Guyana expresses outrage, demands redress from Venezuela for attack on soldiers
President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday evening visited soldiers who were attacked on Monday in the Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) at the GuyanaVenezuela border. All six soldiers – 2LT Ansel Murray, Sgt Andre Frazer,
BRIDGE OPENINGS
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Wednesday, February 19 –21:00h-22:30h and Thursday, February 20 – 22:00h-23:30h.
The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:
Wednesday, February 19 –07:35h-09:05h and Thursday, February 20 – 08:25h-09:55h.
FERRY SCHEDULE
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 10:00h-12:00h, 16:00h, 18:30h daily.
WEATHER TODAY
Thundery to light showers are expected throughout the day and at night. Temperatures are expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.
Winds: North-Easterly to East North-Easterly between 3.13 metres and 5.36 metres.
High Tide: 07:46h and 20:10h reaching maximum heights of 2.51 metres and 2.42 metres.
Low Tide: 13:43h reaching a minimum height of 0.71 metre.
Guyana expresses outrage, demands redress from Venezuela for attack on soldiers
oreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister, Hugh Todd summoned Venezuela’s Ambassador to Guyana, Carlos Perez, to express outrage over the attack on six Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers. The soldiers were targeted by suspected sindicato operatives while navigating in Guyana's waters.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday afternoon reports have indicated that at least one member of the sindicato gang, that attack the soldiers, has died.
President Dr Irfaan Ali, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, also on Tuesday confirmed that an evaluation of the situation is underway as he underscored the severity of the situation.
“We are taking this very seriously, [because] even if
The soldiers, who were injured during the attack, are reported to be in good spirits.
“I expressed my gratitude for their service at our borders and assured them of
the nation’s support and my concern for their well-being. They are in good spirits. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families,” the President said.
The incident occurred
it is an armed gang or other organizations that operate on the Venezuela side on the border this is serious. This is serious because they fired on ranks in uniform,” President Ali said on Tuesday, as he responded to questions on the issue during the Energy Conference at the Marriott Hotel.
“Sometime later today [Tuesday] we will be in a position to have more details on what actually occurred. Let's get the evaluation and then we will discuss further what is important for our protection of our men and women in uniform and also of our sovereignty.”
Gratitude to servicemen
Earlier on Tuesday, President Ali also shared his concerns on social media, expressing his deep concerns about the well-being of the soldiers who were injured in the attack, noting that he had spoken with the soldiers commending their bravery and unwavering dedication to national service. He expressed gratitude for their service and assured them of the nation’s full support.
near Black Water Mouth in the Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), when a GDF resupply patrol came under heavy gunfire. While there were no fatalities, the soldiers sustained various gunshot wounds and were evacuated for medical treatment. The GDF stated that the injured personnel were transferred to Georgetown for immediate care, and their families have been kept informed. In a statement on Tuesday the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) noted that the soldiers were being evacuated to Georgetown for immediate follow up care, with all necessary measures being taken to ensure that they receive the best possible treatment. The families of the affected ranks have been contacted and are being kept updated on their conditions.
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd speaking with Venezuela’s Ambassador to Guyana, Carlos Perez, on Tuesday
Three of the Sindicato Gang members who were allegedly injured by GDF ranks who returned fire
Editor: Tusika Martin
News Hotline: 231-8063Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761
Marketing: 231-8064Accounts: 225-6707
Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Industrial Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown
Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com
Strategic tourism initiative
The global tourism industry is an ever-evolving landscape where strategic partnerships can drive economic growth, cultural exchange, and sustainable development. Recognizing this potential, the leaders of Guyana and the Dominican Republic have embarked on an ambitious initiative to twin their nations as a premier tourism destination. This move, championed by Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader and Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali, holds immense promise for both countries and the wider Caribbean region.
President Ali’s vision for this partnership is clear: to leverage the unique attractions of both nations to create a compelling tourism product that appeals to the North American Guyanese diaspora and European markets. By combining the established, vibrant tourism sector of the Dominican Republic with Guyana’s emerging eco-tourism industry, this initiative can redefine regional travel experiences and create new economic opportunities.
The Dominican Republic has long been recognized as a premier tourist destination in the Caribbean, boasting worldclass beaches, luxury resorts, and a thriving hospitality sector. In contrast, Guyana presents an untapped paradise for eco-tourism enthusiasts with its pristine rainforests, vast rivers, and rich biodiversity. By twinning their tourism sectors, these two nations can offer an unparalleled combination of tropical leisure and nature-based adventure, appealing to a broader demographic of travellers.
President Ali, speaking at the sod-turning ceremony for a new branded Pegasus hotel in Guyana, underscored the importance of attracting top-tier investors and regional tourism brands to enhance the country’s eco-tourism sector. His emphasis on creating a nature-based tourism hub aligns with global trends wherein travellers are increasingly seeking authentic and sustainable experiences. The partnership with the Dominican Republic, only two and a half hours away by air, introduces the potential for multi-destination travel packages that could enhance the competitiveness of both nations in the global market.
A critical component of this initiative is the development of infrastructure and tourism-supporting services. Guyana, which has been experiencing rapid economic transformation due to its burgeoning oil sector, is well-positioned to invest in worldclass hotels, transportation networks, and entertainment hubs. However, as President Ali rightly pointed out, infrastructure alone is not enough. A well-structured tourism calendar featuring festivals, conferences, and sporting events is necessary to attract and sustain visitor interest.
The vision of welcoming three million visitors to Guyana by 2030 is ambitious, but not unattainable. It requires meticulous planning, public-private sector collaboration, and aggressive marketing efforts. The government’s commitment to ensuring that the private sector thrives through investments in restaurants, nightclubs, and entertainment facilities will be instrumental in achieving this target. More importantly, the successful execution of this strategy will generate employment, boost small and medium-sized enterprises, and strengthen the service industry.
While many Caribbean nations are heavily reliant on tourism, the Guyana-Dominican Republic partnership could serve as a differentiator. Rather than competing within a saturated market, this initiative fosters collaboration, allowing both nations to highlight their strengths and attract visitors who may not have considered them as travel destinations before. Additionally, it aligns with regional integration efforts, promoting cooperation rather than competition among Caribbean nations.
The potential for joint marketing campaigns, combined airline promotions, and streamlined visa policies between the two nations could further enhance this initiative. Tourists seeking a well-rounded experience can begin their journey in the Dominican Republic, enjoying its vibrant nightlife and beach resorts before transitioning to Guyana for an immersive eco-tourism adventure. Such a seamless travel experience would be highly attractive to tourists seeking diverse experiences within a single trip.
The decision by Presidents Abinader and Ali to twin their countries as a unified tourism destination is a strategic move with the potential to redefine the Caribbean tourism landscape. By capitalizing on their respective strengths and working collaboratively to enhance visitor experiences, Guyana and the Dominican Republic stand to benefit significantly from increased tourism revenue, economic growth, and international visibility.
Needs and aspirations of the people
Dear Editor,
After a lengthy and rancorous debate in Parliament by both members of the Opposition and Government, the budget, estimated at $1.3 trillion, has been passed under the watchful eye of the Speaker of the National Assembly.
Passage of the budget has made it easier for Government - led by President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Brigadier Mark Phillips and Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo - to realize goals outlined in the PPPC manifesto. Those include modernization of the infrastructure across the country; expansion of healthcare and education systems; repair and construction of roads; and improving the lives of the poor, among other things.
Our leaders are dedicated and determined, and, despite some setbacks, are pressing ahead with development of the country with intent to move it from a Global South (Third World) country to a Global North (First World) nation status.
Proclaiming a new and robust phase of development across the ten regions, His Excellency Dr Irfaan Ali has asserted that the PPP government has not only fulfilled the lofty promises in its manifesto, but has surpassed its commitments in achieving substantial progress in almost every region and every sector,
including, public, private, education, health care and housing.
Not only has the government created more than 50 thousand jobs in four years, and increased wages, salaries, old age pension and the children’s cash grants, but it has also laid the foundation that generated one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately 45 percent.
Several economists from Forbes Magazines have stated that Guyana’s GDP is among the highest in the world. They had predicted that Guyana would become a leading oil producing country by 2026, and that with increased oil revenue, its GDP would rise above 50 percent.
In a powerful and credible budget speech in Parliament, Prime Minister Phillips had made it quite clear that the 2025 budget would build on the extraordinary success of the economy with huge allocations and novel, ground-breaking and resolute solutions to advance economic growth, create high-paying jobs, and thus improve the lives of all Guyanese, regardless of status, race, ethnicity, religious beliefs or party affiliation.
According to Brigadier Phillips, the $1.3 trillion 2025 budget caters for every sector and for everyone in that it provides financial relief for workers, children, pensioners, the
poor, and the more vulnerable segments of the population. He affirmed that the budget has increased the tax threshold, removed VAT on electricity and water, and provides subsidies for pensioners.
