Guyana Times - Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Government will always support rice farmers – Agri Minister

Guyana backs Brazil-led forest finance roadmap at UN event

Fmr GAWU

General Secretary appointed Chief Labour Officer

Ozempic-like medication for local market will require prescription – Health Minister Bahamians vote in snap election as PM Davis seeks rare 2nd term

BRIDGE OPENING

MAY 13, 2026

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, May 13 –13:45h–15:15h and Thursday, May 14 – 14:45h–16:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers are expected during the day and at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East-North-Easterly between 3.57 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 14:01h reaching a maximum height of 2.49 metres.

Low Tide: 07:33h and 19:54h reaching minimum heights of 0.72 metre and 0.70 metre.

Amid City Council neglect Central Govt to develop long-term maintenance plan for GT – Pres Ali …leads

early-morning assessment of flood-hit areas

uring the wee hours of Tuesday, President Dr Irfaan Ali led a team of Ministers and other officials to inspect flood-hit sections across Georgetown.

The Head of State revealed that 217 pumps are operable across the country, but with rainfall forecast to intensify over the next few days, additional pumps will be deployed by the weekend.

“So, we have about 217 pumps nationally deployed, working almost 24 hours around the clock. And that is in all of the critical areas. On Friday, we have an additional 11 pumps, new pumps that will be in the country to be deployed at other areas,” he explained in a live broadcast during his walkabout.

Accompanying the President was Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who said so far, there have been no major incidents and assured that authorities will continue to monitor vulnerable communities.

“So far, we haven’t had any major concerns where residents’ houses would have been flooded out, but we are still monitoring that,” he said.

The Government has activated a 24-hour monitoring room involving key agencies, including the Civil Defence Commission, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), the Guyana Police Force and other joint services.

Mustapha noted that as of 14:00h on Monday, Georgetown had already recorded approximately four and a half inches of rainfall.

The Hydrometeorological Service has forecast continued rainfall across Guyana from May 11–13, with heavier rainfall expected on May 14 and 15. These conditions increase the likelihood of flooding over the next five days, particularly in low-lying and poorlydrained communities.

Forecast models indicate that all regions may

ed clearing outfall channels.

“In addition to the pumps and sluices that are in place, what’s critical also is that we have started about two weeks ago, into the rainy season, the clearing of the outfall channels in Georgetown. We have 13 sluices, which is operated, and all those outfalls will be cleaned. We started, and that will continue. All the pumps are working, and not only in the city, throughout the coast, in areas in Region Six, the outfall channels are there. We have these new types of amphibious excavators, which are doing a great job on the inlet and the outlet side. So, if you go to many of these sluices sites’, a lot of excavation work is tak-

be affected, with Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six

(East Berbice-Corentyne) considered most at risk.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the NDIA, Lionel Wordsworth, noted that two weeks ago, authorities start-

ing place, and yes, we have to continue monitoring that we maximise these to drain accumulated water on the land,” he explained.

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Governance, not excuses

Heavy rainfall across Guyana once again has exposed the fragility of drainage infrastructure, the shortcomings of urban management, and the growing pressure climaterelated events are placing on national systems. While emergency responses and public inspections offer reassurance during periods of crisis, the recurring scenes of inundated streets, clogged drains and overwhelmed communities point to a deeper governance issue that cannot continue to be treated as a seasonal inconvenience.

In the face of these conditions, the swift response led by President Dr Irfaan Ali demonstrates the level of leadership and urgency required to protect communities during periods of national vulnerability.

The President’s decision to personally inspect flood-affected communities during the early hours of Tuesday morning reflected a hands-on approach to governance at a time when residents expect visibility, coordination and immediate action from the state.

More than 200 pumps are operating nationwide around the clock, with additional pumps expected to arrive and be deployed within days. A 24-hour monitoring system involving the Civil Defence Commission, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, the Guyana Police Force and other agencies has also been activated. These are not the actions of an Administration waiting for disaster to unfold. They reflect preparedness, investment and responsiveness.

Importantly, the current response also underscores how far Guyana’s disaster management systems have evolved. For years, flooding often exposed weaknesses in coordination and emergency readiness. Today, agencies are operating in a more integrated manner, supported by infrastructure investments, technical monitoring and ongoing drainage works. This level of national coordination is essential as climate patterns become increasingly unpredictable and intense rainfall events become more frequent.

However, even the most aggressive national response cannot fully compensate for local neglect. President Ali’s criticism of Georgetown’s municipal maintenance failures is both justified and necessary. The conditions observed in several communities reveal longstanding deficiencies that contribute directly to flooding.

Drainage infrastructure is only effective when it is maintained consistently, and pumps cannot function at maximum efficiency when canals and alleyway drains are obstructed. Storage capacity is lost when waterways are left uncleared. These are basic responsibilities of municipal governance, and their neglect places entire communities at risk during periods of heavy rainfall.

The situation in Queenstown, as highlighted during the President’s inspection, is representative of a broader issue affecting sections of Georgetown. Overgrown drains and poorly maintained alleyways have become recurring concerns despite repeated warnings over the years. The consequences are predictable: water accumulates rapidly, communities become inundated and residents bear the burden of institutional failure.

The President’s position that the central Government may have to implement long-term maintenance programmes is therefore rooted in practicality rather than politics. Flood management cannot be compromised by administrative inefficiency or lack of action at the municipal level. Where local systems fail to meet the demands of public safety and infrastructure upkeep, national intervention becomes necessary.

This approach should not be viewed as an erosion of local governance but as recognition that drainage and flood control are matters of national importance. Georgetown remains the country’s capital and commercial centre. Persistent flooding affects transportation, commerce, public health and overall productivity. The economic and social consequences extend far beyond individual neighbourhoods.

Climate resilience requires constant investment and disciplined maintenance. Guyana’s low-lying coastal geography has always made effective drainage essential, but the pressures are intensifying due to changing weather patterns, expanding urban development and population growth. Infrastructure systems designed decades ago now face heavier demands and require modernisation alongside continuous upkeep.

What the current situation ultimately reveals is the importance of decisive leadership. During periods of crisis, the public expects action, coordination and accountability. President Ali’s direct engagement, coupled with the Government’s operational response, reflects an administration prepared to confront both the immediate threat of flooding and the structural weaknesses contributing to it.

Guyana’s development trajectory demands resilient infrastructure and competent urban management. Economic transformation cannot coexist with recurring breakdowns in basic drainage maintenance. The country’s future growth depends not only on major investments and ambitious projects, but also on ensuring that cities and communities are capable of withstanding increasingly severe weather conditions.

It is no longer sufficient to respond to crises after they occur. The cost of neglect is already visible in flooded streets and overwhelmed drains in the city. The responsibility now is to ensure that such conditions are not allowed to become the accepted norm.

The hantavirus outbreak has been well-handled – but there are still dangerous days ahead …all the protocols that health experts like me look for have been followed. But outbreaks on cruise ships are notoriously hard to control

By Devi SriDhar

Hantavirus: the disease you wish you’d never heard of, as visions of the COVID pandemic flash through your head. I’ve seen lots of breathless coverage and some bizarre takes on social media, so I imagine many people are confused as to what’s going on.

Let me start by saying that this isn’t the COVID pandemic – only COVID was COVID. Previous hantavirus outbreaks have been contained (although none were on a cruise ship). So, for now, the risk to the general public is low – colleagues and I are still carrying on as normal and watching to see whether new infections arise outside the original cruise ship group. Those new infections would be the key step-change determining whether we see further spread and higher-risk public health alerts –or whether we’re at the end of this outbreak.

The first thing to know is that hantavirus cases happen all the time across the world. You just don’t hear about them. In fact, you probably didn’t hear about the Andes strain hantavirus outbreak in 2018 in Argentina, with 34 confirmed cases and 11 deaths.

Part of what makes the current outbreak unique –and newsworthy – is it being on a cruise ship with about 150 people of 23 nationalities. Cruise ships are

notorious for making outbreak control difficult, given the close living conditions, the frequent stops in various ports, the globetrotting nature of passengers and the difficulty in managing a public health response on the ship once a virus is detected.

Do you keep everyone on the ship, with the risk that further people become infected and unwell? Or do you take people off the ship and risk spread in each of their home nations? In this instance, quite a few passengers disembarked before the outbreak was detected and took commercial flights back home, meaning there is already wider potential exposure to the virus. We’ll only know for sure in the weeks to come.

When hantavirus was first mentioned, public health experts were hoping it was any strain beside the Andes strain, which can transmit from human to human and has previously caused super-spreading events. Add to that the fact that it has an incubation period of one to eight weeks, which means that just because someone tests negative today, it doesn’t mean they’re not infected. They could still become symptomatic and infectious later.

We also don’t have an approved vaccine, specific therapeutic or rapid diagnostic test that could be deployed against this strain. This means having to rely

on traditional public health measures of isolation and quarantine, N95 masks and stopping chains of infection.

We will know how many others were infected on the cruise ship in a matter of days, so expect more positive cases. We will also know within a few weeks if secondary contacts on flights and elsewhere were infected from passengers who disembarked before the outbreak was identified. None have been identified so far, which is good news. But it’s also early days.

And it’s imperative that those returning to their home countries are supported logistically, medically, and emotionally to quarantine for the full WHO-recommended 42 days and do not infect their close contacts, such as family and friends that they might want to see. With the long incubation period, this could mean cases emerging one to two months in the future and more chains of infection to shut down. We’re also in a unique situation of relying on 23 different governments to successfully manage their nationals returning home.

Finally, this has all been made more difficult by the fact that the US has traditionally been the leader in outbreak investigation and response through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But it recently quit the World Health Organisation (WHO) and fired all of the CDC’s cruise inspectors. To its

credit, the WHO has taken the lead on the response, working with the staff on the ship and multiple governments to coordinate a coherent and integrated response. All of these different countries are welcoming their nationals back and should all be following a similar containment protocol.

In the UK, the UK Health Security Agency (headed by Prof Sussan Hopkins) has been leading on this – and to its credit has taken a sensible, scientific and proactive response to managing the outbreak. For instance, using self-contained flats at Arrowe Park hospital in Wirral, Merseyside to house all those coming off the ship and ensuring they have a supported isolation arrangement with regular testing and medical assessments. They managed the Kent meningitis outbreak well, too.

Even if more cases arise, scientists are already looking for solutions: vaccine studies are being expedited, existing drugs that might work against hantavirus are being studied and diagnostics are being tested. Knowing some of the brightest minds in the world are looking for solutions will hopefully help you sleep better at night, too. (The Guardian)

Prof Devi Sridhar is chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, and the author of How Not to Die (Too Soon)

Govt will always support rice farmers – Agri Minister

…reaffirms commitment, expands diversification push

Rice farmers on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), were assured of the Government’s continued commitment to the rice industry when Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha met with farmers on Tuesday at the Anna Regina Town Council to address concerns about support measures and outline plans aimed at diversifying the sector. During

made by Government in the rice industry over the years, including subsidies for fertiliser and agrochemicals, flood relief assistance, upgrades to drainage and irrigation systems and improvements to farm-tomarket roads. According to Mustapha, rice production in Guyana has grown significantly over the last five years, increasing from about 500,000 tonnes in 2020 to more than 810,000 tonnes

and improve the resilience of the sector.

