Ministers allowed private investments, but cannot use office to influence gains – VP Jagdeo Massy reassures gas cylinder safety not an issue, blames inferior fittings
Trinidadian pleads guilty to stealing
other items
Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday announced that the State would be paying the $24 million compensation to the estate ofQuindon Bacchus, who was unlawfully killed in 2022 when a team of police ranks gunned him down.
The High Court had ordered the State in November 2024 to pay the estate of Bacchus the sum of $1 million for his funeral expenses, $22.5 million as damages
for the breach of his right to life, and $500,000 in costs.
The State had indicated that it would appeal the ruling, but Jagdeo, during his press conference on Thursday, told reporters that President Dr Irfaan Ali has intervened to stop the legal battle.
“The President was made aware of the ongoing efforts by the Attorney General’s Chambers, and instructed that the appeal should not proceed. Instead, the compensation must be paid,” Jagdeo has said.
The police had claimed that the 25-year-old Bacchus was going to sell an undercover police rank an unlicensed firearm, and after the rank had revealed himself to be a policeman, the father of one, who resided at Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, started to flee; and in the process, had discharged several rounds at the police.
The police claimed they returned fire, fatally hitting Bacchus. However, investigations revealed that
there was no authorised police operation in that area, and no police commander was aware of any such operation.
Examination of the firearm allegedly recovered at the scene had revealed that the firearm the police claimed Bacchus used to shoot at them was inoperable, and could not have been fired by the deceased. Further, no civilian witness claimed to have seen Bacchus fire at the police.
As a result of the incident and subsequent investigation by the police, several ranks were allegedly placed under close arrest. One such officer, Lance Corporal Kristoff DeNobrega, has been charged with the offence of murder, and has since been committed to stand trial in the High Court.
Police Lance Corporal Thurston Simon and Cadet Officer Dameion McLennon have been charged with at-
tempting to obstruct the course of justice. Lance Corporal Simon has also been charged with the of fence of conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline.
The circumstances which led to the death of Bacchus caused great public outcry, protests, and the temporary lockdown of certain areas of the country. The mother of Bacchus filed an action against the State for the unlawful killing of her son. This action was filed by the law firm of Dexter Todd and Associates.
The State at first defended the action, denying liability for the killing and claiming that Bacchus died during an authorised police undercover operation. However, by letter dated July 24, 2024, the Office of the Attorney General wrote the Attorneys for Bacchus’s mother, as well as the Judge, indicating that the State has accepted liability for the brutal shooting and requested that the court decide on the quantum of damages to be granted to the es-
tate of the deceased.
The court invited submissions from both sides, and subsequently made its decision. The Judge found that the brutal killing of Bacchus breached his right to life, as protected under the Constitution of Guyana. The court indicated that it looked at recent matters of a similar nature and considered the settlement and judgment amounts in those matters before making its own decision in this case.
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Friday, January 10 –01:45h-03:15h and Saturday, January 11 – 02:45h-04:15h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Friday, January 10 –13:10h-14:40h and Saturday, January 11 – 14:10h-15:40h.
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 1.79 metres and 4.47 metres.
High Tide: 13:33h reaching a maximum height of 2.41 metres.
Low Tide: 07:02h and 19:45h reaching minimum heights of 0.97 metre and 0.78 metre.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has made it clear that while Cabinet Ministers are allowed to have stakes in private investments, they cannot use their office to influence any personal gain.
Jagdeo, who is also the General Secretary of the ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP), made these remarks in response to questions posed at his weekly press conference held on Thursday at the Party’s Freedom House headquarters.
According to Jagdeo, “We made it clear [to Cabinet members] that there should not be any conflict of interest in the discharge of your work.”
He went on to explain that many of the Ministers would have had businesses or private investments prior to entering public office in 2020. In fact, he recalled the situation with the Minister within the Public Works Ministry, Deodat Indar, who had a company that was doing work in the oil and gas sector under the previous administration.
Jagdeo revealed that before his appointment to Cabinet, Indar was informed that he would first have to “disengage” from his company to become a minister.
“[Indar] came back and said ‘I will remove myself from the company’ and that’s what he did,” the PPP General Secretary noted.
Nevertheless, Jagdeo acknowledged that while there may be some Cabinet members with private investments, the Party has made it clear that they cannot use their position in office to influence the award of contracts to those entities that they may be associated with, especially those operating in the sectors for which they are responsible.
Additionally, the Vice President pointed out that all ministers – like the rest of public officers – are also required to submit annual reports to the Integrity Commission, detailing all
their assets and revenue sources. In fact, he noted that there is a set date by which all the Cabinet members and Government Members of Parliament (MPs) are required to file their reports to the Commission every year.
“If you earn money from a company in which you have shares, first of all, in the Integrity Commission report, you have to declare whether you have shares in companies. [And] if you make a false declaration there, you go to jail… So, you’re required every year to declare and to declare your earnings from those shares, not just ownership of shares.”
“So, that is the position now; not that people cannot own investments anywhere. If they take their money and buy shares in a particular company… they can’t use their influence to steer business to that com-
pany and they can’t be in their sectors or their ministries, etc,” he stressed.
According to the Vice President, he does not look into the Ministers’ personal assets as long as they use their own, legitimate money to do that.
Having highlighted this position of the current People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Government, Jagdeo used the opportunity to remind of what used to transpire under the previous A
terest under the APNU/ AFC Government, former Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes had signed off on a number of contracts from her then ministry to her own company.
Hughes’ company, Videomega Productions, has previously been in the spotlight owing to it receiving several contracts from the coalition Government. It was reported that the company received some $6
Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) regime.
Under the coalition Administration, a contract was awarded to the husband of the then Housing Minister Valerie PattersonYearwood to build houses for the said ministry which she helmed – something which was flagged as a conflict of interest.
In another instance of a glaring conflict of in-
million in contracts from the Administration.
But while Hughes had claimed that she relinquished all control of the company after 2015, there were documents that emerged with her signature as minister between 2016 and 2018 for payments to be made to her own company – something which she admitted to during an ongoing trial in a separate matter before the High Court. (G-8)
Editor: Tusika Martin
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As Guyana prepares for 2025 General and Regional Elections, the nation stands vigilant in its democratic journey. General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, at his weekly press conference, emphasized the party’s commitment to free, fair, and peaceful elections. His assurances, coupled with the stance of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), come in the wake of lingering concerns rooted in the contentious 2020 elections, and underline the necessity for vigilance, unity, and integrity in the electoral process.
The 2020 elections in Guyana would forever be remembered as a crucial moment in the country’s history. Held on March 2, 2020, the elections descended into a protracted and fraught process when the then-government, comprising the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, attempted to manipulate the results. Allegations of electoral fraud, disputes over tabulation processes, and the refusal to accept the will of the electorate resulted in a five-month-long impasse. It was not until August 2, 2020, after international observers, legal battles, and intense scrutiny, that results were finally declared, confirming the PPP as the victors.
This saga tarnished Guyana’s reputation and revealed the fragility of its political and institutional structures. As the nation looks to the 2025 elections, the lessons from 2020 must not be ignored. Dr. Jagdeo’s recent remarks reflect an awareness of these challenges. During a press briefing, he reassured the nation and the business community that the PPP would not contribute to any instability or violence during the elections. Instead, the party intends to focus on its track record of governance and fulfillment of promises. This commitment is a welcome declaration in a politically polarized environment, where rhetoric often inflames tensions.
Jagdeo’s assertion that the Government would invest in robust security measures to protect citizens’ constitutional right to vote freely and without intimidation is equally significant. Elections in Guyana have historically been tense, marked by ethnic divisions and partisan rivalries. Ensuring a peaceful electoral process would require proactive measures to prevent violence and build public confidence in the integrity of the system.
Moreover, the General Secretary’s emphasis on fostering unity and bridging divisions reflects an understanding of the need to transcend partisanship. The PPP’s pledge to campaign on issues rather than divisive narratives is a step toward healing the wounds of past elections. It is a call for all political actors to engage in responsible conduct and respect democratic norms.
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) plays a central role in safeguarding the integrity of elections. In its recent statement, GECOM reaffirmed its commitment to delivering free, fair, transparent, and credible elections. The Commission’s assurance is a crucial counterbalance to potential attempts by any individual or group to undermine public trust in the electoral process.
However, GECOM’s credibility depends on its ability to act impartially and efficiently. The controversies of 2020 revealed vulnerabilities in the electoral machinery, including allegations of compromised officials and flawed processes. Moving forward, GECOM must prioritize transparency, professionalism, and accountability. It must also actively engage with stakeholders, including political parties, civil society, and international observers, to build confidence in its operations.
While the PPP and GECOM have signalled their commitment to democracy, the responsibility for ensuring a peaceful and credible election extends beyond these institutions. Political parties, civil society organizations, the media, and ordinary citizens all have roles to play. Political leaders must refrain from incendiary rhetoric, and respect the outcomes of the electoral process. Civil society must advocate for transparency, and act as watchdogs against malpractice. The media must prioritize balanced and factual reporting to counter misinformation and polarization. Most importantly, citizens must remain vigilant, informed, and engaged, recognizing that the health of Guyana’s democracy depends on their participation.
The scars of 2020 should serve as a reminder of the perils of undermining the electoral process. By committing to peaceful, transparent, and issue-based campaigns, the PPP has set a constructive tone. GECOM’s assurance of credibility further lays the groundwork for public confidence.
However, achieving a truly democratic election requires collective effort. It demands adherence to the rule of law, respect for the electorate’s voice, and a shared commitment to national unity.
Dear Editor,
I write to express heartfelt commendations to the leadership, students, educators, supporters, and families of students (present and former) of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan (CI, West Coast Demerara) on being honoured by the Government of India on Friday with the prestigious Pravasi Samman Award, the highest honour given by an organization or individual in the diaspora.
This honour brings a sense of accomplishment to Swami Aksharananda, all staff members, and students and their families. It resonates with the school’s ethos of excellence in learning, and celebrates the dedication to promoting a culture of knowledge with spirituality. This school excels at CSEC and CAPE. There is hardly any other of its kind in the country.
The President of India conferred the coveted award at a special investiture ceremony, and that was followed by a banquet after a threeday conclave of delegates representing the global Indian diaspora. Thousands of delegates and special guests attended the international conference, with several coming from Guyana
and the Guyanese diaspora, including this writer.
The convention began on Wednesday with a youth conference of Indians from around the globe. Mickela Panday of Trinidad was a featured speaker. It continued with the keynote address by PM Modi on Thursday morning to the thousands of delegates in a huge hall in the city of Bhuvaneshwar in the state of Odisha. Some Guyanese and other Indo-Caribbean people trace their roots to Odisha, which lies next to West Bengal, the capital of which is Kolkata (Calcutta), from where the indentured labourers were shipped, beginning in 1838.
The India conclave is known as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), and this year’s is the 18th edition. It is an idea conceived by Dharamdatt Sukhai Durjan and other Guyanese and Caribbean Indians at a private meeting at Salaam Bombay restaurant in New York in 1996 with then Opposition Leader and head of the BJP, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who went on to become the Prime Minister in 1998.
