Pritipaul Singh Investments Inc (PSI) has become a household name throughout Guyana for its vastinvestmentinthefishing industry and hundreds of employment opportunities createdbythecompany;but withtheadventofoilandgas activities offshore, General Manager,PritipaulSinghhas become increasingly worried for what the future holds.
In an interview with this newspaper last week, the businessmanhighlightedthe significantdeclineinexports recorded by his company betweentheperiod2019and 2023- from 20 containers monthlytomerelytwo.
With Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) conducted by ExxonMobil repeatedly highlighting impactstowaterqualityfrom planneddischarges,including chemicals,Singhiscallingon theEnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) to conduct an independent investigation of how these discharges are affecting the ecosystem of marinelife
He explained, “My biggest concern is that we haveseensince2015to2020 adeclineinourcatchandthis is because of the seismic exploration which could drive the seafood species away.”
Singhhasinvestedin107 fishing boats to date, with a processing facility that cost
him about US$50M. With outstandingcommitmentsto the bank, the businessman said he has decided to highlighthisconcernsinthe media, with the intent of attracting the assistance of government and related agencies to help keep his organizationafloat.
PSI exports over 90% of its catches; the company is therefore a key player in this country’s economy when it comes to propping up Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figuresfortheindustryAsthe company continues to see declinesinprofits,itiscalling forurgentintervention.
“Icouldalsosaythatthe fingerlingsoftheseabob,we would see huge volumes of fingerlings and we expect that the fingerlings would grow bigger but it don’t.
That’s the general trend in our early years. Let’s say 2010to2015,thosewerethe general trend, the small shrimp would get big but there is no more small shrimpwhenyouseealotof fingerlings, there is no germination, it dies,” the GeneralManagershared.
He believes the changes observedcouldbeasaresult of the chemicals being used in the petroleum sector “It could be the chemicals they are using. I don’t know and there is nobody in the laboratorythatwouldtestor support They have a Fisheries’ Department but nobody does anything to helpandtosaythatthewater
samples are okay, this is okayoranything.Weareleft with it,” Singh told this publication.
The businessman was keentonotethatthisconcern is not unique to PSI as various fishermen could confirm this fear and the changes observed in the qualityofcatches.
Consequently, he said, “Wehaveourartisanalboats andthereisnofish.Weneed tohavepeoplefromtheEPA who would go out because they are the only competent one who can give us reports but there is nothing from them. We need to know the salinity of the water around different depths, the acidity ofthewateratcertaindepths. All these are contributing factors to fish health. Now the shrimp that we have would feed on algae. If the chemicals they are using is dumped into the water, and there are certain acidity or alkalinity is not met then therewouldbedestructionof theecosystem.”
INDEPENDENTSTUDY
Guyanese have often questioned the logic of governmentforacceptingthe assurances of ExxonMobil, as highlighted in EIAs, that impacts to the fishing sector wouldbenegligible
Back in 2022, the Food a n d A g r i c u l t u r e Organization(FAO)issueda fish study which caused environmentalists to questionitsfindings.
The body, in response to
PSI General Manager, Pritipaul Singh
one activist had admitted to using available data, rather than conducting its own assessment of the situation. Not only that but it also revealed that the “rapid assessment” concluded that thenoticeabledeclineinfish catch was not as a result of theoffshoreoiloperations.
FAO Assistant DirectorGeneral and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean,
Mr Julio Berdegue, in his response seen by Kaieteur News told Simone MangalJoly that “The technical analysis in question was requested by Guyana to c o n t r i b u t e t o i t s understanding of these complex catch issues and supportdecision-making Itis arapidassessmentofreported issues related to fisheries catchbetween2020and2021 and is based on available data” To q u a l i f y t h e conclusion, Berdegue added that“asaspecializedagency of the United Nations, FAO adheres to strong scientific principles, and employs the highest professional standards in analyzing and disseminating available data We are globally respected for practising impartiality, transparency and accountability in our work, and we promote
neutral fora for national dialogue and evidencebaseddecision-making.”
Meanwhile, in another letter to the FAO, MangalJoly stated, “You have clarified here that your chargefromtheGovernment ofGuyanawastoconductan assessment related to fish catch between 2020-2021. This narrow focus and time period, and the fact that you refer to it as a “rapid assessment”, suggests to me thatthestudycouldnothave been seeking to assess the impact of oil and gas activities on fish stocks and the fisheries sector in Guyana This clarifies matters.”
Read more here: https://wwwkaieteurnewso nline com/2022/05/25/faosays-rapid-study-availabledata-determined-low-fishcatch-not-as-a-result-of-oilproduction/
Policearrestmanforflyingdrone over TeamMohameds’property
Ranks of the Guyana Police Force on Sunday arrestedamanforreportedly flying a drone over Team Mohameds’ (Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed) Houston East Bank Demerara (EBD) property
The man is said to be a member of staff of a major securitycompanyinGuyana. When police showed up, the street leading to the Mohameds’ residence was lined with vehicles branded Sherriff Security They reportedly claimed that they were there looking over the Guyana Shore Base Inc (GYISBI)facility
However, police reportedly have evidence thatthemanmighthavebeen involvedintheunauthorised s
Businessman Azruddin Mohamed said that the man
Police
No risk of explosion at new gas pipeline for Hammerhead project
- Exxon consultant
As part of its seventh p l a n n e d o f f s h o r e
d e v e l o p m e n t , t h e
Hammerhead project,
ExxonMobil Guyana
Limited (EMGL) will be constructing a new pipeline to connect to the Gas-toE n e r g y ( G T E ) infrastructure.
According to the oil
giant’s consultant, Environmental Resources Management (ERM), there is no likelihood of an explosion associated with the additional 13-kilometer pipeline that will be laid several meters below the surfaceofthesea.
During a public disclosure meeting at the Diamond Primary School, East Bank Demerara, ERM was asked to explain the reason for its study being silent on risks associated with the proposed gas pipeline.
To this end, ERM Partner, Craig Niedermeier explained that the group assessed impacts within the Project Development Area (PDA) specifically with regardtodisturbancestothe seabed.
He clarified, “We did lookatimpactsaspartofour Project description, part of the PDA…so we looked at disturbances at the seabed, based on that pipeline being installed so that was part of ourassessment.”
Meanwhile, when asked about the likelihood of an explosion that may occur neartheFloatingProduction Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO), Niedermeier told this newspaper that this wasunlikely.
According to him, “As far as an unplanned (event) we did not identify it as being possible for a couple reasons.
In the past, we had (assessed) explosions from the pipeline to the GTE becauseitcomesonshoreto shallow water Because it is so deep in the water, 800 meters or so, the gas export pipeline any leak that would happen first of all wouldbedetectedquickly It could make its way to the surface but because it’s sodeep,thedispersionofthe gas as it makes its way up would be diluted overtime and we didn’t identify it as possibletobeanexplosionat thesurface.”
Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) by KaieteurNewsfoundthatthe word‘pipeline’ismentioned at least 182 times in the document; be that as it may, the study fails to properly assess impacts associated with that element of the plannedproject.
Of the 182 times the Consultant used the word ‘pipeline’ this newspaper only noted associated impactsexplainedtwice.
According to a table of the‘modeleddischargesand considered constituents for production, operations, and SURF hydrotesting’ ERM noted that commissioning fluids such as methanol and mono-ethyleneglycolcanbe releasedfromthegasexport pipeline.T hat table also explains this may cause toxicity impacts on marine species.
Anothertablediscussingthe summary of the Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) states that marine mammals may be impacted by discharges and underwater sound disturbance during o ff s h o r e p i p e l i n e construction.
During the disclosure meeting, ERM pointed to another instance where it assessed disturbances from thepipelinetotheseabed.
In its EIA previously conducted for the GTE pipeline, ERM detailed the possibility of an explosion occurringalongthepipeline. Italsooutlinedmeasuresthat will be put in place to mitigate and respond to any such event, given the likelihood of gas leaking fromthestructure.
AboutHammerhead
In the Project Summary submitted by Exxon to the EPA,thecompanyexplained thattheprojectisexpectedto add 120,000 to 180,000 barrels of oil per day
production capacity Production is expected to begin in 2029 subject to the necessary regulatory approvals and operate for at least20years.
WGS_1984_UTM_Zone_21N
WKID: 32621Authority: EPSG
Projection:Transverse_Mercator
False_Easting: 500000.0
False_Northing: 0.0
Central_Meridian: -57.0
Scale_Factor: 0.9996
Latitude_Of_Origin: 0.0 Linear Unit: Meter (1.0)
E x x o n s a i d
Hammerhead will develop the offshore resource by drilling approximately 14 to 30 development wells (including production and water injection wells); installing and operating Subsea Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines (SURF) equipment; using an FPSO toprocess,store,andoffload the recovered oil; and installing an approximately 13-kilometer gas export pipeline from the FPSO to a tie-in on the Gas to Energy Pipeline.
Map showing the location of the Hammerhead project in the Stabroek Block
Local fishermen have resumed their complaints about decliningcatches,pinningsometheblameoncurrentoiland gasactivitiesoffshoreGuyana.
One major fishing company - Pritipaul Singh Investments Inc (PSI) has highlighted the significant decline in exports recorded by the company between the period 2019 and 2023 - from 20 containers monthly to merelytwo.InadditiontoPSI,thesmallfishermenandtheir families are also concerned about the significantly lower fishing catch that they experience, when they ply Guyana’s fishing fields. The results are meagre, as we reported recently: “Fishermen bawling at sea as they reel in empty seines”
By any calculation, it is a grim present, and a grimmer looking future for fishermen and all the many others who depend upon their catch. The dependent includes their familiesforemost,thenthemanyretailerswhomakealiving from what they bring to shore and can be offered in marketplaces, fish shops, corner shops, and street side vendors. Regarding the small shops and smaller vendors struggling to make it, fish burgers, fishcake, fish and chips and fish and bread are profitable daily staples. Take that away,oritbecomesscarceandprohibitivelyexpensive,and there is only meat and veggies left. That is, for those Guyanese who even deal with veggies to any great degree. The bustling subculture of cleaners, porters, and much smallerself-helpersgatheredaroundthewharvestosqueeze out‘alittlesomething’fromthedailyfishingcatchmustalso numberamongthedependentsinourfishingsector
The fishermen can barely make it with their catch, now well below normal levels, with almost 50 percent decline felt. They blame the rapidly expanding offshore operations of Exxon. One school of thought points to higher salinity in the water negative impacting marine life, with humans feelingtheeffectslater,asGuyanesedotoday Othersblame changing meteorological conditions, with global warming alltherage.Thetemperatureeffects,whichsomeunfamiliar mindsmaydeemasnegligible,havewreakedhavocinmany places on a global scale, including possibly marine life, hencethecriesofourfishermen.
It would appear that there is considerable basis for the misgivings and wraths of our local fishermen when they point to Exxon and its offshore operations as the main factors contributing to their plight. For, as we have recently reported consecutive studies conducted by ExxonMobil have warned of the imminent danger to marine species, includingfish.
Recently, this newspaper reported that another study done by Exxon confirmed that marine life, including fish, can be affected by poor water quality as a result of the planned petroleum activities.The EIAfor the Hammerhead project- Exxon’s seventh development- states, “The project might affect marine fish due to the degradation of water quality as a result of the permitted vessel discharges described above, through acoustic impacts, through localized changes in distribution, and habitat usage due to altered bottom habitats and the presence of Project infrastructure, through attraction to artificial light, and throughthepotentialtoentrain(suckin)fisheggsandlarvae at cooling water intakes.” The PPP Government and its leaderswholiketoshoutthattheyareforthesmallmanand the poor and working class have sought to downplay the decline in the industry and have responded with programmes such as fish cages and brackish water shrimp, which have done little to alleviate the plight of the fishermen.
Our powerful political presences and voices in Government and Opposition are without substance or sound.Incomesaredepletedandcouldbelostandthereisno oneandnothingtocomfortourpeople,whoaretoldthatthe oil is our blessing; and it is the divine right of the President andVicePresidentandLeaderoftheOppositiontogoalong quietly with whatever sewage Exxon drops on the heads of weaker,vulnerablecitizensofthisnation.
Our nutrition intake is involved and impacted
Why would the GRA seek to execute a seizure when it knew that the matter was sub judice?
DEAREDITOR,
Iwritewithdeepconcern over a troubling report carried by Demerara Waves regarding the Guyana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) recent actions against the Mohamedfamily
According to that report, an application was made on Wednesday last for an injunction to prevent the GRA from seizing a number of vehicles belonging to the Mohameds. The GRA was informed of this legal development and, according tothereport,wassaidtohave acknowledged being so informed.
Yet, in a move that raises serious questions about both
propriety and legality, the GRAreportedly turned up at the Mohameds’ premises even before the court had an opportunity to hear and determine the injunction application.
The attempted seizure of the vehicles, had it been successful, would have r e n d e r e d t h e c o u r t application moot. This, in e s s e n c e , w o u l d b e tantamount to frustrating the due process of the law—an actthatcanonlybedescribed as a blatant disregard for the authorityofthejudiciary
The GRA is not an ordinary entity It is an agency of the State vested with significant power With
that power must come a corresponding measure of restraint, respect for the law, andfidelitytofairprocedure. What we witnessed last Saturday, however, appears instead to be a calculated effort to circumvent judicial oversight. Such conduct is not merely overzealous it is unethical, highhanded, and possibly unlawful. We must ask the pressing question: Why would the GRAseek to execute a seizure when it knew that the matter was sub judice? Who or what emboldened this agency to act in a manner that seems designed to make a mockery of the court? Was this a
reckless misstep by rogue elements within the GRA, or was there a hidden hand g u i d i n g t h e
o
proclaiming that “the law is not an ass,” yet seemingly indifferenttoitsprocesses?
