marijuana that was seized by police
Watchman, Dwayne Campbell
Taxi driver, Earl Harper
Patterson, Edghill clash over viabilit
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
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
obstructing the project for political reasons. He cited a report by Norconsult, which was c
APNU+AFC administration
viability “From a financial and economic point of view, development of Amaila Falls s
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
Opposition Member of Parliament, David Patterson
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 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
Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill
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
Continued on page 12
An artist’s impression of the Amaila Falls Project
Kaieteur News
Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.
Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456
Editor: NIGEL WILLIAMS
Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210
EDITORIAL
Ministers and the budget debates
The current debate of the budget in the National Assembly is again very disappointing both from the standpoint of the overall contributions by most of Members of Parliament (MPs) and the lack of quality by some ministers of government.
One would have thought, that the current crop of ministers would use the time allotted to them to outline the vision of their ministries and explain to the Guyanese people what projects the hundreds of billions would be spent on. Instead, Guyanese who care to tune in have been subjected to a broken record of who rigged elections, interspersed with some poor grammar and pronunciation of words and the general lack of decorum.
We believe that the budget process-including the debates goes to the heart of democratic practice and good governance in a country and consequently, citizens ought to be aware of what is involved so that they may make informed interventions to their representatives. A crucial part of this is for the ministers to explain what is in it for them, instead, what we have been witnessing is rum-shop belligerencies. Their contributions are like an extended episode of the Bharrat Jagdeo’s tiresome Thursday Press Conferences, which focus on cussing out opponents and who did what and who did not do what. We state here again this is not helpful in finding solutions to the crisis in education, healthcare, security and the mismanagement of the oil sector. With such poor quality, we are surprised that the budget debates or what passed for those, would take up so much time- one week to be exact. And we must still brace ourselves for another week of scrutiny of the estimates. Guyanese must be reminded of the enormous sums being spent to feed the MPs and the staff of the National Assembly as well as provide accommodation for those living out of town. Such low quality of debates should not last so long. What is taking place at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre is barbarism. As far as we are concerned, given the ugliness of last year ’s debates not even a pretence at corrective efforts for higher standards is being attempted by our lawmakers, many of whom now stand as confirmed lawbreakers.
Newspapers have generally struggled to make sense of what is being delivered by our MPs. Even the government-controlled DPI that ought to have had a field day with propaganda materials has been struggling. These are some of the headlines the DPI came up with after Tuesday’s debates: ‘Budget 2025 empowers farmers, workers and communities – MP C o o n j a h ’ ; B u d g e t 2 0 2 5 f o c u s e d o n e q u i t a b l e development, improving livelihoods – MP Smith’ ‘Region Three is the fastest growing region in Guyana’ – Bharrat
‘Budget 2025 is forward-thinking, provides a strategic direction for Guyana – Min Mustapha’; ‘Budget 2025 gives every family with two children, $1.8M of tax free income annually – Finance Minister’; ‘Min. Manickchand rebukes opposition for past failures in education sector’; ‘No lip service, we are a working gov’t’ – Min Sukhai defends gov’t track record on Amerindian development; ‘Opposition’s critique of Budget 2025 misguided, unsubstantiated – Min. Ramson’
T h e s e h e a d l i n e s r e p r e s e n t s t o r i e s f r o m t h e contributions of government MPs- some of them ministers. We discern no substance and no attempt to analyse how the budget will impact the lives of citizens. One may also ask what about the opposition MPs, they too have not been stellar They cannot be spared here, though there is more than enough madness and blame to coat each and every member of the House several fold. The opposition cannot forget (we do not allow it to) that some 217,000 Guyanese citizens voted for it. Its members must remember that each
The legality of the use of the funds in the NRF needs to be addressed
DEAR EDITOR,
According to the U.S. D e p a r t m e n t o
Guyana’s Natural Resource Fund (NRF) is projected to exceed $3 Billion USD at the end of 2024.
Previously reported in Guyana, was approximately $2.4 Billion USD in earnings from the oil and gas sector during 2024. The current 2 0 2 5 b u d g
p l a n s t o withdraw an amount from the NRF that is of similar magnitude.
Per the NRF Act’s First Schedule, the maximum that c a n b e w i t h d r a w n i s significantly less than what i
An exception may be made in the event of major natural d
needed. Based on the First Schedule of the NRF Act, the maximum contribution that may be made from the oil and gas sector to this year ’s budget is $1.29 Billion USD. In lieu of an emergency financing need and a major natural disaster, the NRF would have had to earn approximately an additional $40 Billion USD in the “ i m m e d i a t e l y p r e c e d i n g fiscal year” to allow for the d e s i r e d b u d g e t a r y withdrawal.
The current discussion in the press between the Senior M i n i s t e r O f f i c e o f t h e President with responsibility f o r F i n a n c e a n d a n I n v e s t m e n t C o m m i t t e e Member of the NRF does create substantial concern. It is important that the Auditor
G e n e r a l r e v i e w t h e management of the NRF to determine if the NRF Act has been violated and any wrong d o i n g h a s o c c
n support of the budgets since th
the fund. T h e n u m b e r s a r e indicative of a serious issue t h a t t h e c u r r e n t administration must clearly address.
There has been no major natural disaster and no need for emergency financing, which is also linked to
“ameliorating major natural d
magnitude that justifies the a g g r e s s i v
e l o f withdrawal of funds from the Nation’s Fund.
If wrongdoing is found to h
surpassing of the withdrawal ceiling as established in the NRF Act, then the full course of the law should also be applied in this potentially very serious matter The Natural Resource Fund was established for the people of Guyana and the “sustainable d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e country”.
Depletion of the fund that breaches the NRF Act in a political environment where b i p a r t i s a n s h i p e x i s t s alongside the perception of widespread corruption will
government scandal.
The Auditor General’s Office and th
ary must investigate! With concern, Mr. Jamil Changlee
PNC/AFC’s campaign rhetoric is not a vision for Guyana’s future
DEAR EDITOR,
As we approach this y e a r
allow me space to analyse the PNC/AFC’s campaign strategy thus far It revolves around three distinct but equally desperate themes.
1) Vilify GECOM
2 ) W e a p o n i s e accusations of racism
3 ) P e d d l e e m p t y promises
I begin with the first theme – the vilification of GECOM, the very institution they once lauded when it served their purposes. It is now a convenient scapegoat for their inevitable failures.
T a k e t h
c a l l f o r biometrics, a demand they frame as reform but is, in reality, nothing more than political theatre. This push f
u m a f t e r t h e i r devastating loss in 2020, when, in an incredible act of irony, they accused the PPP
of electoral fraud Their strategy is transparent: when
you can’t win the game, you attack the rules. In another act of pure theatre, the AFC’s Nigel Hughes solemnly announced p l a n s t o “ e n g a g e t h e international community” over what they perceive as G E C O M ’ s s u p p o s e d failings But one has to wonder: which members of the international community are they hoping to convince?
Is it the Americans who imposed visa restrictions and sanctions on APNU/AFC officials for their attempted theft of the 2020 elections and who they continue to accuse of “installing” an “ i l l e g i t i m a t e ” P P P / C government? Perhaps the British, who unequivocally stated, “Any government sworn in on the basis of noncredible results will face s t r o n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o n d e m n a t i o n a n d consequences.” Or maybe the Canadians, who made it clear that they will continue to “...demand a swift and
has, in letter and spirit, a constitutional, political, and personal obligation to step forward and deliver on every occasion; the ingredients of good governance mandate that it does so, which it is yet to do. The opposition has a role, the leading one, to apply unrelenting pressure to bring exposure to the government of the day, through the shortcomings and mysteries of the national budget. They have however, been consistent during the debates in trying to hold the government accountable for the promises it made to the country when they were campaigning back in 2020. And while we also agree that the opposition must provide solutions to problems they highlight and their own vision as to how to move the country forward, their role as was articulated by former minister, Raphael Trotman years ago to oppose, expose and depose cannot be overlooked.
transparent conclusion to the election process and hold a c c o u n t a b l e t h o s e w h o prevent it.” Or, given their penchant for theatrics, it might very well be the Russians or the Venezuelans w h o s e d e m o c r a t i c c r e d e n t i a l s m o r e c l o s e l y r e f l e c t t h e A P N U / A F C ethos. When they engage with the international community, will they finally reveal their long-lost SOPs? Will they provide an update on their “internal investigation” into their party’s involvement in what Bruce Golding, head of the OAS Mission, aptly d e s c r i b e d a s “ t h e m o s t transparent effort to alter the results of an election”?
The audacity to now pretend to court these very n a t i o n s w h o p u b l i c l y condemned their attempts to d e r a i l d e m o c r a c y i n 2020—is almost admirable i n i t s d e l u s i o n T h e APNU/AFC’s second ploy is to label any detractors as “racist,” a strategy every bit a s d a n g e r o u s a s i t i s disingenuous. If everything is racist, then nothing is.
They reserve their most vicious, degrading insults for A f r o - G u y a n e s e w h o disagree with them, branding them with demeaning slurs like “house slaves,” “house negros,” “Uncle Toms, ” “soup drinkers,” and “traitors,” or a c c u s i n g t h e m o f b e i n g bought Readers will no d o u b t r e m e m b e r t h e d i s g r a c e f u l s c e n e s i n
Parliament when PNC MP M a u r e e n P h i l a d e l p h i a t o w e r e d o v e r E o n M
s o n , s p e w
v e n o m o u s a b u s e a n d degrading him with the slur “house negro”—a moment that perfectly encapsulates t h e O p p o s i t i o n ’s t o x i c hypocrisy Shaquawn Gill r e c e n t l y c a p t u r e d t h i s hypocrisy perfectly in his letter to the Guyana Times: “It shows the Opposition’s i n h e r e n t d i s d a i n f o r Guyanese who exercise their liberty to freely associate and comment on the political events happening around them. It’s almost as if the moment you disagree with the Opposition, rather than commencing a decent and informed debate, you are forced into an abyss of namecalling, with the label of a slave being thrown around loosely by the very people who many times claim to be upholding the rights and dignity of Afro-Guyanese.” Their third ploy is to peddle empty promises and hare-brained policies utterly devoid of substance. If we were to take their ludicrous p r o m i s e s a t f a c e v a l u e d e s p i t e t h e i r abysmal track record—we w o u l d h a v e t o b e l i e v e they’ve somehow mastered f i n a n c i a l a l c h e m y : simultaneously saving all the oil revenues while recklessly spending them all on absurd schemes. These include rent s u b s i d i e s ( i n s t e a d o f promoting sustainable (Continued on page 09)
This PPP government is both careless and uncaring
DEAR EDITOR, I write with reference to a Press Statement, emanating f r o m t h e M i n i s t r y o f F i n a n c e , t i t l e d “ O n t h e Budgetary Presentation of Climate and Oil Revenues. OBFUSCATION
The minister stated that
o support his, and the Vice President’s position, of not
r m a
g o v e r n m e n t revenues to finance specific projects. He also cites the Constitution of Guyana, the
n t a n d Accountability Act, and the NRF Act to
ustify the deposit of NRF funds into the Consolidated Fund.
I am perplexed as to why all of this was said. These facts, laid out in great detail by the Minister, have no bearing on the key issue. The main issue is that Section 16 of the NRF Act specifies that NRF funds must only be
used to finance national development projects and essential projects to mitigate the effects of a national disaster It would be obvious to anyone that compliance with this Section demands some reporting on how these specific funds are spent T h e r e w a s n e v e r a n y argument about the general practice of not earmarking
r e v e n u e s t o p r o j e c t s o r whether the NRF funds are to be deposited into the Consolidated Fund. In the Press Statement, we find the Minister prosing away for eight paragraphs on issues irrelevant to the debate. At no point, does he even mention Section 16 of the NRF Act which is the focus of the public criticism and concern.
DEPLETION OF NRF RESOURCES
Seemingly incensed by my comments on the rate of
Do something – anything except nothing
DEAR EDITOR
depletion to the point that almost all of our earnings from oil are being withdrawn
a n n u a l l y N o r i g o r o u s
a rg u m e n t
i r e d t o support my criticism. Any housekeeper will advise you to save for a rainy day The l i t e r a t u r e o n s o v e r e i g n wealth funds recommends
s a v i n g f o
intergenerational transfers.
T
B h a g
S o v e r e i g n We a l t h F u n d nearly two decades after they started producing oil, but context is critical. Norway
started p
oducing
n 1971, this was the era of “King Oil”. Today, there are significant threats to both the use and pricing of fossil fuels. One problem for the Minister, and his “rigorous basis” criticism, is that his o w n h e r o , V P J a g d e o , r e c e n t l y s t a t e d t h a t o i l money is “not guaranteed” next year If ever there was a time to listen to Terrence
d e p l e t i o n , M r S i n g h reminds us that this rate has b e e n a p p r o v e d b y Parliament and suggests that I have no “rigorous basis” for my views. I am on public record, during a presentation at the Turkeyen Tain Talks, in October 2017, as calling for the NRF to be embedded into the Constitution of G u y a n a M y r e a s o n f o r doing so was to prevent the C o a l i t i o n a n d f u t u r e governments from tinkering with the withdrawal rates, and other issues regarding t h e i n v e s t m e n t s a n d administration of the fund. My warning was prophetic, as the PPP government has made amendments twice in three years! The second a m e n d m e n t d r a m a t i
C a m p b e l l , a n d t h e housekeepers, that time is now!
