Guyana Times - Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Rumours, misinformation fuel panic as motorists rush gas stations

See story on page 7

…3000 barrels of gasoline, 14,000 of diesel arrived on Monday, more expected today

Miner shot, cop under close arrest after alleged cutlass attack at creek

US$10.8M Guyana-China Friendship Park Fish found in toilet as vandalism reported 1 day after commissioning

Accountant critical after stabbing, robbery on seawall

Reg

by ex-partner “He shot her 5 times” – mother of beauty technician breaks silence

Motorcyclist killed, pillion rider injured in Corentyne crash Woman

Mother accused of strangling daughter to death slapped with murder charge

The 26-year-old woman accused of killing her seven-year-old daughter has been slapped with a murder charge and remanded to prison after a court was told that a psychiatric evaluation found her fit to stand trial. Sarah Elizabeth Shivpersaud appeared at the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Michelle Matthias, where the mur -

der charge was read to her. During the hearing, Prosecutor Sergeant Colin Clark informed the court that a psychiatric assessment had been conducted on the accused. According to the prosecution, the doctor who carried out the evaluation concluded that Shivpersaud is capable of standing trial.

The court requested a copy of the evaluation report, which was sub -

sequently handed over. Shivpersaud, who was unrepresented, stood in the dock as the charge was read. She nodded when the name of her deceased daughter was pronounced by the Magistrate. She later exited the courtroom with a slight limp, believed to be as a result of the self-inflicted wounds to her feet. She was escorted through the court compound and taken to the New Amsterdam Prison. Shivpersaud’s mother was present in court. The case has since been transferred to the Albion Magistrate’s Court and adjourned to May 12. The charge stems from an incident on April 5 at Fyrish, Corentyne, during which it is alleged that Shivpersaud attempted to kill her one-year-old son. The incident resulted in the death of seven-yearold Isabella Dabadial.

According to initial police reports, the woman allegedly suffocated the child and later attempted to harm the younger child, but was unsuccessful. Following the incident, she reportedly attempted to take her own life and was subsequently hospitalised. She was later discharged from the hospital and taken into police custody.

It was reported that the woman had claimed that she was experiencing emotional distress after her husband left the home several days prior and refused to return. She is also reportedly said to have told investigators that she had nothing to eat on the morning of the incident and became overwhelmed.

Prior to committing the act, she reportedly posted a photo of herself and the two children on social media, seeking forgiveness for what she was about to do. After allegedly committing the act, Shivpersaud attempted to take her own life.

BRIDGE OPENING

APRIL 14, 2026

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, April 14 –14:25h–15:55h and Wednesday, April 15 – 15:05h-16:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny conditions are expected during the day, interrupted by light rain showers in the early-, mid- and late-morning hours. Light to thundery showers are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to Easterly between 3.13 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 14:41h reaching a maximum height of 2.51 metres.

Low Tide: 08:14h and 20:35h reaching minimum heights of 0.77 metre and 0.67 metre.

Pres Ali calls on political & civil movements across Guyana to “come on board” with PPP/C

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Sunday urged political and civil movements across the country to unite with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) as it advances its vision of building a modern Guyana.

He made the call during the commissioning ceremony of the US$10.8 million Guyana-China Friendship Park, where he detailed the development taking place in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

The Head of State expressed that “life with the Peoples Progressive Party Civic in government is always better”, noting that he says so “unashamingly”.

“I say that with the greatest humility and the greatest honour. I thank those leaders who formed this magnificent movement that allow us to continue to serve and grow this beautiful country. And I extend an open invitation to the membership of every other single political and civil movement in this country to come on board with us as we build that momentous occasion in 1950 when the People’s Progressive Party Civic was formed, with all on board, all of Guyana on board. We are now opening the gates to once again bring all on board on the journey to a unified Guyana,” President Ali said.

100% support

Meanwhile, as he detailed the significant investments made by the PPP/C in Region Three, President Ali posited that “I see no reason why this region should not be supporting the People’s Progressive Party Civic 100%.”

“Not only because of what has been built, but because your conscience should not allow you to do otherwise. Not only because of what has been built, your

conscience is an important indicator of your life and whether you’re alive. For some people may seem alive, but are completely dead because of their conscience. Let your conscience and your life beat in one, in unison. And if you allow that, the People’s Progressive Party Civic would beat in your heart and remind you that life with the People’s Progressive Party Civic in government is always better,” President Ali said.

“And if our love and investment cannot be appreciated in this region, let me just highlight to you what is going on even now,” the President added, as he outlined several major projects taking shape in Region Three.

Projects

One of these projects include the Del Conte Road, which the president reminded, “was a dream” that is

now “actively under construction”.

The Del Conte Road project is a major infrastructure initiative aimed at creating a new land link between the coast and the interior, specifically running from Parika in Region Three to areas near Bartica in Region Seven.

President Ali added, “the four-lane road from Crane to Parika is about to commence and has already commenced with the construction of the highway bridges. The design for the four-lane road going back to Wales is actively under design. The Sand Hill Road’s work has already commenced.”

The President also spoke about the investments into new ports and marine facilities in the region, which he noted “will bring hundreds of millions of US dollars of business on this shore of the Demerara River”.

He also reminded of the

international port facility being developed at Parika, noting that “our food will flow from Parika to the plates of resorts, hospitals, and restaurants in the Caribbean.”

The Guyanese leader also pointed to the Wales Industrial Estate, which will bring hundreds of employment opportunities to the region.

“Our glass factory that will be built with gas coming to shore in Region Three. The gas plant that will be built with gas coming to shore in Region Three. A data center that will serve not only Guyana but all of the region right here in Region Three. Our first fertiliser plant right here in Region Three,” the president outlined.

He also spoke about the construction of thousands of homes taking place in the region and plans to build another national stadium in the region.

Elections Against this backdrop, President Ali reminded, “just for clarity, we are five years away from an election.”

“Those who have ears, let them hear. Those who have eyes, let them see. And those whose only intention is to hate, we pray that their hearts are open and that by the grace of God, love enters their soul and so too can they rejoice in the beauty, the pride, the prosperity, the development, and the rise of this beautiful nation, Guyana,” he expressed.

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Acts of vandalism & undermining public investment

Atroubling pattern of deliberate vandalism is emerging across some of the country’s most significant public recreational investments, raising serious concerns about civic responsibility, respect for public property, and the long-term sustainability of national assets. Despite substantial financial outlays, modern infrastructure, and enhanced surveillance systems, newly-developed and recently upgraded parks continue to be targeted by acts of sabotage that threaten both functionality and public enjoyment.

The most recent incident involves the US$10.8 million Guyana-China Friendship Park on the West Bank of Demerara, commissioned only a day prior to the discovery of damage to its sanitary systems. Maintenance inspections revealed that the facility’s sewerage network had been deliberately clogged with large quantities of industrial-grade tissue. In an additional disturbing act, a fish was found placed in a toilet bowl. These actions go beyond negligence or misuse; they are intentional interference with essential infrastructure, with the potential to cause serious plumbing failures and force temporary closure of sanitary facilities for emergency repairs. Such disruptions threaten the operational integrity of a flagship recreational site intended for public use and national pride.

This incident is not isolated as a similar pattern has been recorded at the National Park in Georgetown, where acts of vandalism have been documented despite the installation of 24-hour CCTV surveillance. Recorded incidents include the defacing of park signage, the uprooting and destruction of plants surrounding the Children’s Monument, and broader damage to public infrastructure. These acts strike at both the physical environment and the symbolic value of a space designed for family recreation, fitness, and ecological appreciation.

These parks are significant public investments, not only in monetary terms but also in planning, maintenance, and community development objectives. The destruction of infrastructure within them undermines the purpose for which they were created, diverting resources away from enhancement and expansion toward repeated repairs and restoration. In effect, vandalism imposes an avoidable financial burden on the State while diminishing the quality and accessibility of public amenities.

The public parks serve as shared spaces intended for relaxation, recreation, and social cohesion. Deliberate damage to these environments reflects a disregard for collective ownership and mutual respect. Such actions erode the social contract between citizens and the State, where public facilities are provided for communal benefit and are expected to be treated with care and responsibility.

The Protected Areas Commission has responded firmly, reiterating a zero-tolerance stance toward the destruction of State property. Surveillance systems, including 24-hour CCTV monitoring, have been deployed across key recreational sites, and footage is actively being reviewed to identify those responsible. Coordination with law enforcement authorities has been initiated to ensure accountability and criminal prosecution where applicable. These measures reflect a necessary escalation in response to repeated violations that threaten the integrity of public infrastructure.

However, enforcement alone cannot address the underlying challenge. While surveillance and policing play a critical deterrent role, sustained protection of public parks requires a broader cultural shift toward civic responsibility. Visitors to these spaces must recognize that recreational infrastructure is not an abstract state asset but a shared national resource funded by taxpayers and intended for collective benefit. Damage to such facilities ultimately diminishes the quality of life for all users.

The pattern of vandalism also raises questions about respect for newly developed infrastructure. The commissioning of modern parks, complete with landscaped areas, sporting facilities, and upgraded sanitation systems, is intended to enhance urban living and promote healthier lifestyles. Acts of sabotage within these spaces undermine those objectives and risk discouraging future investment in similar public projects. Continued disregard for public property may lead to stricter access controls or temporary closures, outcomes that would penalize the broader law-abiding public.

The urgency of the situation calls for a dual response, firm enforcement of laws protecting public property and strengthened public education on civic duty. The preservation of national recreational spaces depends on collective vigilance and respect for shared environments.

Social media was once a great global conversation. Now it’s just individuals locked into their own private worlds

By Tom Whyman

Iused to post an awful lot on Twitter.

I couldn’t tell you how many times a day exactly – but after discovering the platform in late 2010, I became intoxicated by the feeling that I was able to participate in a sort of global conversation. Here, I felt, was a platform that anyone could join, and on which anyone could be listened to. Twitter seemed to connect people: commentators spoke in enthused terms about the role Twitter played in the Occupy movement; the student fees protests; the Arab spring.

I posted, I made friends, I met people, I talked to people who I would never have been able to connect with otherwise. The relationships I made on Twitter shaped my values, my politics, my life. The “weird Twitter” style of humour gave me a fair few phrases that will never stop rattling around my brain: every time I walk into a pharmacy, I think about buying some ear medication for my sick uncle “who’s a model by the way”. Whenever I read something about Watergate, I imagine Richard Nixon condemning the movie Fantastic Mr Fox on the basis that its lead character wears “a [expletive] corduroy suit”.

I met the mother of my children on Twitter – I moved to Berlin to be with her, and then we moved back to the UK together. Through Twitter, I, who am really just some guy, was offered work writing op-ed columns; appearing on television; even writing a book. As embarrassing as it feels to admit, it was on Twitter that I became a person.

I still use Twitter – I will never call it X – but nowadays only semi-regularly, and certainly not with any enthusiasm. I am like a former heavy smoker who has whittled themselves down to a couple of roll-ups a day: maybe I’ll check it in the morning, but the compulsion is a whole lot less strong than it used to be.

I briefly toyed with Bluesky, but it’s never done anything for me. It feels pointless, almost embarrassing, to start going off on there about something Keir Starmer has said. So I now rarely log on

to social media. In this, it seems, I am not alone. Over the past year, Ofcom has observed a precipitous drop in social media usage among UK adults, with only 49 per cent actively posting on social media, down from 61 per cent the year before.

As Ofcom observes, this is hardly surprising. Concerns about privacy, about big tech overreach, mean that many people are switching back to dumbphones. People have learned to worry about their digital footprint, that old posts might end up being dredged up to damage or embarrass them. Even someone as brand-conscious as Wes Streeting forgot to delete all the posts he’d made about his erstwhile friend Peter Mandelson, in which he called him “Mandy”. When Twitter users discovered that Elon Musk’s Grok AI tool was willing to generate sexualised images of just about anyone, it underscored the dangers of doing things like posting pictures of your children online.

Meanwhile, the biggest social media platforms – TikTok, Instagram – are nowadays much closer to being something like glossy, public-access “entertainment platforms”, where the assumption is that the average user will only be passively consuming content. One is tempted to wonder what exactly makes your average Instagram reel “social media” as opposed to just “media”. YouTube is often considered social media – but my children wouldn’t conceptualise it as being different to any of the other channels on the TV. Being an influencer is a full-time job, and whereas there have never been any particular barriers to entry when it comes to firing off tweets, contemporary social media’s “pivot to video” means that, at a minimum, active users are going to need to do some editing.

The result is that social media platforms are now dominated by a handful of big users. And what these users produce is itself increasingly homogenised: nowadays, the algorithms would have done for “weird Twitter” before it even began.

Thus we come to what seems, to

my mind, the real reason why British adults are posting less on social media: in a way, “social” media no longer exist. Tweeting used to feel like a social activity – in fact, it even felt fun (I’ll never forget the evening Michael Ashcroft’s allegations about David Cameron landed, for instance). But then – around the time of the first Donald Trump win, of Brexit, and the most optimistic moment of the Corbyn years – there was a palpable vibe shift.

