Kaieteur News

Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley

Govt. officially boots CGX-Frontera from Corentyne Block

The Government of Guyanahasofficiallybooted joint venture (JV) partners, CGX Energy Inc and F r o n t e r a E n e r g y Corporation, from the Corentyne Block, located offshoreGuyana.

In an update on March 13,thejointventuresaidthat they received a response from the government titled, “The Government is of the view that the Petroleum Agreement and Prospecting Licenceareatanend.”

It was further stated that the government made its position known that it, “hereby terminates the Petroleum Agreement and cancels the Prospecting

Licence with immediate effect.”However,theJVsaid itremainsfirmlyoftheview that its interests in, and the Licence for, the Corentyne Blockremaininplaceandin good standing and that the Petroleum Agreement has notbeenterminated.

CGX and Frontera warned, “The Joint Venture anditsshareholderscontinue to invite the Government of Guyana to amicably resolve the issues affecting the Joint Venture's investments in the CorentyneBlock.Shouldthe parties not reach a mutually agreeable solution, the Joint Venture and its shareholders are prepared to assert their legalrights.”

It was further noted that they look forward to expeditiously resolve this matter and continue its multi-year efforts and investments In early February,CGXandFrontera disclosed in a statement that the Government of Guyana issued a 30-day notice of its intention to cancel their licence.TheJVhadsaidthat thegovernmenthastakenthe position that the licence and the Petroleum Agreement with the joint venture have alreadybeenterminated.For their part, the government toldthepartnersthatintheir view,therearenoreasonable

extension to CGX and

exploration and appraisal obligations.

It was outlined that any licence will cease to be effectiveonMarch10,2025, unless representations made by CGX and Frontera are

“favourably considered ” Additionally, the statement i

governmentisopentogoodfaith negotiations within the specifiedtimeframe.

In their response on

maintained that their

government remains valid and in force despite the government's 30-days' notice to terminate the licence. The JV confirmed (Continuedonpage15)

Kaieteur News

PrintedandPublishedbyNationalMedia& PublishingCompanyLtd. 24SaffonStreet, Charlestown,Georgetown,Guyana.

Publisher:GLENNLALL-TEL:624-6456

Editor:NIGELWILLIAMS

Tel:225-8465,225-8491. Fax:225-8473,226-8210

EDITORIAL

The message of Phagwah

Phagwahisatimeofcelebration,ofanticipation,and

ofjoy Somuchofthosethreeingredientsshouldbe partoftheblessingthatbelongstoGuyaneseonthis PhagwahDay,anationalholiday Greetingsandblessings toallofourGuyanesebrothersandsistersonthisPhagwah Day

Weextendthethanksforeverycitizenofthiscountry,we delightinreachingforwardwithhopeinourheartstoall, regardlessofwhethertheyagreeornotwithus.

We, the Guyanese people, are owners of great blessings, and we must do our best, put our best foot forward, to ensure that we get the best out of the bounties of our patrimony

Forustoextractthemostandthebestoutofnationalgifts, we must have goodness in our hearts, gladness in our minds,forourfellowcitizens-withoutexception. ThisistheessenceofPhagwah:theconquestofgoodover evil. Because the only way that evil can be mastered is when we start out with goodness in our own hearts, and blessthosewhocomeintoourpresence.

Fortoolong,toomanydecades,wehaveheldhateinour hearts,andwearetheworstoflosersforit.

Wehaveweakenedourselvestosuchanextentthatthebest wecandoisallowingourselvestobescatteredtowherever thewindblowsus,whateverdirectionpulled.

Too much darkness has flourished in Guyana, and all are more shortsighted for it. We see only enemies, when we should be brothers; we perceive evils everywhere and in everyone because the good in us has been banished, and selfishness and all its woes that have overtaken us, have now consumed us. The simple joys of Phagwah are lessened.Inacountrythatisadazzlinglightintheeyesof others, wherever they may be, we are a chronic blight to eachother AsfarawayasChinaandnowIndia,moreand moreareinterestedinbeingaparticipantandabeneficiary inourgreatriches,yetweourselvesaresounlearningthat weremaindoggedly,wretchedlypoor

Wearetoopoorintoomanymaterialthings,whichisthe tough lot of too many Guyanese in this time of great developments,andgreaterpromise.

ThelightandcolorofPhagwahmustempowerustoseethe lightinothers,andthatitknowsnocolornornolimits.Let us for once be this bright so that we can see past the smallness of our existence, in that none is allowed to divide,dominate,andlast,enslaveus.

Wehavegrowntoopreoccupiedwithsensingtheworstin our fellow citizens, and concluding that there are only enemiespresent.

This is sure to bring smiles to the exploiters who evilly andcallouslypitusagainsteachother Astheyhavedone beforeelsewhere,andrightherebefore,theydoagainin orderthattheycanrichlygainatourexpense

This is the unending context of exploited and brutalized Guyanese:aswestaypoor,wecontinuetobehungryand angry,whilethecunningandcrookedmakeutterfoolsof us-theordinarycitizensofthiscountry

Phagwah is a celebration of good over evil, and this we mustallsee. Forthisisneitherreligionorculture,butwhat must become our way of life; good triumphing over the powerful,evil,localandforeignforcesthatrule.

It is those same evil forces that drive us to uninterrupted quarrelingandjabbingateachother

Inthistimeofgreatnationallight,thereisthatotheraspect of Phagwah- the one about anticipation of a fruitful harvest. As a people, Guyanese have many anticipations abouttheoffshoreharveststhatareduetothem.

To this point, their anticipations have not been met, not even fractionally, with one leadership failure and feeble excuse,afteranother.

Theoffshoreandon-landharvestsbelongtotheGuyanese people,butsofartheyhavenotreapedwhatistheirdue.

ThisisPhagwahbeyondthechantingandcolour

This is the light and delight of Phagwah that every Guyaneseshouldbelivingwithdaily

Irfaan Ali's megalomania is clearly out of control- a political slogan in our National Passport is a bridge too far

DearEditor, Irfaan Ali and his governmenthavecrossedyet another dangerous line in their relentless march towards a one-party State dictatorshipbyemblazoning the PPP's political slogan “One Guyana” in our new Passport.

This is not just an abuse of State resources; it is a calculated attempt to further blur the line between the governmentandthePPP.

A passport is not a Party manifesto; it is a sovereign document of our nation. It belongs to “we the people” andisissuedinournameby the State. It therefore ought to be neutral and free from partisan contamination. By embedding political propaganda onto a passport that belongs to all Guyanese –regardlessoftheirpolitical affiliation, Irfaan Ali has once again shown his complete disregard for

democratic norms and institutionalintegrity

Further, this act potentially flies in the face of international standards, especially those set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in Document 9303, which providesstrictguidelinesfor passport design ICAO's emphasis on neutrality, global interoperability and non-discriminatorypractices implicitly prohibits the inclusionofpartisanpolitical messaging.

And this is not an isolated incident Guyanese have notedwithgraveconcernthe factthatlawenforcementhas been mandated to wear this political slogan on their uniforms, it has been emblazoned on uniforms in the public service, on exercise books in the education sector, “One Guyana” has even “sponsored” major cultural andsportingevents. It must be understood, Guyanese brothers and sisters,thatthisisapartofa broader, more sinister a g e n d a T h e P P P government has long sought to dismantle our democratic institutions, erode checks and balances, and manipulate our national identity to serve its own interests. The use of state resources for political branding is a classic sign of democratic backslide and authoritarianism and blurs the line of distinction betweenpartyandState.Itis quiteinterestingthatthePPP, which was relentlessly loud in its accusation of the PNC forallegedlypracticingparty paramountcy, is now openly and unashamedly doing just that!

supported the PPP, realizing that our country is being hijacked by a political elite of friends, family and favourites that see themselves as above the law and above our nation itself. National identity is being replaced with party allegiance. State power is beingwieldedasaweapon. Dissent is being punished.

T h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l community must take note andwethepeoplemustpush back. This level of political megalomania cannot go u n a n s w e r e d o r unchallenged. Today it's the passport, tomorrow it might be the Constitution Our passport belongs to Guyana andallGuyanese—nottothe PPP and Irfan Ali's propagandamachine.

This isn't just about the opposition—this is about all ofusasGuyanese,including those who have historically

Sincerely

AmanzaWaltonDesir,MP Shadow Minister, Foreign affairs

Guyanese on Holi celebrations in India

DearEditor,

Several groups of Guyanese and others are in Indiaastouriststoexperience Holicelebrations

Thereisagroupof59(led by singer LakePersaud) and anothergroupof30currently in Jaipur and many more all over India gearing up for the celebration As experienced in India by this writer half a dozentimes,indozensofHoli trips to Bharatdesh, the festival is a wonderful memorable experience similar to that in Guyana

yearsgone TravelersinIndia saytheyhavehadagreattime celebratingPhagwahinIndia Holi Dahan (burning of the symbolic Holika – a bonfire of wood, leaves, and other burningmaterials)tookplace on Thursday night and was celebrated in India on Friday asanationalholiday Thefire symbolizesthedestructionof evil

Thingsarethrownintothe fires in a symbolic purge of evilandvictoryofgood Asin Guyanayearsgoneby,every community (including in the

city)hasleastoneHolikafor the bonfire The burning of Holika, playful jollification, getting together or going house to house to douse others with abeer and gugal, entertainment, and feast for the celebrations are similar tothatinGuyana.InIndia,as inGuyana,althoughaHindu festival, non-Hindus also partake in the festivities especiallyinthenorth People of all faiths, except Christian and Islamic leaders, are engrossedinthecelebrations It is called the festival of

colors and take on a nonreligious atmosphere -- and thereareamultitudeofcolors of abeer (liquid) and powder (gulal) unimaginable Mandirs and banks of rivers are visited for the playing of Phagwah The playing with powder tends to create a rainbowhaze

In India as in Guyana, people start playing Phagwah days ahead of the actual holiday As we do in Guyana, people smear powderedcolorson...

(Continueonpage6)

Let's feel real progress instead of hearing about the superficial

Dear Editor,

It is nice to see everyone doing better than before, but the government must caution against excess and theillegalpursuitofmaterial things.

For someone in the current administration to boast about the jewelry that people are wearing, the nice clothes they have on and the drinks they are drinking, promotes a very shallow approach and view of progress Suriname is encouraging investment w h i l e t h e c u r r e n t administration appears to be happy with increased consumption Instead of boasting about what is fleeting, let's hear about the progress being made in improving the oil contract instead of encouraging our people to be flashy with the Exxon scraps. Instead of the chrome that can be shown with the crumbs, let's hear about the progress being made on setting a date to renegotiate The senior member of the government even went so far as to boast about progress as it compares to first world countries If this is the benchmark of progress then the conversation must speak to a more profound measure ofprogresssuchasimproved s a n i t a t i o n , b e t t e r managementofgarbage,and the development of housing schemes with sewage systemsandnotseptictanks. Progress must also

include examples of drinkable water being available in every household in communities across the country. Point to those examples of how people are doingbetterthanbefore.

Let's stay focused on the fundamentals that will shift our society out of the third world and into the second. Tellusthatnomoreflooding will occur because of the progress being made in sea defenseanddrainage.

Furthermore, the discussion on progress should include discussions on improved law and order Much has been said about the murder of Queen's College Alumni, Courtney Crum-Ewing, but little to no progress has been made. There was mention of the case being solved followed by expressed concern over lack of closure of the case. Even a senior member of the current administration had voiced concern before winning the last election. Where is the progress? This is a stark reminder that progress must include clear examples of an effective judicial process with closure of key cases in the country Where is the discussion around progress in prosecutingsexualpredators regardless of their position ofinfluence?

High profile cases must not be allowed to be swept under the door mat when politically convenient Where are the discussions

and examples of successful prosecution of corrupt officials, corrupt contractors and corrupt businessmen?

Allegations brought forward againsttopofficials,whether it is the President, the General Secretary, a Permanent Secretary, the LeaderoftheOppositionora high ranking Official in the Police Force should be thoroughly investigated and prosecutedwithoutfavouror bias.

Members of the current administration should be conveying a message that strengthens the foundation of our society and not one that focuses on shallow illustrations of progress that encourages wasteful spending, greed and over consumption. When there is too much spending on "drinks", it leads to more accidents on the road, more abuse and violence in the homes and more innocent liveslost.

We need only look to the recent tragic deaths in the news for clear examples that remind us that the "nice drinks" and too much of themcomeattoohighacost.

It is nice to see everyone dressing nicely and wearing their jewelry, but without law and order it will only lead to more people getting robbed. Guyana is a very nice place where life can be beautiful every day, but this can only be sustained with lawandorder!Keepingthe... (Continue on page 6)

Meeting with the Mohameds was legal not political

Dear Editor,

On March 12, 2025,

Attorney-at-Law and Leader of the AFC, Mr Nigel Hughes, and General

S e c r e t a r y, R a p h a e l Trotman, were consulted by Mr NazarMohamedandMr Azruddin Mohamed of "Team Mohamed's" at the request of the Mohameds on legalissues.

Whether it be “One Guyana” or One People, One Nation, One Destiny, the country is still polarised in several ways

Dear, Editor, I wish to draw attention to the utilisation of the slogan “One Guyana,” which has taken centrestageinthemediafollowingitsimprint in the new passport. Ideally, the use of the slogan raises doubts in the minds of many people, because examining our society reveals that we still have a long way to go in terms of achieving unity or cohesion, as the term "One Guyana" implies Most importantly, because our passport is a sacred document for travel, the imprint should have read One People, One Nation, One Destiny, ournationalmotto.

Nonetheless,the issue is not the use of the slogan "One Guyana," which is synonymous with our national motto as aforementioned. Thecurrentissueisthatwecontinuetolivein a polarised society, which is the reality.How are we "one" when our politicians cannot be "consistently" unified irrespective of their differences on matters of national importance? Our youths, which predominantly make up the demographics, should be able to exist in a society rid or devoid of racism, discrimination, and other forms of subjugation. I can simply say we have a long way to go in terms of achieving unification, and ideally only the younger generationcanchangethissothatourcountry canbeonagreatertrajectorysociallybecause, aswestand,wearesociallyfragmented.

Being judged based on the colour of our

skin or our political affiliations, it is kind of paradoxical for me to say we are "one," although we are still divided in some aspects. Article 149 (D) (1) of Guyana's Constitution saysthattheStateshallnotdenytoanyperson equality before the law or equal protection and benefit of the law There have been calls for gender, social, and economic equality in our society, which means that these areas are stillworkinprogress. Politicalscientistsmay argue that promoting equality causes "inequality and discomfort," but it is ideally the mechanisms implemented within our societies that support equality that take precedence or create opportunities for all, regardlessofreligion,race,orsocioeconomic background. Bear in mind this: it is not an overnight phenomenon, but it should be the mantra of both the government and the opposition.Guyanaisabeautifulhavenwitha plethora of opportunities, but are these opportunities enjoyed by all, or are they enjoyed by some or a few? But which is conjunction, means that there is still more room for improvement. A house that is divided can never stand on its own, and if we arereallyseriousaboutnationaldevelopment, then we truly need to start acting as if we are truly"OneGuyana.”

Regards

Antonio Dey

FinalYear Student

University of Guyana

Does President Ali need a lobbying firm to request a meeting with President Trump – or he can do that for himself?

Dear Editor, Guyana is threatened by its larger neighbor, Venezuela. Guyana is in no position to defend itself militarily For that, it needs the United States Not CARICOM, not OAS, not Brazil,notArgentina.

unknowns. The Government of Guyana wants some sense of security, so it hires a Washington, DC lobbying firm headed by a Mr Carlos Trujillo at a cost of $600,000 in contract fees, plus a maximumof$180,000ayear in expenses, to lobby President Trump and his Administration. Is this a good deal struck by

President Ali – hiring the servicesofalobbyingfirmto

get some Facetime with President Trump? My commonsensical question: Why hire a lobbying firm to do what PresidentAli can do for himself, namely, write the U.S. President directly and request a meeting? President Ali is head of an oil-producing State. Carlos Trujillo is head of a lobbying firm. To whom President Trumpismorelikelyto... (Continue on page 6)

The discussion included addressing legal obstacles, wh

philanthropicwork

The consultations were of a legal professional nature.

