carbon products. And they have become now a champion of free trade in this particular regard,” he says. “They want the

That’s not nearly enough to avoid catastrophic warming, according to science from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “The science says we need five times that much,” says Alden Meyer, a senior associate at E3G, a climate change think tank. “We need a 60 per cent reduction if we have any chance of staying close to the 1.5° Celsius temperature goal.”

Little progress on funding climate action

With the world facing worsening impacts from climate change, attention has increasingly focused on ways to help nations adapt. That means money. The challenge is especially urgent in poorer countries, which typically suffer some of the worst impacts from disasters yet bear little responsibility for the pollution that’s raising global temperatures.

At last year’s climate summit in Azerbaijan, wealthy countries agreed to a deal to provide developing nations with at least

General António Guterres. Meanwhile, developing nations face growing losses from extreme weather events. Weeks ago, for example, Hurricane Melissa hit Jamaica as a category five storm, causing an estimated $10 billion in damage – equal to nearly a third of the country’s gross domestic product, according to Matthew Samuda, Jamaica’s Minister of Economic Growth and Job Creation.

The negotiations in Brazil did little to clarify how additional funding will be provided. The final agreement “calls for efforts” to triple within a decade the amount of financing available to help nations adapt to a hotter world, like better flood defences and infrastructure that’s built for more extreme weather.

The deal also says countries agreed to “urgently advance actions” to boost climate financing for developing countries.

China spotlighted trade issues

rest of the world to purchase their products.” A new conference for phasing out fossil fuels. One of the key events at the conference was the announcement of a new conference dedicated to the global phase-out of fossil fuels. The conference will be held in Colombia, a fossil fuel producer, and co-hosted by the Netherlands –the birthplace of oil giant Shell. Colombia’s Environment Minister Irene Vélez Torres told NPR that the new conference held in Santa Marta, Colombia, will be complementary to the UN climate process. “The idea of the Santa Marta conference is to have this first space in which we are completely clear that the phasing out [of fossil fuels] is necessary,” Torres says. Meyer says he isn’t surprised that this new conference has emerged. “I think it reflects the frustration of both countries and NGOs who have seen very little action in this [United Nations] process,” Meyer says. (Source: NPR)

Bahamas Police shoot 81-yearold during home stand-off

Brazilian Police arrest Bolsonaro amid suspicions he was about to flee

Bahamas Police shot an 81-year-old man in his western New Providence home during a shoot-out on Thursday morning, Police said.

The Nassau Guardian understands that the victim, who survived the shooting, is prominent business-man Al Collie, who once owned the Zoo nightclub.

The Anti-Gang and Firearms Investigation Taskforce attempted to execute a search warrant at a home on West Bay Street shortly before 01:00h, Police said.

Police suspected illegal drugs and firearms were at the home.

“Acting on intelligence,

officers approached a two-storey white residence and informed a female occu-pant of the warrant,” Police said.

“However, she refused to grant access. Subsequently, officers forcibly entered the property by breach-ing a garage door. Upon entering, they announced their presence as Police officers.

As officers proceeded to clear the third floor, they encountered resistance when a male occupant re-fused to open a door in a northern room. After breaching the door, the male individual discharged mul-tiple gunshots towards the officers.

“Fearing for their safety, officers retreated and re-

turned fire.”

Police said the man, 81, was shot in the right elbow and buttocks.

A firearm and ammunition were recovered from the victim, who was subdued and arrested. He was taken to hospital and was last listed in stable condition.

“During the ongoing search of the residence, in the presence of a female caretaker, officers discovered a second illegal firearm along with additional ammunition in the male occupant’s room,” Police said.

“As a result, the 66-yearold female was taken into custody in connection with this matter.” (Source: Nassau Guardian)

JDF Coast Guard intercepts J$3.7B

cocaine haul off Jamaica’s South Coast

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard seized more than 990 pounds of cocaine during a joint counter-narcotics operation off Jamaica’s southern coast on Wednesday, dealing what the force de-scribed as a major blow to regional drug-trafficking networks. The haul carries an estimated street value of JMD 3.7 billion.

According to the JDF, members of the First District Coast Guard were on routine patrol when they de-tected and pursued a vessel suspected of transporting illicit drugs. During the chase, individuals aboard the vessel allegedly attempted to dump several packages overboard.

The Coast Guard boarding team recovered the packages, which were later confirmed to contain approximately 990.71 pounds of co-caine.

The contraband was se-

cured and transported to the First District Coast Guard Base, where it was handed over to the Narcotics Police for processing. (Caribbean National Weekly)

Seven bodyguards arrested over Mexico mayor’s assassination

Seven members of Mexican mayor Carlos Manzo’s security detail have been arrested as suspects in his killing, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The prosecutor’s office said on Friday that the guards, who were active Police officers, were detained as part of an investigation into their “probable involvement in the crime of qualified homicide” of the politician.

The mayor of Uruapan was killed in front of his family on November 1 in broad

daylight. The alleged perpetrator was a 17-year-old boy who was killed by the politician’s guards. Local and federal authori-ties have said that organised crime was likely behind the assassination.

On Wednesday, federal authorities announced the arrest of Jorge Armando “N”, also known as “El Licenciado”, naming him “as one of the masterminds” in Manzo’s killing.

The federal Security Secretariat said El Licenciado

is the leader of an unidentified criminal cell that, ac-cording to local media, is believed to be the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

The brief report from the prosecutor’s office, shared on social media, added that the detainees were “public officials” and were transferred to a prison to be presented before a judge.