Brigadier Phillips outlined several initiatives as he impassionedly and energetically defended the Government’s spending proposals, pointing to a number of programmes and policies that have been implemented to advance the country’s economic growth and development and support the citizenry. The Prime Minister spoke extensively about the country’s efforts in renewable energy, and candidly stated that after four years of PPPC rule, Guyana is now positioned to attract investors, both local and foreign.
As was expected, the two main political Opposition parties, the Alliance for Change (AFC) and People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), have vehemently criticized the 2025 budget, and hence the Government, for its excessive investments on infrastructure, particularly on roads and bridges, while the healthcare and education systems are in disarray. They have publicly stated that the citizenry cannot eat roads and bridges, and stressed that hospitals continue to offer poor service to the citizens and that the education system continues to fail students, es-
pecially in English and the hard sciences.
In a stinging rebuke, President Dr. Ali has condemned the Opposition for being immature and childish in criticizing the budget, and revealed that his government’s investments in education are to enhance inclusivity and to make sure that no one is left behind. He underscored the fact that education is free from nursery school to university.
In support of the budget, Vice President Dr. Jagdeo, in one of his fieriest speeches, accused the Opposition of being incompetent, amateurish, inept, lazy and hopeless; and said their criticism of the budget was shallow, uninformed and misleading.
The Vice President has not only defended the budget, but has also praised the Minister of Finance and his team for crafting a carefully designed budget that focused on poverty alleviation, economic growth, empowerment, and sustainable human development. He contended that the budget would undoubtedly stimulate further economic growth, which in turn would create greater wealth and job opportunities in that it captured the needs and aspirations of the people and is a continuation of the progress in the country.
Sincerely, Dr Asquith Rose
The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce has unveiled its Mashramani 2025 costumes, designed by Maxi Williams, at the National Exhibition Centre at Sophia in Georgetown on Wednesday. Mashramani 2025 is being celebrated under the theme "Keeping Culture Alive in 2025", and the Ministry’s band will incorporate a 120-member group as it competes in the Small Band category (Tourism Ministry photos)
Amended financial, property laws
Updated legislation is game-changer for business growth – GCCI
The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has lauded the Government of Guyana for its “bold and timely legislative” initiatives aimed at enhancing the country’s business and economic landscape.
Among the most notable reforms are the introduction of the Financial Institutions Amendment Bill of 2024, the Security Interests in Moveable Property Act, and the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes (Amendment) Act—measures that the Chamber believes are critical in positioning Guyana for sustained growth and development.
According to GCCI, as the country experiences an unprecedented surge in investment interest, the need for a well-regulated financial sector has never been more apparent.
The passage of the Financial Institutions Amendment Act, which will allow foreign financial institutions to establish representative offices in Guyana, comes as the country is wit-
nessing an influx of both local and international investments.
With an increasing demand for access to capital, the Chamber recognises that these legislative changes will provide the much-needed structure to support the growing financial sector.
In a statement on Tuesday, GCCI related that “the Chamber, as a proponent of the development of businesses— particularly Micro, Small and Mediumsized Enterprises (MSME), has also long advocated for increased access to finance for small-scale businesses… This legislation is anticipated to be a catalyst for the development of enterprises in Guyana and a driver of economic growth”.
Meanwhile, the recent introduction of the Security Interests in Moveable Property Act promises to be a game-changer. The Act allows businesses to leverage moveable assets—ranging from vehicles, equipment, and inventory to crops, livestock, and even intellectual property—as collateral to ac-
cess credit. This, according to the GCCI, is a much-needed boost for enterprises that have often struggled to secure financing under the traditional collateral models.
In addition to these financial reforms, the GCCI has expressed its approval of the recent amendments to the Acquisition of Lands for Public Purposes Bill. These amendments aim to stream-
line the process of acquiring land for public development projects while ensuring that landowners are treated fairly and receive timely, adequate compensation. The Chamber believes this aligns with international best practices, ensuring that citizens are not unduly burdened in the pursuit of national development.
On Monday, during the 101st sitting of the 12th
Parliament Senior Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh further emphasised that the country’s robust regulatory framework has been developed over the years to ensure the stability and transparency of the financial sector.
“I make these points really to say, Mr Speaker, that the effort to build a strong and robust and well-regulated financial sector has not been an effort of yesterday, it has been an effort that has involved work, including work in previous sessions of this House, previous parliaments of Guyana, work to ensure that we have a robust legal architecture in place. And beneath that, or within that, having legislated, we have, of course, also been establishing and progressively strengthening the institutions tasked with the respective mandates granted under the legislation” Dr Singh said. Moreover, Singh told the National Assembly that Government has already revealed several expressions of interest from foreign financial institutions to establish representative offices in Guyana,
supported by the introduction of Section 19A Financial Institutions Amendment Bill of 2024.
Nevertheless, he explained that all foreign financial institutions would be subject to approval by the Central Bank of Guyana.
“We see this as an extremely welcomed step. It is a first step to the establishment of a full presence. It allows them to acquaint themselves with the Guyanese economic landscape in a more direct manner. It allows them potentially to identify opportunities for doing business in Guyana, and explore those opportunities. Be that as it may, they are subject, of course, to an initial round of regulatory supervision, because they still require, as this section provides, they still require the approval of the Central Bank before they are able to establish this presence. And were they to establish a full presence, they would require a full-service licence from the Central Bank and those provisions remain intact and unaffected by the current Bill,” he added.
750 worker complaints received in 2024 – Chief Labour Officer …as job bank expansion gains momentum
The Labour Ministry has recorded some 750 complaints from workers in 2024, covering issues such as termination, severance pay, overtime, and annual leave. According to Chief Labour Officer Dhaneshwar Deonarine, 90 per cent of these cases have been successfully resolved.
Speaking on Tuesday, Deonarine highlighted that the figure represents a reduction in complaints compared to the previous year. “We have seen a significant reduction in the number of complaints coming to the Ministry of Labour,”, adding that the remaining unresolved cases were filed late in the year and require additional time for investigation and resolution.
The remarks were made during the Ministry’s second annual Labour Laws semi-
nar, held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal on Tuesday. The seminar, which was attended by some 300 persons, aims to enhance awareness of workers’ rights and labour regulations among employers and employees.
Job bank
This year, the is prioritizing the improvement of its job bank website to enhance user-friendliness, ensuring individuals can effectively access and capitalize on available employment opportunities in the country.
The National Job Bank is a fully online platform responsible for improving jobseekers’ access to employment opportunities from the comfort of their own homes or anywhere with an internet connection, at no cost. It enables employ-
ers and potential employees to connect in order to fill open positions based on their competencies, skills, and qualifications.
At an event on Tuesday, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton revealed that efforts are underway to enhance the website.
“We have established a job board where you could get the email address of a Ministry of Labour contact person, but we now allow people seeking employment and those who need employees to register on the platform. You can then engage directly. I’ve already spoken with the IT (Information Technology) team, and we’ve made it a priority for 2025. We need to make the job board more user-friendly,” the Minister said.
According to the Minister, the programme is now two
years old, and the Government is encouraging more people to utilise the site in their quest to find employment. Meanwhile, he noted that enhancements to the platform will allow both employers and employees to access a chat room for communication and collaboration.
“It’s been two years now, I think since March 2023, I’m told there are nearly 300 employers registered on the job bank. We hope that those of you who are not registered will do so after this.
Employers can source employees by posting their vacancies free of cost, and for jobseekers, you can upload all your credentials. We aim to create a platform where there can be direct interaction between employers and employees through a chat room or something similar,” Hamilton added.
This initiative is consistent with President Dr Irfaan Ali’s vision of creating 50,000 jobs in five years. The platform is also part of an expansion of the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency (CRMA), Guyana’s leading employment agency, founded in 1944.
The CRMA’s mandate is to match suitably qualified individuals to existing vacancies, canvass for job openings to place jobseekers, maintain vacancy records, provide career advice and counseling, and build capacity for jobseekers.
The public can access the National Job Bank at jobs. gov.gy.
Chief Labour Officer Dhaneshwar Deonarine
Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton speaking at the annual Labour Laws seminar
Page Foundation
1.
2.
3.
May she become a flourishing hidden tree
That all her thoughts may like the linnet be, And have no business but dispensing round Their magnanimities of sound, Nor but in merriment begin a chase, Nor but in merriment a quarrel. O may she live like some green laurel Rooted in one dear perpetual place.
My mind, because the minds that I have loved, The sort of beauty that I have approved, Prosper but little, has dried up of late, Yet knows that to be choked with hate May well be of all evil chances chief. If there's no hatred in a mind Assault and battery of the wind Can never tear the linnet from the leaf.
An intellectual hatred is the worst, So let her think opinions are accursed. Have I not seen the loveliest woman born Out of the mouth of Plenty's horn, Because of her opinionated mind Barter that horn and every good By quiet natures understood For an old bellows full of angry wind?
Considering that, all hatred driven hence, The soul recovers radical innocence And learns at last that it is self-delighting, Self-appeasing, self-affrighting, And that its own sweet will is Heaven's will; She can, though every face should scowl And every windy quarter howl Or every bellows burst, be happy still.