“It’s important that we plan our future… we must look at different areas; how can we build more interest to increase opportunities in our income earnings?” he told farmers.

Integrated farming activities

As part of the diversification initiative, farmers are being encouraged to dedicate at least two acres of land to

the meeting, Mustapha said the engagement followed concerns and misconceptions raised by farmers after President Dr Irfaan Ali recently announced assistance measures for rice farmers. The Minister explained that Government is seeking to ensure that the registration process is accurate so support can be distributed fairly and efficiently.

“There is some misconception in relation to what the President would have announced… and a number of farmers would have called me trying to clarify some of the criteria that are in use to register farmers so that we can ensure that we have an accurate list,” Mustapha said. The Agriculture Minister also outlined the investments

in 2025, marking the first time the country surpassed the 800,000-tonne threshold. “We have been increasing production over the last five years… from 500,000 tonnes to 810,000 tonnes in 2025. That’s a tremendous achievement for us,” he stated. The Minister further disclosed that approximately $832 million in drainage, irrigation and infrastructure works are planned or already ongoing in Region Two. These works include the desilting and excavation of canals, bridge rehabilitation and upgrades to farmto-market roads. Mustapha said that while Government remains committed to rice production, there is also a need for farmers to diversify agricultural activities to expand income opportunities

integrated farming activities such as onion, vegetable and coconut cultivation. The Minister pointed to the success of a pilot onion cultivation project in Region Nine, noting that locally grown onions are already being distributed to major supermarkets in Georgetown. He added that around 40 acres have already been identified along the Essequibo Coast for onion production.

“So this year we have decided that we will go into large scale because we want to produce all our onion needs. So we don’t want to import any onions again,” Mustapha explained. Government is also seeking to expand coconut cultivation through the use of high-yielding green dwarf coconut vari-

eties imported from Brazil. Technical support for the initiative is expected from agencies including the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI). Despite the push for diversification, Mustapha stressed that Government is not shifting away from rice production but is seeking to make the industry more competitive, sustainable and profitable.

“The Government will never avoid rice. We will always support rice farmers. We will ensure that we expand the rice industry,” he said. The Minister also addressed concerns over outstanding payments owed to farmers by some rice millers, stating that the GRDB has been instructed to engage millers to ensure that affected farmers are paid promptly. He assured farmers that Government will continue investing in the agriculture sector while modernising farming practices and creating additional income-generating opportunities. “We have to modernise the sector; we have to make the sector more resilient and sustainable,” Mustapha stated. Also attending the meeting were Regional Chairperson Devin Mohan, Regional Vice-Chairman Humace Oodit, Director General Dhanesh Deonarine and other regional officials.

Manipulate the subsidy programme

Meanwhile, during a separate engagement with farmers at Auchlyne Primary School in Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Saturday last, Mustapha warned that police involvement could follow if rice farmers attempt to manipulate the Government’s newly announced subsidy programme by falsely dividing acreage among relatives in order to qualify for higher

payments.

The Minister said concerns had emerged following President Ali’s announcement that farmers cultivating 50 acres or less would receive $15,000 per acre, while those cultivating more than 50 acres would receive $10,000 per acre as part of a multi-billion-dollar support package for the rice sector.

He explained that the GRDB already maintains records of acreage cultivated by rice farmers across the country and said the Government intends for the process to remain transparent and accountable. At another meeting in Black Bush Polder, Mustapha reportedly warned that law enforcement authorities could become involved if there are deliberate attempts to defraud the system. The

00:00 Sign Off

President Ali announced on April 30 that Government would provide $3 billion in support to rice farmers. Farmers cultivating 50 acres or less are expected to receive $15,000 per acre, while those cultivating more than 50 acres will receive $10,000 per acre. According to the President, the assistance is intended for farmers actively cultivating rice and not absentee landowners. The announcement was linked to rising input costs, shipping challenges, fuel and fertiliser pressures, and wider global disruptions affecting the rice sector. WEDNESDAY,

Minister said the assistance programme is part of wider efforts to cushion the effects of declining paddy prices and rising input costs affecting the rice industry.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2026

06:00 TVG Devotional Hour

07:00 Evening News (RB)

08:00 Documentary: Nat Geo Animals

09:00 Stop Suffering

10:00 TATA IPL RCB vs KKR (Willow)

12:00 News Break

12:05 TATA IPL RCB vs KKR (Willow)

14:00 Documentary: Nat Geo Animals

15:00 Cartoons

16:00 Indian Soaps

17:00 The Young & The Restless

18:00 Documentary: Nat Geo Animals

19:00 The Evening News

20:00 Stop Suffering

20:30 Movie - CrimeTime: Freefall (2024)

22:00 Movie - Doctor Strange (2016)

Page Foundation

◄ CXC Questions

1. Calculate the EXACT value of

2. The table below shows Amanda’s shopping bill. Some numbers were removed and replaced with letters.

i. Calculate the values of A, B, C and D. Amanda sold 6 of the 12 stickers at 75 cents each and the remaining stickers at 40 cents each.

ii. Show, using calculations, whether Amanda made a profit or loss on buying and selling stickers.

3. Factorise:

i. 5a2b + ab2

ii. 9k2 – 1

iii. 2y2 – 5y + 2

b. Expand and simplify (2x + 5)(3x – 4)

4. In the diagram shown below, the Universal set, (U), represents all the students in a class. The set M represents the students who take Music. The set D represents the students who take Drama. If 24 students take Music, calculate: i. the number of students who take BOTH Music and Drama ii. the number of students who take Drama ONLY.

5. A straight line passes through the point P(-3, 5) and has a gradient of . Write down the equation of this line in the form y = mx + c.

Show that this line is parallel to the line 2x — 3y = 0.

6. The figures shown below, not drawn to scale, represent the cross sections of two circular pizzas. Both pizzas are equally thick and contain the same toppings.

c. Adam, Imran and Shakeel were playing a card game.

Adam scored x points.

Imran scored 3 points fewer than Adam. Shakeel scored twice as many points as Imran.

Together they scored 39 points.

i. Write down, in terms of x, an expression for the number of points scored by Shakeel.

ii. Write an equation which may be used to find the value of x.

shadow of length 2m on the horizontal as shown in the diagram below, not drawn to scale.

Calculate, to the NEAREST degree, the angle of elevation of the sun.

9. In the diagram shown below, ABCDE is a pentagon. BAE = 108°, ABC = 90°, AED =80°, ADC = 57° and AE is parallel to CD.

i. Is a medium pizza twice as large as a small pizza? Use calculations to support your answer.

ii. A medium pizza is cut into 3 equal parts, and each part is sold for $15.95. A small pizza is sold for $12.95. Which is the better buy? Use calculations to support your answer.

7. a. On graph paper, draw the x-axis and the y-axis. Using a scale of 1cm to represent 1 unit on both axes, draw the triangle DEF with vertices D (1, 1), E (3, 1) and F (1, 4).

b. i. Draw the image of ∆DEF under reflection in the line x = 4. Name the image ∆D’E’F’.

Calculate the size of the angle marked i. x 0 ii. y 0

Show all steps in your calculations and give reasons for your answers.

10. The functions f and g are defined by f(x)= and g(x)=x 2

Evaluate i. g(3)+g(-3) ii. f -1 (6) ii i. fg(2)

By Gerard Manley-Hopkins

The world is charged with the grandeur of God. It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?

Generations have trod, have trod, have trod; And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil; And wears man's smudge and shares man's smell: the soil Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent; There lives the dearest freshness deep down things; And though the last lights off the black West went Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs — Because the Holy Ghost over the bent World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings

Questions

What message is the poet trying to convey?

How does the poet use imagery to create meaning?

What is the tone of the poem?

What is the speaker’s attitude toward the subject?

ii. Draw the image of ∆D’E'F’ under the translation . Name the image D’’E’’F’’.

iii. Name the type of transformation that maps ∆DEF onto ∆D’’E’’F’’.

8. A vertical stick of height 1.8m casts a

If money were no issue, what career or job would you choose?

Paediatric & Maternal Hospital

Ownership shake-up at contracting firm delays completion of $31.9B facility

The completion of the $31.9 billion stateof-the-art Paediatric and Maternal Hospital in Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD) has been delayed amid ownership changes at the contracting firm, VAMED Engineering.

This was disclosed by Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony during the Starting Point podcast on Sunday.

“The company has undergone a lot of changes. So originally, it was owned jointly by the Austrian Government and Fresenius, that’s one of these makers of dialysis machines. So, the Austrian Government sold their shares, Fresenius became a 100 per cent owner. Then they sell their shares

again too, now it’s a German company. So, because of these, we’ve had some hiccups,” the Health Minister explained.

Nonetheless, he said the Guyana Government continues to engage the firm to ensure the hospital’s timely and efficient completion.

“But we’re working with them to get these projects on track and for them to complete,” Dr Anthony noted.

The contract was signed in June 2022, and the project was initially slated for completion in late 2024. President Dr Irfaan Ali had announced in November 2024 that the company was expected to pay liquidated damages over the delays.

Meanwhile, Dr Anthony noted that once operational,

the hospital will significantly strengthen the country’s capacity to deliver maternal and paediatric healthcare services.

The hospital will feature 256 beds and will specialise in maternal, neonatal and paediatric care, with a huge imaging suite for services such as CT scans, x-rays and MRI.

“So, 100 of those beds would be maternal beds, and the others would be paediatric. So, it would be a paediatric subspeciality hospital, meaning if you have kids with cardiac problems, they’ll be able to get treatment there; if you have kids with oncology problems, and so, we’ll be able to treat them there,” Dr Anthony noted.

Central Govt to develop long-term...

FROM PAGE 3

City Council neglect

Meanwhile, while in Queenstown, President Ali highlighted poor maintenance by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council as a major factor contributing to persistent flooding across the capital.

“There are a few streets, however, in Georgetown and a few areas that continue to have this challenge that we see here, for example, in Queenstown, where you have some flooded areas,” the President outlined during his live broadcast, pointing to the overflowing drains.

“You will see that a lot of it is filled in with sand and filled in with builders’ waste and also overgrown. The lack of maintenance from the city, of course, is a major challenge for us. When you look at the alleyways in Queenstown and many of the other areas in Georgetown, even in Albouystown and so on, the drainage between the alleyways are completely overgrown. They are not maintained at all,” the President noted, adding that these areas are only ever maintained through the central Government’s capital interventions.

He explained that because of the lack of maintenance, even though the pumps are working, flooding will continue to occur.

Pointing to a flooded drain in Queenstown, the President remarked that “this should have been a drain that should have had also storage capacity. But look at the drain, not maintained at all.”

In this regard, President Ali explained that the central Government will have to develop a long-term maintenance programme.

“We can’t rely on the City Council,” he noted. “We have to make these investments.”

He added that efforts have already commenced to train the relevant personnel for the facility.

“So, while we’re building, we’ve also identified a number of people, and we’ve been sending them abroad for training. So once that is completed, we’ll have relevant expertise to start some of the departments,” he noted.

Further speaking on maternal healthcare, Dr Anthony noted that Guyana has enhanced treatment and recorded a reduction in maternal deaths.