RECKLESSNESS
I recall well that a huge error, a bloop, in the National Accounts of Guyana was reported in the 90s in the Financial Times of United Kingdom. This humiliating event took place whilst Mr Singh was a very senior official in the Office of the A u d i t o r G e n e r a l I r e m e m b e r w e l l t h a t
minister and his hero, VP Jagdeo, ate “humble pie” and were forced to table legislation in 2008 to correct illegal concessions. These
s Atlantic Investment Inc, a company owned by a close friend of Mr Jagdeo!
A review of judicial d e c i s i o n s f r o m 2 0 1 5 , unearthed a ruling from the court that Mr Singh acted i
G$4.5B from the Treasury The sadness I felt in 2018 s e e i n g M r S i n g h i n handcuffs (his dad and I were very close friends in the late 80s and the 90s), before the court on the Pradoville issue, remains with me as if it took place yesterday Every
Guyanese, over six years old, saw a continuation of Singh’s recklessness last week. The Budget Speech provided for a lowering of the personal tax rate from 28% to 25%. The next day, Singh’s ministry advised of a new measure lowering the higher rate from 40% to 35%. Some argue that the o m i s s i o n o f t h i s n e w measure from the Budget Speech was a careless one. Others suggest that it was not a careless mistake, but yet a n o t h e r e x a m p l e o f superficial policy making, policy making bereft of “rigorous” analysis How could a government that claims to be concerned about the cost of living, that claims to be concerned about the u n d e r p r i v i l e g e d a n d t h e vulnerable, give a bigger tax c u t t o t h e r i c h w h e n compared to that given to the poor?
I wish to submit that this PPP government is both careless and uncaring. This is why we have the rapid depletion of NRF funds and the massive contracts given to friends and family Upon a careful review of his entire professional career, I came (Continued on page 05)
The time has come for the people of Guyana to take the fight to GECOM The Opposition parties must make that call There should be no elections without biometrics and a clean voters list The PPP must no longer be allowed to influence the Chairman of the G u y a n a E l e c t i o n s Commission There is no institution or leader in Guyana that has more power than the citizens as a collective.
The Guyanese people do not deserve the uncertainty of elections outcome because GECOM is compromised.
Democracy demands one man/woman, one vote! It is imperative that the organisation responsible for ensuring free and fair elections earns the confidence of the electorate. Much is at stake and no side of the political divide must feel cheated or has the right to m a n i p u l a t e t h e e l e c t o r a l process The Guyanese people deserve more; they deserve a society reflective of good values and a life of dignity, peace, prosperity and justice
The right to peaceful p r o t e s t m u s t n o t b e threatened or taken away from the Guyanese people. We must begin to mobilise a n d t a k e t h a t p e a c e f u l resistance outside GECOM and do not let up until that institution understands that it
will not be business as usual. There are wealthy people in Guyana that want to see a just Guyana We must reach out to them Water tanks, movable toilets, tents, mattresses, huge pots, stoves and barbecue grills Groceries, placards and banners and the hiring of a popular sound system; the protest and camp out must go into weeks and months The surroundings o f G E C O M must become the habitat of the people and their protest. We must disrupt without v i o l e n c e a n d k e e p o u r phones and cameras always charged and connected.
The world must look at oil rich Guyana and intervene.
Democracy must not be played with by the PPP regime and the Guyana Elections Commission. Let the world watch as the PPP unleashes the police on thousands of Guyana that assemble lawfully Let us waste no time in the fight for free and fair elections The call is now being made to the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, Leader of the AFC, Nigel Hughes, WPA’s Dr David Hinds, opposition MP’s and all the leaders of the smaller parties to mobilise and begin the peace agitation outside GECOM.
Sincerely
Norman Browne S o c i a l a n d P o l i t i c a l Activist
Guyana’s currency stands as a total shame
DEAR EDITOR
I am thankful that we are blessed by the creator Lord God of the worlds and further we are blessed by the One Guyana Government led by H.E. Dr Mohammed Irfaan Ali. At this time, with all the measures that the President and Government have put in place to reduce the cost of living, providing grants and other support to the citizens of this country are greatly appreciated. I feel tremendous joy being a Guyanese.
It must be also noted that Guyana is considered the w o r l d ’s f a s t e s t g r o w i n g economy per capita, as it relates to our oil and gas r e s o u r c e s , o t h e r n a t u r a l resources etc.
As for our Agricultural r e s o u r c e s , w e m u s t n o t forget that these bring in lots of foreign exchange and have a great impact on the economy, coupled with our food reliability However, I do have a few areas of concern.
The Guyana currency at $209 Bank exchange rate, then at $225 - $240 at times at cambio rates is most d e p r e s s i n g , p a i n f u l , a n n o y i n g a n d s h a m e f u l Imagine the Haitian Gourd is $130 - $1 USD.
Haiti is considered as the most depressing economy in t h e w o r l d c o m p a r e d t o
Guyana’s fastest growing economy with a population of just about 800,000 people. The Trinidadian dollar is $7 – $1 USD. The Bahamas dollar is $1 - $1 USD. Belize and Barbados is $2 – $1 USD. Grenada, Dominica, S t Vi n c
n t , S t L u c i a , Antigua and St. Kitts $2.70 –$1 USD.
O n e o f t h e b i g g e s t s h a m e s a l s o i s t h
know that we have more US d o l l a r s a v a i l a b l e t h a n Trinidad.
Hence, Trinidadians are responsible in many ways f o r d e p l e t i n g m o s t o f Guyana US dollar resources and causing the rate for the U S D t o i n c r e a s e tremendously
I wish to appeal to the Government of Guyana to put measures in place to ensure our money could carry the amount of value it should have.
h e i r f a m i l i e s i n C u b a a n d
t o s u r v i v e i n G u y a n a T h i s b e w i l d e r s t h e
h u m a n i m a g i n a t i o n i n m y o p i n i o n S u r i n a m e i s $ 3 5 - $ 1 U S D , D o m i n i c a n R e p u b l i c i s $ 6 1 P e s o s –$ 1 U S D , J a m a i c a i s $ 1 5 7$ 1 U S D a n d a s f o r
G u y a n a , I m e n t i o n e d
a b o v e w h i c h i s a t o t a l e m b a r r a s s m e n t t o o u r country as far as I am concerned.
I t i s a l s o k n o w n t h a t
w e h a v e a m a j o r b u g b e a r i n G u y a n a w h e r e f o r e i g n
b u s i n e s s e s o p e r a t i n g i n
G u y a n a a n d m a n y c a s e s p e o p l e f r o m T r i n i d a d
w o u l d b r i n g t h e i r m o n e y
h e r e e x c h a n g i n g a n d
c o n v e r t i n g i t t o U S
d o l l a r s At times they seem to
The Bahamas where $1 Bahamian dollar = $1 USD has no kind of economy compared to ours. Their main resource is the sand, sun and wind. Belize and Barbados are so minuscule, if we throw them in our Essequibo River they would disappear many times over T h e s a m e g o e s f o r Trinidad and Tobago. So what is our problem to have a respectable rate for the Guyanese dollar and what can we put in place to ensure that people cannot come from Trinidad or anywhere else and easily drain our c o u n t r y t h r o u g h t h e cambios.
I wish to remind the Government of Guyana of a disgraceful situation I had written about in the media, which got traction from The President, the Minister of
External Affairs and the Consulate of Türkiye in Guyana all seemed to have listened and read well my c o n c e r n A G u y a n e s e passport, as strong as it is (Power rank- 48 and Visa free -49), being accepted in t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m , Sin
countries.
Now if one decides to stop for some reason in Türkiye and wants to enter in that country to do a short tour or things of that sort, A GUYANESE CAN’T!
Türkiye has a system where certain countries are allowed to pay a fee fewer than 100 dollars to purchase a visa to enter the country However, the shameful thing is the list of countries that are allowed includes Haiti.
Yes, I repeat HAITI!!! It a l s o i n c l u d e s B a r b a d o s , Grenada and St Vincent but the Guyanese passport is frowned upon.
For such things, I think, even though highlighted, our Government has not done its part internationally to bring respect to Guyana and the Guyanese passport. I appeal t o H E D r M o h a m m e d I r f a a n A l i a n d h i s Government to look at these two above areas that need serious attention.
Yours Truly, Hajji Dr. Roshan Khan.
From page 05 to the conclusion that the Honourable Minister, with a penchant for recklessness, should be the last person to attempt to “school” me on fiscal implications of the Laws of Guyana.
THE POLITICS OF TERRENCE CAMPBELL
I was taken aback that my politics would be, in part, t h e s u b j e c t o f a P r e s s Statement from the Ministry of Finance. Mr Singh has developed a professional habit of turning technical issues into political matters. The 2025 Budget Speech is a good example of this.
I will forgive Mr Singh for his lack of knowledge concerning my position on the issue of what is a half of sixty- five, the 2020 election and the embedding of the NRF into the Constitution. Mr Singh was, supposedly, enjoying a life of luxury in the Maldives Islands, Dubai and the USA during this period. Most of my public utterances are made via Facebook so please permit me to share the following.
On June 18th, 2019, I stated that the default computation for a majority would be “a half rounded up to the next whole number”. On March 16th, 2020, I cautioned, those who would listen, that we have all “been greatly diminished by our conduct during the elections and even in the month’s prior So diminished that our Caricom brothers and sisters” were forced to intervene. On April 0 8 , 2 0 2 0 , I s u p p o r t e d Secretary Pompeo’s call for a nationwide recount. The election, and s ub s equent recount period, coincided with my doctoral thesis submissio
c o r r e c t i o n C
e q u e n t l y, m y c o m m e n t s o n t h e elections, and its aftermath, were limited and I seek forgiveness from Mr Singh if he expected more.
On August 2nd, 2020, I received a call from a young man around 6:30 AM. The young man indicated that he
wanted to call two hours earlier but did not want to disturb my sleep. That young man would be sworn in later that day as the 10th President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. I doubt that young man had any issue w i t h m y c o n d u c t o r utterances during the 2020 election fiasco.
Minister Singh, and the PPP, are mortally afraid of my entry into politics. I can’t be painted with corruption so they have now tried racism and support for electoral malpractice Both attacks w e r e d e s t i n e d t o f a i l miserably
CONCLUSION
T h e P r e s s S t a t e m e n t issued by the Minister of Finance never addressed the key issue of compliance with section 16 of the NRF Act. Even if the minister does not see the need to comply, the Statement also failed to address whether reporting on
resource funds could not follow the same pattern as what was done with the L C D
demonstrate not only good governance, but also respect for the people of Guyana. I was surprised that, on his return to Guyana, Mr. Singh accepted a position
simply the Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance. In some way it all makes sense when one considers his well
section 16 of the NRF Act. The truth is that I was barely able to see his slip since he now hides under what he believes is the constitutional immunity of the President’s “skirt tail”. He should be mindful of the experience of William Calley at My Lai,
always succeed as a defence.
Sincerely
Terrence Campbell
Gunman open fire on securit y guards
Two security guards, on Tuesday, were targeted by unknown suspects in a shooting i n c i d e n t a t C h r i s t i a n i S t r e e t , N o r t h Ruimveldt, Georgetown. The victims have been identified as Jamaul Brown, a 27-yearold security guard from Leopold Street, Georgetown, and Akeem Emmanuel, called ‘Pappi’, a 35-year-old security guard from North Ruimveldt. The duo is employed with Chung Global Inc., a construction company Police reported that the incident occurred about 19:30h. Investigations revealed that the at about 18:57 hrs, Brown stated that he was driving the company’s motorcar, a Toyota Premio bearing registration number PAD 5418, when he received a cell phone call from the company’s owner, Cleon Chung, that he should proceed to North Ruimveldt and pick up Emmanuel for work.
“Brown said he went to the location where, on arrival, he picked up Emmanuel
and, on their way back to the office, he slowed down to turn from a pothole on the street, when he heard several loud explosions that appeared to be gunshots,” police reported A fearful, Brown drove away at a fast rate and turned onto Aubrey Barker Road, where he and Emmanuel stopped and exited the car and went to East La Penitence Police Station, where the matter was reported Police said that the scene was processed and three 9mm spent shells were found The shells were retrieved, marked, sealed and lodged.
“The area was canvassed for CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) cameras but none was seen. The motor car was also checked and three holes suspected to be caused by gunshots were observed on the right side doors. The driver ’s side window w a s a l s o s h a t t e r e d T h e c a r w a s photographed and lodged at the East La Penitence Police Station,” police reported.
Elderly miner dies after pit collapses
A family is in mourning after a 70-yearold miner tragically lost his life, on Tuesday, when a pit collapsed and buried him at Thomas Island, Puruni River, Region Seven.