When an agency charged with upholding the law chooses to act above it, then we must worry not just for the Mohameds but for all citizens.
The rule of law must apply equally to the citizen and to the State. It is high timetheGRAberemindedof this.
Yours faithfully, Rupnauth Hardyal
I find the Chief Justice’s judgment to be myopic
DEAREDITOR,
Justice George presiding over the court of 1st instance (there are two higher level courtsthatcanbecalledupon to review her decision) handed down a judgment dismissing Carol Joseph‘s request for judicial review of the implementation, by GECOM, of the amendment to the National Registration Act, which provides for the mere claim of an address, rather than the previous provision (verification of residency of an applicant) as
inclusion on the voters’ list, for persons eighteen years andabove.
Ihastentoclarifythatthe issue at hand is not house-tohouse registration. Rather, it is about whether registration requiresthattheregistrantbe physically (in person) verified at the given registrationaddress.
M a y I a l s o hypothesize/postulate, at the very inception, that the amendment to the National Registration Act; GECOM‘s embrace of the amendment; and the Judge‘s dismissal of Carol Joseph‘s application are indications of our Law being unclothed of its spirit, while facilitating the d e m o l i t i o n o f t h e architecture of our “so called”democracy
Carol Joseph called upon
the court to rule that verification of a registrant at the registrant‘s address is an essential prerequisite for the registrationofthatregistrant, in relation to those elections or parts thereof that are constituencybased.
The Chief Justice ruled that there is no such need. According to the report in DemeraraWaves that Ruling was premised on Article 159(1): “No person shall vote at an election unless he or she is registered as an elector ” (apparently, the Chief Justice also relied on 159(2) and 159(2)(a):” …a person shall be qualified to beregisteredasanelectorfor elections if, and shall not be so qualified unless, he or she is of the age of eighteen years or upward and - (a) is a citizen of Guyana”. In effect she relies on two criteria for registration as an elector: age and citizenship, respectively; and Article 172(1): “Local Government isavitalaspectofdemocracy and shall be organized so as to involve as many people as possible in the task of managing and developing the communities in which theylive.”
I find the judgment to be myopic. It neither takes the Constitution as a whole into consideration; nor the historical evolution of the provisions for the realization of an electoral democracy in Guyana Hence, my
negatively, because with the declining fish catch, the focus then shifts to animal-based products, and all the known issuesthatfollow
Our families are faced with higher fish prices, lesser availability,andconcernsaboutthequalityonthetable,since the catch is so tiny Fresh, frozen imports are not the same thing as straight from the sea to our homes. This oil, supposedlyablessing,iskillingus,limbbylimb.
contention is that the Constitution is being relied on without reference to its principles (spirit), which are foundational to all that’s in the Constitution; and the
introduction of provisions thatareanti-democratic.
While the constitution clearly enshrines the right of electors to vote, it specifies that such persons must meet certain qualifications: be a Guyanese 18 years and above, in addition to satisfying “such other qualifications as may be prescribed by or under any law.”Itthereforedefieslogic when other provisions are notconsidered.Forexample, article 73 stipulates that “Members of a regional democratic council shall be elected by persons residing in the region and registered as electors for the purpose of article 159.” This provision has to be read in conjunction with 159 which it references and clearly cannot be interpreted to mean that one can simply ‘claim’ an address “Residing” and “Claiming an address” are not coterminous. That they are not, is enforced by other provisions such as, article 71(1):“LocalGovernmentis a vital aspect of democracy and shall be organized so as to involve as many people as possible in the task of managing and developing the communities in which they live.” “Claiming an address” cannot be equated to ‘living there’. It is the verificationofactuallyliving there (residency) that differentiates one from the other Hence the previous provision (National
Registration Regulation 4A) t h a t p r o v i d e d f o r verification.Thelogichereis that the elections establish a relationship between the voter and the elected person(s) that is premised on the elected person(s) having responsibilities in relation to the conduct of public affairs that affect the elector “Claiming an address” is no platform for such a relationship It is living there that creates the relationship commencing with voting and extends to ‘taking decisions which are binding upon citizens oftheirarea’,asprovidedfor in Article 75 of the Constitution.
The Chief Justice trivializes the reason for an address being verified. She contends that it is only required to determine where theregistrantwillbelistedto vote. She fails to understand that in any constituencybased elections, in a democratic society, residency ensures that the votervotesattheplacewhere he or she has an interest in what the elected will be doing;anddecisionstakento affect him or her, when elected.
The overriding provision isthePrinciplesandBasesof the Political, Economic and Social System, Chapter II of the Constitution, which clearly articulates and enshrines the bases on which theConstitutionandthearms of the state, including “the courts” should operate, as articulated in article 39(1) of the Constitution. No law or provisions are exempted from being guided by those principles.
Article9stipulatesthat Continued on page 6
‘Initiating democratic governance in Guyana’
DEAREDITOR,
Today, under the rubric
of economic growth, a u t o c r a t i c r e g i m e s worldwide - in Africa, America Guyana and Asiaare attempting to hypnotise their populations with material incentives as they systematically remove the human desire and right to
d e m o c r a t i c s e l fgovernment Even when quite well-meaning people
speak in favour of democracy, they emphasise its relationship to material outcomes rather than what it really is, namely the
expression of human freedom in the social setting. The result is that the gap between dictatorship and democracy is being blurred, and it is commonplace to view a flourishing human future as the attainment of material goods regardless of the nature of governance. So what are the conceptual underpinnings of this notion
of human freedom,
democracy and self governmentandhowcanone formulate and implement a response to the current autocratic regime in Guyana?
Briefly, humans are uniquely rational social
beings who hanker after the purest form of freedom and the best possible quality of life.Rationalitysuggeststhat people’s lives will be ‘nasty, brutish and short’ if they do not establish some form of government to establish social order The question, then, is what should be the relationship between the wish for freedom, acquiring thebestqualityoflifeandthe restrictive nature of government?
Real freedom begins where the social necessity to act ends and lib
al democracy with its notions of the separation of powers, l
nt, majority rule, minority rights, the rule of law and protection of private property, is an expression of freedom in the social setting. A natural result of the effort
to protect maximum individual freedom in the context of effective g o v e r n a n c e a n d development. However,thedemandfor both maximum freedom and the good life, i.e. improved standard of living with the leastexpenditureoftimeand labour, resulted in the actual socialisationofproperty-the establishment of private,
public and other forms of c o r p o r a t i o n s a n d associations - to more effectively use the existing human and economic resources. What then should be the nature of governance when in effect, private property ceases to be private? Democratic
s o c i a l i s m - t h e democratisation of property relations - is a natural reactiontothisdevelopment.
But where it does not exist and liberal democracy has not been sufficiently strong, the disparity of private wealth has reached a point where some claim that a few billionaires are poised to rule the liberal democratic world. Not unlike what takes place in autocratic domains, self-governance, democracy and human freedom are to be curtailed as populations a r e b e d a z z l e d b y materialisticmegaprojects.
T h i s m a t e r i a l i s t emphasis dominates political thinking in Guyana. One day Mr Lincoln Lewis tells us that the present focus of the government ‘should notsolelybeonbuildingnew roads and bridges but on ensuring decent wages, salaries, and pensions that reflect the cost of living.The
future of Guyana must be o n e o f e q u i t y a n d opportunityforallitspeople. This isn’t just about economic growth politicians don’t prioritise the creation of a just and inclusive society ’ (KN: 01/04/2025).
And literally, the next day, apart from the ‘creation of a just and inclusive society’ Mr Reggie Bhagwandin claims that the PPPhasdoneallthatLincoln claimed it has not done. ‘His Excellency President Irfaan Ali has had quite an i m p r e s s i v e l i s t o f achievements .... The ongoing social and economic development in the areas of housing, e d u c a t i o n , h e a l t h , agriculture, transformative mega projects, poverty alleviation.’Theonethinghe has against the president is his not appointing a substantive chancellor and chiefjustice.
Note that the two currently acting chancellor and chief justice have not been appointed because Africans are not trusted by the Indian-supported oligarchyofthePPP Indeed, I am not certain if Mr Bhagwandin is demanding
theirimmediateappointment or if he is saying that, after twodecadesofacting,aprior assessment should be made before they are confirmed. However, whether or not the PPP has accomplished the desirable outcomes Lewis and Bhagwandin identified, an autocratic governance framework could deliver these largely materialistic outcomes.(KN:02/04/2025)
In ‘How to Save
Democracy’ a statement by theauthor,LauraGamboa,is very relevant to the situation in Guyana. ‘At a minimum, democracies should afford citizens the opportunity to form and express their preferences and have them weighted equally in government To do so, citizens must enjoy individual rights such as freedom of association, freedom of expression, and freedom of movement ’ Checks and balances must exist to guarantee those rightsandpreventtheirbeing abused ‘under the guise of majoritarian support people must be able to participate in government on an equal footing.’ Further, ‘(T)he willingness to bypass the law, defy courts, and weaponize state institutions
y ’ ( F A 31/03/2025).
Learningfromthosewho have fought autocracies, Gamboa advises prod
coordinate to defend and expand their institutional powers and wield them to obstruct authoritarian a
grassroots resistance, and protect their own against the use of ‘soft’ forms of repression-suchaslawsuits, tax audits, or criminal investigations - to increase the cost of opposing the regimeasthesemeasuresare strong incentives for people tostepaside,withsomeeven willingtojointheregime.
As is the case in Guyana, where today the PPP and its associates have captured the state, Gamboa observed that the erosion of democracy usually happens gradually as some believe that the political situation will change at the next elections and maintain a business-asusual attitude with the government ‘Instead of leveraging their resources to makeastandandhamperthe
Continued on page 6
‘Initiating democratic governance...
From page 5 administration’s power grabs, they have opted to a c c o m m o d a t e i t acquiescing to demands to support the government’s agenda when faced with various threats. The result is that the more power authoritarian(s) accumulate, the harder it is to mount an effectiveresistance.’
Opposition groups usually have resources, ample opportunities to fight back and are more likely to succeed if ithey act early
Resisting the erosion of democracy is more of a marathon than a sprint and such groups must also protect and seek to expand their resources for the fights ahead. Oppositions should use their institutional resources to delay, obstruct, and if possible, stop the
incumbent’s consolidation of power Although social mobilisationdoesnotalways work, nonviolent struggle is apowerfultool. Ithasbeenestimatedthat just 40% of nonviolent movements between 1960 and 2010 achieved their aims, and since 2010 that figure has fallen to less than 34% ‘[W]ell-organized social movements and civil society groups can shelter democratic institutions, mobilizevoters,andincrease the costs of antidemocratic behaviour Protesters must use creative tactics, stay active for long periods, and retain public support by eschewing violence even when they face government repression.’
Of course, Gamboa’s advice is intended for countries like the United
States of America that still have an effective public opinion and strong political institutions: local responses need to be properly contextualised Good democraticgovernancemust be generally inclusive and seek the expansion of individual freedom at democratically determined appropriate level of material development.
The choice between the levels of freedom and development should at the very leastbe firmlyrootedin a liberal democratic setting. The autocratic nature of Guyana has been forged within its ethnic context and cannot be solved without constitutional mechanisms thatproperlyaccountforthis fact.
Sincerely, Dr. Henry Jeffrey
I find the Chief Justice’s judgment...
From page 4 the people exercise their sovereignty through their representatives and their democratic organs Here again the relationship between the people of a specific areas and their democratic organs is
emphasized Further articulated is that “Local government by freely electedrepresentativesofthe people is an integral part of the democratic organization of the State” with the principle objective of the
s y s t e m b e i n g t h e
establishment of “an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participationofcitizens in
the management and decision-making that directly affect their wellbeing.” Participation infers not just voting for someone. It infers a living relationship in relation to common
geographic interests (residency) and being elected to conduct the public affairs of the electorate.That canonlymeansomeonewho lives there, rather than someone who claims to live there Living there must therefore be verified as oppose to the claim which only requires that the existence of the address be verified For some who simplyclaimtolivetherenot being verified opens up the
system to fraud and manipulation.
Any provision that does not safeguard that relationship and provides for distortions such as residents not being able to determine their rulership,inanareainwhich they are not invested, flies in the face of the Constitution and devalues the votes of citizens who may become victims of contrived majoritiesandrulership.
A l l o f t h e aforementioned must be seen from the historical perspective, the evolution of the system. The system has evolved from a single constituencysystemoverthe years to a politically and g e o g r a p h i c a l l y decentralized system of democracy that is clearly articulated in article 78B which provides for ‘representation and accountability to the electors.’
This relationship cannot be claimed. It has to be evidently real. One of the elements for establishing that realness is the connection between the voters and the elected in a common space of interest. The person has to be known toactuallylivetheretoenjoy sucharelationship.
Of course, the question of disenfranchisement has been proffered as the reason fornotimposingstricturesin
Happy with the work of our police
DEAREDITOR,
relation to registration and voting. But that question is faulty It does not consider the relative nature of rights as is clearly articulated in Article 40 (2) of the Constitution: ‘the rights and freedoms of any individual should not prejudice the rightsandfreedomsofothers
or public interest ’
Transposed to the matter being dealt with, the right to vote should not facilitate an alien vote that undermines and devalues the vote of the members of a constituency and their right to determine their representatives. Suffice to say that no elector would be disqualified from participating in the national/general element of themulti-tierelections.
All persons would be entitledvoteforthemembers of the National Assembly whoareelectedbythenation atlarge.
The restriction is not intended to deny anyone a vote,itisintendedtoredirect them to where they truly belong, as was previously provided for, and where they haveanentitlementbyvirtue of the enshrined nature of representation.