“So, the reports over the last, I would say ten years, we have seen a decline in maternal deaths, and that’s because of the interventions that we have put in place,” he said, noting that a main intervention was to address postpartum haemorrhaging.

“There are a couple of reasons why women might die during childbirth. One would be postpartum haemorrhage, meaning bleeding after delivery. And if that’s not properly managed, you can have persons dying. So, we recognise that as an issue, and we have trained healthcare workers across the public health system to respond appropriately to this. In the last, I would

say, three to four years, we have not had any case of postpartum haemorrhage, and I attribute that largely to the kinds of training that we have given to our healthcare workers,” the Health Minister highlighted.

Another intervention is the creation of “waiting homes”.

“So, a waiting home is a building that we have put in the compound of a hospital, and people who live far away, they can come to the hospital, stay in the waiting home, and then when they go into labour, they move from that home into the delivery ward, and so they can have a safe delivery. Prior to this, a lot of people on their way to the hospital would deliver the baby, and sometimes that’s very unsafe and it can lead to a lot of complications. So, we’re trying to eliminate that. So far, we’ve established maybe about six waiting homes across the country, and we are opening new ones because we want every interior hospital to have a waiting home next to it,” the Health Minister explained.

Nevertheless, when a maternal death occurs, he noted that robust systems are in place to investigate what went wrong.

“What we do immediately within 24 hours, the entire chart for that patient is basically seized, and that has to be sent to the Chief Medical Officer. And we do that because we don’t want anybody to go and interfere and add anything or write anything or do anything to that chart. So that goes to the Chief Medical Officer, and then he would set up, in the first instance, they will set up an internal team to that institution who will review the case, and then you have an external team that would go in and also do a review. And if there’s any negligence on anybody’s behalf, that person is then taken in front of the medical council. And the medical council would decide what actions to take,” he outlined.

Similarly, he said if nurses are found to be negligent, they will be dealt with by the nursing council. In extreme cases, he said healthcare professionals can be barred from practising. Moreover, in addition to the internal Ministry of Health’s investigation, Dr Anthony said there is a maternal mortality committee that also conducts a probe. Guyana recorded 11 maternal deaths in 2025.

Kaneville security officer pleads guilty to manslaughter in “Wrong Turn” killing – video

captured fatal confrontation

after fight at shop

AKaneville, East Bank Demerara (EBD) security officer who was initially indicted for murder has pleaded guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter in connection with the 2022 killing of Devon Small during a confrontation at “Wrong Turn”, Kaneville.

The case was heard before Justice Joy PersaudSingh, at the Georgetown High Court.

Marlon Hunte had originally been charged with the murder of 35-year-old Small, of Lot 383 Matthew Street, Kaneville, following the deadly incident on September 18, 2022.

Hunte was represented by Attorney-at-Law Dexter Todd while the State’s case was presented by Prosecutors Padma Dubraj, Nelissa Peterkin, and Alleya Haywood.

According to reports, the two men were well known to each other and had been drinking together at a shop in Kaneville on the night of the incident. An argument reportedly broke out between the men while they were imbibing and escalated into a fight.

Investigators said that following the altercation, Hunte left on his bicycle while Small drove away in his motor car. However, the confrontation reportedly continued moments later when Small’s vehicle

collided with Hunte’s bike.

It is alleged that Hunte then armed himself with a blade, went over to the driver’s side of the vehicle, and stabbed Small multiple times.

The violent encounter was captured on video. During the investigation, Hunte also participated in a recorded interview with Police and later accompanied investigators back to the scene, where he reportedly demonstrated and explained how the incident unfolded.

A post-mortem examination conducted at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) Mortuary by forensic pathologist, Dr Nehaul P Singh revealed that Small sustained three stab wounds, two to the left side of the chest and one to the right arm.

TURN TO PAGE 16

Revising…

…PNC’s history

Having some time on his hands, your Eyewitness decided to take “a look and listen” to the latest Desmond Hoyte Commemorative Lecture – this one being the 11th since he passed in 2002. It was delivered by a technocrat who became an insider with the PNC under Desmond Hoyte after he acceded to the presidency back in 1985 – Dr Aubrey Armstrong. Offering his background – which evidently started with him working under Hoyte, who was then a Minister – he hinted he left when he ran afoul of the then PM Ptolemy Reid and returned when Hoyte was bumped upwards. Hoyte appointed him to the PNC Central Executive…using his powers as leader!! This made Armstrong his “creature” similarly to Aubrey Norton as General Secretary – whom he could then fire at will!! It seems Armstrong got as close as anyone could to the austere Hoyte – and used the latter’s handling of leadership of the PNC and Government to suggest – without calling names – what the present PNC leader Norton ought to be doing!! But while his theoretical formulations sounded good, in your Eyewitness’s estimate, he didn’t contextualise them enough!! For example, he lauds Hoyte’s “walking” –as like in cricket when we’re given out! – after he lost the elections in 1992!! But he neglected to mention that it took a visit from Jimmy Carter – who patched him through to a call from the President of America, Bill Clinton – to convince him to step down!! In cricket you don’t wait for the umpire – here the electorate – to threaten with jailtime before you “walk”!! A more apt example woulda been the 1986 elections – which Hoyte rigged on a scale far exceeding any of Burnham’s efforts!!

Then there was the advice to accept a wide array of views inside the party and not be afraid of those views being expressed!! If your Eyewitness remembers right, as soon as Hoyte took over as leader, he decapitated every leader who could challenge him!! He used various subterfuges – banishments as ambassadors, side-lining – like with Granger with Joe Singh, expulsion – like with Hamilton Green, and firing – like with Aubrey Norton!! And so on and so forth!! And with the lauded “Reform” wing Hoyte created for the PNC – wasn’t this to fill the gaps he’d created with his bloodbath of the “long knives”?? This allowed him to pick persons from the outside with no political bases – who were then totally beholden to him!!

But as your Eyewitness listened to Armstrong describing how he moved up in the PNC echelons, all he could think was how could Jeffrey appoint him to arbitrate the 1999 public servants’ strike against the PPP government – where he was awarded a 36% raise!!

Oh…they were BOTH PNC!! Sleeper cell!!

…international law!

It would seem that we’ve really entered a new world in the wake of Pres Trump’s extraction of Mad Maduro as Venezuela’s President – and replacing him with his deputy Delirious, Devious Delcy!! It seems that she can’t unilaterally rewrite four hundred internal laws – promulgated by the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648! – that each state have sovereignty over their affairs!!

She took time to fly over to the World Court at the Hague to personally inform the World Court that the people of Venezuela, through their referendum on December 3, 2023, ALREADY decided how the border controversy should be resolved!!

“They turned out in large numbers at the polls and gave us a series of clear and unequivocal mandates. Firstly, the mandate maintains the historical position of existential matters such as independence and territorial integrity to judicial mechanisms. Secondly, their mandate is to uphold the Geneva Agreement as the only valid, legal instrument for resolving the territorial dispute over the Essequibo”!! Ipso facto, the right to annex Essequibo! High on cocaine??

…leaders’ regimen

Jetting in late Monday night from a packed schedule in Canada, Pressie went out with several ministers to personally observe the impact of massive flooding from the heavy rains in GT!

Answers gotta be forthcoming!!

Guyana backs Brazil-led forest finance roadmap at UN event

Guyana on Monday renewed calls for stronger international financing mechanisms to support forest conservation during an event held on the side-lines of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF). Speaking at the

event organised by Brazil’s COP30 Presidency in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett stressed the need for practical action to halt and re-

Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett speaking at the event organised by Brazil’s COP30 Presidency in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO); United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

verse deforestation and forest degradation by 2030. The event focused on advancing the COP30 roadmap aimed at addressing global forest loss. Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett commended Brazil’s leadership in advancing the global forest agenda at a time when urgent implementation is needed. She reiterated Guyana’s position that forests must provide sustained economic value for the countries and communities that protect them if global conservation goals are to be achieved. She noted that the current global economic sys-

tem continues to reward activities that remove forests, such as agriculture, mining and land conversion, while the climate and ecosystem services provided by standing forests remain under-financed and undervalued.

According to the Ambassador, this imbalance remains a major obstacle to achieving the international target of halting and reversing forest loss by 2030. Rodrigues-Birkett also expressed Guyana’s support for the Forest Finance Roadmap developed by Brazil, UNEP and other partners under the

Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP). She identified high-integrity jurisdictional REDD+ carbon markets, including ART-TREES, and the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) as two financing pathways requiring immediate international backing to help close the global forest finance gap. Guyana has consistently advocated for international recognition and compensation for countries that maintain high levels of forest cover while pursuing sustainable development.

Over 90,000 street lights, 2000 security cameras set for installation nationwide – VP

Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday said that more than 90,000 street lights and some 2000 security cameras are awaiting installation in communities across Guyana as the Government moves ahead with major infrastructure upgrades in communities countrywide.

The VP noted that garbage compactors have already been purchased for almost all Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and townships as the Government works to improve drainage, sanitation and security in communities.

Jagdeo made the disclosure while speaking with Journalists on the sidelines of his Public Day on Monday, held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, which was opened to the public to allow citizens to raise concerns directly with Government Ministers and officials.

Hundreds of Guyanese attended the outreach seeking assistance with a range

of issues affecting their communities and personal circumstances.

Speaking to reporters, the VP explained that the outreach was structured to allow residents to engage Ministers directly based on the specific issues they wished to address.

“People have come here hoping to get their issues resolved, and you have several Ministers here. We have now separated people by issues, and they’re in each room having a one-on-one interaction with the Ministers, and I’ll be moving around meeting people. Later, I’ll meet with them separately,” Jagdeo said.

He added, “Hopefully at the end of the day we’ll be able to resolve many of the issues faced by many of our people, and even if we can’t resolve it today, we’ll set out a process through which we can resolve it by meeting them subsequently or alternatively talking to the technical staff to address them.”

According to the VP, many of the concerns raised

Fmr GAWU General Secretary appointed Chief Labour Officer

Former General Secretary of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), Aslim Singh, has been appointed the country’s new Chief Labour Officer.

The post was previously held by Dhaneshwar Deonarine. Singh is an experienced Human Resources/ Employee Relations Manager with a strong background in legal compliance and collective bargaining agreements. He holds a Masters of Science in Industrial and Employment Relations and a Masters of Business Administration in Human Relations. Singh is presently accompanying Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning Keoma Griffith, at the meeting of the Working Groups of the XXII Inter-American Conference of Ministers of Labour (IACML) and the RIAL Workshop on Social Dialogue underway in Paraguay.

The engagement brings together labour Ministers, offi-

cials, and regional stakeholders from across the Americas to advance discussions on institutionalised social dialogue, labour policy, workforce development, social protection systems, and the future of work through collaborative and people-centred approaches. Meanwhile, GAWU has since appointed Porandatt Narine as its new General Secretary.

by residents centred around drainage, garbage collection and street lighting in communities.

“We heard a lot about issues surrounding drainage in the community, garbage collection, lights in the community, and the things that we identified in the campaign and we are now addressing. We have not been able to address this fully as yet,” he said.

Providing an update on the Government’s infrastructure plans, Jagdeo disclosed that tens of thousands of streetlights are already in

Guyana awaiting installation.