Vajpayee first served as PM for 13 days two years earlier. He established, in
2001, a high-powered commission that travelled throughout the diaspora, soliciting views on how India could engage the large diaspora. That commission came to Guyana, among other Caribbean territories, and met with Yesu Persaud, Hemraj Kissoon, Ravi Dev and other prominent Indians. The Commission recommended to the Indian Government the holding of an annual PBD, a gathering of Indians based abroad.
The first PBD was held in 2003. Shridath Ramphal, VS Naipaul, among others, were guests and feature speakers.
The PBD holds discussions on varied subjects. The PBD has brought together leading thought leaders (including politicians and scholars) and entrepreneurs from around the globe. Individuals or organizations are honoured for their achievements or contributions abroad for domestic uplifting or towards India. A politician, a head or deputy head of government or state, is usually selected as the Chief Guest.
The PM of Mauritius was Chief Guest in 2003. Bharrat Jagdeo was the Chief Guest in 2004. Irfaan Ali was Chief Guest in 2023. This year’s
Guest is the
The SVN and its founder principal Swami Aksharananda have this year been honoured for their contributions to education in Guyana. They have schooled many, uplifting lives. This achievement — award and performance at CSEC and CAPE — marks a proud moment for the entire school community, as it continues its journey towards greater excellence.
SVN is deserving of this India accolade for an unwavering commitment to providing top-tier education that nurtures spirituality and academic proficiency. The award serves as a testament to the relentless efforts of Swami, the staff, and the community to deliver outstanding educational instruction and learning experiences to students. This recognition would motivate teachers and students to continue to excel, and it may impel the Government to recognise and salute the work of SVN in educating the less fortunate, underserved, and underprivileged.
Congratulations!
Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
Dear Editor,
On January 7, 2025, the AFC issued a press release in responding to one of their former members who challenged their oil and gas expert Dr. Vincent Adams. Instead of dealing with the merits or demerits of the argument, the AFC digressed into an ugly personal attack against their former member, Leonard Craig.
According to the AFC, Vincent Adams’s qualifications are superior, and Leonard Craig is unqualified to speak or write on the subject. This was quite an unfortunate, nasty, and ugly attack on the gentleman, wherein a different level of arrogance was on display.
Insofar as anyone’s qualification is concerned to engage in/debate issues of public policy and national importance, the only qualification that matters for me is that person being a Guyanese, especially a tax-paying Guyanese. No politician should ever denigrate anyone’s qualifications.
Let me state at the outset that I also am not as qualified as the self-conferred intellectual lords, or according to their standard. I have no fancy education or PhDs.
Coming back to the AFC’s press release referenced above, 99% of the press statement was surrounded by an excessive embellishment of Dr. Adams’s qualifications and experience, drawing from his 30-year career at the US Department of Energy (UDOE).
The way he was sold to the Guyanese public, one would think he held the highest portfolio at the UDOE.
While I have no intention of trivialising Dr Adams’s career accomplishments in the US - whatever those were that he claimed - I must point out that the position he held when he retired was below that of mid-level management.The organizational chart on the UDOE website has shown he was situated seven (7) levels below the office of Secretary
(the Secretary heads the Organization). He retired as a Deputy Manager in the Office of the Environmental Management. (See chart attached hereto, which was taken directly from the US Department of Energy’s website).
On the contrary, when he was appointed Executive Director of the EPA in Guyana, as the head of that organization, he violated the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, in that there was no audit done of the EPA’s financial statements for the years during his tenure, and in fact for the entire tenure under the APNU+AFC, between 20162020. Those audits had to be done under the PPP/C Government.
In other words, the PPP/C had to clean up his “mess”, thanks to the supremely qualified Vincent Adams. As of 2024, the last audit report noted that all the outstanding years’ audits were completed and laid over in the National Assembly.
Not only that, but the AFC claimed that Adams secured an unlimited guarantee from Exxon to cover the environmental liability, yet he has failed to prove to the nation when and in what form he secured that guarantee. There must be some written documentation or letter to that effect. How come he has never produced it?
Ironically, AFC contends that Government is in court fighting against the unlimited guarantee, but has failed to acknowledge that Nigel Hughes, the AFC leader, is Exxon’s attorney in the very case fighting against the unlimited guarantee at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
What the AFC would not tell you is that Government is not siding with Exxon against the unlimited guarantee, the unlimited guarantee is not provided for in our laws, and therefore is not legally required. What is required is adequate coverage, which was secured. And
Dear Editor, It can be said that Guyana and its citizens have ended the year with a positive outlook for future developmental projects throughout the ten regions and the numerous villages and districts within the country.
Such massive developmental projects include construction of new roads, bridges, schools and, most importantly, installation of new and larger pump stations which are meant to prevent or reduce flooding of cash crops, rice lands and properties.
These massive developments could not have been achieved without the skillful, stout, brave and ingenious leadership of President Dr. Ali, which is second to none in Guyana, the Caribbean, Latin America, and elsewhere.
In his New Year’s message to the nation, His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali has not only acknowledged the success of these developmental projects, but has also outlined his administration’s plan to invest billions of dollars in 2025 in the construction of houses, roads and bridges, not to mention in human development.
Against this backdrop, and in an impromptu visit to Region 10 (Linden), President Dr. Ali reiterat-
ed that since he took office in 2020, his administration has invested almost $6 billion in housing in the various communities in Linden, and he promised that such large-scale investments would continue in Region 10 in 2025 and beyond.
President Ali told Linden residents that, during the last four and a half years, a whopping $96 billion was expended to enhance and modernise the region’s infrastructure, which includes the Linden-to-Mabura Road and the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, among others.
It is true that President Dr. Ali’s Administration has invested more in the Linden communities than any other administration in the history of Guyana.
Guyana’s Head of State, Dr. Ali, highlighted several transformational projects and initiatives that are expected to be completed in 2025. Among them are the Gas-to-Energy project; the new Demerara River Bridge; six new regional hospitals and two state-ofthe-art nursing schools; a new, ultramodern bridge across the Berbice River; the Wismar Bridge; widening of the Corentyne Highway; and the building of the Corentyne River Bridge between Guyana and Suriname, which is a joint
venture between the two countries.
These ongoing projects would boost the country’s development, improve its image and the lives of its people, and move its status from Third World (Global South) to First World (Global North).
More pointedly, President Dr. Ali, in his new year’s message, promised more opportunities and a more unified and inclusive Guyanese society, which forms the basis of his “One Guyana” Initiative. The President noted that one such prospect is democratic renewal through free and fair elections, and that each citizen has the power to shape the future of Guyana’s democracy in 2025.
According to the President, democracy is the foundation for a just, impartial and inclusive society, and it must be protected by all, regardless of political persuasion, ethnicity, or
religious beliefs. He did not mince words when he candidly and explicitly called on all leaders: political, religious and social, to be true to themselves and embrace and affirm their commitment to free and fair elections and a vibrant democratic process, to show the world that Guyana’s democracy is not only resilient, but also durable and eternal.
Despite the high cost of living during the last two years, Guyana has made remarkable progress under the outstanding, judicious and clever leadership of President Dr Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips, and Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, who did not yield to the enormous pressures both from within and without of the country. Simply put, they stood their ground.
Sincerely, Dr Asquith Rose
if the High Court’s ruling is to be enforced, it means that Exxon would have to cease operations immediately, which would have severe adverse economic repercussions for the country.
That is the only reason why Government joined the case: to protect the country’s interest, in order to avert any negative effects.
All in all, while the AFC’s
self-acclaimed intellectual lords boast of superior qualifications, their combined proven track record is atrociously inferior. Nigel Hughes himself revealed at his last press conference that he has presided over some 1200 cases since 1992, with zero victory.
Yours faithfully, Joel Bhagwandin
Dear Editor, We in Guyana have every reason to recall our Ambassador to Venezuela.
We must do so in protest against the swearing-in of Maduro as the winner of Venezuela’s recent elections. We must do so in protest against the planned election of a governor for Essequibo, and we should have already done so in protest against the establishment of a Venezuelan military base on our land at the border.
These are reasons that would have caused any other country to break diplomatic relations with an aggressor country; yet, to date, we have strengthened diplomatic relations with Venezuela.
Government cannot allow nostalgic memories of our past with Venezuela to slow down our responses to their actions. Guyana is no longer a communist or socialist country, and we must not act as an unwilling nation in our own best interest. Reluctance to act swiftly and decisively in the face of Venezuelan aggression does raise eyebrows in the capitalist and free world.
Are the communist roots of the current Government too deep? Why hasn’t Guyana taken the expected steps in breaking diplomatic relations with Venezuela? If democracy is as important as is claimed, then we must protest Maduro’s denial of it in Venezuela. If the Essequibo is truly ours, then we must protest Maduro’s claim and plans to govern it. If our sovereignty and the settlement of our dispute via the International Court of Justice is important to us, then we must protest against Maduro’s military buildup at the border. Our Government cannot continue to be weak on national security. We cannot afford a government that feigns the ways of the free world, but takes actions that one would expect from a communist or socialist regime. If Maduro and his regime are the enemy, then the decision that should be made is clear. It is time to recall our ambassador to Venezuela, and it is time for their ambassador to leave!
Sincerely,
A stem-and-leaf plot organises data and helps you compare it. Think of the plot as a plant with stems. Each stem may have a different number of leaves.
Example:
To read this, attach each leaf to its stem. In Mrs Levy Maths class, the test scores were 67, 68, 69, 75, 76, 76, 83, 85, 87, 89, 89, 91, 91, 93, and 99. You will notice that the data is organised from least to greatest.
In this stem-and-leaf plot, the stems are the scores (in tens) and the leaves are the ones of the scores. To find the range in a stem-and-leaf plot, look at the first leaf on the first stem and the last leaf on the last stem. Subtract the smaller number from the larger one.
Range = 99 – 67 = 32
1) What are the data points for this stem-and-leaf plot? What is the range?
2) Make a stem-and-leaf plot from the following data: 32, 33, 34, 45, 51, 77, 78, 99
January, wear this crown
Which we present to you!
We have made you king of months, We feel it is your due! With your garb of ermine snow, You're dressed just like a king! So it is fitting in your honor Songs of praise we sing! Now pray ascend the royal throne, And bend your regal head. We'll crown you kingand then we'll take Our frozen toes to bed!
…PPP has never and will not stoke instability, divisiveness – Jagdeo
With General and Regional Elections due later this year, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has reassured stakeholders that it is ready to deliver free, fair, transparent and credible elections to the Guyanese electorate.
In a statement on Thursday, the electoral body said “GECOM takes this opportunity to assure all stakeholders that it will deliver free, fair, transparent and credible elections and that they should guard against persons whose sole intention is to undermine their trust and confidence in the Commission.”
The Commission’s missive came on the heels of attempts by certain quarters to tarnish the integrity of the Commission and key management staff who have
Since then, several GECOM officials have been charged and placed before the court for those events. Those matters are still pending in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
However, in the face of these attempts by Opposition elements, the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has already declared its confidence in GECOM to deliver credible elections, which are likely to be held in November of this year.
At his weekly press conference on Thursday, PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo dismissed the attacks on GECOM as “nonsense”, stating that these elements were trying to undermine the credibility of GECOM.
In fact, Jagdeo recent-
ling any instability during the upcoming electoral period. He further reminded
been placed there following the 2020 polls.
