Guyana Times - Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Pres Ali announces “prison avoidance system” to steer youth away from crime

Over 80 US medical experts supporting healthcare services in Guyana

More than 12,000 migrant workers granted work permits in 2025

Joint Services outreach promotes safety in border community

Kathy Smith BIT’s 1st female Chairperson

Upgrades underway in Lethem ahead of Rodeo 2026

90% of prison records, warrants digitised in Guyana

2026 LAMAT mission

Over 80 US medical experts supporting healthcare services in Guyana

The Health Ministry on Monday officially launched the 2026 Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) Mission, welcoming an over 80-member medical team from the United States (US) to support local healthcare services and strengthen medical collaboration between the two countries.

The mission will run from March 16 to 27 at facilities designated by the Health Ministry, where US

military medical professionals will work alongside local healthcare providers to deliver patient care and participate in medical knowledge exchanges.

The regional initiative will also provide more than US$300,000 in medical supplies along with expertise, marking the third LAMAT mission in Guyana following successful engagements in 2023 and 2025. Speaking at the launch of the programme on Monday

at the Marriot Hotel, Kingston Georgetown, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony expressed appreciation for the collaboration, noting that this year’s mission is the largest to date.

“I want to start by saying that we are very appreciative of this mission coming to Guyana. This is the third mission, so probably we must be doing something right to get LAMAT to come back so often. The last two missions were

very successful and one of the things that we learned from those missions was that the team coming from the US was able to work seamlessly with our local teams. This particular mission is the largest one we have had so far,” he said.

Dr Anthony noted that evident signs of growth had also been recorded in previous years, explaining that the health sector has been able to build significant capacity through such medical collaborations. He highlighted that in 2025 Guyana conducted several ophthalmology surger-

ies that had never been performed locally before. Among the most notable was a procedure carried out on a child who was almost blind. This, the Minister said was a successful surgery that restored some level of vision to the child and marked the first time such an operation had been attempted in the country. He added that these medical exchanges allow local professionals to learn from visiting teams while expanding the scope of medical procedures that can be performed in Guyana.

BRIDGE OPENING

MARCH

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 17 –15:30h–17:00h and Wednesday, March 18 – 16:10h–17:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light rain showers are expected during the day, followed by late-afternoon sunshine. Clear to partly-cloudy skies are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 4.92 metres and 6.71 metres.

High Tide: 15:53h reaching a maximum height of 2.65 metres.

Low Tide: 09:28h and 21:48h reaching minimum heights of 0.65 metre and 0.54 metre.

Pres Ali announces “prison avoidance system” to steer youths away from crime

…warns that growing “pandemic” of gangs in secondary schools must be addressed

resident Dr Irfaan

Ali on Monday announced an ambitious plan to develop a “prison avoidance system” aimed at preventing individuals, particularly young people, from entering the criminal justice system. The announcement was made during the Senior Officers’ Conference of the Guyana Prison Service (GPS), where the Head of State delivered a detailed vision linking prison reform to national security, youth development and community transformation.

Addressing senior officers at the at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), President Ali emphasised that the prison service must move beyond rehabilitation and adopt a proactive approach to prevent crime at its roots. “We talk about rehabilitation, which is important, but before we get to prison, how do we avoid getting there?” he stated.

Growing “pandemic” of gangs

Speaking about the changing environment in which young people are growing up, the President noted that increased access to technology and connectivity with criminal networks present new challenges for crime prevention. “Given the changing environment in which our young people are growing up… their access through technology, the greater connectivity with gangs and other forms of ill-conceived societal play, how do we address those?”

To address these issues, the President announced the establishment of a specialised, high-powered team of experienced personnel that will lead the integration of a prison avoidance system.

“In the coming weeks, I will be launching a high-powered group of experienced persons that will look not only at the integration of our system, but that would also be taking the lead on everything I speak of this morning,” he revealed. He further warned that gangs are increasingly taking root in secondary schools across the region, describing the situation as a “pandemic” that requires urgent attention.

Ali stressed that addressing the problem must go beyond the classroom. Interventions, he said, must reach into communities and homes where young people are most vulnerable. “We have to take the bull by the horns. We have to get in our secondary schools. We have a pandemic of gangs in the secondary schools across the region now… we have

to get into those schools, into those communities, into those homes,” the President told attendees. Ali highlighted the role of civil society, religious organisations and local leaders in helping to identify at-risk areas and youth who may be drawn into criminal activity.

He also pointed to the social conditions that often shape young people’s choices. Children growing up amid trauma, without positive role models or under the influence of gang leaders and drug lords are particularly at risk, he said. “If crime is normalised, that is going to be a learned behaviour. If violence is normalised, that is going to be a learned behaviour,” Ali warned. The President emphasised that preventing crime is just as important as enforcing the law. He said that building secure communities starts with helping youth make better choices early.

“This is not just about punishment; it is about prevention. Our first order of business in creating a secure country and community to avoid persons going down the wrong path,” he concluded. President Ali stressed the critical role of the prison service in Guyana’s national security framework. He highlighted the importance of a data-driven and integrated approach to crime prevention. With Guyana’s rapidly growing economy attracting criminal networks seeking new grounds, ef-

fective situational awareness is crucial. “As pressure grows in all the larger economies, criminal networks are pressed. When they’re pressed, they look for new grounds. We have to identify where those grounds are, and here in Guyana we know with the growth in the economy, there is a natural attraction”, he said.

“I hope that at this level we are having access to that data that allows us to do the analysis so that we can craft measures based on data, based on reality, based on the awareness of what surrounds us.” Another key focus of the President during his address on Monday was the identification of structural and societal issues that contribute to youth crime. Ali highlighted poverty, broken homes, lack of positive role models, school dropouts, substance abuse, mental health challenges and gang influence as major contributors. “Take, for

example, education opportunities… substance abuse and mental health… social and environmental influences… stigma and barriers… learned behavioural patterns. These are some of the very challenges that we have to address,” he said. He cited the Men on Mission (MOM) programme as a model initiative that mentors young men in at-risk communities, helping them stay in school, build positive habits and develop leadership skills.

“We have three facilities where men are providing mentorship, doing the homework with the children, channeling their energy into positive things, including karate, yoga. We have been able to take hundreds of children who were dropouts and build them into a system, and some of them are now topping their classes.”

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Preventing crime before it starts

President Dr Irfaan Ali’s announcement on Monday regarding the development of a “prison avoidance system” is a fundamental move in Guyana’s approach to criminal justice. Traditionally, the nation’s correctional focus has centred on rehabilitation, a critical component of the criminal justice system. However, rehabilitation alone cannot address the societal and environmental factors that propel individuals, particularly young people, toward criminal activity. The President’s strategy marks a move from reactive measures toward proactive crime prevention, focusing on intervention before individuals ever enter the prison system.

This preventive vision is informed by a nuanced understanding of the challenges facing today’s youth. Modern society presents a complex environment in which young people navigate exposure to technology, social networks, and increasingly-sophisticated criminal influences. President Ali highlighted these dynamics, noting that youth are now more connected than ever, both to opportunities for positive development and, unfortunately, to pathways leading towards criminal engagement. Addressing these risks early is essential to reducing the likelihood of incarceration and ensuring that young Guyanese are guided toward productive avenues.

Central to the initiative is the establishment of a specialised team tasked with designing and implementing the prison avoidance system. This high-powered group of experienced professionals will provide the expertise necessary to integrate preventive strategies across social, educational, and security sectors. Such inter-sectoral coordination ensures that interventions are evidence-based, targeted, and comprehensive. By leveraging the knowledge of seasoned practitioners, the system will be better equipped to respond to evolving societal trends, anticipate emerging risks, and implement policies that are grounded in data rather than assumption.

Equally significant is the President’s positioning of the Guyana Prison Service as a core component of national security. By asserting that the Prison Service is not inferior to the Police Force or Defence Force, President Ali highlights its essential role in maintaining societal stability. Correctional institutions are often perceived as reactive entities, yet they are integral to national security infrastructure, intelligence gathering, and the prevention of organised crime. Elevating the Prison Service in this manner signals a sophisticated recognition that national security is multifaceted and that the safety of communities depends on a coordinated, multi-institutional approach.

The economic context further amplifies the importance of this initiative as Guyana’s economy grows rapidly; it naturally attracts attention from criminal networks seeking to exploit new opportunities. President Ali acknowledged this reality, stressing that economic expansion brings both prosperity and vulnerability. A proactive prison avoidance system acts as a protective measure, safeguarding citizens while supporting economic resilience. By anticipating potential threats associated with growth and implementing preventive measures, the nation positions itself to manage criminal risks before they manifest, rather than responding after harm has occurred.

A key pillar of this strategy is the reliance on data-driven decision-making. Effective crime prevention cannot rely on anecdote or speculation; it requires situational awareness informed by accurate, comprehensive information. By emphasising the collection, analysis, and application of data, President Ali’s initiative ensures that interventions are precise and adaptive. This approach allows authorities to identify highrisk environments, allocate resources efficiently, and craft policies that are both responsive and measurable in their outcomes. In a world where criminal activity evolves rapidly, the integration of data into policy design is no longer optional, it is essential.

Crime is rarely the result of a single factor; it emerges from a complex web of social, economic, and environmental pressures. By addressing these factors before they escalate into criminal behaviour, the initiative seeks not only to reduce prison populations but also to strengthen communities, empower youth, and enhance societal cohesion. Prevention, in this context, is both a strategic security measure and a moral imperative, fostering opportunities for citizens to lead productive, law-abiding lives.

President Ali’s vision signifies a critical evolution in Guyana’s criminal justice philosophy. By prioritising prevention, elevating the role of the Prison Service within national security, and grounding interventions in data, the initiative promises a modern approach to crime reduction. The prison avoidance system is a tactical investment in the nation’s future, offering a pathway to safer communities and empowered youth.

Mosquitoes, climate change and our health?

By Dr C James HospeDales, mBBs, msC, FFpH

Did you know the world’s deadliest animal is the mosquito? Annually, mosquitoes cause up to one million deaths globally because of the diseases they transmit. Unlike snakes or sharks, mosquitoes do not kill directly. Instead, they spread infections that can cause serious illness and death in humans.

I know this personally. I’ve had dengue and Zika, and members of my family have suffered severe dengue fever and chikungunya, which is making a comeback. These illnesses are not abstract threats; they are part of our lived experience in T&T and the Caribbean.

Understanding how mosquitoes spread disease – and how climate change worsens the problem – can help all of us.

What are vector-borne diseases?

Vector-borne diseases are illnesses transmitted to humans by organisms known as “vectors.” A vector is an organism that carries a germ (eg, a virus or parasite) from one host to another.

Mosquitoes are the most important disease vectors worldwide. In the Caribbean, the familiar Aedes aegypti mosquito spreads several diseases, including dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika.

When a mosquito bites an infected person, it can pick up the virus in that person’s blood. After the virus multiplies inside the mosquito, it can transmit the virus to the next person

it bites. In this way, mosquitoes act as flying syringes, spreading disease from person to person.

Dengue infects over 100 million people each year worldwide. While many cases are mild, some develop into severe dengue, which can cause bleeding, organ failure, and death.

Low-income communities are at higher risk if many people live in proximity, lack pipe-borne water, don’t have insect screens, and are far from health services.

Climate change is expanding risk?

Climate change is not just an environmental issue – it is a health issue. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall and more extreme weather events influence mosquito populations and the diseases they carry. Mosquitoes are cold-blooded, meaning their body temperature depends on the environment. As temperatures increase, several things make disease spread more likely.

For tropical regions like the Caribbean – where temperatures already favour mosquito survival – even small increases in temperature can significantly affect disease transmission.

First, warmer conditions allow mosquito larvae to grow into adults more quickly, increasing mosquito populations.

Second, viruses inside mosquitoes multiply faster in warmer temperatures. This shortens the time between a mosquito picking up a virus and when it can infect another person.

Third, warmer temperatures often extend the geographic range of mosquitoes. Areas that were

previously too cool for Aedes mosquitoes may now become suitable.

Climate change also influences rainfall. Heavy rain can create more standing water – perfect breeding sites for mosquitoes. At the same time, drought can lead people to store water in tanks, barrels, or drums at home, which can become mosquito breeding sites if not properly covered.