Amid the various upheavals, everything individual users tweeted started to feel urgently serious and important, and so private individuals started to be held to account for their remarks as if we were all personally running for political office. Tweeting stopped being fun – but it still felt kind of necessary: to me, it ended up feeling like a kind of painful social duty. Today, the pain is largely gone – Twitter is no longer important enough for being “cancelled” on it to matter. But nowadays tweeting just feels futile. Twitter has become a place you go to witness whatever horrors the powers that be have wrought upon the world – and then maybe toss a few thoughts about these horrors into the void.

But then, I’m no longer sure people on the Internet are really interested in one another. Twitter was the Internet as a great global conversation. But today, online society has withered to the point where people seem happier carrying on parasocial relationships with influencers, or else falling in love with large language models they’ve told to pretend to be their ideal partner.

Many of the most compelling voices on classic Twitter have retreated to their private Substacks. This seems to be the ideal now: an Internet where every user is locked into their own private world; a Plato’s cave where the shadows learn to mould themselves to your subconscious preferences over time. There’s no such thing as social media any more: just individuals and their algorithms. (The Guardian)

(Tom Whyman is an academic philosopher and a writer)

Asha Bhosle is gone, but not to be forgotten

Dear Editor, India, the world’s fastest perpetual rising superpower, has lost another of her international artistic voice which represented an iconic era of eight generations of fulfilling nostalgic entertainment. Despite not coming to Guyana nor the Caribbean, the ninety-twoyear-old singing sensational, Asha Bhosle, who departed her earthly abode on the 12th April, 2026, 11Am, at Mumbai Breach Candy Hospital, was a household name well known for her classical to cabaret songs, including club, pop, ghazal, qawwali, sufi and bhajan.

In a country renowned for religions, cricket, songs, dances, foods and films, Bollywood runs parallel to Hollywood. Paying tribute to Asha ji, international film star, Shah Ruh Khan, described her voice as “one of the pillars to Indian cinema.” Guyanese would immediately recall one of her best party dancing hits, “Piya Tu Ab Tu Aja” from the movie “Caravan,” performed by the dancing bombshell, Helen. Also, in the loop is “Oh Mere Sona Re” from the movie “Teesri Manzil.”

Rising to overnight fame at the age of 10, the younger sister to Lata Mangeshkar

(who also died at the age of 92 in 2022 at the very hospital), Asha Ji recorded her first song as a playback singer, “Chala Chala Nav Bala” for the Marathi film “Majha Bal” in 1943. Hardly knowing what she was doing or what it meant in front of a microphone, she earned 100 rupees and never looked back, venturing onto a scintillating musical adventure to become the world’s most recorded artiste, with over 11,000 songs in some 20 languages under her belt (Guinness World Record Book 2011).

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to her as “one of the most iconic and versatile voices India has ever known.” He said her “extraordinary musical journey enriched the nation’s cultural heritage and touched countless hearts across the world.” One of her patriotic songs include “Mere Bharat Ki Beti” with Arjit Singh from the 2020 movie “Gunjan Saxena.”

Singing to divas from Madhubala to Karisma with music directors from O.P. Nayar to Anu Malik, Asha Ji also spotted the talent of Adnan Sami when he was 10 years old. With Adnan, she later made the romantic, photographic and fantastic video album, “Kabi

To Nazar Milao.” Hitting the hippy hallucination in the 70’s, in the movie “Hare Rama Hare Krishna,” Asha Ji sang “Dum Mara Dum” for the exciting Zeenat Aman, who was the first Indian to win the Miss Asia Pacific International Pageant in 1970 at the age of 19.

Born as Ashalata Dinanath Mangeshkar on September 8th, 1933, Asha ji grew up in the small hamlet of Goar in the princely state of Sangili (now Maharashtra). Her Marathi and Konkani father was Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar, an actor and classical singer, and mother, Shevanti from Gujarat. Her siblings included her singing sisters Lata and Usha and music director Meena, and her brother, Hridaynath, was also a musical director. Asha ji and Udit Narayan sang, “Radha Kaise Na Jale” for the historical cricket movie “Lagaan” which won Best Foreign Language Movie at the 74th Oscar awards.

In 1948, Asha Bhosle got her first break in the Hindi movie “Chunariya” singing in chorus for the song “Saawan Aaya.” Her first solo recording came in 1949 in the movie “Raat Ki Rani” with the song “Hai Mauj

Mein Begaane.” Singing in a number of octaves unchallenged in India, Asha ji sang in countless highpitched tone renditions. But her low-pitched tone resonated with “In Aakhon Ki Masti” in the 1984 “Umrao Jaan,” certainly demonstrating her deep classical precision for the teasing Rekha to dance.

Asha ji’s life and love affairs were as romantic as her songs. At the age of sixteen, she eloped with her 31-year-old neighbour, Ganpatrao Bhosle, who was also her personal secretary. She was divorced in 1960 while pregnant with a third child. In 2022, she recorded her final filmy song “Rut Bheege Tan” from the Hindi film, “Life’s Good.” In 1980, she married RD Burman who was six years her junior. One of her farewell recordings include “Saiyaan Bina” made in 2024 with her granddaughter, Zanai Bhosle, dedicated to her late husband, RDB, the mesmerizing musical director.

Her overwhelming divine, devotional and religious songs and mystic and sacred bhajans have accentuated an ambience of spiritual serenity and has now left a vacuum filled with both happy and sad mem-

ories. Asha ji will be remembered for singing “Tora Man Darpan Kahlaye” from the 1965 “Kaajal.” Another popular soulful bhajan she sang was “Rom Rom Mein Basne Wale Ram” from the 1968 thriller “Neel Kamal”

It is said of Asha Bhosle that she broke stereotypes with reinvention, resilience and relentless passion. Her uniqueness won her many awards too many to mention. Strangely, she won the 1974 Filmfare Best Female Playback Singer Award for the song “Chain Se Hum Ko Kabhi Aap Ne Jeene Na Diya” which was not featured in the movie “Pran Jaye Par Vachan Na Jaye,” composed by OP Nayar.

Of course, Asha Bhosle worked with many Western artists to record English songs, including Boy George (Bow Down Mister). But Asha Ji brought the curtain down with “The Shadowy Light,” a track from the British group Gorillaz’s India-inspired album “The Mountain” (Parvat). This album also featured sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar and vocalist Asha Puthil.

How appropriately Asha Bhosle concluded that “music is my breath.” She wrote, “On ‘The Shadowy Light’, my crossing this deep river signifies my life’s jour-

ney… my birth, my relationships, my dedication to music, my achievements and my duties as a daughter, mother, sister, wife and a Hindu Indian. The boatman is my music, my guide across this river of life, and when I get to the other side, my journey shall be complete. I shall attain moksha (ultimate freedom), wherein I shall become one of the thousands of sounds floating all around us. If you put some of them together, they form a beautiful tune. Therefore, I shall become one of those sounds, which shall eventually become a musical note in a beautiful song which shall be heard by several generations for thousands of years. This freedom to become one with nature is what awaits me on the other side of the river.” Statistics cannot define the shape of a legend who refined the artistry of music with her tantalizing touch, her thrilling taste and yet her thriving talent. The world is thankful for Asha Bhosle’s talismanic gift to man. She is gone but not to be forgotten. The golden age is becoming less gleeful with her departure. Thank you, Asha ji.

Yours respectfully, Jai Lall

Remember Bollywood legend

Dear Editor,

Asha Bhosle has been revered among Indian Guyanese at home and abroad. She has been considered as a legend among Guyanese (at home and in the diaspora) who are tuned in to Indian filmi songs and music. Growing up in Guyana, we were fed a staple of her countless songs. She has been seen by youths and older folks as singing sensation, with songs considered as timeless and holding nostalgic value for Indian Guyanese and other Indo-Caribbean people. She recorded over 12,000 songs, many being top hits in India and in Guyana. Who can forget “Dum Maro Dum”, a major hit song? A giant voice of Bollywood, the Indian entertainment or the movie and music industry, she died early Sunday morning in Mumbai; the 92-year-old was cremated Monday evening.

Her passing has been marked by mourning. Guyanese in New York speak have been speaking about her death and their

love and admiration for her. She is remembered with immense respect, her music a staple among Indian Guyanese. She is deserving of all the accolades Guyanese showered on her.

AThe renowned singer, like her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar, another legend, gave lip-sync voice to hundreds of actresses as a playback singer for over six decades. Their singing provided cultural connection between India and the diaspora, acting as a a unifying element, fostering a strong connection with Indian cultural roots. They have been widely recognized for immense contributions to the Bollywood music industry, which holds significant popularity in Guyana and in the Indian Guyanese and other Indian diaspora. As news broke Sunday morning that she was no more, sha became the talk among Indians who remembered her as a legend. She has been revered in the Indian-Guyanese

community, where her music is deeply nostalgic and widely celebrated. They same is true among Indians in Trinidad and Suriname and in other territories of the greater Caribbean region. Many recalled crowding concert halls in USA, Canada, and UK to watch her perform over the last four decades; ditto elder sister Lata. And at home, they watched movies where Asha and Lata sang for scores of actresses. Their songs are considered as staple among Indians globally, transcending generations.

Their songs were of different genres -- melancholy, religious, tender,

soothing, aching, wistful, sacred, emotional, romantic, mourning, fast tempo or of the dance type. She is considered irreplaceable, and her contribution to the music industry is celebrated with enduring love. Her contribution to music is celebrated with love, and she, like Lata, are considered as irreplaceable. At many homes, Guyanese played her songs and watched videos in nostalgia, displaying the deep respect and love they have for her and showcasing her immense popularity. She is gone, but her music will remain eternal!

Yours truly, Vishnu

Bisram

TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2026

00:00 Sign Off 06:00 TVG Devotional Hour 07:00 Evening News (RB) 08:00 Movie - Diamond Dog Caper (2008) 10:00 Stop Suffering 11:00 Documentary: Nat Geo Animals 12:00 News Break

12:05 Movie - Rip Tide (2017)

13:30 Movie - MVP: Most Valuable Primate (2001)

15:00 UEFA Champions League

17:00 The Young & The Restless

18:00 TVG Music Break

18:30 Teaching the Truth in Love

19:00 The Evening News

20:00 Stop Suffering

20:30 TVG Music Break

21:00 Movie - Imagine That (2009) 23:00 The Outpost S4 E3

Page Foundation

NGSA Questions

Supplies/tools

Construction paper

Glue

Paintbrush

Scissors

Crayola markers

Crayola washable paint

Clothespin(s)

Cotton balls

Pencil(s)

Googly eyes

Directions

Step 1: Paint a clothespin. Dry 1–2 hours.

Step 2 : Colour 3 cotton balls with markers.

Step 3: Draw antennae on construction paper. Cut out.

Step 4: Glue cotton balls to top of clothespin.

Step 5: Glue antennae to middle cotton ball.

Step 6: Glue googly eyes to front cotton ball as a face.

Let all glue steps dry 1–2 hours.

Step 7: Repeat steps 1–6 to create a colony! (Adapted from crayola.com)

By Linda GreGG

No one really dies in the myths. No world is lost in the stories. Everything is lost in the retelling, in being wondered at. We grow up and grow old in our land of grass and blood moons, births and goneness. We live our myth in the recurrence, pretending we will return another day. Like the morning coming every morning. The truth is we come back as a choir. Otherwise Eurydice would be forever in the dark. Our singing brings her back. Our dying keeps her alive.

(Source: Poetry [April 2026])

Rumours, misinformation fuel

panic as motorists rush gas stations

…3000 barrels of gasoline, 14,000 of diesel arrived on Monday, more expected today

Amid a frantic rush by motorists to secure fuel during a temporary shortage, relief began arriving Monday, when a vessel carrying 3000 barrels of gasoline and 14,000 barrels of diesel docked at about 14:00h. Discharge operations commenced shortly after, with distribution beginning on Monday evening. Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier, (Retired) Mark Phillips confirmed the arrival of the shipment, noting that motor-

with ripple effects felt in several countries, including Guyana. Reports indicate that crude oil prices surged to approximately US$104 per barrel amid the uncertainty, further straining supply chains and contributing to shortages in some regions.

The Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil) has confirmed that approximately 9000 barrels of diesel and 21,000 barrels of gasoline are expected to arrive in Guyana on Wednesday.

pected on today, including 10,000 barrels of gasoline, 18,000 barrels of diesel, and 3000 barrels of aviation fuel (AvJet).

Rumours, unnecessary public panic

Despite the incoming supply, the shortage triggered widespread panic buying, fueled largely by rumours circulating on social media. Among those identified as contributing to the spread of misinformation was the Opposition We

ists nationwide had been experiencing significant disruption in fuel availability linked to global supply challenges tied to tensions in the Middle East.

