Kaieteur News

VP Jagdeo defends Guyana not having a Petroleum Commission

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

has brushed aside criticisms from opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) over his government’s failure to establish the long-promised Petroleum Commission and to renegotiate the Exxon StabroekBlockdeal.

Opposition MPs David Patterson and Shurwayne Holder during the just concluded budget debates flayedtheVicePresidentand others for backpedalling on their promise to establish a Petroleum Commission, a regulatory body meant to oversee the oil and gas sector

T h e P e t r o l e u m Commission Bill, which would pave the way for an independent regulator, has remained in limbo despite the People’s Progressive Party previously identifying it as a priority With the Ali administration now in its fifth year, the bill remains unimplemented.

Inhisresponse,atapress conference last Thursday Jagdeo asserted that he has alreadyaddressedthematter multipletimes.

“So and the Petroleum Commission is, I dealt with that 100 times before, the Petroleum Commission, I dealt with it 100 times before I don’t even need to deal with it again, but it shows they have nothing to say,really”

In August 2020, Vice President Jagdeo was reported as saying that the body would be set up in six months and the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall told the media in 2021, that the Natural Resource Ministry’s legaldepartment,alongwith the Chief Parliamentary Counsel attached to his office, was working on the document to facilitate the change which the new Government wanted to the draftPetroleumCommission Bill that was left behind by the previous administration.

Vice President Jagdeo went from stating that the Commissionwouldbesetup within months to claiming that the Commission is not necessary.

At anAugust 2024 press conference, Jagdeo said, “There is no magic with a P e t r o l e u m Commission…There is no magic, we have given our agenciesthetoolstomanage thesector.” MP Holder during his

presentation in the National Assembly stated, “The PPP has betrayed the trust of the Guyanese people on this matter In opposition and even in the first few months after2020,boththeMinister of Natural Resources and Vice President promised to set up the Petroleum Commission, but after becoming comfortable and withhandsontheoilmoney, theyturnedtheirbackonthe people.”

For his part, MP Patterson had also criticized t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s management of the oil and gas sector and highlighted areas it has failed to deliver on. He too highlighted the government’s failure to establish the long-promised PetroleumCommission.

“The PPP are very comfortable with the ‘do nothingapproach,’whilethe oil resources of our country is being squandered away,” Pattersonsaid.

Moreover, both Holder andPattersonalsocalledout thegovernmentforfailingto honor their 2020 campaign promise to renegotiate the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) that was signed by the previous APNU+AFC government withExxonMobil.

The deal the Coalition

signed agrees for ExxonMobilanditspartners, Hess and CNOOC to pay Guyana a 2% royalty on oil revenues, allows for the oil companiestorecover75%of the revenue to cover cost beforetheremaininggoesto profit-sharing,andcatersfor Guyana to cover the oil companies’taxes.

“And the elephant in the roomisrenegotiation.These are the corrupt people who werepartofthatnegotiation, who stuck us with the contract now, pretending to be national in their orientation.So,thosearejust some of the things I wanted to say in the budget that has come out, ” Jagdeo responded.

Notably,thecontracthas been widely criticised for giving the oil companies a tax-free ride, the high-cost recovery rate and lack of ring-fencingprovision.

This has led to calls for renegotiation from various quarters. However, the PPP government has maintained thatithasneverpromisedto renegotiate the Exxon deal and said that they will abide by the terms of the deal and notseekarenegotiation.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), David Patterson Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

Shadow Oil and Gas Minister and Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Shurwayne Holder

KaieteurNews

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EDITORIAL

Weaponising the police force

A government that is really about transparency and accountabilityisconfidentofthegroundsonwhichitstands. It has equipped itself to face any citizen in any forum and speakwithpowerandconvictionofitscleanrecord.

Therecordmustbecleanandintheopenbeforeanysuch claimcanbemade. TherecordofthePPPCGovernmenthas beenofsecrets,thatofitsleadersbestdescribedaswhatis deceptive. Whenthegovernmentfearstoanswerhonestand vitalquestionsaboutsomeofthebiggestissueshappeningin Guyana,thenithasmuchtohide. Suchagovernmentsees enemies everywhere, is abusive and hostile to those who spillthebeansonhowitoperatesbehindthescenes. Intime, thereisthatnextfatefulsteptaken,viz-a-viz,whereagents oftheStateareletlooseonlaw-abidingcitizenswhospeak out,andincensethegovernment. TheGuyanaPoliceForce (GPF)hasbeenusedbydifferentgovernmentstointimidate outspokencitizensintosilence.

Honestgovernmentsdonotfearhonestcitizens,andthe leaders of such governments usually welcome criticisms. Leaders are made aware of where developments are not in thebestinterestsofthepeople. Leadersservethepeople;the people are not servants of leaders. Nor should they be targeted and their constitutional right to security be threatened in any way Most of all, it is a gross misuse of GPFmanpowerandresourcestoteachharshlessonstothose found objectionable. When citizens break no law, and are guiltyofonethingonly,i.e.,usingtheirfreedomtothinkand freedomtospeaktodisagreewithactionsofthegovernment, theymustnotbevictimized. ThePPPCGovernmentknows that it is not in a good place with oil, with corruption, and withoveralltransparencyandaccountability Itshouldalso knowthattherearesomeGuyanese,albeitascantfewonly, who will speak frankly and publicly, because they do not fearthegovernment.

ItissadthatthisPPPCGovernment,whichlikestotalk so much about democracy, can be so impoverished where democracy’s ideals are concerned. What the PPPC Governmentandleadersaredoingtodaymirrorssomeofthe dirty tricks that the PNC used to employ against those it defined as opponents. Decades ago, the media used to be attackedandsqueezedbythethenPNCGovernment,today the PPPC Government does a good imitation of those troubledtimes. Truthbetold,therearemanyGuyanesewho areoftheviewthattoday’sPPPisasbad,ifnotworse,than thePNCofyesteryear Weatthispublicationhavehadour shareofabuseandpressure. Wearestillcarryingonwiththe struggle for a better Guyana, the one that all Guyanese deserve, regardless of which political party is the governmentoftheday

ThePNCbackinitsheydaydeployedtheSpecialBranch and others in the GPF against law-abiding Guyanese made to experience the long, heavy arm of law enforcement. It was of law enforcement misused to abuse Guyanese. We take no issue with the GPF unleashed against Guyanese engaged in illegal activities. But we draw the line when frank speech and free speech are menaced. Because the PPPC Government has engaged in so much wrongdoing, knows its vulnerabilities, it sees outspoken Guyanese as parasitestobecrushed. ArmsoftheStateareweaponizedto go after Guyanese and shut them up. Why do matters deterioratetobeingacrime,whenacitizenwithnorecordof breakingthelawspeaksoutagainstwhatishappeningwith theoilmoneyofthenation? Whatdoesitsay,whentheGPF is pushed to come into life, and discover that that same citizen is someone that has to be dealt with in no uncertain terms? Lineshavealreadybeencrossed,withthequestion being how many more constitutional protections will be trampled upon, at the hands of a shaky government with insecure leaders? Recently, there was the spectacle where the Commissioner of Police was blocked by the minister from speaking to the media. Politics comes before real policing. The follow-up action is to weaponize against honestcitizens.

‘Parties, policies and young people’

DEAREDITOR,

LastweekaletterbyMr Antonio Dey, a final year university student, advised thatwe‘Voteforpoliciesand not party’ (KN Letters: 03/02/2025).

Thismissivegrabbedmy attentionfornotwithstanding its seeming innocence, it raised a few issues that promise to haunt the 2025 political discourse as political apologists distort Guyanese political reality in search of partisan support. Here I bring attention to a few of these issues: the nature of political relations inGuyana,theimportanceof an historical context and the place of ‘young people’ in thepoliticalprocess.

‘The importance of political parties cannot be overstated; the operation of the whole governmental apparatus is dependent on them The presence of politicalpartiesinanynation isoneofthegoodmarkersof a successful democratic transition. Therealityisthat democracy is impossible to imagine in the absence of political parties. They’re the

driving force behind everything the government d o e s ’ (https://bscholarly.com/roles -and-imp

democracy/).

According to Mr Dey, ‘The younger generation must diverge from the concept of party loyalism, which may have been instilledbytheirparentsand grandparents and critically assess whether these political parties embody the qualities we seek in our leaders.’ Further, [as] we approach another election, I am not interested in the mistakes of the Former A Partnership for National Unity+AllianceForChange (APNU+AFC) or the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C).’ He called upon‘theyoungerelectorate to critically examine the policies of both the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R) to determine which of these majorpoliticalpartiesisbest suited to govern our nation’ (KN,opcit).

Itisimportanttonotethat Mr Dey seems to suggest that in Guyana meaningful political choice only comes ifonechoosestovoteforthe two larger parties, but how meaningful is the choice?

One of the major criticisms ofthepoliticalsystemisthat given their constitutional place, political parties in Guyana do the opposite of what the above generality suggests: they suppress the growth of a liberal democratic culture For example, their role in the electoral process is too pervasiveanditistheviewof manywell-informedpersons that,amongotherthings,the i n

g e o f democratisation should include the establishment of more directly constituency elected and accountable members of parliament (MPs).

Far more questionably, Mr Dey dismisses about 40% (the older generation) of the population and suggests that the remaining 60% forget their history! This call upon people to forget their past has far

reaching implications and is somewhat surprising for a finalyearuniversitystudent. Ifnotlargelybytheirhistory how can people critically assess the parties? Certainly not only on their immediate performance. Indeed, such an approach will be t r e m e n d o u s l y disadvantageous to the People’s progressive Party (PPP) and explains why it falsely persistently seeks succour in the Forbes Burnham era. After all, no regime that has fortuitously come upon the present quantity of resources should possibly have ended up todaywithsuchanalienated, disunitedandcorruptsociety thatislargelytheresultofits own policy of divide and rule,thewidespreadpractice of purchasing political allegianceanddisruptingthe normal democratic process ineverycreviceofGuyanese society

Furthermore, since all politicalpartiesusuallyhave policiesonmostmajorissues ofthedayandonecannotbe expectedtoagreewithalla

Continued on page 5

PPP/C proving itself to be non-discriminatory

DEAR

EDITOR,

Good news reeks from the headline that “PNCR’s James Bond, attorney Selwyn Pieters throw supportbehindPresAlifora 2ndterm.”ButbeforeImake a few statements on this development, I have a touch of history for readers, all for the purpose of showing the nation that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic is verybroad-based,andhasno place for vendetta, recrimination. In fact, the PPP/Chasalwaysbeennonretaliatory in its politics and practices.

So,evenasIreminisce,I remind our citizens in the “Land of one People” that Dr Cheddi Jagan, from inception,wasknowntobea manofthepeople.Justflash back, and conjure up when he was declared the winner of the Central Demerara constituency in the 1947 General Election. His words were emphatic and quite promising, declaring that “”We, the people, have won.” (NB. Not his party as such)

Then almost fifty years later, he repeated that anthem, saying that (not his party but that) the “ Guyanese people had won on October 9, 1992, (right) after his historic victoryintheelections. WhatamIgettingat?Itis

thefactthatDr Jagancraved a united Guyana. He looked way beyond party and racial politics, and this philosophy still inheres within the Dr Irfaan Ali Administration. Andthus,thereareplacesfor thelikesofAttorneys-at-law James Bond and Selwyn Pieters.

Editor, of their own volition, as expressed in a social media post, Peters wrote,that“JamesAnthonyBond and Selwyn Pieters share the same view that President Irfaan Ali and the Peoples Progressive Party/Civicwillbebackfora secondterm.PresidentAliis asrealastheycomeandIlike him.Heisalsoworkingvery hard on the domestic and internationalsphere.Hemay not be perfect for all but no one is perfect. “He who is without sin cast the first stone”John8:7.”

Then, along the same theme, Bond conveyed “… highpraisesforPresidentAli andthePPP/CGovernment’s commitment (towards) enhancing the lives of citizens, especially youths. And “Recalling the friendly relationsthetwosharedover the years, Bond publicly declared his support for President Ali’s second term inoffice.”

I can go on, but what is vital to grasp is that this support for the PPP/C, in

numbers, quality and intensity is not even solicited; it redounds from thephilosophy,integrityand all-embracing culture the partyitself.Aswaspreached byDr Jagan,thereisaplace for everyone. Coming to the present, President, Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali keeps makingitclearthat“…there is no barrier between him and Guyanese, as his government is working tirelessly to build a ‘One Guyana’ , through a community-by-community approach.”Infact,ontaking office on August 2, 2020, President Ali immediately embarked on a community campaign,meetingresidents at the grass-root level to listen to their concerns, and at no time did he and his subjects showed any kind of partiality to anyone nor any place.

