“It is not our policy to be giving out guns” – Benn to CPGs
“No student should be sent home over hairstyle” – Manickchand reinforces
Pedal cyclist dies after being struck by truck Govt, Opposition clash over appointment of Local Govt Commission
GuySuCo, private contractor deny responsibility for workers’ wages
Woman charged over 2.4kg cocaine bust at CJIA
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Thursday, February 6 – no retraction and Friday, February 7 – 00:30h-02:00h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Thursday, February 6 –10:15h-11:45h and Friday, February 7 – 11:40h-13:10h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Light to thundery showers are expected throughout the day and at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.
Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.47 metres.
High Tide: 10:39h and 23:31h reaching maximum heights of 2.30 metres and 2.12 metres.
Low Tide: 16:54h reaching a minimum height of 0.94 metre.
$1.382 trillion Budget 2025 passed
After four days of intense scrutiny, the National Assembly passed the $1.382 trillion Budget 2025 on Wednesday evening.
Under the theme, “A Secure, Prosperous and Sustainable Guyana”, Budget 2025 was presented on January 17, marking the second budget in Guyana’s history to cross the trillion-dollar mark, and containing a wave of measures aimed at not only moving the economy forward, but also bringing direct benefits to Guyanese.
The 2025 Budget debate was conducted last week followed by a four-day consideration of the estimates, which wrapped up on Wednesday evening ,with the Committee of Supply going through the Finance Ministry’s allocations.
Following the approval of the Finance Ministry budget, after nearly three hours of scrutiny in the Committee of Supply, the Estimates of Expenditure for Financial Year 2025 had been put on the floor of the National Assembly and subsequently approved without changes.
This paved the way for the House to pass Appropriation Bill 2025 –Bill No 1 of 2025 after it was read three times.
The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill was also approved in the House.
Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh explained that the purpose of this Bill was to bring into law the various measures announced in Budget 2025.
Those measures include increasing the income tax threshold to $130,000 and an introduction of a deduction of up to $10,000 per month per child from one parent’s taxable income.
Additionally, the removal of tax on income up to $50,000 earned from a second job and the removal of tax on overtime income up to $50,000 are also catered for.
Further, he noted that the amended legislation “will allow persons paying income taxes to be able to claim for children that they have in the year of income…
they may claim a deduction from their taxable income of up to $10,000 per month per child”.
The income tax threshold has steadily increased over the past four years. In 2022, the threshold was raised from $65,000 to $75,000 and this was increased to $85,000 in 2023. With its latest increase to $130,000, Dr Singh indicated that this would result in $8.5 billion in disposable income for workers, while shielding 22,000 workers from having to pay income tax.
For those who do have to pay income tax, known as Pay As You Earn (PAYE), the rate has been lowered from 28 per cent of earnings to 25 per cent. There are further tax incentives for those who work overtime or have a sec-
ond stream of income.
Other measures
Last year, the PPP/C Government had set aside $5 billion for cost-of-living measures aimed at easing the burden of rising costs on citizens. This year, the Government will be setting aside $9 billion, which the Finance Minister said will be used to address price increases, and ensure that the most vulnerable in society are provided with targeted relief.
The Government will also extend the reduced freight cost for a further 12-month period from January 1, 2025
The Government will also continue to maintain the zero per cent excise tax on fuel, at an estimated annual cost of $90 billion. Further, bridge tolls will be abolished for all vehicle classes, once the new Demerara River Bridge is completed. According to Dr Singh, this will also apply to the Berbice River Bridge in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) and the Wismar Bridge in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).
Additionally, poultry farmers will now be able to depreciate capital assets, such as machinery and equipment used in the
to December 31, 2025, a measure aimed at keeping shipping costs down and helping to mitigate the cost of living. It was explained that this will cost the treasury over $6 billion.
production process, over a shorter period with an increase in the writing-down allowance applicable to these machinery and equipment.
The issue of school rules regarding hairstyles has once again taken centre stage in public discourse following a social media post by a mother who claimed her daughter was sent home from Yarrowkabra Secondary School because of her hairstyle. The post has reignited discussions about the balance between discipline and access to education, prompting Education Minister Priya Manickchand to reaffirm a critical policy that no child should be denied education over a hairstyle rule.
Manickchand’s response to the incident, as communicated to Guyana Times, was unequivocal: “The Ministry reiterates that children should not be sent home and/or denied an education because of any perceived or actual hairstyle breach of rule.” Her stance reflects a broader commitment by the Ministry to ensure that every child remains in the classroom, regardless of hairstyle or other non-academic concerns.
At the heart of this issue is the fundamental right to education. Schools exist to nurture young minds, impart knowledge, and prepare students for the future. Sending a child home over a perceived hairstyle infraction disrupts their learning and contradicts the Ministry’s directive that all students must be accommodated in school. This position was solidified in a memorandum issued two years ago, which explicitly instructed headteachers that no student should be removed from the classroom over hairstyles.
Yet, this latest incident underscores the persistence of outdated attitudes within some schools, where certain appearance-based regulations continue to override a child’s right to an uninterrupted education. While it is true that rules exist for a reason, often formulated through consultations with parents, teachers, and school boards, those rules must not be wielded in a manner that contradicts national education policies. Manickchand has reminded parents to respect school regulations, but she has also made it clear that any educator who sends a student home over their hairstyle will face disciplinary action. This is a necessary step toward ensuring accountability within the education system.
The case at Yarrowkabra Secondary School is particularly troubling due to the justification reportedly given for the student’s removal: that her hairstyle was “distracting the boys”. Such reasoning is deeply problematic. It reinforces outdated gender norms that place the responsibility for male behaviour on female students. Instead of penalising a girl for how she wears her hair, the focus should be on fostering an environment where all students learn to concentrate on their studies, regardless of their peers’ appearances.
Further, the response allegedly given to the mother, suggesting that she homeschool her daughter if she did not agree with the rules, is not only dismissive but also contrary to the spirit of public education. Schools should be inclusive institutions that welcome all students, not gatekeepers enforcing rigid and subjective dress codes at the expense of learning.
The Ministry of Education must take concrete steps to reiterate its policy and ensure it is fully enforced. Headteachers and teachers should be given clear directives and training on how to handle perceived dress code violations without resorting to punitive measures that harm students' educational progress. Additionally, school policies on grooming and appearance should be reviewed to ensure they align with the principles of inclusivity and equality.
At the same time, parents and guardians must also be actively engaged in these discussions. While it is important to respect school regulations, it is equally vital to advocate for policies that do not place undue burdens on students based on appearance. Schools should prioritise education over rigid adherence to outdated rules, and parents should feel empowered to hold educational institutions accountable when those rules become barriers to learning.
Ultimately, the goal of any school system should be to create an environment where students are encouraged to learn, grow, and succeed. Denying a child education over something as trivial as a hairstyle is both unnecessary as it is unacceptable.
It
is time to move the UN and international law out of the West
By Dr ShahD hammouri
The exceptional immu-
nity that Israel has enjoyed for decades has placed international law and its institutions at a knife’s edge. Israel has killed UN workers, banned UNRWA, barred UN representatives from entry, and repeatedly insulted the UN and its officials.
Successive Israeli Governments and their allies have also used all means possible to exert pressure on the International Criminal Court (ICC) not to investigate Israeli crimes – from direct threats of physical violence to sanctions and defamation. Attacks on the court have only intensified after it issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
US President Donald Trump – an avid Israel supporter – has already signed an executive order reintroducing sanctions on ICC staff members. This is on top of other decisions he has made – including the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organisation – that constitute a direct assault on international multilateralism. On Tuesday, the US President flaunted his complete disregard for international law by declaring his intention to “take over” Gaza and “own it”. All of these developments raise questions about whether the current global system led by the UN is beyond salvation.
Despite being created to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” in 1945, the UN has largely failed to prevent and stop conflicts for decades. Its creation ushered in an era of “peace for some” – peace for economical-
ly-advanced States who engage in proxy wars in previously-colonised States. So, do we give up on the idea of an international legal order altogether?
As we face the imminent danger of climate change and the rapid escalation of militarisation, it is clear that we do need a system which unites people under the ideal of justice. An international legal order that does not favour the powerful has already been proposed by various thinkers.
For example, prominent Chilean legal scholar Alejandro Alvarez proposed a “new international law” some 70 years ago. During his tenure (1946-1955) as a judge at the International Court of Justice, he argued that the European legal tradition, on which much of international law was based, was inadequate to address legal questions in places like the Americas.
In a series of dissenting opinions in cases he deliberated on, Alvarez called for a “new international law” which accommodated the particular historical moment of the decolonisation across the world and reflected the interests and positions of decolonised States.
There was a clear attempt at that time by States of the Global South to claim international law to its benefit. Nevertheless, economically-advanced States used their influence to eradicate such attempts.
We are now at a historic juncture where these efforts must be renewed if the idea of an international legal order is to survive. Action on Palestine can be the driver, as the genocide in Gaza is emblematic of larger patterns of domination and exploitation which define the current
world system. Already, there are efforts by Global South States to exclude Israel from the United Nations. A petition signed by 500 legal scholars has also called on the UN General Assembly to unseat Israel in order to preserve its legitimacy.
In response, the US Congress sent a letter to the UN Secretary António Guterres threatening to withdraw US funding if such a vote were to go ahead. While the power of the US lobby at the UN is no secret, a public threat to withdraw funds from the UN if it carries out its normal functions is a form of economic coercion that publicly undermines the authority of the institution and the premises of international law.
If the US decides to cut funding to all of the UN, then there is a clear response –move the UN outside of the US and fortress Europe to somewhere in the Global South. Relocating the UN Headquarters out of New York would drastically cut costs, promote Global South support for it, and enable its stronger participation. It would do away with the dilemma of an international legal institution headquartered in a State that has proven to be the most consistent perpetrator of the crimes that the institution was created to prevent.
On an institutional level, history clearly demonstrates the need to abolish institutional structures that enshrine imperial power, such as the UN Security Council, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. Calls for the abolition of these institutions were spearheaded by leading figures of the decolonisation movement like Thomas Sankara and Amilcar Cabral. As platforms
for Global South voices, the UN General Assembly and the International Court of Justice must be endowed with more power – this point was repeatedly asserted by the Algerian Judge Mohammad Bedjaoui. Further, this can be a moment of rapid international law-making which builds on the historical efforts to create a new international legal order. Pacific islands are already challenging the limitations of international law by asking the ICJ to role on state responsibility towards climate change.
Progressive International, a coalition of progressive organisations from around the world, has recently sought to revive some past efforts by launching a project to develop a framework for a new international economic order. There is power in the unity of voices, and people of the Global South are united in their experience of economic and physical domination and subjugation. For such change to happen, the political tides need to align – even if only for a brief moment.
The current moment of genocide, neocolonialism, climate crisis, and sickening impunity imposes on us the duty to reimagine the status quo. Cynicism is something we cannot afford. We need to start laying down the foundation of a new international legal system that finds virtue in justice rather than power. (Al Jazeera)
(Dr Shahd Hammouri is a Lecturer in International Law at the University of Kent and an international legal consultant. Her research is focused on war economies and critical theory. She is the author of the forthcoming book “Corporate War Profiteering and International Law”.)
Students from Hotoquai Primary School, Region One (Barima-Waini) and Itaballi Primary School were among the nation’s children who participated in World Read Aloud Day 2025 (Education Ministry photos)
NCD commission urges publication of cancer package of service in the public sector Democracy in GTU under threat
Dear Editor, February 4, marks 25 years of signing the Charter of Paris Against Cancer at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millenium. The 2025 theme for World Cancer Day is United by Unique, Guyana’s Presidential Commission on the Prevention and Control of NCDs acknowledges the unique experiences of each and every single person living with cancer and that of their families. We support and urge a comprehensive people-centered cancer care delivered jointly by healthcare providers, families, friends and community.
Guyana has made notable progress in the fight against cancer. The Presidential Commission for the Prevention and Control of NCDs commend the Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Health for measurable progress in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for cancer.
The significant increase in services for cancer at the GPHC is testimony to the dramatic increase in cancer care in Guyana. The GPHC now records an average of more than 50 new patients each month. At the end of 2024, the GPHC had 500 patients on active chemotherapy. In addition to medicines, treatment
and care include psycho-social support. The number of cancer medicines in use at GPHC has increased.
The recent expansion of chemotherapy through the GPHC to the New Amsterdam Hospital is a welcome development. The Commission is aware that approximately 100 patients are receiving chemotherapy through the New Amsterdam Hospital clinic, after initiation at the GPHC. This provides relief for patients and their families.