The dead man has been identified as Emmanuel Jeffrey also known as ‘Dominic.’ The father of two, who worked in the mining industry for over 15 years was the owner of the dredge. According to Police, the accident occurred at about 14:00h.
I n v e s t i g a t i o n s r e v e a l e d t h a t J e ff r e y reportedly operated a four-inch land dredge at the back dam and worked alongside two employees. Tragedy struck when Jeffrey and his co-workers were engaged in mining activities in a pit measuring 15 feet wide, 10 feet long, and 8 feet deep.
“During their work, the eastern side of the pit collapsed, which led to soil rushing in and c o m p l e t e l y b u r y i n g J e f f r e y f o r approximately 60 minutes,” Police said. Jeffrey’s co-workers excavated the site to retrieve him and transported him to the Bartica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on a
Wednesday
His body is at the Bartica Hospital’s m o r t u a r y a w a i t i n g a p o s t - m o r t e m examination.
Meanwhile, during an interview with Kaieteur News, the deceased’s older brother, 71-year-old Lionel Jeffrey, relayed that the news of his death has left the family in shock and deep grief. “It was very shocking to me when I heard about it. I didn’t see him in a very long time like about two to three years, until now I can hardly bare it,” he said. The brother added, “I was expecting him to come home, but now I can’t expect no more.”
Jeffrey was described as a jovial and hardworking man, who is deeply involved with his family “He was a very cool person; he likes to talk, (and) he likes music. He is very easy going - right through his life he isn’t too much of a hasty person. He is a grandfather for a lot of grandchildren and he always keep checking on them and kind to them and help out to them. He was very charitable,” the brother relayed.
D e s p i t e h i s a g e , J e ff r e y c o n t i n
d working in the mining industry “He always like to work. He could have been at home because of his age but, how he set his life was in the dredge and so, he like to be around the men them. That’s the reason why he was there because he could have avoided working, but he always like be in front because he strong, very strong,” the man told Kaieteur News.
The third parties will not survive this year’s elections
The fate of third
p a r t i e s i n t h i s y e a r ’s g e n e r a l and regional elections is as predictable as the tide. They will be swept away, their ambitions drowned in the deep and unforgiving waters of political polarization.
For all the chatter about emerging forces and fresh alternatives, the grim reality remains that the electorate is too polarized, the stakes too high, and the resources too unevenly distributed for any new political formation to gain meaningful traction
S a v e , p e r h a p s , f o r t h e Alliance For Change (AFC), which may scrape by with a seat—an achievement that would owe more to residual
s u p p o r t t h a n a n y f r e s h groundswell of enthusiasm.
The first and perhaps most decisive factor spelling doom for third parties is the memory of 2020. It is a memory that still burns hot
a m o n g 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 (PPP/C) base. It is a scar that has not faded. The attempt, b y t h e A P N U + A F C coalition to benefit from what was widely seen as a
rigged election in 2020, will not be easily forgotten, nor f o r g i v e n T h e P P P / C ’s supporters are galvanized, and their mission is clear: ensure that APNU never again becomes a political threat. This means there will be no leakage of votes, no indulgence in the luxury of third-party flirtations. Every vote must serve the cause of s e c u r i n g t h e P P P / C ’ s dominance, because to do otherwise would be to risk a return to the uncertainty and instability of 2020 and the p e r c e i v e d c r i s e s o f t h e previous five years. Third parties will not be given a second look by this voting bloc.
Then there is the PPP/C’s deliberate strategy to frame this election as a referendum o n t h e r u l e o f t h e APNU+AFC This is no a c c i d e n t T h e P P P / C understands that as long as the election remains a stark b i n a r y c h o i c e u s o r them—third parties have no oxygen By keeping the focus on the failures of the PNC/R’s rule, by reminding voters of mismanagement, corruption, and economic
s t a g n a t i o n , t h e P P P / C ensures that any wavering voter is left with a clear message: you are either with us, or you are with them. It is a s t r a t e g y d e s i g n e d t o squeeze out not just the APNU and the AFC, but any potential challenger from outside the traditional twoparty framework.
New formations will be treated with suspicion, their leaders scrutinized, their viability questioned at every turn. Already, there have been ominous threats about how the PPP/C will “deal” with these emerging figures.
On the other side, the APNU’s supporters will dig i n T h e c o a l i t i o n ’s b a s e remains sizable enough to make third-party incursions difficult. Those who remain loyal to APNU are unlikely to abandon it now Even with its internal struggles, the APNU represents the only viable opposition, and in a h i g h - s t a k e s e l e c t i o n , p r a g m a t i s m t r u m p s idealism. Third parties, no matter how well-intentioned o r a r t i c u l a t e , w i l l f i n d themselves speaking into the void.
PNC/AFC’s campaign rhetoric...
From page 04 homeownership), raising the income tax threshold to $400,000 (to be paid for apparently with magic beans), and, in a final leap into fantasy, proposing to distribute what amounts to over 1 trillion GYD in cash grants—a figure that far exceeds the total revenues from oil and gas.
The message is clear: there is no room at the table for i n t e r l o p e r s B e y o n d t h e political manoeuvring, there is the cold, hard reality of campaign finance. Elections are expen
, and thir
parties do not have the war chest required to compete.
G
se politics—will act as they always do, hedging their bets by distributing funds among the major contenders. The AFC
APNU will get more, and the lion’s share will go to the PPP/C. But the new third forces? They will be left to f
unable to mount a serious challenge. Without money, t
mobilization, no visibility
Without visibility, there can be no votes. It is a vicious cycle, and it is one from which no third party will escape.
I f t h
a l kingmakers decide to do away with their quest for p
easily But the bourgeois class is one that likes to give to all sides to ensure that no
elections; this class never loses.
And so, as election day approaches, the fate of third parties is sealed. They will contest, they will campaign, they will make their case to the public. But they will not win. They will not gain ground. They will not upset the balance of power They will be, at best, footnotes in
election, at worst, forgotten
decimated and humiliated. The PPP/C will secure its victory The APNU will hold
parties? They will be left to wonder what might have been, had the timing been different, had the terrain been less hostile. But the timing is not different, and the terrain is as unforgiving
expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of this newspaper.)
Sincerely,
Alfonso De Armas
DEM BOYS SEH
Why stop at fingerprint?
Oh g o s h , O p p o s i t i o n !
Dem boys seh y’all really out here trying to mek voting harder than getting a tax compliance.
Fingerprint verification?
Dat sound nice, but why y’all stopping there? If we really want fi make sure nobody ain’t cheating, leh we go full Mad Scientist
p o n d i s t h i n g ! M e k
Election Day look like something outta a Star Wars episode.
F i r s t , f i n g e r p r i n t s alone? Nah, man. Dat too easy What if somebody thief yuh fingerprint with scotch tape and glue? Leh we step it up! Bring yuh b i r t h c e r t i f i c a t e , y u h marriage certificate, yuh baptism paper, and yuh
g r e a t - g r a n d m o t h e r b i r t h record too. If yuh cyan
D e m o c r a c y i s s e r i o u s business, not no joke ting!
But wait—leh we add retina scan too. Mek every voter stare into one a dem fancy machine like dem CIA movie. If yuh blink, yuh out! If yuh eyes red from last night lime, yuh out! If yuh wear contact lens, yuh out! And if de m a c h i n e b r e a k d o w n ?
W e l l , d a t j u s t m e a n democracy taking a lil nap. No big deal.
Now, leh we really mek it spicy—DNA testing! Set up lab at every polling station. Swab yuh mouth, wait three hours, and if yuh DNA match yuh greatgrandmother birth record, den yuh good to go. If yuh cyan wait? Sorry, try next election. And if yuh DNA come back saying yuh 2%
p r o v e y u h g r e a tgrandmother was born in 1892, sorry, yuh cyan vote.
alien? Well, dat just mean yuh extra special, but yuh still cyan vote. Opposition, mek we go
H
analysis, voice recognition,
every voter sing de national
standing on one leg. If yuh fall, yuh out! If yuh forget de words, yuh out! If yuh voice crack, yuh out!
Dem boys seh dis is how y’all really want fi run
participate? Well, at least we know de three people who make it through de process is 100% legit. Big up, Opposition! Y’all really out here trying fi save democracy by killing it softly Talk half. Leff half.
Jagdeo caught fouling, found prevar icating
W h e n G u y a n a ’s O i l
C o m m i s s a r, D r B h a r r a t
J a g d e o i s c o r n e r e d , h e responds in one of two ways.
H e h o w l s w i t h a b u s i v e anger, or he jumps up and runs away Like a scalded cate on a hot stove, Oil Commissar Jagdeo shouts and screams, then slinks away on singed feet.
I brand him the Oil Commissar, since he has so much of the Kremlin’s way of management and doing business in him, despite discarding a bundle of isms. A dog could part with its tail, but not its bark.
G u y a n a ’ s e c o n o m i c
gasoline Like a polevaulter, it kept going higher a n d h i g h e r T h e G D P numbers were so dizzying, I couldn’t keep up, lost track.
J a g d e o m a y n
u t e v e n a R u s s i a n - i n d o c t r i n a t e d economist must know that what goes up must come down. When people like me implored him to keep more of the oil money in the Oil
F u n d , h e s m i r k e d a n d mocked. His position was that more money will go to G u y a n e s e w h e n m o r e projects become operational and more oil is pumped. I said that oil prices have to hold steady, for that to be. He laughed aloud then. Now
he is singing the blues: P r e s i d e n t Tr u m p ’s d r i l l , baby, drill express train could depress oil prices. It happens when the market is flooded. America has long wanted to put away OPEC for good; Don Trump is the new godfather and he looks poised to get the job done; well, at least starting on a firm footing. May I suggest to my brother Bharrat that a n o t
f u l l - p a g
d i n Stabroek News and another grand billboard to celebrate drill, baby drill, despite its implications for Guyana?
S u d d e n l y, M r. J a g d e o ’s p r o m i s e o f m a x i m i z i n g revenues and maximizing dollars going into Guyanese hands around 2027, looks lonelier than a kid without a candy on Christmas Day Now Guyanese adults and children are in for a double blow: one flush on the nose, the other plumb in the belly The result is, believe it or not, two black eyes. When the cry was, please give the poor people a bigger slice of the record-breaking
national budgets, that was brushed aside with barely concealed arrogance and impatience. Infrastructure cannot wait, the next century is beckoning, and Guyana must be ready to greet it.
S p l e n d i d , I t h o u g h t ; especially for those feasting a t t h e l o n g a n d d e e p infrastructure trough. Now just look where Mr Trump’s blazing oil rampage (drill, momma, drill) could leave Guyana.
The maximum revenue f r o m o i l t h a t J a g d e o promised Guyanese just took a long holiday; hopefully, it is not a delay that lasts for years. It is the first whammy on the heads of locals, with local prices going farther upstairs. The second is that the fancy oil money that was going into the New York b a s e d N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e Fund (NRF) suddenly is not s o f a n c y, b u t d e f i n i t e l y sickly It’s the second strike, a bad one, because it’s a hard one. The PPP Government made the NRF into its piggy
b a n k w i t h w i t h d r a w a l s galore. The goat that Dr A s h n i S i n g h r o l l e d o u t before Guyanese has a name: “ n a t i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t priorities.” The PPP loves to rename as national anything t h a t w a s p e r s o n a l a n d
individual. Truth be told, w i t h p r o j e c t i o n s f o r o i l prices looking bleak, those o i l m o n e y w i t h d r a w a l s which had little to do with “ n a t i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t priorities” are now stripped o f t h e i r p r e t e n c e s a n d exposed for what they were always really about. That is, one PPP cockamamie after another To translate for G u y a n a ’ s u n i n i t i a t e d , cockamamie is American for con games played by skilled artists. Bottom line: the severely depleted Oil Fund in the Big Apple may not be r e p l
h e d a c c o
n g t o Jagdeo’s thinking. It is a h e a d b u t t f o r e x p e c t a n t G u y a n e s e , s l
e r three. Anybody ever hear of a rainy-day fund being drained when the sun is shining, with plentiful money from other s o u r c e s ? T h i n k P P P Government and there is the ugly story To withdraw is to wipe-out. It is also to have a good time on the backs of poor Guyanese. Dr Jagdeo knows that oil prices are cyclical. He also knows that Guyana needs an NRF with a h e a l t h y b a l a n c e A retirement savings account o n l y t o u c h e d i n emergencies, as in when times are tough. Lower oil
prices for a prolonged period fits that bill.
Where does all of this leave Guyanese anticipating a flurry of cash in 2027? First, they must be prepared to draw their belts even tighter than today Cost-ofsurvival. Second, no big oil bonanza is coming their way, i n t o t h e i r p o c k e t s , b y whatever means Third, their neck brace and back brace (NRF) is at the tricky stage of one foot in the grave, with the other on a barrel of grease. Thanks to Drs. Ali, Jagdeo, and Singh (Guyana’s Gang of Four) that is where things stand. In case smart Guyanese think that’s only three, I omitted Dr Anil Nandlall Don’t worry, Exxon will arrange for an honorary doctorate for him from one of those Texas U n i v e r s i t i e s , l i k e t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f Te x a s a t Austin, or Rice. This is what all of Jagdeo’s Thursday acrobatics have come to: three right hooks (or is it four?) to Guyanese heads.