Again, going back to 1992, the Dr Jagan, the FatheroftheNation,echoed that “In this exciting adventure, I expect the fullest cooperation the progressively minded p e r s o n a l i t i e s a n d organizations, investors, experts and advisors.” He elaboratedthat“We(will)do so without rancor, without recrimination, without victimization,withoutinany way trying to cast blame. In thisregard,Ihopetodevelop

a constructive relationship with Mr Desmond Hoyte and the leadership of all partiesinordertodeepenour democratic process and accelerate our economic development.”

Well history has shown thatHoytewasbitterandwas soldouttoejectingDr Jagan out of power Hoyte was knownforstreetprotestsand disturbances. Alas, to his disappointment and failure, thePPPwasneverinterested in settling political scores or opening old wounds However, it seems that Hoyte’s legacy is in perpetuation. For the PNC, Afro-Guyanese are the exclusive properties of the PNC. For the leaders of the PNC, it is a betrayal that Afro-Guyanese are finding true leadership in the PPP/C and are thus turning over their support to the PPP I recall how the Leader of the PNC, Aubrey Norton, accused the PPP of buying over the support of AfroGuyanese, and of AfroGuyanese of selling their souls. He has even accused businesses which in the old days were in opposition to thePPPofsellingtheirsouls to the PPP Imagine! Let me add this, as I think it is desperation and an unwillingness to face realty thatinrecenttimes,PNC Continued on page 5

Now is not the time

DEAREDITOR,

IwasatlastluckytohavesomeonereadtomeMr Ralph Ramkarran’sletterinresponsetomyrequesttohiscomments onDr Seecharan’sbookwhichappearedashesaysinMarch of2024.Ithankhimforbeingsopatientastoreplytome.He has cited examples of my comments on Dr Jagan’s involvement in our society’s policies and his numerous activities.

I am glad that in his review of Seecharan, he included remarksofminewhichdidnotappearto“damnify”.

I use the word “damnify” used often by famous lawyer Lionel Luckhoo in his anti-communist campaigns Ramkarran’s citing of remarks of mine both positive and negativeshouldfreemeofanysuspicionofmaliciousintent. He ended his letter by suggesting that I could clear the matter up by giving my current opinion of the whole of Dr Jaganpraxis.

Dr Jagan’spraxishasalwaysbeenamatterofcompelling interest for me, and it is likely that there may be some developmentthatdrivesmebeforemytimeontheplanetends toattemptasummingupofalltheresponsesIhavehadtoDr Jagan’sremarkableinterventions.

However, with a general election pending and the work consequent on the 2020 general election still unfinished it is unlikelythatIwouldraiseorintroduceatthistimecontentious arguments concerning the praxis of one whose name and memory are still capable of being exploited by media available to what President Irfan Ali has called special interests.

Yoursrespectfully, EusiKwayana

PPP/C proving itself to be...

Frompage4 members have even called on their dwindling supporters to boycott Afro-Guyanese businesses that accommodate the presenceofthePresidentofGuyana,HEDr IrfaanAli.

Selwynsummeditupreallywellsayingthat“Thereisone particularthingIadmireinyour(Ali’s)administration.It’sthe drive to involve youth in agriculture. I went to the Expo a coupleofyearsagoandwasthoroughlyimpressed,andIsee whenyouposttheaquaponics,theaeroponics,andIseejust recently on East Bank there you’re visiting a farm,” he expressed.

Let me go back to almost three years ago, when Floyd Haynes distanced himself from the infamous ‘Cuffy 250’ (2022) forum that had horribly chosen the topic, “Resisting the emerging apartheid.” Haynes was candid and firm, declaring that he wrote the Chairman of the Committee, NormanNg-A-Qui,“…protestinghisinclusionintheline-up of speakers at that forum, and demanded the immediate removalofhisname.”

Heactually“…expressedconsternationthathisnamewas includedonalistofspeakersatthis‘Resistingtheemerging apartheid state’ forum, organised by the ‘Cuffy 250’ committee.

Haynes iterated that, “In my view, this statement is a disservice to all Guyanese, (and) as such, I wish to categoricallydisassociatemyselffromit.Moreimportantly,I am a firm supporter of His Excellency the President of Guyana,andIamabsolutelyconvincedthatitisnotpartofthe President’sagendatocreateanydisparitybasedonrace.”

I openly state that The PPP/C was never interested in settlingpoliticalscoresoropeningoldwoundsasseemstobe the case of the PNC and others from the Opposition. I personallywelcomeSelwynPietersandJamesBond,andIam sohappythatthePPP/Chaswontheirhearts.

Yourstruly, HargeshB.Singh

Who really abused freedom of the press

DEAREDITOR,

“Meetthepress”(Feb06, 2025 Editorial, KaiNews) is notreallyworthyofariposte. The article is redundant, repetitive and rouses no anger, as it is steeped in generalities, evoking comic laughter I mean, I was searching with a ‘fine-tooth’ comb to ferret out some

evidence of what the writer wastryingtopurport,buthe adduced no evidence in support of his vague ramblings-not a person nor anoccasion.

HereiswhatImean.

The writer, with great anonymity, declares that “The PPP/C Government was so afraid to face the

nationthatitstoppeopledid everythingtoavoidreporting to them.” When, where and by whom? Cite some cases please?

Another baseless and unverified assumption (as it really is) the PPP “… is not sharing any details about many burning developments occurringatthiscrucialtime

in Guyana’s existence, including oil … (so) Guyanese were left guessing. (And) “Insistent calls for press conferences were largely ignored and dismissed in the most contemptuousmanner.” Again, give me some instanceswhenwerethese Continued on page 6

‘Parties, policies and young people’

Frompage4 party’s policy positions, one would need to prioritise How is this to happen in the ethnic context of Guyana thathashadthreequartersof acenturyofethnicsuspicion andconflictinwhichthetwo recommended political parties have developed as ethnic defence institutions? Should I now be expected forgetthatpastandprioritise asbeinginmyinterestsome very dubious roads, hotels and unsystematic handouts? The answer is no. The past must not be forgotten but should be reconciled around s o m e c o n s e n s u a l interpretations. That has not happenedinGuyanabecause therehasbeennoconsensual processtomakeitso.Indeed, m o s t o f t h e governmental/presidential inquiries thus far have been conducted by largely government-chosen commissioners and while legal, they are devoid of national legitimacy and the regimehasbenforcestorely of forms of pecuniary incentivestowinsupport.

Much of the attempts to differentiate between the political behaviour of the young and old in Guyana come from two main sources Those who are disillusioned with the

present but have no answer otherthantheutopiandream of ridding themselves of the present political actors, and those like Mr Antonio Dey who will benefit from the youth forgetting the miserablepresentconditions that have been created by those who still want their support.

Icannotrememberatime in modern Guyanese history that young people were thwarted or discouraged from participating in politics. Forbes Burnham, Cheddi and Janet Jagan, Desmond Hoyte, Bharrat Jagdeo and Irfaan Ali were all relatively young when they arrived in the political hierarchy and/or took government. Yet look at the deplorable state of Guyana.

Cheddi excused his disastrous earlycontribution by claiming that it was the result of youthful exuberance On a more politicalmoraltrajectory,we now have Asha Kissoon following in the footsteps of Raphael Trotman, Khemraj Ramjattan, and Tabetha Sarabo-Halley - all young people who could not properly overcome the boundaries of what was theirsandwhatwasnot!

Young people tend to be more contemporarily

attuned, have more energy and are willing to take greater risks but rarely in politics does any generation voluntarily step aside for another. One must be prepared to struggle through theranks. Whichinpolitics usuallybeginswiththeparty youth and other associated movements. Like in any other institution, levels of competence, astuteness and loyalty are required, though inpolitics,particularlyatthe highestlevels,thelattertakes precedence.

Mr Deytellsusthat,‘On election day, we, as future leaders, must elect individuals who exhibit exemplary leadership qualitiesinourmulticultural society.’

But unfortunately, his primary example of the absence of exemplary leadership in Guyana appears to be the unacceptable culture that ‘has persisted among these two major political parties, characterised by heckling and name-calling in the presence of Mr Manzoor

Nadir, the Speaker of the NationalAssembly!’

SomewouldsaythatMr Nadir has been indulging in his own excesses: even banning the parliamentary use of words like ‘corruption’inwhatpurports to be a liberal democratic parliament.

But that aside, the behaviour of which Mr Dey complainsisrelativelytrivial and traditional in We s t m i n s t e r - t y p e parliamentary systems. Not so long ago, the speaker of the Canadian House of Commons was severely heckled when he stood to make a speech demanding that the ‘Excessive, disruptive,andloudheckling mustbetoneddown.’Maybe the speaker can think of universalising in the National Assembly another British tradition. On budget day,theBritishchancellorof theexchequerisaffordedthe privilege to drink alcohol as he delivers his long and complexbudgetspeech!

Sincerely,

Dr HenryJeffrey

Designing A National Development Plan For Guyana Talking Dollars & Making Sense:

Today, we embark on an ambitious journey to design a Comprehensive National Development Plan for Guyana. This plan is a blueprint for long-term inclusivegrowth,builtonsix essential pillars: Human Capital & Innovation, StrongInstitutions&Good

Governance Social , Inclusion & Stability, Infrastructure & Spatial Development Revenue , M a n a g e m e n t , and EconomicDiversification

This is more than just a policydiscussion–it'sabout dreaming of a future where every Guyanese can achieve theirfullpotential,whereour nation rises to new heights regionally and globally Together, let's explore the foundation of sustainable development.

WhyLong-Term EconomicGrowth Matters

At its heart, long-term economic growth is about people. It's about creating opportunities for families to build better lives, ensuring young people can achieve their dreams, and fostering communities that thrive for generations.

For Guyana, the opportunity is historic. With abundant resources, a growing economy, and global attention, we stand at the crossroads of immense potential. Yet, this potential must be nurtured through thoughtful planning and strategicaction.Growthisn't justaboutwhatweproduce–it's about how we distribute wealth, build resilience, and fosterinnovation.

Key Elements of LongTermGrowth:

1.Productivity:Making better use of resources

through education, innovation,andtechnology

2. Inclusivity: Ensuring every citizen, regardless of background, benefits from progress.

3. Resilience: Preparing the economy to withstand globaluncertainties.

Guyana must seize this moment to create a future thatprioritizessustainability, equityandtransparency,and opportunityforall.

TheSixPillarsof Guyana's DevelopmentPlan

1.HumanCapital&

By Rennie Parris

Innovation

People are our greatest resource. Education, health, and innovation are the enginesthatdriveprogress. What does this mean: Investing in modern education systems, ensuring world-class healthcare services,andcreatingspaces f o r r e s e a r c h a n d entrepreneurship.

· Why It Matters: Skilled and healthy people driveinnovation,createjobs, and ensure that economic growth is sustainable and inclusive.

How can we achieve this:Byestablishingcenters of excellence for education, offering incentives for innovation, and building partnerships with global institutions to exchange knowledgeandtechnology

2.StrongInstitutions &GoodGovernance Institutions are the backbone of any nation's success. For Guyana, this means fostering governance systems that are transparent, accountable,andinclusive.

What does this mean: It's about building trust betweenthegovernmentand its citizens. This includes reducing corruption, streamliningpublicservices, and ensuring justice is accessibletoall.

How can we achieve this: Through digital t r a n s f o r m a t i o n i n government, stronger anticorruption measures, and citizen engagement initiatives.

3.SocialInclusion &Stability

5.RevenueManagement

Oil wealth presents both o p p o r t u n it ie s a n d challenges Responsible management is essential to ensure that current prosperity doesn't come at the expense of future generations.

What does this mean: A clear strategy for saving, investing, and spending oil revenuestoensurelong-term benefits.

How can we achieve this:Byprudentlymanaging the Natural Resource Fund, prioritizing spending on education, healthcare, infrastructure, and ensuring real public accountability in resourcemanagement.

No one should be left behindinthejourneytoward development Social inclusion ensures that all Guyanese,regardlessoftheir background, have a role to play in shaping our nation. This pillar focuses on addressing inequality and promotingunity

What does this mean: It's about lifting vulnerable communities, empowering women, youth, and our Indigenouspeoples.

· A Why It Matters: united and inclusive society is stronger, more stable, and better positioned for longtermsuccess.

How can we achieve this: By expanding social safety nets, promoting equitable policies, and fostering dialogue among diverse groups to build a cohesivesociety

4.Infrastructure& SpatialDevelopment

Infrastructure is the bridge that connects people to opportunities. Guyana's growth depends on building resilient roads, ports, energy

systems and digital networks.