The amendment in a d d i t i o n t o b e i n g incongruent with the fundamental provisions of the legal system seeks to undermine the spirit of the law (representation as a c o r n e r s t o n e o f o u r democracy) and provide a platform for the erosion of the architecture of the intended system of democracy
Yours truly, VincentAlexander
Theramificationsof‘880 rounds of ‘ammo’ found in Buxton’ are very farreaching, and I take my ‘hat off’ to the Guyana Police Force. I scanned the news and I noted that the police actuallyuncoveredthecache during a response to a domestic violence report (this in itself is to be commended) from a resident inBuxtonLibraryRoad,East Coast Demerara. The details show that the various ranks, at the time, were really attending to an allegation involving threats linked to domestic violence. So, they visited the home of the suspect, a 26-year-old security officer, whose wife, is really a colleague, a 22year-old security officer On the light side, this is good stuff for a detective novel, butontheseriousside,Iheap kudos on the Guyana Police Force, and especially the Vigilance Police Station for being prompt, appropriate andintuitive.Iamalsohappy to note that the police were not interrupted by the villagers as they conducted theirinvestigations.
Let me remind all of us that gun crimes (I mean anything related to guns) are serious due to the high potential for lethal and debilitating injuries, the psychological trauma they inflict on victims and communities, and the significant economic and societal costs they impose. Thus, the countermeasures mustbequitematching,andI was happy to recall that the Guyana Government is indeedcognisantofthis.
For example, in Budget 2025, a whopping $108.7 billionwasearmarkedforthe security sector Just compare this with the 2024 allocation of $5.2 billion. In terms of the breakdown, $4.7 billion of this is for infrastructural needs of the police force. This includes $1.7 billion designated for the ongoing constructionoftheBrickdam Police Station and $1 billion for the completion of several police stations and posts across regions such as Imbotero, Bonasika, Leguan, San Souci, and others. Additionally, $597 million has been allocated for a modern police training
academy at Dora, along with upgrades to multiple police stations.
Thereisnoneedformeto go through the finer details, but suffice to say, security measures must never be compromised.
We all know that when a police force becomes nonfunctional,acommunitywill start to experience a b r e a k d o w n i n l a w enforcement, potentially leading to increased crime, a lack of public safety, and a breakdown of order, requiring drastic alternative solutions to maintain order and address public safety needs Good citizens worldwide crave for an effectivepoliceforce.
Where Guyana is concerned, gun-related violence and crime, including armed robbery, murder, and carjacking, are serious problems in Guyana, with a surge in gun-related crimesandthepoliceseizing a record number of firearms in 2024.Thuse there must be noslackingup.
Justice Roxane George, in her latest High Courtruling,isreportedaslamentingthatthe country’s election laws are all over the place. Indeed, they are. I however submit that much order could have been achieved had Article 159(2)(c)intheGuyanaconstitutionnotbeen (whether intentionally or unintentionally) ignored, mischaracterized, misapplied and miniaturized. What does the Article say? It provides the third basis for the qualifications and disqualifications of electors and stipulates that a person shall not vote unless he or she “satisfies such other qualifications as may be prescribed by or under any law.” It was enacted in 2001 (as constitution (amendment) act No 3 of 2001) and assented tobyaPPPpresident.
Some legislative history may be helpful. Thearticlewasintroducedintheaftermathof Justice Claudette Singh’s ruling that the use of voter ID cards in the 1997 General and Regional Elections (GRE) was an unconstitutional requirement for voting Parliament reacted and inserted Article 159(2)(c), thereby achieving two goals: it nullified Justice Singh’s ruling, paving the way for the said voter ID cards to be used in the following 2001 GRE, and it granted constitutional permission for other qualifications for voting to be set or allowed insubsequentelections.
The chaos of which Justice George spoke neednothavearisenhadourCourtsgivendue attention to determining whether “any law”
existed that introduced additional qualifications on voters, bearing in mind that “any law” includes constitutional provisions, subsidiary legislation, and even the gazetted orders and notices of GECOM (as these too havetheforceoflaw).
It requires little effort to determine that such laws do exist (and did exist prior to the 2019 ruling on residency) and they all mandatetherequirementforresidency
These laws run through all levels of our legal framework, from the highest to the lowest.
Article 73(1) of the constitution, for instance, mandates a residency requirement in stating that “Members of a regional democratic council shall be elected by persons residing in the region and registered aselectorsforthepurposeofArticle159.”
Vincent Alexander, in his recent letter, most convincingly demonstrated that a more comprehensive look at the constitution (including,butbeyondArticle73)establishes the absolute necessity for verified residency And merely claiming any address (including that of the High Court, according to ourAG) isnotevidenceofsuchresidency
But residency was also included in the subsidiary legislation at the time when the Courts denied its existence. The former Attorney General Basil Williams in his Notice of Appeal in the 2019 Christopher Ram case correctly noted, for example: “The learnedTrialJudgeerredandwas Continued on page 17
Govt. will support waivers by M&CC to households not businesses - Jagdeo says
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeosaidthatgovernment is in support of waivers of interest by the Mayor and CityCouncil(M&CC)being given to households, but not businesses.
Hiscommentscomeafter the Mayor of Georgetown AlfredMentoresaidthatheis prepared to defend his position on waiving the interestonratesandtaxesfor property owners in Georgetown, should the matterbetakentothecourt
In an invited comment, Mentore told the Kaieteur News that, “I am talking to mylawyersonthematterand looking at options, what othermethodsintermsofthe Acttoassisttaxpayersbutif themattergoestocourt,Iam prepared to defend the decision.”
people, across the board. Jagdeo said that he can see himself saying to the councillors of the People’s ProgressiveParty“letusfind a transparent way to assist people, households in the city…households,butletus doitinamannerwherethey don’t have to come in and give bribe or something to anyone.”
He stressed that the City Council had given a huge waiver to GT&T, now One Communications and it was revealedthatthesaidwaiver was never requested, yet theyhavefailedtopursuethe People’s National Congress Reform for the $6.7B in taxesowedtotheCouncil.
Hesaidthathewantsthe citizens of Georgetown to know that he would be in supportofthewaiversifthey are given to the ordinary
At his weekly press conference at Freedom House on Robb Street, last weekJagdeosaidthat,“Isee the mayor is saying he will go to court on the minister’s ordernottopursuethisscam scheme that they are hoping to implement at the City Council, where they will, you know, rip people off, take some money for themselves, and then collect moneyfortheparty.”
The VP highlighted that looking at the budget of the council,whichisabout$3B, thetaxesowedbytheAPNU could fund it for two years, and he was not aware when he was president that they werenotpayingtheirtaxes.
“So let me make it clear
that we will not support a scheme thatAPNU wants to putinCityHalltorippeople offagain,”hesaid.OnApril 02, this publication reported that Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Sonia Parag issued a warning to the GeorgetownMayorandCity Council (M&CC) over its movetoimplementwhatshe deemed an “unlawful and unauthorised” financial regulation to waive interest on outstanding rates and taxes owed by property ownersinthecity
In a letter sent to the council, Minister Parag
noted that it came to her attention that the Mayor alongwiththeAPNU+AFCaligned councillors have unlawfully passed and are now seeking to implement a purported financial regulation which will allow for the waiver of interest on rates and taxes owed by propertyownersinthecity
The Local Government Minister who in her letter urged the council to “cease and desist” from such unlawful actions, noted that the Municipal and District CouncilsAct, Cap. 28:01 of the Laws of Guyana, “expressly and exclusively”
vests the authority to make financial regulations in the Minister
“Section 146(1) of the Act is unambiguous. That powerlieswiththeMinister, not with you…” Parag said addingthat“Section146(1) states: The Minister may make financial regulations for controlling and managing financial business ofcouncils.”
According to the minister,thelegislationgoes on to outline the scope including matters related to accounting, borrowing, tenderingandthereceiptof
Continuedonpage15
Opposition urges full disclosure of individuals who received tax concession on luxury vehicles
ANew and United Guyana (ANUG) has issued a call for full transparency from the government and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) regarding individuals and entities who have benefitted from tax exemptions on luxury vehicles, as concerns growoverallegedselectiveenforcementand politicalbias.
ThecallcomesontheheelsoftheGRA’s move on Saturday to seize several high-end vehiclesbelongingtoTeamMohamed’s,with officials alleging that over $1.2 billion in taxes is owed through false declarations and misuse of remigrant concessions. The court has granted an injunction temporarily blockingGRAfromseizingthevehicles.
However, Azruddin Mohamed has contendedthattheentirematterispolitically driven, tied to fears he may run for office at the upcoming elections. He insisted that he has evidence proving the vehicles were legally approved and that government officials were aware of the vehicles even before they were imported. “We are not giving up the vehicles because the vehicles were approved, everything went through the legal process at GRA so why seize the vehiclesnow4yearsafter,”hesaid.
In a statement on Saturday, ANUG expressedsupportfortheenforcementoftax lawsbuttookissuewithwhatitdescribedas apparentdoublestandards.“IfMr Mohamed is to be investigated or held accountable for receiving tax concessions, then by the same principle,allrecipientsofsuchbenefits,both past and present, must be subject to equal scrutiny, regardless of their social standing,
wealth,orpoliticalaffiliation,”thepartysaid. ANUGcalledontheauthoritiestorelease thenamesofallpersons orentitiesthathave received duty-free or tax-exempt privileges over the past decade. The party stated, “Transparency is not optional; it is a fundamental requirement of good governance.”
Further,thegroupurgedstateinstitutions suchastheGRAandtheGuyanaPoliceForce (GPF)tooperateindependentlyandfreefrom political manipulation. “These institutions must never be weaponized to serve the interests of any government or political party,”thepartywarned.
Meanwhile, Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul has proposedareviewofthecurrenttaxframework applied to luxury vehicles, suggesting that reforms could help eliminate abuse while simultaneously boosting state revenue “It appearsthatmost,ifnotall,luxuryvehiclesare entering Guyana either duty-free or under special agreements and arrangements with influentialindividuals,effectivelyevadingthe fulltaxesowed,”Mahipaulsaid
He argued that reducing the current high ratesofexciseanddutytaxeswouldincrease affordability and compliance “If the government revisits and lower the duty and excisetaxrates,moreGuyanesecouldafford luxuryvehicles,”Mahipaulsaid.
He continued, “This would not only broaden ownership but also increase overall tax revenue, as more vehicles would be imported and taxed, albeit at a lower individualrate.”
Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo
The Guyana Revenue Authority
Anticipation without preparation
The Vice President of Guyana, ever the sagacious observer of the inevitable, has reassured the nation that thetariffhikeimposedbythe United States was no surprise.No,thegovernment saw it coming They anticipated it.They expected it. Obviously, he could not have predicted the specific tax that was to be imposed. But the government foresaw the use of tariffs as a weapon to rebalance trade deficits since this was part of Trump’s campaign rhetoric. It is a remarkable admission, really,tohaveseenthestorm but to have done nothing aboutit.
One imagines the administration as a homeowner who watches dark clouds roll in, hears the wind howling, the lightning flashing, nods knowingly at t h e a p p r o a c h i n g tempest and then leaves thewindowswideopen.
Now the rain has drenched the floors, the furniture is ruined. And the man of the house, shivering inhissoakedclothes,turnsto his bewildered family and says, “Yes, yes, we expected this.” To expect disaster and still be unprepared for it is a particular kind of folly, one that requires a certain degree of detachment from reality That the government of Guyana had the foresight to anticipate the tariff but not the inclination to take preventive or pre-emptive steps suggests a leadership thatisbefuddling.
The Vice President, with his usual air of practised nonchalance, speaks as if an
entire country should take comfort in his assurances. His words, delivered with the gravitas of a seasoned oracle, are meant to convey wisdom, but instead reveal a peculiar helplessness. It is the kind of assurance one gives after the fact, when the damage is done, when the ship has already sunk, when themilkisirreversiblyspilt.
The question, of course, is what precisely the government did with its knowledge of the impending tariffs. Surely, a nation so blessed with foresight would have engaged in diplomatic manoeuvring, trade diversification, strategic alliances some effort to mitigate the coming impact. But no such measures were apparent Instead, the government remained in a state of passive observation, as if watching a slowmovingmudslidefromasafe distance, only to suddenly realise, too late, that the houseisinitspath. It is a most curious thing, this brand of leadership
Imagineacaptainwhoseesa sunken wreck, but rather than steering away, decides to continue full steam ahead, all the while assuring the passengers that he had long predicted this particular collision When the ship starts taking on water, he declares with confidence, “ T h i s w a s e n t i r e l y expected.”
And yet, despite this grand expectation, the Vice President and his colleagues are now scrambling for clarification Clarification, presumably, on why the obvious has occurred? Or
Dem Boys Seh...
why this specific tariff? Any tariff,highorlow,wasbound to hurt. So where were the consultations and the preparations?
T h e T r u m p administration, as the Vice President so astutely observes, has always spoken of trade imbalances and of rectifying them with tariffs. That much was known. To say what is now needed is clarification on how exactly this applies to Guyana— is likeaskingwhy,ineffect,the wind is wet and the sun is hot.
Oneimaginesthehurried calls to Washington, the diplomatic notes written in the rushed and desperate tones of a government caught unprepared “We anticipated this,” they say, “but we need further details.” It is the equivalent of a student confidently predicting an exam, only to plead for an extension when the test paper is placed beforehim.
Meanwhile, the private sector, the exporters, the farmers, the traders—those who must actually deal with the consequences of these tariffs—are left to wonder w h a t e x a c t l y t h e i r government was doing with all this grand foresight. A warning without action is no warning at all; it is merely a statement of the obvious, a nod to inevitability, a resignationtofate.
The Vice President’s remarks, then, are not so much an admission of preparedness as they are an unwitting confession of something else. It is one thing to be caught off guard;
Boringdelinebecomenationalsport
Dem boys seh traffic does got it own Olympics in Guyana. De latest event is called “Bore de Line and Cut In Like Yuh Own de Road ” Is a real crowd pleaser—especially if yuh like cuss words, horn blowing, and watching old people faint inminibus.
