Gunmen rob Corent yne $1.5 million in cash, valuables businesses
Simona Broomes launches new political par t y licences and contracts to ...companies paying bribes to shor tcut environmental studies - NRGI in hit-and-run at Mocha
ALP Leader
Simona Broomes
Broomes embracing a supporter on entry
Officials and mining companies using corruption around licences and contracts to deny citizens a fair share
Governance Institute (NRGI), in its latest report on the red flags for corruption, has outlined the areas often used to fester corrupt acts in mineral licensing and contracting.
According to the report, “Some government officials and mining company executives are already using corruption around licenses and contracts to deny citizens and communities a fair share of the b e n e f i t s o
o n minerals. Through corruption that s t a r t s i n t h e l i c e n s i n g a n d contracting phase, companies are neglecting and harming vulnerable populations and ecosystems with
sometimes for years.”
N R G I p o i n
e d o u
corruption in transition mineral supply chains is a global problem, w i t h i t s s t u d y i d e n t i f y i n g a whopping 53 cases of corruption in 30 countries across five continents, i n v o l v i n g a d i v e r s e r a n g e o f minerals. Corruption cases have been documented in eight out of the 10 countries with the highest levels of transition mineral reserves.
The Institute said, “Over and over, our dataset shows mining firms and officials conspiring to block competition for mining rights
and capture windfall profits they did very little to earn. This can involve officials taking hidden interests in companies; allowing middlemen to buy minerals or licenses at depressed prices and then resell to more experienced firms; using contracts to siphon off royalties that could have gone to the state; or convincing captured stateowned firms to borrow money for their essentially private business ventures.”
M e a
companies are paying bribes to h
payments written into their licenses and contracts. They are also using their favored status, along with familiar tricks of tax avoidance and evasion, to pay far less than they owe. In other cases, the country and its people receive no benefits from mining licenses at all because the companies that won them through graft lack the expertise, capital, or will to do the hard work of extraction.
T h e N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e
Governance Institute said it has not attempted to estimate the total costs of losses nonetheless, the available estimates of lost public revenue in many of the individual cases are huge—often hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars.
D
corruption paved the way for and papered over, many destructive, unjust business practices. “Mining firms paid bribes during licensing and contracting processes to cut s h o r t c o n s u l t a t i o n s w i t h communities, skip environmental and social impact assessments and environmental audits, and convince traditional and local leaders to b e t r a y t h e i r c o n s t i t u e n c i e s Companies behaved with similar i m p u n i t y w h e n t h e y s t a r t e d developing their corruptly acquired assets,” the Institute explained. It added that there were cases w h e r e f i r m s i l l e g a l l y t o o k possession of and destroyed land, i n c l u d i n g a n c e s t r a l f a r m s , archaeological sites, and religious
shrines, without legally required negotiations or paying adequate c
endured forced relocations.
“The water that people used for cooking, drinking and washing was diverted into extraction projects or polluted. Community development projects promised during license or contract negotiations never took place.
Working conditions in some mines were terrible, with reports of child labor, dangerously long shifts, lack of sanitary facilities or safe v e n t i l a t i o n , e x p l o s i o n s a n d collapses,” according to the report.
The Institute said that many companies that won their rights t
ignored rules and standards meant to constrain their behaviour, with disastrous results.
“They violated air and water q
punishment from the government. Over time, toxic dust from mines stunted crops and entered nearby homes; leaks and waste dumps
harmful levels of lead and other poisons into people’s food and bodies. Once some companies were c
ecosystems, they seemingly used their politically protected status to
N
G I pointed out.
Further to that, there were cases where companies blatantly refused to cooperate with environmental
harmed protesters, and avoided
when required by law. When those affected protested sometimes
conditions did not always improve. NRGI said findings like these
transition minerals—the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre,
5 0 0 allegations of human rights abuses in key supply chains over 12 years.
Gov t . vows to protect foreign businesses in return for jobs and business oppor tunities
Gy guaranteed that the government will protect the rights of all foreign businesses “as long as they create jobs and business opportunities for Guyanese”.
Singh made the promise while delivering the keynote address at a dinner organised by the Association of Chinese Enterprises in Guyana, in honour of the Chinese Spring Festival.
The finance minister made it known that Guyana is on a path to development and transformation backed by its newly found lucrative oil resources.
H e s p
focusing on and listed them as i
investments - education and health.
Dr Singh said too that Guyana
jobs
Guyana’s Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh
community contributing to what we want to achieve in Guyana,” Singh said before making special mention o
venturer in the Stabroek Block o
Minerals Inc.
“ B O S A I i s p
y i n g a remarkable role in the resurgence of Bauxite in the country,” the finance minister said as he highlighted the sectors that Chinese businesses have invested in.
H
sector, particularly those building roads and the New Demerara River Bridge, by boasting that projects are being completed at a fast rate
Dr Singh told the Chinese
d i p l o m a t s a n d c o m p a n y representatives at the dinner that his government is inviting them in for the sole purpose of improving the
lives of the Guyanese people.
“So, what this means for the rest of the world is that Guyana is open for open business to companies from all over the world,” The finance minister said.
“…We are eager to have more
UK, US, Canada and even Europe,” he continued before vowing to protect their rights in Guyana.
“As long as you are a law-
ou respect the laws of Guyana, you generate value for the Guyanese
opportunities,”
protected.
The finance minister pointed to strategic business partnerships that a
y
o t h
c
n
y ’ s development. “You are welcomed to do business here in Guyana and we will protect your rights,” he assured as members of the Chinese community cheered.
Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur News
Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.
Publisher: DR . GLENN LALL - TEL : 624-6456
Editor-In- Chief: NIGEL WILLIAMS
Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Petroleum Commission would blunt Gov t . hustles
Shadow Oil and Gas Minister, Shurwayne Holder, slammed the PPPC Government for its resistance against setting up a Petroleum Commission. It is a good call to highlight the need for a Petroleum Commission, but awareness of the deviousness of the government instills an appreciation about why such a body is a non-starter for leaders of the ruling clique.
Vice President Jagdeo stood for a Petroleum Commission in 2020 at the beginning of the PPPC Government’s tenure His words are there in black and white, cannot be denied When he distances from them today, he condemns himself to being a leader who casually abandons commitments, into other things It is because a Petroleum Commission would threaten his slippery ambitions and plans, the practices now so embedded in the oil sector But the vice president is not the only government luminary who was for such a vital protective entity In 2021, Attorney General Nandlall, and Minister Bharrat made promises regarding the preparations for the establishment of the much-awaited Petroleum Commission, that it was going to be soon Today, nearly five years later, both of them do a poor job feign unconsciousness on such a watchdog agency
Why is there this sloth on the part of the PPPC Government and its top operators on Guyanese having a Petroleum Commission that would mean so much? What is it that causes them an endless number of anxieties? We think that it is because a Petroleum Commission with credible Guyanese who know how the oil business operates, would put a dent in the oil shenanigans of the PPPC Government. Further, the government and its leaders may have run out of rubberstamps that they would prefer to be in place on a Petroleum Commission, which would hobble its work, render it all but useless. Guyanese have seen that with oversight of the Natural Resource Fund, which has been converted to a government piggy bank, with no one standing as a concerned, conscientious traffic cop.
To put it bluntly, a Petroleum Commission would serve as a block to the PPPC Government’s hustles in this precious oil and gas sector A Petroleum Commission would see too much and know too much, and a truly independent one would be a horror to leaders who fool Guyanese first, then run one scam after another on them in the management of the oil money, and robust stewardship of offshore oil operations Where there is a partnership of secrecy involving the government and oil companies, a Petroleum Commission would provide transparency Where there is an untouchable oil consortium operating 120 miles from shore, and distrusted political leaders raising objections on land, a Petroleum Commission would put an end to all the banditries that have become the norm These skullduggeries would only cease, when Guyanese patriots and other experts are on a Petroleum Commission that is focused on getting the best out the national wealth for the people
The government likes the freedom to do as it pleases, which a viable Petroleum Commission would bring to a stop Certain crucial people in the government love the tricks and coverups that run rampant in the oil sector A Petroleum Commission that takes its responsibilities seriously would get to the bottom of those, have none of that There would be real transparency and accountability in the growing oil sector, and not the conspicuous foolishness that pretends to be Oil is too big a contributor to the Guyanese economy to be trusted to the hands of politicians who have repeatedly walked back their words, betrayed the confidence placed in them Such a properly functioning oversight body would be a boon to Guyanese, when it has people of principle, those who take national interests seriously, who are not flunkeys for any leader This is what drives the PPPC Government to nervousness. The thought of a Petroleum Commission operating as it should be, makes the government sick, force national leaders to play tricks. How could a Petroleum Commission looking out for the interests of Guyana be seen by the government (by any citizen), as
Government and its leaders look frightened, pathetic, with their games on the presence of an independent Petroleum Commission.
Irfaan, Secretary Rubio, & Guyana
DEAR EDITOR, I
Guyana, after seeing the Irfaan-Rubio picture in the media, several individuals queried when the American Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Guyana. Some also phoned posing same question. I am not an insider, although I spoke with insiders in DC, and
information of an impending visit by Mr Rubio.
Guyana (Irfaan Ali) is very fortunate to have its President having a meeting with the American Secretary of State in DC so soon after he was sworn in to office. Several world leaders and
invited to the swearing in of Trump; Guyana was not. This high-level meeting with President Ali sends a strong m e s s a g e E v e n a p h o t o opportunity sends a message of the powerful Washington
external enemies with eyes on Guyana’s territory and oil.
There would have been an important reason for the meeting to take place. It is
n e w American President on his second term as did nearly all other leaders of government. T h e
advertisement in the local
; President Ali and the VP u n d e r s t a n d T r u m p ’ s Washington well.
Only a few are in the know on how and why the meeting between Rubio and Irfaan took place. Guyana and Guyanese are better off doing business with America than with the Middle East, China, and Russia. Anyone who does not play ball with U S A a n d A m e r i c a n
companies will face dire consequences. At their brief exchange, I am certain President Irfaan Ali would have tendered an invitation for Mr Rubio and President Trump to visit Guyana. But it is extremely unlikely either one would
v i s i t G u y a n a s o o n T h e Americans have far more important and urgent matters ( M i d d l e E a s t , U k r a i n e , China and Southeast Asian incursions, Iran, withdrawal from international bodies, etc.) to address than Guyana.
Guyana is not on the radar (as yet) for Washington unless Venezuela makes a move on Guyana’s territory or threaten Exxon Mobil oil production in which case Rubio (and SouthCom head) will promptly fly to Guyana to send a clear message to M
threatened. Mr Rubio and President Trump want
would not hesitate to act to force peace on the border
The Venezuelan President is unlikely to take any hasty
consequences for his regime would be devastating. And he knows it.
Rubio would not visit Guyana soon unless there is a threat to American economic and security interests. But other ranking members of the Trump Administration will visit Guyana sooner rather than later They would not want to visit Guyana close to an election (likely t h e f i r s t M o n d a y o f November). All visits would have to occur before June. M
Tr u m p i s
nonsense leader and while (Continued on page 06)
Kaieteur M@ilbox Kaieteur M@ilbox
Urgent need to reach out to unrepresented groups for security
DEAR EDITOR, Minister Robeson Benn
r e c e n t l y e m p h a s i z e d t h e strain that organized crime places on national security, including money laundering,
c y b e r c r i m e , a n d h u m a n trafficking. In addition, the
g r o w i n g t h r e a t f r o m
Venezuela highlights the pressing need to expand the police and defence forces to s t r e n g t h e n o u r n a t i o n a l security The time is now to
a g g r e s s i v e l y r e c r u i t Guyanese, particularly from ethnic groups historically
u n d e r r e p r e s e n t e d i n t h e Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
While it is encouraging to see increasing diversity within these forces, much more must be done to ensure these institutions reflect the multiracial makeup of our nation. A police force and m i l i t a r y t h a t m i r r o r t h e population’s demographics foster trust, mutual respect,
and stronger cooperation between communities and the state. A diverse security force also enhances cultural u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d
o
a n d r e d u c e s i n t e r g r o u p tensions.
Guyana’s strength lies in i t s d i v e r s i t y i n a multicultural society like ours. Ensuring that the GPF a n d G D F m i r r o r t h i s diversity will bolster these institutions and show that all
c i t i z e n s , r e g a r d l e s s o f background, are invested in the nation’s security and p r o g r e s s I n c l u s i v i t y
promotes unity and upholds the values of peace and justice for all. To achieve this, concrete steps must be taken to recruit individuals from ethnic groups who have not traditionally joined these forces, such as Guyana’s I n d i a n a n d A m e r i n d i a n populations: Recruitment Efforts
• Community Outreach: E n g a g e m i n o r i t y communities through town halls, cultural events, and schools to raise awareness about security careers.
• Targeted Advertising: T a i l o r r e c r u i t m e n t
communities.
• Diversity Recruitment Officers: Assign officers and s o l d i e r s f r o m m i n o r
y groups to lead recruitment w
n communities.
• Mentorship Programs: Establish initiatives to guide minority recruits through the process with support from experienced officers and
Development
B
minority applicants. Financial and Logistical Support
• Relocation Assistance: Help recruits from remote
d relocation costs, such as those living in the hinterland and riverain areas. Policy Adjustments
•
physical standards that may disproportionately exclude
while maintaining readiness for service. Inclusive Work Environment
•
officers and soldiers.
E
• Diverse Leadership:
y representation in leadership roles to serve as role models. •
Training: Foster an inclusive
Accommodations
Preferences: Offer diverse meal options that cater to
Amerindians, daal and rice with chokha, for Indians, and not forgetting the roti!
• Music: Include music from various cultures, such as chatney and Bollywood, in common areas to create an inclusive atmosphere.
By urgently reaching out to underrepresented groups, the country can strengthen its security and safety The GPF and GDF can create a more inclusive environment
improve the effectiveness of
provide greater protection for all citizens.
Dr. Devanand Bhagwan
DEAR EDITOR,
Firstly, I must commend the PPPC Government for drafting and presenting a well-structured budget that
welfare, and sustainability
d clearly exhibits a balance of expenditures while ensuring
i t a l l Guyanese.
I c l o s e l y w a t c h e d t h e
b u d g e t d e b a t e s i n P a r l i a m e n t , a n d t o b e
h o n e s t , I d i d n ’ t h e a r t h e
o p p o s i t i o n m a d e a s i n g l e
o b j e c t i o n t h a t t h e
G u y a n e s e p e o p l e c o u l d t a k e s e r i o u s l y. J u s t t o
n a m e a f e w , t h e
o p p o s i t i o n l e a d e r M r
N o r t o n w a s b u s y
b r a g g i n g a b o u t h o w h e ’s
p r o u d a n d u n a p o l o g e t i c a b o u t t h e p e r i o d w h e n h i s p a r t y w a s i n p o w e r a n d h a d b a n n e d e s s e n t i a l f o o d i t e m s
A n o t h e r l a u g h a b l e
m o m e n t i s w h e n M P
S i n c l a i r s a i d h e c a n ’ t s u p p o r t t h e b u d g e t
b e c a u s e h e h a s n ’ t r e c e i v e d h i s $ 1 0 0 k c a s h g r a n t y e t I n e x p l i c a b l y , t h e
o p p o s i t i o n i s c a l l i n g f o r
b i o m e t r i c s t o b e u s e d f o r e l e c t i o n s i n G u y a n a b y
m a k i n g s e v e r a l r i d i c u l o u s a n d
m i s l e a d i n g c l a i m s T h i s s a m e o p p o s i t i o n
w a s i n p o w e r f r o m 2 0 1 5
t o 2 0 2 0 i f b i o m e t r i c s t e c h n o l o g y i s s o g r e a t , t r a n s p a r e n t a n d e f f i c i e n t a s t h e y a r e n o w c l a i m i n g , w h y d i d n ’ t t h ey implement the system since then?
W h y s u d d e n l y , t h e o p p o s i t i o n i s d i s p l a y i n g a b i o m e t r i c s t a n t r u m a n d
t r y i n g t o m i s l e a d t h e
G u y a n e s e p e o p l e t h a t
b i o m e t r i c s i s t h e b e s t m e t h o d f o r e l e c t i o n s ?
I’m not a specialist in b i o m e t r i c s t e c h n o l o g y
However, I’ve done some r e s e a r c h i n r e g a r d t o b i o m e t r
manual voting, and here are my two cents understanding of both methods. B
understood by all voters, including voters in rural areas.
Honestly, I don’t see the need for biometrics voting in
Yours truly, Quincy Anderson Political Activist
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Kaieteur M@ilbox
Jagdeo, PPPC double standards exposed again and again
DEAR EDITOR, I read with keen interest your article titled “PPP to meet GECOM on Tuesday to discuss elections - Jagdeo” and found it necessary to respond, as Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo’s statements raise several concerns about the integrity of our electoral system and the sincerity of his party’s engagement with GECOM.
First and foremost, this meeting is not about genuine
appears to be an attempt by the ruling party to flex its political muscles and control the narrative surrounding the
biometrics is a genuine one, a
y wanted to implement it, they have the legislative power to amend the laws to facilitate its introduction. Instead of b
the government should take
electoral reforms they once supported.
In fact, in both the 2015 and 2020 election cycles, Jagdeo himself called for stronger measures to prevent electoral fraud, including the use of biometrics Now, when the opposition raises s
What has changed? If the integrity of the electoral process is paramount, why
Guyana’s Youth leading the charge in agriculture
DEAR EDITOR,
In recent years, Guyana has seen a remarkable shift a s i t s y o u t h e m b r a c e agriculture with renewed vigor Once considered an aging industry, farming is now being revitalized by a younger generation eager to make their mark in this vital sector Their enthusiasm is n o t o n l y r e f r e s h i n g b u t
critical to ensuring food
s e c u r i t y a n d e c o n o m i c growth in the nation.
A c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y, young people are seizing opportunities in traditional farming and venturing into innovative practices such as h y d r o p o n i c s , a q u a p o n i c s , and agro-processing.
W i t h g o v e r n m e n t initiatives like the Guyana
Yo u t h i n A g r i c u l t u r e
Programme and access to grants and training, many are finding their footing in what w a s o n c e a d e c l i n i n g industry
But it isn’t just about financial incentives; it’s a growing sense of pride and purpose. Take the stories of young farmers like Sarah in Region F i v e , w h o t u r n e d h e r family’s abandoned plot into a thriving vegetable farm, or Jamal from Region Two, whose fish farming business now supplies local markets. These youths are proving that agriculture is more than a livelihood; it’s a legacy and a pathway to sustainability
W h a t ’s d r i v i n g t h i s momentum is their ability to adapt modern technology to traditional farming methods.
Social media platforms have become marketplaces, while mobile apps help monitor crops and weather patterns. It’s clear that this generation isn’t just growing f
movement.
The journey isn’t without its challenges land access, capital, and infrastructure r e m a i n h u r d l e s b u t t h e resilience and innovation of these young farmers are undeniable. They are not only feeding Guyana but r e i m a g i n i n g w h a t agriculture can be.
In their hands, farming is no longer a last resort but a first choice, and the future of Guyana’s agriculture sector has never looked brighter
Sincerely
Angad Rampersaud
not take the necessary steps t
W
afraid of?
It is also important to note that biometric voter
n i s n o t a n unusual or untested measure. Many countries worldwide h a v e s u c c e s s f u l l y i m p l e m e n t e d
c technology in their electoral processes to enhance voter identification, prevent fraud, a
integrity For example:
- India– Uses biometric v
A a d h a a r s y s t e m , l i n k i n g voter ID to biometric data to p r e v e n t d u p l i c a t e registrations.
- Ghana– Implemented a biometric voter registration
s y s t e m a n d b i o m e t r i c v e r i f i c a t i o n a t p o l l i n g stations to prevent multiple voting.
- N i g e r i a – U s e s b i o m e t r i c v o t e r c a r d s
(Permanent Voter CardsP V C s ) a n d f i n g e r p r i n t verification during elections.
- Kenya – Introduced the Biometric Voter Registration
( B V R ) s y s t e m a n d t h e Kenya Integrated Elections M a n a g e m e n t S y s t e m
(KIEMS) to authenticate voters.
- Brazil – Implemented
b i o m e t r i c v e r i f i c a t i o n i n electronic voting machines
t o p r e v e n t v o t e r impersonation.
These systems have been p
impersonation, and improve electoral transparen
countries with large and complex electoral systems have successfully integrated b
h o u l d Guyana continue to delay such an essential reform? F u r t h e r , t h e P r i v a t e
position on this matter lacks credibility Over the years, the PSC has consistently parroted the government’s stance on critical issues, including national budgets and economic policies, often without objective scrutiny Their endorsement cannot be seen as an independent or neutral position but rather an e x t e n
party’s agenda.
The citizens of Guyana d
transparent electoral system where every vote counts and
government should engage
ensuring that GECOM is empowered to implement the best possible systems for free and fair elections.
Sincerely,
R. Williams
Irfaan, Secretary Rubio, & Guyana...
From pasge 04
G u y a n a w i l l p i q u e h i s i
erest in terms of oil r e s e r v e s a n d d a i l y production, a visit is not on his agenda. He was known to visit larger countries in first term. And Secretary Rubio is too busy with planning for various (bilateral and multilateral) summits with far m o r e i m p o r t a n t a n d p o w e r f u l n a t i o n s ( a n d regions) like India, China, Japan, Europe, Korea, and A u s t r a l i a , e t c P r i m e Minister Modi is expected to visit Washington soon to be followed by a visit of Mr
Trump to Delhi for an IndoPacific (Quad) summit later t h i s y e a r R u b i o h e l d m e e t i n g s w i t h F o r e i g n
M i n i s t e r s o f s e v e r a l powerful nations less than two weeks ago right after Trump’s glittering swearing in and is due to meet them again soon to finalize the President’s overseas visits.
I n t h e i r e n c o u n t e r ,
President Irfaan Ali would have committed to Secretary Rubio a mutually beneficial and trusted partnership for p e a c e , p r o s p e r i t y, a n d security And Rubio would h a v e e m p h
companies getting contracts f
e c t s i n Guyana. And the diaspora wants a deeper American e n g a g e m e n t i n G u y a n a Chinese companies have dominated state contracts in G u y a n a G u y a n a m u s t reorient towards the north, not the east. Guyana must advance a partnership with America regardless of which p
m e n t A n d R u b i o should be lobbied to visit Guyana.
Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT
Pot tellin’ Kettle
he bottom black!
Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bhar rat has mocked the People’s National Congress Ref orm (PNCR) f or f ailing to commit to a renegotiation of the lopsided ExxonMobil oil contract.
He proudly called out the par ty in Parliament f or its mere commitment to “review” the oil deal, something this present administration also did while in Oppositiononly using the words renegotiation/ better contract administration.
T he tr uth is Guyanese see past the petty politics at play- a game of pot tellin’ kettle he bottom black. A f earless leader will not only stand by his promises but boldly pursue what is in his countr y’s best interest. Guyana is battered and br uised from these two par ties. May dawn come soon to this great nation.
The government is in choppy waters
The government stands like a beleaguered captain at the helm of a storm-tossed ship, finds itself once again
n a v i g a t i n g t h e c h o p p y
w a t e r s o f p u b l i c procurement. The winds of criticism are howling, and the waves of discontent are rising.
The issue, as it often is, is
n o t m e r e l y a b o u t t h e allocation of contracts or the construction of roads and bridges It is about the integrity of a system. If the government does not act swiftly to overhaul its public
p r o c u r e m e n t s y s t e m s , i t risks not only squandering p u b l i c f u n d s b u t a l s o becoming engulfed by the same criticisms that led the PPPC government to lose its majority in 2011 and then the seat of power in 2015.
The most glaring issue has been the proliferation of “ o v e r n i g h t c o n t r a c t o r s ” These are not the seasoned builders of yore, men and women with calloused hands and a lifetime of experience
i n t h e t r e n c h e s o f construction. No, these are opportunists, springing up like mushrooms after a rain, forming firms with the speed of a magician’s trick and bidding for public works with the confidence of those
who know their success lies not in their skill but in their connections. Many of them have no idea what they are bidding for, nor do they care.
Their business model is simple: win the contract, subcontract the work, and pocket the difference. It is a shell game, and the public is the loser
The consequences are manifold. First, there is the
already burdened by the weight of bureaucracy, are
class, with its fingers in every pie, is reaping the rewards, while the average citizen is left to wonder why a simple road repair costs more than a small fortune.
Second, there is the issue of quality When contracts are awarded to firms with no experience or expertise, the
y workmanship, delays, and, i n s o m e
g
f a i l u r e T h e g o v e r n m e n t insists that only a minor percentage of public projects remain incomplete, but this is cold comfort to those who have to traverse roads, cross bridges or wait an eternity for some incomplete pump station to be finished.
Then there is the matter
o f c a p a c i t y T h e r e s o u r c e s h u m a n a n d m a
exist to support the volume o f p u b l i c w o r k s b e i n g undertaken. The strain on the limited pool of resources is p a l p a b l e C o n s t r u c t i o n materials are in short supply, driving up costs. Labor is scarce, and what labor there is demands higher wages, pushing the system to the brink of crisis.
Delays are inevitable, and the quality of work suffers. The government, in i t s z e
progress, has overextended itself. It must scale back, prioritize, and ensure that the projects it does undertake are completed to the highest standard. Otherwise, we risk a situation where even the most basi
e becomes unaffordable, and the poor are left unable to build so much as a chicken coop.
A p a r t i c u l a r l y c o n t e n t i o u s i s s
fees. The government argues that these fees are necessary to help small contractors get started, and there is some merit to this argument. For small projects, where access to resources may be limited,
DEM BOYS SEH
Is it time for horse carts to trot off?