What does this mean: Modern transportation

s y s t e m s , r o b u s t communication networks, and sustainable urban planning.

How can we achieve this: By prioritizing highimpact projects like highways, ports, renewable and non-renewable energy grids, and rural connectivity

program

bring developmenttoeverycorner ofGuyana.

renewable energy Creating

biotechnology and new industrial and technology hubs.

Why It matters:

Diversification reduces risks, creates opportunities, and positions Guyana as a regionaleconomicleader

How can we achieve

entrepreneurs, modernizing industries, and building globalpartnerships.

AVisionforGuyana

CARICOM,drivingregional growth and fostering

Internationally: A global example of sustainable development,knownnotjust for its oil but for its innovation, resilience, and leadership.

Conclusion

6.Economic Diversification

A resilient economy doesn'trelyononeresource. By diversifying into several sectors Guyana can ensure stability and sustainable growth.

What does this mean: Strengthening agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and

ImagineaGuyanawhere every citizen has access to quality education and opportunities, where cities and villages are connected by modern infrastructure, and where our nation is celebrated globally for its

n d sustainability

Nationally: A thriving economy that uplifts every c

prosperity reaches every

d Regionally: A leader in

This is a once-in-alifetime opportunity to define Guyana's future. It requires bold leadership, active citizenship, and a commitment to shared prosperity Over the coming articles, we'll dive deep into each pillar, exploring practical steps to make this visionareality Guyana's time is now Let'sensurethatourlegacyis one of resilience, opportunity, and hope for generationstocome.

Got ideas or questions? I'd love to hear from you at talkingdollarsgy@gmail.co m. Together, we can shape the future of our beautiful nation.

Who really abused freedom of the...

Frompage5 happenings. I submit that Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and AG, Anil Nandlall host weekly live updates and ‘all and sundry’are allowed to proffer questions. In Anil’s case, his “Issues in the News” any caller can hide behind his Facebook platform, or can ask questionsonbehalfofanyone.

Anil is never shy in facing the public, retorting to the opposition or silencing the rabblerousers.

I recall that the VP, during the APNU/AFCtenureopenlystatedthat“These peoplearehidingfromscrutiny…Theyhave been running away from questions, dodging thepress…“Whileweshowupeveryweek.” On another occasion, being the then Opposition Leader, he Bharrat Jagdeo, “… rubbished claims made by erstwhile President David Granger, that he has been dealing with domestic issues, which is the mainreasonwhyhehasnotbeenabletohave frequent interactions with the local press.” I have to ask what “Meet the Press” is really trying to stir-up. Editor, I move quickly to educate the ‘suspects’ on things media and ‘pressfreedom.’

Can anyone forget how Forbes Burnham ‘explicitly and repeatedly’ declared that the ultimate role of the media was to, ‘first and foremost’operationalise the paramountcy of the PNC over all other institutions-even the state.’Thatwaslawbackthen.

Burnham’s sophistry and propaganda were couched in his ‘imposed upon others’ view that only developmental (supposedly)

information must be disseminated. For him, the only information necessary for public consumption had to be in unison with and furtherance of the government’s, (PNC in reality),‘developmentalagenda/programme. And this legacy explains why during the APNU/AFC period, there was the fear of journalistsseekingtoreporton“allthenews that’s fit to print”. In fact, that ExxonMobil deal was done clandestinely Certain things APNU/AFCdidwasbehindcloseddoors.

I remind the ‘usual suspects’that during the height of Burnham’s ‘stifling the opposition press,’ all that was fearfully squeezed out were a weekly four-page Mirror, newsletters (two from the W.P.A. “Open Word” and “Dayclean” and the “CatholicStandard”oftheCatholicChurch). Eventhesecontinuouslyenduredamilieuof fear and intimidation by threats Libelling, intimidation of journalists, and non-delivery of newsprint. Burnham went so far as to saying that there was no foreign newsprint available, but yet donations of same from aboardweredeniedentryinthecountry

This needs to be absorbed. This was reality back then. What we have today is unbridledfreedom(eventofabricate,contort andremodelevents)byanynewsentity

Also, with full accessibility to many socialplatforms,theOppositioninanyname, are having a field day I am thinking what wouldhavebeenBurnham’sployinhushing sayFacebook.

Yourstruly, RayAnderson

‘Trump’s ramped-up oil production policy will impact Guyana’

President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has underscored thesignificanceofGuyana’s ambitious economic diversification strategy even

as global economic shocks areanticipatedduetopolicy changesintheUnitedStates and its influence on major economies.

DuringSunday’sepisode of the Energy Perspective Podcast, President Ali said while Guyana is among the fastest growing economies,

it is still interrelated with regional and global markets that are facing numerous challenges Guyana’s economy can be impacted

with the US pushing to expand oil and gas exploration.

President Ali said Guyana must proactively plan for such factors, ensuring long-term stability beyondoilandgas. “That is what we have been communicating to the Guyanese people from day one. That is, we have to be responsible in the way we manage the resources from oil and gas. And that is why it is so critical for us to p u r s u e e c o n o m i c diversificationandbuildout other segments and sectors ofoureconomy,”hestated.

In his inauguration speechUSPresidentDonald Trump told attendees: “We havesomethingthatnoother manufacturing nation will ever have the largest amountofoilandgasofany countryonearth,andweare goingtouseit.“Wewillbea richnationagainanditisthat liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.”

However, energy experts have said that oil and gas companies say those changes won’t push them to engage in the frenzy of new drilling that Mr Trump wants.

A New York Times article recently said that the oilindustryisthrilledbyMr Trump’s executive orders, which are designed to make life harder for renewable energycompaniesandeasier for oil, gas and pipeline businesses But on the critical question of whether hispolicieswillleadtomore oil and gas production — one of Mr Trump’s central goals—industryexecutives say not unless prices rise a lot, something the president sayshewillnotstandfor

“Trump’s aim is to support oil and gas by loosening the rules that govern extracting, transporting and exporting fuels while kneecapping the competition, including wind turbines, electric vehicles and other low-emissions technologies That’s a powerful market signal, but notenoughforcompaniesto “drill,baby,drill,”thearticle stated.

“Whatyouareseeingisa huge amount of positivity,” saidRonGusek,presidentof Liberty Energy, an oil field services company whose chief executive was picked by Mr Trump to lead the Energy Department “But it’stooearlytosaythatthat’s going to translate into a change in actual activity levels here in North America.”

As a matter of fact, the government has been injecting oil revenues to expand infrastructure, health, education, housing andothersocialservices,and importantly, to position Guyana as a major hub for food production. President Ali highlighted concerns overrisingfoodpriceswhich could result from labour shortages in the United States due to immigration policies and severe weather patterns.

Meanwhile, in response to this predicted issue, President Ali outlined that his government has made heavy investments in sustainable agriculture, agro-processingandmodern farmingtechnologiessuchas hydroponics. “And all of this is not only to create local opportunities, but it is to respond to global challenges.So,whenweare buildingtheeconomyhere–it is not built in isolation of the realities globally,” the headofstatesaid.

He noted that the 2025 national budget directly mitigates these challenges, as the government has maintained pre-COVID freight rates for import duties The president emphasised that these measures will effectively removetheeconomicburden from consumers The government has allocated provisions to address bottleneck challenges in the Demerara River, allowing large ships to commute on Guyana’sshores.

“We are working now with the private sector to have a model that would havealong-termsolutionto this issue of dredging and the issue of having a draft that is consistently at low tide and high tide…so that largeshipscancomein,”he disclosed. Theheadofstate also

importance of regional collaborationforeconomic Continuedonpage18

President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali

Forward to the past

Guyana’s debt profile, both foreign and domestic, has become a focal point of economic debate in recent times. On one hand, the government maintains that the country’s debt is sustainable, pointing to favorable debt-to-GDP ratios and manageable debt servicingobligations.Onthe otherhand,criticsarguethat Guyana’s rising debt levels, particularlyinthecontextof itsburgeoningoilwealth,are unnecessary and potentially risky

T h e G u y a n e s e governmenthasconsistently defended its borrowing strategy, emphasizing that the country’s debt levels are sustainableandnecessaryfor financingdevelopment. But thenumbersareworryingfor a country which has been bragging that it is the fastest growing economy in the world. External debt, which stood at US$1.3 billion in 2020, has risen to US$2.2 billion in 2023 a level comparable to 1992, when Guyana was classified as a heavily indebted poor country(HIPC).

H o w e v e r , t h e government contends that the context has changed significantly Guyana’s economy has grown substantially, particularly with the advent of oil production, which has transformed its economic prospects. The debt-to-GDP ratio, a key indicator of debt sustainability, remains below 25%, well within the t

ed prudent by international standards.

The government also highlightsthatdebtservicing remains manageable. With oil revenues expected to increase significantly in the coming years, Guyana’s capacitytoserviceitsdebtis likely to improve further The administration views borrowing as a necessary tooltofinanceinfrastructure projects, social programs, and other developmental initiatives that will lay the foundation for long-term growth From this perspective, it says that debt is not a burden but an investment in the country’s future.

Critics,however,caution against complacency While they acknowledge that b

legitim

ol for development,theyarguethat Guyana’s current debt trajectory is concerning, particularly given the country’s newfound oil wealth.

Glenn Lall, a prominent voice in this camp, offers a nuanced critique. He does not oppose borrowing in principle but questions why Guyana needs to finance close to 40% of its budget through debt when it is alreadyforegoingsignificant revenuesintheoilsectordue to low royalties and the absence of ring-fencing provisions.

Lall makes an important point: Guyana’s natural resource wealth should reduce its reliance on debt. The fact that the country continues to borrow heavily despite its oil revenues suggests a failed economic model. Other critics also warn that high debt levels could undermine Guyana’s lon

Bandits grab $440K from money changer

Two masked men on a motorcycle robbed a money changer on Friday at gunpoint along theAvenue of the Republic andAmericaStreet,Georgetown.

Police identified the victim as vendor/money changer He was robbed of $440,000 cash (Guyana currency), US$200 andonegoldchainvaluedat$300,000.

The gunmen attacked at around 18:20hrs, investigators said. “…The victim was packing up clothing, which he was sellingintohisminibus,onthewesternside oftheAvenueoftheRepublic,whenoneof thesuspectswalkedupalongsidehim,police reportedinapressstatement.

Thebanditthenpulledoutahandgunand “stick-up” the victim, ordering him not to move. He then reached into the victim’s pocketandstolehismoneybeforesnatching hisgoldchain.

Police continued, “The suspect then joinedhisaccomplicewhowaswaitingona motorcycle that was parked on the eastern side of Avenue of the Republic, and they madegoodtheirescape,southalongAvenue oftheRepublictowardsHadfieldStreet”.

Investigators have since interviewed a number of persons who might have witnessedthecrime. Investigationscontinue.

stability, particularly if oil prices fluctuate or if the g l o b a l e c o n o m i c environment becomes less favorable.

One of the key risks associated with Guyana’s debt strategy is its reliance on external borrowing While external debt can provide much-needed capital for development, it also exposes the country to exchange rate risks and external shoc

F

r instance, a depreciation of the Guyanese dollar could significantly increase the cost of servicing foreigndenominated debt The Guyana dollar has not appreciated despite it being anoil-producingnation.

Another concern is the potential for debt dependency History has shown that countries that rely heavily on external borrowing often find themselvestrappedinacycle ofdebt,wherenewloansare taken out to service existing ones. This can lead to a loss of economic sovereignty, as creditors impose conditions that prioritize debt repayment over domestic development priorities. This was Guyana’s experience from1988onwards.

The World Bank and the

IMF have traditionally played a central role in assessing debt sustainability in developing countries

However, their track record is mixed While these institutionsprovidevaluable technical expertise and financial support, they have also been criticized for promoting policies that prioritize debt repayment over social and economic development Structural adjustment programs, for example,haveoftenrequired countries to implement austeritymeasures,privatize state assets, and liberalize theireconomies,withmixed results.

InGuyana’scase,relying solelyontheWorldBankand theIMFfordebtassessments could be risky These institutions have a vested interest in maintaining the globaldebtsystem.Assuch, their assessments may not fully account for Guyana’s unique circumstances Instead of outsourcing debt assessments to these institutions, Guyana should develop its own capacity to evaluate debt sustainability, taking into account both quantitative metrics and qualitativefactors.

Guyana’s debt debate reflects the broader tension

between the need for development financing and the risks associated with excessive borrowing. While the government’s optimism about debt sustainability is notunfounded,criticsrightly c a u t i o n a g a i n s t complacency Given the country’s significant oil wealth, it is important that Guyana adopts a prudent a p p r o a c h t o d e b t management, one that maxim

productive sectors, and minimizes reliance on externalborrowing.

