Guyana Times - Tuesday, November 25, 2025

EU-Guyana mission explores cooperation in agriculture, trade and value-chain upgrades on day 2

The Guyana delegation has officially arrived in Belgium for day three of the inaugural Global Gateway European Union (EU)–Guyana Mission, beginning a full day of substantive and productive engagements. On Tuesday, the delegation engaged in a high-level meeting with representatives of the European Commission, in a session jointly chaired by the DirectorateGeneral for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) and the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI).

Discussions focused on deepening cooperation between the EU and Guyana in key areas such as sustainable development, agriculture, trade facilitation and value-chain modernisation. The dialogue provided a valuable platform for presenting Guyana’s current priorities, reforms

and investment opportunities. EU partners also outlined existing collaboration frameworks and upcoming programmes aligned with Guyana’s development goals.

Guyana underscored the importance of greater private sector involvement through investment, technology transfer, joint ventures and market-building partnerships to accelerate economic diversification and unlock the full potential of existing and emerging value chains. Both sides agreed on the need to strengthen technical and institutional cooperation, enhance market access, and ensure future initiatives advance shared sustainability objectives. Later, at the EU Headquarters in Brussels, the delegation held promising discussions with selected European players in ports, logistics, and agro-processing. A special

highlight was a lunch hosted by the Embassy of Sweden, where the delegation was introduced to cutting-edge Swedish technology from Siemens Energy, Candela and Berg Propulsion.

This was followed by presentations on the EU Caribbean Strategy for Ports, with participation from major industry leaders including Jan De Nul, Boskalis, and key European associations in ports, dredg-

ing and cruise lines. The final engagement was with the Belgian Chamber of Commerce who facilitated connections between Guyanese and Belgian companies and new commercial possibilities. The Delegation will continue its study tour to the Ports of Antwerp, Belgium, and Rotterdam, Netherlands. On Monday, the investment mission in Europe completed its first leg in France,

with Chief Investment Officer and newly appointed Member of Parliament, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, describing the engagements as a strong launch to the eightday tour. The EU-Guyana Global Gateway Study Tour, which brings together senior Government officials and leaders from the private sector, is aimed at deepening trade, logistics and agro-processing partnerships with some of Europe’s most advanced institutions. The delegation’s work in France saw high-level interactions in Paris and Marseille, where

members studied Europe’s leading port, logistics and digital transport systems. These included meetings with HAROPA Port at the Port of Gennevilliers, a detailed tour of the Port of FosMarseille and its eastern basin, and technical exchanges with MGI – the developers of these sessions are expected to expand partnership options for Guyana’s growing maritime, logistics, and agri-processing sectors.

Among the participating group are representatives from the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO), Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase Inc. (VEHSI), Crane Guyana Inc., Guyana Port Inc., Western Logistics Guyana, Banks DIH Ltd., Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), UMAMI Inc., and other private-sector stakeholders.

UG medical graduates urged to uphold professionalism, compassion, ethical service

Prime Minister (PM)

Brigadier (Retired)

Mark Phillips underscored the Government’s commitment to strengthening Guyana’s healthcare system as he urged University of Guyana UG’s medical graduates to uphold professionalism, compassion and ethical service. During the keynote address at the university's White Coat Ceremony held on Sunday evening at the Pegasus Suites & Corporate Centre, PM Phillips urged the graduates to embrace lifelong learning and to ground their practice in empathy, reminding them that while science heals bodies, compassion heals people.

“This white coat signals the beginning of your service to humanity. It asks you to stand for something greater than yourself. It calls you to uphold integrity, professionalism and

compassion in every clinical space you enter. Be advocates for your patients. Be leaders in your communities. Be lifelong students of your craft and be proud of the role you will play in shaping a healthier, stronger Guyana.” The PM also acknowledged the discipline, endurance and personal sacrifice required to reach this milestone, urging the graduates to recognise the families, lecturers, mentors and colleagues who supported them throughout their journey. He congratulated UG on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of its School of Medicine, while noting that with the Class of 2025, over 450 doctors have been trained by the institution since 1985, which makes it a "cornerstone of Guyana's healthcare development".

BRIDGE OPENING

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, November 25 –06:55h-08:25h and Wednesday, November 26 – 07:40h-09:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Sunny conditions are expected for most of the day, with thundery showers in the mid-morning hours. Partly-cloudy skies followed by thundery showers are expected at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 07:17h and 19:29h reaching maximum heights of 2.27 metres and 2.37 metres.

Low Tide: 13:01h reaching a minimum height of 0.98 metre.

Construction of new state-of-theart Bartica hospital to begin by 1st quarter of 2026 – President Ali

Bartica is set for a major transformation in healthcare delivery, with President Dr Irfaan Ali announcing that construction of a new, state-of-the-art regional hospital will begin before the end of the first quarter of 2026. The President made the announcement on Sunday during the sod-turning ceremony for the new BK air terminal, highlighting the project as part of a wider development vision that places Bartica at the centre of a modern, connected and prosperous Region Seven.

President Ali described the incoming hospital as a pivotal investment designed to significantly strengthen medical services and save lives. “Now, we are going to launch, before the end of the first quarter next year, a new, modern, state-of-the-art hospital here at Bartica in Region Seven. And as I said, that Bartica will now be integrated into the health ecosystem so that when we have medivacs, we can now have a facility here in Bartica that can take care of those medivacs, bringing medical care more efficient, saving lives, time, save life, in emergency,” he said. The hospital will support advanced care for the Cuyuni-Mazaruni district, improving critical services that currently require transfers to other regions. The President described the project as part of a broader transformation, calling it a step that will lift the entire region. “And that is what this will allow us to do. In short, the entire region will be lifted. And when the road is completed, when the marina rises, when digital services deepen, the terminal will be part of a golden triangle of connectivity by river, by land and by air.

Bartica will become one of the most strategically connected towns in Guyana and the wider Caribbean region,” the President added.

Independent of the President’s announcement, Government sources have confirmed that the design for the new Bartica Regional Hospital has already been completed and construction is scheduled to begin shortly. The facility is part of the administration’s wider effort to expand and upgrade healthcare infrastructure nationwide. The current Bartica Regional Hospital remains fully operational and already offers several major services, including 24hour Accident & Emergency care, Inpatient and outpa-

tient services, Laboratory services, Dental and optical care and a range of specialised clinics, including human papillomavirus (HPV) screening.

The new hospital is expected to further expand capacity, enhance emergency response capabilities and potentially introduce more advanced, tertiary-level care to Region Seven – reducing the need for expensive and time-sensitive medical transfers. Since 2020, the Ali-led Administration has invested billions of dollars to build the healthcare infrastructure across the country. In August, a state-of-the-art hospital was officially commissioned at Number 75 Village, Corentyne, Berbice;

similar hospitals have already been established at Lima in Region Two, Bath in Region Five, De Kinderen in Region Three, and Diamond and Enmore in Region Four. In addition to the building of new medical facilities, a new integrated digital health system will be developed in order to connect healthcare services across the nation. Major hospitals will be linked to smaller ones across the country through a digital patient management system, and patients will have access to telemedicine consultations. There are also upgrades at the New Amsterdam, Moruca, and Kato hospitals, along with the construction of the new Mother and Child Hospital at Ogle. The Government has had discussions with Northwell Health, on improving the emergency healthcare in the country. Northwell Health is a non-profit integrated healthcare service that is considered New York’s largest healthcare provider. President Ali had said they will be working on building a scalable model of revamped emergency healthcare in every region. In addition to Northwell, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has also been collaborating with the United States (US)based Mount Sinai Health System. With their support, Guyana will commence work this year to establish a modern oncology centre here to enhance cancer treatment and care.

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Alcohol and society

Very often have there been many public debates and discussions on alcoholism and the negative effects it has on individuals and society as a whole. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), alcohol kills a whopping three million people worldwide each year – more than AIDS, violence, and road accidents combined. It was stated that men are particularly at risk.

WHO’s Global Status Reports on Alcohol and Health, over the years, have presented a comprehensive picture of alcohol consumption and the disease burden attributable to alcohol worldwide.

In the past, several Letters to the Editor of this newspaper had expressed the view that alcohol is being promoted by some chutney singers in their songs. A few years back, Guyanese were being bombarded with “rum songs” which featured characters who resort to rum drinking to ‘end’ their sorrows. Many of these are featured at concerts and parties across the country.

One letter writer proffered that alcohol is considered to be a “downer” type of drug, so it should not be consumed if one is in a depressed state of mind. In essence, drinking while in a depressed state will certainly contribute to feelings of more depression and do more harm than good.

The negative effects of drinking too much alcohol can be divided into short-term and long-term effects. The short-term effects of drinking too much alcohol are loss of judgment, loss of coordination, blurred vision, slurring of speech, and loss of balance. These negative effects can cause one to make bad decisions while being under the influence. The long-term effects include loss of brain cells, liver failure, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer, epilepsy, nerve damage, and heart failure. If the abuse of alcohol does not cause immediate problems, then excessive use over a period of time can cause major problems down the line.

Further, alcoholism contributes to a range of social problems; for example, there has been an increase in cases of domestic and other forms of violence in our society. Official statistics show that one in four Guyanese women have been physically abused in a relationship. The increase in domestic violence has been blamed on several reasons, including children being socialised in a society that propagates violence and abuse of alcohol and drugs. While there are many solutions that have been previously put forward to protect our women and girls from experiencing the level of violence we see in our society today, what we know for sure is that there is no one solution, there needs to be a combination of ongoing measures with the involvement of Government, the Police, the Judiciary, religious bodies and other NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs) and the communities as a whole, to holistically address the problem.

In addition, research shows that alcoholism contributes to suicide, which has been, and continues to be, a major social problem in Guyana.

The effects of alcohol abuse are well known. Citizens should, therefore, be encouraged to use better judgment in every situation in the interest of one’s self, family and community, and ignore the messages that encourage rum drinking. While it is not our intention to place the blame for all our problems on alcohol, one cannot dispute the fact it is indeed a contributory factor to some of the social ills we face in our country today. There is, therefore, urgent need for all stakeholders to redouble their efforts and step up the campaign to spread more awareness and education about the dangers of alcohol abuse.

While the Government must play a crucial role in designing the relevant programmes and policies and putting in place the necessary legislative framework and other support mechanisms aimed at addressing the harmful use of alcohol, this burden must also be shared by other stakeholders too, such as religious groups, the Private Sector, and NGOs, among others.

“Sholay”, starring Dharmendra Deol, is often considered the most iconic Hindi film ever made. It ran continuously in theatres, specifically from 1975-1980 at Mumbai’s Minerva theatre, achieving a record-breaking run for a total of 286 weeks to become one of the longest-running films in Indian film history. Reports say that it initially played in regular shows from August 1975 to September 1978. It then moved to matinee shows, where it continued to run for another 127 weeks until February 1981. Earlier this year, it was brought back to the screen 50 years after its debut

Save

the paperboy: a bit of

child labour did me no harm

B y S am a S hworth - h aye S

Ihave mixed feelings about the looming extinction of the paperboy. These have less to do with my current career as a slinger of ink, and more to do with my previous history as a slinger of papers (through letter boxes; into porches; and at one empty house which remained so for months on end, with a gleeful hint of rebellion onto a slowly composting pile of old newspapers).

It’s not that I pine for the job, or think it was particularly rewarding. Frankly, being a paperboy sucked. I had to drag a stack of papers on a wheeled contrivance about the same size as I was through miles of paved road, mud track, and dog-infested gardens. It always seemed to rain, and in defiance of the laws of physics to rain horizontally.

iPods existed, but because they were still new and exciting they were firmly out of my budget range. This meant I was left alone

with my thoughts, most of which turned out to be about how much I wanted to be doing something other than delivering papers. It was not, in short, an edifying experience. And that is precisely why I think we need to preserve it.

The noble British tradition of using child labour to cut costs and get stuff done that adults can’t be bothered with is on its last legs. The mines have professionalised, manufacturing has been offshored to countries with less compunction about shoving nimble-fingered children into machines to fix their inner workings, and the Boriswave has come for what remaining roles were available to illiterate teenagers with a fumbling grasp of English.

This is a problem, because having a job in your youth teaches you lessons that are otherwise hard to come by. These have absolutely nothing to do with the value of money, of hard work, responsibility or punctuality, or indeed the

importance of cheery customer service with a smile.