Well, well, well! Here we are in 2025, with high-rise buildings kissing the clouds, h i g h w a y s w i d e r t h a n a p o l i t i c i a n ’s promises, and cars so fancy they practically drive themselves. But what’s this? A horse cart, plodding along like it’s the year 1899, holding up traffic like it’s collecting a pension. Dem boys seh, is it time to say goodbye to this relic of the past, or should we just let it keep clattering and dropping its way into the future?
De odder day dem boys bin cruising down the highway, vibing to some soca, thinking about how you’re going to spend de weekend. Suddenly, the car in front slammed on its brakes. Dem boys swerve, cuss, and then you see it—a horse cart, trotting along like it owns the road. The driver, probably whistling a tune, oblivious to the chaos behind him. Meanwhile, traffic is backed up longer than dem lines during Burnham time. And let’s not even talk about the “droppings” the horse leaves behind. Dem boys seh, stepping in that is worse than stepping on a ‘pimpler ’. It mek dem boys remember de time when de Queen did come to Guyana. She was seated next to Burnham in a horse-driven carriage going down Main Street. Suddenly, one of the horses let fly a stink fart. The smell was terrible but neither Burnham nor the Queen tried to cover their noses. The Queen turned to Burnham and said, “Mr Prime Minister I’m sure you understand there are some things that even a
a modest advance can make a difference. But for large projects—those above $200 million—mobilization fees are not only unnecessary but a l s o f r a u g h t w i t h r i s k Contractors bidding for such projects should have the f i
mobilize on their own. What happens if the work hardly sets going and the contractor walks away with close to $200 million in mobilization advances? What recourse does the government have? Can it levy on mud and sand? The answer, of course, is no. Perhaps it may claim that it can levy on the performance bonds. But that itself is another issue fraught w i t h c o n t r o v e r s y T h e s e p
guarantee, a promise that the work will be completed to the agreed standard. But are these bonds backed by real financial commitments, or
promises, devoid of any collateral? If the latter is true—and there is reason to suspect it is—then the entire s y s t e m
o n a foundation of sand. T h e g o v e r n m e n t therefore must tighten the
procurement, ensuring that contracts are awarded on the
connections. It must enforce
ensuring that they are backed
commitments. It must scale back the size of its public sector investment projects, focusing on quality rather than quantity And it must eliminate the payment of mobilization fees for large
complete the work they bid for
If the government fails to do these things, it risks repeating the mistakes of the past. Corruption has always been the PPPC’s Achilles heel, and history has a way of repeating itself. T
surrendered political office in 2015, in no small part due to allegations of corruption in public procurement. If it does not clean up its act, it may find itself staring down
problems once again.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the
opinions of this newspaper.)
Queen cannot control!” In his best oratorical style, Burnham replied, “Your Majesty, please don’t give the matter another thought Until you mentioned it, I thought it was one of the horses ”
Horse carts have their place in history Back in the day, they were the savior of the small man Need to move three bags of cement? Horse cart Going to the market with a basket of produce? Horse cart But these days, we have canters and trucks for crying out loud Dem boys seh, why are we still mixing 19th-century t r a n s p o r t a t i o n w i t h 2 1 s t - c e n t u r y infrastructure? It’s like trying to pair a flip phone with a smart TV it just doesn’t work
And then there is safety A horse cart on a four-lane highway is like a toddler in a nightclub out of place and a hazard to everyone around Cars zooming past at 80 km/h, while the horse is trotting at a leisurely 5 km/h. Dem boys seh, that’s a recipe for disaster Not to mention the poor horse, probably dreaming of greener pastures while inhaling exhaust fumes
So, what’s the solution? Dem boys seh, maybe it’s time to retire the horse cart—at least in the city Let the highways be for horsepower of the mechanical kind. After all, progress is progress, and you can’t move forward if you’re stuck behind a horse cart.
But hey, what do dem boys know? We’re just dem boys, watching the world go by—one slow, clattering horse cart at a time. Talk half. Leff half.
The Ali-Jagdeo dynamic has grown into a spectacle, where the supporting actor has not only stolen the spotlight but also started rewriting the script. President Irfaan Ali finds himself caught in a precarious dance with Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo—a man whose influence has gradually overshadowed the presidency. What should have been a period of smooth governance and political stability under the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) is now marred by the overreach of a man who seems more intent on proving his indispensability than respecting the boundaries of his role.
Jagdeo, whose official portfolio includes overseeing the environment, finance, and natural resources, has fashioned himself into a one-man band, opining on every conceivable matter of national importance. Whether it’s foreign policy, economic strategy, or the government’s legislative agenda, Jagdeo’s voice consistently precedes that of President Ali’s. His tendency to act as the government’s de facto spokesperson was glaringly evident when, a full week before Ali himself, it was Jagdeo who announced that the president would address Parliament. This brazen pre-emption exposes a deeper crisis of leadership: one in which the presidency, the highest office in the land, appears less authoritative than the vice presidency
The danger Jagdeo poses to President Ali’s administration is not merely a matter of political optics; it’s an existential threat to Ali’s leadership and to the legitimacy of the One Guyana agenda that Ali has been so eager to promote. The One Guyana vision—a platform built on inclusivity, national unity, and a break from the toxic political rivalries of the past—has been repeatedly undermined by Jagdeo’s antics. His weekly press conferences have become little more than verbal mudslinging sessions, targeting the Opposition and any critic
H@RD TRUTHS
Half pr ice electr icity by half year
I will take half price electricity Midyear is a good time for me. I will count on it, make it a test case. There are Americans,
G e r m a n s , a n d G u y a n e s e who all have their respective responsibilities in the Wales
G a s - t o - E n e r g y ( G T E )
c o m i n g o n s t r e a m a n d delivering. Let it be. Let Guyanese see.
Guyanese will get to determine for themselves if this GTE is fabricated out of
a i r a n d s m o k e , o r t h e particular gases that Vice President Jagdeo has as his own specially reserved field.
Or, if this US$2 billion electricity project has real substance as its foundation and is built to deliver And deliver At half the price that
G u y a n e s e n o w p a y p e r kilowatt hour of electricity
D e l i v e r i n a c o n t i n u i n g supply that is as reliable as t h e r o c k s t h a t b i n d t h e
Georgetown Seawall. From the first day my position was that I welcome any electricity apparatus that delivers cheap electricity and what represents a marked i m p r o v e m e n t o n t h e calamity that Guyanese must deal with now, for decades.
T h a t p
o t changed. Vice President
J a g d e o h
August, it is of now, late in
willingness to be patient, and observe what happens then.
My hope is that this GTE
u s t h a t p
t i c a l marketing and commercial marketing are not the same. The latter involves toying with the nuances of the English Language, but still delivering a product that performs; while the former h a s c o m e t o m e a n t h a t
anything goes, including a cure for cancer, and making c l o u d s d e p o s i t r a i n i n drought-stricken areas. It would be impressive if the vice president could finally p r o d u c e a w i n n e r, o n e success against his name, if only to get off that drag of 1 0 0 % f a i l u r e s , z e r o victories. No leader, no captain, could be that poor that long. What is it now, 23 years then 5 more?
I think that August 31, 2025, could prove to be the beginning of a boom or bust interval for the Oil and Gas
m a e s t r o o f G u y a n a , D r Bharrat Jagdeo. Once the project (all three segments of it) links up and shows up on time (what’s a few more days to wait for a safe and sound operation?) and performs as said, then it could be the best day of Mr Jagdeo’s life. G o n e w o u l d b e h i s reputation as flimflam leader
and snake oil salesman. If it doesn’t, then he would have g o n e f r o m c r i s i s t o c a t a s t r o p h e S i n c e credibility is already at such a low ebb for him, there is nothing much to tap into from that department. The first hurdle is for the Wales GTE to generate electricity The second is to deliver it. The third is for there to a steady, near uninterrupted supply The fourth is for it to come with 50% off as touted ad tagged. The fifth is both the dependable supply and the cut price must not be for introductory purposes only, i.e., teasers for the first year or so, but for the long haul. The last is for the Guyanese people to watch this project and Jagdeo, as they would an alert and agitated cobra, so as to detect any tricks with that price. Meaning, they don’t end up paying full price through some sleight of hand arrangement that bites them on the behind when they aren’t looking.
Separately, apologies to Jagdeo’s assorted admirers and loyalists for my lack of
confidence on things with t h e v i c e p r e s i d e n t ’ s fingerprints on them. It just can’t be helped. All I am doing is being observant of t h a t o l d s t
n d a r d : o n c e bitten, twice shy Multiply the bites by 20 and the n e g a t i v e p i c
s failures begins to take shape.
I know this local starring character so well that he is almost like family to me. He needs a seamlessly up and running Wales GTE to save some face and hold his head high.
I am still to recall the last time any Guyanese has felt comfortable giving him the benefit of the doubt, so many h
G u y a n a ’s taxpayers of Guyana. He is due a little operating space, and the Wales GTE could be his moment of truth.
I strongly believe that the Yanks and Germans are the best supporting cast that he could have found anywhere.
So, how could anything wrong, with those two sets of folks leading the way at the Wales complex? Come
August, it should be all systems go.
The Wales GTE goes forward, or it goes down with the sun and hauls Jagdeo
subcontractors still get to draw down.
M
get to draw a deep breath and draw straws to ascertain who is responsible for paying the least of that US$2 billion bill. Or what’s still owed, when Exxon takes out its billion from Guyana’s oil revenue. I want to see this working in Guyana. I hope that Guyanese do not take another working over from Mr Bharrat Jagdeo.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the
h e opinions of this newspaper.)
Man, 56, killed in hit-and-r un at Mocha
A 56-year-old man was killed in what appears to be a hit-and-run along the Mocha Access Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Friday night.
Dead is Patrick Singh of Lot 9 Providence, EBD.
T h
occurred at about 20:51h.
According to police, the a
owner, and driver unknown), and Singh.
“Based on the scene, police believe the pedestrian was walking, standing, or lying on the southern side of the road when the unknown vehicle, travelling west on the same side, collided with him,” police reported.
As a result, the pedestrian
sustained injuries to his head and other parts of his body
Unfortunately, the driver of the vehicle fled the scene.
H i s b o d y i s
h e hospital’s mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.
“
A nearby CCTV camera was identified, and the footage
T h e r e a f t e r , t h e ambulance was summoned, a l o n g w i t h E m e r g e n c y Medical Technicians (EMT), who found Singh in an unconscious state. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), where he was pronounced dead by a doctor
possible,” police assured.
Simona Broomes launches new political party
…promises to tackle corruption and “be voice of the voiceless”
By Anasa Williams
Former member of
t h e P e o p l e ' s
National Congress
R e f o r m ( P N C R ) a n d government minister under
t h e A P a r t n e r s h i p f o r
National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition has stepped away from politics of old and launched her own political party
The party, The Assembly for Liberty and Prosperity (ALP), was launched at De Impeccable Banquet Hall on
B r i c k d a m a m i d s t m u c h pomp and ceremony The party's mission is to fight for dignity, justice and rights.
Pledging to lead with integrity and transparency while promoting equality,
s o c i a l a n d e c o n o m i c development, the party is dedicated to empowering
c o m m u n i t i
civil rights and fostering
s u s t a
through ethical governance
a n d c o l l a b o r a t i o n Therefore, striving to create a s o c i e t y w h
prosperity F u r t h
w h i l e c e l e b r a t i n g a n d fostering innovation for a resilient future.
The l
approximately 13:00h with a n e m o
o m e s making a grand entrance into the Hall amidst a burst of cheers and encouragement by members and attendees alike.
political venture.
“I am a product of feeling downtrodden and a product of feeling that listen you can't do it…We are here to be the voice of the voiceless. To stand against the violence
told the packed venue that her party “will stand against crime and violence against women and girls.”
The former miner and i
media…because Guyana is on the rise.”
B
,
h e p a r t y envisions a fair, inclusive a n d p r o s p e r o u s G u y a n a where every citizen enjoys
e q u a l o p p o r t u n i t i e s a n d s u s t a i n a b l e d e v e l o p m e n t ALP also aims to empower i n d i v i d u a l s , s t r e n g t h e n communities and uphold the dignity and rights of all,
e r y individual can thrive and c
A m o n g t h o s e w h o attended the party's launch was leader of the AFC, Nigel Hughes, leader of the Justice
f o r A l l P a r t y, J a i p u a l Sharma, former Magistrate D a w n H o l d e r - C u s h a n d b u s i n e s s m a n T e r r e n c e Campbell. A representative f r o m t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s Embassy in Guyana was also present. Broomes warmly e m b r a c e d a t t e n d e e s w h o wished her well in her new
a n d c r i m e a g a i n s t women…it just means that we are here for that good c h a n g e , ” a n e m o t i o n a l B r o o m e s s a i d a s s h e announced the launch of her party
She explained that her party started with 10 persons in a room and is not funded b y “ b i g b a c k e r s ” Notwithstanding, the ALP leader said the numbers have since increased to more than 1000 strong locally and over 300 being women from the Diaspora.
S p e a k i n g w i t h o u t a
d trafficking in persons (TIP) hero said, “We are not going to fight, but we're going to beat up poverty in this country We're going to put some blows in poverty As a people, we are unique as Guyanese. Our geographics, our culture, our different r e l i g i o u s b e
country in the world.”
She said that her party will meet every Guyanese by “knocking on your doors, t h r o u g h s o c i a l
arena, said that she and her party members have a clear u
intricacies of the political landscape and noted that as a woman she will experience “ d i
p e c t a n d discrimination”.
disrespect I will have to face, my family will have to face, and you will have to face. All the calls… we want a good change, and we are b
e r s a n d pushing down and beating back against darkness. We understand that, and I put you on notice, all of you (Continued on page 50)
A section of the gathering on Saturday
ALP Leader, Simona Broomes
Christopher Narine cops Mr. India Guyana title
The third edition of the M r I n d i a G u y a n a competition took place last
Saturday at the Ramada Georgetown Princess Hotel
R o r a i m a B a l l r o o m , following a postponement late last year
C o n t e n d e r # 7 ,
C h r i s t o p
e r N a r i n e , emerged victorious, joining
o n a n d
Anthony Singh from the second. T
from the Miss, Mrs., and T
significant shift.
A
Mr Hashim Alli, this change added immense value to the platform, giving young men the exposure they need to grow into the role models they aspire to be, while fostering a positive impact
on the country
The event featured an electrifying display of seven
competing across multiple
evening wear, talent, ethnic wear, and the final question round.
One of th
ening's most memorable moments was the historic tie for the M
award, which was shared
Contender #7, Christopher Narine. Mr Alli explained that, instead of holding a revote, he chose to honor both men for their exemplary s p o r t s m a n s h i p , underscoring the spirit of camaraderie that defines the pageant.A standout moment of the night was the highly anticipated return of Ishara, one of Guyana's leading dance groups, formed by the talented brother-sister duo
K u m a r a n d S h i v a n i e Latchman back in 2009.
T h e e n e r g e t i c performance, also featured Miss India Guyana 2024
Diana Heralal, Miss India
Wo r l d w i d e 2 0 2 3 A r u n a Sukhdeo, and Mrs. India
G u y a n a 2 0 2 3 R e a n n a
A a r k h a n , c a p t i v a t e d t h e audience and earned a welldeserved standing ovation.
At the close of the event, the second runner-up title
w
N i e e m N a i k r a m , w h i l e
Contender #4, Cecil Hines, secured first runner-up. The
n i g h t c u l m i n a t e d i n t h e announcement of the new
w i n n e r , C o n t e n d e r # 7 ,
Christopher Narine
the competition's storied legacy
The winner Mr India
Guyana 2024 - Christopher
N a r i n e w h o h a i l s f r o m
Eccles on the East Bank
Demerara comes from a humble background, and like many other kids, spent his childhood playing cricket and football in the streets.
He said "my parents were a bit strict with me and my siblings whom I used to bicker with, but looking back, I truly appreciate the discipline and values they instilled in us. I found peace in basketball and used it as an escape whenever I faced challenges. Education was always important to me—I b e l i e v e d t h e n , a n d s t i l l believe now, that knowledge is power."
EDUCATION
The title holder attended
Saint Stanislaus College, where he completed my
C S E C s
H e i s currently pursuing an MBA i n S u p p l y C h a i n Management to further my expertise in logistics and procurement.
I work in the oil and gas s e c t o r , f o c u s i n g o n p
chain operations. My career
y, and innovation in logistics, which aligns with my longterm goals.
, traveling, entrepreneurship, basketball, tennis, and any sport.
He also has a strong
T
s e hobbies allow me to express my creativity, stay active, and connect with different communities,” he said.
BIGGEST MOTIVATOR
Narine said his biggest motivator his late father.
“He had big dreams for his kids, and I'm committed to carrying on his legacy. He has always kept family close and culturally rich, passing d o w n t r a d i t i o n s w h i l e creating fond memories with us. My family and girlfriend, Radha, continue to support me now, showing that bond he has forged between us, just proving more how much of an impact he had on our lives,” the winner said.
PLANS AS
MR. INDIA GUYANA
Prior to winning the title, N a
o rg a n i z
d s m a l lscale clean-up campaigns.
H e s a i d “ W i t h t h i s platform and the resources available to me now, I plan to take these efforts to the next level. I've also been working behind the scenes to launch P
transforming waste disposal and recycling both onshore and offshore.”
Narine said my goal is to
while encouraging others to do their part.
At centre: Mr. India Guyana 2024 - Christopher Narine, 1st Runner up - Cecil Hines (left) along with the 2nd Runner up - Nieem Naikram
Children captivated by lively storytelling during Storytime at the
Branch Library, where each session brings books to life and sparks young imaginations
Ms. Teanna Chin poses along with CEO of Camille's Academy Inc. after copping the Teacher of the Year award 2023
Ruimveldt
Meet the driven and ambitious 21-year-old
Quissieana Od le
Quissieana has a passion for marketing, modeling and discovering new interests. She thrives on creativity, communication, and personal growth, aiming to build a successful career in brand strategy while establishing herself in the fashion and beauty industry. Her goals include launching her own marketing consultancy, collaborating with top brands. Her favourite quote is “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” – Albert Schweitzer
CONSUMER CONCERNS CLIMATE CHANGE, GLOBAL WARMING,
GREENHOUSE GASES, CLEAN ENERGY: WHAT DO THESE TERMS MEAN?
PAT DIAL
F r o m t i m e t o t i m e ,
c o n s u m e r s a n d o t h e r members of the public have suggested to us that we explain the terms “Climate
C h a n g e ” , “ G l o b a l
Wa r m i n g ” , “ G r e e n h o u s e Gases” and “Clean Energy”
a n d t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s between them. We are asked
to do such explanations because, though the terms are widely and regularly used in the media, their precise meaning remains vague and confusing to wide sections of the public.
“Climate” and “weather” are not the same. Weather
d e s c r i b e s a s h o r t - t e r m
h a p p e n i n g i n t h e
E n v i r o n m e n t , a s f o r e x a m p l e , “ I t w a s r a i n y yesterday but today it will be sunny”. “Climate”, on the other hand, describes a long term characteristic of the Environment as for example, “At some periods of the Planet’s history, freezing
cold enveloped the Earth while at others, there were much higher temperatures than we ever experience today” The Climate the Earth is experiencing today has been with us for several hundreds of years and the S e a s o n
u m a n beings have been able to structure their lives on this predictability. For instance, farmers would know when to p l o u g h t h e i r f i e l d s f o r planting without expecting sudden droughts or floods or Islands in the Caribbean would know what months to look out for hurricanes.
The planet is enveloped in an Atmosphere of gases, mainly hydrogen and oxygen and smaller amounts of carbon dioxide (C02)which blankets the Earth from the full force of the rays of the Sun so that by t h e t i m e t h e y a c t u a l l y
penetrate the Atmosphere and reach the Earth, they have become benign and lifesustaining The gas which faces the planet Earth is CO2 o r C a r b o n D i o x i d e a n d absorbs the heat and ultraviolet rays of the Sun If more Carbon were to be added to the present layer more heat is absorbed and the temperature of the Earth would become hotter and more erratic with some regions which were hot becoming cooler and some areas which were very dry or deserts being subject to floods Carbon Dioxide is called a Greenhouse Gas because it r
Agriculture which receives the heat of the Sun’s rays but does not let out the heat. Other Greenhouse Gases in t
and Nitrooxide.
Up to the beginning of the 18th century, the blanket o f C O 2 i n t h e E a r t h ’s
Atmosphere was stable but w i t h t h e I n d u s t r i a l Revolution which started about 1750, vast amounts of coal and fossil fuels were bu
n
p
duce pow
r releasing millions of tons of Carbon Dioxide into the Atmosphere thickening the layer of Carbon Dioxide and trapping more of the heat of the Sun’s rays, causing the temperature of the Earth to rise thus resulting in the Climate of the Earth to change and become hotter and erratic. It is this process which is termed “Climate Change”. This quickened Climate Change of the Earth is therefore the result of human activity
Climate Change which the Earth is beginning to experience has already had marked damaging effects on h u m a n l i f e a n d t h e
Environment: It has led to the polar ice caps melting causing the seas to rise overwhelming low coastal regions and
threatening to inundate and destroy small island states such as the Maldives; changes in the sea movements resulting in phenomena like El Nino and L a N i n a p r o d u c i n g
u n e x p e c t e d f l o o d s a n d droughts negatively affecting farming and minimizing food production resulting in food shortages; then there are forest fires which not only release large quantities of Carbon Dioxide into the A
y thousands of trees which had absorbed CO2 and released oxygen; it has also led to the
d
d
communities and migration; it has also affected animal species in the wild causing many to die off and forcing survivors to try to migrate to far less suitable habitats.
The countries of the world, 195 of them, have all understood the dangers of C l i m a t e C h a n g e t o themselves and the Planet
but since these dangers are often not as pressing as immediate concerns, actions to confront Climate Change
Paris Agreement was arrived at where it was agreed that nations should strive to limit Global Warming to 1.5% below pre-Industrial levels and this is achievable by replacing some of the carbon
powered motor cars instead of the fossil fuel cars and most important, replacing
and the most
Renewable fuels are ‘Solar
, ‘Hydro’ and ‘Wind’ which
These are termed “clean” fuels because they leave no footprints as compared with
Carbon Dioxide which is
Warming.
WEEK-IN-REVIEW
Sunday
Oil money not guaranteed next year - VP Jagdeo …says President Trump’s ‘drill baby drill’ policy could cause further decline in oil prices
T h e w i t h d r a w a l b y
P r e s i d e n t o f t h e U n i t e d States (U.S), Donald Trump
from the Paris Agreement and his decision to increase oil production can cause a further decline in oil prices
t h i s y e a r, r e s u l t i n g i n a n uncertainty about the flow of revenue from the sector
T h i s w a s r e c e n t l y explained by Vice President,
Bharrat Jagdeo during his weekly press conference on Thursday when asked about the implications for Guyana, s t e m m i n g f r o m T r u m p ’s recent announcement.
The Paris Agreement is
an international treaty on climate change that aims to h o l d “ t h e i n c r e a s e i n t h e global average temperature to well below 2°C above preindustrial levels” and pursue
e f f o r t s “ t o l i m i t t h e t e m p e r a t u r e i n c r e a s e t o 1 5°C above pre-industrial levels.”
F o l l o w i n g h i s inauguration on January 20, President Trump vowed to withdraw the US from the Paris climate agreement. The BBC reported that the US will now have to wait a year before it will be officially out of the pact.
At the White House on M o n d a y e v e n i n g , Tr u m p signed the order to withdraw f r o m t h e P a r i s c l i m a t e accord, including a letter to t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s explaining the decision.
H e a l s o a n n o u n c e d a “ n a t i o n a l e n e r g y emergency” to reverse many o f t h e B i d e n - e r a environmental regulations.
Trump called the Paris agreement a “ripoff” during a speech at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, following his swearing-in. “ We w i l l d r i l l , b a b y, drill,” he said earlier in his inaugural address.
E x p o u n d i n g o n t h e implications this may have
o n G u y a n a , J a g d e o s a i d ,
“There is a concern that with increased production in the
U S , t h e r e c o u l d b e a n
oversupply of the market
That would have an impact on the prices. You have to t a k e a c c o u n t o f a l l t h e s e
v a r i a b l e s w h e n y o u p l a n future expenditure.”
T h e f o r m e r H e a d - o f -
State further noted that this is particularly important since there is no guarantee that oil
m o n e y w o u l d c o n t i n u e flowing.
H e r e a s o n e d , “ T h a t i s why our dear friends from t h e o t h e r s i d e , w h o a r e p r e t e n d i n g a s t h o u g h o i l
m o n e y w o u l d a l w a y s b e t h e r e , a n d t h a t i t ’ s guaranteed; next year, it’s not guaranteed. So, if you start telling people you don’t have to work, you can get free money all the time, no country in the world does that and so that is why you have to be cautious.”
A d d i t i o n a l l y, J a g d e o explained that while there is a possibility of oil prices declining, the new policy
c o u l d a l s o r e s u l t i n a n
i n c r e a s e d d e m a n d o f t h e commodity
“ O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , President Trump is exiting the Paris Agreement and also
s t o p p i n g t h e r e n e w a b l e energy projects in the U.S. He said the windmill projects and all of the others,” the VP said.
As such, he said that the equation could balance off. He said that the supply of e n e r g y w o u l d h a v e b e e n enhanced with the renewable sources coming on stream, however with these projects now scrapped, this would
trigger an increase in the demand for fossil fuels. Consequently, the Chief P o l i c y m a k e r f o r t h e petroleum sector noted that the U.S oil policy is not a
c o n c e r n , b u t i s b e i n g monitored by Guyana. This means not only Budgetary policy but every other related mechanism, the VP said. Oil prices and Guyana K a i e t e u r N e w s previously reported that in 2 0 2 5 , a l t h o u g h G u y a n a ’s daily production is expected to climb, the country will see a decrease in earnings from the sector, as oil price is
case and we are deliberately foregoing that in this period for that purpose and then trying to grab this bone now could cause you to lose all the bones, the bigger bones too in the future.”