The meeting took place at the offices of Hughes FieldsandStoby

i c a l implications of his possible professional engagement withtheMohameds.

The law office is seeking its own independent advice ofwhetherlegalservicescan be provided to the Mohameds.

Mr Trotman General Secretary of the AFC, attended to provide professional political advice to Mr. Hughes on the p o s s i b

Regards Alliance of Change

You get the point now, an American Company, Exxon, is currently drilling for oil in Guyana. It is a reasonable assumption that the United States will intervene militarily to protect an American Company's assets (its rights to an 11-billionbarrel oil reserve plus all the machinery and drill ships) –in the event of Venezuela invading Guyana's territory It is what it is – a reasonable assumption! No formal alliance or Defense Treaty exists between Guyana and the United States. Now, a lot is up in the air; lot of

Guyanese on Holi celebrations in...

From Page 4

each other's' faces and or drench each other in colorful or plain water Celebrants go from house to house, village to village People throw water on others- complete strangers- as in Guyana Entire streets in the village and cities are filled with people. Water balloons are also flung. Spray or squint guns are also used. Faces are d a u b e d w i t h t h i c k pigmentation of powders Someparticipantsareslowly transported on tractor or trucksoranimalpulledcarts.

There is singing and dancing to drum, dantaal, and jaal beats. The music followsarhythm.

People feast on a variety of snacks when going from house to house and even on streets. It is one of the few days in which snacks and

sweets are not sold and are distributed to the public. Foodisplentiful. No one leaves a home as a guest without eating. The snacks are similar as in Guyana – gulgula, bara, phulourie, pakoras of various vegetables, channa, mitai, ladoos, ghoja, and othersweets.

Lunch and dinner include an array of dishes made of vegetables and dhal (not only yellow dhal but other types as well), roti, rice, and kheer or sweet rice.

In the north, dhal puri (made from different type of peas like channa, pigeon peas, and green peas) is a favorite and prepared only for some festivals like Holi and Diwali. Dhal puri, chutney, and alou curry or some other curried vegetables are very popular People drink chai (a special milk and spiced

flavoredtea).

As in Guyana, some of the older folks engage in liquor drinking and even bang (toxic drink made from poppie seeds or other drugs andmilk,nuts,andsugar).

Holi has spread way beyond the borders of India andGuyana.

In the Guyanese and Indian diaspora in North America, Holi is similarly celebrated as in Guyana and India but on the weekend before or after the holiday with cultural programs and playing with colorful powdersandabeer

Over the last couple weeks, there were several Holi celebrations in New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois, and other American states and in Toronto similarlyasinGuyana.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Let's feel real progress instead of hearing about the...

From page 5 place brightly lit will also help This means that blackouts must be an experience that the next generationneverknowsand that this one no longer experiences

So please spare us the superficial and give us a more profound sense of progress that uplifts all Guyanese- from the guy who enjoys wearing slippers to the one who prefers to be dressed in a suit

Everyone is doing well when no one has to put

grillwork on their windows and doors and when no one has to rush to iron their clothes because they don't know how long the lights willbeon

If everyone can go to the pipe in the yard and turn it on and not get mauby or not worry about getting sick from drinking the water, then we are back on track towards making progress as anation

I n d i r e c t l y a n d inadvertently encouraging "slackness" and a further increase in theft for the "nice things", while GPL

underperforms and GWI is unable to deliver drinkable water in every household, must be prevented It would be best if the well-dressed politicians, speaking of what is superficial, took some time for selfintrospection

It will serve well as a profound reminder as to what is truly important and valuable in the name of "Progress"

Sincerely,

Mr. Jamil Changlee

Chairman

T h e C o o p e r a t i v e Republicans of Guyana

Does President

Ali need a lobbying firm to request a meeting with...

From Page 5 respond; Ali or Trujillo? I think the average reader can make up his/her own mind about the answer to this question. It is my opinion that President Trump will respond promptly and positively to President Ali's requestforameeting.

Given how President Ali's and Guyana's problem isdefined,namely,aneedfor security against a larger neighbor'sthreatofinvasion, a direct meeting with President Trump is the answer to your problem There is no need for a contract with a lobbying firm. Once an appointment for a meeting with President Trump is obtained, President Ali should waste no time broaching the question for a Defense Treaty and proceed fromthatpointtoreachsome sort of an answer to your securityneeds.

Anonymous bloggers in theSNhavesaidSecurityfor the State is implied (if not guaranteed) in the horrible fiscal items in the Oil Contract – 2% royalty, 75% Cost Recovery, profitsharing 12.5% of revenues.

These bloggers have repeatedly said, if GoG were to dare ask for improvement in the fiscal items, Guyana would lose that implied security.

Perhaps, they reason, POTUSwouldgetangryand

deny military security to

e s e anonymous bloggers is ridiculous Parties to billion-dollar contracts and geopolitics don't work on whims and implied bargains It must be agreed to and signed by all the parties – national and geopolitical

Hence, the reason I would urge President Ali to negotiate a Defense Treaty The Venezuelan leader is already on record as saying Venezuela would not agree to any decision from the ICJ that goes against Venezuela That makes it an existential threat to Guyana – and therefore you need a Defense Treaty Unnamed bloggers have also said a Defense Treaty would cost a billion dollars. Well, you would not know until you raise and discuss the matter withtheU.S.President.And, what if it costs a billion dollars? Guyana is losing $35 billion on that 2% royalty (Suriname's is 6.25%) on 11 billion barrels at today's world market price.

Late this afternoon th (March 12 ) I came across this post in the SN from Guyanese-born Attorney-atlaw Dr Dolly Hassancommenting on President Ali's decision to hire a lobbying firm headed by a Mr Carlos Trujillo to lobby President Trump for help with Guyana's security needs:--DollyHassan,Esq. Say it ain't so please! What a waste of money! What a scam! What a rip off! Have we gone crazy? Whose idea was this? Please undo this. You will NEVER get your money's worth! NEVER! In conclusion, I say: Guyana does not need a lobbyingfirm.

Guyana'spresidentneeds some Facetime with President Trump to discuss the threat from Venezuela –andtohaveanopportunityto negotiateaDefenseTreaty. He can best do that himself by writing a letter directly to President Trump at the White House and requestthatmeeting.

That royalty must be renegotiated. It must not be allowed to endure for 25years. It is outrageous for Exxon to be allowed to cheat the Guyanese nation –because of fear of an oil giant. Power dynamic or whatever is the explanation, this lopsided contract must be faced and challenged head-on.

Sincerely, Mike Persaud.

EITI flags Guyana's failure to complete cost oil audits

TheExtractiveIndustries Transparency Initiative (EITI) has highlighted Guyana's failure to complete any of the two cost oil audits conductedtodate.

InitslatestReportforthe year 2022, the transparency watchdog explained that the EITI Standard states, “implementing countries are expected to disclose final cost and tax audit reports, or summaries of those reports, including costs deemed as non-recoverable and costs deemed non-deductible and anyadditionalrevenuestobe collectedasaresult”.

Inkeepingwiththeterms of the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), c o s t s d e d u c t e d b y ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) are subject to an audit by the Government of Guyana (GoG) Consequently, the documentnotes,“Atthedate of this report, two such audits have been carried out by separate teams, but agreement has not been reached on any potential adjustmentstobemade.”

Guyana's first cost oil audit was conducted by a British firm, IHS-Markit,

Chief Policymaker for the Petroleum Sector, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

andreviewedsomeUS$1.4B in expenses incurred by the oil giant between the period 1999- 2017. The final report forthatauditwasfirstleaked

t o t h e m e d i a a n d subsequently released by the GoG. It concluded that some US$214M of the costs being claimed by Exxon were

questionable and therefore r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t government challenges the amount. Despite the report being revised and handed over to government since March2021,thatprocesshas not concluded The government had said it stands by the findings of the audit firm and expressed its intention to challenge same through arbitration but there has been no move in that directiontodate.

Meanwhile, the second audit was conducted by a local consortium, VHE Consulting for the period 2018- 2020 The team reviewed approximately US$7.3B in costs submitted by the contractor and found o v e r U S $ 7 0 M i n questionable sums. The final report for that audit has not yet been released to the

public as suspicions grow over the sum flagged by the auditors.

In the meantime, the contract for a third audit was awarded to VHE back in October last year and is expected to be completed this month. The consortium is tasked with reviewing a massive US$19 6B in expenditure racked up by ExxonMobil over the period 2021-2023.

Notably, the Petroleum Agreement between the GoG and the ExxonMobilled consortium allows the group to recover 75% of the oil produced to cover costs, while the remaining 25% is shared as profit between the oil companies and Guyana. These audits are therefore crucial to ensure the country was not cheated out of its rightfulshareofprofits.

Mother allegedly beats 4-yr-old daughter to death

Arrested: Lucinda Stephen holding her now dead child; Rianna Ambrose

A 24-year-old housewife was arrested on Thursday for allegedly beating her four-year-old daughter to death at KaraudarnauVillage,SouthRupununi,Region9.

Police said that the incident occurred around 01:00hrs. The toddler is identified as RiannaAmbrose, and her mother as Lucinda Stephen.According to the police, the sequence of events began around 20:00hrs on Wednesday evening when Stephen and her reputed husband, Regan Ambrose, were drinkingalcoholattheirhome.

Subsequently, around 01:00hrs, an argument ensued between the couple which quickly escalated into a scuffle.

“As a result, ReganAmbrose left the home and went over to the home of his reputed wife's sister, Joyce Stephen, and he told her of the fight between him and Lucinda Stephen,” the police reported. AfterAmbrose left the house to stay with his sister-in-law, police reported that around 3:00hrs, Joyce Stephen returned to check on Lucinda and witnessed a horrific scene. She found Lucinda allegedly striking her daughter on the head five times with a piece of wood, inflicting multiple injuries. The toddler was rushed to Aishalton District Hospital where she was pronounced dead onarrival. Stephenswasarrestedandplacedincustodyatthe AishaltonPoliceStation.

The AZMO effect

The establishment in Guyana, like a poorly constructed outhouse, is beginningtocreakunderthe weightofitsownwaste.For seventy-two years, the politics of the country has been dominated by two parties—the PPP and the PNC—each taking turns at the helm, each promising to cleanupthemessleftbythe other, and each, in the end, adding their own unique stenchtothepile.Theresult is a system so clogged with inefficiency,corruption,and indifferencethattheveryair aroundithasgrownfoul.

The people, who have long been forced to hold their noses and endure, are now stepping back, coughing, and demanding freshair Andwhocanblame them?The establishment, in its infinite wisdom, has managedtoturngovernance into a kind of public health hazard The roots of this discontent run deep. Since 1955,theelectoratehasbeen divided along racial lines, forced to choose between twopartiesthathavecometo represent not ideas or policies, but identities. The PPP and the PNC have become less about governing and more about maintaining their respective bases, like two rival gangs divvyingupterritory

And while they have

succeeded generally in holding on to their core supporters, they have failed the people of Guyana in almosteveryotherway The litany of woes recited by citizens when government officials deign to visit their communities is as long as it is damning: the need for birth certificates, water problems, housing crises, land disputes, passport

nightmares, pension failures, school placement fiascos, the poor state of roads, drainage and irrigationproblems,thehigh cost of living, poor prices being paid for rice, broken kokersandpoliceinactionin the face of crime. The list goes on, a grim catalog of systemicfailure. Into this fetid swamp, stepnewfaces,freshvoices, and alternative visions These are not the polished politicians of old, with their rehearsed speeches and empty promises. They are, instead, individuals who seemtounderstandthedaily struggles of the common man, who speak not in the lofty language of policy but in the gritty vernacular of livedexperience.

AmongthemisAzruddin Mohammed, a man who, despite his own troubles with US sanctions, has managed to strike a chord with the people. He has

shown a willingness to roll uphissleevesandwadeinto the muck, to identify with the difficulties of the small man and to offer tangible assistance. This approach is being called the AZMO effect: a phenomenon in which a figure, by virtue of empathy, becomes a magnet for the discontented and the disillusioned. The crowds that gather to hearAzruddin speak are not simply there because of his personal appealbutalsoasarebuketo theestablishment,asignthat people are fed up with the status quo and desperate for change, no matter where it comesfrom.

TheAZMO effect is not atallaboutthespecialtalent of one man. It is about the failure of a system that has grown too dysfunctional

The establishment, with its bloated bureaucracy, has becomesoaccustomedtoits own inertia that it can no longer see the rot spreading beneath its feet. Its masters respondtocriticismnotwith introspection or reform, but withslanderandmalice,asif themereexistenceofdissent wereapersonalaffront. When the ruling party seeks to malign those who offer different views, they reveal not only their own pettiness but also their profound misunderstanding of the problem The

DEM BOYS SEH

Funeralsarefastbecomingfiascosandfree-for-all

Demboysseh,longgone are the days when funerals were solemn affairs where people cried quietly, sang hymnssoftly,andburiedtheir deadwithdignity.Nowadays, dem boys seh, funerals have turnedintoafull-blownfete, completewithaccompanying traffic jams, stampedes, and dramagalore

If you're planning to attend a funeral these days, youbetterwearyourrunning shoes

And bring a helmet, because it's less about mourning and more about survivingthechaos

Dem boys seh, a few weeks ago, an after-funeral partyontheEastCoastPublic Road turned into a traffic nightmare Thingsgotsobad that motorists were stranded forhours

Dem boys seh, it wasn't eventhefuneralitselfcausing thehold-up itwastheafterparty!Demboysseh,people were so busy having a good time that they forgot they were supposed to be mourning By the time the

trafficcleared,demboysseh, somefolkswhowerelatefor thefuneral,hadtoask,“Wait, who dead again?”And don't get dem boys started on the stampedes to see the deceased.Whencoffinopen, is a mad rush. Everybody wantseethedeadatthesame time Demboysseh,it'slike dem sale wah deh does gat after Thanksgiving But instead of rushing for a flatscreen TV, people are elbowing each other to get a glimpse of the body Dem boys seh, you'd think the deceased was a celebrity or a rare artifact at a museum

“Moveyuhtail,letmeseede man face!” one man shout, whileanothernearlytripover thecoffintryingtogetaselfie

Dem boys seh, if the dead could talk, they'd probably say, “Leave me alone and let merestinpeace!”Thenthere aresomewomenwhoturnthe funeralintoaperformanceart show Dem boys seh, these ladies don't just cry they wail,theyflingthemselveson the coffin, and they gyrate overthedeadmanface Dem

gravamen of the issue is not the individuals who dare to challenge them; it is the system itself, which has ceased to function for the people it is supposed to serve What makes the AZMOeffectsopotentisits simplicity Azruddin Mohammed, and others like him, do not need to offer grand solutions or sweeping reforms. They need only to listen, to empathize, and to help. In a system where the government has become synonymous with neglect, even small gestures of assistance can seem r

volutionary When Azruddin helps a family or provides aid to a club or community in need, he is doing what the government should have done all along. Andindoingso,heexposes theestablishmentforwhatit is: a hollow shell, a broken machine, a clogged toilet that no amount of plunging seems to fix. The rising tide of discontent in Guyana is

notjustarejectionofthePPP andthePNC;itisarejection oftheentirepoliticalclass,a demand for something new anddifferent.Thepeopleare tiredofbeingtoldtowait,to be patient, to trust in a system that has consistently failedthem.Theyaretiredof the excuses, the delays, the empty promises. They are tired of the stench. And so, they are turning to new faces,toindividualswho,for all their flaws, at least seem tounderstandtheirpain.The AZMO effect is a symptom of this broader shift, a sign thatthepeoplearenolonger willingtosettleforthestatus quo In the end, the establishmenthasonlyitself toblame.Fordecades,ithas treatedthepeopleofGuyana as an afterthought, a nuisance to be managed ratherthanaconstituencyto beserved.Ithasallowedthe machineryofgovernmentto rust and decay, until it has become little more than a source of frustration and

despair And now, as the winds of change begin to blow, it finds itself unprepared, unable to respond to the growing demand for something better The AZMO effect is not just a challenge to the rulingparty;itisachallenge to the entire system, a reminder that governance is not a privilege but a responsibility And if the establishment cannot rise to meet that challenge, it will find itself swept away, like so much waste in a flooded latrine.

