Guyana Times - Tuesday, February 18, 2025

soldiers shot by heavily-armed, masked men on Guyana-Venezuela border

AGuyana Defence Force (GDF) resupply patrol came under heavy gunfire from suspected sindicato operatives near Black Water Mouth in the Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) resulting in multiple soldiers sustaining injuries.

According to a statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the incident occurred around 15:45h as a GDF team traveled from the Eteringbang GDF main

base to the Makapa GDF Observation Post to deliver supplies. The soldiers were aboard a thirty-foot canoe powered by a 185-horsepower Yamaha engine when they were intercepted by two wooden boats carrying heavily armed, masked men. The assailants aggressively circled the GDF vessel before opening fire, prompting an immediate response from the GDF ranks.

Despite successfully repelling the attackers, sever-

al GDF members sustained gunshot wounds. Those injured are Second Lieutenant Ansel Murray (Gunshot wound to the right side of his head); Sergeant Kevon Davis (shot in the right foot and ankle); Corporal Andrew Fraser (sustained gunshot wounds to the left side of his abdomen and shoulder); Corporal Kevin Henry (shot in the left arm and shoulder); Lance Corporal Travis Yorrick (injured in the right thigh) and private Ezron

Samuel (gunshot wound to the right side of his abdomen.)

Despite their injuries, all personnel were reported to be conscious and stable. Immediate medical assistance was provided at the Makapa GDF Observation Post.

In a separate statement, the GDF confirmed that the attack originated from armed individuals positioned on the Venezuelan side of the Cuyuni River.

The GDF has since mobilized additional forces to the area to reinforce security, ensure the safety of its personnel, and uphold Guyana’s territorial integrity. The Force reaffirmed its commitment to national security and vowed to take all necessary measures to counter any threats.

Investigations into the attack are ongoing.

Border case

The Guyana-Venezuela

border controversary, in which Venezuela has unjustly laid claim to two-thirds of Guyana’s sovereign territory, has drawn significant international attention, with the United Nations (UN) referring the matter to the ICJ in 2018 after diplomatic negotiations failed to yield a resolution.

Shortly after, Guyana filed a case seeking a final and binding judgement to reinforce that the 1899 Arbitral Award remains valid and binding on all parties, and legal affirmation that the Essequibo region, which contains much of Guyana’s natural resources, belongs to Guyana, and not Venezuela. Guyana continues to uphold its commitment to international law and the rule of law through the ICJ. Last year, the country submitted its final written brief in its ongoing legal case against Venezuela. Carl Greenidge, Guyana’s agent before the ICJ, has projected that a ruling could be possible by 2026.

Earlier in January 2025, Carl Greenidge, Guyana’s agent before ICJ as it adjudicates the Guyana/ Venezuela border controversy, had said that a ruling on the issue would be possible by next year, since the major substantive issues have already been put to the court for consideration.

It was only recently that President Dr Irfaan Ali held discussions with United States (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where they discussed, among other things, Guyana’s border controversy with Venezuela.

The US State Department had confirmed that during their call, Secretary Rubio reaffirmed the US’s unwavering support for Guyana’s territorial integrity in the face of escalating tensions with Venezuela.

This came in response to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s announcement on January 7, 2025, that there would be an election of a “Governor of Guayana Esequiba,” a move condemned by the Guyanese Government as a direct violation of the Argyle Agreement signed in December 2023. Guyana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had expressed grave concern over Venezuela’s actions, labeling them a “flagrant violation” of international law and a direct breach of the ICJ’s binding order from December 2023.

The order explicitly stated that both Guyana and Venezuela must avoid escalating tensions or taking unilateral actions that could complicate the resolution process.

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, February 18 –20:30h-22:00h and Wednesday, February 19 – 21:00h-22:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, February 18 –07:10h-08:40h and Wednesday, February 19 – 07:35h-09:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery to light 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 3.13 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 07:46h and 20:10h reaching maximum heights of 2.51 metres and 2.42 metres.

Low Tide: 13:43h reaching a minimum height of 0.71 metre.

No need to rush distribution sites –Finance Minister to citizens on cash grant

…says Govt to look into cases where cheques are unavailable

s the distribution of the $100,000 per adult cash grant exercise resumes across the country, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh is urging citizens not to “rush” the various distribution centres

“This exercise has been announced by the President and I came to parliament and obtained the resources for the budget. But its being implemented by ordinary Guyanese people, including public servants. We

countrywide and that persons whose cheques are unavailable will be catered for, including in a second distribution round if necessary.

During an exclusive interview with this publication, the Minister in urging persons not to rush the cash grant distribution centres, pointed out that citizens also have the option of waiting until the second and even third day. He noted that there is no need for everyone to turn up at the centre on the first day, since their cheques are going nowhere.

“In each location, as people would have seen, there are multiple days assigned for the distribution. So, there is absolutely no necessity for everybody to go to these distribution centres in a rush, with any fear that their cheque is not going to be available,” Dr Singh said.

“If you want to go on the first day fine, you may find that you have to wait. But, if you see four or five days allocated to your community, you may very well decide if you want to wait until the second day or third day,”

Appealing for persons to exercise a bit of patience, Dr Singh noted the massive effort that has gone into this exercise. He urged persons not to become disrespectful just because of perceived delays.

have to respect the effort they’ve made and the magnitude of the task and how much work they’ve gotten in a short space of time.”

“I understand everybody wants their cash grant,

but I’m appealing not to be disrespectful because you don’t want to wait another day or two days. We want to get this exercise over as quickly as possible too, but please respect the effort being made by several, hardworking Guyanese people, just like all of us,” he said.

For citizens who have not yet seen their communities’ schedules, the Minister has also urged them not to panic, assuring that every single area will be published.

The Finance Minister further addressed cases whereby citizens would turn up at a distribution site and their cheque is not available.

“There is no necessity to panic. If you have registered and the system is showing you are registered and the cheque is not available, we have people at the centres who will make a note and we will investigate and find your cheques and give it to you,” Dr Singh explained.

“Go to the distribution centre and find out, there’s a first layer. You go, you

check at a desk, is there a cheque for me. If there’s a cheque for me, you join the line or sit in a waiting area and uplift your cheque. If there isn’t a cheque for you, there’s another desk you can go to where your name will be registered. You will either be registered for the first time or a record will be made.”

Schedules regarding the distribution of the $100,000 one-off cash grant for Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, and 10 have already been published. Prior to that, the Ministry of Finance had simultaneously prepared those schedules and completed the verification process for persons who have already registered.

Last month, the Committee of Supply approved the allocation of over $40 billion to support the cash-grant distribution. Of this amount, $30 billion will be disseminated to the 300,000 additional citizens aged 18 and older. Some 121,000 Guyanese have already received their grants.

The cash grant distribution on Monday

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

Editor: Tusika Martin

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Green future & electric vehicles

With a growing interest in electric vehicles (EVs) signalling a shift towards cleaner and more sustainable transportation Guyana is at an important moment in its energy transition.

Recent statistics reveal that over the past five years, more than 220 EVs have been imported into the country, with 44 brought in 2024 alone. This upward trend, as highlighted by Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Dr Mahender Sharma, underscores the nation’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and embracing modern energy solutions.

Several factors are fuelling this surge in EV adoption. As global automobile manufacturers increase production, the cost of EVs continues to decline, making them more accessible to Guyanese consumers. Additionally, strategic Government policies have played a crucial role in incentivising this transition. Currently, EVs are exempt from import taxes, and businesses investing in these vehicles benefit from a 50 per cent annual write-down allowance. These incentives make electric vehicles not only an environmentally-conscious choice but also a financially-prudent one.

Yet, despite this progress, the widespread adoption of EVs in Guyana still faces significant challenges. Chief among them is the limited availability of charging infrastructure. At present, only six charging stations exist across the country, most of which are concentrated in Georgetown. Without a robust network of charging stations, range anxiety remains a major deterrent for potential EV owners. For the EV revolution to truly take hold, there must be a concerted effort to expand charging facilities nationwide, ensuring accessibility for all Guyanese, regardless of their geographic location.

Recognising this urgent need, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has taken a proactive step by launching the Just Energy Transition Seed Funding Initiative. Under this initiative, Guyana has received US$250,000 to establish three solar-powered charging stations in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica). These stations will be equipped with 15-kilowatt solar photovoltaic modules and fast chargers capable of replenishing 90 per cent of a vehicle’s battery in approximately 45 minutes. More than just expanding infrastructure, this initiative aligns with Guyana’s broader commitment to sustainable energy by integrating solar power into the national grid when the stations are not in use.

The significance of this investment extends beyond just infrastructure development. As United Nations Resident Coordinator Jean Njeri Kamau aptly noted, this initiative is not merely about installing charging stations but fostering a just and inclusive transition to green energy. A crucial component of the project involves capacity-building efforts, ensuring that Guyanese workers are equipped with the necessary skills to support and maintain the growing EV ecosystem.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), will oversee the training of approximately 20 individuals in electric vehicle maintenance, charging station installation, and solar photovoltaic systems. This initiative is poised to generate new employment opportunities, contributing to Guyana’s evolving green economy and reinforcing its position as a leader in sustainable development.

While these efforts are commendable, they must be part of a broader, long-term strategy to facilitate the large-scale adoption of EVs. The Government must continue working closely with private stakeholders to encourage further investments in EV infrastructure. Expanding charging stations beyond urban centres, offering financial incentives for home-based chargers, and integrating EV policies into urban planning are all essential measures that can accelerate this transition.

Moreover, public awareness campaigns should be intensified to educate citizens on the benefits of EV ownership. Many remain unaware of the cost savings associated with EVs, including lower maintenance and fuel costs compared to traditional combustionengine vehicles. Addressing misinformation and hesitancy through targeted outreach programmes will be key to driving higher adoption rates.

Guyana stands at the threshold of a cleaner, more efficient transportation landscape. The increasing importation of EVs, coupled with policies and international support, presents a golden opportunity to revolutionise the nation’s energy sector.

Is racism losing its potency?

Dear Editor,

A lot has been said about Dr David Hinds’ outbursts and insults thrown at AfroGuyanese PPP members and supporters. Decent minded Guyanese of all races are very upset at the Hinds’ tirade.

Moreover, it is apposite to note that neither the PNC nor the AFC came out to criticise the openly racist remarks. Even though

the comments could expose the PPP/C Afro supporter to physical harm. This is because their views are no different.

This horrible outpouring of Dr Hinds in fact is reflecting the frustration of not only his own party the WPA but the racists in the PNC and AFC. The main organising and public relations strategies of those parties are based on racism. Dr

Hinds is seeing the foundation of his political philosophy collapsing.

It is an admission too that the PPP was always correct in never yielding to racism. It was correct in expelling racist form its ranks and always conducting its business as a national party, a party for all Guyanese.

This is a fundamental principle laid down by Comrade Cheddi Jagan from

the very beginning of his political life and was never compromised. It remains the foundation on which the PPP/C stands.

We should expect more outbursts of the Hinds’ type as more Guyanese of all races embrace the patriotic positions of the PPP.

Sincerely,

Donald Ramotar Former President

Guyana is a secular country

Dear Editor,

Regarding the issue of President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali attending the inauguration of the Lord Shiva Statue at the Badrinaath Ashram, Spring Garden, Region Two, and which seems a catalyst for criticisms and derogatory comments by some in society, I wish to remind that Guyana is a secular country firmly rooted in a multifaceted society encompassing culture, religion and ethnicity.

That said, President Ali was not elected through an Islamic slate or from any religious list. As Head of State, he has every right, once requested, to participate in public events, religious or otherwise, that are in keeping with his office.

While Guyana is not without challenges, both historically and current, generally it is known for its enviable sense of religious

tolerance. This is glaringly evident in the public participation of all ethnic groups in national religious festivals like Easter, Phagwah, Diwali, Eid and Christmas.

This has been the bedrock of the tolerance we have seen over time and which has been fully incorporated within our institutions of learning as seen through participation in “Culture Day” and events for the observances of national religious holidays.