Why warmer days and nights matter

Scientists are increasingly recognising the importance of warmer nights as well as warmer days.

Aedes mosquitoes tend to bite during daylight, particularly early in the morning and late in the afternoon. But warmer nights improve mosquito survival and allow viruses inside mosquitoes to develop more quickly.

When both days and nights are warmer, your body also sweats more. Mosquitoes are more attracted to hot and sweaty skin because of ammonia and other chemicals in perspiration, increasing the likelihood of being bitten.

What can we do?

There is a great deal we can do to reduce mosquito-borne disease risk.

Stay informed

Pay attention to public health advisories about dengue, chikungunya and other mosquito-borne diseases. Early awareness helps people recognise symptoms and seek medical care quickly.

Protect yourself from mosquito bites

Use insect repellents, especially during peak mosquito activity times. Lightcoloured clothing that cov-

ers arms and legs can help reduce bites. Window screens, mosquito nets and fans help reduce exposure indoors.

Eliminate mosquito breeding sites around homes

This is one of the most effective steps individuals and communities can take.

Aedes mosquitoes breed in sites such as: water storage drums and tanks that are not tightly covered; flowerpots and plant saucers; discarded tyres; buckets, bottles and containers left outdoors; blocked drains or gutters. Even a small amount of water can produce hundreds of mosquitoes. Regularly emptying, cleaning or covering containers greatly reduces mosquito populations.

Work together as communities

Mosquito control is most effective when entire neighbourhoods participate. Community clean-up campaigns and proper waste management can eliminate many breeding site. Climate action is health protection

Finally, addressing climate change is essential. Transitioning off fossil fuels and strengthening climate resilience will help limit the environmental changes that allow mosquito-borne diseases to spread.

The climate and health crisis may feel overwhelming, but every action matters – from global policy changes to simple steps in our own homes.

The mosquito may be the world’s deadliest animal. But with knowledge, vigilance, and collective action, we can reduce its impact and protect the health of our families and communities. (T&T Guardian)

“Rehabilitation is not weakness” – Home Affairs Minister on crime-prevention role of Guyana prisons

“Rehabilitation is not weakness. It is a smart security policy,” Home Affairs Minister, Oneidge Waldron emphasised on Monday at the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) Senior Officers’ Conference 2026. Speaking under the theme Fostering Growth, Driving Synergy and Securing the Future of Corrections, she stressed that modern corrections must integrate rehabilitation, education and skills development to reduce crime and strengthen public safety.

“A modern correctional service must combine both. Security without rehabilitation creates a revolving door. Rehabilitation without discipline creates instability,” the Minister added. “Every individual who leaves prison with a skill, with education and with a path forward is one less person returning to crime. Rehabilitation programmes, therefore remain central to our crime prevention strategies.”

Waldron highlighted the crucial role of leadership in corrections, saying: “Your

leadership shapes discipline, culture and standards across the service,” she said, emphasising that institutional transformation requires senior officers to guide staff and set high ethical and professional standards.

Progress

Meanwhile, the Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, outlined the extensive progress made by the GPS. “Over the past five years, the Government of Guyana has invested over $28 billion into the development of the prison service,” he stated, noting that the funding supports a comprehensive 10-point improvement plan. The plan includes enhancing human resource capacity, improving service delivery, strategic planning, staff retention strategies, enforcement of operational procedures, reviewing the legal framework, data-driven decision-making, revitalisation of prison industries, ethical standards and networking with regional correctional specialists. Key infrastructure

projects completed in 2025 included the new Prison Headquarters at Lusignan, the Command Centre, Phase 1 of CCTV upgrades under the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) and Prison Officers’ Sports Clubs and Recreational Facilities at Mazaruni and Lusignan. Officers’ accommodations were also rehabilitated to improve living and working conditions. Education and skills development for inmates remain a major focus. “A total of 1,000 prisoners are exposed annually to skills training

programmes in technical and vocational areas, behaviour modification, entrepreneurial skills and academics. I am pleased to state that the prison population has started to enroll in the Guyana Digital School platform to further improve their personal skills,” Elliot said.

Staff development

Speaking on staff development, he said this area has also advanced significantly. In 2025, six officers completed Master’s Degrees in Public Administration, human

resource management, health care management, and social work; twelve officers completed bachelor’s degrees; 35 completed diploma programmes; 17 earned technical certificates; and over 362 participated in tertiary certificate programmes in prison management. Additionally, three officers are pursuing doctoral studies, while others continue master’s and bachelor’s studies in related fields.

Reintegration

Reintegration programmes are being

strengthened to provide inmates with practical support upon release. “We continue to expand the reintegration process by providing prisoners with a toolkit on their release from prison, which would contribute to their employment, thus giving them a fresh start,” Elliot said. Elliot also acknowledged the demanding nature of correctional work.

“The work of prison officers is extremely high in demand due to the level of professionalism required when manning and supervising prisoners with different personalities and security risk levels,” he said, commending the dedication of staff who ensure safe custody, rehabilitation and public safety. Waldron however, urged officers to engage actively in the conference discussions. “Let the conversations be honest. Let the ideas be bold. And let the outcomes be practical. Because the work we do here ultimately affects the safety of our communities and the future of those within our correctional system,” she said.

Context matters, understanding Guyana’s economic journey

Dear Editor,

Following the recent BBC World Questions forum held in Guyana, much of the discussion focused on contemporary criticisms surrounding poverty, job quality, and governance.

These are legitimate topics for debate. However, the conversation illustrated a recurring problem in international discourse about developing countries: issues are often discussed without establishing the historical and economic context necessary to properly understand them.

Guyana’s development story cannot be interpreted through isolated statistics or present-day political commentary alone. To understand where the country stands today, one must first understand the long and difficult economic journey that preceded it.

Guyana marks 60 years of independence in 2026, making it one of the youngest sovereign nations in the Western Hemisphere. Yet for much of that time, the country struggled with deep economic crises.

By the late 1980s, Guyana’s sovereign debt had reached nearly 900% of GDP, debt service obligations exceeded 150% of

government revenue, and inflation surged into triple digits. Poverty engulfed roughly 90% of the population.

The early 1990s marked a turning point. Through structural reforms, debt relief, and fiscal discipline, Guyana gradually restored macroeconomic stability.

Today, Guyana stands at a new juncture. Public debt has fallen to below 25% of GDP, debt service is under 10% of government revenue, and international reserves exceed external debt by more than twice.

Understanding Guyana’s development therefore requires viewing the present moment within the broader arc of the country’s history: from economic collapse, to recovery, to periods of political stagnation, and now to a phase of structural transformation.

International discussions about Guyana are important, but they must be grounded in evidence and context. Without that foundation, narratives risk becoming distorted and the true complexity of Guyana’s economic journey is easily overlooked.

Sincerely, Joel Bhagwandin

00:00

Movie - Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)

02:00 Movie - Transformers (2007) 04:30 Movie - Right Before Your Eyes (2019) 05:45 Daily Quran Recitation

06:00 Cartoons

07:00 Evening News (RB) 08:00 Movie - Crater (2023) 10:00 Stop Suffering 11:00 Documentary: Our Planet Ep2 12:00 News Break

12:05 Movie - DC League of Super-Pets (2022) 14:00 Movie - Adventures in Babysitting (2016)

16:00 Indian Soaps 17:00 The Young & The Restless 18:00 TVG Music Break

18:30 Teaching the Truth in Love

20:00 Stop Suffering

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2026

19:00 The Evening News

20:30 Movie - Spider-Man: Across the SpiderVerse (2023)

23:00 The Outpost S3 E13

Page Foundation

Multiplying fractions: Reciprocals

Reciprocals are two fractions that look like upside-down reflections of one another. The numerator of the first is the denominator of the second and the numerator of the second is the denominator of the first.

Example: is the reciprocal of 8 2 2 8

Find the reciprocal to make each equation true

Just plane awesome! Take flight with an airplane popsicle stick craft at home.

Supplies/tools

Glitter glue

Glue

Paintbrush

Permanent markers

Washable paint

Clothespin(s)

Popsicle sticks

Directions

Step 1: Cut approximately 1” off each end of 1 popsicle stick. Line up 2 full-length popsicle sticks.

Step 2: Cover clothespin and all popsicle sticks with paint. Dry 1-2 hours. Add second coat. Dry 1-2 hours.

Step 3: Draw details on popsicle sticks and clothespin with markers.

Step 4: To create wings, glue full popsicle sticks to the clothespin before the steel pin, top and bottom. Glue a small popsicle stick to the clothespin near the pinching tip, on top.

Step 5: Add shimmery details with glitter glue. Let all glue steps dry 3-4 hours.

Step 6: Repeat all steps to create your own fleet! (Adapted from crayola.com)

By JOSÉ OLIVAREZ

i know it’s unnecessary, but hear me out: as a kid, even the gold kept in the mall was fake. chains that would leave metallic stains on our oversized white tees. when you’re broke, everything you touch is artificial. our Christmas trees: plastic. puffy coats: polyester. our dreams: synthetic. we didn’t come up with spinning rims: we saw it on television. hand-me-downs. one of my homies used to love saying: just cuz you’re breathing doesn’t mean you’re alive. okay. i feel that. mouthing along to MF DOOM in my basement, i was just breathing. just playing karaoke. but let me show you some alchemy: i took the steel mill smoke, car exhaust, Kix cereal, bootleg CDs, flea market fashion, oak trees, & the real eviction warnings hanging over our heads & i spun it into something better than gold: but i still wear a gold chain around my neck. i like the weight. this life: heavier than i imagined.

(Source: Poetry [March 2026])

Write an AI-inspired piece of literature.

WORD SEARCH

US extradition request

Magistrate slaps warning on US-sanctioned Mohameds over repeated bail breaches

…court finds pattern of late, missed check-ins at Police Station

Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday issued a stern warning to United States (US)-sanctioned and indicted businessmen Nazar Mohamed and his son Azruddin Mohamed over repeated breaches of their bail reporting conditions, though she stopped short of revoking their bail. The ruling came after Special Prosecutor Glenn Hanoman presented police records alleging that the father and son had failed to report to the Ruimveldt Police Station in Georgetown on time on multiple occasions. Station

Pres

Ali emphasised that the positive influence of men in communities has eroded across the Caribbean, contributing to the rise in youth delinquency. He called for the restoration of mentorship and guidance to create structured paths away from crime. “In this region, the CARICOM region, for a very long time, we have not paid enough attention to men and the role of men and the responsibility of men in our society. Many young people today, they don’t have confidence because it has been eroded systemically”, he said.

Early intervention, mentorship

To guide prison service reform, President Ali outlined seven key principles: access, accountability, ability, agility, adaptability, affordability and awareness.

“Everything we plan to do, we must afford to do it… it must have accountability built in every aspect of

Sergeant Tobin testified that while the men did report, some check-ins occurred outside the designated Friday window of 13:00h to 15:00h. Reviewing records from November 7,2025 to February 20, 2026 Tobin noted instances of early, late and in one case, missed reporting. December 26, 2025, a public holiday, was exempted under the original order. Hanoman argued that the breaches, though not complete absences in all cases, showed a concerning pattern. “The liberty they enjoy is linked to strict reporting,” he told the court.

its work. The ability and agility to be flexible, to be nimble, to be operationally efficient, and that comes through training. It comes through access to opportunities.” The President also highlighted Government support for officers’ professional development, including scholarships, diplomas, degrees and postgraduate programmes, as well as a 40 per cent salary increase over five years and ongoing plans to ensure parity with regional counterparts. Ali emphasised that effective crime prevention requires community engagement, identifying societal influencers who can promote positive change. He urged officers and community leaders to harness creativity and connectivity to reach at-risk youth. “In every community, there is an influencer. How do we get to influencers who can be agents of positivity? In the prison service itself, do we

“There are more breaches than compliance with the court order,” he added, describing some instances as potentially contemptuous.

Defence Attorney Siand Dhurjon told the court that Nazar Mohamed had complied on 17 of 18 occasions, citing a medical condition that caused a delay on February 13, 2026. Attorney Roysdale Forde argued there was “substantial compliance and no flagrant or contemptuous disregard for the order.” Nazar Mohamed when given a chance to speak in court said that they had been advised by police that precise

have a system of analysing and identifying influencers that we can use as agents of change, agents of positivity?”

