Guyana Times - Thursday, February 5, 2026

4 men die aboard docked vessel at Water St wharf

Berbice man admits to killing businessman during robbery

New training programmes for truck drivers, inmates in Budget 2026 – Labour Minister

2 Essequibo Coast men fined $495,000 for vehicle, licensing offenses

Corentyne man admits to rape, assault after home invasion

Guyana, Brazil, Argentina at forefront of Latin America’s oil

Despite

campaign promise to refuse salary US-indicted Azruddin Mohamed quietly assigned party member to collect Opposition Leader’s salary in

cash – Teixeira

…says LOO not entitled to Govt vehicle

Parliamentary Affairs and Governance

Minister Gail Teixeira on Wednesday said that despite a campaign promise to refuse a Parliamentary salary, United Statesindicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has quietly assigned a party member to uplift his salary on his behalf.

Teixeira made the revelation as she rejected claims made by Mohamed that he has been denied official state security and a Government vehicle, en-

titlements he claimed are guaranteed by law.

Teixeira says these claims are untrue.

“By the way, I remember during the campaign Mr Mohamed saying he would not be taking any salary. This is not true. Mr Mohamed is receiving his salary, and he has designated a particular member of his party to collect his salary in cash because, of course, you know Mr Mohamed has no bank account,” she highlighted.

She said, according

“By the way, I remember during the campaign Mr Mohamed saying he would not be taking any salary. This is not true. Mr Mohamed is receiving his salary, and he has designated a particular member of his party to collect his salary in cash because, of course, you know Mr Mohamed has no bank account.” – Gail Teixeira

to the country’s law, the Opposition Leader is entitled to the same benefits as a Government Minister.

“First of all, former Presidents, by law, under the Former Presidents Benefits Act, are entitled to security, vehicles, etc. So former President Jagdeo, as Leader of the Opposition, was entitled to those things. Mr Azruddin is not a former President and therefore is not entitled to the things that a former President would be entitled to,” the Minister clarified.

“The Act which covers Leader of the Opposition is the Leader of Opposition Benefits, which include the fact that he will receive the

same as a Minister. So, Mr Mohamed will receive and has received the salary, benefits, allowances, and entitlements of Ministers. That includes security at his home... that is paid for by Parliament,” she further explained.

“However, there is security at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition whenever he designates the office and based on the rental threshold that has been set by Parliament,” she said, adding that the Parliament Office covers the expenses for three staff and operational costs such as electricity.

“So, this issue that he is entitled to these ben-

efits that he sees former Presidents being able to access, do not apply to the Leader of the Opposition and therefore do not apply to Mr Mohamed,” the Parliamentary Affairs Minister noted.

On the issue of duty-free concession, Teixeira explained that “as a Parliamentarian, as all 71 Parliamentarians in the House are entitled to duty-free concession. So, he does not have any special dispensation to do with duty-free. He has a duty-free concession based on being a Parliamentarian.”

No state-assigned vehicle She added that the

Opposition Leader has no entitlement to a state vehicle assigned to him. Mohamed has alleged discrimination against him, claiming that he has not received his benefits as opposing leader. But Teixeira contended that “clearly Mr Mohamed seems to have a vision of himself which is much bigger than what he is entitled to by law. So, he needs to be familiar with the laws of Guyana.”

BRIDGE OPENING

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, February 5 –06:40h–08:10h and Friday, February 6 – 07:10h–08:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light showers will gradually clear to sunny skies during the day, followed by clear skies at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 06:43h and 19:01h reaching maximum heights of 2.65 metres and 2.66 metres.

Low Tide: 12:35h reaching a minimum height of 0.55 metre.

Guyana’s growth real, not artificial – Pres Ali slams claim of Govt spending driving growth

…calls argument “comical”

President Dr Irfaan Ali has pushed back strongly against suggestions that Government spending is the main engine of the country’s rapid economic growth, calling the argument “comical”.

According to the President, the growth reflects deliberate policy decisions, increased private investment, and diversification efforts.

“The claim that growth is driven by Government spending rather than a strong non-oil economy reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of basic macroeconomics,” he posited during a live broadcast on Wednesday morning.

“If non-oil GDP is growing, it is because businesses are producing more, not because Government is spending more. It is because productivity is increasing; businesses are producing more. Therefore, the question isn’t whether Government is spending. It is whether that spending is leading towards expansion in economy. This question is whether that spending is leading to productivity,” he outlined.

President Ali further explained that non-oil gross domestic product (GDP) measures the value added or generated by non-oil sectors such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture, services, transport, and trade.

“Government spending is not a production sector. It does not appear in GDP unless a contractor builds, a supplier produces, a worker is employed, or a service is delivered,” he contended.

In fact, he explained that capital spending by the Government is intended to support structural changes in the economy, while recurrent spending is to ease short-term pressures.

“Take the Dr Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, for example. Every single commuter is now saving time; saving time is saving money. They’re saving fuel, increasing productivity, carrying over more weight. All of that leads to

expansion in productivity as a result of this capital expenditure that Government invested in. As a consequence, Government spending stimulates growth,” the Head of State noted.

In this regard, he contended that it is impossible for Government to artificially inflate non-oil GDP growth.

“So, without real economic activity taking place, without real production taking place, without real value being created, without real jobs being created, there is no accounting framework that can artificially address GDP or change the GDP numbers. It is based on this production,” he asserted.

“The view expressed, therefore, by the parrots that Government spending is responsible for economic growth and not the strong performance of the non-oil sector is therefore not only false but frankly comical,” he added. Non-oil GDP increased continuously from 4.6 per cent in 2021 to 14.3 per cent in 2025.

Overall, Guyana’s econ-

omy expanded by 19.3 percent last year and is projected to grow by 16.2 percent this year. The non-oil economy is projected to grow by 10.8 per cent in 2026.

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Narcotics, schools, & young people

The discovery of suspected MDMA, commonly called “Molly”, inside a secondary school on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), is a deeply troubling development that demands urgent attention. Schools are intended to be places of learning, safety, and structured development. The presence of illicit drugs within such an environment indicates a dangerous erosion of those safeguards and highlights a growing threat to the wellbeing of young people.

The involvement of children as young as 14 and 15 years old highlights the gravity of the situation. At that age, students are still in critical stages of physical, psychological, and social development. Exposure to and involvement in illegal drugs at such an early stage carries serious and often irreversible consequences. Apart from the immediate health risks associated with substances such as MDMA, including neurological damage, addiction, and increased vulnerability to mental health disorders, there are long-term social consequences that can derail education, limit employment prospects, and entangle young lives in the criminal justice system.

Equally concerning is the indication that schools may be emerging as points of distribution, not sites of experimentation. The presence of packaged narcotics and the subsequent arrest of an adult in connection with the investigation suggest the possible exploitation of minors by older individuals within wider drug networks. Children are particularly vulnerable to manipulation, coercion, and financial temptation, making them easy targets for those seeking to expand illicit trade while avoiding direct exposure to law enforcement.

This incident must not be viewed as an isolated lapse and must be treated as a warning, as the normalisation of drug culture through music, social media, and peer influence has blurred perceptions of risk among adolescents. When combined with inadequate supervision, limited awareness, and insufficient preventative education, the result is an environment where experimentation can quickly escalate into dependency and criminal involvement.

Law enforcement action remains essential, but enforcement alone is insufficient. The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit and the Guyana Police Force already conduct outreach initiatives, yet the persistence of such incidents indicates that existing programmes require expansion, modernisation, and greater consistency. Drug education lectures must become more frequent and ageappropriate, particularly at the secondary school level, where exposure risk is higher. These programmes should clearly outline the health dangers of drug use and also the social and legal consequences that follow possession, trafficking, and association with narcotics.

One-off lectures following incidents may raise temporary awareness, but they do little to change long-term behaviour. Regular engagement with students, teachers, and parents is essential. Schools should be supported in integrating substance abuse education into the curriculum, reinforced by trained professionals who can address questions with credibility and clarity.

Parents and guardians also have a critical role, as open communication, awareness of behavioural changes, and active involvement in children’s school lives can help identify risks early. However, families cannot shoulder this responsibility alone. Educators, Police, the Education Ministry and community organisations must work collaboratively to build protective environments around young people.

The legal implications for juveniles involved in drug-related offences must be handled with care, balancing accountability with rehabilitation. Early criminalisation without adequate support risks hardening vulnerable youths rather than correcting behaviour. Welfare services, counselling, and structured intervention programmes should be central components of the response, ensuring that mistakes made in adolescence do not permanently define futures.

At the same time, decisive action must be taken against adults who facilitate or profit from the involvement of minors in the drug trade. Such conduct is a serious breach of social responsibility and must attract firm legal consequences. Targeted intelligence-led policing around school communities and transport routes can help disrupt these networks before further harm occurs.

The presence of illicit drugs in schools is a law enforcement issue as well as a national concern, especially for the Education Ministry, as the safety of children and the integrity of the education system are at stake. Protecting schools from the encroachment of narcotics is essential to safeguarding the next generation.

Moving teachers from online content users to creators

By Kevol edwards

With 2026 now well underway and new year resolutions in progress, I invite my colleague educators to indulge me for a moment.

Amid lesson planning, marking, and the relentless demands of classroom life, it is all too easy, particularly late on a Sunday afternoon, to take the quickest route when preparing lessons: dropping a readymade YouTube video into a plan and moving on.

There is nothing inherently wrong with this approach, and it has been used over the years. Digital resources have significantly transformed teaching and learning, both positively and negatively, offering access to information that the “encyclopedia generations” could only dream of. Yet, as I revisited YouTube and other popular educational platforms, while reflecting on this issue, I was reminded of a persistent gap: much of the content available online is not tailored to our Jamaican curriculum, our cultural realities, or the lived experiences of our students.

As we look to 2026 and beyond, perhaps it is time for a shift in mindset. Beyond using pre-made generic learning resources, Jamaican teachers should increasingly see themselves as learning or pedagogical content creators. Commendations to some of these creators whose channels I have stumbled upon, such as Socialstudieswiz Soares, Adam Webb’s CSEC English, and Dr Oneil Hall’s CSEC History. While other channels exist, the majori-

ty of them are primarily focused on working past paper questions at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level rather than teaching actual topics, especially those considered challenging topics in respective subject areas.

Learning content creation holds immense promise for our education system and for our beautiful island home. First, it allows us to intentionally develop a repository of culturally relevant content that can be shared across the island. Lessons that are grounded in Jamaican contexts, our history, language, environment, and social realities help students to see themselves in what they are learning.

When examples, case studies, and explanations reflect these familiar experiences, learning becomes more meaningful and more engaging. When I worked in Jamaica and used to plan lessons, sometimes I wished I were able to find creative ways to bring across some abstract content. These best practices and creative ways may have existed with my colleagues in other parts of the island, but it was not the case for me.

Second, becoming learning content creators enables teachers to tap into the collective creativity and professional expertise of each other across different subject areas. Every day Jamaican teachers in their corners devise innovative ways to explain complex concepts, adapt lessons for diverse learners, and make learning come alive. When educators share educational content digitally, wheth-

er through short videos, interactive presentations, lab simulations, or open lesson resources, they create a professional knowledge-sharing ecosystem that stands to benefit both teachers and learners island-wide. After all, there is so much to be learnt from our colleagues, especially those who teach or may have been trained in contexts different from ours.

Third, more teachers becoming learning content creators can lead to an increased amount of context-specific learning content and culturally responsive pedagogical materials available online, which can significantly reduce planning time. A shared bank of high-quality, curriculum-aligned resources created by Jamaican educators means teachers are no longer starting from scratch or endlessly searching for suitable materials online. Instead, they can adapt, remix, and improve existing content while focusing their energy on tailoring the content to meet the specific needs of their students.

This is definitely not a call to abandon already-available resources or ignore established best practices. Instead, this is an open invitation for us as a nation and region, by extension, of globally celebrated and sought-after educators, to balance consumption with creation and to move from being primarily users of content to confident producers of learning content. With today’s accessible technology, teachers do not need expensive equipment or advanced technical skills to begin. A device, a clear explanation, and a willing-

ness to share can go a very long way.

While I emphasised YouTube videos, my thoughts extend to educational content as a whole, generally, including PowerPoint or Google Slides presentations; educational games on sites like Kahoot, Blooket, and Wayground (formerly Quizziz); lesson notes in whatever format; lesson activities; and lesson plans with activities.

Teaching overseas, particularly in the United Kingdom, has really shown me how beneficial it can be to education when we develop and share content digitally. This year I invite Jamaican and Caribbean teachers to join me on a journey to becoming a learning content creator. Again, learning content creation is not limited to the creation of audio-visual content. Instead, consider developing and sharing your best lesson plan, your best lesson activity, that Jeopardy game about the types of social institutions, or that endof-unit test on the Haitian Revolution.

If we truly believe in education as a tool for national development, then prioritising educational content creation and collaboration is both a practical and a visionary step. As a country of globally admired educators, let this be one of our resolutions for the new year: to tell our own educational stories, in our own voices, for the benefit of our students and generations to come. (Jamaica Observer) Dr Kevol A Edwards is an adjunct lecturer and teacher of information and communication technology.

Guyana no longer structurally poor country

Dear Editor,

In his call for a data-driven analysis of the human development condition in Guyana, Dr Ramesh Gampat correctly identifies that meaningful discussion must be rooted in objective evidence rather than anecdotal observation. We will utilise the most recent reports from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to demonstrate Guyana’s trajectory as one of historic structural improvements in living standards.

To understand this shift, it is essential to first define the frameworks used by the international community to measure human progress.

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite score designed to shift the focus of development from pure economic growth to human capabilities (in the tradition of Amartya Sen). It evaluates a country based on the dimensions of longevity, measured by life expectancy at birth; knowledge, measured by years of schooling; and a decent standard of living, measured by Gross National Income (GNI) per capita adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity.

Complementing the HDI is the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which identifies acute deprivations at the household level by tracking overlapping hardships in health, education, and living standards that a

person faces simultaneously.

These two indices are conceptually linked and should be viewed as complementary indicators of the same development process. While the HDI measures the average national attainment in development, the MPI measures individual and household shortfalls.

Mathematically and logically, it is improbable for a nation to achieve a rapid, broad-based rise in average attainment without a corresponding decrease in acute shortfalls. High human development and high structural poverty are generally mutually exclusive in this statistical framework, as rising averages typically indicate that pockets of deprivation are shrinking.

