Cabinet to review plans to install traffic lights along Heroes Highway
IICA’s Head endorses Pres
Caribbean agriculture
ExxonMobil pledges partnership with Guyana to develop market for gas
Businessman who allegedly
times slapped with
More fuel reservoirs needed as Bartica experiences economic boom – Mayor Funding remains major challenge in Caribbean transition to renewable energy – Bharrat Businessman pleads guilty to murder of ex-wife
ExxonMobil pledges partnership with Guyana to develop market for gas
ExxonMobil Guyana Limited President, Alistair Routledge, has affirmed the company's commitment to collaborating with Guyana to develop a gas market that will enable the country to effectively monetise its gas reserves.
During a sit down with locally owned OilNow, Routledge spoke about ways in which Exxon is helping Guyana with its gas resources. He acknowledged that Guyana’s market for monetising gas is uncharted water, but made it clear that the company is willing to help Guyana.
“This is going to be a collaborative effort. I mentioned early on, developing gas is a lot more complicated than developing the oil fields. There’s not necessarily gas, because you have to understand the resource. What it takes to develop it, but you also have to have a
market. We all know, there isn’t an established gas market in Guyana today. So, we have to work on developing that.”
“So, it means what sort of demand off takers could there be? Everything from do we support the… conversion to alumina, other AI (Artificial Intelligence) data centres, could there be more
power generation, all sorts of potential uses of gas that can fuel the country and various industries for the future,” Routledge explained.
The Government of Guyana has been actively exploring ways in which it could monetise gas resources. As a matter of fact, last year the Government had contracted United States (US)-based
company Fulcrum LNG to develop these monetisation options. The company is expected to work in a tripartite arrangement with the Guyana Government and ExxonMobil to develop an-
other potential gas project.
One channel in which the Government is looking to utilise gas is in Phase One and Two of its Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Projects, the first phase of which is currently being built at Wales, West Bank Demerara (WBD).
The Guyana Government already anticipates that the GtE Project would earn the country as much as US$500 million in savings when electricity prices are slashed by half and from the sale of the rich excess gas.
It has also been theorised that the liquids that would come when Guyana cleans the excess gas for products such as cooking gas or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) can be sold, and that would further bolster the country’s earnings from the GtE Project.
Invitations are currently open for proposals to design, construct, and operate a 250-megawatt (MW) combined-cycle power plant, capable of delivering 2,100 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity per year, for sale to Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc.
These invitations also include proposals for the design, construction, and operation of an additional Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility, capable of producing approximately 6,000 barrels per day of NGL products such as propane, butane, and C5+ gasoline.
Suriname
Meanwhile, Routledge also spoke about the potential for collaboration between Guyana and Suriname, on developing their respective gas resources. While this has been a talking point for some time, the recent energy conference and supply chain expo saw talks ad-
vance between Guyana and Suriname state oil company Staatsolie.
“I often think it’s hard enough to get a company and a Government to agree to things, so when you put two Governments in… it adds a degree of complexity. But I would say from what I hear and I’ve had many conversations also with Annand Jagesar from Staatsolie, there is a willingness to collaborate.”
“There’s a willingness to come to the table and talk about what’s possible. And I think that’s the most important starting point. From there, we can build upon that. We can look for our best synergies,” Routledge further explained.
Presently, Suriname is forging ahead with its first offshore petroleum development project, which the Guyana Government had previously said opens up opportunities for the two nations to work together.
On the sidelines of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo (GECSCE) held in Georgetown last week, Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat met with Managing Director of Staatsolie – Suriname’s state-owned oil company, Annand Jagesar, on Tuesday last to discuss that potential collaboration.
Jagesar subsequently told the Guyana Times that gas development needs volume and it makes sense for Guyana and Suriname to combine their resources to meet that scale. He had further explained that while there is a rush to develop these resources given the climate window, this has to be done in a well-thought-out manner.
ExxonMobil Guyana President, Alistair Routledge
Gas-to-Energy Project
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Wednesday, February 26 –03:30h-05:00h and Thursday, February 27 – 03:45h-05:15h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Wednesday, February 26 –15:25h-16:55h and Thursday, February 27 – 16:10h-17:40h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Sunshine is expected throughout the day, with clear to partly-cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.
Winds: Easterly to East North-Easterly between 3.58 metres and 5.36 metres.
High Tide: 15:50h reaching a maximum height of 2.63 metres.
Low Tide: 09:24h and 21:49h reaching minimum heights of 0.73 metre and 0.53 metre.
IICA’s Head endorses Pres Ali’s plan to revolutionise Caribbean agriculture
The Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Manuel Otero, has endorsed a bold initiative announced by President Dr Irfaan Ali, aimed at transforming agriculture in the Caribbean.
The plan, unveiled during the 48th Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), will focus on enhancing local food production and reducing the region’s reliance on costly imports.
Ali during his closing remarks announced a series of six collaborative projects with IICA designed to strengthen food resilience, sustainability, and competitiveness in a region that imports the bulk of its food.
One of the flagship initiatives includes the establishment of a Digital Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab) – a state-of-theart technological hub modeled after IICA’s facility in San Jose, Costa Rica.
The FabLab will drive agricultural innovation, improve linkages between agriculture and tourism, and bridge the digital divide in the agri-marine value chain.
This cutting-edge laboratory will provide technology-driven solutions to modernise food production, promote public-private partnerships, and create opportunities for women and youth in the agricultural sector.
IICA’s Director General, Manuel Otero, reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to the initiative, emphasising its potential to drastically cut the Caribbean’s food import bill. "The primary objective of these initiatives, which the Institute wholeheartedly supports, is to make a decisive contribution to reducing the Caribbean region’s food import bill. They address the need to strengthen food and nutritional security, in an effort to increase local food production, improve intraregional trade and foster the creation of wealth and economic opportunities in the agriculture sector," Otero explained.
The partnership between Caribbean nations and IICA builds on previous efforts, including the Hemispheric Fund for Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (FoHRSA), created in 2023 to strengthen the region’s adaptability to climate change. This fund focuses on promoting climate-resilient farming, integrating digital technologies, and advancing sustainable livestock production to reduce dependence
on imported animal protein.
Meanwhile, the five additional projects announced by President Ali will further bolster the Caribbean’s agricultural framework. These initiatives include strengthening agricultural extension services to enhance training programs that improve productivity and expand rural employment opportunities, implementing measures to improve the adaptability and resilience of coastal communities to climate change, diversifying fruit production to increase food security, adding value through precision agriculture and the creation of high-quality market-ready agricultural products, and developing a bioeconomy model for inorganic waste treatment and increasing water availability for small-scale farmers.
These efforts are designed to ensure long-term sustainability and economic growth in the sector.
Vision 25 by 2025
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Caribbean nations have intensified efforts to enhance food security through the Vision 25 by 2025 initiative, which seeks to reduce regional food imports by 25 percent.
President Ali highlighted the progress made, revealing that agricultural production has increased by 24 percent between 2022 and 2024, driven by substantial investments in storage, transportation, and private sector engagement in value chains.
The Head of State underscored the resilience of Caribbean farmers and pol-
icymakers, reaffirming that food security remains a top priority. “Our collaborative projects with IICA go beyond production—they foster sustainability, technological integration, and greater inclusion of women and youth in agriculture by 2030,” he stated.
As the Caribbean grapples with rising global food prices and supply chain disruptions, leaders are doubling down on efforts to build a self-sufficient agricultural sector. The strategic collaboration between IICA and regional governments marks a significant step toward achieving this goal.
With President Ali at the helm of this transformative vision and IICA’s backing, the Caribbean stands poised to revolutionise its agricultural landscape.
President Dr Irfaan Ali alongside Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Manuel Otero
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Restorative justice
Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, has reaffirmed the government's commitment to legal reform by underscoring the importance of restorative justice within Guyana’s criminal justice system. His remarks, made during a recent judicial engagement, reflect a broader shift in legal philosophy, one that prioritizes efficiency, community involvement, and the rehabilitation of offenders over rigid punitive measures.
Restorative justice represents a fundamental reimagining of how legal systems address crime and conflict. Unlike traditional methods that focus solely on punishment, this approach seeks to mend the harm caused by criminal acts through reconciliation between victims, offenders, and the broader community. It provides an opportunity for meaningful engagement, encouraging offenders to take responsibility for their actions while giving victims a voice in the resolution process.
As Nandlall emphasized, restorative justice is not merely a theoretical concept but an active policy being integrated into Guyana’s legal framework. His upcoming meeting in Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini), where he will engage local leaders from the Moruca sub-district in a training session, underscores the government’s proactive efforts to educate and involve communities in this initiative. By extending legal education and practical training to hinterland regions, this initiative seeks to make justice more accessible and inclusive, a goal that aligns with the broader vision of decentralizing legal services.
A significant advantage of restorative justice is its potential to alleviate the chronic backlog of cases within the judiciary. Court congestion has long been a challenge in Guyana, where delayed justice often means denied justice. The implementation of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, particularly for minor offenses, can lead to swifter case resolution, reducing the burden on the courts while ensuring fair outcomes for all parties involved.
The benefits of this approach extend beyond mere efficiency. By involving community stakeholders, restorative justice fosters a sense of collective responsibility and strengthens social cohesion. Rather than isolating offenders within the prison system—where they may become further entrenched in criminal behavior—this system promotes rehabilitation and reintegration. This model acknowledges that crime does not occur in a vacuum and that a holistic response, involving victims and communities, is often more effective than punitive measures alone.
However, while the introduction of restorative justice is a commendable step, its success will depend on consistent implementation, adequate training, and public confidence in the system. There must be clear guidelines on which cases qualify for restorative justice and robust mechanisms to ensure that victims’ rights are protected. Moreover, continuous dialogue between legal practitioners, law enforcement, and community leaders will be necessary to refine the approach and address potential challenges that may arise.
Another critical component of this broader legal reforms is the decentralization of legal services. Nandlall’s assertion that residents of hinterland regions should not be disadvantaged in accessing justice is a necessary and long-overdue acknowledgment of the systemic inequalities within Guyana’s legal landscape. Historically, many rural and hinterland residents have faced significant barriers, including financial costs and logistical difficulties, when seeking legal recourse. By ensuring that legal services available in Georgetown are equally accessible in outlying regions, the government is making tangible progress toward bridging this justice gap.
This move aligns with international best practices, where equitable access to justice is seen as a pillar of democratic governance. It is a recognition that the rule of law must serve all citizens, regardless of geography or socioeconomic status. Strengthening legal infrastructure outside of urban centers will not only improve the efficiency of the judicial system but will also foster greater trust in legal institutions.
While these initiatives signal progress, their full realization will require sustained investment and commitment. Restorative justice, for instance, will necessitate training programs for mediators, structured policies for victim-offender dialogue, and ongoing monitoring to ensure fairness and effectiveness. Likewise, decentralization efforts will need continued resource allocation to expand legal aid, recruit legal professionals to serve in remote areas, and upgrade court facilities where necessary.