And may her bridegroom bring her to a house Where all's accustomed, ceremonious; For arrogance and hatred are the wares Peddled in the thoroughfares. How but in custom and in ceremony Are innocence and beauty born? Ceremony's a name for the rich horn, And custom for the spreading laurel tree.
2025 Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo
Govt eyes cruise boom as Pres Ali touts Guyana as key refuelling hub
With 40 per cent of the world’s cruise liner market share belonging to the Caribbean, President Dr Irfaan Ali has outlined a bold strategy to attract more cruise liners
to Guyana and to turn the country into a fuelling hub for these massive, floating tourist attractions.
During the opening day of the 2025 Guyana Energy Conference and Supply
Chain Expo on Tuesday, the feature address of President Ali was packed with innovative ideas. One such idea was how Guyana can leverage its tourism and non-tourism assets, for in-
Guyana expresses outrage...
Duty to prevent
During his meeting with Ambassador Perez, Minister Todd reminded him that Venezuela is responsible for any harm caused to Guyana or its nationals by individuals acting from Venezuelan territory. He stressed Venezuela’s duty to prevent the use of its territory for harm and to eliminate criminal gangs operating in the border region.
Reminding that Venezuela maintains a significant military presence in the region, despite the absence of a security threat from Guyana, the Minister insisted that Venezuela deploy these assets against the criminal gangs within its territory that constitute a threat to both States.
Todd also criticized Venezuela’s failure to denounce Monday’s incident and take action against the perpetrators of the attack. He warned that “inaction is complicity” and that Guyana would hold Venezuela accountable under international law.
“Guyana will not hesitate to fully exercise its rights under international law to hold Venezuela accountable,” Minister Todd said.
According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), the attack occurred around 15:45h when the GDF team, traveling by boat from Eteringbang to Makapa to deliver supplies, was intercepted by two wooden boats carrying armed, masked men. The attackers circled the GDF vessel before opening fire. Despite successfully repelling the attackers, several GDF members sustained gunshot wounds.
Injured soldiers include Second Lieutenant Ansel Murray (head), Sergeant Kevon Davis (foot and ankle), Corporals Andrew Fraser (abdomen and shoulder), Kevin Henry (left arm and shoulder), Lance Corporal Travis Yorrick (thigh), and Private Ezron Samuel (abdomen). All per-
sonnel are stable and received immediate medical care at Makapa GDF Observation Post.
The situation remains under investigation, with Guyana demanding Venezuela take responsibility for the attack and act to prevent future incidents.
stance its gas developments, to attract cruise liners.
The head of state pointed to the rising demand for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to power cruise ships around the world, a demand that Guyana, with its Gasto-Energy (GtE) project, is well positioned to meet.
“Let’s look at global Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) demand, because people don’t speak about this opportunity. And it’s linked to our tourism. How do we use non-tourism products, if you want to put it that way, to attract tourism. And there’s a simple formula I think we can work around,” President Ali said.
“When you look at LNG, global LNG demand will rise by more than 50 per cent by 2040. To reach approximately 660 million tonnes annually by 2040. But importantly, 40 per cent of the world’s cruise market share belongs to the Caribbean. All the cruise liners are now moving towards LNG as their source of fuel.”
President Ali pointed out that with the cruise industry generating $30 Billion in revenue only last year, Guyana could benefit if it were to become a refueling hub or a must stop destination for cruises. This is also where, according to
the President, the country’s tourism-based assets, such as eco-tourism, can play a role.
“In 2023, 13 million cruise tourists passed through the Caribbean. Financially, the global
noted that Guyana is in a unique position.
cruise industry is projected to generate more than $30 Billion in revenue. So, what about if we create here in Guyana a refueling hub. Or we partner with Barbados or the DR, in integrating our infrastructure so that Guyana is a supplier, but importantly, we negotiate Guyana as a must stop destination for cruise liners.”
The Head of State acknowledged that there are challenges when it comes to a country attracting revenue from these cruise liners. However, President Ali
“Now the argument in the cruise industry is that very limited local revenue is generated from cruise liners. Because today, cruise liners sell most of the cruise packages on the cruises itself. So, we’re thinking this thing through. But Guyana is different. Why? Because our product is not concentrated in a small area in the capital.”
“Our product is nature and eco based. So, the traffic that is generated will be completely different. And the type of tourist that will be attracted will be completely different. And there lies an important and tremendous opportunity,” President Ali explained.
President Dr Irfaan Ali speaking at the opening of the 2025 Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo on Tuesday
President Dr Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister Brigadier (Retired), Mark Phillips along with President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona; former Colombian President, Iván Duque; former US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo and Guyana’s acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards cutting the ceremonial ribbon to declare the 4th edition of the Guyana Energy Conference & Supply Chain Expo open on Tuesday (Office of the President photo)
A cruise ship
Fighting…
…the Venezuelan threat
Well, it had to happen, sooner or later. Mad Maduro’s been trash-talking us for over a decade, since he had the spunks to seize that American Anadarko oil survey ship back in 2013. It doesn’t matter which category of Venezuelan they are: rich, poor, black, Spanish, mestizo, communist, capitalist, LGBTQ, or whatever; since he’s feeding off a century of their being indoctrinated in schools that Essequibo was stolen from them by the British for the Guyanese, at the minimum, they’d be inclined to be leery of Guyanese!!
And let’s be honest about this: it includes all those Venezuelans who aren’t of Guyanese heritage, who’ve come as refugees. Sure, they might be grateful for the help they’re getting; sure, they might be pissed at Mad Maduro for destroying their country and livelihood; but, somewhere in the backs of their minds, there is a feeling of being wronged by us. It’s like how American Blacks think of American Whites: looong before Trump and his crew, they were conditioned to see them differently; and NOT positively differently!!
And this brings us to Venezuelans shooting our soldiers while they were minding Guyana’s business in the Cuyuni river near Eteringbang. The Cuyuni is the border between Venezuela and Guyana at that point, so this means that, halfway from the middle (the thalweg) to the western shore is ours. But it’s clear that, since in their minds the entire Essequibo is theirs – not just our half of Ankoko Island they seized in 1966 – they believe the entire Cuyuni is theirs to do as they please!! Hence our soldiers being shot at!!
We heard that it was two boatloads of Venezuelan “Sindicatos” who did the shooting - and then calmly went back to their side of the river. It would appear that, evidently, our soldiers weren’t only “outmanned”, but outgunned, because our men in green fatigues didn’t go after them in hot pursuit, and they calmly stared them down!!
So, who’re these Sindicatos? Simply put, these are so-called “unions”, but are actually armed gangs created with the connivance of the Chavista government to exploit mining opportunities in huge areas of their “interior” - in an Arc of the Orinoco, which just happens to abut our Essequibo. These areas are dubbed “economic zones”!! These gangs control all sorts of hustles and illegal mining – especially gold, that’s smuggled out, including through Guyana. They also keep the populace loyal to the government – now under Mad Maduro – by acting as enforcers who “help” folks to vote during elections!! So, when we talk about “Sindicatos”, we’re talking about arms of Mad Maduro’s government as much if we’re talking about the army.
So, dear readers, we hope our Government doesn’t dismiss this attack as some hotheads just letting off steam. This is war!!
…excess gas
There’s a lot of gas being released nowadays, and your Eyewitness ain’t talking about the hot air coming out of the back-and-forting about a55-kissing and bambsie-licking!! He’s talking about the NATURAL gas that’s “associated” with the oil, which is making us the fastest growing economy in the world. Your Eyewitness has already discussed what is associated with the new Hammerhead field that’s about to be developed: a TRILLION cubic metres (cum) of gas. There was the announcement that the Government wanted to “monetize” the gas – obviously by selling it was the expectation?
Well, he just saw an announcement that Exxon and its partners are gonna be building a pipeline to connect the Hammerhead gas-output to the Lisa pipeline that’s taking its gas to the GtE facility at Wales for power generation etc. All well, as far as we can tell, we’re not gonna be using all of that trillion cum of gas - much less the 17 trillion cum that we have overall??
Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) anyone??
…crassness
The fella who precipitated outrage by calling African Guyanese who support the PPP “compulsive anal lickers” has retorted that Walter Rodney also lapsed into the vernacular when describing Burnham.
Please!! Rodney used wit, not profanity!!
Dominican Republic, Guyana to unite as top tourism hotspot – Pres Ali
…as sod is turned for Pegasus
As countries in Latin America look to fur-
ther expand their tourism industry, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader and Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali have announced their commitment to twinning the nations as a premier tourism destination.
President Dr Irfaan Ali said his Government is looking to establish a joint product with the Dominican Republic (DR) that can target the massive Guyanese diaspora in North America as well as the European market, capitalising on both countries' unique attractions.
During a ceremony marking the sod-turning for a new branded Pegasus hotel in Guyana on Tuesday evening, President Ali expressed his excitement about the potential of this initiative.