The data points for Guyana indicate that the country has undergone a radical shift in human welfare over a very short period. In 2017, Guyana ranked 125th out of 189 countries, placing it in the medium human development category. By 2023, the country had moved to the 89th spot, climbing 36 spaces into the High Human Development category. This leap is supported by specific gains across all dimensions. Life expectancy rose from 68.5 years in 2017 to 70.2 years just six years later, while mean years of schooling increased from 8.3 to 8.7 years.

Most notably, GNI per

Pro bono or prohibited? Christopher Ram’s own admissions raise serious questions

Dear Editor,

Lallbachan Christopher Ram now claims that his engagement with Azruddin Mohamed and members of the WIN party was done pro bono. But even taking Mr Ram at his own word, that explanation does not resolve the serious issues raised by his actions.

Let’s deal with the facts. Mr Ram himself has confirmed:

- He knowingly met with an OFAC-sanctioned individual.

There is no dispute on this point. Mr Ram has acknowledged direct engagement.

- He provided material support to a sanctioned individual and his associates.

By his own admission, Mr Ram went beyond casual or incidental contact.

- “Pro bono” is not a defence under OFAC rules.

Pro bono services are considered “value in kind” – the equivalent of a donation. In

other words, providing free professional services still constitutes financial or material support to a sanctioned person.

- His involvement went beyond communication.

Mr Ram did not merely observe or exchange information. He provided political and strategic guidance, which clearly falls within the scope of material support.

OFAC is explicit: material support to a sanctioned individual – whether paid or unpaid – can include services, advice, and assistance that advance that person’s interests.

So, the real issue is not whether Mr Ram was paid.

The issue is whether his actions violated international sanctions norms.

No amount of wordplay around “pro bono” can change that fundamental question.

Yours sincerely, Erin Northe

capita shot up by 299.074 per cent, moving from $11,767 to $46,959 in constant 2021 PPP dollars. This upward movement is reflected in the MPI results; as of the most recent reporting, only 1.8 per cent of the population, approximately 15,000 individuals, is classified as experiencing multidimensional poverty, with another 54,000 persons classified as vulnerable.

Ultimately, the objective UNDP data suggests that it is logically inconsistent to argue that Guyana suffers from high structural poverty while recording one of the most rapid human development climbs in modern history.

While critics may point to transitory income shocks – like those that occurred in 2021 due to the pandemic –the structural or long-term indicators of life expectancy, educational attainment, and per capita GNI point to a permanent shift in the nation’s welfare.

Following Dr Gampat’s request for a data-driven approach, the evidence indicates that Guyana is successfully transitioning into a state of high human development, moving beyond the broad deprivations of its past.

Yours Faithfully, Professors Tarron Khemraj and Randy Persaud

Newest form of squatting must be addressed swiftly

Dear Editor, There is a massive infrastructural programme in Guyana, and it is the transformation of our country into a modern state. However, while these developments are taking place, there is the silent, slow and insidious movement of squatters onto Government reserves.

This newest phenomenon comes in various forms, such as the setting up of booths, Government parapets and roadways, and their motive to convert Government reserves into their own private investment. If this lawlessness is not addressed early, it has the potential to escalate into greater nuisances, such as traffic jams and the intentional blocking of public thoroughfares.

Then, there are the actions of some big businessmen who believe that a new road means that they can use Government reserves for their own private parking. Others have converted roadways as their motor vehicular workshops; you can see rows of vehicles parked illegally on roadways. Again, roadways and parapets have become parking lots, leading to a bottleneck in traffic flow. Already some of these businessmen, as we commonly say, have fallen into the Bishop’s Mouth, where swift action had to be taken to address the crazy situation that existed there.

Some had to make a monetary contribution to get those vehicles removed.

Other folks extend their boundaries way past the designated surveyor’s paal; these encumbrances extend way on to roadways. This is unacceptable under any circumstance and must stop now.

Yes, the time is now that every illegal structure, every roadside minimart, and every illegally parked vehicle must be dismantled. Public roads and Government reserves must be there for what the name suggests, “reserves”, and for no other purposes.

As Guyana moves forward in its massive transformation, some adjustments have to be made. When I speak of adjustments, I am talking about strict adherence to building codes. For new homeowners, when building plans are drawn, there ought to be enough room left for the parking of (at least two vehicles). With development moving at a

fast pace, more and more persons are becoming owners of vehicles, which means that parking must be catered to on one’s own property and not on public roads and reserves; these are not designed for that.

For truckers and owners of large vehicles for haulage, you too would have to make your own parking space; that is, away from reserve shoulders and parapets. If you are located in an area where there are no parking spaces, then you will have to rent parking spaces for your vehicles. The same rule applies for those who use Government roadways as their workshops.

As we move forward in this upward trajectory of development, these and other important areas have to be looked into. I have directed this letter to the Minister of Public Infrastructure for his urgent attention and consideration.

Yours sincerely, Neil Adams

Foundation

Converting Metric Units

Converting metric units is being able to convert between different metric units of length, mass or volume.

Metric units of length

For length we mostly use kilometres (km), metres (m), centimetres (cm) and millimetres (mm).

Metric units of mass

For mass we mostly use tonnes (t), kilograms (kg), and grams (g).

Metric units of capacity (volume)

For volume we mostly use litres (l), centilitres (cl), and millilitres (ml).

How to convert metric units

In order to convert metric units:

1. Find the unit conversion.

2. Multiply or divide.

3. Write the answer.

Convert 3.2m to cm

Example 1

1. Find the unit conversion.

1m = 100cm

2. Multiply or divide.

As we are going from larger units to smaller units, we multiply.

3.2 × 100 = 320

3. Write the answer.

3.2m = 320cm

Convert 12.5kg to g

Example 2

1. Find the unit conversion.

1kg = 1000g

2. Multiply or divide.

As we are going from larger units to smaller units, we multiply.

12.5 × 1000 = 12,500

3. Write the answer.

12.5kg = 12,500g

Convert 7.1L to ml

Example 3

1. Find the unit conversion.

1L = 1000ml

2. Multiply or divide.

As we are going from larger units to smaller units, we multiply.

7.1 × 1000 = 7100

3. Write the answer.

7.1L = 7100ml

Valentine’s Selfie Card for Parents

By AishvAryA ArorA CONTINUED

from the POV of a character in a story who argues with their author.

Over 2000 Guyanese successfully remigrated over last 5 years – Todd

…trades barbs with Opposition’s Walton-Desir over international credibility

As part of efforts to tap into the vast expertise and resources within the Guyanese diaspora, the Government has facilitated the successful remigration of more than 2000 overseas-based Guyanese citizens over the last five years.

This was revealed by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd on Wednesday evening as he delivered his presentation to the ongoing debates on Budget 2026 in the National Assembly.

The Dr Irfaan Aliled People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has positioned diaspora engagement as a critical part of its development agenda, and the Foreign Affairs Ministry is tasked with connecting members of the Guyanese diaspora with what is happening across various sectors in the country.

“So far, between 2020 and 2025, we’ve assisted approximately 2162 Guyanese who have successfully re-migrated to Guyana, and that is a part of our development agenda because, as you’re aware… His Excellency, the President, would also like to tap into the human capital that can actually return to Guyana and to be a good fit in areas where we may have a need for their level of competency,” Minister Todd explained.

In addition to expertise, the Guyanese Government is also looking to tap into the resources of Guyanese living overseas. According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, several over-

seas-based Guyanese business owners are returning, moving capital and/or expanding their businesses here or even partnering with companies in Guyana.

“So, it’s doing a lot for us in terms of creating employment and helping to build out our economy. So, we’re very focused, Mr Speaker, on ensuring that we remain connected to the diaspora, remain engaging with the diaspora and to ensure that that connection can lead to a return, reintegration and allowing those diaspora to enjoy building out Guyana,” Todd posited.

In fact, during the 2020 to 2025 period, the Guyana Government, through the various embassies and consulate offices, had engaged approximately 3000 residents from the diaspora in Suriname, the United States, Canada, and Trinidad and Tobago.

To further facilitate similar diaspora engagements this year, the Ministry has allocated some $35 million in Budget 2026. According to Todd, they are working on a roadmap that will see not just overseas visits to meet with the Diaspora but also increased webinars and conferences to gauge the level and areas of interest of those persons living overseas as well as to help them seamlessly re-migrate to Guyana.

Passports processing

Moreover, the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry has also made it easier for members of the Guyanese diaspora to return home through enhanced efficiency at the overseas consul-

ate offices, especially with regard to passport services.

As a matter of fact, over the last five years, approximately 17,000 Guyanese passports have been processed for persons living in the diaspora, and according to Minister Todd, they plan to ramp up this process in order to allow more persons to travel back to Guyana.

“We are attracting a lot of our returning Guyanese, and if we’re going to be able to support our returning Guyanese through the diaspora engagement, then being able to facilitate travel documents and other instruments are very important for us. So, we’re taking that role also very seriously… and we have been very effective, even more so now because we have a new technology in issuing of the passports.”

“And for those persons who may not have had or renewed their passports for many decades, in some cases decades, we want to ensure that they can have their passports because for them, that is, bringing their identity back and giving them an opportunity to return home even for visit because, as you’re aware…” His Excellency, the President, is very focused on having more traffic, not only from outside the Diaspora but also from within the Diaspora,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, during his presentation, the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister used the opportunity to respond to Opposition Member of Parliament Amanza Walton-Desir, whose party – Forward Guyana Movement (FGM) – copped one seat in the National Assembly.

During her contributions to the budget debates, Walton-Desir, who had served as a member of Parliament (MP) for APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) in the last Parliament before breaking ranks and contesting the 2025 elections independently, had criticised the PPP/ C’s foreign policy agenda, stating that diplomacy nor foreign postings are not “jobs for the boys”.

<<< Inclusive >>>

But Minister Todd was quick to point out that un-

like the action of the former APNU+Alliance For Change Coalition regime, which fired all the Foreign Service Officers upon its assumption to office in 2015, the PPP/C still maintains some of the Coalition postings, including Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, Halim Majeed.

Additionally, former Executive of the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R) – the leading party in the APNU Coalition –and Government Minister under the Coalition, Dr Richard Van West Charles, who is also the son-in-law of PNC’s founder Forbes Burnham, is currently serving as Guyana’s Ambassador to neighbour-

ing Venezuela.

In fact, the Foreign Affairs Minister added that even the Ministry’s Advisory Committee on Borders has members who are politically aligned to other parties, including the PNC.

“We are inclusive… And when it comes to our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we are bipartisan,” Todd declared. He added that, “We, on this side of the house, do not discriminate when it comes to our sovereignty and our territorial integrity. We’re all embracing and all-encompassing when it comes to our sovereignty and our territorial integrity.”

The Foreign Affairs

Minister also hit back at Walton Desir, who had called for Guyana to build its credibility and legitimacy on the global stage.

But Todd reminded the Opposition Parliamentarian that she was once part of a political party that attempted to subvert the will of the Guyanese people before the entire international community.

“The Honourable Member represented a political party that did not want to go to an early election after a vote of no confidence was passed successfully in the Parliament back in December 2018. And the Honourable Member has the face to come in front of the people of this country and to talk about credibility and to talk about representing Guyana when they do not respect democracy, democratic principles, the will of the people, and understanding that Governments come and go.”

“But we, on this side of the House, Mr Speaker, as a political party in Government, we have given true representation to the people of this country. We have done it to the extent that we are visible, we are credible, we are well respected, and we are sought after globally in every sphere,” Minister Todd declared.

Corentyne man admits to rape, assault after home invasion

ACorentyne, Berbice man has pleaded guilty in the Berbice High Court to raping a woman during a home invasion, after the prosecution detailed the circumstances surrounding the early-morning attack.

Anthony Jeffrey, also called “Tony”, admitted to one count of sexual violation and a second count of assault causing actual bodily harm, arising from an incident that occurred on March 4, 2024.

According to the facts presented by State Prosecutor Marisa Edwards, the 39-year-old complainant was asleep at her Corentyne home around 00:30h when she was awakened by a noise coming from a window. Upon opening her eyes, she observed a man entering her bedroom with a jersey tied around his head. When she began to scream and attempted to escape, the intruder grabbed her by the neck, pushed her onto the bed, and assaulted her.

The court heard that the complainant made repeated attempts to flee but was restrained and beaten. During the ordeal, the

intruder threatened to kill her, claiming he was armed with a cutlass and a gun, causing her to fear for her life.

The prosecution said the man forcibly removed the woman’s clothing and sexually violated her. As the struggle continued, the jersey covering the intruder’s face came off, and with the aid of the bedroom light, the complainant was able to recognise him.

Evidence presented to the court showed that the accused lived several hous-

es away from the complainant and had previously worked as a labourer at her home. A neighbour later responded after hearing the disturbance and shouted at the intruder, who was identified as “Tony”. The accused fled the scene, and although the neighbour pursued him and a scuffle ensued, he managed to escape.

Following the incident, the woman was taken to the Port Mourant Hospital and later transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital,

where she received medical attention. After being discharged, she made a report at the Rose Hall Police Station.

Medical evidence placed before the court detailed several injuries, including facial and neck injuries consistent with assault, as well as injuries consistent with sexual violation.

The court was also told that later on March 4, 2024, the accused was contacted by police, informed of the allegation, and cautioned. He initially denied involvement but later admitted to entering the woman’s bedroom while intoxicated. He subsequently agreed to an audio-video recorded interview, during which further admissions were made.

Jeffrey pleaded guilty when the matter was called before the court.

The trial Judge ordered that a probation report be prepared ahead of sentencing. The court also directed that psychiatric evaluations be conducted on both the virtual complainant and the accused, along with a prison conduct report on Jeffrey. Sentencing has been scheduled for March 5.

Attempted murder, armed robbery charges dismissed against duo after settlement

The attempted murder and robbery under arms charges against 19-year-old St Lucian national Condoleezza Henry and her Guyanese co-accused, Kristoff Nicholas, were dismissed on Wednesday after both families paid a total of $600,000 in compensation to the virtual complainant.

Henry and Nicholas appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, where the court was informed that the Henry family and the Nicholas family had each handed over $300,000, in keeping with settlement discussions previously disclosed to the court.

As a result, the indictable charges of attempted murder and robbery under arms were withdrawn and dismissed. However, both accused remain before the court on several related charges and were granted bail following submissions by defence attorneys for a

reduction in the amounts initially imposed.

Following the dismissal of the indictable offences, Henry is now facing two other charges: possession of a firearm without a licence and possession of ammunition without a licence. Nicholas, meanwhile, is facing three charges: possession of a firearm without a licence, possession of ammu-

nition without a licence, and escape from lawful custody.

The court initially imposed higher bail amounts on the remaining charges, but both accused, through their attorneys, pleaded for a reduction. Acting Chief Magistrate McGusty subsequently granted bail in the sum of $75,000 on each charge, per accused.