“For example, we have nearly 90,000 street lights that are in the country now that we need to install in villages and wards in the city. We have started the drainage programme. We’re going to now have to accelerate that,” he stated.

The VP also noted that Government is moving ahead with plans to strengthen security in communities through the installation of surveillance cameras.

“We are putting in security cameras, which is what

we promised [during the 2025 elections campaign].

This year, maybe about 2000 of those would go across the country in the villages to enhance security; a lot of those things we promised,” Jagdeo said.

Addressing garbage disposal and sanitation concerns, he noted that the Government has already acquired garbage compactors for local democratic organs and is now working to establish additional disposal sites.

“The garbage – we already bought compactors for almost all the NDCs and the

townships. And now we are preparing places for people to take the garbage because for some of the NDCs, you have to travel a long distance,” he explained.

Jagdeo acknowledged that while the Government has begun addressing many of the issues raised during the election campaign, some citizens have grown impatient with the pace of implementation.

“But sometimes people become a little bit impatient, so they come. So a lot of those things people have come about,” he said.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2026 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

Government and citizens working together for a better Guyana

The Vice President and the Cabinet engaged citizens on May 11 in an exercise to address concerns and to find solutions to difficulties citizens face. The clueless Azruddin Mohamed and his WIN party portrayed the outreach at the Convention Centre as disgruntled citizens confronting and berating the Government for incompetency and discrimination. The opposition alleged that people showed up at the Convention Centre crying out against the small contract initiative as corrupt and intended only for friends and family of Ministers. They completely ignored the truth that people seized the opportunity for the Government and the people to work together to find ways to make a “good programme better”.

Citizens who attended the outreach on Monday with VP Bharrat Jagdeo reported that their problems were solved and their concerns addressed or that a mechanism was put in place to address them. Participating citizens essentially rejected the opposition’s claim that people came out to berate the Government. Far from it, people continue to value a Government that is always accessible and available to address concerns and find solutions to citizens’ everyday problems.

Bringing Government to the people is synonymous with the PPP. Cheddi Jagan pioneered bringing the Government to citizens after democracy was restored in independent Guyana in October 1992, insisting that Government must go to the people. President Bharrat Jagdeo, between 1999 and 2011, ensured that the Government was with the people where they live every day by bringing the Cabinet meetings into the communities across Guyana. Today, President Irfaan Ali is ensuring that Government is with the people, ensuring “Government lives where the people live”.

This past weekend, President Irfaan Ali engaged the diaspora in Canada. Wherever the Guyanese diaspora can be found, whether it was President Cheddi Jagan, President Bharrat Jagdeo or now President Irfaan Ali, PPP Presidents and Cabinets have sought them out. PPP Presidents have brought Guyana’s Governments to the people wherever they live, in and out of Guyana.

Even as President Ali concluded his visit to Canada, where he also met Prime Minister Carney, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo was meeting with Guyanese citizens at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre in Georgetown. Hundreds showed up to meet with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, other Cabinet members and senior Government officials. For Azruddin Mohamed, the only reason citizens came out in numbers is that Government is not working. For citizens, it was an opportunity to work with Government for more effective governance.

For example, for the first time, cash grants were made possible through an online, digital portal. Almost 300,000 people aged 18 years and older have accessed their $100,000 cash grants through a digital facility with their cash grant deposited directly into their accounts. For many Guyanese, this was a welcome change from previous distributions where people had to make long lines, spending hours at various distribution sites.

But the online, digital registration process was not smooth for everyone. Some persons had to spend hours and days and only succeeded after multiple attempts. A small group tried, failed and gave up. At the Convention Centre engagement with VP Bharrat Jagdeo on Monday, May 11, some of these persons showed up. They did not come to complain; they came seeking solutions to their problems with trying to access their cash grant online. Everyone who came seeking solutions to their problem of registering for their cash grant online was able to find solutions, most relating that it took no more than five minutes to resolve their registration problems. This is truly bringing Government to the people, ensuring solutions emerge.

The cash grant digital system has largely worked, even if it’s not perfect. It is the same with other digital portals that have been introduced in Guyana. Far from failure, Guyana has entered the modern world, even if not perfectly. Azruddin sees failure; citizens see a Government working for the people and the country. Everywhere in the world, ordinary citizens face routine problems, and it seems Government “doesn’t work for them”. The PPP leaders recognise that despite their best intentions, Government services often disappoint people. PPP Presidents accept that Government services sometimes are not responsive to people’s needs. Taking the Government to people is one of the strategies PPP Presidents have utilised so that as far as possible the everyday issues people face are dealt with.

The PPP campaigned to ensure that small contractors get an opportunity to participate in the rapid development taking place in Guyana. President Irfaan Ali, VP Bharrat Jagdeo, PM Mark Phillips and the Cabinet created opportunities for small contractors to apply for small projects up to $15M. This prevents these small contractors from bidding and facing unfair competition from bigger contractors. Thousands of Guyanese have benefited from this programme. In order to improve transparency and accountability, the PPP Government decided to introduce a registration system for small contractors and to ensure that all legitimate small contractors get at least one contract. By far, it appears that this was a major reason people showed up to engage VP Bharrat Jagdeo and the Cabinet. VP Bharrat Jagdeo explained that despite Government’s efforts, the small contract initiative has faced problems. Naturally, people would seize the opportunity to gain an unfair advantage. Some persons register all adult members of their families as independent contractors. How Government determine whether every member of a family is a legitimate contractor or whether several contracts are obtained by a single person through different names has become an issue. The Government has taken an approach to reduce and eliminate unfair practices. At the Convention Centre outreach, clearly this was a major issue the Government tried to address. This is how Government must work.

But for Azruddin Mohamed and WIN, the only reason hundreds showed up was to register their disgust. Actually, people showed up because they believe their Government cares and that they were participating to improve Government services.

Ozempic-like medication for local market will require prescription – Health Minister …to

clamp down on misuse

An Ozempic-like medication is set for approval in Guyana, but Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony is warning against its misuse, noting that strict monitoring will be conducted. Speaking on the Starting Point podcast on Sunday, Dr Anthony noted that in another two months, a “generic version of Ozempic” would be available on the local market. Ozempic is a United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)approved, once-weekly injection that improves blood sugar management in adults with type 2 diabetes and reduces cardiovascular risks.

It works by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone to regulate appetite and insulin, frequently causing weight loss as a side effect. Last year, the Government revealed that it was in discussions with international partners to produce biosim-

ilars or equivalent medications to popular, high-demand drugs like Ozempic.

According to the Health Minister, “One of the companies that are manufacturing Ozempic has applied for its registration here in Guyana. So, the dossier that they have submitted to the Food and Drug is currently being processed.”

Just last month, President Dr Irfan Ali had revealed that the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department in

Guyana is working on approving the use of Mounjaro, another once-weekly self-injectable medication for managing type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management in adults. Nonetheless, the Health Minister cautioned that these types of drugs must be used with strict medical supervision.

“Ozempic and this line of medicines that have now become available, they have been helpful to a lot of patients, but it requires proper medical use, and it must be

under medical supervision, because without that, then people can misuse it, and it can become a problem for them,” he expressed. In fact, Dr Anthony noted that once the drug enters the market, extensive monitoring will be conducted to ensure it is used appropriately. “This is not a non-prescription item; you have to get a prescription. somebody got to supervise your care, and I think people should stick to what these medications are intended for,” he emphasised.

“Once you bring a product onto the market, you also have to do surveillance to see how the product is being used, and that surveillance will tell you whether it’s used appropriately or inappropriately, and if it’s being used inappropriately, then relevant actions will have to be taken. So, we’ll be doing that monitoring as well,” he further explained.

Assuria introduces airport lounge access for Privileged Club members

Insurance company

Assuria has announced a new travel-related benefit for members of its Privileged Club, offering complimentary access to the Roraima Airways Executive Lounge at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.

The new benefit took effect on May 12, 2026, and is available to Privileged Club gold cardholders.

On Tuesday, to mark the launch of the initiative, Assuria presented the first Assuria Executive Lounge Pass to Dr Gobind Ganga, Governor of the Bank of Guyana.

Under the programme, eligible members will receive three complimentary lounge visits per policy year, with each visit fully covered by the company. Additional visits will be available at a reduced rate, while members will also be able to bring guests at a discounted fee.

According to Assuria, the initiative is part of efforts to expand the benefits available through its Privileged

Yogindra Arjune said the company continues to seek ways to add value for clients through partnerships and customer-focused initiatives.

He noted that the collaboration with Roraima Airways reflects a shared interest in improving the travel experience for customers while supporting local cor-

porate partnerships. Assuria also announced that beginning in June 2026, two clients will be randomly selected each month to receive an Executive Lounge Pass.

Miner granted $100K bail on narcotics trafficking charge

A34-year-old Bartica miner charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking was on Monday granted $100,000 bail when he appeared at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

Club, which rewards customer loyalty with exclusive services and experiences. Managing

Director

Frankie Speede of Fifth Avenue, Bartica, Essequibo, appeared before Magistrate Teriq Mohamed, where the charge was read to him under Section 5(1)(a)(i) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act, Chapter 10:10. Speede pleaded not guilty to the charge. The matter was adjourned to June 6, 2026 for continuation.

While details surrounding the circumstances of the charge were not disclosed by the Police, Speede has previously faced a similar narcotics-related matter before the same court.

In December 2024, Speede was charged with possession of 92 grams of cannabis after Police in Regional Division Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) reportedly conducted a search op-

eration at his shop located at Fifth Avenue, Bartica.

According to reports, ranks carried out a search of the premises for drugs, guns, and ammunition, during which a quantity of cannabis was allegedly discovered. The substance was weighed and amounted to 92 grams. Speede was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with the discovery. He had denied any involvement when he appeared before Magistrate Mohamed, and was granted $60,000 bail.

The latest charge against the miner comes as law enforcement authorities continue intensified anti-narcotics operations across mining districts and hinterland communities aimed at disrupting the trafficking and distribution of illegal drugs.

Kaneville security officer pleads...

The examination also found several abrasions on the shoulder and forehead, along with a superficial wound to the neck.

According to the post-mortem findings, one of the stab wounds penetrated the chest wall and pierced the heart, while another punctured the left lung, causing significant internal

bleeding and collapse of the lung. The wound to the right arm severed blood vessels.

Dr Singh concluded that Small died from stab wounds which pierced the heart and left lung, resulting in fatal internal bleeding.

Following the killing, Hunte, 35, was charged and appeared before Principal Magistrate Judy

Latchman in September 2022 at the Diamond-Grove Magistrate’s Court, where he was remanded to prison after being denied bail on the indictable murder charge. He has since admitted to unlawfully killing Small after pleading guilty to manslaughter, and is set to be sentenced on June 2.

Police probe alleged murder after stabbed taxi driver crashes into canal

…21-year-old contractor in custody

the trench.

Police in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are investigating the alleged murder of a 42-yearold taxi driver whose vehicle plunged into a canal along the Edinburgh Public Road, East Bank Berbice, early Tuesday morning after he was reportedly stabbed during an argument moments earlier.