But to do so would reignite a related debate: to what extent is the country obtaining its just dues when it comes to our oil wealth. Andifweweregettingwhat wedeserve,wouldwehavea need to borrow And that is the debate which Glenn Lall has been prompting but which the government is fearfulofpursuing.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

Process, procedure, political people and public servants

It could have been 20 acresor10,maybeevenonly oneacreofprimeland. Ithas become hell’s half acre for somepeople. Theiranswers are always at the ready. Then again, politicians of long duration know what they have to do to extend theirtenure.

Credibility may be on its last legs, but continuing by whatevermeansisallthathas meaning So,theyengagein the usual charades that have grown rancid from overexposure. The words roll from their lips in what they believe are persuasive positions, defenses that are so formidable that they cannotbebreached.

Processcamefirst Then procedure Then, to put an exclamation point on a scandal that has ballooned into a fiasco, there was smirking about who also is the owner of State lands, or in the middle of what I call thisGreatGuyanalandgrab.

Processandprocedure,as enshrinedinthemanuals,can be as solid as a rock. On papertheylookgood. Forms filled out. Signatures affixed. Documents submitted. Fees paid. Interviewsconducted. Here are the key questions, the first of many: what was behind those forms, signatures,documents,fees? What came before? Who spoke to whom, and all was set, fell into place, in the time-honored manner of political people and businesspeople working out the nuances of their prearrangeddealings?

In governance, what is a little understanding among friends? In doling out the fruits of power and the fat of theland,whyshouldn’troom be made for friends? So, what had to be done, how muchacreageinvolved,how muchtobepaidperacre,and how and who is part of the quid pro quo are all fleshed

out and finalized beforehand.

Then the orders are passed. This is the point at which public servants become part of the process, with procedures followed like clockwork. Smooth as ice. Icecanbethininspots, weak when subjected to a little pressure, weight Where are the genuine people to drive processes, make them work as they should?

Ihavebeennear,seen,all of this happen in high places somewhereelse Whenthere is a development, one that poses a problem, one that could deteriorate into a widening crisis, there is a frantic scramble to cover over by papering over what transpired.

The seasoned political operators, the slick business supplicant(moreaccurately,a partner),andtheknowingand willingpublicservantensure that there is a long paper

trail It provides the supporting evidence that all was well, all definitely aboveboard. Process and procedure stand as exhibits that do not speak to the probable perversities that werepartofwhattookplace, but are nowhere in sight. Not even a scent, no such stainatall.

Guyanesewhohaveopen mindsandarehonestenough tousethemshouldbeableto sift through the political narrativesanddefenses,draw theirownconclusions. Here is mine: when certain political people, those with one kind of checkered governancehistory,andtheir associates are around milk and honey, a mysterious thing happens. Both milk and honey become smaller, drop lower, right before the eyes. Substitute land for milk and honey Or gold concessions Orthedizzying array of lucrative opportunities from which choices could be made Dependable public servants knowthegame,whomustbe favored, and just how to do it, so that tracks are in line with requirements. Process and procedure, they are

called Where is the wrongdoing?

Why the suspecting and accusing and damning? Oh, and regarding the damning, those who clamor loudly in strident protestations, should look at themselves first Theyshouldchecktheirown books before they start to peltbricks. Thatoneisolder than the earth, hoarier than prostitution.

InGuyana,therearethese unique algorithms of the government that its leaders articulate because they bring closure to all disagreements, shutdown additional hostile exchanges. In the logic and mathematics of ruling politicalpeople,aminusand a minus is a plus. That is, those who are crying out against, are also in the thick of the prime lands’collector class. All conversations, therefore, should cease. I makenodefensefornoone.

But I put two things before myfellowGuyanese. One is new, one was writtenyearsago,inthattime immediately preceding the coalitiongovernment Itwas that the structure of governanceinthiscountryis so rotted that to remove one boardwouldbringthewhole

thing down. In another country, one with standards and the kind of mechanisms thatclickintogearwhenthe outrageous occurs, toppling would happen. In Guyana, nothingofthesortevertakes place.

The last time that there were consequences for egregious wrongdoing, and chronic failures, was 1992 Since then, the building blocks of political schemes, scams, and scandals have ruled this society It is Guyana’s sordid politicalcommercialcomplex. There is a tight circle of selected public servants, who know theirroles,dotheirpart.

The second thing I put before citizens is this: how many more of these hustles are with Guyanese, and they don’tknow Theotherhalfof that question is how many more are trapped in this den ofdarkdeeds,andhowhigh theygo.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)

Single mother of five gets new home through MoM

ShellyDoodnauthofAngoy’s Avenue in New Amsterdam, Berbice,andherfivechildrenno longerhavetoworryaboutliving in a deplorable condition after receiving a new home on Saturday

Thefurnishedthree-bedroom house was built under President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s Men onMission(MoM)initiative The 33-year-old part-time worker said she was unable to renovate her previous home and it was unsafeforherfamily

The new house given to Shelly Doodnauth from Angoy’s Avenue in Region Six

She is relieved now that her children will be comfortably accommodated in the new house. Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha presented the woman with the gift and reemphasised the government’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the quality of life for vulnerable groups through homeownership and other measures “Not onlyinRegionSixbutineverysingleregion across this country, we are having houses like these being delivered to vulnerable groups,”theministersaid Hecommendedthe efforts of all those who were engaged in the successfulcompletionoftheproject.

“I want to applaud the cluster in New Amsterdam and the corporate sponsors. I want to encourage other corporate bodies tocomeonboard.Letusmakeadifference

inthelivesofvulnerablegroups,”hestated Minister Mustapha also told the residents aboutthemassivetransformationsongoingin various sectors, including housing, education and health, which will provide long-term benefitstoeveryGuyanese

Regional Chairman DavidArmogan said thatoverthelastfewyears,severalvulnerable familiesfromtheregionhavebenefittedfrom the construction of new houses through the initiative MoM’s Committee Member Lt Colonel Bhageshwar Murli also delivered brief remarks at the ceremony With a budgetaryallocationof$700millionthisyear, theMenonMissionprogrammewillbroaden its reach and improve the lives of many individuals Ofthisamount,$395millionwill be utilised to construct 52 houses for vulnerablegroupsacrossthecountry (DPI)

Couplediesinhousefire

Aman and a woman were killed inafireattheirHydronie,EastBank Essequibop home early Sunday morning,authoritieshaveconfirmed.

Dead are: Haywattie Bahudur a 52-year-old teacher and Hansraj Narinea57-year-oldbusdriver Ina statement the Guyana Fore Service said that the fire broke out around 01:55hrs, completely destroying the couple’s home, a one-flat wooden and concrete structure measuring 15mx8m.

The Guyana Fire Service said firefighters had responded promptly to the distress call, arriving on the sceneat02:16hrs.

Firefighting efforts commenced immediately, with the first jet deployed.Despitetherapidresponse, the fire had already engulfed the building, leaving no time for the occupants to escape. The structure and all its contents were completely destroyed.

According to the fire service

conducted so far identified that the fire was caused by a slack electrical connection, which resulted in arcing and sparking that ignited nearby combustible materials. “Firefighters worked diligently to extinguish the flames, utilising one jet from Water Tender#81alongwithonelinefrom Light Pump #A6, which sourced water from an open water supply,” thestatementadded.

Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, and Chief Fire Officer Gregory Wickham extend their deepest condolences to the grieving family and community affectedbythistragicloss.“Minister Benn emphasised that a full investigation is underway to determine all contributing factors andtopreventsimilaroccurrencesin thefuture.

Chief Fire Officer Wickham reiterated the importance of fire safety and adherence to electrical maintenance protocols, urging all citizenstotakenecessaryprecautions

to safeguard their homes and families,” the statement read. The Guyana Fire Service continues to educatethepubliconfireprevention measures and the importance of ensuring electrical systems are properlyinstalledandmaintained.

Wickham earlier this year had disclosed that there were 21 firerelated deaths recorded in 2024, a decreasefromthe46deathsreported in2023.Heattributedmanyofthese fatalities to maliciously set fires and incidentswherevictimsweretrapped insideburningbuildings.

“There were persons trapped in entirebuildingsduetofires.Someof the causes were directly or maliciouslyrelated,andsomemisuse of electrical or cooking appliances,” Wickham had said during the handoveroffortyRapidIntervention Vehicles to the Guyana Fire Service (GFS)andthecommissioningofthe GFS’s new headquarters on Homestretch Avenue on January 9, 2025.

The deceased couple Haywattie Bahudur a 52-year-old teacher and Hansraj Narine a 57-year-old bus driver

Govt. warns foreigners against using backtrack routes

The Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday, issued a stern reminder to all foreign nationalsenteringorleaving G u y a n a r e g a r d i n g mandatory immigrations procedures in keeping with thelawsofGuyana.

In a statement, the ministry urged foreigners thatuponenteringorleaving Guyana, foreign nationals must present themselves to anImmigrationOfficeratthe designated Ports of Entry and Exit. Persons failing to adhere to the requirements

w i l l f a c e s t r i c t consequences, including deportation, refusal of reentry,ordisbarment.

“Anyindividualfoundin Guyanawithoutavalidentry

stamp or a Permit (immigration form) indicating their entry date canbesubjecttodeportation. Any foreign national who departs Guyana without

properly presenting

Further, the ministry outlined designated Ports of Entry and Exist across various regions: Region 1 (Morawhanna), Region 2 (Charity),Region3(Parika), Region 4 (Georgetown, Eugene F. Correia International Airport, Cheddi Jagan International Airport),Region6(Moleson Creek, New Amsterdam, Springlands), Region 7 (Bartica, Eteringbang), and Region9(Lethem).

Recently, several persons were deported or detained as a result of not adheringtheserequirements. Within three days, 102 Venezuelans were detained forillegallyenteringGuyana in large metal boats. Police

t h e m s e l v e s t o a n Immigration Officer at an official Port of Exit can be refusedre-entryordisbarred upon attempting to return,” theministrystated. The ministry urges all travellers to comply with these immigration requirements to avoid legal consequences, noting that these measures are in place to uphold national security and maintain orderly travel procedures.

in Region Three have taken theVenezuelansintocustody and according to the Commander-in-Charge of police operations in the district, Mahendra Siwnarine, they will be deported.

Additionally, in December 2024, five Cubans were deported for overstaying their permitted time in Guyana They appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court after the Guyana Police Force (GPF) issuedanorderforthemtobe deported from Guyana for overstaying their time without seeking an extension.

Furthermore, in

September 2024, a 36-yearold Venezuelan national, who has been residing in Guyana illegally for two months, was ordered to be deportedwhensheappeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, leaving her Guyanese toddler behind.

Only recently, Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister,

Amanza Walton-Desir criticised the government over what she described as its lax approach in f o r m u l a t i n g a n d implementing a national foreign policy which will cater to issues such as migration.

“It is crucial that we addressthechallengesposed byourporousborderswhich continue to expose us to significant risks that could undermine our national security, territorial integrity, and social cohesion,” she insisted.

Alluding to a recent StabroekNewsarticlewhich quoted the Minister with responsibility for immigration Robeson Benn saying that it is anticipated that the migrant population will increase in the coming months,”Walton–Desirtold theNationalAssemblyinthe just concluded budget debates that to date, the government is unable to provide a realistic estimate ofthenumberofVenezuelan migrantsinthecountry

“ T h e r e a s o n i s clear…They simply do not know It is obvious that the PPP government has lost control over the migrant situation resulting in grave risktoourcountry’ssecurity and sovereignty.” WaltonDesir stressed “to mitigate these risks and protect the integrity of our nation, we mustimmediatelyestablisha mandatory migrant registrationsystem.”

Further, she suggested that the refugees and migrants must only be granted temporary status, until they can return to their homelands, with a clear and explicit prohibition against voting rights “Guyanese citizenship must remain a privilege, not a pathway to manipulation or long-term instability You travel the length and breadth of this country and the people of

Venezuelans that are set to be deported for illegal entry

Guyana will tell you their deepconcernattheabysmal handling of the migrant crisis here and the lack of government policy to address this burning issue but this is the PPP/C –PostponingPracticalPolicy Continuously and Placing Politics over People’s Concerns,” added WaltonDesir

Further emphasising on the need for a migration policy,theMPsaidthatsuch a policy is essential for p r o t e c t i n g l o c a l opportunities, preserving cultural identity, and ensuringsustainablegrowth.

“WeintheParliamentary opposition have been unequivocal in our call. We are on record making a numberofrecommendations

to the PPP/C government

diplomatic apparatus to

international support, emphasising the justness of our cause and the rightness ofourclaim,”sheexplained. Walton-Desir pointed out that the Opposition side of the house had called for the establishment of a Border Security Commission and the establishment of a Foreign Relations Council.