Henry was therefore placed on $150,000 bail in total, while Nicholas was placed on $225,000 bail. Their matters were adjourned to March 4 for further proceedings.

Henry and Nicholas were jointly charged in connection with a June 20 armed robbery during which 69-yearold operations manager Claudius Fraser was shot in the chest.

The court had previously been told that although Fraser was discharged from hospital, a bullet remains lodged in his chest, and he is required to undergo surgery.

During earlier proceed-

ings, attorneys for both accused indicated that settlement discussions were being pursued with Fraser. Acting Chief Magistrate McGusty had made it clear that any settlement could only apply to the indictable charges of attempted murder and robbery under arms, and not to the remaining offences, including escape from lawful custody and firearm-related charges.

Fraser later indicated his willingness to accept compensation in the sum of $300,000 from each accused, which was paid on Wednesday prior to the dismissal of the indictable charges.

Both Henry and Nicholas had previously been denied bail on the basis of the seriousness of the allegations and public safety concerns. With the attempted murder and armed robbery charges now removed, the court proceeded to address bail on the remaining offences.

Exposing… …the (dirty) underbelly

Your Eyewitness has (deliberately) avoided discussing the furore over the “Epstein Files” – primarily because the media’s been obsessing over – and gratuitously exploiting – the salacious details (with pics!) of all these grown men in leadership positions sexually exploiting young and even underage girls in compromising positions! Epstein’s arrest for sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy in 2019 was the beginning of a circus that slowly picked up steam after he took the coward’s way out and committed suicide that same year while in custody!! Many thought we’d be spared the dirty details – since it was hinted that many movers and shakers had shared in and enjoyed his perversions. Who wanted their illusions shattered?!!

The first 900 pages of materials previously sealed by courts were released in early 2024 – and the juicy titbits whetted the appetite of the public for more!! Mentioned was the “Lolita Express” aircraft to his private Caribbean island – along with names of Presidents (Clinton and Trump), royalty (Prince Andrew and Fergie), celebrities (Michael Jackson and Woody Allen) and business figures (Elon Musk)!! In September 2025 another 33,000 pages were released by the House Oversight Committee – with two additional batches in December. The granddaddy of them all, however, came on January 30, when the DOJ released over THREE MILLION PAGES AND MEDIA!! By now it had developed into a media circus as – initially – President Trump resisted the release, leading to speculation he’d been involved in the sick and perverse activities!! However, he reversed his stand – leading to the latest release!!

Apart from Bill Clinton, we now know there was Bill Gates and the not-so-aptly-referenced Virgin – Richard Branson. Amazingly, in an email exchange with Branson, Epstein referred to the head of the committee that awards the Nobel Peace Prize, former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland, staying at his New York house!! Where would this end?? When former Harvard President Larry Summers – who literally led the US efforts to end the 2008 global economic meltdown – name popped up, your Eyewitness groaned, “Who else?” And lo and behold came the name of Noam Chomsky – the world-famous linguist and ethicist who’d been an inspiration to the leftist world for decades!!

Your Eyewitness can only conclude that in addition to what the Canadian PM recently described as a “rupture” in the world order that had existed since WWII ended, the sordid details revealed in the Epstein Files – about those who lead us in every sphere of human life – show there’s also a rupture in the moral order!!

Now and going forward, whenever one of these big ones speak, your Eyewitness can only wonder whether he was diddling little girls before he appeared in public!! And it ain’t funny!!

…the new world order?

St Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip Pierre recently claimed his Government’s been instructed by Washington to discontinue sending their citizens to be trained as doctors in Cuba!! This, of course, has raised a hornet’s nest of accusations from some other Caribbean leaders that the US under President Trump is flexing his muscles under his “Donroe Doctrine” – which renews the 1823 Monroe Doctrine asserting that Washington’s interest reigns supreme in this hemisphere!! And right now, ending Cuba’s flouting of its insistence that no commie state exists in the said hemisphere is America’s interest in spades!!

To date, the US has objected to Cuban doctors being sent to countries – and the Cuban Government collecting their salaries. This was subsidising the Cuban Government!! After being accused of being the US “lackey” during the latter’s extraction of Mad Maduro in Venezuela, T&T’s Kamla hastily insisted that her island not taking up any Cuban medical scholarship this year is purely coincidental!!

We’ve also been accepting Cuban medical scholarships. Quo vadis??

…European hypocrisy

The Legal Committee of the US Congress declared the European Union interfered in the 2024 elections of several European states, taking “the most aggressive censorship measures” in Romania.

And here they’re lecturing us about parliamentary conduct – after undisputed democratic elections!!

Public Service Minister outlines digital push to upskill public servants

Delivering his presentation on day three of the 2026 Budget Debate before the National Assembly at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation Zulfikar Ally on Wednesday highlighted the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government’s investments in digital infrastructure and training, including partnerships to upskill public servants through online platforms, while he sharply criticised the former APNU/AFC Government’s failed “digital nation” manifesto promise, saying instead, after five years, nothing was accomplished.

“The APNU/AFC Government spoke of building a bold digital nation in their 2015 manifesto. But af-

ter five years in Government, they accomplished nothing. They did not decentralise the Government, and they did not simplify access. They did not leverage technology in any meaningful ways,” Ally noted.

“Let me tell you what the PPP/C Administration has done within the last five years. We recognise that the wave of digital transformation is no longer optional. It is essential. That is why over the last five years, we have embraced, as a Government, the digitisation and modernisation of Government services. This ministry now stands at the centre of the Government’s transformation agenda. My ministry’s role is to ensure that every programme announced, every dollar allocated, and every promise made is translated into faster services, better systems,

– highlights former Govt’s failed “digital nation” promise

and real benefits for the citizens across all ten regions of Guyana.”

“Within the public service itself, Mr Speaker, over 1100 public servants are currently engaged in online training programmes,” he added, noting that the Government has partnered with Coursera to provide structured online training for public servants and to support the training of nurses and nursing assistants, particularly in hinterland areas.

He further outlined a suite of new and upcoming digital platforms aimed at improving citizen access to Government services, including the “My Guyana” citizen portal, “Gov Connect”, Citizen Connect, and Skills Connect.

Among the most anticipated initiatives, Ally said, is an artificial intelligence (AI)–powered platform designed to simplify public interaction with the Government.

“The Ask Gov platform and AI-powered chatbot will simplify the way citizens interact with Government services,” he said. “It is a 24/7 virtual assistant, designed to answer Governmentrelated questions and help citizens access services anytime, anywhere.” Ally noted.

He noted that the platform is currently in development and is expected to be launched by the end of the third quarter of 2026.

Ally said these initiatives, combined with the rollout of a national elec-

tronic identification system, demonstrate the Government’s commitment to building a modern, efficient, and citizen-centred public service.

According to the Minister, the expansion of his ministry’s mandate to include Government efficiency and implementation reflects the Administration’s focus on execution, accountability, and service delivery.

“Our Government aims to modernise the public service through rigorous digitisation and institutionalised monitoring and evaluation across all areas of Government,” Ally told the House.

He said the Government has embraced large-scale digitisation over the past five years, pointing to initiatives such as the national electronic health record system, the Guyana Digital School, the education management information system, e-gates at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, an e-passport issuance system, an e-litigation platform for the High Court, and a single-window system at the Central Housing and

Planning Authority.

“A Government that manages billions can no longer rely on paper files and disconnected systems,” he said.

“We are deliberately positioning Guyana as a modern state, equipped with digital systems, stronger institutional capacity and service standards required in a rapidly evolving global environment.”

Public Service Institution

The Minister also focused on the Bertram Collins College, which was established in 2016 under the APNU/AFC Government, and said that it failed to meaningfully strengthen the public service.

He described the institution as an ineffective and politically driven institution while outlining what he said are sweeping efforts by the current PPP/C Administration to modernise and upskill Guyana’s public service through technology and digitisation.

“The Bertram Collins College of the Public Service, which APNU claimed as a vehicle for the strength-

ening of the public service, was nothing more than an unaccredited, militaristic piece of political machinery that duplicated and superseded existing programmes already offered by my ministry’s training division,” Ally said.

He added that “a Government that is proud of such an investment knows little about efficient management of resources.”

Ally contrasted the former institution with what he described as a deliberate and sustained effort by the PPP/C Government to modernise public service delivery and equip public servants with relevant skills.

“This Government is not managing the present. We are building the future,” he said. He concluded that while the Opposition has criticised the budget, it has failed to offer credible alternatives for public service reform.

“This is what forward-thinking leadership looks like. Not simply reacting to challenges, but preparing our country for the demands of tomorrow,” Ally said.

Susan Rodrigues sues Travis Chase for $20M

over Facebook allegations of corruption

…Chase reportedly hiding from High Court Marshals

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister

Susan Rodrigues has filed a multi-million dollar libel lawsuit in the High Court against HGPTV reporter Travis Chase over a series of Facebook publications made in early January 2026.

In a Statement of Claim filed on January 29, 2026, Rodrigues seeks damages exceeding $20 million, as well as injunctive relief, a public apology, removal of the disputed posts, and aggravated and exemplary damages. The case

is before the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Guyana, Civil Jurisdiction, Regular Division.

Rodrigues alleges that Chase published three defamatory statements on January 5 and 6, 2026, on Facebook pages operated under the names “Travis Chase” and “HGPTV News”. The publications referenced allegations of corruption and unexplained wealth in connection with the Minister, including claims relating to the purchase of a residential property in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The claim states that the posts repeated allegations originally made by the United States indicted leader of WIN, Azruddin Mohamed, and included documents, images of properties, and photographs of Rodrigues. The Minister contends that the publications falsely suggested she engaged in corrupt practices as a public official and improperly obtained funds to acquire overseas property.

Rodrigues, sitting Cabinet Minister since August 2020 and former Minister of Housing and Water between 2015 and 2020, maintains that the allegations are false and were published despite her having issued public statements clarifying and refuting the claims prior to the Facebook posts. The law-

suit asserts that Chase failed to give fair or reasonable prominence to her responses and relied on information that had already been publicly addressed.

The Statement of Claim further alleges that the publications conveyed, by implication and innuendo, that Rodrigues was dishonest, abused public office, and misled the public. It argues that the repeated nature of the posts created a sustained narrative of wrongdoing, causing serious harm to her reputation.

Rodrigues claims the harm was aggravated by her public office, the size of Chase’s online following –estimated at approximately 297,000 followers – and the continued availability of the posts online. The lawsuit also alleges that Chase acted with malice or reckless disregard for the truth

and failed to take reasonable steps to verify the accuracy of the allegations or seek clarification before publication.

Among the relief sought are court orders requiring the immediate removal of the statements from Facebook and any other platforms, an injunction restraining further publication of similar statements, and a public apology in terms to be agreed by Rodrigues.

Chase, who is identified in the filings as a reporter and the operator of the relevant Facebook pages, has reportedly been hiding from High Court marshals every time they attempted to serve him. After being served with the Statement of Claim, Chase has 28 days to file a defence in accordance with the Civil Procedure Rules.

Minibus driver on trial for murder of passenger

Minibus driver Travis Gordon Benjamin on Wednesday appeared before the Demerara High Court, where evidence was led in the ongoing murder trial relating to the death of Vanessa Bishop.

The trial, which is being heard before Justice Gino Persaud, included testimony from Government Pathologist Dr Nehul Singh and another medical practitioner, both of whom described injuries sustained by Bishop that they said were consistent with assault, a motor-vehicle collision, or a fall from a height. During the proceedings, the prosecution tendered four separate video recordings allegedly showing a yellow minibus, said to have been driven by Benjamin, travelling from Soesdyke Junction and along the B and E Field, Sophia, route.

However, a Police Officer who collected and present-

ed the footage conceded under cross-examination by defence counsel Candice Nelson that he was unable to positively identify the driver from the videos. The Officer also admitted that he could not determine how

many persons were aboard the minibus at the time. According to the facts presented in court, Bishop and Benjamin were not known to each other.

On the night of September 25, 2020, Bishop reportedly boarded the minibus after leaving her workplace at Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara, at about 22:00h. Investigators allege that Bishop did not exit the vehicle that night, contrary to claims previously made by Benjamin. In the early hours of September 27, 2020, Bishop arrived at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) in a delirious state and suffering from serious injuries about her body. She was admitted for medical treatment but later succumbed to her injuries.

Benjamin was subsequently arrested and charged with Bishop’s murder.

Students caught with “Molly” at Essequibo Coast Secondary School

…drugs also found in classroom

Police in Regional Division Two are investigating the discovery of suspected methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) at a secondary school on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), on Wednesday morning.

Reports are that Police responded to a report from school officials at approximately 10:46h and were handed several small transparent ZipLoc bags containing the substance, commonly known as “Molly”. The narcotics were found in the possession of two students and inside a classroom.

The seized substance weighed a total of 5.82 grams and has been lodged.

The two juveniles, aged 14 and 15, were taken to the Police Station in the presence of school officials, their parents, and a welfare officer. Additionally, a 20-yearold man was subsequently arrested and remains in custody as the investigation continues.

2 Essequibo Coast men fined $495,000 for vehicle, licensing offences

Two men from the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), were fined when they appeared at the Anna Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, after pleading guilty to multiple motor vehicle and licensing offences.

Talesh Persaud, 30, a labourer of Colombia, faced charges for obscured and missing ID marks on his vehicle and driving an unlicensed and uninsured motor vehicle. The offences occurred on December 11, 2025, at Anna Regina Access Road. Persaud was fined $100,000 for having an obscured front ID mark, $100,000 for failing to have a rear ID mark, $40,000 for driving an uninsured vehicle, and $10,000 for driving an unlicensed vehicle. Defaulting on the fines would result in imprisonment ranging from one to

three months. Meanwhile, Baney Lall, 52, a labourer of Lima Sand, was charged with failing to have ID marks on both the front and rear of his vehicle, driving without a licence, and breach of insurance. These offences occurred on January 20, 2026, at Cotton Field Access Road. Lall was

fined $75,000 each for failing to have ID marks on the front and rear, $30,000 for driving unlicensed, and $40,000 for breach of insurance. Each fine carried a three-month imprisonment default.

Both cases were heard before Magistrate Ravindra Mohabir.

Berbice man admits to killing businessman during robbery

ABerbice man on Tuesday pleaded guilty to the murder of a businessman when he appeared at the Berbice Criminal Assizes before trial Judge Justice Deborah Kumar-Chetty.

The accused, Satish Ramnarish, 39, admitted to the capital offence when the indictment was read to him.