Instead, you learn vital things like “never volunteer for the great route no-one else wants, for some mysterious reason”. You learn to calmly hold your ground when an outraged customer insists that you failed to deliver their copy (what are they going to do? Prove the absence of a newspaper?), and then, should you discover the evidence at the bottom of your bag several days later, dispose of the evidence without telling a soul. You learn to lighten the load by scrupulously sticking to the letter of the requirements (or in my case, a highlighted route map), and refusing to set foot outside of them. And you learn that nobody really cares about any of this, so long as most of the work is done and most of it is roughly on time.

You receive an education in cynicism, buck-passing, and – when the time comes to seek employment – grotesquely inflating your CV as you attempt to ditch

your current role without revealing what you actually do (I opted for “delivery coordinator”). And perhaps most of all, you learn that the world is a capricious place. Nailing all this down early is why forcing teenagers to spend their fleeting youth on menial labour is a societally important endeavour.

There is nothing that quite solidifies a nascent sense of socioeconomic injustice like hoisting a bag onto a trolley, striding out on a glorious day when the sky is bright and blue and the world is filled with adventure and possibility, and proceeding to squander it working while the kids who negotiated better pocket money deals go out for ice cream. If nothing else, it cements a firm desire to be one of the ice-cream kids in later life, and to scrabble, network, work and grind until that status is achieved. All of which is to say: I suppose it did teach me something useful after all. (The Telegraph)

In tribute to veteran iconic Bollywood actor

Dear Editor,

Legendary Indian actor Dharmendra passed away at 89 at his home in Juhu, Mumbai on the morning of November 24. He is arguably the most favorite actor of Indo Guyanese and the Indian diaspora. There is hardly an Indian Guyanese who does not know Dharmendra and Hema. Growing up from the 1960s, Indians watched Dharnendra films. His more than six-decades acting career made him one of the filmi industry and Bollywood’s most respected stars.

Dharmendra was born in and grew up in pre-Partition Punjab; the 1947 Partition of British India separated him from friends and family members. He moved to Bombay which later becomes Mumbai, the original Maratha name that was changed by the colonial ruler.

Dharmendra was married twice. He is the only Indian Hindu to have two wives. He is survived by first wife, Prakash Kaur, second wife Hema Malini, sons Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, and two daughters from first marriage as well as daughters Esha Deol, and Ahana Deol from Hema. His two sons are well known actors as are his two daughters from Hema. Tributes are pouring in from across India, including The PM and President and from fans around the diaspora includ-

ing Guyanese.

The iconic actor was lovingly called the 'HeMan of Indian cinema'. He passed away at the age of 89 two weeks shy of 90. The news of death has left fans across the country and the diaspora heartbroken. He was one arguably the most loved and respected stars in Indian film history with countless hit films. Guyanese flocked to his films. As a report stated, “People admired him not just for his powerful roles and action scenes but also for his charm, warmth, and down-to-earth personality”. He was truly an amazing, charismatic actor. His passing marks the end of an era in Bollywood.

The veteran actor's family did not make his death public as they did not want to create traffic jams and hoopla and security issues. Millions would have flocked to his home and the crematorium. He died at home. An ambulance arrived at his home amidst speculation that he was not well. Many thought he would be transported to the hospital. An ambulance transported his body to the crematorium for a simple cremation rite not far from his home within a few hours of his death. He desired a quiet funeral.

Guyanese I engaged said they are heartbroken on hearing of his death. He was a very handsome star in his early career before age caught up; Guyanese

dressed like him, combed their hair like his. Many watched his films repeatedly. He is in their hearts. They expressed condolences. They cannot forget his films which were a staple to Indians in Guyana and around the world. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of artists and audiences. They thank him for a lifetime of films that entertained them.

Guyanese and other Indians from the diaspora grew up on a staple of Dharmendra films from 1960s (black and white) thru the 1970s (colored) and thereafter. His last film is due to be released in two weeks for his 90th birthday playing the role of a grandfather for one of superhero Amitabh Bachchan’s grandsons. Advertisements for the film went out before his death on Monday.

Hema’s marriage to Dharmendra emerged out of a real-life love story that developed from acting and that “remains one of the most talked-about and unconventional relationships in the film industry’s history”. She was the leading actress in the 1970s when they acted. There in several films before and after they got married, and she was also one of the best classical dancers in India. She still remains a leading dancer at 77 years old. She performed live in America attended by Guyanese. Dharmendra’s two daughters also appeared on stage with Hema.

I happened to be in Juhu, Mumbai when Dharmendra’s death became public. Juhu is the locale where iconic Bollywood stars own massive bungalows. Dharmendra lives a few houses from Amitabh and from a separate house where Hema lives. The couple don’t share the same home. Dharmendra lives with Prakash.

Around noon, as I went out for a stroll from my hotel, traffic was normal, moving apace. Less than an hour later, traffic came to an unexplained snarl only to find out that the iconic actor passed on. The family kept his death a secret and private affair, only informing selective persons from the acting fraternity. They were told to show up at the crematorium to pay their last respects. The public only found out of his death when the body was already at the crematorium for last rites.TV stations started broadcasting live that continued late into the night. TV trucks crowded the home. His two sons from his first wife did the last rite honors as is the norm in Hindu funerals.

Dharmendra starred in over three hundred films. He also appeared in countless TV shows including India’s idol, a popular hit in Guyana. He was one of the most favorite actors not only in India but in Guyana, Trinidad, Suriname and the diaspora as well.

When a Bollywood art-

ist or star dies, it is normal for the body to be at the home for people to pay respects and then taken atop a beautifully flower decorated truck to a crematorium or cemetery. The journey usually takes several hours as tens of thousands would line the streets for a glimpse of the casket or body. The journey is also broadcast live. This writer was in Juhu when Sridevi, the Queen of Indian cinema, passed away several years ago and was taken to the crematorium atop a truck. Traffic was at a standstill taking hours for. few kilometers journey. In Dharmendra’s case, the public was not informed of his death and only knew of his passing when word got around that leading actors were heading to the crematorium. Several top stars attended the funeral. Even the crematorium was kept a secret from the public and the press. The public was denied access; only family members and actors were allowed inside the gate of the crematorium to pay last respects. As it was broadcast on mass media, thousands quickly showed up at the crematorium and at his home in Juhu, an exclusive high price neighborhood with classic hotels and private residencies.

Dharmendra was born in the Punjab. His father wanted him to be a teacher. But he defied them and went into acting. Later in life, he acted in a film, the

Don, as a teacher to appease his parents that he was a teacher. He dominated Bollywood for over two decades long before Amitabh Bachchan and Jeetendra became iconic stars. He appeared in films with both actors as well as other leading actors and actresses. He appeared opposite every leading lady, including Hema, Rekha, Raakhe, Sridevi, Shabana Ami, Mumtaz, etc. in the film industry and every top singer in the film industry sang for him in his films. He hardly missed film fare awards, the equivalent of American Oscars, and won many. He recently was given the Lifetime Achievement award in Indian cinema. Few acted in more films than him. He was a versatile actor – adventure, drama, love story, comedy, and more. Dharmendra served as an elected member of parliament for BJP one term from his home birth place in Punjab before retiring to be replaced by his son Sunny who served two terms before stepping down. Hema is in her third term as BJP MP from Mathura, birth place of Lord Krishna. Hema served as a nominated MP from 2003-12.

The popular actor will be missed.

Yours sincerely, Vishnu Bisram, in Juhu locale where Dharmendra lived and died

Foundation

Line segments and rays

A line segment is a specific part of a line. It ends at two identified points.

A line segment is named by its two end points. Segment AB = Segment BA. AB = BA

A ray is a part of a line that extends from a specific point in only one direction. The specific point of a ray is called a vertex or an endpoint. However, to identify a ray, you must use one other letter along the line’s path.

Ray RS does not equal Ray SR, because the first point named in a ray shows the vertex, and Ray SR goes in the opposite direction of Ray RS.

How to identify line segments

In order to identify line segments

1) Look for two endpoints

2) State the name of the line segment (s) using a pair of letters

In this aerodynamics science project, you will make a basic paper plane and then slightly alter its shape to increase how much drag is acting on it. You will investigate how far the basic paper plane flies and compare that to how far it flies when the drag is increased. How will adding drag affect your plane's flight? You can answer this question with just a flick of your wrist.

Materials and equipment

Paper (3 sheets) Metric ruler

Masking tape (Alternatively, if you are testing this project outside, you can use sticks or rocks)

Tape measure

Scissors Lab notebook

Experimental procedure Follow the paper airplane template for the "intermediate" design

instructions to build a paper airplane. Build two more so that you have a total of three paper planes. They should all look identical.Go to a large area to fly your paper plane. Make

By Alfred, Lord Tennyson

He clasps the crag with crooked hands; Close to the sun in lonely lands, Ring'd with the azure world, he stands.

The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls; He watches from his mountain walls, And like a thunderbolt he falls.

Include the line “I will never forget my trip to Kaieteur Falls…” in a story of 200 words.

sure that there is no foot or car traffic at the area. A long hallway is a good location.

If you are flying your plane outside, like in a field or on a basketball court, do your experiment on a day when there is no wind.

Tear off a 5-foot-long piece of masking tape and tape it to the ground in front of you, going from left to right. This will be the starting line from which you will fly the paper planes.

If you are doing this science

project outside, you could use a line of sticks or rocks to mark the starting point.

Practise throwing or launching the paper planes. You will want to launch the planes in exactly the same way every time. Hold the planes at exactly the same spot on the plane every time you launch a plane. (Michelle Maranowski, PhD and Teisha Rowland, PhD, Science Buddies) To be continued

US extradition case against Mohameds to continue on Friday

The prosecution on Monday made a full disclosure of documents in the court proceedings against US-indicted businessmen Nazar 'Shell' Mohamed and his son Azruddin Mohamed when the matter was called again before Magistrate Judy Latchman at the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts. Prosecutor Terrence Williams confirmed that the documents submitted to the court represent the full disclosure in support of the request from the United States (US), while adding that the defence is expected to make its submissions on Friday, November 28.

“And the defence has said that they want to make certain submissions on that date. We are prepared to meet those submissions, and the court has kindly set that date for that purpose. So, we will return on Friday to hear their submissions and answer them,” Williams stated. He added that, despite the defence raising concerns about the documents not being properly processed, the prosecution had shared copies even before they arrived through diplomatic channels.

“Well, what has happened is that we were endeavoring to ensure that the defence get their copies as early as possible, and in fact to meet this date. And so, the copies were made from the documents prior to them coming through the diplomatic courier.” The prosecutor further stated that due process and the rule of law are being followed since the court proceedings have commenced against the Mohameds. “A provisional law which allows them to,

in an appropriate case, refer it. So, it is quite right and proper that they have their due process,” he added.

Defence Attorney Siand Dhurjon has contradicted the prosecution's case, stating that not all supporting documents were provided to them and insisting that all documents be handed over by Friday. Both Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed remain on $150,000 bail each. The father-son duo has been indicted by a grand jury in the United States (US) District Court for the Southern District of Florida on 11 criminal charges ranging from wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering, primarily connected to the export of gold to the US by their company, Mohamed's Enterprises. The Mohameds are accused of conspiring to defraud the US and Guyanese Governments between 2017 and June 11, 2024. The father-son duo is accused of using a scheme to unlawfully obtain property by transmitting communications via interstate and foreign commerce in violation of US laws.

According to the prosecutors, the goal was to enrich themselves and defraud the Government of Guyana by evading taxes and royalties on gold exports. They allegedly reused Guyana customs declarations and official seals on multiple shipments to make it appear that taxes and royalties had been paid when they had not. The indictment stated that Mohamed’s Enterprise would pay taxes and receive official Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Guyana Gold Board (GGB) seals for one shipment, then reuse those same seals

and documents on subsequent, untaxed shipments. The indictment further alleges that the Mohameds arranged for empty wooden boxes bearing intact GRA and GGB seals to be shipped from gold buyers in Dubai to Miami, and then sent to Guyana. These boxes were then used to export gold while falsely appearing to have cleared customs and tax obligations. US authorities allege the scheme resulted in more than US$50 million in lost taxes and royalties to the Government of Guyana.