(Theviewsexpressedin thisarticlearethoseofthe author and do not necessarily reflect the o p i n i o n s o f t h i s newspaper.)

boysseh,onewomanwasso dramatic,shenearlyknocked over the coffin with her “performance.”

And let's not forget the men outside the burial ground, dem boys seh, treating the funeral like it's a rum shop lime Dem boys seh, they're drinking, laughing, and making toasts like it's a wedding reception

“To Uncle Joe he lived a goodlife,buthecouldn'thold he liquor like me!” one man shout,raisinghisbottle

Dem boys seh, by the timetheburialdone,halfthe mourners are tipsy, and the other half are wondering if theyaccidentallywalkedinto a comedy show Dem boys seh, funerals used to be about respect, reflection, andsayinggoodbye.

Now, it's a free-for-all where anything goes. Dem boys seh, if this trend continues, the next funeral might feature a DJ, a food truck, and a bouncy castle for the kids. Rest in peace? Morelikerestinchaos! Talkhalf.Leffhalf

H@RD TRUTHS

Phagwah – harvest what is sown

The festival of Holi,thecolorsof Phagwah, the reaping of what is sown. In religious terms befitting this holiday, it is the ascendancy ofgood,theretreatofevil.It is a good day, one to extend warm Phagwah greetings to all Hindus, be they of the

practicing variety or otherwise Those other Guyanese on the periphery are similarly saluted and embraced.

Broad swaths of darknesshaveblanketedthis land The darkness is noticeably thicker at the top ofthissociety

Thebrightestelectricred fades before the darkness that has taken over, now a round-the-clock presence in thiscountry Insteadofahalo around the heads of those in the forefront, there is an eclipsethatenshrouds them.

According to their telling, they represent truth, while those who question that claim, are creatures of falsehood. In this country, darknesshasclotheditselfin

the shimmering garments of a harlot, while pretending to be the essence of what is virtuous and gracious. It is how the few remaining sacred things in a struggling country have become warped,deformedbeforethe eyes, and savaging to the senses.

In all the major belief systems, there is that fearsome presence; a powerful figure of darkness andhisorhercompanions.If anyone was desirous of finding a bundle of them in one place, then the Guyana of today is where they have taken up residence- where they are the dominant presence.

In the cycle of life- in this country- the pendulum hasswungallthewaytothat extreme When I behold certain shadowy figures, I discern those of a twisted nature, those whose works markthemasthechildrenof a different world. One that prospers the most when it hidesfromthelight,belongs totheothersideofthemoon

wherelunacyisthenorm.

Righthere,intothissoil, thorns and toxins have been sowed. What else to expect from those whose chief ingredientisdarknessandits deformities?

It is said that what is sown is reaped. Oh, Phagwah has its share of grand street harvests, the loud sounds to chase away what intrudes and has the potentialtointerferewiththe lustycelebrations.

There is another harvest lurking right within sight. It will be that kind of harvest thisyearinthesefieldsoftoil andvisions.

Men have fooled themselves throughout time that their grand times will last forever There comes that day that is a bitter harvest.

I think that that day is here. I sense it in these ancientbones.Thetastebuds canstilldetectitridingonthe winds.

Deception has been the l a n g u a g e o f t h e unscrupulous from the first

day What is it that exempts this country from such inclusion? Who is there that hasbeentheexceptiontothe deceptions that have been plantedinsoilanditshoping, trusting, imploring sons and daughters? It is said that the Creator doesn't sleep. Accurate also is that other maxim that there is no rest for the devil. If he is such a bundle of energy, then his disciples can only be of the samedisposition.Theymake merry, while the hungry scratch and scramble for the drinkofmisery

Thus, salt is sown into the earth What kind of harvesttoexpect,ifnotaday of reckoning? The locusts havehadtheirday

To speak of this state of affairs, to draw attention to itsarchitects,istoattractthe wrathofhell.

So much should have gone into this land, its produce is of those who numberamongthewretched oftheearth.Somuchsonear, yet never near enough to graspandgrow

A parched land cries out for relief. It is the voice of the peoplethatisheard.

Despite the clash of cymbals,thebeatofdrums, the forced march of a thousand tramping feet-a thunderous cacophony of sounds-,thecriesoflandand people rise above the strained melodies, the hollowdrums.

Whether Manichean or karmic,therecomesthatday when good comes into its own.Nolongersuffocated.

No more at the edges. In this time of Phagwah, there is a different type of harvest stirring, straining, for the new Guyaneseareoverduea littlerevelinginthenewand different.

It is a miracle that this countryhasmanagedtostay inonepieceafterexistingso long in the valley of darkness.

The scales of justice demand an accounting. An environment long jaded,

long preyed upon and plundered by its own children, is due for the cooling embrace of a little goodness for a start, then somemoretofollow Thearc ofthemoraluniverseislong, its movement laborious, but it does have a tendency to lean towards justice. There isrejoicingovertheharvests ofthelastfewyears.

There is a different one on the horizon. One way or another, in one form or the other Guyanese get ready Guyanese now live in an oil age,acorruptionage,adark age,acrimeage,arogueage. The piper waits with his upraisedscythetoreap.

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

BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT BLUNT

“I will give up my US visa over Cuba health programme”-PMMottley

CMC)– Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley says she is prepared to have her United States visa revoked

as she urged Caricom countries to ensure that they areabletodefendtheCuban healthbrigadeprogramme.

“This matter, with the Cubans and the nurses, shouldtelluseverythingthat we need to know Barbados

does not currently have Cuban medical staff or Cuban nurses, but I will be thefirsttogotothelineand to tell you that we could not get through the (Covid-19) pandemicwithouttheCuban nurses and the Cuban doctors,” Mottley said in a statement in Parliament which was also posted on X Wednesday

The United States has raised questions about the programme that Caricom countries have insisted has benefited the region significantly United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio announced recently that Washington would be expandinganexistingCubarelatedvisarestrictionpolicy that targets forced labour linked to the Cuban labour exportprogramme.

“This expanded policy applies to current or former Cubangovernmentofficials, and other individuals, i n c l u d i n g f o r e i g n government officials, who are believed to be responsible for, or involved in, the Cuban labour export programme, particularly Cuba's overseas medical missions,”Rubiosaid.

Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrantswholeftCubain pursuit of the American dream, said in the statement posted on the US Department of State's website, that the new policy alsoappliestotheimmediate family of those people supporting the Cuban p r o g r a m m e “ T h e department has already taken steps to impose visa restrictions on several individuals, including Venezuelans, under this expandedpolicy,”headded.

The Antigua and Barbuda, St Vincent and the GrenadinesandTrinidadand Tobagoprimeministershave publicly expressed their support for the Cuban programme,whileGrenada's

Foreign Minister Affairs Minister,JosephAndall,said St George's not only has a “legal, moral and ethical obligation to stand by the people of Cuba but that it should avoid being o p p o r t u n i s t i c o r transactionalasitpertainsto therelationsbetweenthetwo countries”.

Mottley, the latest Caricom leader to address theissue,saidthatshewould be the first to inform the world that Cuban health professionalshavebeenpaid “the same thing that we pay Bajans (Barbadians), and that the notion, as was peddled not just by this government in the US, but the previous government, that we were involved in human trafficking by engaging with the Cuban nurses was fully repudiated and rejected by us. “Now, I don'tbelievethatwehaveto shout across the seas, but I am prepared, like others in thisregion,thatifwecannot reach a sensible agreement onthismatter,thenifthecost ofitisthelossofmyvisa,to theUS,thensobeit.

“Butwhatmatterstousis principles. And I have said overandoverthatprinciples only mean something when itisinconvenienttostandby it. Now we don't have to shout, but we can be resolute.”

Mottley,theCaribbean's only female head of government, said she is lookingforward“tostanding w i t h m y C a r i c o m brothers to be able to ensure that we explain that what the Cubans have been able to do for us, far from approximating itself to human trafficking, has been to save lives and limbs and sight for many a Caribbean person”.

BarbadosPrimeMinister, Mia Mottley

Govt. had asked Mohameds to declare gold to boost 2024 declarations

…declaration is required by law

Despiteclaimsthatithad stopped doing business with the Mohameds, officials of the Government of Guyana (GoG) had reached out to United States-sanctioned businessmen, Nazar “Shell” Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed, for them to declaretheirgoldinorderto

boost the 2024 gold declarations.

It must be noted however, according to laws,

every producer who possesses gold, won or obtained during operations as a producer must declare such to the Guyana Gold Board or sell to any agent authorised agents of the state Following the sanctions, the Guyana Mohamedswerenotallowed to trade in gold as the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) had revoked the Mohameds golddealershiplicense.

Last year, the U S Treasury'sOfficeofForeign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on the Mohameds over allegations

of tax evasion and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Mae Thomas, for allegedly misusing her position to offer benefits such as government contracts to theMohameds.

NazarMohamedtoldthis publication,“Iwascalledby

a senior minister and I was called by a permanent secretary of another senior minister, asking me to make the declaration ” Since being sanctioned in June 2024, Shell Mohamed recently started speaking out.Hehasallegedthatsince then, senior figures within the People's Progressive Party government have deliberately misrepresented the imposed U.S. sanctions, which he says has led to a systematic effort to affect theirbusinesses.

Mohamedhadpointedto difficulties in renewing mining and quarry licences and the revocation of his Cambio licence without justification. “We have, for the past 14 years, about 80,000acresofminingland. We never had an issue of renewing it yearly Pay all the royalties on it. When I called the (GGMC) Commissioner- I wrote to him, I called him- he said that, well, he's going to get back to me. Many, many monthshavenowpassedand hedoesn'tgetbacktome.So, we are contemplating, you know, to maybe go to court on this issue, ” the businessmanadded.

Moreover, he also claimed that despite reports ofotherbusinessesengaging inillegalfinancialactivities,

authorities have failed to take action. “There is this guy…thisbusinessmanwho has been buying gold from Venezuelan men dressed in military uniform, 99 9% gold export, it returns the money to a city bank, billionsofUSdollarswithin a four-year span, almost put the country financial system into crisis, and nothing has been done about that,” Mohamedsaid.

Notably,ShellMohamed has attributed the hostility from the party towards his family, to his son's political ambitions. Kaieteur News had reported that gold production in Guyana saw a modest increase of 1,954 ounces in 2024, from 432,113 ounces in 2023 to 434,067 ounces in 2024 a growthof0.5%.

Guyana's gold industry hasseenanoticeabledecline in declarations over the past few years. It was reported thatfrom2019to2023,gold declarations dropped by approximately 209,000 troy ounces, according to the Bank of Guyana's annual reports.

“Forthefirsttimeinnine years, we have seen an increase in production from the previous year,” Minister of Natural Resources, VickramBharratdisclosedat his ministry's end-of-year

press conference last year Despite the small rise in production, the total gold revenuefor2024reachedan

significant US$180 million increase over the previous year

This can be attributed to high gold prices that were recordedlastyear

- Nazar Mohamed says

Businessmen Nazar Mohamed and his son, Azruddin Mohamed

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand alongside students, education officials and the contractor turning the sod for the new of teaching block at JC

JCChandisinghSecondaryto getnew$191Mteachingblock

Minister of Education, Priya Manickchand on Wednesdayturnedthesodto mark the commencement of the construction of a new $191 million teaching block at the JC Chandisingh SecondarySchoolinRegion Six.The project which went outtopublictenderlastyear was awarded through the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) office to contractor Urban Edge Builders Inc. to the tune of $191,798,750.

A c c o r d i n g t o information provided by the Education Ministry, this extension project aims to improve the quality of education for students in the r e g i o n . M i n i s t e r Manickchand in her brief remarks at the ceremony

e m p h a s i z e d t h e government's commitment to improving educational facilities across the country andhighlightingtheongoing efforts to meet the evolving needsofstudents.

“This is not only happening at JC, it's also happening at schools across the country We're doing major rehabilitation and extensions to cater for the students who have needs now

This is currently a close to $200M extension, but, because of the requirements of the school and the population,thestakeholders; parents, board, we are actually looking at an even furtherexpansionthatwould takecareofalloftheschools needs at one time,” she said onWednesday.

The new block is set to enhance the school's facilities, providing more space and modern amenities tosupportthegrowingneeds of the community and the student population When completed it would include m o r e c l a s s r o o m s , laboratories, a library, canteen, and multi-purpose halljusttonameafew It was mentioned by the ministry that already a mobilization advance of $19,179,875 has been allottedtothecontractor,and works are expected to be completedwithinaprojected duration of eight months. Additionally, the defects liabilityperiodfortheproject is set to twelve months, ensuringthatanyissuespostcompletion are addressed promptly.

Chandisingh Secondary School in Region Six.

Seventh-dayAdventistsholdingmajorhealthoutreachinNabaclisonSaturday

The Upper East Coast Demerara Seventh-day Adventist churches, in collaboration with the 20th batchoftheChineseMedical Team, will hold a major health outreach at Nabaclis, ECDonSaturday,providing arangeofservices.

The collaboration with the Chinese Medical Team willseethedeploymentof16 doctors, including: general surgeons, gynaecologists,

o b s t e t r i c i a n s ,

o p h t h a l m o l o g i s t s ,

o r t h o p a e d i s t s , nephrologists, pediatricians, doctors of burn and plastic surgery, anesthesiologists

and pain specialists, traditionalChinesemedicine practitioners, radiologists andpathologists.Inaddition to consultations for the a b o v e - m e n t i o n e d specialised diseases, the Chinese team will also provide services such as blood pressure, blood glucose measurement, and b o d y t e m p e r a t u r e measurementamongothers.

TheChinesedoctorswill join several of their

th Some members of the 20 batch of the Chinese Medical Team

counterparts in the Seventhday Adventist Church as well as personnel from the MinistryofHealth.

Speaking with Kaieteur News, Andre Williams, Pastor of the Upper East Coast District of Seventhday Adventists, said that in additiontotheservicesofthe Chinese Medical Team, the health outreach will provide free eye care and dentistry services as well as HIV/STI testing and counseling

Other services that will be available include family medicine, treatment for chronic diseases, and health

Govt. officially boots CGX-Frontera...

Frompage3 that it had provided a response letter to the government, contesting the termination of its licence and the grounds on which the decision was made. “Despite the Government's contradictory positions, the Licence and the Joint Venture's PetroleumAgreement with the Government in respect of the Corentyne Block remain valid and in force. Additionally, in the Response Letter, the Joint Venture has contested the Government'spurportedterminationoftheLicence,including thegroundsforsuchtermination,”theJVsaid.

Despite the government's position, CGX and Frontera maintain that their interests in the Corentyne Block remain valid. In January, Guyana's Minister of Natural Resources, VickramBharratsaidthattheGovernmentofGuyanacannot legallyextendCGXandFrontera'sexplorationlicenceforthe Corentyne Block, and as a result can do nothing to assist the joint venture.Minister Bharrat had stated that the joint venture'slicence,alongwithanextensionpreviouslygranted, hadcometoanend.Consequently,theCorentyneBlocknow reverts to State control. He said, “With regards to CGX, the positionremainsthesame.There'snochangetoposition,with regards to how we dealing or handling the CGX matter…” Minister Bharrat stated that the government has applied the samesystemtoallcompaniesinsimilarsituations.

adolescent health, with a focusonnutrition. Therewillalsobemental health counselling and prayersessions.“Everything intheareaofhealthcarewill be there and we are encouraging everyone to take advantage,” Williams

said.Heemphasisedthatthe serviceswillbefreeandthat the programme commences at 9.30 am and will run throughout the day “It's a day of health and wellness and we will be under two large tents, south of Nabaclis, over the Railway line,” Williams added

Seventh-day Adventists believetheBibleteachesthat each human body is a “temple of the living God,” which should be cared for intelligently Additionally, thechurchpromotesthatthe key to wellness lies in a life of balance and temperance.

