The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, April 9 –03:00h-04:30h and Thursday, April 10 – 03:30h-05:00h.
– 15:00h-16:30h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
“You
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n the wake of a rapidly escalating situation in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) that has left two men dead and several police officers injured, President Irfaan Ali travelled to the mining town Tuesday evening to meet privately with the families of the victims. The visit came as unrest intensified following the police shooting of 21-year-old Ronaldo Peters and 32-yearold Keon Fogenay, triggering mass protests and national concern.
The President met with the families at Watooka House, where he offered his condolences and emphasised the need for calm and compassion during what he described as a “deeply painful” time.
“To the families, you have my love and prayers,” President Ali stated before the meeting, which was held behind closed doors at the request of the relatives. “There
Mayor Sharma Solomon, who has taken an active role in the unfolding situation. However, President Ali expressed disappointment with the Mayor’s approach, hinting at tensions over the handling of the crisis.
“I want to sit with you and let us come up with a solu-
that the situation is wrong and the community needs justice”.
He further went on to state that “we know that there is action being taken. This is what we want swift action being taken”.
The President’s visit fol-
are children, parents, mothers involved… An engagement with the family is the most important thing right now.”
His brief public statement was streamed live by Linden
tion that adds value to you, things that will be meaningful, things that will be helpful for your families and the community that is what I want to assure you and that is what I am here for this evening,” the Guyanese Leader said.
Following the private meeting with President Ali, the family of 21-year-old Ronaldo Peters has called on the public, particularly the residents of the township to “keep the peace”.
The call was made by Peter’s cousin who assured that “the family met with the President, and the President has pledged his full support for the entire family and justice will be served in the situation”.
Another relative however, of the late 32-year-old Keon Fogenay has revealed that “President assured that there will be no bias within the investigation… understanding
lowed a tragic turn of events in the mining town, where protests erupted after the alleged police killing of Ronaldo Peters, a young resident of Wismar. Peters was reportedly shot by a police officer stationed at the Wismar Police Station, prompting widespread anger and street demonstrations demanding justice.
Less than 24 hours later, protests escalated dramatically. As demonstrators set fires and blocked major routes, another man — Keon “Dan” Fogenay, a 32-year-old father of four — was fatally shot by police during a confrontation where protestors hurdled missiles at the police. According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the shooting occurred during an attempt to disperse protestors who had turned violent, throwing missiles and damaging property.
Dead: 21-year-old Ronaldo Peters (left) and 32-year-old Keon Fogenay
President Dr Irfaan Ali meeting with the families of the two men who were fatally shot by Police
Technical and vocational education
Dear Editor,
The rapid development in all sectors of Guyana’s economy is being impeded by an acute shortage of labour, especially skilled labour.
One big construction company says that it has vacancies for over 100 jobs, including unskilled, and is finding it hard to fill these slots.
Another company say it cannot get even unskilled labour to work on a regular basis, and that it might have to seek approval from Government to import labour from overseas. The estimate of labour shortage for the next 5 years ranges from 50,000 to 100,000. The latter figure was cited by Guyana’s Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud (Guyana Daily Business: 14/8/24).
The Ministry of Labour, recognizing this massive labour shortage, has sharpened focus on tech-
nical training at its Board of Industrial Training (BIT) unit to help close the skilled labour shortage gap. Simultaneously, a crucial responsibility of the Labour Ministry is to strive to support a healthy industrial relations climate to facilitate the country’s social and economic transformation (SET). Towards this goal, the Ministry vetted and countersigned 102 Collective Labour Agreements (CLAs) between employers and employees from 2020 to 2024.
Building upon a stable industrial relations climate, the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) has conducted 653 courses from 2020-2024. These are critical for the country’s SET, and Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton has expounded on the need for the University of Guyana (UG), for example, to reconfigure its curriculum to embrace the skills set needed by SET. He says
UG should produce graduates with qualifications compatible with the country’s development thrust, and which are marketable. If graduates’ qualifications are not marketable, they would become frustrated, even demoralised, and inclined to emigrate.
The courses for each of the 10 regions may vary according to the needs of the regions. So far (20202024) 12,765 (M: 5077; F: 7688) Guyanese have been trained. Females comprise 60% of graduates, compared with 40% of males. This is the pattern nationwide as proportionately more females tend to graduate compared with males at (i) secondary schools, (ii) University of Guyana; and (iii) Teachers’ Training College (CPCE). At BIT, female graduates outnumber males in such areas as: photovoltaics installation, information technology, social
work, occupational health and safety, shade house farming, garment construction, early childhood development, data operation, cosmetology, agro-processing, and commercial food preparation.
Skills training is also provided by other organizations, including the private sector. The US$13 million Oil and Gas Facility (Simulator) under the administration of the Guyana Technical Training College (GTTC) is a joint venture of the Guyana Government and ExxonMobil and partners. This facility is dedicated to training in: mechanical, instrumentation, electrical, and production. The US$7.2 million Hospitality and Tourism Training Institute (HTTI), funded by the Government and the Caribbean Development Bank, is under construction at Port Mourant, and would be ad-
ministered by the GTTC. Government expects to create 50,000 jobs in this sector (2/17/24) in the next few years.
GuySuCo’s training school at Port Mourant would be upgraded. Also, the Ministry of Education administers the TVET (Technical and Vocational Education Training) programme that includes the Government Technical Institutes. TVET trains about 4,000 students per year in various skills. The Ministry of Agriculture has its own training programs run by the Guyana School of Agriculture and by NAREI (National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute). Other Government Ministries and agencies have their own technical training programs.
How do we get an insight into the impact of these programs? For the BIT train-
ing, the Ministry of Labour has employed tracer studies, which have shown that BIT students did not only enhance or acquire new skills, but also improved their employment prospects. Before BIT training, out of a sample of 226, 56% were gainfully employed, 13% were studying, and 31% were unemployed. After BIT training, 73% are employed, 8% continue studying, and 19% unemployed. In the public sector, 43% of BIT graduates are employed, while 26% work in the private sector. No response on employment status was received from 31% (70) of the graduates in the sample.
Technical and vocational education, including AI technology, are given high priority in the furtherance of the country’s socio-economic transformation.
Regards, Dr Tara Singh
A treaty with America would eliminate USA tariff
Dear Editor,
Reference is made to the editorial (GT Apr 6) on President Trump’s (38%) tariff on imports from Guyana. It would have a significant impact on sales of products exported to USA, and by extension the economy, including GDP, foreign exchange, and jobs, among other factors. One way to address it is to engage America to address reasons for the tariff and address them, and another solution is to enter into a treaty with USA.
A tariff is a kind of a sanction against Guyana for ‘unfair trading’ practices, as defined by the President. Tariffs create uncertainty in the market, and by extension in the economy. There is a ripple effect on the economy in the importing as well as exporting country.
Tariff is a tax on imports that result in higher prices – done as a form of trade retaliation to bring about equal trade terms; to discourage imports; to raise revenues, especially for poor countries; to protect local industries from foreign competition; to redistribute money from consumers towards local producers; among other reasons. Tariff is generally borne by consumers in the importing country rather than importers (wholesalers and retailers) or the producers of the exporting country. The tariff, according to various studies, is generally passed on to consumers. That is one way of having rising prices.
American total imports from Guyana are negligible (leaving out oil, which has not been tariffed) in terms of overall American
imports, with a few items valued at a few million dollars, and therefore tariffs would have almost nil effect on USA (among American consumers, most of who are Guyanese Americans) but major effect on Guyana in terms of exports and the overall economy. Tariffs generally result in higher prices of goods, and as such, will likely result in reduced American purchase (and by extension lower imports) which will significantly impact Guyana. Businesses will earn less revenues, negatively impacting government taxes, and jobs would be on the line. American businesses that import from Guyana will also be affected – tariff may lead to less American imports, less revenues, less taxes for the treasury, and probably loss of jobs.
World trade data suggests that Guyanese exports to USA account for some 23% of Guyana’s GDP (unclear if oil is included). Guyana has the largest export and import in dollar value to/from America. Guyanese imports from USA will not be affected because Guyana has not retaliated with higher tariffs. And with the economy rapidly growing, imports will increase for industries and consumption. GDP will be affected by lower exports but balanced off with increased imports.
At any rate, although our exports are small for USA economy, overall American tariff would significantly affect the Guyanese economy. With American imports from Guyana so small, and depending on the products imported, the President
Trump tariff itself may not affect American demand for Guyanese goods, and as such Guyana could escape with little fall out in exports and imperceptible effect on GDP.
But small changes can disrupt our economy. Guyana can’t afford to ignore the Trump tariff. Guyana is worse off with
tariffs, as they reduce demand for foreign goods. That can create political challenges for our country and make it difficult to build on friendly relations with America. Guyana should try to find a way to address the tariff issue through negotiation and treaty with USA. One suggestion offered by a group of Guyanese Americans is
for a friendship treaty with USA, or a linkage (to be negotiated) with America that automatically deters any kind of tariffs by Guyana on American products and vice versa. (Such a treaty could lead to American protection of Guyana from Venezuelan threats). When tariffs are removed from American imports in Guyana, goods are
cheaper; people can afford to have a better lifestyle with the same amount of money they currently earn. So, Guyana can also consider reducing tariffs on imports which would lead to an elimination or reduction of American tariffs.
Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
Local Content Summit 2025
Govt will overhaul financial system, strengthen local content laws – Pres Ali
…says some companies still trying to dodge Local Content Act
President Dr Irfaan Ali
The Local Content Summit 2025 opened on Tuesday at the Marriott Hotel, with President Dr Irfaan Ali making it clear that the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) government will be strengthening not only its local content laws, but also overhauling Guyana’s financial systems.
During the opening of the Local Content Summit, the Head of State outlined his administration’s vision for creating an even more enabling environment for small and medium sized businesses, to expand their operations.
These plans include a complete overhaul of the financial systems, with the aim of helping companies to reinvest their profits into the local economy and for local businesses to expand. When it comes to the financial systems, President Ali noted that this will also include introducing an e-payment platform by year end.
“Growing wealth and creating prosperity, is not only about your businesses winning. It’s about your em-
ployees winning with your businesses. And creating an enabling environment in which employees must win with you. So that they’ll deliver better every day.”
“Regulations and the financial system. We’re going to have a complete overhaul of our financial system. We have to modernize the financial architecture. We have to have a payment platform by the end of this year, where you can make payment anywhere across the country, by sitting in your home. All of that will come on stream,” President Ali said.