The Commission urges GPHC and the MOH to ensure that a similar extension occurs in 2025 to Linden Hospital (Region 10) and Suddie Hospital (Region 2). In collaboration with the IAEA, four new mammography equipment have been added to the public sector. This is a significant improvement and provide an opportunity for more women to be screened for breast cancer.
The increase in capacity and capability of the new pathology lab at the GPHC adds to the early diagnostic and wider screening capability for cancer in the public sector.
The NCD Commission urges the Ministry to establish target populations for gastric, cervical, breast, lung and prostate cancers and to ensure that Guyana is achieving a target of 90-%
screening of the target population by World Cancer Day 2026. This is an ambitious goal, but we must make every effort to achieve it.
Guyana has been adjusting its health care model to fully implement Universal Health Care (UHC), one of the goals of the SDGs (SDG 3). As part of UHC, we must ensure cancer prevention and diagnosis are included in the package of services at all levels of care. In this regard, we commend the GoG and the MOH for its continued consolidation of the nationwide Human Papillomavirus vaccination program and its cervical cancer screening program.
The Commission would like a similar approach of integrating within the UHC, prevention and screening programs for breast cancer, prostate cancer, gastric cancer and lung cancer.
The Commission urges the MOH to urgently formalize a childhood cancer program. With the strong evolution of an Oncology Program at GPHC, the impending opening of the Pediatric Women Hospital at Ogle in early 2026 and the establishment of a Cancer Treatment Cancer by 2028, as announced by President Irfaan Ali, the MOH must move rapidly to formalize a childhood cancer program.
The Commission is
pleased to note the improvement of the National Cancer Registry and look forward for a world- class Cancer Registry.
While acknowledging the notable improvement in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care in the public sector, we cannot ignore persistent challenges. Existing cancer prevention policies and programs are not fully implemented.
We urge the MOH to publish the package of services for cancer available in Guyana today and those planned for introduction in 2025. Screening for specific cancers is low, even for cervical cancer where testing capacity has been established. For example, cervical cancer screening is less than 50% the target population. Late diagnosis, when treatment is generally less effective and costlier, is common.
While rapid improvement is occurring, like in all developing counties, national capacity remains inadequate to manage the increasing cancer burden. Urgent steps must be taken to align capacity with the growing cancer burden in Guyana. The Commission urges the MOH to prioritize in 2025 its cancer medicine list and its procurement.
Dr Leslie Ramsammy Chairperson
Government must make a total overhaul of the methods used to certify
Dear Editor,
There is a mad rush by persons to get killed on our roads today. The statistics tell the gruesome story: five (5) deaths in two short days.
Vehicular traffic deaths have become a shocking norm in the country of my birth. It has become so appalling that we are fast earning for ourselves the unenviable distinction of being the Caribbean country with the most vehicular homicides. This is the naked truth!
Most of what is going on on our roads reveal the stark reality that there are a number of persons on our roads who do not -- I repeat, persons who do not -- know how to drive. They might be licensed by the authorities "to drive," but the true state of affairs is that they do not have a clue what it entails to be a careful road user.
This has to stop, and the time to do so is now! The point I am making is that Government has the authority and the wherewithal to stop the carnage. After all, Government is the authority giving these drivers the permission to get behind the wheel of a motorable vehi-
cle, and in like manner they must bear responsibility for the increase in the recklessness that obtains.
As the licensing authority, Government must put a tight lid on the present lawlessness that exists. In this regard, I propose that the following measures be implemented immediately:
(a) Establish a Department of Motor Vehicles to manage the affairs of motor vehicle licensing. This department would manage all the affairs of training of new drivers, and would recommend that a person be issued a licence to operate a motor vehicle.
(b) Establish a system in which incoming drivers have to be professionally trained by qualified driving instructors from reputable driving schools. The present system allows persons to receive short-term training by unqualified family members or friends, and in a short time thereafter, go in to obtain a licence. This ad hoc system has to be abolished. No one should be recommended for licensing without going through the process of being trained by a certified
driving instructor, as well as receiving the guidance of a registered driving school. All of the forgoing certification should be administered by the state.
(c) After all of the above factors are fulfilled, then and only should someone be issued a licence. These measures would
drivers
certainly go a far way in lifting the standard of driving and drivers on our roads, bring some semblance of decency and order on our roads, and reverse the current trend of senseless vehicular homicides.
Respectfully,
Neil Adams
Dear Editor,
Looking in from outside and reading reports in the media, i am amazed at what seems to be playing out in the Guyana Teachers' Union.
After a prolonged period of "on and off" strike by what I understand was a minority of teachers countrywide, the executive members of the Union agreed to accept the Government's offer of salary increases and other substantial benefits, for a three years period.
Almost immediately after and possibly even before the "ink was dry" on the Agreement, the obviously "political faction" of the Union, commenced to criticize the Agreement with all manner of spurious claims, the first sign of democracy being threatened within the Union. The General Council, I assume, either unanimously of by a majority vote, AGREED to a NEGOTIATED salaries and benefits Agreement. However, a clique, led by the APNU/AFC opposition in Parliament, came out publicly against the Agreement, and went further, to organise "a coup" against the President and Vice president of the Union, and voted to suspend these two highest ranking members of the Union.
I understand this matter is now engaging the attention of the Courts, so I would refrain from further comment, even though public
concerns have determined that I say the above. The Delegates Conference of the Union is scheduled to be convened within weeks of that suspension. Surely the functioning and survival of the Union would not have been fatal to thoroughly debate the issue at that highest forum of the Union. But NO, bullyism and fear tactics were resorted to.
A friend of mine made a snide comment that the best persons to be responsible for conducting the elections of the Union (applicants for which was advertised) would be the masterminds/ architects of the GECOM shameful episodes of 2020. Just to mention in passing, AFTER the Agreement with the GTU, other unions representing workers in government sectors, INCLUDING the Public Service Union (with an apparent President for life, my friend has been tenaciously holding on to that position since MY days in the Public Service, which I exited more than thirty years ago).
I'm convinced that some of these "happenings" are deliberately occurring in this this elections year, with the obvious intention to influence votes, and to attempt to derail the democratic process as they did in 2020. I'm convinced they would again fail.
Regards, Harry
N Nawbatt
Page Foundation
1) Study the pattern and then answer the questions. (b) The flowchart below shows mathematical operations from the input to the output. Study it carefully and then complete the second flowchart below.
(a) Draw Figure 4 of the pattern.
(b) How many dots will Figure 7 have?
(c) Which figure will have 21 dots?
(d) The table below shows the number of dots (x) that are used to make each figure (n). Study the pattern and answer the question that follows
Complete the number sentence below to show the rule for the pattern.
(a) Jim's water bottle holds 640 ml of water. During the morning break at school, he drank 1 of it
(b) A fruit vendor had a total of 10 oranges and 4 pears on sale. The cost of the 4 pears equals the cost of all the oranges. If one orange costs $60, what is the cost of two pears?
(c) Mary bought a pair of shoes for $6000 and later sold it for $5400.
Calculate the percent loss on the pair of shoes.
3)
(a) Anita and Chris, who are celebrating their birthdays on the same day, were given 45 sweets each to share with the class.
Write in the 2 missing values in the flowchart below
4) (a) Determine the size of the angle marked m.
By Eliza lEE FollEn
Come! supper is ready; Come! boys and girls, now, For here is fresh milk From the good moolly cow.
Have done with your fife, And your row de dow dow, And taste this sweet milk From the good moolly cow.
Whoever is fretting Must clear up his brow, Or he’ll have no milk From the good moolly cow.
When children are hungry, O, who can tell how They love the fresh milk From the good moolly cow!
(i) How many sweets were given to both Anita and Chris?
Anita shared of hers and Chris shared of his
(ii) How many sweets were shared altogether?
(iii) How many more sweets does Chris have left than Anita?
So, when you meet moolly, Just say, with a bow, “Thank you for your milk, Mrs. Good Moolly Cow.”
WORD SEARCH:
“Uphold democracy, invest in infrastructure, train your people” – Pres Ali to Suriname
…as IMF projects oil production could soar to 55% in 2028
President Dr Irfaan Ali has called on Suriname to uphold democracy, invest in infrastructure, strengthen partnerships, and invest in human capital as the country stands on the brink of an economic transformation fuelled by its burgeoning oil sector.
Delivering a virtual address at the International Business Conference in Suriname, President Ali outlined key lessons from Guyana’s experience in managing oil wealth and fostering sustainable de-
velopment. His remarks come at a time when the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected Suriname’s economic growth to soar to 55 percent by 2028, driven by major offshore oil production.
The Head of State welcomed the positive economic indicators outlined in the IMF’s Article IV consultation report, which noted stabilizing inflation, increasing donor support, and declining public debt. However, he cautioned that natural resource wealth alone does not guarantee
prosperity, and emphasized the need for careful planning and leadership.
“The years before an economic boom are critical. They are not the time for complacency or daydreaming of prosperous days ahead. They are a time for laying the groundwork for sustained development. Suriname is poised for an upward economic growth trajectory. The IMF projects, with the intensified oil production, your growth could soar to 55% in 2028. Let me be frank with you, this will be a significant economic boom. But let me also share with you, it will not happen on its own. It requires strong and stable leadership,” the President said.
Highlighting the importance of proactive planning, President Ali advised Suriname to act swiftly to prepare for the economic boom, and cautioned against overreliance on oil revenues, noting that fluctuating global prices could destabilize economies.
He urged Suriname to strengthen other indus-
Misconduct charges Calvin Brutus fired from Guyana Police Force
Embattled Assistant Police Commissioner Calvin Brutus, who had been performing the duties of Deputy Commissioner of Police –Administration, has been dismissed from the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
Brutus was informed of his termination on Wednesday via a letter from the Police Service Commission (PSC), a copy of which was seen by Guyana Times. In that letter, the PSC Secretary explained that this decision was taken following the findings of a tribunal that was set up by the Commission to investigate allegations of misconduct and breaches of discipline against Brutus.
Disciplinary charges against this former senior police officer stem from violations he allegedly committed between August 2020 and July 2024, among which are improper financial instructions and falsification of records.
In light of these allegations, for which Brutus is currently facing criminal charges before the courts, the PSC had convened the tribunal under the authority of the Constitution of Guyana and the Police (Discipline) Act, Chapter 17:01, with Shoshanna Lall
as the Chair and Keoma Griffith and Seelall Persaud as members.
Last month, the PSC reported that Brutus failed to show up at a January 22, 2025 tribunal hearing, noting that his absence was a significant hindrance to its operations.
In the dismissal letter of February 5, 2025, this embattled police officer was reminded that he had chosen not to appear at the hearing, in which two disciplinary charges were laid against him. Those charges were for (a): the improper use of Welfare Funds, whereby Brutus had allegedly directed that payment of $13.67 million be made from the Guyana Police Force’s Welfare Fund for goods procured by the Government; and (b): for fal-
sifying the records thereof. In this second charge, he allegedly falsified the records for transactions done at the Quartermaster’s Stores to purport that $101.43 million worth of goods were delivered.
The Tribunal has since completed its work and submitted a report to the Commission, which considered the findings at its statutory meeting on Wednesday.
“After thoroughly reviewing the Report, the Commission has unanimously concluded that the inquiry established your culpability regarding the aforementioned two (2) charges against you,” the PSC letter to Brutus indicated.
tries such as agriculture, mining, forestry, tourism, and renewable energy. Using Guyana’s example, he pointed out that despite oil-driven growth, the country’s non-oil sector has expanded by more than 40% in recent years.
“Start planning for these services today, build the partnerships, invest in infrastructure, and train your people so that when the oil flows increase substantially, Suriname is not only ready to receive it, but ready to grow sustainably from it. The third concern and lesson I want to share is the importance of a diversified economy. We have all seen what happens to economies that become overly reliant on oil.
“Look to your strengths —whether in agriculture, gold mining, or forestry — and invest in them. But also look beyond. Tourism is one sector in which I believe Suriname has tre-
mendous potential. Your rich culture, lush rainforests, and vibrant history can make Suriname a sought-after destination for ecotourism,” the Head of State said.
Recognizing that small states must work together to remain competitive, Ali advocated for stronger regional partnerships. He highlighted the potential of a Guyana-Suriname-Brazil energy corridor to enhance regional energy security, and urged cooperation in agriculture to position the two nations as the “bread basket of the Caribbean.”
“Suriname has the potential to become a leader in our region and the world, but potential must be matched with the purpose, that purpose that we seek, that purpose that we would want to support, that partnership that we would want to be a part of. Let the vision of a prosperous Suriname guide your ac-
tion. Let the principles of democracy, inclusivity, and sustainability inform your decisions, and let the lessons of the past remind you that true prosperity is not measured by the wealth of a few, but the well-being of all,” Ali added.
The Guyanese Leader is one of many key speakers slated for the International Business Conference (IBC) in Suriname in 2025, which commenced on February 4th at the Assuria Event Center in Suriname.