He said importers had informed the Government that fuel consignments began arriving on Monday afternoon, with additional shipments scheduled for Tuesday and later in the week to stabilise supply. The disruption is linked to escalating developments in the Middle East, where access through the Strait of Hormuz has been affected following heightened geopolitical tensions involving Iran and the United States (US). The situation has contributed to instability in global oil markets,

Offloading is scheduled to begin Thursday morning. SOL Guyana Inc also reported that a vessel carrying 3000 barrels of gasoline and 14,000 barrels of diesel arrived on Monday at about 14:00h, with discharge and distribution expected to continue into the evening. The company further noted additional supplies are scheduled, including 12,000 barrels of gasoline and 6000 barrels of diesel expected on expected on today at 14:20h. Rubis Guyana Inc confirmed it also received multiple shipments on Monday, including 10,000 barrels of gasoline, 6700 barrels of low sulphur diesel, and 4500 barrels of ultra-low sulphur diesel. Further deliveries are ex-

Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, led by US-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed, which faced criticism for amplifying claims that worsened public anxiety. Officials condemned the circulation of false information, warning that it contributed to unnecessary public panic and unsafe behaviour, including the hoarding of fuel in bottles and other improper containers. Officials also emphasised the dangers associated with unsafe fuel storage, noting the significant fire risks and potential for injury, loss of life, and property damage. PM Phillips urged calm and reassured the public that adequate supplies were entering the system. “I wish to emphasise that there is no

need for concern, panic buying, or hoarding. Adequate fuel supplies are entering the system, and this temporary disruption is being resolved. I remind consumers that petroleum products are highly flammable and must be handled and stored with the greatest care. Storing gasoline in inappropriate containers poses a serious fire risk and significantly increases the potential for injury, loss of life, and damage to property,” he said. In some instances, service stations temporarily suspended operations as demand outpaced supply. Motorists reported travelling between multiple stations in search of fuel, only to encounter depleted stocks and long queues.

Shipments were already en route

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday convened a meeting with fuel importers to assess the situation and coordinate supply responses. At the meeting, importers assured the President that additional shipments were already en route. The President said Government is closely monitoring the situation to ensure stability and uninterrupted supply. Field observations along the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) showed heavy congestion at several service stations as rumours of prolonged shortages spread. Mobil at McDoom and Atlantic

Petroleum were out of gasoline at the time of visit, while GuyOil and Two Brothers indicated that demand was rapidly approaching available supply. Meanwhile, GuyOil dismissed claims circulating online that fuel would be unavailable for a period of three to 10 weeks, describing the message as false and malicious. The company confirmed that all its service stations remain operational and urged the public not to share or repost misinformation. The false notice had advised motorists to reduce vehicle use, carpool and rely on alternative transport, but officials stressed that it had no basis in fact.

Tightening…

…T&T cooperation

Last Friday, our peripatetic President Irfaan Ali – along with a host of his Ministers – sat down with T&T’s PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar to address concerns about there not being a more seamless cooperation between our two countries!! It was announced that a working group would be established – including the Private Sector of both countries – to “address the development challenges and opportunities between the two countries”. Now this does appear to a case of locking the stable door loooooong after the horse has bolted!!

Ever since Exxon struck oil in our Atlantic back in 2015, hasn’t T&T been right up there in the mix – grabbing opportunities left, right and centre to make money off our belated strike. With their 100-year headstart in the oil industry, they had all the infrastructure, skills, and manpower, etc, to take advantage – since our business class was still stuck mostly at the importation of plastic buckets stage!! Initially, Exxon staged all their drilling hardware, etc, from T&T wharves and used T&T labour!!

Our hastily-arranged “local content” law didn’t do much to staunch their move into the “commanding heights” of our nascent oil industry!! Your Eyewitness remembers that Trini company which literally BOUGHT a Guyanese – who’d never ever set foot in Guyana being born furrin from Guyanese parents! – and made him an “owner” so they could “qualify”!! They had to be sued, if he remembers correctly!! So, if you scratch the registration filings of many so-called local companies in our oil industry, you’ll uncover the beneficial owners are Trinis!!

Be that as it may, it cannot be gainsaid that we still gotta import workers and businesses with the requisite know-how to maintain our growth trajectory!! So, your Eyewitness thinks it’s a good thing to have some structure in sorting out the modalities of our cooperative development!! Take for instance, our need for a refinery. If T&T’s willing to make the appropriate adjustments to their refinery to deal with our sweet, light crude – theirs is the sour, heavy crude, like Venezuela’s – then maybe we can ship our 14.5% oil uptake for them to refine!! Let THEM deal with the pollution concerns, not to mention getting the oil to Crab Island, where there’s no clearance to accommodate the large tankers demanded!!

The other benefit is that in our present geopolitical configuration, Kamla’s doing most of the heavy lifting to cuss out recalcitrant Caricom leaders for not backing us!! Then additionally, she’s sharing the cheerleading on the US’s “Shield of the Americas” initiative headed by Kristi Noem!!

While tactically this takes much of the heat away from us vis-a-vis allies like Caricom and China, strategically, it keeps our main option with the US alive!!

But watch them!!

…Hormuz blockade?

With the talks between the US and Iran – at the best reading – “on pause” and at the worst, “Kaput”, the announcement by the Yanks that THEY’re gonna blockade the Strait of Hormuz took a lot of folks by surprise!! Weren’t the Iranians criticised – not to mention being bombed into the Stone Age – because they’d blockaded the same Strait and raised the world’s inflation?? Or more importantly, pushed up gas prices in the US and frayed tempers at their gas pumps?? Incidentally, it may interest you, Dear Reader, to learn that our gas prices are about DOUBLE those in America!!

The American Blockade’s gonna push those prices – along with other related goods like fertilisers – even higher!! Won’t this produce some more hostile blowback against the Trump Administration?? But more worrying to your Eyewitness is what’s gonna happen if the Chinese attempt to send one of their tankers through the Strait?? Can you imagine what’s gonna happen if the Yanks try to stop them – and they refuse??

…desperation

The PNC held their “Street Parliament” in East Ruimveldt last Saturday evening. Unlike their ad announcements, all their big ones were there –unfortunately spouting the same, recycled verbiage!!

How many more times, Jah – we’ll hear about victimisation??!!

“I beg him

East Ruimveldt explosion

to fight” for his life

The 56-year-old East Ruimveldt, Georgetown man who was injured during an alleged gas bottle explosion, which destroyed sections of his home, on Sunday morning, remains in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). Troy Alleyne of Pineapple Street and Front Road, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, sustained severe burns to approximately 88 per cent of his body in the explosion, which occurred at about 02:32h on Sunday. He is currently a patient in the hospi-

tal’s burn unit, where his condition remains critical.

However, his wife, Melissa Alleyen, told Guyana Times he has shown slight signs of responsiveness. “The doctor told me he’s still in critical condition…but to me, he’s improving,” Melissa said.

“When I ask him ques-

– wife of

critically-injured man

tions that require yes or no, he’s shaking his head… he’s opening his eyes and everything.” “I told him this morning, raise your foot… he raise it. Raise your hand… he raised it.” She added, “when I go there, I beg him to fight it [fight for his life]… I really want him to come back.” Melissa explained that the family had retired to bed the night before, but she awoke around 02:32h and immediately detected a strong smell of gas. “I woke up at 2:32 in the morning… I came out of the room… I smelled strong gas,” she said. “I told my husband, ‘Troy, come… I smell strong gas. Come and smell and see if it’s me alone.’”

She said Alleyne went downstairs to investigate the source of the smell when the explosion occurred. “He went downstairs… like two to three seconds after,

I heard boom. Everything was damaged,” she said. The explosion caused extensive structural damage to the two-storey building, with sections of the eastern side collapsing and parts of the upper flat, including bedrooms, destroyed. Debris from the collapse fell onto the lower level. At the time, at least six adults, including Venezuelan nationals, and two babies, including her two-year-old daughter, were in the building. Two apartments on the lower floor were being rented.

Despite the force of the blast, Melissa said that their two children, ages two and 10, and the other occupants managed to escape. One female tenant reportedly sustained minor injuries to her ankle. Melissa described the chaotic moments to Guyana Times, following the explosion.

“After I heard the explosion, I started seeing red. When I looked up, everything was busting up in the sky… the walls, the wardrobe, the bed, the floor… everything was caving in,” she said. “I tried to catch myself, and I scrambled… I ran for the baby… I grabbed my son and pulled them out of the window. Once I was able to get them out, I started shouting for ‘Troy, Troy’ but I didn’t get any answer.” She said her husband was later found outside the home.” “He was out there… sitting on a chair. I don’t know how he got outside… but God was with him.” Public-spirited citizens assisted in rescuing the injured man and rushed him to the hospital before emergency services arrived. He was immediately admitted to the hospital’s burn unit.

Venezuelan fined $100K for fake birth certificate in bid for Guyanese citizenship

A28-year-old

Venezuelan national, Rene Calabo, has been fined $100,000 after pleading guilty to uttering a forged birth certificate in an attempt to obtain Guyanese citizenship by descent.

The matter was heard at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

It is alleged that on March 19, 2026, at Robb Street, Georgetown, Calabo knowingly presented a forged Republic of Venezuela birth certificate to the General Register Office (GRO), intending to mislead authorities into granting him citizenship documents.

In the document submitted, he allegedly identified himself as “Rene Jose Delmont Sutton,” a name different from his true identity, Rene Calabo.

The certificate also falsely claimed that his mother was a Guyanese national born in Guyana, in an effort to support his

application for citizenship by descent. Calabo appeared in court with the assistance of a Spanish interpreter due to language barriers. He later pleaded guilty to the offence.

The court heard that he had applied for Guyanese citizenship on the basis that a woman, Tessa Elethea Sutton, was his biological mother. However, upon presenting the documents to the authorities, investigations revealed this claim was false.

The prosecution told the court that upon realizing the documents were false, authorities contacted Tessa Elethea Sutton, who denied being Calabo’s biological mother or having any familial connection to him.

Further verification was carried out with the Venezuelan Embassy, which assisted in reviewing his original birth records. These records contradicted the information contained in the document

presented to immigration authorities. Prosecutors told the court that Calabo admitted the woman’s identity had been used to support his citizenship application and that she was not his biological mother.

He also reportedly stated that he had contacted an unknown individual who arranged the forged documents on his behalf.

During the hearing, the magistrate questioned how the fraudulent documents were obtained. Calabo told the court that he had asked someone to arrange the paperwork, which was then provided to him.

The court also heard that he is a taxi driver residing at 6th Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, and holds an expired work

permit. He was advised to update his permit. After reviewing the evidence and guilty plea, the magistrate convicted Calabo of uttering a forged document with the intent to defraud. He was fined $100,000 or sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in default of payment.

Accountant critical after stabbing, robbery on seawall

Police in Regional Division 4 ‘A’ are investigating a robbery under arms that occurred early Monday morning on the Kitty Seawall, Georgetown leaving a man hospitalised and in critical condition. The incident took place at about 02:50h on Monday, and involved a 25-year-old accountant of Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) and a 30-year-old accountant of Eccles New Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD). According to preliminary investigations, the two men were walking along the southern side of the

Kitty Seawall Road, heading west, when they were confronted by two men who had been sitting on the seawall. One of the suspects was reportedly armed with a knife. Police said the suspects approached the victims and demanded money. During the confrontation, one of the victims pushed the armed suspect and attempted to flee. He was pursued, fell to the ground and was stabbed several times. Both suspects then fled the scene on foot in an eastern direction along the seawall road.

Police responded and transported the injured

man to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was examined by a doctor and admitted. He sustained a stab wound to the right side of his chest and remains in critical condition. Investigators, with assistance from surveillance footage obtained through the Government of Guyana’s Safe City Initiative, have since arrested one suspect, a 24-year-old mason of ‘C’ Field, Sophia, who is currently in custody assisting with the investigation. Efforts are ongoing to locate the second suspect.

“I beg him to fight” for his life...

While the explosion is suspected to be gas-related, the exact cause remains under investigation.

Not consistent with a gas cylinder explosion

When Guyana Times revisited the scene on Monday, investigators were seen combing the area. Shortly after, Melissa said that although a strong gas smell was present before the blast, fire officials who visited the scene indicated that the damage did not appear consistent with a gas cylinder explosion.

“… both of the gas bottles, they’re intact. No burn….there wasn’t even a fire in the house, just an explosion. But we were smelling gas strong in the house,” she said.

The woman revealed that she had bought the two bottles of Massy Gas”, some three weeks ago. She said one was almost empty, while the other was untouched.

Police have since processed the scene, and CCTV footage from the area is expected to assist with ongoing investigations. The explosion has left the family displaced and facing significant financial losses. “The whole house got to break down

“The whole house got to break down and build back… everything damaged…. right now, I want my husband to come back. I want him to get better, and so we can think about building back,” Melissa Alleyne

and build back… everything damaged…. right now, I want my husband to come back. I want him to get better, and so we can think about building back,” Melissa said.