Authorities have since indicated that the members of Manzo’s security detail were municipal Police of-ficers. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Colombia hails “historic blow” after largest cocaine bust in decade

Colombian authorities have made their largest cocaine bust in a decade, confiscating 14 tonnes at its main Pacific port, as President Gustavo Petro continues to fight back against claims from the admin-istration of United States President Donald Trump of his complicity in the drug trade.

Colombia’s Ministry of Defence hailed the “historic blow” to drug traffickers on Friday, as it an-nounced it had seized dozens of 50-kilogramme sacks of cocaine inside a warehouse in the southwest-ern port of Buenaventura, a strategic departure point for Colombian cocaine.

“The drug was camou-

flaged under the method of being mixed with plaster,” it said, adding that the container was headed for the Netherlands.

“With this seizure, we prevented the circulation of 35 million doses of cocaine and impacted the fi-nances of those structures by more than $388.9m.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Brazil’s former farright President, Jair Bolsonaro, has been arrested at his villa in the capital, Brasília, amid suspicions he was poised to abscond to a foreign embassy to avoid going to prison for master-minding a military coup.

In a brief statement, federal Police confirmed officers had executed a preventive arrest warrant at the request of the supreme court. The 70-year-old politician was taken to a federal Police base, seven miles from the Presidential palace he occupied from 2019 until 2022, when he lost the election and tried to launch a military coup.

The arrest of Bolsonaro, who had been living under house arrest since August, was ordered by the su-preme court justice, Alexandre de Moraes, as a result of fears the former President might make a run for one of Brasília’s many diplomatic compounds to avoid punishment for the failed power grab.

In September, Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison for masterminding a coup to stop the 2022 election winner, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,

from taking office.

Amid growing speculation that Bolsonaro would be imprisoned in the coming days, supporters had been planning to hold a “vigil” on Saturday night outside the luxury condominium where their leader has been living under house arrest.

In his ruling ordering Bolsonaro’s arrest on Saturday morning, Moraes said it was possible the vigil could be used as a diversion to help the former President escape to a foreign embassy.

Adding to those suspicions, Moraes said Bolsonaro’s electronic ankle monitor had been tampered with at 00:08h on Saturday. That suggest-

ed “the convict had planned to break the ankle monitor in order to ensure the success of his escape, aided by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son”. Moraes noted how Bolsonaro, who counts the US President, Donald Trump, among his international allies, lived about 15 minutes from the US embassy.

Bolsonaro’s lawyers voiced “profound perplexity” at their client’s detention in a sparsely decorated 12-square-metre Police bedroom and vowed to appeal against a decision they claimed would put the for-mer President’s life at risk, given his “delicate” health. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

T&T: Businessman held over alleged plot to assassinate Govt Minister

Trinidad & Tobago

businessman Danny Guerra was arrested on November 20, under state of emergen-cy provisions by the Special Investigations Unit on allegations that he leads an organised crime group involved in arms trafficking, money laundering and illegal quarrying.

A detention order signed by Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander on November 19 accused Guerra of posing an imminent threat to public safety, including an alleged plot to assassinate a Gov-ernment Minister.

The order states that Guerra’s group has access to high-powered firearms and intends to escalate attacks against rival gangs in public spaces and is involved in the trafficking of illegal arms,

Flow of

Businessman Danny Guerra has been detained under a state of emergency order for alleged ties to a gang. –Newsday file photo

money laundering and illegal quarrying. Guerra was taken to the Eastern Correctional Rehabilitation Centre in Arouca. His son was also detained on a preventive detention order.

In August, Newsday reported that Police and mil-

itary intelligence agencies had uncovered a credible plot to assassinate Defence Minister Wayne Sturge, prompting heightened security for him and his rela-tives.

On November 20, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) North-West and Special Operations Rich-ard Smith confirmed the quarry boss's detention.

He said Guerra will “most likely” remain in custody for the full 90 days permitted under the SoE while investigations continue.

Newsday spoke with a source close to Guerra, who claimed there was no factual basis for the detention and claimed it was linked to previous quarry-related charges. (Source: Trinidad & Tobago Newsday)

Russian oil to Venezuela blocked by US warship

Asanctioned Russian oil tanker, bound for Venezuela with a load of fuel, had to divert its course after a US warship blocked its passage to the Caribbean country, according to ship tracking by Bloomberg.

The Russian ship, the Seahorse, was en route to Venezuela to deliver a fuel shipment on November 13 when it encountered a US destroyer, the USS Stockdale. The Seahorse then changed course toward Cuba, while

the warship sailed near Venezuelan territorial waters on its way to Puerto Rico.

Since then, the Russian oil tanker has tried to approach Venezuela on two occasions, but on both occa-sions it has had to turn back and has been blocked in the waters of the Caribbean Sea.

The actions of the USS Stockdale in relation to the Seahorse are unclear, and a spokesperson for the US Southern Command declined to comment on the ship's

movements, according to Bloomberg.

The Seahorse, meanwhile, is under sanctions from the United Kingdom and the European Union and is one of four Russian vessels delivering a fuel called naphtha to Venezuela.

In an unusual move, the Russian ship unloaded a cargo in late October, travelled to Cuba, and attempt-ed to return to Venezuela. At that point, it crossed paths with the US warship. (Source: El Espectador)

Around the World MAGA favourite Marjorie Taylor Greene to resign after split with Trump

Saying she refused to be a “battered wife”,

US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene announced on Friday she was resigning from the House of Representatives in the wake of a dramatic falling out with President Donald Trump.