APNU, AFC say committed to talks towards Coalition for 2025 elections
T h e M e m o r a n d u m o f
P r e s i d e n t i a l c a n d i d a t e , Norton hinted at remaining o p e n t o n o t l e a d i n g a n y future Coalition.
He explained, “I
h e P N C
Congress said that I will be t h e p r e s i d e n t i a l c a n d i d a t e and if there is going to be any other as it relates to the PNC, I w i l l b e t h e p e r s o n t o d e t e r m i n e I w o u l d n ’ t v e n t u r e t o s p e a k i n g p a s t that.”
l i k e l y t o c o m e d o w n b y 10.9%.
This was explained by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni
S i n g h d u r i n g t h e presentation of this year ’s Budget.
H e s a i d , “ O i l p r i c e s contracted by 2.3 percent to average US$80.7 per barrel
in 2024, primarily due to s l o w i n g g l o b a l d e m a n d , particularly in China.”
The Minister was keen to n o t e t h a t t h i s t r e n d i s e x p e c t e d t o c o n t i n u e t h i s year as “crude oil prices are forecasted to decline by a
global supply expected to exceed demand.”
T h i s i s p a r t i c u l a r l y troubling for Guyana, since policymakers have refused to implement a ring-fencing p r o v i s i o n , t o e n s u r e t h e c o u n t r y b e n e f i t s e a r l y o n from the wealth generated.
A ring-fencing provision would ensure that after the cost of an oil project is paid off, Guyana would receive 50% of the profits generated by that development, after the operational expense is covered.
I n t h i s m a n n e r , t h e
c o u n t r y ’s t a k e f r o m o i l production would increase significantly Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo previously e x p l a i n e d t h a t G u y a n a would not be implementing a ring-fencing provision, since the country is focused on r e p a y i n g t h e i n v e s t m e n t cost, allowing it to benefit from a “bigger bone” in the future.
He said, “We admitted t h a t w e a r e f o r e g o i n g revenue now in exchange for m a s s i v e f u t u r e i n c o m e because it’s going into new projects that will increase production and so even with the same share of the 50/50 plus the two percent royalty
t h a t t h e f u t u r e i n c o m e , because of the bigger scale will be massive in Guyana’s
U n d e r s t a n d i n g ( M o U ) between the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC), that is currently on ‘ l i f e s u p p o r t ’ , c o u l d s t i l l b l o o m i n t o a C o a l i t i o n between the two sides ahead of this year ’s Elections.
B o t h s i d e s r e a ff i r m e d t h e i r c o m m i t m e n t t o a partnership in separate press conferences on Friday.
Hours after the MoU was signed on Thursday, paving the way for discussions on a possible Coalition, Leader of t h e A F C , N i g e l H u g h e s h o s t e d a l a t e - n i g h t p r e s s conference, indicating that the agreement was on life support. At the time, Hughes would only say that “trust and confidentiality” are key p r i n c i p l e s , s a c r e d t o t h e AFC.
K a i e t e u r N e w s u n d e r s t a n d s t h a t a n o t h e r section of the media reported on the contents of the MoU, which may not have been accurate.
With the talks seemingly on rocky ground, Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton told the media, “I believe that we have the ability to engage and resolve whatever issues emerge.”
Meanwhile, with regards t o t h e c o v e t e d t i t l e o f
N o r t o n e x p l a i n e d t h a t while political parties take p o s i t i o n s , a s a “ m a t u r e politician” he is tasked with analyzing the situation to work towards a Coalition to a c h i e v e t h e o b j e c t i v e o f o v e r t u r n i n g a “ c o r r u p t , incompetent political party” mismanaging the resources of the country.
To this end, he expressed confidence that the parties will address its issues and move forward.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the AFC, David Patterson in a statement explained that the party is willing to engage and take the talks off life s u p p o r t H e h o w e v e r o u t l i n e d a s e r i e s o f conditions that must be met in this regard by both sides.
P a t t e r s o n u n d e r s c o r e d the importance of complete respect for the negotiation process by both parties and t h e t e r m s o f e n g a g e m e n t adhered to by all concerned.
I m p o r t a n t l y , t h e Chairman stressed that all p a r t y a n d p e r s o n a l preconditions must be put aside in the interest of what is good for the nation rather than party or personal gains. Additionally, he noted, “That a c l e a r m u t u a l l y a g r e e d Political Platform alternative to the current status quo be ( m
while the March 31, 2025, d
understanding that “nothing is agreed until all is agreed.” T
Leader Khemraj Ramjattan, had decided not to renew the Cummingsburg Accord- the binding agreement with the A P N U - i n 2 0 2 3 u p o n i t s expiration.
On February 14, 2015, the AFC signed the binding agreement and went on to defeat the PPP at the 2015 elections held in May that y
h e Coalition has stood together but not without its internal hiccups.
Monday
Govt to take out $512.4B from oil account to fund $1.3 trillion budget
T h e G o v e r n m
n t o f Guyana will be withdrawing $512.4 billion or US $2.5 billion, this year, from the Natural Resources Fund to support its 2025 National Budget.
Minister of Finance, Dr A
deposits into the fund for last year totalled some US $2.6
h
“The Fund received US$2.2 b i l l i o n i n p r o f i t o i l , US$557.5 million from Liza Destiny, US $869.2 million f
Prosperity With respect to royalty payments, US$348 million was received from
operator.”
Dr Singh also said that in
approved by the Parliament i
that Budget and, at the end of last year, the fund stood at US $3.1B, which included interest income and net of withdrawals.
Continued on page 17
Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo
From page 16 taken out of the Fund since
t h e c o u n t r y f i r s t s t a r t e d producing oil in 2019 In addition to the oil funds, the
g o v e r n m e n t a l s o p l a n s t o
f i n a n c e t h e B u d g e t u s i n g $350 billion in loans as was disclosed by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday This publication reported on F r i d a y t h a t t h e $ 1 3 8 2
t r i l l i o n 2 0 2 5 N a t i o n a l Budget will be funded by over $350 billion in loans.
T h e V P m a d e t h e s e comments during his weekly press conference at Freedom House.
W h e n a s k e d w h a t
p e r c e n t a g e o f t h e B u d g e t would be funded by loans, the Vice President said that if one takes a look at the oil and non-oil revenue, there is a table in the estimates under the heading ‘Public Sector Financial Operations’ which will give a breakdown of h o w t h e f u n d s a r e accumulated.
The VP said, “basically, if non-oil revenue is about 500 billion, dollars, and nonoil revenue, if you include inflows from GRIF and the LCDs, would be another 500 million. So that means about three, 300-odd billion would be funded through loans. So, just read, read it there.”
“You would see it here: p u b l i c s e c t o r f i n a n c i a l operations, and you can see how much of the revenue, or the exact figures would be $454B in revenue plus $16
b i l l i o n o f G R I F i n f l o w s ; a b o u t $ 4 1 b i l l i o n f r o m carbon credit inflows, which will give about $511B and then $512B is from NRF w i t h d r a w a l S o , t h a t i s a trillion dollars…”
Looking at the estimates it shows that $349.98B will b e a c c u m u l a t e d f r o m financing, which represents r o u g h l y 2 5 2 5 % o f t h e Budget. Giving a breakdown
of the financing, external
f i n a n c i n g r e p r e s e n t s $322.44b while $27.5B will be domestic financing.
Despite commencing oil
p r o d u c t i o n i n 2 0 2 0 , t h e
G o v e r n m e n t o f G u y a n a ( G o G ) h a s g r o w n t h e
c o u n t r y ’ s d e b t b y a significant US$4.2B as at the end of December 2024.
In 2019, the country’s
d e b t w a s U S $ 1 8 B
A c c o r d i n g t o A n n u a l Reports from the Bank of Guyana (BoG), the nation’s debt grew by 46.7% in 2020 to US$2.6B.
In 2021, the debt surged to US$3.1B, and in 2022 this trend continued with the total
stock of debt climbing to US$3.7B.
In 2023, debt increased further by 23.4% to US$4.5B while this grew to a massive US$6B at the end of 2024, as
i n d i c a t e d b y t h e F i n a n c e
M i n i s t e r l a s t w e e k T h e Irfaan Ali-led administration has often touted the low GDP
t o d e b t s e r v i c e r a t i o , meaning that the country’s
G r o s s D o m e s t i c P r o d u c t ( G D P ) f a r o u t w e i g h s t h e country’s annual payment repayment on loans.
For instance, Dr Singh p o i n t e d o u t t h e c o u n t r y ’s progress over the past four years in this regard. He said, “Importantly, over the last four years, the ratio of total PPG [Public and Publicly
Guaranteed Debt] debt-to-
GDP plummeted by more than 20 percentage points, from 47.4 per cent at the end of 2020 to 24.3 per cent at the end of 2024. This provides clear indication of a marked
improvement in Guyana’s capacity to maintain public debt into the future, without t h e n e e d f o r f i s c a l
a d j u s t m e n t s , a n d p l a c e s Guyana in the position of having one of the lowest
d e b t - t o - G D P r a t i o s
w o r l d w i d e I n d e e d , t h e latest available statistics rank Guyana as having the second l o w e s t d e b t - t o - G D P r a t i o
w i t h i n t h e W e s t e r n Hemisphere in 2024.”
Govt. placing heavy burden on citizens shoulders with US$6B debt – Glenn Lall …but Jagdeo says borrowing economically-sound
The recent revelation by G u y a n a ’ s M i n i s t e r o f F i n a n c e , D r A s h n i S i n g h that the country’s debt had raised from US$4.5 billion at the end of 2023 to nearly US$6 billion by the end of
2024 has sparked concerns a b o u t t h e g o v e r n m
borrowing policy
US$1.6 billion is earmarked
debate, Opposition Members o
concerns about the country’s
businessman, Glenn Lall has also strongly criticised the g o v e
g practices. He compared the
shoulders.
L
than removing the burden of debt on its citizens, is tripling the debt onto their shoulders. In 2015, when the PPP left
o ff i c e , G u y a n a ’s n a t i o n a l debt stood at US$1.8 billion. The Coalition Government took over until 2020, and during their time in office, the debt remained almost the same – which was a debt of a b o u t $ 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 o n e v e r y G u y a n e s e i n t h e c o u n t r y, man, woman, and child.”
H e c o n t i n u e d , “ F a s t forward to 2020, when the PPP returned to office and t h e o i l r e v e n u e s t a r t e d flowing. By the end of 2024,
G u y a n a ’ s n a t i o n a l d e b t skyrocketed to US$6 billion. This was confirmed by Ashni Singh in his 2025 Budget
s p e e c h L e t ’s b r e a k t h a t down: in just four years, the debt tripled, and now every
G u y a n e s e i s c a r r y i n g t h e equivalent of G$1.6 million on our shoulders.”
T h e b u s i n e s s m a n questioned the government’s use of the oil revenue, which amounted to approximately US$6 billion during the same four-year period.
“ T h i n k a b o u t t h a t U S $ 6 b i l l i o n c a m e
into this country from oil, yet
t h e d e b t s t i l l c l i m b e d t o US$6 billion. Where did that money go? How can this be possible?”
He further argued that the g o v e r n m e n t ’s b o r r o w i n g practices were akin to poor f i n a n c i a l m a n a g e m e n t .
“Imagine you owe the bank $2 million on your house, paying heavy interest. Then, you start earning three times t h a t a m o u n t f r o m t h e resources on your property But instead of paying off that loan to free yourself from that burden, you spending out that cash elsewhere and b o r r o w i n g e v e n m o r e , d r a g g i n g t h e f a m i l y i n t o deeper debts. That is what the PPP is doing to all of us,” Lall remarked.
Vice President Bharrat
J a g d e o , a t h i s l a s t p r e s s
c o n f e r e n c e , r e s p o n d e d t o criticisms and defended the g o v e r n m e n t ’s b o r r o w i n g
p o l i c y I n h i s e ff o r t s t o
d e f e n d t h e c o u n t r y ’ s
g r o w i n g d e b t , J a g d e o pointed to what he described a s c o u n t r y ’ s i m p r o v e d economic standing under the PPP-administration “Now the size of the debt, that’s another criticism, ‘Oh PPP is borrowing too much so the debt has grown to nearly $6 billion now US$5.9 billon’. So here are some things that we have to talk about which
I’ve spoken about before:
A r e w e l e a v i n g t h e n e x t generation of our country in bankruptcy with an insolvent e c o n o m y ? T h a t i s w h a t APNU did,” Jagdeo argued. He explained the debt-toGDP ratio under the PPP
c o m p a r e d t o p r e v i o u s administrations, noting that a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e i r term, the debt-to-GDP ratio was 900%. “Our economy today is $25 billion. It is 71 times bigger than it was in the past So, the external debt-to-GDP in Guyana is 8 8 % d o w n f r o m 7 0 0 % under APNU. That’s one of the lowest in the world,” he said.
On Monday, Shadow Oil a n d G a s M i n i s t e r a n d O p p o s i t i o n M e m b e r o f P a
policymaker on oil and gas, V
Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat for backpedalling on their promise to establish a Petroleum Commission.
H o l d
remarks during the ongoing budget debate in the National Assembly He outlined that if
H e f u r t h e r s t a t e d t h a t external
ntry will hav
o find foreign currency to service that debt. External debt is US$2.2 billion. To this end, the Vice President posited t h a t t h e U S $ 3 . 7 b i l l i o n domestic debt “could easily be repaid.” E a r l y 2 0 2 4 , t h e governme
light to increase the ceilings o
a n d external debt. The domestic public debt ceiling has been increased to $1.5 trillion, up from $750 billion from its last revision. Meanwhile, a n e w e x t e r n a l b o r r o w i n g ceiling of $1.5 trillion has been approved, after its last increase to $900 billion. This move was part of a broader financial strategy to increase the nation’s capacity, in order to finance its $1.146 trillion 2 0 2 4 b u d g e t , i n c l u d i n g s e v e r a l l a r g e - s c a l e infrastructure projects.
Tuesday
‘With hands on oil money, Govt. ditches promise to set up Petroleum Commission’ - Shurwayne Holder
May 2025 will mark 10 y e a r s s i n c e G u y a n a i s w i t h o u t a n u p d a t e d l e g i s l a t i v e a n d r e g u l a t o r y framework that is essential for the protection of the oil
i n d u s t r y a g a i n s t m i s m a n a g e m e n t a n d corruption.
One of the key regulatory architectures that remains in l i m b o i s t h e P e t r o l e u m Commission Bill that would p a v e t h e w a y f o r t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f a n independent regulator At the beginning of its term, the People’s Progressive Party
y
However, the Irfaan Ali ledadministration is in their fifth year and is still to deliver on that promise.
government, the APNU will use its comprehensive
of
management of the oil and gas sector
M P promised that within 90 days
professionals to advise the
administration of Guyana’s Oil & Gas sector
Comfortable with hands on oil money
Switching his focus from what the Opposition plans to do, Holder highlighted what
o d o
“The PPP has betrayed the trust of the Guyanese people on this matter In opposition and
months after 2020, both the M i n i s t e r o f N a t
President promised to set up the Petroleum Commission, b u t a f t e
n g comfortable and with hands on the oil money, they turned their back on the people,” he stated.
Further, he stated that the
Administration will review
Legislation and restructure as necessary to finalise the
PPP then A
Commission is a regulatory body which is established by a government to oversee and
Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh
From page 17
r e g u l a t i o n s , m a n a g e s licences and permits, and
o f t e n p l a y s a r o l e i n promoting sustainable and
e f f i c i e n t u t i l i z a t i o n o f petroleum resources.
T h e A P N U + A F C
Coalition government left
behind a Draft Petroleum Commission Bill that was tabled on May 8, 2017, by
t h e n M i n i s t e r o f N a t u r a l
R e s o u r c e s , R a p h a e l
T r o t m a n T h e P P P Government had promised to make necessary changed to the Bill to pave the way for
t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e Commission.
I n A u g u s t 2 0 2 0 , Vi c e
P r e s i d e n t J a g d e o w a s reported as saying that the body would be set up in six months Attorney General, Anil Nandlall had told the
m e d i a i n 2 0 2 1 , t h a t t h e Natural Resource Ministry’s legal department, along with t h e C h i e f P a r l i a m e n t a r y
C o u n s e l a t t a c h e d t o h i s office, were working on the document to facilitate the c h a n g e w h i c h t h e n e w Government wanted.
S i m i l a r l y , N a t u r a l Resources Minister Bharrat in March 2021 stated that within a matter of weeks, the i n d e p e n d e n t r e g u l a t o r , w h i c h t h e g o v e r n m e n t promised to establish for the oil sector would be in place. In fact, the Minister Bharrat
w a s a l s o q u o t e d o n t h e
G u y a n a B a s i n s S u m m i t website as saying that the Commission is needed so it can “manage this emerging
s e c t o r w i t h o u t p o l i t i c a l interference.”
I n 2 0 2 2 , t h e V i c e
P r e s i d e n t r e i t e r a t e d Government’s plans to have the Commission in place.
PPP now
Vi c e P r e s i d e n t J a g d e o went from stating that the Commission would be set up within months to claiming that the Commission is not necessary
At an August 2024 press
c o n f e r e n c e , J a g d e o s a i d , “There is no magic with a P e t r o l e u m Commission There is no magic, we have given our agencies the tools to manage the sector.”
Minister Bharrat has also changed his tune. He argued that the establishment of a Petroleum Commission at this time could slow down the rapid developments in the sector The minister said, “ T h e P e t r o l e u m Commission will basically be doing what we are doing at the Petroleum Unit at the
M i n i s t r y o f N a t u r a l
Resources. I don’t think we w i l l b e d o i n g a n y t h i n g different from what we are doing now.”
“A commission like that might be slower in decisionm a k i n g t h a n t h e p o l i c y m a k e r s m a k i n g decision with regards to how we advance this sector taking into consideration that we have a limited timeframe and a closing window so we have to look at the advantages and d i s a d v a n t a g e s o f everything,” Bharrat said.
Oil minister lashes PNC for failing to commit to renegotiation of Exxon deal while Govt. refuses to do same
A l t h o u g h t h e P e o p l e ’s
P r o g r e s s i v e P a r t y / C i v i c
( P P P / C ) g o v e r n m e n t h a s b e e n a d a m a n t a b o u t n o t renegotiating the oil contract signed with ExxonMobil, M i n i s t e r o f N a t u r a l Resources, Vickram Bharrat has criticised the People’s National Congress Reform ( P N C R ) f o r f a i l i n g t o commit to renegotiate the agreement.
On Monday, Shadow Oil
a n d G a s M i n i s t e r a n d
O p p o s i t i o n M e m b e r o f
P a r l i a m e n t ( M P ) , S h u r w a y n e H o l d e r i n h i s presentation in the National Assembly on budget 2025
r e i t e r a t e d t h e P N C R ’ s position to review the 2016
P r o d u c t i o n S h a r i n g
A g r e e m e n t ( P S A ) , w h i c h was signed by the former Coalition government with the oil major
c
“ We w i l l u n d e
Agreement for the Stabroek Block was being discussed and agreed. You sat there and you agreed to it, you agreed that the oil company will not pay any tax, you agreed to t h a t , b u t y e t w e h a v e politicians in the opposition who are trying to play Tom and Jerry, cat and mouse game.”
M o r e o v e r , P r e s i d e n t Irfaan Ali during his 2024 e n d - o f - y e a r p r e s s conference told the media that he has no interest in w r i t i n g U S o i l m a j o r , ExxonMobil to engage the company to renegotiate the PSA.
r e n e g o t i a t e t h e S t a b r o e k
B l o c k P S A , w h i l e i n o p p o s i t i o n O n t h e o t h e r hand, this publication had reported that while PNCR Leader Aubrey Norton has p r o m i s e d t o r e v i e w t h e lopsided deal if his party is e l e c t e d a s t h e n e x t
g o v e r n m e n t h e h a s s h i e d away from saying whether they will “renegotiate” the contract.
Wednesday
“Now is the time to take more loans”
grounds, the gas to power project- are they needed?”
He is convinced that the answer to that question is yes. Secondly, the Minister noted that another pertinent question is “would it have been built had it not been for g o v e r n m e n t e x p e n d i t u r e ? The answer is no because otherwise the market would have done it already.”
c a m p a i g n e d o n renegotiating the oil contract but when they took office, they deserted the Guyanese people,” MP Holder said.
In response to Holder ’s comments, Minister Bharrat l a m b a s t e d t h e O p p o s i t i o n MP for only committing to reviewing the deal and not to renegotiating it. “I listened t o t h e H o n o u r a b l e Sherwayne Holder, he never c o m m i t t e d t o t h e renegotiation of the Stabroek Block. He said that we will r e v i e w t h e P S A o f t h e
Stabroek Block, he never said that we are going to renegotiate the agreement of t h e S t a b r o e k B l o c k , ” M P Bharrat stated.
H e a c c u s e d t h e Opposition of attempting to h o o d w i n k G u y a n
n i s t e r s a i d , “ We h a v e listened to many sp
ers before speak glowingly of the recommendations of the fake promises but sometimes when we come to the house we need to be honest.”
The Stabroek Block deal waives all taxes from the oil companies and caters for the taxes to be paid by Guyana; it gives Guyana a 2% royalty on its rich resources, and agrees to the oil companies r e c o v e r i n g 7 5 % o f i n v e s t m e n t s b
G
e i v i n g 12.5%. This publication had also reported that the deal l a c k s a r i n g - f e n c i n g provision.
M o r e o v e r , B h a r r a t a r g u e d t h a t s e v e r a l Opposition MPs were in the l a s t c a b i
g n e d with Exxon. He said, “You sat there when the PSA, the P r o d u c t i o n S h a r i n g
P r e s i d e n t A l i ’s c u r r e n t s t a n c e c o n t r a s t s w i t h statements he made as the P P P / C p r e s i d e n t i a l c a n d i d a t e D u r i n g a n interview with the Guyanese Critic, Ali strongly criticized t h e P S A s i g n e d b y t h e Coalition Government with ExxonMobil. He stated at the time, “We have made it very c l e a r, a n d w e c a n n e v e r
a g r e e , h o w c o u l d , h o w
c o u l d , I d o n ’ t t h i n k a n y Guyanese agree with this, no G u y a n e s e e x c e p t t h e government that is defending it. We have made it very clear that we have to go towards, w e ’ r e l o o k i n g a t t h e s e contract, renegotiating these contracts, looking at contract management and all of these things, everything we have to relook at, because we have to ensure that our country does not get the wrong end of t h e s t i c k ” A l i ’s r e m a r k s b a c k t h e n i n d i c a t e d a willingness to “review and renegotiate” the contract to s e c u r e b e t t e r t e r m s f o r Guyana.
H o w e v e r , s i n c e
a s s u m i n g o f f i c e , h i s administration has shifted to upholding the “sanctity of contract” The PPP/C has
also consistently dispelled claims that they promised to
- Sports Minister ...tells Parliament oil prices will decline but increased production will help Guyana
M i n i s t e r o f C u l t u r e , Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. believes that the time is ripe for Guyana to increase its debt portfolio to support the development of the country
Despite the downward projection for oil prices, the lawyer, who holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Oil and Gas Enterprise Management
f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Aberdeen, reasoned that the c o u n t r y ’ s i n c r e a s e d production of the resource will offset any related risks.
During his 35-minute-
long contribution on Day Three of the 2025 Budget
D e b a t e i n t h e N a t i o n a l
A s s e m b l y , R a m s o n explained, “When we hear members of the other side speak about our debt, and we h a v e s p o k e n a d n a u s e a m about the ratios, our ratios
b e i n g t h e l o w e s t i n t h i s
h e m i s p h e r e T h e f i r s t question that you have to ask really because I don’t want to get into too much equations
a n d a n a l y s i s a r e t h e
s c h o o l s , t h e r o a d s , t h e bridges, the ports, the water w e l l s , t h e c o m m u n i t y
“The third question is if we had to make the decision to build it at some point and we had the money to do it or we had access to do it. If the answer is yes, why are we waiting to do it? We must do it now,” Ramson urged.
To this end, the Minister said, “And if there is any time to take on debt, now is the time because even when oil prices decline, and they will decline at some point in the future, the fact is you h a v e m o r e ( o i l ) p r o j e c t s coming on stream by 2030at leas t f o ur mor e and it means that the increase level of production will offset the r i s k i n t h e d e c l i n e i n o i l prices.”
T h e M e m b e r o f Parliament told the House that Guyana is competing with other nations, making it important for Guyanese to d o u b l e d o w n o n infrastructure investment to improve the country for the future.
S i n c e t h e P e o p l e ’ s Progressive Party (PPP) took o f f i c e i n 2 0 2 0 , t h e administration has grown the country’s debt by a massive US$4.2B.
Kaieteur News reported that in 2019, the country’s d e b t w a s U S $ 1 8 B ; according to Annual Reports from the Bank of Guyana ( B o G ) , t h e n a t i o n ’s d e b t grew by 46.7% in 2020 to US$2.6B.
In 2021, the debt surged to US$3.1B, and in 2022 this trend continued with the total stock of debt climbing to US$3.7B.