Similarly, this is further demonstrated in many workplaces across the country, both Public and Private Sectors, where a sense of pride is imbued to participate and reflect on each other’s culture, of which religion is a major component.

Our Heads of State have been steadfast in their participation in such events. President Ali’s

predecessor, President David Granger, a devout Christian, participated in the playing of Phagwah and had members of the Hindu community engaged in Chowtal singing and hosted a Diwali Utsav at State House while in Office. Those are mere examples from a plethora for which space would be a constraint for me to list.

I believe that the participation of these officials in such events not only demonstrates our country’s secular characteristic exemplified especially by the Head of State, but promotes appreciation for other religions. This is invaluable to fostering our enviable sense of tolerance as aptly reflected in our national motto: One People, One Nation, One Destiny. This is built upon by President Ali’s One Guyana initiative to strengthen bonds of brotherhood and

sisterhood and the furtherance of tolerance and harmony. This, I believe, is what Heads of State are expected to do within the context outline.

It is, therefore, most unfortunate that some would view President Ali’s participation in the inauguration of the Lord Shiva Statue in Region 2, through a myopic and partisan lens rather than accentuating its positives and using it as another opportunity to foster tolerance and peace, regrettably, their position is counterproductive to such efforts from all involved. We must, therefore, remain relentless in our endeavours to enlighten our citizens on these issues, an enlightenment, which is vital for better understanding and which leads to appreciation and tolerance.

Sincerely, Neaz Subhan

The Education Ministry officially launched its annual Mashramani Band on Monday at its Brickdam office under the theme “One Stage, One Nation” (Education Ministry photo)

In Hindsight, there was no foresight

Dear Editor,

In the course of history, words written, spoken and sung have always held immeasurable power. They shape our thoughts, influence our emotions, motivates, encourage and in some instances determine the trajectory of our actions. The words we choose to speak can either elevate or diminish, unify or divide, heal or wound. In a society like ours, where diversity is a hallmark of our national identity, the responsibility of our leaders particularly political leaders, are of paramount importance. It is their duty as responsible leaders to guide the nation, not just by policy, but by the language they use given its potent potential. Their words can either fortify the ties that bind us together or unravel the progress we have made as a people whose history was shaped by slavery, indentureship and engineered ethnic tension and division.

Guyana stands at a critical juncture in its history. We are witnessing a period of unprecedented growth and transformation. Our economy, once categorised among the Highly Indebted Poor Countries’ (HIPC) of this hemisphere, is now miles evolved from that station of perpetual struggle, and recognised as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, earning praise from renowned institutions and analysts, particularly due to the magnitude of our newly found oil resources.

The pace at which our infrastructure is evolving; home and other empowerment assets ownership is becoming a reality among all groups of citizens; and entrepreneurship and wider socio-economic expansions are happening; is equally remarkable, and for the first time in our history, the promise of a brighter future for all Guyanese seems both palpable and tangible.

In this moment of nation-

al evolution, the aspirations laid out in our national motto ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’ are more attainable, more real, than ever before. Our potential as a nation; not only as an economic powerhouse, but also as the emerging regional food and energy security hub; lies within our grasp. We are on the precipice of realising the collective dream of our ancestors and foreparents, where the sacrifices they have made and our contributions now; the fruits of our collective labour, can benefit every citizen, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, geographical location or political affiliation.

However, to unlock this potential, we must collectively recognise that the path to success is fragile. It requires vigilance, unity, and, most importantly, responsible leadership. Leadership that transcends party lines, leadership that places the welfare of the nation above personal, group, or tribalistic interests, and leadership that recognises the tremendous power of words and their potential to shape the society we wish to build for our children and their offsprings.

It is in this context that I address the recent actions of some of our political leaders, particularly Dr David Hinds, whose words have caused significant stir and concern among the people of this country. As one of our country’s most recognised academics and political figures, and the new leader of the party of the late, legendary and world-renowned scholar, Dr Walter Rodney, Dr Hinds holds a position of influence. However, it is my firm belief that his recent rhetoric, which has been widely regarded as callous, divisive, offensive, irresponsible and outright disrespectful; runs contrary to the values we must uphold as a people. The deliberate and feral use of language that has the ability to per-

petuate ethnic division and social strife irrespective of the message he believes he was seeking to communicate, must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

I condemn them unequivocally!

Guyana’s history is one marked by slavery, indentureship, and engineered ethnic tensions. For much of our past, our society was divided along ethnic and racial lines, perpetuating a cycle of inequality and discord. Yet, today, we stand in a far better place as a nation that, despite our historical challenges, we have made tremendous strides as a people towards unity and coexistence. We have moved beyond the divisive barriers of the past, and our people regardless of ethnicity, culture, religion or creed can now coexist and work together toward a common goal.

This progress is not a mere accident; it is the result of years of sacrifice, dialogue, and conscious efforts to heal the wounds of our past hence the declaration to us. The Amerindians are important to us, the Chinese are important to us, the Portuguese are important to us, the Europeans are important to us, the mixed races are important to us, the Africans are important to us, Indians are important. In short all Guyanese are important and valued members of our community." LFS Burnham, still holds true

and must remain indefatigably central to our national ethos.

It is in this environment of healing and growth that we must continue to foster peace and inclusivity. No group or organisation in this country is beholden to another. No group is superior or subservient to another. No leader has a divine or other right of ownership and control over any ethnic collective. Every citizen, regardless of their ethnic background has the inalienable right to choose their path freely and without fear of reprisal from any among us.

If we as a nation are to succeed, we must embrace and hold sacrosanct, the diversity of our people, respect their right to freedom of association and reject any form of rhetoric that seeks to divide or harm us.

It is not only the words themselves that are dangerous; it is the underlying message they convey when a leader, especially one who claims to represent a specific ethnic group, uses language that is exclusionary, intolerant, or dismissive of others, it undermines the very foundation of our democracy. A nation built on the principles of freedom, equality, and mutual respect cannot afford to have its leaders stoke the flames of division. Such rhetoric is not only counterproductive to the aspirations of our motto and efforts to unite our people. It

is dangerous, as it can erode the trust and unity that we have worked so hard to cultivate.

As an opposition Member of Parliament, I feel a deep sense of responsibility to not only hold the Government of the day to account, but also other leaders of influence in our society, as I strive to lead by example. I have always believed that my role as a public servant is to serve the people of Guyana, all the people of Guyana without distinction, because all are involved and all are consumed in this noble task of nation building, and in the humility and humanity of my service, I see only people, not their ethnicity.

It is with this same spirit that I call upon all of my colleagues, across party lines, to understand the weight of their words and the responsibility they bear as leaders of our beautiful, diverse, and emerging country.

In this critical moment, we must all remember that words can either unite or divide. We must strive to use our voices to inspire peace, for unity and prog-

ress, and for a brighter future of our children. As fellow Guyanese, we are at the threshold of achieving greatness, but to reach that potential, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to each other and to the values that define us. It is only by embracing strength in our diversity and fostering a spirit of inclusivity that we can truly achieve the national aspirations of One People, One Nation, One Destiny. Let us choose our words wisely, for in doing so, we shape not only the present but the future of our beloved Guyana. Our nation’s destiny is in our hands, and it is our duty, our moral responsibility to ensure that we pave a path that is inclusive, respectful, and united. Now, more than ever, we must stand together in demanding unity, equality and equity for a forward, progressive destiny that offers opportunities for every Guyanese to experience prosperity at this juncture in our history.

Yours respectfully,

Jermaine Figueira, MP

Page Foundation

1. What is the value of the underlined digit in 88 888

(A) 8.000

(B) 800

(C) 80

(D) 8

2. Which is a prime number?

(A) 7

(B) 9

(C) 15

(D) 21

3. Which is a Roman Numeral?

(A) * (B) 0

(C) 9

(D) X

4. Angles are measured in (A) litres. (B) squares. (C) degrees. (D) grams.

5. How many centimeters in 3.5 metres?

(A) 350 (B) 35000 (C) 3550 (D) 35

6. Which number completes the sum 0.01 x 100 =_?

(A) 0.01 (B) 0.10

(C) 1.0

(D) 10

7. Which of the following is equivalent to 1/8?

(A) 2/18

(B) 4/32

(C) 2/24

(D) 4/28

8. If W = { 4, 6, 8, 9} the best description is (A) odd numbers between 1 and 10 (B) even numbers between 1 and 10 (C) prime numbers between 1 and 10 (D) composite numbers between 1 and 10

9. What is the sum of the angles in a triangle?

(A) 1800°

(B) 450

(C) 900 (D) 700

(a) How many children like Mathematics and English?

(b) How many children like Mathematics only?

(c) How many children do not like Mathematics and English?

(d) How many children are in Grade 5?

By WB yeats

Once more the storm is howling, and half hid Under this cradle-hood and coverlid My child sleeps on. There is no obstacle But Gregory's wood and one bare hill Whereby the haystack- and roof-levelling wind, Bred on the Atlantic, can be stayed; And for an hour I have walked and prayed Because of the great gloom that is in my mind.

I have walked and prayed for this young child an hour And heard the sea-wind scream upon the tower, And under the arches of the bridge, and scream In the elms above the flooded stream; Imagining in excited reverie That the future years had come, Dancing to a frenzied drum, Out of the murderous innocence of the sea.

May she be granted beauty and yet not Beauty to make a stranger's eye distraught, Or hers before a looking-glass, for such, Being made beautiful overmuch, Consider beauty a sufficient end, Lose natural kindness and maybe The heart-revealing intimacy That chooses right, and never find a friend.

Helen being chosen found life flat and dull And later had much trouble from a fool, While that great Queen, that rose out of the spray, Being fatherless could have her way Yet chose a bandy-leggèd smith for man. It's certain that fine women eat A crazy salad with their meat Whereby the Horn of Plenty is undone.

In courtesy I'd have her chiefly learned; Hearts are not had as a gift but hearts are earned By those that are not entirely beautiful; Yet many, that have played the fool For beauty's very self, has charm made wise, And many a poor man that has roved, Loved and thought himself beloved, From a glad kindness cannot take his eyes.

TO BE CONTINUED

10. The Venn diagram below shows the number of children in Grade Five. Study the diagram and then answer the questions.

“PPP/C doesn’t owe any money to City Council” – Parag tells Opposition MPs

…urges PNC to settle overdue $6.7B rates and taxes to M&CC

In a heated parliamentary debate, Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Sonia Parag, declared that the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) does not owe “a cent" to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (GM&CC), pushing back against Opposition claims of a staggering $13 billion debt.

The minister made these remarks during the 101st sitting of the 12th Parliament, while responding to Opposition Members of Parliament (MP) Ganesh Mahipaul, Annette Ferguson and Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones.

During the session, Jones accused the PPP/C government accumulating unpaid taxes to the tune of $7.7 billion.

“All political parties owe the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, based on the records I received from council the People's Progressive

Party Civic owe council and if the figure is correct, it is sum $7.7 billion… I have here Sir a list of Government Ministries that owes rates

and taxes to the Georgetown Mayor and City Council and in this list sir the Ministry of Health building Battey Road Kingston $1.334024 million, Ministry of Public Works Water Street Kingston $1.103 million, Ministry of Public Works 16 Mud water Kingston $606,000, Ministry of Public Works Water Street Kingston $16.865359 million, Guyana Police Force Ruimveldt location $235,000 and the list goes on,” he said.

Responding to accusations, Parag dismissed the figures as baseless and reaffirmed that the PPP/C government has consistently honored its financial obligations.

“The people's Progressive Party Civic does not owe any money to the city hall. No money whatsoever… And as a matter of fact, they have paid by the year. By the year

we pay. When an invoice is given to our party, we go and pay our money to city council. The PNC is not doing that,” the minister said.

In contrast, Parag contended that records show it is the People's National Congress (PNC) that has outstanding financial obligations to the city council, amounting to $6.7 billion and more.

Parag also pointed out that the M&CC, which has long been under the control of the PNC and the APNU, has consistently mismanaged resources.

“Mr. Speaker, and I have the evidence of this. And permit me to tell you about this.