At the last elections held on March 2, 2020 in Guyana, there were blatant attempts by the then A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government to derail the results, causing a five-month impasse that saw election results being declared until August 2, 2020.
ly held a meeting with key stakeholders from the Private Sector Commission (PSC), who reaffirmed their support for a free, fair, transparent, and timely electoral process which they contended are integral to Guyana’s democratic integrity and socio-economic stability.
In this vein, the PPP General Secretary made it clear that his party would not be responsible for fuel-
that his party has a track record of always supporting free and fair elections – something which they intend to campaign on at the upcoming polls.
“They expressed concerns about instability and how instability could affect their well-being and the people who work with them. And I pointed out that they should have no concerns
about the PPP stoking any instability or any violence surrounding the elections… We don’t want anyone to do what the PPP wants, we want GECOM to act lawfully and in accordance with the Constitution of Guyana.”
“But we want elections on time. We want GECOM to act in an open, transparent, lawful manner. We want all the citizens of this country to have the right to choose their governments freely in a secure environment and we – at least in the PPP –intend to campaign on our track record and the fulfilment of our promises, not dividing people as the others want to do,” he related.
According to Jagdeo, who is also the Vice President of the country, he also assured the business community of Government’s commitment to providing adequate security during this usually tense period.
“The Government is also going to address the question of security robustly, to
ensure the people of this country can exercise their constitutional right to select a government freely and fairly in a manner that will not lead them to be intimidated or causing violence to suppress their votes,” he stated.
Meanwhile, following Wednesday’s meeting with the VP, the Private Sector body – which was one of the local observers that stood up against the rigging attempts at the 2020 elections – reiterated its unwavering commitment to safeguarding Guyana’s democratic process.
“Free, fair, and transparent elections are pivotal to the nation’s stability, economic progress, and the preservation of citizens’ constitutional rights. The PSC stands ready to engage with all stakeholders to ensure the integrity and inclusivity of the electoral process,” the Commission said in a Thursday missive.
It further added, “The
Commission calls on GECOM, political parties, civil society and the international community to uphold their responsibilities in fostering a secure and credible electoral environment. The PSC remains resolute in its efforts to facilitate dialogue and provide support that ensures the election accurately represents the people’s will.”
Jagdeo on Thursday, in response to concerns of polarisation, pointed out that contrary to the Opposition’s actions, his Government has been working tirelessly to bring Guyanese people together.
“We’re the only multi-ethnic party in this country… because there was a fear that the divisive rhetoric will cause polarisation as we get closer to the elections and I assured people we have no interest in that. We’re trying to bring people together… and our plans are for all of Guyana.”
(G8)
Adrian Mohammed, a 34-year-old Trinidadian national who has no fixed place of abode, has on Thursday been remanded to prison on a simple larceny charge. Arrested on Monday for allegedly stealing a quantity of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and snacks from minibus driver Kevon Cummings between December 30 and 31, 2024 at Diamond Public Road, East Bank Demerara, Mohammed appeared before Diamond/ Golden Grove Magistrate Wanda Fortune and pleaded guilty to the charge. He will return to court today for sentencing.
We’re rightfully livid that Mad Maduro had the chutzpah to announce he’s planning to appoint a Governor of ESSEQUIBO!! But then the madman has consistently insisted that Essequibo is theirs; and even after Pressie and he had smoked a peace pipe arranged by Ralphie Gonzalves at Argyle, he passed legislation “confirming” his ownership!!
In fact, the Argyle meeting had been convened just after he’d raised our temperature by holding a referendum to authorize him to annex Essequibo!! And the Argyle Agreement made no mention of Mad Maduro rescinding the referendum, did it??
So Mad Maduro’s merely continuing to do what he’s been doing even before Exxon struck oil offshore our Atlantic Coast in May 2015 – challenging our sovereignty over Essequibo in whichever way that presents itself to him. Let’s remember he assumed power in March 2013 after his mentor Chavez croaked, and by October of the same year, he had his navy seize and chase away that Anadarko ship surveying for oil off Essequibo!! We can imagine his rage when Exxon struck oil!!
So, do we have to count how Mad Maduro has been pursuing his annexation?? Your Eyewitness thinks not. Old people does say, “You doan need a firestick to see what you can see in broad daylight!!” The other excuse used to “explain” Mad Maduro’s aggression against us is that because he’s destroyed his country’s economy and seven million Venezuelans have fled – he’s trying to placate the restive ones remaining!! Well, whoopidy do!! What difference does it make to us as to why we’re facing his unremitting hostility??
We Guyanese should accept that we’ll never know peace while Mad Maduro’s around. Now, this doesn’t mean that other Venezuelan leaders don’t also believe Essequibo is theirs, but it’s very unlikely that any other leader would be so IRRATIONAL in wanting to be a world leader when all he was when he was plucked out of oblivion by Chavez was a BUS DRIVER for the Caracas Metro system!! There’s nothing else for him to do if he loses his job – unlike, say, his rival Maria Machado, who’s an industrial engineer!! So, he would do whatever it takes to cling on to power; and we gotta do whatever it takes to “un-cling” him!!
But depending on the “international” system to remove him – as we seem to be doing - is tantamount to pi55ing into the wind; it’ll just blow back at you!! Several commentators have suggested we use some of our oil revenues to create a military base in OUR Essequibo – and let it be known we’ll let the Yanks use it as they see fit.
Maybe they’ll want to take over Venezuela after they finish with Mexico!!
…of Mad Maduro’s gambit
Well, today’s the day – the day Mad Maduro places the Venezuelan crown on his head for another six years!! You gotta hand it to the Madman – there’s a method to his madness! Not only did he thumb his nose at little ole us after Argyle, he did the same to the big Biden Yanks with whom – through their surrogates – he’d signed the Barbados Agreement to hold free and fair elections!! The ink hadn’t even dried on that document when he banned his most powerful opposition leader – the aforementioned Machado – who’d been backed by the US N.E.D.! Without even a rap on his fingers!!
The reason, of course, is Biden wanted to have his cake and eat it too. He talked up democracy in the region, but he also wanted the heavy crude from Venezuela to be shipped into American refineries to mix with his light shale oil to produce diesel, so that America wouldn’t have a cold winter!!
Let’s see what Trump’s gonna do!!
…of courting China
Indentured labourers were shipped into Guyana to replace the freed Africans in the following order –Portuguese/Madeirans, Indians, and finally Chinese. Your Eyewitness noticed a staging of Chinese Arrival at the NCC. Just because Portugal’s poorest in Europe??
Asearch is ongoing for the body of 39-yearold Jian Wei Fu, a Chinese national who reportedly fell into the Demerara River on Wednesday while offloading materials from a barge at the construction site of the New Demerara River Bridge.
In a statement issued on Thursday, officials said the accident occurred at about 20:20h at Pier 34 (P-34) along the Demerara River.
“The worker was carried by the swift current downstream. Immediate search and rescue operations were initiated by the compa-
ny’s emergency response team, with assistance from the Coast Guard and police units on night patrol in the area. Despite extensive efforts throughout the night, including the deployment of a diver, the worker has not been located,” the release has said.
The search continued throughout the evening and on Thursday, but the body is yet to be recovered. Officials have said the search would continue until the body of this missing worker has been found.
The private contractor is fully cooperating with local authorities, and a full investigation of the incident has been launched by the Occupational Health and Safety Department of the Labour Ministry.
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has, meanwhile, visited the New Demerara River Bridge project on Thursday as efforts continue to recover the body of the missing man. The minister visited the site from 3:00h to 5:00h, and again from 7:00h to 8:00h, in order to oversee the ongoing search operations and engage the teams involved.
The Home Affairs Ministry has said search efforts are currently being carried out by the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard, the Marine Wing of the Guyana Police Force, and by other relevant agencies.
“These teams are working tirelessly along the waterway and surrounding areas to locate the missing worker and bring closure to this unfortunate incident,” the Ministry has said.
The Ministry has also said it remains committed to ensuring a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, and that its thoughts and prayers are with the worker’s family and colleagues during this difficult time.
Meanwhile, an investigation launched by the Ministry of Labour has found that Fu was reportedly working alone, strapping materials onto a barge at Pier 34 of the New Demerara River Bridge project, when he fell overboard. At the time, he was not wearing a life jacket.
The mother of the Surinamese national whose body was discovered in a trench at Port Mourant on the Corentyne in Berbice last month is alleging that her son’s life had been threatened, and that he had been planning to return home before the end of the year.
Marciano Michel Nelson, called 'Dutchie', a 23-year-old labourer of Bangladesh in Port Mourant, was discovered dead in a trench on December 22, 2024, and there were marks of violence on his body.
His mother Meudich Nelom, who resides in Suriname, has said her son had been involved in mischief, but, at the same time, he was a ‘good boy’, who willingly assisted
when called upon. Asked to elaborate on her statement, the grieving mother said that as a kid he was always with a slingshot. She could not say why her son had left Suriname for Guyana.
“The only thing I know is that he came with a woman. I don’t even know that woman… Since they reached Guyana, they parted,” she disclosed.
This mother noted that she had last spoken with her son on December 2, 2024, when he told her he would be returning to Suriname by the end of the year. Three days after celebrating his birthday, Nelson was killed; and family members received the news of his demise on his father’s birthday. However, during her last conversation with her son, he told her that he was being threatened. “I didn’t know it was
so serious,” Nelson’s mother has said. “If I only know, I would come and pick him up myself. I didn’t know it was that bad.”
Nelson’s mother told this publication she understands that her son was killed because he was a police witness to a pending murder case. “He didn’t do anything; he was just a witness…”
However, she is seeking justice for her son’s death. “There are still people in the streets walking free. She is walking free… she is the brain of the whole operation. When I saw my boy, he had no defensive wounds, he couldn’t defend himself. If he could have defended himself, he would have been chopped on his forearm. They came from the back,” she explained.
Three persons have since been arraigned with the murder of Marciano
his brother Christopher Chinarine, and Michael Anthony Brijjader, all of Rose Hall
Charges were implemented against them after the two brothers al-
Motor Canter GAF 2289 has damaged a metal arch situated at the Diamond New Interlink Road and Mocha Access Road on the East Bank Demerara on Thursday morning, and the driver has been taken into police custody.
According to reports received, the tray of the Canter collided with the arch as the vehicle proceeded along the Diamond Interlink Road, resulting in the arch being dislodged and falling onto the roadway.
The driver has been arrested and the vehicle impounded as investigations continue.
The Government of Guyana has reaffirmed its readiness to fund its share of the much-anticipated Corentyne River Bridge, thus signalling its commitment to advancing this transformative joint project with its Surinamese neighbour.
The progress, however, hinges on Suriname’s ability to secure its portion of the financing, as both nations prepare to share the costs and reap the benefits of the project. The Corentyne River Bridge, designed to link the two countries more effectively, is expected to bolster regional trade, ease transportation, and pave the way for significant economic development.
panies – five Chinese firms and one Dutch company from The Netherlands – had submitted bids for the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge. The bids were opened at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) in Georgetown back in August 2023.
Initially, the plan was to have the bridge built according to a design-build-finance-operate-maintain (DBFOM) model, meaning that whichever company is contracted to build the bridge would be responsible for its design, construction,
financing, operation and maintenance. The bridge was also to have been constructed via a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.