(The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t n e c e s s a r i l y r e f l e c t t h e opinions of this newspaper.)
BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT
The budget debates and the Thursday press ‘cussference’
T he cur rent budget debate has a str iking resemblance to what obtains ever y T hursday without f ail at Freedom House. It might be useful if the press conf erence billed f or today, by Vice President Bhar rat Jagdeo, be held in the National Assembly.
In f act, recently he was tr ying to make light of the work of the MPs and the quality of their discourse to excuse his prolonged absence. Given what he does ever y T hursday, we f ind it hard to discer n any dif f erence between the r um shop belligerence at the Ar thur Chung Conf erence Centre and the crass cuss out on Robb Street.
Increase oil production in Guyana helped drive higher profit for Hess Corporation
O i l p r o d u c t i o n f r o m Guyana’s Stabroek Block, w h e r e A m e r i c a n o i l company Hess Corporation
h o l d s 3 0 % s h a r e s , h a s emerged as the company’s top seller in 2024, with an average price of US$80.04 per barrel.
A c c o r d i n g t o
i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e
company’s fourth quarter financial and operational highlights, Guyana’s crude
c o m m a n d e d t h e h i g h e s t price among Hess’ global operations, outpacing sales from North Dakota, offshore U.S. assets, and Malaysia.
O n We d n e s d a y, H e s s
r e p o r t e d n e t p r o f i t o f
US$542 million, for the fourth quarter of 2024, an 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
T
k which covers an area of 6.6 million acres 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 Whiptail.
The first three projects are already producing oil at a
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hess Corporation, John Hess
United States contributed 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.
(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
expected to reach 1.7 million b
investment basis.
M o r e o v e
, H
s s Corporation is pursuing a US$53 billion merger with American oil giant, Chevron. However, ExxonMobil, the Stabroek Block operator, and CNOOC the third-block
p a r t n e r h a v
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.
“ We 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 confident that merger is 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
The Stabroek Block
d e c i s i o n e x p e c t e d approximately 90 days later. Hess explained the process, saying, “Memorials have b e e n
n
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, so let’s say late August, September, and once that’s done, we look forward to completing the merger.”
Patterson, Edghill clash over viability of...
From page 3 the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, and the cost of electricity went down, they saw no chance of ever getting back into government…It is their same modus operandi now with the Gas-to-Energy project,” Minister Edghill said.
In 2023, the government attempted to revive the AFHP after talks with a previous contractor fell through. A revised Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued under a B u i l d - O
( B O O
model. Four companies: Rialma of Brazil, C h i n a I n t e r n a
Corporation, CH4 Guyana Inc., and OECGE
venture) submitted bids in December 2023. However, the project remains stalled. Vice
September that the government may either negotiate with the top-ranked prequalified bidders or restart the procurement process. Earlier this month, it was revealed that the government is still reviewing proposals from
Hydropower Project, projected to supply
multiple times due to financial and political hurdles.
MahipaulaccusesGovts of ‘unfair’ distribution of wealth
- cites f ailure to deliver on oil sector promises
In his contribution to the 2025 budget debates on Wednesday, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul heavily
criticised Government’s $1 382 trillion planned expenditure as being a one sided affair that will only benefit a select few
H e e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e government’s lack of inclusive
consultation with the political
o p p o s i t i o n a n d o t h e r k e y stakeholders does not reflect “One Guyana” policy being touted by President Irfaan Ali instead; it shows a “One-Sided Guyana ” “…from the outset of the budget process in June of 2024, which began with a circular from the Office of the Finance Secretary, I had hoped for a shift in the consultation process—a shift away from the outdated, archaic practice
o f e n g a g i n g s o l e l y w i t h government agencies and party supporters and toward a more inclusive and meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders and the people of Guyana,” Mahipaul said.
“ W e c a n n o t c h a m p i o n i n c l u s i v i t y i n p u b l i c w h i l e engaging in divisive and harmful behaviour behind closed doors. The “One Guyana” slogan, can only be meaningful if it is accompanied by genuine inclusivity, mutual respect, a n d a r e a l c o m m i t m e n t t o collaboration,” he added.
The Opposition MP noted that l a c k o f i n c l u s i v i t y i s f u r t h e r r e f l e c t e d w h e n s e l e c t e d communities with supporters of the PPP/C getting economic upliftment while other communities are kept in economic stagnation. “Why is it
t h a t p l a c e s l i k e D e n A m s t e l , Bagotville, Uitvlugt, Stewartville, Sister ’s village, and so many others not in receipt of the same treatment as places like Wakenaam, Leguan, Tuschen, Parika and Leonora?”
M a h i p a u l s a i d . H e c o n t i n u e d ,
“ W h y i s i t t h a t h u n d r e d s o f thousands of dollars in assistance were given to cash crop farmers who look like me and suffered by way of flooding but thousands who look like Honourable Ministers Todd, Benn, Edgill, Walrond and McCoy are still begging for a small piece? Added to this is also the d i s c r i m i n a t i o n w h e r e s e v e r a l ordinary, poor, hardworking IndoGuyanese are equally awaiting their assistance.”
“ P o o r, h a r d w o r k i n g , I n d o -
G u y a n e s e f i s h e r f o l k a r e s t i l l awaiting their financial assistance and Hon. Sherod Duncan would recall that several of them told us that their names are on the list of recipients, but they never got any of t h e m o n i e s F i s h e r f o l k f r o m Metem-Meer Zorg, Salem, Wales, Vreed-en-Hoop and several other villages, but all the big fisherfolk r e c e i v e d m i l l i o n s S m a l l r i c e farmers are still waiting for their little assistance whilst the big farmers collected their millions.”
According to Mahipaul, the
government continues to fail in the a r e a o f a c c o u n t a b i l i t y a n d transparency, an area his party has a l r e a d y c o m m i t t e d t o p r o p e r oversight. “The current crop of APNUAFC leaders is committed to l e a d i n g w i t h u n w a v e r i n g transparency, accountability, and a genuine sense of unity I am c o n f i d e n t i n t h i s a s s u r a n c e , particularly considering our current stance on the composition of the National and Regional Tender Boards of this nation.”
“It is our strong conviction that t h e r e m u s t b e a n o p p o s i t i o n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o n a l l Te n d e r boards—where billions of dollars flow through daily—if we are to ensure the highest standards of transparency The presence of the opposition on these boards would reduce suspicion of misconduct and the pilfering of the people’s money, as their oversight will contribute to fairness and vigilance,” Mahipaul said
Further, he noted when it comes to accountability; the APNUAFC
h a s a l r e a d y s i g n a l e d o u r
u n w a v e r i n g c o m m i t m e n t t o
s t r e n g t h e n
General’s office. “We will not stop there; a thorough review of the Audit Act will be undertaken to ensure that the Auditor General’s office is empowered to conduct audits that go beyond the mere 10% of an agency’s expenditure. In cases where significant malpractice or questionable findings arise, we will demand a deeper investigation. If p r o p e r e x p l a n a t i o n s a r e n o t provided, heads will certainly have to roll.”
“We will not engage in empty rhetoric, making public promises of a c c o u n t a b i l i t y w h i l e s e c r e t l y socializing with those who should be held responsible. Unlike this current government, we will not call for early in the morning 5:30 meetings to stage a performance on accountability, only to let matters languish months after.”
M e a n w h i l e a s i t r e l a t e s promises made by the Government in its manifesto, the opposition MP noted that several of its oil sector promises are still not delivered.
He reminded that “…In 2019, before the first barrel of oil was produced, the coalition took the prudent and proactive step to initiate a collaboration of the EPA, Department of Energy (DOE), the M e x i c a n A m b a s s a d o r a n d t h e World bank to set up a strong oversight body for O&G. The World Bank provided a grant of $1 million USD to bring in a Mexican Consultant who had set up the Mexican oversight programme, to lead the setting up of the EPA Unit.”
“The Consultant made several trips to Guyana which was highly publicized including interviews with the news media. This effort resulted in a WB/EPA Plan dated October 25, 2019, before first oil, establishing a Petroleum Unit in the EPA comprising a 36-member
highly specialized and experienced petroleum staff including Health a n d s a f e t y p r o f e s s i o n a l s w i t h responsibilities to include 24/7 FPSO on board presence.
The plan Mr Speaker, was to conduct international recruitment to fill the positions in 2020, but was put on hold because there was no budget to do so in 2020, due to the elections,”
“ D i s a p p o i n t i n g l y t o t h e detriment of the people, in addition to wasting the WB’s $1 million USD, the PPPC cancelled this Plan upon taking office and have not replaced it with any plan to fill the void of not having anyone with any knowledge to provide oversight.”
Among other things, Mahipaul noted the coalition established a P
t r o l e u m E
n e e r i n g Department at UG in 2019 before first oil.
H e s a i d t h e p r o g r a m m e
piggybacked on the UWI and the University of T&T well established petroleum programmes, and would have offered degrees from the Associate level to a PhD.
H o w e v e r, “ a f t e r s e v e r a l meetings among the faculties of the Universities a programme was finalized with all of the details
contents, fees, time
diaspora were interviewed to Head the UG Department, but once again, the initiative appeared to h a v e b
PPPC.”
APNU MP, Ganesh Mahipaul
Year of the Snake
T h e C h i n e s e S p r i n g Festival of 2025 or the year of the snake is just around the corner On behalf of the C h i n e s e E m b a s s y i n Guyana, I would like to extend my warm greetings and sincere blessings to you all.
2024 was a marvelous
y e a r. U n d e r t h e s t r o n g leadership of the Central Committee of the Chinese
C o m m u n i s t P a r t y w i t h Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China’s high-quality
e c o n o m i c d e v e l o p m e n t achieved tangible results:
G D P s u r p a s s e d o v e r 1 8 trillion US Dollars for the first time, green and low-
carbon development won
s t r o n g e r s u p p o r t o f t h e Chinese people, new energy was used more widely, new development forces played an even bigger role, AI and other emerging industries moved full steam ahead.
The third plenary session th of the 20 Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party drew a blueprint for China’s further deepening r e f o r m a
international support. China c o n t
promoting world peace and common development.
In 2024, the bilateral ties between China and Guyana w e r e e v
l l y ,
e n r i c h e d e a c h o t h e r
c u l t u r a l l y W e s h a r e d
o p p o r t u n i t i e s , f a c e d
c h a l l e n g e s , d i s c u s s e d cooperation and promoted
d e v e l o p m e n t C h i n a a n d
Guyana have become good friends, trusted and relied on each other
In 2024, Chinese citizens in Guyana made glittering achievements in different sectors through hard work
a n d w i s d o m C h i n e s e workers worked around the
c l o c k f o r G u y a n a ’s o i l p r o d u c t i o n a n d
i n f r a s t r u c t u r e u p g r a d e
D o c t o r s o f t h e C h i n e s e medical brigade spared no e f f o r t s t o s a f e g u a r d Guyanese people’s health. Teachers and volunteers of t h e C o n f u c i u s I n s t i t u t e
d e d i c a t e d s e l f l e s s l y t o advance cultural exchanges.
The Chinese communities were devoted to serving
C h i n e s e c i t i z e n s a n d
p r o m o t i n g C h i n a - G u y a n a
f r i e n d s h i p T h e y a r e witnesses, participators and contributors of bilateral ties.
The lunar new year or Spring Festival has not only
been the Chinese traditional holiday, but also became an international one. Inspired by the Global Civilization I n i t i a t i v e i n t r o d u c e d b y President Xi Jinping, Spring Festival has been officially listed as a United Nations f l o a t i n g h o l i d a y i n i t s calendar of conferences and meetings as from 2024. Also in 2024, Spring Festival and s o c i a l p r a c t i c e s o f t h e
C h i n e s e p e o p l e i n celebration of the traditional new year was inscribed on the Representative List of t h e I n t a n g i b l e C u l t u r a l Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. It is conducive to e x c h a n g e s o f d i f f e r e n t cultures and civilizations For China and Guyana, the biggest and fastest-growing
d e v e l o p i n g n a t i o n respectively, 2025 is a year f u l l o f o p p o r t u n i t i e s ,
d e v e l o p m e n t a n d h o p e China will deepen reform and expand opening-up with g r e a t e r c o u r a g e a n d resolution to inject fresh i m p e t u s t o h i g h - q u a l i t y development and wrap up h t h e 1 4 F i v e - Ye a r P l a n
C h i n a w i l l s t i c k t o t h e independent foreign policy of peace, foster a favorable external environment for Chinese modernization, and provide more certainties to the uncertain world. China
w i l l w o r k c l o s e l y w i t h Guyana to implement the important consensus reached b y P r e s i d e n t X i a n d P r e s i d e n t A l i , p r o m o t e cooperation in every field to bear more fruits, and honor the commitment of building a n e v e n c l o s e r C h i n aGuyana community with a shared future through real actions.