The property also housed rental apartments and small business operations, including a car wash and a water system, all of which were destroyed. Melissa also revealed that the house is owned by her husband, and it was not insured.

In January of last year, a gas bottle explosion at Foulis, East Coast Demerara (ECD), claimed the lives of 55-year-old Basmattie Ganpat and her partner, Manu “Paul” Sukhu, and destroyed their two-storey home. Their daughter reported that the couple had smelled gas before the blast, despite the cylinder being switched off. The ex -

plosion twisted the structure of the house, ripped off sections of the roof, and left the family with millions in losses. In August 2025, Herstelling shop owner Jaiwantie Samaroo sustained third-degree burns when a cylinder exploded in her business. In November 2025, a cylinder exploded at the Better Hope home of Necolece Alexander, causing property damage and burns. In September 2025, a woman identified as Harriet Ray died following a suspected gas cylinder explosion at her home in C Field, Sophia, while another relative sustained serious injury.

In December 2025, another explosion at Little Abary severely damaged the home of Murtland Wills and Oneka Williams, with repair costs estimated at over $1.5 million.

“This investment is about safer communities, healthier communities” – Pres Ali to NDCs …as Reg 3 gets 12

new trucks delivered to every NDC

resident Dr Irfaan

PAli on Monday handed over 12 new garbage compactor trucks to Neighborhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) in Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), bringing each NDC in the region to at least one dedicated truck.

The head of state said the initiative is part of the Government’s effort to strengthen waste management systems and improve public infrastructure across communities.

“Today [Monday], we are delivering at least one garbage truck to every single NDC. This is not to replace. This is to supplement,” the

President stated, noting that the trucks will support the maintenance of public spaces and infrastructure.

The latest distribution follows the earlier allocation of two trucks to the NDCs of Wakenaam and Leguan.

With the addition of the 12 units, Region Three has now achieved full coverage.

President Ali said the government is also advancing plans for more sustainable waste management, including the development of modern landfill sites supported by compacting and decomposing technologies to convert waste into reusable materials.

He urged communities to

take responsibility for maintaining the equipment, noting that proper care of state resources is key to long-term development.

The president also highlighted the government’s approach to inclusive development, stating that agencies have been tasked with identifying reserve lands that can be converted into hubs for small businesses.

He noted that approximately 11,000 contractors are currently engaged in projects nationwide, with about 1,500 operating in Region Three, reflecting increased participation in development.

According to the Head

of State, investments must translate into improved quality of life, with plans also in place to establish centres of care for children and the elderly. He added that public spaces will be optimised to ensure equal access for all citizens.

The President pointed to the rapid expansion of Region Three, including the opening of lands for housing and agriculture, as part of a broader plan to transform the area into a tourism hub.

“This investment is about safer communities, healthier communities. It is about building an ecosystem that supports the highest quality of life,” he said.

“Your life will change sig-

nificantly”

Also addressing the event, Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Priya Manickchand said ongoing infrastructure works are contributing to improved living standards. She referenced projects such as the Guyana-China Friendship Park and the Demerara River Bridge, along with upgrades to road networks.

“Your life will change significantly,” the minister said, adding that community-focused development remains a priority.

Region Three Chairman Sheik Mohamed Inshan Ayube also noted the ongoing transformation across the re-

gion.

Meanwhile, Deonarine Jaipersaud of Waller’s Delight, West Coast Demerara, welcomed the initiative, saying it will contribute to a cleaner environment.

“We’ll have a healthier environment for our children to play in the streets again, like before,” he said.

The government has already distributed garbage trucks to Regions One (Barima-Waini); Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam); Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). With the latest handover, a total of 46 trucks have been distributed nationwide as part of efforts to equip all 70 NDCs.

APRIL

Students and teachers across the country kicked off the 1st day of the final term, settling back into classrooms with smiles, focus, and excitement for the weeks ahead

Crashed ASL aircraft Pilot’s decomposing body found in wreckage – GCAA

One day after search teams intensified efforts, the body of Captain Ryder Castillo has been located at the crash site of the Air Services Limited (ASL) Cessna 208 aircraft, registration 8R-YAC, according to the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). The GCAA confirmed on Monday evening that members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Special Forces reached the crash site at about 10:00h on Monday under challenging jungle conditions.

The operation was led by Captain Kaya Dover of the GDF. In a statement, the GCAA said the pilot’s body was found within the wreckage in an advanced stage of decomposition. Based on the condition and position of the remains, officials indicated that death likely occurred instantly at the time of the crash. The aircraft is located on a steep, forested ridge with dense canopy, no landing zone, and unstable terrain. These conditions have significantly restricted direct helicopter access and made recovery operations complex and dangerous. Authorities emphasised that no helicopter can safely operate directly at the location without unacceptable risk. As a result, the recovery is being conducted using established ground-based methods and controlled procedures. A carefully planned operation is expected to commence at first light, with the aim of extracting and

transporting the remains to Imbaimadai, subject to prevailing conditions.

Documents and personal effects belonging to the pilot have also been recovered to aid the investigation. Sources indicated that the remains will likely be placed in a body bag and extracted by helicopter from a safer location. It was noted that removal by hand is nearly impossible due to the terrain, and in past similar situations, bodies were sometimes buried at crash sites. The source added that the Special Forces are

operating on a steep rock face, with trees preventing the wreckage from sliding further down the mountain. Captain Castillo, a Nicaraguan national with approximately 20 years of flying experience, was the sole occupant of the aircraft. He had been employed with ASL for eight years.

The aircraft departed Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), at approximately 08:10h on Friday on a cargo shuttle flight bound for Imbaimadai, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), with

an expected arrival time of 08:40h. It failed to report its arrival, prompting a flight progress check at 08:44h. At the time, weather conditions in the area were reportedly poor, with heavy rainfall and reduced visibility. The GCAA subsequently activated protocols for a missing aircraft along the MahdiaImbaimadai route. Amid criticism over the resources used in the search and rescue operation, National Security Advisor Captain Gerald Gouveia had stated that such missions are not determined solely by equipment. He explained that terrain, safety constraints and environmental conditions play a crit -

ical role. He added that troops have been operating in steep mountainous terrain, dense forests and unpredictable weather, using the GDF’s Bell 429 and Bell 412 helicopters. The Aviation Operators’ Association of Guyana (AOAG) also expressed concern over the incident, noting that a full-scale search and rescue operation was launched and that private aircraft operators supported the national response. Meanwhile, on Monday ASL said that it mourns the loss of a “great employee and friend, Captain Rider Alberto Castillo, a dedicated and valued member of our flight crew.”

“He was known for his calm nature and his remarkable ability to turn every challenge into something positive. His professionalism, strength, and quiet leadership earned him the respect of everyone who had the privilege of working alongside him. Among his colleagues, he was regarded as a genuine, hardworking individual and one of our finest pilots, always delivering with excellence and reliability. He will be profoundly missed by all of us,” ASL said in a statement.

The GCAA extended condolences to the pilot’s family, as the aviation community continues to monitor recovery efforts.

17 Venezuelan women questioned in anti-trafficking exercise at Diamond

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), working alongside the Home Affairs Ministry, conducted a late-night anti-trafficking operation at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, during which 17 Venezuelan nationals were screened.

The exercise was carried out between 23:30h on Sunday and 00:15h on Monday, following reports of suspected Trafficking in Persons (TIP) activity at a building in the area.

Police said ranks from GPF Headquarters and Regional Division 4 ‘B’ (East

Bank Demerara), together with ministry officials, acted on intelligence and visited the premises where the women were located and interviewed.

Investigators reported that the individuals were screened for indicators of human trafficking, but no evidence of Trafficking in Persons was found. A search of the premises also revealed no illegal items, and no arrests were made.

The women were subsequently allowed to leave, and officials confirmed that the investigation has concluded with no further ac-

tion at this time.

Guyana maintained a Tier 1 ranking for its response to human trafficking in the 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report by the United States Department of State.

The US TIP Report is an annual assessment that ranks countries based on their efforts to combat human trafficking. The ranking is divided into four tiers: Tier One, Tier Two, Tier Two Watch List, and Tier Three.

The Tier One placement marks the ninth consecutive year that Guyana has

demonstrated serious and sustained efforts to combat TIP, the Home Affairs Ministry noted.

Guyana was one of only two Caribbean countries listed in the Tier One status, the Bahamas being the other.

According to the report, the Government in 2024 increased protection efforts. This included the Government identifying 416 victims and NGOs identifying two victims, an increase when compared with identifying 407 trafficking victims in 2023. Meanwhile, the Government screened 389

potential victims among individuals in commercial sex, an increase compared with 281 potential victims screened in 2023.

In 2024, the Government operated and fully funded four shelters for adults with a total capacity of 80 and one shelter for children with a capacity for eight child victims of crime, including trafficking.

The Government also operated three 24/7 hotlines to report human trafficking, which included two in English and one in Spanish. The hotlines received 87 calls, of which

22 led to the identification of victims, their referral to care, and criminal investigations of traffickers; this compares with an unknown number of calls in 2023, of which 39 led to further action.

The report commended the passage of the 2023 Combating of Trafficking in Persons Bill before the National Assembly, which repealed the earlier Combating Trafficking in Persons Act of 2005, criminalised sex trafficking and labour trafficking and prescribed penalties of five years to life imprisonment.

Fish found in toilet as vandalism reported 1

One day after the commissioning of the US$10.8 million Guyana-China Friendship Park on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD), the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) has raised concern over acts of vandalism affecting the facility’s newly installed sanitary services.

In statement on Monday, the PAC said maintenance inspections revealed deliberate clogging of the park’s

sewerage system with large quantities of industrial-grade tissue. In a further incident, a fish was discovered in a toilet bowl. The Commission warned that the actions could lead to serious plumbing failures and may result in temporary closure of sanitary units to facilitate emergency repairs.

The PAC said the park is under 24-hour CCTV surveillance and confirmed that footage will be reviewed to

identify those responsible. It reiterated a zero-tolerance stance on the destruction of state property. “The PAC maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward the destruction of state property. Any individual found engaging in acts of vandalism or the deliberate sabotage of park facilities will be reported to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) immediately for criminal prosecution,” the statement said. The Commission

Miner shot, cop under close arrest

after alleged cutlass attack at

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has launched an investigation into a shooting incident at Chanta Creek, along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, which left a gold miner injured and a police rank under close arrest.

The incident occurred at about 17:00h on Sunday, according to police reports.

Police said a detective sergeant was at the creek

Private

with family members when he became involved in a misunderstanding with several men. During the confrontation, the rank was allegedly attacked with a cutlass.

Investigators said the officer subsequently discharged a round from his service-issued 9mm pistol in the direction of the men.

As a result, a 37-year-old gold miner of Yarrowkabra Creek sustained a suspected

creek

gunshot wound to his right leg.

The injured man was assisted by relatives along with police ranks and transported to the McKenzie Hospital, where he is receiving treatment. His condition has been listed as stable.

The police rank involved in the incident has since been placed under close arrest as investigations continue.

investor interested in developing airport in Reg 3

resident Dr Irfaan

PAli on Sunday announced that Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) could soon get its own municipal airport, similar to the Eugene F. Correia International Airport at Ogle, East Coast Demerara (ECD). “We have received a private sector interest in the building out of a municipal airport just like the one in Ogle, right here, in Region Three,” the Head of State revealed as he spoke about the developments taking place in the region during the commissioning of the GuyanaChina Friendship Park. Earlier this year, the Public Utilities and Aviation Ministry issued a landmark Request for Proposals for the design, construction and financing of two new municipal airports in Regions Six and Nine. Under the National Competitive Bidding (NCB) procedures outlined in the Procurement Act 2003, qualified firms are invited to submit proposals for the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Financing (EPC+F) of a Code 3C Municipal Airport at Rose Hall, Canje, Berbice, Region Six. The new airport will strengthen domestic and regional air transport, unlocking new opportunities for trade, tourism and economic growth along the East Berbice corridor. At the same time, the Ministry is seeking proposals for a Code 4E Municipal Airport in Lethem, Region Nine, a transformative undertaking expected to position the Rupununi as a key aviation

gateway connecting southern Guyana to Brazil and the wider Latin American market. The facility will be capable of accommodating larger aircraft, expanding cross-border commercial activity and passenger traffic. Complementing these flagship projects, the Ministry is also inviting bids for the rehabilitation and upgrading of priority hinterland and coastal airstrips. Some $4 billion is set aside in this year’s budget to upgrade hinterland airstrips. According to the Ministry, these works will improve flight safety, reliability, and year-round access for remote communities, ensuring better support for medevac services, commerce and essential Government operations.

urged visitors to exercise civic responsibility, including proper disposal of waste, appropriate use of sanitary facilities and reporting any suspicious behaviour to onsite security.