Dead is Oswin Lawson of Lot 46 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

Initial Police reports had indicated that the incident was being treated as a fatal accident after Lawson’s motor car, HD 8644, crashed into a roadside stand before ending up submerged in a canal at about 01:30h.

According to Police, Lawson was driving south along the eastern drive lane of the Edinburgh Public Road at a fast rate of speed when he allegedly lost control of the vehicle and collided with the stand situated on the eastern grass parapet before plunging into

Investigators initially suspected that the driver may have fallen asleep.

However, the investigation later took a dramatic turn after several suspected stab wounds were discovered on Lawson’s upper body.

Police subsequently revisited the scene and, based on information received, arrested a 21-year-old contractor of Edinburgh, East Bank Berbice.

Investigators now believe that Lawson had been involved in an altercation shortly before the crash.

According to Police, Lawson was at a social gathering at a shop along the Edinburgh Public Road when an argument allegedly erupted between him and the 21-year-old suspect.

The confrontation reportedly escalated, during which Lawson was allegedly attacked.

Police said the injured man later entered his vehicle and drove away from the scene before the vehicle went overboard

into the trench.

Eyewitnesses said Lawson drove only a short distance before crashing into the roadside stand and ending up in the canal.

One resident recalled hearing a loud impact shortly after a commotion in the area.

“After the commotion, I heard a loud banging sound, so I immediately thought this was an accident,” the man explained.

The witness said that when he went outside, he saw Lawson’s girlfriend shouting for help.

“She was yelling, ‘Somebody go overboard; go help the man overboard’,” the resident recalled.

The man said he wanted to assist but was unable to swim.

According to the eyewitness, the vehicle remained visible in the water for several minutes before becoming fully submerged.

“The car took at least three to five minutes before it went

down,” he said, adding that one of the windows was down.

“It wasn’t like the window was up and he couldn’t come out. Apparently, he was unconscious when the vehicle hit the water,” the resident said.

The witness further claimed that the vehicle remained submerged for more than an hour before it was eventually pulled from the canal.

Police said Lawson was removed from the vehicle in an

unconscious condition by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival by a doctor on duty.

The eyewitness also expressed frustration over what he believed was a delayed rescue response.

According to him, emergency responders and Police arrived at the scene, but the vehicle remained underwater

2nd pump installed

for a prolonged period before Lawson was removed.

Police have since confirmed that the suspect remains in custody, assisting with investigations.

Reports are that the suspect is a close relative of Lawson’s fiancée.

Lawson’s body has since been taken to Arokium Funeral Home, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination as investigations continue. (G-4)

in Alexander Village as Govt moves to tackle flooding –

Mustapha says area among Georgetown’s most flood-prone communities

Residents of Alexander Village are expected to see improved drainage following the installation of a second pump in the community as the Government moves to address persistent flooding in vulnerable areas across Georgetown.

The additional pump was installed on Tuesday at the River View pump station on the instructions of President Dr Irfaan Ali after severe overnight rainfall left several communities inundated.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, who visited the area Tuesday afternoon, said the President ordered immediate intervention after touring flood-affected commu-

nities in Georgetown during the early hours of the morning.

“Last night and this morning, around 1 am this morning, the President, as soon as he landed, he came out, and he asked that we visit Georgetown,” Mustapha said.

According to the Agriculture Minister, the President, along with officials, visited several flood-hit areas including the Liliendaal pump station, Queenstown and Alexander Village to assess the situation.

Mustapha explained that both Alexander Village and Queenstown remain among the most vulnerable communities during periods of heavy rainfall because water accumulates there much faster than in other parts of Georgetown.

“These are very low-lying and vulnerable areas. So these are the areas that accumulate water much faster than any parts of Georgetown,” he stated.

However, the Minister noted that while water in Queenstown was receding rapidly during the inspection, flooding in Alexander Village continued to worsen.

“When we came here, the water was filling up Alexander Village. So the President instructed that we move another pump and bring it here,” Mustapha disclosed.

Former PNCR Chairman leads cohort of exPNCR members to declare support for PPP/C

In a recruitment win for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), former People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairman Shurwayne Holder, on Tuesday, led a delegation of ex-PNCR figures to meet with PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo and formally declare their support for that party.

Holder was joined at the meeting by former A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) parliamentarians Ricky Ramsaroop and Dinish Jaiprashad, as well as current APNU Regional Councillors Ravoldo Birbal, Sheikh Yaseen, Prince Holder, and Gangadai Lloyd.

APNU is the umbrella coalition of the PNCR. This latest exodus serves as a major blow to the PNCR ahead of the Local Government Elections (LGE), which are expected to be held later this year.

According to a statement from the PPP/C, the politicians were there to throw their support behind the PPP/C.

“During the meeting, the group expressed to the General Secretary a desire

to be associated with the People’s Progressive Party and to contribute meaningfully to Guyana’s ongoing development, while serving the interests of the Guyanese people, as the country advances along an unprecedented path of economic growth and modernisation,” the statement said.

“The group praised the Party’s stewardship of the economy, inclusive approach to governance, and the scale of transformation taking place across the country. They noted that the PPP has demonstrated the leadership, capacity and technical expertise required to effectively manage the country, sustain growth, and improve the welfare of every Guyanese, regardless of race, religion, or any other differentiating factor.”

According to the statement, the group finds the PPP/C’s openness welcoming and contrasts the current political atmosphere with their previous experiences.

“They observed that the Party’s manifesto outlines plans that have been, and continue to be, vigorously pur-

sued, resulting in tangible improvements in the lives of Guyanese and communities across the country,” the statement said.

The group was welcomed with open arms by the GS, with Dr Jagdeo indicating that the PPP is a party of inclusion that works for all Guyanese, and therefore welcomed the interest expressed by the group.

“The PPP reaffirms that the Party’s focus remains on strengthening national cohesion, expanding opportunities for citizens, and ensuring that the benefits of development reach all Guyanese.”

A longstanding executive of the PNCR and the APNU, Holder had resigned from the PNCR last September, shortly after Guyana’s September 1, 2025 General and Regional Elections, where APNU tumbled from grace with the electorate and only managed to amass 12 seats in the 65-seat National Assembly.

Considered a close ally of the PNCR’s current leader, Aubrey Norton, Holder first became a member of the PNCR executive in 2018. He

was elected to the Central Executive Committee (CEC) during the party’s 21st Biennial Delegates Congress held that year.

At the subsequent Biennial Congress in 2021, Holder was elected to the chairmanship, a position he was re-elected to in 2024, with accusations rife during the election period over lack of transparency, accountability, and fairness.

Meanwhile, Ramsaroop started out as an executive with former APNU coalition partner, the Alliance For Change (AFC), serving as a former Vice Chair of that party. He served in Parliament from 2015 as a member of the APNU+AFC coalition. He returned as a parliamentarian in 2020 but was not selected when APNU won 12 seats in the 2025 elections. The AFC failed to gain any seats in the National Assembly in the 2025 elections.

The mass exodus from the PNCR is part of a sustained year-on-year brain drain from the party that has taken place since it came under the leadership of Norton. Holder’s exit was accom-

panied by the departure of APNU City Councillor Robert Maison and preceded by the departure of PNCR Executive Mervyn Williams, who strikingly made his resignation announcement during a live airing of the party’s weekly programme “Nation Watch”, which he hosted for a number of years.

The thinning of the herd has included the resignation of many longstanding stalwarts, including former General Secretary the late Amna Ally, who resigned in 2025 shortly before her death.

Many criticised Norton for not attending Ally’s funeral.

Former Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green and City Councillor Trichria Richards resigned in 2023 ahead of the Local Government Elections that year. They both later debuted as members of the PPP/C.

Longstanding party member Ronald Backer and party treasurer Fiaaz Mursaline resigned in 2022.

Youth activists Thandi McAllister and Brian Smith resigned in 2021. Former General Secretaries Geeta

Chandan-Edmond and Dawn Hastings-Williams resigned their positions in 2022 and 2024, respectively.

Region 10 executives and former parliamentarians Jermaine Figueira and Vanessa Kissoon both also resigned in 2025, as did former executives and parliamentarians James Bond, Amanza Walton-Desir, and Natasha Singh-Lewis.

Former Region Four Regional Chairman Daniel Seeram and Vice Chairman Samuel Sandy also resigned in 2025, when they both endorsed the PPP/C. McAllister, ChandanEdmond, Figueira, and Bond have all also crossed the floor and joined the PPP/C. Hastings-Williams and Singh-Lewis have joined the United States-sanctioned Azruddin Mohamed’s We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, which won 16 seats in Parliament in the September 1, 2025 elections, and WaltonDesir has formed her own party, the Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), which won a single seat at those elections.

Pres Ali unveils major Region 3 road network to ease traffic, support 20,000 new house lots

President Irfaan Ali yesterday unveiled plans for an expanded interconnecting road transport system in Region Three, designed to tackle mounting traffic congestion caused by the rapid housing development of a number of newly-opened areas and in preparation for the 20,000 lots to be distributed by 2030.

The project which includes alignments of new roads, upgraded bridges, and a macro connectivity plan linking current and future communities, industry, and national infrastructure, will be soon detailed but is expected to take around six to eight months, the President said underscoring relief for current commuters.

Pointing to the daily bottleneck of traffic between La Jalousie and Tuschen, Ali explained that the plans are will tackle the existing problem while alleviating its reoccurrence when other developments are opened. And development expanded.

“Heavy traffic that is causing two to three hours of delay every single day. So, we are now going into the existing housing schemes. If you look at this map here, you will see…,” he said pointing to proposed areas of works.

A resident of Region 3 himself, Ali acknowledged the frustration of commuters, and assured that government understands and it is why the initiative was taken to integrate existing housing schemes roads into a new alignment, crossing canals and upgrading bridges to create a parallel artery for light traffic such as cars, vans and SUVs.

The scale of works will see some 36 bridges being built or upgraded along the route and Ali projected that within six to eight months, commut-

ers could begin to see relief. “Some of it is already there. So we are hoping that in six to eight months, we can bring relief for the traffic coming from La Jalousie all the way to Tuschen,” he said.

Alongside him were Ministers of Housing Colin Croal and Vanessa Benn and they promise of relief, who echoed the President’s position of yesterday’s activity being more than a technical plan but a commitment to providing persons with connectivity, and a vision of urban transformation.

Croal highlighted that in Region 3 alone, over 11,000 new house lots have been allocated in the past four years, with 90 percent already occupied and plans are on stream to add 20,,000 more“ “The last four years at least here in Region 3, from Wales all the way here to West Coast. ) We have over 11,000 new allocations that were done, and about 90 percent of those persons are now seeing their house lots. And so, this is where, too, the necessity for other access roads and highways are pretty important,” the Housing Minister said.

He later told this newspaper, “What we have is a problem is traffic now itself. What we are doing is, interconnecting road utilizing some access points to connect the villages to ease that [burden].”

For Benn’s part, she stressed the social dimension: “It’s really great that we have this discussion and giving the public a chance to see what is being done with regard to improving the road networks.

“You know, as Minister Croal spoke about the housing development, connected with that is the importance of people being able to access the hospitals and other facilities in a more prompt and efficient manner, getting their

children to school, etcetera,” she said.