“Nature creates a wealth of

good things that lead to vibrant health. Pure water, freshairandsunlight—when u s e d appropriately promote clean, healthy lives,” Williams, quoting from the church manual, said He added:” Exercise and avoidance of harmful substances such as tobacco, alcohol and mind-altering substances lead to clear minds and wise choices. Such health is a gift from a loving God who wants us to livelifeinitsabundance.

When we benefit from suchlove,wefeelasenseof gratitude and appreciation toward our creator.” The health outreach will kick start a four-week evangelistic series at the same venue, which will be ledbypastorWilliams.

Pastor, Andrew Williams

East La Penitence shooting shuts down Brickdam Secondary School

A shooting in the East La Penitence, Georgetown area onThursdaymorningresulted in the Brickdam Secondary School closing its doors for halfoftheday

Kaieteur News was reliably informed that a man wasreportedlyshotduringthe incident, which occurred on Freeman Street, close to the school.

According to information reaching this publication, the shooting stemmed from the theft of a cellular phone on Wednesday

It is alleged that the cell phone was reportedly stolen from the son of a well-known shopkeeper in the area and when he confronted the alleged thief, he denied stealing the phone. However, onThursdaymorning,theman was reportedly seen with the stolen phone at a popular liming spot. The owner of the

phoneconfrontedthemanand thisledtoaconfrontation.

A teacher of the school shared that around 07:58 hours, she was in her office when she heard a loud explosion that sounded like a gunshot. “When I heard the second gunshot, I ran out of my office and went into the waiting area,” the teacher related According to the teacher, she then saw a man lying in the yard next door to theschool,withinjuriestohis legs. “I saw some women helpinghimanditlookedlike he was shot in his legs,” the teachersaid.Themanwasthen rushed to the hospital by paramedics.

Following the incident, a notice was sent out for the school to be dismissed early Up to press time, there has been no report from the GuyanaPoliceForce(GPF)on theshootingincident.

Guyanese coveted spot on world-famous UberSoca Cruise

Entertainment

Kaieteur Kaieteur Entertainment

Guyana's own Mix Master Tony has secured what many considerthegoldenticketinthe socaDJworld-atwo-yearcontractwiththe prestigious UberSoca Cruise for 2025 and 2026.

The beloved Guyanese DJ, known for his electrifying soca mixes that have had

DJ Mix Master Tony lands

DJ Mix Master Tony lands

crowds jumping across his homeland, received the call of a lifetime when the Owner of UberSoca Cruise reached out personally and said he came "highly recommended as a great soca DJ from the Caribbean," leading to this career-defining opportunity

"This is a dream come true," Mix

MasterTony shared, his voice still carrying the excitement of the news. "I've been following UberSoca Cruise for years, always hoping that one day I'd get the chance to play on that stage.After years of consistency and hard work, to be recognizedlikethis...it'ssurreal."

The significance of this booking cannot

be overstated. UberSoca Cruise is the Largest Soca Festival at Sea. It sets sail annually in November and is widely regarded as the premier soca event on the high seas, attracting approximately 4,000+ attendees from around the globe. Industry insiders often note that DJs who land spots (Continued on page 29)

Guyana's own Mix Master Tony

Scenes of the Ubersoca Cruise

Timothy Roberts

ITariq Dakhil and BPM

Guyana are pioneering an EDM culture in Guyana Entertainment Kaieteur Kaieteur Entertainment

n a country where soca and dancehall reign supreme, a revolutionary wave is building. At its crest stands Tariq Dakhil, founder of BPMGuyana,whoissinglehandedly introducing electronic dance music culture to a nation that's just beginningtofeelitspulse.

"I've always had a deep appreciation for unique sounds," Dakhil explains, tracing his journey back to his teenage years. But it wasn't until a fateful trip to neighbouring Suriname at 1 7 t h a t h i s v i s i o n crystalized "The culture there thrives on EDM. It wasn't just music, it was a movement People didn't dance because a song was trending; they danced becauseofhowitmadethem feel."

That transformative experience planted a seed that would take years to germinate. After immersing himself in countless international raves and festivals, Dakhil and his fiancée Rosanna Fung, founded BPM Guyana, determined to bring that electrifying energy home to a landscape ripe for musical evolution.

SXM Music Festival injects $20 million into their economy in a single weekend. But bringing this vision to life would require starting from the ground up in a market unfamiliar with thegenre.

Humble beginnings to growing movement

BPM Guyana's origin story lacks the glitz one might expect from a movement now poised to revolutionize the country's entertainment industry Their first event, held in the intimate setting of The Vintage Wine Bar, drew no more than 50 people. Yet s o m e t h i n g m a g i c a l happened that night that would set the foundation for everythingtocome.

" M u s i c h a s

Guyana paradoxically exists as one of the most culturally diverse and resource-rich countries in the region, yet its entertainment landscape has remained surprisingly narrow Dakhil identifies this contradiction as opportunity rather than obstacle.

"We've peaked in the urban music sector, generating massive traction withartistslikeVybzKartel. However, this also means we've nearly maxed out the growth potential within that space," he observes, pointing to the virgin territory that is electronic music.His vision stretches beyond mere entertainment, reaching toward economic d e v e l o p m e n t " B y embracingelectronicmusic, we can open the door to North American and

E u r o p e a n m a r k e t s , attracting a new wave of tourism and investment," Dakhil says, citing St Martinasamodel—anation of just 40,000 people whose

universal power," Dakhil reflects. "It doesn't matter if you know the genre, the artist, or even the song. When the right frequencies hit, when a track is composed just right, it connects on a level beyond words. And that's exactly what we witnessed. People startedmoving."

Thisinitialspark,though small,provedhistheorythat Guyanese people could connect with EDM if given the chance. The challenge then became how to nurture and grow this nascent connection in the face of significant obstacles His passion is palpable when dispelling misconceptions about rave culture that have hindered its acceptance locally "From the outside, EDM and rave culture are often misunderstood. Some see it as a scene fueled by stimulants. But when you step inside, you realize the real euphoria comes from something else—the music itself "This misconception (Continued on page 29)

Patrons enjoying BPM events

Founders of BPM Guyana, Tariq Dakhil and Rosanna Fung

Entertainment Kaieteur Kaieteur Entertainment

Timothy Roberts teams up with Yonnick Adolf and DiSi for All-Guyanese Gospel Collaboration "Presence"

Gospel artist, Timothy Roberts has announced his first ever collaboration, teaming up with fellow Guyanese gospel talents Yonnick Adolf and DiSi Holder for a powerful new singletitled"Presence."

The collaboration marks a significant milestone in Roberts' musical journey as he prepares for his upcoming album release, choosing to work exclusively with

G

message resonates deeply with all three artists, who brought their unique vocal stylingstothetrack.

Holder

production talent to create a homeg

masterpiece.

AccordingtoRoberts,the collaboration was spiritually guided from the very beginning. "I chose Yonnick and DiSi because when I prayed about the project, my spirit directed me to them," Roberts revealed. "Also, for whatIwantedtoachievewith the production in terms of sound, their voices and style ofsingingistheidealpickfor thegenreofmusic."

W h a t m a k e s t h i s collaboration particularly special is its all-Guyanese production. The track was produced by Jeremy Vantul, with recording, mixing, and mastering handled by Adrian JohnsonofAJRecordStudio. T h i s d e d i c a t i o n t o showcasing local talent highlights the growing strength and capability of Guyana's music production scene. For Roberts, choosing to work with fellow Guyanese artists wasn't just about creating great music, it was about demonstrating unity within the gospel community

"I chose to do a collab because I never did a collaboration before, and I also saw it as an opportunity, being an ambassador of Christ, to promote unity and love using my platform," he explained. Beyond the music itself, Roberts hopes the collaboration sends a powerfulmessagetolisteners about both spiritual dependence and human cooperation. "I want fans to understandthatyou're

The song "Presence" explores the transformative power of being in God's presence and how this divine connection can reshape lives and improve character The

Yonnick Adolph

DiSi

Viral Trinidadian Creator "Certified Sampson" set to tour Guyana this May

S o c i a l m e d i a sensation and beloved Trinidadian content

creator "Certified Sampson" is set to make his first official tour of Guyana this May, in a visit that promises to blendentertainmentwith tourism promotion and businessdevelopment.

The announcement, made on March 12th by X p e r i e n c e s i n collaboration with the G u y a n a To u r i s m Authority, has already generated significant buzz on social media

Trinidadian content creator "Certified Sampson

p l a t f o r m s w h e r e thousands of Guyanese fans have followed Sampson'srisetoCaribbeanstardom.

"We are thrilled to welcome Certified SampsontoGuyana.Hisvisitisnotjustabout entertainment but also about fostering cultural and business connections," said Matthew Gaul, representative of Xperiences.

"This is an incredible opportunity to showcase Guyana's tourism potential and business-friendly environment "Certified Sampson, known for his distinctive character-based comedy skits featuring beloved personalities such as "Ezekiel" and

venues to include visits to major landmarks across the country

From the majestic Kaieteur Falls to the vibrant streets of

Georgetown, Sampson's journey will showcase Guyana's natural beauty and cultural heritage to his substantial online audience."I can't wait to visit Guyana! I've heard so much about the incredible people, the food, and the energy of the place. I'm looking forward to experiencing it all firsthand and seeing what opportunities exist to grow something special here," said CertifiedSampsoninastatement. What sets this visit apart from typical (Continued on page 30 )

Melly Mel reportedly detained by US law enforcement

Social media activist, Melissa 'Melly Mel' Atwell, was reportedly taken into custody by Homeland Security in the United States of America on Thursday morning and is fully cooperating with the authorities.

According to reports she isallegedlybeingquestioned inrelationtoheractivitieson social media and complaints against her made by the GovernmentofGuyana.

At his weekly press conference on Thursday, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo was asked to comment on the said arrest and if the government is concerned Downplaying Atwell's significance, he said that they are not concerned about that. “In terms of Melissa Atwell so

concerned about that in terms of Melissa Atwell, I d o n ' t k n o w i f a n y governmentagencyhasbeen notified. It wouldn't come to me, if that has happened, it will go to the law enforcement agencies,” he said. He admitted that while he saw the story, he does not know if it is true, as there have been many rumours in this regard and his political party has been repeatedly blamedforit.

Atwell has been a thorn in the flesh of the government and has been subjected to several lawsuits by government ministers and other officials On November 23, 2024 this publication reported that Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, MohabirAnil Nandlall, filed a $100 million libel lawsuit against Atwell, accusing her of publishing defamatory statements on her Facebook pageonNovember21,2024. Inastatement,Nandlallsaid, “I am hereby providing Melissa Atwell with a glorious opportunity to appear before and establish to the satisfaction of an independent and impartial tribunal, the veracity of the many false and fabricated

...Jagdeo says Govt. not informed

allegations she has made against me.After all, it is the least I can do and Atwell deservesnoless.”

The lawsuit claims that Atwell's posts contained false, malicious, and defamatory allegations that

have irreparably damaged Nandlall's reputation and standing as a senior attorney and government minister

According to the Attorney General, the accusations portray him as a thief, a murderer,andsomeoneunfit to hold public office or practicelaw Thelegalaction seeks: damages exceeding $100 million for libel, an injunction to prevent Atwell from publishing similar material and an order for the removal of all defamatory posts from her Facebook page.

Social media activist, Melissa 'Melly Mel' Atwell

Court grants SOCU permission to access Brutus and Nicholson's bank statements

Acting Chief Magistrate, FaithMcGusty,onThursday, granted the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) permission to inspect and obtain copies of bank statements belonging to former Assistant Commissioner of Police, Calvin Brutus and his codefendant, businessman, CorwinNicholson. The ruling was handed down at the Georgetown Magistrates'Court. SOCU, in a statement following the decision, said, “Acting Chief Magistrate, Faith McGusty in a decisive blow to the defence Lawyers EusiAndersonandDomonic Bess, granted the SOCU's application to access and take copies of Brutus' and Nicholson's bank accounts under the Evidence Act Cap 5.03.”

Additionally, Magistrate McGusty directed SOCU to file another Banker's Application that includes a request for electronic bankingdocuments.

Contractor:

On January 17, 2025, SOCU had applied for an order to access the duo's bank accounts to provide the court with certified copies of banking documents related to several criminal offenses currently pending before the courts.

SOCU outlined that defense counsels, Eusi Anderson and Dominic B e s s , a r g u e d t h e prosecution's application was a “fishing expedition” and claimed the requested documents did not fall under the category of what constitutes a Banker's Book under Section 2 of the EvidenceActCap5.01.

S O C U , h o w e v e r, contended that the requested records were critical to establishing the charges instituted against Brutus and Nicholson and that the banking records are relevant to show that Brutus and Nicholson received payments for goods that were never delivered to the GuyanaPoliceForce.

H o w e v e r, S O C U countered, asserting that the requested records were crucial to establishing the charges against Brutus and Nicholson According to SOCU, the banking records are essential to demonstrate that Brutus and Nicholson receivedpaymentsforgoods that were never delivered to thePoliceForce.

“The Prosecution (SOCU), in relying on legal authorities, argued that an (Continued on page 28)

Corwin Nicholson

FormerAssistant Commissioner of Police, Calvin Brutus

Are your kidney's okay?

ByDr.AlexisMaharaj

"Are you OK?" My friends tease me for occasionally asking others thisinpassing."Whatifthey sayno,they'renotOK?"The truth is though, if they say no,ittakesafewminutesout ofmyday-justafewminutes to get the gears turning, to acknowledge if something is wrong,andhopefully,tostart figuringouthowtofixit.Itis only by asking that we can take action if something is wrong.

The theme for World Kidney Day this year is:Are your kidneys OK? Detect Early, Protect Kidney Health.

Our kidneys are two bean-shaped organs found in the abdomen. They perform manyfunctions.Mostpeople know that they are able to filter out and remove waste and toxic substances from our bloodstream. These substancesareexcretedfrom the body in urine. This is an extremely important task, because if these toxins build up too much in our blood, they can disrupt our cells' functions and interfere with the normal functioning of our bodies. The kidneys are responsible for a lot morethey control the salt and chemical balances in the body, play a very important role in blood pressure control, are an essential for maintaining good bone health and an appropriate amount of red blood cells. Inside the kidneys are tiny units called nephrons. Think of these as factories that carryoutthebulkofthework inthekidneys.

When a person has kidney disease, it may be Acute, where the damage occurs over a shorter period of time, or Chronic, with a longer duration of damage. There are many things that can lead to kidney damage. These can include certain medications, infections, genetic issues, prostate problems, or having other health conditions Some common diseases associated with kidney disease are diabetes, hypertension and obesity In addition to these, as we age, our kidneys tend to decline in function. It is important to note that you may be able to recover from acute kidney injury, when given the correct treatment. Withchronickidneydisease, however, we can only try to slow down the damage occurring.

There are certain symptoms which may i n d i c a t e a k i d n e y problem.These may include changes in the urine- which mayappearbloody,foamyor

lessinquantity Personsmay experience swelling of the ankles, difficulty breathing, itchyskin,ormusclecramps. They may feel more tired than usual and have a difficult time concentrating. It is important to note that somepersonsmightnothave symptoms until almost all of thekidneysaredamaged.

accumulate in the blood and the levels will be high. Your doctor will do various calculations using this to determine if your kidneys are functioning well, and if they are not, they may be able to assess how much damage has been done.They take into account your ethnicity, gender and age

We diagnose kidney disease with blood and urine tests. The blood tests check for the Serum Creatinine levels.Creatinine is a protein produced by the muscles. The kidneys help to remove itfromthebody Thereforeif they are not working properly, creatinine will

when doing these estimates. Based on the calculations, persons can be placed into five stages of Chronic Kidney Disease, with Stage 5beingtheworst.Yoururine will also be tested for the presence of proteins and other substances, which indicatekidneydamage.