“Mr Speaker Our calls, including for the convening of regular meetings of the Foreign Relations Sectoral Committee of this National Assembly,continuetofallon deaf ears We are reiterating them,” the MP said.

Govt.continuestostrengthen nationalsecurityamidst emergingchallenges - Benn

To safeguard Guyana’s sovereignty, the government is proactively taking decisive steps to bolster its security sector against emergingthreats.

Speaking at National Defense Institute’s first cohort of graduates on Friday last, Minister of HomeAffairsRobesonBenn said, Guyana must remain focused on strengthening its security forces and ensure theyareequippedtoaddress the multifaceted challenges facing the country’s defence system.

He explained that while the country has experienced unprecedented economic growth due to oil and gas reserves, an increased numberofthreatsandissues havearisen.

Currently, Guyana is experiencing a population deficitwhilefacingtheeverpresent territorial threat posed by the country’s westernneighbour

During these times, the government is engaging in ongoing efforts to form strategic international partnerships with powerful countries, focusing heavily on initiatives like joint military exercises, intelligence sharing and resourcedevelopment.

MinisterBennexpressed confidence in Guyana’s strong partnerships with countries like the United States, noting the collaboration’s vitality in addressing geopolitical vulnerabilities.

He urged community policinggroups,particularly those in vulnerable hinterland regions, to assist the joint services with information gathering. “We

have to have a clear awareness of the challenge wehave,wehavetohavea clear awareness of our responsestothischallenge, and we have to read and think and work with the professors and others who have expertise and interests, of course, in the matter to make sure that we could all work together inthefirstinstancetohave o u r s o v e r e i g n t y protected, ” he said passionately

He continued “So take ourmutualinteresttohave a continued win-win situation,andthatwework together to increase peace inGuyana,increasewealth and benefit for our people…andtohandovera better life and a better country to the next generation of Guyanese.”

Minister Benn reaffirmed thatthegovernment’svision of One Guyana is not only one characterised by economic growth and abundant oil resources but one where security is a priorityandkeycornerstone.

The course provided graduates with critical knowledge and specialised training, enhancing their ability to safeguard Guyana’s national sovereignty against threats such as drug trafficking, transnational crime, and illegal migration, as well as the concerning rhetoric emanatingfromVenezuela.

Also speaking at the event Foreign Secretary, Robert Persaud said: “This collaborative effort exemplifies the strong partnership between the governments of the United States and Guyana. Our

The Ministry of Natural Resources has updated the Petroleum Management Programme website with oil production data for the month of December, following an article by KaieteurNews.

On Friday, this newspaper reported that the Ministryisstillstrugglingto updateoildatatoitswebsite, despite claims of receiving realtime information from the operator of the Stabroek Block, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited(EMGL).

Checkstothewebsiteon Saturday showed that the Ministry had updated the page with production data forDecember2024.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat

r e l a t i o n s h i p i s characterised by mutual respectandasharedvision for a s

Western Hemisphere.”

He expressed Guyana’s eagernesstocollaboratewith theUSonfuturetrainingand knowledge-sha

initiatives to strengthen the

y capabilities.

In the same breath, he stressed the critical need to bridge the gap between policy development and implementation to effectively address evolving threats “Security and defence are fundamental p

l prosperity,” Secretary Persaud asserted “As policymakers, we must create synergies in policy formulation, adopting a holistic and inclusive approach to address security threats and challenges, always prioritizing our national interests.”

As Guyana continues to experience rapid economic d e v e l o p m e n t , t h e governmentdemonstratesits unwavering political will to safeguard democracy by implementing effective and adaptable policies, prioritising the development of a professional security apparatus and building strongregionalpartnerships.

Beyond defence and intelligencecooperation,the two countries’ robust relationship extensively spansacrossdiversesectors, including democracy, trade, investment, economic development, energy, capacity building, and education.

According to the oil production data, Exxon produced an average 660,000 barrels per day (bpd) at the three projects in December, with daily production ranging between a high of 667,000 bpd and a lowof632,000bpd.

Kaieteur News also observed that Exxon recorded one of its highest flaring levels for 2024, in December

According to the data, the company flared 88,821 standard cubic feet (kscf) of gas on December 7, 2024, the second highest amount compared with 93,775 kscf recordedonAugust7,2024.

T h e M i n i s t r y ’s Petroleum Management Programme website offers accesstopetroleumdatathat is usually updated midmonth for the preceding month.

The portal offers data

regarding the number of barrels produced at the Liza One and Liza Two, Payara projects in the Stabroek Block, as well as the daily reported injected gas, flared gas and gas used for fuel. It alsogivesanoverviewonthe Brent Crude prices and the amount of water produced andinjected.

T h e f a i l u r e b y government to provide timely updates on the extraction of oil resources has been a sore concern for stakeholders, although repeated promises have been made to upgrade the website

Withbelatedinformation beingprovidedtothepublic, citizens have also complained about the manner in which the data is presented.Thegraphsarenot user friendly and pose challenges for the ordinary citizentointerpret.

Environmental and transparency activists have been relentlessly stressing

the need for such data to be shared with the public and more so, be updated in a timely fashion to avoid altering of information These key production data arecriticaltostakeholdersto keepthegovernmentandthe operator of the Stabroek Blockaccountable.

Lastyear,VicePresident, Bharrat Jagdeo announced during his weekly press engagement at Freedom House Georgetown that the government now has realtime access to Exxon’s production data, which is updatedevery10minutes.

He said the operator of the Stabroek Block now has a dashboard which is monitored by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission(GGMC).

Althoughthatmaybethe case, citizens still struggle with access to timely data fromthegovernment.

Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn and US Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot

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No bail for man charged for stealing motorbike

A23-year-oldmanwason Friday remanded to prison when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court to answer to the charge of Robbery with Aggravation.

EzekielRobertsofWaterloo Street Cummingsburg Georgetown is accused of robbing Leon Russel of a motorcyclevaluedat$200,000. The alleged robbery took place on February 3, 2025 on Waterloo Street CummingsburgGeorgetown. Roberts pleaded not guilty with explanation after the charges were read to him by Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty

He told the court that he

had nothing to do with the robbery According to Roberts around 13:30hrs on the day of the robbery he was homeandwasgreetedbytwo meninhisyardinforminghim that a robbery had just taken place and the suspected robbers ran through his yard and leftamotorcycle.

The two men then proceeded to lift the motorcycle out of his yard. He then later saw his friend Russel who he metonceoutsideofhishome requesting information and assistance to retrieve his motorcycle and he agreed to help.

He told the court that he expressed his concern to Russel.“IfIseeyoubikeand

Italktothisman,ifIpushing you bike down the road, the policemightstopmeandthink I thief the bike,” Roberts recalledtellingRussel.

Nevertheless, he said he ventured out on his motorcycle in search of Russel’s motorcycle.

Hereturnedminuteslater with the motor cycle and the keys.

Roberts mentioned that a CCTV camera was in the vicinitywithvideofootageand he is requesting the entire footage be played proving that he is innocent and it will also provide a clear visual of whatexactlytranspired.

The prosecution stated that there is indeed a video

footagethatclearly displays a completely different depiction of what had transpired, contrary to Roberts’s story

They mentioned that in the footage the accused can be seen riding away from the crime scene with the motorcycle.

The keys were identified by the victim Russel, while being in Roberts’ possession at his residence and the motorcycle was not recovered.

The prosecution also stated that the accused did notcooperatewiththepolice when he was arrested.

Magistrate McGusty denied Roberts bail and remanded him to prison.

IDB and Caribbean governors discuss reforms and initiatives for Impact and Scale

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) held its XIII Annual Consultation with the governors of IDB Caribbean member countries on February 2-3 in Nassau, The Bahamas.

Thegatheringwaspartof preparations for the IDB and IDBInvestAnnualMeetings, which will take place on March26-30inChile.

This high-level dialogue includedrepresentativesfrom The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

At the conclusion of the proceedings, IDB President IlanGoldfajnsaid,“TheIDB has been a steadfast partner fortheCaribbeanforoverhalf a century. Our consultations

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with Caribbean governors ahead of our Annual MeetingsinChileprovidedan opportunity to discuss how our regional initiatives like ONE Caribbean can boost growth and resilience, and more generally, how our IDBImpact+ reforms can delivermorescaleandimpact for our membership as a whole.”

Caribbean economies have been among the best performing in LatinAmerica and the Caribbean. This success has opened opportunities for Caribbean countries to invest in key priority areas. The annual consultations provide a platformfordialoguebetween the IDB and the region’s ministers on how to take advantage of these opportunities and how the IDB can support them through financing, knowledge, and technical

assistance.

TheIDB’sexecutiveteam presented advances in the IDBImpact+agenda,areform effort that seeks to boost the impactandscaleofthebank’s work by increasing lending capacity with a focus on reducing poverty, tackling climate change, and promoting sustainable growth.

The IDB is advancing reformsandinitiatives,eleven of which will be presented at the upcoming Annual Meetings in Santiago.

The executive team also discussed the achievements ofONECaribbean,aregional initiativelaunchedin2024to address climate resilience, citizen security, productivity and growth, and food security Thesefourpriorities wereidentifiedbyCaribbean countries, through a process of dialogue with the IDB, as commonchallengesfacingthe

region.

ONE Caribbean has launchedsixearlyinitiatives, including ONE Safe Caribbean,whichaimstotake on cross-border organized crime and a program to provide cybersecurity assistance to governments.

In2024,theIDBapproved US$790 million for new projects and programs that rangedfromadebt-for-marine conservation swap in The Bahamastoadebt-for-climate resilience operation that generatedUS$125millionin BarbadostoaUS$120million private-sector initiative focused on helping Caribbean companies advance the energy transition.

For 2025, the IDB’s portfolio of projects for the Caribbean amounts to over US$1.1 billion for infrastructureresilience,skill training and other priorities.

Guyana’s Aviation Training School gains ICAO accreditation

Guyana’s Civil Aviation Training School has been officially accredited by TRAINAIR,aglobaltraining programme under the International Civil Aviation Organisation(ICAO).

A delegation from Guyana will soon be inAbu Dhabi, the capital of the UnitedArabEmirates,toreceive the official instrument ofcertificationwhileattending the Global Implementation Support Symposium (GISS).

MinisterofPublicWorks BishopJuanEdghillmadethe disclosure during the recentlyconcludedParliamentary Committee of Supply’s consideration of budget 2025. “This means that we will not only be allowed to trainGuyanese,butwecan trainpeoplefromalloverthe Caribbean and any other countrythatwishestocome

toGuyanabecauseofthequality of training that is taking placeherewithourairtraffic controllers and other peopleintheaviationindustry,” Minister Edghill explained.

Hesaidthecertificationis expectedtogeneraterevenue, as trainees from other nations will pay for courses inGuyana.

The minister described it as a significant milestone for theGuyanaCivilAviationAuthority (GCAA) which has beenworkingtorebuilditsfinancial reserves after inheriting a deficit.At that time, the authority had lost a previouslystrongfinancialreserve ofover$1billion.

The ICAO assessment team recently visited Guyana to evaluate the CivilAviation Training School (CATS) before granting it TRAINAIR Pluscertification.

CATS,anApprovedAviationTrainingOrganisationis certified by both the GCCA regulatory body and the Guyana National AccreditationCouncil.

The ICAO assessment ensured that Guyana’s training facilities and operations met international standards to conduct ICAO-approved courses across various aviation disciplines.

TheTRAINAIRPlusaccreditation will also enable the country to develop its own ICAO-approved training courses, which can be sharedwithTRAINAIRPlus membersglobally Minister Edghill reaffirmed that this landmark achievement positions Guyanaasakeyplayerinthe global aviation sector, with further growth and international recognition on the horizon. (DPI)

rant,

Violence erupts in mineral-rich DR Congo as rebels move into key city

(

CNN) A rebel alliance claimed the capture of the biggest city in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mineral-rich eastern region this week, pushing back againstresistancefromgovernment troops backed by regional and UN interventionforces.

The takeover of Goma is yet another territorial gain for the Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) rebel coalition, which includes the M23 armed group – sanctioned by the United States and the United Nations.Itisalsoaswiftexpansion of the alliance’s foothold across swathes of eastern DR Congo –where rare minerals crucial to the production of phones and computersaremined–andislikely to worsen a long-running humanitariancrisisintheregion.