State Prosecutor Marisa Edwards, outlining the facts of the case, told the court that the fatal incident occurred on October 18, 2023, during a robbery at the victim’s business premises in Williamsburg, Corentyne.

According to the prosecutor, the victim, Akbhar Sain, 69, owner of Sain’s Supermarket in Williamsburg, Corentyne, was known to the accused for several years before the incident.

Edwards said that on the night in question, Ramnarish prised open a metal and glass door and gained entry to the lower flat of the building, where the supermarket was operated. The businessman resided in the upper flat.

The court was told that the victim confronted the accused during the breakin, resulting in a physical struggle. During that confrontation, the victim struck Ramnarish on the head with a piece of wood, after which Ramnarish struck the businessman, causing him to collapse.

Prosecutor Edwards said that after the victim

fell, injured, the accused proceeded to ransack the lower flat and stole a sum of cash, which he concealed on his person.

Neighbours later raised an alarm, and Police responded to the scene, where they found the businessman lying in a pool of blood inside the supermarket. The prosecutor told the court that Ramnarish was confronted by Police and was shot once during the encounter, sustaining a wound to his arm.

Edwards further related that when questioned by Police, Ramnarish reportedly expressed remorse, stating, “Me sorry, me na mean fuh kill am.”

The prosecutor also told the court that Ramnarish,

a father of six, claimed he went to the businessman’s premises with the intention of stealing money to feed his children.

Following the guilty plea, Justice Kumar-Chetty ordered the preparation of a probation report on the accused, along with a prison conduct report. The Judge also directed both the prosecution and the defence to file written submissions outlining aggravating and mitigating factors by February 25.

Ramnarish is represented by defence attorney Sasha Roberts.

The matter has been adjourned to March 5, when the court is expected to impose sentence.

High Court throws out US-indicted Mohamed’s claims of political bias to block extradition

…awards $1.5M in cost as case fails

The High Court on Wednesday dismissed claims by United States indicted Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, that the extradition process against him was tainted by political bias.

The ruling was delivered by Chief Justice (ag) Navindra Singh in one of two ongoing cases filed by

Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, challenging aspects of the extradition proceedings.

In the dismissed case, the Mohameds had sought to quash the authority to proceed issued by the Home Affairs Minister, as well as all subsequent actions arising from it, including arrest warrants and the ongoing extradition proceedings

before Senior Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The applicants argued that the minister, the Government of Guyana, the president, the Vice President, and the Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, were biased against Mohamed because

of his political activity, including his participation in the most recent general elections. They claimed this alleged bias rendered the extradition process invalid.

The respondents named in the proceedings included the Home Affairs Minister, Oneidge Waldron, the AG, and Senior Magistrate Latchman. Senior Counsel

Douglas Mendes represented the Magistrate, while the AG appeared in person. The Magistrate herself took no part in the proceedings.

In the High Court ruling, the Chief Justice dismissed the allegations of bias, stating that a case for bias has not been made out and cannot be made out.

“The Minister is not performing a judicial or quasi-judicial function when issuing the authority to proceed but is instead discharging an executive function under the Fugitive Offenders Act. Allegations of bias, if any, can only be directed at judicial tribunals, not the executive.”

Speaking to reporters after the ruling, AG Nandlall said the case highlighted the independence of the judiciary and the proper role of the executive in extradition matters:

“The question of bias does not arise. The executive has constitutional and treaty obligations to discharge, and entering politics after these matters began cannot be used to challenge lawful processes. If this were allowed, anyone facing extradition could claim political bias to evade the law, and that is simply not the law of Guyana or any other country.”

He further explained that the court had relied on legal precedents from across the Caribbean, the Commonwealth, and England, noting that, “These matters have been litigated in courts across the world, and the authorities clearly support the position that executive action in extradition is not subject to bias claims.”

Each respondent, the AG, the Minister of Home Affairs, and Senior Magistrate Latchman, was awarded $500,000 in costs. The ruling also rendered unnecessary a pending application by the Mohammeds to stay the Magistrates’ Courts proceedings, which were expected to continue this week.

extradition of Azruddin Mohammed and his father is being pursued under the Guyana–United Kingdom Extradition Treaty, which remains in effect in Guyana under Section 4(1)(a) of the Fugitive Offenders Act, Cap. 10:04, as updated by Act No. 10 of 2024. The formal request for their extradition was submitted by the United States Government on October 30, 2025. The Mohameds, along with their business interests, were sanctioned by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on June 11, 2024. The sanctions were imposed for allegations of large-scale corruption, including gold smuggling, money laundering, and bribery, with investigations indicating attempts to evade more than US$50 million in taxes owed to the Guyanese Government.

In addition, a grand jury in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida has indicted the father-son duo on 11 criminal counts, including wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering, primarily linked to the export of gold by their company, Mohamed’s Enterprises, to the United States.

If convicted, most of the charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and fines up to US$250,000. The money laundering charge carries a potential fine of US$500,000 or an amount equivalent to the value of the laundered assets.

The Mohameds have a second High Court action challenging the constitutionality of certain provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act, particularly amendments made in 2009. That matter has already been argued, with written submissions filed by all parties, and a ruling is scheduled for February 16. Meanwhile, extradition proceedings before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court are expected to continue on Thursday and Friday.

4 men die aboard docked vessel at Water St wharf

Four men died on Wednesday evening on board a vessel docked at a wharf at Lot 13A Water Street, Georgetown. Dead are Brandon Deonarine, 18, a seaman of Support, East Bank Demerara; Nerwaine Persaud, 57, a boat captain of Cummings Lodge,

Budget

East Coast Demerara (ECD); Dominic Alexis, 33, a seaman of De Kendren, West Coast Demerara; and Getindra Sanchara, 25, an engineer, of Cummings Lodge, ECD.

Police on Wednesday evening said that they are investigating an incident, which occurred at about 18:30h on board a cargo vessel docked at a Water Street, Cummingsburg, Georgetown wharf, that resulted in the deaths of four crew members.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the men were inspecting a dry space within the engine room, located in the lower section of the vessel, when they were reportedly exposed to suspected noxious fumes and collapsed. An alarm was raised by other crew members, and emergency medical technicians, as well as the Guyana Fire Service, responded to the scene.

The men were removed from the vessel and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where they were pronounced dead by a doctor on duty. The bodies are at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting post-mortem examinations.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Public Utilities Minister Deodat Indar confirmed that the four persons had died on the vessel, “Captain Virat”, which is owned by a Guyanese.

“An investigation on the cause [is ongoing]… the Maritime Administration (MARAD) is also part of the investigation,” the Minister told this publication.

2026 strengthens health care from birth to old age – Health Minister

Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony says Budget 2026 strengthens Guyana’s health-care system at every stage of life, from maternal and child health to services for adults and the elderly.

His comments came as he participated in the third day of the National Budget debate on Wednesday.

With regard to healthcare, Anthony argued that the $1.558 trillion budget reflects a deliberate life-cycle approach, combining prevention, early detection and treatment, as he countered claims from the opposition benches that the budget offers little direct benefit to citizens.

Focusing first on maternal and infant health, Dr Anthony told the House that approximately 14,000 expectant mothers benefit annually from antenatal care under the public health system. He said the Government has also constructed 11 maternity waiting homes across Region One (Barima-Waini), Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Region Nine (Upper

Takutu-Upper Essequibo), providing about 100 beds to allow expectant mothers from remote communities to remain close to hospitals ahead of delivery.

He noted that every baby born now qualifies for a $100,000 baby grant, while mothers delivering at public facilities also receive postnatal hampers containing essential care items for both mother and child. According to the Health Minister, nearly 3000 such hampers are distributed annually.

Turning to early childhood care, Dr Anthony

said Guyana’s vaccination programme now provides access to more than 18 antigens, protecting children against preventable diseases. He added that routine screening has been expanded at nursery, primary, and secondary levels, allowing early detection of hearing, vision, and dental issues.

Anthony noted that over the past two years, 18,374 nursery school children have been screened, while 55,717 primary school pupils and 6508 secondary school students have undergone age-appropriate

health checks. He also highlighted the introduction of a universal laboratory voucher, which has enabled screening for congenital conditions such as sickle-cell anaemia, benefitting more than 13,000 children nationwide.

Adolescents and young people, Dr Anthony said, are also benefiting from expanded preventative programmes. He pointed to the rollout of a 9-valent HPV vaccine for both boys and girls aged nine to 15, noting that 26,000 children received the vaccine last year, reducing future risks of cervical and other HPV-related cancers. He also referenced the distribution of menstrual hygiene products to approximately 15,000 teenage girls annually.

Addressing adult health, the Minister said Budget 2026 supports increased disposable income through a higher income-tax threshold and provides for the continuation of a $100,000 cash grant for every Guyanese aged 18 years and over. He added that eye-care programmes introduced over the past two years have al-

lowed more than 175,000 people to receive free eye examinations, with over 160,000 benefiting from vouchers to assist with the purchase of spectacles.

Dr Anthony also outlined expanded services for persons with hearing impairment, noting that more than 4000 individuals have received hearing aids through the public system at no cost, replacing a previous reliance on external donations.

On women’s health, the Minister said cervical cancer screening has been expanded nationwide, with more than 20,800 women screened over the past two years. He added that mammography services are now available in Linden, New Amsterdam, Suddie, and Lethem, with over 10,000 women already benefiting. Diagnostic support has also been strengthened through local pathology services, eliminating the need for costly overseas testing.

Men’s health initiatives, Dr Anthony added, now include widespread prostate-specific antigen testing, with more than 36,000 men screened and

over 1300 biopsies conducted. He noted that early detection has allowed hundreds of men to enter treatment programmes without bearing the high costs previously associated with such procedures.

Anthony said Budget 2026 also reinforces longterm system strengthening through expanded chronic-disease clinics for hypertension and diabetes, the introduction of the HEARTS protocol in partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and continued investment in electronic health records. He added that workforce development remains a priority, with more than 2200 health professionals graduating last year and a further 2800 expected in 2026.

Minister Anthony maintained that the health allocations in Budget 2026 represent tangible benefits rather than abstract policy, insisting that the Government is delivering a healthcare system that supports Guyanese “from birth to old age.”

New training programmes for truck drivers, inmates in Budget 2026 – Labour Minister

Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma Griffith, on Wednesday announced the rollout of major new training initiatives for truck drivers and prison inmates under Budget 2026, as he delivered his maiden address to the National Assembly during day three of the ongoing Budget Debates at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC).

“It gives me pleasure to announce to this House, Mr Speaker, that Budget 2026 will see the implementation and the roll-off of a comprehensive programme for train our truck drivers through the Board of Industrial Training,” Griffith said.

He explained that the programme will complement ongoing work by other Ministries, adding that it “will complement the work of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Public Service, Government Efficiency in reviewing their licensing process for all drivers.”

Griffith also announced the introduction of a capacity development programme

targeting inmates across the prison system.

“Budget 2026 will also see the roll-out of a prisoner’s capacity development programme to train, retrain, skill, upskill and rehabilitate inmates, while giving them the opportunity to make an earning and take care of their families, even while they are completing their sentence. This is how you put the people first,” the Minister said.

During his presentation, Griffith highlighted what he described as the Government’s strong record in job creation and workforce development since returning to office in 2020, noting that more than 100,000 jobs were created during that period.

More jobs created, training in Guyana’s history

“The PPP/C Government has created more jobs and trained more citizens than at any other time in the history of this country,” he said. “Between 2020 [and now], over 104,000 sustainable jobs were created, Mr Speaker, surpassing our

manifesto promise of just 50,000 jobs.”

He attributed the gains to targeted labour policies and skills training initiatives, particularly through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).

“The Board of Industrial Training between 2020 and 2025 trained over 16,300 persons across all regions with a total investment of over $1.5 billion,” Griffith said, noting that training

covered areas ranging from heavy-duty equipment operation to commercial food preparation.

The Minister placed special emphasis on the inclusion of women in traditionally male-dominated fields and underscored the benefits of Government training programmes for persons living with disabilities.

“I must highlight another significant achievement, the training of 615 women

in traditionally male-dominated occupations, including welding, heavy-duty equipment operation,” he said. “A woman sits right there. She is trained in heavy-duty equipment operation and electrical installation,” Griffith noted.

“Persons living with disabilities are also recipients of these opportunities. In the last five years over 400 persons living with disabilities in this country have benefited from the programmes and the skills through the work of the Board of Industrial Training.”

He added that support for persons living with disabilities will continue in 2026, stating that “for the year 2026 alone, every person living with a disability will be entitled to a grand total of $362,000, and this excludes the cash grant that they will get as well.”

As a former youth Parliamentarian, Griffith reflected on the significance of his first address as an elected Member of Parliament and cabinet Minister, describing his appointment as evidence of the Government’s commitment

to developing young leaders.

“That a son, a grandson, a nephew hailing from the community of East Ruimveldt in the south of Georgetown now occupies a seat in the highest level of policymaking in this country is certainly humbling and a testament of this Government’s belief in moulding the next generation of young leaders,” he declared.

Griffith also addressed criticisms directed at AfroGuyanese who support the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic, declaring, “I must put it on record today that my ancestors rejoice today. There are some of those who believe that they have a monopoly on the voices of AfroGuyanese, and I say it to them today, ‘My ancestors are proud.’”

Griffith said the labour and training measures outlined in Budget 2026 reflect a deliberate focus on inclusive development.

“This is what putting people first is all about,” he said, as he commended the budget “to the people of Guyana and to this House for full endorsement.”

Man pleads not guilty in Linden gang-linked murder

Samorea Mitchell on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to the murder of 23-year-old Delroy Anthony McKenzie when he was arraigned before Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George at the Demerara High Court.

Mitchell is accused of orchestrating the July 17, 2021 killing of McKenzie at Sunflower Street, Wismar, Linden, during what the prosecution described as a calculated ambush linked to gang rivalry.

According to the prosecution, led by State Counsel Christopher Belfield, assisted by State Counsel Geneva, the accused, along with the deceased and other associates, had initially planned to launch an attack on the MOB Gang during a barbecue event in Linden on the day in question.

However, the State contends that Mitchell secretly disclosed the plan to a member of the MOB Gang. As a result, it is alleged that Mitchell and members of the gang devised a counter-plan to lure McKenzie to Sunflower Street, Linden, under the pretence of meeting to discuss and execute the original attack.

Prosecutors allege that when McKenzie arrived in Linden, Mitchell directed him to Sunflower Street, where he and four other individuals were waiting in a car. When McKenzie approached the vehicle accompanied by his friend, Calvin Daly, the occupants of the car opened fire, fatally wounding McKenzie and injuring Daly.