Back in February, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo had revealed that the Government is currently working to modernize the country’s financial sector in alignment with modern standards. This is particularly important with the plans to introduce new technologies and the use of digital currency.
Once this overhaul is completed, Jagdeo had noted that the Government will branch into new avenues like cryptocurrency,
provided that the appropriate safeguards could be found and instituted.
Local Content Act
At the summit, President Ali also acknowledged that there are still efforts to undermine the Local Content Act. According to President Ali, however, the govt is committed to continuing to strengthen the law.
“We are proud of what we’ve achieved so far. But we’re not naive. We know that challenges remain. There are still attempts to exploit legal loopholes.
There are still some who seek to undermine the spirit, if not the letter, of the local content Act. We will not stand idly by. We will continue to strengthen enforcement. And to close any gaps that are being abused.”
“It is also gross misrepresentation to suggest that local content legislation is protectionist. It is not. Local content is an instrument of national development. It is not about shielding inefficiency or denying competition. Rather, it is about ensuring that the playing field is not just level, but accessi-
ble,” he added.
The Local Content Act mandates penalties for oil and gas companies and their sub-contractors who fail to meet the minimum targets of the legislation, as well as those who are in breach of the Act.
These fines range from as low as $5 million to as high as $50 million. Over the past few years, there have been concerns surrounding companies seeking ways around the law, such as through fronting in order to qualify as a local company.
The Local Content Summit is an annual event that brings together policymakers, regulatory bodies, industry experts, investors and representatives from the local private sector, as they discuss critical issues affecting the oil and gas sector and seek out opportunities for partnership.
The organizers of the event include MBW Energy Support Services Inc. and Prestige Management Consultants, in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Local Content Secretariat.
“You have my love and prayers”...
Independent & professional probe
Early Tuesday morning, protestors flooded the streets of Linden blocking off several major throughfares, and setting ablaze tires and other debris in the town, following a police shooting incident which led to the demise of a 21-year-old young man.
Head of state of state President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday as part of efforts to ease the growing tension in the mining town has assured residents of Linden that there will be a full and professional investigation into the man’s death at the hands of the Police.
“They have assured me that all the legal steps in dealing with this matter must and will be followed. The Police is under arrest. The Office of Professional Responsibility is undertaking their investigations and I am asking that whatever external support may be needed, that that support is sought to ensure that all parties, and
all stakeholders are comfortable with the outcome of the investigation and the process of the investigation”
Additionally, President Ali cautioned Linden residents to be mindful of narratives that may arise during this sensitive period, highlighting that the issue is one that is serious and should not be exploited politically.
“I want to say to the residents that we are going to ensure with support from independent support that this matter is dealt with profes-
sionally and this should not be exploited politically. This is not a political issue; this is a serious issue. I see the Police has issued a statement as to what were the circumstances surrounding the event and what led to the Police seeking the individual and all of that will also be investigated.”
“We must not lose sight”
Meanwhile, as the protests continued on Tuesday afternoon, the Home Affairs Ministry issued a statement
urging calm in Linden. In the statement, Home Affairs Minister, Robeson Benn expressed:
“I am calling on citizens not to allow this unfortunate event to degenerate into lawlessness, or chaos. We must not lose sight of our responsibility to each other and our communities. Let us allow the due process of law to take its course, and refrain from actions which poses serious risks to public safety.”
Additionally, Minister Benn also called on community leaders, civil society representatives, and all residents of Linden to work together in maintaining peace and order, as the investigation proceeds.
Moreover, the cops involved in the fatal shooting have been placed under close arrest as the Office of Professional Responsibility with support from the Regional Security System (RSS) investigates the situation.
Courtroom is no marketplace – Magistrate to man trying to negotiate bail
David Pierre Junior, a 34-year-old security guard charged with attempted murder, had his bail reduced on Tuesday during a virtual court appearance before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty.
Junior, who was initially granted bail in the sum of $250,000 on February 28, returned to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court via Zoom, made an emotional outburst, claiming he had been unfairly kept in prison and denied justice.
“I’ve been in here for two months. I keep asking them [the Guyana Prison Service] if I’m on bail, and they keep telling me no,” he said as he pleaded with the court.
Magistrate McGusty firmly corrected him, stating, “Sir, you’ve been on bail since February 28. You just haven’t paid the bail.”
Junior insisted that he only had access to $200,000, which he said his family could provide. He begged for a reduction, explaining that they were unable to come up with the remaining $50,000 required for his re-
lease
The Magistrate however, made it clear that the court is not a place for bargaining. “This is not a market where someone sets a price and you try to cut it down,” she told him. “I called my price, and you pick.”
However, Magistrate McGusty did lower the bail amount, shaving $25,000 off the original figure.
The charge against Junior stems from an incident on December 30, 2024, during which he allegedly wounded Anand Ramkissoon on Alexander Street, Georgetown, with intent to commit murder while in the company of another person. During his first appearance on January 4, the court was informed that police had video footage implicating Junior, and he reportedly admitted to chopping the victim.
Charged: David Pierre Junior
However, Junior has maintained that the footage was incomplete and did not show how the altercation began. He claimed he was also chopped during the incident and acted in self-defence.
At that earlier hearing, the prosecution had objected to bail on the grounds that the victim was in critical condition and the charge was a serious one. Junior was remanded at the time.
During Tuesday’s pro-
ceedings, the prosecution revealed that they were still not in possession of the case file and had not yet received the necessary statements to proceed with the matter.
The case was adjourned to May 2.
Watching…
…thebig picture
We’re living in “interesting times”, aren’t we??!! And in such times, when you’re just a blade of grass in the world order in which we find ourselvesextant or evolving - you gotta watch out for those elephants making love or war!! So, as we tie our loins to deal with the extremists who’re preparing the ground for post-elections violence, let’s spare a thought – or two – about what the elephants are up to!!
Over in Europe – the home of civilization, of all places! – the US under Trump has pulled the rug out from under its erstwhile allies, and has cozied up to the Russian Bear, that was used to scare their children for centuries!! The Ukraine War’s now in its fourth year, and notwithstanding the usual wartime braggadocio – don’t forget truth’s the first casualty of war!! – we see NATO was never winning that one!! They threw everything they had at the Ruskies – meaning hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian bodies and billions and billions of US munitions and armaments!! They received 40% of all the war materiel of the ENTIRE Western alliance – practically all from the US – but the Ruskies were still able to not only hold on to Crimea - which gave them control of the Black Sea - but the strategic depth they demanded by occupying Eastern Ukraine!!
But let’s not make too much over the fact that the Ukrainians were led by a former stand-up comic. Nazi Germany was led by a former sign-painter with a funny moustache, who did a helluva lot of damage before he was through!! Trump, however, has put him in his place – along with the EU leaders!! They’re now desperately trying to regroup under the double whammy of the Ukraine rout and the Trump tariffs!!
But while we’re worrying about European elephants, your Eyewitness knows that the Yanks under Trump haven’t forgotten about the big Dragon cavorting out in the East!! The Chinks have exploited the opening made by the Yanks against the Ruskies in the 1990s to emerge as the latter’s “Senior Partner” - by offering them more than moral support!! Even Mao - who’d chafed against the Ruskies’ paternalism back in the day - couldn’t achieve that!! But time moves on, doesn’t it?? And it’s now pretty clear the line in the sand the Chinks drew over Taiwan is soon gonna be used as the screen for a “reunification”!!
If that happens, China’s gonna be in control of 90% of the advanced semi-conductors Taiwan presently supplies to the world!! Combined with its effective control of the rareearth metals, your Eyewitness sez Trump’s US got its work cut out for in to tame the Chinese Dragon. And we won’t be allowed to stand on the sidelines!!
…capitalism for all
But we still gotta be concerned at what mayhem the Opposition’s planning for all of us here in dear Mudland –including their own supporters!! It’s clear they’ve factored in how all those billions of barrels of oil – sweet, light crude at that!! – have changed our circumstances. They’re gonna escalate playing hardball politics by rioting at the drop of a hat!! Just look at what’s happening in Linden! At a most mundane level, they’re counting on our demographics further changing with PPP supporters scooting to foreignso they can literally slip into the saddle!!
So, what’s to be done?? The PPP gotta continue doing what they’re doing – creating opportunities for the traditional Opposition supporters - read African and Coloured Guyanese – to participate fully in a capitalist economy, now that we finally have the CAPITAL!! Held back during the colonial heyday by being steered into government sinecures, and when Burnham was handed power, he simply kept them in those dead-end jobs!!
Money to the people!
…Mad Maduro
Mad Maduro seems to be following the dicta of the early 20th-century chess grandmaster Aron Nimzowitch: “The threat is stronger than the execution.” The point being made, of course, is that the threat would force an abandonment of our winning ICJ position.
The views expressed in this column are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Guyana Times’ editorial policy and stance
Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com
Ronaldo Peters’ death
Protester shot, cops injured, Govt property torched in clashes
…protesters set fire on new US$35M Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge
Less than 24 hours after 21-year-old Ronaldo Peters, a young man from Linden region 10 (Upper DemeraraUpper Berbice) was shot and killed, allegedly by a police officer attached to the Wismar Police Station, hundreds of Lindeners have fled to the streets to protest for justice.
In an unfortunate turn of events just before midday on Tuesday tensions quickly escalated between police and protestors which resulted in the death of a young man.
Dead is Keon Fogenay, commonly known as “Dan”.
According to a statement from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) police discharged rounds at the crowd in an effort to mitigate the situation where they were burning tires and destroying Government infrastructure.
As the police engaged to protesters, they were greeted with missiles. The rounds discharged at the protesters caused the demise of a protester. The ranks were placed under arrest and
Georgetown, the relative noted.
Meanwhile, the protest which initially began at around 06:00h with a small gathering at Boom Bread Corner, rapidly intensified in less than an hour with persons assembling at the Four Corner, blocking off sections of the One Mile public road.
They subsequently moved to both the existing and new US$35 million Wismar to Mackenzie bridges, setting fire to both structures – interfering with construction works as well as disrupting the transportation network.
The residents said that they were protesting for a thorough investigation into the police killing of the Linden youth, Ronaldo Peters.