Ultimately, the success of these legal reforms will be measured not by policy pronouncements but by their real-world impact on ordinary citizens. If implemented effectively, restorative justice has the potential to transform Guyana’s criminal justice system into one that is more compassionate, efficient, and community-driven. Likewise, ensuring equitable access to legal services across all regions will contribute to a more just society where no one is denied justice based on where they live.
This is a hard choice. We believe in foreign aid, but we have to make cuts; we must keep the UK safe
B y D avi D L ammy
There are moments in history when everything turns but the extent of change is not perceived until later, when the fog has cleared. These are hinge points that require clear leadership and bold action. In the late 1940s, my Labour predecessor and hero, Ernie Bevin, and Clement Attlee saw through the fog when they led Britain into NATO and the UN, and secured the development of Britain’s nuclear deterrence. In the 1960s, Harold Wilson saw through the paranoia of the Cold War and refused Lyndon Johnson’s request to send British troops to Vietnam. In the 1990s, Tony Blair understood that unless we stopped the President of Serbia, Slobodan Miloševic, there would be no peace in the Balkans.
Three years into Vladimir Putin’s brutal war, this is again a hinge point for Britain. Keir Starmer’s commitment to dramatically raise defence spending in both this and the next Parliament shows his leadership through the fog. Putin’s Russia is a threat, not only to Ukraine and its neighbours, but to all of Europe, including the UK. Over successive administrations, our closest ally, the US, has turned increasingly towards the Indo-Pacific, and is understandably calling for NATO’s European mem-
bers to shoulder more of the burden for our continent’s security.
Around the world, threats are multiplying: from traditional warfare to hybrid threats and cyber-attacks. The first duty and foundation of this Government’s plan for change is our national security. Seven months ago, the public gave us this responsibility, and we hold it with a profound sense of duty.
Under the Conservatives, the foundations of our defence were weakened. The UK has not reached a defence spending level of 2.5% of GDP since Labour was last in government; and it falls to a Labour government to restore those foundations once again. We will deliver the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, because we are the party of defence. So, we will hit our 2.5% promise in 2027; and, subject to economic conditions, go further, with defence spending rising to 3% during the next Parliament. This is a pledge to safeguard our future – and act as a pillar of security on our continent –in a world plagued by more active conflicts than at any time since the Second World War.
To make this commitment and stick within our fiscal rules, we have had to make the extremely difficult decision to lower our spending on inter-
national development. As the Prime Minister said, we do not pretend any of this is easy. This is a hard choice that no government – let alone a Labour government – makes lightly. I am proud of our record on international development. It helps address global challenges from health to migration, contributes to prosperity, and supports the world’s most vulnerable people. It grows both our soft power and our geopolitical clout, while improving lives. For all of those reasons, this Government remains committed to reverting to spending on overseas aid to 0.7% of gross national income when the fiscal conditions allow.
But we are a government of pragmatists, not ideologues; and we have had to balance the compassion of our internationalism with the necessity of our national security. As we reduce the overseas aid budget, we will protect the most vital programmes in the world’s worst conflict zones of Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan. But there can be no hiding from the fact that many programmes doing vital work would have to be put on hold. The work of making further tough choices about programmes would proceed at pace over the weeks and months ahead, but our core priorities would remain the same.
My vision for a reformed Foreign, Commonwealth
and Development Office fit for this more contested and dangerous world, in which diplomacy is more important than ever, remains paramount. We are working closely with the Treasury to ensure our diplomatic, intelligence and development footprints would align with our priorities. In a tough fiscal environment, all our spending must be laser-focused on delivering the maximum possible impacts for our national security and growth, equipping the FCDO to deliver the Government’s plan for change internationally.
At the height of the Cold War, defence spending fluctuated between about 4% and 7% of GDP. At this moment of fiscal and geopolitical flux, not meeting the moment on defence would mean leaving Britain ill-prepared for a more dangerous world, potentially requiring even tougher choices down the line.
I have written previously about this Government’s foreign policy being founded on progressive realism: being clear about our values, but treating the world as it is, not as we would wish it to be. These are the principles that guide our choices through these dangerous times. We will always do what is necessary to keep the public safe.
(The Guardian)
(David Lammy is British Foreign Secretary)
A Buddhist monk performs a traditional dance at Shechen Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal as part of the rituals during Gyalpo Losar, the New Year celebration of the Sherpa community (VOA)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2025
More fuel reservoirs needed as Bartica experiences economic boom – Mayor
The fuel market in Bartica in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) has returned to a state of normalcy following a two-day period of low supply, which disrupted several industries including transportation, the services sector and mining.
In an interview with Guyana Times, on Tuesday the town’s mayor, Anthony Murray revealed that last Friday the region's fuel reservoirs had dropped to alarmingly low levels.
However, due to intervention from Central Government, a shipment of gasoline was sent to the region which arrived late Saturday afternoon.
“But subsequent to that, the Government and the GuyOil made available a shipment of more or less gasoline and that came in the Saturday afternoon at
2pm, so the service station there was adequately supplied with fuel. So we're back to normal,” the Mayor explained.
While there were no official reports from service providers in the region as to what led to the fuel shortage last week, the Mayor attributed the situation to a boom of economic activities within the township.
For instance, he said mining activities have been reinvigorated, resulting in a higher demand for fuel from Bartica considered the country’s gateway to the hinterland. The Mayor also noted that there has been an increase in vehicles traversing the town's roadways, owing not only to an increase in economic activities but also regional tourism.
“Well, because they had no shortage of supply throughout the country I
don't know if there's an explosion of the use of gasoline, since we have these largescale mining that is coming on stream not far from Bartica so there's a demand for a large amount of gasoline. And then you have the medium scale, and then you have certain quarries that
were existing around the river in areas of Bartica.” Murray Said.
He added, “We have a large intake or purchase of vehicles in Bartica, more so the gasoline vehicles, because it's easy to get access to the bank to get a mortgage or a loan to purchase a car and also the dealers are giving you a very good deal so there's an inflow of, I think every week you have two or three vehicles coming on the ferry,” The Mayor highlighted.
Currently, one of the largest gold mines in Guyana is being constructed in Region 7 (CuyuniMazaruni). Located in the Oko West area, the new US$1.5 billion gold project has a projected mine life of 13 years, and is expected to re-energise Guyana’s mining sector with the production of 350,000 ounces of
gold annually. The project, which would come on stream in 2027, is situated some 95 kilometres southwest of Georgetown and measures approximately 44 square kilometres.
In light of these and other projects within the region, the Mayor highlighted that service providers may soon need to bolster their fuel storage capacity by ex-
panding the current fuel reservoirs.
“So, what might happen is the service station then have to expand on their holding area for gasoline. Since you have the demand for gasoline from mining, the large-scale mining that is now taking place, and also the explosion of purchase of gasoline vehicle in Bartica,” he said.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2025
06:00 Shivratri Devotional Hour
07:00 Evening News (RB)
08:00 HGTV
09:00 Stop Suffering
10:00 Food Network
12:00 News Break
12:05 India Movie - Kedarnath (2018)
14:05 Wheel of Fortune
14:30 Spongebob Squarepants
15:00 When Calls the Heart
16:00 Indian Soaps
17:00 The Young & The Restless
18:00 Aljazeera
19:00 The Evening News
20:00 Stop Suffering
20:30 Stand-up Comedy
21:00 Shades of Brown S2 E5
22:00 Superman and Lois S1 E7
23:00 The Office S7 E12
23:30 The Last Man on Earth S2 E12
00:00 Sign off
One of the gas stations which were temporarily closed last week
Bartica Mayor Anthony Murray
Page Foundation
By Thomas hardy
Gray prinked with rose, White tipped with blue, Shoes with gay hose, Sleeves of chrome hue; Fluffed frills of white, Dark bordered light; Such shimmerings through Trees of emerald green are eyed This afternoon, from the road outside. They whirl around: Many laughters run With a cascade’s sound; Then a mere one. A bell: they flee: Silence then: — So it will be
Funding remains major challenge in Caribbean transition to renewable energy – Bharrat
…says developing countries have political will but lack funds
While Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the Caribbean have the political will to transition to renewable energy, funding continues to be a major challenge. This was highlighted recently by Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat.
Last week during the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo (GECSCE), Bharrat used part of his presentation to advocate for the region. His advocacy comes at a time when the world continues its efforts to fulfill commitments made at various forums like the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), where the developed world had agreed to make $300 billion available annually for poorer countries to transition to cleaner energy.
“CARICOM for example, needs billions of US dollars to fully transition away from fossil fuel. Is CARICOM in a position to do that? the answer is no. And if you ask any country… I was among the SIDS countries at a conference, and those small islands, they’re so willing to transition,” he said.
“The political will is there; they want to do it, but do they have the resources to do it? No, they don’t have the resources to do it. That is the bottom line. So countries with resources must be able to produce their natural resources, but in a responsible manner. And to use those resources to transition and facilitate their energy mix,” Bharrat explained.
be to cut production. The idea should be to cut demand. It is a more sensible approach to work on cutting demand, rather than cutting production. Because if we cut production while demand is there, it means that you’re putting people back to where they started. It means only a few will produce, while most cannot afford the energy.”
tion at any major conference around the world and that is our position here too,” he said. The Government of Guyana is meanwhile targeting the addition of 100 megawatts (MW) of solar power to the grid this year. Only recently, it had been announced by Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips during the expo that as part of Guyana’s transition to renewable energy, a 450-kilowatt (kW) wind turbine farm will be developed at Leguan to meet the Essequibo River island’s growing power demand in a sustainable manner.
Amother is pleading for help in locating her son’s body after he reportedly fell from a fishing vessel into the Atlantic Ocean.
The crew has since returned to shore, but no search party has been formed to try and locate the body of the missing man.
The missing man has been identified as 23-yearold Sanjay Khan of Crabwood Creek, Corentyne – a person who has been going to sea for the past two years.
The vessel from which he fell left port at Number 66 Fisherman's Co-op nine days ago, on February 16, and he and the crew were expected back home this week. However, the crew returned on Friday last, but Khan was not with them.
The crew told the man’s family that he had fallen into the Atlantic Ocean and could not be found, and his mother Padmini Deanasiame has
Bharrat pointed out that in Guyana’s case, the country has been consistent in developing cleaner energy, strategies that are laid out in the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. He noted that in addition to gas, wind and solar will feature prominently as sources of energy for Guyana. But he noted the importance of the world focusing on cutting demand for fossil fuel, rather than cutting production.
that we’re going to reduce capital for exploration and production of fossil fuel, while not at the same time investing as much as we should in renewable energy, we are going to face a major problem. And as a matter of fact, we will go backwards.”