Her exit marks a stunning turn of events that few would have imagined months ago. Greene, a Republi-can from Georgia, was once one of Trump’s closest allies and an outspoken advocate of his “America First” agenda, but the rift between the two widened in recent months over the release of Government files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and other

matters.

“I refuse to be a battered wife hoping it all goes away and gets better,” she added.

Interviewed by ABC News, Trump said Greene’s resignation, to take effect on January 5, was “great news for the country. It’s great.”

Greene lamented the state of American politics, contending that neither Republicans nor Democratic lawmakers were working to solve the nation’s problems, including the rising cost of living.

The public dispute between Trump and Greene had fuelled concerns among some Republicans that Trump’s “Make America Great Again” base could fracture a year

before the midterms, when Democrats hope to regain control of Congress.

Greene’s resignation will narrow the Republican majority in the House to 218 members over the Demo-crats’ 213. Republicans have a 5347 majority in the Senate.

Greene had been increasingly exhibiting her independence from Trump, joining a House effort to force the release of the Epstein files over his objections, blasting House leadership for not doing more to ad-dress healthcare costs during the recent Government shutdown and calling Israel’s assault on Gaza a genocide. (Excerpt from Reuters)

US citizens, Chinese nationals arrested for exporting AI tech to China

US Attorney Gregory W Kehoe announced Friday that two US citizens and two nationals of the Peo-ple’s Republic of China (PRC) – all residing in the US – have been charged with a conspiracy to illegal-ly export cutting-edge NVIDIA Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), which have artificial intelligence (AI) applications, to the PRC.

According to the US Department of Justice, those arrested include Hon Ning Ho, aka “Mathew Ho”, a US citizen born in Hong Kong, 34, residing in Tampa, Florida; Brian Curtis Raymond, a US citizen, 46, Huntsville, Alabama; Cham Li, aka “Tony Li”, a PRC national, 38, San Leandro, California; and Jing Chen, aka “Harry Chen”, a PRC national on an F-1 non-immigrant student visa, 45, Tampa, Flori-da.

On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Ho and Chen were arrested and appeared in court in the Middle District of Florida, while Raymond was arrested and appeared in the Northern District of Ala-bama. Li was also arrest-

ed Thursday and was scheduled to appear Friday in the Northern District of California.

According to the indictment, the PRC seeks to become the world leader in AI by 2030 and seeks to use AI for its military modernisation efforts and in connection with the design and testing of weapons of mass destruction and deployment of advanced AI surveillance tools.

The PRC seeks cutting-edge US technology in furtherance of that goal, including NVIDIA GPUs. To protect US national security, beginning in October 2022, the Department of Commerce implemented new licence requirements for the export of these technologies to the PRC.

As alleged, from September 2023 to November 2025, Ho, Raymond, Li, and Chen conspired to violate these critical US export controls by illegally exporting advanced GPUs to the PRC through Malaysia and Thailand.

In furtherance of the conspiracy, the conspirators used Janford Realtor, LLC – a

Tampa, Florida-based company owned and controlled by Ho and Li – as a front to purchase and then illegally export con-trolled GPUs to the PRC.

Despite its name, Janford Realtor, LLC, was never involved in any real estate transactions. Raymond, through his Alabama-based electronics company, supplied NVIDIA GPUs to Ho and others for illegal export to the PRC as part of the conspiracy.

As further alleged in the indictment, the conspiracy encompassed four separate exports of NVIDIA GPUs to the PRC.

Despite knowing that licences were required to export these items to the PRC, none of the conspirators ever sought or obtained a licence for any of these exports. Instead, they lied about the intended desti-nation of the GPUs to evade US export controls.

The indictment further alleges that the conspirators received over US$3.89 million in wire transfers from the PRC to fund this unlawful scheme. (DOJ)

The FAA warns airlines about flying over Venezuela as RC-135 and fighters test Maduro’s air defences

On Saturday, November 22, the US Federal Aviation Administration warned airlines about flying over Venezuela as it issued a notice urging them to “exercise caution” due to the “potentially hazardous situ-ation” in the region.

The advisory comes as the US has significantly increased its military presence across the Caribbean un-der US Southern Command, deploying bombers, warships and Marines as part of an expanded cam-paign targeting drug trafficking and so-called “narco-terrorist” networks operating near Venezuela.

“Operators are advised to exercise caution when operating in the Maiquetia flight information region at all altitudes due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Vene-zuela,” the FAA advisory said.

Online flight trackers on Thursday noticed several F/A-18 Super Hornets and

In addition to the RC-135W seen off the coast of Guyana, several other unknown military aircraft – possible surveillance aircraft, aerial-refuelling tankers, and/or command-and-control platforms – have suddenly appeared orbiting over the Southern Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela (Post from OSINTdefender @sentdefender on X)

a US Air Force RC-135V Rivet Joint electronic surveillance plane flying close to the South American nation’s coastline.

A US official told TWZ that these flights are part of the pressure campaign ordered by US President Donald Trump against Maduro and specifically to test Venezuela’s air defence capabilities and response times.