Additional indictments detail similar conduct involving shipments of gold, emails allegedly from Nazar Mohamed requesting the sealed boxes from Miami, and exports of over 165 kilograms (kg) of gold per shipment destined for Dubai. Charges six to nine focus on mail fraud, referencing the shipment of sealed empty boxes from Dubai to Miami while charge 10 addressed money laundering which alleged that the Mohameds knowingly transferred funds within the US with the intent to promote unlawful activity. The other charge has to do with Azruddin Mohamed’s purchased and imported a Lamborghini sports car to Guyana in 2020. The indictment alleges he directed someone to purchase the car for US$680,000, then falsify the invoice to state a value of US$75,300 to understate import taxes.

The US Government is seeking forfeiture of certain assets connected to the accused. If convicted, most charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and fines of up to

US$250,000 while the money laundering charge carries a fine of US$500,000 or the value of the laundered property. The indictment follows sanctions imposed over a year ago by the US Government on the Mohameds, their businesses, and Guyanese Government Permanent Secretary (PS) Mae Thomas in relation to the same allegations. The sanctions are

related to the evasion of taxes on gold exports, with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) noting that between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10,000 kg of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US$50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana. Since the imposition of the sanctions,

the Guyana Government had suspended the licences of the Mohameds’ various businesses, highlighting that the US-sanctioned businessman is a risk and a threat to Guyana’s financial stability, sovereignty, and diplomacy. Subsequently, several Government entities and local businesses, including commercial banks, have cut ties with the Mohameds.

Tuschen man gets 18-year sentence for killing villager during robbery

Collin Jackman, a 24-year-old Tuschen resident better known as “Junior,” was on Wednesday sentenced to 18 years in prison, less the time he has already spent in custody, after he admitted to killing 59-year-old Keith Richard Hohenkirk during a robbery in 2021 at the victim’s home on the East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

The sentence, imposed by Chief Justice (ag) Navindra Singh at the High Court in Demerara, came after Jackman formally pleaded guilty to felony murder. His Attorney, Madan Kissoon, appeared with him, while the State’s case was presented by State Counsel Geneva Wills,

The signs… …of war

The question whether America is gonna launch an attack on Venezuela seems to’ve moved from the hypothetical realm to the here in the flesh!! And it’s now looking like it’s not a question of “if” no mo – but “when”!! What makes your Eyewitness say this, you ask, Dear Reader?? Well, he figures the dots are all out there and all we gotta do is connect them!! So what’s the first dot?? This was when the Yanks stopped kvetching about Mad Maduro rigging elections and began identifying him as head of a narco-smuggling cartel called the Cartel de los Soles!!

What this signalled was the Yanks had given up on the Venezuelan Opposition – first led by Guaidó and then by Machado – as being capable of rallying the necessary internal support to force the dictator to step down! The second dot was when they elaborated that as a mega drug -smuggling Boss to the US, he was killing thousands and thousands of “Americans” who overdosed!! This provided a justification for taking him out – by war if necessary!! There’s this justification they’d tried to introduce into international law that you could invade a country that was “unwilling or unable” to take out a private group harming your country!!

The doubling of the bounty on Mad Maduro’s head –for providing info that would lead to his capture – dead or alive!! – meant they were putting their money where their mouth was!! But a much bigger dot was when they officially labelled Mad Maduro’s Cartel as a “terrorist organisation”!! Now they didn’t even need the “unwilling or unable” doctrine – terrorist organisations are fair game for the affected country!! Remember Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda holed up in Pakistan??

And then came the biggest dot of them all – massing a veritable armada in the Caribbean Sea off Venezuela – on the scale that Spain had launched against Elizabeth’s England back in the day!! Imagine deploying almost a quarter of the entire American fleet – with destroyers, amphibious ships, the largest aircraft carrier in the world, the most advanced F35 fighter jets and 15,000 marine troops!! They were not preparing for a picnic on Venezuelan beaches!!

Fast forward to the present, the Yanks made the entire enterprise against Venezuela real by naming it -- “Operation Southern Spear”!! That the spear had already been hurled at Mad Maduro was signalled by US Marines conducting joint manoeuvrers with Trinidadian troops – less than ten miles from Venezuela!! And last weekend came the warning that no aircraft was to fly over Venezuelan airspace – even as the US Navy conducted a “Passing Exercise” with Guyanese naval vessels. This PASSEX exercise is meant to coordinate communications between the US Armada and our Navy!! War Break!!

…of justice

It’s said that “justice is not a cloistered virtue”. It was uttered originally by no other than the most eminent Judge of the English Privy Council – Lord Aitkin. Interestingly, it justified some rather strong words of criticism about the alleged inequality of sentences passed in Trinidadian Courts for certain criminal offences. What the good Lord was saying is that there’s nothing inherently inappropriate for judicial decisions to be criticised by ordinary folks! The law, its officers and other dispensers of Justice are, after all, part and parcel of the same society as those who may express opinion on their judgements!!

And we arrive at the criticism levelled against Prezzie for commenting on the decision by one member of the High Court – that the GRA cannot revisit taxes on a car if they discover the original valuation submitted was false!! What made Prezzie’s comments more justifiable is he didn’t even pretend to interpret the law – but merely used a judgement by the High Chancellor that contradicted the High Court Judge!!

…of retreat

The old joke about the United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COPs) is that each one is a ‘cop-out’. So what did they cop out on in Brazil’s COP30?? Everything necessary to keep climate warming below the 1.5 degree rise!!

Post-mortem finds child died from shock, haemorrhage due to ruptured spleen

– family mourns death of 9-year-old boy allegedly assaulted by teen cousin

Dead: Levon Collins

ANurney Village, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) family has been plunged into mourning following the tragic death of nine-year-old Levon Collins, a Kildonan Primary School pupil who succumbed on Saturday, November 22, reportedly days after being assaulted by his 15-year-old female cousin. The incident was first reported in a police release and later detailed in information published online, as family members could not be immediately reached for further comment.

According to the police, Collins died at about 20:10h on November 22 while receiving treatment at the New Amsterdam Hospital. His death came 10 days after the alleged assault, which reportedly occurred on Wednesday, November 12, in Kildonan Village, Corentyne. Based on earlier accounts reported online, Collins had been riding his bicycle to his aunt’s home when his chain slipped. His cousin, who was walking behind him, allegedly confronted him, pushing him first. The child reportedly told his mother, Loretta Collins, that when he objected, the teen hit him, and he struck back. He then fell to the ground, after which the teenager allegedly lifted the bicycle and dealt him a blow to his stomach, continuing the beating while he lay on the road.

Collins, also reportedly told his mother the following day that this was not the first time he had been attacked by the same relative. The woman rushed her son to the Port Mourant Hospital on the day of the incident, where he was examined, given pain medication, and discharged following an X-ray. However, his condition worsened

UG medical graduates urged to...

He also detailed the unprecedented transformation taking place in Guyana's healthcare sector, emphasising that the graduates are entering their clinical training at a historic moment. The PM highlighted that over the last five years, the Government has commenced construction of 12 new hospitals, 25 new health centres, and five regional drug distribution centres, while upgrading over 400 health facilities across the country. “You are enter-

ing the clinical phase of your studies at a moment that is both historic and urgent. The healthcare sector is expanding at a pace never before seen in Guyana, and it needs the passion, discipline and brilliance that each of you brings,” he noted.

PM Phillips explained that the Government has strengthened the health workforce by employing hundreds of doctors, over 500 nurses, 1900 nursing assistants, 390 community health workers, and 190 pharma-

cy assistants. He also noted the introduction of telemedicine for the first time in Guyana's history, with more than 80 telemedicine sites now active, connecting remote hinterland communities to specialists and life-saving consultations.

The Government's ambitious vision to provide accessible, modern, world-class healthcare for every citizen was also outlined. The PM revealed that in the next five years, the Government will complete and operationalise

state-of-the-art hospitals in every region and train at least 6000 nurses through expanded programmes. The healthcare system will also integrate artificial intelligence (AI)-driven diagnostics to support the interpretation of medical imaging and pathology, while expanding digital health nationwide through Electronic Health Records and a fully integrated Emergency Medical Services system. He highlighted that the transformation underway in the sector will support the next generation of medical professionals. “You are entering a profession in a country that is ready to receive you, support you, and grow with you. Your Government welcomes your emerging expertise and recognises that your success is directly tied to the strength of Guyana’s healthcare future.”

four days later, prompting her to take him to the New Amsterdam Hospital. There, the child was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and later transferred to the children’s ward, where he appeared to be improving. However, on November 22, the child suddenly began vomiting what appeared to be clotted blood. He died moments later while in his mother’s arms. The grieving mother described her son as quiet, playful and loving. “I feel so sad. I didn’t expect it.

He’s not a child that trouble nobody,” she said, in comments reported online. The mother also claimed that she had filed a report the day after the incident, but that no investigators followed up. “They say is a CID (Criminal Investigation Department) matter… and nobody never come,” she was quoted as saying.

In the official release, police stated that the 15-yearold alleged assailant is a school dropout from Nurney Village. They also confirmed the sequence of hospital visits and noted that Collins died while receiving treatment at New Amsterdam Hospital.

A post-mortem examination was conducted by Government Pathologist Dr Brijmohan gave cause of death as due to shock and haemorrhage due to a ruptured spleen.

Police say investigations are ongoing.

With the case now grounded in the post-mortem findings, the boy’s mother has insisted – through previous reports – that she wants justice for her son. Authorities are continuing their probe to determine exactly what transpired and whether charges will be laid in connection with the child’s death.

Health Ministry hosts workshop to advance national IPC, AMR guidelines

The Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), on

Monday launched a twoday workshop aimed at developing a clear, practical, and user-friendly national guideline for Infection

Prevention and Control (IPC) and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). These guidelines are expected to be adaptable across all healthcare settings and aligned with a One Health approach.

The workshop brings together key stakeholders, including public health officials, clinicians, infection control practitioners, and partner agencies to inform the development of evidence-based protocols that support safer healthcare delivery and improved antimicrobial stewardship nationwide and as a step towards strength -

ening integrated national programmes for IPC and AMR. During the opening ceremony, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, underscored the importance of having strong IPC and AMR systems as Guyana continues to advance its healthcare standards. He noted that significant groundwork has already begun through technical support from PAHO, and emphasised that the finalised guidelines must be effectively implemented across every healthcare facility. “Once these guidelines are finished, we must en -

sure that every single one of our facilities is actively implementing them," Dr Anthony stated. He highlighted that proper IPC practices and strengthened AMR surveillance are essential not only for protecting patients and healthcare workers, but also for reducing the burden of drug-resistant infections in the wider community. Dr Anthony further shared that the Ministry remains committed to continuous training, monitoring, and capacity building to support health workers at every level. The new national guidelines will serve

as a foundational tool for standardising IPC practices, guiding antimicrobial use and ultimately improving the quality of care delivered across the country. The Ministry of Health extended its gratitude to PAHO for its continued partnership and technical leadership in advancing Guyana’s IPC and AMR objectives. The outcomes of this workshop, the Ministry stated, will play a crucial role in supporting national health resilience and protecting public health for generations to come.

“This manifesto will focus on your needs, rights”

– Dr Persaud tells children at policy consultation

...as Govt tackles bullying and other societal issues affecting children

The Government of Guyana is intensifying efforts through coordinated, cross-ministerial initiatives, to confront bullying, reckless driving, and a range of societal issues affecting children. This was reaffirmed on Monday by Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, who told a packed room of students, advocates and representatives from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) that children will directly shape the policies being designed to protect them. Speaking at a national policy consultation focused on child protection and well-being, Dr Persaud said ongoing engagements between the Ministries of Education, Human Services and Home Affairs—supported technically by UNICEF—are aimed at crafting holistic solutions. She noted that the Government is expanding both in-person and community-based intervention programmes to ensure parents and children can access help when needed.