In October 2023, two companies – Dutch engineering company Ballast Nedam and Chinese-owned China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) – submitted proposals to build the bridge over the Corentyne River to link Guyana and Suriname. However, those companies have since indicated that they are unable to meet the pre-financing requirement.
In an interview with Guyana Times on the sidelines of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Heads of Government Conference, held in Georgetown earlier this year, President Santokhi had said there are financial institutions that are willing to fund the construction of the bridge. He said informal discussions had been held with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which had indicated an interest in financing the project.
Speaking on the matter, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo emphasised that with a contractor already selected by both Guyana and Suriname and multiple discussions held with financiers, the Government is now awaiting Suriname’s final confirmation to secure financing.
parks, entertainment spots, tourist attractions, malls, and farmers’ markets.
According to VP Jagdeo, upon completion, the bridge would not only link the two neighbouring countries but would also open up access to greater economic opportunities beyond them: into French Guiana, through the road network being devel-
project,” he added.
The Corentyne River Bridge is one of the first projects agreed on by President Dr Irfaan Ali and his Surinamese counterpart, President Chandrikapersad Santokhi. These Heads of State had previously underscored the critical role the bridge would play in advancing cooperation and
“We are at a stage now, where parties can come to the table and say that we can come up with our share of the money. We’re prepared to make that commitment now and we can raise our share of the resources swiftly and once the other side can do that, then the project will move fast,” Jagdeo told media at his weekly press conference on Thursday.
The Corentyne River Bridge, which would connect Moleson Creek in Guyana with South Drain in Suriname, would be approximately 3.1 kilometres in length and would have a landing on Long Island in the Corentyne River, where a commercial hub and tourist destination would be established. That duty-free zone would see major infrastructural development such as hotels, recreational
oped, into Brazil and eventually further into South America.
“We have already done a lot of groundwork on this, so we can raise our share of the project swiftly. This is a joint project with Suriname and we’re going to share the cost because the benefits will be shared by both countries. We will get a ton of our exports into Suriname and if we do our deep-water harbour, I think we’ll be able to capitalise and repay this loan with great ease… the benefits will also be great for Suriname, for its industrialisation and development purposes. I think both countries recognise that it’s a good project. We have been working on this for a while, it took longer than anticipated because they had to go through several iterations of contractors and going back and forth because it’s a joint
creating more opportunities for development for both countries.
A contract worth US$2 million was signed in Paramaribo, in May of 2022, for several preliminary studies and research to be conducted on the Corentyne bridge by WSP Caribbean. The Expressions of Interest were also simultaneously launched.
WSP Caribbean presented the design of the Corentyne River Bridge to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill and his Surinamese counterpart, Minister Riad Nurmohamed, in June 2023. It entailed a two-section structure that is connected via an island (Long Island) to link Guyana and Suriname. The design also featured a two-lane bridge with accommodation for a third lane in case of an emergency.
ExxonMobil signaled on Tuesday that sharply lower oil refining profits and weakness across all its businesses would reduce its fourth-quarter earnings by about $1.75 billion from the prior quarter.
The oil major also said in an SEC filing that upstream asset sales would benefit results by about $400 million, but overall impairments would cost about $600 million. The company’s filing did not specify a reason for the impairments.
Exxon’s snapshot is closely watched for clues to how other oil majors will fare when they begin releasing results this month.
Exxon is expected to post a profit of $1.76 a share for the fourth quarter, down from $2.48 a share, in the same quarter last year, ac-
cording to financial firm LSEG.
Exxon’s earnings snapshot signaled profits “well below consensus,” said Biraj Borkhataria, an oil analyst with RBC Capital Markets, in a note to investors. The forecast showed “significant headwinds” in refining, he added.
The company indicated oil refining margins would cut earnings by between $300 million and $700 million from the third-quarter level. It also signaled timing effects would lop off another $500 million to $900 million.
Demand for gasoline and diesel has lagged expectations globally and the start of new oil refineries in Asia and Africa led to excess supplies in the market. U.S. fuel stockpiles grew in the quarter as refiners keep their utilization rates high and
demand was weaker than expected.
Oil prices declined about 6% in the quarter ended Dec. 31 from the prior three months, and down nearly 12% from a year-ago, as traders worried about global oil demand.
The drop was partially offset by higher U.S. prices for natural gas, which were up about 30% from the prior quarter.
The industry bellwether had posted $8.6 billion in earnings for the third quarter, and an adjusted profit of $9.96 billion in the yearago fourth quarter. Exxon also said that lower margins in its chemicals business would lower earnings by about $400 million compared to the third quarter. The company will release final results on Jan. 31, the filing said. (Reuters)
The Guyana Government distributed a historic $4.778 billion in carbon credit funding for the development of Indigenous communities in 2024, in an initiative spearheaded by Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai with the aim of benefitting 242 communities, including riverine and remote villages.
This funding, part of Guyana’s growing involvement in the global carbon market, served the dual purposes of addressing local development needs and furthering climate change mitigation efforts.
According to Minister Sukhai, $4.743 billion was initially disbursed, and the sum of $35 million was later allocated to small groups which submitted developmental plans to the ministry with the aim of boosting economic activities within the various areas.
“So, we disbursed to Amerindian villages directly
$4.7 billion. That’s 2024 total, (and) 242 communities benefitted. Well, we had some new additions, and a total of $35 million in addition to the $4.743 (was) given. These were small settlements that requested support directly. They come within a big village, so the village receives their 15 percent; in this case, 23/26 percent,” the minister explained.
“And so sometimes there are clusters of settlers who also request. So, this year, we have made accommodation to give Five Star, Big Creek, Fitzburg and 47 Miles some additional sums to supplement what they already received under the Presidential Grant, and that was given under the LCDS carbon credit revenue funds,” Sukhai detailed.
The funds are disbursed through a Village Council system, wherein the funds for each village are deposited into a special bank account owned by that village, and the Community Council oversees how the funds are spent. Spending is done in accordance with a sustainable development plan established through local consultations.
The funds are spent based on collective decisions made by the village, with a Financial Oversight Committee ensuring proper usage of the funds. However, challenges arose in regard to management of the funds, particularly in regard to accountability.
Sukhai disclosed that concerns have been raised in regard to instances when the Toshaos may retain control of these funds without providing proper transparency or oversight. This, she said, has led to internal disputes over usage of the funds, as Village Councils sometimes find themselves unaware of financial decisions made by the Toshaos.
“Yes! We have had in-
stances where we have heard, with no tangible evidence, that ‘Toshao is keeping the money and not giving it to the treasurer’. That’s like a recurrent complaint: that Toshao is keeping the money and doesn’t hand it over to the treasurer,” she acknowledged.
“There’s a little bit of gray area there that maybe we’ll have to look at later on; because Toshao is a signatory to the bank account, (I’m) not sure the treasurer is, and maybe that is why Toshao will tend to want to hold on to the money. But the decision on spending has to be collective, based on the plan,” Minister Sukhai explained.
Despite these challenges, she disclosed, the initiative emphasises the importance of community-driven decision-making and the need for stringent oversight. As such, the Amerindian Affairs Ministry has pledged to continue offering guidance on best practices for financial management, including improved reporting mechanisms and the formation of clear
ance, and also to advise on how they should operationalize the system of expending the funds: the decisions to expend the tranche and the reporting to the oversight; the sharing of information. Because it gets a little bit cumbersome when you do find out that, yes, Toshao spent the money. He went and he bought the materials, and he didn’t account for it,” the minister explained.
“So, we would resolve that. Of course, there’s been a case in the very early - not in 2024, but in 2023,” Sukhai added.
protocols for fund usage.
“So, we’ve had cases where we’ve had to provide guid-
In 2023, Government signed with global energy giant Hess Corporation a multi-year agreement worth US$750 million, facilitating the sale of $2.5 million in carbon credits to that corporation annually. Those credits are generated by preserving Guyana’s vast rainforests, which serve as critical carbon sinks in the global fight against climate change. This pioneering approach has garnered international acclaim, and positioned Guyana as a leader in sustainable development.
The first payment of US$150 million was received in 2023, and US$22.5 million thereof was disbursed to over 242 Amerindian, hinterland, rural and riverine communities and villages. Population size was a key determining factor in Government’s methodology for the distribution of money earned from this sale of carbon credits, and as result, funds disbursed to recipient communities ranged from $10 million to $35 million.
President Dr Irfaan Ali and several Ministers of Government engaged residents of Melanie and Non-Pareil, East Coast Demerara (ECD) during separate outreaches on Thursday
The wife of cane harvester Yognand Chaitram, also called ‘Boie’, who was recently shot dead by a businessman at Lesbeholden in Black Bush Polder, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), is calling for justice for her husband after the alleged shooter was released on station bail.
The 29-year-old Chaitram, who resided at Alness Village Corentyne, was fatally shot at the business establishment on New Year’s Day after he allegedly refused to leave the premises; and days after the suspect was arrested, he was released on $1 million station bail, pending recommendations on the way forward from the Director of
Public Prosecutions (DPP), who had requested to see the CCTV footage of the shooting incident.
This development has outraged the late Chaitram’s wife, and when she met with the Police Divisional Commander on Wednesday, she expressed her disappointment that the police have not yet instituted charges against the businessman for her husband’s death.
Guyana Times has been made to understand that among the conditions governing the businessman’s bail are that he lodges his passport with the police and be made to report to the authorities at the Whim Police
Station daily.
“He (commander) said that they can’t keep him (suspect) more than 72 hours, so he has to be on bail until they get the file back from the DPP,” an angry Roshnie Baichan has said. “He murdered my husband, and I get three children and they small. He shoot my husband and just left him on the road like a dog, and then he get release from out of the lock-up. I want to know what really going on…”
The late Yognand’s brother, Devendra Chaitram, embracing the opportunity to reiterate his version of what had transpired, told this publication,
“He (commander) ask me how de ting happen, and me tell he how de ting happen.”
Devendra Chaitram had previously stated that shots were being fired from inside the shop. “When ahwe go in the shop, they get a couple well more Black Bush people in the shop. We call pon ‘Uncle’, and he tell ahwe come out the shop,” he had said, while stating that his brother did not get the money changed.
Devendra recalled encouraging the late Yognand to leave the shop as he left to get a taxi to take them home. “Me buddy know one and two body who went in the shop, and he start talk with dem, and me walk
come out the shop,” he explained.
According to Devendra, while outside the shop, he heard a gunshot, and shortly after, he saw his brother running out of the shop and the owner running behind him with the gun in his hand. He said the owner discharged a third round at his brother, and then pointed the gun in his direction, but out of fear for his life, he walked away and left his brother on the ground.
An autopsy conducted on the body of the late Yognand Chetram has determined that the cause of his death is shock and haemorrhage due to a gunshot injury.
“No one under 16 can ride electric bike” – Traffic Chief …says riders need necessary licences to do so
The Traffic Chief,
Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh, has made it clear that no person under the age of 16 years old should be riding an electric bike.
He told Guyana Times on Tuesday, during a telephone interview, that these bikes travel at a reasonable speed, and children often lack the knowhow and road safety knowledge to control these bikes; thus, they endanger not only their own lives, but those of other road users.
Emphasising that the police are guided by amendments made to the law, the Traffic Chief has promised that the police would take strict measures based on those regulations.