“So, we are working now in the eco and nature-based tourism area. To have the best investors coming to Guyana. And then we are working also with major regional brands that is ready to add nature and eco to their product. Today I was very pleased with our discussion with the president of DR
new branded hotel
who made it very clear that he is ready to market jointly DR and Guyana as a common destination. That is just two and a half hours apart. These are the type of initiatives that would help us to move forward. To separate us from the competition. And to give us that ability to be successful,” the Head of State said.
He reiterated that outside of infrastructural development, the nation must develop a calendar of events that would attract diverse tourists and visitors.
“We are acutely aware that part of our mission now must define the right formula through which we can have three million people passing through this economy by 2030 so that they can utilise the services that a private sector is investing in whether it's a restaurant, whether it's a nightclub whether it's
an entertainment facility you need to have people to make use of the services,” he added New hotel
The Pegasus Hotel, a staple of Guyana’s hospitality sector since 1969, is set to undergo a major transformation, showcasing the nation’s ambition and confidence in its future.
Ali commended the hotel’s owners for their forward-thinking approach, emphasising the importance of collaboration among local hospitality stakeholders.
“We must work together to develop an association that represents Guyana’s tourism industry as a collective whole, rather than as competitors,” he urged.
As the partnership between the Dominican Republic and Guyana unfolds, both nations are well-positioned to enhance
their tourism offerings, attract global visitors, and establish themselves as vibrant destinations in the Caribbean.
Meanwhile, Chairman and proprietor of the Pegasus Group Robert Badal expressed his gratitude to the President while acknowledging the challenges of the hospitality industry, noting that while investments are attractive, they require significant capital and patience. “The hotel business requires huge capital investment, and often the return takes a much longer time. However, the opportunities here in Guyana are compelling,” he stated.
Badal went on to discuss the new hotel, which will fea-
ture 170 executive rooms and five-star facilities, creating a bridge between the iconic Pegasus and modern hospitality. “It hurts to let part of it go,” he admitted, referring to the Grand Savannah Suite, a site of many cherished memories. “But this investment will provide a new landmark in our city, a contribution to the hospitality landscape of Georgetown and our beloved country.”
As the partnership between the Dominican Republic and Guyana unfolds, both nations are well-positioned to enhance their tourism offerings, attract global visitors, and establish themselves as vibrant destinations in the Caribbean.
Chairman and proprietor of the Pegasus Group, Robert Badal
President Dr Irfaan Ali with Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader on Tuesday
“Nothing could be further from the truth” – Jagdeo slams election instability fears
People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C)
General Secretary and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo on Tuesday pushed back on the naysayers, particularly those abroad who speculate that Guyana is on the brink of instability in an election year, making it clear that nothing could be further from the truth.
The Vice President was at the time being interviewed at the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo (GECSCE) by Ambassador Carlos Pascual, the Senior Vice President of financial analytic company S&P Global. Asked about the confidence of the people in the transparency of the election process, Jagdeo had this to say.
“We believe that, given the work we’ve done, that we’ll win the elections. But you ask about transparency and stability. In 2020 we had a very peculiar situation. Where five months after the elections were held, President Ali was sworn in. With several attempts to thwart the will of the people,” he said.
According to Jagdeo, even with these bold attempts by Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) operatives to derail the election results, the Guyanese people did not riot. He pointed out that even though some countries have descended into civil war for election disputes, Guyanese demonstrated their maturity by waiting for the conclusion of the election process.
“Sometimes the first thing you read about Guyana, anywhere in the world, is a country with complex ethnic relations. And they make us look like
we’re on the precipice of civil war. Because of our rich heritage, the Indigenous people, nine different tribes of people, many of our ancestors from Africa, Asia, India or Europe.”
“And in that period, the five months period, I say to people that in countries that are ethnically homogenous. Look around the world. If you have an attempt to steal an election, and five months thereon you don’t get a result, many of those countries would have gone into civil war or violence. Our people demonstrated maturity, in spite of provocation,” Jagdeo pointed out.
The Vice President noted that the system was given a chance to work and it did, as in July 2020 the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) unanimously ruled that efforts by GECOM at the time to invalidate over 100,000 valid votes and hand the then ruling A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government an election win, were unlawful. President Dr Irfaan Ali was sworn in as President the next month.
“Secretary Pompeo and the others, who are here today, the international community, took a strong position. And the right result prevailed. And so, if we could have withstood that, five months of provocation and delay, in a country like ours that is so ethnically complex as people say, it’s a proud thing. It shows the maturity of our society. I’m proud of that.”
“It really irks me… every analysis you see abroad, they make us look like we’re on the verge of instability. We’re not. We’ve come through a very long peri-
od of practical dictatorship, rigging of elections, but our people have lived and worked together in a united way. The sense of country
“It really irks me… every analysis you see abroad, they make us look like we’re on the verge of instability. We’re not. We’ve come through a very long period of practical dictatorship, rigging of elections, but our people have lived and worked together in a united way. The sense of country is growing and all our people are benefitting from the prosperity now. At least we attempt to ensure that happens,” – PPP/C General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo.
is growing and all our people are benefitting from the prosperity now. At least we attempt to ensure that happens,” Jagdeo explained.
With General and Regional Elections slated for later this year, President Ali as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, while acknowledging the low probability of violence, had nevertheless recently called on the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to be vigilant against any attempt to unsettle the order at the upcoming polls.
“While we do not anticipate unrest or anything that is contrary to the rule of law, we must remain vigilant against any attempt to unsettle internal order.
The Defence Force will be on standby, prepared to act if necessary to uphold stability and protect the democratic process,” President Ali had said at the opening of the GDF’s Annual Officers’ Conference 2025.
While no date has been set, the 2025 elections are likely to be held
in November. It will follow the March 2020 General and Regional Elections that were embroiled in controversy following blatant attempts by the then APNU/ AFC Administration to rig the elections in order to stay in power.
The PPP/C was sworn into office five months after the March 2, 2020 polls. Several senior staff of GECOM along with political activists are currently before the courts for various electoral fraud charges.
Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo being interviewed during the energy conference
Ramsammy’s Ruminations
Opposition’s silence on Hinds and Mocha is total betrayal of their supporters
Two recent incidents in Guyana are typical reminders of the decades-long consistency with which the PNC, WPA, AFC and those one-person parties in APNU betray their supporters, and explain why these supporters are migrating in droves every day from these political parties.
David Hinds, like Hamilton Green and others, believes that Afrocentric political parties: PNC, AFC, WPA, have ownership over Afro-Guyanese. Aside from that, they promote the contemptible position that only Afro-Guyanese have the legitimacy to head any government in Guyana.
Dr Leslie Ramsammy
In his regular social media programme, Hinds went on a repugnant cussdown tirade against Afro-Guyanese who freely choose to support the PPP, describing them as house slaves, slave-catchers and “lick-bottoms”. For good measure, he vulgarly explained what he meant by “lick-bottoms”. Hinds’s feral attack on thousands of decent Afro-Guyanese was motivated by his dismay and desperation, resulting from the large numbers of Afro-Guyanese who have rejected the opposition’s constant racist messaging and have decided to join forces with the PPP’s ONE GUYANA movement.
Not a single day passes without more Guyanese from all ethnic groups joining the ONE GUYANA platform; choosing to stand with President Irfaan Ali on the side of freedom and unity, and rejecting the opposition’s constant appeal for polarization and racial division.
Aubrey Norton, leader of the PNC, the “kith and kin” party, insisting he “does not control” what Hinds or anyone says, refused to condemn Hinds for his disparaging cuss-down of Afro-Guyanese citizens who used their democratic right to choose which political party they want to associate with. But, as the Attorney General stated, the question was never about control, it was whether Norton condones or rejects the words of Hinds.
His refusal to condemn Hinds is consistent with his own party’s position: that Afro-Guyanese who support the PPP are house slaves and slave-catchers. The PNC, APNU and AFC are all guilty through their deafening silence. The virulent, nauseating and racist sentiments in Hinds’s cuss-down in his social media programme deserve condemnation from everyone.
Where are the groups that purport to speak for Afro-Guyanese? Where are Vincent Alexander and IDPADA-G, and Eric Phillips and ACDA? What happened to Lincoln Lewis, Henry Jeffrey, Mark Benschop, Rickford Burke and others? There is also the silence of other commentators who often speak on everything under the sun, especially when they have opportunity to display their anti-PPP badge.
The migration by thousands of Afro-Guyanese from the PNC, WPA and AFC to the PPP’s ONE GUYANA - some of whom are prominent names - has driven fear in the Opposition, because they are faced with the stark reality that Afro-Guyanese citizens have rejected the Opposition’s claim of ownership over Afro-Guyanese.
In the local government elections of 2022, in every constituency that had been a stronghold of the PNC, Afro-Guyanese came out in support of the PPP. This has incensed people like Hinds. For people like Hinds, Afro-Guyanese belong to the PNC and WPA, and whenever they dare choose freedom, they are condemned with derogatory names such as traitors, house slaves, slave catchers and “bottom-lickers” .
That none of the prominent groups purporting to speak on behalf of Afro-Guyanese have condemned Hinds is a total, absolute betrayal of AfroGuyanese. However, those who have utilised their freedom to choose are not shocked, because they had experienced absolute betrayal from the PNC, WPA, AFC, and the groups that arbitrarily decided they speak for all AfroGuyanese.