The Mayor and City Council has deducted from employees PAYE and they have not remitted $1.7 billion to the GRA. No one knows where that $1.7 billion de-

duced from the employees. No one knows where that is. And it is circulated in a document. And I can tell you, the Human Resource Management Department administered and approved one monthly payroll amounting to $103,437,900, inclusive of $5,008,801 in overtime. Statutory deductions were made. This is only a part of the $1.7 statutory deductions were made, but they were not remitted to the GRE. Mr. Speaker, no one knows what the City Council has done with that money,” she added. On this point, the Local Government and Regional Development Minister reiterated that the PPP/C has no outstanding financial obligations to the city council, and it is the opposition that must account for its own financial mismanagement.

3 maternal deaths recorded in 2025 so far …statistics show maternal deaths on decline – Dr Anthony

Three maternal deaths have been recorded for the year so far, according to Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony in the National Assembly on Monday, continuing a trend of reduced mortality rates among expectant mothers under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government.

During the sitting of the National Assembly, the minister was quizzed on Guyana’s maternal death rates. He revealed that three maternal deaths occurred so far this year, including at the Port Mourant in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), Charity in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), and Bartica in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Providing more information on the three maternal deaths this year, the minister explained that one of the patients died as a result of a ruptured artery, another patient suffered from cardiogenic shock, while the other had severe anemia which resulted in a number of complications including sepsis and multiorgan failure.

“This is one of the reasons why mothers would die during pregnancy. And there’s a 17, 18 per cent chance that this can happen. This is not the system failing. The system has actually improved to respond to these types of emergencies,” Dr. Anthony explained.

Opposition Parliamentarian Dr Karen Cummings - a former minister of health under the APNU/AFC administration – was seeking answers in

relation to maternal deaths at the New Amsterdam and Suddie Hospitals.

Anthony pointed out that there were no maternal deaths recorded at those facilities for the year. The Minister did, however, give stats to show that maternal deaths have steadily fallen since the PPP/C’s return to office.

“It would be good to note that when we review obstetric deaths, from 2018 we had about 20, 2019, 23; and in 2022 we had 17; 2023, we had 17; 2024, we had 14. So, we’ve seen a decline in these deaths,” the minister explained.

According to Anthony, there are two categories of deaths deemed as maternal deaths; direct obstetrics death or indirect obstetrics death. He was also confident that in the years to come, this rate would drop even further.

“It is going to improve further. Not only are we training more people, we are giving them the equipment that they need and we are providing better conditions for them to work,” the minister said.

Healthcare infrastructure

Since 2020, the President Dr Irfaan Ali-led Administration has invested billions of dollars to build the healthcare infrastructure across the country. The most recent is the new West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), which is being constructed to the tune of more than $11.4 billion, and will be completed in 2028.

The government is also currently constructing a

$31.9 billion state-of-theart Paediatric and Maternal Hospital in Goedverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD), which will revolutionise healthcare in Guyana has been completed.

The hospital is being built by VAMED Engineering, which has implemented more than 1,000 projects across the globe, and provided high-end services for more than 820 health facilities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The government has been exploring international partnerships to revolutionize healthcare in Guyana. For instance, the government has had discussions with Northwell, on improving the emergency healthcare in the country. Northwell Health is a non-profit integrated healthcare service that is considered New York’s largest healthcare provider.

In addition to Northwell, the PPP/C Government has also been collaborating with the United States (US)based Mount Sinai Health System. With their support, Guyana will commence work this year to establish a modern oncology centre here to enhance cancer treatment and care.

The Guyana Government has also been enhancing its telemedicine initiative, to transform it into a worldclass system integrated with international healthcare providers. The move forms part of the Government’s holistic efforts to modernise the healthcare sector through technology.

Currently, 84 telemedicine sites are in operation,

particularly in hinterland communities. These sites are equipped with audio and

video technology and integrated medical devices that enable clinicians to evalu-

ate, diagnose, and treat patients remotely.

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Sonia Parag

What about…

…our beginnings?

You know what’s special about our dear Mudland? That which turned it into a mudland – without the sand and surf of the Caribbean: rich alluvial mud. Brought all the way from the innards of our country by OUR rivers and around the Atlantic from the Mighty Amazon. Yes, we’re the land of many waters – and lots of mud! It was the Dutch who decided to drain our Mangrove coast to extract the wealth from that rich, alluvial mud by using us to plant tobacco, cotton and sugar.

When your Eyewitness looked at those Children Mash Bands tramping through the streets of Georgetown, he wondered how many realised that each of those streets were once the Middle Walks of plantations? And that Water Street where they began was literally built to help keep out the waters of the Demerara River!! Or that if the Church St Canal hadn’t been filled, there’d be no way they could’ve gyrated though to Plantation Vlissengen owned by the Bourdas. There the canals and middlewalks ran northsouth rather than east-west like in the Plantations along the Demerara River! And so they could sashay over to Plantation Eve Leary to let it all hang out!!

So why’s your Eyewitness subjecting you to all this “old time story”?? Well, because we adults are supposed to celebrate the “birth of OUR Republic” next week. And you can’t celebrate “birth” if you don’t remember your “Mumma”!! And our Mumma was, is – and always will be – those plantations. But we do our darndest to bury that side of our heritage and pick up what?? The hand-me-down carnival culture of Trinidad that has its own time, place and circumstances – NOT ours.

So, exactly what’s wrong with those plantations?? Plenty, that’s what!! And if we scratch our psyches just a tad, we’d discover where all our present rampant violence, high-handedness, wife beating, rum drinking and learned helplessness came from. And maybe if we don’t hide it under our beds, we’d also appreciate and celebrate how much we’ve overcome to get here today. But just as importantly, resolutely seize the opportunities that now present themselves with the oil gushing from under the Atlantic to get our act together and heal ourselves. And have the last laugh!

Those who exploited our forefathers used them in our mud to enrich their countries. We should be reminding our people with our Republic Day floats that we can now at long last develop us. And it doesn’t have to be dull. Heck!! Acting out real freedom can never be dull – since it comes out of a liberating awareness!!

So what’s your Eyewitness suggesting? Just that we stop being so goddamn copycatting and finally get real. Real Guyanese!!...

…Foreign Accent Syndrome

And talking about “copycatting”, did you know there’s something called “Foreign Accent Syndrome”?? Your Eyewitness has been finally enlightened as to why so many of our radio announcers – and others are speaking weird!! This is republished without any changes: “Firstly, it’s caused by brain damage stemming from a stroke or traumatic brain injury, particularly to the left hemisphere, the one responsible for language and speech. However, it can also be caused by psychological conditions affecting the brain, such as schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder, although that’s just a minority of cases.

“Researchers suspect the voice change is caused by a condition called Paraneoplastic Neurological Disorder (PND), that happens when cancer patients' immune systems attack parts of their brain, as well as muscles, nerves and spinal cord. Out of the 112 cases observed in a 2019 study, about 7 out of 10 cases were caused by a stroke and around 20% of them saw their accents return to “somewhat normal”.

So don’t snicker: it’s an illness!!

…contracts?

Your Eyewitness just doesn’t get these accusations of unfair contract awards. He’s sees the “requests for bids” in the papers; then the bidders and amounts. These are then opened in full view and announced.

So, where’s the scam?? Three-card hustle??

Drugs, improvised weapons found at Mazaruni Prison

Members of the Joint Services conducted a security operation at the Mazaruni Prison on Saturday, in the Sibley Hall section of the prison and found a quantity of drugs and improvised weapons. The raid was conducted from 06:00 to 09:15h and resulted in the discovery of 15 plastic bags containing 1,048.1 grams of suspected cannabis (marijuana); 40 improvised weapons; 29 lighters; four scissors; two pocket knives and two cellu-

lar phones.

The search was carried out by a team comprising 15 ranks from the Bartica Police Station; 15 prison officers and three ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard. A statement from the Police on Monday said that the operation was completed without incident.

Investigations are ongoing to determine how the prohibited items entered the facility.

Director of Prisons, Nicklon Elliot, had previ-

ously emphasised the importance of implementing stricter security measures across all prison locations. He had previously said that the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) is planning to install signs outside the facilities, warning the public about the consequences of attempting to smuggle items into the prisons. Elliot had also point out that movement near the prisons would be restricted and that stopand-search exercises would be carried out.

4 suspects charged with armed robbery of Chinese nationals – bail granted in the sum of $1,920,000 each

Four men have been slapped with a robbery under arms charge and each granted $1, 920,000 each when they appeared at the Diamond/ Golden Grove Magistrate’s Court.

Charged are Andra Stewart, a 24-year-old unemployed resident of Guyhoc Park, Georgetown; Nya John, a 25-year-old 'wash bay operator' of Plum Park, Georgetown; Negus Lamaizon, a 28-year-

old clothes vendor of D’Urban Street, Lodge; and Matthew Jahlu, a 29-yearold porter of Howes Street, Charlestown, were all arrested on charged on Monday with five (counts of Robbery Under Arms, contrary to Section 222(C) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.

It is alleged that they robbed Chinese nationals Liu Bo, Chaung Yang, Wei Han, Qiao Peng Deng, and

Gary Mitchell on February 12. The charges were read by Magistrate Dillon Bess and the men all pleaded not guilty. As a condition to their bail, they have to report to the CID Headquarters, Vlissengen Road, every Friday (except for Fridays when they are required to attend court) and lodge their passports. The case was adjourned to April 10.

Vreed-en-Hoop man jailed for TIP

Asif Mohamed Abrahim will spend the next four years behind bars for trafficking in person. Abrahim was sentenced by Magistrate

Rabindranauth Singh at the Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court on Monday to 48 months in prison for the TIP charge and one month on an assault charge. These sentences will run concurrently.

The items that were found during the Mazaruni Prison raid

He was found guilty of trafficking and assaulting a female Venezuelan, between November 3, 2023 and January 18, 2024 at New Road Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.

Jailed: Asif Mohamed Abrahim

Negus Lamaizon

Andra Stewart

Nya John

Matthew Jahlu

Brutal Belle West murder

Family pickets court, calls for justice as suspects face trial

Family and friends of 64-yearold Parbhudai Boodhram, also known as ‘Renie’, who was brutally murdered three weeks ago during a robbery at her Belle West home on the West Bank Demerara, picketed the Wales Magistrate’s Court on Monday, where the murder suspects appeared.

The family struggles to accept Boodhram’s murder, as the alleged mastermind is a family friend and the crime is believed to have been motivated by money the suspect owed to Boodhram.

Three men have so far been charged with Boodhram’s murder, 40-year-old Rohan Singh, a businessman of Belle West, Philbert Cush, and Kishan Narine. A fourth suspect, 31-year-old Yoemil Barrios called “Pepee”, a Venezuelan national who also resided at Belle West, is currently still being pursued.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Monday, Boodhram’s daughter, Kamini Barran, explained that both Singh and Barrios are known to her family, with Singh even affectionately calling Boodhram “mom”.

“I’ve known him like 12 years now,” Barran explained.

“Every day he used to be by my mother, he used to call my mother mom. When they came from Venezuela he and his wife and kids

had nowhere to go and they spent six months living by my sister. After that they came in Belle West and my mother would feed them, clothe them, all my relatives in New York sent clothes for them because they had nothing.”

According to Barran, it was after Boodhram’s murder that it was discovered that Singh had owed Boodhram, and several other family members, large sums of money.

A Guyanese living abroad, Barran was originally scheduled to visit Guyana in January ahead of celebrations for her mother’s 65th birthday, she instead came for a funeral. Boodhram would have celebrated her 65th birthday on Sunday.

Barran explained that since the family was planning a huge celebration for Boodhram’s 65th birthday, Boodhram had indicated to Singh that she needed him to repay the money that he owed.

“My mom told my aunt

that he had borrowed money from her. A lot of money. And because she had the puja [Hindu celebration], and I was coming she wanted her money, so we needed the money to do other stuff but he wasn’t paying her back,” Barran shared.

The family firmly believes that the murder was premeditated, and have continued to visit the court and follow the case to ensure justice is served for Boodhram.

“It’s very painful and I need justice. I really, really need justice. My mom’s time didn’t reach yet. She didn’t deserve to go like this,” she said.