I n 2 0 2 5 , C h i n e s e Embassy in Guyana will stick to the people-oriented diplomacy, provide highquality documents services for Chinese citizens and safeguard their legal rights. The year of the snake is a year of smoothness, strength and vitality Last but not least, I sincerely hope you all enjoy a gorgeous year of the s n a k e f u l l o f l u c k i n e s s , h a p p i n e s s , h e a l t h a n d wealth.
Woman maimed for husband -courthears life after brutally chopped by sickly
A 74-year-old woman who was brutally chopped about her body late last year
by her hus band is now maimed for life, relatives have said.
D e a n n a B o
chopped by her 68-year-old
h
November 10, 2024, at their residence located at Lot 142 El Dorado Avenue, South
R
n She sustained injuries to her head, hands, face and breast. The brutal attack resulted in severe injuries to her head, hands, face, and breast, as well as a broken jaw
murder and was remanded to prison when the matter was c
er 13, 2024 at the Georgetown M a g i s t r a t e s ’ C o u r t O n
We d n e s d a y, d u r i n g h i s hearing before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty, Williams attorney pleaded for bail citing his client’s m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n T h e defence lawyer argued that Williams is suffering from an enlarged prostate and is using a tube and bag for urination. His lawyer said the man is in need of urgent medical care and is not a flight risk. The attorney also noted that Bourne had been discharged from the hospital.
M a g i s t r a t e M c G u s t y
t h e n a s k e d B o u r n e ’ s daughter, Samantha Bourne
t o e x p l a i n h e r m o t h e r ’s condition. She outlined that
t h e e x t e n t o f B o u r n e ’s injuries has caused lifelong
e ff e c t s s u c h a s l o s s o f memory. “My mom can’t do anything for herself. She can’t bathe, she can’t eat, she
c a n ’ t e v e n r e m e m b e r anything on her own. She
t h i n k s n i g h t i s d a y , ” Samantha explained.
Prosecution objected to bail citing that both Williams and Bourne lived at the same
address, raising concerns that if Williams were granted bail and returned home, Bourne would fear for her life. The prosecution added that Bourne continues to suffer constant pain from her injuries. As such Williams was further remanded to prison and is scheduled to return to court on March 5 , 2 0 2 5 f o r f u r t h e r proceedings.
After the proceedings,
r e p o r t e r s s p o k e w i t h S a m a n t h a B o u r n e a n d Coretta Grant who further e x p l a i n e d t h e i r m o t h e r ’s
the incident
husband
further remanded to prison
condition. They mentioned that Bourne was discharged from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation early December
According to the family, Bourne has undergone two surgeries—one immediately after the attack and another to treat her hand. She is also s c h e d u l e d f o r a d d i t i o n a l surgery on her hand soon. W h e n a s k e d a b o u t t h e couple’s relationship, both d a u g h t e r s r e l a t e d t h a t Williams and Bourne were in a common law relationship for over 40 years and their arguments had never come to an extent where he would p h y s i c a l l y a s s a u l t h e r
“Imagine your own father doing that to your mother,” Coretta said, her voice filled with disbelief. Since the Continued on page 16
By Huang Rui, Charge d’
Aff aires of the Chinese Embassy in Guyana
Huang Rui, Charge d’ Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Guyana
Deanna Bourne before
Bourne’s
Keith Williams
Woman murdered at home
- suspect ar rested after consuming poisonous substance
A 34-year-old mother was killed in her Annandale, East Coast Demerara home Tuesday night, and her body discovered in a pool of blood by her eight-year-old son.
Dead is Bibi Fazila Ally, who worked as a school
cleaner. The suspect has been identified as Bidraj Ganesh, also known as ‘Boy.’ He was a r r e s t e d l a t e y e s t e r d a y afternoon. Reports are that h e h a d c o n s u m e d a poisonous substance.
Police reported that the
incident occurred at about 1 2 : 1 5 h I n v e s t i g a t i o n s revealed that Ganesh and Ally shared a relationship for over eight years. However, t h e c o u p l e ’s r e l a t i o n s h i p ended in December 2024, during the Christmas season,
Registrants urged to uplift National Identification Cards
(GECOM) is, once again, advising persons who com
such as (i) application for new registration, (ii) changes/corrections to their registration particulars, or (iii) applied for a replacement ID going back to since 2008 and have not uplifted their National Identification Card to do so at their earliest convenience.
I m p o r t a n t l y , t h e C o m m i s s i o n i s cognizant that in some instances registrants may have changed their addresses since the registration transactions were conducted; resulting in them not being able to uplift their ID Card from the GECOM Office where the application for registration was made.
In this regard, such persons are advised to
visit the GECOM Registration Office that is responsible for their new area of residence to request their ID Card, GECOM said in a press released Consequently, the Commission will make the necessary arrangements to have the
Offices responsible for the new areas of residence to enable the delivery of the Cards Distribution of ID Cards is being done at all
countywide during normal working hours i e Monday to Thursday from 8:00hrs to 16:30pm and Fridays from 8:00hrs – 15:30hrs
The Offices are closed for lunch during 12:00hrs to 13:00hrs. Concerned registrants are advised that they MUST appear in person to uplift their ID Cards.
when the suspect accused A l l y o f i n f i d e l i t y a n d threatened her life.
The suspect's residence, which is not far from the school his eight-year-old son attends, is a place Ally would normally visit during lunch breaks. “On the day of the incident, Bibi Fazila Ally
went to work as usual
Around midday, teachers noticed her absence,” Police s a i d i n t h e r e p o r t
S u b s e q u e n t l y , h e r s o n alerted his aunt, Raywattie
G a n e s h , t h a t h i s f a t h e r r e p o r t e d l y a t t a c k e
mother and left in a taxi. As s u c h , t h e a u n t a l e r t e d teachers at the school and went to the Annandale Police Outpost and reported the matter
While in the presence of
his aunt, the child told ranks that after school ended at midday, he w
o his father ’s house, where he saw his parents packing their belongings. Police reported that, “His father then locked h i m o u
A
u e c a r ”
exited the house carrying a chopper and a bag over his shoulder, left the yard, and e n t e r
Following that the son, upon re-entering the house, found his mother motionless on the ground with a severe wound to her hand. Police were contacted and on arrival at the scene ranks found the victim's body lying on her back in a pool of blood. She was reportedly dressed in a pink towel and a red crop top.
three incised wounds: one on the right hand measuring 10 centimetres (cm), another on the left side of the forehead measuring 8 cm, and a third at the back of the neck measuring 17 cm.
Thereafter, the woman’s body was examined by a doctor on the scene, who pronounced her dead. The body was then escorted to the Memorial Gardens Mortuary for storage, pending a post mortem examination. Police investigation continues.
Bibi Fazila Ally
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‘Over 15,000 house lots to be completed
within six months’ - Housing Minister
Minister of Hous ing and Water, Collin Croal, announced on Wednesday that 25,000 house lots are to be allocated this year, with a promise that 15,000 of those will be completed within the first six months of this year.
This announcement was made during his presentation at the 2025 budget debate in the National Assembly. It is reported in early January during the minster’s end of year press conference, that the Ministry is set to surpass its target of distributing 50,000 house lots by 2025. Currently, the Ministry of Housing has allocated 40,290 residential lots, with 10,791 of those distributed in 2024.
Additionally, 19 new housing areas were developed throughout the year, including in regions across the country, such as Wales in Region Three, Good Hope, La Bonne Intention, and other areas in Region Four, as well as in Regions Five, Six, Ten, and along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. With a budget allocation of $112.6 billion for housing in 2025, Croal stated, “We will allocate an additional
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minimum of 25,000 house lots this year of which over 15,000 will be accomplished before June. We will establish 20 new housing areas by June of 2025 to accomplish this 15,000 by June.” Additionally, he announced plans to construct 1,000 new houses this year. In his presentation, Croal also outlined the distribution of house lots across the regions over the past four years, highlighting allocations in Regions One through Ten.
For Region One, house lot allocation programmes were not completed, but the minister confirmed that those will be finalized in 2025. For the other regions, the following allocations were made: Region 2 – 2,791 lots; Region 3 – 39,172 lots; Region 4 –24,519 lots; Region 5 – 1,959 lots; Region 6 – 1,956 lots; Region 7 – 132 lots; Region 9 – 636 lots; and Region 10 –
1,592 lots. Croal also announced that the Ministry has upcoming plans for house lot allocations in Region Eight this year. With the remaining $23.1 billion, the Minister emphasized that by 2025, “every citizen has access to clean, reliable and safe water including installation of
new supply system in hinterland communities and the construction of new treatment plants which, when completed, will transform and change the vacuum and we will improve the quality and availability of water to households and the coast lands,” he said.
Accused trailer parts thief stabs man for exposing him
A 39-year-old businessman remains critical after he was stabbed to the neck and body, on Tuesday, by a man he accused of stealing parts from his trailer.
Reports reaching Kaieteur News are that the man was attacked while exposing the alleged thief with evidence from his phone. The victim has been identified as Shawn Maxwell, owner of Marathon Investments, a trucking company that specialises in container and other heavy-duty hauling services.
Maxwell lives in Kitty but went to an ‘Ital’ shop at 9-10 Rosemary Lane, South Cummingsburg (Tiger Bay). On his arrival, he saw the suspect there.
According to Police, Maxwell confronted the suspect about the matter.
However, speaking with Kaieteur News, Maxwell’s wife said that her husband did
In a critical condition,
Shawn Maxwell not address the suspect directly, neither did he start an argument, but he began to expose the man’s alleged crime to persons present at the ‘Ital’ shop. The suspect was reportedly caught sleeping with the stolen items in his possession.
“Shawn was showing the people that the man stole his parts and took out his phone to show the evidence,” the
woman said, adding that the suspect then launched a brutal attack on him.
Police said the accused reportedly pulled out a knife from his waistband and dealt the victim several stab wounds about his body. Thereafter, the suspect ran south on Rosemary Lane and made good his escape.
Maxwell was then rushed to a city hospital, where he was examined by a doctor and admitted as a patient.
“The victim sustained stab wounds to the back of his neck and on his right hand. The scene was processed, and police are looking for the suspect (whose name is said to be ‘Sean’) but without success,” Police reported.
Kaieteur News understands that the man on the run is no stranger to the law and has a criminal record.
The investigations are continuing.
Woman maimed for life after brutally chopped...
From page 14 incident, the family has been left in a state of trauma especially Bourne’s 17-year-old granddaughter who found her grandmother on the bed with blood oozing from her body. “She don’t even want to look at mommy, because she said that she is feeling the pain that her grandmother is feeling,” Grant stated.
It was reported that on the day of the incident, Bourne was at home when Williams returned and was initially refused entry into the home by Bourne.
After some time, their granddaughter opened the door for him and Williams proceeded to Bourne’s bedroom, where he woke her up and an argument ensued between
them. Following the argument, Williams left the room, retrieved a cutlass from his motor vehicle, and returned to the bedroom, where he chopped Bourne, inflicting multiple injuries to her body and face. After the assault, he attempted to flee but was apprehended by bystanders while still holding the weapon.
Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal
Gov t . to reconstruct 29 bridges in Regions 8&9 - Edghill
Paving a way for e a s i e r c o n n e c t i v i t y between Regions Eight and Nine, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill on Wednesday announced that the government this year will undertake the reconstruction of all the bridges between the two hinterland regions.
T
p
b
l i o n allocation, Edghill said “Right now, all of the bridges from Karasabai in Region Nine all the way through to Paramakatoi in Region Eight will be under construction, bringing for the first time, a smooth link between Region Nine and Region Eight. Budget 2025 provides for that.”
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 t h e s e
d c o n n e c t i v i t y w i l l i m p r o v e l i v e l i h o o d s a n d c o s t o f l i v i n g f o r t h e p e o p l e “ A n d l e t m e e x p l a i n t o
y o u w h y I ’ m s a y i n g t h i s , t h e c o s t o f a s a c k o f
c e m e n t i n L e t h e m i s
$ 2 , 8 0 0 , $ 2 , 9 0 0 t h e r e
a b o u t B y t h e t i m e i t g e t s t o P a r a m a k a t o i i t i s
$ 1 4 , 0 0 0 y o u k n o w w h a t
t h a t m e a n s , b e c a u s e o f t h a t t r a n s p o r t a t i o n l i n k
t h a t w i l l b e c o m e m o r e
a c c e s s i b l e , t h e c o s t o f d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h o s e
c o m m u n i t i e s w i l l b e s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e d u c e d , ” h e
e x p l a i n e d
The minister continued
that people will have better homes, there will be better i n f r a s t r u c t u r e , a n d t h e livelihood of people will be improved, while the cost of food will also go down.
He added that the cost of living for the people will be reduced just by improving that road link.