According to Bharrat, if on the other hand demand is cut while production continues, this will lead to a more natural reduction of production. And the Minister noted that in such a scenario, countries like Guyana with high environmental credentials, should be given preference.
“If we decide, as a world,
“So, the idea should not
“And once demand is there, Guyana as a country with such high environmental credentials and the quality of our crude, should have a seat at the table. That has been our simple posi-
Work also continues on getting the 300-MW Gas to Energy (GtE) Project operational this year. When that project is completed, it is expected that it will cut electricity prices by 50 per cent and provide a cleaner energy option as a transitional fuel.
Corentyne fisherman feared dead after falling into Atlantic
said she understands that two fishermen had fallen into the ocean, one of whom was her son.
“Dem say seine hook he
foot. He was hauling in fish and the seine hook his foot and throw he overboard.
The captain say he didn’t see when my son fall…One
time he say that my son and a beat man fall overboard. They save the one, and cut the seine away from my son and let him go along,” she said in detailing what she had been told.
She understands that the men were fishing and were seeking to catch snapper and gillbacker.
In calling for a search party to be organised to at least retrieve her son’s body, Deanasiame has said, “Me
want them to search and find my son, because my son go with them, and only them returned. One of them have a mark on his hand; he say seine cut his hand. I don’t know if them lashed my son and throw him over, because if the seine had hook his foot, they could have haul back the seine, but they cut the seine and let him go… That’s why I want my son, to know what dem do am!” the grieving mother has said.
According to the mother of six, Khan had reported to her that he was having issues with crew members and had wanted to quit the job. She said he wanted to find another boat to work on. Meanwhile, the police have confirmed that a missing person report has been filed for a Guyanese national in Surinamese waters. However, there are no details on the investigation.
(G4)
Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat
23-year-old Sanjay Khan
Businessman who allegedly shot partner 12 times slapped with murder charge …to
appear in court today
Thirty-two-year-old Marlon DaSilva who allegedly pumped 12 bullets into his child mother’s body on Saturday evening following a dispute at home will make his first appearance at the Diamond Magistrate’s Court today.
The businessman of Lot 1179 Section ‘A’ Block ‘X’ Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD will be arraigned with the murder of 27-yearold Kenesha Marie Juman Vaughn.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed on Tuesday that the man has been charged after detectives received the necessary advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions to proceed with the murder charge.
Vaughn and DaSilva were in an intimate relationship for four years, during which they had a three-year-old son.
The family resided together at the Diamond Housing
Scheme address for the past year.
Reports are that on Saturday at about 20:00h, DaSilva arrived home and met the victim – who was at the time inside the kitchen when a heated argument en sued between them during which the suspect dealt the victim a slap.
In retaliation, the wom an allegedly armed herself with knife and as she was approaching the suspect, he whipped out his firearm from his front pants waist and dis charged several rounds in the victim’s direction hitting her to several parts of her body.
She immediately fell to the ground and became motionless. After allegedly committing the act, the suspect contacted the police, who responded and rushed the victim to the Diamond Hospital, where she died.
Guyana Times understands that the shooting allegedly stemmed after the
Marlon DaSilva and Kenesha Marie Juman Vaughn in happier times
nessman about several inappropriate text messages from a male friend.
At the scene, four 9MM cases and three suspected projectiles were recovered. An inspection on the victim’s body revealed 12 injuries described as entry and exit wounds.
Police also confirmed that the suspect was highly intox-
evening seen consuming alcohol at a popular drinking establishment on Main Street, Georgetown.
On Sunday, Human Services and Social Security Minister Vindhya Persaud spoke out on the issue of domestic violence within the country.
The state…
…of the Republic
Well, now that we’ve finished tramping – and wining! – down the streets of Georgetown during the Mashramani festivities: which our governments have decided is how we’ll celebrate cutting the final colonial ties from Britain, let’s reflect a wee bit about what Republicanism means to us, shall we?? Right off the bat, we see that even though the jump-up festivity started in the newly-formed township of Linden – as in “Linden” Forbes Sampson Burnham -- through the combination of Wismar, Mackenzie and Christiansburg -- it’s now almost totally a “Georgetown thing”!! And this signals, as it always has, that Georgetown is Guyana, innit??
The second thing that struck your Eyewitness was the continued focus on carnival-like activities -- cogged wholesale from Trinidad!! He knows it’s said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but it also means a total lack of native creativity!! To celebrate OUR Republic Day, shouldn’t there be more things that’s OURS?? What about our newlyfound oil wealth from the bottom of the Atlantic: couldn’t some group have a float, say, of a mock-up of an FPSO that brings up the oil and gas?? If wine-up is de rigueur, you can wine up on an FPSO as good as on the back of a truck, can’t you?? Then at least our citizenry might get an idea of what these behemoths, situated some 120 miles out in the Atlantic, look like!!
Then there’s Mad Maduro breathing smoke, fire and brimstone from the west as he threatens to seize our Essequibo. Couldn’t there have been some revellers depicting us taking on him and his army – including his Sindicatos! - and dragging them in chains to the stockades?? Said revellers could still wine-up as they drag the madman on the road!!
We gotta let Republic Day become an event that tells the story of our republic – the opportunities and the challenges – that can rally our people and make our slogan of “One Guyana” become real!!
And how about our beginnings – when Cuffy drove out those Dutch planters and the Dutch administration to declare Berbice independent?? Shouldn’t there be tableaux and staged encounters depicting this seminal event, so that it doesn’t remain between the covers of dry books?? Revellers could still wine as they drag the planters to the stockades and guillotines!!
And finally, we’re supposed to be a land of six peoples – with six cultures. As we celebrate our diversity, can’t we have floats depicting that reality; to SHOW, and not just TELL, about this unique aspect of our Republic?!!
Your Eyewitness can go on and on with illustrations of how we could be different, and not derivative – and still have a good time as we big up our Republic!! So, let’s get it on… shall we?
…of the UN’s remit
Just when your Eyewitness was ready to read the final rites over the UN as a body that can’t even PRETEND to fulfill its mandate of maintaining world peace – with Israeli genocide against Gaza Palestinians and a brutal war in Ukraine - up comes a gesture that betrayed a flicker of life!! Following up on Trump’s unilateral moves to impose a peace in Ukraine – as the US extracts its pound of rare earths!! –resolutions were moved in both the UNSC and UNGA.
In the more significant body – the UNSC, where we have a temporary seat - both the US and Ukraine, at loggerheads outside, tabled motions. The US’ motion didn’t condemn Russia for its invasion, but simply called for a negotiated peace -- which is what Trump’s been pushing, even as it tees off the US’ European NATO allies!
We voted with the US, as 5 European nations abstained. The UNGA motions supporting the US were also passed - but don’t really count!!
The question is whether we just endorsed unilateral invasions??
…of soul
Roberta Flack just passed at 88. Her hits, “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, accompanied by her virtuoso piano playing - brought soul to soul!! RIP.
The
are
author’s
2025 General and Regional Elections
No cost will be spared in safeguarding Guyana’s democracy – Pres Ali
As Guyana prepares for the 2025 General and Regional Elections, President Dr Irfaan Ali has underscored his Government’s commitment to ensuring a smooth and democratic electoral process.
Speaking at the 55th Republic Anniversary Flag Raising ceremony on Saturday, President Ali emphasised that no cost will be spared in safeguarding democracy, especially following the controversies surrounding the 2020 attempts to rig the election.
President Ali reassured the public that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government is ful-
ly prepared to provide all resources that are necessary to guarantee the integrity of the elections.
“Our democracy this year will once again be on showcase, and be assured that the People's Progressive Party/Civic Government, your Government, will do everything and spare no resources in ensuring a smooth process as the people of Guyana carry out their democratic will and carry out their democratic responsibility, as we will be celebrating democracy through elections this year,” he said.
The 2020 elections had left deep wounds on the nation’s electoral process af-
ter intense delays in result declarations, multiple disputes, and attempts by several political actors to manipulate the outcome.
This led to official election results not being an-
nounced until August 2, 2020, nearly five months after Election Day, leading to widespread criticism of the electoral process.
The PPP/C was ultimately declared the winner, and President Ali was sworn in as the nation’s 10th president. However, the post-election turmoil left many citizens questioning the future of democracy in Guyana.
In the wake of the 2020 election controversy, President Ali has said that his Government is determined to rebuild trust in the electoral system.
Nine individuals, including former GECOM staff, are currently facing
charges related to electoral fraud committed during the 2020 elections. Among those charged are former Returning Officer for Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, and other former Guyana’s Elections Commission (GECOM) employees.
As part of the preparations for the upcoming elections, GECOM has been allocated $7.3 billion in the 2025 national budget to ensure the effective and transparent execution of the elections. This includes $193 million to train nearly 20,000 election polling day staff and $427.5 million for civic and voter education ef-
forts aimed at engaging the public and reinforcing the significance of a fair electoral process.
The commission has also stated its readiness, although it is still awaiting an official date from President Ali to begin preparations. GECOM has expressed confidence in its ability to conduct the elections within the constitutional timeline, and in the meantime, preliminary activities such as recruitment and staff training are already underway. Recently, GECOM launched advertisements seeking applicants for polling day staff, with a deadline of March 30 for submissions.
President Dr Irfaan Ali
Labourer drowns at Lake Mainstay
Police in Regional Division Two
(PomeroonSupenaam) have launched an investigation into the suspected drowning of Deon Baird, a 28-year-old labourer from Princeville, Lake Mainstay, Essequibo Coast.
Baird’s lifeless body was discovered floating in the waters of Lake Mainstay Resort on Tuesday, nearly a day after he was last seen alive.
According to reports, Baird left home around
11:00h on Monday, after telling his mother, Janet Gomes, that he was heading to Lake Mainstay Resort. When he failed to return home that evening, Gomes, a 56-year-old housewife, grew concerned and informed her daughter, 25-year-old Ashana Baird, who works as a pathway worker in Princeville.
The following morning, Ashana went to Lake Mainstay Resort to look for her brother. At around 11:00h, she made a horrifying discovery, a body float -
Dead: Deon Baird
ing face down in the water, about 30 feet from the deck
bar. She immediately raised an alarm, and with the help of villagers, the body was pulled from the water. She then identified it as her brother, Deon Baird. Reports are that detectives arrived at the scene around 13:00h and processed the area. It was noted that Baird’s body was clad only in multi-colored underpants. A search of the immediate vicinity led to the discovery of a pair of jeans, a jersey, and slippers, belonging to him, on a
bench at the deck bar.
Police retrieved CCTV footage from the deck bar at Lake Mainstay Resort. The video reportedly showed Baird removing his clothing and plunging into the water on the eastern side of the deck bar.
Investigators also questioned several individuals at the resort, including a 20-year-old bartender.