A post-mortem examination later re-

vealed that McKenzie died from nine gunshot wounds to his body, with bullets travelling from back to front. 27 spent shells and two 9mm bullets were recovered from the scene. Ballistic examinations reportedly showed that at least two separate firearms were used in the execution.

The State further alleged that the vehicle used in the attack had been stolen from Georgetown and later abandoned at Kuru Kuru Junction. Mitchell allegedly asked a friend to collect the vehicle and transport it to Linden, claiming that his driver’s licence was invalid and that he intended to use the car for taxi work.

Prosecutors said the vehicle was subsequently used in the killing and was later burnt and abandoned at Linden’s Blue Lake one day after the shooting.

Following the incident, Mitchell allegedly fled to Mahdia with a friend on July 18, 2021, before later returning to Linden. Despite knowing that he was wanted by Police, the prosecution said he remained in hiding until September 3, 2021, when he turned himself in at the Mackenzie Police Station in the presence of his attorney.

The court was told that several video-recorded interviews and confronta-

tions were conducted with Mitchell and other suspects, during which he denied any involvement in the murder. However, on September 7, 2021, Mitchell reportedly told investigators that he wanted to “tell the truth” off camera, claiming that the other suspects were distancing themselves and leaving him to face responsibility alone.

Police subsequently took a caution statement from Mitchell, in which he allegedly provided a detailed account of the events surrounding the killing. The prosecution said that although the statement was properly recorded, Mitchell later refused to sign it, expressing fear that he would be labelled a “snitch” by the MOB Gang and that his life would be in danger.

However, Mitchell is disputing the prosecution’s claims and has denied ever admitting to the allegations or giving any confession to Police.

McKenzie’s post-mortem examination, conducted by forensic pathologist Dr Nehaul P Singh on July 19, 2021, confirmed that the young man sustained nine gunshot wounds to his arms, chest, abdomen and head. The examination revealed extensive internal bleeding, with approximately 2000 cubic centimetres of blood found in both the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

Dr Singh concluded that McKenzie died from haemorrhage and shock due to multiple gunshot injuries.

The matter was adjourned to today.

Paper committal to begin March 10 in deadly

Regent Street gas station terrorism

Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty has ruled that paper committal proceedings will commence on March 10, 2026, in the terrorism case arising from the deadly October 26, 2025, bombing at the Mobil gas station on Regent Street, Georgetown.

The ruling was made on Wednesday when the case against four of the seven accused, Daniel Alexander Ramirez Poedemo, Alexander Bettencourt, Jhonny Boodram, and Krystal LaCruz, continued at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

The four are facing terrorism charges in connection with the explosion, which claimed the life of a child and left several others injured.

Three other suspects charged in relation to the same incident are before another Magistrate in separate proceedings.

During Tuesday’s hearing, attorneys representing Boodram and LaCruz applied for the matter to be heard in a hybrid format, which would allow for limited oral proceedings, including the cross-examination of key witnesses.

Attorney Kiswana Jefford, who represents LaCruz, told the court that the defence team had hoped to challenge aspects of the prosecution’s case through cross-examination

and was prepared to submit a list of witnesses within three days. Attorney Mikel Puran, appearing for Boodram, similarly requested one week to provide a list of witnesses the defence intended to call.

However, Police Prosecutor Mandel Moore objected to the application, reminding the court that he had applied as far back as December 16, 2024, for the matter to proceed by way of paper committal. Moore cited the Criminal Law Procedure (Paper Committals) Act, which does not permit the calling or cross-examination of witnesses and limits the proceedings to written statements and documentary evidence.

In agreeing with the prosecution, Acting Chief Magistrate McGusty ruled that the case would proceed strictly by paper committal.

Under the paper committal process, the Magistrate will review witness statements, exhibits, and other documentary evidence to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for the accused to be committed to stand trial in the High Court.

October 2026 explosion

The charges stem from a powerful explosion that rocked the Mobil gas station on Regent Street on the evening of October 26, 2025. The blast caused extensive damage to the facil-

Guyana, Brazil, Argentina at forefront of Latin America’s oil boom

Argentina, Guyana and Brazil remain poised to drive oil production growth in South America for years to come despite the U.S. push for investment in Venezuela, Rystad Energy says.

The consulting firm estimates flagship projects in the three countries will add more than 700,000 bpd in oil production this year, compared to a potential 300,000 bpd from Venezuela. The countries will beat out Venezuela through at least 2030, the consulting firm said.

The White House has urged U.S. oil companies to take a go-fast approach to investing in Venezuela

since the brazen capture a month ago of former leader Nicolás Maduro. The country’s beleaguered oil industry, however, faces a long road to a full-fledged recovery amid political and business uncertainty.

“If the industry starts making more long-term, economically rational choices now, Venezuelan oil production could make sense in a higher oil price environment,” said Radhika Bansal, vice president of oil and gas research at Rystad. “However, more attractive barrels will still be at play, with Venezuela’s extra-heavy, emissions-intensive oil posing persistent challenges.”

Investment in Latin America’s oil industry is expected to increase in 2026 but will be primarily consolidated in projects with near-guaranteed return on investment, Rystad said. That includes greenfield projects in Guyana and Suriname, as well as further investment in Argentina’s Vaca Muerte region.

Overall, Rystad expects Latin America’s oil output to exceed 8.8 MMbpd this year, led by Brazil. Shale investment in Argentina will be a major driver of growth – the firm expects Latin America’s shale sector to near $11 billion this year, up from $9.4 billion in 2025. (Bloomberg)

ity and nearby vehicles and sent shockwaves throughout the capital.

The explosion resulted in the death of six-yearold Sorya Bourne, who was at the location at the time of the blast. Several other persons were also injured and treated at the hospital for varying injuries.

Following the incident, police launched a major investigation and later determined that the explosion

was the result of a deliberate act, leading to terrorism charges being laid against seven persons, both Guyanese and Venezuelan nationals.

Investigators relied on CCTV footage, forensic analysis, and other intelligence as part of the probe, which authorities have described as complex and far-reaching.

With the commencement of paper committal

proceedings in March, the court will assess whether the prosecution’s evidence is sufficient to warrant a High Court trial. No oral evidence will be heard during this stage of the proceedings.

Meanwhile, the related terrorism case involving two Guyanese men and their Venezuelan co-accused is continuing separately at the Leonora Magistrates’ Court.

“Guyanese people will never forgive you” – Narine tells APNU/AFC on collapse of sugar industry

…as Budget 2026 injects $13.4B into industry

Seepaul Narine, head of the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), has blamed the former APNU/AFC Administration for what he described as the collapse of Guyana’s sugar industry, arguing that the effects of those decisions continue to be felt most acutely in Region Six (East Berbice–Corentyne).

Speaking during his contribution to the Budget 2026 debate on Monday, Narine, who is a Government Member of Parliament (MP), said the present challenges facing the sugar sector are the result of years of neglect, estate closures, and mass layoffs under the previous Government, particularly affecting sugar-dependent communities such as Skeldon and Rose Hall.

Turning his attention directly to the industry, Narine told the National Assembly, “The sugar industry is close to my heart… so it is close to many other people, thousands of people,” he told the House.

Responding to the Opposition’s criticism about production costs, Narine argued that the state of the industry today cannot be separated from decisions taken while APNU+AFC held office.

“Your Government under APNU/AFC, is responsible for the state of the sugar industry at this time. It is the long-term effect of the damage that you created. You built that, put a cent in the industry, and you run it down, and you grind it to the ground.”

Narine, a former trade unionist who spent his working life in the sugar industry, said workers in Region Six bore the brunt of those policies, particularly following the closure of estates and the mass retrenchment of employees.

“I have seen firsthand the dismissal of 7,500. I was at the time the General Secretary of the Union, and I was required to be there to speak to the workers about their benefits.”

He said thousands of

workers were dismissed without severance, forcing legal action against the former Administration.

“When you dismissed those workers, I had to take you to court to pay them their severance. I took you to court and won it. I got six per cent interest and four per cent interest on the outstanding money that you had for them.”

Describing the social impact on sugar belt communities, Narine said families were left struggling to survive.

“What you did was devastating. You sent home 7500 people without knowing where they would get another meal from.”

Referring specifically to conditions at the Skeldon Estate in Region Six, Narine accused the former Government of exploiting already distressed workers.

“You charge the people at Skeldon $500 per day to go and catch fish in the canals to help them supplement their meals.”

Beyond job losses, Narine

also raised concerns about the disappearance of stateowned assets at major sugar estates, including those in Berbice.

“You must talk about all the punts and the machinery that disappear under your watch. Where did it go?”

He went on to list what he said were significant losses.

“You must talk about the excavators that disappear. You must talk about the 500 cane punts at Skeldon that disappear. And you must talk about the machinery at Rose Hall that disappeared also.”

Narine told the House that such actions continue to resonate strongly among sugar workers and their families.

“It is something that the Guyanese people will never forgive you for.”

Turning to Budget 2026, Narine said the sugar industry is now entering a new phase, pointing to a $13.4 billion investment aimed at reviving production and re-

storing employment, particularly in traditional sugar regions like East BerbiceCorentyne.

“There is new hope now. There is an injection of $13.4 billion to the industry this year, and that is very much welcome.”

He welcomed the resumption of operations at Rose Hall Estate, which he said is once again producing sugar and creating jobs in the region.

“There is new employment at Rose Hall Estate. It is operating. It is making sugar, and that is very good.”

Narine described the allocation as a critical step toward rebuilding an industry that remains central to Region Six’s economy.

“The investment of this year’s budget is indeed valuable. It’s a valuable investment for the people in this country.”

He later characterised Budget 2026 as a broader commitment to workers and communities across Guyana.

“Budget 2026 is more than a financial plan. It is a social contract,” Narine said.

ICANN brings regional internet governance, security focus to Guyana

– as inaugural cybersecurity event to be held in Guyana

Guyana is taking another step toward strengthening its digital future as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) brings regional Internet governance and cybersecurity expertise to Georgetown through its first “ICANN Near You” event for the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region.

ICANN has launched

the Caribbean Internet community’s participation in the inaugural ICANN Near You event, which is being held from February 3 to 5, 2026, in Georgetown, Guyana.

The three-day programme offers an accessible and responsive approach to addressing region-specific technical and Internet governance needs. Hosted in collaboration with the University

of Guyana (UG), the initiative brings ICANN’s technical expertise directly to local stakeholders, helping to address challenges related to the local identifier system.

The University of Guyana has played a key role in the country’s Internet ecosystem, hosting both the Internet Exchange Point (IXP) and the .gy domain. The agenda features hands-on

workshops on the Domain Name System (DNS), DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC), and security best practices aimed at strengthening local technical capacity and Internet resilience.

Regional collaboration Speaking at the launch, Chair of the ICANN Latin America and Caribbean Regional At-Large Organisation,

of the ICANN Latin America

Lance Hinds, highlighted the importance of regional collaboration in building a secure and resilient Internet.

He expressed concern that decisions about the future of the Internet are often made without sufficient regional participation.

“My concern is that decisions are being made in our name, and we are not playing a part in the deliberations about what the next Internet will look like,” he said.

He also emphasised the importance of understanding the infrastructure behind the Internet.

“When people say the Internet is down, that’s actually incorrect. Google might go down, Facebook might go down, and Instagram might go down, but the Internet itself doesn’t go down. That foundation is always there because of the policy and engineering that keep it running,” he explained.

Human Services Ministry always responds to needs of Guyanese people – Social Security Min

Minister of Human Services and Social Security

Dr Vindhya Persaud on Monday said her Ministry has consistently responded to the needs of Guyanese – particularly the elderly, women, children and other vulnerable groups – pointing to expanded social support that now covers 90,000 pensioners, more than 25,000 public assistance recipients, over 21,000 women trained under the Women’s Innovation & Investment Network (WIIN), and more than 13,000 babies who have benefited from the $100,000 newborn cash grant.

Speaking on Monday during the first day of the budget debate at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Minister Persaud established that she was coming with hard facts as she defended her support of the $1.558 trillion budget that the Government has unveiled for the coming fiscal year under the theme “Putting People First”.

“This budget is a living, people-centred blueprint. It clearly emphasises what we at the PPPC clearly would have done every year, and that is to put people first. This budget I will champion because it relates to the needs and to the people of our country from Region one to Region 10,” Dr Persaud asserted.

According to Dr Persaud, the number of beneficiaries of welfare programmes provided by the Government has increased since the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) took office in 2020.

Dr Persaud challenged the political opposition to point out which programmes they would axe funding for if they are bent on describing the budget as having nothing for the people.

“You don’t like this budget but what do you want to remove from it? Tell the person with the permanent disability, tell the pensioner,” Persaud suggested.

“If you look at the $78.3 billion budget allocated to this ministry, $70 billion of that is going directly to the hands of beneficiaries across the length and breadth of Guyana. Recipients of public assistance, pension, and permanent disability.”

According to Dr Persaud, the number of pensioners has grown to more than 90,000, with the Government honouring its commitment to double pensions.

Minister Persaud said pension payments are on track to reach $60,000, translating to $46,000 per month, along with a $20,000 transportation grant, an

electricity grant equivalent to $30,000 per year and a water subsidy. Dr Persaud also pointed to provisions that are made for senior citizens to also have access to spectacles, healthcare and eye-testing vouchers.

Pointing to the collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Minister noted that a comprehensive home-based care programme for senior citizens is being rolled out. She said, for the first time, influenza and pneumonia vaccines are being provided to seniors, alongside an intensive geriatric care programme.

In addition, the Minister pointed to the new senior citizens’ home to be constructed at Enmore, while trained women from the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) programme will be engaged in innovative ways to support these care services.

A signature initiative established by Dr Persaud, the WIIN project focuses on equipping women with jobready skills and entrepreneurial support to advance

ICANN brings regional...

UG’s cybersecurity challenges

“Guyana is now updating its data protection and data transaction legislation. These frameworks are beginning to come into place, so the question becomes: how do you do these things properly, and how do you get everyone involved? An institution like the University of Guyana is critical, because this is where it started,” he noted.

Hinds explained that ICANN, particularly in the Caribbean, made a strategic decision to entrust domain management to universities, recognising them as centres of both technical and policy expertise, with plans to expand engagement across the region.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin, highlighted the growing cyber-

security challenges faced by the institution, noting that the event will better equip the university to address these threats.

“We have been attacked many times over the last three or four years by bad actors. Universities are prime targets for Internet assaults of all kinds,” she said.

She noted that UG has faced phishing attacks involving impersonation of students and staff, attempts to breach applications and systems, and challenges related to inappropriate online behaviour, particularly on social media.