IBC marks the beginning of three days of discussions, strategic collaborations, and investment-driven initiatives, all under the theme “Unlocking the Potential of Suriname.”
Over 500 delegates, featuring high-profile business leaders, policymakers, and industry pioneers from Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Curacao, and other international markets are in attendance.
Dismissed: Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus
From right are: HE President Chandrikapersad Santokhi; Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business and International Cooperation at Government of the Republic of Suriname, Albert Ramdin; and Dr Marciano Dasai, Minister of Spatial Planning and Environment
President Dr Irfaan Ali
Clerk granted $200,000 bail on cheque forgery charges
Dhamendra Gangdat, a clerk of the Edward B. Beharry & Company Ltd., was on Wednesday placed on a total of $200,000 bail after appearing before Chief Magistrate (ag) Faith McGusty in her Georgetown court to answer two charges of attempting to defraud his employer using forged Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry cheques.
The 29-year-old Gangdat, of Lot 679, 17th Street, Foulis, East Coast Demerara, is accused of having attempted to forge a GBTI cheque valued at $48,500, claiming it was issued by Beharry; and of intending to defraud the company by using another cheque worth $23,500,000. These offences are alleged to have occurred on July 25, 2024 at Vlissengen Road in Georgetown.
Represented by attorney Domnick Bess, Gangdat pleaded not guilty to both of-
fences, and the attorney requested that his client be placed on reasonable bail. He stated that his client is not a flight risk, has no prior convictions or pending matters before the court, is a clerk at the Beharry Company, and has a minor child to support.
He added that his client had been cooperating with investigators since the probe began in August last year, had voluntarily made himself available throughout that process, and that he is the one who had discovered the fraudulent transaction and reported it.
He contended that his client is being wrongfully implicated, as other persons involved in the matter had not been brought before the court; and he argued that no evidence exists to directly link Gangdat to the alleged forgery, as he was not the one who had received the cheques.
Moreover, the attorney contended that Gangdat’ssenior was the one who had signed the cheques, and that Gangdat had simply been familiar with the signature.
The prosecutor informed the court that investigations were still ongoing, and that statements were yet to be gathered.
The prosecutor further revealed that, according to the Beharry Company, withdrawal of that large sum of money was never authorized, nor did the company disburse the funds in question, and the company is unaware of who had ultimately received the money. However, no objection was raised to Gangadat being placed on bail.
When Magistrate McGusty inquired whether there was any evidence that Gangdat had attempted to acquire money from the forged cheques, the defence attorney responded by reiterating that his client did not receive the funds, and that there was no clear link tying him to the crime.
After considering the arguments, Magistrate McGusty granted Gangdat bail in the sum of $50,000 for the lesser charge and $150,000 for the larger sum.
He is scheduled to return to court on March 12 as investigations continue.
Double speak…
…on oil funds
Back in the day, when the sugar industry came into a windfall through a spike in world prices, the PNC imposed a levy that scooped off all profits. They promised to invest it in the country’s “development”, but in so doing, they prevented the industry from replacing its aging factories - which then were run into the ground. And thus was the crisis created that the sugar industry’s now in.
Your Eyewitness brings this up not to beat up on the PNC – lord knows, they do enough of that on their own!! - but to remind their successors in Parliament that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Burnham really thought the hydro project up the Mazaruni was for the benefit of the country, but he didn’t involve anyone outside of his tight little PNC coterie; and when a series of unfortunate events followed, Guyana “lost corn and husk”. Over half-a-billion US$$ went down the tube in that hard guava season - along with the dreams of sugar workers when they didn’t receive profit sharing for the next quarter of a century.
And this is where history would’ve repeated itself with the oil revenues they’re criticising the PPP about. Back in 2018, PM Nagamootoo assured an oil and gas forum that Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, assured HIM that Guyana would be launching a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) - into which all revenues would be funnelled. After all, Trotman had been soliciting advice from the Americans, the Canadians, the British, and gosh knows who else. And they all emphasised the funds have to be sequestered, invested, and deployed in strategic investments for the benefit of future generations. So far so good; so, can we hope they wouldn’t have blown the money and left Guyana with “hydro-cele”, again?!
They say the devil’s in the details, and in their plan’s fine print, we discovered they would’ve used the fund to fill “budgetary gaps”!! Stabilization Fund, Infrastructure and Social Development Fund, and Citizens Participation Fund!! Ain’t that what they later expanded as their Buxton Proposal: where everyone would be collecting $1million annually to do as they please, and the devil take the need for infrastructural development!!
Through this subterfuge, they would’ve burnt money on all sorts of boondoggles!! Like they do whenever they get their grubby hands on our Treasury!! So much for saving for future generations!!
Fact of the matter is that, strategically, the PPP’s using the oil funds to ensure our development continues into the next century. Of course, there may be hiccups, but the Opposition is stifling its conscience with their slash-andburn criticisms!!
…the Border controversy
We all expected the Trump Administration would be taking on Mad Maduro mano-a-mano, no?? Your Eyewitness imbibed the folk wisdom that “two man-crab cyan live in the same hole”, right?? And for sure, Mad Maduro and Trump believe to their core they’re man crabs!! Look at how Maduro played Sleepy Joe Biden by pretending to allow the “return of democracy” - for Chevron to get back its licence to recover and ship to the States 220,000 barrels per day!!! This literally kept the Chavistas’ heads above water!!
And what did Trump do?? He talked big and bad on deporting 600,000 Venezuelans, but sent his representative to NEGOTIATE with Mad Maduro for the return of six Yanks who were accused of trying to overthrow Mad Maduro!! And the representative beamed when he returned with them – but left the Chevron licence firmly in place!! So, what’s ahead for us?? While he’s convinced everyone he’s a bull in a China shop, Trump is showing that he can use different strokes for different folks!
And for Mad Maduro, sadly, it looks like he’ll be getting the carrot, rather than the stick!!
…forex markets
Just when businesses thought the forex markets were safe, up comes persistent news that they can’t even get paltry sums like a couple of thousand US greenbacks. So, we have a black hole that’s sucking them out??
Charged: Dhamendra Gangdat
Pedal cyclist dies after being struck by truck
Pedal cyclist
Vakeanand Sukdeo met his demise on the Covent Garden Public Road, East Bank Demerara on Wednesday at about 06:25h, after motor lorry GAF 9065, owned and driven a resident of Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, collided with his bicycle. Investigations re-
vealed that the 65-yearold Sukdeo, of 113 Back Street, Little Diamond, East Bank Demerara, was proceeding south along the western driving lane of the Covent Garden public road while the lorry, being driven by a 21-year-old, was proceeding north along the eastern driving lane of the western carriageway of that road. As the lorry
approached an open space between the concrete median separating the two carriageways, the driver made a right turn (east) onto the eastern carriageway of the road, and collided with the pedal cyclist in the process.
Sukdeo sustained bodily injuries from the collision, and Emergency Medical Technicians called to the scene pronounced him dead. His body was taken to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home to await a post-mortem examination.
The driver of the lorry has been arrested, and is assisting police with the investigation.
AG points out Nigel
Hughes’s
‘duplicity’ in calls for Govt to halt all land transactions …says $30M per acre price-tag for land was set by APNU/AFC
Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister
Anil Nandlall, S.C., has dismissed calls by the Opposition for Government to halt all transactions involving state assets until after the upcoming 2025 General and Regional Elections, slated for later this year.
Over the past few days, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) of the Ministry of Housing and Water has been in the spotlight regarding allegations of corruption and collusion over the sale of prime lands at Ogle on the East Coast of Demerara for $30 million per acre.
There have since been calls in some quarters of the Opposition for Government to cease all sale of state lands. But AG Nandlall has pointed to the duplicity of these calls in arguing that this is same party – A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change
those legitimate powers until the elections – an election that is 10 months from now constitutionally due. So, we must not do any developmental plans [and] we must not proceed with any investments for 10 months? When your party was in office and defeated by a no-confidence motion, you were dissipating assets with an amazing speed. And even after you
(APNU+AFC) Coalition –which had embarked on a massive land giveaway while it was in a caretaker mode, after failing to a NoConfidence Motion (NCM) in December 2019; and then during the period after the March 2020 elections, while it illegally hung on to power for five months.
“The duplicity that inheres in this whole imbroglio is amazing…How do you ask a government that is exercising all its legitimate powers to halt the execution of
lost the government, and you stayed in the government for five months illegally, you were still signing properties over, completing the transactions that you did at the time you were illegal but prior to the elections,” Nandlall posited during his weekly programme, Issues in the News, on Tuesday evening.
Unlike the Coalition Administration, the Attorney General outlined, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government
currently has all of its “panoply and plenitude of powers” like any other legally-elected government.
This controversy surrounding the CHPA has attracted widespread criticisms, with leader of the AFC, Nigel Hughes, raising questions about the $30 million price-tag of that prime lands at Ogle, implying that it’s rooted in corruption.
However, AG Nandlall, during his programme, sought to explain the process of determining the cost of state lands sold to private developers. He reminded of the Coalition’s giveaway of large swathes of prime land, including two transactions involving 900 acres at Ogle, where the land was sold for $30 million per acre and title was vested without any payment made. He also noted that lands were sold at Le Resouvenir, Chateau Margot, Ogle, Providence, Georgetown, West Demerara, and properties within the staff compounds at the Enmore, Linden and Wales Estates.
“In 2020, when we got into Government, I received piles and piles of files of transactions that were done under the previous government. Contracts were already signed for huge swathes of lands,” he stated.
According to Nandlall, the PPP/C Government spent a lot of money correcting these, and while some of those beneficiaries would have returned the lands to the state, transactions were completed with the others.
“We could’ve nullified all of them and lock up many many people, but we didn’t want to spend five years just doing that. We had an agenda to develop the country… [and with] some of them, we decided to conclude the transactions and we concluded the transactions at $30 million per acre,” he noted, adding that the same was applied for some lands on the East Bank of Demerara, where many leases were also illegally issued by the Coalition regime.
AFC Leader Nigel Hughes
Attorney General & Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC
“No student should be sent home over hairstyle” – Manickchand reiterates
In a recent social media post, a parent has claimed that her child had been sent home because the school’s hairstyle guidelines had been breached. However, Education Minister Priya Manickchand is reminding that while schools have rules, no student should be sent home over their hairstyle.
Highlighting the Education Ministry’s position on the matter, Minister Manickchand, in a written response to Guyana Times on Wednesday, said: “The Ministry reiterates that children should not be sent home and/or denied an education because of any perceived or actual hairstyle breach of rule.”
Urging parents to respect outlined dress codes and hair-
that came about through consultation with the stakeholders of the respective schools, such as parents, teachers, students and Board; and that it is (in) the best interest of children that we follow the
style regulations established by the schools their children attend, the minister nevertheless noted that those rules are most times established through consultations with stakeholders, including parents and teachers.
“At the same time, we ask parents to be conscious that each school has rules
rules. those rules would be guided by wider guidelines offered by the Ministry.”
Two years ago, following intensified discussions on outdated hair rules in schools, the Education Ministry issued a memorandum stating that learners must not be sent home over perceived hairstyle breaches.
Headteachers were reminded that their main priority is to ensure all learners are in school and are being taught.
The memorandum also warned that if a learner is deemed to have an inappropriate hairstyle, the school must invite his or her parent or guardian for a discussion regarding the perceived infraction.
Minister Manickchand had made it clear in September 2023 that any person who sends a child home from school because of that child’s hairstyle would face disciplinary action.
A mother had taken to social media on Tuesday to express dissatisfaction at her daughter being sent home because of her hairstyle. She claimed that her daughter, a Grade 8 learner at Yarrowkabra Secondary School, was removed from her class because of her hairstyle.
According to this mother, the teacher said her daughter’s hairstyle was “distracting the boys”, and subsequently demanded that her father take her home.
When the teacher was confronted, this mother claimed, she was told if the girl’s parents “weren’t okay with the school rules, they should homeschool their daughter.”
ERC, Police forge stronger ties ahead of 2025 polls
ERC Chairman Shaikh Moeen-ul Hack and Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken are pictured alongside representatives from both organisations
Commissioners of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) recently paid a courtesy call on Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken, at his offices at Eve Leary to discuss areas of mutual cooperation.
During the meeting, Shaikh Moeen-ul Hack, Chairman of the ERC, expressed gratitude to the Guyana Police Force
(GPF) for providing training to ERC staff on the Cybercrime Act, and on CID Induction Training for the ERC’s Investigative Unit.
Education Minister Priya Manickchand
A child was allegedly sent home by teachers because of this hairstyle
Rowdy man remanded after disrupting court proceedings – bail granted earlier revoked
Gordon Lucas of Lot 73 Lamaha Street in Newtown, Georgetown has found himself behind bars after disrupting proceedings in Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty’s Georgetown Court on Wednesday.