Peters was shot dead at
the Office of Professional Responsibility has commenced investigations. Members of the Regional Security System (RSS) will lead an independent investigation. Several policemen were seen bleeding at the scene from injuries received at the hands of protestors.
However, a family members of 32-year-old Fogenay is claiming that he was unlawfully killed.
Fogenay, a resident of Block 22, Wismar, Linden, had just arrived in the mining town, after travelling from Georgetown. Fogenay was employed in
around 17:30h on Monday, at One Mile, Wismar, Linden. The GPF in a statement said Peters was wanted for rape. In this regard, the police said a sergeant from the Wismar Police Station received information that Peters was seen at Shabba Bar in the One Mile area. As a result, the sergeant, armed with a 9mm service pistol, and another rank, armed with a .38 service revolver, went to the location.
Upon arrival at Shabba Shop, Peters was reportedly spotted. It is alleged
that upon seeing the police ranks, he attempted to flee and tried to jump a nearby fence. According to police, the Sergeant managed to pull Peters off the fence, and during the process of restraining him, his service pistol, held in his right hand, discharged, striking Peters.
Dead: 32-year-old Keon Fogenay, also known as “Dan”
One of the officers who sustained injuries while trying to contain the crowd
After controversial court opinion
GECOM drops Legal Officer Kurt DaSilva; contract not renewed
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)
has decided to part ways with its Chief Legal Officer, Kurt DaSilva, opting not to renew his contract just over three years after he was first hired.
The decision comes a few weeks after the legal officer, who has a Master of Laws Degree in Public Law from the University of the West Indies (UWI) found himself in hot water over a legal opinion he proffered in a court case on the verification of the voters list.
That legal opinion had not been sanctioned by GECOM or Chief Election Officer (CEO) Vishnu Persaud,
prompting Persaud in the days after DaSilva submitted his opinion to publicly distance himself from his legal officer.
According to information reaching this publication, GECOM Chairperson, (Ret’d) Justice Claudette Singh, sided with the Government
nominated GECOM Commissioners, in a vote on Tuesday on whether or not to renew DaSilva’s contract, which had recently expired.
The opposition commissioners reportedly walked out of the meeting after the vote was taken.
It was further revealed that the Chairperson cited DaSilva’s legal opinion in his pleadings during the just concluded voter verification case as one of the reasons behind her decision. The decision was made even after DaSilva received an appraisal score of 98 per cent out of 100 for his work at GECOM.
The case in question, which was dismissed by acting Chief Justice Roxane George, was filed by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Chief Scrutineer Carol SmithJoseph, challenging the vot-
ers list compiled by GECOM. Smith-Joseph had taken GECOM to court, contending that the process used to compile the list violated the Local Authorities (Elections) Act, and deprived electors of the opportunity to object to names on the register of voters.
During the proceedings, DaSilva took a legal position that there should be a separate list of electors for both the Regional and General Elections, even going as far as to say that persons qualified to vote in the regional election may not necessarily be qualified to vote in the general one.
Contract not renewed, Kurt DaSilva
GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj
GECOM Chair Justice (Retired) Claudette Singh
Local Content Act 2021 still under review – Bharrat
…medical services among categories to be changed
The Local Content Act (LCA) of 2021 is still under review by the Government and its partners, with Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat assuring that a number of categories including medical services, will be strengthened to ensure Guyanese receive a larger slice of the pie.
During the Local Content Summit of 2025, the Minister gave an update on the review of the LCA of 2021. The Government has been committing itself to expanding the percentage of local services that oil and gas companies have to source. According to Bharrat, that commitment is as firm as ever.
“Yes, we agree that we have to make changes. We said it, when we started the consultation, that the 40 carve outs or the 40 areas, services that are in schedule one of the local content leg-
islations, that we’re going to add services to it and we’re going to review the targets of those 40 and the additional that will be included.”
“We are committed to that, we aren’t backpedaling. We are still working with our local and international partners and companies, to revise the schedule one. Because I think that is one of the most important components, when it comes to changing the legislation,” Bharrat said.
The Minister was adamant that of the 40 services in schedule one, enough capacity has been built to expand them. He gave as an example, medical service. Despite companies only being required to ensure 25 per cent of medical services is sourced from locals, companies have actually been going above this figure.
“We truly believe that of the 40 services that are in schedule one, we have built
more capacity over the last three years. We have built more local capacity over the last three years. So much so that I believe these services. And the President mentioned medical services.”
“Today we are almost a 100 per cent medical service provider for the oil and gas sector. And in schedule one, I think its 25 per cent. So, there’s so much adjustments we will make in the near future, with regards to the schedule,” Bharrat added.
In 2021, the LCA was passed outlining 40 different service areas that oil and gas companies and their subcontractors must procure from Guyanese and Guyaneseowned companies.
These include 90 per cent of office space rental and accommodation services; 90 per cent of janitorial services, laundry and catering services; 95 per cent pest control services; 100 per cent lo-
cal insurance services; 75 per cent local supply of food; and 90 per cent local accounting services.
Back in April 2024, Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall, SC, assured that the LCA could be put through revisions later this year to expand the carved-out areas of opportunity for Guyanese, following consultations with relevant stakeholders and further data from the Local Content Secretariat.
A review of the sector’s performance was conducted last year by the relevant authorities and according to Nandlall, once a report is forthcoming and consultations completed, Government can go ahead with revising the Act.
The AG had also explained that the Act is meant to be a living one, that is based on an elastic build as you go principle so that the legislation remains alive and
responsive to changing needs in the industry.
Since the passage of the Local Content Act in 2021, the Government has reported that more than 1,000 companies are on the local content register. In November 2024, it was reported that 1032 companies were registered with the Local Content Secretariat, meaning they are in possession of a Local Content Certificate to confirm they are a Guyanese
company and are eligible to supply oil and gas operations.
During January’s presentation of the budget, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh had revealed that the Local Content Register has now grown to over 1,100 companies. Additionally, US$743 million was spent in 2024 on local services, employment and capacity development… all of which the secretariat facilitated.
…HSSS intervened in 4,367 cases between 2022 and 2024
Two interventions focused on helping individuals recognise unhealthy relationships are set to be launched by the Ministry of Human Services within 2025.
These programmes will aim to empower individuals to identify positive relationships and provide support for leaving unhealthy ones before they reach a critical point.
Human Services Minister, Dr Vindhya Persaud revealed this at a recent public consultation and symposium at the Umana Yana on Monday.
The consultation was hosted in collaboration with the Legal Affairs Ministry, Imperial House, the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), and Child Link to mark Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Ministry will be heavily focused on counselling.
However, this does not diminish the work being done in relation to men and boys.
"Brave Circle"
Meanwhile, shifting her focus to men, the Human Services Minister highlighted that a "Brave Circle" programme is set to be launched, aimed at helping men identify and address issues related to domestic violence.
fore they head into the perpetrators stage.”
Thus, she encouraged social media influencers and people with media platforms to use them, stating that continued publicity of efforts like these can make individuals feel as though they are not alone.
According to her, what is being introduced this year are two initiatives: the (CUT programme), which speaks to relationships, and the (Para programme), which speaks to partners.
tionships and how to seek counsel for them.
The relationship programme is geared towards teaching individuals how to recognise unhealthy rela-
It will also educate them on recognising when a relationship is not right for them, ultimately teaching them that it’s okay to leave a toxic relationship.
Additionally, she relayed that the Human Services
“Two other interventions are coming up this year, focused specifically on men. And it doesn't mean that work has not been done with men and boys. The Gender Affairs Bureau (GAB), Child Care and Protection Agency (CPA), the Family Enhancement Services Unit (FESU), and the Sexual Offences Domestic Violence Unit have all been working with men and boys, forming men's groups, holding gender sessions, and addressing conflict resolution and anger management,” she said.
For 2024 alone, a significant 33 per cent reduction in domestic violence has been recorded, which is due to efforts like these being made to ensure further reduction.
“The second programme is called the Brave Circle; this comes out of the policy focused on perpetrators and the rehabilitation of at-risk people. I’m saying ‘people’ because a lot of this will focus on men, as statistics show that 94 per cent of women are affected, and 6 per cent are men in terms of the people who report to us,” she added.
She further explained, “This Brave Circle focuses on how men can identify positively and not always see themselves as a negative element or a perpetrator, and how we can work on changing behaviours among men be-
Meanwhile, the Human Services and Social Security (HSSS) Ministry, in conjunction with the University of Guyana (UG) is working on a number of initiatives aimed at addressing gaps in the delivery of social services to hinterland communities.
The collaboration will offer a training programme where people in hinterland and remote locations can benefit from employment in the social services sector, ultimately better serving the needs of those communities.
Human Services Minister Dr Vindhya Persaud
2 bandits shot dead in attempted robbery at Chinese supermarket
Two bandits were killed on Tuesday evening during an attempted robbery at a Chinese-owned supermarket on Hadfield Street, Georgetown.
Dead are Orwin Garraway and Tyrese Adams, both of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
Reports are that three men entered the Jia Jai supermarket at about 19:30h armed with a firearm, jumped over two counters to the cashier’s area. However, the men were confronted by a licensed se-
curity guard on duty. The encounter escalated quickly, resulting in both suspects being shot dead at the scene.
CCTV footage seen by this publication shows the men entering the supermarket, one attacking an employee while the other ransacked the counter obliquely opposite.
The armed security guard can be seen discharging several rounds, fatally shooting two of the three suspects.
A firearm was recovered by Police at the scene. Two other accomplices escaped.
Sophia man remanded over Albouystown robbery-murder
A25-year-old labourer from North Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was on Tuesday remanded to prison after being charged with the murder of Chandradeo Kumar Singh, a horse cart operator who was fatally shot during a brazen daylight robbery in Albouystown, Georgetown.
Prince Ian Jackman made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty where the indictable charge was formally read to him.
The court heard that on March 31, while in the company of others and armed with dangerous weapons, Jackman allegedly murdered Singh in the course or furtherance of a robbery.
The case was adjourned to a later date.
Singh, 40, of Hill Street, Albouystown was reportedly attacked around 10:30h
on March 31 while playing a game of cards with two other men outside a shop near his residence. Two suspects, said to be wearing face masks and armed with handguns, approached the group on a blue and black motorcycle, coming from the direction of Sussex Street.
The armed men reportedly discharged a round to instill fear before target-
ing Singh, who attempted to flee through an alleyway that leads to his home. However, the attackers gave chase and opened fire, striking him twice in the thighs. Singh collapsed before reaching his yard.