She also announced plans for truck parking lots to protect road integrity and commuter safety. “In concert with the development of the housing will also be the (11:04) development of truck parking lots, so that persons who are involved in developmental activity and (11:08) all of these big heavy trucks will be able to park them in areas that are off the road, (11:14) so that the integrity of the road and the shoulders are maintained, and so that this (11:18) also takes into consideration the safety of the commuters along the way,” she said. .

Maps displayed and referenced during the visit showed the existing West Demerara Public Road that is being expanded and the proposed alignment. The President explained that the route was chosen to cut through the center of villages, intersecting new housing schemes and connecting to the old railway embankment, now repurposed for modern transport. By following the old railway embankment, said that the government intends to minimize disruption while maximizing efficiency.

The alignments are divided into sections with Section A being from Tuschen to Meten-Meerzorg Section B is Meten-Meerzorg to Stewartville; Section C is Stewartville Cornelia Ida and Section D: Cornelia Ida to Ruimzeight.

The president revealed that the design for each phase had been completed. “From last October to now, we have had a team completing the design, the route alignment. They have completed the design now, and we are now moving towards having the entire area assessed for implementation,” he said. The

scope includes detailed bridge upgrades and widening, with works soon entering the public procurement phase.

The project also integrates utilities. “This alignment will help GPL, GWI, and telecoms companies expand their distribution networks,” Ali said, underscoring the multi-sectoral benefits of road expansion.

But beyond Roads, the President said the initiative takes plans for conservation into effect as the Boeraserie Conservancy (the East

and West Demerara Water Conservancies) remains untouched and there are ecotourism spin-offs. He pointed to the conservancies, emphasizing environmental buffers. Wetlands, he said, are not only protected zones but also ecotourism opportunities. “It’s not only about protection. It’s about the ecotourism potential that can be developed with the infrastructure that we are also building in,” he explained.

Ali was quick to note that the holistic transformative

2nd pump installed in Alexander...

He said the pump was transported and installed Tuesday and will remain permanently in the community.

“This pump here will remain permanently, as the President instructed. Alexander Village now has two pumps,” Mustapha said.

He added that once the sluice doors are closed, both pumps will become fully operational and are expected to significantly improve drainage in the area.

“As soon as the sluice doors close, both pumps here will be operable… this area here is very vulnerable and it’s prone to flooding, so we are hoping that this will ease the situation a lot,” the Minister stated.

The installation of the new pump increases Georgetown’s operational pumping capacity to 16 pumps, all of which, according to Mustapha, are currently functioning.

“We now have 16 pumps in Georgetown and all 16 pumps are operable,” he said.

The Agriculture Minister also expressed disappointment with the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), accusing the municipality of failing to activate the Cowan

Street sluice during Tuesday morning’s low tide despite the heavy rainfall affecting the city.

“I’m very disappointed that this morning, during the low tide, the Cowan Street sluice was not opened by the City Council,” Mustapha said.

“Although we had so much rainfall, they failed to open the kokers,” he added.

Mustapha said Government officials have since been instructed to closely monitor drainage infrastructure and intervene where necessary to ensure systems remain operational.

“When I asked Minister [Deodat] Indar, he must ensure that systems are put in place so that we can look at all the structures. If it’s not operable by the City Council, we have to continue to manage and operate it,” he said.

The Minister noted that by Tuesday afternoon, floodwaters had already receded in several low-lying communities across Georgetown.

infrastructural push by his government is part of a vision beyond West Demerara, as described how the new road would connect to Wales, and main arteries leading to the Chedd Jagan International Airport Silica City, and Bartica. “The macro plan is the whole infrastructure being built out and the interconnection between the transport infrastructure,” Ali said. This integrated approach, he reasoned, is the essence of modern urban planning. FROM

He attributed the quicker drainage to ongoing drainage and irrigation works being undertaken across the country.

“The work that we have done over time, we are draining the city faster and we are having better drainage systems around the country,” he explained.

With the Hydrometeorological Office forecasting additional rainfall later this week, Mustapha said authorities remain on alert and are continuing preparatory works nationwide.

“The Hydromet Office warned that we will have more rainfall closer to the weekend, so we are continuing doing all the preparatory work,” he said.

Mustapha further revealed that Guyana currently has 217 pumps across the country, including several newly-acquired units that can be deployed to floodprone communities whenever needed.

“Wherever we have those challenges, we deploy the pumps,” the Agriculture Minister said.

“If you go around Alexander Village, Queenstown and other low-lying areas in South Georgetown, almost all the areas now are free. Those areas are dry,” Mustapha stated.

OIL NEWS

Oil settles higher as hopes of peace in Middle East dwindle

Oil prices settled higher for the third consecutive session on Tuesday as stark differences between the US and Iran over a proposal to end the war in the Middle East raised concerns that supply disruptions upending the global oil market are likely to be prolonged.

Brent crude futures gained US$3.56, or 3.42 per cent, to settle at US$107.77 a barrel, and US West Texas Intermediate futures closed up US$4.11, or 4.19 per cent, at US$102.18. Both benchmarks had climbed nearly three per cent on Monday.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that ceasefire talks with Iran were on ”life support”, pointing to disagreements over Tehran’s demands of a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, the removal of a US naval blockade, the resumption of Iranian oil sales and compensation for war damage.

Iran also emphasised its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally flows.

“Markets are doubting that a peace deal is within reach,” StoneX analyst Alex Hodes said.

The US Energy Information Administration on Tuesday said it now assumes the strait will be effectively closed through late May, leading to much larger losses of Middle Eastern oil and gas supplies than its prior forecasts. The agency had earlier expected the waterway would be shut through late April. (Excerpt from Reuters)

WHO Head tells countries to prepare for more hantavirus cases

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has told countries to prepare for more hantavirus cases, as authorities in Paris said a French woman who contracted the virus onboard the MV Hondius had the most severe form of the disease and had been put on a ventilator.

Tedros Adhanom

Ghebreyesus thanked Spain for the “compassion and solidarity” it had shown by taking in the stricken cruise ship and urged authorities to follow the WHO’s advice and recommendations, which include a 42-day quarantine and constant monitoring of high-risk contacts.

“At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak, but of course the situation could change, and, given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks,” he told a press conference in Madrid on Tuesday.

The WHO has so far confirmed nine cases of the Andes variant of the virus, among them a French woman and a US national who tested positive after

being evacuated from the ship.

The WHO chief also paid tribute to the Spanish Government and the people of Spain for responding to the plight of those onboard the ship after authorities in Cape Verde refused it permission to dock. More than 120 passengers and crew members were evacuated from Tenerife in a carefully coordinated operation on Sunday and Monday.

Despite objections from the regional Government of the Canary Islands, Spain’s central Government allowed the MV Hondius to anchor in the port in Tenerife – and then, briefly, to dock – as it oversaw the evacuation operation.

The final planes carrying passengers and crew left the Canary Islands on Monday night and arrived in the Netherlands early on Tuesday.

Dutch authorities said all 26 passengers onboard the first evacuation flight had tested negative for the virus. Two more repatriation flights landed later in the Netherlands, carrying 28 more evacuees who will also undergo quarantine. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

Around the World

Bahamians vote in snap election as PM Davis seeks rare 2nd term

Bahamians headed to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether to grant Prime Minister (PM) Philip Davis and his ruling Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) a second consecutive term, a feat no leader has accomplished in nearly 30 years.

The vote pits the incumbent PLP against its primary rival, the Free National Movement (FNM), led by Michael Pintard. Polls open

across the archipelago as voters weigh concerns about affordability and housing against the Government’s record.

The election, which was not due until October, was called early by Davis. An official in his office stated the decision was made to hold the ⁠vote to get ahead of the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season. The previous election in September 2021, which brought Davis to po-

wer, was also a snap election.

At stake are 41 seats in the Bahamian House of Assembly. This represents an increase of two seats from the last election, following recommendations from the independent constituencies commission to add two new seats. The PLP, which held a strong majority with 32 of the 39 seats heading into Tuesday’s vote, is campaigning to build on its man-

date, while the FNM seeks to return to power after its 2021 defeat.

Former PM Dr Hubert Minnis, whom Davis defeated in 2021, is ⁠running as an independent candidate for a seat he has held for nearly two decades. His independent bid comes after the FNM, the party he once led, refused to ratify him as its candidate. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Putin says Russia test-launches

“most powerful missile in the world”

Russia on Tuesday test-fired a new intercontinental ballistic missile as part of efforts to modernise the country’s nuclear forces, a launch hailed by President Vladimir Putin just days after his claim that the fighting in Ukraine is nearing an end.

Putin said that the nuclear-armed Sarmat missile would enter combat service at the end of the year. It was built to replace the ageing Soviet-built Voyevoda.

“This is the most powerful missile in the world,” Putin declared, claiming that the combined power of the Sarmat’s individually targeted warheads is more than four times higher than that of any Western counterpart.

The Russian leader has

repeatedly brandished the nuclear sword after sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022 to try to de-

ter the West from ramping up support for Ukraine.

After overseeing a military parade on Red Square

on Saturday commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, which for the first time in nearly two decades didn’t include heavy weapons, Putin declared the conflict in Ukraine is coming to an end.

The last remaining nuclear arms pact between Russia and the US expired in February, leaving no caps on the world’s two largest atomic arsenals for the first time in more than a half-century and fuelling fears of an unconstrained nuclear arms race.

Moscow’s new weapons include the Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle, capable of flying 27 times faster than the speed of sound. The first vehicles have already entered service. (Excerpt from CBS News)

Hundreds flee homes as gang clashes paralyse Haiti’s Cul-de-Sac Plain

Parents with their children gather at Carrefour Trois Mains after fleeing gang violence in the Cul-de-Sac Plain, Port-au-Prince

Hundreds of residents fled their homes

Monday in Haiti’s Cul-de-Sac Plain, north of Port-au-Prince, as violent clashes between rival armed groups paralysed daily life across the area and forced the temporary closure of a major hospital, schools and businesses.

The fighting, which began over the weekend and continued through May 11, involved gangs affiliated with the powerful and the United States-designated terrorist organisation “Viv Ansanm”

coalition. Residents said the violence stemmed from battles for territorial control and extortion routes targeting cargo trucks moving through the area.

Schools, public transportation, markets and businesses across the Cul-de-Sac Plain have been largely shut down since Monday as residents sheltered indoors or fled.

No official casualty toll had been released as of Monday evening. However, residents told The Haitian Times that several people

were killed or wounded, while stray bullets struck homes and some houses were set ablaze during the clashes.

The renewed fighting comes as Haiti’s transitional Government struggles to contain spiralling insecurity

ahead of proposed elections expected later this year. Gang violence has spread beyond the capital into the Artibonite and Centre departments, disrupting transportation, agriculture and commerce. (Excerpt from The Haitian Times)

T&T man robbed after Facebook meet-up

A25-year-old Mayaro man was robbed of electronics, jewellery and cash when he visited Laventille to conduct a transaction with strangers he met through Facebook Marketplace on Monday morning.

Police said the man went to Plaisance Terrace near a primary school around 11:45h to meet with customers when he was confronted by three bandits who demanded his valuables.

The bandits stole the man’s gold chain, eight HY300 movie projectors, an Apple

a gold

and US$7000 in cash before running away. A report was made, and Police from the Besson Street Criminal Investigations Department are continuing enquiries.