The Guyana-China Friendship Park, formerly Joe Vieira Park, was official-

ly commissioned on Sunday as a modern recreational facility valued at US$10.8 million. The project features sporting areas, landscaped green spaces, walkways, and other amenities. It was described during the commissioning ceremony as a symbol of long-stand-

ing Guyana-China relations dating back to 1853 and formal diplomatic ties established in 1972. The PAC said the sustainability of the facility depends on public cooperation to ensure it remains accessible and functional for families, fitness users, and visitors.

Woman shot by ex-partner

“He shot her 5 times” - mother of beauty technician breaks silence

The mother of a 27-yearold New Amsterdam beauty technician who was shot and beaten by her ex-partner on the East Bank of Berbice is now speaking out, revealing that her daughter was struck multiple times during the attack as she remains hospitalised awaiting surgery.

Vasanti Gordon, who was injured during the April 11 incident at Islington, Greater New Amsterdam, is currently admitted at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where she is expected to undergo surgery for injuries sustained to her legs.

Her mother, Kay Gordon, said she was told her daughter was shot several times during a confrontation with

the suspect.

“He shot her five times… both her legs. I don’t know what else,” the distraught mother recounted.

According to Kay Gordon, she was not at home when the incident occurred and only learned of the shooting after receiving a call.

“I wasn’t at home… my husband called and told us about it,” she said.

The woman also expressed concern for her daughter’s safety, noting that the suspect remains at large.

“I’m not too satisfied with her being left alone… no police or anything. Because I don’t know if he can come back,” she said, adding that while she places her faith in God, she remains worried

about what could happen next.

She further disclosed that her daughter, a mother of two children aged 10 and two, had recently ended her relationship with the suspect. However, she said she was unaware of any prior violence between the two.

“I know they were in a relationship… but I don’t know if they had any conflict before,” she explained.

The grieving mother said the family is now hoping for a full recovery, particularly that her daughter regains full use of her legs.

“I’m hoping that God can help her… that she could come out of the hospital with both legs working,” she said.

Police had initially reported that Gordon was seat-

ed in her motor car when the suspect approached armed with a handgun, discharged several rounds in her direction, and struck her on the head with the weapon.

Investigators recovered a spent shell from the vehicle as part of the ongoing probe.

The suspect, a 28-yearold man of Fort Ordinance Housing Scheme, East Canje, Berbice, is known to police and has been implicated in several high-profile matters. He is currently before the court in connection with a multi-million-dollar robbery at the Regional Democratic Council in Region Six. He remains on the run as police continue their investigations.

Motorcyclist killed, pillion rider injured in Corentyne crash

A31-year-old man is now dead following a collision between a motorcycle and a motor lorry along the Williamsburg Public Road, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) on Sunday, with initial investigations indicating that the lorry turned into the path of

the oncoming bike. Dead is Harish Gopilall, of Lot 25 D Williamsburg Village. The

pillion rider, Yedesh Singh, 27, of Fyrish Village, remains hospitalised with injuries. Police said the accident occurred at about 21:00h and involved motor lorry GVV 5043, owned by an engineering company on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) and motorcycle CR 1603, which was being ridden by Gopilall. According to investigators, the lorry was proceeding east along the northern lane at a normal rate, while the motorcycle was travelling in the opposite direction at a fast rate. As the motorcycle approached, the lorry driver allegedly made a sudden right turn into its path, resulting in a collision on the southern side of the road. The impact flung both Gopilall and Singh off the motorcycle. They were picked up in a semi-conscious state by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Port Mourant Public Hospital.

Gopilall was pronounced dead on arrival while Singh was treated and later transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital,

where he was admitted as a patient. He is said to have sustained a fractured jaw and clavicle (collarbone), but remains in stable condition. The driver of the lorry, a 27-year-old man from Covent Garden, EBD, is currently in police custody assisting with investigations. He was administered two breathalyser tests, which returned readings of 31 and 32 micrograms. Both the lorry and motorcycle have been lodged at the Rose Hall Town Police Station pending examination by a licensing and certifying officer.

At the family’s Williamsburg home, Rangasamy Gopilall, the father of the deceased, struggled to come to terms with the sudden loss of his son.

He recalled learning of the accident shortly after returning home from work.

“I came home and I hear the bike start… then I get a message that I had to go to the hospital,” the grieving father said.

He said he arrived at the medical facility, where he saw his son.

“When I get there, I see him… and then the nurse call me and tell me he alreadys gone,” he recounted.

The elder Gopilall said he was informed that his son sustained multiple injuries, including to the head and chest. He also shared what he was told about how the crash occurred, claiming that the lorry turned into his son’s path.

Gopilall was described as a hardworking man who was employed in manual labour, including estate-related work. According to his father, he had previously done electrical work before moving into other forms of employment. He was the fourth of five children and leaves behind a partner and a fiveyear-old child. Asked how the family is coping, his father admitted the loss has been overwhelming.

“For now, it really, really hard… this is the first time I never experience something like this,” he said.

Police investigations into the fatal crash are continuing.

Mourners sing Asha Bhosle hit as iconic Indian singer cremated

The funeral of legendary Indian singer Asha Bhosle has taken place in Mumbai, a day after she died at the age of 92.

The two-time Grammy nominee was cremated at the city’s Shivaji Park on Monday with full state honours.

The ceremony was attended by celebrities and politicians, with scenes at the venue showing large crowds gathered outside to bid her farewell.

Bhosle’s career spanned nearly eight decades and included thousands of recordings across genres and languages. She died in Mumbai on Sunday after being admitted to hospital following a heart attack.

Her death has prompted an outpouring of grief from across India and beyond, with fans remembering her as one of the defining voices of Indian cinema.

Since Sunday, thousands visited her Mumbai residence to pay their last

respects. On Monday, her body lay in a casket draped in the Indian flag and surrounded by floral wreaths.

Her remains were later carried in a truck covered in white flowers from her home to the cremation site.

Videos showed the vehicle moving slowly through the streets, with people lined along the routesome watching from rooftops and balconies - to bid her a final goodbye. She was honoured with a gun salute at her funeral.

Just before her pyre was lit, many of those gathered there began singing one of her iconic songs - “Abhi na jaao chhor kar” which roughly translates to “don’t leave just yet”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Bhosle was “one of the most iconic and versatile voices India has ever known, while President Draupadi Murmu said her death was “an irreparable loss to music lovers”.

Leading figures from the film industry and sport, including Shah Rukh Khan and Sachin Tendulkar, also paid tribute, reflecting the breadth of her influence across generations.

Khan wrote that Bhosle was “a talent that will outlive many” and that her “voice has been one of the pillars of Indian cinema and will continue to resonate world over for centuries to come”.

Cricketer Tendulkar, who knew her personally, said “Asha Tai [Marathi for elder sister] was family” and that “through her eternal songs, she will remain timeless”.

A passionate cricket fan, Bhosle was also honoured on the field. During an Indian Premier League match on Sunday, Mumbai Indians players wore black armbands and observed a minute’s silence.

Composer AR Rahman wrote that “she lives forever through her voice and aura -what an artist”.

Singer Shreya Ghosal recalled growing up “listening to her, learning from her, and being in awe of her effortless versatility”, adding that she made “every note feel alive, every emotion feel personal”.

Singer-actor Farhan Akhtar said it was “impossible to talk about playback singing without mentioning Asha Bhosle”, calling her voice, joy and energy “irreplaceable”.

The tributes reflect the scale of her influence. With a voice that moved easily from romantic ballads to high-energy numbers, she became the go-to singer for composers across genres and generations.

Her strong presence in Bollywood inspired the 1997 Cornershop hit Brimful of Asha.

On Sunday, Tjinder Singh of Cornershop band said that “few have reached the ability to be loved in so many languages and dialects, and even fewer have reached so many with the astonishment of heart that

her songs gave us”.

Born in 1933 into a family of musicians, she began singing as a child alongside her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, after their father’s death.

Her personal life was marked by early challenges. She married at 16, in a relationship that later broke down.

Through the years, she was often compared to her elder sister - who was revered as the “nightingale” of Bollywood and died in 2022 - but Bhosle built a distinct identity.

While her elder sister became known for more poignant songs, Bhosle, until later in her career, was associated with bold, jazzy and cabaret-style numbers.

Her rise began in the 1950s during her collaboration with composer OP Nayyar, which marked a turning point in her career.

She later worked closely with RD Burman, whom she later married. The two

were together for 14 years until Burman died in 1994, a partnership that helped expand the range and experimentation in her singing.

Even in her later years, she continued to sing and experiment. Bhosle collaborated with the British virtual band Gorillaz on their 2026 album The Mountain, which explored the themes of grief and mortality. The track, The Shadowy Light, paired her voice with international musicians, in a song that reflected on death and the afterlife.

Away from music, she was known for her love of cooking. Indian lyricist Javed Akhtar said in a television interview on Sunday that she would often prepare kebabs for him, taking particular pleasure when he praised her food.

She was also the creative force behind the restaurant chain “Asha’s”, with outlets in Dubai and the UK. (BBC)

Gold Board publishes list of licensed dealers for 2026 …warns against illegal transactions

T he Natural Resources Ministry, through the Guyana Gold Board (GGB), has released the list of licensed gold dealers authorised to operate for 2026, while reminding miners, traders and the public to comply with established legal requirements for gold trading. The GGB said the authorisations are issued under Section 9(1) of the Guyana Gold Board Act, Cap. 66:01, and Regulation 4(3) of the Guyana Gold Board (Dealers) Regulations No. 4 of 1997. These provisions empower the Board to authorise individuals and entities to possess, sell or export gold through the issuance of a Dealer’s Licence.

According to the Ministry, only persons and entities granted an Authorisation to Possess, Sell or Export Gold are recognised as licensed dealers and must

operate strictly within the applicable regulatory framework. The authorised dealers include Dinar Trading, 1 Lamaha and Cummings Streets, Georgetown; El Dorado Trading, multiple locations including Kingston, Newtown, Bourda, Port Kaituma, Bartica (multiple sites), Anna Regina, Lethem, and Puruni; Gold Bar Development & Consulting Inc, Lot O First Avenue, Bartica; Pure Diamond Inc, Bel Air Park, Georgetown; First Avenue, Bartica. The Guyana Gold Board noted that El Dorado Trading operates at sev

eral approved locations across Regions One, Two, Seven; Eight and Nine in addition to Georgetown. The Ministry cautioned that engaging in gold transactions with unlicensed persons or at unauthorised locations may result in law enforcement action and other legal consequences. It further stressed that all transactions with licensed dealers must be conducted only at approved premises. The Natural Resources Ministry and the GGB said they remain committed to ensuring transparency, regulatory compliance, and integrity within Guyana’s gold trading sector.

St Lucian PM urges Caricom leaders to “speak to each other”

St Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip J Pierre on Monday urged his Caribbean Community (Caricom) colleagues to use the telephone to speak to each other more often as he shied away from the ongoing controversy surrounding the reappointment of Dr Carla Barnett as the Secretary General of the regional integration grouping.

Asked at the weekly Cabinet news conference if he had anything to say regarding the controversy that has been sparked by Trinidad and Tobago insisting that it was not invited to the retreat where the Barnett decision was taken in Nevis in February, Pierre said “I would prefer to say just one thing.

“I said it in Barbados and I’ll say it again. I really wish Caricom Prime Ministers would speak more to each other. That’s what I want to see. A phone call, and that’s what I want to see. Because you know, I don’t want to get involved in that to create more drama.

“I really believe, and I say from the bottom of my heart, that Caricom Prime Ministers should at least speak to each other. Pick up the phone and call each other,” Pierre said.

Over the last weekend, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar dismissed a statement issued by the Caricom Chairman Dr Terrance Drew in which he reiterated that Port of Spain was not “uninvited” to the retreat.

In dismissing the statement, Persad-Bissessar took to her Facebook page and called for the minutes of the retreat meeting where the appointment took place.

“Where are the minutes of the retreat meeting? Where’s GS Barnett’s performance appraisal? Where’s the documentation of the 2021 appointment process which is claimed to be the same as the 2026 process. Where’s the other documentation requested in our letter of April 9th 2026?,” she said in her statement, adding “Hopefully the citizens of Caricom will be provided with time stamped copies of these documents”.

In a lengthy statement following the meeting of the regional leaders last Friday to discuss the issues in relation to the governance of Caricom, Dr Drew, who is also the Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, also released 11 pages of the correspondence that had been sent to all members coun-

tries leading up to the February 24-27 summit that was held in Basseterre.

He said that Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar had left the summit on “the evening of the first day of the first day of the conference, before the retreat on February 26” and that on February 25, at 10:33 pm” Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister, Sean Sobers called the Secretary General on WhatsApp to inquire if he should attend the retreat in the absence of his Prime Minister.

He was advised he could and that other leaders who have had to leave may be represented by their Foreign Ministers. Prime Minister Drew said Sobers “indicated that he had a problem with seasickness so he may not be able to attend”.