He said owners are required to ensure their e-bikes meet specific standards and pass several tests before being ridden.
“The law has been amended to define what an electric motorcycle, or e-bike, is. The police are guided by the amendment on how to take action. (An owner is) re-
Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh
quired to register the e-bike, certify it for fitness, and ensure it is insured,” he detailed.
“Additionally, there is a requirement for riders to be licensed. So, a 10-year-old or anyone below 16 cannot be riding one of these bikes. These practices are prohibited,” Singh explained.
The Traffic Chief has expressed concern that riders of motorcycles are eschewing the use of helmets, and he has stressed that such riders are mandated by law to wear helmets.
“Look at it from two sides: not wearing a safety helmet is an offence; it’s a ticket offence. As far as we see riders without helmets, and where officers are deployed, we issue tickets,” he declared.
The Traffic Chief has also said the public must understand that police can, in no way, force riders to use their helmets. “However, if the police encounter a motorcycle owner without a helmet, we can provide them with a helmet, put it on their head, and tell them to wear it. The responsibility lies with the owner,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of public sensitization, Singh highlighted that although the Home Affairs Ministry has distributed free helmets, people have failed to wear them.
“The Ministry shares out thousands of helmets for free every year. They (riders) receive them today, and by tomorrow, what do they do? Go back to old habits! It’s the usual style. So, you see, there are two sides to the coin,” Singh remarked. “We
“It hard on me” – woman whose husband is incarcerated – children unable to attend school
Parbatie Mahadeo, a 36-year-old security guard who resides at Rose Hall Town in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), has said she is struggling to take care of her family since the 2023 incarceration of her husband for wounding his neighbour.
Cane harvester Mark Anderson was slapped with an 11-year sentence on July 22, 2023 after a jury found him guilty of feloniously wounding his neighbour. The 27-yearold Anderson is married to Mahadeo, and their union has produced seven chil-
dren.
Mahadeo has said she is struggling to take care of herself and six of her children, aged between two and 12 years.
Her eldest child, now 18, has moved out, and is now taking care of her own family. In 2020, this child was forced to work in order to help contribute to the household. Pregnant in 2020, Mahadeo had reportedly asked her 14-yearold daughter to be the sole breadwinner of the family.
sensitize the public to create greater awareness. We give helmets out for free when available, and we issue tickets to everyone we catch violating the law.”
The Traffic Chief declared, “Every rider, whether on a motorcycle or e-bike, has been told it is necessary to wear a safety helmet the moment you mount the vehicle. Put it on, clip it, and strap it down.”
This simple act, he said, can significantly reduce the severity of injuries and save riders from life-threatening head trauma in the event of an accident.
Amendments were made to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic laws in 2023 with intention to regulate the use of electric bikes, Singh disclosed. The new regulatory framework aims to address the rising number of road fa-
talities and incidents involving electric bikes. The bill was passed in the National Assembly in April 2023. Supported unanimously in Parliament, the Bill, which defines electric cycles as motorcycles with electric motors and effective braking systems, mandates that riders of electric cycles adhere to the same registration and usage rules as are applicable to conventional motorcycles.
Arecent gas cylinder fire has left 55-yearold Basmati Ganpat and her husband, 58-yearold Manu “Paul” Sukhu, hospitalized, but Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Massy Gas Products, Augustus Harris, has said the primary issue is not with Massy’s gas cylinders, but rather with the use of inferior-quality regulatory fittings, which are not recommended by Massy.
Harris told Guyana Times during an interview that there has never been an explosion with any of Massy’s Gas Products.
“First thing I would like to say very clearly is that there have been no gas cylinder explosions…(however) there have been reports in the media that suggest it’s been gasoline explosions.”
According to Harris,
an exploding gas cylinder is ruptured. There is a clear distinction that can be seen in these explosions, he contends.
“(In regard to) the Foulis incident and all of these other incidents, if you look at the pictures and the videos, you would recognize that the cylinders are intact. It’s important for us to make that distinction,” he declared.
Told that in all of these incidents involving issues with gas tanks and fires, Massy Gas Products have been the subject; no other gas supplier has been mentioned,
Harris responded that this is due to the in-depth popularity of the gas product. The reality, he said, is that Massy Gas Products has the biggest share of the gas market in Guyana.
“Consequently, if an incident happens, it’s highly likely (that Massy Gas Products would be mentioned), because of the percentage of the market it holds,” Harris explained.
He said several factors have been identified in regard to the issues of gas tank fires.
“There have been several factors that we have recognized contributing to these incidents. One, there have been cases where individuals have been using faulty regulators. Two, there have been cases where the hoses being used are not the prescribed or recommended hoses. Three, there are also instances where individuals have inadvertently left their stove knobs in the ‘on’ position,” he detailed.
He pointed out that
a challenge of compatibility,” he declared.
A detailed example in regard to which regulator
none of the regulators provided by Massy has been recorded as causing any damage.
“The cylinders that we work with, the regulators that we provide, and the hoses and regulators are very much compatible with our cylinders. We do not see
should be used and how to correctly use it was given by Senior Production Manager Ryan Basdeo.
“First, what we want to do is take off the green seal. Secondly, we want to check the rubber and make sure it’s not cracked in any
way. With the regulator in the ‘off’ position, we pull the ring back, place it on the valve, push down the ring, and then we can turn on the gas,” Basdeo explained.
Harris has said it is quite important to note the in-depth series of processes Massy undergoes in the quality assessment, using a series of machines, both manually and automatically.
“We have a machine that checks for leaks around the neck of the cylinder. So, if it leaks beyond the 1.5 grams per hour threshold, it will be rejected. On top of that, we have a manual check. We have been doing this for the last 30 years. This is where we observe any spraying out of water. We pressure up these cylinders over twice the cylinder pressure, which is about 480 psi. By then you might be able to observe the bulging of the cylinder,” he explained.
He also pointed out that
“It hard on me” – woman whose husband...
She and her children were then living in a zinc house with no rooms. However, through the assistance of Food for The Poor Guyana Limited, she was given the house in which she now lives.
Mahadeo has said she believes the continuous cy-
cle of poverty and prevalence of several social ills have led to the current situation she and her husband have found themselves in.
Her husband, she explained, grew up without parents. “His grandmother said that, after his father passed away, he was stay-
ing with his stepmother; and after she passed away, he started living with she,” Mahadeo disclosed. “The grandmother say (that) since he was a baby, his mother went away, and they never see she back,” Mahadeo revealed.
Mahadeo said her child-
hood was also challenging, although she grew up with her parents. Her father was a security guard and her mother was a domestic helper. She was taken out of school in Grade Seven because there were four others in the home who were attending school, and her mother could not afford to support her educational pursuits. However, she did not venture into the world of work until she was in her 30s.
As she awaits her husband’s release from prison, Mahadeo has said, she is finding it very difficult to address the basic needs of her family.
Schools have reopened on Monday, but none of her four school-aged children have thus far been able to attend.
“I doing security work, and the lil salary that ah getting, ah dose try to make ends meet. Some days they get and some days they don’t get; some days they go to school and some days they don’t go to school, because I don’t have to give them
much to go to school,” an impassioned Mahadeo has said.
Disclosing that during those times when she is unable to afford milk for her two-year-old she has to breastfeed the child, Mahadeo declared, “I am in this situation because my husband is not around; my husband is in prison. He is
there is a specific way persons can determine whether a cylinder is fit for service. “How we determine whether a cylinder is fit for service is by what we call the requalification process. Whilst inspection is going on, if a cylinder is found to be outside of the requalification period, then that is pulled from service. It’s taken to the Cylinder Maintenance Department. At the Cylinder Maintenance Department, they will take that cylinder, remove its valve, and take it through the process of pressure testing, which we call proof testing. In that test, we take the cylinder pressure up to 5,000 psi,” he detailed.
Massy estimates that there currently are some 300,000 gas cylinders in homes across Guyana. Massy is, nevertheless, sympathising with persons affected by the fires, and is currently campaigning for the use of proper regulators.
spending a sentence because of an issue.” However, she did not elaborate.
“It is really because he was the breadwinner for the house, and it is really hard on me now. I would like if the Government or the Minister could look into his matter and make his sentence be a little smaller; because he (has already served) a lot of time and he has six children,” a wistful Mahadeo declared.
Anderson’s incarceration has resulted from his being convicted of wounding a fellow villager with whom he had had an ongoing feud. Anderson had reportedly attacked this villager with a cutlass in retaliation for his allegedly stealing Anderson’s bicycle.
Mahadeo's home has neither electricity nor potable water. She obtains water from the main connection at the side of the street. She is pleading with the public for assistance to provide for her children. Mahadeo can be reached on cell #677-4538.
(Andrew Carmichael)
“Do not stop vehicles
look for guns, drugs, and thieves”
Ranks of the Guyana Police Force have been given a stern warning to refrain from stopping vehicles and asking drivers for licences, instead, they should focus on weapons, narcotics and criminals.
This caution was issued by Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, on Thursday during an engagement with the officers and ranks of Regional Division #5 (Mahaica-Berbice) at the Headquarters in Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice. The Top Cop was accompanied by Deputy Commissioners Ravindradat Budhram, Simon McBean, and Wendell Blanhum.
In his address, Commissioner Hicken reiterated the importance of upholding professionalism and adhering to established protocols. According to a release from the Force’s Corporate Communication Unit (CCU), the Top Cop warned Traffic and Patrol ranks to remain focused on their core responsibilities.
“Do not stop vehicles asking for licences. That is not your work. You are to search for guns, drugs, and
stop doing traffic duties and focus more on engaging with members of the public.
The Top Cop made these comments on Monday during an engagement with ranks of Division 4A at the Officers’ Mess Annexe, Eve Leary, Georgetown. The objective of the meeting was to ‘set the tone’ and outline the way forward for the Force in 2025.
“Traffic ranks, you are creating embarrassment to this country. So, with immediate effect, this coming from the Commissioner now
He highlighted the tremendous strides made in educational development and capacity building, noting that this is the first time in the history of the GPF that there were so many qualified persons with degrees, masters and even doctorates.
In alignment with the Commissioner’s vision, the Deputy Commissioners, in their individual charge to the officers and ranks, encouraged them to maintain professionalism and integrity, actively engage with their communities, and pur-
thieves,” Hicken declared.
Moreover, the Police Commissioner further issued a strong directive, emphasising that body cameras must always be worn by ranks during vehicle stops.
Only earlier this week, Hicken sent a stern warning to traffic ranks to desist from stopping motorists without being equipped with their body cameras and more so, cautioned them to
– nobody from traffic is to stop any vehicle or ask for any licence without a body camera, and if you’re caught (you will face the consequences),” Hicken warned earlier this week.
Nevertheless, during Thursday’s engagement in Division #5, the Police Commissioner went on to emphasise the importance of the six pillars of the Force’s Strategic Plan (2022-2026).
sue both academic and professional growth.
Thursday’s engagement was organised by the Regional Commander for Division #5, Assistant Commissioner Kurleigh Simon, who reflected on the division’s performance in 2024 and highlighted operational challenges and successes. He commended the ranks for their dedication, disclosing that 62 ranks
benefitted from training programmes in 2024, with additional training planned for professional development this year.