Last week, traffic deh park up pon East Coast Road and de line ain’t moving for hours. But this time, no music, no dancers, just people watching dem clock and praying dem bladder hold out. Some wondering whether it was like de time when de funeral did snarl traffic on de same Road. But den themfindoutwasabridgethatgetputoutof commission because some heavy trucks drivenandbrukitup.
But dem boys seh de bridge was not de main culprit. De traffic been rerouting through other areas and while dat would slow de traffic it would not cause a logjam for hours. De real cause is de same old villain—Mr Bore de Line. Every day now, yuhgotdriverswhofeeldewhitelineponde road is decoration. Dey using de cycle lane, de pedestrian walk, and even de trench edge fuh overtake. Some trying fuh pass through
it is quite another to see the blow coming and simply stand there, waiting to be hit. The government has, with remarkable efficiency, managed to accomplish both.
In this spectacle of anticipation without preparation, Guyana’s leadership has demonstrated the unique ability to foresee catastrophe and yet remain entirely unready for it. It is a skill that is rare, if not entirelyuseless.
people backyard now. Dem boys see one man overtake on a footpath and wave to a lil schoolchildlikeheproud.
Butwhenalldemboredelineandtryfuh cutinback,guesswahhappen?Trafficdon’t move.Islikeonebigsnakebitingitowntail. And dem who waiting fuh hours? Dey does endupreachinghomenextday
De police? Dem got PhD in watching. Dem boys seh if bore de line was a crime punishable by jail, we woulda need five more prisons and a holding cell in every trench. Right now, is like solving this problem require de same technology fuh launchrockettoMars.
Dem boys seh is time we treat dis ting serious. Put one police at every choke point widanotebookandastronghand.Betteryet, give dem a drone and a loudspeaker: “Step out de vehicle,yuh linebore!” Until then, de newnationalmottoshouldbe:“InQueueWe Trust, Unless Yuh Got a Horn and a Big SUV.”
Dem boys seh if Moses did bore de line, he woulda never reach de Promised Land—hewouldagetstuckpunEastCoast. Talk half. Leff half!
Now, with the tariffs in place, the government scrambles. There will be meetings and discussions. There will be postures of concern and declarations of effort Officials will speak in carefully measured tones about “engaging with stakeholders” and “seeking clarity ” But the reality remains: the storm has arrived, the windows were left open, and the house is now flooded. And so, the country watches as its leaders, drenched and shivering, insist with great confidence, “Yes, we expectedthis.”
(The views expressed in this article are those of the a u t h o r a n d d o n o t necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)
Works on track to meet deadline for new Demerara Harbour Bridge - Edghill
Minister of PublicWorks Juan Edghill on Sunday afternoon provided an update on the new Demerara Harbour Bridge, assuring that theprojectisontracktomeetitsdeadline.
His updates come following recent works that resulted in the closure of the East Bank corridor at the project site. He disclosed that the East Bank Highway from the Harbour Bridge to Red Road will be fully open to traffic ahead of the April 7 deadline. “On SundayApril 6th midnight, the highway will be fully open back to traffic,” he stated. He creditedthisdevelopmenttothededicationof theprojectteam.
Moreover, the minister gave an overview of some of the works that contractors still have to complete, including casting the towersandinstallingcablesbeforecastingthe sections and allowing them to cure before moving on. “I’m advised that on the western side, we have four cables out of 17 in and on the eastern side, there are three cables out of 17 in,” Minister Edghill said. “So we’re advancing the work and for those of us who have been wondering if the bridge is going to be finished by the deadline that is what we’re working towards all things go well,” Edghill said.
Henotedthattheprojectremainsontarget for the new August deadline and explained that this was why additional staff were brought in.The minister noted that as a result of the contractor increasing their team to workaroundtheclock,SundaytoSunday,the
consultanthadtoalsoincreasetheirteam.
“Therearemorethan100pluspeoplethat havebeenaddedtowhatwasworkingandwe gotta put fairness where it belongs, the contractor has been working around the clock…soIcan’tcomehereandmakenoise,” theministeradded.
The bridge’s completion deadline was previously shifted from March 2025 to August 31, 2025. In 2022, a US$260 million contract was awarded to a joint venture comprising China Railway Construction Corporation (International) Limited, China Railway Construction (Caribbean) Co., Ltd, and China Railway Construction Bridge EngineeringBureauGroupCo.,Ltd.
The new bridge is expected to be a fixed high-level structure with four vehicular lanes and an uninterrupted passage of Handymax vessels through a cable-stay navigational span. Further, Edghill also noted that no decision has yet been made on what the old Harbour Bridge could be used for He had previously suggested it could serve as a crossing at Kwakwani, between Leguan and Wakenaam,oracrosstheCanjeCreek.
He disclosed that a report on these possibilities has already been completed but stated that the findings would be disclosed at therighttime.Onthematterofcurrentbridge staff, Edghill assured that no one will be left without a job, noting that while they may not beworkingatthesamelocation,theywillstill haveajob.
Accesstoinformationshouldnotcometothis
Bigmenoutonthestreets with revealing and damning placardsinthemiddaysunin the middle of Guyana’s capital city Young women joining them to express their frustrationanddisgust
Some trade unionists cameout Civilsocietyfolks, too, as well as a parliamentarianortwo Even theGuyanaPoliceForcewas well-represented
Too well, I thought; and toodiligentwithphoneshots of placards Subversive intent was unlikely; the placard holders, not the police One figure peering from behind a tilted upper floor window in a private residence Likethemanthat found refuge behind a small wallofglass,Ididthesame
Keeping my distance, through seeking sanctuary behind a tree with a comforting canopy of well-
leafedbranches Thiscannot be about citizens fighting to get access to information It
was Government information not forthcoming fromagovernmentofficerun by a government (taxpayer funded) commissioner Surely,accesstoinformation in Guyana shouldn’t have come to this dark and disturbingplace
Themediacameoutinits numbers, with a continuing stream of rubberneckers
Curiositymayhavekilledthe cat, a dubious proposition given it has nine lives But curiosity (it’s more in the natureofseriousinterestfrom soberpeople)forinformation onhowthePPPGovernment conducts the business of the Guyanese people is not a crime,orapastime
Accesstoinformationhas thecoveroflaw Onethatis 14 years and 187 days old
since then Pres Jagdeo assentedtoit Somefileshad to be compiled and stored; retained to this day So, what’stheproblem?
Why is the officer-incharge of responding to such requests for information proving to be such a stumbling block? Is it the man holding the sensitive position of commissioner?
Or is it the whole gang of people put in place by the PPP, whose orders are short andsweet?
Say nothing Give nothing Donothing WhenI say PPP, I mean Dr Bharrat Jagdeo,whohimselfcouldbe moreunintelligiblethanadog withafistfuloffleshfillingup itsmouth
Information is the lifeblood of any society calling itself a democracy Don’ttakemywordforit,ask the Attorney General, Anil
Nandlall,amanofhonour I mean that in the real sense, andnotinthemannerusedby La Cosa Nostra No information, no light No light erects a blackout over the healthy discussions that makeforaviabledemocracy I speak not of the farcical transparency of which ExcellencyAliisthereigning monarch
Thisisaboutafewsheets of paper so that the reading and comprehension skills of peoplelikeChrisRam,Anand Persaud, Glenn Lall and others could be enhanced, which are then passed on to the rest in Guyana’s population It should be notedthatIleftmyselfoutof thatillustriouslineup There aresomeotherfishtofry
If Guyanese are thwarted repeatedly from accessing need-to-know information, then why have the access to information law? Also, why is there the need for that Office of the Commissioner of Information? I am absolutely positive that I could do a much better job
d i s p e n s i n g information without a phone, without a computer, without a printer, and without an office
If the failure to allow Guyanese access to informationhastodowithink or typewriter ribbons or paper, I would be happy to supplythenecessary Ifitisa matter of rolling blackouts impairing the release of information,thenIamcertain that I can locate a spare generatorortwolyingaround intheyard
Things can’t be that bad, since this is an oil producing country making daily headlinesaroundtheworld I would be shocked if North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun doesn’t have a story or two about developments in Guyana
Jagdeohassomepullwith the top people in Pyongyang to guarantee that happening Just like he has the requisite level of juice here to ensure that some things don’t ever seepintothepublicdomain I
leave it to the detective capabilities of Guyanese to hunt down if access to information is included among those things under lockdown
Why do I have to write about access to information whenthereareelectionsinthe cards? Why do Guyanese have to read this when they should be counting their oil money? Hey,Mr AG,isthis belovedGuyanaofoursstilla democracy? Ifitis,what’sup withthisIronCurtain? Why isitevennecessary,ifthereis nothingtohide?
When there is nothing to hide, there is nothing and no one to fear Forget about travestyandtragedywiththis rigmarole over access to information Like managementoftheNRF,like the Procurement bodies (NPTAB and PPC), like the GPF, the Office of the C o m m i s s i o n e r o f Informationisahoax,asetup, a wild goose chase, and part ofthesweepingsicknessthat is killing this country deader that COVID and HIV/AIDS (andtoomuchrumdrinking) combinedevercould
(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinionsofthisnewspaper.)
Mohameds question govt’s seizure of firearms nearly a year after sanctions
…say very scared with what is going on presently, they leave us stranded right now
US sanctioned Guyanese businessman, Azruddin Mohamed
Businessman Azruddin Mohamedisquestioningthe recent seizure of firearms belonging to his family, almost a year after the US imposed sanctions against himself, his father Nazar ‘Shell’ Mohamed and their businesses.
He claimed that the IrfaanAli-ledadministration is now leaving his family
vulnerable Speaking publicly on Saturday, after agents of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) showed up to his home to seize several luxury vehicles, which they said over $1.2 billion in unpaid taxesaredue,Mohamedsaid thatrecentmovesbythePPP administration shows their “vindictiveness.”
He then shifted his attentiontothesuspensionof the security service licence of Mohamed’s Enterprise Security Service, and questioned why the authoritieswaitedsolongto take action “Look how everything is happening one after the other, our firearms were seized just the other day, why not seize them the 12thofJune,thedayafterthe sanctions why decide to seize the firearms now,” he said.
Mohamed expressed grave concern over the safety of his family and supporters, stating, “Right now,I’mveryscaredformy security, my family, my friends, myself, my supporters; we are very scaredwithwhatisgoingon presently, they disarmed us; they leave us stranded right nowintermsofsecurity.”
Last year, the United S t a t e s T r e a s u r y Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), sanctioned the businessmen as well as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Mae Thomas, citing the Mohameds alleged involvement in tax evasion, corruption, and gold smuggling.
The decision to suspend the security licence was
outlined in a letter dated March 26, 2025, from Commissioner of Police CliftonHickentoMohamed, citing violations under the Private Security ServiceAct No.32of2009.Accordingto the letter, the suspension took effect immediately and will last 30 days. Mohamed hasbeengiven15daysto Continuedonpage15
Barber’scarsetonfire
T h e v e h i c l e o f
businessman Azruddin Mohamed’s long-time barber, Victor Singh, was maliciouslysetonfireinwee hours of Sunday morning at his Providence residence on EastBankDemerara.
Another vehicle also belonging to the barber was damagedbytheintenseheat. Singh, who has served as Mohamed’s barber for over 20 years, was left in shock anddisbeliefbytheincident. He said he has no enemies and is calling for an urgent investigation Kaieteur News understands that CCTVfootagefromthearea revealed that the fire was deliberately set by an unidentified person who approached Singh’s vehicle inaheavily-tintedcarbefore ignitingthecar
The incident took place around 03:00hrs at the Providence Young Professional Scheme, a gated community that is under the protection of
Sherriff Security on a 24hour basis. This malicious attack on Singh comes just hours after the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) failed to seize four luxury cars belonging to Azruddin Mohamed.
TheGRAisseekingover $900millionintaxesrelated to a 2020 Ferrari, a 2023 Land Rover Range Rover, a 2023 Rolls Royce, a 2020 Lamborghini Roadster, and two 2021 Toyota Land Cruisers The authorities’ attempt to seize the vehicles was halted after supporters of the Mohamed family surrounded the premises in protest. The public outcry overtheGRA’sactionsledto a court challenge, and on Saturday afternoon, High Court Judge Gino Persaud granted an interim injunction, barring the GRA from seizing the luxury vehicles.
In an emotional live interviewonFacebook,with journalist Travis Chase,
Singh recounted the events ofthatmorning.Singhstated that around 03:00hrs, he wokeuptoalargeexplosion coming from outside of his home He explained,
“Normallyonweekends,my kids come in the front to sleep with me and my wife. So, when they sleep; we leaveandgointheirroomto getsomespace.”
Singh continued,
“Around 03:00hrs this morning,Iwokemywifeup andsaidthatI’mgoingtomy son’s room. She said, ‘okay I’mcomingjustnow.’When Igointheroom,assoonasI lay down she, opened the door and as soon she comes in, I hear a big boom, a big boom.SoIrunouttheroom in the other front room to check on my kids. My kids wereokaybutwhenIpulled
theblindandlookedoutside, I saw a big flame. Running back,Itellmywife,theAudi isonfire.”
Singh attempted to put out the fire using a fire extinguisher, but he discoveredthatthevehicle’s doorhadbeenleftwideopen when it was set alight Despite the efforts of neighbours who rushed out with water buckets and hoses, the fire was too intense, and the car was completely destroyed “I lovemyneighbours.Theyall cameout,theytriedwiththe hoses.Myneighbourscalled the fire truck, and yes, their responsewasimmediate,but the call was late, and by the timetheyarrived,thecarwas already in wreck,” Singh recalledwithdisbelief.