The man recalled that at around 17:00h on Monday, he saw Baird socialising with other villagers.
Shortly after, he no-
ticed that Baird was alone. However, the bartender said he did not see when Baird disappeared, as he was attending to other customers at the time.
Following the retrieval of Baird’s body, police transported it to the Suddie Public Hospital and later transferred to the Suddie Mortuary, where a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted to determine the official cause of death. An investigation has been launched.
Cabinet to review plans to install traffic lights along Heroes Highway
Tfor approval. Extensive consultations have been conducted with law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders to ensure the plan's effectiveness.
According to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, this initiative is set to improve road safety and traffic management as urban congestion continues to rise.
Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara).
Meanwhile, locations where new road projects are being executed under design-build contracts will have traffic light installations included as part of their respective agreements.
he government is moving ahead with a plan to install traffic lights across the country, with a particular focus on Georgetown and its surrounding areas, including the Heroes Highway along the East Bank of Demerara (EBD).
A proposal for the installation of traffic signals has been finalised and will soon be presented to the Cabinet
“The Prime Minister concluded his work last week, and the full proposal of traffic lights across the country, more particularly the city of Georgetown and its immediate environment, will be going to Cabinet for endorsement in the next Cabinet. We have finished our work, the police, my people, all the
agencies that were involved, and we are ready to proceed, once Cabinet gives us no objections,” the minister shared.
While the Heroes
Highway remains a priority, Edghill explained that the project will extend to other critical areas in and around Georgetown, the East Bank, the East Coast, and Region
“It expands across Georgetown, the East Bank, the Heroes Highway, the East Coast going up, except where we have contracts for the building of a road, particularly if it's a design build, traffic lights in those contracts are going to be catered separately from what we're talking about and that includes Region 3 as well,” he explained.
Heroes Highway along the East Bank of Demerara
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill
Businessman pleads guilty to murder of ex-wife
After nearly six years of legal proceedings, businessman Ryan Sugrim stood before Justice Navindra Singh in the Demerara High Court on Tuesday, and pleaded guilty to the 2019 murder of his exwife, Zaila Sugrim.
With the admission of guilt, the long-running trial came to an abrupt end, and Justice Singh has set March 18 for sentencing.
On the afternoon of May 11, 2019, Zaila Sugrim lost her life when visited her ex-husband’s home in La Union, West Coast Demerara (WCD). Reports are that it was their son’s birthday, and she had gone to see her children. However, what should have been a routine visit quickly turned into an argument.
According to Ryan Sugrim’s statement to police, the dispute began when Zaila found suspicious numbers in his phone. He claimed that during the heated confrontation, she allegedly pulled his firearm from his waist and pointed it at him, threatening to kill him. He further stated that in the midst of the struggle to retrieve the weapon, the gun discharged, striking her in the face. She collapsed instantly, lifeless.
Instead of calling for help or reporting what had happened, Sugrim said he panicked and immediately began plotting a way to cover up the crime.
That night, after checking on his children, Sugrim returned to the gruesome scene and dragged Zaila’s body to the back of his gas station, where he set it on fire using tires and kerosene. He later told police that he had attempted to burn the body in a bid to destroy the evidence, but the flames grew too large.
Reports are that a neighbour, who saw the suspicious blaze in his backyard, called the fire service, but before they could intervene, Sugrim hurried to the fence and told the neighbor not to alert them, claiming that he had everything under control and
was merely burning garbage. When the fire service arrived, the same neighbour relayed Sugrim’s explanation, and the firefighters left without investigating further.
Once the fire had subsided, Sugrim went a step further. He dug a shallow grave in the yard and buried Zaila’s charred remains, believing he had successfully hidden the crime.
His efforts to avoid suspicion did not end there. Neighbours observed him emerging from the back of his property with mud-stained clothing. He left home twice that day and, upon returning the second time, washed his car using a bucket and cloth before heading back to the garden.
Ryan Sugrim Zalia Sugrim
Ramsammy’s Ruminations
Vincent Alexander’s baldfaced, reprehensible, ugly lies in Geneva
Mash 2025 was a glorious celebration of Guyana’s 55th Republic anniversary.
Guyanese of all ethnicities came out to celebrate, united under the ONE GUYANA banner. In the meanwhile, over the next two weeks, distribution centres across Guyana are ensuring that every Guyanese 18 years old and above receive their $100,000 cash grant, no matter their ethnicity, religion, or which political party they might be affiliated to.
Dr Leslie Ramsammy
On Guyana’s Republic Day, the Chief-of-Staff of the GDF announced promotions for 41 officers, the vast majority of whom were AfroGuyanese. This announcement, juxtaposed with a presentation made in Geneva by Vincent Alexander on behalf of IDPADA-G (International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana), represents contrasting tales of the same country.
Alexander’s story in Geneva is that Guyana is an “apartheid” country, with massive discrimination against Afro-Guyanese. Of the officers that were promoted, only one officer was of Indo-Guyanese origin -- not shocking, because the vast majority of the members of the GDF are Afro-Guyanese.
The Guyana Police Force is similarly dominated by officers who are AfroGuyanese. The Public Service is also dominated by Afro-Guyanese, 50% of the Permanent Secretaries, the most senior public servants, are Afro-Guyanese, and more than 33% of Government Ministers are Afro-Guyanese.
The PPP has been in Government for 25 of the last 30 years. If the PPP Government has been practising “apartheid” policies, “discriminating” against Afro-Guyanese, how come the Government bureaucracy – Public Service, Police, Fire Service, Prison Officers, Defence Force – is still strongly dominated by Afro-Guyanese? In the Government’s communication architecture – NCN TV, NCN Radio and the Guyana Chronicle – the majority of reporters and staff are Afro-Guyanese. The vast majority of nurses are Afro-Guyanese. The ethnic make-up of doctors, teachers, judges and magistrates in Guyana almost reflects the ethnic make-up of the population. There have never ever been more Afro-Guyanese contractors, small-business owners, vehicle owners or homeowners.
Alexander never offered -- nor could he have presented -- any evidence for his allegation of “massive discrimination” and “apartheid”. He ignored that in a total population where Afro-Guyanese make up about 30%, more than 50% of the people allocated house lots, and more than 40% of the almost 30,000 scholarships that have been awarded since 2020, are Afro-Guyanese. With over 60,000 new jobs since 2020, there is no evidence that any ethnic group is denied employment.
Alexander alleged, without any evidence, that police officers have been denied promotion because promotion is not merit-based, but directed via presidential instructions. He alleged that senior police officers are being prosecuted to deny these qualified police officers their promotion. Only one senior officer and his wife have been charged with corruption and various financial crimes, and that happened after he was promoted to Assistant Police Commissioner. How one officer has become many officers is simply unfathomable.
Alexander is guilty of misinformation and baldfaced lies.
Alexander alleged that Afro-Guyanese have had their properties destroyed and lands taken away. He was clearly referring to the residents who had squatted in Mocha-Arcadia on land which is located where a highway was planned. He failed to tell the meeting that Government had been giving notice to the squatters since 2008 that they should not build anything there. Once the PPP came back into government in 2020 and the highway plan was being implemented, the residents were offered transported land not far away and compensation way above the appraised value of any property they had on the land they were squatting on. While the majority of the residents complied and accepted the generous offer made by the Government, seven residents, under pressure from Alexander’s party, refused the offer. They wanted prime land they chose and compensation amounting to US$1 million.
The Chief Justice, in a ruling, concluded that the residents had no right to the land, and were wrong not to negotiate with the Government. Alexander’s party has since abandoned the residents. It is the President who has offered the residents help.
Evidence shows that it is Alexander’s party that has denied Afro-Guyanese land-ownership. Between 2015 and 2020, not one ordinary Afro-Guyanese got land for housing or for agriculture or any other business. They gave land to themselves – ministers and high-level officials -- thousands of acres of land. In fact, among those who got lands is a leader of one of the opposition parties today, the former Chief Elections Officer and the former Regional Elections Officer of Region 4, both of whom are charged with elections-related crimes.
But the PNC’s discrimination in distribution of lands is old habit. During the PNC dictatorship pre-1992, a coop was awarded lease for all the agriculture land aback Seafield, West Coast Berbice. By 2012, the Coop had only three members. They rented the land to people outside of Seafield, and benefitted from millions of dollars. Worse, the Coop did not pay their lease rates.
The PPP government, in 2014, responding to the pleas of Seafield residents, all Afro-Guyanese and all loyal PNC supporters, reallocated the land to every family in Seafield. The PNC lawyers fought against this reallocation. When they got into government in 2015, the PNC rescinded the lease of these ordinary Afro-Guyanese and awarded the land again to the few members of the coop. It was PPP lawyers that approached the court in 2016 on behalf of the residents of Seafield. The court ruled in favour of the citizens. But Alexander’s party refused to re-issue the lease to the residents. It was the PPP government in 2020 that re-issued the leases.
These are some examples of the total fabrications and misrepresentations that Alexander traveled all the way from Georgetown to Geneva to make.
More misrepresentations and fabrications will be addressed in another communication. Alexander’s propaganda is shameful and is a total disgrace. It is why so many Afro-Guyanese are aligning with the PPP, abandoning the PNC in droves and standing as ONE GUYANA.
IT in Healthcare Conference Guyana looking to partner with India in digital health services, telepathology – Dr Anthony
In keeping with its push to revolutionise healthcare service, the Government of Guyana is looking to partner with India to enhance its digital health service delivery and capacity for telepathology.
At the 2025 Transforming Healthcare with IT Conference in New Delhi, India, Guyana’s Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, was among the speakers. He highlighted Guyana’s healthcare system and the ongoing efforts to modernize it.
In particular, last year the two countries were able to sign landmark Memorandums of Understanding during India Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit. Following on from those signings, Anthony was hopeful that a partnership can be advanced between Guyana and India. He mentioned Guyana’s interest in the state-run India Pharmacopeia which sets standards for drugs.
“We’ve been able to sign a number of agreements in different sectors, but more importantly we had several agreements that were signed in health. Guyana now recognizes India Pharmacopeia and we hope that with increasing collaboration, that we can look forward to collaborating in the area of digital health,” Dr. Anthony explained.
“Over the last four years or so, Guyana has been undergoing a massive transformation in its health care industry. We as a small country, the Government of Guyana provides approximately 90-95 per cent of care for the population of Guyana. And we want to ensure that our population can have access to care across the country.”
According to Dr. Anthony, access to quality healthcare should not be dependent on where someone is located. He noted that the government is a firm believer in the ability of digital health to improve quality of care and bridge geographical gaps in health care.
There is also telepathology, which makes use of digital solutions to remotely examine patients and diagnose pathology through images. While Guyana does currently have partnerships to facilitate this, such as with the United States, Anthony noted that they are willing to expand this partnership.