“AFC-M23 controls Goma,” Victor Tesongo, an AFC spokesperson, told CNN Monday, adding that “Goma fell under pressure” after the group’s earlier seizure of the nearby towns of Minova and Saké. The Congolese government has yet to confirm the rebels’takeover but acknowledges theirpresenceinthecity,capitalof theeasternNorthKivuprovince.It announced Sunday it had cut diplomatic ties with neighboring Rwanda, which it accuses of equipping the group with both weapons and troops, and recalled itsdiplomaticstafffromthenation.

A Rwandan government spokesperson did not deny or confirm the country’s support for M23whenaskedbyCNN.

More than a dozen foreign peacekeepers, as well as the military governor of North Kivu province,havebeenkilledinrecent daystryingtofendofftherebels,as thousands of locals flee their advanceintoGoma.

Whatarethelatest developments?

South Africa’s military confirmed Tuesday that four more SouthAfrican soldiers deployed in DR Congo as part of the UN peacekeeping mission there had died, only days after nine were killedinthefighting.

Meanwhile, aid agencies said thathospitalswereoverwhelmedas hundreds of people caught in the crossfireinGomasoughttreatment for injuries, among them seriously wounded children Amid the fighting, food assistance programs in and around the city have been temporarily paused, the World FoodProgrammesaidTuesday

Therewere“manydeadbodies” in the city’s streets, said Jens Laerke,aspokespersonfortheUN humanitarian office. Fighters had reportedly raped civilians, and property had also been looted, he said. Among those killed was a famed Congolese boxer, Balezi Bagunda, according to Matthew Leutwyler, the founder of the nonprofit We Are Limitless, who had beenworkingwithhimtoevacuate local children the organization

workswith.

The Red Cross warned on Tuesday that the unrest in the city couldleadtothespreadofviruses, including Ebola, if laboratories with samples of the disease are affected by the violence. Patrick Youssef, regional director for Africa at the International Committee of the Red Cross, said that his organization is “very concerned” that a biomedical laboratory in Goma could be impactedbythedisorderthere.“It’s a center very close to our delegation,”hesaid.

Meanwhile, in the national capital, Kinshasa, protesters gatheredandfireswerelitoutsidea number of Western and African embassies, including that of Rwanda. The French embassy was “attacked and firebombed,” the FrenchforeignministrytoldCNN, but protesters were unable to enter thesite’sperimeter

Later on Tuesday, the US Embassy in Kinshasa advised US citizenstoleavethecity “Duetoan increaseinviolencethroughoutthe city of Kinshasa, the US Embassy in Kinshasa advises US citizens to shelter-in-place and then safely depart while commercial options areavailable,”astatementfromthe embassy said. Reports emerged Monday of Congolese troops exchanging fire with Rwandan soldiers along their shared border as fear of a blown-out war grows. Earlier that day, gunfire rang out from Goma’s airport after it was shut by the rebels; a French intelligence source told CNN M23 had gained full control of the facility on Tuesday At the same time, more than 4,000 prisoners broke free from a correctional facility, the UN-funded Radio Okapi reported, compounding chaoticsceneswitnessedinthecity

In a statement Monday, the Uruguayanarmy,whosetroopsare part of the UN peacekeeping mission in Goma, said “hundreds” of Congolese soldiers had laid down their weapons following a 48-hour ultimatum by M23 Rwandannationalbroadcasteralso shared footage of Congolese

soldiers surrendering their arms to Rwandan forces at a Rwandan borderpostafterfleeingGoma. Howdidtheconflictescalate?

DR Congo has experienced decades of militia violence, includingarmedrebellionbyM23, whichclaimstodefendtheinterest of the minority Rwandophone communities, including the Tutsi. Since 2022, M23 has waged a renewed rebellion against the Congolese government, occupying a large expanse in North Kivu, which borders Rwanda and Uganda.

For several months, the rebels have also controlled Rubaya, a mining town in North Kivu that harbors one of the world’s largest coltan deposits This valuable mineralisusedintheproductionof mobile phones. Bintou Keita, who heads the UN mission in DR Congo,toldtheSecurityCouncilin a September briefing that “competitionoverexploitationand trade of natural resources” had escalated conflict between armed groupsinthecountry’seast.

AccordingtoKeita,coltantrade from the M23-controlled Rubaya mining site is estimated to “supply over 15 percent of global tantalum production”, and “generates an estimated $300,000 in revenue per month to the armed group.” M23 denied these claims, insisting its presence in the Rubaya area was “solelyhumanitarian.”

A report by the UN Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of Congo, released in December, revealed that “at least 150 tons of coltan were fraudulently exported to Rwanda and mixed with Rwandan production.” SinceAprillastyear, the report said, M23, “with RDF (Rwanda Defence Force) support, has made significant territorial gainsandstrengthenedcontrolover occupiedareas,”addingthatsucha pattern suggested “that the true objective of M23 remained territorial expansion and the longtermoccupationandexploitationof conquered territories.” The report added that the RDF’s military interventions “were critical to the

impressive territorial expansion achieved”byM23.

WhyisGomaimportant?

Goma is home to around two millionpeopleandisthelargestcity in North Kivu. M23’s incursion on Monday was the second time the group had moved to capture the provincial capital after it briefly took control in 2012 M23 spokesmanWillyNgomatoldCNN on Saturday that his group was motivated by concern for the residents of Goma, which is home to minority groups such as the CongoleseTutsicommunity

“We do not want to capture Goma but to liberate it,” he said. “The population is in distress; we mustsaveitasquicklyaspossible.”

Prof. Dady Saleh, a Congolese politicalandeconomicanalyst,told CNN there was more to M23’s interestinGoma.

“Gomaisastrategicandhighly symboliccitywithaninternational airport, as well as proximity to Rwanda and Lake Kivu, opening theeasypathwithSouthKivu,”he said. But, most importantly, Saleh said, Goma’s fall to M23 “will be thesymbolofitscompleteandtotal capture” of the eastern part of the DRC.”

M23’s self-proclaimed liberation agenda has been scarred by a long trail of alleged human rights violations and what rights group Human Rights Watch described in 2023 as “war crimes against civilians” in North Kivu. The group has consistently denied such claims Fighting between M23, Congolese forces and other rebel groups has also forced many from their homes in the country’s east, with at least 400,000 people displaced just since the beginning of this year in North and South Kivu, the UN’s refugee agency, UNHCRsaidinastatement.

UNHCR spokesperson Matt Saltmarsh added that “bombs have fallen” on camps housing those who’ve fled, resulting in civilian deaths,includingofchildren.

This is a huge concern for aid groups operating in the area, such as Mercy Corps Its country director for DR Congo, Rose

Tchwenko,toldCNNinastatement that Goma, which she described as a “lifeline of humanitarian operations across eastern DRC” was now “perilously close to breaking.”“Humanitarianaccessis nearly impossible, resources are stretched to their limits, and displaced families are left in dire need of food, clean water, medicine, and shelter,” Tchwenko said.

What’satstakeforRwanda?

UN experts believe that an estimated 3,000 Rwandan soldiers operate alongside M23 fighters in eastern DR Congo, outnumbering the rebel group’s number in the country According to Saleh, the Congolese analyst, Rwanda does notjustsupportM23,“it(Rwanda) istheM23.”

Western nations, such as the US, Britain, and France, have censured Kigali’s support for the group Rwanda government spokespersonYolandeMakolotold CNNthathercountry“willdowhat is necessary to defend our borders and protect Rwandans.” She cited aUNreportthatfoundevidenceDR Congo’s military had collaborated and carried out joint operations withaHutumilitiagroupagainsta mainly Tutsi rebel group, the CNDP,whichM23grewoutof. Hutu militias carried out the genocide of Tutsis and moderate HutusinRwandain1994.

“Thisishappeningrightnextto our border,” Makolo said of the insecurity in eastern DR Congo, adding that “the President of the DRC has said publicly that his enemy is President (Paul) Kagame andtheRwandanGovernment,and thathewill‘liberate’Rwandans.”

Rwanda’sforeignministryalso blamed DR Congo’s government for failing to engage in dialogue with M23, describing it as a “Congoleserebelgroupfightingto protect their community in eastern DRC.” CNN has contacted the Congolese military and government spokesperson for comment on the country’s alleged collaboration with the Hutu militia groupandthreatsagainstRwanda. Continued on page 18

Members of the M23 armed group walk alongside residents through a street of the Keshero neighborhood in Goma, on Monday. AFP/Getty Images

Guyana at low risk of earthquake that hit Cayman Islands

Guyanaisatlowriskofanyincidentfrom the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that hit the CaymanIslandsonSaturday,butresidentsin low-lying coastal areas are asked to be vigilant.

In a statement on Sunday the Civil Defence Commission said it has received reports of a 7.6-magnitude earthquake at a depthof10.0km(6.2137miles)thatoccurred 209 km SSW of George Town, Cayman Islands.

The National Earthquake Information Center(NEIC)oftheUSGSreportedthison February 08, 2025, at approximately 18:00 hrs.

“Based on the preliminary data, earthquakes of this depth and magnitude are expected to result in moderate to severe shaking in the affected area. The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center initially issued tsunami watches for Puerto Rico and the Cayman Islands, however, these have sincebeencancelled,”theCDCsaid.

AccordingtotheCDC,theU.S.National Tsunami Warning Center stated that “minor sea level fluctuations” of up to 30cm (11.8 inches)couldstilloccur,althoughanyserious threathadpassed.“TheCDCwishestoadvise thepublictoremaincalmasGuyanaisatlow

risk for this incident. However, due to our coastalpositioningalongtheAtlanticOcean, and the possibilities of fluctuating tides, the CDC is urging citizens, particularly those in low-lying and coastal areas, to remain vigilant.”

TheCDCsaidtheNationalDrainageand IrrigationAuthority(NDIA),theMinistryof Public Works – Sea Defence, the Guyana Police Force, and Community Policing Groups (CPGs) have been placed on high alerttomonitorthesituationclosely

TheCDCisadvisingcitizensto:

• Keep following the News and Social Mediapagesforofficialupdates.

•Reportanyunusualcoastalactivitysuch assuddenchangesinwaterlevelstoTheCivil D

Emergency Operation Centre (NEMS) Phone: (592)226-1114, 226-8815, 225-5847, 226-1027,WhatsApp’s:+592-600-7500

• Be prepared in case of unforeseen developments.

TheCivilDefenceCommissionNational EmergencyOperationCentre(NEMS)saidit isactively monitoringthesituationandwillprovide updatesasnecessary

Violence erupts in mineral-rich...

Frompage17

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has previously threatened to go to war with Rwanda. Rwandan leader Kagame has respondedinkind.

“We are ready to fight,” Kagame told FrenchnetworkFrance24inJunelastyear, adding:“Wearenotafraidofanything.”

When the UN Security Council convened on Sunday for an emergency meeting on the crisis, DR Congo’s foreign ministerThérèse KayikwambaWagner said Rwanda’s role in the conflict was “a declarationofwarthatnolongerhidesitself behinddiplomaticmaneuvers.”

Istherearoutetopeace?

EasternAfrican leaders plan to convene

an emergency meeting within 48 hours to findsolutionstothecrisis,Kenya’sPresident William Ruto said Monday, urging TshisekediandKagame“toheedthecallfor peace ” Previous interventions led by Angola, including truce agreements, have failedtoceasehostilities. “Asolutionisstill in sight,”Saleh told CNN, especially if the leadersmeetasplanned.“Butitisratherthe qualityofthesolutionsinsightthatisthereal question,” he said. “The region needs a lastingsolutiontothesecuritysituation,and to achieve this, one of the conditions is that the DRC must be able to ensure its security and control its economy Solutions in terms of power-sharing, tribal and ethnic integrationarenotalastingsolution.”

‘He

was frustrated’

- Jagdeo makes excuse for minister’s refusal to update Parliament of companies to receive oil blocks

Althoughitcontinuestotouttransparency in the management of the petroleum sector, the Government of Guyana (GoG) has been reluctant to share basic details pertaining to the sector This was recently the case when Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat was simply asked to state the names of the companies that government will be signing Production Sharing Agreements (PSAs)withthisyear

It was during the Consideration of Estimates in the National Assembly that former Minister of Public infrastructure David Patterson asked Bharrat about the companies.The Minister responded that this willbedonelater“forobviousreasons.”

“We will announce the four blocks that willbeawarded(to)thecompaniesatalater dateandforobviousreasonstoo,”hesaid.