He also revealed that his neighbours reported hearing acar“kickedoffwithdrastic speed”beforetheexplosion.
Singh further gave details of the video footage of the incident. “I saw the video of someone parked before a truck there, they camethreetimesandtriedto start lighting and the car would not light and then whatever they use, they throwunderneaththecarand thecarwentup.“
When asked about the security company in charge ofthearea,Singhresponded, “I don’t know if they are working” The 48-year-old barberclarifiedthathehasno enemies, saying, “I don’t createenemies Idomywork professionally, I don’t get problem with nobody, I live good with everybody” He called for a thorough investigation into the incident, asking, “Why me, bro?Ilivehappy I’vegotmy wife,mykids Ilivehappy” Kaieteur News reachedoutto Singh for further comment, but he stated that he was too shaken and emotional to speakatthetime
MOHAMEDREACTS ANDQUESTIONS
SECURITYCOMPANY
Meanwhile, Azruddin
Mohamed, voiced his concernsabouttheattackon his barber. In a statement shared on the Team Mohameds Facebook page on Sunday, Mohamed questioned the effectiveness of the security company responsible for the protection of the gated community “What is quite astonishingisthatthisareais agatedcommunity,whichis protectedbySheriffSecurity on a 24-hour basis,” Mohamed stated “This securitybreachissomething that should be investigated thoroughly to determine what exactly transpired this morning when a man in a heavily-tinted vehicle was caught on CCTV setting the vehiclesonfire.”
M o h a m e d a l s o questioned who might be behind the arson and the motive for targeting Singh. “Is it to drive fear? Is it to send a message? Or is it targeting people who are closely associated with us?” heasked.Hefurtherclarified the nature of Singh’s relationshipwithhimandhis family, denying any legal disputes or involvement in criminalactivity “Victorhas b e e n M o h a m e d ’ s barber—bothformeandmy father—forover20years.At notimehashebeeninvolved inanyrun-inswiththelawor any skulduggery He is a professional who provides a service to anyone and everyonewhorequestsit.” Mohamed expressed solidaritywithSingh,noting that this act was part of a series of unusual events affecting people associated with the Mohamed family “Thisnewoccurrenceisjust one of many strange things thathaveunfoldedofrecent, especially against persons who are closely associated with the Mohameds,” he said.“Tomybrother,Victor, we stand with you and your family be strong and vigilant and always remember that the wicked willneverprosper.”
Screen grab of Singh’s car completely destroyed by fire
When officers attached to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) moved to seize vehicles owned by prominent businessman Azruddin Mohamed and his sister,HanaonSaturdaylast, their actions were seen as nothingbutabrazenattempt to circumvent or bypass the legalproceedingsofamatter already filed before High Court, legal sources have said.
The GRAhad written to theMohamedsclaimingthat it has “irrefutable evidence” of tax breaches and the family’s evasion of payments of nearly $900 million worth in duties on luxury vehicles; a 2020 Ferrari, a 2023 Land Rover Range Rover, a 2023 Rolls Royce, a 2020 Lamborghini Roadster, and two 2021 Toyota Land Cruisers, some nearly five years after they arrivedinGuyana.
TheGRAisclaimingthat for the 2020 Ferrari PAD 5000 in the name of Hana Mohamed, there are additionaltaxesof$479,743, 489 for breach of the re-
migrant requirements, for 2023 Land Rover Range RoverPAC9000inthename of Leslie Khan, there are additional taxes of $61,485,982 for breach of there-migrantrequirements; the 2023 Rolls Royce PAE 5000 in the name of Bibi Mohamed, additional taxes of $320,064,246 are owed for breach of the re-migrant requirements; for the 2020 Lamborghini Roadster PZZ 4000 titled to Azruddin Mohamed, additional taxes of $371,775,168 for false
declaration of value; for a 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser PAB4000titledtoAzruddin Mohamed, additional taxes of$24,641,272areowedfor false declaration of value and for a 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser PAB 3000 titled to A
$24,641,272 are owed for falsedeclarationofvalue.
Officials of the revenue authority and law enforcement officers who moved to seize the high-end vehicles on Saturday
engagedinanintensestandoff with supporters of the businessman and were later served with an injunction from the High Court that blocked them from seizing thecars.
According to documents seenbyKaieteurNews,prior tothis,theapplicationswere filed in the High Court seeking injunctions and a number orders to prevent GRA from moving against thefamily
As a result, officials of the GRAgiven it is a public decision maker in keeping withtheJudicialReviewAct were ‘duty bound,’ to preservethestatusquoofthe legalprocessfiledbeforethe HighCourtuntilthehearing and determination of the matter, a top legal officer toldthisnewspaper
Added to this, Kaieteur News understands that from the time the GRA notified the Mohameds of their alleged infractions, their lawyer, Siand Dhurjon responded in writing to the authority asking their legal department to provide justification or reasons for theiraction.
The document pointed out that given its status as a public authority, the GRAis ‘dutybound’toreplyorgive reasons or the evidence for their action in keeping with the stipulations of the JudicialReviewAct.
However,theGRAfailed t o p r o v i d e t h e justification/reasons for theiraction.
As a result, applications werefiledintheHighCourt to quash the decision of the GRA to take action against the Mohameds for the allegedunpaidduties.
Theapplicationsfiledon April 2, 2025 seek to quash both GRA’s assessment for the taxes, the revocation of Hana’s exemption as a remigrantandanyattemptto seizethecars.
At the time of the filing, injunctionswerealsosought
actionstoseizethevehicle.
Additionally, all parties are set to return to court on Friday at 09:30hrs for a r g u m e n t s a n d considerationsofthematter HIGHDRAMA
It was high drama on Saturday morning when agents of GRA and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) shows up at the Mohameds property to seize the vehicles. They were halted after supporters of Team Mohameds surrounded his premisesinprotest.
preventinganyseizureofthe vehicles According to emails seen by this publication,lettersweresent notifying the chain of command of GRA that the legalproceedingswerefiled.
The letter essentially notified the revenue authority that the lawyers were now waiting on dates forthemattertobeheardand therefore, they should not move on any seizure and or forfeiture of vehicles given theproceedings.
In an email response, a lawyer from the GRAnoted that an application for an injunction is not an injunction and therefore the Mohamedshaduntiltheend of last Friday afternoon to bring in the cars, failing which, the authority will commence the process of seizure/forfeiture of the vehicles.
K a i e t e u r N e w s understands that while the Mohameds had not yet secured the injunction, the GRA, as a public decision maker, still is duty bound to preservethestatusquoofthe legal matter until the High Court makes a decision and that any move to seize the vehicles would prevent any meaningful intervention on thecourts.
As a result of the GRA’s actions, this triggered and expedited the hearing for an injunction High Court Justice Gino Persaud via a virtual hearing on Saturday afternoon granted a temporaryinjunctionagainst the revenue authority and ordered that the agency preservethestatusquoofthe matter until the full hearing and determination of the proceedings.
According to documents seen by this publication, the orderrestrainstheGRAfrom taking any steps to seize the vehicles. The Judge also ordered them to respond the applicationforinjunctionon orbeforeTuesday TheGRA is required justify their
The authorities’ attempt toseizethevehiclessparked public outcry, with protestors voicing deep frustrations over perceived injustices against the Mohamed family, who moved to the court to challengetheGRA.
“Stop fighting the man down… why y’all fighting he down, he looking out for poor people, y’all low he,” onesupportershouted.
Another protester said, “Sugar raising, rice raising, oil raising… when rice gon drop, sometimes some children don’t even eat nothingandgotoschooland getblackout.”
Some directed their anger at multinational corporations, stating, “ExxonMobil, they have to go and harass… they taking all the money, they ain’t doingnothing.ExxonMobil, theyhavetogoto.”
Othersshouted,“Wewant achange Weneedachange; we want a better system, for Guyana Abetter system, a bettertomorrowfortheghetto youths, right now we punishing dawg, we punishing”
For his part, Azruddin said that the entire matter is politically driven, tied to fears that he may run for office at the upcoming elections.
“They said they come to seizethevehicles,soIdon’t know all of a sudden you come to seize the vehicles. Theyshouldhaveseizedthe first day, they arrived in the country,”Mohamedsaid.
Hedisclosedthathewill bemakingpublicstatements in the near future to show that officials of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government were aware of thevehiclesevenbeforethey wereimported.
“Very soon, I have a lot ofthingsthatIwillputinthe publiconwhoinstructedthe release of these vehicles it camefromhighupwhenthe vehicles arrived in this country,”hesaid.
A scene from the standoff between Mohameds and the GRAon Saturday
‘Fisherfolk urged to brace for changing times’
…toldbyMin.
Amidclaimsofadecline incatcheshere,fishermenin the Corentyne have been urged to brace themselves forthechangingtimesinthe industry
This message was delivered to them by Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha during the launch a brackish water shrimp programme in RegionSixonSaturday
The programme, similar towhatisalreadyinplaceon theCorentyneCoast,willsee groups of fisherfolk from Sheet Anker / Fort Ordinance and areas along the Corentyne Coast benefiting from assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture to establish ponds to rear the highdemandshrimp,theMinistry ofAgriculturesaidinapress release Mustapha while officially launching the programme in Fort Ordinance and Albion, said that the initiative aims to provide additional avenues for sustainable income for fisherfolk.
“Times are advancing, andfisherfolkcannotdepend on one activity to support their livelihoods As Minister, I am prepared to work with you to go into other sustainable activities. We are not telling you to leave fishing, we are developing programmes to help you to expand and diversify your activities. So, when you are experiencing lowcatches,youcanengage in alternative activities to supplement your income,” Mustapha was quoted in a Ministry of Agriculture releasesaying.
He added: “We can put youingroupsbasedonyour geographical location and work along with you to develop ponds for brackish water shrimp. This region
has been used as a pilot project for us, where we were able to increase brackish water shrimp production from 10,000 kg toabout100,000kgmonthly
This increase is because of the infrastructure we’ve put inplaceandthenewmethods we are adopting. We will work along with the groups tolocatethelandandgetthe programme going. I’ll make the machine and other materials available so that this project can commence within a month,” Minister Mustaphaexplained.
Consecutive studies conducted by ExxonMobil havewarnedoftheimminent danger to marine species, includingfish.
Recently,thisnewspaper reported that another study done by Exxon confirmed that marine life, including fish,canbeaffectedbypoor water quality as a result of the planned petroleum activities.
The EIA for the Hammerhead projectE x x o n ’ s s e v e n t h development- states, “The project might affect marine fishduetothedegradationof
water quality as a result of the permitted vessel discharges described above, through acoustic impacts, throughlocalizedchangesin distribution, and habitat usage due to altered bottom habitats and the presence of Project infrastructure, through attraction to artificial light, and through thepotentialtoentrain(suck in) fish eggs and larvae at coolingwaterintakes.”
Discharge from the project includes ballast water, produced water (which, according to the study, may contain oil, grease,andotherchemicals), domestic and sanitary waste (containing chlorine and bacteria), as well as bilge water (which may also contain oil and grease) These discharges are expected to be treated by ExxonMobil to meet certain standards prior to being dischargedoverboard.
This newspaper reported recently fishermen complaining bitterly about theirinabilitytocatchfishin the country’s waters. The fishermensaidthattheyhave beenreelinginemptyseines
Govt. will support waivers by...
Frompage8
revenue. Parag noted that “Subsidiary legislationbyitsnaturemustbemadebythe authority designated by statute. You are not the authority designated by statute. Any attempts to do otherwise are ultra vires and legallyvoid.”
In response to the letter, Mentore, cited Section146(1)oftheMunicipalandDistrict CouncilsAct,Chapter28:01.Henotedwhile the letter grants the Minister the authority to make financial regulations for controlling and managing the financial business of councils,itmustbenotedthattherehasbeena misapplication of this section in your correspondence.
Further, he said the City Council has not enactedanynewfinancialregulationsorbylaws in relation to the waiver of interest accrued on outstanding taxes. Rather, the decision was made as part of our ongoing
effortstoaddressthefinancialhardshipbeing experienced by many property-owners/rate payers in the city whom are struggling with the burden of accumulated interest on outstandingrates,”Mentoresaid,addingthat the decision was taken after thorough deliberations, feedback and appeal by citizens and in full compliance with the establishedfinancialproceduresoftheCity Additionally, he noted that the City Council’s authority to take such steps is not limited by Section 146(1) of the Municipal andDistrictCouncilsAct.
Mentore explained that the decision to grant relief to property-owners is a part of the Council’s broader responsibility to ensure the well-being of our constituents and to ensure that vital municipal services continuetobefundedinamannerthattakes into account the financial challenges faced byourresidents
since 2020 Many have voiced their frustration throughvariousmediabutas the situation worsens, they havetakenmattersintotheir own hands by posting TikTok videos of their hardships.
Onecrewpostedavideo recently, complaining after they spent four days at sea andcaughtnothing.
“I never see something likethisinmebornlife,”one of the crew members said, while adding, “Ayo watch one (expletive) nah come ponthisseinehay.”Themen said that empty seines are out-weighing their catch for aboutthreemonthsnow
“All them pickney (their children) hungry and suh now,” one fisherman said as heexplainedthatcatchesare not sufficient to cover fuel costsfortheirboats.
The government has, in the recent times, dismissed claims that the oil operation is contributing to the disappearance of fish from Guyana’s waters but the fishermen are not accepting
that.“Elevenyearsmeawuk a sea now and me neva see something like a this, and dematellawethatoilnahdo fish nothing, ayo watch (shows their empty seines) ayuhgetsense,ayowatch”,a fisherman argued The fishermensaidthattheyhave been complaining for years buttheirconcernsarefalling on deaf ears so they have decided to protest publicly, using the various social media platforms so that the massescanseetheirplight.