This is a staple tactic that is critical to assessing

the status, locations, operating procedures, and sensitiv-ity of an enemy’s defences. The data garnered is especially critical for planning offensive operations. In addition to the Super Hornets and Rivet Joint, spotters also tracked B-52H Superfortress bombers in the region as well. The flight is the latest in a series of bomber sorties that have been flying near Vene-zuela since October 15. (Source: Yahoo News, TWZ)

Three arrested in India after Police crack $800,000 bank heist

Three people have been arrested in India after a daring 70 million rupee ($800,000; £600,000) heist in which armed men posing as central bank officials robbed an ATM cash van.

On Saturday Police in the southern city of Bengaluru said they had cracked the case and recovered 57.6 million rupees of the money stolen three days earlier.

“Our investigation is on track to get the remaining amount,” Bengaluru Police commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh told reporters.

Singh later told the BBC three suspects had been detained. “We are looking for two to three more,” he added.

Those people arrested include Gopal Prasad, an employee of cash transport company CMS; J Xavier, a former CMS worker; and Annappa Naik, a local Police constable.

The robbery took place in

broad daylight in the Lalbagh area of Bengaluru.

The thieves pretended to be officers of the Reserve Bank of India. They stopped the transport vehicle, saying they had to check the paperwork for such a large amount of money.

The vehicle’s cash custodian and two security guards were instructed to get into an SUV, while one of the gang members took control of the van, Police said.

Police said the gang had changed vehicles, used fake registration plates and selected locations with minimal CCTV coverage to transfer the boxes of cash. A massive hunt was launched on Wednesday, with more than 200 Police officers deployed across Karnataka state and the neighbouring Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Goa states. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Grizzly bear attack on school group leaves four seriously injured in British Columbia

Agrizzly bear attacked a school group on a walking trail in British Columbia on Thursday, seriously in-juring three children and one adult.

Officers were still searching for the animal on Friday. The attack happened in the town of Bella Coola on the central coast of Canada’s westernmost province, and residents have been told to remain indoors until further notice.

The BC Conservation

Officer Service said in a statement on Facebook the bear has yet to be captured despite teams working overnight.

The students and teachers had stopped along a trail near the river when a grizzly bear emerged from the forest and attacked, according to the statement.

Multiple teachers intervened, using bear spray and a bear banger to drive the bear away, it said.

Paramedics provided emergency medical treatment

to four patients and transported them to hospital, the Provincial Health Services Authority told Reuters by email, with two patients in critical condition and two in serious condition.

A further seven people were cared for at the scene but did not require transportation to hospital.

The group was from the Acwsalcta School, run by the Indigenous Nuxalk Nation, which was closed on Friday. (Excerpt from Reuters)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

GEMINI (MAY 21June 20)

CANCER

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) (March 21April 19)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Think, formulate, take the lead, and curb your emotions. Sticking to the facts, figures, and what you want without letting your feelings interfere will get you where you want to go. Trust your instincts and move forward with confidence, intelligence, and reserve. Know your limits, budget, and timeframe, and shoot for the stars. Put your energy where it counts, tidy up loose ends, and consider alterations that will add to your emotional well-being. Revisit your relationships with others and consider which ones are healthy and worthwhile. Reach out to someone you want to spend more time with and make plans and proposals. Romance is in the stars. Pay attention to your spending habits, where you leave your valuables, and how you conduct shared expenses or payments. Ensure you check all the boxes before committing to something with variable options. Mistakes and misinterpretations are prevalent. When in doubt, take a pass. Focus on partnerships, learning, and verifying facts before initiating change.

Take the lead and find out where you stand. Share your feelings, intentions, and long-term plans. Take advantage of an opportunity to invest more in yourself and your future. Broaden your perspective, and your vision will grow into something fresh and exciting. Create the life you want, and personal growth will be yours.

Choose to act, and you’ll avoid criticism. Follow your heart and concentrate on what makes you happy. Stick to pastimes that stir your creative imagination, or spend time with old friends who bring out the best in you. A reminder of the past will help you determine what you want your life to be like moving forward. Refuse to let anger set in when rational action is necessary. Think and do simultaneously, and you’ll get the results you need to bring about positive change. Visiting a place that offers inspiration or a unique perspective regarding the choices available will prompt you to invest more time in personal growth and learning. Romance is favored.

Don’t give up or give in to the emotional whims of others. The realization that you can find your own way and make the most with what you have will weigh heavily on the choices you face. Trust and believe in yourself, and take the road that promises personal happiness. A tranquil destination will satisfy your soul.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

Look for change and you’ll find something or someone of interest. Consider the cost of your pursuit and turn your day into an experience and memories that last a lifetime. Love is in the stars, but it begins with loving yourself first. Self-appreciation is key to what you receive in return. Romance is in the stars.

Consistency matters. Don’t jump to conclusions or believe everything you hear. Research, verification, and not revealing personal information will help deter others from taking advantage of you. Be aware of local scams and position yourself to take control instead of letting someone else make choices for you. Stick close to home, and focus on comfort and convenience.

Evaluate relationships and choose who you want to spend time with. A change to how you divvy up work and play will influence how you move forward. Using the skills and talents you enjoy most may not bring in the highest residuals, but it will be worth its weight in gold if it makes you happy.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

PISCES

(Feb. 20Mar. 20)

High energy will promote positive change. Short trips, conversations, and utilizing your attributes to help you move forward will determine how you tailor your skills and resume to satisfy both you and your bank account. Choose a healthier lifestyle and strive to look and feel your best. Avoid risky events, countries, and situations. Consider what you have to offer and the difference you can make before you proceed. Not everyone will appreciate your time, effort, and input. It’s important not to waste energy on people, places, and pastimes that are not a good fit or ready to adopt your suggestions. Selfimprovement and realizing your worth offer the highest return.