“We have had incidents where our examinations were disrupted by extremely disturbing content. These are challenges faced by universities globally,” she explained.

Professor MohamedMartin emphasised the importance of understanding

the technical foundations of the Internet.

“We are all front-end users, but as a society, we now need to understand what is happening ‘under the hood’. We must work together to not only use this resource but to preserve it and leverage it for inclusivity, efficiency, and prosperity,” she said.

ICAAN

ICANN’s mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. Every device connected to the Internet uses a unique identifier – such as a name or number – to communicate with others.

ICANN coordinates and supports these identifiers worldwide to ensure that systems work seamlessly.

ICANN was formed in 1998 as a non-profit public benefit corporation, supported by a global community of stakeholders.

their development.

“When they say we will not support this budget, we don’t agree with this budget – then go and tell the women in Baracara that; go and tell the women in Sophia, and the women in Canegrove that this budget has nothing for them, when they have benefited through this programme in garment construction,” Dr Persaud challenged.

“Directly through WIIN, $170 million has been allocated to training women, empowering them. We are providing training that is diverse, that looks at the needs of the country.”

The Minister also point-

ed out that much effort and investment are being made in also training women in non-traditional areas.

“Last year, 129 women were trained through UK City and Guilds Programme in carpentry, welding, masonry, electrical installation, and plumbing. Advancing women in non-traditional areas is a personal passion of mine. We have always believed in promoting women, empowering women,” Persaud noted.

Also indicating Guyana’s efforts in improving the lives of its female population, Dr Persaud pointed to Guyana climbing four places up on the Global

Gender Gap Index in one year, now being ranked 31 out of 149 countries worldwide. Guyana is also ranked eighth in the Caribbean for leadership on gender issues. In other improvements, the Minister pointed to Guyana’s maintaining its Tier One ranking in the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report for nine consecutive years.

“Its easy to talk but we have been quietly doing the work. On the ground everyday doing the quiet work to reach every senior citizen and reach out to every mother and child,” Dr Persaud declared.

Man walks free after grandfather withdraws charges

ALodge man walked free on Monday after his grandfather withdrew charges against him during proceedings at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Wayne Crandon appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore, where he had been charged with using threatening and abusive language. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The charges alleged that on Saturday, January 31, at Lot 47 Lodge, Georgetown, Crandon used threatening and abu-

sive language towards his grandfather, Neville Crandon.

During the hearing, Neville Crandon told the court that he did not wish to proceed with the matter, stating that Wayne was his grandson and that he still loved him. He pleaded with the Magistrate to give the young man a chance but requested that he remove himself from the residence they shared, citing a lack of respect.

“He is out of order; he has to change,” Neville Crandon told the court.

Wayne Crandon told the Magistrate that he did not want anything from his grandfather but said he needed time to collect his belongings before leaving the residence. Magistrate Azore urged the defendant to move out and remove his belongings, noting that the complainant had made it clear that he no longer wanted him living at the residence. The matter was subsequently dismissed, and the charges against Wayne Crandon were dropped.

92 persons to stand trial as February

Ninety-two persons are expected to stand trial during the February 2026 session of the Berbice Criminal Assizes, which opened on Tuesday with the traditional march past outside the High Court on Esplanade Road, New Amsterdam.

The session, which began on February 3 and is expected to run until June, will see accused persons answering to a wide range of serious criminal offences, including murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, sexual activity offences, robbery under arms, abduction, and financial crimes.

Of the 92 accused listed for trial, 38 persons are charged with murder, making it the single largest category of cases for the session. These include several multi-accused indictments, some involving as many as five defendants jointly charged in relation to a single killing.

A further six persons are charged with manslaugh-

Assizes open

ter, including one matter listed as a retrial, while 11 persons face charges related to attempted murder, many of them under alternative counts that include wounding with intent or felonious wounding.

Sexual offences account for a significant portion of the assizes calendar. Six persons are charged with sexual activity involving adult complainants, while 14 persons are indicted for sexual activity involving children under the age of sixteen, several of whom face multiple counts under a single indictment. In addition, seven persons are charged with sexual activity with a child family member, in some cases involving multiple alleged incidents spanning several counts.

Other matters listed for trial include one charge of robbery under arms, five persons jointly charged with break and enter and related receiving stolen property offences, one case involving embezzlement and larceny by a clerk or servant, and

three persons charged with abduction, alongside assault-related counts.

Four of the accused have indicated their intention to plead guilty to the offences for which they are indicted. Among them are Satish Ramnarais for murder, Mulshankar Sukharan for attempted murder, and Anthony Jeffery for sexual activity-related offences.

The session is being presided over by Justice Deborah Kumar-Chetty. Attorney-at-law Marisa Edwards is representing the state during the session.

Meanwhile, when the session opened, 51-year-old contractor of Number 51 Village Corentyne, Dexter Philadelphia, pleaded not guilty to rape. He allegedly committed the offence on August 6, 2016.

The prosecution has seven witnesses to call, including three police officers and a doctor. The case has been adjourned to February 9, 2026.

Regional

US Embassy confirms warships in Haiti’s waters amid political deadline, gang violence

The US Embassy in Port-au-Prince confirmed Tuesday that the three American naval vessels in Haitian waters are operating as part of a security mission to support stability in Haiti. The deployment comes as gang violence escalates and the February 7 expiration of the Transitional Presidential Council’s mandate is days away.

The ships – the USS Stockdale, USCGC Stone and USCGC Diligence –arrived under Operation Southern Spear, according to an embassy statement issued after images of the vessels circulated widely on social media on February 3, prompting widespread reaction from Haitians across the world.

“At the direction of the Secretary of Defence, the USS Stockdale, USCGC Stone and USCGC Diligence have arrived in the Bay of Port-au-Prince,” the embassy said. “Their presence reflects the United States’ unwavering commitment to Haiti’s security, stability and brighter future.”

US officials described the deployment as a deterrence and support mission, not a direct military intervention.

The arrival signals heightened US attention at a moment of overlapping crises: expanding gang control, stalled political negotiations and uncertainty ahead of the February 7 expiration of the Transitional Presidential Council’s mandate – and comes as the Trump administration pushes a broader effort to reassert US influ-

ence in the Caribbean and Latin America through a security-first foreign policy.

The deployment follows remarks by Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a January 28 Senate hearing, where he said the United States may need a stronger military posture to confront gangs and transnational criminal networks operating in Haiti and elsewhere in the region.

Rubio described Haitian gangs as “transnational criminal terrorist organisations” equipped with weapons typically associated with state actors, arguing that their activities threaten regional stability and US national security through migration pressures and drug trafficking.

“They represent a serious threat to the stability of the region,” Rubio said. “We must be prepared to confront them in coordination with partners.”

The US naval presence comes as Police intensify op-

erations against gangs, including 400 Mawozo and other Viv Ansanm coalition affiliates, across Port-auPrince and surrounding areas.

The US naval vessels’ presence also coincides with Haiti nearing the end of the CPT’s mandate, set to expire February 7. With just days remaining, Haitian political actors remain deeply divided over what comes next.

Reaction to the US naval presence has been divided across Haitian social media, particularly on WhatsApp groups.

Some view the deployment as a sign of hope, believing international support could help restore security and curb the power of armed gangs. Others remain sceptical, questioning the effectiveness of foreign intervention and warning that an increased military presence could deepen dependency and further erode Haiti’s sovereignty. (Excerpt from The Haitian Times)

B’dos fishermen remanded after $33M cocaine seizure

Three fishermen, including a father and son, have been remanded to Dodds Prison in Barbados on drug trafficking charges in connection with the seizure of more than $33m worth of cocaine off the island’s coast last Wednesday.

Sylverton Lewis Clarke, 55, of Emerald Park East, St Philip; his son, Renaldo Jabari Carrington, 33, of Lot 30, Lower Burney, Haggatt Hall, St Michael; and Ryan

Adrian Kelly-Prescod, 39, of no fixed place of abode, are accused that within the Exclusive Economic Zone established by the Marine Boundaries and Jurisdiction Act, they unlawfully had cocaine, a controlled drug, in their possession. They are also charged with intending to supply and traffic the drug, which weighed 676 kilograms. The estimated street value of the cocaine is $33,830,000. The trio were not re-

quired to plead to the indictable offences when they appeared in the No. 2 District A Magistrates’ Court before Magistrate Manila Renee. Objecting to bail, Police prosecutor Sergeant Kenmore Phillips cited the strength of the evidence, that the men were held at sea, and Kelly-Prescod’s lack of an address. Magistrate Renee remanded all three until March 3. (Source: Barbados Today)

Bus crashes in Brazil’s Alagoas state, killing at least 16

Abus returning from a religious festival in northeast Brazil has veered off the road on a curve and overturned, killing at least 16 persons, including four children, officials said.

The bus had been carrying about 60 persons when it tipped over in the rural interior of Alagoas state on Tuesday, ejecting some passengers while others were trapped beneath the wreckage.

The Alagoas regional Government said in a statement that seven women, five men and four children were among those killed. The accident remains under investigation and was described as “highly complex”.

Brazilian media reported that the bus had been returning from celebrations for Our Lady of Candelaria, a religious festival in the state of Ceará that attracts thousands of devotees every February 2.

“The bus went off the road on a curve, overturned, and some people were thrown out,” said Colonel Andre Madeiro, director of the Alagoas Aviation Department, which took part in the rescue operation.

“Some were trapped under the vehicle. It was a very bad accident, even atypical,” he told a news conference.

Survivors

a

PAHO issues epidemiological alert amid continued measles transmission

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has issued a new epidemiological alert on measles for the Region of the Americas, calling on countries to intensify epidemiological surveillance, vaccination, and rapid outbreak response activities to interrupt transmission and protect vulnerable populations.

Published Tuesday, the alert highlights the ongoing occurrence of cases and outbreaks in several countries in the region, against a backdrop of a sustained increase of measles cases in 2025 compared with the previous five years, a trend that appears to be continuing into 2026.

PAHO recommends strengthening surveillance and active case finding, including laboratory diagnosis; implementing supplementary immunisation activities to close immunity gaps; and ensuring a timely response to any suspected measles case.

In 2025, the Region reported 14,891 confirmed measles cases, including 29 deaths, across 13 countries: Argentina (36 cases), Belize (44 cases), Bolivia (597 cases), Brazil (38 cases), Canada (5436 cases, including two deaths), Costa Rica (one case), El Salvador (one case), the United States (2242 cases, including three deaths), Guatemala (one case), Mexico (6428 cases, including 24 deaths), Paraguay (49 cases), Peru (five cases), and Uruguay (13 cases). This represents a 32-fold increase compared with the 466 cases reported in 2024.

During the first three weeks of 2026, an additional 1031 measles cases were confirmed in seven countries – Bolivia (10), Canada (67), Chile (one), the United States (171), Guatemala (41), Mexico (740), and Uruguay (one) – with no deaths reported. This represents a 43fold increase compared with the 23 cases reported during

the same period in 2025. In countries experiencing active outbreaks, PAHO reiterated the need to intensify vaccination, active case finding, and rapid response to interrupt transmission. At the same time, for all countries in the region, PAHO stressed the importance of closing vaccination coverage gaps, maintaining sensitive and timely surveillance, and protecting travellers through vaccination, particularly those travelling to areas with active transmission.

In the context of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and other mass gatherings involving high population mobility, PAHO recommends that countries increase the sensitivity of their surveillance systems through the implementation of active case finding to promptly detect the presence or absence of measles and rubella cases.

(Excerpt from Antigua News Room)

Shortage in Tobago due to absence of operational cargo vessel

The absence of an operational cargo vessel has caused a shortage of supply in Tobago.

Shortages of key supplies have been observed in several supermarkets and hardware stores across the island, with cement notably unavailable at a number of outlets.

Chairman of the Tobago arm of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce Curtis Williams says developments affecting the inter-island sea bridge are cause for serious concern, coupled with a short-

age of space on existing vessels to transport cargo between Trinidad and Tobago.

“The Galleons Passage cannot bring the cargo that is needed on the island, so it leaves the construction sector, it leaves the food and beverage sector, and it leaves other sectors in real challenges. Those folks in scrap iron – they can’t even move their scrap iron from point A to point B; those that need cement for construction… they just can’t get it; they are not getting the bulk cement they are accustomed to getting,”

Williams told the Express. Williams said two cargo vessels are required to adequately service the inter-island sea bridge. He noted that this recommendation was made last year during a high-level meeting involving Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John, THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and officials of the Port Authority. He warned that prices in Tobago are expected to increase in the near future.

(Trinidad & Tobago News)

OIL NEWS

Oil prices climb 3% on report

US officials reject Iran’s request to change location of talks

Oil prices climbed about three per cent on Wednesday on a report that the US would not agree to change the location and format of talks with Iran planned for Friday.

Brent futures rose US$2.06, or 3.06 per cent, to US$69.39 a barrel at 13:09h EST (18:09h GMT), while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose US$1.93, or 3.05 per cent, to US$65.14.

The US has decided to reject Iran’s request to change the location of talks planned for Friday, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing two US officials.

Both crude benchmarks have seesawed this week between news of talks to de-escalate tensions between the US and Iran and heightened fears of potential disruption to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

”Oil would be lower without Middle Eastern sabre-rattling,” PVM analysts said in a note.

The US Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday that US crude stocks fell last week as a winter storm gripped large swaths of the country.

US crude oil inventories fell by 3.5 million barrels to 420.3 million barrels last week, as oil output slid to the lowest level since November 2024, the EIA said, compared with analysts’ expectations in a Reuters poll for a 489,000-barrel rise. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Andrew moves out of Royal Lodge home early after latest Epstein files

Andrew MountbattenWindsor has moved out of his home in Windsor to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

The former Prince left Royal Lodge on Monday night and is currently living at Wood Farm on the Sandringham Estate while his permanent home undergoes renovations.

Buckingham Palace had said the move would happen in early 2026, but the fallout from the latest drop of Jeffrey Epstein files appears to have sped up his departure.

Pressure has been building on MountbattenWindsor to give evidence in the US over his relationship with the paedophile financier. He has always denied any wrongdoing.

Palace sources have claimed, ”Providing testimony is now a matter for Andrew and his conscience.”

His lease of Royal Lodge had become symbolic of the wider problems his relationship with Epstein has caused. It raised questions about privilege, transparency and the use of public money.

Sources close to the Royal Family also say that although MountbattenWindsor’s poor judgement needed sanction, he does remain a member of the family, and on a personal level there is a duty of care owed to him, hence the provision of a home in Norfolk funded by the King. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Around the World

China warns Panama as Hong Kong firm contests ruling on canal ports

Hong Kong firm CK Hutchison has announced the start of international arbitration proceedings against Panama after the country’s top court annulled its contract to operate two ports on the strategic Panama Canal amid pressure from the United States.