TheMinistryofFinance, in its 2021 mid-year report, had claimed that chemical changes in Guyana’s coastal waters have caused a significant decrease in seafood production, specifically shrimp. It was stated that the significant reduction in the production of white belly shrimp was caused by a change in salinity of coastal waters. Salinity is the degree of saltinessofthewater
In 2023, a report for one of ExxonMobil’s proposed well campaigns for the
Stabroek Block sought to discredit the fishermen’s claim that oil operations are dwindling fish supply The report had stated that Guyanahasseenadeclining trend since 2013, two years beforethediscoveryofoil.
Minister Mustapha during his address at the launch of the programme Saturday said that when the governmentgotintooffice,it began making budgetary allocations to develop the infrastructure to support the fisheriessector
He explained that to improve security standards for fisherfolk while at sea, the ministry also procured several Vessel Monitoring Devices (VMDs) as part of its monitoring strategy for artisanalfisheriesinGuyana.
“We recognise the role every stakeholder in the agriculturesectorplays.The fisherfolkhavebeenmaking a valuable contribution to this country When we got intogovernmentin2020,we recognized that the fishing industry needed an impetus to push it. That’s why we increased budgetary allocations and gave every fisherman a grant. We then rolled out a programme to rehabilitate all of the major landing sites across the country That is an ongoing programme We installed lights and washroom facilitiesandbuiltrampsand sheds for fisherfolk to ply their trade and mend their seine. Also, just before the last elections, we were seeing an increase in piracy We also started to look at IUU fishing and began working closely with the CoastGuardandtheGuyana PoliceForcetominimize
The suspension was enacted under Section 10(2) of the Act, which allows for temporary suspension of a private security service licence if the Controlling Authority deems it necessary, pending a final decision onrevocation.
The reasons cited for the action include violationsofSubsection(1)(c),whichstates that the licence holder has violated other laws,andSubsection(1)(i),whichpertainsto unlawful acts posing a threat to national securityornationalintegrity
As a result of the suspension, several measureshavebeenmandatedinaccordance withSection10(4)oftheAct.Theseinclude theimmediatecessationofsecurityservices providedbyMohamed’sEnterpriseSecurity Service, the surrender of all firearms and ammunitiontotheGuyanaPoliceForce,and
informingallclientsofthesuspension. Additionally, it was stated that security details of the company are prohibited from wearing uniforms, and all personnel processingandtrainingmusthalt Allfirearm licences and the appointment of all supernumeraryconstableshavebeenrevoked. The company is also prohibited from usingitsemblem,logo,andbadge.Recently Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, S.C. recently disclosed that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) believe they have gathered enough evidencetoproceedwithactionsconcerning thesanctionsimposedontheMohamedsand Thomas.
To date, the Mohameds’cambio licence has been revoked and their cabotage permission was not renewed. It was also reported that they are facing issues with authorities in relation to their mining operations.
A section of the fisherfolk who attended the meeting at Albion
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Banditsdocumentrobberies,
thenposewithlootonTikTok
Agangofmenarmedwithknivesandguns are being accused of committing a series of robberies on Friday night along the West Coast Demerara after they appeared in a Tik Tok video posing with stolen iPhones.
The video was brought to the public’s attention by the mother of one of the victims.
In a Facebook post she made, the woman identified as the men as those who robbed her son at Anna Catherina, WCD. “These boys robbed my son and his friends last night in AnnaCatherina...thephonesseeninthevideo belongtothekids”,shewrotebeforepleading withthepublicforinformationontheirwhereabouts. In the video, the men appeared as if theyweredocumentingtheirnightofcriminal activities. It began in a car ride with the cap-
tion,“Oneblockdone,Twomoretogo.South Park and Diamond. Hope when reach ya’all outside bc. We outside ‘fully ATL’, f**K the one press and the ark”.
In the following scene, a group of more thanfiveyoungmenarmedwithknives,some ofthemcladinhoodies,posingonadarkstreet before walking away Another scene showed them posing with three iPhones identified as stolen. At end of the video, they were seen pledging their allegiance to a gang.
The account that posted the video has more videos of individuals posing with large stacks of cash and crediting the earnings to criminal activities. A report has been lodged with the police and investigations are ongoing.
School girl raped by man who offered her drop ...gave her $60k to stay quiet
ByChristalYong
A15-year-oldgirlwasallegedlyrapedonFridaybya 45-year-old man, who offered her a drop to school.
The incident occurred between 11:00h and 13:00h at Supply, East Bank Demerara(EBD).
Duringaninterviewwith thispublication,thevictim’s 39-year-old father related that his daughter is usually carried to school by a particular bus every morning. However, on the day of the incident, she had to go school for the latter half of theday Atabout11:00h,the victimwasonthepublicroad awaitingabus,butwashaving an issue with getting transportation. Whist waiting, the suspect who drove aprivatecar,rolleduptoher
andofferedheradropnearto school. This publication understands that the suspect is knowntothefather,however not to the victim.
The father told Kaieteur News,“Anyhowshegointhe carwithhe...soinSupply,he tellshehegattagoinhisfarm, he said he minding layers.”
Upon hearing this, the teen reportedly informed the man to drop her at the road headandshewillcatchabus, but the suspect continued driving into the street at Supply. “He just didn’t stop and hejustcarriedshein,hecome out and the place had a gate and everything. He opened the gate, he drive into the yard, and right in the compound; he raped she and he
have dogs and so in the yard,” the father said. He said the suspect even offeredhisdaughter$60,000to duck the matter
The victim collected the money and the suspect reportedly dropped her off in the vicinity of her school. While in school, the teen told a friend, and later informed the driver, who usually picks her up every day She then went home and recalled the harrowing details of her being rape to her mother The family, then reportedtherapetopolice.The suspect was arrested. The money that was given to the teen is lodged at the station. The investigations continue.
Agri. Minister commissions $32 million admin. building to support Corentyne fisherfolk
On Saturday, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha commissioned the Upper Corentyne Fisherman Cooperative Society Administrative Building at Number 79 Village on the Corentyne Coast.
The building was constructed and outfitted at a cost of $32 million and will serve as a hub for various activities as well as a space where fisherfolk can access important services and resources, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a press release
While offering remarks Minister Mustapha said that requests were made for rehabilitation work to be done on the old structure but Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo committed to constructing a newbuilding. “Duringameeting with the Vice President, somefishermenaskedforassistance with repairing a di-
Minister Mustapha, Zulfikar Mustapha and other attendees partake in a ribbon cutting exercise at the commissioning of the building
lapidated building. At that point,theVicePresidentcommittedtobuildinganewbuilding. Today, we are here to commission this building. That tells a story When this governmentmakesacommitment, we always deliver While there may be issues in
the industry, if you examine the expenditure now, it has increased tremendously We are now rehabilitating and modernizingallofthelanding sites and wharves across the country We know that this profession requires a lot of Continued on page 17
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Prioritise maternal and child health
By Dr. FrankAnthony, Minister of Health
On this World Health Day 2025, Guyana joins the international community in observing the theme:
“Accelerating Progress to Improve Maternal and Neonatal Health and Survival.” As a government, we continue to prioritise the health and well-being of our nation, fully recognising the vital importance of maternal andchildhealth.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 300,000 women lose their lives each year due to complications related to pregnancy or childbirth.Inaddition,over2 million infants die within their first month of life, and another 2 million are stillborn Unfortunately, current trends show that four out of five countries are not on track to meet the targets for improving maternal survivalby2030.
In Guyana, the Ministry
of Health has taken significant steps over the past four years to enhance women’s and children’s
long-term health and wellbeing. Every mother and child deserve access to quality healthcare services that ensure safe pregnancies, healthy deliveries, and the bestpossiblestartinlife. We are encouraged by the progress made thus far Over the past five years, the country has made significant strides in reducing maternal deaths due to postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), with a notable decrease from 23 cases in 2019 to 14 cases in 2024. This reduction results from concerted efforts and strategic interventions across the public healthcare sector Key initiatives contributing to this success include the widespread implementation of the Zero Deaths by Haemorrhage training programme for healthcare workers in partnership with the Pan A m e r i c a n H e a l t h Organization/World Health O r g a n i s a t i o n ( P A H O / W H O )
Additionally, we have enhanced healthcare infrastructure by equipping all hospitals with Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garments and
establishing blood banks at regional hospitals, ensuring a steady and reliable blood supply Emergency care capacity has been further strengthened by creating dedicated operating theatres nationwide designed to address complications swiftly Furthermore, we have deployed obstetricians t o n i n e o f t h e t e n administrative regions, ensuring expert care is available across all urban and rural areas These measures, along with improved access to healthcare services, have collectively contributed to the reduction in maternal mortality from postpartum haemorrhage.
InAugust 2022, I had the privilege of joining His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, to turn the sod for the construction of the EUR 149 million Maternal and Paediatric Hospital at Goedverwaghting, Region Four. This state-of-the-art facility, scheduled to open next year, will focus on maternal and child health,
The fallacies surrounding Article...
From page 6 misconceivedinlawinfindingthatthereisno law or laws in Guyana which set out additional requirements more particularly residence for purposes of Article 159 (2) (c) of the Constitution by failing to properly addresshermindtoSections6oftheNational Registration Act, Chapter 19:08 Laws of Guyana.”
And then, of course, at the time when GECOM started H2H registration in 2019, it gazetted notices and orders, which are considered laws in their own rights. So, there was or is no absence of “any law” in the meaningofArticle159(2)(c).
Yet, here we find ourselves. We have a constitutional amendment in Article 159(2)(c) that allowed the use of voter ID cards in the 2001 election and residency as a
qualifying condition in the following three elections up to 2015. It has since abruptly been thrown into the garbage bin. It is not even worthy of mention by our current AG and others who, in reading Article 159(2), seeminglyforgettheiralphabetaftertheletter (b.) Justice George, of course, has a far better understanding than I of the state of our electorallaws.ButIholdtheviewthatArticle 159(2)(c), properly and respectfully applied, can remove much of the chaos which she decries Expressed conversely, its misapplication has generated most of the disorder
The onus then is not only on the Parliament to restore order, but for the country’suppercourtstogetitright.
Regards, Sherwood Lowe
Happy with the work of our...
From page 6
plan is unfolding as enhancing the mobility and responsiveness of the police force is something ongoing. I recall from the said Budget 2025 that the plan entailed the procurement of a diverse range of vehicles, whichinclude169motorcycles,163pickups, and 104 additional vehicles, as an additional $2 billion was to further expand the force’s transport fleet. Buttressing this physical aspect was that there was the catering for training with over 9,000 police ranks receiving skills training to improve their capabilities in crime prevention and investigation. That was why some $250 million was designated for specialised training in 2025, including partnerships with internationallawenforcementagencies. Overall, I am very optimistic in the direction of the force as I can see visible
offering specialised services such as prenatal and postnatal care, safe childbirth, and paediatric services. With 256 beds, the hospital will feature modern s u r g i c a l t h e a t r e s , laboratories, and imaging suites (including CT scans, X - r a y s , a n d M R I equipment), ensuring worldclass care for women and children.
The new hospitals under construction will feature modern birthing suites and dedicated prenatal and postnatal wings. These facilities w i l l p r o v i d e a c o m p r e h e n s i v e a n d specialised environment for moth
standardsofcare.
Over the last few years, the Ministry of Health has invested in decentralising neonatal care. We have nine fully equipped with Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) These modern facilities have vital life-saving equipment such as ventilators, incubators, pulse oximeters, and heart m o n i t o r s . S u c h advancementsguaranteethat infants facing critical health issues, like low birth weight or prematurity, receive the specialisedcaretheyneed.
In the hinterland regions, we have added Maternal Waiting Homes These facilities, strategically located within hospital compounds, provide a safe and supportive environment for pregnant women at risk of complications By
offering women the opportunity to stay closer to healthcare facilities, we ensure they have timely access to care and the ability t o r e c e i v e c r i t i c a l
i n t e r v e n t i o
f complications arise during labour
In addition to the Maternal Waiting Homes, w e e s t a b l i s h e d 8 1 telemedicine sites across the hinterland regions These sites enable Community Health Workers (CHWs) to conduct ultrasounds on pregnant women with the support of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists based at regional hospitals. Through this technology, women in remote communities can nowreceivespecialisedcare.
The Ministry has placed significant emphasis on training and the continuous professional development of healthcare provider
international collaborations, doctors, midwives, and nurses have received comprehensive training in prenatal care, safe delivery practices, and postnatal support via Continued Medical Education (CMEs) andspecialisedprogrammes. Noteworthy achievements include the training of 187 midwives between 2020 and 2024 Currently, an additional 123 midwives are undergoing training and are scheduled to graduate from the Ministry’s Midwifery Programme in May of this year
In addition to enhancing healthcare services, the Government of Guyana is
dedicated to directly supporting families through the Newborn Cash Grant Initiative This initiative offers $100,000 to every newborn, with over 2,000 families already benefiting fromthegrant.
These initiatives form part of a comprehensive approach to enhancing maternal and child health in Guyana, with the ultimate goal of reducing mortality rates and fostering healthier families. The Ministry is committed to strengthening our health systems, improving training for healthcare providers, and expanding access to essential services. We will continue to develop policies aimed at enhancing maternal and child health, focusing on issues such as reproductive health rights and healthcare access. Public health campaigns will persist in raising a w a r e n e s s o f t h e significance of regular check-ups, vaccinations, mental health, and maternal nutrition, all of which play critical roles in improving maternal and child health outcomes. On this World Health Day, I urge all families, communities, and healthcare professionals to prioritise maternal and child health. By working together, we can ensure that every mother and child in Guyana hastheopportunitytothrive.
Agri. Minister commissions $32 million...