Police have previously appealed to the public to avoid meeting strangers in unfamiliar neighbourhoods to conduct financial transactions. They have repeatedly urged people to meet at Police stations when conducting transactions with strangers.

(Trinidad Guardian)

SUDOKU

Get moving. Exercise, conversations and being part of where the action is will elevate your creative imagination, giving way to something that excites you. Refuse to let what others say influence you.

Stick to the path of least resistance. Use your experience and knowledge to press forward with insight and a backup plan if necessary. Welcome positive input.

You can make a difference if you reach out, help someone in need or redirect your energy into volunteer work that melts your heart. How you spend your time will map out how you feel about yourself.

Be bold, aggressive and thoughtful when dealing with others, and you will have a positive impact on how situations unfold. Channeling your energy into being the best version of yourself will make you feel good.

Listen, learn, take notes and use the information you gather to elaborate on something you want to pursue. Actions speak louder than words and are more difficult for others to manipulate.

Whether you are looking to enhance your skills, knowledge, experience or lifestyle, putting a plan in place that’s doable will give you the strength and confidence to proceed.

Sign up for something that will raise your awareness and give you something to consider that will encourage a positive lifestyle change. A motion or signal someone offers will resonate with you.

Hang on tight and move like the wind. Explore what’s available to you and how you can incorporate your dreams into an opportunity that may seem far-fetched to others but resonates with you.

Stick close to home. Give yourself a chance to digest what’s happening around you and find a place where you fit in and can apply what you do best to bring about positive change.

Hold tight. Now isn’t the time to make waves. Observation is your friend and will help you dissect what you are up against and how to deliver the best option or outlet for change.

Money matters, and putting a budget in place before starting something will ease stress and keep you on track with your plans. Talk to experts and get second opinions.

Financial discussions will help you decide what you can afford. Work with the numbers, manage your money and search for alternative means and methods to create the lifestyle you desire.

BCB launches KSM Investment

50-Over 1st Division Tournament

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday last launched one of several cricket tournaments it intends to host for FirstDivision teams in the Ancient County during the current year.

During a simple presentation ceremony at the Good Hope, East Coast Demerara head office of KSM Investment Inc, the Board launched a fifty-over, first division tournament. BCB President Dr Cecil Beharry led a delegation which included Junior Selection chairman Balram Samaroo and Administrator Angela Haniff, while Chief Executive Officer of the sponsor, Mahadeo Panchu, represented his company.

The BCB President, in remarks, stated that his administration will be hosting several first division tournaments in 2026, including two 50-over competitions, one 20/20, one Patron 10/10 and a two-day competition for clubs in the county.

The KSM Investment tournament would involve twelve teams divided into four sub-zones, with the top two from each zone

advancing to the quarter-finals. The teams expected to participate are Blairmont, Police, Tucber Park, Young Warriors, Rose Hall Canje, Albion, Port Mourant, Rose Hall Town NAMILCO Thunderbolt, Upper Corentyne, Skeldon and Berbice River.

The tournament is ex-

pected to be of a high standard, as players like Romario Shepherd, Shamar Joseph, Nial Smith, Zeynul Ramsammy, Isai Thorne, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Kevin Sinclair, Kelvon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Sylus Tyndall and Rampertab Ramnauth are expected to

GOBSA to host 10th Independence Track and Field Classic on May 23

The Guyana Overseas Based Sports Association (GOBSA) will stage the 10th Independence Anniversary Track and Field Classic on Saturday, May 23, at the

National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, West Coast Demerara, with several of Guyana’s top athletes expected to compete.

The meet, which is scheduled to begin at 10:00h, is

being organised in collaboration with the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. Organisers are anticipating a large turnout as the event celebrates a decade of competition and overseas-based support for local athletics development.

According to information released ahead of the event, the meet will feature a packed day of track and field competition, bringing together speed, talent and national pride at one of Guyana’s premier athletics venues.

In addition to the competition on the track, patrons will also have the opportunity to win several prizes, including cash rewards, televisions, tablets, cellular phones and scholarships.

Admission to the event is set at $1000.

be playing for their respective teams.

The BCB President also announced that emphasis would be placed on coaching among the younger players across Berbice. In that regard, special clinics will be held for batsmen, fast bowlers, spinners and wicketkeepers. The main objective of the clinics would be to improve the cricketing talent of the county’s most promising players.

The BCB boss, who is also the President of the Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club, expressed gratitude to the management and staff of KSM Investment Inc, especially Mr Mahadeo Panchu. Former national youth player Balram Samaroo, who serves on the BCB competi-

tion committee, assured the sponsor that the tournament would be well organised and completed before the end of the third quarter of 2026.

The national junior selector urged the youth players in the county to take advantage of the hard work of the BCB by putting in outstanding performances with both bat and ball. He noted that the board in 2026 would be hosting tournaments at the under-12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 23, second division, female, intermediate and first division levels.

CEO of KSM Investment, Mahadeo Panchu, stated that he was more than delighted to be associated with Berbice Cricket. He noted that the county has produced numerous cricketing leg-

ends like John Trim,

also stated that Berbice is presently producing a high percentage of the senior players for Guyana. He congratulated the BCB on the outstanding work it is doing and urged it to uphold its high standards.

The KSM sponsorship covers the cost of cash incentives for the top two teams, trophies, expenses for the grand finals and umpiring for the tournament, among others. The company is a winner of the President Award and produces top-quality concrete products such as pavers and concrete blocks and is also a major distributor of cement.

EDFA continues youth ensemble preparations with friendlies …U-13 fixtures unveiled

The East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) continued preparations for the upcoming Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Youth Ensemble Under-13 and Under-15 competitions with a series of friendly matches and the release of fixtures for the opening round of the Under-13 league.

On Sunday, May 10, which coincided with Mother’s Day celebrations, Haslington United FC and Mahaicony Western Lions FC met at the Central Mahaicony Ground in a pair of developmental encounters.

Haslington United FC produced a strong performance in the Under-13 fixture to record a convincing 5-1 victory over Mahaicony Western Lions FC. However, the visitors responded in the under-15 contest as Mahaicony Western Lions turned the tables with an equally dominant 5-1 win over Haslington United.

The matches formed part of the EDFA’s preparations ahead of the official launch of the GFF Youth Ensemble competitions,

Some of the participants at the EDFA’s preparation matches

which are scheduled to begin across the country this month.

Meanwhile, the EDFA has confirmed the fixtures for the opening round of its GFF/EDFA Under-13 League, which is set for Saturday, May 16, at the Buxton Community Centre Ground.

The opening match at 10:00h will see Plaisance Football Club opposing Golden Stars Football Club. At 11:00h, BV Triumph will come up against Victoria Kings Football Club.

At 12:00h, Buxton

Stars FC are scheduled to face Ann’s Grove United FC, while Melanie FC and Mahaica Determinators FC will clash from 13:00h.

The final fixture of the day is billed for 14:00 between Haslington Stars FC and Mahaicony Western Lions FC.

The league forms part of the wider GFF Youth Ensemble Programme, which aims to provide structured competition and development opportunities for young footballers across the country’s regional associations.

The Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Club Under-17

Eline Security Logistics 50Over competition continued over the weekend with two one-sided encounters, as Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) and Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) secured commanding victories over their opponents.

At the Demerara Cricket Club Ground, Everest Cricket Club endured a disappointing outing after winning the toss and electing to bat first against Demerara Cricket Club (DCC). Their batting line-up struggled from the outset and was eventually dismissed for a modest 58 in 30.1 overs.

Ravindra Singh fought valiantly, remaining unbeaten on 21 from 62 deliveries, while Savir Narine was the only other batsman to reach double figures. The rest of the batting order failed to cope with DCC’s disciplined bowling attack.

Kaylon Callender was the chief destroyer with an outstanding spell of five for 18, dismantling Everest’s middle and lower orders. Adam Mohammed provided strong support, claiming two wickets to keep the pressure firmly on the opposition. In response, DCC made light work of the chase. Lomar Seecharan blasted 32 from just 23 balls, striking five fours and a six to set the

DCC, GCC cruise; Apple rewrites record books

tone early. Demerara Cricket Club raced to 59 for two in just 5.5 overs to seal an emphatic eight-wicket victory.

Meanwhile, at the Queen’s College ground, Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) delivered a dominant performance against the home side. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, GCC posted a formidable 240 all out in 39.3 overs.

Opening batsman Shahid Ramzan anchored the innings with a well-compiled 58 from 88 balls. He was supported by Aaron Persaud, who scored 35, and Balasankar Narine, who added 32, as GCC built a competitive total.

For Queen’s College, Nathaniel Sukhnandan and Afraz Ali led the bowling effort with three wickets each. Nitin Bhowandat and Shiv Piterhadaue chipped in with two wickets apiece to restrict GCC to an even larger score.

However, Queen’s College faltered badly in their reply. They were bowled out for just 75 in 16.4 overs in the face of disciplined bowling from GCC. Sukhnandan and Bhowandat top-scored with

Pele FC Alumni lifts GAPLF with laptop donation

The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) was recently on the receiving end of one laptop, compliments of the Pele FC Alumni Corp, a donation that has been described as a timely boost for the Federation.

According to the GAPLF, “The donation will further boost the administrative capacity of the federation during the hosting of competitions.”

Making the presentation to GAPLF President Franklin Wilson was representative of the Pele FC alumnus Adrian Murray, who reminded us that the Pele group has always been supportive of powerlifting over the years.

“We been very supportive of your sport over the years, so when you approached us to assist in this regard, we had no hesitation. The sport has been doing very well for the nation, and administrative soundness is one of the pillars that leads to success; thus, our desire to assist.”

Wilson, in response, thanked Murray for their continued confidence in the sport whilst promising that the desire to even do better is there.

“This new executive, which was given the mandate a few months ago to lead the sport again, will en-

sure that we do so in a very progressive way. When I was told that we need to upscale our equipment to ensure efficiency, I had no hesitation in approaching Pele FC Alumni for assistance, and you have once again delivered. We say, “Thank you.”

Following the hosting of a successful Novice championship in March, the federation is now planning for their next, Intermediate and Masters which is set for June 28 at a venue to be confirmed. A fundraising activity is also being planned for this date.

The federation is also pursuing plans in keeping with the mandate of the International Powerlifting

Federation to have accredited coaches travel with national teams, which is now compulsory, and to also have trained females assigned to female athletes when travelling.

The federation is also working on a more robust plan to re-energise the sport and engagements with athletes and gyms in various regions to reinvigorate the sport.

Amongst the regional and international competitions on the radar this year are the South American Bench Press and Powerlifting Championships in Chile in September and the Commonwealth Championships set for Canada also in September.

10 runs each in an otherwise underwhelming batting display. Georgetown Cricket Club conceded 46 extras but still maintained complete control of the contest.

Shahid Ramzan capped off an impressive all-round performance with the ball, claiming four for 11, while Dilshan Ganesh supported well with three for 28 as GCC cruised to a comprehensive victory.

Rain also played its part over the weekend, forcing a couple of matches in the 50over competition to be abandoned. However, despite the interruptions, there were several outstanding individual performances that lit up the competition.