Trinidad and Tobago had been calling for a meeting of Caricom to deal with the re-appointment of Barnett, insisting that it was “deliberately uninvited” to the meeting where the agreement had been reached. But both Prime Minister PersadBissessar and Sobers did not attend last Friday’s special regional leaders meeting to discuss the matter.

(Excerpt from CMC)

Peru’s presidential election headed to run-off amid logistical chaos

Peru’s presidential election looks set to go to a second round face-off with no candidate appearing close to securing 50 per cent of the first round of voting.

Right-wing candidate

Keiko Fujimori claimed victory on Monday, tipping her to advance to the second-round. However, the election has been plagued by logistical problems and it’s unclear when voting may end.

Former Brazil spy chief arrested by ICE in the United States

Former Brazilian intelligence chief Alexandre Ramagem has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the United States, the agency reported on its website on Monday, after he fled Brazil in September following his conviction for plotting a coup with ex-President Jair Bolsonaro.

Ramagem, a former Federal Police Inspector, was sentenced to over 16 years in prison for his role in a plot to overturn leftist leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s 2022 election victory over Bolsonaro.

Ramagem’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He has long maintained his innocence.

ICE said on its website that Ramagem had been detained, but gave no other details. It did not immediately respond to questions.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s Federal Police said in a statement on Monday that

a Brazilian man whose capture was sought by that country’s authorities was arrested in Orlando, Florida, by ICE. The Federal Police did not identify the man, but said he had been convicted by Brazil’s Supreme Court of plotting a coup.

The detention was the result of cooperation between the law enforcement in both

countries, Brazil’s Federal Police added. Paulo Figueiredo, a Bolsonaro ally who lives in the US, said on social media platform X on Monday that Ramagem was arrested for a minor traffic violation in Orlando and then referred to ICE.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Dominican Republic rains force 30,000 to evacuate, 3 reported dead

Some 30,000 persons have evacuated their homes in the Dominican Republic over recent days due to torrential rains from weather systems that have hovered over the Caribbean nation hurling rain onto much of its northern region for more than a month.

Local media reported three persons had died, including a seven-year-old girl who tried to cross a river, a 19-year-old man who tried to cross on horseback,

and an infant girl in the capital, where the wall of her house collapsed due to the rains.

“The Government’s priority at this time is to save lives, protect property and preserve infrastructure,”

President Luis Abinader’s office said in a statement on Monday, urging people to stay away from vulnerable areas.

Abinader declared a national emergency in five provinces as well as in the capital.

A day earlier, the country’s Emergency Operations Centre (COE) Director Juan Manuel Mendez told a press conference 30,500 persons had been evacuated, 14 communities were left isolated, 6100 homes were flooded, and highways and bridges were damaged.

In the nearby US territory of Puerto Rico, authorities warned that heavy rain and thunderstorms could trigger urban flooding later on Monday. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Chevron agrees to asset swap in Venezuela to focus on heavy oil projects

Chevron (signed two key agreements on Monday to expand operations at Venezuela’s vast Orinoco Belt, including an asset swap adding an extra heavy crude area to its main project while returning an offshore gas field and a small crude area, executives and officials said at an event.

tion plan for Venezuela’s energy sector after capturing President Nicolás Maduro, and a sweeping reform of the country’s main oil law was approved in January, encouraging foreign investment.

Exit polls and partial counts on Monday showed Fujimori, the 50-year-old daughter of disgraced former President Alberto Fujimori ahead with around 17 per cent of the vote.

Far-right candidate Rafael “Porky” Lopez Aliaga was also polling strongly on around 15 per cent.

Overall, there are 35

Peruvians voted on Sunday for a new President and Congress, with all 60 Senate and 130 Lower House seats up for grabs, in elections held against the backdrop of a deep political crisis.

candidates on the ballot to become the country’s ninth leader in a decade, including a comedian, a media baron, a political dynasty heiress, and Aliaga, a hard-line ex-mayor who likens himself to a cartoon pig.

An early exit poll by Ipsos Peru had shown Fujimori leading the race with 16.6 per cent, followed by left-wing candidate Roberto Sanchez with 12.1 per cent, and centre-leftist Ricardo Belmont with 11.8 per cent. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

The agreements are among the first big expansion deals since the US launched a US$100 billion reconstruc-

The pacts, expected to allow the US major to boost crude output and participation at the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) member’s main oil region, were signed by company executives led

by Javier La Rosa, head of Chevron’s Base Assets and Emerging Countries, and officials from State-owned company PDVSA in the presence of acting President Delcy Rodriguez. The deals include the increase of Chevron’s stake at one of its joint ventures with PDVSA in the Orinoco, Petroindependencia, to 49 per cent from a previous 35.8 per cent. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Bahamas Police release Michigan man after his wife vanishes at sea

A59-year-old Michigan man was released by Police following the disappearance of his wife while sailing in The Bahamas, Bahamian Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles told Reuters on

Monday.

Brian Hooker’s release follows his arrest by Bahamian Police on April 8 after he was initially questioned as a witness in the disappearance.

His lawyer, Terrel Butler, has denied any wrongdoing on his part. Butler said Hooker was transferred from Abaco, where he was questioned by Police, to Grand Bahama, the archipelago’s second most populous island. (Excerpt from Reuters)

OIL NEWS

Oil prices surge by 7%

Oil prices had surged by more than seven per cent back above US$100 a barrel on Monday after US President Donald Trump ordered the blockading of Iranian ports following the failure of peace talks between Washington and Tehran.

Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, rose to US$102.02 a barrel, before falling back to US$98 during Monday afternoon trading in the US.

The cost of a barrel of oil had plunged well below US$100 last Wednesday after the US and Iran struck a conditional two-week ceasefire deal that included opening the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global oil and gas supplies.

However the failure of negotiations has raised concerns that the global energy crisis will deepen.

The strait, through which a fifth of the world’s energy shipments pass, has become a flashpoint of the conflict after Iran retaliated against US-Israeli strikes by threatening to attack vessels that try to use the waterway.

Shipments have largely been at a standstill since the US-Israel war with Iran started on February 28, leading to energy prices surging around the world and pushing up costs for consumers, in particular making petrol and diesel more expensive.

However, Iran has continued to export oil.

Windward, the maritime intelligence firm, said that since March 1 more than 58 million barrels of oil have left Kharg Island, Iran’s main outlet for crude exports. It said more than 90 per cent of these have been directed toward China.

On Sunday, Trump announced that “effective immediately”, the US Navy “will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz”.

US Central Command later said it would block all vessels entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas in the Strait from Monday morning.

It said the blockade would not apply to ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.

On Monday, the Unified Command of Iranian Armed Forces said that US restrictions on vessels in international waters were “illegal and constitutes piracy”.

It added that Iran would implement a “permanent mechanism to control the Strait of Hormuz following US threats”.

China has called for restraint.

“The Strait of Hormuz is an important international trade route for goods and energy, and maintaining its security, stability and unimpeded flow is in the common interest of the international community,” a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry said.

Neil Shearing, group chief economist at Capital Economics, said Trump’s blockade may be “designed to pressure Beijing into playing a more active role in mediating a ceasefire and reopening full trade flows through the Strait”.

Chua Yeow Hwee, an economist from Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, said: “Oil prices are likely to remain elevated because expectations now depend on whether the blockade is fully implemented, whether shipping disruptions spread, and whether diplomacy resumes.”

Analyst Saul Kavonic from financial services firm MST Marquee told the BBC “oil prices are not as high as they normally would be” given the scale of disruption to supplies because traders still hope shipments will resume soon.

“But if that doesn’t happen, oil prices will head higher,” Kavonic added.

David Satterfield, former Special Envoy for Middle East Humanitarian Issues, also pointed out that it is not just oil and gas that is shipped through the Strait of Hormuz.

“It is about 30 per cent of the world’s aluminium, it is 30 per cent of the world’s helium, it is up to 50 per cent of the feed stocks for fertilisers around the world and it is about 17 per cent of all polymers,” he told the BBC’s Today programme.

“The impact, if this goes on for several more weeks, is going to become quite profound beyond the cost of petrol and diesel at the pump.”

There is also the question of whether the two-week ceasefire will hold, according to Marcus Baker, global head of marine and cargo at risk insurance firm Marsh.

“Will the Iranians decide that actually, despite what the US has said, they will continue to honour the ceasefire?” he said.

“Clearly, if that happens we will get much more confidence coming back into the market and I think the durability of that ceasefire is really critical to what happens next.”

Stock markets in Europe trimmed earlier falls, but were still trading down at midday.

The United Kingdom’s FTSE 100 fell 0.35 per cent, while France’s Cac index dipped by 0.8 per cent and Germany’s Dax index dropped one per cent.

Major stock indexes in Asia closed down. Japan’s Nikkei 225 in Japan ended 0.7 per cent lower and South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.9 per cent.

Countries in Asia have been hit especially hard by the fallout of the Iran war as they are heavily reliant on oil from the Middle East.

US stocks opened lower on Monday, but recovered early losses and were up slightly on the day.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was 0.2 per cent higher on Monday afternoon, while the Nasdaq climbed 0.8 per cent and the S&P 500 rose by 0.6 per cent. (BBC News)

Around the World

US begins blockade of Iran’s ports, Tehran threatens retaliation

The US military began a blockade of Iran’s ports on Monday, President Donald Trump said, and Tehran threatened to retaliate against its Gulf neighbours’ ports after weekend talks in Islamabad on ending the war broke down.

A US official said there was continued engagement with Iran, and forward motion on trying to get to an agreement. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also said efforts were still under way to resolve the conflict.

But oil prices climbed back to US$100 per barrel, with no

sign of a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to ease the biggest-ever disruption in supplies and broader con-

cerns over the durability of a two-week ceasefire agreement reached last week.

Trump said Iran had been

in touch on Monday and wanted to make a deal, but that he would not sanction any agreement allowing Tehran to have a nuclear weapon. ”Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters at the White House. ”We can’t let a country blackmail or extort the world.”

Since the United States and Israel began the war on February 28, Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels except its own, saying passage would be permitted only under Iranian control and subject to a fee.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Israel presses assault on Lebanon border town ahead of US-hosted talks

Israeli troops launched an attack on Monday to seize a key town in south Lebanon from Hezbollah fighters holed up there, pressing the war on the Iran-backed group on the eve of rare talks between Israeli and Lebanese Government envoys.

With the Lebanese and Israeli Ambassadors to the United States set to meet to-

day in Washington, Lebanon’s Foreign Minister said Beirut would use face-to-face negotiations to press for a ceasefire in the war, which has complicated wider diplomacy to halt the conflict in the Middle East. But the outlook for the meeting – an unusual, face-toface encounter between countries formally in a state of war – is uncertain. Israel has said

it will not discuss a ceasefire, while Hezbollah has objected to negotiations with Israel, reflecting sharply-worsening political tensions in Lebanon.

In a televised speech on Monday, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said the Lebanese Government should cancel the meeting, describing it as ”pointless” and saying his group would continue conf-

ronting Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

On the ground in south Lebanon, the Israeli military completed its encirclement of the town of Bint Jbeil just over the border and had begun a ground assault there, an Israeli military spokesperson and Lebanese security sources said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Benin’s Wadagni wins presidency in landslide with over 94% of votes

Benin’s Finance Minister Romuald Wadagni secured a landslide victory in the West African nation’s April 12 presidential election, garnering

over 94 per cent of votes, provisional results from the electoral commission showed on Monday.

Sacca Lafia, head of the country’s independent electo-

ral commission, announced on national television that the result was based on more than 90 per cent of votes counted, highlighting Wadagni’s insurmountable lead.

Voter turnout for the election stood at 58.78 per cent, Lafia added. Opposition candidate Paul Hounkpe conceded defeat earlier on Monday. (Reuters)

Hollywood stars unite to oppose Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery merger

More than 1400 actors, directors and filmmakers – including scores of Hollywood stars – have signed an open letter opposing the proposed merger of film studios Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery.

The letter, signed by Emma Thompson, Ben Stiller, Javier Bardem and Rose Byrne, argues that the deal would harm an already battered US entertainment industry.

”This transaction would further consolidate an already-concentrated media landscape, reducing competition at a moment when our industries – and the audiences we serve – can least afford it,” they said.

Paramount responded by pledging its commitment to talent and ”ensuring creators have more avenues for their work, not fewer”.

The deal appears to be the latest symptom of an enter-

tainment industry still reeling from the after-effects of the COVID pandemic and the work stoppage from dual labour union strikes in 2023, as well as big-tech disruptions and changes in consumer behaviour.

The merger – estimated to be worth around US$111 billion – would reduce the number of US film studios to four, effectively also reducing the number of people working for

studios and narrowing the number of buyers and makers of film and TV, the letter argues.