From page 16
evidenceofmarkedgrowthandimprovement in the government’s investment of $108.7 billion. The dedication is there towards enhancing national security through improved infrastructure, community engagement, advanced technology, and robust training programmes across the securitysector
This ‘busting’ in Buxton is about people and safety People can get nervous, but the reprievewasgoodas‘Atotalof880roundsof .22 ammunition were counted and lodged as evidence.” Nowastheinvestigationremains active, we await its culmination. Even now, I think that potential criminals, and the hidden ones are getting the message that the Force is utilising government’s resources most appropriately,
Yours truly, Hargesh B. Singh
commitment and dedication. People leave their homes and families to face the elements toprovideuswiththemostaffordableformof protein.Theyareriskingtheirlivessowewill continue to support this industry,” the ministernoted.
Meanwhile, Senior Fisheries Officer, MickaleAmsterdam said the commissioning comesatacriticaltimeforGuyana’sfisheries sector and is a direct reflection of the government’s commitment to not only improving the livelihoods of fisherfolk but also forms part of a broader national agenda to ensure that coastal fishing communities like Number 79 Village thrive in this rapidly evolvingandcompetitivesector Minister Mustapha also said that the government remains committed to engaging officials in Suriname to secure fishing licences for fisherfolk on the Corentyne Coast. “An issue that continues to plague this part of the country is licences for fisherfolk plying their trade. We’ve had discussions at the highest level and commitments were
made for 150 licences to be issued to Guyanese There were emails and correspondences between myself and the Minister responsible for Agriculture in Suriname to determine how we would distribute these licenses. But after four years, wearestillwaiting.They’verenegedonthose agreements. We are still actively pursuing these matters and have maintained that our fisherfolk must enjoy those facilities so that theycanfishfreely,”MinisterMustaphasaid. Minister Mustapha also said that additional work will be done at the facility in the coming weeks. “I’ve committed to the fisherfolktoupgradethetarmac;agasstation will be built so that fisherfolk can purchase theirgashere.We’llalsoestablishahardware store so that fisherfolk can purchase inputs. So that at the end of it, you’ll have a brandnew office with a functioning office and hardware store to serve the fisherfolk of this part of the region,” he explained Approximately200 fisherfolk from along the CorentyneCoastareexpectedtobenefitfrom thenewfacility
Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Health
Israel changes account of Gaza medic killings after video showed deadly attack
(BBC NEWS) Israel’s army has admitted its soldiersmademistakesover the killing of 15 emergency workersinsouthernGazaon 23March.
T h e c o n v o y o f Palestinian Red Crescent
S o c i e t y ( P R C S ) ambulances, a UN car and a fire truck from Gaza’s Civil Defence came under fire near Rafah. Israel originally claimed troops opened fire because the convoy approached “suspiciously”
in darkness without headlightsorflashinglights. It said movement of the vehicles had not been previously co-ordinated or agreedwiththearmy Mobile phone footage, filmed by one of the paramedics who was killed, showed the vehicles did have lights on as they answered a call to help wounded people. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) insists at least six of the medics were linked to Hamas - but has so far provided no evidence. It admits they were unarmed when the soldiers opened fire The mobile video, originally shared by the NewYork Times, shows the vehicles pulling up on the road when, without warning, shooting begins just before dawn The footage continues for more than five minutes, with the paramedic, named as Refat Radwan, heard saying his last prayers before the voices of Israeli soldiers are heard approaching the vehicles.
An IDF official briefed journalists on Saturday evening, saying the soldiers had earlier fired on a car containing three Hamas members When the ambulances responded and approached the area, aerial surveillance monitors informed the soldiers on the ground of the convoy “advancing suspiciously” When the ambulances stopped beside the Hamas car, the soldiers assumed they were under threat and opened fire, despite no evidence any of the emergencyteamwasarmed.
Israel has admitted its earlier account claiming the
v
inaccurate, attributing the report to the troops involved.The video footage shows the vehicles were clearly marked and the paramedics wore reflective hi-vis uniform. The soldiers buried the bodies of the 15 dead workers in sand to protect them from wild animals, the official said, claiming the vehicles were moved and buried the following day to clear the road.
T h e y w e r e n o t uncovereduntilaweekafter the incident because international agencies, including the UN, could not organise safe passage to the area or locate the spot When an aid team found the bodies they also discovered Refat Radwan’s mobile phone containing footage of the incident The Israeli military official denied any of the medics were handcuffed before they died and said they were not executed at close range, as somereportshadsuggested.
Earlier this week, a surviving paramedic told the BBC the ambulances had their lights on and denied his colleagues were linked with any militant group. The IDF promised a “thorough examination” of theincident,sayingitwould “understandthesequenceof events and the handling of the situation” The Red Crescent and many other international organisations a r e c a l l i n g f o r a n independent investigation. Israel renewed its aerial bombardment and ground offensive in Gaza on 18 Marchafterthefirstphaseof a ceasefire deal came to an end and negotiations on a secondphasestalled.
More than 1,200 people have since been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas i n r e s p o n s e t o a n unprecedented cross-border attackon 7 October2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were takenhostage.
More than 50,600 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s health ministry
Three convictions out of 169 sexual assault cases in 2024
In 2024, only three convictions were recorded out of 169 sexual assault cases brought before the courtsystem.
This is according to statistics provided to Kaieteur News by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit (SP&DVPU).
This marks one of the l o w e s t n u m b e r o f convictions for sexual assault offences from 2016 to2024.
As of 2024, a total of 3,548 reports of sexual assault had been filed, with 1,835 cases brought to court and 282 convictions recorded over the past eight years. The figures show a fluctuating pattern in the number of reports, cases filed, and convictions over thisperiod.
In 2021, the highest number of reports was recorded at 658, with 347 cases filed and 28 convictions. Other notable years include 2016, which saw 308 reports, 85 cases filed, and just three convictions.
In 2017, there were 266 reports, 218 cases, and 10 convictions. Meanwhile, 2018 recorded 281 reports, 173 cases filed, and 40 convictions.
The number of reports began to rise significantly from 2020 onward, with 496 reports, 425 cases filed, and 69 convictions in that year
Statistics from the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Policy Unit (SP&DVPU)
alone. In 2022, 452 reports were filed, 213 cases were pursued, and 34 convictions were secured. In 2023, 333 reportsledto161casesfiled, withonly16convictions. These figures raise concerns about the disproportionately low number of convictions relative to the number of casesfiled.
Officers from the ministry expressed concerns about how these cases are handled once they enter the court system They emphasised that the lack of justice for victims often discourages others from reporting their experiences. One officer explained, “People don’t report these matters sometimes because they think nothing will come of it. Sometimes it feels like thesystemisfightingagainst
you, because I know people whowereassaultedandhave asked,‘What’sthepoint?’”
In 2024, several highprofile cases of sexual assault have emerged. In S e p t e m b e r, D e p u t y Superintendent Karl Wilson, stationed at the Criminal Investigative Department (CID),waschargedwithtwo counts of sexual assault against a male colleague. Wilson pleaded not guilty to both charges, with bail set at $75,000 for each count. An investigationintothealleged incidents began in June 2024.
In August, Adrian Narine, former Chief Photographer at the Guyana Chronicle, was charged with sexually assaulting a woman. Narine, also known as Vishwanauth Narine, was placedon$100,000bailafter
appearingattheGeorgetown Magistrates’ Court He pleaded not guilty to the charges, which stemmed from an incident in December2023. Narine had been placed on leave by the newspaper’s management after one of his colleagues reported the assaults to the Alberttown PoliceStation.
A d d i t i o n a l l y, i n February, a 66-year-old labourer from Suddie Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, was charged with sexually assaulting a female in Region Two last October. Dhudnauth Parbattie appeared before Magistrate Esther Sam at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court, where thechargeswerereadtohim. He pleaded not guilty, and bail was granted in the amountof$50,000.
The government is investing $235 million to upgrade No. 1 Dispensary and Dorothy Bailey health facilities in Georgetown, aimed at expanding the level of medical care being providedfortheresidents. Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony provided the update during a recent sodturning ceremony at Camp
ellville “The government is expending $180milliontodobackNo. 1 Dispensary.This year, we are upgrading Dorothy Bailey [health centre]. The government is going to spend $55 million to upgrade that facility,” MinisterAnthonystated.
A total of $294 million was spent to modernise Festival City Health Centre, bringing it to a level to
improve patient care. The health facility, he added, is now under the management of the Georgetown Public HospitalCorporation.
Minister Anthony elaborated, “I remembered when we walked through there, there were many servicesthatcouldnothave been delivered because of the way that it was constructed. And while they wanted to do x-rays and things like that, they didn’t make allowance for the x-rays. So, we had to build a completely new section to put in x-rays and things like that…The people in that part of the city are getting excellent care.”
A d d i t i o n a l l y , construction has begun on the new health centre at
Canal No. 2 Polder on the West Bank of Demerara.
Over the past few years, the government has remained u n f l a g g i n g i n i t s commitment to modernising h e a l t h f a c i l i t i e s countrywide, ensuring that imp
services are offered. These include health facilities at Agricola, East La Penitence, David Rose, Alberttown, Lodge, No. 1 Dispensary, Sophia, North East La Penitence, Campbellville, Industry, and Kitty Within this period, 25 new health centres and posts have been built nationwide, expanding healthcare access. He also pointed out that the government has a strong health programme to boost healthcare access at the communitylevel.
“We manage close to 380 [health] facilities across the country. We have spent a lot of time upgrading these facilities. So, whether it’s a health post or centre, we have upgraded them all to ensure that patients coming to us would get better conditions where they can wait and [receive] service,” Dr Anthony h i g h l i g h t e d T h e construction and renovation of health centres are part of the government’s broader efforts to decentralise and expand healthcare services provided to Guyanese. In addition to these efforts, six new regional hospitals will be operationalised this year, providing specialised care to thousands of residents (DPI)
ExxonMobil/New Era Upper Demerara U18 Football begins
In a show of strength, the Linden Technical Institute overwhelmed Harmony Secondary 8-0, as Linden Foundation Secondary and Wisburg added victories, but New Silvercity Secondary and Mackenzie High could not be separated in a drawn encounter, as the New Era Entertainment/ ExxonMobil Region 10 (Upper Demerara / Upper Berbice) Schools
U
…LTI rout Harmony 8 - 0
tournament entered its third year last Friday, at the Wisburg Secondary School playfield.
This ExxonMobilsponsored Championship has at stake a $400,000 cash prize going to a school’s project for the winning team with the second place team getting an incentive worth
$200,000, third place will receive $100,000 and fourth place will have to settle for a $50,000incentive.
Last Friday’s first game ofthetournamentendedwith Linden Foundation beating Christianburg Wismar Multilateral Secondary by a 1-0 margin in a Group A clash,ashometeamWisburg
Secondary playing in Group B, also winning 2-1 over the Kwakwani/Arimaunit.
OnSaturdayinaGroupA match, the Linden Technical Institute dispatched the challenge of Harmony Secondary with an 8 - 0 drubbing.
However, there would not be a winner from the Group A game as the New Silvercity Secondary and Mackenzie High encounter endedwitha1-1result.
Monday April 07, 2025
ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)
You may feel tension in your world today without really knowing why This feeling of conflict may have your stomach in knots, making it difficult to deal with anything oranyoneinarationalmanner
TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)
Don't downplay your abilities now You're on the brink of greatness,soactlikeit.Things should go quite well if you let them. Don't clog up the works by thinking that you're unworthyofthegoodluckthat issuretocomeyourway
GEMINI(May21–June20)
Take a leap of faith today, Gemini. Consider taking two or three. Trust that things will follow through perfectly. You willbedrawntothosewhoput asmileonyourface.
CANCER(June21–July22)
When others can't seem to decide which way to proceed, itwillbecomecrucialthatyou stand up and be the deciding force. Be as aggressive as you needtobetodayinordertoset thingsinmotion.
LEO(July23–Aug.22)
Your head may be going in a thousand different directions today, Leo. You may not have much time to stop and think about your next move. Things will come up suddenly and you will need to be able to reactquickly
VIRGO(Aug 23–Sept 22)
You're apt to feel emotionally brave today, Virgo, so take advantage of this feeling by extending it to the people around you. Try not to get anxious or jump ahead of yourself.
LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)
Your biggest dream is in front ofyou,Libra,yetthere'salarge object standing in your path. When you peer around one way, the goal is only partly visible. When you peer around the other way, the other side of thedreambecomesclear
SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)
Luck and prosperity lie within your grasp now The only problem is that you might not noticebecauseyou'resocaught up in some emotional drama thatoccupiesyourentirebeing.
SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)
You may fall into a bottomless pit today Be careful about offering so much of yourself that you drain your internal resources. You might think other people will be equally generous about offering themselvestoyou.
CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)
Don'tjusttalkaboutgrandtrips around the world - start planning them, Capricorn. If you don't start saving your resources and reserving blocks of time for your dreams, they maynevercometrue.
AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18)
Think of yourself as a great pioneer crossing the frontier for the first time, Aquarius. Acknowledge yourself as the important person that you are. Believe in yourself and your rightsandopinions.
PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)
Make sure you keep up your endofthebargaintoday People are counting on you whether yourealizeitornot Youmayget the idea that you can sneak out of responsibility if you lay low andnotsayaword.
From page 15
these things. Last year, we procured 100 Vessel Monitoring Devices which are known to play a pivotal role in ensuring sustainablefishingpractices.Byequippingyourvesselswith thesedevices,we’reabletomonitorfishingactivitiesinrealtime, with the hope of minimizing piracy as well as illegal, unreported,andunregulated(IUU)fishing,”heexplained.