In 2023, debt increased further by 23.4% to US$4.5B while this grew to a massive US$6B at the end of 2024, as i n d i c a t e d b y F i n a n c e Minister, Dr Ashni Singh. M e
more debt on the projected revenues from oil, given the
commodity prices. T
b y 10.9%. Consequently, even though the country’s daily rate of oil production is Continued on page 36
Shadow Oil and Gas Minister and Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Shurwayne Holder
Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat
Talking Dollars & Making Sense: Can Guyana Afford
By Rennie Parris
Welcome back to Talking Dollars & Making Sense. As Guyana prepares for the 2025 general and regional
e l e c t i o n s , t h e P e o p l e ’s National Congress Reform
( P N C R ) h a s u n v e i l e d a series of ambitious policy
p r o p o s a l s a i m e d a t transforming the country’s economic landscape. While
t h e s e p r o p o s a l s a r e undoubtedly eye-catching,
t h e i r f e a s i b i l i t y a n d sustainability warrant closer examination. Let’s dissect a s p e c t s o f t h e P N C R ’s platform and evaluate their practicality
1. Monthly Cash Grants for Every Adult Guyanese
The PNCR’s p
G u y a n e s e h a s c a u g h t significant attention. In an interview on October 24th, 2 0 2 4 , w i t h M e m b e r o f Parliament Sherod Duncan, the Leader of the PNCR, Aubrey Norton, explained, “ w e h a v e a r g u e d t h a t
s o m e w h e r e b e t w e e n $100,000 and $150,000 per month, can be transferred to G u y a n e s e 1 8 y e a r s a n d above.” Using the average of $125,000 per month and the government’s estimate of 600,000 eligible recipients
( l o c a l a n d a b r o a d ) , t h i s initiative would cost an a s t o u n d i n g $ 9 0 0 b i l l i o n
a n n u a l l y T h i s f i g u r e
r e p r e s e n t s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 65% of the projected 2025 national budget of $1.382 trillion. Such a monumental allocation raises important concerns:
• Funding Source: How does the PNCR plan to sustain this program without
c o m p r o m i s i n g o t h e r e s s e n t i a l s e r v i c e s ?
• Economic Impact: What are the inflationary effects of i n j e c t i n g $ 9 0 0 b i l l i o n annually into the economy?
Injecting so much money
could spark demand-pull inflation, occurring when spending grows faster than the economy can supply
g o o d s Wi t h o u t c a r e f u l p l a n n i n g , t h e s h o r t - t e r m growth boost might lead to long-term inflation risks if production can’t catch up. That said, I do support the idea of cash grants – but only if they are part of a wellstructured framework that
e n c o u r a g e s p o s i t i v e behaviors and aligns with long-term national goals They work best when tied to b e h a v i o r s t h a t b e n e f i t society, such as boosting
s c h o o l a t t e n d a n c e ,
e n c o u r a g i n g h e a l t h
screenings, or promoting skills training. This approach
e n s u r e s t h a t f i n a n c i a l
s u p p o r t i s a t o o l f o r promoting socioeconomic
d e v e l o p m e n t T h e s e p r o g r a m s c a n s u p p o r t meaningful change while ensuring fiscal balance and long-term planning.
2. Tax Threshold Increase
Another major proposal
i n v o l v e s r a i s i n g t h e t a x threshold to $400,000 per month Given that most e m p l o y e e s a n d s e l fe m p l o y e d i n d i v i d u a l s i n Guyana earn below this amount, the government’s annual tax revenue would decrease by an estimated $45 billion. W h i l
would simultaneously erode the government’s ability to
fund critical infrastructure p
e , education, and other public services. The PNCR must articulate how it plans to
compromising the delivery of essential services.
3. Old Age Pension Increase
The PNCR also proposes increasing the monthly oldage pension to $100,000. This measure would cost an
annually While supporting retirees is a laudable goal, the sustainability of such a
collectively impose.
The Budgetary Reality
Even if the PNCR saves $300 billion through capital
proceeds from oil, royalties, i n v e s t m e n t i n c o m e , government taxes and nont a x e d r e v e n u e , c a r b
c
edits, and the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund are projected to provide the g o v e r n m e n t w i t h $ 1 7 trillion in spending power in 2025. However, the $900 billion PNCR cash-grant policy would reduce that amount to $800 billion Additionally, the $45 billion reduction in tax revenue due to raising the tax threshold and the $55 billion increase in spending from higher pensions would leave the g o v e r n m e n t w i t h $ 7 0 0 billion – a figure that must fund the entire government, including ministries, loan s e r v i c i n g ( w h i c h h a s skyrocketed over the last 4.5 y e a r s ) , a n d n e w P N C R
a c a d e m i c o u t c o m e s
However, in my view, this policy should be part of a newly created Buy-Guyana
I n i t i a t i v e , e n s u r i n g t h a t , w h e n e v e r p o s s i b l e , taxpayers’ dollars are spent o n M a d e - i n - G u y a n a p r o d u c t s F o r e x a m p l e , c a t e r i n g c o m p a n i e s providing meals to students should source ingredients from local farmers, livestock producers, and fisheries etc. This creates a multiplier effect by driving demand for l o c a l l y p r o d u c e d g o o d s , generating income for small b u s i n e s s e s , a n d k e e p i n g economic benefits within our borders.
Another PNCR policy proposal worth discussing is the $50,000 monthly stipend for University of Guyana
p r a c t i c a l
a r e e r prospects. A Need for Realistic and Inclusive Policies W h i l e t h e P N C R ’ s proposals may resonate with voters at first glance, their l a c k o f a s u s t a i n a b l e f r a m e w o r k i s d e e p l y concerning. Policies must be grounded in fiscal realism and designed to promote i n c l u s i
creating economic chaos and eroding public trust.
G u y a
requires careful planning,
pension increases would still result in a deficit. More concerning, these policies –
existing spending priorities f
ministries and programs –would deplete the entire
(NRF) within a year
Under the current NRF Act, withdrawals are capped to ensure the fund’s longterm viability
T o a c c e s s t h e f u l l balance, the PNCR would need to amend the NRF Act, a m o v e t h a t w o u l d
s
u n d e r m i n e t h e f i s c a l
i n i t i a t i v e s l i k e r e n t , m o r t g a g e , a n d u t i l i t y s u b s i d i e s , c h i l d c a r e assistance, and a 35% salary increase. By the end of 2025, there would be no money left in the NRF
Making matters worse, if oil prices drop to an average of $50 per barrel– a real
p o s s i b i l i t y g i v e n t h e volatility of global energy
m a r k e t s – G u y a n a ’s o i l revenue could shrink by up to $185 billion. This would force the government to c h o o s e b e t w e e n m a s s i v e spending cuts or taking on more debt, further increasing the deficit.
Support for Hot School Meals and University Stipends
I agree with the PNCR’s proposed policy of providing two hot school meals per day This initiative ensures that students get the nutrition they need to focus on their studies, leading to better
a n d t e c h n i c a l i n s t i t u t e students. While this is a good first step, the policy feels half-baked because it lacks clearly defined outcomes. Instead of simply handing out stipends, the government could tie this policy to work experience through parttime internships.
The government should collaborate with private and p u b l i c s e c t o r e m p l o y e r s through tertiary institutions t o c r e a t e p a r t - t i m e i n t e r n s h i p s f o r s t u d e n t s , m a t c h i n g e m p l o y e r c o n t r i b u t i o n s d o l l a r - f o rdollar, up to $25,000 per m o n t h To q u a l i f y a n d m a i n t a i n t h e s t i p e n d , students should be required to maintain a certain GPA and positively contribute to t h e s e i n t e r n s h i p s s T h i s initiative will cost up to $4.5
b i l l i o n a n n u a l l y T h i s approach would not only support students financially but also prepare them for the w o r k f o r c e , g i v i n g t h e m
c e management, and policies that balance short-term relief with long-term prosperity Eye-catching proposals may capture headlines but only sound, realistic policies can ensure a brighter future for all Guyanese. To achieve
strategic approach
resource distribution, and investments in sectors that
development. The time has come for leaders to rise above populist rhetoric and commit to solutions that truly serve the nation’s longterm interests.
As always, I encourage you to think critically about
economy Let’s keep this conversation going Until next time, stay informed and engaged – because a strong G
sustainable policies.
LA FireAid concert features Stevie Nicks, Dr. Dre, A Nirvana
Billboard - Ahead of the monumental FireAid benefit concert on Thursday night (Jan. 30) across two Los Angeles-area venues – the Kia Forum and Intuit Dome – more than $60 million had already been raised from s p o n s o r s h i p s a n d t i c k e t sales And just as the evening kicked off – with the
F o r u m l i n e u p s t a r t i n g promptly at 7 p.m. – another $2 million was raised, thanks to a $1 million donation from U2 and a dollar-for-dollar match commitment from Clippers and Intuit Dome owner Steve Ballmer and his wife Connie.
As the audience filed in to a DJ set from D-Nice, they were greeted by a wall of screens occupying the front end of the venue. Given the back-to-back performances
from one superstar after
another, the screens served two functions: quick staging switch-ups and easy viewing of the Intuit performances, which eventually overlapped with the Forum show, with performers at each venue taking turns.
(As Earth, Wind & Fire performed at Intuit, fans at the Forum were especially into the livestream, singing a n d d a n c
o “September.”)
And to further aid with the quick onstage turnaround t i m e s , t h
w a s essentially a massive Lazy Susan, allowing one act to be performing while the crew backstage prepped the other h a l f o f t h e s t a g e f o r whomever was up next. F o l l o w i n g t h e f i r s t performance of the night –from Green Day featuring a
special, unannounced guest – Billy Crystal introduced the show and gave a sense of what to expect from the fiveplus-hour event.
“You’ll be hearing from a number of people who were affected, myself included,” he said “These are the same
c l o t h e s I w o r e w h e n I evacuated ” He thanked the countless firefighters and first responders, many of whom were in attendance, for their tireless work, and spoke of his own home in the Palisades, which he had lost after living there for 46 years.
But, above all else, his sentiment was one that many echoed throughout the night: The benefit concert was all about love. And while many artists busted out sonic love letters to L.A. – from songs like Dawes’ “Time Spent in Los Angeles” to the Red Hot
Shemar Moore and Girlfriend Jesiree Dizon Split , Remain ‘Loving Friends’
P E O P L E - S h e m a r Moore and Jesiree Dizon have gone their separate ways. The former couple announced the birth of their daughter Frankie in January 2023.
The couple recently split a f t e r n e a r l y f i v e y e a r s t o g e t h e r , P E O P L E c a n confirm. TMZ was the first to report the news.
“They are loving friends and co-parents and always will be, ” a source tells PEOPLE of the breakup.
The former couple went Instagram official in January 2023, but knew each other for years before then. The pair grew close in 2020 after Moore’s mother died. The S.W.A.T star, 54, and the model, 41, are parents to a baby girl named Frankie, who they welcomed on Jan. 24, 2023.
I n N o v e m b e r 2 0 2 4 , Moore spoke exclusively to P E O P L E a b o u t h i s
r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h D i z o n , saying although the actress was his “partner” and a “dope-ass mama,” he did not see marriage in the cards for them.
“I didn’t have a good role model of marriage in my life. Not my mother, not my father Nobody close to me,” he said at the time, adding that he often asks himself, “Who made that rule?”
For Moore, the idea of appreciating the moment was especially appealing.
“To me, it’s just like
tomorrow’s not guaranteed, but Jesiree, I’ll give you everything I got today and tomorrow She is my partner She is the mother of Frankie.
F r a n k i e h a s a d o p e - a s s mama, and I’m going to try to be a dope-ass daddy. And we going to do that until God calls my name,” the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 actor added.
The two have often given glimpses into their life with
F r a n k i e , a n d S h e m a r recently credited the toddler with saving his life.
“[Frankie] is the reason I’m so damn happy, and my girl Jesiree. That’s my little baby girl. That’s my miracle. That’s little Frankie,” he said during a Jan. 24 episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show
“That girl truly has given me purpose. She saved my life,” the Criminal Minds
a c t o r c o n t i n u e d o f h i s youngest child.
Last summer, Shemar told PEOPLE he was still open to the idea of more kids with Jesiree in the future.
C h i l i P e p p
s ’ “ D a n i California” – some simply brought their biggest, most beloved hits, proving the healing power of music across the spectrum.
Green Day started the s t a r- s t u d d e d s h o w o n a p o i g n a n t o p e n i n g n o t e , performing “Last Night On
Dr. Dre and Anderson Paak perform onstage during the Fire Aid Benefit Concert for California Fire Relief at The Kia Forum on January 30, 2025 in Inglewood, California.
Earth” as a slideshow of devastating and apocalypticlike photos of the wildfires played behind them The song hit even harder thanks to a special appearance from Billie Eilish – who was scheduled to perform later in the evening at Intuit After she and frontman B i l l i e J o e A r m s t r o n g
harmonized and traded verses, he told the crowd: “Los Angeles, we are still alive This is California and we are in this together ” The band then tore into the more lively “Still Breathing” and fan favorite “When I Come Around,” kicking the show into high gear
“Possible. But I ain’t no Spring Chicken and Ms
T h i n g [ J e s i r e e ] , s h e ’ s already got two wonderful kids — her son, Kayden, who’s 17, and her little daughter Charlie, who’s 6 — and they’re sweethearts,” he said during the June 2024 interview. “And then we got little Frankie. We got our dog, Tyson. So we got a full house.”
Earlier that same month, Shemar celebrated his first Father ’s Day with a sweet and fli
m Jesiree.
“ H A P P Y FAT H E R ’ S DAY, STUD >pd’Æ
PÆ,” the mother of three
highlight reel of adorable fath
“Daddy is a GREAT look on you. It’s your best role yet. You are our everything. We
concluded.
Jesiree Dizon, Shemar Moore
Shemar Moore and Jesiree Dizon
8 steps to prevent heart disease Heart-healthy diet:
Mayo Clinic -You might know that eating certain foods can raise your heart disease risk. Even though changing your eating habits can be tough, you can take simple steps to get started today Whether you’ve been eating unhealthy for years or you simply want to fine-tune your diet, here are eight heart-healthy diet tips. Find out which foods to eat more of and which foods to limit. You’ll soon be on your way toward a healthier diet for your heart.
1. Control portion sizes
How much you eat is just as important as what you eat.
O v e r l o a d i n g y o u r p l a t e , taking seconds and eating until you feel stuffed can lead to eating more calories than you should.
P o r t i o n s s e r v e d i n restaurants often are larger than anyone needs.
Follow a few simple tips to control food portion size. These tips can help you shape up your diet as well as your heart and waistline:
· Use a small plate or bowl to help control your portions.
· Eat more low-calorie, nutrient-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables.
· Eat smaller amounts of high-calorie, high-sodium foods. These include refined, processed and fast foods.
It’s also important to keep track of the number of servings you eat. Keep these points in mind:
· A serving size is a specific amount of food. It’s
d e f i n e d b y c o m m o n measurements such as cups, o u n c e s o r p i e c e s . F o r example, one serving of pasta is about 1/3 to 1/2 cup, or about the size of a fist. A serving of meat, fish or chicken is about 2 to 3 ounces. That’s about the size and thickness of a deck of cards.
T h e r e c o m m e n d e d number of servings in a food group may vary It depends o n t h e s p e c i f i c d i e t o r guidelines you’re following.
· Judging serving size is a learned skill. You may need to use measuring cups and spoons or a scale until you’re c o m f o r t a b l e w i t h y o u r judgment.
2. Eat more vegetables and fruits
Vegetables and fruits are good sources of vitamins and minerals.
T h e y ’ r e a l s o l o w i n calories and rich in fiber
Vegetables and fruits, like other plants or plant-based foods, contain substances that may help prevent heart disease. Eating more fruits and vegetables also may help you eat less higher calorie food Some examples of high-calorie foods are meat, cheese and snack foods. Getting more vegetables and fruits in your diet can be e a s y K e e p v e g e t a b l e s washed and cut in your refrigerator for quick snacks. Keep fruit in a bowl in your k i t c h e n s o t h a t y o u ’ l l remember to eat it. Choose recipes that have vegetables or fruits as the
dishes or fresh fruit mixed into salads.
3. Choose whole grains
Whole grains are good sources of fiber and other nutrients that play roles in heart health and controlling blood pressure. You can get m
b y making simple swaps with refined grain products. Or try a whole grain you haven’t had before. Healthy choices include whole-grain farro, quinoa and barley At least half of the grains you eat should be whole grains.
4. Limit unhealthy fats
L
of saturated and trans fats you eat. This helps lower your blood cholesterol and lower your risk of a common heart condition called coronary artery disease. A high blood cholesterol level can lead to a buildup of plaques in the
d atherosclerosis. And that can raise the risk of heart attack and stroke.
But it’s still important to limit how much of these fats you eat. All types of fats are high in calories.
An easy way to add healthy fat — and fiber — to your diet is to use ground flaxseed.
F l a x s e e d s a r e s m a l l brown seeds that are high in fiber and healthy fats called omega-3 fatty acids. Studies have shown that flaxseed
lowers unhealthy cholesterol levels in some people. You can grind flaxseeds in a coffee grinder or food processor
Then stir a teaspoon of the ground flaxseed into yogurt, applesauce or hot cereal.
hydrogenated oil on the ingredient label. Also, many of the partially hydrogenated fats or trans fats typically contained in desserts and
s n a c k f o o d s h a v e b e e n replaced with saturated fats. So it’s still a good idea to limit those foods.
W h e n y o u u s e f a t s , c h o o s e u n s
Dimple W illabus: US-based Guyanese
embar ks on 2nd run for NYC Council of fice
NYC Council Candidate, Dimple Willabus
“As a Guyanese woman running for City Council in 2 0 2 5 , I ’ m f i l l e d w i t h gratitude and pride My campaign is not just about representing my community, but also about amplifying my Guyanese heritage and paving the way for young women of Guyanese descent to follow in my footsteps.”
Simple, yet profound words by New York-based Guyanese, Dimple Willabus,
a p a s s i o n a t e a d v o c a t e , journalist, mother, wife and community leader is running for the District 46 City Council seat in New York City for the second time in June 2025.
D i m p l e W i l l a b u s commonly known as Dimple Singh, before immigrating to the United States in 2003, made her mark in her home country, Guyana.
This prestigious woman
h o s t e d t h e p i o n e e r T V p r o g r a m m e “ R h y t h m Nation”, and was a former Minister of Culture Youth and Sport.
Back in 2020, Willabus made history by becoming the first female candidate and woman of color to run for the District 46 City Council seat.
R e f l e c t i n g o n h e r p r e v i o u s c a m p a i g n , s h e shared with The Waterfalls magazine. “”My experience as a grassroots candidate in my previous campaign has taught me valuable lessons.
T h i s t i m e a r o u n d , I ’ m supported by many leaders in our district, and I’ve gained name recognition, w h i c h i s c r u c i a l f o r a
s u c c e s s f u l c a m p a i g n , ” Willabus related.
Her desire to provide genuine leadership and to address and solve pressing issues in her community, Willabus decided to run once again for the June 2025
e l e c t i o n s b e c a u s e s h e believes her leadership is needed. Born and raised in
islands I have had the privilege of meeting many fellow Guyanese throughout my campaign and it’s always a proud moment to connect and compare notes about our homeland. We always ended up talking about missing the fresh food and youthful days.
Proudly, Guyanese have filled many commendable positions without various s e c t o r s o f o u r s
They are the fruits of my labor.” Whether or not she is elected, the NYC council
office hopeful has already left an indelible mark on her c o m m u n i t y a n d w i l l b e
remembered as a courageous woman dedicated to making a difference.
L o d g e , G e o r g e t o w n , Guyana, Willabus developed strong leadership skills from a young age, thanks to her c o m m u n i t y - o r i e n t e d upbringing by her parents, Phagu and Gloria Singh. Her journey in education led her to earn a Bachelor ’s D e g r e e i n B r o a d c a s t Journalism and a Master ’s Degree in Media Studies f r o m B r o o k l y n C o l l e g e , where she co-created the R e a d i n g a c r o s s t h e Curriculum Programme. Due to her experiences, Willabus believes that with her skill set, she is able to take on a new challenge by running for City Council in 2 0 2 5 S h e s h a r e d h e r inspiration of running for city council this year “I am r u n n i n g b e c a u s e o u r community needs a genuine leader Most times, elected officials make decisions for us without asking. I’ve been on the ground working with every cross section of my community and heard their stories- some of which have not been addressed and are still overlooked. We are faced with some of the same challenges but band aids are placed on them instead of solutions. Our district is still struggling with high crime r a t e , d e f i c i e n c i e s i n t h e education system, lack of services for our seniors and the list goes on,” the NYC councilwoman hopeful told The Waterfalls.
The Guyanese advocate who has been living in New York most of her life says t h a t s h e h a s l i v e d a n d worked in her community and understands the needs a n d c o n c e r n s o f h e r residents.
As a Guyanese woman running for office, Willabus said explained how that it has shaped her campaign and her connection to voters.
“My community is very d i v e r s
from many countries and
religious leaders and small business owners,” Willabus stated. Looking back at her first campaign, Willabus indeed faced challenges as a political but she persevered. These challenges had helped her to shape her approach this time around.
“ R e f l e c t i n g o n m y p r e v i o u s c a m p a i g n , t
challenge. Residents were
difficult making connections since peopl
e more concerned with what the future held. It was a time of uncertainty This campaign i s d i f f e r e n t , ” W i l l a b u s shared.
S i n c e h e r l a s t r u n , Willabus st
at he
v i s i o n f o r D i s t r i c t 4 6 evolved and outlined some pressing issues she believes need immediate attention in h e r c o m m u n i t y “ A s mentioned before, we still have some of the same issues. In fact, crime has increased because of the reckless legislations that the c i t y c o u n c i l p a s s e d Criminals are emboldened to commit a lot more petit
crime without having to w o r r y a b o u t a n y consequences.”
Looking ahead to 2025, if elected, Willabus outlined her key goals and initiatives for District 46, and her role as the first Guyanese shaping the future of the district.
“If it is God’s plan and my time to be elected, I w o u l d f i r s t l y p r o p o s e legislations to protect all r e s i d e n t s . T h e “ s o f t o n crime” approach has cost New Yorkers! “ she stated.
Willabus hopes to leave behind a legacy after her time on the City Council. She explained that running f o r c i t y c o u n c i l i s a n achievement in itself and explained that leadership s t a r t s a t h o m e “Leadership begins at home. If someone’s home is not in order then how can they lead a community?!? My legacy is my family - husband, children and grandchildren.
Gram ps Morgan Inducted In Buf falo Bills Fan Club
Dancehall Mag - Grammy-
winning reggae artist Gramps
Morgan of Morgan Heritage is no
s t r a n g e r t o u n i t i n g a u d i e n c e s through music. Recently, however, he found himself in the spotlight for a n o t h e r p a s s i o n h i s l o v e o f
b
l
he was officially inducted into the Buffalo Bills fan club. For the artist, this honor is the culmination of decades of fandom and a cherished milestone.
“The water buffalo club is just one of the Buffalo Bills fan club and they heard about me being a fan and decided to induct me into their club for being so loyal for so many years. The experience was one of a kind. I was able to meet lots of new people in the city of Buffalo and they treated me like family It was an experience that I will never forget,” he said.
person was something off my bucket list.”
“ I t m e a n s s o m u c h v e r y gratifying,” Morgan shared. “Some things happen in time. It’s been over 36 years following this team, and to finally experience a game in
Morgan’s journey as a Bills fan started during his childhood in New York. He and his brothers, all avid football enthusiasts, each chose an NFL team to support. “That was the only team left that I saw and liked,” he recalled. “Plus, because we grew up in New York, it just made sense. The only difference is that the Bills play in upstate New York,” he added. His admiration for the team
inspired by legendary defensive end Bruce Smith. “Some of my
Smith. He influenced me to want to
football in high school.”
While music and football might seem worlds apart, Morgan finds parallels between the two. “The work ethic of the sport—becoming
Teamwork is another thing that c
explained. “As the musical director of my band, I understand what it takes to prepare for a tour, just like a team gets ready for a game.”
Morgan also sees a deeper connection in the way both music and sports bring people together “Just like music unites people at concerts, sports, does the exact same thing. They both have the power to build communities and
Continued on page 50
From page 18
s c h e d u l e d t o i n c r e a s e , Guyana is still anticipating less earnings from the sector, c o m p a r e d w i t h t h a t o f 2024’s.
According to the finance minister, it is anticipated that
there will be 246 lifts of profit oil from the Stabroek Block in 2025. Within this, Government is projected to have 31 lifts of profit oil
f r o m t h e t h r e e F l o a t i n g
P r o d u c t i o n S t o r a g e a n d Offloading vessels (FPSOs) producing currently, along with the One Guyana FPSO w h i c h i s e x p e c t e d t o b e commissioned in the second half of the year Be that as it may, Dr
Singh pointed out, “With the average price of Brent crude
petroleum revenue deposits a r e p r o j
percent lower than in 2024. Government is projected to e
U S $
royalties.” I
5 7 7 % g r o w t h t h a t y e a r
W i t h t h e p r i c
a v e r a g i n g , U S $ 8 0 7 p e r
b a r r e l i n 2 0 2 4 , G u y a n a earned US$2 6B from oil
production
Oil-rich Guyana would be bankrupt if it gave $1M to every family – Minister Bharrat claims …but country losing US-billions due to lopsided Exxon deal
G u y a n a ’s M i n i s t e r o f
Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat has stated that the country would be bankrupt if it hands out GYD$1M to every family
H i s r e m a r k w a s i n response to comments made by Opposition Member of P a r l i a m e n t ( M P ) R o n a l d Cox. Last Friday, during his 2 0 2 5 b u d g e t d e b a t e
presentation, MP Cox said, “ U n d e r a n a l t e r n a
e government, we will see $1 million being given to every single family in this country Expa
proportion of families.”
MP Cox’s suggestion of a cash handout to citizens is not new Last year, President Irfaan Ali announced a oneoff cash grant of $200,000 to every household. However, d u e t o s e v e r a l c o n c
reformed into a $100,000 cash grant for citizens 18 y e a r s a n d o l d e r T h i s initiative which is still being rolled out is expected to cost $60 billion.