The assailants then relieved the injured man of a quantity of gold jewellery and a wallet reportedly containing $40,000 in cash. Eyewitnesses and neighbours, who responded moments later, assisted in carrying the bloodied Singh from the alleyway and rushed him to the hospital. Despite undergoing emergency surgery, he later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigations led by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ruimveldt Police Station subsequently resulted in Jackman being charged in connection with the murder.
The Chinese supermarket that was robbed
Chandradeo Kumar Singh
The bandits inside the supermarket
Linden shootings, protest Opposition MP urges residents to stop destroying vital infrastructure
…calls for swift justice
Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Jermaine Figueira and prominent leader in the community of Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), is demanding swift justice for the families of the two men who were killed allegedly by members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and while as residents also protest - making similar demands for swift justice - the parliamentarian is urging that they do so responsibly.
Ronaldo Peters, 21, and Keon Fogenay, 32, were killed allegedly by police officers on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
In protest of the killing of Peters, residents on Tuesday set fire to the existing Wismar/Mackenzie bridge as well as the new structure under construction.
In an interview with this publication, however, Figueira reminded citizens of the economic potential of
their community and urged that they not jeopardise it.
"I understand the state of the anger of the community but equally we have a duty and responsibility to act within the confines of the law and more so, not to destroy private and public property and more so the infrastructure," the parliamentarian said.
"I saw the bridge was on fire. Now that bridge is an important artery for transport within this region... and it serves the community of significant value and if we damage the facility and if there's an emergency on the Wismar shore for an ambulance or fire reel, how can they access the bridge if it is burnt down?"
In this regard, Figueira said "I call on the residents of Linden for us to be peaceful in our protest action, respect the laws and ensure that we don't destroy the infrastructure that service the commu-
nity."
In the same vein, however, the Opposition MP demanded reforms within the GPF in addition to urging a thorough investigation into the incidents that unfolded.
Fogenay was killed during the protests that unfolded on Tuesday.
"I am angry and the community is angry, rightfully so. Because we're of the view the use of lethal force should have been the last option because based on the information that I gathered, the first guy who got shot...he was running from the police and the police opened fire, killing him. The other guy, I'm told, was heading home from work to meet his family and he too was shot, and it brings into question (the conduct) of the police with regards to their SOPs. I think it was blatantly ignored," Figueira said.
"I don't believe the men posed any risk because none of them brandished a weap-
on for the police to consider using such lethal force towards them," he added.
The Opposition MP called for the use of cameras by officers in plain clothes as well as those carrying lethal weapons.
He also called a thorough investigation and swift justice for the families of both men who were killed.
The officers involved in both fatal shootings have been placed under close arrest while the Office of Professional Responsibility with support from the Regional Security System (RSS) investigates both situations.
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces President Dr Irfaan Ali, in a statement, said “every aspect of these incidents will be examined thoroughly and transparently, with external oversight.”
Opposition inflames, sows division
Meanwhile, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) expresses its deep concern over the tragic deaths of the men, noting that it supports the widespread calls for a full, thorough, and professional investigation into both incidents.
In a statement issues, the party welcomes the assurance from President Dr Irfaan Ali that the officers involved in the two shootings are currently under close arrest, as advised by the Commissioner of Police.
“The People’s Progressive Party condemns in the strongest terms this dangerous politicisation and calls on all citizens to exercise calm, good sense, and restraint. We urge residents, particularly in Linden and surrounding communities, not to allow themselves to be misled
or used by those who view tragedy as an opportunity to push a political agenda”.
“While these tragic events deserve a united and compassionate national response, it is regrettable— though not surprising—that the political opposition and its extremist fringe elements have chosen to politicise these incidents. As is their pattern, they have rushed to inflame tensions and sow division for narrow political gain, showing little regard for the victims or their grieving families. It is also yet another attempt to deflect from their glaring ineptitude and lack of appeal. They have no plan or strategy to develop the country or enhance the well-being of Guyanese, and no track record to stand on— hence their constant resort to seeking publicity by exploiting misfortune for political points.”
Police and protesters during a confrontation on Tuesday
Opposition MP Jermaine Figueira
Albouystown man denies gun charge, released on $150,000 bail
An Albouystown, Georgetown resident was released on $150,000 bail after being charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
Gavin Newman, made his court appearance before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates' Court, where he entered a not guilty plea.
The charge stems from an incident that reportedly occurred on April 4 at Hill Street, Albouystown. Police allege that Newman was found in possession of a 9 mm pistol, despite not being licensed to carry the weapon.
During the bail application hearing, Newman’s attorney, Adrian Thompson, informed the court that his client has a fixed place of residence and no previous criminal convictions. He further argued that Newman was not in possession of a firearm at the time of his arrest and had been taken into custody alongside another individual.
According to the prosecution, law enforcement officers observed Newman in-
Charged: Gavin Newman
side a vehicle with a bag. It was further alleged that as officers approached, the defendant dropped the bag, and a firearm was later discovered on his person.
However, Thompson challenged this narrative, stating that Newman had been stopped at Lyng Street, Georgetown and had only been at Hill Street, Georgetown earlier that same day.
Thompson further ex-
plained that gunfire was heard at a nearby funeral, which may have contributed to the police wrongly identifying his client as a suspect.
He urged the court to consider these circumstances and submitted that there were special grounds for bail.
After hearing submissions, Magistrate Azore release Newman on $150,000 bail. The case will continue on May 27.
No bail for ‘‘Too Cute’’
Yohance Yarris of Guyhoc Park who faces multiple armed robbery charges and is known by the alias “Too Cute,” was further remanded to prison when he appeared before Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Yarris, 22, appeared in relation to four pending charges of armed robbery spanning several months and totaling over $3 million in stolen valuables. The prosecution informed the court that while the file remains incomplete, a partial disclosure was made. As a result, the Magistrate adjourned the matter to May 9, 2025, for full disclosure and continuation of the proceedings.
Yarris, who has been on remand since March 1, was previously denied bail due to the gravity of the charges, his alleged history of evading law enforcement, and concerns raised by the prosecution regarding him being a potential flight risk.
At his initial appearance, the court heard that Yarris was implicated in a series of violent robberies between September 2024 and February 2025. The incidents include the armed robbery of David Granham on September 26, during which jewelry worth $1.1 million was stolen, and the February 19 robbery of Adrian Ally, who was relieved of an iPhone 14 Pro Max valued at $200,000.
In addition, Yarris was charged in connection with two robberies commit-
ted on January 8 in South Ruimveldt. In the first, he allegedly robbed Candice Stewart of a Samsung cellphone, perfume, and cash, all totaling $160,000. In the second, he is accused of robbing Shane Stewart of a number of electronic items and personal belongings, including an iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods, laptop, and whiskey, with a combined value exceeding $600,000.
The prosecution previously revealed that Yarris had been evading arrest since September 2024, and that upon his eventual capture in Rasville, Georgetown, he had opened fire on police officers. Officers reportedly returned fire, striking Yarris in the chest and pinky finger before taking him into custody.
During the earlier hearing, his attorney had pleaded for bail on medical grounds, pointing to the in-
juries sustained during the arrest. However, the court was informed that the injuries were a result of him resisting arrest and endangering officers. Magistrate McGusty also heard that Yarris had a pending matter in Berbice and was already known to the police for similar offences.
When asked about those matters in court on Tuesday, his attorney stated that she was unaware of what was happening with that matter and would follow up on them.
Yarris, who was previously charged in June 2023 for robbing a cyclist along Mandela Avenue, Georgetown is accused of committing a spate of robberies while on bail in that case.
He remains on remand, as the prosecution continues to work toward completing the case file.
Yohance Yarris being escorted by Police
Dominican Republic nightclub roof collapse kills at least 66, including Governor and ex-MLB players
Acatastrophic roof collapse at a nightclub in the Dominican Republic's capital left at least 66 people dead, including a popular singer, a provincial governor, and former Major League Baseball pitcher Octavio Dotel, authorities said on Tuesday.
Some 155 persons were injured and emergency crews were still working to pull survivors from the rubble of the Jet Set nightclub as families of the victims gathered at the site searching for their loved ones.
The emergency crews' capacity was increased as "more heavy equipment has been used to speed up the removal of debris and continue the search efforts", presidential spokesperson Homero Figueroa said in an afternoon statement.
Juan Manuel Mendez, head of the Dominican Republic's emergency operations centre, said earlier on Tuesday that the exact number of people inside the club at the time of the collapse remained unclear.
The disaster struck during a concert by popular Dominican singer Rubby Perez, who was among those killed, according to his manager and family
members near the site. The event was attended by politicians, athletes and other prominent figures.
Also among the victims was Nelsy Cruz, the Governor of the northern Monte Cristi province, President Luis Abinader said. Cruz was the sister of former baseball player Nelson Cruz, a seven-time Major League Baseball AllStar.
Former MLB players Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco also died in the collapse, local authorities confirmed. Dotel died en route to a local hospital after being pulled from the debris, a spokesman for the nation's sports ministry said.
Dotel, 51, debuted for the New York Mets in 1999 and played until 2013 for more than a dozen teams including the Houston Astros, Oakland A's, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers.
"Thinking about our people in the Dominican Republic," Carlos Mendoza, Manager of the Mets, said in a press conference. "We have a lot of the Dominican community in the baseball world."
Relatives were receiving psychological support and the cause of the roof collapse remained under investigation, officials said.
(Reuters)
US revokes T&T's Dragon & Cocuina-Manakin licences
In September, T&T's then Minister of Energy, Stuart Young (right) and Venezuela's Oil Minister Pedro Tellechea signed the Dragon gas deal at the Miraflores Palace, the official residence of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who witnessed the signing, at centre
Trinidad and Tobago
Prime Minister
Stuart Young has announced that Trinidad and Tobago's licences granted by the United States' Office of Foreign Assets Control, which would facilitate the exploitation of gas fields in Venezuelan waters, have been revoked.
Young made the announcement during a press briefing at White Hall on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister said, "What I can tell Trinidad and Tobago, we have now been informed that our li-
cence from OFAC, which is dated the 18th of December 2023 has been revoked by OFAC, and that licence is now revoked by OFAC, as well as our CocuinaManakin licence."
Young said the Government would be exploring legal options with regard to reversing the decision of the United States Government.