ASHES 2025: Head’s 69-ball ton secures remarkable 2-day win for Australia

In the span of five madcap hours at Perth Stadium, England went from a position of strength to crashing to a calamitous eight-wicket defeat as the first Ashes Test remarkably finished inside two days.

Somehow topping a 19-wicket opening day, Australia turned the series-opener on its head with quicks Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc, who finished with 10 wickets for the match, tearing through a ham-fisted England batting effort in the middle session.

Needing 205 runs for victory, makeshift opener Travis Head plundered 123 off 83 balls as Australia chased down the total in just 28.2 overs. They

scored at more than seven runs an over, with recalled No. 3 Marnus Labuschagne finishing unbeaten on 51 from 49 balls.

Skipper Steven Smith hit the winning run to trigger scenes of jubilation for an Australian team that was staring down the barrel earlier in the day.

Head’s cavalier batting gave England a taste of their own medicine, as he reached his ton off 69 balls - the equal third fastest by an Australian in Tests.

England’s all-out pace attack, so fero - cious just 24 hours earlier, appeared shell-shocked as Head continually flayed wayward bowling through the offside much to the delight of many in the 49,983 crowd. Head opened the batting after Usman Khawaja had been continually off the ground in England’s innings due to back spasms. He had previously opened the innings for Australia eight times, but all had been in South Asia.

nings, finishing with 0-62 from 10 overs. He pulled back his length in the second innings and had Ben Duckett caught at second slip to end his 65-run stand with Ollie Pope - the biggest partnership to that point of the match.

did manage to hang around for 26 minutes, whittling the deficit by nine runs.

Boland then had Pope and Harry Brook edging behind the wicket in his next over as he displayed the type of inimitable rhythm that has propelled him to scythe through numerous batting line-ups over the years.

Head clearly enjoyed his promotion and helped ease the pressure on debutant Jake Weatherald, who fell for a second-ball duck in the first innings. Weatherald was able to play himself in and unfurled several attractive strokes of his own before falling on 23 to a short ball from Brydon Carse.

Head was unstoppable and fearless, taking on the short-pitched bowling from Mark Wood, while he also bludgeoned Ben Stokes for four boundaries off an over. Head’s century was met with mighty applause from the Australian fans, but his own celebration was fairly lowkey although punctuated by several steely fist bumps.

He finally holed out with Australia needing just 13 runs to win, but the result had long been a formality.

It was an astonishing turn of events after England were 65 for 1 in their second innings, with a lead of 105, before Boland triggered a collapse with the tourists losing 4-11 in 19 balls.

England lost 9-99 during the second session that may ultimately haunt them in their quest to regain the Ashes. Four of England’s top six nicked off, while Joe Root completed a double failure after inside edging Starc, having attempted an extravagant drive.

The pressure had been on Boland after he was collared in England’s first in-

Starc had been unable to consistently summon his top speed, backing up so quickly after recording his career best figures of 7-58 in England’s first innings. Sensing the shift in momentum, Smith wisely brought Starc back on and he responded by knocking over Root before continuing his domination of Stokes.

Starc decked a menacing delivery away from Stokes, whose outside edge flew to second slip as he fell to his nemesis for the 11th time in Tests. Jamie Smith, who had been dropped by Khawaja at slip early in his innings, fell caught behind off a short ball from Brendan Doggett after an interminable review overturned the original not out decision.

There was little resistance from England, evoking many such collapses on Australian soil over the years, until Carse and Gus Atkinson counterattacked for a 47-run partnership. They took advantage of Australia resorting to a short-ball tactic in the only bright spot for England in a miserable session.

But the short-ball strategy finally paid off as Doggett wrapped up the innings and finished with five wickets in his Test debut.

In what felt like an eternity ago, England had started the second day in the ascendency. Under overcast skies, Australia resumed on 123 for 9 and were still reeling from England’s sustained pressure that blew them away on day one. But Doggett and Nathan Lyon

Wood bowled too short and was unable to muster the same hostility he produced on day one marked by a ferocious delivery that battered the helmet of Cameron Green.

Stokes turned to Carse who claimed his third wicket by dismissing Lyon in the gully as England claimed a 40-run advantage on the first innings even though Australia batted 12.3 overs longer.

After tearing through England’s tail in the first innings, Starc entered on a hat-trick and charged into Zak Crawley who he dismissed for a duck on the sixth ball of the match.

Crawley could only last five balls after spooning an attempted drive to Starc, who showcased extraordinary athleticism to stick out his left-hand and pluck a return catch.

Sharfuddoula, the third umpire, had a long look but Starc’s fingers were under-

neath the ball as Crawley walked off having made a pair. There will be much focus on Crawley’s haste in driving on the up, a risky proposition against the new ball in Perth.

Crawley’s wicket meant that for the first time in Test cricket the opening partnership did not score a run in each of the first three innings. Starc was on a roll and conjuring menacing swing with the new ball, but Duckett and Pope survived the onslaught, frustrating Australia with proactive running between the wickets. Much like England’s first innings, Starc was playing a lone hand with Boland continuing to be expensive with 15 runs off his first three overs.

Boland started to get his tail up in his second spell and beat the bat of Pope on numerous occasions as England ended the session well placed. But Boland’s luck soon changed as the series-opener dramatically turned on its head.