W h i l e t h e O p p o s i t i o n MP believes that a $1 million cash grant to every family is possible, Minister Bharrat disagrees and states that such an initiative could leave the country’s bankrupt.
The minister said, “$1million-dollar cash handout f r o m t h e H o n o r a b l e C o x , g o o d l u c k m y b r o t h e r Apparently, you have no idea as to the revenue earnings of our country. It would simply make our country bankrupt.”
Minister Bharrat told the House that the opposition MPs are making “fanciful recommendations and fake promises.” He noted too that if the government was to follow such a suggestion the country will be unable to build out its infrastructure.
“We will be unable to do a n y t h i n g w h e t h e r i t s infrastructure, whether it’s h e a l t h c a r e , w h e t h e r i t s
e d u c a t i o n o r a n y o t h e r
s e r v i c e W e w i l l b e a bankrupt country once we f o l l o w y o u r p o l i c y h o n o u r a b l e C o x a n d t h e policy of the APNU+AFC,” he suggested.
G u y a n a ’ s N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e s F u n d ( N R F ) received a total of US$2.5 billion for the year 2024. It
s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t t h e
g o v e r n m e n t w i l l b e withdrawing about US$2.4 billion or $512 billion this year from the NRF to support its $1.3 trillion or US$6.6 b i l l i o n 2 0 2 5 N a t i o n a l Budget.
What Guyana is losing out on
T h i s p u b l i c a t i o n h a d reported that Guyana has lost at least US$6.5 billion in oil revenue between the period 2020 and 2024, due to the lopsided terms of the 2016
P r o d u c t i o n S h a r i n g A g r e e m e n t ( P S A ) T h i s “conservative estimate” was h i g h l i g h t e d b y C h a r t e r e d
Financial Analyst, Rennie
P a r r i s i n h i s c o l u m n published in Kaieteur News, ‘Talking Dollars and Making Sense’.
P a r r i s d e s c r i b e d t h e f a i l u r e b y t h e C o a l i t i o n government to secure better terms for Guyanese as one of the most significant acts of i n c o m p e t e n c e i n t h e
c o u n t r y ’ s i n d e p e n d e n t history The Stabroek Block PSA waives all taxes from the oil companies and caters for the taxes to be paid by Guyana; it gives Guyana a 2 % r o y a l t y o n i t s r i c h resources, and agrees to the o i l c o m p a n i e s r e c o v e r i n g 75% of investments before the remaining 25% is shared, w i t h G u y a n a r e c e i v i n g 12.5%. This publication had also reported that the deal
l a c k s a r i n g - f e n c i n g provision.
P a r r i s s a i d , h a d t h e government reduced the cost
r e c o v e r y c a p t o 6 0 % , insisted on a signing bonus
o f U S $ 8 0 0 m i l l i o n , implemented ring-fencing, demanded a 5% royalty, and ensured the oil companies paid its own taxes, Guyana could have gained at least an additional US$6.5 billion in oil revenues between 2020 and 2024.
M o r e o v e r , a l o o k a t
U n i t e d S t a t e s o i l g i a n t , ExxonMobil Corporation’s, f i r s t - e v e r d i s c l o s u r e o f p a y m e n t s t o h o s t governments, it appears as t h o u g h t h e c o m p a n y ’ s
G u y a n e s e s u b s i d i a r y p a i d US$656 million in taxes to the Government of Guyana in 2023. However, the reality is that Exxon is not paying income taxes in Guyana. The company has said that while i t i s s u b j e c t t o G u y a n a ’s income tax laws, the taxes assessed on the company’s operation are paid by the government, rather than the
company itself. ExxonMobil Guyana did not have to pay over GYD$197 billion in taxes to the Guyana Revenue A u t h o r i t y ( G R A ) f o r t h e years 2022 and 2023 [$138B in 2023, $59B in 2022], as the taxes were paid by the Government in keeping with the PSA.
While there have been calls for the Stabroek Block contract to be renegotiated, t h e P e o p l e ’s P r o g
s s i v e P a r t y / C i v i c ( P P P / C ) g o v e r n m e n t h a s b e e n a d a m a n
contract. The PPP position is t h a t i t w i l l a b i d e b y t h e sanctity of contract and not seek to renegotiate the deal. For their part, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) has promised that their next government will “review” the deal.
Thursday
Increased oil production in Guyana helped drive higher profit for Hess Corporation
O i l p r o d u c t
emerged as the company’s top seller in 2024, with an average price of US$80.04 per barrel.
highlights, Guyana’s crude
operations, outpacing sales from North Dakota, offshore U.S. assets, and Malaysia. O
fourth quarter of 2024, an Continued on page 37
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hess Corporation, John Hess
From page 36
i n c r e a s e f r o m U S $ 4 1 3 million, in the same period of 2023.
T o t a l o i l a n d g a s
p r o d u c t i o n a v e r a g e d
4 9 5 , 0 0 0 b a r r e l s o f o i l equivalent per day (boepd), up 18% from 418,000 boepd in the fourth quarter of 2023.
N o t a b l y, B a k k e n i n t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s c o n t r i b u t e d
s i g n i f i c a n t l y , w i t h production rising by 7% to 2 0 8 , 0 0 0 b a r r e l s o f o i l equivalent per day (boepd) from 194,000 boepd for the same period in 2023. It was highlighted too that Guyana played a pivotal role in Hess’ growth, with net production soaring by 52% to 195,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), compared to 128,000 bopd in the fourth quarter of 2023.
T h e S t a b r o e k B l o c k which covers an area of 6.6 million acres is estimated to hold 11.6 billion barrels of o i l . To d a t e , E x x o n h a s obtained approval from the Government of Guyana for six development projects in the Stabroek Block – Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two, Payara, Yellowtail, Uaru and Whiptail.
The first three projects are already producing oil at a d a i l y e s t i m a t e d r a t e o f 6 6 0 , 0 0 0 b a r r e l s p e r d a y (bpd). With the addition of Hammerhead and Longtail, Exxon said this will expand gross production in Guyana to approximately 1.3 million barrels per day, with total p r o d u c t i o n c a p a c i t y expected to reach 1.7 million
b a r r e l s p e r d a y o n a n investment basis.
M o r e o v e r , H e s s Corporation is pursuing a US$53 billion merger with American oil giant, Chevron. However, ExxonMobil, the Stabroek Block operator, and C N O O C t h e t h i r d - b l o c k p a r t n e r h a v e i n i t i a t e d arbitration, citing a right of first refusal on Hess’s share of the block. Despite this, Hess expressed confidence
t h a t t h e m e r g e r w o u l d proceed as planned.
“ W e t h i n k E x x o n ’ s p o s i t i o n a n d C N O O C ’ s position is without merit, baseless. It’s about the right of refusal. We think it’s very clear, the words on paper in English law that there’s no
r i g h t o r r e f u s a l t o b e exercised So, we’re very
c o n f i d e n t t h a t m e r g e r i s going to go through, and we’re getting prepared for t h a t , ” C h i e f E x e c u t i v e Officer of Hess, John Hess had stated. The arbitration hearing is
set for May 2025, with a d e c i s i o n e x p e c t e d approximately 90 days later
Hess explained the process, s a y i n g , “ M e m o r i a l s h a v e
b e e n e x c h a n g e d T h e hearing is going to be in May
T h e d e c i s i o n s h o u l d b e rendered about 90 days later,
s o l e t ’s s a y l a t e A u g u s t , September, and once that’s done, we look forward to completing the merger.”
Patterson, Edghill clash over viability of Amaila Falls Hydro Project
Opposition Member of
P a r l i a m e n t ( M P ) D a v i d
Patterson and Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, w e n t h e a d - t o - h e a d i n t h e
N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y o n
Wednesday during the 2025 b u d g e t d e b a t e , o v e r t h e viability of the Amaila Falls H y d r o p o w e r P r o j e c t (AFHP).
The Amaila Falls Hydro Project was first introduced by the People’s Progressive P a r t y / C i v i c ( P P P / C ) administration in 2011, but had been shelved on several
o c c a s i o n s T h e P P P h a d
b l a m e d t h e p r e v i o u s
A P N U + A F C C o a l i t i o n government for the delays and, since returning to office
in 2020, it has vowed to revive the project, though it remains stalled.
P a t t e r s o n , a f o r m e r
M i n i s t e r o f P u b l i c
I n f r a s t r u c t u r e , q u e s t i o n e d the feasibility of the project, citing past assessments from t h e I n t e r - A m e r i c a n Development Bank (IDB) In contrast, Edghill defended
t h e i n i t i a t i v e , p o i n t i n g t o reports commissioned by the f o r m e r A P N U + A F C administration that deemed the project sound but needed
f i n a n c i a l r e s t r u c t u r i n g t o
m a k e i t a t t r a c t i v e f o r g o v e r n m e n t a n d p o t e n t i a l
i n v e s t o r s P a t t e r s o n , w h o
s p o k e f i r s t , a c c u s e d t h e government of misleading
t h e n a t i o n o n t h e A m a i l a Falls project, arguing that the IDB had deemed the project
t o o r i s k y t o f u n d H e highlighted findings from the IDB’s 2014 due diligence report, stating, “The Bank has never approved a loan with this rating.”
He further contended that t h e A P N U + A F C c o a l i t i o n saved Guyana from financial ruin by not moving forward w i t h t h e p r o j e c t “ T h e c o u n t r y d o d g e d a b u l l e t because of us…. The PPP were warned that the Amaila F a l l s p r o j e c t w a s n o t feasible, that it was what we, on this side of the House, considered a Ponzi scheme to enrich certain individuals
b u t t h e y d i d n o t l i s t e n , ” Patterson stated.
Further, the Opposition
M P a l s o c r i t i c i s e d t h e g o v e r n m e n t f o r continuously presenting the project as Guyana’s solution
t o h i g h e l e c t r i c i t y c o s t s despite past warnings. “Ten y e a r s a g o , t h e P P P w e r e informed that this project was a nonstarter, yet every budget, the Minister comes t o t h i s P a r l i a m e n t a n d presents this project as the PPP’s solution to our power needs,” he argued.
H e s a i d t o o , “ W h i c h other government, anywhere in the world would try to saddle their country with a p r o j e c t t h a t i n d e p e n d e n t e x p e r t s r u l e d i s unsustainable and, of course, use cheap excuses like the A P N U + A F C d e r a i l e d t h e project.”
I n r e s p o n s e , M i n i s t e r
E d g h i l l a c c u s e d t h e Opposi
ion of de
ately obstructing the project for political reasons. He cited a report by Norconsult, which was commissioned by the APNU+AFC administration
i
p o r t s u p p o r t e d t h e p r o j e c t ’ s viability “From a financial and economic point of view,
Opposition Member of Parliament, David Patterson Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill
development of Amaila Falls s e e m s t o b e t h e o p t i m a l s o l u t i o n f o r m e e t i n g t h e e l e c t r i c i t y d e m a n d s i n Guyana. The project should be financially restructured in o r d e r t o m a k e i t m o r e a t t r a c t i v e f o r G o G a n d potential investors, since the perceived risk of investing in Guyana are high mainly due to political and regulatory reasons,” he read from the report.
T h e G o v e r n m e n t M P further argued that under the PPP/C, Blackstone, a major multinational firm, had been willing to finance the project without requiring taxpayer funds. He claimed that all the g o v e r n m e n t n e e d e d w a s parliamentary approval to
Corporation, CH4 Guyana Inc , and OECGE W O R L A
increase the debt ceiling to g u a r a n t e e t h e i n v e s t m e n t Edghill said, “US$80 million from the 250 [million US dollars] we had earned from
Norway through the Low
C a r b o n D e v e l o p m e n t Strategy would have been put in as equity, and all that
w a s r e q u i r e d w a s t h e Parliament of Guyana to vote to increase the debt ceiling to g i v e t h e n e c e s s a r y guarantees to the investor to invest…It was Mr Patterson and his party that got up in Parliament and blocked it.”
Moreover, the Minister
a l s o a l l e g e d t h a t t h e
APNU+AFC’s decision to o p p o s e t h e p r o j e c t w a s politically motivated. “They knew that if we had gotten t h e A m a i l a F a l l s H y d r o
P r o j e c t , a n d t h e c o s t o f electricity went down, they s a w n o c h a n c e o f e v e r g e t t i n g b a c k i n t o government…It is their same modus operandi now with the Gas-to-Energy project,” Minister Edghill said.
In 2023, the government a t t e m p t e d t o r e v i v e t h e A F H P a f t e r t a l k s w i t h a p r e v i o u s c o n t r a c t o r f e l l through. A revised Request
f o r P r o p o s a l s ( R F P ) w a s issued under a Build-OwnO p e r a t e - Tr a n s f e r ( B O O T ) m o d e l F o u r c o m p a n
indicated last September that the government may either
ranked prequalified bidders or restart the procurement process. Earlier this month, it
Friday
Exxon deal cannot be reversed – Min. Teixeira tells National Assembly …urges Opposition to change their attitude towards govt.’s development agenda
Government Chief Whip
Governance, Gail Teixeira, on Thursday stated that the
cannot be renegotiated at this time.
The minister made those comments during the 2025 budget debate During her a
noting that while they decry the lack of transparency, they were the ones who signed the PSA with Exxon in secrecy and kept it hidden. “One [the PSA] that has been criticised in the press all along but, you cannot at this time reverse it,” the Government Chief Whip said.
She continued, “This is hypocrisy at the highest level and you [Opposition] come here to this House in this debate and you cry crocodile tears…caiman tears in this country.”
T
Agreement (PSA) signed in
From page 37 revenues, allows for the oil companies to recover 75% of the revenue to cover cost before the remaining goes to profit-sharing, and caters for
G u y a n a t o c o v e r t h e o i l
c o m p a n i e s ’ t a x e s T h e
c o n t r a c t h a s b e e n w i d e l y criticised for giving the oil companies a tax-free ride, the high cost recovery rate
a n d l a c k o f r i n g - f e n c i n g provision This has led to calls for renegotiation from various quarters. However,
t h e P e o p l e ’s P r o g r e s s i v e
P a r t y / C i v i c ( P P P / C ) government has maintained that it will abide by the terms of the deal.
Moreover, in her address, Minister Teixeira urged the Opposition to adopt a more constructive approach to the country’s development and accused the Opposition of o b s t r u c t i n g p r o g r e s s . “ E v e r y w h e r e w e g o i n Guyana, there is progress…
s c h o o l s , h e a l t h c e n t r e s ,
r o a d s , b u i l d i n g s , h o u s e s going up, Air BnB going up, it is unbelievable,” she said.
The Chief Whip added that the 2025 budget is a testament to inclusive and
p a r t i c i p a t o r y g o v e r n a n c e She stated, “The Opposition
c o n t i n u e s t o s u f f e r f r o m myopia, shortsightedness ” M in is ter Teix eir a accu s ed the APNU+AFC of stifling development and pointed to the Coalition past decision to b l o c k t h e A m a i l a F a l l s Hydropower Project which was introduced since 2011. Since returning to office in A u g u s t 2 0 2 0 t h e P P P / C vowed to revive the project, though it remains stalled “They defeated it twice v i n d i c t i v e n e s s a n d s m a l lmindedness doesn’t move a
c o u n t r y f o r w a r d , d o e s n ’ t help develop a country,” she said. Additionally, the Chief
W h i p s t r e s s e d t h e importance of infrastructure
i n n a t i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t “ Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n l i n k s a r e c r i t i c a l f o r d e v e l o p m e n t , moving goods and services
q u i c k l y, m o v i n g p e o p l e q u i c k l y, t h a t i s w h a t i s i m p o r t a n t T h i s i s t h e future of our country Why are you so blind, why can’t y o u u n d e r s t a n d ? ” s h e questioned.
T h e m i n i s t e r o u t l i n e d that targeted infrastructure
d e v e l o p m e n t i s k e y t o
e c o n o m i c e x p a n s i o n a n d
reducing ineq
Demerara River Bridge and i t s p o t e n t i a l t o e n h a n c e economic activity and the
W a l e s G a s - t o - E n e r g y project, which aims to slash e l e c t r i c i t y c o s t s b y 5 0 %
“As I said, APNU+AFC has to decide which side are you o n , p r o g r e s s i v e d e v e l o p m e n t , o r a r e y o u going to continue… or do you want to continually be in this position of holding back the progress of our country, of being the spoilers… you are incapable of bringing up a critical support like what we did [in opposition],” she added.
Norton slams govt. heavy reliance on oil fund for 2025 Budget amid declining oil prices …says taking out over 90% from fund is reckless
O p p o s i t i o n L e a d e r Aubrey Norton has voiced
h i s c o n c e r n s a b o u t t h e
g o v e r n m e n t ’s d e c i s i o n t o withdraw over 90% of oil revenues from the Natural
Resources Fund (NRF) to finance the 2025 Budget –particularly in light of an expected decline in oil prices this year
The government intends to withdraw about US$2.4 billion (G$512 billion) from t h e N R F t o s u p p o r t i t s U S $ 6 6 b i l l i o n ( G $ 1 3
t r i l l i o n ) n a t i o n a l b u d g e t
D u r i n g t h e 2 0 2 5 b u d g e t p r e s e n t a t i o n G u y a n a ’ s Minister of Finance Minister
Dr Ashni Singh disclosed
t h a t i n 2 0 2 5 , a l t h o u g h Guyana’s daily production is
e x p e c t e d t o c l i m b , t h e country will see a decrease in earnings from the sector, as oil price is likely to come d o w n H e e x p l a i n e d t h a t global oil supply is expected to surpass demand this year, leading to a 10.9% drop in prices to around US$71.9 per barrel.
During his presentation on the final day of the 2025
b u d g e t d e b a t e , N o r t o n w a r n e d t h a t t h e government’s over-reliance on oil revenues could have
s e r i o u s l o n g - t e r m
c o n s e q u e n c e s “ To s p e n d
transform the non-oil sector, w h i l e e n s u r i n g w e h a v e f u n d s s a v e d f o r f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s a n d f o r b a d times when oil price is low, as is now imminent,” Norton claimed.
95% of the income in the NRF is criminal, dangerous, and may have already placed u s a t r i s k d u e t o t h e overdependence on oil and t h e l a c k o f s i g n i f i c a n t improvement in the non-oil sectors,” Norton contended. He stressed that despite the continuous flow of oil r e v e n u e s s i n c e 2 0 2 0 , t h e administration has failed to adequately develop the nonoil sectors, which he said is k e y t o t h e n a t i o n ’ s sustainable future. “In 2020, oil resources began to flow, a n d t h e r e f o r e t h e r e a r e a d e q u a t e r e s o u r c e s f o r development. It is critical, t h e r e f o r e ,
c
n t attention to be paid to the non-oil sectors since it is the n o n - o i l s e c t o r t h a t i s t h e future of Guyana and should be developed in a structured way,” he explained.
N
spending, arguing that their
T h e minister says that he intends
t o s t r i k e a n a p p r o p r i a t e balance between short-term imperatives and long-term considerations. The present approach of the government is a clear indication that their sole focus is spending out the m o n e y a s f a s t a s t h e y could…he cannot be talking about short- and long-term balance when they changed the law to be able to take out 95% of the revenue accrued from oil,” he stated.
In addition, Norton said t h a t t h e n e x t P e o p l e ’ s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R) government will amend the NRF law He said h i s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n w o u l d amend the law to prevent mismanagement and ensure that oil revenues benefit the b r o a d e r p o p u l a t i o n w h i l e a l s o s e c u r i n g s a v i n g s f o r future generations. “We will change the law to ensure oil resources are not plundered and misused, and that those r e s o u r c e s a r e e f f e c t i v e l y m a n a g e d a n d i n v e s t e d t o
M o r e o v e r , N o r t o n described the government’s 2 0 2 5 b u d g e t a s o n e favouring a select few while n e g l e c t i n g t h e b r o a d e r p o p u l a t i o n “ T h i s b u d g e t puts wealth in the hands of a f e w, t h e P P P e l i t e s t h i s budget gives little or nothing to the small man, it is selfcontradictory, the numbers a r e f u d g e d , i t h i d e s t h e r e a l i t y b e h i n d t h e u s e o f
p e r c e n t a g e s r a t h e r t h a n actual figures, it is a slush fund and a recipe for illegal enrichment,” Norton stated.
Saturday
Record production in Guyana, Permian help Exxon pocket US$7.3B earnings for Q4 2024
R e c o r d p r o d u c t i o n i n Guyana and Permian helped A m e r i c a n o i l g i a n t
E x x o n M o b i l C o r p o r a t i o n beat analysts’ 2024 fourth quarter profit estimates. The announcement was made on Friday Exxon’s adjusted profit is US$7.39 billion, or US$1.67
p e r s h a r e T h e c o m p a n y reported full-year adjusted e a r n i n g s o f U S $ 3 3 4 6 billion, a decrease from its US$38.57 billion earned the previous year
E x x o n s a i d , “ S t r o n g advantaged volume growth including record production from Guyana and Permian, a n d r e c o r d h i g h - v a l u e product sales volumes, more t h a n o f f s e t l o w e r b a s e volumes from non-strategic
a s s e t d i v e s t m e n t s a n d
s c h e d u l e d m a i n t e n a n c e
Structural cost savings partly offset higher expenses from d e p r e c i a t i
d e v e l o p m e n t a n d 2 0 2 5 project start-ups.”
E x x o n ’ s s u b s i d i a r y
E x x o n M o b i l G u y a n a
L i m i t e d ( E M G L ) i s t h e
o p e r a t o r o f t h e S t a b r o e k Block, which covers an area of 6.6 million acres and is estimated to hold 11.6 billion barrels of oil. To date, Exxon has obtained approval from the Government of Guyana for six development projects in the Stabroek Block – Liza Phase One, Liza Phase Two, Payara, Yellowtail, Uaru and W h i p t a i l T h e f i r s t t h r e e
p r o j e c t s a r e a l r e a d y p r o d u c i n g o i l a t a d a i l y
Woods, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
estimated rate of 660,000 barrels per day (bpd). The Stabroek Block deal waives all taxes from the oil
c o m p a n i e s a n d c a t e r s f o r taxes to be paid by Guyana a n d a g r e e s t o t h e o i l companies recovering 75% of investments before the remaining 25% is shared as profit. Notably, Exxon’s fourthq u a r t e r a d j u s t e d e a r n i n g s w e r e $ 6 2 8 b i l l i o n , a n i n c r e a s e f r o m t h e t h i r dq u a r t e r d r i v e n b y r e c o r d production in Guyana and P e r m i a n , s t r o n g e r n a t u r a l gas prices, and favourable tax impacts, partly offset by l o w e r c r u d e r e a l i z a t i o n s Exxon’s net production in the fourth quarter was 4.6
m i l l i o n o i l - e q u i v a l e n t barrels per day, an increase o f 2 0 , 0 0 0 o i l - e q u i v a l e n t barrels per day versus the prior quarter
O n t h e c o m p a n y ’ s p r o d u c t i o n p e r f o r m a n c e , ExxonMobil Chief Financial
O f f i c e r , K a t h y M i k e l l s , highlighted the company’s s u c c e s s i n e x c e e d i n g i t s strategic targets. “In 2024, our advantaged assets – the Permian, Guyana, and LNG – represented more than 50% of production, a target that w e a c h i e v e d t h r e e y e a r s early,” Mikells said. Looking ahead, Mikells
s a i d E x x o n a n t i c i p a t e s further production increases from these high-value assets. “We expect more than 60%
o f o u r v o l u m e s w i l l b e g e n e r a t e d f r o m o u r a d v a n t a g e d a s s e t s i n t h e Permian, Guyana, and LNG by 2030. This results in a
s i g n i f i c a n t s t e p u p i n p r o f i t a b i l i t y : a t c o n s t a n t prices, another $3 per barrel by 2030,” it was said.
The Yellowtail project, Exxon’s fourth and largest d e v e l o p m e n t i n G u y a n a , remains on track for start-up later this year and is expected to contribute significantly to t h e c o m p a n y ’s l o n g - t e r m growth.
“With each new project start-up, the transformation o f E x x o n M o b i l a n d o u r i m p r o v e d e a r n i n g s p o w e r comes into clearer view In 2025, we’re starting up 10 key projects In 2026, the first full year after start-up, these ten projects alone not including our growth in the Permian, have the potential to deliver more than US$3 b i l
noted.
M o r e
, D a r r e n Woods, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Exxon, s a
2024…The proof is in our performance. Operationally, we delivered strong results
decade. We earned returns higher than our peers and
capital, and we distributed more cash to shareholders than all but five companies in the entire S&P 500.” He further stated, “As we look ahead, we’ve built a
we’ll deliver on the plans we l
a t e significantly more earnings and cash – not only to 2030, but well beyond. Our unique i n v e s t m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s give us profitable growth well into the future, which u n d e r p i n s o u r f i n a n c i a l strength and ability to return s i g n i f i c a n t c a s h t o shareholders.”
Govt. to seek another extension from World Bank to complete Petroleum Management Project
Resources Governance and M
of
Budgetary Estimates, Continued on page 39
and
Government Chief Whip and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira
Darren
Exxon
From page 38
O p p o s i t i o n M e m b e r o f P a r l i a m e n t , Shurwayne Holder requested an update on the programme. He also pointed out that the loan was left untouched by the Irfaan Ali-led administration for three years since 2020, before government put the resources to use. He also recognised that the remaining sum will not be used up at the end of this year Holder was also keen to note that this loan was initially approved for the period 2019 to
subsequently granted.
With an allocation of $850M in this year ’s Budget, Holder said this would take the loan
g approximately 22% unspent.