Children must be heard

Dr Persaud opened her remarks with a direct appeal to the students present, asking how many felt truly listened to. When sever-

not too little for their views to matter, and they are not too young to shape the policies we make.” Dr Persaud announced that a Children’s Manifesto—a national document outlining what children want for their lives today and in the future is being developed directly from consultations with young people. “This manifesto will be created by you. It will focus on your thoughts, your needs, your wants,” she told the students. “Children ought to shape the policies that we have in the world of adults.” She referenced the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted globally in 1990, noting that despite decades of commitment, the world still struggles to meet all the rights promised to children: safety, identity,

al hands went up to indicate they often felt unheard, the Minister said the moment illustrated “how much better adults must do.” “It is always important to hear from children what it is they expect from us,” she told the gathering. “Children are not tomorrow or the future— they are our now. They are

health, education and freedom from discrimination. Guyana, she reminded, has a population in which nearly 30 per cent are children.

“That is a significant percentage,” she said. “You are not only our children today—one day you will be voters, adults, leaders. But we cannot wait until then to invest in you. We must in-

EU Delegation launches 1st 5KM Walk/Run for Int’l Day of Persons with Disabilities

The European Union (EU) Delegation to Guyana, Suriname and CARICOM will host its inaugural EU five-kilometre (km) Walk/Run on Sunday, December 7, 2025 as part of its commitment to advancing inclusion and promoting the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. The event is being organised in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and produced by STRIDE592.

The five-km Walk/ Run will begin at 06:00 AM, at the National Park in Georgetown, and move through the National Park and Kingston Seawall area. It aims to bring communities together through a morning of health, move-

ment and solidarity. As an action aligned with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the initiative highlights the EU’s continued support for inclusive participation across all sectors of society. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Guyana Blind Cricketers Association, supporting their ongoing efforts to develop adaptive sports and expand opportunities for athletes with visual impairments.

According to the EU Delegation, the event represents a joint effort to strengthen public engagement, encourage active lifestyles and amplify the contributions of persons with disabilities across Guyana. It also reflects the EU’s wider collaboration with national partners in support of social development, equity and community empowerment.

Visit: https://raceroster. com/events/2025/112360/ race-for-everyone for further information.

vest now.”

Bullying and safety remain major concerns

The Minister led students in discussions on safety, asking how many felt unsafe or feared bullying. A notable number indicated they had experienced or feared being bullied, while others admitted they felt afraid to tell anyone when something was wrong. “When children confide in you, when they muster up the courage to say something is happening to them, we must take it seriously,” Dr Persaud urged adults in the room. “When we fail to listen, trauma grows—and the effects follow children

into adulthood.” She emphasised that every child must be safe, the guiding principle of the Ministry and the Child Protection Agency. Ensuring safety, she said, includes providing accessible education, supportive environments, and adults who actively monitor and respond to children’s needs.

Dr Persaud reminded parents and guardians that rights do not stop at providing access to school. Children must be placed in environments that support learning and emotional well-being. “Everything affects how a child learns,” the Minister said. “It is not only being in school—it is being able to enjoy learn-

ing, have friends who support you and have time to think, rest, and play.” The consultation highlighted the gap between what children experience and what adults often assume. Dr Persaud said the insights gathered will be used to strengthen programmes and finalise the Children’s Manifesto, which will guide future Government policy. UNICEF, the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC), youth advocates and other partners will continue consultations nationwide as Guyana works to modernise and strengthen its child protection systems.

Highlights from the Prime Minister’s the occasion of its 50th Independence

Minister’s official visit to Suriname on Independence anniversary celebrations

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER

Home Affairs Minister reaffirms Govt priority for rehabilitation of young offenders

Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond, along with Permanent Secretary (PS) Andre Ally, today conducted an official visit to the Juvenile Holding Centre, as part of the Ministry’s continued focus on rehabilitation, protection and youth development within the justice system. The visit was facilitated by Shondel Shipley, Deputy Director of the Juvenile Holding Centre. Former Chairperson of the Juvenile Justice Committee and Psychologist, Raiza Khan, was also in attendance, providing technical insight into the psychosocial needs and rehabilitative priorities of juveniles in detention. During the engagement, Minister Walrond met with several youths at the facility, listening to their experiences, aspirations and concerns. “Visiting the Juvenile Holding Centre today, I had the privilege of listening and talking to some of our young people who possess great potential,” Minister Walrond said. “We do not see bad children; we see young people with so much promise and so much life.” She assured the residents that they remain a priority of the Government and the Ministry of Home Affairs. “Just rest assured that you are not alone. You have a Government and a

Minister working to make sure that when you leave here, you leave feeling full of hope, despite what you have gone through,” she said. Reaffirming the Ministry’s duty of care, Minister Walrond added: “We will care for you as long as you are under our remit, our supervision, and our care, and we are going to fight hard to ensure that you receive only the very best.”

She encouraged the juve-

niles to express their needs so that the Ministry can strengthen the programmes offered at the facility. “Tell us what you need, more books, more remedial education, because we want you to see that your life can be improved, and we are here to help make that happen.”

The Minister also emphasised that her engagement with the young people will be ongoing. “This is our first meeting, but it will

Hampshire Solar Farm marks major leap in Guyana’s low-carbon energy transition – GPL CEO

Kesh Nandlall, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Power and Light (GPL), has described the Guyana Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic (GUYSOL) programme as a landmark initiative fully aligned with the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. Speaking at the commissioning of the new solar farm in Hampshire, Corentyne, on Friday, Nandlall noted that the facility is one of three major solar installations in Berbice, which together will add 10-megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity to Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne). The other two farms—located at Prospect

Executive

in New Amsterdam and Trafalgar on the West Coast Berbice (WCB)—are expected to be commissioned short-

ly. Together, the three sites will generate approximately 16,100-megawatt-hours (MWh)of electricity each year, a supply that will significantly reduce reliance on diesel.

The Hampshire facility alone, he noted, will save the country more than GY$210 million annually in avoided fuel costs. Constructed with nearly 5,000 high-strength solar panels mounted to withstand severe weather, the Hampshire plant is connected to the Berbice grid via a newly installed 14.8-kilovolt (kV) line; a development that Nandlall said will enhance grid stability across East Berbice.

not be our last. Now that I have seen your faces, I know who to ask about and how to make sure your needs are known.”

Reiterating her broader policy commitment, Minister Walrond stated: “As Minister of Home Affairs, I am committed to strengthening policies that focus on skills-training and ensuring the right resources are deployed for the benefit of all juveniles under our care.” PS Andre Ally reiter-

ated the Ministry’s commitment to safeguarding the wellbeing of every child at the facility. “We are here to ensure that your welfare and educational interests are protected, and that the staff care for you as they would their own children,” he said. “We are committed to doing everything possible to keep you safe, comfortable, healthy, and educated.”

He also encouraged the youths to remain hopeful:

“This may be a bit of a rough patch, but I want to encourage you to stay positive and keep your head up. Your past does not determine what your future will be.” The visit forms part of ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Home Affairs to assess and enhance programmes related to education, vocational training, psychosocial support, and reintegration planning for juveniles as they work toward successful futures.

India High Commission donates books on Indian culture, civilisation to Georgetown temple

The High Commission of India recently donated English versions of Bhagavad Gita and Ram Charit books at the Bel Air Vishnu Temple in Georgetown.

The donations were made to highlight the deep cultural and spiritual bonds that connect the Indian di-

aspora in Guyana with the Indian civilisation’s heritage, and to inspire reflection of the message of harmony, duty, and selfless actions that the Gita embodies, it noted.

In addition, the gesture is in the spirit of the ongoing International Gita Mahotsav (Nov 15- Dec 5) in Kurukshetra, Haryana, India. The High Commission advised that any other community, organisation or temple interested in literature and resources in English on Indian culture, customs, heritage and traditions, can contact info. georgetown@mea.gov.in

Orealla, Siparuta to get improved access to justice through virtual court system

…as Govt commits to addressing legal aid issues in Reg 6

The Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne)

Amerindian villages of Orealla and Siparuta are poised to get improved access to justice with the establishment of a virtual court system. This was announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali on Friday following an outreach to the region to address concerns raised by citizens.

““The residents of Orealla and Siparuta would have raised the need for a Magistrate court as they have to travel all the way to Skeldon to have their matters addressed,” President Ali highlighted during a press conference at the conclusion of his visit to Berbice. “So, we’re going to utilise technology, and with the aid of the containerised offices, establish a footprint for the people in Siparuta and Orealla to have access

from one of those communities to the Magistrate court,” he said.

The new arrangement is expected to reduce waiting times for legal matters to be heard, lower transportation costs and strengthen access to justice for hundreds of residents. Earlier this year, Attorney General (AG) and Minister of Legal Affairs

Anil Nandlall had promised, “to Orealla-Siparuta, we are promising here today that you will get a court, as you requested of me when I visited. The President has already instructed that we begin working on the establishment of a court there.”

Nestled along the Corentyne River, the twin Indigenous communities of Orealla and Siparuta have been experiencing rapid development in recent years. Construction is currently underway on a brand-new sec-

ondary school. Currently, secondary-aged students from Orealla and Siparuta must travel out to the coast to pursue their education, a challenge that places finan-

cial and emotional strain on families. The new school will allow students to study while remaining at home, easing that burden and fostering local academic growth.

Progress has also been made on public safety infrastructure, with a new police station nearing completion.

Adjacent to the station is a newly constructed wharf, strategically positioned to facilitate border patrols and riverine security. In Siparuta, a separate wharf has also been built to support the health centre, along with a new access road connecting the facility more efficiently to the community.

In Siparuta, a new building and extension at the primary school is being constructed to accommodate rising student numbers, alongside a modern kitchen to support daily meal preparation.

The combined population of Orealla and Siparuta is over 2,000 people. Orealla has a population of approximately 1,200, while its sister village, Siparuta, has a population of around 500-450

residents.

Legal Aid

Meanwhile, during his outreach to Region Six, President Ali said he was informed that the legal aid services in the region are not functioning effectively and efficiently and as such, he has ordered that this be corrected.

“We’re very concerned about these complaints… it’s important to note that legal aid allows citizens equity to justice and equity to representation,” the Head of State expressed. In this regard, he committed to working on a specific programme to expand legal aid throughout the region.

“…and put in place a level of supervision by the Government that will allow us to track and be on top of these issues in relation to legal aid,” he noted.

US$16M newly-manufactured Bell helicopters expected to arrive in Guyana

soon

Two recently purchased helicopters for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), a Bell 407 and a Bell 429, are currently being flown to Guyana, Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Omar Khan has confirmed. According to reports, the new helicopters departed the United States (US) on November 21 and reached Puerto Rico on Sunday, after stops in The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and the Dominican Republic.

The Guyana Government had in late 2024 signed a US$16 million contract with Bell Textron Inc. for the supply of the two advanced rotary wing aircraft. The historic signing was done in the presence of Finance and Public Service Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole D. Theriot; the Chief of Defence Staff and other officials. Speaking during that signing ceremony, Minister Singh had said these investments were targeted towards improving all aspects of the Force’s operations as well as supporting surveillance of Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and joint service operations. Brigadier Khan had also noted that the GDF has been operating the Bell brand since the 1980s with

the initial purchase of five aircraft during that period. He had said a further two similar brands were purchased in 2007 and an additional two were acquired in 2021 and 2023. While the Force only has one Bell product in service to date, the acquisition of the two more comparable products will better position the Force to enhance the conduct of missions in remote areas of our country. It was reported that the new rotary wing aircraft will empower the GDF to effectively conduct a range of missions, including search and rescue, disaster relief, and border security operations.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Bell 429 Global Ranger, bearing registration marking N539BT, is a nine-seater, two engine aircraft that can be used for executive, air ambulance and emergency services and public safety rapid response, according to Bell. On the other hand, the Bell 407, with registration marking, N564BH, can be used for public safety-including fire safety, carrying large crew or transporting critical equipment- air ambulance and emergency services.

Furthermore, earlier this year, it was announced

that the GDF purchased a new Tecnam P2012 aircraft that specialises in taking off from and landing on short runways, a feature that is in itself a tactical boost well suited for Guyana’s geography. The aircraft is a Short Take Off and Landing, also known as STOL, which means that it does not need a standard extended run way to take off or to land.

“This acquisition represents a key part of the GDF’s ongoing commitment to expanding its operational reach, especially in remote and underserved regions of Guyana. The Tecnam P2012

STOL’s capability for shortfield operations makes it particularly well-suited to the country’s geographic demands,” the GDF had said in its statement. According to GDF, the aircraft was purchased with the aim of expanding the army’s reach in remote and underserved regions of Guyana. It was also purchased with the intention of boosting the Air Corps ability to support national security and humanitarian efforts, the statement had also noted.