Boodhram was murdered between 20:00h on January 24, and 08:00h January 25 at her residence after returning from assisting her husband at his tailoring business in the city.

Barran claimed that Singh contacted Boodhram and told her that she could stop at his grocery store to pick up her groceries on

her return home. Singh, who also works as a taxi driver, was scheduled to drop Boodhram home after she picked up her groceries. However, while Singh initially indicated that he dropped Boodhram off at 20:30h on January 24 neighbours indicated that Boodhram never returned home that night.

During the investigations of Boodhram’s murder police found no signs of forced entry. Inside the home, Boodhram was found restrained with plastic cable zip ties and beaten se-

verely about her face and body. The assailants ransacked the house, stealing her purse, jewellery, and approximately US$4,000 from a closet.

Barran said she still suffers from the trauma of seeing her mother’s murdered state.

“I couldn’t even recognize my mom. I recognized my mom from her clothes and I gave her a foot strap because of the pain in her foot and that is what she had on. Other than that I didn’t know that was my mom,” Barran said.

Family and friends of Belle West murder victim Parbhudai Boodhram gathered outside the Wales Magistrate’s Court on Monday

Dead: Parbhudai Boodhram

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2025 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Several foreign banks eyeing expansion in Guyana – Finance Minister

Several global financial institutions have expressed keen interest in establishing a presence in the country, with the introduction of the Financial Institutions Amendment Bill of 2024.

Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh on Monday emphasised the Government's concerted efforts to fortify the financial sector and attract international investments, as the nation vigorously works to expand and diversify its economic landscape.

During the 101st sitting of the 12th Parliament, Singh explained that the Financial Institutions Amendment Bill 2024 seeks to amend the Financial Institutions Act, a law that has been the cornerstone of Guyana's banking regulations for years.

est foreign financial institutions in the world, interested in establishing a representative office in Guyana,” the Minister disclosed.

Singh further emphasised that the country’s robust regulatory framework has been developed over the years to ensure the stability and transparency of the financial sector.

plained that all foreign financial institutions would be subject to approval by the Central Bank of Guyana.

“I would like, Mr Speaker, to emphasise the significance, importance and profundity of the section that we are seeking to insert in the Principle Act today. Given where our economy is today, Mr Speaker, given the rate of economic growth that we are observing, on which matter I spoke earlier today, given the rate at which international investor interest

According to Singh, the proposed amendment introduces Section 19A, which will allow foreign financial institutions to establish representative offices in Guyana.

is growing in the Guyanese economy today, this investor interest is not confined only to the non-financial sector, but large financial institutions worldwide also have an interest in establishing a presence in Guyana, and potentially doing business in Guyana, and doing business with Guyanese, and indeed international companies operating in Guyana”.

“We have already received indications of interest by foreign financial institutions, and some of the larg-

With the inclusion of foreign representative offices, Guyana is poised to see a broader influx of international investors, signaling an economic boom for the nation.

The Finance Minister told the National Assembly that the establishment of representative offices will allow these foreign banks to familiarise themselves with the local market, explore business opportunities, and potentially set the stage for a full presence in the country.

Nevertheless, he ex-

“We see this as an extremely welcome step. It is a first step to the establishment of a full presence. It allows them to acquaint themselves with the Guyanese economic landscape in a more direct manner. It allows them potentially to identify opportunities for doing business in Guyana, and explore those opportunities. Be that as it may, they are subject, of course, to an initial round of regulatory supervision, because they still require, as this section provides, they still require the approval of the Central Bank before they are able to establish this presence. And were they to establish a full presence, they would require a full-service licence from the Central Bank and those provisions remain intact and unaffected by the

current Bill,” he added. The Financial Institutions Amendment Bill of 2024 is expected to stimulate investments and foster stronger international financial ties, positioning Guyana as an attractive destination for global financial players. Additionally, the legislation will enhance the transfer of assets and allow greater collaboration among local banks, urging them to modernise their business practices to meet international standards.

As the country continues to evolve into a prominent financial hub in the region, Dr Singh expressed confidence that the passage of this bill will be a pivotal moment in Guyana’s economic development, noting that with a robust legal and institutional framework now in place, Guyana is expected to thrive in an increasingly interconnected global financial system.

Over 220 electric vehicles imported within last 5 years – GEA CEO

…Govt secures US$250,000 to build more charging stations

As more Guyanese are becoming interested in using electrically powered vehicles, it was revealed that within a fiveyear time span more than 220 electric vehicles were imported in Guyana.

This heightened interest for electric vehicles among the Guyanese population was highlighted by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) Dr Mahender Sharma on Monday during the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launch of the Just Energy Transition Seed Funding Initiative.

According to the CEO in 2024 the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) recorded a total of forty-four (44) electric vehicles being imported into the country. On this point he noted that within the last five years more than 220 electric vehicles were imported into the country.

“In 2024 we recorded about 44 electric vehicle imports, over the last five years I think the last count I had, it was about 224 electric vehicles in the country.”

Moreover Dr Sharma highlighted that there will be a significant increase of electric vehicles being imported into the country. He attributed this increase to several key factors such as the cost reduction for electrical vehicles as well as strategic initiatives which were rolled out by the Government.

“As more companies produce more electric vehicles prices will come down and there are many other players now supporting

that…What we have seen and what I believe we will continue to see is a proliferation of electric vehicles across the country for a few reasons.”

The CEO added. “They are no taxes on them now and there is a 50 per cent write down allowance on an annual basis for businesses who are interested in investing in electric vehicles. We are training more mechanics and electricians to be able to offer the services to maintain electric vehicles. We are installing more electric vehicle infrastructure across the country and we are creating more awareness.”

Notably one of the major factors stymieing the importation of electrical vehicles in Guyana is the

access to charging stations. Currently they are some six (6) charging stations in Guyana majority of which are situated in Georgetown.

However, in a bid to accelerate the shift to cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions in Guyana the UNDP on Monday launched the Just Energy Transition Seed Funding Initiative. Under this project the Government was given US$250,000 to construct three solar powered charging stations in Georgetown Region 4 (Demera-Mahaica).

Guyana Times understands that each of these stations will be equipped with a 15-kilowatt (kW) solar Photovoltaic (PV) pile module installation which

will be linked to charger capable of charging two electric vehicles simultaneously.

This charger will disperse approximately 50kW of power, increasing charging speeds allowing vehicles to receive 90 per cent of battery in about 45 minutes. In a bid to further slash the country’s carbon foot print when not in use these charging stations will redirect power generated from the solar panels into the power grid.

Speaking at the launch event was United Nations (UN) resident coordinator Jean Njeri Kamau who highlighted that the Just Energy Transition Seed Funding Initiative will be a key project in Guyana’s shift towards greener ener -

gy solutions. “What is important about this fund is that it looks out for innovation and to support initiatives that would have a catalyst and influencing objective. So, this particular project has the potential to really shift and support a critical aspect of Ghana's energy transition it contributes to green jobs, green economy, and adds value to the low carbon development strategy that the country has been pursuing. This initiative directly fuels Guyana's journey towards a sustainable and resilient energy future. More than infrastructure, this project prioritises people. Equity is central, ensuring a just transition that benefits all Guyanese.”

Moreover, the project also seeks to build human capacity amid the country’s energy transition. A critical component of the initiative will invest technical and vocational training for approximately 20 per -

sons. These persons will be trained by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) through the Board of Industrial Training (BIT). Head of IOM in Guyana Eraina Yaw highlighted that the robust training initiative will play a major role in the country’s energy transition by equipping persons with the skills needed to maintain and fix electric vehicles and components at the various charging stations.

“This training will seek to cover, as much as is practical, the areas of electrical vehicle maintenance and repairs, installation and maintenance of electrical vehicle charging stations, installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to support and supply power for the electrical vehicle charging stations, and it will also include methodologies for effectively imparting this knowledge to local technicians so as to promote the creation of future job opportunities.”

From left to right: Head of Office for the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Guyana Eraina Yaw; Guyana Energy Agency CEO, Dr Mahender Sharma; UN Resident Coordinator Jean Njeri Kamau; Board of Industrial Training CEO Richard Maughn and UNDP Officer-in-Charge, Nadira Balram

One of the UNDP’s recently-purchased electric cars

Le Repentir Cemetery

M&CC’s neglect forces burials in roadways – Edghill

…says restoration works to begin soon

Revealing that persons have resorted to burying their dead in the paths of the road due to City Council’s neglect of the Le Repentir cemetery, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill has revealed that the government has a plan for the upgrade of roads and other infrastructure in Guyana’s most famous cemetery.

Edghill was at the time responding to a motion brought by Opposition Parliamentarian Volda Lawrence during a sitting of the National Assembly on Monday, calling for bipartisan support to rehabilitate the cemetery. During the siting, however, the minister described the shocking state of affairs in the Le Repentir Cemetery.

“When I told you, one of the things happening right now is because whether it’s the parlors or family members, because of the vegetation that existed, only as a result of the neglect of the Mayor and City Council, people are now burying the dead in the paths of the road. And that is what I’m calling tomb squatting,” Edghill explained.

According to Edghill, however, even before this motion was brought by the opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) govern-

ment has spent billions on improving the city, including the Le Repentir cemetery.

“Since we came to office, with the understanding that Georgetown needed a renewal and Georgetown needed to be rehabilitated in several different ways, we have spent just on the main access roads, including the access roads contiguous to the Le Repentir cemetery, for the enhancement of Georgetown and bringing dignity to the living… we’ve already expended almost $20 billion in the improvement of Georgetown.”

Then there is the matter of the $6.4 Billion in rates and taxes owed to City Hall by a company linked to the People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R).

Then there is the issue of the $6.4 billion in outstanding rates and taxes owed to City Hall by a company associated with the People’s National Congress/Reform (PNC/R).

According to Edghill, based on their estimates only a fraction of that amount is needed to complete upgrade works on the cemetery.

“The honourable member, Ms. Lawrence, is asking that we take care of the drains, the roads and I would want to add, lights. Our estimates that we’re working with, if

the company that is the holding company for Congress place pays its rates and taxes, I only need $1.3 Billion out of that $6.4 Billion.”

“And we will get all the work done in Le Repentir… $1.3 Billion out of the $6.4 Billion to deal with all of the main roads and all of the cross streets and all of the drains. We have the estimates and we’re working on it,” Edghill explained.

Edghill further assured that work will be starting very soon on the cemetery, done by the residents of surrounding areas themselves. According to the Minister, these residents will receive small contracts to do concrete roads in the cemetery.

“Mr Speaker, the six main roads between the cemetery from east to west direction, these roads give access to the cemetery. They will be rehabilitated. Thirteen cross streets, minor roads that run perpendicular to the main road, these cross streets will give further access to areas within the cemetery.”

“And there are four footpaths that run within the cross streets. These foot paths will provide further access to the cemetery. And all are part of our urban rehabilitation programme for the development of Georgetown and the cemetery being part

of that.”

Incompetence

Meanwhile, in her presentation to the national assembly, Local Government and Regional Development Minister, Sonia Parag spoke about the incompetence of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council and its mismanagement of projects.

“If this government is going to invest into this city and we have been, we’re going to ensure that the implementation of projects, is managed by the government. Because, we cannot trust, from the

breach and mismanagement of the financial act, and the finances of the city council, we cannot have confidence that they will execute these projects,” Parag said.

Parag cited the example of the $100 Million Le Repentir clean up that occurred under the then A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) government. She noted that the entire scope of works for the project weren’t even completed, with the PPP/C government having to ensure its completion after entering office in 2020.

“So, Mr Speaker, how can this government and how can the people of Guyana trust that when they say they have $100 Million, up to todays date the scope of works for that $100 Million cannot be executed, how can we trust and have confidence in them? You cannot.”

Located in lands immediately south of Princes Street, Wortmanville, this burial ground has, for many years, been overcrowded by tombstones, and tombs have been overtaken by bushes, among other issues it currently faces.