At least, the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has decided that it would look into Hinds’s racist tirade, to consider if it has violated the law. Commendation for rejecting Hinds’s loathsome remarks about Afro-Guyanese must be extended to PNC MP Jermaine Figueira and the Association of People of African Descent (APAD), who have risked being deemed house slaves and “lick-bottoms”. Commendation is also due to former Mayor of Georgetown, Ubraj Narine, for also condemning Hinds. But unlike the former mayor, the other sprinkling of Indo-Guyanese in the PNC and AFC have remained silent.
The same kind of PNC betrayal of Afro-Guyanese is evident in how the PNC and other Afrocentric groups have treated the three Mocha-Arcadia residents who lost their legal challenge in the courts. These residents, together with a number of others, were squatting on Government reserves. There were numerous notices given to them for many years, dating back to 2008. A new highway was planned along the East Bank corridor for some time now, passing through the very land on which these persons had squatted. With the planned highway becoming a reality, the Government made a generous offer to the residents: move out of the Government reserve, accept transported land at another site, and financial compensation way above the appraised value for the buildings and crops they had. Most of the residents accepted the offer. Under pressure from the PNC, WPA, AFC and other Afrocentric groups, a small group refused the Government’s offer; they asked for land and a million US dollars each.
The Chief Justice threw out the case, and ordered the residents to pay the AG, Ministry of Housing and GuySuCo $2M. Insisting that they gave “good advice”, Norton and the rest have abandoned the Mocha-Arcadia group. This is total, but typical, PNC betrayal.
Fortunately, these residents are not alone, because, in spite of the names he was called when the residents were removed, President Ali stated: “I’m your president; I’m here to help”. For accepting the president’s help, which we can be confident will happen, will these Mocha residents be called “house slaves”, “slave-catchers” and “lick-bottoms”?
In spite of the mountain of disappointments and betrayals, PNC supporters, by-and-large, stuck with the PNC for a long time. Now, more and more - particularly younger Afro-Guyanese persons - have had enough. They have decided that the ONE GUYANA platform is a more sensible and progressive platform, where they and their country can shine.
Bank deposits near $1 trillion – Finance Minister reports doubling in 4yrs
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh has revealed that total deposits in commercial banks have soared to nearly $1 trillion by the end of 2024, marking a remarkable increase of 88 per cent from just $513 billion in 2020.
Responding to Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Juretha Fernandes calls for more licences of banks to force competition, among others, Minister Singh at 101st sitting of the 12th Parliament compared the recent surge in deposits and credit growth under the current People's Progressive Party (PPP) Administration to the previous regime under the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU-AFC) Coalition.
Singh pointed out that, while credit to the private sector grew by only 18.2 per cent from 2015 to 2019, during a time of preparation for the country’s oil boom, the PPP Government saw private sector credit leap by an impressive 73.4 per cent from 2020 to 2024.
“Credit to the private sector sir, at the end of 2020, total credit to the private sector was two hundred and sixty billion dollars. Moved from two hundred and sixty billion dollars at the end of 2020 to four hundred and fifty-one billion dollars at the end of 2024. Sir and let me elaborate. Let me contrast sir, the abject mismanagement of the economy under the APNU-AFC with the People's Progressive Party's civic record of good stewardship. Mr Speaker, in the four years from end 2015 to end 2019, total private sector credit grew by a paltry thirty-nine point one billion dollar at a time sir, when oil had been found and the entire economy was preparing for production”.
“All of these brilliant ideas that the oil member had about what needs to be done with the law, and what needs to be done, and this and that, and all these brilliant ideas. Apparently, sir, the oil member doesn't remember that her party was in Government for five years, and none of these brilliant ideas, all licensing new banks. Let her show me which new bank they licensed in the five years they were in Government,” Dr Singh said.
According to the Senior Finance Minister, the increase was further evident in key sectors with agriculture credit growing by an astounding 128 per cent while mining and quarrying sector saw a 22 per cent growth in credit under the current administration.
Additionally, the manufacturing sector, heavily reliant on electricity, also benefited with a significant 103.7 per cent growth in credit and the services sector credit growth doubling from 40.2 per cent under the APNUAFC to 80.3 per cent under the PPP.
Real estate mortgages
were also a notable focus of Singh’s speech, as he highlighted the dramatic contrast in lending practices between the two administrations.
“Sir, let us look at real estate mortgages. Under the four-year period with their stillborn housing programme, their duplex houses that never got off the ground, credit for household mortgages, under their stillborn housing programme, reflecting of their abject incompetence, their failure to distribute house lots, their failure to grant titles, their closure of the Housing Ministry. Sir, real estate mortgages grew, guess by how much?
Credit for real estate mortgages, real estate mortgage loans grew by 22 per cent. A mere 15.7 billion. Under the People's Progressive Party Civic from 2020 to 2024, real estate mortgage loans grew by a staggering 65 billion dollars,” he added.
Further, Singh also underscored the improved cost of borrowing, with the prime lending rate dropping from 13 per cent in 2017-2018 to 8.38 per cent today, and the New Building Society rate for housing loans decreasing from 6.4 per cent to 4.73 per cent.
“Since our return to Government, we have increased the ceiling from eight million dollars to twenty million dollars. They sat down in Government and made no change to the NBS ceiling. Since we came into Government, we increased the ceiling from twelve million dollars to twenty million dollars, allowing more people to take loans and allowing people to borrow more to be able to build their homes or acquire their homes. So, they claim to be concerned about borrowers. When we left Government in 2015, the ceiling on loans eligible for mortgage interest relief was thirty million dollars”.
Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh
Man to spend life in prison for brutal 2020 murder
Shaquille Foulkes, known as “Max,” was sentenced to life in prison on Monday for the 2020 murder of Hanuman Jadunauth, of Pouderoyen, West Coast Demerara.
Justice Simone MorrisRamlall, delivering the ruling at the Demerara High Court, ordered that Foulkes would not be eligible for parole until he had served 33 years.
The sentencing came nearly five years after Jadunauth’s brutal death, during which he suffered multiple stab wounds to his chest and neck. The court heard that Foulkes, who had a previous conviction for armed robbery, showed no remorse throughout the trial. His conviction was secured through damning
surveillance footage, witness testimony, and forensic evidence, all of which painted a picture of his involvement in the crime.
In determining the sentence, Justice Morris-
Ramlall set a baseline of 30 years. However, after considering multiple factors, she adjusted the term accordingly. Five years were deducted based on social inquiry reports, but an additional five years were added due to the cruelty of the offense. Another three years were imposed due to Foulkes’ prior conviction for armed robbery in 2018, for which he had served 28 months.
During the sentencing hearing, a family member of the victim delivered a heart-wrenching victim impact statement, describing the deep loss and pain caused by Jadunauth’s murder. The relative spoke of the emotional and financial toll on the family, emphasizing how his death
had left a void that could never be filled. The courtroom was tense as the statement was read, with some relatives visibly emotional as they recalled the last moments of the man they knew as “Baccoo.”
Jadunauth’s murder occurred between March 30 and 31, 2020. He was last seen alive in the company of Foulkes and another individual on the night of March 30 in Pouderoyen.
Surveillance footage later played in court showed Foulkes striking Jadunauth, who was carrying a water bottle, as witnesses claimed he had been forced to fetch it. Another chilling clip captured Foulkes walking alone down Swan Street, now holding a knife in his hand.
At about 04:45h the next morning, police were called to Swan Street, where they found Jadunauth lying unconscious in the roadway, covered in blood. He was rushed to the hospital, but died. A post-mortem exam-
ination confirmed that he had died from stab wounds that punctured his lung and trachea. Additional injuries, including abrasions to his chest and face, suggested he had been beaten before being killed. The autopsy also revealed that he had consumed alcohol prior to his death.
Two days after the killing, police arrested Foulkes, who admitted to being the man in the surveillance footage but denied stabbing Jadunauth. He claimed another individual had dropped the knife, which he picked up and discarded in a trench at the end of Swan Street. He later led officers to the location, but the weapon was never recovered.
Sentenced to life: Shaquille Foulkes
Dead: Hanuman Jadunauth
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2025 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM
Mexico-Guyana Chamber of Commerce launched
The Mexico-Guyana Chamber of Commerce was officially launched at the Guyana Energy Conference & Supply Chain Expo (GECSCE) 2025, marking a major milestone in strengthening trade and investment between the two nations.
The new Chamber of Commerce was launched at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown.
This newly formed chamber will serve as a bridge between Guyanese and Mexican businesses further strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries while also opening new avenues for trade and investment.
Speaking at the event was Mexican Ambassador to Guyana, Mauricio Vizcaíno Crespo, who highlighted Mexico’s commitment to-
wards embarking on mutually beneficial ventures with Guyana. He highlighted that both Governments are currently working to implement visa waivers.