Tecnam, an Italian aircraft manufacturer, is no stranger to Guyana having

recently supplied two P2012 Traveller Continental aircraft to Roraima Airways. It was explained by the GDF that a senior team led by Colonel Administration and Quartering, Commander Roger Nurse, travelled to Italy to inspect the aircraft and sign the acceptance agreement. Last year, $42.2 billion was allocated in GDF budget to invest in capital assets. This year, that figure was about $50 billion.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government has embarked on a massive push to recapitalise the GDF’s as-

sets, with the purchase of planes, helicopters and boats. The Government had announced the acquisition of a maritime patrol asset from France last year. A letter of intent was subsequently signed in April 2024, with the aim of procuring the vessel, between the Guyana Government and leading French aluminium shipbuilding company OCEA S.A.

The vessel is valued at EU$39.5 million and is expected to arrive in 2026. The inked agreement covers the manufacturing of the vessel, a comprehensive logistics package with spears and five years of maintenance of the product.

Additionally, a 115 Defiant monohull patrol vessel, which was designed and built by United Statesbased Metal Shark Boats to the tune of US$11.5 million for the GDF, had also arrived in Guyana last year to join the army’s Coast Guard fleet.

Prior to that, Indian firm Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, as part of Line of Credit the Government of India had extended to Guyana, had delivered two Dornier 228 planes to the GDF. The planes were acquired to the tune of US$23.27 million.

Local aviation sector can afford to slash airfares by 15% – Pres Ali

resident Dr Irfaan

PAli has asserted that Guyana’s local aviation sector is financially capable of lowering domestic air transport fares by as much as 15 per cent. He made the remarks at the sod-turning ceremony for the new BK air terminal in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) on Sunday, where he specifically challenged Jags Aviation to lead the way in making domestic air travel more affordable for citizens. “Our aviation sector has been modernising at a rapid pace, changing out assets, investing in new assets. But whilst I compliment our aviation sector, I challenge them to bring a more balanced pric-

ing mechanism for the consumers,” President Ali posited.

“We have given the avia-

tion sector enormous incentives. We have given them enormous support in the removal of taxes on fuel. It is

time the aviation sector return that support to the citizens and people of our country. There is no way the

aviation sector cannot, at this time, at least reduce air transport by 15 per cent. I’ve looked at the numbers,” he added. In this regard, the President challenged Jags Aviation, led by Brian Tiwari of the BK Group of Companies, to take the lead in reducing airfares. “I challenge Jags Aviation to once again be a trailblazer in reducing this cost that is not outside of your reach,” he said.

In May, Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had announced that the Government is contemplating investing in a commercial arm of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) in order to compete with domestic airlines that continue to

exploit consumers. “We’ve had some discussions with them [domestic airline operators] and if they can’t be reasonable about these rates, then the Government will invest in a commercial arm of the GDF to compete with them so that we can keep the freight rates down. In fact, we may very well buy four more of the aircraft that we’ve just bought to do that in the next term in office,” Dr Jagdeo had told the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Conference.

The VP had also noted that sometimes, there are middlemen who would charter flights from airlines and charge even higher prices –another issue that needs to be addressed.

Guyana signs aviation agreements with 6 countries to enhance aviation sector, economic growth

Guyana has negotiated and initialled Air Services Agreements (ASAs) with six States: Panama, St Maarten, Uganda, Ecuador, Liberia, and Kenya. These ASAs create the legal framework that opens market access for airlines to operate and enhance competitive air transport services, trade, and economic growth between Guyana and these States.

It is anticipated that these Agreements will stim-

ulate interest from airlines in these States to consider destination Guyana as part of their route network. With these new Agreements, Guyana now has bilateral and multilateral ASAs with over sixty States. This comes as Guyana participated in the 17th International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Air Services Negotiation Event (ICAN 2025) in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from November 10 – 14, 2025. Guyana was represented by

officials of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) led by Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Egbert Field, A.A.- Director General, and Manager, Air Transport Management Dinello Mahabir.

Speaking of the ASAs, Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Hon. Deodat Indar, M.P., said the “Air Services Agreements signed by Guyana are necessary to advance our aviation sector. We are building a transformative aviation sector and having ASAs

with other states is critical to accomplishing the vision of connecting Guyana with the rest of the world and building the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) into an international air transport hub”.

On the sidelines of the ICAN event, the Director General also signed two Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Technical Cooperation with the Civil Aviation Authorities of Cabo Verde and the Dominican Republic. These MOUs aim

to improve the development, modernisation, and operational efficiency of aviation systems between Guyana and these countries. Although the MOUs are non-binding, they signify the mutual commitment of both authorities to seek innovative solutions that enhance aviation safety, strengthen regulatory frameworks, enhance knowledge sharing and the adoption of best practices in safety management, regulatory oversight and training, including exploring mutual interests in areas such as human resources management and the economic regulation of air transport. Guyana also commenced negotiations with France to update the 1974 Air Services Agreement between these countries. The update of the Agreement will allow airlines of both States to operate to each other’s territory under a more liberal arrangement. Negotiations were also initiated to establish an Air Services Agreement with Austria.

App for scheduling appointments at Govt agencies soon to be launched – Min Ally

Adigital appointment app is on the verge of its significant launch, positioned to eliminate the hassle and long-standing frustrations associated with accessing Government services. According to a Department of Public Information (DPI) report, Minister of Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation, Zulfikar Ally, speaking at an engagement in New Amsterdam, Region Six, on Friday, said the app is currently in its testing phase and will enable citi-

zens to book appointments at any Government agency. “We are testing right now the app where you can make appointments at any Government agency. So, you are not turning up, not knowing whether you are going to be served or not,” he said. Minister Ally explained that users will be able to choose available dates and times, receive confirmation and be assured of service on arrival. He said the initiative forms part of the President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s broader vision to digitalise and modernise public ser-

Police investigating fatal Riverstown accident

– motorcyclist in custody

Police in Regional Division # 2 are investigating a fatal accident that occurred on Sunday, November 23, 2025 about 17:00h on the Riverstown Public Road, Essequibo Coast. The collision involved Motor Car PXX 3695, driven at the time by 17-year-old Naomi Singh of Huist Dieren (now deceased) and Motorcycle CP 7725, driven by a 24-yearold male of Pomona Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast.

Initial inquiries revealed that both vehicles were travelling in opposite directions along the Riverstown Public Road, which runs north to south. It was alleged by the motorcyclist that the motor car veered into his path,

resulting in a collision. Following the collision, the motor car struck a utility pole, spun several times and came to

a halt on the roadway. Singh sustained severe injuries and was transported to the Suddie Public Hospital where she was seen and examined by a doctor on duty who pronounced her dead on arrival. Her body is presently at the hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.

The motorcyclist attempted to flee the scene but was apprehended shortly after. He remains in custody assisting investigators and refused to submit to a breathalyser test. Both vehicles were lodged at the Suddie Police Station pending examination. CCTV footage is currently being reviewed as investigations continue.

vices and reduce inefficiencies.

“If you don’t take advantage of these opportunities

that are here, you are going to be left behind. Don’t be left behind, our President is making sure that all of Guyana is moving in the direction of a digitised economy,” the Minister emphasised.

He further shared that as a result of President Irfaan Ali’s mandate to improve public service across the country, agencies such as the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) wills also become digital. Minister Ally’s Ministry and the Ministry of Finance were given eight months to fully digitise the NIS to ensure reliability, efficiency and respect for citizens’ time and dignity. “What it means is that you are going to wake up one morning… download the

NIS app, put in your information, see which service you need, check your contributions, apply for compliance, all within five seconds and without even turning over in your bed,” he said.

Minister Ally also added that digital systems will be implemented to improve accountability in infrastructure works.

A new real-time project dashboard has been created, allowing the President to monitor progress on every Government project.

The Minister said the Government is committed to ensuring that residents of Region Six and all Guyanese benefit from improved, technology-driven public services.

2 injured in Lover’s

Lane shooting incident

Police in Regional Division #10 are investigating a shooting incident that occurred on Sunday November 23, 2025 about 22:30h at Lover’s Lane, Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden during which a 32-year-old Vendor of Central Amelia’s Ward and a 36-year-old Carpenter of South Amelia’s Ward were injured.

Initial investigations revealed that the vendor was standing in front of his shop, while the carpenter was walking close by, when a motor car drove up and came to a halt near them, during which an individual inside the vehicle allegedly

Tuschen man gets 18-year...

The court began its sentencing calculation at a 30year starting point. Onethird of that term was removed because Jackman chose to plead guilty at an early stage, and the sentence was further reduced after several other mitigating considerations were taken into account. The final figure settled at 18 years.

Plan to drug, rob victim

The facts of the case, which Jackman agreed were accurate, outlined that the killing occurred sometime between October 23 and 24, 2021. About a week before the fatal incident, Jackman and a group of accomplices devised a plan to drug and rob Hohenkirk, who was an amputee and therefore especially vulnerable. Their plan involved the use of a psychotropic substance known locally as molly. On the night they carried it out, the men gathered at Hohenkirk’s home, where they drank Banko wine together and the

victim consumed the drug. Tensions escalated, and what began as an argument quickly erupted into violence. During the attack, the group restrained Hohenkirk by tying his hands and feet and gagging his mouth with a rope and rag. They beat him repeatedly about the face and head, and at some stage an accomplice placed handcuffs on him. The men then ransacked both his home and his small shop, taking snacks, beverages and money before leaving. Jackman and one other accomplice later returned to retrieve the wine bottle they had been drinking from. When they found the victim lying motionless and cold to the touch, they still continued to rob the shop again before they finally left the scene.

Police discovered Hohenkirk on the morning of October 24, 2021. He was found lying on his back, his hands secured and his mouth still bound. Ranks trans-

ported him to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A post-mortem examination carried out by Government Pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh revealed significant blunt-force trauma to the head and neck, including a subdural haemorrhage and compression injuries. The official cause of death was recorded as a subdural haematoma brought on by blunt trauma to the neck.

Trial Jackman was arrested two days later, on October 26. In a caution statement to investigators, he admitted that he participated in planning the robbery and that he assaulted the victim during the attack. Before the court accepted his guilty plea, Chief Justice Singh questioned Jackman carefully to ensure he understood the charge, the consequences of pleading guilty and the maximum sentence that could be imposed

FROM PAGE 8

against him. Jackman confirmed his identity, said he had consumed no intoxicants prior to the hearing, acknowledged that he was giving up his right to a jury trial and assured the court that he fully understood the sentencing framework.

His attorney supported this and confirmed that his client was fully aware of the implications of the plea. The court then accepted the plea to felony murder, noting that the fatality occurred in the course of a joint robbery enterprise. Justice Singh had earlier ordered the preparation of a probation report, psychiatric assessment, victim impact statements and submissions addressing both mitigating and aggravating factors, all to be completed by November 5, 2025. With those matters addressed, the proceedings concluded on Wednesday with the imposition of the 18-year sentence, bringing the case to a close.

discharged several rounds in their direction.

The 32-year-old vendor received a gunshot wound to the chest, while the 36-yearold carpenter sustained a gunshot wound to the foot. Both men were escorted to the Linden Hospital Complex, where they were seen and treated.

The vendor has since

been referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation for further medical attention, while the carpenter remains at the Linden Hospital Complex receiving treatment. Their conditions are reported as stable.

No arrests have been made, as investigations continue.

Hampshire Solar Farm...

“Across the GUYSOL programme, more than 75,000 tonnes of carbon emissions will be cut annually. But this project is also about empowering people,” he highlighted.

Guyana’s rapid renewable-energy expansion is being supported by revenue earned from the sale of its forest-based carbon credits, which is reinvested through the LCDS to accelerate the shift toward a diversified, low-carbon energy mix. This includes utility-scale solar farms like the GUYSOL projects; hydropower development such as the planned Amaila Falls project, which will provide stable baseload power; and targeted wind-generation initiatives in both coastal and hinterland regions. Together, these initiatives are designed to reduce fossil-fuel dependence, lower electricity costs, strengthen energy security, and support sustainable national growth.