“Which country in the world has conquered corruption?” – Teixeira asks former AG …says fighting corruption a constant battle

Governance Minister, Gail Teixeira, affirmed on Monday that the Government's statement on Guyana's Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranking was fact-based, highlighting the efforts the People's Progressive Party (PPPC) Government has made in the past four years to strengthen the nation's anti-corruption framework.

Teixeira was at the time responding to remarks made by former Auditor General (AG), Anand Goolsarran, which challenged the Government’s statement, which criticised the country’s drop in the latest CPI report. Goolsarran suggested that the Government was implying there was no corruption, a notion Texeira swiftly rejected.

“There was nothing I was saying in that article or any other that I was insinuating that there was no corruption. So, him saying that I'm saying that there is no corruption or I’m trying to avoid it is absolutely untrue. I was not insinuating that,”

Teixeira said.

“Goolsarran ignores in the press statement what our efforts have been made, what has been done. No one has said, nor have I ever said, that we have reached great heights of anti-corruption. But what I can say is that Guyana, in the last four years, has made serious efforts to improve its anti-corruption framework, its anti-corruption systems and to have greater transparency and accountability.”

The Minister further stressed that her statement was not an attack on anyone, but simply a defence of the Government's position. Clarifying her position, Teixeira emphasised that she never stated there was no corruption in Guyana.

The Minister highlighted several concrete steps taken by the Government to enhance transparency and accountability, including the restoration of annual audit reports in 1992, after an over two-decade period in which audits were not conducted during the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) time in Government.

“We have audit reports that are laid before Parliament and made publicly available. Transparency involves giving the public access to information to scrutinise,” she stated.

Teixeira emphasised that, despite the challenges, Guyana’s anti-corruption efforts have seen tangible progress, though she acknowledged there is still work to be done.

“Fighting corruption is a constant battle, and our framework is good, but we must strengthen capacity and technical skills.”

Another key point raised by Teixeira was the nature of the CPI itself, which she described as a perception-based index. She pointed out that the index does not measure actual instances of corruption but rather reflects the opinions of a select group of individuals. Texeira questioned the motives of these select contributors and their potential biases.

“Three to five people in Guyana historically have been the experts or the business people that TI relies on to give their perception.

These people are never disclosed [but] I suspect, having been around for a while, we know who they are because their position is constantly the same: once the PPP/C is in Government it's a problem.”

Teixeira also highlighted the conflict of interest that exists whereby many of the countries that perform well on the CPI also fund TI. She also pointed out a pattern where nations from the Global South, particularly those with large populations of people of colour, consistently score poorly.

“How is it that the global South, which happens to be made up of brown people and black people and other colored people, are always at the bottom, always below 50,” she noted.

In defending Guyana’s position, the Minister reminded the public that the country only saw a slight drop of one point on the CPI, a fact often overshadowed in media reports. The Minister also highlighted that, according to the CPI report itself, Guyana had made significant improvements over the

Governance Minister Gail Teixeira

last four years.

“It is convenient to talk about Guyana falling by one but they ignore the fact that other countries fell by 8 and 10 and 15 including very large and important countries like the United States (US) for example. And they refused to acknowledge that in the same CPI report it says that Guyana was a significant improver over the last four years,” Teixeira observed.

Reaffirming her commitment to transparency and open dialogue, Teixeira

pointed out that under Guyana’s Constitution, everyone has the right to express their opinions, including Government Ministers. “Just as influencers and opinion-makers have the right to speak, so do Ministers and the Government. It cannot be that every time a Minister speaks, the naysayers jump up and claim we’re attacking them,” Teixeira said.

“This is not just about my opinion on CPI, this is about using our statement in a factual and analytical way. The Government has a right to say we accept the review by X and we don't accept the review by Y.”

Teixeira made an important point about global corruption rankings, questioning the unrealistic expectations placed on any country to completely eliminate corruption.

“I would ask Mr Goolsarran and other influencers: which country in the world has conquered corruption? Even the countries that have reached 90 out of the 100 index, haven't reached 100.”

File photo: The Le Repentir Cemetery

4 years later

Election fraud trial finally begins, defendants plead not guilty

…as new battle begins on whether defence can make

opening address to court

As the trial in the four years long elections fraud case got underway on Monday, the prosecution and defense teams were at odds on whether or not the defense should be allowed to make an opening address after the prosecution made theirs.

When the trial continues on Tuesday, Magistrate Faith MaGusty is expected to rule on whether the defense can make an opening address or whether the prosecution’s opening address will be struck out entirely.

The commencement of the trial on Monday saw the prosecution making an opening address where he underscored the charges before court, the nature of each offense and the evidence that would be presented to support the claims.

The prosecution objected to the defense making an opening address at this stage, arguing that the defense was only permitted to do so at the commencement of the trial, not during preliminary proceedings. However, attorneys for the defense challenged that fairness required that the defense have an equal op-

portunity to respond to the prosecution’s opening address, questioning whether the magistrate would strike out the prosecution’s entire opening address if the defense was not given the opportunity to reply.

Hughes argued that the existing legal framework should not favor the prosecution and that the defense should be allowed to present its perspective immediately. Anderson supported this view, insisting that even if an opening address was not formally permitted, the defense should at least be allowed to respond to the prosecution’s claims.

The prosecution dismissed these arguments as irrelevant, but Anderson questioned if the magistrate would strike out the prosecution’s entire opening address if the defense was not given the opportunity to reply. Daniels also voiced his support for opening statements from both sides or none at all, emphasizing that statements made outside the courtroom could not be used as evidence and that it was essential for the defense’s arguments to be officially recorded within the trial.

The court is set to reconvene today for the magistrate’s ruling. Nine persons are before the court in this case, which pertains to the March 2020 general and regional elections. They include former Region Four Returning Officer, Clairmont Mingo; former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield and his former Deputy, Roxanne Myers.

Also charged are former PNCR Chairperson Volda Lawrence; PNCR activist Carol Smith-Joseph; and GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Michelle Miller and Denise Babb-Cummings.

In January, McGusty had ruled that the case will proceed summarily and that the case.

On Monday all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Together, these nine defendants confront 33 counts of election-related fraud, focused on alleged efforts to manipulate voting results. Initially overseen by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, the trial began in July 2024, but was paused following her extended medical leave, which has resulted in the trial being reassigned to

Excel Guyana unveils new strategic advisory services

Excel Guyana Inc has announced the launch of its new Strategic Advisory Services, specifically designed to support investors and foster economic development in Guyana. This strategic expansion aims to provide investors with expert guidance and innovative solutions to navigate the dynamics of Guyana’s business landscape.

In a release on Monday, Excel Guyana stated that the Strategic Advisory Services will offer a range of specialized services, including company formation, registered office / compliance, work permits / visas, part-time cfo, market analysis / strategy review, government relations / regulatory strategy, private sector

pre-screening & introductions, outsourced business development, investment sourcing, mergers and acquisitions

"Excel Guyana understands the challenges businesses face during the evaluation and investment process in Guyana,” said Kris Sammy CEO of Excel

Guyana, who noted that the “team of experienced consultants are dedicated to delivering customized solutions that drive investment success and economic growth."

“Investors from LATAM will benefit from the guidance provided by Excel Guyana in Spanish, Portuguese and English said Dr. Jose Gomez, CoChairman of Excel Guyana.

“Every week we meet businesses and investors looking for opportunities in Guyana said Michael Smith COO of Excel Guyana. The Strategic Advisor Services group will allow us to meet the additional demands we are experiencing and expect to increase as the world’s investors continue to appreciate the opportunities in Guyana.”

Magistrate McGusty.

When the matter was called on December 8, 2024, the defense had pressed for a fresh start to the already

delayed trial. On the other hand, the prosecution had argued that a restart of the case was completely unnecessary and that all the

court needed to do was to recall the previous witnesses. Ultimately, however, Mc Gusty had ordered a restart in the election fraud trial.

Top row, from left – Volda Lawrence, Keith Lowenfield, Denise Babb-Cummings, and Michelle Miller. Bottom row, from left – Enrique Livan, Sheffern February, Clairmont Mingo, and Carol Smith-Joseph

Co-Chairman of Excel Guyana, Dr Jose Gomez

Guyana Energy Expo launches inaugural conference village to showcase local products

As the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo (GECSCE) gears up to host its highly anticipated energy conference beginning today, it has launched a new activity that will showcase Guyana’s agriculture sector and its products.

This year the organisers added a new event to the calendar of activities. Named the ‘Conference Village’ this event will allow local farmers and agro processors to display their produce and products to the international community.

Speaking at the launch event was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GECSCE Kiana Wilburg who highlighted that the conference village aligns with the Government’s sustainable

development agenda.

“This conference village is the first of its kind for us and it's an important initiative. It serves three main purposes. The first is that it ensures that irrespective of the conversations we're having about leveraging Guyana's natural resources for a sustainable future… We must always ensure that our policy leaders, our stake-

was Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha who highlighted that both oil and gas and agriculture are key sectors in the country’s economy. On this point the Minister noted that it is important for stakeholders to find avenues to link these two areas.

“We want to merge the sectors within our country to show our potential and although oil and gas would have been a sector that is very attractive, the agriculture sector over the last four years have developed rapidly. We have seen agriculture, the growth in the agricul-

holders bear in mind that agriculture will remain at the forefront of Guyana's diversification agenda.”

The CEO added. “The second is to ensure that stakeholders within Guyana's agriculture industry have a broader market within which to showcase their capabilities and the products with which our beautiful country produces. And thirdly, as you are well aware, the Guyana Energy Conference (GEC) is a hub for bringing international and regional experts and stakeholders within 26 industries and we want to showcase the potential of our farmers, our agro-processors and all those persons within the agricultural landscape… we want to showcase the investment opportunities that are available in Guyana's agricultural landscape.”

Also present at the event

ture sector has moved tremendously… crops or commodities that the Caribbean normally import. We are now producing it in Guyana, things like corn and soya, the high value crops and we are catering for the oil and gas sector, for the hospitality industry but more importantly to take in the slots that will be created when we start to reduce, we have already started to reduce the imports in the Caribbean to reach that 25 by 2025 goal.”

Moreover, with more than 4000 attendees registered for the Energy Conference, Minister Mustapha noted that the conference village will present numerous business opportunities for exhibitors.

“We have over 4,000 new products now in the agro-processing market and as Guyana rightly said we have a number of guests here, a number of investors that will be here for the next few days and I think that it's a tremendous opportunity for agro-processors, our farmers to display and advertise their product so that Guyana can be that important destination in terms of producing agricultural produce and product in the Caribbean.”

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo CEO Kiana Wilburg along with representatives from the Agriculture Ministry during the ribbon-cutting exercise on Monday

Zara Group donates computer lab to GTI

Through direct funding from the Zara Group of Companies, Queens, New York, 31 computer systems have been donated along with a brandnew computer lab, to the Government Technical Institute (GTI).

These computers are powered with high-tech software and are equipped with high-end IT hardware, which will significantly improve the GTI administration's ability to teach students.

The computers also have a server with paid licensed programs.

Speaking during the handing-over session on Monday, Ken Subraj –President of the Zara realty Holding Inc and the main person who spearheaded this initiative, delivered an inspirational message to the students upon receiving these devices.

According to him, if students want to achieve greatness in life, they must first

understand that they are the ones responsible for making it happen.

“It’s not going to come to you just like that. No one is going to come to give you all the knowledge just like that; you have to want to do it. No one is going to force it upon you; you have to want this education. No one is going to come and pour it down your ears, and if you can find that person who will do that, I want to meet him,” he stated.

Principal of GTI, Tiffanie Charles Persuad, highlighted that these tools will help Guyanese students excel in the emerging sectors.

“This is a vision that will equip our students with the essential skills to thrive in Guyana’s booming economy. The development promises sustainable growth and prosperity for our country, and all of this would be incomplete without the skills of today,” she said during the opening.

“This PC lab represents

a significant step towards meeting the demands of the growing economy. The labs will provide students with hands-on knowledge in the rapidly advancing field of technology. Through this initiative, we are strengthening our curriculum and bridging the gap between the classroom and the real world.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Education Officer (Technical), Dr Ritesh Tuluram, also shared remarks, explaining that this initiative aligns with the Education Ministry's efforts to help students in technical fields.