“How can we improve the amazing relationship that we already have and this is how, having a structure body formed by the private sector of both countries operating in both countries to facilitate everything that each private sector needs and of course both the Government of Guyana and Mexico we are committed towards making that happen easy by working on waving on the visa for instance.”
Undersecretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, Raquel Serur Smeke highlighted that the collaboration will aid Latin America and the Caribbean in the fight against key issues such as
poverty among others.
“We are convinced that this collaboration will help us in our fight against poverty and inequality in Latin America and the Caribbean. Today we are witnesses to
the renewed interest of the productive sectors of our countries and jointly exploring the unparalleled opportunities that our proximity represents.”
Chief
Investment Officer
of the Government of Guyana and Agency Head of the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest) Dr Peter Ramsaroop who revealed that the Mexican business community has al-
ready show interest in making investments in the country.
“This historical singing of the chambers here will bring new value; we have had many delegations coming already from Mexico and the interest the opportunities outlined today and outlined throughout this conference is going to be very important.” On this point he urged Guyanese businesses to tap into the countless investment opportunities that will now be available.
“We urge from my perspective Guyanese businesses to pay very close attention to become part of the chamber. We encourage you to find local partnerships and work with a local partner to get your projects off the ground and our office is there to push it along the best way we can.”
Chief Investment Officer Dr Peter Ramsaroop along with Mexican Ambassador to Guyana, Mauricio Vizcaíno Crespo and other stakeholders at the launch on Tuesday
Election fraud trial Witness tells court of election tallying irregularities
The election fraud trial resumed on Tuesday with testimony from the Head of the Diaspora Unit, Rosalinda Rasul, who had been an accredited observer with the American Chamber of Commerce during the 2020 General and Regional Elections. Having previously testified before the case was halted, Rasul again took the stand to recount her observations during the elections.
The case had originally been restarted on Monday when Magistrate Faith McGusty heard the prosecution’s opening address. The prosecution objected to the defence making an opening address at that stage, arguing that the defence was permitted to do so only at the commencement of the trial, not during preliminary proceedings.
However, attorneys for the defence challenged that objection on the ground that fairness required that the defence have an equal opportunity to respond to the prosecution’s opening address, and questioned whether the magistrate would strike out the prosecution’s entire opening address if the defence were not given the opportunity to reply.
Magistrate McGusty was expected to rule on Tuesday whether the defence could make an opening address, or if the prosecution’s opening address would be struck out entirely.
When the court reconvened on Tuesday, Magistrate McGusty ruled in favour of the prosecution, stating that the defence would be allowed to respond only when they were leading their defence.
Rasul was eventually able to take the stand, and she detailed her movements on Election Day and the days fol-
lowing, explaining that she had visited several polling stations in Region Three, including the Leonora Primary School and one at Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara.
She described her observations at these polling stations, including how the counting process was conducted by presiding officers. She said was also was present at Mon Repos Primary School on the East Coast of Demerara on March 2, 2020, where she had continued to observe the tallying process.
She testified that she had gone to the Ashmin’s Building at the corner of Hadfield and High Streets in Georgetown at 1:35am on March 3, 2020, where she saw Region Four Returning Officer (RO) Clairmont Mingo and other election officials. She noted that Mingo had identified himself and that the tabulation process had been briefly paused before resuming at 2:00am.
Rasul explained that she was familiar with the Statements of Poll (SOPs) because she had seen and handled them at polling stations the previous night.
She said she returned to the Ashmin’s Building at 9:00pm on March 4, 2020, expecting the tallying process to continue. However, verification did not begin as scheduled.
She said she remained in the RO’s office with her computer until 10:52 am, when Deputy Chief Elections Officer (DCEO) Roxanne Myers informed that the process would soon begin, because Mingo was not well and there should be a pause.
Rasul said she identified Myers by her official badge.
She said that, shortly after, she observed an ambulance outside the building, and upon re-entering the building, she saw Mingo, wearing a respiratory mask and surrounded by
GECOM staff, being carried out in a chair.
She said that by 11:41am, Myers announced that Mingo’s vitals were stable and that the process would resume in “fortyfive minutes,” but the verification process did not restart.
Rasul said it was not until 1:00pm that it was announced, again by Myers, that the process would resume, but counting would start with the East Bank of Demerara.
She said disputes arose when the process resumed with the verification of votes from the East Bank of Demerara instead of Georgetown, to which party representatives objected. They argued that Georgetown’s count was incomplete and should be finished before moving to another sub-district.
According to her testimony, at 14:00h (2:00pm), Michelle Miller and ‘Bowen’ resumed the tallying process, with Miller reading from a document and Bowen entering data into a laptop. Concerns were raised when it became apparent that they were using a
spreadsheet instead of SOPs. She said party agents objected, demanding that CEO Keith Lowenfield explain why SOPs were not being used.
She said that at 14:15h (2:15pm) Lowenfield entered the room and defended the use of the spreadsheet, stating that it was an “administrative document”, and that SOPs would be used for verification later. However, objections persisted as party representatives insisted on using SOPs immediately. According to the witness, at 14:35h (2:35pm), Miller continued reading from the spreadsheet, but representatives again protested when they noticed discrepancies between the numbers being called and those on their SOPs.
Rasul testified that some 17 of the boxes were inaccurate, and that the room became increasingly crowded as more political agents entered to witness the dispute. Rasul further testified that during the tabulation process, she was positioned close to the key individuals involved.
“I was about maybe six feet away from Miss Miller, but the PPP agents were actually on my left hand, about two feet away from me, and the APNU agents were on my right hand, similarly about two feet away,” she stated. She emphasized that her view of the proceedings was unobstructed.
Closely monitored
She described how party agents closely monitored the counting process. “Because I saw them looking at those SOPs…it was a broader document that Sonia Parag and Mr. Kwame McCoy were looking at, and Mr. Sasenarine was inputting data that was being called by Miss Miller into his laptop.”
Rasul recounted that as
objections mounted over the discrepancies, the room became chaotic. “Ms. Parag and Mr. Sasenarine Singh were both saying that the number that Ms. Miller was calling did not matching the number on their SOP,” she testified.
With tensions escalating, she said, more political leaders entered the room, including the now Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo and Attorney General Anil Nandlall.
Rasul described how Lowenfield was informed that the spreadsheet numbers did not match the SOPs. In response, he briefly left the room and returned with official SOPs. Once SOPs were used, she said, the objections stopped. “When Ms Miller started to call from the SOPs, there were exclamations from the PPP agents that the numbers were matching,” Rasul stated.
Despite this resolution, Rasul testified, the verification process was repeatedly interrupted. “We kept having multiple breaks,” she said, describing how those delays further prolonged the tabulation.
Despite the objections, she said, the process was halted.
The following day, 5 March 2020, the tabulation resumed, but the inaccuracies continued — this time made by GECOM employee Enrique Livan, who reportedly stated that he was “not cut out for this,” and was exhausted. Rasul testified that Livan left the room before returning to collect a laptop and a flash drive — the same laptop used to enter the data. This action also caused an uproar.
According to the witness, an alleged bomb threat then occurred and disrupted the vote tabulation process during the 2020 general elections, raising suspicions that it was an attempt to remove party agents
from the building. Despite the announcement, she testified, she chose to remain in the Returning Officer’s room with her colleagues.
“I did not believe it was a genuine bomb threat, and I also did not see anyone moving at the same time. So, I opted to stay behind as well,” Rasul told the court.
As the day progressed, tensions escalated with the appearance of Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, who entered the room around 13:30h and positioned himself at the front of the building, where tabulation figures were being called. The witness recalled that Mingo declared, he was “here to make a declaration,” prompting immediate objections from several party agents present. The trial was paused at this point, and is scheduled to continue on Wednesday at 9:30h, with the witness expected to complete her testimony as the court examines the contentious events surrounding the 2020 elections.
Nine individuals are currently before the court in connection with the March 2020 General and Regional Elections. The accused include former Region Four Returning Officer Clairmont Mingo, former Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield, and his former Deputy Roxanne Myers. Also charged are former PNCR Chairperson Volda Lawrence, PNCR activist Carol SmithJoseph, and GECOM employees Sheffern February, Enrique Livan, Michelle Miller, and Denise Babb-Cummings. Magistrate McGusty ruled in January 2025 that the case would proceed summarily. On Monday, all defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The nine defendants face a total of 33 counts of election-related fraud, centred around alleged attempts to manipulate the voting results. The trial, initially overseen by Senior Magistrate Leron Daly, began in July 2024 but was paused due to her extended medical leave. This led to the case being reassigned to Magistrate McGusty.
When the matter was called on December 8, 2024, the defence requested a fresh start to the already delayed trial. In contrast, the prosecution contended that restarting the case was unnecessary, and that the court should simply recall the previous witnesses.
Ultimately, Magistrate McGusty ordered that the election fraud trial be restarted.
Man to spend life in prison...
Throughout the trial, prosecutors dismantled Foulkes’ claims, presenting multiple witnesses who placed him at the scene before and during the attack. One witness testified to seeing the stabbing take place. Additionally, Foulkes’ own contradictory statements weakened his defense. He initially told police he had left a party that night and gone directly to his aunt’s house in Meten-MeerZorg, West Coast Demerara.