Highlighting systemic issues in education and substance abuse, Ali urged interventions at the school and community level. “Let us go into our school system, is there any structured approach in the curriculum or in the education system that deals with mental health and substance abuse other than a reference or one subject? This is a systemic issue… vaping is one of the biggest contributors to mental health challenges.” He emphasised that reducing youth crime requires early intervention, mentorship and the provision of education opportunities across Guyana and the CARICOM region, with programmes like Guyana Digital School making learning accessible to all children.

timing was not mandatory. “I made the effort regardless of how sick I am,” he said. Azruddin Mohamed confirmed he reported weekly, with the delay caused by attending proceedings at the Whim Magistrate’s Court. Magistrate Latchman stressed the importance of accountability, telling the men that compliance with reporting conditions was “crucial and important.” She revised the order to allow them to report and sign the official station book at any time between 12:00h and 23:59h on Fridays. If a Friday falls on a public holiday, reporting must take place the preceding Thursday within the same 24-hour period. Medical certificates must be provided in cases of illness, and reporting is not required when court appearances coincide.

US extradition documents

The hearing also dealt on the US extradition documents and sections of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ incoming correspondence books were admitted into evidence after Defence Attorney Forde questioned whether Permanent Secretary (PS) Sharon Roopchand had personally received the documents from a courier on November 26, 2026. Forde suggested the documents may not have been received as claimed, saying, “It is hard to imagine documents so important… we would indicate that this is an event that never actually happened.” Special Prosecutor Hanoman countered, noting that the documents had been formally admitted into

evidence. “The fact that the documents exist and are already exhibits in court, obviously it is not a fabrication,” he said, expressing concern over what he described as delaying tactics by the defence. Crossexamination is ongoing, with PS Roopchand expected to continue testimony on the correspondence books on Tuesday.

Just about a month ago, the court dealt with another issue involving Azruddin Mohamed’s attendance at the extradition proceedings. On that occasion, Principal Magistrate Latchman initially issued an arrest warrant after Mohamed failed to appear when the matter was called at 09:00h. Mohamed arrived at the courthouse roughly 35 minutes later and was taken into custody based on the warrant that had already been issued. Following an application by his attorneys, the Magistrate later withdrew the warrant but cautioned Mohamed that continued lateness could lead to his bail being revoked. The court stressed the importance of punctuality and maintaining the smooth operation of pro-

ceedings, noting that delays caused by defendants could disrupt the administration of justice. The father-son duo, along with their business operations, were sanctioned by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on June 11, 2024, over allegations of large-scale corruption, including gold smuggling, bribery and money laundering. Investigations suggest that they attempted to evade over US$50 million in taxes owed to the Guyanese Government. Separately, a grand jury in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida has indicted Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed on 11 criminal counts, including wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering, primarily linked to gold exports from Mohamed’s Enterprises to the US. Convictions for most of the charges carry maximum sentences of 20 years imprisonment and fines of up to US$250,000, while the money laundering charge carries a potential penalty of US$500,000 or the value of the laundered assets, whichever is greater.

Over 80 US medical experts supporting...

“And I think for some of you coming in, it gives you an opportunity to work in a different type of medical setting. Ours may not be as high-tech as what you might be accustomed to,

but certainly it is an environment in which you can learn how to function and what we can do together,” he said. He added that the collaboration is a major en-

hancement for the local healthcare sector. “We think that by working with different institutions in the US and other jurisdictions, we can improve and accelerate the quality of healthcare that we deliver to patients here. That’s how we see LAMAT operating, because they bring a different set of skill sets that would be very appropriate to what we are doing,” he explained. The more than 80-member medical team will conduct procedures and provide care at several institutions, including the Linden Hospital Complex, Diamond Regional Hospital, West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), De Kinderen Regional Hospital, Georgetown Public Hospital

Corporation (GPHC) and the Cheddi Jagan Dental School.

Build enduring partnerships

Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Guyana, John Crippen, underscored the importance of the initiative as part of the US’ commitment to strengthening regional health systems.

“Under the strategic direction of US Southern Command, a series of key medical engagements are being executed across South America and the Caribbean. These missions are designed to build enduring partnerships, bolster the capacity of our partner nations’ medical systems and enhance our

collective readiness for complex global challenges. LAMAT embodies that effort,” he said. He added that over the next two weeks the team looks forward to working with their Guyanese counterparts to further deepen bilateral relations. Commander of the LAMAT Mission, Theodore Liszeski of the US Air Force, emphasised that the initiative is grounded in collaboration and partnership.

“This mission is about working side by side, sharing knowledge and strengthening readiness through partnership. By building strong professional relationships today, we ensure that when future challenges arise, whether natural disasters

or public health emergencies, we are prepared to respond together as trusted partners,” he stated. The LAMAT mission is part of the health cooperation between Guyana and the US, which has spanned decades and includes collaboration through initiatives such as the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), support during the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing technical partnerships with US medical institutions. Over the course of the mission, visiting and local healthcare professionals will also participate in clinical exchanges and training activities aimed at strengthening Guyana’s healthcare system and improving patient outcomes.

A change… …is happenin’

There are signs all around us that things are a changin’!! Not only in our dear Mudland, where we can see the changes with our own two eyes – but abroad across the world!! In our country, you just gotta step out of your door and into the streets – if not in your own yard! – and realise that our houses, our streets, our villages and towns have been and are continuing to be transformed!! And it’s led by the Government that has self-consciously announced it’s gonna use our oil revenues to literally fuel that transformation!!

But the changes here and abroad sadly aren’t as sanguine – what with Sanction Man flexing his (money) power by unleashing his Scrapes to loot and burn in Georgetown and foreign wars going on for years and new ones breaking out almost monthly. But really, it’s nothing new, innit?? As far back as 1971 in the midst of the Vietnam War and the Flower Power upsurge, Marvin Gay crooned, “We don’t need to escalate/ You see, war is not the answer/ For only love can conquer hate/ You know we’ve got to find a way/To bring some lovin’ here today”. And concluded plaintively, “What’s goin’ on/ What’s goin’ on??”

Well, what’s going on – as your Eyewitness has been emphasising – is there’s a change taking place in the entire world order – which inevitably reverberates downwards and eventually into our dear land of Guyana!! We’re in what one big-time thinker called an “interregnum” –where the old order has been dismantled – or getting there – yet the new order remains unborn!! We’ve been through all of this before within the lifetime of some who’re still around – and from their accounts – as the Good Book assures us – there’s nothing new under the sun!!

England once not only “ruled the waves” but much of the land across the world on which those waves washed up!! But around the turn of the last century she became embroiled in keeping order in the periphery – and lost sight of building its core strength at home. Other countries like the US and Germany stepped into the vacuum and by the time WWII ended – knocking out Germany from the race – America was Numero Uno. So here we are with China challenging America to be the top dog, and America’s sadly allowed itself to become bogged down in its periphery!! Iraq…Libya…Afghanistan…Syria…and ending right now with Iran!!

Meanwhile, China doesn’t get distracted – even when allies like Mad Maduro in Venezuela and the Theocracy in Iran are under attack!! They’re focusing on building their advantage in manufacturing – and in newer areas like chipmaking and AI!!

All we can do, as Pres Ali’s doing – is dance between the raindrops!!

…in reporting to the Police Sanction Man and his Daady continue to show contempt for the institutions of the Guyanese state –which their party WIN’s competing to run!! They were pulled up on their latest transgression by Magistrate Judy for refusing to follow the stipulated time they’re supposed to report to the Police – in accordance with the conditions of their bail!! Obviously – with the $50 BILLION they’ve bilked the GRA of – they feel the $150,000 bail’s a joke and so are the conditions. So it seems they show up any time they feel like it – and don’t even bother to sign the required logbooks!!

This disrespect for the rules of Law and Order institutions is reflected on a larger scale when on one hand they’re vying to run the State and become exemplars of its values – but on the other hand, are tying up the Judiciary with all sorts of “Jimmy Cock tell Ram Goat” objections so as not to show the Americans they’re innocent of their charges!!

And embarrassing our political system!!

…relationship

There’s a lot of talk about our position on the US new measures against the Cuban Government. It cannot be gainsaid that Cuba’s helped us over the years. But in the world order, “there are no permanent friends…”

Secure institution, reform offenders

– Pres Ali tells prison officers

…urges discipline, professionalism

President Dr Irfaan Ali on Monday challenged officers of the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) to strengthen their role as guardians of justice and security, urging them to embrace professionalism, discipline and reform as the cornerstone of their duties. Addressing the Senior Officers’ Conference of the GPS, President Ali emphasised that the prison system is an indispensable pillar of Guyana’s national security framework, equal in importance to the Police Force, Fire Service, Defense Force, and other specialised units. “The Guyana Prison Service is in no way inferior to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) or the Guyana Fire Service (GFS). It is an indispensable pillar of our national security and justice architecture,” he said. The Head of State underscored the dual mandate of the

service: securely managing inmates while preparing them for reintegration into society. “Effective prison management ensures that convicted offenders are secured but not only secured, securely confined; that remand prisoners are held safely while awaiting the due process of the courts; and that inmates are rehabilitated so they can return to society as law-abiding citizens,” President Ali stated. Shedding light on the broader impact of prison management on public safety and the justice system, President Ali said the prison system needs to be a strong one. “Without a strong and professional prison system, the entire chain of justice from investigation to conviction would be incomplete and the stability of our national security framework would be undermined.”

The President also stressed that officers must act as

agents of positive change, both within correctional facilities and in the communities they serve. “Every act of professionalism inside your correctional facilities contributes to a safer Guyana. The work you do protects society. It upholds the authority of the courts, and it gives men and women who have strayed from the law the opportunity to return to the straight and lawful path,” he said. During his time at the microphone, he outlined a clear mandate for officers, anchored on three guiding principles, discipline, reform and safety. “Let our guiding principle towards inmates, therefore be discipline in custody, reform in character, and safety for society,” Ali said.

He added a personal charge to the men and women in attendance, saying: “Secure the institution, reform the offender, and protect the nation.

When the history of this period is written, let it be said that the officers of the Guyana Prison Service rose to the challenge, that they strengthened the integrity of their institutions, that they upheld the highest standards of discipline and professionalism and that they helped transform our prisons into true correctional institutions. And they were the architect of the first prison avoidance system in the globe. This responsibility rests with each of you. The nation is counting on you.” President Ali framed the conference not only as a platform for reflection but also as a roadmap for the future of the prison service, emphasising integrity, operational excellence and community engagement.

Exhibition honouring Dr Cheddi

Jagan opens at National Library

Aphotographic and book exhibition highlighting the life and legacy of Cheddi Jagan was unveiled on Monday at the National Library and the New Amsterdam Public Library. The display, organised by the Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, opened at 10:00h and features a col-

lection of photographs and publications documenting the life, political career and contributions of the former President of Guyana. The exhibition provides an overview of Jagan’s role in the country’s political development and his involvement in the struggle for democracy, social justice and

national independence. Jagan is widely regarded as the Father of the Nation and served as President from 1992 until his death in 1997. Visitors to the display can view photographs capturing key moments in his political life as well as books and publications written by and about him.

The exhibition also includes works connected to Janet Jagan, offering insight into the couple’s political philosophy and their vision for Guyana. According to the organisers, the display aims to provide students, researchers and members of the public with an opportunity to reflect on Jagan’s

contributions to national development and the advancement of democratic governance. The Cheddi Jagan Research Centre said the initiative forms part of its ongoing efforts to preserve and promote the history and ideals associated with the late leader. Members of the public, ed-

Corentyne fatal stabbing

ucational institutions and organisations have been invited to visit the exhibition at both locations. The display is expected to attract students and researchers interested in learning more about Jagan’s life and his role in shaping modern Guyana.

After 2½ hour deliberation, jury returns guilty

ABerbice jury on Monday found Andrew Seegobin guilty of the murder of Corentyne resident Ramanand Mingo, called “Rambo,” follow-

ing approximately two and a half hours of deliberation.