Just days later the Ministry issued a statementlistingthecompaniesthatGoGwill sign PSAs with. “These include blocks S4 –TotalEnergies, Qatar Energy, and Petronas; S5–InternationalGroupInvestmentInc.;S7 – Cybele Energy; and S10 – International Group Investment Inc,” the Ministry said in itsstatement.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the development of the oil and gasindustryisconductedinamannerthatis bothtransparentandbeneficialtothecountry

Subsequently, VP Jagdeo at his press conferencesaidhebelievestheMinisterwas “justfrustrated”whenherefusedtosharethe information in the House. Jagdeo contended thattheOppositionwenttotheHouseseeking

information that was already in the public domain. “Now I think the Minister was just frustratedlikeIamsometimes,becausethey (are) going to Parliament to try to find out what was in the public domain for almost a year IfyoujustGoogleit,youwillfindit.We had,whenthebidwasclosed,welistedallthe companies, I sat right here and listed the companies that were successful in the bids,” hesaid.

In addition to that, Jagdeo reminded that he also responded to queries on the delayed conclusion of the process. As such, the VP argued that there is no secrecy surrounding the auction. He therefore concluded, “It’s an exampleintheBudgetoflaziness.”

It should be noted that prior to the Ministry’s statement this year, there was no indication that the successful companies would be moving on to sign oil contracts. Instead, the GoG had merely released the names of the oil companies that had submittedbids.

Man in court after breaching protection order

A 49-year-old man was onFridayplacedon$10,000 bail,whenheappearedatthe Georgetown Magistrates’ Courttoanswertothecharge of Breach of Protection order

Mervin Taylor of 3324

South Ruimveldt Park was charged with Breach of Protective order which took placeonFebruary5,2025on C e m e t e r y R o a d Georgetown Taylor was ordered by the court on January 24, 2025 to stay 50feetawayfromtheresidence of Vanill Grey He was accusedthen,ofverballyand physically abusing the woman.

Taylorpleadednotguilty

with explanation after the charge was read to him by Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty He told the court that he did not breach theorder,statingthathewas onhiswaytotakehischildto his mother who was at a church Additionally, he mentioned that Grey had scheduledtocollecttheirson at 17:00hrs but when he attempted to call her she did not answer until an hour after

Grey told the court that she was at church which concluded at 16:45hrs when Taylor called and asked where she was. She said “he premeditated to come to the church and verbally abuse

‘Trump’s ramped-up

Frompage8 growth, highlighting the investment in constructing the Linden to Mabura Hill roadway that will connect Guyana with NorthernBrazil.

Thissubstantialinvestment,PresidentAli noted, will create additional avenues for collaboration and enhance trade opportunities, thereby integrating Guyana’s economy with regional supply chains. And with energy prices set to significantly decrease, due to the transformative gas-toenergyprojectatWalesinRegionThree,the presidentsaiditistimetoarticulateaplanon the type of transport and logistics

me in the church, not mentioning that he came to drop of the child for me to takehome.”Sheadditionally mentioned that once Taylor isawareofherwhereabouts, he would make himself present“likeastalker.” It was made clear to the court that Taylor and Grey had an arrangement prior to Friday’s court appearance where they will only be in contact for matters relating to their son. Magistrate McGusty placed Taylor on $10,000 bail and instructed him and Grey to arrange a third party for the transporting of their child. ThatwillallowTaylortonot breach the order of staying 50-feet away from Grey’s house.

oil production...

developmentneeded.

“We have to look at, not only the large industries, but look at all the micro and medium-sized enterprises that can be developed out of this great potential,” PresidentAliasserted.

HehighlightedTrinidadandTobagoasan examplewhichutilisedrevenuesfromitsoil forcheapenergycoststhatdevelopedastrong manufacturing and agro-processing sectors. According to him, by enhancing food production and the manufacturing and agroprocessing industry, the government aims to create wealth, jobs, and resilience against economicshocks.(DPI)

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo

ShaiHopeclaimsGreenBeltand DispatchoftheSeasoninILT20Triumph

(SportsMax) - Shai

Dozensofyoungchessplayers...

Frompage20

Hope’s outstanding performances in the 2025 ILT20seasonwererewarded with multiple individual accolades as he played a pivotal role in Dubai Capitals’ title-winning campaign In addition to helping his team secure the championship with a fourwicket victory over the Desert Vipers, Hope took home the Green Belt as the Best Batter of the tournament and the DP World Dispatch of the Season award for hitting the biggest six of the competition.

Hope’s consistency throughout the season made him an easy choice for the Green Belt, awarded to the tournament’s top batter He accumulated527runsforthe Dubai Capitals, finishing well ahead of his closest

West Indian competitors, Johnson Charles (357 runs) and Nicholas Pooran (301 runs).Hope’srunscameatan impressive average of 58.55 andincludedonecenturyand three half-centuries. His last six innings showcased his reliabilityunderpressure:43 (Final), 47, 74, 45, 36, and 52.

Alongside his Green Belt, Hope also won the DP World Dispatch of the

Monday February 10, 2025

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Your financial situation could undergo some positive upheavalnow,probablyasthe result of a career advance. This process is likely to continue today, Aries, as socialeventsputyouintouch withvaluablecontacts.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

A powerful desire for change could have you thinking of traveling, Taurus, or perhaps relocating to a distant state or foreign country Friends who live far away could be trying toconvinceyoutojointhem.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

Some vivid and interesting dreams could bring a lot of repressed memories up and force you to confront them. This could be a bit disconcerting, Gemini, but stillpositive.

CANCER(June21–July22)

A transformation in your circle of friends could occur today and change your life, Cancer Someone exciting couldmoveinnearby,andyou could hit it off Expect stimulatingconversationsand fascinatingnewinformation.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Opportunities to do wellpaying creative work could come to your attention today, Leo, perhaps online.You will probablylikeit,asitmaygive youfreedom.

VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)

Virgo, you probably feel especiallysexyandpassionate now Youmayenjoybrowsing through catalogues of rich fabrics or furniture. Erotic novels could also appeal to you.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Legalmattersshoulddefinitely work in your favor today, particularly any involving property. You're likely to feel positive about life, Libra, and your home life should be especiallygratifying.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

Acall from a romantic partner could lead to an intimate gettogether It'slikelytobehighly gratifying emotionally and bring you closer together Passionate poetry and sexy novels could especially appeal toyourightnow

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Creativeprojectsthatyoumay have been working on for a while could prove especially ego boosting. You're doing a great job A change of employment and increase in incomemaybeintheworks.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

You're an appealing person, Capricorn,buttodayyoucould project more magnetism than ever Don't be surprised if you draw admiring glances from strangersyoupassinthestreet.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)

Today you may contemplate changes in your home. They could be physical, like redecorating, refurnishing, or remodeling.Orsomeonecould move in or out. Whatever the change, it's likely to be fortunate.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

If you aren't currently romantically involved, Pisces, today you might suddenly see an old friend or neighbor in a newlight.Thiscanbethrilling, butitmightnotbeagoodidea todoanythingaboutitjustyet.

withotherplayerssuchasCielClement,2025GirlsU12title holder, Kataleya Sam, Lusianna Farlot, Rebha Lachhman, AngelinaYhapandTharishaMontesDeOcaamongothers. Trophiesareupforgrabsforplacementsof1st,2nd,and 3rdineachsection.Thistournamentwillalsoawardtrophies fortheBestU8,U10,U12,andU14playerswithmedalsfor the2ndand3rdplaceintheU8andU10agecategories. The tournaments are being run concurrently by FIDE ArbiterJohnLeeandhiscapablearbitersteamwillsupervise the tournament. The GCF thanks the tournament venue sponsors, School of the Nations, and its sponsor for the tournament the Kitty Square Mall, located in Dowding Street, Kitty, a leading Distributor for GTT and Digicel phone cards, top-up and MMG, and Enet, serving vendors acrossGuyana.

Personsinterestedinlearningandplayingchesscanjoin the federation at guyanachess gy or contact us at guyanachess@gmail.com. Information on thetournament is also available on the website. Follow us on Facebook, and Instagram,andvisitourwebsitetokeepupdatedwithchess activities.

Season, an award given to thebatterwhohitthelongest six in the competition. His abilitytocleartheropeswith power and precision added an extra dimension to Dubai Capitals’battinglineup.

While Hope stole the showwiththebat,theWhite Belt for Best Bowler was awarded to Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi, who claimed 21 wickets at an average of 14.95, with best figuresof5-16.AmongWest Indian bowlers, Jason Holder(17wicketsat17.88) and Alzarri Joseph (16 wickets at 21 06) were notable performers, though Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani finished ahead of Joseph in the rankings, taking the same number of wickets but at a superior averageof16.06.

Hope’sstellarshowingin the ILT20 further solidifies his reputation as one of the most dependable batters in world cricket. His ability to performconsistently,anchor innings, and play aggressive strokes when needed proved invaluableinDubaiCapitals’ road to victory His contributions were instrumental in securing the franchise’s first-ever ILT20 title, making him one of the standout performers of the tournament.

Shai Hope of Dubai Capitals with Green Belt for the Highest Runs Scorer (ILT20)

Powell, Raza power Capitals to maiden ILT20 title in thrilling chase

(ESPN Cricinfo) - Rovman Powell made the most of a second lifegiftedtohimbyAzamKhanto power Dubai Capitals to their maiden ILT20 title as they beat DesertVipersinthethrillingfinal.

Capitals conceded 189, when they were in a position restrict Vipers to a lower total and were then31for3afterfiveoversinthe chase.Thatcouldhavebeen46for 4, but a wicketkeeping error from Azam was punished in full by Powell, who hammered 63 off 38, to help Capitals pull off a fourwicket win Shai Hope and Sikandar Raza also played key roles in the stiff chase as Capitals registered their fourth win against Vipersintheseason.

Half-centuries from Max Holden and Sam Curran took Vipers to a competitive total, with Azam also chipping in with an impactfulcameoof27off13.Butit wasn’tenoughintheend.

Powell’ssecond lifetheturningpoint Capitalswereintroubleearlyin their chase of 190, with David Warner chopping on off David Payne and Mohammad Amir removing Gulbadin Naib and Sam Billings,whowasalsodroppedoff Amir three balls before his dismissal.

Vipers almost had another one when Nathan Sowter had Powell stumpeddownthelegside,butthe thirdumpirecaughtAzambringing hisglovesbesidethestumpsbefore collecting the ball and it was declaredano-ball.

That proved to be the turning point in the game as Powell, who wason2off6atthetime,switched gears to wrestle momentum away fromVipers.HehitSowterforasix before crashing 15 off the 16 runs Curran conceded off the next over,

withtwofoursandasix.

Hope picked up the pace as well,hittingSowterforasixasthe next two overs fetched Capitals 21 runs.

Even as Curran accounted for Hope, Powell kept going, while Dasun Shanaka joined in with an impactfulcameoof21off10.

Razaappliesfinishingtouches

With 38 still needed off 19 deliveries, the job was far from done but Raza ensured Capitals wentovertheline.

Raza and Powell picked up a boundary each off the 18th over, before Sowter finally had his man when Powell was caught at

Obed McCoy struck with his first delivery (ILT20)

backwardpoint.

However, Raza hit three fours off four balls in the next over to leaveCapitalswithjustnineneeded offthefinalover

Razafinishedthegameinstyle, hittingKhuzaimaTanveerforasix andfouroffthefirsttwoballsofthe last over to seal a win without any moredrama.

McCoygivesCapitals theperfectstart

Capitals got off to a great start after winning the toss as Obed McCoy removed the dangerous AlexHaleswithhisfirstball.Hales chipped him to midwicket, where HaiderAlitookagoodcatchdiving

forward.

CapitalscouldhavehadGurbaz backinthehutinthenextover,but Scott Kuggeleijn dropped him at deeppointoffFarhanKhan.

Holden, who cracked two boundaries off McCoy in the first five balls he faced, injected Vipers withtheearlymomentum,racingto 22 off 13 when Gurbaz miscued McCoytomid-offinthefifthover

HoldenholdsViperstogether

Holden continued to attack, picking three boundaries off KuggeleijntotakeVipersto53for 2 at the end of the powerplay He broughtupa32-ballhalf-centuryin the eighth over with a boundary

driven back over Raza’s head. Another attempted straight drive off the next ball almost saw him hole out, but Powell dropped him runningtohisrightfromlong-on.

DanLawrencethenholedoutat deep cover off Haider, having contributedjust10runstoa41-run standforthethirdwicket.

Capitals slowed things down anditonlygotbetterforthemwhen Holden holed off to long-on off Raza.

Curran,Azamfinish strongforCapitals

But Curran and Azam then hammed67off29ballsforthefifth wicket to take Vipers to a strong total.Azammadeaninstantimpact, clippinghisfirstballfinedownthe leg side for a boundary before clearinglong-offinthesameover McCoy returned to bowl the 18th over and Curran welcomed him with boundaries on either side of point off the first two balls and then nudged him past fine leg for anotherboundarytwoballslater Kuggeleijn, who had been expensiveonthenight,bowledthe penultimate over and Curran greeted him with a 117-metre six overmidwicket.Curranbroughtup a 28-ball fifty next ball before picking up another boundary off a topedge.