A key component of the programme, Nandlall said, is building human capacity. So far, 31 women have been trained in solar instal-

FROM PAGE 14

lation, with plans to expand the programme to 50 women and 20 persons with disabilities.

“This is about skills, jobs and inclusion,” he stressed. Nandlall also outlined GPL’s broader grid-modernisation plan, which includes new high-voltage transmission lines, modern substations and the establishment of a national control centre aimed at enabling real-time monitoring of the system. At Hampshire, he announced, GPL will soon construct a 230-kV substation to integrate the anticipated 300MW of power from the Gasto-Energy (GtE) Project at Wales.

“This is all part of ensuring that by 2030, Guyana has a fully functional smart grid,” he explained. With the commissioning of the Hampshire solar farm and more renewable installations on the horizon, Guyana is solidifying its position as one of the region’s leaders in clean-energy transformation, balancing rapid economic development with long-term environmental sustainability.

Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff passes away at age 81

Jimmy Cliff, one of the most prominent and beloved proponents of reggae music, has died at the age of 81.

A star since the 1960s, he helped to bring the sound of Jamaica to a global audience through hits such as Wonderful World, Beautiful People and You Can Get It If You Really Want.

His lead role as a gun-toting rebel in the 1972 crime drama The Harder They Come is a cornerstone of Jamaican cinema, and was attributed as the movie that brought reggae to America.

Cliff’s wife, Latifa Chambers, announced his death via a statement on Instagram.

“It’s with profound sadness that I share that my husband, Jimmy Cliff, has crossed over due to a seizure followed by pneumonia,” she

wrote.

“I am thankful for his family, friends, fellow artists and coworkers who have shared his journey with him. To all his fans around the world, please know that your support was his strength throughout his whole career. Jimmy, my darling, may you rest in peace. I will follow your wishes.”

Her message was also signed by their children, Lilty and Aken.

Born James Chambers in 1944, Cliff grew up as the eighth of nine children in abject poverty in the parish of St. James, Jamaica. He began singing at his local church at the age of six.

By the time he was 14, he’d moved to Kingston and adopted the surname Cliff to express the heights he intended on reaching.

He recorded several sin-

gles before topping the Jamaican charts with his own composition, Hurricane Hattie.

Cliff became an international star with The Harder They Come, expressly written for the movie of the same name, in which he played Ivan Martin, a young man trying to break into Jamaica’s corrupt music industry.

His other recordings included the Grammy Awardwinning albums Cliff Hanger (1985) and Rebirth (2012), a nostalgic return to form.

Cliff entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010, calling it “a great thrill and an honour”.

His contributions to Jamaican music and culture were recognised in October 2003 when he was awarded the country’s prestigious Order of Merit. (Source: Nation News)

T&T Govt may follow China's social-media policy to combat reckless users – Minister

Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) Homeland Security Minister, Roger Alexander has said it may be time for regulations to guide how the public engages in online discussions.

He highlighted China’s strict social-media controls as an example Trinidad and Tobago could study.

Social-media platforms in China, including Weibo, Douyin and WeChat, are tightly regulated, and citizens can face penalties, including permanent online bans, for posts deemed anti-government or seditious.

“The time has come for Trinidadians to take a good look at themselves. I can see what contribution they are making to the development of this nation by their comments,” he said.

“We have seen it now that even the foreign governments seem to take a particular step. How can you say you love your country and doing everything in your power to cause disruption by misinformation with the intention to cause chaos among its citizens? You must be held accountable.

“China has a control

mechanism for their social media networks. And you know why they are so innovative over the years? It’s because they are using their platform for innovation, learning, and development of their nation. But we sit here and we are glad to know that we are on social media and we're doing things for likes.

"Here you are making statements about who should come and kill who and who should kill who and all of this stuff.”

Alexander made the comments as he confirmed an investigation has begun into online death threats made against Opposition Senator Dr Amery Browne.

On October 25, the Cyberspace Administration of China passed a law requiring all influencers who wants to discuss "serious" topics such as law, health and education, to have a relevant degree or certificate.

China is not the only place where there are strict laws governing certain aspects of online discourse. The Australian government will restrict access to social media from children under-16 from December 10. Social

media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube must take action to prevent under-16s from accessing their services or they face a hefty fines.

Guyanese police also have charged multiple people under the Cybercrime Act for making threatening and false comments about both public officials and private citizens.

Alexander told Newsday the government firmly believes in human rights and any regulation around social media will not prevent journalists or citizens from publishing anything critical of the government.

However, Alexander said the government is focused on targeting misinformation, which he says has the potential to radicalise citizens into carrying out terrorist attacks or joining groups aimed at causing chaos. He said a draft bill is currently being considered and the ministry is awaiting a green light from the attorney general before it is tabled in Parliament.

(Source: Trinidad & Tobago Newsday)

Miss Universe Organisation addresses ‘speculation’ surrounding Miss Jamaica

The Miss Universe Organization has issued an official statement addressing what it says has been “speculation” surrounding Dr Gabrielle Henry, Miss Universe Jamaica 2025, following her fall from stage during the Miss Universe competition last week.

According to the organisation, strict discretion has been maintained regarding specific medical details out of respect for Dr Henry and her family. The statement further emphasised that any updates on her condition will be shared only at the appropriate time by the family or by Dr Henry herself.

Raúl Rocha, speaking on behalf of the Miss Universe Organization, detailed what she said were the immediate steps taken after the incident. He

said he personally went onstage to assist Dr Henry, coordinated urgent medical attention, and oversaw her transfer to the hospital. Multiple medical specialists were later brought in to ensure “the most ac-

curate evaluation, monitoring, and medical oversight.”

Over the past four days, Dr Henry reportedly experienced “difficult moments and unexpected concerns,” but Rocha said that each issue was successfully resolved thanks to the medical care she received. The latest medical report indicates that Dr Henry is now in good health and nearing discharge from the hospital, he said. The statement also addressed circulating rumors, stressing that the organisation will continue to share only essential updates handled with “professionalism, sensitivity, and respect.”

“We are grateful that she is now close to being released from the hospital,” Rocha said. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Antigua PM defends efforts to bring ‘order’ to street vending

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has defended his administration’s efforts to regulate street vending and curb illegal dumping, arguing that the government’s push for public order is consistently undermined by the political opposition.

Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show, Browne said the government has taken steps to reorganize vending spaces, particularly along beaches and high-traffic commercial areas, to ensure safety, sanitation, and access for both locals and visitors. But he said each attempt to implement basic regulation is met with resistance.

“Every time the government tried to bring some order to people vending indiscriminately and even dumping indiscriminately, the opposition trying to…

undermine order,” he said.

The prime minister’s comments followed a wider conversation about the state of public spaces, including beaches where vendors have erected unapproved structures, blocked public access, and improperly disposed of waste. He argued that the government’s role is not to displace vendors but to create a cleaner, more professional business environment.

Browne said the government has offered costfree relocation options that still allow vendors to earn a living while preserving the country’s natural attractions. He accused the opposition of taking advantage of the situation by encouraging confrontation rather than helping solve long-standing issues of environmental degradation and unregulated business

activity.

The prime minister argued that the public ultimately supports efforts to keep beaches clean and organized, particularly as tourism rebounds. He also linked vending issues to broader environmental enforcement, noting that illegal dumping, makeshift structures, and unsanitary waste disposal are increasingly affecting both rural communities and coastal areas.

Browne maintained that the government will continue to push ahead with its enforcement measures despite political pushback. He said the administration is committed to reducing roadside clutter, strengthening hygiene standards, and protecting the country’s most visited beaches from misuse. (Excerpt from Antigua News Room)

Brazil top court votes to keep Bolsonaro in Police custody

Afour-judge panel of Brazil's Supreme Court voted unanimously on Monday to keep former President Jair Bolsonaro in police custody after Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered his detention on Saturday citing a flight risk.

Justices Flavio Dino, Cristiano Zanin and Carmen Lucia joined Moraes, backing a decision that had ended more than 100 days of house arrest. Bolsonaro is awaiting final appeals against his 27-year

prison sentence for plotting a coup.

Bolsonaro, 70, was arrested on Saturday after authorities said he took a soldering iron to his ankle monitor, and ahead of a planned supporters' vigil outside his home - which Moraes said could disrupt police monitoring of his house arrest.

The right-wing leader told a judge on Sunday that medicine-induced paranoia and hallucination caused him to tamper with the ankle monitor. He denied any

intent to escape or to try to remove the ankle monitor.

"The admitted breach of electronic monitoring not only increases the risk of escape but also indicates a blatant violation of the precautionary measures imposed by the Judiciary," Justice Dino wrote in his vote.

Bolsonaro was sentenced in September to 27 years and three months in prison for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 presidential election to leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. (Reuters)

OIL NEWS

Oil prices edge higher as US interest rates and Ukraine peace talks jostle for attention

Oil prices edged up on Monday as investors gave more weight to the chances of a U.S. interest rate cut over the prospect of a peace deal in Ukraine that could lead to an easing of sanctions on Russian oil.

Brent crude futures rose by 22 cents, or 0.4%, to $62.78 a barrel by 11:05 a.m. EST (1605 GMT), while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 31 cents, or 0.5%, to $58.37.

Both benchmarks had closed on Friday at their lowest since October 21.

Recent price weakness is driven mainly by reported progress in Ukraine–Russian peace negotiations, analysts at energy advisory firm Ritterbusch and Associates said in a note.

"However, we feel that a reduction of more than 5% of risk premium is excessive," they added, pointing to the potential for the war to drag on, reinjecting geopolitical risk into oil futures.

U.S. sanctions on Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, which took effect on Friday, have caused friction that would normally boost prices, but the market is preoccupied by the peace talks, said Jorge Montepeque, managing director at Onyx Capital.

Global brokerages remain split on whether the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its December meeting after last week's mixed signals on job growth and unemployment clouded the economic outlook.

Lower interest rates could boost economic growth and oil demand by reducing borrowing costs for consumers and businesses.

"Expectations of a potential Fed rate cut in December may also provide a counterbalance to bearish sentiment by improving global risk appetite," said Sugandha Sachdeva, founder of New Delhi-based research firm SS WealthStreet. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Judge dismisses cases against ex-FBI boss James Comey, NY

Attorney General Letitia James

Ajudge has dismissed charges against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The judge ruled that the appointment of the Justice Department's lawyer, Lindsey Halligan, as interim US Attorney was unlawful and violated the Appointments Clause in the US Constitution.

"I agree with Mr. Comey that the Attorney General’s attempt to install Ms. Halligan as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia was invalid," US District Judge Cameron Currie said in the ruling.

Comey was charged with making false statements and obstruction of justice in September, after President Donald Trump called for his prosecution and appointed a new federal prosecutor to pursue the case. He pleaded not guilty.

James was facing federal charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. She also pleaded not guilty.

This ruling by the judge was based on the way in

which President Trump picked Lindsey Halligan to take over a key prosecutor’s office, after the previous occupant said there was not enough evidence for any indictments.

She then proceeded on her own to charge two people the president has long disliked.

The judge today dismissed the indictments without prejudice, meaning the Justice Department could try to bring the charges again with another prosecutor – but it isn’t clear how that would happen.

Today's ruling stemmed from a claim by Comey and James' attorneys, that Lindsey Halligan wasn't properly appointed to her position when she brought the indictments.

Comey's lawyers had also made claims of vindictive prosecution, citing statements made by Trump and irregularities with the way the case was brought.

Halligan is Donald Trump's former personal lawyer and has no prosecutorial experience. She was appointed to the role at the president's direction.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Around the World

Australian far-right Senator wears burqa to Parliament, sparking outrage

Australian far-right

Senator Pauline

Hanson wore a burqa to Parliament on Monday as a political prop in her push to ban the Muslim garment in public, sparking accusations of racism from Muslim senators over the stunt.

Hanson wore the burqa shortly after she was denied permission to introduce a bill that would outlaw burqas and other full-face coverings in public places in Australia.

The Senate erupted in anger as she walked into the chamber wearing the burqa, and proceedings were suspended when Hanson refused to remove it.

"This is a racist senator, displaying blatant racism," said Muslim Mehreen Faruqi, a Greens senator from the state of New South Wales.

Muslim Fatima Payman, an independent senator

from the state of Western Australia, called the stunt "disgraceful".