C a l l i n g
m e m b e r s o f t
n who said they can’t support the budget
Region Nine and people of Region Eight, we don’t want you to have those 29 bridges, and we don’t want that road to be built.”
S
e d i t w o u l d i m p r o v e
c o n n e c t i v i t y i n t h e
c o u n t r y i n a r e a s s u c h a s t h e r o a d s , b r i d g e s , s e a
d e f e n c e s a n d a i r s t r i p s He said government will complete the bridge across the Bonasika Creek which he said will assist with their p l a n n e d c o n n e c t i o n o f Parika to Goshen in Region Three.
“ M o n e y i s i n t h e
2 0 2 5 b u d g e t t o b u i l d t h e
M a k o u r i a B r i d g e t h a t
w i l l l i n k R e g i o n F o u r
w i t h R e g i o n S e v e n , f r o m
S a n d H i l l s t o F a l l M o u t h , t h e M a k o u r i a B r i d g e
A s a m a t t e r o f f a c t ,
M i s t e r S p e a k e r , t h e
c o n t r a c t h a s a l r e a d y
b e e n a w a r d e d f o r t h i s
b r i d g e , ” E d g h i l l r e l a t e d
R e c a l l i n g s o m e o f t h e
p r o j e c t s u n d e r t a k e n b y
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1 5 0 b r i d g e s w e r e
r e h a b i l i t a t e d w i t h 6 6
b r i d g e s b e i n g
m a i n t a i n e d
“ A n d t h e s e a r e n o t
p u t t i n g b a c k w o o d
b r i d g e s T h e s e a r e p u t t i n g i n c o n c r e t e
b r i d g e s F r o m 2 0 2 0 , t o
2 0 2 4 , 2 5 , 7 8 3 k i l o m e t e r s o f s e a a n d r i v e r d e f e n s e
s t r u c t u r e s w e r e
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3 2 8 , 7 5 1 k i l o m e t e r s w e r e m a i n t a i n e d , ” h e
h i g h l i g h t e d F i n a n c e M i n i s t e r, D r
A s h n i S i n g h a n n o u n c e d i n h i s $ 1 3 t r i l l i o n
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Taxi driver, watchman nabbed with 21,364 grams of ganja
Police on Monday
watchman after the car they were in was intercepted and ranks found a quantity of ganja in it.
In a statement, Police said ranks from Regional Division 4A were on mobile
patrol duty on Man
Av e n u e , a t a b o u t 1 3 : 0 0 hours on Monday, when they received certain information and, as a result, they stopped a white Toyota Axio vehicle, PWW 2756, which was proceeding north along the western side of the road.
The vehicle’s owner Earl Harper, a 48-year-old taxi driver from Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, was driving at the time. With him
in the vehicle was one o c c u p a n t i n t h e f r o n t p a s s e n g e r
Taxi driver, Earl Harper
Demerara. The driver and occupant were told by the ranks that they received information that they were trafficking narcotics The ranks then searched the car, in the presence of the men, and found 20 wrapped in brown scotch tape i
yellow and white bag, and a black haversack in the trunk of the vehicle.
parcels and found that they
Watchman, Dwayne Campbell
suspected to be cannabis. The men were told of the offence committed and were
along with the car and the suspected cannabis. They were then escorted to the CID HQ Crime Lab along with the cannabis, which w
h
presence and amounted to 2 1 , 3 6 4 g
a m s B o t h suspects were taken into custody
The marijuana that was seized by police
Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill
Thirty killed in crowd crush at India’s Kumbh Mela festival
(BBC NEWS) At least 30 people have been killed in a crush at the world’s largest r e l i g i o u s g a t h e r i n g , t h e Hindu festival Kumbh Mela in northern India, officials say The incident took place early on Wednesday when devotees on the riverbanks in the city of Prayagraj were trampled by other pilgrims rushing to take part in a sacred day of ritual bathing. Another 60 people were injured, police said. It took most of the day for official casualty figures to emerge,
p r o m p t i n g o p p o s i t i o n leaders to accuse authorities of a lack of transparency
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to those who lost loved ones
Many pilgrims are still seeking news of relatives and friends
Police said 90 injured people had been taken to hospitals
“Unfortunately, 30 of those devotees have died,” senior
p o l i c e o f f i c e r Va i b h a v
K r i s h n a t o l d a n e w s conference on Wednesday evening. He said 25 of the dead had been identified.
Earlier in the day, BBC reporters had witnessed scenes of chaos, with clothes, shoes, blankets and backpacks strewn on the ground as crowds tried to escape the site of the accident “People were going in every direction,” one eyewitness
Ay e s h a M i s h r a t o l d t h e BBC. “They were getting pushed around and falling down. Children were getting crushed by the crowds ” Videos and photos from the
scene showed people on the ground, their bruised bodies and faces covered in mud. Some were being carried a w a y o n s t r e t c h e r s , a s ambulances zipped in and out of the sprawling tent city set up for the event. For hours there was confusion over the number of people w h o h a d d i e d o r b e e n injured. The main hospital w a s c o r d o n e d o f f a n d reporters barred from entry Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state - where Prayagraj is located - spoke of serious injuries, but did not mention deaths. Prime Minister Modi did acknowledge there had been fatalities but did not say how many “I wish for the s p e e d y r e c o v e r y o f a l l injured,” he said in a post on X , c a l l i n g t h e i n c i d e n t “extremely sad”. News of the accident did little to discourage the huge crowds thronging the venue - more than 50 million had bathed b y 1 4 : 0 0 l o c a l t i m e (08:30GMT), according to government figures The Kumbh Mela happens every 12 years at Sangam, the confluence of three sacred rivers - the Ganges (Ganga), Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. Hindus believe that bathing in the sacred waters will cleanse them of sins and help them attain salvation.
While the holy bath is the main draw, the event is also a vibrant carnival of faith, where people from all walks of lives, including ascetics,
ECOWAS
The crush has people anxiously waiting at lost and found centres at the Kumbh Mela
politicians and celebrities, c
Crowds from all over the country - and the worldh a v e b e e n a r r i v i n g i n Prayagraj to participate in the festival which began on 13 January and will go on until 26 February Some have come alone, others with t h e i r f a m i l y, i n c l u d i n g children and the elderly
We d n e s d a y w a s t h e biggest and most important bathing day of the festival, w i t h o ff
c i a l s e
i n g crowds of up to 100 million people It’s also the day of the Shahi snan - or the royal baththat sees thousands of ashsmeared ascetics taking a plunge in the river By Tuesday evening, crowds had already begun to swell up and an air of jubilance engulfed the venue Ecstatic devotees sang and danced in large and colourful processions And people were looking forward to taking a dip the next morning
But the celebrations soon turned into a moment of horror The news of the crush first broke between 01:00 and 02:00 local time (19:30- 20:30 GMT) when many ambulances were seen entering and leaving the venue. Eyewitnesses told the BBC that devotees had been s l e e p i n g a r o u n d t h e barricades of the Sangam n o s e - t h e p o i n t o f confluence of the riversw h e n t h e c r o w d s u rg e d towards them, leading to the crush. People began to run in confusion, many of them injured. Others had their clothes torn. “The crowds were so huge that people were trampling upon each other Me and my family, we all fell down,” said Poonam Singh, a devotee, who came with seven relatives of hers, all of whom were missing. “I lost all my money, my belongings and I can’t find my family anywhere,” she
added.
Uncertainty over what had happened added to the chaos
Many devotees said they sensed something was wrong, b u t d e c i d e d t o p r o c e e d anyway as there was no confirmation from authorities about the situation
The first announcements were made around 04:00, when officials started asking people to stop going to the Sangam nose and instead take a dip at the nearest river bank they could find But that did not change much - by then, paths leading to the Sangam were already jam packed Tens o f t h o u s a n d s o f p e o p l e continued to proceed - and still were doing so, hours after the accident
The ascetics had earlier said they would cancel their appearance, but later made t h e i r w a y t o b a t h e a t Sangam, although with their processions scaled down F o r m a n y p i l g r i m s , t h e s e a r c h f o r l o v e d o n e s stretched through the day, and continued into the night. Many remained at the site of the accident, where slippers, clothes and other belongings of the victims lay covered in mud. Occasional screams of t h o s e g r i e v i n g p i e r c e d through the commotion.
Anita Devi, from the central city of Jhansi, said she had spent the entire morning looking for her husband “He needs his medicines but they are with m e W h e n t h e c r u s h happened, I lost hold of his hand and he was gone in a
pledges to ‘keep door open’
blink,” she told the BBC. “It’s been so many hours but I can’t find him. This year there are so many lost-andfound centres that I don’t know where he might have gone. I am praying hard that he is alive and safe.”
C r o w d c r u s h e s a r e common
overcrowding at religious events, festivals and public spaces. Last year, more than 120 people were killed in Hathras district, also in Uttar Pradesh, during a religious gathering. Officials say the situation at the Kumbh Mela is now under control. But Indian opposition leaders h a v e c r i t i c i s e d t h e government over the crush. “ M i s m a n a g e m e n t , m i s m
focus on VIP movement instead of common devotees are responsible for this tragic
parliament, said in a post on X
d e n t “extremely sad”. S
p i l g
i m s a l s o blamed authorities for the disaster Ayesha Mishra questioned why there was no police presence where the crush happened “They were standing towards the end of the festival venue, while so many of us got crushed in the middle,” she said. “We do not want to take a holy dip like this,” she added “The government should just ask people to stay home at this point.”
after 3 coup-hit West African nations exit regional
(CNN) The junta-led West African nations of Niger, Mali and Burkina F a s o h a v e f o r m a l l y withdrawn from the regional bloc known as ECOWAS, the body said Wednesday
The previously announced withdrawal, which marks the culmination of a yearlong process during which the group tried to avert an u n p r e c e d e n t e d disintegration, “has become effective today,” ECOWAS said in a statement
The bloc, however, said that it has also decided to “ k e e p E C O WA S ’ d o o r s o p e n , ” a n d r e q u e s t e d member nations to continue to accord the trio their m e m b e r s h i p p r i v i l e g e s , including free movement within the region with an ECOWAS passport. E C O WA S p r e s i d e n t
l e g i t i m a c y c r i s i s o f
economic integration” in
Omar Alieu Touray told r e p o r t e r s i n N i g e r i a ’ s capital Abuja that despite the split, the bloc hopes to still collaborate with the countries in tackling some of the region’s challenges, i n c l u d i n g t h e d e a d l y extremist violence ripping through the region. The split “worsens a
ECOWAS which has often failed people’s expectations in upholding the rule of law,” said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at t h e K o n r a d A d e n a u e r Foundation. “That the three p o o r e s t m e m b e r s t a t e s decided to leave the bloc makes ECOWAS in the eyes of its citizens look even more like a loser in this conflict,” he said.
Widely seen as West Africa’s leading political and regional authority, the 15-nation ECOWAS was formed in 1975 to “promote
m e m b e r s t a t e s I t h a s struggled in recent years to reverse coups in the region w h e r e c i t i z e n s h a v e complained of not benefitting from rich natural resources
The bloc has since grown to become the region’s top
political authority, often collaborating with states to solve domestic challenges on various fronts from politics to economics and security
In parts of West Africa, however, ECOWAS has lost its effectiveness and support among citizens, who see it as representing only the
interests of the leaders and not that of the masses, said Oge Onubogu, director of the A f r i c a P r o g r a m a t t h e Washington-based Wilson Center think tank After coming into power, the juntas in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso announced that they were leaving ECOWAS They then created their own security partnership known as the Alliance of Sahel States, severed military ties with l o n g s t a n d i n g W e s t e r n partners such as U S and France, and turned to Russia for military support It’s the first time in the b l o c ’s h a l f - c e n t u r y o f existence that its members have withdrawn in such a manner Analysts say it’s an unprecedented blow to the group that could threaten efforts to return democracy a n d h e l p s t a b i l i z e t h e increasingly fragile region. E C O WA S s a i d t h a t i t s members were also required to treat goods and services c o m i n g f r o m t h e t h r e e c o u n t r i e s i n a c c o r d a n c e with ECOWAS regulations and provide full support and cooperation to ECOWAS officials from the countries during their assignments.
The ganja that was found
Elderly men busted with ganja
Tuesday, police ranks from Regional Division #4 acted on information received and
Vendors Arcade located at Bourda, Georgetown.
fixed place of abode, and Neville Roberts, a 64-yearold security guard from New A
building.
Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, on Wednesday announced that this year the government will be purchasing two new ferries to ply the Regions One and Two routes. The minister made this public during his contributions to this year ’s budget debates at the National Assembly Edghill said, this year, his ministry has been allocated $252 billion to execute its programmes and projects. “Mister Speaker, the people of Region One and the people of Region Two will be proud to hear that Budget 2025 has an allocation for the purpose of purchasing additional vessels…”
He pointed out that the newly acquired MV MaLisha has been carrying out its functions, while the MV Kimbia which is in
t r ansporting cargo. “We have the MV Barima taking it to Region One. We are about to buy another vessel to put on the Region One route, even though we have moved from going twice a month to now several times a month,” he stated.