Meanwhile, in a generous gesture of support, Commissioner Hicken announced a donation of $400,000 to the Region #5 Policing Division to support its ongoing efforts and enhance operational efficiency.
The session also marked a significant operational change, with over 20 Special Constables and Neighbourhood Police being reassigned to General Duty Policing, further strengthening the Division’s human resource capacity.
This ongoing engagement by the top brass of the GPF will be conducted in all the Police divisions through-
ship between members of the public and the Police.
Commissioner Hicken remains adamant that Police ranks must venture
Hicken and the Deputy Commissioners also implored the ranks to be professional at all times, to work in unity and as a team
out the country and is aimed at reinforcing a more professional Police Force that is committed to fostering and strengthening the relation-
out into the communities and meet and interact with the residents, in an effort to build trust and foster partnerships. Commissioner
and to give their best as they carry out their sworn mandate to serve and protect the nation.
Police in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) yesterday conducted a sudden-search exercise at the Mahdia Arcade, and a quantity of ganja was discovered hidden under a black water tank.
During this operation, several persons were searched for firearms, ammunition and narcotics, but nothing illegal was found. However, a black plastic bag containing cannabis was found under a black water tank; and when weighed, the cannabis amounted to 66 grams. Nobody has been arrested, but investigations are in progress.
Venezuelan Opposition
Leader Maria Corina Machado was freed on Thursday, her Vente Venezuela movement said, shortly after she was detained amid gunshots while leaving a protest in eastern Caracas.
Opposition demonstrations took place throughout the country in an 11thhour effort to put pressure on President Nicolás Maduro ahead of his third inauguration on Friday.
Machado was detained after making her first public appearance in months, prompting her ally, former presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez, to demand she be freed immediately. Several Governments also condemned the incident.
During her detention, Machado was forced to record several videos, Vente Venezuela said in a statement on social media, adding it will give further details in the coming hours.
Government officials, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, said her arrest was fabricated by the Opposition in a bid to generate support for her movement.
“They end with the absurdity of absurdities, lying to
say the Government had captured Maria Corina,” Cabello said during a ruling party march in Caracas, accusing Machado of filming the videos, which show her sitting on a curb and recounting losing her wallet during her detention.
Both the Opposition and the ruling party claim to have won last year’s presidential election.
The country’s electoral authority and top court say Maduro, whose time in office has been marked by a deep economic and social crisis, won the July vote, though they have never published detailed tallies.
The Government, which has accused the Opposition of fomenting fascist plots against it, has said it will arrest Gonzalez should he return to the country and has detained prominent Opposition members and activists in the lead-up to the inauguration.
Gonzalez, 75, has been on a tour of the Americas this week and met with US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump’s national security advisor.
“We have and continue to condemn publicly Maduro and his representa-
tives for attempting to intimidate Venezuela’s democratic Opposition,” a White House National Security Council spokesperson said, adding Gonzalez is the “true winner” of the election.
Machado, 57, had urged protesters to peacefully flood the streets and repeatedly asked members of the police and military -- who guarded polling stations during the election – to back Gonzalez’s victory.
“Whatever they do, tomorrow they will finally bury themselves,” Machado said during the protest. “Let no one be in doubt, what they do
razilian President Luiz
BInácio Lula da Silva may change officials in his Cabinet before a meeting with Ministers scheduled for January 21, Chief of Staff Rui Costa said on Thursday.
In an interview with TV channel GloboNews, Costa said that the only change decided on so far was that of Lula’s spokesman, , but other swaps could come in the following weeks.
Meanwhile, Lula said on Thursday that social media company Meta’s decision to scrap its fact-checking programme in the US was “extremely serious”, and that he would discuss the matter in a
meeting with Government officials.
“I’m going to have a meeting today to discuss the Meta issue,” the leftist leader told reporters in Brasilia.
“I think it’s extremely serious that people want digital communication to not have the same responsibility as someone who commits a crime in the written press.”
Meta said on Tuesday it would change its fact-checking programme in the US, leading Brazilian prosecutors to demand that it clarify whether the changes would also apply to the South American country.
Meta, which declined to
comment through its office in Brazil, was given 30 days to provide a response, a document seen by Reuters showed.
The prosecutors said the order for further details was related to an ongoing probe of the actions taken by social media platforms to combat misinformation and violence online in Brazil.
Brazilian Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who led the Supreme Court decision that temporarily suspended social media platform X in the country last year, stressed on Wednesday that tech firms must comply with local laws to operate in Brazil. (Excerpts from Reuters)
As Panama remembers bloody past, a message for Trump: the canal is ours
Hundreds of Panamanians marched on Thursday to mark the anniversary of a deadly uprising against US control of the Panama Canal in 1964, with some protesters burning an effigy of President-elect Donald Trump who has threatened to retake the vital global waterway.
More than 20 Panamanians, many of them students, died during violent clashes across the country in January 1964, which escalated after US security forces opened fire in response to mass demonstrations against the US presence in the country and control of the canal. At least three US soldiers also died.
The incident, remembered every January 9 as “Martyrs’ Day”, is regarded as paving the way for the eventual transfer of the canal to Panama in 1999. It also serves as a reminder of a bloody past that still dominates national feeling over the canal in Panama, at a time of ris-
ing tension with Trump.
“Today is a day to remember the sacrifice of our martyrs, but also to say to the world that Panama is sovereign and the canal is ours,” said Sebastian Quiroz, an 84-year-old retired unionist who was a student during the uprising.
The marching crowd chanted “spilled blood will never be forgotten” and “hands off Panama” as they approached the monument of the eternal flame, built to remember those that died in 1964. Earlier in the day President Jose Raul Mulino laid a wreath at the site in a formal ceremony.
Trump on Tuesday refused to rule out using military or economic pressure to seize control of the canal, an 82-kilometre (51-mile) artificial waterway connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans that is a core international shipping route. (Excerpt from Reuters)
tomorrow marks the end of the regime.”
Reuters witnesses estimated some 7000 persons had gathered in Caracas by around 14:20h local time. In the days after the election, thousands also took to the streets.
“I’m not afraid, I lost my fear a long time ago,” said 70-year-old Neglis Payares, a retired central bank worker, as she gathered with other Opposition supporters in western Caracas in the morning.
Maduro, 62, has been in power since 2013. He has the vociferous support of leaders
in the armed forces and the intelligence services, which are run by close allies of Cabello.
“We have no work”
In the western oil city of Maracaibo, an Opposition protest of dozens of people was quickly dispersed by motorcycle-mounted security forces by late morning. In central Valencia, protesters gathered at another location after initially being met with tear gas.
Opposition supporters also gathered in San Cristobal, near the border with Colombia, in the western city of Barquisimeto and in eastern Puerto Ordaz. In Maracay, security forces used tear gas to disperse protesters.
The ruling party held rival marches nationwide, images of which were broadcast on State television.
“We’ve come out to show that there is a democracy. On this side are the patriots who will be sworn in with Nicolás (Maduro), on the other side are fascists who want (foreign) intervention, war, to sell their country,” said 50-yearold Caracas motorcycle taxi driver Manual Rincon.
Gonzalez has repeat-
edly pledged to return to Venezuela, but has given no details about how. An arrest warrant was issued for him for alleged conspiracy, prompting his September flight to Spain.
Machado is being investigated by the Attorney General in at least two cases, but no warrant for her has been made public.
The Government has detained several high-profile politicians and activists, including a former presidential candidate. This week, the attorney general’s office said it had freed more than 1500 of the 2000 persons, including teenagers, detained during post-election protests.
Venezuelans living abroad also held protests, including in Madrid, where Gonzalez’s daughter Carolina Gonzalez spoke to hundreds of demonstrators.
“My dad sends a hug to all of you, glory to the brave people of Venezuela,” she said, her voice breaking.
The brief arrest of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado provoked swift condemnations on Thursday from political leaders across the globe, punctuated by calls for her right to free speech and personal safety. (Reuters)
Peru’s central bank trimmed its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to settle at 4.75 per cent on Thursday, surprising analysts who expected the country’s monetary authority to hold the rate steady at five per cent.
Peru has since September 2023 gradually eased the key lending rate from a high of 7.75 per cent it held through the first part of that year.
In a statement, the central bank said the cut moves the rate to a level it estimates to be “neutral” while adding future rate adjustments will track new data on inflation and its derivatives.
The bank’s decision to lower borrowing costs came after December’s inflation rate inched up by 0.11 per cent month-on-month, bringing price increases to 1.97 per cent last year – within the bank’s target range of two per cent plus or minus once percentage point. Prices were down from the 3.24 per cent annual inflation rate recorded in 2023 and far below the 8.46 per cent in 2022. December’s annualised rate was also down from 2.27 per cent the previous month.
Peru boasts one of Latin America’s lowest benchmark interest rates. (Reuters)
Days after Stuart Young was chosen as Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s successor at a parliamentary retreat in Tobago, he is now in limbo, as several Members of Parliament (MPs) who were in that caucus are said to now be refusing to endorse him on a document indicating he will have majority support in the House of
Representatives when Rowley eventually steps down.
Cabinet sources have told Guardian Media that Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis started canvassing MPs to get their signatures for the document, which will be forwarded to the President eventually.
But sources said as Robinson-Regis began attempting to physically obtain the signatures of the MPs who participated in the recent vote, she met some hurdles.
Guardian Media was reliably informed that at least nine MPs have initially declined to register their signatures.
This, as a fallout has developed among MPs over the manner in which the voting process went down and why it was necessary so soon in the first place.
Young, Port-of-Spain North/St Ann’s West MP, edged out Arima MP Pennelope Beckles 11-9 for the position after a secret ballot at the Tobago Plantations on Monday. According to chapter five of the Constitution that deals with the appointment of ministers, “Where there is occasion for the appointment of a Prime Minister, the President shall appoint as Prime Minister: (a) a member of the House of Representatives who is the Leader in that House of that party which commands the support of the majority of members of that House.”
It is, therefore, critical that Young receives the majority backing from as many MPs when the time comes for him to be installed as the next Prime Minister. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)
Oil prices rose more than one per cent on Thursday as cold weather gripped parts of the United States and Europe, boosting winter fuel demand.
Brent crude futures settled up 76 cents, or one per cent, at US$76.92 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled up 60 cents, or 0.82 per cent, to US$73.92.
On Wednesday, both benchmarks fell more than one per cent.
Thursday's rise is "definitely winter fuel demand kicking in here in the US", said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital in New York.
Parts of east Texas up to west Virginia were under a winter storm warning on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service, covering large swathes of Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky.
Ultra-low sulphur diesel futures were trading at around US$2.38 a gallon, their highest since October 8, according to data from LSEG.
JP Morgan analysts estimate that for the United States, Europe and Japan, for every degree Fahrenheit the temperature drops below its 10-year average, there is an increase of 113,000 barrels per day (bpd) in demand for heating oil and propane "as teeth-chattering temperatures prompt consumers to crank up their heat".
Extreme winter conditions can lead to disruptions in oil supplies as freezing temperatures may cause temporary freeze-offs and production cuts, JP Morgan analysts said.
"Right now it appears that the ice will stay north of refinery row along the US Gulf Coast, but power outages will be a concern as heavy rain and wind comes along for the ride," TACenergy's trading desk wrote on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the market structure in Brent futures is indicating that traders are becoming more concerned about supply tightening at the same time demand is increasing.