Having already been placed on bail on an assault charge, the 59-yearold Lucas, who was waiting for an assault matter to be heard, first interrupted the proceedings by blurting out that he needed to attend an appointment at the Georgetown Public Hospital at 11:00h.
In consideration of his situation, Magistrate McGusty temporarily stood down previous matters to address his situation, and proceeded to read the charge against him: an allegation that on September 27, 2024, at the Georgetown Public Hospital, he assaulted Clarissa James.
Lucas pleaded not guilty to that charge, and defended his actions by claiming that he retaliated only after James had allegedly assaulted him first.
“She knock me and I knock she back!” Lucas told the court. “Me ain’t get mother! I is a big man!” he further asserted while attempting to explain his action.
Despite his rude behaviour, Magistrate McGusty inquired if he still needed to attend the hospital appointment, and Lucas replied, “Yes, please.”
Taking this into con-
Remanded: Gordon Lucas
sideration, the magistrate granted him bail in the sum of $10,000, and scheduled a return date for February 12, for further proceedings.
But just as the court proceedings were moving forward, Lucas began to express his frustration at being asked to wait in order to sign for his bail. Complaining loudly, he again disturbed the ongoing case, and a visibly irritated Magistrate McGusty shifted her attention back to Lucas and said, “Since you want to disrupt this court schedule, I am going to disrupt your schedule: bail is refused, and you are remanded to prison!”
Seeming only then to realize the gravity of the situation, Lucas immediately
apologised profusely to the magistrate as he begged for mercy. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me! Sorry, My Worship. I have to go to jail? Please, My Worship!” he pleaded. However, Magistrate McGusty remained firm in her decision, as she reminded him that she had already shown him leniency by placing his matter before others in an effort to accommodate his appointment.
As a result, Lucas, who was expecting to leave court for his hospital appointment, was instead remanded to prison for one week. He will remain in custody until his next court appearance on February 12, when further proceedings would take place.
Man sentenced, fined for cocaine possession
The self-employed Ray Peters, who was arrested on Monday, February 3rd, in the Brickdam area of Georgetown with five grams of cocaine, has been sentenced to two years in prison and fined $7,500 after his arraignment before Chief Magistrate (ag) Faith McGusty in her Georgetown Court on Wednesday, February 5th, on a charge of possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.
The prosecutor detailed that police ranks were patrolling the Stabroek Market area when they noticed this 50-year-old defendant acting in a certain manner, and their suspicions were raised. As they approached him to conduct a search on his person, he allegedly dropped a parcel, which upon inspection contained a brick-like substance. It was later con-
Charged: Ray Peters
firmed to be cocaine, the weight of which was five grams. Peters pleaded guilty as charged before Magistrate McGusty, and the magistrate, seeking clarity on his plea, asked him several questions to ensure he understood the seriousness of admitting guilt. When asked about the cocaine, Peters said he found it at the side
of a truck, and he claimed it was for his personal use, to alleviate back pain. He confirmed being aware that cocaine is illegal, and when asked if anyone had coerced him into pleading guilty, he responded in the negative.
Magistrate McGusty questioned him further, emphasizing that a guilty plea means he acknowledges the criminal nature of his actions. The man, however, affirmed that he was not forced into his decision, and had voluntarily admitted his guilt.
Taking into account the man’s guilty plea, the fact that he did not waste the court’s time, and that he was of a senior age, Magistrate McGusty decided to impose a lighter sentence than is usual for such cases. As such, the man was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $7,500 for the offence.
“It
is not our policy to be giving out guns” – Benn to CPGs
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has reinforced the Government’s stance on equipping Community Policing Groups (CPGs),
making it clear that it is not the policy of the ministry to arm these civilian groups with firearms.
Speaking during the consideration of the 2025
Budget Estimates and Expenditure on Wednesday, Benn emphasised the role of CPGs in crime-fighting and the resources allocated to support them.
Currently, there are 10,659 individuals actively engaged in CPGs, with plans to establish an additional 40 groups in 2025. Benn highlighted the importance of these groups as the first line of defence in communities, working closely with law enforcement to provide intelligence and assist in maintaining security.
“It is not our policy to be giving out guns all over the place. It's not our policy to engage with the use of guns for perhaps at the very beginning for small-scale, low-level violence and indiscipline problems…They are provided with uniforms, batons, handcuffs. Those are the basic things we give to them, boots of course, and they are trained to use those things in a proper manner. But beyond that, we are not
New hospitals will have birthing suite, 3 operating theatres –
Dr Anthony
…as National Assembly approves $143B for Health Ministry
The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government has set a goal to open six new hospitals this year. Each facility will be well-equipped to provide level four care, featuring dedicated birthing suites and a minimum of three operating theatres.
On Wednesday, the Health Ministry accounted for the budgetary sum allo-
cated this year. With the Committee of Supply going on to approve the $143.2 billion set aside for the health sector, among the developments Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony spoke of were the six level-four hospitals that would be opened this year.
These hospitals will be located at Lima in Region Two, De Kinderen in Region Three, Diamond and
Enmore on the East Bank and East Coast of Demerara respectively and at Bath and Skeldon in Regions Five and Six respectively.
“At each of these new hospitals, when you go there for those who need to access the accident and emergency, you will have a 24-hour service. If you have to get an image, a CT done, you will have CT scans available at every one of these facilities. You will have a 24-hour laboratory service at every one of these facilities.”
“We have three operating theatres in them. One is located in the accident and emergency and two upstairs. So, we’ll have a lot of surgeries that are available. We’ll also have a birthing suite, so that obstetric patients will have care. You will have intensive and neonatal care units,” Dr Anthony said.
Additionally, he explained that each self-contained room will have no more than five beds and will have its own toilet and bath. Meanwhile, the Minister
also spoke about the level 2 health centres and the services they provide.
Dr Anthony explained that there were 115 different medical interventions provided at these centres, from child care to infectious diseases.
“Among the things that we’re implementing – let’s take chronic diseases. For hypertensive patients, they would receive hearts. So, they’ll get more efficient medication. They’ll be monitored. For diabetic patients, we’re working to ensure that across the system, they’ll have access to HPA 1C and so forth.”
“We’re not fully there yet, because we only have HPA 1C in 89 centres. But we’re working to get more of these centres, so that people can have access to more of these things. These are some of the more common things that people would come to the facilities for,” Dr Anthony added.
AG points out Nigel Hughes’s...
“And $30 million was the price that we used – and where we get it from? We got it from the existing agreements which we inherited [from the Coalition]. So, that is where the $30 million per acre came from… So, when they are questioning and seem to be suggesting that $30 million (per acre) was a gift to some special person, that is not so.”
According to Nandlall, the CHPA seemed to have continued using that $30 million per acre to sell the land in those areas along the East Coast and East Bank corridors.
While noting that the price is often determined by the market value and the volume of the investment to be made, he pointed out that concessions are often granted to attract the investments.
Regarding the sale of lands by the CHPA to contentious characters, the Attorney General said he is only engaged on these matters when legal advice is required.
“Now, I don’t work with the Central Housing and Planning, I don’t monitor their day-to-day activities, so I am not in receipt of who gets lands or not, following
the government’s process. I don’t know whether this company get land, or that company. Transactions come to me for legal advice when legal issues arises and I am not here to defend who buy property in New York, and how they get properties in New York and how they pay for it, that is not my business and is not the government’s business either so don’t pin that or ask me to explain that... I am unaware of that and that is not government’s business,” he declared.
Responding to Hughes, AG Nandlall reminded that the AFC Leader – a promi-
into giving out guns,” the Minister revealed.
In terms of remuneration, Minister Benn clarified that CPGs operate on a voluntary basis. However, in certain instances – such as during the holiday season or for extensive patrols in border regions – stipends are provided.
Further, to address concerns about crime-fighting equipment, Benn explained that while CPGs were not issued firearms, they were provided with uniforms, batons, handcuffs, and boots. He reiterated that the government does not wish to escalate an “arms race” within communities by distributing guns. Instead, the focus remains on intelligence gathering and coordination with law enforcement.
“There is indeed the Group Chairman and Vice Chairs [who] are the ones who have responsibility for accounting for items which are given. There are also liaison officers in each region or sub-region in respect of this type of activity and making contact with the groups. So, there is sufficient safeguard, I would say, in relation to the question of the accounting for the baton or the handcuffs.
“The function of the
Community Policing Groups then is to engage the Police or the Toshaos or the community leaders or REOs [Regional Executive Officers] in areas with respect to engaging. Of course, there are times when they go on patrol and if there are three or four of them and somebody is behaving disorderly, they could put hands on him and take him to the Police Station. But it is not the policy to engender for a better, want of better words perhaps, an arms race in the communities, because if you arm them, those who would want to behave bad would think of arming themselves too,” he added. When questioned about the training process for CPG members, Minister Benn stated that they receive instruction comparable to that of rural constables. This training covers areas such as intelligence gathering, making arrests, cautioning individuals, and general policing duties.
Additional specialised training is provided based on community needs, including issues related to domestic violence, drug use, and antisocial behaviours. For members stationed in border areas, training includes surveillance techniques, drone operation, and tracking. (G1)
Woman charged over 2.4kg cocaine bust at CJIA
HFROM PAGE 10
nent lawyer by profession, had represented a client who got lands for $26 million per acre at Ogle during the period when the Coalition was in caretaker mode.
The CHPA controversy had resulted in its Chief Executive Officer, Sherwyn Greaves, resigning from the post.
President Dr Irfaan Ali has already made it clear that strict conditions are attached to the sale of land for development and that any breaches to Guyana’s land policy by private developers will result in the repossession of land.
aving been charged in relation to a cocaine bust at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Monday, A’ishah McKenzie of Savage Street in North East La Penitence, Georgetown was on Wednesday arraigned in the Diamond Magistrate’s Court; where she pleaded not guilty to the offence of possession of 2.467 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, and was refused bail and remanded to prison until March 5.
A’ishah McKenzie
Reports are that officers of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) were conducting a routine search of an outgoing passenger on flight BA2158 to Saint Lucia, with onward connections to Gatwick International Airport in London, when they discovered the narcotics in the possession of the 27-year-old woman.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn with staff of the Ministry on Wednesday
Members of a Community Policing Group
M&CC Councillor stabbed to death by teen thief
Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) member Kyle Solomon was on Wednesday morning stabbed to death by a 16-year-old who attempted to break into a shop he operated outside of his home at D’Urban Backlands, Georgetown.
The 47-year-old Solomon was killed around 04:00h by the suspect, who is said
he raised an alarm, causing the suspect to flee. Solomon pursued him and an argument ensued between them.
Police said during the confrontation, the teenager pulled a knife from his pants waist and stabbed Solomon multiple times – once in the chest, lower abdomen, left rib, left arm, and left elbow. The Councillor collapsed while the suspect ran from the scene. Solomon was later pronounced dead. The mur-
“I am very hurt, because, we parents have to know how to bring our children up, especially with the age that he have…Now, you are young and you finish your life. When you are young and smoking, all kinds of things happen” – neighbour
to be a school dropout from the community.
Solomon, originally from Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) lived alone at D’Urban Backlands, where he also operated the small business. According to a Police report, the man spotted the teenager trying to gain entry into his shop. As such,
der has since sent shockwaves throughout his constituency.
One of his neighbours, Carmelita Collins, said that this was the second time in the week that the suspect went to rob the shop.
“On Thursday, me and my daughter were coming through the track around five in the morning, and she
turn and say ‘Mommy, look, Kyle shop break’. I pick up my phone and I called him and I told him and he asked me what and what was
gone from the shop, and I asked him how he was going to ask me that,” Collins said.
“This morning
shop when the teen decided to strike again. She said at the time the thief was caught, Solomon was on the lookout to see who was committing the act.
“His shop had soft goods… when he checked the first time, he told me the person took all the milk, soap powder, all the bleach, they took four cases of beers he had in the shop and he lately buy back some stuff. He told me that somebody bought back the stuff in his shop for him,” the woman said.
Collins also expressed
[Wednesday], I was sleeping and my cousin called me, and she told me this morning somebody tried to break into Kyle's shop, and he ended up stabbing Kyle, and he died. When I went and saw him, he was lying helpless on the ground.”
Collins said that it was only a few days ago that Solomon restocked his
disbelief over the circumstances of the man’s death.
“It was somebody that we all know did it… he lives not too far from where Kyle’s body was found. The woman whose house he was killed next to, she said after she heard the commotion and peeped outside, she said the last thing she heard Kyle say was ‘wah
happen, man, you gonna kill me, because I catch you breaking in meh shop?’ She said the killer turn and say, ‘Yes, I will eff you up’. After that, he kept stabbing him,” she said.