"I have been in touch with our Attorneys-at-law in Washington, DC, there is a process for, I wouldn't say appeal of this revocation, but there is a process for you
to make an application for it not to be (revoked) or for there to be amendments and we are going to be engaged in that process on behalf of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
Trinidad and Tobago was granted an OFAC licence on October 31, 2023 paving the way for the potential extraction of gas from Dragon field in Venezuelan waters. A second licence was granted on May 31, 2024 for the Cocuina-Manakin field.
Both licences were granted for a period of two years.
(Trinidad Guardian)
US to take back Panama Canal from Chinese influence, visiting Pentagon chief says
The United States will "take back" the Panama Canal from Chinese influence, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday during a visit to the Central American nation.
After talks with Panama's Government, Hegseth vowed to deepen security cooperation with Panamanian security forces and said China would not be allowed to "weaponise" the canal by using Chinese firms' commercial relationships for espionage.
"Together, we will take back the Panama Canal
from China's influence," Hegseth said, speaking at a pier renovated with US assistance in Panama City.
"China did not build this canal. China does not operate this canal and China will not weaponise this canal. Together with Panama in the lead, we will keep the canal secure and available for all nations."
More than 40 per cent of US container traffic, valued at roughly US$270 billion a year, goes through the Panama Canal, accounting for more than two-thirds of vessels passing each day through the
world's second-busiest interoceanic waterway. Hegseth, the first US Defence Secretary in decades to visit Panama, flew over the canal in a Black Hawk helicopter after meeting US troops and Panamanian security forces. He also toured the Miraflores lock, waving to sailors passing through on a container ship. His language appeared fine-tuned, talking tough but offering some assurances to Panamanians still unsettled by Trump's threats to reclaim the canal.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
UPP says PM Browne must take responsibility for threat to
The United Progressive Party (UPP) is calling Prime Minister Gaston Browne into account for the imminent threat to Antiguans and Barbudans access to United States visas. Instead of the Prime Minister attempting to lay blame for this possible scenario, he should take responsibility for the underlying cause: that is, the compromised status of the Citizenship by Investment (CIP) programme and the porous state of Antigua and
access to US visas
Barbuda s border, the party said in a release.
These and not the UPP comprise the perceived threat to the security of the United States.
It was not the UPP who systematically altered or eliminated the checks and balances that were incorporated into the CIP s original design.
It was not on the UPP s watch that passports were being manufactured in St Vincent & The Grenadines outside the purview of the Citizenship by Investment Unit a situation initially
denied by Prime Minister Browne, himself. Nor has the UPP contributed to the stalling of this matter in the courts.
It was not the UPP that allowed persons whose interests were inimical to good governance and transparency and to the United States security interests to receive Antigua and Barbuda passports including an individual trading in contraband on the Dark Web and a Chinese national wanted in his home country for alleged bank fraud.
(Antigua Observer)
Jamaica: Cops say 3 men killed in West Village shootout
Gunshots echoed within the gated community of West Village in Montego Bay Monday, sending shock waves through what is usually a quiet community of mostly professionals.
According to the Police, there was a shootout and three men, who they said were suspects in last Friday s fatal drive-by shooting at Hart Street in the city, were fatally shot by cops.
The names of the deceased were not ascertained up to press time.
The Police said two illegal firearms were seized during the incident.
These men are said to be linked to that multiple
shooting at Hart Street, Montego Bay on Friday, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Carlos Russell, acting Commander of the St James Police Division, told the Jamaica Observer.
He was referring to a drive-by shooting that left two men dead and five others injured.
Access to West Village is heavily monitored, residents have to leave visitors names at the gate and visitors are asked to provide valid ID to get in. Many of the houses are used for short-term stays.
On Monday, it remained unclear if the three men shot by the Police lived inside the gated community. The Police have, in the past, warned that questionable characters are hiding out in the relative safety of some of the country s gated communities.
(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)
According to the Police, sometime after 15:00h on Monday, the St James Police were carrying out an operation in West Village and as they approached a house they came under gunfire. The cops reportedly returned fire and after the shooting ended the three men were found with gunshot wounds. They were reportedly taken to hospital where they were pronounced dead.
People react at the site where the roof of the Jet Set nightclub collapsed, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, April 8, 2025 (Reuters/Erika Santelices photo)
Around the World OIL NEWS
Oil slides nearly 4% as US kicks off 104% tariffs on China
Oil prices dropped to their lowest in more than four years in early trade on Wednesday on looming demand concerns fuelled by an escalating tariff war between the United States and China, the world’s two biggest economies, and a rising supply outlook.
Brent futures lost US$2.13, or 3.39 per cent, to US$60.69 a barrel as of 0108 GMT. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell US$2.36, or 3.96 per cent, to US$57.22. Brent touched its lowest since March 2021 and WTI its lowest since February 2021.
Both benchmarks have tumbled over the five consecutive sessions since US President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on most imports sparking concerns a global trade war would dent economic growth and hit fuel demand.
The US would impose a 104 per cent tariff on China from 00:01 today, a White House official said in a Tuesday briefing, adding 50 per cent more to tariffs after Beijing failed to lift its retaliatory tariffs on US goods by a noon deadline on Tuesday set by Trump.
Beijing vowed not to bow to what it called US blackmail after Trump threatened the additional 50 per cent tariff on Chinese goods if the country did not lift its 34 per cent retaliatory tariff.
“China’s aggressive retaliation diminishes the chances of a quick deal between the world’s two biggest economies, triggering mounting fears of economic recession across the globe,” said Ye Lin, Vice President of oil commodity markets at Rystad Energy.
“China’s 50,000 bpd to 100,000 bpd of oil demand growth is at risk if the trade war continues for longer, however, a stronger stimulus to boost domestic consumption could mitigate the losses,” she said.
Exacerbating oil’s decline was a decision last week by OPEC+, which groups together the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, to hike output in May by 411,000 barrels per day, a move that analysts say is likely to push the market into surplus.
Goldman Sachs now forecasts that Brent and WTI could edge down to US$62 and US$58 per barrel by December 2025 and to US$55 and US$51 per barrel by December 2026.
As oil prices sank, Russia’s ESPO Blend oil price fell below the US$60 per barrel Western price cap level for the first time ever on Monday.
In one positive sign for demand, data from the American Petroleum Institute industry group showed US crude inventories fell by 1.1 million barrels in the week ended April 4, compared with expectations in a Reuters poll for a build of about 1.4 million barrels. (Reuters)
Chinese nationals captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine, Zelenskyy says
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces had captured two Chinese men fighting for Russia in eastern Ukraine, potentially threatening a fragile peace effort in the three-year-old war.
Beijing is a close diplomatic ally of Moscow, but is not publicly known to have directly aided in the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion, which US President Donald Trump is seeking to swiftly end.
Writing on X, where he
Stocks slide again as US forges ahead with 104% tariffs on China
The United States said on Tuesday that 104 per cent duties on imports from China will take effect shortly after midnight, even as the Administration of President Donald Trump moved to quickly start talks with other trading partners targeted by sweeping tariffs.
US stocks dropped on Tuesday for a fourth straight trading day since Trump’s tariffs announcement last week, with the S&P 500 closing below 5000 for the first time in almost a year. The index is now 18.9 per cent below its most recent high on February 19, close to the 20 per cent decline that defines a bear market.
S&P 500 companies have lost US$5.8 trillion in stock market value since Trump’s tariff announcement last Wednesday, the deepest four-day loss since the benchmark was created
in the 1950s, according to LSEG data.
Global markets had previously posted gains on hopes that Trump might be willing to negotiate down the array of country and product-specific trade barriers he is erecting around the world’s largest consumer market.
Japan’s Nikkei saw a broad sell-off this morning and other Asian markets were braced for falls, hours before the tariffs were set to take effect.
The Administration has scheduled talks with South Korea and Japan, two close allies and major trading partners, and Italian Prime
Minister Giorgia Meloni is due to visit next week.
“These are tailored, highly-tailored deals,” Trump said at a White House event, where he signed executive orders aimed at boosting coal production. “We’ve had talks with many, many countries, over 70, they all want to come in. Our problem is, can’t see that many that fast.”
But the White House made clear that country-specific tariffs of up to 50 per cent would nevertheless take effect at 00:01h Eastern Time (0401 GMT), as planned.
Those tariffs will be especially steep for China, as Trump has ratcheted up duties on its imports to 104 per cent in response to countertariffs Beijing announced last week. China has refused to bow to what it called blackmail and has vowed to fight to the end.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Western intelligence agencies warn spyware threat targeting Taiwan, Tibetan rights advocates
Western intelligence agencies warned on Tuesday of an increasing threat from Beijing’s security services to use malicious mobile phone applications to surveil Taiwanese independence activists, Tibetan rights advocates and others opposed by the Chinese Government.
An advisory, issued
late on Tuesday, warned of “the growing threat” posed by malicious surveillance software deployed by a Chengdu-based contractor reported to have ties to China’s Ministry of Public Security. The advisory was signed by cybersecurity agencies in Britain, the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Germany.
Those most at risk in-
UN Chief says Palestinians in Gaza in “death loop”, demands end to
nited Nations
USecretary General Antonio Guterres has spoken out about the dire humanitarian situation unfolding in the besieged Gaza Strip, saying “civilians are in an endless death loop” amid renewed Israeli bombardments and a ban on the entry of much-needed aid.
posted a video of one of the alleged men, Zelenskyy said Kyiv has “information suggesting that there are many more Chinese citizens” fighting. He did not say whether Ukraine believed the men were acting on Beijing’s orders.
“Russia’s involvement of China, along with other countries, whether directly or indirectly, in this war in Europe is a clear signal that Putin intends to do anything but end the war,” he wrote, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
(Excerpt from Reuters)
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Guterres rejected a new Israeli proposal to control aid deliveries in Gaza, saying it risks “further controlling and callously limiting aid down to the last calorie and grain of flour”.
“Let me be clear: We will not participate in any arrangement that does not fully respect the humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality,” Guterres said.
No aid has been delivered to the enclave of 2.3 million persons since March 2 as Israel continues to seal vital border crossings, barring the entry of everything
blockade
from food to medical supplies and fuel.
“More than an entire month has passed without a drop of aid into Gaza. No food. No fuel. No medicine. No commercial supplies,” Guterres said in New York.
“As aid has dried up, the floodgates of horror have reopened. Gaza is a killing field – and civilians are in an endless death loop,” he added.