Following the verdict, trial judge Justice Deborah KumarChetty adjourned the matter

to April 17 by which time several reports are to be presented to the court to assist in the sentencing process. These include a probation report, a vic-

tim impact statement and a prison conduct report, while both the prosecution and the defence have been directed to file submissions outlining aggravating and mitigating factors.

The State’s case, led by Prosecutor Marisa Edwards, relied heavily on the testimony of the deceased’s brother, Dianand Mingo, who told the court that he witnessed the fatal stabbing during an altercation at a shop in the village. He maintained that his brother was unarmed at the time, although under cross-examination he admitted that he had, at one point, been outside during the commotion and had thrown bricks. Further evidence came from shop operators, Parbattie Rangasammy and her son, Amos Rangasammy, who described the confusion and escalation at Amos Shop where the incident unfolded. Parbattie told the court that the Mingo brothers had been asked to leave and that she was pushed

verdict

to the ground during the confrontation, while Amos testified that after seeing his mother fall, he armed himself with a cutlass. He said that amid the commotion he later observed one of the Mingo brothers bleeding, while Seegobin was no longer at the scene. Medical evidence was also provided by Government Pathologist Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan, who told the court that Mingo died from shock and haemorrhage due to a stab wound to the heart. He explained that the injury was a clean, forceful wound which would have caused death in a very short time and was highly unlikely to have been accidental, although he noted that such injuries could occur during an altercation. The prosecution also relied on video evidence which was tendered and admitted during the trial, including recordings said to have been made by the accused, footage from the scene, and a police-station interview. The

jury was shown clips capturing portions of the altercation at the shop, with the recordings forming a key part of the State’s effort to establish the sequence of events.

“Bad situation” In his defence, Seegobin gave a sworn testimony from the dock, telling the court that he had earlier been verbally abused by the deceased and later encountered the Mingo brothers outside his home, one of whom he claimed was armed with a cutlass. He said he subsequently went to a nearby shop where music was playing, but realised he was in what he described as a “bad situation” when the brothers arrived. According to Seegobin, he began recording the encounter on his phone, pushed Mingo and fled the scene by jumping a fence, maintaining that he acted out of fear for his safety and denied stabbing the deceased.

Over 12,000 migrant workers granted work permits in 2025

More than 12,000 migrant workers were granted work permits to work in Guyana in 2025, as the country continues to grapple with a growing labour shortage amid rapid economic expansion. This disclosure was made by Labour and Manpower Planning Minister, Keoma Griffith during an appearance on the Starting point podcast on Sunday. According to the Minister, migrant labour is currently being managed through a n inter-ministerial system involving the Labour and Manpower Planning Ministry and also the Home Affairs Ministry, which oversees work permits and security matters.

“For 2025, we had just over 12,000 migrant workers registered in Guyana through obtaining work permits. Is there a system that can be strengthened?

Yes, we acknowledge that. Are we taking steps to strengthen the system? Yes, we are. And so, myself and the Minister of Home

Affairs, we have started examining the issue, examining the current construct of the model, and looking at ways in which we can advance it towards a policy,” he said.

He explained that while systems already exist to regulate migrant labour, the Government is actively working to strengthen

monitoring mechanisms as the demand for workers to continues to increase.

Guyana’s economy which is driven by major infrastructure projects, energy development and expanding industries has significantly increases the demand for labour across multiple sectors. Griffith noted that the shortage of

Kathy Smith BIT’s 1st female Chairperson

Anew era of leadership has dawned at the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) as, for the first time in its history, a woman has been appointed to serve as Chairperson.

Kathy Smith has been appointed to lead the organisation for the 2026–2027 term. The newly inducted Board will serve for the period January 23, 2026, to January 22, 2027. Following her appointment by the Cabinet of the Government of Guyana, Ms. Smith will serve as Chairperson of BIT, marking a historic milestone. She becomes the first woman to hold the position in the organisation’s 115-year history.

Smith is widely recognised as a prominent leader within the Guyanese business community and a strong advocate for private sector development and economic growth.

In 2025, Smith also made history when she became the first female President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in its 136-year history. Her leadership experience and commitment to strengthening the relation-

ship between industry and workforce development are expected to be invaluable to the work of the Board of Industrial Training.

Labour and Manpower Planning Minister, Keoma Griffith, has expressed confidence that the newly appointed Board will continue to strengthen the role of the Board of Industrial Training in advancing national workforce development and expanding opportunities for skills training across Guyana.

Under the leadership of the Chairperson and the newly appointed Board, BIT will continue to focus on strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET),

addressing skills gaps through stronger alignment with industry needs, and expanding partnerships with the private sector in support of Guyana’s growing economy.

The official members of the Board of Industrial Training (2026–2027) are Chairperson Kathy Smith; Vice-Chair, Ganesh Singh; members: John Edghill, Andrea Benjamin, Yannick Garraway, Sheila Verasammy, Karen Roopchand, Desa Liverpool, Penelope Harris, Michael Turner, Krishn Sharma, Suresh Singh; ex-officio members: Indrani Ramnarine, Jainarine Sarjoo, Sookpaul and Richard Maughn.

workers has become one of the country’s most pressing challenges being faced.

“The reality is we have a major labour shortage in this country. It’s one of the major issues that His Excellency, it’s the number one issue, actually, that His Excellency highlighted in his address at the Gas to Energy Conference just last month. And so, we have to look at ways as to how we can fix this problem,” Minister Griffith added.

To address the situation, the Government is examining the current

framework used to manage migrant labour and exploring ways to improve it through policy reforms.

The Labour and Manpower Planning Ministry, disclosed that the Ministry along with the Ministry of Home Affairs, has already begun reviewing the existing model to determine how it can be strengthened.

The review is also being done with consideration for a regional labour policy currently under development by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which could influence how

migration for work is managed across Caribbean states.

Griffith said the Government intends to develop a comprehensive labour migration policy to better regulate the inflow of foreign workers while still ensuring that opportunities remain available for Guyanese.

The Minister stressed that migrant workers are not replacing local workers but rather helping to fill gaps in the labour market created by the country’s rapid development.

90% of prison records, warrants digitised in Guyana

The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) has digitised approximately 90 per cent of prisoners’ records and warrants, as part of efforts to modernise the correctional system and improve administrative efficiency.

“All of the staff personal files are already digitalised, 90 per cent of the prison population records and warrants are digitalised and the remainder will be completed shortly,” Director of Prisons Nicklon Elliot said on Monday while delivering remarks at the opening of the Senior Correctional Officers Conference 2026.

According to Elliot, the initiative was undertak-

en through collaboration with the National Data Management Authority (NDMA) and forms part of the broader push to integrate technology within the operations of the prison service. “Further on in the area of advancing technology, the Guyana Prison Service collaborated with the National Data Management Authority to digitalise prisoners’ records and warrants and staff personal files,” Elliot stated.

He noted that the process has already significantly progressed, with nearly all records now stored electronically. The move to digital records is expected to strengthen

the management of prisoner information, improve data accessibility, and support more efficient decision-making within the prison system. Elliot made the remarks while outlining several developments within the prison service during 2025, including investments in infrastructure, staff development and technology upgrades. The conference, held under the theme “Fostering Growth, Driving Synergy and Securing the Future of Corrections,” brings together senior officers and regional partners to discuss prison reform strategies and best practices in correctional management.

Construction worker decapitated in freak accident

A62-year-old man working at a construction site in Kaikan Street, North Ruimveldt died on Monday afternoon after he was reportedly decapitated by a machine he was operating. Dead is Edward Emanuel also known as “Small Eye,” of Osama Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Reports are that the body which was decapitat-

ed was discovered just after 15:00h on Monday at the corner of Kaikan Street and Aubrey Barker Road, Georgetown. Police have since launched an investigation.

Students sit mock ahead of NGSA,

Grade Six students across Guyana sat their second set of mock examinations on Monday as part of preparations has rolled out the third nationwide mock examination under its Mathematics Intervention Programme for Grade Mathematics examination this year. The exercise is designed to assess students’ performance and identify

mock exams NGSA, CSEC

preparations for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) scheduled for April. Meanwhile, the Education Ministry Grade 11 and selected Grade 10 students preparing for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) identify areas that require additional support before the official examinations in May (Education Ministry photos)

Daytime vending banned on Sheriff St

…food trucks, stalls ordered off roadway

The Public Works

Ministry has announced new measures requiring vendors and operators along Sheriff Street, Georgetown to remove trucks, caravans and stalls during daytime hours. In a notice issued on Monday, the

plays an important role in the surrounding community. Under the new directive, all trucks, caravans and stalls must be removed from the area between 06:00h and 18:00h. Vending will only be permitted outside of those hours.

traffic. Vendors and operators were also urged by the Ministry to cooperate with the measure to help keep the thoroughfare clear during the day.

The Public Works Ministry has launched a campaign directing that all encumbrances from roadways be

the removal and disposal of derelict vehicles. According to prior statements by the Ministry, abandoned vehicles removed from public spaces will be transported to the Government’s derelict site along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway for disposal.

any unauthorised encumbrances placed on municipal lands across the city. In the notice, the council said items placed on parapets, reserves, road shoulders, sidewalks and other public spaces without approval are in violation of the city’s municipal regulations. According

Ministry said the move is aimed at keeping the roadway safe and accessible during peak traffic periods. Sheriff Street is known for its active commercial activity, which the Ministry acknowledged

The Ministry warned that any encumbrances found on the roadway or pedestrian pathways during the restricted period will be removed to maintain public order and ensure the free flow of

removed. Over the past months, the Ministry had issued several removal notices directing the immediate removal of all impediments from the roadway. Contractors had also been engaged to assist with

M&CC one-month notice

Likewise, on March 5, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown had issued a public notice, giving property owners, vendors and residents of the city one month to remove

to the Council, the action is being taken in keeping with Sections 9 and 10 (1) of the City Government By-laws and Sections 302 (24) and (25) under Miscellaneous Powers of the Council in the Municipal and District

The Council explained that unauthorised encumbrances include sand, stone and other construction materials placed on parapets or reserves, as well as unauthorised signs, billboards or advertisements. It also warned against

the placement of boulders, barriers and other obstructions, and the erection of stalls, structures or other items on municipal lands without written approval from the council.

Upgrades underway in Lethem ahead of Rodeo 2026

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister, Susan Rodrigues, is on a two-day visit to Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) as preparations continue for the Rupununi Ranchers Rodeo scheduled for April 3-5. During a meeting with the Rodeo Committee, the Minister received updates on several upgrades planned for this year’s event. These include improved infrastructure, a new media booth, expanded vending and stall capacity, a dedicated VIP section, and an upgraded viewing areas for patrons. Additional seating will also be added through the installation of new bleachers to accommodate the anticipated increase in spectators. The Tourism Ministry on Monday said, organisers are also planning measures to improve visitor amenities and highlight the cultural

heritage of the Rupununi. These include upgraded washroom facilities, a waste reduction initiative, and a

ipation expected from 16 villages across the Rupununi. The market will offer locally produced food, crafts and

History and Art booth that will showcase the story of rodeo and ranching traditions along with Amerindian craft and artisanship in the region. A Farmers’ Market will also be part of this year’s activities, with partic-

agricultural products. The rodeo pageant is also expected to attract strong community participation. In preparation for the event, several agencies are carrying out supporting works.

The Public Works Ministry

upgrading sections of the road network in and around Lethem, while the Lethem Power Company is installing additional transformers and lighting to improve power supply and visibility at the venue and surrounding areas. Rodrigues was ac-

companied on the outreach by Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) Kamrul Baksh. The ongoing visit by the Ministry and its agencies to work with local stakeholders to strengthen Guyana’s tourism offerings and promote the event internationally. Widely regarded as one of Guyana’s major tourism events, the Rupununi Ranchers Rodeo attracts thousands of visitors each year and supports community-based tourism and economic activity in the Rupununi.

Joint Services outreach promotes safety in border community

Ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF)

der. The exercise conducted between 08:00h and 10:30h and was led by police ranks who were joined by GDF ranks stationed at the Arau Army Base along

the Wenamu River.

During the engagement, the ranks interacted with residents of the community and encouraged them to maintain clean and orderly surroundings. Discussions also focused on community safety, security awareness and general law and order.

Residents were advised to remain vigilant and to promptly report any unusual occurrences or potential security threats to the Police Outpost so that timely action can be taken.