The conclusion of the Republic Bank Five for Fun Cricket Programme in Guyana marked a meaningful milestone in youth sports development across the Caribbean. As the fifth and final territory to wrap up its 2025 edition – following St Lucia, Grenada, St Kitts & Nevis, and Trinidad & Tobago – Guyana brought the campaign to a spirited close, celebrating talent, discipline, and the growing love of cricket among children.

Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board, Ronald Williams, underscored the strength of the collaboration between Cricket West Indies (CWI) and Republic Bank, emphasising its longterm impact on player development. “The partnership between CWI and RBL will ensure that our young cricketers have the pathway to develop their skills and to move on progressively from the very tender age into the structured Guyana Cricket from the U-13 level, U-15, U-17, U-19 and onwards.”

Williams also urged the young players to uphold discipline both on and off the field, reminding them that character forms the foundation of sporting excellence. “To be good cricketers, you must be disciplined. Your talent must be supplement-

ed by discipline and commitment. Discipline such as discipline to listen to your teachers, discipline in the home, discipline to do homework, discipline to make up your beds, discipline to listen to your parents and discipline to do your errands all inculcate for you to become good cricketers and good people in society.”

Adding his commendation, Deputy Chief Education Officer Marti De Souza highlighted the alignment between the programme and national priorities for youth development. He thanked Republic Bank for continuing to invest in a programme that mirrors President Ali’s vision for active, well-rounded students. He noted that the tournament supports the President’s commitment to fostering healthy, focused, and disciplined students, encouraging them to stay committed to their goals and aspire toward representing their county, their country, and even the West Indies.

Cricket West Indies’ Senior Project Officer for Schools Cricket, KJ Singh, emphasised the programme’s regional significance. “The partnership between Cricket West Indies and Republic Bank on the Five for Fun Cricket programme is vital. It lays the

groundwork for cricket development at both the national and regional levels, allowing hundreds of children in Guyana and other participating Caribbean countries the opportunity to learn and play the game in a fun, engaging way, fostering a lifelong love for the sport.”

He further noted the broader community value fostered through this collaboration. “CWI believes that cricket plays a crucial role in promoting early life skills development, empowering youth, and strengthening communities through collaborative efforts and a shared vision. The partnership with Republic Bank through the Five for Fun Cricket programme has significantly expanded our reach and

BCB to elect new executives on Dec 14

participation in all-inclusive cricket. This foundational programme has also provided the cricket community in Guyana and the region with an excellent platform to discover and nurture talented

boys and girls, guiding them toward the next level of the national cricket pathway.”

With Guyana bringing the 2025 edition to a close, the Republic Bank Five for Fun Programme

once again demonstrated its power to unify communities, inspire young athletes, and strengthen the future of cricket throughout the Caribbean.

With team totals of 262-6, 247-9 and 161 all out, West Indies batsmen went from bad to worse in the ODI series in New Zealand.

elected to bat, so we had to put the runs on the board. It's just about trying to be better every single day. This pitch was more similar to Caribbean conditions.”

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) will host its Biennial General Meeting (BGM) on December 14, 2025, and will see the elections of new office bearers.

The meeting will address several key agenda items, including the confirmation of minutes from the previous meeting, corrections and adoption of those minutes, and matters arising.

Reports from the President, Secretary, and Treasurer will also be presented, followed by correspondence and any other business.

Following the conclusion of the meeting, the session will close to facilitate the

conduct of elections, which will be overseen by the Cricket Ombudsman.

Positions to be contested include President, three Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, and Assistant Treasurer.

A total of 14 cricket clubs and three sub-associations are expected to participate in the process. At the last election cycle, two sub-associations were barred due to administrative irregularities.

The participating sub-associations are the Berbice River Cricket Association, West Berbice Cricket Association, and Upper Corentyne Cricket

Association. The clubs eligible to vote are Albion Community Centre, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Blairmont Community Centre, Port Mourant Cricket Club, Kildonan Cricket Club, Whim Cricket Club, Chesney Cricket Club, Young Warriors Cricket Club, Rose Hall Community Centre, Tucber Park Cricket Club, GuyMine Cricket Club, Mount Sinai Cricket Club, Police Sports Club, and Fort Canje Mental Hospital Sports Club.

The most recent BCB elections were held in 2023. Incumbent President Dr Cecil Beharry and his executive team are expected to seek re-election.

The Windies' top order failed to fire once again, with Matt Henry taking 4-43. The most one-sided match of

Hope added, "Didn't get into that flow. Must give credit to the bowlers for the fight they showed. Great

the series left New Zealand savouring a 3-0 triumph, following their 3-1 win in the T20 series.

However, the West Indies skipper, Shai Hope, who was again the best batsman for the West Indies, said collectively, the batting unit let the team down, hence the result.

Hope credited the bowlers for the spirited effort shown throughout the series.

“We just didn't click with the bat. We won the toss and

fight, still got to take positives from it, but the batters let us down [the] entire series.”

He also highlighted that teams went to New Zealand in the past and never found themselves in winning positions. For the West Indies, they were in a winning position on numerous occasions.

“When you come to New Zealand, most teams don't find themselves in winning positions. We played good cricket; maybe if we had won the key moments, the results

would've been different, both in the T20Is and in the first two ODIs,” Hope explained.

The teams will next contest three Tests, starting in Christchurch on December 2. This time round, the team will be led by Roston Chase with Jomel Warrican as his deputy and include Alick Athanaze, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Tevin Imlach, Brandon King, Johann Layne, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales and Ojay Shields.