Resources, Vickram Bharrat admitted that the US$20M loan provided by the World Bank will not be exhausted this year As such, he explained that the programme will go over to 2026. “Already we are talking to the World Bank to extend that project and not extend the project because we failed to utilize the money or we did not build out the framework,”
Bharrat told the National Assembly
To this end, he explained, “Sometimes there is the mentality that if you have a loan you have to use out the money Mr Speaker we are working contrary to that. The idea is not to spend out the money The idea is to
architecture- to manage the sector in a very cost-effective way and I can tell you that every new framework that is in place…has
already brought significant changes in the way in which we manage the sector in a very prudent manner.”
He said that while government could have utilized the funds, building out an efficient framework was key As such he committed to extending the loan to meet the government’s objectives to manage the sector
Earlier, the Minister informed the House
Guyanese to work in the petroleum sector
regulatory framework that has since been put in place by government, including a new P
apply to new oil blocks.
government convinced the World Bank to restructure the US$20M loan. The crux of the restructuring involves an extension to the project’s closing date, pushing it from its
substantial 21 months Consequently, the revised deadline will be December 31, 2025.
project has four components. Component A:
Component – B Capacity Building of Key Institutions (US$10.70 M); Component – C.
Systems (US$3.50 M); and Component – D. Project Management & Project Preparation Facilities Cost ($2.60 M).
Danny and the quest for Crusticoid
| readthetale.com
Danny's sixth birthday was the best day ever—or so h e t h o u g h t A s h e unwrapped one colorful gift after another, he found what he had been dreaming of: a set of Goo Jit Zu stretchy toys! There were Thrash, the mighty shark; Blazagon, the fiery dragon; Rockjaw, the crocodile; and more. But as Danny lined them up on his shelf, he realized something was missing. The ultra-rare Crusticoid—the coolest of them all—wasn't there!
“I waited a whole year
f o r t h i s , ” D a n n y s i g h e d , holding one of his new toys. “I just need Crusticoid to complete the set!”
After his party, Danny
a s k e d h i s p a r e n t s a b o u t Crusticoid. His mom smiled
a n d s a i d , “ We l l , D a n n y, ultra-rare toys are hard to find. You might need to save up for this one.”
Excited and determined, Danny grabbed his piggy bank and dumped out all his c o i n s H e c o u n t e d e v e r y
penny $14 78 The next day, he dashed to the local
t o y s t o r e , c l u t c h i n g h i s m o n e y a n d i m a g i n i n g
C r u s t i c o i d s i t t i n g o n h i s shelf.
W h e n D a n n y a r r i v e d , h i s e x c i t e m e n t f i z z l e d
C r u s t i c o i d w a s t h e r e , gleaming in its shiny box, b u t t h e p r i c e t a g r e a d $29.99.
D a n n y ' s f a c e f e l l
“That's way more than I have!” he groaned.
He went home, thinking hard. His mom found him s i t t i n g o n t h e c o u c h , surrounded by his Goo Jit Zu toys, looking glum.
“ W h a t ' s w r o n g , Danny?” she asked.
“ I d o n ' t h a v e e n o u g h
m o n e y f o r C r u s t i c o i d , ”
Danny said. “And I really, really want it.”
H i s m o m p a t t e d h i s shoulder “Why not earn the extra money? Ask if anyone has chores or jobs you can help with. A little hard work might just do the trick.”
D a n n y p e r k e d u p “That's a great idea! I can work for Crusticoid!”
The Job Hunt…
T h e n e x t m o r n i n g , Danny grabbed a notepad and a marker He wrote in b i g , b o l d l e t t e r s :
D A N N Y ' S H E L P I N G
H A N D S : AVA I L A B L E FOR JOBS!
H e s h o w e d i t t o h i s
p a r e n t s , a n d h i s d a d laughed. “Looks like you're ready to start a business!
W h y n o t a s k t h e neighbors?”
Danny went door to door on his street. At first, people weren't sure what to think, b u t D a n n y ' s e n t h u s i a s m won them over
“Can I mow your lawn?”
Two little kittens MAKE STRING Heart Yard CARDS
Two little kittens, one stormy night, Began to quarrel, and then to fight; One had a mouse, the other had none, And that's the reason the quarrel begun.
Agnes Hsu | January 9, 2019
Here's a fun handmade Valentine's Day card kids can make that encourages fine motor skills with a little bit of threading activity
T h e s e y a r n h e a r t s m a k e b e a u t i f u l a n d
colourful cards with texture!
String Heart Yarn Cards – Materials:
*colourful yarn (like this) *thick card stock cut out to the size you want or use these watercolour postcards like we did
* large threading needle *pencil, eraser, scissors
he asked Mrs. Green, who lived two doors down.
“I don't have a lawn,” she replied, “but you can h e l p m e o r g a n i z e m y garage!”
“Yes!” Danny grinned.
For two hours, Danny worked hard, sorting tools,
s w e e p i n g f l o o r s , a n d
stacking boxes When he w a s d o n e , M r s G r e e n handed him $5.
“Thank you, Danny You were such a big help!”
E a r n i n g E v e r y Penny…
O v e r t h e n e x t w e e k , Danny tackled one job after a n o t h e r. H e w a l k e d M r. Thompson's dog, Max, and even played fetch with him.
M a x s l o b b e r e d a l l o v e r
D a n n y , b u t h e d i d n ' t mind—it was another $3 in his pocket.
He helped his mom wash the family car and earned $4.
H e r a k e d l e a v e s i n t h e backyard for his dad and earned another $3.
When Danny knocked on Mrs. Lopez's door, she asked, “Do you know how to bake cookies?”
“I've never tried, but I'd like to learn!” Danny said eagerly
M r s L o p e z s h o w e d Danny how to measure flour and sugar, mix dough, and shape cookies. When they
w e r e d o n e , t h e w a r m
* heart template (we used a cookie cutter)
Instructions:
Step 1. Trace your heart template onto the cards with a pencil.
Step 2 Punch holes alongside the heart with your needle. Erase your pencil marks.
Step 3 Thread yarn
t h r o u g h t h e h o l e s i n various directions. Cut off
the yarn on the underside and tie up. You're done.
I love how pretty these cards turned out and we had fun learning how to use the needle and
through the holes. Make sure to ask for supervision from your parents when using a needle and only use them if you are comfortable with it.
You can give these to teachers and write special messages on the front.You can also opt to cut out different shapes instead of hearts for another occasion. I think geometric shapes would look super cool as well.
c h o c o l a t e c h i p c o o k i e s smelled amazing.
"I'll have that mouse," said the bigger cat; "You'll have that mouse? We'll see about that!" "I will have that mouse," said the elder son; "You shan't have the mouse," said the little one.
I told you before 'twas a stormy night When these two little kittens began to fight; The old woman seized her sweeping broom, And swept the two kittens right out of the room.
And And And
The ground was covered with frost and snow, And the two little kittens had nowhere to go; So they laid them down on the mat at the door, While the old woman finished sweeping the floor
Then they crept in, as quiet as mice, All wet with the snow, and cold as ice, For they found it was better, that stormy night, To lie down together than to quarrel and fight.
“Take these home as a t h a n k - y o u , ” M r s L o p e z said, handing Danny a small bag of cookies along with $2.
“Thanks, Mrs. Lopez!”
A Big Break…
One afternoon, Danny
r a n i n t o M r Wi l s o n , t h e neighborhood handyman.
“ I h e a r d y o u ' v e b e e n working hard,” Mr Wilson said “How about helping m e p a i n t m y f e n c e t h i s weekend? It's a big job, so I'll pay you $10.”
Danny's eyes widened. “Yes, I'd love to!”
O n S a t u r d a y, D a n n y (Continued on page 41)
Self Esteem is crucial to your Personal Development
I expect that all our readers have already made their New Year resolutions, and are now determined to maintain these so as to make the best of the coming twelve months so that, by the end of this period, they have started to see the fruits of their efforts. One of the factors
that would help in this endeavour is to make sure that your self-esteem, that is, how you view yourself, is healthy Some of the qualities a person must have if he/she is to possess this self esteem to move forward are:-
1. A realistic view of self, with the ability to identify
o n e ' s s t r e n g t h s a n d
w e a k n e s s e s , w i t h t h e intention of reinforcing the strengths and working to remove the weaknesses.
2. Sensitivity to one's
affect it, and how it affects oneself, and the things one c a n d o t o w a r d s i t s improvement.
3. A personal philosophy, i.e. the ideas one has about oneself and the people and
things around, and a clear sense of the principles which direct one's actions.
4 A
achieves in everyday living
at success with humility and
determination to try harder
5. Willingness to explore for ways to profit and learn from one's mistakes.
6. Maintenance of one's expressions and behaviour
within socially acceptable standards and not merely for one's own benefit 7 W i l l i
persevere, even in the face of hardship and frustration.
8. Readiness to accept that others have the right to their own opinions, and to act for their benefit, even though they conflict with one's own. These are the qualities we all need so as to have a proper perspective of ourselves, which will give us the power and the selfconfidence to deal with all our problems and achieve our goals. We shall be dealing with each of these characteristics in the weeks ahead.
We shall also be treating w i t h t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s which are displayed by those who lack self-esteem, so that you take effective measures to deal with these.
Danny and the quest for...
From page 40 s p e n
M
Wilson's fence, careful not to miss a single spot. By the e n d o f t h e d a y, h e w a s
splatters, but he didn't care.
“Great job, Danny,” Mr Wilson said, handing him the money
Danny ran home to count his earnings. With the $10 from Mr Wilson and all the smaller amounts he'd saved, h e f i n a l l y h a d enough—$31.78!
“ I d i d i t ! ” D a n n y cheered.
The Big Purchase…
T h e n e x t d a y, D a n n y walked into the toy store with his head held high. He handed his money to the cashier and carefully took t h e b o x c o n t a i n i n g Crusticoid.
When Danny got home, he unboxed the ultra-rare toy
TRAIN TRACKS
Complete the railroad track
that connects the entrance
a
finished track can’t fork nor cross itself. The digits show the number of
It's okay, my friend
by Bibi Fazeela Khan
Life is a test, it's not easy at all, Sometimes we slip, and sometimes we fall; But it is okay, my friend, to err is naturally human, So look to the future, and do the best you can.
Sometimes we see the need to reach out a helping hand, Sometimes we want to, but we just can't; When “Sorry” isn't quite enough to say, Then it's okay to just get on your knees and pray
He knows us by our number and name, He knows we're imperfect, and that's no shame; He judges the sincerity of our prayers, Grants us our needs, and removes our cares.
It matters not what THEY say, Many times they just want to ruin your day; Gossip and slander is their only way, But what goes around comes around, what may
my
and set it on his shelf with the others. He felt proud, not just because his collection was complete, but because he had worked hard to make it happen.
A Lesson Learned…
That night, Danny's dad came into his room.
“ D a n n y, I ' m p r o u d o f you,” he said. “You didn't g i v e u p , a n d y o u e a r n e d Crusticoid all by yourself. That's pretty amazing.”
D a n n y b e a m e d
“ T h a n k s , D a d I l e a r n e d something, too If I work hard and keep trying, I can reach my goals.”
As Danny lay in bed, he looked at his complete Goo Jit Zu set and smiled. He
c o u l d n ' t w a i t t o t e l l h i s f r i e n d s a b o u t h i s a d v e n t u r e a n d w h o knows? Maybe he'd inspire them to go on their own quests, too.The End!
track pieces in each row or column. There is a unique solution that can be found without guessing.
So, it's okay, my friend, don't be afraid to try, The goals you seek will be attained by and by; The falls you suffer should be taken with a smile, They only make it sweeter as you run the last mile.
When we make the effort to help others we will find that we think better of ourselves.
Finding fulfillment in her career as a valued educator…
TALENTED, YOUNG PROFESSIONAL,
Mi ss Teanna Chin IS
A ‘SPECIAL PERSON’
introvert. Luckily for her, she developed the capacity to deal with the teenage boys and girls by being gentle but firm.
S h e e x p l a i n e
growing up in the small rural c
, S
n
Highway would have aided her quiet personality
Chin disclosed “I was born on 2nd, March 2001 at Woodlands hospital. I was raised in a small rural village known as Yarrow Kabra on a citrus farm. I can recall my e a r l i e s t m e m o r i e s o f childhood growing up in a t i g h t k
hardworking parents; Troy Chin and Sonia Gill along with two siblings. I have
Wfinished school, she knew w h a t s h e w a n t e d f r o m teachers as a student. “So, I tried to be that for my students,” she said.
She said that while she did start out teaching the CSEC class at the academy, “ M s C a m i l l e a n d h e r Human Resource team had so much faith in my capacity and work that just after months; I was given the challenge of teaching CSEC c l a s s , G e o g r a p h y a n d English A.”
Through her dedication
to her students and the Academy, Ms. Chin was able t o e m e r g e a s t h e t o p performing teacher of 2023. She was also awarded last year for exceptional work with her students.
Ms. Chin poses with one of her many certificates of achievement
hen it came to
d i s c o v e r i n g
h e r p a s s i o n for teaching, Miss Teanna Chin of Camille Academy
I n c , h a s h a d q u i t e t h e unusual journey The no doubt, talented teacher, once dreamt of pursuing a career in graphic design.
H o w e v e r , i t w o u l d appear that fate had planned her life quite differently A sad series of events unfolded while Chin was still a student of Camille’s Academy- her alma mater which led the then teenager to abandon her c h i l d h o o d d r e a m o f becoming a graphic artist.
She told The Waterfalls “In 2018, just three months before I sat CSEC exams my dad tragically passed away.”
As one would imagine, life as Chin knew it, had d r a s t i c a l l y c h a n g e d
N e v e r t h e l e s s , w i t h t h e encouragement and support of her family, teachers and,
M s C a m i l l e D e o k i e -
G o r a k h , h e r s c h o o l ’ s principal, the then grieving s t u d e n t m u s t e r e d t h e
s t r e n g t h t o s u c c e s s f u l l y complete her exams.
She eventually copped
1 2 C a r i b b e a n S e c o n d a r y Examinations Certification (CSEC) subjects.
She recalled it was one of the most difficult periods of her life.
Reflecting on that time, Chin told this publication
And indeed this difficult s i t u a t i o n p r o p e l l e d t h e young Chin to finding a fulfillment in a teaching career She recalled that after completing school she had no immediate career plans but with the insistence of Ms. Camille Deokie, the school’s principal and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), she agreed to join the staff of Camille’s Academy A n d w i t h i n h e r f e w years as a teacher, she copped the ‘Teacher of the Ye a r ’ Aw a r d f o r h e r outstanding performance at CSEC examination in 2023. Out of a class of 48 students, Chin obtained the pass mark of 91% in English A. ‘GENTLE BUT FIRM’
All teachers have their unique strategy of dealing with their students and Ms. Chin is no different. Being young in the profession, she had to develop ways to m a n a g e a c l a s s r o o m o f students who were not much younger than her
The trouble was that this week’s Special Person by nature is a soft spoken,
that she completed high s c h o o l w i t h a g r i e v i n g , heavy heart. “ I c o m p l e t e d h i g h school; with 8 grades ones and 4 grade twos. My dad was my greatest motivation. Losing a parent at such a tender age was the most challenging and defining moment in my life but that shaped me into the resilient individual I am today,” she said.
always been a soft spoken,
y childhood…”
“At first, I was a bit intimidated, but over time being a teacher to CSEC students just came naturally, I became a whole different p e r s o n , m y c o n f i d e n c e grew,” she asserted.
The teacher explained too given that she had just
‘TEACHER OF THE YEAR’
S p e a k i n g t o t h i s publication, Chin related after she graduated high school, she felt as though she lost her purpose in life.
She reflected: “In 2019, when I visited Camille’s Academy and the CEO; M i s s D e o k i e - G o r a k h offered me a job as a teacher She has been a
mentor and an inspiration to me. I am so thankful to her f o r g i v i n g m e t h e opportunity to find my true calling. From the very first moment I stepped into the classroom, I knew teaching was my passion. This is currently my 7th year of being a CSEC English A and Geography teacher.”
Chin said the highlight of her career is the sense of purpose and fulfillment that c o m e s f r o m m a k i n g a positive impact in the lives of others.
She added that she gets fulfillment from knowing that her work aligns with her deepest longing to give back to their community in an impactful and meaningful way.
“ K n o w i n g t h a t I a m helping to shape the future
l e a d e r s a n d c i t i z
y rewarding,” she said
The young professional noted that the work she does
a s a teacher correlates with her other professional goals.
“ F i r s t l y , i t b o
m m u n i c a
i o n skills results in improved public speaking. Secondly, improved leadership skills. Teaching requires stron
leadership skills as I often need to guide and motivate students, collaborate with
underscored.
The teacher said these l e
teamwork, communication and the ability to inspire and influence others.
“Teaching encourages a l i f e
c o m m i t m e n t t o learning and professional d e v e l o p m e n t a s I a m constantly seeking out new information, strategies and resources to improve. This
Continued on page 45
The young and talented, Ms. Teanna Chin
Ms. Teanna Chin poses along with CEO of Camille’s Academy Inc. after copping the Teacher of the Year award 2023
Ms. Chin grew up in the rural community of Yarrow Kabra, loves nature
....Mi ss Teanna Chin
A proud moment, Ms. Chin basks in the moment after receiving the Teacher of the year prize.
From page 44 helps to keep me adaptable, informed and up to date with t r e n d s a n d t e c h n o l o g i c a l advancements,” Chin stated.
S h e c o n t i n u e d “ M y ultimate goal as a teacher is to
The proud teacher stands with students of Camille’s Academy
y students to reach their full potential. I strive to create
learning environment. I hope to make a lasting impact on the lives of students, helping them
IS A ‘SPECIAL PERSON’
become lifelong learners and
society.”
On a regular week, Ms. Chin split her time between the Diamond and Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD) branch of Camille’s Academy
Teacher of the Year Award for her outstanding performance at CSEC examination in 2023, Ms. Chin also holds additional certificates of achievement
Business studies (CSEC) best graduating business student
honorable contribution and achievement during 2020 for
Academy.”
She also has a Certificate of Speech craft course in The A
Industries toastmasters club in association with Lion’s club; Certificate of participation in
American University of Peace Studies Inc; Certificate of participation in life coaching American University of Peace Studies Inc; and Certificate of attendance live2lead 2022,
John C. Maxwell. BALANCE
As a young professional, Ms Chin understands the importance of balance. She s a i d b a l a n c i n g w o r k a n d personal commitment to her family is imperative.
She said “I do this by setting boundaries, practicing t
n d desisting from school related work during quality family time. Prioritizing my wellbeing and taking time for hob
to recuperate is vital. Outside of work, my hobbies include p
d connecting with nature.”
Chin accredits her mom for being there for her in every aspect of her life. “…I could not have been where I am today without her I helped out as much as could.”
As it relates to life’s goals, Ms. Chin said in the next five years she see herself elevating in all aspects of her life.
“Career wise, I plan to obtain further qualifications and to implement innovative teaching methods and I also hope to achieve a Bachelor ’s d e g r e e i n B u s i n e s s Management,” she said.
Guyanese Entertainer of The Week:
Leza Singh, the face behind ‘Radika’ and the beloved ‘N oreen’
family.
Singh, popularly known as
By Davina Bagot
Her fans would recognize her from the numerous stage
s h o w s s h e h a s a c t e d i n , including ‘Nothing to Laugh
A b o u t ‘ ( C o m e d y S h o w ) , ‘ U n c e n s o r e d , ’ Te x t m e ,
D i p l o m a t i c B l o w a n d o n
v a r i o u s t e l e v i s i o n programmes such as Those
P e o p l e ( We e k l y s i t c o m ) ; Love & Laughter (Weekly
t a l k s h o w - h o s t ) a n d
M e r u n d o i ( We e k l y r a d i o serial)
B u t f o r L e z a S i n g h , comedy has always been a
t loves to crack jokes. As such, this Guyanese comedian found humour as a natural element.
P o p u l a r l y k n o w n a s ‘ R a d i k a ’ f r o m P a r i k a
B a c k d a m o r t h e b e l o v e d ‘ N o r e e n A n g e l a M e l v i l l e ’ and ‘Bibi’; Leza started her
j o u r n e y i n a c t i n g a r o u n d seven to eight years old. She told The Waterfalls that she first performed in front of her local church where she f o u n d f u l f i l l m e n t i n entertainment. “That earl
actress shared.
L e z a s t a r t e d w o r k i n g p r o f e s s i o n a l l y i n t h e entertainment sector several years ago when she joined the Mori J’von Comedy Jam.
A c c o r d i n g t o h e r , “ M y popularity started at Mori J’von Comedy Jam, where I f i r s t g o t s i g n i f i c a n t recognition for my comedic t a l e n t H o w e v e r , m y
visibility grew tremendously when I joined the cast of ‘Nothing to Laugh About’ a n d ‘ U n c e n s o r e d , ’ t w o w i d e l y p o p u l a r c o m e d y p r o d u c t i o n s T h e s e o p p o r t u n i t i e s h e l p e d establish me as a household name in the entertainment industry and allowed me to r e a c h a n e v e n l a r g e r audience ” Recently, Leza took a significant step by leaving her previous job to s t a r t h e r o w n c o m p a n y, aiming to expand her reach and impact in the sector
Outside of acting, Leza
ANANSI; the Cunning Spider brought to life at the National Cultural centre
Laughter, gasps, an
through the National Cultural Centre as the story of Anansi, the cunning spider, came to life at the National Cultural Centre. Anansi, the cunning spider, is a central figure in Caribbean and West African folklore.
His stories, which originated in Ghana and were carried to the Caribbean by enslaved Africans, have been told for generations as a means of entertainment, education, and moral guidance.
Thes
strength and teach valuable lessons about
consequences of one’s actions
M
through a series of adventures, outsmarting larger and more powerful foes with his quick thinking and clever tricks.
Last week, the Ministry of Education
anticipated staging of Anansi at the National Cultural Centre.
Continued on page
navigating the competitive nature of sector, adapting to new trends, and managing large projects are ongoing hurdles. Determined to win, this Guyanese talent noted that these challenges are also what pushes her to innovate and improve continuously With over a decade of e x p
c
has appeared in several comedy shows and television programmes.
w e a r s s e v e r a l o t h e r professional caps. She is a producer, marketer, graphic designer, and video editor in e n t e r t a i n m e n t s e c t o r , s p e c i a l i z i n g i n t e l e v i s i o n productions and managing v a r i o u s c r e a t i v e p r o j e c t s Her expertise extends across m u l t i p l e a r e a s o f c
c r e a t i
p r o m o t i o n , ensuring that every aspect of a project is polis hed and impactful.
L i k e m a n y i n
entertainment, Leza’s rise to fame has not been without its c h a l l e n g e s F o r h e r ,
n c e a s a n
e s s , Leza’s advice to upcoming artists is to stay trued to their unique voice and vision. She urged, “Persist through the in
table ch
nges, and continuously seek learning o p p o r t u n i t i e s N e v e r underestimate the power of
imagined. Surround yourself with supportive peers and
support.”
I
performances by this actress
Facebook: Leza Singh; Love & Laughter and Nothing to Laugh About. On Instagram find her @ singh _leza, on Ti
To
Signature Comedy as well as Y
Comedy
Leza
‘Radika’, ‘Noreen Angela Melville’ and ‘Bibi’
Offset, this actress (front row, centre) enjoys spendingquality time with her
Scenes from school play
Anansi; the Cunning Spider
Saturday mor nings are for stor ytelling at the Ruimveldt branch librar y
By Christal Yong
Every Saturday morning, a group of children gather eagerly at the Ruimveldt
b r a n c h o f t h e N a t i o n a l Library ready to immerse themselves, in the magical world of storytelling.
From 10:00h to 11:00h, the library transforms into a hub of excitement, where
c h i l d r e n a g e d s e v e n t o twelve engage in interactive and educational story-time sessions led by the library’s dedicated staff members.
During an interview with T h e Wa t e r f a l l s , S h e l l y Fraser, the senior librarian at Ruimveldt said, “The place was closed and they had a reopening on the July 9, 2024, since we open back the doors we start story time.”
The library welcomes anywhere from 15 to 35
c h i l d r e n e a c h S a t u r d a y, though the number can vary S o m e w e e k s , a t t e n d a n c e spikes to over 30, while other times the library sees a
s m a l l e r t u r n o u t , b u t t h e
e n t h u s i a s m r e m a i n s constant. The sessions are carefully tailored to suit
different age groups, with younger children grouped separately to ensure they can fully enjoy the experience.
“We would read like fiction, and nonfiction books different types, and if they are so small we group them like the smaller ones, one person do that and the big ones another staff do that,” Fraser said. What makes these sessions particularly special is the staff ’s dynamic a p p r o a c h t o s t o r y t e l l i n g Fraser related, “We would like to change up our voice to make it nice and [animated] for the children.”
She said the aim is not only to entertain but to inspire children to make reading a part of their lives.
According to Ms. Fraser, t h e l i b r a r y ’s s t o r y t i m e initiative also fosters a sense
o f c o m m u n i t y a n d a w a r e n e s s “ I t ’ s l i k e bringing more awareness to the children, about a safe place they can come every Saturday…,” Fraser said.
At the National Library
o f G u y a n a , R u i m v e l d t branch story time is already a cherished weekend tradition,
Children captivated by lively storytelling during Storytime at the Ruimveldt Branch Library, where each session brings books to life and sparks young imaginations
but there’s more in store for the young attendees in 2025. The library is preparing to introduce puppet shows as part of their ongoing efforts
t o c r e a t e e n g a g i n g a n d d y n a m i c e x p e r i e n c e s f o r children.
For many of the kids, this will be their first opportunity to see a puppet show, adding an exciting new dimension to their Saturday mornings. Set to kick off in the first quarter of 2025, this
entertain but also enhance t h e l i b r a r y ’s m i s s i o n o f making weekends a fun and educational experience for children, sparking creativity and expanding their love for learning.