The initiative was welcomed by residents, who expressed appreciation for the presence of the Police and Defence Force ranks and their continued efforts to promote safety, cooperation and peaceful relations within the community.

The GPF said it will continue to engage communities across the country as part of its efforts to strengthen partnerships with citizens and enhance public confidence in law enforcement.

STEMGuyana steps into regional spotlight at OECS robotics challenge

Acollaboration has been established between STEMGuyana and the Eastern Caribbean Robotics and Innovation Association (ECRIA), in strengthening regional partnerships in robotics, innovation, and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) education across the Caribbean. STEMGuyana’s Elsie Harry will address the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Super Regional Robotics Challenge, further cementing the organisation’s role in advancing technological learning and innovation throughout the region.

The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in February 2026, establishing STEMGuyana as a member organisation within the regional network and expanding opportunities for collaboration, student participation and knowledge exchange in robotics and emerging technologies.

As part of this meaningful regional engagement, STEMGuyana will be represented at the upcoming OECS Super Regional Robotics Challenge, which will take place from March 16–20, 2026 in St Kitts and Nevis. The event, hosted in collabo-

ration with the St Kitts and Nevis Robotics Association, brings together talented student teams from across the Caribbean to showcase innovation, engineering excellence, teamwork and problem-solving through robotics competitions and technology

demonstrations. Member of the Board of Directors and Fundraising Coordinator for STEMGuyana, Elsie Harry will deliver remarks on behalf of the organisation at the Opening Ceremony on March 17 at the St Kitts Marriott Beach Resort. She also serves as STEMGuyana’s Liaison to ECRIA, helping to build bridges between Guyana and regional robotics and innovation initiatives. In accept-

ing the invitation to address the opening ceremony, Harry noted that the partnership marks an important step toward deeper Caribbean cooperation in technology education and youth development.

“Regional collaboration is critical if we are to prepare Caribbean youths for the rapidly evolving global technology landscape. Through this partnership with ECRIA, STEMGuyana looks forward to strengthening opportuni-

ties for students in Guyana to engage in robotics, innovation and collaborative learning across the Caribbean; while sharing some of our best practices in the STEM (to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) field with our regional counterparts.”

Although STEMGuyana will not field a team in this year’s challenge, the organisation has indicated its intention to send Guyanese students to future Eastern Caribbean competitions as part of its ongoing expansion of robotics education initiatives.

Founded to promote equitable access to STEM education, STEMGuyana has worked extensively with young people across Guyana to build technical skills, problem-solving abilities and entrepreneurial thinking. Through robotics programmes, coding workshops, and mentorship initiatives, the organisation continues to empower youths with the tools needed to participate in the digital economy.

Guyana elected regional coordinator of Caribbean Diplomatic Missions in Brussels

Guyana has been elected to serve as the Regional Coordinator of Caribbean Diplomatic Missions in Brussels, strengthening the country’s role in advancing Caribbean interests within the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). The announcement was made by the Embassy of Guyana in Brussels, noting that the role will be carried out under the leadership of Guyana’s Ambassador to the European Union (EU), Sasenarine Singh. In this capacity, Guyana will also chair the Caribbean Ministerial Caucus of the OACPS ahead of the 121st Session of the Council of Ministers scheduled for July 7-9, 2026.

The session will be held under the leadership of Hugh Todd, Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The position places Guyana at the forefront of coordinating Caribbean positions within the OACPS and engaging with partners in the EU. The OACPS is an intergovernmental organisation that brings together countries from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific to promote sustainable development, economic coop-

eration and political partnership, particularly with the EU. The organisation was established in 1975 through the Georgetown Agreement. According to a press release from the embassy, Guyana holds a unique place in the organisation’s history as a founding member and the birthplace of the original African, Caribbean and Pacific partnership, which later evolved into the OACPS.

As part of ongoing dip-

lomatic engagement with the EU, the Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) Group of Ambassadors in Brussels met with Riccardo Rossi on March 10, 2026. Rossi is a member of the Cabinet of the European Commissioner for International Partnerships.

The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Singh and focused on the priorities of the

Directorate-General for International Partnerships and their relevance to Caribbean development. Discussions also explored opportunities to expand cooperation between the Caribbean and the EU.

According to the embassy, the engagement forms part of broader efforts to strengthen rela-

tions between Caribbean states and European institutions. It also supports coordination among Caribbean diplomatic missions in Brussels on matters related to trade, development and international partnerships.

With the new coordinating role, Guyana is expected to facilitate collaboration among Caribbean

missions and help advance regional priorities within the OACPS framework. The embassy stated that Guyana remains committed to providing effective leadership in Brussels while supporting the priorities of CARIFORUM member states and strengthening the Caribbean’s partnership with the EU.

After 2½ hour deliberation...

In her closing address, defence attorney Suriya Sabsook urged the jury to carefully consider the circumstances under which the incident unfolded, maintaining that her client had acted out of fear for his safety during a volatile confrontation. She pointed to inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case and argued that the evidence supported the possibility that Seegobin reacted to a perceived threat, raising reasonable doubt as to his guilt.

In response, prosecutor Marisa Edwards urged the jury to reject the defence’s claim of self-defence, arguing that the evidence presented throughout the trial showed that Mingo was unarmed and that Seegobin had placed himself into the confrontation.

She pointed to the consistency of the eyewitness testimony, medical findings and video evidence, submitting that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

After hearing the evidence and submissions from both sides, the 12-member jury, retired to deliberate and returned approximately two and a half hours later with a unanimous verdict, finding Seegobin guilty of the murder of Ramanand Mingo.

The fatal incident occurred on November 19, 2023, at Amos Shop in John’s Settlement, Port Mourant, Corentyne, where a confrontation between Seegobin and the Mingo brothers escalated into violence. According to evidence presented during the trial, the men had ear-

lier encountered each other in the village before the situation intensified at the shop, where an altercation broke out among several persons. It was during that confrontation that Mingo was stabbed to the chest. He was subsequently taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Following the verdict, the deceased’s mother, Lilowtie Ramsammy, and his brother, Dianand Mingo, who was a key witness during the trial, expressed satisfaction with the jury’s decision. Mingo said he believes justice was served, while his mother noted that while she is pleased with the verdict, she is awaiting the sentencing phase before she can say justice has been fully done.

UN receives reports alleging torture of detainees in Venezuela continues

Reports alleging that detainees have continued to be tortured in Venezuela following the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro by US forces in January are concerning, the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, says.

Maduro has been replaced in power by one of his loyal allies, former Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, under whose leadership an amnesty bill has been passed into law.

Türk welcomed the amnesty law, but warned that “structural and systemic human rights concerns have persisted” in Venezuela despite Maduro’s ousting.

Venezuelan officials have not yet reacted publicly to Türk’s remarks, but have in the past dismissed allegations of torture as politically motivated.

Türk said many Venezuelans remained in “arbitrary detention” despite the passing of the amnesty law last month.

He added that there was a child among those arbitrarily detained.

Last week, the Venezuelan parliament, which is dominated by Maduro loyalists, said that more than 7700 persons had been granted “full freedom” under the amnesty law. According to the parliament’s figures, the vast majority of them had not been

Relatives of political prisoners hold candles and posters during a vigil in Zamora, Venezuela, February 26, 2026 [Miguel Gutiérrez/ EPA/Shutterstock]

in prisons, but were subject to restrictions such as house arrest or parole.

However, Venezuelan prisoners’ rights group Foro Penal has so far only been able to confirm the release of fewer than 700 detainees.

Foro Penal also warns that more than 500 persons remain behind bars for political reasons in Venezuela.

Noting the discrepancy with the Government numbers, Türk has urged greater transparency from the Venezuelan authorities.

He told the UN Human Rights Council that his office had “requested the official list of those released, as well as unfettered access to several detention centres, so far without success”.

He also said that his office had received information about “the continued torture and mistreatment of detainees, including in the Rodeo 1 and Fuerte Guaicaipuro” de-

tention centres.

Türk spoke just days after the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela updated the UN Human Rights Council on its latest findings in Venezuela.

The independent body said it had continued to receive “direct testimony, victim statements, information, documentation and reports regarding human rights violations committed after 3 January”.

The Fact-Finding Mission has in the past documented scores of cases in which detainees were subjected to “torture, sexual violence and/or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment” in Venezuelan detention centres.

Venezuelan officials have dismissed previous reports by the Mission as “politicised” and “driven by perfidious interests”. (BBC News)

El Salvador forcibly disappearing nationals deported from US – rights group

El Salvador has subjected some nationals deported from the United States to enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention without revealing their whereabouts or bringing them before a judge, a report by Human Rights Watch said on Monday.

According to the New York-based human rights group, the 11 Salvadorans affected were among the more than 9000 Salvadorans deported since early January 2025 under US President Donald Trump.

Cuba electric grid collapses amid US oil blockade causing national blackout

Cuba’s national power grid has collapsed amid an ongoing United States-imposed oil blockade on the island nation.

The collapse on Monday left the entire country of about 10 million without power, according to the Union Nacional Electrica de Cuba (UNE). The State-owned company said it was working to restore electricity flows.

It added that it was investigating what caused the “complete shutdown of the national grid”.

No oil has been imported to Cuba since January 9 amid the US pressure campaign.

Following the US military’s capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the Government of Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodriguez agreed to stifle oil shipments to Cuba.

US President Donald Trump subsequently threatened other countries, notably Mexico, with sanctions if they delivered fuel to the island, which relies almost solely on oil imports.

His administration has openly said it sought regime change in Communist-led

Cuba, which had been under a decades-long US trade embargo prior to the most recent actions.

Reuters news agency reported that Cuba has received only two small vessels carrying oil imports this year, citing SEG ship-tracking data it reviewed.

Earlier this month, a blackout hit two-thirds of the country, mainly in the centre and west, for over a day after a breakdown at the Antonio Guiteras power plant, the island’s largest.

The lack of fuel has further strained Cuba’s years-long

IDB wants “more

economic woes, causing a humanitarian crisis amid widespread shortages of fuel, food and medicine.

The conditions have fomented rare public unrest on the island, with protesters torching a Communist Party office over the weekend. Rights groups have warned against any US attempts to rally dissent by worsening the living conditions for residents.

Trump, who has previously suggested a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, said on Sunday that Cuba “wants to make a deal”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

scale and

impact” for development in LAC

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group says it has earned “strong backing” from member countries to expand development financing across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and strengthen Private-Sector-led growth.

ued reform implementation, its financing capacity is expected to reach US$500 billion over the next decade — more than double the amount of the previous 10 years — to support growth, jobs, infrastructure, and opportunities across Latin America and the Caribbean.

es, and improved agricultural services for nearly one million farmers.”

“The United States should stop casting people into the black hole of El Salvador’s prison system,” said HRW Americas Director Juanita Goebertus.

El Salvador’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters on the HRW report.

Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemy Act, a little-used wartime law, to deport immigrants considered a national security risk with no due process. Neither the US nor El Salvador has presented evidence the detained Salvadorans are gang members, beyond US claims that some belong to the MS-13 gang, Human Rights Watch added.

Lawyers and family members denied the men had any gang links and said they were often left unaware of detainees’ locations.

Human Rights Watch interviewed 20 relatives and lawyers of 11 Salvadorans deported between mid-March and mid-October 2025 and immediately detained, finding none had been brought before a Judge or allowed contact with family. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Trinidad: Lawyers urge public to be cautious under SoE

There are mixed views from lawyers to Trinidad and Tobago

Attorney General John Jeremie’s recent warning about social media commentary by citizens during the ongoing State of Emergency (SoE), with some saying his comments do not suggest there is any legal breach, but others urging caution about what is said online as well as

over the possibility of stifling of free speech.

Jeremie made the statement in Parliament on Friday, shortly before lawmakers voted to extend the SoE by three months. He defended the detention, during the last SoE, of a woman who shared an image of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s home and tagged Venezuelan officials while suggesting it be target-

ed. Saying threats against the PM will not be tolerated during the latest SoE, Jeremie said, “In some territories, you go to jail for that. In other territories, you are shot for that.”