Nevertheless, with an outstanding performance with the ball for the Black Caps, Matt Henry, who forms part of the New Zealand side, is expected to be a key figure. The team hopes to continue their winning momentum into the longer format.

“It’s an exciting little stretch of cricket coming up,” he said. “We’ve been playing some really good cricket, and we’ve been winning some of the key moments, which has got us over the line. Everyone’s stepping up in different ways, which is great,” Henry stated. Schedule:

New Zealand's fourman pace attack tore through West Indies' fragile batting lineup with swing, pace and bounce, dismissing the visitors for 161 in the third ODI in Hamilton. Having already wrapped up the series, New Zealand swept the West Indies 3-0 and fortified their command at home –they have lost just two ODIs at home since the start of 2020.

Only South Africa (17) has achieved more consecutive bilateral series wins than New Zealand's 11 at home in men's ODIs.

In the absence of the injured Daryl Mitchell, the current No. 1-ranked ODI batter, New Zealand were made to work hard in their chase. They lost their top three within 11 overs, and then Tom Latham also fell cheaply, but Mark Chapman settled New Zealand along with Michael Bracewell. He crashed 64 off 63 balls, countering both Matthew Forde and Jayden Seales, who had posed a bigger threat with the new ball, and putting New Zealand back on the road to another win.

Michael Bracewell also flexed his muscle at the other end in a 75-run partnership for the fifth wicket off only 48 balls. Their presence kept left-arm fingerspinner

Khary Pierre, who had replaced the injured Romario Shepherd, away from the attack. Pierre didn't bowl at all and ended up playing as a specialist fielder during West Indies' defence.

Chapman and Captain Mitchell Santner holed out when New Zealand were on the doorstep of victory, but Bracewell and Zak Foulkes took them home with four wickets and almost 20 overs to spare.

After opting to bat first, West Indies had left almost 14 overs unused in their innings. Matt Henry was the wrecker-in-chief, coming away with 4 for 43 while Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy and Foulkes, who had replaced the injured Nathan Smith (hamstring issue), shared four among them. In the absence of Shepherd, who was out with a hamstring niggle of his own, West Indies' batting lacked depth.

It was Henry who started West Indies' slide in the powerplay when he removed rookie opener Ackeem Auguste and Keacy Carty in the fifth over. Auguste, 22, squandered another start when he flapped a hardlength delivery to mid-on for 17 off 19 balls. Henry then shifted to a Test-match line

and length to have an indecisive Carty chopping on for a duck.

The Seddon Park conditions didn't offer prodigious swing or seam movement, but there was enough to keep Henry and Jamieson interested. Jamieson went around the wicket and found movement and extra bounce to have John Campbell, the other opener, nicking off to slip for 26 off 24 balls. Apart from Campbell, Roston Chase was the only other West Indies batter to pass 25.

Shai Hope, the best batter in this West Indies ODI side, had a decent start, but his innings was cut short on 16 when Foulkes had him caught by the keeper down the leg side off an inswinger. West Indies slumped to 77 for 4 at that point.

Only the early juice disappeared; New Zealand's quicks relentlessly banged the ball into the pitch and discomfited the West Indies' batters. Henry, Jamieson and Duffy all showed their creativity and range by bowling cross-seamers and scrambled-seam deliveries into the pitch.

Sherfane Rutherford, Chase and Shamar Springer were all bounced out, and at one stage, Santner had even

installed Rachin Ravindra at short leg. Neil Wagner, who was in the commentary box, might have had memories of his own short-ball bursts.

Shai Hope throws his head back in disappointment after being strangled down the leg side at the New

Chase needed some treatment and taping on his hand after Jamieson smacked him on his glove with a lifter in the 30th over.

After Jamieson had softened Chase up, Henry made the incision in the next over when he had the batter top-edging a catch to extra

Zealand vs West Indies third ODI, Hamilton, November 22, 2025.

cover.

Pierre and Seales showed some semblance of resis-

SCOREBOARD

West Indies

John Campbell c Bracewell

b Jamieson 26

Ackeem Auguste c Ravindra

b Henry 17

Keacy Carty

b Henry 0

Shai Hope (c)† c † Latham

b Foulkes 16

Sherfane Rutherford c Chapman

b Duffy 19

Roston Chase c Bracewell

b Henry 38

Justin Greaves c & b Santner 1

Matthew Forde lbw b Santner 0

Shamar Springer c † Latham

b Duffy 12

Khary Pierre not out 22

Jayden Seales c Santner

b Henry 0

Extras (lb 6, w 4) 10

Total 36.2 Ov 161

Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Ackeem Auguste, 4.4 ov), 2-31 (Keacy Carty, 4.6 ov), 3-55 (John Campbell, 9.1 ov), 4-77 (Shai Hope, 13.1 ov), 5-91 (Sherfane Rutherford, 16.4 ov), 6-95 (Justin Greaves, 18.2 ov), 7-95 (Matthew Forde, 18.6 ov), 8-124 (Shamar Springer, 25.1 ov), 9-143 (Roston Chase, 30.3 ov), 10-161 (Jayden Seales, 36.2 ov)

Bowling O-M-R-W

Matt Henry 9.2-0-43-4

Kyle Jamieson 9-1-44-1

Zak Foulkes 4-0-13-1

Jacob Duffy 7-0-27-2

Mitchell Santner 6-0-27-2

Michael Bracewell 1-0-1-0

New Zealand

Devon Conway c Carty b Seales 11

Rachin Ravindra b Forde 14 Will Young c Pierre b Forde 3 Mark Chapman c Pierre b Seales 64 Tom Latham †c Forde b Chase 10

Michael Bracewell not out 40

Mitchell Santner (c) c Chase b Springer

tance with an 18-run stand for the last wicket before Henry broke through and applied the finishing touches.