COGAT, an Israeli military unit responsible for civilian matters in occupied Palestinian territory, last week met with UN agencies and international aid groups and said it proposed “a structured monitoring and aid entry mechanism” for Gaza, after it claimed that aid was being diverted away from civilians by Hamas.
Jonathan Whittall, the senior UN aid official for Gaza and the West Bank, said last week that there was no evidence of aid being diverted.
(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)
clude people connected to Taiwanese independence, Tibetan rights, Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, democracy advocates (including in Hong Kong) and the Falun Gong spiritual movement, according to Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre in the advisory.
The warning comes amid increasing tensions surrounding Taiwan, including April 1 Chinese military drills around the island and a March 28 visit to the Philippines by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in which he re-
affirmed Washington’s commitment to deterring Chinese aggression in the region. The Chengdu-based contractor, Sichuan Dianke Network Security Technology Co Ltd, was linked to the deployment of a pair of distinct malware packages. They were tracked as “BADBAZAAR” and “MOONSHINE” and used to ferret sensitive information from mobile devices while also giving operators remote access to devices’ cameras, microphones and location data, the advisory said. (Excerpt from Reuters)
Iran says it is
ready for nuclear deal if US stops military threats
Iran is ready to engage with the US at talks on Saturday over its nuclear programme “with a view to seal a deal”, its Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said.
But US President Donald Trump must first agree there can be no “military option”, Araghchi said, and added that Iran would “never accept coercion”.
He also insisted the negotiations in Oman would be indirect, contradicting Trump’s surprise announcement on Monday that they would be “direct talks”.
Trump, who pulled the US out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers during his first term, warned that Iran would be
in “great danger” if talks were not successful.
The US and Iran have no diplomatic ties, so last month Trump sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader via the United Arab Emirates. It said he wanted a deal to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to avert possible military strikes by the US and Israel.
Trump disclosed the upcoming talks during a visit to the White House on Monday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said on Tuesday that both leaders had agreed “Iran will not have nuclear weapons” and added “the military option” would happen if talks dragged on. (Excerpt from BBC News)
A drone view shows shipping containers from China, at the China Shipping (North America) Holding Company Ltd facility at the Port of Los Angeles in Wilmington, California, February 4, 2025
(Reuters/Mike Blake photo)
Play by the rules, look for incentives and put your heart and soul into getting ahead. Nurture relationships that can help you get ahead, and work as a team player to ensure success.
Venture out, but leave your credit cards at home. A fast-talking salesperson will tempt you with unnecessary bargains. Keeping a low profile or going for a hike instead of going to the mall will encourage peace of mind.
Say no to temptation, overspending or being guilted into making a donation that you can’t afford. Curb bad habits and avoid making spur-of-themoment decisions.
Use your clout and connections. Discuss your plans, get your finances and investments in order, and make positive adjustments to ensure you use your skills in the latest and most extraordinary way.
Reinvent how you want to move forward. It’s time to be true to yourself and to venture down a path that offers self-satisfaction and joy.
Do what feels right, and don’t look back. Overreacting will get you nowhere fast, but taking a stand and following your heart will soothe your soul. You can make an impact.
You must feel comfortable with what you choose to do, so do things your way. Let your innovative ideas flow and your energy carry you to where you want to be.
Stop sitting on the sidelines and take a stand. It’s on you to turn up the volume and let your voice and actions lead the way. Reunite with someone you miss and love.
Take a moment, rethink your next move and watch to see who does what before you reveal your position. Earmark your objective, but wait for the right time to make your move.
Welcome change instead of hiding. Once you investigate, you’ll see the benefits of keeping up with the times. Invest in yourself and what you want to do next, and doors will open.
Handle partnerships with care. Listen, think before you respond and offer alternatives that provide incentives for everyone. Less drama and more affection will be the way to go.
Fewer demands and more action on your part will pay off. If you want something done, do it yourself. Overreacting will waste time, but concentrating your strengths on what’s meaningful to you will make a difference.
PBKS consign CSK to fourth successive defeat in IPL 2025
– As Priyansh Arya announces arrival with 103 off 42 balls
Priyansh Arya announced his arrival in the IPL with a 39-ball century, the fastest by an uncapped Indian and joint fourth-fastest by anyone, as Punjab Kings (PBKS) consigned Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to their fourth successive defeat in IPL 2025. Only Chris Gayle (30 balls), Yusuf Pathan (37) and David Miller (38) have scored faster hundreds than Arya in the IPL.
CSK didn’t help themselves in the field; they dropped as many as five catches, including two offered by Arya, and the 24-year-old rookie capitalised on those chances to charge to his hundred as early as the 13th over. He holed out for 103 off 42 balls in the next over, but Shashank Singh (52*) and Marco Jansen (34*) provided the finishing kick for PBKS.
CSK started well in the powerplay in their pursuit of 220. Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra added 59 in the first six overs, but the soft underbelly of the CSK was again exposed in a chase. Conway retired out on 69 off 49 balls when CSK needed 49 off 13, and neither MS Dhoni nor Ravindra Jadeja could get the job done. CSK have now failed to chase a target of 180-plus in their last 11 attempts, stretching back to 2020.
Chennai Super Kings (T: 220 runs from 20 ovs)
Rachin Ravindra st †Prabhsimran Singh b Maxwell 36
Did not bat: Ravichandran Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Khaleel Ahmed Fall of wickets: 1-61 (Rachin Ravindra, 6.3 ov), 2-62 (Ruturaj Gaikwad, 7.2 ov), 3-151 (Shivam Dube, 15.5 ov), 4-171 (Devon Conway, 17.5 ov), 5-192 (MS Dhoni, 19.1 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Arshdeep Singh 4-0-39-0
Yash Thakur 4-0-39-1
Glenn Maxwell 2-0-11-1
Marco Jansen 4-0-48-0
Lockie Ferguson 4-0-40-2
Marcus Stoinis 1-0-10-0 Yuzvendra Chahal 1-0-9-0
Arya’s assault
Arya had triggered a bidding war at the auction after having cracked six sixes in an over in the inaugural Delhi Premier League. In the lead-up to IPL 2025, his coach Ricky Ponting had talked him up as a “special” player. On Tuesday, Arya backed up Ponting’s comments in only his fourth IPL innings.
Arya is a bit like a left-handed version of the original Delhi basher, Virender Sehwag. He sees the ball and hits the ball; and he also has the gift of timing. When Matheesha Pathirana marginally missed a wide yorker and bowled a full toss, it was still a hardto-hit full toss, but Arya opened his bat face and carved it over point for six.
He dispatched the next three balls from Pathirana for 6, 6, 4 to surge to a 39-ball hundred in the 13th over. In the next over, left-arm wristspin ner Noor Ahmad had Arya dragging a catch to long-on.
While Arya finished with 103 off 42 balls, the rest of the top six had a combined 23 off 25 balls in a bizarre scorecard. Arya could’ve been dis missed in the very first over, had Khaleel Ahmed held on to a fairly straightforward return catch. Arya was on 6 at that point, having scythed the first ball over point for six. He then got another life on 35, when Vijay Shankar fluffed a more difficult chance at midwicket. Arya raced to his half-century, off 19 balls, when he backed away and carted R Ashwin over mid-off in the last over of the pow erplay. In all, Arya took Ashwin for 28 off ten balls. The spinner came away with 4-0-48-2, his third-most expensive spell in the IPL.
Shashank, Jansen join the fun
After Arya’s departure, PBKS kept attacking, and Shashank forged an unbroken 65-run partnership off 38 balls for the seventh wicket with Jansen to push them to an above-par total. Shashank welcomed Noor into the attack with a slog-swept six over wide long-on, and even pumped a carrom ball from Ashwin over his head for six more.
Jansen had his own fun when he hit a no-look six off Pathirana in the 18th over.
CSK fade away in another chase
CSK started positively in the chase, with the New Zealand pair of Conway and Ravindra scoring ten fours in the powerplay. However, they had to wait until the tenth
over for their first six, when Shivam Dube swatted Lockie Ferguson over the midwicket boundary.
Glenn Maxwell had broken the opening stand when he had Ravindra stumped for 36 off 23 balls. In the next over, Ferguson banged the ball on a hard length at 143kph and had Ruturaj Gaikwad flapping a catch to midwicket for 1 off three balls. CSK responded by pushing their designated spin-hitter Dube up to No. 4, but PBKS countered his promotion by not throwing spin at him. They held Yuzvendra Chahal, their premier spinner, back until Dube’s dismissal at the end of the 16th over.
Once Dhoni arrived in the 17th over, PBKS matched
Chahal up with him and raised the asking rate to almost
Conway retired out in the 18th over, and Dhoni hit three sixes, but CSK were left with too much to do at the end. When Dhoni popped a full-toss from Yash Thakur,(ESPNCricinfo)
Devon Conway raised a crucial half-century
Shashank Singh batted deep into the innings
Shreyas Iyer congratulated Yash Thakur after the final over
Priyansh Arya hit seven fours and nine sixes in his 42-ball 103
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) smashed their second-highest total in the IPL, and conceded 90 in the powerplay during the chase, before inducing a collapse of 5 for 23 to beat Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens.
Mitchell Marsh's fourth fifty of IPL 2025 and
Marsh, Pooran outgun KKR in high-scoring thriller
to Aiden Markram at longoff; Angkrish Raghuvanshi miscued a reverse sweep off Avesh Khan to the wicketkeeper; and Venkatesh, who was the set batter, mishit a full ball off Akash Deep to long-on.
Big-hitting finisher Andre Russell fell cheaply to a full toss from Thakur, but Rinku Singh, who finished with a 15-ball 38*, kept the chase alive.
On a day where all bowlers travelled, LSG stuck with five bowlers. Shardul Thakur and Akash Deep went for many wides, and conceded over fifty in their four-over spells, but they also got key wickets that derailed the chase.
LSG's plan of shuffling the bowlers and giving spinners two overs at the death paid off, as they sealed a four-run win.
KKR's blazing start
The chase started with Akash Deep struggling to find his line. He bowled three wides down leg, the first of which went to the boundary. The second would have gone there
Nicholas Pooran's 36-ball 87 took LSG to 238. KKR's top order fired too, with Ajinkya Rahane top-scoring with 61 off 35 balls and sharing handy partnerships with Venkatesh Iyer and Sunil Narine, but they could not take the hosts home.