“We are developing a framework that will ensure we provide quality TVET using an online modality. Given all that was described initially, we now have a state-of-the-art laboratory with a server system of 31 units, all well-powered and equipped with software for various programs. With the connectivity we have,

we can use this as a model to train people across the regions,” he said.

He also added, “The Ministry’s priority and focus is on how we bridge the gap in tech education. I want to assure this group and team of people that we will not be sitting idly as it relates to the agenda before us.”

In an exciting twist Dr. Tuluram also mentioned that other technical pursuits are underway by the Subraj family.

“I know it’s a vision of Ken Subraj to identify a space in this facility and set up what we will call a state-of-the-art instrumentation laboratory. I am confident that, as we hand over this lab, it is in the pipe-

must ensure that our programs are always relevant and aligned with the changing landscape.”

Meanwhile, Deputy

“One of the main things I would reiterate is maintenance, so that our young minds can continue to use them. Even though these

line of their thinking, and the Education Ministry will work with the team to ensure that we realize this instrumentation laboratory. Given what is happening in the landscape of Guyana, we recognize the many opportunities in tech, and we

Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force, Mr. Ranidradat Budhram, who was also present at the event, emphasized the importance of maintenance when using these computers.

labs were donated to us, these are state-of-the-art systems. The benefits of this lab also include employment opportunities and other major skills you can acquire from using these devices.”

Students sitting in the newly-commissioned lab with the computers

The Zara Group of Companies family alongside other officials

Chief Education Officer (Technical), Dr. Ritesh Tuluram

Regional Brazil targets illegal logging in major Amazon raids

Brazilian environmental agents seized the equivalent of more than 5000 truckloads of timber in an operation targeting one of the most heavily-logged regions of the Amazon rainforest in recent weeks, officials told Reuters.

The raids kicked off a year-long project called Operation Maravalha, named after a type of sawdust, in the states of Amazonas, Para and Rondonia. The Government expects Maravalha to be the largest operation of its kind in over five years.

Environmental protection agency Ibama, which led the operation, closed nearly a dozen sawmills and levied fines totalling 15.5 million reais (US$2.7 million) during a two-week raid.

The operation's goal is to curb illegal logging in protected areas and Indigenous lands with some of the country's highest deforestation rates, said Jair Schmitt,

head of environmental protection at Ibama.

Investigators are also auditing timber projects in private lands suspected of defrauding Government documentation to hide the real origin of native timber obtained illegally, Schmitt added.

After the raids, Ibama plans to suspend some of the timber projects that were illegally used to launder timber taken from protected areas, Schmitt said.

"The idea behind this operation is for us to contain the extraction of illegal timber in the Amazon, which is the first step to deforestation," said Schmitt, as he stood near a pile of illegal timber his team seized in a rural part of Rondonia's capital, Porto Velho.

After valuable timber is extracted, Schmitt said, the rest of the forest is often razed to make way for cattle pasture. Profits made from the sale of timber are often used to fund the expensive process of convert-

ing the lush forest into pastures.

While roughly 90 per cent of the timber illegally harvested in Brazil's Amazon rainforest is sold locally, some still reaches the United States and Europe, Schmitt said.

Investigators in the raid in Porto Velho found wood from several Amazon species considered valuable in global markets, such as the ipe, which is also endangered. The timber seized by Ibama will be donated to Government agencies and projects.

Under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who vowed to protect the Amazon during his 2022 campaign, deforestation in the Brazilian rainforest fell to its lowest level in almost a decade last year.

Still, conservationists warn that illegal logging and fires are still damaging the forest in ways Government deforestation data does not fully capture. (Reuters)

Argentine federal Judge to probe Milei crypto scandal, stock index falls

An Argentine Judge was assigned on Monday to investigate President Javier Milei's role in promoting a cryptocurrency that crashed, the latest shockwave from a scandal that has threatened to slow the libertarian leader's momentum.

Milei late on Friday recommended the little-known crypto coin $LIBRA in a posting on X, kicking off a brief rally. He later deleted the posting and denied having any link to the cryptocurrency, which soon plunged.

The country's fintech

chamber said the case could amount to a "rug pull," a scam in which a coin's backers lure multiple investors, sending the cryptocurrency's value soaring, then quickly withdraw their funds, leaving investors with worthless tokens.

Opposition lawmakers have said that Milei, whose tough austerity programme has won plaudits from investors and made progress in taming rampant inflation, could face an impeachment trial over his actions.

Argentina's benchmark S&P Merval stock index

tumbled 5.6 per cent.

The investigation was assigned on a random basis to veteran Federal Judge Maria Servini after local media reported that more than 100 complaints were presented to Argentina's judiciary and several even to US courts.

"Milei's Government is suffering the biggest reputational crisis of its Government," consultancy Wise Capital said, noting that the token was now being labelled as a hoax.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Bus crash in Bolivia kills over 30 persons

Abus crash in Bolivia on Monday killed at least 31 persons and wounded over a dozen more, according to local Police.

The driver of the bus likely lost control of the vehicle, causing it to drop

nearly 800 metres (2625 feet) off a precipice in the southwestern municipality of Yocalla, a Police Officer speaking from the local hospital said.

Of those injured in the crash, 10 adults and four children had been hospital-

ised, with several in intensive care, an official from the hospital said in a video.

The mountainous route is full of twists and turns, the Police Officer said, adding that the bus's speed could have been a factor in the crash. (Reuters)

Mexico announces big meth seizure in cartel bastion

Mexico announced Monday the seizure of 200 kilos (440 pounds) of methamphetamine in a cartel heartland, as it comes under mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump to tackle drug trafficking.

The discovery was made during a weekend operation to dismantle illegal drug laboratories in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, a government statement said.

The value of the drugs seized was nearly US$40

million, it said, adding that more than 12,000 litres (3170 gallons) of chemical precursors used to make methamphetamine were also confiscated.

The Latin American nation has announced a series of major drug discoveries in recent weeks in an apparent attempt to highlight increased efforts to combat drug smuggling.

Trump has cited illegal flows of the deadly opioid fentanyl as one of the reasons for a threatened 25-per

cent tariff on Mexican goods. He put the trade levies on hold for a month, until early March, after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum agreed to deploy 10,000 more soldiers to the countries’ shared border to tackle smuggling. Since February 5, when the deployment began, Mexican authorities have seized 4.9 tons of methamphetamine, 453 kilos of cocaine, 55 kilos of fentanyl and 489 firearms, the government said. (AFP)

Pan tourists soaking up

Trinidad and Tobago's culture

Year after year, people from all over the world come to Trinidad and Tobago for Carnival.

While many are drawn to the vibrant festivities, others visit to play the national instrument, the steelpan, and compete in the national Panorama championship.

They will be on stage on February 16 with hundreds of other players during the semi-final rounds for large bands at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain.

For these visitors, it is about more than just playing pan, but immersing themselves in the country’s unique culture and taking home a piece of TT's heritage to share in their communities.

On February 12, Newsday visited the bp Renegades panyard and was greeted by the melodic

Agents of the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) inspect logs seized from the Amazon rainforest during an operation to combat deforestation, at a sawmill in Nova California, Rondonia State, Brazil, February 8, 2025 (Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino photo)

sounds of pan. Newsday traced the source of the sound and discovered six Frenchmen practising. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Vivien Duroy (left) and Axel Raimbault strike notes on the tenor pan at bp Renegades panyard on February 12 as the band prepares for the semi-final round of Panorama competition (Enrique Rupert photo)

Emergency personnel respond to the scene of a deadly crash after the bus dropped off a precipice, in Yocalla, Bolivia, February 17, 2025 (Comando Departamental de Potosi/Handout via Reuters)

Around the world

OIL NEWS

Oil rises as drone strikes Caspian pump station, while Russia-Ukraine peace talks loom

Oil prices strengthened on Monday as an attack on an oil pipeline pumping station in the Caspian Sea slowed flows from Kazakhstan, while investors monitored developments of a possible Moscow-Kiev ceasefire agreement that could ease sanctions and increase global supplies.

The dollar index , which hovered near a two-month low after weaker-than-expected US retail data for January, also boosted oil prices by making crude less expensive for non-US buyers.

Brent crude futures settled at US$75.22 a barrel, rising 48 cents. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 65 cents to US$71.39 a barrel by 14:33h EST, and did not settle at its normal time due to the US Presidents' Day holiday. The public holiday led to relatively muted trading volumes.

Crude prices received support after drones struck the Kropotkinskaya pipeline pumping station in Russia's southern Krasnodar region, reducing oil flows from Kazakhstan to world markets by Western producers, including Chevron and ExxonMobil, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium said on Monday.

The CPC, which is the station's operator, called the attack an act of terrorism, but did not specify that Ukraine had sent the drones. An official at Ukraine's security service, however, said Kyiv had hit the station and a nearby oil refinery using drones.

"Although those drone attacks so far had limited disruption impacts on Russian crude exports, the rising frequency of those attacks is a concern that at some point it triggers some supply risks," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

The strikes came as the administration of US President Donald Trump and Russia prepare for initial talks in Saudi Arabia in the coming days.

"Should sanctions relief allow it, we believe Brent crude oil prices could drop between US$5 and US$10/bbl if Russian barrels suddenly do not need to make a long journey to India or China, and more supply is suddenly made available," BofA analysts said in a note.

The prospect of a global trade war also kept oil prices from moving higher after Trump ordered commerce and economic officials last week to study reciprocal tariffs against countries that place tariffs on US goods.

Meanwhile, officials from OPEC+, which brings together the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, said the group does not plan to delay a series of monthly oil supply increases scheduled to begin in April, after Bloomberg News reported that the group was examining whether to postpone the hikes. (Reuters)

Pope Francis remains in hospital as doctors treat 'complex' infection

Doctors have changed treatment for Pope Francis' respiratory tract infection to tackle a "complex clinical situation", and he will remain in hospital for as long as necessary, the Vatican said on Monday.

The 88-year-old pontiff has been suffering from a respiratory infection for more than a week and was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Friday.

Delta Air Lines plane flips over on landing at Toronto airport

ADelta flight crashed while landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday and the plane was seen upside-down on the snow-covered ground.

Eighteen passengers have been taken to hospitals, the airline said.

Peel Regional Paramedic Services, which transported those impacted to area hospitals, said none of the injuries were considered to be life-threatening.

Three people suffered critical injuries — one child, a man in his 60s and a woman in her 40s — according to Ornge, which provides medical transport.

Among the others, 12 people have mild injuries, Peel Regional Paramedics Services said.

The 76 passengers and

four crew on board Flight 4819 have been evacuated following the single-aircraft accident, according to Delta and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The flight originated in Minneapolis.

“Our primary focus is taking care of those impact-

ed,” Delta said in a statement.

What caused the plane to flip and catch fire was not immediately clear ,but the investigation is already underway, sources told ABC News. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada will lead the investigation,

the FAA said. Investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are assisting.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote on social media, “I’ve been in touch with my counterpart in Canada to offer assistance and help with the investigation.”

The incident occurred at approximately 14:15h ET Monday, Delta said.

The Toronto Airport temporarily stopped flights in the wake of the crash, with departures and arrivals resuming as of 17:00h ET Monday, the airport said. While the cause is unknown, the crash unfolded during blowing snow and strong wind gusts in the region. (Excerpt from ABC News)

Europe talks up more defence spending as Ukraine peacekeeper

European leaders meeting in Paris for emergency talks on Monday called for higher spending to ramp up the continent's defence capabilities, but remained split on the idea of deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine to back up any peace deal.

The leaders also agreed it would be dangerous to conclude a Ukraine ceasefire without a peace agreement at the same time, and

that they were ready to provide security guarantees to Ukraine "depending on the level of American support", a European official said.

"We agree with President Trump on a "peace through strength" approach," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Paris meeting was called by French President Emmanuel Macron after US President Donald

Former Mauritius PM on bail after 'suitcases of cash' arrest

Mauritius' former Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has been released on bail following his dramatic arrest on Saturday on money-laundering charges.