“It was hard, because for the years I have known Kyle, he will talk his mind, but he never holds malice. If you and him fall out now, and something happens, he will come out for you. Anybody wants a job, or to get a certificate or anything he will help, to develop you in this community, because he was a very brilliant man. Everybody in the community is grieving”.
The woman stated that she was surprised that a 16-year-old would go to the extent of killing someone older.
“I am very hurt, because, we parents have to know how to bring our children up, especially with the age that he have. That man was a big man and he [the suspect] supposed to be able to, if he wanted to get away, just give him one something and go your way. Now, you are young and you finish your life. When you are young and smoking, all kinds of things happen.”
Invaluable Councillor
Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Denise Miller said the Georgetown Mayor and City Council has lost an invaluable member.
“We have lost an invaluable Councillor. Many times, he would have to stand up and represent persons. He was a Councillor who you could have sit down, get ideas…get, his interest was the development of the people. And many times if he's not certain, he would come and say, Deputy, how do you see this? Give me your opinion,” she said.
“We're overwhelmed right now because of not only the invaluability of the Council, but the fact of the community. This morning, what I've seen here is an outpour of sympathy, of sadness, because the people, indeed, in this area would have lost a councillor who was there for them, who related with them.”
Meanwhile, up to news time on Wednesday, Police were still on the hunt for the suspect.
Deputy Mayor Denise Miller
Dead: Kyle Solomon
Carmelita Collins
The area where the stabbing occurred
The shop that was broken into
Linden Town Council secures $18M to rehabilitate Wismar Market roof
Stallholders of the Linden- Wismar Market would soon be able to ply their trade without any discomfort, particularly during the rainy seasons, as the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) has received an $18 million grant from Central Government.
The acquisition of funds to facilitate the much-needed repairs on the LindenWismar Market roof was revealed by Linden Town Clerk Lennox Gasper on Wednesday during the LM&TC’s statutory meeting.
Linden-Wismar Market
dress is repair to the market roof. However, he said those efforts have been futile because of lack of cooperation from the Town Clerk.
In an invited comment Linden Town Clerk Lennox Gasper told this publication that the mayor had made a request for some $1 million to be withdrawn from the council’s Market Emergency Fund to purchase Euroband to patch the market’s roof.
“Let me say that the $18 million has been received as a grant for the council for 2024. We did have a copy of the attachment letter, but that letter is not yet formally addressed to us; but it would have indicated that the grant is for the rehabilitation of the Wismar Market roof,” Gasper announced.
cordance between members of the council, particularly Linden Mayor Sharma Solomon and Town Clerk Lennox Gasper.
The deteriorated condition of the Wismar Market roof had caused some dis-
Last December, Solomon had conducted a walk-through exercise at the town’s Wismar Market, where he told stallholders and patrons about the plans his administration has in store for the facility.
Gasper explained that the council’s Market Emergency Fund is only to facilitate minor works. The Town Clerk added that with the current state of the market’s roof, emergency works must be done to reconstruct the entire structure.
One of the issues the mayor told stallholders the council is working to ad-
New hospitals will have birthing suite...
The government has said that all six regional hospitals that are currently under construction are expected to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2025.
In 2024, the government also sought to train more nurses, build more modern health facilities and tackle chronic diseases that affect thousands of people annually.
Guyana’s public health sector received a whopping $129.8 billion budgetary allocation last year, the largest budgetary allocation ever for the sector. Out of
that budget, $10.3 billion was allocated towards the paediatric and maternal hospital at Ogle.
Another $15.5 billion was allocated for the construction of six regional hospitals at Bath, De Kindren, Diamond, Enmore, Lima and the No. 75 Village.
In this year’s health budget, $2.98 billion has been set aside to support the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), and ensure that the facilities, furniture, vehicles and equipment needed for its smooth running is available.
A sum of $28 Billion was set aside for the procurement of drugs and medical supplies, with $852 million also set aside for projects that include new training facilities in Suddie and New Amsterdam, in keeping with the government’s efforts to dramatically increase the number of local medical professionals.
The government is targeting that over 3,200 medical professionals will complete their training this year.
Meanwhile, one of the measures that had been an-
ERC, Police forge...
In response, Commissioner Hicken reaffirmed the GPF’s commitment to providing additional training support to the ERC, and welcomed the opportunity for GPF officers to benefit from ERC-led training in areas such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
The ERC and GPF have already collaborated on several cases related to violations of the Racial Hostility Act and the Cybercrime Act, some of which are ongoing. With the country entering the elections season, both sides recognize the importance of enhanced collaboration. To strengthen
this partnership, they intend to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to streamline the handling of cases forwarded by the ERC.
A Working Group comprising representatives from both the ERC and GPF has been set up. This group would meet monthly to review pending cases and address emerging issues.
Present at this meeting between the ERC and GPF were Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken; Deputy Commissioner, ‘Administration’, Ravindradat Budhram, and Superintendent Carol Fraser-Harding.
Representing the ERC were Chairman Shaikh Moeen-ul Hack, the nine other Commissioners: Mr. Charles Ogle, Rev. Alphonso Porter, Pandit Krishn Sharma, Mr. Neaz Subhan, Mr. Norris Witter, Mr. Dwayne Adams, Mrs. Chandrowtie Sarran, Mr. Ashton Simon, Mr. Deon Dick (Ras Khafra), and Chief Executive Officer/Secretary Ms. Gomin Camacho.
The ERC and GPF have reaffirmed their shared commitment to upholding the rule of law by fostering ethnic harmony, security and good relations across Guyana.
nounced in the budget was a $10,000 universal healthcare voucher for every citizen, which will be distributed to every person to finance basic health tests.
However, the Town Clerk noted that this decision was quickly shut down by the council, particularly the mayor, who highlighted that a previous request from the clerk to central Government had been turned down.
Nevertheless, the council subsequently pursued the suggestion, resulting in the acquisition of the funds.
This publication was told that a total of $2 million has been budgeted from the fund each year for the Wismar and McKenzie markets. With both markets being allotted $ 1 million each. Noting that the repair of the market roof would cost more than $1 million, the Town Clerk revealed that it was suggested that the council should attempt to source financing for the project from council’s $18 million subvention.
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It had been announced that this would cost the Government an estimated $5 billion and target potentially 500,000 persons.
Level four hospitals are considered to provide a more comprehensive service with more specialised staff; where emergency, general and specialised operations are delivered.
The Lima and Bath hospitals as seen last year. These are two of the six new hospitals slated to be completed in 2025
Govt, Opposition clash over appointment of Local Govt Commission
…Aubrey Norton’s efforts to bypass Ministry’s handling process sow chaos
Confusion arose in the National Assembly on Tuesday and Wednesday over the status of the Local Government Commission (LGC), with the Opposition claiming that the Government is yet to respond to its nominees for the commission, and the Government revealing that the Opposition has been bypassing the ministry delegated to handle the process of corresponding.
During Tuesday’s consideration of the budget estimates for the Local Government and Regional Development Ministry, subject Minister Sonia Parag was questioned by the parliamentary Opposition about when the Local Government Commission would be appointed.
A disagreement then arose in the National Assembly, with Parag explaining that Government had already kick- started the process and written to the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton, requesting that he submit his nominees for the com-
mission, but is yet to receive a response.
While Opposition Member of Parliament Ganesh Mahipaul acknowledged that Government had written the Opposition Leader, he was adamant that the Opposition Leader had responded, and had in fact provided the names of three nominees for the commission.
“The Leader of the Opposition responded to the letter and made the nominations of three members, and to date there is no correspondence regarding the swearing-in ceremony. The question is: when will there be a swearing-in ceremony?” Mahipaul asked.
According to Parag, however, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, wrote to the Leader of the Opposition as recently as days ago, but is yet to receive a response.
Wrong ministry
During Wednesday’s sitting of the Committee of Supply, before the exam-
ination of the budget estimates for the Ministry of Health could get underway, Mahipaul again raised the issue of the Local Government Commission. This time, he came with the correspondence to show that the Opposition had sent the names of the nominees to the Office of the President, and demanded that Parag apologize to the house and withdraw the statements she had made on Tuesday to the commission.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir, did not grant this request, as he noted that, in Government, mail can sometimes go awry. It also quickly became evident that the Opposition, in its haste to bypass the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, had sent their letter to the Office of the President… even though Teixeira’s Ministry had been delegated to handle the process.
Teixeira, who was taking part in the session virtually, explained that the
Opposition Leader frequently bypasses her Ministry, which is the relevant body to handle correspondence on constitutional appointments, and this is just another example of that.
“I did write the Leader of the Opposition on behalf of His Excellency the President, as requested by him. And I was advised on Friday afternoon that the letter had been responded to by Mr. Norton to the President,” she said.
“Mr. Norton has a habit of not recognizing me as the person who writes him on behalf of the President. So, any correspondence sent to him on constitutional appointments, he will respond directly to the President and/or through
an emissary.”
As such, Teixeira noted that she was not aware there had been a response until Monday. She had then advised one of the Presidential Secretaries to ask the Leader of the Opposition for the curricula vitae (CVs) of his nominees.
“So, regrettably, I did not anticipate that the question would be asked to Minister Sonia Parag. If I had anticipated that, I would have told her so she could respond. So, she did not misinform the house. And I do not think she should have to offer an apology,” the Minister said.
“However, I would like to ask the honorable member that, as I am asked by the President to write the
Leader of the Opposition, that he also provides me with his responses or correspondence, instead of always disregarding my correspondence and treating me as if I am too much beneath him for him to respond.”
The last Local Government Commission was sworn-in back in 2021 for a three-year term. On that commission were government nominees Clinton Collymore, Carol Sooba, and Norman Whittaker; Opposition nominees Clement Corlette, JoanAnn Romascindo and Nicola Trotman; and Carvil Duncan and Julius Faerber. The commission has responsibility over all local government organs. (G3)
Calvin Brutus fired...
It went onto state, “Acting therefore in accordance with the powers vested in it by the provisions of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the Police (Discipline) Act Cap 17:07, in particular, paragraph 1 (h) of the Schedule thereto, you are hereby notified that the Commission has determined that you should be and are hereby dismissed from the Guyana Police Force, effective, February 5. 2025.”
Police Commissioner, Clifton Hicken, was attached in the dismissal letter to Brutus. According to the PSC, the Top Cop is requested to take all such actions as are necessary to facilitate Brutus’ handover and return of all documents, equipment, and other assets belonging to the Guyana Police Force that are currently in his possession.
Brutus, 44 has been employed for 25 years by the Guyana Police Force (GPF), was initially charged in October 2024 with 30 offences, including money laundering, obtaining money by false pretences, misconduct in public office, liability of officials, and larceny by a public official.
He was placed on bail totalling $6.2 million after his appearance in a Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts; but in November 2024, Brutus faced an additional 201 charges related to liability of an official, thereby bringing to 231 the total number of charges he faces. The court has imposed an additional $10.05 million in bail, bringing the cumulative bail amount to $16.25 million.
These charges stem from an investigation by the GPF’s white-collar arm, the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) into alleged financial crimes involving hundreds of millions of dollars linked to the Guyana
Police Force.
Brutus has denied all the allegations he faces.
However, in December 2024, the now former senior cop was accused of attempting to leave Guyana via Brazil, in violation of a court order prohibiting him from leaving the jurisdiction. His legal team has denied these allegations, asserting that he had no intention of fleeing and was merely travelling for personal reasons.
In a related matter, Brutus has filed a $400 million lawsuit against SOCU and several senior members of the GPF, alleging misconduct and malfeasance in public office. This lawsuit, filed in November 2024, claims that the charges against him are baseless and constitute an abuse of power.
This case against Brutus has garnered significant public attention due to the involvement of a high-ranking police official and the substantial sums of money involved.
Opposition MP Ganesh Mahipaul
Local Government Minister Sonia Parag
Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Minister Gail Teixeira
GuySuCo, private contractor deny responsibility for workers’ wages
…as striking packaging plant workers to have NIS issues resolved
Workers of the Demerara Gold Packaging Plant, who are currently on strike, say they have been promised that the issue of non-remittance of their National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions would expectedly be resolved today. (Thursday)
However, neither the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) nor the private contractor hired to supervise the operation of its Demerara Gold Packaging Plant at Blairmont are accepting responsibility for increasing the wages of workers at the facility; and GuySuCo is maintaining that the workers fall under the employ of a private contractor.
The workers, all females, have since Sunday been on strike, demanding a wage increase and saying they are being paid at a rate below the national minimum wage.
However, GuySuCo is saying these workers are not their employees. According to GuySuCo, there workers are under the employ of a private contractor.