Santner had also done his bit with the ball, picking up the wickets of Justin Greaves and Forde in his first over to hasten West Indies' collapse.

West Indies then hit back through Forde and Seales with the ball. Seales dared Devon Conway to hook and had him caught at long leg before prolonging Will Young's lean run. Forde, who has troubled lefthanders with his sharp angle from around the wicket and swing throughout this tour, had Ravinda chopping on for 14. When Chase had Latham caught at midwicket, New Zealand appeared vulnerable at 70 for 4, especially in the absence of Mitchell, but the left-handed duo of Chapman and Bracewell saved the day for them.

Chapman had a slow start – he was on 13 off 29 balls at one point – but turned up the tempo to reach his fifty off 58. He took Forde for four, six, four, four in the 27th over and ruined his figures. Bracewell remained unbeaten to seal the deal along with Foulkes. (ESPNcricinfo)

RAN Sevens Championships

Guyana’s Men’s Rugby team bows out in quarter final against Barbados

– Women’s team suffers major losses in 2 matches

Guyana's men's rugby team was defeated by Barbados in the quarter-finals of the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens Championships on Saturday.

The Guyanese team on Friday lost to Jamaica 12-19 and drew against Trinidad and Tobago 14 all. On Sunday, the team bounced back by defeating the Cayman Islands 24-5.

The team came out second in their group, which included Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and Trinidad and Tobago, thus qualifying them for the quarter-finals against Barbados.

In that match-up, Guyana lost to the Flying Fish boys 5-36 and was eliminated from the competition. On the other hand,

the women's team also suffered losses on day one of the competition. Guyana lost to Trinidad and Tobago 0-39 and to Mexico 0-43.

On Sunday, the Guyanese women's team defeated Barbados 10-5 and was slated to face Bermuda later that Sunday.

The tournament ends on Sunday, with all the games being played at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima, Trinidad.

The competition serves as a direct qualifier for the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo, with the top three Men's Tier 1 teams (excluding Canada) and the top two Women's teams advancing.

The Guyanese men's team won the RAN Championship seven times, with

Pres

ne day after securing Guyana’s second medal at the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, President Dr Irfaan Ali has congratulated Emanuel Archibald, who placed an overall third in the men’s

President Ali, on his social media platform, stated, “Emanuel continues to inspire with every

ENet throws support behind Junior Caribbean squash champion

Junior Caribbean squash champion

Kaylee Lowe has landed a corporate sponsorship agreement with ENet as she prepares to compete on home turf at this week’s Senior CASA Championships.

Lowe, who earlier this year claimed the Girls Under-15 title at the Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships in the Cayman Islands, is widely regarded as one of Guyana’s most promising young squash talents.

has given me this opportunity.”

Head of Mobile Networks at Enet, Robert Hiscock, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to nurturing high-potential youth athletes.

“ENet is proud to support Kaylee Lowe as she continues to represent Guyana on the regional and international squash stage,” Hiscock stated.

the most recent victory in 2016, but finished seventh in Tier 1 last year. The men's team is led by Lionel Holder, while Sabola Grey will lead the women's team.

Women's Team: Nicole Nero, Tiffany Pilgrim, Nikita Andrews, Mandy Browne, Sabola Grey (captain), Jalena Shepherd, Aniqah Powley, Tonya Smith, Carrey Carter, Serra Persaud, Alison Smiley, and Sasha Greaves.

Men's Team: Renaldo Niles, Shawn David, Jamal Angus (vice-captain), Mathew Talbot, Michael Barrow, Jonathan Garnette, Lionel Holder (captain), Rahsaan Dathorn-Howell, Gavin McPherson, Tyresse Prescod, Godfrey Polleydore, Yannic Williams, and Elisha Crawford.

The collaboration with ENet – also the corporate sponsor of the Guyana Squash Association (GSA) –is designed to support Lowe as she develops her profile, pursues a professional squash career, and works toward representing Guyana at future Olympic Games.

Sharing her appreciation for the support, Lowe emphasised its importance: “I am elated to be a part of the ENet Family. I’ve worked incredibly hard to reach this moment, and having my efforts acknowledged means more to me than words can express,” Lowe said.

“I sincerely appreciate ENet’s belief in me, and I’m excited, grateful, and proud

“As a rising female athlete in a highly competitive sport, Kaylee exemplifies resilience and determination and continues to inspire young girls across Guyana. She embodies the qualities we champion, and we are honoured to stand behind her journey.”

The sponsorship follows ENet’s recent recognition by the National Sports Commission (NSC), which honoured the company for its sustained investment in sports at the 2024 national sports awards ceremony –its second consecutive year receiving the accolade. Lowe will join Team Guyana as they defend home court and seek to retain their regional title when the Senior CASA Championships commence this weekend at the National Racquet Centre in

The Guyanese ath lete secured a bronze medal in the men’s long jump at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Stadium on Wednesday evening. He leaped to 7.56m, add ing a proud moment for Guyana on the interna tional stage.

The competition was won by Uzbekistan’s Anvar Anvarov, who soared to the gold medal with an impressive leap of 8.09m. Amath Faye of Senegal took the silver, delivering a strong per