However, during his arrest, he led officers to a residence in Pouderoyen, where a search was conducted. He also denied living in the area, despite evidence suggesting otherwise.
After considering the evidence, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict. The prosecution, led by Christopher Belfield and assisted by Muntaz Ali, argued that the crime was premeditated and committed with extreme violence, warrant-
ing a severe sentence. Defense attorney Lawrence Harris had pleaded for leniency, but the court found that the brutality of the crime and Foulkes’ past criminal history justified the life sentence. With the sentencing now complete, Foulkes will begin serving his term at the Mazaruni Prison, where he will spend the next three decades before he can even be considered for parole.
Top row, from left – Volda Lawrence, Keith Lowenfield, Denise Babb-Cummings and Michelle Miller.
Bottom row, from left – Enrique Livan, Sheffern February, Clairmont Mingo, and Carol Smith-Joseph
Work toward your goal and resist interruptions. The less you let others know about you or your plans, the easier it will be to meet your deadlines. Refuse to let temptation eat away at your psyche.
Turn your surroundings into your place of refuge. Do whatever it takes to make your place more comfortable and convenient. Don't underestimate your ability to bring people closer together.
Rethink your strategy and adjust your plans to suit your needs and budget. Say no to temptation and trouble. Make a healthy lifestyle your mission, and you'll find the path that leads to a brighter future.
Consider what makes you happy and follow that path. You are responsible for doing what brings you joy. Networking and social events will positively affect how you move forward.
Sit tight, be observant and consider every alternative. Time is on your side, regardless of what anyone tells you. It's best not to indulge in anything; be moderate and prudent.
You are heading in the right direction; don't let anyone convince you otherwise. Communicating with like-minded people will encourage new beginnings.
Embrace life, broaden your mind, enhance possibilities and learn new skills. Life is yours to discover; stop postponing and start doing. Focus on lifestyle, comfort and ease.
Recognize that you are in the driver's seat; forge ahead and make things happen. Your power is in your passion. Change begins with you, and following your heart will help you manifest your dreams.
Reconsider how realistic your plans are before you head down a path that can cause mental or financial duress. You should take time out for recreational activities.
It's all about what and who you know and how to persuade others. Put your energy into running an efficient home and letting go of what's holding you back. Let go of what's weighing you down.
Stick close to home. Go over personal documents and update anything that needs it. Aim to replenish instead of going for broke. Put your health and financial well-being first.
Pay attention to what things cost and think about where your energy will have the most impact. Use all your resources and put your experience to work for you. A positive change will give you the boost you need.
ARCHIE
GFF personnel participate in FIFA concussion-awareness workshop
Several persons representing the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) have recently participated in a workshop conducted by FIFA to address the issue of concussion.
Focused on the “Suspect and Protect” campaign, a global initiative launched by FIFA in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the workshop was instrumental in raising awareness about concussion risks and providing educational resources for all levels of football.
Among the GFF personnel who attended this virtual workshop were physiotherapists Jana Edghill and Joshua Sargent; medical staff Drs. Sarah Benjamin, Nico Alstrom, Pablino Cupido and Carlyn Elliot, and Project Manager Orin Nelson.
The “Suspect and Protect” campaign highlights that concussion is a serious brain injury that requires immediate attention; and the workshop educated players, coaches, and medical staff on recognizing symptoms, which may take up to 72 hours to appear, and outlined proper steps for a safe return to play.
Champions Trophy 2025…
FIFA has distributed toolkits to its 211 member associations, including the GFF, to ensure the campaign reaches all levels of the game; and FIFA President Gianni Infantino has emphasised the importance of prioritising player safety by stating, “By knowing the signs of con-
cussion, by being aware of the risks, and by treating a concussion correctly, you can help to put player safety first.”
Highlighting the significance of the initiative , WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has noted, “Concussion is a public health issue of concern at all levels of football and many other sports, requiring greater levels of awareness and action. That is why WHO is proud to team up with FIFA on the ‘Suspect and Protect’ campaign, to promote ways to protect the brains of footballers, young and old, around the world from the risks of concussion.”
The GFF has noted that it remains committed to FIFA’s player safety initiatives, and has said it would work to integrate the knowledge gained from the workshop into local
football structures, in order to ensure concussion awareness and management are prioritized across all levels of the game in Guyana.
Pakistan, New Zealand face off again
– Babar's form in focus as Pakistan begin title defence
We live in a time when the ODI is starved for attention, with the older sibling commanding instant respect for its age and wisdom, and the younger one bawling at full lung capacity if you dare to look away while it cartwheels around the room. For all that, the middle child never fails to remind us how captivating it can be whenever a global tournament comes along.
The last two ODI World Cups have produced so many classic matches between them, and so many passages of play showcasing the variety of skills that this format can both compress and give breathing room to that, given how little
familiar foes in the tournament-opener. No visiting team has played more ODIs in this country than New Zealand's 11 since the start of 2019, and they begin this Champions Trophy a mere five days after beating Pakistan in the final of an ODI tri-series. Karachi hosted that match, and will host this one too.
It says something about the two teams that New Zealand and Pakistan finished fourth and fifth - just inside and just outside the knockout spots - on the league tables of both the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, and that Pakistan won the head-to-head meetings both times. It speaks of two teams with potentially ti-
we've seen of ODI cricket over the last year-and-a-half or thereabouts, our appetite for the ODI should be at its peak, even if the Champions Trophy remains an awkward fit in the calendar and the interests of the ICC's member boards.
So much has happened since Sarfaraz Ahmed lifted this trophy eight years ago that it is enough for everyone to forget that ODI even exists, but here we are now, and here it is once again.
We have Pakistan, defending champions and (coish) hosts, to start off the competition, and they'll face
tle-winning strengths and title-squandering flaws; and this perhaps makes it the ideal contest to kick things off.
In the spotlight: Babar Azam, Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell
He's gone 21 innings without an ODI hundred, and while this wouldn't be abnormal for most batters, Babar Azam is unlike most batters. That sequence includes only two single-digit scores, so it isn't as if he's been struggling, but few things would bring as much joy to Pakistan at the start of a global event on home soil as a big score from their
until-recently-irreproachable run machine.
He's batting at the top of the order now, rather than at #3, so a significant score would also ease any doubts Pakistan may have about the structure of their line-up.
In the recently concluded tri-series, New Zealand's spinners finished with a combined economy rate of 4.41, which was remarkable, considering their Pakistan and South Africa counterparts went at 5.67 and 5.94 respectively. It speaks to the quality of Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell, who each picked up five wickets during the tri-series at near-identical averages and economy rates. They form as enviable a spin combination as any in this tournament: a left-arm fingerspinner and an offspinner who are both extremely handy with the bat.
Team news: Rauf boost for Pakistan
Haris Rauf played no part in the recent ODI tri-series, after going off the field with a side strain during the opening game against New Zealand. He has been bowling in the nets in the leadup to the Champions Trophy, though, and Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan is confident he would be fit to start the tournament-opener. This should leave Pakistan able to pick a full-strength XI.
Pakistan (possible): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Babar Azam, 3 Saud Shakeel, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (capt & wk), 5 Salman Agha, 6 Tayyab Tahir, 7 Khushdil Shah, 8 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Abrar Ahmed.
New Zealand go into the Champions Trophy with two of their original fast-bowling selections - Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears - out of the tournament. There's also doubt whether Rachin Ravindra - who hasn't played
a game since the ball struck on the head while fielding during the first match of the tri-series - would be fit to start, but the opener has been batting during training sessions in the lead-up to this tournament. New Zealand will take a call on him after their training session on Tuesday, with Will Young likely to open alongside Devon Conway should they decide not to risk Ravindra. Ferguson's replacement, Kyle Jamieson, would not arrive in Karachi in time to be available for the first game.
New Zealand: 1 Rachin Ravindra/Will Young, 2 Devon Conway, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Matt Henry, 10 Jacob Duffy, 11 Will O'Rourke.
Pitch and conditions
Karachi hosted the last two matches of the recent tri-series, and those matches ended up as extremely dissimilar contests. On February 12, South Africa posted 352, the highest-ever total achieved at the venue, but that record lasted only a few hours, as Pakistan hunted it down with an over to spare. Two days later, Will O'Rourke bagged four wickets and the unhit-
table Santner took 2 for 20 in his ten overs as Pakistan, electing to bat first in the final, were bundled out for 242, a total that New Zealand chased down with five wickets and 28 balls to spare.
What sort of surface will the National Stadium serve up on Wednesday then?
Recent history suggests this is a testing venue for fast bowlers in ODIs, as their combined average of 33.67 and economy rate of 6.02 over this decade would attest.
Where Lahore has tended to be just as harsh to spinners, however, Karachi has given them a modicum of respite; while their wickets have come at 45.50, they have only gone at 5.11 per over.
Going by recent trends, pitches in global tournaments have tended to be good batting surfaces, with something for bowlers to work with: the last three ICC ODI eventsthe 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2019 and 2023 World Cups - finished with overall run rates of 5.54, 5.59 and 5.82 respectively.