The premium of the front-month Brent contract over the six-month contract reached its widest since August on Wednesday. A widening of this backwardation, when futures for prompt delivery are higher than for later delivery, typically indicates that supply is declining or demand is increasing.
US President Joe Biden is expected to announce new sanctions targeting Russia's economy this week, according to a US official. The administration is trying to bolster Ukraine's war effort against Russia before President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. A key target of sanctions so far has been Russia's oil industry.
The dollar strengthened further on Thursday.
Looking ahead, WTI crude oil is expected to oscillate within a range of US$67.55 to US$77.95 into February as the market awaits more clarity on Trump's planned policies and fiscal stimulus from China, OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong said. (Reuters)
The death of a teenage boy sparked violent protests in a city in north-west China, the BBC has confirmed through verified video.
In the videos shared on social media, protesters can be seen hurling objects at Police and officers beating some demonstrators in Pucheng in Shaanxi province. Authorities said the teenager fell to his death on January 2 in an accident at his school dormitory. But following his death allegations began spreading on social media that there had been a cover-up.
Protests erupted soon after and lasted several days, before they were apparently quelled earlier this week.
The BBC has seen no fur-
Two massive wildfires menacing Los Angeles from the east and west were still burning uncontained on Thursday, but a brief respite from the fierce winds that have fanned the flames for two days allowed crews to slow their explosive spread.
The Palisades Fire between Santa Monica and Malibu on the city's western flank and the Eaton Fire in the east near Pasadena already rank as the most destructive in Los Angeles history, consuming nearly 31,000 acres (12,500 hectares) – or some 48 square miles (125 sq km) – turning entire neighborhoods to ash.
At least five persons have been killed, thousands of homes and businesses have been incinerated and nearly 180,000 persons have been ordered to evacuate
said the Palisades Fire destroyed another 5300 structures, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Human remains detection teams would conduct house-to-house searches once it is safe, County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.
Private forecaster AccuWeather estimated the damage and economic loss at US$135 billion to US$150 billion, portending an arduous recovery and soaring homeowners' insurance costs.
their homes, with another 200,000 under evacuation warnings, officials said.
A wildfire ripped through an upscale coastal area of Los Angeles overnight, with Hollywood celebrities among those evacuating by car and on foot.
House votes to
The death toll is likely to rise, Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna told a press conference, adding that the Eaton Fire alone had damaged or destroyed 4000 to 5000 structures. Officials
In all, five wildfires burned in Los Angeles County, including one rapidly growing blaze that crossed the border from Ventura County. The skies buzzed with aircraft dropping retardant and water on the flaming hills. (Excerpt from Reuters)
The US House of Representatives voted on Thursday to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) to protest its issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister over Israel's campaign in Gaza.
The vote was 243 to 140 in favour of the "Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act", which would sanction any foreigner who investigates, arrests, detains or prosecutes US citizens or those of an allied country, including
Israel, who are not members of the court.
Forty-five Democrats joined 198 Republicans in backing the bill. No Republican voted against it.
“America is passing this law because a kangaroo court is seeking to arrest the Prime Minister of our great ally, Israel,” Representative Brian Mast, Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a House speech before the vote.
The House vote, one of the first since the new Congress was seated last
US, Arab mediators make some progress in Gaza talks, no deal yet, sources say
Uther evidence of protest in Pucheng since then.
Public demonstrations are not uncommon in China, but authorities have been particularly sensitive about them since the 2022 White Paper protests against COVID policies, which saw rare criticism of the Chinese Communist Party and President Xi Jinping.
State media has been silent on the protests in Pucheng. Any clips or mention of the demonstrations have been largely censored from Chinese social media, as is usually the case for incidents deemed sensitive by authorities.
But several videos have been leaked out of China and posted on X. (Excerpt from BBC News)
S and Arab mediators have made some progress in their efforts to reach a ceasefire accord between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, but not enough to seal a deal, Palestinian sources close to the talks said on Thursday.
As talks continued in Qatar, the Israeli military carried out strikes across the enclave, killing at least 23 persons on Thursday, Palestinian medics said.
The deaths brought to 76 the number of people killed by Israeli strikes across Gaza in the past 24 hours, according to the territory's Health Ministry.
Qatar, the US and Egypt are making a push to reach a deal to halt fighting in the 15-month conflict and free remaining hostages held by Islamist group Hamas before President Joe Biden leaves office.
"We're making some real
progress," Biden told reporters at the White House. "I'm still hopeful that we'll be able to have a prisoner exchange," he said, adding Hamas was getting in the way of that. The President said he met with negotiators on Thursday.
President-elect Donald Trump has warned there will be "hell to pay" if the hostages are not released by his inauguration on January 20.
On Thursday, a Palestinian official close to the mediation effort said the absence of a deal so far did not mean the talks were going nowhere and this was the most serious attempt so far.
"There are extensive negotiations, mediators and negotiators are talking about every word and every detail. There is a breakthrough when it comes to narrowing old existing gaps, but there is no deal yet," he told Reuters, without giving further details. (Excerpt from Reuters)
week, underscored strong support among Presidentelect Donald Trump's fellow Republicans for Israel's Government, now that they control both chambers in Congress.
Trump will be sworn in on January 20 for a second term as President.
The Senate's newly-appointed Republican majority leader, John Thune, has
promised swift consideration of the act in his chamber so Trump can sign it into law shortly after taking office.
The ICC is a permanent court that can prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression in member states or by their nationals.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
9/11 guilty pleas delayed after US Government objects
The US Government has succeeded in temporarily blocking the accused mastermind of the 9/11 terror attacks from pleading guilty amid a dispute over the terms of a pre-trial agreement.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants reached deals last summer to plead guilty to all charges in exchange for not facing a death penalty trial.
In a filing with a federal appeals court, the Government argued that it would be irreparably harmed
if the pleas were accepted. A three-judge panel said they needed more time to consider the case and put the proceedings on hold. They stressed that the delay "should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits" of the case. It comes after a military judge and appeals panel rejected a previous move by Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin to revoke the agreements, which had been signed by a senior official he appointed.
Almost 3000 persons were killed in the September 11, 2001 attacks, when hijackers seized passenger planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon outside of Washington. Another plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back.
The three men have been in US custody for over 20 years and the pre-trial hearings in the case have lasted for more than a decade.
Arguments have focused on whether evidence has been tainted by torture the defendants faced in CIA custody after their arrests.
(Excerpt from BBC News)
Temptation will cost you. Refrain from acting in haste or letting anyone make decisions for you. Avoid indulgent behavior. Explore, adjust and have fun.
A change of plans will work in your favor. A chance to get ahead and boost your reputation is apparent. Keep your hands on the wheel and travel the road to victory.
Mixed emotions will cause trouble. Don' be railroaded into doing something that's better for other people than for yourself. Learn from experience and proceed with caution.
Fine-tune your skills to fit current conditions. Taking responsibility will protect you from becoming a dinosaur in a competitive job market. Say yes to love but no to excessive behavior.
A high-energy approach and willingness to reach out and offer something in return will help you build a strong network that ensures support. A change of attitude and renewed confidence will help you excel.
Showing appreciation will make others receptive to engaging in activities that will bring you closer. Changing your surroundings will spark your imagination and enable you to reinforce your plans.
Travel may entice you, but it can also cost more than anticipated or put you in harm's way. Protect your health and well-being by avoiding places that put you at risk.
Find a platform to promote your goals. Refuse to let others decide what's best for you. A change of heart is apparent; don't waste time. Initiate what works best for you.
Be careful; your actions will pleas some but irk several. The simpler, the better. Aim to lower your overhead, limit indulgence and keep the peace with friends, associates and loved ones.
Don't allow outside pressures to mess with your head. No one's problems are or should be as important as yours. Be efficient in all things.
Make innovative changes to investments and how you handle your cash and professional progress or decline. Establish your priorities and adjust what no longer serves a purpose.
Double-check anything you plan to incorporate into your life. Excessive behavior will cost you. Run a tight ship and reap the rewards. Avoid letting outsiders intervene.
Glenn Maxwell's heroics have inspired the Melbourne Stars to a crucial 16-run upset of the ladder-leading Sydney Sixers at the MCG, keeping their slim Big Bash League (BBL) finals chances alive.
On the same day his Test ambitions likely ended for good, the veteran all-rounder belted a game-high unbeaten 58 and took two important catches in the deep.
Marcus Stoinis (4) was out cheaply, but the Stars Captain
Melbourne Stars (20 ovs maximum)
Ben Duckett c Vince b Abbott Sam Harper † c Silk b Edwards 4 Beau Webster c Henriques
b Abbott Dan Lawrence c Abbott b Kerr 14
Stoinis (c) c †Philippe
b Abbott Glenn Maxwell not out
Cartwright not out
Extras (lb 2, nb 1, w 3)
Total 20 Ov (RR: 7.80) 156/5
Did not bat: Usama Mir, Joel Paris, Mark Steketee, Peter Siddle
Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Sam Harper, 1.6 ov), 2-27 (Ben Duckett, 3.5 ov), 3-49 (Dan Lawrence, 6.5 ov), 4-60 (Marcus Stoinis, 9.3 ov), 5-148 (Beau Webster, 18.2 ov)
Bowling
Akeal Hosein
claimed 2 for 30 in a valuable contribution with the ball as the hosts kept the Sixers to 140 for 9 in their chase of 156 for 5.
Englishman Ben Duckett appeared to have cost the Stars dearly when he dropped countryman James Vince on 36. It was only two weeks ago Vince smashed an unbeaten century in a thumping Sixers win against the Stars at the SCG on Boxing Day.
SBut Maxwell made no mistake when he hung on to a high catch in the deep, leading to Vince departing for 53 on Thursday
After a fairytale debut for Australia, Webster's golden run continued when he was out off a no-ball and was called back, then dropped by Vince.
During Maxwell's blazing 32-ball knock, he became the fifth player in BBL history to reach 3000 career runs, joining Chris Lynn, Aaron Finch, Play was stopped for about two minutes after a seagull was taken down by a powerful
After starting the season 0-5, the Stars can still qualify for finals if they beat the Melbourne Renegades and Hobart Hurricanes in their remaining two games and other results go their way.
The Sixers (4-2, one no-result) missed a golden opportunity to consolidate their position on top of
ean Dyche has been sacked as Everton Manager after less than two years in charge at Goodison Park.
The 53-year-old's departure was announced just hours before Everton were due to host League One side Peterborough in the third round of the FA Cup.
Everton announced their Under-18s Head Coach Leighton Baines and Club Captain Seamus Coleman had been put in charge of the team for that game.
Right-back Coleman and former left-back Baines have made more than 800 Everton appearances between them.
Four members of Dyche's coaching staff – Ian Woan, Steve Stone, Mark Howard and Billy Mercer – have also departed.
The Toffees were beaten 1-0 by Bournemouth on Saturday and sit 16th in the Premier League and just one point clear of the relegation zone.
They failed to register a shot on target at Vitality Stadium and have won just three of 19 games in the league this season.
A source close to the Friedkin Group – which completed a £400 million takeover of the club last month – told BBC Sport the new owners had been in talks with Dyche over a couple of days this week, with both sides feeling they had reached the end of the road. Difficult negotiations took place over an exit package for Dyche and his staff before a settlement was reached.