“Prior to introducing telepathology, it used to take us maybe about three to four months before we get the results from a biopsy sample. Now we have reduced that waiting time, to between three to seven days.”
“So, this has improved care tremendously. And we’re hoping that maybe we can partner with persons here, who might be able to provide us with the analytics for telepathology,” Dr.
the
Anthony said.
Since 2020,
Dr Irfaan Ali-led Administration has invested billions of dollars to build the healthcare infra-
structure across the country. One such investment is in the new West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), which is being construct-
ed to the tune of more than $11.4 billion, and will be completed in 2028.
Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony (right) in New Delhi, India
Businessman pleads guilty to murder...
Once again, he was seen with mud on his boots, raising further suspicions.
Reports are that that night, he gave his children an unusual warning, he told them not to go to the back of the garden for the next two weeks, claiming there was a large African bee nest there.
Disappearance
On Sunday, May 12, 2019, Zaila’s children began asking for their mother. It was Mother’s Day, and she had promised to spend time with
them. When they questioned their father about her whereabouts, Sugrim allegedly lied, telling them she had probably changed her plans.
Later that day, he repeated the story about the bee nest, warning his children once again to stay away from the abandoned house at the back of the yard. His excuse quickly unraveled when an uncle later checked the area and found no such bee nest on the premises.
By Monday, May 13, concerns over Zaila’s disappear-
ance had intensified. That morning, Sugrim visited his lawyer’s office with his children before proceeding to the Tactical Services Unit, where he lodged his firearm along with 11 matching rounds of ammunition.
Later that afternoon, police arrived at his home and searched his three-story building, but initially found nothing suspicious. However, a more thorough examination of the yard led to a disturbing discovery, burnt articles, and a section of fresh dirt cover-
ing an area in the garden.
When questioned, Sugrim claimed he had burned garbage because his children wanted to plant a garden. But as officers began digging, they unearthed burnt particles and human remains. When pressed, Sugrim insisted it was just rubbish.
Investigators then turned their attention to his vehicle, where they found red spots resembling blood in the trunk, along with wire rope tied with brown fiber string. When questioned about the stains, Sugrim claimed they were from planting materials.
The next day, police returned to Sugrim’s property with further information. Upon their arrival, he told them that the locks to the gas station had been changed, preventing him from accessing the premises.
As police examined the garden area, they noticed a
patch of disrupted soil. When asked what was buried there, Sugrim responded, “I don’t know.”
As digging began, an unbearable stench filled the air, and flies swarmed the site. Within moments, investigators uncovered a human hand wrapped in cloth. When they confronted Sugrim about the discovery, he remained silent.
Body found
Moments later, as they continued their excavation, police pulled Zaila Sugrim’s full body from the grave, wrapped in red and white cloth. The remains were taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home, where forensic analysis was conducted.
During the investigation, police reviewed CCTV footage from Sugrim’s gas station. However, they discovered crucial segments of the footage were missing, lead-
FROM PAGE 14
ing them to suspect that he had deleted incriminating evidence.
When confronted about his movements on the day of the murder, Sugrim refused to answer, merely stating, “I will look at what you have, and I will not say anything.” Final confirmation of Zaila’s identity came from forensic DNA testing conducted in Florida on February 11, 2021, which confirmed that the burned remains belonged to the deceased mother of five.
Ryan was arrested and was formally charged with murder. His response was chilling: “Is stress caused this thing.”
He later provided a written statement, attempting to justify his actions by blaming his deceased ex-wife for their marital troubles. He claimed that she had stolen from him, frequently argued, and even physically assaulted him
Mechanic feared drowned after plunging into Demerara River
Amechanic of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara (EBD), is missing after reportedly jumping into the Demerara River on Monday afternoon.
Missing is Vishal Narine.
Reports are that Narine, who was said to be intoxicated at the time, plunged into the river around 16:50h, ignoring calls from his cousin and other relatives who ran after him.
As of Tuesday afternoon, his body had not been recovered, and his family is not only grief-stricken but also frustrated with the police, who they claim have done little to help locate him.
According to Narine’s cousin, Lilawattie Sancharra who spoke with Guyana Times, the 26-yearold mechanic had been drinking heavily throughout Monday morning.
He had stopped by her home earlier in the day and asked her for $500, but when she refused, he became irritated. She explained that she was not going to give him money for more alcohol, since he was already intoxicated.
She said she told him firmly, “No money for you. You already drunk already.”
Sancharra said her refusal sparked an argument, and at the height of his frustration, Narine took a glass bottle that had alcohol, broke it, and began cutting himself, inflicting multiple wounds on his hands and body.
Later that afternoon, at approximately 16:30 to 16:50h, the woman said Narine walked away from the house, heading toward the Demerara River. She
said she immediately sensed something was wrong. Knowing that he was drunk and not in the right state of mind, she ran after him, along with her son and other relatives.
As they followed, she said she repeatedly called out to him, shouting, “Vishal, Vishal! Wait on me! I’m coming! Come for the money!” But he ignored her. She said by the time she reached the wharf near the Demerara River; it was too late.
She explained that while standing on the wharf, she watched in horror as Narine plunged into the Demerara River. At first, his head remained above the water, and then, in what would be his final moments, he raised his hands in the air and called out, not to her, but to her youngest son.
“Justin! Justin!” she claimed he shouted. And with that, she claimed he went under once more and never resurfaced.
His family, overcome
Cabinet to review plans to install traffic...
The installation of traffic lights is expected to significantly improve pedestrian and vehicular movement in high-traffic zones. Edghill emphasized that this measure is not just about easing congestion but also about enhancing road safety for all users, particularly vulnerable groups such as schoolchildren and visually impaired individuals.
“Traffic lights are crucial for ensuring safety. Whether it’s through signalized junctions, pedestrian crossings with audible signals for the visually impaired, or managing congestion near schools, these installations will make our roads safer,” the minister noted.
This initiative aligns with the government’s broader strategy to modernise transportation infrastructure, incorporating features such as improved pavements and geometric road enhancements. As traf-
with panic and fear, said they began searching immediately and made a call to the police at the Timehri Police Station, hoping to spot him in the water. She said they even returned to the riverbank twice that night, hoping he would resurface, but saw nothing.
By Tuesday morning, they went back out, still searching for any sign of him, but there was none. Realising that time was slipping away, they turned to the police, hoping they would help coordinate a search or assist in recovering his body. Instead, she claimed that they were met with frustration and disappointment.
“When we went to the police, they were no help,” his cousin said. “They keep asking us if we went and look for him….”.
However, when family members returned to the station around 13:00h on Tuesday, they discovered that the officer who had taken the initial report was not there. She said they were made to retell the entire story to a different officer.
FROM PAGE 13
fic volumes continue to increase, such measures are critical in reducing accidents and ensuring smooth mobility.
Back in January, Minister Edghill had announced that Government allocated $2 billion from the 2025 Nation Budget to procure traffic lights, with the aim of addressing the country’s persistent traffic challenges.
Amid these developments, Edghill expressed optimism, emphasising that brighter days are ahead, though much work remains, and reiterated the need for nationwide implementation of traffic lights and related infrastructure.
“This is a good initiative, but it must be complemented by proper signage, traffic lights, and compatibility across regions. Traffic officers will be working on these improvements nationwide,” he declared at the time.
Housewife drowns during family outing at Madewini Creek
Police are investigating the drowning of a 44-year-old housewife which occurred at Azeeza Akousa Creek, Madewini, Soesdyke-Linden Highway, on Sunday.
Dead is Seeta Ghannie, of Lot 65 Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
According to reports, at about 14:00h on Sunday, Ghannie, her husband, Vijay Ghannie, and other relatives visited the creek for a family outing.
Investigations revealed that at around 17:00h, Ghannie and her husband were in the water along with other relatives when he briefly left to have a drink. Shortly after, he noticed that the other family members had exited the water, but his wife was nowhere to be seen.
Upon realising her absence, he raised an alarm and immediately began searching the area. About 15 minutes later, Ghannie was found submerged and unresponsive in the creek. She was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police said that preliminary examination of the body found no visible marks of violence. Vijay Ghannie informed investigators that his wife suffered from epileptic seizures and suspected that she may have experienced an episode while in the water.
The body has since been transported to the Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it awaits a post-mortem examination as police continue their investigations.
Suspected cutlass bandits arrested
…schoolgirl rescued after bandits crashed getaway car
Police have launched an investigation into a robbery under arms committed on several individuals at the Tide Restaurant and Bar at La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara (WCD) on Monday.
Reports are that the robbery was carried out by five masked men armed with cutlasses at about 23:00h.
Police said during the incident, a 15-year-old schoolgirl was allegedly abducted by the suspects but was later rescued by police ranks after the perpetrators crashed their getaway vehicle at Pouderoyen Public Road, West Bank Demerara (WBD).
Victims of the robbery included 61-year-old businesswoman Sahodra Ghanshan, who was re-
Guyana looking to partner with...
The Government has had discussions with Northwell Health, 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. President Ali had said they will be working on building a scalable model of revamped emergency healthcare in every region.
In addition to Northwell, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (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 Head of State had recently disclosed that US energy major, Hess Corporation – one of the partners operating in the oil-rich Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, has agreed to continue financing Guyana’s partnership with Mount Sinai for another three years.
lieved of a Samsung Galaxy cellphone valued at $50,000 and a quantity of gold. The 15-year-old female was robbed of an iPhone 12 valued at $150,000 and a gold finger ring worth $200,000.
Another victim, 18-year-old Raphal Sarwan, a cashier at the business, was stripped of an Acer laptop valued at $120,000, two iPhones worth $260,000, a Samsung A14 cellphone valued at $50,000, and $300,000. Investigations revealed that at the time of the attack, 59-year-old Richard Ghanshan, the bar’s proprietor, had just concluded business and was in the backyard tending to his dogs while the other victims were upstairs.
The suspects ambushed him, demanding cash and jewelry.
One of the assailants struck him multiple times with a cutlass, inflicting injuries to his head before forcing him upstairs, where they confronted and robbed the other victims. Raphal Sarwan was also assaulted with a cutlass
during the ordeal. As the suspects fled, one of them abducted the 15-yearold girl, forcing her onto the public road and into a white Fielder wagon, PAH 7157. The suspects drove off in an eastern direction but later lost control near Pouderoyen, crashing into a trench on the eastern side of the road.
Police responded, arresting two of the suspects at the scene. They were identified as a 21-year-old from Thomas Street, Georgetown, and a 19-year-old from Church Street, Stanleytown, WBD. The 15-year-old female was also safely recovered.
A search of the vehicle, conducted in the presence of the suspects, led to the recovery of several stolen items in the back seat. Both Richard Ghanshan and Raphal Sarwan were transported to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where they were treated and discharged. The two suspects remain in police custody as investigations continue.
FROM PAGE 15 FROM PAGE 8
Businessman who allegedly...