Other signatories expressing their ”unequivocal opposition” to the media consolidation include Kristen Stewart, Kristin Scott Thomas and Glenn Close. The BBC understands that more entertainment industry professionals are still adding their names to the list. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Trump posts AI image of himself as Jesuslike figure following feud with Pope Leo

US President Donald Trump posted an AIgenerated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure on Sunday, drawing widespread criticism even from some religious conservatives who typically support him, before deleting the post on Monday.

The post on Trump’s Truth Social platform, which Trump later said was meant to portray him as a doctor, came amid his escalating feud with Pope

Leo, who has criticised the war that started with US-Israeli strikes on Iran as inhumane. Shortly before publishing the image, the President posted a lengthy screed against Pope Leo, calling him “WEAK on crime and terrible for Foreign Policy.”

Leo, the first US-born Pope, said in response to Trump’s attacks that he had “no fear” of the Trump Administration and would continue to speak

out. In a forceful speech on Monday in Algiers, he denounced “neocolonial” world powers who are violating international law, without specifically referring to the United States.

Sunday’s post, depicting Trump in a white robe with an apparently healing hand on a supine man’s head, could create a rift between Trump and the religious right, whose support was critical to his victory

in the 2024 election. In the painting-like image, Trump holds a glowing orb in one hand and uses his other hand to touch a seemingly sick man on the forehead. The Statue of Liberty, fireworks, a fighter jet and eagles could be seen in the background. Trump denied on Monday that the image was intended to show him as a Jesus-like figure.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

SUDOKU

HOROSCOPES

Take control, keep life simple and dismiss excessive situations. Pay attention to detail and do things your way. Your objective is to lower debt and ease stress.

21-April 19)

You can make things happen if you concentrate on what you want to achieve. Having a clear vision will encourage you to make decisions quickly, saving you both time and money.

21-June 20)

21-July 22)

23-Aug. 22)

24-Nov. 22)

Less talk will help alleviate emotional drama. Assist others by using your imagination to devise good solutions. You’re overdue for a change, but you must first implement a proper setup.

A positive change to your health or finances is within reach; all you have to do is make it happen. Attend meetings and appointments and get what you want in writing.

Spice up your life. Engage in events and activities that bring out your competitive nature. Refuse to let the activities of the people close to you deter you from following your heart and dreams.

Communication followed by action is the best route forward. Live up to your expectations and be the one to initiate positive change. A partnership or romantic encounter looks promising.

Gravitate to what and who draws you in most. Socialize, participate, get active and pursue what makes you happy. Life is too short to waste time; engage in whatever feeds your soul.

A partnership will give you the momentum to move full steam ahead. Mix and mingle with friends and associates, and the information you receive will lead to opportunities.

23-Dec. 21)

Emotional flare-ups require more thought and discipline. Try to see all sides of a situation and to act out of kindness and understanding. Dedicate your time to nurturing relationships.

22-Jan. 19)

20-Feb. 19)

Think twice before you make a commitment or share personal information. You’ll gain the most if you concentrate on how you look, feel and respond to others and spend more time participating in pastimes.

Protect yourself from situations that can lead to illness or injury. Concentrate on money management and budgeting for things that can make your life easier.

Honor your commitments and move along. The more time you allow yourself to explore what’s available, the greater your vision. Let your imagination, emotions and creativity flow freely.

Indian Premier-League

Vidarbha’s Praful

Hinge, 24, etched his name into the Indian Premier League (IPL) record books on debut, striking three times in his very first over –the only instance of a bowler achieving this in the league’s 18-year history – as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) stunned table-toppers Rajasthan Royals (RR) at home to snap a twomatch losing streak.

SRH had piled up 216 on the back of Ishan Kishan’s 91, an effort that would have headlined most nights if not for Hinge’s sensational opening over, which included the wicket of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a golden duck.

But Hinge was not the only one to mark his arrival onto the big stage with a grandstand beginning. Another debutant, Bihar’s Sakib Hussain, struck at the other end as well, causing RR to crash to 5 for 4, and then 9 for 5. The game was effectively sealed right there. The two debutants finished with combined figures of 8 for 58.

Hinge’s magical start

In some ways, it felt destined. Hinge was set to debut in SRH’s previous game, against Punjab Kings, after being named at the toss, only for the team management to have a late change of heart and sub in Jaydev Unadkat instead. A game later, Hinge had a moment he would cherish forever.

Jasprit Bumrah and Josh

Hazlewood were not spared, but Hinge did not carry any baggage. A hard-length delivery into the pitch had Sooryavanshi top-edge a pull to wicketkeeper Salil Arora for a golden duck. One ball later, Hinge had the in-form Dhruv Jurel chop on, and then capped off the first over by having Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who replaced Shimron Hetmyer, flick one straight to long leg.

Sakib joins the fun

At the other end was Sakib, who also celebrated a special moment when he sent Yashasvi Jaiswal back by having him ramp a short ball straight to deep third, leaving the score at an eye-popping 2 for 4. That soon became 9 for 5 when Hinge had Riyan Parag

caught at slip after he had been whipped through mid wicket for four. Sakib added three more wickets to his kit ty, all off slower variations, to finish with 4 for 24. That included strikes off con secutive deliveries to dis miss Jofra Archer and Ravi Bishnoi late in the innings.

off a dream night, RR’s sixth-wicket pair brought up their 50-run partnership off 35 deliveries, ensuring they did not lose any further wick ets until the half-way mark. There was a visible shift in their approach from that point on, with the next four overs going for 50 runs. Even so, the ask

Praful Hinge’s stunning debut ends RR’s 4-match winning streak

was a steep one, with RR need ing 97 off the last six overs. That pressure finally told, as both Donovan Ferreira and Ravindra Jadeja fell in consecutive overs before SRH sealed vic tory.

But while he was at the

Sakib.

hands, and muscling anything short into the body in front of square via the pull or the

In trying to sustain the surge, Kishan fell for 91, but SRH had Nitish Kumar Reddy and Salil Arora to thank for cameos lower down the order that powered them to 216, before two debutants combined to leave everyone spellbound. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

c †Arora b Hinge 0

Dhruv Jurel †b Hinge 0 Lhuan-dre Pretorius c Nitish Kumar Reddy b Hinge 0 Riyan Parag (c) c Abhishek Sharma b Hinge 4

Ravindra Jadeja c †Arora b Malinga 45

Donovan Ferreira b Sakib Hussain 69

Jofra Archer c Hinge b Sakib Hussain 2

Salil Arora †not out 24

Aniket Verma run out (†Jurel/Deshpande) 6

Tushar Deshpande c Ishan Kishan b Malinga 25

Kishan kicks in after RR’s dream start Long before the wreckage, RR had a first-ball wicket of their own when Abhishek Sharma charged at Archer to get a thick edge to deep third. If Archer’s first over was a ripper, his second brought him back to earth as Kishan nonchalantly picked him for two boundaries: a whip behind square for four, and the subsequent bumper dumped over deep midwicket for six.

Travis Head was streaky, with left-arm seamer Nandre Burger nearly having him twice in the fourth over. First, a nip-backer kissed the inside edge and beat a diving Jurel behind the stumps. Then,

Harsh Dubey not out 0

Extras (lb 1, w 8) 9

Total 20 Ov (RR: 10.80) 216/6

Fall of wickets: 1-0

(Abhishek Sharma, 0.1 ov), 2-55 (Travis Head, 6.5 ov), 3-143 (Ishan Kishan, 13.2 ov), 4-162 (Heinrich Klaasen, 15.5 ov), 5-195 (Nitish Kumar Reddy, 18.3 ov), 6-209 (Aniket Verma, 19.4 ov)

Bowling O-M-R-W

Jofra Archer 4-0-37-2

Nandre Burger 4-0-31-0

Sandeep Sharma 4-0-52-1

Tushar Deshpande 4-0-55-1

Riyan Parag 1-0-5-1

Ravi Bishnoi 3-0-35-0

Rajasthan Royals (T: 217 runs from 20 ovs)

Yashasvi Jaiswal c Nitish Kumar

Reddy b Sakib Hussain 1

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Ravi Bishnoi c Ishan Kishan b Sakib Hussain 0 Nandre Burger not out 3

Extras (lb 1, w 9) 10

Total 19 Ov (RR: 8.36) 159 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 0.2 ov), 2-1 (Dhruv Jurel, 0.4 ov), 3-1 (Lhuan-dre Pretorius, 0.6 ov), 4-2 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 1.4 ov), 5-9 (Riyan Parag, 2.6 ov), 6-127 (Donovan Ferreira, 14.6 ov), 7-129 (Ravindra Jadeja, 15.3 ov), 8-140 (Jofra Archer, 16.5 ov), 9-140 (Ravi Bishnoi, 16.6 ov), 10-159 (Tushar Deshpande, 18.6 ov)

Palmyra Stadium on track for May completion, June opening likely

…tight

May deadline being pursued – Ramson Jr

The Palmyra Multipurpose

Stadium in Region Six is on track to be completed by the end of May, with an official opening likely shortly after, as the Government pushes to deliver the major sports facility following delays.

During a recent interview at the project site, Culture, Youth and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr said works were advancing aggressively given the tight timeline, with authorities maintaining close oversight to ensure that deadline is met.

“Our deadline is the end of May. It is a tight schedule… we are intending to keep it,” he said, explaining that he visits the site regularly to help resolve issues involving the various contractors and to keep progress on course.

Ramson Jr acknowledged that earlier setbacks were largely due to global supply and logistics challenges, explaining that key components for the project had to be sourced from several countries. “A lot of these components came from many countries and shipping issues caused delays,” he said, noting that the

staggered arrival of materials created coordination difficulties during installation.

He pointed to the complexity of assembling the prefabricated elements, noting that even small but critical items could affect timelines.

“The sealant is critical, before the seats go in, so it’s really an assembly and coordination issue that we’re trying to resolve to hit our timeline,” the Minister explained.

Despite those challenges, the project has entered its final phase, with work now focused on installation and coordination across multiple contractors as the facility nears completion.

Additional insight into the anticipated opening came from Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs, while he was addressing the launch of a swimming programme on the Corentyne. Speaking about a wider push to expand sport infrastructure in Berbice, Jacobs said the stadium could be opened shortly after completion.

“Then we’ll open Palmyra Stadium pretty soon in May/ June, where again you’ll have world-class facilities

Tfor our athletes,” he said.

Beyond its immediate sporting use, Ramson Jr said, the facility is expected to act as a catalyst for broader development in the area, similar to the transformation seen around the National Stadium at Providence.

“Think about Providence, you will see a lot of that happening here,” he said, while suggesting that the stadium could spur hotel investment and other business activity in surrounding communities.

The Minister said the venue is being developed as a multi-purpose facility capable of accommodating a wide range of sports, along with cultural and leisure activities.

“It’s a multi-purpose facility, almost every sport can be played here,” he noted, adding that there will also be space for community use beyond formal competition.

When completed, the Palmyra Stadium is expected to significantly enhance sports development in Region Six while contributing to Guyana’s broader effort to expand opportunities for athletes and communities through modern infrastructure. (G4)

he National Sports Commission (NSC) has intensified efforts to strengthen security across all its facilities, with Director of Sport (DoS), Steve Ninvalle acknowledging long-standing concerns and outlining a renewed commitment to safeguarding patrons and property.

The move comes amid years of complaints from members of the public about incidents of vehicle break-ins and vandalism while attending events at NSC-managed venues.

Ninvalle admitted that the issue has been a persistent sore point, one that has affected the overall experience of sports fans and event patrons.

“Security at our venues has been a concern over the years, and we are not shying away from that reality,” Ninvalle said, adding, “We’ve heard the complaints; vehicles being burglarised, property being damaged, and we understand the frustration of patrons who simply want to enjoy events without worrying about their safety or belongings.”

The DoS stressed that the Commission still carried a significant responsibility to ensure its venues were properly monitored.

“Even though events are often hosted by private entities, the NSC has a duty to ensure that our facilities are adequately secured. We must have systems in place

NSC aiming to strengthen on-site facility security

to monitor activity, deter criminal behaviour, and assist in identifying those responsible when incidents occur,” Ninvalle explained.

Central to the Commission’s upgraded approach is the installation and enhancement of surveillance systems.

Ninvalle confirmed that major improvements have already been completed at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, one of the country’s premier indoor sporting venues.

“The cameras at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall are now fully functional, with upgrades completed just last weekend,” he revealed. “That is a major step forward for us, and we are already seeing the benefits of having a more reliable and comprehensive monitoring system in place.”

According to Ninvalle, similar upgrades are currently being rolled out at other NSC facilities across the country, as part of a broader initiative to modernise security infrastructure.

Beyond surveillance, the Director of Sport highlighted that the NSC was adopting a more proactive and holistic approach to venue security.

This includes reviewing existing protocols, strengthening coordination with law enforcement, and ensuring that security personnel are better equipped to respond to incidents.

“It’s about creating a safe and secure environment for everyone: athletes, officials, fans, and promoters alike. Our facilities are central to the development of sport in Guyana, and people must feel confident when they come out

Demerara, Select XI start U19 campaigns with wins

The 2026 edition of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Male Under-19 Inter-County 50over Championships bowled off on Sunday with a pair of contrasting matches that set the tone for what promises to be an exciting youth tournament.