The source added that the timing of Dyche's departure, just hours before a game, was not ideal.
BBC Sport has approached Dyche – who said goodbye
to his players at Everton's training ground earlier on Thursday – for comment.
Club sources say they want Dyche's re placement to have Premier League experience and for mer Everton manager David Moyes is among the names to have been linked.
However, sources close to Jose Mourinho have ruled the Fenerbahce manager out of contention.
The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss previously worked under the Friedkin Group at Roma, but he was sacked by them in January 2024.
Moyes, 61, managed Everton from 2002 to 2013 and re cently said he was not ready to retire from football man agement, but did not want to be in a job "fighting relega tion".
Speaking on Tuesday, Dyche said that his communica tion with Everton's owners had been "positive" with "no indication" they were looking to bring someone else in. He said they had been "been very up front and open" about ex pectations.
In his programme notes, external for Thursday's tie with Peterborough, Dyche wrote he hoped his side could use the FA Cup game to "build some positive momentum".
Dyche, whose contract was due to expire in the summer, succeeded Frank Lampard on January 30, 2023, with Everton in the relegation zone.
The team secured survival with a 1-0 win against Bournemouth on the final day of that season.
He then steered the Toffees to a 15th-place finish in the
This is Everton's last season at their 132-year-old stadium before moving to a new ground at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Dyche is the sixth Premier League Manager to be sacked this season, and the second in as many days after West Ham dismissed Julen Lopetegui on Wednesday.
The Hammers replaced Lopetegui with Graham Potter, who had been loosely linked with Everton this week. (BBC Sport)
After an exhilarating display, Kwakwani Untouchables and Retrieve Raiders got their first taste of victory at the Retrieve Hard Court in the Guyana Basketball Federation’s One Guyana Basketball League on Wednesday in Linden.
In the opening game, with home-court advantage, Retrieve Raiders handed Berbice Renegades their first defeat. Both teams started the first quarter with flair and excitement, and the end of that period of play would see them tied at 22 points.
In the second quarter, despite their inconsistent offence, the Raiders still managed to outscore their opponents by nine points, 17-8, for a scoreline of 39-30.
After the third quarter, the score was 5248 in favour of the Raiders as the Renegades had pounced as their opposition failed consecutively on the offensive end, putting up 18 points to the Raiders’ 14.
In the fourth and final quarter, posting 12 points were the Raiders while the Renegades scored 8 for a nine-point win, 65-56, for the Retrieve Raiders.
Sharing with Guyana Times Sport exclusively was the winning Captain, Neil Marks, who explained that it was a great game and keeping their head in the game was key for the win.
“It was a good game. I just have to keep working hard
Commissioner supports highlyanticipated “grassroots initiatives” …fully supports 2nd annual Georgetown vs the Rest tournament
olice Commissioner
PClifton Hicken, a passionate advocate and champion of youth development, at his Eve Leary office, has assured of his full support for the youths of Back Circle Ballers who are organising the second annual Georgetown vs the Rest Street Football Tournament.
The tournament will commence from January 15, 2025, and conclude on January 31, 2025 at
Back Circle Tarmac, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
The Top Cop, who fully sponsored the tournament last January, continues to encourage the youths to remain optimistic and encourage more sports activities to restore community togetherness; minimise young, gifted athletes' idleness, and build partnerships with youths of all communities through sports to foster a safer and more secure Guyana.
in the game and continue playing. As I said, I don't play much basketball. I don't have any chances; I have a facility as well. I just have to keep working to get better in the game,” he said.
With both teams looking for their first win, it was Kwakwani Untouchables who emerged victorious over fel-
Untouchables emerging ahead of the opposition with 11 points while the Flames were unable to reach double digits and were limited to five points.
Scoring 19 points in the third quarter were the Untouchables as they once again penetrated the weak defences of the Flames ,who were restricted to 10 points for a 52-32 scoreline.
With the win almost already in the hands of the Untouchables, the Flames managed to outscore them in the final quarter 24 points to 17 points, but it was a little too late as the Untouchables went away with a 13-point victory, with the final score reading 69-59.
While arguing that news of a pending proposal to introduce a two-tier Test cricket system could merely be a rumour, Cricket West Indies (CWI) President Dr Kishore Shallow pointed out that any decision made at the International Cricket Council (ICC) level must align with the best interests of West Indies cricket and the sport globally.
Shallow’s comments follow reports of an upcoming meeting between ICC Chairman Jay Shah and representatives from Australia, India, and England to discuss the possibility of splitting the 12 full members into two tiers based on rankings. The reports also suggest a potential revamp of the nine-team World Test Championship.
If implemented, the proposed changes could see the West Indies, who celebrate their 100th anniversary as a Test-playing nation in 2028, relegated to a B-tier.
However, Shallow, who has served as a CWI Director since 2017 and with the ICC for the past two years, clarified that the two-tier Test system has not been formally dis-
cussed at either organisation during his tenure.
“This could easily be a rumour. From my position, it has not been discussed. All I have seen is what you have seen in the media,” Shallow stated during an appearance on the Mason and Guest show on Tuesday.
“It’s interesting; it’s a sensitive issue, because, based on my research that I have done, that matter has been on the table since 2004 or thereabouts, when several individuals were looking at ways to keep Test cricket interesting. That in itself shows how long people have been considering Test cricket to be on the decline,” he added.
Still, Shallow refrained from offering a definitive stance on the matter, as he reiterated that no formal proposal has been presented at the ICC level. But, in the same breath, he stressed the need for any decision to be thoroughly examined, including its practicality, funding mechanisms, and overall impact on the sport.
“There hasn’t been a proposal, and I quote proposal loosely, on the table since I have been a direc-
tor of the ICC for two years now, so I can state that it has not been on the agenda of the ICC,” he revealed.
“Whatever decision, I suppose at the ICC level, it must be in alignment with what is best for West Indies cricket, and cricket by extension across the globe. That is the position I hold,” Shallow declared.
Meanwhile, CWI Director of Cricket Miles Bascombe also withheld judgment, as he too highlighted the need for more details about the proposal, including its financial framework and whether it would involve a promotion and relegation system.
“It is difficult to have a position on it without knowing the actual framework and the dynamics; the financial framework that will go along with it as well as if there will be a relegation and promotion system,” Bascombe said.
He noted the contrasting opinions from cricket legends such as Sir Clive Lloyd and Michael Holding on the issue, but maintained that he would wait for a detailed framework before forming a position.
“There are still a lot of things that are not clear to
me, and until I have that information, I will want to reserve my comments. I am keen to see what the details are before I can really form an opinion on it,” Bascombe (Sportsmax)
The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) on Thursday announced the participation of Guyana’s senior men’s basketball team in the highly-anticipated “Nations Cup” tournament, set to take place from January 24 to 27 in Paramaribo, Suriname.
The team will face tough competition against regional rivals Suriname and Grenada in what promises to be a thrilling showcase of basketball talent in the Caribbean.
The GBF has shortlisted 23 players for the tournament, emphasising a commitment to showcasing and developing local talent. The list includes standout performers from the ongoing One Guyana Premier
“Having
ing as Assistant Coach and Warren Wilson as Team Manager.
for Guyana’s national bas ketball team.
Adams (Royals); Dominic Vincente (Ravens); Zian Gray (Eagles); Nikkoloi Smith (Ravens); Yannick Tappin (Royals); Shelroy Thomas (Colts); Jushawn Bayley; Oquacey Shortt (Colts); Shane Webster (Colts); Orlan Glasgow (Royals); Jermaine Slater (Kobras); Kimol Grimmond (Untouchables); Domair Gladstone (Untouchables); Stanton Rose (Untouchables); Shamaar Huntley (Ravens); Denzil Ross (Eagles); Jamaal Gilkes (Untouchables); Brando Bento (Mambas); Emmanuel Atherly (Kobras); Nathan Saul (Pacesetters); Jaleel Duke (Pacesetters) and Elijah David (Kobras).
The team will be led by Head Coach Adrian Hooper, with Marlon Rodrigues serv-
The squad will undergo a rigorous two-day trial this weekend at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, where the final roster of 12 players will be determined.
Coach Hooper noted that the final selection process would be highly competitive, given the exceptional talent and performances of the shortlisted players in the One Guyana Premier Basketball League.
“Every player on this list has earned their spot based on merit. It’s going to be a challenge narrowing this group down to 12, but I’m confident that we’ll assemble a team capable of representing Guyana with pride and competitiveness,” Hooper stated.
According to GBF President Michael Singh, the “Nations Cup” marks the beginning of what promises to be a busy and exciting year
The tournament in Suriname serves as a key step in the team’s prepara tion to defend their title at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship.
“This tour is the start of early preparations for our national team, and it pro vides an excellent opportuni ty to measure the standard of our local game,” Singh said.
“By focusing on our lo cally-based players for this tournament, we aim to identify and develop talent here at home, giving them the exposure needed to compete at the international level. This approach will allow us to integrate overseas-based players into future engagements with a stronger foundation.”
competing at a high level domestically, and this has provided the GBF with a robust pool of talent to work with. The “Nations Cup” will give us valuable insights into how our local players match up against regional competition,” he added.
The “Nations Cup”, the GBF said, will be a test of endurance, skill, and teamwork as Guyana’s senior men’s team take on Suriname and Grenada in back-to-back games.
Singh also highlighted the significance of the ongoing One Guyana Premier Basketball League as a developmental platform.
“Our players have been
n anticipation of their twomatch Test series which is scheduled to bowl off next Thursday, West Indies have embarked on a three-day warm-up match, starting in the wee hours of this morning against
Speaking of their training sessions thus far, Batting performances.
Adams cautiously divulged, “All of the players will be working individual. This is not the time or the place to get into what the guys are doing. In terms of a team focus, it’s more just making sure that we have the basics covered.”
“The plan generally is to make sure we can do basics for longer than any team that we play against and therefore, they’re making sure that after a long flight and couple days of rest, that they’re really focused on getting the basics put to bed and be ready to execute those basics come tomorrow
The GBF is confident that this opportunity will not only strengthen Guyana’s presence in Caribbean basketball but also provide invaluable experience for the players and coaching staff as they gear up for a year of competitive engagements.
Meanwhile, Singh revealed that the GBF is also planning its own version of the Nations Cup in May this year, with three other Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) teams competing in Guyana.
The local football clubs are in for some changes and shake-ups following the opening of the mid-season transfer window.
The window was opened on January 1, 2025 and will remain so until January 31, 2025, allowing players to move between clubs.
However, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has advised that all clubs; Regional Member Associations (RMAs), and Transfer Matching System (TMS) users to review FIFA’s regulations on the status and transfer of players to ensure compliance with the relevant guidelines.
The Federation also reminded clubs and associations of the procedural re-
quirements for domestic player transfers, noting that it must include involvement from the player’s former club, the relevant regional associations, and the new club.
It was also emphasised that transfers involving Elite League clubs require direct consent from the GFF. Furthermore, any disputes or delays during the process can be escalated to the relevant regional association or the GFF for resolution.
In its announcement the Federation highlighted that it remained committed to ensuring a transparent and efficient transfer process that supports the continued development of football in Guyana.