Highlighting that the current vessels are making up to eight trips from Parika to Supenaam, Edghill also announced that “The people of Region Two must know budget 2025, monies are in it to purchase another ferry vessel for Region Number Two to ply between Parika and Supenaam.” The sum of $9.9 billion is budgeted to improve river
shopping bag with two bulky
suspected to be narcotics, outside of the building. Roberts and Gary were q
T h e r a n k s i d e n t i f i e d themselves as police officers in plain clothes by showing t h e m t h e i r p o l i c e identification cards and told them of the information received. The ranks then searched the two men but found nothing illegal on them. They then searched in and around the building and f o
t h e narcotics found and, under caution, Roberts stated that the narcotics belonged to him and that he had brought it from Berbice to sell. Both
n d escorted to the Narcotics Branch. The narcotic was weighed in their presence and it amounted to four (4) kilograms Roberts and Hartman were both placed in P o l i c e c u s t o d y, a s s i s t i n g with the investigation.
The MV MA Lisha which plys the Region One route.
Neville Roberts Gary Hartman
Hetmyer struggles as Gulf Giants as fall to Desert Vipers in ILT20 clash
SportsMax - West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer endured a forgettable outing with the bat as Gulf Giants slumped to a five-wicket defeat against Desert Vipers in their DP World ILT20
Stadium on Wednesday Hetmyer, known for his
s p e c t a b i l i t y. H i s l a t e
o n s l a u g h t p u s h e d t h e m
b e y o n d t h e 1 2 0 - r u n m a r k ,
b u t i t w a s s t i l l a w e l l -
b e l o w - p a r t o t a l on a decent batting surface.
I n r e p l y, t h e Vi p e r s f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s i n e a r l y
t r o u b l e , l o s i n g A l e x
H a l e s ( 9 ) , F a k h a r Z a m a n
( 1 4 ) , a n d D a n L a w r e n c e
( 7 ) i n s i d e t h e p o w e r p l a y
t o s l u m p t o 4 9 - 3
H o w e v e r , M a x H o l d e n
p l a y e d a m a t u r e k n o c k ,
Thursday January 30, 2025
ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19)
Difficult predicaments could arise today if you try to exert your will over others without having the most honorable intentions, Aries. It could be that you're using someone else's fear of you to control him or her
TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20)
The fire within you is raging today, Taurus, and you should be careful how you wield this p o w e r B e p r o u d a n d triumphant. Walk with your shoulders back and head high. Freedom is important.
GEMINI (May 21–June 20)
There may be a great deal of fuss over something that seems quite insignificant to you, Gemini. Try to see the beauty and importance of everything around you.
CANCER (June 21–July 22)
Things are coming to a critical point for you today, Cancer, and you may find that other people openly object to your actions. It's OK to be a bit selfish if the situation is appropriate.
LEO (July 23–Aug. 22)
Feel free to speak more loudly today, Leo. You'll find that things fall into place more easily if you sp
n d directly in the presence of others. Bring your internal power under your control.
VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22)
You should bask in a glorious splendor today, Virgo. There's a great deal of power at your disposal. You'll find your ego is healthy, charged, and ready for the battlefield.
LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22)
Add more sunshine to your day, Libra. It may be time to stir up your inner passion and l
confidence than you have been lately Make sure you heal yourself by letting the people around you hear your truth.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov 21)
You'll find that your spark can easily turn potential energy into kinetic energy, Scorpio. Don't underestimate the power of your words. Realize the profound impact they have on others and take responsibility
SAGIT (Nov 22–Dec. 21)
D o n ' t d w e l l o n y o
y, Sagittarius. Look at the larger
elements are coming together in your favor
CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19)
This is your day to shine in all your glory, Capricorn. There's no need to hold anything back. You'll find that you have a great deal of love to share. Your heart is likely to go to extremes today in order to prove its love.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)Try not to lose sight of your o w
, Aquarius. There's a great deal of power and manipulative energy in the air today that could throw you off course if you aren't careful.
PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20)
Recharge today by getting outside and stretching your arms to the sky, Pisces. Be proud and courageous. You have the power to turn an
West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer endured a forgettable outing with the bat as Gulf Giants slumped to a five-wicket defeat.
s
s t e e r i n g t h e i n n i n g s w i th an unbeaten 70 off 52 balls, laced with nine fours and one six.
H o l d e n f o u n d b r i e f
A d a m H o s e
( 1 2 n o t o u t ) e n s u r e d t h e y
s e c u r e d v i c t o r y w i t h s i x
b a l l s t o s p a r e
For the Giants, Blessing Muzarabani (3-25) was the standout bowler, but his efforts were in vain as the total proved too small to defend.
Dom Rep, Nicaragua blank Grenada...
n g
C a r i b b e a n I s l a n d f u r t h e r
a h e a d w i t h a c o m p o s e d 2 5 t h - m i n u t e f i nish.
T o r r e s t h e n
c o m p l e t e d h e r b r a c e
w i t h a 4 8 t h - m i n u t e
s t r i k e f r o m E s p i n a l ’ s
w e i
Dom Rep, Nicaragua blank Grenada, St Kitts in Women’s U-17 qualifiers
SportsMax - Dominican
R e p u b l i c a n d N i c a r a g u a opened the first round of their Concacaf Women’s U17 Qualifiers campaign on w i n n i n g n o t e s a s t h e y downed Gr
da and St Kitts and Nevis 5-0 and 4-0, respectively, in Groups E
and F on Tuesday Nicaragua, who are at home in Group E, made light work of St Kitts and Nevis at the National Stadium in Managua.
E m m a Q u i n t a n i l l a opened the scoring in the 20th when she fired a firm
left-footed shot box into the bottom left corner of the net.
From there, Nicaragua applied consistent pressure and inevitably doubled the lead in the 44th through Mariela Zavala’s header
S t e f a n y M i r a n d a c a p i t a l i z e d o n a p o o r l y
Dominican Republic and Nicaragua opened the first round of their Concacaf Women’s U-17 Qualifiers campaign on winning notes.
cleared ball in the area to get Nicaragua’s third goal in the 87th, while Helena Lau proved to be a super sub, as her first touch of the ball, a right-footed effort from the top of the 18-yard box, gave St Kitts and Nevis’ custodian no chance at a save in the 9 0 + 4 W i t h t h e w i n , Nicaragua assumed the early
lead in the group, while St Kitts and Nevis will seek to bounce back when they cross p
Jamaica will meet to close the group on Saturday Meanwhile, in Group F a
Grenada at Estadio Olímpico
Domingo.
Jabes Martinez started
Quisqueyanas in the 16th with an effort from
beaten all ends up.
distance
M
The hosts doubled their (Continued on page 23)
Dujon questions CWI over ‘surprise’ axing of Coach Coley
S p o r t s M a x - We s t Indies cricket legend Jeff D u j o n v o i c e d s t r o n g
d i s p l e a s u r e w i t h t h e decision taken by Cricket
We s t I n d i e s ( C W I ) t o remove Andre Coley as the head coach of the West
I n d i e s Te s t t e a m C W I
a n n o u n c e d C o l e y ’ s impending departure during a m e d i a b r i e f i n g i n S t Vincent which was attended
by President Dr Kishire Shallow, Directors of the Board and Miles Bascombe, the Director of Cricket.
Speaking on Tuesday night in the Mason & Guest show in Bridgetown, Dujon said the region governing body can ill-afford to part w a y s w i t h C o l e y, w h o recently guided the team to an extraordinary comeback victory in the series in Pakistan. Ahead of the trip to Pakistan, CWI announced that Coley’s contract would not be renewed and that Daren Sammy would take over the team, coaching the West Indies Senior Men’s team in all formats.
Sammy took over the West Indies white-ball teams in 2023 after West Indies failed to qualify for the ICC M e n ’s Wo r l d C u p T h e
f o r m e r Wi n d i e s c a p t a i n engineered a revival of the team’s fortunes in the T20 format which resulted in the team moving up the ICC rankings. However, the team failed to achieve the stated goal of qualifying for the final four of the ICC T20
Wo r l d C u p p l a y e d o n Caribbean soil last year
I t i s a g a i n s t t h i s background that the decision
to have Sam
W e s t I n d i e s wicketkeeper/batter
”I’m surprised that they replaced Andre Coley and I’m even more surprised by the replacement, ” Dujon s a i d “ I n t e r m s o f experience, Andre is the most experienced coach we have in the Caribbean, and he is being replaced by someone who has nowhere near that experience as a coach. So, it strikes me as being very strange. I don’t see any reason why Coley should have lost his job at this point. I don’t see anyone at this point who can do a whole lot better.”
Dujon is rated as the g r e a t e s t w i c k e tk e e p e r / b a t s m a n i n We s t I n d i e s Te s t h i s t o r y H e
played 81 matches between 1981 and 1991 – the era of w o r l d d o m i n a n c e u n d e r C l i v e L l o y d a n d V i v Richards. He scored 3322 runs with five centuries and held a record 267 catches and five stumpings.
Dujon added: “At the Test level we don’t have a settled s i t u a t i o n , w h e r e p l a y e r s come and go determined by their determination of their availability As far as I can see, that doesn’t lend to you building there is nothing for you to build on ” Coley’s tenure has been mixed. He masterminded the f a m o u s w i n a g a i n s t Australia at the Gabba a year ago — the first win in Australia since 1997, and the recent heroics in Pakistan — the first win there since 1990. In between the team suffered defeats away to England and at home against South Africa, while drawing 1-1 with Bangladesh on home soil.
The West Indies next assignments are white-ball tours of Ireland and England in May and June, followed by a three-Test series from June 25 to July 16 against A u s t r a l i a f o r t h e F r a n k Worrell trophy
Anna Regina Secondary reigns
Th e C N O O C
P e t r o l e u m
Guyana Limited ( C P G L ) G u y a n a Ta b l e Tennis Association (GTTA),
M i n i s t r y o f E d u c a t i o n (MOE) Nationwide Schools
T a b l e T e n n i s
Championships ignited a new wave of enthusiasm in Region 2, as Anna Regina Secondary emerged as the d o m i n a n t f o r c e i n t h e competition.
Held on January 23 and 2 4 , a t t h e Q u e e n s t o w n
C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e , t h e
c h a m p i o n s h i p s b r o u g h t together talented young table tennis players from 8th of
M a y S e c o n d a r y , A n n a Regina Secondary, Abrams
Zuil Secondary, Johanna
Cecilia, and Queenstown Secondary in a battle for regional honours.
Following the successful Region 7 edition, the Region 2 championships saw intense
r i v a l r y a n d e x c e p t i o n a l performances, showcasing the untapped potential of students in the area.
Debra Daniels, an ITTF
L e v e l O n e c o a c h a n d national umpire, alongside Coach Candacy McKenzie, coordinated the event with
s u p p o r t f r o m R e g i o n a l
E d u c a t i o n O f f i c e r M r s Hercules, teachers, and an
e n t h u s i a s t i c c r o w d o f students.
- CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited GTTA/MOE Schools TT C/chips a resounding success
C o a c h M c K e n z i e expressed her excitement at the high level of talent and i n t e r e s t d i s p l a y e d throughout the tournament.
S h e h i g h l i g h t e d t h a t Region 2 has the potential to become a stronghold for table tennis, especially with s t r u c t u r e d c o a c h i n g interventions in place.
T h e c h a m p i o n s h i p s featured the Boys’ 15 Years and Under Singles, Girls’ 18 Years and Under Singles, and the 18 Years and Under Team Championships. The e v e n t n o t o n l y f u e l l e d competitive spirit but also
set the stage for future coaching and development programs aimed at both students and teachers.
The CNOOC Petroleum
Guyana Limited Schools
T a b l e T e n n i s
C h a m p i o n s h i p s , i n partnership with the GTTA and MOE, is Guyana’s first nationwide schools table
t e n n i s t o u r n a m e n t T h e initiative aims to: Provide a platform for student-athletes to showcase their skills.
R e - e s t a b l i s h s c h o o l s table tennis championships
a s a d e v e l o p m e n t a l foundation for the sport.
D e v e l o p a s t r u c t u r e d competition framework with
s c h o o l l e a g u e s , r e g i o n a l t o u r n a m e n t s , t r a i n i n g
camps, and club linkages.
S e r v e a s a t a l e n t i
sustainability at national and international levels.
Region 2 Championship
Results
B o y s ’ 1 5 Ye a r s a n d Under Singles
Quarterfinals:
R o b e r t o B a y a n d e f
Kenan Benn 2-1 (12-10, 511, 11-9)
J u n i o r N e l s o n d e f
Anthony Arthur 2-1 (5-11, 11-7, 11-9)
Kiran Bhagwandin def. Jerimiah Fordyce 2-0 (11-6, 11-4)
A n d r o n R o b e r o d e f . Darius Pearson 2-0 (11-5, 11-5)
Semi-finals:
J u n i o r N e l s o n d e f Roberto Bayan 2-0 (11-5, 11-4)
A n d r o n R o b e r o d e f
Kiran Bhagwandin 2-0 (116, 11-4)
Finals:
A n d r o n R o b e r o d e f Junior Nelson 2-0
Winners:
1 s t P l a c e – A n d r o n Robero
2 n d P l a c e – J u n i o r Nelson
Joint 3rd Place – Kiran B h a g w a n d i n & R o b e r t o Bayan
G i r l s ’ 1 8 Ye a r s a n d
Under Singles
Alisa Hill def. Ashanana Mohamed 2-0 (11-4, 11-5)
1 8 Ye a r s a n d U n d e r Team Championships
Anna Regina Secondary emerged victorious after a dominant performance in the team event.