At the Joe Jagmohan Ground, Hampton Court, Essequibo, Team Demerara turned in a commanding allround performance to defeat hosts Essequibo by 99 runs in their opening-round encounter. After losing the toss and being sent in to bat, Demerara posted a competitive 242 for 6 from their allotted 50 overs. The foundation was laid by Khush Seegobin, who struck 43 off 54 balls, and Parmeshwar Ram, who supported with 40 from 48 deliveries. Wicketkeeper-batsman Shamar Apple added further impetus with a fluent 46 off 61 balls, inclusive of four fours and a six.

to support events,” Ninvalle stated.

He added that the Commission’s push to enhance security was not just reactive, but also part of a long-term vision to elevate the standard of sport infrastructure nationwide.

Ninvalle was keen in pointing out that the NSC was “going all out to improve what we already have in place. Proper security is essential, not just for protection, but for the reputation of our venues. When people know they can attend events without concern, it encourages greater participation and support for sport.”

With the upgrades already underway and more improvements on the horizon, the NSC is aiming to restore public confidence and ensure that its facilities provide a safe, secure, and enjoyable environment for all.

Essequibo skipper Nicholas Lovell was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 40 from his 10 overs, while Ravesh Singh supported with 2 for 33.

In reply, Essequibo s chase never fully recovered from a disastrous start. They slumped to 3 for 4 inside the first three overs as

Jonathan Mentore then anchored the latter stages of the innings with an unbeaten 48 from 89 balls, ensuring Demerara batted through the full quota of overs. Extras also played a part, contributing 26 runs to the total.

Vijai Kalpu and Shane Prince ripped through the top order. Justin Dowlin fought a lone battle, stroking a defiant 78 not out off 80 balls, decorated with eight fours and a six.

However, wickets continued to tumble at the other end. Ram returned to haunt Essequibo with the ball, claiming 4 for 18 from 7.5 overs in a decisive spell of left-arm spin. He was well supported by Prince (2 for 33) and Kalpu (2 for 26) as Essequibo were bundled out for 143 in 30.5 overs.

Meanwhile, at the Police

Sports Club Ground, the GCB Select XI edged Berbice Under-19s by 12 runs in a low-scoring affair.

Batting first after winning the toss, the Select XI were dismissed for 103 in 23.1 overs. Yannick Newton topscored with a brisk 42 off 30 balls, including six fours and a six, but lacked sustained support as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Micah Amsterdam (4 for 26) and Richard Ramdeholl (5 for 6) were outstanding with the ball for Berbice, combining to claim nine of the 10 wickets.

Berbice, in response, were

bowled out for 91 in 28.2 overs. Antonio DePaul made 18 while Romario Ramdeholl chipped in with 22, but disciplined bowling kept the scoring in check. Joshua Budram and Gabran Yacoob shared key wickets to ensure the Select XI held their nerve to secure the narrow victory.

With two matches decided and early points on the board, the championship is already showcasing the depth of emerging talent across the counties. As the competition continues, teams will be eager to build momentum in pursuit of the coveted Under-19 inter-county title.

Britton, Johnson advance to Round of 32 at CAC Championships

Guyana’s Shemar Britton and Elishaba Johnson have progressed to the Round of 32 in the singles division of the Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Table Tennis Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, following solid performances in the group stage on Sunday.

Britton was the standout performer for Guyana, opening his campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over Gabriel Quiros, taking the sets 11-7, 11-6 and 11-8. He then produced a strong comeback victory against Dominican Republic’s Rafael Cabrera. After dropping the first two sets 12-10 and 11-4, Britton recovered to win the next three 12-10, 11-4 and

11-9 to secure progression.

The Guyanese then completed a clean 3-0 result against Manie Eleuthere with scores of 11-4, 11-4 and 11-0 to top his group.

Johnson, meanwhile, rebounded after a slow start to book his place in the knockout round. He opened with a 3-0 loss to Guatemala’s Ricardo Gatica but respond-

Unbeaten GT Ballers crowned National

GT Ballers led a flawless, unbeaten campaign at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Homestretch Avenue on Sunday to clinch the National 3x3 title when the National Championships were hosted by the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF).

Comprising Kidani Brutus, Shelroy Thomas, Kimol Grimmond, Stephen George and eventual Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, Anish Ramlall, GT Ballers started their campaign with three wins in the group stage, setting the tone for what was to come.

First, they overcame Titans 18-11 and then edged

3x3 Champions

ed with consecutive wins. Johnson defeated Jamaica’s Azizi Johnson 3-0 (11-9, 116, 11-7) and followed up with another straight-sets victory over St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Machalie

Hazelwood, winning 11-2, 11-5, and 11-6.

In other results, Jonathan Van Lange opened with a 0-3 loss to Jabdiel Torres (4-11, 4-11, 5-11) before he secured a win for Guyana, defeat-

ing Costa Rica’s Sebastian Aviles 3-1. Van Lange took the contest 11-5, 7-11, 11-7 and 11-8. However, he later went down 3-1 to Dominican Republic’s Abit Tejada despite taking the opening set 11-4.

Niran Bissu endured a difficult group stage, losing all three of his matches. He was beaten 3-1 by Saint Lucia’s De Andre Calderon (11-3, 116, 6-11, 5-11), went down 3-2 in a closely-fought encounter against Barbados’s Mark Dowell (4-11, 9-11, 11-7, 1311, 9-11), and suffered a 3-0 loss to Dominican Republic’s Isaac Vila (5-11, 7-11, 5-11). With their group stage campaigns completed, Britton and Johnson will return to the table today as they contest their round of 32 matches.

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets”

G/town zone kicks off Wednesday

– $1M winner’s purse up for grabs

The long-awaited conclusion of the 2025 Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” streetball competition is set to resume on Wednesday, April 15, with organisers confirming that the almost year-long delay was due to Guyana’s 2025 General and Regional Elections.

tournament favourites and first-seeded side Renegades 13-12 in their second group fixture. GT Ballers then closed out the group stage with a 22-12 victory over Young Ballers.

ing Travis Belgrave, Akil Hughes, Dominic Vincente and Nikkoloi Smith, ensured that they would have another date with GT Ballers in the final after punching their ticket to the championship fixture by defeating Linden Ballers 17-8.

Smith and Belgrave added seven points each to the winners tally while Vibert

In the semi-final, Ramlall put up 14 points, inclusive of 6 2-pointers as GT Ballers cruised to a 21-12 victory over SYG Squad. Daniel Chisholm was the top-scorer for SYG, netting seven points. On the other hand, Renegades, compris-

Benjamin was Linden s top scorer in that game, netting 4 points.

In the final, Ramlall was again dominant, receiving the necessary support from his teammates to pull off a 21-14 victory to secure the championship trophy. Ramlall added another eight points to his personal tally while Grimmond netted seven and Thomas contributed six points. For the Renegades, Belgrave was their most efficient scorer with six points, assisted by Vincente with four points.

As such, GT Ballers carted off the $300,000 grand prize while the Renegades had to settle for the $200,000 second-place reward. SYG Squad went on to clinch the third-place position and a $100,000 prize.

Copping the MVP award, Ramlall accumulated 49 points across his five-game outing, punctuated by 16 2-pointers. SYG Squad s Daniel Chisholm was the next best scorer in the competition with 34 points in four games. Gevon Ross of Young Ballers followed, amassing 30 points in three games.

The National 3x3 Championships was a necessary component for the GBF as Guyana prepare to make their 3x3 debut at this year s Commonwealth Games

Banks DIH Sales and Marketing Executive Lee Baptiste explained that the interruption was necessary to accommodate the national electoral process, but noted that preparations were now in place for a structured and timely finish to the competition.

Brand Manager of Guinness, Jeoff Clement, announced that the Georgetown leg of the tournament will kick off on Wednesday and run over six playing days, culminating in the final on May 1. He added that the National Championships are scheduled for May 8, one week after the conclusion of the Georgetown segment.

Clement emphasised expectations for the remainder of the tournament, stating that organisers anticipate a high level of competitiveness and discipline from teams. He urged participants to cooperate with officials to ensure the games were conducted in an orderly manner. Clement also announced the winning team will receive a top prize of $1 million.

Quizzed about the start of this year’s competition, Baptiste said the 2026 season would be tightly scheduled, as the brand has several other activities planned

throughout the year. He noted that securing an appropriate window for the competition was critical moving forward.

He also highlighted the significance of the tournament to community development, stating that street football continued to provide a platform for players to represent their communities and compete at a high level. According to Baptiste, the initiative remains a key part of the brand’s effort to give back while fostering positive engagement and healthy competition.

Baptiste expressed appreciation to Colours Boutique for its continued support since the inception of the tournament. He also thanked the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, along with the Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service and other stakeholders for their contributions to the successful staging of the event.

Looking ahead, Baptiste revealed plans to expand the tournament’s reach, including the reinstatement of the East Coast Demerara leg,

with a venue now secured at Beterverwagting. He also indicated that Port Kaituma is being considered as a new addition, while competitions are expected to continue across Essequibo, Berbice, Linden and Bartica.

The Georgetown segment of the competition will be played in a direct-elimination format beginning from a round of 32. While the winner will pocket $1 million, second place will receive $400,000, third place $200,000 and fourth place $100,000.

Fixtures: Day 1 (Round of 32)

(1) Alexander Village v Island All-Stars – 19:00h

(2) Bent St A v Rising Stars – 19:30h

(3) Make it Happen v East Coast All-Stars –20:00h

(4) Team Immaculate v California Square – 20:30h

(5) Festival City v Sophia All-Stars – 21:00h

(6) Broad St v Team Spirit – 21:30h

(7) Gold is Money v Stevedore – 22:00h

(8) Sparta Boss v East Bank Ballers – 22:30h

Chanderpaul played well for his 70

Defending champions Guyana Harpy Eagles endured a testing second day in their Regional Four-Day Championship clash against the Windward Islands

as action continued at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Resuming the morning on two with -

South American Youth Games

Sukhai falters at Round of 16 as Guyana junior table tennis players open campaign

Guyana’s junior table tennis players opened their campaign on Monday at the IV South American Youth Games in Panama with mixed results, as the Round of 32 matches were contested at the Instituto Técnico Especializado Superior (ITSE).

In the Under-19 Girls’ Singles, Samara Sukhai recorded Guyana’s lone victory of the session, advancing to the Round of 16 with a straight-sets win over Curaçao’s Mikha Boekhoudt. Sukhai secured the match 4-0, taking the sets 13-11, 11-1, 11-4 ,and 11-7.

However, Jasmine Billingy was eliminated after going down 0-4 to Peru’s Luciana Granados. Billingy fell 9-11, 7-11, 5-11, and 3-11 in her Round of 32 encounter.

Sukhai’s run came to an end later in the Round of 16, where she lost 0-4 to Argentina’s Luciana Frias. Despite competing in each game, she was beaten 4-11, 8-11, 4-11, and 7-11.

In the Under-19 Boys’ Singles, Guyana also faced early exits. Malachi Moore was defeated 0-4 by Argentina’s Franco Varela, losing 3-11, 5-11, 4-11, and 9-11 in his Round of 32 match.

Kayden Meusa suffered a similar fate, going down 0-4 to Brazil’s Davi Fujii. Meusa was beaten 3-11, 5-11, 2-11, and 4-11.

The Guyanese players will now turn their attention to the mixed teams segment of the competition on Wednesday. They are drawn in Group 2 where they will face Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia. Guyana’s

Gilon Tyson struck twice to reduce them to 20 for 2. Kevlon Anderson and Matthew Nandu both fell for four apiece, handing the Volcanoes early momentum and putting the Harpy Eagles on the back foot.

Guyana, however, steadied the innings through a crucial 99-run partnership between Tagenarine

Chanderpaul and Kemol Savory. The pair showed patience and composure against disciplined bowling, gradually rebuilding after the early setbacks.

Chanderpaul was the more watchful of the two, crafting a determined 70 from 179 deliveries, an innings that included eight boundaries. His dismissal with the score at 164 for four reopened the door for the Volcanoes, who sensed an opportunity to press for further breakthroughs.

Savory continued to anchor the innings, playing positively and keeping the scoreboard moving. He struck eight fours and two sixes in an enterprising 77 from 153 balls before eventually being dis -

missed, denying him what would have been a well-deserved century. Despite the middle-order resistance, Guyana lost wickets at regular intervals late in the day and slipped to 257 for nine at stumps. Veerasammy Permaul was unbeaten on 20, with Raymond Perez on two, as the Harpy Eagles closed the day trailing the Volcanoes first-innings total of 286 by 29 runs. With one wicket remaining, Guyana will look to erase the deficit quickly on the third morning, while the Volcanoes will be eager to wrap up the innings and seize control of the contest.