Chronic kidney disease cannot be cured, but we can try to slow down the damage and prevent complications. The ways in which we do these are: ensuring that you maintain a normal blood pressure, which can be done through various methods including increasing physical activity, reducing salt intake and using medications It is also recommended that smoking be stopped, body weight controlled and ensuring that blood sugars, blood cholesterol levels and normal blood counts are achieved If the kidney damage has progressed enough, the only treatment options may be dialysis or a kidney transplant. These w o u l d r e m o v e t h e accumulated wastes and extrafluidsinthebody.

March 13, 2025 is World Kidney Day, dedicated to reducing the frequency and severityofkidneydiseaseby

raising awareness through mediaandvariousactivities.

The Kidney Foundation of Guyana also aims to enhance public health awareness regarding the kidneys and diseases which impact their function. Our hope for the near future is thatpatientsgetpreventative care, which helps to reduce

kidney damage and slow the progression to dialysis. Join us this month on our social media outlets on Facebook and Instagram to continue getting more information on kidney health. We will also be in the print media, on radio and television, informing patients on what they can do to ensure their kidneysareokay

T h e k i d n e y s a r e extremely vital organs, and necessary for a healthy life. Today, I urge you to be curious about them Ask yourself, “Are my kidneys OK?”

Ask your doctor It may be just a few minutes to get the gears turning, to acknowledge if something is wrong,andhopefully,tostart figuring out how to fix it or prevent further damage. It is only by asking that we can find out if something is wrong. It is only in this way thatwecanDetectEarly,and ProtectKidneyHealth.

Executive Member of the Guyana Kidney Foundation, Dr Alexis Maharaj

Climate resilience essential to infrastructural development

DPI- The government has taken proactive steps to integrate climate resilience into the rehabilitationandmodernisationof major road networks to address challenges presented by climate change.

The move comes even as the country faces an unprecedented economic surge due to its booming oilandgassector

Considering the country's susceptibilitytofloodingandrising sea levels, Minister of Public WorksBishopJuanEdghillsaidthe

integration begins with climateresilientinfrastructuredesigns.

Hewasatthetimeparticipating in the World Bank's inaugural sustainable transport ministerial roundtable on Monday during its t w o -

m

n

n g Transportation 2025 conference in Washington,DC.

“We plan, to develop, and construct infrastructure that can withstand the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events, rising temperatures, sealevel rise, flooding and other

Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, delivers remarks at the World Bank's inaugural sustainable transport ministerial roundtable on Monday

environmental stresses,” the ministerexplained.

He stated that the approach guarantees adaptability and sustainability for Guyana's

infrastructure.

implemented is the elevation of roads above anticipated flood levels, particularly in coastal areas andflood-proneregions.

incorporated in the Linden to Mabura road project and the Ogle (Continued on page 30)

New Spanish satellite telecoms operator launched in Guyana to enhance digital connectivity

Anew Spanish s a t e l l i t e telecommunicat ions project, CONDOSAT (CARISAT), was officially launched in Guyana on Thursday, with the aim of enhancing connectivity

across the country’s hinterlandregions.

The launch comes after

t h e s i g n i n g o f a M e m o r a n d u m o f

Understanding (MoU) between the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) and Spanish satellite operator,HISPASAT

The MoU was signed on February 20, 2025, in Barbados during a meeting betweenPresidentIrfaanAli and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, held alongside the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM.

The MoU’s goal is to bridge the digital divide within the Caribbean,

including Guyana, by expanding satellite

connectivity across CARICOM member states. HISPASAT is leading the initiative to provide hightech satellite infrastructure

to enhance digital connectivityintheregion.

The launch took place at the residence of European

Union Ambassador to Guyana, Rene van Nes, in B e l A i r G a r d e n s , Georgetown. In attendance were Prime Minister Mark Phillips, Secretary General

o f t h e C a r i b b e a n TelecommunicationsUnion,

Rodney Taylor, Non-

R e s i d e n t S p a n i s h Ambassador to Guyana

The Prime Minister also detailed the progress of Guyana’s national connectivity initiatives. He highlightedtheeffortsofthe National Data Management Authority (NDMA), which has been working to expand connectivity and modernize service delivery in line with the government’s ICT Plan 2030.

Notably, the low orbit InternetProject,launchedin July 2024, has connected 225 out of 253 targeted

communities, providing high-speedinternetaccessto over 128,000 residents in regions 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9.

Prime Minister Phillips assured that the project wouldbecompletedbymid2025 “That is 89% completed,”hesaid.

Minister Phillips also outlined further progress in Guyana’s connectivity, citing the expansion of the WiFi Gy programme,which has increased the number of free internet locations to

1,091acrossthecountry

He added that inland bandwidth had improved 3

Additionally, the fiber optic netw

has grown significantly, expanding from187kilometersin2020 to 700 kilometers by 2024, covering six administrative regions.

Cristina Perez, and HISPASATPresident,Pedro Duque. In his address, Prime M i n i s t e r P h i l l i p s emphasised the significance ofthenewsatelliteinitiative in improving digital connectivity within Guyana and throughout the Caribbean.

He stated, “This initiative represents a moment, a monumental milestone that is our collective mission to bridge digital divide and enhance connectivity across the Caribbean.Guyanahaslong e s t a b l i s h e d t h e transformative potential of satellite technology in reaching underserved communities,andweremain fully committed to open dialogue, regional collaborationandadvancing technologicalinclusion.”

Phillips further noted that the satellite service provided by HISPASATis a leading telecommunications solution, with coverage across the Americas, Europe, and North Africa

He highlighted the agreement’s pledge to expandsatelliteconnectivity across CARICOM, stating, “This is a pivotal step towards closing the digital gap and ensuring that all Caribbean citizens, regardless of location, have accesstotheopportunitiesof the digital age. Both HISPASAT and the CTU share a vision of leveraging satellite technology to empower communities,

enhance economic opportunities and foster greater digital inclusion acrossregion.”

en, and indigenous populations F u r t h e r m o r e , t h e governmentaimstoenhance e-government services and support ICT-based entrepreneurship through micro grants and business developmentinitiatives.

He stated that such infrastructure aims to help improve service delivery to key government institutions such as schools, health centers,andpolicestations. By the end of 2025, Phillipsnoted,theremaining 38 communities would receive connectivity along with training and digital literacy initiatives targeting youth, wo

(from left to right) Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union, Rodney Taylor; Prime Minister Mark Phillips; and European Union Ambassador to Guyana, Rene van Nes

PhagwahMessages

GAWU Extends Warm

Greetings on the Occasion of Phagwah 2025 Holi greetings from the ERC

The Guyana Workers Union heartfelt gre especiallyourHindubrothersandsisters,as we unite to celebrate asHoli—thevibrant andrenewal.

Phagwah is reflection, unity triumph of good transcends bo together regardless background.As spiritofthisobservance, vital impor understanding greatnation.

This year significance as commitmentto unity. In ti misunderstanding festivals like powerful opportunity celebrate our shared

n g c u l t u r a l sions which Hinduismendorses.

oday as we celebrate Sacred Festival with ors, traditional and oriental renditions, the Commission everyone to celebrate responsiblyandrespectfully that the true principles and keynotes of reconciliation, happiness, friendship and togetherness, are reinforced upheld.

ShubhHolitoall theERC.Ethnic RelationsCommission

Happy Holi from Humanitarian Mission Guyana Inc.

As th Festival Humanitari

GuyanaInc.(HMG) our warmest Holi is more celebration of profound reminder of the values that unite us as a global community: love, forgiveness, unity, and the triumphofgoodoverevil.

This ancient festival our shared humanity Each color represents the unique contributions of every culture, tradition, and individual, weaving togetherthevibranttapestry

strengthen the bonds of friendship,andcelebratethe spirit of unity that connects us all. Holi reminds us to lookbeyondourdifferences and recognize the common festival.

Let us renew our commitment to spreading kindness, bridging divides, andcreatingasocietywhere every individual feels

just within our families and friendsbutacrossourentire country Let us embrace the diversitythatmakesuswho we are and work hand-inhand to create a brighter,

compassionate future Guyana. ishing you all a Holi with joy, peace, and ul connections festival inspire us together, celebrate shared humanity, and strive for a world where every heart finds solace in thewarmthoftogetherness. HappyHoli! HumanitarianMission GuyanaInc.

Court grants SOCU permission to access Brutus and Nicholson's bank...

Frompage24 entry within the meaning of a “banker's book” was wide enough to include any form ofpermanentrecordkeptby thebankinitsordinaryday-

to-day transactions, inclusive of electronic documents,andthatSection 2 of the Act contemplated electronic data forming part of a bank's record,” the statementsaid.

The ruling faced multiple delays due to additional

applications made by the defence and requests for further details from the prosecution.

Brutus, Nicholson and Police Sergeant Latoya Brummel, are jointly charged with seven counts of conspiracy to commit a felonyandobtainingmoney byfalsepretence.

The charges allege that betweenDecember1,2023, andJanuary31,2024,atthe Guyana Police Force (GPF)

Headquarters at Eve Leary, Kingston, Georgetown, the trioconspiredtodefraudthe State. They are accused of unlawfully collecting substantial sums—ranging from $14 million to $14.8 million on multiple occasions for goods that wereneverdelivered.

Brutus is charged with 252countswhileNicholson ischargedwith14countsof financialcrimes.

Kaieteur Kaieteur Entertainment

Justin Bieber shares post about feeling 'unworthy' Guyanese coveted spot on world-famous UberSoca Cruise...

(CNN) - Justin Bieber is getting real about imposter syndrome.

“People told me my whole life 'wow Justin you deservethat'andIpersonally have always felt unworthy,” the superstar singer wrote Thursday in an Instagram story.”

“Like I was a fraud,” he wrote. “Like when people toldmeIdeservesomething. Itmademefeelssneakylike damn if they only knew my thoughts.” He went on to explain that his thoughts included, “How judgmental I am, how selfish I really am,” adding “they wouldn't besayingthis.”

“If you feel sneaky welcome to the club,” he

concluded his post “I definitely feel unequipped and unqualified most days.”

Fans have recently expressed concern about Bieber'shealth.AfterBieber, a new dad to a young infanfant,appearedtiredand abitthinnerinrecentphotos, some commenters online raised questions about his

Tariq Dakhil

Frompage18 represents just one of many hurdles BPM Guyana has had to overcome on its journey Building a movementfromscratchinan unreceptive market has requiredtenacityandvision.

“Hosting an EDM event the right way isn’t just about playing music,” Dakhil explains.

“It requires the perfect venue, top-tier equipment, skilled DJs and, crucially, therightsponsors.”

Inanenvironmentwhere EDM was initially considered taboo, securing these elements proved daunting.

Financial constraints have been particularly limiting “Without strong sponsorship, we can’t unlock BPM Guyana’s full potential. Time and again, we’ve operated at a loss or barely broken even because we prioritize production quality and top-tier DJ lineups.”

Despite these challenges

and even during the pandemic, which forced themtopivottolivestreams and intimate home sessions. Their determination never wavered.

“Whatdrivesusforward is the love for EDM, how it moves people through different phases of life, and howthroughit,wecanbuild arealthrivingcommunityin Guyana.”

well-being. Arepresentative for Bieber and his wife Hailey Bieber, however, disputed that, telling TMZ that the pop star is busy makingnewmusicandbeing a dad. Suggestions to the contrary about his mental and physical health, the rep added, are “exhausting and pitifulandshowsthatdespite theobvioustruth,peopleare committed to keeping negative, salacious, harmful narrativesalive.” Bieberhas beenpublicaboutpasthealth issues, including his mental health struggles, dealing with temporary facial paralysis in 2023 due to RamsayHuntsyndromeand a Lyme disease diagnosis in 2020.

Frompage17 on the cruise frequently see their careers skyrocket afterward due to the internationalexposure.

What makes this achievement even more remarkableisthatMixMaster Tonydidn'thavetochasethis opportunity,itcametohim In an industry where selfpromotion is often necessary for advancement, having UberSoca Cruise seek him outspeaksvolumesabouthis growing reputation and the impactofhisuniquesound "They saw and heard of meandreachedoutdirectly," Tonyexplainedwithahintof pride. "I've always believed

that if you stay true to your craft and keep pushing boundaries, the right people willnotice.

Thisisthesteppingstone I needed to reach my dream of becoming a traveling DJ

different cultural landscapes worldwide."

For years, Mix Master Tony has been a fixture in Guyana's vibrant music scene,wherefanshavecome to love his distinctive approach to soca music

While he's expressed deep appreciation for his home audience, he's never hidden his ambition to take his

talents to international stages With UberSoca Cruise setting sail from November15-22,2025,soca enthusiasts from across the globe will soon discover whatGuyanesemusiclovers have known all along, “Mix MasterTonyknowfuhhol'a crowd”.

As the cruise industry saying goes, "Every DJ who plays on UberSoca Cruise makes it big!" For this talented Guyanese artist, the voyageisjustbeginning. Guyana! Mix Master Tonyiscallingyou!It'stime for the Guyanese Crew to show up and show out on UbersocaCruise.

and BPM Guyana are pioneering an EDM... Entertainment

This persistence has gradually paid off as the movement has gained momentum and broader acceptance.

From small venues to festivaldreams

Through years of consistent effort, BPM Guyana has witnessed a remarkable evolution, from hosting international acts like Michael Brun and DJ Chuckie for crowds of around 500, to now preparing for what Dakhil calls“somethinghistoric.”

“2024 marked a turning point.ThebirthoftrueEDM festival-style events in Guyana,”hesayswithpride, culminatingintheupcoming “Darude Storm25 Music & Arts Festival,” which celebrates the 25th anniversary of Darude’s iconic track “Sandstorm” and represents a full-circle momentforDakhil.

“This moment has been 15 years in the making for me,” he reveals, recalling whenhefirstheardthesong in a Gizmos and Gadgets commercial.

“Bringing Darude to Guyanaisaboldmove. The venue can hold four timesourbiggestcrowd,and production costs will be nearly ten times higher than anythingwe’vedonebefore. But as a nation, it’s time for us to compete on the global stage, and this is our moment.”

This ambitious scaling up reflects both BPM Guyana’s growth and Dakhil’s evolving vision for what electronic music can bringtohiscountry

Creating an authentic experience with Guyanese flavour

What has allowed BPM Guyana to gradually win over local audiences is their

c a r e f u l f u s i o n o f international EDM culture with Caribbean essence. Rather than simply importingaforeignproduct, Dakhil has consciously developedauniquehybrid.

“Our mission is to make EDM relatable, ” he explains. “We achieve this bybookingartistswhobring a solid Caribbean foundation,ensuringthatour cultural essence remains at the forefront, while also featuring world-renowned DJs who deliver a deeper, i m m e r s i v e E D M experience.”

This cultural bridgebuilding extends to their choice of venues, unique spaces that celebrate art and culture, enhanced by mesmerising light shows, with plans to introduce pyrotechnics and fireworks forfutureevents.

By respecting Guyanese cultural identity while introducing new musical experiences, BPM Guyana has been able to gradually expand its audience and influenceinthelocalscene.

BuildinganIndustry Dakhil’s ambitions have expanded alongside his success.

Whatbeganasamission tocreate“amassiveregional dancemusicandartsfestival

attended by tens of thousands” has evolved into

s o m e t h i n g m o r e

c o m p r e h e n s i v e ; a foundation for a whole new branch of Guyana’s music industry

“We realised the need to

cultivatelocaltalent,togive DJs and producers a platformtoperform,evolve, and be recognized,” he explains. “This led to our future plans for a dedicated localEDMstudioandrecord label, aimed at pushing Guyanese-produced tracks ontotheglobalstage.”

The impact of these efforts is already becoming apparent. “Since we started, more local DJs have embracedEDMintheirsets, and promoters are now hosting genre-specific events likeAfrohouse while bookinglocalEDMtalent.”

This ripple effect is preciselywhatDakhilhoped to achieve—not just hosting events, but catalyzing a broadermovement.

“Five years from now, I see Guyana being a major hub for entertainment in the regionwithatleast2-3major music festivals along with new and upcoming EDM productioncompanies.”

ALegacyBeyondMusic

When asked about his ultimate impact, Dakhil’s responserevealsthedepthof hisvision.