Abrams Zuil Secondary
a n d J o h a n n a C e c i l i a Secondary also showcased strong performances, with Abrams Zuil defeating 8th of May Secondary and Johanna C e c i l i a s e c u r i n g a w i n against the same opponents.
In the final showdown,
A n n a R e g i n a S e c o n d a r y defeated Johanna Cecilia 30, asserting their dominance a n d s e c u r i n g t h e championship title.
According to the GTTA, the Region 2 edition of the CNOOC Petroleum Guyana
L i m i t e d G T T A - M O E
S c h o o l s T a b l e T e n n i s Championships has proven to be a resounding success, generating excitement and setting the foundation for f u t u r e d e v e l o p m e n t programs in the region.
The GTTA believes that with continued investment in t r a i n i n g , c o a c h i n g , a n d s t r u c t u r e d c
R
produce top-tier table tennis talent for Guyana’s national a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l representation.
Fifties from Forde, Drakes...
From page 23
f e l l o w o p e n e r L e n i k o
Boucher (19) falling to
Smith via LBW and captain
R a y m o n R e i f e r ( 4 )
becoming the second victim of the Alimohamed/Savory duo, Barbados were stunned b y t h e o p e n i n g b u r s t compliments of the Eagles’ fast-bowlers.
Despite losing two crucial partners, McCaskie continued to push on before he too fell victim to pace Rain stopped play for about 40 minutes after lunch, which gave both teams time to regroup with the game evenly matched.
Drakes took over after the departure of his fellow halfcenturion, finding a few partners despite their brief stints in the middle Savory swapped weapons as he
moisture being added to the setting due to the weather
Looknauth was the key to
Drakes who was looking like
W
v i n Wickham (3) also fell to a Leg
Before Wicket decision as L o o k n a u t h g a i n e d momentum, further adding the wicket of Demetrius C a m e r o n ( 1 3 ) t o h i s collection, as the Pride lost three important wickets in a flurry By tea the Bajans progressed to 221-6, thanks to the pair of fifties earlier on Forde and Holder, who both got into double digits prior to the final interval, had two
boundaries each to their name as they sought to regroup ahead of the final session. Forde showed his class as a senior West Indies ODI/T20 player, punching a r o u n d t h e G u y a n e s e bowling attack on his way to a robust 66-ball 50.
With a six off Adams, Forde and his partner Holder took their partnership to 102 off 153 balls, but more importantly helped Barbados take their score past 300-runs with time left on the clock.
Holder was then beaten by a beauty from a returning Looknauth who broke the century stand, while Forde attempted an ambitious shot only to find himself stumped by Savory off the bowling of Pe r m a u l , a s t
mopped up the tail ahead of their stiff chase on Day 2, which continues today from 10:00h, weather permitting. I
Blackwood hit an unbeaten 101 and John Campbell struck
innings as they reached 291-7 at theclose Jahmar Hamilton and Karima Gore struck half-
e Leeward Islands Hurricanes to a competitive 290-6 at stumps. Hamilton finished the day unbeaten on 67, playing a crucial role in stabilizing the innings after the Hurricanes suffered a midinnings collapse He was well s
who scored 59 (Clifton Ross)
Wills, Bahadur, Johnson shine at GTTA Novice Championship
The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Novice a n d H a n d i c a p T e n n i s Championship came to a thrilling conclusion over the weekend at the National Gymnasium, showcasing an array of new talents across the two days of intense battles.
The two-day event, which commenced on January 25 and 26, saw players from regions three, four, and five battle fiercely for supremacy, with O w a n W i l l s , J o n a t h a n Bahadur, and Aria Johnson emerging as the standout champions in their respective categories
Participants and officials take a group photo at the event.
overcoming Samara Sukhai 31, Goliah edging out Angel Robinson (+2) 3-2, and Wills dominating Christopher Nelson (+2) 3-0 The round of 16 also provided its share of drama, as Moore swept past Akel Hall 30, Sahadeo defeated Kayden M e u s a 3 - 0 , a n d G o l i a h overcame Shackecy Damon 3-
1 M e a n w h i l e , A n g e l R o b i n s o n ( + 2 ) a n d Christopher Nelson (+2) also advanced with impressive wins.
One of the tournament’s
T h e H a n d i c a p O p e n singles finals were a spectacle of skill and determination, as Owan Wills (+1) of East Bank Demerara clinched the title in a hard-fought match against Krystian Sahadeo (-6) Wills triumphed with a 3-2 victory (11-8, 11-7, 4-11, 11-13, 11-7), showcasing his resilience and tactical prowess Earlier in the semifinals, Wills, asserted himself as the tournament’s top seed, defeating Xenophon Goliah (-4) in straight sets (113, 11-7, 11-7), while Sahadeo secured his spot in the finals by overcoming Malachi Moore ( - 6 ) i n a g r i p p i n g 3 - 1 encounter (10-12, 11-2, 116, 11-8). The quarterfinals were equally electrifying, with M
most notable upsets occurred during the group matches, where Devanand Boodhoo ( + 3 ) o f We s t D e m e r a r a stunned the number two seed, Sahadeo (-6), in a thrilling 3-2 victory (7-11, 10-12, 11-6, 113, 11-7) This match set the tone for the competitive spirit that defined the championship Over in the Novice Open category, Jonathan Bahadur of West Demerara claimed the title with a commanding 2 - 0 v i c t o r y o v e r L e s t e r Thomas (11-9, 12-10). Joint third-place honours went to Alyssa Troyer, who lost to Thomas 1-2, and Jhonny Carpio, who was defeated by
Bahadur 0-2. While in the age-group Novice (Under1 3 ) c a t e g o r y s a w A r i a Johnson of Berbice crowned champion after a roundrobin playoff among five players Ethan Marks of Marian Academy secured s e c o n d p l a c e , w h i l e Fabianna John of Agricola and Kadem Wickham of Marian Academy took third a n d f o u r t h p l a c e s , respectively Mia Barrow of Diamond finishe
bottom of the table.
T
concluded with a presentation c e r e m o n y, w h e r e Wi l l s , Bahadur, and Johnson were
awarded top prizes for their o
The organiser of the event, expressed its gratitude to the National Sports Commission, Al Sport and Tour Promotion (Alistair Munroe), Sussane Samuels, and the Friends of Table Tennis Association for their invaluable support in making the tournament a resounding success
The 2024 GTTA Novice a
tennis community but also served as a platform for emerging stars to shine.
CANOC Executive Committee gathers in Guyana for pivotal Annual Retreat
Th e E x e c u t i v e Committee of the C a r i b b e a n
A s s o c i a t i o n o f N a t i o n a l
O l y m p i c C o m m i t t e e s (CANOC) will convene in
G u y a n a , f o r i t s h i g h l y anticipated annual retreat, January 31 – February 2.
R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m approximately 26 National Olympic Committees across the Caribbean will gather to shape the future of regional sports, engage in strategic discussions, and enhance c o l l a b o r a t i o n a m o n g member nations.
T h e 2 0 2 5 C A N O C
R e t r e a t f o l l o w s a n except
nal year for the organisation, highlighted by t h e i n a u g u r a l C A N O C
Caribbean Sports Awards in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, where the historic event, which was b
, celebrated Caribbean athletic excellence and underscored CANOC’s growing influence i n t h e
e g i o n a l s p
i n g landscape. This year ’s retreat w
y significant as it will focus on the draft Strategic Plan for 2025–2028, marking the first c
CANOC’s formation in 2003
The plan will serve as a
development, administrative c
Godfrey Munroe - GOA president
regional sports infrastructure e n h a n c e m e n
y areas of discussion on the agenda will be the finalizing CANOC’s first-ever Strategic
f i n e priorities and policies to drive regional sports development
The strategic document which captures the work of CANCOC from 2025 – 2028, is expected to serve as a guiding framework for the Olympic Committees of the Caribbean in the coming years
C A N O C w
d u m o f Understanding (MOU) with the Olympic Committee of Peru, aligning its programmes with the needs identified in the 2024 Needs Assessment S
discussions will centre on updating the existing MOU with the University of the
Grenada and its Olympic A
cia
on, with a key element of this partnership will be the proposed HighP
sports in the OECS and the wider Caribbean.
The retreat will also review the status of the Advanced Sports Leadership Course, a
CWI Regional 4-Day Championships Round 1… GHE vs. BP Day 1
joint initiative of Panam Sports, UWI, and CANOC
According to CANOC, the programme is designed to enhance sports administration and governance across the Caribbean, ensuring that the region remains competitive on the international stage.
A c e n t r a l t o p i c o f discussion will be Guyana’s p o t e n t i a l t o h o s t f u t u r e regional events, including the prestigious Caribbean Games
The Caribbean Games, a multi-sport event showcasing the best athletes from the region, plays a crucial role in fostering regional unity and sports development
CANOC believes that b r i n g i n g t h e G a m e s t o G u y a n a w o u l d b e a significant milestone for the country, demonstrating its commitment to fostering elite sports and its capacity to host large-scale events.
In addition to hosting p o t e n t i a l f u t u r e G a m e s , Guyana’s role in facilitating coaching camps and other s p o r t s d e v e l o p m e n t
Sustainability Action Plan.
Looknauth (4-69), Alimohamed (2-37) (Pride 346 all out) 1st innings
trifecta of fifties
from Johnathan Drakes, Zachary
Forde headlined a strong opening day at the Guyana N
m , Providence as the Barbados Pride enter Day 2 in the
defending CWI Regional 4Day Ch
Guya
a Harpy Eagles. The 2025 Regional 4Day cricket season bowled off across the Caribbean
missing a number of key p
duties/injuries; kickstarting
helped back the champs into a slight corner as the Pride
ended day one on a daunting 1st innings 346 all out after 84.3 overs.
Opener McCaskie set the tone with brisk 64, which featured 7 fours and a pair of sixes, while Drakes steadied the middle with his gritty 70 off 120 balls (11 fours) as the pair added 88 for the 4th wicket. All-rounder Forde t o o k c h a r g e o f t h e l o w e r / m i d d l e - o r d e r , pummeling his way to a robust half-century on debut, striking a 91-ball 82 with a wide array of shots including three sixes and eight fours. The West Indies limited o v e r s p a c e r s h o w e d h i s capabilities with the bat, m u s c l i n g t h e E a g l e s ’ bowlers around during the afternoon session.
Another all-rounder in Chaim Holder provided the ideal support for Forde,
scoring a run-a-ball 29 with a pair of fours and as many sixes. It was a mixed day at h
bowling unit, led by offspinner Richie Looknauth who grabbed 4-69 in his first 4-Day match for the Eagles. F a s
A
Niall Smith (1-60) were the
Guyana as the veteran pair of left-arm spinners in Anthony
A d a m s ( 1 - 5 4 ) a n d Veerasammy Permaul (287), toiled for their wickets.
B
opener McCkasie led the way with some tempered stroke play at the top, before being undone by a beauty
was neatly accepted by the Eagles skipper and wicketkeeper, Kemol Savory With (Continued on page 25)
Approved at the General Assembly in October 2024, the plan outlines initiatives to ensure environmentally responsible sports practices
a c r o s s t h e r e g i o n A s C A N O C s e e k s t o p r o f e s s i o n a l i z e i t s operations, the retreat will f o c u s o n f i n a n c i a l sustainability and revenue g e n e r a t i o n T h e o rg a n i s a t i o n ’s M a r k e t i n g Commission will prese
secure funding and increase CANOC’s global profile, e n s u r i n g i t s c
impact on Caribbean sports.
Meanwhile, president of
a c t i v i t i e s w i l l a l s o b e explored. Guyana, known internationally for its strong and progressive stance on climate change, will be an ideal location to discuss the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f C A N O C ’s 2 0 2 5 – 2 0 3 0
Munroe, expressed deligh
hosting the retreat. According to Munroe,
facilitate this pivotal retreat, where
Caribbean sports. We are
sustainable sports initiatives, and positioning Guyana as a hub for high-performance training and major sporting events.” Munroe said the Executive Committee of the G O
productive discussions and meaningful outcomes that
Godfrey
Keith Joseph - CANOC president
Off-spinner Richie Looknauth starred with 4 wickets for the Guyana
-Looknauth(4-69),Alimohamed (2-37)(Pride346allout)1stinnings
Anna Regina Secondary reigns supreme
Jeff Dujon
Opener Zachary McCaskie scored a solid half-century for the Pride yesterday.
Harpy Eagles.