An oncology centre is a medical facility that specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and research of cancer. Construction of the oncology centre in Guyana will start this year, and it is slated to be completed by 2027. In addition to the oncology facility, President Ali has said that Guyana is also in discussion with Mount Sinai on rehabilitative care.
In a statement via her Facebook page on Sunday, the minister highlighted that the senseless killing; robbing children of their mother, and families of their daughters and siblings, continues to plague Guyana country, adding that regardless of the situation, nothing justifies taking a person’s life.
The minister noted that despite the many systems the ministry has put in place, this unfortunate reality could only be altered if individuals change their mindsets.
“Men, let her go if the relationship is unhealthy, plagued by jealousy, or she wants to move on, or whatever the reason; beating, killing, abusing, will never be right. Women, leave and stay away from perpetrators of violence, even if you have children; they are not going to change if they are beating, raping or abusing you; killing might be next the red flags… the Family Violence Act has provisions to support you if you want to leave, and the State Provides shelter,” she pleaded.
Vishal Narine
5th National Quality Awards GNBS promoting competitiveness within local business community
More businesses are becoming inspired to pay attention to quality control systems, as the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) gears up to host its fifth annual National Quality Awards (NQA) ceremony.
The National Quality Awards (NQA) Programme, launched in 2017 by the GNBS is the country’s first quality systems-based awards programme. It recognises local companies that demonstrate excellence in applying standards and quality systems in the production of goods and delivery of services.
The NQA is hosted biennially during National Quality Week in October 14, which aligns with World
Standards Day.
On Tuesday, the Bureau launched its fifth National Quality Awards (NQA) Speaking at the launch event was Executive Director of the GNBS Trevor Bassoo, who highlighted the bureau’s commitment towards empowering local businesses.
“And we support those businesses more specifically that has an interest in, a desire to, and a want to adopt standards to help with the improvement of their business processes, their products itself, and the services that they offer. And we are here to support those businesses as they strive for excellence.”
In fact, he revealed that the NQA is not just an
award ceremony but a strategic initiative that aims to foster a sense of quality and standards within the local business community.
“But let's add a little more the National Quality Award gives successful businesses a sense of pride and beyond that, it allows for other businesses to be inspired. So, those who will be participating will give their competitors and their partners and their other alliances out there an opportunity to be inspired and joined for future National Quality Awards.”
Also present at the launch event was President of the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association (GMSA) Ramsay Ali who lauded the Government for invest-
ing into the improvement of business standards within the country.
“For many, many years, BSOs like GMSA and other member of the private sector organisations have been lobbying for improvement of standards in this country…Because if you go back 20 years, many companies in this country would have had to seek external assistance or whatever to do for the validation of their products and it's good to see that over the years, the monetary allocations to agencies like GNBS have significantly increased.”
On this point he made a
call to action to stakeholders from within the business sector to encourage more small businesses to be a part of the NQA.
“But I really would like to encourage it and do this for the GMSA and the other BSOs too. To really champion the small businesses in this country to get on board with this programme. Because it's important for their businesses when you can say, look, I participated in this system i was given this award it will help their products, it will help their companies, it will help their development.”
The president added,
“if we can, to get as much of our smaller business on board. I think it's going to benefit them more significantly.”
Moreover, geared at improving standards within the business community, the GNBS provided technical assistance to 79 organisations last year. Additionally, some 924 persons were trained under the bureau in several areas such as management systems and health and safety among others. Notably through its National Standards Council (NSC) the GNBS had approved a total of 33 standards.
Works commence on Number 63 Beach recreational park …project to be completed in 2nd quarter of 2025
Construction has commenced on a new recreational park at Number 63 Beach, Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), with materials being mobilised and work already underway. This transformative project, designed to include
modern amenities, aims to enhance the area’s aesthetic appeal while providing a safe and welcoming space for families to enjoy recreational activities. The initiative is being led by the Office of the First Lady, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC)
of Region Six, as part of the National Beautification Project.
In an interview with Guyana Times, Ravin Singh, Director of Projects, Policy & Public Affairs at the Office of the President – Guyana, highlighted that Number 63 Beach has long been a popular destination,
frequently attracting large crowds from Berbice and surrounding areas.
On this point he highlighted that stakeholders have decided to transform the area into more family friendly recreational area.
“You know that's an area that's been frequented or is frequented rather by people living in Berbice, you know, on a daily basis, not even weekly. So, it's a space that has always wanted to be developed and so, you know, since First Lady introduced her National Beautification Project, she's been trying to
not only focus on region 4 but ensure that, you know, other regions are provided with safe recreational spaces, 63 Beach being one.”
Moreover, with works already underway, Singh highlighted that the project is anticipated to be completed by the second quarter of this year.
“The work has started there's a timeline for the second quarter of this year. For completion that is, so by half of this year the project should be completed. Right, they're building a gazebo, you'll have some vending kiosks, there's a children's
play park, and additional recreational spaces around there for like people to exercise and so on.”
The National Beautification Project provides leadership in scenic conservation and revitalisation as a way to motivate and accelerate community renewal and reinvestment. The National Beautification Project not only aims to enhance the scenic qualities of Guyana’s roadways and urban and rural spaces, but it also strives to foster a more environmentally friendly society.
GMSA President Ramsay Ali GNBS Executive Director Trevor Bassoo
An artistic impression of the park
Around the World
BOIL NEWS
BP to slash green investment and ramp up gas and oil
P is expected to announce it will slash its renewable energy investments and instead focus on increasing oil and gas production.
The energy giant will outline its strategy later following pressure from some investors unhappy its profits and share price have been much lower than its rivals.
Shell and Norwegian company Equinor have already scaled back their plans to invest in green energy. Meanwhile US President Donald Trump's "drill baby drill" comments have encouraged investment in fossil fuels and a move away from low-carbon projects.
Some shareholders and environmental groups have voiced concerns over any potential ramping up on production of fossil fuels.
Five years ago, BP set some of the most ambitious targets among large oil companies to cut production of oil and gas by 40 per cent by 2030, while significantly ramping up investment in renewables.
In 2023, the company lowered this oil and gas reduction target to 25 per cent.
It is now expected to abandon it altogether while confirming it is cutting investments in renewable energy by more than half in what chief executive Murray Auchincloss called a "fundamental reset".
In 2024, BP's net income fell to US$8.9 billion down from US$13.8 billion the previous year.
Auchincloss is under pressure to boost profits from some shareholders including the influential activist group Elliot Management, which took a near £4 billion stake in the £70 billion company to push for more investment in oil and gas.
Since 2020 when former chief executive Bernard Looney first unveiled his strategy, shareholders have received total returns including dividends of 36 per cent over the last five years. In contrast, shareholders in rivals Shell and Exxon have seen returns of 82 per cent and 160 per cent respectively.
BP's underperformance has prompted speculation that it may be a takeover target or may consider moving its main stock market listing to the US where oil and gas companies command higher valuations.
Not all shareholders want the company to change course so radically.
Last week, a group of 48 investors called on the company to allow them a vote on any potential plans to move away from its previous commitments to renewables.
A spokesperson for one of the signatories, Royal London Asset Management, said: "As long-term shareholders, we recognise BP's past efforts toward energy transition, but remain concerned about the company's continued investment in fossil fuel expansion."
The environmental group Greenpeace UK has warned BP could expect "pushback and challenge at every turn if it doubles down on fossil fuels – not just from green campaigners but from its own shareholders".
Senior climate adviser Charlie Kronick said: "Government policies will also need to prioritise renewable power, and as extreme weather puts pressure on insurance models –policymakers will be looking to fossil fuel profits as a way to fund extreme weather recovery. BP might want to seriously put the brakes on this U-turn."
AJ Bell analyst Russ Mould said this was one of the most significant moments for BP in the last four or five years.
"Other energy companies have been clearer about their intentions thus far than BP," he said.
"They need to prove to people that after a difficult operational and share price performance compared to their peers, that they're looking to do something about it, not just let things drift along, he added.
BP has already placed its offshore wind business in a joint venture with Japanese company Jera and is looking to find a partner to do the same with its solar business.
The refocus on oil and gas could also see sales of other businesses in order to get "non-core stuff off the books" as insiders describe it.
It is over 20 years since former chief executive Lord John Browne said BP could stand for "Beyond Petroleum" as he launched the company's first tentative moves away from oil and gas.
Today's strategy shift could be dubbed "Back to Petroleum" –to the delight of some shareholders and to the dismay of others.
Both BP and Elliott management declined to comment. (BBC News)
US, Ukraine agree to terms of critical minerals deal
The United States and Ukraine have agreed on the terms of a draft minerals deal central to Kyiv's push to win Washington's support as President Donald Trump seeks to rapidly end the war with Russia, two sources with knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday.
A source familiar with the contents of the draft agreement said that it does not specify any US security guarantees or continued flow of weapons, but says that the United States wants Ukraine to be “free, sovereign and secure”.
One of the sources familiar with the deal said future weapons shipments are still being discussed between Washington and Kyiv.
Trump told reporters that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wants
to come to Washington on Friday to sign a "very big deal". This came after the two leaders exchanged hostile words last week.
The US President, who has cast the deal as a repayment for billions of dollars in aid to Kyiv, also said some form of peacekeeping troops are needed in Ukraine if an agreement to end the conflict is struck. Moscow, which launched an invasion of Ukraine three years ago, has refused to accept any deployment of NATO forces.
Some European countries have said they would be willing to send peacekeeping forces to Ukraine. Trump said on Monday that Moscow would accept such peacekeepers, but the Kremlin denied that on Tuesday.
Trump's rush to impose an end to Russia's war in
Countries tell Ukraine ''you are not alone'' after UN adopts neutral stance on war
Dozens of countries rallied behind Ukraine at a meeting at the United Nations in Geneva on Tuesday, a day after the UN Security Council adopted a US.drafted resolution that takes a neutral stance on the conflict.
The event, held to commemorate "resistance to the Russian aggression", follows the resolution adopted in New York on the war's third anniversary that reflects President Donald Trump's upending of US policy on Ukraine and his more conciliatory stance to-
wards Russia.
"You are not alone. Norway and other countries, all the countries who are here, but also other countries, will continue to support you as you fight for your territorial integrity, your sovereignty and your human dignity," Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik told a packed room of Ministers and diplomats. Thousands of Ukrainian citizens have died since Russia invaded in 2022 and more than six million are refugees abroad. (Excerpt from Reuters)
After trade dispute, Mexico officially bans the planting of GM corn
Mexico's Lower House of Congress on Tuesday approved a constitutional reform to ban the planting of genetically modified (GM) corn, a move that could lead to more tension with the United States after the resolution of a trade dispute, analysts said.
The initiative by President Claudia Sheinbaum comes after a trade-dispute panel ruled in December that Mexico's restrictions on GM corn, mostly imported from the United States, violate the US-MexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA).