The announcement on Wednesday comes as the Chinese Government’s

Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) said that Panama’s ruling against CK Hutchison subsidiary – the Panama Ports Company – was “absurd”, “shameful and pathetic”.

The Panamanian court had “ignored the facts, breached trust, and seriously damaged the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises in Hong Kong, China”, the

US says it has returned to Venezuela all $500 million of initial oil sale

The United States has now returned to the Venezuelan Government all $500 million from the initial sale of oil that was part of a deal reached between Caracas and Washington last month, a US official said on Tuesday.

The last $200 million from the sale has been sent to Venezuela, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The deal came about after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured in a US military operation on January 3.

”Venezuela has officially received all $500 million from the first Venezuelan oil sale,” the official said.

The official added that the money is to be ”disbursed for the benefit of the Venezuelan people at the discretion of the US Government.”

Last week during testimony on Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said US involvement

in the sale of Venezuelan oil was a short-term effort aimed at stabilising the country, keeping the Government afloat and helping the people.

”So in essence, we allowed Venezuela to use their own oil to generate revenue to pay teachers and firefighters and police officers and keep the function of Government operating so we didn’t have systemic collapse,” he said.

The funds had been held in Qatar and intended as a ”temporary, short-term account to ensure Venezuela received the funds needed to operate,” the US official said.

The official added that the long-term goal for future sales is to move the proceeds ”into a fund located in the US and to authorise expenditures for any obligation or expense of the Government of Venezuela or its agencies and instrumentalities upon instructions that are consistent with agreed-upon procedures.” (Reuters)

15 killed in collision between Greek coastguard, migrant boat

Fifteen migrants died and dozens more were injured on Tuesday night when their speedboat crashed into a Greek coast guard vessel.

The Greek authorities said the speedboat was making dangerous manoeuvres off the eastern Aegean island of Chios, and a pursuit was under way when the collision took place in the Chios Strait.

“The smugglers manoeuvred toward the coast guard vessel, causing a collision,” a Greek official said, adding that a search and rescue operation was ongoing.

Two of the victims were pregnant women. Hospital officials later confirmed the foetuses did not survive.

24 persons were res-

cued, some of whom suffered serious injuries, with others still reported missing.

ERT, the Greek state broadcaster, said the injured included seven children and a pregnant woman.

Two coast guard officers were injured and transferred to hospital, one official said. As many as 35 persons were on board at the time of the collision.

Greece has come under scrutiny for its treatment of migrants and refugees approaching by sea, including one shipwreck in 2023 in ⁠which hundreds of migrants died after what witnesses said was the coastguard’s attempt to tow their trawler. (Excerpt from The Telegraph)

HKMAO said on Tuesday.

“China has sufficient means and tools, and sufficient strength and ability to defend a fair and just international economic and trade order,” the office said.

“Heavy prices both politically and economically will surely be paid” by Panama if it insists on going ahead with the ruling, the office warned.

The Panamanian Government did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding China’s warning. CK Hutchison said in a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Wednesday that its board of directors “strongly disagrees with the determination and corresponding actions in Panama”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Man who tried to assassinate Trump in Florida sentenced to life in prison

Aman convicted of trying to assassinate Donald Trump on a Florida golf course in 2024 was sentenced on Wednesday to life in prison.

US District Judge Aileen Cannon pronounced Ryan Routh’s fate in the same Fort Pierce courtroom that erupted into chaos in September when he tried to stab himself shortly after jurors found him guilty on all counts.

Routh also received a consecutive seven-year sentence for one of his gun convictions.

“It’s clear to me that you engaged in a premeditated, calculated plot to take a human life,” Cannon said.

She added, “Your plot to

kill was deliberate and evil. You are not a peaceful man. You are not a good man.” Prosecutors said Routh spent weeks plotting to kill Trump before aiming a rifle through shrubbery as the then Republican presidential candidate played golf on September 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club.

At Routh’s trial, a Secret Service agent assigned to protect Trump on the golf course testified that he spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and run away without firing a shot. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Record-breaking snow blankets Japan, killing at least 30

A shop employee shovels the snow in Aomori City, which recorded the highest snow accumulation in 40 years

Record-breaking snowfall in Japan has been blamed for 30 deaths in the past two weeks, including a 91-year-old woman found buried under 118 inches of snow outside her home, officials said.

The heavy snowfall prompted the Government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to order the deployment of troops on Tuesday to help in affected areas, according to the Japanese national television NHK.

Authorities told people to watch for avalanches and accumulated snow falling from rooftops, NHK reported, and also warned that power outages are possible in the hardest-hit areas.

As of Tuesday, the northern city of Aomori had accumulated about 69 inches

of snow on the ground, more than double the average for this time of the year, according to NHK. On Monday, the city recorded as much as 72 inches of snow accumulating in some areas, breaking the 40-year record of 71 inches observed in 1986.

Aomori Governor Soichiro Miyashita said on Monday he had asked the military to offer disaster relief, especially to the elderly, many of whom live alone and need help clearing snow.

Several other cities also reported snow accumulation of at least 53 inches, NHK reported. A total of 290 persons suffered injuries, some serious, due to snow-related incidents, according to NHK.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Emotional mix-ups are apparent. Gather the facts, ask questions, and err on the side of caution when your heart, health, or finances are at risk. Rely on your resourcefulness and solid connections you can count on for a second opinion. Change is apparent, but how you handle it will determine the outcome. Stay calm, choose peace over chaos.

Tidy loose ends and prepare for some downtime to rejuvenate. A positive mindset will help you separate yourself and your feelings from negative people and situations. Be open and bold in the statements you make to ensure there is little recourse from anyone trying to disrupt your life or dump their problems in your lap. Maintain your independence.

Breathe in the excitement that comes with change and hold on to whatever draws your attention and stimulates your mind. You are gaining insight into how to build the life you desire. Change is apparent, but it’s up to you to make it happen. Be open and willing to engage in activities, events, and partnerships. Romance is favored.

Put more thought into your lifestyle and how you can mitigate a financial path that offers more wiggle room for entertainment. Home improvements that lower your overhead or make your life easier or less stressful are within reach. Explore your options and refuse to let anyone talk you into something you don’t need. Simplicity and minimalism are favored.

You’ve got this. Get out there and do your thing. Refuse to let anyone daunt or sidetrack you. You have the goods, now deliver what you can do. Set high standards, boundaries, and execute your plans with precision and detail. You are on the right track; now finish the job. Partnerships, personal growth, and gains are within reach.

Discipline can lead to positive change and plenty of knowledge and experience. Chat, express your views, debate your case, and revive your interest in life, love, and personal gratitude and satisfaction. Refuse to let others dictate what or how you can do your best, but listen to common sense and innovative ideas, and you’ll gain insight and momentum.

Step into the spotlight, shift your attention to leadership, following your heart, and manifesting the life you want. Socialize, network, and concentrate on looking, feeling, and being your best, and you’ll attract attention, compliments, and connections that help you grow mentally, spiritually, and financially. Own the day, master discipline, and manufacture success. Romance is favored.

Wait and watch. Explore how others have fielded similar situations to those you face, and you’ll devise a master plan you can execute in a timely and auspicious manner. Don’t take complaints or criticism to heart. Acknowledge where the negativity is coming from, and you’ll gain perspective regarding the best way to use and handle what you receive.

Stifle your emotions for the time being. If you get into a squabble with someone abusive or emotionally manipulative, it will eat into the time you should put to better use. Focus on communicating with likeminded people who support and add to your cause. Short trips, learning, and attending reunions are in your best interest.

Choose to lie low, observe, and reevaluate your next move. A change may be necessary, but how you get from point A to point B matters. Discipline, understanding, and charm are a winning combination when you want to fly under the radar and still reach your destination. Opportunity is close by, recognize your strengths, and take what’s yours.

Take the high road and stick to your plans. Don’t feel you have to keep up with others. Set a budget and a plan that fit your capabilities, and you’ll avoid excessive worry and potential loss. If something doesn’t feel right, know enough to take a pass. Question how others respond and treat you. Avoid joint ventures.

The coast is clear, and your ability to turn your ideas into something concrete is assessable. Keep to yourself and focus on what you must do. If you let others intervene, you’ll lose valuable time. Make sure your documentation is up to date to avoid penalties or setbacks. Don’t waste time fighting a losing battle.

Ibrahim Zadran’s half-century and a combined effort from bowlers took Afghanistan to a 23-run win against the West Indies in the T20 World Cup warm-up fixture in Bengaluru.

After being put in to bat, Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz made an immediate impact, dispatching two fours off leftarm spinner Akeal Hosein in the first over before unleashing a series of big hits in the subsequent overs. His partner Ibrahim also got into the act, as the duo combined to hit 16 runs off the fifth over bowled by Jayden Seales. At the end of the powerplay, Afghanistan were cruising at 62 for no loss, and the openers continued to pile on the runs.

Spinner Gudakesh Motie finally struck in the ninth over, breaking the 90-run stand. Roston Chase and Motie then kept Afghanistan quiet post the 10th over,

Zadran, bowlers take Afghanistan to victory against WI in World Cup warm-up

with Chase also removing Sediqullah Atal, before Darwish Rasooli broke free with three fours off Shamar Joseph in the 15th over. Azmatullah Omarzai then entertained with some big hits before retiring out for 35 as Afghanistan posted a competitive total of 182. In the chase, the West Indies lost four wickets inside the powerplay. Omarzai struck twice, dismissing openers Shai Hope and Brandon King, while Fazalhaq Farooqi removed Chase, and Mujeeb snagged Johnson Charles. Rovman Powell fought back briefly with 32 without much help from the other end. Matthew Forde, coming in at No. 9, then launched a spirited attack, scoring 19 runs off Noor Ahmad and racing to a half-century off 25 balls. But with the asking rate climbing, the West Indies’ lower order could not keep up, and they eventually fell short. (ESPNcricinfo)

Afghanistan (20 ovs maximum)

Rahmanullah Gurbaz † c Hosein b Motie 43

Ibrahim Zadran retired out 51

Sediqullah Atal c Motie b Chase 12

Darwish Rasooli retired out 27

Azmatullah Omarzai retired out 35

Gulbadin Naib run out (Joseph) 3

Mohammad Nabi not out 1

Extras (lb 2, w 8) 10

Total 20 Ov (RR: 9.10) 182/6

Did not bat: Rashid Khan (c), Shahidullah, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Ishaq, Ziaur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abdollah Ahmadzai

Fall of wickets: 1-90 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 8.5 ov), 2-110 (Ibrahim Zadran, 12.6 ov), 3-112 (Sediqullah Atal, 13.3 ov), 4-168 (Azmatullah Omarzai, 17.6 ov), 5-178 (Darwish Rasooli, 18.6 ov), 6-182 (Gulbadin Naib, 19.6 ov)

Bowling O-M-R-W

Akeal Hosein 2-0-18-0

Jason Holder 3-0-35-0

Shamar Joseph 3-0-21-0

Jayden Seales 2-0-19-0

Gudakesh Motie 4-0-29-1

Matthew Forde 3-0-40-0

Roston Chase 3-0-18-1

West Indies (T:

India ace record chase to make Under-19 World Cup final

Aclassy century from Aaron George, a swashbuckling 33ball 68 from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and a half-century from Captain Ayush Mhatre helped India Under-19 ace what looked like a tricky chase with ease and got them an entry into their tenth Under-19 World Cup final.

The odds were against India when centuries from Faisal Shinozada and Uzairullah Niazai lifted Afghanistan Under-19 to 310 for 4. A target of this size had never before been chased down in Under-19 World Cup history. But the Indian top order came to the party as they chased down the record 311 target with 53 balls to spare.

Both George (20) and Sooryavanshi (22) were dropped early in their innings, but they cashed in,

and Afghanistan were left to rue their errors. The duo added 90 runs for the opening wicket off just 57 balls. Mhatre and George then put up a century stand before Vihaan Malhotra and George all but sealed Afghanistan’s fate.

India were up and away in a flash in the chase, with George effortlessly flicking fast bowler Abdul Aziz past mid-on first ball. Sooryavanshi had a couple of sighters and then went crash, bang and wallop, sending the Afghan bowlers on a leather hunt. It was butchering at one end and precision at the other. Sooryavanshi took on spinner Wahidullah Zadran, thrashing him for two fours and a six in the fourth over while George effortlessly got the boundaries away.

Sooryavanshi was dropped at the start of the

aaa SCOREBOARD

Afghanistan Under-19s (50 ovs maximum)

Osman Sadat c Deepesh

b Chouhan 39

Khalid Ahmadzai c †Kundu

b Deepesh 31

Faisal Shinozada b Deepesh 110

Uzairullah Niazai not out 101

Azizullah Miakhil c Khilan

Patel b Chouhan 12

Abdul Aziz not out 7

Extras (lb 2, w 3, pen 5) 10

Total 50 Ov (RR: 6.20) 310/4

Did not bat: Mahboob Khan (c)†, Khatir Stanikzai, Nooristani Omarzai, Roohullah Arab, Wahidullah Zadran

Fall of wickets: 1-53 (Khalid Ahmadzai, 12.2 ov), 2-117 (Osman Sadat, 24.1 ov), 3-265 (Faisal Shinozada, 45.5 ov), 4-293 (Azizullah Miakhil, 48.3 ov)

O-M-R-W

Bowling

RS Ambrish 9-0-65-0

Henil Patel 10-0-56-0

Deepesh Devendran 10-0-64-2

Khilan Patel 10-0-49-0

Kanishk Chouhan 9-0-55-2

Ayush Mhatre 2-0-14-0

India Under-19s (T: 311 runs from 50 ovs)

Aaron George c sub (Nazifullah Amiri) b Wahidullah Zadran 115 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi c Osman Sadat b Nooristani Omarzai 68 Ayush Mhatre (c) c Osman Sadat b Nooristani Omarzai 62 Vihaan Malhotra not out 38 Vedant Trivedi not out 5

Extras (b 4, lb 11, nb 2, w 6) 23

Total 41.1 Ov (RR: 7.55) 311/3

Did not bat: Abhigyan Kundu †, RS Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan Patel, Henil Patel, Deepesh Devendran Fall of wickets: 1-90 (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 9.3 ov), 2-204 (Ayush Mhatre, 26.2 ov), 3-300 (Aaron George, 39.3 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W Abdul Aziz 10-0-70-0

Wahidullah Zadran 7.1-0-67-1

Nooristani Omarzai 10-0-64-2

Khatir Stanikzai 9-0-52-0

Roohullah Arab 4-0-35-0 Uzairullah Niazai 1-0-8-0

fifth over at backward point with Niazai shelling a simple catch. He made them pay by thrashing Zadran for a four and six in the sixth over and then tonking Aziz for three fours and a six to rack up a fifty off 24 balls as India reached 73 for 0 after seven.