These workers contend that they are being paid at a rate of $330 per hour, or $2,640 per day, whereas the Minimum Wages Order
stipulates $347 per hour, or $2,776 per day.
Chief Executive Officer of GuySuCo, Paul Cheong, has said the contractor tendered for the tasks associated with the packaging of sugar; but Rian Pieters, the contactor, told this publication that the wage rate was set by
GuySuCo.
According to the striking workers, they have not benefited from Government’s wage increases in either 2023 or 2024. Moreover, although National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions are deducted from their wages, those contributions are not being remitted to the Scheme.
“When I asked the person that used to pay us, she said I need to go to NIS and make a claim. I was told by other workers who have been working longer that me that they have NIS cards, and when they went to NIS office, there is no money paid there for them,” Sohana Smartt, one of the employees, revealed.
Another employee, Shemol Bourne, has said there has been no information forthcoming in relation to their demands for a wage hike. “So far, nothing has happened, but Mr Pieters said he would come back on Thursday for us to sign up concerning our NIS,” she disclosed.
These plant workers contend that they have tried on numerous occasions to address the issue of their wages with management of the Blairmont Estate. Joylyn Rodney, one of them, has
said their wages have not been increased from $2,640 per day over the past five years she has been employed at the packaging facility.
“When we talk to Rian Pieters, he tells us that we have to go to them; and when we go to them, they telling us that we have to go back to Rian Pieters. Nothing working out for us!” a disappointed Rodney has said. These workers have said they would not be returning to work until the issue of their wage increase is addressed.
Meanwhile, Blairmont Estate staffers have been running the packaging plant, along with retirees, since the workers went on strike.
And this publication is still awaiting an official statement to clarify whether there is any truth in the allegation that some of the porters employed at the packaging plant are underage boys. (G4)
Guyana’s preparation, surveillance for future pandemics significantly improved – Anthony …details plan for over US$20M in World Bank/WHO funding
Guyana, having gone through the COVID-19 pandemic a few years ago, has significantly improved its monitoring capabilities for any future epidemics and pandemics with almost 24 laboratories around the country having had their capacity boosted, and improvements have been planned for Guyana to monitor its animal population in case there arises a virus that is transmissible to humans.
Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony made this disclosure on Wednesday during day four of the examination of the budget estimates, after former Health Minister Dr. Karen
Cummings questioned how the Ministry has improved its monitoring capabilities for outbreaks of diseases such as SARS, dengue or H1NI (swine flu).
“Right now, in our systems, we’re quite prepared to be able to respond to outbreaks or any epidemics. We have, over the last couple of years, made substantial investments in our laboratories. In the public sector, we have close to 24 laboratories, and we have equipped most of them to be able not only to do rapid tests, but to be able to do PCR tests and so forth,” he replied.
“So, each region would have its own capacity, and also what would happen is:
when they send samples to us at the National Public Health Reference Lab, we’d be able to run those samples in a timely manner,” Dr. Anthony added.
The Health Minister also revealed that molecular surveillance can now be done locally, whereas Government had previously had to rely on foreign assistance to do so.
He assured that, over the next three years, capacity would be built in the system to enable the conduct of molecular surveillance for most infectious diseases.
Police nab second suspect in Corentyne robbery
“We currently have -- and I don’t think this is well known -- the capabilities of doing sequencing for COVID-19 viruses. So, when they circulate, we can actually sequence and tell you what sub-type. And that’s a capacity we didn’t have, and we had to send to other laboratories,” Dr Anthony added.
…was sentenced to 4-year prison term, but had since been on the run
Police in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) have arrested a man whom they believe to be one of two men who had robbed a businessman of Belvedere, Corentyne and his workers on Friday night. This 34-year-old suspect, an East Canje resident who is known to the police and the prison system, was allegedly apprehended with narcotics in his possession. He reportedly had served time for previous robbery-related offences, and had been sentenced to a four-year jail term in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), but had since been on the run. Moreover, he is believed to have been involved in other robberies in the Berbice area. Police had earlier arrested a 21-year-old man in relation to the Belvedere robbery. That suspect, of Mount Sinai in West Canje, had reportedly been released from prison on Friday morning and the robbery was committed on Friday evening. Investigations are continuing.
Meanwhile, an update has also been provided by Dr. Anthony on the request that had been made to the Pandemic Fund, a collaboration between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank.
“Last year, we put in a request for funding from the Pandemic Fund, and we were successful. So, we received US$15 million in grant funding to help Guyana prepare for future pandemics… $15 million will be spent on upgrading our current laborato-
ries, putting in a system for transport and also to have an inter-connected electronic laboratory system.
“We also have another US$5 million approximately, that would be spent on getting people trained and getting additional human resources for our laboratories. And we’ve also put US$5 million of that grant fund to be able to build a more robust surveillance system, moving from one which is paper-based to one which is more electronic.”
Additionally, the Minister noted, Government is working to boost its pandemic surveillance of not only the human population, but also of the animal population. In this regard, he noted that a collaboration is ongoing with the Ministry of
Agriculture.
“We’re also building a system in place, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, to do surveillance in the animal population. Because when viruses jump from animals to humans, we must be able to have the capability to detect these viruses,” he detailed.
“We’re also building an environmental surveillance component; so, when you combine human, animal health and environment health, this is what is described as a One Health approach. And in the next three years, this is what you’ll see built out with the Pandemic Fund resources and an additional US$7 million we’ll be getting from the World Bank,” he explained.
The workers of the Demerara Gold Packaging Plant protesting
The National Public Health Reference Lab
Regional
Guatemala agrees to increase number of US deportation flights it accepts
The Central American country of Guatemala has agreed to ramp up the number of deportation flights it receives from the United States, after a visit from Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
At a news conference on Wednesday, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo also announced that his country would accept non-citizens sent from the US.
“We have agreed to increase by 40 per cent the number of flights of deportees both of our nationality as well as deportees from other nationalities,” said Arevalo, who appeared jointly with Rubio.
This is not the first time Guatemala has accepted deportation flights from the US: It did so under the previous Administration of US President Joe Biden as well.
But Trump, the current President, has campaigned heavily on stamping out irregular migration to the US, and since taking office on January 20, he has pressured countries around the region
to join his efforts.
A Guatemalan official, speaking under condition of anonymity, told the news agency Reuters that, under Biden, the Central American country received about 14 deportation flights per day.
But Reuters noted that the nearly 66,000 Guatemalans deported from the US in fiscal year 2024 was more than those deported in any single year during Trump’s first
term, from 2017 to 2021.
Rubio visited Guatemala as part of his first trip as the US’s top diplomat.
He has been travelling the region to curry support for Trump’s anti-immigration push, passing through Panama, El Salvador and Costa Rica before reaching Guatemala. He is set to travel to the Dominican Republic next. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
Suspended T&T Police Commissioner fails to block acting CoP's appointment
Commissioner of Police (CoP) Erla HarewoodChristopher will be allowed to challenge her suspension from office, but has failed to stop the Police Service Commission from appointing an acting CoP.
High Court Judge Christopher Sieuchand delivered a ruling in the matter on February 5, during an urgent hearing.
The court hearing took place while Parliament met to approve two motions to appoint Deputy Commissioner Junior Benjamin acting CoP and Assistant Commissioner of Police Curt Simon to act as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).
Coroner Graveney
Bannister is calling on Barbadians to assist with burying the deceased still stored in funeral homes.
There are at least 60 bodies with no indication about when they will be interred, 25 of which are considered longstanding bodies. Some date back to 2019 and most of those in storage are awaiting welfare assistance.
That figure does not include unclaimed corpses being stored at the morgue of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital – with a 35-body capacity – which was overwhelmed in July last year with Government spending
Harewood-Christopher was suspended by the PSC on January 31, after she was arrested in connection with an investigation relating to the purchase of two sniper rifles.
On February 1, Police were advised to release her pending further investigations.
The investigations, led by DCP Suzette Martin, surround the importation of two Accuracy International AX 2 bolt-action rifles, purportedly for the use of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA).
Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher
Former Director of the SSA, retired Major Roger Best was also arrested during the probe, but was also released on advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions. (Trinidad Newsday)
$70,000 monthly on storage.
“There is a duty of relatives, friends and local authorities to bring closure and comfort after the death of a loved one. That duty not only rests on the shoulders of the Welfare Department,” the Coroner said, while urging friends, neighbours and local authorities to help give a dignified farewell to the deceased warehoused in several funeral homes.
He is suggesting that the list of the last known next of kin’s names and their addresses be published, “not to embarrass anyone, but simply to have closure by way of a dignified funeral for these nu-
merous deads, some who died four and five years ago”.
“Not abandoning the dead and treating them in a dignified way shows respect for humanity,” he said.
Touching on migrants, the Coroner said they, too, “have rights”.
“There is a legal and moral duty to the dead, so I am calling on benevolent societies, churches, clubs, neighbourhoods and family members to adopt a corpse. All that is needed is a committal, a memorial service and a basic dignified funeral,” Coroner Bannister said. (Excerpt from Nation News)
Argentina leader orders WHO exit in move mirroring Trump's
The Argentine Government led by Javier Milei has announced that it plans to pull out of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
A spokesman for President Milei said the decision to exit the WHO was triggered by "deep differences regarding health management especially during the [Covid-19] pandemic".
The announcement comes just over two weeks after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing from the international health body.
The two leaders have expressed admiration for each other, with Milei calling Trump's re-election the
"greatest political comeback in history", while the US President described his Argentine counterpart as "my favourite president".
The decision by President Milei to withdraw his country from the WHO follows the same arguments that underpinned the withdrawal of the United States.
Both cited the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw a long lockdown imposed in Argentina, as well as concerns over Chinese influence over the global health body.
The difference is the impact this is likely to have on the WHO itself.
The USA is by far the biggest individual contributor to the UN body, put-
ting in around US$950 million in 2024, nearly 15 per cent of the total budget.
The US withdrawal will pose some difficult financial questions.
Argentina on the other hand contributes roughly US$8 million a year. That is unlikely to make any significant material difference.
The bigger question is whether other leaders who share President Trump's world view, as President Milei clearly does, decide to take similar action.
If more States pull out – and that is admittedly a big if – the credibility of the WHO as the one truly global health body could take a hit. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Immigration raids target alleged Venezuelan gang members in Aurora, Colorado
Officers from several US federal agencies searched for alleged members of Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua on Wednesday in Aurora, the Colorado city with a large migrant population where President Donald Trump laid out his immigration policies during his campaign.
The Denver field office of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement said on social media that it was partnering with the FBI; Drug Enforcement Agency; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and US Marshals Service to locate and detain more than 100 members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan
gang with prison origins that has expanded throughout the Americas.
ICE had not said how many arrests it had made by midday.
Some residents say Tren de Aragua has infiltrated Aurora, a city in the Denver suburbs. Local officials have called assertions about Tren de Aragua's reach and activities in Aurora false and incendiary.
Trump held a rally in Aurora just weeks before the November election in which he laid out his immigration policies and said he would launch a national "Operation Aurora" to target gang members.
Trump, a Republican,
issued an array of executive orders to crack down on illegal immigration after taking office last month. Since then, federal officials have highlighted immigration operations across the country as the first step in what Trump has vowed will be mass deportations.
On Wednesday, ICE Acting Director Caleb Vitello, speaking at the site of one of the Aurora operations, said in a video posted on social media that the raids were taking place to target alleged gang members and that "as long as there are bad guys in the streets we're going to be out here arresting them".
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Ecuadorean leftist Luisa Gonzalez says her plans to spend on social welfare and impose harsher penalties for criminals will work better than what she calls the adhoc policies of incumbent President Daniel Noboa, but she faces an uphill battle to win Sunday's presidential election.
Gonzalez, who lost to Noboa in a 2023 snap election when he was voted in to serve the remainder of his predecessor's term, is the candidate for the Citizens' Revolution party led by her mentor, former President Rafael Correa. Correa, who governed until 2017 and now lives in Belgium, was
sentenced in 2020 to eight years in prison on corruption charges he says are political persecution.
Several polls point to an April run-off between 47-year-old lawyer Gonzalez, who would be the first woman elected Ecuador's president, and business heir Noboa, 37. Others have Noboa winning in the first round.
"The country cannot improvise," Gonzalez said during a radio interview in late January. "It requires knowledge, a team and experience, that's clearly what we have in Citizens' Revolution and with Luisa Gonzalez."