Kuggeleijn also droppedAzam offthelastballoftheovertofinish with figures of 0 for 40 from three overs.

Azam hit another boundary to punishthatmistake,butintheend, his innings won’t be what he will likelyrememberaboutthisfinal.

Matchdetails: Dubai Capitals 191 for 6 (Powell 63, Hope 43, Raza34*,Payne2-28) beat Desert Vipers 189 for 5 (Holden 76, Curran 62*, McCoy 2-44) by four wickets

Dozens of young chess players participate in Kitty Square Mall under-16 C/ship

The 2025 National Under 16 Chess Championships,hostedbytheGuyanaChess Federation (GCF), roll into action this Saturday,February8th,2025,attheSchoolof the Nations with almost 60 contenders from acrossthecitysettocompete.

Tournament organizers are pleased with theoverwhelmingsupportfromoursponsor, Kitty Square Mall, who have once again stepped up to support the junior chess tournament.

The seven-round tournament will be playedintwocategories,theOpenandGirls section under the Swiss format with a time control of 20 minutes plus 5-second incrementsafterthefirstmoveisplayed.

PlayersfromtherecentlyplayedU12and U14 Chess Championships tourneys are expected to return to challenge some of the moreseasonedcontendersofthegame,such

as fifteen-year-old Kyle Couchman, the highest-rated junior player in Guyana who holds an ELO rating of 1868 and Candidate Master Sachin Pitamber, age fourteen, who has an ELO rating of 1779, is also vying for theUnder16OpenChessChampionshiptitle. HopingtogetintothetopspotsaretheZhang siblings,AlexanderandNicholas,bothrated players, who have proven to be strong contestants in these competitions, with Nicholas having recently won the National Under 14 Chess Title for 2025. Other challengers in the Open section are Alek Ubaldo-Singh, Mahir Rajkumar, Omar Shariff, Micaiah Enoe, and 2025 National U12ChampionAbelFernandez. In the Girls section, Woman Candidate MasterAditi Joshi, age 14, is competing for theUnder16Girl’sChampionshiptitlealong Continued on page 19

Allicock,Amsterdam namedinGBA trainingsquad2025 CaribbeanBoxing Championships

The Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) hasofficiallyannouncedthenationaltraining squad,withthecountry’stoppugilistsvying forselectiontorepresentGuyanaatthe2025 CaribbeanBoxingChampionships.

This year’s tournament will be staged in St. Lucia from February 27 to March 3, markingthereturnoftheprestigiouseventfor thefirsttimesince2019.

The Caribbean Boxing Championships has long been the region’s premier amateur boxing event, showcasing the finest talents fromacrosstheCaribbean.

Guyana, a powerhouse in regional boxing, last won the overall championship titlein2018whenthetournamentwashosted on home soil. The last edition of the tournament, held in Trinidad and Tobago in 2019, saw Guyana put on a strong performance, and with the event making a long-awaited return, the national team is determinedtoreclaimitspositionatthetop.

Leading the charge for Guyana is OlympianKeevinAllicock,adominantforce in Caribbean boxing who won gold at the championshipsin2017,2018,and2019.

Thedynamicfeatherweightboxeriseager to continue his unbeaten streak and cement hislegacyasoneoftheregion’sbest.

Also among the contenders is Desmond Amsterdam,theaccomplishedmiddleweight who picked up a bronze medal at the 2022 SouthAmericanGames.

His international experience and resilience make him a strong asset to Guyana’scampaigninSt.Lucia.

Joining Allicock and Amsterdam in

Kevin Allicock. (Getty Images)

DCC executive laud Savory and Imlach for champion performances

Etrainingareatalentedgroupofboxers:Leon Albert, Septon Barton, Quince Boyce, Clifton Graham, Travis Inveraray, Shaquain James, Dwayne July, Colin Lewis, Orlando Norton, Emma Noel Pompey, Ronaldo Sutton, Zidan Wray, Joel Williamson, and AbiolaJackman.

Additionally, Keyon Britton, Lennox Lawrence, Ken Harvey, and Tofina Barker havealsobeenaskedtoreportfortraining.

The preparation and selection process willbeoverseenbyanexperiencedcoaching panel, including Cuban coach Francisco Roldan, national coach Lennox Daniels, alongwithCliftonMooreandJeffRoberts.

GBAPresidentSteveNinvalleexpressed his enthusiasm for the return of the tournament and the strength of the squad in training, adding, “We are thrilled to see the Caribbean Boxing Championships return afteralonghiatus.”

“This tournament has always been a crucial platform for our boxers to showcase their talent on the regional stage. I am confident that the best possible team will be selected, and we are focused on reclaiming our title as the Caribbean’s best.,” Ninvalle said.

With a history of success at the championships and a squad filled with both experienced champions and rising stars, Guyana’s boxing contingent is poised to makeasignificantimpactinSt.Lucia.

Thecomingweeksofintensepreparation willdeterminethefinalteamthatwillflythe Golden Arrowhead with pride in St Lucia.

(GBARelease)

xecutives and members of DemeraraCricket Club (DCC) and members sent congratulations to their club captain and skipper of the Guyana Harpy Eagles team,TevinImlach.

The West Indies Test playerledfromthefrontwith bat and gloves against CCC recently as the defending champswonby8wickets.

DCC would like to highlight Imlach’s dominance behind and infront the stumps, a testament to the proud tr

w

c

keeper/batsmen,whohadthe honour of scoring centuries for Guyana at the Regional firstclasslevels.

The house of legends recalled that in the 1947 regional first class season DCC’s Clifford Mcwatt scored an unbeaten 123 againstTrinidadandTobago at the Queen’s Park Oval, whilst performing wicketkeepingduties.

The Guyanese again put the Trinidadian attack to the swordwithaflamboyant128 at Bourda during the 1953 Regionalseason.

Tevin Imlach scored a century on his return to the Guyana Harpy Eagles team.

Fast-forward to the 2009 Regional Championship season; the pugnacious Derwin Christian hammered the Jamaican with 109 at Providence. Meanwhile, another DCC product in Kemol Savory, scored 101 not out versus Trinidad at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, followed by 127 not out against the Jamaicans in 2024 at Sabina Park. Imlach continued the show with a dazzling126notoutrecently versusCCC,thuscontinuing the rich legacy of the club. (CharwayneWalker)

Mashramani Street Football Championships…

North East beat Back Circle B; set up semi showdown with defending champs

Defending champions, Stabroek Ballers continued to mount a courageous title defense in the Mashramani

S t r e e t F o o t b a l l Championships on Saturday night at the National Park with a gritty and dramatic

victory against the formidableBentStreet.

E x p e r i e n c e d campaigner, Sese Norville

missed the first of three penaltykicksforBentStreet inagamethatended2-2after regular and extra time as Stabroek Ballers delivered a perfect performance from the penalty spot to win 3-2 and ensure their place in Semi-Finals set for this Saturdayatthesamevenue.

“It is probably the first penalty kick i missed in my

entire career,” Norville said afterthegame.

Bevo Marks put Bent Street up early in the game with a second-minute strike before Gerry Burnette respondedfiveminuteslater toequalise.

Shemar Welch gave Stabroek Ballers the lead in the 32nd minute but Adrian Aaron responded for Bent

Street three minutes later to equalise. Regular and extratime could not produce a winner in the exciting encounter that created loud gasps and cheers from onlookerswhoshowedupto supporttheirteams.

To continue the high drama at the renowned facility in Georgetown, Lennox Cort dismantled

BackCircleBdefensetwice toputhisteam,NorthEaston hisbackandgetthemtotheir first major Final Four in sometime.

Cort scored in the sixth and30thminutestodelivera 2-0 win for North East, who clearlyshowedupwiththeir supporters to ensure enough encouragement in a game they entered as underdogs g i v e n t h e r e c e n t performancesofBackCircle Binstreetfootball.

North East will play the defending champs, Stabroek BallersthisSaturdaynightat theNationalParkforaplace intheFinals,whichwillalso be held Saturday night. The other Semi-Finals will feature Taliban against Goal is Money as both teams established their superiority intheQuarter-Finals.

Taliban delivered a 3-0 drubbing of West Demerara based, Showstoppers. Carl Griffith scored in the third and 18th minutes while Omar Jones found the uprights in the 30th minute forTaliban.

Goal is Money also booked their Semi-Finals berthwithacomfortable2-0 win against Ztekk. Jaleel Hamilton scored in the 10th

minute while Tyler Murray found the net in the 17th minutetoputGoalisMoney throughtotheFinalFour

The winner of the tournament will pocket

500,000, second place

300,000, third place $200,000 and fourth place $100,000. Trophies will be given to teams placing first to third while the Most Valubale Player (MVP) of thetournamentgets$50,000 andtrophy

In the Plate Playoffs, Albouystown beat Broad Street 2-1 with Akeem Griffithfinishingapenaltyin the 4th minute and Ezekiel Telford scoring in the 18th minute for Albouystown DeAndre Linton scored for Broad Street in the 12th minute.

Festival City then edged Laing Avenue on penalty kicks after a nil-all stalemate. FestivalCityand Albouystown advanced to this Saturday’s Plate Playoffsthatwillalsofeature t h e f o u r l o s i n g Quarterfinalists The top three finishers in the Plate Playoffs will split a total purse of $100,000 while each will be rewarded with caseofMagnumTonicWine.

Defending Champs, Stabroek Ballers

Interesting transfers, Clubs secure firepower ahead of Season Seven Elite League

Mainstay Goldstar FC has secured a spot in Season Seven of the GFF Elite League

As the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) prepares

to get the ball rolling in the seventh edition of its premierfootballleague,sponsoredbyKFC,teams are finalizing their squads in anticipation of a highly competitiveseason.

With the transfer window recently opening, clubs have actively strengthened their rosters, setting the stage for what promises to be one of the most exciting tournaments in the league’shistory

Severalhigh-profiletransfershavealreadymadeheadlines. WesternTigersFChasmadesignificantacquisitions,including Simeon Moore from Caledonia FC (Trinidad and Tobago), Stephon Reynolds from Santos FC, Andrew Murray from Slingerz FC, and Alex Murray from GDF As three-time champions,WesternTigersarebolsteringtheirlineupinpursuit ofafourthtitle.

Slingerz FC, one of the most talked-about elite teams, has secured several key signings. They welcome Jamaican Romaine Brackenridge from Harbour View FC, Trinidadian Ronaldo Blair from Caledonia FC, Terique Mohammed from Des Moines Menace in the U.S., Jamaica’s Kemar Beckford from Humble Lions FC, and Kelsey Benjamin from Golden Jaguars/GDFFC.TheseadditionspositionSlingerzasserious titlecontenders.

Interestingly, Guyana Police Force FC has also made significant moves, bringing in Ryan Hackett from GDF FC to prop their frontline, Jamaican Neron Barrow, Brandon SolomonfromSantosFC,andJamanineBecklesfromWestern Tigers. These acquisitions strengthen their squad as they aim foranimprovedshowingthisseason.

Defending champions Guyana Defence Force FC have opted not to make any transfers, relying instead on the collective strength of their title-winning squad. Given their dominance in the last two editions of the tournament, they remainaformidableforce.

Another notable transfer includes Deon Alfred from SlingerzFC,whowillnowbepartoftheDenAmstelsetup.

TheupcomingGFF-KFC EliteLeagueissettokickoffin March and will feature a new addition, Lake Mainstay’s Goldstar FC. With this new inclusion, fans can expect even morethrillingactioninthisyear’stournament.

Slingerz FC’s campaign will be particularly intriguing, as theyseekredemptionafterfinishingasrunners-uplastseason. In 2024, they faced GDF twice and managed two draws, but with five key transfers, they will be aiming for a different outcomethisyear

FrutaConquerorsFC,despitefacingongoingchallengesat the club, managed a fourth-place finish behind the Guyana PoliceForceinlastyear’sedition.

Meanwhile, Buxton United FC was relegated after a winless campaign, recording 17 losses and one draw to finish 10th. Ann’s Grove FC secured their spot in the 2025 Elite Leaguethroughthequalifierplayoffs.

Guyana Defence Force FC has dominated recent editions, winning the last two tournaments, along with a previous triumphinthe2016-17Eliteseason.Aspreparationscontinue fortheupcomingleague,furtherupdateswillbefeaturedinthis publicationastheybecomeavailable.

SAGames 2022 Bronze medalist, DesmondAmsterdam (right)

(Getty Images)