His claim sparked public concern about whether Government intended to use the SoE to stifle freedom of speech. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

The IDB ended its annual meetings over the weekend with “more scale and impact” for development in the LAC after a record year for the IDB Group, where total financing reached US$35 billion.

The Washington-based financial institution said with growth in both public and private operations and contin-

“The focus is not only on scale, but on results. The IDB Group’s 2025 Impact Report found that our operations helped 34 million people access health and nutrition services, enabled 2.6 million people to gain broadband connectivity, supported 3.3 million micro, small, and medium-sized enterpris-

During the meetings, the IDB Group also announced that the subscription process for the US$3.5 billion capitalisation of IDB Invest, approved by the boards of Governors in Punta Cana in 2024, has been successfully closed, strengthening its capacity to mobilise private investment and finance companies across the region.

The IDB said governors also reviewed several initiatives aimed at translating greater financing capacity into stronger development outcomes. (Excerpt from CMC)

Caribbean students shine in historic 1st electronic CXC exams

Caribbean students have delivered a strong performance in the January 2026 CSEC examinations — the first fully electronic and hybrid sitting in the history of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC)— with nine of the 13 subjects administered recording increases in pass rates and several subjects posting dramatic improvements over the previous year.

Director of Operations, Dr Nicole Manning presented the results at a CXC press conference, confirming that 10,481 candidates registered across 17 Caribbean

States for a total of 16,695 subject entries, with 96 per cent of entries fully electronically administered. The

data, she said, validated the e-assessment hybrid model and demonstrated that Caribbean students are more than ready for the digital examination environment.

The standout performances were recorded in Social Studies, which posted a near-100 per cent increase, and Physics, which saw almost a 50 per cent rise – results Dr Manning attributed to diligence on the part of both students and their parents.

January 2026 results are now available to candidates via the CXC portal. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Around the World

OIL NEWS

US average diesel prices cross US$5 a gallon as Middle East war tests global economy

US average retail diesel prices crossed US$5 a gallon for only the second time ever on Monday as the war in the Middle East squeezes supplies of the industrial fuel, according to a fuel markets tracker.

The only other time diesel retailed above that mark was in December 2022, when global oil markets were still reeling from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier that year.

Economists have warned that surging diesel prices could slow global economic activity as the fuel is used in manufacturing and freight, and higher costs to make and move goods are passed on to consumers. Fuel price inflation could also pose a major risk to US President Donald Trump as his Republican Party prepares for midterms in November.

Oil prices for benchmark Brent crude fell nearly three per cent Monday afternoon to near US$100 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures dropped 5.28 per cent to US$93.50.

Asia-Pacific markets jumped today as investors monitor the latest developments in the Iran war, with Trump looking to delay his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping by “a month or so” due to the Middle East conflict. Trump was expected to travel to China at the end of March.

The US-Israeli war on Iran, now in its third week, has severely disrupted global diesel supply chains because the Middle East is a major supplier of both the fuel and the type of crude oil most suitable for its production.

Iran’s near-complete blockade of the Strait of Hormuz impacts between 10 per cent to 20 per cent of total global seaborne diesel supplies. Moreover, the slump in Middle Eastern crude oil flow to Asian refineries has pushed many of them to cut production, further hitting global diesel availability.

A string of measures announced by Trump and other world leaders, including a record release of oil reserves by industrialised nations, has done little so far to tame surging fuel prices.

US national average gasoline prices stood at US$3.76 a gallon as of 06:10h EDT, the highest since October 2023.

“Until we see a meaningful resumption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, upward pressure on fuel prices is likely to persist,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, wrote in a blog on Monday. (Excerpts from Reuters and CNBC)

Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of killing 400 in attack on Kabul hospital

Afghanistan has accused Pakistan’s military of launching an air strike on a hospital treating drug users in the capital, Kabul, killing at least 400 persons.

Pakistan dismissed the claim as “false and aimed at misleading public opinion”, saying it only targeted military installations in Kabul and the province of Nangahar on Monday.

The attack on Kabul’s Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital took place at around 21:00h local time (16:30 GMT), according to Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesman for Afghanistan’s Taliban Government.

The hospital is a 2000-bed facility and the raid destroyed large sections of the building, he wrote on X.

Trump says Hormuz Strait help “on the way” as allies reject military action

United States President Donald Trump has said “numerous countries” have told him “they’re on their way” following his appeal for an international naval coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz amid the US-Israel war on Iran.

Trump made the statement on Monday after calling on a handful of countries to join the coalition. However, he did not identify any of the countries in question.

“Numerous countries have told me they’re on the way. Some are very enthusiastic about it, and some aren’t,” Trump said.

When subsequently asked which countries had pledged to join, Trump responded “I’d rather not say yet”, adding that US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio would be making an official announcement.

“They’ve already started to – it takes a little while to get there,” Trump said. “In some cases, you have to travel an ocean. So doesn’t go that fast, but it’ll go fast. And we have

some that are fairly local that are doing it.”

In his appeal over the weekend, Trump identified China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom as countries that should join the coalition. He later on called on all “the Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait”, specifically saying the members of the NATO alliance should join.

To date, no country has confirmed its involvement.

In contrast, several coun-

tries have already doused the prospect, with Australia, Japan, Poland, Sweden and Spain saying they had no intentions of sending military ships.

On Monday, more European leaders joined the chorus, with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius saying that there would be “no military participation”, but that Berlin was open to supporting diplomatic efforts.

South Korea and the UK have said they were reviewing

the situation. The UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was discussing the possibility of offering its mine-hunting drones in the region, but maintained the UK would “not be drawn into the wider war”.

Global oil prices have shot up by 40 per cent to 50 per cent amid repeated Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The United Arab Emirates’ biggest port and oil storage facility, Fujairah, and Dubai’s international airport have come under further drone attacks as Iran continues to target Gulf transport and oil infrastructure.

About 20 per-cent to 30 percent of global oil consumption travels through the narrow strait, which separates Iran from the Arabian Peninsula.

On Monday, Trump said that more than 100 Iranian naval vessels have been “sunk or destroyed” since the US and Israel launched the war on February 28, including more than 30 “mine laying ships”. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Gulf States press US to neutralise Iran for good as Hormuz crisis deepens

Gulf Arab States did not ask the United States to go to war with Iran, but many are now urging it not to stop short by leaving the Islamic Republic still able to threaten the Gulf’s oil lifeline and the economies that depend on it, three Gulf sources told Reuters.

At the same time, these sources and five Western and Arab diplomats said Washington was pressing Gulf States to join the US-Israeli war. According to three of them, President

Donald Trump wants to show regional backing for the campaign, to bolster its international legitimacy as well as support at home.

“There is a wide feeling across the Gulf that Iran has crossed every red line with every Gulf country,” said Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman of the Saudi-based Gulf Research Centre and familiar with Government thinking.

“At first we defended them and opposed the war,” he said. “But once they began directing strikes at us, they

became an enemy. There is no other way to classify them.”

Tehran has already demonstrated its reach, attacking airports, ports, oil facilities, and commercial hubs in the six Gulf States with missiles and drones while disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz – the artery carrying about a fifth of global oil and underpinning Gulf economies.

The attacks have reinforced Gulf fears that leaving Iran with any signifi-

cant offensive weaponry or arms manufacturing capacity could embolden it to hold the region’s energy lifeline hostage whenever tensions rise. As the war entered its third week, with US and Israeli airstrikes intensifying and Iran firing at U.S. bases and civilian targets across the Gulf, a Gulf source said the prevailing mood among leaders was unmistakable: that Trump should comprehensively degrade Iran’s military capacity. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Teens sue Musk’s xAI over Grok’s pornographic images of them

ELocal television stations posted footage showing firefighters struggling to extinguish flames among the ruins of a building.

Omid Stanikzai, 31, a security guard at the hospital, told the AFP news agency that he heard jets patrolling in the sky before the attack.

“There were military units all around us. When these military units fired on the jet, the jet dropped bombs and a fire broke out,” he said.

All of the dead and injured were civilians, he added.

The attack came hours after Afghan officials said the two sides had exchanged fire along their common border, with four persons killed in Afghanistan, as the deadliest fighting between the neighbours in years entered a third week. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

“Unfortunately, the death toll has so far reached 400, while around 250 others have been reported injured. Rescue teams are currently at the scene working to control the fire and recover the remaining bodies of the victims,” he added.

lon Musk’s artificial intelligence company is facing a lawsuit from teenagers who say the company facilitated child pornography by allowing the creation of sexually-explicit images of them.

The lawsuit against xAI was filed Monday in a federal California court by three young women whose images and videos were altered by a Grok user without their knowledge to show them

nude or in otherwise overtly sexual ways.

Grok is a chatbot developed by xAI and hosted on Musk’s social media platform X. xAI did not respond to a request for comment made via its parent company.

The legal action is part of the fallout since last year’s controversial release of new Grok features that X called “spicy” mode.

Lawyers for the young

women said Grok’s ability to alter images and video had been created and released by xAI solely to drive use of the chatbot and X.

They likened the way images of the young women were changed to “a rag doll brought to life through the dark arts”.

“xAI – and its founder Elon Musk – saw a business opportunity,” the complaint says. “They knew Grok could produce such results, includ-

ing by using the images and videos of children, and publicly released it anyway.” The young women are seeking unspecified damages, as well as an immediate order barring Grok from creating such images.

“Their lives have been shattered by the devastating loss of privacy, dignity, and personal safety”, lawyers for the young women said in their complaint. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Russia, Ukraine trade drone attacks

Russian air defence units downed at least 67 Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow on Monday, according to data published by the city’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin.

On Monday morning, Sobyanin had listed 38 drones intercepted on Monday. In a long series of posts on Telegram later in the day, Sobyanin said a further 29

drones had been downed during the day, starting at about 08:00h (0500 GMT).

Meanwhile, Russia launched a rare daylight attack on Kyiv on Monday using drones that appeared upgraded, Ukrainian officials said, with multiple explosions ripping through the city and drone debris crashing onto the capital’s main square.

Ukrainian air defence

units downed 194 out of 211 Russian drones, the air force said, adding that the morning attack was unusual in its timing and involved different types of drones targeting the central Kyiv region.

Drone strikes on the Ukrainian capital usually happen at night since drones are less easily detected in the dark.

“Around 30 drones of var-

ious types were targeting the Kyiv region,” Yuri Ihnat, air force spokesperson, told Ukrainian TV.

“The not-so-good news is that these drones have communication channels – mesh networks and other channels – which the enemy can use to control them. The better news is that almost all of them were shot down.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

SUDOKU

Stay focused on what you must do to maintain your lifestyle. The more information you have, the easier it will be to make wise choices and sidestep trouble. Use your brain instead of your brawn.

Do your part and make a difference. How you reach out to people will determine how much help you receive in return. Avoid excessive behavior.

Proceed with caution. Letting your emotions take the lead will cost you if you go overboard. You have far more to gain by letting your actions speak for you.

Temptation will get the better of you if you aren’t careful. Consider the consequences before you exaggerate, indulge or overspend. The right choice will encourage financial and personal growth.

Secrecy is a must when dealing with financial matters. Protect yourself, your rights and your health and economic wellbeing from anyone who doesn’t fully support you.

When opportunity knocks, open the door. If you hesitate, you will get left behind. A change is within reach; all you must do is recognize the signals and respond to it.

Engage in events that interest you. The information you gather will help build a foundation for something that excites you. Follow your instincts and make things happen.

Home improvements will make life easier if you stick to your budget. Speak from the heart and clear up any issues that may stand between you and someone you love and respect.

Avoid sharing personal information or secrets that someone can use against you. Listen to what others say, but don’t believe everything you hear. Protect your assets.

Shy away from conversations that are too personal. Sharing information that makes you feel uncomfortable will lead to trouble. Focus more on advancing professionally and boosting your bank account.

Protect your reputation. Don’t mix business with pleasure. Indulgent behavior and temptation are prevalent and can easily test your willpower if you lack discipline.

Don’t hesitate; if there is something you want, make your move. Don’t promise more than you can deliver or let excessive behavior damage your reputation. Honesty and hard work will pay off.

Beyond the numbers – The West Indies vs Australia Women’s rivalry

On paper, the West Indies Women’s record against Australia looks like a story of sustained struggle. However, numbers alone don’t truly capture what this rivalry means because whenever West Indies have beaten Australia, it has been historic.