It’s just one of the many ways the National Library of Guyana Ruimveldt branch is g r o w i n g i n t o a h u b o f e x c i t e m e n t
The impact of story time has been nothing short of
participation. The library has been actively promoting the sessions through videos and
National Library of Guyana, Ruimveldt
Anansi; the Cunning Spider brought to lif e at the National Cultural...
From page 46
This thrilling production by GEM’s Theatre Production, brings to life the legendary trickster of Caribbean folklore, blending humor, wit, and valuable life lessons in a way that captivates both students and educators alike.
From the moment the curtains opened, A n a n s i p r o v e d t o b e a n e l e c t r i f y i n g experience. The first day of performances saw the National Cultural Centre filled to capacity, with eager students from secondary schools across Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Ten and Georgetown packing the venue.
Now part of the Caribbean Secondary E d u c a t i o n C e r t i f i c a t e ( C S E C ) E n g l i s h Literature syllabus, it is an essential literary work that students are required to study The Ministry of Education’s decision to stage this production is a bold and innovative move to help students engage with the text beyond the pages of a book.
By seeing Anansi’s adventures unfold on stage, students gain a deeper understanding of t h e n a r r a t i v e , t h e m e s , a n d c u l t u r a l significance of these timeless tales.
English literature educator attached to the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Ingrid RichardsFung, stated that the ministry has long recognized the power of theatre in education. She noted that literature is often seen as challenging or intimidating for students, but live productions like these allow them to experience the story in a dynamic and relatable way
According to Ms. Fung, “This approach has already yielded positive results.”
In 2024, a similar initiative contributed to
an increase in the English Literature pass rate at CSEC. Mrs. Fung solidly commended Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand for the school play M
bringing literature education to life for
students preparing for their examinations, with the goal of sparking greater interest in the subject and helping more students excel.
Over the course of the week, secondary school students from across the country had the chance to experience the play firsthand.
To ensure even wider access, the Ministry of E d u c a
o r t h e production to be recorded and uploaded to its social media platforms, allowing students, educators, and the public to view the performance. (MOE feature)
Students from various secondary schools across the regions filled the National Cultural Centre
Tr io confessed to murder of Belle West woman, remanded
Friday, when they appeared at the Lenora Magistrates’ Court, to answer to a murder charge which states that they killed Belle West housewife,
6 4 - y e a r - o l d h o u s e w i f e Parbhudai Boodhram called ‘Renie’.
T
h , a businessman of Belle West,
D
(WBD), Philbert Cush, and Kishan Narine who are both fishermen of Vergenoegen,
E a s t B a n k E s s e q u i b o , appeared before Magistrate
R a b i n d r a n a u t h S i n g h , where the capital offence charge was read to them.
The men, who according to police admitted to killing Boodhram at her Belle West, W B D h o m e , w e r e n o t required to enter a plea.
Reports suggest that the trio between January 21, and January 22, 2025, killed the elderly woman.
The woman lived with
h e r h u s b a n d A n t h o n y Alphonso Boodhram, called Tony, a 63-year-old tailor She would visit her husband
d a i l y a t h i s Ta i l o r S h o p located in Georgetown, to assist him with work and on c o m p l e t i o n s h e w o u l d return home leaving him at the shop where, from time to t i m e , h e w o u l d s t a y (overnight) depending on the volume of work.
On January 21, 2025, at around 10:00h Boodhram left home and proceeded to her husband’s shop, where she assisted him for the day
b e f o r e l e a v i n g f o r h e r residence in Belle West. She made a stop at a shop in the a r e a w h e r e s h e b o u g h t several grocery items and w a s s u b s e q u e n t l y t a k e n home by the shop owner, who was also a friend.
On her arrival home, the shop owner waited until she entered her yard, then he drove off Police believes that Singh, Cush and Narine were hiding in the yard and t h e r e f o r e m a n a g e d t o apprehend the woman as she was about to enter her home. There was no sign of forced entry Whilst in the home, the three restrained her with the use of ‘plastic cable zip ties’ and dealt the woman several blows to her face and about her body
“ T h e s u s p e c t ( s ) t h e n ransacked the house, as her p u r s e w a s f o u n d t o b e m i s s i n g a l o n g w i t h h e r j e w e l l e r y a n d U S $ 4 , 0 0 0 f r o m a c l o s e t , ( s a m e
Berbice businessman on Friday night. The 31-year-old businessman has been
‘Buxton.’ Police reported that the
Dead: Parbhudai
Boodhram called ‘Renie’
suspected to be stolen). The suspect(s) then made good their escape in an unknown direction,” the police said.
Boodhram’s body was later examined by ranks of the Guyana Police Force and t h e n t a k e n t o t h e We s t D e m e r
R e g i o n a l H o s p i t a l w h e r e s h e w a s p r o n o u n c e d d e a d A p o s t m o r t e m e x a m i n a t i o n revealed that she died from manual strangulation.
The trio was arrested on Tuesday According to the police, the three men were cautioned, and statements along with a video recording were obtained.
They are scheduled to return to court on February 17, 2025 for reports.
T h e P u b l i c U t i l i t i e s C o m m i s s i o n ( P U C ) o n
S a t u r d a y a n n o u n c e d t h a t customers can now benefit from number portability in Guyana from February 10, 2025. This simply means that customers can now switch networks but there will be no need for a new number.
The official launch of this service will be shared in a s u b s e q u e n t a n n o u n c e m e n t after the identified date.
I n a s t a t e m e n t t o t h e media the PUC said that “As s u b s c r i b e r s i n t h e t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s s e c t o r
m a y b e a w a r e , n u m b e r portability allows both fixedline and mobile subscribers to switch their services to other s e r v i c e p r o v i d e r s w h i l s t retaining their existing phone numbers.”
The service is designed to foster competition within the t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s s e c t o r
ring consum
rs greate
f r e e d o m t o c h o o s e t h e i r
providers It also marks a crucial step in enhancing the quality of service offered to consumers and it will also d r i v e i n n o v a t i o n i n t h e telecommunications industry
“This milestone is a direct result of the liberalization of t h e t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s sector on October 5, 2020, and the subsequent issuance of the Telecommunications (Commencement of Number
P o r t a b i l i t y O b l i g a t i o n s )
Order on July 1, 2021, by the Honourable Prime Minister, B r i g a d i e r ( r e t ’ d ) M a r k Phillips,” the PUC said.
Under the directive of the P r i m e M i n i s t e r , t h e Commission was tasked with e n s u r i n g t h e s m o o t h implementation of number
p o r t a b i l i t y. T h e r e f o r e , t h e
Number Portability Working G r o u p ( N P W G ) w a s established in August 2021. This group, chaired by the C o m m i s s i o n , i n c l u d e d
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m t h e
telecommunications service
p r o v i d e r s a n d t h e
T e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s
Agency
The PUC explained in its statement that, “The NPWG has held weekly meetings to oversee the various testing phases that are critical to the s e r v i c e ’ s s u c c e s s A d e d i c a t e d t e c h n i c a l subgroup, comprising project managers and technical leads from the service providers, was also formed to address s p e c i f i c c h a l l e n g e s a n d e n s u r e s e a m l e s s s y s t e m i n t e g r a t i o n a c r o s s a l l networks.”
S o m e o f t h e k e y a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s o f t h e
N P W G i n c l u d e t h e development and approval of t h e B u s i n e s s R u l e s T h i s
o u t l i n e s g u i d e l i n e s f o r
o p e r a t i o n a l i s e d “ n u m b e r
p o r t a b i l i t y a n d t h e contracting of PXS B V, a clearinghouse provider from the Netherlands, which has b e e n l i c e n s e d b y t h e Telecommunications Agency to provide number portability a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s e r v i c e s i n Guyana.”
Furthermore, “The PUC
and the telecommunications service providers have been e n g a g e d i n n u m e r o u s technical testing scenarios to ensure a seamless transition for subscribers and that all t e c h n i c a l a s p e c t s o f t h e s e r v i c e a r e f u n c t i o n a l a s intended when it goes ‘live’ on February 10, 2025. The e n d r e s u l t o f t h i s i s t
number portability, a service that will be beneficial to all users of telecommunications services in Guyana.”
P
provider will need to visit a retail store of the preferred service provider and request the porting of the telephone
of
expected to take 5 business days.
process and for answers to frequently asked questions,
and via WhatsApp at 6233222/ 624-6000 for further details.
Rohan Singh
Philbert Cush Kishan Narine
Arab ministers reject Trump’s call to displace Palestinians from Gaza
US president has s u g g e s t e d t h a t E g y p t a n d
J o r d a n s h o u l d t a k e i n Palestinians from Gaza.
A l j a z e e r a - F o r e i g n
m i n i s t e r s o f f i v e A r a b countries have issued a joint
s t a t e m e n t r e j e c t i n g t h e
f o r c e d d i s p l a c e m e n t o f Palestinians from their land.
The statement, released on Saturday, presented a unified stance against US President Donald Trump’s call for Egypt and Jordan to take in Palestinians from Gaza.
Foreign ministers and officials from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Palestinian Authority and t h e A r a b L e a g u e s a i d
Tr u m p ’s p r o p o s e d m o v e would threaten stability in the region, spread conflict and undermine prospects for peace.
“We affirm our rejection
o f [ a n y a t t e m p t s ] t o compromise Palestinians’ unalienable rights, whether t h r o u g h s e t t l e m e n t activities, or evictions or annex of land or through vacating the land from its owners in any form or under any circumstances or j u s t i f i c a t i o n s , ” t h e j o i n t statement read.
The meeting came after Trump said last week that Egypt and Jordan should take in Palestinians from Gaza, which he called a “demolition site” following 1 5 m o n t h s o f I s r a e l i bombardment that rendered most of its 2.3 million people homeless.
Egypt and Jordan – key US allies in the region – have repeatedly rejected Trump’s p r o p o s a l t o “ c l e a n o u t ” Gaza. Jordan is home to several million Palestinians, while tens of thousands live in Egypt.
On Wednesday, Egypt’s
Man wanted for abducting ex-lover caught hiding under bed
The 31-year-old man who was wanted by police for allegedly abducting his 37-year-old ex-lover was arrested on Friday night after he was found hiding under a bed at his land of C a n a a n , E a s t B a n k Demerara (EBD) home.
Police reported that the accused, Ronald Balgobin, was found lying under a bed at around 19:00h on Friday Two other persons were also arrested for harbouring a wanted person.
Balgobin is accused of abducting and threatening Basmattie ‘Penny’ Basant, a h o u s e w i f e o f A n n a d a l e , E a s t C o a s t D e m e r a r a ( E C D
Annadale, ECD.
T h e v i c t i m , o n h e r
F a c e b o o k P a g e n a m e d ‘Penny Basant’ said that she w a s i n a n a b u s i v e relationship with Balgobin. She claimed that on the day
she was kidnapped, the
a c c u s e d a n d t w o accomplices forcibly took
h e r f r o m h e r A n n a d a l e home. “They took me naked as I was born just with my bath towel,” the woman said in her Facebook post.
She said Balgobin drove her to the Linden Soesdyke
H i g h w a y w h e r e s h e managed to escape after a
President Abdel Fattah elSisi also rejected Trump’s idea and said Egyptians would take to the streets to express their disapproval.
“Displacement of the Palestinian people from their land is an injustice that we cannot take part in,” he added.
However, on Thursday, Trump reiterated the idea, saying, “We do a lot for them, and they are going to do it,” in apparent reference t
y assistance, to Egypt and Jordan.
Trump’s prop
sal would amount to ethnic cleansing Yousef Munayyer, head
n t
Wa s h
o n D C , told Al Jazeera earlier this w e e k t h a t T r u m p ’ s “ o u t r a g e o u s ” s t a t e m e n t should be condemned for
The meeting came after Trump said last week that Egypt and Jordan should take in Palestinians from Gaza, which he called a ‘demolition site’ [Khaled Desouki/AFP]
violating all norms and basic rights.
“Trump says all kinds of t h i n g s , ” M u n a y y e r s a i d ,
e x p l a i n i n g t h a t t h e U S
p r e s i d e n t ’ s s t a t e m e n t
should be taken with a hint of scepticism
“ S o m e t i m e s , t h e y ’ r e
t h i n g s t h a t h e m e a n s . Sometimes, they’re things
t h a t h e d o e s n ’ t m e a n . Sometimes, they’re things
t h a t h e h e a r d i n a conversation that he had five
minutes ago Sometimes, they’re things that he thinks h e h e a r d b u t misunderstood.”
The foreign ministers
o n S a t u r d a y h i g h l i g h t e d that they “look forward to
w o r k i n g w i t h t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f U S
President Donald Trump to a c h i e v e a j u s t a n d c o m p r e h e n s i v e p e a c e i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t , i n accordance with the twostate solution”
The government is in choppy waters
police patrol passed and she screamed for help.
“He let go of my hand and I ran towards the patrol like a mad woman with no underwear no bras just his short pants and a top, no f o o t w e a r T h e f e a r a n d trauma keep (s) replaying to me every day, I am unable to be myself since then,” the housewife alleged.
Basant said that she was subsequently placed in a safe shelter but left because h e r c o n d i t i o n w a s n o t improving. She alleged that she suffered physical and e m o t i o n a l a b u s e a t t h e hands of Balgobin noting that she was controlled and isolated from family and friends. “I am still very fearful for my LIFE because my ex did mention that he doesn’t want to go to prison on live feed social media!!! He also always tells me that if he can’t have me, no other man can have me,” she expressed.
Basant said she often time attempted to escape but her ex-lover would threaten her “When will I get JUSTICE (?) and why ( h a s ) t h e r e l e v a n t a u t h o r i t i e s n o t d o i n g a n y t h i n g a b o u t t h i s situation? Will I be another murder victim?” the woman questioned on her social media platform.
The government stands like a beleaguered captain at the helm of a storm-tossed ship, finds itself once again n a v i g a t i n g t h e c h o p p y w a t e r s o f p u b l i c procurement. The winds of criticism are howling, and the waves of discontent are rising.
The issue, as it often is, is not merely about the allocation of contracts or the construction of roads and bridges It is about the integrity of a system If the government does not act swiftly to overhaul its public procurement systems, it risks not only squandering public funds but also becoming e n g u l f e d b y t h e s a m e criticisms that led the PPPC g o v e r n m e n t t o l o s e i t s majority in 2011 and then the seat of power in 2015
The most glaring issue has been the proliferation of “ o v e r n i g h t c o n t r a c t o r s ” These are not the seasoned builders of yore, men and women with calloused hands and a lifetime of experience in the trenches of construction No, these are opportunists, s p r i n g i n g u p l i k e
mushrooms after a rain, forming firms with the speed of a magician’s trick and bidding for public works with the confidence of those who know their success lies not in their skill but in their connections. Many of them have no idea what they are bidding for, nor do they care.
Their business model is simple: win the contract,
subcontract the work, and pocket the difference. It is a shell game, and the public is the loser
The consequences are manifold First, there is the m a t t e r o f c o s t P u b l i c p r o c u r e m e n t c o n t r a c t s , already burdened by the weight of bureaucracy, are being inflated to absurd levels The commercial class, with its fingers in every pie, is reaping the rewards, while the average citizen is left to wonder why a simple road repair costs more than a small fortune
Second, there is the issue of quality When contracts are awarded to firms with no experience or expertise, the result is shoddy workmanship, delays, and, in some cases, o u t r i g h t f a i l u r e T h e government insists that only a minor percentage of public projects remain incomplete, but this is cold comfort to those who have to traverse roads, cross bridges or wait an eternity for some incomplete pump station to be finished
Then there is the matter of capacity. The resources human and material simply do not exist to support the volume of public works being undertaken. The strain on the limited pool of r e s o u r c e s i s p a l p a b l e
Construction materials are in short supply, driving up costs Labor is scarce, and what labor there is demands higher wages, pushing the system to the brink of crisis Delays are inevitable, and the quality of work suffers The government, in its zeal to
demonstrate progress, has overextended itself It must scale back, prioritize, and ensure that the projects it does undertake are completed to the highest standard Otherwise, we risk a situation where even the most basic infrastructure becomes unaffordable, and the poor are left unable to build so much as a chicken coop A particularly contentious issue i s t h e p a y m e n t o f m o b i l i z a t i
these fees are necessary to help small contractors get started, and there is some merit to this argument. For small projects, where access to resources may be limited, a modest advance can make a difference. But for large projects—those above $200 million—mobilization fees are not only unnecessary but a l s o f r a u g h t w i t h r i s k Contractors bidding for such projects should have the f i n a n c i a
mobilize on their own. What happens if the work hardly sets going and the contractor walks away with close to $200 million in mobilization advances? What recourse does the government have? Can it levy on mud and sand? The answer, of course, is no. Perhaps it may claim that it can levy on the performance bonds. But that itself is another issue fraught w i t h c o n t r o v e r s y These performance bonds are meant to serve as a guarantee, a promise that the work will be
comple
to the agreed standard But are these bonds backed by real financial commitments, or are they merely paper promises, devoid of any collateral? If the latter is true and there is reason to suspect it is then the entire system is built on a foundation of sand.
The government therefore m u s t t i g h t e n t h e r u l e s g o v e r n i n g p u b l i c procurement, ensuring that contracts are awarded on the
o t connections It must enforce
performance bonds, ensuring that they are backed by real financial commitments. It must scale back the size of its p u b l i c s e c t o r i n v e s t m e n t projects, focusing on quality rather than quantity And it must eliminate the payment of mobilization fees for large p r o j e c t s , e n s u r i n g t h a t contractors have the financial resources to complete the work they bid for If the government fails to do these things, it risks repeating the mistakes of the past. Corruption has always been the PPPC’s Achilles heel, and history has a way of repeating itself. The party lost its majority in 2011 and surrendered political office in 2015, in no small part due to allegations of corruption in public procurement. If it does not clean up its act, it may find itself staring down t h e b a r r e l o f t h e s a m e problems once again.
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Four remanded for series of armed robberies in Corentyne
Four men were remanded to prison on Friday when they appeared at the Whim Magistrates’ Court to answer to a Robbery Under Arms (RUA) charge.
Twenty-four-year-old Joshua Beharry called ‘Funkout’, 20-year-old Nathanel Latchmna called ‘Nate’, 24-year-old Sahil Hardin and 18-year-old Bryan Sundatt made their first court appearance before Magistrate Tuanna Hardy, where the charge was read to them.
The charge stated that on Tuesday, while being armed, the quartet robbed a female at Tain, Corentyne, Berbice. Police arrested the four men on Wednesday, following an intelligence-led operation.
They were not required to plead and were remanded to prison until February 28, 2025.
Additionally, also on Friday, Beharry, Latchmna and Sundatt appeared at the Albion Magistrates’ Court,
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Sahil Hardin
before Magistrate Michelle Matthias, where another RUA charge was read to them. The charge alleged that the trio on January 22, 2025, while being armed, robbed three persons at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice. They were not required to plead.
They were remanded to prison are scheduled to return to court on February 28, 2025. Meanwhile, Beharry faced two additional RUA charges. The first charge states that
he robbed a 39-year-old selfemployed woman of Nigg Village, Corentyne, Berbice of $300,000, and other articles amounting to $1,550,000.
The second charge alleges that he robbed a 31-year-old female domestic worker of $150,000 cash and one cell phone valued $41,000. He was not required to enter pleas for the charges and was remanded to prison. He is scheduled to return to court on February 4, 2025, for reports.
Simona Broomes launches new political party...
From page 12 from near and far, that I am ready,” an enthusiastic Broomes said.
Meanwhile, on the sideline of the party’s launch Broomes told reporters that she resigned from the PNCR while adding that she believes she can achieve more outside of the party she was a member of since she was a teen.
“I’ll be able to accomplish exactly what I want to do,” she said while making it clear that there was no falling out with Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton, who was invited but was a no show.
“I don’t know anything
about that…We’ve just launched a movement… we call women to arise, and I hope that everybody is proud about ALP and what we stand for…I didn’t opt out. It’s been a while as I was out, I’m doing my social work. I’m in the communities,” she stated.
The women’s rights activist pointed the main objectives of her party noting that there is an ever-increasing need to advocate for marginalized voices, ensure access to free and quality education and healthcare, eradicate poverty, promote access to jobs and fair wages, uphold democratic values,
Further, she said that combating discriminatory practices and corruption, advocating for women and girls, ending human trafficking and integrating and implementing policies across the government that support the wellbeing of each citizen are critical and necessary goals her party intends to achieve.
The ALP has a presence on social media and can be found on TikTok and X formerly known as Twitter.
Gramps Morgan Inducted In Buffalo Bills Fan Club...
From page 34 foster togetherness.”
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Morgan’s induction into the fan club hasn’t just been a personal achievement—it’s also inspired him to amplify reggae music and Jamaican culture on new platforms. “Anytime I get a chance to promote my country and my genre, I’m happy. Reggae music is special—once you hear it, your body can’t stop moving. It just makes you feel good, no matter what.”
And when asked if fans might see him performing at Buffalo Bills events in the future, Morgan’s excitement was palpable. “That would be a dream come true. The team I wanted to play for while in high school—now being able to perform for them? Stay tuned. Anything is possible.”
Morgan has nothing but love for the Bills Mafia and reggae fans alike. “The Bills have been a part of my life for so long, and this honor is in-
credibly meaningful. I’m grateful for the opportunity to celebrate my passions— music and football—and share them with others. It’s truly a dream come true.”
As Gramps Morgan continues to tour the world spreading reggae music, his induction into the Buffalo Bills fan club is a reminder of the ways sports and music can transcend boundaries, creating bonds that last a lifetime.
$189M estimated to construct Bonasika & Leguan Police Stations
The communities
of Leguan and
B o n a s i k a i n
Region Three will soon have police stations of their own, as the government plans to spend approximately $189 million to construct the two buildings.
T h e p r o j e c t s t h a t a r e
b e i n g e x e c u t e d u n d e r t h e
M i n i s t r y o f H o m e
A f f a i r s w e r e r e a d a t t h e
r e c e n t t e n d e r o p e n i n g s
M o r e t h a n 2 0 c o n t r a c t o r s
h a v e a p p l i e d f o r e a c h project.
A c c o r d i n g t o information released by the National Procurement and
Te n d e r A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Board (NPTAB) office, the police station for Leguan is
e s t i m a t e d t o c o s t
$ 8 9 , 4 3 5 , 5 8 2 , w h i l e t h e
s t a t i o n f o r B o n a s i k a i s pegged at $99,863,907.
It was reported that this year, the government has set aside $4.7 billion to bridge the gap of the Guyana Police F o r c e ’ s ( G P F ) infrastructural needs.
S e n i o r M i n i s t e r i n t h e
O ff i c e o f t h e P r e s i d e n t
w i t h t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r
F i n a n c e , D r A s h n i S i n g h w h o p r e s e n t e d t h i s y e a r ’s
b u d g e t s t a t e d t h a t a s u m o f $ 1 b i l l i o n h a s b e e n b u d g e t e d t o w a r d s t h e
c o n s t r u c t i o
Below are the companies and their bids: Ministry of Home Affairs
Construction for Bonasika Police Station
Construction of Station of Officer ’s Residence at Mahdia Fire Station.
Construction of Reservoir, Trestle & Fence at Mabaruma Fire Station.
Construction of Leguan Police Station.
BLUNTNESS ON INDECENCIES!
In case you haven’t heard, please be informed that as part of our continued effort to channel positive changes in our country, our publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, has dedicated our Page Seven to be “BLUNT” about on-going indecencies in our land that should matter, not only to us at this publication, but the entire nation.
SUNDAY – JANUARY 26, 2025
Expert policing by the GPF!
T h e G u y a n a P o l i c e F o r c e
(GPF) proudly issued a statement to the press on Friday, boasting of its swift arrest of a few stray dogs in Leguan, after they allegedly killed a woman’s sheep.
The irony of this story is that real crime is often ducked from the media, while enquiries often go unanswered. On the other hand, ever so often when citizens call to r e p o r t
informed of a shortage of vehicles or staff.
This expert work by the police, who left Parika to take four dogs into custody from Leguan, raises questions about the operations of the GPF
These officers not only used a GPF boat and fuel to speed over to Leguan, but made the ‘arrest a day a f t e r t h e c r i m e “ t o c o n d u c t investigations”.
It would be interesting to know h o w t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n w a s conducted- was the blood of the sheep found on the dogs, how did the police know that these were the same dogs that attacked and killed the sheep?
Importantly, were these dogs fed and are they being impounded away from the elements?
Let’s give the police a round of applause for their swift action in this case and hope that the same degree of urgency is exercised in other matters.
MONDAY –JANUARY 27, 2025
Jagdeo ‘mess up’ Region 6
By any reckoning, Region 6 should have been Guyana’s most prosperous region. It has a rich history, has produced some of Guyana’s most learned individuals a n d i s e n d o w e d w i t h u n t o l d resources.
Yet, to survey its modern state of affairs is to witness a paradox a region of potential abundance yet riddled with despair, its vitality sapped by systemic neglect
How did Region 6, henceforth referred to as Berbice, reach this state of affairs? This is no accident of history, but a consequence of the misguided policies of the Bharrat Jagdeo presidency
If his legacy in Region 6 were to be judged by population decline alone, it would tell a damning tale.
s
Under Jagdeo, the population of Region 6 fell by more than 12%, a staggering figure that speaks to mass exodus rather than mass prosperity Cumulatively, under the PPP/C, the decline exceeds 20%
No other region in Guyana
growth between 1991 and 2012.It is a dubious distinction that is a direct
social dysfunction, and a persistent sense of abandonment.
TUESDAY –
JANUARY 28, 2025
EPA embarrassment
It took weeks after a series of gas bottle explosions, and a ‘shout out’ from Vice President Bharrat J
Protection Agency (EPA) to awake from its slumber
This key institution, tasked with ensuring the safety of Guyanese
e explosions had to be shaken out of
s s conference who instructed that they should investigate the matter
It is a shame that the EPA is now rushing to conduct investigations after several incidents and even the
death of two people. What an embarrassment!