“Theysaythemusicyou listen to can shape your values. But I believe it goes even deeper, it can shape your spirit, your mindset, and the way you see the world.”

This philosophical outlook informs everything BPMGuyanadoes.

His hope is that their legacy won’t just be measured in successful events or economic impact, but in the lives they’ve touched, helping people connect more deeply with themselves and each other, fostering respect and love t h a t t r a n s c e n d s backgrounds. “Long after Guyanarisesasamajorhub for entertainment and EDM intheregion,Ihopeourtrue legacy isn’t just the events we’ve created, but the lives we’vetouched,”hereflects.

For Dakhil, this journey represents something far more profound than introducing a new genre of music. “BPM Guyana isn’t just about music,” he concludes.“It’saboutdaring to dream, to create, and to pushpastfear

Let it stand as a symbol of bravery, a reminder that your creativity is your power,andthatnodoubt,no obstacle, and no failure shouldeversilencewhatyou weremeanttobringintothis world.”

As Guyana stands at the crossroads of tradition and innovation, Tariq Dakhil isn’tjustorchestratingdance floors, he’s orchestrating a cultural revolution, one beat at a time, proving that sometimes the most powerfulchangesbeginwith something as simple as music that makes people move.

Justin Bieber

Patrons enjoying BPM events

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PAHO director holds talks with newly-elected OAS Secretary General …discussed Inter-American System and health priorities in the Americas

The Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, met with Albert Ramdin, newly-elected Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), following his election during the 56th Special Session of the OAS General Assembly in Washington, D.C. Ramdin, from Suriname, will officially take office on May 25, 2025, succeeding Luis Almagro, and will serve a five-year term through 2030. According to a PAHO press release, Dr. Barbosa congratulated Ramdin on his election and expressed confidence that the OAS will make significant progress in addressing key regional challenges under his leadership. The two leaders emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between PAHO and the OAS to shape the Americas’ health priorities.

Dr. Barbosa stressed that integrating health into the broader inter-American agenda is essential for addressing the region’s most pressing issues.

Dr. Barbosa congratulated Minister Ramdin on his contribution to advancing non-communicable diseases

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of the Pan

(NCDs) on the OAS agenda, particularly his leadership in establishing the Inter-American Task Force on NCDs in 2014, which continues to be instrumental in addressing chronic diseases in the region.

Looking ahead, the two leaders outlined key upcom-

ing events, including the OAS General Assembly in Antigua and Barbuda (June 2025), where PAHO is working closely with the host country to advance on a mental health resolution; the Fourth High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the prevention and control of

NCDs (HLM4) in September 2025; and the 10th Summit of the Americas (December 2025), where Heads of State and Governments will gather in the Dominican Republic to address shared political issues and commit to collective actions on building a secure and sustainable hemisphere with shared prosperity.

Dr. Barbosa and Secretary General-elect Ramdin reiterated their commitment to better coordination among inter-American organizations such as OAS, PAHO, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the InterAmerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), as well as deepening collaboration to address common challenges in the Americas and foster a more resilient and healthier region.

PAHO and the OAS share a long-standing relationship with organizations working together to address regional health and development challenges.

Climate resilience essential to infrastructural development...

From page 26 to Eccles bypass project to ensure vital transportation routes remain functional during adverse weather conditions. Minister Edghill pointed out that ensuring urban centres and rural communities are connected through climate-resilient infrastructure is also key.

“In some cases, alternative routes or detours are considered to ensure that transportation remains available even when a major road is temporarily closed due to extreme weather,” he said.

Regular inspections are also being conducted to identify deteriorated roads to

Providence (Public Road) Bent St, Queenstown, Princess street & Soesdyke. Contact Ray's Realty: 627-9685.

5 Miles Bartica & Garnett Street, Campbellville . Call : 679-9996

prioritise maintenance and preventive maintenance techniques focused on timely interventions to preserve and extend the lifespan of roads.

Collaborations with regional and international partners, including the World Bank (WB), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have provided Guyana with indispensable aid. This includes acc ess to funding and technical expertise for road modernisation projects such as the updated road technical standards under the recently approved World Bank project, which

considers the latest climate change weather patterns, among others.

The minister also explained that these collaborations, coupled with technical capacity building and engagement with local communities, boost and safeguard the country’s developing transportation infrastructure.

The World Bank’s conference focuses on the skills, policies, and resources needed to move from planning and policy to the implementation of equitable, sustainable, and resilient transportation systems.

Viral Trinidadian Creator

“Certified

From page 20 celebrity tours is Sampson’s expressed interest in exploring business opportunities in Guyana. As part of his visit, he will meet with business support organizations and key stakeholders to discuss potential investments and collaborations within the local creative and entertainment industries.

This business focus

Sampson” ...

aligns with Guyana’s growing reputation as an emerging hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in the Caribbean region. Industry analysts suggest that partnerships between established Caribbean content creators and Guyanese businesses could help accelerate the development of the local creative economy.

The tour will also include

a special event organised specifically for local content creators and creatives. This networking opportunity will provide a platform for collaboration and discussions on the future of digital content, creative entrepreneurship, and entertainment in the region.

More details of his visit will be released in the coming weeks.

Director

American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Jarbas Barbosa (right) met with Albert Ramdin (right), newly elected Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS)

Man in court for assaulting CANU ranks

A26-year-old

man was on

T h u r s d a y charged for allegedly assaulting two officers of theCustomsAnti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) while they were arresting him at his Albouystown Georgetown home.

T h e d e f e n d a n t identified as Kevon Ridly appearedattheGeorgetown Magistrates’ Court before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty He was slapped with two counts of assault and two counts of possession of an illegal firearm with matching ammunition.

Ridlypleadednotguilty and was granted bail in the sum of $310,000. He is expected to retune to court onApril11,2025.

According to the prosecution the defendant willinglyopenedthedoorto his home and allowed the officerstoconductasearch. During their search the

officers did not find anythinginthehomewhich promptedthemtoconducta search on Ridly and there they found a firearm and ammunition on his person. He allegedly resisted arrest during which he assaulted twooftheCANUofficers.

Meanwhile, the defence led by Attorney-at-law

Dexter Smart told the court that on the day in question his client was at home with his family when he was approached by several CANUofficers.

The officers allegedly broke his client’s door and forced their way into his home Ridly refused to allow the officers to search his home because they did not present a search warrant, and as result the officers assaulted him, the lawyersaid.

Ridly, according to the lawyerwasforcedtolayon thegroundandhesustained several kicks to his face in the presence of his minor

son, the lawyer told the court. He was later taken to CANU headquarters where he was allegedly further assaulted,thelawyersaid.

Attorney Smart added thattheofficersclaimedthat they found a firearm with ammunition but his client reassuredhimthatthereare severaleyewitnessesaswell as CCTV footage that will showthatheisinnocentand that the officers took the firearm out of their possessionandwastryingto force him to touch it but he refused.

Magistrate McGusty grantedRidly$125,000bail foreachofthetwocountsof assault charge and $30,000 bail for each of the two counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence charge. Ridly was instructed by the courttoreporttoRuimveldt Police Station every first and third Friday of every monthstartingfromApril4, 2025.

Construction activities & road accidents primary cause of power outages in 2024 – GPL

He a v y infrastructural works -public and private- and road accidents were the primary causes of power outages in 2024, GPL’s Divisional Director of Transmission and Distribution, Shaun Hamlet,disclosed.

Hamlet was at the time providingareviewofGPL’s

p e r f o r m a n c e f o r t r a n s m i s s i o n a n d distribution to the Public UtilitiesCommission(PUC) during a public hearing on Thursday

In her presentation, Hamlet detailed that in terms of customer interruption for 2024, when compared to 2023, there was an increase in service interruption, pointing specifically to the frequency duration of interruptions

“So, our target for 2024 for the frequency of interruption is 85 and we would not have achieved that target and actually we recorded 123, and the duration, instead of 90, we would have passed that and recorded122,”shestated Hamlet further revealed that the power generation company would have

Fire destroys guest house at Puruni

A late afternoon fire on Thursday destroyed a guest house at Puruni Landing, RegionSeven.

The owner has been identified only as ‘Sawman’,whoalsolivedattheguesthouse with his family Reports are that the blaze erupted sometime after 16:00hrs. Residents used an excavator and formed a bucket brigade to contain and extinguish the blaze but it was not enough to save the building frombeingdestroyed. Investigations are on-going but victims allegethatthefirestartedwhenanelectrical fancaughtfire.

Timothy Roberts teams up with Yonnick Adolf...

accounted for most of the outages, noting that they were mainly due to external factors.

“External factors, meaning as a result of construction activities, farming activitiesconstruction activities mainly private and public Now, most of these outages occurred along

the Region 4 area, primarily along the East Coast corridor, where t h e r e i s h e a v y infrastructure and development works as well as development works also along the East Bank, mainly in the vicinity of Eccles, Grove, Diamond and Craig area, so approximately 49 %,” sheexplained Anothermajorfactorshe

listed was vehicular accidents impacting utility infrastructure. Hamlet noted

that this accounted for 17 percentofpoweroutages.

“External factors; where you have accidents, construction and farming equipment coming into contact with transmission lines and construction works (public and private works),”sheadded

That aside, the

DirectorsaidthatGPLhad its shortfalls that also resulted in outages “GPL

factors there are overloaded feeders driven by unprecedented growth, hence, plans to upgrade and build redundancies weakened poles structures as a result of soil erosion

a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n activities ”

She said that with the country’s construction boom, larger equipment are traversing the roadways, causing tremendous soil movement.

Another challenge Hamlet said the company experiencedisthemigration ofstaff.

“We would have experienced a lot of staff whohavemigratedtotheoil and gas sector and the skillwhich is a unique skill in utility work- is not readily available,”shesaid.

Frompage19 nothing without God,” he shared “Also, unity is strength, and when we can work together as one, so much more can be achieved.”

This sentiment of collective strength through faith perfectly captures the essenceoftheproject,which

bringstogetherthreedistinct voicesunitedbytheirshared faithandGuyaneseheritage.

As Roberts continues to build his catalogue in preparation for his album

release, “Presence” represents not just a new singlebutanewapproachto his ministry through music.

By embracing collaboration

for the first time, he opens new creative possibilities while strengthening bonds within Guyana’s gospel community Gospel music fans can look forward to experiencing “Presence” soon, as the single is expected to be released in August 2025 across all majorstreamingplatforms.

Fire rips through a guest house at Puruni, Region Seven

Putin suggests US ceasefire idea for Ukraine needs serious reworking

MOSCOW, March 13

(Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia supported a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine in principle, but that any truce would have to address the root causes of the conflict and many crucial details neededtobesortedout.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has left hundreds of thousands of dead and injured, displaced millions of people, reduced towns to rubble and triggered the sharpest confrontation for decades between Moscow and theWest. Putin's heavily qualifiedsupportfortheU.S. ceasefire proposal looked designed to signal goodwill to Washington and open the door to further talks with U S President Donald Trump But the sheer number of clarifications and conditions that Putin said wereneededappearedtorule outaswiftceasefire.

"We agree with the p r o p o s a

a s e hostilities," Putin told reporters at the Kremlin

Alexander Lukashenko "The idea itself is correct, andwecertainlysupportit."

"But we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be such that it would lead to long-term peace and would eliminate the original causesofthiscrisis."

He went on to list a slew of issues he said needed clarifying and thanked Trump,whosayshewantsto be remembered as a peacemaker,forhiseffortsto end the war. Both Moscow andWashingtonnowcastthe conflict as a deadly proxy w

ve escalated into World War Three. Trump, who said he was willing to talk to the Russian leader by phone, called Putin's statement "verypromising"andsaidhe hoped Moscow would "do the right thing."Trump said Steve Witkoff, his special envoy, was engaged in serious talks with the Russians in Moscow on the U.S. proposal, which Kyiv hasalreadyagreedto.

The U.S. president said

those discussions on

Thursday would show if Moscow was ready to make adeal.

“Now we're going to see whether or not Russia is there, and if they're not, it'll be a very disappointing moment for the world," he said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Putin was preparing to reject the ceasefire proposal but wasafraidtotellTrump.

"That's why in Moscow they are imposing upon the idea of a ceasefire these conditions, so that nothing happens at all, or so that it cannot happen for as long as possible," Zelenskyy said in hisnightlyvideoaddress.

Any delay would give Russia more time for its troops to push the last Ukrainian forces out of western Russia as Moscow sticks to demands that Kyiv permanently cede territory claimed by Russia, a positionthatUkrainerejects.

The West and Ukraine describe Russia's 2022 invasion as an imperial-style land grab, and have repeatedly vowed to defeat

Russian forces Russian forces control nearly a fifth of Ukraine's territory and have been edging forward since mid-2024.Trump said his administration has been discussing what land Ukraine would keep or lose underanysettlement,aswell asthefutureofalargepower plant.He did not name it but was likely referring to the R u s s i a n - o c c u p i e d Zaporizhzhia facility in Ukraine, Europe's largest nuclear plant. The two sides

have accused each other of risking an accident at the plantwiththeiractions.

Putin portrays the conflict as part of an existential battle with a declining and decadent West which he says humiliated Russia after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 by enlarging the NATO military alliance and encroaching on what he considers Moscow's sphere of influence, including Ukraine.

PUTINAND TRUMP

PutinsaidRussianforces were moving forward along the entire frontline and that the ceasefire would have to ensure that Ukraine did not seek to use it simply to regroup. "How can we and how will we be guaranteed that nothing like this will happen? How will control (of the ceasefire) be organised?" Putin said "These are all serious questions."

Putin said he might call Trumptodiscusstheissue.

TheUnitedStatesagreed on Tuesday to resume weapons supplies and intelligence sharing with

Ukraine after Kyiv said at talks in Saudi Arabia that it was ready to support a ceasefireproposal.

Russia over recent days has pressed a lightning offensive in the western Russian region of Kursk against Ukrainian forces which smashed through the border in August in a bid to divert Moscow's military from eastern Ukraine, gain a bargaining chip and embarrassPutin.

The Russian leader wondered how a ceasefire wouldimpactthesituationin Kursk, where Putin on Wednesday donned a camouflage uniformextremelyrarefortheformer KGB officer - to visit a command post."If we stop hostilities for 30 days, what does that mean? That everyone who is there will leave without a fight?" he said.Ukraine now holds less than 200 square kilometers (77 square miles) in Kursk, down from 1,300 square km (500 square miles) at the peak of the incursion, according to the Russian military

UN experts accuse Israel of sexual violence and 'genocidal acts' in Gaza

BBC - UN experts have a c c u s e d I s r a e l o f increasingly using sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinians and carryingout"genocidalacts" through the systematic destruction of maternal and reproductive healthcare

facilities A report commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council

d o c u m e n t s a l l e g e d violations, including rape, in Gaza and the occupied West Bank since Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war It also says the destruction of maternity wards in Gaza and embryos at a fertility clinic could indicateastrategytoprevent births among a particular group - one of the legal definitionsofgenocide.

I s r a e l s a i d i t "categorically rejects the unfoundedallegations".

Israeli Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu responded angrily, calling the Human Rights Council "an antisemitic, rotten, terrorist-supporting and irrelevant body". Instead of focusing on war crimes committed by Hamas, he said, it was attacking Israel with"falseaccusations".

T h e I n d e p e n d e n t InternationalCommissionof Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory was established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2021 to investigate all alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law The three-member commission saiditsnewreportwasbased on testimony from victims and witnesses of sexual and reproductive violence, some of whom spoke during two days of public hearings held in Geneva earlier this week, as well as verified photos and video footage, and

information from civil society and women's rights

o rg a n i s a t i o n s T h e commission's chair Navi Pillay, a South African former UN human rights chief, said the evidence collected "reveals a deplorableincreaseinsexual and gender-based violence" that she claimed was being employed by Israel against Palestinians "to terrorise them and perpetuate a system of oppression that undermines their right to self-determination" The report says specific forms of sexual and gender-based violence - such as forced public stripping and nudity, sexual harassment including threats of rape, as well as sexual assault - "comprise part of the Israeli Security Forces' standard operating p r o c e d u r e s t o w a r d Palestinians". Other forms of such violence, including rape and violence to the

genitals, were "committed either under explicit orders o r w i t h i m p l i c i t encouragement by Israel's top civilian and military leadership", it alleges. The report does not provide examples of explicit orders from commanders or senior officials. But it does cite statements from Israeli ministers who defended soldiers who were accused of severely mistreating a Palestinian detainee at Sde Teiman military base last year Commission member Chris Sidoti, an Australian humanrightslawyer,toldthe BBC: "Sexual violence is now so widespread that it can only be considered systematic. It's got beyond the level of random acts by rogueindividuals."