Australia leads the combined head-to-head 31–3 across 34 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 Internationals (T20Is) since 1993. While it is easy to read all this as one-sided domination, it does not reflect the complete story.

West Indies’ sole ODI win against the Aussies came on February 13, 2013, in Mumbai during the 2013 International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s

World Cup. Needing a victory over the reigning world champions to advance from the Super Six stage of the World Cup, West Indies defeated their opponents by eight runs after batting first and posting a modest 164, with current Maroon Warriors all-rounder Deandra Dottin earning the Player-of-the-Match award.

The win also effectively knocked England and New Zealand out of title contention in the process, with West Indies claiming all three of their Super Six matches to reach the final.

Unfortunately, the team suffered a 114-run defeat in that final against the Aussies, but the initial boldness to beat a dominant side like Australia when the stakes were high became a landmark moment for

Caribbean women’s cricket.

While that Super Six victory brought with it intense emotion and regional adulation, there are not many moments in this rivalry that can compare to April 3, 2016, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata – again in India.

Australia had won six of the previous seven Women’s T20 World Cups, and have since triumphed in the 2018, 2020 and 2023 editions.

Openers Hayley Matthews and Captain Stafanie Taylor came to the crease with a target of 149 to chase. At the time, it was a daunting enough total that most teams would have been unsuccessful at reaching, but the West Indies did so with three balls to spare.

Matthews, who turned 18 years old mid-tournament, smashed 66 from 45 balls

while Taylor contributed 59. Their opening partnership of 120 set a new West Indies T20I record which still stands today and was the foundation of an eight-wicket victory and a maiden World Championship for the West Indies’ Women.

To date, it is the only time Australia have ever lost a Women’s T20 World Cup final and true to the historical narrative, the only team to beat them were West Indies.

Seven-and-a-half years later, on October 2, 2023, the North Sydney Oval was the venue as Matthews accomplished something that had never been done in women’s T20 cricket.

Chasing Australia’s imposing total of 212, characterised by Elyse Perry’s 46ball 70 and the joint-fastest T20 fifty in the format’s his-

tory by Phoebe Litchfield, the deck was stacked against the visitors from the outset.

Despite already taking 3 for 36 with the ball from her tiresome spell, Matthews then walked out and cracked 132 off 64 balls inclusive of 20 fours and five sixes. As a result, she crafted another blistering partnership with her opening partner Taylor, 174 runs, for the second wicket, as West Indies won with a ball to spare.

As Matthews wrote her name on history’s page with the highest individual T20I score by a West Indian woman in the highest successful T20I chase in history, she set a new standard for women’s T20 batting.

Three wins in 34 matches sounds like a record of failure, but you may be encouraged with a deeper look

at those three victories. The first reshaped a World Cup tournament, the second secured a maiden World Cup title, and the third the greatest successful WT20I chase ever recorded. History hasn’t been kind to West Indies’ record of beating Australia, but when they do, they do so in moments that get written into the permanent record of the sport and sometimes change the trajectory of possibilities in the sport. As the 2026 home series heads to St Vincent and St Kitts, the tradition West Indies’ Women carry with them will not be of the losses, but of those invaluable and historic moments created during this enduring, endearing cricket rivalry. (windiescricket.com)

Golden Grove B, Unity record dominant wins

Two matches were played over the weekend in the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) Premier Insurance SecondDivision 40-Over competition, with Golden Grove B and Unity recording convincing victories at the Golden Grove and Unity Grounds respectively.

At the Golden Grove Ground, Helena 1&2 won the toss and elected to bat first, but were restricted to 125 for 9 in 27 overs after struggling against disciplined bowling.

P Chowtz led the scoring with 34, while Dhanesh Persaud contributed 27 and Darshan Persaud added 21.

The bowling was domHe was well supported by Akeem Critchlow, who claimed 2 for 8, while Steven Mangal and Akeem Persaud took one wicket each.

comfortably, reaching 130 for 3 in just 13.3 overs. Lennox Andrews led the charge with an aggressive 75 from 39 balls, while Mangal supported with 20. For Helena 1&2, Dhanesh Persaud picked up 2 wickets for 74 runs. Golden Grove B secured victory by seven wickets.

made 80 and Anan Mohamed contributed 66. Additional runs came from Michael Major (23) and Shereef Mohamed (14).

In reply, Golden Grove B chased down the target

Meanwhile, in the second match played at the Unity Ground, Unity defeated East Coast Masters by a massive 132 runs. After winning the toss and choosing to bat first,

Unity posted a formidable 345 for 7 in 30 overs. The match was reduced due to a late start caused by a wet wicket.

Unity s batting line-up produced several strong performances. Oswin Blair top-scored with 90, while Deodatt Surajpaul

Unity s bowlers then ensured the total was well defended. Blair returned to deliver with the ball, claiming 3 wickets for 27 runs from 6 overs. In response, East Coast Masters managed 213 for 9 in their allotted 30 overs, falling well short of the target. Unity completed an emphatic 132-run victory to cap an entertaining weekend of cricket in the ECCB s Premier Insurance Second-Division competition.

GCF elects 5 council members at special meeting

The Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) has taken another step toward governance restructuring after electing five council members during a special meeting held on Saturday, at the National Racquet Centre.

The meeting, which was called in accordance with the Federation’s constitutional requirements, resulted in the election of five representatives who will now serve on the GCF Council alongside the executive body.

The newly-elected council members are Geron Williams of Continental Cycling Club; Masimba Williams of Kaieteur Attack Racing Cycle Club (KARCC); Andrew Arjoon of KFC Evolution; Davindra Ramnarine of Carlton Wheelers and Sean Chin-Chan of Flying Stars.

According to a press release from the GCF, these officials now form part of the General Council and will work collaboratively with the Federation’s executive

to guide the sport’s development. As part of their responsibilities, the council members will also serve on several key committees, including Finance, Racing, and Discipline.

The move comes as the Federation continues its recalibration and reset following a period of controversy under former President Horace Burrowes, who recently vacated the post. Nigel London, a member of Burrowes’ club We Stand United Cycling

Club, has since assumed the leadership position.

After recent developments, the Federation is of the view that the election of the council members represents another positive step towards reinforcing its administrative structure and improving oversight within the organisation.

The GCF ended by stating that it remained committed to transparency, accountability, and the long-term growth of cycling in Guyana.

Raiders, Warriors unveil squads for Good Friday 40-Over Bash

The South Raiders and Western Warriors have officially unveiled their squads for the fifth edition of the Good Friday 40Over Bash, setting the stage for an exciting contest on April 3 at the Malteenoes Sports Club Ground.

al fixture, organ ised by One Movement

West Indies Under-19

Vice Captain

Jonathan Van Lange will be representing the South Raiders

Colis Rimple; Jerimiah Scott and Under-21 player Micah Amsterdam.

Entertainment in collaboration with Ciarra B Enterprise, continues to focus on providing a platform for emerging cricketers while blending experience with youthful talent.

South Raiders will be led by Captain Adrian Hinds and coached by Rawle Merell. The Raiders will again feature national player Richie Looknauth, who has been retained as one of the team’s key players.

Hinds will be supported by Vice Captain Jonathan Van Lange as the Raiders assemble a balanced squad, which includes Nityanand Mathura; Krsna Singh; Jonte Thomas; Ntini Permaul; Shiloh Adams (wicketkeeper); Andrew Lim;

Meanwhile, Western Warriors will be captained by Joshua Ferrell, with Benard Bailey serving as Vice Captain. The Warriors have also retained Tevin Imlach, the current West Indies Test wicketkeeper, who will add valuable experience to the The Warriors’ squad also features Ushardeva Balgobin; Myhiem Khan; Stephon Wilson; Damuka Junior; Feyaad Lekhraj; Killon Tracy (wicketkeeper); Owen Andrews; Mervin Permaul and Under-21 player Thaddeus Lovell. Both teams have blended youth with seasoned performers, aligning with the competition’s mission of highlighting player develop-

ment and giving promising cricketers the opportunity to showcase their progress.

With the squads now confirmed, anticipation continues to build for what organisers expect will be another entertaining edition of the Good Friday 40-Over Bash, as the Raiders and Warriors prepare to battle for bragging rights in Georgetown.

East Bank Inter Village Football…

Herstelling defeat Lower Soesdyke; Kuru Kururu topple Agricola

Competitive football action returned to the East Bank corridor after a long hiatus when the inaugural East Bank Inter Village Competition kicked off at the Eccles EE Ground on Saturday evening following a colourful march-past of the competitors.

It was a history-making night on many fronts as it was also the first time that this ground hosted a competitive football match. This new facility has been developed under the Government of Guyana Ground Enhancement initiative and jointly undertaken by the Ministry of Housing and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

Apart from the marchpast before the on-field action, there was the dis-

with the top two from each of the four groups earning a place in the final eight when the knockout phase begins.

The highway boys came to the show to make their presence felt on a historic day and wanted to etch their name in the history

tribution of equipment by the National Sports Commission to each village, by Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister, Kwame McCoy; Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle; Vice Chairperson of the National Sports Commission, Cristy Campbell and national footballer Jerome Harrigan. Housing Minister Collin Croal joined the others for the kick-off of the tournament’s first match.

The Linden-Soesdyke Highway-based Kuru Kururu suited up against one of the top villages –Agricola as group A play got underway. Teams are battling in a round-robin format

books. They drew first blood 22 minutes into the opening half when Leroy Evans breached the Agricola defence and beat goalkeeper Christopher Adams.

The half ended with Kuru Kururu enjoying a slim lead and Agricola relishing the opportunity of levelling things up and even going ahead. In the 57th minute, Kuru Kururu doubled the advantage with a Kevin Scott strike.

Even though, Agricola halved the advantage when Shemar Sampson found the back of the net in the 61st minute, veteran forward Marvin “Munro” Joseph rolled back the years when

he reestablished their twogoal cushion on the stroke of full time.

Agricola have now found themselves in a must-win situation when they come up against Mocha; defeat will see them exiting the competition.

The feature game of the night pitted a young Herstelling side against Lower Soesdyke. It was a very intense encounter as the Lower Soesdyke boys used their height advantage to good effect, but Herstelling never backed down.

The first 35 minutes did not separate the two villages, although chances were created on either side of the pitch. It was the final four minutes of the clash that saw Herstelling scoring back-to-back goals that sealed full points for them in this Group B clash.

Johenni Mendoza broke the deadlock in the 66th minute and two minutes later, junior national and Elite League player Malcolm Hendricks knocked the wind of the sails of Nijuan Hooke, caught out of position.

The win for Herstelling has placed then in a good position to earn a quarter-final berth, while Lower Soesdyke will have to win their next clash against Swan if they are to stand a chance of advancing.

Grove and Circuitville collided on Sunday afternoon in the first of another double-header while Timehri later engaged Kaneville. Action will continue this weekend.

Captain Hackett rises to the occasion in Police’s triumph

Astaple on the local football scene for some years, Ryan “Bum Bum” Hackett recently led the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Football Club to a long-awaited title –a testament to his leadership and the team’s growth over the years.

After years of waiting and coming up short, the GPF FC, two Saturdays ago, finally lifted their first Elite- level trophy in the inaugural Elite League Cup.

The bittersweet victory came in a 2-1 defeat of tournament favourites Slingerz FC, viewed by hundreds of animated supporters at the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) National Training Centre (NTC) at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Police Captain Hackett, in the midst of the celebrations,

reflected on his team’s performance, noting how special it was.

Hackett told Guyana Times Sport, “We thank God for coming here and just asking

to bring it home. We just stick with what we Coach want we to do and just execute we game plan, in terms of coming out with the win.

“It was a great feeling

because it was a long time. Every time we jug them, we always stumbling to the end, but we just want to thank God one more time for giving we this victory. We’ll just go back to the drawing board and prepare for the other tournament.”

Quizzed about his absence from the semi-final against Guyana Defence Force (GDF),

which they won 2-0, Hackett said, “It wasn’t no big miss, because it just works for everybody. So, we just know that if one out, another could come in and fill in and we got a team with unity that could come and do the work. So, it wasn’t a big miss from the team.”