Both Penny Wong, leader of Australia’s centre-left Labor government in the Senate, and Anne Ruston, deputy Senate leader for the opposition coalition, condemned Hanson's actions.

Wong called them "not worthy of a member of the Australian Senate" and moved a motion to suspend Hanson for failing to remove the garment. After Hanson refused to leave, Senate proceedings were suspended.

Hanson, a senator for Queensland, first rose to

prominence in the 1990s because of her strident opposition to immigration from Asia and to asylum seekers, and has long campaigned against Islamic clothing during her parliamentary career.

She previously wore a burqa to parliament in 2017, also calling for a national ban at the time.

In a statement later posted on Facebook, Hanson said her actions were in protest at the Senate rejecting her proposed bill.

"So if the Parliament won't ban it, I will display this oppressive, radical, non-religious head garb that risk our national security and the ill-treatment of women on the floor of our parliament so that every Australian knows what's at stake," Hanson said in the statement. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Bollywood star Dharmendra Deol dies at 89

The popular Indian Bollywood star Dharmendra passed away at the age of 89 in Mumbai on Monday after spending several weeks in and out of hospital.

Dharmendra, who would have celebrated his 90th birthday on December 8, was one of India's most recognizable film stars and a defining Bollywood screen presence in the 1970s and 1980s.

Born Dharmendra Kewal Krishan Deol in the northern state of Punjab in 1935, he grew up in a farming family and moved to Mumbai in the late 1950s, making his Bollywood debut in 1960.

Over a career spanning

six decades, he acted in more than 300 films, including the spaghetti western-style "Sholay" (1975), the romantic comedy "Chupke Chupke" (1975) and the action drama "Mera Gaon Mera Desh" (1971).

He was affectionately known as the "He-Man" of Bollywood due to his many leading roles in action movies. In 2012, Dharmendra was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honor, in recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema.

He also had a brief stint in politics, serving as a member of parliament for the Bharatiya Janata Party from 2004 to 2009.

"[Dharmendra] was an iconic film personality, a phenomenal actor who brought charm and depth to every role he played," said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The manner in which he played diverse roles struck a chord with countless people." Dharmendra is survived by his wives, children and grandchildren. His final film, the war epic "Ikkis," is due out in cinemas in December. (Excerpt from DW)

Israel kills top Hezbollah official in 1st attack on Beirut in months

Israel's military has killed a senior member of the militant group Hezbollah in an air strike on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut, despite a ceasefire.

It described Haitham Ali al-Tabtabai, Hezbollah's chief of staff, as a veteran of the group who had held a series of senior positions.

Lebanon's health ministry said at least five people were killed and 28 others wounded in the strike, which hit an apartment building in

the densely populated Dahieh district.

Hezbollah confirmed Tabtabai's death, adding Israel had crossed a "red line" in carrying out the strike.

The strike is Israel's first on southern Beirut for months.

It comes as Israel has escalated its campaign on people and targets it says are

linked to Hezbollah - a Shia Muslim group supported by Iran - despite a ceasefire brokered by the US and France that came into effect last November.

Israeli officials say Hezbollah has been trying to rebuild its military capabilities, is smuggling weapons into Lebanon and stepping up the production of explosive drones as an alternative to rockets and missiles, and there are growing fears of an escalation of hostilities.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

US, Kyiv discuss reworked plan to end war in Ukraine

U.S. and Ukrainian officials sought on Monday to narrow the gaps between them over a plan to end the war in Ukraine, after agreeing to modify a U.S. proposal that Kyiv and its European allies saw as a Kremlin wish list.

In a joint statement, Washington and Kyiv said they had drafted a "refined peace framework" after talks in Geneva on Sunday. Though there were no specifics, the dialogue received a cautious welcome from some of Ukraine's allies.

Ukraine's delegation to the talks with U.S. officials in Switzerland was returning home on Monday to report back, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said.

U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at new progress.

"Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine??? Don’t believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening," Trump wrote on Truth Social. (Excerpt from Reuters)

SUDOKU

Take initiative instead of complaining. Travel or educational pursuits will help you find answers and discover the best way to reach your goal.

Make changes for a good reason, not out of anger, emotional frustration or to oneup someone. You owe it to yourself to recognize what's best for you and to take the path that offers the highest returns.

Learn from your experience and make better choices. You are overdue for a change that offers the freedom to discover what's possible. You have two choices: follow or lead the way.

Opportunities are prevalent if you look for them. Stop waiting for things to come to you; actively seeking what makes you happy will boost your ego and encourage self-sufficiency.

Take charge and follow through on your promises. Include loved ones to ensure you maintain good relationships and receive the support necessary to reach your goals.

Refuse to let ego or anger compromise what you hope to gain or achieve when dealing with others. Pay more attention to self-improvement and compromise, and less to getting your way.

Put some effort toward increasing comfort and convenience. Fixing up your space to stimulate personal or professional growth will be energizing. Your happiness is in your hands, so make it happen

Keep the fire burning. Keeping an open mind, engaging in conversation with like-minded people and embracing new beginnings will lead to a world of promising options.

Use your resources, ask questions, learn new skills and master the art of acceptance and change. An open mind and heart will lead to personal and financial victory.

Observation will help you zero in on possibilities. Ask questions and consider what you need to add to your roster to turn your plans into something tangible.

Turn the dial up, speak and act on your own behalf, gather information and set a reasonable budget. Once you gain momentum, you'll discover how quickly doors open.

Put your finances, health and any legal matters first and foremost. Neglecting to pay on time or to deal with issues that can lead to complications or loss will come back to haunt you.

Jansen too hot for India as SA start dreaming of series sweep

Marco Jansen all but ensured the world Test champions South Africa a rare series win in India by bowling the hosts out for 201 and secur ing a first-innings lead of 288 on day three. On a pitch still hard to beat the defen sive bat on, India collapsed from 95 for 1 to 122 for 7, losing all hopes of com ing back to win and level the series. They were on the back-foot anyway af ter conceding 489 to South Africa, who also hold an un assailable 1-0 lead in the se ries.

Things happened quickly in the sec ond hour of the day as the odd ball turned or bounced more than usual for spinners Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj. Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav then batted togeth er for nearly 35 overs without trouble to show it was just the early moisture that helped the odd ball turn.

But Jansen rose above the pitch with aggressive shortpitched bowling to take his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests to go with his momentum-shifting 93 and an excellent catch to get rid of India's only half-cen turion in the series, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Nobody has ever taken as many wickets with bouncall-round performance by a visiting player in India: a

of the good ones, bowled by Maharaj at 79 kilometres per hour (kmph), well slower than any of India's fingerspinners. Harmer, who has been excellent – sharp turn or not – then bowled the second one. Jaiswal had looked in control both when defending and attacking, but he checked a back-foot shot when this delivery stopped and stood up. Jansen, who

match the earlier two, diving from second slip to gully. Jadeja tried to sway out of one's line, but it followed him, hit the shoulder and then took the periscope on the way to second slip. On average, Jansen could bowl a metre fuller than Siraj for the ball to be a bouncer, giving them less time to adjust. He also bowled when the pitch had lost pace and

this series, but was undone by a lovely offbreak from Harmer just before the second new ball became available. Kuldeep registered his longest Test innings, turned down a single to protect Bumrah, but could not keep Jansen out. Not that Bumrah could be protected anyway: Jansen ended the innings with another nasty bouncer.

had already denied him six runs on the cut with his long levers at backward point, took the catch diving forward. Not many could have even got to this on the full.

B Sai Sudharsan, back as the number three after being left out in Kolkata, was conscious to not get caught back to full deliveries, which has been his undoing in the past. He played two lovely cover-drives, but ended up pulling a short ball from Harmer to the left of short midwicket, where Ryan Rickelton took a rebound while diving.

It was all Jansen after this – plus a little bit of chasing the game. Jurel was kept runless for 10 balls when he tried to hook a wide bouncer from Jansen. It was too high and too wide for him to be able to control. That this came about in the last over before tea made it

Post-tea, Captain Rishabh Pant tried to counterattack by charging at Jansen. All he managed was an edge to the keeper. Reddy and Jadeja got brutes. Reddy had to throw his hands in front of his face in self-defence, and Aiden Markram took a catch to

bounce.

With Jansen done, the moisture drying out, and the push for a comeback win dissipating for India, Washington and Kuldeep defended with ease. Number three in the last Test, Washington came close to scoring only the second half-century for India

Without even a full day's rest, India's bowlers were back on the park again. Bumrah created a chance in the first over of the third innings, but it flew wide of second slip. South Africa went into stumps 314 ahead, only a couple of sessions away from batting India out of the series. (ESPNcricinfo)

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2025

More associations voice appreciation for improved National Sports Awards

The Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) and the Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (GBBFF) are among the most recent sport associations to chronicle their appreciation for the recently-concluded “black-tie” National Sports Awards, hosted by the National Sports Commission (NSC).

For the first time in the event’s storied history, the event took on a blacktie mandate, making for a classy, improved award ceremony.

As such, the AAG shared, “The President, executive and members of the Athletics Association of Guyana would like to commend the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for hosting a firstof-its-kind National Sports Awards which took the form of a black-tie gala.”

President Sheryl Hermonstine said: “I think the event was a statement piece, one of a kind, and very classy as it showed professionalism with a touch of glamor.”

The AAG believes that the recipients of awards and accolades were carefully selected by the panel responsible which was also a huge positive for the event. President Hermonstine, a long-standing administrator and for-

mer athlete shared that the sports fraternity was humbly honoured to see this level of recognition which speaks to the vision of the Government of Guyana being executed by the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport.

“We must wholeheartedly commend and thank His Excellency, President Ali and his Government for believing and investing in sports. We at the AAG have been benefiting for the past five years and we are seeing in front of us the rewards for this investment and empowerment

of our athletes. The Ministry of Sport and the National Sports Commission must also be applauded for the work that they have been doing with the AAG, they have been a pillar of strength,” she said.

“Athletics will continue to do well as we continue to invest in and expose our young athletes especially. The academy programme has been instrumental in honing the skills of our athletes, and we are also thankful for this investment.

Another calculated performance

National Rifle Association (GuyanaNRA) fullbore section, Dylan Fields saw him

increasing the lead on his counterparts following the penultimate day of rivalry at

“Sports in Guyana is in a good place”

On the other hand, GBBFF President Roger Callendar shared, “Being invited to the 2025 National Awards Gala was an honour for the Guyana Body Building and Fitness Federation (GBBFF). It was a privilege to attend such a prestigious event and to receive several nominations.

“This gala marks a new era for sports in Guyana, highlighting and celebrating the top athletes and officials who dedicate themselves year-round. The event was excellently organised, and we eagerly look forward to the next National Awards Gala with hopes of securing even more victories.

“The Guyana Body Building and Fitness Federation extends sin cere thanks to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, the National Sports Commission, and the Government of Guyana for their continued support and recognition over years.

“The Honourable Minister Charles Ramson Jr is a man of his word and one of the finest sports minis ters Guyana has ever had. Alongside the dynamic and

dedicated Minister within the Ministry, Steven Jacobs, their commitment to advancing sports and bodybuilding is unwavering. Without their support bodybuilding would not be where it is today, we are truly grateful and appreciate every effort made.

“We look forward to an

even brighter future in partnership with the Ministry and the Government of Guyana.”

The awards were hosted at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre on November 8 and saw the likes of Omari Glasgow and Nicolette Fernandes carting off awards.

Adrian Sukwah blasted an unbeaten 157 to lead Albion Community Centre to a massive 196-run victory

Fraser 19.

The talented Kelvin Umroa led with the ball for Albion, who had earlier took first strike after winning the toss, bagging 5 for 34 with his left-arm spin and was backed up by off-spinner Ari Afrizal Kadir with 2 for 25. There was also a wicket each for left-arm spinner Gouraf Ramesh and off-spinner Agraz Budhoo for 25 and Albion, the defending champions, will now clash with Rose Hall Town, in a much-anticipated semi-final match-up short-

the national championships at the Timehri Rifle Ranges. Fields, Lennox Braithwaite, and Sherwin Felicien all recorded possibles on Sunday, Fields (50.4) and Braithwaite (50.3) at the 900-yard range while Felicien shot his at 500 yards (50.5). Fields have also doubled his lead to six points on the field in the X Class and will be aiming to maintain this dominance come the final day, this Sunday, November 30.