George was dropped at mid-on but soon put that behind him, smashing boundaries with a minimum of fuss. His impeccable drives and impenetrable defence made his innings a treat to watch. The bouncer once again consumed Sooryavanshi, but Mhatre ensured none of the momentum was lost. He’s not had the best of tournaments but was at his best when it mattered.

Mhatre’s first two scoring shots were sixes, and he followed that up with a four. George, meanwhile, reached his fifty off 52 balls, and Mhatre soon followed suit, bringing his up in 43.

India reached their 200 in the 25th over, and even when Mhatre fell, thanks to

a superb catch from Osman Sadat, George carried on. He reached his century off 94 balls with a crisp flick past mid-on. While he fell with his team just 11 short, he had more than done his job with India reaching the target in just 41.1 overs.

Earlier, Afghanistan started solidly with Sadat flicking RS Ambrish through midwicket first ball for four. On what was a belter of a surface at Harare, the two openers, Sadat and Khalid Ahmadzai, kept the scoreboard ticking. Ahmadzai got his first boundary with a glorious cover drive off Henil Patel before pulling Ambrish through midwicket. He ended the powerplay in style, depositing Henil over longon with Afghanistan 42 for 0 after ten.

India finally struck in the 13th over, with Deepesh Devendran sending back Ahmadzai for 31. It was a full-length ball outside off that decked into Ahmadzai, catching his inside edge through to the wicketkeeper. Shinozada, fresh off a 163

against Ireland, started solidly clipping Deepesh through midwicket twice in three balls. Afghanistan also got five penalty runs at the end of the 17th over when the ball went through wicketkeeper Abhigyan Kundu’s leg and hit the helmet. Afghanistan reached their 100 in the 22nd over, with Shinozada and Sadat adding 64 runs for the second wicket before the latter gave it away. In what was a needless attempt to clear the ropes, he only managed to smash off-spinner Kanishk Chouhan straight down long-off’s throat.

Just when it seemed a couple of wickets would derail Afghanistan’s innings, Shinozada and Niazai shut the door on the Indian bowlers. The two timed their innings brilliantly. Shinozada brought out the ramps and the reverse sweeps, reaching his fifty off 49 balls. Niazai, meanwhile, got his first four with a thick outside edge past the only slip. While the scoreboard was ticking along, both batters were content with rotating the strike. While Shinozada still managed to get the odd boundary away, Niazai maintained a strike around the 50 mark for the first 30 balls. At 199 for 2 after 40, Shinozada moved into the 90s by scooping Deepesh before Niazai broke free by bludgeoning Deepesh over covers.

Shinozada reached his second straight century by tucking Henil to the left long-on. He brought out the Siuuu celebration after reaching his tonne, and soon after, both batters broke loose. Niazai smashed Ambrish for a six and three

Bowling sets course ablaze as NTFGL’s second tournament delivers fireworks

…PROMOTECH

comes on board

The National Top Flight Golf League (NTFGL) season roared into life again on Sunday at Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) as the second tournament of the eightweek league produced sizzling performances, tight competition, and a leader board already shaping into a high-stakes battle. Adding extra excitement to the event, Promotech Guyana Inc. has come on board as a sponsor for the remainder of the tournament series, underscoring the growing profile of the league and the commitment of local businesses to support community sport.

Chet “Smoking” Bowling wasted no time making his mark. He tore through the front nine with a scorching net 30, instantly putting pressure on the field, before following it up with a steady net 39 on the back nine to finish with a commanding

net 69 and the maximum 10 points for the day. It was round, aggressive, disciplined, and executed with precision.

Not far behind, Keshan Bacchus delivered a polished net 70, securing second-place points and adding five points to his league total. Mike Mangal turned in a steady net 71, good for three points and a running total of six points, proving that consistency remains a strong asset in the early stages of the competition.

Fazil “Iron Man” Haniff battled to a gritty finish, taking two points, while Orson Ferguson closed the scoring column with a net 73, capturing the final point available. Participation was strong, with 16 players competing on Sunday. The league currently lists 18 registered members, with 13 playing in full, showing the growing engagement and competitive depth in the NTFGL roster.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Promotech Guyana Inc’s Country Manager Bala Vinjimoor said, “Sponsoring this league over eight weeks underpins Promotech Inc. Guyana’s commitment to supporting institutions like LGC that cultivate discipline, teamwork, and camaraderie amongst key community stakeholders. The inaugural NTFGL gives opportunities and rewards for consistent performance, which resonates with the values and mission of Promotech Inc Guyana.”

With two tournaments down and the leader

board heating up, the NTFGL season is fully ignited, and the race for the top points is shaping into an electrifying chase that will keep players and fans on the edge of their seats for the remainder of the series. Bowling is now tied with last week’s winner, Patanjilee Persaud, on 10 points, ensuring the leader board is tightly contested as the league continues.

fours in the 44th, an over that brought Afghanistan 21. Niazai also reached his fifty in the process of 63 balls. While Shinozada was bowled by Deepesh for 110, Niazai continued on his merry way. He reached his century off 85 balls in the final over as Afghanistan reached the 300 mark. Afghanistan amassed 111 runs in the last ten overs. At the time, it looked like a solid score, but as it turns out, they were well short. (ESPNcrinfo)

With three youth national teams preparing for and competing at the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) level and the senior women’s national team anticipating their CONCACAF W Qualifiers game in a matter of weeks, things are pretty hectic in Section K Campbellville at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).

GFF appeals for support in “hectic” period

As such, the GFF technical director explained how taxing such a busy schedule can be on the Federation’s personnel.

Joseph explained, “It’s crazy hectic right now. It’s a heavy burden on the GFF to be able to do three teams simultaneously. Normally, we’re able to budget and set up our cash flow in such a way that we can do these projects one after the other, but this time, obviously with the three teams being involved at the same time, it’s a really heavy burden, not only financially but also on our human resources.”

“We have our national coaches pool, which has about eight coaches, and then obviously we have coach Dooley here, and those are the coaches that

Earlier this week, the National U17 girls completed their campaign, while their male counterparts will begin their U17 quest later this week. Then, in a matter of weeks, both the U20 Boys and Lady Jags will spring into action.

are spread across those three teams. So, we have coaches that are doing double sessions on a daily basis, and it’s really stretching us.”

Even more concerning is the burden that these tournaments are placing on the GFF’s finances and allocations of such.

“But I think the real emphasis has to be on the amount of money that is required to prepare three teams at a time. So, right now, I think we’ve gone in excess of over $300,000 in getting these teams ready for participation, and that has come strictly from financing that is being provided through our operations cost. So, more than ever, we need all the support we can have to financially sustain that,” the GFF technical director noted.

He went on to share, “The difficult part of this is we’re only in the first month of the year, and we’re already a quarter of the way into the funds that we can expect from FIFA. So, we need as much support as possible to be able to exe-

Farfan & Mendes renews RHTY&SC U-15 sponsorship for 29th successive year

The Providence East Bank Demerarabased Farfan and Mendes Ltd has renewed its cricket sponsorship of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) Under-15 team for the 29th successive year. The renewal of the sponsorship took place at the company’s head office and was attended by senior officials of both the club and the company.

Organising secretary and cricket manager Robby Kissoonlall stated that the relationship between the RHTYSC and the company started in 1997 when Farfan and Mendes Ltd became the first official sponsor of the club. However, he noted that the Georgetownbased company first assisted the Corentyne, Berbicebased club in 1995 with a grass cutter for the Area H ground.

The Rose Hall Town Farfan and Mendes Under-15 team has won six Berbice-wide championships over the years and was the runner-up six times as well. The team also reached the semi-finals ten times over the 25 years.

Dozens of players from the RHT Farfan and Mendes team have gone on to play for their county, and a total of 66 have played for Guyana at different levels. Assad Fudadin and Kevlon Anderson, former captains of the team, have played Test cricket for the West Indies, while Royston Crandon, Shemaine Campbell, Shabika Gajnabi, Sheneeta Grimmond, Trisha Hardat, and Donielle Manns have also played for the West Indies at different lev-

els. Additionally, Dominic Rikhi played international cricket for the United States of America. Other national players produced include Delbert Hicks, Clinton Pestano, Junior Williams, Sylus Tyndall, Abdel Fudadin, Shawn Perriera, Khemraj Mahadeo, Aeon Hooper, Pluffina Millington, Jonathan Rampersaud, and Matthew Pottaya. Club secretary Hilbert Foster stated that the support of Farfan and Mendes Ltd. is one of the main reasons why the RHTYSC rose to become the leading youth and sports organisation in Guyana, with an unmatched list of achievements and activities per year under a wide range of subheadings, and in 2019 received a national award, the Medal of Service, for its outstanding work among youths. The long-serving secretary stated that the Farfan and Mendes Under-15 team has undertaken over one thousand activities under the name of the sponsorship since 1997.

These include tributes to teachers and students, the Basil Butcher Trust Fund,

cute the other programmes for the remainder of the year.”

Referencing the Women’s National Team’s game on February 27 at home, Joseph added, “So, we’re really struggling to be able to do all of this together, but we understand the importance of ensuring that the nation is represented at the international stage and that we afford our players the standard of competitions to grow and develop.”

Quizzed about the type of assistance that would ensure each team competes without worry, the TD admitted that both corporate and Government support

would be welcomed by the Federation.

He reasoned, “I think we don’t have, or I’m not aware of, any corporate sponsors contributing to this phase of the preparation, so anything would be welcome, but I think bigger support that I would love to see happen is maybe the Government of Guyana coming on board to support this. I know Minister Ramson would’ve spoken about funding being available to national associations to help with their preparation and travel. Hopefully that can kick in as early as possible; maybe it’s too late for these three [youth] teams, but obvious-

ly, we have more international games that are coming later in the year.”

“What’s interesting is that between national teams, maybe just the senior national team alone, for them to do their allocation of games annually, that’s taking 60-70 per cent of our annual budget, so, without support, all of the other programmes now have to be done in a scaledback manner.”

“So, we’d really love to have some partnerships, corporate and Government, to help support all of the programmes we have scheduled for the year,” Joseph concluded.

Mother’s Day tributes, a Grade Six summer camp, a cricket academy, a medical clinic, a youth job fair, a “Say No” campaign, and tributes to heroes.

Marketing Executive of the company Savannah Mendes, in brief remarks, noted that Farfan and Mendes Ltd was pleased to be associated with the RHTYSC. She expressed that the company was pleased with the high standard that has been upheld over the years and the positive impact made on the lives of youths across the ancient county. She committed Farfan and Mendes Ltd. to continue supporting the club in the future.

The RHTYSC was established in 1990 by threetime Commonwealth Youth Service Awardee, the St Frances Community Developers, and has produced a combined 131 players for Berbice, with 76 going on to play for Guyana. Eight of the Farfan and Mendes Ltd players have gone on to play international cricket. The founder of the company, Mrs June Mendes, served as the patron of the club for over a decade.

TExpanding squash’s reach,

Junior Pan Am 2027 on table in NSC engagements

he Guyana Squash Association (GSA) recently met with the National Sports Commission (NSC) in discussions focused on expanding the reach of squash beyond Georgetown and laying the groundwork for Guyana’s hosting of the 2027 Junior Pan American Squash Championship.

Monday’s engagement formed part of the NSC’s ongoing meeting and consultation process with National Sports Associations and Federations on developmental matters, as the Commission continues to assess and support structured growth plans across disciplines.

Leading the GSA delegation was its President, David Fernandes, while Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle led the NSC team.

Fernandes used the opportunity to both reflect on a landmark year for the sport and outline an ambitious vision for the future.

Fernandes expressed gratitude for the level of institutional backing the Association has received, particularly in 2025.

He noted that Guyana stepped up at short notice to host the Caribbean Championship after Jamaica was forced to withdraw as host due to Hurricane Malissa. That tournament, staged at the National Racquet Centre, proved to be a major success both organisationally and competitively.

Fernandes highlighted that Guyana finished second overall at the Caribbean Championship, while the country’s junior team successfully defended their title on home soil, pointing to a strong indication of the sport’s healthy pipeline of talent.

“We also qualified for the Central American and Caribbean [CAC] Games (men and women), achieving that during the team’s tour in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was a great year, including the youths that travelled to different tours all over the world, gaining exposure,” Fernandes said.

Beyond results, the meeting also addressed infrastructure and collaboration, particularly concerning the National Racquet Centre.

Fernandes pointed out, “We also spoke about building and growing the relationship and the use of the court at the National Racquet Centre.”

A central theme of the GSA’s presentation was the need to decentralise the sport and challenge the perception that squash is confined to Georgetown.

Fernandes explained that there are facilities in several regions that could be revived to support the game’s expansion, while mobile court technology could accelerate outreach into schools.

According to Fernanes, “We spoke about using facilities in outlying regions that just need resuscitation. So that conversations will be had with the people who are responsible for those facilities, or we can speed up the process of importing the mobile courts, which basically are a front and side wall, that we can move in a vehicle to different schools, where we can see where the potential is and will give an opportunity to the youths to learn a little bit more about the game.”

Fernandes said taking the game to the schools would also allow for physical education teachers to be taught the basic squash skills needed for coaching,

“or even level one coaching certification, which is possible in Guyana, due to the fact that coach [Carl] Ince is a certified trainer, so we can have them [the teachers] go to his facility or have him go to different regions to certify these persons to be able to coach squash, which will also benefit them in becoming certified level one coaches in other sports because the basic things are relevant to other sports.”

Fernandes described the engagement with the NSC as “insightful, and we did share common interest in common goals that we have for the year 2026.”

Looking further ahead, the GSA President revealed a major milestone for the sport locally, adding, “In addition to that, which is probably even more significant, we’ve been given the goahead by the Pan American Squash Federation to host the Pan Am Junior Squash Championship here in 2027, from the 28th of June to July 4th.”

“So having had this meeting was timely because it gave us the possibility, long in advance, of partnering with the Government and the Ministry and with the National Sports Commission to make sure that this event is a success,” the GSA President said. Fernandes added that Ninvalle advised that the GSA write to Ministers Charles Ramson and Steven Jacob, outlining their intent to host.

Fernandes reasoned that the GSA is focused on bridging strong performances on court and a clear developmental roadmap for the sport in Guyana, which he said will give squash significant national and international growth.