“Police, over the years,

developing and reach to a stage where we could just come and fill up for one another,” the Captain asserted.

Focusing on his role as a leader, Hackett admitted that the win “says a lot” about his capabilities.

“It says a lot about me personally, as a leader.”

“It’s a great group leading, you know, we had some ups and o down and some bad performance behind. Since I take up this role, I feel that the guys listen and come out and execute the plan that we were looking forward to in this tournament, which was winning it,” Hackett went on to express.

The GPF FC carted off a $1 million grand prize for their exploits in the recentlyconcluded Elite League Cup.

Laporta re-elected Barca President for 4th term

Joan Laporta vowed Barcelona will be “unstoppable” after he was re-elected Club President for a further five years.

Winning just over 68 per cent of the vote, he will begin his second consecutive term –and fourth overall – from July 1, the La Liga club announced on Sunday.

His opponent, Victor Font tallied almost 30 per cent with the remaining votes void or invalid.

Having taken office in March 2021, Laporta stepped down last month in line with club statutes in order to seek re-election.

The 63-year-old described the result as “resounding”, adding “it gives us great strength”.

“It makes us unstoppable,” he said. “No-one will stop us. Exciting years lie ahead. They will be the best of our lives.

“This is a wonderful club, where the members elect their President and their Board of Directors. A club unique in the world, truly extraordinary.”

Laporta, who first led Barcelona between 2003-10 and oversaw the appointment of Pep Guardiola as Manager, thanked the members who voted, saying the process was a “celebration of democracy and civic spirit”.

He pledged that his new term would see officials and fans “defend Barca against everything and everyone”.

His victory speech also saw him promise to strengthen the first team and complete the redevelopment of the Nou Camp stadium.

Almost 48,500 votes were cast – a turnout of 42.34 per cent – with Laporta securing 32,934 and 53-year-old Font receiving

14,385.

The Catalan club have battled significant financial issues in recent years, but claimed a domestic treble last season.

They now lead rivals Real Madrid by four points at the top of La Liga, with Raphinha scoring a hat-trick in a 5-2 win over struggling Sevilla on Sunday.

This Wednesday will see them face Newcastle United in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

A 96th-minute penalty by Lamine Yamal rescued a 1-1 draw for Barcelona at St James’ Park last week.

“A vote of confidence from members” – analysis

Laporta secured re-election largely because of the progress Barcelona have made on the pitch in recent years.

New Silvercity celebrates strong showing at National Schools Championships

Students and staff of New Silvercity Secondary School are celebrating a proud moment after the school secured an impressive seventh place, overall, at the National Secondary Schools Championship 2026.

Competing against 113 secondary schools from across Guyana, the school’s athletes delivered outstanding performances across several track and field events.

Leading the medal tally for the school was Devon Gilkes, who delivered a remarkable all-round performance. Gilkes captured gold medals in both the javelin and long jump, added a silver medal in the 1000m, and secured bronze in the 100m sprint. His dominance throughout the competition earned him the title of Champion Athlete in his category, one of the meet’s highest individual honours.

The school also celebrated a gold-medal victory from Nadia Williams, who triumphed in the Under-15 girls 1500m,

showcasing impressive endurance and determination on the track.

In the field events, Jasmin Sullivan contributed strongly to the medal count, earning a silver medal in the discus and a bronze medal in the shot put. Fellow thrower Simaotroiheresherui

George also secured a silver medal in the shot put, adding to the school’s strong presence in the event.

Meanwhile, Destiny Lowden delivered a competitive performance in the Under-20 girls 100m, finishing fourth in the final after advancing through the

preliminary rounds.

School officials praised the athletes for their commitment, discipline, and sportsmanship throughout the championships. Their achievements not only brought pride to the school community, but also highlighted the growing athletic talent at New Silvercity Secondary.

With such a strong showing at this year’s championships, the school looks forward to building on this momentum and continuing to develop its young athletes for future national competitions.

The domestic treble Hansi Flick won in his first season at the club, as well as other subsequent trophies, have helped restore the club’s competitive reputation and convinced many members the current sporting project was moving in the right direction.

Laporta’s support was also shaped by the difficult situation he inherited when he returned to the presidency in 2021.

Barcelona were dealing with serious financial problems and an imbalanced squad after the tenure of Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Economic damage caused by the COVID pandemic deepened

the crisis, leaving the club with significant debt. Over time, many members have come to believe Laporta has, at least, begun to steady the club during a challenging period.

Another important factor was the emergence of several young talents during Laporta’s presidency. Players such as Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Bernal and Fermin Lopez have established themselves in the first team, reinforcing confidence in the club’s long-term sporting direction.

Laporta also benefited from visible support within the club

Georgetown Dominoes Association AGM set

The Georgetown Dominoes Association (GDA) has announced that its Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on April 4, at the Dynasty Sports Club, Aubrey Barker Road, Georgetown.

According to the official notice, the meeting will commence at 14:00h and will bring together members of the association to review the organisation’s operations and plan for the year ahead.

Among the key items on the agenda is the presentation of the Secretary’s Report covering the Association’s activities for the previous year, as well as the presentation of the audited financial report. Members will also deliberate on policies for

for April 4

the upcoming year and discuss motions submitted by member clubs and teams before making the necessary resolutions.

The meeting will additionally provide members with the opportunity to make, amend, alter, or rescind existing rules of the Association. Elections for members of the Executive Committee are also scheduled to take place during the session.

The Georgetown Dominoes Association is currently led by President Jermain Jackson, with Ann Thompson serving as Vice President, Tamara Gilhuys as Secretary, Winston Joseph as Treasurer, and Wayne “Harry” Griffith as Public Relations Officer.

– with the coach, staff and a number of first-team players openly backing his leadership, projecting a sense of unity behind the current project. Finally, the opposition campaign also struggled to gain momentum. Laporta’s main rival Font found it difficult to convince members a change of leadership was necessary. Many voters ultimately opted for continuity rather than risking a shift away from a project that has recently delivered results.

Laporta’s re-election signals a clear vote of confidence from Barcelona’s members in the direction the club have taken over the past few years. Despite financial controversies, ultimately his leadership has delivered tangible results on the pitch which gained him the backing of both key staff and the squad. (BBC Sport)

Dharry’s world title fight moved to April 25

…after boxer sustains injury in training

Guyanese boxing en-

thusiasts will have

to wait a little bit longer to witness a world title fight on local shores as the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Super Bantamweight title fight night has been pushed back to April 25.

This is as a result of Guyanese boxer and title contender Elton Dharry recently suffering an injury, the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) advised in a statement on Monday.

The GBBC wrote, “The Guyana Boxing Board of Control is in receipt of notification indicating that Elton Dharry (Guyana) has suffered an injury in training and by which he has been declared medically unfit to contest his upcoming bout against Salmin Kassim (Tanzania) for the IBO Super Bantamweight World Title scheduled for 28th March 2026.

“His management has requested an extension of three weeks (21 days) from the

scheduled date to return him to full fitness.

“In the circumstances, please be advised that the event is hereby rescheduled for Saturday, April 25th, 2026 at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre.

“All other arrangements for the event will remain the same.

“Tickets for the event will be released shortly, and a press conference will be held advising additional bouts.”

The April 26 fight night will also see the likes of

Olympian Keevin Allicock and Dexter Marques going up against each other for the Guyanese featherweight title in a 12-round battle.

Desmond Amsterdam is set to have a professional meeting with Kevin Hylton out of Jamaica in the super middleweight class (six rounds).

Also, a debut bout will see Septon Barton going up against Richard Howard Jr in a four-round lightweight clash.

On the amateur side of the card, the likes of Abiola

National Chess Championships 2026…

Joshi flawless after 4 rounds, Drayton leads Open category

FIDE Master (FM)

Anthony Drayton and Women’s Candidate Master (WCM)

Aditi Joshi have taken the lead in the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) National Chess Championships following the completion of four rounds of play over the weekend at the David Rose Special School.

In the Open category, Drayton sits at the top of the standings with 3.5 points from four games, just ahead of defending champion Candidate Master (CM) Taffin Khan, who also has 3.5 points but trails under the tie-break system.

Drayton opened the tournament with victories over Rolex Alexander and Jaden Taylor on Saturday before securing another win against Keron Sandiford in round four on Sunday. His only dropped point came in round three when he drew with Kyle Couchman.

Khan, the defending men’s champion, began his title defence strongly

with wins against Leslie Campbell, Alexander Zhang and Rolex Antoine Alexander before being forced to split a point with teenage prodigy CM Sachin Pitamber in round four.

Taylor and Pitamber currently share third place with three points each, while Couchman and Sandiford are tied on 2.5 points after four rounds. CM Ronuel Greenidge and Rolex Alexander have one point each, while Alexander Zhang and Leslie Campbell are yet to register a point in the competition.

Meanwhile, in the Women’s Championship, defending champion WCM Joshi has been flawless so far, winning all four of her matches to lead the standings with a maximum four points.

Joshi defeated Parnita Kishun, Italy Ton-Chung,

Anaya Lall, and Treskole Archibald in the opening rounds to launch a solid title defence. The young standout made history last year when she became only

the second 14-year-old to capture the national women’s title.

WCM Sasha Shariff occupies second position with 3.5 points, while former national champion WCM Jessica Callender and Ciel Clement share third place with three points each. Anaya Lall sits fifth with two points. The championships will resume this coming weekend with rounds five to eight scheduled for March 21 and March 22, before the tournament concludes with the final round on March 28.

Open Category – Top 5 (After 4 rounds)

1. FM Anthony Drayton – 3.5 points

2. CM Taffin Khan – 3.5 points

3. Jaden Taylor – 3 points

4. CM Sachin Pitamber – 3 points

5. Kyle Couchman – 2.5 points

Women’s Category – Top 5 (After 4 rounds)

1. WCM Aditi Joshi – 4 points

2. WCM Sasha Shariff – 3.5 points

3. WCM Jessica Callender – 3 points

4. Ciel Clement – 3 points

5. Anaya Lall – 2 points

Cameron relishes PC’s support in 2nd NSSC victory

Inaugural champions

President’s College on Friday pulled off back-to-back victories at the revamped National Secondary Schools Championships, setting a 45-point gap between themselves and the second-place finishers.

While the East Coast Demerara (ECD) outfit accumulated 275 points in the three-day competition, Linden’s Mackenzie High accumulated 230 points for second place while Christianburg Wismar Secondary, of the same district, gathered 214 points to complete the podium. Mahaicony Secondary (108 points); Christ Church Secondary (79 points) and Charlestown Secondary (76

points) completed the competition’s top six. Quizzed on the driving force behind their second consecutive win, Teacher Willon Cameron praised God and highlighted those who supported the school’s athletics programme over the last year.

“First of all, of course, all glory to God as always. We’re grateful for what He’s done for us and you know, doing in the lives of these athletes. I also especially want to thank our past students. As I said last year, we wanted to invest and they really jumped in and stepped up, particularly Mr Reese Wade, who basically sponsored the entire track programme for the year,” Cameron shared.

He went on to divulge other actors behind their success, “The Department of Education plays their role through the REDO and all the education officers, our principal supports our

teachers buy-in and I really like the entire community of President’s College, jumping in and rallying behind the school in all of our sport endeavours.”

Cameron shared a lit-

tle about PC’s strategy for the competition, as it has not always finished on top of the podium in individual events.

He expounded, “Yes, it is. We take time to study everything that we do whether it’s basketball, cricket, football, whatever. We look at the opposition, we tend to try to assess their strengths and their weaknesses and we just try to maximise… and of course, maintain our strengths. So, that’s why we try to stay consistent.”

As President’s College attempt the three-peat in 2027, they will have to pull it off in their rivals’ back yard, a challenge that the dedicated teacher is looking forward to.

“Yeah I do,” Cameron said, expressing that he will be looking forward to next year’s shift in venue.

“Again, as I said last year, Mackenzie High and Christianburg Wismar are two very talented schools, full respect to them and what they bring to the competition. So, we know it’s not going to be easy, but we just look forward to having fun again next year,” the teacher stated. It was announced by Education Minister Sonia Parag that the next edition of the National Secondary Schools’ Championships will be hosted at the recently-commissioned Bayrock Stadium in Linden, Region 10.