KKR lose their way
KKR were 162 for 2 in the 13th over, and needed another 77 runs off 43 balls, but their middle-order batters kept taking chances and holing out to fielders. Ramandeep Singh hit a slot ball off Ravi Bishnoi
SCOREBOARD
Lucknow Super Giants (20 ovs maximum)
Aiden Markram
b Harshit Rana 47
Mitchell Marsh c Singh
b Russell 81
Nicholas Pooran not out 87
Abdul Samad
b Harshit Rana 6
David Miller not out 4
Extras (b 2, lb 3, w 8) 13
Total 20 Ov (RR: 11.90) 238/3
Fall of wickets: 1-99 (Aiden Markram, 10.2 ov), 2-170 (Mitchell Marsh, 15.2 ov), 3-221 (Abdul Samad, 18.2 ov)
Bowling O-M-R-W
Vaibhav Arora 4-0-35-0
Spencer Johnson 3-0-46-0
Varun Chakravarthy 4-0-31-0
Harshit Rana 4-0-51-2
3-0-38-0
Sunil Narine
Andre Russell 2-0-32-1
Kolkata Knight Riders
(T: 239 runs from 20 ovs)
Quinton de Kock † lbw
b Akash Deep 15
Sunil Narine c Markram
b Rathi 30
Ajinkya Rahane (c) c Pooran b Thakur 61 Venkatesh Iyer c Markram b Akash Deep 45 Ramandeep Singh c Markram b Ravi Bishnoi 1 Angkrish Raghuvanshi c †Pant
b Avesh Khan 5
Andre Russell c Miller b Thakur 7
Rinku Singh not out 38
Harshit Rana not out 10
Extras (b 1, lb 1, w 20) 22
Total 20 Ov (RR: 11.70) 234/7 Fall of wickets: 1-37 (Quinton de Kock, 2.3 ov), 2-91 (Sunil Narine, 6.2 ov), 3-162 (Ajinkya Rahane, 12.6 ov), 4-166 (Ramandeep Singh, 13.6 ov), 5-173 (Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 14.6 ov), 6-177 (Venkatesh Iyer, 15.2 ov), 7-185 (Andre Russell, 16.1 ov) Bowling O-M-R-W Akash Deep 4-0-55-2 Shardul Thakur 4-0-52-2
Avesh Khan 4-0-45-1
Digvesh Rathi 4-0-33-1 Ravi Bishnoi 4-0-47-1
too, had Rishabh Pant not run and dived to the left. Narine and Quinton de Kock whacked two slot balls for sixes. Narine edged two slower balls off Thakur as KKR blazed to 31 for 0 in two overs.
A jaffa from Akash Deep beat de Kock's defence, but tempted Pant into an unsuccessful review. Akash Deep, though, made amends next ball by reviewing an lbw that landed just in line with the stumps and beat de Kock's slog across the line. Thakur, at the other end, went for the wide-line ploy and delivered three wides. Narine clubbed the other two for a six and a four over cover.
Rahane got a lucky edge behind point, but helped himself to a flick for his first two fours. Pant kept Akash Deep on for his third over, but Rahane brought out Test-quality boundaries, including a square drive to a length ball. KKR's captain then got hold of Avesh, this time with flicked sixes over the leg side, to take KKR to 90 for 1 at the end
of the powerplay. Digvesh Rathi, the in-form legspinner, was brought in right after the powerplay, and he struck right away by landing one wide and getting it to turn away further for Narine to toe a big hit to long-off.
Venkatesh and Rahane kept the tempo up with a 71-run third-wicket stand off 40 balls. Rathi did find the edge off Venkatesh's back-foot square drive, but the ball deflected sharply and went off the flap of Pant's gloves for four.
An innovative paddle from Rahane brought up a 26-ball fifty. Venkatesh whacked two boundaries off Rathi, which brought pace back into the attack. Thakur's ploy to bowl wide again led to five consecutive extras to start the 13th over, but the over ended with Rahane chipping to cover, and a collapse followed.
Markram, Marsh keep KKR quiet
Earlier, Marsh and Markram put on 99, the highest opening partnership in this season so far. They added 59 off the first six overs: 46 of those came in three overs from one end, and 13 from the other. The duo took on Spencer Johnson for three fours and two sixes, most of them through the leg side, which had the shorter boundary.
Varun Chakravarthy, brought on in the fifth over, went for just five runs. He got turn and bounce, and when Markram premeditated a sweep by going across, he nearly got bowled. But Harshit Rana couldn't follow up, as the openers smacked him for two sixes. Markram cut over deep third, and Marsh picked the slower one and slapped it down the ground.
Narine came on right
as the field spread, but Marsh didn't let him settle. He first slog-swept a length ball at the stumps, and then rocked back to pull a slightly short ball behind square leg. Three relatively quiet overs from the spinners went for 23 runs, and LSG were 95 for 0 at the halfway mark.
Harshit was cut on return when he went short and wide, but he came back with an offcutter that beat Markram's attempted flick and hit the middle and off stumps. Marsh finished the over by cutting another short-and-wide ball to bring up a 36-ball fifty. His attack against pace continued against Vaibhav Arora with a six and a four over the leg side.
Pooran's onslaught batters KKR
Pooran got going with a couple of cuts against Johnson, and came into his own against the spinners. Varun went wide first up, but Pooran reached out and drove it over cover for six.
When Narine came on next over, Pooran nailed a slog sweep and a lofted hit down the ground that ensured Narine didn't get a fourth over.
Russell got Marsh with a wide, slower ball that was cut to deep point, but Pooran continued his onslaught. He brought up a 21-ball fifty with a six behind square and two in front in the next over off Harshit.
Russell had no place to hide against Pooran in the 18th over. The short balls were pulled, while a missed yorker was bashed down the ground. In the end, three fours and two sixes were hit, and the 24run over was the most expensive of the innings.
Harshit went into the pitch with pace variations, and Arora bowled yorkers in the last two overs, where only three fours were hit despite Pooran batting through to the end (ESPNCricinfo)
Lucknow Super Giants have recorded their 3rd win of the season
Venkatesh Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane added 71 off 40 balls for the third wicket
Mitchell Marsh produced 81 runs off 48 balls
Nicholas Pooran continued his good form with the bat
Windsor Estates reign supreme at AmCham Golf Classic
…Record turnout highlights growing appeal of annual tournament
The Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) came alive on Saturday morning as AmCham Guyana hosted its much-anticipated Second Annual Golf Tournament.
The better ball Stableford tournament saw a record-breaking 26 teams and 106 players taking to the prestigious and scenic course on the East Coast of Demerara; and the 2025 edi-
tion of the tournament saw significant increase in participation, compared to last year’s event, which featured 20 teams and 80 players. This growth is a testament to the tournament’s rising popularity and the improving relationship between the American Chamber of Commerce Guyana (AmCham Guyana) and the local business/sporting com-
munity.
AmCham President Davindra Kissoon said, “We are extremely grateful for the record-breaking turnout we had. The corporate community reacted positively to this initiative. Most of the major companies in Guyana are in full support of this networking opportunity. AmCham has seen significant growth, with a total of
47 karatekas successful at Shotokan Karate grading exams
Forty-seven karatekas were successful when the Association-do Shotokan Karate (Guyana) held its first grading for the year, for Berbice students, at the Albion Dojo on Sunday.
Six students were moved from 10 Kyu (white belt) to 8 Kyu (yellow belt), and five from 10 Kyu to 7 Kyu (orange belt). A further nine were moved from 8 Kyu to 7 Kyu (green belt), and another ten were moved from 7 Kyu to 6 Kyu, while two others were moved from 7 Kyu to 5 Kyu (blue belt).
Five green belts were also promoted, with two going to 5 Kyu and two to 4 Kyu (purple). two student was promoted from 4 Kyu to 3 Kyu (brown belt) and one from purple to 3 second Dan.
7th Dan Chief Instructor Shihan Amir Khouri was the chief examiner, and was assisted by 7th Dan instructor Clinton Moriah and 6th Dan instructor Sensei Hazrat Ali.
Those promoted from 10 Kyu to 8 Kyu are Curtis Austin, Sariana Naglen, Shane Dillon, Michael Subramani, Teanbre Victor and Amiaha Williams; while those promoted from 10 Kyu to 7 Kyu are Aafif Amin, Hiya Harrripersaud, Anisha Ali, Disha Bissessar, and Manishah Narain.
Those promoted from 8 Kyu to 7 Kyu are
Nathan Seelochan, KyLhee Castello, Navindra Utam, Neera Permanand, Calab Ramsaywack, Aryan Badley, Tyler Adams, Abdur Pooran and Aarif Wahab. Chad Gupta, Kailan Azar, Kaivan Azar, Jayden Persaud, Nikhel Rambeer, Padma Devi, Morvin Sookdeo, Ronald Toolsie, Shaniya Narain and Tanvir Sookraj were promoted from 7 Kyu to 6 Kyu, while Aaliyah Persaud and Muzzammil Rafeek were promoted from 7 Kyu to 5 Kyu.
Fahima Haniff, Fazaad and Fawaaz Yashwardeo, Kaylah Azar and Javier DeFreitas were promoted from 6 Kyu to 5 Kyu, while Fawaz Haniff and Bibi Gafoor were promoted from 6 Kyu to 4 Kyu.
Ridwan Elemoodeen, Alejandro Persaud and Isabella Anamayah were promoted from 5 Kyu to 4 Kyu. Dharamraj Mohobir was promoted from 5 Kyu to 3 Kyu (first Dan brown belt), Chad Danny and Rashmi Rampersaud were promoted from 4 Kyu to 3 Kyu, and Salih Ali from 3 Kyu to 2 Kyu (second Dan brown belt).
Meanwhile, five students from the Albion Dojo were promoted last week in Georgetown: Seenarine Moonsammy, Basdeo Bissessar, Pretti Sukdeo and Ethian Anamayahall
225 members. With this being only the second edition, we are seeing lots of synergy with the local business community and the American business community.”
The fiercely contested tournament ended with Windsor Estates (Rakesh Harry, Bridge Harry, Jaipaul Suknanan, and Raja Ram Seeram) claiming the top spot as overall champions, finishing with 22 points.