Wednesday is expected to be a warm day in Karachi, with a high of 29 degrees Celsius and little to no chance of rain. (Adapted from ESPNCricinfo)
GFF medical personnel in action (File Photo)
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Pakistan and New Zealand are meeting again in today’s opener of the ICC Champions Trophy
The ball struck Rachin Ravindra on his forehead during play in the tri-series
TFitness Express/GAPLF Novices/ Juniors Championships...
best lifters accolade; Assanah, McCalmon rock Women’s competition
he Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPLF) lifted off its 2025 competition calendar on Sunday last at the Saint Stanislaus College Auditorium with its Novices and Juniors Championships, which attracted 12 lifters, including two females. The males showcased their strength, but the females did that and more, as they set eight new records in all three lifts and their totals.
Matthew Moore copped the trophy for ‘the best lifter’ in the Juniors Classic, sponsored by Trophy Stall,
while Joshua John copped the trophy for ‘the best lifter’ in the Novice Classic, also sponsored by Trophy Stall. These top lifters, together with the record-breaking females and the lone equipped athlete Kamal Gurdin, were all rewarded with gift vouchers compliments of the championship title sponsor, Fitness Express. Before the competition started, GAPLF President Franklin Wilson, in expressing gratitude to the athletes, officials and sponsors for making the day a reality, declared, “I want to thank you for your
dedication to training and preparing for this competition. Your dedication and discipline are commendable, and you are all winners. The sport continues to grow, and we are indeed grateful to all who would have contributed towards this.”
Wilson also expressed gratitude to the past presidents of the GAPLF for the work they had done in advancing the sport. They are Peter Green, Ed Caesar, and Gordon Spencer - an accredited Cat 11 Referee who officiated at the championships. Next on the GAPLF agenda is the Annual General Meeting and elections, which are to be held on a date to be announced in the coming weeks.
GHB names 16-member
U21 Women’s Hockey Team for PAHF Junior Challenge
16 who would compete in Barbados.
The Guyana Hockey
Board has informed on Tuesday that the team of under-21 females who would represent Guyana at the Pan American Hockey Federation’s Junior Challenge has been narrowed down to a final 16-player roster. The 2025 PAHF Junior Challenge is scheduled to be contested in Bridgetown, Barbados during the period March 8-16, 2025. The girls have been in training for several months, and their number had earlier this year been narrowed to a squad of 23 players. This final cut has reduced the squad to the final
Among those selected are four overseas-based players who all grew up in Guyana but are now studying abroad. They are Sarah Klautky, who has been selected to captain the team; Charlia Webb and Georgiana and Madison Fernandes.
Klautky and the Fernandes cousins were both on the 2023 Guyana team that finished 5th in the Junior Pan American Championships.
Defenders Kirsten Gomes, Kazaquah Uzzi and Solana CrumEwing, midfielder Clayza Bobb and striker Makaylah Poole are all former players on the last under-21 team who would again be representing Guyana in Barbados.
Among the newcomers in addition to Wing/midfield Webb, are strikers Keitana Percival, Rebecca Ferreira and Africo Blackman, and defenders Tinashe Henry and Sara Matthias. Goalkeepers Sarah Harry and Kendra Gordon would also both be making their debut in 2025.
The team’s head coach Philip Fernandes, President of the Hockey Board, has said the team is expected to give a good account of itself. Five players have benefitted from
competing with the senior team in Bermuda last year, and will make up the core of the midfield through Captain Klautky, Clayza Bobb and Madison Fernandes. Teen phenom Makaylah Poole and defensive stalwart Kirsten Gomes also bring senior international experience to the table.
Fernandes has said he is excited by the speed and high-energy brought by most of the new players, and he is hoping it would result in higher scoring results for Team Guyana in an area which has been troublesome in the past.
Now entering the final two weeks of training, the team is focused on fine-tuning the set pieces of the game. They begin their campaign against Guatemala on March 8, before facing Mexico, Puerto Rico, Barbados, and Trinidad & Tobago. A spot in the final would qualify Team Guyana to participate in the 2025 Junior Pan American Games being hosted by Paraguay in August.
Team Guyana’s full squad reads:
Goalkeepers: Sarah Harry, Kendra Gordon
Defenders: Solana Crum-Ewing, Kirsten Gomes, Tinashe Henry, Sara Matthias, Kazaquah Uzzi
Midfielders: Clayza Bobb, Madison Fernandes, Sarah Klautky, Charlia Webb
Strikers: Africo Blackman, Georgiana Fernandes, Rebecca Ferreira, Keitanna Percival, Makaylah Poole.
Following are the full results of the championships.
Females
57kg Women’s Junior Raw - Jasmaine Assanah: Squat 112.5kg, Bench press 37.5kg, Deadlift 140.0kg; Total 290.0kg 57kg Women’s Open Raw - Jasmaine Assanah: Squat 112.5kg, Bench press 37.5kg, Deadlift 140.0kg; Total 290.0kg 84+kg Women’s Open Raw - Tisha McCalmon: Squat 100.0kg, Bench press 40.0kg, Deadlift 155.0kg; Total 295.0kg 84+kg Women’s Master 1 Raw - Tisha McCalmon: Squat 100.0kg, Bench press 40.0kg, Deadlift 155.0kg; Total 295.0kg
Males
74kg Men’s Junior Raw - Nichlous Sukhram: Squat 140.0kg, Bench press 75.0kg, Deadlift 177.5kg; Total 392.5kg 83kg Men’s Junior Raw - Matthew Moore: Squat 165.0kg, Bench press 92.5kg,
Deadlift 182.5kg; Total 440.0kg 93kg Men’s Junior RawSaif Khan: Squat 157.5kg, Bench press 110.0kg, Deadlift 200.0kg; Total 467.5kg 66kg Men’s Open RawParmanand Ramrekha: Squat 115.0kg, Bench press 92.5kg, Deadlift 147.5kg; Total 355.0kg 1st in 74kg Men’s Open
Raw - Jermaine Kendall: Squat 167.5kg, Bench press 112.5kg, Deadlift 210.0kg; Total 490.0kg 2nd in 74kg Men’s Open
Raw - Nichlous Sukhram: Squat 140.0kg, Bench press 75.0kg, Deadlift 177.5kg; Total 392.5kg 1st in 83kg Men’s Open
Raw - Satyanand Narine: Squat 197.5kg, Bench press 110.0kg, Deadlift 187.5kg; Total 495.0kg 2nd in 83kg Men’s Open
Raw - Matthew Moore: Squat 165.0kg, Bench press 92.5kg, Deadlift 182.5kg; Total 440.0kg
West Indies Championships…
1st in 93kg Men’s Open Raw - Joshua John: Squat 200.0kg, Bench press 140.0kg, Deadlift 230.0kg; Total 570.0kg 2nd in 93kg Men’s Open
Raw - Adrian Moore: Squat 185.0kg, Bench press 122.5kg, Deadlift 257.5kg; Total 565.0kg 3rd in 93kg Men’s Open Raw - Carl Damon: Squat 162.5kg, Bench press
GHE back atop points table
The Guyana Harpy Eagles (GHE) have resumed their place atop the points table following the conclusion of round three of the West Indies Championships.
Playing at home at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, EBD, the Harpy Eagles had to dig deep into their resolve in that rain-affected third-round contest against the West Indies Academy in order to eke out a draw and claim first innings points.
Defending champions GHE are atop the table with 57.6 points, while Trinidad and Tobago Red Force are sec ond with 55.4 points. Leeward Islands Hurricanes are in third position with 50.8 points, while Barbados pride follow closely with 50 points. Jamaica Scorpions close out the top five with 32.6 points.
For individual performances, spinner Veerasammy Permaul is third on the wicket-takers charts with 16 scalps in 3 games, while the table is being led by Trinidad’s Khary Pierre with 26 wickets. Rahkeem Cornwall of the Leeward Islands Hurricanes occupies second spot with 17 wickets.
Jason Mohammed of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force has the most runs thus far: 483, and an average of 241.5. Jonathan Drakes of the Barbados Pride is second with 373 runs, while Jamaica’s John Campbell is on third with 299 runs.
The West Indies Championships are currently on a break, but play for the fourth round will resume on Wednesday March 5, 2025. In that round, the Harpy Eagles will take on the Jamaica Scorpions in Jamaica, while the T&T Red Force would battle West Indies Academy in Antigua and Barbuda. Barbados Pride will go up against Combined Campuses and Colleges in Barbados, while the Windward Islands Volcanoes would duke it out with the Leeward islands Hurricanes in St. Lucia.
Jason Mohammed is leading the batting charts in the West Indies Championships
Joshua John receiving his best lifter trophy from GAPLF Treasurer (ag), Ms Kiana Benjamin
GAPLF Treasurer (ag), Ms Kiana Benjamin presenting Matthew Moore with his best lifter trophy
Guyana’s U21 Girls’ Hockey Team has been hard at work ahead of next month’s competition