He had been detained along with three others after the anti-corruption agency said it had seized suitcases of cash and luxury watches in raids on 10 locations, including Jugnauth's home.

The former Prime Minister's lawyer said he denied the charges against him.

plan divides

Trump arranged bilateral peace talks with Russia, excluding European allies and Ukraine from negotiations to end the war that are scheduled to begin in Saudi Arabia today.

Macron spoke with Trump ahead of the meetings, officials from both countries said on Monday.

A White House official called it "a friendly call" in which they talked about the Paris meeting and the talks in Saudi Arabia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy also said he had a "long" call with Macron on security guarantees.

"We share a common vision: security guarantees

must be robust and reliable," Zelenskiy said on X, adding: "Any other decision without such guarantees — such as a fragile ceasefire — would only serve as another deception by Russia and a prelude to a new Russian war against Ukraine or other European nations."

Trump stunned Ukraine and European allies last week when he announced he had called Russian President Vladimir Putin, long ostracised by the West, to discuss ending the war without consulting them, and they must now confront the reality of a future with less US protection. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Judge expected to rule in 24 hours in case that aims to sharply curtail Musk's DOGE

A"All tests conducted up to today are indicative of a complex clinical situation that will require an appropriate hospital stay," it said.

In an evening update, the Vatican said Francis was in "stable" condition, with no fever. (Excerpt from Reuters)

"The results of the tests carried out in recent days and today have demonstrated a polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract, which has led to a further modification of the therapy," said a brief statement.

Jugnauth's arrest came 100 days after his landslide defeat in elections, with his successor Navin Ramgoolam vowing to root out corruption. But few Mauritians expected the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) to move so quickly, or to arrest the former Prime Minister on such serious charges.

Some people took to the streets of the capital, Port Louis, to celebrate by lighting firecrackers, while a handful of his supporters turned up outside court on Monday to show their solidarity with

him, chanting: "Pravin! Pravin!" His wife Kobita –who is not facing the charges – was released after being questioned for hours by investigators on Saturday.

Her 63-year-old husband spent the night in a detention centre, before a Magistrate granted him bail late on Sunday, setting it at US$32,000 (£26,000).

Jugnauth's co-accused –two prominent businesspeople and a deputy Mayor – are still in detention, pending the outcome of their bail applications. (Excerpt from BBC News)

US Judge said on Monday she hoped to rule within 24 hours in a lawsuit that aims to protect information systems at major Government agencies from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team, which President Donald Trump has tasked with overhauling the Government.

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, DC, heard arguments on Monday, the Presidents Day holiday when federal courts are closed, to consider an emergency request by 13 Democratic State Attorneys General seeking to block Musk and DOGE from accessing Government systems and firing employees at seven agencies.

The states argued their ability to carry out educational and other programmes were at risk. They accused Musk's team of using data gleaned from agency systems to dismantle initiatives and direct mass firings.

The states argue that Musk wields the kind of power that can only be exercised by an officer of the Government who has been nominated by the President and confirmed by the US Senate under the Appointments Clause of the US Constitution. The states also allege DOGE has not been authorised by Congress. (Excerpt from Reuters)

First responders work at the Delta Air Lines plane crash site at

Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, February 17, 2025 (Arlyn Mcadorey/Reuters photo)

The former Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, spent a night in detention

Put more time and effort into home improvements and your relationships. A career option will turn out to be more inviting than you anticipated. Be secretive about your plans until you have everything in place

You have more control than you realize. Show passion in your voice and gestures. Refuse to let anyone derail your plans or lead you astray. Stick to your original idea and budget.

Take a deep breath and rethink your strategy. Be careful of anyone trying to take charge or redirect you. Research is your best friend and ticket to success.

You can mesmerize those you engage in conversation. Get out and mingle with folks who can offer insight and help you get ahead. Attend events that interest you.

Concentrate on getting ahead and enhancing your investments. Personal gain is attainable if you use your imagination. Use your charm and a friendly nudge to convince others to make your dream a reality.

Take a stand and discuss what you can do to address matters that you find troubling. Your input will put you in a key position, allowing you to have an impact.

Follow the money. Be creative with investments, and put in the time and effort to outsmart anyone who tries to stand in your way. Refuse to let your need to keep the peace cost you.

Study your options, develop a unique plan and pursue your destiny. Attend events that will help you use your knowledge and experience to outshine the competition. Communication and incentives will sweeten the deal.

Set your sights on connecting with the right people. Recognize who is reliable and who is trying to take advantage of you. Talk is cheap; actions speak.

Look at joint ventures carefully. Not everyone will share the same interests or standards. A physical outlet will help you blow off steam and define your goal.

Consider a change, but don't make a move that isn't financially suitable. Lowering your overhead will buy you time and peace of mind. Sell off items you no longer need.

Set boundaries, focus on what's important and enjoy yourself. A smile coupled with a compliment will help you win favors. Be hesitant to make unrealistic suggestions or promises that you cannot fulfill.

ARCHIE

Women's Premier League...

John rides to 1st place in LFS Burnham Memorial Cycle Road Race

The LFS Burnham Memorial Cycle Road Race, sponsored by the Burnham Foundation, marked an exciting start of the cycling season, with national and time trial champion Briton John of We Stand United Cycle Club taking first place in the open category.

In the open category, following closely behind was Jamaul John, who rode elegantly to the finish line, copping second, while Aaron Newton found himself on the podium, for bagging third.

Robin Persaud showed his expertise with the cycle as he rode to secure first place in the Masters 40+ Category, forcing Alex Mendes to settle for second place while Ralph Williams did not miss out on bagging third place.

In the juniors’ event, Alex Newton rode his way to a dominant first-place finish, taking the lead early and never

looking back. After a fierce battle, Alexander Leung and Adjani Cutting, who were closely following him, finished second and third, respectively.

Robin Persaud added another first-place finish to his achievements as he crossed the finish line first in the over-50 category thanks to his seasoned legs. Phillip Clarke and Mark Spencer finished second and third, respectively.

Aaron Newton, Marlon Williams, Alex Newton, and Phillip Clarke showcased their spectacular skills, and were each the recipient of a special award.

The race began at 07:00h (7:00 am) on Carifesta Avenue, before proceeding east onto the East Coast roadway towards Belfield, then heading back to Georgetown and finishing at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, opposite the Special Hospital.

Mandhana, bowlers help RCB cruise past Delhi Capitals

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made short work of a full-strength Delhi Capitals by keeping their batting line-up to 141 and then chasing the total down with ease to continue the trend of the chasing side winning, for the fourth game in a row.

Even though RCB were without the trio of Sophie Molineux, Shreyanka Patil and Asha Sobhana, which brought them glory in last year's final against DC, the trio of Renuka Singh, Ekta Bisht, and Georgia Wareham combined to bundle out DC for a below-par total.

In reply, RCB openers Smriti Mandhana and Danni Wyatt-Hodge put on their second century stand, having earlier done so for Southern Brave in the Hundred in 2021. Mandhana scored her fastest Women's Premier League (WPL) half-century, off 27 balls, and Wyatt-Hodge peppered the off side with six fours out of her seven during her 42 off 33. By the time she fell in the 11th over, RCB needed only 35

off 55 and they cruised over the line in the 17th over.

Rodrigues leads DC in the powerplay, Lanning scratchy again

Renuka landed DC the first big blow when Shafali Verma struck her first ball for the simplest of catches to midoff for a golden duck. With Meg Lanning looking scratchy at the other end, just like she did against Shabnim Ismail two days ago, it was Jemimah Rodrigues who led DC in the powerplay. Rodrigues herself didn't start too well – she survived a review on zero and took six balls to get off the mark – but she launched into the RCB attack at first sight of spin, gloriously lofting Bisht over the covers for a six. DC were also helped by plenty of byes and extras in the powerplay which Rodrigues combined with another six and two fours off VJ Joshitha in the sixth over to give DC their second 50-plus powerplay in as many games. DC crumble again after the powerplay

approach handed a catch straight to cover in Renuka's second spell. New batter Jess Jonassen miscued Bisht to midwicket five balls later and DC had suddenly slipped from 60 for 1 to 87 for 5. It could have been 95 for 6 had Kanika Ahuja not put down Marizanne Kapp at short fine leg and even 103 for 6 if the mix-up between Kapp and Sarah Bryce had not been followed by a fumble, also by Ahuja, but it did become 105 for 6 when Kapp holed out to

cashed in on the wayward lines from Kapp in the first over and turned the tide of her record against offspinners (she's been out to them 10 times in the WPL) when she swept Minnu Mani for two fours in the third over. Wyatt-Hodge pierced the gaps square on the off side, especially against Shikha Pandey, for four fours in the powerplay.

At 57 for 0 in the powerplay, RCB's asking rate was just over six an over. Even bowling changes didn't work for DC.

Delhi Capitals Women (20 ovs maximum)

Meg Lanning (c) c Perry

b Garth 17

Shafali Verma c Mandhana

b Renuka Singh 0

Jemimah Rodrigues st †Ghosh

b Wareham 34

Annabel Sutherland c Mandhana

b Renuka Singh 19

Marizanne Kapp c Wyatt

b Bisht 12

RCB, however, made inroads through the introduction of Georgia Wareham in the seventh over. Once Rodrigues missed a reverse sweep to be stumped in a flash by Richa Ghosh for 34 off 22, DC lost Lanning as well in the next over when the captain miscued Kim Garth to Ellyse Perry at deep-backward square leg. Annabel Sutherland soon launched Bisht for a big six on the leg side to show that DC weren't going to be bogged down by the double blow, but her attacking

long-off off a 69.2 kilometres per hour (kph) delivery from Bisht. Bryce chipped in with another useful cameo with a 23 off 19 that saw RCB past 125, but they needed a lot more to make a match out of this. Wareham handed them a double blow in the 18th over, and Garth wrapped things up in the last over to finish with 2 for 19, while Renuka bagged 3 for 23 and Wareham 3 for 25.

Mandhana, Wyatt-Hodge cruise through

Even with Kapp and Jonassen back in the XI after recovering from sickness, DC hardly posed any challenges for the RCB top order. Mandhana

Both Jonassen and Sutherland were carted for fours by both batters in their first overs, and when the reliable Rodrigues dropped Wyatt-Hodge on 34 after Mandhana had collected back-to-back boundaries, the game was all but over.

Mandhana dispatched Kapp for six over midwicket and continued to attack Jonassen with lofted strokes on the off side to take her for 27 runs off 14 on the night. Even though both openers fell towards the end, Ellyse Perry and Ghosh ensured there were no jitters to seal the eightwicket win and top the table. (ESPNcricinfo)

Jess Jonassen c Ahuja

b Bisht 1

Sarah Bryce † st †Ghosh

b Wareham 23

Shikha Pandey c Bisht

b Renuka Singh 14

Radha Yadav c & b Wareham 0 Arundhati Reddy c Perry b Garth 4

Mani not out 5

(b 4, lb 1, w 7) 12

19.3 Ov (RR: 7.23) 141 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Shafali Verma, 0.2 ov), 2-60 (Jemimah Rodrigues, 6.5 ov), 3-62 (Meg Lanning, 7.3 ov), 4-84 (Annabel Sutherland, 10.2 ov), 5-87 (Jess Jonassen, 11.1 ov), 6-105 (Marizanne Kapp, 13.3 ov), 7-130 (Sarah Bryce, 17.3 ov), 8-130 (Radha Yadav, 17.5 ov), 9-132 (Shikha Pandey, 18.3 ov), 10-141 (Arundhati Reddy, 19.3 ov) •

Briton John

Smriti Mandhana brought up her half-century off 27 balls

Ekta Bisht celebrates the wicket of Jess Jonassen

Renuka Singh picked up 3 for 23

2025 GMRSC Drag Racing Championship…

Flawless execution, fast times, new champions: successful start to Round 1

The 2025 Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club

(GMRSC) Drag Racing

Championship got off to a spectacular and seamless start at the South Dakota Circuit on Sunday as racers and fans alike were treated to a thrilling day of high-speed action under the bright Guyanese sun. With an incident-free event and a perfectly-functioning timing system, the race day proceeded smoothly, with all classes finishing ahead of schedule and new champions emerging in each category.