“We have approximately 18,000 persons employed directly and making a living from the fishing industry Then, there are the people who benefit indirectly from the industry Werecognizethatit’simportantforustocontinuedeveloping this sector It provides the cheapest form of protein for citizens. That’s why, in 2022, when there was an issue with catches, we engaged the FAO to conduct a study That study revealed that climate change and the increase in freshwater affected the catch. We also recognize that the input for the industry, things like twine and so on, we worked to remove thetaxesfromthoseitems,”heexplained.
Close to 200 persons are expected to benefit from the fisherfolkbrackishwatershrimpprogramme.
Eight schools drawn from across Region 10 are participatingwithinitialplay intwogroupsoffourwiththe two with the best results advancingtothefinalfour I
A
Christianburg Wismar
c o n d a r y, L i n d e n Foundation Secondary, Linden Technical Institute and Harmony Secondary, with Group B having Mackenzie High, New Silvercity Secondary, Wisburg Secondary and Kwakwani/Arima.
Play in this tournament will continue Wednesday at the Wisburg Secondary School ground when in Group A, Christianburg Wismar Secondary tackle Harmony at noon while the other will pit Linden Foundation Secondary against Linden Technical Instituteat2:00pm.
CWI withdraws penalty on John Campbell following Tribunal Review
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cricket West Indies(CWI)hasannouncedthat,followinga recent meeting of the Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Tribunal on Friday, 04 April 2025, the four-match suspension previously imposed on Jamaica Scorpions captain John Campbellhasbeenofficiallywithdrawn.
The Tribunal was convened to hear the case involving Barbados Pride captain RaymonReifer,inrespectofachargerelating tohisconductattheCGUnitedSuper50Final on 23 November 2024 During the proceedings, the Tribunal took the view that the procedure of bringing the charge was flawed and the matter therefore could not be heard.
WhilethematterinvolvingCampbellwas not before the Tribunal, the issues raised during Reifer’s hearing informed CWI’s decision to withdraw the charges against Campbell.
It is important to note, the view is not pertainingtothemeritofthechargebutrather theprocessofthechargebeinglaid.
Notably, the Tribunal did not issue any ruling on the matter of prize money or match fees arising from the final. As such, CWI confirms that its previous decision to withholdalldisbursementstobothteamsdue to the final match not taking place, remain in place.
In light of the Tribunal’s findings, CWI respectstheindependentpanel’spositionand has accordingly rescinded the four-match
suspension initially handed down to Mr Campbell. However, it is important to note that his admission of responsibility and formalapologyremainonrecord.
CWI Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, stated: “We acknowledge the Tribunal’sobservationsandrespecttheirrole in ensuring procedural fairness. While Mr Campbell’s expression of remorse and admission has been accepted, we recognize the concerns raised during Reifer’s hearing regarding the overall process and have decidedtowithdrawthesuspension.”
Bascombe further expressed: “That said, this does not absolve individuals of responsibility where there have been serious breaches.Norulinghasbeenmadetodeclare a winner or overturn any match outcome this is purely a matter of addressing procedural fairness. Neither has anyone been found guilty or innocent of charges. Our commitment to discipline, professionalism,andtheintegrityofthegame remainsunwavering.”
As a result of the Tribunal’s findings and in the interest of consistency, CWI will not pursue further disciplinary action against Raymon Reifer at this stage regarding his individualconductinthefinal.
The independent panel was chaired by Mr JusticePatrickThompsonJrandincluded members Mr Justice Dale Staple, Mme. Justice Jacqueline Cornelius-Thorne, Mr T MichaelFindlayandMr SylvesterJoseph.
John Campbell batting in the 2024 Edition of the CG United Super 50 Cup (CWI Media)
Verstappen fends off Norris to win in Japan
(BBC Sport) - Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fended off a race-long challenge from the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to win the JapaneseGrandPrix.
The Dutchman’s fourth consecutive victory at Suzuka was his first of the year and moves him to within one point of Norris at the head of the drivers’ championship.
Verstappen’s drive was cool under intense pressure, with rarely more than two seconds between him and Norris, and founded on a quite brilliant pole position laponSaturday
McLaren had feared that the Red Bull would be difficulttopassifVerstappen held the lead at the start, and soitproved.
Rain overnight and on the morning of the race helped ensure there was no repeat of the grass fires that affected practice and qualifying on Friday and Saturday
Verstappen led the two McLarens for the entire first stint, the three lapping closelytogether
There were questions as to why McLaren pitted Piastri first, when it might have made sense to attack Verstappen with Norris making an earlier pit stop, potentially giving the Briton theopportunitytogetahead.
McLaren had already radioedNorrisfora‘dummy’ stop two laps earlier and Norris was within 1 5 seconds of Verstappentheoretically just about within range of an undercutonthelapPiastristopped.
McLarensaidtheyhadto pit Piastri because he was at risk of being undercut by Mercedes’ George Russell, who stopped on lap 19 and wasquickonhishardtyres.
Verstappen and Norris stopped on the same lap, one later than Piastri, and there w a s a n i m m e d i a t e flashpoint.
As Verstappen and Norris pitted, they were separated by just 1 5 seconds McLaren’s stop was faster by a second, and as they left the pits the McLaren was halfway alongsidetheRedBull.
But Verstappen held his line, and Norris ran out of track,takingtothegrass.
Norris complained about Verstappen’s driving, saying he had been pushed off, while Verstappen countered bysayinghisrivalhaddriven
off by himself. The stewards agreed with the four-time worldchampion.
After the race, Norris said: “He had the position and he had the right to do whathedid,sofairplay.”
From then on, Norris and Piastri tracked Verstappen forthefinal32laps,withjust over two seconds separating themmostofthetime.
But Norris could not get within a second of Verstappen,andinfactitwas Piastri who looked to have the best pace, sometimes closing to within 0.5secs of histeam-mate.
Piastri suggested to the team that he felt he had the pace to beat Verstappen - a thinly veiled request to be let past.
But McLaren did not interfere in their battle and the first three drivers crossed the line in the order they had held all race, separated by just2.2seconds.
Piastri moves into third place in the championship ahead of Russell, and is 13 points behind his teammate
The top three were in a race of their own and the entire grand prix was pretty staticintermsoforder Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc held off Russell for fourth place, while the Briton’s team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelliputinastrongfinal stint to close to less than two seconds behind his teammate.
Italian Antonelli led the race after Verstappen, Norris andPiastripittedandbecame the youngest driver in Formula1historytodoso,at 18 years and 224 days Verstappen was four days older when he won the 2016 SpanishGrandPrix.
Antonelli also became the youngest driver to set the fastest lap, again beating Verstappen from the 2016 BrazilianGrandPrix.
Lewis Hamilton, on an alternate tyre strategy, took seventh from eighth place on the grid, getting ahead of Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar early in the race. It was the only position change in the top10.
Alex Albon drove an attacking race, complaining to the Williams team about his strategy, to take ninth, ahead of the Haas of Briton OliverBearman.
In his first race for Red Bull, Yuki Tsunoda finished 12th with the man he replaced,LiamLawson,17th intheRacingBull.
After the race, Max Verstappen joked “that’s quite V an expensive lawnmower” as he and Lando Norris watched the pit-lane incident together (Getty Images)
Siraj, Gill and Washington hand Sunrisers fourth successive defeat
(ESPN Cricinfo)Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) suffered another batting malfunction, this time on a slow, black-soil surface at home, crashing to their fourth successive defeat in IPL2025.
Having lost Travishek in the powerplay, SRH waited until the 13th over to see the first six of the innings, and managedonlyonemoreafter that Mohammed Siraj caused irreparable damage right from the start, ending with his career-best IPL figuresof4for17.
Pat Cummins’ cameo (22* off nine balls) and then his dismissal of Jos Buttler for a duck in Gujarat Titans’ (GT) chase of 153 gave SRH some hope, but that faded away once Washington Sundar clattered 23 off nine balls in the powerplay
Earlier in the day, GT didn’t need Washington with the ball, but his attacking enterprise at No. 4 settled their chase on a slow pitch. Washington fell agonisingly short of a maiden IPL halfcentury, but his captain Shubman Gill ushered GT
Rutherford remained unbeaten on a 16-ball 35 (BCCI)
home, with an unbeaten 61 off 43 balls, along with SherfaneRutherford.
Travishek vs Siraj
Siraj had sparked the Border-Gavaskar Trophy to life when he gave Travis Head a send-off in Adelaide last December Four months on, Siraj was bowling to Head for the first time in T20s, and the battle lasted just five balls. After Head scored two fours off Siraj, the fast bowler struck with his trademark wobble-seam delivery, having him chip a catchtomidwicketfor8.
Abhishek Sharma hit four fours before Siraj had himmiscuingacatchtomidon in his third over of the powerplay It was Siraj’s 100th wicket in the IPL and sixth in the powerplay, the most by a bowler in that phasesofarthisseason,with aneconomyrateof6.27.
Siraj then returned in the death to york both Aniket Verma, the last recognised batter for SRH, and
Simarjeet Singh, their ImpactPlayer
Contrasting outings for Rashid and Sai Kishore
With both Head and Abhishek gone early, Rashid Khan, who was coming into this game on the back of figures of 4-0-54-0, could affordtoeasehimselfin.
He started fairly well by giving away just 10 runs in his first two overs, but when he erred in length, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen dispatched him to the fence. Rashid finished with 4-0-31-0, going wicketless for a third successive game, and with tournament figures of 1 for 143 in 14 overs at an economyrateof10.21
Left-arm fingerspinner R Sai Kishore, on the other hand, showed remarkable control over his length and variations. He claimed the
big wicket of Klaasen by knocking him over with a quickdart,whichskiddedoff the pitch, for 27 off 19 balls. Sai Kishore also had Reddy holing out for 31 off 34 balls andfinishedwith4-0-24-2.
That SRH passed 150 was down to Cummins’ late blows.
He was the only SRH batterinthetopeighttohave astrikerateofover160.
Washington at No.4 It appeared like GT had handed a franchise debut to Washington to primarily match his offspin up with SRH’s left-hander heavy top order But with Siraj dominating the powerplay and Sai Kishore taking care of the middle overs, GT ended up not using his offspin.
Washington then walked out to bat at No. 4 after his childhood friend B Sai Sudharsan and Buttler fell cheaply in successive overs. Washington took advantage of the last over of the powerplay, smoking Simarjeet for two sixes and two fours. It provided a throwback to Washington of 2016, when he opened the batting, alongside Abhinav Mukund, in the TNPL and showed the intent to hit over the top. Just like that, Washington dumped SRH’s Impact Player out of the attack.
Washington continued to attack even after that. When the ambidextrous Kamindu Mendis darted one on the stumps with his right hand, Washington manufactured swinging room and laced him over extra-cover for four Washington seemed set for a fifty until he holed out one shy of the landmark in the 14th over Gill, who had already crossed 50 by that point, finished the job along with Rutherford, who hit an unbeaten35off16balls.
Sherfane
President’s College upstage Santa Rosa to advance into Quarters
- PC,West Ruimveldt and Three Mile added to the cast
Action returned to the Ministry of Education (MoE) ground in Georgetown as the Milo/Massy Under-18 Football Championship determined the final four teams to complete thequarterfinallineupforthe2025season.
Onthepreviousmatchday,defendingchampionsChase’s Academic Foundation advanced with a commanding performance, alongside the tenacious trio of Dolphin Secondary, Waramuri Secondary, and Charlestown Secondary Sunday’sactionkickedoffunderagloomy,windy sky and continued into the evening, where Three Mile Secondary, Yarrowkabra Secondary, West Ruimveldt Secondary,andPresident’sCollegesecuredtheirticketstothe quarterfinals.
Three Mile Secondary clinched the fifth quarterfinal spot with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Abram Zuil Secondary TravinBenjaminopenedthescoringinthe35thminuteaftera challenging first half. Abram Zuil responded through Omar Kendall, who leveled the score early in the second half. But it was Lebron Mendonca who sealed the deal for Three Mile withaclinicalstrikeinthe68thminute.
Inthesecondencounter,BushlotSecondaryracedtoa2-0 lead thanks to early goals from Luke Langevine (10') and Quaency Fraser (20'). However, Yarrowkabra Secondary mounted a spirited comeback. John Bartholomew pulled one back in the 28th minute, and Leroy Evans equalized just before halftime. The match took a dramatic turn in the 51st minute when Bushlot was reduced to ten men following a red card. Yarrowkabra capitalized, and Antwan Vyphuis netted thewinnerinthe69thminutetosealathrilling3-2victory West Ruimveldt Secondary comfortably dispatched Hope Secondary 2-0. IsseyWilliams gaveWest Ruimveldt an early lead in the sixth minute, and Jeremiah Griffith’s 28th-minute free-kick secured the result. Hope failed to mount a response, andWestRuimveldtmarchedintothequarterswithease.
In the final match of the round of sixteen, President’s College faced off against Santa Rosa Secondary After a goallessfirsthalf,KenanPetriefoundthebackofthenetinthe 65th minute, delivering the lone goal of the contest, booking President’sCollegeaplaceinthequarterfinals.
With the round of sixteen complete, the final eight teams are now locked in and will begin preparations for this weekend’shighlyanticipatedquarterfinalmatchups.
The tournament is sponsored by Nestlé Milo and Massy Distribution, with additional support from MVP Sports and the National Sports Commission. It is approved by the Ministry of Education and coordinated by the Petra Organisation.
Kenan Petrie (65’) goal enough to propel PC into Milo U18 quarterfinals
Sports Carolina carts off with inaugural title
Puerto Rico’s Carolina pulled off a thrilling 21-15 win on Sunday evening at the Cliff Anderson’s Sports Hall (CASH) to clinch the inaugural ‘One Guyana’ 3x3 Quest title. The Puerto Rican team battled familiar foes Distrito Nacional from Dominican Republican to book their spot in the FIBA World Tour in Edmonton, Canada.