Israel has rejected accusations of widespread ill-treatment and torture of Gaza detainees, and insisted it is fully committed to

internationallegalstandards.

The commission of inquiry says it reviewed f o o t a g e s h o w i n g Palestinians who were forced to strip after being detainedbyIsraeliforces

The report says the commission also found that I s r a e l i f o r c e s h a d systematically destroyed sexual and reproductive healthcare facilities across Gaza during the 17-month warthere.

It concludes that women and girls have died from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth due to conditions imposed by the Israeli authorities which have denied access to reproductivehealthcare,and says they amount to the crime against humanity of extermination.

The commission also alleges that Israeli authorities have "destroyed in part the reproductive

capacity of Palestinians in Gazaasagroup"throughthe "systematic destruction" of sexual and reproductive h

y hospitals and maternity wards of hospitals and Gaza's main in-vitro fertility clinic,Al-BasmaIVFCentre inGazaCity

This amounts to "two categories of genocidal acts in the Rome Statute and the Genocide Convention, including deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians and imposing measures intended to preventbirths",itconcludes. According to the report, the embryology laboratory atAl-Basma was hit in early December 2023, reportedly destroying around 4,000 embryos as well as 1,000 sperm samples and unfertilisedeggs.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin REUTERS/ Maxim Shemetov/Poo

Oil supply to exceed demand by 600,000 barrels per day this year

LONDON, March 13 (Reuters)-Globaloilsupply could exceed demand by around 600,000 barrels per day this year, the International Energy Agency said on Thursday, due to growth led by the United States and weaker than expectedglobaldemand.

The outlook of ample

supplies despite U S sanctions on major exporters RussiaandIranhighlightsthe challenge for OPEC+, or the

O

e P

o

eum Exporting Countries plus Russia and other allies, in balancing the market.

Getalookatthedayahead in U.S. and global markets with the Morning Bid U.S. Newsletter Signuphere.

"The United States is currentlyproducing at record highsandisforecasttobethe largest source of supply growth in 2025," the IEA, which advises industrialised countries, said in a monthly report.

"The latest round of sanctions on Russia and Iran hasyettosignificantlydisrupt loadings, even as some buyers have scaled back purchases."

Last month, the IEA had suggestedaslightlynarrower surplus of around 500,000 bpd, according to Reuters calculations based on the agency's data World oil demand is now expected to rise by 1.03 million bpd in 2025, the IEA said on Thursday, down 70,000 bpd from last month's forecast, withgrowthdrivenlargelyby AsiaandspecificallyChina.

"Asian countries will account for almost 60% of gains, led by China where petrochemical feedstocks will provide the entirety of growthasdemandforrefined fuelsreachesaplateau."

Growing consumption of petrochemicalfeedstocks,the IEA added, accounts for almost all demand growth

gains since the COVID-19 pandemic. Oil ticked lower after the report's publication. Brent oil futures traded at $70 85 at 0926 GMT, compared with $71 01 at 0900 when the report was published.

SURPLUSCOULD BELARGER

The report highlights the headwinds OPEC+ faces this year as growing global trade tensions could impact demandagainstabackdropof robustsupplygrowth.

OPEC+ decided earlier thismonthtostartunwinding itsmostrecentlayerofoutput cuts from April. The 2025 surplus could grow by a further 400,000 bpd if OPEC+ extends its unwindingofcutsandfailsto rein in overproduction, the IEAsaid.

"The macroeconomic conditions that underpin our oil demand projections deteriorated over the past month as trade tensions escalated between the U.S. and several other countries," the IEAsaid, prompting it to revise down its demand growth estimates for the fourthquarterof2024andthe firstquarterof2025.

In its own report on Wednesday, OPEC kept its view for 2025 oil demand growth unchanged at 1.45 million bpd, and flagged a 363,000 bpd rise in OPEC+ output in February led by Kazakhstan.

TheIEAsees2025global supply growth doubling relative to the 2024 pace of growth,toaround1.5million bpd, assuming OPEC+ does not unwind its cuts further beyondApril.

ItaddedthatOPEC+may actually only add around 40,000 bpd of oil to the market,lessthanthenominal 138,000 bpd April increase, from Saudi Arabia and A l g e r i a , b e c a u s e overproduction from other memberstatesleavesnoroom

toopentapsfurther

Global supply gains will be almost all driven by nonOPEC growth, primarily the record U.S. output as well as gains from Canada, Brazil andGuyana.

Proposed U.S. tariffs on Mexican and Canadian oil could impact flows, the IEA said, however it said it was tooearlytoassesstheimpact given negotiations are ongoing, as well as a lack of clarity around the scope and scaleofthemeasures.

A view of an oil pump jack on the prairies near Claresholm, Alberta, Canada January 18, 2025. REUTERS/Todd Korol/File Photo

GCUSA celebrates Mr. Javed

Persaud’s First class debut

TheGeorgetownCricket

Umpires & Scorers Association (GCUSA) is extendingcongratulationsto Mr Javed Persaud on his momentous First-Class debut in the Cricket West Indies Regional 4-Day Cricket competition This achievement marks a significant milestone in his

umpiring career and is a testament to his dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitmenttothesport.

Javed’sjourneybeganin 2010 when he joined the GCUSA, embarking on a path that would lead him to thehighestlevelsofregional cricket. After three years of diligent training and

development, he became a fully qualified umpire in 2013, demonstrating his keen understanding of the laws and nuances of the game.

His exceptional performance and dedication were recognized when he was promoted to the CWI Junior Panel of Umpires in

2016 Building on this success, he continued to excel, earning a welldeserved promotion to the CWI Emerging Panel of Umpiresin2025.

Yesterday,Javedstepped onto the First-Class stage, joining esteemed GCUSA colleagues Nigel Dugid, Shannon Crawford, and RyanBanwarie,whoarealso officiatinginthisprestigious tournament.

Friday March 14, 2025

ARIES(Mar.21–Apr.19)

Difficult predicaments could arise today if you try to exert your will over others without having the most honorable intentions, Aries. It could be that you're using someone else's fear of you to control himorher

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20)

The fire within you is raging today,Taurus,andyoushould becarefulhowyouwieldthis power Be proud and triumphant. Walk with your shouldersbackandheadhigh. Freedomisimportant.

GEMINI(May21–June20)

There may be a great deal of fuss over something that seems quite insignificant to you, Gemini. Try to see the beauty and importance of everythingaroundyou.

CANCER(June21–July22)

Thingsarecomingtoacritical point for you today, Cancer, and you may find that other people openly object to your actions. It's OK to be a bit selfish if the situation is appropriate.

LEO(July23–Aug.22)

Feelfreetospeakmoreloudly today, Leo. You'll find that things fall into place more easily if you speak your thoughts outwardly and directly in the presence of others. Bring your internal powerunderyourcontrol.

VIRGO(Aug.23–Sept.22)

Youshouldbaskinaglorious splendortoday,Virgo.There's a great deal of power at your disposal.You'll find your ego ishealthy,charged,andready forthebattlefield.

LIBRA(Sept.23–Oct.22)

Add more sunshine to your day, Libra. It may be time to stir up your inner passion and let it speak with greater confidencethanyouhavebeen lately Make sure you heal yourself by letting the people aroundyouhearyourtruth.

SCORPIO(Oct.23–Nov 21)

You'llfindthatyoursparkcan easily turn potential energy into kinetic energy, Scorpio. Don'tunderestimatethepower of your words. Realize the profound impact they have on othersandtakeresponsibility

SAGIT(Nov 22–Dec.21)

Don't dwell on your fluctuating moods today, Sagittarius. Look at the larger trends and how positive elements are coming together inyourfavor

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19)

Thisisyourdaytoshineinall your glory, Capricorn. There's noneedtoholdanythingback. You'll find that you have a great deal of love to share. Your heart is likely to go to extremes today in order to proveitslove.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20–Feb. 18)Trynottolosesightofyour own projects or desires, Aquarius. There's a great deal of power and manipulative energy in the air today that could throw you off course if youaren'tcareful.

PISCES(Feb.19–Mar.20)

Recharge today by getting outside and stretching your arms to the sky, Pisces. Be proud and courageous. You have the power to turn an unhealthy situation into a positiveone,

Adding to the joy of this occasion, the GCUSA are delighted to celebrate Javed’s birthday! His debut on this special day makes it an even more memorable event.

T h e G C U S A i s immensely proud of Javed’s accomplishments and wisheshimallthebestinhis First-Class career We are confident that he will continue to uphold the highest standards of umpiring and serve as an inspiration to aspiring umpires across the region, a releasenoted.

2025 CWI Regional 4-Day Championships Round 5…GHE vs WWIV Day 2

Spinners give Harpy Eagles control, despite

Solozano gritty fifty - GHE 1st inn. (159-3 Savory 46*, Imlach 40*) trail Windwards by 54- runs

Some magic from the Guyana Harpy Eagles spin trioofVeerasammyPermaul, Gudakesh Motie and Kevin Sinclair who shared 9 wickets,helpputtheChamps in a comfy position as they trail Windward Islands Volcanoes by 54-runs with 7 wicketsremaininggoinginto thethirddayatProvidence

Itwasaclinical,collective effort from the Harpy Eagles spinners, led by left-arm spin wizardPermaulwhosnared455,alongsideWestIndiesTest bowlers in Motie (3-44) and Sinclair (2-54), who spun websaroundtheopposition.

Fast-bowler Ronaldo Alimohamed (1-33) bowled welldespitefailingtoaddtohis overnight scalp, nevertheless being instrumental in keeping theVolcanoesto213alloutin their 1st innings Despite losingtheirtopthreebatsmen in Raymon Perez (33),

Matthew Nandu (8) and the in-form Kevlon Anderson (21) early, Guyana in reply took their first innings score to159-3after42oversbythe endofthesecondday’splay Captain Tevin Imlach (40*) andhisdeputyKemolSavory (46*)willbekeenonadding totheircurrentpartnershipof 89 runs with both batsmen eyeing landmarks after grindingoutthelatterofday2 withalloftodaytogo,should theweatherholdup Anderson and Perez added52afterlosingNandu, consolidatingthelossbefore they too suffered similar fates Their dismissals brought the pair of Imlach andSavorytothemiddle,as bothmenshowedtheirform and class, almost reaching their fifties by the time play ended. Earlier, overnight batsmen, Jeremy Solozano was the rock of the innings,

Guyana Cricket Board announces Regional U15 Team for upcoming tournament

Th e G u y a n a Cricket Board ( G C B ) h a s announcedtheofficialsquad for the upcoming Regional U15Tournament.

Richard Ramdeholl has been named Captain, while BrandonHenrywillserveas theViceCaptain. Thesquad will be coached by Yeurab Khemraj, while Yogeshwar Lall has been named Manager

Theteamiscomposedof thefollowingplayers:

JustinDowlin

Ramzam

5.ArifBacchas 6. Richard Ramdeholl

reaching his 18th first class fifty on themorningofday2 before going on to stroke a classy 83Solozano faced 148 balls and nailed 10 fours to keep his team bubbling through a rough patch following an opening day plaguedbyrain

West Indies Test middleorderbatsmanandVolcanoes skipperAlickAthanazedugin for his 39, but more importantlybeinginvolvedin a crucial fifty partnership with Solozano The skipper hitfourfoursandasixbefore hewascleanedupbySinclair Former Test player Sunil Ambris helped stabilize the middle order with his crucial knock of 33 off 52 (4x4), being denied a possible threatening innings thanks to Permaul who trapped him LBWtogethisfirstoffour

After controlling the morning session despite the

7.NathnilRamsammy

8.JathnielNurse

9.UsainFredericks

10.BrandonHenryVice Captain

11.RayadLatif

12.PatriceFraser

13.RafealMcKenzie. 14.ProsperJacobus Reserves

1.KhushSeegobin 2.JoshuaThomas 3.BomeshLall 4.NathanBishop 5 T a m

Deonandan 6.TypeseMcPherson

Yog

Manager Yeurab Khemraj

Coach

resist

hown by Solozano/Athanaze/Ambris, Guyana entered the afternoon session with an aggressive mindsetwhichwasmaintained by the slower bowlers Shadrack Descarte (15) was anotherLegBeforeWicketvictim falling to Permaul, who won another umpire’s decision, to leave Windwards 195-5 Guyana, keen on keeping their opponents under the 200-runmark,dideventually that thanks to the tag-team work the two left-arm spinners, as Motie joined in ontheactiontohelphissenior partnermopuptheremaining Volcanoes batsmen, leaving Guyanawiththeremainderof day 2’s afternoon session to getthemselvesgoing Action continues today at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, with one eye on the weather (CliftonRoss)

Surendra Hiralal of Universal Construction and Contracting provides one cricket helmet to Project “Cricket Gear for young and promising cricketers in Guyana”

Surendra Hiralal, former president of the Gandhi Youth Organisation cricket clubandcurrentchairmanof senior selectors of the Demerara Cricket Board, donated one cricket helmet to this joint initiative between Anil Beharry of Guyana and Kishan Das of the USA. Hiralal was also the captain of the Everest Cricket club for fourteen yearsandisstillregardedas oneofthemostsuccessfulin thehistoryofthecamproadbased club. He also served ontheexecutiveofECC.He indicatedthatheisfollowing this initiative and is impressed the wide reach it has and the number of players and clubs that have benefittedovertheyears.We thank Hiralal and his 1715 Providence based business, forhiskindgesture. This initiative will continue to strive to make everycommunityasaferand better place. We are pleased tobepartofthedevelopment of young cricketers in Guyana. Our aim is to keep them off the streets and get them actively involved in sports,cricketinparticular

Total cricket related items received/purchased so far: $560,000 in cash,

Surendra Hiralal of Universal Construction and Contracting.

thirteen colored cricket uniforms,onesetofstumps, two trophies, thirty three pairs of cricket shoes, thirty seven pairs of batting pads, forty six cricket bats, forty pairs of batting gloves, twenty eight thigh pads, threepairsofwicketkeeping pads, six arm guards, two chest pads, two boxes, thirteen gear bags, thirteen bat rubbers, seven helmets, one fiber glass bat, one pair of floppy hat, sixteen boxes

and four of white cricket balls, thirteen boxes of red cricket balls, one bat cone and twenty eight footballs.

Inadditiontotheabove,gear withvalueofover$600,000 was donated by Sheik Mohamed, former National wicket keeper/batsman. All cash collected is being used to purchase cricket gear requested and not available atthetime. To date, ninety-four players, male and female,

from all three counties of Guyana have benefited directly from cash, seven gearbags,twotrophies,four armguards,thirtythreebats, four boxes, six helmets, thirty five pairs of cricket shoes, twenty one pairs of batting pads, twenty four thigh pads, one bat grip, thirty seven pairs of batting gloves, one pair of wicketkeeping pads and threepairsofwicketkeeping gloves Many others benefited indirectly. In addition, two clubs in the Pomeroon area benefited fromtwousedbats. Cricket related items, used or new, are distributed free of cost to young and promising cricketers in Guyana. Skills, discipline and education are important characteristics of the recipients.Talent spotting is being done across the countryandclubleadersalso assist to identify same Progressive and well managedcricketclubswitha youth programme, will also benefit. Distribution will continue.

Anyone interested to contribute can contact Anil Beharry on 623-6875 or Kishan Das on 1-718-6640896.

Spin twins Kevin Sinclair and Gudakesh Motie shared 5 wickets to help keep the Volcanoes from erupting further

Captain

Brandon Henry (3)

Richard Ramdeholl

Eight officials, including Aubrey

Hutson, will contest Sunday’s Athletics Association of Guyana’s (AAG) highly anticipated Annual General Meeting (AGM)andElections.