As a result of the USMCA panel ruling, Mexico repealed its import restrictions on GM corn for human, livestock, and industrial uses. Mexico, the birthplace of
modern corn, had already prohibited the commercial planting of GM corn strains, arguing they will contaminate native strains of the grain, but Sheinbaum pledged to officially prohibit the planting of GM corn within its territory via the Constitution.
With Sheinbaum's reform approved with 409 votes in favour and 69 against, native corn is branded as an "element of national identity" and GM corn is officially banned from being planted in Mexico.
"Any other use of genetically-modified corn must be evaluated ... to be free of threats to the biosecurity, health and biocultural heritage of Mexico and its population," the text of the reform states. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Ukraine and his lurch toward Moscow has stoked fears of far-reaching US concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin that could undermine security in Ukraine and Europe and alter the geopolitical landscape.
Trump last week falsely called Zelenskiy an unpopular "dictator" who needed to cut a quick peace deal or lose his country. The Ukrainian leader said the US President was living in a "disinformation bubble". (Excerpt from Reuters)
Haiti gangs launch deadly attack on capital's Delmas neighbourhood
Armed gangs launched a fresh attack on Haiti's capital before dawn on Tuesday, killing residents in the Delmas 30 neighbourhood and causing more residents to flee as gangs continue to operate unchecked in the Caribbean nation.
More than one million Haitians – close to 10 per cent of the Caribbean's most populous country – have been internally displaced due to a years-long conflict in which well-funded and broadly-allied armed gangs have expanded and cemented their control over much of the capital and surrounding areas.
Police did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
"We haven't slept since the day before yesterday because everyone was panicking," said local resident Alex Josue, saying he believed around 15 persons had been killed.
"I have a friend who sells meat at the Delmas 30 market and they burned him in front of his child," he said. "A woman who lived very close to me was taken with her child, and they burned them."
"I don't know whether to go up or down, left or right," added Josue. "Wherever the gangs go, we run."
Local rights group RNDDH's programme director Rosy Auguste Ducena said her organisation was not yet able to estimate a death count, but there were reports of several people being killed or shot at, and several houses set on fire.
"According to the information we've received, the armed gangs are on the rampage. They attack several areas at the same time, and it's always the same modus operandi: murder, arson, gunshot wounds, rape, and so on," Ducena said. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Then Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy meet at Trump Tower in New York City, US, September 27, 2024 (Reuters/Shannon Stapleton photo)
Residents of Delmas 30 neighbourhood flee their homes due to gang violence, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, February 25, 2025 (Reuters/ Jean Feguens Regala photo)
Today is not the time to engage in arguments or to let anyone test your patience. While working diligently to declutter your life, take a long, hard look at how you want to direct your energy.
Strengthen your ties with the people who matter to you. Refrain from letting emotional situations control your mind. Put yourself and your needs first.
You'll meet with opposition. Refuse to let anyone put you in a vulnerable position. Saying yes when you know you should decline will cause tension between you and your loved ones.
Raise the bar and study how to outmaneuver any competitor. You have the edge to get ahead if you are willing to step outside the norm. Use the element of surprise to your advantage.
Look at trends and consider modifying how you present yourself. Updating your skills or qualifications and taking a heartfelt approach to handling money, emotions and health matters will make a difference.
Note who's watching from the sidelines. You want to send the right impression. Stick to facts and figures, and call on experts when necessary to avoid sticky situations.
Think big, but budget wisely. How you handle matters will be important. You don't have to impress anyone; enforcing moderation, insight and ingenuity will give you the wiggle room you need.
Change will beckon, but before making a move, determine if your decisions are coming from a place of emotion or reason. Socialize, communicate, pick experts' brains and think about what's best and right for you.
Work toward a goal, but don't take shortcuts. A domestic problem will spin out of control if it becomes impossible to find common ground with the people you're dealing with.
The opportunity to get ahead is within reach. Put your energy into partnerships, your home environment and how you earn your living. Protect yourself against injury and health risks.
Be open with your allies and secretive with those prying into your affairs. Look for alternatives that you can quickly implement if the going gets tough.
Standing alone isn't necessary, but knowing how to pick your allies is. Walk away from those who lead you astray. Focus on expanding your vision through learning from and communicating with people.
ARCHIE
Jonassen has scored her maiden WPL fifty
Delhi Capitals (DC)
seamers shared seven wickets before Jess Jonassen's unbeaten 61 off 32 balls made short work of the chase to give her side a six-wicket win over Gujarat Giants (GG).
The result has lifted DC to the top of the points table, at least for the time being, with three wins from five outings. GG remain rooted to the bottom with one victory from four matches.
When Meg Lanning put GG in after winning the toss, she hoped for early wickets, and Marizanne Kapp and Shikha Pandey did not disappoint. They each took two in the powerplay and reduced GG to 20 for 4. It soon became 60 for 6, and it looked like GG might not even cross 100, but Bharti Fulmali's 40 not out off 29 balls from #8 steered them to 127 for 9. DC lost Meg Lanning early in the
chase, but Jess Jonassen, promoted to #3, added 74 with Shafali Verma in just 6.1 overs to kill the contest. When Kapp hit the winning boundary, there were still 29 balls left in the match.
Kapp, Pandey leave Giants powerless As she often does, Kapp got the ball to consistently shape away from right-hand batters. Harleen Deol, opening the innings, nicked one such delivery, but the edge fell just short of Lanning at first slip. Deol could not enjoy her luck for long, as Kapp induced another outside edge in her next over. This time the ball carried comfortably into the gloves of Sarah Bryce.
Phoebe Litchfield, who had replaced Laura Wolvaardt in the XI, lasted just three balls before Kapp trapped her lbw for a duck.
Kapp's double-wicket maiden left GG on 16 for 2 after four overs. In the next over, Pandey made it far worse with wickets on back-to-back deliveries.
Beth Mooney had started the over by crunching Pandey through the covers for four.
Pandey switched to around the wicket, and found immediate success, as Mooney's pick-up shot landed into Niki Prasad's hands at long leg.
Deandra Dottin on the pull, and hit her on the helmet. After a concussion check, Dottin flat-batted the next ball down the ground for four. In the next over, she repeated the shot against Kapp for the same result. Those boundaries lent the score some respectability, as GG finished the powerplay on 31 for 4.
Fulmali leads the fightback
In the ninth over, Titas Sadhu castled Ashleigh Gardner, the GG captain and in-form batter, for 3 off 9 balls; and two overs later, Annabel Sutherland put an end to Dottin's counterattack. However, Fulmali, playing her first game of the season, led the fight-
Pandey and Prasad combined again in the next delivery to see the back of Kashvee Gautam, whose attempted pull from well outside off stump skied towards deep midwicket. Prasad ran in and dived forward to complete a low catch.
For the hat-trick ball, Pandey went short again. She beat
Shafali Verma struck a few boundaries in the powerplay
back, and in the 15th over, she pulled Minnu Mani over deep square leg for the first six of the innings.
Along with Tanuja Kanwar, Fulmani added 51 in 40 balls for the seventh wicket, and steered the side past 120.
Lanning's diminishing returns Lanning is the second-highest run-getter in the WPL. But apart from her 69 against UP Warriorz, she has struggled this season, and Tuesday was no different.
After being beaten by Dottin in the opening over, she tried to pull Gautam, but the ball came back in sharply to flatten her off stump. She made 3 off 13
balls. It has been a case of diminishing returns for Lanning. In the 2023 season, she scored 345 runs at an average of 49.28 and a strike rate of 139.11. The following season, while her runs’ tally remained almost the same, her strike rate dropped to 123.04. This time, her numbers read: 109 runs from five innings, at an average of 21.80 and a strike rate of 103.80.
Jonassen, Shafali kill the game DC's move to send Jonassen at #3 paid off handsomely, especially with one square boundary being significantly shorter than the other - 51 metres vs 63 metres.
When the shorter boundary was on Jonassen's leg side, she scored 23 runs off eight balls in that region, including both her sixes. She was aggressive against every bowler. Her lowest strike rate was against Gautam, off whom she scored 15 runs off nine deliveries at a strike rate of 166.66.
Shafali preferred the leg side, irrespective of which side the shorter boundary was on. Of her 44 runs off 27 balls, 32 came on the leg side. When Gardner trapped her lbw in the ninth over, DC had reached 88.
Jonassen brought up her maiden WPL fifty off 26 balls. Even though DC lost Jemimah Rodrigues and Sutherland cheaply, their win was never in doubt.
(ESPNCricinfo)
Harleen Deol c †Bryce
b Kapp 5 Phoebe Litchfield lbw
b Kapp 0
Ashleigh Gardner (c)
b Sadhu 3 Kashvee Gautam c Prasad
b Pandey 0
Deandra Dottin
b Sutherland 26
Tanuja Kanwar run out (Shafali
Verma/Mani) 16
Bharti Fulmali not out 40
Simran Shaikh c Lanning
b Sutherland 5 Meghna Singh
b Jonassen 0 Priya Mishra not out 1
Extras (lb 12, w 9) 21
Total 20 Ov (RR: 6.35) 127/9
Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Harleen Deol, 3.1 ov), 2-16 (Phoebe Litchfield, 3.4 ov), 3-20 (Beth Mooney, 4.2 ov), 4-20 (Kashvee Gautam, 4.3 ov), 5-41 (Ashleigh Gardner, 8.1 ov), 6-60 (Deandra Dottin, 10.5 ov), 7-111 (Tanuja Kanwar, 17.3 ov), 8-121 (Simran Shaikh, 18.6 ov), 9-122 (Meghna Singh, 19.4 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Shikha Pandey 3-0-18-2
Marizanne Kapp 4-1-17-2
Titas Sadhu 2-0-15-1
Jess
Bharti Fulmali hit a few lusty blows
Kashvee Gautam struck in the powerplay
Marizanne Kapp accounted for Harleen Deol and Phoebe Litchfield in the fourth over
Tage returns as GCB names fourth-round squad West Indies Championships…
The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) on Tuesday afternoon confirmed the return of opening batsman Tagenarine Chanderpaul to the Guyana Harpy Eagles squad for Round 4 of the West Indies Championships 2025, after a split webbing had kept him out of Round 3.
The announcement of the team’s 13-member squad for Round 4, to face the Jamaica Scorpions, came hours after GHE Captain Tevin Imlach related during a captain’s press conference
that ‘Tage’ is likely to return.
The GHE squad for Round 4 reads: Captain Tevin Imlach, Vice-Captain Kemol Savory, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Matthew Nandu, Kevlon Anderson, Kevin Sinclair, Ronaldo AliMohamed, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie, Nial Smith, Thaddeus Lovell, Richie Looknauth and Raymond Perez.