Apple smashes everything Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) continued their strong

form when they faced GT XI. After winning the toss and electing to bat, GCC posted an imposing 234 all out.

Trilok Nanan narrowly missed out on a deserved century, producing a superb knock of 97 from 83 balls. His innings was decorated with 11 crisp boundaries and provided the backbone of the GCC total. Neerav Persaud offered solid support with a patient 48 from 86 deliveries, helping to steady the innings through the middle overs.

For GT XI, Zahid Talkudar was the pick of the bowlers with figures of three for 38.

GT XI’s reply never truly gathered momentum, as they reached 23 for two before persistent rain brought an early end to proceedings, resulting in the match being abandoned.

The weekend’s most explosive performance, howev-

er, came from West Indies Under-19 player Shamar Apple, who produced a breathtaking display of power hitting. Representing Transport Sports Club against Malteenoes Sports Club, Apple smashed a sensational 250 from just 115 balls. His remarkable innings featured 22 fours and a staggering 20 sixes, marking his maiden double century.

Apple’s extraordinary effort propelled Transport Sports Club to a mammoth 412 for seven in their allotted 50 overs, putting them in a commanding position before the weather intervened once again.

Malteenoes Sports Club had reached 49 for one in 8.4 overs in reply when rain forced the contest to be abandoned. Shane Shivbarran was unbeaten on 22 at the time of the interruption.

“Make your family, Tucber Park proud” – Smith to debutant

Ramsammy

Talented Berbician Zeynul Ramsammy became the fifth FirstClass cricketer to hail from Tucber Park Cricket Club when he made his debut for Guyana Harpy Eagles.

Ramsammy received his cap from senior fast-bowler Nial Smith at the Antigua Recreational Ground in St Johns, where Guyana is facing off against the West Indies Academy.

The 21-year-old middle-order batsman who bowls leg-spin is a student of the game who graduated with distinction while playing youth cricket for Guyana on various occasions.

Fittingly, his Tucber Park teammate, Nial Smith, presented him with his debut cap.

“First of all, I want to say congratulations on making the Guyana Harpy Eagles team. I’ve known you

from a very young age; you played age-group cricket for Guyana, so it is destiny for you to play for the senior team.

Over the years you have put in the work, and we have seen progress. Make your family proud, make Tucber Park proud, make Berbice and Guyana proud,” Smith said.

Ramsammy was in line to make his List A debut for the Harpy Eagles last year but got injured and could not participate in the Regional Super50 tournament.

Earlier last year, he made his T20 debut for the Guyana Rainforest Rangers in the Breakout T20 League.

Ramsammy has followed in the footsteps of Jeremy Gordon, Romario Shepherd, Nial Smith and Shamar Joseph as first-class players produced by the club.

(Brandon Corlette)

Van Lange’s dream debut, Nandu’s double put Harpy Eagles in command

The Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) tightened their grip on proceedings against the West Indies Academy with a commanding batting display, finish-

ing the day on 655 for eight and leading by 170 runs with two wickets in hand. Resuming the day on 248 for three, with Zeynul Ramsammy and centurion Matthew

“Competitive” badminton tournament kicks off sports’ Independence celebrations

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS)powered Independence Sports Festival will see its first instalment serving off this weekend, as the Guyana Badminton Association puts on a multi-category tournament at the National Gymnasium.

Badminton is one of 10 disciplines that will host tournaments as part of Guyana’s 60th Independence Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Serving off on Thursday, May 14, the four-day tournament will see competition in the Open Singles, Under-23 Singles, Doubles, and MixedDoubles categories.

Sharing an update, Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) President Emily Ramdhani has revealed that preparations are going well.

“Preparations are coming along well. Everything is on stream so far. Today we’re having the draw and the technical meeting at the gymnasium,” Ramdhani told this publication.

Quizzed on the players’ response to the tournament, Ramdhani revealed that some 60 players are lined up for what is expected to be a competitive weekend.

The GBA President divulged, “We’ve had, I think so far, persons who’ve signed up in excess of 60 for all seven categories. So, let’s see how it goes on the day.”

“It’s better for persons who are participating. We adjusted and made all the additional logistic work that had to be done, and we included the category,” Ramdhani noted about the inclusion of the Open Singles (Men’s and Women’s) division.

“Well, we expect the tournament to be competitive. We will have one of our top players participating, Priyanna Ramdhani. She had an injury, and she’s still recovering, doing rehabilitation. So, it should be quite competitive. Akili is in the tournament, Nkosi, Mishka Beharry and the others, so we’ll see how it goes.”

“Fans can expect lots of competitive games, you know, good matches, especially in the Men’s doubles,” she added.

As the GBA boss looks forward to the upcoming competition, she expresses her association’s elation at being a part of the MCYS’ complement of tournaments.

“We come out to play badminton and have fun and play competitive games, and hopefully that will be the precedent of the tournament. Looking forward to

seeing some good action this weekend.”

Ramdhani went on to state, “We had another tournament planned for this time, but when we met with Minister Ramson, we decided it was, without a doubt, we’d rebrand it to the Independence Tournament. The Guyana Badminton Association is very happy to be a part of Guyana’s Diamond Jubilee Independence anniversary, and we’re happy to have a tournament for four days for this Jubilee celebration.”

The GBA tournament will run from Thursday, May 14, to Sunday, May 17.

Athletics, Badminton, 3x3 Basketball, Dominoes, Hockey, Lawn Tennis, Squash, Softball Cricket, Table Tennis and Volleyball are the disciplines that will see competition as part of the Independence celebrations.

Nandu at the crease, the Harpy Eagles were dealt an early blow when Zishan Motara trapped Ramsammy leg before wicket for 14. That dismissal, however, brought debutant Jonathan Van Lange to the crease, and what followed was a partnership that shifted the momentum decisively.

The 19-year-old van Lange joined Nandu in a remarkable fifth-wicket stand worth 255 runs. The all-rounder announced himself in emphatic fashion, compiling a superb 133 from 165 deliveries. His innings featured 20 fours and a six, placing him among a select group of players to score a century on their first-class debut for Guyana.

At the other end, Nandu continued to anchor the innings with authority. Shortly after Van Lange reached three figures, Nandu celebrated his maiden First-Class double century, displaying composure and patience throughout. Motara eventually claimed his fourth wicket by dismissing van Lange, but the GHE’s dominance remained evident.

By tea, the score had advanced to 522 for five, with Nandu and Richie Looknauth at the crease and the lead stretching to 37 runs.

After the interval, Nandu’s marathon innings came to an end when Rivaldo Clarke dismissed him for 237 off 361 balls, an effort decorated with 29 boundaries. His knock laid the foundation for Guyana’s imposing total.

The run flow continued as Gudakesh Motie added a brisk 48 from 61 balls, striking six fours. Later, Motara capped an impressive spell by securing his fifth wicket of the innings. Looknauth remained unbeaten on 71 at stumps, with Thaddeus Lovell on four, as GHE closed on 655 for eight from 158 overs. GHE lead the West Indies Academy by 170 runs with two wickets remaining.

Meanwhile, at the Coolidge Cricket Ground, the Barbados Pride were dismissed for 296, adding 34 runs to their overnight 262 for nine. Joshua Bishop was left stranded on 99 not out, narrowly missing a century.

Cephas Cooper then led the response for

the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, crafting an unbeaten 101 from 192 balls. The Red Force closed on 209 for seven, holding a lead of 246 runs with three wickets remaining.

With substantial leads established in both matches and wickets still in hand, the contests remain finely poised heading into the final day’s play.

East Bank tournament united communities, says Wilson

After the conclusion of the highly anticipated East Bank Inter-Village Football Tournament, organiser Franklin Wilson noted that the true success of the championship was not measured solely by goals scored or prize money handed out; it was measured by community pride.

As the curtains came down on the inaugural competition Saturday evening, Wilson reflected on what he believes was one of the tournament’s biggest achievements: bringing villages together through sport.

“This football tournament was a resounding suc-

cess,” Wilson said.

From the opening whistle to the championship match, the tournament became a rallying point for communities, with supporters passionately backing their teams and creating an atmosphere rarely seen in grassroots football.

Villages arrived in numbers, cheering every tackle, every goal, and every dramatic moment.

Wilson said that sense of ownership and excitement were central to the vision behind the tournament.

“We wanted communities to feel connected to something positive, and football gave us that opportunity,”

he explained. The event also provided a valuable platform for emerging players to showcase their ability in a competitive setting.

Several players seized the spotlight during the tournament, reinforcing the depth of football talent that exists outside the traditional club structure.

Wilson believes the response from both players and fans sends a strong message that community football remains alive and relevant.

“The support tells you people want this. Football can still bring communities together,” he added.

Van Lange’s dream debut, Nandu’s double put Harpy Eagles in command

Dooley resigns, effective immediately,

from Golden Jaguars Head Coach post

By Jemima Holmes

Head Coach of Guyana’s Senior Men’s National Football team, Thomas Dooley, has resigned from the post, effective immediately.

The revelation was made on Tuesday as Dooley communicated his decision to members of the National Team, also expressing his belief that the team can ascend to the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Nations League A and Gold Cup once again.

In the correspondence seen by this publication, Dooley wrote:

“Dear players, dear staff, I want to let you know personally that I have made the decision to resign from my position as Head Coach of the Guyana National Team, effective immediately.

This was not an easy decision, because I have great respect for you as players and as people. I appreciate the commitment, effort, and trust you have shown during our time together.

I want to thank each of you for your hard work, your professionalism, and the pride you have shown in representing Guyana. It has been an honour to work with you and to be part of your journey. Your journey is not over; it is just the beginning. Believe in you individual-

ly and as a team. Soon you will be back in the nation’s league A and back fighting for the Gold Cup. I wish you, the staff, and the team nothing but success moving forward. Keep believing in yourselves, keep pushing each other, and continue to repre-

sent the country with pride. Thank you again for everything. Coach Thomas.”

Meanwhile, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) shared a brief statement on Dooley’s departure on Tuesday night.

The Federation shared via their social media platform, “Head Coach of the Guyana Golden Jaguars, Thomas Dooley, has decided to pursue new opportunities outside of Guyana, bringing his nine-month tenure with the Federation to a close after joining the team on September

9, 2025.

During his tenure with the Federation, Dooley strengthened the professionalism of the Guyana football programme and implemented key improvements aimed at elevating the national team’s performance standards. Under his disciplined leadership, the Golden Jaguars recorded an unbeaten run in competitive friendlies. Between November 2025 and March 2026, the team secured notable victories over Bonaire (2-1), Antigua and Barbuda (4-1), Dominica (2-0), and Belize (3-1), reflecting steady progress under his guidance.

The Federation thanks Coach Dooley for the experience, commitment, and expertise he brought to Guyanese football and wishes him success in his new role and endeavours.”

Dooley had replaced former Golden Jaguars Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz, with whom the GFF had ‘ended their contractual agreement’ following the Golden Jaguars’ horrid run in their League A debut back in 2024. The Golden Jaguars had enjoyed an unbeaten run the year prior, thus qualifying for League A. Dooley was appointed to the post in July 2025, following a months-long hiring process by the Federation. The Coach had also taken the reins of the national under-20 outfit earlier this year for the CONCACAF U20 qualifiers.