With the local athletics communityeagerlyawaiting the outcome, the elections areexpectedtobeoneofthe most closely watched in recenthistory

Incumbent president, Hutson, is seeking a fourth consecutive term after first assumingofficein2013.

Hutson’stenurehasbeen marked by both significant

a c h i e v e m e n t s a n d controversies Under his leadership, Guyana’s track andfieldathleteshavemade notable strides on the regional and international stage However, his administration also faced criticism, especially following the administrative mishaps during the 2023 CARIFTAGames,whichled

to his suspension by the AAG’sGeneralCouncil. Hutsonmaintainsthathis suspension was illegitimate, stating,“Thesuspensionwas neverlegal.Thathasalways been my position…but for the smooth-running of track and field, a sport that I love dearly, I decided to step back ” The controversy surroundinghisremovaland eventual reinstatement remains unresolved, adding intrigue to his re-election bid.

Currently serving as the Vice President of the AAG,

Amanda H

nstine stepped in as Acting President during Hutson’s suspension.

Known for her strong admin

e skills, Hermonstine is widely respectedwithintheathletics communityandcouldposea serious challenge to Hutson’s leadership, just as shedidatthelastelectionsin 2021 A seasoned administrator, Cornel Rose has served in various capacities under Hutson’s leadership. His experience and familiarity with the

AAG’s operations could make him a formidable contender

Coach of the Police Progressive Track and Field Club, Mark Scott has also held multiple roles within theAAGovertheyears.His hands-on experience with athletes and administrative background makes him anotherstrongcandidate.

A Doctor of Physical Therapy and Director of the Ministry of Health’s Disability and Rehab Service, Dr Ariane Mangar brings a unique perspective

totheAAG.

Having served as Vice Chairman of the AAG’s FinanceSub-Committeeand providedsupporttotheWest Indies and Guyana cricket teams, she is well-versed in boththeathleticandmedical a s p e c t s o f s p o r t s management.

A coach and former committee member of the AAG, Kenisha Headley

possesses extensive k n o w l e d g e o f t h e Association’s inner workings. Her background could serve as an asset in

improvingtheorganization’s structureandathletesupport.

Coach of Super Upcoming Runners, Nial Stanton is also in the race, aiming to bring fresh ideas and strategies to the AAG’s administration.

Meanwhile, there’s a relatively unknown contending for the position of President of the AAG, TrevorGonsalves.

While not much is known about Gonsalves’ background, his candidacy adds to the diversity of choices available to AAG members.

The upcoming elections comeatacriticaljuncturefor Guyana’s athletics scene, withincreasingdemandsfor transparency,accountability, and improved support for athletes.

As the candidates preparetomaketheircaseto the AAG’s electorate, the focus remains on ensuring a fairandtransparentelectoral process.

Hutson, Dr. Mangar and Hermonstine among eight to contest AAG Elections Matthews, Sciver-Brunt star to help Mumbai Indians advance to WPL final

SportsMax - The MumbaiIndianswilltakeon theDelhiCapitalsinthefinal oftheTataWomen’sPremier League (WPL) on Saturday after defeating the Gujarat Giants by 47 runs in the eliminator at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday

The Giants were on the back foot before a ball was even bowled as they, unfortunately, lost the services of Deandra Dottin beforethetossduetoinjury

Giants captain Ashleigh GardnerputtheIndiansinto bat after winning said toss and, in hindsight, that decision proved to be the wrongone.

M u m b a i b a t t e d brilliantlyontheirwaytoan imposing 213-4 in their 20 oversatthecrease.

Superstars Nat SciverBrunt and Hayley Matthews

as well as skipper Harmanpreet Kaur were the main contributors to the total.

Sciver-Brunt and Matthews made 77, each, and shared in a 133-run second-wicketpartnership.

Litchfield and Bharti Fulmali contributed 31 and 30,respectively Matthews picked up 331 from her 3 2 overs to lead the Mumbai bowling and was well supported by Amelia Kerr’s 2-28 from fourovers

A win in Saturday’s final at the same venue would mean Mumbai would become the first team to win multiple WPL titles

T h e y w o n t h e inaugural edition in 2023, defeating the Capitals in thefinal

For the Capitals, who also lost in the final in 2024 to the Royal Challengers Bangalore, a win would make them the third team to lift the trophy

Kaur then provided the finishing touches with two fours and four sixes on her wayto36offjust12balls.

Sciver-Brunt’s knock lasted 41 balls and included 10foursandtwosixeswhile Matthews hit 10 fours and three sixes in her 50-ball effort.

Danielle Gibson was the best bowler on a rough day fortheGiantswith2-40from herfourovers.

The Giants were then dismissed for 166 with four

balls remaining in their innings.

Gibson completed a good all-round performance withatopscoreof34off24

balls while Ph

Scores: Mumbai Indians 213 for 4 (SciverBrunt 77, Matthews 77, Harmanpreet 36, Gibson 2-40) beat Gujarat Giants 166(Gibson34,Litchfield 31, Matthews 3-31, Kerr 2-28)by47runs.

Hayley Matthews celebrating one of her three wickets. (BCCI)

Aubrey Hutson

Dr Ariane Mangar

Mark Scott Niall Stanton

Women in Golf: LGC Head calls for support and inclusion

In the wake of

I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Women’s Day,

Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) proudly recognized its female players, highlighting their contributions and achievements. However, as LGC President Anasha Ally reflectedonthecurrentstate of women’s participation in thesport,sheacknowledged apressingconcern:sheisthe only active female golfer at theclubtoday

Despite past successes andtheevidenttalentamong female players, financial

c o n s t r a i n t s h a v e significantly hindered their participation. Many women

LGC President

Anasha Ally calls for more women to get involve in Golf.

w h o o n c e p l a y e d competitively are now absent from the course, not due to a lack of passion or skill but because of the economicbarriersthatmake continuedengagementinthe sportincreasinglydifficult.

Ally is determined to change this. In her address, sheissuedaheartfeltpleato corporate Guyana, emphasizing the growing financialresourcesavailable within the country and urgingbusinessestosupport initiatives that bring female golfers back to the sport.

“Surely, we can do somethingandgetthemback out here with me,” she

President’s College edge

asserted.

Tocombatthedeclinein female participation,Ally is advocating for structured programmes such as a dedicated“LadiesMorning” or “Ladies Afternoon,” wherewomenofallagescan receive coaching, be introduced to the sport, and simply enjoy the serene environment that golf provides.

“InthechaosofGuyana thesedays,thisispriceless,” she noted, underscoring the value of golf as both a recreational escape and an avenue for community building.

Beyond just increasing participation, Ally highlighted the broader benefitsofsuchaninitiative.

Amore inclusive and active female presence at the club would not only strengthen the sport but also contribute to the club’s sustainability “The more people we can expose to this, the better More players mean more engagement, more financial support for the club, and ultimately, a thriving community for women and youthingolf.”

While sustaining the existingstructureoftheclub

Mackenzie

High School for overall title

Christianburg Wismar Second settles for third

After three days of intense competition, President’sCollegeemerged as the champions of the inaugural National Secondary Schools Track andFieldChampionships. Theeventconcludedlast evening at the National Track and Field Centre, where secondary school athletes from across the country showcased their talent and left spectators thoroughlyimpressed. Heading into the final

day of competition, President’s College trailed Mackenzie High School by 24.5 points. The Linden school (Mackenzie High) ledthestandingswith171.5 points, while President’s College held 147 points.

Christianburg Wismar

Secondary sat in third place with 117.33 points, as the top three schools battled fiercelyforthetitle.

H o w e v e r , i n a remarkable turn of events, President’s College surged

iscrucial,Allybelievesnow is the time to think beyond preservation and shift towards expansion and inclusivity As financial opportunities continue to emergeinGuyana,investing inwomen’sgolfcanserveas a meaningful way for corporate entities to give back while promoting

ahead on the final day, amassing a total of 257 points to clinch the championship trophy, while Mackenzie High School finished close second with 253.50points.

Christianburg Wismar

Secondary settled for thirdplace,scoring197.33points.

St Ignatius Secondary claimed fourth place with 129 points, while Mahaicony Secondary roundedoutthetopfivewith 100points.

With support and inclusion Golf will ascend to new heights.

genderequityinsports.

Hermessageisclear:the talent is there, the interest exists, and with the right support, women’s golf at Lusignan Golf Club can flourishonceagain.

The call is now out for corporatepartners,sponsors, and the wider golfing community to step forward

and be part of this revitalization. For those interested in supportingthisinitiative,the Lusignan Golf Club invites discussions on funding, s p o n s o r s h i p , a n d programme development to make women’s golf accessible and thriving once more.

Messi Lands in Jamaica for first time ahead of Inter Miami’s CONCACAF Champions Cup Clash with Cavalier SC

SportsMax - Lionel Messi, the Argentinian superstar widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, set footonJamaicansoilforthe first time on Wednesday as he arrived with his Inter Miami teammates ahead of their second-leg clash against Cavalier SC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Messi’s arrival was met with great excitement, not only from football fans but also from government officials who see his presence as a significant boost for Jamaica’s tourism industry and global visibility

Among those who welcomed him at the

N

y

International Airport were Minister of Sport, the HonourableOlivia“Babsy”

Grange, Permanent Secretary Denzil Thorpe, and Deputy Director of TourismPeterMullings.

T

surrounding Messi’s visit has

n

, especially since he did not featureinthefirstleg,which Inter Miami won 2-0 in Floridalastweek.

H i s p

n t i a l appearance at the National Stadium tonight has fueled further excitement, with a sellout crowd expected in Kingston, eager for the chancetowitnesstheeighttime Ballon d’Or winner in action.

Inter Miami, led by Messiandasquadfeaturing stars like Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets, will be looking to close out the tie against Cavalier SC, who will be banking on home advantage and a spirited performancetooverturnthe deficit.

Jamaicahaslonghadan affinity for world-class football, and Messi’s presence marks a historic momentfortheisland. Regardless of whether he plays tonight, his visit alone has added a new chapter to the country’s football history and further cemented its place as a destination capable of attractingthesport’sbiggest stars.

Trophy Stall hands over trophies for Kennard Memorial Turf Club Phagwah Horserace meet

BYSAMUELWHYTE

TheTrophyStalllocated in Bourda Market, Berbice and other areas in Guyana continues to be a leading entity in terms of its benevolence towards sports and other community activities.

Once again, the entity will be a significant contributor towards the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) Phagwah Horse Race meet which is slated for this Sunday 16th March at the club’s entity, Bush Lot Farm Corentyne, Berbice.

Therearesixracesonthe day’s card which has prizes in cash, trophies and other rewards totaling over 6M dollars on offer for the outstandingperformers.

TheTrophyStallthrough the generosity of Managing

DirectorMr RameshSunich has donated the wining trophies and other goodies for the Top Jockey, Trainer andStablesamongothers.

Meanwhile, some of the best race horses in Guyana have taken entry for the feature C1 and lower race, The event which is dubbed the Metro Stakes is being sponsored by the Metro Stationery and Office Suppliescompany

The winner will race away with a heft prize of $1.2M and trophy The seven furlongs event has a top-notch lineup Among those raring to go are

B e c k h a m J a m e s , Spankhurst, John Bull, Ritorna Vincetori, Stormy Victory and Stolen Money

They all will be looking to race away with the top moneyandothergoodieson

offer. A mouthwatering affairisanticipated.

Theotherracesalsohave some of the best horses in thosecategorieslinedupfor action and an action pack day of racing is anticipated. The other events listed are theraceforFclassandlower horsesforawinningprizeof $400,000 and trophy over

sevenfurlongs.

An event for horses classifiedHandlowerwitha first place winning of $350,000 and a trophy over sevenfurlongs.

The race for three yearsold Guyana Bred horses whichhasawinner’sprizeof $300,000 and trophy over sixfurlongs.

One for J and lower horses for the $300,000 and trophytopprize.

The L-class open race whichcarriesawinnerstake of$300,000andtrophy

Despite the inclement weather the KMTC is in excellent shape and a bumpercrowdisexpectedto attend.

TheKMTCisaccredited with staging well organized horse race meets and an action pack day of racing is anticipated.

Matriarch of the KMTC andHonoraryPresidentMrs. Chand Kennard will be will be coordinating the day’s activities.

Racetimeis12:00hrs

Ms. Juliana Rikhee (left) of the Trophy Stall hands over some of the trophies to Honourary President of the KMTC, a smiling Mrs. Chand Kennard.

Guyana goes one up against Barbados to claim second victory at 2025 Junior Pan Am Challenge

Guyana’s Junior Women’s Hockey Team delivered an impressive performance in their matchupagainstBarbadosat the 2025 Junior Pan

American Challenge, securingacrucialearlygoal

and demonstrating significant growth from theirpreviousmatch.

Guyana pounce on Barbados 1-0. (PAHF photo)

composed, successfully absorbingBarbados’attacking efforts Theexperiencegained from their previous match provedinvaluableastheyheld off multiple Bajan advances, maintaining their lead throughoutthegame Despite theirstrongattackingpresence and several additional opportunities, Guyana was unabletoextendtheirlead

With this result, Guyana now sits third in the standingsastheypreparefor their final group-stage match against Trinidad and Tobago today, March 14, at 12p.m.

On the defensive end, Guyana’s backline remained

Building on the defensive resilience gained from their game against PuertoRico,Guyanaentered the match with a more attacking mindset. From the outset, they put pressure on the Bajan defense, using quick free hits to create opportunities in the attacking circle Their persistencepaidoffearly,as they found the back of the netinthefirstquartertotake thelead.

The team remains focusedonsecuringanother positive result as they push for a strong finish in the tournament All matches fromthecompetitioncanbe streamed live on the PAHF YouTubechannel.

Excitement builds for week #2 of GFF Elite League Season VII

- Two exciting doubleheaders billed for this weekend

After a thrilling opening weekend at the National TrainingCentre(NTC)inthe seventheditionoftheGuyana Football Federation (GFF) Elite League, teams are now gearing up for the second weekend of matches, aiming to elevate the competition’s intensity Lastweek,Slingerz FC and Ann’s Grove United FC made strong statements, securing their first points of the2025season.

Thisweekend,theNTCis set to ignite once again with another action-packed twodayspectacleofelitefootball

The anticipation is already building, with fans eager to witness four more exhilaratingmatchups.

Footballloverscanexpect an electrifying atmosphere at the NTC on Saturday, March 15th,astheactionkicksoffat 18:30hourswithacaptivating doubleheader.DenAmstelFC will make its opening appearance against newly promoted Mainstay Gold Star FC, who is eager to bounce backfromaheavy6-1defeatin lastweekend’sfixtures Willthe newcomers rise to the challenge,orwillDenAmstel assert their dominance? The

excitementcontinuesat21:00 hrs with a high-stakes clash

between defending champions Guyana Defence Force FC and a rejuvenated WesternTigersFC.Withthe Tigers looking to make an early statement, can they pull off a shock victory, or will GDF FC reinforce their status as the team to beat?

Meanwhile,thedramacarries over to Sunday, March 16th, with another intense doubleheaderasthebattlefor Elite League supremacy heatsup.

At 18:30 hrs, Santos FC faces a confident Ann’s Grove FC, fresh off their emphatic 6-1 triumph Expect a tactical showdown under the bright NTC lights as both teams seek to maintainmomentum.

Theweekendculminates withablockbusterencounter at 21:00 hrs, as two-time c h a m p i o n s F r u t a Conquerors FC take on last season’s third-place finishers, Guyana Police Force FC. With both squads boasting top-tier talent and championship aspirations, fans can expect a thrilling contest filled with high-

intensity action. Beapartof an unforgettable weekend of top-tierfootballattheNational Training Centre! Join the passionate crowd, soak in the electrifying atmosphere, and witness the best of Guyana’s football talent in action.

Mainstay Goldstar FC will be looking to bounce back against Den Amstel this Saturday

President’s College edge Mackenzie High