Gonzalez says she would
respond to Ecuador's drug trade-fuelled crime wave with major military and Police operations and that she would pursue allegedly corrupt Judges and Prosecutors. She also wants to construct renewable energy projects and provide low-interest credit for small and women-run businesses, as well as increase social spending in violent areas. Gonzalez and 14 other candidates have excoriated Noboa over continued violence on the streets, but none have suggested a major security strategy that differs significantly from the tough-on-crime measures he is already enacting.(Excerpt from Reuters)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) embracing Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo at the National Palace in Guatemala City on February 5 [Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via AP Photo]
OOIL NEWS
Oil down as US crude inventories swell, traders worry about China-US trade
Around the World UN Chief warns Trump against ethnic cleansing in Gaza
nited Nations
USecretary General Antonio Guterres told President Donald Trump on Wednesday to avoid ethnic cleansing in Gaza after the US leader proposed that Palestinians resettle elsewhere and the United States take over the war-torn enclave.
il prices fell more than two per cent on Wednesday as a large build in US crude and gasoline stockpiles signalled weaker demand, while worries about a new China-US trade war fuelled fears of softer economic growth.
Brent crude futures settled down US$1.59, or 2.09 per cent, to US$74.61 a barrel. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down US$1.67, or 2.3 per cent, to US$71.03.
US crude oil inventories rose sharply last week, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Wednesday, as refiners facing soft gasoline demand did maintenance work.
"Refiners just don't have a call for crude right now," said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital in New York. "They're racing into maintenance, given the slack demand we're seeing for gasoline," he added.
Concern over a new trade war between the US and China, the world's largest energy importer, also pressured prices.
On Tuesday, China announced tariffs on imports of US oil, liquefied natural gas and coal in retaliation for US levies on Chinese exports, pushing WTI down three per cent at its session low, the lowest since December 31.
"China putting a tariff on US imports reduces the demand for those commodities, which need to be redirected into another market," said Andrew Lipow, President of Lipow Oil Associates.
On Wednesday, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian urged Organisation of Petrol Exporting Countries (OPEC) members to unite against possible US sanctions, after Trump said he would restore the "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran that he enacted in his first term.
Trump drove Iran's oil exports to near zero during part of his first term after reimposing sanctions to curtail the country's nuclear programme.
"Should these sanctions be reimposed, the resulting supply squeeze could sustain the upward momentum in oil prices, particularly amid slower-than-expected supply adjustments from OPEC+ producers," said Ahmad Assiri, research strategist at brokerage Pepperstone.
Tehran's oil exports brought in US$53 billion in 2023 and US$54 billion a year earlier, according to EIA estimates. Output during 2024 was running at its highest level since 2018, based on OPEC data.
"The oil market is now caught between increasing fears that an escalating trade war will damage global oil demand growth on the one hand and possible sudden disruption of Iranian oil exports," said Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at SEB. (Reuters)
Sweden mourns victims of deadliest gun attack, suspect's motive unknown
Survivors of Sweden's worst mass shooting on Wednesday recalled trying to save the lives of their comrades at a school for adults in Orebro, a day after a gunman killed 11 persons on what the Prime Minister called a "dark day" in the country's history.
Police said there was no evidence the suspect, named by Swedish media as Rickard Andersson, a 35-year-old unemployed recluse, had "ideological motives". A Police source also named Andersson as the suspect.
A Police spokesperson declined to comment on the name of the suspect.
At least 11 persons were killed and several more
wounded in the attack at the Risbergska adult education centre in Orebro, a city of more than 100,000 some 200 kilometres (125 miles) west of Stockholm, on Tuesday. The police discovered Andersson's body at the scene.
Police believe the killer, who they said was not previously known to them, acted alone.
Five of the six wounded who were treated in hospital – four women and two men –had required surgery for gunshot wounds and remained in serious condition, regional authorities said.
The exact number of those wounded in the attack has not been confirmed by Police.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
"In the search for solutions, we must not make the problem worse. It is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law. It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing," Guterres told a previously-planned meeting of a UN committee.
"We must reaffirm the two-State solution," he said.
While Guterres did not mention Trump or his Gaza proposal during his address to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, his spokesperson
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres speaking about the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal outside the Security Council at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, US, January 15, 2025 (Reuters/Eduardo Munoz photo)
Stephane Dujarric told reporters earlier that it would be a "fair assumption" to view Guterres' remarks as a response.
Earlier on Wednesday Guterres spoke with Jordan's King Abdullah about the situation in the region, Dujarric
Aga Khan IV's son Rahim named Ismaili Muslims' new spiritual leader
Prince Rahim AlHussaini was named the 50th hereditary Imam, or spiritual leader, of Ismaili Muslims on Wednesday after the will of his late father Prince Karim Aga Khan IV was unsealed, the Aga Khan Development Network said.
His father, known for his dazzling wealth and development work around the world, died in Lisbon, the seat of the Ismaili Imamat, at age 88 on Tuesday. The funeral is expected to take place in Portugal's capital "in the coming days", as soon as arrangements are finalised, the Imamat said on its website.
The world's Ismaili community, a branch of Shi'ite Islam, comprises around 15 million persons who live in Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and North America.
Born on October 12, 1971, the US-educated, Swissbased Rahim is the eldest son of the Aga Khan IV and his first wife, Princess Salimah – née Sarah Croker Poole, a British ex-model. The couple had a daughter and two sons together.
Rahim has two sons through his marriage with former American fashion model Kendra Spears.
He has served on the boards of many agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network and chairs its Environment and Climate Committee, according to the website.
"Prince Rahim has been particularly concerned with the AKDN's drive to protect the environment and mitigate the effects of climate change," it said, also highlighting his attention to the institution's work "addressing the needs of those living in the greatest poverty".
As Aga Khan – derived from Turkish and Persian words to mean commanding chief – he is believed by Ismailis to be a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammad through the prophet's cousin and sonin-law, Ali, the first Imam, and his wife Fatima, the Prophet's daughter.
The title was originally granted in the 1830s by the emperor of Persia to Karim's great-great-grandfather when the latter married the emperor's daughter. (Excerpt from Reuters)
said.
Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour, appointed by the Palestinian Authority, told the committee that Abdullah would deliver a coordinated message to Trump from Arab States when he
visits Washington next week.
"We have no country except Palestine. Gaza is a precious part of it. We are not going to leave Gaza," Mansour said. "There is no power on earth that can remove the Palestinian people from our ancestral homeland, including Gaza."
"We want to rebuild it. We want to put it back together. And we ask all countries to help us in this endeavour," he said. "We are not looking for other homelands or other countries."
The United Nations has long endorsed a vision of two States living side by side within secure and recognised borders. Palestinians want a state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, all territory captured by Israel in a 1967 war with neighbouring Arab states. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Ceasefire in East Congo appears to crumble as rebels take another town
Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have seized control of a mining town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's South Kivu province, eight sources said on Wednesday, in an apparent violation of a unilateral ceasefire they declared this week.
The capture of Nyabibwe on Lake Kivu takes the rebels a step closer to the provincial capital Bukavu some 70 kilometres (40 miles) south, a city the rebels said last week they had no intention of capturing. M23 announced a ceasefire on Monday.
Eight persons, including local officials, a civil society representative, rebels and an international security source, confirmed Nyabibwe
had fallen to the rebels.
"There have been clashes since 5 am, and it was at 9 am that the town fell into the hands of the rebels. They're in the centre of the town at the moment," said the civil society leader, who like the other sources spoke on condition of anonymity.
Nyabibwe, where mines produce gold, coltan and other metals, is a commercial hub more than halfway between Goma, the capital of North Kivu province that the rebels took last week, and Bukavu.
Congo accuses Rwanda of using the M23 to pillage valuable mineral deposits. Rwanda says it is acting in self-defence and to protect ethnic Tutsis. (Excerpt from Reuters)
China challenges Trump tariffs as 'discriminatory'
China has accused the United States of making "unfounded and false allegations" about its role in the fentanyl trade to justify tariffs on Chinese products.
The complaint was lodged with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) one day after US President Donald Trump raised border taxes on Chinese goods by 10 per cent, a measure he said was intended to address an influx of illegal drugs.
In the filing, China said the measures were "discriminatory and protectionist" and violated world trade rules.
But it is unclear how effective a remedy it will be.
The dispute comes as
Trump's plans for tariffs – a tax he has said he wants to see imposed on all foreign shipments into the country – are causing uncertainty across the global trade landscape.
Trump has said tariffs will encourage firms to make their products in the US, expressing repeated concern about the size of the trade deficit.
But the tariffs – which he has threatened to widen to include Canada, Mexico and Europe – have sparked concerns about their impact on the economy, including in the US, as businesses respond to trade uncertainty by holding off on investments or pass on new costs to customers. (Excerpt from BBC News)
Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini
Implement energy and discipline to help you accomplish your goals. Refuse to let anyone talk you out of taking care of your responsibilities. You will feel at ease once you complete your tasks.
You’ll desire change. Stop letting others sway you or get in your way. Focus on a plan to get things done and bask in the glory of your achievements. Don’t procrastinate.
Mixed emotions will surface. Refuse to get swept up in someone’s frenzy when you have plans to put in motion. Think big and move forward until you wow those who can influence your prospects.
You’ll gain insight into possibilities and how to use your skills to reach your financial goals. Work diligently to upgrade your skills and stay on top of what’s trending. Some will be jealous, and others in awe.
Wheel and deal your way forward with heartfelt talks and entertaining ideas. Follow through by making suggestions to share in-depth plans that are hard to resist. Reunite with someone from your past.
Pay attention to deadlines and finish what you start. Refuse to let anyone or anything slow you down or create chaos or confusion in your life. Get together with someone who makes you smile.
Open your eyes, ask questions and absorb the information that comes your way. Participate in an event or activity that brings you in touch with people heading in a similar direction. Communication will be vital.
Mingling will help you put your life situation in perspective. Be a keen observer and listener, and you’ll map out a plan that enables you to find your niche.
Let your emotions take the lead and make your feelings known. Conversing with people who play an intricate role in your life will help you understand and articulate what’s in your best interest.
An energetic approach to managing relationships, striving for equality and creating a plan will help you bring about positive lifestyle changes. Don’t dillydally.
Stick close to home and make gratifying adjustments. Work fast and hard, put your responsibilities behind you and relax. Taking your time and doing what matters to you will ease stress.
Slow down and rethink your strategy before you take on too much or let temptation take the reins. Participating in something that requires mental and physical agility will take your mind off your worries.
ARCHIE
India, England head into ODI battle 2 weeks ahead of Champions Trophy
Big picture: An air of vulnerability in both camps
There are two Indias.
There’s the India of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, an India that is, for the moment, scarred and uncertain.
There’s also, at the same time, another India, an India of an assuredly post-Rohit, post-Kohli era, an India that have flown to dizzying heights over recent months.
There are two Indias, but there are three formats. So where exactly do they stand, as the awkward middle format gets this rare chance in the spotlight? India in OneDay Internationals (ODIs) are still the India of Rohit and Kohli, but what does that mean for India, Rohit, and Kohli? There are several questions hanging over India ahead of these three ODIs against England and the Champions Trophy that will follow, but this one, for now, seems the most urgent.
India last played ODIs in August, when they lost 2-0 to Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. It seemed like an anomalous result then, but events that followed it have cast it in a different light. As India return to the 50-over format, then, they find themselves in an odd position. They are still more or less the same team that looked like one of the greatest of all time during their run to the World Cup final in 2023. But even if the players are largely the same, they no longer play together day in and day out, so are they still the same team? And so many of them carry wounds from other battles, bringing to this group a distinct air of vulnerability.
But airs of vulnerability – and invincibility – come and go depending on results. India - the other India, admit-
tedly - are fresh off a 4-1 T20I series win, and should count themselves as heavy favourites against an England side that’s coming off that T20I result, and is still trying to find its feet in ODIs after a poor 2023 World Cup.
And England, too, are fighting the awkwardness of this middle format. This is still the England of Jos Buttler and Joe Root, but neither played a single ODI in 2024.
So here we are, then. The India of Rohit and Kohli versus the England of Buttler and Root, both unsure of where exactly they stand in ODIs, with a major ODI tournament starting in two weeks’ time.
In the spotlight: Hardik Pandya and Joe Root Rohit and Kohli may be under more scrutiny at the moment, but arguably, no player is as important to India’s Champions Trophy hopes as Hardik Pandya is. Until his premature departure from the 2023 World Cup with an ankle injury, Hardik’s presence allowed India to have six bowling options, and gave them the luxury of
playing a third frontline seamer or spinner depending on conditions. Hardik hasn’t played an ODI since that tournament, and as the next big one looms, India will hope his body can take a genuine all-rounder’s workload once again.
Team news: England rest Mark Wood India are expected to line up with their first-choice top six from the 2023 World Cup, with only the wicketkeeper’s slot under debate. Rishabh Pant could potentially come in ahead of KL Rahul thanks to his left-handedness. Meanwhile, Nagpur, with its large outfield and tendency for slow turners, is likely a three-spinner venue, which leaves India to choose two out of their three spin-bowling all-rounders to partner Kuldeep Yadav, who returns for the first time since his hernia surgery.