Three ranges will be contested – 900 yards (2 sighting shots and 7 rounds to count); 1000 yards (2 sighting shots and 10 rounds to count) and 300 yards (2 sighting shots and 7 rounds to count).

26-year-old Sukwah, who earlier this year represented the Guyana Rainforest Rangers in the West Indies T20 Breakout League, struck 10 fours and an equal number of sixes.

Sukwah shared a 144-run opening stand with former national wicketkeeper-batsman Anthony Bramble, who smashed a belligerent 76, a knock which was decorated with seven fours and six maximums, to propel Albion to a massive 307 for 1 in their allotted 20 overs.

With the experienced Bramble having been dismissed in the 10th over, Sukwah was joined by Kandasammy Surujnarine and the pair continued the onslaught, scoring another 163 runs in the remaining 10 overs, with Surujnarine also ending not out on 49.

Abel Doris was the lone wicket-taker with 1 for 33, bowling for the Berbice lawmen.

Police, in reply, were dismissed for 111 in 14.4 overs, with Kemroy Dyal making 44, Andy Grant 21 and Paul

Young Warriors and Tucber Park will battle in the other semi-final. In the other fixtures at the weekend, Young Warriors and Rose Hall Town also recorded wins in their respective

CG United Super50…

Harpy Eagles still winless as Red Force triumph in weather-hit contest

The Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) slumped to their first defeat of the ongoing CG United Regional Super50 Cup on Sunday after a rainhit encounter at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy saw Trinidad and Tobago Red Force secure victory via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.

Having won the toss, the Red Force opted to field first – and immediately justified the decision. Guyana’s top order faltered badly, collapsing to 21 for 4 inside 11 overs. Brief resistance came from Ronaldo Alimohamed (25) and Keemo Paul (39) before wickets continued to

Dorne, Van Lange shine as Windies U19 go 3-1 up

The West Indies Under-19s delivered a clinical all-round performance on Monday to secure a dominant 98run victory over England in the fourth Youth One-Day International (ODI), taking a 3-1 advantage in the seven-match series.

After England won the toss and elected to field, openers Tanez Francis and his partner gave the hosts a steady platform. Francis compiled a patient 51 from 72 balls, striking five boundaries, while his fellow opener added a lively 34 from just 27 deliveries.

Captain Joshua Dorne then anchored the innings with a composed and much-needed return to form, crafting 80 from 104 balls, including six fours and a towering six.

Building on that momentum, the in-form Jonathan Van Lange unleashed a blistering 80 from 68 deliveries, decorated with four fours and four powerful strokes over the boundary – at an impressive strike rate of 118.

Despite wickets falling in the latter stages, the hosts closed strongly, posting a competitive 280 for 7 from their allotted 50 overs.

England’s bowling attack had moments of discipline, with Luke Hands finishing as the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 63, while Farhan

openers, including Joe Moores for 19 off 20 balls. England’s middle order then struggled to gain momentum under sustained pressure.

Ben Dawkins offered the lone act of resistance, constructing a determined 78 from 98 balls featuring seven boundaries and a six. However, his dismissal – courtesy of Vitel Lawes – signalled the beginning of the end for the tourists. Lawes produced a standout spell, finishing with 4 for 35, while Belle completed an excellent outing with 3 for 34.

tumble.

The inning’s highlight belonged to Gudakesh Motie, who launched a spirited counterattack. Anchoring the lower order, Motie struck an impressive 65 off 58 balls, decorated with six boundaries and three towering sixes. His efforts guided the Harpy Eagles to a modest total of 196 all out in 40.3 overs.

For Trinidad and Tobago, Ricky Jaipaul and Terrance Hinds starred with the ball, each claiming three wickets and applying relentless pressure throughout the innings. Guyana’s spinners attempted to keep the contest alive after the break. Motie, continuing his excellent day, combined with Junior Sinclair to reduce the hosts to 65 for 4, sparking hopes of a comeback. However, a composed and timely partnership between Tion Webster and Jyd Goolie shifted momentum back towards the home side.

Goolie delivered the decisive blow in the 21st over,

launching debutant seamer Sylus Tyndall for three sixes and a four, producing 24 runs in a game-changing passage of play. When rain returned at 106 for 4 after 21.2 overs, the Red Force stood six runs ahead of the DLS par score, sealing their second win of the tournament. Webster remained un-

beaten on 31, while Goolie finished on 29 not out.

The Harpy Eagles, still without a win after their first two matches were washed out, will now turn their attention to today’s clash against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at the Queen’s Park Oval, starting at 09:00h.

Chase’s Academy eyeing unbeaten Republic Bank title

Chase’s Academic Foundation are one win away from completing a perfect run in the ongoing Republic Bank Secondary School Football League. This is on the heels of another dominant win for the Parade Street, Georgetown outfit which came on Sunday afternoon at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

Bryan Wharton was, again, the mastermind of Chase’s dominance, netting a glut in the 9th, 15th, 27th, 32nd and 34th minutes. Isaiah Ifill registered a brace in the 14th and 16th minutes while solitary goals came off the boots of Nyron Barrow (44th), Shaquan David (45th) and Darius Chester (47th) to complete Chase’s 10-0 drubbing of President’s College.

Three Miles Secondary had earlier suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Charlestown Secondary. Nicholas Nieuelder netted back-toback goals for Charlestown in the 15th and 17th minutes while Dilshawn Alleyne added their third in the 18th.

The final clash of the day saw a riveting encounter between West Ruimveldt and South Ruimveldt Secondary, who were battling for the coveted second spot in the league.

After a gritty back-and-forth between the two teams, it was Joel Griffith’s 38th-minute strike that separated the sides in a 1-0 triumph for West Ruimveldt.

In other parts of the country,

Annai and St Ignatius Secondary began their battle to determine which Region Nine side will compete in the upcoming KFC Goodwill International Football Tournament, also being organised by the Petra Organisation. The encounter at the St Ignatius Sports Ground ended 2-2, with the return game at Annai this Saturday, November 29, becoming all important. Annai netted both their goals in the first half while the hosts responded with strikes in the 58th and 67th minutes to level the scores.

Alongside the Region Nine winner, the second-place finisher in the Republic Bank League and defending champions Chase’s Academic Foundation will represent Guyana at the KFC Goodwill competition.

Caribbean Squash Championships… Semifinal berths for multiple Guyanese players

Guyana’s Ashley Khalil and Mary Fung-A-Fat have advanced to the women’s semifinals in the ongoing Caribbean Senior Squash Championships while the likes of Jason-Ray Khalil, Shomari Wiltshire and Daniel Ince have progressed to the men’s quarter-finals.

The National Racquet Centre and the Georgetown Club were buzzing with excitement on Sunday when the 2025 Caribbean Senior Squash Championships served off in Guyana.

The competition began with the individual categories, which are set to wrap up today, Tuesday, November 25, followed by the commencement of the team competitions.

Fung-A-Fat had an excellent start to her campaign, defeating Andrea Tapiz 11-3, 11-3, 11-1 in the first round.

The Guyanese went on to pip her countrywoman Larissa Wiltshire 11-3, 11-3, 11-3 and then upstaged Canada’s Melina Turk 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 to move on to the semi-finals.

However, fortune was not on the Guyanese player’s side as she fell to Megan Best 11-3,

11-8, 11-4, missing out on the final.

Recently-crowned, runner-

up Sportswoman of the year, Ashley Khalil had a similar run. Khalil overcame Susie Howell 11-5, 11-1, 11-5 in her first game, going on to defeat Marie-Claire Barcant 11-4, 11-2, 11-3. She then got the better of Barbados’s Amanda Haywood in a fiercelycontested match, 11-7, 11-7, 11-8 to move on to the semis.

There, Khalil faced off with second-seeded Margot Prow of Barbados, losing 7-11, 4-11, 0-11.

Over in the men’s individual competition, Shomari Wiltshire started with a bye in the first round, but went on to prove his worth with a 11-1, 11-1, 11-4 victory over Cayman Islands’ Isaiah Robinson. Wiltshire then upstaged Barbados’s Shawn Simpson 11-7, 11-5, 11-5 to set up a date with Khamal Cumberbatch of Barbados in the quarter-finals.

Unfortunately for the Guyanese, Cumberbatch came out on top in the quarterfinal

contest 11-9, 11-6, 11-5. Jason-Ray Khalil had a similar run with a bye in round one and a walkover against David Pitcairn. Khalil then overcame Bermuda’s Noah Browne 11-9, 11-3, 11-5 in the ensuing round to progress to the quarterfinals where he was slated to take on countryman Daniel Ince. Ince also started his campaign with a bye and walkover, going on to get the better of Anaya Smith 11-6, 11-2, 11-4 in order to secure his quarter-final spot. In that quarterfinal, Ince got the better of Khalil in a riveting four-set game that went 11-6, 11-3, 6-11, 11-6 in Ince’s favour. As such, Ince will meet Barbados’s Cumberbatch in the semifinals this morning.

Guyana is hosting the 2025 Championships in place of Jamaica, stepping in following Hurricane Melissa’s catastrophic impact on the Caribbean island.

GBF names experienced squad for FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup in Mexico

…team depart on Wednesday

The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) has unveiled its four-man roster for the 2025 FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup, set for November 27-30 in León, Mexico.

The announcement marks the continuation of Guyana’s growing commitment to the fast-paced global discipline, as the nation aims to build on past performances and push for a breakthrough in this year’s competition.

Headlining the squad is newcomer Deylon Bovell, a USbased Guyanese player who will be making his AmeriCup debut.

Bovell, however, is far from a novice in the 3x3 arena. Widely known on the US circuit for his activity in numerous tournaments, he has long been on the GBF’s radar for the shorter format of the game.

GBF President Michael Singh said Bovell’s inclusion was a testament to his dedication, adding, “Deylon

has always been committed to representing Guyana. He understands the 3x3 game, he’s seasoned, and we believe he will bring a fresh dynamic to the squad.”

Joining Bovell are three players with prior AmeriCup experience. Nikkoloi Smith, who will be making his third appearance at the event, along with standouts Travis Belgrave and Harold Adams, both returning for their second outings.

The combination of experienced campaigners and new blood presents what the Federation believes to be a well-balanced mix for success.

GBF Vice President Rawle Toney will once again serve as the team’s delegate. Toney, who also sits on the Caribbean Basketball Confederation’s 3x3 Working Group, explained that this year’s selection process posed several challenges due to updated International Basketball Federation (FIBA) regulations.

“Team selection was tough,” Toney said. “The new rules required that players must have participated in at least two 3x3 tournaments in 2025. Ideally, the GBF had planned to host its National Championship to create those opportunities, but hosting the Women’s Caribbean Championship meant every resource had to go in that direction.”

According to Toney, GBF turned to player rankings and eligibility criteria to guide its decisions.

“I think we’ve chosen a solid team,” Toney continued.

“They have the experience and skill set to compete in Mexico. Bovell plays a lot of 3x3, and Belgrave, Adams, and Smith are all familiar with the demands of the AmeriCup. They understand what it takes to win.”

Guyana have been placed in Group A of the qualifying round, where they will face Jamaica and St Lucia on November 27. Toney acknowledged the difficulty of the group, noting that the road to the main draw was anything but straightforward.

“Both Jamaica and St Lucia are tough opponents. But I believe in the guys we selected.

The AmeriCup is a tough tournament, and getting to the main draw won’t be easy. Still, this team can give a good account of themselves and represent Guyana well at this level,” Toney said.

Should Guyana advance, they will join Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic in Group B of the main draw.

The remaining teams already placed in the main field include Mexico (hosts), defending champions USA, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Brazil, and Argentina.

The FIBA 3x3 AmeriCup stands as the premier 3x3 basketball competition in the Americas, featuring elite teams from across the continent.

Guyana have yet to secure direct entry into the men’s main draw, but the nation’s best showing came in 2022 when the quartet of Delroy James, Gordon James, Nikkoloi Smith, and Shelroy Thomas advanced from the qualifiers and narrowly missed out on a quarter-final berth in Miami.

Other countries participating in the qualifiers are Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts and Nevis, Haiti, The Bahamas, Venezuela, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Ecuador.