History in the making – Women & youth shine on the track

The day saw a significant milestone for female competitors, with Ashley Persaud (#162, Toyota ZN86) becoming only the second female to win a class while competing against the men, taking victory in the 16-Second Class.

Meanwhile, Crystal Singh (#1320, Volkswagen Golf R) dominated the Female Class, setting a new standard for women in motorsport. She now holds the title of fastest female on the track, clocking an impressive

12.847 seconds, a record that is sure to inspire more women to take up the sport.

Adding to the day’s historic achievements, 12-year-old Matthew Daby became the fastest junior driver down the 1320-foot strip, posting a stunning 13.193-second run in his Junior Dragster. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Peter Daby (#728, Mazda RX-7), who set the fastest time of the day with a blistering 9.506-second pass.

Round 1 Winners – 2025 GMRSC Drag Racing Championship Female Class

Crystal Singh – #1320 –

Volkswagen Golf R

16-Second Class

Ashley Persaud – #162 –

Toyota ZN86

15-Second Class

Mohamed Saifudeen

Roshandin – #131 – Toyota

Levin

14-Second Class

Fareem Edoo – #128 –

Toyota Corolla AE92

13-Second Class

Omesh Persaud – #1484

– Nissan Pulsar

12-Second Class

Wasim Khalawan – #165 – Lexus IS200

11-Second Class

Pouderoyen FC U13 tournament underway

…receives support from NSC

With the backing of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Pouderoyen Football Club officially launched its Under-13 football tournament on Sunday at the West Demerara Secondary School.

The tournament, according to the organisers, is an important step in grassroots football development in the West Demerara area and will feature Pouderoyen FC, Wales, Belle West FC, Jetty, Eagles FC, and Uitvlugt FC.

The opening day saw Pouderoyen FC dismissing Jetty 7-0, while Belle West FC had a comfortable 3-0 victory over Wales.

Before kick-off, Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle commended Pouderoyen FC for its commitment to developing young footballers.

He reaffirmed the NSC’s dedication to youth development, highlighting that such initiatives are crucial for the long-term growth of football in Guyana.

“The NSC believes youth development is pivotal to sports in Guyana, and we are keen on supporting initiatives like the Pouderoyen Football Club U13 tournament,” Ninvalle stated.

He also encouraged the young players to approach the game with fairness and discipline, underlining the importance of sportsmanship and personal growth through foot-

ball.

“Play fair, play in the spirit of the game, and enjoy the sport. We look forward to seeing your development in the years to come,” he added.

Organisers noted that the tournament will provide an exciting and developmental experience for young players in the West Demerara area, giving them a platform to showcase their talent and sharpen their skills.

Upcoming fixtures

February 22, 2025

Eagles v Uitvlugt – 10:00 AM

Belle West v Jetty – 11:00 AM

Pouderoyen v Wales –12:00 PM

March 2, 2025

Jetty v Uitvlugt – 10:00 AM

Eagles v Wales – 11:00 AM

Pouderoyen v Belle West –12:00 PM

March 9, 2025

Wales v Jetty – 10:00 AM

Eagles v Belle West –11:00 AM

Pouderoyen v Uitvlugt –12:00 PM

March 16, 2025

Uitvlugt v Belle West –10:00 AM

Eagles v Pouderoyen –11:00 AM

March 23, 2025

Eagles v Jetty – 10:00 AM

Uitvlugt v Wales – 11:00 AM

Vishal Gewan – #17 –Toyota Caldina

10-Second Class

Damion Persaud – #198 – Toyota Caldina

9-Second Class

Peter Daby – #728 –Mazda RX-7 (3rd generation)

600cc Bikes

Shem Chattersingh –#101

1000cc Bikes

Jermaine Chattersingh – #103

A positive start for GMRSC – momentum to build on With a strong turnout of competitors and fans, the GMRSC’s first round

of the 2025 Drag Racing Championship was a resounding success. The event saw many new drivers lining up for the first time, showcasing the continued growth and popularity of the sport in Guyana.

The club remains committed to fostering a competitive yet safe racing environment and looks forward to building on this momentum throughout the season. As the championship progresses, fans can expect even more thrilling battles, record-breaking runs, and new talent emerging on the track.

Edghill, Britton begin PanAm Table Tennis Cup quest today

Guyana’s table tennis aces Chelsea Edghill and Shemar Britton are poised to represent Guyana at the Prestigious 2025 Pan American Table Tennis Cup, the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Continental Cup for the Americas this week, a missive from the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) has disclosed.

Powered by JP Morgan, the competition gets into action today, Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at the 888 Table Tennis Center in Burlingame, a suburb of San Francisco, USA.

The event will have US$20,000 in prize money, the players will earn ITTF ranking points, and those that reach the semi-finals (in Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles) will be awarded entry into the ITTF Singles World Cup.

The electrifying tournament is said to be one of the most prestigious events in table tennis, uniting the top players from North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean to compete for glory, critical world ranking points, and a coveted spot in the 2025 ITTF World Cup in Macau, China.

The tournament will feature an elite line-up of athletes, including US Olympians Kanak Jha, Lily Zhang, and Amy Wang; Brazilian Olympian Bruna Takahashi; Ecuadorian

Olympian Alberto Mino; and Canadian Olympian Edward Ly, as well as other top 30-ranked global stars.

Britton and Edghill are using these championships to commence their international quest as they look to gain valuable world ranking points to set them up for later success as they commence building towards a new Olympic quadrennial.

Britton is a multi-Caribbean medallist at the junior and senior level who has been showing his pedigree in defeating top-tiered players at the PanAm level.

Meanwhile, Edghill has done her preparation work training with the Cuba National team in Havana and will be competing against the likes of Isabella Xu, Hildy Chen, Natalie Dong and Irene Yeoh, all of the USA, in the preliminary round where she will gearing to assess where she currently is after receiving a clean bill of health after suffering several niggling injuries which had plagued her training and performance in 2023-2024.

Edghill arrived in San Franciso on Saturday last while Britton touched down on Sunday.

Heart-pounding rallies, nail-biting matches, and inspiring performances will be the order of the finest talent in the Americas as they battle for supremacy and etch their names in history.

Director of Sport, Steve Ninvalle officially kicks off the Pouderoyen FC U13 football tournament

Shemar Britton

Chelsea Edghill

Mohamed Saifudeen Roshandin receives his trophy

replaces Chanderpaul as Falcons’ Head Coach

The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons announced on Monday that Paul Nixon will be their new Head Coach for the 2025 season of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Nixon, 54, a former England wicketkeeper, has held several head coaching positions around the world with success. He pre viously coached Jamaica Tallawahs in the CPL. Nixon replaces former West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who was Head Coach for the inaugural season of the team last year.

Kris Persaud, owner and founder of the Falcons, and General Manager Jeff Miller wel comed Nixon to the franchise – and thanked Chanderpaul for his contribution.

They said in a joint statement: “We want to welcome Paul to the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons as we prepare for the 2025 Republic Bank CPL. He is an out standing Head Coach with an excellent track record. We believe he will have a ma jor impact and will bring his energy and en thusiasm to the Falcons family as we look to improve on last year’s performance. We also

want to sincerely thank Shiv, an outstanding leg end of West Indies cricket, for the work he did

Nixon said: “It is a great honour to accept the invitation to serve as Head Coach for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons this year. I extend my sin cere gratitude to Jeff and Kris for their be lief in my abilities.

“The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is a wonderful competi tion that has significantly ben efited West Indian cricket. The CPL’s vibrant atmosphere, star-studded line-ups, and high-quality entertain ment have captivated au diences and sparked a re newed enthusiasm for the sport. Having achieved suc cess with Jamaica previously, I eagerly anticipate a successful 2025 campaign, supported by great players and a first-class support staff.”

“It’s a good feeling” – Permaul on First-Class milestone

It was tense times at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Saturday, as the West Indies Academy chipped away at a total that was set in the first innings of their third- round West Indies Championships clash with the hosts and defending champions, the Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE).

Eventually, the Harpy Eagles won the game of cat and mouse when the experienced Veerasammy Permaul rose to the occasion claiming 6-75 from 29 overs to rout the Academy for 249, four runs short of clinching the first innings points. In the process, Permaul surpassed 650 wickets (652) in First-Class cricket, the highest by any cricketer in the Region.

Following the game’s conclusion, Permaul spoke of the Harpy Eagles’ resilience, chalking up their ability to claim first innings points to consistency and experience.

“I think the thing was consistency. We know they’re the Academy, I think the lack of patience, they’re young guys and I think because of experience, play a part. Also with [Gudakesh] Motie, the partnership between me and him, I think because we play cricket long enough, because we’re consistent enough that we could test their technique, that really paid off today,” the spinner explained.

Quizzed about his milestone of accumulating 652 FirstClass wickets, the most in the Caribbean, the Berbician spinner described it as a good

Permaul shared, “First of all, I want to thank God for, you know, playing so long and getting achievements like this milestone. It’s a good feeling to get wickets and more so, to get wickets for Guyana.”

With an eye on the 700 figure now, Permaul wants to stick to producing good

“That is one of the goals moving forward. You know, at the same time, it’s still cricket, anything could happen. I just [want to] go out, continue doing the things you do over the years, bowling, put the ball in the right areas and show once you be consistent as a bowler, you could reap rewards,” Permaul

The West Indies Championship is currently on a two-week break and will resume on Wednesday, March 5 when the Harpy Eagles will head to Jamaica to battle the hosts at Sabina Park.

Junior Jags end CONCACAF U17 Qualifiers unbeaten

Although they were unable to secure a spot in the FIFA Under17 World Cup later this year, Guyana’s national under-17 football team, the Junior Jaguars, ended their CONCACAF U17 Qualifiers campaign with a draw on Sunday; thus, remaining unbeaten.

Captain Mikkel Mills, Goalkeeper Tejpal Nijjar, Kemron Pellew, Joshua Morris, Michael Joseph, Tamer Unver, Quaency Fraser, Shaquan David, Jaden Harris, Max Robinson and Isaiah Ifill were given the nod to start Guyana’s last contest in the tournament against British Virgin Islands at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

Guyana had the opportunity to go 1-up early in the encounter when a Quaency Fraser assist gave Jaden Harris a perfectly-positioned ball to head into the goal in the sixth minute. However, the strike was disallowed owing to the offside rule, keep-

ing the score level nil-all.

After a lengthy deadlock between the two teams and Guyana being reduced to 10 men owing to a red card in the 44th minute, the Junior Jags managed to break the ice in the 53rd minute when another piece of combination work from Fraser and Harris paid off. This time Fraser sent in the assist from just outside the 18-yard box and Harris finished by volleying the ball into the top-right corner of the net.

The Junior Jags had another opportunity to extend the lead, but Shaquan David missed the net by inches, instead connecting with the crossbar in the 66th minute.

Guyana held on to their lead for the remainder of regulation time, but heartbreakingly, BVI would level the scores in the 90th+1 minute. A build-up in front of the goal and two other attempts from the BVI strikers, resulted in Blake Kirk finding the back of the net with a straight-on shot.

“I'm incredibly proud of

these boys and what they've accomplished. Going undefeated in a tournament of this magnitude and making history for Guyana is no small feat. They showed heart, resilience, and belief in each other every step of the way. While we fell just short of advancing, this journey has set a new standard for Guyanese football. This is only the beginning,” the team’s Head Coach, Marco Bonofiglio said about their historic performance in the U17 Qualifiers.

Guyana finished the Qualifiers unbeaten with six points and third place in Group B. Trinidad and Tobago were second with seven points from two wins, a draw and a loss while Costa Rica had three wins and their lone draw against Guyana for 10 points. As such, Costa Rica will be the team from Group B to advance to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Guyana’s national U17 team finished the CONCACAF Qualifiers unbeaten

Veerasammy Permaul now has 652 First-Class wickets

Shivnarine Chanderpaul coached the Falcons in 2024

Paul Nixon is no stranger to the CPL having coached the Jamaica Tallawahs in the past