Pandya; 7 and 8 two of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar; 9) Kuldeep Yadav; 10) Arshdeep Singh and 11) Mohammed Shami.
England have named their XI for the series-opener, with Mark Wood rested and Saqib Mahmood partnering Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse in the pace attack. With only four frontline bowlers, part-time spinners Liam Livingstone, Root and Jacob Bethell are expected to shoulder a considerable bowling workload.
England: 1) Ben Duckett; 2) Phil Salt (wicketkeeper); 3) Joe Root; 4) Harry Brook; 5) Jos Buttler (Captain); 6) Liam Livingstone; 7) Jacob Bethell; 8) Brydon Carse; 9) Jofra Archer; 10) Adil Rashid and 11) Saqib Mahmood.
Pitch and conditions
ies at this ground. The last three ODIs in Nagpur were all India-Australia contests won by the hosts: a memorable chase of 351 in 2013 powered by one of Kohli’s great hundreds, followed by significantly lower-scoring matches in 2017 and 2019.
He has been out of England’s ODI side since their league-stage exit from the 2023 World Cup, but Root is back, and will bat at number three.
“He’s one of the great players of the game, in all the formats,” England’s Captain Buttler said of Root in his pre-match press conference. “I’m excited to see him in this sort of phase of his career where I look at what
he’s done in the
Test stuff, where he’s not had the captaincy. He’s sort of back with that cheeky smile on his face, and really enjoying his cricket. I expect him to do exactly the same in this environment.”
Apart from the smile, Root will also be expected to bring backbone to a line-up that has sometimes struggled to find the right tempo for 50-over cricket, as England have lost eight or more wickets in seven of their 11 ODIs since the World Cup. (ESPNcricinfo)
A clear, sunny day is expected in Nagpur with daytime temperatures in the low 30s. The pitch at the VCA Stadium over recent years has tended to offer a good amount of help to spinners, who also appreciate the long boundar-
Playing in front of President Trump will be
“an honour”
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said it would be “pretty cool” and an “honour” to play in front of US President Donald Trump in Super Bowl 59.
Trump will become the first sitting President of the US to attend a Super Bowl as the Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans on Sunday.
Kelce’s girlfriend, music superstar Taylor Swift, had previously criticised Trump and endorsed the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris as Trump was re-elected last year.
Swift will also be attending Sunday’s game at the Superdome,
where security measures had already been bolstered following the New Year’s terror attack which killed 14 persons on Bourbon Street.
Kelce will aim for a fourth Super Bowl ring, with the Chiefs hoping to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls.
“It’s a great honour I think, no matter who the President is,” Kelce said on Wednesday.
“I’m excited, because it’s the biggest game of my life, you know, and having the President there – it’s the best country in the world so it’d be pretty cool.”
Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes also said it would be “cool” to
play in front of President Trump.
The Chiefs are playing in their fifth Super Bowl in six years and have won three of them so far.
Speaking earlier this week, Trump declined to pick a winner, saying: “I don’t want to say, but there’s a certain quarterback that seems to be a pretty good winner.”
In response, Mahomes said: “It’s always cool to be able to play in front of a sitting president, someone that is in the top position in our country.
“I didn’t see that clip, but it’s cool to hear that he’s seen me play football and respects the game that I play.”
(BBC Sport)
Travis Kelce will play in his fifth Super Bowl on Sunday
India and England will head into battle today
India have a choice to make against England
Joe Root has been out of England’s ODI side since their league-stage exit from the 2023 World Cup
21-member National U17 team named for CONCACAF Qualifiers
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) on Tuesday evening announced a 21-member national Under-17 squad that will represent Guyana at the forthcoming 2025 CONCACAF U17 Boys’ Qualifiers.
The team departed Guyanese shores on Tuesday evening for Costa Rica, where they will compete in Group B alongside the hosts Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, the British Virgin Islands and St Maarten.
The team are being led by Head Coach Marco Bonofiglio and Team Manager Andrew Nestor.
Guyana will begin their campaign on Friday, February 7 against old rivals Trinidad and Tobago,
followed by a match against Saint Maarten on February 11. On February 13, the Junior Jags will face the host nation, Costa Rica, followed by a final showdown with the British Virgin Islands on February 16.
The Junior Jaguars have been undergoing rigorous training in preparation for this challenge, with the final squad selected from an initial 48 players in camp. Under the guidance of the coaching staff, the team are focused on delivering strong performances to qualify for the 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup to be held in Qatar in November.
Each of the eight group winners in the CONCACAF Qualifiers will secure a spot in the global event.
CWI announces exciting schedule for 2025 senior men’s and women’s teams
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has unveiled an action-packed schedule for the senior men’s and women’s teams from May to December 2025, featuring a mix of home and away fixtures. Fans can now start planning for an exciting year of cricket, with the men beginning their campaign with limited-overs tours in the United Kingdom.
The men’s team will continue their preparations for the 2027 International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup, starting with a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Ireland from May 21 to May 25 in Malahide, Dublin. Four days later, they will face England in a bid for back-to-back ODI series wins, with three ODIs scheduled from May 29 to June 3. This will be followed by three T20 Internationals (T20Is) against England from June 6 to June 10, before concluding the UK tour with three T20Is against Ireland in Belfast from June 12 to June 15.
Men’s tour of UK
25, 26, 28).
To close out the home summer, the West Indies will play against Pakistan in three T20Is in Lauderhill, Florida followed by three ODIs at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad from July 31 to August 12.
two spots in the marquee event in India, scheduled for August-September.
Following the qualifiers, the women will tour England for a full white-ball series, featuring three T20Is and three ODIs from May 21 to June 8.
Later in the year, they will host South Africa for a historic white-ball series at the 3Ws Oval in Barbados, marking the first time the venue will stage such an international series.
The Men in Maroon will then shift focus to Test cricket, with the start of the ICC World Test Championship cycle under new Head Coach Daren Sammy. They will battle for the prestigious Frank Worrell Trophy against Australia in a threematch Test series, beginning in Barbados (June 25-29), before moving to Grenada (July 3-7) and concluding in Jamaica (July 12-16).
Date Format Location
May 21, 2025 First ODI v Ireland Malahide, Dublin
May 23, 2025 Second ODI v Ireland Malahide, Dublin
May 25, 2025 Third ODI v Ireland Malahide, Dublin
May 29, 2025 First ODI v England Headingley
June 01, 2025 Second ODI v England Cardiff
June 03, 2025 Third ODI v England Kia Oval
June 06, 2025 First T20I v England Trent Bridge
June 08, 2025 Second T20I v England Bristol
June 10, 2025 Third T20I v England Rose Bowl
June 12, 2025 First T20I v Ireland Stormont, Belfast
June 14, 2025 Second T20I v Ireland Stormont, Belfast
June 15, 2025 Third T20I v Ireland Stormont, Belfast
West Indies men’s home series against Australia
Date Format Location
June 25-29, 2025 First Test Kensington Oval, Barbados
July 3-7, 2025 Second Test Grenada National Stadium
July 12-16, 2025 Third Test Sabina Park, Jamaica
July 20, 2025 First T20 Sabina Park, Jamaica
July 22, 2025 Second T20 Sabina Park, Jamaica
July 25, 2025 Third T20 Warner Park, St Kitts
July 26, 2025 Fourth T20 Warner Park, St Kitts
July 28, 2025 Fifth T20 Warner Park, St Kitts
West Indies men’s home series v Pakistan
Date Format Location
July 31, 2025 First T20 Broward County, Florida
August 2, 2025 Second T20 Broward County, Florida
A five-match T20I series against Australia follows, with the first two games at Sabina Park (July 20, 22) and the remaining three at Warner Park, St Kitts (July
August 3, 2025 Third T20
The men’s team will then embark on an overseas tour to India, Bangladesh, and New Zealand, spanning from September 21 to December 23. India will feature two Test matches, Bangladesh three ODIs and three T20Is while a full tour will be hosted by New Zealand consisting of five T20Is, three ODIs and three Test matches.
The women’s team begin their 2025 campaign with the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Pakistan, from April 4 to April 19, where six teams will compete for
Women’s World Cup qualifiers April 4-18 (Participating teams)
West Indies women's home series vs South Africa
Gottschee);
Michael
Guyana’s National U17 team have been undergoing intense training for the last three weeks
West Indies have a packed tour schedule for 2025
West Indies Championship… Jeremiah, Corbin, Parris hand
CCC perfect start against GHE
Jeremiah, Corbin, Parris hand CCC perfect start against GHE
The visiting Combined Campuses and Colleges (CCC) had a fruitful first day at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), braving some of the best of Guyana’s bowlers to re-
main unbeaten at stumps on day one of their clash with the Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE).
Defending champions and hosts Harpy Eagles won the toss and elected to field first on Wednesday morning.
Returning to the team after an injury, Shamar
aaa SCOREBOARD
b
“King
Alimohamed 19-6-37-3 Veerasammy Permaul 28-6-67-2 Kevin Sinclair 12-1-53-0 Richie Looknauth 9-1-43-0 Kevlon Anderson 5-1-6-0 Matthew Nandu 1-0-6-0
Jospeh struck early in the fifth over, removing Damel Evelyn for five runs. Not too long after, Ronaldo Alimohamed also found favour, trapping Sadique Henry lbw for just 10 runs.
The ensuing partnership, however, would frustrate the Harpy Eagles bowlers as their opponents fought to prove they are not pushovers. Johann Jeremiah and young Shaqkere Parris combined for a 128-run third-wicket partnership, with both batters getting past the half-century milestone.
CCC Captain Jeremiah got to the landmark score in 81 balls while Parris followed, raising his bat after facing 73 deliveries.
However, the youngster would depart soon after, trying to go big off Veerasammy Permaul’s bowling for 56 in 87 balls. Although Jeremiah came within 16 runs of the cen-
tury mark, he was unable to carry on as he became Alimohamed’s second victim of the day.
Jeremiah fell for a wellplayed 84 off 169, having hit 11 fours and one six.
The pair of Kyle Corbin and Demario Richards paired up to take CCC to the tea interval with their remaining six wickets intact. By the time the break rolled around, Corbin was unbeaten on 17 from 59 deliveries while Richards hit 12 in 37 deliveries.
Similarly to Jeremiah and Parris, Corbin and Richards were in it for the long haul, constructing another lengthy partnership for CCC.
This time around, the duo piled on 83 runs for the fifth wicket as both were nearing half-centuries. However, Permaul had his man, Richards, 10 runs short of the milestone, having faced 76 balls.
Corbin, however, converted and managed to remain unbeaten on 62 off 146 balls at the close of the first day’s play; an innings
consisting six fours and one six thus far. While Abhijai Mansingh looked good on 14, he could not see out the day’s play as the Harpy Eagles had one last moment of success before the day was called.
Alimohamed rattled Mansingh’s stumps to finish with figures of 3-37
from 19 overs. Permaul snared 2-67 from 28 while Shamar Joseph had one scalp as CCC ended the day on 279-6 in 90 overs.
Corbin, alongside Akeem Jordan, will resume CCC’s innings today at the same venue. The first ball is slated to be bowled at 10:00h.
Usual suspects move on to quarter-final round
Futsal giants Sparta Boss, Back Circle A, Gold is Money and Bent Street pulled off contrasting wins on Tuesday night, beginning their campaigns on a positive note in the “King of Soft Shoe” tournament.
The inaugural edition of the competition got under-
way at the St Pius Ground in West Ruimveldt where eight teams booked passage to the tournament’s quarter-finals, which are scheduled for today at the same venue.
In the opening encounter, Back Circle B drubbed Albouystown 5-1. They were followed into the win-
ners’ circle by Stabroek Ballers A, who got past LA Ballers 4-0.
Stabroek B later came from behind to edge Team Cruel 2-1, while contrastingly, Sparta Boss managed to keep their sheet clean in a 5-0 thrashing of FiveO.
Back Circle A narrowly
got past North Ruimveldt 1-0 while Gold is Money enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 victory over Gunners.
In the final game of the night, Festival City challenged Bent Street, but had to settle for a 1-3 loss to the star-studded outfit.
Also heading into the tournament’s quarter-fi -
nals is ZTekk whose contest, with North East was prematurely ended.
The teams in the “King of Soft Shoe” Tournament are competing for a $500,000 grand prize. The second-, third- and fourthplaced finishers in the competition will have to settle for $300,000, $100,000 and
$50,000 respectively. Individual accolades such as MVP, best goalkeeper and highest goal scorer will also attract cash prizes. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS)-sponsored tournament is set to conclude on Sunday, February 16 at the same venue.