K&S Construction (Kishun Bacchus, Fazil Hannif, Kaylean Tiware, and Vishranauth Seecharran) also scored 22 points, but had to settle for second place after losing on a countback — a tie-breaking method used in golf. Century Tamara Logistics Services (Kevin Budhram, Navin Kanhai, Robin Tiwari, and Sheldon Davis) secured third place with a close 21 points.
The competition also featured exciting individual contests:
Longest Drive (Hole #5): Richard Haniff (Mohamed’s Team)
Closest to the Pin (Hole #8): Matt Sharf (ExxonMobil Team)
Longest Putt: Roberto Secchetti (SBM Team)
In a thrilling highlight of the event, Vishnu Seecharan and Bridgelall Harry were each awarded round-trip airline tickets to Houston, generously sponsored by American Airlines.
LGC President Anasha Ally, delivering remarks during the awards ceremony, expressing gratitude to AmCham Guyana and the many corporate entities that continue to support golf development in the country.
“It is truly an honour to host the second edition of this prestigious tournament. The Lusignan Golf Club is proud to partner with AmCham Guyana in creating opportu-
nities for camaraderie, competition, and community development through golf,” she said. “We are extremely grateful for the continued support and the overwhelming participation this year. It reflects not only the growing appeal of the sport, but also the strength of collaboration between the private sector and sporting institutions.”
She also took opportunity to commend the grounds team and volunteers for maintaining the course in pristine condition and creating a professional and welcoming environment for players and guests alike.
GCA/Dave West Indian Imports tournament… Police, GDF secure comfortable victories
became first Dan black belts, while Andy-Sam Reddy became a fourth Dan black belt.
Ridwan Elemoodeen, Alejandro Persaud and Isabella Anamayah were promoted from 5 Kyu to 4 Kyu; Dharamraj Mohobir was promoted from 5 Kyu to 3 Kyu (first Dan brown belt); Chad Danny and Rashmi Rampersaud were promoted from 4 Kyu to 3 Kyu, and Salih Ali from 3 Kyu to 2 Kyu (second Dan brown belt).
Chief Instructor Shihan Amir Khouri, in encouraging the karatekas to continue training, noting that it is now until acquiring one s first level black belt that the training really starts.
This is your preparation now as you Kyu grades, but when you reach your black belt level, the training really starts then; you have a lot of work to do. It is a bit easy now, but the important thing is that you continue training, he advised.
He also encouraged the students to pay attention to their academics and to give that priority.
"If you don t have a balance, it is not going to be good enough too. You have to do some exercise as much as you are spending a lot of time studying, the 7th Dan black belt karateka said.
(Andrew Carmichael)
Both the Police Sports Club and the Guyana Defence Force annihilated their opponents in the Georgetown Cricket Association/Dave West Indian Imports’ 1st Division 50 Over fixtures played last weekend.
Police Sports Club opted to field first against the Malteenoes Sports Club at the Police Sports Club ground at Eve Leary, Georgetown. Malteenoes got off to a slow but steady start, reaching 91 for 4 in 23.5 overs; but a further batting collapse saw them falter to a disappointing 169 all out in 40.2 overs.
Marcus Watkins topscored with 44 runs from 65 balls, including 5 fours and one six; while Andrew Gibson stroked 34 runs from 39 balls that included 4 fours and one six. Quentin Sampson, who took 4 for 35 in his 10 overs, and Kelvin Leitch, who took 3 for 34 in his 8.2 overs, spearheaded the bowling attack of the Police Sports Club.
In the run chase, Police made light work of the total through Kevon Boodie’s magnificent 39-ball century (101), which included 10 fours and 8 sixes. Pernell London offered valuable support with 37 runs from 28 balls, and Quentin Sampson finished off the innings with 17 runs off 4 balls to bolster the Police score to 172 for 1, scored in 11.3 overs. The Police won the game by 9 wickets.
When the Guyana Defence Force and El Dorado Cricket Club faced off at the Malteenoes Sports Club venue in Thomas Lands, Georgetown, El Dorado chose to bowl first after winning the toss, and with a best score of 67 off 72 balls, including five fours and five sixes, Leon Andrews provided GDF with a strong foundation. Garfield Benjamin maintained his strong form by striking 62 off 63, while Tomanni Caesar contributed 39, and a number of other batsmen contributed in the twenties to raise the score to 321 all out in 42 overs.
The El Dorado bowling effort was spearheaded by Captain Joshua Ferrell, who produced 5 wickets for 74 runs.
In reply, El Dorado’s abysmal batting effort resulted in their being bowled out for 112. Akeem Williams’s score of 30
was the only meaningful score provided by the batting side. Leon
with 5 for 27 and Nigel Deodat with 3 for 24 ensured that GDF had a comfortable 209-run victory.
A victorious Windsor Estates overcame 26 teams to claim the top prize
Swamy
A look at the karatekas after their grading exams
Boodie made an exceptional 39-ball century
Leon Swamy had great figures of 5 for 27
The winners’ row
GOA-Paraguay Olympic Committee
MoU to benefit 22 athletes, 8 coaches
The Executive Committee of the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) recently disclosed that activation of a recent historic and ground breaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Guyana Olympic Association and the Paraguay Olympic Committee has already begun to bear fruit.
The agreement establishes a comprehensive framework for collaboration in high-performance sports, human resource development, technical expertise-sharing and capacity building, structured training opportunities for athletes and coaches in high performance environments, and initiatives to enhance physical activity opportunities for athletes in both countries. It leverages available resources for mutual benefit, paving the way for long-term cooperation in sports development, athlete training, and knowledge exchange.
Activation of this MoU will pave the way for twenty-two junior elite athletes and eight coaches from the sports disciplines of Cycling, Squash, 3x3 Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Athletics, Archery and Swimming to access opportunity to refine their skills in world-class fa-
cilities with technical coaching expertise and high- level athletes.
The high-performance training schedule includes specific dates between the period March 20th and July 19th 2025 for the training stints allocated for the respective sports selected.
As part of this programme, the training camps will be hosted at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee's facilities with a focus on exposing participating athletes and coaches to training in high performance environments, fostering excellence in sports.
The comprehensive support from this programme
includes: Provision of air transportation to Paraguay; internal transportation to training venues; accommodation at the Olympic Park Hotel; full board (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner); access to high-performance training facilities; use of the Olympic Gymnasium and the SND High-Performance Gym; support of the sports science and medical department, and structured training and collaboration with international coaches and other top level athletes.
All of the above would be fully covered by the Paraguay Olympic Committee and the Government of Paraguay,
GCB Women’s Inter-County T20…
Berbice destroy Demerara to claim title
Showing neither fight nor ambition,
Demerara women suffered another loss - this time at the hands of eventual champions Berbice - in the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Women’s InterCounty T20 Tournament 2025, played on April 8th at the LBI Community Ground, East Coast Demerara.
Demerara won the toss
and chose to bat first. They were aiming to produce a better batting performance than the one they had last produced; but after losing their first wicket in the second over with only 14 runs on the board, they folded under pressure and capitulated to an embarrassing 48 all out, with no batswoman got into double figures.
Plaffianna Millington
and Tiea Isaacs led the Berbice bowling attack, and each harvested 3 wickets. Sherika Campbelle also contributed 2 for 8.
It took the Berbice team only 7.2 overs to chase down the score and win back-toback games. Their closing score was 52 for 2. Katana Mentore, with 21 off 17, top scored for the Berbicians as they cruised to victory.
but participants would be selected by their respective national associations and federations to benefit from this
high-performance training opportunity.
To ensure inclusivity and equal representation, the Executive Committee of the GOA is urging the national federations identified for the sports programme to select participants with gender parity in mind where possible.
This initiative reflects a strategic investment in the prospects of Guyana’s future athlete across several sports disciplines. It forms a shared commitment to developing athletic talent and strengthening regional cooperation in sports, thereby planting the seeds for the future growth of our sports ecosystem among the two nations.
Moreover, the MOU aligns with, and forms part
of, the Guyana Olympic Association’s strategic plan in exploring, negotiating and developing key and synergistic partnerships aimed at providing more opportunities for our athletes and coaching talents to learn and benefit from advanced training methodologies, with a view of building their capacities, realizing their potential, and improving their performance and representation of Guyana.
The Executive Committee of the Guyana Olympic Association is looking forward to seeing Guyana’s athletes and coaches maximize this opportunity with a view to elevating their performance on the international stage.
Kares Engineering bats for One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast again
The electrifying Kares
One Guyana T10 Tapeball Blast is set to ignite grounds again in 2025, with Kares Engineering Inc. reaffirming its unwavering commitment to sponsor the title for a third consecutive year.
Over the weekend, Kares Engineering solidified its continued support for the popular tournament organized by FL Sport, signalling its belief in the growth and impact of the sport.
Natasha Persaud, General Manager of the Kares Group of Companies, expressed immense satisfaction with the tournament's trajectory over the past two editions, and enthusiastically anticipated an even larger scale in 2025, with the number of participating teams projected to exceed 32.
"We are happy to see the impact this tournament has made and the connection it has developed with fans alike,
and we foresee 2025 will be a success," Persaud stated.
John Ramsingh, Director of FL Sport, expressed profound gratitude for Kares Engineering's enduring partnership, and emphasised the integral role of Kares in the tournament's success.
"Kares has never said no; they have only asked, ‘How big can we go?’, and we have answered that call from our title sponsor and the Government on expansion this season," Ramsingh noted.
Looking ahead to the 2025 edition, Ramsingh outlined ambitious plans to expand the tournament to at least 72 teams. The format is envisioned to include various zonal competitions, culminating in a national championship clash between the zone winners.
While the precise format and venues are still under discussion, Ramsingh confirmed the commitment to increased
participation beyond Region Four, promising more teams, more matches, and a concomitant increase in prize money. The tournament's first phase is tentatively scheduled for late June, with the highly anticipated national finals carded for early August. Definitive details regarding the format, schedule, and prize money will be announced in the coming days. Registration would also commence in the coming days, and players can follow the tournament’s social media pages.
Titans All-Stars are currently the defending champions, while Eccles All-Stars have etched their name in history as the winners of the inaugural edition in 2023.
Beyond the crucial partnership with Government, the private sector significantly rewards the participating teams, further elevating the tournament's prestige and appeal.
The GOA recently inked an MoU with the Paraguay Olympic Association
Essequibo Women ended the tournament as runners-up
Kares General Manager Natasha Persaud making a presentation to FL Sport’s Romario Samaroo