The team will be under the watchful eye of Head Coach Ryan Hercules, Assistant Coach Garvin Nedd, Manager Albert
Clements, Physiotherapist Marvin, and Strength and Condition Coach Jaryl Moore.
According to the GCB, with a well-balanced team of experienced and emerging talents, the table leaders and defending champions, Harpy Eagles, would look to retain their title.
The Harpy Eagles will be travelling to Jamaica next week, where they will be taking on the hosts at Sabina Park in Kingston. The match will bowl off on Wednesday, March 5.
Persaud shines at ANSA McAL Pre-Mash Golf Tournament
The Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) was abuzz with anticipation on Saturday, February 22, as golfers and spectators gathered for the prestigious ANSA McAL Pre-Mash Golf Tournament. This annual event, a cornerstone in the local golfing calendar, again delivered a thrilling spectacle of
a Gross of 69, Handicap of 3, and Net of 66 in a performance that left spectators in awe.
His mastery over the greens did not stop there, because he also claimed both the Best Gross and Longest Drive
many more years to come.”
As ANSA McAL continues to enhance the local golfing landscape, it also brings world-class premium spirits to Guyana. Among its most distinguished offerings is Glenmorangie Whiskey, an
skill, sportsmanship and camaraderie.
Seasoned golfer Avinash Persaud showcased an extraordinary display of precision and expertise in securing the championship with
Harvey shines again as young boxers battle
It was another action-packed day at the Pepsi-sponsored Michael Parris U16 Boxing Championships, held over the weekend at the Andrew “Six Head” Lewis Gym in Albouystown, Georgetown.
Young pugilists from various gyms across Guyana stepped into the ring and traded leather in a showcase of emerging talent staged by the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA).
Among the standouts was Ken Harvey of the Andrew Lewis Gym (ALG), who again proved his dominance by earning an impressive win over Josiah Thambaran, the Referee being forced to stop the contest.
His performance earned him the Best Boxer award, making it the second consecutive time he has claimed this honour, having won it in last month’s inaugural edition of this tournament for 2025.
Harvey’s impressive form is a promising sign as he prepares to represent Guyana at the Caribbean Championships this weekend in St Lucia.
The night began with an unfortunate withdrawal in Bout #1, as Aaron Fileen
of the Vergenoegen Boxing Gym (VBG) was unable to face Junior Madray (ALG). However, the remaining bouts delivered excitement and intensity.
In Bout #2 (42-45kg), Isiah Ashby (ALG) overwhelmed Rose Hall Jammers’ Jiroeh Mannie (RHJ), forcing the referee to stop the contest.
The trend continued in Bout #5 (53-57kg) when Lennox Lawrence (ALG) proved too much for Cort Mahase.
Isiah Nurse (RHJ) added to the streak of stoppages by taking down Saheed Giddens
(RHJ) in Bout #6 (52-55kg).
Other notable victories included Jadon Fileen (VBG) outpointing Kevin Johnson (ALG) in Bout #3 (48-51kg); Ronaldo Hunte (ALG) securing a win over Nicholas Cameron (RHJ) in Bout #8 (65-69kg); and Jofes Jackson defeating Chaka Stephens (ALG) on points in Bout #10 (74-77kg).
A particularly tough battle unfolded in Bout #9 (67-70kg) between Simeon Haymer (ALG) and Jeremiah Arthur (RHJ), but it ended with Haymer winning via unanimous decision.
Andrew Lewis Gym has again stamped its authority on the tournament, taking home the Best Gym Award after several impressive victories. With Harvey leading the charge, ALG continues to showcase some of Guyana’s most promising young boxing talent.
With the dust having settled on another thrilling day of youth boxing, all eyes now turn to the Caribbean Championships in St. Lucia, where Harvey and his teammates will be looking to carry their momentum on to the regional stage.
awards, further cementing his dominance in the tournament.
Hot on his heels was Sheldon Davis, who posted a commendable Gross of 91, Handicap of 24, and Net of 67; while the ever-consistent Bridgelall Harry rounded out the top three with a Gross of 83, Handicap of 14, and Net of 69.
The competition was fierce, and the tournament was a testament to the depth of talent within Guyana’s golfing fraternity. Adding to the excitement, Patrick Prashad was recognized for his precision and flair; he earned the Nearest to Pin and Best Dressed accolades, and proved that golf is not only a game of skill, but also of style and finesse.
In expressing profound gratitude to ANSA McAL and all participants, LGC President Anasha Ally emphasised the tournament’s role in fostering community spirit and promoting the sport.
“We are immensely grateful to ANSA McAL, especially Troy Cadogan, whose unwavering support continues to elevate our club. This tournament is a celebration of passion and excellence, and we deeply appreciate the dedication of our staff in maintaining the course in pristine condition,” she said.
ANSA McAL Managing Director Troy Cadogan, in underscoring the company’s commitment to developing golf in Guyana, declared, “It is truly inspiring to see such a fantastic turnout, particularly with so many new faces embracing the game. ANSA McAL remains steadfast in its support of this tournament, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership with LGC for
epitome of craftsmanship and sophistication.
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As the sun set over the picturesque greens of the Lusignan Golf Club on that Saturday evening, the ANSA McAL Pre-Mash Golf Tournament again reaffirmed its reputation as an event that blends competition with camaraderie, attracting both seasoned professionals and enthusiastic newcomers.
Whether a veteran player or a curious observer, there is no better time than during a tournament such as this to experience the magic of golf at Lusignan Golf Club.
A look at the victorious pugilists after the Pepsi/Mike Parris competition
The victorious Avinash Persaud (left) receiving his prize
The Winners’ Row following ANSA McAL’s Pre-Mash tournament
The Guyana Harpy Eagles will be looking to bounce back from their rain-influenced draw in Round 3
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA will soon welcome another Guyanese track star, 17-year- old Athaleyha Hinckson having been announced as the Louisiana State University’s newest signing on a full ride scholarship.
It comes as no surprise, since, in 2024, Hinckson had not only clinched gold at the CARIFTA U17 100M event and silver in the 200M, but months later, the then 16- year-old became the South American U20 100M champion.
The sprint sensation has already begun 2025 on a positive note, racing to 7.39s in a 60M event at the Millrose Games in New York to set a new South American U18 record.
Her scholarship having been announced by LSU Track and Field Head Coach Dennis Shaver last week, an excited Hinckson has described this development as surreal to be heading to such an esteemed university.
“I’m super, super excited and I’m relieved, knowing that I’ve locked it down! This will be my future college for the next four years, but none of this could’ve happened without my coach, Coach Julian, and everybody else: my mentors, all my clubmates, my family, and everybody that pushed me to this limit and always saw my potential. They made me who I am today, and the hard work has paid off, and now I’m in a D1 University. It didn’t go to waste, and I will continue to make everybody proud,” Hinckson shared with this publication.
She added, “It’s honestly a great feeling knowing that I will be an addition to such an amazing team. It’s an honour, and honestly a hug motivation that so many Olympians or highend athletes have been through that same path and now I’m here and I will be one of them, I will be an Olympian. So, it’s surreal, but it’s a great push to have.”
The current Medgar Evers College Prep student, when asked about her goals for the 4 years ahead, expressed an intention to leave a legacy at LSU alongside Olympic dreams.
“My goal when I’m at LSU is just to keep pushing, just keep going, keep improving, mark my name; most importantly, break records if I have to. Just go and just be better,” she disclosed.
Hinckson has also said of her long-term plans, “Yes, getting to the Olympics is already on my mind; I will be working towards it. I really want to be out there to represent my country.”
Approximately 2 months ago, Hinckson’s Guyanese clubmate at Running Brave, Malachi Austin, began his journey at LSU, and Hinckson highlighted that it will be great to have a familiar face in Louisiana.
“It’s a great feeling knowing that one of my fellow clubmates will be in the same space as me; knowing that we have the same track and cultural background; that we’ll be coming from the same club. It’s great that I have a piece of home left. We can continue to push and motivate each other to make everyone back home proud,” the teenager explained.
The teenager also had some advice for athletes in Guyana who are up-and-coming and have similar dreams. “My advice to all the younger athletes that are looking up to me is to keep pushing; the sky is the limit. Work hard for what you want, and you will see success. Even if it’s 5 months, 6 months or a year from now, it will happen, cause it takes time. Your time is coming soon, and most importantly, never underestimate yourself or others.”
President Ali appointed new Chairman of Caricom Sub-Committee on Cricket
– Appointment pleases Sir Clive
est Indian cricket legend Sir Clive Lloyd has expressed support for the appointment of Guyana’s President, Dr Mohammed Irfaan Ali, as new Chairman of the Caricom Sub-Committee on
Dr Ali is replacing outgoing Chairman Dr Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, who announced his departure on Friday during the conclusion of the 48th Caricom Heads of Government meeting in Barbados.
“I welcome Dr Ali’s appointment to this crucial and strategic post in our cricket team,” Sir Clive told journalist Philip Spooner in an article. “He has shown a profound love for the game, and a clear understanding of what is needed to advance it.”
Sir Clive, who captained the West Indies to World Cup titles in 1975 and 1979, is urging Dr Ali to focus on grassroots and pathway programmes.
In emphasizing the importance of rebuilding West Indies cricket to reclaim its status on the world stage, Sir Clive has said, “We must reestablish ourselves as a major force in cricket.”
Lloyd is also calling for a renewed emphasis on club and school cricket in the region. (Sportsmax)
Junior Lady Jags needle Haiti to secure berth in U20 Championships
Redemption was written in the stars for Guyana’s national women’s under-20 team the Junior Lady Jags on Tuesday morning, they having edged old foes Haiti to qualify for the CONCACAF Women’s U20 Championships.
After a nil-all score at the half, Myanne Fernandes drove into the 18-yard box in the second segment, and beat the diving Haitian goalkeeper to register the game-winning goal.
That brilliant passage of play has enabled Guyana to complete the Group stage
unbeaten, with 7 points from 3 games; while Haiti finished second with 6 points from two wins and a loss.
The 2025 CONCACAF Women’s U20 Championships are scheduled to be contested in May at a venue to be determined. The format of the Championships would see the eight competing teams being split into two groups of four each. After round-robin play, the group winners and runners-up would advance to the Semifinals and automatically qualify to participate in the 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s
World Cup in Poland. Additionally, the semifinal winners would advance to the Final, where the champion will be crowned. This will be Guyana’s third outing at the event since debuting at the Qualifiers in 2002. Guyana’s best run at the Championships came in 2020, when they reached the quarterfinal round but were stopped in their tracks by Haiti -- Melchie Dumornay having netted a hattrick for the Haitian side to cause them to advance to the semifinal ahead of Guyana in a 3-0 affair.
President Dr Irfaan Ali
Sir Clive Lloyd
Athaleyha Hinckson is excited to wear the purple and gold on a regular basis