WEDNESDAY –
JANUARY 29, 2025
Pres. Ali not a man of his word
There are a few things smaller than a man giving his word and then walking back on it, because doing so serves his interests.
When President Irfaan Ali was o n t h e c a m p a i g n t r a i l a s presidential candidate, he made a commitment to Guyanese that he has now disowned
T h e 2 0 1 6 E x x o n M o b i l o i l contract that he condemned in the strongest terms then, promising to review and change it; he now hangs onto for dear life.
A lot of heat has come on VP Bharrat Jagdeo on this matter, but Ali is no less guilty
When the pendulum swings so easily for a candidate that aspired to be a national leader and became one, then trust in whatever he says falls apart.
If something as important as the ExxonMobil contract could be used so slickly to gain favour first with Guyana’s electorate, then with the oil companies, then the credibility o f G u y a n a ’s
Robust audits of oil expenses, removing flaws from Exxon deal among initiatives to help PNCR fund campaign promises
T h e P e o p l e ’ s N a t i o n a l Congress Reform/ A Partnership for National Unity (PNC R/APNU) on Saturday defended its 2025 Budgetary proposals, following arguments by Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh that its measures were merely fanciful dreams.
In bringing the curtains down on the five-day Budget Debate in t h e N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y o n Thursday evening, the Finance Minister challenged Guyanese to calculate the measures promised by the Opposition, questioning the feasibility of such proposals.
He pointed out that these would cost $ 799B - almost one trillion d o
w schools, hospitals, police stations, water wells, or allocations for drugs or medical equipment for health institutions.
In responding to his comments, the PNCR recognized that the Minister specifically identified the following measures and provided h i s o w n e s t i m a t e d c o s t s : ( i ) $ 4 0 0 , 0 0 0
monthly to cost $34B; (ii) the $100,000 cash grant for 600,000 adults will cost $60B annually or $120B if done twice annually; (iii)
$25B for University of Guyana (UG) fees; $50,000 monthly to 14,000 students at UG and the t e c h n i c a l i n s
a n o t h e r $ 8 4 B F
imbursement of UG loans $1B; (iv) water subsidies will cost about $11B; (v) free electricity up to $10,000 per month will amount to $27.6B; (vi) to pay $100,000 per month in old age pensions would cost $91.2B; (vii) salary increase$ 2 8 3 5 B ; ( v i i i ) t o i n c r e a s e m i n i m u m w a g e t o $ 2 0 0 ,
0 monthly - another $43.2B will be required; (ix) $20B for direct cost of living measures; (x) $3B for small business bureau; (xi) $50B for a development bank; (xii) $ 1 0 0 B t o w a r d s r e n t - t o - o w n programme; (xiii) GPL allocation $200B to support grid updates; and (xiv) job seekers $40,000 monthly payment - another $28.8B.
T h e P N C R / A P N U i n welcoming the debate noted that this provides a golden opportunity for the Guyanese people to see the contrast between the PPP’s friends, families and favorites approach to d e v e l o p m e n t a n d t h e PNCR/APNU’s people-centered strategy
To this end, the party said, “We
wish here to focus exclusively on our social protection programs and on the measures to guarantee all households a livable income.”
This, it said, would initially cost just over $600B annually
T h e P N C R t h e r e f o r e q u e s t i o n e d , “ I s D r S i n g h suggesting we can’t or shouldn’t invest so much in the people of Guyana?”
According to the party, its initial rollout of programmes will see the tax free threshold increased to $ 4
3
B ;
e $100,000 cash grant for 600,000 adults at a cost of $60B annually or $120B if done twice annually;
s l i d i n g s c a l e s a l a r y i n c r e a s e (starting from 35% for minimum wage earners); $8.4B in student stipend for 14,000 tertiary-level
s t u d e n t s , a n d $ 1 B f o r l o a n reimbursement for UG students; $40B on electricity and water subsidies; $100,000 per month in old age pensions at a cost of $91.2B; increase in minimum wage to $200,000 monthly for another $43.2B; ) job seekers program to cost another $14B and a monthly childcare allowance for each child up to 16 years to cost an average $25B.
shatters, has little standing.
C
President Ali now, is presenting two sides of a coin.
Trusting Guyanese observe this when his postures and actions today, as Guyana’s leader, are weighed and matched against what he was so potent about before.
THURSDAY –JANUARY 30, 2025
The budget debates and the Thursday press cussference
The current budget debate has a s t r
obtains every Thursday without fail at Freedom House. It might be useful if the press conference billed for today, by Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, be held in the National Assembly
In fact, recently he was trying to make light of the work of the MPs and the quality of their discourse to excuse h
s prolonged
sence Given what he does every Thursday, we find it hard to discern any difference between the rum shop belligerence at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre and the crass cuss out on Robb Street.
To meet the cost associated with t h e s e m e a s u r e s , t h e P N C R e x p l a i n e d t h a t a s t h e n e x t government, it would ensure there is a reduction in the billions of d o l l a r s l o s t i n “ c o r r u p t a n d inflated” contract awards.
A d d i t i o n a l l y, i t h i g h l i g h t e d plans to tighten the management of p u b l i c f i n a n c
Monetary Fund (IMF) and other financial institutions which would result in an average of 20 to 40% of public expenditure being saved annually
Moreover, the party said it will c o n d u c t r o b u s t a u d i t s o f t h e expenditures of oil companies, with s u s t a i n e d e f f o r t s t o r e c o v e r o u t s t a n d i n g u n a u t h o r i z e d expenditures; will remove flaws and weaknesses in the 2016 oil c o n t r a c t t o p r e v e n t f i n a n c i a l leakages and loopholes and ensure prudent investments of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF). Furthermore, PNCR said it would pay out any windfall taxes that are obtained when oil prices rise above a predetermined level.
I n i t s o v e r 1 4 0 0 - w o r d statement, the party explained, “We cannot present a full case in a press
release, but let us emphasize a few things: 1) We are hellbent on eliminating poverty and providing a livable income by year two in government as core objectives of our people-centered strategy; 2) cost-of-living measures will be included within other measures; 3) we will apply budgetary fiscal rules to guide such expenditures; 4) unlike the PPP, we see these and other measures as direct investment i n p e o p l e a n d e c o n o m i c development, not as consumption or as Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo pu
budget’”.
The PNCR was keen to note that i t i s f u l l y c o g n i z a n t o f t h e jeopardies of runaway inflation and an overheated economy To this e
guidance.
Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton
Olympic Kremlin, t h e s t a r
Slingerz Stables, was named Horse of the Year
a
evening in Berbice. T
throughout the 2024 season made the recognition almost inevitable, as it completed
Thoroughbr
victories in the President’s C
Showdown of Champions. “We’re doing it all over again this year,” Slingerz S
stated.
horse seamlessly adapted t o t h e G u y a n e s e r a c i n g scene, establishing itself as t h e m o s t f o r m i d a b l e
competitor of the year Its unbeaten streak in
2024 not only solidified its
status as the best horse in
Guyana but also reaffirmed
S l i n g e r z S t a b l e s a s t h e
premier force in local horse racing.
With Olympic Kremlin
Sunday February 02, 2025
ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)
S o m e t h i n g i s c u r r e n t l y compelling you to be more of a world citizen than usual, Aries. You may find this
somewhat disturbing You feel as though the roots of your identity
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20)
Yo u r s u r r o u n d i n g s a r e currently changing, Taurus. Perhaps your circle of friends
h a s a l r e a d y u n d e rg o n e a major change. The fact is that you no longer have so many prejudices about the people you meet.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20)
Gemini, you're demystifying the concept of talent. You used to look enviously at other people and think, "I wish I had a natural ability like that."
CANCER (June 21–July 22)
Are you thinking of going into business for yourself, Cancer? Being self-employed doesn't automatically mean you will h a v e m o r e f r e e d o m O f course, you will be your own boss.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)
Within the next few days, you're likely to gain access to dimensions of perception you never suspected, Leo. Perhaps you will become aware of certain energy phenomena, peak experiences.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)
Often fiery temperaments like yours are drawn to fight for great causes despite the b e t t e r j u d g m e n t o f m o r e down-to-Earth people. As a r e s u l t , y o u h a v e g r e a t leadership potential that may emerge today
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)
Your optimism is likely to receive a little boost today, Libra. A memorable emotional encounter may be the source of some extra zeal. Or you may derive great satisfaction from being part of a group.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov 21)
Perhaps you should suspend your inhibitions for the day, Scorpio, and let your dreams guide you. For instance, you might imagine that the need to m a k e a n y c h o i c e s h a s vanished.
SAGIT (Nov 22–Dec. 21)
This is the type of day you enjoy The climate is positive, and the energy is flowing. It's as though you have a magic wand. You give it a wave andpresto - the day's tasks and c
evening.
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)
If the world collapsed today, you wouldn't bat an eyelash.
Yo
sailing along on cloud nine! The source of your bliss could be that new person in your life.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) You may have had some
lately, but today will restore your faith in love. All you need to do is act. Your amazing lucidity and realism keep you f r o m h o p
n g f o r t h e impossible.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)
Put on your traveling shoes, Pisces. Fear of the unknown may have prompted you to postpone certain trips. You claimed you were too busy, but no one really believed this.
gold standard in the horse
racing in Guyana “ W h e n w e g o t i n t o h o r s e r a c i n g , l i k e w e d o
i n e v e r y t h i n g e l s e a t S l i n g e r z , w e w a n t e d
l e a d i n g t h e c h a rg e , t h e stable continues to set the
From page 57 are the main ingredients for national development. Sport is also a tool for n a t i o n a l e c o n o m i c growth, and this is what we aim to achieve with t h e s e k i n d s o f investments.”
G S A P r e s i d e n t Fernandes expressed his gratitude, saying, “It is an absolute pleasure to be here today to thank the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the Sports Commission for believing in and investing in squash in such a significant way What an honour it is to have President Ali here to inaugurate this amazing facility.” He continued, “We have proven that talent exists in Guyana, a n d e n h a n c i n g s p o r t s infrastructure is vital in allowing athletes to reach their full potential This year marks 60 years of squash in Guyana, and over the decades, we have been fortunate to have dedicated advocates and players championing the sport.”
F e r n a n d e s f u r t h e r e m p h a s i z e d t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e investment, saying, “This s u b s t a n t i a l f i n a n c i a l commitment underscores t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s dedication to nurturing athletic talent, bringing communities together, and creating opportunities for athletes to shine on both national and international stages. These investments w i l l u n d o u b t e d l y s t r e n g t h e n o u
pride.”
Caribbean and National D
Ashley Khalil, in her vote of thanks, expressed her deep appreciation to the President and his team for their commitment to the sport.
“ I h o l d i m m e n s e gratitude for this facility and thank each of you, on behalf of the Guyana Squash Association and t h e w i d e r
fraternity Now, with no further ado, let’s get ready to play some squash and
heights!” Khalil declared enthusiastically
The unveiling of this world-class doubles court marks a significant leap forward for squash in Guyana, setting the stage for future development and international success.
Guyana Squash Association celebrates historic Doubles Cour
t opening -
The Guyana Squash
A s s o c i a t i o n ( G S A )
c e l e b r a t e d a h i s t o r i c milestone yesterday with the official opening of the
l o n g - a w a i t e d D o u b l e s
Court at the National
R a c q u e t C e n t r e o n Woolford Avenue. This
s t a t e - o f - t h e - a r t , $ 7 1 million squash facility is
t h e f i r s t - e v e r
g o v e r n m e n t - f u n d e d facility of its kind in the region.
T h e w e l l - a t t e n d e d opening ceremony was
s p e a r h e a d e d b y t h e
M i n i s t r y o f C u l t u r e , Youth and Sport (MCYS) and the National Sports Commission (NSC). The event attracted a host of
s q u a s h p l a y e r s , s p o r t s
e n t h u s i a s t s , a n d government officials, all
e a g e r t o w i t n e s s t h i s remarkable achievement. The project, a brainchild
o f M i n i s t e r o f S p o r t
Charles Ramson Jr and G S A P r e s i d e n t D a v i d F e r n a n d e s , o f f i c i a l l y came to fruition yesterday
m o r n i n g . A m o n g t h e
distinguished attendees were President Dr Irfaan Ali, GSA President David F e r n a n d e s , M C Y S
P e r m a n e n t S e c r e t a r y
Melissa Tucker, Director and Assistant Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle and F r a n k l i n Wi l s o n , a n d Caribbean and National
D o u b l e s c h a m p i o n Ashley Khalil.
S e v e r a l o t h e r prominent figures from the squash fraternity were also present. For the first time in
h i s t o r y, l o c a l s q u a s h
players now have the opportunity to train and compete on a state-of-theart doubles court in their h o m e c o u n t r y W i t h
s q u a s h r e c e n t l y b e i n g
e l e v a t e d t o O l y m p i c status, this facility will play an integral role in the development of athletes and the overall growth of the sport in Guyana.
M i n i s t e r R a m s o n ’s
a p p o i n t e d N S C committee, as promised in 2020, has successfully d e l i v e r e d t h i s c r u c i a l investment in Guyana’s
s p o r t s i n f r a s t r u c t u r e .
D u r i n g h i s a d d r e s s , President Ali emphasized the importance of national pride and unity, stating, “These two components (Continued on page 52)
UG Honours outstanding athletes...
From page 56
a t h l e t e s i n v a r i o u s
c a t e g o r i e s ; S p r i n t K i n g :
N o e l e x H o l d e r , S p r i n t
Q u e e n : S a v a n n a h A d a m s , M i d d l e / L o n g D i s t a n c e King: Hicks Mittelholzer, M i d d l e / L o n g D i s t a n c e
Q u e e n : A q u i b a R e y n o l d s , T h r o w s K i n g : J o s h u a
Ta p p i n , T h r o w s Q u e e n :
Eletha Stewart, Jumps King:
M o s e s B e s t a n d J u m p s Queen: Leoni Adams
T h e e v e n i n g ’ s m o s t p r e s t i g i o u s i n d i v i d u a l accolades were awarded to Joshua Tappin and Noelex
Holder, who were jointly
n a m e d C h a m p i o n M a l e
A t h l e t e , w h i l e S a v a n n a h
A d a m s r e c e i v e d t h e
Champion Female Athlete award. Celebrating Athletic and Academic Excellence
President Ali witnessed commissioning of first-of-its-kind facility
s , ” h e stated. He also noted UG’s g r o w i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l presence, with the Trojans
b a s k e t b a l l t e a m s e c u r i n g s e c o n d p l a c e i n a h i g h l y competitive tournament in Trinidad and dominating the l o c a l t e r t i a r y l e
A d d i t i o
A s s i s t a n t S p o r t s O r g a n i s e r , O s a f a D o s Santos, who presented the S p o r t s U n i t ’ s r e p o r t , highlighted the University of G u y a n a ’ s r e m a r k a b l e sporting achievements for t h e 2 0 2 3 - 2 0 2 4 a c a d e m i c y e a r “ O u r S c r a b b l e Championship was a major success, promoting critical thinking and mental agility among students, while our T r a c k a n d F i e l d Championship was one of t h e l a r g e s t o f t h e y e a r , s h o w c a s i n g o u t s t a n d i n g athletic performances across m u l t i p l e d i s c
a s a f o u n d a t i o n f o r t h e university’s athletic future.
T
e A
Awards and Dinner served as a reminder of the integral
experience.
UG remains committed
with platforms to excel both on and off the field.
The success of the event
As the university looks
c o m m e n d e d t h e p r o g r e s s made on UG’s draft sports p o l i c y, w h i c h i n v o l v e d e x t e n s i v e s t a k e h o l d e r consultations and will serve
Minister of Sports Charles Ramson Jr., President Irfaan Ali among those witnessing the official opening of the region’s first-ever Gov’t Funded Doubles Court.
Guyana Police Force Senior Of ficers def ea t visiting Canadian New Wester n Cricket Club in friendly cricket ma tch
The Guyana Police
F o r c e S e n i o r
Officers cricket team, defeated the visiting Canada-based New Western Cricket Club when the two teams met in a goodwill
cric
d on Friday at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary New West Cricket Club, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, managed to put up a score of 101 all out.
To p
visitors was captain Prakash Garpat with 32. Bowling for the GPF sen
, A
Superintendent Trevor Benn
picked up 4 wickets while A
Stephen Harris bagged 2. In reply the GPF Senior Officers hurried to 103-1 in 1
Commissioner Ravindradat Budhram and Vice-Captain,
visiting bowlers.
Troy Benn led the way with a well-played unbeaten 47 which included six 4s and two 6s. Budhram blasted 4 sixes in his knock of 33 before he was dismissed.
A t t h e p r e s e n t a t i o n ceremony the Benn brothers took home all of the awards that were up for grabs.
T r e v o r B e n n w a s adjudged as the Man of the match; he also received the award for the best bowler on show
Troy Benn received the
Two young men, Godfrey Perry a n d A l l a n Walker, got together in April,1975 and after a short discussion came up with the idea of forming a football club for the benefit of the youths of West Ruimveldt and West La Penitence.
Their dream had not o n l y m a t e r i a l i z e d i n t o r e a l i t y b u t t h e c l u b Western United called then formed in April 1975 has blossomed into a shining light in the area.
Coached exclusively by Godfrey Perry, Western United despite meeting with mixed fortunes in their inaugural year stuck to their guns and through dedication and will to improve rose to fame in the 1977 season by winning the second division league. Their earning promotion to the Demico League First Division in 1978.
award for being the best batsman on show Commissioner of Police, Mr Clifton Hicken along
The club started with s e v e r a l u n d e r s i x t e e n players who had shown t r e m e n d o u s i
Action in the game between the two teams.
l e a r
hanging around St. Pius
Ground each afternoon when bigger boys were practicing.
They were not given an opportunity to have actual p a r t i c i p a
would have their own fun when the ball went out of play
Perry and Walker who came to realize their plight went to their rescue at an opportun
and harnessed their energies.
T h e y o u t h s t h e n organized were abled to have practice sessions on St. Pius Ground and later when their numbers rose moved to D’Urban Park before eventually ending u p a t We s t R u i m v e l d t Playing Field.
After failing to win a match in the 1975 season when they participated in t h e u n d e r s i x t e e n t o u r n a m e n t s We s t e r
with other Senior Officers of the GPF were in attendance
a t t h e g a m e ( S a m u e l Whyte)
United surprised many of their senior rivals the next year 1976. W h e n a l t h o u g
w i n n i n g a n y o f t h e competitions outright took to the runners up position in several.
T h e y h a d s
remarkable improvement in every match they played in the 1977 season and first division teams were urged to take warning.
The oldest member in the senior team was their captain Leonard “Dentist” Williams who was twenty at that time.
The others that were
nineteen years along with
Gordon fifteen years old the baby of the team. At fifteen years old R
against the touring Russian Textile Union Team in November 1978 at the GFC Ground. (Charwayne Walker)
UG Honours outstanding athletes at Annual Spor ts Awards and Dinner
T h e U n i v e r s i t y o f
Guyana hosted its highly anticipated Annual Sports
Aw a r d s a n d D i n n e r o n
Thursday, January 30, at the Education Lecture Theatre, celebrating the outstanding achievements of its studentathletes for the 2023/2024 academic year The event
r
track and field.
The awards ceremony
u n d e r s c o r e d U G ’ s commitment to promoting athletic excellence alongside
University reinforces its role i n f o s t e r i n
r t s d e v e l o p m e n t a n d encouraging young talents to balance their studies with their passion for sports.
Vice-Chancellor of the
U n i v e r s i t y o f G u y a n a , Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, congratulated all the athletes on their dedication
a n d a c h i e v e m e n t s
E n c o u r a g i n g t h e m t o
c o n t i n u e s t r i v i n g f o r
e x c e l l e n c e , s h e a l s o
h i g h l i g h t e d k e y
a d v a n c e m e n t s i n U G ’s
s p o r t s i n f r a s t r u c t u r e , including the development
o f t h e M u l t i p u r p o s e
A u d i t o r i u m t h r o u g h t h e generous support Gafoor ’s f a m i l y a n d o n g o i n g
i m p r o v e m e n t s t o t h e
u n i v e r s i t y ’s f o o t b a l l a n d cricket fields due to various c o l l a b o r a t i v e i n i t i a t i v e s Additionally, she announced
East
the introduction of a major sports programme under the Faculty of Education and H u m a n i t i e s , f o c u s i n g o n coaching and management, as well as a sports medicine programme in the College of M e d i c a l S c i e n c e s “ T h i s i n i t i a t i v e w i l l p r o v i d e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r practitioners to gain the
a c a d e m i c q u a l i f i c a t i o n s
n e e d e d t o t e a c h a n d contribute to the growth of sports at UG,” she noted.
R e g i s t r a r o f t h e University of Guyana, Dr N i g e l G r a v e s a n d e , highlighted the significant g r o w t h i n s t u d e n t participation in sports over t h e p a s t a c a d e m i c y e a r, noting both qualitative and quantitative improvements i n t h e v a r i o u s s p o r t s disciplines. “We have seen
s t u d e n t i n v o l v e m e n t i n sports rise from just 60
a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a n t s p o s tCOVID to over 800 by the e n d o f t h e 2 0 2 3 - 2 0 2 4
a c a d e m i c y e a r , w i t h disciplines expanding from eight to twelve,” he said. He a l s o u n d e r s c o r e d t h e university’s introduction of sports interns, who received hands-on training and made meaningful contributions to s p o r t s d e v e l o p m e n t . D r. Gravesande emphasised the direct correlation between s p o r t s p a r t i c i p a t i o n a n d
a c a d e m i c p e r f o r m a n c e , encouraging even greater involvement as UG aims to surpass 1,000 active studentathletes this year Guest Speaker and VicePresident of the Guyana
- VC Notes Major Advancements in Sports Infrastructure, Introduction of Sports Programmes
Annual Sports Awards
O l y m p i c A s s o c i a t i o n (GOA), Cristy Campbell, encouraged student-athletes to strike a balance between a c a d e m i c s a n d s p o r t s , emphasising the benefits of discipline, teamwork, and resilience. She said: “The onus is upon you to create the balance that allows you to succeed in academia and sport. Participation in sports not only builds discipline, teamwork, and resilience but a l s o e n h a n c e s c o g n i t i v e f u n c t i o n a n d m e n t a l
a l e r t n e s s , w h i c h c a n b e transferred from the sports field to the classroom. With the right structure, synergies,
and resources, Guyana is on c o u r s e t o a c h i e v i n g
r e m a r k a b l e a t h l e t i c a n d academic success.”
A h i g h l i g h t o f t h e evening was the recognition of the UG Trojans Basketball
Te a m , w h o s e c u r e d t h e runner-up position in the Youth Basketball Guyana
T e r t i a r y K n o c k o u t
T o u r n a m e n t f o r t h e 2023/2024 season. The team
m e m b e r s r e c o g n i s e d f o r
t h e i r e f f o r t s i n c l u d e d Jushawn Bayley, Timothy
E r s k i n e , M a l a c h i Grimmond, Calix Bernard, Oroyo Trotman, Michael Nwairo, Andrew Thomas,
Daryl Manawar, and Jaheim Vandenburg.
I n d i v i d u a l e x c e l l e n c e
was also celebrated, with J u s h a w n B a y l e y b e i n g named Most Valuable Player of the Year, while Leeandre Abrams received the Most Improved Player of the Year
a w a r d A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e
K.A. Yuman Yassin Sports Awards were presented to K e o n S c h w i e r s a n d
Shaquawn Gill for their contributions to sports at UG.
S c r a b b l e C h a m p i o n s Crowned I n t h e u n i v e r s i t y ’ s S c r a b b l e T o u r n a m e n t , C a s s i d y
B u r
t h S a m a r a H u t s o n a s t h e runner-up. On the men’s side, Joel Persaud emerged as Scrabble King, while Kwasi Benjamin finished as t h e r u n n e
p S p e c i a l recognition was given to Bhomini Babulall, President of the Scrabble Club, for her outstanding contribution to the development of scrabble at UG.
Track and Field Stars
crowning of top-performing
(Continued on page 57)
ool enthusiasts are
i n f o
n e x h i l a
i n g showdown as the East Bank Pool Club is set to host the 2025 edition of its premier
Pool championship.
T h e m u c h - a n t i c i p a t e d event is scheduled to take p l a c e t
t o p h o n o u r s T h e c
mpion of this year ’s tournament will walk away with an impressive $80,000 cash prize along with the coveted first-place trophy Meanwhile, the runner-up will pocket $40,000, and the t h i r d - p l a c e f i n i s h e r w i l l receive a $20,000 reward a l o n g w i t h r e s p e c t i v e trophies
In addition to the main event, organisers have lined up exciting opportunities for
attendees to get in on the action. Fans arriving early will have the chance to win cash prizes, making this an a l l - i n c
line once again.
The 2024 winner has a
message to his competitors,
stating, “Anyone can win this Sunday, but the only thing standing between you and the championship is me.” T
Third from right, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, UG’s Vice-Chancellor, and Fifth from right, Vice-President of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), Cristy Campbell surrounded by members of the senior management team and athletes who achieved major wins at the
and Dinner, held at the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT) at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus.
Defending champion, Kamil Husain
Guyana Squash Association
- President Ali witnessed commissioning of first-of-its-kind facility
President Irfaan Ali (fifth right) and President of the GSA David Fernandes exhibit newest squash shirt in the presences of Minister Ramson, PS Melissa Tucker and Assistant DoS Melissa Dow-Richardson as well as few squash stars at yesterday’s opening.
Olympic Kremlin crossing the finish line to win the 2024 President Cup.
